August 3, 2021 • Volume 24, Issue 15 • Complimentary • BlufftonSun.com
INSIDE • Bluffton boys win second state title, head to World Series 12A • County releases new storm water management manual 16A • US 278 project causes concern among many residents 20A • Students get creative at Camp Conroy 30A • Job Fair offer choices for those seeking work or workers 34A
Proposed bike path unites riders, divides others in community By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTOR
To pave or not to pave. That seems to be the question. The Alljoy community, a small, quiet corner of unincorporated Beaufort County, has staunchly held onto its character as being separate from Bluffton. That attitude seems to have touched off a debate about whether a paved bike path that would invite more visitors is wanted or necessary, or where said pathway should actually be created, if at all. The Alljoy Road Pathway Project was one of 24 passed when county voters approved the 2018 One Cent
Sales Tax Referendum. In 2019, due to lack of funding, it fell off the list when County Resolution 2019/22 set priorities. Prior to the referendum, however, a study was done and the Alljoy community responded, citing a need for a pedestrian/bike path along Alljoy Road due to safety concerns. The historic name of the neighborhood is two words – All Joy – although it is frequently seen, as on maps and county documents, as one. It’s named after the All family, who had the first hotel there and called it their “joy,” according to long-time Bluffton resident Annelore Harrell. Some of that joy seems to have
Please see ALLJOY on page 8A
GWYNETH J. SAUNDERS
Houses and mailboxes along parts of Alljoy Road are very close to the existing roadway.
County staff hosts meeting to address stormwater issues Beaufort County staff, along with County Council representative Mark Lawson, will host a community meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Bluffton Recreation Center to address stormwater management in the Alljoy neighborhood. Information provided will include agencies responsible for stormwater management
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in the area and how to report drainage issues, broken infrastructure, illicit discharges, clogged pipes and debris. Staff will be available to answer questions. The meeting is open to the public. Bluffton Recreation Center is located at 61B Ulmer Road. For more information, visit beaufortcountysc.gov or call 843-255-2802.
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The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
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SUNNY SIDE UP
Taking a moment to regroup helps conquer occasional angst By Lynne Cope Hummell EDITOR
Stop. Rest. Breathe. These were the words I whispered to myself on a recent cloudy afternoon when I felt overwhelmed by a myriad of “things” on my plate that needed attention. I had to step away from my phone, my computer – even my home office – to take a moment to regroup. I walked across the hall, sat on the edge of the bed and stared out at the green oasis that is our backyard. The view itself was calming. I don’t know where the three words came from, but I was grateful for them in that moment. If I hadn’t stopped to rest for a few minutes, I might not have been able to breathe. More words followed, notes to myself: You can’t do it all. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just do your best.
Have you ever had one of those days (weeks, months, years?) when everything in your life just seems to crash into everything else? The “things” aren’t necessarily bad, but when they all converge at the same time, none of them want to yield – maybe they don’t have room – and they get scrambled in a ginormous metaphysical blob. They get stuck in your head, your inbox, at your door, in your car. Consider the following as kinds of scenarios that might have occurred in your own life: You overslept, the kids are late for day camp, one of them is crying, you have yet to pack their lunch, your spouse took your car, and the keys to the other car are nowhere to be found. Once you finally got the kids in the car and down the road, you discovered there’s been a wreck on the highway – again – so traffic is at a standstill and the AC isn’t working but you can’t put the windows down because it’s raining. And none of the kids brought
their snacks and someone has to potty. Or this: Your spouse was out of town for a few days, so you have the house to yourself, and you cleaned out the kitchen cabinet and a junk drawer and packed a box of thrift store items, but your car is already full of stuff to be delivered so you have to pile it all by the door. You rearranged the living room, accepted five Amazon deliveries, made dinner from leftovers, and slept on both sides of the bed. While the house was quiet, you looked for that juicy summer novel you wanted to read but found instead a notice that you must file a tax form that had been overlooked, so you email the accountant, remembering at the same time that you haven’t renewed the flood insurance and there’s a storm coming and surely this house will fall down around you if the wind blows one more gust. Or this: It’s deadline week and you have one
more day to finish your prep work. You grab your morning coffee, realizing you have two stories to finish writing, a Zoom call to transcribe, 10 more articles to edit, a dozen photos to resize, and a story budget to prepare, but the phone continues to ring and emails keep coming with story ideas and events that are happening, and did you know about the baseball team that’s going to the championship, and sorry my article is late but I’ve been busy, and I know the photo is fuzzy and yes, that’s what he said but I’m not sure it’s correct and I don’t think the name of the restaurant matters. See what I mean? Not all of the above happened to me on this particular day, but some of it did. How did I cope? When I returned to my office, 10 steps down the hall, I immediately converted my angst to words. Thank you for reading them. I feel much better now. I hope you do too.
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August 3, 2021
EDITORIAL
Current Circulation Via USPS is 24,670 Finalist: Small Business of the Year, HHI-Bluffton Chamber. Winner of the SAPA General Excellence Award; 1st place, Front Page Design; 2nd place, Most Improved Publication; and 3rd place, Self-Promotion Advertising. IFPA-SAPA 3rd Place, Business Coverage
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CONTRIBUTORS Abby Bird Amy Coyne Bredeson Amy Campanini Chip Collins Collins Doughtie E. Ronald Finger Jean Harris Christine Herrin James Jenkins Lou Marino
Oswald Mikell Weston Newton Gwyneth J. Saunders Larry Stoller Charlie Stone Rebekah Thompson Scott Wierman Mark F. Winn Tim Wood Holly Wright
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BlufftonSun.com For more information, contact: Kevin Aylmer PO Box 2056, Bluffton, SC 29910 843-757-9507, 843-757-9506 (fax) Physical address: 14D Johnston Way Bluffton, SC 29910 All contents 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 BLUFFTON SUN Issue 15, August 3, 2021 is published twice monthly by Lowcountry Local Media, Inc., 14D Johnston Way, Bluffton, SC 29910. Periodicals Postage Paid at Bluffton, SC and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE BLUFFTON SUN, PO Box 2056, Bluffton, SC 29910-2056.
Oversight committee seeks to increase efficiency By Weston Newton CONTRIBUTOR
As I have described in this space on many occasions, the House Legislative Oversight Committee, which I chair, is not a policy committee but an investigating committee charged with the responsibility of reviewing all state agencies on a seven-year recurring cycle. This must be Weston Newton done in an open and transparent manner to determine if agency laws and programs are being implemented and carried out in accordance with the intent of the laws creating the agencies, and to make recommendations as to such agency laws and programs – whether the same should be continued, curtailed, or eliminated. Since the committee’s inception, we have continuously worked to modify, improve and make more efficient the annual reporting requirements of state agencies and the use of the reports. Promoting efficiencies across state government continues to be among our focal points. A benefit of the House Legislative Oversight Committee’s process is the ability for
legislators to identify and bring attention to issues that affect multiple agencies and, ultimately, the state government’s use of the people’s money. One such issue is redundant data manual entry. Initial inquiry prompted by the committee notes more than 30 state agencies report some amount of redundant, manual entry of data from another state agency. Essentially, state employees in different agencies are entering the exact same data. Initial inquiry indicates this amounts to more than $100 million in state resources (e.g., employee time and salary) devoted to performing these redundant and repetitive tasks. The committee promotes agency efficiency and effectiveness in operations. State government efficiency could be improved by reducing the number of times the data has to be entered and agency efficiency could be improved by reducing the chance for human error in the manual entry. For example, between May 2014 and January 2020, at least 40 inmates were detained past their release date due to inadvertent errors in calculation and data entry. This resulted in the Department of Corrections holding inmates at least 7,549 additional days, or almost 20.5 years, requiring additional state expen-
ditures of almost $500,000. Agency effectiveness could be improved through reallocation of these resources to other pressing needs. Identification of issues is only a first step. Increased inter-agency collaboration and planning is key to ensuring future procurements will afford an opportunity for non-sensitive data to be more freely shared among state agencies using technology rather than repetitive manual data entry. Our agency studies now require reporting as to which other agencies use or need the same data, what efforts or plans have been made to collaborate, and what obstacles, if any, prevent the nonsensitive data sharing and reduction in redundant work by the state. Over two centuries ago, Ben Franklin wrote, “Haste makes waste.” State agencies should heed his words even today because the past haste to meet individual agency needs has led to waste through missed opportunities to share data. It is an honor and privilege for me to serve you in the House of Representatives. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I may be of assistance. Weston Newton is the representative for District 120 in the State House of Representatives. WestonNewton@schouse.gov
Letter to the Editor To the Editor: Our fragile democracy is endangered; so say scholars, historians and concerned citizens nationwide: “Populism is a Political Problem that is Placing Democracy at Risk,” fsi.stanford.edu; “Creeping Fascism in Historical Parallels,” idsnews.com; “Is American Democracy at a Breaking Point?”penntoday. vppenn.edu; “Whether the United States will remain a democracy,” bostonglobe.com, June 3. In “A Democratic Paradox,” Wikipedia describes an escalating, internal conflict within modern democracy that is created by the union of two separate strands of political thought, the tradition of classical
liberalism of human rights and individual liberty versus the tradition of democratic theory, each strand challenging the other for a place of dominance within our system. “Democracy at Risk-A Global Prospective,” by the Keough School of Global Affairs, highlights a number of scenarios in the 2020 election and identifies struggles to safeguard our democracy, recommending long-term structural reforms and reducing future electoral risks by enhancing voter access and security. Further, a major cause of democratic decline is a state-led weakening of political institutions that sustain our democratic system such as a peaceful transition of power
within a well implemented electoral system. These articles have one common thread of constructive agreement: we all must be active, responsible voters. Despite the threats to our democracy from within, including conspiracy theories, “truth is not always the truth,” “ alternative facts,” disinformation, etc., we in the Lowcountry must demand accountability and trust with independent thinking, bipartisan progress by our government and its officials while continuing to protect both our individual rights and shared freedoms.
Earle Everett Moss Creek
August 3, 2021
t k
The Bluffton Sun
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The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
SUN ON THE STREET
Bringing back fond memories of most exciting, fun vacations With this feature, we seek to capture a glimpse of what you and your neighbors have to say about a variety of topics, is-
sues, events – and just plain fun questions. You might see us anywhere around town, with notepad and camera, randomly
Morgan Crutchley, Bluffton: “Antigua Guatamala. It was easy to get to, great food, and no Americans.”
Rose Cofield, Bluffton: “Carrera, Italy – I went there for a stone-carving workshop. We also went to iop[]\asdfghjkl;’zxcvbnm,./ Florence. The architecture was UIOP{}|ASDFGHJKL:”ZXCVBNM<>? awesome.”
seeking out folks who are willing to participate. If we find you, we hope you will want to respond.
Allison Dubois-Adach, Modena, N.Y.: “The most exciting vacation was through Italy – seven days and three cities. It was my first trip abroad, I was with girlfriends, and we had lots of fun.”
Strolling along Calhoun Street on a recent Sunday, we asked: “What was the best vacation you’ve ever taken?”
Tammy Blanchard, Bethpage, Tenn.: “Hilton Head Island, for some quality family time at the beach. It’s a girl cousins’ meet-up.”
Shelly McCharen, Midwest City, OK: “It was the last one I took – to Breckenridge, Colo. We experienced white water rafting as a family, and it was pretty cool.”
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The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
ALLJOY from page 1A
Hurricane Season
Be Ready Be Safe Be Prepared Hurricane season begins in June and runs through November. It is important to plan ahead so you are safe in an emergency. Prepare now for the risks associated with stormy weather and be prepared to act on that plan. Palmetto Electric is here and ready to respond. Like us on Facebook and/or follow us on Instagram and Twitter or visit our website for the most up-to-date storm and outage information. Call 1-866-445-5551 or use our free PEC MyEnergy mobile app to report power outages. Download the 2021 Hurricane guide at https://www.scemd.org/ stay-informed/publications/hurricane-guide/. Tips for before, during and after the storm, visit palmetto.coop or go to https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes. Palmetto Electric’s official emergency information stations: •HOT 98.3(WGCO) •G 100.1(WXYY) •Rock 106.1(WFXH) •Bob 106.9(WUBB) •Rewind 107.9(WRWN) •The Island FM 96.1/AM 1130/(WHHW) Download the free South Carolina Emergency Manager mobile app to help build and customize a personal emergency plan.
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This house at the curve of Alljoy Road sits close to the road near the entrance to the public boat landing and across from the beach.
dissipated at the moment, as residents take sides over the proposed pathway plans, which are still in a pre-design phase, according to the Beaufort County website. Proponents say the path would be desirable for locals and visitors who want to cycle to the small beach and boat landing on the May River rather than drive to the few parking places available. It would be good exercise, a beautiful ride, and would also be a safer route since pedestrians and bikers share the two-lane road with vehicles towing boats to the free county boat landing. The road is wide enough for vehicular traffic, but the existence of a shoulder fades away the farther one travels from Burnt Church. Carol Weir, who lives in Hidden Lakes by Red Cedar Elementary School, said both she and her husband are big bike riders, cycling almost every weekend. “The Alljoy beach, which we used to call Brighton Beach next to the boat landing, is now a county park. It used to be privately owned, so now the public has been explicitly invited to come use it,” Weir said. “The people are nice, polite, welcoming. It’s beautiful, and takes me about 20 minutes from my home. It’s always
breezy, great watching the boats going by. I take my rest, I drink my water, I look at the beautiful view, and then I ride home.” Weir said a dedicated path would be welcome. “The view is very serene when you get there. The riding there is not at all serene and calming. It is very scary because people ride too close, and the trailers are wide,” she said. “I don’t think the drivers know how close they come, and there’s no good place to pull off because there is no shoulder. And you hope the driver knows what to do and the boat isn’t wobbling.” Weir said there are always people at the boat landing area – people who come by car, bicycle and golf cart. There are families, couples or groups of people taking advantage of swimming, picnicking and enjoying the view. “I would say it is very well used,” Weir added. Alljoy resident John Treadaway and his wife Chris are also in favor of a path, but with some modifications to the plans presented at several community meetings. “We would like to see that they
Please see ALLJOY on page 10A
August 3, 2021
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The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
ALLJOY from page 8A
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change the plans slightly to make the path narrower and not go all the way around the beach. They’re talking about making it one way, and it’s going to be tough with people walking, biking and driving with big boats. I don’t think they’re capable of making the turns with a 30- to 35-foot boat,” Treadaway said. “If the bike path were to end at Thomas Lawton that would be pretty ideal. My wife Chris and I walk and ride our bikes a lot, and would like to be able to come back into Old Town, and not feel like we’re going to be run down. I’ve lived in Bluffton 30 years, and just moved down to that area a year ago. We love it and don’t want to see it changed, but a bike path would be good for exercise.” Like others have commented, the bike path isn’t necessarily the greatest need for the community. Treadaway said the drainage definitely needs to be addressed, and that Alljoy’s county council representative, Mark Lawson, has been in contact with several state representatives to work on it. As South Carolina State Road S-713, any work on the drainage issues as well as the decision about a pathway will be made by the South Carolina Department of Transportation. In response to increasing interest by residents about drainage issues, county Stormwater Manager Katie Herrera said there will be a public meeting regarding drainage at 6 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Bluffton Recreation Center to clarify which agency has what responsibility. That should help residents like Bob Williams, who sees the drainage as more important than an additional pervious surface. “Right in front of my house on Martha Lane there’s a drainage ditch that is connected to a drainage ditch on Allendale Road, and it goes down to the water. Beaufort County has never dug it out,” he said. Citing similar nearby conditions, Williams added that an 8-foot wide pathway – the width that has been proposed – would exacerbate the problem. Williams said other concerns have
to do with the boat landing, trash pickup and whether emergency vehicles will be able to make the turn to respond to a fire in the interior of the neighborhood by the boat landing. “They’re going to change the entrance to the boat landing. I took my boat down there and tried to do it the way they want, and it’s impossible. Supposedly they want to connect the Town of Bluffton to here because we have a small beach,” said Williams. “Right now we have a trash problem here, and luckily our neighbors pick up the trash. They find all kinds of trash – paper, bottles and needles. With more people coming, it’s going to be more trash and more litter.” Like many who attended meetings and submitted written comments, Williams wants any pathway to return to the original route first proposed. “In 2012, there was a proposal to put a bike path down Shad to Ulmer where there is a huge amount of children. That was so they could ride their bikes down the road to the rec center, which now is totally underused because it’s hazardous, because they have to ride on the road. And they could ride their bikes to school,” Williams said. “The whole purpose of the pathway is connecting the Town of Bluffton to Alljoy beach.” Alljoy residents have cited several issues of concern for their neighborhood. In providing information to the community about those issues, Brittanee Fields, Beaufort County engineering senior administrative specialist, emphasized that, “As a state-owned road, this proposal is only viable if SCDOT approves.” The same holds true about any changes to the boat landing or the addition of a boardwalk. The public comment period ended July 30, but the materials and the maps used at the public meetings are available at beaufortcountypenny.com/meetings/alljoy-road-pathway-public-meeting. Gwyneth J. Saunders is a veteran journalist and freelance writer living in Bluffton.
August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
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August 3, 2021
Bluffton brings home second state title, heads to World Series By Tim Wood CONTRIBUTOR
A team of nine- and 10-year-old budding diamond stars have already made history representing Bluffton. Now, the Bluffton American Minors All-Stars are looking to take home a World Series title. The team was victorious in a weeklong battle to take home the state title earlier this month – the second straight title under head coach Nick Carpenter and the first-ever age group state titles for the town. Now, the crew of 12 All-Stars head to Laurel, Miss., to play in the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series, beginning with a border showdown with Georgia on Aug. 7. “It’s been a real special run here, these kids have worked so hard, come together after competing against each other in 2019,” said Carpenter, a long-time Marine who is coaching in a sling after surgery to correct a chronic arm nerve injury. The 2021 team is a combining of two squads that competed against each other in 2019. Carpenter coached the Bluffton
The Bluffton American Minors All-Stars 10-and-Under baseball team poses for a photo after their state title win in July. The team includes: Finn Boyles, Austin Broene, Jacob Broene, Nicholas Carpenter, Capers Crosby, Nic Farrugia, Truman Jarrett, Caleb Malphrus, Charlie Nelson, Henry Numssen, Noah Sepulveda, Zack Szypczak. Head coach Nick Carpenter. Assistant coaches are Justin Jarrett and Jonathan Malphrus.
American 8-and-under Double-A division team that won the district and state tourney and went to the World Series, while Justin Jarrett coached the Bluffton National squad that finished second in districts and was final four in the state tourney. The two coaches combined resources and founded two different travel ball teams to
give the kids more chances to play in a tournament atmosphere ahead of Dixie Youth season play. “We’ve had about 25 to 30 kids out for travel ball and I think that’s really made a difference in bringing out these kids’ talents and determination,” Carpenter said. His son, Nicholas, is one of four current
players on the Triple-A division 2021 team that played in the World Series in 2019 alongside Finn Boyles, Noah Sepulveda and Zach Szypczak. “It was incredible to get there in 2019. I’m just so proud of my teammates for getting us back here,” said the younger Carpenter after a recent practice. “It was rough missing the year waiting it out due to COVID, but we all kept focused and kept working.” The Minors crew started 9-0 in their tourney run. They beat Colleton and Hilton Head once each and won two games against the Bluffton National team to take the district title on June 20. The Minors began States by outscoring Greenwood, Sumter and Gregg Park by a combined 30-1 before the first of an epic trilogy against a valiant Moncks Corner crew. Bluffton won the first battle, 8-7, and then downed Midland, 10-3, to get to the title matchup, where Moncks Corner would need to beat Bluffton twice to dethrone the champs. In the first game on July 15, the
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August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 13A
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Page 14A
The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
CHAMPS from page 12A challengers came out blazing in a 13-2 win that handed Bluffton their first loss of their summer run. The team regrouped after the morning defeat and stayed focus on the fundamentals and teamwork that brought them to the precipice of a title. “That was a tough spot, but a great learning moment for all the kids and they rose to the challenge,” the coach said of his squad’s resilience in the third tilt with the Moncks Corner crew, a 7-5 Bluffton win to earn the state championship trophy. “We got nervous, that was a close game. That was a really good team, they played a lot of small ball, just a lot of speed and good hits, but we were ready,” said the veteran Szypczak, who splits time pitching and playing first base with Nic Farrugia. Even more impressive than the on-field victory was that Bluffton earned the state tournament’s Sportsmanship Award, given to the team whose players best exhibit qualities of respectful competitiveness. “It’s one thing we’ve drilled home with the kids and I’m super proud of them for that. They represent Bluffton well on all fronts,” said coach Carpenter, who credits Jarrett for helping to push sportsmanship above all. “I mean, we want to win but we don’t want to crush them. We want them all to keep playing baseball and having fun,” said second baseman Caleb Malphrus, summing up the Minors’ overall spirit. His teammates we talked to at a recent practice – Szypczak, Charlie Nelson, Truman Jarrett, the junior Carpenter and Farrugia – all said sportsmanship and playing for each other were the most important and best parts of their current run together. “To get to jump on each other after, that was just the ultimate,” said outfielder Nelson, a comment earning collective smiles of agreement from the crew. “To know we earned that by playing as a team, it’s a great feeling.” When asked which among them was the best player, none of these ballers bit on the trick question. “We’re all great,” said Farrugia. The group all agreed that dumping a big water jug on Coach Carpenter after the States win was a huge prize. “Man, we got him so good. We dumped two jugs on him,” said a smiling Farrugia. “It was a crazy combo, but we pulled it off. He was soaked,” Jarrett said. “We get to
shave his head if we win in Mississippi.” Baseball runs deep in the family of all these kids in the parent-run Bluffton Youth Sports program. Each of the boys agreed when Szypczak said, “I wanted to follow in my Dad’s footsteps and I fell in love with the game.” Carpenter said one key addition was recent Northern transplant Henry Numssen, who shared starting pitching duties with Boyles and Farrugia for much of the current run. Carpenter, Szypczak, Nelson and Austin Broene are the team’s bullpen aces. The championship run has meant a lot of sacrifices for parents and players – including up to a week at a time on the road in hotels and a long upcoming road trip to Mississippi. For their part, the kids are unfazed by the trips, reveling in the team-building time around the pool table. “Playing pool, that’s been so fun. The hotels have been the best,” said Nelson, earning nods from his teammates. Bluffton will be joined by another local team in Laurel, as the Hilton Head Island 12-and-under All-Stars took their state title as well. The two teams scrimmaged each other July 31. “It just speaks volumes about the work we’re putting in with the kids in the Lowcountry,” Carpenter said of an unprecedented two area teams headed to represent South Carolina. The Minors have received fundraising support from local businesses and fans have started a GoFundMe campaign to help offset what could be up to $15,000 in expenses if the team completes their goal of a World Series title beginning Aug. 7. To donate, visit gofund.me/6756eecd. “The support from the community has been humbling and overwhelming. We’re trying to bring this home for the town,” Coach Carpenter said. Szypczak seconded that love of Bluffton and gratitude for getting to play baseball with his friends after a couple of summers unlike any of these kids have ever known. “We know there are a lot of kids across the country still in lockdown or under restrictions that can’t play,” he said, “so we’re just feeling lucky and thankful to be playing and really appreciating this moment.” Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. Contact him at timwood@blufftonsun. com.
August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 15A
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Page 16A
The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
Stormwater management efforts elevated with regional manual By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTOR
A brand new document addressing the issues created by stormwater has been adopted by Beaufort County, and is making its way through the staffs and councils of Jasper County, the City of Beaufort, towns of Bluffton, Port Royal and Hardeeville. The Southern Lowcountry Stormwater Design Manual was a coordinated effort by representatives of the counties and municipalities to protect the region’s waterbodies. The work began in 2018 and a final draft was finished in March 2020. Although all of the agencies listed participated in creating the document, only Beaufort County has finalized adoption of the document. “This manual is not mandated. Beaufort County is the only municipality that has adopted the standards in this manual at this time,” said county Stormwater Manager Katie
COURTESY BEAUFORT COUNTY
Standing stormwater in drainage ditches that don’t properly drain is a cause for concern for communities in Beaufort County.
Herrera. “All developments within the unincorporated portion of Beaufort County are managed by this
manual.” “Stormwater” might sound like just a lot of water, but what that water
does after a storm is cause for concern, particularly for communities that depend upon waterways for commerce and recreation. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control website states, “Stormwater runoff occurs when precipitation from rain or snowmelt flows over the ground. Impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks and streets prevent stormwater from naturally soaking into the ground.” “Stormwater can pick up debris, chemicals, dirt, and other pollutants and flow into a storm sewer system or directly to a lake, stream, river, wetland or coastal water,” Herrera said. “Anything that enters a storm sewer system is discharged untreated into the waterbodies we use for swimming, fishing, and providing drinking water. Polluted stormwater runoff can have many adverse effects
Please see STORMWATER on page 18A
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Page 18A
The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
STORMWATER from page 16A
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on plants, fish, animals and people.” Unlike household water supplies, stormwater is not treated. If someone dumps a bag of trash on the road, it will eventually be carried to a drain, ending up in local waterways and affecting the offshore ecosystem. “What we do on land in the ecosystem affects what’s offshore,” Herrera said. The effects of stormwater aren’t divided by property lines, nor limited to one town or another. “Stoney Crest Plantation Campground RV Park is a great example of why we need this,” said Debbie Szpanka, Town of Bluffton’s public information officer. “It’s in Beaufort County, but its stormwater and its pollutants flow into the Town of Bluffton watershed. (The water) is not respectful of jurisdictions, and is a perfect example of why we should all be working together. What happens in one jurisdiction affects another jurisdiction, so it’s important that we have consistent standard operating procedures and uniform practices.” Bluffton has not yet adopted the manual, although Szpanka said it will likely be on an upcoming town council agenda in the next few months. “For the county as a whole, this is the first step in improving the conditions as we step forward for the next 20 years, and as we standardize the practices,” said Chris Ophardt, Beaufort County public information officer. County-wide, everyone has the same stormwater issues. “The county does have the option to increase regulatory requirements in impaired waterbodies. In the Okatie River, we have the ability to have more stringent requirements,” Hererra said. “Our requirements are already very stringent, and we have not had to use that in recent memory, but we do have the option to increase the requirements.” It might not be readily apparent to most residents, but the proper management of stormwater after serious rain events provides for safely draining county roads.
“We benefit by regulating stormwater runoff. Because this place is so unique and 50% of the county is water, most people live within a half mile of a creek or a river,” Herrera said. “It’s important to us that we have these regulations so that we are preserving what our ecosystem looks like, and to improve it, similar to the principles of the Clean Water Act, which is to make our waters fishable or potable. Certainly we are not going to drink out of the Okatie River, but we want the waters to be safe for our fisheries and our people.” Hererra said that what Beaufort County residents do has an impact on the environment and, as stormwater manager, it’s important to her that those impacts are positive. “Because we keep our county beautiful, we provide an attractive place for people to visit us. For the locals we enjoy eating outside, looking at the water. For business owners, they also manage their own properties and control water on site. Managing their own stormwater is a huge help,” Herrera said. “Keeping all that clean is a positive impact on what our economy looks like, and how our local businesses do.” One method residents can use to inform county government departments about stormwater as well as illegal dumping, traffic light issues or other concerns is to use the Beaufort County Connect app, available for Android and iOS users. “This sends your concerns directly to the relevant department,” said Hererra. “We have a lot of people, and they’re all over the county, but they may not be in an area near you when something happens. Our citizens are everywhere, so they can use this app, and we can respond as necessary.” For more information on the Southern Lowcountry Stormwater Design Manual, visit beaufortcountysc.gov/stormwater. Gwyneth J. Saunders is a veteran journalist and freelance writer living in Bluffton.
August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 19A
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Page 20A
The Bluffton Sun
EldEr law & EstatE Planning CEntEr
August 3, 2021
U.S. 278 project team faces disgruntled residents
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Jared Medlin of the US 278 Corridor Improvements team talks with Hilton Head Island resident Judy Dunning about proposed changes in traffic patterns in the Stoney Community.
By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTOR
With few exceptions, individuals who spoke at the U.S. 278 Corridor Improvements Open House held July 21 were uniformly against the “recommended preferred alternative” route chosen by the South Carolina Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration and Beaufort County. The project, begun in 2018, was to “address structural deficiencies at the existing eastbound Mackay Creek bridge and reduce congestion within the project study area,” according to the 2,915-page U.S. 278 Corridor Improvements Environmental Assessment (EA). The project now proposes intersection improvements, replacement of both the Mackay Creek and Skull Creek bridges, and improved access to Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge and the C.C. Haigh Jr. Boat Landing. SCDOT hosted the open house at the Hilton Head Island Recreation Center, setting up nine staffed information stations with big screen monitors displaying routes and traffic studies, and informative
posters displaying artists’ renderings of future landscapes. Visitors were able to speak with project team members for four hours before the public comment period began at 6 p.m. The alternative on display was the finalist out of an initial 22 total options that ranged from “No Build” to “Mass Transit” to a quickly discarded route that picked up at the end of the Bluffton Parkway and stretched across the water almost to the May River, tying into the Cross Island Parkway and causing unacceptable levels of impact en route. Despite the SCDOT project team’s efforts to allay worries, resolve concerns and answer questions – and there were lots of them – those who spoke during the comment segment and those who submitted more extensive written comments were not swayed. The first to speak was Patsy Brison, co-founder of the Coalition of Island Neighbors (COIN), which has been encouraging residents to become knowledgeable about the project, participate in meetings and provide written comments
Please see HWY. 278 on page 22A
August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 21A
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Page 22A
The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
HWY. 278 from page 20A
GWYNETH J. SAUNDERS
Palmer Simmons, a resident of the Stoney Community, looks at a display screen with projections of how his neighborhood might look if the SCDOT preferred alternative is approved.
to the project team. In addition to objecting to the open house being held before the town’s consultant, MKSK, completed its land use plans, during the height of the tourist season, and before the data from the Cross Island toll cessation is gathered, Brison stated she was totally against the recommended preferred alternative. “I am for replacing deficient bridge spans; against a six-lane expressway; and against standard bridge and road design,” Brison told the more than 125 attendees. “I am for increased safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. I am for safe access to Pinckney Island. I am for an iconic and aesthetic entrance to the island.” One subject Brison was equally emphatic about was repeated by nearly every speaker, and a concern by those who spent time examining the displays. Once more, the historic Stoney Community will be impacted by changes to the road that cuts through the neighborhood. Once considered the “downtown” of Hilton Head during the early to mid1900s because of all the businesses, Stoney is one of the Sea Island Gullah communities, which also includes Squire Pope, according to the Gullah Heritage website. When the Stoney Initiative Area Plan, part of the Town of Hilton Head Island Comprehensive Plan, was written in
2003, it was clearly stated that infrastructure improvements would likely need to be made to the roads leading to the island, but “widening the existing William Hilton Parkway through Stoney should not be assumed to be a given.” The SCDOT project proposes widening the road by taking 40 feet of land from the front yards of those who live along the road and will require the relocation of two businesses. “I’m for protection and improvements to Stoney. I’m against an expressway through Stoney,” Brison said. “I’m against your finding of no adverse effect on Stoney. At best, it is disrespectful and inaccurate; at worst, it is the worst of human creation.” She was not alone in her concern. Palmer Simmons, who lives on Spanish Wells Road and owns property along U.S. 278, acknowledges that the project is going to happen, but “It’s a matter of how it’s going to happen. And how it’s going to affect the people it’s mostly going to affect,” he said. Simmons is deeply concerned about his neighbors in the historic neighborhoods. “How are they going to be compensated for what is going to happen? What is fair compensation after all these many years? We’re going to be displaced
Please see HWY. 278 on page 26A
August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
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The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
‘Innovative’ Wright Family Park honored with Achievement Award The Town of Bluffton received a Municipal Achievement Award for its Wright Family Park from the Municipal Association of South Carolina. The award was presented during the organization’s annual meeting in July on Hilton Head Island. The town won the honor in the 10,00120,000 population category. Twenty-seven cities and towns submitted their projects and initiatives for consideration in the annual awards. With the expansion of its park offerings as a goal of its Old Town Master Plan, the Town of Bluffton had long sought to buy the Wright family property to make it a park. The property, vacant since the 1990s, is located on the May River and features the Squire Pope Carriage House, a structure with more than 150 years of history. The town partnered with Beaufort County to purchase the property for $1.5 million, with an agreement that makes the town the park’s operating partner. Archaeological digs by the Historic Bluff-
Todd Glover, left, executive director of the Municipal Association of South Carolina, presents an Achievement Award trophy to Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka in July.
ton Foundation yielded dozens of artifacts at the site. Town staff worked with the Wright family and preservation experts to incorporate the family’s and town’s history into the park’s signs, elements and landscaping. “As it has been developed, the Wright Family Park gives all residents and visitors a better opportunity to experience the ecology, culture and identity of one of the South’s last historical river villages,” said Todd Glover, executive director for the Municipal Association.
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Page 26A
The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
HWY. 278 from page 22A or otherwise uprooted for the benefit of the island as a whole?” he asked. “I don’t think anyone is going to deny that the road is needed. More lanes of traffic in the middle of a neighborhood is going to adversely affect the quality of life. I don’t think you can word that any other way.” The impact on Stoney isn’t the only concern of many residents. “I’m concerned that this project was done trying to figure out how to get more people onto the island – tourists primarily – because I don’t think there’s much home development here,” said island resident Judy Dunning. “So, when you try to figure out how to get more tourists onto the island, in the end, it’s a limited space. I believe in development, and I believe in making the tourists happy, but they’re not going to be happy if they can’t move around once they get here.” More lanes of traffic and the proposed new traffic patterns are causing some people consternation. “I live in Bermuda Pointe and I have many clients who live in the back gate of Hilton Head Plantation or near that,” said Jean Wardell. “With the current proposal,
GWYNETH J. SAUNDERS
An estimated 125 people attended an open house hosted by the U.S. 278 Corridor Improvements team July 21 at Island Recreation Center on Hilton Head Island.
we’re going to have to go this roundabout circuitous road to where I work on Old Wild Horse Road, and it’s going to add a lot of time and a lot of travel to our
commute for people trying to get where they need to go.” The proposed route eliminates lefthand turns – westbound at Spanish Wells
Road, and eastbound at Squire Pope Road – and requires U-turns in order to access those roads. The plan adds a new traffic light at Old Wild Horse, which will become a one-way street, allowing left turns from Hwy. 278 eastbound as well as U-turns. Another traffic light will be added at the Windmill Harbor entrance, which will allow left turns out of the community, westbound toward Bluffton. Peter Christian, representing the board of directors of Hilton Head Plantation and the board of directors for the Jarvis Creek Club on Spanish Wells Road, thinks planners “can do a lot better.” “This is not about the people who live here. This is about moving people to the south end of the island … maybe. An additional light at Windmill Harbor is lunacy, and it can be done in a better manner,” Christian said. “While eliminating left-hand turns for the folks that live here, you’re putting a left-hand turn at Windmill Harbor. I don’t get it. A new light at Old Wild Horse Road with only U-turns. Ill-advised. The design seems
Please see HWY. 278 on page 28A
August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
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Page 28A
The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
HWY. 278 from page 26A island that does not fly or come by boat, comes across Jenkins Island, and they go through the intersection. That is a very hazardous intersection, and we think it will save lives in the long run.” Interest in the project isn’t limited to island residents. Brenda and John Lozan wondered if the proposal would affect Moss Creek and found out that “it doesn’t, apparently.” “We definitely need something and if this is the best alternative, then I’m for it. I think one of the nice advantages for Moss Creek is there will be a bicycle path and walking path over to Hilton Head, if that’s what people want,” said Brenda Lozan. “That old bridge isn’t safe. We’ve grown so much, our way of life has changed dramatically. And I feel bad that it will affect Stoney.” John Lozan sought out the answer to a question others had about retaining one of the bridge spans. “I asked if any consideration had been given to at least retaining a section of the old bridge to be used in emergency situations, like an accident on the new bridge or hurricane evacuation,” Lozan said.
“The answer was ‘no.’ I think it looks like a reasonable alternative. I’m sure the timetable will stretch, like they always do, and I hope it will be completed in my lifetime.” Though no timeframe estimate has been given for completion of the work, the total estimated cost for the proposed project is $283,832,429. Included in that amount is $80 million from Beaufort County’s one-cent sales tax. Island residents receiving value for the money allocated is one of the concerns of Risa Prince, also a COIN co-founder. She said she has asked some supporters of the penny tax about their opinions of the SCDOT proposal. After reading several opinions, she concluded, “No one said this is good enough,” she said. Prince continued: “The EA assumptions are flawed. Why did SCDOT use the 2010 30-year traffic model when that model was proven obsolete in just seven years? And if Hilton Head were to get that amount of traffic, where would those vehicles go on an island with finite capacity and existing parking problems? SCDOT’s approach is one of 100%-ca-
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to have been done without consideration for the third of the island’s full-time residents who live between Squire Pope and Gumtree Road, down the Old Wild Horse corridor. All the folks who live here, they’re the people who vote. “The intersection of 278 and Squire Pope Road fails for approximately two and one-half hours Monday through Friday between 4 and 6:30, a total of 12.5 hours a week,” Christian added. “There are 168 hours in the week. Without taking into consideration off-season when traffic is much lower, it’s 7.5% of the week and we’re eliminating all left-hand turns. We can do a lot better than this.” Charles Perry of Windmill Harbor, on the other hand, was representing folks who definitely want that light at the entrance to their community. “With regard to the stop light as proposed in the alternative, we at Windmill and Windmill Harbor Association – which I represent – support and endorse that stop light. It’s something that has been needed for a long time,” said Perry. “Whether or not anyone realizes or not, every person that comes onto the
Bluffton Parkway
pacity driven while the community values of safety and quality of life are ignored. It is time for the right project. ... With a questionable volume goal, unmet community needs and no proven performance measurements, does this EA deliver the right value for us, the taxpayers? For me, and those I have spoken to, the answer is ‘no.’ We believe that Hilton Head deserves better.” The entire Environmental Assessment can be found in downloadable chapters at scdot278corridor.com. Comments on the EA are due by Aug. 22 and can be sent to: US 278 Corridor Improvement Project c/o South Carolina Department of Transportation Craig Winn, P.E. P.O. Box 191 Columbia, South Carolina 29202 Comments can also be submitted via the project website at scdot278corridor. com or via email to info@scdot278corridor.com. Gwyneth J. Saunders is a veteran journalist and freelance writer living in Bluffton.
August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
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The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
Campers channeling Conroy create collaborative collection
LYNNE COPE HUMMELL
Camp Conroy instructor Miho Kinnas, center, shares a chuckle with camper Rileigh Alford, left, and teen counselor Addie Bowers while discussing Rileigh’s art and writing journal.
By Amy Coyne Bredeson CONTRIBUTOR
This year’s Camp Conroy, a two-week literary day camp in Beaufort, took place in the very same building where the Lowcountry’s beloved author Pat Conroy studied and later taught in the 1960s. Hosted by the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, Camp Conroy takes young writers and artists on an adventure through the world of book building. This year’s camp was held July 12-24 at Beaufort Middle School, which was once the location of Beaufort High School. The camp gives children ages 8-14 a chance to experiment with various genres of writing and art styles. Campers work independently and collaboratively on projects, then choose their favorite writings and art to go into an anthology that will be on display at the literary center and available for purchase on Amazon. The anthology includes stories, essays, poems, artwork and photography related to this summer’s theme, “Free to Be.” “The first week is about creating, about getting a sense of what you might
do,” said Jonathan Haupt, executive director of the Conroy center. “Then, early in the second week you settle into the pieces you are definitely going to want in the book, and start refining them. By the end of the second week, you’re collaborating to build that book together.” Camp Conroy is led by Haupt and a team of published instructors and featured guest speakers. This year’s team included award-winning children’s book author and editor Lisa Anne Cullen, children’s book author and artist Robin Prince Monroe, and poet and translator Miho Kinnas of Hilton Head Island. Sixteen children, including two of Conroy’s grandchildren, participated in this year’s camp. Campers attended workshops on story development, editing, critiquing, poetry writing, flash fiction writing and bookmark making. They learned different art techniques and created a collaborative piece that will be on display at the literary center. Bluffton High School teacher Deborah Womble and three talented teenage camp counselors also had a huge part
Please see CONROY on page 33A
August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 31A
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August 3, 2021
God’s Goods thrift celebrates decade
God’s Goods Thrift Store in Bluffton celebrated its 11th anniversary and its more than 500 volunteers who have served over the last decade on July 31. Last year’s 10th anniversary plans were postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the thrift store has reopened to shoppers and also is accepting donations five days a week. The store also is looking for more volunteers with the hope of extending hours in the future. God’s Goods began after members of The Church of the Cross went on a mission trip to Belize and were inspired to share their abundance of blessings in a larger way. When the store first opened for business in 2010, it had approximately 60 volunteers, many of them Sun City residents. The store, located at 15A Centre Drive in Bluffton, remains staffed solely by volunteers and managed by an all-volunteer leadership team. Currently, about 300 people each work three to four hours a week in the store as cashiers, in customer service, staging furniture, picking up
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August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 33A
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Author Stephanie Austin Edwards leads a workshop on effective critiquing of someone’s work at Camp Conroy. After Edwards read a story introduction, campers took turns giving their constructive critiques.
in the camp this year. One of Womble’s former creative writing students, Addie Bowers, a 2021 graduate of Bluffton High, didn’t know much about Conroy before working at the camp. She was impressed that the Southern-born white author had taught a group of black children in the segregated South. “I mean, that is so cool,” Bowers said. “He was just the coolest guy.” Bowers and the other two counselors, 15-year-old Alex Bosley and 16-year-old Lee Lemstrom were there to keep the children safe, help them with their projects and encourage their creativity. In addition to earning some spending money, the young women learned a lot and were able to publish their own work in the anthology. The three counselors worked with Haupt to give a presentation about Conroy to the campers, each speaking about different parts of the author’s life. “This is a really clever group, and we want them to have the freedom to express themselves and find their own voice,” Haupt said. “But they need a little bit of direction. And the counselors – because they’re just a few years older – they’re actually able to do that much more effectively than the old-timers. It’s wonderful to have them part of the camp.”
Bosley and Lemstrom were not new to Camp Conroy. The two had participated in the camp in its first two years and became close friends there. Bosley said meeting Lemstrom was a turning point in her life. The two friends inspire each other to keep writing and work on projects together. Bosley said attending that first camp helped her realize she could write and publish her own work, which gave her great joy. The power of the location was not lost on the adults. “It’s happening for our counselors in the same building where it happened for Pat Conroy, where he made the transition from student to teacher,” Haupt said. “The writing life that he dreamed of as a kid really started to open up for him as well. It’s nice to see the circle continue.” For more information on the Pat Conroy Literary Center, visit patconroyliterarycenter.org. The center is located at 601 Bladen St. in Beaufort, and is open for public tours from noon to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays, and other times by appointment. Amy Coyne Bredeson of Bluffton is a freelance writer, a mother of two and a volunteer with the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance.
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Page 34A
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Imagine walking into a job interview in an inviting atmosphere where a number of employers have gathered – as eager to find good workers as you are to find good work – and being approached warmly with a smile and handshake from someone who says “Hello! How are you? How can I help you today?” This welcome is what job seekers can expect at a job fair planned for Aug. 18 in the Parish Hall at St. Luke’s Church on Hilton Head Island. Beyond the greeting, if you have preregistered for this job fair, you might also be outfitted with suitable interview clothing, a haircut, a fresh new resume, and a job coach. This isn’t a typical job fair. In fact, it is unique in a number of ways, said Mellissa Foster, of Better Together, a nonprofit based in Naples, Fla. The organization works with churches across the country to bring a new approach to solving the unemployment and underemployment problem. Even individuals who might have a less
than stellar record can expect to speak with employers who respect rehabilitation and recovery, and are willing to give someone a second chance. Members of St. Luke’s who are involved in ministry programs at Ridgeland and Allendale state prisons connected with Better Together after fellow volunteer Cathleen DeCourcy of Ridgeland found the organization while researching programs for National Second Chance Month two years ago. “At that time, I had several discussions with them regarding hosting a job fair in South Carolina,” DeCourcy said. DeCourcy is the executive director of Partners in Transition Inc., based in Ridgeland. Alas, the organization required that a church sponsor the event. “So, I spoke with a few churches that I was familiar with that had a presence in prison ministry,” she said, but didn’t find just the right fit “until this year, when St. Luke’s and Rob Cushman took on the challenge.” Better Together was established 2015 with the mission of helping at-risk Florida
Please see JOBS on page 35A
August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
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JOBS from page 34A families stay together by giving them preventative resources and keeping the children out of foster care. “We help parents who are homeless, that are coming out of drug addiction, that have no family, no support, that want to keep their kids with them. They want to be better, they want to make better choices, but have no one to help them do that,” Foster said. After a few years of working with families, the organization began a program to address a primary problem that sent people to them in the first place: job loss. “So we created our Better Jobs ministry,” Foster said, which is national, and which can be implemented anywhere a church is willing to host a job fair. Organizers are trained by Better Jobs and given tips, tools and strategies that work, but how each job fair is structured is up to the church and its volunteers. “A job fair in Hilton Head is going to look a lot different than a job fair in Chicago Heights,” Foster said. “It depends on what the community needs most.” One thing that makes these job fairs unique, Foster said, is that they are celebratory. Job seekers don’t just come in, fill out an application and leave. “At our job fairs, people are walking in, and they are getting an immediate ‘Hello, how are you? How can I help you today?’ because the church has done a good job of getting volunteers to love on these people when they walk in,” Foster said. The personal attention helps attendees feel “seen and loved.” Another unique aspect, Foster said, is that participating companies are told to send someone who can hire on the spot. “This is where one in four people who come to our job fairs walk out with a job or opportunity,” she said. Some specific fairs are Second Chance Job Fairs, where the only employers participating are those willing to give jobs to individuals who have a felony or misdemeanor background. Job seekers with a record can be confident going in, because everyone knows about it, and that’s OK. The other unique part of these fairs is that they are always within a church and working with church volunteers to conduct the fair. “Only 2% of churches in the United States have a workforce ministry,” Foster
said. “What we are trying to do is – 80% of churches have a benevolence (ministry), so we are wanting churches to flip that script. We’d love to see 80% of churches in the United States have job fairs and work ministries, help people getting out of prison get back to work so we can get ahead of that problem, and not just give them a check.” “One of the things we are trying to do is get job seekers to pre-register,” said Cushman of St. Luke’s, a member of the leadership team for the job fair. “If they do pre-register, there are a number of things we can offer them. If they don’t, those things will be offered, but in an abbreviated way.” Among the extras are suitable interview clothing, provided by the Church Mouse Thrift Store (a ministry of St. Luke’s), ahead of visiting with employers, the availability of a haircut, preparation of a resume, and a “grab bag” prize. “To be prepped and ready for this job opportunity is part of the celebration,” Cushman said. Every person who attends the fair will get a gift certificate from the Church Mouse to be used for clothing, shoes and accessories for job interviews. Ambassadors will not only greet attendees but will ask if they have a resume or need one, if they have a business card or need some, “and we’ll have a printer and a computer set up with a volunteer there to walk them through the process,” Cushman said. One of the highlights of these job fairs, Foster and Cushman said, is the Opportunity Bell. When a person gets a job during the event, that individual gets to ring the bell. “It brings tears every single time I see somebody ring it,” Foster said. “People’s eyes light up the second they get to ring that bell. They’re so excited and they’re proud – they just got a job! They finally found a way to provide for their family!” When the bell rings, everyone in the place stops to applaud. Cushman said he was a little skeptical at first about the need for a job fair, when “every door on every business” in the community has a sign about needing workers. During the training however, “We were blown away” by the program and template that Better Together pro-
portunity, but is a good resource for the underemployed, Cushman said. Employers who had signed up at press time include CRAB hospitality group, Carolyn’s Landscaping, Hilton Head Social Bakery, Monarch Roofing, Palmetto Dunes Resort, South Carolina Highway Patrol, South Carolina Yacht Club, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. As Cushman described networking with other churches, Foster chimed in to point another way this job fair is unique: “Your church, Rob, is starting something unique, in a place that has not had one The Opportunity Bell will be placed in the – we don’t have any churches in South center of the upcoming job fair at St. Luke’s Carolina (hosting a job fair) except this Church. Anyone who secures a job that day will one. ... People are going to take note and have a chance to ring the bell and celebrate they’re going to want to be part of it.” their success. Some have already taken note, Cushvides partner churches. man said. Two prison ministry delega“Everyone on the leadership team tions, one from Greenville/Spartanburg is going out and asking businesses to and one from Charleston, are planning to participate,” Cushman said. Some of the come and observe. companies have signed up as “second The Community Job Fair will be held chance” employers – those who are aware from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 18 in the Parish that someone might have a record, and Hall of St. Luke’s Church, 50 Pope Ave. are willing to give a second chance. This on Hilton Head Island. To pre-register, fair is not just a “second chance” opvisit bettertogetherus.org/events/hhi-jf.
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The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
Family Fun Day set for Aug. 10 at Coastal Discovery Museum The Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head Island will hold its Family Fun Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 10 at their location at Honey Horn. The event will give the public another opportunity to see what the Coastal Discovery Museum has to offer. Guests will be able to see the Museum’s boardwalk exhibits; learn about the local salt marsh; explore the Replica Shell Ring and see what sort of shells, animal bones, and more are hidden. Bird watching with the Hilton Head Audubon Society will be available on the boardwalk. Visitors also will have the opportunity to visit the horse barn and pasture to see the resident marsh tacky Comet and his companion horse, Hawk. A visit to the Karen Wertheimer Butterfly Habitat will let attendees see the life cycle of various butterflies native to Hilton Head Island, as well as the new butterfly sculpture that has been installed. Bluffton musician Jevon Daly is scheduled to perform at 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. New to the event this year is the Chil-
dren’s Book Festival presented by the Pat Conroy Literary Center. The book fair will be held in the Pavilion on the grounds. Several local children’s book authors and artists will be present, and their books will be available for sale, along with a selection of other local and bestselling
children’s books. Also, a new fun activity is the Tiny Art Workshop, sponsored in part by the Town of Hilton Head Island Office of Cultural Affairs. Guests will be able to make original small works of art to share in the Town’s Tiny Art Galleries or to take home.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to pull up the crab trap, observe basket making, and participate in indigo tie dyeing as they learn about its importance of this cash crop from year’s past. The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina will have a nature-inspired craft, “Warhol Inspired Shoreline and Sea Prints,” and Outside Foundation, Morris Center, Lowcountry Master Naturalists and local historical organizations all will be on site as well. The South Carolina Institute for Archaeology and Anthropology – Maritime Research Division will bring their boat that they use for underwater archaeology surveys. “Conservation in the Classroom” will be on display in the Temporary Exhibit Gallery, featuring many local school students. There is no charge for admission and reservations are not required. The Coastal Discovery Museum is located at 70 Honey Horn Drive on Hilton Head Island. For more information, please call 843-689-6767 ext 224.
August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Bluffton student achieves ‘highest possible’ ACT score By Amy Coyne Bredeson
Page 37A
We’re now The Pines!
CONTRIBUTOR
Jared Reuben has always done well with school testing, but he never thought he would earn the highest possible composite score on a college entrance exam. A rising senior at Hilton Head Preparatory School, Jared earned a composite score of 36 on the curriculum-based achievement exam, an honor that fewer than “onehalf of 1% of all test takers” in the United States receive, according to a press release from ACT. In the high school graduating class of 2020, the press release said, only 5,579 out of 1.67 million students earned a composite score of 36 on the ACT test. The Bluffton teenager said he left the test center feeling good about his performance on the test, but he knew there were a few questions he got wrong. “I was fairly confident that I had done well, but I was definitely surprised to see that I had done so well,” Jared said. Jared said he did not get every question correct, but he got enough questions correct on each section that it counted as a perfect score. He thinks he missed four or five questions total. Jared had just sat down to take a final exam when a friend told him he had received an email with his test results. Jared quickly checked his email and saw the good news. “I definitely sighed a large breath of relief,” Jared said. “It felt good to know that I had a good score that I could use … and that I would never have to take the ACT ever again.” He texted his mother right away, who was, of course, elated to hear the big news. “We are just so proud of his hard work and accomplishment,” Jared’s mother said. Jared’s parents, Jill and Jeff Reuben, celebrated by taking their son out to a nice dinner at Akomeya Asian Bistro in Bluffton that night. Jared was born in Beaufort and attended Beaufort Academy until the second grade, when his family moved to Bluffton and he started attending Hilton Head Preparatory School.
it’s not a reopening, it’s a homecoming! JILL REUBEN
Jared Reuben of Bluffton with the letter he received from ACT notifying him of his “significant and rare” achievement.
Jared is thankful to have attended the school. “I definitely think they prepared me for ACT the most,” Jared said. “Just my math and English classes have been very helpful there. So I feel lucky to have gone there.” Jared will turn 18 on Aug. 13 and is not yet sure where he wants to attend college. His favorite subjects are math and science, but he is leaning more toward science after his most recent chemistry classes. In college, he’d like to focus on some sort of chemistry, possibly chemical engineering. Jared’s hobbies are playing video games, board games and card games with friends. He plays violin in his school’s orchestra and is active in the theatre program. More importantly, Jared loves helping people. He and a friend, Jack Gigante, founded the South Carolina Suitcase Project to provide suitcases to children in foster care. For more information on their organization, visit thescsuitcaseproject.com. Amy Coyne Bredeson of Bluffton is a freelance writer, a mother of two and a volunteer with the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance.
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800 Fording Island Rd. | Bluffton, SC 29910
Page 38A
The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
10 HOT SPOTS
Bones of contention: Where can we find the area’s best BBQ?
COURTESY BLUFFTON BBQ
The fresh out of the smoker ribs from Bluffton BBQ.
By Tim Wood CONTRIBUTOR
For Southern foodies, the topic I am about to broach is our Super Bowl. It is one that creates San Andreas-size fault lines in families, launches hour-long discussions at the local watering holes, and is an ever-evolving topic for endless debate. But I have to hand it to our unofficial panel that we keep turning to as we tackle our Hot Spots must-write list. When we’ve brought up other topics, even other food groups, the responses were more varied and the reasoning a bit more vague. When it comes to the best barbecue, Lowcountry folks know exactly what they like and why they like it. Here is our list, in no particular order. Because while we’re trying to provide long-timers and newcomers alike with helpful information, ordering this would create a deluge of responses too big for our inbox. Choo Choo BBQ Xpress, 129 Burnt Church Road, Bluffton, 843-815-7675 (PORK), choochoobbq.net: The little red caboose that sits on the property is a two-decades-long through line to some of the best barbecue chefs in the region, many on this list. The Corey family took over the caboose and opened an accompanying indoor-dining spot that offers traditional oak wood smoked BBQ offerings that many on our list point to as the area’s best. We’re particularly fond of the Trainwreck
Sandwich, a combination of pulled pork, pulled chicken and sliced brisket. And their lunch special is a bargain: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., get any sandwich with two sides and a drink for $11. Choo Choo also does some very respectable fried wings. Bluffton BBQ, 11 State of Mind Street, Bluffton, 843-757-7427 (RIBS), bluffton-bbq.com: Already sensing a trend in the phone numbers? Does anyone even know how to dial by letters anymore? I digress. Listen, you never forget your first. And for me, eating Ted and Donna Huffman’s creations was my introduction to what true barbecue. You think you’ve had it elsewhere, for me it was in New England, but the ribs, the pulled pork, the mac and cheese, the freshcut fries … it was a culinary awakening for me and my family back in the mid-2000s. The Huffmans are motoring along and still delivering on what foodies like Muffin on Ribs call the best ribs in the state and the Southeast. The couple are Bluffton historians, a walking encyclopedia of the area’s evolution. For that reason, and to follow get the proper experience, I recommend blocking out two-plus hours for a chat and the grub. But, they also do stellar takeout if you’re in a hurry. I’m thrilled the Huffmans recently took their first week off in more than a decade and are back in the kitchen more energized than ever.
Please see HOT SPOTS on page 39A
August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 39A
HOT SPOTS from page 38A Young’s BBQ, 1193 May River Road, Bluffton, 843-415-2764: So this is the third entry and these three spots are within a twomile radius of each other! That’s how blessed we are, folks. If you haven’t seen Rodney Young’s videos on social media, you’re not searching for BBQ in the right spots. His videos of the smoker in action start my Wednesday and Saturday mornings with a sensory overload and the belief that there are magicians are among us that just happen to do their best work with tongs and rubs. If you want what Young’s is offering, get there early. They are at their spot tucked behind streetside trees from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (or until the food’s sold out) two days a week. Their corn on the cob is a delight, their collards and baked beans are exemplary and we’re just talking sides, people! Smoked chicken leg quarters, please. I mean, all of it, all the feels, but that’s where I start. And as a special bonus, you might just see the new BluffDog food truck parked alongside Young, another comfort food treat. Jim ’N Nicks, 872 Fording Island Road, Bluffton, 843-706-9741, jimnnicks.com:
When I began this list, I felt like it was going to be unholy to put a chain restaurant among these local titans. But there’s a reason that some concepts hit the franchise stage. It’s because they’ve gathered such a following, caused such a taste bud ruckus that they must be consumed on a wider scale. That’s Jim ’N Nicks. They just deliver every dang time. Their catfish is so good that it personally distracts my ordering mission from time to time, but my kids are always on point with the pulled pork. And it never disappoints. Doesn’t hurt that the owners have engrained themselves as community champions, constantly supporting schools and fundraisers. Good people, and dang good BBQ. Bullies BBQ, 3 Regency Parkway, Hilton Head Island, 843-686-7427 (yes, RIBS again): Keeping it 100, I was not sure we were going to make it out to the island on this journey. All roads seemed to be pointing to the mainland, but Bullies fans had other ideas. Their slow-cooked hickory and mesquite wood creations, ribs smoked up to six hours, butts and briskets for more than
half a day have captivated the diehards. This spot about a half mile west of the Palmetto Dunes entrance wins with original sauces (that you can take home in bottles) and a menu from chef Bob Sutton that wins constant raves. One Hot Mama’s, 1 Greenwood Drive, No. 7A, Hilton Head Island, 843-682-6262 (MAMA – again with the number spelling); 104 Buckwalter Parkway, Suite 1A, Bluffton, 843-815-6262, onehotmamas.com: Orchid Paulmeier helped set the modern-day bar down here when it comes to barbecue. When she first opened the Hilton Head location in Reilley’s Plaza in 2007, she instantly developed a reputation for “nailing” Southern barbeque with a twist, some home-spun recipes influenced by her Filipino heritage that she will likely take to her grave. They are that special. Thankfully, she’s trained chefs to master her recipes at both locations (the more recent in the Berkeley Place cinema plaza after initially being in Bluffton at the current home of R-Bar) as she’s moved up the ranks to be a leader of the SERG Group.
The best of the rest: Words and space got away from us here, but there are a number of other quality go-to locales around the Lowcountry. Malone Barbecue (malonebarbecue.com) is earning fast praise as a go-to caterer beyond their pop-up location on May River Road in Bluffton. Duke’s BBQ is a bit more down the road in Beaufort (dukesbbqofbeaufort.com) but is the OG smokemaster chain, opening the original locale in Orangeburg in 1946. But the North of Broad location is outstanding. R-Bar in Bluffton has won raves for the spot-on cooking and moistness of their pulled pork. Cherry Point BBQ is in the old Cracked Egg location on S.C. 170 (2915 Okatie Highway, Ridgeland, cherrypointbbq.com) and is winning online praise as the “next” go-to spot. The 33 BBQ Food Truck focuses mostly on catering but is another earning high marks as a new kid on the block. And an old fave, Smokehouse on Hilton Head, is getting close to being fully rebuilt. Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. Contact him at timwood@blufftonsun. com.
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The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
Noteworthy • Maye River Quilters will meet Aug. 7 at Palmetto Electric Cooperative, 1 Cooperative Way, Hardeeville. The social will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the meeting following at 10 a.m. For more information, call 843-5301244. • The 11th annual Community Backto-School Fun Day will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Aug. 8 at Oscar Frazier Park, 10 Recreation Court in Bluffton. Festivities will include live entertainment by the Alliance Dance Academy, face painting, tug of war, hula hoop contest, waterslide bounce house, mini golf and dunking booth. Admission is free and free food will be available. As long as they last, backpack giveaways will provide school supplies for school age attendees. The event is presented by the Bluffton Area Community Association. For more information or to volunteer, call 843-3686755 or 843-684-9230.
• A Children’s Book Fair, presented by the Pat Conroy Literary Center, will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 10 as part of Family Fun Day at Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive on Hilton Head Island. The book fair will be held in the Pavilion on the grounds. Several local children’s book authors and artists will be present, and their books will be available for sale, along with a selection of other local and bestselling children’s books. The event is free and open to the public. • Judy Hutson of Bluffton, author of “A Special Place and Time: Palmetto Bluff during the Golden Age,” will sign copies of her book from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 14 at Burnt Church Distillery, 120 Bluffton Road. The event is free and open to the public. • As part of its Community Global Forum program, the World Affairs Council of Hilton Head will host Dr. Todd Wright at 10 a.m. Sept. 10 for his lecture on “Nu-
clear Power, the Next Generation.” The event will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway on Hilton Head Island, and is free and open to the public. Dr. Wright has more than 38 years of experience in the nuclear field with operations and management responsibility at major facilities throughout the world. For more information, call 843-3846758 or visit wachh.org/event-4364718 • The Children’s Center, a nonprofit child care organization, will host its Swing for the Future golf tournament Sept. 13 at Long Cove Club. The event is a no handicaps, step-aside scramble. Registration begins at noon with tee-off at 1 p.m. Entry is $250 per player and includes golf, cart, box lunch and after-golf cocktail party. Additional options include mulligans, pro help, hole-in-one entry and raffle tickets. To register, email jody-levitt@thechildrenscentersc.org.
• Volunteers are being sought to help with at the Move Your Mind 5K and 10K to be held Sept. 18 at May River High School in Bluffton. The event is presented by Memory Matters, a nonprofit organization focused on brain health. Assistance is needed before, during and after the race, including setting up, registration, water stations, and clean up. Volunteers will need to be available from 7 a.m. to noon. Those interested in helping may contact Pat Cleary at pat@mymemorymatters.org. • Calhoun Station Thrift Store continues to seek volunteers to help support the mission and vision of the nonprofit organization, and to work in the store, located at 77 Pritchard St. in Bluffton. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 1 p. Wednesday and Saturday. For more information, contact volunteer coordinator Cate Taylor at catetaylor@frontier.com.
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August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 41A
BUSINESS UPDATE
A new Adventure, restaurant openings top business news
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The new GoKart Hilton Head track is expected to open in mid-August at Adventure Hilton Head at Broad Creek Marina, off Marshland Road on the island.
By Tim Wood CONTRIBUTOR
We always have outdoor things to do here in the Lowcountry. But as far as classic family fun outings, there was a void for decades as we all walk the delicate balance of entertaining our kids without, as so many online commenters put it, “becoming Myrtle Beach.” Over the past few years, Roger and Pam Freedman have been building a family outing empire that combines the fun with the outdoors at Broad Creek Marina since opening a zipline park in 2012 that has become a go-to staple for tourists and locals alike. Now comes the next chapter of the story, as the Freedmans are preparing to open the island’s first go-kart course. It’s all part of the rebranded Adventure Hilton Head. The high-performance, driver-friendly electric double and single carts are the latest in racing technology, equipped with advanced safety features, with height and weight guidelines allowing for single drivers approximately 8 years old and up. The double carts are made for kids 3 and up to drive along with an adult. The go-karts will run about $15 per ride with a number of packages available for repeat rides and families to combine driving with the zipline adventures. It’s all part of a planned mid-August re-opening of the park with new COVID safety protocols in place. Both the
high-flying ecotour of seven ziplines with its dual cable racing finale and the Aerial Adventure, a six-rope obstacle course opened in 2016 with four levels of ability and 50 challenging obstacles, have been updated to provide even more adrenaline-pumping excitement. Adventure Hilton Head is a true fullday outing, complete with the popular Up the Creek Pub and Grill and a new addition already winning online raves, the park’s Paddles food truck. The adjoining marina offers a full array of water sports, dolphin tours and boat rentals. Roger Freedman said the new additions are the culmination of listening to customer feedback and working with the Town of Hilton Head Island to make it happen. “We have to thank the town staff and the passionate community for their continual support of this project which had its own curves along the way,” Freedman said. Adventure Hilton Head general manager Nate Jones is excited to bring something to the area he wishes he’d had growing up on the island. “I grew up here and now I’m raising my family here,” Jones said. “Our adventure park expansion will be the perfect playground for young and young at heart alike. We can’t wait to enjoy kids’ laughter again.”
Please see UPDATE on page 42A
Did you know that if you’re age 70 ½ or older, you can transfer up to $100,000 annually from your IRA to a qualified charity, tax free? Yes, tax free. If you’re charitably-minded, give us a call. We’re happy to talk with you about how your IRA charitable rollover can be used at Community Foundation of the Lowcountry to set up a charitable fund in your name or for other causes you care about.
Contact Emmy Rooney at 843.681.9100.
USE YOUR IRA DISTRIBUTION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
843.681.9100 • cf-lowcountry.org
Page 42A
The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
UPDATE from page 41A New restaurant coming to Moss Creek: You might have noticed the signs and construction work recently in the Moss Creek plaza. There is a new pizza option coming later this year. Mama G’s Pizza Bistro Bar is completing renovations and planning for a November 2021 opening, according to its website. The restaurant owners say this is a family business dream 25 years in the making. They promise their Roman style pizza with a delicious crisp crust, made from “Italian 00 flour, certified San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and love,” will be the star of the show. Follow the restaurant’s progress online at mamagpizzahhi.com. And just across the road … : If you have been hoping for another car wash on the U.S. 278 corridor, your wish is about to come true. The first South Carolina location for the W4 Express Car Wash chain is getting ready to open across the highway from Moss Creek at 1492 Fording Island Road next to Markraft Cabinets. The chain offers a full array of
cleaning options, a monthly wash club, and both a family and a fleet plan to keep your vehicular beauty looking new. Check out w4wash.com for more details on the planned Aug. 6 Bluffton grand opening and to apply to work for W4. Is Chic-Fil-A open yet? No. Soon though, people. New drive-through lanes are built and officials did the latest round of hiring interviews on July 30. New restaurant openings • Top Dawg Tavern, 13 Harbourside Lane Building 2, Unit CD, Hilton Head Island, 843-785-5600, topdawgtavern. com: Imagine searching for both the white whale and a unicorn. That’s what both tourist and local families on Hilton Head have long said is akin to their pursuit of affordable, high-quality, dine-in options across the bridge. Now, you have a new option waterside at Shelter Cove Marina just next to the music shell. Top Dawg is a regional chain started in Athens, Ga., that has opened its fifth location to go along with spots in Bethlehem,
Ga., Columbia and Summerville. We got a chance to attend their soft opening and were thoroughly impressed with the bang for the buck, the vibe (island chill meets 17 big-screen TVs, booths and an indoor and outdoor bar) and the variety of comfort food options for all ages. We got to try the filet bites (tenderloin minis over a bed of mashed potatoes), the mozzarella sticks and epic-sized Bavarian pretzel for appetizers; the Cobb salad, Guinness-dipped fish and chips (cod with a hint of the Irish pub fave and addictive string fries), kids’ spaghetti and the brunch French toast for entrees; and the cheesecake with raspberry drizzle and chocolate delight (molten lava cake with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream) for dessert. The prices are far below island norms in comparison to the sizeable portions, something that Top Dawg officials say has been a signature of their brand. • Grooby’s, Too NY Deli and Restaurant, 12 Sheridan Park Circle, Unit A, Bluffton, 843-707-9696: It took a little longer than owner Stacy Gruber was hop-
ing, but after a successful soft opening, the new eatery opened its doors July 30. Gruber, the niece of restaurant owner Barry Gruber, has gone out on her own after 30 years of working at the island foodie fave Gruby’s. Stacy promises “more meat than your mouth can handle” on all the sandwiches and a full slate of breakfast, salads, hot and cold lunch sandwiches, and dinner entrees to go, alongside a full-service bar. We’ve heard you must try the famous No. 5 Poppy sandwich (named after Stacy’s dad) and the lox and bagels platter, but honestly, the menu is loaded with potential. The restaurant will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Check out the full menu on their Facebook page by searching “Grooby’s, Too.” Own or see a new business that should be on all of our radars? Email me at timwood@blufftonsun.com and we’ll make sure to get the word out. Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton.
August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
BUSINESS
Economic development has positive impact on county, state
Page 43A
Cassandra Beard, DO
is accepting appointments in all offices Oswald L. Mikell, MD, and the staff of Dermatology Associates of the Lowcountry welcome Dr. Cassandra Beard.
COURTESY THRIVEBEAUFORT.ORG
Beaufort County officials gathered for a check presentation to Glass WRX in June 2020.
By Charlie Stone CONTRIBUTOR
The Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation (BCEDC) was formed in 2017 to be the collaborative leader in economic development throughout the county. Its focus is to diversify the county’s economy, attract investments, and create well-paying jobs. And, “We aim to accomplish this goal while being respectful of the environment,” said John O’Toole, executive director of the BCEDC. To date, the BCEDC has attracted 31 projects to the area that will result in more than 940 new and retained jobs, with an average pay per job of more than $47,000 a year. Clemson University’s Regional Economic Analysis Laboratory estimates that these projects will have a $2 billion impact when completed. O’Toole said, “The collaborators who have rallied around these efforts deserve the credit.” The winning formula is pretty simple. One, decision-makers want to live, work and worship here. Two, the community can provide an unrivaled skilled workforce that growing companies need to thrive. And three, we provide unparalleled service to companies locating in Beaufort County. The BCEDC distinguishes our region on all three of these points, but given today’s business climate, workforce is causing own-
ers of companies the most concern. O’Toole says the BCEDC has an answer to workforce that is second to none – its collaboration. “We have transitioning U.S. Marines in this county that give us an edge. We work closely with our three military base’s Transitioning Assistance Programs (TAP) to keep these talented men and women in our region,” O’Toole said. “In addition to TAP, we have a workforce response team composed of educators (Beaufort County School District, Technical College of the Lowcountry, and the University of South Carolina Beaufort), the Department of Employment and Workforce, Ready SC, ApprenticeshipCarolina, Lowcountry Council of Governments, the Southern Carolina Alliance, and South Carolina’s Department of Commerce.” Beaufort County is currently competing with Connecticut, Rhode Island, Illinois, Indiana and Florida for an expansion of a midwestern aerospace company that could bring 150 jobs to the region. O’Toole recounts that on the way back to the airport, the company’s general manager commented, “What struck me most about Beaufort County and South Carolina is the understanding, communications and coordination amongst the various entitys that help develop workforce. We’re not seeing that in the other states we’re considering.” Charlie Stone is the senior project manager for BCEDC. thrivebeaufort.org
Dr. Beard earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, and her Master of Public Health degree, simultaneously, at the A. T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona. She completed her Dermatology Residency at Orange Park Medical Center in Orange Park, FL. Dr. Beard will begin seeing patients beginning September 7, 2021, where she will join Dr. Mikell, Elizabeth Liggitt, APRN, and Taylor Owens, PA-C.
Oswald Lightsey Mikell
American Board of Dermatology American Board of Cosmetic Surgery
Cassandra Beard, DO
Elizabeth Liggett MSN, AGNP-C
Taylor Owens MSPAS, PA-C
Schedule a Consultation Today.
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www.dalcdermatology.com
Hilton Head Island - 843.689.5259 Bluffton-Okatie - 843.705.0840 Beaufort - 843.525.9277
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The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
LEGAL
Protect your family’s privacy and assets with a trust By Mark F. Winn CONTRIBUTOR
Keeping your property out of court and in your family is the name of the game. Leaving your assets in a “spendthrift trust” for your loved ones, instead of outright, can protect the funds you leave them from loss to creditors and divorce. You can protect them from: 1. their Mark F. Winn 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. Many clients want to do this. For instance, let us assume Frank is a widower. He has one child, Jane, who is married to Paul, a struggling artist. Jane and Paul have Frank’s only grandchild, Ferdinand. Jane is a medical doctor with a busy pediatric care practice. Frank does not like Paul and believes Jane and Paul will divorce someday. Frank wants to leave everything he owns to Jane but he wants to make sure that Paul will not inherit it and that whatever is left (upon Jane’s passing) will go to Ferdinand. If Frank has a simple will that says Jane is to get everything, Jane could easily lose the inherited family property
in a variety of ways, namely: 1. Poor money management 2. If Jane becomes disabled and Paul is appointed guardian by the court and he squanders the money, or commingling of funds with Paul 3. If Jane and Paul divorce and the court rules Paul is entitled to half of Jane’s assets (including the family property Frank left to Jane) 4. If Jane is sued for medical malpractice and the claimants recover some or all of Jane’s assets (including the family property Frank left to Jane) If, however, Frank left his assets through a trust (to avoid probate) in a “spendthrift trust” (to protect the assets) for Jane’s benefit, with Ferdinand as a remainder beneficiary (to make sure the assets stay in the bloodline), 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 Jane became disabled, Paul would not be able to squander that money. If Jane and Paul divorced, Paul would not share in the assets Frank left to Jane. They would be protected because they were left to Jane in a trust for her benefit with a clause that directs Jane’s creditors shall not be entitled to Jane’s trust finds. Also, if Jane were exposed for medical malpractice, the funds Frank leaves to Jane will be protected. Our society is litigious. Fifty percent of marriages end in divorce. Leaving assets “in trust” instead of outright can provide you with the peace of mind you deserve. It can protect your family and keep your family property in your bloodline. Mark F. Winn, J.D., Master of Laws (LL.M.) in estate planning, is a local asset protection, estate and elder law planning attorney. mwinnesq.com
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August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 45A
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Page 46A
The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021A
LEGAL
What you should know about real estate and revocable trusts By Rebekah Thompson CONTRIBUTOR
Whether you have recently purchased your first home, or your 50th, you need to consider if creating a revocable trust is the right estate planning tool for you. As the name suggests, a revocable trust is an estate planning tool that allows you to transfer your assets, like your home, from Rebekah Thompson your name as an individual into the name of your trust. A revocable trust can be modified, dissolved, rescinded, amended, etc. You retain full control of all of the assets placed in the revocable trust and have the ability to remove an asset, should you so choose. The main purpose behind placing your
home in a revocable trust is to avoid probate. Probate is the legal process where the probate court manages the transfer of wealth from a decedent to their named heirs. The length of time probate takes varies from state to state. In South Carolina, this process takes roughly 13 to 15 months to complete. Furthermore, the average cost of probate is approximately 3% to 7% of the value of your probate estate. A revocable trust allows you to avoid such costs, delays, and publicity of the probate process. Other benefits to placing your home in a revocable trust are: • In the event of incapacity or disability, your named trustee can manage your trust to protect your home. • You can specify who and how an heir is to inherit your real estate property. • If you are in a blended marriage situation, you can dictate the real estate property be managed by the trust for the
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benefit of your spouse, and upon their passing, instruct how the home is to be inherited. • You do not lose any homestead rights when you transfer your primary residence into a revocable trust. • A lender cannot enforce a due on sale clause if you are transferring your primary residence to a revocable trust. • You can still deduct your mortgage interest from your income taxes. For those individuals who own real estate property in multiple states, a revocable trust should be strongly considered. Upon your passing, your estate must complete the probate process in every state your own real property, in your own individual name. For example, Owner is a resident of South Carolina. Owner owns her primary residence and a condo in Palmetto Dunes. Owner also owns a condo in New York, a town home in Texas, and a condo in Florida. All the deeds to this property
state that Owner is the sole owner of these real estate properties. Upon Owner’s death, her Personal Representative (Executor) will commence the probate process in South Carolina because South Carolina is her state of residence. Owner’s Personal Representative will also have to commence ancillary probate proceedings in New York, Texas and Florida. The South Carolina probate case will have to remain open until such time all the other states probate processes are completed. A revocable trust avoids this entire scenario. Revocable trusts are a great estate planning tool for homeowners. For more information visit hiltonheadelderlaw. com/freeworkshops. Rebekah Thompson is an associate attorney with Elder Law & Estate Planning Center. hiltonheadelderlaw.com
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August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 47A
HEALTH
Key to being remembered often due to one’s teeth By James G. Jenkins CONTRIBUTOR
Most people do not realize that overall facial appearance is profoundly affected by what the teeth look like more than any other facial feature. That is why patients almost always report that friends and family know they look better and have made some changes but cannot tell what it is that changed. I guess this is a testament to how cosmetically beautiful and life-like modern esthetic dentistry can be to provide a great smile. Most people seem to focus primarily on how white the teeth can be. In reality, the shape of the teeth makes a bigger difference than the shade of the teeth. Combine the shape and brightness of the teeth and the result can be quite stunning. There are certain proportions in nature that apply to esthetic beauty. Following these “golden rules” as much as possible makes for a great result.
UPSCALE CONSIGNMENT AT BARGAIN PRICES Teeth before
Teeth after
Usually, the layout of the final smile is planned in wax. From this, molds are made to guide the dentist as to how the teeth need to be prepped and aids in the making of provisional restorations. These temporary teeth act as the prototype to the final smile. This “test drive” allows the patient to make sure the teeth will work together and are pleasing in appearance. If any changes need to made, it is easy to reshape the provisional restorations in the mouth directly before the finals are constructed. This gives instant feedback and
makes sure that the doctor and patient will like the final result. The dental lab then copies the provisional restorations. Speaking of the lab, it takes true artistry to make sure each tooth has the appropriate shape, anatomy, and gradient of shading in order to yield that spectacular result. People always remember somebody with a fantastic smile, even if they don’t know that is why they remember them.
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Page 48A
The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
HEALTH
Melasma common in women, but harmless and treatable By Oswald Lightsey Mikell CONTRIBUTOR
Melasma is very common and is present in up to six million American women. It is a skin condition in which dark patches appear on the face (forehead, cheeks, and upper lip) and is caused by excessive pigment (melanin) collecting in the skin. The dark patches usually have distinct Oswald Mikell edges and are symmetrical (similar on both sides of the face). Although people with melasma may be concerned about its appearance, it’s a harmless condition. Q: Are there different type of melasma? A: Yes, there is epidermal and dermal melasma. Epidermal melasma means the pigment (melanin) is in the more superficial layers of the skin called the epidermis. Dermal melasma means that the pigment is in the deeper layers of the skin. This distinction is important because epidermal melasma responds more quickly to treatment. Q: Who is at risk for melasma? A: Although melasma can occur in men, it is most common in women, especially in women with darker or olive colored skin. If your relatives had melasma, you are also at greater risk of developing melasma. Women are also at greater risk of developing melasma if they are pregnant, take birth control pills, or take hormone replacement therapy. When melasma occurs during pregnancy, it is also called chloasma, or “the mask of pregnancy.” Studies have shown that postmenopausal women who receive progesterone hormone replacement therapy are more likely to develop melasma. Postmenopausal women receiving estrogen alone seem less likely to develop melasma.
Sunlight is essential to the development of melasma. Most people with melasma have a history of daily or intermittent sun exposure, although heat is also suspected to be an underlying factor. People at risk of developing melasma will notice the patches becoming darker following exposure to sunlight. Q: What is the treatment? A: Treatment results vary greatly. Your recommended treatment will depend largely on your type of melasma, dermal or epidermal. You should consult your doctor for the proper course of treatment. The medications prescribed for melasma are called “bleaching” or “depigmenting” agents that cause the skin to stop making melanin. Your doctor might discuss the option of various dermatologic procedures that could reduce the appearance of the dark patches, including chemical peels, dermabrasion, or lasers. While waiting for the discoloration to fade, consider using cover-up to reduce the appearance of melasma. Q: How long is the treatment period? A: Some people with epidermal melasma experience rapid improvement within four to eight weeks of starting treatment, while others may find that improvement takes many months. Q: Is there anything I can do to prevent melasma from returning? A: Avoiding exposure to sunlight is the most important step in treating melasma and preventing its return. Sunlight is a powerful trigger of pigment formation in people susceptible to melasma. It is strong enough to counteract the effects of medications, even through car windows or on cloudy days. It may take time to respond to treatment, so be patient. For more information and professional consultation, call a 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.
August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 49A
WELLNESS
Odd but true: Dental hygiene can affect breast implants By E. Ronald Finger CONTRIBUTOR
This discussion is about a subject that is out of my specialty, but it’s something that affects plastic surgery and even health and longevity. The rate of breast encapsulations (breast firmness and distortion) with breast augmentations varies from 2% to 20%, according to the E. Ronald Finger surgical technique and post-operative care. However, through the years, I have noticed that breast implant encapsulations can occur because of poor dental hygiene. Why? Because gingivitis or periodontal disease (inflamed, swollen, and/or bleeding gums) is a bacterial problem, and the most common cause of implant encapsu-
lations is bacteria and without a clinical infection. With gingivitis, bacteria invade the blood circulatory system, which is bad for all types of implants, from knees to hips to breasts. A question to patients with encapsulations is: “Do you have bleeding, inflamed, or swollen gums?” Frequently, the answer is “yes.” The bacterium from gingivitis often becomes blood borne and can enter the scar capsules around the implants, causing encapsulation – even after many years. In these cases, a scar tightens around the implants and squeezes the implants into a firm, tight ball, according to the degree of encapsulation. Other problems caused by gingivitis are loss and thinning of the bones that house the teeth, the maxilla and mandible. In severe cases of gingivitis, teeth can be lost. With bone loss, there is loss of facial volume causing a dramatic appearance of facial aging. Two of the main causes of the
appearance of facial aging are volume loss and loss of skin elasticity. Poor dental hygiene causes loss of volume in these facial bones, creating shadows and depressions, including wrinkling around the mouth. Bone loss of the maxilla causes sagging and turning down of the nose. Nasolabial folds between the nose and corner of the mouth are caused by volume loss of the maxilla and cheeks. The mouth area can become very wrinkled, and the “marionette lines” below the corners of the mouth can occur at a younger age with poor dental hygiene. Unrelated to plastic surgery, but statistics that are important to know are people with periodontal disease have three times the risk of dying from coronary disease prematurely. People with gingivitis have up to a 46% higher chance of dying prematurely. Men under 50 have 2.6 times more risk of dying prematurely and three times more likely to die from heart (coronary) disease.
Gingivitis causes a compromised immune system and increases total body inflammation. This can be translated to dementia and other inflammatory diseases as well as heart disease. To avoid periodontal disease, visit a dentist twice a year for evaluation and professional cleaning. Floss twice a day with non-waxed floss. Waxed floss only glides over the teeth and does not cut the plaque off. Brush with an electric toothbrush two or three times a day. A regular toothbrush can be used after lunch at work. After flossing, use a good mouth wash designed to prevent gum disease and reduce plaque. To be redundant, plaque is full of bacteria and contributes to breast encapsulations, inflammatory diseases, and reduced longevity. Get rid of it! E. Ronald Finger, MD, FACS is a board certified plastic surgeon with offices in Savannah and Bluffton. fingerandassociates.com
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The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
WELLNESS
Planning, research help us face life’s challenges head-on By Holly Wright CONTRIBUTOR
The end of summer is just around the corner, with school starting shortly and new challenges lingering in the near future. Our son is going into kindergarten this year, but it got me thinking about new challenges that people of every age are getting ready to go through. Each stage of life is different and every decision is different, but the steps are essentially the same. We first weigh our options on the decision that we have to make. We have to identify all the different alternatives and solutions there are. We might need to do research by asking loved ones for their feedback or see how others have moved through similar challenges. We will have to take into account time restraints, financial commitment, the willingness of others, and other information. We have to be very realistic on goals and
feasibility, but not be limited by what we currently know or have. Eventually, a decision has to be made. It might be what school our children will attend, how will we invest our money, or which puppy will we make part of our family. Once all the data is collected, we need to decide and move on to the planning stage.
This implementation plan will keep in mind our restrictions and how to potentially get around them. This is where we are more creative and can use our imagination. It is also where we do not allow our restraints to confine us. Instead, it is where we find a way around the restraints. Don’t be afraid to look outside the box and find unorthodox ways to accomplish your goals. You might need to start or end your day a little earlier or later. You might decide to join a group that will keep you accountable. Create a plan to allow yourself to move forward in your goal. While you are moving forward through your challenges and following your plan,
don’t forget to reevaluate your plan along the way. New information might become available to you that could make your current structure obsolete. You might find new options for funding of which you were not aware. New programs might be available to alter your decision. Don’t be afraid to continually evaluate if this decision is still the right one for your family or yourself. The ability to be flexible even when you feel you should be steadfast can allow you to find a new path or create one. Giving up is not the same as altering the current path. Always have an open mind on your current challenge and allow yourself to be free in the decision. Do not bridle yourself in what you think is expected of you. Face your current challenges and decisions headon and enjoy the ride. Holly Wright of Bluffton is a Reiki Master, reflexologist, NASM certified personal fitness trainer, and co-owner of Trinity TheraSpa in Moss Creek Village. trinitytheraspa.com
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August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 51A
FAITH
‘Sitting on your plot’ can offer new views, understanding of life By Christine Herrin CONTRIBUTOR
“Unwavering faith,” “loved serving her church, her community and her family,” “the kindest, most caring person I’ve ever known.” These were statements spoken at a recent memorial service about a member who lost her battle with cancer during COVID. The Christine Herrin full sanctuary was a testament to the impact she had on so many, including me. In memorial services, I often have the privilege of sharing, for the family, reflections they have on the life of their loved one – a eulogy of sorts. When I write these, I become steeped in stories
humorous and poignant, which bear witness to the ways they touched others. Invariably the process causes me to wonder what someone will say about me someday. While I’m certain no one will say, as I’ve heard said about some saints, “she never complained” (really, who never complains?), what will my legacy be? What will family and others say about how I influenced them? Will I have made a difference in anyone’s life? I don’t think it’s a bad thing to ask these questions no matter how far away or close to our end we think we are, because of course we know that life is fragile. The story is told that a man once bought himself a cemetery plot and a lawn chair, and then took a week of vacation to sit on the chair at his plot. He didn’t sit there to admire the view or because he was proud of his plot; he
did it because he wanted to see his life from the point of view of his death, and his death from the point of view of his life. Whether or not you can actually sit on your plot, or where you hope your ashes will be spread, think how it might change your perspective to get into a regular practice of self-reflection. Consider how stepping back, looking at the big picture might provide fresh insights on what is going in in your life and perhaps even lead to a change in direction. If someone looked at how you are living – how you spend your time and energy and money, what would be revealed about your priorities, and does that match what you want to be your legacy? If not, there’s no time like the present to change things. While we can’t go back and undo bad choices and mistakes, no matter our
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age, we can seek forgiveness and reconciliation with those we have harmed or who have harmed us. We can choose to live less self-centeredly. We can be less quick to judge and, rather than dismissing those who have different viewpoints, seek to see things from their point of view so as to gain understanding and maybe even compassion and empathy. Even if you think people might not have too many glowing things to say about you, it’s never too late to change. With the help of God, whose love and grace can transform, and a supportive community of faith, you can make an impact, even if it’s only on one person. But it might just start with taking some time to “sit on your plot.”
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The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
PETS
Getting new puppy means adjustments for humans and dogs By Abby Bird CONTRIBUTOR
There is still some summer left and many are getting puppies. There will be an adjustment for the families and the puppies. The pup has left the only home they ever knew, including their human family, siblings and mommy dog. They go to a new home with strangers and sometimes with a new dog or no dog at all. A snuggle pup soft toy with a heartbeat can be helpful in the adjustment to their crate. How do we begin to tackle the new life for us and our puppy? Making sure the pup has a comfortable and safe place to be. Usually that is a plastic kennel or wire crate. Make sure it is small so it can be used for potty training as well. There should be no room for the dog to go to the back of it to pee or poop. There should be nothing soft to lie on
to begin with. The plastic bottom is sufficient for now, until we see how the potty training is going. In addition to a crate or kennel, a small playpen or a baby-gated area that has been puppy proofed is good. Consider a laundry room or another area with floors that are easy to clean. Decide whether your dog is going to be trained to go outside for potty or if your dog will be trained to potty pads or potty patch. This might depend on the size of the dog as well as where you live, or your lifestyle and age. Set up a chart with the puppy’s schedule immediately. Pups have to pee 10 to 15 times a day and poop two to five times. Learning when those times occur is critical in the short run. Until they have a certain number of vaccines, they should not be off your property. Boundaries are very important. Pups should be kept in confined and supervised areas, even if with you in a room for
play or attention. Let them be with you but watch them closely. Keep them busy playing with you and toys. Move anything dangerous that they can access. Make sure they are not with you ALL the time. They need to go into their crates or other rooms for most of their
napping and, of course, when you leave the house. Keep them out of guest rooms or anywhere they can’t be seen or can get into trouble. They do not need to follow you around the house. Do not tag team staying home. The pup needs to learn to be alone or anxious behavior will develop. Try to time when you leave to a non-potty time or leave them in a space not crated with access to potty pad if you can’t be there at critical times. Or get a dog walker to come over at a specific time. All puppies nip and bite. Teaching bite inhibition is one of the very first things you teach. Correcting verbally and redirecting with an appropriate texture chew toy is critical. Contact a trainer to learn how to handle this while they are young. Abby Bird is owner of Alphadog Training Academy. AlphadogTrainingAcademy@ gmail.com
August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 53A
PETS
Hunky shelter dog seeks caring, committed companion By Amy Campanini CONTRIBUTOR
At Palmetto Animal League, we care for all pets until they are adopted. Sometimes that takes days and sometimes that takes years. Thanks to our compassionate donors and supporters, there is no limit to a homeless pet’s stay at PAL. For dogs like Mr. Mooney, that gives them the time they need to heal and search for true love. If you have a thing for high maintenance hunks, Mr. Mooney could be the love of your life! He loves toys (certain ones), bones (only the best), belly rubs (when he’s in the mood), sunbathing (au naturel), car rides (to get takeout), nature walks, and the beach. There’s no denying this 4-year-old Adonis of a dog is 90 pounds of love and sass! Mr. Mooney is highly selective about who he associates with, to include
both humans and dogs. But it’s only because he’s careful with his heart and doesn’t give it away to just anybody. His personal therapist, Shelby English, said it best, “It takes time to build a relationship with Mooney, but once he loves you, it’s one of the best feelings in the world to know that you’re one of the few people that he will love in his lifetime.” Yes, you heard right. Mr. Mooney has his own personal therapist, trainer, and dating coach (all Shelby). He’s been seeing her for about a year, since coming to PAL, to learn to overcome his diva tendencies and become the best version of himself. After months of reflecting on his high maintenance ways, Mr. Mooney is ready learn and grow in a committed relationship with someone special. You should know up front that Mr. Mooney doesn’t do one-night stands. You’ll need to dedicate about two or
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Mr. Mooney
three weeks to get to know him. His trainer/therapist will work with potential suitors to show them the ins and outs of having Mr. Mooney as a companion. Earning his love and affection might be a bit of a process, but once you do, he’ll let down his walls and show you
the lapdog within. Underneath the rippling muscles, devilishly good looks, and bravado, Mr. Mooney is an insecure puppy stuck in a big dog’s body. And at the end of the day, he just longs for what we all do, unconditional love and understanding. If you’re interested in dating Mr. Mooney, call PAL at 843-645-1725 to get on his social calendar. He prefers to make his first dates alfresco in the parking lot. You can help rescue more homeless pets like Mr. Mooney by taking part in PAL’s most important fundraiser of the year. The 12th annual Bid for PAL Online Auction takes place from 8 a.m. Aug. 5 through 8 p.m. Aug 8. Start browsing today at PALauction.org because pets like Mr. Mooney are lives worth saving. Amy Campanini is president of Palmetto Animal League.
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The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
GIVING
Scholarship recipient ready to look to the stars for answers By Scott Wierman CONTRIBUTOR
College scholarship season inspires me. The excitement of students beginning a new chapter in their lives takes me back to a time in my own life when the world seemed to be opening doors to undiscovered and limitless opportunities. It’s gratifying to help exceptional young people take the next steps in realizing their dreams. This year, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry expects to award more than $700,000 in scholarships to local students, through the 47 scholarships we manage. The scholarship program also gives us the unique opportunity to meet some of the area’s most promising students. Hayden Bird is one of them. Hayden received our Amazing Grace Sulak Scholarship, the James L. Krum Memorial Scholarship and the Joan and Wade Webster Scholarship, which will lighten the
financial burden for this budding aerospace engineer when he enrolls at Georgia Institute of Technology this fall. Since 2016, it has been Hayden’s dream to attend Georgia Tech. That’s when he first saw the school, as his family drove past it while evacuated to Atlanta during Hurricane Matthew. When he got a chance to actually tour the campus three years later, he says, “I felt like I was amongst my people. I was geeking out the entire trip.” Hayden says he can’t remember a time when he wasn’t “geeking out” about outer space, and he knew at an early age he wanted to study it. His family’s trip to Epcot Center to watch the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch affirmed his career choice. He wonders if advanced life exists beyond earth and wants to be part of a team that finds out. After he graduates with an undergraduate degree (and, most likely, a graduate degree), his goal is to work at NASA or SpaceX. And he knows what he wants to tackle
Hayden Bird
first: communication delays resulting from the vast distances in space. He’s already extensively researched the topic – which was the subject of a high school term paper – and he’s formulated what he thinks might be a solution. Tuition costs for his freshman year will total close to $50,000, so any financial
support he receives makes a tremendous difference. “This year has been a tough one for my family,” he says, “and receiving the scholarships really means a lot.” Of course, the Community Foundation would be unable to offer scholarships without the donors and fund advisors who understand the infinite value of education, and who have the faith and foresight to invest in local students. Their thoughtful generosity will pay dividends well into the future, not only for the students themselves, but for our entire region. This is the legacy they share. We never know the influence we might have on the future, and our scholarship program advances this unchartered human potential. So as Hayden looks to the stars, we’re wishing him – and all of our scholarship recipients – bright and successful futures. Scott Wierman is the president and CEO of Community Foundation of the Lowcountry.
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August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 55A
NATURE’S WAY
Strangers in our strange land seem oddly out of place By Collins Doughtie CONTRIBUTOR
I want to share some unique experiences over the past three weeks. In some of these cases my camera captured the moments and the images tell the story way better than I can. I have been encountering many species of fish and birds that I have never, ever seen around these parts. Most that I have encountered are found way, way south of here, but my guess is higher temperatures both in the air and in the water have them heading way north of their normal range. Of course, over the years every so often I catch a renegade like a snook or some other fish that no doubt got pushed this way by the strong Gulf Stream current, but this year in particular it seems a week doesn’t go by that I don’t run into a fish or bird that I have never encountered before, in more than 60 years living here. A prime example happened recently when we had a three-day opening where anglers could catch and keep one red snapper per person. That fishery was closed a few years back when data indicated that red snapper were being overfished. Much of the data was based on Florida waters while our offshore waters were stacked up with these snappers. In the period that the fishery was closed, the red snapper here flourished to the point that if you target grouper, it is hard to get a bait past the hordes of red snapper. While fishing aboard Bud Mingledorff’s
COURTESY COLLINS DOUGHTIE
Dan Cornell with a huge mangrove snapper, caught recently in local waters. These fish are normally found in the tropics, far south of Beaufort County.
68-foot boat “Line Set,” we easily limited out on reds, even with less-than-perfect sea conditions. It was pretty darn bumpy out there and, if my memory serves me correctly, we saw only one other boat all day long. Another wayward snapper species is the monster mangrove snapper that appears only offshore in the heat of the summer. Having caught hundreds in the Keys and other tropic locations, I’m betting mangroves this size would surely draw a crowd
if one that size was landed in their normal far-south haunts. On that day and one other trip offshore, I had a flurry of firsts. The first “first” was a large mutton snapper, which rarely makes it farther north than Palm Beach. Then, aboard the “Line Set,” we brought up a sand tilefish, another first for me here. Honestly I didn’t know what kind of fish it was until I got near land and found it on Google. Long with a tapered tail, they burrow three quarters of their bodies
in the sand bottom with only their heads showing. From what I read, they snatch smaller fish that happen to get too close. Then, on that same trip, a beautiful white bird with an extremely long tail hovered over us for 15 minutes. It was a white-tailed tropicbird. In all my years here, I have never encountered this beauty before. The white-tailed tropicbird was about 45 miles offshore and, though I have seen them down in the Caribbean, this was a first here. Graceful as heck, they are seabirds that feed on flying fish, snatching them while they are airborne, skittering from wave to wave. All I can say is while northerners are flocking south, when it comes to nature’s creations, they seem to be moving north. Another southern visitor that I am seeing more and more of are black-bellied whistling ducks. Thus far this summer I have seen at least a dozen, with two pairs nesting in the Eagles Point development. Out of room for more photos, I should mention Roseate Spoonbills, the color of a flamingo, are becoming almost a common sight near my home. Whether it is global warming or something else, these strangers in a strange land are telling me to keep my eyes peeled because there are surely more oddities to come. Collins Doughtie, a 60-year resident of the Lowcountry, is a sportsman, graphic artist, and lover of nature. collinsdoughtie@icloud. com
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The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
SPORTS
Rose Hill Golf Club resurrected, coming around again By Jean Harris CONTRIBUTOR
The story of Rose Hill Golf Club makes me think of a Carly Simon song: “I know nothing stays the same but if you’re willing to play the game, it’s coming around again.” I drove into Bluffton in 2007 and passed by the Rose Hill course. The grass was 2 feet high and the course was closed down. In 2008, I became their director of instruction when the course reopened to rave reviews and the course was in great shape. Since then, it has gone through three different management groups and was closed again. The good news is that the golf club and course reopened Aug. 1 with Hallmark Management Group at the helm. They also have three other courses in the community – Crescent Pointe, Eagles Pointe and Hilton Head Lakes. Hallmark has brought in Brian Roller as director of agronomy, and his crews have
spent the last month getting the course in shape. Tim Ashley, director of golf for Hallmark, is excited about the opportunity they have at Rose Hill. “Things won’t happen overnight but we will get there,” he said. There are some terrific membership opportunities for Bluffton residents. If you join Rose Hill, you will be able to play the other three Hallmark courses for a substantial reduced rate. Members will be able to get starting times two weeks in advance. People who bought the Anniversary Membership from previous management will receive a reduction in price for the new membership, said Jim Sheaffer, director of sales and marketing. Hallmark is not responsible for previous memberships but they are willing to give previous members a reduced rate. Some people ask, “What does Hallmark have to lose by taking over the management?” and Sheaffer replied, “Our reputation.” Jack Menzie, a Rose Hill resident, feels
very positive about the new management group. “Hallmark appears to be going in the right direction,” he said. “The proof will be in the pudding.” The history of Rose Hill is interesting. It is one of the oldest golf courses in Bluffton, opening in 1982 as a 27-hole facility. Gene Hamm was the architect. Today, it is an 18hole layout, with the remaining holes used as a park for community members. The course is set among live oaks with Spanish moss hanging from the trees, giving the golfer a true feeling of being in the Lowcountry. The wildlife is abundant making for a nature-filled experience. There are some terrific holes. The most
demanding driving hole is No. 6, which has a narrow fairway with a green surrounded by water and bunkers. No. 7 and No. 8 are back-to-back par fives that are birdie opportunities. The par three holes are short in length but are demanding because they are bordered by water and well bunkered. The back side is very challenging with two great par five holes. Rose Hill is the most walkable course in the Lowcountry. Golf is a game that was meant to be walked, and it is great to see the walkers at Rose Hill. When you finish your round of golf, check out the restaurant, Oak Terrace, in the clubhouse. It’s a great place to relax and talk about your golf experience. For more information on redeeming previous memberships, contact Sheaffer at 912-507-9333. Dr. Jean Harris is an LPGA Master Professional and teaches at local courses. jean.golfdoctor.harris@gmail.com; golfdoctorjean.com
August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 57A
SPORTS
How to have a winning warm-up vs. winning the warm-up By Lou Marino CONTRIBUTOR
With my years of participating in practice and league matches, and experiencing a few interesting warm-up situations, I have done a bit of research regarding the aspects of the 5- to 10-minute warm-up before match play begins. I feel the easiest way to achieve a winning warm-up is to think “rally.” As defined by Merriam-Webster, “rally,” as in tennis, means “a series of shots interchanged between players before a point is won.” In warm-up, you simply leave off the “before a point is won” part. I’m sure we’ve all encountered that person on the court who, during the designated warm-up, tries to hit winners on almost every shot, not giving opponents much of an opportunity to warm up. They’re just too busy “winning” the warm-up. Although the ITF Rules of Tennis doesn’t state anything specific for warming up,
USTA’s The Code does give some guidance. Here is what the code says regarding it: Paragraph 3: “Warm-up is not practice. A player should provide the opponent a warm-up of five to ten minutes. If a player declines to warm up the opponent, the player forfeits the right to a warm-up, and the opponent may warm up with another person. Each player should try to hit shots directly to the opponent. (If partners want to warm each other up while their opponents are warming up, they may do so.)”
Paragraph 4: “Warm-up serves are taken before first serve of match. A player should take all warmup serves before the first serve of a match. A player who returns serves should return them at a moderate pace in a manner that does not disrupt the server.” So, rather than demonstrate what an incredible tennis player they are, or how decisively your behind is going to get beat, here are three things to focus on to achieve a winning warm-up for all parties involved: • First, get yourself loose and relaxed physically. Hit as many balls as possible, not at full power but enough to get your arms, legs, body loose, and blood pumping. Overheads and serves should be hit about
3/4-speed to loosen the shoulder. • Second, get mentally prepared. Focus on what’s happening on the court to help play your best tennis, not on life off the court. If playing doubles, talk to your partner to make sure you both are on the same page. • Third, quickly size up your opponent(s). Watch how they move, hit the ball, etc. You can get a good idea of their strengths and weaknesses simply by rallying with them as extensively as the five to 10 minutes allows. To make it even simpler, a winning warmup is easiest achieved by maintaining a rally mind-set rather than “win the warm-up” attitude. Now, let’s get out there and play! Lou Marino is a USPTA Cardio and youth tennis coach who lives, teaches and provides custom-hybrid racquet service in the Bluffton-Hilton Head Island area. lwmarino@ hotmail.com
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The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
SAFETY
Learn signs, first aid for heat stress to avoid potential harm By Cinda Seamon CONTRIBUTOR
As temperatures rise, so does the stress on your body. Several things can help you battle the heat – acclimation to the heat, consumption of water and good nutrition. Your body is a good regulator of heat. Your body reacts to heat by circulating blood and raising your skin’s temperature. The excess heat is released through the skin by sweating. Sweating can also maintain a stable body temperature if the humidity level is low enough to permit evaporation and if fluids and salts you lose are adequately replaced. When your body cannot release heat, it stores it, which raises your core temperature and puts your health at risk. It’s important to be aware of these potential heat emergencies. Heat stress (heat cramps): When your body temperature rises even a few degrees
above normal, you can experience muscle cramps, become weak, disoriented and ill. The six factors of heat stress are temperature, humidity, movement of air or lack of, radiant temperature of your surroundings (i.e., working around a grill), clothing and physical activity. Signs of heat stress/heat cramps: Tiredness, irritability, inattention, and muscle cramps, which are painful intermittent
spasms of the abdomen and other voluntary muscles. Heat cramps usually occur after heavy sweating and may begin towards the end of a workday. First aid for heat stress/heat cramps: Drink fluids (water or Gatorade – not alcohol, caffeine or carbonated beverages) and move to a cool environment. Heat exhaustion: This develops when a person fails to replace fluids and salt that are lost through sweating. Signs of heat exhaustion: You might start to experience extreme weakness, fatigue, giddiness, nausea or a headache. First aid for heat exhaustion: Rest in the shade or a cool place, drink plenty
of water or Gatorade, loosen clothing to allow your body to cool and use cool wet rags to aid cooling. Heat stroke: This is a life-threatening medical condition that urgently requires medical attention. Sweating is diminished or absent, which makes the skin hot and dry. Body temperature is very high (greater than 105 degrees). Signs of heat stroke: Mental confusion, delirium, chills, dizziness, loss of consciousness, convulsions or coma, hot, dry skin that may be red, mottled or bluish. First aid for heat stroke: This is a medical emergency! Call 911. Brain damage and death are possible. Until medical help arrives, move the victim from the heat and into a cool place. Learn the different stages of heat emergencies and know how to help yourself or others. Cinda Seamon is the fire and life safety educator for Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue.
August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 59A
HOME
Soft water is important to maintaining healthy complexion By Chris Lane
your pores and outer skin layers. These hard water mineral build ups can lead to inflammation and irritation of your skin. This buildup of hard water minerals is particularly worrisome if you suffer with dry skin conditions or
CONTRIBUTOR
When it comes to locking down a skin care regimen, there are plenty of things to take into consideration: the environment, one’s skin type, and, as it turns out, the type of water running through the faucet. The question of hard versus soft water for skin isn’t one we discuss often, but it makes a big difference in how products work, what products you need, and even certain skin conditions that might start to creep up because of hard water. Here is why: Hard water contains certain metals like calcium, copper, magnesium, and lead that build up and act like free radicals when they hit your complexion. So, despite well thought-out skin care plans to fend off or fight outside pollutions in our world from your skin care protocol, hard water is introducing problems onto your complexion. The good news is that knowing what type
of water you have, and adjusting that water, can safeguard your skin care routine. Hard water is caused by calcium and magnesium buildup in the tap water, and that causes damage to your skin because those metals are rough on your complexion. Hard water and chlorine dry out the skin and causes your skin to lose luster and might have bad long-term effects on your skin. Hard water minerals build up on your complexion to disrupt proper function of
conditions like eczema. In short, hard water makes up a barrier on your skin, preventing natural body oils from working, and leaving your skin vulnerable. If you have soft water, this means calcium and magnesium are removed and replaced with softer minerals to allow natural body oils to work. When you bathe with soft water, it can leave your skin with a slippery feeling. People tend to mistake this for leftover soap
residue and react by over-washing their skin. But in fact, it is your natural body oils coming out to make for a softer, silky, clean complexion. Local PSD annual tap water quality test results are public record and posted on each PSD’s website. You can also research your tap water supply on EWG’s National Tap Water Database at ewg.org/tapwater. Regardless of your tap water source, we recommend having it tested at the kitchen sink to ensure your family has high quality, safe water. And when choosing a filter for your home, make sure the filter is certified to remove any contaminants or hardness found in your tap water. For more information on how you can safeguard your home’s water supply, visit the Water Quality Association at wqa.org or call a local water treatment professional. Chris Lane is the owner of Culligan Water Conditioning of the Lowcountry, serving Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton counties. culliganhhi. com
Page 60A
The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
REAL ESTATE
Who, what determines home’s value in today’s real climate? By Chip Collins CONTRIBUTOR
The seller’s market that was spurred on by the onset of COVID-19 across the U.S. has led to some impressive (if not altogether unbelievable) jumps in the value of real estate seemingly in every corner of the country. Nationally, the average price of a single family home (SFH) has increased from $345,400 in late 2020 to $376,000 as of May 2021. In the Lowcountry, that same statistic has risen 28.5% from this same time last year, pinning the current average sales price in the local market at $579,160 (up from $450,678 a year ago). This healthy increase in real estate equity has a lot of people tempted to sell, yet many property owners are saying they don’t know where or what they would buy if they did sell, acknowledging the low inventory of properties available for
purchase. Whether or not this is the right time to sell, the curiosity of what your home is really worth seems to be more present now than ever. After all, your home is typically among your most valuable assets, and it is exciting to imagine just how much it could sell for in today’s market. And, that’s the $64,000 question, isn’t it?! Who, how, when, and what factors come into play when it comes to establishing the real value of your home? Is it Zillow? Or the listing agent? The seller? Or the buyer? Maybe it’s the appraiser … after all, they are the ones the lenders listen to, right? Let’s be clear on one thing: It’s NOT Zillow! I mean no disrespect to the country’s most prominent data-conglomerate consumer website, as it’s an impressive entity in the industry. But, having been involved in the pricing of thousands of homes myself, I’ve
always understood the benefit of noting and considering the nuances and unique components of each property in person before asserting an opinion of potential market value. As good as the various algorithms that work their magic behind the curtain at Zillow might be, they are no match for a front-line, onsite, studied and experienced evaluation of a property when it comes to understanding how that property fits into the marketplace among a wide array of variables and relevant properties. Which brings us to the appraisers – and, boy, what a challenging time they have right now, with sharp appreciation trends, limited comparable properties, and expectant buyers, agents and lenders. While appraisers are bound by a set system of tools, tactics and practices when it comes to stating their opinion of value for a particular property at a particular time, that opinion is ultimately just
that – one person’s professional opinion. That doesn’t make it right or wrong; it just happens to carry some significant weight when it comes to a lender and/or a buyer feeling confident about proceeding with the purchase transaction. That said, in many instances in today’s market, even when an appraiser’s opinion of value falls short of the purchase price on the contract or sale, the buyer might simply decide to bring more cash to the table to complete the purchase. So, that might suggest that the buyer actually sets the real value of the property, right? Well, not exactly … or at least not completely. The buyer certainly helped get to the final number, but in my experience, most buyers would have preferred to have paid less if they could have, which means that the seller (negotiating to get the price as high as possible) had an equal role
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August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 61A
MARKET from page 60A in setting the real value of the property. After all, the seller set the price when they listed the property for sale, openly declaring a list price as what they want or hope to sell the property for when it hits the market. And this process likely involved a careful study and discussion with the seller’s agent, who helped frame where the property might get the best response among buyers. So, the agent really set the real value of the property, it seems! No, not really.
While a seller might rely on and heed the best advice of their agent on where to price the property, it’s absolutely the seller’s final decision on where to price the home. After all, it’s their house, their prerogative, and their final choice. Therefore, real value of a property is ultimately determined by the market, which is a combination and mash-up of all the above factors and players … plus a whole lot more. Take, for instance, the high volume of multiple-offer scenarios we have seen
in the market over the past 12 months. Nothing is more emblematic for a robust market than multiple offers around the market area, and it is very clear and certain that in those scenarios, the market is establishing and setting the real value for those properties. Determining the real value of your home, therefore, is ultimately the result of a comprehensive and thoughtful effort to position, expose, navigate and negotiate a final price in an open market with a buyer who is ready, willing and able
to purchase the property under other mutually agreeable terms that sometimes have just as much weight as price (i.e., closing timeline, possession, contents, contingencies, etc.). These are fascinating times in real estate, and price/value is just one of many topics that are at the forefront of such important transactions in peoples’ lives. Chip Collins is the broker-owner of Collins Group Realty chip@collinsgrouprealty.com or collinsgrouprealty.com
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Page 62A
The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
REAL ESTATE
Best practices for home sellers in today’s seller’s market By Larry Stoller CONTRIBUTOR
Very low inventory, very high demand, many multiple offers above the list price – is it a great time to sell? Yes, it is, as long as you know where you are going after your home goes from “Just Listed” to “Under Contract” in a matter of a few days. Here are some tips to consider to get the highest price and the best terms: • Make sure your home sparkles and shines. You are sure to get more and better offers. • Price your home right – you’ll have a better shot to get multiple offers over list price. • Use professional photography and virtual tours so online presentations wow the viewers. • Schedule showings smartly; buyers seeing other buyers will result in much better offers.
• Review offers in a timely manner. This motivates buyers to offer their highest and best. • Look at all terms of the offer. Cash offers might be better than offers with financing. • Choose the offers you like the best, work with those offers and negotiate accordingly. For example, when sellers receive multiple offers, they can usually find a couple of acceptable offers among the initial ones
received. And the offers that the sellers like the best might not always be the highest offer. In addition to cash or financing, other terms that might be important include: earnest money deposit, closing date, flexibility in possession, inspection options, and contingencies that might be included in the offer. Once the sellers identify a couple of offers that they like more than the others, they
can go with the offer they like the most and negotiate that offer to fully meet their needs. Alternatively, they can respectfully ask the prospective buyers of both offers for their highest and best. In representing home sellers during the past several months, I have seen some offers come in that included an “Escalation Clause Addendum.” In this clause, the buyers state that they will increase their offer price by $1,000 or more than any other bona fide offer or price, up to some specific capped amount. Dear sellers and buyers, it’s like the “Wild Wild West” out there! So whether you are selling or buying, I suggest that you have a bullet-proof strategy that gives you the best chance of satisfying your real estate needs and wants. Larry Stoller is a broker and Realtor with Real Estate Five of the Lowcountry. Larry@ RealEstateFive.com, RealEstateFive.com, SunCityOpenHouses247.com
August 3, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 63A
CLASSIFIEDS SPORTS CARDS WANTED: Vesci Sports Cards, specializing in pre-1972 baseball, football and basketball cards. Looking for personal collections. Cash paid for cards. Hilton Head resident Jim Vesci 215-266-2975 jdvescisr@gmail.com
making more money in a roomy creative environment and have a current cosmetologist license can contact owner at 843-247-4082.
INTERIOR PAINTING AND HANDYMAN WORK, 36”x80” white vinyl screen door with installation, $199. Call Bill, 978-376-7090.
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Page 64A
The Bluffton Sun
August 3, 2021
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Call 843.612.1519 | hargray.com/bluffton-sun Limited time offer. Promotion is for new residential customers only, adding Hargray services for the first time. Advertised price does not include equipment fees, taxes, surcharges or any other regulatory or governmental charges. Hargray does not require a contract for residential services. “Fastest Internet” claim is based on the download and upload speeds of Hargray’s 1000 Mbps tier compared to the download and upload speeds of the fastest Internet tier offered by competitors as of June 2, 2021. 2x faster claim is based on Hargray’s 200 Mbps download speed compared to Spectrum’s online advertised 100 Mbps download speed as of June 2, 2021. 1000 Mbps download speeds are typically between 945 Mbps and 950 Mbps due to overhead capacity reserved to deliver the data. Upload speeds are typically between 50 and 54 Mbps. Fastest Upload Speeds delivered as optional symmetrical service via Hargray fiber to the home Internet service and are up to 1000 Mbps. Hargray Internet service plans feature unlimited data with no data caps, no overage charges, and no service throttling. Intentional speed reductions may be triggered at the customer-level when an individual customer drives network congestion that negatively impacts other customers. Superior fiber to the home network based on numerous independent industry sources and reports. Not available in all areas. Free TV promotion is for one year and requires subscription to 1000 Mbps Internet service at standard rates and applies to the first 12 consecutive months of service; months 13 to 24 are at a discounted rate, with standard TV service rates applying after 24 months. 30 Day Money Back Guarantee applies to subscribed service and installation fees if removed within 30 days after installation. Refunds are not applicable for long-distance, Video-on-Demand (VOD) or PPV Charges. Broadband speeds may not be available in all areas, are not guaranteed, are subject to a number of factors and are measured via direct connection (not via Wi-Fi). ©2021, Hargray Communications Group, Inc.; logos are registered trademarks and as such, protected property of their respective companies; all rights reserved.
ut llo ion Pu ect S
August 3, 2021 • SECTION B Volume 24, I ssue 15
‘Legacy Gullah Homecoming’
Exhibit by Lisa Rivers, Aug. 3-28 Art League of Hilton Head ‘Mama Nicks’ by Lisa Rivers
Page 2B Aug. 3-28 “Legacy Gullah Homecoming,” exhibit by Lisa Rivers, at Art League of Hilton Head, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. Opening reception 5-7 p.m. Aug. 11. 843-681-5060 or artleaguehhi.org Aug. 3, 17 “Jazz in the Park,” series of free outdoor concerts, at Lowcountry Celebration Park, Pope Avenue near Coligny Circle, Hilton Head Island. John Bracket Trio Aug 3, Eric Jones Trio Aug. 17. BYO chair. hhso.org or 843-842-2055 Aug. 6-8 “Crazy for You,” a new Gershwin musical comedy, produced by Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute at Seahawk Cultural Center, 70 Wilborn Road, Hilton Head Island. Shows 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6-7; 8 p.m. Aug. 8. Tickets HHISummerMusicals.com or 866-749-2228 Aug. 6-28 Weekends at the Jazz Corner: Billy Thornton Quartet, Aug. 6-7; Jackson & Maggie Events Present Guitarist Jocelyn Gould, Aug. 13-14; tenor saxophonist Mark Sterbank, Aug 20-21; Melvin Jones and Kevin Bales Trio, Aug. 27-28. Local musicians other nights. 843842-8620 or thejazzcorner.com
August 3, 2021
Through Aug. 20 Popular family entertainer Gregg Russell returns to Sea Pines Resort and the Liberty Oak. 8-9:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. seapines.com/events Through Aug. 22 “Mamma Mia,” directed by Casey Colgan, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. Nominated for five Tony Awards, music by Abba. Tickets $46$56 adults, $33-$43 children. Artshhi.com or 843-842-2787 Through Aug. 22 “Conservation in the Classroom,” exhibit of environmental art and educational experience, at Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. Gallery hours 9 am.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. coastaldiscovery.org or 843689-3035 Aug. 26-Oct. 17 “Off the Wall,” exhibit of 3D art by Maxine Utall and Sheri Farbstein and their students, Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. Opening reception 5-7 p.m. Aug. 26. Gallery hours 9 a.m.4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. 843-6896767 or coastaldiscovery.org
Aug. 28-29 The Flying Karamazov Brothers, self-proclaimed eccentrics performing comedy, wild theatrics and astonishing juggling feats. Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. Tickets at artshhi.com or 843-842-2787 Through Aug. 31 “Wonderful World of Wood,” exhibition of wood-turning art by Nicholas Do Mona, Society of Bluffton Artists, 6 Church St. in Old Town Bluffton. Opening reception 4 p.m. Aug. 7 at the gallery. Sept. 10 Roger Pinckney book launch, 1:30 p.m. at Hilton Head Library. Presented by Friends of Hilton Head Library and Island Bookshelf.
Through Sept. 20 “Bird Series,” watercolor batiks by Joan Wykis at Maye River Gallery, 37 Calhoun St., Bluffton. Artist reception 4-6 p.m. Aug. 8, live music on the porch, refreshments.
August 3, 2021
Page 3B
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Page 4B
August 3, 2021
SOBA features Di Mona’s wood-turning art
Jeffrey Keller and Regan White in Mamma Mia!, Photography by Gustavo Rattia
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Using inspiration from the rough pieces of timber he collects, Bluffton’s Nicholas Di Mona creates unique and eye-catching pieces with his wood-turning artistry. His sculptures, bowls and other varieties of wood art will be on display throughout August at the Society of Bluffton Artist’s Gallery in Old Town Bluffton. “I consider myself a naturalist,” says Di Mona, who came to Bluffton in 2017. “I turn the wood until I see something beautiful, then stop and leave it there. The beauty and elegance of the knots, inclusions, grain and natural imperfections make the final product a one-of-a-kind piece of art.” Di Mona’s love of wood art began as a boy in New Jersey, when he used to carve objects out of wine grape boxes. He has since graduated to using dead and fallen trees as his primary medium, letting the shape and texture of the wood guide him to the finish. Di Mona’s exhibit will be featured through
Aug. 31 at the SOBA Gallery, located at 6 Church St. in Old Town. Visitors to the gallery can meet the artist in person at the opening reception at 4 p.m. Aug. 7. SOBA gallery is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays. For more information, visit sobagallery.com or call 843-757-6586.
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Call 843-812-8870 for Tuesday delivery or order online at gourmetonwheels.org
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Week of August 9
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A GRAVITYDEFYING GREAT TIME! This world-famous group combines laugh-out-loud comedy with wild theatrics and astonishing juggling! The whole family will want to experience this!
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Week of August 16 Spaghetti and meatballs Chicken osso bucco Herb encrusted pork loin Seafood salad plate Mango mahi-mahi Cold Fresh Gazpacho Chipotle quiche
*$20.00 meals w/sides included, large enough for 2 moderate eaters. $10.00 for QT. Soup or 1/3 Deep Dish Quiche. Always low salt/sugar delivered cold in microwaveable/freezeable containers. Let Us Know Your Allergies or Dislikes As We Pick Appropriate Sides
August 3, 2021
Page 5B
AUGUST SCHEDULE
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Page 6B
August 3, 2021A
‘Legacy Gullah Homecoming’ exhibit at Art League Self-taught St. Helena artist Lisa Rivers will be exhibiting her work this August in “Legacy Gullah Homecoming,” a bright and colorful homage to life in the South. The exhibit will be held at Art League of Hilton Head Gallery Aug. 3-28. Rivers’ love and respect for the people and culture of the Lowcountry shine through in these engaging slice-of-life vignettes and character portraits. “I create art to tell the stories of my family. I paint with love,” she said. “You can feel it in each of my paint strokes and each finished piece.” Rivers was born and raised in New York City, but memories of her visits to her extended family in South Carolina continue to inspire her. She is now married to a native Gullah man and has lived in South Carolina for more than 20 years. Rivers began painting four years ago at the age of 52. Without a formal art education, she relies on the innate talent and creativity that first made itself known when she was a child. “The message is that you can do anything that you put
“Morning Chores” by Lisa Rivers
your mind to. It is never too late to start a new hobby or career as long as you are passionate about what you do. Love what you do and do what you love.” Rivers’ work is on permanent display at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Beaufort. She has been featured in local publications as well as Travel + Leisure and AAA’s Go magazine.
An artist reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 11 at the gallery, 14 Shelter Cove Lane. Rivers will be holding an artist demo at 2 p.m. Aug. 7. RSVP for the reception and demo at gallery@artleaguehhi.org to prevent overcrowding. For more information, call 843-6815060 or visit artleaguehhi.org.
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August 3, 2021
Check Out The New Expanded FREE Parking on Dr. Mellichamp Dr.!