• Bluffton celebrates Juneteenth with drums, dance, diversity 10A
• Teens give suggestions for Lowcountry summer fun 12A
• People with disabilities turn to tech to control the narrative 18A
• Special bonds connect 2023 Live Like DJ scholarship recipients 22A
• In search of the best local apps 25A
Much of Bluffton’s identity – including its “State of Mind” – is indelibly marked by its natural beauty on and off the water.
Watermen have lived off the harvests of oysters and shrimp. Residents have traveled from mainland to islands and back from the area’s earliest history. Visitors cruise along the Intracoastal Waterway, and recreational boaters kayak or paddle along the May River.
Blueprint Bluffton, the town’s 2022 comprehensive plan, covers 10 different areas with goals for the next 10 years, one of which focuses on natural resources.
The topic’s four main goals are:
1. Increase the amount of and access to public parks and green space;
2. Improve existing recreation facilities;
3. Increase public water access; and
4. Continue to conserve open space and ecologically sensitive natural areas.
“Beaufort County and Bluffton have several unique features. We have high salinity waters and high tidal amplitude because our local rivers are fingers of the Atlantic Ocean that reach inland – (they are) not from fresh-
water sources,” said Beth Lewis, Water Quality Program Administrator for Bluffton. “This unique environment results in large expanses of salt marsh and high biodiversity. Beaufort County is approximately 50% salt marsh, and about 50% of the South Carolina’s salt marsh resides in Beaufort County.”
The oyster beds in the May River and other tributaries are constantly monitored for bacteria and other hazardous pollutants. Several beds in the headwaters of the May have long been closed to harvesting, and beds lower down the river are periodically closed off if heavy rains or hurricanes have impacted the water’s salinity, or a hazard of some sort has been detected.
Lewis said the Town of Bluffton and the Beaufort County government sign a Memorandum of Agreement for shared National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit requirements.
“One of these shared activities includes joint water quality monitoring in multiple watersheds, including the New River Watershed, for mercury and enterococcus,” Lewis said. “Protecting our local waterways goes together with protecting our local salt marsh environment.”
Lewis noted that marshes provide nursery grounds for numerous commercially and recreationally important species, can serve as filters to remove sediment and pollution from water, buffer the mainland, and sequester carbon.
Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. It is one method for reducing the
amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with the goal of reducing climate change.
“Studies have shown that coastal wetland ecosystems, such as salt marsh, can sequester and store large amounts for carbon due to their rapid growth rates and slow decomposition rates,” Lewis added.
Please see BLUEPRINT on page 8A
We all want access to top healthcare, because we know that “top” means a commitment to pursuing and achieving the best, which is especially important when you’re looking for medical services and care. And the good news: it’s right in our backyard.
We’re proud to be among the select group of hospitals recognized by the national hospital safety watchdog organization The Leapfrog Group for putting patients and their safety first every day. Not only does it mean our team is focused on you, it means you can feel confident in trusting us when it matters most.
Only 5% of hospitals in the U.S. have earned the Top Hospital award for patient safety and quality — and Beaufort Memorial is one of them. BeaufortMemorial.org/TopHospital
As of this issue, I’ve written approximately 175 columns in this space since I began this job in September 2009.
I hope this one will feel as special as my first – because this is my last as your editor.
By the time you read this, I will be retired, effective July 4 – Independence Day! My hope is that I will have only home and family-related responsibilities to manage while I enjoy this next chapter of life.
As friends have heard my news over the past weeks, they have asked, “What are you going to DO?” My answer is, “I’m going to do all of the things.”
As our paper grew, my responsibilities increased and my outside activities revolved around our print schedule. I haven’t always been able to go to opening
night at the theatre, I’ve missed a number of lunches, was late for volunteer meetings, and I haven’t had a full week’s vacation in a decade.
So now, I want to do all the things I haven’t had time to do. I have a list that starts with “write my book,” and includes “take short trips and long naps.”
I want to get back outside in my yard and rescue the garden. I want to plant flowers and vegetables. I want to go back to the beach and back to the mountains. I want to go on adventures!
I want to read more books, take art classes, and make funky jewelry with the beads I’ve been collecting for years.
I also want to reorganize my home office to make room for my sewing machine and start making my own clothes again, something I haven’t done in several decades. It’s time to be creative in other ways –not just with words.
Don’t think that I’m leaving you for good, though. Our publisher, Kevin Aylmer, has invited me to continue writing this column. I think I can handle that – at least occasionally. It’s a part of this job that I’ve come to adore. I’m grateful for his faith in me.
I’m also thankful for former publisher B.J. Frazier’s intuitive foresight in hiring me in the first place.
Special thanks go to the journalists and other writers who have helped me keep our content current, interesting and enjoyable. Our ace reporter, Gwyneth J. Saunders, has become an inextricable part of my world and I envision that we’ll always be friends and colleagues. Thanks, Ace!
As I leave this post that I’ve loved for nearly 14 years, I want to thank you, our faithful readers. You made me feel special when you sent a kind email about something I wrote, or when you’ve stopped me
at an event to tell me how much you love our paper.
Without you, there would be no reason to publish this paper. You are a significant part of the circle of life here: You read our paper, you patronize our advertisers, the advertisers see the benefits of their investment, and keep running their ads. The paper grows, and we are able to keep telling stories about our community – and you keep reading them.
Through this job, I’ve met hundreds of wonderful people of all ages, cultures, backgrounds and talents – and I’m always fascinated that we are all so different, but so very much alike. That has been the highlight of my time here.
So this is not goodbye – this is “See you at the next fun event,” because when I do go on an adventure, I’ll always come back home.
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The first year of the 2023-2024 regular legislative session concluded May 11 at 5 p.m. with the House of Representatives adjourning “Sine Die.” As the Latin phrase “without a day” suggests, this marked the adjournment of the session without any day set to reconvene.
As I previously reported in this column, the House set an ambitious agenda last fall that included improving statewide economic development, reforming our education system, implementing fiscal discipline, increasing personal freedom, and prioritizing public safety.
Employment and Workforce to coordinate, align and direct workforce efforts throughout the state to maximize available resources, enhance accountability and transparency, and actively foster a customer-centric workforce development system that is readily accessible, highly effective and easily understandable.
Gavin into sharing compromising photos and then threatened to share these photos publicly. He ended his life out of fear and shame.
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All contents are copyrighted by Lowcountry Local Media Inc. All rights reserved. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. All submissions must include name, address and phone number. The Editor reserves the right to edit or reject any material, including advertisements. The Bluffton 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. Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, Old Town Bluffton Merchants Society.
The list of accomplishments since January reflects significant strides for a brighter future for South Carolina and its citizens. The Education and Workforce Development Act, which was signed into law on May 19, makes comprehensive revisions geared towards realizing South Carolina’s full workforce potential. The new law provides initiatives to coordinate and make the most of publicly funded job training, scholarships, apprenticeship programs, and other workforce development services.
To provide oversight of all services, the Office of Statewide Workforce Development (OSWD) is created in the Department of
To the Editor:
Just a quick note to say how much I enjoyed Lynne Hummell’s most recent editorial (June 18).
I, too, had the most wonderful childhood. As an only child, I had hours to myself to find my own fun. I’d explore the woods behind us on other side of the little brook that ran along our home, and huge fields beyond our back yard. I would run through the tall wheat (or whatever it was) for hours with our collie.
There weren’t enough hours in the day in summer.
To this day, I can smell the grass and
Modernizing government agencies and making them more efficient has been a major priority, and we took a huge step in doing that by splitting the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) into a Department of Health and a Department of Environmental Services. Under the restructuring, both departments would be cabinet agencies with directors appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Certain veterans nursing homes will be transferred to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the food safety program will be transferred to the Department of Agriculture, and the flood mitigation program currently housed with the Department of Natural Resources will be transferred to the Office of Resiliency. Finally, water resources would be transferred from the Department of Natural Resources to the Division of Water within the newly created Department of Environment Services.
In 2022, Gavin Guffey was a 17-year-old victim of sextortion. The scammers tricked
different flora/fauna around our home. I can taste the lemonade made by Mom (from the little cans that went into the freezer, both the yellow and pink!)
I remember vividly the watermelon dripping down my chin. A few years of summer camp. The summer trips with Mom and Dad. Lying in bed at night hearing the crickets outside (there was no central air just a window fan).
My swimming was in backyard little blowup blue pool when I was little. The rest of our swims were at the Jersey shore – either the ocean or on Metedeconk River, down the slope from my aunt’s house, where I’d spend
Gavin had just graduated from high school and was planning to study education in college to become an art teacher. Rep. Brandon Guffey, Gavin’s father and one of my colleagues, has turned a tragedy into action to prevent other families from suffering a similar fate.
His bill, which the Governor signed into law on May 18, makes sextortion a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and an additional twenty years if the crime results in the victim’s death. The law separates the offenses of a minor from those of an adult perpetrator. The law also requires school districts to inform students and faculty about the dangers of sextortion.
Within hours of adjourning on May 11, Gov. McMaster used his authority to call legislators back to the state house for a special session to focus on a solution to our state becoming the abortion destination state in the Southeast, to finish work on trafficking fentanyl, bond reform and to resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget. I will report more on those matters next month.
Weston Newton is the representative for District 120 in the State House of Representatives. WestonNewton@schouse.gov
endless hours catching tiny black eels in a can. I loved rowing my aunt’s boat all around, with her daughter who was about four years older than I was. Sleeping in bunk beds there, listening to the gentle lapping of waves coming up onto the beach.
Bike riding, tree climbing – the sky was the limit, wasn’t it?
And oh yes, those lightning bugs – kept in those jars with holes in the lids!
How lucky were we?!
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 Bluffton MLK Commit-
tee’s Juneteenth Celebration at Burnt Church Distillery, we asked: “What’s your favorite way to cool off in the sultry Lowcountry heat?”
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Finding, enhancing or preserving green space as either passive or public parks has received increasing attention in view of the growing population, and the resulting development.
Bluffton collaborates with Beaufort County in increasing the amount of land that is being preserved against development through the Rural and Critical Land Preservation Program. In the past 23 years, 25,000 acres have been set aside through the program, and Bluffton has contributed a matching 50% for properties that fit into both the county’s and the town’s goals. They have included the Bluffton Oyster Factory and the Garvin-Garvey House.
Among other public parks, the town has developed the Pritchard Pocket Park and Wright Family Park that provide visitors and residents with an opportunity to relax and enjoy views of the May River.
The New River Linear Trail, a link in the East Coast Greenway with access off May River Road, is 3.4 miles long, and follows along an old railroad bed from Bishop Street in Okatie to the east bank of the New River,
Bluffton’s only freshwater river. All sorts of wildlife can be seen by those who traverse the grass and dirt path.
Two passive parks near Bluffton are designated primarily for conservation. Berkeley Hall Preserve is 38 acres dedicated to preserving 27 acres of freshwater wetlands. Pinckney Colony Preserve protects 38 acres of forested wetlands. It includes a small picnic area and limited parking.
In a burgeoning community, assessing the accessibility of green space is measured by taking a 10-minute walk. According to the blueprint, “Bluffton is unique for the number of private parks and open space areas that have been developed along with the planned communities.”
Public parks can be reached by only 11% of the community, but if private parks and open spaces within planned communities are included, 79% of the population are within a 10-minute walk.
As part of the 10-year comprehensive plan and two-year strategic plan, the Town of Bluffton continues to look for more ways to set aside green space.
“The town is always looking for opportunities to protect open space for both active and passive parks,” said Charlotte Moore, the town’s principal planner. “We have a long history of partnering with the county’s Rural & Critical Lands Program to purchase such lands.”
Two recommendations in the Blueprint encourage continued coordination with Beaufort County’s Parks and Recreation Department, which is the lead on recreational facilities.
One recommendation is to coordinate with county representatives in order to ensure there are sufficient recreational services and facilities – such as rec centers and ball fields – to serve a growing younger population. Finding such space and integrating such resources into pockets that have increased in population will increase the recreational opportunities for young athletes.
The second recommendation was to work with the county to develop a “blueway trail” in Bluffton, possibly adding to the county’s existing 6.2-mile paddling trail along the Beaufort River from Port Royal to Beaufort.
The Blueprint notes: “Well-demarcated blueways have the ability to unlock a whole new terrain of usable open space within a community that has the water resources to make that possible. This demarcation would include signage and the visibility of infrastructure (namely put-ins) for canoes and kayaks.”
Begun in 2020, the Bluffton Blueprint was developed with input from more than 730 residents. “Most of the comprehensive plan process occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, so community participation was lighter than desired,” said Moore. “However, there were multiple efforts to engage the community over a 16-month period.”
Those included roundtable discussions to identify concerns and opportunities, followed by surveys and public meetings, and six public workshops.
The Blueprint Bluffton Comprehensive Plan 2022 can be found at townofbluffton. sc.gov/203/Planning.
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By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTOR
Bluffton’s annual Juneteenth celebrations packed parking lots and picnic tables, and kept vendors busy serving up local dishes and delights for the eye.
Mobile chefs touted their wares at the second annual Black Food Truck Friday Festival in Commerce Park on Friday, June 16. The next day, Burnt Church Distillery hosted the eighth annual festivities.
Saturday’s activities began with singer John Simmons from the Hallelujah Singers opening with the Negro National Anthem. Mayor Lisa Sulka presented the town’s proclamation in honor of the celebration, and Town Councilman Dan Wood read the Emancipation Proclamation.
Other activities included a drum circle, African dancing, musical entertainment, and vendors offering crabs, clothing, candles and cakes.
Jazz aficionados were able to satisfy their passion on Sunday during a ticketed brunch featuring the 2D Experience, also at the Distillery.
Bridgette Frazier, founder of Bluffton’s Juneteenth celebrations and chair of the Bluffton MLK Observance Committee, said the celebration has grown in many ways since it became a three-day event.
“It’s growing extremely well each year. What we are starting to see from 2015 to now is that the diversity is changing. People are beginning to understand it’s not a Black
event. I was really pleased to see folks from all cultures Friday and Saturday,” said Frazier, who also sits on the Bluffton Town Council. “Community participation of the event has been well received, and we are getting visitors from all over, from different states. I received an email from a gentleman who wanted directions and who drove four hours just to attend our event. We love hearing stuff like that.”
James Bradley and his wife, Contessa, from Florence, were in Bluffton celebrating their 24th anniversary, and attended the Saturday festivities.
“It’s a wonderful outlet that you can go back in your heritage. You can feel the connection,” he said. “You’re just watching the people and all of the love that they’re showing and they respect each other. And I think it’s a great way to take it back to the kids, and let them get an opportunity to share and see what their real heritage is all about.”
Sharing the heritage was the most appreciated part of the event.
“It’s wonderful to be recognized, and when true history is told, we feel seen,” said Jackie Jackson of Savannah.
“It’s a celebration. It’s an education as well,” said Jessica Battle of Guyton, Ga. “I love seeing a variety of people together, and all celebrating the same thing.”
Frazier said approximately 5,000 visitors attended the three-day celebration.
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WE LOOK AFTER THE LOWCOUNTRY.
It’s summertime in the Lowcountry. That means two things: the kids are out of school, and it’s hotter than H-E-double-hockey-sticks outside.
When you have young children, you send them to day camps, or keep them busy with trips to the pool and the beach, or crafts at home. But when they reach their teenage years, it’s suddenly less cool to spend the day with Mom and Dad, and parents will inevitably hear, “There’s nothing to do here.”
There’s only so much time teens can spend – or parents want them to spend –playing video games or making TikToks. Thankfully, we live in a place where most people only dream of living. People travel far and wide to enjoy the tranquil beauty of our Lowcountry.
While some teens are working summer jobs, others are going away to camp
ONLY ONE STEP AWAY
or traveling with their families. But in their down time, when nothing is on the calendar, what are local teenagers doing for fun?
Sixteen-year-old Addy Powell of Bluffton is enjoying working as a barista at The Grind Coffee Roasters, but she wants to be sure to maintain a good balance between work and fun this summer.
“Summer is supposed to be fun,” Addy said. “It’s a break. I love the freedom that comes with summer. I like that I can drive now, and I can hang out with friends.”
When she’s not serving coffee at The Grind, Addy plans to spend a lot of time at the beach, doing Bible studies, and watching sunset with friends.
Fourteen-year-old Jocelyn Hastilow of Bluffton has a long bucket list for her last summer before starting high school.
“Getting close to the end of the school
SUMMER FUN from page 12A
year, you start looking forward to summer,” Jocelyn said as she recalled her long list of summer plans. “It’s a lot of fun.”
So far, she has checked off thrift shopping, boating on Lake Murray, and camping with her family. By the time this story is printed, her family will have gone on their second camping trip of the summer and possibly attended a summer festival, which is also on Jocelyn’s list.
Jocelyn is looking forward to attending Passion Camp with her church in July in Daytona Beach. Also on her list are going to a farmer’s market and attending a concert.
But what she is most looking forward to this summer is having water balloon fights and paint fights with her friends.
I mean, what says summer more than some messy outdoor fun with friends?
Well, ice cream certainly does, and most teens I know love ice cream. There are plenty of places to buy locally made ice cream and other frozen treats in the area. In Bluffton, stop by the Rolling Cow Creamery at Tanger Outlets 1,
Kilwins at Tanger Outlets 2 or Dago’s Snacks in the Village at Sheridan Park. On Hilton Head, there are many more options, including Hilton Head Ice Cream in Fountain Center and the Ice Cream Cone in Coligny Plaza Shopping Center.
If your teens are wanting something other than ice cream to cool them down, check out Palmetto Pops, sold at various locations in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island. Visit palmettopopshhi.com for details.
Some other fun activities on local teens’ bucket lists include: having a picnic at the beach, having a bonfire, and playing miniature golf. Some enjoy watching fireworks on Tuesday nights at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina’s HarbourFest celebrations. (Younger siblings will enjoy singing along with Shannon Tanner and making balloon animals with Cappy the Clown before the fireworks.)
On rainy days, there’s always bowling and playing in the arcade at Station
300 in Bluffton; or watching a movie at either Cinemark Theater in Bluffton, Northridge Cinema or Park Plaza Cinema on Hilton Head. Teens might also enjoy the batting cages, ninja course and escape rooms at The Zone in Bluffton, and indoor go-kart racing at Indy Karting & Amusement, also in Bluffton.
If none of those ideas sound appealing to your teens, a short road trip might do the trick. There’s roller skating at Star Castle Family Entertainment Center in Savannah, go-karts at Fun Zone in Pooler and water slides at Splash in the Boro in Statesboro.
Whatever your teens end up doing this summer, don’t let them tell you there’s nothing to do in the Lowcountry. They just might not be looking in the right places.
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Representatives of Volunteers in Medicine Hilton Head and Mental Health America Beaufort Jasper were invited to speak at the annual national conference of Mental Health America held in Washington, D.C., June 7. The meeting was attended by representatives from the 300 Mental Health America affiliates in the United States. The national organization extended the invitation in recognition of the collaborative program that was developed by the Hilton Head and Bluffton VIM Clinics and MHABJ to provide mental health counseling for the Hispanic community in our area. The new program is the only program presently in the state of South Carolina and is believed to be one of only a few in the nation. Speaking at the conference were, from left, Steve Caywood, Maria Josey, and Dr. Beth Snyder with MHABJ; and Dr. John Newman from Hilton Head VIM.
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By Channing Heiss CONTRIBUTORWhile the discussion in recent years regarding new technology available to the masses has focused on potential pitfalls of growing access to an unprecedented audience, this universe of blogs, podcasts, ezines, and social media channels has brought with it the opportunity for many previously lowkey groups to amplify their voices and exert more control over their own narratives.
People with disabilities have emerged as one of the groups working to assume a more self-defined role in the cultural landscape by taking charge of disability messaging that has for decades been formulated by others. Ableism, unlike its more famous cousins, has only relatively recently entered the discussion of civil rights and social equality. However, for a person with a disability, its characteristics are very familiar.
Podcasters, bloggers and influencers with disabilities are out there living and rewriting the story. Now, more than ever, the resources are there to get that message out in a variety of ways.
Abilitymagazine.com, an online leader in changing public perception of what it means to have a disability, was created by Chet Cooper as a print publication in 1990. The
web version is one of many platforms about disability issues run by people with disabilities.
Alice Wong hosts a podcast called the Disability Visibility Project. Rikki Poynter is a vlogger and social media influencer. Jessica Wise and Manzi Tanna are the cofounders of Audacity, a workforce and career e-zine.
These latest high-tech advocates are the legacy of the independent living – or IL –movement. The IL movement is a crusade and a philosophy that saw its formal beginnings and got its name in the early 1970s.
There are more than 400 centers for independent living across the nation dedicated to implementing the IL philosophy, including Walton Options for Independent Living in Walterboro and several others in South Carolina.
While the best-known outgrowths of the independent living movement are the pieces of landmark legislation from the Rehabilitation Act to the Americans with Disabilities Act – the latter marking its 33rd anniversary on July 26 – many advocates believe the founding philosophy is equally important.
The major premise of the IL movement is that disability is a social definition more than a physiological one and that accommodating
VOICES from page 18A
disabilities, looking for abilities, and respecting the individual goes a long way toward empowerment and real inclusion.
As most traditional media have digital editions and most organizations online have developed a social media presence, there have been more opportunities for interaction between people with disabilities and others. As more enterprising and tech-savvy reporters have begun to explore these avenues as primary sources, a broader range of narratives has begun to emerge.
These trends are a significant evolution from the results of a 1998-99 study done for the Center for an Accessible Society by Dr. Beth Haller, which revealed just over 30% of broadcast media stories and 56% of print media stories about people with disabilities included people with disabilities as sources.
People with disabilities were a viral community long before that was a thing. Before the new technology, the perspectives of people with disabilities were often relegated to the pages of newsletters at disability-related organizations, occasional op-eds, local gatherings, and the odd lucky media interview.
Now, the emerging cross-pollination between traditional and nontraditional media has meant more opportunities for non-disabled leaders to learn about and get unedited information about the priorities of people with disabilities.
New York-based freelance writer and disability advocate Andrew Pulrang writes, “One of the best things about Twitter has been that disabled people were able to meet, share, vent, and organize as distinct communities but in plain sight of influential people outside the disability community.”
Pulrang said people with disabilities don’t want to be “sequestered away where nobody else knows what they are thinking, doing and working for.”
That is paying dividends. Whether it is the 2021 story in USA Today about the debate over the term “special needs” and regularly featured articles on disability issues in Forbes, or college campus events on leadership and disability, these areas of concern are becoming more mainstream.
In addition to founding Disability Visibility, Wong organized #Cripthevote, an online
campaign to promote and facilitate the political participation of people with disabilities.
“Using Twitter, we can have conversations with a wide swath of people with disabilities,” Wong writes on her website. “Twitter is one way to insert ourselves into the broader policy and election discussion without any interference.”
Social media has an advantage in its ability to empower, inform and persuade. Online searches are only as informed as the person doing them, and they depend on at least some prior knowledge of the topic.
Even with its advantages, digital media still has to compete in an atmosphere where an ableist comment, policy or event has as much opportunity to go viral as anything else. With the rise of social media and other digital communication, the difference is that now people with disabilities can give an instant rebuttal, reaching millions in a way that was once impossible.
Social media has also had other issues. Some algorithms are alleged to have suppressed or excluded disability related content from influencers.
Even with the drawbacks, key connections are being made. YouTubers since 2018, Shane and Hannah Burcaw started doing a podcast about their life together in Minneapolis as an interabled couple – he has a disability and she does not. Their Facebook page, Squirmy and Grubs, has more than 360,000 followers, and their YouTube channel with the same name has more than 1.2 million subscribers. They are now invited to speak all over the country.
Through July, many towns and cities will celebrate Disability Pride Month. Against that backdrop, it is noteworthy that social media and digital technology are being used by people with disabilities and like-minded partners not just to protest what is, but to introduce new realities with new premises. While there are still awkward juxtapositions of contradictory paradigms, evidence suggests those new realities might be the new norm.
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By Tim Wood CONTRIBUTOR
DJ Fields always did things big. He was a big imposing dude with a proportional scowl that instantly morphed into an ear-to-ear grin the minute he converted strangers into friends. He always came up big for his friends and family.
So it’s no surprise that the second class of Live Like DJ Scholars is as oversized as the heart that Fields exhibited in the community.
“This is all about how the community has shown their love for my son,” said his father, Dwon Fields Sr. “We’re able to double our class of scholars this year because of the love and support y’all have shown for DJ and our family and the commitment to ensuring his legacy.”
The 2023 DJ Scholars group is special beyond its size. It includes relatives of Fields and DJ’s best friend, EJ Graham, who was injured in the car crash and shooting that took Fields’ life on March 5, 2021.
“My bond with DJ, it was bigger than I ever even knew. We overcame stuff together, we were always together as one. There was never selfishness, we were always one,” Graham said of his relationship with Fields. “If he didn’t have it, I had it to give. If I didn’t have it, he had it for me. It’s hard going on without my brother. It’s hard not knowing what could happen next, this was so much. I’m going day-by-day, trying to move forward.”
Fields’ cousins, Hilton Head Island High School’s Skylar Richardson (attending USC Upstate this fall) and May River High School’s Abigail Brown (South Carolina State) join Graham (Bluffton High, USC/Midlands Tech) as recipients of the $2,000 scholarship with close ties to Fields.
“He’s my first cousin, but I say he’s my brother because he treated me like a little sister,” Richardson said. “He was so protective of me. I remember when I went to my first dance, he was like, ‘No, no, no, where’s it at? I’m going.’ He just loved on me so much.”
Brown saw DJ as the welcoming and calming presence in her life from the minute she got to Bluffton.
“Even before we moved here, we’d come visit family and go to cookouts on the hill. I’d be standing back, keeping to myself all shy and he’d come by, smile and we’d have a laugh and he made me feel great,” Brown said.
Kema Bryant, DJ’s mother, said that whether related or not, these dozen kids differentiated themselves both in their essay applications and when Bryant and Fields, Sr. got to meet them at both their school ceremonies and the scholars’ photo shoot get-together.
“The stories that all of the applicants shared, they were so inspirational. But to see Skylar, Abigail and EJ honoring DJ like this, it makes us proud, I know DJ is smiling upon us seeing his family excel,” Bryant said. “We are growing this scholarship in honor of DJ and it’s emotional
Lou was experiencing ongoing neck pain from a previous injury. After consulting with two neurosurgeons, Lou was on the verge of surgery in hopes of relieving the constant pain. He saw the ad for the Fraum Center for Restorative Health and signed up for a free seminar. With the promise of pain relief without surgery, Lou started restorative treatment with the doctors at Fraum for his neck, knees, and shoulders. Lou has not only rebuilt his strength and movement again, he has also rebuilt a pain-free life.
beyond words to see this class and to know the future impact they are going to have on this community.”
Schools from across the Lowcountry are represented in the 2023 class, including May River High School’s McKenna Swinton (Claflin University) and Ashlyn Babkiewicz (Clemson), Hilton Head Christian Academy’s Judy Austin (Mississippi State) and Lilly Parker (Anderson University), Hilton Head Island High School’s Chelsee Kuklinski (West Virginia University), Audrey Perry (Rollins) and Whitney McGuire (USC), Beaufort High School’s A’Leayah Polite (Lander University) and Wade Hampton High School’s
Jayda Risher (North Carolina A&T). Their paths to get to graduation have included many obstacles, from broken families to medical emergencies and losing parents. They’ve battled sports injuries, and in Graham’s case, witnessed deaths of close ones. This year’s group is especially outspoken about mental health and talking about the day-to-day tribulations that can pile up in our heads if we don’t deal with the traumas.
They have big plans for the future, from becoming teachers to lawyers, tackling cybersecurity, and medical careers from surgeons to dentists.
When asked to share advice for poten-
tial future Live Like DJ Scholars trying to find their place and path, their answers were varied but shared a common thread: Be fearless.
“You have everyone saying, ‘What do you want to do?’ Well, there’s so many things I want to do. There is no one right way, we’re not supposed to have it all figured out right now,” Brown said. “But what’s important is to not get stuck. You don’t have to rush or feel pressured to find that path. Just keep pushing forward, enjoying each new adventure.”
More than $100,000 has been raised in the two years since DJ’s death through events such as the annual “DJ’s Day of
Giving”, where businesses across Beaufort County give a portion of their sales to the fund. The event was held on May 5, 2021, and the 55th day of the year in 2022 and 2023 to honor Fields’ No. 55 that he wore as part of the Bluffton High School football team.
The annual fundraiser will take place next on Feb. 24, 2024. For more on the scholarship fund, to watch videos detailing each of the scholar’s stories and to contribute to Live Like DJ, visit djdayofgiving.com.
Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. timwood@blufftonsun.com.
By Tim Wood CONTRIBUTOR
I set out to identify the best appetizers at your favorite restaurants. What I discovered is y’all are settling for a lot of top-of-the-order complacency.
To paraphrase the more than 100 responses I got from my blue-ribbon panel of online taste tastemakers, when it comes to appetizers, “they all look the same.”
And if that truly is the case in the lineup of restaurants where you’ve been eating, well, you need to start exploring a new bunch of eateries.
The truth is, Lowcountry chefs know that first impressions are everything. So they have amped up their creativity and their ingredient lists to showcase the first things to a patron’s table.
And that shows in the variety of dishes
mentioned. We received so many, in fact, that I’m going to break with normal format and give you a bevy of options here.
Bluffton
Chloe Harthorn got our discussion started by throwing out The Pearl’s calamari and kimchi lettuce wraps as her favorite (Steve Kermisch seconds that emotion for the calamari).
Alethea Adkins said the calamari and Greek nachos at Kyra (in Okatie’s Riverwalk plaza) won her over (Jan Ziter agrees on the nachos).
Kevin Fitzpatrick has become our most bankable panelist over the past year. The retired New England math professor is taking in everything the Lowcountry food scene has to offer and has come to be known for his spot-on palette. Fitzpat-
Please see HOT SPOTS on page 26A
HOT SPOTS from page 25A
rick is a big fan of the ceviche at the newly opened CRUDO in The Promenade, the raw and grilled oysters at The Bluffton Room, the stuffed squash bottoms at Bricco and the Hamachi crudo at The River House.
Keith Hoffman and Rich Dahlquist also gave Bricco a shoutout for their grilled calamari. Dahlquist also loves the arancini, while Terri Martin said the crab cake sliders are scrumptious.
RBar in Sheridan Park won repeated kudos for their apps, a round of applause I wholeheartedly agree with. This is my gold standard spot for truly understanding the importance of the appetizer.
Jennifer Plant loves the Benny rolls (BBQ pork stuffed in an egg roll), the loaded French fries and the loaded mac and cheese, while Jenna Taylor loves the jalapeno popper dip.
Pour Richards earned multiple shoutouts, including one from a foodie celebrity. Eat It and Like It’s Jesse Blanco made a cameo on our panel to give love to the scallops in mornay sauce.
Jim Hearn loves the chopped salad –and while the greens could be a whole separate list, they are a starter and when someone is inspired to give plaudits to the chopped salad, you know it’s well done. Too many eateries take the house or side salad for granted – again, it sets a tone, for better or worse.
Kermisch also gave some leafy love for the fried green tomato salad at May River Grill.
Craft Kitchen earned multiple snippets of adulation from our panel. Sarah Morrison loves the herb cheese stuffed dates (made with boursin cheese, medjool dates, chopped bacon and pinot noir gastrique). I am not a fan of raw pickles (save for the occasional left-on sliver at Chick-Fil-A), but their lightly Southern fried pickles in a buttermilk ranch are divine.
Melissa Ann thought she was going to get laughed at for mentioning Jim ’n’ Nick’s cheese biscuits. Instead, 23 other people DM’ed me about the biscuits, borderline ashamed to throw out a chain appetizer on the list. People, have you had these dang biscuits? Chain or no
chain, they are off the chain delicious and addictive.
Maggie Kelley made our mouth water with her love for Katie O’Donald’s steak tidbits served with au jus or A1. JoAnn Smith chimed in immediately with a second on that nomination.
Heading out toward the bridge – that purgatory of what is Bluffton and what’s technically Hilton Head – Terri Martin said you must try HogsHead’s chicken and waffle sliders, while Cheryl Burrows raved about their homemade chips smothered in gorgonzola and bacon bits.
Paula Power suggests the kibbeh at Olive and Fig and I’m throwing out high fives for Mama G’s breadsticks, fried mozzarella and their arancini.
Hilton Head Island
Hudson’s won repeated praise from our panel for their starters. Debbie Brown is a fan of the mussels, while Cheryl Packard raved about the fried green tomatoes covered in a bacon jam and goat cheese crumbles and drizzled with a balsamic glaze.
Jack Baranello couldn’t single out just one, so he said all the seafood apps at Skull Creek Boathouse are amazing.
Peggy Steen and Lisa Bernstein seconded that, but both singled out the fried green tomatoes at Boathouse as a winner. Jackie Alcock didn’t want us to forget the avoca-
HOT SPOTS from page 26A
do bombs.
Kermisch is a fan of the mesquite grilled shrimp cocktail at Santa Fe and the oysters Rockefeller at Alexander’s.
Jeff Pierce says the calamari at Coast in Sea Pines is heavenly. Teena Collins loves Main Street Island Pub’s stuffed banana peppers.
Heather Rath is on my short list of revered foodies and trusted culinary confidantes. She shouts out Sandbar’s nachos and bull bites as her faves. Bernstein is also a fan of Sandbar’s shrimp toast.
Bernstein also loves Fat Baby’s bruschetta, fried broccoli, homemade fried mozzarella and garlic knots, Mixx on Main’s white chicken chili nachos and Palmetto Bay Sunrise Café’s crab wontons.
Speaking of Mixx on Main, I said it in my onion ring roundup, but their perfect mix of zesty batter and perfectly sliced and cooked onions is a delight.
Jane Janiak gave mucho accolades to the deviled crab dip at The Quarterdeck and the the crap and shrimp dip at Old Daufuskie Crab Company.
Natalie Figueroa, Adkins, Diane Swanson and Amber Dawn all were compelled to give Nectar’s potato biscuits some love (Swanson said to make sure to try the homemade jam).
April Greiner, Jen Vann, Candace Weissman, Grace Ficher and Lori Hutson all raved about the twice-baked potato spring rolls at Frankie Bones. Vann also gave love to the ravioli bites.
Corbin Atkinson and Linda Belskis are both fans of the fried green tomato Caprese at Local Pie.
Jennifer Williamsen and Lindsey Gleason love Truffles Café’s spinach dip and homemade chips, while Sara Fitzgerald’s go-to starter are the truffle fries at Wise Guys.
Denise Heins said she usually makes the apps her meal at Wise Guys because they’re that special, with the beef carpaccio at the front of that list.
There are two starters in this category that are my guiltiest pleasures, the most consistently delightful, mouth-watering tastiness on the planet. That’s Giuseppi’s cheesy garlic bread and, yes, hate me for bringing chains into the discussion or for going soupy on you, but Olive Garden’s pasta e fagioli is the one dish I truly believe that could bring me back from the afterlife.
North of the Broad
Amber Dawn shouted out Yes Thai Indeed’s cheese rolls and Fish Camp’s Prince Edward Island mussels.
Terri Kraus is a sucker for the onion ring loaf at Dockside on Lady’s Island. By my count, we had 189 overall apps singled out for acclaim. It’s a credit to the area’s chefs that this is the first list we went outside our normal shorter list for. Appetizers are just that important.
So, to all those that told us, “Meh, they’re all the same, bland thing,” here’s a kickstart to try something new.
Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. timwood@blufftonsun.com.
A native South Carolinian, Lynne hails from the capital city of Columbia, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of South Carolina. She moved to Hilton Head Island in 1984 for a typography job, not even realizing there was a beach. The next year, she met Amos, the man who would become her husband and soul mate. They married in 1990 on one of the beaches they discovered. A frequent crosser of the bridges to Bluffton, Lynne worked at the local daily for nine years and has been with the Sun since 2009. While her job is editing, she also enjoys writing, and is confident there is a novel in her head somewhere.
ENJOYS: Waterfalls, good coffee, hanging out with the fam.
• The Bluffton Branch Library continues to offer many opportunities for adult summer reading, learning and fun.
Events that require registration include: I Speak Chocolate on July 7 at 10 a.m.; Overcoming the Gear and Fears: Kayaking at Any Age on July 13 at 11 a.m.; Argentine Tango and the Search for Unity on July 14 at 10 a.m.; Free Line Dancing lesson for adults on July 17 at 10 a.m.; and Tales of the Town: Your Bluffton Stories on July 22 at 10 a.m.
To register, call 843-255-6503.
Big Bang Boom and the All Together Now Bluffton Expo! Will begin at 10 a.m. July 29. Patrons may come and meet representatives from local nonprofits and hear about their programs.
The Bluffton Library is located at 120 Palmetto Way in Bluffton Village. For more information, visit beaufortcountylibrary.org.
• James River Greyhound Meet & Greets held at Bluffton and Hilton Head Petsmart stores will be suspended for the month of July and August due to high temperatures.
The events will resume in September with the first and third of the month meetings at Hilton Head PetSmart from 11 to 1 p.m. and the second Saturday of the month at Bluffton.
If interested in learning about Greyhounds as pets, feel free to contact Karen Shea at 804-356-4102 or Chris Schlentner at 847-321-1771.
• The monthly Palm Trees & Pistons car show will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. July 8 at Sea Turtle Marketplace on Hilton Head Island, in the parking lot of the former SteinMart store.
The show will feature vintage, antique, exotic, muscle and unique cars owned by area locals.
Any car owner who would like to
display their vehicle(s) are welcome to bring them for show and tell, and to meet others of like mind. Not a car owner? Come by and see some cool cars. It’s all free.
The show is held the second Saturday of each month, depending on weather, and is free and open to the public.
• The new Children’s Art Museum (CAM) at Jepson Center, part of Telfair Museums, will host a public Grand Opening celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 8 at the museum, 207 W. York St. in Savannah.
The new museum will provide engaging, inspiring exhibits and handson, interactive spaces for toddler ages and up. Age-appropriate experiences will include modern technologies, immersive environments, and low-tech and hands-on activities.
CAM will be open during all Telfair
Museum operating hours. For more information, call 912-7909-8865 or visit telfair.org.
• The Heritage Library Book Club will meet at 11 a.m. July 12 at the Hilton Head Public Library, 11 Beach City Road on Hilton Head Island. The book to be discussed is “Coffin Point: The Strange Cases of Ed McTeer, Witchdoctor Sheriff” by Baynard Woods.
Registration is requested at HeritageLib.org/bookclub.
• The Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club’s June meeting will be held July 13 at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club located on Lady’s Island off of Meridian Road. The social begins at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will start at 7 p.m.
Topics will be Spanish Mackerel and Blue Fish. Capt. Adam Saurerborn of
Tide Ryder Charters will discuss jigging techniques with various lures and favorite locations of choice and tides. This presentation will also include the use of planers and spoons.
Guests are welcome. Reservations are not needed.
For additional information, contact Capt. Jim Kindwell at 843-812-2177 or email fgibson@islc.net.
• Singer looking for a summer activity are welcome to join the Shore Notes women’s chorus on four Mondays: July 31, Aug. 7, Aug. 14 and Aug. 21 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and discover the fun and camaraderie of a cappella singing.
On Aug. 28 at 7:30 p.m. the program finale will be a Friends & Family night, where summer singers can perform the two songs they learned with the chorus.
Rehearsals are at Okatee Baptist Church, 5467 N. Okatie Hwy. (Route 170) in Ridgeland.
For more information, call 843-7056852 or visit hiltonheadshorenotes. com.
• “What’s in Your Purse? Releasing the Baggage,” a women’s empowerment conference and book signing, will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 5 at the Family Worship Center, 2 Trask Pkwy. in Yemassee.
Speakers include Elder Etrenda Ferguson-Patterson; Michelle Casey,
executive director of NAMI Lowcountry; Dr. Joyce R. Travis and Elder Janet Spence. Author Melanie Mason will serve as mistress of ceremonies.
Masks are required. Registration is $15 each, available at the door; books are available for $10.99. For more information, call Wendye Savage at 843-888-2505.
• America’s Boating Club Hilton Head will hold its America’s Boating Course safety class Aug. 19 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the USCB Osher Learning Center in Bluffton.
The class is open to the public and will cover topics such as boating laws and regulations; safety equipment, both required and recommended; navigation in adverse conditions; communication; and knots and lines.
The cost of the class is $75 for individuals or $100 for couples. Children can also attend with their parents for $20. To register, visit abchh.org and look for Upcoming Classes under the Education tab.
The class will be taught by a certified boating safety instructor. The instructor will have many years of experience in boating and will be able to provide you with valuable information. This class is a great opportunity to learn about boating safety and to get your SCDNR Boater Education Certificate.
For more information, visit abchh. org.
Lowcountry resident for 14.5 years
Gwyneth was born in Pennsylvania, raised in South Jersey, now living in Bluffton. She retired from the U.S. Navy after 26 years as a Navy journalist. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Norfolk State University (“Go Spartans”). Married 19.5 years to Tony, an adorable Welshman. They have two sweet rescue cats, Tigger the tripod and Benji (neither are spoiled). She is a member of Sun City Veterans Association; chorus, Sundancers, softball, art, and computer clubs. A Philadelphia Eagles fan, Gwyneth loves pasta, sushi and great burgers. Love my family, friends. I have the best job.
ENJOYS: Books, performing, art, cooking
By Tim Wood CONTRIBUTOR
Yes, we’re approaching the dog days of summer, and as the temps keep going up, so does the temperature of the Lowcountry small business market, with both new entrepreneurs entering the arena and long-time culinary heroes getting ready to hang new shingles. There’s so much exciting news to share this month.
Welcome to the neighborhood
The Bank, 59 Pope Avenue, Hilton Head Island, 843-715-3942, thebankhhi.com: You’ve seen plenty of online buzz about The Bank beer garden and quick eats complex at the Sea Pines Circle, and the latest Watterson Brands project has been a hit in its first few weeks.
The new South End hotspot features Side Hustle Brewing Company beers and food
options that include Bank Heist Burgers, All About the Benjamins Seafood, Dollar Billy’s Ice Cream, Pizza Co, and Mo’ Money Tacos. Get your craft beer and cocktail fix from the
Armored Bar beverage trailer (where no one drinks “a loan”).
The Bank is open seven days a week, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sprout Momma Breads, 93 Arrow Road, Hilton Head Island, 843-715-2649, sproutmomma.com: They have been a farmers market favorite for years, and now their circuitous route to a brick and mortar locale has landed them in the former home of Signe’s Bakery.
Sprout Momma was once thought headed to a Bluffton location, but when the longtime bakery came available, it proved to be kismet too perfect to ignore.
On the bakery side, European style pastries, giant crumb muffins, Caity’s onepound crack cookies and a wide selection of old-fashion desserts are the stars.
Their homemade breads are the delightful bookends for an array of breakfast sandwiches.
For lunch, Sprout Momma promises the
Please see UPDATE on page 31A
UPDATE from page 30A
“biggest, baddest, tastiest sandwiches in all of the Lowcountry.” We’ve tasted a few, including Patty’s Smash Melt, and early signs point to the crew living up to that billing.
Branches, 88 Arrow Road, Hilton Head Island, 843-785-2535, branchesdesigns.com: Lauren McAvoy and Sarah Perry have been Lowcountry staples since 1995, offering unique floral displays, antiques and gifts that have wowed both locals and tourists alike. Now, they have moved from their former home at the Village at Wexford to become Sprout Momma’s neighbor in a showroom that doubles their previous space. This has allowed the home décor sister team to expand their product line offerings and services, including a new rental space for meetings and gatherings.
Lucky Beach Bar + Kitchen, 14 Folly Field Road, Hilton Head Island, 843-6280481, luckybeachhhi.com: The former home of Carrabba’s next to Adventure Cove Mini-Golf has been re-imagined as a family-friendly American classics eatery with a menu full of Southern and Caribbean inspiration.
The 250-seat restaurant opened in late May and features a wrap-around patio with an overhang and garage-style doors that open to show off a long bar, outdoor dining with firepits and a stage for live music.
Lucky Beach is an all-day destination, with a dedicated takeout open from breakfast to late-night eats, including a number of grab-and-go options.
Okan Bluffton, 71 Calhoun Street, Suite 100, Bluffton, 843-949-3002, okanbluffton. com: Chef Bernard Bennett has already made a lasting impression on foodies with his Western Caribbean offerings via food truck for more than a year now. The raves go far beyond the Lowcountry, as Bennett is a Beard Award nominee for Best Southeast Newcomer.
Now, after many construction delays, Okan has opened its doors to become the literal centerpiece of The Bridge at Calhoun, offering a “journey of culture and cuisine.”
We’ve raved about the aloo hand pies from the food truck, but the sit-down experience is equally mind blowing. Congrats to Bennett and partners Matt Cunningham and Ben Carson for their June 26 opening.
Coming attractions
Style galore headed to Old Town: A few doors down from Okan, Col-Lab has begun work on their buildout, promising curated style with fashion, home décor and gift offerings.
Just up the road, there is another boutique
Please see UPDATE on page 32A
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that is readying for an opening. Panache Boutique, a popular online womenswear brand with a brick and mortar location in Bay City, Mich. Owner Lana Johnson has hung a “coming soon” sign in the window in the new construction between Mikkelson Law Firm and Old Town Golf Carts on Bluffton Road.
And a quick turn off Bluffton Road into The Promenade and you will see a “coming soon” sign next to CRUDO for Bespoke Abode, a home décor and furnishing store founded on Martha’s Vineyard. They are opening a Southern outpost in Bluffton that will feature both home décor products and residential interior design services.
Familiar faces coming to Main Street: They have been a huge part of helping build one of the area’s favorite eateries into a dynamo. Now, Lauren Jordan and Tracy Wilson are going all-in on their own culinary dream, as the former Captain Woody’s GMs are teaming to open Cactus Street Cantina in Main Street Village.
The pair have 33 total years at the Woody’s
helm – Jordan with 23 in Bluffton and Wilson with 10 on the island – and have partnered with chef Adolfo Aguilar on the new Southwestern-themed eatery. Aguilar is a veteran of a slew of area foodie destinations, including Woody’s, Sigler’s and Agave.
The Cantina will take over the spot formerly occupied by Great Bites, who moved to Northridge Plaza in late 2022. Cactus Street will feature tacos, quesedillas, burritos, tortas, bowls and salads with a full bar, grab-and-go selections and online ordering. They are targeting a late-summer/early fall opening and will be open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Kenny B’s heading to Bluffton: Sharing this piece of news has me positively giddy. I have long been a huge fan of Kenny and Laverne Ballard, the husband-wife team behind Kenny B’s French Quarter Café. It takes a minute to get to them off Pope Avenue from Bluffton, but it has always been worth it and then some for the best Cajun food this side of Mother’s in New Orleans.
After 26 years on the island, Kenny B’s is
headed to Bluffton. They are currently working on renovations at the former home of Thai Smile Cuisine in Bridge Center off U.S. 278. (Thai Smile made the opposite move, recently opening a spot at 11 Palmetto Bay Road on the island.)
The Ballards have lived in Bluffton for 15 years and are looking forward to a larger location and a central home that will allow them to start offering delivery through Door Dash and other services.
The new spot will have the signature French Quarter-inspired murals and décor tributes to his beloved Georgia Bulldogs. And the couple will still offer their beloved Thanksgiving takeout service this year. The island location will be open through the end of the year, with hopes to open the larger Bluffton home soon after – definitely by Mardi Gras 2024.
Pomodori coming to Bluffton: The former home of Underground Burrito at 1252 May River Road is getting a new occupant. Long-time island Italian fave Pomodori is prepping a takeout and grab-and-go version
of the eatery in the Old Town space. Details are slim but we’re hearing a back-to-schoolish opening is the hope.
New pet resort coming to Okatie Center: They say imitation is the ultimate form of flattery. With K9 Resorts Bluffton open and thriving a few minutes down S.C. 170, another pet pampering chain has decided to enter the market. The Jacksonville-based Pet Paradise chain has plans to open their 51st location at 139 Okatie Boulevard next to Starbucks. The company offers boarding for dogs and cats as well as doggie day care, training and grooming.
This will be their third locale in South Carolina, with spots already open in Greenville and Ballantine. A veterinarian clinic will also be onsite and owners will have webcam access to the dogs’ play area. The 175-pet-capacity, 15,000-square-foot facility is planning a 2024 opening and will begin taking reservations six months before opening, according to company officials.
Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. timwood@blufftonsun.com.
By Leslie Francis CONTRIBUTOR
Mike Overton is a well-known business and community leader in the Lowcountry. From humble beginnings as a windsurfing school in 1979, Outside Brands has grown into a dynamic four-division business with operations in South Carolina and Georgia.
Driven by a mission to enrich lives by connecting people to exceptional places, products and experiences, Outside Brands offers fully customized group travel services, team-building programs, activities and specialty retail.
That mission drives forward this successful business and Overton has been known for his entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to environmental preservation for more than 40 years.
In 2014, Overton founded The Outside Foundation, a 501(3)(c) nonprofit organization that is dedicated to promoting outdoor recreation, environmental preservation, and protection. As a board member of the Foundation, he remains committed to fostering a
love of nature in young people and advocating for the protection of our planet’s natural
resources.
Nowhere is this more evident than at Page Island, which is owned and operated by Outside Brands. Page Island is a 40-acre chain of hammock islands tucked between Daufuskie Island, Hilton Head Island, Savannah, and Palmetto Bluff. The secluded location offers the opportunity for guests to unplug from the “real” world and be truly immersed in the tidal salt marsh environment.
Those lucky enough to have experienced this magical place can confirm that Overton not only talks the talk but also walks the walk in environmental preservation. Page Island is a testament to his deep-rooted commitment to the environment and he is truly in his element as he hosts private events, cruises and kayak tours at this special destination.
Overton’s commitment to the environment is demonstrated through multiple
Please see OUTSIDES on page 35A
• Dr. Ellen Malphrus of the University of South Carolina Beaufort has won the Carolina Trustees Professorship Award, in recognition of her outstanding work as an educator, author, and scholar. The Carolina Trustees Professorship is a prestigious award presented annually by USC-Columbia to recognize excellence in teaching, research and service.
Each year, a faculty member at one USC system institution receives this award for service to their disciplines, peers, students and communities. This is the fourth year in a row that USCB has won the Carolina Trustees Professorship for System Campuses.
Dr. Malphrus is a Professor of English and Writer in Residence at USCB. Her critically acclaimed novel “Untying the Moon” (with foreword by Pat Conroy) is among her many
publications. Her poetry, fiction, and essays regularly appear in highly regarded literary journals across the country.
She was mentored by U.S. Poet Laureate James Dickey.
Dr. Malphrus has been a faculty member at USCB since 1998.
Rod Casavant has joined the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s Center for Strategic Planning as a facilitator. He is chairman emeritus, SCORE SC Lowcountry Chapter, where he led a team of 40-plus certified business mentors (2017-22) supporting start-up businesses and in-business clients in Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, and Colleton counties.
Casavant is a SCORE certified Business Mentor and on the organization’s National Advisory Council. He had a 30-plus year career with Eli Lilly & Company in multiple leadership roles.
Rod has a B.A. in chemistry from the University of South Florida and an MBA from Kellogg School of Management, Northwest-
• The Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce will host two events July 11 for members and guests.
Coffee and Connection, a networking event, will be held from 8 to 9 a.m. at Seaglass Windowscapes, 70 Pennington Drive, Suite 4.
The event is free for Chamber members and $10 for non-members and representatives not named under a member’s listing. Registration is encouraged, at blufftonchamberofcommerce.org.
Lunch & Learn will be held the same day, from 11:30 to 1 p.m. at the Don Ryan Center for Innovation, 7 Venture Drive in Bluffton.
The topic is “Time Blocking Your Weekly Schedule,” presented by Brent Whitaker and Thomas Joyner of Business on Purpose.
Lunch begins at 11:45 a.m. with the program starting at noon.
Cost is $20 for chamber members, and $25 for non-members or representatives not
named under a member’s listing. For more information and to register, visit blufftonchamberofcommerce.org.
• Mental Health America Beaufort Jasper has received full three-year accreditation status with the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. CARF, based in Tucson, Ariz., is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services, enhancing the lives of persons served worldwide. It has been considered the benchmark of quality health and human services for more than 50 years.
The survey was conducted by a CARF surveyor who spent two days onsite visiting the Bluffton office of MHABJ. The survey consisted of a full review of the facilities, meetings with the board of directors and a thorough review of the organizations compliance with CARF policies involving safety and program content and execution. The CARF Accreditation expires May 31, 2026.
Hilton Head Area Realtors (HHAR), a member-based organization, is marking half a century of serving as the region’s largest trade association for real estate professionals.
The organization’s 50th anniversary was kicked off at HHAR’s Installation of Officers Celebration in January and will be celebrated with events and programs throughout the year, ending at the organization’s annual oyster roast in October.
HHAR, which launched in 1973 and has grown to now include more than 1,600 Realtors and affiliate partners, was created to support, educate and empower Realtors to enhance their professionalism and success while providing the highest level of ethical service to the public and the consumers they serve.
HHAR has played a vital role in the region by giving back to the community through funding and supporting charitable, nonprofit organizations that ensure safe and affordable housing and quality of life, educating on homeownership, and providing disaster
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sponsorships and support for other nonprofit organizations. A recent partnership with the Coastal Discovery Museum to sponsor an osprey nest, as part of the OpsreyWatch program, is a natural fit for the company as the museum aims to pursue, preserve, and promote the care of the Lowcountry.
“Outside Brands offers a team of passionate leaders and talented outdoorspeople who share a deep connection with our natural environment,” said Overton. “The partnership with Coastal Discovery Museum is just one of the ways Outside Brands is dedicated to connecting people through sustainable ecotourism.”
Preparing for the future is one of the things that most drives Overton as he builds the company for continued success through its fifth decade and beyond. In recent months he has appointed to his leadership team women who are in the forefront of ecotourism, sustainability, and local business.
Sharon Sutton is the new director of human resources, with Sarah Tillman as the company’s chief financial officer, Jenni-
relief.
Since becoming a fundraising event in 2007, HHAR’s annual Golf and Tennis Tournament has provided more than $300,000 in grants to Lowcountry organizations that support housing and quality of life. Members have supported Hilton Head Regional Habitat for Humanity in building six homes in Bluffton and three on Hilton Head.
“For the past 50 years, HHAR has provided vital resources to both real estate professionals and the community, and it has been the voice of real estate in the region,” said Jean Beck, CEO of HHAR. “We look forward to continuing this mission well into the future.”
fer Messier as their new director of risk management and strategy, and Anne Kelley as the Outside Destinations Management (DMC) team’s new business development manager.
In the specialty retail arena, Jessie Madden has been named director of retail. Madden oversees all three Outside retail locations – Hilton Head Island, Palmetto Bluff, and Savannah – with the vision to enrich lives by connecting people to exceptional products with a sustainable mission.
“We are so fortunate to expand our Outside team and welcome these impressive individuals. Their experience will take us to the next level as we look to expand into different parts of the Lowcountry,” Overton said.
For more information about Outside Brands, visit outsidebrands.com and follow the organization on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.
Lesley Francis is a marketing professional, writer and columnist covering the Lowcountry and Coastal Empire.
With advance planning, you can protect your loved ones from their eventual inability, disability, predators and creditors.
When doing your estate planning, if you leave your assets in a “spendthrift trust” for your loved ones, instead of outright, you can protect from 1. their inability to manage the assets; 2. their eventual disability; 3. predatory spouses in divorce proceedings who try to get 50% of their assets (which could include what were your assets); and 4. their creditors.
This kind of planning can provide you with peace of mind in knowing that what you leave your loved ones will not be carelessly squandered, and will not go to predatory spouses or money-hungry creditors. You can also guarantee that the money will stay in your family bloodline.
For instance, let us assume John is not married and has one child named Jackie, who is married to Gary. Jackie and Gary have John’s only grandchild, Riley.
Jackie is a medical doctor with a busy practice. John does not like Gary. Also, he thinks Jackie and Gary may divorce someday. John wants to leave everything he owns to Jackie, but he doesn’t want Gary to get his assets or control over his assets. Plus, he wants to make sure that if something happens to Jackie, that Riley will get the assets he left to Jackie.
In all events, John wants to ensure Gary will not get his assets.
If John has a simple will that says Jackie is to get everything, Jackie could easily lose the inherited family property in a variety of ways, namely:
1. poor money management,
2. if Jackie becomes disabled and Gary is appointed guardian by the court and he squanders the money,
3. if Jackie and Gary divorce and the court rules Gary is entitled to half of Jackie’s assets (including the family property John left to Jackie), and
4. if Jackie is sued for medical malpractice and the claimants recover some or all of Jackie’s assets (including the family property John left to Jackie).
If, however, John left his assets in a “spendthrift trust” for Jackie’s benefit, with Riley as a remainder beneficiary, these assets would be protected. An advisor or financial trustee could make the assets grow and protect them from poor management or poor judgment.
If Jackie became disabled, Gary would not be able to squander that money. If Jackie and Gary divorced, Gary would not share in the assets John left to Jackie. The assets would be protected because they were in trust. Also, if Jackie were sued for medical malpractice and found liable or decided to settle, the claimants would not share in the assets John left to Jackie. Our society is litigious, and statistics indicate 50% of marriages end in divorce. Leaving assets in trust instead of outright can provide you with the peace of mind you deserve and protect your family and your family property.
Many people believe that a joint account is a good substitute for a will to transfer money to loved ones, and that it is a good way to avoid probate. While joint accounts can be useful in certain circumstances, they can have dire consequences if not used properly.
Adding a loved one to a bank account can expose your account to the loved one’s creditors as well as affect Medicaid planning or even disqualify your children or grandchildren from receiving college tuition assistance.
Once money is deposited in a joint account, it belongs to both account holders,
regardless of who deposited the money. Account holders can withdraw, spend or transfer money in the account without the consent of the other person on the account. Before adding anyone on a joint account, you need to be sure you can trust that person because he or she will have full access to the account. When one account holder dies, the money in the account automatically goes to the other account holder without passing through probate.
One problem with joint accounts is that it makes the account vulnerable to all the account owners’ creditors. For example, suppose you add your daughter to your bank account. If she falls behind on credit card debt and gets sued, the credit card company can use the money in the joint account to pay off your daughter’s debt. Or if she gets divorced, the money in the account could be considered part of her assets and be divided up in the divorce.
Joint accounts can also affect Medicaid eligibility. When a person applies for Medicaid long-term care coverage, the state looks at the applicant’s assets to see if the applicant qualifies for assistance. While a joint account may have two names on it, most states assume the applicant owns the entire amount in the account regardless of who contributed money to the account.
If your name is on a joint account and you enter a nursing home, the state will assume the assets in the account belong to you unless you can prove that you did not contribute to it.
In addition, if you are a joint owner of a bank account and you or the other owner transfers assets out of the account, this can be considered an improper transfer of assets for Medicaid purposes. This means that either one of you could be ineligible for Medicaid for a period of time, depending on the amount of money in the account.
The same thing happens if a joint owner is removed from a bank account. For example, if your spouse enters a nursing home and you remove their name from the joint bank account, it will be considered an improper transfer of assets.
There is a better solution to conduct estate planning and plan for disability. A power of attorney will ensure family members have access to your finances in the case of your disability. Moreover, a power of attorney provides legal recourse if the agent mismanages the account.
If you are seeking to transfer assets and avoid probate, a trust might make better sense.
Brian T. Treacy is an elder law and estate planning attorney, and owner of Elder Law & Estate Planning Center in Bluffton. hiltonheadelderlaw.com
To address the shortage of digestive health services for residents of Beaufort County and beyond, Beaufort Memorial has added two new board-certified providers to its team.
Michael Sciarra, D.O., a gastroenterologist, and Marie Wilkinson, FNPBC, a nurse practitioner, will see patients by appointment at Beaufort Memorial Lowcountry Medical Group Specialty Care in both Beaufort and Okatie. Dedicated to preventing, diagnosing and treating disorders of the digestive system and associated organs, Sciarra brings widely ranging expertise to the practice of gastroenterology. Fellowship trained, he specializes in performing routine and complex GI procedures as well as in treating chronic and acute GI disease.
Sciarra, who was born, raised, educated and trained as a physician in New Jersey, also had practiced in the state – 15 miles from where he grew up –for the entirety of his medical career before coming to the Lowcountry.
In private practice at Riverview Gastroenterology in Edgewater since 1997, he was on the medical staff at three nearby medical centers; the director of the gastroenterology fellowship program at Hackensack Meridian/ Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen and Hackensack; and an associate professor at Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York City.
Sciarra earned his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Osteopathic Medicine (now known as Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine) in New Brunswick, then completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in gastroenterology at St. Michael’s Medical Center in Newark.
Wilkinson comes with in-depth experience in the provision of urgent and emergency care. At Lowcountry Medical’s gastroenterology practice, she works to promote patients’ digestive health, assisting its board-certified gastroenterologists and advanced practice providers with clinical assessment and pre- and post-operative care.
Most recently, she served as a nurse practitioner at Tampa General Hospital Urgent Care in Florida and assisted in the opening of the Clinical Decision Unit in TGH’s emergency department, overseeing care for patients who were not yet ready for transfer or discharge.
The Delaware native holds both a Master of Science in Nursing with a family nurse practitioner specialty and a Bachelor of
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Sciarra and Ms. Wilkinson to our medical staff,” said Russell Baxley, president and CEO at Beaufort Memorial. “As members of our gastroenterology clinical team, the two will not only provide patients with expert care, but also help us to meet the area’s critical need for additional GI services.”
Sciarra and Wilkinson join board-certified gastroenterologists John Crisologo, M.D. and Richard Stewart, D.O., board-certified physician assistants Kristen Johnson and Kimberly Thorpe, and board-certified nurse practitioner Kimberly Stockstill at the practice.
Beaufort Memorial Lowcountry Medical Group Specialty Care is located at 300 Midtown Drive in Beaufort and Beaufort Memorial Okatie Medical Pavilion, 122 Okatie Center Blvd. North in Okatie. For more information or to make an appointment, call 843-770-4588.
Nails in good condition can be very attractive. They also reflect an individual’s personal habits – good or bad.
Aside from their cosmetic appeal, nails serve many important functions. They help us pick up and manipulate objects, and support and protect the tissues of the fingers and toes. Most importantly, nails often reflect our general state of health.
To the trained eye, nails can provide valuable clues about one’s overall health. Be aware, though, that nail changes are rarely the first clue of an illness. In most instances, patients will manifest other signs or symptoms of disease before nail changes become evident.
Q: I’ve always had healthy nails, but as I get older, I find they are brittle and splitting. Is there anything I can do to help?
A: Your nails dry out as you age, losing their natural oils that act as a glue to hold the nail layers together. If you have thin fingernails and dry skin to begin with you can expect this to happen to you sooner rather than later.
Here are a few things that can help:
• Hydrate and add oils. Use creams, oils and ointments on your nails every day after they’ve been wet.
• Clip and file your nails when they’re wet. Clipping and filing dry nails makes the splits worse, so do that only after water exposure.
• Wear gloves when you do rough work or
get your hands into harsh chemicals.
Q: I sometime get white spots on my nails – is this a concern?
A: White spots on the nails are very common. These small, semi-circular spots result from injury to the base (matrix) of the nail, where nail cells are produced. They are not a cause for concern; they will eventually grow out.
Q: Recently I damaged my thumbnail –twice. The second time caused my nail to peel about 1/3 of the way down. It appears to be healing, is not painful and the color is good, but there is still a raised portion (at the bottom). Do I need to do anything – or just allow it to heal on its own?
A: It sounds as though the nail may be healing, although the raised portion may be permanent. If the nail does not continue to show progress, or becomes painful or discolored, you should contact a dermatologist.
Q: How do I know when to see a dermatologist about a damaged nail?
A: Most minor nail injuries heal on their own, although, they might be unsightly for a while due to the nail’s slow growth rate. If healthy fingernails begin to change color or texture, if symptoms persist, especially if the nails start to dislodge from the base or you experience pain and swelling, call your dermatologist.
Dr. Oswald Lightsey Mikell, certified by the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, is the owner of Dermatology Associates of the Lowcountry.
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.
As a registered dental hygienist and mom of two young children, I have seen firsthand the effects of pregnancy on oral health. Pregnant women sometimes avoid professional dental care during pregnancy for various reasons, which is never a good idea. Factors such as elevated hormone levels can cause various gum and teeth issues that can affect not just the mother, but the baby’s health as well.
Taking good care of your teeth during pregnancy is extremely important. Higher levels of progesterone and estrogen hormones, poor food choices due to cravings, frequent snacking due to increased hunger, and inadequate daily oral hygiene resulting from nausea or sensitive teeth and gums can lead to cavities, tooth erosion, gingival inflammation, and non-cancerous pregnancy tumors on the gums.
Nearly 75% of pregnant women have gingivitis, an early stage of periodontal disease that occurs when the gums become red and swollen. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontal disease.
Association found that pregnant women with chronic periodontal disease were four to seven times more likely to deliver premature (born before 37 weeks) and underweight babies than mothers with healthy gums. Not all premature babies have health complications, but premature birth can cause short-term and long-term medical problems, ranging from breathing and digestive issues to hearing and vision problems.
To prevent these issues, women should establish a consistent at-home dental care routine and maintain professional cleanings and dental visits throughout their pregnancy. Some women may require an additional cleaning during their pregnancy, which may be covered by their dental insurance company.
Many dental procedures can be performed safely during pregnancy and should be scheduled during the second trimester, since it may be difficult to lay flat for an extended period during the third trimester. Although safe during pregnancy, digital X-rays can and most likely will be postponed until after the baby arrives.
Elective and cosmetic treatments, like whitening, should be avoided during pregnancy because there is not enough data to show their effects on unborn babies.
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Periodontal disease can cause serious infection in the gums that ultimately results in loss of tissue attachment and bone that supports the teeth. Additionally, bacteria can be transmitted through the blood and amniotic fluid in the womb to the unborn child, contributing to risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, premature contractions, or serious infection for the newborn child.
The Journal of the American Dental
Baby teeth begin to develop five to six weeks into pregnancy and the first tooth emerges at around five months of age! Dental exams are recommended at the first sign of a tooth and no later than 12 months old.
Establishing healthy dental habits at a young age is critical to lasting, positive dental health throughout life.
When it comes to caregiving, there are a number of challenges to face.
There are also many kinds of caregivers, including general caregivers, palliative caregivers, as well as hospice caregivers. Caring for patients on palliative or hospice care that have more medical needs with life-limiting illness can be all-consuming.
Here are some ways of supporting caregivers who face those challenges.
Emotionally/socially. The emotional stressors of being a caregiver can appear endless at times. It is vital to have a good support system in place to help support the caregiver and care receiver. Having friends, or family or a health care entity involved is important.
The role of a caregiver is ever changing, day to day and week to week. Having someone to be there for you and help lend an ear or shoulder can be a game changer for a caregiver. When friends or family can come give them a break or spend time with them socially, that helps brighten their day. They know they have people or a person they can count on.
Financially. Whether you are a family or friend, you can help pay for things the caregiver or care receiver needs. This can include helping with groceries, helping with costs of living, or hiring private personnel, if needed. Sometimes between the care receiver and
family, there are no costs concerns, while at other times people may need a little help here or there.
Resource programs. Resource programs can cover an array of needs, including financial, food, clothing and household bills, to in-home or placement needs, to emotional support. For caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s, other dementia, Parkinson’s, cancer and other conditions, there are support groups that can help participants process and have an extra supportive factor in their lives.
There are respite options as well. Families can hire an agency to come in once a week or more to give a respite break to a caregiver. When a loved one is on hospice care, caregivers can choose respite care in a facility. If a family needs help with a loved one’s personal and health care needs, there are agencies that can provide various levels of care, up to around-the-clock assistance. Self care. It is of utmost importance for caregivers to remember the value of taking time for yourself and your needs. If you are constantly exhausted, overwhelmed and/ or unhealthy, you can’t do what is needed to take care of your loved one. We are all human, and we try to do what is best for others, but we cannot neglect ourselves.
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Ahh, sweet summertime! Temperatures get hotter, days get longer, drinks get colder, and life gets a little better.
The hotter season also dishes out a few more risks like drowning, heat strokes and sunburn. The good news is that summer illnesses and injuries are usually preventable. Here are our tips for staying safe. Water safety. One of the best ways to cool off during the hot summer months is to jump into a pool or take a dip in the ocean. To avoid the potential for drownings, enroll your children in swim lessons, and make sure they learn and practice the five water survival skills: 1. Step or jump into water over your head and return to the surface. 2. Float or tread water for one minute. 3. Turn around in a full circle and find an exit from the water. 4. Swim 25 yards to the exit. 5. Exit from the water. If in a pool, be able to exit without using the ladder.
For children who don’t know how to swim
yet, insist they wear fitted floatation devices. Also, put your phone or book down and make sure children in and/or near water are always supervised. Home pools should have at least a 4-foot-high enclosure fence and a self-latching gate.
Finally, learn CPR. If a child takes in water, minutes count and resuscitation should be started immediately.
Dehydration and heat stroke. Dehydration can be a serious heat-related disease that happens with a combination of overexposure to the sun and not drinking enough water. Our bodies make a tremendous amount of internal heat, and we normally cool ourselves by sweating and radiating heat through the skin.
In extreme heat, high humidity, or vigorous activity in the hot sun, this cooling system may begin to fail. If someone becomes dehydrated and cannot sweat enough to cool their body, their internal temperature can rise to dangerously high levels, causing heat
stroke.
To avoid heat-related illnesses, drink plenty of fluids, especially when working or playing in the sun. Make sure you are taking in more fluid than you are losing. Try to schedule physical outdoor activities for the cooler parts of the day.
Sunburn. Almost everyone has had their skin scorched at least once in their lifetime. Sunburns are painful and can increase your risk of skin cancer. Wear sunscreen and lip balm with a sun protective factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Reapply as needed and when you get out of the water. Cover up with clothing and a wide-brimmed hat to protect exposed skin. Drink plenty of cool, non-alcoholic fluids.
Bug and snake bites. To avoid pesky bug bites, use insect repellent and citronella candles. Cover up with lightweight, longsleeved shirts and pants. Install or repair window and door screens. Eliminate mosquito breeding sites by dumping any sitting
water around your property. While many snakes are innocent, venomous snakes include copperheads, coral snakes, cottonmouths, water moccasins and rattlesnakes. Familiarize yourself with the types of snakes here in the Lowcountry. If you see a snake, move at least six feet away and do not touch or harass the snake. Be cautious of where snakes may hide; some, like copperheads, frequently hide under leaves and are difficult to see due to camouflage.
Food poisoning. Food-borne illnesses peak in the summer months since heat provides the optimum breeding ground for bacteria to multiply rapidly. Be especially wary of food that’s been sitting out in the sun all day. Be sure to pack plenty of extra ice or freezer packs in your cooler to ensure a constant cold temperature.
Cheers to a safe and happy summer season!
Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A), historically referred to as Botox, remains the No. 1 nonsurgical facial rejuvenation treatment. Botox is one of many botulinum neurotoxins that act to temporarily weaken facial muscles to smooth or soften dynamic fine lines and wrinkles.
Treatments should be tailored to the individual in what is known as a particular individual’s “pattern.” Botox is not alone though – currently there are four other major formulations of Botulinum toxin.
To some, the most familiar neurotoxin brand name is Botox (an Allergan product). There are several other FDA approved BoNT-A toxins including Xeomin (by Merz), Dysport (Galderma), and Jeuveau (Evolus). While the active component of each of these agents is
BoNT-A toxin, they vary markedly in formulation including a “protein blend” that can affect injection efficacy, duration of effect, and diffusion.
Dysport has the diffusion size of roughly a quarter, Botox a nickel, and Xeomin a dime. Diffusion of the injections can greatly alter the predictability of a treatment, or likewise, can create a smoother look on large surface areas such as the forehead or a more precise treatment around the eyes.
Some BoNT-A toxins contain carrier proteins that can infer a progressive immunity that may limit duration of effect over the course of several treatments. Purer product formulation such as the affordably priced Xeomin may be helpful in patients who have developed an immunity to Botox.
Of the four major wrinkle-smoothing agents, Xeomin and Dysport begin to have an effect within three to five days,
as opposed to Botox which routinely takes effect in seven to 10 days. Generally, Botox, Xeomin and Dysport have a duration of four to six months.
As such, the caveat with all these current treatment options is that regardless of the formulation, they are dose dependent and vary in price. In other words, less is not more, and markedly more is not necessarily better.
For Botox, the average dose currently ranges from 40 to 64 units. Under-treatment or skimping on the dose results in under treatment and commonly results in under-satisfaction. Conversely, over treatment can result in a “frozen” look and brow-drop.
BoNt-A toxins are very safe, relatively temporary, and can be quite predictable in well-trained hands. The most important factor in satisfaction following anti-wrinkle treatments is having a qualified injector who is competent and
confident in using the neurotoxin of choice. Likewise, bargain Botox can be costly to fix.
Treatments can be tailored to treat the glabellar area between the eyebrows and above the nose where the “11” lines form, the forehead, crow’s feet, muscles that contribute to a gummy smile, chin pitting, jawline, neck bands, and even large, full-appearing cheek masseter muscles. Rare side effects include bruising and headaches.
The takeaway is that Botulinum toxin in the right hands can be a fun, refreshing zero-downtime experience that is performed safely and reliably millions of times a year.
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
By E. Ronald Finger CONTRIBUTOR
It’s probably safe to say that no two chins or necks are identical. Not surprisingly, most people will be unhappy with their necks if given enough time.
This discussion will be on how to treat the various disliked chins and necks (they are very much related). Let’s start with the various treatments and then place each chin/ neck problem into the treatment category.
Let’s start with the simplest non-surgical treatment:
• Deficient chin projection correction. This can take a simple injection of a
long-term filler or even chin implant. This correction makes an enormous difference to the face profile and usually pulls the anterior neck tighter. The filler procedure takes about 10 minutes.
• Microneedling with radiofrequency (RF). Our unit is the VirtueRF device, which melts certain depths of fat and tightens skin non-surgically. Recovery is virtually non-existent regarding after-treatment activities. Treatments may take from two to four sessions.
• Liposuction of the neck with the Renuvion, which is FDA approved to use with liposuction. Liposuction removes excess fat and improves the jawline. The Renuvion RF may also be indicated to tighten the skin of the neck. Consider it like shrink-wrapping the skin. The Renuvion probe uses a small incision under the chin and behind each ear usually requiring no sutures. This is considered a one-time,
minimally invasive surgery with some bruising and swelling.
• Direct excision of the “turkey gobbler.” This is often for those older ages with advanced sagging, sun-damaged skin who don’t want a facelift. It’s also a favorite with men. This minor procedure is very effective in eliminating any excess skin. The downside is a faint vertical scar in the front of the neck with no stitch marks.
• PDO threads is an office procedure that tightens the skin for about one and a half to two years. Like most procedures, it must be done correctly to be effective.
• Facelift is effective at lifting both face and neck. This is a procedure to be discussed by itself.
Who fits into these categories?
The causes of a deficient chin or saggy, fatty neck are heredity, over-weight, excessive sun exposure, smoking, and an unhealthy diet. The chin/neck problems
can be one or a combination of having an insufficient chin, too much fat, or loss of neck elasticity. All of these are often related to one’s genes.
Those with insufficient chins may choose No. 1 above. They may also need liposuction of the neck according to how much fat is present.
Those with wrinkly skin due to loss of elasticity may benefit from one of the other procedures listed above.
Generally, but not always, a combination of procedures is indicated for the best results. The best approach is to make an appointment with your plastic surgeon to help assess what procedure(s) would best meet your needs.
July is the month during which we celebrate and embrace our many freedoms. Scripture tells us Jesus said in the Book of John, chapter 8, verse 32, “You will know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”
How inspiring for us all to be reminded, as spiritual beings, with God and in truth there is no lack, no scarcity, no limitations. With God and in truth, there is only freedom to be all we have come here to be – unique, unrepeatable expressions of God.
Unity teaches that knowing the truth allows for each of us to have freedom from thoughts of fear and unworthiness, anxiety and unhappiness. These kinds of thoughts do not serve any of us.
Knowing the truth allows for each of us to be spirit-led as we meet our varied life circumstances as they arise, expected and unexpected. Unity invites us to consider thoughts of freedom as creative acts, blessed and bestowed by the great Creator.
We get to shift the emphasis from freedom from things or conditions to freedom to be and the freedom to choose our thoughts. Our greatest freedom is the freedom to grow into the strength-filled person each of us has been created to be. We get to choose to face up to, to cope with, all the situations we otherwise sometimes try to
avoid.
Freedom is not an escape. Freedom looks like each of us empowering our gift of choice to awaken our inner strengths, rather than our weaknesses, to meet daily life, present and willing, with self-assurance and power-filled faith.
Each of us has the ability to open the door to the real source of our good. Nothing can ever really stand in our way. We get to be mindful. This is a remarkable freedom, choosing how we meet what life presents us. We can name it all good, or rather, all God!
Everything is for us. No commiserating and resenting or self-pity. Instead, we indulge in freedom to see all as God sees all – with eyes of opportunity and possibility – knowing the truth that all things are working for our good. Are you willing? Are you willing to
“up your consciousness,” open your mind, engage your creativity, employ your freedom? Can you be relentless, embracing your freedom to be what you must be, to do what you must do? Knowing the truth that the door to the Kingdom of Heaven is within us and is always open for us, lets us find God – and good – in all that transpires by the minute and the hour. Accepting change and acknowledging loss sanctions the making of a blessing and encourages freedom to be, freedom to release our spiritual attributes and capacities, freedom to choose, again. Many blessings on your freedom. Namaste.
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• 4 VIP nail rooms
• 2 couples duet rooms
• Private event space
• Retail boutique with wine & gifts
Amenities
• Complimentary wine or champagne
• Infared sauna
Getting over a major medical crisis isn’t easy, but a trusted provider can help ease the burden. At our hospital, we create rehabilitation programs that are specifically designed for each patient’s needs, using advanced technology and innovative treatments to maximize recovery. It’s why so many people and their caregivers choose us. And why we are the trusted choice of a growing number of medical professionals.
@whispercreekspa | #SpaDay
easy,
Getting over a major medical crisis isn’t easy, but a trusted provider can help ease the burden. At our hospital, we create rehabilitation programs that are specifically designed for each patient’s needs, using advanced technology and innovative treatments to maximize recovery. It’s why so many people and their caregivers choose us. And why we are the trusted choice of a growing number of medical professionals.
• Meditation salt room
• Resort inspired locker room
• Easy parking
encompasshealth.com/blufftonrehab
Celebrating
encompasshealth.com/blufftonrehab
encompasshealth.com/blufftonrehab
Music is an integral part of our lives. From massive Taylor Swift concerts to the family dance-off in the living room, music is a universal language that brings people together.
The piano is an exceptional instrument that can be the foundation of many a gathering. It can produce a full range of sounds, from soft and gentle melodies to powerful and dynamic pieces. While there are advantages to purchasing a used piano, investing in a new piano can offer several advantages that make it worth the higher price.
First, a new piano has a fresh sound. A newly manufactured instrument has not been affected by the passage of time, which means it will produce the sound it was designed to make.
As an instrument ages, its strings and
soundboard can wear down or be subject to the effects of air, humidity, and use, leading to a different sound quality or mechanical imperfection than in its new state. A new piano will have the full range of tones and nuances that the maker designed, with an exact mechanical touch, making it an incredibly enjoyable experience.
Second, investing in a new piano guarantees its quality. With a brand-new piano, you have an assurance that the instrument will be of high quality and be more durable. A new piano will also come with a warranty or guarantee, typically lasting 5 to 10 years, which provides peace of mind. Also, new pianos can often be purchased under financing options, whereas second-hand pianos are often on a cash basis only.
Third, over time a new piano’s value will either increase, remain the same, or decrease only marginally. This is particularly true for higher caliber Japanese, European
and American pianos. While it might seem like a significant investment initially, a new piano will continue to be of value as the years go by, especially if well-maintained. Additionally, many new pianos are built to last for many generations, which elevate their sentimental value as well as economic value.
Finally, purchasing a new piano can provide an opportunity that used pianos cannot. First, a buyer will automatically know the “history” of the piano upon purchase. There will be no surprises about its condition, quality or longevity (and whether or not it suffered any unseen water damage in any hurricane).
Additionally, new instruments offer a wide array of options in terms of models, finishes, sizes and other customizations. These options offer greater flexibility in finding a piano that suits the unique needs of the buyer, both in terms of sound quality
and overall aesthetic.
Even though purchasing a new piano might seem daunting, weighing out the advantages makes it more than worth the investment. A new piano can provide a fresh and full sound experience, guaranteed quality, better value over time, and customization options that will help create a personalized experience.
Remember that a new piano’s value goes beyond just its monetary worth – it also enriches your life and the lives of those around you. So, purchasing a new piano is one of the best investments you can make for yourself and your musical journey –and maybe for that next round of musical chairs with the grandkids.
Jennifer Herrin is part owner of Kawai Piano Gallery by Herrin in Bluffton. kawaipianogallerybyherrin.com or @kawaipianogallerybyherrin on Instagram
When friends come to visit our home and see our wildlife-friendly habitat, they often say, “I would love to have a nature-friendly yard – but how much work does it require?”
To say it requires no work or that you can just leave your yard alone would not be realistic. However, while creating habitat requires some effort, it is much less work than trying to keep a perfectly manicured lawn.
For one thing, manicured lawns, especially if the grass seed used is non-native, require extensive use of fertilizers. That poses environmental problems with excess fertilizers leaching into our watershed.
Then, you need to apply weed killers as well if you want your lawn to look pristine. On top of that, most lawns, especially non-native grasses, require irrigation. All of the above require time and money.
Beyond that, however, lawns have been referred to as “biological deserts.” Lawns can’t support varied species of wildlife. Lawns are prone to disease, insect outbreaks, and invasive species of insects. With continuous mowing, nutrients are lost if clippings are removed, as they most often are. That loss often requires large amounts of chemicals to sustain lawns.
On the other hand, native foliage requires less water because it is adapted to the climate. One of the biggest advantages of “going native” is that you can support habitat for all kinds of wildlife.
It doesn’t take much to make your property wildlife friendly. All it takes is three things, and most local yards have at least one or two of them already. These include food, water and cover.
Food: Unlike lawns, native plants and grasses provide a source of food eaten by a variety of our indigenous wildlife. Of course, many people put out feeders that can be a supplement, but most feeders cannot sustain
the variety of animals local to the area. Water: All animals need water. It is essential for survival. If you are near or adjacent to a freshwater or brackish pond, that is an advantage. Otherwise, you need to provide a source such as a bird bath.
Cover: Wildlife needs places to take shelter from bad weather and places to hide from predators or hunt for prey.
Many home gardeners are taking an interest in low-growing perennials due to the value they provide to local wildlife. These ground-covering plants do not need regular maintenance once they take hold in your garden.
If you want to register your yard or garden as a haven for wildlife, visit nwf.org/certifiedwildlifehabitat to apply.
John Riolo lives in Moss Creek and is past president of the Nature Club of Moss Creek. john.a.riolo@gmail.com
More and more I have found that when I lay out a game plan for a day of fishing it doesn’t always go the way I planned. For example, just last week I had my whole day mapped out. At low tide, I was going to go to this spot and, as the tide began to rise, I would go to another spot, and so on.
The problem with this way of fishing is you get to your spot and there sits another boat. With more and more boats fishing these waters, this frustrating start to the day has been happening to me more and more, and every year it just gets worse.
Quite honestly, I try my best to hide fish from other anglers that might be riding pass me as I am hooked up. Two of my favorite ways of doing this is to either put my reel in free spool and let the fish swim around until the other boat is out of sight or secondly, to ease the fish in the boat over the side farthest away from the prying eyes of anglers on the passing boat.
These old tricks aren’t working like they used to, so what now?
I don’t do it all the time but more and more I have gone to exploring new areas. All you have to do is look at a nautical chart of the area and you will instantly realize there are large and small estuaries absolutely everywhere. Even after living here for so long, I’ll bet I haven’t explored 80% of these tributaries.
In my mind at least, there just have to be fish in most all of them. They might not be there at low tide nor mid tide, but if you put the time in and pay attention, chances are you’ll learn that the fish will be there at some time during the tide cycle. All it takes is patience and a logbook where you record what time in the tide the fish show up in that particular place.
I think about exploring new areas more than I actually do it, but lately I have noticed that the majority of boats that I see out there regularly are almost always at a handful of spots, and these spots are hit hard day after day.
Because there always seems to be a boat at this handful of places, newcomers to our waters figure if that boat is always at that spot, then there must be something there. Before
long it becomes a battle of who can get up the earliest, or get their bait first, and camp out on the spot. Then they tell a friend, and that friend tells another friend, and before you know it, it’s like winning the Mega Millions Jackpot when you get there first. Sadly though, after a while these productive spots are fished out and the whole process starts over in another place.
On a recent weekend, I decided to take my 16-foot skiff, the Marsh Monkey, out. With all the wind and rain we have had recently, it was the first day in quite some time that called for bright sunny skies and 0% chance of rain.
Quite frankly, I avoid fishing on weekends, especially inshore, because so many jet ski hot dogs and weekend boaters haven’t a lick of courtesy. But this time, I decided “what the heck.” My wife, Karen, was going to spend the day with a girlfriend so I was looking forward to getting out by myself and trying new places and new techniques.
Armed with a tackle box full of artificial lures, a small cast net, a can of sardines, an
orange and jug of water, I headed out. The tide was low, which is the best time to catch live bait with my cast net, and I ran to a tried and true bait catching spot. Usually, I can catch enough shrimp and finger mullet, but this time all I caught was small croakers around four inches long.
Moving from spot to spot while avoiding heavily trafficked areas, I cast a variety of artificial lures for an hour or two and managed to catch four flounder. All were undersized so I released them.
In a new spot, I anchored and changed to nothing but a small circle hook and a split shot about a foot up from the hook. I nosed hooked a croaker and drifted it back in the current. Not expecting much, I set my rod down and ate my lunch.
Suddenly my rod darn near went overboard but my cat-like reflexes caught it just in time. Thinking it had to be a redfish, I was stunned when, after two nice runs, up came a stud trout – easily more than 20 inches long. I was elated.
Down went another croaker and wham! another huge trout! For the next hour I caught two dozen monster trout, all on croakers.
Weekend or not, this exploring trip taught me that by gum, you CAN teach new tricks to an old dog like me!
Collins Doughtie, a 60-year resident of the Lowcountry, is a sportsman, graphic artist, and lover of nature. collinsdoughtie@icloud. com
The Bluffton Sunset Party Series continues with the May River Shrimp Festival, a threeday event held July 19-21.
The festival is a celebration of the town’s heritage as a fishing village and features a variety of events and activities focused on local seafood and live music.
The Shrimp Fest Sunset 5K Hawaiian Shirt Run will open festival weekend on at 7:30 p.m. July 19. The event will start and end at Oyster Factory Park, taking walkers and runners through the streets of Old Town Bluffton.
Participants are encouraged to show off their island spirit by wearing their favorite Hawaiian shirt and shorts. Prizes will be awarded for the most colorful Flyin’ Hawaiians.
Participants in the 5K will receive an event T-shirt and post race party with live music and refreshments. Register at bearfootsports. com.
The May River Shrimp Festival will be held at Bluffton Oyster Factory Park on July
20-21 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Entertainers scheduled to perform include The Chilly Will Band and the Jason Lee Cook Band on Thursday, with Voodoo Soup and the Kelli Baker Band on Friday night.
Two-day festival tickets are available at blufftonsunsetparty.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the door, while children 10 and under get in for free.
For more information call Bear Foot Sports at 843-757-8520.
Bluffton is known for great shopping, including lots of charming, locally owned boutiques, as well as outlets. Nestled among the many businesses in Sheridan Park, locals and tourists alike have discovered a hidden gem where great buys save lives. By shopping at the Palmetto Animal League Thrift Store, you are helping rescue animals.
“Our mission is to accept quality, gently used donations and sell them at reasonable prices to support the welfare and feeding of animals under our care until they find their forever home,” said PAL Development Coordinator Stephanie Bashaw.
Under new management, PAL Thrift has undergone a full reorganization in the past few months. Customers can still expect all the same departments they love, with newly expanded areas, including golf, sports, and
tools. One of the most popular new spaces is all about our four-legged friends.
“Since helping animals is PAL’s focus, we dedicated an entire room to pet items, filling it with everything a person could dream of to keep their cat or dog happy,” said Bashaw.
PAL Thrift has something for everyone, including lower priced items as well as de-
signer items and antiques. How can the store offer so many unique, specialty finds all in one place? Quality donations from people like you keep shoppers coming back on a regular basis to see what’s new.
“People donate some of the most beautiful pieces of furniture, and when they hit the floor, they don’t last long,” said Bashaw. “If you have a large furniture donation, PAL Thrift will come pick it up for free.”
If you have a flair for retail and a love for animals, PAL Thrift is always looking for fun, enthusiastic volunteers like Joanne
Smith, who has been volunteering at the store since 2008. She enjoys using her creativity and organizational skills to support PAL’s no kill rescue programs.
“I love animals and I want to help them all and keep them happy and healthy,” said Smith. “I love helping make their lives better.”
Need another reason to stop by and see what’s new in store at PAL Thrift? Mingle with adorable, adoptable pets as you browse this Saturday, July 8, from 10 a.m. to noon. Anyone who brings a pet food donation for PAL’s Adoption Center will receive a free PAL vehicle magnet.
To learn how your purchases and donations give abandoned, abused and neglected animals a second chance at life, visit palmettoanimalleague.org/thrift.
Tick borne diseases are fairly common in most environments and it is especially evident here in the South. Whether dog ticks or deer ticks, they are in pine straw, leaves and anywhere you walk that may be wooded or even near the beach.
Home grown methods that are homeopathic or natural don’t seem to do an adequate job in our area at preventing our dogs from getting infected. They don’t seem to be powerful enough to keep these little bacteria-carrying parasites off.
There are all sorts of veterinarian-recommended pesticide type medications that do an adequate job at helping to keep the ticks from infecting our dogs, but alas, even though their efficacy is very high, they don’t always do the trick.
The fact is that most “preventives” don’t
prevent the tick from biting. Most people with dogs use the once-a-month pill method or liquid topicals or collars. And yet I know dozens of dog owners who have reported that even though their dog is on a reputable tick treatment regularly, their dog has tested positive for anaplasmosis or other tick diseases.
Tick titers can be run through bloodwork and can be run yearly to see if your dog is infected. Treatments are fairly simple, usually a course of antibiotics such as Doxycycline.
Common symptoms to look for are mostly muscle and joint soreness and lameness, lethargy, fever, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite. The varieties of tickborne diseases include lyme, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and others.
Keep your lawn areas cut short and treat the lawn or other areas your dogs are exposed to. There are regular pesticides which,
if used, you should keep your dogs off the areas treated for 48 hours. There are also natural ones that are not perfect but certainly make the areas less hospitable for ticks.
Personally, I use products from a company called Wondercide. In addition to yard spray, they also make a spray that can be used on your dog. This is not meant to be the definitive preventive as other, more
potent, applications are but in addition.
If you know you will be walking your dog in a wooded area, using a topical spray to deter the ticks from being attracted to the dog is a good idea. Also, when you see a tick on your dog, the key is to remove it immediately whether imbedded or not.
The theory behind the vet-recommended methods is that the products will work on the dog prior to the tick imbedding in the skin, or at least before the tick can inject its bacteria into the dog. Unfortunately, some of the ticks did not get that memo about the time frame and the dog gets infected anyway!
Check your dog regularly and if the tick is imbedded, make sure you remove the head of the parasite.
Abby Bird is owner of Alphadog Training Academy. AlphadogTrainingAcademy@ gmail.com
Bluffton American Legion, Post 205, in conjunction with the Bluffton Fire Department held a flag burning ceremony on Flag Day, June 14. Old, tattered flags were collected during the year and were retired during an official ceremony. Anyone wishing to discard their old, worn or damaged American flags may drop them off at any of the five Bluffton fire stations.
For the first time in its history, the U.S. Women’s Open is being played at Pebble Beach Golf Links July 6-9. This is extremely important to the ladies’ game and is an affirmation that the LPGA has finally arrived.
The women will be playing for a purse of $10 million, up from $5.5 million last year. What makes Pebble Beach so special is that it is a public course that can be played by anyone who can afford the $800 green fee, cart or caddie. I was fortunate to play the course in the 1980s with my son and it was one of the best golf experiences of my life.
Pebble Beach annually hosts the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. It is one of the most-watched golf tournaments on the PGA Tour.
Spectators have many great memories of the course: Tom Watson chipping in on hole No. 17 as Jack Nicklaus watched, Jack Nicklaus hitting a 1-iron at the flagstick on hole No. 17 in 1972, Tiger Woods winning in 2000 coming from seven strokes behind with spectacular shots.
Also, the Pro Am lets the spectators see celebrities and athletes from other sports playing the course. Bill Murray is a favorite of the fans.
Jim Nantz, popular golf commentator, who lives adjacent to the Pebble Beach course, has listed his favorites for the Women’s Open: Lydia Ko, 2022 LPGA player of the year; Minjee Lee, defending U.S. Open champion; Jin Young Ko, who last week broke a 13-year-old LPGA record for being No. 1 on the Rolex Ranking for 159 weeks; Nelly Korda and Brooke Henderson. However, his pick to win the tournament is tour rookie Rose Zhang.
Zhang is the most heralded female golfer in the past 40 years. She has won almost every amateur event she has entered. She won the 2022 and 2023 U.S. Amateur, the 2023 Augusta National Women’s Amateur, and 12 college tournaments at Stanford (more than Tiger Woods). She was the first woman to win back-to-back NCAA Championships.
Zhang also won the 2022 Carmel Cup amateur event played at Pebble Beach with a second-round score of 63, setting the women’s course record at Pebble Beach. She held the top position in the Women’s World Amateur rankings for 141 consecutive weeks.
Last month, Zhang won the first LPGA event she played in since turning professional, beating seasoned golf professional and major champion Jennifer Kupcho in a two-hole playoff at the Mizuho American Open.
Stacy Lewis, Solheim Cup captain, has already approached Zhang about possibly being on the Solheim Cup team in September. The United States team could use Zhang’s help to win its first Solheim Cup in six years.
The Women’s U.S. Open field has the best players in the game, both amateur and professional. For added excitement, Michele Wie, 2014 Open Winner, and Annika Sorenstam, 1995, 1996, and 2006 Open winner, are playing this year in the tournament on special invites. I can’t wait to watch this tournament and see the women’s game finally take its place in the golf world. It has been a long time coming.
Dr. Jean Harris is an LPGA Master Professional and teaches at local golf courses. jean.golfdoctor.harris@gmail.com; golfdoctorjean.com
As we pass the six-month mark of 2023, we are on the edge of an industrial revolution, in which nanotechnology and robotics will revolutionize the real estate industry. Say hello to Nana and Robi, and get ready to buy and sell real estate like you never did before.
While robots might be lacking (or might be better) in social skills, here’s how and why they could replace Realtors: They are super smart. Real Estate robots will be programmed to have an IQ of 150. Even though it will be artificial intelligence, this intellect will have more smarts than the real intelligence that most humans have.
They are there for you 24/7. These robots are always ready to take care of your real estate needs. They never get
tired, they don’t go on vacation, and they are always available in the evenings and on weekends.
They can optimally price your home. With their advanced analytical capability, in mere minutes they can analyze all comparable properties, current tax values, cost per square foot, appreciation, depreciation, and even factor in price adjustments for location and improvements to arrive at the best selling price for your home.
They can provide an effective marketing plan to sell your home. In addition to stating exactly what they will do to sell your home, they will also provide you with a marketing timeline and update on tasks completed.
They have all the local housing for sale information. When buying, if you can verbalize the features of your dream home (and price range), robots can
provide you with a list of homes that meet your exact criteria.
They can show you the above homes while you are sipping your hot chocolate or coffee. Just slip on the HGs (hologram glasses) and tour the top home contenders. See the outside, inside, all the rooms, and all special features of these homes in any way you like.
They are trustworthy and have your best needs at heart. Robots are programmed to make your objectives and goals their No. 1 priority, and even though they don’t have a heart as we know it, they are always representing your best interests.
They work cheap. They are happy to be paid in nuts and bolts.
Larry Stoller is a broker and Realtor with Real Estate Five of the Lowcountry. Larry@ RealEstateFive.com, RealEstateFive.com
Get your body and your mind moving while helping support local families living with Alzheimer’s and related dementia in the Memory Matters’ third annual 5K Beach Walk and Run, to be held Sept. 9 on Hilton Head Island.
The start and finish line will be on the beach in front of the Marriott’s Grand Ocean, 51 S. Forest Beach Drive. Participants will be able to access this part of the
beach via the Alder Lane Beach Access.
Before the 5K, a 400-meter Fun Run will be available to children 6 years and younger, making this a family event for all ages. After the race, a pancake breakfast will be provided to all race registrants prepared by volunteers from Providence Presbyterian Church located directly across the street from the beach.
“The best part of this race is that all funds
raised in the race will stay right here in Beaufort and Jasper counties to help the local families that rely on Memory Matters’ programs and services,” said Memory Matters Executive Director Jill Horner.
Free parking will also be available at the church prior to the race.
Strollers and four-legged friends are welcome.
Registration is open now at secure.front-
stream.com/2023-move-your-mind-5k. For more information, email joy@ mymemorymatters.org for more information.
Memory Matters was founded in 1997 on Hilton Head Island to serve families dealing with memory loss. The nonprofit organization is nationally recognized for its memory care, support and education programs.
FIREARMS TRAINING, basic safe handling to advanced defensive shooting. Have you recently acquired a pistol and would like to feel comfortable with it? Classroom and range training for men, women, small groups, and couples. Call certified instructor Dr. Jack at 43-422-3172.
CLASSIFIED ADS WORK! CALL 843-757-9507
YOUR AD HERE CAN REACH 25,000 households and businesses from Moss Creek to Sun City to Callawassie Island. Promote services, sell goods, announce a yard sale, buy a house, sell a house, find a job, find employees, ask for help, offer help! Ads starting at $28 for 40 words. 843-757-9507.
CLASSIFIED ADS WORK! CALL 843-757-9507.
CLASSIFIED ADS WORK! CALL 843-757-9507
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CLASSIFIED ADS WORK! CALL 843-757-9507
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• Home Organizing
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BLUFFTON | HILTON HEAD ISLAND
Through July 9
“Rent,” Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning, ground-breaking musical set in East Village of NYC, May River Theatre, in Ulmer Auditorium inside Bluffton Town Hall, 20 Bridge St. Tickets $25, available now at mayrivertheatre.com.
July 8
Grand Opening celebration, of new Children’s Art Museum at Jepson Center, part of Telfair Museums, 207 W. York St. in Savannah. Hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Engaging, inspiring exhibits and hands-on, interactive spaces for toddler ages and up.
July 8
“Sleeping with the Ancestors,” book signing by author Joseph McGill Jr., 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Heyward House, 70 Boundary St. historicbluffton.org or 843-757-6293
Through July 9
“Binya: Faces ob de Gullah Geechee,” at Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. Features more than 50 portraits and related objects from the 1920s, telling stories of individuals across the Gullah Geechee corridor. Open during operating hours, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. 843-689-6767 or coastaldiscovery.org
July 18-20
“Halfway Home,” sea turtle art exhibit at Art League Academy, 106 Cordillo Parkway, Hilton
Head Island. In collaboration with Sea Turtle Patrol HHI, featuring sea turtle-themed artwork by local artists. Closing reception 5-7 p.m. July 20. Artleaguehhi.org or 843-681-5060
Through July 22
“Come to the Table: A Celebration of Food and Drink,” exhibit of artworks by Denise Liotta DeMarzo, at Art League of Hilton Head gallery, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. Gallery hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday, 90 minutes before all Arts Center performances.
July 24-28
Broadway Dance Camp, program of Main Stage Community Theatre at Hilton Head Ballroom Dance Studio, 1300 Fording Island Road, Bluffton. Daily 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., taught by Sandro Virag, five-time national dance champion and Broadway dancer. For ages 12 to 28, all levels of experience. Space limited; more information at info@msctheatre.org.
July 25-Aug. 26
“Aquascapes,” coastal abstracts by Andrea Smith, at Art League of Hilton Head, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. Opening reception 5-7 p.m. July 26. Artist demonstration, 11 a.m. Aug. 16. Free and open to the public. Gallery hours 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, and 90 minutes before every Arts Center performance. Artleaguehhi.org or 843-681-5060
Through July 30
“From My Imagination to Yours,” exhibit of works by Virginia Cassidy at SOBA, 8 Church St., Bluffton. Opening reception 5-7 pm. July 5 at the gallery. Free and open to the public.
Through July 31
“Wheels,” exhibit of automotive photography by Chandler Hummell, at Island Recreation Center lobby gallery, 20 Wilborn Road, Hilton Head Island. Hours 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Chandlerh.com
Aug. 6-20
Savannah Voice Festival, various venues, including Hilton Head Island, in partnership with Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra. Recitals, concerts, opera, movie nights and more. info@savannahvoicefestival.org.
Through Aug. 20
“Jersey Boys,” Tony Award-winning story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, at Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. Tickets on sale now at artshhi.org or 843-842-2787.
Aug. 24-27
“God of Carnage,” Sun City Community Theatre at Pinckney Hall, 7 p.m. Aug. 24-26, 2 p.m. Aug. 27. More information and tickets at suncitytheatre.org.
Jersey Boys is the Tony Award-winning musical sensation about the Four Seasons – the rise, the struggles, and personal clashes, and the ultimate triumph of a group of friends whose music became symbolic of a generation ... and beloved by generations to follow!
It’s the incredible journey of four guys bound by one dream – to make it to the top. Experience electrifying performances that led them to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Can’t Take My Eyes off You,” “My Eyes Adored You” and more.
The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina’s summer production is the electrifying Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning “Jersey Boys,” running now through Aug. 20.
“Jersey Boys” is the mesmerizing true story of four young men from New Jersey who went on to become one of the greatest rock ’n’ roll sensations of all time – Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.
The show takes you behind the scenes – and behind the music – of their gripping journey, from humble beginnings as a group of blue-collar boys with big dreams, to their meteoric rise to stardom.
Their journey to the top is not without sacrifice. The musical explores the price of fame and the impact it has on the lives of this quartet. Through their trials and triumphs, “Jersey Boys” spotlights the friendship, loyalty and the indelible mark left by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons on the music industry.
Bursting with hit songs like “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like
a Man,” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” this production hits all the high notes, spanning almost 50 years of the band’s remarkable history, replete with pitch-perfect crooning and tight harmonies.
Todd Underwood, who directed and choreographed the summer hit said, “This story leaves me breathless. There’s laughter … there’s conflict … there’s passion. This show will touch you in a way that makes this iconic, multi-generational music come alive like never before.”
With musical direction by former island resident Dan Gibson and performances by a rock-solid cast of performers, “Jersey Boys” is a must-see production, and the finale to the Arts Center’s amazing 2022-23 Theatre Season.
Tickets for “Jersey Boys” are going fast. Purchase online at artshhi.com or by calling 843-842-2787.
Parental guidance is strongly suggested. Recommended for ages 16 and up, due to adult themes, some violence, and strong language, as written in the script.
4 & 7:30PM
Melissa Villaseñor broke barriers by becoming the first-ever Latina cast member of Saturday Night Live. A comedic impressions expert, she got her start as a semifinalist on America’s Got Talent. Some of Melissa’s most memorable impressions include Owen Wilson, Lady Gaga, and Dolly Parton.
HOT PEPPERS IN OIL 9
Fresh cut Hungarian hot peppers in oil and herbs (GF)
ROASTED PEPPER HUMMUS 10
Traditional style hummus with fire roasted sweet peppers (GF)
CALAMARI 13
Fresh tender squid, lightly floured and fried, served with lemon wedges and homemade marinara sauce
SAUTEED GREENS 12
Italian greens sauteed with evoo and topped with Hungarian hot pepper (GF)
GREEK NACHO 14
Crispy pita chips topped with house seasoning, ground lamb, arcadian lettuce, onions, tomatoes and tzatziki sauce
CAJUN SCALLOPS 16
Cajun scallops in trinity cream sauce served over pasta
LAMB LOLLIPOP 19
Tender lamb chops char-dusted and grilled, served with homemade horseradish sauce (GF)
SAUTEED MUSSELS 15
Sauteed mussels with fresh garlic touched with homemade marinara (GF)
BLACKENED TUNA 14
Pan seared ahi tuna served rare over green mustard and avocado salad mix drizzled with ponzu
MOZZARELLA CAPRESE 12
Tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil drizzled with balsamic reduction and evoo (GF)
CAESAR SALAD 14
Chopped romaine lettuce garnished with anchovies and parmesan cheese served with Caesar dressing (G FR)
ROASTED BEET SALAD 16
Mixed greens, oven roasted red and yellow beets, blue cheese, red onion, and candied walnuts served with cilantro vinaigrette (GF)
GREEK SALAD 14
Mixed greens, feta cheese, red onions, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and olives served with white balsamic (GF)
Virginia Cassidy wants to capture the imagination of her audience just as the canvas has captured her imagination.
“Everything I do comes from what I see in my head – colors, shapes, imaginary scenes. No reference photos,” Cassidy said. “I let my intuition guide me, often taking me in directions that I don’t expect. Every blank canvas holds the promise of a new adventure.”
“From My Imagination to yours” will be on exhibit through July 30 at the Society of Bluffton Artists (SOBA) gallery in Old Town Bluffton. An opening reception will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. July 6 at the gallery, 8 Church St. These events are free and open to the public.
Cassidy works primarily from her Bluffton-based home studio. She began painting in earnest when she retired from her career as a business consultant in 2019. Her primary medium is acrylic, occasionally incorporating other items into her art to create mixed media pieces. While Cassidy is partial to trees, flowers and landscapes,
her work also includes non-representational abstract paintings that focus on the use of color, shape and texture.
“I love to experiment and combine different styles, techniques and tools,” she said.
“As you view my art, I encourage you to use your own imagination to interpret what you see. Transport yourself into my idealized world of color, beauty and wonder.”
Cassidy is an exhibiting member of The Society of Bluffton Artists and the Art League of Hilton Head. For more information, visit facebook.com/ZenDenArtistry.
SOBA is part of the flourishing art hub in Old Town Bluffton’s historic district. As a nonprofit art organization, SOBA offers regular art classes, featured artist shows, exhibitions, scholarships, outreach programs and more.
The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, visit sobagallery.com or call 843-757-6586.
“Aquascapes,” a selection of coastal abstract acrylic paintings by artist and graphic designer Andrea Smith, is the featured exhibit for July 25 to Aug. 26 at the Art League of Hilton Head Gallery, 14 Shelter Cove Lane.
An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. July 26. An artist demonstration will be offered Aug. 16 at 11 a.m. for attendees to learn more about the artist and her process.
Smith is the solopreneur behind 7th & Palm, her modern line of greeting cards, paper goods and gift items, founded in 2015. Covering a wide range of artistic endeavors, her current work in acrylics is inspired by the colors and textures of the Lowcountry, showcasing a range of large to small abstract coastal paintings on canvas, paper, cards and a variety of textiles and gift items.
“Aquascapes” is a visual adventure in hue and texture, depicting the colors, lush waterlines, and coastal landscapes from an
abstracted, aerial perspective. Paired with additional coastal subject matter, she allows texture and movement to show off various interpretations of watery landscapes, flora,
and fauna using acrylics, brushes, palette knives, and found objects.
Smith is well known locally for her fresh, modern line of greeting cards, paper goods,
and gift items, curating her work as accessible and affordable “art for your everyday.” Her work is also found in select gift shops around the country, at local festivals and markets and on her website, 7thandpalm. com.
Art League Gallery is located mid-island inside the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane.
Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, and 90 minutes before every Arts Center performance.
Art League of Hilton Head is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit visual arts organization on Hilton Head Island with a synergistic art gallery and teaching Academy.
Art League Gallery features local artwork in all media created by more than 200 member artists. All artwork on display is for sale and exhibits change every month. For more information, visit artleaguehhi. org or call 843-681-5060.
Art League of Hilton Head has partnered with Sea Turtle Patrol HHI, a nonprofit organization that monitors and supports the nesting and hatching of sea turtles on Hilton Head beaches, to help raise both awareness and funds for this endangered species.
A special three-day exhibit, “Halfway Home,” featuring sea turtle-themed artwork created by local artists, will be held at Art League Academy, 106 Cordillo Pkwy., July 18-20, with a closing reception from 5 to 7 p.m. July 20.
The exhibit and the reception are free and open to the public.
“We named the exhibit Halfway Home because we’ll be right at the halfway point of the sea turtle season,” said Kristen McIntosh, executive director of Art League of Hilton Head. “The artists have created some beautiful pieces for sale, and we’re thrilled to be able to help such a worthy cause.”
“We patrol the beach daily from May through October, protecting our sea turtle population and educating beachgoers
throughout the season,” said Amber Kuehn, director of Sea Turtle Patrol HHI. “Our volunteer staff depends on the support of the local community. Partnering with Art League means the world to us.” Gallery hours for this exhibit at the Art League Academy are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 18-20.
Art League of Hilton Head is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit visual arts organization
on Hilton Head Island with a synergistic art gallery and teaching Academy.
Art League Academy welcomes artists and students in all media at all skill levels, including true beginners. Taught by professional art educators, students can choose from many art classes and workshops that change monthly.
For more information, visit artleaguehhi. org or call the Academy at 843-842-5738.
