• Bluffton Library to host global online writing challenge 14A
• Rock artist encouraged to continue painting at river’s edge 18A
• Resident alternates job with dog show judging 22A
• Wedding dress display brings awareness of domestic abuse 28A
• On the Porch with Randolph Stewart 32A
On a quiet street in Old Town, between the Bluffton Oyster Factory and the First Zion Baptist Church, a half-dozen small, eco-minded homes make up the Wharf Street Redevel opment Project. The addition to the surrounding neighborhood earned the town the Palmetto Award for the most outstanding Affordable Housing Project in the state in 2012.
A mile away on a 1.78-acre site at 1095 May River Road is another townowned property where 12 more afford able homes will be built under a new public-private partnership with devel oper Workforce State of Mind LLC.
The land was purchased in 2018 for $263,000 for the sole purpose of using it for affordable housing. Proposals seeking a development partner went out in 2020 and the agreement was signed this past August.
“We’re trying to get people into home ownership,” said Town Manager Stephen Steese. “One of the reasons that we wanted to get a public-private partnership with this, is we wanted to make sure that what gets built looks no different than anything else throughout our entire community. … This has been an issue that we’ve been trying to work towards for a decade.”
Under the town council’s direction,
10A
The Alzheimer’s Association, South Car olina Chapter will host its annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s Oct. 29 at the Promenade in Old Town Bluffton. Check-in opens at 10 a.m. with an Opening Ceremony at 10:45 a.m.
The walk is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s
care, support and research.
On Walk day, participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s with the poignant Promise Garden ceremony – a mis sion-focused experience that signifies our solidarity in the fight against the disease. The colors of the Promise Garden flowers represent people’s connection to Alzhei
mer’s – their personal reasons to end the disease.
More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – a leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
In South Carolina alone, there are more than 95,000 people living with the disease and 199,000 caregivers.
To sign up as a walker or Team Captain or to learn more about becoming a sponsor or volunteer of Walk to End Alzheimer’s –Bluffton, visit act.alz.org/blufftonwalk or call 800-272-3900.
Admission and behind the scenes tour of South Carolina Aquarium for two The Wharf Street Redevelopment Project was the first affordable housing project to be under taken by the Town of Bluffton. COURTESY TOWN OF BLUFFTONTo purchase your mammogram, visit BeaufortMemorial.org/SaveOnMammos. Select your preferred location (Beaufort or Okatie) and click “Add to Cart.”
Pay in advance by October 31 with a credit card, HSA/FSA account, or PayPal. Vouchers can be used up to six months from the time of purchase.
Visit BeaufortMemorial.org/ MammoAppointment or call 843-522-5015 to schedule your mammogram. Bring your voucher receipt to your appointment.
For this issue’s column, I intended to chat about books. I’ve had some interest ing book-related experiences lately that I wanted to share.
But alas, as I sat in front of this screen to write, I received yet another storm alert on my phone – Hurricane Ian is bearing down on the west coast of Florida and could be heading toward the Lowcountry.
It occurs to me that many of our read ers are new to town and might not have a clue about what to expect. While Jim Cantore hangs out in Punta Gorda, or on whatever next beach he found that’s windy, we just sit here and wait and read and listen and wonder what the next few days will bring.
(Side note: Just for fun, type this into your internet browser: Where is Jim Can tore right now? If the answer is anywhere
near you, LEAVE!)
We wonder because we can’t know. Every storm is different. And they can change course unexpectedly.
The next day, Sept. 28, we learned that Hurricane Ian made landfall as a Cate gory 4 monster – one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the west coast of Florida – at Fort Myers. Millions of Flor ida residents were without power, roofs had blown off, homes were flooded.
The storm continued its path of rain, wind and destruction across the middle of the state. Later in the day, the storm had slowed and weakened to Category 3.
The entire coast of South Carolina was under a tropical storm warning, with an additional hurricane watch. This means bad weather is pretty much imminent, but we can’t know for sure until it hap pens.
Now, understand that as I’m typing, I’m well aware that you won’t be reading this until Oct. 4 at the earliest, so any
thing I write now about the rest of this storm is going to be moot by then. Ian will have moved past us or disintegrated, even if it hits us.
While we can’t know these scenarios ahead of time, we can learn from what ever has happened between this writing and your reading it.
So, for our new neighbors, and as a reminder for long timers, here are a few things you can expect, and what you can do – next time a storm seems to be heading our way:
• Expect some users of social media to “have all the answers,” and don’t pay much attention there. DO pay attention to official sources, such as local emergen cy officials, government and law enforce ment departments.
• Expect that as a storm approaches and local warnings begin, you’ll have plenty of time to get out of danger before it gets ugly. DO start to implement your hurricane plan. Use the “wait and won
der” time to fill up your gas tank, decide where you might go (if evacuation is or dered), and get your bug-out bags ready to go – essential clothing, toiletries, food, water and meds for about a week. Don’t forget about the pets! And batteries! And phone chargers!
• Expect that stores will run short of bottled water and toilet paper if a storm seems imminent. DO try to stay stocked up on essentials. (This is in case the storm isn’t as bad as it could have been, but not bad enough to evacuate.)
• Expect that things can change quick ly. DO pay attention for both the good and the bad news about storm direction, speed and landfall, and act accordingly.
Whatever the outcome, I hope we are all safe and our homes remain intact. I hope we will be either cleaning up the bits of branches and debris Ian left for us, or simply blowing leaves off the driveway and putting the lawn chairs back outside.
No matter what your water problem, we have the solution. Call your local Culligan® expert today to learn more about our Water Softening and Drinking Water options for your entire home.
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If you go to nationaldaycalendar.com you will see that there are more than 1,500 days recognizing some part of your life. There are probably as many months that are recog nized for various organizations as well, but I wanted to talk about three very important awareness months that affect so many of our residents, visitors and others.
These were all recognized in September; however, they should be thought about every day of the year.
National Assisted Living Week, Sept. 11-17: The town celebrated this at Benton House this year with a proclamation recog nizing this week and honoring not only our older population, but the workers who give so much of their time to taking care of our prized residents.
While I was there, they were celebrating “cruise week” and the entire space was filled with colorful photos and artwork of the areas they were virtually visiting. The theme for this week was “Joyful Moments,” which encourages assisted living commu nities around the country to host a vari ety of events that honor the individuals who reside, work, and volunteer in these communities. Benton House is one of many local assisted living facilities and I urge all of you to take a minute and learn how you can be part of volunteering or visiting one of these facilities.
National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: The town read a proclamation to support this cause, and you will see teal ribbons around all town facilities. The South Carolina Ovarian Cancer Foundation: Lowcountry Chapter has more info on this, and the town continues to support their ef
forts in beating the cancer. Reach out to this chapter and see where you can participate in their efforts.
National Suicide Awareness Month. I can’t imagine that anyone reading this can’t name someone close to them with some type of mental issue. We all must be aware of the symptoms and find a place where your loved one (or yourself) can get help.
The local NAMI is very strong in finding support systems for our residents, and there is a NAMI walk on Oct. 8 at Coligny Beach on Hilton Head Island. Visit NamiWalks. Org to find out more.
In addition, the Hilton Head/Bluffton Out of the Darkness walk to raise awareness and prevent suicide will be held at 1 p.m. Nov 6 at Oyster Factory Park. Visit afsp.org and search for details.
Lisa Sulka is the mayor of the Town of Bluff ton. lsulka@townofbluffton.com
To the Editor:
“Peace” and “happiness” are two powerful words that in today’s troubled world seem to be overlooked throughout our society. Over the years, there have been numerous inspirational quotes describing these two desirable words:
“Peace begins with a smile,” said Mother Teresa.
“Peace cannot be kept by force, it can only be achieved by understanding,” said Albert Einstein.
“Happiness is a choice, peace is a state of mind, both are free.”
So, why don’t we do a better job living them?
The World Health Report points to the rising negative feelings, particularly in the U.S., due to an epidemic of addictions, including technology, alcohol, food, work, drugs, gambling, exercise, shopping and sex. Conclusion: We don’t get happiness as a society gets richer because we chose the wrong things.
A Psychology Today article indicated you don’t find happiness, you create it; further, a simple way to increase one’s happiness is to en-gage in acts of kindness. It goes on to say that the key ingredients to national
happiness is income, life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust and generosity.
The Mayo Clinic describes achieving in ner peace and happiness by directing more time to family and friends, appreciating what you have, maintaining an optimistic outlook, and feeling a sense of purpose while living in the moment.
Personally, a basic element that contrib utes to my happiness stems from being married to my high school sweetheart these past 66 years.
How about you? Are you happy, experi encing an inner peace that brings happiness to you and those around you? No? Start now!
Earle Everett Moss Creekwithout a clear understanding of the Laws that the Creator put into existence (like the Law of Sowing and Reaping that determines our fates), humanity scratches its head over the root causes for so much chaos, dishar mony and destruction on earth today.
Our system of justice holds that “Igno rance of the law is no excuse.” Should our Creator’s form of Justice be held to a lesser standard?
There are sources available for spiritual knowledge that provide an understanding of what the Creator expects of us. The Holy Bible is one of them – but not the only one. Jesus also promised a Counselor/Comforter who “will teach you all things and will re mind you of everything I have said to you.”
(John 14:26)
To the Editor:
When I write a letter to the editor, I never know if anyone finds any value in it, or if anyone really cares. I have been writing to newspapers for well over 10 years on a variety of subjects.
But there is one topic that is most import ant to me: Spirituality. It’s not usually talked about during everyday conversation. Yet
It was my good fortune to come across a book that gave me a clear understanding of this Counselor (i.e., the Spirit of Truth). I mentioned the name of this book in a letter that I wrote in the past and, for the last time, will I mention it here once again: “In the Light of Truth – The Grail Message” (grailmessage.com).
Gene Ceccarelli Bluffton
With this feature, we seek to cap ture a glimpse of what you and your neighbors have to say about a variety of topics, issues, events – and just plain
fun questions.
You might see us anywhere around town, with notepad and camera, randomly seeking out folks who are
willing to participate. If we find you, we hope you will want to respond.
At the Pat Conroy Literary Center’s annual Lowcountry Book Club Con
vention, held at the beautiful Technical College of the Lowcountry’s Culinary Arts Institute in Bluffton, we asked: “What’s your favorite bird, and why?”
Pam Rieff, Bluffton: “Cardinals. When we first moved here, my husband and I were sitting on the patio talking about our late parents, and two pairs of cardinals showed up!”
Karen McDowell, Beaufort: “Painted bunting. A pair came to my feeder this year for the first time!”
Elizabeth Horn, Lady’s Island: “Indigo bunting. They are just so beautiful. I attracted them to my feeder with peanuts.”
Judy Smith, Bluffton: “Cardinal. Their brilliant coloring reminds me of so many people who have passed on.”
Laurie Barnett, Bluffton: “Mocking bird. I’ve heard them sing at night.”
Leave with a plan of action for the
Learn how to get rid of your “stuff”
process
Discover if you need pre-home inspection, repairs, or updates
Learn strategy around home pricing and timing for your transition
• Find out what's happening in the local real estate market right now. Have we hit the peak or can you still take advantage of higher values?
CONTRIBUTOR
We’re a close community here in the Lowcountry, where everyone knows and looks out for each other. This is why, as a member of Hilton Head Hospital’s governing board, I feel it’s important to call attention to an imminent threat to our commu nity’s healthcare safety net – one that will very likely affect you or some one you know.
The Centene Corporation intends to restrict its members’ access to hospitals in numerous communities across the country, including ours.
The Centene Corporation, which operates Absolute Total Care (a Medicaid plan), Ambetter for Ab solute Total Care (a Health Insur ance Marketplace plan), Wellcare (a Medicare plan), Wellcare by Allwell (a Medicare plan) and Wellcare Prime by Absolute Total Care (a Medicare-Medicaid plan for dually eligible people) has terminated its contract with Hilton Head Regional Healthcare.
That means that Hilton Head Hos pital and its doctors will no longer be in network for members of the Centene health plans listed above starting Jan. 1, 2023.
Centene is cutting its members off from the Hilton Head Regional Healthcare system because hospitals like Hilton Head Hospital were un willing to accept enormous rate cuts. In this economy, all hospitals and health systems are facing inflation ary pressures and rising supply and labor costs, which make even the current payment rates unsustainable.
As vice chairman of Hilton Head Hospital’s governing board, I un derstand intimately how Centene’s proposed rate cuts, compounded with other economic forces, will
impact the durability of our commu nity hospital, its workforce and our larger healthcare infrastructure. The financial implications of this cut are a concern for me and the potential risk it creates for the services avail able to the people in our community.
In our island town, 37% of our residents are 65 years or older, com pared to 18.6% in South Carolina and 16.8% in the rest of the United States. Centene’s demand for rate reductions will severely impact the health of the senior population of our community, including myself, who require more immediate and regular access to care as we age.
Hilton Head Regional is the only hospital system offering full-ser vice emergency care in Bluffton, Hardeeville and Hilton Head. The next closest is more than 30 minutes away. All of Hilton Head Region al’s ER locations are also advanced Primary Stroke Certified. And Hilton Head Regional is the only health system offering open heart surgery in the community. The next closest hospitals with these services are in Savannah or Charleston.
Centene’s business practices will restrict Hilton Head Hospital and providers’ ability to treat those who need local, community-based care the most.
We need Centene to agree to an arrangement that fairly compensates Hilton Head Regional Healthcare and keeps our healthcare infrastruc ture out of a serious financial situa tion.
Larry Sanders is currently vice chairman for the Governing Board for Hilton Head Hospital. He has served in numerous leadership position for local nonprofits, his church and his fraterni ty, Kappa Alpha Psi International.
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development ordinances have been amended that require affordable hous ing as part of amended or new devel opment agreements that come into the town. New agreements require 20% of the residential units to be affordable.
Under the partnership agreement, the town donates the land and will reim burse the developer for the planning, permitting, design and infrastructure costs. This will reduce the overall cost of the homes.
“The town has been setting money aside every year for 12 to 15 years to do affordable housing projects, so that will come out of the town’s budget,” Steese said. “The first phase, which is the ar chitectural and engineering – the whole design – we’re paying for that 100%.”
Steese said that if something hap pened where the original developer could not finish the job, the town owns the plans and would then be able to hire a replacement.
According to the town’s press release on the project, the neighborhood will be protected by a 30-year affordability covenant, meaning the homes will be affordable and reserved for those who are income-qualified, regardless of mar ket values, for 30 years.
Who meets the qualifications is based on the area median income as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“For 2022, the area median income (AMI) is $60,700 for one person,” said Steese. “If you are making $60,700 as a single person and we’re building a house that has 100% AMI restrictions on it, then you qualify to apply for that house. When you think about who falls within that, you’re talking about po licemen, firefighters, teachers. Starting salaries for teachers just got a big bump, but they’re still at $48,000. You’re also talking about dispatchers, nurses, nurs ing assistants, town staff.”
HUD defines affordable housing as housing for which the occupant is paying no more than 30% of his or her gross income for housing costs, includ ing utilities. The Area Median Income (AMI) helps define what “affordable” is, based on the median income of a specific region.
The 12 May River project homes will be split among three groups based on levels of AMI – 60%, 80% and 100%.
Beaufort County’s current AMI means the following:
• 60% is $41,640 for a two-person household, and $52,020 for a four-per son household
• 80% is $55,500 for two, and $69,350 for four
• 100% is $76,480 for two, and $95,600 or four.
The red flag on this map shows the location of the 1.78-acre site at at 1095 May River Road where 12 affordable homes are planned.
South Carolina State Representative Bill Herbkersman (Dist. 118) is one of the managing members of Workforce State of Mind LLC. He brought together what he called a “home team of people who really care about workforce hous ing.” One of them is Matt Lyle, another managing member, who owns Lyle Construction and custom builds homes throughout area.
“There’s Pierce Scott and Amanda Denmark with Pierce Scott Architects, and Dan Keefer of Witmer Jones Keefer LTD, who have all wanted to be a part of it forever. It’s all local players who understand the need and are doing anything they can to make it happen,” said Herbkersman. “I think it’s just a drop in the bucket but it gives people hope. People are seeing there’s finally movement. All of the players, especially the town, are going above and beyond. We’re finally realizing the fact that the American dream is almost out of reach. There are no starter homes now, and this is a good way to get families back
in a starter home.”
Although the project is finally under way on paper, results won’t be visible for a while, said Steese.
“Our hope would be that once we get through what we’re considering Phase One – which is getting it through de sign, review, and getting ready to permit – that they start moving towards what we call Phase Two, which is horizontal improvements,” he said, describing those improvements as grading, sewer, water, smoothing and the like.
The design phase will follow and there will be progress toward construc tion. At that point, a conservative guess for completion might be less than two years.
“All the parties that are involved are trying to expedite it as fast as we can. We know there’s a need. We know we want to get it done as soon as we can. But I think 12 to 18 months would be a good estimate,” said Steese.
“And I hate to say the government works slow. We work deliberately be
cause we want to make sure that since we are using taxpayer funds to move this project forward, that we have all our I’s dotted our T’s crossed, make sure we have our protections in play, our reviews in place and oversight, so we’re ready to go. We can make sure that everything’s done to our expectations,” Steese said.
Town Councilman Fred Hamilton said this is welcome progress.
“It’s one bite out of this elephant, and at least gives us the opportunity to provide the same quality of life to those who can’t afford it the same housing component that we anticipate build ing here in Bluffton,” he said. “This is the first domino. We have three other properties that we have set aside just for affordable housing. We have the land and a potential developer. We believe we have 70 units that we can provide within two other properties we have, and then there’s the property on Buck walter that doesn’t have the infrastruc ture yet, with 2.5 acres earmarked for
affordable housing as well.”
It has taken time to get affordable housing approved in Bluffton, but it is an issue that Hamilton, Steese, Herb kersman and others recognize as critical to Bluffton.
Hamilton also addressed another el ephant – the one in the room that says “not in my backyard.”
“Sometimes, if you do this enough and you do this with sensitivity, you may change some people’s minds. It’s always good to say we hear you and we want you to hear us as well. The message has to be we’re not trying to divide,” said Hamilton. “We’re trying to be inclusive because it’s a place where we all have to co-exist. That’s how Bluffton was established before devel opment. You could have a million-dol lar house and your neighbors had a mobile home. We still want to be a big little town.”
Gwyneth J. Saunders is a veteran journalist and freelance writer living in Bluffton.
By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTOR
“Water for Elephants” spent weeks on the New York Times best-sell er list, and generated a movie that starred Reese Witherspoon and Hal Holbrook, among others.
Young adult books “Anna and the French Kiss” and “Cinder” are report edly headed to the big screen, as is the post-apocalyptic zombie novel “The Forest of Hands and Teeth.”
While these genres might not be ev eryone’s cup of tea, they and a num ber of other published books have one thing in common: They began as a manuscript generated during Na tional Novel Writing Month, known to fans as NaNoWriMo.
The event is a free online challenge to write 50,000 words of a new novel in one month, and is conducted every November by the nonprofit NaNoW riMo (NaNoWriMo.org).
For anyone who has ever had the urge to write but needs a little push or bit of encouragement to get start
ed, the Bluffton Branch Library can help with a series of 10 Come Write In sessions beginning Nov. 1.
“We’re planning on doing writeins in a room set up just for them to come in to write. We’ll probably have snacks, water and word prompts they can choose from if they want,” said Alyssa Krob, reference and teen services librarian. “We always put together a word count sheet or calen dar so (writers) can record their daily progress if they want.”
Word prompts are one of the tools NaNo offers to inspire the writer, charging participants to include a spe cific action, emotion or animal into their writing. These are completely optional, as are the timed sessions offered continuously on the NaNoW riMo Twitter feed.
Keeping track of the daily word count is crucial. An average of 1,570 words is highly recommended in order to reach the 50,000-word count by midnight on Nov. 30.
Alyssa Krob, reference and teen services librarian at the Bluffton Branch Library, shows prepa ration and support materials available for anyone who wishes to participate in the annual National Novel Writing Month in November.
GWYNETH J. SAUNDERS
WRITERS from page 14A
Krob conducted several write-ins when she worked in the Beaufort branch. Now working in Bluffton, she is continuing the same process, offering an information packet for prospective writers – from teens to seniors.
“Because NaNoWriMo also has the young writers program, I’m all about that because I’m the teen services librarian. I try to encourage kids, say ing, ‘You can write. It doesn’t have to be school-related. You can just write whatever you want,” said Krob.
The write-ins offer authors a quiet space with little interruption with the exception of the occasional word prompt, and Krob said she has had anywhere from five to 10 people show up for the events.
When it gets down to writing, some participants prepare for November by outlining their manuscript down to the most minor details. This can include listing and describing the primary players and their characteris tics, the structures, attire, animals and food as well as creating a map of the environment they will inhabit. Other participants, however, start with a basic premise: a handful of characters they know from life, books or movies or ones they create from scratch.
The website offers a “Prep 101” with a suggested timeline (that started in September) of how to develop a story idea, create characters and construct a plot, as well as tips for or ganizing your life to allow for writing, and managing your time during your writing marathon.
Included in the local prep pack age that Krob distributes is a calen dar, and a brochure that highlights preparation steps listed in the writing website, plus a “Pre-NaNoWriMo Non-Noveling Checklist.”
This list is vital for sustaining writ ers who will be hunkered down over their keyboards or legal pads. It lays out the importance of planning meals (No. 1 on the list), handing off chores for the month, setting aside a specif ic writing space, letting your close friends know you will be creating and less available for social activities, buy ing a supply of special writing snacks,
and designating someone to bring you endless mugs of tea.
No matter how an author prepares, at 12:01 a.m. Nov. 1, the writing may begin in earnest.
Krob plans to participate as a writer as well as community leader.
“I have a young adult novel that I started working on the past couple years and have tried to work on each time. This year, I’m working on a dif ferent type of novel I’ve never written before,” Krob said, “so it’s going to be interesting. We’re going to see where it goes.”
To participate as part of the inter national online event, sign up on the NaNoWriMo website. Participants may choose to join a geographic region. There are South Carolina Lowcountry and Georgia Savannah regions, and many participants will note their locations with the possi bility of joining others for write-ins. Each author’s page has spots where they can provide as much or as little information about themselves and their project, including a working title, the genre, a brief synopsis, and a brief bio.
About 10 days into the month-long contest, authors will be able to use one of two ways to begin submitting their word counts online. No one on the website will read the manuscripts, and no one hounds writers to keep up or catch up. The same will hold true at the library.
“I don’t want them to feel pressure because writers are often skittish crea tures. So I don’t want to scare anyone or overwhelm anyone,” said Krob. “I want this to be as easy as possible.”
Writers may stop by the Bluffton library to pick up a prep package. The NaNoWriMo write-ins will be held in November from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Tuesday and Nov. 3, 9 and 17, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 5 and 19.
Gwyneth J. Saunders is a veteran journalist and freelance writer who has participated in NaNoWriMo for seven years, relying on Milk Duds and tea for snacks.
What began as an artist’s clever inspira tion has evolved over the past five months into a spontaneous Calhoun Street art installation down by the river that has brought smiles to residents and visitors alike. The bright array of color-adorned rocks is about as Bluffton as it gets, with kids of all ages adding their pebblestone Picassos to the kaleidoscope pile of cre ativity.
An anonymous antagonist put longtime local artist Stephen Gregar “between a rock and a hard Karen,” as he said in a Sept. 17 post on the What’s Happening in Bluffton Facebook group.
“I was by the river painting one day and a community resource officer stopped by and told me I needed to stop painting the rocks, that someone had complained and that he was just the messenger,” Gregar said. “It just didn’t make sense. We’ve got kids smiling, folks taking pictures in front of the pile. It’s a beautiful thing. What
Gregar likes the challenge of painting on just about every surface other than a standard canvas. He has used social me
dia frequently to post his photos of per fect Bluffton sunsets and of his paintings on backdrops such as pavers, T-shirts, tote and tote bags.
On April 5, he showed off his first stone with What’s Happening in Bluffton members in an informal contest to find his rock rendering of Waldo.
“He is somewhere in Bluffton. Can you find him?” Gregar said. The post garnered such a positive response that Gregar kept sharing his rockwork – painting a range of things from lighthouses to boats to Popeye and Elmo on rocks from pebbles to boulders, sharing his daily progress and his work with budding artists who wanted to add to his growing pile.
The New York native sports a gruff Sopranos-meets-Woodstock façade with a fuhgeddaboudit accent, a bouncer build and a ponytail – more mafioso than mer rymaker. His art helps him make sure the proverbial book doesn’t match the cover.
“It connects me with emotion; I express feelings and how I absorb moments in time with my brush. So, to elicit such a positive reaction from the posters, it was wonderful,” he said. “This was never
Please see ROCKS on page 20A
Stephen Gregar along the May River boardwalk at the Calhoun Street dock, where he and others have painted rocks to brighten the landscape. PHOTOS BY TIM WOODROCKS from page 18A
meant to be an exhibit or anything. It just took on a life of its own.”
By midsummer, a small pile became a full-on organic art installation. Gregar became guardian of the grounds, ensuring the work was more an artist’s rock wall than a public nuisance.
But by September, one critic ap proached a town resource officer and attempted to put a halt to the artistry.
“A great joy has been taken from me to day. I went down by the river to dolphin watch and was approached and told not to paint any more rocks,” Gregar said in his Sept. 17 post. “I will miss 3-year-old Cohan, I’ll miss the laughter of the kids when they saw their favorite cartoon character painted on a rock, I’ll miss the 90-year-old lady who was down on her knees picking just the right rock for her to paint on. I’ll miss the woman with tears in her eyes who laid in the rock pile next to a rock that I painted her recently deceased infant daughter’s name on. I’ll miss all the other beautiful rocks that budding artists of all ages added to that rock pile. I hope you are happy Karen.
What are you going to complain about next? Maybe traffic lights aren’t the right colors for you?”
The post led to more than 300 com ments in 24 hours, the vast majority sharing their love for his work and telling Gregar to keep on painting – even one from a real-life Karen who said though she hates what her first name has become, she loves and supports his work.
“That was meant as a goodbye post, I was going to stop. I was ready to follow this official and end it, I never wanted
it to be a bad thing,” Gregar said. “But the support was incredible. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I remember going to my first Christmas parade with the baby stroller brigade and the women with washboards and kazoos and I said to myself, ‘This town gets me.’ And the folks here aren’t afraid to show they care.”
That can work both ways.
“Stephen, PLEASE don’t let anyone steal your joy!! Or the joy you so delightedly give to others! Keep painting your lovely rocks,” said poster Elizabeth Flynn, a sen
The Arnold Fields Community Endowment Projects Fund is at the forefront of a rich, yet often untold, story of the Rosenwald Schools that were built exclusively for Black children across the segregated South.
One of these schools remains in Hampton County - the Gifford School. Charlie Grant, Jr. and Roy Hollingsworth are using this endowment fund at the Community Foundation to restore some of this
history. Their vision is to refurbish the school, then create a regional Rosenwald School trail, starting in Hampton County and spreading to the region and eventually the state. The endowment fund will be there to support their plans both now and in the future – by preserving the story of their past.
What will you endow for future generations? Let’s start a conversation today.
timent echoed by hundreds of residents and group members.
But some voiced concern for paint chips polluting the waterways. Chemists weighed in on the claim, posting that the acrylic paint did not emit toxic waste. Some elitists balked at calling the work art, attempting to weaponize the word “cute” in the most snobbish way possible.
Gregar began having fun with the hub bub, posting daily jabs at “Karen.”
He shared a new rock with a multi-col ored warbler on Sept. 22, saying, “As a truce to Karen, I went down to the rock pile today and painted a bird on a rock for her but alas, she wasn’t here. So, if someone will do me a favor and if you see Karen, give her the bird for me.”
“I can’t help myself sometimes, I guess it’s the New Yorker in me,” he said. “I’m shy, not much for conversation, the art speaks for me, sometimes in sarcastic tones. Look, I’m the last one that wants to be polluting this gorgeous land and waterscape.”
Please see ROCKS on page 24A
Painted rocks alongside the May River boardwalk at the Calhoun Street dock have turned the space into an outdoor gallery.
By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTOR
On a routine basis, Melinda Vinson Richardson works as the office manag er for the Wellness Institute in Okatie, but about 12 times a year she leaves her desk and heads to Europe, Canada or somewhere in the United States to judge dog shows for the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA).
“I’ve been showing dogs since I was 19 years old. I started showing and training the Australian shepherds 25 years ago, and then I started breeding them,” said Richardson who began judging in 2002.
Although she currently does not have any Aussies in her home, there have been plenty in the past.
“I couldn’t even count, between owning them outright and co-owning them. I think it’s been hundreds,” she said. “The most I’ve ever had in my home at one time that I owned was 13.”
Richardson said she is drawn to
Aussies because they are intelligent.
“Aussies are smart enough to learn, and they figure things out,” she said. “I prefer them because I like a dog with a brain, one that’s a free thinker. They’re absolutely beautiful, and they make amazing pets.”
To be an ASCA breeder judge, indi viduals must meet stringent show and breeding requirements. There are four levels of expertise, each with increasing degrees of involvement and responsi bilities in the club and in show rings.
As a judge, Richardson’s responsibili ty is to find the dog that best conforms to the breed standard as set by the American Kennel Club.
“You’re not technically judging the dogs against each other. You’re judging them to the breed standard, and the reason for that is to better the breed in general, because you want the soundest dogs doing what the dog was bred to do,” Richardson said. “The Australian shepherds were bred to be herding
Bluffton resident Melinda Vinson Richardson, left, serves around the world and throughout the United States as a show judge for the Australian Shepherd Club of America.
COURTESY MELINDA RICHARDSON
ROCKS from page 20A
Gregar never used a real name for “Kar en,” as he still doesn’t know who made the initial complaint. That didn’t stop one poster from repeatedly reporting Gregar’s posts as harassment to group administra tors. Hmmm. Might we have our culprit?
The overwhelming online reaction caught the attention of town officials as well. Town of Bluffton public information officer Debbie Szpanka said the rock art came up in conversations as multiple department heads huddled for Hurricane Ian preparation. She said officials had either heard of the rock art or had seen the installation for themselves, and that while the officer represents the town, the cease-and-desist directive did not come from town officials.
“It was good to have so many of the stakeholders in one room to weigh in on this, and it was nothing but positive around that table. It’s very Blufftonesque and we’re always here for naturally occurring art,” Szpanka said. “It’s always a good idea for artists to reach out to the town before embarking on an installation, but it sounds like this wasn’t planned, it
just sprung up from creativity. That’s very Bluffton. It sounds like it has become a happy attraction.”
Nonetheless, Szpanka encouraged Gre gar to call town manager Stephen Steese and set up a meeting with town officials to ensure that all environmental concerns are addressed as the artwork continues to evolve.
Gregar is open to the discussion, though he never imagined his rock painting becoming a permanent tourist attraction.
“At first, it was me painting 99% of the rocks. Now, it’s more like 85 to 90 and shrinking,” he said. “I’ve put up signs saying, ‘Add to the rocks, please don’t take them.’ I’m flattered that maybe this could be a lasting contribution to the culture here. Art is here to evoke emotion, and that can lead to both good and bad reactions. But I would never do anything to harm the beauty that Mother Nature bestowed upon us here. I will make sure of that.”
Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. timwood@blufftonsun.com.
attic storage
up garage floor space and
touch of a button.
usable square footage to your home.
Attic Stairs
JUDGE from page 22A
dogs.”
Because they are extremely intelli gent, she said, the breed can do just about anything in any number of performance show ring venues, in ad dition to the conformation ring where the dog is compared to the standard.
Richardson’s favorite part of judg ing is the dogs, but she also enjoys several of the herding trials. These are competitions in which the Aussies do what they are bred to do: herd other animals.
“Duck trials are always very enter taining. They’ll just lay down. They like to burrow, find little tiny holes somewhere and just hide there,” she said. “Then the dog is there flipping it with its nose trying to get it to move because the dog knows it’s supposed to be with the rest of them.”
Stock herding is interesting and fun to watch, Richardson said.
“I like the cattle only because I think it’s very challenging, and it’s nice to see a 40-pound dog in there controlling a 2,000-pound cow,” she said. “I really
like all the stock work only because it’s the true meaning of what the breed is for.”
While most of Richardson’s judging activities are enjoyable, the competition also comes with disappointment for those who didn’t win.
“The hardest part about judging is hurting people’s feelings. Unfortunately, there can only be a few winners,” she said.
And sometimes, those few winners are hard to pick. Choosing from among competitors is sometimes difficult, Richardson said, because “none of the exhibitors in your ring are what you yourself would consider a high quality. As long as they meet the breed stan dards, you have to place them accord ingly. Those will be the hardest part for me: picking the winners, for different reasons.”
Getting a show dog to the ring begins with the bloodline, Richardson said.
“Some lines are smarter than other lines. You’ve got your cheerleaders on one side, and you get your jocks on
the other side, so that is very strong about the bloodlines,” she said. “Then you’ve also got to factor in the amount of training the person has in training a dog.”
Since herding is the breed’s main purpose, owners can run a herding instinct test on a litter at eight to 12 weeks old just to see if they’ve got any instinct to them.
“Believe it or not at eight to 10 weeks old, you can say, ‘Look, this one knows what it’s doing.’ The training itself is a bit harder, and takes a little longer,” Richardson said. “If you’re taking a conformation dog into the ring that has zero herding instinct, zero herding bloodlines kind of thing, it would be a bit more difficult to train that dog to herd than it would one coming straight out of herding bloodlines.”
If there is a competition, there must be a reward or prizes, and Richardson said there is.
“The right of saying ‘I won in the ring.’ That’s one of the best things about it,” she laughed.
For owners of a male dog, winning means interest from those seeking to breed their females. “If he’s dual-titled and he’s just an exceptional male, com peting and winning, and with a nice pedigree,” Richardson said, “people are going to want to breed to that dog.”
The same thing applies to a female Aussie, which would prompt people to say they want one of her puppies.
“The end result is it’s all about the breed quality for conformation, and then the performance title shows that the dog also has the brains to do what it’s supposed to be doing,” said Rich ardson, “so you want an overall Aussie: one that can do everything and that comes from a nice mix of pedigrees. And they can still come home and lay on the couch with you.”
Richardson will be judging the ASCA Nationals in Texas at the end of Octo ber.
Gwyneth J. Saunders is a veteran journalist and freelance writer living in Bluffton.
each
Restorative medicine involves using Human Cellular Tissue Products (HCTPs) to help the body heal itself. Through restorative medicine, damaged tissue in joints are supplemented with healthy structural tissue to provide an opportunity to restore from within.
Dr. Heather Hinshelwood MD has helped thousands of patients with knees, shoulders, hips and more. The procedure takes only 30 minutes and allows the patient to leave with a simple band-aid over the site.
Many patients experience a significant reduction in knee pain within 48 hours due to the reduced inflammation. With restorative medicine therapy, most patients feel maximum results within 10 to 12 weeks and up to 95% within 6 months.
Each year, advocates, survivors and supporters recognize October as Domes tic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM).
This fall, Hopeful Horizons, a nonprofit based in Beaufort County, is joining the National Network to End Domestic Vio lence (NNEDV) and the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA) in their national campaign for DVAM.
The goal of this initiative is to start a national conversation about domestic violence and how we can all contribute to changing the narrative on this overshad owed, but fundamental topic, then build on that conversation to raise awareness, increase donations and volunteer efforts, and deepen community engagement by connecting our work nationwide.
More prevalent than most realize, one in four women and one in seven men will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes. Anyone, regardless of gender, race, sexual identity or orientation, or socio-economic status, can become a victim of domestic violence. This year’s campaign theme, #Every1KnowsSome1, strives to highlight how common domes tic violence is and that it is more than physical violence.
Locally, Hopeful Horizons, beginning Oct. 6, will display wedding gowns all month long to raise awareness about the prevalence of domestic violence in South Carolina. Each gown is adorned with the names of South Carolinians who were killed in domestic violence incidents last
year.
The Wedding Gown Project can be seen at public library branches in Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton and Colleton counties.
The wedding dresses bear witness to the fact that, while many individuals walk into marriage full of hope, domestic violence shatters that innocence.
“The number of women killed by men in South Carolina is staggering,” said Kristin Dubrowski, CEO of Hopeful Horizons. “However, those statistics are only part of the story. There are hundreds of people whose lives are impacted by domestic violence each day in South Carolina. Domestic Violence Awareness Month not only provides an opportunity to mourn those we’ve lost, but to also learn more about the issue, celebrate sur vivors and make a commitment to ending violence and abuse in our communities.”
Free and confidential help is available 24/7 for individuals experiencing do mestic violence. Call Hopeful Horizons’ Support Line at 843-770-1070 or visit hopefulhorizons.org.
Hopeful Horizons is a children’s advo cacy, domestic violence and rape crisis center that works to create safer commu nities by changing the culture of violence and offering a path to healing. The orga nization provides safety, hope and healing to survivors through evidence-based practices, outreach, prevention and edu cation. Hopeful Horizons serves Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties.
Wedding gowns like these, with names of people killed by domestic violence, will be on display at Beaufort County libraries beginning Oct. 6 to mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
ALAN RUCKER
• The Bluffton Democratic Club will hold its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 5 at the new Blue HQ, 39 Persim mon St., Suite 201.
Special guest will be Richard Hammes of Moms Demand Action.
For more information, visit bluffton democrats.com.
• Jeep Island weekend kicks off with live music at 5 p.m. Oct. 7 at Lowcountry Celebration Park. Local band RetroRoxx opens the concert from 5-6:30 p.m., then Idlewild South, The Allman Brothers Band plays from 6:30-9 p.m.
The next day, Oct. 8, the 37th annual Kiwanis Club of Hilton Head Island Chili Cook Off & Jeep Island Presented by Hampton by Hilton will take place from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Coastal Discovery Museum.
More than 25 chili cooks will face off to determine the best concoctions in Professional, Amateur, and People’s Choice categories.
The Jeep Island expo features an ar ray of Jeeps from around the nation – a must-see for any Jeep enthusiast.
The Cook Off features live music by John O’Gorman and his B-Town Playahs, plus a Kids Zone, adult- and non-alcoholic beverages, and burgers and dogs grilled up by the Kiwan is Club’s own grill team. Tickets are available at the gate for $10 and tasting tickets are sold on site for $1 each.
For more information, visit hilton headkiwanis.com or email hiltonhead islandkiwanis@gmail.com.
• The monthly Palm Trees & Pis tons car show will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Oct. 8 at Sea Turtle Marketplace on Hilton Head Island, in the parking lot of the former SteinMart store.
The show will feature vintage, an tique, exotic, muscle and unique cars owned by area locals.
Any car owners who would like to display their vehicles are welcome to bring them for show and tell, and to meet others of like mind.
The show is held the second Satur day of each month and is free and open
to the public.
• The Big Ten on Hilton Head will hold its annual tailgate from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 9, at the pavilion at Honey Horn, with box lunches from Publix.
All Big Ten alumni, supporters, fans and friends are invited to attend and wear their school colors.
The speaker will Diana Sabau, deputy commissioner and chief sports officer of the Big Ten Conference. Her role was created in 2021, making her the first Chief Sports Officer in the con ference’s 125-year history.
Cost is $20 per person for adults with box lunch, children 12 and under are free. Cost per person without a box lunch is $10. More information and registration forms are available by emailing BIG10onHH@gmail.com or on Facebook at Big Ten Conference on Hilton Head.
• Lowcountry Indivisible will meet from 10-11:30 a.m. on Oct. 8, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry, 110 Malphrus Rd, Bluffton.
The program will feature three South Carolina election candidates: Barb Nash, candidate for SC House District 24; Marilyn Harris, candidate for Beau fort County Council District 2; and Alphonso Smalt, candidate for Beaufort County Council District 6.
Lowcountry Indivisible (LCI), a chapter of the national Indivisible organization, is based in Bluffton and Hilton Head. Comprising some 2000 members and followers, the non-parti san group supports progressive causes, both nationally and locally.
There is no membership fee to join the group, which meets monthly. For more information, visit lowcountryin divisible.com or register for the meet ing at replyLCI@gmail.com.
• Jay Harris will be the guest speak er at the Oct. 10 meeting of Athletic Club of the Lowcountry. The meet ing begins at 6:30 p.m. at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 351 Buckwalter Parkway, with light refreshments being
served, followed by a 7 p.m. presenta tion.
Harris was named the head women’s soccer coach at USCB in 2019; his 2022 team is off to a 7-1 record in their first season participating in the NCAA Division 2 ranks and as a member of the Peach Belt Conference.
In just three years at the helm at USCB, his student athletes have claimed a number of Sun Conference Athletic and Academic awards. Last year, Harris coached USCB’s first All American.
Notify Judy Barry, golfmates202@ gmail.com,if you plan on attending.
• Lowcountry GRASP provides help, compassion, understanding and grief support for those who have lost a child, spouse, parent, sibling or a loved one to drug or alcohol abuse. The meetings are free, non-denominational, and open to anyone who has experi enced this loss.
The next meeting will be 9:30 a.m. Oct. 15 at the Bluffton Library. There is no cost to attend but pre-registration is suggested prior to first meeting.
For more information or to pre-reg ister, contact Steven at 843-384-0938 or sweber7151@gmail.com or visit the GRASP website grasphelp.com.
• Campbell Chapel AME Church in Bluffton will hold a ceremony at 2 p.m. Oct. 16 celebrating the dedication of a Historical Marker at the Church, 25 Boundary St.
The event is free and open to the public, and is part of the Historic Bluff ton Arts & Seafood Festival.
The Rev. Dr. Jon R. Black is pastor of the historic church.
• The Lowcountry Ladies Lun cheon will be held Nov. 4 at The Golf Club at Indigo Run. The event is intended to help support local women owned businesses and to help women network in effort to grow personally and professionally. This is the first time the lun heon will be held on the island.
Lunch is served at noon with ample time for networking and meeting new
friends. Local women business owners will have vendor displays and guests will have time for early holiday shop ping before and after lunch. Attendees are encouraged to bring business cards for networking and prize drawings.
Registration is now open, and seating is limited. Tickets are $35 each and can be purchased online on Eventbrite.
• The All Saints Garden Tour plan ning committee is seeking nonprofit organizations that serve Beaufort and Jasper counties to apply for grant fund ing following the May 20, 2023, event.
Nonprofit applicants to be consid ered are those that focus on hunger, homelessness, literacy or aging, with budgets of less than $650,000.
Completed applications are due Nov 15. To apply, visit allsaintsgardentour. com, and select “grant application.”
• The Hilton Head Island Republican Club continues to hold its Friday Night Speaker Series each week with local candidates in the 2022 midterm election. Social hour is 5 to 6 p.m., with snacks and refreshments immedi ately followed by the speakers.
Events are held at Campaign Head quarters at Orleans Plaza, Suite B, 37 New Orleans Road, Hilton Head Island.
After speaking, they are available for a question and answer period. We continue to keep voters informed in order for them to make wise decisions about whom they want to represent them.
In addition, Coffee and the Constitu tion is offered at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday mornings at the office. This lecture series by Hillsdale College covers a different portion of the Constitution in detail each week. Discussion is held after each lecture.
No RSVP necessary.
The Bluffton Sun welcomes news of commu nity, club, church, school and organization events. If the event is open to the public, email info to editor@blufftonsun.com.
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By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTOR
Randolph Stewart studied to become an accountant with a degree from Geor gia Southern University, but 50-plus years later he has been the designer, preservationist and rehabilitator behind more than 400 homes across nine states.
For most people, that pace might be enough, but after moving to Bluffton 20 years ago from his home in Tampa, he continued to stay busy with local efforts.
In 2013 Stewart also became the owner, editor and publisher of The Breeze, a popular and colorful maga zine formerly known as The Bluffton Breeze, founded in 2002.
The last issue was printed in May 2020, although Stewart has hinted that he might bring it back – that is, if he can find the people and the time.
Randolph fills his spare time serv ing as vice chairman of the Beaufort County Planning Commission, antique dealer, sometime actor in the May River Theatre, and tall ship sailor. (He did say he was retiring from sailing, but he is following a certain three-masted barque on its round-the-world voyage heading back to Bergen, Norway.)
His father Richard, an Army intel ligence officer and his homemaker mother, Billie, were Savanah natives, but Stewart was born in Berlin, Germa ny, where his father was stationed after World War II. He spent his formative years as an “army brat.” Before his fam ily settled in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he went to high school, he and his brother Richard and sister Corrine also lived in Korea and Japan.
His father was an attaché when they lived in Korea, and Stewart was in the seventh or eighth grade. He recalled that he and his brother regularly carried
a five-gallon bucket of chicken soup his mother had made “up hill and down dale and around the corners, and take
it to our favorite orphanage. And then we’d wrestle with the kids that lived there.”
His mother, being a Southern lady, would also cook fried chicken, lots of crabs and seafood and shrimp, but those foods weren’t always available overseas. Taking in all his travels, Stewart enjoys a variety of cuisines, but spicy is not on the menu, including the highly seasoned Korean pickled cabbage called kimchi.
As he grew up, Stewart once thought about becoming a doctor, but by the time he passed through a number of colleges, eventually going from Emory University to finish at Georgia South ern, he had a degree in accounting. In order to make money for college, he sold water beds, and worked at Geor gia Baptist Hospital as an autopsy and blood bank assistant.
Featuring
Rose
Murray Sease
Bill Winn
Adjacent
sculpture
Terrett
Wally Palmer
Okatie River Barn by Murray Sease Please see PORCH on page 35A Randolph Stewart and his trusty sidekick Constance. PHOTOS COURTESY RANDOLPH STEWART
The 12th Annual Italian Heritage Fes tival, presented by the Italian-American Club of Hilton Head, will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn on Hilton Head Island.
The event features food, wine and music that expresses the Italian-American cultural experience.
As in years past, food booths will line the pathways at Honey Horn with local restaurants serving up portions of their signature dishes. Cooking demonstrations are scheduled throughout the afternoon, while volunteers will prepare traditional Italian dessert favorites like cannoli and zeppole.
There are also educational booths, a Kid’s Zone, and Italian arts and crafts. Entertainment for the day includes live music from the Hilton Head Plantation Big Band, and competitions including grape stomping and pizza eating.
October is officially Italian American Heritage Month in South Carolina, signed into law in 2015 by Governor Nikki
Haley. “We are always grateful for the local support and turn-out,” says IACHH president, John De Cecco. In keeping with the community focus, proceeds from the Italian Festival go to local charities and scholarships.
Tickets are $6 at the gate and in ad vance and parking is free (handicap park ing is available). For more information, contact Paul Caimano at paccomkt@aol. com or 412-897-1148, or visit iachh.org.
His accounting career led him into work as a general contractor, but soon he began designing homes, something he said went back to his childhood.
“My great-grandfather had a chain of furniture stores. I think that’s where it started. I’ve gone back and looked at my old stuff, and I bet I started de signing before high school, and it kept going,” he said.
Among his early travels, he recalled a memorable trip.
“I was in El Salvador once. My college roommate’s father was the minister of agriculture, and early one evening we ran across the son of the chief of their Supreme Court,” he said. “We were going out, and next thing we knew we had a bunch of guys with submachine guns pointing at us and taking us to prison.
“Years later I came across my room mate’s father, and I asked what went down. He said it was all about guns, money and votes in an election year,”
he continued. “There was a dictator. They weren’t good, but they weren’t going to hurt us. They just wanted the money, and these men were powerful. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Surviving the kidnapping, which happened just after college, he taught himself the elements of design, and spent several years after graduating on restoring houses as part of the Savannah Landmark Rehabilitation Program. As a designer and general contractor, Stewart has been involved in restoring more than 35 homes on the National Register of Historic Places, working with Art Deco design in Florida, southwestern influence in Tucson, homes in Colleton River Plantation ranging from French to colonial styles, numerous homes along the May River, and designing The Stock Farm and Tabby Road communities, as well as the Calhoun Street Promenade
Sailing on tall ships has long been a passion for Randolph StewartThe 2022-2023 season for recreational harvest of shellfish (clams and oysters) in coastal waters of South Carolina opened Oct. 1. The recreational shellfish season will remain open through May 15, 2023, unless conditions warrant extending or shortening the season.
In the event of hurricane, major rain event, or pollution spill, shellfish beds may be temporarily closed by the South Carolina Department of Health & Envi ronmental Control (DHEC). It is import ant for harvesters to check with DHEC to verify whether any closures are in effect.
This information is available by calling 1-800-285-1618 and can be viewed on line at sc-dhec/maps.
Recreational harvesting is permitted on all public shellfish grounds and state shellfish grounds within areas of open/ approved water quality as noted on shell fish maps. Twenty public and seven state
shellfish grounds are managed exclusively for recreational gathering. An additional 58 state shellfish grounds are managed for both recreational and commercial harvest.
Recreational harvesters must have a saltwater recreational fishing license, available at dnr.sc.gov. The recreational limit is two U.S. bushels (8 gallons) of oysters and one-half bushel of clams in any one day, limited to two calendar days per seven-day period.
Recreational harvesters should obtain updated Public or State Shellfish Ground maps at the beginning of each season, as areas open to harvest change from year to year. Maps of designated har vest areas may be downloaded from the SCDNR website. Printed maps may also be obtained by calling 843-953-9854 or writing to Shellfish Management Section, Attn: Ben Dyar, SCDNR, PO Box 12559, Charleston, SC 29422-2559.
PORCH from page 35A
– including hiding the retention pond underground.
“I’ve been very fortunate that people find me and hire me to work outside of the area, but I’m a traditionalist from Savannah,” he said.
In the midst of publishing and designing, Stewart was also an integral part of Bluffton’s Wharf Street Project, the first step the town took in providing affordable housing in Bluffton, con sisting of six cottages near the Bluffton Oyster Factory.
Stewart, who has served on the Historic Preservation Commission, wrote the Palmetto Award application that recognized Bluffton for the most outstanding Affordable Housing Project in the State in 2012.
Stewart included architectural articles in The Breeze every month, but they weren’t always about him, because he wanted to include a variety of styles.
He included music articles, featuring writing by Jevon Daly of Silicon Sister and Lowcountry Boil. “He’s a fun guy. He’d never written before that but he
found a way,” said Stewart. “And then Frank Schultz, who plays with Muddy Creek, a great band. He’s more classical. But he would write about the sympho ny. I’d say, ‘Frank, I don’t know what a concerto is. Why don’t you write about that?’ And then I had Pat Bowen, who’s a renowned book writer on food. I nev er thought I would devote four pages to food every month.”
He also had Jim Cashman writing fiction. Andrew Peeples wrote short sto ries, and Arnold Rosen, a Sun City vet eran, would provide great war stories.
Stewart said he made a few changes from the original publication, changing the name so that it would reflect region al tales and events. He also removed the month and year from the cover so that people wouldn’t look at it and think it was outdated.
“Just because it’s a month old doesn’t mean that stories aren’t any good. Sto ries are just as good today as they were five years ago, and I’m proud of them. That was my excuse, but the truth of it is I regret that I left on the same month
two months in a row, and I said that’ll never happen again,” he laughed.
Having stopped publication, Stewart took the opportunity in November 2021 to cross the Atlantic on the Stats raad Lehmkuhl, the largest tall ship in the world. Built in 1914, the 278-foot floating research vessel is going around the world for one year before returning to its home port in Norway.
The captain and executive officer are sons of the late Albert Seidl, who owned the Barbra Negra, a Norwegian Barquentine built in 1896 that was once moored to Savannah’s docks on River Street.
“I sailed on that as a volunteer, and we became great friends. I’ve known the captain since he was 40. When his sons started this round the world ad venture, I crossed the Atlantic, and then I went around Cape Horn, which was quite a thrill to go hitch a ride to the world’s southernmost country. I paid to sleep in a hammock and work all day,” he said with a laugh. “That was in April. At the end of October, I go to Singapore
and Jakarta. I’m retired from the sailing, but I’ll meet them in Bergen when they return.”
Stewart said that in every port, scientists come on board and lecture while doing experiments to learn about the different things that humanity is doing to the ocean. One of the duties of sailing on the tall ship was stand ing watch when it was light, counting plastic bottles floating along the middle of Atlantic Ocean.
He also examined samples taken from the water. “You wouldn’t believe the amount of tiny particles of colored plas tic that are floating around out there,” he said.
When Stewart took on the magazine, he wanted to make sure he had some thing for everyone. “If I bring it back now, it will be quarterly, same format,” he said. “It will be regional more than anything because I think the stories are worth recording.”
Gwyneth J. Saunders is a veteran journalist and freelance writer living in Bluffton.
Women, Men, Kids, Dogs... all are welcome!
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BEAUFORT COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
We have seen a storm of new business activity over the past few weeks. Let’s get you caught up on the latest doings around the Lowcountry entrepreneurial community.
Trampoline park coming to Bluff ton: Families desperate for more indoor entertainment options, rejoice. Bluffton residents Haleigh and David Johnston have felt your pain and decided to get proactive. They have signed an agreement to bring the Altitude Trampoline Park to the U.S. 278 corridor.
The chain is a haven for parents and their 3- to 12-year-olds, with a variety of jump-inspired activities from dodge ball to basketball inside their trampoline attractions.
Haleigh, a full-time mother of five, will handle day-to-day operations while David will continue his military service while overseeing the back end of the business.
The average Altitude location is around 20,000 square feet. Franchise officials said the average buildout timeline for each park is around six to nine months. The couple is in the process of securing the location for the park.
This will be the Lowcountry’s first trampoline-focused attraction. DEFY and the newly opened Exhilarate Adventure Park, both in Savannah, are currently the nearest jump-centric getaways.
New escape room coming to the island: Escape Island will open next to CrossFit Coastal Carolina at 2600 Main St. (843-802-0063; escapeislandhhi. com). The new escape room will have a grand opening Oct. 8 and feature one room to begin, Doctor’s In. You’re in the middle of an Investigation Discovery-level murder mystery, charged with solving the puzzle of clues in a gore-filled room. Two more rooms will open by November. True Grit Breakout is a Western-themed room where you will try to steal back a boatload of loot. Dog Dayz is a kid-friendly room where adventurers will need to solve the disappearance of Taco the Dog.
Big news brewing on island’s North End: Bluffton java master Josh Cooke dropped the coffee lovers’ equivalent of a Woj Bomb (sports fans know) with his Sept. 8 Facebook post announcing that Corner Perk is expanding across the bridge. Cooke has leased the corner of the
Corner Perk owner Josh Cooke stands in front of the company’s planned Hilton Head Island location next to Publix on the North End.
UPDATE from page 39A
Publix complex near Indigo Run next to New York City Pizza.
“We’re looking forward to offering Islanders a place to meet up with friends or business partners, read the paper, grab a quick drink while you shop, draw, write a book, journal, plan their next business move or investment, take the kids, have a first date or get engaged (and of course excellent drinks and food),” Cooke said in his post. “We’re also looking forward to being able to give back more in the Hilton Head Island community. Thanks so much for all the support, believing in us and helping us grow Corner Perk through the years. We have an incredible team and we can’t wait to see you in HHI. We’re hop ing to be open in 6 months or less.”
Corner Perk is currently searching for general manager candidates for both the new island location and the Old Town shop. Email cornerperkroastery@gmail. com if interested.
Cooke also wanted fans to know he hasn’t forgotten about the company’s hopes to expand to Buckwalter Place, but joked that progress is slow given the
current costs of new construction.
“We are still working on Buckwalter. It’s coming soon sometime this decade,” he said with a smile.
Higgins eatery empire expands in Bluffton: If it seems like entrepreneur Jake Higgins is announcing a new busi ness acquisition every month, you’re not too far off. Higgins has been a force in just 2022 alone, taking over the Olde School house Restaurant in Port Royal and the iconic Highway 21 Drive-In. Now, he will be the new owner/operator of Stir Crazy of Bluffton beginning in November. The eatery is one of the hidden gems tucked away in the Best Buy plaza off Fording Island Road. But fans already know that it is a top spot for Asian eats. Founders Steve and Maye are retiring, but Higgins said that “we have Mrs. Maye’s secret recipes and will stick with those large portions soooo many people love.”
Rita’s Buckwalter Place update: There has been plenty of online chatter since a “coming soon” sign for Rita’s Italian Ice
and Custard appeared in a Buckwalter Place window. New owner Doug Fulton popped up on the What’s Happening in Bluffton Facebook page to give locals an update on what’s to come.
“We are thrilled to let all of Bluffton know that my family and I will be the local owner/operators. Our target opening is early December,” he said in a Sept. 28 post. “I will continue to provide updates as we get closer to the date. So happy that y’all are excited about this. We are too!”
Southern Barrel expansion? We’re hearing word that big things are ahead for the crew behind Southern Barrel Brewing Company Tavern. The eatery and craft brewery has established itself as a staple for both brew fans and foodies. Led by general manager Michael Hodge, South ern Barrel has been one of the most active businesses in the Lowcountry in support ing community causes. We hear they will be expanding with spots across the state, likely in Columbia and Charleston to start. Rumor also has it that Mr. Hodge is going to be a force overseeing the growth,
a much-deserved new responsibility.
In case you missed it: We reported in our last issue on the comings and goings in The Promenade in Old Town. I shared the piece on Facebook, but some of you hit me up saying you “didn’t want to read 2,000 words,” as one e-mailer said.
So here’s the quick recap.
Out: Ben and Jerry’s, Cork’s and the art galleries next to them.
In: Cassandra’s Kitchen cookware now open (yes, the same Ina Garten-boosting business from Red Cedar Street that will be warehouse for the store now).
Coming soon: Monkee’s woman’s boutique. An upscale seafood-focused eatery planned for the former Cork’s space. Charcuterie and wine café planned for Ben and Jerry’s space. Also hearing a dance club is looking at the space, along the lines of Columbia’s Social Bar.
Hope that was succinct enough for you, Alex.
Please see UPDATE on page 41ACeleste Coastal Cuisine, 20 Hatton Place, Unit 300, Hilton Head Island, 843-802-4744, celestehhi.com: It is the newest addition to the Nightingale family of restaurants, joining Ela’s on the Water, The Pearl, and Roadhouse Ribs. This North End eatery, located in the former Outback Steakhouse space, is named after the French Cajun matriarch chef of the family. Owner Alex Nightingale is aiming to fill the high-end North End dining void left with the closing of Old Fort Pub. Expect a Cajun-influenced menu along with staples like steaks, scallops, grouper and lobster, a curated collection of French wines and a side stage for live music.
Forever Floors, 880 Fording Island Road, Bluffton, 843-592-2732, forev erfloorshhi.com: Owner Terry Golden and his family have been in the flooring business for more than 30 years. The Hershey, Pennsylvania, natives are experts in residential and commercial flooring, carpet, hardwood and luxury vinyl plank
and have completed over 3,500 installa tion projects over the past three decades. Their showroom is located in Sheridan Park behind Jim ‘N’ Nicks.
Spike Jr.’s Airport Transportation, 770-733-7070, spikejrsairporttransport. com: Owner and driver Mark “Spike Jr.”
Strmac has launched a new car service that will offer transport to Savannah, Hil ton Head and Charleston airports. Strmac promises low flat rate fees and on-time, reliable and friendly black sedan service for up to four passengers.
Messex Country Store, 1185 May River Road, Bluffton: This is very exciting news for long-time Blufftonians. James and Jessica Messex have been offering blue plate specials with their J n J food truck on the Messex property for the past year, but now, they have reopened the family store, promising “country cooking and cold beer.” The family had a grand opening celebration in August. Food Savvy Mobile has also become a regular food truck on property. The family is also looking to use the property to host reg ular events, with the Ole Town Classics Cruise-In and Meet and Greet the next event scheduled for Oct. 15.
Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. Contact him at timwood@bluff tonsun.com.
Please Join Us for Mimosas, Pastries, and a Deluxe Dermalogica Travel Kit for the first 25 guests!
Saturday, October 22, 11am–1pm 23 Plantation Park Dr. Suite 201, Bluffton, SC
20% off all Series of Advanced Treatments for October
Kathy Cooksey, LE thefaceplacebykc.com 843-384-5451
Susan M. Sorensen, LE AboutFaceSusan.com 843-929-1677
HALO Primary Care is a new primary care office in Bluffton, SC. Here at HALO, we believe you should be in charge of your health. We understand that each patient is different; therefore, we strive to work with you to develop a plan of care that is obtainable and reasonable.
• House calls are offered to homebound patients living in the 29909 and 29910 zip codes.
• Telehealth visits are also offered for established patients.
40 Okatie Center Blvd., Suite 215 Bluffton, SC 29909 (843) 603-4800 • www.halo-primarycare.com
GAULTNEY, AGNP-C,
Jessica Messex holds a sign made for her at the grand opening of the Messex Old Country Store.
For local art photographer Jeff Keefer, finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease is personal.
But he says that being diagnosed with the disease in 2007 didn’t create a sense of despair, but rather it sparked a desire to get involved in Parkinson’s research.
“I found there were several organizations supporting the search for a cure. That sur prises some people because Michael J. Fox has done so much to raise awareness, but they aren’t alone in the field,” said Keefer. “What set the Fox Foundation apart, to me, was the way they orchestrate the efforts of everybody, seeing that discoveries are shared all over the scientific community.”
A former chair and current vice chair of the national organization, Keefer also donates the proceeds from his photography at VIVID Gallery in Sea Pines to the Fox Foundation.
Parkinson’s disease occurs when brain cells that make a chemical that coordinates
movement stop working or die.
“The experience of living with Parkinson’s over the course of a lifetime is different for every person,” said Keefer. “And it’s impossi ble to predict the symptoms or severity.”
Parkinson’s can cause tremor, slowness, stiffness, and problems with walking and balance. Non-movement symptoms can also occur in certain cases, including dementia and depression.
An estimated one million persons in America, and roughly six million worldwide, have Parkinson’s Disease. It is second only to Alzheimer’s as the most prevalent neurode generative disease.
Always looking for ways to raise funds, but to also create awareness, Keefer decided to host an event. Together with his friend, local singer-songwriter Sara Burns, he will present Fun with the Fox, an evening of music, art, and refreshments, set for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12 in the plaza of The Shops at Sea Pines Center, outside VIVID gallery, with all proceeds going to the Fox Foundation.
“Fun with the Fox became the name, be cause enjoying life is a big part of the goal,”
Photographer Jeff Keefer and singer-songwriter Sara Burns have teamed up to create Fun with the Fox, an evening of art and entertain ment to support the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Keefer said. “And the most successful local fundraising events are all about having fun.”
Burns recruited her friend Taylor Kent, another singer-songwriter from Hilton Head
Island. Both successful solo performers, the duo bill themselves as The Gypsy Bleu’s on the rare occasions when they team up.
They’ll be backed by an all-star ensemble of exceptional local musicians – Nate Doug las, Charlie Simpson, and Zach Stevens. And another local musician, John Cranford, agreed to run sound for the concert – “and maybe sit in on a few songs with the band,” Burns suggested.
“People all around us stepped forward to lend a hand. The musicians performing at Fun with the Fox are not only colleagues, we’re friends. We play on each other’s re cords, and we encourage each other in every way we can,” she said. “Together, we rock.”
For Keefer, it couldn’t be more appropri ate, as it’s that same spirit of cooperation and teamwork that drew him to the Fox Foundation years ago when he decided to pitch in for the cure.
“Instead of competition, we see two-plustwo coming out five,” he said.
For more information and tickets, visit FunwiththeFox.com.
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• Two new team members have joined Dividend Assets Capital LLC.
Marc Saurborn, CFA has joined as the Director of Research and Investment Strategy.
Saurborn has more than 25 years’ expe rience in investment research and portfolio management. Prior to joining DAC, he was the chief investment officer of the Legacy Foundation, where he managed investment and retirement portfolios for employees at the University of Virginia.
He was a co-founding partner of Patrumin Investors, an independent investment advi sory firm that specialized in dividend growth investing. Saurborn has also held portfolio management and senior analyst roles for both
U.S. and global investment teams at Artio Global Investors (formerly Julius Baer Invest ment Management), Thomson, Horstmann & Bryant, Merrill Lynch Investment Man agers (now BlackRock), and Deutsche Asset Management.
Clare Shea has been hired as Client Service Associate. Shea has more than 20 years’ expe rience in administrative knowledge, back-of fice operations, confidential correspondence, and execution support.
Prior to joining DAC, Shea worked in client services at Wells Fargo Advisors and as a senior trader at Trilogy Global Advisors and Julius Baer in New York.
She is a graduate of Pace University with a BA in marketing.
Dividend Assets Capital, LLC is a 100% employee-owned Registered Investment Ad visor. For more information, visit dacapitalsc. com or call 843-645-9700.
Susan M. Sorensen, LE has opened AboutFace Skin Therapy at 23 Plantation Park Drive, Suite 201, Bluffton, sharing space with The Face Place.
AboutFace Skin Therapy offers re sults-oriented clinical skin treatment to women, men, and teens having concerns with aging, acne, rosacea and sensitivity.
Sorensen is a licensed esthetician offering chemical peels, LED light therapy, microdermabrasion, Derma sound ultrasound, Gua Sha treatment, and electrodessication for treatment of minor skin irregularities.
Sorensen has 10 years’ experience as a pro fessional skin therapist. She is the area’s Der malogica Expert and holds the International Dermal Institute post-graduate certificate for skin and body therapy, recognized to be the industry gold standard for advanced esthetics education.
She is also the sole provider of Skin Classic Thermolysis (electrodessication) services in the area. For more information, email about facesusan@gmail.com or call 843-929-1677.
843-694-4205
• 23 Plantation Park Dr. Suite 301 • Bluffton
Shembra Carter
APPT.
Marc Saurborn Clare Shea
Susan M. Sorensen
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) statistics show that 6 in 10 adults in the United States have at least one chronic disease. Also, 4 in 10 adults have two or more.
The CDC broad ly defines chronic illnesses or diseases as conditions that last one year or more and re quire ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both. Examples of chronic illnesses include but are not limited to cancer, diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune diseases and arthritis.
Receiving a chronic illness diagnosis can be devastating and your focus and thoughts are likely going to be how the
diagnosis affects you and your family. How ever, at some point, you will need to start planning for what’s to come. One of the best ways to do that is through your estate plan.
A well-crafted estate plan can serve as a guide preparing for your care and finances. It is a way for you to remain in control and dictate what you want in preparation for when you might not be able to communi cate your desires on your own.
Here are a few estate planning tools for those battling chronic illnesses (and even those who aren’t):
Health Care Power of Attorney: To plan for the day you might become ill and unable to make medical decisions on your own, you’ll need a Health Care Power of Attorney (HCPOA), designating someone you choose to make medical decisions for you. Your HCPOA should be comprehen sive and include more than just end-of-life decisions.
Your HCPOA should include a HIPAA
(Health Insurance Portability and Account ability Act) waiver allowing your appointed agent to access your protected and sensitive health information. Having a proper HCPOA in place gives you peace of mind to ensure that your healthcare decisions are made by someone you have trust and have faith in.
Durable Power of Attorney: Also known as a financial power of attorney, a Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) allows for you to designate someone to manage your legal and financial matters on your behalf. Your agent will be able to manage all of your affairs to ensure they are properly handled during a time when you are unable.
You can choose the amount of control that you wish to delegate to your agent. Similar to creating a HCPOA, you will have peace of mind in knowing that your agent is someone that you have chosen –because the alternative would result in a court mak ing the decision for you.
Revocable Trust and Financial Manage
ment: Typically, revocable trusts are used to avoid delays, cost, and public disclosure of your estate passing through a probate process. Revocable trusts can also be used to safeguard the succession of financial management when you’re unable to continue managing your own affairs. For example, a revocable trust can require a professional care manager or trust protec tor to assess your finances and/or health on a regular basis.
Many issues relating to your illness –such as its symptoms and treatments, may have an impact on the way that your estate planning documents are prepared. Therefore, it is important for you to consult an estate planning attorney who is not only knowledgeable, but who is also compassionate. A qualified estate planning attorney will be well-prepared to give to your estate planning needs.
Jada L. Gaines is an associate attorney with Elder Law & Estate Planning Center in Bluff ton. hiltonheadelderlaw.com
one part gin and two parts of
a small wine glass, or chalice. Add the half lemon wheel to the mixture, then top with two perfectly proportionate ice cubes, sinking the lemon into the cocktail. (Note: Add more ice at your own discretion.)
Jada Gaines
The Hospital Auxiliary of Hilton Head Regional Healthcare awarded Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL) nursing students Chelsea Selner, left, and Dean Smith $2,000 each, funded through Power:Ed. Marge Sieban, the Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship Chair award ed the scholarships. The Power:Ed grant given to local nonprofits to help South Carolina students succeed is a philanthropy of South Carolina Student Loan Corporation (SCSLC). Both Selner and Smith are working at Hilton Head Hospital while attending TCL’s nursing program.
(843)
The tongue was once thought to be the body’s strongest single muscle. Modern sci ence revealed that it’s eight muscles working together to enable daily tasks like talking, chewing, tasting, swallowing or even testing a frozen flagpole.
Unfortunately, tongue-cleaning often takes a back seat during at-home oral care, with greater emphasis placed on cleaning teeth and gums. Cleaning your tongue twice each day is a great way to maintain good oral and overall health.
In a mirror, look closely at your tongue. Can you see the tiny bumps, called “papil lae,” that help you feel textures and taste?
Taste buds are very sensitive and let us know if something is sweet, sour, bitter, salty or – as in the case of “Goldilocks and The Three Bears” – just right.
Good bacteria live in the mouth and promote a healthy environment. However,
when food particles are left behind, bad bacteria form and can lead to tooth decay, gum infections or bad breath. Cleaning your tongue removes bad bacteria and can even improve your ability to taste. Bon appétit!
If you have a toothbrush handy, you can
start cleaning your tongue today. After you have brushed your teeth and flossed as you normally would, stick out your tongue as far as you can. Starting at the back of your tongue, use your toothbrush to brush lightly towards the front.
Repeat the process on all sections, rinsing your toothbrush each time and spitting out saliva as needed.
You can also purchase a tongue scraper to clean your tongue. There are a variety of different kinds to choose from, but most are made from plastic or metal and have a V-shaped or rounded top.
Always follow the package directions, but the routine is similar to using a toothbrush. Stick out your tongue and scrape from the back to the front, applying light pressure and rinsing the instrument each time.
The tips I listed are for cleaning healthy tongues. Tongues can give visual clues of underlying health issues so, if you notice discoloration or have any tongue sores or pain, make an appointment with your den tist as soon as possible.
For a healthier mouth, make tongue cleaning part of your daily at-home oral care routine.
Jordan Haire, DDS is a dentist in practice with ROC Dental Group in Bluffton.
It seems simple enough: When you itch, you scratch. But scratching itchy skin often makes the itch worse, and can set off an itch-scratch cycle.
Q: What causes itchy skin?
A: Itchy skin can be the result of a nearly endless number of possible causes, ranging from skin conditions, such as eczema or poison oak, to internal diseases.
Q: What conditions are associated with itch and itching?
A: Dry skin is the most common culprit for causing itch in skin that
has no obvious signs of rash or other changes.
These conditions may also cause itchy skin:
• Skin conditions and rashes, such as scabies, lice, chickenpox, hives, psoriasis, eczema (dermatitis).
• Internal disorders, such as celiac disease, liver problems, kidney failure, anemia, certain cancers, and thyroid dysfunction. These conditions may produce itch over the entire body with no outward changes in the skin (except for the scratched areas).
• Irritants and allergens can irritate the skin and cause itching
• Food allergies
• Certain medications, like antibiot ics or antifungals, can provoke rashes in some people.
• Pregnancy
Q: How do I know if I need to see my dermatologist?
A: If your itch lasts more than a couple weeks, is severe enough to disrupt your everyday activities or sleep, has no obvious cause, or affects your whole body, it’s time to see your dermatologist. You should also see a doctor if the itch occurs with other symptoms, such as fatigue, weight loss, bowel or urinary problems, fever or skin redness.
Q: Are there treatments for itch ing?
A: Yes, there are several treatments, depending on the cause of your itch ing:
• Medications, including topical corticosteroid creams or oral antihis tamines
• Wet dressings, in which you apply medicated cream to the itchy areas and cover them with moist cotton ma terial—the dampness of the dressing helps the skin absorb the medication.
• Treating any underlying disease. If your doctor has identified an underly ing disease that’s causing the itch, then he or she will treat that disease
• Light therapy (phototherapy). This involves exposing the affected areas to certain wavelengths of ultraviolet (UV) light in multiple sessions until the itch is resolved
For immediate, at-home relief, you might want to try certain topical med ications, such as creams, ointments and lotions containing lidocaine, benzocaine, menthol, camphor or calamine. However, these solutions should only be used in the short term. If your itch persists, call a dermatolo gist.
Dr. Oswald Lightsey Mikell, certified by the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, is the owner of Dermatology Associates of the Lowcountry.
Oswald Mikell
Tech neck causes wrinkles in the neck beyond one’s age, and it also results in other problems, such as neck pain. Tech neck is basically caused by looking down constantly from over-use of cell phones, iPads and other electronic devices.
One study showed that the average American looks at their phone 80 times a day. We have all seen people dining and looking down at their phones instead of conversing. It has become an addiction. At work, one must constantly look down to view computers.
Other contributing factors of premature neck wrinkles would be smoking, excess sun damage, lack of sun block use and genetics.
There are many modalities that can effectively treat wrinkles from tech neck, all with little to no down time.
First, of course, your treating physician
must see and examine you to determine the best treatment. Generally, the simplest treatment would be micro needling with radiofrequency.
There are a multitude of such machines that can be used by plastic surgeons or aestheticians. This can be followed im mediately by lasers such as the CO2 Cool Peel laser. This combination stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, and decreases wrinkles significantly.
The PRXT33 peel is an additional option that has no downtime but must be done two to three times as do many of the treatments, because looking down at mobile phones will probably continue.
Another excellent option is the use of PDO threads to elevate the deep creases. The results of these threads will last from 1.5 to 2 years, and the procedure takes about 30 minutes. PDO thread can be used to lift and tighten skin as well, both in the neck and face.
Anesthesia for all these procedures is
done with topical anesthetic creams, and the only downside is bruising. Two weeks of not using anti-inflammatories such as Ibuprofen, Motrin, aspirin, and no fish oil or flaxseed oil, vitamin E, garlic, ginseng and turmeric will decrease both bleeding and bruising.
Finally, a good cosmeceutical skin care regimen that contains micro-encapsulated
Retinol, hyaluronic acid and other ingre dients to stimulate production of collagen and elastic and to hydrate the skin should always be used daily on face and neck, along with a 50 SPF sunscreen.
The pain that occurs with tech neck is from leaning the head forward like a stork when looking down. Surgeons are famous for having these problems as they must look down while performing long surgical procedures, just like those who overuse mobile phones and other technical devices.
I have found the best solution to dimin ish neck pain is called the “chin tuck,” first written by Robin McKinsey in “Treat Your Own Neck.” This is simply sliding your neck back out of the forward posi tion. This must become a habit to avoid chronic discomfort.
E. Ronald Finger, MD, FACS is a board certified plastic surgeon with offices in Savan nah and Bluffton. fingerandassociates.com
What if you can look into the future and see a new enhanced you … at almost any angle, at anytime and anywhere?
Plastic surgery and aesthetic procedures have seen a marked increase in populari ty over recent years. Various surgical and non-surgical procedures can correct the signs of aging, rejuvenate and instill confi dence with desired results.
Advancements in camera technology al low patients to see the surgical results even before they happen.
Certainly, many of us have thought about plastic surgery; however, it may be difficult for a patient to visualize the outcome of a particular procedure and may even develop a fear or anxiety of an unknown outcome.
Modern 3D imaging platforms have raised the standard of care in major cities in aesthetic surgery including New York City, Atlanta, Miami and Beverly Hills. 3D imag
ing within aesthetic surgical practices and medical spas has proven to be a powerful preoperative tool to optimize patient-cen tered surgical enhancement, thus offering a higher level of care.
“There is a tremendous leap of faith that patients take before having surgery, and Vectra helps bridge that leap by giving them
a window into what they are going to look like. It’s the best communication tool that exists,” said Dr. Louis Bucky, past-presi dent of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons.
Want to simulate a chin implant? Desire a new breast silhouette, but unclear of the size or shape of the desired breast implant?
The Vectra-3D provides an extremely accurate picture of the expected outcome which has dramatically improved pre-pro cedural analysis and planning of not only chin implants but also breast augmentation, facelifts, browlift and facial slimming proce dures such as buccal fat pad excision.
Vectra-3D can simulate non-surgical facial rejuvenation including liquid facelift tech niques using fillers, laser resurfacing of fine lines and wrinkles, brown spot treatments, and even energy-based skin-tightening procedures.
Canfield has also extended the technology to the consumer through an app-based por tal whereby patients can view preoperative 3D simulations anytime, anywhere.
Expect more, experience more confi dence, and explore the possibilities of the new you, now in 3D.
Mathew T. Epps, MD, MS, DABS is a triple fellowship aesthetic plastic surgeon, special izing in facial, eyelid and breast surgery. matheweppsmd.com or info@dreppsmd.com
at 8:30AM & 10:30AM
Buckwalter Parkway Bluffton, SC 29910 (across from Publix)
843 757-4774
All are welcome to the Lord’s Table
YouTube at 12 noon
of Life Lutheran Church
Lord of Life, Bluffton
Plantation Park
Building 600
3:00PM-4:00PM
Bluffton SC 29910
In the Lost and Found text of Luke 15: 1-10 (NRSV) we find these words:
“Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he told them this parable: ‘Which one of you, having a hun dred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Or what woman having ten sil ver coins, if she loses one of them, does not
light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence
of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Jesus tells the parable of what happens when we lose those things that are precious to us, and how, when they are found, a celebration is held.
Think of a time when you have lost something precious or of importance to you and what you did to find it. Think of how it made you feel when you found it.
You might not have thrown a party, but I bet that you told everyone about the anxiety that you felt when it was lost, and the joy that you experienced when you found it.
These parables tell us that we are precious to God. They tell us to what extent God will go to find us when we, like sheep, wander away from that fold or path, or get lost in the shuffle.
Whenever you feel like you have lost your way and that nobody cares, know that God cares and will move heaven and earth to find you. He will put you on his shoul ders and carry you safely back to his loving presence.
You may feel lost at times but know that God will find you.
Rev. Dr. Christopher L. Thompson is pastor of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Okatie.
Church
Recruit Volunteers to Assist
1 hour Sunday night
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We have 3 pianist, 2 organ players, guitar player, and 12 solo singers to use
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(1 hour rehearse 1 hour Lead Worship)
2 hours Sunday evening
(1 hour Lead Worship 1 hour rehearse)
6 hours on your own to plan
Anna Marie Kuether MusicThis month is full of flood tides, so we
dubbed it Flood tober!
Get in on the thrill of casting to flood tide redfish by reserving your slot for a Lowcountry fishing experience like no other.
Booknow before they’regone!
Oct 5th 4pm
Oct 11th 8:30am
Oct 13th 9:30am
Oct 26th 7:30am
Oct 28th 9am
Oct 6th 5pm
Oct 12th 9am Oct 25th 7am Oct 27th 8am Oct 29th 10am Oct 30th - 11am
No boat? No problem! Learn the best places to fish from land & avoid unproductive spots. We will cover equipment, baits and the best tides for each spot.
Z Man bait included. Cost:$40 6 7:30pm
Learn about an exciting micro season during this class on Bull Reds. We’ll cover gear, patterns & other important conservation tips.
Lure & handout included. Cost:$40 6 7:30pm
By Scott Weirman CONTRIBUTOR
For 28 years, the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has served the region by providing support, expertise, and resources to donors, nonprofits, government agencies, and students. Now we are embracing a more prominent role in creating convening opportunities for local nonprofits to help them achieve their organizational needs.
“Convening” is not a word commonly used in most of our daily lives. However, it is a word frequently referenced at the Foun dation. “Convene” is defined by Google as “come or bring together for a meeting or activity; assemble.”
On Aug. 30, we hosted the Lowcountry Executive Director Leadership Program graduation ceremony. Seven nonprofit leaders took part in the yearlong program offered by the Foundation and conducted by Neil Sklarew, an experienced executive coach and nonprofit consultant. Participants shared emotional examples of how the peerbased learning program, which included group meetings and individual coaching sessions, had a positive impact on their hiring practices, management style, and job performance.
On Sept. 9, the Foundation hosted a con vening event for recent grant recipients of the Town of Hilton Head Island’s ARPA/SL FRF COVID-19 Fund. The Foundation was responsible for administering and award ing grants, totaling over $500,000, to 15 nonprofit agencies who support residents of Hilton Head.
There was a lively discussion with non profit leadership about topics most affecting the under-resourced in the region, including food insecurity and housing. While some of the nonprofits already collaborate, others connected during the event and made plans to join forces to provide enhanced services to people in need.
The Foundation’s commitment to conven ing opportunities also extends to nonprofit board members. On Sept. 14, the Founda tion hosted a board development workshop, which brought together board leadership and executive directors from several local organizations.
Topics covered were board governance, organization and relationships. There were group exercises and discussions, allowing participants to learn from each other and the facilitator. Each pair left with a plan to enhance their board’s structure and increase the capacity of their organization.
The Foundation is also collaborating with area nonprofits for convening events. On Oct. 20, we are teaming up with the United Way of the Lowcountry for “The State of Our Boys: A Community Wide Conver sation.” The goal of the event is simple: to convene a new coalition of area nonprofits, community leaders, educators and clergy to help address the issues and outcomes for adolescent boys and young men, and to embark on a plan to integrate programming and provide young boys with better path ways to realize their potential.
Scott Wierman is the president and CEO of Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. The Lowcountry Executive Director Leadership Program 2021-22 graduates are, from left: Chris tina Wilson, Child Abuse Prevention Association;, Kathy Cramer, SOAR Special Recreation of the Lowcountry; Sandy Gillis, Deep Well Project; Ahmad Ward, Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park; Jody Levitt,The Children’s Center; Anne Caywood, Lowcountry Legal Volunteers. Not pictured: Jackie O’Bannon, Antioch Educational Center.
By Collins Doughtie CONTRIBUTOR
Since the cool snap arrived, I have heard one statement over and over again from just about everyone I bump in to. Curious what they are saying?
It’s no secret to me because – hot, warm or cold – I say it all the time: “We are so lucky to live in this beautiful place.”
Maybe it’s the clear air and cool breeze that makes those words flow so easily right now. And I must say that everything, including the bright green marsh grass and palmettos swaying in the breeze, has a vi brancy that they didn’t have two weeks ago.
Usually, I wait until October to say this, but if you haven’t been out on the water lately then you are missing out on some of the finest foraging of the year.
A couple of weeks ago, I decided to give deep dropping for shrimp a try. I called my friend Will “Catfish” Thompson, with whom I shrimp every year. Catfish will throw a cast net all day long and my forte is finding the shrimp on my depth finder.
Deep dropping is nothing more than throwing a cast net into water that can be up to 50 feet deep.
As for the net used, duct tape is placed approximately six inches up from the weights along the edge and goes around the entire circumference of the net. When the net is thrown, the tape acts like a parachute and makes the net open fully as it goes down.
Off we went. Since it had been a year
since the last time we tried this, all I could do was guess where these little buggers were hanging out. Stopping at one spot, I saw what looked like shrimp on my sonar but after one throw it was apparent they were nothing but small shrimp and bait fish.
It took us three different stops to finally find the shrimp and it was the Mother Lode. Once on them, Catfish was an animal! You don’t always hit them like this so when it does happen, it’s like some primal urge takes over and all you can think is “more shrimp, more shrimp.” In no time we had our limit and with smiles all around we headed in.
There is one part about all of this that simply blows my mind. If you are fa miliar with our local waters, you know there are thousands of creeks and inlets, and every one of them is packed with shrimp of all sizes.
Around now, the shrimp begin their long trek to the open ocean. Just imagine how many shrimp there must be. It has to be in the upper millions, maybe even billions, and they are out there just crawling along the bottom with instinct as their only guide.
Maybe this image doesn’t have any affect on you, but for me it is absolutely amazing.
Another adventure I took recently was with a friend from Asheville, North Caroli na. He really wanted to go fishing. Primarily a freshwater guy, he only reiterated my love for this place. From catching bait with a cast net and seeing all the life around us, he was totally taken aback by the beauty of this place we live in.
The wind was howling, but being one of those people that nearly always says “yes” even when I should say “no,” we went.
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It was low tide or redfish time, so I went to the only place I knew where we would have the wind at our backs. As the tide be gan to drift in, all hell broke loose. We had three rods out and all three went down at once. All but one were redfish – big redfish – while the third rod had something odd attached to it.
I saw something jump in the air where that bait had been sitting but it wasn’t until my friend grabbed that rod that I realized what it was. It was a nice tripletail and it was going nuts. After boating all three fish, the redfish kept on coming. I am not sure how many we caught but only one was a keeper while all the rest were way too big.
Moving to another spot, I swapped out rigs and bait, now live finger mullet, in hopes of getting a flounder or two. On his second cast, the cork disappeared the moment it hit the water. The way it fought made me think it was another redfish, but it wasn’t until he got it near the boat that I saw it was a huge flounder. Though I didn’t weigh it, my guess was around 7 pounds. And that, my friends, is what we call a “doormat” flounder.
My friend told me that this had been the best day he had ever had on the water, and then he said it: “You are so darn lucky to live here!” All I could do was smile, because that is something I say to myself each and every day of the year.
Collins Doughtie, a 60-year resident of the Lowcountry, is a sportsman, graphic artist, and lover of nature. collinsdoughtie@icloud.com
Shrimping buddy Will “Catfish” Thompson caught all these shrimp in one cast.Fall is a good time to think about weed control in your lawn and garden. In fact, fall is actually the best time to control some difficult weeds. However, what is a weed as opposed to non-weeds?
If you look at some yards – mine, for example – it might be difficult to tell weeds from non-weeds. Generally, what has been considered a weed is not a simple matter and is often in the eye of the beholder.
In fact, there are various definitions of “weed,” depending on where you look and whom you ask. What definitions seem to all have in common is that weeds are plants that are out of place – unwanted plants that grow in the garden or fields of crops and prevent the growth of desirable plants.
There is general agreement that plants that cause a rash and irritate the skin, such as poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak, are undesirable to most of us. After
that, the definition can become arbitrary. One of the best examples of a “some times” weed is Bermuda grass. Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) is a plant that is grown as a forage for livestock, but it also can be an invasive weed. It was introduced from Africa (not Bermuda) in the 18th century and is widely spread throughout the
Southwest and the Southern United States.
Bermuda grass has been and continues to be one of the most popular grasses used on golf courses. Bermuda produces a vigor ous, medium green, dense turf that is well adapted to most soils and warm climates. It has excellent drought resistance and salt tolerance. It establishes rapidly and can
outcompete most other species.
But what makes it so good for a golf course is what also makes it a weed where you don’t want it. Bermuda grass can take over areas where you would prefer diversity in your yard or garden.
Now, I know that many people are committed to their lawns. However, from an ecological standpoint, lawns are dead space. A lawn does not have the biodiversity of plants and animals that is vital for a healthy environment.
Nevertheless, it often comes down to what we consider esthetically pleasing to the property owner. Some people prefer a mani cured look while others like natural-looking area that better supports birds, wildlife, and the environment in general.
The choice is yours, of course. Is it time to consider going a little wild?
John Riolo lives in Moss Creek and is past president of the Nature Club of Moss Creek. john.a.riolo@gmail.com
There is a PGA tournament being played in Ridgeland for the second straight year, and one of the top draws of the tour has already committed to play.
The CJ Cup in South Carolina will be played Oct. 19-23 at Congaree Golf Club. This is the second time in two years that the PGA has moved a tour nament to the golf course with short notice. This speaks to how impressed PGA tour officials were with Conga ree’s handling of a pandemic-induced, last-second ask.
“We thought we were going to have an easy summer this year, but we were glad it didn’t turn out that way. We’re honored to be asked to do this,” said Congaree Director of Golf Bruce Da vidson at the tournament’s media event on Sept. 20.
Last year, Congaree officials had just a 72-day window to prepare for the
Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Palmetto Championship, a substitute tournament added to the schedule as a substitute for The Canadian Open, which was canceled in 2021 due to countrywide COVID restrictions.
This year, CJ Cup tournament direc tor Andre Silva and his team had a full 120-day prep time, an eternity compa rably, but still drastically shorter than most PGA tournaments like The RBC Heritage that are prepping throughout the year.
“The relationship that was forged between the tour and the state of South Carolina was a special one, and it was always in the back of our mind if there was an opportunity to come back, definitely it would be one of the places that would be in discussions,” Silva said. “It’s going to be amazing and one of the top PGA events on the tour this year for sure.”
The tournament launched as Korea’s first official PGA Tour event in 2017,
Please see CJ CUP on page 56A The Congaree Golf Club will host the CJ Cup this month, the second PGA Tour event to play at the club in Ridgeland. COURTESY PGA TOURCJ CUP from page 55A
but was held in Las Vegas the past two years due to the pandemic. The tour nament’s defending champion, Rory McElroy, has already committed to play in the 2022 tourney.
Davidson said at the CJ Cup media day that McElroy is just the first of the big names that will be announced as part of the 78-player field. The tourney will be worth 500 FedEx points and will feature a no-cut structure – mean ing you’ll see all players in the field all four days.
The field has the potential to be even stronger than the Palmetto Champion ship, as the CJ Cup is a fall tournament that is reserved for the top 60 players in the 2021-22 FedExCup points standings, sponsor exemptions, the five players from the Korea Profession al Golfers Association and the top three players of Korean descent in the World Golf Rankings.
Justin Thomas is a two-time winner of the event and is part of the FexEx Cup top 60 eligible to play this year.
Area golf enthusiasts were treated to
a star-studded field at The Palmetto Championship in June 2021. Clemson graduate Doc Redman was near the top of the leaderboard throughout, but finished in a tie for second, one shot behind champion Garrick Higgo. South Carolina native Dustin John son finished three shots back at The Palmetto Championship, but will not be eligible to play at Congaree this year after his defection to the upstart LIV Golf tour.
The return of the event means an other golf-related tourism win for the state. Tourism officials said golf had a $3.3 billion economic impact on the state’s tourism industry in 2021.
It is also yet another chance to show one of South Carolina’s nearest links gems off to the world. Congaree was founded by billionaires Dan Friedkin and the late Bob McNair, the former owner of the Houston Texans. The course was completed in 2017 just off U.S. 278 on a former rice plantation.
The event also is a chance to spot light the work of the club’s Congaree
Foundation, which has hosted a total of 138 students at an instruction and college admission prep camp as part of its Congaree Global Golf Initiative. The foundation has raised $15.5 million to date, and 95 percent of the students have gone on to play college-level golf.
“Last year was great, the attendance was great, a lot of people enjoyed all the things we had here with the concessions, walking around here, and watching the players,” said John McNeely, executive director for the Congaree Foundation. “I think the field that will be in place for this one will be another step up for us and South Carolina.”
Spectators for The Palmetto Cham pionship saw a parking setup among the most convenient on the PGA Tour. Parking is just a few hundred yards from the course entrance.
Daily grounds tickets for the CJ Cup are available now, and will cost $25 for the Oct. 19 practice round, $55 each for the first and second rounds on Oct. 20-21 and $60 each for the third and
final rounds on Oct. 22-23. Families will get a special bonus, as two chil dren ages 15 and under are admitted free per one ticketed adult.
Active and veteran Armed Forces and National Guard members are eligible for up to four complimentary tickets per day. Military members will need an active GovX account to verify military status and unlock the ticket offer.
There are also plenty of volunteer opportunities available to help orga nizers pull off this year’s event. Choose from 20 different volunteer commit tees, including Competition Support (ball spotters and location-based op erators, both inside the ropes), Admis sions, Player Transportation, Gallery Management, Supply Distribution and Media Center operations.
Tickets and volunteer information are available online at CJCUPSouth Carolina.com.
Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. timwood@blufftonsun.com.
I love to watch the professionals play golf, especially in person. If you are a golfer, you’ll want to attend the CJ Cup Oct. 20-23 at The Congaree Golf Club in Ridgeland.
This club is unique for this sec tion of South Carolina. Congaree is a Tom Fazio design that has wide open fairways with sand dividing holes and ancient live oaks surrounding the fairways.
Fazio designed the course to look like courses in Australia’s Sandbelt.
Congaree officially opened in 2018 and was named the best new private course by Golf Digest in 2018. It is now ranked No. 39 on the prestigious list of America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses.
The CJ Cup was launched in 2017 as Korea’s first official PGA Tour event. It
was played in Korea for three consecu tive years at Nine Bridges Golf Course before having to relocate to the U.S. because of COVID. It was played in Las Vegas the past two years.
This will be the first time the CJ Cup will be played in the Southeast region of the United States. Rory McIlroy is the defending champion after winning the CJ Cup last year en route to his record third Fed Ex Cup title. He is the No. 2 ranked player in the world.
“This will be my first time beginning a PGA Tour season with a title de fense,” McIlroy said. “I am really look ing forward to seeing what Congaree is all about. From the design of the golf course to the overall player experience, everything I have heard about it from those who played the tournament in 2021 was overwhelmingly positive.”
The CJ cup will feature a 78-man
Please see RORY on page 59
Rory McIlroy won the 2021 CJ Cup in Las Vegas.
COURTESY PGA TOUR
There is something special happen ing after hours at the Coastal Discov ery Museum.
Anyone can participate in unique experiences on Thursday evenings. Join museum staff, local and visiting artists, and educators for hands-on activities that include history, art, nature, waterways – of a combination of all those.
Upcoming experiences are: Oct. 13, Indigo Exploration, 6-7 p.m.: Journey to the past and “meet” Eliza Lucas Pinckney. In 1739, when Eliza was just 17 years old, her experiments with indigo resulted in a very profitable industry for the colony of South Carolina. Hear her unique story, learn how indigo dye was made, and make your own indi go tie-dye T-shirt to take home. $12 per person.
Oct. 20, Fiber Arts Seascape
Workshop with Ro Morrissey, 5-7 p.m.: Create an 8x10 seascape using a palette of bright fabric and thread. No sewing required; instead we will use a fusing technique and embellish with some quick hand sewing. Ages 12 and older. $30 per person.
Oct. 27, Fish Print Tote Bags, 6-7 p.m.: Our coastal waters are full of fun and fantastic fish! Create your own fun and fantastic fish prints on a canvas tote bag to take home with you. All children must be accompa nied by a participating adult. $12 per person.
Only registered paid participants will be admitted into the programs.
Reservations are required and may be made by calling 843-689-6767 ext. 223. Or visit coastaldiscovery. org to make your reservations online. The museum is located at 70 Honey Horn Drive on Hilton Head Island.
RORY from page 57A
field that includes five players designat ed by the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association, as well as the top three available players of Koran nationality from the Official World Golf Ranking. The remainder of the field will be made up of the leading players from the Fed Ex Cup points list and sponsor exemp tions.
Only in person can you really appreciate the players and the golf course. You can see elevation chang es, the slope on the greens, the many sculptured bunkers, the importance of hitting the fairways, and the length of the rough.
Also seeing the players in person is a fun experience. Most of the players look much smaller in person. McIl roy is only 5-foot-9 and 161 pounds. Watching him hit a driver 330 yards is remarkable.
My advice for watching the tourna ment: Find a spot on the course where you can watch several holes. Watch golfers approach a green and putt and then watch the players tee off the next
hole. I enjoy standing above the fourth green and watching the difficulty of the chips and putts. From there, you can watch the tee shots to the par 3 fifth hole.
There are two fan zones. One is located on the front nine, from which spectators will be able to walk to the fifth green, eighth fairway or sixth green to take in some great golf views. From the fan zone on the back nine, spectators can head to the first green, second tee, 17th green or 18th fairway and green.
These fan zones will feature food and beverage offerings from Bibigo, the food division of the CJ Group.
On your way out of the tournament stop by the PGA Tour Fan Shop to buy exclusive CJ Cup and Congaree gear, including pin flags, golf balls, hats and more.
Dr. Jean Harris is an LPGA Master Professional and teaches at local golf courses. jean.golfdoctor.harris@gmail.com; golfdoctorjean.com
Have you ever wondered:
What is competitive duplicate bridge?
What is a Bridgemate and how is it used to score duplicate bridge?
What are those Master Point thingies?
What is a Convention Card?
How does duplicate bridge differ from social bridge? What do people enjoy about duplicate bridge? How can I learn more?
Well, here is your chance to have a Taste of Duplicate Bridge
Come to the HHI Bridge Club on Saturday 11/12/2022 (By yourself or with a partner)
Arrive at 12:30 PM and leave by 3:00 PM
Food and Drink • An introduction to duplicate bridge
A chance to play duplicate bridge with expert instructors Prizes for game winners and door prices
For more information, please call Sandy at (614) 975-7645 space is limited; please register ASAP at Hhidirectors@gmail.com
HHBC: 95 Mathews Dr., Port Royal Plaza, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 www.bridgewebs.com/hiltonheadisland
Crack, slurp, ah.
Yes, that is the sound of summer ending and oyster season beginning. The old adage about harvesting oysters in the months containing the letter ‘R’ is only partially true today.
Autumn is traditionally recognized as the start of oyster season in the Low country because the summer spawning for wild oysters has ended and the ocean is slowly cooling down. These two naturally occurring phenomena make it unlikely for harmful bacteria to spread among shellfish, which means it’s time to start shucking!
Nowadays, with the capabilities of shipping and the increase of oyster farms, we can truly source delicious varieties year-round.
There are two types of oyster species that are harvested in the United States:
the Eastern oyster and the Pacific oyster.
Eastern oysters are nutrient-dense, bivalve mollusks found from the waters of Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and have served as a foundational source of nourishment for centuries. They contain vitamin D, copper, zinc, and manganese, with an incredible taste.
I prefer to source oysters from Cape Cod Bay and Boston. Maryland and Virginia oysters are also exceptionally flavorful. The northern climate allows for cool water temperatures year-round and the results are phenomenal.
The recipe options are also endless. Oysters can be baked into casseroles, mixed into stews, grilled, fried, broiled, roasted and even pickled. They are considered a delicacy served on the halfshell with a wedge of lemon and a sip of champagne.
When purchasing oysters, here are some tips to keep in mind. Single oys ters are typically best on the half shell
and each bite is meant to be savored. I recommend this selection for an intimate gathering.
Bushels are more economic and easier to prepare in a roast for a larger group of people. Generally, I recommend one bushel for every eight to 10 people.
As delicious as oysters are, some cooks avoid them because the shucking process is intimidating. To easily and safely shuck an oyster, wipe it off with a towel to remove any grit. On a table, partially fold the towel over the oyster with the flat side of the shell facing up and the hinge showing. Insert a clean oyster knife into the side of the hinge and gently twist.
Once you feel the hinge break, remove your knife and clean it. Hold the oyster in the towel with the larger, rounded side of the shell cupped in your hand. Slide your knife inside the shell and cut the muscle from the top. Gently pull the top shell off to remove it. Be careful not to
spill the brine inside.
Make a scooping motion with the knife along the inside of the remaining shell, and the oyster is ready to prepare or serve.
If you are not a fan of raw oysters, consider serving roasted oysters. For a smaller batch to be enjoyed at home, place oysters (in their shells) in a pan on a heated grill and steam them until the shells open slightly. The pan will collect the brine that escapes and you can use that salty juice in a sauce or spoon it over the finished dish. These roasted oysters are best served with a lighter spirit, such as a glass of rosé or champagne.
So, “R” you ready for oyster season? Share your favorite recipes and prepara tion tips on social media and tag #Tradi tionOfSeafoodExcellence.
Charles J. Russo III is the owner of Russo’s Fresh Seafood Bluffton. russosfreshseafood. com
By Lindsay Perry CONTRIBUTOR
What better time to fall in love than this fall? If you’ve been searching for your dream guy or dream girl, maybe it’s time to change your relationship status by adopting a rescue pet.
Fans and future families can mingle with some of the Lowcountry’s cutest and most eligible dogs at the inaugural Mutt Mixer concert event supporting pet rescue, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head.
Guests will enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres, beverages, door prizes, and live music by Lowcountry Boil, a local favorite bluegrass band. Attendees will also get to meet some of area’s most popular radio personalities from Bob 106.9 and Rewind 107.9.
Fee-waived pet adoptions will be available at the event, made possible through a gener ous grant from the American Society for the
Mr. Mooney is decked out in his finery and ready for some fun, but is suspicious of his drink.
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
“The Mutt Mixer will bring people and adoptable pets together for live music, cock tails and pet rescue, which happen to be three of my favorite things,” said PAL Presi dent Amy Campanini. “PAL’s adoptable dogs
love a good outing, and this event will help them meet new people, mak ing their chance for adoption far greater.”
The first 100 people to arrive at the Mutt Mixer with a pet sup ply or monetary donation for PAL’s Adoption Center in Okatie will receive a free event T-shirt. Plus, the event is “BYOD” (Bring Your Own Dog), as AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head is a dog-friendly dealership.
“We are excited to bring the community together to support animal rescue and cel ebrate the beauty of pet adoption,” said Bill Harper, AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head
customer relations manager and delivery specialist. “Many of us have pets of our own, so the ‘Subaru Loves Pets’ mission is close to our hearts. It’s delightful to see our showroom and grounds come to life with the pitter-patter of dozens of paws.”
As another way to support PAL’s no kill animal rescue programs, AutoNation Suba ru Hilton Head will donate $100 to PAL for every dog or cat adopted in October.
“This October, PAL marks 12 years of saving lives in the Lowcountry,” said Campanini. “We are grateful to our Part ner in Rescue, AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head, for helping us celebrate with a fun event that gives homeless dogs a chance to connect with potential adopters.”
Dog and music lovers alike can get all the details and RSVP to be eligible for door prizes at PalmettoAnimalLeague.org.
Lindsay Perry is the marketing coordinator for Palmetto Animal League. PalmettoAnimal League.org
Each year dog trainers await this season to begin agility classes for pups and dogs. It is too hot to do it other than fall, winter and spring. Is it that much fun? The answer is a resounding “YES!”
Not all dogs and owners are suited to the sport, but many can participate at various levels. If you and your dog are competitively minded, I recommend training that prepares you for competition at the AKC, USDAA, or other levels.
Dogs of all sizes – from toy to giant breeds – can enjoy the sport. Competition requires that you are willing to work and play hard during the week and travel on the weekends to various events to compete. Windi Weaver in Ridgeland offers classes to train you and your dog for competition. Email her at K9agility@hargray.com for more informa tion.
If you wish to participate in agility for
fun, focus and exercise then consider less-demanding classes. This training has been developed for dogs and/or owners that might be less than agile at a high level –but those dogs still love to jump, play, run, tunnel, and adore challenges of new experiences.
At the other extreme, agility is also fabu lous for dogs that need to build self-confi dence and are a bit timid with new expe riences. All dogs need to be dog friendly or neutral and know a Recall or Come
command, Stay or Wait, Sit and Down. Can you do it if the owner has knee issues? Yes, I do. If you can’t run much, that’s OK. The course is designed in a shortened version to keep the dogs stimulated and fo cused while limiting the amount of territory we humans have to cover.
Your dog, however, does have to be physically fit to do agility. Is it appropriate for puppies? Yes, but with limitations. You cannot have pups do repetitive, high impact running and jumping due to bone and joint development, but they can do low jumps, tunnels and the like.
It is a great introduction to the sport and piques their interest for later training. It is also wonderfully social at the puppy level,
allowing for off leash play in a contained environment.
For dogs that need more exercise in a stimulating environment, agility offers the learning of new and challenging skills that are fun. It can be taught on or off leash, depending on owner control of the dog.
If you and your dog are tired of obedi ence work and need something fun to do together, consider agility at any level. If you have kids that want to develop a better relationship with their dog or are athletic themselves, agility is one of the best kid/dog participation sports there is.
Dogs of differing breeds like to play by jumping, going to ground, climbing etc. Agility allows them to do what they do nat urally in a structured environment.
For information on Agility For Fun class es in Bluffton contact me for class schedule and fees.
Abby Bird is owner of Alphadog Training Academy. AlphadogTrainingAcademy@gmail.
com
Final barrier water treatment is technol ogy installed at the point where water is consumed. Options can be pour-through pitchers, faucet-attached devices, refriger ator filters, under the sink filters or state of the art reverse osmosis systems.
Central water treatment plants distrib ute “drinking tap water” that is treated to the standards defined by the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
But the fact remains that only about 1% of tap water is consumed by people. The other 99% is used to water lawns, flush toilets, bathing, washing dishes, etc. This 99% is known as “working water.”
Despite central treatment of tap water to Safe Drinking Water standards, contami nants, esthetic issues and points of contami nation can still be present in tap water when it reaches our homes. Pharmaceuticals, dis infection byproducts, pesticides, herbicides,
leaching of pipe wall and biofilms are just a few of the possible contaminants that may make their way into our tap water.
Local public service district annual tap water quality reports are public record and posted on their respective websites. We recommend every homeowner reads this report, as well as researching your tap water
supply on the Environmental Working Groups National Tap Water Database at ewg.org/tapwater.
To provide the quality water your family deserves throughout the home, toxin-free drinking water, softer and better water for appliances, every homeowner must have their water tested. Once the water is tested
and water problems identified, a water filtration system can be recommended to reduce or remove the contaminants in your family’s water.
There are many economical treatment solutions to increase the quality and safety level of your family’s water. Pitchers, refrig erator filters, faucet mounted filters and un der-sink carbon filters are excellent starting filters to remove some contaminants. But reverse osmosis technology with pre-filtra tion and thin film composite membrane is the most reliable final barrier to ensure the highest percentage of contaminant reduc tion and deliver great tasting, safe drinking water.
To learn more about final barrier, visit the Water Quality Association Website at wqa. org or call a local water treatment profes sional.
Chris Lane is the owner of Culligan Water Conditioning of the Lowcountry, serving Beau fort, Jasper and Hampton counties. culliganhhi. com
Full
Full
/annually to start
broerebob@yahoo.com
Call: Bob @ 843-540-7454
In-person: 5 Goethe
Call: 843-705-9999
E-mail: sacaywoodmhaislandhouse@gmail.com OR
Call: Steve Caywood at 843-757-3900
E-mail: dinerhhi@aol.com
Text Only: 843-422-8200
Dishwasher
$15.00
In-person: 6 Marina Side Drive,
E-mail: JLippitt@corahealth.com
Call:
In-person: 890 William Hilton Pkwy, Ste C, Hilton Head SC
SC
After a wild and unprecedented pace of real estate sales over the past two years, there are a lot of ques tions bouncing around about what’s new and next in the Lowcountry real estate market.
From the “front line” of the marketplace where buyers, sellers, agent and properties come together, this is what we are seeing as the three main factors that are shaping the “new” marketplace:
First, interest rates. For anyone who has been around long enough, you’ll recall when interest rates were in the high teens. This perspective makes a 6% rate look like a dream, and a 3% rate sound like a unicorn.
But at the start of 2022, buyers (and
refinancers) were gobbling up those unicorn rates, and they are still boasting about them today.
Then, inside of the first three months of 2022, rates doubled to around 6% (still incredibly low!), and they have been bouncing around that level for the past six months, with projections of possible increases yet this year.
These higher interest rates are creating challenges in two specific ways: affordability and the fear of letting go. Of course, afford ability goes down as rates go up, as has al ways been the case, and that is exacerbated by the rise in property values we have seen over the past two years. This combination limits the number of buyers who can afford to buy property in our area at this time with the current rates.
But they are not alone, as many would-be sellers are feeling anchored by their current low-interest-rate mortgages. They would love to sell and make a nice profit, but they are afraid of stepping out of, say, a 3% loan
only to face having to get a 6% loan upon their next purchase. As such, a log-jam ensues.
Second, inventory is a game of mixed messages right now. Active inventory, which represents the total number of properties available on the market at any one time, has been climbing all year. This is great for buyers who want more choices; however, one of the reasons that active inventory is climbing has to do with unrealistic pricing and/or undesirable condition.
In short, savvy buyers are hesitant to “overpay” in this market, and few of them are up for taking on an update/renovation project. As such, more properties are sitting on the market longer, and price reductions now seem to be back in play.
Meanwhile, new inventory, which rep resents properties as they initially enter onto the market, is down over the past several months. When these properties hit the mar ket, they are either absorbed quickly (and in some cases still with multiple offers), or they
have to patiently wait for the right buyer.
Third, the “mood” of the market is now pixilated, which means it varies from prop erty type to property type, and from loca tion to location. The red-hot color of the en tire market in 2021 has morphed into more of an array of reds and oranges, depending on which sub-market you study. This makes it challenging for buyers and sellers to agree on whether it’s a seller’s market or a buyer’s market, which, in an increasing number of potential deals, is creating a “gap” between buyers and sellers, especially in the negotia tion process.
As we move further into the the fall listing market, these three factors (interest rates, inventory, and mood of the market), will all shape how the 2022 market year will end and the 2023 market year will begin.
The market is always evolving, as are the factors that shape it!
Chip Collins is the broker-owner of Collins Group Realty chip@collinsgrouprealty.com or collinsgrouprealty.com
Sun
large cul-de-sac
With a wooded backdrop, you’ll love the park-like setting.
features include office/den, formal dining area, Great Room w/gas fireplace open to Carolina Room; kitchen w/granite countertops, under counter lighting, prep island, walkin pantry; split floor plan w/large master suite w/separate shower, jetted tub, walk-in double closet; guest bedrooms each w/full baths; laundry room w/cabinets; wood floors in main areas, ceiling fans, smooth ceilings; extended screen patio; extended garage, permanent stairway to storage; permanent hurricane protection. — Hilton Head MLS #: 429435
Chip CollinsWhile it’s safe to say that no one knows the exact price that a home will sell for, most real estate agents can predict an accu rate price range.
They do that by developing a comprehen sive Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). This evaluation summarizes similar active, under contract, and sold properties in order to present an accurate price range. In addition to determining a property’s market value, the CMA also highlights how that property will be marketed.
As a matter of fact, part of the plan for selling a property might include reducing the price at certain date intervals (always staying within the price range) to attract home buyers who are watching and waiting to make an offer.
Home sellers can increase their chances of selling their home by concentrating on the Five P’s For Selling Real Estate:
and in
Product. In today’s real estate market, most buyers are looking for their special home, the one that meets their needs and
wants and is picture perfect inside and out.
Properties. The key is to be a top con tender. Do that by comparing your home
with the competition such that if you were the buyer, you would choose your home.
Perfection. Give your home a makeover when you are ready to sell so that every room sparkles and shines. Consider hiring a home stager to assist with this task.
Promotion. Make sure your agent is using all the online and print marketing methods to promote and advertise your home.
Price. After you and your agent determine that list price range, have your agent take you to see your competition to make sure that your list price is not out of line.
It is important to note that all of the P’s are part of an overall formula designed to sell your home. They are all connected and may require individual modification to arrive at an optimal and successful home selling program – and successful real estate professionals know how to make these P’s work best for you.
Larry Stoller is a broker and Realtor with Real Estate Five of the Lowcountry. Larry@ RealEstateFive.com, RealEstateFive.com
community
Situated on the banks of the Okatie River this beautiful CUSTOM home is the epitome of both serene outside and inside living. Over 5600 heated square feet this home has everything you need on the main floor with wonderful large guestrooms and baths upstairs plus a game room/bonus room. There is an owners entrance and a guest entrance providing ultimate privacy. Featuring 3 to 4 bedrooms UP, with the master & office/study on the main floor and a total of 4.5 baths. Large gorgeous kitchen with everything! A 3-car garage + potting station tops it off!MORE!
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 jdve scisr@gmail.com
HOUSEMATE WANTED: RETIRED MATURE WOMAN seeking single woman for housemate. Private bed/ bath/ bonus room. Shared kitchen/ garage. No pets, no smoking. References and good credit required. $500 non-refundable community fee security deposit. $1050/mo. includes all utilities and WiFi. Call/text Nancy at 843-290-1059.
YOUR AD HERE CAN REACH 25,000 households and businesses from Moss Creek to Sun City to Callawassie Island. Promote services, sell goods, announce a yard sale, buy a house, sell a house, find a job, find employees, ask for help, offer help! Ads starting at $28 for 40 words. 843-757-9507.
Oct. 4-Nov 12
“CraftHiltonHead2022,” Art League of Hilton Head’s eighth bi ennial Juried Fine Art Craft Guild Exhibition of 2D and 3D works of artists from throughout the Southeast. Awards reception 5-7 p.m. Oct. 5 at the gallery, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. Gallery hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday, 90 minutes before every Arts Center performance. Artshhi.org or 843-681-5060
“Little Shop of Horrors,” Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. Tickets $62 adult, $57 children (rec ommended for 13 and older, parental discretion advised). artshhi.com or 843-842-2787
Through Oct. 6
“The Marsh House Collective,” art exhibit by Dataw Island art ists, USCB Center for the Arts, 801 Carteret St., Beaufort. Gallery hours Monday-Friday 10 a.m-5 p.m. USCBCenterForTheArts.com
“Two-Man Show,” art by T.J. Cunningham and Adam Clague, Art League Academy, 106 Cordillo Pkwy., Hilton Head Island. Artists’ reception 5-7 p.m. Oct. 6 at the gallery. artleaguehhi.org or 843-842-5738
Oct. 7
Scott Ainslie, roots and blues musician p.m. Tickets $25 general admission at the door. uulowcountry.org
or MusicOnMalphrus@gmail.com
Oct. 7
Admiral Radio and Finnegan Bell, Roasting Room Lounge, 1297 May River Road, Bluffton. Tickets $25 and up. Doors open 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. roastingroom.live
Through Oct 30
“Landscapes From Within ...,” art by Jeanine Potter, Society of Bluffton Artists, 6 Church St., Bluffton. Opening reception 5-7 p.m. Oct. 7 at the gallery. Gallery hours 10 a.m-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. sobagal lery.com or 843-757-6586
“Jack Absolute Flies Again,” comedy, National Theatre Live, 1 p.m. at USCB Center for the Arts, 801 Carteret St., Beaufort. (Run time 2 hours 30 minutes.) Tickets $15 adult, $8 student. Uscbcenterforthearts.com or 843-521-4145.
Oct. 10-Nov. 8
“Balance: Original Artwork by Richard Grant,” at Art League Academy, 106 Cordillo Pkwy., Hilton Head Island. Opening reception 5-7 p.m. Oct. 12. Gallery hours 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mon day-Friday. 843-842-5738
“Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” May River Theatre, directed by Christine Grefe. Performances 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday at Ulmer Auditorium in Bluffton Town Hall, 20 Bridge St., Old Town Bluffton.
Oct. 14
The Black Feathers, award-winning duo from Gloucestershire,
England, on their U.S. tour. 8 p.m. at Roasting Room, 1297 May River Road, Bluffton. Tickets from $20 at roastingroom.live.
Oct. 20
“Symphony Under the Stars,” Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra season kick off, 7:30 p.m. at Martin Family Park, Bluffton (part of Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival). Same program Oct. 21 7:30 p.m. at Lowcountry Celebration Park, Hilton Head Island. Bring chairs, food, beverages. HHSO.org
Oct. 20-30
“The Taming,” regional premiere, Lean Ensemble Theatre at Hilton Head Prep’s Main Street Theatre, 3000 Main St., Hilton Head. Performances 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets $45. Leanensemble.org or info@leanensemble.org
Oct. 22-23
StreetFest on Calhoun, part of Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival, 10 a.m-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. More than 100 artists selling original work, along with food and bever age vendors, live music, other performances.
“Heart and Soul of the South,” exhibit by Art Quilters of the Lowcountry, at Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843689-6767 or coastaldiscovery.org
7th annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival, various locations in Beaufort County. Includes a free screening of “Conrack,” based on Conroy’s days of teaching on Daufuskie Island. More info and registration at patconroyliteraryfestival.org.
New photography by Peter Cram, Four Corners Framing and Art Gallery, 1263 May River Road, Bluffton. Opening reception 5-8 p.m. Oct. 20.
11:00AM
HISTORIC
Public Dock in Wright Park f ollowing our Admiral of the Fleet, Emmett McCracken
OYSTER FEST, 5:00 - 8:00PM, Bluffton Oyster Factory Park
First Oyster Roast of the Season ($20 for a bucket of oysters), Shrimp Boil & BBQ, Live Music with Muddy Creek.
You might have seen the film adaptation starring Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene and Steve Martin, or one of the many iterations of “Little Shop of Horrors” onstage. No wonder: Both the movie and the musical are beloved cult-classics.
Ever since it premiered in 1982, “Little Shop of Horrors” has scared up legions of fans. The deviously delicious musical comedy was created by the legendary dream team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (“Beauty & the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin”).
Though you may think you’ve seen it before, the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina’s production of “Little Shop” is fresh, new and – well, simply to die for!
This year marks the musical’s 40th anni versary and the Arts Center is featuring it as their 27th season’s opener. The show will run through Oct. 30.
The story is centered around a hapless floral assistant, Seymour Krelborn (Steven Klenk), who spends his days tending to sad little flowers as well as his wilting hope of better life beyond the skid row neighbor hood he’s always known. Suddenly after a meteorologically unexpected “total eclipse of the sun,” Seymour stumbles upon a strange new breed of plant, an anthropomorphic cross between a Venus flytrap and an avo cado.
Shortly after displaying the plant in the flower shop window, Seymour is catapulted to fame as the caretaker of the succulent sensation. He nicknames the plant Audrey II (voiced by Bradford Christian and puppeted
by Andy McCain), after his crush at the flower shop, Audrey (Elexis Morton), who is in an unhealthy relationship with the dastardly dentist, Orin (Alex Ringler).
Digging a little deeper, the mysterious, bloodthirsty plant that nefariously breathes life into a failing skid row flower shop can also be seen as a cautionary tale about greed and ambition. Minor detail of the de sire-for-world-domination aside, the show is infused with sweetness, vulnerability and love.
Many of the show’s thrills owe much to Ashman and Menken’s catchy, clever score featuring 1960s doo-wop-inflected tunes that you’ll leave singing and humming to for days! The music is further enlivened by a terrific trio of so-called urchins (played by Briana Brooks, Mackenzie Meadows and Brianna Javis), singing with supreme attitude and tight harmonies.
A first for the Arts Center is that the cre ative team behind “Little Shop of Horrors” is entirely female, comprised of director Whitaker Gannon, musical director Nissa Kahle, and choreographer Ashley McManus.
Together with a brilliantly talented cast, they have made “Little Shop” a big hit and a must-see experience for audiences.
Tickets are $62 for adults and $57 for children and may be purchased at tickets. artshhi.com or by calling the box office at 843-842-2787.
This show is best suited for ages 13 and up, but many younger audiences will find this musical perfectly delightful! Parental guidance is suggested.
The cast of “Little Shop of Horrors” at Arts Center of Coastal Carolina.
GUSTAVO RATTIA
“Landscapes from Within …” is the title of an exhibit by Jeanine Potter, featured artist for October at The Society of Bluffton Artists gallery, 6 Church St. in Old Town Bluffton.
A special reception – with an opportunity to meet the artist – will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 7 at the gallery. These events are open to the public.
Potter finds each of her artistic medi ums to be supportive building blocks in her work. She describes her painting as “moment creating” and her photography as “moment hunting.”
To her, art has the powerful ability to enrich and complete one’s daily existence. It can lighten the heart, energize the spirit, inspire the mind, comfort the soul, and give pause.
“Opportunities to discover and nurture creativity are there for anyone,” Potter said. “I invite everyone to choose to look and give themselves permission to try.”
Potter uses a combination of life ex perience, diverse skills, disciplines, and intuition to create her art. She describes the process as letting the process unfold “through exploration, experimentation, and just doing it.”
The freedom, immediacy, and flexibility
of acrylics give her the ability to build layers and depth, while creating intricate textures with occasional additions of pencil, ink, pastel, crayon, collage, and other media.
Potter’s work includes purely abstract pieces that “are celebrations of spontaneity, color, and humor.” Her landscapes are abstractions of her photographs with a twist.
“I invite viewers to journey through ‘Landscapes from Within’ to rest, revive, and discover their own path, to just be,” Potter says.
Potter’s artworks have been exhibited regionally at the Art League of Hilton Head 2021 Biennale Exhibition, the Art League of Hilton Head Gallery, and SOBA.
Potter holds a BFA in graphic design and photography from Massachusetts College of Art. She studied space planning and interior design at the Boston Architectural Center, earning a National Council of Interior De sign Qualification Certification. Potter also holds a Master of Education from Bridgewa ter State College.
The SOBA gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, visit sobagallery.com or call 843-757-6586.
Little Shop of Horrors is a landmark musical that has made millions of audiences laugh, scream, and give up gardening for good!
Morton and Steven Klenk in Little Shop of Horrors
Photography by Gustavo Rattia
Untitled painting by Jeanine Potter
CraftHiltonHead2022, Art League’s eighth Juried Fine Art Craft Guild Exhibition, will showcase 2- and 3-dimensional fine art craft that en compass exemplary creativity, exper imentation and imagination. Nearly 50 artists from the Southeast will be represented, with cash awards totaling more than $3,000.
“This exhibit only occurs once every two years. You won’t want to miss it,” said Kristen McIntosh, Art League general manager. “This is a juried show, so the quality of the pieces is exceptional. We are very fortunate to be able to showcase such talent right here on Hilton Head.”
The judging will be done by Joan na Angell, a fourth-generation artist working in ceramics, printmaking, drawing and painting. Angell has won a number of merit and purchase awards in juried exhibitions and was three times included in the traveling exhibit Palmetto Hands. Her work
can be found in numerous private and corporate collections including the President’s Collection at the University of Georgia.
This exclusive presentation of a wide variety of imaginative crafts will be on display and for sale Oct. 4 through Nov 12. An awards reception
will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 5, when winners will be announced. Refreshments will be provided.
The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.
The Art League gallery is open daily, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.
Sunday, and and 90 minutes before every Arts Center performance.
Art League Gallery is located mid-is land inside Arts Center of Coastal Car olina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane on Hilton Head Island. For more information, call 843-681-5060 or visit artleague hhi.org.
Art League of Hilton Head is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit visual arts organization on Hilton Head Island with a synergistic art gallery and teaching Academy.
Art League Academy welcomes artists and students in all media at all skill levels, including true beginners. Taught by professional art educators, students can choose from many art classes and workshops that change monthly.
Art League Gallery features local artwork in all media created by more than 170 member artists. All artwork on display is for sale and exhibits change every month.
“Crappie” by Gail Lenahan; fabric, twine and beads
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2022
ART & CHALK - Chalk the Walk Art Competition • 9:30am – 11:30am
Presented by Bluffton Rotary Club
Field of Dreams Pavilion, Oscar Frazier Park. Chalk Art Competition for children 13 and under.
Registration 9:30; Chalk Art Competition for children- 10:15. Judging & Prizes- 11:15
BLUFFTON STATE OF MIND SUPPER SOIRÉE 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM SOLD OUT!
Eat in the street 4 Course Dinner with music, wine, …served in the center of Historic Calhoun Street highlighting some of our local chefs. Come enjoy a night under the stars!
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022
ART ON THE STREET 11:00AM - 4:00PM
Stroll Old Town Bluffton and see our state designated cultural district come alive! POP UP ART on gallery lawns on gallery porches and in Martin Family Park - temporary art displays join the many galleries to highlight the artistic and cultural side of Bluffton. A celebration of exceptional handmade, original local art including oil and acrylic paintings, pottery and much, much more.
11:00AM - 4:00PM
Art Exhibits, Music and More in Old Town.
HISTORIC MARKER CELEBRATION, DEDICATION TO THE LIVING LEGACY HONORING THE CAMPBELL CHAPEL NINE
AME CAMPBELL CHAPEL, 25 BOUNDARY STREET 2:00PM – 3:00PM
A celebration thru history, singing and dance.
BOAT PARADE ON THE MAY BLESSING OF THE FLEET
GOSPEL MUSIC WRIGHT PARK 4:00PM
Bring your lawn chair, view the Boat Parade and enjoy Gospel music by Lavon Stevens and the Campbell Chapel Choir on the bluff in Wright Park or join the parade in your own boat. Make plans now to gather at the sandbar before 3:00 PM and process to the Public Dock in Wright Park following our Admiral of the Fleet, Emmett McCracken.
OYSTER FEST, 5:00 - 8:00PM, Bluffton Oyster Factory Park
First Oyster Roast of the Season ($20 for a bucket of oysters), Shrimp Boil & BBQ, Live Music with Muddy Creek.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2022
MAY RIVER BOAT TOURS WITH MAY RIVER EXCURSIONS, MONDAY - SUNDAY
Join Capt. Chris and his crew for a one hour guided “Skiff” cruise on the May searching for local wildlife, discussing history and soaking up the tidal estuary air. $35/ per person...subject to availability. All trips leave on the hour every hour from the public dock at the end of Calhoun Street in Wright Park. Please call Capt. Chris for reservations and more information. 843-304-2878
Tours available at 4:00PM, 4:30PM, 5:00PM, 5:30PM and 6:00PM, 21 Sawmill Creek Road, Bluffton. Only closed toe shoes. Reservations required. $45/per person. Proceeds to Waddell Mariculture Center. To make your reservation: blufftonartsandseafoodfestival.org Tour the Waddell Mariculture Center, view the updated facilities, and learn from Director Erin Levesque how important this research facility is to our area and our resources. The tours will be given at five times, 4:00PM, 4:30PM, 5:00PM, 5:30PM and 6:00PM followed by dinner at Toomers Bluffton Seafood Restaurant, 27 Mellichamp Drive, Historic Downtown Bluffton. The dinner buffet includes Gumbo 2 Ways (chicken and seafood), Caesar salad, cornbread, cookies and tea. Beer, wine and cocktails will be available for purchase. During dinner presentations will be given concerning preservation of our natural resources by Al Stokes.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2022
MAY RIVER BOAT TOURS WITH MAY RIVER EXCURSIONS, MONDAY - SUNDAY
*Daily* See October 17, 2022 for details
MAY RIVER OYSTER FARM TOUR WITH MAY RIVER EXCURSIONS 10am – Noon
Come enjoy a rare opportunity for an up-close-and-personal experience with May River Oyster Compa ny’s pioneering oyster farm in collaboration with the Bluffton Seafood Festival and May River Excursions. This 2 hour in-depth tour brings you out to a working oyster farm where the farmers demonstrate the techniques and methods used to produce some of the best oysters in the world. Afterward enjoy lunch at Bluffton Seafood House in Historic Downtown Bluffton. Limited availability. Call 843-304-2878 for reservations. $105.00 per person (includes lunch at Toomers Family Seafood Restaurant).
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022
MAY RIVER BOAT TOURS WITH MAY RIVER EXCURSIONS, MONDAY - SUNDAY
*Daily* See October 17, 2022 for details
AUTHOR NIGHT 5:30pm CHERISHING BLUFFTON’S PAST
Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages provided by Southern Spice Catering and Events; 6:00PM Showtime with a panel of local Historians, at the Rotary Community Center at Oscar Frazier Park (11 Recreation Court Bluffton SC 29910). Cost: $15.00; additional donations accepted; proceeds to the Waddell Mariculture Center. Reservations required: blufftonartsandseafoodfestival.org
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022
*Daily* See October 17, 2022 for details
MAY RIVER OYSTER FARM TOUR WITH MAY RIVER EXCURSIONS 10am – Noon
Come enjoy a rare opportunity for an up-close-and-personal experience with May River Oyster Compa ny’s pioneering oyster farm in collaboration with the Bluffton Seafood Festival and May River Excursions. This 2 hour in-depth tour brings you out to a working oyster farm where the farmers demonstrate the techniques and methods used to produce some of the best oysters in the world. Afterward enjoy lunch at Bluffton Seafood House in Historic Downtown Bluffton. Limited availability. Call 843-304-2878 for reservations. $105.00 per person (includes lunch at Toomers Family Seafood Restaurant).
SYMPHONY IN THE PARK MARTIN PARK
Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra Outdoor Pops in the Park, 7:30 pm (Rain or Shine) Free Admission Martin Family Park, 68 Boundary Street, Bluffton, SC. Celebrate the return of live concerts! Enjoy the sweet sounds of your own Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra.This Outdoor Pops concert “under the stars” is FREE for one and all. Bring a blanket or folding chair, a picnic dinner and enjoy your HHSO and JMR al fresco. General lawn seating with free admission.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2022
MAY RIVER BOAT TOURS WITH MAY RIVER EXCURSIONS, MONDAY - SUNDAY
*Daily* See October 17, 2022 for details
RED APRON SIPS AND SEAFOOD PARTY 6PM - 10PM HEWITT OAKS
Presented by Bluffton Self Help
Join us for a grand culinary celebration under the stars on the beautiful grounds of Hewitt Oaks. The evening will include sensational Lowcountry dining, savory cocktails, along with contagious excitement with a wine pull and live auction as we raise money to support our Bluffton neighbors in need. Limited tickets and sponsorships are available and can be purchased online at sipsandseafood. com. All proceeds benefit Bluffton Self Help.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2022
MAY RIVER BOAT TOURS WITH MAY RIVER EXCURSIONS, MONDAY - SUNDAY
*Daily* See October 17, 2022 for details
OLD TOWN OYSTER 10K ROAD RACE & 5K RUN 8:00AM – 10:30AM
Presented by Beaufort Memorial
Bluffton Oyster Factory Park. Join us for a run through Old Town Bluffton with scenic river and marsh views. Compete in a fast-paced 10K or complete the 5K with the entire family! Both events will be professionally timed. Awards presentation and After-Party immediately follows. Music, Mimosas, Cold Beer, Oysters and much, much more!
TAKE A KID FISHING TOURNAMENT, Wright Family Park. 10AM –12:30PM
Take a Kid Fishing Tournament sponsored by Bluffton Marine Sports and Supplies, Boat Floats, Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners, Spartina Marine Education Charters and managed by the Bluffton Chapter of Coastal Conservation Association and honoring the late, Frank Atkins. Register between 9:3010:30AM at Wright Park.Weigh-In at 12:30PM at Wright Park. Children 13 and under welcome with parents. There is no fee. Prizes will be awarded. Bring your own fishing equipment if possible; limited equipment will be available on a first come first serve basis. To pre-register call Tom at 912-210-1222.
ART & SEAFOOD STREET FEST 10:00AM - 5:00PM
HISTORIC DISTRICT BLUFFTON FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY
Enjoy our juried art show featuring over 100 local and regional artists from 10 different states, dis playing an array of fine art: oils, pastels, acrylics, photography, pottery, ceramics, water color and much, much more. Local seafood and low country cuisine served by area restaurants. Enjoy the delicious seafood and view the outstanding art on the street.Take a break at the Tailgate area and catch up on your favorite team’s game while enjoying craft beer, wine and music.
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT • Favorite bands will entertain on two stages throughout the day.
ART IN THE PARK 11:00AM – 4:00PM DuBois Park on Boundary Street
Children’s art activities conducted under the pavilion.Visit the stations around the pavilion and create your very own masterpiece. Prizes, games, fun and much, much more for the budding artists of all ages.
ROCKIN’ ON THE DOCK 6:00PM - DUSK BLUFFTON OYSTER CO.
Seafood Extravaganza Tasting • Live music with The Chiggers • Fireworks at Dusk • End the full day of activities with a grand finale. Eat great local seafood and watch the fireworks for a night to remember!
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2022
MAY RIVER BOAT TOURS WITH MAY RIVER EXCURSIONS, MONDAY - SUNDAY
*Daily* See October 17, 2022 for details
ART & SEAFOOD STREET FEST 10:00AM – 4:00PM
HISTORIC DISTRICT BLUFFTON FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY
Enjoy our juried art show featuring over 100 local and regional artists from 10 different states, display ing an array of fine art: oils, pastels, acrylics, photography, pottery, ceramics, watercolor and much, much more. Local seafood and low country cuisine served by area restaurants. Enjoy the delicious seafood and view the outstanding art on the street.Take a break at the Tailgate area and catch up on your favorite team’s game while enjoying craft beer, mead, wine and music.
Favorite bands will entertain on two stages throughout the day.
ART IN THE PARK 11:00AM – 4:00PM DuBois Park on Boundary Street
Children’s art activities conducted under the pavilion. Prizes, games, fun and much, much more for the budding artists of all ages.
No Parking in Downtown Bluffton on Saturday, the 22nd, and Sunday, the 23rd.
Free Shuttles provided by our sponsor, Old Town Trolley Tours, from Red Cedar Elementary (Bluffton Parkway to Red Cedar Street). Saturday, 10/22: 10:00AM - 9:00PM; Sunday, 10/23: 10:00AM – 5:00PM; for more information 843-757-BLUF (2583).
The award-winning Annual Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival is held annually in the charming and eclectic his toric district, well known for its quirky arts community, amazing restaurants, and natu ral river beauty. This year, the fun happens Oct. 15-23.
The festival is a weeklong event offering a myriad of activities, showcasing the locally harvested seafood, delicious Lowcountry cuisine, rich history, culture and art of the area and Southern hospitality found only in Bluffton.
The highlight of the festival has always been the Street Fest, to be held this year Oct. 22-23.
It includes a juried fine art show featuring over 100 artists from 10 states displaying and selling art, delicious food provided by the area’s premier culinary spots, along with great music and entertainment
What started as a one-day event in 2005 has grown into an event-filled week of fes tivities in historic Bluffton, showcasing the arts and locally harvested seafood.
Along with the traditional Blessing of the Fleet and Boat Parade on the May River Oct. 16, the local art scene will again be highlighted. Our Sunday activities include a Showcase of Local Art at the galleries, and an outdoor art exhibit in Martin Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as the first Oyster Roast of the season at Bluffton Oyster Park at 5 p.m.
New this year, also on Oct. 16, is the Historic Marker Celebration, a dedication to the Living Legacy honoring the Campbell Chapel Nine, at 2 p.m. at Campbell Chapel AME Church, 25 Boundary St.
On Monday evening, Dinner & Learn will be held at the Bluffton Seafood House with speakers highlighting our natural resources and the necessary conservation practices
to ensure their continuance is scheduled. Wednesday again offers Author Night, with a panel of local historians, “Cherishing Bluffton’s Past,” from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Rotary Community Center in Oscar Frazier Park.
Other favorite returning events include daily boat tours, children’s Chalk the Walk Competition, Bluffton State of Mind Supper Soiree, Oyster Farm Tours, Bluffton Self Help’s Sips and Seafood Party at Hewitt Oaks, the Saturday morning Old Town Oyster 10K and 5K run, CCA’s Children’s Fishing Tournament and children’s art activ ities in the park.
“Symphony Under the Stars” with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, which debuted last year, returns this year as well. This outdoor pops concert on Thursday will be offered free of charge at 7:30 p.m. at Martin Family Park. Bring a blanket or chair, a picnic dinner and beverages.
For more details and the full schedule of events visit blufftonartsandseafoodfestival. org or call 843-757-2583.
Calhoun Street was filled with artists’ tents and festival goers at the 2021 Street Fest, a highlight of the Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival.The season kicks off with two outdoor pops concerts in Bluffton and on Hilton Head. FREE lawn seating—bring a blanket or chair, a picnic and enjoy the HHSO with Broadway veteran and Hamilton national tour vocalist Jonathan Christopher al fresco.
John Morris Russell, Conductor Jonathan Christopher, Vocals
MARTIN FAMILY PARK, BLUFFTON (part of the Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022 • 7:30 PM
CELEBRATION PARK AT COLIGNY, HILTON HEAD ISLAND
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2022 • 7:30 PM
Hilton Head Island ONLY—LIMITED table seating at $50/person. Call (843) 842-2055 for reservations.
OPENING WEEKEND
First Presbyterian Church 540 William Hilton Parkway
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2022 at 4:00 PM
MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2022 at 7:30 PM
John Morris Russell, Conductor Micah Gangwer, Violin
Michael Abels Outburst Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Violin Concerto Antonín Dvořák Symphony No. 8
Single
at hhso.org
Call (843) 842-2055
Photo: Roger Mastroianni
JOIN US DURING OUR 2022-2023 SEASON AND BECOME PART OF THE HARMONY OF THE LOWCOUNTRY!
Tickets are now available for most concerts of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra’s 2022-2023 season. In addition to the Orches tra Series programs, free outdoor Symphony
Under the Stars pops concerts, and Hilton Head International Piano Competition, the HHSO will offer its popular monthly Coastal Home Supper Club series and a new Gullah Cultural Series at its intimate performance space, SoundWaves at Coligny Plaza.
“It feels so good to be able to announce a full season’s line-up with confidence, once again,” said HHSO President and CEO Alan Jordan. “The 2022-2023 season includes works that were postponed by the pan demic, along with a lot of repertoire John Morris Russell and the musicians have been clamoring to perform. There is something for everyone, with all the varied presentations planned by the HHSO.”
The season kicks off with two free outdoor “Symphony Under the Stars” pops concerts. The first is 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at Martin Fam ily Park in Bluffton – an affiliated event of the Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival.
On Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m., the HHSO will
perform the same program at Lowcountry Celebration Park at Coligny.
Attendees should bring chairs, food, and beverages to help celebrate the new season.
Music Director John Morris Russell and the Orchestra will be joined by vocalist Jonathan Christopher, who is currently with the nation al tour of Hamilton, for “Celebrate America!”
A limited number of tables of 10 will be available for purchase for the Oct. 21 concert, which is a Signature Event of Hilton Head Island’s Crescendo festival.
The Orchestra Series begins that same weekend on Oct. 23 and 24, at First Presby terian Church with HHSO concertmaster Mi cah Gangwer performing the Violin Concerto by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.
On Nov. 6 and 7, the HHSO presents “Jazz: America’s Voice” with clarinetist Oran Etkin performing as soloist. He will be joined by the rest of his Oran Etkin Quartet to perform the World Premiere of Etkin’s tribute, “Sing On: Reimagining Benny Goodman,” inspired by some of Goodman’s most famous jazz licks.
The HHSO’s traditional Holiday Pops con certs will serve as the third Orchestra Series program of holiday classics and new favorites.
A special Holiday Pops concert will take place at St. Gregory The Great Catholic Church’s Parish Life Center in Bluffton at 7 p.m. Nov. 26. The Orchestra Series concerts will be held Nov. 27 and 28.
On Jan. 8 and 9, 2023, the 2022 Hil ton Head International Piano Competition winner, Jaeden Izik-Dzurko, will return to the Lowcountry.
The 26th Hilton Head International Piano Competition will take place in various loca tions from March 13- 18, featuring 20 of the world’s finest young pianists, ages 13 to 17.
All Orchestra Series concerts will take place at First Presbyterian Church on Hilton Head Island, with Sunday performances beginning at 4 p.m. and Mondays beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Orchestra Series subscriptions are available as well as single tickets for most events. For more information, visit hhso.org, or call the HHSO at 843-842-2055.
The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra performs at Lowcountry Celebration Park on Hilton Head Island. THEFRENCHGUYPHOTOGRAPHYThe Office of Cultural Affairs for the Town of Hilton Head Island and the Arts Council of Hilton Head will host the fifth annual Crescendo Celebration of Arts & Culture Oct. 11-Nov. 12.
This regional event, organized in honor of Oct.’s National Arts and Humanities month, highlights and showcases the vast array of arts, culture and history organiza tions, individual artists, performers, and authors residing and working on Hilton Head Island.
Last year’s Crescendo celebration featured more than 100 unique arts and cultural programs, concerts, theat rical productions, museum and gallery exhibits, lectures, poetry readings, dance performances, historical tours, hands-on arts experiences, and educational offer ings. The overall event was estimated to have attracted more than 10,000 people from all over the United States, Canada and parts of Europe.
Featured events for Crescendo 2022 include:
Oct. 16: La Isla Magazine’s Latin Music Festival at Shelter Cove Community Park
Oct. 11: Annual Crescendo Commu nity Celebration featuring all of the arts
& culture organizations on the Island at Shelter Cove Community Park
Oct. 14-15: Rock ‘N’ Ribs Music & BBQ Fest, featuring Blues Traveler
Oct. 21: Free Symphony Under the Stars, a pops concert by Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, at Lowcountry Celebration Park
Nov. 4: TedX Hilton Head
Nov. 12: Hilton Head Island Lantern Parade at South Forest Beach.
New to Crescendo this year is the Songwriter Series in the Park, to be held each Thursday evening, 5 to 7 p.m., at Lowcountry Celebration Park.
Each concert is presented by a local band that writes their own original music.
The line-up is: Cranford Hollow, Oct, 13; Lyn Ave, Oct. 20; Pretty Darn, Oct. 27; and Angie Aparo, Nov 3.
National Arts and Humanities Month was fist launched 30 years ago by Ameri cans for the Arts, goals of focusing on the arts at local, state and national levels, and encouraging individuals and organiza tions to participate in the arts.
For more information, visit culturehhi. org.
Opening night bringing the legacy of automotive and aviation together under the stars
Including Austin-Healey Southeastern Classic, Aero Expo, and the Legends of the Autobahn East
A full cash bar, tastings, and live music to help close out the day at the Car Club Showcase
Our 20th anniversary event featuring Autos von Deutschland as the Honored Marque
HHICONCOURS.COM
As part of The Black Feathers’ U.S. tour, the award-winning duo from Glouces tershire, England, will perform at 8 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Roasting Room, 1297 May River Road in Bluffton.
For their recently released album, “An gel Dust & Cyanide,” singer-songwriters Ray Hughes and Sian Chandler embraced the chaos of the past couple of years, calling upon a large cast of musicians to bring their beautiful new songs to life, including Country Music Hall of Fame’s Will McFarlane (Bonnie Raitt, Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section) and Dan Moore (Massive Attack, Beth Orton) among many others.
Formed of 12 new songs, the album
re-forms the band’s sound into something altogether more comprehensive than ever, drawing upon acoustic and electric guitar bass, drums, Hammond organ, dobro, violin, cello, viola, piano, and synths to create a musical world of their own.
Hughes’ guitar work again leads the way, flipping between indie rock sensibil ities and something more restrained. At the same time, Chandler’s voice especially weaves the harmonies songs into beauti ful shapes and textures.
The duo’s voices intertwine effortlessly to create a sound combining elements of folk, roots and American.
Tickets start at $20 and are available at roastingroom.live.
For the past 15 years, an integral part of the All Saints Garden Tour, which donates all proceeds to local 501(c)(3) charities, has been the Artist Poster Contest. Hun dreds of local artists have entered works in this competition, and many have sold their work as a result.
The artists at La Petite Gallerie are gearing up for an exciting fall season, starting with the Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival Oct. 16-23.
This week-long festival offers a myriad of activities, showcasing locally harvested seafood, delicious
by Lauren Gunderson Directed by Maegan McNerney Azar
“Fall” by Bill Winn
Tweetering and undying giddiness for James Madison – what else could you expect to find at a Miss America pag eant? In this raucous, “power-play” by the prolific Lauren Gunderson, contes tant Katherine has political aspirations to match her beauty pageant ambitions.
All she needs to revolutionize the American government is the help of one ultra-conservative senator’s aide on the cusp of a career breakthrough, and one bleeding-heart liberal blogger who will do anything for her cause. Well, that and a semi-historically-accurate ether trip. Just in time for the midterm election, here’s lookin’ at you, America.
“The Taming,” in its regional pre miere, will be presented by Lean Ensemble Theatre at Hilton Head Prep’s Main Street Theatre, 3000 Main St., Hilton Head Island.
The play is directed by the new est Lean ensemble member, Maegan McNerney Azar, and features Kerrie Seymour, Dayanari Umana and Lean
Ensemble founding member Peggy Trecker White.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thurs day-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday.
Talkbacks will follow the Oct. 21, 23, 28 and 30 performances.
Tickets are $45, with discounts for students, military and groups avail able. Masks are recommended but not required.
For more information and to pur chase tickets, call 843-715-6676, visit leanensemble.org, or email info@lean ensemble.org
Music on Malphrus, a platform for singles and duos to perform in a listening room setting, has returned after a lengthy hiatus due to the pandemic.
Scott Ainslie will perform at 7 p.m. Oct. 7 at the venue, 110 Malphrus Road, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Ainslie’s mother found him at the family piano, picking out melodies from the records she listened to during the day, when he was 3 years old. He’s been a musician all his life.
Coming of age during the Civil Rights era (and subsequently seeking out elder masters of the Appalachian old-time, Black gospel and blues traditions he has received), Ainslie plays this music with affection, authority and passion.
Armed with three or four instruments –vintage guitars, a fretless gourd banjo, a onestring, homemade diddley bow (aka cigar box guitar) and carefully chosen historical personal anecdotes of his encounters with
senior musicians across the South, Ainslie brings the history, roots music and sounds of America alive.
His most recent recording, “The Last Shot Got Him,” is a collection of songs played on a 1934 Gibson archtop that has received strong reviews from listeners and critics, and among other honors, was chosen as Best Album of the Year by the Times-Ar gus (Montpelier, Vermont). Learn more at cattailmusic.com.
General admission tickets are $25 at the door. For more information, visit uulow country.org or email MusicOnMalphrus@ gmail.com.
A Dinner & Learn Event You Will Not Want To Miss!
Monday, October 17
Tours available at 4:00PM, 4:30PM, 5:00PM, 5:30PM and 6:00PM
Located at 21 Sawmill Creek Road, Bluffton. Reservations required. $45/per person. Proceeds to Waddell Mariculture Center. To make your reservation: blufftonartsandseafoodfestival.org
Tour the Waddell Mariculture Center, view the updated facilities, and learn from Director Erin Levesque how important this research facility is to our area and our resources. Only closed toe shoes.
The tours will be followed by dinner at Toomers Bluffton Seafood Restaurant, 27 Mellichamp Drive, Historic Downtown Bluffton. The dinner buffet includes Gumbo 2 Ways (chicken and seafood), Caesar salad, cornbread, cookies and tea. Beer, wine and cocktails will be available for purchase. During dinner former Waddell director, Al Stokes, will share more about our waterways and their marine life which greatly contribute to the Lowcountry culture. Learn how to be environmental stewards of our most cherished natural resources.
DON’T MISS THIS UNIQUE EVENT THAT WILL BE ENTERTAINING, INFORMATIVE AND SUPPORT THE WADDELL MARICULTURE CENTER…A LOWCOUNTRY GEM!
