• Prayer, performance, parade mark MLK Jr. birthday celebration 12A
• Families frustrated as valued fun outlet forced to close 14A
• Little Blue Boat towed, but saga potentially continues 20A
• Initiative helps elevate, empower, promote Black businesses 24A
• Contribute to science in Backyard Bird Count 28A
The Dawn of the Silicon Garden sounds like the future, and that was what was offered at a recent event at Hilton Head Island High School.
More than 40 businesses and organizations offered insight for young people seeking careers and opportunities in public safety, digital and cyber technology, utilities, construction, higher education, scholarship and funding organizations, and technical training.
For some the afternoon was for exploring.
“I’m here to just check out different opportunities, different scholarships. Look at where I want to go and look at my options,” said Hilton Head senior Alandria Kennedy. “I don’t know what I want to study yet. I’m really into music and writing, but I’m looking into welding.”
Kennedy’s mother Shadasha was impressed with the event.
“It’s an awesome opportunity, espe-
cially for kids who may not want to go to college, who don’t know what they want to do,” she said. “You have the different career paths you can show them as well as colleges, so I think it’s a positive.”
The afternoon event was a partnership with Beaufort County School District, the Hilton Head Island MLK, Jr. Celebration Committee, Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation, Technical College of the Lowcountry, and other information resources.
There were 10 colleges and technical schools in the gymnasium, and while they weren’t taking applications, they were taking advantage of the time to meet students and parents.
“Anytime we get a chance to go out and talk to students about getting into college or what it may look like to go, we want to be able to inform them and make sure they’re making the best decisions for themselves,” said the representative from the University of South Carolina.
Carlton Dallas, founder of the Busi-
nessATTRACT, was one of the sponsors of the career opportunity event.
“We’re private, basically a collection of 550 different citizens, residents who
want to help the economy grow and diversify,” Dallas said. “The Economic
Please see CAREERS on page 8A
February 21 | 3:00 - 4:00 pm
We all want access to top healthcare, because we know that “top” means a commitment to pursuing and achieving the best, which is especially important when you’re looking for medical services and care. And the good news: it’s right in our backyard.
We’re proud to be among the select group of hospitals recognized by the national hospital safety watchdog organization The Leapfrog Group for putting patients and their safety first every day. Not only does it mean our team is focused on you, it means you can feel confident in trusting us when it matters most.
Only 5% of hospitals in the U.S. have earned the Top Hospital award for patient safety and quality — and Beaufort Memorial is one of them. BeaufortMemorial.org/TopHospital
By Lynne Cope Hummell EDITOR
That’s the way, uh-huh uh-huh, l like it, uh-huh, uh-huh. – K.C. and the Sunshine Band
Oh, my love is like a red, red rose that’s newly sprung in June. – Robert Burns
What I like best is just doing nothing. –Christopher Robin
Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t. – Almond Joy ad
I like mine with lettuce and tomatoes, Heinz 57 and French-fried potatoes. – Jimmy Buffet
These are all correct ways to use the word “like,” as an expression of something that is preferred, or at least palatable, or as a simile, meaning a comparison of similar things.
The way a lot of folks have continued to use the word this century has me terrified for the future of the English language.
It’s not just teenagers who pepper their
conversation with the word “like,” using it two or three times in a sentence for what they must think is added emphasis.
I’ve been hearing it more recently among former teenagers, from people in their mid20s to mid-30s.
Consider this slightly edited conversation I heard in person recently: “She was like, ‘What the heck?’ and I was like, I don’t know, but it was like, weird.” (Age of speaker: 25.)
You might recall that I have shared some odd choices in reality-show television entertainment. Here’s another – I recently stumbled onto “The One That Got Away.”
I tuned in because I would be intrigued by stories of newly divorced folks having a mid-life crisis and wondering “whatever happened to old So-and-So who I dated after college.” This show is not like that at all. (Note correct usage of “like.”)
These are mostly late-20-somethings, barely finished with high school and still in their first job, who have been burned in one
relationship and are seeking the next. They believe their futures will be bleak and boring and they just won’t survive if they don’t find The One before they turn 30.
I’ve got news for you, children. Life isn’t fair, life is what you make of it, life is OK on your own – for a little while or a long while, depending on who you are, where you are in life, and what you like and don’t like. (Note correct usages of “like.”)
But back to this strange show.
Almost to a person, the six cast members dated someone they knew or liked in high school (note correct usage of “like”), then lost touch. As the show progresses (while they all are ensconced in an idyllic paradise), various people from their past come to visit to try to rekindle – or perhaps to find – a spark.
Also to a person, their conversations cannot be completed without at least a dozen extraneous and incorrect uses of “like.”
Here’s one part of conversation verbatim (I
paused the TV so I could get it right): “I just kind of, like, had this wall hit me, like, that I couldn’t reciprocate what he was feeling. I think with today, like, the date, I want him to see, like, me, and see, like, what I’m all about.”
Is it just me, or have the kids gone a bit overboard with this word? I’m beginning to think they are using it as a sort of spoken comma, albeit mostly in the wrong part of a sentence. They can’t stop talking long enough to breathe, because someone else is likely to interject, so they keep talking, like, trying to get to the point so they can, like, make their point and, like, finish the story. (Note INcorrect usages of “like.”)
Recognizing that my young adult vocabulary was riddled with such words as “groovy” and “boogie down” and “far out,” I can only hope today’s post-college youth will gradually realize how idiotic they sometimes sound when they choose overused words to tell their very fascinating stories.
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It is sad that people don’t respect other people’s property. We all need to be vigilant in helping watch out for our neighbors – and if you see anything out of the ordinary, it is also very important to make a call to our police to register this information.
would like to remind everyone to remain vigilant. We would also like pass along some ideas for deterring thieves and keeping vehicles secure.
Catalytic converter thefts:
• If possible, keep all vehicles in a physically secure enclosed location (garage, shed, enclosed carport, etc.).
• If it is not possible to keep vehicles in a physically secure enclosed location, security cameras are encouraged. Most cameras are inexpensive and offer good quality video with options to send alerts to your phone.
in the garage.
• Always report any suspicious activity to the police.
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You never know what investigation might be going on, and by making a call to give any info that may seem unimportant, might just be the lead our men and women in blue need. Please read the information below and learn how to play a part in keeping crime down in our town.
Recently the Town of Bluffton has experienced a spike in catalytic converter thefts. The Bluffton Police Department is working diligently to catch the thieves responsible for these incidents, but in the meantime, we
• If secured locations and cameras are not feasible, ensure that the area where vehicles are kept is well lit.
• Always report any suspicious activity to the police.
Vehicle break-ins:
• Never leave valuables in your vehicle overnight. This includes cash, firearms, portable electronics, prescription medication, credit cards, jewelry, and any identification documents.
• Always lock your doors when you get out of your vehicle and make sure all windows are rolled up.
• Never leave your keys inside the vehicle overnight – even if it’s parked
When was the last time you considered what your personal values are in these troubling, divisive times? Are you living your personal values? Do they guide you every day?
I was reminded of this valuable exercise review after listening to a Sunday message entitled, “We Can Choose a Better Way.” Just what are my values, what is most important in my life, and are they compatible?
First, what are values and how would you define your values? Values are the things that you believe are
important in the way you live and work. They should determine your priorities; they’re the measurement to tell you if your life is turning out the way you want it to. Life is easier when you recognize your values and make plans and decisions that honor them, according to mindtools.com, an online resource for work and life advice.
Personal, unselfish values are numerous, including compassion, honesty, trustworthiness, accountability, truthfulness, integrity etc. Upon determining your top three or four values, are you proud of them? Do you
Report items stolen: There are many times when people notice that something that was in their vehicle has been stolen. Often it is not reported to the police because it may seem minor or more of a hassle to wait and file a report. We encourage anyone who notices something that was taken from their vehicle to contact the Bluffton Police Department. This will help officers potentially track down and locate the suspect and retrieve your belongings.
• Contact the non-emergency line at 843-524-2777. Please keep this number and share with neighbors.
• Try to obtain serial numbers or other identifiable markings on stolen items.
• If a wallet is stolen be sure to cancel any credit cards as quickly as possible.
• Finally, if you see something, say something.
Lisa Sulka is the mayor of the Town of Bluffton. lsulka@townofbluffton.com
share them with others? Do you support your values even if not popular, thus putting you in the minority?
How do you want to be remembered? What will your legacy be?
Friends, in the Lowcountry, as we begin 2023, let us take the time to understand the real priorities in our lives, helping us to determine the best direction for each of us while helping to make our world a better place.
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. At Joe’s Classic Cuts Barbershop & Shave Parlor in Bluffton Village,
we asked: “What is something that cheers you up every time you think about it?”
CAREERS from page 1A
Development Corporation and the four municipalities and county are recruiting so many good businesses to come here, and a lot of them are high tech.
“To give you an example, over the last four years the EDC has recruited almost $300 million in capital investment in user accounts,” he said. “There are 1,100 new jobs that have come in, and 200 jobs that were going to leave, but they’ve been able to negotiate their retention here. And those companies need talent.”
Many of the businesses were employers seeking to hire, train or support local residents in pursuit of job opportunities.
“It’s important to pressurize a pipeline of young people like those here that are preparing and getting trained, certified, so they can fill some of these high tech jobs,” Dallas added.
Several of those young people were looking around while fulfilling school community service hours.
“I’m just helping out, but also looking at information here,” said Jesse Salinas of Hilton Head. “I’m trying to go to USC in the business program. My family owns a business. I’m trying to get more in depth with business, so I
can try to manage it more and try to do better with it.”
Anthony Bynum of Hilton Head, who was wearing an MIT sweatshirt, has definite goals. While helping out around the event, he was looking for scholarship information.
“I want to go into aerospace engineering. I just always loved flight, and I’m actually trying to get my pilot’s license right now,” Bynum said. “Being in the air has always just been a dream of mine, but aerospace correlates with that.”
Combining business and travel appealed to Elizabeth Monzonsantos, also of Hilton Head.
“I applied to USC and I’m still waiting on them. I heard that they were the No. 1 for the international business,” said Monzonsantos. “I’m interested in that because I’ve always loved traveling, and I might as well mix work with travel.”
Hilton Head Assistant Principal Fred Hunter said one of the things the school wants to do in education is make sure students know the different opportuni-
CAREERS from page 8A ties that they have.
“We want to lay the foundation so that the students have choices. And so being able to expose them to the different opportunities they have after high school is very important,” said Hunter. “It’s events like this that gives them exposure, bringing in different people from different industries, to let them know about the possibilities. I’m obviously a big proponent, and I believe in students going to college, but it’s not for everyone. That’s not everyone’s passion. And now with the price of colleges increasing, it’s very important that students look at other options as well.”
Galen Miller, chairman of the MLK committee, said the partnership was formed because they saw a need for youth to have a career path opportunity.
“Not everybody’s going to go to college, so there’s opportunities out here for everybody, whether you want to go to college or not, but it’s a need,” said Miller. “Coming off of COVID, a lot of things are different. A lot of things that
kids don’t know. A lot of things parents don’t know that there are opportunities for them, too.”
Bluffton Township Fire Department
Firefighter Luis Aponte and BTFD HR Director Tracy Walling greeted visitors to the public safety organization’s table. BTFD was there to talk about career opportunities.
“We are able to tell those who stop by that not only is training free, but trainees are paid while they learned,” said Walling. “It’s good for a lot of kids that may not be able to go to college or go to a trade school.”
Not only could attendees meet with different trades, schools and businesses inside, but outside of the high school, people could do some hands-on training in the Be Pro Be Proud truck. The huge trailer was filled with high tech displays and critical-need simulators.
Caleb Allen, who drives the tractor-trailer, said he enjoys bringing the rolling workforce workshop to schools.
“There aren’t many places you can go
to work and teach kids video games that will help them out for a career,” he said.
Javier Rodriguez, from Bluffton, was exploring different careers and tried driving a tractor trailer while Allen provided guidance. Hilton Head computer science teacher Josh Wiedemann worked on moving a pallet with a forklift.
One of the youngest drivers on the simulators was Beaufort resident Genevieve Murray, 9, who tried her hand at driving a piece of heavy equipment.
“I liked it,” she said, “but I’m still going to be either a biologist or someone who tracks animals.”
Dallas said this inaugural event drew more than 100 attendees.
“The overall feedback I have gotten is that it was very positive, people were pleased, and they liked the diversity of companies, from high tech to education to service industries. Drone technology was there, also,” he said. “Plus the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) was there, and a lot of people
went up to them even after the event for help.”
Beaufort School District Superintendent Frank Rodriguez thought the event had a great turnout, had a lot of interest, and that it would be repeated elsewhere in the county.
“What a great opportunity. It’s just a chance for students and anybody in the community to come in, and learn about careers and career readiness that are right here in our backyard, right in our county, and in the region around Beaufort,” Rodriguez said. “We talk a lot about being college and career ready. I think most people have a good understanding about college and college readiness. And this is an opportunity for people to learn about careers and career readiness, and what they’re looking for in the workforce locally.”
A moving ceremonial program, lively march and community picnic were the highlights of Bluffton’s 2023 MLK Day Memorial Program in Ulmer Theatre at Bluffton Town Hall on Jan. 16.
The day’s events may have been planned by adults, but it was the youth who made the real impact with their contributions, particularly in the morning’s program.
Jabari Gordon, event MC, introduced each part of the ceremony. After the town’s new Police Chief Joe Babkiewicz read the opening prayer, the young people took over, with Alanna Douglas reading scripture, and Nylah Bolden offering a prayer.
Brodee Ashby, a student at Michael C. Riley Elementary School, read a portion of King’s speech. He and his sister Quinlee wanted to be a part of the service.
“He made one of the biggest changes in our society ever,” Brodee said after the program. “Because of Martin Luther King Jr.’s actions, “I get to have more friends, and meet more people.”
The ceremony wasn’t limited to spoken tributes. Members of Dani’s Dance Dynamic from Beaufort stirred many emotions from cheers to tears with their expressive and dramatic moves.
Pastor Bennie Jenkins from First Zion Missionary Baptist Church gave a moving speech on the day’s theme of “Together we can be the dream.”
“We have it in us to bring good to the
table of life,” Jenkins said. “If we… become unified in this dream, we all win. Our fuel for the journey is love.”
After singing the closing song, “We Shall Overcome,” audience members filed out onto sidewalk, and waited for the start of the march.
At the head of the line was the annual march banner followed by the Bluffton High School Army JROTC unit. In addition to a few groups with banners, there was a symbolic birthday cake mounted atop a golf cart in celebration of King’s birthday.
The route led up Pritchard Street to Bruin and on then Calhoun where it turned left and proceeded past shops and tourists, many of whom applauded while others joined the march.
The culmination was the community picnic at Oyster Factory Park on Wharf Street where volunteers served up hotdogs, chips, barbecue, barbecued chicken, potato salad, green beans, corn and cookies.
This gave marchers a chance to mingle with Bluffton residents and greet visitors, such as Sharon Anderson, a North Carolina resident who was visiting for her birthday.
“I think it’s important to commemorate the day,” she said. “It’s impossible to comprehend the legacy and sacrifice of Dr. King. He wanted to help all people, not just people of color. I think it’s important that our children learn what today is about.”
The annual celebration was organized by the Bluffton MLK Observance Committee.
Gwyneth J. Saunders is a veteran journalist and freelance writer living in Bluffton.
By Tim Wood CONTRIBUTOR
An indoor play space that struck all the right cords with Beaufort County families is now facing an eviction.
Jumpin’ Jellybeans received word from Tanger Outlet officials Jan. 23 that their 7,500-square-foot space in Tanger 1 was being taken over by their next-door neighbor, the recently opened Serena & Lily Outlet.
They were given 30 days to vacate the space.
The news came as a shock to owner Tanyelle Cole. Given the time needed to break down their equipment and clear out of the building, she chose to announce to patrons that she was closing on Jan. 27.
“We were courted by Tanger and Bluffton/Hilton Head was the best fit for us. We signed a lease in April 2022, opened in July and it’s been a wonderful experience until (now),” Cole said.
She acknowledged that the growing small business signed a specialty lease – often offered by shopping centers to fill space, but with clauses included if a larger corporate client is interested in taking over the space – but rolled the dice because she believed in proving her worth to the outlet giant.
“We are from Tennessee, we opened two other spots in outdoor shopping center spaces and we’ve been slowly perfecting the format to where we were ready for the challenge in Bluffton,” Cole said. The first two locations are slightly smaller spaces in Collierville, Tennessee, and Spanish Fort, Alabama.
Jumpin’ Jellybeans is marketed as a “boutique play space” for kids 10 and under, a place with a gigantic ball bit as the star attraction. There are no bounce houses or trampolines in the space. The space features a designated toddler area, free coffee, and a café area for parents,
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offering the ability to bring in your own food and snacks.
The concept made a quick and wide-spanning impact on the area, as parents raved about the concept. One group especially enthused with the space is the Lowcountry Autism Foundation, which has used the space as the home of their monthly Parents Night Out.
“This event, it means the world to our families. To have that window of time where they can trust that our kids are safe and enjoying themselves and we can take a breath, it’s a game changer. That respite is vital for our families,” said Sophia Townes, LAF Beaufort County program coordinator. “My son is on the spectrum, so I know what that time to play and rejuvenate means.”
Townes made a connection with Cole immediately and said she could tell from their first meeting that Cole had experience with special needs kids.
“We were at Island Playground to start
and then at The Sandbox, but this has been the most all-around perfect fit for us,” Townes said. “Tanyelle and her staff, they are so caring, they go out of their way to make our kids and our families feel at home. The place is so clean, so well run with such care, they have gone the extra mile to truly embrace the community. To become this vital to so many in just a matter of months, it speaks volumes about who they are.”
Cole said her experience with Tanger had been outstanding up until receiving the eviction notice, though she said the news is bitterly ironic.
“We were shown one space when we were looking at Tanger and it was too small. But then we were told there was a larger space, that the calendar store was going to downgrade their space and that we could take that space,” Cole said. “Come to find out, the calendar store
JUMPIN’ from page 16A
faced the same quick eviction we did; it was not their choice to move to a smaller space in Tanger 2. We are now the third specialty lease space that is being asked to move from Tanger 1 to Tanger 2. So, it turns out we were the mistress of sorts, and now there’s a new mistress.”
Cole said that Tanger did offer a smaller space for Jumpin’ Jellybeans in Tanger 2, but that the cost of retrofitting their equipment to fit the space would wipe them out financially.
“We’re scraping by, trying to grow this business. As much as we knew what could happen as a specialty lease, we thought we were earning our keep,” Cole said. “We were just preparing to have a discussion about a longer-term permanent lease with Tanger when we were told this news.”
Since hearing the news, Townes has been vocal and proactive in trying to spread the word about the closing. Posts from Cole elicited heartbreak and hun-
dreds of comments from parents from the island to Statesboro, Georgia, and Charleston.
“There’s nothing like this around here. These folks, they care so much, it’s what has made them stand out since Day One,” said Bluffton parent Alicia Hendricks.
“I cannot thank your family, company and employees enough for opening your doors to host Autism Respite Nights every month. I am so grateful for what you have done for our kids,” commented parent Kathleen Marie.
Many of the parents that commented were from surrounding communities like Beaufort, begging Jumpin’ Jellybeans to bring the first indoor play space to the city.
While Cole has begun to look around for alternative local homes, she is also going through the emotions of dealing with the news.
“We were actively selling annual memberships. We felt like we proved
our worth, so many parents would leave one parent with the kids while the other went shopping and brought back plenty of shopping bags, or both parents felt rejuvenated enough after the play time that they both went shopping with the kids. We would not have done that if we had any inkling of this coming,” Cole said.
“My husband was initially going to come get this space open and get a staff in place so we would not be here every day, but with the staffing shortage to start, I rented an apartment here to make this work, leaving my family in Tennessee,” she said. “We had just hired our last fulltime staffer on Jan. 20. It was a celebration, and then this news came.”
When contacted for comment, Tanger officials said they understand the frustration and are trying to find a solution that works for all parties.
“Tanger Outlets values Jumpin’ Jellybeans as a tenant and recognizes the positive impact the business has in the
community,” said a Tanger company spokesperson. “While we are unable to share specific details about lease terms and negotiations with businesses at the center, we can confirm that Tanger management is working closely with Jumpin’ Jellybeans ownership to find an alternate location within Tanger Outlets Hilton Head.”
Cole said that she has simultaneously been working on processing refunds for memberships and parties booked into the summer, while also holding out hope to be able to stay in Bluffton.
“The outpouring of love, the business support y’all have shown before this happened and since, we want to make it clear that we want to stay,” Cole said. “I followed God’s plan to launch this business model and I’m ready to ride out whatever the next part of that plan is. I very much hope it is here in Beaufort County.”
Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. timwood@blufftonsun.com.
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By Tim Wood CONTRIBUTOR
To some, it was a ratty old boat. It was a potential environmental pollutant. It was an eyesore that needed to go.
And for that group, the removal of a small blue and white dingy from the mud flats, oyster beds and grasses of Mackay Creek on Jan. 21 was a belated gift from St. Nick.
What’s Happening in Bluffton Facebook group member Aaron Smithmeier posted a photo of the boat being towed away around 7:45 a.m. Jan. 21. This effort came after repeated efforts to dislodge the boat from its wedged-in position in the mud flats by the boat’s former owner, long-time island charter captain Jon Everetts.
He was hoping for a “super tide” on Christmas Eve to get some help from Mother Nature, as he was unable to procure the proper size boat tow from local captains. As we’ve said before, this skiff has been the “don’t-ask, don’t tell” open secret among area seafarers for years.
There is a lore that built up around the boat. Some say it’s really been hanging
around the bridge waters for close to five years. We know that Everetts bought the boat about two and a half years ago. He moored the boat near the bridge to avoid dockage fees, hoping to one day restore the boat.
But rumor has it that the combined price tag of the purchase and the estimated cost of restoration was not sitting well with the true captain of the Everetts household.
So the boat meandered the waterways between Buckingham Landing and Mackays Creek for the past 24 months. It moved from one side to the other of the bridge segment closest to the Bluffton mainland before beaching itself in the Lowcountry grasses for an extended sunning session.
In that time, a smattering of social media posts admiring the boat turned into a buzz that grew into a full-on admiration society far outnumbering the prickly pears perturbed by what they saw as the lower-class aesthetic of the boat bringing down their property values.
These are likely the same folks who
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LITTLE BLUE from page 20A
complained about the rock pile organic art installation at the Bluffton town dock.
As one online commenter said, “To these snobs, we point an eternal raspberry tongue your way.”
The folks sad to hear the Jan. 21 news see the boat as far more than a sailing vessel. It is a sign of resilience, hope and joy each time they cross the bridge. “Bluey” has survived multiple severe storms, been knocked on its side, been tagged for removal multiple times – and yet it had survived every threat. Its indominable spirit became a symbol for first-time island visitors and long-time residents alike.
Facebook commenter Tracy Owens encapsulated this Little Blue Boat love perfectly in her Jan. 22 post.
pointing and blame assignments, the DNR cracked down on Everetts, who donated the boat to the South Carolina Reef Association rather than pay a $10,000 fine.
While there is no such organization that comes up on an online search, the DNR does run a Marine Artificial Reef Program, which constructs reefs from a variety of concrete and steel structures, including donated ships and tugboats.
Perhaps this is the group to which Everetts donated “Bluey.” Online commenters buy the theory, believing the boat will be sunk to become part of a new artificial reef off the Hilton Head coastline.
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“I love our quirky, eccentric, compassionate, party hard Island. I love how our mistakes are forgotten quickly and a little crazy is a required trait. It’s like a high school cafeteria, where there’s the jocks, the nerds, the geeks and freaks, the ‘goody two shoes,’ the druggies, the rich kids and the ‘not so rich kids’,” Owens began. “But the thing that’s different here is we all sit at the same table. Let something happen to one of us and we all turn out in support. We get all googly over a little blue boat that gets stuck in the marsh, and we freak out when it gets towed away. It’s like, if something (or someone) ends up here, then it becomes part of the landscape quickly and we want to protect it. I just freaking love that about this little rock that we call home.”
The vessel has gone through smaller waves of online infamy over the past two years but nothing like what began shortly after Thanksgiving. It began with a few videos admiring the boat. That turned into a barrage of hilarious memes, putting everyone from Skipper and Gilligan to Hootie and the Blowfish on the boat.
Local artists then began to take note. A pair of artists, Erin Christofoli and Stephen Gregar, raised a combined $900 that was donated to Bluffton Self Help.
Everetts was mostly oblivious to the newest wave of social media notoriety until a 48-hour spate of TV and daily newspaper reports put “Bluey” back on the South Carolina Department of Natural Resource’s radar. When “look the other way” turned to finger
Still others think no matter where the boat is, the spirit it represents should not be lost. They suggest a permanent floating replica be made to serve as a welcome to all visitors. Even new Hilton Head Island mayor Alan Perry, contacted last week, acknowledged the Little Blue Boat’s potential in serving as our emotional and spiritual mascot.
But this story is far from over. A steady flow of posters have said the reef stories are untrue, that the boat was taken off the marsh to quell the maritime barbarians at the gate.
Commenters in Facebook fan groups like I Love the Little Boat say this is just the beginning of a new chapter.
“It’s just the start of a new adventure. Gonna be restored and brought back to its original glory. Y’all will see it sailing around the island soon,” said one commenter. Bluffton resident Glenn Giles has been inquiring as to its wearabouts in hopes of taking on and completing the restoration that Everetts never got to.
And then there’s a photo posted by islander Bill Bollin, showing what looks to be the celebrated watercraft in a location near the bridge.
“It’s B-A-C-K!” said commenter Sandy Gillis of the photo.
Other backers of the boat preferred to lean on the big-picture meaning of the boat, rather than speculate about Bluey’s actual location.
Nay, haters, you might have taken the boat out of the water. But you can’t rip it out of our hearts.
Mariah Mervin began cheerleading in the seventh grade, and she has dreamed of running her own cheerleading gym ever since. At age 24, she has already accomplished that dream. In March 2021, she opened Prestige Elite Athletics, an all-star cheerleading gym on Hilton Head Island.
A local initiative has helped Mervin solidify her business plan and look forward to a successful career. This past Spring, the Hilton Head native attended the Black Equity University, a 12-week training program that teaches Black entrepreneurs the basics of owning and growing a business.
The program is organized by BlacQuity, a diverse group of Lowcountry business and community leaders who have made it their mission to elevate, empower and promote small Blackowned businesses.
Students begin the course by giving
pitches similar to what entrepreneurs do on the TV show “Shark Tank.” Over the course of the program, they refine their pitches, and the class culminates with a graduation ceremony, where each student gives a final pitch and receives a certificate.
“This really helped me move forward in my business journey,” Mervin said. The program taught Mervin how to market her business and helped her with the budgeting aspect. She can’t say enough about her teacher, BlacQuity executive director Gwen Chambers, who continues to mentor her today.
For now, Mervin rents space from Coastal Gymnastics of Hilton Head, but she hopes to soon have a building of her own. She also wants to attract more athletes and is looking forward to partnering with the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island to offer tumbling classes to members.
The second annual Bluffton State of Mind Shindig will be held, rain or shine, from 4 to 9 p.m. Feb. 18 at Oyster Factory Park, 63 Wharf St.
The event will include live music, food and beverages for purchase, and three speakers who will discuss various aspects of Bluffton history.
Speakers are Dr. Emory Campbell, former director of the Penn Center on St. Helena Island and a long-time and well-respected expert on the Gullah culture and history; Dr. Larry Rowland, a retired professor of history at the University of South Carolina, and author of three Beaufort County history books that start in 1514 and extend until 2016; and Iva Welton, a local historian who purchased Rosehill plantation and did extensive research on Rose Hill owner James Kirk, one of the two men who founded Bluffton.
Oysters will be available for purchase and
food trucks will be onsite. Watching the sunset on the May River, listening to music, eating fresh May River oysters and hearing real Bluffton history is a great way to spend an evening.
Commemorative T-shirts may be available. Any funds raised will be spent for the benefit of Bluffton area not-for-profit history efforts.
For more information, updates and to purchase tickets, visit the Facebook page You Know You’re From Bluffton When, email Michael Reynolds at blufftonsc@ yahoo.com or call him at 843-707-6390. The event is open to the public, especially those who live in Bluffton (for any length of time) and those interested in Bluffton history.
Tickets are $25 each for general admission; children under age 12 are admitted free.
UNIVERSITY from page 24A
Mervin is just one of many Black business owners who have benefited from Black Equity University. Bluffton Gullah native, Town Council member and president of the Bluffton MLK Observance Committee Bridgette Frazier was part of the first cohort of the program.
Frazier is also the owner of Chef B’s Eatz and one of the founders of BlacQuity.
At a Juneteenth celebration in 2020 at Eagles Field in Bluffton, Frazier met a successful entrepreneur named Billy Watterson, CEO of Watterson Brands and co-founder of Burnt Church Distillery.
The two began talking about the economic disparity and inequity in the local Black community. He mentioned that he wanted to support Black-owned businesses, but he couldn’t even find a listing of those businesses.
Frazier told Watterson that the
Bluffton MLK Observance Committee had been working on a Blackowned business directory. That directory can now be found on BlacQuity’s website.
After spending time listening and discussing the issues with Frazier and others on the committee, Watterson joined forces with them to form BlacQuity in 2020.
“Elevating and amplifying Black businesses is a great benefit to the community at large,” Frazier said.
“Not only does it allow a particular community to be able to recycle dollars … back into their own community, but it helps with the sustainability of an entire culture.”
In addition to educating entrepreneurs and promoting their businesses, Watterson and BlacQuity created the Lowcountry Legacy Fund through the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry.
The purpose of the fund is to
improve infrastructure, educational opportunities and equity in the Black community. Burnt Church Distillery gives a portion of its sales to this fund.
Much more is on the horizon for BlacQuity success stories, including Ma Daisy’s, named after Frazier’s grandmother. Located at the site of the former Pepper’s Porch, Ma Daisy’s will house Frazier’s restaurant, a bakery, an open-air market and the first Gullah cultural heritage center in Bluffton.
Patrons will be immersed in Gullah culture, get to hear the stories of Black culture and the Gullah people, and even learn how to make sweetgrass baskets. Above the space will be affordable housing for supervisory staff.
“What I love about what BlacQuity is all about is breaking down those barriers but not doing it solo,” Watterson said. “This is an all-of-us opportunity to fix and make these investments because it can’t happen
alone - in the Black community or in the white community. … People talk about wanting change to happen and wanting to be a part of change. Well, this is the real deal, and it’s more beautiful when we’re all engaged and working on it together.”
One of the best ways to support BlacQuity’s efforts is to patronize Black-owned businesses. Other ways to support the cause include telling others about those businesses, donating to BlacQuity, investing in Blackowned businesses and becoming a mentor with the university.
To receive updates on the university’s next class, learn more about BlacQuity or to get involved, visit blacquitysc.org.
When:
March 29, 2023 4:30-6:30 pm
Where:
Arts Center of Coastal Carolina 14 Shelter Cove Lane Hilton Head Island, SC
Purpose:
Cost:
Free Admission Tickets Required (Seating Is Limited)
The Annual Community Meeting will highlight the recent work of Community Foundation of the Lowcountry and focus on the committed partnerships the Foundation has developed over the years with local nonprofits and individual donors.
Keynote Speaker: Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International
Special Presentation: The inaugural Joan and Wade Webster Community Impact Award
Featured Speakers: Board of Directors Chair Jackie Rosswurm, PhD and Foundation Scholarship Recipient
Reception to Follow
Counting Crows is not just a famous rock band, but what the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society and Birds Canada hope you will do some time after midnight Feb. 16 and before midnight Feb. 20.
Launched in 1998, the Great Backyard Bird Count has become the world’s largest biodiversity-related citizen science project. In just 15 minutes, bird counters can provide real-time data about the avian community in their backyards or wherever they enjoy watching birds.
The February count helps scientists understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations.
About 384,650 people in 192 countries participated in 2022. It’s not a competition, but South Carolina was 11th behind neighbors North Carolina in 8th place and Georgia in 10th.
When it comes to contributing to the count, Beaufort County was a very close second last year behind neighboring Charleston. This county produced 490 checklists listing 162 species.
What does it take to count the birds, other than spending 15 minutes looking outside?
“Getting to see or hear them. The best start is a field guide, and there’s a myriad out there to pick from,” said Cliff Amos, president of the Sun City Bird Club. “Just examine what you see in order to pick out from all the different ones that sort of look alike.”
Among the birds counted in last year’s event, Beaufort County residents spotted mergansers, loons, warblers, brown pelicans, plovers, sandpipers, egrets, buffleheads, whistling ducks, and swans. Those sound pretty exotic with many of them waterfowl and shore birds, but there are more than three dozen little birds that flit in and out of trees and bushes.
The South Carolina Wildlife Federation has a list and photos of the common winter backyard birds for the state, from the American crow to the Northern mockingbird to the
yellow-bellied sapsucker. For the more ambitious, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a complete list of the state’s birds, although many may be on winter vacation.
For those who want to participate, it’s not enough to just look at and identify birds. There is some technology involved.
Anyone with a computer or a smart phone can participate in this free activity. Beginning bird watchers can download the free Merlin app or sign up on a computer. Created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the program helps users identify birds by description and by sound. Each bird ID includes several songs and calls made by the bird and shows male and female plumage as well as what the bird looks like from fledgling to adult.
Once a bird is identified, users can begin a record of birds seen.
For more advanced birders, the lab’s free eBird app can record a list of birds seen during a period of time, and users can include additional information under notes. Both apps require users to create a free Cornell Lab account.
Decide where you want to watch birds. You aren’t restricted to your own yard. You can go to a forest preserve, state park, nature trail or anywhere else you choose.
Spend at least 15 minutes or more at least once from Feb. 17-20, and identify the birds you see or hear and use one of these programs to share your list.
For more information, go to birdcount.org where you can learn how to sign up for and use Merlin and eBird.
J. Saunders is a veteran journalist and freelance writer living in Bluffton.
On paper, the sport of pickleball should have ended up one of those odd little quasi-sports they air on ESPN 8, like belt-sander racing or Quidditch. A little bit tennis, a little bit ping pong, a little bit badminton, but not quite enough of any to take itself seriously, pickleball was born when three friends on vacation in Seattle dreamt it up in the 1960s. (It being the ’60s, we’ll leave it to you to decide where they drew their inspiration from).
And yet, pickleball has risen from the ranks of odd sports to become – according to Pickleheads.com – the fastest-growing sport in America, roughly 4.8 million players strong and growing at an astonishing rate.
“Pickleball’s popularity exploded during the pandemic, when many Americans were looking for responsible ways to socialize and stay active,” said Brandon Mackie,
co-founder of Pickleheads. “But that was only the beginning – pickleball’s growth has continued even as lockdowns have ended and normal life has resumed.”
That popularity’s nationwide explosion has definitely been felt here in the Lowcountry. According to data from Picklehead. com, Bluffton is the 11th most popular city in South Carolina, which itself has the 23rd most pickleball courts in the United States. Picklehead.com lists five courts for the Bluffton area: Belfair, Hampton Lake and The Haven at New Riverside, which have two courts each; Rose Hill’s Colleton Point Racket Club, which has four; and Sun City, which has 19 courts between its north and south courts.
Rose Hill and Sun City’s courts topped the site’s list of the top courts in the greater Bluffton area, which includes three on Hilton Head: South Beach Racquet & Pickleball, Palmetto Dunes Tennis & Pickleball
Please see PICKLEBALL on page 30A
Tulips Thrift Store has been open for two years and recently completed renovations has doubled its size. Located in Sheridan Park, Bluffton, it is the dream-child of executive director, Patricia Lopez. Her vision was to open the store as a means to raise money for a long-term residence for victims of domestic violence.
Tulips is a registered nonprofit organi-
zation that Lopez believes will continue to grow, and for her, Tulips itself is a miracle.
Lopez is passionate about Tulips’ mission because of her own journey through the dark web of domestic abuse. She doesn’t like sharing details because she has forgiven and moved on with her life, and because she was always careful not to reveal too much because she never wanted to ruin the reputation of her former husband. Ironically,
Please see TULIPS on page 32A
TULIPS from page 31A
poisoned lies told about her only further isolated her from her community.
She said she left him two or three times but he would cry, ask for forgiveness and beg her to come back. Lopez held out hope that he would change, but he never did.
She was married for just under a decade. Lopez finally went to a shelter, then moved out of state.
The idea of opening a thrift store here sprang from her experience and she started collecting things and storing them in a garage. She worked as a cleaner and when people asked her if she wanted a lamp, a table, just about anything, she never said no.
Lopez filled her garage. Eventually, she and her friend, Lorena Hernandez, pooled their money, became partners and opened Tulips Thrift Store.
Lopez stated that most shelters for victims of domestic abuse are like hotel rooms –short stays and ugly. Now, the miracle she hopes for is to open a long-term residence somewhere in Jasper County. “I don’t want a hotel. I want to restore women, to start a life again,” she said. Her hope is that someone
will hear her call and donate a house, or land, or enough money to buy property.
She envisions a home with at least 10 to 12 bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, and a couple of meeting rooms.
“The point is to have a long-term place with professional staff and volunteers where women can live with hope, confidence and be happy despite a bad situation,” Lopez said. “If the women are fine, the kids will also be fine. When we get a place – when that happens, we’ll have a lot of help. There are so many similar stories.”
The goal for the residential facility is to provide a safe place, in an undisclosed location for safety, where women can find peace and stability. A psychologist or counselor will provide one-on-one counseling and support groups.
There will be pro bono legal help, and various classes – all to enable women to heal, rest, and rebuild their lives – and to help them avoid going back into an abusive relationship.
Lopez has a deep faith, and 21 years of experience as a pastor. Two years ago, on
the very same day, she signed a lease for the thrift shop and a contract to serve as pastor at Fey y Gloria (Faith and Glory Church) in Hardeeville.
Lopez teaches a six-week class at the church called Interior Healing, which she intends to integrate into the programs at the residential center.
“Interior Healing involves many things like learning to love yourself, to hope, to learn to survive alone, to do something else. The men tell abused women that they can’t survive alone,” Lopez explained. When her second miracle happens, she already has a name for the residence: Brillo de Mujer Home (Brilliant Light of Women).
Her message to women who experience abuse is, “Don’t keep quiet. Look for help. Look for interior healing for yourself and for your children. We are not healing when everything we see is ugly,” she said. “The devil used to tell me I couldn’t do it, but God wants what’s best for every child.”
A Cross Schools’ Newspaper
Service learning opportunities for inquisitive students present every year right here in the Bluffton community. Cross sixth grade students engage in field activities around historic Bluffton as part of their classroom research project. On the agenda this year was a visit to and tour of The Heyward House Historic Center, The Fripp House, and Seven Oaks, with a final stop at the historic Church of the Cross landmark
in Old Town Bluffton. Richard von Maur gave the trip his stamp of approval, labeling the experience “educational and historical”. His takeaway was “it inspired me to help keep Bluffton historical”.
Continued on page 2
Community Connections from page 1
Daniella Peoples described the trip as “educational” and teachers are happy with a mission accomplished as she “learned more about the town of Bluffton”.
Whether the focus is on the local community or communities in need outside of South Carolina, service learning at Cross extends to many organizations that require student
assistance with their programs. One example is Operation Christmas Child (OCC), a project managed under the Samaritans Purse organization. This project has collected shoe boxes full of supplies and treats from schools and churches for more than 198-million children in over 170 countries around the world. That translates to 10.5-million shoe boxes in 2021 alone. Cross students and families undertake the job of filling the shoeboxes, over 900 shoeboxes were filled this year. Contents include Christmas presents and basic need items like toothbrushes, hair ties, and tissues. The boxes are then sorted and checked in a processing center in North Carolina before being shipped to various countries around the world. Cross Schools participates in this program in three ways: distributing boxes for all of their students, acting as a drop off site for boxes (this year over 900 boxes were filled and collected at this site), and finally organizing an eighth grade field trip to the packaging center in Charlotte, NC. At the center, middle schoolers take an active role in packaging,
sorting, and transporting of the boxes. Pictured left: Cross Students transport Christmas boxes in an assembly line, preparing them to head to Charlotte, North Carolina.
Earlier this year, Cross Schools’ Archivist Club members visited the University of South Carolina’s College of Education Anne Frank Center in Columbia. To date, 30 upper school students have trained with the Anne Frank Center at UofSC to lead public tours of the Anne Frank: A History for Today exhibit. The exhibit returns to Cross Schools in 2024.
Pictured below: 2022 peer docents standing in front of a sapling from “Anne’s Tree”.
SCAD, and Charleston Southern University, where they toured campuses and discussed opportunities available to them with college guidance counselors. Cross Schools offers a unique opportunity during the school term for students to view college life and possible learning experiences for the benefit of students.
Slipstream talked to college guidance counselor, Mrs Eileen O’Reilly about the philosophy behind the college visits:
XT: Why does Cross Schools take students on college tours during the school year?
Washington D.C. with all our juniors. Students will also explore museums and monuments and enjoy the history of D.C. I think it’s important that everyone is exposed to a variety of options when making decisions for
Land and
give a of the tour of the school to a visiting family on Cross Schools’ Student Admission day. Thirteen student ambassadors have trained to welcome prospective new families and give them a comprehensive school tour as they consider joining the Cross community.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AAmF_pzhtVZtAuorI7Knn8wi4nNbp_I6
EO’R: We take students on tours because not everyone has an opportunity to visit on their own. As a group, students may ask questions they wouldn’t normally ask if touring on their own.
XT: Is this different to what other local area schools do?
EO’R: Yes, some private schools offer trips like this but we do it to enhance the college application process. We try to expose students to
Pictured above: Cross Schools’ students enjoying the annual Color Run which raised over $32,000 for the Upper School Advisory Council. The council undertakes yearly projects to generate funds which are then used to directly benefit all students .
Payton Ward: President
“I can’t wait to serve the school that I love.”
Ethan Land: Vice president
“I promise to help lead our school to be the best it can be.”
Max Homann: Treasurer
" I will oversee club finances, [...] ensure budgets are adhered to, and all club bills are paid on time.”
Ashlyn Elrod: Secretary
“You can count on me to always be reliable and determined throughout our year.”
By Ethan LandFifth graders embrace Cross Schools’ recycling efforts as part of their environmental learning course with Mrs. Hoiles. An arrangement with Bluffton’s Recycle Michael to recycle flat, clean paper has the students working hard
By Ethan Land
Maggie Drury: Spirit chair
“I promise that I will bring Spirit to Cross and make this year fun!”
Alex Homann: Communications
“I promise to be a committed and dutiful communications chair .”
to sort general recycling bins from the classrooms every Monday. Students also collapse cardboard boxes no longer needed as flattened cardboard is also accepted for recycling.
Pickelball enthusiasts in Green Point, South Africa are working with Cross Schools teacher, Rodney Fisher, who will assist with 30 pickelball paddles. The Rodney Fisher Foundation has agreed to work with the makerspace class to make paddles for South African students. With the supoprt of Cross Schools, five US students are currently cutting and shaping the paddles. The next step will be too wrap the handles with the appropriate grip material and coat the wooden paddle to be ready for use. The first paddle will be tested over the holiday break.
Most of us remember the bond and camaraderie we enjoyed in our youth from friendships formed by shared experience. Participation in football, drama clubs, soccer, basketball, cheerleading, or other group activities was not only fun, but it also gave an opportunity to belong to a group that gave us joy.
That is exactly what members of the Hilton Head Island Shag Club experience through weekly Friday night social dances, five or six parties a year with music and dinner, and their annual Winter Classic in January.
The Winter Classic draws shag dancers from other clubs throughout the East Coast. More than 200 dancers from the Lowcountry, Myrtle Beach, and as far as Columbia, Spartanburg and even Jacksonville, Florida, attended the Winter Classic Jan. 20 at the Sonesta Resort on Hilton Head Island. The ballroom was filled with smiling fac-
es, dancing feet, great music and amity. The “spotlight” dance showcased Jackie McGee and Charlie Womble, a husband-and-wife dance team who have won the National Shag Dance competition 13 times.
Becky Elliott, one of the club’s dance instructors and past president, said, “In the shag club community, clubs throughout the region each throw one big event. A lot of folks fill up their monthly calendar going from dance to dance in the Southeast.”
For example, 85-year-old Marlene Frazier has traveled from Jacksonville to the Winter Classic every year since the 1990s. “I started dancing the shag when I was 57 and I go dancing three days a week. I think it’s great fun and important that our clubs support one another.”
Local member Dick Ryan said he was a lifeguard in Myrtle Beach back in the ’60s and loved the beach dances. He would ask a girl to dance, do two or three steps and then whisper that it was too crowded and escort
SHAG from page 33A
her away. He jokingly called it “the lifeguard shuffle.”
Ryan has been a member of the Hilton Head Shag Club since its inception in 1994.
Patty DeGraw and her husband, Marvin, hail from Windsor, Canada. Their first trip to Hilton Head was nearly 35 years ago. They discovered a bar and dance club where people were dancing the shag and fell in love with the dance.
Patty was a clog dancer in Canada and also taught disco back in the ’70s. After that one visit, they traveled in a motor home for 25 years to spend six months a year in Hilton Head to shag dance. They moved here eight years ago and are active members in the Hilton Head Island Shag Club.
The Carolina Shag is the official dance of South Carolina. Its moves and music have evolved over time and survived the evolution of musical culture from the Big Band Era to Rock ’n’ Roll and Hip Hop. However, the history of the Shag is much more than the development of the dance over several decades – it’s a positive story of race relations during segregation. Black and white
youth and their love of music pushed back the barriers of segregation to do what they love: dance to great music and live on the edge. The Jitterbug came along in the ’40s, and this fast dance with upbeat music and different rhythms led to the development of the shag.
Bill and Vicky Anderson are active members and serve as dance instructors. Bill explained that club members all have different skill levels, different styles, and different abilities, but all enjoy the club and dancing. He added that the shag club even has a Junior Shag initiative.
Anderson explained that shag dancing, like many other cultural interests, wanes as generations grow older. The Junior Shag initiative is an opportunity to pass the love of shag dancing onto the youth who enjoy dancing with their parents, grandparents, and other family members, strengthening family ties.
The shag endures because it’s casual, it’s fun, and it allows one’s personal style and favorite moves as you build your repertoire. The purpose of the Hilton Head Island Shag Club is to spread the love of shag and the joy of beach music to the community. John Thomas, outgoing president of the club, encourages anyone looking for some fun to come to a Friday night social dance to discover what the club has to offer. Their social dances and lessons are held at Heinrichs Hall at Christ Lutheran Church on William Hilton Parkway, and yearly membership is only $30.
For more information visit hiltonheadshagclub.com.
Edwina Hoyle is a freelance writer in Bluffton.
The Bridge Builders Committee of St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church will host a free in-person presentation at 10 a.m. March 4 at the church, 20 Pope Ave. on Hilton Head Island, featuring Dr. Millicent Brown, educator, author, civil rights leader, and lifelong community advocate.
Dr. Brown will be speaking on First Children in South Carolina School Desegregation. Dr. Brown is co-founder and project director of a national initiative to identify the “first children,” like herself, to desegregate previously all-white schools, as part of the Somebody Had to Do it Project.
Dr. Brown has held a variety of history and museum related faculty positions and serves as consultant for numerous museums and historic sites and social justice programs in North and South Carolina.
“We are honored to have Dr. Millicent Brown as our guest speaker at the Dr. Julius
Scott Lecture Series Event,” said Sue Yearwood, chair of the Bridge Builders’ event.
The purpose of Bridge Builders is to ensure that goals and objectives related to racism and inequality are grounded in scripture, to explore and better understand the causes and extent of racism and inequality, to help educate others on the issues of racism and inequality, and to develop and promote systems for addressing and overcoming racism and inequality.
The lecture series, named after one of its founding members and lifelong civil rights advocate, the late Rev. Dr. Julius S. Scott Jr., is one way the group collaborates with other community organizations by sponsoring and coordinating community-wide seminars and conferences.
To RSVP, email standrewbythesea@gmail. com. For more information about St. Andrew By-The-Sea UMC, visit hhiumc.com.
Beaufort County School District (BCSD), Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission, Pat Conroy Literary Center, Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL), University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB), and Penn Center have collaborated to host “Untold Stories, Pathways for the Next Generation,” an African American history education conference with a focus on Beaufort County’s rich and diverse history.
The conference, set for Feb. 9-11 at various venues, is open to anyone desiring an immersive learning experience about African American history specific to Beaufort County.
This second annual conference promises a robust series of activities and educational sessions for attendees. The three-day immersive experience includes live music and dance, art, cuisine, and in-depth presentations and panel discussions from local and nationally renowned artists, authors, educators, clergy, living legends and historians.
“We had such a positive response to last year’s programming that we knew we needed to do this again,” said conference organizer BCSD Officer of Academic Initiatives, Dr. N’kia Campbell.
On Thursday, attendees will have a choice of six historical tours. Friday’s activities and sessions will be at TCL, while Saturday’s conference events will be at USCB’s historical campus in Beaufort.
For a conference overview, visit: www. beaufortschools.net/community/2nd-annual-african-american-history-education-conference. Interested persons can pre-register for the conference online on a first-come, first-served basis. Community members can register per day ($25 for Friday or Saturday; Thursday is free). BCSD employees and BCSD, TCL and USCB students can attend the conference free of charge.
For more information, email AAHEC@ beaufort.k12.sc.us.
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Senior Softball Beaufort (SSB) reports the start of the 2023 Spring season.
The league is seeking individuals who enjoy softball and want to play in a 50-plus senior softball league open to men and women, dedicated to fun, safety and competition.
Currently, the League has eight teams with more than 120 players with six local sponsors. Teams are looking for new players, with an option of assembling one or two new teams based on the level of interest.
SSB teams are built with a goal of parity through a draft process, so individuals are recommended to register online and strongly encouraged to attend at least one open group practice for assessment and placement on a team.
“We want players of all abilities and will build team rosters that foster friendships, fun and healthy competition” said League Commissioner and co-founder Rick Trenary. “All of our teams include tournament-caliber players alongside teammates that just want to play for the fun of the game.”
Founded in 2021, Senior Softball Beaufort County is an independent association whose
purpose is to provide adjunctive services and support to the league host, Beaufort County Parks and Recreation, with the goal of expanding the presence of senior softball, in a fun, safe and competitive environment, in the county.
Beaufort County Parks and Recreation registration is scheduled to start in early February but interested players can join the SSB anytime through their website.
Introductory practices for new players are tentatively scheduled for: 3-5 p.m. Feb. 8 (location to be determined); 3-5 p.m. Feb. 15 (location to be determined); and 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 18 at Barker Field on Hilton Head Island.
The eight-week regular season starts in March with playoffs ending in late May, depending on weather.
Every Wednesday, each team plays two games (at 4 and 5:15 p.m.) at M.C. Riley fields in Bluffton or Barker Field on Hilton Head.
For more information about the league, visit SeniorSoftballBeaufort.com or email info@ SeniorSoftballBeaufort.com.
The Zonta Club of Hilton Head Island is seeking nominations for their 2023 Woman of the Year Award. Nominations should be received by March 3.
The award recognizes local women who have made significant contributions in their professions and to the community. This award was started 39 years ago to recognize those women who have given their time and expertise to our community while effectively managing their professional positions, their families, and other responsibilities.
Nominees for the award should be women who spend 60% of their time at their professions, who in the past three years have made extraordinary contributions to the community beyond professional or work requirements, and who have participated in a variety of causes. They should also have held leadership roles in these organizations.
Nomination forms can be downloaded from the Zonta Club’s website at zontahhi.org or picked up at the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce office, 1 Chamber of Commerce Drive, Hilton Head Island.
Nominations should be received by the Zonta Club by 5 p.m. March 3. They may be mailed to the Zonta Club of Hilton Head Island, PO Box 4838, Hilton Head Island, SC 29938, or emailed to President@zontahhi.org.
The award will be presented at the annual Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Ball on April 1. For more information, call Linda Warnock at 843-338-2260.
An Evening of Love, an elegant wine pairing dinner, will celebrate Valentine’s Day and the Children’s Relief Fund Feb. 11 at Venue 1223 on May River Road in Bluffton.
Chef Ryan McCarthy will create a multi-course dinner paired with fine wines in a glamorous and intimate venue.
“This special evening will be shared by only 100 friends and supporters,” said Rose Fotia, founder and chair of the Children’s Relief Fund.
All proceeds raised by CRF, now in its 32nd year, benefit the Lowcountry’s special needs children and their families.
Programs that are supported include Area 8 Special Olympics, Heroes on Horseback, SOAR, Fishing with
Friends, Pockets Full of Sunshine, Lowcountry Autism Foundation, and the Island Rec Center.
CRF fulfills both tangible and intangible needs for families, providing funding for much-needed equipment such as wheelchairs, prosthetics and medical supplies, and financial support for physical, occupational, behavioral and speech therapies as well as life-enriching programs.
Reservations for the Evening of Love Wine Dinner are $250 per person and can be made online at thechildrensrelieffund.org. Email seating requests to rfotia333@yahoo.com.
Personal and corporate donations/ sponsorships for Children’s Relief Fund are gratefully accepted.
The Hilton Head Cotillion Debutante Ball was held Dec. 30 at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort. Guests were received by Mr. and Mrs. Gaston Lucius Moore, president; Mr. and Mrs. Warner Lawson Lowrey, president-elect; and Mrs. John Eric Woods, chairman of the Debutante Ball Committee. The daughters making their formal bow to society presented by their fathers included: Miss Ali Ward DeSpain, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Butler DeSpain, escorted by Michael Dargan Cherry; Miss Katherine Mary Drozd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Timothy Drozd, escorted by John Gallagher Sprenger Jr.; Miss Caroline Elizabeth Keber, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Keber III, escorted by Sterling Dakota Luciano; Miss Jacqueline Crispin Lowrey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Warner Lawson Lowrey, escorted by Maxwell Joseph Green; Miss Emma Payne Moore, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lucius Gaston Fishburne Moore, escorted by Gunner Thompson Askeland; Miss Reedy Buyck Newton, daughter of The Honorable and Mrs. William Weston
Jones Newton, escorted by Maximilian James Lowrey; Miss Laney Caroline Sewell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Hampton Sewell, escorted Hampton Bradley Sewell;
Miss Mary Margaret Yanker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Randall Stuart Yanker, escorted by Henry McCaw Suskind.
The sons attending their first Hilton Head
Cotillion Ball were Mr. Conrad Milam Alford, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Milam Alford; Mr. Luke Delaney Holland, son of Mr. and Mrs. Derek Michael Holland; Mr. Daniel Robert Keber, son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Keber III; Mr. Peter Keber IV, son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Keber III; Mr. Maximilian James Lowrey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Warner Lawson Lowrey; Mr. James Carlton Marler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Reif Carlton Marler; Mr. Benjamin Hanks Marler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Reif Carlton Marler; Mr. William Weston Jones Newton, Jr, son of The Honorable and Mrs. William Weston Jones Newton; Mr. John Douglas Patterson, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Taylor Patterson; and Mr. Jeremy Luke Wilkes, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robin Scott Wilkes.
The Street Talk Band provided music for the grand march, debutante figure, and dancing. Mr. Christopher Corkern announced the debutantes, and Mrs. Joseph Franklin Green coordinated the grand march and debutante figure.
For the 12th consecutive year, the prestigious and historic Forest City Gun Club in Savannah will be the site of the Sporting Clays Shoot to benefit Pockets Full of Sunshine (PFS) on March 10.
Proceeds raised from this event support the nonprofit organization’s vocational and social opportunities for adults with disabilities and engages them in the greater Hilton Head Island/ and Bluffton communities.
This action-packed day draws shooters of all levels and its prestigious venue – America’s oldest, continuously operating skeet, trap and sporting clays shooting club – is particularly appealing to shooting sports aficionados.
Hilton Head residents and co-chairs Fuzzy Davis and Carol Bartholomew and their committee work tirelessly to create this unique fundraiser, with its authentic atmosphere of spirited camaraderie and competition.
“This annual event has an awesome vibe and has become wildly popular,” said Davis. “The smiles are abundant and having the adults with disabilities participate in the day reminds everyone of why we are gathered. At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter how many clays you’ve broken because you are helping support a great need and cause.”
Barbara Wells, parent of a special needs
adults, said, “This is one of our favorite days of the year! Our son thrives at Pockets and we are grateful for their daily love and purpose to make a noble difference in his life and in our community. Everything PFS does is fun and valuable, they give us great hope for a bright future.”
Participants, sponsors, and volunteers are all treated to a one-of-a-kind experience with a full day of food provided by Skull Creek Boathouse and Downtown Catering; a shooting exhibition by Andrew Dunn, NSCA certified instructor and manager at Palmetto Bluff Shooting Club; the shooting event; and an awards reception. The day also includes an auction highlighting handcrafted and screen-printed items made by special needs adults.
Two dove hunt excursions to Argentina are going to be auctioned and the popular gun raffle will take place. Raffle tickets are available for $25 each or five for $100. The winner does not need to be present. The event, which sold out in 2022, is open to shooters of all abilities. Early registration is suggested. Sponsorship opportunities are available and appreciated.
To register online or purchase gun raffle tickets, visit pocketsfullofsun.org, or contact Bartholomew at 843-384-1315.
• The Bluffton Democratic Club will now hold its meetings from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month, beginning Feb. 2, at Blue HQ, 39 Persimmon St., Suite 201 in Bluffton.
A Happy Hour and Hang Out is held every Thursday beginning at 5 p.m., also at Blue HQ. All are welcome to bring their own beverage, or enjoy coffee, tea or water that is provided.
Become informed on local issues, candidates, volunteer opportunities and more. For more information, visit blufftondemocrats. com.
• American Legion Post 205 will host Four Chaplains Day at 10 a.m. Feb. 3 at Bluffton Veterans’ Memorial Park at Buckwalter Place.
The speaker is Andrew L. Arruza, retired chaplain of Post 205.
The event is free and open to the public.
• The annual All Saints Garden Tour Art Show will be on display Feb. 3-28 at Hilton
Head Library during operating hours. The public is invited to visit the exhibit of 30 garden-related art works in various media.
One work from the exhibit will be selected as the winner of the Garden Tour poster contest, and will be used for promoting the 2023 tour, set for May 20.
All the works are for sale, and part of the proceeds will go to the Garden Tour. Net proceeds from the tour are distributed to six local charities. For more information, visit allsaintsgardentour.com.
• The next monthly meeting of Liberal Men of the Lowcountry will begin at noon Feb. 8 at the Country Club of Hilton Head in Hilton Head Plantation.
Guest speaker is Shavonne Vasquez, manager of the Hilton Head Circles Chapter, a new program of the Deep Well Project that is designed to help lift people out of poverty. Vasquez will talk about the nature of this new endeavor.
Cost for the luncheon is $27. Non-members who are considering joining the organi-
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
zation are welcome to come, but they must email bew_50@hotmail.com in advance.
• The International Osprey Watch Program is the topic for a meeting of Hilton Head Audubon at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head Island.
Carol Clemens, area coordinator for the local Osprey Watch Program, will introduce ospreys and the osprey monitoring program on Hilton Head, which is part of the Lowcountry Osprey Watch program through the Spring Island Trust.
Locally, volunteers observe assigned nests and their observations and photos are entered into the international online database.
The mission of Osprey Watch is to collect information on a large enough scale to be useful in addressing three of the most pressing issues facing aquatic ecosystems including global climate change, depletion of fish stocks, and environmental contaminants. The meeting is free and open to the public.
• Palmetto Quilt Guild will host its mem-
bership meeting from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 16 at Hilton Head Beach & Tennis Resort, 40 Folly Field Road.
Speaker Sylvia Shaeffer, from Flying Parrott Quilts, will talk about “Designing with Negative Space.” The lecture will give step-bystep ideas on how to begin with a traditional quilt block and then alter it to incorporate negative space (also know as background areas).
• 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; and Bluffton, second Saturday of the month.
Come to meet these sweet gentle dogs and learn about their transition to pets after their racing years end. Greyhounds are a unique breed of dog with an interesting history. For more information, contact Chris Schlentner, 847-321-1771, or Karen Shea ,804-356-4102.
At our hospital, we create rehabilitation programs that are specifically designed for each patient’s needs, using advanced technology and innovative treatments to maximize recovery. It’s why so many people and their caregivers choose us. And why we are the trusted choice of a growing number of medical professionals.
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By Tim Wood CONTRIBUTORWell, that month went quick. Welcome to the blink.
I always feel like Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt tethered to the pipe in “Twister” during this stretch. It’s like the calendar saying, “You had your holiday breather, now here, take on these 98 projects and come up for air in May.”
(As an aside, there is talk of a “Twister” sequel being made with Hunt and honoring the deceased Paxton. The movie made $500 million in 1996 dollars and they didn’t make five more of them. How refreshing. But I digress.)
There is much going on in our business bubble. Let’s discuss.
Main Street Village comings and goings: It is the long-time small business epicenter of the North End, but there isn’t typically a lot of business movement in Main Street Village. It is one of those rabbit hole gems, where you might be pulled in by the Harris Teeter but then end up browsing through the rows of shops for the afternoon.
So, long-time shoppers might call this a seismic event in that corner of shoppers paradise, as one business has opened and two businesses closed.
First, the departed. Gr8 Bites closed its doors in the center on New Years Eve after their lease was not renewed.
Chef Greg Elmquist turned his experience
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UPDATE from page 41A
at Chart House and Sigler’s into his own place when he and wife, Beth, took over the former Munchies in November 2022. Now, they have moved about 8,000 feet down William Hilton Parkway to Northridge Plaza, where they have taken over a space formerly occupied by a sushi restaurant.
The couple took over the new space in November and did renovations there while keeping the Main Street locale open.
The new space is larger but will feature the same breakfast faves and lunch specials like comfort food lunch specials like pork schnitzel and Nathan’s hot dogs.
No new tenant for the old space has been announced by Main Street officials.
Another part of the merchant family, Bohemian boutique Luna and Lillies, is leaving so owners Karli and Will Dixon can focus on their new baby. A jewelry store will be taking over that space at 1401 Main Street. More on that to come in our next update.
The new arrival on Main Street is Limoncello’s Cibo Italiano, a counter service Italian eatery at 1203B Main Street. The spot has been in the works for nearly a year
and features handmade pasta, daily homemade sauces, ready-to-heat to-go meals and unique Italian desserts.
Black Marlin closed for renovations: It is technically the F&B offseason, though if you ask the industry veterans, they will tell you there is no offseason here anymore. That’s good sometimes, but not when it comes to the freshening up that eateries do in taking advantage of the winter lull. The SERG Group is no stranger to that, as it seems one of their restaurants is remodeled each year. This year, it’s the Black Marlin Bayside Grill that’s getting the update. The restaurant closed in early January and will be closed through mid- to late-February. If it’s anything like past renos, prepare to be wowed.
Tio’s owners taking over Fiddlers: Sometimes the universe just aligns and a plan on which you had no designs becomes the new path. Sally and Lynden Zuniga have been busy building their Tio’s empire, continuing to grow both their Shelter Cove location and their Bluffton locale at Buck-
walter Place. The couple were looking for potential investments when a commercial realtor alerted them of a potential opening at Fiddler’s Seafood Restaurant and Market in Ridgeland.
Long-time owner Donna Rowell was looking to sell the beloved West Main Street staple. On the surface, it was a weird move for the Zunigas and their Latin American cuisine focus.
But seafood is a centerpiece of Chef Lynden’s menus, and as it turns out, the family has roots in Ridgeland, as Sally’s brother Nate, who has been overseeing the growth in Bluffton, has a budding farm in Ridgeland that includes a pair of newly adopted rescue pigs.
“We went up there on a whim and just fell in love. Any investment we were looking at, we wanted a project that’s immersed in a community. That’s exactly what Fiddler’s is – they have developed a following because they care about the people and about every dish they sell,” Sally Zuniga said of their recently finalized purchase of Fiddler’s. “They have an amazing staff that will continue to be the face of the restaurant. We’re not looking to change. We just want to continue to build on what Donna and his staff have already expertly built.”
That will include a few cosmetic upgrades in the dining room and in the adjacent market building on South Green Street. But the Zunigas wanted Fiddler’s loyal customer
Please see UPDATE on page 43A
UPDATE from page 42A
base to know there will be no reinventing the wheel.
“This is a vital part of Ridgeland and we look forward to continuing the legacy that Donna has built in town,” Zuniga said.
The UPS Store has opened at Buckwalter Place at 7 Venture Drive, next to Icon Carts and Hotworx. Spokesperson and Bluffton partner Kate Pesaturo, who also runs one of the franchise locations in Savannah, said the new store is ready for your Amazon returns, shipments, shredding, printing and passport photo needs – just to name a few of the services the jack of all small business services store provides.
Oh yeah, Aldi opened. It’s the news that just about broke the local internet. The long-awaited German grocery titan has opened its location in the Hobby Lobby plaza at the intersection of U.S. 278 and Burnt Church Road. Store officials welcomed a crowd of more than 350 diehards that had waited for hours for the chance to win gift cards and a Golden Ticket shopping spree.
This is the Trader Joe’s we never got. The fervor for this new edition to the grocery scene makes us believe many of that brigade is already saying, “Trader Who?” after decades of being scorned by the chain.
The store had a soft opening on Jan. 25 and its official opening on Jan. 26, and yes, the Aisle of Shame and the red bag chicken are everything they were cracked up to be. If you know, you know. Like a good movie, I don’t want to spoil too much of the surprise for y’all.
An official welcome to the Lowcountry and danke schoen for the smiles and savings you’ve brought to our lives.
D.J.’S Day of Giving coming Feb. 24: It’s hard to believe it’s been yet another year, but we are now prepping for the third annual D.J.’s Day of Giving to honor fallen Bluffton teen Dwon “D.J.” Fields, Jr. This year’s event is once again on the 55th day of the year in memory of the number DJ wore for the Bobcats football team.
More than 70 businesses participated last year in giving a percentage of their sales
for the day to the Live Like D.J. Scholarship Fund. The fund has raised close to $100,000 since Fields was killed in a March 5, 2021, shooting, and the family welcomed the first class of Live Like DJ Scholars in 2022.
This year’s scholarship application deadline is March 13. For more information and to donate to the fund, go to cf-lowcountry. org. For more information on this year’s Day of Giving, go to djdayofgiving.com. And if you’re a business looking to take part, please call or text me at 843-290-6242 or email timmaywood@gmail.com and we will make you part of our 2023 lineup.
Pork butt sale coming: An array of local businesses and community leaders is once again cooking up the world’s most delicious pork butts on Super Bowl weekend to raise money for local charities. F3 Lowcountry is taking reservations for the 2023 Pork Butt Sale on Feb. 11.
This year, seven local businesses – High Point Family Dentistry, Elite Sports Therapy, Bella Straw, Kinghorn Insurance, SERG Restaurant Group, Vaux Marscher Berglind
(VMB) and J.K. Tiller Associates – are sponsoring the sale to help offset the cost of purchasing the epic amount of pork butts that the F3 crew will cook up in the VMB parking lot off May River Road.
DJ’s Day of Giving was one of the fund recipients in 2023, and this year, the proceeds will go to Save the Shutters, a charity focused on providing home renovations for low-income families, and The Celebration Project, a nonprofit that provides birthday parties and special events to families fighting severe illnesses.
The roughly 5-pound finished butts are $40 each and can be picked up from 9 a.m. to noon at 1251 May River Road on Feb. 11. I can tell you that Kevin Icard and his crew cook up insanely succulent gifts from culinary heaven that give all of our Old Town smoker experts a run for their money. Make your reservation by Feb. 7 by email at F3Lowcountry@gmail.com or by calling 843-901-3476.
Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. timwood@blufftonsun.com
Many modern estate plans incorporate the use of Revocable Trust Agreements (RLT) as a substitute for a will so the assets in the trust do not go through probate. Within the RLT, clients will often direct that assets be left into a trust (an irrevocable) for the benefit of loved ones (usually their children), instead of outright.
The benefits of leaving assets into a trust for their benefit are many and include: (1) asset protection (assets left into a properly drawn trust will
not be subject to most lawsuits including divorce); (2) estate tax avoidance (assets left into a properly drawn trust will not be subject to estate taxation in the beneficiary’s estate); and (3) control of assets (assets left into a properly drawn trust can be directed to stay in the blood family).
Nowadays, points 1 and 3 are usually what concern clients the most.
In this regard, if estate taxes in the beneficiary’s estate is not a concern, then, in order to achieve maximum step up in basis at the death of the beneficiary, it is advisable to consider giving the beneficiary a general power to appoint the assets so it will be included in their estate and thus they can get the full step up in basis at their death.
In addition, it is a good idea to review estate plans that leave assets
“in trust” so as to ensure the trustee has full authority to treat capital gains as income that is distributable net income to beneficiaries.
The reason for this is it provides the trustee with the ability to achieve maximum total return taking into account income tax considerations. Absent provisions which permit this, capital gains incurred within these irrevocable trusts may have to be reported at the trust level which can result in a higher rate of tax due on gains.
Furthermore, if the main goal is asset protection and you are trying to protect assets once inherited from loss to equitable distribution in a divorce and generally to keep money in your blood family, it is advisable to name an independent party, which could be a child’s best friend who would
have absolute and pure discretion in making distributions of income or principal.
If the child or loved one who is beneficiary has the ability to fire the trustee for any reason so long as a new independent Trustee assumes the role, the asset protection purpose of the trust is best accomplished.
Careful analysis of each individual case is crucial to success. It is a mistake to only focus on probate avoidance. In sum, when it comes to estate planning, one size does not fit all. Careful scrutiny of all the issues is necessary if you are to achieve maximum benefit for your family.
The stores have been stocked with floating heart balloons, stuffed animals, and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates since before New Year’s Day. Your mind might be racing about what you can give to your special someone (or even to yourself) to show how much you care.
Will it be dozens of roses this year, or maybe a new piece of jewelry, an edible fruit arrangement, or sweets? Before you fall into the traditional trap of standard “Cupid day” gifts, I suggest that you decide to break tradition.
Give something more unique this Valentine’s Day. Show your true love and affection in a way that can be lasting and carried on even after you have passed away.
What is this unique gift you ask? An estate plan!
Creating an estate plan has meaning – it’s not something that is just tossed together with a pretty bow. When creating an estate plan, you are placing the needs of your loved ones into consideration and also planning for the management of your own care during the potential time of incapacity.
Getting your own financial and estate planning affairs in order is a big and heartfelt step that you can take to show your loved ones that you care about them.
Some of your goals for your estate Plan should consist of:
• Planning for your own incapacity
• Expressing your end of life wishes
• Naming a guardian of your minor children
• Saving your family time, expenses and stress
• Avoiding (or minimizing) family disputes
Cross Schools named Joseph Almeida as the next Head of School, beginning June 1, 2023. Almeida is currently serving in the role of Lower School Principal for Cross Schools.
Almeida earned a Bachelor of Science in Childhood Development and Learning with teacher licensure from Maryville College, a Master of Science in Educational Leadership, and an Educational Leadership Certificate from Buffalo State SUNY. He is nearing completion of his EdS Doctorate in Educational Leadership through Gordon College.
His experience includes serving as a teacher, coach, and administrator in Tennessee, Brazil, Georgia, and South Carolina. During his 17-year career, he has worked in public and private schools stateside and abroad.
Almeida and his wife, Kathleen, have five children and reside in Bluffton, SC.
Located in Bluffton, Cross Schools was established in 1998 as an independent Christian school. The school expanded to its Buckwalter Campus at 495 Buckwalter Parkway and serves more than 650 students in preschool through high school.
visit crossschools.org or call 843-706-2000.
• Legacy Planning for future generations
• Providing financial support for your families
• Pet care management
• Charitable donations
Think about your estate plan as a love letter to the most important people in your life. It’s a way for them to reflect on who you are and your values. Once you’ve created an estate plan, you’ll feel at peace knowing that you’ve created a solid plan that accounts for your own care management, and makes sure that your money, property or other assets are distributed to the right people or organizations of your choice.
You will have provided the tools to guide your loved ones according to your outlined wishes. But if you fail to plan by not showing this simple act of love, then guess who gets to plan for you? The state!
The state’s plan for the distribution of your estate could result in individuals
inheriting and managing your assets that you wouldn’t have chosen on your own. Additionally, the state’s plan could result in more costly probate or estate litigation and disputes among your loved ones. Don’t leave your estate door wide open for these issues to arise – lock it and seal it with a kiss and allow for your created estate plan to be used as the only key that controls. Why spend money on jewelry that might not be worn every day, or on flowers that will eventually wither away? Giving a gift that truly matters and provides for security in the future is the ultimate unique gift that will last for years to come and be cherished by both you and your loved ones forever. Give that ultimate gift of love and speak with an estate planning attorney today.
Jada L. Gaines is an associate attorney with Elder Law & Estate Planning Center in Bluffton. hiltonheadelderlaw.com
If back pain is keeping you from doing the things you enjoy, you’re not alone, as it’s one of the most common issues preventing people from engaging in everyday activities.
Fortunately, most can find relief from pain with time, activity modifications, physical therapy or other nonsurgical treatments.
To learn more about prevention and treatment of back pain, join Beaufort Memorial board-certified orthopaedic spine specialist Dr. B. Andrew Castro for a free Talk with the Doc at 2 p.m. Feb. 2 at Okatie Pines Retirement Community, 142 Okatie Center Blvd. North.
Dr. Castro will discuss what you can do to maintain the health of your spine before pain becomes chronic, when it may be time to speak with a specialist, and current state-of-the-art solutions for back pain. There will be an opportunity for questions and answers during the presentation.
Talk with the Doc is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. For more information, or to reserve, visit TalkWithDoc.eventbrite.com.
A board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Castro has extensive experience treating disorders of all areas of the spine, including traumatic injuries, scoliosis and other spinal deformities. Dr. Castro is on the medical staff and performs surgeries at Beaufort Memorial and sees patients at the BOSS (Beaufort Orthopaedic Sports & Spine) offices in Beaufort, Bluffton and Hilton Head Island.
Medical advancements have created artificial substitutes for many needs from limbs to internal organs, but one of our most precious and life-saving resources – human blood – is not one of them.
Patients who require blood transfusions rely on healthy humans to donate blood at community blood drives and blood centers across the nation so that blood and blood products are available at local hospitals.
“The fact is there is no other source of human blood,” said Dr. Bradford Collins, a board-certified pathologist and medical director of Laboratory Services at Beaufort Memorial. “It cannot be manufactured or produced in any other way, so the importance of volunteer blood donors to the health of our patients cannot be overstated or overvalued.”
Dr. Collins is keenly aware of the importance of blood donors to patients in the community.
“The availability of safe, reliable blood products can literally mean the difference between life and death for patients who need them,” he said.
For example, Beaufort Memorial uses about 200 pints of blood per month. Officials expect that number to increase as the hospital system expands its surgical capacity and its operations throughout the county. Hospitalized patients require blood for a variety of reasons, including as a result of car accidents, traumatic injuries and surgical blood loss, among others.
In fact, it was for this reason that in 2002 Dr. Collins, along with dozens of hospital and community leaders, began developing a com-
munity blood center in Beaufort to provide for patients at the hospital.
Now known as OneBlood, the center and its staff have a 20-year history of collecting blood from local donors throughout Beaufort County and surrounding areas to ensure that patients in the community always have the blood products they need, when they need them.
One pint of blood can save up to three lives, and eligible donors can roll up their sleeves every 56 days to donate. Almost anyone can donate, but unfortunately only 5% to 10% of eligible donors give, and even fewer do so regularly.
Donors must be in good health, at least 16 years of age, and weigh more than 110 pounds to be eligible.
OneBlood partners with businesses, schools, neighborhoods and community organizations to host mobile blood collection events several times each month. During the winter months, blood donations are historically low, and several drives are scheduled throughout southern Beaufort County, including a drive in Sun City on Feb. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lakehouse.
They also operate a free-standing center on Boundary Street in Beaufort. To find a location to donate, visit OneBlood.org/donate-now.
“We are so grateful to the thousands of people who have rolled up their sleeves to selflessly provide this resource to patients at Beaufort Memorial,” Dr. Collins said. “If you’re thinking about becoming a regular donor, the time is now.”
Courtney McDermott is a local freelance writer with nearly two decades of experience in marketing and writing about healthcare.
If you are experiencing easy bruising and wondering what’s causing the problem, you should know that it is common with age. Although most bruises are harmless and go away without treatment, easy bruising can sometimes be a sign of a more serious problem.
Q: Why is easy bruising so common in older adults?
A: Most bruises form when small blood vessels (capillaries) near the skin’s surface are broken by the impact of a blow or injury – often on the arms or legs. When this happens, blood leaks out of the vessels and initially appears as a black-and-blue mark. Eventually your body re-absorbs the blood, and the mark disappears.
Some people – especially women – are more prone to bruising than others. As you
get older, your skin also becomes thinner and loses some of the protective fatty layer that helps cushion your blood vessels from injury.
Q: Is it true that some medications and supplements contribute to easy bruising?
A: Absolutely! Aspirin, anticoagulant medications and anti-platelet agents reduce your blood’s ability to clot. As a result, bleeding from capillary damage might take longer than usual to stop – which allows enough blood to leak out and cause a bruise. Certain dietary supplements can also increase your bruising risk, due to a blood-thinning effect. Arnica Montana or pineapple seem to decrease bruising for some prior to surgery.
Q: How do I know if my easy bruising indicates a more serious problem?
A: You should consult your doctor if you:
• Have frequent, large bruises, especially if your bruises appear on your trunk, back or face, or seem to develop for no known reasons
• Have easy bruising and a history of significant bleeding
• Suddenly begin bruising, especially if you recently started a new medication
• Have a family history of easy bruising or bleeding
These signs and symptoms can indicate low levels of or abnormally functioning platelets – components of blood that help it clot after an injury – or problems with proteins that help the blood clot. Some studies have shown quicker resolution with a Vitamin K cream.
Q: Is there anything I can do once I have a bruise?
A: Once a bruise has formed not much can be done to treat it. Most bruises eventually fade – although healing might take longer as you age. It might help to elevate the affected area and apply ice. If the sight of a bruise bothers you, consider covering it with makeup.
Q: How do I know if I should seek medical advice?
A: Here are a few symptoms to be aware of:
• If the bruise is accompanied by swelling and extreme pain, especially if you take a blood-thinning medication for a medical condition
• If bruising occurs easily or for no apparent reason
• If the bruise is painful and under a toenail or fingernail
• If a bruise does not improve within two weeks or fails to completely clear after three or four weeks
If you need treatment for any skin condition, 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.
The 12th annual Red Cedar Foxes Trot 5K will be held Feb. 25, with the route weaving through the Hidden Lakes community and Bluffton Park neighborhoods.
The event starts and finishes at Red Cedar Elementary School, 10 Box Elder St. in Bluffton, and offers a morning of activity and fun for children and students, as well as a serious competition for experienced runners of all ages.
Unique to the Foxes Trot 5K, runners have 10 different age groups for which they will compete for first, second and third placements. A 1/4 mile Kid’s Fun Run kicks off the event at 9 a.m. before the 5K race begins at 9:15 a.m.
Check-in is at 8 a.m., approximately one hour before the 5K begins.
Registration is waived for students of Red Cedar Elementary and is $10 for non-students. Registrations will be accepted up to a week prior to the event.
Zonta Club of Hilton Head and Hopeful Horizons will host Only Us Girls: The Heart of the Matter, a special mother/daughter event, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Palmetto Electric Community Room, 1 Cooperative Way in Hardeeville.
“We started this race years ago to promote health and create an affordable way to run a 5K race for our families. To see this event grow to this size feels great,” said Red Cedar Elementary MLP Teacher Erin Berglind, who started the race and continues to organize the endeavor each year.
Russo’s Fresh Seafood Bluffton is the lead sponsor. Returning sponsors include Hargray Communications, Accurate Litho, and Palmetto Running Company.
Registration isn’t required for the Kid’s Fun Run, but Foxes Trot 5K runners must be registered. To register, visit runsignup.com/ Race/SC/Bluffton/RedCedarFoxesTrot5K.
The event is a special program designed to enhance mother-daughter bonds through shared listening, creative expression, and skill building.
Only Us Girls is for mothers, female caretakers, and daughters ages 13 and up. There is no cost to attend. Participants can register online at bit.ly/3GZV7Te.
Attendees will:
• Develop healthy coping strategies for stressful times
• Explore meanings and messages about female identity
• Identify relationship accountability through setting limits and honoring boundaries
The Zonta Club of Hilton is a local chapter of Zonta International, which is a leading global organization of professionals empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy. Zonta clubs envision a world in which women’s rights are recognized as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential.
In such a world, women have access to all resources and are represented in decision making positions on an equal basis with men. In such a world, no woman lives in fear of violence.
Hopeful Horizons is a children’s advocacy, domestic violence and rape crisis center that works to create safer communities by changing the culture of violence and offering a path to healing. The organization provides safety, hope and healing to survivors through evidence-based practices, outreach, prevention and education. For more information about the event, visit zontahhi.org.
Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. John W. Perry has joined Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Associates, an affiliate of Hilton Head Regional Physician Network.
Dr. Perry’s arrival emphasizes the continued efforts to provide the surrounding communities of Hilton Head Island with longterm cardiothoracic care close to home, according to hospital leadership.
In addition to performing surgeries to treat a variety of cardiothoracic conditions, some of his special interests include complex aortic reconstructions, aortic and mitral valve surgery, treatment for venous disease, and minimally invasive techniques for cardiac and thoracic
surgery.
Dr. Perry is particularly excited about the advancements of minimally/less invasive surgeries that can help achieve the same goals as more traditional surgeries but with faster recovery times and less emotional and physical trauma to the patient, he said.
His goal is to achieve the best outcome for each patient by treating each one as if they were a family member and working with the entire hospital team to keep the patient at the center of the care circle.
“Dr. Perry brings a diverse skill set of contemporary cardiac surgery techniques, as well as an incredible passion to care for his patients to the Hilton Head Regional Physician Network,” said Tyler Sherrill, CEO of Physician Operations for South Carolina and Senior Regional Director of Physician Operations. “With the addition of Dr. Perry, residents of Hilton
Head and the surrounding communities are able to receive exemplary cardiothoracic care close to home without the added stress of travel.”
Board-certified in Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery, Dr. Perry has more than 20 years of clinical experience. Before joining Hilton Head Regional Physician Network, he practiced at Mercy Cardiovascular Institute in Canton, Ohio. Prior to that, he practiced at South Carolina Cardiovascular Surgery in Florence.
Dr. Perry is a graduate of Syracuse University in New York and received his Doctor of Medicine from State University of New York in Buffalo. He completed his General Surgery residency at State University of New York in Buffalo, followed by his residency in Thoracic Surgery at State University of New York in Brooklyn.
Dr. Perry then completed his Fellowship in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery
at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio.
Hilton Head Hospital is a 93-bed acute care hospital located at 25 Hospital Center Boulevard on Hilton Head Island. Opened in 1974, the hospital serves Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Okatie and surrounding counties through its care team of more than 600 colleagues and more than 100 physicians.
Coastal Carolina Hospital, also a part of Hilton Head Regional Healthcare, is a 41-bed acute care hospital located at 1000 Medical Center in Hardeeville. Opened in 2004, the hospital joined the healthcare system in 2007 and serves patients in Bluffton, Okatie, Hardeeville and surrounding counties through its care team of more than 400 colleagues and more than 70 physicians.
For more information, visit hiltonheadregional.com.
By Sydney Caskey CONTRIBUTOR
Just like “no days off” is used for motivation in the fitness world, I adopt the same sentiment for dental hygiene and recommend “two-a-days” when it comes to brushing.
Though workout routines vary depending on your situation, every mouth is unique with different care requirements, so brushing twice each day for two minutes is not one of those variables.
Bacteria in your mouth never take a day off. In fact, colonies of bacteria regenerate quickly, which is why they must be disrupted by brushing every 12 hours at the least.
Brushing disrupts the bacteria that adhere between the teeth and under your gumline. If left alone, bacterial colonies mature and become more difficult to remove, which leads to infected teeth and gums. Doing
so twice daily has tremendous cosmetic benefits as well, like pearly white teeth and fresh breath.
Proper technique is important for lifting weights and the same is true for brushing your teeth. I recommend brushing right along the gumlines, where the pocket of gum tissue meets your tooth. With a medium amount of pressure, work for 30 seconds on each quadrant of your mouth and move the brush in circular motions. Make sure to
look into the mirror to ensure you reach all areas of each tooth.
Talk with your hygienist about your brushing technique and ask which toothpaste is best for you.
And just like sore muscles mean you had a good workout, if you notice a little blood when you first begin, you’re probably doing it right. A little blood means you are disrupting the bacterial buildup and reaching neglected gums. (If there is tremendous
pain or bleeding that doesn’t improve after one week of brushing properly, make an appointment with your dentist to make sure there aren’t any concerns.)
Flossing regularly, rinsing after meals, and brushing your tongue twice daily are additional parts of an ideal oral healthcare routine. Like exercising and eating right, good home hygiene improves your health and will save time and money by preventing emergency dental visits and more costly procedures later.
So, remember that there are no days off when it comes to brushing! If you find it difficult to brush for the full duration, try and find a two-minute pump-up song and turn up the volume while you brush. Good music always motivates me at the gym. Happy brushing!
Sydney Caskey, DDS is a dentist in practice with ROC Dental Group in Bluffton.
In the 1990s, thread lifts came about and had some success, but with lots of complications because they used permanent threads. They had “barbs,” allowing them to lift the face. Because of the complications, these original threads have been discontinued, as they should have, in my opinion.
Now, for the past few years, new absorbable threads have been invented, some also with barbs, and they are hugely successful. They are PDO threads, which is short for “polydioxanone.”
PDO threads have been used for years as an absorbable suture material, and it has been noted that the product stimulates the formation of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, which we all need more of.
For a bit of history, these suture materials have been and continue to be used for
30 years in orthopedic, general, ENT and plastic surgery. The threads were first used successfully in people with facial paralysis. As with anything, particularly a face, it must be individualized to the patient’s needs.
The value in the threads is that they volumize aging faces as do various fillers, and they also lift sagging skin. Volumizing with fillers also lifts, but not as much. Additional benefits of the PDO threads is they thicken the skin, reducing some wrinkles, and over a period of time improve the texture of the skin.
While the PDO threads last only about six months, the new collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid will last about two years resulting in more of your normal elasticity for a more permanent lift, and more volume.
We all know that much of the sagging that occurs with age is from loss of volume of fat as well as bone, so increasing volume definitely makes for a more youthful and
lifted face.
PDO threads come in a wide variety of forms. Some are smooth threads used purely for volumizing, such as lip borders, upper lip wrinkles, volumizing hollow cheeks, under the lower eyelids, acne scars, and even in the neck and the body, e.g., cellulite.
The other variety is lifting threads, which can be used to lift the cheeks, jaw line, brow, neck, areas of the body and more.
These thread procedures can be performed as an office visit with local anesthesia in about 30 minutes, depending on how many threads are used.
One can expect bruising, and sometimes irregularities for one to three weeks. These can usually be covered with makeup.
is 21.
By Mathew Epps CONTRIBUTOR
If you are in your late 30s to mid-50s and are desiring enhancement of sagging skin of the midface and jowls, there are many modern options for non-surgical treatment. Some of these therapies include trendy thread-lifting with multiple sutures placed through the skin, dermal fillers, and minimal-access energy devices that deliver energy under the facial skin to name a few.
Although some of these treatments can be quite helpful, it is important to consider their limitations, costs, and that most or all yield temporary results. In addition, many of these solutions can be costly. Plus, a lack of training standardization across the gamut of aesthetic providers performing these medical spa treatments may lend to compromise of a natural-looking result.
There’s good news! Many people who
seek these non-surgical procedures are often excellent candidates for a mini-facelift, AKA the short-scar facelift, the S-lift, or the New York lift. As plastic surgeons we all strive for patient satisfaction, and this is where the mini-facelift hits a home run with a reported 93% satisfaction rate.
To some, surgery may seem an intimidating alternative to medical spa treatments alone. But surgical intervention has evolved tremendously and is effective and cus-
tomizable, using innovative and safe techniques that produce long-lasting results.
The mini-facelift technique can be combined with a minimal incision browlift hidden in the hairline, eyelid tuck, lip lift, or even harvesting of the patient’s own fat cells to be injected into the midface during the procedure for long-lasting volume restoration.
In the hands of a well-trained plastic surgeon, the mini-facelift can safely restore jawline definition, re-elevate midface volume, and improve the smile lines through a small, disguised incision in front of the ear.
The procedure’s absolute advantage over medical spa treatments is the ability to sur-
gically lift and tighten the deep layers of the face while simultaneously removing excess sagging skin. As for duration of result, a mini-facelift on average lasts seven years, and in some patients can last beyond 10 years with maintenance treatments.
Facelift surgery in general is very well tolerated with minimal discomfort. Most resume a normal routine quickly, and even return to work within seven to 14 days depending upon occupation, age and overall health.
Ultimately, the best way to begin the process of facial rejuvenation and the restoration of confidence is through a consult with a plastic surgeon who can offer both non-surgical and surgical aesthetic treatments to create the safest and effective tailored approach.
Mathew T. Epps, MD, MS, DABS is a plastic surgeon, triple- fellowship trained in facial, eyelid, and breast surgery. matheweppsmd. com or info@dreppsmd.com
Recently I came across a real estate ad for one of our many gated communities that stated simply, “Nature is our greatest amenity.”
I was delighted to see this. To me, it meant that the business community is recognizing what many of us have known intuitively.
Yes, we have fantastic amenities throughout the Lowcountry – from first-class golf courses and tennis courts to hotels and restaurants, to name just a few. Frankly, even those who love nature might not have moved here unless it also had many of our manmade amenities. We want both nature and manmade amenities. It is understandable. But can we have it all?
The bigger question is, “What would having it all mean?” Nature can mean different things to different people. If you ask people
what is their idea of getting out and enjoying nature and what it means to them, you will get many several different answers.
To my golfing friends, communing with nature is playing 18 holes of golf on a beautiful golf course. Others might go to their favorite fishing spot and enjoy the day, whether they catch any fish or not. Many others enjoy walking or bike riding on
nature or leisure trails. Then there are some who just enjoy puttering in their yard or garden.
But every one of these outdoor nature-loving activities adds stress to our natural environment.
Lawns, be they on a golf course or in your yard, need fairly high maintenance. They require fertilizers, weeding, mowing and grooming. This usually involves the ubiquitous weed-whackers and leaf blowers, many of which are gas operated machines that tax our environment.
In addition, most gardens consist of a mix of natural and constructed elements. Even very “natural” gardens have some elements
of artificial creation.
Here is the conundrum: The more people enjoy nature, the more stress we put on our natural environment. Additionally, whether we are talking about a gated community, or a town, county, state or whatever, there is only so much land area in that jurisdiction. The more that’s developed or managed, the less space that is left totally natural. Overall, this is a good thing. If people did not have an appreciation and desire to enjoy nature, there would be little incentive to preserve it. However, both preserving and enjoying nature will require active effort on our part.
What is your favorite nature outdoor activity? And what can you do to reduce the stress on our fragile natural environment?
John Riolo lives in Moss Creek and is past president of the Nature Club of Moss Creek. john.a.riolo@gmail.com
Of all the outdoor pursuits, I guarantee fishermen are by far the most superstitious lot of them all. So, what brought this subject to mind? I’ll have to credit a charter fisherman friend of mine, who will remain anonymous for obvious reasons, because he is convinced that he has “lost his mojo” when it comes to catching fish.
I know it sounds silly, but I have been in his shoes before. Believe me when I say it really gets in your head that you are just plain stuck in bad luck. For me, it’s somewhat tolerable, but for a charter fisherman who spends every day out there and relies on fishing – and more importantly catching – for his livelihood, it can bring a person down.
I went sheepshead fishing shortly after that nearly week-long frigid snap right we had around New Year’s Eve. The tides were perfect, I had the best baits possible and was hitting several of my very best spots. I didn’t catch a single fish and, even worse, not even a single nibble.
Am I not holding my mouth right? Did someone hide a banana on my boat? These are just a couple of examples of things a lot of fishermen seriously ponder – and believe me when I say they take them seriously, very seriously.
If you have never heard that bananas are the kiss of death aboard a fishing boat,
then I dare you to hop on any charter boat and let the captain catch a glimpse of the banana you brought for a snack.
All I can tell you is you better eat it fast because, even though you are a paying customer, every captain I know will reach right into your lunch sack, pull out the banana and in the blink of an eye, throw it overboard. I am not quite as adamant as most, but I too won’t hesitate to pitch someone’s banana overboard.
The last time I did it was about a month ago when I was invited to go with a gent who had just bought a new boat and wanted some help getting to know the local waters. To say he was shocked when I grabbed the banana out of his snack bag and threw it overboard is an understatement.
He had never heard that bananas were bad luck so the first thing that went through his head was I was some sort of weirdo. He was genuinely scared that I had a mental disorder. (My wife might agree that I’m weird.)
The banana superstition goes back to the 1700s, when bananas became popular here in the U.S. Sailboats were the only way to get bananas here from the Caribbean, so the captains would hoist all their sails to gain as much speed as possible to get the fruit to their destination before they spoiled.
For the fishermen who usually acted as crew on these boats, that extra speed made it impossible for them to troll for fish
as they made their voyage, and thus the banana legend began.
To further illustrate just how far some captains go, I know a couple of them who won’t let clients onboard with Banana Boat suntan lotion nor shirts or other clothing bearing the Banana Republic tag. That seems a bit excessive to me, but to each his own.
Other than bananas, do I have any other things that ward off bad mojo? Oh yes! First and foremost is my lucky fishing hat. I have had many a lucky fishing cap over the years and the only reason it isn’t the same one is because they literally rot and fall apart.
I am not one of those folks that will say,
“Don’t worry about it, keep going” if my hat blows off while the boat is running. No sir! You would think I had dropped a Rolex watch overboard when that happens.
I insist on going back and getting my lucky hat and I truly believe that success or failure during that day’s fishing outing is based on whether I get the hat before it sinks. When one of my beloved hats finally rots away, I may go through a dozen new hats until I find “the one.”
Some of my other quirky beliefs include my patented “fish dance” and music – but not just any music. If I had to pick just one performer that seems to draw fish it would have to be the godfather of soul himself, Mr. James Brown. Time and time again, James has made it happen when all else failed. In particular, his song “Get Up Offa That Thing” is one fish-catching, reel-screaming, and make you want to slap yo’ mama song!
If you’re planning to go fishing, leave the bananas at home, put on your fishing cap and bring out the funk with some James Brown and you are guaranteed to bring home the bacon – or the fish. “Get up offa that thing and dance til you feel better, get up offa that thing and try to release that pressure. …”
Collins Doughtie, a 60-year resident of the Lowcountry, is a sportsman, graphic artist, and lover of nature. collinsdoughtie@icloud. com
While it might not seem like it at first thought, the piano industry is as driven by technological advancements as any other continually evolving industry – the auto industry, the recording industry, the computer industry, to name a few. What doesn’t evolve is doomed to be left behind.
The interesting paradox in the world of pianos is that these beauties far outlast the lifespan of a car or a computer. It’s certainly not unusual to run across a 100-year-old piano that is still the crowning glory of a family that has lovingly passed it down from generation to generation.
But while such a piano is enjoying a long and well-deserved journey, new pianos are constantly being designed and developed, outpacing the ever-aging heirloom.
Often in our business we find that many owners of older pianos don’t realize that
pianos continue to be manufactured – as if time ran out for piano-making a long time ago, and the only ones left are old. All too often a call will come in from an excited customer regarding their fantastic “find” of a piano (a neighbor, for example, graciously giving away their antique saloon piano that’s been in the barn for a decade), and we must
explain to the giddy new owner that the “instrument” now in their possession can’t be tuned (or salvaged) because of rust, mold, dust, dirt, corrosion, cracks and broken parts. It certainly can’t be played. Age and condition affect a piano just like they would anything else – and trust me, you can do better.
It’s often handy to compare pianos to cars. With both, there’s a nice sturdy exterior in a variety of colors and finishes, and on the inside, lots of moving, mechanical (and now computerized) parts. As laymen, we can’t see all the parts, and we don’t know what they all do, but we should at least want them to all function at capacity and as designed, making the car dependable and the piano functional and enjoyable.
When you think it’s time for a piano, don’t settle for the first thing to cross your path. (And beware of social media and internet scammers!) Do some research, look around, realize it’s an investment into your future, and ask the experts what else you can learn on the way to making a great choice for your family.
Jennifer Herrin is the co-owner of Kawai Piano Gallery by Herrin in Bluffton. jennifer@kpgbyherrin.com or kawaipianogallerybyherrin.com
By Christopher Thompson CONTRIBUTOR
On Dec. 10, 2022, shortly after 3 p.m., I watched as a community came together to support one of their own – a young person locked in a battle with cancer. The community rallied together to raise funds needed to help with costly treatment and care to combat the disease.
Well over 100 persons came out to support the fundraising efforts. They purchased raffle tickets, and many raised funds by having their hair cut for the cause. There was camaraderie among everyone in attendance.
I observed several people getting haircuts, and notably one person raised more than $15,000 to have their hair cut, while another raised $550 in under two minutes getting their hair cut as well.
As one of my brothers in Christ was getting his hair cut, it dawned on me that he barely knew the young person he was
LUTHERAN CHURCH
351 Buckwalter Parkway, Bluffton, SC 29910 (across from Publix)
Email: lordoflifeassistant@gmail.com 843 757-4774
www.lordoflife-bluffton.org
helping, but that did not matter to him. What mattered was that a young person was in need and this man had the means to meet that need. They were not family by blood, but for him, they were family by the Blood of Jesus.
Members of the body of Christ will find
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES
at 8:30AM & 10:30AM
All are welcome to the Lord’s Table VIRTUAL WORSHIP SERVICE
on YouTube at 12 noon
Lord of Life Lutheran Church
VIRTUAL WORSHIP on Facebook –Lord of Life, Bluffton
Our mission is to provide free medical care to the uninsured to ensure no one in our community goes without access to quality health care.
For Every 4 hours of donation time 20 people receive services.
Bluffton Location: 29 Plantation Park Dr., Building 600 • Bluffton SC 29910
they are not alone in any fight, struggle, battle, or difficulty in life. On Dec. 10, the community came together, and the Word of God came to life as written in the Old Testament: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! … The Lord commanded the blessing, even
life for evermore (Psalm 133, KJV); and in the New Testament: “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many … But God has put the body together… so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it (1 Corinthians 12:12-27, NIV).
Indeed, no one in this family of believers in Christ fights alone.
By Scott Weirman CONTRIBUTOR
One of the many things that we all discovered during the COVID-19 pandemic is that the opportunity to gather as a community is something that should not be taken for granted. With that in mind, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry is hosting its annual Community Meeting on March 29 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina on Hilton Head Island.
The free event is open to the public (tickets are required) and will celebrate the power of philanthropy and the good work taking place in our four-county service area (Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper). The meeting will highlight the recent work of the Foundation and focus on the committed partnerships the Foundation has developed over the years with local nonprofits and individual
donors.
A reception will follow in the lobby of the Arts Center and we are anticipating a full house!
We are extremely honored to have Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, as the event’s keynote speaker. Given the significance of the attainable workforce housing shortage in our region, we believe that Jonathan’s appearance at our event is perfectly timed. Having had the opportunity to hear Jonathan speak, I know that we are in for a treat.
The Foundation is also very excited to present the inaugural Joan and Wade Webster Community Impact Award at the meeting. The award, created through a generous endowment by longtime Foundation supporters Joan and Wade Webster, will recognize an individual who has recently dedicated his or her time to improve the quality of life in the
four-county region.
We are also thrilled to have WSAV-TV Lowcountry reporter Andrew Davis as the emcee for the meeting. Andrew’s knowledge and passionate reporting on our four-county service region, along with his engaging personality, makes him a perfect
fit for the event.
In addition to the informative presentations and speeches, we also want to make sure attendees have some time to socialize and network with fellow attendees, Foundation staff and board of trustees’ members at the reception.
Tickets will be available Feb. 7 through the Arts Center ticket portal and a link will be posted on our website at cf-lowcountry.org. Since seating is limited at the Arts Center, a ticket will be required for entrance.
Sponsorships are available to allow local businesses and organizations to be a visible part of the Annual Community Meeting. The sponsorship form is available to download on our website at cf-lowcountry.org. We hope to see you there!
Scott Wierman is the president and CEO of Community Foundation of the Lowcountry.
I love the history of golf. I have been following the game for more than 60 years. After the recent passing of Kathy Whitworth, the winningest player of all time, in December, and knowing she was from Texas, I started to notice the the state of Texas had and still has some of the greatest golfers of all time.
Here are some of them:
Kathy Whitworth, the winningest player, male or female, of all time passed away on Dec. 24, 2022. She won 88 LPGA tournaments and was a runner-up 93 times, giving her 181 top-two finishes.
In 1981, she became the first woman to reach career earnings of $1 million on the LPGA Tour. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Harvey Penick coached many Hall of Fame players. He was the coach at University of Texas for 33 years. Some of his most famous players were Kathy Whitworth, Sandra Palmer, Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite.
Penick is also famous for authoring one of the most popular golf books of all time, “Little Red Book.” Penick advocated that “once you address the ball, hitting to a desired target must be the only thing in your life. Allow no negative thoughts.”
Sandra Palmer was born in Fort Worth and attended North Texas State University. She was a 19-time winner on the LPGA Tour. She won two major tournaments. Palmer was the top money winner in 1975 and was awarded LPGA Player of the Year.
“Gentle Ben” Crenshaw is one of the most popular players of all time. He attended the University of Texas, where he won three NCAA Championships. In 1973, he
won his first event after earning his tour card.
He won the Masters in 1984 and 1995. That win came a week after the death of his teacher, Harvey Penick, when he attended the funeral and then came to Augusta very emotional.
Crenshaw won a total of 19 tour events. In 1999, he captained the winning Ryder Cup Team. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2002.
Tom Kite was a teammate of Crenshaw at the University of Texas. Kite won 19 times on the PGA tour including the 1992 U.S. Open. He also has 10 victories on the Champions Senior Tour with one Senior Major. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2004.
Jordan Spieth also attended the University of Texas, where he helped his team win the NCAA Championship. In 2013, two weeks before his 20th birthday, he won the John Deere Classic. In April 2015 he won the Masters and the U.S. Open. He won the Tour Championship and was the No. 1 player on the PGA Tour.
In 2017 he won the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, giving him his third Major Championship. After a few years with no wins, Spieth won the 2022 RBC Heritage on Hilton Head Island. He has won nine PGA Tour events, one FedEx playoff event and three major championships.
Scottie Scheffler is the latest University of Texas player to make it big on the PGA Tour. In 2022, he won four tournaments –including the Masters. He began the year as No. 13 in the World Golf Ranking and, after his Masters win, became the No. 1 player in the world and held that ranking for 30 weeks. He has played in both the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup for the United States.
Dr. Jean Harris is an LPGA Master Professional and teaches at local golf courses. jean. golfdoctor.harris@gmail.com; golfdoctorjean. com
Usually, it is in the warmer weather that we see an increase in postings for lost dogs. Also, when there are storms or fireworks, more dogs get lost.
Accidents can always happen but most cases of dogs getting lost are preventable. It is usually about parental and family responsibility and changes in lifestyle beliefs.
There are postings every day. As a pet parent and dog trainer, I am distressed. However, over a lifetime of owning dogs what would you consider the norm of having one lost, meaning an escape, not stolen?
Stolen is another category based mostly upon having a dog unsupervised on one’s property. But a dog that escapes from your house or yard multiple times is just unacceptable.
Some owners seem to be in denial about
their responsibility. Part of that is teaching children safety measures and taking increased precautions. If you know you have a dog that digs under or jumps over a fence, why is the dog left unsupervised?
How do we reduce the number of these potentially disastrous situations? Teach your family not to open outside doors unless their pet is secured. This could include a gated area, crate or another room with a door. Design a barrier which bars access to the door with a gate that people can go through but the pet cannot.
In some cases, the barrier can be an indoor version of electronic fence which is reasonably priced over the internet. The pet wears an electronic collar which is activated as they near a restricted area. It keeps most pets away from doors.
Even if your pet is mostly reliable outside, off leash in a non-fenced area, remember they are animals and will often be distracted
by prey. If you have other people that have access to your yard – such as landscapers or other service people – make sure the gate is secure before you let the dog out.
In general, dogs should not be outside without a fence, electronic fence or electronic collar, or on a leash or long tether line. Letting them run loose should not be acceptable to any caring pet parent.
Losing a pet by accident can happen. But the biggest problem is an owner’s ego think-
ing THEIR dog can be off leash and can be trusted to stay with them 100% of the time. Train your dog! The Stay and Come command can be trained by your family or any local trainer. Invest in a GPS-type tracking device. There are several on the market and some have monitoring fees. This is a sound investment but is not foolproof, since some pets can lose their collars along with the device. But if tracked quickly, it could be a lifesaver.
Some pets are never found and it is a nightmare for families as well as the pet. Post on Facebook, veterinarians’ offices, animal control and shelters so the community can help.
But for the most part it shouldn’t happen in the first place. This is a solvable problem – let’s fix it!
Abby Bird is owner of Alphadog Training Academy. AlphadogTrainingAcademy@ gmail.com
By Amy Campanini CONTRIBUTOR
If you’re a hopeless romantic, Walter and Hattie’s love story will no doubt warm your heart and make your Valentine’s Day all the more meaningful.
“These two cats came from rough and neglected pasts,” said Sally Dawkins, PAL adoption coordinator. “Once they found their way to PAL, they found peace and safety with one another.”
One-year-old Hattie came to Palmetto Animal League in April 2022, frightened and undernourished, but thankful to finally be out of harm’s way.
“Hattie had a rocky start to life, fending for herself outdoors,” said Dawkins. “She spent most of her time at PAL watching us from a lofty seat in Cat Room 1.”
Five months later, 2-year-old Walter came to us with horrific, life-threatening wounds
to his neck and head. To make matters worse, he was so wild our clinic staff was concerned about how they were going to handle him.
“It wasn’t long before Walter learned he didn’t need to be afraid of us,” said PAL Veterinarian Dr. Kirsten Cianci. “In fact, he
seemed to enjoy attention and became quite the purr-er.”
After multiple surgeries and weeks of recovery, Walter was eager to have cat friends again, so we moved him into Hattie’s room. She had been slowly warming up to us, and once Walter moved in, Hattie made her move.
“When you walk into Cat Room 1, Walter is always the first to greet you,” Dawkins said. “He’s shortly followed by Hattie, so she can make sure you’re not trying to steal her man.”
Now, these two lovebirds are ready for a home. They don’t HAVE to go home together, but it would make the perfect next
chapter in their love story.
“It sure would be great if Walter and Hattie could be adopted into the same home,” said Cianci. “They really are so cute together. I really think Hattie would be lost without him.”
If you’d like to meet Walter and Hattie, call PAL at 843-645-1725 or visit our adoption center located at 56 Riverwalk Blvd in Okatie Monday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.
Can’t adopt? You can still help rescue animals like Walter and Hattie. Share the love with homeless pets by sending a valentine to the animal lovers in your life. Visit PalmettoAnimalLeague.org and click on “Create a Valentine.” Make a heartfelt donation and then send an eCard or print a card at home. Your donation will give abandoned, abused, and neglected pets a second chance at life.
Amy Campanini is president of Palmetto Animal League.
Not too long ago, the Hilton Head-Bluffton area housing market was very hot. It was a seller’s market, characterized by low inventory, rising home prices, and bidding wars. It was very challenging for many buyers to find and buy a house.
Will the New Year be kinder to buyers?
Will house hunting and buying be easier?
While no one can say for sure, we are beginning to see some real estate activity that is giving us a picture of what the housing market could look like in 2023.
Here are some examples of these industry indicators:
• Stabilizing interest rates. Most housing experts say that they are hopeful that interest rates will level off in 2023 to around 5% or 6%.
• Affordable housing. Home buyers might
have to tighten their budget a little and not get as much home for the money when the rates were at 3% (but 5% is still a very attractive mortgage rate).
• Home prices rising. Current trends indicate that home prices will continue to increase in 2023, but at a slower rate than in 2022, resulting in still affordable housing.
• More homes to choose from. Invento-
83 Hampton Circle - $559,000
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ry increased during 2022 and predictions and projections all point to an increase in inventory in 2023 for new construction and resale homes.
• Home buyers get a break. With more homes for sale and an increase in competition, it is possible that prospective home buyers may be able to get good deals on good homes.
• Housing demand increases. On the other hand, if the up-north demand for Lowcountry housing continues to increase, sellers might still have the advantage
• The politics of it all. If the political climate gets better and the country comes together to improve the economy, the good psychology of it all will be very good for both buyers and sellers.
• COVID fears aside. From all that I have seen, read and heard, buyers and sellers feel more confident that they can proceed with their real estate plans and stay healthy while doing so.
Even after reading all of the above, it is important to note that housing market conditions might vary significantly by location and community.
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
SINGING IS MORE ADDICTIVE THAN CHOCOLATE! Open auditions Jan. 23, 30, Feb. 6, 13 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Hilton Head Shore Notes, a women’s a capella chorus. Call 843-705-6852 for details and to reserve your spot.
CLASSIFIED ADS WORK! CALL 843-757-9507
CONTENTS OF LOCAL 10X15 STORAGE UNIT for sale. All merchandise saleable, from former Reminisce Sports & 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 843-384-0303.
Main Stage Community Theatre
March 2-5 at Seahawk Cultural Center
See pg. 3B
Feb. 3
Feb. 1-19
“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. Tickets and more information at artshhi.com or 843-842-2787.
Gullah Cultural Series: Gullah Me, Gullah You, storytelling, music, history, food and culture, directed by Lavon Stevens, 6:30 p.m. dinner, 7:30 p.m. concert, SoundWaves, 7 lagoon Road, Hilton Head Island. Tickets, $29-$69, at hhso. org
Feb. 6-March 5
Student Art Exhibit at Society of Bluffton Artists (SOBA), 8 Church St. Bluffton. Opening reception 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 11. Featuring studemt work from three Bluffton high schools. sobagallery.com or 843-757-
6586
Feb. 7
Tuffus Zimbabwe Quartet, Live from Saturday Night Live, dinner-concert at SoundWaves, 7 Lagoon Road, Hilton Head Island. Tickets at hhso.org or 843-842-2055.
Feb. 10
Mountainfilm on Tour, adventure-packed, inspiring documentaries, Coligny Theatre, 4:30 p.m. family-friendly; evening event following, with hors d’oeuvres, a silent art
auction, and new films. Tickets $15, $55 at hhiacademy. com/events.
Feb. 10
“Love Letters” by A.R. Gurney, 6:30 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort (UUFB), 178 Sam’s Pt. Rd. on Lady’s Island.
Feb. 10
Matt Nakoa, award-winning songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, 7 p.m. at Music on Malphrus. General admission $25 at door, open at 6:15 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry. 843-837-3330, uulowcountry.org or MusicOnMalphrus@ gmail.com
Through Feb. 12
“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
Feb. 24-26, March 3-5
“The Glass Menagerie,” classic Tennessee Williams play, at May River Theatre, 20 Bridge St., Bluffton. 7:30 p.m. Feb 24-25 and March 3-4, with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Feb. 26 and March 5. Tickets at mayrivertheatre.com.
Through Feb. 27
“On the Edge of a Forest, A Conversation Begins,” exhibition of works by Jean McLughlin and Tom Spleth, at USCB Sea Islands Center Gallery, 1106 Carteret St., Beaufort.
Through Feb. 28
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.
March 2-5
“Guys and Dolls Jr.,” by Main Stage Community Theatre at Seahawk Cultural Center at Hilton Head High School, 70 Wilborn Rd., Hilton Head Island. 7 p.m. March 2, 3 and 4, and a 2 p.m. matinee March 5. Tickets $25 adults, $15 students, $5 for 8 and under. Mainstagecommunitytheatre. org or 843-689-6246.
March 23-April 8
Savannah Music Festival, 34th season, cross-cultural musical event, with artists in classical, contemporary, Americana, blues, jazz, funk, pop fusion and more. Tickets available now, starting at $31, for various venues around Savannah. Savannahmusicfestival.org or 912-525-5050.
BY TODD KREIDLER
FEBRUARY 1 – 19
A white couple’s proud liberal sensibilities are put to the test when their daughter brings her black fiance home to meet them in this fresh and relevant stage adaptation of the iconic film Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.
Main Stage Community Theatre is ready to “rock the boat” with the legendary, multiaward-winning musical comedy “Guys and Dolls Jr.”
More than 30 of our area’s brightest and best pre-teen and teen performers will be taking the stage in March, under the skillful direction of Michelle McElroy-Cox.
The production is an adaptation of the timeless tale set in New York City that follows renowned gambler Nathan Detroit as he tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while authorities breathe down his neck. Meanwhile, his girlfriend and nightclub performer, Adelaide, laments that they’ve been engaged for 14 years and still aren’t married.
Nathan turns to fellow gambler Sky Masterson for the dough, but Sky ends up chasing the straight-laced missionary, Sarah Brown. “Guys and Dolls Jr.” takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, but everyone eventually ends up right where they belong.
“Guys and Dolls Jr.” features some of Frank Loesser’s most memorable tunes, including the hilarious “Adelaide’s Lament,” the romantic “I’ve Never Been in Love Before,” the exuberant “If I Were a Bell,” and the classic “Luck Be a Lady.”
“Our JR productions are the perfect vehicle for our younger performers to shine,”
said MSCT board president Cinda Seamon. “As always, the show will reflect the polish and professionalism that you find with all of the Main Stage productions.”
McElroy-Cox added, “The level of talent and energy is simply a joy ... buckle up and get ready to be blown away!”
The show stars Jack Mau as Nathan Detroit, Maya Norcross and Millie Gilbreath (double cast) as Adelaide, Aiden Miller as Sky Masterson, Emma Kate Dalzell as Sarah Brown, Charlie Peirce as Nicely Nicely, Eli Taylor as Benny Southstreet, Luke Strebe as Harry the Horse, Annaliese Germany as General Cartwright, and Matthew Richmond as Rusty Charlie, just to name a few.
The production will be at the Seahawk Cultural Center at Hilton Head High School, 70 Wilborn Rd. and there will be 4 performances total:
There will be just four performances, at 7 p.m. March 2, 3 and 4, and a 2 p.m. matinee March 5. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for students and $5 for children under 8, with easy online booking at MainStageCommunityTheatre.org, or by calling the box office at 843-689-6246.
Main Stage Community Theatre is a nonprofit organization established in 1997. For more information, visit MainStageCommunityTheatre.org or find them on Facebook.
This classic is a witty and insightful reflection on two families confronted by their prejudices. With humor and insight, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner begins a conversation sure to continue at dinner tables long after the curtain comes down.
Directed by Patdro Harris
Native island heritage gets the star treatment at this celebration of all things Gullah. Lowcountry specialties such as barbecue ribs, shrimp and grits, conch stew rice and beans, and okra gumbo will feed your body and soul! Enjoy storytelling, gospel music, De Aarts ob We People, hands-on crafts and more!
“Funny&Moving...AMustSee!”
The member artists at La Petite Gallerie are excited to announce that Sheryl Winn is now showing her art at the gallery. Her pieces are reflective of the forests, shorelines and towns of the Lowcountry. Her work often fuses natural elements such as Spanish moss with stoneware, creating dramatic yet functional 3-D pieces. Also on view are new pieces by jeweler Patricia Mothershead, mosaic and wood fish by Mark Byers, clay creations by Nooks Pottery and Mark Taylor, garden glass sprouts in many colors, and ornaments in copper and clay. La Petite Gallerie is located at 56 Calhoun St. in Bluffton, next door to The Store.
Many of us have fond memories of the 1967 film “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” with William Rose’s screenplay directed by Stanley Kramer. Nominated for 10 Academy Awards, it captured two, one for Katharine Hepburn as Best Actress in a Leading Role, and one for Best Original Screenplay.
It was Hepburn’s final film playing opposite her beloved Spencer Tracy, and it, of course, provided a stellar showcase for the inimitable talents of the late, great Sidney Poitier.
A common source for a film is a play, but in this case, it took years before the iconic film was given new life in this stage adaptation, written by Todd Kreidler with its first reading in 2007.
Kreidler’s own resume includes having worked with August Wilson on Broadway to develop the final three plays in Wilson’s famed American Century Cycle. Together they conceived “How I Learned What I Learned,” and Kreidler is also a co-founder of the August Wilson Monologue Competition.
On Broadway, Kreidler worked with director Kenny Leon to develop a musical fable based on the lyrics of Tupac Shakur entitled “Holler If Ya Hear Me.” Additionally, Kreidler was the dramaturg on August Wil-
son’s “Radio Golf” and “Gem of the Ocean,” as well as associate director of the Tony Award-winning revival of “Fences,” starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis.
The plot of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” revolves around a white couple’s proud liberal sensibilities being put to the test when their daughter brings her Black fiancé home to meet them.
Blindsided by their daughter’s whirlwind romance, Matt and Christina Drayton are faced with the realization that there could be a difference between supporting a mixedrace couple in your newspaper and having one in your own family.
They’re surprised to find they aren’t the only ones with concerns, and it’s not long before a multi-family clash of racial and generational differences sweep across the Draytons’ idyllic San Francisco terrace.
Fresh, humorous, and relevant, this is a reflection on two families, each confronted by their own internalized prejudices.
The Arts Center is excited to produce this witty and insightful work, directed by Patdro Harris, who recently directed “In the Heights” here, onstage Feb. 1-19.
For more information and tickets, visit artshhi.com or call the box office at 843-8422787.
CHICKEN PARMIGIANA 17
Breaded chicken breast topped with marinara and mozzarella cheese, served over a bed of spaghetti
HERB CRUSTED GROUPER 22
Fresh grouper filet with herb crust served with seasonal vegetable (GFR)
SHRIMP AND CLAM SPAGHETTI 22
Jumbo shrimp, and chopped clams in a white wine reduction and a touch of marinara over a bed of spaghetti
NEW YORK STRIP STEAK 26
12oz. char grilled New York strip steak served with baked potato
SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE 16
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
HOUSE REUBEN 14
Sliced corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, thousand island dressing on marbled rye
ANGEL HAIR AIOLI 13
Angel hair mixed with fresh garlic and herbs mixed with evoo and topped with parmesan cheese
CALIFORNIA BURGER 15
Blend of certified angus beef, short rib, and brisket, applewood bacon, avocado, provolone cheese, and tomato on a toasted brioche bun
The Odd Couple by Neil Simon
DIRECTOR: RON RUCKLE
FEBRUARY 17-26, 2023
TICKETS $30/Adults $15/Students
FEBRUARY 17, 18, 24, 25 - 7:30PM
FEBRUARY 19, 26 - 2PM
“Love Letters,” an award-winning play by A.R. Gurney, will appear onstage at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort (UUFB), 178 Sam’s Pt. Rd. on Lady’s Island.
“Love Letters,” applauded for its masterful writing and simple presentation style, is a love story between two lifelong friends. This production will feature Tim Joy as Andy, and Caren Ross as Melissa. Both leads have performed to much acclaim in many previous plays, and both feel deeply about the artistry and emotional depth of Gurney’s work.
Joy began his theatre experience at age 8 in a high school production of “Our Town,” and at 10 played Macduff’s son in a community production of “Macbeth.” He later earned two theatre scholarships to the University of North-
ern Iowa, but chose not to pursue a career in theatre. He and his wife moved to Lady’s Island in 2007.
Ross discovered her love of theatre in preschool, where she performed a solo hula at 4 1/2. She later earned a degree in English, speech and theatre, and performed in community theatre productions from Iceland to Italy. She has held a number of leading roles from “Mame” to “The Madwoman of Chailott.”
The play is directed by Suzanne Larson, who also has appeared in “Love Letters” many times.
Doors open at 6:30 and the show starts at 7 p.m. Wine will be available before the show and during intermission for a donation. Advance tickets are recommended and are $10 each. They may be purchased by contacting Jean Griffith at 864-354-4350.
February 11 6pm-9pm
For the fifth year, Mountainfilm on Tour will bring a selection of culturally rich, adventure-packed and incredibly inspiring documentary films to Hilton Head Island, showing at Coligny Theatre on Feb. 10.
The offerings are curated from the Mountainfilm festival in Telluride, Colorado. The films explore themes connected to Mountainfilm’s mission of using the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world.
Mountainfilm on Tour in Hilton Head is hosted by The Island Academy of Hilton Head in partnership with several sponsors. The Island Academy has been organizing Mountainfilm on Tour for the past four years and working toward perpetuating 21st century learning here in the Lowcountry.
While hosting an inspiring collection of films, the show is also an opportunity to
raise funds to allow more children learning opportunities they may not otherwise have. Proceeds go in part to an endowed scholarship fund for children in grades K-12. The Island Academy of Hilton Head is a Pre-K through 12 school incorporating academic rigor into an inspiring learning environment that celebrates the individual voice, instills self-confidence, and fosters an understanding of our global interconnectedness.
The show kicks off at 4:30 p.m. with a family-friendly matinee and continues with an evening event including hors d’oeuvres, a silent art auction, and an entirely new set of films.
Tickets are $15 for the matinee and $55 for the evening and are available at hhiacademy.com/events.
See the complete playlist at mountainfilm.org/tour/schedule.
JANUARY 31 – MARCH 4
ARTS OB WE PEOPLE: WINTER EXHIBIT AND SALE
Location: Art League Gallery
FEBRUARY 1 - 28, 2023
BUY
14 Shelter Cove Lane Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
Times: Sunday – Saturday 10AM – 4PM
Cost: Free, Donations are Welcome
FEBRUARY 3
GULLAH CULTURAL SERIES: GULLAH ME, GULLAH YOU
Location: SoundWaves
7 Lagoon Circle, Hilton Head Island, SC 29228
Time: 6PM – 8PM
Cost: $29 - $69
FEBRUARY 4
FREEDOM DAY CELEBRATION
Location: Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park
40 Harriet Tubman Way, Hilton Head Island, SC 29226
Time: 11AM – 1PM
Cost: Free, Donations are Welcome
*In partnership with the Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park
FEBRUARY 4 - 18
FREEDOM DAY: FILM SERIES
Location: Seahawk Cultural Center
70 Wilborn Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
Time: 6PM
Cost: $20
FEBRUARY 7
FAMILY AND FRIENDS DAY
Location: Historic First African Baptist Church
70 Beach City Road, Hilton Head Island SC 29226
Time: 7PM
Cost: Free, Donations are Welcome
FEBRUARY 8
GULLAH CELEBRATION’S PATRONS AND FRIENDS PARTY
Location: Art League Gallery
Cost: Free, Donations are
FEBRUARY 11 A TASTE OF GULLAH Location: Art League Gallery
Cost: Free, Donations are Welcome
*In partnership with the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina
FEBRUARY 18
GULLAH MARKET
For more information visit gullahcelebration.com or connect with us at f a x
Matt Nakoa, an award-winning songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, will perform at 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at Music on Malphrus.
General admission tickets at the door are $25. Doors open at 6:15 pm. Nakoa is a modern troubadour, making his home on the highways and concert stages of America and appearing regularly with folk music icon Tom Rush.
The Boston Globe says of Nakoa, “On the ivories, (think of) a hot-handed phenom who can go from Chopin to beer-drenched honkytonk in one set … On guitar, a Jack Johnson-esque singer-songwriter… between his piano chops, charismatic stage presence, and heartfelt originals on guitar… he drops jaws.”
Born on a small goat farm in New York State, Nakoa trained to be a concert pianist before accepting a scholarship to Berklee College of Music as a vocalist. He developed his dramatic songwriting style with his college art-rock band, The Fens, and when the
band dissolved, he landed in New York City. It was in Manhattan’s all-night piano bars that Nakoa developed an uncanny ability to command the attention of any audience. His first solo albums were released in 2012 and 2014, garnering multiple songwriting awards, including a win at Kerrville Folk Festival’s new folk competition. Nakoa’s newest album, Casting Shadows, is a spellbinding blend of pop, soul, and classical influences and tells a story of childhood dreams crashing headlong into a grownup reality. The
Ark of Music magazine proclaims, “What we have here is a truly encouraging sign of what pop could once again become.”
Nakoa has won awards at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, made the Sundilla Radio Hours’ “Albums of The Year” list, and was selected to play at the White House. Music on Malphrus is held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry, 110 Malphrus Road in Bluffton. For more information, email MusicOnMalphrus@gmail.com or call 843-837-3330.
The Society of Bluffton Artists will feature the artwork of local high school students in its annual Student Art Exhibit, slated for Feb. 6-March 5. An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 11 at the gallery, located in Old Town Bluffton.
This year, three schools are participating in the student art exhibit: Bluffton High School, May River High School and Cross Schools. High school students involved in their schools’ arts programs often go on to pursue careers in art, design or photography.
“SOBA is committed to its mission of providing art education and art appreciation to the local community,” said Cynthia Van Nus, SOBA event organizer. “The art show gives students a chance for public recognition for their talents and achievements, the same that is given to student athletes, science projects and music concerts.”
John Cullinen, arts teacher at Cross
Upper School, said Cross Schools has a growing art program that infuses traditional media with digital art and photography – a sampling of which will be shown in the upcoming show.
“The opportunity to showcase our student work in a professional gallery will
create a lifelong memory for our students at Cross Upper School,” he said. Bluffton High School’s art program includes ceramics, drawing, media arts, painting and photography. The students have prepared ink drawings, charcoal still life, a ceramic medley, acrylic on
canvas and digital print, said Andrea Pejeau, a National Art Honor Society Advisor and art instructor at Bluffton High.
May River High School students will exhibit photography, pottery and paintings – all of which are looking to embrace the whimsical side of life and the beauty of the Lowcountry
“For me teaching art is more than creating, it is about building connections to our visual society,” said Elizabeth Schlieger, the Fine Arts Department Chair at May River High School. “Helping students understand not just how things are created, but why, and then developing an understanding of their place amongst that world.”
SOBA is located in Bluffton’s historic District at the corner of Church and Calhoun streets. SOBA offers regular art classes, featured artist shows, exhibitions and more. For more information, visit sobagallery.com or call 843-757-6586.
“The Glass Menagerie,” the classic Tennessee Williams play, will bring a story of “truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion” to life on the stage at May River Theatre Feb. 24-26 and March 3-5.
This beloved memory play begins with Tom delivering the story of his family, the Wingfields. As his memories flow from one moment to the next, the characters are introduced. His mother, Amanda Wingfield, is a faded remnant of Southern gentility who now lives in a dingy St. Louis apartment with him and his sister, Laura, who has a physical handicap and debilitating shyness.
The father has left home, leaving Tom to support his mother and sister with a shoe-factory job he finds unbearable. When Amanda convinces Tom to bring home from his workplace a “gentleman caller” for Laura, the illusions that Tom, Amanda and Laura have each created to make life bearable collapse around them.
Bringing the first play of the MRT 2023 season to life are David McLaughlin (Tom), Kay Owen (Amanda), Alex Clark (Laura), and Jayme Brinson (Jim O’Connor). The play is directed by Skip Corris, making his MRT directorial debut.
MRT board members Cindy Palko (sets), Liz McGinnes (lights) and Elizabeth Schlieger (costumes) continue to raise the bar on the overall visual experience, helping to immerse viewers into the fragile existence of the Wingfields. MRT also welcomes Phil Mastman, sound designer.
Tom speaks at the top of the show and states “In memory everything seems to happen to music.” Thanks to director Skip Corris’s vision and generosity, Eli Manos’s original compositions will be part of these memories.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb 2425 and March 3-4, with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Feb. 26 and March 5. MRT is located at 20 Bridge St., at Ulmer Auditorium inside Bluffton Town Hall.
May River Theatre is a local theatre company started by the late Ed and Jodie Dupuis in 2002. MRT is committed to engaging the community through a breadth of quality theatrical performances that facilitate growth in both the production and understanding of the entire theatrical experience.
For more information on tickets, sponsorships, gift certificates and getting involved, please visit mayrivertheatre.com.
One of the best things about ballroom dancing is that it is always challenging in so many ways and every day is different. It is an on-going learning experience.
You might end up loving ballroom dancing for those reasons, but if you jump into such a demanding physical and mental activity too hard and too fast, you might suffer from burnout.
Burnout can happen for many reasons, but often it’s because dancers don’t give themselves enough time to recuperate in between lessons or rehearsals. Don’t go full force or you might not make it for the long run.
Don’t be afraid to ask for more time in between lessons. If the pace in a private lesson is too fast for you, consider a group class which might allow you to learn dancing in a slower setting. You will find in a group setting that there is not as much material to learn.
If a lesson is too demanding, let your instructor know so he or she can gear it more towards what is suitable for you. Most professional instructors will adapt to the student’s ability, talent and speed of learning. That is the best way to make a comfortable learning atmosphere.
Lessons and rehearsals might not always be about dancing or the physical challenge –dancing also requires using your brain. You might spend time viewing and critiquing a video or listening to different music that you might consider using.
Don’t dance if you are sick or have an
injury. Allow yourself time to recuperate from an illness or recover from an injury. It’s important to stay healthy. That means eating right and getting enough sleep. Keep up your immune system, which will keep you feeling good. You don’t want to confuse burnout with just plain not feeling well. Always stretch after dancing. Dancing requires a lot of flexibility, and without properly stretching, you can develop cramps after a strenuous lesson or rehearsal. It is important to stay hydrated as well. Never take on more lessons than you can handle as it will quickly lead to burnout. Don’t be afraid to talk frankly with your instructor about what works for you or if your lessons need adjustment with regards to frequency and level of difficulty. Dancing should be fun and enjoyable even when you are working hard.
Sandro Virag is a partner and instructor at Hilton Head Ballroom Dance Studio of Hilton Head, located in Bluffton at Seaquins Ballroom. hiltonheadballroom.com
