Sept. 14, 2021 • Volume 24, Issue 18 • Complimentary • BlufftonSun.com
INSIDE • Calling volunteers to help sweep the May River of debris 10A • Presentation describes the faith of beloved author Pat Conroy 20A • Bluffton’s Music Man prepares for move back home 24A • Special Bluffton youth theatre seeks help 28A • Join Boys & Girls Club ‘epic house party’ with a fun twist 35A
Public forum to provide update on school referendum projects By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTOR
Once Beaufort County residents voted for the 2019 school bond referendum – the first in 11 years – projects have been under way within the Beaufort County School District, despite the disruptions caused by lockdowns, shutdowns and sluggish supply chains. The $345 million bond was slated to update, expand and improve the educational experiences of the county’s 22,000-plus students, and was the first one approved since 2008, when voters approved $162,735,000 in general bonds. Almost two years after the more recent referendum, the League of Women Voters
of Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Area and the Beaufort Area Leagues will host a forum at 5 p.m. Sept. 22 at May River High School. The information being provided by those participating is expected to show whether projects are being completed according to the district’s established timetables and if projects are within expected costs, according to a LWV press release. The leagues were among those who actively pushed for approval of the bond based on their independent study of the proposed projects. “We wanted to go back to see what was happening with the referendum. We felt we had a major impact on getting
Please see SCHOOLS on page 8A
COURTESY BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
The addition of the two-story wing at May River High School includes 23 new classrooms, such as this one. Projects paid for by the 2019 bond referendum will help accommodate a 13% increase in student population since 2009.
BCSD offers virtual learning option for COVID-impacted students By Tim Wood CONTRIBUTOR
As the number of student and employee COVID cases continues to rise across the county, Beaufort County School District officials have announced a plan to help keep quarantining students up-to-
date on their work without crossing the political lines drawn by state officials. BCSD Superintendent Dr. Frank Rodriguez sent an email home to families on Sept. 8 that outlined a plan for kids that have been diagnosed, exposed or quarantined due to COVID to participate in Zoom classroom calls with their
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teachers. Rodriguez told Board of Education members at their Sept. 7 meeting that he is in final conversations with the South Carolina Department of Education to enable BCSD teachers to provide what is called “dual modality simultaneous instruction.”
The new instruction began Sept. 13 and is available only for those diagnosed or confirmed to have been exposed to COVID. Why the fancy language? The state legislature has passed a law banning state
Please see VIRTUAL on page 14A
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The Bluffton Sun
Beaufort Memorial
Sept. 14, 2021
Christopher Stafford, M.D. and Matthew McLaughlin, D.O. to Beaufort Memorial
Pulmonary Specialists Christopher Stafford, M.D. A former Naval officer, Dr. Stafford joins Beaufort Memorial after nearly a decade at Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital in California, where he was also medical director of the intensive care unit, chairman of the Department of Medicine and chief of staff. Fellowship in Pulmonary Disease/Critical Care Medicine Naval Medical Center San Diego
Doctor of Medicine Georgetown University School of Medicine
Bachelor of Arts, Chemistry (magna cum laude) University of San Diego
Matthew McLaughlin, D.O. Dr. McLaughlin joined Beaufort Memorial in 2019 from Inlet Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine in Murrells Inlet. He is the medical director of Beaufort Memorial’s intensive care unit where he continues to treat critically ill patients. Fellowship in Pulmonary Disease/Critical Care Medicine Eastern Virginia Medical School
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology/Pre-Med College of the Holy Cross
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Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
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SUNNY SIDE UP
Whatever happened to my ‘permanent record’ and what’s on it? By Lynne Cope Hummell EDITOR
There was no greater deterrent against doing the wrong thing in the 1960s and ’70s (and maybe even before and after my school years) than the fear that all of one’s transgressions and rule-breaking might go down on one’s permanent record. You’d best not cut a class, for if you Lynne Hummell get caught, it will go down on your permanent record! If the hem of your skirt was too far above your kneecap, that would likely go down on your permanent record too. Don’t smoke on campus, or shoplift, or put soap in the outdoor fountain, or make fun of a teacher, because these
infractions can follow you for the rest of your life! In the case of shoplifting, that might be true – that, after all, is against the law. It’s called “theft.” The threat was, in my recollection, mostly school-related. And it did seem that our report card grades followed us from one year to the next. Colleges expect high school transcripts, so there’s that. But somehow it seemed to spill over into life in general. I wonder if that’s still the case. I know for a fact that one’s driving record is kept on record for a long time and the insurance company knows about it! They must have a network of tracking systems to know that one driver on the family policy has a lead foot. (It’s not me. I have gotten only one speeding ticket in my life and that was in 1985, when I arrived in Atlanta an hour before my parents, who had pulled out of the driveway at the same time I did.)
What about medical records? Recently I found an old folder from a doctor visit when I was a new patient in 2012. On their paper form, of which I have a copy, I had answered such questions as what prescriptions and vitamins I was taking, how long since my last mammogram and what health problems my siblings had. But where are those records now? That practice closed several years ago and the doctor retired! What happened to my records? Obviously, they are not permanent. The idea of a “permanent record” has been around since my older brother was in high school. I’m fairly certain I first heard about this enigmatic behavior modification tool from him. It scared me to the point that I became Miss Goody Two Shoes. Seriously. I was mortified when, in 5th grade, I was made to leave the music room because my teacher thought I was still laughing after she told Betsy Funderburk and and me to stop. I did stop! I
was only smiling at that point. Is that infraction still on my permanent record? When I asked my husband what he had heard about “your permanent record,” he exclaimed, “That’s the black marks – you don’t want black marks against you on your permanent record!” Where is it kept? Is it in a beige file cabinet in the Pentagon? Or in the musty basement of a nondescript building somewhere in Kansas? Perhaps on the internet? That thought raises some fodder for healthy debate: How much of what we have shared with the worldwide web of humanity still lingers on the internet? How far does it go back? Have you googled yourself lately? I might have to do some searching. And if I find any incriminating evidence that I helped put soap in the high school fountain, I will deny it – unless there are photos of the cool bubbles we made.
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The Bluffton Sun
Sept. 14, 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
PUBLISHER
Kevin Aylmer, kevina@blufftonsun.com
EDITOR
Lynne Hummell, editor@blufftonsun.com
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kim Perry Bowen
OFFICE MANAGER Melissa McCullough
CONTRIBUTORS Pete Berntson Abby Bird Bob Colyer Maark DeLoach Collins Doughtie Jean Harris Laura Kaponer Katherine Mace
Lindsay Perry Joy Ross Gwyneth J. Saunders Cinda Seamon Larry Stoller Lisa Sulka Mark Winn Tim Wood
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Catching up on good news from our social media By Lisa Sulka CONTRIBUTOR
Whenever we have positive news from any of our town departments we usually post on social media. I understand that not everyone relies on social media for their news, so I want to also write about these items in my weekly article. Recruit Jonathan Lisa Sulka Ciarrone received the Top Shot Award for his class at the Police Academy. This is awarded to the recruit who demonstrated the highest level of marksmanship proficiency and firearms safety throughout a series of firearms training and qualification courses. Sgt. Jason Rodriguez was voted First Responder of the Year in the Best of Bluffton 2021. Sgt. Rodriguez joined the Bluffton Police Department in 2015. He’s a canine handler and is partnered with K9 Hunden. Sgt. Rodriguez is in charge of all K9 units at the department, as well as D-Team, which is a shift unit consist-
ing of a sergeant, corporal and three officers. Our police department is implementing several of its strategic goal initiatives, including mental health crisis intervention training. This training will assist our command staff with understanding the necessity of reducing arrests of people with mental illness, while increasing the likelihood that the individuals will receive mental health services. Our town council budgeted for a mental health coordinator and we are advertising for this position currently. If you know of someone or if you have an interest, please check our career tab on townofbluffton.sc.gov .
A second initiative is a Spanish language class for our officers and staff. With the increase in our Hispanic community, this is something that is a must and I am so proud that the first class had a large number of participants. Finally, we continue to meet with any community, neighborhood, church or group that wants to discus public safety, any traffic laws, active shooter, etc. If you would like to have our department meet with your group, please reach out to the police department and schedule this. Many thanks to Ridgeland-based Quality Hardscapes & Porch Masters for donating a travel grill to the Bluffton Police Department. The grill will be used for community events and for meal preparation for officers and staff during critical incidents. And finally, a reminder that school is back in session. Please drive the posted speed limits in designated school zones. Also, please remember to move over, if safely possible, for first responders to include police, fire and EMS. Lisa Sulka is the mayor of the Town of Bluffton. lsulka@townofbluffton.com
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 18, September 14, 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.
Letter to the Editor To the Editor: Has friendship become a passé word in our fast-paced, troubled world? Webster’s describes a friend this way, “A person on the same side in a struggle.” An ally, supporter, compassionate , empathetic. My pastor’s recent sermon on Christian friendship caused me to reflect on just how much society has forgotten why friends are important. Historic best-sellers such as Dale Carnegie’s 1936 book “How to Win Friends And Influence People,” John Steinbeck’s 1937 book “Of Mice and Men,” and
Carole King’s inspiring lyrics, “You’ve Got a Friend” seem a distant past. Sure we can sing in church, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and read scripture, such as Colossians 3:13, “You must make allowance for others’ faults and forgive the person who offends you,” but then what? Psychology Today states that strong friendships are a critical aspect of most people’s emotional well-being and associated with greater happiness, self-esteem and sense of purpose. So how do we apply this desirable mentality to our daily lives? Here is what the professionals sug-
gest: Be there. Listen! Get facts. Determine needs. Make physical contact. Make tough calls. Here are further suggestions that can also make you a happier friend: Don’t be judgmental. Be respectful, loyal, truthful. Laugh! Walk the walk together. Finally, as we aspire to be another’s friend, be reminded and encouraged by Mr. Rogers’ famous lines, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” and “I like you just the way you are!” Earle Everett Moss Creek
Sept. 14, 2021
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Sept. 14, 2021
SUN ON THE STREET
Some old items in our lives are still worth hanging on to With this feature, we seek to capture a glimpse of what you and your neighbors have to say about a variety of topics, issues, events – and just
Jay Kaye, Erie, Pa.: “Probably our house. It’s 71 years old.”
plain fun questions. You might see us anywhere around town, with notepad and camera, randomly seeking out folks who are
Liz Trout, Okatie: “My grandfather’s dining room chairs. They’re certainly antiques.”
willing to participate. If we find you, we hope you will want to respond. At Omelette Cafe, off Buckwalter Parkway in Bluffton, we asked:
Luther Trout, Okatie: “My grandmother and grandfather’s hutch and buffet.”
“What is the oldest thing you own?”
Oliver Sharpe, Savannah: “Probably my car. It’s 4 years old. I don’t own many old things.”
Mei Goldfarb, Bluffton: “My necklace. My mother gave it to me as a child and I still wear it.”
Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
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Visit online for more information LatitudeMargaritaville.com Obtain the Property Report required by Federal law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. WARNING: THE CALIFORNIA BUREAU OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT INSPECTED, EXAMINED, OR QUALIFIED THE OFFERINGS. Latitude Margaritaville Kentucky Registration Number R-201. For NY Residents: THE COMPLETE OFFERING TERMS FOR THE SALE OF LOTS IN LATITUDE MARGARITAVILLE AT HILTON HEAD ARE IN THE CPS-12 APPLICATION AVAILABLE FROM SPONSOR, MINTO LATITUDE HH, LLC. FILE NO. CP18-0021. Pennsylvania Registration Number OL001170. Latitude Margaritaville at Hilton Head is registered with the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen, 1000 Washington Street, Suite 710, Boston, MA 02118 and with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20552. This material shall not constitute a valid offer in any state where prior registration is required and has not been completed. Photographs are for illustrative purposes only and are merely representative of current development plans. Development plans, amenities, facilities, dimensions, specifications, prices and features depicted by artists renderings or otherwise described herein are approximate and subject to change without notice. ©Minto Communities, LLC 2021. All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced, copied, altered, distributed, stored, or transferred in any form or by any means without express written permission. Latitude Margaritaville and the Latitude Margaritaville logo are trademarks of Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC and are used under license. Minto and the Minto logo are trademarks of Minto Communities, LLC and/or its affiliates. CGC 1519880/CGC 120919. 2021
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The Bluffton Sun
Sept. 14, 2021
SCHOOLS from page 1A it passed,” said Patricia Felton-Montgomery, the LWVHHI-BA Education Committee Chair. “Nationally, and at the state and therefore local levels, we have a whole book of action on many areas and one of them is education. … In terms of the legitimacy of us, we felt we had to go back to the public and say ‘this is what is happening with your tax dollars.’” According to BCSD Chief Operations Officer Robert Oetting, who will be on the forum panel, the total funds encumbered and paid to date are $230,333,245 or 67% of the referendum. Projects that are 100% complete to date are Right Choices Alternative Education Program (safety/security, radios, technology/infrastructure); and St. Helena Early Childhood (playgrounds, radios). “Projects, when including radios, have begun in every building in the district,” said Oetting. “We have completed playground projects at many schools, including Hilton Head Island International Baccalaureate, Bluffton Elementary School and Bluffton and Bluffton Early Childhood Center.” Panelists on the forum will include
Chief Planning Officer Carol Crutchfield, members of the Citizen-Led Oversight Committee (CLOC) on Referendum Projects, and student representatives from River Ridge Academy and May River High School. Special guests will be BCSD Superintendent Frank Rodriguez and Chief Instructional Services Officer Mary Stratos. Two schools of particular interest are River Ridge Academy and May River High School. These are relatively new schools, and some might wonder why they needed improvements, Montgomery said. River Ridge was built in 2015 and was over capacity in 2018. May River High School was built in 2016 and was nearing capacity in 2018. Student population had grown 13% since 2009, according to the district’s 2019 report card. Projects at the academy added four classrooms on each of two existing wings and a new eight-classroom wing. The high school grew with a new two-story wing containing 23 classrooms. “With all of the development going on S.C. 46 and S.C. 170 and the Parkway,
we needed the schools, and all of this had been planned 20 years ago with the future land use plans,” Montgomery said. Part of the presentation will include a PowerPoint that will show what is happening in all of the schools, including projects that started during the pandemic, and projects that are coming in the future.
“We have not had cost overruns on work once it was under contract.,” Oetting said. “We have had cost overruns on initial budgets. This has been mitigated by using referendum contingency. Projects so far have been completed on time.” Gwyneth J. Saunders is a veteran journalist and freelance writer living in Bluffton.
How are referendum dollars being spent? Location: May River High School Auditorium 601 New Riverside Road, Bluffton 5 p.m. Sept. 22 Please note: This forum may change to a Zoom or Zoom/in-person hybrid format closer to the date. Hosted by: League of Women Voters Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Area League of Women Voters Beaufort, SC Area Panelists: Robert Oetting, Chief Operations Officer, BCSD Carol Crutchfield, Chief Planning Officer, BCSD Citizens of the Oversight Committee on Referendum Projects Student representatives from River Ridge Academy and May River High School Special Guests: Dr. Frank Rodriguez, Superintendent Dr. Mary Stratos, Chief Instructional Services Officer, BCSD
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The Bluffton Sun
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The Bluffton Sun
Sept. 14, 2021
Bluffton and statewide partners prepare to sweep the waters By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTOR
Put on the sunscreen, bug spray, gloves and waders. It’s time to sweep, pull, drag, and otherwise clean up the debris along Bluffton’s beaches, sand bars and waterways. The all-volunteer event will be held Sept. 18 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Oyster Factory Park on the May River, at 63 Wharf St. This is the 13th year that the Town of Bluffton has participated in the state’s annual Beach Sweep/River Sweep, and is a joint venture between the town, Lowcountry Stormwater Partners, South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. “Each local volunteer becomes a citizen-scientist, and records data about the type and amount of litter they collect. This data is tabulated, added to South Carolina’s statewide data, and is incorporated into the Ocean Conservancy’s worldwide data,” said Beth Lewis,
COURTESY TOWN OF BLUFFTON
Jean Fruh from the Outside Foundation and Mike Bennett from i2 Recycle show their bounty of garbage collected during the 2018 Spring Earth Day cleanup. Both of these groups will participate in the upcoming river sweep Sept. 18.
Bluffton’s Water Quality Program administrator. “This cumulative data provides crucial information on the sources of litter so communities can better identify and target anti-litter education.”
The Outside Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014, is one of the many businesses and groups that participate regularly in the annual cleanup. “Partnering with Beth Lewis and
Bluffton’s stormwater team, we share a common mission in protecting our local waters,” said Executive Director Jean Fruh. “The Outside Foundation regularly conducts kayak-based cleanups in the Broad Creek and May River, and so it was just a natural for us. Since we have access to Palmetto Bluff through Outside Hilton Head, we were always able to bring kayaks and volunteers to that side of the May River.” The foundation originated from Outside Hilton Head, a company that began with offering windsurfing school in Sea Pines, and now provides guided kayak tours, kayak fishing, boat-based dolphin tours, charter fishing, tours of historic Bluffton and Daufuskie, kids and teens camps, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) programs, boat rentals, and surf lessons. “The big mission of The Outside Foundation is to connect youth, get kids in kayaks, and get people out and connected to these waterways,” Fruh said. “It’s
Please see RIVER on page 12A
Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
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The Bluffton Sun
Memory Matters Move Your Mind 5K/10K September 18 May River High School
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A walk and run event to raise money for local families affected by Alzheimer’s Disease & other types of Dementia.
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Sept. 14, 2021
RIVER from page 10A important, and when you’re out there on a kayak and you see trash and pull it out, it makes a tremendous difference. One plastic bag can kill a dolphin.” Other partners that have routinely participated in the annual sweep are the Hardeeville Walmart, Bluffton Walmart, Corner Perk, i2 Recycle, Waste Management, Keep Beaufort County Beautiful, the Beaufort County Solid Waste & Recycling Division, and Palmetto Pride. Bluffton volunteers and partners have collected approximately 57,900 pounds (or more than 28.95 tons) of litter from the Bluffton Historic District and the May River since 2000. That much trash has a major impact on the area that goes beyond being unsightly. “It’s probably one of the biggest threats we have to our quality of life, because we have a county that at high tide is half-covered with water, so our connections to our local waterways are part of our history, culture, daily lives, commerce, our economic base, fishing industry,” said Fruh. “For all of us, as residents. We are all connected to the health of our local waterways.” As volunteers report back to Oyster Factory Park with their haul, Waste Management will provide recycling and waste disposal bins. Suitable material collected by event volunteers will be recycled, while the remaining litter collected will be disposed of properly, Lewis said. Mike Bennett of i2 Recycle, whose company has been a regular participant, helped establish the recycling process in the sweep. “We looked at what was coming out of the river, and we saw bottles and cans and other items that weren’t just trash.
We set up bins and showed the volunteers how to sort the recyclable materials,” Bennett said. “We love setting up a recycling station to educate people. They used to carry one bag but now people carry two bags: one for trash and one for recycling.” Bennett said that in the past, approximately 15 to 20% of the overall volume has been recyclable. “And that doesn’t include the big bulk items like boat parts or tires,” he said. “And in future endeavors we have planned on doing somewhat of a construction debris recycle for when you get wood and bulky plastic items like coolers. That’s another chain of recycling.” Residents, business owners and visitors are invited to take part in the state’s largest one-day litter cleanup of beaches, marshes and waterways. Gloves, bags, sunscreen and water will be provided at the event. Participants should wear comfortable clothes and appropriate footwear – and bring a friend, organizers suggest. Corner Perk will provide coffee before the sweep begins, and the Hardeeville and Bluffton Walmart stores will bring free snacks and water. Those who would like to participate with their own boat or kayak, should arrive by 8:30 a.m. to allow time for setup. The foundation and other groups are recruiting volunteers to help with the sweep. Any large groups that wish to participate should contact Lewis at 843706-4559 or via email at blewis@townof bluffton.com so there will be a sufficient supply of materials and snacks. Gwyneth J. Saunders is a veteran journalist and freelance writer living in Bluffton.
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Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
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Sept. 14, 2021
VIRTUAL from page 1A school districts from offering a virtual learning option for the 2021-22 school year. Gov. Henry McMaster led the charge for the law and has been vocal in his steadfast belief that kids need to be back in classrooms. McMaster has not backed off that belief, despite the national rise in COVID cases due to the Delta variant. National reported cases were at 152,393 on Sept. 7, close to five times the number on the same date in 2020. And many experts predict a further spike to come due to Labor Day travel and the increase in large gatherings such as college football games. The district announced 236 new COVID infections for the week of Aug. 30 to Sept. 5, slightly up from the week before. Nearly 3,000 people were quarantined during that period, including 2,839 students – close to one in eight district students, easily the highest number of quarantines since the start of the pandemic. “We know how difficult quarantines can be for students and families, and especially for educators. We have heard
from many teachers who expressed a teaching preference for dual modality/simultaneous instruction in order to maintain students’ continuity of academic progress,” Rodriguez told The Sun of the move. “This illustrates the dedication of our educators, for whom I am extremely appreciative. We all want what’s best for the children of Beaufort County, to advance their learning even during these challenging times.” While the debate over mask mandates in school has gotten heated both online and among parents and administrators at Board of Education meetings, many parents voiced relief at the plan – while others questioned why the district won’t once again offer a full virtual option for all families. Courtney Potts’ daughter just finished a two-week quarantine and, while she praised teachers for doing the best they can given the restrictions they’re working with, she voiced frustration with the work-arounds that left her daughter unable to participate live in class. “The teachers were not allowed to Zoom or teach live from the school. Each
morning she would have an instructional video from her teachers, followed by an assignment. The videos were super helpful, but since she wasn’t on live with a teacher there was no way to ask questions,” Potts said in a discussion of the new policy on the What’s Happening in Bluffton Facebook group. “So she would have to email her questions, but since teachers were in the middle of class with the face-to-face students, they couldn’t answer during the day. The teachers are absolutely doing a fantastic job with the situation they’ve been dealt – but it is very frustrating, especially since she had a great experience with virtual school last year.” Other parents shared similar stories of equal parts frustration for the politicization of their kids’ education and praise for the teachers caught in the middle. “I don’t know if I should use the angry emoji or the caring emoji for the teachers, principals and admin,” said WHIB commenter Michelle Ladd. Jasper County school officials ignored the state mandate and chose to close schools and go all virtual in early
September. The state attorney general’s office is reportedly looking to fine and sanction Jasper and any other districts that close schools or offer a full virtual option. This latest move by Beaufort County will come at a cost. The new state law added a provision stating that any district that offered any kind of dual modality workaround would need to pay teachers for the extra effort – a well-deserved pay bump, but one that most districts around the state could not afford. Further, the provision requires multiple levels of paperwork and video proof of the added teaching be provided to the S.C. Board of Education before paying teachers. BCSD officials confirmed to The Sun that the district will be paying teachers that enact the dual modality Zoom classes an extra $1,000 for the first semester. The stipend will be paid in December, according to officials. Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. Contact him at timwood@ blufftonsun.com.
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Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 15A
40 Years of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra 10 Years of John Morris Russell as Music Director during our2021-2022 Season!
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Our season includes nine pairs of Orchestra Series concerts at First Presbyterian Church on Hilton Head Island, several outdoor performances—including the return of Symphony Under the Stars at Honey Horn in April—the Hilton Head International Piano Competition, SoundWaves presentations, and much more.
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Orchestra Series subscriptions are available now and single tickets go on sale September 15th. Highlights include: Wi llis
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Photo: Matt Clayto
Pho to
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The WORLD PREMIERE of Jessie Montgomery’s Piano Concerto with Awadagin Pratt in March
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JMR’s Greatest Hits and Tessa Lark’s debut in February
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See details and order tickets at hhso.org or call (843) 842-2055 • info@hhso.org
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Tchaikovsky’s Fifth and a Spanish-FrenchArgentinian program in January
Holiday Pops in Bluffton and on Hilton Head Island
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Violinist Will Hagen returns in October and pianist Michelle Cann plays Florence Price in November
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The Bluffton Sun
Sept. 14, 2021
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The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra will reopen its SoundWaves performance venue Sept. 19 with a new series. Coastal Home Supper Club, a new monthly dinner and cabaret series, will pair food and music for a fun Sunday evening, debuting with a smooth-sailing “Yacht Rock” theme and food provided by Coligny Plaza’s The Sandbar Eats restaurant. With a different show each month, cast members of Historic Savannah Theatre – one of the longest continuously operating theatres in the United States – will entertain audiences with evenings of popular movie music, Broadway show tunes, the American Songbook, and covers of some of the rock era greats. “Yacht Rock,” will feature vocalist Gretchen Stelzer and pianist Kenny Munshaw, covering breezy light rock hits by artists such as the Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac, Christopher Cross, Steely Dan, and others. Dinner and concert ticket packages, as well as concert-only tickets, are available now for $29 to $64 each. For those patrons ordering dinner, The Sandbar Eats is providing three menu options: Grilled fresh grouper, Caribbean chicken, and vegetable quinoa bowl. Patrons who order the dinner/concert package will receive one complimentary drink with
purchase. Dinner and concert orders must be placed by Sept. 17. Concert-only tickets may be purchased online through the afternoon of Sept. 19 and at the door, based on availability. Hilton Head Island furniture store Coastal Home is title sponsor of the new dinner/ concert series. Coastal Home’s Steve and Heidi, who have been supporters of SoundWaves since its inception, cheered SoundWaves’ plans to return to live-audience concerts and recalled their experience with similar supper clubs. The doors and bar open at 6 p.m., with dinner service beginning at 6:30 p.m. The concert portion begins at 7:30 p.m. Those who choose to purchase concert-only tickets will be admitted beginning at 7:15 p.m. Reserved and general seating options are available. Seating is cabaret style at tables of four. Reserved dinner and concert seats are $64 per person. Dinner and concert general seating is $54 per person. Reserved seating for concert-only tickets is $39 per person, and general seating for concert-only tickets is $29 per person. Soundwaves is located at 7 Lagoon Road on Hilton Head Island. To order tickets, or for more information, contact the HHSO office at 843-842-2055.
Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 17A
ARTS
Live theatre returns to Center for the Arts with Elvis show
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The cast of Beaufort Theatre Company’s production of “All Shook Up.” Performances are Sept. 18-26 at USCB Center for the Arts in Beaufort.
USCB Center for the Arts will open its new season Sept. 18 with a 7:30 p.m. performance of Beaufort Theatre Company’s production of “All Shook Up,” inspired by and featuring the songs of Elvis Presley, best known as the King of Rock ’n’ Roll. Picture this: It’s 1955, and into a square little town in a square little state rides a guitar-playing young man who changes everything and everyone he meets. Loosely based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, this hip-swiveling, lip-curling musical fantasy will have you jumping out of your blue suede shoes with such classics as “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Hound Dog,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and “Don’t Be Cruel.” If you’ve enjoyed previous productions at the Center for the Arts, you will surely recognize some local characters onstage, including Lauren Tillapaugh, Chris Barr, Brad Ballington, Madeline Helser-Howard, Rosie Lyda, Alex Long, Caroline Fonseca, Melissa Florence,
Ivan Estrada-Campos, Greg Rawls, Colin Kindwall, Barry Reese, Christi Barr, Valencia King, Noah Krepps, Tess Lacombe, Abby Mounce, Dyamante Scotland, Kayla Denton, Julie Siebold and Paul Newman. So, put on your bobby socks and poodle skirt or your leather jacket and blue suede shoes and join the fun. “All Shook Up” promises to be a rock ’n’ rollin’ good time. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18, 24 and 25, and 3 p.m. Sept. 19 and 26. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors, and $15 for students and are available online at uscbcenterforthearts. com, or at the box office, open 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday by calling 843-521-4145. Any remaining tickets will be available at the door one hour prior to showtime. The USCB Center for the Arts is located at 805 Carteret St. in Beaufort. For more information visit uscbcenterforthearts.com.
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Page 18A
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Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
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Page 20A
The Bluffton Sun
Sept. 14, 2021
Story of Pat Conroy’s faith told by two who understand
LYNNE COPE HUMMELL
At the Pat Conroy Literary Center in Beaufort, director Jonathan Haupt and intern Holland Perryman take time for a photo among Conroy memorabilia. Perryman is sitting in Conroy’s chair at the desk from his Fripp Island home, where the famed author wrote his manuscripts by hand.
By Lynne Cope Hummell EDITOR
Fans of Pat Conroy – both the man and the books he wrote – know of his love for the Lowcountry that he called home. They know about his family life, his college years at The Citadel, and his experiences as a teacher on the then-remote island of Daufuskie. What they might not know about Conroy is that he was a man of faith, though perhaps not a dedicated churchgoer or practitioner of any particular religion. In a presentation Oct. 3 at Lowcountry Presbyterian Church in Bluffton, guests can learn about Conroy’s humanistic faith and the themes of spirituality presented in 11 of his 12 books. The presentation will be livestreamed on the church’s Facebook page and website. Jonathan Haupt, director of the Pat Conroy Literary Center in Beaufort, and the center’s first intern, Holland Perryman, will lead guests through a
90-minute glimpse of Conroy’s history of faith, how his perspectives were influenced by his parents, and how he eventually found God in nature. In an August interview, Haupt and Perryman explained how this presentation came to be. “I’ve given lots of talks and library programs since the Conroy Center opened,” Haupt said, noting that most people want to know about the author’s writing career, his family, details about his subject matter and the like. Then, about a year ago, “The Athens (Ga.) Chautauqua Society asked me to speak on Conroy, and asked ‘What topic have you always wanted to talk about, but haven’t yet?’ I immediately replied, ‘The faith of Pat Conroy.’ That led to a 90-minute presentation, because he had so much to say.” Faith wasn’t an overriding theme in any of Conroy’s books, Haupt said, “but there was always an underlying element
Please see CONROY on page 22A
Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
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The Bluffton Sun
Sept. 14, 2021
CONROY from page 20A
First Presbyterian Church in Beaufort, where Conroy was a frequent visitor. Perryman, whose family moved to Beaufort when she was 5, said she was aware of Conroy and his presence in Beaufort, but it wasn’t until her freshman year in high school that she read one of his books, “The Water is Wide,” and was assigned to write about a sense
of place. At that point, her desire to be a writer was growing. When she visited the Pat Conroy Literary Center in 8th grade, invited by resident writer Stephanie Austin Edwards, “I figured something really important was going on here.” That visit was to become a major event in her own writing life. A couple
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of faith.” Haupt and Perryman will give examples from his books in which faith plays a part. For instance, in his 2004 “Pat Conroy Cookbook,” the author wrote, “The great salt marsh spreading all around as far as the eye could see has remained the central image that runs through my work. I cannot look at a salt marsh, veined with salt creeks swollen with the moonstruck tides, without believing in God.” The two speakers know a lot about Conroy and about faith. Haupt, the grandson of a preacher, is the former director of the University of South Carolina Press. There, he worked closely with Conroy when the two created the Story River Books imprint; they remained close friends. Haupt also is co-editor of the anthology “Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy.” The 17-year-old Perryman, a senior at Beaufort High School – which Conroy attended – is the daughter of the Rev. Dr. Patrick Perryman, senior pastor of
Bluffton Parkway
of years later, “I was trying to figure out how I’m going to do what I want in this small town,” she said. “Then my mother ‘suggested’ that a become an intern at the Center.” She boldly approached the center with her resume in hand and explained to Haupt why she should become the Center’s first intern. “It was a rather cold interview process,” she said. “I was reluctant,” Haupt said, “because I had been a mentor to a number of college students” with varied results. But, the two stepped out in faith, so to speak, as mentor and mentee and have continued to work well together, navigating the circles that bring Lowcountry writers together in interesting and amazing ways. Their presentation, “The Faith of Pat Conroy,” will begin at 4 p.m. Oct. 3. It is free and open to the public. Face coverings are recommended. Lowcountry Presbyterian Church is located at 10 Simmonsville Road. The presentation will be held in the sanctuary.
Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 23A
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Page 24A
The Bluffton Sun
Sept. 14, 2021
Bluffton’s Music Man making a move back to his family farm
PHOTOS COURTESY JORDAN ROSS
Jordan Ross in 2016 with two of his babies: his youngest child, Miles, in the carrier, and the recently opened Roasting Room.
By Tim Wood R
CONTRIBUTOR
“It’s not you, it’s me.” Seven weeks ago, Jordan Ross never thought he’d be uttering those dreadful breakup words to his friends in the Lowcountry. As passionate as he’s been in planting roots in Bluffton for 10-plus years, 10 generations worth of roots are calling him home. “This wasn’t even on our radar two months ago, but it’s a pang we had to listen to,” said the founder of The Roasting Room, the music venue above The Corner Perk that has turned the corner of May River Road and Promenade Street into a destination for musicians across the Southeast. “It was tough to tell folks that I need to go, but the folks I’ve told, they know this is something we need to do.” If you have seen Jordan Ross on stage over the past 11 years – as a solo act in Sea Pines, as a worship leader at Church
of the Cross, or as the hustle and brains behind The Roasting Room – you quickly realize that family is everything to him. From the day he and his wife, Ali, moved to Bluffton in 2009, Ross has been a people magnet, a community builder, and a dream achiever. Seven weeks ago, a new dream emerged via an unimaginable call from his Mom. “My grandfather, one of my idols, he went from mowing the lawn to doctors finding a brain tumor the size of a peach to him being dead, all in two weeks,” Ross said. “He was an icon in our town of 1100 people, a school teacher, the commissioner of the high school sports conference in the area. And he and my Grandma worked a 100-acre farm through the years. He’s maintained a seven-acre plot for a 150-year-old farmhouse. I’m the oldest grandchild, and my family wants to keep the farm in the family.”
Please see MUSIC MAN on page 26A
Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
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The Bluffton Sun
Sept. 14, 2021
MUSIC MAN from page 24A
Jordan Ross buying a new guitar at John’s Music on Hilton Head Island, a frequent stop for local musicians.
It was a tug at the heart strings too forceful to ignore. So Ross is putting his Lawton Station home on the market and planning a transition from music promoter to hometown farmer. Ross moved to Savannah out of college in 2007. Ali got a job in the school district and Ross set out to build a music career. The couple quickly realized Savannah was not their vibe. When he started earning gigs up the highway on Hilton Head Island, he just as quickly knew Bluffton was his true destination. “We had an ideal in mind, a place to find community, to build community, to make a difference, to plant roots and raise our family. Bluffton delivered on every part of that wish,” Ross said. After buying a house here in 2009, the couple joined Church of the Cross and quickly became friends with Josh Cooke and Trevor Harden, the church’s worship leader. When the church band needed a utility player, Ross was the man on bass, drums, guitar and congos. “Whatever they needed, I said, ‘I got it’,” he said. “Josh and Trevor and their
families, they became family for us immediately.” He witnessed Cooke chase a dream in opening a coffee shop in a cramped space on Burnt Church Road. Harden was just as daring, launching his own studio and marketing agency. When Cooke decided to go all-in on building a new home for The Corner Perk in The Promenade, Ross was ready to push his financial chips to the middle of the table as well, to make the upstairs space above the coffee shop into a music room. “I always wanted to be a traveling musician but I didn’t want to be away from family,” Ross said. “So I figured, ‘Hey, let’s bring that world to us and share it with all our friends.’” It being in his family DNA, at least he’ll know more about farming than he did about launching a music hall. He’d earned a following on stage here, but he knew nothing about being a music promoter. “I think I sent emails to every booking agent contact I could find when we were
Please see MUSIC MAN on page 31A
Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 27A
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Page 28A
The Bluffton Sun
Sept. 14, 2021
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COURTESY BLUFFTON YOUTH THEATRE
The Bluffton Youth Theatre cast of “Aladdin Jr.”
By Tim Wood CONTRIBUTOR
Cynthia Ford dreams of the day when the idea of blending special needs kids and typical kids in a performing troupe won’t be such a revolutionary concept. “We’re all just different degrees of normal,” said the founder of the Bluffton Youth Theatre. “On stage, these kids are all acting. They get to be whomever they want to be, no labels.” Ford is a big thinker with an endless array of ideas. But right now, she is laser-focused on keeping one dream idea alive. “I want to build a big theater for these kids to perform, I want to find 15 angels to give us $1 million apiece and make it a reality. But for now, we just need to keep the troupe going,” Ford said. The 45-year theatre veteran moved to Bluffton from Rochester, N.Y., to care for her ailing father. She first worked at Main Street Youth Theatre on Hilton Head Island, but set out to give Bluffton its own kids troupe with a twist. She started BYT in 2015, with the plan to cast 50 kids per show. She set out to make sure that 10 to 20 of the cast and production team were special needs kids, with anything from ADHD to Tourette’s Syndrome and every diagnosis in between. The idea was an immediate hit with all
families in the area looking for a creative outlet for their youngsters. But it was especially so for special needs parents, a population that struggled to find resources and a network of support in the Lowcountry for years. “It is just an amazing gift,” said Bluffton parent Heather McMahon, the mother of 10-year-old twins. Her son, Declan, is battling ADHD, dyslexia and diabetes. Her daughter, Michayla, has Tourette’s. “To see them embrace this, to light up and be able to perform, it’s just magic what they do.” Ford has built a loyal team of supporters, a board of directors with a full spectrum of talented backers. She has a sister with Down Syndrome and has been a special education teacher for decades, so her mission is personal. “They are forever kids. Being a special needs caregiver is a lifetime commitment. They often never mentally mature past childhood skills,” Ford said. “So we set out to give them an environment to let those skills be maximized through performing.” The group has put on 10 shows since 2016, with the goal of putting on three or four shows per year. BYT donates $1 from each ticket to a local special needs organization. The shows are performed
Please see THEATRE on page 30A
Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 29A
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Page 30A
The Bluffton Sun
Sept. 14, 2021
THEATRE from page 28A with two casts, with one group doing the performing for the show and the other serving as the production team. The groups alternate for each performance. “So they learn a little bit of everything. We are a training ground on so many fronts, a feeder system for the other local theatre groups. But the kids are amazing. I would challenge anyone to find a more professional product than what we give our audiences.” Ford said. Ford’s group is itself a nonprofit and has done its share of fundraising and ticket sales over the past five years – enough to fund the purchase of 30 stage microphones and a lighting and sound system. Ford rents a warehouse to hold their accumulated collection of donated and homemade costumes, fabrics, set pieces and equipment. What she doesn’t have is a home for the kids to perform. The group has performed in a variety of spaces from Sun City to a one-off murder mystery theater show at Sigler’s restaurant in 2018 to Hilton Head, where they performed their most recent show, “Aladdin, Jr.” at the Hilton Head Prep’s Main Street Theatre
July 29-Aug. 1. COVID delayed that show and has caused a pause in scheduling any others. The pandemic has also caused a steady decline in funding. “With no ticket sales and donations slowing because everyone is just scraping to get by, it’s caused some hiccups, but we’re as motivated as ever to keep moving forward.” The productions cost anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000 each to stage, with renting venues being a large portion of the bill. That’s why finding their own space is a crucial component to long-term survival. “This area is growing, more and more families are coming into the area. That’s also more folks who want to be entertained,” Ford said. “We feel like we’re providing the perfect outlet. We just need to find a steadier flow of sponsors and donor angels.” Ford is working with husband and wife Darren and Sara Broman, who will take over the promotion and fundraising lead moving forward. Ford is focusing on the production and creative side. “They started coming to our shows and
loved what they saw and the benefit it has for the community,” Ford said. “Their daughter was old enough to be part of ‘Aladdin Jr.’ and loved it. And they were able to start teaching her about people with special needs. So they see the winwin in what we’re doing.” She has written a musical, “The Prop Room,” about a high school being torn down and all the costumes and props the drama club finds cleaning out their prop room that reminds them of all the songs they’ve song through the years. She plans to begin casting for the show over the next few weeks. The Bromans are working to line up restaurants to perform the show, with the hope of having multiple restaurants signed on for a rotating dinner theater performance. McMahon is looking to do whatever she can to promote BYT and the mission led by Ford. “It’s incredible to see them embrace this, to see Declan go from scared of going to constantly asking when the next show is so he perform,” McMahon said. “They were practicing for six hours a day
Monday through Friday for five weeks. To see them be so committed, it was a dream. And as special needs parents can attest to, having the adult peace and quiet time during practice was a bonus blessing. Cynthia doesn’t turn anyone away. Everyone has a role, has a place on the team. We are not used to seeing this kind of inclusiveness, but she makes us believe that this can be the norm someday.” Ford said the McMahon family is just one story of the impact of BYT. “Typical, atypical, everyone comes alive in this space. They’re equals, they have to lean on each other and trust each other, and that kind of growth, it’s just beyond words to see that every time we get these kids together,” Ford said. “We want to spread this message, this joy, as far and wide as we can. I’m not great at asking for help, but we need the community to help give us a chance to keep spreading the message.” To find out more about BYT, visit blufftonyouththeatre.org. Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. Contact him at timwood@blufftonsun.com.
Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
MUSIC MAN from page 26A opening, selling them on this little hamlet that’s Bluffton, and on this dream,” Ross said. “I knew nothing about contracts, about the ins and outs of working with artists, but I knew what I wanted this space to be.” In five and a half years, Ross has been tireless in drawing talent, from locals like Jevon Daly and John Cranford to Grammy-winning artists, to Old Town with the promise of an intimate setting and a second-to-none performance space, a 75seat listening room. The Roasting Room launched with Ed Roland from Collective Soul and Angie Aparo on opening night, Dec. 4, 2015. “They were big gets. Angie is a longtime friend and Ed is just amazing in believing in us,” Ross said. “I wanted to get this one artist, Gabe Dixon, who I knew would be perfect for here. And his agent, Seth Meganck, he just believed in me. He listened, he mentored me, taught me the ropes of the business. He told us we had the best space in the Southeast and he made sure everyone knew it. That belief, that help, it was everything.” Ross has been equally tireless in attracting local talent to help build the business and has earned a loyal crew of believers over the past five and a half years. “It began with Isaac, he saw an ad, showed up and just dove in to making the sound perfect. James, Lauriel, Amanda and Dustin and Michelle. And of course, Josh. These people, they are family. They are the dream,” Ross said. “This is all about people. You miss people, you miss the point.” Ross and Cooke want to make sure people know The Roasting Room is not going away. COVID has dealt a blow to the live show world and Ross said he and his crew hung on barely throughout 2020, like Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt clinging to a house pipe in a tornado in “Twister.” “We’re back and the lineup for this fall is stronger than ever,” Ross said. When Ross delivered the news to the team, Cooke took the news hard. “That’s my brother there. He’s just amazing. Our families have become inseparable. It is a seismic loss, but to know Jordan, you know this is a ‘must’ move,” Cooke said. “He’s all-in on people, and family above all, period.” Cooke met with the team and decided
how to move forward as Ross plans an early to mid-2022 full exit. Both Cooke and Ross are confident they have the behind-the-scenes rock stars to carry The Roasting Room to bigger successes. “This is just the first chapter of the story. I’m proud to have been the lead writer, but Isaac is lead engineer now, Dustin has shown he wants to run the production end, so we have a great base,” Ross said. “This has never been a big profit center. This is more about passion, not money. But this crew, they can make money through loving the music and making it their dream.” Cooke said replacing the maestro behind the dream is an impossible ask. “Jordan did everything. His impact was everywhere, every facet of what’s built this place’s reputation,” Cooke said. “But it’s a spot where you give other folks the room to shine and see who steps up. In time, we’ll offer them true ownership in the business. We’ve been so blessed to have this core of mini-Jordans in the making. I’m excited to see what’s next.” Ross is in full agreement. “I learned how to make posters on the computer. You want something, you find a way. But between the church and family life, I never had the bandwidth to fully realize this place’s potential,” he said. “This crew, they have shown just since I told them my news that they want this. They want this to be their everything.” Ross somehow carved time out over the past few years to earn his pilot’s license, a skill he hopes to put to good use in traveling from Rockford, Ohio, to Bluffton in the future. “Am I a farmer? I’m excited to find out. I can’t wait to coach my son’s baseball team, to work with livestock,” Ross said. “We’ll be the big-city folk for a bit – there’s no DoorDash in Rockford. There is an airport with a runway big enough for me to take off to Bluffton. You get one shot at this life. I swing big. When I’m old enough to slow down, I want to have no regrets. That’s what I want to model to my kids. But you’re not getting rid of me. Bluffton will always be family.” Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. Contact him at timwood@blufftonsun.com.
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The Bluffton Sun
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Sept. 14, 2021
Culinary Institute to hold Enrollment Expo Sept. 16 The Culinary Institute of the South at Technical College of the Lowcountry will host its second Enrollment Expo for prospective students from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 16 at TCL’s New River Campus in Bluffton. Information on scholarships and financial aid as well as application assistance will be provided at the expo, and faculty and staff will be on hand to answer any questions for those interested in attending the school. While a grand opening is being planned for the institute in November, students will begin taking courses at the new campus when school begins in October. The campus is currently under construction in Buckwalter Place in Bluffton. The Culinary Institute is a 29,000-squarefoot training facility featuring six academic classrooms, two teaching kitchens, two baking labs, a lecture theater and teaching restaurant. A FOODseum, an interactive museum
that will tell the story of Southern food, is set to open on the campus in 2022. Students can choose from one of three program areas – Baking & Pastry, Culinary and Hospitality – and can elect to earn an associate’s degree or certificate in these areas. The New River Campus is located at 100 Community Drive, next door to the Don Ryan Center for Innovation. For more information or to RSVP visit tcl.edu/exporsvp.
SCORE hosts nonprofit workshops SCORE SC Lowcountry, with TD Bank, will present a series of complimentary Zoom workshops for nonprofits throughout the month of October. This workshop series features sessions on volunteer management, grant writing and fundraising, board management and will be capped off by a roundtable of nonprofit agency executives who will answer questions on how they built sustainable agencies. These free sessions, which run between noon and 1 p.m. on each Thursday in October are for anyone interested in starting or growing a nonprofit in the Lowcountry. Though there is no charge for the virtual workshop, advance registration is required. Those interested can register at sclowcountry.score.org.
Since 1964, SCORE has helped 11 million entrepreneurs to start or grow a business. SCORE’s 10,000 volunteers provide free mentoring, workshops and educational services to 1500+ communities nationwide, creating 29,681 new businesses and 67,706 non-owner jobs in 2019 alone. Visit SCORE at score.org. Follow @ SCOREMentors on Facebook, LinkedIn,Instagram and Twitter. For information about your local SCORE office, call 843-785-7107 or visit SCORE SC Lowcountry online at sclowcountry.score.org
Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
10 HOT SPOTS
How, where to enjoy being a local tourist during off-season
LYNNE COPE HUMMELL
Sunsets at Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks are a little more calming than usual in the off-season.
By Tim Wood CONTRIBUTOR
It’s our time now. We all know that the visitors to the Lowcountry pay for a lot of the everyday amenities we all enjoy and fuel new businesses we all love to frequent. By all accounts, this year will once again set many tourism records. But locals largely stay away from their favorite activities due to both the unpredictable and excessive traffic and the unbearable heat of a Southern summer. It’s a risk-reward thing – time invested vs. the chance of a long wait due to the influx of tourists. We are now in the magical window between Labor Day and Snowbird Season, where the weather is moving in our favor every day, the roadways are largely clear and business owners are counting on us to come out of our tourist-induced slumber. Here are our picks for the hot spots to hit during your Lowco Localpalooza, with an assist from our blue-ribbon panel of online helpers.
The beach is a gimme, folks. Most of you who love the beach braved the crowds anyway, but for the rest of us, there’s endless sand real estate. But what are the less-obvious choices? Dog Days at the Beach: Bring your fur baby with you if you’re soaking up the ocean air. The dogs were banned during the day during the summer, but post-Labor Day, dogs can be on-leash on Coligny all day. And from Oct. 1 through April 1, dogs can be off leash under your control anytime during the day. Clean up after your pet or you’re going to get an express pass back to beach jail. Miniature golf: The driving ranges like Toptracer at Palmetto Dunes and the indoor golf spots like Rendezvous Bluffton and Chronic Golf are certainly more local friendly. But it’s Pirate’s Island and Adventure Cove on Hilton Head where you see the biggest difference in wait times. Pirate’s Island (8 Marina Side Drive, 843-686-4001) offers $1 off cou-
Please see HOT SPOTS on page 34A
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The Bluffton Sun
Sept. 14, 2021
HOT SPOTS from page 33A pons on piratesislandgolf.com. The two 18-hole courses and arcade are equally less crowded at Adventure Cove (18 Folly Field Road, 843-842-9990), where you can buy an all-day unlimited pass for $20 for adults and $17 for kids 12 and under. Bonus pro tip: The go-karts at Adventure Hilton Head are open. Yes, we said go-karts. It’s an outstanding marina-side course available for single rides ($15) and double rides ($20). More on that in October, as we give you the full tour and review. Hudson’s: You can insert pretty much any of your favorite eateries into this spot, but our blue-ribbon panel said the most welcome wait relief always comes at Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks (1 Hudson Road, Hilton Head Island, 843-681-2772, hudsonsonthedocks. com), where a likely three-hour wait on Saturday nights is cut to an hour or less, and where you can find a seat at Sunday brunch before the technical brunch window is over.
Pinckney Island and the Parks: We know, just veering over toward Moss Creek gives you agita in August. But hit that gas pedal, don’t be afraid. Get on that bridge and go see one of truly underappreciated gems of the Lowcountry at the Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge (843-784-2468), 4,000-plus acres full of diverse plant and bird life. Venture even farther and you can actually get tennis court time at Chaplin Community Park and take advantage of the PRO Wellness Fitness Trail at Jarvis Creek Park, full of 10 pieces of outdoor cross-training equipment set up at stations behind a large oak and overlooking Lake Liggett. Sea Pines: Again, we pretty much put the entire South End and Pope Avenue back in play for locals this time of year. For me, the biggest bonus is getting a table before 2 p.m. at Kenny B’s French Quarter Café. But the biggest windfall of adventure is at Sea Pines, where locals play tourist this time of year with the 15 miles of paved leisure trails, the horse stables, water sports at the two marinas.
Plus, there’s bike tours, hay wagon rides and the Harbour Town Fall Fest on Sept. 26 that features a sidewalk sale, classic car display, children’s activities and a Deaz Guys concert. Boat rentals: Whether it’s at Shelter Cove, Harbour Town or Broad Creek, the jet skis, pontoon boats and motor boats are all more readily available this time of year. Many on our blue-ribbon panel like to do a month-long tour, hitting up one marina a weekend to find the best deals. Fishing Saturdays with Ben Green: We featured this local treasure in our July 6 issue (blufftonsun.com) but many locals don’t know that these free fishing lessons for the entire family actually run through October. Just head out to the Rowing and Sailing Center off of Squire Pope Road on Saturdays from 4 to 6 p.m. and learn how to cast, bait and hook the fish and get a crash crabbing course in the water. Check out Ben’s Facebook page, On the Hook with Ben Green, for more information.
Festival season: The Boiled Peanut Festival in Bluffton kicked off the 14-event season on Sept. 11. Next up is this week’s Wine & Food Festival on the island (hiltonheadwineandfood.com) and the Yemassee Shrimp Festival on Sept. 1718. You can find something to celebrate just about weekend through Halloween, wrapping up with the Gullah Food Festival on Hilton Head on Oct. 30. Farmers markets: The Honey Horn Farmers Market continues on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Bluffton Farmers Market in Old Town runs Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through the fall. Golfing: It’s almost as obvious as the beaches, but the one caveat is that many of the Lowcountry courses run off-season locals specials starting now. Check your favorite course online for the best deals. Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. Contact him at timwood@blufftonsun.com.
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Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
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Boys & Girls Club sponsors house party fundraiser with a twist By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTOR
All of Bluffton is invited to join the Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 18 for a fun and relaxed night to help raise money for the club. The event promises to an “epic house party.” The twist is YOU are the host. All you need to do is sign up, then invite seven other people to enjoy the party-in-a-box, provided to each host by Southern Graces Catering and Planning. “During the past 10 years, it costs on average $1,500 to support one child for one year at the Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton,” said Executive Director Molly Hornbeak. “Our mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The Boys & Girls Club offers that hope and those opportunities.” The club currently has a waiting list of more than 500 children hoping to join, and 25% of Bluffton’s population is younger than 18, said Kristen McGuire, director of
Members of the Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton invite their neighbors to an “epic house party” that could very well include cupcakes.
resource development. “That’s almost 6,000 potential members.” The evening will include a catered dinner for eight with everything provided by Southern Graces. The menu will include a charcuterie board with an online demonstration by Chefs Christopher and Bethany
Hewitt of Southern Graces on how to build an epic charcuterie board. There will be hors d’oeuvres, a hearty tapas-style cuisine that includes Chile almond shrimp cocktail, filet mignon slider stacks and delectable grown-up hot pockets; the Lowco Luxury, a signature cocktail/
mocktail; a dessert cocktail demonstration by Burnt Church Distillery; and a feast capped off with Glam S’mores. The house parties will all be held simultaneously, and part of the package will include instructions on how to access the club’s online video presentation (tech support included) for a tour of the Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton as well as the online silent auction. The house party package also includes a hostess package and special hostess gifts. “We want you to celebrate the young people who will one day be the leaders of the town of Bluffton. By hosting one epic house party, you will be investing in the next generation of leadership for our community,” Hornbeak said. “Together, we are building a Better Bluffton, one child at a time.” There is still time to sign up, and Southern Graces will deliver a party box for the number of guests invited directly to the host’s house on the day of the event. For more information and to sign up, go to bgcbluffton.org/epic-house-party. Gwyneth J. Saunders is a veteran journalist and freelance writer living in Bluffton.
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Page 36A
The Bluffton Sun
Sept. 14, 2021
Walk for Water aims to raise $75,000 for clean, safe water Registration is now open for the fifth annual Beaufort County Walk for Water Oct. 9. Walk for Water promotes awareness of the global water crisis while raising money to provide sustainable, safe water around the world. All money raised benefits Water Mission, a nonprofit Christian engineering organization based in Charleston that builds safe water solutions in developing countries and disaster areas. The walk will take place in dozens of locations across Beaufort County. Participants can find a convenient host location on the Walk for Water website at walkforwater.com/beaufortco and join that team, or create their own teams with family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. All preregistered participants get a free T-shirt. Participants will be encouraged to carry a bucket of water on part of the three-mile walk to symbolize the burden millions of women and children in developing countries carry daily to collect
COURTESY GRETCHEN NICKEL
This team from Bluffton participated in the 2020 Walk for Water. Registration for the Oct. 9 walk is now open.
water that’s often contaminated. That unsafe water has dire consequenc-
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es: a person dies from water-related illness every 37 seconds somewhere in the
world, according to Water Mission. “As little as $25 can provide one person safe water for life,” said Jim Pickard, Beaufort County Walk for Water committee chair. “$500 can create latrine sanitation for a community, and just over $1,000 can build solar panels for a power source.” Last year’s walk attracted nearly 400 registered walkers and raised more than $58,000, despite the pandemic and the necessity of shifting from a large group event to small neighborhood walks. Based on that success, organizers have set aggressive goals of 750 participants and $75,000 raised through registration fees, sponsorships and donations. “We’re hoping a record number of people will help us ‘pick up the bucket’ this year,” Pickard added. For more information, to register or donate, visit the website at walkforwater. com/beaufortco or call 843-769-7395. For sponsorship information, contact Robert Lasher at 843-906-8118 or rlasher5519@gmail.com.
Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
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Noteworthy • The Savannah/Hilton Head/Bluffton chapter of Silverliners International flight attendant group will meet for lunch Sept. 15 in the private Hampton Room at Pete’s Grill, 170 Hampton Hall Blvd. in Bluffton. This is part of the golf complex, so please, no jeans. To RSVP and get a gate pass, call or text Sue Smith at 973-670-5832. Silverliners International is a social and charitable organization of former and current flight attendants representing almost all airlines. The group meets for lunch every month on the third Wednesday. • Palmetto Quilt Guild will hold its member meeting Sept. 16 in person at Hilton Head Island & Tennis Resort. Social hour begins at noon with the program from 1 to 3 p.m. Masks are optional; a Zoom option is available. Guest speaker Lisa Shepard Stewart will present a program on “Quilting with African Fabrics.” Stewart is a writer and designer in New Jersey. Stewart also will present a workshop
titled “Ankara Quilt” that morning from 9 a.m. to noon. The location is to be determined and Zoom will be available. African fabric kits are available from Cultured Expressions or participants may use fabrics of their choice. For more information and updates, visit palmettoquiltguild.org. • Congregation Beth Yam on Hilton Head Island has created a speaker series titled 2021 Forefront Interview Series. The first installment will be livestreamed at 4 p.m. Sept. 20 at bethyam.org. The first guest will be Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner. Rabbi Brad Bloom will conduct a live interview. The topic will be “What does ‘Law and Order’ mean today? A Sheriff’s Perspective.” The interview also will be livestreamed on the Congregation Beth Yam Facebook page. • The next three-session Brain Boosters course, designed to help people maximize their brain power, will begin Sept. 23 at Okatie Pines retirement community in Oka-
tie. Sessions will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. and continue Sept. 30 and Oct. 7. “How to” steps are part of the classes and include ways to sharpen focus, creating a brain-health lifestyle, relaxing the brain, becoming a flexible thinker, memory-enhancing techniques, and how worry affects the brain. Students are requested to attend all three classes. The cost is $99. To register, call 843-842-6688 or email info@mymemorymatters.org. • “What is Bitcoin?” is the title of the next Community Global Forum, presented by the World Affairs Council, to be held at 10 a.m. Sept. 24 at First presbyterian Church. Blair Streitenberger, attorney at law, will briefly cover the history of attempts at digital currencies leading to the invention of bitcoin, some of the philosophy behind the question of “What is money?” and explain what bitcoin is and how it works in a general sense. He also will cover some of the other cryptocurrencies and common
misconceptions. The program is free and open to the public. It will be available via livestream on the WACHH YouTube channel. For more information, visit wachh.org. • The 20th annual Camp Leo Charity Golf Tournament will be held Oct. 9 at Crescent Pointe Golf Club in Bluffton. The format is a Greens Keepers Revenge Scramble, with pins located in interesting places and scenarios, promising a fun time for all golfers. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, 12th, 20th and last places and a putting contest winner. The charity tournament helps fund Camp Leo, a week-long residential camp for legally blind campers ages 7 to 17 from all across the state. Sponsored by the local Lions Clubs in Hilton Head and Bluffton, the camp is offered at no expense to the participants. To register for the tournament, individuals and foursomes should contact Dale Larow at 843-707-9004.
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The Bluffton Sun
Sept. 14, 2021
Sun City women’s teams play ball to raise money for BJVIM By Katherine Mace CONTRIBUTOR
TOM MILLS
“Safe!” Close calls and some not so close were part of the fundraising softball games played Sept. 5 among the Peg Welch Women’s Softball League teams from Sun City. The Bluffton/Jasper County Volunteers in Medicine clinic was the beneficiary of the fundraiser.
Players from several of the Peg Welch Women’s Softball League not only played well together, but they also sang together during festivities Sept. 5. The event was a fundraiser for the Bluffton/Jasper County Volunteers in Medicine clinic.
skills of novice and experienced players alike. This year’s draft included 30 new players. For information on how to volunteer, donate, or obtain services, contact
BJVIM at 843-706-7090. For information about women’s softball in Sun City, email suncityhhws@ gmail.com.
Volunteers, Donors Do great things with Bluffton Jasper VIM! We need: Nurses, doctors, other healthcare workers, translators, fundraisers, IT help, other volunteers, and generous donors
Bluffton Jasper Volunteers in Medicine – a “best place to volunteer” in the lowcountry – one of the most respected charities in the U.S.
Last year we provided: • 4,964 medical appointments for needy patients • 5,291 prescriptions • 2,568 lab tests ne
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Share the gift of good health with your neighbors
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there is a brand new dental clinic at the Bluffton site. The PWWL is an instructional and developmental women’s softball league that works to develop and improve
TOM MILLS
W
The Peg Welch Women’s Softball League (PWWL) of the Sun City Softball Club kicked off its season Sept. 5, with two games and a fundraiser in support of Bluffton/Jasper County Volunteers in Medicine (BJVIM.) One of the PWWL founders, Victoria Black, hurled the opening day ceremonial first pitch. Concession sales, as well as revenue from pitching and target games benefited BJVIM. BJVIM provides free health care to more than 1,500 low income and uninsured people at clinics in the greater Bluffton area, and in Jasper County. In the past year, BJVIM has provided more than 5,000 patient visits to primary care physicians and specialists. Medications are free of charge on an interim basis while the person is waiting to be placed on a medication assistance program. Radiologic and lab tests are available as needed, and
“Best Volunteering Organization” Award
Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
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BUSINESS UPDATE
New rides, putt putt progress and cool new businesses By Tim Wood
also offers “Easy Breeze” ADA paratransit services for eligible passengers who travel within ¾ mile of published stops and who are not able to ride the fixed-route service. Key stops along the route include Buckwalter Place, Berkeley Place, the Buckwalter Recreation Center, Publix on Buck Island Road, Sam’s Club and Walmart, the Tanger 1 and 2 shopping outlets and many apartment complexes and residential neighborhoods. For more information on the new service, visit palmettobreezetransit.com. The new service follows a record-breaking season for the Palmetto Breeze, with ridership exceeding 51,000 passengers in 2021.
CONTRIBUTOR
Palmetto Breeze launches Bluffton service: Exciting news for fans of local public transportation, as the Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority launched the first-ever, year-round fixed-route transit service in Beaufort County with the new Bluffton Breeze service launched on Sept. 7. The service will run Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with more than 50 published bus stops. The Breeze will be free to ride through the end of 2021, with a $1 fare starting in January 2022. The buses offer wheelchair liftequipped buses, air conditioning, comfortable seating and two mobile apps – “Catch The Breeze” to track the buses and “BreezePass” to pre-pay fares starting in January. The LRTA
SUBMITTED
Tap Truck Hilton Head will feature a vintage 1964 Chevy panel truck outfitted similarly to this one, a 1962 Dodge D100 named “Minty,” that operates in Charleston.
The
d featuring the Inspired by an Presley®. s vi El of s ng so ETRO. ok by JOE DIPI Based on the Bo
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K1 Speed gearing up: So the billboard on U.S. 278 told us that K1 Speed was coming in “late summer
Please see UPDATE on page 40A
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m
The Bluffton Sun
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Sept. 14, 2021
Mini golf update: You might have heard about a potential miniature golf course being built in Bluffton. The potential lit up local Facebook groups in February. Local realtor and Bluffton native Billy Hubbard announced plans for the Lighthouse Lagoon miniature golf course at Buckwalter Place and was hoping to have it open for summer 2021, pending town review. It’s been the question I’ve heard the most from many of you since then, but there was no ground being broken and no news for six months. So, there’s good news on that front for those who thought the fun police may have killed the project. The town passed the development plan for the project on Aug. 12 and Hubbard reports that Lighthouse Lagoon is still very much a go. Given they missed the summer window, Hubbard said the new plan is to open in spring 2022. “We are still very excited and have had nothing but positive feedback to bring this great family entertainment to our hometown,” said Hubbard, who also said the Town of Bluffton has been great to work with in making this dream a reality. The course will be built out over 1.3 acres on a lot adjacent to Publix with a building for restrooms and concessions and a pavilion to host events and parties. Openings: Bill’s Liquor and Fine Wines, 2700 May River Crossing, Suite 300, Bluffton, 843-815-2361, billsliquor.
net: It’s looked like it was open for a few weeks, teasing all of us in the S.C. 170/New Riverside corridor that are fans of the long-time Kitties Crossing business. The new libation locale opened their doors Sept. 9, becoming the fourth business other than Publix to open in the May River Crossing plaza (behind AT&T, Great Clips and Benchmark Physical Therapy). No Bull Mattress and More, 4380 Bluffton Parkway, Bluffton, 843-8153031, nobullmattress.com: Mark and Shannon Coleman have opened up the discount mattress chain’s 13th location and sixth in South Carolina. The store promises 55 to 88% off brand-name prices for all the same brand-name comfort you think you have to pay for. Space Walk Inflatables of Bluffton, 843-256-8150, herecomesfun. com/bsc: Davida Gonzales and her husband have lived in Bluffton for 12 years and have seen the need for bouncy houses and good, clean family fun. So they became the area licensee for Space Walk USA, giving them access to a huge inventory of bounce houses, water slides, inflatable obstacle courses and more. Tap Truck Hilton Head, 843-3697015: Hilton Head Island fireman Peter Maresma has become the latest to buy into a franchise born in 2016 out of a passion for beer and classic pickup trucks. Maresma and his family are restoring a 1964 Chevy panel truck into a mobile beverage service with a fivetap system that can serve beer, wine, ciders, mixed drinks, hot chocolate, sweet tea … well, you get the idea: A lot of different beverages in a truck available to rent out for events. The idea has spread quickly from San Diego to Maine with the nearest truck until now, a 1962 Dodge D100 named “Minty,” in Charleston. Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. Contact him at timwood@ blufftonsun.com.
Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
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LEGAL
Avoiding legal problems is the name of the estate plan game By Mark F. Winn CONTRIBUTOR
The tools available to an estate planning attorney include wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, contracts, and deeds. Things those attorneys address are present and future beneficial interests, covering contingencies, and managing tax uncertainty. All Mark F. Winn of these tools mentioned are designed to make it so legal problems, costs, family conflicts, and headaches are minimized, if not avoided altogether. In the game of golf, the winner has the lowest score. In other words, they got through the course in the most efficient manner with the least amount
of strokes. As with golf, in the arena of estate planning, we are trying to avoid problems. In other words, the winner is the one who does not encounter legal problems. Fortunately, it is not too difficult to be successful in this arena. Over the past 18 years of providing planning services for local clientele, I have learned that the people who follow advice are the ones who are successful. Those who try to configure their own solution based on something they read on the internet, or what a friend told them, are the ones that are likely to experience unintended consequences. For instance, let’s say Mom survives Dad and basically inherits everything from Dad free of trust. That transfer might not have been too involved because the assets may have all been owned jointly with survivorship rights, or designated to go to the survivor.
So, Mom might think that she should just put one child (let’s call him Jackson) on the house and the accounts and that child will “do the right thing” and make sure his siblings get their share. Alas, this is an accident waiting to happen. If Jackson is sued while Mom is alive, can Mom’s house and assets that she owns with Jackson be in jeopardy? Yes. If Mom passes, and then Jackson gets divorced, can his wife get half of her assets? Yes. If Mom passes and Jackson’s siblings plead with Jackson for their share, are they legally entitled to it? No. There is a better way. Mom hires a lawyer and creates a trust, then she makes it so she and Jackson are co-trustees, and that Jackson can act alone while Mom is alive. Mom wants Jackson to handle the
bills so she makes him a co-trustee with the full authority to act. Mom’s trust directs Jackson to distribute the property to him and his siblings in equal shares and she leaves it to them in trust so they can use the money but can’t lose it if they get sued or divorced. Now, under this better way, if Jackson is sued while Mom is alive, can Mom’s house and assets that she owns with Jackson be in jeopardy? No. If Mom passes, and then Jackson gets divorced, can his wife get half? No. If Mom passes and Jackson’s siblings plead with Jackson for their share, are they legally entitled to it? Yes. What is the moral of the story? A little bit of planning can make a big difference. 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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The Bluffton Sun
Sept. 14, 2021
HEALTH
By speaking up about mental illness, recovery can begin By Laura Kaponer CONTRIBUTOR
According to Mental Health America, 1 in 5 Americans will have a diagnosable mental illness within a given year. This means 1 in 5 of your neighbors, loved ones and community. You cannot tell by looking at us who we are. Stigma can keep us from openly sharing this Laura Kaponer part of ourselves. My name is Laura Kaponer, and I am 1 in 5. In 2015 I relocated here from New York after falling into a horrible mental illness episode. I found comfort starting fresh among people who didn’t know this part of me. I wanted to leave this part of me behind in New York.
Quietly, I began attending NAMI Lowcountry Connections meetings. I was hoping to find solidarity in people like me and at the same time convince myself that I wasn’t really like “those people.” I bought into the stigma of all the horrible things people with mental illnesses are. I was ashamed. All this denial and silence crippled my recovery. My behavior was reinforcing that there was something inherently wrong with me and my peers. I would laugh at the jokes about mental illness coworkers made. It was important to blend in and separate myself from those with mental illnesses. In 2018 everything changed. After abruptly resigning from a toxic job, I attended my third annual NAMI South Carolina Conference. Although I had always appreciated these events, this time was different. Brave people shared
stories of loved ones, as professionals, and as the 1 in 5. I realized I needed to add my voice as well. The only way I was going to do this was with full transparency. I wanted to share my triumphs as well as my perceived failures. I knew there would be risks: employers might not hire me, relationships might end, and there might be judgments from my community. Yet, I had to do it. I had to show my peers we don’t need to hide in the shadows. There was nothing to be ashamed of. It started slowly by opening up on social media. The positive response was overwhelming. This motivated me to contact every local publication expressing the importance of mental health advocacy and education. As expected, almost all of them ignored me. However, two publications enthusiastically supported me. This newspa-
per was one of them. The editors felt what I had to say was worth hearing. I was encouraged to branch out beyond my own recovery experiences to share those of others. It was my honor to write about substance use disorder, bipolar, eating disorders, service animals, and dissociative identity disorder as well as other topics. NAMI has this principle of support: “We find strength in sharing experiences.” I always interpreted that as the strength we find in the commonality with our peers. Now I believe the scope is much larger than that. It gives those 1 in 5 a voice. I am Laura Kaponer and I am proud to be 1 in 5. Laura Kaponer is a mental health advocate and social media blogger, as well as a volunteer with the local chapter of NAMI. #LauraKaponeris1in5.
Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
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BEAUTY
Tips for taking care of your low-maintenance cut, color By Joy Ross CONTRIBUTOR
The majority of my clients request low-maintenance cuts and color. While I strive to achieve this, it’s important to understand that a cut and color that is considered low- to no maintenance still requires some TLC by the client. I’m sure everyone has heard the saying that we are “beauticians, not magicians.” You are only in our chair for a short time. I will definitely show you how to maintain your color and cut between visits, but a little effort needs to be put forth by you. Now, a quick lesson on products. Rule No. 1: Less is best. Rule No. 2: You get what you pay for. All products range in price based on the quality of the ingredients in the product. Less expensive products are less expensive because they scrimp on the quality ingredients and use waxes and oils as fillers. The waxes and oils will build up on the
hair and weigh it down, especially shampoo and conditioner. Just because it says “for color treated or damaged hair” doesn’t mean it won’t eventually strip your color or miraculously fix your dry damaged hair. It might have an ingredient or two that will help, but not when the majority of what’s in the bottle is useless additives. It is counterproductive to spend money for a professional cut and color and then use drug store products. Use less of better stuff. It will make your color and style last longer and look better, therefore saving you money. The function of mousse or root volumizer is for volume. It is to be applied on the roots in wet hair and then dried, pushing the hair in the opposite direction of the way it falls, to set the roots in a lifted manner. Styling gel is for hold. This also should be applied sparingly to wet hair and then dried. It will help keep the style in place. It might leave the hair crunchy when too much is used. Styling cream or pomade are both used OPEN MON. - FRI. • 9 AM TO 3 PM 2 Southwood Park Drive • Hilton Head, SC 29926 Next to Dunkin Donuts • 843.683.7770
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on hair that tends to get fuzzy when drying. The cream will make hair softer and shiny while drying. It can be used on both wet and dry hair. Pomade is greasier and should only be used in dry, thick, coarse hair to prevent frizzies by putting a barrier on the hair,
protecting it from the moisture in the air. Salt spray, when sprayed on curly or wavy hair when wet or dry, will help curl to tighten. It should be combed through and left alone. Wax and putty can be used on dry hair sparingly to piece out texture. Texture powder can be sprinkled on the roots of totally dry hair to give hair texture and lift. Dry shampoo can be used for this outcome as well, but both will feel tacky and are hard to shampoo out of the hair. Oils like Moroccan and argon are wonderful in this climate for naturally curly, wavy or frizzy hair to tame the halo of fuzz and contain curl pattern. These also should be used sparingly. I hope this brief list will help in your decision in what products to choose and use. It will make your great cut and color stay better and look amazing. Joy Ross is owner of Style It Salon in Old Town Bluffton. styleitsalon.com
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The Bluffton Sun
Sept. 14, 2021
Residents sought to apply for Town Council appointed committees Bluffton Town Council is seeking qualified applicants for appointment to its boards, commissions and committees. The most immediate need for new appointees exists on the Law Enforcement Citizens Advisory Committee and Municipal Elections Commission. The Municipal Elections Commission has one vacancy for a town resident who is a registered voter eligible to vote in Town of Bluffton elections.
The Law Enforcement Citizens Advisory Committee has two vacancies for residents within the boundaries of the Town of Bluffton Growth Framework Map. The map can be accessed via the Map Gallery at townofbluffton.us/gallery. The Town welcomes applications for all boards, committees and commissions regardless of current vacancies. Though qualifications for appointment may vary for each board, committee or commission,
most appointments require residency within the Town of Bluffton. Applications are kept on file for two years and there are vacancies that occur throughout the year. Applicants will be considered for any vacancies for which the applicant may qualify that occur during the time their application is on file. A full list of the boards, commissions and committees with a detailed description of their qualifications for appoint-
Your Choice Our Privilege
Visit hospicecarelc.org/contact or scan the code to contact Kendra or another HCL team member.
As the first point of contact for patients moving to hospice care, admission nurses work closely with physicians to understand a patient’s needs. Our admission nurse, Kendra Estep, formulates a plan of care, considering the wants and needs of the patient and their family. Kendra Estep, RN HCL Admission Nurse
To support us, call 843-706-2296 HospiceCareLC.org
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ment, duties and responsibilities are listed on the Town’s website, townofbluffton. sc.gov. Applications should be emailed to the Town Clerk, Kimberly Chapman, at townclerk@townofbluffton.com. Alternatively, applications may also be submitted by mailing to the following address: Town Clerk, Town of Bluffton, P.O. Box 386, Bluffton, SC 29910. For more information, call Chapman at 843-706-4505.
Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
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PETS
Reasons you really should consider getting another dog By Abby Bird CONTRIBUTOR
Some of you might look at that statement and cringe. You can barely manage one dog, especially if it’s a puppy, and here someone is suggesting you get a second or even third one. For some, obviously not all, it’s sensible. Let’s examine the reasoning. One of the best reasons is that two dogs that have a similar playstyle and are of similar age or at least close enough, will exhaust each other instead of you! This doesn’t mean that people in the family don’t interact with each dog – and indeed they need to do so in order for each dog to develop a bond with the humans – but let’s face it, dogs have more energy than we do. The exception might be kids, but they are not home all the time to play with the dogs. Multiple dogs also learn from each other. They watch each other and learn valuable skills. They learn both good and bad behav-
iors but once one learns, it is likely the other will follow. Companionship is another prime reason for multiple dogs. When you go to work or just leave the house, the dogs can depend on each other for company. They are less likely to develop separation issues. They comfort each other during scary moments, curling up together. It is usually best, but not written in stone, that the dogs be different sexes. That doesn’t mean two males or two females will not get along, but their humans should watch for
dominance issues. Make sure that no matter what the sex, you get them spayed and neutered on the youngish side to avoid behavior such as humping or getting on top of the other dog and growling (not in play) or marking or unwanted pregnancy. Getting the right personality fit is critical. You don’t want dogs that are constantly battling for dominance. Dogs get along best when one is submissive and one a bit more dominant, or both are on the neutral side. Having at least one dog that is confident
and self-secure is also a good thing, as that one can bring those skills to a less secure dog. Having a mentor dog is a wonderful companion to a dog that lacks confidence. Dogs that guard food, bones or toys can be a real problem. Check out puppies by setting them up with items to be assured they don’t have this problem, at least not to begin with. If you are getting both dogs from a shelter, foster or breeder, mention this so they can have a behaviorist check them out. Feed separately to avoid this issue. I know you will have to walk and work with the dogs, pay food and vet bills, but the pleasure they will bring is priceless. Dogs that enjoy the same games – tug, chase, playing up on their back legs – will be a joy for your family as well as themselves, and you will actually get some down time to relax and have a glass of wine! Abby Bird is owner of Alphadog Training Academy. AlphadogTrainingAcademy@gmail. com
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The Bluffton Sun
Sept. 14, 2021S
PETS
With a little help, abandoned dog makes beautiful comeback By Lindsay Perry CONTRIBUTOR
It’s difficult in animal rescue to see a young, energetic dog being held back from life due to a catastrophic injury. But when these broken pets come to Palmetto Animal League, we see each precious soul as the next beautiful comeback story. So it has been with Paisley. She came to PAL in May – with the painful sting of barbed wire, unforgivingly wrapped around her back right leg, exposing both flesh and bone. She was too malnourished to undergo surgery right away, so we made it our mission to get her healthy. At times, it was hard to keep her eating and on the right track, but our compassionate team worked tirelessly. A few weeks later, a very appreciative, much healthier Paisley was ready to free herself from that badly mangled
leg that was responsible for limiting her mobility. After a life-changing surgery to remove her irreversibly compromised leg, Paisley made that big comeback we envisioned for her. With physical therapy three times a day, she worked her way up to brisk walks and eventually found her stride. “Paisley made incredible progress at PAL,” said kennel supervisor Shelby English. “She can finally do all the ‘dog things’ she couldn’t do before. She loves to run and play on three legs!” PAL works with many rural, underfunded shelters throughout our area to save animals like Paisley who are at risk of losing their lives. PAL serves as a safety net to keep as many animals as possible from falling through the cracks of the traditional sheltering system. “Paisley loves to goof around and she’s also very loving,” English said. “She just wants what any dog wants –
Festival
The Church of the Palms Fall Festival And Silent Auction
Saturday, Sept. 25th • 9:00 am – 1:00 pm 1425 Okatie Hwy • (Hwy170) • Okatie, SC • 843-379-1888
The Church of the Palms is getting ready for our 19th Annual Fall Festival and Silent Auction. We will once again have a selection of items for the Silent Auction as well as crafts, vendors, jewelry, homemade casseroles & soups, homemade baked goods, and lunch for sale prepared by BSA Troop 213
ALL PROCEEDS SUPPORT FAMILY PROMISE, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, MERCY MISSIONS FOOD PANTRY AND AFRICA UNIVERSITY.
New Addition To this year’s Festival : A Car Show by the Sun City Car Club.
Paisley has learned to adapt, and even thrive, on three legs.
you, Paisley got a second chance at life and recently found a wonderful home with the man of her dreams. “He had just moved to the Lowcountry and was looking for a companion,” English said. “He laid eyes on her and fell in love!” If you’d like to help PAL rescue more pets like Paisley, you can have twice the impact in September. Donate in honor or memory of a beloved pet and your gift will save twice as many animals, thanks to a PAL supporter who is matching all gifts as a tribute to her foster pets. Your dedication will be posted on PAL’s virtual tribute wall leading up to Remember Me Thursday on Sept. 23. For more information, visit PalmettoAnimalLeague.org/RememberMe.
daily walks or backyard time, food and, above all, love.” Because of good-hearted people like
Lindsay Perry is the marketing coordinator for Palmetto Animal League. PalmettoAnimalLeague.org
COURTESY PALMETTO ANIMAL LEAGUE
Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 47A
FAITH
Connection with higher power offers sense of safety, value By Pete Berntson CONTRIBUTOR
What in the world is happening? Such is the question asked more and more frequently of me. Just when we thought we were close to getting our feet under us as we recovered from COVID-19, we’re faced with even more changes and challenges. Instead of finally waning away, COVID 2.0 has emerged with the name “Delta.” And I shudder to think that scientists are now raising concerns for more variants after this one. In addition, we are experiencing an end of involvement in Afghanistan after nearly 20 years. But instead of a joyful event, the resultant assumption of power by the Taliban seems ominous and foreboding. Closer to home, hurricanes, floods and fire add to the sense that everything is changing – for the worse. And this month is the 20th year since 9/11, with all its implications that many of us still remember so vividly. At a time when we need to be able to talk
Lord OF Life LUTHERAN CHURCH LOVE GOD
LOVE NEIGHBOR
Lord of Life is an ELCA Congregation 351 Buckwalter Parkway Bluffton, SC 29910 (across from Publix) Email: lordoflifeassistant@gmail.com
843 757-4774 www.lordoflife-bluffton.org
honestly and openly with others, we find that the divisions that separate us are so great that no meaningful dialogue is possible. Instead, the number of videos showing people acting out to the limits of civility – and beyond – increase daily. I don’t pretend to understand all this or have simple answers to the anxiety, fear and despair that so many are feeling. What does seem to be at the core of our search for some relief are the answers to four rather existential questions of life: Am I safe? Do I belong? Am I worthy? Am I valued?
Many people will answer these short questions by listing specific people in their lives, often close to them, to back up their response of “yes.” And for some people, this will be sufficient – for a while. But when governments, institutions, friends, family and even life partners don’t adequately or reliably meet expectations, anxiety, fear and despair result once again. For people of faith, it is the belief in a higher power, one who can provide a sense of security, belonging, worth and value, that provides the strength and motivation to keep
at 8:30AM & 10:30AM
All are welcome to the Lord’s Table on YouTube at 12 noon Lord of Life Lutheran Church
VIRTUAL WORSHIP on Facebook – Lord of Life, Bluffton
Pete Berntson is the pastor of Church of the Palms United Methodist Church in Okatie.
Connecting to God, Connecting to One Another
SUNDAY, AUGUST 29TH WORSHIP SERVICE - 10:00AM SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES
VIRTUAL WORSHIP SERVICE
on even in the darkest of situations and time. This connection with a higher power can, perhaps, be done individually. Still, the history of humanity points to the benefits of being in community with others who are also seeking and searching. Traveling along with others along this journey through life, seeking a more holistic understanding of our position in all creation and the nature of the One who created it all is key to not becoming overwhelmed by all that is happening. For me, it means being part of a church is key. Church offers me a life connected to God and connected to one another as the most meaningful life there is – even when the world seems to be changing so quickly. You might have other names and practices, but I trust you will seek to find your group. There are likely more challenging times ahead.
Pastor Pete Berntson
www.palmsumc.org
Anna Marie Kuether Director of Music and Worship Arts
We are now in-person at 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m on Sundays Live-Streaming the 5:30 and 11 services.
Saturday, Sept 18 / Sunday, Sept 19 ~ Lessons from James: Keys to Contentment ~ James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a Pete Berntson, Proclaimer
501C3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS Medical • Dental • Office Call for Information (843) 706-7090 Ext. 104
Orientation sessions held the 3rd Thursday each month • 3:00PM-4:00PM Bluffton Location: 29 Plantation Park Dr., Building 600 • Bluffton SC 29910
Saturday, Sept 25 / Sunday, Sept 26 ~ Lessons from James: Power of Prayer ~ James 5:13-20 Pete Berntson, Proclaimer
October 2/3 ~ An Upside Down Kingdom All God’s Children Are Precious ~ Mark 10:2-16 Pete Berntson, Proclaimer
A Stephen Ministry Congregation
1425 Okatie Hwy. (170)
Hwy 170 between River’s End & Oldfield.
843-379-1888 • www.palmsumc.org
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The Bluffton Sun
Sept. 14, 2021
GARDEN
This fall, pay attention to lawn and watch for fungus, pests By Mark Deloach CONTRIBUTOR
As summer is winding down and we look forward to fall, it’s time to pay attention to your lawn and landscape. September is a great time to apply an insecticide that controls armyworms and sod webworms. You will see most activity from these pests between July and October. We have had sufficient rainfall during July and August; if this pattern continues during September and October, fungus will be very active. It is best to consider a preventative fungicide now and re-apply in 28 days, or per instructions on label. When fungus is present, it is best to hold off watering the lawn for five to 10 days (based on rainfall) and delay mowing for seven to 10 days. If leaf debris or pine straw needs to be removed, you can do so with a blower or a rake. Using a blower allows for easy removal of thatch and leaves without disturbing the
fungus or grass root, while simultaneously adding airflow to reduce excess moisture. Using a rake accomplishes the same task, but requires a little more work. It is best to keep lawn free and clear of all debris to allow the sun and airflow to keep the lawn dry. Disease problems are most active when night time temperatures are in the 60s and daytime temperatures are in the 80s. The risk will be substantially greater if we are getting excessive rainfall.
It is pre-emergent time! If you have not already applied this weed control solution, now is the time to do so. This application will minimize weeds from germinating. Poa annua is one weed that should be treated with a pre-emergent. This problem weed can be present in our lawns until May. It is also advisable to apply a secondary pre-emergent in January as well. Fall is the perfect time to apply horticultural oil to all trees and shrubs that
HONOR A SPECIAL PET IN SEPTEMBER Donate in honor or memory of a beloved pet and your dedication will be posted on our virtual tribute wall. Your donation will save twice as many animals thanks to a PAL supporter who is matching all tribute gifts in honor of her foster pets.
PalmettoAnimalLeague.org/RememberMe
are prone to scale and other insects. This treatment will take care of any over-wintering insects. The magnolia tree is one example that exhibits hard to control scale. This treatment should only be applied when our temperatures are less than 80 degrees. Now is also a perfect time to take a look at the landscape bedding areas. It is time to remove weeds and top-dress the mulch material. When doing so, keep plenty of airflow around the tree or plant base. Too much mulch applied over root ball or resting against the trunk can cause problems. Some problems associated with improper mulching can include girdling. Too much mulch can hide problems like decay or dead spots, and can cover weed trimming damage, and lead to retention of moisture. For best practice, keep mulch 12 to 18 inches away from base of plants and trunks. Mark DeLoach is the owner of Lawn Doctor of Beaufort County.
Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 49A
NATURE’S WAY
What we’re doing to Mother Nature is no way to treat a lady By Collins Doughtie CONTRIBUTOR
I would love to write about some amazing catch since my last column but surgeries and other medical procedures have kept me homebound. Not that much of a TV watcher, day after day wishing I was out on the water was finally broken up as I reached for the TV remote. In all honesty I wish I had kept to daydreaming, because seeing what was going on both health-wise and weather-wise across this great country really took me down a notch or two. The resurgence of Covid, massive fires out west, the strongest hurricane on record, along with flooding and other beat-downs by Mother Nature did little to improve my normally optimistic outlook on life. Day after day of this led me one inescapable conclusion – Mother Nature appears to be using all her power to knock some sense into the human race in hopes that we will realize that this is no way to treat a lady. Sadly, I agree with her. Since I was first able to walk, nature has been my best friend. Oh, the things she has shown me! Without an ounce of selfishness, she just gives and gives while asking for nothing in return. But as time goes by, I am becoming more certain by the day that our relationship is a one-way street. She gives, we take. Just drive down any of our local roads and it is easy to see what little regard we have for all her efforts. Lush green fauna, a brilliant array of wild flowers – and right in their
COLLINS DOUGHTIE
You don’t have to go far to see this very same scene. It shows that lots of people have little, if any, respect for our beautiful Lowcountry.
midst a crumpled-up beer can. Even in remote areas, the story is the same. Most summers I head up to various national forests to fly fish for trout in the mountains while escaping the oppressive Lowcountry heat. No matter how far I walk to find solitude in a cool, clear mountain stream, the only thing out of place is a beer or soda can wedged under the large boulder that should shelter a trout. It blows my mind. “Utter disrespect” puts it mildly. Closer to home we aren’t doing much better. Having been blessed to live here when people were few and far between, I accept the fact that more and more people want to live here. Almost daily I see new develop-
ments pop up and yet little, if anything, is done to improve our infrastructure so that all these developments have the least amount of impact on the incredible natural beauty that drove the newcomers here in the first place. Though I certainly don’t know exactly what the impact fees are that developers pay to build here, but I do know it isn’t enough. Right where I live, just off Alljoy Road, the bike path debate is a perfect example of warped priorities. While we are in desperate need of improvements to our drainage system and a non-existent sewer system, the county wants to spend a fortune on a bike path. Really? “Pave paradise and put up a parking lot” is
more than a song – it is reality. In my opinion, another prime example where greed trumps need is the proposed marina and fuel pumps at Palmetto Bluff. Since that development was sold, the new owners have one thing in mind – return on investment. A marina on the New River? I know that river well, and just getting to the ocean is fraught with sand bars and obstacles for even the most experienced boat captain. Secondly, getting to clear water or the ocean itself is a really long run. My final conclusion regarding this grand plan is the developers have decided that they can charge way more for homesites on or near the marina. Of this I guarantee. When I talk to friends and bring up just how badly humans are treating nature and that I have no doubt this disregard is changing the strength of storms for the worse and affecting the environment as a whole, only one retort stops me dead in my tracks: “Come on, it is just cyclical.” The image of an ostrich with its head in the sand pops into my head every time. I apologize if this column riles your feathers, but I just had to let it out. Let’s start right here and make our area the model of responsible development, trash-free highways and clean waters. It might just start a trend that will catch on while making Mother Nature one very happy woman. 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
Sept. 14, 2021
SPORTS
Masters Swimming not just for the experienced or competitive By Bob Colyer CONTRIBUTOR
When I occasionally encourage a swimmer to join U.S. Masters Swimming, I tend to get one of two responses. The first is, “I’m not old enough.” And the second is, “I will, once I get in shape.” Neither one makes any real sense. Regarding the first, the minimum age for USMS membership is 18, and there is no upper limit. Lowcountry Masters swimmer Barbara Eisele, 90, was the youngest of several 90-plus competitors at the USMS Nationals this summer at Greensboro, N.C. The second response implies that USMS is organized only for competitive swimming. Yes, USMS conducts meets in pools (Short Course Yards, Short Course Meters, Long Course Meters) and in open water. Yet a recent poll of 46,000 (of 65,000) USMS members found that 75% considered themselves fitness swimmers rather than competitors. Perhaps this is because there was no
programs at Hilton Head’s Island Rec Center, and north of the Broad at the Port Royal YMCA. Bluffton has no such program. Swimmers who do not or cannot swim early in the day, which includes many retirees, are left to plan their own Swimmers must be at least 18 years old to join U.S. Masters Swimming. swimming routines. The organization is open to all swimmers, regardless of swim level, And this is where fitness or ability. USMS can be help“both” alternative, in which I would include ful. There are all sorts of routines and workmyself, but to me it was a startling statistic. outs available to members on the USMS Clearly, there must be reasons why fitness website to match any swimmer’s desires and swimmers choose to join USMS. One is for preferences, for beginners’ level all the way direction and instruction (coaching, if you to those that only national champions can will) in a well-organized program that suits complete. all types of swimmers. Beaufort County’s The USMS website (usms.org) and its Lowcountry Masters has early-morning publications – a monthly online newsletter
Streamlines, and bi-monthly Swimmer magazine – have many articles and columns with tips for swimming technique, often superbly well-illustrated by USMS photographers Peter H. Bick and Mike Lewis. The website also offers a community where swimmers can be in contact with others on any number of topics that may be of mutual interest. USMS members can receive discounts on a variety of swimming apparel and gear from manufacturers and from retail outlets. If you are a swimming novice, fitness participant, competitor, triathlete, or belong to any other category, please consider USMS membership, currently offering bargain rates. Better yet, find a partner to join with you and take advantage of all that USMS offers. Dr. Bob Colyer of Bluffton is an actively retired college professor, coach and author of “Swim Better: A Guide to Greater Efficiency for Swimmers & Instructors,” directed primarily to non-competitors. bobcolyer@yahoo.com
Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
Page 51A
SPORTS
How to block out distractions on the golf course By Jean Harris CONTRIBUTOR
A round of golf takes a long time and you must learn how to focus and deal with distractions on the course. During an 18hole round of golf, approximately 4 hours, a golfer spends only two to three minutes actually hitting a ball. During the downtime, you must focus on things that relax you: walking the beach, your favorite song, great shots you have hit before. Don’t focus on distractions. There is always something you can blame your bad shots and bad rounds on. You cannot block out distractions once you have noticed them. You must learn how to not let them enter your head. The key is learning how to focus on the shot at hand once you arrive at your ball. I like to interview my students on the mental side of the game and ask them to list some of the distractions they let bother them on the golf course. Below are some
JEAN HARRIS
Brandon Browne takes care of course maintenance at Argent Lakes golf course in Sun City Hilton Head.
common complaints I hear about. See if any of these have caused your focus to linger. What you see: • Grounds maintenance staff moving while you are hitting a shot • Bad course conditions – the greens have been aerated or the rough is too high
• People who don’t rake the bunkers • People who don’t sand their divots • Players moving while you are hitting • Someone standing behind you in your peripheral vision What you hear: • Players talking while you are hitting
• Mowers making noise on the hole you are playing • Negative people you are playing with What you feel: • First tee jitters in front of a group of people • Playing with slow players who cause you to hurry your shots • Being rushed by the group of players behind you • Playing through the group ahead of you causes you to rush your shot • Being paired with people you don’t know Once you assess what bothers you on the golf course, you need to come up with a game plan on how to reframe your mindset. Remember you can control only yourself and not others, so you must direct your attention and focus on the shot you are going to play. Dr. Jean Harris is an LPGA Master Professional and teaches at local courses. jean.golfdoctor.harris@gmail.com; golfdoctorjean.com
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The Bluffton Sun
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The Bluffton Veterans’ Memorial is still accepting applications for a personalized brick to be placed at the Memorial site at Buckwalter Place. The cut-off date in order to have a brick installed in time for Veterans’ Day is Sept. 25. Cost is $100 per brick for three lines of verbiage (14 characters, spaces counting as a character). This is a great way to honor or remember a loved one for generations to come. The person named does not have to be a veteran. For more information or secure an application visit alpost205.org or call 843-757-7918.
Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
REAL ESTATE
How home sellers handle multiple offers to get best deal
Page 53A
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The sellers received five offers for their home! While all were at or above asking price, two were significantly higher. They asked me if they could accept both offers. I said, “Absolutely – as long as you have two exact homes to sell.” All kidding aside, sellers can accept only one offer. However, they could keep the second offer as a back-up offer. Or they could they could counter all offers (see first bullet point). Here are some ideas for handling multiple offers: • Seller’s agent can ask buyers’ agents to resubmit their “highest and best offer” and sellers can choose and negotiate the offer they like most. • Highest price offers are usually favored but it is important to review all the terms (e.g., financing, pre-approval, earnest money, down payment, closing date, etc.). • Cash offers are usually better than mortgages as there’s no need to obtain a loan commitment or a property appraisal. • With today’s low rates many buyers will get mortgages even if they have the cash (so mortgages are fine as long as the buyers are solid). • Watch out for contingencies (e. g., conditions that allow buyers to cancel the contract). • One contingency is “having a home to
sell” – most sellers will shy away from that offer. • Another is “getting final loan commitment” but that shouldn’t be a problem if the buyers are pre-approved and putting down a substantial down payment. • Another is “having the home pass the buyer’s inspection (performed by a certified home inspector),” but that shouldn’t be a problem if there are no major repair issues. • One more is the inclusion of a due diligence clause (which allows the buyer to back out for any reason) and most sellers don’t want this in the contract. When buyers are paying cash, a proof of funds document should accompany the contract. With mortgages, appraisals are usually required. A low appraisal might result in a lesser loan amount. Sellers prefer buyers who have the funds and are willing to pay the difference to secure the loan. Closing dates are important. While some buyers may be able to close in a few weeks, the sellers might need more time and might want a buyer who is flexible on closing and possession. It is very exciting to get multiple offers. By carefully reviewing all terms of all the offers, sellers can negotiate the best deal and accept the best contract. Larry Stoller is a broker and Realtor with Real Estate Five of the Lowcountry. Larry@ RealEstateFive.com, RealEstateFive.com, SunCityOpenHouses247.com
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Page 54A
The Bluffton Sun
Sept. 14, 2021
New Hardeeville community offers single-story home designs Toll Brothers has announced plans for the opening of Riverton Pointe, a staff-gated, master-planned community of luxury homes located in Hardeeville, off Argent Blvd. on New River Parkway. Riverton Pointe will feature 15 new luxury single-story home designs on oversized homesites. The community’s three new home col-
lections range from approximately 1,680 to 3,500 square feet, featuring craftsman, farmhouse, and traditional architectural designs. The homes will be built on wooded, lake, golf course and estate-sized home sites with prices starting in the mid $300s. When complete, the Riverton Pointe community will comprise over 950 homes.
Community amenities will include a pool, fitness center, tennis, pickleball, bocce ball, driving range, social events and much more. Future amenities include an 18-hole Nicklaus Design golf course scheduled to open fall 2021, a pro golf shop, clubhouse, café expanded fitness center and additional racquet sports courts.
The community is conveniently located near Highway 278, just 14 miles from Hilton Head and 26 miles from Savannah, Ga. The future Riverton Pointe Sales Center will be located near New River Parkway and Argent Boulevard. For more information, visit RivertonPointe.com or call 866-2321717.
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Sept. 14, 2021
The Bluffton Sun
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
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Sept. 14, 2021
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