Sun City Sun May 16, 2023

PHOTO BY JOHN BURRACK

Donald F. Jemella directs the Lowcountry Wind Symphony in concert.

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Wind Symphony delights audiences with dynamic performances

By Katherine Mace

CONTRIBUTOR

“The hands are the instrument of creation.”

– Aristotle

Donald F. Jemella, music director, conductor, and Sun City resident, creates awe-inspiring music with the extraordinary 52-member Lowcountry Wind Symphony (LWS.) His powerful, expressive hands establish the tempo and volume, and so much more.

With dynamic and nuanced hand motions, Jemella deftly sets the pace, and the LWS musicians respond, producing unique musical interpretations that soar. It’s a wonder to watch and hear.

Jemella began playing the clarinet when he was 9. He earned both a Bachelor’s and a Master of Music degree from Boston Conservatory. He taught music in schools for 11 years, and then went into banking for more than 30 years before moving to this area from Westchester County, N.Y.

He was part of a group who founded the wind symphony in 2014. Their first concert was in 2015. Eight of the founders still play

with the LWS.

Describing the challenges of leading a wind symphony, Jemella said, “As a conductor, you have to figure out what you want to hear and how to get the sound. I am always looking for balance. I try to figure out the composer’s intent.”

Jemella said when he was at the Boston Conservatory, along with learning to play brass, strings, percussion and woodwinds, he studied conducting and clarinet from Atilio Poto, a former student of Arturo Toscanini.

“He taught me some of Toscanini’s techniques,” Jemella said. “Both hands are critically important ... and often are doing different things. I loved it!”

The conductor admits to spending four to six hours per week studying scores. “After a performance it takes me three days to be fully rested,” he said.

The energy required of each of the all-volunteer musicians is remarkable. Currently, the youngest is an eighth-grade flute player whose teacher recommended joining LWS,

Members of the Lowcountry Wind Symphony rehearse before a recent concert at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Beaufort.

PHOTOS BY KATHERINE MACE

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SYMPHONY from page 4SC

Crab Cakes: A Perfectly Prepared Culinary Delight

because there is no band available at her school.

The oldest member is in his 90s. Five members live in Sun City. Jemella says that he is recruiting musicians all the time.

On the last weekend of April, LWS gave its last performances of the season. European Escapade was the theme, and the music ranged from Bizet’s “Carmen” to the final movement of Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition,” “The Great Gate of Kiev.”

Clarinet soloist Dennis R. Smith displayed stunning artistry in his performance of the Rondo from Carl Maria von Weber’s “Clarinet Concerto No. 1.”

Looking ahead, Jemella said that the music and themes for performances are planned up to two years in advance. The LWS schedule is already established for the next season. There are two planned programs at Sun City’s Magnolia Hall for the 2023-2024 season: “Saluting America’s Veterans IX,” at 7 p.m. Nov. 6, sponsored by the Sun City Veterans Association; and “That’s Entertainment” at 7 p.m. Feb. 28, 2024. These will both be freewill offering concerts.

George Buttermore, a Sun City resident and LWS member, plays an upright St. Petersburg BBb tuba he calls “Natasha.” He has high praise for the quality of leadership Jemella provides. “Don is able to take this mix of talent, experience and capability, and mold it into a cohesive performing musical ensemble,” Buttermore said. “No easy feat for anyone, I assure you! Don excels in choosing programs which are both challenging to each musician, yet enjoyable both for the performer and the audience as well.”

Buttermore added, “If you’re going to play

in a band, the tuba is the best choice!”

Tenor saxophonist and Sun City resident Mike Baratto also gave kudos to his condutor. “The gel that gives the music direction and holds us all together is conductor, Don Jemella,” Baratto said. “Don’s conducting style and attention to detail, in conjunction with his humor, makes it a special time for all who are present at these concerts.”

The vibe feels electric in rehearsals and throughout the concerts. Sheila Jemella, the conductor’s wife said after a concert, “Aren’t they great? I get a lump in my throat when they play.”

Those thoughts were echoed by another LWS fan and Sun City resident, Susan Miller, who added, “I get teary when I hear ‘Great Gates.’ It’s a jewel.”

Besides the spectacular concerts, the group sponsors the LWS Music Scholarship program, which is open to all Beaufort and Jasper high school seniors. Students qualify to apply for a scholarship if they intend to major in music at the college level and have been accepted into the music program at an accredited college or university. Interested students may learn more at lowcountrywindsymphony.com.

LWS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To participate in the symphony as a musician, or to contribute, contact Jemella at dfjemella@outlook.com.

Jemella is adamant when speaking about conducting. “I love this passionately. From the time I was in college, I knew this was my avocation. I’ll keep doing this until I can’t help my ensemble move forward.”

Katherine Mace is a writer who lives in Sun City.

George Buttermore plays his upright tuba, Natasha, with the Lowcountry Wind Symphony.

Photography Club’s Earth Day project raises $700 for garden

On April 22, the Photography Club of Sun City held a unique Earth Day event to raise funds to replace plants and flowers that froze during the winter in the Butterfly Garden.

As part of the Earth Day celebration within the Sun City community, the Photography Club gathered as a group to offer mini-photo classes and take donations for photographs donated by members of the photography club – raising $700 for this local cause.

More than 20 members donated prints of their photographs, some of which were matted and framed, and displayed them in the photography studio at Sun City. Residents were invited to make a donation to the community butterfly garden and in return, they could choose a photograph to take home.

All of the artwork was scooped up

quickly by residents, with the funds raised then presented by Photography Club President Jim Smith to the Avant Gardeners Club.

“We are so grateful to the photography club for this donation,” said Debbie Hite, Avant Gardeners club president. “The garden has become one of the most visited spots in our community and we are so appreciative of this gift.”

In addition to the donated artwork, members also taught 15-minute mini-classes on a variety of photography subjects, with more than 100 residents attending the sessions.

The Photography Club of Sun City welcomes new members at all levels of experience. They offer classes, workshops, outings, critique evenings and more.

For more information, visit pcschh. org.

Featured Pet

Members of the Photography Club pose at the entrance to the Butterfly Garden with their donation check for Avant Gardeners.

COURTESY SUN CITY PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB

Francis is a dapper man who was found at a construction site and the kind folks who found him knew he was special. When he arrived at Palmetto Animal League Adoption Center, he quickly gave himself a job as greeter in our public clinic. Francis is an older guy at 12 years old, neutered, up to date on vaccines, and microchipped. If you are interested in adopting Francis, call the adoption center at 843-645-1725 or email info@palmettoanimalleague.org for more information.

Reimagining golf course ‘meadows’ yields lovely results

By David W. Smith

Sun City’s Hidden Cypress and Okatie Creek golf courses are both certified by Audubon International, which is different from the National Audubon Society that focuses on birds.

The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf is a highly regarded education and certification program that helps golf courses protect our environment by helping members enhance the valuable natural areas and wildlife habitats that golf courses provide, improve efficiency, and minimize potentially harmful impacts of golf course operations.

Part of the plan for Sun City courses has been creating “No Mow” and “Monarchs in the Rough” areas to support wildlife.

Golf Maintenance worked with Golf Course Nature Tour guides to developed three wildflower meadows in 2021 to further enhance wildlife habitat. Golf Maintenance

did the site prep and Nature Tour volunteers sowed native wildflower seeds and planted some native grasses.

While the seeding was successful in producing wildflowers, the meadows were overtaken by invasive non-native grasses and weeds.

Paula Smith, the driving force behind these meadows, invited Laura Lee Rose from Clemson Extension to advise on how to best resurrect the meadows. Rose’s advice was to do extensive weeding on two of the meadows and to start over on the third.

Smith recruited volunteers from the Nature Tour guides, Avant Gardeners Club, and Lowcountry Environmental Action to form maintenance teams for the three courses. Team leaders Cindie Steele and Linda Maslowski joined Smith in spending countless hours organizing the new garden situated between the Hidden Cypress 14th green and the Landing Lane walking path.

Volunteers from various clubs put finishing touches on one of the refurbished native plant meadows on the Hidden Cypress 14th green.

PHOTOS BY PAULA SMITH

Hubby finds another one-use-only gadget to add to collection

By Chris Roosa

Hubby bought himself a new toy! We’re at that age where we no longer know what to buy one another for birthdays or holidays, so we buy what we want when we see it.

Did you know that they make a device that will grind Cheetos into a fine powder?

Neither did I! I questioned: What idiot inventor thought anyone would buy this invention because they’d want Cheetos sprinkled on their food?

Well, he found a buyer – my husband! It’s probably the only one that was sold in the history of mankind. I asked if my rolling pin wouldn’t accomplish the same thing.

Tonight’s dinner was chicken breasts covered in honey mustard and – you guessed it – Cheetos.

Yummy! The other day it was a tuna

casserole topped off with Cheetos.

Yuck!

Tomorrow morning he’ll probably suggest that I sprinkle Cheetos on my breakfast melon or add ground up flakes in my egg salad sandwich at

lunchtime.

If he really wants to sprinkle something good on our dinner, let’s try M&M’s or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Now, those would be my choice of yummy toppings.

(Turns out the Cheetos Duster was more popular than I imagined. Check the internet. They are sold out!)

I’m noticing more and more of these foolish, mostly unusable items taking up space in my cabinets. The “Senior Chef” loves dollar-store trinkets. Now mind you, they are just collectibles, as neither of us hardly ever uses them. Some three years later, when they’ve gathered dust, I’ll pull them out of the cabinet one final time.

Of course, my intention is to throw them in the trash where they belong. But, lucky for this useless item, the culprit that purchased them comes to the rescue. “Don’t throw that out. I’m going to use that!”

And back it goes, cluttering up more of my limit cabinet space.

If it’s not unused junk, it’s spices. I have so many spices that I could gift a

Please see HUMOR on page 11SC

Stunning

Stunning Lilac model, this spacious home has an inviting entry foyer, abundant kitchen cabinets & pantry, prep island with granite countertops. Carolina Room leads out to the screened-in lanai with plunge pool and probably the most spectacular lagoon view in Sun City Hilton Head. Large primary bedroom suite w/bay window & two walk-in closets. Private guest area with full bath. Come play and enjoy all

MEADOWS from page 9SC

Taking advice from Rick Barnes, head of Golf Maintenance, the new gardens departed from the typical random structure of a meadow and incorporated paths which would allow easier weeding. He also suggested using plugs – small plants – instead of seeds to give the project a greater chance of success.

Working with Barnes and Sue Barry, his administrative assistant, Smith had to determine the selection and quantities of plants needed to fill the numerous sizes and shapes of planting areas created by the network of paths. The team leaders worked together to design a layout for the 900 plants that would distribute them in a way they would appear to be random.

Volunteers tied 11 different colors of plastic tape, each representing a different plant variety, to popsicle sticks in preparation for planting. Ten volunteers worked together to layout a grid and dig holes, which were marked with the popsicle sticks to assure the proper dispersal of plants.

The planting process took much of three

Using sticks, string and popsicle sticks, volunteers mark off a grid for plants to be used in the refurbished native plant meadows on the Hidden Cypress 14th green.

days. The volunteers were gratified with numerous positive comments from golfers and neighbors walking the nearby path. Non-golfers can visit the garden by parking on Landing Lane close to Cascade Cove.

David W. Smith is a member of the Lowcountry Environmental Action group.

HUMOR from page 10SC

bottle to every household in Sun City and still have an assortment left in my own cabinets.

The extras are stored in grocery bags in the garage.

If you remember, I HATE to cook! A builder could build the perfect house for me, one with NO kitchen, and I’d be totally content.

And you don’t want to get me going on my over-stuffed pantry. Every time the poor man goes into the hospital, I go through the pantry and throw out six grocery bags worth of expired canned foods. He thinks it’s OK to eat two- to three-year-old expired food, because the cans have never been opened – or exploded, whichever comes first.

One holiday, the kids were visiting and I was making a Jell-O mold that called for Carnation condensed milk. My husband replied that we had a new can of that in the pantry. My son tried to find the expiration date but we were again assured it was new.

As I opened the can and began pouring the milk into the mixture, a glob of pudding-like condensed milky stuff flopped into the bowl, mixing with all the other ingredients.

My son and I almost vomited. Hubby said, “Just stir it or whip it.”

So, if I invite you to dinner, you should know the chicken was probably in the freezer, which I refer to as never-ever land, for years. The canned vegetables are no longer fresh from the factory.

And the rolls were probably bought at the day-old bread store. And dessert? Take your pick of off-brand ice cream or marked-down pies from the bakery. Whatever we serve, we might have to top it with a layer of Cheetos dust to make it palatable. Makes you want to dig right in, doesn’t it?

Chris Roosa is a resident of Sun City Hilton Head.

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