VOLUME 12, ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 1, 2023

The Little Blue Boat was towed, but is this truly the end?

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 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

see LITTLE BLUE on page 8A

In this photo, taken on or around Jan. 25, Little Blue is tied to a dock in a “secret location,” according to the Facebook post of Fran and Bill Bollin.

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We like for those around us to use

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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South Carolina General Assembly gets off to quick start

By Jeff Bradley CONTRIBUTOR

PUBLISHER

Kevin Aylmer, kevina@blufftonsun.com

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Lynne Hummell, editor@blufftonsun.com

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Kim Perry Bowen

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CONTRIBUTORS

Jeff Bradley

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Barry Kaufman

Brett Myers

Kingston Rhodes

Gwyneth J. Saunders

Larry Stoller

Mark F. Winn

Tim Wood

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For information about The Hilton Head Sun, contact: Kevin Aylmer PO Box 2056, Bluffton, SC 29910 843-757-9507, 843-757-9506 (fax)

Physical address: 14D Johnston Way Bluffton, SC 29910

All contents copyright protected 20220. All submissions must include name, address and phone number. The Editor reserves the right to edit or reject any material, including advertisements. The Hilton Head Sun does not verify for licenses, endorse nor warrant any advertised businesses or services. The opinions and views expressed in the editorials are not necessarily those of the Editor and Publisher. Member, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce.

Unlike the United States Congress, our 125th session of the South Carolina General Assembly got off to a really quick start two weeks ago.

On the first day, our new Speaker G. Murrell Smith, Jr. gaveled in the session, and we were off to work. I’m hoping to set in motion a great many positive solutions for our state during the next four months.

Among the first issues on the House agenda was to expedite Gov. Henry McMaster’s promise to accelerate an infrastructure bill (H-3209) that will advance economic development across the entire state.

This bill encompasses widening interstate highways, including the stretch of I-95 that runs from the Georgia border 33 miles northbound to where U.S. 17 branches off toward Charleston at Point South.

The initial phase of this project (the eight miles from Georgia’s border to Hwy. 278 – at Exit 8 to Hardeeville and Hilton Head Island) will start within 12 months. The engineering and design are already underway. This will be an enormous benefit for those of us who need to reach the Savannah Airport on a regular basis. The entire 33-mile highway stretch is estimated to cost $360 million.

During the session’s first week there were more than 700 bills allocated to their proper committees for review. Every legislator began working within their committees and/or subcommittees to discuss, and either dismiss or send these bills to the House floor for debate.

I was the prime sponsor of three House bills, including H-3547 which, if approved, will “amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by prohibiting the collection of personal information from children by operators of websites and online services.” It is my strong belief that without this prohibition, online predators will continue to target minors to risks of cyberbullying, identity theft, exposure to graphic content, plus ideological persuasion and other insidious entrapment.

In an overwhelming 101-14 bipartisan

Letter to the Editor

vote, I joined my House colleagues to support a bill that will allocate our state’s portion of the American Rescue Plan to fund key infrastructure investments that will update and construct new water and sewer facilities for towns in rural areas. Additionally, we built into the legislation increased transparency and accountability measures that will ensure that no member of the General Assembly will be able to personally benefit from the distribution of these funds.

Also among the very first issues taken up during the first two weeks was how best to fight against the dangerous rise of fentanyl trafficking. Such trafficking has resulted in record fentanyl-related deaths over the past two years in our state. An overwhelming number of affected family members along with law enforcement representatives showed up in Columbia to testify to the House Judiciary Criminal Laws Subcommittee about what has been happening in their local communities. A new bill to significantly increase penalties for fentanyl trafficking is the objective. I strongly support it.

To the Editor:

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

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.

Earle Everett Moss Creek

Jeff Bradley is the representative for District 123 in the State House of Representatives.

Jeff Bradley

Need cheering up? Just think about your favorite things

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?”

Call

Catie Markey, Beaufort: “Dogs, dogs, dogs. I love dogs.”

Matt Butova, Hilton Head Island: “The beach. I love everything about it.”

Sean Malloy, Okatie: “All the kids who come here and think I’m some kind of super hero or wrestler.”

Ashley Quattrocchi, Bluffton: “My kids –every time.”

Steve Incerto, Bluffton: “My wife and my dog.”

LITTLE BLUE from page 1A

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.

“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 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.

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.

Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. timwood@blufftonsun. com

Dr. Julius Scott Lecture Series event features Dr. Millicent

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.

Century 21 Office Location

Century 21 Office Location

Our Century 21 office has been serving the Hilton Head Area for 34 years. Our location at the Hilton Head Beach & Tennis Resort has 1000’s of visitors each week, many of whom see our listings and ask us about buying on Hilton Head Island.

Our Century 21 office has been serving the Hilton Head Area for 35 years. Our location at the Hilton Head Beach & Tennis Resort has 1000’s of visitors each week, many of whom see our listings and ask us about buying on Hilton Head Island.

RD #233

MLS 429758

$474,000

Great opportunity on the sunny side of the building! Beautiful Villa, nicely furnished & newer HVAC, carpet & paint, bedding, dining table & wood floors. Feel right at home here as beds & furniture are comfy & everything is here for you! Primary BR has pretty coastal style & King Bed & guest room has dbl Full bunks so bring extra guests. Enjoy pool & ocean views on the oversized balcony. Many on-site amenities that include Pickleball, fitness center, biker rentals, 2 pools, beach bar, restaurants & security and more. You’ll never want to leave! Don’t wait too long, it is too good to pass up! Over $27k in rentals this year

RD B130

MLS 428695

$385,000

First floor ocean front!

Great location to the beach and pool from this updated villa. great remodeled kitchen, smooth ceilings, tile floors throughout, sleeper sofa, icemaker, tasteful decor, this is turn key. Great rental property or personal vacation villa in a great resort community with on site bike rentals, beach bar, restaurants, two pools, fitness center, tennis and pickleball courts and 24 hour security! You are going to love this one. All of the comforts of home just waiting for you. Don’t put it off any longer. You deserve a place at the beach so hurry. These ocean front villas never last long!

40

MLS 431432 $459,500

Take the elevator to the top! This is the 4th floor with beautiful ocean views! Don’t wait as this is a 2 mo rental starting Jan. 1. Great tile floors throughout and bright decor, this has been lovingly owned and rented for many years. Comfortable and spacious with a dbl balcony to enjoy the incredible views. Get it now and put your own spin on this one so you can enjoy with family and friends in 2023. Resort has 2 pools, bike rentals, restaurants, tennis, pickleball, fitness, laundry, beach bar, etc. Best deal on the island with these views.

27

unit. Steps from the best beach on the island. Perfect beach retreat in a gated Ocean front resort. HVAC 2021. Lovely tile floor in living & kitchen easy to maintain. Good rental history. 2021 grossed $35,072, 2022YTD $34,549. Amenities include oceanfront pool, tiki bar, tennis courts pickle ball, fitness room, playground, sports bar/restaurant, and seasonal bike rental, security.

building. So many High end finishes and furnishings. Never rented. Beautiful artwork. Attractive free standing bar with Waterford crystal! So close to the beach with peek of the ocean. Open floor plan, electric fireplace. HVAC 2 months old.

MLS 4276820 $450,000 WOW! Just reduced $25,000!

Updated two bedroom Admirals Row at a great price. Peek of the ocean. Has great rentals. Smooth ceilings, luxury vinyl flooring, walk in shower, updated bathrooms, etc.

POINTE DRIVE MLS 431555 $168,500

Gorgeous tidal marsh front lot in small attractive friendly neighborhood. Conveniently located mid island. You’ll never tire of stunning sunsets from your back porch/ deck! At end of cul de sac is pier for excellent fishing. Community pool. This POA is less since it’s not gated. Builder at 29 will be removing his belongings.

40 FOLLY FIELD

40 FOLLY FIELD

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FOLLY FIELD ROAD #234

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Filming finishes up in Beaufort of movie about Jackpot

2 Ways to Sign-up

By Kingston Rhodes CONTRIBUTOR

Multiple locations across Beaufort County are scenes for a new motion picture, “The Final Load,” that finished its onsite shooting this week. Hilton Head Island businessman Walter Czura is producing the movie with his production company, Fortress

The independent film carries the strength of an impressively experienced cast headed by award-winning Hollywood actors Jeff Fahey and Judd Nelson, who together have appeared in more than 300 films and TV episodes. It is directed by Chris Helton of Silver Line Films Inc., with offices in both Atlanta and Savannah.

Additional cast members include social media celebrity Maddie Henderson, with more than 4.3 million followers on TikTok; prominent

Broadway actors Meredith Inglesby and her husband Steve Blanchard; actor Shep Rose from Bravo’s “Southern Charm”; accomplished British actress Katie Amess; and American actor and director Drew Waters, who has 37 film and TV credits under his belt. Inglesby was raised on Hilton Head Island before moving to New York City for a successful Broadway career. She and her husband, also a highly respected Broadway actor, recently moved back to live in Bluffton. The film’s screenplay is set against the backdrop of South Carolina’s real-life marijuana and hashish smuggling escapades from the late 1970s to early 1980s. These were the ones which set in motion Operation Jackpot, the huge criminal investigation by then-U.S. Attorney and current South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster

COURTESY FORTRESS FILMS

Maddie Henderson, a TikTok sensation, appears on a monitor while filming “The Final Load” in Beaufort.

JACKPOT from page 12A

that became a celebrated episode in President Ronald Reagan’s War on Drugs.

In the film’s original screenplay, written by Czura, the main character (played by Fahey) is a former convicted smuggler who must consider committing a major crime (again) to smuggle 30,000 pounds of marijuana to cover payments that will save his plantation estate and shrimp boat from imminent foreclosure, plus pay for his wife’s $325,000 pancreatic cancer treatment.

“It’s a heartfelt, gripping story in a contemporary setting,” said Helton. “It shows how far a man will go (including the risk of returning to prison) to save his home and family while involving his granddaughter along with him.”

Judd Nelson plays the antagonist in the movie as an ex-DEA agent who holds a grudge against the main character, while Fahey’s granddaughter, performed by Maddie Henderson, plays the key supporting role.

Czura said “The Final Load” is a project very close to his heart.

“It reflects upon an era I personally experienced, having been involved along the edges of the smuggling operations during those years – and as a result, I spent time in prison,” he said. “It involves the type of characters who I cared about, and I hope those who watch our film in theatres and streaming will relate to both the tension and dramatic episodes that it creates.”

Czura is a former attorney who created a highly successful outdoor advertising business in the Southeast following his prison sentence. He has also actively pursued writing screenplays on the side.

A year ago, Czura established Fortress Films, and premiered his first feature length film, “Sherman’s March to the Sea,” an historical drama which premiered at the Poison Peach Film Festival last January in Augusta, Georgia.

Helton points out that “The Final Load” offers a compelling plot with a good script and very strong cast. “It boasts a Hollywood vibe. I think audiences will relate to the characters, and we are confident about its success,” he said.

“The Final Load” is one of the first feature-length films to be initiated in South Carolina since the state legislature provided new support to encourage more movie-making across the state, a pursuit that had been largely latent for more than a decade.

“Our local state Rep. Weston Newton of Bluffton has been one of the major supporters of re-energizing the movie industry here,” said Czura. “I’m excited that we can now expect more major film projects showcasing the beauty and attractions of South Carolina, and I hope to be a part of it moving forward.”

Kingston Rhodes is a freelancer writer covering the Lowcountry.

Meet our Contributors

GWYNETH J. SAUNDERS, JOURNALIST

Lowcountry resident for 13.5 years

Gwyneth was born in Pennsylvania, raised in South Jersey, now living in Bluffton. She retired from the U.S. Navy after 26 years as a Navy journalist. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Norfolk State University (“Go Spartans”). Married 19.5 years to Tony, an adorable Welshman. They have two sweet rescue cats, Tigger the tripod and Benji (neither are spoiled). She is a member of Sun City Veterans Association; chorus, Sundancers, softball, art, and computer clubs. A Philadelphia Eagles fan, Gwyneth love pasta, sushi and great burgers. Love my family, friends. I have the best job.

ENJOYS: Books, performing, art, cooking

Escape to the place where fun and relaxation meet.

Escape to island-inspired living as you grow older, but not up. Escape to Latitude Margaritaville.

CAREERS from page 16A

Carlton Dallas, founder of the BusinessATTRACT, was one of the sponsors of the 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 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. … 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.”

Several of the young people were looking around while fulfilling school community service hours.

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 the school wants to make sure students know the different opportunities that they have.

“We want to lay the foundation so that the students have choices. And being able to expose them to the different opportunities they have after high school is very important,” said Hunter. “I believe in students going to college, but it’s not for everyone. That’s not everyone’s passion … 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,” said Miller.

Bluffton Township Fire Department Firefighter Luis Aponte and BTFD HR Director Tracy Walling greeted visitors to the public safety organization’s table.

“We are able to tell those who stop by that not only is training free, but trainees are paid while they learned,” said Walling.

Not only could attendees meet with different trades, schools and businesses inside, but outside of the high school, they 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.

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,” he said.

Beaufort School District Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said the event 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.”

Gwyneth J. Saunders is a veteran journalist and freelance writer living in Bluffton.

THE ART OF EXCEPTIONAL CARE

A sudden onset of weakness in her limbs and hands began interfering with two of Elaine’s biggest joys: painting and bike riding. Additional symptoms, including slurred speech and severe trouble swallowing, led to electromyography (EMG) and muscle biopsy testing, which revealed necrotizing autoimmune myopathy – a rare autoimmune condition attacking the muscles.

Under the care of Dr. Poston, a neurologist, Elaine was treated withintravenous immunoglobulin and other lifesaving drugs. Immunosuppression and regular follow-ups with Dr. Poston and multiple St. Joseph’s/Candler specialists helped Elaine regain her strength and return to the pursuits she loves.

“The team of specialists at St. Joseph’s/Candler found answers and solutions to help me regain my strength so I could get back to doing the things I love to do.” – Elaine Lee stages of myopathy

– Ryon Poston, M.D. – Neurologist

“THAT’S WHY I CHOOSE ST. JOSEPH’S/CANDLER”

Elaine Lee - Savannah, GA

Expert Cabinet Painting

in Great Backyard Bird Count

By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTOR

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.

Gwyneth J. Saunders is a veteran journalist and freelance writer living in Bluffton.

A hooded merganser made itself at home on a lagoon in Sun City Hilton Head over the holidays.

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12th annual Sporting Clays benefit set for March 10

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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.

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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.

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Co-Chair of the Pockets Full of Sunshine Sporting Clays fundraiser, Captain Fuzzy Davis, shares a smile with one of the “Rays”, Sally Bartholomew, and participant, Drew Davis at last year’s event.

COURTESY POCKETS FULL OF SUNSHINE

PHOTO BY MICHELLE McELROY-COX

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 student work from three Bluffton high schools. sobagallery.com or 843-7576586

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

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

“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 McLaughlin 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.

Tales of NYC’s street gamblers come to life in ‘Guys and Dolls Jr.’

PRESENTS

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.

Based on a story and characters by Damon Runyon. Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser. Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. Guys and Dolls Junior is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International’s Broadway Junior Collection.

Based on a story and characters by Damon Runyon. Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser. Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. Guys and Dolls Junior is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International’s Broadway Junior Collection.

DIRECTOR

MICHELLE MCELROY COX

DIRECTOR

CHOREOGRAPHER

JAMAL EDWARDS

MICHELLE MCELROY COX

MUSICAL DIRECTOR

JAMES BERRY

CHOREOGRAPHER

MARCH 2-5,

2023

JAMAL EDWARDS

MUSICAL DIRECTOR

TICKETS $25/Adults $15/Students $5/Under 8

MARCH 2, 3, 4 - 7PM

JAMES BERRY

MARCH 5 - 2PM

Hilton Head High School Seahawk

Sarah Brown (Emma Kate Dalzell), Sky Masterson (Aiden Miller), Miss Adelaide (Maya Norcross) and Nathan Detroit (Jack Mau) are ready to roll and tell the tale of “Guys and Dolls Jr.”

MICHELLE MCELROY-COX

New artist at La Petite Gallerie

‘Love Letters’ coming to Lady’s Island for Valentine’s Day

“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.

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.

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.

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-

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.

Guess Who’s Coming to the Arts Center this month?

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.

The Cast of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.”

GUSTAVO RATTIA

Avoid ballroom burnout by doing activities in moderation

By Sandro Virag

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

Tara Walker and Sandro take a break from their lesson to look at choreography options.

Modern troubadour coming to MOM

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 p.m.

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.

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.

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.

Nakoa has won awards at Kerrville Folk Festival and 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.

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.

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.

– STAR TRIBUNE

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!

Students participate in SOBA’s annual Student Art Exhibit

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.

William Hilton Parkway Fresh Market Shops

Joselyn Moreno, Bluffton High School Addison Lepper, Cross Schools

Fragile illusions shattered in ‘Glass Menagerie’ at MRT

PRESENTS

“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.

The Odd Couple is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com The Odd Couple by Neil Simon

The Odd Couple is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com The Odd Couple by Neil Simon

DIRECTOR: RON RUCKLE

DIRECTOR: RON RUCKLE

FEBRUARY 17-26, 2023

TICKETS $30/Adults $15/Students

FEBRUARY 17-26, 2023

FEBRUARY 17, 18, 24, 25 - 7:30PM

TICKETS $30/Adults $15/Students

FEBRUARY 19, 26 - 2PM

FEBRUARY 17, 18, 24, 25 - 7:30PM

FEBRUARY 19, 26 - 2PM

Laura (Alex Clark) holds a swan from her collection of glass figures in “The Glass Menagerie.”

COURTESY MAY RIVER THEATRE

Location:

FEBRUARY

GULLAH

FEBRUARY 1 - 28, 2023

BUY TICKETS ONLINE at www.gullahcelebration.com or call 843.255.7303

FOLLOW US f a x

Evening of Love benefit features wine pairing, dinner

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.

FEBRUARY 3

GULLAH

FEBRUARY 4

FREEDOM DAY CELEBRATION Location:

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.

FREEDOM DAY: FILM SERIES

For more information visit gullahcelebration.com or connect with us at f a x

Zonta Club of Hilton Head to host mother/daughter 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.

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.

Art by Bill Winn

Art by Sue Grilli

Art by Amiri Farris

Art by Dottie Leatherwood

Beach music lovers honor the state dance with shag weekend

By Edwina Hoyle CONTRIBUTOR

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 faces, 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

Please see SHAG on page 26A

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Attendees at the Winter Classic presented by the Hilton Head Island Shag Club in January danced the night away to beach music and other dance tunes.

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SHAG from page 24A

girl to dance, do two or three steps and then whisper that it was too crowded and escort 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.

Charlie Womble and Jackie McGee, a husband-and-wife dance team who have won national titles 13 times, provided a shag exhibition to show others how beautiful the dance can be.

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Pickleball: How the weirdest sport became an institution

By Barry Kaufman CONTRIBUTOR

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

Pickleball is a sport for all ages, resembling tennis but requiring less movement and energy.

PHOTOS COURTESY PICKLEHEADS

PICKLEBALL from page 28A

Center, and Hilton Head Island Motorcoach Resort.

It makes sense that the relatively older population of Southern Beaufort County would make it a hotbed for the sport. Less physically demanding than tennis but definitely enough of a workout to get your pulse racing, pickleball is ideal for those of us who probably wouldn’t make the cut for Wimbledon.

“Pickleball is a sport for all ages. Anyone from age 5 to 95 can play and have fun,” said Mackie.

And because the sport demands a more nuanced approach – a soft drop shot into the kitchen is usually all you need to dominate – it tends to present a more level playing field. Local musician Jevon Daly found that out when he first took to the court in 2016.

“I was getting beat up on by people who

were 20, sometimes 30, years older than me,” he said. “Until you play someone who’s 75 and can beat the (stuffing) out of you, you won’t understand.”

Despite getting thoroughly demolished by his elders, Daly caught the bug just like pretty much everyone who picks up the paddle. And along the way, he discovered what might just be the most enticing aspect of the sport: the camaraderie.

“People don’t talk politics out there. They don’t talk religion. There’s a lot of trash talking, but all in all it’s a fun game,” he said. “Everyone knows each other out there… It’s an interesting little community of people.”

So, if you’re looking to find your own community in Bluffton, all you need is a paddle.

Barry Kaufman lives in Bluffton and prefers his sports on the Nintendo.

Camadarie is a signature feature among pickleball players.

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Noteworthy

• 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 organization 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 membership 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-by-step 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.

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT NEWS

The Bluffton Sun welcomes news of community, club, church, school and organization events. If the event is open to the public, email info to editor@blufftonsun.com.

Trust issues and matters which deserve close attention

By Mark F. Winn CONTRIBUTOR

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.

J.D., Master

mwinnesq.com

Mark F. Winn,

of Laws (LL.M.) in estate planning, is a local asset protection, estate and elder law planning attorney.

By B. Andrew Castro CONTRIBUTOR

The good news is that most back pain will go away with minimal treatment. This type of pain is typically “acute,” meaning it comes on suddenly and lasts no more than a few weeks.

Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and topical analgesics often provide relief.

B. Andrew Castro

However, if your pain lasts more than 12 weeks, it is characterized as “chronic.”

If you are experiencing persistent back pain, don’t ignore the problem. Chronic

back pain can take a toll on your overall physical and emotional health, so it’s crucial that you seek professional care.

The first step will be for your provider to determine exactly what is causing your pain. I encourage people to pay attention to warning signs and what hurts, as it helps me diagnose the cause.

For example, if you’re experiencing leg pain in addition to low back pain, it could be a sign of a herniated disk. If you notice numbness in your arms or legs, it could be caused by spinal stenosis or a side effect of arthritis.

If you have persistent pain that is accompanied by fever or unexplained weight loss, follows an accident or blow to the back, or impacts bladder or bowel function, you should see a doctor immediately. While most chronic back pain is due to spinal issues, it’s always good to make sure it’s not due to anything else.

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When it comes to chronic back pain, a healthy lifestyle can make a big difference.

First, address the things you can change, such as losing weight, quitting smoking or making your work area more ergonomically correct. Most importantly, maintain a low-impact exercise routine and strengthen your core, giving your body the tools it needs to take the stress off your back.

Talk to your doctor about treatments that can help you move past the pain. There are many options, including pain medication, physical therapy, and injections to nerve ablation.

What about surgery? With proper diagnosis and treatment, most back pain will improve without surgery. However, if you’ve gone through conservative treatments and still have no relief for your back pain, surgery can be an effective option to relieve back pain, neck pain, deformities and disc problems.

And while “spine surgery” may sound daunting, the good news is that many of today’s state-of-the-art spinal surgeries are minimally invasive and designed to spare healthy muscle tissue, speed recovery and cause less postsurgical pain.

Dr. Castro to host “Talk with the Doc”

Okatie Pines is located at 142 Okatie Blvd. North. The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. To RSVP, visit TalkWithDoc.eventbrite.com.

If back pain has become an issue for you, join Dr. B. Andrew Castro for a special “Talk with the Doc” at 2 p.m. Feb. 2 at Okatie Pines, where he will discuss caring for your back and solutions for back pain. A board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic spine specialist, Dr. Castro is on the medical staff at Beaufort Memorial and practices with BOSS Orthopaedics in Beaufort, Bluffton and Hilton Head Island.

What are PDO threads and what can they do?

By E. Ronald Finger CONTRIBUTOR

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 vo lumize 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 re sulting 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

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New cardio surgeon enhances heart care options close to home

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.

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.

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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

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.

Dr. John W. Perry

Mini-facelift a good solution for middle-age sagging skin

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 lead 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-

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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

Finding hope in Daniel’s message of fear, faith and focus

By Brett Myers CONTRIBUTOR

Who would have thought that the fear of being thrown into a lion’s den would pale in comparison to seeing dreams of the end times?

I’m preaching through the book of Daniel on Sunday mornings at First Baptist right now. We started this series back in September, and I took a break after chapter 6 as we hit the Christmas holidays, taking a chance to focus in on what we celebrate during Christmas: the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

If I’m honest, I was really tempted, and yes, I told my church this, to shift

directions and go to an easier book to preach after the new year. If you don’t know much about Daniel, chapters 1-6 are historical narrative, and chapters 7 through 12 are prophecy, much of which is apocalyptic in nature.

Well, I’ve always been intimidated to read apocalyptic prophecy, and much more so to preach it. But God wouldn’t let me avoid it. Over the past couple months of studying Daniel 7-12, I’ve grown to really appreciate passages like these.

One commentator wrote: “Daniel 1-6 give the prophet’s resume, while 7-12 gives his message.” That’s a convicting statement for someone like me who would typically breeze through those difficult-to-understand chapters.

What I’ve really come to appreciate in Daniel 7-12 is the fact that, though it’s easy to get mired in all the detail and unknown relevance as to how what we read

is literally going to play out in the end, the message is really very simple. Despite how terrifying things are, in the end, Jesus saves.

Even after being saved from the mouths of hungry lions, Daniel walked away from dreams on numerous occasions saying something like, “my color changed.” I love the line in 8:27: “And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for days. Then I rose and went about the king’s business…”

I’m afraid that far too often, those who are called by God’s name get distracted, even sometimes by good things like wrestling with difficult passages of Scripture, and we forget that we have the “King’s business” to attend to. Christians have purpose, a sovereign focus, in this life: To make disciples of all nations.

Are there frightening times around us? Absolutely! Is there reason to fear according to earthly logic? Sure! But we

know who is ultimately in control. We know who wins in the end. We know that He has called us to a greater purpose in life. When you know who’s in control and when you focus on your God-given purpose, fear somehow vacates and faith permeates.

If you don’t know this God, you can. Romans 10:9 gives instruction on how to obtain a relationship with Him: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Relationship with God doesn’t erase trials from life, as sometimes it is the trials that deepen our walk with Him. But it does give us eternal life, as well as hope in this one.

Brett Myers is the senior pastor at First Baptist Church on Hilton Head Island. FBCHHI.org

Brett Myers

Keeping the superstitions of fishing alive, just for fun

By Collins Doughtie CONTRIBUTOR

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

One of these items is believed to bring good mojo, while the other bring bad vibes. Do you know which is which?

COLLINS DOUGHTIE

Old piano ‘find’ not as great as one that actually works

By JJennifer Herrin CONTRIBUTOR

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

Share the Love with Homeless Pets

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

Two cats with traumatic pasts find peace, love at shelter

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.

Hattie, left, and Walter spend their days together atop counters or in the cat room at Palmetto Animal League’s Adoption Center.

To buy or not to buy a house in this fresh New Year

By Larry Stoller CONTRIBUTOR

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. Inventory 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 com-

petition, 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

Larry Stoller

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

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CLASSIFIEDS

CONTENTS OF 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 at 843-384-0303.

CLASSIFIED ADS WORK! CALL 843-757-9507.

YOUR AD HERE CAN REACH 25,000 households and businesses from Moss Creek to Sun City to Callawassie Island. Promote services, sell goods, announce a yard sale, buy a house, sell a house, find a job, find employees, ask for help, offer help! Ads starting at $28 for 40 words. 843-757-9507.