VOLUME 11, ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 6, 2022lication

Perry ready to hit ground running in his first week as mayor

By Tim Wood CONTRIBUTOR

There was a minute in the late 1990s when Alan Perry was on the verge of leaving the island he’d called home for more than two decades.

Multiple job offers in Atlanta beckoned and for a day or two, Perry was intrigued with the prospect of a major life change.

“Thankfully, I came to my senses,” said Hilton Head Island’s new mayor, who was sworn in Dec. 6. “I checked myself, said, ‘What am I doing?’ And it was right then that I decided to dig in and double my efforts to be involved with the community I love.”

Perry said he feels that the biggest victo ries, like his work in expanding the Island Recreation Center, and his biggest failures –including his 2018 mayoral race loss – have made him the right leader for a crucial time in the island’s history.

“A bad loss sometimes creates a good win,” Perry said of his 2018 election loss. “I was more prepared this time than I was the first time. That loss made me realize that I needed to listen more, to focus my message and my priorities around that listening.”

The redux appeared headed toward an equally disappointing loss, as JoAnn Orischak led by 440 votes after the results were counted on Nov. 8. The lack of a ma jority triggered the runoff, which gave Perry

and his team another chance to win over voters – specifically those who had voted for Thomas Cleary, who had dropped out of the race a month before the election but whose name was still on the ballot.

Team Perry turned the results around, winning by 1,000-plus votes and 56% of the 8,600 ballots cast in the Nov. 22 runoff. Even more impressive, he converted votes in crucial neighborhoods like Hilton Head Plantation and Sea Pines away from Orischak.

“I feel very blessed to be given this opportunity to lead,” Perry said. “I want to show our voters results and show them that bureaucracy does not have to halt positive change. I think I can provide a different style of leadership both among the Town Council and to our citizens. And that begins with transparency and communication.”

By the time you’re reading this, Perry has finished his first day in office – a time he said is going to involve a lot of face-to-face meetings and imparting his message of teamwork to the full town staff team.

Perry had no interest in running a negative campaign and walked an impres sive tightrope of discussing what he’d do differently without criticizing past adminis trations or councils.

“Where would that get us? It’s about what’s ahead of us and how we can impact

Rabbi: Be united in fight against antisemitism

store owner’s book tells inspiring stories

As official mayoral runoff election results come in, Alan Perry, center, embraces his wife, Kathy, at a watch party for friends and supporters at Club Seats Grille on Hilton Head Island. Perry’s brother, Reid, gestures in celebration at right.

LYNNE COPE HUMMELL

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By Lynne Cope Hummell EDITOR

pay attention, we can sometimes find inspiration in the weirdest of places. It happened last week, when I was reminded that I should make more of an effort to be kind to others – not just in this season of good will, but all the time.

If

But first, let me share that as a child, I was taught that being kind is something we simply must do. My mother taught all her children a Bible verse, Ephesians 4:32: “Be ye kind, one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another …”

My mother was the epitome of kindness. The stereotypical church lady, she was always doing nice things for other people –taking meals to those who were ill, or out of work, or grieving; making baby blankets for every newborn in our church; calling folks who had missed Sunday school.

She once enlisted a couple of friends to make food for the wedding reception of a

young couple who were getting married. They were college students who had little money and told her they would just have peanut butter sandwiches and lemonade for their small reception.

Mom and her friends showered them with ham biscuits, sausage balls, pimento cheese, crackers, cookies, and a cake – all the accoutrements of a 1960s-era down home Southern wedding.

Mom taught me how to be kind by taking me with her on some of her visits. I remember feeling sad for her cousin Fran at the State Hospital (she had mental health is sues) and for Mr. Peel, the veteran at a nurs ing home who had no legs. Mom showed me that these folks, especially going through rough times, deserved human kindness.

The Christmas holidays were especially busy for my mother, because, in addition to tending to my brother and sister and me, she took time to bake cookies and pies for others. And everyone got a Christmas card in the mail!

She loved Christmas, mostly because we celebrated the birth of Baby Jesus, but also because it was a time when everyone – even the grumpy neighbor across the street –seemed to be a little nicer to one another.

Fast forward to last week, when my hus band and I watched a Christmas movie after dinner. It was an old one, released in 1988, but neither of us had seen “Scrooged,” starring Bill Murray as a money-hungry, grouchy executive of a big TV production company.

Murray’s character, Frank Cross, was a curmudgeon focused only on the bottom line, making more profit with less effort, disregarding the ideas of his employees, and firing anyone who disagreed with him –even on Christmas Eve.

The story progresses along the lines of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” complete with ghosts showing Frank his sad past, his ugly present and his devastating future.

Thankfully, Frank realizes what he has be

come and has an amazing change of heart. He bursts into the live Christmas Eve show in progress at his TV studio and proclaims the most wonderful words of promise that reminded me of – you guessed it – my mom.

“It’s Christmas Eve. It’s the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we smile a little easier, we cheer a little more,” Frank said. “For a couple of hours out of the whole year, we are the people we always hoped we would be.”

Those words resonated with me. I do try to be nice most of the time. But when my snarky side sometimes shows through, I wonder if I’m the person my mom always hoped I would be.

Frank goes on to encourage viewers to open their hearts and feel the Christmas spirit: “Be the person you always wished you would be,” he said. “Christmas can happen every day.”

Put another way, “Be ye kind, one to another.”

EDITORIAL

S.C. Republicans achieve statehouse supermajority

Current Circulation Via USPS is 25,266

PUBLISHER

Kevin Aylmer, kevina@blufftonsun.com

EDITOR

Lynne Hummell, editor@blufftonsun.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Kim Perry Bowen

OFFICE MANAGER

Melissa McCullough

CONTRIBUTORS

Abby Bird

Jeff Bradley

Amy Coyne Bredeson

Amy Campanini

Collins Doughtie

E. Ronald Finger

Jean Harris

Jennifer Herrin

Edwina Hoyle

Barry Kaufman Chris Lane Mathew Mastrorocco

Frank Parry

John Riolo Larry Stoller Scott Wierman Tim Wood

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CONTACT

For information about The Hilton Head Sun, contact: Kevin Aylmer PO Box 2056, Bluffton, SC 29910 843-757-9507, 843-757-9506 (fax)

Physical address: 14D Johnston Way Bluffton, SC 29910

All contents copyright protected 20220. All submissions must include name, address and phone number. The Editor reserves the right to edit or reject any material, including advertisements. The Hilton Head Sun does not verify for licenses, endorse nor warrant any advertised businesses or services. The opinions and views expressed in the editorials are not necessarily those of the Editor and Publisher. Member, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce.

Circulation verification for each issue provided with USPS Form 3541 and/or USPS Form 8125. These forms are available for review during normal business hours at the offices of The Bluffton Sun, 14D Johnston Way, Bluffton, SC 29910.

The South Carolina House Republicans will have a supermajority (more than 66%) in the state legislature for the upcoming 2023-24 session after turning eight seats from Democrat to Repub lican in last month’s mid-term election.

This marks the first time since the 1870s –nearly 150 years – that House Republicans have held such a margin.

By Jeff Bradley CONTRIBUTOR Jeff Bradley

Republicans yielded only one district to the Democrats to achieve their new 88-36 advantage (71%).

This provides a clear mandate for those of us in the Republican Party to move forward our conservative agenda in the months ahead. In addition to our success in the House, Gov. Henry McMaster won his re-election handily while all Republi can statewide Constitutional officers were victorious.

The election of Ellen Weaver as state school superintendent was especially important. I believe she is the needed agent of change to lead improvements aimed at raising student achievement levels while empowering parents the access to have a more active voice in their children’s edu cation.

Moving forward into this 2023-2024, the

Republican Caucus has already established an agenda of goals aimed at introducing and supporting legislation that we believe will elevate South Carolina’s success by focusing on five key pillars – economic prosperity, education reform, limited gov ernment, personal freedom and law and order.

These five objectives include: 1. Improvement of statewide economic development to ensure prosperity for all South Carolinians.

Increase workforce development through job training and placement. Support better workforce housing initiatives.

Remove barriers to the workplace, including cutting red tape in occupation licensing, eliminating unnecessary permit requirements, reforming licensing and regulations, and terminating unnecessary mandates that could stifle industry.

Improving roads, bridges and other in frastructure, increasing broadband, provid ing future site development opportunities with water and sewer.

2. Reform our education system so stu dents are better prepared for work oppor tunities.

Enact true parental choice through open enrollment, charter schools, and education savings accounts.

Require transparency in curriculum and end Critical Race Theory (CRT).

Increase accountability of local school boards.

3. Limit government by implementing fiscal discipline and responsibility.

Fewer government programs and more accountability.

Lower tax burden for working families. Increase our financial reserves by oper ating state government with less debt and more savings.

Push back on federal inflationary policies Remove liberal agendas from business and industry.

4. Increase personal freedom and en courage conservative values.

Defend the Second Amendment and ensure we remain a Second Amendment Sanctuary state.

Defend Life: ban abortions on demand, make contraception more available.

Streamline the adoption process.

5. Prioritize public safety and make “law and order” a top priority.

Strengthen penalties for fentanyl-related crimes.

Provide more resources to hire and train officers. Provide better equipment and cutting-edge training tools. Remove limits to allow retired officers to return to work. Enhance funding.

Mandate cash bail and eliminate personal recognizance bonds for violent offenders.

The remaining question in the 24 months ahead is whether we Republicans in the House can unify rather than dissolve into interparty conflicting factions to pass the kind of conservative agenda that will benefit all of South Carolina.

Bradley is the representative for District 123 in the State House of Representatives

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

A recent article in The Bluffton Sun stated that Christ did not come to save us, “but rather to direct our attention back to the reality of who we are as divine expressions of God.”

To say something so clearly opposed to the clear teaching of the Bible, with the title of minister, I believe warrants a response. Should we be thankful people? Absolutely! (1 Thess 5:18; Phil 4:4). But how could we possibly be thankful for anything, how

could we have any true peace, unless we have first been reconciled to God, the one who has made us, the one who redeems His people from the curse of sin, the one who is blessed and the fount of every blessing (Eph 1:3)?

To claim that Jesus did not live to save sin ners ignores the clear teaching of Scripture and will lead many to everlasting ruin (1 John 5:10-13; Romans 3:23-26). It is not by works of the law that we are saved (Phil 3:9), especially not good works performed before

people (Matt 6:1-4), but the righteousness which is ours through faith in Christ, which is itself a gift of God (Eph 2:4-10).

Yes, we ought to be grateful, but there first must be something worthy of our eternal praise, namely salvation, which comes through embracing Christ as the only Savior.

Andrew Wann

Covenant Presbyterian Church of the Lowcountry Bluffton

Pastor,

Jeff

Not all we want for the holidays needs to be wrapped

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 Arts Center of Coastal Car olina’s Holiday Kick-off Festival Nov.

19 (stading in line to see Santa), we asked: “What unwrapped gift do you wish for this holiday season?”

“A trip someplace fancy and relax ing with my husband.”

Katie Varin, Hilton Head Island:

Vera Cloud, Hilton Head Island: “Good health for my whole family.”

Piper Cloud, Bluffton: “An American Girl doll bathroom set

Laura Keenan, Hilton Head Island:

Joselyn Frater, Richmond Hill, Ga.: “Just to see my baby girl smile on Christmas Day.”

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Palmetto Electric Cooperative is working continuously to make this the brightest of seasons. From energy saving tips to programs that benefit our community, we are helping ensure the spirit of the season lasts all year long

MAYOR

from page 1A

our island evolving to meet the needs of both the residents and the millions of tour ists that feed our economy,” Perry said. “The truth is, we have a lot of good things going for us and we need to accentuate that as we discuss that evolution.”

He said those positives begin with Town Manager Marc Orlando. He has been im pressed with Orlando’s tenacity in bridging communication gaps and in his leadership both inside Town Hall and around the community.

Perry also said that even though there are challenges ahead, he knows that the charac ter and the heart of the island he fell in love with 50 years ago is still intact.

“It’s important to recognize that. We have a strong master plan and a solid core of measured growth as our foundation,” he said.

Perry is stepping into the mayor’s office at a pivotal point. Redevelopment of the mid-island tract and how to make sure the island’s needs are met in the re-imagining of the island bridge are two projects that will impact many generations to come.

“I know that both of these issues are in progress, plans approved, a lot of discus sions have taken place, but I am coming at both of these projects with a focus on return on investment and quality of life,” Perry said.

He said when it comes to the bridge proj ect, it is time to be more forceful in ensuring the island’s needs are met.

“We have been on the defensive in these talks; it’s time to be pro-active rather than reactive to the county,” he said. “We have an end-to-end study that Sen. Davis brought to the table that is still out for bids months lat er into December. We need to get that done, and to fight for so many questions that have not been answered.

“What’s going to happen to the causeway? Is it a four-lane or five-lane project? There are necessary evils here to get people on and off the island. We’re at 38,000, what if we grow to 42,000 and more of our residents need to get off island for work or to visit friends and events on the mainland?

“I’ve heard the frustration from residents, but we need to move toward how to achieve our goals here and to not be pushed into timelines until our needs are fully ad dressed.”

As for the massive mid-island tract proj ect, Perry said he also has concerns with

maximizing value of the end product.

“I’m not in favor of all the elements of the park phase, for example,” he said. “There are so many positives here, but I want to en sure we maximize functionality over vanity. We have a Monet garden in the plan right now. That’s beautiful but expensive. Is that the best use of the funds and our efforts? It’s one of the questions I want to address as this projects breaks ground and the plan evolves.”

Perry also said workplace housing and continued attention to islanders’ recreational needs. It is a point of pride for Perry – his father was the founder of the Island Rec Center, and he fought for 12 years to push through the expansion of the center.

“The housing study we did in 2016 and 2019, it’s already obsolete. Addressing this issue, we have to foster those public-private partnerships that work,” Perry said. “We have momentum on this issue, we can’t lose that because the shortage of workers will get worse if we regress back to being stagnant. But is it condo housing, is it more Habitat for Humanity-style projects? And whatever we do, we have to make it happen without raising taxes. It’s complicated and a lot of factors to address, but I know this council and this staff team can make it happen.”

As for recreation, Perry said pickleball is at the top of his list.

“We need a world-class facility here, period. There is a need for tourists and res idents and a real economic opportunity to capitalize on bringing events to the island,” he said.

The concept that he is the one that gets to lead all these efforts has Perry pinching himself a bit to make sure it’s real.

“I’m so excited. I love this island so much. We have 170 non-profits here, we have so many folks that dig in and create solutions. It’s an amazing knowledge base to tap into,” he said. “Above all, I am focused on creating teamwork with the council, to find the com mon goals and beliefs that we can build off of and maximize the incredible talents these folks bring.”

Perry acknowledges the sacrifices others made in order to serve the community.

“It takes a lot to run for public office these days. These folks did that because they care deeply,” he said. “That’s an incredible foun dation to begin from.”

Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. timwood@blufftonsun.com.

Library volunteer turns love of reading into writing a book

By Amy Coyne Bredeson CONTRIBUTOR

Tom Hyland has always enjoyed reading. The 34-year-old Hilton Head Island man has turned his love of literature into more than just a pastime – he’s now a published author.

“I had a hard time in school growing up because not only was I disabled because of health problems, but I was picked on a lot,” Hyland said. “I didn’t have very many friends.”

Diving into action-packed adventures and the magical world of fantasy gave him a way to escape the challenges of life on the autism spectrum.

Characters like Tarzan of the Apes, Conan the Barbarian and Gandalf be came Hyland’s friends, and he was able to imagine what he would do if he were right there with them.

After reading the children’s versions of “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” and “Journey to the Center of the Earth” in the second grade, Hyland began writing his own renditions of what would hap pen next in the tales.

When a close family friend known as Uncle Raymond died, Hyland, who was about 13 at the time, inherited his large collection of books.

“I just started reading whatever I could get my hands on,” he said.

Hyland still loves to read. And he doesn’t have to go far to feed his appe tite for books. He volunteers two days a week at the Hilton Head branch of the Beaufort County Library, where he shelves books and assists patrons.

Branch manager Mary Jo Berkes ap preciates Hyland’s volunteer work.

“He’s very kind and super helpful,” Berkes said. “He genuinely wants to help all the time.”

Hyland moved from Los Angeles to Hilton Head with his parents, Mark and Cindy Hyland, in 2018, and has volunteered at the library since.

Now his book, “Treasure of the Apache,” can be found on a shelf at the local library. It’s also available in paper back on Amazon and in digital format on various sites.

Tom Hyland volunteers two days a week at the Hilton Head Branch Library, where he shelves books and assists patrons.

AMY COYNE BREDESON

Set in 1865 in the Territory of Arizo na, “Treasure of the Apache” is a short novel about a search for stolen gold. So far, Hyland has sold 30 copies.

“Even if I don’t sell another, I’ll still be happy,” he said. “I’m just grateful to be here.”

Hyland has written a screenplay for the novel and is already working on a sequel to the book. He has also written a children’s book about a boy and his robot in a world of tomorrow.

In addition to his writing abilities, Hyland is adept as a photographer. His nature shots can be purchased on Payhip and Redbubble.

In his free time, Hyland enjoys watching old Western movies as well as “Indiana Jones” and the original “Star Wars” movies. He also likes spending time with his yellow lab, Daisy Mae.

Hyland remembers all too well what

it was like being bullied as a child, and he hopes to encourage kids who are going through that now. He wants to remind them to be thankful for their blessings and to know that if they have faith in God, something better is wait ing after this life is over.

“Childhood and what you’re going through is temporary,” Hyland said. “You won’t be going to school forever. There may be moments when you want to throw in the towel, but things down the road will pick up if you’re willing to take the initiative.”

To learn more about Hyland and his various projects, go to hyland.substack. com.

Amy Coyne Bredeson of Bluffton is a freelance writer, a mother of two and a volunteer with the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance.

Tom Hyland, a volunteer at the Hilton Head Branch Library, holds a copy of his book, “Treasure of the Apache,” which can be found on the library shelves.

AMY COYNE BREDESON

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Circles program aims to empower families to financial stability

By Edwina Hoyle CONTRIBUTOR

The Deep Well Project, founded on Hil ton Head Island in 1973, is about to take a huge leap forward. For almost 50 years, Deep Well has addressed basic needs by helping in emergency situations – giving an immediate hand up so families can continue to help themselves. It could be a rent payment between jobs or food for the family when the cupboard runs bare and cash has run out.

Over the past few years, the board of directors has been exploring how to help families in cyclical poverty who continue to rely on supplemental help to feed their families. They want to teach them to fish, as the saying goes, rather than simply giving them a fish.

“We are on the precipice of something magical,” said Sandy Gillis, executive director.

This January, Deep Well will launch a new program called Circles, a national program with a 20-year proven track record, to empower families to increase

their income level, lead their families to financial stability and provide better opportunities for their children.

Participants, called Circle Leaders, will work with volunteers, called Allies, who are community members with higher in come levels. These two groups will build relationships and work together long term to help those struggling to stay on track.

“The launch will be the finish line of extensive research and preparation,” Gillis said, “but it’s also the starting line for Circles.”

Deep Well is still gathering volunteers and seeking referrals for program partici pants. Gillis said it is hoped that the initial class will be five to 15 families. Gradua tion occurs when a family’s income reach es 200% of the federal poverty level.

Shavonne Vasquez has 15 years of experience in social work and recently re located from upper New York to manage the Circles Chapter at Deep Well.

“Poverty looks very different in each case,” Vasquez said. “With no safety net, a

Volunteers and potential participants gathered for dinner at the Children’s Center on Hilton Head Island in October to learn more about Circles, a new program of the Deep Well Project, designed to help families achieve financial stability.

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minor bump in the road can be a cata strophic event.” She is excited and eager to engage family members to “become better versions of themselves, to build themselves and to create opportunities for their children.”

Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Circles program operates in 23 states with 80 chapters.

Participants gain training on how to budget and save money. But what sets this program apart from other financial stability programs is its focus on building social capital, starting with the program volunteers.

While middle-income families en joy networks of support through their workplaces, schools, neighborhoods and churches, families living in poverty rarely develop such networks. In Circles, these financially struggling families find peers who are also hardworking and motivated to become financially stable. And this peer support is supplemented with en couragement from middle- and upper-in come volunteers who are eager to come alongside them.

This program is unique because one

component is a child empowerment program, Vasquez said.

“Children have their own program with its own curriculum that will help with communication skills, practicing assertion to deal with bullies for example, and learning to speak up and find their voices,” Vasquez said.

When support forms around a family,

questions are asked, advice is offered, a network of contacts is shared, and the barriers that keep people in poverty start to disappear. With middle- and upper-in come friends who have landed jobs, negotiated a lease, or managed credit card debt, those in crisis are more equipped and more confident when it comes to finding a job, asking for a raise, securing

housing or restructuring their debt.

In addition to these supportive relation ships, Circles also leverages the resources in a given community to help move a family out of poverty and off public assis tance. Every Circles location has volun teer resource teams that link participants to existing community services, jobs and educational programs.

Circles also hosts occasional meetings with community leaders to draw atten tion to social service gaps or obstacles in the system that are inadvertently keeping people in poverty.

“This is the Big View Team and will include elected officials, decision-makers, leaders who have power and have a voice as well as access to the ears of other lead ers,” Vasquez said. “We will report trends, celebrate successes, and learn about what’s happening in our community.”

For more information about Circles Hilton Head Island, email Circles@deep wellproject.org or visit deepwellproject. org/circles-hhi.

Edwina Hoyle is a freelance writer in Bluffton.

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Rabbi: Solution to antisemitism is united front against hate

By Amy Coyne Bredeson CONTRIBUTOR

There are many theories about when and how antisemitism began. Did it start with the Assyrians or the Babylonians? Did it start with the Greeks or the Romans? Why have Jews been persecuted for so long, and why does the hatred continue today?

Rabbi Robert Haas of Congregation Mickve Israel in Savannah attempted to an swer these questions at a Nov. 16 lecture he presented on the evolution of antisemitism. The lecture, “The Evolution of Antisem itism: What Can We Do?” was hosted by Lowcountry Presbyterian Church in Bluffton and co-sponsored by Temple Oseh Shalom and the Hilton Head Island chapter of Ha dassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America.

“Antisemitism is hate (toward Jewish people) without reason. Antisemitism is not something that makes sense,” Haas said. “It has to be unreasonable to really be antisem itism.”

For example, he said, it might not be right to hate someone who took your job, but it is reasonable. It is not reasonable, however, to hate someone simply because they are Jewish.

Often referred to as the oldest form of hatred, antisemitism is still a problem in the United States, and Haas said it’s growing exponentially in Europe.

Anyone can simply read a newspaper to see reports of antisemitic graffiti, the distribution of antisemitic propaganda, and celebrities spewing antisemitic rhetoric. Synagogues and Jewish schools are still the targets of violence.

Just a few years ago, 11 people were

shot to death while praying at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. And a year prior to that, the world watched as white nationalists marched through the streets of Charlottes ville, Virginia, with torches, chanting, “Jews will not replace us.”

Over the centuries, Jews have been per secuted for their wealth, for their religious views and for their connection to Israel. They’ve been called racially inferior. They’ve been blamed for the death of Jesus.

In the 11th century, the idea of Jews killing Jesus became a popular excuse for hating Jewish people. Along with that came the idea of Jews using the blood of Jesus to make matzah – a baseless rumor, by the way, that Haas still hears people say in Savannah.

“Think about that,” Haas said. “A thou sand years later, Jews start being persecuted for killing Jesus, much more than they were at the time of his death. This is where we see antisemitism as we know it begin, about a thousand years ago.”

Haas said the stereotypes about Jews being money hungry came into play during the Crusades because there were so many restrictions on what Jews were allowed to do for a living. The one industry they were allowed to work in was banking, which made them look like villains when they had to collect repayment on loans.

It also made Jews easy targets for thieves, who knew they often had money on hand.

Haas said religious antisemitism was popular until the 19th century, when antisemitism evolved into something much worse, physical antisemitism – also known as racism.

Rabbi Robert Haas of Congregation Mickve Israel in Savannah held a lecture on antisemitism Nov. 16 at Lowcountry Presbyterian Church in Bluffton.

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“In the 19th century, we start seeing the idea that there are human beings that are inferior in a variety of ways, and the Jews are on this list,” Haas said. “If you’re born inferior, there’s no way to fix it, whereas if it’s religion, I can change my religion. I can’t change my DNA.”

This racial ideology took hold with the Nazis, who took antisemitism to a new level by killing 6 million Jews during the Holocaust.

Haas said the Nazis weren’t religious people so they didn’t care that Jews killed Jesus. They hated Jews because they looked different and dressed differently. They were worried about Jews controlling the world.

We don’t hear about this type of an tisemitism anymore, Haas said, because it disappeared. No one, other than extremists, wants to be connected to the Nazis.

“That antisemitism had to disappear be cause it doesn’t work in this age anymore,” Haas said. “For antisemitism to exist, it had to evolve, and that’s what it did. It had to figure out, ‘What way do we persecute the Jews and get away with it on mass scale?’”

Haas said most of the antisemitism seen

today is anti-Israel. Some people think Israel is the worst of the worst countries, and that all Jews are bad because they are somehow connected to Israel.

“Anti-Israel is the new antisemitism,” Haas said. “People use anti-Israel as an ex cuse to hate Jews. It makes no sense to hate a whole country and to persecute people who don’t even live there, or to hate a whole country and want the country destroyed.”

Parents need to teach their children that it’s OK to criticize others for what they do, Haas said, but it’s not OK to dehumanize others.

“That takes hate to another level,” he said.

The solution to antisemitism, the rabbi said, is to stick up for other people when they’re being persecuted. A united front makes things a lot more difficult for those who hate.

For more information on antisemitism and how to combat it, Haas suggested people visit the Anti-Defamation League’s website at adl.org.

Amy Coyne Bredeson of Bluffton is a free lance writer, a mother of two and a volunteer with the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance.

Hardware store owner’s book shares business tales, inspiration

By Lynne Cope Hummell

Customers who happened to stop into the ACE Hardware Store on Northridge Drive the afternoon of Nov. 16 might have been surprised to find a woman near the front register signing books as they were purchased.

They might have been more surprised to learn that the woman, Gina Schae fer, is the owner of 12 ACE Hardware stores in the Washington, D.C., area.

Her book, “Recovery Hardware,” is about her experiences over the past two decades of opening her first store in an area that was in decline, working with employees with various issues, and growing her business.

Schaefer was in town at the request of Ron Burke, co-owner of the local ACE store. Burke had met her when he was running a sales and marketing compa ny in Chicago years ago.

“We had a focus on getting more females into management in the 2000s, and were having a national meeting, and had heard of her,” Burke said.

At the time, Schafer had joined the board of directors for ACE Corporate and was doing speaking engagements. Burke invited her to speak at the meet ing.

“Her story was pretty unqiue,” Burke said. I was impressed with the business she grew – it was mindboggling.”

After her book was published and he heard about it, he invited her to do a signing in his store.

“I was impressed with her before, and after reading the book that increased tenfold,” Burke said.

The title of the book is a nod to several elements that went along with opening her first store in 2003, Schae fer said.

“I opened that first location when the neighborhood was going through recovery in general,” she said. “There were not many options for people to work in general, so the store was an option for them.”

In addition, just across the street was the Whitman-Walker recovery center

EDITOR

Gina Schaefer, center, signed copies of her book, “Recovery Hardware,” at the Hilton Head ACE Hardware Store Nov. 16. With her are Ron Burke, Julie Burke, Brad Huffman and Marc Friedman.

CATHY HAVENS

started by Elizabeth Taylor primarily to help with AIDS recovery. As some of the center’s clients walked past her store, several stopped by looking for a job. Schaefer welcomed them.

“I was told years ago that people called our store ‘Recovery Hardware,’” Schaefer said.

At the time, there were very few women in hardware, let alone as own ers of stores.

Schaefer came to hardware after years in software.

“I was working in tech industry and got laid off three or four times before I decided to open a hardware store,” she said. “We were very involved in the community association when we moved back to this neighborhood. There were no big box stores in D.C. at the time – the first big box came in 2002. It was a renovating neighbor hood and the residents needed nuts and bolts.”

It was as simple as that. She chose ACE, she said, because there weren’t many options for franchis

es of hardware stores, and “ACE was the first one to respond,” she said.

About a year later, people from other neighborhoods started asking Schaefer about opening stores in other parts of town.

“Exactly two years later, we opened the second store, and then one a year for the next 10 years,” she said. “We” means Schaefer and her husband, Marc Friedman, who had joined her as a business partner and CFO after her first year solo.

Schaefer’s book shares her experience as a female in the male-dominated hardware industry.

“It was unusual for a woman to open a hardware store,” she said.

“Eventually I was asked to join the board of ACE – only the third woman to join the board, and the youngest.”

But the book is not ACE specific –her experiences apply to just about any business, she said.

“The book includes a lot of lessons I’ve learned from people in recovery,” she said.

The book also includes some humor. In the book’s promotional materials is a note that it includes tips on “How to choose a shop dog.”

Schaefer chuckled as she began the story.

“When I opened the first store, I wanted a store dog, because I thought a hardware store should have a dog,” she said. “Plus, I was often there alone, and thought having a dog there was a good idea. So, we rescued a 175-pound Great Dane. We brought him to the store for the first week or so – and he scared people. So that didn’t last too long.”

While the big dog was there, he had to be walked, and that job went to a particular employee.

“One of our first employees had been in prison for years and he loved dogs and he loved to walk. He’d walk that dog for miles,” Schaefer said. “We even tually gave the dog to him.”

The book includes many stories of teammates in recovery, as well as some who were homeless, Schaefer said. “Their resilience, their character made

an impact on me.”

Schaefer recalled a particularly hard-working team member. “You would never have known she was homeless,” Schaefer said. “She always had a smile, she gave great customer service – just very pleasant. It was im pactful to me to see those interactions.”

While she is still hard at work with her stores, Schaefer has a transition plan in place for the next few years.

“Ultimately we decided, in 2021, to sell the store to our employees,” she said. “That story is in the book as well.”

Schaefer said she recently heard there are hundreds of thousands of business es that are expected to change hands in the next five to 10 years, because of aging owners.

An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is one way to make that tran sition, she said. And that’s the plan she and Friedman chose.

“I’m still the CEO,” she said. “Our ultimate plan is to transition 100% of the business to employees – that will take several years.”

Check in with your insurance deductible.

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Appointments tend to fill up quickly as the year closes. We opened additional time through December so you can book early.

To schedule an appointment, call 843-682-7480 or scan the QR code. Visit HHIOrthopedics.com to learn more.

Dec. 6-31

“A Christmas Story: The Mu sical,” Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. Directed by Mark Martino; children age 5 and older welcomed and encouraged. Tickets $53 child, $58 adult preview; $58 child, $63 adult regular run. artshhi.com

Dec. 8-18

“Educating Rita,” Lean Ensemble Theatre at Main Street Theatre, 3000 Main St., Hilton Head Island. Performanc es at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8-10, 15-17; and 2 p.m. Dec. 8, 18. Talkbacks Dec. 9, 11, 16, 18. Tickets $45, with student, first responder, military and group discounts offered. Rush tickets on sale 30 minutes prior to performances. leanensemble.org

Dec. 8

“A Singing’ Little Christmas with Suzy Bogguss,” 7:30 p.m. at USCB Center for the Arts, 801 Carteret St., Beaufort. Tick ets at USCBCenterForTheArts. com or 843-521-4145.

Dec. 9-11 “A Haunt ingly Good Victorian Comedy,” comedic adaptation of “A Christ mas Carol,” by Travis Hornsby

at May River Theatre. Dec. 9-10 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. at Ulmer Auditorium, inside Town Hall, 20 Bridge St., Bluffton.

Dec. 9

“The Many Moods of the Sea son,” holiday concert by Hilton Head Choral Society, under direction of Dr. Dustin Ousley, 7 p.m. First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Pkwy. on Hilton Head Island. Tickets $15$40, available at hiltonheadcho ralsociety.org. For more infor mation or for assistance with ticket order, call 843-341-3818 or email tickets@hiltonheadcho ralsociety.org.

Dec. 10

“Carols in the Courtyard,” second annual free outdoor holiday concert by Lowcountry Community Concert Band, 2 p.m. at USCB Bluffton campus. Includes food truck, cookie baking contest, ugly sweater contest. Bring chairs and bev erages. Wheelchair accessible. Donations welcomed.

Through Dec. 11

“It’s a Nutty Christmas,” nut cracker paintings on boards, created by Beaufort Art Association artists, placed at local businesses. Rent a nutcracker to benefit BAA education fund for children. Vote for favorite Nutcracker at BSS, 913 Bay St., Beaufort. 207985-8888 or 843-521-4444

Dec. 16

Lunch with Author Series, noon at Belfair Clubhouse, Bluff ton. Featuring Mary Martha Greene, “The Cheese Biscuit Queen Tells All,” and Kevin Mitchell, “Taste of the State.” Books available for purchasing and signing. Tickets $50 at USCBCenterForTheArts.com or 843-521-4145.

Dec. 16

Ted Rosenthal Trio, holiday jazz piano, part of Hilton Head International Piano Competition Recital Series, 7:30 p.m. at SoundWaves, 7 Lagoon Road, Hilton Head Island. Tickets $40, cash bar. 843-842-2055 or hhso.org

Dec. 16

“Sounds of the Holidays,” annual holiday cabaret with Terry Herron and Friends, Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club. Cock tails, 5:30 p.m. (cash bar), dinner 6-7 p.m., show 7-8:30 p.m. Tickets $45. 843-271-9919 or 678-644-8200

Dec. 18

Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra final Supper Club of 2022, 6:30 p.m. dinner; 7:30 p.m. concert at SoundWaves, 7 Lagoon Road, Hilton Head Island. Cabaret seating, tickets $29-$69. 843-842-2055 or hhso.org

Through Dec. 31

Holiday Gallery of Gifts, Art League of Hilton Head, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. Original works of art, jewelry, handmade ornaments, stocking stuffers, and holiday decor. Gallery hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday.

Through Jan. 1

Christmas Bazaar at SOBA Gallery, 6 Church St., Bluffton. Unique handcrafted gifts, art, decor. Gallery hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. SOBAgal lery.com or 843-757-6586

Through Feb. 12, 2023

“Avant Gardener: a Creative Exploration od Imperiled Species,” exhibition by artist Lisa D. Watson, at Coastal Discovery Musuem, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. “Art-full Seeding” workshop 5-7 p.m. Dec. 1, $30, reservations required at coastaldiscover.org. Gallery hours 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m Sunday.

Nicholas Reed as Ralphie in “A Christmas Story: The Musical” at Arts Center of Coastal Carolina.

From the songwriting team behind the smash-hit Tony Award-winning musical “Dear Evan Hansen” and the Academy Award-winning film “La La Land,” comes “A Christmas Story: The Musical,” bringing the classic 1983 movie to hilarious life onstage.

The Arts Center’s holiday production is directed by New York City’s Mark Martino (previous Arts Center credits: “Newsies,” “White Christmas,” “Elf,” “An American in Paris,” “Kiss Me Kate,” and “Forever Plaid”). The show runs Dec. 6-31.

Following a successful Broadway run garnering three 2013 Tony Award nom inations including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical (Joseph Robinette) and Best Original Score (Benj Pasek and Justin Paul), along with six Drama Desk nominations, and two Outer Critics Circle nominations, “A Christmas Story: The Musical” is geared up to win you over – and your whole family too!

Based on the perennial holiday movie

favorite, “A Christmas Story: The Musi cal” chronicles young and bespectacled Ralphie Parker as he schemes his way toward the holiday gift of his dreams, an official Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle (“You’ll shoot your eye out kid!”).

An infamous leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a maniacal department store Santa, and a tripledog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the distractions that stand between Ralphie and his Christmas wish.

Hailed by The Associated Press as “a joyous Christmas miracle,” The New York Times writes “You’d have to have a Grinch-sized heart not to feel a smile spreading across your face.”

“A Christmas Story: The Musical” is a triple-dog-dare of a good time and it is sure to warm your heart this holiday season. For tickets, call the Arts Center box office at 843-842- 2787 or visit artshhi.com.

A Christmas Story: The Musical and bespectacled Ralphie Parker as he schemes his way toward the holiday gift of his dreams. Meanwhile, an infamous leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a maniacal department store Santa, and a triple-dog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the distractions that stand between Ralphie and his Christmas wish.

The Cast of A Christmas Story: The Musical | Photography

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A Christmas Story’ is a holiday must for the whole family

GUSTAVO RATTIA

Comedic remake of classic Christmas tale hits stage at

Travis Hornsby returns to the Low country to direct his comedic adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” at May River Theatre, Dec. 9-11.

“A Hauntingly Good Victorian Com edy” is a comedic retelling of the classic Christmas novel by Charles Dickens that keeps viewers wondering will Scrooge change his ways and embrace the holiday spirit? Playwright Hornsby has created a festive frolic through Victorian England infusing humor that includes slapstick, vaudeville, adult jokes, as well as a healthy dose of cross-dressing to this famed holiday piece. Benjamin Morgan is musical director for the show, Not familiar with this Dickensian tale? The basic synopsis is that, on the anniver sary of the death of his only friend (and former business partner) Jacob, the miser ly Scrooge is visited by a host of ghosts on Christmas Eve. They show him his Past and Present and what is Yet to Come – if he does not change his ways. The story is propelled with the help of Carolers who

play a myriad of characters from Scrooge’s past, present and future.

New and returning actors and sing ers will be gracing the May River stage,

including Warren Cobb (Scrooge), Travis Hornsby (Fred), Benjamin Morgan (Jacob Marley), Wayne Hester (Gentleman), Jayme Brinson (Bob Cratchett), Rebekah

Kane (Martha Cratchett), Adalyn Aeber sold (Fanny), Maggie Gardner (Clara), and introducing Jemma Beck (Tiny Tim). The cast includes Walt Hoskins, Heath er Bell, Kirtus Miller, Haden Gonsowski, Luke Strebe and Val Tannuzzi as towns people and Ellie Friedman, Catherine Trotter, Annaliese Germany, Belle Chirico and Lily Beck as Carolers.

Remaining performances are Dec. 9-10 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. at Ulmer Auditorium, inside Town Hall, 20 Bridge St., Bluffton.

May River Theatre is a local theatre company started by Ed and Jodie Dupuis in 2002. MRT is committed to engag ing the Bluffton community through a breadth of quality theatrical performances that facilitate growth in both the pro duction and understanding of the entire theatrical experience.

For more information on season tickets, sponsorships, gift certificates and tick ets for this Christmas Carol adaptation, please visit mayrivertheatre.com.

Scrooge terrifies villagers in Travis Hornsby’s comedic adaptation of “A Christmas Carol,” pre sented by May River Theatre.

COURTESY MAY RIVER THEATRE

Artists invited to submit poster art

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. Hundreds of local artists have entered works in this competition, and many have sold their work as a result.

In preparation for the 34th All Saints Garden Tour, scheduled for May 20, 2023, local artists are invited to enter one piece of two-dimensional, garden-related art in the poster competition. Flowers, birds, bees, butterflies, frogs, fountains, floral landscapes and abstracts are acceptable subjects for entries.

Works in oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastels, mixed media, photography, and colored pencil are acceptable. The piece selected for the poster must be vertically oriented, roughly 12x10 in scale.

The submitted art will be hung in the gallery corridor of the Hilton Head Branch Library Feb. 3-28, 2023. Deadline for sub mission is early January.

The artwork selected for the Garden

KENNY B’s

Tour Poster will be on hundreds of posters displayed throughout Beaufort and Jasper Counties and on the cover of the Garden Tour ticket booklet. In addition, the art may be used in the future for charitable garden tour fundraising. For more information, visit allsaints gardentour.com or email gardentourentry@ gmail.com.

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“Along the Path” by Neil Clark, 2021 winner

A Taste of Europe

Northridge

Celebrate ‘Moods of the Season’ with Choral Society

The Hilton Head Choral Society cordially invites the community to “The Many Moods of the Season,” its annual holiday concert, at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway.

Come celebrate the season through a variety of musical perspectives, cultures and traditions performed by the full chorus, guest soloists, and orchestra.

This year’s program will celebrate a very traditional perspective of the many moods of the season as the Choral Society presents the Christmas portion of Handel’s classic, “Messiah,” along with Robert Shaw’s “The Many Moods of Christmas.”

Classics from “Messiah” include “And the Glory of the Lord,” “For Unto Us a Child is Born,” and “Hallelujah Chorus.”

This performance will be taking the Choral Society back to its roots. More than 45 years ago, Martha Gregory organized the Hilton Head Choral Society and directed its first performance of the Christmas portion of Handel’s “Messiah” on Dec. 12, 1976.

The evening will commence with “Many Moods of Christmas,” featuring a variety of

sentimental arrangements such as “Silent Night,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “What Child is This?” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” It promises to be an inspiring evening of holiday music.

It’s the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit with the Choral Society as they celebrate the joy and the nostalgia that the season brings.

Tickets are available now online at hilton headchoralsociety.org. For more information or for assistance placing your ticket order, call 843-341-3818 or email tickets@hilton headchoralsociety.org.

For the health and safety of all, ticket

holders will be subject to any COVID-19 policy established by either Hilton Head Choral Society or First Presbyterian Church at the time of the concert.

Hilton Head Choral Society is open to people who love to sing and who enjoy good fellowship. The Choral Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Dues are charged to partially cover musical expenses.

The primary source of financial support comes from ticket sales, donors, program advertisers, concert sponsors, and grants. The Hilton Head Choral Society is a mem ber of Chorus America, a national organiza tion promoting the art of choral singing.

Local author releases third novel

Hilton Head Island author Susan Dia mond Riley has released the third entry in her celebrated Delta and Jax Mysteries series, “The Sea Witch’s Revenge.”

Set primarily on Hilton Head Island and sur rounding areas, the series focuses on a pair of sibling sleuths whose grandfather runs the Island History Museum – loosely based on the real Smithso nian-affiliated Coastal Discovery Museum.

Each book focuses on a mystery related to a specific era in Lowcountry history, including the Civil War and the age of Span ish settlement. “The Sea Witch’s Revenge” explores the fierce rival ry between Hilton Head and Daufuskie islands during the American Revolution.

The first two books in the series, “The Sea Island’s Secret” and “The Sea Turtle’s

Curse,” have won numerous national and international awards, including an Ama zon Bestseller title. In addition, both have been used by school systems in various states – including Beaufort County Schools – to teach American history in an en tertaining but factual way. Earlier this year, interest in the “hidden history” addressed in her books prompted Riley to begin a blog, “Greetings from the Lowcountry!,” which now draws thousands of readers to her features on “the history, people, and traditions that make the Carolina Sea Islands and their mainland neighbors so special.”

All three books in the Delta and Jax Mystery series are available wherever books are sold. For more information, visit SusanDiamondRiley.com.

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Hanukkah parade, menorah lighting set for Dec. 19

To celebrate the 2022 Hanukkah season, Chabad Greater Hilton Head will be holding its annual Car Menorah Parade and public Menorah Lighting Dec. 19.

The parade of cars will depart from Tanger Outlets 2 traveling to Shelter Cove Towne Center, where a giant me norah will be lighted at 5:30 p.m. The parade route will travel via the main thoroughfares of Bluffton and Hilton Head Island.

To join the parade, sign up at jewish hiltonhead.org/chanukkah

Dec. 19 is the second night of Hanuk kah, the eight-day Festival of Lights. The event will feature the Charleston Juggling Show, live Jewish music, do nuts and hot latkes.

Complimentary Hanukkah menorahs and candles will be distributed as well for participants to light at home.

“Everyone is especially excited about Hanukkah this year,” said Rabbi Mendel, Rabbi of Chabad Greater Hilton Head. “People are preparing to celebrate with family and friends, to fill their homes with the light of Hanukkah, and there’s a palpable joy. The public Hanukkah celebration is about sharing this light and joy with the broader community and the entire Greater Hilton Head.”

Jingle Jingle Bridge Run celebrates 31 years

The Hilton Head Island Jingle Jingle Bridge Run, a family Christmas tradition since 1992, will be held Dec 24, begin ning at 8 a.m.

The 5K and 10K runs will start and finish at Crossing’s Park and take partici pants over the scenic Broad Creek on the Cross Island Expressway.

All participants will receive a color ful long sleeve Jingle Jingle Bridge Run T-shirt.

An award ceremony featuring refresh ments, music and door prizes will be held following the race.

Awards will be given to the top three overall male and female runners, top male and female masters, and top three in each age group category.

Participants are encouraged to dress in the spirit of the season and wear elf, Santa or other holiday costumes.

Race officials prefer walkers participate only in the 5K event. Those who choose

to walk the 10K will have a 90-minute time limit.

No pets or baby joggers will be permit ted in either event.

A percentage of proceeds from the event will benefit local charities. For more information or to register visit bear footsports.com or call Bear Foot Sports at 843/757-8520.

Roasting Room music venue set to close at end of year

By Tim Wood CONTRIBUTOR

A shockwave hit the Lowcountry musical community on Nov. 13, as an email hit our inboxes to signal the end of an era.

“Every great story has a beginning, a middle, and an end,” wrote Jordan Ross, co-founder of The Roasting Room, in announcing that the music venue would not be hosting live music events in 2023. “After years of providing high-quality musical performances out of the space above the Corner Perk Brunch Café in sunny Bluffton, the Roasting Room will be ceasing opera tions on Dec. 23, 2022.”

Ross teamed with Corner Perk owner Josh Cooke to create something that even the most ardent area music fans didn’t think possible – an acclaimed music room that became a must-play destination for both up-and-coming singers across the Southeast and seasoned veterans that treasured the intimate atmosphere, hominess and acoustic perfection of the space.

“The space itself will remain, but The

Roasting Room will not remain in its current form. What form it takes is up to those clos est to it. That next great book is unwritten,” Ross wrote.

Cooke reiterated that point to patrons, saying there are no padlocks on the space.

Corner Perk recently hired a new catering manager who will look to increase the num ber of special event bookings such as private parties and corporate meetings.

The news came as a surprise to some who had seen shows announced as far out as

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March 2023. But as it turns out, the Room will have a full-circle moment as the artist who opened the venue in 2015, Angie Aparo, will play two last-hurrah shows Dec. 22-23.

The stoppage of live music bookings is the latest in a bad year for the Bluffton music scene, as The Roasting Room is the third music-boosting business to close in just the past six months. Corks closed in July, followed by the Bluffton Trading Post in September. Lorrie and Neil Ritter from

Corks are renovating a building in the Moss Creek bridge-side shopping center complex that will be more music-centric.

But, while Captain Woody’s and Calhoun’s continue to host live music, the Roasting Room closing feels different to many boost ers of the arts.

Known-entity artists from Aparo to Tommy Tutone to frequent guest performer Ed Roland of Collective Soul all count The Roasting Room as among the top listening rooms in the country. That alone was an incredible source of pride for local artists to have such a venue to aspire to play.

“Listen, this is a back-to-square-one moment for the scene and for many of the artists,” said Bluffton resident and frequent Room performer Jevon Daly. “People always say, ‘Why do you stay in your hometown?’

There are so many reasons, but I mean, to have this place just a mile away from where I played my first-ever performance in front of people with the school band at the May River Auditorium, that’s something.” Please see MUSIC on page 40A

Angie Aparo, accompanied by Davey Masteller on bass and Will Snyder on keys, played opening night at The Roasting Room Dec. 4, 2015.

MUSIC from page 39A

Daly holds the record for most sold-out performances at The Roasting Room, having completed the feat for the eighth time this fall. But he was looking forward to many more artists challenging that record.

“I had never played a solo show before Jordan challenged me to step up to the mic in 2016,” Daly said. That seems unthinkable to fans of his Coligny Plaza kids shows and many solo outings beyond his work with bands like Lowcountry Boil, Silicone Sister and JoJo Squirrel and the Home Pickles. “That’s what that stage means to me. I’m blessed to play all over the area, but The Roasting Room, that was the pinnacle. They treat you like a headlining artist there. The details that went in to a production there … it’s truly special.”

While some of his friends are angry with the closing, and still others sense this as a sign of live music in Old Town on its death bed, Daly doesn’t buy that sentiment.

“Am I upset? Of course. But above all, I’m grateful to Jordan and Josh and everyone that made this an actual thing. Like, we had this world-class spot in our backyard,” Daly said. “Once a year, I got to hold a party, to feel special, to elevate my game and I’m so thankful for that. If anything, I just wish more folks had taken advantage of it.”

The hardest thing to reconcile is the why. Ross transitioned out of day-to-day oper ations this year before moving back to his Ohio hometown in July. But Cooke said that while someone like Ross is impossible to replace, many folks stepped up behind the scenes and made it a banner year for the business.

Others point to the countless hours necessary to run a place like The Roast ing Room without it running you – the booking, the work with agents and the details of maintaining the acoustic quality of the setting. It would be fair to say that the return on time investment did not compare to the core Corner Perk business, as Cooke is expanding the brand with the company’s first Hilton Head Island location.

Cooke said there is no one thing to point to in making the decision, just a confluence of factors.

“The source is elusive and impossible to pinpoint, as we all know that sometimes a culmination of a lot of little things begin to grow into an unsustainable force that moves us so far away from our original goals that there is no righting what went wrong along

the way,” Cooke said in a Nov. 13 email to Roasting Room members.

Cooke said that, like Ross, he is hoping this is simply the end of a chapter in the book, and that he will be there to help inspire the next entity that wants to author the next part of the story.

“This space is not dying, it’s not a funeral. We’ve invested too much in it to just let it go. We own the building, we want to keep the space as vibrant as ever,” Cooke said. “The upside is this opens up plenty of opportunity and dates for those interested in booking events, hopefully many that feature that next incredible artist dying to play here.”

Simply said, while Cooke can no longer be the driving force behind running The Roasting Room business, he is hoping he can be a mentor and the space be the incu bator for the next great idea.

“We will be over here waiting for the next spark of innovation, opportunity, the right players and stars to align to see what might fill this wonderful room again,” Cooke said.

It’s the kind of quote that makes many of us morph into Lloyd Christmas holding out hope of dating Mary Swanson in “Dumb and Dumber.”

“So you’re saying there’s a chance!”

Unlike Mary in the movie, Daly believes the odds are far better than a one-in-a-mil lion chance.

“Creativity lives on. Finding that guy like Jordan Ross that takes on such a dream and is so selfless, that’s tricky,” he said. “I mean, he is as talented as anyone that ever played that space. He could have booked himself there once a week, but there was never a Jordan Ross night. So, yes, you need money to invest, but the time and the passion are the real kicker.”

In the meantime, Daly said the opportu nities for musicians continue to be stronger than ever in the Lowcountry. The magic of his hometown inspires him daily. He’s working on a song for Bluffton legends Bab bie Guscio and Wally Palmer to honor the town’s vibe in the 1980’s and the “Bluffton Buzzards” days under then-mayor George Heyward.

“The biggest thing that any of us want is to keep that vibe alive, to keep Bluffton eccentric, to always honor and foster that energy,” he said.

Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. timwood@blufftonsun.com

• Programs for Exceptional People (PEP), based in Beaufort County, was recently recognized by South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond as one of 10 Angel Charities, organizations that have demonstrated good steward ship of charitable resources in South Carolina.

More than 91% of donations received by PEP go directly toward the mission of promoting independence, social interac tion and employment opportunities for adults who live with intellectual, physi cal and developmental disabilities.

The Angels were selected by review of financial reports submitted annually to the Secretary of State’s Office, as well as by nominations from the public. To be selected as an Angel, the charity must have devoted 80% or more of its total expenditures to charitable programs, among other criteria.

• Hilton Head Island Senior Center will host a Holiday Happiness Party from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 9 at the

Noteworthy

center, 70 Shelter Cove Lane, Suite L. Heavy appetizers will be served, and Santa Gift Giveaways will be offered.

To RSVP, call 843-785-6444.

• Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue will again offer Santa a ride through island neighborhoods at 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday through Dec. 15. Santa will not be able to stop, as he must get back to work at the North Pole.

Find the Santa Tracker on the Town website for the schedule and neighbor hoods he will visit.

Children may visit any island fire sta tion to drop off their letters to Santa. If a return address is on the envelope, Santa will reply!

In addition, the display of holiday lights at Fire Station No. 3 will dazzle visitors through Dec. 31. Visitors may drop off donations of new, unwrapped toys for ages 1-12 and non-perishable food, to be delivered to Deep Well for neighbors in need.

Visit hiltonheadislandsc.gov to find

the Santa Tracker and other holiday information.

• Citizen Journalism, an introduc tion to news gathering, will be held at 10 a.m. Dec. 14, at the Hilton Head Branch Library, 11 Beach City Road.

The presentation will cover notewor thy stories, interview techniques, writing tips, where to publish, and the basics of writing press releases. The program will be led by Hilton Head reference librari an and former newspaper writer/editor Warren Cobb. For more information call 843-255-6525.

• The next monthly meeting of Liber al Men of the Lowcountry will begin at noon Dec. 14 at the Country Club of Hilton Head.

Guest speaker is Pete Nardi from Hilton Head Public Service District, who will talk about the water supply and wa ter resources of Hilton Head and plans for future development.

Cost for the luncheon is $27.

Non-members who are considering joining the organization are welcome to come, but they must email bew_50@ hotmail.com in advance.

• The Long Cove Fund will be accepting applications starting Jan. 16, 2023, for grants that will be made this year to 501(C)(3) nonprofit organiza tions in Beaufort and Jasper counties. To be considered, organizations should have plans for a project to improve health, housing, hunger or educational issues. The deadline for application is March 31, 2023.

The application and all pertinent information can be found on Jan. 16 at longcoveclub.com under the “People” tab and “Caring Community.” For more information, contact the Long Cove Club Administration Office at 843-6861070.

Those who received a grant in 2022 should submit their interim report prior to the March 1 deadline in order to be considered for a grant in 2023.

PURE SALT STUDIOS

Foundation awards 24 grants to local teachers and schools

The Foundation for Educational Ex cellence awarded 20 Innovative Teacher Grants and four School Resource Grants in November to teachers from 15 schools across Beaufort County. The grants, to taling more than $29,000, were awarded to teachers and schools for innovative learning opportunities and projects that go beyond the regular school district budget.

“The Foundation is thrilled that this year’s grants will provide individual learning opportunities for almost 5,000 Beaufort County students,” said Michel Claudio, Innovative Grants chair and Foundation board member. “Students across the district ranging from early ed ucation through high school will benefit from this year’s funding.”

Projects funded by the Foundation this year range from purchasing materials for sensory bins for early education learners to building pickleball courts for middle schoolers and providing funds for a print making press for high school students. At Hilton Head Island High School,

science teacher Robert Stine received funding for his project “A More Rigorous Approach to Environmental Sciences.” Through this project, the school will be able to add a laboratory component that incorporates basic chemistry and physics for students. These lab additions will make the course more rigorous yet more fun for the students enrolled in these courses. The materials purchased can be used for many years to come.

Karen Perdue, the IB/GT Coordinator and STEM/Robotics lead teacher at Hilton Head Island Elementary School, was awarded a grant for her project entitled “EV3 Lego Robotics for Competitions.” With the grant money, the school will be able to purchase three VEX robotics kits, allowing Robotics to be expanded to a wider range of students as well as allow Robotics to be offered as a specials class in the future instead of just a club offering.

Other Hilton Head Island teachers who won grants are: Jennifer Friend-Kerr, HHI Elementary, “Train”ing the Brain;

Matthew Pheiffer, HHI High School, Map Making in the Lowcountry; Wen Wu, HHI Elementary, Greenhouse for “From Seeds to Shoreline” Program; Jill Brickley, HHI Middle, Up Close and Educational; Irma Rameizi, HHI Middle, Voices not forgotten / Voces no olvidadas.

“The Foundation’s Board loves to see the impact that these projects have on the future generations in our commu nity through the initiative and creativity of these amazing teachers,” stated Lisa Carroll, Foundation Board Chair. “It is our honor to be able to make projects possible through the funding of these grants.”

The Foundation for Educational Excel lence raises funds to support the mission and goals of the Beaufort County School District by furthering student instruction al activities and projects through Inno vative Teacher Grants, Innovative School Resource Grants and Student Enrichment Grants. Established in 2007, the Foun dation awarded its first grants in 2009 and has awarded more than $325,000

in grants to teachers and students in the public school system since its inception, benefitting thousands of students across the county each year.

Grants are applied for and award ed once a year. Projects are chosen on their merit by board members of the Foundation. Innovative Teacher Grants are for learning experiences above and beyond the normal classroom like science projects, arts performances, and robotic materials and provide unique learn ing opportunities that are not funded through traditional budgets. Innovative School Resource Grants are for innova tive instructional school-wide projects. These grants help spark the imaginations of students to create a life-long interest in learning. Often these grant awards provide multi-year learning impact.

The Foundation is a fund of Commu nity Foundation of the Lowcountry and a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. For information, contact the Foundation at foundationedexcellence.com , call 843304-1922, or email FFEEinfo@email.com

Winners named in Sound Foundation’s Recycled Art Contest

“Best

Dozens of talented artists and budding environmentalists were recognized Nov. 14 for artwork representing aspects related to the Port Royal Sound.

Winners in the fifth annual Port Royal Sound Foundation Recycled Art Contest were named and prizes were awarded in seven categories, with five honorable men tions given as well.

The competition was created to help re mind the community how important it is to reduce, reuse or recycle waste materials as it supports PRSF’s mission to keep the water and land of the Port Royal Sound area clean and healthy.

Winners are:

Best School Entry: Battery Creek High School, Patsy Stowe

Best Group Entry: Rod and Ty Newsome

Best Individual Entry: Pamela Glover

Best Youth Individual Entry: Amelia Matis (age 10)

Best Use of Recycled Materials: Hilton Head Middle School, Andrea Norman

PRSF Award – Best Represents the Port Royal Sound: Hilton Head Island Elemen tary School Artistically Gifted & Talented students, Helen Ashton

Best in Show: Calvary Day School, Chris tine Powell

Honorable mentions were: Drew Cun ningham (Individual); Michael Church (Individual); Stacey Schultz, Sea Island Sips (Individual); Fine Arts at the Citadel,

Tiffany Silverman (School); Robin Davidson (Individual).

The contest was open to individuals, clubs, schools, families and businesses. The winning Sound-related artwork was made almost entirely of recycled materials and/or trash.

Award recipients received $300, with a grand prize of $500 for the Best in Show. Judges for the contest included Sharon Stewart, PRSF volunteers, and the arts in dustry director from the South Carolina Arts Commission. More than $2,000 in prize money was provided by the Arts Commis sion, supported by the National Endow ment for the Arts.

“I admired how each participant thought fully used the recycled materials to tell the story of the importance of the environment,” said La Ruchala Murphy, a contest judge and member of the Arts Commission. “The works were creative, thought-provoking and well crafted. Each unique in their own way, the works presented an integration of art, nature and community.”

All art entries will remain on display at the Sharon and Dick Stewart Maritime Cen ter, located at 310 Okatie Highway, through Jan. 1, 2023, and can be found on PRSF’s Facebook page. Winning entries will stay throughout the month of January 2023.

For more information, visit PortRoyal SoundFoundation.org or call 843-6457774.

•

•

Winning the

Group Entry” was this representation of a coastal shoreline created by Rod and Ty Newsome.

’Tis the season to shop local at new (and old) businesses

By Tim Wood CONTRIBUTOR

Happy holidays to everyone, and please remember to shop local as you look for those perfect gifts to put under the tree.

We have a bunch of new businesses to tell you about this month, as well as some updates on businesses readying to open in the area.

Preserve Dental, 20 Cassidy Drive, Bluffton, 843-706-5612, preserve-dental. com: Recent New England transplant Dr. David Nadolski has opened a dental practice in town.

The dentist practiced in Connecticut for 13 years before deciding to move with his wife and two kids to Hampton Lake in 2020. The practice is currently accepting new patients and offers a full array of services, including general and cosmetic dentistry and oral health exams and planning.

Escape Island, 2600 Main St., Suite 103, Hilton Head Island, 843-802-0063, escapeislandhhi.com: Owner Brandy Queen and her family recently celebrated their grand opening with a ribbon cutting at the newest island entertainment attraction, locat ed next to CrossFit Coastal Carolina.

The escape room complex is building out three unique experiences. The first one to open, The Dr.’s In, has visitors playing the nosy next-door neighbor of a surgeon at the

center of missing person reports. Your job: Find out what’s behind all the weird sounds and drilling noise coming from his home office.

Still to come is Dog Dayz, a pet-themed adventure charging you to find a missing pup before the owner returns home, and The Grit Breakout, a caper where you and your gang are captured attempting a robbery and must break free from your captives.

PALMETTO ANIMAL LEAGUE

H iday Open H se

Fit4Mom, DuBois Park, Lawrence Street, Bluffton, 843-342-9692. Bluffton-hilton head.fit4mom.com: Local owner Jillian Wolf offers pre and postnatal health, wellness and fitness programs for every stage of mother hood. The company is currently offering a Founding Moms Special, where the first 10 moms to purchase a monthly membership will receive free enrollment and discounted membership fees.

Wolf is currently offering the Stroller Stride workout at 9 a.m. Monday, Wednes day and Friday at the DuBois Park pavilion. The 60-minute class focused on strength, cardio and core training, all while engaging your little one in a stroller.

Updates galore to share:

Delays have been the name of the game for many businesses trying to open over the past two years, but thankfully, we have some hopeful news on a number of storefronts

Please see UPDATE on page 45A

Local moms gathered at DuBois Park in Bluffton for a recent Fit4Mom Stroller Strides workout.

you’ve been wanting to see “Open”

Uncorked Wine, Bar, Food and Music – the sequel to the Old Town Corks owned by Lorrie and Neil Ritter – is in a holding pattern while they wait for permits from the county. “We’re ready to go,” said Lorrie. “Once we get the paper, the buildout will get done quickly.” Speaking of quick, sending happy thoughts Lorrie’s way for a quick recovery from two broken ribs suffered Thanksgiving night.

The Fording Island Road Aldi store in Bluffton is making progress, both in the build-out and the hiring of staff. But they won’t be hitting their target December open ing. Company officials say early spring 2023 is the new target date.

The two new storefronts in the Kroger row at Buckwalter Place are getting close to open dates. The UPS Store is nearing full buildout and just staffing up and waiting for final approvals. The hope is to open mid-month, while Rita’s Italian Ice is likely a bit further out. Owner Doug Fulton had hoped for a December opening, but is more likely that a ribbon cutting will be held in the first few weeks of 2023.

K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel on S.C. 170 in Ridgeland is readying for their grand opening. The resort will offer a premium care experience for your dog, complete with chandeliers, Italian tile flooring, Kuranda dog bedding, executive suites, flat screen TVs and more. The 6,100-square-foot facility is celebrating with a ribbon cutting event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 10, with food from the Mother Smokin’ Good BBQ food truck and tours of the new facility. Owner James Merli has been a consistent presence on social media and in the community over the past year and is thrilled to add 21 jobs with the newest member of the K9 Resorts lineup.

You’ve seen the course take shape at Lighthouse Lagoon in the Buckwalter Place plaza across the street from Station 300. We’ve talked about a number of hopeful opening dates in these pages, but here’s the thing: You can pour the concrete for the holes, but you can’t have a mini-golf course without the hole carpeting. That, along with

precast concrete storm drain piping and a constructor worker shortage have been the major factors keeping Collin and Billy Hub bard from teeing it up for a grand opening.

“We truly are getting close and we appre ciate everyone’s patience. It stinks to wait like this, but it’s exciting to hear so many folks asking when we’re opening,” said Billy Hubbard. “We knew the area needed more family entertainment, but the response has been amazing.”

The project that began with an announce ment in February 2021 is now looking at a spring 2023 opening. The 1.3-acre project will include a 1,300-square-foot clubhouse and concessions building and an 840-square-foot outdoor pavilion area to host parties of up to 40 people.

While one entertainment complex nears completion, we have an unfortunate update to pass along on the trampoline park front. The Altitude Trampoline Park that was announced in October will not be moving forward. The local franchisees have decided not to pursue the project that was hoped to open in late 2023 to early 2024.

Joe’s Classic Cuts is expanding. Owner Joseph Gancio has announced that the be loved barbershop will be occupying a space just outside the William Pope Drive Sun City gates next to Okatie Ale House and Daddy O’s Liquors. Gancio previewed the new spot under construction on social media and said he hopes to open in mid-January.

We have a couple name updates on businesses coming to the Promenade that we’ve discussed in previous updates. The new wine and charcuterie bar that is taking over the former Ben & Jerry’s space will be called Wine Time Bluffton, while the highend seafood restaurant from restauranteur Brian Behnke will be called Crudo. Both are currently working on build-outs but have not announced opening dates.

And we wish happy retirement to the owners of Cocoon specialty women’s store, who closed their doors on Oct. 29. We’re hearing whispers of a well-known local businesswoman expanding her burgeoning empire in the space. More to come – stay tuned.

Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. timwood@blufftonsun.com

LEGAL

For your peace of mind, plan now to avoid problems

By Mark F. Winn CONTRIBUTOR

Estate and asset protection planning avoids many problems, such as unneces sary legal and court fees, guardianship, conservatorship, loss of assets to long term care, taxes, loss of assets to in-laws, and family disputes.

These are a few things you will avoid with a good comprehensive estate and asset protection plan, which usually con sists of a variety of legal instruments.

If properly drawn with care and advice is followed, then all of the above prob lems can be avoided so everything is ad ministered privately with no unnecessary problems. In many cases, we can protect your assets (your home) from creditors and also avoid issues for your loved ones who may inherit.

In all cases, we seek to avoid or defer taxes.

Unlike insurance, which often goes unused, with estate planning, we can be certain that at some time, these pa pers will be there to protect you and to advance your interests – to avoid court involvement, to avoid family conflict, and to leave assets to your loved ones as you direct, to avoid taxes and to keep it in your family.

The documents usually consist of

powers of attorney, will and trust, deeds, updating beneficiary designations, and making sure title on your assets is optimal to accomplish your goals.

The process usually takes three in-per son meetings and one teleconference. This permits time to provide guidance and counsel regarding decisions and op tions, and is a good way to do it.

Let’s say Jack and Jill, who recently moved here and are in a second marriage, have a son together named Bob; Jill has a son from a prior marriage named Kevin.

Jill wants to make sure Bob and Kevin will get equal shares and that if either son gets divorced or sued, they won’t lose their inheritance. She wants to make sure assets stay in the bloodlines.

So, what should Jack and Jill do? They should get a comprehensive estate and asset protection plan and direct assets, when they are both gone, to go into trusts for Kevin and Bob in equal shares. They should agree not to change the ultimate distribution of their property.

In several meetings, all of these goals – and peace of mind – can be accom plished.

Mark F. Winn, J.D., Master of Laws (LL.M.) in estate planning, is a local asset protection, estate and elder law planning attorney. mwinnesq.com

HEALTH

Do you really need to see your dentist every six months?

By Matthew Mastrorocco CONTRIBUTOR

Patients are usually surprised if my team or I recommend more frequent dental office visits than semi-annual. For some patients, six months is too long to wait. In fact, most of our patients come in for regular checkups or treatment sooner than six months.

The habit of visiting the dentist every six months is rooted in marketing, rather than science.

In the early 1900s, toothbrushing was extremely unpopular and only 7% of people had toothpaste or tooth powder in their homes.

During that time, marketing genius Claude Hopkins designed an ad campaign for a new toothpaste called “Pepsodent.” Rather than focusing on its many health benefits, Hopkins boasted about the cos metic benefits of a “Pepsodent smile,” which included the jingle, “You’ll wonder where the yellow went when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent!”

The campaign was so successful that within 10 years of its introduction, an esti mated 65% of households owned a tube of Pepsodent.

After World War II, Pepsodent created a new catchphrase: “Use Pepsodent every day – see your dentist twice a year.” The slogan pleasantly surprised dentists. By 1954, den tal insurance companies referred to it when determining the number of covered visits in their annual dental benefits.

Today we know that preventative den tistry is not one-size-fits-all medicine. The

American Dental Association (ADA) recom mends that regular dental visits for preven tive care be set at intervals determined by a dentist and the frequency be tailored to each patient.

Patients who have diabetes, smoke tobacco, or have a family history of gum disease usually require additional and more extensive hygiene cleanings. Even patients with the most proficient home care routine cannot replicate a cleaning from a highly trained hygienist using professional instru ments.

Many older patients benefit from more frequent cleanings because their loss of dex terity makes it more difficult to reach and clean the entire mouth. Certain medications they take have side effects like less salivary production resulting in dry mouth.

Saliva is the premier cavity-fighting, natural resource for maintaining a healthy mouth. In addition to keeping your mouth moist and comfortable, saliva prevents cavities and periodontal problems by wash ing sugars off your teeth and reducing the mouth’s acidity.

Above all, regular dental visits are about making sure your mouth is healthy and preventing bigger, more costly, inconve nient and painful dental health issues in the future. Make sure to consult with your dental professional to determine which dental office visit frequency is best for your unique needs, but biannual visits should be the bare minimum.

Matthew Mastrorocco, DMD is the owner and founder of ROC Dental Group, serving Bluffton and Hilton Head Island.

Brief history of the evolution of plastic surgery

The word “plastic” in the term “plastic surgery” evolved from the Greek word “plastikos,” meaning “to mold.”

The first textbook on plastic surgery was written by Gaspar Ta gliacozzi in the 1500s. He wrote about the reconstruction of noses after trauma.

By E. Ronald Finger CONTRIBUTOR E. Ronald Finger

The first breast augmentation was done in 1895, when tissue from the back was transplanted to the breast.

The first implantable materials were im planted into the breast in 1889, and they included paraffin and beeswax, and – later on –vegetable oil, industrial silicone, and Ivalon sponges. I personally removed a number of these decades ago. Thankfully,

none lately, as they felt like lumpy bricks. The father of modern-day plastic sur gery was Jacques Joseph, particularly with the rhinoplasty, and this was around the turn of the last century. His techniques and surgical instruments are still used today.

Plastic surgery grew with reconstruction of World War I injuries. Plastic surgeons became involved in peace time injuries, including burns, facial fractures from automobile accidents and injuries at work and on farms with the advent of automat ed machinery.

Also, reconstruction for birth defects such as cleft lip and cleft palates and cancer were needed. Prior to “cosmetic” surgery, these were a plastic surgeon’s focus.

When Hollywood movies began, female movie stars were among the first to request cosmetic surgery. A tragic example was Hedy Lamarr, who sought out a plastic surgeon and told him where

she wanted skin removed and where she wanted fillers injected into her face – at the time, probably industrial silicone.

Apparently, the results were disfiguring to the point that she became a recluse and would not even let her children see her until her death.

Breast enlargement became popular with the famous Carol DoDa, a topless dancer in San Francisco, who had large amounts of silicone injected into her breasts. The results were spectacular as far as size went, but were hard and lumpy.

These first requests lead to a boom in plastic surgery for the everyday person.

Silicone breast implants were developed in the 1960s, and thousands of women flocked to plastic surgeons for breast enlargement. The request for “nose jobs,” eyelid lifts, facelifts, breast uplifts and re ductions, ear pinning, and other “cosmet ic” procedures also became popular.

Liposuction was invented around 1980 and has since become the most popular

cosmetic surgical procedure.

Today, many working people have little or no down time for cosmetic procedure recovery, so there has been a demand for “non-surgical procedures,” thus the birth of Botox/Dysport, and fillers such as Juve derm, Sculptra and Restylane. Also, lasers and radio-frequency devices, automated hair transplant equipment, and cosme ceutical skin care systems have become mainstream.

There is still a need for “reconstructive” surgeons, but the demand for cosmet ic surgery is very common now. With cosmetic dentistry, hair dyes, youthful clothing and cosmetic surgery, today’s grandmothers look vastly different from photos of grandmothers of the past. As with virtually everything, technology and techniques continue to improve with time.

E. Ronald Finger, MD, FACS is a board certified plastic surgeon with offices in Savan nah and Bluffton. fingerandassociates.com

Sounds of joyful holiday celebrations must include music

By Jennifer Herrin CONTRIBUTOR

The holidays are upon us! The sights, sounds and smells of the season are finding their fullness day by day as we approach their apex later this month.

One of the elements of holiday time that brings back incredible memories of seasons gone by is the presence of music. Music is perhaps one of the defining characteristics of the season lasting between Thanksgiving and New Years.

Try to imagine the holidays without its perennial soundtrack – I dare say it can’t be done! From “Over the River and Through the Woods” to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” to “Ave Maria” and everything in between, Christmas songs, secular and sa cred, permeate our sense of the season and truly define its cozy, comfortable character.

The 1966 Broadway musical “Mame,” written by Jerry Herman and starring Angela Lansbury, premiered the now-classic Christ

mas ditty “We Need a Little Christmas.” While most of the lyrics are self-explanatory, some listeners might have needed a little help with the verse: “But we need a little Christmas / Right this very minute / Candles in the window / Carols at the spinet.”

Excuse me, some might ask, but what is a “spinet”? It’s a catchy rhyme, but what does it have to do with Christmas?

Many more of us, however, might have fond memories of evenings spent gathered around a spinet for hours, belting out

carols with family, friends and neigh bors.

A spinet, for those needing help with the lyr ics, is a small, par lor-sized upright piano, which at one time occupied the living rooms of most homes across America. In recent decades, spinets have given way to other home furnishings and amenities, and I believe that we are the poorer for it.

These days, instead of creating music our selves at home, we rely on recording artists to provide it for us.

However, there may be a light in the musical darkness. Many families are dis covering the delight of traditional pianos that can be retrofitted to play themselves. Carols at the spinet – or the baby grand, or

the grand upright, or the full grand – are possible at the push of a button on an app, digitally igniting the mechanical parts of an acoustic piano. Strains of “Jingle Bells,” “O Holy Night,” or any Bing Crosby tune allow a family to sing and dream about a white Christmas from the celebratory comfort of their living room once again.

Even better, Bing Crosby might sing along with you, or (a miracle of digital technol ogy) the likes of Michael Bublé can give a concert on your very piano while you gather ’round to hear the music and watch him live on your smart TV.

If you’re growing weary of the same Christmas songs repeated on the radio, while grandmother’s piano sits silent in the corner, it might be time for Santa to bring some different music down the chimney this year. Jerry Herman would be proud!

Jennifer Herrin is the co-owner of Kawai Piano Gallery by Herrin in Bluffton. jennifer@ kpgbyherrin.com or kawaipianogallerybyherrin. com

The Jackson sisters of Bluffton gather around the family’s spinet for some Christmas carols and holiday love. From left are Sofie Beth, 10, Penny, 5, Gloria, 6, and Ruby Lee, 3. Penny is currently enrolled in piano lessons.

New Community Impact Award to honor outstanding service

By Scott Wierman CONTRIBUTOR

The Community Foundation of the Low country witnesses the incredible charitable spirit exhibited in our four-county service area on a daily basis. The majority of these people’s good deeds go largely unnoticed by the general public, but are critical to the success of the organizations and/ or communities they support.

with the generous support of Joan and Wade Webster, the Community Impact Award will be presented to an individual who has made a positive impact in the Low country quality of life and has demonstrated visionary leadership in a community activity or on behalf of a community organization. This is not a lifetime achievement award and is designed to recognize an individual for a recent charitable act. The nominee is required to be a resident of Beaufort, Colle ton, Hampton or Jasper County,

Scott Wierman

So we, along with a longtime Foundation philanthropic partner, set out to develop something that would acknowledge a deserving individual while benefitting a local nonprofit. I am excited to announce the creation of the Joan and Wade Webster Community Impact Award. Established as an endowed fund in 2022

The Joan and Wade Webster Community Impact Award is the Foundation’s highest honor presented on behalf of a grateful community. The winner will receive a $10,000 grant to bestow to a charitable/ nonprofit organization based in the Foun dation’s service territory, as well as a piece of art to memorialize the honor.

The nomination form is now available to download on the Community Foundation’s website at cf-lowcountry.org. Please com plete your nomination form and email it to

info@cf-lowcountry.org (along with your answers to the three questions). You may also pick up a nomination form at the Com munity Foundation office, 4 Northridge Drive, Suite A.

The nomination deadline is Jan. 17, 2023. A selection committee, chosen by the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry board of directors, will review the nomina tions and select the award winner.

Community Foundation of the Lowcoun try staff and board, public elected officials, and paid staff of a nonprofit are ineligible to receive the award.

The inaugural Community Impact Award will be presented on March 29, 2023, at the Community Foundation of the Lowcoun try’s Annual Community Meeting, to be held at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina on Hilton Head Island. We are excited to announce that the featured speaker will be Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford.

More details about the free event, as well as registration information, will be coming soon.

Scott Wierman is the president and CEO of Community Foundation of the Lowcountry.

TRAVEL

Lowcountry couple drives from home to Alaska for third time

By Frank J. Parry CONTRIBUTOR

It was 4:30 a.m. July 4 at the quirky Rip ley Creek Inn in Stewart, British Columbia, when we heard “Cock-a-doodle-doo!” at 100 decibels.

It was the resident rooster just outside our open window.

Sometimes it’s the small, unexpected hap penings that add spice to your long drives.

I had been to Alaska many times as an Air Force navigator, flying through Alaska to Vietnam, but never had time to see much on the ground. Alaska was the only state my wife, Carole, had never visited.

In 2013, we were both working part-time, so we flew to Alaska from Ohio and rented a car for nine days. On a jammed red-eye return flight to Chicago, I said to my wife, “Next time we’re driving” – which we did in 2015, 2018 and again in 2022.

We prefer to drive because: 1. We can determine our own itinerary; 2. We have

flexibility; and 3. There are more worth while attractions in the western U.S. and Canada than just in Alaska.

In 2022 we decided on one more drive to the 49th state. At age 79, we knew it would be our last long road trip. Our objective was

to visit some places we had never visited and a few that were old favorites. As in any long road trip, there are always glitches.

We left home on June 24, headed west, and visited the St. Louis Gateway Arch on a 100-degree day. Then it was farther west to Denver, where we had dinner with my old 1966 USAF Navigator School classmate and his wife.

The next day we toured Rocky Mountain National Park, which we had never visited. From there we headed north toward Lake Louise, Alberta, where we had booked a shuttle to Moraine Lake, billed as Canada’s most scenic lake. It is glacier fed, pale blue and surrounded by majestic mountains.

From Lake Louise, we drove north through Banff and Jasper, Alberta, and the very scenic Alberta Route 40 to the Acorn Motel in the small town of Grande Cache, Alberta.

When I made our reservation, I men

Please see ALASKA on page 52A

Vistas along the Bow River in Banff, Alberta, Canada are beautiful in any season.

PHOTOS BY FRANK J. PARRY

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tioned that we would be celebrating our 56th wedding anniversary in Grande Cache. The motel provided an upgraded room, a bouquet of flowers and a fruit basket to help us celebrate.

We had planned to continue up the scenic Route 40 to the Alcan Highway when (Glitch No. 1) we learned that a culvert had washed out and the Alcan was closed, So, we drove back several hundred miles south and proceeded west into British Columbia, then headed north toward the Yukon on the Cassiar Highway.

We spent a night at the quirky Ripley Creek Inn in the small town of Stewart, British Columbia (Pop. 405). The owner of the hotel had reconditioned several old buildings into a fairly modern facility. After dinner we drove a few miles west through Hyder, Alaska (Pop. 87), the state’s eastern most town.

The only ways to get to Hyder are by driving through Stewart, British Columbia, by float plane, or by boat from Ketchikan, Alaska, 100 miles west. It was the Fourth of July week and all the Hyderites were gathered in front of the Glacier Inn, young women in their prom dresses and everyone drinking beer!

We drove north a few miles to the bear and salmon viewing platform but there were no salmon, and thus, no bears.

We came back to the Ripley Creek Inn, where our two-bedroom suite was in the old brothel. This was where the hotel’s resident rooster scared us awake. He is very lucky I didn’t have a weapon.

We wanted to spend a night in Dawson City, Yukon’s Klondike region – a place we had never been. But (Glitch No. 2) a

wildfire had jumped the road outside of the town. When we got close to the fire, a pilot car led us through the smoke and minimal flames, and we reached Dawson City safely.

After dinner we headed to the Downtown Hotel and watched folks downing $12 Sourtoe Cocktails – with an actual big toe submerged in Yukon Jack whisky. There’s aa $2,500 fine if you swallow the toe. We elected to not participate.

From Dawson City, we crossed the Yukon River on the free ferry and started our drive across the Top of the World Highway. This remote mostly-gravel road connects Dawson City with Tok, Alaska, and winds across scenic mountain ridges for most of the way.

After a night in Tok we drove west to the old (also mostly gravel-surfaced) Denali Highway. We spent the night at the remote Maclaren River Lodge and, the next day, we continued our journey westward along this scenic, historic road.

We had hoped to take the 97-mile eachway bus trip into Denali Park, which we had already enjoyed twice, but (Glitch No. 3) the gravel road had suffered a landslide and was closed for the final 50 miles.

So, we dug deep down into our pockets and booked an airplane ride around Denali. It was very cloudy and, had we not had an experienced and very proficient Piper Navajo pilot, it is doubtful if we would have survived this somewhat harrowing flight. All told, it was probably the highlight of our last Alaska drive.

After our flight we needed lunch – soon. We decided to go to a nearby, somewhat expensive, restaurant where we had dinner

We saw this old bison in Yellowstone National Park and decided he must be one of the oldest residents of the park.

nine years ago. It was 2 p.m. and the only choice for lunch was chicken fingers with fries, for $25 each. We decided that was better than starving to death in Alaska!

We headed south, with a lunch in Talk eetna, to Girdwood, Alaska. It was Carole’s birthday, so we hoped for an upscale dinner. Unfortunately, the best restaurant in this small town was closed, so we ate a mediocre dinner in a nearby bar. We made up for it at our next destination, The Inn at Whittier, the next day.

We drove through the railroad/vehicle tunnel and arrived in Whittier, Alaska (Pop. 282), in mid-morning, greatly appreciating the beauty of this small town ringed by snowcapped mountains on three sides and the Passage Canal Bay on the fourth. Then we enjoyed a five-hour glacier cruise which included lunch.

We saw several glaciers, seals, some beautiful waterfalls dropping directly into the fjords, and a raft of sea otters.

From Whittier, we drove the few hours to Kenai where Carole wanted to try her luck fishing in the Kenai River, one of the most famous salmon rivers in the world. Unfor

tunately, the gill netters at the mouth of the river were intercepting most of the salmon, so Carole didn’t catch anything. But we did enjoy our time on this beautiful azure blue river.

Our next destination was Glennallen, Alaska. We had made a two-night reserva tion at the beautiful Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge, a place where we had stayed three times previously. Unfortunate ly, they were having problems obtaining adequate staffing and (Glitch No. 4) had de cided to close at the end of June. This area is sparsely populated with limited lodging, and we were lucky to find a small, adequate B&B for two nights.

From Glennallen, we took a day trip to Valdez, the terminus of the Alaska Pipeline. The town had been essentially wiped out by a tsunami during the 1964 earthquake and they rebuilt the town at a safer level a few miles away.

We drove out Dayville Road, east of Valdez, hoping to spot some bears. With no bears in sight, we headed back toward Val dez. As we passed the Valdez fish weir, my peripheral vision picked up something in

the water. There were seven or eight huge, 8- to 10-foot long, stellar sea lions in the area. We and about 20 other tourists reveled in watching these behemoths swimming, fishing and grunting below the weir.

We headed east into the Yukon and south through British Columbia on the remote Cassiar Highway for another night at the Ripley Creek Inn in Stewart. Fortunately, the resident 100-decibel rooster was on the opposite side of the hotel from our room this time.

Then it was south through British Colum bia to the wine country north of Osoyoos, British Columbia, and the U.S. border. We stopped for lunch at the upscale Burrowing Owl Winery. By upscale, I mean my lunch was a $20 grilled cheese sandwich – tasty, with an expansive view of the valley.

After crossing the border to the U.S., we headed toward Yellowstone National Park, where we had booked a cabin at Mammoth in the north edge of the park. But (Glitch No. 5), because of the severe flooding in the area in June, the Mammoth area was closed.

We managed to find a room in the town of West Yellowstone, Montana, a town

where we had stayed on an Air Force move in 1967.

We visited several of the Yellowstone gey sers, saw lots of bison and had a nice lunch overlooking Yellowstone Lake. Then it was south to Jackson, Wyoming, and Carole’s favorite mountains, the Tetons.

We spent two nights in Jackson and, after dinner, drove out Gros Ventre Road where we had seen moose in every previous sojourn in Jackson. There were trout fisher men on the river, so there were no moose!

Next, a beeline to South Carolina with a stop in Tennessee, where Carole’s older sis ter had lived, to visit some old friends and enjoy the first home-cooked food in five and a half weeks.

We arrived home on Hiton Head Island on Aug. 1 and were unpacked in about two days.

Frank J. Parry and his wife, Carole, Hilton Head Island residents since 1999, have traveled to all 50 states, six Canadian provinces, and numerous Caribbean islands. Parry is the author of “Driving to Alaska,” which covers his and Carole’s trips in 2013, 2015 and 2018.

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Historic Holidays event brings new, old-fashioned Christmas vibe

By Barry Kaufman CONTRIBUTOR

You might think that a place as relatively young as Hilton Head Island wouldn’t have a lot of Christmas traditions. After all, while people have been calling the island home for centuries, it’s really only been a town for about 40 years. That’s not a lot of time to establish a tradition, especially one that only comes once a year.

However, once the mercury dips and the holiday season approaches, you’d be amazed how many unique Christmas celebrations you’ll find here. The grand light display at Shelter Cove began as a spiritual successor to the famed Dove Street lights, a winter wonderland that popped up along North Forest Beach every year for decades. Across the street at Coligny Plaza, the Christmas celebrations still recall the time Santa showed up in a helicopter.

Then there are the traditions of the native islanders, huge multi-generational family

get togethers that always end with a round of “visiting.” Traveling to every house in the family for a brief while, these visits see fami ly bonds strengthened over food and drink.

There are already many traditions in this young island town, but this year might just

see the arrival of a new favorite. From noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 10 at USCB’s Hilton Head campus, the Heritage Library will present its first-ever Historic Holidays on Hilton Head event.

Celebrating the season with local artists

and authors, this event will include shop ping and afternoon tea, so you can sip and stroll through an array of vendors. In be tween, you can catch breakout sessions with local authors and appearances from historic figures including General Ormsby Mitchel, Francis Gage and Clara Barton (played by Rich Thomas, Kathy Smith and Rosemary Staples, respectively).

“We were looking for a way to celebrate the season while giving people a deeper appreciation for the culture and history of Hilton Head,” said Heritage Library Executive Director Barbara Catenaci. “After the success of our Afternoon Tea events at Heritage Library, we saw the perfect oppor tunity to create a new holiday tradition for the island.”

Historic Holidays tickets are $15 for admission, $35 for admission and afternoon tea, with children 12 and under getting in free. Register at heritagelib.org.

Lowcountry resident Barry Kaufman is a freelance writer.

Celebrate the winter holidays with a cup of tea Dec. 10 at the inaugural Historic Holidays on Hilton Head event.

PETS

For picky dogs, add tasty flavor enhancements to dry food

By Abby Bird CONTRIBUTOR

Some dogs will just wolf down whatev er food you put in front of them. In cases where the dog eats too quickly, I recom mend slow feed bowls. They come in plastic and metal and often look like a maze. It forces a dog to eat slower.

But then you get just the opposite – dogs that are very picky and don’t eat what they need to or are just grazers and disinterested even when you give them the best quality foods.

If you have your heart set on a particular kind of food, especially if it is a dry dog food, you might need to consider some kind of a “topper” for these picky eaters. The additions can be wet or dry, depending on your needs as well as the dog’s dietary requirements. For now, let’s address the dry offerings.

Dry toppers are really easy to use and don’t require refrigeration or too much

preparation and can be varied. Others may require some work. Budgetary concerns are also a factor.

I have personal favorites in the freezedried category. I use Instinct Raw Boost freeze-dried mixers that come in a variety of flavors: beef, chicken, lamb. They look like dog treats and can be used that way as well,

but I crumble just a few of them by hand and sprinkle on top of the food. I usually give my dogs one whole chunk and then let them see me sprinkle the rest on their food. I like to vary the flavors.

These are easy to use and not messy. A bag can be pricy, but if used this way it lasts a long time.

I also like freeze-dried beef or chicken liver made by Stewart. It comes in a tub and really lasts a long time for the price. These I grind in a food processor or small grinder a few at a time, then store the entire ground product in a container.

This does not need refrigeration. I store it in a sealed container. Because I grind it until it is like a powder, I take some from the container and put that in a small spice jar with holes on top. I can then can just sprinkle some on top of the food. This is very cost effective.

You can also buy freeze-dried raw patties by Stella & Chewy and break these up to put on top when you want pieces that are bigger. This is probably a more expensive route, but a very good quality item.

Dr. Marty Nature’s Blend is pricy and a freeze-dried raw blend of high quality organ meats and veggies. I also grind this or crum ble on top of food. The dogs love this. It can be addictive as well as very healthy. It can be used as a food as well soaked in warm water. You can find this on the internet.

Good luck, and I hope these suggestions will help with your picky eaters.

Abby Bird is owner of Alphadog Training Academy. AlphadogTrainingAcademy@gmail. com

PETS Move over Tom Turkey … here comes Tomcat

By Amy Campanini CONTRIBUTOR

Tomcat, a hunk of a cat with rugged good looks, showed up outside the Palmetto Ani mal League Adoption Center more than five years ago. He was a bit antisocial, but happy to take advantage of our feeding station.

Tomcat quickly realized our staff members take lunch breaks outside, which meant he could finagle far tastier fare than just cat food! Over time, and after many a shared meal, we were able to pet Tom, and even tually he became a familiar fixture near the feeding station.

“Last year, we noticed Tom was losing weight rapidly, so our veterinarian per formed tests and found that his teeth were making it too painful to eat,” said PAL Adop tion Coordinator Sally Dawkins.

After a trip to a dental specialist, we brought Tom inside to rest while his mouth healed. Day after day, he seemed to enjoy his cushy new life, lounging around, and having

humans serve him all kinds of tasty meals.

Now, with his mouth long healed, 10-year-old Tom shows zero interest in going outside.

“His full-time job is hanging out in the kitchen where he asks everyone for food,” Dawkins said, smiling. “Volunteers are even known to bring him cooked bacon.”

Because of PAL’s kindhearted supporters, Tom received the veterinary care he needed to live comfortably and happily in his golden years. With a tummy full of food and a heart full of love, he wishes for nothing more than a home to call his own.

“Tom has been a long-time lap cat ever since he was outside sharing lunch breaks

with our staff,” said Dawkins. “He would make a great companion for someone who, like him, appreciates snacks and snuggles.”

You can change the life of a homeless pet this holiday season during Palmetto Animal League’s “Season of Second Chances.” We are waiving adoption fees for cats, kittens, and adult dogs throughout December. All pets are spayed/neutered, microchipped and up to date on vaccinations.

Can’t adopt? You can still share holiday cheer with pets in need. Drop by the PAL Adoption Center at 56 Riverwalk Blvd in Okatie from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 10 for our Hol iday Open House. Enjoy cookies, cocoa, and lots of good cheer as you spend time with homeless yet hopeful pets like Tomcat.

Please consider bringing a donation for our pet pantry, including cat and dog food, toys, treats, pet beds, and cozy blankets, and we’ll make sure your gifts get to those animals who need them most.

Amy Campanini is president of Palmetto Animal League.

Adjacent to the HHI Beaufort County Sherriff’s Office

Longtime shelter resident Tomcat charms every human he meets.

NATURE

Nature’s protection from hurricanes and tropical storms

By John Riolo CONTRIBUTOR

In my last article, I wrote about lessons learned from Hurricane Ian. We were very fortunate to have been spared the worst of that storm.

While Hurricane Matthew in 2016 was more of an event for us, it also could have been worse.

When will the big one hit us head-on? As I wrote this article, yet another tropical storm was headed our way. At press time, however, we are finally out of hurricane season.

There are two natural elements that can mitigate damage from hurricanes. First is barrier islands. In addition to serving as a habitat and refuge for wildlife, barrier is lands also protect the nearby coastline from severe storm damage – presuming that the marshes remain relatively undeveloped.

Pinckney Island is a good example of an undeveloped barrier island. Without it, a good part of Bluffton and Hilton Head Island would have experienced far greater damage during Matthew, and possibly even with Ian.

Pinckney Island broke some of the winds and wave action, which helped protect properties in our area.

Hilton Head Island is an example of a barrier island that has been extensively de veloped. It is not surprising that it sustains greater damage than the mainland when hurricanes or tropical storms strike our area.

The second mitigator of storm damage is the marsh grass surrounding barrier islands. Also called cordgrass, or salt grass (genus

Spartina), it is one of the best natural ways of controlling erosion because its fibrous roots spread both deeply and quickly. This helps protect shorelines by binding the soil and reducing erosion.

Marsh grass also helps with dissipating wave energy and wave height from the shoreline and also reduces flooding farther inland.

So, what does all this mean?

Let’s say you own a home that is a mile or so from the shore, and it is at an elevation that does not require that you carry flood insurance (although that might be a good idea anyway).

If plans are made to further develop the shoreline with more homes, businesses, amenities, etc., the resulting removal of marsh grass will increase the chances of your home being flooded the next time a big storm heads our way.

Flooding will not only endanger your house, but it will also weaken surrounding trees, damaging the root system and wash ing away the soil all around trees, bushes and other plants. Undermined trees are also more likely to fall.

In many instances, plantings and shrubs need to be replaced because of damaged root systems. Otherwise, the next storm may further damage your property.

Mother Nature has given us a beautiful, pristine coastal paradise. She needs our help to keep it that way for future genera tions to enjoy.

John Riolo lives in Moss Creek and is past president of the Nature Club of Moss Creek. john.a.riolo@gmail.com

The abundance of marsh grass surrounding our Lowcountry shorelines helps protects us from storm damage.

NATURE’S WAY

Holiday fishing tales from the east coast of Florida

By Collins Doughtie CONTRIBUTOR

Of all the holidays, Thanksgiving is by far my favorite. I love that there is very little pressure to do anything – other than cook ing, of course – and most important of all, it just seems to bring out the best in everyone. This year was no exception.

I guess it was around three or four years ago that my wife, Karen, and I began the tradition of spending Thanksgiving with my sister Grace at her home in Indian Harbor Beach, Florida. Since her kids and mine have now grown up and all of them are leading their own separate lives, stretch ing from Costa Rica to L.A., it just seemed logical that she and I should catch up after 20-something years of being apart while we raised children.

Besides, I can think of worse places to spend Thanksgiving than beachside in good ol’ sunny Florida.

Like me, Grace is a kid at heart. I would love to know what it is in our gene pool that makes us so childlike. Like the cast of “Seinfeld,” we find it way too easy to get our jollies from the simplest things. It might be the server at a restaurant that discovers that his tip will greatly increase if he or she notices the faces we created on our plates with our leftover food.

And people watching isn’t just a pastime for us; it’s more of a religion.

A quick run to Wal-Mart can easily turn into an hour-long game of dodge ball as we sneak up on one another – no matter what the department – throwing those huge,

brightly colored rubber balls at each other. That alone is worth the drive.

And speaking of driving, even that aspect of our jaunt to Florida is somewhat sopho moric. Due to my back condition, my wife Karen does most of the driving. We don’t listen to books on tape – no siree! We sing dreadfully off-key almost the entire way there and back. We play “Name that Tune,” “Name That Performer,” and “What Were You Doing When That Song Came Out?”

I thought a lot of people sang their way down the highway until I started asking my friends if they ever tried this mode of travel ing. I have yet to find one “yes” couple that didn’t also give me that “you aren’t quite right” look. Oh well…

One downside of being on the coast of Florida during a family get-together is the ocean is just too darn close. I can smell it. I know what you are thinking: “What’s so bad about that?”

For me, being sur rounded by crystal clear water that just has to be teeming with fish is akin to an alcoholic walking into a room with a fountain only to find that the fountain dispenses vodka with a twist of lime. I simply can’t resist it. When I should be thinking of turkey, giblets and stuffing smothered in gravy, all I can think about is the snook that has to be hiding behind that dock or that dock, and for sure under that big dock over there. Snook … they’re everywhere… they’re everywhere!

I will admit I have managed to get through my past Florida Thanksgivings without fishing. This time may be different though because instead of just hanging out at Indian Harbor Beach, I considered head ing to my old college stomping ground in Sarasota, where I attended Ringling School of Art and Design when I wasn’t out fishing.

I planned to leave all my gear at home. Then the thought of chartering a guide for a day on the water crept into my psyche.

Thinking back to a prior Thanksgiving in Florida, I remember Grace called before I left Bluffton and told me to make sure to bring my rods because I was going fishing the day after Thanksgiving with her late husband Kevin aboard his boat. I was so ex

cited Thanksgiving night I barely slept, even with 10 pounds of turkey and pumpkin pie in my gut.

Hooking up Kevin’s boat at first light, we headed off. Much to my dismay, the wind was blowing too hard to go after snook, but he informed me that the big trout should be within reach.

Typically, Florida trout are much bigger than ours, so instead of shrimp, the bait of choice is live mullet – the bigger the better.

The fishing was slow, so I reached into my Lowcountry bag of tricks for free-lining live mullet and soon nailed three huge trout. This impressed Kevin, a true Floridian, to no end. I wanted to release them, but Kevin said, “No way!” as he had grand plans for Panko crusted, pan-fried fish.

As we were heading in, a wildlife officer stopped us. I handed him my license and, as he admired the trout with a broad grin, he said, “So who caught ’em?” Brimming with South Carolina pride, I quickly said, “I caught ’em – I caught ’em all!”

With that he replied, “Congratulations, sir. You Carolina boys are quite the fisher men, but you DO know that trout are out of season here, right?”

I reckon it was my pitiful look that prompted him to let me go ticketless – only if I dumped the fish overboard.

This year, whether I decided to go fishing in Indian Harbor or Sarasota, you can bet it was only after I checked all the rules and regs.

Collins Doughtie, a 60-year resident of the Lowcountry, is a sportsman, graphic artist, and lover of nature. collinsdoughtie@icloud.com

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Siblings Collins and Grace Doughtie giggle together as they enjoy a sunset on the water.

Topping the ball most common error for beginning golfers

By Jean Harris CONTRIBUTOR

Most all beginner golfers start out topping the ball because they think they have to help get the ball air borne. Golf is a game of opposites – so one must hit “down” for the ball to go “up.”

There are a number of reasons for topping the ball. Pay attention to the following areas of your swing:

• Wrists are usually the real culprit. If wrists are uncocking before impact, you are going to hit the ball fat or top the shot.

• The ball must be hit with a de scending angle of approach, using the leading edge of the club.

• Arms and right elbow must ex tend at impact and not before.

• “Flipping” the wrists rather than letting the arms swing. When the

wrist flips or uncocks early, the club head raises and you top the ball.

• If your knees are moving up and down, you will top the ball. The tar get knee needs to stay flexed on the backswing and the trail knee needs to be flexed at impact.

• You must maintain your “spine angle” throughout the shot. Many golfers have their hips moving toward the ball at impact instead of rotating toward the target.

• Fear of hitting the ground. Some golfers tense up and the club never makes contact with the grass, thus topping the ball. The grass under and in front of the ball is your friend.

• Ball position is important. Playing the ball too forward in your stance can cause you to hit the ball on the upswing.

Try these drills to improve your swing:

• Swing at 50% speed until you start making good contact.

• Take a divot after the ball (Slant ed Tee Drill: Put tee one inch in front of the ball with head of tee slanted toward the ball). Club head must hit tee out of the ground.

• Hit practice balls off a powder line and get rid of the powder and the grass in front of the ball.

• Put a penny or ball marker under the ball and practice hitting the penny.

• Place some “face tape” on the clubface and get the leading edge of the club hitting first and having the ball’s image high on the face tape.

If all else fails, give your local golf professional a call.

Dr. Jean Harris is an LPGA Master Professional and teaches at local golf courses. jean.golfdoctor.harris@gmail. com; golfdoctorjean.com

Student Mo Macaulay practices a drill to help her not top the ball. The student must hit under the “topper stopper” at the orange part of the ball.

Drinking plenty of water daily benefits body and mind

By Chris Lane CONTRIBUTOR

Getting enough water in your system every day is important for your health. Drinking water can prevent dehydration, a condition that can cause unclear thinking, result in mood change, cause your body to overheat, and lead to constipation and kidney stones.

Water has no calories, so it can also help with managing body weight and reducing calorie intake when substituted for drinks with calories, such as sweet tea or sodas.

Water helps your body maintain a normal temperature, lubricate and cushion joints, protect your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues, and get rid of waste through urina tion, perspiration and bowel movements.

Everyone should consume water every day to improve health. Although many recommend drinking eight ounces of water every day, some doctors have recommended a half ounce for each pound you weigh as a

great every day recommendation.

Daily total water intake (fluid) is defined as the amount of water consumed from foods, plain drinking water and other beverages. Most of your fluid needs are met through the water and other beverages you drink.

You can get some fluids through the foods that you eat – especially foods with high water content, such as many fruits and veg etables. However, actually drinking water is

a better way of getting fluids into your body.

To help you drink more water, consider these tips: Carry a water bottle with you and refill it throughout the day. Freeze some freezer-safe water bottles and take one with you for ice-cold water all day long.

Choose water over sugary drinks and opt for water when eating out (you’ll save mon ey and calories). Serve water during meals. Add a wedge of lime or lemon to your water to improve the taste and make sure your

kids are getting enough water too.

Water is the best choice to maintain hydration. Be sure to drink before, during and after activity. Even when you don’t feel thirsty, keep drinking water. Avoid soda, fruit juices, flavored waters, and any drinks that contain high concentrations of sugar to aid in weight loss.

Clean, healthy, filtered water is the best water to stay hydrated. Faucet mount filters and pitcher filtered water are a much better option than chlorinated tap water, but Reverse Osmosis Water is the best filtered water you can put in your body to stay hydrated.

For more information on how you can safeguard your home’s water supply, visit the Water Quality Association at wqa.org, or call a local water treatment professional.

Chris Lane is the owner of Culligan Water Conditioning of the Lowcountry, serving Beau fort, Jasper and Hampton counties. culliganhhi. com

Real estate apparitions offer seasonal advice for selling home

By Larry Stoller CONTRIBUTOR

It’s already the beginning of December, the holiday season is in full swing, and we were thinking about selling our home.

We started out with what we original ly paid, added home appreciation, and factored in home improvement costs. We determined that our home should sell for $795,000.

As I went to sleep that night, the thought of getting that price was very comforting.

Rattling by the window awakened me. An apparition appeared and said, “I’m your local real estate agent. I want to sell your home. How much do you want?”

“$795,000,” I said.

“You’re right on the money,” he said. “Sign this listing agreement.” When I told him I have to run it by my wife, he said, “Okay, I’ll leave it here. Sign it when she wakes up and email it to me.”

And he disappeared.

I went back to sleep but there was some more rattling and I was awakened again by a second spirit. “I want to sell your home. What’s your price?”

“It’s $795,000.”

She replied, “With your waterfront location, you could get $150,000 more. Wake up your wife and we’ll sign this listing agreement.”

“No way am I waking up my wife,” I said. “Call me tomorrow.”

She said OK and then she was gone.

I fell asleep again. The music was soft and sweet, and when I opened my eyes, two more spirits were looking at me. In unison, they said, “We would like to share some in formation about your home’s market value.”

I asked them if they wanted to know what I thought our home would sell for. “Oh no,” they said. “Better to compare our informa tion with the price you came up with.”

With a wave of their hands, a Compar ative Market Analysis (CMA) appeared suspended out of thin air. It compared

homes similar to ours for sale and homes recently sold, indicating that our home would sell somewhere between $777,000 and $849,000.

With another wave of the hand, the three of us were visiting these homes (which were priced between $770k and $890k) and the CMA was adjusted to a value of $825,000 for our home.

When we awoke in the morning, I told my wife about the visits from the real estate agent apparitions. She said, “$825,000 is a great price. Maybe that is a sign that we should sell our home now. Do you know of a good real estate agent?”

On my nightstand were two business cards. I replied, “Actually, I know of two.”

I wish you all happy and healthy holi days, and if you decide to sell your home, I hope it sells fast and for the highest possible price!

Larry Stoller is a broker and Realtor with Real Estate Five of the Lowcountry. Larry@ RealEstateFive.com, RealEstateFive.com