• Buzzards gathering at Martin Family Park deemed success 12A
• Youngsters given added mobility through therapy cars project 15A
• March Madness holds special memories for Bluffton doctor 19A
• Resident pushes for more education about litter issues 21A
• Apply for school choice by March 31 25A
More than 1,200 mostly smiling, happy faces look back from the pages of the National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day website. Some are as young as 17, and maybe younger. Others are age 42 or more.
Like Battery Creek High School graduate Shelbi Dale Crippen – whose photo is amongst them – they all died from a dose of fentanyl.
Crippen’s death on April 16, 2021, affected family members differently. Her aunt, Sherri Navarre, said her sister, Jacki Hanners, still has difficulty talking about her daughter.
After resurfacing from deep depression over her niece’s death, Navarre has taken up the fight for all of them and is on a mission to promote awareness and prevention “because I don’t want any other families to go through this.”
Crippen grew up in Beaufort, loved cosmetology and talked about becoming a nurse, Navarre said, but soon after graduation she met someone who introduced
her to hydrocodone. It wasn’t long before her family began noticing changes in her behavior.
“After she started dating him, my sister was noticing things that were going on and how she was acting,” she said. “She picked up on it and got Shelbi out of there. She went to rehab and did well for a while, but soon she was back on drugs with someone different.”
Navarre recalled that Crippen was beautiful, very intelligent and loving. She occasionally made the honor roll, loved all her friends and family deeply, and loved animals, especially elephants and her guinea pigs.
“She was just the girl next door. She was just a beautiful loving child. She was funny as all get out and would always keep us rolling,” said Navarre.
On a more serious note, she said her mission is specifically to spread awareness about illicit fentanyl, the cause of Crippen’s death.
“She couldn’t fight that demon. She went to rehab three times and the last time was the longest she was without drugs,” she said.
Crippen worked several jobs, finally settling at Lowe’s, a job Navarre said she really loved. While working there, Crippen was also keeping in touch with a man she had met at the Beaufort Water
Festival. After several months of talking on the phone, she went to visit him in Texas, and soon there was talk about
Please see FENTANYL on page 8A
We all want access to top healthcare, because we know that “top” means a commitment to pursuing and achieving the best, which is especially important when you’re looking for medical services and care. And the good news: it’s right in our backyard.
We’re proud to be among the select group of hospitals recognized by the national hospital safety watchdog organization The Leapfrog Group for putting patients and their safety first every day. Not only does it mean our team is focused on you, it means you can feel confident in trusting us when it matters most.
Only 5% of hospitals in the U.S. have earned the Top Hospital award for patient safety and quality — and Beaufort Memorial is one of them. BeaufortMemorial.org/TopHospital
“Oh, to be a bird on a warm day in the Lowcountry,” I said to no one as I watched a fat and happy male cardinal splashing in the birdbath outside our bedroom window.
His dance exuded joy and freedom as he hopped about. When he flapped his wings as if to bathe his body, water droplets flew everywhere in a flash.
He then jumped up onto the rim of the birdbath to dry himself, puffing out his round chest and again flapping his wings.
He must have decided he wasn’t quite finished, so he hopped back into the water and repeated the entire routine.
At this point, I noticed that another, bigger bird had flown past and landed in the tree close by.
Mr. Cardinal noticed him too – and immediately hopped out, took a quick shake,
and flew off to the nearby shrubs.
Down swooped the big bird from the shadows of the tree. It was the brightest, bluest blue jay I have seen in years. He was magnificent but timid as he seemingly tiptoed into the bath. After just a moment or two of splashing, he was done and gone.
Maybe the cardinal had used up more than his share of water, and the jay didn’t have enough left to bathe.
Can you just imagine this sight, right there in the backyard, two weeks before spring officially starts? Have you seen something like this? Does it give you an instant feeling of near euphoria?
That’s what I felt. What fun it must be to fly wherever you want to go, nibble on food offered freely in hanging containers all over the neighborhood, and have a human draw your bath.
I have long had an affinity for birds. My first love was seagulls, who were my neigh-
bors when I was lucky enough to live in a house right on the beach.
I had come to appreciate these beautiful white and blue-gray shore birds on a visit to Jamestown, Rhode Island, as a teen. I had read “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” before my trip, and upon arrival took dozens of photos of them and their acrobatics.
Seagulls are not afraid of humans, so they would flutter down from the sky, then zoom in close enough to grab a piece of bread from my outstretched hand.
I spent as much time on the beach feeding gulls and I did sitting in the sun and reading.
The second neighbor birds I encountered were a family of owls. For a few months, we had watched and listened to the mom and dad who lived in an oak tree in our yard.
A naturalist in our neighborhood explained they were barred owls, likely a mated pair. He taught us their song: “Whoo? Whoo? Who’ll cook for you?”
We learned to watch for them on the branches of several trees around our yard.
One morning, several months after we were aware of the pair, we walked out the front door and were startled to see not one, not two, but three smaller versions of our owl friends. They were sitting in a row on the edge of the birdbath nestled under the azalea bush.
They were as surprised to see us as we were to see them. Rushing back inside to grab a camera (long before cell phone cameras) to take their photo, we managed to not scare them away.
The family of five hung around our yard for the rest of the season, and we kept up with them as they moved from yard to yard around the neighborhood.
I watch birds at our feeders all year long, For me, it’s great entertainment, and a great opportunity to enjoy these feathery icons of nature up close without disturbing them.
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We are roughly halfway through the legislative session for the year and I am proud of our work in the House of Representatives to prioritize public safety and to protect and support the next generation.
what’s best for their children for more than 100 years by a provision in our state Constitution known as the “Blaine Amendment.”
The House passed a joint resolution calling for an amendment to the State Constitution to be presented on a statewide ballot in 2024 for voters to decide whether to repeal the Blaine language. The Blaine Amendment has prohibited the distribution of government funds to “sectarian” schools.
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In addition to passing the fentanyl trafficking bill I discussed in this space last month, the House – with a bipartisan vote of 92-20 – recently passed a historic bond reform bill to stop the revolving jailhouse door to help make South Carolina a safer place to live and raise our families.
The bill creates sentence and bond enhancements for a person convicted of a violent crime while out on bond for a previous violent crime. The legislation creates a sentence enhancement of a mandatory five years if a person is convicted of a violent crime while out on bond for a previous offense, and requires that any bond set for someone who commits a violent crime while out on bond for a previous offense must be a 100% cash bond.
Parents must have the flexibility to make the best choice for their child’s education. South Carolina parents have been constrained from doing
The genesis of this constitutional language reflected the religious bigotry and prejudices in the late 1800s against immigrant Catholics and against newly freed enslaved people whose lives, living conditions and educational opportunities were being improved by religious missionary organizations.
This restriction on the use of government funding was directly aimed to stop the Catholic Church from educating these freed people and immigrants. This relic of the past perpetuates injustice by blocking state funds to non-public schools that educate underserved and underprivileged children.
The repeal will allow parents to make the best choices for their child’s education and help protect many state-funded programs such as S.C. Tuition Grants Program, LIFE Scholarship, Palmetto Fellows, the full-day 4k programs CERDEP/CDEPP and First Steps which could be vulnerable to a legal challenge under the Blaine
The House Ways and Means Committee wrapped up its weeks of hearings and has approved the preliminary 2023-2024 state budget. The initial budget proposal, which is nearly $14 billion, is a starting point in the approval process and will be debated on the floor of the House during the week of March 13. As the budget works its way through the House to the Senate and Conference Committee, I will provide more information.
Finally, I was proud to join virtually all of my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee in advancing the Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act for consideration by the full House of Representatives. South Carolina is only one of two states in the country without a hate crimes law. I look forward to the House passing this bill again and hope the Senate this year will join the House in sending a strong message that we do not tolerate hate-based violent acts in the Palmetto State.
Having this important legislation on the books will help our state remain the “beast of the east” in economic development.
It is an honor and privilege to represent Beaufort and Jasper counties in the House. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I may be of assistance.
Weston Newton is the representative for District 120 in the State House of Representatives. WestonNewton@ schouse.gov
Do you have some thoughts you would like to share about local issues? Have you wanted to commend a local business or organization for its good work in the community?
The Bluffton Sun welcomes letters to the editor from Bluffton residents or visitors. Letters must be no longer than 250 words. Longer op-ed pieces on timely topics will be considered on an
individual basis. All submissions must include the writer’s name, address and phone number. Email submissions to editor@ blufftonsun.com.
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 the inaugural Bluffton Buzzard
Day festival at Martin Family Park, we asked: “Other than the Bluffton Buzzard, what’s your favorite bird?”
• Board Certified ABIM Medical Oncology
• Fellowship at the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University
• The only recommended physician by CLL Society in South Carolina.
• Member of ASCO’s Cancer.net Lymphoma Advisory Panel.
• Serving the lowcountry since ‘93
• Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology
• Fellowship at The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, and Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
• Serving the lowcountry since ‘21
• Board Certified ABIM Medical Oncology
• Fellowship at Department of Hematology/ Oncology at Emory University, Atlanta
• Principal investigator on more than a dozen clinical trials
• Serving the lowcountry since ‘95
CANCER CARE BY SMART, SPECIALIZED ONCOLOGISTS.
We keep great oncology care in the community. As a QOPI® Certified Practice, we meet certain defined quality and safety standards in the administration of cancer care. Our team of medical oncologists are life-long learners who continue their education and apply their board-certified knowledge to help stop cancer in its tracks and get you back to living the life you want to live. There’s no reason to travel: compassionate and highly experienced medical expertise is right here in the lowcountry.
AT ST. JOSEPH’S/CANDLER, WE PROVIDE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CANCER CARE CLOSE TO HOME.
plans for the future. Crippen ended up moving there.
“She was missing her family a lot, and I think that’s what got her started back on to doing drugs. Somebody was doing meth right down the road from her, and it was right there in her face,” Navarre said. “The boyfriend had nothing to do with it. He does not do drugs, and I don’t even think he knew she did. Not until she actually overdosed on heroin while she was there. He gave her mouth-to-mouth and then 911 came, and they got her back.”
Navarre said the family did not know she had overdosed and was in the hospital for a few days until months after the incident.
Crippen and her boyfriend broke up, but she was still staying there. She came back to Beaufort for what was supposed to be a week’s visit, and was planning to return to Texas and help him pay the rent.
Navarre said Crippen arrived back in Beaufort on a Wednesday. On Thursday she got into a car accident. She wasn’t injured but the car was seriously damaged.
Between her depression over the breakup and anxiety over the accident, she “had a lot of stuff on her mind,” Navarre said.
On Friday, Crippen went to stay with one of her best friends.
“She decided to go get a pill from someone she knew. We’re pretty sure about this from a text on her phone. We know it’s got to be one of the three people that she had been to before and got pills from. And she went and got a pill and it was either a Xanax or the Dilaudid,” said Navarre.
Dilaudid, or hydromorphone, is a potent schedule II opioid used to help relieve moderate to severe pain. Xanax or Alprazolam is also a narcotic in the benzodiazepine class, and is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.
“The pill was in her system, but the coroner told us that it was fentanyl that took her life. She was poisoned because she had no idea. She thought she was taking a pill and was going to get some sleep and not have to be anxious because of the car accident and breaking up with her boyfriend,” Navarre said. “She said goodnight to her best friend, went to the guest room to lay down, took the pill and probably within 15 minutes she was gone, because that’s how quickly it’ll kill you.”
Navarre said there were 21 milligrams
FENTANYL from page 8A
of fentanyl in her system according to the coroner.
“It’s lethal at two grams, and that’s like the size of the end of a pencil head,” she said.
Crippen was supposed to go to her parents’ house the next day. It was midday and her mother called the girlfriend, who went up to the guest room and found her friend deceased.
Navarre had never heard of fentanyl until her niece’s death.
“I looked it up and I was on a mission. And then I found out more and more about illicit fentanyl, because there’s pharmaceutical fentanyl, for pain, and usually doctors give it to people with cancer – the patches and that type of thing. And then there’s the illicit – the street fentanyl –pressed into a pill like what Shelbi took,” she said. “My mission is to help save as many lives as I can, to get it out there, to let people know how dangerous this really is. Because I think there’s a lot of people that either don’t know about fentanyl, or they don’t realize how dangerous it is.”
Navarre belongs to several Facebook groups, including The Lost Voices of Fentanyl, which has held several rallies in Washington, D.C.
Navarre can be seen driving her red pickup in Beaufort County with large magnets on the tailgate promoting awareness.
“I have a picture of Shelbi. And then I have the statement ‘One party – One Pill – One Time.’ It’s not just (adults) who are addicted to drugs. It’s been children as young as 10 years old, that are just curious. Or they’ve had peer pressure to try something, or college students that need Adderall to keep themselves up that they can cram for that test at night,” she said. “They take what they think is just a pill and it’s fentanyl.”
It’s not just Navarre and her sister who mourn the loss of Shelbi. The sisters’ parents have also felt the loss. Her grandmother, Diana Crippen, was her confidante.
“We talked about everything. We’d have five-and-a-half-hour conversations,” she said. “We never argued – or we might want to disagree, but not anything ever
mean. And anytime anything happened, whether it was good, bad or ugly, she would call me. It had been Friday we spoke and at that time, she had me hopeful that she was going to go to a meeting, actually with a good friend of hers that needed to go as well. And of course that didn’t happen.”
Crippen said she has spoken to some of her granddaughter’s peers about what happened and how dangerous the drug is, but with little reaction.
“Not too many are interested, because (they think) it won’t happen to them. I’m from a very small village outside of Chicago, and they say the drug is for Chicago,” she said. “‘That’s not going to happen to one of mine. Your grandchild must not have done very well.’ They never really came out and said that to me, but I know. I went to school with them. I know them.”
In 2020, there were 30 Beaufort County deaths caused by an overdose of opioids. According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, “there is significant risk that illegal drugs have been intentionally contaminated with fentanyl. Because of its potency and low cost, drug dealers have been mixing fentanyl with other drugs including heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, increasing the likelihood of a fatal interaction.”
It can also be pressed into counterfeit pills that look like the real thing, such as Valium and Xanax.
Navarre encourages people to get involved by contacting her through her Facebook page at Sherri Domagalla Navarre.
If you or someone you know uses drugs, take advantage of the opportunity to receive free training on the application of Narcan – also known as Naloxone. Contact the First Responders Project for group presentations and training, or for individual training and information. Call 843-255-6020 for the team. You’ll be able to get details on how to get a free kit to keep handy.
It was a warm afternoon at Martin Family Park on March 5, as folks gathered to celebrate the inaugural Bluffton Buzzard Day festival.
A number of the large black birds made an appearance overhead, perhaps looking for nibbles from various picnic offerings.
They couldn’t have known that Coby Mozingo was offering possum pilau, fried roadkill chicken, and deviled buzzard eggs.
Jevon Daly, an organizer of the event, welcomed attendees and presented Babbie Guscio, creator of the event, with a box of limited edition Bluffton Buzzard donuts made fresh that morning by Alljoy Donuts.
As Daly and Guscio appreciated the treats, a beat-up – er, vintage! – green Chevy truck circled the park, much like a buzzard circles. And why not? An adult human-sized buzzard was flapping his wings in the bed of the truck.
This was no ordinary buzzard.
This was the original Bluffton Buzzard himself – George Cuthbert Heyward V, a former school teacher, a former mayor of the Town, and designator many years ago of the buzzard as the official bird of Bluffton.
As Heyward and his wife, Lillian, made their way around the festival grounds, people stopped them to chat and admire his outfit. Those who have been around Bluffton for a few years already knew the story behind the buzzard get-up.
For those who didn’t, George’s cousin Tombo Heyward was there to share it. (For a little background here, the two are descendants of the Thomas Heyward who was a South Carolina delegate to the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence.)
“George was the mayor for eight years here in Bluffton,” Tombo said. “And the mayor immediately preceding him – who will go unnamed, as he is deceased and cannot defend himself – lived right down on
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BUZZARD from page 12A
the river next to the Bluffton Oyster Factory. And he was mad about the oyster factory being so close to him because it attracted buzzards that would land down on his dock and roost there all day long. And he didn’t like the buzzards.”
Tombo continued the story of how the previous mayor demanded the oyster factory be closed, and even sued the Town to try to force council to close it.
Tombo continued, “Not only did George say ‘no,’ but he goes to the next town council meeting, and has a proclamation issued, proclaiming the buzzard to be the Town bird and protected within the town limits.”
Mayor Heyward also called the helpful bird “God’s picker upper.”
To add a healthy dose of Bluffton eccentricity to the story, the mayor took his buzzard protection plan a step further. For the Bluffton Christmas Parade that year, aided by the one and only Guscio, George rode atop the town’s new garbage truck, dressed as a buzzard, flapping his wings along the entire parade route.
The previous mayor saw him, and never
again mentioned the buzzards.
The big buzzard continued to appear in parades for the next six years.
Tombo then read a proclamation issued by current Mayor Lisa Sulka naming March 5, 2023, as George Cuthbert Heyward V Day in Bluffton.
Heyward thanked the town for the surprise proclamation and said he appreciated so many turning out for the day. He also thanked Guscio for helping him “to become reincarnated.”
PREEMPTS STAYMAN JACOBY TRANSFERS
Please join us on Friday mornings in April and May while we learn about preemptive bids, the Stayman convention and the Jacoby Transfer convention. Lessons will be held at the Hilton Head Island bridge center on Friday mornings from 10 – 12. You can attend the lessons as they fit your schedule.
April 21 Preempts
April 28 Weak Two Bids
costumes and picnic displays.
As the kids show ended, Guscio announced the winners.
Corzingo’s Buzzard Picnic, prepared by Doug Corkern and his daughter Coby Mozingo, took top honors in that category.
For the costume competition, to nobody’s surprise, the winner was the original buzzard. Heyward received a statue of a buzzard, aptly named George, crafted by artist Wally Palmer and presented by the artist and Guscio. Heyward was instructed that he could take the trophy home for a year, and had to promise to bring it back next year.
May 5 Stayman Basics
May 12 More on Using Stayman Responses
Daly then invited children to join him up front for his Kaotic Kids music show, which began with him and the kids singing one of his original songs, “A Seagull Stole My Sandwich.” (Seagulls are sort of like beach buzzards, right?)
Kids sang along, shook their shakers, shared their superpowers, jumped and danced along with Daly while the adults in attendance chatted, ate picnic lunches and drank whatever beverages filled their cups. Secret judges perused the various buzzard
Heyward had more thanks to offer for this surprise as well. “I thought I was over and done at this age, but this is all due to Babbie, who is always stirring the cultural cauldron.”
At the end of the event, Daly turned his music back on and played for all to hear the tribute song he wrote for Guscio: “Babbie Guscio, Babbie Guscio, you’re a superstar! Babbie Guscio, Babbie Guscio, everybody loves you!” The last line was perhaps the best: “Keeper of the flame.” And so she is.
May 19 Jacoby Transfer Basics
May 26 More on Using Jacoby Transfers
Each lesson is $15.00. The lessons will be taught by Kristi Menees, kristimenees@mac.com or 551-795-6329.
6ConsecutiveWednesdaysBeginningApril19thfrom10amtoNoon Cost:$15PerSession
For those who recently completed the Winter ‘23 lessons, and for those needing a review of the following bridge disciplines, this course will be dedicated to the play of hands which feature Preempts, Weak 2’s, Takeout Doubles, Stayman & Jacoby Transfers. Each week participants will play at least 4 hands which will be analyzed by your instructors from a bidding, play & defensive point of view. This course looks to further educate the beginning bridge player on how to recognize when to employ these bidding techniques and how to use them effectively.
Instructors: Joe & Bev Meyers. Register at jmeyers247@aol.com or call 917-836-3459
Each session begins with a ten minute mini-lesson, and then each table plays hands at their own pace. You are able to ask questions at any time about bidding, defending, playing the hand. It is a perfect way to practice in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Come alone, come with a partner, or come along with a full table. Cost is $10. Any questions: kristimenees@mac.com 551-795-6329
HILTON HEAD ISLAND BRIDGE CLUB, ACBL Sanctioned
UR COMMUNITY UR COMMUNITY UR YOUTH UR YOUTH UR FUTURE UR FUTURE
WHERE?
Bluffton High School-
12 H.E. McCracken Cir. Blu
Counselors/Therapists
Best Practice available for other professions/disciplines.
Questions? Email: lcalliance4healthyyouth@gmail.com
By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTORIn a scene vaguely reminiscent of Santa’s Workshop, part of River Ridge Academy’s cafeteria was taken over by kid-sized electric cars, pool noodles, PVC tubes and duct tape.
Instead of elves, though, there were four students, a teacher and a pediatric therapist drilling holes, tightening bolts and adjusting adaptive parts for the intended drivers – all of them age 3 or younger who have physical issues that limit their ability to get around on their own.
Cheryl Rodriguez, a pediatric physical therapist, discovered the program while she was doing online research.
“This program was being held at a middle school in Charleston, so I called them and went up. It was so surprising to me,” she said.
LOWCOUNTRY ALLIANCE FOR HEALTHY YOUTH IS A RECIPIENT OF THE DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES (DFC) SUPPORT PROGRAM GRANT AWARDED BY THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY (ONDCP) AND ADMINISTERED BY THE CDC. THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE LOWCOUNTRY SERVES AS THE FISCAL AGENT.
Accompanied by a handful of River Ridge Academy students, she went up to Laing Middle School and helped them build, learning how to do modifications.
“They said we would love to have a satellite of our program if you would like to be a part of that,” she said, “and we have been building since June.”
It’s all part of Go Baby Go, an international organization that provides electric/remote control cars to children with special needs at no cost to the participants.
The Bluffton group is a satellite clinic of the 501(c)(3) Whole School STEM Foundation/Go Baby Go South Carolina.
For the students designing the adaptations, it’s a double win.
“We’re doing it because we wanted kids to have an equal opportunity to play and to move around,” said Aidan Masotti.
The students are part of Project Lead the Way, a program that focuses on
COMMUNITY FORUM ON CHILD & ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS
COMMUNITY FORUM ON CHILD/ADOLESCENT
WHEN?
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
March 27th, 2023
WHO SHOULD ATTEND? EVERYONE!
March 27,2023
Registration & Light Refreshments
WHERE?
Bluffton High School Auditorium
Bluffton High School- Auditorium 12 H.E. McCracken Cir. Bluffton SC 29
WHY?
5:30 p.m. -6:00 p.m. Program
12 H.E. McCracken Circle Bluffton
WHEN?
In the US Surgeon General's Advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health, Dr. Vivek Murthy discusses the need for a whole society approach to supporting the mental health needs of our young people.
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Refreshments and Registration
March 27th, 2023
Registration & Light Refreshments
5:30pm-6pm Program 6pm-8pm
5:30 p.m. -6:00 p.m. Program
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
CEU CREDITS APPLIED FOR:
MEDICAL UNIVERISITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
MEDICAL UNIVERISITY OF SOUTH CAROLIN
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
-Nurses -Social Workers
In The US Surgeon General’s Advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health, Dr. Vivek Murthy discusses the need for a whole society approach to support the mental health needs of our young people.
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science
UR COMMUN UR COMMUN
-Counselors/Therapists
Anna Kirkland, PhD
Best Practice available for other professions/disciplines.
Anna Kirkland, PhD Alexis Garcia, PhD
Alexis Garcia, PhD
FEATURED SPEAKERS
INCLUDING A MESSAGE FROM TEENS FOR HEALTHY YOUTH
Medical University of South Carolina
Questions? Email: lcalliance4healthyyouth@gmail.com
UR YOUTH UR YOUTH UR FUTURE UR FUTURE
Register here for this FREE event
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Sponsored by:
Anna Kirkland, PhD and Alexis Garcia, PhD
INCLUDING A MESSAGE FROM TEENS FOR HEALTHY YOUTH
LOWCOUNTRY ALLIANCE FOR HEALTHY YOUTH IS A RECIPIENT OF THE DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES (DFC) SUPPORT PROGRAM GRANT AWARDED BY THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY (ONDCP) AND ADMINISTERED BY THE CDC. THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE LOWCOUNTRY SERVES AS THE FISCAL AGENT.
Register here for this FREE event.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND? EVERYONE!
Sponsored by:
COMMUNITY FORUM MENTAL HEAL WHY?
https://www.lcahealthyyouth.com/
In the US Surgeon General's Advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health, Dr Vivek Murthy discusses the need for a whole society approach to supporting the mental health needs of our young people.
CEU CREDITS APPLIED FOR:
-Nurses -Social Workers
CEU credits applied for:
-Counselors/Therapists
https://www.lcahealthyyouth.com/
-Nurses -Social Workers -Counselors/Therapists
Best Practice available for other professions/disciplines
Best Practice available for other professions/disciplines.
Questions? Email: lcalliance4healthyyouth@gmail.com
QUESTIONS?
Email: lcalliance4healthyyouth@gmail.com www.lcahealthyyouth.com
Lowcountry Alliance for Healthy Youth is a recipient of the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) support program grant awarded by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and administered by the CDC. The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry serves as the fiscal agent.
engineering and computer science. Eric Mohrman, the River Ridge Academy teacher who heads Project Lead the Way, teaches STEM subjects under Gateway to Tech.
“It’s really great for the students because they learn a lot about the design process,” said Mohrman. “They find out what the children need, and then they design parts for each one.”
The vehicles can be modified to provide back and head supports, stabilize the occupant to keep them centered, add blocks to support their feet, and provide other modifications that make it easier for the child to operate the vehicle.
Five cars went out the door in this third session, for a total of 13 so far in the modified fleet.
The Bluffton satellite raised some money, received a $5,000 grant from the Hampton Hall Charitable Foundation to cover the children in Beaufort and Jasper counties, and then the Laing Middle School Whole School STEM Foundation provided the funding for children who come to Bluffton from other areas.
“The cars themselves cost around $180 to $200,” said Rodriguez. “Then we have to buy all the pipes and the buttons and
whatever else we need to make it right for that particular child.”
Clay and Alisha Brendle brought their daughter Rhylee from North Carolina with his parents, who first learned about the Go Baby Go program from a post on Facebook.
“This will give Rhylee a way to move around, a little bit of independence,” said Alisha.
Rhylee, 3, has a number of severe ailments that prevent her from moving freely. It took time for the engineers to ensure she could safely and comfortably sit in her car. At one point she gave her father – who clearly dotes on her – the look that equated to “Are we there yet?”
The Pulkit family lives in Richmond Hill, Georgia, and were referred to the program by their doctor, who works in kinesiology at Georgia Southern. They sent Rodriguez an email and received a quick response.
“She was super helpful and set this up,” said Jen as the family waited for daughter Faye’s car to be prepared.
“She has a lot of spasticity issues and can’t walk yet,” said her father Chawla. “It
makes a difference to be able to socialize. There are a lot of kids in our neighborhood so this will help get her out with them.”
Treyton “Trey” Simmons arrived with his family and was soon sitting in his car. Trey was born with half a heart, and at 19 months has already had three open heart surgeries, the first at 8 days old. His next will be at age 3.
Parents Trevor Simmons and Diamond Sanders were referred by their therapist to the Go Baby Go program. Simmons is a native of Hilton Head and the couple – who will be married soon –live in Bluffton.
“He is slowly reaching milestones, and is learning his motor skills,” said Sanders. “His brother loves to ride his bike, and we take walks in the evening, so this will give him more mobility. I’m blessed. This is so awesome.”
Rodriguez said the plan is to build three or four cars a year, but now the challenge is finding new drivers.
“Right now, we have money and we’re looking for kids, especially with some of the new technology we have,” she said. “We have a micro light-touch switch, and that would be for a child who
doesn’t have much movement at all, but has a hand that could just kind of touch something. That would be enough to touch the button and make the car go.”
There was enough touching from Faye and Trey, who were jockeying for position on the cafeteria highway. In addition to the controls used by the child, a remote control is also provided to the family for the parent to override the car’s primary control.
With remote controls in hand, Chawla and Trevor tried to keep up with their young drivers, and it was hard to figure out who was having more fun – the dads or the motorists. It didn’t take very long before the drivers were getting the hang of pushing the right button to make their car go.
Who knows? By his parents’ wedding day, Trey could be driving up the aisle in a tuxedo.
For more information, leave a message at the Go Baby Go (Tangerine Tech) Facebook page.
The 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office will host a free community expungement clinic from noon to 3 p.m. March 27 at Campbell Chapel AME Church, 25 Boundary St. in Old Town Bluffton.
Solicitor’s office expungement coordinating staff will be available to answer questions and begin the application process.
Anyone charged with qualifying crimes in Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton, Hampton and Allendale counties are encouraged to attend. Expungements allow qualifying arrest and charging records to be destroyed, provided they meet specific circumstances. More information, eligibility requirements and an application can be found online at scsolicitor14.org/court-alternatives/expungements.
Traffic offenses and crimes classified as violent are not eligible for expungement. Also, in some cases, fees apply.
“There are a lot of myths surrounding the expungement process,” said Shannon Horton
of the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office. “Knowing fact from fiction will help you understand what to expect in the process.”
Horton cites the following examples:
• You might have a criminal record even if you were never put in handcuffs and booked at the local detention center.
• You might still have a criminal record if you have never been to court.
• Dismissed charges are not automatically removed from criminal records and might still need to be expunged.
• A criminal record includes both arrests and court dispositions.
Additional legal and health care community resources will be on hand during the clinic, including the nonprofit Lowcountry Legal Volunteers and forensic nurse Jennifer Talley with the 14th Circuit SAFE Program. Attendees should bring a copy of a certified court disposition. Information from the Public Index will not be accepted.
BLUFFTON Post Office Job Fair
Beaufort/Burton Post Office Job Fair
Hilton Head Post Office Job Fair
Hardeeville Post Office Job Fair
Ridgeland Post Office Job Fair
Tuesday, March 28th, 2023 09:00AM - 1:00PM.
Located in the Bluffton Branch Library
120 Palmetto Way, Bluffton SC 29910
ASSISTANT RURAL CARRIERS (Sat/Sun Amazon)
team physician and trainer that most engaged him. “The more I got involved, the more I gravitated toward medicine and science,” Smith said, adding that he switched his major to health and sports science as a result.
After a couple of years as a golf pro (“I got pretty decent in college,” he said), he realized his life’s work was elsewhere. More importantly, so was his heart. “Now I’m motivated,” he said, “now my path is clear.” Med school it would be.
Online assessments can now be completed from your electronic devices.
• Must have a valid SC Driver’s License
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• May be required to use your personal owned vehicle
($0.97 cents per mile)
• PAY: $19.50 per hour paid Bi-Weekly; There is NEVER a charge for background checks, to apply or test. If you are ‘charged’ you have been re-directed to a third-party site. Visit usps.com/careers to apply for a career with the US Postal Service.
Pre-reqs, MCATs, a brief stint as a medical tech at Canyon Ranch in Tucson thanks to Dr. Andrew Weil, the wellness guru he met along the way, and a master’s in clinical chemistry behind him, he was admitted to, enrolled at and graduated with an M.D. from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.
Some two decades into a successful career as a primary care physician in New York’s Finger Lakes region, the cold and gray began to wear on him. He happened to meet up with an old college friend who knew somebody who knew somebody who knew somebody, and in not much more than the blink of an eye, Beaufort Memorial had made him an offer.
“What does it for us is the sun,” Smith
says of himself and his new bride, Lisa Marie, a fitness trainer, who between them have five children and a large Labradoodle named Moose. “I tell my friends back home, ‘Life just seems better here. Everything has been an upgrade.’”
Wake Forest didn’t make it to the NCAA Tournament during Smith’s four years on campus, but “after we recruited Tim Duncan, that was another story!” he said, referring to the all-time-great power forward who played, and won, for Wake from 1993 to 1997.
Needless to say, the doctor remains a big fan of March Madness. Though neither of his teams will likely make it to the Final Four (or even the tournament) this season, Wake Forest and Syracuse did square off in their first game in the 2023 ACC Men’s Tournament on March 8.
Final score: Wake Forest 77, Syracuse 74.
The obvious question: How did Smith lean? “I was torn!” he admitted. “But Wake, no question.”
It was a good night.
Chunks of sheetrock lay disintegrating along U.S. 278, shards of two-by-fours line the shoulders, and an abandoned plastic storage bin sits in the middle of the median strip.
Aluminum cans, cardboard boxes, fast food packaging and cigarette butts are among the trash scattered along the county’s roads, blowing into fields and yards, and down culverts into the stormwater drains.
Is this any way for the gateway to America’s No. 1 island to look?
Bluffton resident Randy Boehme doesn’t think so, and he has been doing something about it since he moved to Palmetto Bluff in 2015.
Soon after arriving, he had a conversation with Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka about the trash along May River Road.
At her prompting, he began picking up litter on his own, got more people to help, and organized a Keep Bluffton Beautiful road cleanup project.
Boehme said he created the program by collecting friends to voluntarily help clean up a two-mile stretch of May River Road
near the Bluff.
He also spoke with Dave Wilhelm, who is currently the county deputy administrator. At the time Boehme was beginning his efforts, Wilhelm was in charge of the county’s solid waste and recycle department. He expanded the department and developed Keep Beaufort County Beautiful, affiliating it with Keep America Beautiful, Inc.
In 2019, Beaufort County won six out of eight awards given state-wide by PalmettoPride at the South Carolina Litter Conference.
One of those awards went to Boehme as the state Volunteer of the Year for his efforts in “creating and protecting a cleaner community and enhancing the beauty of South Carolina,” according to the citation.
Boehme was also named the Volunteer of the Year for Keep America Beautiful South Carolina in 2020.
PalmettoPride is the state’s nonprofit anti-litter and beautification organization. It was created by the legislature to fight litter and keep our state clean, green and beautiful.
Through numerous programs and events,
Please see LITTER on page 22A
[ Learn, Lead and Serve ]
John Paul II Catholic School, educating grades 6-12, is one of the fastest growing private schools in South Carolina and one of the fastest growing Catholic schools in the United States. As a result, we seek passionate, faith-filled educators and support staff to join our growing family.
If you enjoy working in a rigorous academic environment, building authentic relationships with students inside and outside of the classroom while preparing graduates to be scholars with a soul, then consider employment at the school recently voted BEST MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, and PRIVATE SCHOOL in the Lowcountry.
Anticipated openings* for the 2023-2024 school year are:
INSTRUCTION
Art Teacher
English Teachers
Math Teacher
Performing Arts Teacher
(vocal, music, and theater)
Physical Education Teacher
Science and Technology Teacher
Spanish Language Teacher
Special Education Teachers
Social Studies Teacher
Theology Teacher
SUPPORT STAFF
Technology and Information Systems Specialist
Grounds Maintenance Supervisor
Custodian (part-time evenings)
Campus Security (part-time)
Bus Drivers
COACHING
Head Varsity Football
*Positions are open until filled
If interested in any of the above positions, please email a letter of interest and current resume to: John McCarthy, President at john.mccarthy@johnpaul2school.org.
4211 N Okatie Highway, Ridgeland SC 29936 (843) 645-3838 | www.johnpaul2school.org
LITTER from page 21A
PalmettoPride aims to educate the public on the impacts of litter to help prevent it, enforce the current litter laws, bring awareness to the issue, and encourage and groups to take ownership of their communities to pick up.
If there is any doubt there is too much trash on the highways and byways, the county reported in 2021 that 3,700 Adopt-A-Boat Landing and AAH volunteers removed 46 tons of county litter from the roadways, preventing it from reaching the county’s waterways. The year-end review also reported that the Beaufort County Litter Crew picked up 116,465 pounds and the SCDOT spring and fall cleanups picked up 3,810 pounds.
Boehme said more than 100,000 pounds were picked up by volunteers in 2022.
Initially there were 20 volunteer groups that formed the Adopt-a-Highway core. Boehme said that number has grown to 120 and the volunteers come from all over, representing clubs, churches, POAs, hospitals, the military, men, women, young, old, sororities and Masons.
Boehme not only collects litter, he prompts others to do the same by adopting highways or boat landings with their friends and neighbors. He considers himself an environmentalist, is a certified Clemson University Master Naturalist, and volunteers with Coastal Conservation League.
In addition to encouraging volunteers, Boehme’s goal is to increase education and enforcement.
There are county as well as state ordinances against littering, and in 2021, 58 citations
were issued for littering, 44 were issued in 2022. Fines for littering or dumping garbage range from $25 to $1,000, and penalties include community service hours performing litter pickup.
As promising as some of the programs sound, and as successful as some have been, Boehme thinks it would be better to work on eliminating the enforcement aspect by focusing on education, reaching the schoolaged children about what is solid waste recycling and what is litter.
“What are the ramifications of what we’re seeing here? What does it mean to the May River 10 years from now?” he questions. “They need to think about what it will look like in the future.”
Boehme said the continuous growth in Beaufort County is only going to add to the challenges of keeping up with trash and litter collection, let alone curbing the habit of a lifetime.
“My terminology is, ‘this is the spark that will light the fire that will burn forever.’ That’s how I have described it to people. But we’ve got to come together and do all this in tandem. Otherwise, it’s going to be very difficult,” said Boehme. “Then when we are successful, it’s going to be a great day, so that spark will burn bright and the Lowcountry is going to look a lot different.”
For more information on Adopt-aHighway, visit beaufortcountysc.gov/solid-waste-and-recycle.
Through this project, the real estate company’s charitable arm seeks to support existing 501(c)(3) organizations by facilitating programs, events, and fundraising to boost community well-being and local nonprofit organizations.
Collins Group Realty has previously partnered with The Deep Well Project’s Livable Housing Program (2021), raising $14,000 to fund critical home repairs for neighbors in need, and the Lowcountry Trash Heroes (2022), conducting litter sweeps along the waterways. Bluffton Self Help, founded in 1987 by Ida Martin, is a well-established organization with a staff and hundreds of volunteers who support the community through education, training, and providing basic needs.
The 2023 Community Results Project
o f $500 o r m o r
e ON SELECT
aims to provide Bluffton Self Help with much-needed supplies and support.
Collins Group Realty has planned four charitable drives throughout the year, and a team volunteer day at the Bluffton Self Help facility. The first internal workwear clothing drive has already taken place, with three additional charitable drives open to the public, including a Diapers and Hygiene Supplies Drive from March through May, a School Supplies and Snacks Drive through the summer, and the Annual Toy Drive for the Bluffton Self Help Holiday Shop in early December.
Collins Group Realty is committed to supporting the local community and making a positive impact.
For more information or to participate in any of their 2023 charitable drives, visit CollinsGroupRealty.com/Community ResultsProject.
REPAIR
A free Fiesta Fun Tax Education Day, featuring IRS-certified tax preparers, food and music, is set for March 18 in Hardeeville. Spanish speaking interpreters will be on hand to help attendees prepare taxes.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program, a collaboration with the IRS, Beaufort County Human Services Alliance, and United Way of the Lowcountry (UWLC), will host the event from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Hardeeville Recreation Center. The recreation center is located at 285 John Smith Road in Hardeeville.
VITA volunteers and Spanish-speaking interpreters will be on site to prepare federal and state taxes for free and answer tax, financial and immigration questions.
Representatives will be available from PASOs, Lowcountry Immigration Council, Lowcountry Council of Government’s Agency on Aging and Bluffton Self Help.
There will also be a food truck, kids’ activities, music and a live broadcast by La Pantera Radio. Everyone is invited to enjoy
the Fiesta, and taxes will be prepared on a first-come, first served basis.
Staffed by local volunteers, VITA provides free preparation and electronic filing of income tax returns for individuals and families with annual incomes of less than $60,000; anyone with a physical disability; non-English-speaking citizens; and people
older than 60. Last tax season, a team of 49 volunteers saved 1,797 Lowcountry residents more than $450,000 in tax preparations fees alone and placed more than $2.6 million in refunds back into residents’ pockets.
“Even modest tax refunds can be a significant boost to household budgets,” said UWLC President and CEO Dale Douthat.
“By seeking free tax prep assistance from a trusted local program like VITA, Lowcountry residents have the best likelihood of getting their taxes done on time, correctly and hassle-free.”
VITA’s free preparation sites are open through April 15 at 11 locations in Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Colleton and Jasper counties. The sites include Voorhees College in Bamberg County and Blackville Community Development Corporation in Barnwell County; the Beaufort, Bluffton, Lobeco and St. Helena public libraries and The Deep Well Project in Beaufort County; Lowcountry Community Action Agency in Colleton County; and the Agape Family Life Center and Hardeeville and Ridgeland public libraries in Jasper County. After work and Saturday hours are available at some locations.
For more information about VITA services, site locations, dates, times and required documents, visit vitavolunteers.org.
PROVIDING
PALLIATIVE, HOSPICE AND GRIEF FOR OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1977 CARE
The Beaufort County School District is now accepting school choice applications for the 2023-24 academic year, the ninth year of the district’s expanded choice initiative.
School choice applications are open on the district’s website and must be submitted online by March 31. Parents who don’t have internet access may request application assistance at any district school.
Curriculum options approved by the Board of Education include such instructional choices as Montessori, advanced math and science (AMES), International Baccalaureate, arts integration, language immersion, Cambridge Academy, Early College, and leadership programs.
New options for this year are Medical Magnet, Technology Magnet, and Arts Integration Magnet at our MedTech7 schools, as well as Project Based Learning at Coosa Elementary, and Leader in Me at Lady’s Island Elementary.
To learn about all of the district’s school choice offerings, visit beaufortschools.net/
families/school-choiceprograms, where a complete School Choice Booklet can be found.
“We are proud to include the MedTech7 Magnet School Assistance Program as a new choice program that we are offering Beaufort County families,” said Superintendent Frank Rodriguez. “MedTech7 is an excellent example of our commitment to empowering our students to create their own educational
pathways.”
Choice schools serve children who live in their attendance zones in addition to students from outside the zone who apply to attend. Beaufort County students who attend choice programs do not pay extra tuition, although families are responsible for their students’ transportation if they live outside of school attendance zones.
If the number of choice applications at a
school would cause the school to exceed its overall enrollment capacity, or if approved applications would push an individual choice program beyond its capacity, there will be a lottery.
There are six schools that are at or above capacity and do not have availability for students outside the attendance zone to apply for school choice: Bluffton High School, Hilton Head Island High School, May River High School, H.E. McCracken Middle School, Okatie Elementary School, and Pritchardville Elementary School.
All district schools maintain a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) focus, as well as a core curriculum that includes the arts, world languages and technology.
To learn more about any of the school choice programs listed in the 2023-24 School Choice Booklet, contact the school associated with each program(s) directly for more information.
Please join us at Coastal Carolina Hospital to learn about surgical robotics for minimally invasive surgery featuring the da Vinci system. In addition to demoing and learning about the latest surgical technology, you will have an opportunity to meet with providers in the area who use surgical robotics and ask any questions.
Featured providers will include Dr. Brooke Gaspari with Riverside Women’s Care, Dr. Robert King with New River Urology and Dr. Carlos Montenegro with Southern Surgical Specialist.
DATE Thursday, March 16
TIME 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
LOCATION Coastal Carolina Hospital (Lobby) 1000 Medical Center Drive Hardeeville, SC 29927
All are welcome and encouraged to attend. This event is open to the public at no cost.
Registration is strongly encouraged. To register, visit HiltonHeadRegional.com/events
The Town of Bluffton is accepting scholarship applications now through March 31 for the four $1,000 scholarships that the Town will award to local seniors and college students who are safe driving ambassadors.
The Lutzie 43 scholarships are awarded to honor academic and civic achievement while encouraging all students to influence their peers to be safe drivers to reduce vehicle incidents.
The Town of Bluffton and The Lutzie Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to reduce distracted driving, have partnered since 2019 to reduce tragic collisions in our region and raise awareness of mindful driving, especially with our young residents.
Each year, the Town awards four $1,000 scholarships to students in greater Bluffton. The application period opened Feb. 1 and applications will be
accepted until March 31. Winners will be chosen from among public, private and homeschooled seniors, or local college/vocational school students.
More details and the application are available at townofbluffton.sc.gov/639/ Bluffton-Lutzie-43-Scholarship.
The Town’s annual 5K, held Feb. 4, raises funds for these scholarships. The Lutzie Foundation was founded by Mike Lutzenkirchen after he grieved the loss of his son, Phillip Lutzenkirchen, an Auburn University football player. His jersey number was 43. His son was killed due to distracted driving.
Town leaders hope the campaign, annual 5K race and resulting scholarships act as a reminder for everyone to take 43 seconds before starting a vehicle to focus his or her mind, remove distractions and practice safe driving habits.
The Technical College of the Lowcountry is seeking ideas for a mascot it plans to create and unveil later in the year.
The college recently kicked off the process by enlisting the help of faculty, staff, students and alumni and is now seeking input from the community.
As TCL President Dr. Richard Gough related, while TCL does not currently have a mascot, the idea has come up from time to time.
“Particularly since TCL has grown and expanded in just recent years,” he said. “I believe that’s why we’re hearing more and more from our students, faculty and staff and those in the community. Now and quite often, I get asked, ‘When is TCL going to get a mascot?’”
The college – which now includes four campuses, including a standalone culinary school – can trace its history back to the historic Mather School, formed in 1868 for the daughters of newly freed enslaved people. In 1968, it was given to the state of South Carolina as a trade school and eventually went on to become part of the state’s technical college system.
“It’s perfect timing since it happens to coincide with our 55th anniversary,” Dr. Gough said.
To share mascot ideas, anyone may visit tcl.edu/mascot and complete a brief survey. The deadline for responses is March 24.
The best ideas – or those that will be given more weight – will be those that relate to the region, said TCL’s Assistant Vice President of Marketing & Public Relations Leigh Copeland.
“Potential areas of inspiration could include the history of the area or the college, significant people from the region, animals or natural
elements from the Lowcountry, or other things that make residents proud to be from our region,” she said.
Ideas will be narrowed down to a small group of finalists. The college and the community will then have an opportunity to vote for their favorites beginning this spring.
TCL expects to unveil the new mascot later in the year, after the process is completed and everyone has had a chance to weigh in, Copeland said.
“Ultimately, we want our new mascot to provide a sense of pride and connection for our students, their families, alumni, faculty, leaders and our community of donors, supporters and influencers,” she said. “We’re excited to have the community to be part of it.”
The Technical College of the Lowcountry is the region’s primary provider of higher education and workforce training. The public, two-year, multi-campus community college serves approximately 5,000 students annually.
TCL has campuses in Beaufort, Bluffton and Hampton and serves Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties. For more information visit tcl.edu.
At our hospital, we create rehabilitation programs that are specifically designed for each patient’s needs, using advanced technology and innovative treatments to maximize recovery. It’s why so many people and their caregivers choose us. And why we are the trusted choice of a growing number of medical professionals.
• The H.L. Hunley Traveling Exhibition will be on display March 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot at the corner of Craven and Scott streets in Beaufort.
This entertaining and educational exhibit features a full-scale replica of the Civil War era submarine CSS H.L. Hunley, the world’s first successful combat submarine. Reenactors will be on hand to tell the unique story of this vessel, from the first launch to the tragic end.
Tickets are $5 per person, with a limit of $15 per family. The event is presented by the Beaufort History Museum.
• A limited number of tickets remain for the Golden Oyster Awards Gala of the Greater Bluffton chamber of Commerce, to be held from 6 to 9 p.m. March 18 at Pinckney Hall, 114 Sun City Lane.
Awards will be given in the categories of Nonprofit of the Year, Community Philanthropy Award, Chamber Mem-
ber of the Year, Business of the Year, New Business of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award. One business will be awarded the highest honor of “The Pearl Award.”
The evening will include cocktails, dinner and the awards ceremony. Tickets are $100 for members, $125 for non-members. For more information and to buy tickets, call 843-757-1010 or email natalie@blufftonchamberofcommerce.org.
• Hilton Head Hospital will host a blood drive March 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the blood mobile parked outside the hospital, 25 Hospital Center Blvd. Those interested in donating may schedule their appointment by visiting Redcrossblood.org, or calling 1-800-7332767. All donors will receive a $10 e-card and will be entered in a drawing to win a $3,000 Visa pre-paid card.
• A ceremony recognizing National
Vietnam War Veteran’s Day will be held at 1 p.m. March 26 at Beaufort Memorial Cemetery, 1601 Boundary St in Beaufort. The event is open to the public.
Vietnam War Veteran’s Day is a nationally recognized event established to welcome home Vietnam Vets who were not welcomed with the same honors as in previous wars, and acknowledges the sacrifices young, American men and women made during the Vietnam War.
Attending Vietnam veterans will be presented with a commemorative lapel pin. Spouses will also receive acknowledgment with a lapel pin.
Refreshments will be served. The event is presented by Caris Healthcare.
• Lowcountry Christian Women’s Connection will hold its spring luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 19 at the Hampton Hall Clubhouse, 170 Hampton Hall Blvd. in Bluffton.
Guest speaker is Norma McMurry on
the topic, “The Fabric of Friendship.”
Cost is $28, which must be prepaid by April 1. Make checks payable to CWC Bluffton and send to Carol Mock, 607 Argent Way, Bluffton SC 29909. For information contact Julie Ott at 602-750-5465 or Julie.ott.az@gmai.com
• The Junior Service League of Beaufort (JSLB) will host its 18th annual spring fundraiser, JSLB Jubilee, April 29 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Historic Beaufort Arsenal, 713 Craven St. in Beaufort.
Tickets are $75 and include heavy hors d’oeuvres and an open bar featuring wine and beer. Tickets can be purchased through a JSLB member or online at www.jslbeaufort.com.
Jubilee focuses on JSLB’s commitment to its mission: serving the women, children and families of our community.
For more information, email communication.jslb@gmail.com or visit jslbeaufort. com.
ROB DILLS Founder and Managing Attorney
BS, University of South Carolina, JD, University of Dayton, School of Law,
2020 Hilton Head Island Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program Graduate
Recipient of the Silver Medal Award for Estate Planning
Estate Planning
Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, and everything needed to protect your family and your assets while providing peace of mind.
HALO Primary Care is a new primary care office in Bluffton, SC. Here at HALO, we believe you should be in charge of your health. We understand that each patient is different; therefore, we strive to work with you to develop a plan of care that is obtainable and reasonable.
• House calls are offered to homebound patients living in the 29909 and 29910 zip codes.
• Telehealth visits are also offered for established patients.
40 Okatie Center Blvd., Suite 215 Bluffton, SC 29909
Real Estate
Closing services for residential and commercial propertiesBuying, Selling, Refinancing, 1031 exchange.
Business Services
Business Formation, Compliance, Contract Review, Mergers, Acquisitions. Buyouts & Sales
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• Lux - A Medical Spa will hold its annual spring open house, Cloud 9, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 23 at the medical spa’s Hilton Head location, 24 Shelter Cove Lane, Suite 50.
R. Bruce Wilkins
Wilkins, a member of the Carolinas PGA Section, joins a special group of 431 PGA members who have earned PGA Master Professional status. He achieved his designation through teaching and coaching.
Wilkins enjoys working with golfers of all ages and abilities. He has coached beginners, amateurs, high school and collegiate teams, casual and senior players, junior champions and aspiring professionals. His goal is to individualize each lesson and facilitate growth through a holistic approach to the game.
Wilkins, a PGA Professional since 2009, began his career in golf after graduating from the PGA Professional Golf Management University program at Arizona State University.
• The Lowcountry Job Fair will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. March 21 at the Beaufort National Guard Readiness Center, 1 Cavalry Lane off Highway 21 near Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort.
The fair is free and open to the public and will showcase more than 50 area employers and businesses that will share hiring preferences and career opportunities.
Areas of employment include, but are not limited to, hospitality, health care, retail, food service, law enforcement, administrative, HVAC, construction, and more.
For more information, contact Melanie Gallion, Technical College of the Lowcountry Center for Business & Workforce Solutions, at 843-525-8224 or mgallion@tcl.edu
Lux’s spring open house is anticipated by many in the community. Attendees can expect fun swag bags and discounts. To ensure everyone has a chance to enjoy the event, attendees are asked to register for a time slot at bit.ly/cloud-9-register. Lux is co-owned by Frederick G, Weniger, MD, FACS of Weniger and Associates Plastic Surgery and Carmen A. Traywick, MD of May River Dermatology.
• Two transportation industry associations have recognized the team at Palmetto Breeze Transit for excellence: one in Transit Fleet Maintenance and another in Transportation Marketing & Communications.
Palmetto Breeze’s maintenance team earned the First Place Transit Fleet Maintenance Award at the Transportation Association of South Carolina (TASC) / South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) Annual Conference and Bus Roadeo. This competition is conducted annually and recognizes teams for excellence during a series of scored maintenance skills tests.
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has recognized Palmetto Breeze’s “Breeze Trolley ROCKS!” ridership campaign with a first-place marketing and communications award.
The award, known as an AdWheel Award, is one of the most prestigious honors that transit agencies and their industry partners across North America can receive for excellence in marketing and communications.
For a married couple, deciding between joint and individual living trust may be confusing. There are factors that should be considered when determining which trust might be best.
These factors include, but aren’t limited to: Whether the trust will be revocable or irrevocable, tax planning, how assets are titled, whether you agree on the same order of distribution, have blended family concerns, etc. For couples, joint revocable trust are the most common because they’re typically less expensive to create, and simpler to manage.
You should be aware that one of the important parts of creating any living trust is understanding the concept of each. A revocable living trust can be modified, amended or dissolved at any time during your lifetime. Irrevocable trusts cannot be easily modified
or dissolved without the permission of the trustee and all beneficiaries, and should be used with caution.
Here, we’ll briefly discuss only the revocable living trust.
Unique circumstances and blended families: Individual trust can be a great option for couples who are in their second (or more) marriage. One or both spouses might also have children from prior marriages or relationships, own separate property, or are expecting individual family inheritances that they want to keep separate.
Joint trust is a common tool for couples in their first marriage, or who have similar distribution patterns, and couples who wish to keep assets as a single unit within their marital estate. Note that many couples who are in their second-plus marriages decide to have a joint trust, and add certain marital provisions/restrictions to prevent the surviving spouse from modifying certain aspects of
the trust agreement.
Administration during lifetime: Individual trust can make the process of retitling assets into the name of the trust very tedious if the assets are currently jointly titled. Additionally, with individual trust, typically only one spouse will be managing their own trust and therefore, separate trust can require much more work.
Joint trust can be much easier to manage during the lifetime of the spouses, as both spouses will have equal control over the management of the joint assets held in the trust.
Administration upon death: With individual trust, each spouse can designate how they wish for their own assets to be distributed upon death. Because there are two individual trusts, once one spouse passes away, their own trust becomes fully irrevocable. The person designated to administer the trust estate upon death will then need
to make distributions to the beneficiaries as outlined in the trust agreement.
More often than not the primary beneficiary is the surviving spouse – and if the couple had a joint trust then certain administrative measures may not have been needed to be performed after the first spouse’s death. With joint trust, once one spouse dies, the surviving spouse will continue to manage the trust estate assets during their lifetime. Ideally, the spouses agreed to a joint ultimate distribution plan that is to be made of any remaining trust estate assets after the surviving spouse has died. Unless specified otherwise in the trust agreement, there usually is no trust administration that needs to be done after the first spouse dies.
To help decide what type of trust is best for you, consult an estate planning attorney.
Jada L. Gaines is an associate attorney with Elder Law & Estate Planning Center in Bluffton. hiltonheadelderlaw.com
Bradley (Brad) S. Talbert, FACHE has joined Memorial Health as its new chief executive officer. He started in early March, taking over for Shayne George, who will retire on March 31.
Talbert joined HCA Healthcare in 2017 as CEO of the 454-bed HCA Florida Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. Under his leadership, the hospital achieved its highest physician engagement in more than a decade, earned five consecutive Leapfrog A quality ratings, was named a Healthgrades Top 250 Hospital and became the first hospital in Northeast Florida to achieve Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement Certification by The Joint Commission. The hospital also earned Level II Trauma accreditation, launched ECMO services, and completed more than $100 million in capital expansions and investments.
Prior to joining HCA Healthcare, Talbert was CEO of Hilton Head Regional Healthcare, which operates Hilton Head Hospital and Coastal Carolina Hospital in Beaufort County.
Talbert was named to the Florida 500 List of Most Influential Executives by Florida Trend magazine for the second consecutive year.
Originally from the Carolinas, Talbert earned his Bachelor’s Degree in finance at Wofford College in Spartanburg, and his Master’s Degree in health administration at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
Memorial Health has provided healthcare services since 1955, giving patients access to highly trained physicians and advanced technology. Its 655-bed hospital is one of the region’s leading acute care facilities, serving 35 counties in southeast Georgia and southern South Carolina. Located in Savannah, Georgia, it is a regional referral center for high-risk care.
The skin naturally contains microorganisms known as a microbiome. Much like that of healthy gut flora, the native skin microbiome is symbiotic where specific strains of bacteria are protective against various harmful microorganisms.
When the skin’s microbiome is disrupted, certain skin conditions can occur.
Conversely, good native bacteria produce molecules that help restore damaged and aging skin. Very recent advances in microbiome-directed topical therapies act to modify the skin flora to include helpful bacteria and has recently been shown clinically to naturally rejuvenate the skin with similar efficacy as retinols.
Crown-Aesthetics, manufacturer of the dermal microneedling device SkinPen, has launched a first-of-its kind microbiome-modifying skin care product called Biojuve. Whereas modern skincare focuses on treating skin cells, Biojuve focuses on restoring the skin’s microbiome with a particular bacterial subspecies called C. acnes defendens. This subspecies secretes a molecule which acts directly on skin cells to naturally restore healthy youthful appearing skin.
Dr. Doris Day, a Manhattan-based dermatologist and co-author of the book “Rebooting the Biome,” refers to it as “microbiome
care” and recently clinically demonstrated that it naturally restores skin aging by the skin’s own production of bioessential molecules (peptides, proteins, and antioxidants).
Biojuve is a twice-daily serum containing an active-living strain of native skin flora C. acnes defendens termed “Xycrobe technology.” The serum is applied and activated by a misting spray at night and a bacteria supportive serum is applied in the morning. The results are rapid as treatments appear to achieve 80% efficacy in one week and continue to improve at eight weeks.
Compared with that of traditional Retinol-based skincare products, the effect of C. defendens is perplexing practitioners, as it is nearly instantaneous.
The combination of Biojuve with a series of three to four dermal microneedling treatments markedly improves not only acne scarring but fine lines, skin texture, pore size, sebum and collagen production of the face and neck.
Preliminary studies are also reporting improvement in other skin conditions such as acne, rosacea and eczema. In a somewhat stale industry, “microbiome care” technology is an exciting new avenue for the current and future development of skincare.
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
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The PGA Tour has assigned elevated status to several tour events, which will now be called “Designated Events.” The RBC Heritage is one of them.
There are 17 events, including the four majors, will feature an increased purse, and the top 20 players have agreed to play in all but one of them.
Purses for most of these events have increased dramatically to $20 million, with the Players Tournament offering a purse of $25 million. The majors have a purse that will be higher and have yet to be announced.
These changes were made so that the top players would compete more often against one another. Tournaments designated for 2023 might not be guaranteed that status in 2024. Many people feel that there should
be a rotation of the designated events. Time will tell.
Players who finished in the top 20 in 2022 are required to play in all but one of these designated events. Bringing these top players together for these events is a huge win for the fans and corporate sponsors.
The RBC Heritage will be held the week after the Masters, and the proximity of Augusta to Hilton Head Island makes for a great stop for the top players to attend.
Speculation is that the Heritage will be a nocut event in 2024 with a reduced field of 80 players. If this happens, you will be able to see your favorite players for all four days.
Last year’s Heritage purse was $8 million and the winner, Jordan Spieth, won $1.44 million. This year the purse is $20 million, and the winner’s share is $ 3.6 million.
When Steve Wilmont, longtime tournament director, was told about the tournament being a designated event his response
was, “I’m like a kid in a candy store… It’s a true compliment to our community and tournament.”
The tournament will now get many of the top players such as Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler, who in the past might have skipped this event after the Masters.
Obviously, these changes are great for the designated sites. However, it could hurt the events that might be sandwiched between them. For example, last month’s Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens had only one top player, No. 18 Sungjae Im, playing in the event.
The purse was $ 8.4 million and the winner, Chris Kirk won $1.5 million. However, the winner is now rewarded to participate in future designated events.
The following week the Arnold Palmer Classic, a designated event, had a $20 million purse and the winner Kurt Kitayama got his first PGA tour win and received
$3.6 million. It was great to see him beat the “chosen ones” Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth. Again, the key is “win and you are rewarded.”
Many people believe that these changes to the PGA tournaments, getting the best players together more often, was due because of the pressure the LIV Golf Tour was putting on the PGA. LIV golfers have guaranteed purses and are no-cut events. The purse is usually $20 million and the winner earns $4 million. This is similar to what the PGA has come up with.
No matter the reason, the new designated PGA events will enable the fans to see the top players competing against each other more often.
Dr. Jean Harris is an LPGA Master Professional and teaches at local golf courses. jean. golfdoctor.harris@gmail.com; golfdoctorjean. com
Bishop Eye Center now has seven physicians in three Lowcountry locations to welcome you with an exceptional eye care environment and premier patient experience right where you live.
Dr. Russo, a Veteran of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom, relocated from Cooperstown, NY after being on staff at Bassett Healthcare’s Department of Ophthalmology for 23 years as an optometrist. His eye care experience ranges from routine eye exams to glaucoma eye care to managing medical and acute eye diseases. Dr. Russo will be seeing patients at all three Bishop Eye Center locations.
When it comes to caring for your vision, you deserve the very best.
highly skilled, professional staff.
By Linsday Perry CONTRIBUTOR
On any given day in the Beaufort County town of Dale, you’ll find David Blue and his rescue cats tending to their flowers. For many, gardening is a hobby, but for Blue and his cats, it’s a profession. He owns Farmer Blue, a 12-acre cut flower farm that supplies flowers to florists and event planners throughout the Lowcountry.
“I grew up on a farm with lots of animals,” said Blue. “Every creature had a job, both dogs and cats. Our animals were well looked-after with vet care and good food, and each one had a job to do.”
David has adopted five independent-minded cats from Palmetto Animal League. Each one prefers the freedom to roam over the comforts of a traditional home, making Blue’s flower farm their ideal sanctuary.
“Most of my cats are female because, as the lore goes, male cats are lazy mousers,” explained Blue.
He chose the least adoptable cats at Palmetto Animal League, those who turned their noses up at PAL’s homelike cat rooms and instead appreciated the lofty feel of their warehouse. Blue’s flower farm needed the loyal presence of cats with a proven track record of deterring rodents, and the cats needed a place to call home.
“I focus on sustainable, natural solutions to solving problems at my farm,” said Blue.
“Cats are a way of keeping rodent populations to a minimum.”
His cats have an excellent work ethic (though they do require intermittent naps) and in return they only ask for food, water, shelter, and love from afar.
“The cats will have spontaneous moments of affection where they might rub against a boot or pant leg, but only occasionally will they let me touch them,” Blue said. “However, these social interactions are becoming more frequent.”
Blue understands it takes time for some animals to acclimate and trust humans, but a fondness between animals was almost
instant at Farmer Blue.
“The cats are very interested in my Labrador Daisy,” said Blue. “They interact nearly every day and it’s amusing to watch.”
With a little creative thinking, five reclusive cats found their perfect home, happily drifting amongst the dahlias, tulips, and oleanders. Their story is a beautiful example of how non-traditional sanctuaries are saving lives.
If you’re interested in adopting a working cat or a lap cat, visit the Palmetto Animal League Adoption Center located at 56 Riverwalk Blvd. in Okatie from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Learn more about PAL’s compassionate, no-kill rescue programs online at PalmettoAnimalLeague. org.
The Bluffton Dog Park opened several years ago and currently is the only public-access dog park in the Bluffton area. It is important that people availing themselves of the park be reminded of the general rules. The ones that follow may not be exact, but they are close enough.
The hours are dawn to dusk. Obviously, the time of year will determine the time on the clock.
When you enter the park, close all gates and move away from the entrance immediately upon entering or exiting.
Dogs are off leash in enclosed double-gated safety area; one dog at a time in this area.
All dogs in park must be unleashed, supervised, in view of their handler, and under voice control. Move around the park to diffuse defensive behavior.
Handlers must have in their possession a dog leash. No unattended dogs are allowed. No spiked, choke or prong collars are permitted within the unleashed area.
No dog known to be aggressive or who acts aggressively in the park is permitted. Handlers must remove those dogs immediately or will be asked to do so.
Dogs under 4 months of age and female dogs in heat are prohibited.
All dogs must have required licenses and vaccinations. ID and proof of rabies must be visible on tags. No incessant barking.
Handlers must “scoop the poop” and fill any holes dug by dogs under their control. Dog waste bags and containers are provided, so please use them.
Children under 12 not permitted without an adult.
No food, treats, water bowls, favorite toys, smoking or glass containers are permitted in the park. Please take balls and flying discs with you when you leave.
No cell phone use, music or earphones allowed, in order to maintain supervision of dogs.
Be considerate of your neighbors when using this park. Help to maintain its safety and cleanliness and all your dogs will enjoy it!
It is very important to know that Beaufort County and the Town of Bluffton are NOT responsible for any injuries or damage caused by any dog or person while in the park. Handlers are responsible for any injuries caused by dogs under their control. Users of the park do so at their own risk. The most important thing is that you keep an eye on your dogs to avert potential accidents. I know owners like to socialize there, but we also want the park to be a safe place for your dogs to socialize!
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The Beaufort County Library System has announced its fourth annual Bookmark Contest for the 2023 Summer Reading Program. The contest is open through March 31, and is open to all Beaufort County residents.
One winning design will be selected from each of the following age groups: Ages 5-8; ages 9-12; ages 13-17; ages 18plus.
The four winning designs will be featured on bookmarks distributed at the libraries during the summer.
Participants create their artwork directly on the Bookmark Contest template and then can return it to any Beaufort County Library location. Templates are available at the library or can be printed from the contest webpage, beaufortcountylibrary. org/bookmark-contest.
Beaufort County School District students can return their completed templates to their teacher.
Designs must be submitted by March 31,
2023. Winners will be announced in early May. Only one design may be submitted per person. Artwork and artist’s name, age, and school will be shared via the library’s social media and digital communications.
For more information on the Summer Reading Program or other BCL programs/ events, contact Theresa Furbish, Programs and Events Librarian, at 843-255-6442 or theresa.furbish@bcgov.net.
For the most current listing of Beaufort County Library events, visit beaufortcountylibrary.org/calendar.
The mission of the Beaufort County Library is to serve and support the community for learning, for leisure, and for life. With five branch libraries, two bookmobiles, and a special local history and archives collection, the Library provides open and guided access to a wide variety of media and programs to inform, inspire, and empower people in their pursuit of lifelong learning, personal enrichment, and cultural understanding.
“He who in his actions always remembers not to harm his fellow-man who reposes trust in him, not to do anything that may later oppress him, will always act in such a way as to remain spiritually unburdened, and may therefore be called truly chaste!”
– Abd-ru-shinThe Sun Tones Women’s 4-Part A Cappella Chorus will present “Happy Together,” a cabaret and dinner show, April 15 at Pinckney Hall in Sun City. The performance will feature many favorite tunes, sung in the Barbershop style. Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets for the combined dinner and show are $35 per person and are available at Magnolia Hall, Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 11 a.m., cash or check only, or by phone at 540-842-5709.
At first glance, the broken pieces seemed like nothing more than a shattered mess, painful reminders of what once was, with no value or use.
The shards themselves had been given, brought as offerings, to be used in the skilled hands of the guest artist. Some were pieces of colored glass, fragments of bottles, or jars that once held something of value. A few were pieces of china and pottery that once held tea and adorned grand tables.
Other pieces were from children. These were most often buttons of various shapes, colors, and materials. Still, others were leftover parts of toys that once entertained the youngest, but now were almost forgotten, destined to be simply thrown away.
With careful attention to color and shape, the artist carefully selected each shard from
the overflowing pile before her. Then, with equal care and attention, her selection was placed in the proper location.
Sometimes close to another, other times apart. A few were ordained as new focal points for collecting others that would soon show up.
Ever diligent, the artist continued to place the shards. Over time she created what all would say was a stunning masterpiece of color, pattern and texture.
We who had contributed the pieces were the most appreciative of all. What had started
Our mission is to provide free medical care to the uninsured to ensure no one in our community goes without access to quality health care.
as a pile of our broken glass, buttons, marbles and colored plastic was now a work of art –unique, spectacular and breathtaking.
I am reminded of this experience during our journey through Lent. Lent is when those of us who call ourselves Christ-followers are challenged to examine and evaluate our lives. It is a somber time of taking inventory of things we have done and the things we have left undone.
Such introspection often exposes fragments of broken promises, guilt over bad choices, failure at nurturing relationships,
and pain left over from shattered hopes and dreams. Our human tendency is to ignore these shards of our lives or, at best, to cover and hide them. We wish not to claim them or own them.
But the story of Lent is the story of a God who, having formed us and claimed us, would not leave us where God found us. It is the story of a God who, like the artist, can take all the broken, forgotten, seemingly insignificant pieces of our less-thanperfect lives and, out of them, create new life, redeemed life that is truly unique and spectacular.
We need just offer the pieces and trust the Artist’s skill. And, of course, give thanks when the masterpiece is revealed and in it, we see ourselves!
Grace and peace, and new, redeemed, and repurposed life to you this season of Lent.
Pete Berntson is the pastor of Church of the Palms United Methodist Church in Okatie.
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The majority of my clients request low-maintenance cuts and color. While I strive to achieve this, they and others need to understand a cut and color that is considered low or no maintenance still needs some product and TLC by the client.
You have likely heard the saying that we are “beauticians, not magicians.” You are in our chair for only a short time. I will definitely show you how to maintain your color and cut between visits, but you must put forth a little effort.
Now a quick lesson on products. Rule No. 1: Less is best. Rule No. 2: You get what you pay for.
All products range in price based on the quality of the ingredients in the product. Less expensive products are less expensive because they scrimp on the quality ingredients
and use waxes and oils as fillers. These waxes and oils will build up on the hair and weigh it down – especially shampoo and conditioner.
Just because it says “for color treated or damaged hair,” that doesn’t mean it won’t eventually strip your color or that it will miraculously fix your dry, damaged hair. It might have an ingredient or two that will help, but not when the majority of what’s in the bottle is useless additives.
It is counterproductive to spend money for a professional cut and color and then use drugstore products. Use less of better stuff. It will make your color and style last longer and look better, therefore saving you money.
The function of mousse or root volumizer is for volume. It is to be applied on the roots in wet hair and then dried, pushing the hair in opposite direction of the way it falls, in order to set the roots in a lifted manner.
Styling gel is for hold. Apply this sparingly to wet hair and dry. It will help keep the
style in place. It might leave the hair crunchy when too much is used.
Styling cream or pomade are both used on hair that tends to get fuzzy when drying. The cream will make hair softer and shiny while drying. It can be used on both wet and dry hair. Pomade is greasier and should only be used in dry, thick, coarse hair to prevent frizzies by putting a barrier on the hair, protecting it from the moisture in the air.
Salt spray when sprayed on curly or wavy hair when wet or dry will help curl to tighten. It should be combed through and left alone.
Wax and putty can be used on dry hair sparingly to piece out texture.
Texture powder can be sprinkled on the roots of totally dry hair to give hair texture and lift. Dry shampoo can be used for this outcome as well, but both will feel tacky and are hard to shampoo out of the hair.
Oils, like Moroccan and argon, are wonderful in this climate for naturally curly, wavy or frizzy hair to tame the halo of fuzz and contain curl pattern. These also should be used sparingly.
I hope this brief list will help in your decision in what products to choose and use. It will make your great cut and color stay better and look amazing.
Spring is a time of renewal, and for many homeowners, that means getting their lawns back in shape after the winter dormancy. There are several steps that you can take to prepare your lawn for the upcoming season and ensure that it stays healthy throughout the year.
One of the first things to consider is pre-emergent and fungicide treatments. These treatments are designed to prevent weeds and diseases from taking hold in your lawn.
Pre-emergent herbicides are applied before weed seeds germinate and can help prevent a lawn invasion. Fungicides, on the other hand, can help prevent diseases like brown patch and dollar spot, which thrive in warm, moist conditions.
Applying these treatments early in the
spring can go a long way in keeping your lawn healthy and weed-free.
It’s also important to pay attention to your watering habits. Watering your lawn based on weather conditions can help you avoid overwatering or underwatering. In the spring, you might not need to water as frequently as you would in the summer. Pay attention to the weather forecast and adjust your watering accordingly. Overwatering can lead to fungal diseases and other problems, while underwatering can lead to brown, dry patches in your lawn.
Fertilizing is an important part of lawn care, but it’s important to wait until your lawn is fully out of dormancy before applying fertilizer. Applying it too early can promote weed growth and cause other issues.
Wait until your lawn is actively growing and has been mowed a few times before applying fertilizer. This will help ensure that your lawn is healthy and vibrant throughout
the growing season.
Spring is also a great time to prune trees and shrubs. Pruning can help promote healthy growth and remove dead or damaged branches. It’s important to prune at the right time and in the right way to avoid damaging your plants. If you’re not sure how to prune your trees and shrubs, consider hiring a professional to do the job for you.
Another important step in tree and shrub
care is deep root feeding. This process involves injecting fertilizer directly into the root zone of your plants. This can help promote deep root growth and healthier plants.
Finally, it’s important to take steps to prevent mole cricket infestations. Mole crickets are a common lawn pest that can cause significant damage. Spring is a good time to start preventing mole cricket infestations by using systemic insecticides.
In conclusion, getting your lawn back in shape after the winter dormancy involves a variety of tasks, from pre-emergent and fungicide treatments to tree and shrub pruning. By following these tips, you can ensure that your lawn is healthy, lush, and ready to enjoy throughout the upcoming season. With a little effort and care, you can have the beautiful lawn you’ve always wanted.
Nature has fascinated me since childhood, almost to a fault. Instead of looking straight ahead I find looking right, left, down or up allows me to catch glimpses of often overlooked marvels nature has spent millions of years evolving.
The only time this might be considered a handicap is when walking down a crowded street. “Oops, sorry,” I say, as I plow into person after person – but overall I get to see pretty cool stuff.
Just yesterday, my wife Karen and I were trying to salvage the plants in our yard that got whacked by that unseasonably cold period we had. Walking past a large planted pot right outside our back door, I noticed a perfectly camouflaged garter snake coiled near the top of the plant.
I called Karen and asked her to take a look at the plant and, even though she was only a foot or two away, she didn’t see this resident beauty. Lord knows how long it had lived in that planter, but I suspect it has lived there for quite a while – and we walked by it daily none the wiser.
Even after I scared it back down into the foliage, I came back outside an hour later and there it was in the exact same place. I think I am going to name it soon.
As I mentioned in my last column, I plan to give you fisherman tips and techniques that might help you to come home with
fresh fish for dinner. Having gone to other areas of the country, I know how hard it is to figure out the how’s, where’s and multitude of other things needed to successfully catch fish without spending days or even months figuring out the water in that area. It’s darn frustrating!
This time I am going to concentrate on two of our local species, sheepshead and black drum, that might look almost alike but in fact are two very different species that from top to bottom require equally different ways to catch each of them.
Both black drum and sheepshead have similar body shapes and what often confuses newcomers to these fish is both have nearly identical vertical black stripes along the length of their body. You might occasionally catch a black drum while fishing for sheepshead, but rarely do you catch sheepshead while fishing for black drum.
To correctly identify which is which, look at their head and, in particular, their mouth. Sheepshead have relatively small mouths due to what they dine on, but one dead giveaway are the chompers in their mouth. They have almost human-looking teeth and some are so perfect they would be an orthodontist’s dream.
On the other hand, the black drum has soft rubbery lips, no teeth to speak of and, unlike a sheepshead’s smooth chin, a series of soft whiskers that dangle from that same area.
Diets for two may overlap to a point but
techniques for catching each require different hooks and other terminal tackle changes. One thing that is consistent is they both prefer structure, so that is where you should be wetting your line.
Starting with sheepshead, I use the same spinning rod loaded with 30-pound braid for most all our inshore fish. Set the drag tight. Your rod needs plenty of backbone but an extremely sensitive tip because these fish can strip a hook bare in seconds if you fail to watch even the slightest tick of the rod tip.
I tell newcomers to sheepies to strike them fast and hard even if you think you see that rod tip move. The rig is simple. Using 20- or 25-pound fluorocarbon leader attach swivel above a foot or so above the hook. My go-to
hook is a No. 1 Eagle Claw live bait hook. It is very small but is stout enough to handle those teeth that on lesser hooks can bite right through the hook.
As for bait, fiddler crabs, clams, oysters or mussels are all on the menu. As for weight, carry 1.5-ounce to 2.5-ounce egg sinkers above the swivel using just enough to beat the tide. Fish straight down along pilings or structure, and when the sinker hits the bottom, reel it up one or two cranks. They are strong fighters, so be prepared to lose some rigs.
Black drum are a bit easier to catch. Maybe use a little longer leader and the same hook used for redfish. These bottom feeders just love stinky dead shrimp.
While big sheepshead might be around 10 to 15 pounds, the state record drum weighed 89 pounds.
Around inshore docks, drum average about the same as sheepshead. But, using the body of a blue crab with the legs and shell removed, and a larger hook and heavier rod and leader around the Broad River Bridge, for instance, giants are caught regularly. I hope this helps you put dinner on the table without buying some fish at the store and lying that you caught it. Hey, fisherman will do that!
Collins Doughtie, a 60-year resident of the Lowcountry, is a sportsman, graphic artist, and lover of nature. collinsdoughtie@icloud. com
By Larry Stoller CONTRIBUTOR
The short answer is yes, closing costs may be negotiated by seller and buyers.
The amount that the seller is allowed to contribute depends on the type of mortgage loan. The seller’s willingness to pay buyers closing costs might also be based upon current real estate market conditions.
For example, in a seller’s market, buyers might have to increase their purchase price if they expect to receive closing cost assistance.
In a buyer’s market, buyers might have an advantage in negotiating closing costs. Closing costs are expenses above and beyond the price of the property that sellers and buyers incur that are paid to title companies, attorneys, lenders, insurance companies, local government and other vendors when transferring ownership of a property.
For buyers paying cash, closing costs may include attorney fees, title search, title insurance, deed recording, and applicable taxes and association fees.
There are additional buyer fees when using a lender and obtaining a mortgage. They include origination fee, appraisal fee, flood insurance, credit report, interest on loan until first payment is due, escrow for taxes and insurance, lender’s title insurance, and mortgage recording.
Other fees may include homeowner’s
insurance, interest rate buy-downs, home warranty, home inspection and repairs requested and/or required.
Typical seller closing costs (which are deducted from seller’s proceeds) may include attorney’s closing fee, government transfer tax, pro-rated taxes and association fees, mortgage payoff, liens on property (if any), recording costs and real estate commissions.
Note 1: While most, if not all, closing costs are negotiable, restrictions may apply under certain circumstances.
Note 2: Money might have to be brought to the table if the amount of the seller’s closing costs is more than the seller’s proceeds.
Note 3: Real estate commissions are paid by the seller for compensating both the listing agent and the buyer’s agent.
Experienced and knowledgeable real estate agents (and real estate attorneys) will be able to explain to their sellers and buyers what closing costs they will be expected to pay when selling and/or buying a resale home or building a new home.
What do you think about association transfer, improvement and administrative fee? Who should pay them? They are negotiable.
Do you have questions about negotiating closing costs? Consult your agent, attorney or email me.
Larry Stoller is a broker and Realtor with Real Estate Five of the Lowcountry. Larry@ RealEstateFive.com, RealEstateFive.com
SPORTS CARDS WANTED: Vesci Sports Cards, specializing in pre-1972 baseball, football and basketball cards. Looking for personal collections. Cash paid for cards. Hilton Head resident Jim Vesci 215-266-2975 jdvescisr@gmail.com
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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.
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‘Kingfisher’ by Murray Sease
March 16-18, 23-25
“Mitchelville,” original play, world premiere, 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Talkbacks March 17, 19, 24, 26. Tickets at leanensemble. org or 843-715-6676.
March 17-18, 24-26
“Young Frankenstein,” Sun City Community Theatre, 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2:30 p.m. matinee Sunday. Tickets $23 SCCT members, $26 general admission at suncitytheatre.org or Magnolia Hall, Monday, Wednesday and Fridays 9-11 a.m., or by calling 843-645-2700.
Through March 18
Hilton Head International Piano Competition 2023, featuring 20 elite artists, ages 13-17, from 16 countries. Preliminaries through March 16 at St. Luke’s Anglican, 50 Pope Ave.; finalists join Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra March 18 at First Presbyterian, 140 William Hilton Parkway. Tickets at hhso.org. Box office 843-842-2055
March 18
Country & Cocktails, 5:30 p.m. cocktails, 7 p.m. auction, 8 p.m. concert by Two Way Crossing. Themed event with jeans and boots. Benefit for and at Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head. Artshhi.com or 843-868-3945, ext. 305
March 18
Story, Song & Poetry, an Evening of Words and Music, 7 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton. Featuring Bill Newby, with contributions by others. Free, donations welcomed. UULowcountry.org
March 23-25
“All Shook Up,” by Hilton Head Christian Academy Theatre Department, 7 p.m., pus matinee at 2 p.m. March 25. Tickets $12 students and seniors, $18 adults. hhco.org
March 23-April 8 (ART: SMF Steep Canyon - tifs, last issue) Savannah Music Festival, 34th season, featuring legendary blues man Buddy Guy in his “Damn Right Farewell” March 25-26. A 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.
March 23-April 2
“Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” by Seahawk Stage Company, Hilton Head Island High School, 70 Wilborn Road. Performances 7 p.m. March 23-24, March 30-April 1; 2 p.m. March 26, April 2. Tickets $20 adult, $10 child (ages 2-18), available at hhihstheatre.org or at the door.
March 31
“A Mozart Celebration,” Hilton Head Choral Society’s annual Spring Concert, 7 p.m. First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head. Accompanied by members of Charleston Southern University Music Department faculty and alumni. Tickets at hiltonheadchoralsoci-
ety.org, 843-341-3818 or tickets@hiltonheadchoralsociety.org.
April 1-May 6
Bluffton 8th Grade Juried Art Show, featuring student art from Bluffton schools, on exhibit at Bluffton Library. People’s Choice voting through April 29. Artist Awards reception May 4.
April 1
The Rough & Tumble, folk-Americana group, 7 p.m. at Music on Malphrus, 110 Malphrus Road, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry. Tickets $25 at the door. Doors open 6:15 p.m. MusicOnMalphrus@gmail or 843-837-3330.
Through April 2
Second annual Beaufort County High School Regional Art Competition, USCB Center for the Arts, 801 Carteret St., Beaufort. uscbcenterforthearts.com or 843-521-4145
April 6
“Disney’s Frozen Junior,” Sea Pines Montessori students at Seahawk Cultural Center, 5:30 p.m. Hilton Head Island High School, 70 Wilborn Rd., Hilton Head. Tickets $12 children 5-17, $15 adult at spma.com.
Through April 8
“Art + Quilt = Art,” exhibit by Art Quilters of the Lowcountry at Art League of Hilton Head, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head. Free and open to public. artleaguehhi.org or 843-681-5060
April 15
“Happy Together,” cabaret and dinner show by the Sun Tones, women’s four-part a cappella chorus, at Pinckney Hall in Sun City. All of your favorites, sung in Barbershop style. Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets $35 per person, available at Magnolia Hall Monday, Wednesday and Fridays 9-11 a.m. or by phone at 540-842-5709. Cash or check only.
Sea Pines Montessori Academy (SPMA)
will present Disney’s “Frozen Jr,” inspired by the blockbuster film “Frozen,” for one performance only, at 5:30 p.m. April 6 at Hilton Head Island High School’s Seahawk Cultural Center.
When their kingdom becomes trapped in perpetual winter, caused by Queen Elsa, her fearless sister Anna joins forces with her friends Olaf, Sven and mountaineer Kristoff and his reindeer sidekick to find Queen Elsa, and break her icy spell.
Although their epic journey leads them to encounters with mystical trolls, a comedic snowman, unpredictable ice powers and something new around every corner, Anna and Kristoff bravely push onward in a race to save their kingdom from winter’s cold grip.
A story of love and acceptance between sisters, Frozen Jr. expands upon the emotional relationship and journey between Anna and Elsa. They discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood.
Featuring favorites such as “Let It Go” and “Fixer Upper,” this show will be a fun
APRIL 11
and light-hearted performance that the whole family will enjoy.
Directed by SPMA parent and owner of Hilton Head’s beloved Pomodori, Amanda Russ Cifaldi, with musical direction Katherine G. De Freitas and choreography by Mackenzie Bauer, the cast is led by fifth graders Decklyn Campagna (Anna), Amelia Cooper (Kristoff), Ella Grace Witman and Henry Ringer (Elsa), Rei De Freitas (Olaf), and Alma Nadger-Gur (Oaken).
The production features all students from Junior Kindergarten through sixth grade. It is truly a whole school experience.
Showtime is 5:30 p.m. April 6 at Hilton Head Island High School Seahawk Cultural Center, 70 Wilborn Road.
Tickets are $12 for children (ages 5-17) and $15 for adults. Children 4 and under are admitted free of charge. Tickets are available for purchase at spma.com.
Sea Pines Montessori Academy serves students 12 months through sixth grade and is located at 9 Fox Grape Road on Hilton Head Island.
The high-energy, heartfelt show highlights not only the bond Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty had as best friends and musical partners, but the unique bond Loretta and Conway’s grandkids, Tayla and Tre, have formed through years of an intertwined family history and their own musical relationship.
On the night of his 35th birthday, Robert struggles to think of a wish to make as he blows out his birthday candles. The lone New York bachelor, surrounded by his married friends, is uncertain whether he should simply be happy with his lot in life or wish for his own romantic partner.
Over a series of dinner parties, first dates, and thoughtful conversations, Robert attempts to understand the pros and cons of marriage and begins to make sense of his own persistent bachelorhood. Company, Stephen Sondheim’s groundbreaking modern musical, is a mature, intelligent, and wildly funny look at relationships, vulnerability, and “being alive.”
The recent Broadway production became the most nominated musical revival of its season, receiving nine Tony Award nominations and winning five including Best Revival of a Musical.
DIRECTED BY RUSSELL GARRETT
It’s never too late to dance. No matter your age or ability – dancing is for everyone. The sky’s the limit, as we have seen with PEP (Programs for Exceptional People), Pockets
Full of Sunshine, our youth ballroom, our senior citizens, Wounded Warriors, and many others.
Armando Aseneta, one of the owners of Hilton Head Ballroom Dance Studio, several years ago started a dance program at the Cypress – specifically at the Preston Health Center, which is the skilled care center. He began with just some chair movements until he knew what they were capable of doing.
Armando wanted to see who was able to get up, who was able to complete steps, etc. He started with small steps, moved to bigger steps, then more free movement and even began adding turns. Some residents are to the point where they can complete an entire song. Their stamina is improving.
Many have advanced to actually doing a
box step, which is the basis for rumba and foxtrot.
Armando has carefully chosen the music he uses –songs from the era of Frank Sinatra, Andrews Sisters and World War II. Many of these songs hold a lot of meaning and memories for residents, and reminiscing
is part of the experience. The nostalgia is as important as the dancing.
Along with the memories, songs and dance steps come the physical and mental challenges. This is not a gym – it is gentle, full-body exercise that encourages people to use their minds to create the dance. On top
of that – it doesn’t even seem like exercise because the music takes the work away. It doesn’t matter what the ability level is. Everyone can participate by clapping, singing, moving in their chair, or moving on the dance floor.
“It was so rewarding to meet not only people who have danced before, but also those who have never danced and thought they never could or would,” said Armando. “It meant so much to me that these people were so enthusiastic and willing to learn. I was so inspired that I have every intention of continuing and building this program.”
Wherever you are, whatever your age, whatever your ability, never miss an opportunity to get involved with any sort of dance program in your area. As I have said before, dancing is for everyone.
Art works by high school students participating in the second annual Beaufort County High School Regional Art Competition will be on display through April 2 in the gallery at the USCB Center for the Arts, 801 Carteret St., Beaufort.
The Coastal Discovery Museum, in partnership with the USCB Center for the Arts, hosted the county-wide juried exhibition featuring the best artwork from area high school students, following on the success of last year’s event.
Submissions were received from Battery Creek High, Beaufort High, Bluffton High, Hilton Head Island
High School, Hilton Head Preparatory, Island Academy, May River High, and Whale Branch Early College High School.
Works include painting, drawing, photography, digital art, mixed media, ceramics, and 3D design.
The exhibition was juried by internationally recognized artists, photographers, educators and gallery directors. The judges selected the best works and monetary awards for the top entries at the opening reception March 1.
For more information, visit at uscbcenterforthearts.com or call 843-521-4145.
The Rough and Tumble will perform at 7 p.m. April 1 at Music on Malphrus, 110 Malphrus Road in Bluffton.
The folk/Americana duo made up of Mallory Graham and Scott Tyler typically has audiences in stitches one minute and falling apart at the seams the next.
After living in a 16-foot camper with two big dogs and one tiny hamster for the past eight years, playing upwards of 150 shows a year, the duo now spends part of their time as residents of New Hampshire. Playing upwards of 150 shows a year, they are equally at home in festival settings, listening rooms and house concerts.
Their engaging performances and songwriting have won them The Listening Room Network’s Artist of the Year in 2019, official showcases at SERFA and NERFA and the Independent Music Awards Americana Song of the Year for their song “The Hardest Part.”
In 2021, they released “We’re Only Family If You Say So,” an album about what it means to be family, and what it means to
Bluffton Academy for the Arts will offer a new musical theatre program starting in the 2023-24 school year.
BAA’s new musical theatre (MT) program is for rising eighth to 12th graders in search of a school that combines an academic focus with high-level voice, drama and musical theatre-style dance training.
The MT program will offer music theory, keyboarding and private voice lessons, as well as ensemble voice training taught by esteemed vocal teacher Sonya Jacobs.
students and their families in mind. BAA, located at 123 Persimmon St. inside the Bluffton School of Dance, provides a safe and creative environment for students to combine arts training with the online academic program of their choice.
lose it.
Their new album, “Only This Far,” is due out in May.
For more information about them, visit theroughandtumble.com.
General admission tickets are $25 at the door. Doors open 6:15 p.m.
For more information, email MusicOnMalphrus@gmail or call 843-837-3330.
All proceeds will support the Bluffton Community Soup Kitchen’s core mission of feeding the hungry and will help The Society of Bluffton Artists provide scholarships to budding art students in our community.
TICKETS bit.ly/sobaartauction
WHEN: Friday, May 5, 5:30-9:30pm
WHERE: Bostwick Pavilion, Moss Creek 341 Moss Creek Drive, Hilton Head, SC 29926
TICKETS: $100 ATTIRE: Coastal Casual
MT students will also have rotating classes such as musical theatre dance training, drama/acting skills classes, and various opportunities to discover new musical theatre shows and songs.
MT students will join and collaborate with BAA’s dancers for an end-of-year production showcasing their performing arts skills.
BAA is a private, secondary school created specifically with performing arts
The academy offers dance, voice and musical theatre training with our exemplary faculty and visiting guest artists from across the country. BAA’s flexible structure allows students to maximize their arts training and balance their busy schedules without stressing over absences or missed seat time.
Students attend BAA from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday with the assistance of an onsite director and academic support staff. Students have performing arts training in the morning and focus on academics in the afternoon. Enrollment applications are being accepted now. For more information, visit blufftonacademyforthearts.com or email info@blufftonacademyforthearts.com.
