VOLUME 12, ISSUE 5 • MAY 3, 2023

Okatie’s ‘wild forest’ joins a network of old growth parks

By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTOR

Light rain filtering through the tree canopy overhead was pretty much ignored as a small group on a walking tour entered the Okatie Regional Preserve off Cecil Reynolds Drive in Bluffton. The thick, lush green of the leaves and vegetation also filtered most of the adjacent highway noise as the visitors were introduced to a future passive park.

The preserve is 187 acres of mixed pine and hardwood upland forest, bottomland hardwood forest, and salt marsh at the headwaters of the Okatie River. In January, the preserve was designated as the newest member of the Old-Growth Forest Network.

“We are a national nonprofit that focuses on our oldest forests across the country, trying to ensure that every county that can grow a forest will one day have an old-growth forest,” said Sarah Adloo, executive director of the Old-Growth Forest Network. “This particular property for this county represents some of the older, untouched wild forest that will soon be open to the public.”

The designation makes the Okatie Regional Preserve only the second South Carolina park to be part of the network.

The other is Congaree National Park, which includes in its 27,000 acres the largest intact expanse (11,000 acres) of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States.

There are 199 forests in 33 states in the network.

“One of the reasons why we chose this particular forest is because of the white oaks that are on this property,” said Stefanie Nagid, Beaufort County passive parks manager. “They’re not unique to the Midland or Upstate folks, but down here in the Lowcountry it’s kind of a unique tree species, and we don’t see many large ones because they grow in an area that is highly prized for development.”

At the head of the group, Beaufort County arborist and Passive Parks Manager Michael Murphy began pointing out some of the unique qualities of the trees along the rough trail.

“This forest has diversity beyond anything we could think of. Here we’ve got an elm tree, and people always think the American elm has just been devastated all over the country, but we have what’s called the black elm or water elm that’s related to it,” said Murphy. “It doesn’t get the Dutch elm disease, mostly because the beetle that carries the vector doesn’t really hang out

down here.”

Murphy pointed out the wide root plate of the elm, explaining that it was not only indicative of an elm but of a high-water table, making the tree respond by growing a stronger root plate for stability during storms. He made other points about the sweet gum, which provides fruit for wild-

life; the American sycamore – uncommon in the Lowcountry but extensive in the Northeast; and the wax myrtle, part of the understory beneath the taller oaks and pines.

“This forest is large enough to have a

Please see FOREST on page 10A

PHOTOS BY GWYNETH J. SAUNDERS

The tour group begins the trek into the Okatie Regional Preserve in Bluffton. The preserve recently was designated as the newest member of the national Old-Growth Forest Network.

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Slow down! Life’s too short to be living this dang fast

By Lynne Cope Hummell EDITOR

Baseball games are speeding up. Golfers are being encouraged to speed up. Kids are being put in accelerated classes to speed up their education.

Traffic on many highways, here and elsewhere, is speeding up and crashes are common.

Whatever happened to taking the Simon & Garfunkel advice: “Slow down, you move too fast.”?

Granted the first two examples are based on legitimate concerns that involve the fan and/or player experience – the folks who pay to watch or play.

Just last month, Major League Baseball added a pitch clock to speed up games so casual fans won’t get bored and leave. Apparently, some could-be fans won’t even show up because they don’t have time for a

four-hour ball game.

Golfers – amateurs and pros alike – generally have another group playing behind them, and nobody likes to wait for the slowpokes who enjoy a leisurely game. Students whose academic skills are beyond many in their age group could do well with accelerated, higher-level classes, of course. But what about children whose parents push their youngsters to do more, faster, better – if those kids simply don’t have the capacity to succeed at an advanced level? Is that good for a child’s mental health? And traffic. What has happened around here that is causing so many accident reports from our law enforcement agencies? It seems we get at least four alerts daily about yet another accident on Hwy. 278 or 170, or the parkways. Too often, these are serious crashes with injuries – and fatalities. We can likely point to an increase in our local population. More cars on the roads

means more opportunity that they could run into one another.

But a lot of workers are still remote and don’t drive as much as they used to. So the answer might not be simply the increased number of vehicles.

I believe we’re all just driving a little too fast, getting comfortable skimming through another yellow light, and just in a big hurry to get somewhere.

In fact, it seems we’re LIVING a little too fast in general. We feel like we need to do more, go more, see more people and places, and do it all before everyone else. We are living like we’re in hyperspace, traveling at warp speed. (And yes, I realize I’ve mixed two sci-fi franchise metaphors.)

Simon and Garfunkel had the right idea.

We’re coming into our high season for visitors. As soon as school is out in the northeast, our Saturday traffic will seem to quadruple. (“Seem to”? That might actually

be accurate.)

Presumably, not all of our 2.5 million annual visitors will drive here – certainly not in one car each. But it will seem like it in July. By then, we’ll all be hot and fussy anyway, and just the thought of getting into our cars and going somewhere will change our good moods to dark thoughts.

Let’s just not go there. Let’s all take a deep breath, think about clouds and puppies, and slow down. Consolidate four weekly trips to the grocery store into one. Ride your bike to your favorite restaurant for lunch. Walk to the pub. Wander down to a dock and just sit. Occasionally, just don’t go anywhere except your porch, garden or backyard. That kind of activity instantly calms my nerves and lowers my blood pressure. And when we must drive, let’s do so gently. Let’s slow down and take it easy on ourselves and others.

We all deserve it, don’t we?

Flood insurance vital for coastal property owners

Current Circulation Via USPS is 25,266

By Alan Perry CONTRIBUTOR

PUBLISHER

Kevin Aylmer, kevina@blufftonsun.com

EDITOR

Lynne Hummell, editor@blufftonsun.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Kim Perry Bowen

OFFICE MANAGER

Melissa McCullough

CONTRIBUTORS

Jeff Bradley

Amy Campanini

Shannon Copcutt

Collins Doughtie

Mathew Epps

E. Ronald Finger

Ken Horup

Jennifer Herrin

Diana McDougall

Alan Perry

Gwyneth J. Saunders

Larry Stoller

Scott Weirman

Floods can happen anywhere, anytime. Just one inch of water in a home can cause more than $25,000 worth of damage. Naturally occurring events, including hurricanes, storm surges, high tides, and heavy rains, may cause flooding in the Town of Hilton Head Island. Being prepared is the best defense against damage from flooding and other disasters.

own, ensure you have coverage covering your personal belongings, such as clothing, furniture, and appliances.

Where to find flood insurance. The Town of Hilton Head Island takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which makes flood insurance available to you, regardless of your flood zone. Flood insurance policies typically take 30 days to go into effect. It is best to learn about the extent of your coverage long before a disaster strikes.

Public information, mapping and regulatory standards, flood damage reduction and flood preparedness.

Implementing good floodplain management practices has helped the Town receive a Class 5 rating from the Community Rating System. This rating allows Hilton Head Island property owners to receive up to a 25 percent discount on their flood insurance premiums.

ADVERTISING

B.J. Frazier, Sales Director, 843-422-2321

Claudia Chapman 814-434-3665

Mike Garza 804-928-2151

Mary Pat Gifford 912-414-7122

CONTACT

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

Physical address: 14D Johnston Way Bluffton, SC 29910

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

As a municipality governing a coastal community, we must inform our residents and business owners about the need to obtain and retain flood insurance for their property, especially since most homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover flood damage. Unfortunately, many property owners do not know about the lack of coverage until it is too late.

Protecting your most important financial assets – your home, business, and possessions – is essential. Flood insurance is a separate policy that can cover buildings and their contents. Whether you rent or

The National Flood Insurance Program, managed by FEMA, is delivered to the public by a network of more than 50 insurance companies and NFIP Direct. Having coverage from the NFIP helps property owners, renters, and businesses recover faster when floodwaters recede.

In addition, the NFIP works with communities required to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations that help mitigate flooding effects. FEMA defines a floodplain as any land area susceptible to being inundated with floodwater from any source.

Floodplain management has its benefits. The Town has actively participated in FEMA’s Community Rating System program since 1991. This program rates communities on how effectively they manage their floodplains in four major categories:

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

Did you know that there can’t be birds without bugs, the little things that run the world? These are precarious weeks when our land birds are raising babies in their nests, and we can ease their efforts to find food.

Circulation verification for each issue provided with USPS Form 3541 and/or USPS Form 8125. These forms are available for review during normal business hours at the offices of The Bluffton Sun, 14D Johnston Way, Bluffton, SC 29910.

Little known, but more than 90% of these bird species feed insects to their young, who desperately need the protein and fat to survive. That even includes nectar-loving hummingbirds.

Flies, beetles, crickets are on the menu, but caterpillars are the best! It takes more than 5,000 caterpillars to fledge a nestful of

Carolina chickadees. What can we do insure survival?

We can stop spraying pesticides randomly on our plants and ground, killing the insects the birds need to survive, also ground-nesting native bees, our champion pollinators.

Think of joining “No Mow May,” a national initiative supported by many U.S. community governments and private landowners, a project to increase awareness of the vast importance of bugs – yes, bugs! – on this earth.

Debby Boots Hilton Head Island

Need help understanding floodplain issues? Flood elevation, flood insurance rate maps, and other floodplain issues are complex. But the Town is here to help break down those complexities. Our certified floodplain managers are available to speak with you on various topics related to floodplain issues.

If you have questions or concerns about flood risks, please contact our Floodplain Administrator, Shari Mendrick, at 843-341-4687 or by email at sharim@ hiltonheadislandsc.gov. In addition, the Flood Hazard Guide section of our website (hiltonheadislandsc.gov/flood) provides detailed information on how to protect yourself and your property against flooding.

To the Editor:

Once again, I am writing to thank you for the wonderful article about another Jewish holiday (April 5 Hilton Head Sun). It was a pleasure seeing the information from Rabbi Mendel about the upcoming Passover and his yearly blessing of distributing Matzah to the Jews of Beaufort County.

Thank you for including us in the local news.

Greg Lula Moss Creek

Alan Perry is the mayor of the Town of Hilton Head Island. AlanP@hiltonheadislandsc.gov

Alan Perry

Poets through the ages inspire and delight readers, writers

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 April 19 launch of the Poetry Trail on Hilton Head Island, held at

Roller’s Wine & Spirits, which is Stop No. 4 on the trail, we asked: “Who is your favorite or most inspirational poet, living or dead?”

Eric Johnson, Bluffton: “Right now, Gil Scott-Heron – he was more of a musician, but also a poet.”

Phil Lindsey, Bluffton: “Billy Collins. He was a poet laureate of the United States, and he has a podcast that’s incredible to listen to.”

Diane Valerie, Bluffton: “Ogden Nash. My mother used to quote him to me when I was young.”

Elizabeth Robin, Hilton Head Island: “Gwendolyn Brooks, a Chicago poet popular in the ’50s through the ’70s. She is brilliant with words, her rhythm and story.”

Linda Littman, Eatontown, N.J.: “William Carlos Williams. His ‘In Chains’ represents my own philosophy. It makes so much sense to me.”

New state budget covers broad range of topics

By Jeff Bradley CONTRIBUTOR

In late April, the Senate sent to the House their version of the 2023-24 State Budget, which had few changes from what we had sent three weeks earlier to them.

The next step is for a joint committee from both houses to iron out the differences and then pass it on to Gov. Henry McMaster for final approval.

In the House, the budget received bipartisan support on a vote of 108-11, following a couple of long and strenuous days of discussion and disagreements on the House floor. The Senate approved its version of the budget unanimously after an unusually short debate.

Chief among the differences were $200 million less in bridge repairs and differences about how big the raises should be for certain levels of state employees.

Both plans agreed that many law enforcement positions like state troopers, state agents and nurses in prisons should be in line for larger pay raises.

Many teachers are also going to receive a raise. The plan would increase the minimum salary at every teacher position and experience level by $2,500. The state would also cover any increases in health insurance premiums. South Carolina’s starting teacher pay would now be $42,500. Of course many school districts, like Beaufort County, are higher.

The 2023-24 state general fund budget approved by the House was $13.8 billion. The Senate was $800 million less.

Through collaboration with Gov. McMaster and Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver, there will be a transformative investment in education. In addition to salary increases for teachers, this budget provides for:

• Funds to purchase school busses and hire more school bus drivers.

• $20 million toward school safety upgrades

• Funding for a school resource officer in every South Carolina public school.

• Additional funds for tutoring programs to help close learning gaps.

• Making higher education more affordable through tuition mitigation, with more scholarship funding and needs-based grants.

• A new funding of $300 million for maintenance and renovations at both comprehensive and technical colleges across the state.

This includes funding for the first veterinary medicine school in South Carolina at Clemson University, and $54 million to replace the nearly 100-year-old Turner Hall at South Carolina State University, which has increased it student body in each of the past two years.

Because there have been certain gaps in services available to South Carolinians, we also were able to add $300 million to the healthcare portion of the new budget. These included:

• An increase in compensation for both nursing and mental health professionals working for the state.

• Strengthening the state’s response to calls, texts and messages received for suicide prevention.

• Assisting the Department of Mental Health with support for its maintenance of long-term care/nursing homes for veterans. Keeping pace with the continued rapid population growth of our state is going to keep us all busy in the years ahead to make South Carolina one of the finest places to live in America.

*Total purchase value must exceed $500 or more on select furniture for o er to be valid. For one time use only and can’t be used with any other o er or discount. This o er must be presented to sales associate prior to time of sale.

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

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FOREST from page 1A

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healthy understory because it’s not just the trees that live in here. It’s all the animals and the birds and microorganisms and arthropods,” Murphy said. “Everything that can live and make the soil healthy is here and the understory is just as important as the overstory.”

Throughout the forest along the trail were bushes, grasses, decaying leaves and fallen trees. The arborist said most of the time a forest does not need maintenance, particularly an old-growth forest. He pointed out a fallen pine a few feet into the woods.

“When you really think about it, trees are designed actually to fail. Their main goal in life is to grow, die, and become food for the trees that are around them. Hundreds of trees die in a forest for every handful that live,” Murphy said. “When you think about that, these are the plants that we build our houses under, that we drive under every single day, that we paid more for having them on our property. And then we get all upset when a limb falls. Well, this is what they’re supposed to do. … You have to realize that there’s a certain amount of risk that you have when a tree is there. It’s just the way they’re built: they’re built to fail.”

Sun City resident Georgia Ringo is looking forward to when the park is opened, which Nagid said might be in two or three years, depending upon completion of planning and the construction of minimal amenities such as an entryway, benches and a bathroom.

“I do all kinds of trails. I’m with Girls Who Hike South Carolina, and I think we have maybe 12,000 members statewide,” said Ringo. “We get groups together and go to parks and nature areas and hike.”

Murphy pointed out one of the older trees – a white oak approximately 75 years old. Adloo said such a tree supports as many as 500 species.

“Just having one in a wide-open area is benefiting so much around it. Not to say the other trees aren’t, but the white oaks are like that,” she said.

A new wing of arboriculture is called “conservation arboriculture” that deals with maintaining older trees, veteran trees and ancient trees.

Murphy explained that an ancient tree is one that is old for its species, and preserving and maintaining them are highly beneficial for other plants and wildlife.

Beaufort County arborist and volunteer Michael Murphy gestures as he points out unique qualities of some of the trees along the trail in the Okatie Regional Preserve in Bluffton.

FOREST from page 10A

“And they’re also much more efficient at doing what they do, which is pulling carbon dioxide out of the air and pushing oxygen back out,” he said. “For every one old tree, you’d have to have hundreds and hundreds of smaller trees around, so the conservation of these older trees is very important.”

There aren’t many old-growth forests around, according to Adloo, who said only 1% of what once was, has been removed.

“And that’s why it’s so urgent to make sure that we have even younger forests set aside to age into that old growth character and all those benefits,” she said.

Crossing through the strip of the property that carries the power lines, Murphy responded to an earlier comment by one of the guests about why there were so few white oaks if this property had been preserved for that particular tree.

“Well, here we are on the other side of the powerlines. And this is where the majority of the white oaks are,” he said. “You can’t throw a rock here without hitting one.”

Having reached the end of the navigable trail, Nagid turned the group around for the return trip.

Unbeknownst to several of the group members who were ahead of them, two people trailing behind were literally getting a head start on Earth Day cleanup.

By the time they reached the cars, Jerri Dipietro and Vera Shoaff had two barrels and a bucket overflowing with bottles, plastic, cans, trash and a pipe.

“This is virgin property, and nobody’s been out here to clean it up,” said Dipietro, “so whatever has been blown into or thrown into or dropped is here. I do (this) whenever there’s an opportunity for a trash pickup.”

As Nagid told the group at the beginning of the hike, there is much work to be done before the park can be opened to the public, including generating plans and finding grants to help fund any construction. As part of both the passive parks program and the Old-Growth Forest Network, the property will provide green space that will be protected from lumbering for perpetuity, as per the Beaufort County Council.

“I hope all of you by coming on this walk, it has given you a new pair of glasses to see a forest thoroughly so you can see the beauty in a dead tree or the defects of a tree,” said Adloo. “You can start to recognize the diversity in the plants and the sounds that an older forest will give you when you’re walking on that much thicker leaf and mulch layer.”

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

Stefanie Nagid, right, Beaufort County passive parks manager, tells the tour group why the Okatie Regional Preserve was selected as an old growth forest, accompanied by volunteer Michael Murphy and Sarah Adloo, executive director of the Old-Growth Forest Network.

Island-wide Poetry Trail offers words of wit, wisdom, wonder

By Lynne Cope Hummell EDITOR

Phil Lindsey was honored that his poem, “A Little Tipsy,” was chosen for the new Poetry Trail on Hilton Head, and more than amused that it was to be “located” at Roller’s Wine & Spirits on Palmetto Bay Road.

“I suppose it’s only fitting,” Lindsey said.

At the launch party April 19, held at Rollers, Elizabeth Robin, a poet and host for the event, on behalf of Island Writers Network, shared with attendees the list of 24 stations along the island-wide trail and the accompanying poem at each stop.

“Poetry is compressed storytelling, and we are telling stories of our island,” Robin said.

As each stop on the trail was discussed, the poem associated with that stop was read, often by the poet. A number of the stops are where public art sculptures are installed, while others are local business partners.

Submissions from local poets were solicited and those selected were assigned to a stop on the trail. A sign at each stop encourages visitors to “Pause for a moment and enjoy the Poem and meet the poet.”

Locations were paired with poems that seemed to suit the situation, art or business.

At the circular “Carocol,” a sculpture in Shelter Cove Community Park, poet Elizabeth Abrams shares her interpretation with “O’Keefe’s Woody Orchid.”

Two QR codes appear on each sign, one for the poem assigned to that stop and the other to information about the trail.

Bill Schmitt, a member of the Island Writers Network, created the signs and connected technology to the readings and maps.

The project is the result of an on-going collaboration between the Island Writer’s Network, and the Town of Hilton Head Island’s Office of Cultural Affairs.

For more information and a map of the Poetry Trail, visit islandwritersnetworkhhi. org.

At Roller’s Wine & Spirits on Palmetto Bay Road, Phil Lindsey scans the QR code for the newly launched Poetry Trail, as Bill Schmitt offers technical guidance.

LYNNE COPE HUMMELL

SEMINAR

34th annual All Saints Garden Tour set for May 20

“The #1 Seminar on Viking Cruises, ...by far!

You are cordially invited to “Explore the World in Comfort” with Viking at this seminar.

Viking River, Ocean & Expedition Cruising. This is the “Must Attend Event ” for first-time Viking guests who are looking to book and have questions.

Your Presenter is Anders Bailey, a Certified Master Viking Specialist

Date: May 9th, 3023

Times: Session 1 10:00 AM Viking River Cruise Seminar

Session 2 11:30 AM Viking River Cruise Seminar

Session 3 12:00 PM Viking River Cruise Seminar

Session 4 1:30 PM Viking River Cruise Seminar

Session 5 3:00 PM Ocean & Expedition Seminar

Session 6 4:30 PM Viking World Cruise Seminar

Venue: Hilton Garden Inn, 1575 Fording Island Road, Hilton Head

Do to room size & the popularity of the seminar: R.S.V.P. is required

To R.S.V.P. Call:

1 (877) 937-1187 or (352) 278-1595

The ever-popular All Saints Garden Tour will celebrate its 34th year of sharing unique local gardens with its self-guided tour from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 20.

The Tour has something for everyone with this year’s six distinctive gardens: mature gardens of various sizes; gardens located on the water; gardens that were lovingly created and maintained by the owners; and gardens with stunning views.

Each $35 ticket includes the Tour and access to the All Saints Boutique and Bake Sale. A raffle for an original pastel by award-winning artist Joyce Nagel will be held during the day.

The six gardens are: An Unexpected Garden, Hilton Head Plantation, with mature camellias and hydrangeas, a pool and fountains; Serenity on the Sound in Port Royal Plantation, a tropical paradise with lilies, citrus and breathtaking views of Port Royal Sound; After the Deep Freeze in Port Royal Plantation, a mature garden with hydrangeas that is always a work in progress; Wright Family Park in Bluffton, with its historic camellias and a view over the May

River; In the Mood for a Change in Moss Creek, where the owner was inspired by freeze damage to try new things; and Nostra Gioia (Our Joy) in Hilton Head Plantation, designed to be a pleasant place to sit and contemplate nature.

Tickets are available online through midnight on May 18 at allsaintsgardentour.com. Through noon on May 19, they also can be purchased at The Greenery, The Green Thumb , Bruno Nursery, All Saints Episcopal Church, Burke’s Pharmacy, Hilton Head Wine & Spirits, and Markel’s Card & Gifts, Taylor’s Landscape and Sunshine Nursery during normal business hours.

If tickets remain, they can be purchased by cash or check the day of the Tour at All Saints Episcopal Church at 3001 Meeting St. from 8:30 a.m. to noon. For tickets and updated information, visit our website or call 843-681-8333. Tickets not picked up by noon on the day of the tour are forfeited. Participants need to be able to safely walk on flagstone pathways and through uneven surfaces in the gardens.

”

COURTESY ALL SAINTS GARDEN TOUR

A Garden on the Sound is just one of the distinctive gardens included in the 2023 All Saints Garden Tour.

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• 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

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• Serving the lowcountry since ‘95

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Second Helpings starts new food rescue effort

There is a new way for visitors to Hilton Head Island to help feed the hungry: Post-Vacation Food Donation. Second Helpings, a nonprofit food rescue organization, is partnering with property management companies to rescue food that tourists would otherwise throw away or leave behind at the end of their vacation.

Visitors are encouraged to drop off unopened, nonperishable groceries every Saturday from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Second Helpings truck parked in front of Grayco Hardware and Home Store on Palmetto Bay Road – convenient to the many visitors on the south end. Island residents also are invited to drop off food.

With the support of Grayco, the Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, and Second Helpings volunteers, the effort kicked off April 1 and will occur every Saturday through Sept. 30. Donated food will be delivered by Second Helpings to island

food pantries, who distribute it to neighbors in need.

Several thousand people living or working on Hilton Head Island are food insecure. Many of them work in support of the tourism industry and help make visitors’ vacations memorable.

Anyone who donates food will receive a tax donation form and may stop for a photo opportunity in front of the Second Helpings truck.

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By Lynne Cope Hummell EDITOR

(Editor’s note: Typically, a journalist does not write about family members. This article includes an exception to that format.)

At Windmill Harbour Marina on the north end of Hilton Head Island, on a brisk and slightly overcast morning in March, five passengers and a captain stepped down from the dock onto the deck of a vessel moored there.

Another passenger for the day’s cruise rolled aboard.

With assistance from his mom (this writer), Chandler Hummell, seated in his manual wheelchair, rolled across a

metal ramp from the dock onto to a teak platform attached to the stern of the vessel. The platform was then lowered by hydraulic scissor-lift, controlled by USCG certified Capt. Trey Snow.

Once the platform was secured and locked in place, Capt. Snow opened the aft doors and Hummell rolled onto the deck of the boat.

He was the first wheelchair passenger on the boat that was custom built to accommodate people with mobility challenges.

“It was so cool to be able to take my wheelchair into the middle of Skull Creek aboard Spirit,” said Hummell. “Usually, I’m just looking out from the

Chandler Hummell and his mother ride the power lift, operated by Capt. Trey Snow, allowing him to board Spirit, an accessible boat for people with mobility challenges.

TERRI MOONEY

shore.”

Hummell has a rare neuromuscular disease, Friedreich’s Ataxia, that affects his balance and his ability to walk. The disease affects only about 5,000 people in the United States.

Spirit, a beautifully appointed flat-bottom boat with an enclosed cabin, indoor and outdoor seating (fore and aft), a handicap accessible bathroom, and kitchenette, was conceived with love by owner Terry Brubaker. He had it custom-built so that his wife, Nancy, who is challenged by symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, could enjoy getting out on the water again.

Brubaker commissioned fabled New Zealand builder James Kerr and marine architect Matt Smith to design and build the vessel – the hull in Maine’s Brooklin Boat Yard and the interior in their Rhode Island workshop, a two-year process.

The Brubakers, longtime boating enthusiasts, had previously enjoyed cruising the waters around Hilton Head Island, where they live. As Nancy’s mobility declined, her ability to climb aboard their previous boat declined as

well.

Now, on Spirit, the lift allows her to safely get aboard. A specially designed upholstered chair at the bridge lets her sit comfortably next to her captain in the climate-controlled cabin.

The couple has recently made the vessel publicly available for small groups to take tours of local waterways, starting this month.

History tours are narrated by Rich Thomas, an expert on the area’s history. On this March morning, he pointed out that “Everyone who ever came to Hilton Head Island prior to 1956 (when the bridge was built) had to come by boat.” Thus, he said, it makes sense to learn some of the area’s early history by boat as well.

Thomas pointed out spots on Pinckney Island where pirates are thought to have landed at their “careening point,” and where Native Americans had a trading post around 1708.

Thomas is knowledgeable about many aspects of Lowcountry history, from

Docked in Windmill Harbour after a cruise, Capt. Trey Snow (blue shirt) prepares to lower the wheelchair accessible lift on Spirit, while Terri Mooney checks the ramp on the platform and tour narrator Rich Thomas waits to disembark.

CHANDLER HUMMELL

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TOURS from page 22A

the Tuscarora scouts in the early 1700s to Union troops in 1861, from Native Americans to Native Islanders.

“The vision for these tours is to enlighten people, marveling about the history of Hilton Head, its long-term relationship with the water that surrounds it, and its treasured heritage,” Thomas said.

Voyages of discovery aboard Spirit, with an expert local historian and storyteller as the guide, offer a deep understanding of this unique viewpoint in a luxurious and comfortable setting.

The narrated history tours include the North Shores and Pinckney Island, or the South Shores and Daufuskie Island.

Spirit is also available for other types of cruises, whether an evening on the ocean watching sunset, a lunchtime Mackay Creek cruise with family, a ladies’ day out, or a number of other unique possibilities.

The flat bottom of the boat’s design allows it to cruise the shallows and

estuaries, unlike most larger boats, so up-close nature tours are possible.

As good and generous neighbors, the Brubakers have donated tours to several local nonprofits to auction in their fundraisers. To date, the organizations include Hilton Head Humane Society, Parkinson’s Foundation and Memory Matters.

Tours are being offered for groups of up to six passengers, with a base price of $2,000 for a three-hour narrated tour. Individual tickets are not available.

Food and beverages are not included, but can be arranged for an additional fee.

Specific times and dates can be reserved but not guaranteed, due to tides and weather.

Currently, all tours depart from Pinckney Island Public Boat ramp. There is ample parking available and the dock is wheelchair accessible.

For information and to request a group tour, contact Terri Mooney at 603-3878278 or mooneyterri@hotmail.com.

Residents of The Seabrook of Hilton Head celebrated Earth Day April 22 with a unique fundraiser for its foundation, a prize drawing, and more. Each community member who made a donation to the Seabrook Foundation, a fund that benefits fellow members who may need financial assistance, received a flower pot with dirt and seeds. Donors received an opportunity to win a special Earth Day-related prize and community members also enjoyed food and drinks.

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Second act: Nursing makes fulfilling second career choice

By Shannon Copcutt CONTRIBUTOR

A midlife occupational shift may seem like an unsurmountable challenge for some, but big changes can also yield big rewards. And the idea of having a truly fulfilling career does not have an expiration date.

It was with this in mind that Robin Cifaldi made a monumental career change in her 40s, from a married restaurant owner to a single mom and ICU Critical Care Nurse in the Cardiac Unit at Hilton Head Hospital.

While the transition wasn’t easy, as Cifaldi approaches her seventh year in her new vocation, she said she loves and appreciates her new life as a nurse and feels lucky to have been able to make the change and find her “calling.”

“It was the hardest thing I ever did. Going back to school… I was the oldest person there,” Cifaldi said. “But there was a fire inside of me that said, ‘You can do this.’ I had to let go of my ego and just do it.”

Indeed, Cifaldi jokes that it “took a village” to accomplish the career change. At

the time she decided to make the change to become a nurse, she was going through a divorce from her husband and had small children. Thankfully, she was able to lean on family members and friends to help her successfully juggle her many responsibilities.

Going back to school for her nursing degree meant taking classes while the kids were at school and studying while they were asleep late at night or early in the morning. She waited tables and bartended when it fit in her schedule to earn money.

With her steadfast determination, Cifaldi was able to complete her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) and get to work in just three years.

Cifaldi said she looks forward to going to work every day.

“I feel privileged to do what I do. I love nursing because I learn something new every day. I bring my personal experiences in life to the table as well as my training to help care for others,” Cifaldi said. “As a nurse, I

Robin Cifaldi checks a monitor for an update on a patient’s vitals. Cifaldi, a critical care nurse at Hilton Head Hospital, chose nursing as a second career.

PHOTOS COURTESY HILTON HEAD REGIONAL HEALTHCARE

NURSE from page 26A

have to problem-solve, think critically about different situations, and rise to the challenge for every patient.

For several years now there has been a huge demand for nurses, so finding a job can be fairly easy for those entering the nursing sector, even if they are older and entering the field as second career candidate. As a result, Cifaldi was able to line up work while completing the final portion of her BSN – the required clinical hours, where one gains real life experience in a hospital or doctor’s office.

“This is where you get to use what you learned and see what you may have an inclination for; what type of nursing you want to be in,” Cifaldi said. “The thing about nursing is that it is such a versatile field, you can do so many different things with it.”

In 2016, Cifaldi decided to work as a nurse in the Cardiac ICU unit in Hilton Head Hospital, a demanding unit with high stakes, as patients’ lives are on the line every day.

“I feel privileged to do it, because I’m with patients and their families at a very vulnera-

ble and traumatic time and I help them feel safe and care for them in critical situations that are constantly changing,” she said.

And perhaps its Cifaldi’s life experience –having cared for her sick mother and grandmother prior to becoming a nurse – that allows her to draw on just the right kind of bedside manner for these critical situations and mix it with her new nursing expertise. In fact, Cifaldi said that her personal experience caring for family members may have planted the seed for her second career. That experience meshed with a commercial she saw about Julia Child having begun her famed occupation as a chef at the age of 50.

“That fact about Julia Child stuck with me and I thought, if she can do it, I can do it,” Cifaldi said.

Bringing life experience to nursing as Cifaldi has done is in fact a great asset to the field, according to her supervisor, Christina Brzezinski, market chief nursing officer for Hilton Head Regional Healthcare.

“Second career nurses are so determined and looking for a more rewarding career,” Brzezinski said. “They have made a choice

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to sacrifice things and disrupt their lives to become a nurse.”

Brzezinski also noted that their prior work experience, time management, life skills and relationship building skills all come into play to make second-career nurses the best they can be, a facet of nurses that should be fully embraced.

“And it certainly shows when they work,” she said.

Having come to nursing much later in life and through hard work and sacrifice, Cifaldi does appreciate her second career as a nurse and values how it has enriched her life.

“It’s a part of my DNA to help people. I finally found something that is all mine, that I accomplished and that I’m meant to be doing,” she said. “I now know it’s never too late to find your calling.”

Shannon Copcutt is a children’s book author, magazine writer and editor who recently moved to the Lowcountry.

National Nurses Week, May 6-12. Show some love to your favorite nurses!

Robin Cifaldi, a critical care nurse at Hilton Head Hospital, chose nursing as a second career.

~Hilton Head Island, SC I’m going to ask you a simple question.

I’m Dr. Ken Horup and I’ve been a local doctor in the Hilton Head Island area, and in that time I’ve seen all kinds of knee pain.

“Are you interested in helping getting rid of your knee pain?”

Do you think that you’d be open to doing something that would really “help” your knee pain, and wouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg?

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Sometimes it’s a young boy who’s been playing football and torn his ACL ligament.

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 Arthritis (wear & tear)

 A knee surgery gone bad or reinjured…

~Hilton Head Island, SC I’m going to ask you a simple question.

 A misaligned knee joint

Arthritis (wear & tear)

 Improper nutritional component.

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A misaligned knee joint Improper nutritional component.

And I get that. But do you think in your wildest dreams that taking drugs is curing anything having to do with your knee pain? NO, it doesn’t.

Do you think that you’d be open doing something that would really “help” your knee pain, and wouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg?

If you answered “YES” to those questions -- keep reading.

Now I know you may not care what caused it, you just want it FIXED.

If you’ve ever had any knee pain, that bothers you no matter what you do, or what you take, you need to contact me ASAP.

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Listen… there are a lot of people that suffer from knee pain and all they THINK they can do about it is take medication or have surgery.

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Would you be interested?

If you answered “YES” to that question, keep reading.

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I’m Dr. Ken Horup and I’ve been a local doctor in the Hilton Head Island area, and in that time I’ve seen all kinds of knee pain.

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But if it’s not that type of sport athletic injury, then it ‘boils down’ to about three or four things.

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Ken Horup, offered a new knee therapy! To my amazement after completing the six weeks program and following it to the tee I am pain free! I would highly recommend a consultation with Dr. Ken to see if you qualify for this type of therapy.”

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“I’m a 60+ young woman who has severe osteoarthritis. Dr . Ken Horup has been my chiropractor for 10+ years. Recently, I was scheduled for knee replacement. Dr. Ken introduced me to a new knee technique; it’s been a few months and I feel great! Dr. Ken has made me a new person through his professional friendly care. I will be forever indebted to Dr. Ken. I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Ken to anyone who is experiencing knee pain.

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“I have been active all of my life either playing tennis or walking two to three miles a day. In my 60s I began having knee pain and was told I would probably end up needing replacement surgery. I began looking for an alternative solution and my chiropractor, Dr.

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Idea for donated fabric results in special fair at God’s Goods

By Amy Coyne Bredeson CONTRIBUTOR

Do you have leftover fabric and sewing items lying around your home? Are you looking for the perfect fabric for a sewing project?

God’s Goods Thrift Store is organizing a unique event that you might want to attend May 19-20 – a special Fabric Fair inspired by an event one of the store’s volunteers attended in Pennsylvania.

Priscilla Bauer has been sewing for most of her life. She said she’s made all sorts of clothing from Halloween costumes and ballet tutus to wedding dresses and everything in between.

Bauer is always looking for a good fabric sale.

Before moving to the Lowcountry almost four years ago, Bauer lived in Pittsburgh, where the Salvation Army raised millions of dollars hosting an annual fabric fair for more than 30 years.

When she moved to Bluffton, Bauer start-

ed volunteering with her sister, Karen Walker, in the linens department at God’s Goods. She noticed that the store received a good bit of donated fabric, but it wasn’t selling, so it was donated to a recycling company.

“That was hurting my sewer’s heart,” Bauer said. “There were some beautiful and expensive fabrics going out the door. I couldn’t stand it!”

She decided to put together a proposal and presented it to God’s Goods ministry leader and founder Kim Perri, and the store’s crafts manager, Lori Schultz. Bauer proposed that the store host its own fabric fair like the one she had attended in Pittsburgh.

Perri and Schultz loved the idea, and now the nonprofit store that funds Christian outreach ministries has its own fabric team. Volunteers have been busy collecting, measuring, pricing and organizing fabric for the store’s first fabric fair.

Before they had even told anyone about the fabric fair, the thrift store started getting a

PHOTO BY LYNNE COPE HUMMELL

Volunteers Priscilla Bauer, right, and her sister, Karen Walker, pause while sizing and pricing donated fabric at God’s Goods Thrift Store. Bauer’s idea for a Fabric Fair at the store was inspired by a similar event she attended in Pennsylvania.

FABRIC from page 30A “ton” of fabric donated.

“We have been getting some really beautiful pieces,” Bauer said, indicating an embroidered piece of upholstery fabric. “Some of it came on bolts, which might be a little much for some people. So we started measuring and cutting by the yard or two.”

In addition to the fabric that has been donated, the store has received unexpected donations as well. As word of the special event started to get out, Bauer said, “We received two sewing machines, an embroidery machine, and other sewing and crafting items.”

Some would call that a “God thing.”

“I feel like God has just blessed this project,” Perri said. “There’s a great little team working together on this.”

Bauer hopes the fabric fair will become an annual event.

“We have gotten just incredible things,” she said. “We are really hoping it will be a success and it will continue to grow.”

The fabric fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 19 and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 20 in the Youth Center at God’s Goods

Thrift Store, located at 15A Centre Drive in Bluffton.

The thrift store will accept donations through May 12. Items can be dropped off in the back of the building between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and between 10 a.m. and noon Saturday.

For more information about God’s Goods or the fabric fair, call 843-757-2024 or visit godsgoods.org.

Amy Coyne Bredeson of Bluffton is a freelance writer, a mother of two and a volunteer with the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance.

At God’s Goods Thrift Store, a customer peruses the fabric nook, which includes books, patterns, sewing notions and fabric. A Fabric Fair will be held at the store May 19-20.

• In observance of May as Mental Health Awareness Month, an Open House will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. May 4 at Hilton Head Island Mental Health Clinic, 151 Dillon Drive.

The event offers an opportunity to meet the staff, learn about services, network and strengthen relationships.

The event is free and open to the public.

• The Civil Air Patrol will hold an Open House from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 4 at Palmetto Electric Cooperative, 1 Cooperative Way in Hardeeville for prospective new members.

The organization is an official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. This meeting will include current cadets speaking about their experiences and opportunities to members.

Membership is open to ages 12 and older, including adults. Parents are encouraged to attend with youth.

For more information, visit the CAP Facebook page, @Hilton Head Composite Squadron, or email richard. moscatiello@scwgcap.org.

• Mother and Son Game Night will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. May 6 at Island Recreation Center, 20 Wilborn Road. Board games, challenges, and yard games, including ultimate dodgeball, will be available.

Snacks will be provided, and DJ Jeff Taylor will offer musical entertainment. The event is open to mothers, mother figures and sons. Cost is $25 for a pair, plus $10 per additional child. Register at islandrec.activityreg.com.

• Lowcountry GRASP (Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing) will host meetings May 13 and June 27 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Bluffton Library, 120 Palmetto Way in Bluffton Village. GRASP provides sources of help,

compassion and understanding for individuals who have lost a loved one because of substance use.

There is no fee to attend, but registration is required prior to the first meeting. To register, contact Steven Weber at 843-384-0938 or sweber7151@ gmail.com. For more information, visit grasphelp.com.

• Local representatives from James River Greyhounds will be featuring retired race greyhound adoptions at PetSmart stores from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Hilton Head Island, first Saturday of the month; Bluffton, second Saturday of the month; and Hilton Head Island, third Saturday of the month.

Come to meet these gentle dogs and learn about their transition to pets after their racing years end. Greyhounds are a unique breed of dog with an interested history.

Contact Chris Schlentner 847-321-

1771 or Karen Shea 804-356-4102 for more information.

• Meals on Wheels will host its inaugural Pickleball Tournament and Exhibition May 13 at Sea Pines Country Club on Hilton Head Island. There will be three leveled men’s and women’s divisions, which may be combined based on number of entrants. At 5:30 p.m., a Men’s 5.0 Exhibition Match will be held. A silent auction will be included.

Entry fee is $75 per person and includes T-shirt and refreshments. A cash bar will be available.

Proceeds benefit Meals on Wheels Bluffton-Hilton Head to cover the cost of meals for homebound neighbors. For more information and to register call Bil Anderson at 843-302-0404 or Mary Ellen Blankenship at 917-4941698. For application, visit mowblufftonhiltonhead.org.

Noteworthy

• The Sun City Hilton Head Amateur Radio Club will host an Amateur Radio License Exam session at 1:30 p.m. May 17 in the Bayside Room at The Lakehouse, 1251 Sgt William Jasper Blvd. in Sun City.

The exam session is open to all, but candidates must pre-register, both to ensure entry into Sun City for the exam, and to receive instruction about exam requirements. Contact Dennis Hopkins, 207-350-1350, or AC4DH@ arrl.net to register.

• Palmetto Quilt Guild will hold its monthly meeting May 18 at Hilton Head Beach and Tennis, Folly Field Road. Social hour begins at noon with the meeting beginning at 1 p.m.

Guest lecturer is Beth Helfter, who developed the accordion sewn half square triangle.

The following day, she will host a workshop, “The Carpenter’s Apprentice,” discussing how to use her unique technique, at Palmetto Electric Community Room, Hardeeville.

Space is limited for the workshop. Cost is $48 for non-members. For more information, contact palmettoquiltguild@gmail.com.

• Dr. Jill Tremble of St. Joseph’s Candler Neurology will be the speaker at 10 a.m. May 20 for the second session in the Memory Matters Speaker Series.

The session will be held at Memory Matters, 17 William Hilton Parkway on Hilton Head Island. Cost is $20 per session, or $40 for the series.

For more information, call 843-8426688 or visit mymemorymatters.org.

• Sunset Rotary Club will host its inaugural Memorial Day Weekend Flags for Heroes event May 26-28 at the Veteran’s Memorial in Shelter Cove on Hilton Head Island.

The event seeks to honor local heroes and raise funds for veteran-related charities. Each honoree will have a

3-foot-by-5-foot U.S. flag dedicated in their honor, and the flag will be mounted on a 10-foot pole along with others through the weekend.

Anyone can recognize a local hero – whether veteran, first responder, nurse, teacher, or anyone worthy of hero status. Cost of a flag posting and recognition is $65.

For more information, contact John Abboud at jmabboud@msncom or 303-378-9390.

• The Hilton Head Island Council of the Navy League will host the 30th Annual Memorial Day Remembrance at 9:30 a.m. May 29 at Shelter Cove Veterans Memorial Park.

A representative from Submarine Squadron 10 in Kings Bay, Ga., is our invited guest speaker. Mayor Alan Perry will also speak and present a proclamation from the Town of Hilton Head Island.

The Hilton Head Choral Society will provide music, and the Hilton Head High School Naval Junior ROTC Color Guard will present the colors as we honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

The event is free and open to the public.

• The Hilton Head Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild welcomes anyone, beginner or experienced stitcher, who is interested in needlepoint to join us for stitching, learning and fellowship.

The group meets the first Tuesday of the month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The next meeting is June 6 at Palmetto Electric in Hardeeville.

For more information, email hiltonheadislandchapter@needlepoint.org.

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT NEWS

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

• Dee Gramoy, Broker in Charge and Realtor with Century 21 A Low Country Realty on Hilton Head Island, has earned Centurion status, a special award from Century 21 Real Estate.

The designation honors an agent or team who has consistently earned the level of Centurion sales production and embodies the qualities, integrity and best practices of the Century 21 system.

Mary Hiers, an agent with Century 21, a Low Country Realty, has earned the Master Diamond Producer Award from Century 21. The Diamond Award is the top honor in the Century 21 Masters Program and recognizes exceptional home sales production.

• Sanders MacDonald, who has spent the past 12 years working with the Carolina Panthers, has returned to his Lowcountry roots to join Charter One Realty.

MacDonald, a native of Hilton Head Island, is partnering with his father, longtime real estate professional Richard

MacDonald, as an agent at Richard MacDonald & Associate.

Richard MacDonald has more than 43 years of real estate experience on Hilton Head Island/Bluffton and is one of the area’s most established real estate professionals.

As a Lowcountry native, Sanders MacDonald brings clients important insight into the communities and amenities of the area, which are key factors in today’s real estate market.

A graduate of Clemson University with a BA in marketing, Sanders MacDonald

lives in Bluffton with his wife and two children.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment with Sanders MacDonald or any member of the Richard MacDonald & Associates team, visit rmacdonald.com or call 843-384-8797.

• Sammie Jo Manning has been named communications manager at The Seabrook of Hilton Head, a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization. The Seabrook is a continuing care retirement residence.

Manning previously served as activities director at The Fraser Health Center on The Seabrook campus. In her new role, her responsibilities include creating and pioneering marketing projects and initiatives; managing and maintaining TouchTown, a resident-used application regarding The Seabrook’s activities; creating The Scoop, a monthly newsletter for The Seabrook’s residents; and handling internal and external communications for residents and resident families.

A Greenwood native, Manning earned her B.A. degree in psychology with a minor in theatre from Stetson University. Manning’s previous work experience includes Walt Disney World, where she was an Attractions Cast Member; she also worked as a bird of prey trainer at the Irish Raptor Center and as a U.S. Coast Guard Certified Boat Captain at Aqualeisure Tours in the Florida Keys.

For more information about The Seabrook of Hilton Head, please visit theseabrook.com.

Dee Gramoy Mary Hier Sanders MacDonald Sammie Jo Manning

Shop local for the latest in unique coastal fashions

When you think “unique” spring fashions, think Coligny.

Nearly all of Coligny’s shops are locally owned and operated by your friends and neighbors on Hilton Head Island. Unlike the big box chain stores that purchase bulk quantities of the “newest” fashions to offer to everyone, our retailers seek to find one-of-akind items to distribute in smaller quantities.

This means your look can be as unique as you are. Items are selected by trend-setters of the local fashion scene, so you are guaranteed to find only the newest and best on Coligny’s shelves for both the beach and the board room.

Stop by Quiet Storm to catch up with what’s hot for men and women in beachwear, including brands such as Quiksilver.

Haskins & Co. has perfected the Southern twist on coastal Carolina outerwear and accessories with functional fashions that are usable and comfortable for all women.

At Bennali’s Coastal Wear, Tilley Hats are all the rage for your beach or boat day, along with rompers and colorful coverups to help your stand out on the shore or on the sand bar.

Island Girl is focused on creating fashionistas of all ages with designs for toddlers, teens, and adults, and their custom prints ensure that you’ll represent Hilton Head Island with pride no matter where you go.

Tropical Styles is your go-to for casual wear to suit every season. With beach season nearly upon us, now is a good time to stock up on funky T-shirts and cover-ups.

Fresh Produce is out to prove that a “Vacation State of Mind” can be stylish with their bold, sun-drenched designs, and clothing that helps women tap into their colorful, confident selves. Even though we live here, isn’t it fun to feel like we’re always on vacation?

While you’re shopping for your beach season wardrobe, don’t forget that Mother’s Day is coming up. Coligny merchants offer a huge variety of possibilities for the moms in your life. Each of Coligny’s shops feature a unique spin on the collectibles and keepsakes that capture the spirit of life on our beautiful island.

From shirts to shells, wall art to accessories, Coligny’s merchants make certain you can always find what you want.

LYNNE COPE HUMMELL

Tropical Styles is among the many stores in Coligny that is locally owned.

Beaufort Memorial Express Care adds longtime local ER physician

After three decades of emergency medicine practice on Hilton Head Island, Michael R. Kaup, M.D. has joined Beaufort Memorial Express Care & Occupational Health. At the walk-in clinics, the board-certified emergency medicine specialist treats minor illness and injury in adult and pediatric patients of all ages.

Broadly experienced in his specialty, Dr. Kaup came to Beaufort Memorial from Hilton Head Hospital, where he served for 30 years in the hospital’s emergency room. During his long tenure there, the wellknown doctor and one-time ER medical director likely treated most of the island’s residents, and many of its visitors, at one time or another.

“It is a great pleasure to welcome Dr. Kaup to the skilled Express Care medical team,” said Russell Baxley, president and CEO at Beaufort Memorial. “Patients seeking care for urgent non-life-threatening conditions will surely benefit from his expertise, dedication and wealth of community knowledge.”

At Beaufort Memorial Express Care & Occupational Health, board-certified physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners offer care for acute but non-life-threatening illness and injury. The practice also provides services to employees of businesses participating in Beaufort Memorial’s Well at Work program.

The practice has three locations: 1 Burnt Church Road, Bluffton; 122 Okatie Center Blvd. North, Okatie; and 1680 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Walk-ins are welcome at all three Express Care locations. To see current wait times and to save your spot in line, visit BeaufortMemorial.org/ExpressCare.

BMH to host career, hiring fair

Beaufort Memorial will host a system-wide hiring event from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 3 at Southern Barrel Brewing Company in Bluffton. Prospective employees will meet with and be interviewed by hiring managers during the RSVP-only event.

The third-largest employer in Beaufort County, Beaufort Memorial currently has more than 350 openings across its three-county system, including positions in clinical areas, hospitality services, housekeeping, business office operations, customer service, information technology, transportation, supply chain, talent acquisition and more. Several positions are located in Bluffton and Okatie.

“We’re looking for motivated people who care about helping people. That’s our business,” said Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley. “Healthcare experience is not necessarily required. We’re seeking great people

who want meaningful careers that align with their passions and values.”

In addition to a wide range of career opportunities, hiring managers will be available to discuss Beaufort Memorial’s generous employee benefits packages, which include: Affordable medical, dental, vision and prescription benefits; generous paid time off; discounted childcare; homebuyer assistance; scholarships and tuition reimbursement.

Prospective employees will also learn about Beaufort Memorial’s focus on career development through its PATH program, designed to help staff learn new skills, earn advanced certifications, and progress their careers within the health system.

Reservations are required to attend. Visit BeaufortMemorial.org/JobFair or call 843-522-5680 to reserve a spot. To learn more about open positions visit BeaufortMemorial.org/Careers.

Dr. Michael Kaup

Tips for protecting yourself from financial scams, imposters

By Diana McDougall CONTRIBUTOR

Financial fraud is a growing crime. The United States Federal Trade Commission reported consumers lost nearly $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022, with 2.4 million consumers reporting scams.

The most commonly reported were imposter scams; online shopping scams; prizes, sweepstakes and lottery scams; and investment and business-related scams.

Now more than ever, it is important to stay alert and be aware to protect your personal and financial information.

Scammers can target victims in many ways, including emails (known as “phishing”), text messages (known as “smishing”), by phone (known as “vishing”), and even in person or by mail.

The most common tactics used by scammers that you should be aware of are:

• Unusual requests: Scammers might request unusual forms of payment, such as gift cards or money transfer services.

• Impersonating authorities: Scammers may pretend to be someone affiliated with your bank, the government, or a law office.

• Sense of urgency: Scammers will likely pressure you to act with urgency by requiring you to give your information or send money within a specific timeframe.

• Encouraging secretiveness: Scammers may encourage you to withhold your interactions with them from your family and friends in hopes that others won’t realize you are being scammed.

• Playing on your emotions: Scammers may present an offer that plays on your emotions. For example, request-

ing money to help a family member or friend, or offering a prize or reward that might seem too good to be true.

Scams impersonating your bank or banker are also common and seek to obtain your account information.

Scammers may request your account number or your password and onetime verification codes to your online banking account or person-to-person payment accounts such as Zelle.

If you receive a suspicious phone call, text message or email that you are unsure about, be sure to contact your bank directly to verify the request.

If you or someone you know believe you’re being targeted with a scam, remember: Don’t respond quickly to the request. Stay alert and take time to assess these tactics to identify the scam.

If you become a victim to fraud, be sure to report it as soon as possible to your bank, your local police department and the Federal Trade Commission.

Staying safe from fraudsters works when we all do our part!

Diana McDougall is the Lowcountry Regional President at Coastal States Bank, serving on the bank’s management team since its inception in 2004.

Our Commitment to Wellness Extends Far Beyond Our Dental Chairs

For over 20 years our locally owned, private practice has provided our community with the most advanced dental care in the country. And we have made it our mission to support local nonprofits that work to promote wellness in our community.

It would be our privilege to welcome you to our Bluffton or Hilton Head Island location and help you achieve your best oral and overall health.

Answers to frequent questions about hair loss and replacement

By E. Ronald Finger CONTRIBUTOR

We frequently get questions about solutions for hair loss in men and women. Here are some answers.

1. What causes hair loss? The most common cause is genetic. Other causes are hormonal, such as thyroid imbalances, stress or excess testosterone causing an increase in DHT (dihydrotestosterone). Many men taking steroids have increases in DHT, causing permanent hair loss. In men, genetic hair loss is called male pattern baldness (MPB) and in women, female pattern baldness (FPB). Common causes in women are braids or tight hair pulled back, causing traction alopecia.

Non-surgical treatments are minoxidil 5% (Rogaine) foam or solution, and in men Finasteride, a prescription medication that prevents conversion of testosterone to DHT. Often both are used together to reduce hair loss. Another excellent product is Spectral-DNC spray, which reduces DHT topically.

PRP (platelet-rich plasma) scalp injections can also be successful. Blood is drawn from the patient and processed to isolate the platelets, which contain multiple growth factors, and then injected into the scalp. Injections are at one and three months, and then annually.

Often PRP injections are used with hair transplants to prevent further hair loss in the balding areas. Lately we have been injecting Exosomes, which requires no blood drawn and contains many more growth factors.

For women, hormones should be checked. If normal, they can try minoxidil and/or Spectral sprays. For men and women, hair transplants are often the best choice.

2. What do you mean by hair

transplants? Hair grafts are removed from the back of the scalp, where they are not destined to fall out, and micro-grafted to the balding areas. In their new location, they will usually grow permanently.

3. What are some current hair transplant techniques? FUE (follicular unit extraction) involves removing –with a “punch” – a 1-millimeter micro-grafts containing from one to four hair follicles (thus, hairs). FUE grafts require no sutures and leave no visible scars in the back of the scalp.

FUT (follicular unit transplant) removes the grafts by removing a hair-bearing strip of scalp, closing the defect with sutures, and dissecting the strip into the same 1mm grafts as with the FUE.

FUT is faster and only a strip of scalp needs to be shaved, but it does leave a minimal scar hidden by hair.

4. What is NeoGraft? An automated FUE technique allowing a greater number of grafts to be taken than manual FUE.

5. What are the most important factors to consider? The skill and experience of those performing the grafts. The hairline must be designed naturally, the grafts must be placed in the proper direction, and the grafts must be single hair follicle grafts for a totally natural hairline.

Behind the hairline, grafts with 2 to 4 follicles are used for more density.

6. What results can I expect from a graft? Grafted hair starts growing at three months. Full density can be achieved at about one year to 18 months. Generally, it is permanent.

E. Ronald Finger, MD, FACS is a board certified plastic surgeon with offices in Savannah and Bluffton. fingerandassociates.com or hairrestorationsavannah.com

DR. CASKEY DR. HAIRE DR. MASTROROCCO DR. HELLER

Cosmetic issues with ears can be corrected with otoplasty

By Mathew T. Epps CONTRIBUTOR

As we approach the summer months, it might be important to consider corrective surgery for prominent ear(s) or those with abnormal shape or size among the pediatric population.

weeks at night.

The Century 21 A Low Country Realty HOME SELLING ADVANTAGES for you!

The Century 21 A Low Country Realty HOME SELLING ADVANTAGES for you!

Pain is often limited to discomfort that is treated with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen. For additional comfort, a long-acting local anesthetic can be injected as a ring-block around the ear to markedly reduce discomfort for 48 to 72 hours after surgery.

Century 21 Office Location

Century 21 Office Location

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

Otoplasty is the medical term used to describe cosmetic ear surgery, in which issues with the auricle, or outer ear, are corrected. There are several different types of otoplasty which commonly include ear pinning for prominent ears (prominauris), ear reduction for ears that are larger than normal (macrotia), and ear augmentation for ears that are smaller than normal (microtia). Typically, otoplasty is delayed in children until the age of 5 to allow for maturation of the ear in both size and growth pattern. Adults seeking correction ear surgery typically need to be in good health and be

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

non-smokers, as smoking can delay surgical healing.

The surgery itself depends on the type of ear deformity that exists. Typically, ears that protrude more than ¾ inch or 2cm are considered prominent.

In some patients with wide-set ears, the surgery can be as simple as placing sutures

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Ceilings are smooth with canned lights. 2022 HVAC. Bath has added cabinet & shelves, newer vanity and lights too. Tub with tile surround. Bedroom has a great nook for dresser. This is turn key for rentals or make a perfect vacation villa.

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Century 21 Real Estate Referral Network

Century 21 Real Estate Referral Network

Side effects are typically limited to mild bruising, swelling, redness and tingling that resolves within one or two weeks.

Our national & world wide brokerage franchise provides our local office with an ongoing Robust Referral

Our national & world wide brokerage franchise provides our local office with an ongoing Robust Referral of potential home buyers who want to live here or invest in the Hilton Head Island area.

in the tissue behind the ear with a few sutures to recreate the natural ear folds, called crura. For most cases, the surgery can be performed through a small incision hidden behind the ear.

Post-operative care is limited to a protective elastic head dressing for five to seven days, which is then continued for four to six

Otoplasty can be an extremely rewarding procedure for patients of all ages, particularly in children, and can be timed during long holidays or spring and summer breaks without disrupting school or social activities.

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

40 FOLLY FIELD RD #B323 HHBT OCEAN VILLAS MLS 433361 $389,000

WOW! TOP FLOOR HUGE OCEAN VIEWS. When you first open the door you will see this is like no other! Opened BR w/cool new closet design, shiplap accent wall, sliding barn door, beautiful new furnishings, smooth ceilings & upgraded lighting pretty LVP floors & it just gets better from here! Bath has hand painted mural wall, walk in shower, newer vanity & extra storage, kitchen has an expanded open design with great storage, pull out shelves, pantry, granite counters, glass backsplash, pendant lights, a smaller mural, beautiful decor & crown moldings throughout. Portable, expandable table for dining. Great desk area for computer! Balcony w/TV.

cabinetry, Quartz counters, pretty backsplash & extra storage, outstanding bath with custom tile walk in shower w/river stone flooring, new lighting & vanity. The bedroom is open and spacious & don’t miss the storage drawers built under the bed!. You’ll love the ocean view from the balcony! This is a perfect 10

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54 SAILMASTER COMMON #54 MLS 432817 $379,000

The one you have been waiting for! .8 mile to the BEACH!

Complete reno in late 2021, this stunning villa has the BEST floorplan in Sailmaster. Incredible detail w/rich, coastal decor. Wide open kitchen w/ceilings lifted & smooth, large center island w/storage, new cabinetry, gorgeous LVP flooring throughout, exceptional fixtures, beautiful trim work, quartz counters, marble b/splash, the list goes on & on. Fireplace w/ pretty tabby finish Bedrooms are generous in size & both are ensuite. Baths are luxurious w/custom marble tile, beautiful lights & vanities. Extra office/sleep space too. Beautiful Courtyard entry & golf/landscape views WOW!

views. WOW!

The Correct price is $679,000. The error was made by the publisher of this newspaper, and we apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

54 SAILMASTER COMMON | #54 MLS 432817 $679,000

Chiropractic and knee decompression offer drug-free relief

By Ken Horup CONTRIBUTOR

Knee pain is a common ailment affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. Often associated with injuries, overuse and degeneration, knee pain can significantly impact one’s quality of life.

While conventional treatments like drugs and surgery are widely used, many individuals are seeking alternative methods to alleviate their knee pain without resorting to invasive procedures or medication.

Chiropractic care and knee decompression are two non-surgical, drug-free treatments that can provide relief from knee pain and enhance overall well-being.

Chiropractic care is a holistic approach to health that focuses on the relationship between the body’s structure and function, particularly the spine and musculoskeletal system. Chiropractors treat various muscu-

loskeletal issues, including knee pain, by adjusting the spine and other joints to restore proper alignment and alleviate discomfort.

Misalignments in the spine and pelvis can lead to an uneven distribution of weight on the knee joint, causing pain and dysfunction. By correcting these misalignments through chiropractic adjustments, a chiropractor can help to alleviate knee pain by restoring balance and reducing pressure on the affected joint.

Chiropractic care may also improve joint mobility and flexibility, which can help prevent further injury and promote healing.

Knee decompression therapy, also known as nonsurgical spinal decompression, is another drug-free, non-invasive treatment option for those suffering from knee pain. This technique uses a specialized decompression device to gently stretch and decompress the knee joint, which can alleviate pressure on

the joint and surrounding structures.

The decompression process helps to create a negative pressure within the knee joint, encouraging the flow of nutrients and oxygen to the affected area, which can promote healing and reduce inflammation.

This therapy can be particularly beneficial for those suffering from conditions like osteoarthritis, meniscus tears and patellar tendinitis, as it can provide pain relief and improve joint function without resorting to drugs or surgery.

For individuals seeking drug-free,

non-surgical treatments for knee pain, chiropractic care and knee decompression therapy offer promising results. Both methods aim to restore balance, improve mobility, and alleviate discomfort by addressing the root causes of knee pain.

While these treatments might not be suitable for all types of knee pain, they can provide significant relief for many patients when combined with other lifestyle modifications, such as weight management, proper footwear and exercise.

It is essential to consult with a health care professional, such as a chiropractor or physical therapist, before undergoing any treatment for knee pain. They can assess your specific situation and develop a personalized treatment plan to address your unique needs and help you achieve optimal health and well-being.

Dr. Ken Horup is a chiropractic physician serving the Lowcountry for 25 years.

You can catch the rainbow when fishing in the Gulf Stream

By Collins Doughtie CONTRIBUTOR

I intended to write my column before heading to my sister Grace’s home in Florida but, being the world’s biggest procrastinator, I didn’t.

I had intended to write about the upcoming cobia season and the do’s and don’t’s when fishing for these extremely popular fish but, not having access to cobia photos stored on my computer hundreds of miles away, I figured instead I’d write about pelagic fishing in the Gulf Stream off our coast.

I know not many of you have boats and tackle big enough to make the 70-mile run to the Gulf Stream but maybe I can describe a typical day with this highly specialized form of fishing. Luckily, my father was an avid Gulf Stream fisherman and blessed me with experiencing the best of blue water angling starting at age 6.

From that very first experience I was hopelessly hooked, especially after catching my first sailfish when I was only 7 years old. Since then, every single year I spend countless hours rigging my collection of hundreds of lures and relining my reels. Being a sucker for new techniques, I add to my lure collection the newest and supposedly the best new lures to hit the market that particular year.

It’s kind of silly, because all I need are maybe a dozen of tried and true lures that account for around 90% of the fish I catch every season.

Our season runs from late March until

November with the hottest bite from late April through May. First to show up are wahoo and black fin tuna, but come May, dolphin or mahi mahi show up in great numbers, along with blue marlin and any number of other pelagic species.

Considered the speedsters, wahoo hit a trolled bait with total abandon and make long screaming runs. Slender, with razor sharp teeth, it is said they can reach speeds up to 50 mph, so you had better have a rod and reel that can take such a whollop.

Excited, a wahoo’s body that is normally a drab gray lights up with vivid blue and purple stripes, which in itself is a sight to behold. The same goes for most pelagics like marlin, sailfish and probably the most

spectacular, mahi.

Though lures vary from species to species, most include a baitfish called a ballyhoo behind the lure itself. The spread I put out is usually six to eight rods, with the baits staggered different distances from the boat.

Since the water out there is gin clear blue, many times you can watch a fish zoom in to inhale one of your offerings. With their dorsal fin erect and vivid colors, fish like mahi are a blast to watch. It still amazes me just how fast they swim and how quickly they can change direction as they go from bait to bait until they find just the right one.

Once hooked, they are like acrobats. They jump, do somersaults and, once they settle in for the fight, put their broad side to the

angler, making it twice as hard to reel them in. It’s like trying to reel in a sheet of plywood with the flat side toward you.

Their colors will blow you away with a combination of yellows, reds, blues and greens. Once they expire, the colors disappear.

Trolling is the common way of fishing blue water, but skill makes the difference between a fair day and a great day. Setting the baits the right distance, the way they track through the water is definitely an art.

In addition, finding a two- or three-degree difference in water temperature or finding a Sargasso weed line almost guarantees a banner mahi day. One of fastest-growing fish in the ocean and delicious table fare to boot, mahi are worth the long run offshore.

Often, if you catch one and leave it in the water boat side, more mahi will join it. That’s when I stop the boat and pull out spinning rods and it becomes mahi-mania. All those that aren’t hooked are vibrant blue, but once hooked the rainbow of colors appear. To me it’s like a clown has stepped into party where everyone else is dressed in black and white. Just writing this has me itching to go and for those of you that have never experienced the Gulf Stream during this prime time, it’s worth every penny to experience it at least once.

Collins

Doughtie, a 60-year resident of the Lowcountry, is a sportsman, graphic artist, and lover of nature. collinsdoughtie@icloud. com

Mike Cody with a vibrant-colored mahi.

Annual report tells story of our Community Foundation

By Scott Wierman CONTRIBUTOR

Since you are reading this article, there is a very good chance you know at least some of what we do at the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. However, you might not know about the entire impact the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has on our four-county service area of Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties.

Fortunately, there is a quick way to fill in the gaps about all that the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has to offer: our 2022 Annual Report! It is a concise, enlightening 23-page report that both informs and engages the reader.

Readers of our annual report will get an inside look at the various ways in which Community Foundation of the Lowcountry partners with donors and nonprofits to help improve the lives of people living and work-

ing in the region.

Four groups or organizations are featured in the 2022 Annual Report, all of whom have funds administered by the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. These stories not only highlight the power of philanthropy, but also touch on very timely issues in the Lowcountry: a nursing shortage (S.C. Nurse Retention Initiative), a transportation issue (Antioch Educational Center), and educational challenges (William and Mary Cale Education Enhancement Fund). In addition, there is the story of one family who took an unthinkable tragedy and turned it into opportunity for others (Live Like D.J.: Dwon Fields Jr. Scholarship Fund).

You will learn about the motivation for these giving, committed people to step up, and the important role the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry had in making their charitable objectives a reality.

If you are a numbers person, our annual

report will not disappoint. Since our inception in 1994, the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has awarded more than $95 million in grants to deserving local nonprof-

its and more than $9 million in scholarships to dedicated Lowcountry students interested in continuing their education at a university or trade school.

In fiscal year 2022, the Community Foundation awarded more than $7.3 million in grants to nonprofits and more than $836,000 in scholarships. The Community Foundation manages 445 active funds (and counting), including 37 new funds in FY22. The Annual Report also includes all of our grants awarded in FY22 (Impact, Opportunity, and Organizational Development).

We hope we have piqued your interest in our annual report and you are now ready to read it! Visit cf-lowcountry.org to read the digital version or stop by our Hilton Head Island office at 4 Northridge Drive, Suite A to pick up a copy.

Scott Wierman is the president and CEO of Community Foundation of the Lowcountry.

Hilton Head Branch Library hosts special events for adults

The following events will be offered at the Hilton Head Library in May. Call the reference desk at 843-255-6525 to register.

Live Trivia with Warren, 5:30 p.m. May 1 and May 15: Exercise your brain muscles in an hour of trivia, music, and plenty of witty banter from your host! There will be prizes for first and second place. Topics include Pop Culture, Liter-

ature, Movies, Music, History, Science, and more!

Law Talk, noon May 17: Representatives of the South Carolina Bar bring the legal information you care about. The topic for this session is Real Estate & Foreclosure. Have questions answered by a volunteer attorney at this session.

Charismatic Megafauna – A Sea Turtle Program for Adults, 10 a.m. May 18.

Sea Turtle Patrol of Hilton Head director Amber Kuehn will discuss sea turtle nesting habits and local conservation efforts.

Adult Crafts: Hammered Leaf & Flower Prints, 3 p.m. May 23. Beginners class on flower pounding, where you will learn to make botanical prints with fresh flowers and greenery. Materials will be provided, but feel free to bring your own.

Success With Less Stress: How to Handle Anything Life Throws at You, 2 p.m. May 25. In this, uplifting, insightful, and inspiring presentation, speaker Joy Baldridge will walk you through specific, useful, and immediately applicable techniques and strategies on how to handle difficult situations, challenging people, and all the things that try to interfere with your life.

Baby grand piano one of finest, richest of instruments

By Jennifer Herrin CONTRIBUTOR

There are beautiful and stately things in this world, both natural and man-made. In nature, it might be a thoroughbred horse or an ancient oak. Some find man-made structures such as a skyscraper or suspension bridge inspiring.

For those of a more musical ilk, there’s nothing like the beauty, elegance and ingenuity of the grand piano.

A baby grand piano is a beautiful and complex instrument that produces an incredibly rich and full sound. It is constructed of many interworking parts, each of which contributes to the unique sound and feel of the piano. Let’s take a look at the major parts that make up a baby grand piano.

The soundboard: One of the most important parts of a baby grand is the soundboard. It is a large, thin piece of wood (normally spruce) that spans the entirety of the piano bed, lying directly under the strings. When the strings are hit by the hammers, the soundboard amplifies the vibrations of the strings.

The strings: The strings of a piano are responsible for producing the tones that we hear. Most pianos have approximately 230 strings, a surprising number when compared to the number of notes on a piano, which is 88. The strings are made of steel and copper, and are stretched incredibly tight over the pin block, holding up to 160 pounds of tension. The strings of a piano have a shorter lifespan than the piano, around 25-30 years.

The hammers: Situated between the strings and the keys are the hammers. When a key is pressed by the pianist, the hammer strikes the string, causing it to vibrate and produce the sound. The hammers are traditionally made of wood, but higher-caliber instruments are now made with carbon-fiber hammers, with greater durability with lighter weight.

The keys: The keys of a piano are the

command center of the instrument. Keys are pressed to produce different notes, or pitches. A standard keyboard includes 88 keys, made of wood, and in modern times covered in composite plastic – gone are the days of ivory keys. There are 52 white keys that play the seven natural notes of the musical scale (A, B, C, D, E, F, G), and 36 black keys that create sharp or flat notes.

The pedals: A baby grand typically has three pedals. The sustain pedal is on the right; when depressed, it sustains (holds) the notes being played on the keyboard. The middle pedal is the “sostenuto” pedal, which can sustain some notes while allowing others to play freely. The left pedal is the “una corda” pedal, or soft pedal. It mechanically shifts the keyboard, requiring the hammers to hit only one chord of the many extra strings mentioned above, thus softening the volume.

The cabinet: The cabinet is the visible character of the piano, and is its external case, housing all of its internal components. The variety of cabinets is diverse, although modern tastes usually prefer the high-gloss ebony polish.

Each part of a baby grand plays its unique role in contributing to the astounding instrument that is the piano. Whether for performance or for decorative beauty, it is a work of genius and art.

Jennifer Herrin is the co-owner of Kawai Piano Gallery by Herrin in Bluffton. jennifer@kpgbyherrin.com or kawaipianogallerybyherrin.com

Mother cat perseveres until her kittens can be rescued

By Amy Campanini CONTRIBUTOR

“No language can express the power, and beauty, and heroism, and majesty of a mother’s love.”

– Edwin Hubbell Chapin

When a mother cat is brought to Palmetto Animal League with tiny kittens, our team stands ready to provide whatever care is needed. When Karam and her two kittens arrived at PAL, we had our work cut out for us.

“A good Samaritan brought them to PAL because she thought Karam was bleeding, but what appeared to be blood was actually a bundle of flea dirt,” said PAL Foster Coordinator Sally Dawkins. “The kittens were riddled with fleas to the point we were worried about them surviving.”

Despite her dreadful condition upon arrival, Karam was very sweet to our veterinary staff during her initial exam.

“Karam has definitely been an outdoor cat for some time,” said Dawkins. “But she has allowed us to help her with her babies, which is incredibly gracious of her, considering what she’s been through.”

Our team handpicked fleas off mom and kittens because they were too young to

receive flea baths. And we are happy to say both kittens survived, thanks in large part to their brave and devoted mother.

“Karam has been a great mom, all while dealing with serious medical issues of her own,” said Dawkins. “We don’t know if she was born without teeth or if someone removed them.”

At some point, Karam also sustained a large wound that healed poorly over time, leaving a large scar on her back as a reminder of her dreadful past.

“It’s certainly sad to look at,” said Dawkins.

“We suspect the scar may have been caused by a burn. We’ll never know if perhaps she was burned by oil underneath a car, or if someone maliciously burned her.”

We can tell how thankful Karam is to be at PAL, where she is finally safe. She has lived a rough life, but she never gave up on caring for her kittens. Her will to survive and protect her babies exemplifies the inexplicable power of a mother’s love.

Karam’s kittens will be ready for adoption at the end of May. But don’t forget about Mama! She deserves a home too.

Visit the PAL Adoption Center, 56 Riverwalk Blvd. in Okatie, Monday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. to meet our adoptable pets. All pets are spayed/neutered, microchipped, and up to date on vaccinations.

Amy Campanini is president of Palmetto Animal League.

Karam and her kittens are now thriving at the Palmetto Animal League Adoption Center, where they are waiting to find their new family.

How homes get sold in Bluffton for highest possible price

By Larry Stoller CONTRIBUTOR

Here’s how homes get sold in a traditional real estate business transaction:

1. The home gets listed by a real estate brokerage, wherein the seller pays a total commission to that brokerage to list, market and sell that home.

2. The total commission, which is negotiable, is a percentage of the sale price, and the breakdown of that commission is usually 50% to the listing brokerage and 50% to the selling brokerage (the buyer’s agent).

3. The listing brokerage lists that home in their local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and indicates what percentage of the total commission (called the coop commission) that will be paid to the brokerage that brings in the buyer.

4. Once listed in the local area MLS, that listing is then syndicated to Zillow, Realtor. com, Trulia and hundreds – maybe thou-

sands – of other real estate websites for buyers to see when they search for their dream homes.

5. With more than 2,100 real estate agents in our local area MLS, more than 90% of the time, it’s the buyer’s agent who brings in the buyer (makes sense by the numbers and moreso since the listing agent represents the seller).

6. The buyer’s agent submits the offer to

the listing agent, who submits the offer to their sellers, who decide to accept, reject or counter and back and forth until buyers and sellers agree to all terms of the contract.

So when selling your home, how do you know which company and agent will sell your home fast and for the highest possible price? The answer is: Since the internet gives the same advantages to all real estate companies, whether big or small, choose the agent who best knows how to price and market your home so that it will sell at the highest possible price.

Here’s what to look for when choosing your listing agent:

1. Does the listing agent have a proven track record in selling local area homes?

2. Does the listing agent utilize enhanced marketing methods in addition to traditional real estate marketing?

3. Does the listing agent add value to your home by adding updates, upgrades and special features in the MLS?

4. Does the listing agent add value to your home by adding compelling captions to property photos in the MLS?

5. Does the listing agent also utilize exclusive property websites that effectively market your home 24/7?

6. Does the listing agent have excellent negotiating skills and incentives that will give you the competitive edge?

Email me with any questions or visit our website.

Larry Stoller is a broker and Realtor with Real Estate Five of the Lowcountry. Larry@ RealEstateFive.com, RealEstateFive.com

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT IN BLUFFTON, as of July 1. 23 Plantation Park Dr., Suite 202. 1,300 sq. ft., 5 offices, waiting room, bathroom, lots of parking, $3,100/month. Contact Larry at 843-290-5101.

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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.

CLASSIFIED ADS WORK! CALL 843-757-9507.

Private Furniture Sale

• Pearl River Upright Piano | $2,000

• Smith & Hanks 166 Bottle Dual Zone Wine Cooler | $1,200

• Broyhill Queen Bedroom Set Headboard, Footboard, Dresser, 2 Night Tables | $2,100

• Lighted Curio Cabinet | $1,000

• 3 Bar Stools | $100 takes all

• 2 Rattan Chairs & Ottoman Light Green Cushions | $850

• Hooker Rustic Patina Dresser | $1,500

• Schnadig Home Collection 4 pc. California King Bedroom Set Headboard, Footboard, 2 Night Tables | $3,500

All items like new. Call 843-247-3382 to preview.

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PHOTO BY GUSTAVO RATTIA

Through May 28

Sondheim’s “Company,” Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, tickets 843-8422787 or artshhi.org.

Through May 28

“May River Magic,” art by John Kenney, featured at Society of Bluffton Artists (SOBA), 6 Church St., Old Town Bluffton. Opening reception 5-7 p.m. May 6. Gallery hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. sobagallery.com or 843-757-6586

May 5

SOBA 2nd annual Art Auction Fundraiser, in partnership with Bluffton Soup Kitchen, 5:30-9:30 p.m. at Bostwick Pavilion at Moss Creek. Tickets $100. Proceeds benefit both nonprofits. sobagallery.com

May 5-6

Taste of Beaufort Culture, Music and Food Festival, Henry Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort. Free admission, $1 food tickets. 5-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Art vendors noon-6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Music by Deaz Guys, Dirty Boots Brass Band and others. Beaufortsc.org/atasteofbeaufort

Through 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.

Through May 7

“The Rise and Fall of Little Voice,” May River Theatre at Ulmer Auditorium, 20 Bridge St., Bluffton. Performances 7:30 p.m. May 5-6; 2 p.m. May 7. Tickets $26 at mayrivertheatre.com.

May 11

25th anniversary celebration, 4-8 p.m. at Four Corners Fine Art & Framing, 1263-B May River Rd. in Old Town Bluffton. Kick off for year-long anniversary events. 843-757-8185 or fourcornersgallerybluffton.com

May 12

Fei-Fei in Concert, Finale of 2022-23 Recital Series, Hilton Head International Piano Competition, at SoundWaves, 7 Lagoon Road, Hilton Head Island. Tickets $30 at hhipc.org or 843-842-2055.

May 12 Scott Cook and Pamela Mae at Music on Malphrus, 7 p.m. 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton, at Unitarian Universalist Congregation. General admission

$25. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. musiconmalphrus@gmail.com or 843-837-3330

Through May 13

“Art That Makes You Smile: The Gently Surreal Art of John K. Crum,” at Art League of Hilton Head, 14 Shelter Cove Lane. Gallery hours 10 am.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday, and 90 minutes before every Arts Center perfor-

mance. artleaguehhi.org or 843-681-5060

May 16-June 17

“2023 Biennale” at Art League of Hilton Head, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. National juried art exhibit. Opening reception with awards, 5-7 p.m. May 19. Critic’s Coffee, 10 a.m.-noon May 20, $10. RSVP gallery@artleaguehhi.org. Gallery hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday, 90 minutes before all Arts Center performances.

May 20

“The Torching,” by local author Kerry Peresta, book signing, 11 a.m.-3 pm., Barnes & Noble, 20 Hatton Place, Hilton Head Island. kerryperesta.net

Through May 26

Art by Susan Patton, at Island Rec Center gallery, 20 Wilborn Road, Hilton Head Island. Current works on display, 6 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.

May 28

“America Sings!,” annual patriotic concert, by Hilton Head choral Society, 7 p.m. First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway. Features Savannah Brass Quartet and special guest speaker Gen. Lloyd W. “Fig” Newton, USAF (ret.) Tickets at hiltonheadchoralsociety.org or 843-341-3818.

Phone rings, door chimes, in comes ‘Company’

Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” is regarded as a trailblazer of the dark-comedy, modern-musical genre, and the Arts Center has produced it for their next show, directed by Russell Garrett.

The original production opened on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre on April 26, 1970 and went on to be nominated for 14 Tony Awards, winning six, including Best Musical.

The story follows Bobby (Curtis Wiley) who is a confirmed, die-hard bachelor. On the night of his 35th birthday, over the course of a series of dinners, drinks, and even a wedding, his friends explain the pros and cons of having a spouse.

Bobby is forced to question his adamant retention of bachelorhood during a hilarious array of interactions.

“Company” features a brilliantly brisk and energetic score containing many of Sondheim’s best-known songs and most beautiful

ballads. The show is at once boldly sophisticated, deeply insightful, and downright hilarious.

“Company” features Sondheim’s award-winning hit songs “You Could Drive a Person Crazy,” “The Ladies Who Lunch,” “Side by Side by Side,” and the iconic “Being Alive.”

Tickets can be purchased online at artshhi. com or by calling 843-842-2787. The Arts Center production runs through May 28.

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. Company, Stephen Sondheim’s groundbreaking modern musical, is a mature, intelligent, and wildly funny look at relationships, vulnerability, and “being alive.”

with Judge Aline Ordman, Award-W inning Pastel Artist Sat., May 20, 10am-12pm

28

Travis Poelle, Curtis Wiley & Carlyn Connelly in a scene from Sondheim’s “Company.”

GUSTAVO RATTIA

Choral Society to perform annual patriotic concert

The Hilton Head Choral Society’s annual “America Sings!” concert will take place at 7 p.m. May 28 at First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway.

The Savannah Brass Quintet will be joining the Choral Society for this celebration of the American spirit.

The evening will also feature special guest speaker Gen. Lloyd W. “Fig” Newton, USAF (ret.). Newton, a four-star general, is originally from Ridgeland. In 1968, he flew 269 combat missions in Vietnam and was later selected to join the U.S. Air Force Aerial Demonstration Squadron, “The Thunderbirds,” making him the first African American pilot to fly with the team.

In 1998, Gen. Newton was inducted into the South Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Elouise, now reside in Bluffton.

The Choral Society will invite the audience

to join along as they open the concert with the “Star Spangled Banner,” followed by moving patriotic arrangements by the Savannah Brass Quintet.

Members will also sing classics like “Followers of the Lamb,” “Song for the Unsung Hero,” and “When Johnny Comes Marching Home.” The evening will conclude with a tribute to the men and women of our Armed Forces, both current and past.

Tickets are available at hiltonheadchoralsociety.org. For more information or for help placing a ticket order, call 843-341-3818 or email tickets@hiltonheadchoralsociety.org.

Top artists chosen for Biennale

Art League of Hilton Head’s 28th national juried Biennale promises to be a showcase of exemplary artwork. The national call for entries attracted 639 artworks from 35 states.

The exhibit will be on display from May 16 to June 17 at the Art League Gallery, 14 Shelter Cove Lane. An awards reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. May 19.

Top pieces were selected based on originality of concept, composition and execution. The exhibition, which is the longest-running national juried art exhibition in the area, will feature multiple media types including oil, acrylic, pastel, watermedia, photography, mixed media, and three-dimensional.

More than $5,000 in prizes will be awarded to the most outstanding works, selected by this year’s Biennale judge, Aline Ordman, a pastelist known for her vivid paintings and creative use

of color.

Ordman will also lead a discussion on her selection process during the Critic’s Coffee at the gallery, from 10 a.m. to noon May 20. The cost is $10; RSVP to gallery@artleaguehhi.org.

Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, and 90 minutes before all Arts Center performances.

For more information, call 843-6815060 or visit artleaguehhi.org.

Popular competitor to perform in Recital Series finale

Fei-Fei Dong, one of six semi-finalists in the 2012 Hilton Head International Piano Competition, will perform at 7:30 p.m. May 11 in the finale of the organizations 2023 Recital Series.

The concert will be held at SoundWaves, 7 Lagoon Road.

Fei-Fei also was a BravoPiano! Soloist in 2018 and performed in 2019 at the Musical Feast benefit.

She is now enjoying a thriving career, and is known internationally for her poetic interpretations, charming audiences with her passion and winning stage presence.

This concert will feature an all-Chopin first half, including his beloved showpiece, the Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise, Op. 22, and the second half will feature a new piece from the artist’s native China by composer Xiaogang Ye, and Rachmaninoff’s popular “Corelli Variations.”

Tickets are $30 each for cabaret seating. Wine, beer and soft drinks are available for purchase. A reception with savories and sweets will follow the performance. For reservations, visit hhipc.org or call 843-842-2055.

Author to host book signing May 20

Kerry Peresta, Hilton Head Island resident and member of Thriller Writers International, has announced the release of “The Torching,” the third book in her Olivia Callahan Suspense series.

Peresta will host a book signing from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 20 at Barnes & Noble, 20 Hatton Place, Hilton Head Island.

“The Torching” continues the ongoing story of one woman’s life-changing assault, and her struggle to reclaim her memory, her identity, and her future.

The heroine, Olivia Callahan, endured an assault that resulted in a devastating brain injury. She survived, but she couldn’t remember anything about her life or who she was.

When Olivia crosses paths with private

investigator Tom Stark, she is drawn to the investigative field, and becomes his intern. As Olivia moves forward with her fledgling career, a string of mysterious fires moves through the community. One of the fires strikes Olivia’s beloved farmhouse in rural Maryland. Now, in addition to uncovering the secrets bound within the redacted file, she becomes convinced that the fires happening around the area are disturbing calling cards … and they’re meant for her.

Peresta is also a member of Sisters in Crime, South Carolina Writers Association, and Island Writers Network. She is also a presenter at the Pat Conroy Literary Center in Beaufort. For more information, visit kerryperesta.net.