The Bluffton Sun • December 3, 2024

The Blufft n Sun

Governor McMaster hosts USCB Pritchards Island Research Update

BY CAROL WEIR Contributor

More than 200 conservationists, scientists, community leaders and government officials gathered on November 13 at Tabby Place in Beaufort to hear Governor Henry McMaster and USCB biologists tout the research underway on Pritchards Island.

The university owns this 1,600-acre barrier island—untouched by development and located 25 miles east of Beaufort— that has become a focal point for students and scientists exploring coastal resilience and marine ecosystems.

At the “Return to Pritchards Island” research update, USCB Chancellor Al M. Panu and Warren Parker, executive director of the Pritchards Island Research and Living Shoreline Coalition (PIRLS), recognized McMaster for his pivotal role in securing the island’s future. PIRLS co-sponsored the event.

McMaster successfully secured state funding — $1 million to date — which has allowed USCB to use Pritchards Island intensively for educational purposes. Because half of the nation’s salt marshes

are located in South Carolina and many in Beaufort County, Pritchards Island is an unparalleled resource for studying coastal environments.

“It’s like going back to the Garden of Eden,” McMaster said.

Sea Turtles, Marine Worms and more Dr. Kim Ritchie, associate professor of genetics and prokaryotic cell biology and director of Pritchards Island Research, said the 2.5-mile-long island is a living laboratory. There, she and her students are studying the differences between pristine barrier islands and those where beach renourishment and other interventions take place. They also monitor loggerhead turtle nesting on Pritchards Island and are studying temperature in turtle nests and loggerhead maternal DNA.

“We are on Pritchards every day during nesting season,” Ritchie said.

Ongoing protection efforts for nesting loggerhead sea turtles will continue, with input from community volunteers who have monitored nests on Pritchards Island for years. These efforts are super-

COURTESY OF USCB

SC Governor Henry McMaster spoke at the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s Nov. 13 briefing about research taking place on Pritchards Island.

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vised by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.

Opportunities on Pritchards Island have helped grow USCB’s marine biology program from six students in 2020 to 116 this fall. USCB faculty and students are exploring topics ranging from shoreline erosion and oyster reefs to invasive species and the behavior of marine organisms. Projects include:

• Dr. Edward D’Antonio, professor of biochemistry and structural biology, is examining marine worms that may have the potential to clean up industrial chemicals.

• Dr. Eric Montie, with the help of undergraduate lab assistants, is using acoustic recorders to study undersea soundscapes.

• An anonymous donor has pledged $100,000 to fund a study of migratory and resident shorebirds.

• Dr. Tye Pettay and Jake Zadik are using motion-activated cameras to photograph reptiles and amphibians.

• Lydia Moore, Research and Education Coordinator at Palmetto Bluff, is surveying bats.

Marine biology professor Mercer

Brugler captivated attendees at the event with a lively demonstration of how marine organisms hitch rides on floating trash. He also thanked McMaster because the university now has a boat and kayaks. In the past, Brugler used his father-in-law’s pontoon boat to take students to Pritchards Island. These students have embraced the hands-on opportunities, describing their work as life-changing. Biology student Matty Holt, who studies sea turtles, called Pritchards Island “incredible.” Fellow student Taylor Desilva said her experiences

have inspired her to pursue a conservation-focused career.

Prtichards Island is boosting USCB’s reputation for academic excellence. Pettay, who is director of USCB’s Water Quality lab, told the audience that the opportunity to conduct research on Pritchards Island is attracting prestigious scientists to the university. To take larger groups to Pritchards Island, USCB wants to build a dock on the back side of the island and buy a bigger boat.

The “Return to Pritchards Island” event also was an opportunity for USCB to thank the Rhodes family. Philip Rhodes

donated Pritchards Island to the University of South Carolina in the 1980s. His son Stephen Rhodes and granddaughter Martha Rhodes have been instrumental in helping USCB access and understand this unique island.

Once a thriving hub of scientific discovery, Pritchards Island fell out of favor as a research and education site for USCB for more than a decade due to funding challenges, erosion that destroyed a lab on the island, and logistical issues. The renaissance of USCB research on the island is a direct result of the S.C. legislature’s decision to include recurring funding for the island in the state.

How You Can Help?

USCB has established a donor fund to support research on Pritchards Island. For more information about the fund, visit USCB.edu/pritchardsisland or contact Tim Daniels, USCB Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations, at tdaniels@uscb.edu.

Carol Weir is the Senior Director of Communications for the University of South Carolina Beaufort in Bluffton, weirc@uscb. edu

Many USCB students and faculty members are conducting experiments on Pritchards Island, a pristine barrier island near Fripp that is owned by the university.

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EDITORIAL

A Year of progress and community: Bluffton’s 2024 Milestones

BY MAYOR LARRY TOOMER Contributor

As 2024 ends, the Town of Bluffton reflects on a year marked by impactful projects, safety initiatives, and community celebrations that brought us together. Each project, policy, and event this year aimed to strengthen our town’s infrastructure, support local businesses, enhance quality of life, and honor Bluffton’s heritage.

Capital Improvements

Economic

Development Initiatives

This year, the Town expanded its economic development programs to bring more services to residents. Bluffton awarded three economic development grants aimed at estab-

Bluffton Police Department strengthened its community engagement efforts with events like “Night of Unity,” which brought residents together for music, food, and fellowship, and the annual Safety Spooktacular, promoting con-

Celebrating Heritage and Community

THE BLUFFTON SUN Issue 23, December 3, 2024, is published twice monthly by Beaufort Media Group, LLC, 181 Bluffton Rd Suite F103-2 Bluffton, SC 29910. Periodicals Postage paid at Bluffton, SC and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE BLUFFTON SUN, PO Box 2056, Bluffton, SC 29910-2056.

In January, the town launched a major enhancement of Oyster Factory Park, transforming it into a welcoming space for residents and visitors. With additions like a large deck, a brick terrace, and improved lighting, the park is now well-equipped to host gatherings of all sizes. Additionally, the New River Linear Trail enhancement project broke ground—a $2 million investment that promises our community a scenic and accessible outdoor experience. The Town also broke ground on “The May,” a development expanding affordable housing options for 12 families. Further, the Squire Pope Carriage House was fully rehabilitated and will soon open as the Town’s new Welcome Center in early 2025.

lishing local services in highgrowth areas, reducing traffic, and enhancing accessibility.

This initiative supports the goals of the Town’s Comprehensive and Strategic Plans by encouraging professional services and businesses to locate where most residents live. Additionally, the Don Ryan Center for Innovation (DRCI) played an essential role, providing resources and guidance to a record number of startups and small businesses.

Safety and Community Support by the Bluffton Police Department

Bluffton was honored by Safewise, a coalition of security companies, as the “#1 Safest City in South Carolina.” The

nections between residents and first responders.

Programs and Policies for a Better Bluffton

The Town’s “Stay Safe, Bluffton!” scholarships awarded four students for their commitment to safe driving, encouraging positive habits among our newest drivers. Additionally, the Neighborhood Assistance Program helped numerous residents with essential home repairs, promoting safety, property upkeep, and neighborhood stabilization. This program provides critical assistance to residents, helping them stay in their homes while addressing the growing national housing crisis.

Historic preservation was a key priority, with over $74,000 awarded in grants to maintain Bluffton’s architectural heritage. Community events like the annual Historic Preservation Symposium spotlighted some of the Town’s historic private residences. Bluffton also hosted a variety of events, including the inaugural Bluffton Concert Series, the third annual Independence Day Celebration, Movie in the Parks series, children’s summer events, May River Cleanups, the Christmas parade, and many other community gatherings.

Recognizing Excellence in Governance

The Town of Bluffton’s Finance Department earned the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 12th consecutive year from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the U.S. and Canada. The department also received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and the award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting. Additionally, Bluffton holds the highest possible bond rating— AAA—from Moody’s, a distinction shared by only five municipalities in South Carolina. Many thanks to the residents of Bluffton for their contributions to another successful year.

Larry Toomer is the mayor of the Town of Bluffton. ltoomer@townofbluffton.com

Larry Toomer

Five ways homeowners may be putting their wealth at risk

BY THOMAS M. DOWLING Contributor

Primary and secondary residences and their contents can represent a large portion of someone’s assets. Financially protecting these assets starts with incorporating them into a more significant financial strategy to examine whether there are any gaps or issues, such as insufficient insurance coverage. Here are five common mistakes homeowners make that could put their wealth and well-being at risk.

1. INSUFFICIENT LIABILITY INSURANCE

Many homeowners carry umbrella insurance policies, but these may be insufficient if they do not match the homeowner’s net worth. If your net worth exceeds your liability coverage, you could be at significant financial risk in the event of a lawsuit. To protect against potential losses, ensure that your umbrella policy covers either the entirety of your attachable assets or your net worth if minimal planning has been done.

2. LACK OF COHESIVE COVERAGE ON MULTIPLE PROPERTIES

Homeowners with multiple properties, such as primary residences and vacation homes in different states, should ideally maintain cohesive coverage under one high net worth insurance provider. This ensures comprehensive protection and can reduce costs. Without coordinated coverage, valuable properties may be excluded from certain policies, creating exposure to significant losses in case of an incident.

3. NOT LISTING TRUSTS OR LLCS ON POLICIES

High net worth individuals often use trusts or LLCs for estate planning, transferring ownership of homes to these entities. However, failure to list these entities as insured parties on homeowner or um-

brella policies can lead to gaps in protection. Suppose a property held in a trust or LLC is not adequately insured. In that case, the owner may face substantial personal liability in case of an accident or lawsuit related to the property.

4. INADEQUATE COVERAGE FOR UNIQUE HOME FEATURES AND BUILDING MATERIALS

Historic or uniquely constructed homes often require specific coverage. Standard homeowner policies might need to account for high-cost materials like marble or rare wood, which can be significantly more expensive to replace. Using a high-value insurer who understands these materials helps ensure proper coverage. Otherwise, a disaster could leave homeowners paying large sums out of pocket to restore their properties.

5. INSUFFICIENT INSURANCE FOR HIGH-VALUE ASSETS

Homeowners with valuable art, wine or jewelry collections frequently assume these items are fully protected under standard policies. However, they often require specialized coverage. Personal property coverage on basic homeowner policies may need to be revised, exposing collectors to losses. Scheduling each item individually with accurate appraisals ensures these assets are adequately covered, often with no deductible, and provides compensation for their total value in case of loss.

IN CONCLUSION

Protecting your home and valuable assets requires more than basic homeowner insurance. Assessing potential gaps in your coverage can help you safeguard your wealth and avoid financial setbacks. Regularly evaluate your insurance needs, consult with professionals and ensure comprehensive protection for your residence and prized possessions. Proper planning today can prevent costly oversights in the future. Thomas M. Dowling, CFA, CFP®, CIMA® is the Head of Wealth Management at Alliance Global Partners of the Lowcountry on Hilton Head. He can be reached at infohh@allianceg.com or (843) 420-1993.

Thomas M. Dowling

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These girls are good

BY DR. JEAN HARRIS Contributor

Last month, the May River Girls Golf Team won their fourth State Championship in program history, as well as backto-back. Robbin Zetrouer was the 2024 individual State Champion, joining Claire Green, who was the 2023 State Champion.

These two high school seniors have been friends since age 10 when they were both in the LPGA Girls Golf Program. Krista Dunton and I were program directors, and we knew these girls were special.

SINCE 2000

They both started out playing other sports, but realized that to be good in golf, you need to play a lot of junior golf tournaments. Once they got to high school, it was only golf. Claire never

took a day off. “If you want to get good at something, you must put time and effort into it,” she said. Claire’s instruction included many professionals. “I went through five local professionals and now go to one locally. I also go to specialists in Sea Island, Georgia. I have a putting specialist, chipping specialist and a mental coach.”

Robbin took a different route. “I started out in LPGA Girls Golf and made a lot of friends. I continued taking lessons once a week with LPGA Professional Krista Dunton. Once I got to middle school and high school, I really took golf seriously. Golf is a game of passion, and golf is my passion,” she said.

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Claire and Robbin

Both girls will be playing golf at the college level. They started contacting schools in their sophomore year. According to Robbin, “The process of getting a golf scholarship was stressful. You have to email coaches, make phone calls and market yourself.” Claire was ranked highly in the state of South Carolina and visited most of the schools in the state that offered golf scholarships. “Late in the recruiting process last November, Clemson came into play. I knew that I would fit in there.” Robbin decided to go out of state. She chose St. Francis University in Pennsylvania. “I choose St. Francis because of my faith, their coach and golf program. They also have a fiveyear master’s degree program in Occupational Therapy, and that is what I want to do as a career.”

Both girls said that academics was very important in their selection of college programs. Claire stated that “dedication to golf and dedication to academ-

ics run hand in hand. When you get to college, you are a student-athlete.”

These girls are really excited to go off to college. Claire stated that “it is bittersweet. It seems like yesterday when I was in the Girls Golf clinics. However, I am really excited to see the next chapter in my golf career and my new opportunities.”

I asked both girls if they had any advice that they could give younger girls who want to play college golf. Robbin stated, “Don’t be afraid to ask questions and reach out to the older girls who are your role models on your high school team.” Claire enjoyed being on a team and sharing her knowledge of golf to the younger players.

It has been my privilege to know these girls and their parents for eight years, and I know they will succeed, not only in golf but in their life’s endeavors. Dr. Jean Harris is an LPGA Master Professional at Pinecrest Golf Club. Jean. golfdoctor.harris@gmail.com

The Bluffton Sun and Hilton Head Sun invite you to like and follow our socials, as we will be more active on our social media channels moving forward to keep an open dialogue with our community members. We will also be posting events, calls to action, and opportunities to get involved in the newspaper. Don’t miss the chance to get involved and/or get published! We look forward to your feedback, ideas, and ongoing communication.

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Are electric toothbrushes better than manual ones?

BY MATTHEW MASTROROCCO, DMD Contributor

Ever wonder if the buzz around electric toothbrushes is warranted? Or question whether your manual toothbrush is outdated? If you’ve found yourself asking, “Are electric toothbrushes better than manual ones?” in the dental hygiene aisle, you’re not alone. Let me help brush away the confusion. I’ll even tell you what my family uses.

THE EVOLUTION OF TOOTHBRUSHES – FROM MANUAL TO ELECTRIC

The manual toothbrush has ancient origins with chewsticks used for dental care dating back to 3,000 BC. The modern version with nylon bristles didn’t appear until 1938. On the other hand, the electric toothbrush made its debut at the American Dental Association’s centennial celebration in 1959. Since then, technological advancements have transformed the electric toothbrush into the smart, versatile tool we know today. Manual toothbrushes have stood the test of time, and electric toothbrushes are a testament to innovation.

ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH VS. MANUAL: WHAT DOES SCIENCE SAY?

Studies show that powered toothbrushes have a moderate edge at cleaning away plaque. Researchers have found that people who use them showed a significant reduction in plaque starting at one month of use and increasing after three months or more compared with those who used a manual toothbrush. There is also evidence that electric toothbrushes result in a 6% reduction in gum disease

between one to three months and an 11% reduction at three months or longer. Plus, electric toothbrush users have been shown to have healthier gums overall and, in one study, kept 19% more teeth over the study period than those using a manual toothbrush!

Following are some of the benefits of electric toothbrushes.

MORE CONSISTENT TECHNIQUE

Electric brushes automatically move the bristles for you in a steady motion, removing some human error and inconsistency in brushing. This can help ensure all areas get brushed well.

LONGER BRUSHING TIME

Many electric brushes have built-in timers that encourage brushing for 2+ minutes, the recommended brushing time. This can motivate people to brush longer.

BETTER REACH

The electric heads’ oscillating and rotating motors can help bristles reach areas that are often missed by manual brushing, like the back molars.

GENTLER ON GUMS

High-quality electric brushes tend to be less abrasive on gums than vigorous manual scrubbing. The bristles do most of the work.

MOTIVATING FEATURES

Features like timers, pressure sensors and Bluetooth connectivity can make brushing more interactive, especially for kids.

HELPFUL FOR THOSE WITH DEXTERITY ISSUES

The automated motions make electric brushes easier to use for those with grip issues or arthritis.

Matthew Mastrorocco, DMD

TOOTHBRUSHES

Regardless of the toothbrush you choose, learn the right way to use it.

1. Get a brush head with soft bristles.

2. Hold the bristles at a 45-degree angle toward your gum line – where your gums meet your teeth – as this is where plaque tends to be missed.

3. Using light pressure, brush in a circular motion with a manual toothbrush to sweep the plaque away from the gum line. If electric, move the bristles across your teeth using the same approach across the front of the upper teeth, the backside and then the biting surface before moving to the lower teeth. Hold an electric toothbrush steady. There is no need to move it in a circular motion.

4. Do not spend more than two minutes, or about 30 seconds per quadrant, brushing your teeth. Some electric toothbrushes alert you when to move to the next quadrant and when the full two-minute brush is complete. But if not, be mindful of the time.

5. Be gentle. The gum is very delicate

FROM PAGE 12A

and thin, so if you use too much force re peatedly over time, you can cause the gum to recede. When that happens, the root surface beneath the gum gets exposed, making the tooth hypersensitive to temperature changes and more prone to decay.

So, what does my own family use? We, including my older parents and my kids since their middle school years, use electric. It just takes the guesswork out of areas reached and length of time brushed. My parents’ dexterity isn’t as accurate these days and my kids always found them a little more fun than manual, and now, it is just part of their hygiene routines. The bottom line is that electric toothbrushes have been shown to be slightly more efficient in removing plaque and reducing gingivitis than manual toothbrushes. But if you use the proper brushing technique, any toothbrush is ef fective!

Matthew Mastrorocco, DMD is a dentist at ROC Dental Group. Learn more at ROC DentalGroup.com.

BY LUKE FRAZIER Contributor

If you took a guess at how long Laura Van Horn had been teaching kids, just based on the energy and exuberant attitude that pours forth in a conversation with her, you’d be forgiven for thinking she was somewhere in her first few years, fully hitting her stride and dialed in. But you’d be way wrong.

Van Horn just started her 37th year of teaching, the last four as a second-grade teacher at Bluffton Elementary. When you hear her talk about teaching, the depth of reflection and insight on display is uplifting, one of those situations where you’re aware that you’re in the presence of a powerful alignment between the personal and the professional.

Van Horn says going to work each day remains rewarding. “I still find joy in what I do, in the student’s discovery of knowledge, helping students over the hurdles they may face.”

The alignment between passion and purpose was also obvious to the members

of The Foundation for Educational Excellence Board, which just presented her with the “Above & Beyond” Award, along with a $1,000 grant for use in her classroom.

The award is given each year to the Beaufort County School District’s Teacher of the Year in honor of former Beaufort

County Board of Education member Dr. Wayne Carbiener. Van Horn was named KIDS CONT. ON PAGE 18A

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(left to right) Connie Johnson, Foundation Board Member; Linda Navorska, Foundation Board Chair; Laura Van Horn, District Teacher of the Year; Mrs. Carbiener and daughter, Jody Dryer; Back row: Christine Brown, Bluffton Elementary Principal; and Karen Beltz, Foundation Board Vice Chair.

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FROM PAGE 16A

the District Teacher of the Year in September and is in the running for the State Teacher of the Year.

Van Horn, a National Board-Certified Teacher, holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from West Virginia University.

She says the cold sparked the move for her and husband from her native West Virginia to the Lowcountry, though she still returns there in the summer to help educate teachers, a role she takes seriously. “I believe strongly that I have to be a role model for younger teachers, and I enjoy the intellectual challenge of thinking about what kids need in order to learn.”

Van Horn says if there is a secret to teaching it is related to the alchemy of finding the right things to help specific kids learn at just the right time. She talks about constantly reshaping her lessons to reach students who are unique individuals, asking herself what she

must do to make the content work for them in this moment. Van Horn says this is what makes teaching such a challenging profession.

When not in the midst of lesson plans, Van Horn says you might find her at Driessen Beach Park with a book, probably some kind of historical fiction. What Van Horn says is not fiction is how hard teachers she knows work for their students. For her personally, it is about a kind of mutuality that is established, “Kids expect me to show up and do my best, and we can’t expect them to show up and do their best if we don’t show up for them.”

Karen Van Horn’s long-term commitment to teaching demonstrates the essential beauty of that statement.

Luke Frazier is a writer and award-winning media producer who recently transplanted to the Lowcountry. He runs NOW Communications, which focuses on the needs of mission-driven organizations (nowandfuturecomms@gmail.com / (216) 633-6970).

Career-building experiences cultivating leadership

Refreshing the upper face with brow lift surgery

BY MATHEW T. EPPS, MD Contributor

This month’s primer on facial rejuvenation will focus on the upper third of the face – the forehead and brow. These techniques offer a large “bang for the physiological buck.” The risk/benefit ratio is quite low, with a great impact on a refreshened “look” for the recovery time and money invested.

But first, consideration must be given to both anatomy and aesthetics. For example, the usual brow position for women is above the bony ridge above the eyelid. Anatomical position and shape should be tailored with the goal of a natural lift or “look” where the brow is slightly higher with a subtle lateral peak. In men, the youthful brow is a lower, more flattened shape.

Guidance from a plastic surgeon is important in addressing various desired brow positions.

Any surgical consult addressing upper eyelid surgery should also address the brow position. Commonly, patients seek improvement of a chronically tired appearance, including hooding around the eyes with a look of fatigue and anger. Brow descent can be severe enough to obstruct a person’s vision.

On occasion, a patient consults for eyelid surgery yet really needs a brow lift – or both, but simply is not offered it or does not know of the technique’s availability.

For the past decade or so, the population has settled into the use of neurotoxins such as Botox, Dysport and Xeomin to create a temporary “chemical brow lift.” However, brow lift surgery offers a considerably more long-lasting return to a refreshed look without the temporary

“frozen” or “over-lifted” look as with neurotoxins.

There are several variations of brow lift techniques, and these can be performed simultaneously with eyelid surgery when needed. Brow lift can be performed endoscopically with small incisions hidden at or behind the hairline. Short-scar lateral brow lift alone can elevate treated hooding around the eyes. A more traditional, full brow lift can be performed with a hidden incision just behind the hairline as well. The technique is typically patient and surgeon specific.

A recent study in JAMA Plastic Surgery stated patients undergoing brow lift had a 93% satisfaction rate, with 96% recommending the procedure to others. Further, brow lifts are particularly safe, with thousands being performed every year under local anesthesia with conscious sedation in an outpatient setting. Like upper eyelid surgery, brow lifts in general do not require much downtime. Mild swelling and bruising may occur but do not typically interrupt a speedy recovery and return to work.

If you have been thinking about brightening your appearance, seek an evaluation with a plastic surgeon to see if aesthetic surgery of the forehead and brow might be right for you.

Mathew T. Epps, MD, MS, DABS is a plastic surgeon, triple- fellowship trained in facial, eyelid, and breast surgery. matheweppsmd.com or info@dreppsmd. com

Dr. Mathew T. Epps

EMPOWER FUTURE GENERATIONS

Bluffton Real Estate Market Update: December 2024

BY DAN PRUD’HOMME Contributor

By partnering with Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, you can ensure that your charitable passions are reflected in a lasting legacy. Our dedicated staff will work closely with you to develop an endowment fund that embodies your commitment to the causes that mean the most to you.

Spotlight

Builders: Jim and Marge Krum

late Jim and Marge Krum retired to Hilton Head in the 1980’s and immediately became active in various charitable ventures. The Jim and Marge Krum Foundation Scholarship, administered by CFL, continues to transform the lives of promising Lowcountry students. The scholarship

Spotlight on Legacy Builders: Jim and Marge Krum

partnering with Community Foundation of the you can ensure that your charitable passions reflected in a lasting legacy. Our dedicated staff will with you to develop an endowment fund that your commitment to the causes that mean the

on Legacy Builders: Jim and Marge Krum and Marge Krum retired to Hilton Head in the immediately became active in various charitable

The late Jim and Marge Krum retired to Hilton Head in the 1980’s and immediately became active in various charitable ventures. The Jim and Marge Krum Foundation Scholarship, administered by CFL, continues to transform the lives of promising Lowcountry students. The scholarship is unique –Krum scholars can receive financial support for their entire undergraduate and graduate education. To date, hundreds of local Krum scholars have been awarded over $4.5 million!

The Jim and Marge Krum Foundation Scholarship, administered by CFL, continues to transform the lives of Lowcountry students. The scholarship is unique –scholars can receive financial support for their entire undergraduate and graduate education. To date, hundreds Krum scholars have been awarded over $4.5 million! to build your legacy through an endowment Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, call 843-681-9100 or visit cf-lowcountry.org.

To learn how to build your legacy through an endowment with Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, call 843-681-9100 or visit cf-lowcountry.org.

The Bluffton real estate market remains resilient and dynamic as we head into December 2024. While Bluffton’s appeal is undeniable, it’s the numbers that tell the full story of today’s market, especially as we observe notable trends in inventory, demand and pricing.

right time to enter the market. In recent months, the seasonal uptick in inventory has offered some increased options for buyers. However, with the Federal Reserve’s recent rate cuts—a half-point decrease in September and an additional 25 basis points in November— the market may be primed for more activity. As mortgage rates stabilize and potentially decrease, more buyers could feel encouraged to make their move, fueling demand in the months ahead.

For opportunistic buyers, now may be an ideal time to negotiate, as the market remains competitive but slightly less frenzied than during the height of pandemic demand. The Bluffton market’s future will inevitably shift with broader economic changes, but as we’ve seen, it’s a place where demand persists, inventory remains tight, and conditions can change quickly.

YOUR GENEROSITY TODAY CAN SHAPE LIVES FOR DECADES TO COME.

Bluffton continues to favor sellers, with historically low inventory levels slowly rising, though still far below pre-pandemic figures. Inventory has seen a 15.5% increase since last December, climbing from 696 homes on the market to 804 this month. While this is a notable rise, it’s down from the high point of 900 homes in the spring, suggesting a seasonal adjustment. If past years are any indication, we may see this number decrease further as we close out 2024.

Wishing everyone a happy holiday season and a wonderful New Year! I look forward to sharing more market updates and insights with you in 2025.

By partnering with Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, you can ensure that your charitable passions are reflected in a lasting legacy. Our dedicated staff will work closely with you to develop an endowment fund that embodies your commitment to the causes that mean the most to you.

The average days on market has also nudged up, currently at 65 days compared to 62 days at this time last year. This gradual increase in listing time reflects a tempered demand, although it remains strong by historical standards. So far this year, Bluffton has seen 1,542 closed sales, slightly ahead of last year’s 1,540 closed sales by early December. This steady volume is impressive, especially considering the typical slowdown during an election year, with average monthly sales around 154 properties. Given the current inventory, Bluffton is holding steady with a five-month supply, reinforcing the seller’s market status.

Dan Prud’homme is the Visionary & Success Coach of The Prud’homme Team at William Raveis Real Estate. dan@danprudhomme.com theprudhommeteam.com

843.681.9100 • cf-lowcountry.org

4 Northridge Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC

Spotlight on Legacy Builders: Jim and Marge Krum

Pricing trends also demonstrate stability and slight growth. The median sales price has risen to $555,000, a 2.87% increase from $540,000 last December. This steady appreciation aligns with Bluffton’s enduring appeal and the pent-up demand from buyers waiting for the

The late Jim and Marge Krum retired to Hilton Head in the

Dan Prud’homme

BY MARK WINN Contributor

“Trust but verify” is a practical, reality-based point of view on how to deal with foreign powers. Ronald Reagan made the statement well-known when he was describing the United States relationship with the Soviet Union back in the 80s. In essence, he was saying that we trust in the Soviet Union, but we require proof that our trust is not misplaced.

And so, it goes with estate planning. Let’s say you have directed your assets, once you and your spouse are gone, to go to your daughter “in trust.” You have given your daughter the role as trustee and beneficiary. The standard she has to follow in making distributions is for her needs related to health and maintenance

Trust but verify

in reasonable comfort and for her accustomed manner of living. You have also inserted a spendthrift clause which will serve to insulate the trust assets from attack in the event she is sued for anything from a car accident to divorce. Let’s further say that you have dictated that upon her passing, what is left will go to her children. You also direct that if her children are under age 30 when they inherit, that they will have their share held in trust until they attain age 30.

Now, you are confronted with the question: Who will serve as trustee for that grandchild? If you name the biological parent (the in-law) which we probably do in 90% of the cases where the issue applies, then it may be wise to consider naming a “trust protector” who will look over the biological parent’s shoulder, so to speak, or impose the obligation to report to someone else for purposes of accountability and oversight.

So, for example, if Darryl and Althea have one child named Francis. Francis

has one child named George. Francis’s husband is Gerry. Darryl and Althea could state that if Francis passed, her share would go to George in trust for his health and education until he turns age 30. They could also direct that Gerry would be the trustee, but as trustee he would be obligated to report bi-annually to an independent third party of all receipts and disbursements from the trust, or to a sibling (uncle or aunt) if there was one.

Now, that is a situation of trusting

Gerry but also wanting to verify his actions are faithful to the terms of the trust. Here, Darryl and Althea have chosen to trust Gerry in that unlikely circumstance, but they have also built into their plan a check against his authority. This check is oversight. Since Gerry needs to report bi-annually of all receipts to a third party, the odds are increased dramatically that George’s funds will be properly managed for his benefit. That’s good planning. When there is no oversight, then power can become absolute. When power becomes absolute, there can be corruption. When planning your estate, the moral of the story is that you can trust your inlaws and you can trust their judgment, but it is wise to be realistic like Ronald Reagan was with the Soviet Union in the 80s.

Contributed by Mark F. Winn, J.D., LL.M. in Estate Planning, who is a local tax, asset protection and estate planning attorney.

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Region rivals sharpened Seahawks, Sharks

BY JUSTIN JARRETT

Contributor

On the cusp of the 2024 high school football season, the collection of sports fanatics that calls ourselves Team Lowco and go online night after night to talk about the teams and athletes to rep the Lowco noted time and again that this year’s Region 6-4A race would be a wild ride marked by unpredictable outcomes every Friday night.

We nailed it … sort of.

It was widely thought that Beaufort High was the slight favorite to win the region in August, with veteran star quarterback Samari Bonds at the helm, but early injuries to Bonds and others left the Eagles looking at their worst season in two decades and a fifth-place finish.

So, we whiffed on that one, but Bryce Lybrand’s team was still a tough matchup week after week, and the Eagles hung in with top-seeded Hartsville well into the

second half before fading on the road in a 45-21 loss in the first round of the playoffs.

Having to grind out tough wins against the Eagles and Colleton County didn’t provide too much of a respite from the gauntlet for the contenders, and the margin between eventual region champion Bishop England and the next three finishers was razor-thin. The top four teams finished within one game of one another in the region standings, with head-to-head tiebreakers settling deadlocks for first and third.

As a result, May River was the only region team to knock off Bishop England — and did so in convincing fashion on the road — but the Sharks wound up as the No. 4 seed from the region. Through sheer coincidence, the new SCHSL system that uses RPI ratings to seed the playoff bracket resulted in a rematch of region rivals in round 1, and the narrow margins were once again on display.

After watching the Bluffton Bobcats celebrate on their field two weeks earlier, the Sharks had their revenge in Friday’s playoff opener. Trailing 24-21 in the final minute at home on Nov. 1, May River mishandled the ball on fourth-and-2, and the Bobcats escaped with the win. After an epic battle in the rematch, it again came down to one play, and this time, the Sharks delivered.

Senior quarterback Tanner Macy ran in the two-point conversion in double overtime to lift May River into a second-round matchup at No. 2 seed North Augusta.

Along with Hilton Head’s 19-17 win over Crestwood and Bishop England’s blowout victory against South Aiken, Region 6-4A sent three teams through to the final eight in the Class 4A Lower State bracket — after fighting for recognition in the statewide rankings all season and consistently knocking each other out of the top 10.

And if Bluffton had drawn literally anyone other than May River, the Bobcats

might still be playing too.

All three could very well bow out in round 2, as the Seahawks face a tough test at perennial power South Florence and the Battling Bishops host a scrappy Gilbert team with a history of playoff success, but there’s no question the standard has been raised in the region. Beaufort’s state title in 2022 upped the ante for the area. B.J. Payne’s success sending Seahawk stars to the next level has trickled down. Hayden Gregory has rekindled the fire at Bluffton, and Richard Bonneville has restored a hard-nosed identity at May River.

Iron sharpens iron, and the programs in the Lowco have developed some mettle — together.

Justin Jarrett is the sports editor of The Island News and is the founder of Lowco Sports. He has a passion for sports and community journalism and a questionable sense of humor.

Electric, Remote Controlled Attic Stairs

BY GLENDA HARRIS Contributor

Another successful Sea Turtle season on Hilton Head has come to an end with the nest numbers a bit down from last year. This year, there were 204 nests counted, 22,640 eggs laid, and 14,878 eggs hatched. Loggerheads were the only sea turtle species seen this year on Hilton Head Island. The females return to the beach where they were hatched every 2-3 years to nest and each nest has an average of 100 eggs. This past summer, beachgoers lucky enough to be on the island on June 17 got a very special treat when a momma sea turtle made her way onto the sandy beach during day-time hours to dig her nest. This is a rare occurrence. The momma

Sea turtle season 2024

turtle then slowly made her way back into the surf to begin her ocean journey to the place she calls home.

The island’s turtle nests were also very lucky this summer because when tropical storm Debby blew through, there was little impact, with only one nest lost out of 195. As Amber Kuehn, the Sea Turtle Patrol Director explained, it is the rain from storms that creates the most problems because hatchlings need dry conditions to make their way up and out of the nest and onto the beach.

There is something new for the 2025 sea turtle season. Holiday Nest Dedications will be available to purchase from Nov 1 to Dec 1, 2024. As a volunteer organization, the Sea Turtle Patrol relies on donations and offers like this to continue their great work. Go to www.seaturtlepatrol. org to learn more.

Giving a Nest Dedication is such a thoughtful gift idea for this holiday season. Especially for kids who love going to the beach. Here’s how it works: When a

Nest Dedication is purchased, both the purchaser and the recipient will be updated throughout the season on the status, when the nest is laid and also the general location of the nest. A certificate is included in the packet which has your specific nest number. By knowing when the nest was laid, you can determine approximately when your nest may hatch and be on the lookout. You will also get a limited-edition Sea Turtle Patrol holiday ornament.

Join in the fun, help support the hard work of the Sea Turtle Patrol AND spread interest and knowledge about sea turtles. The more of us invested in the protection and preservation of sea turtles, the more successful the effort will be. We all love seeing these incredibly gentle and determined reptiles and hope to see them for many years to come.

A former Bluffton resident, Glenda finds stories everywhere and writes about nature, travel, healthy living and books.

Glenda Harris

Local nonprofit acquires properties for workforce housing

BY CHANNING HEISS Contributor

The Coastal Community Development Corporation (CCDC), a local non-profit working to preserve and develop affordable workforce housing in Beaufort and Jasper counties, has acquired 23 housing units in unincorporated Beaufort County near Bluffton, according to an organization news release. The CCDC says the acquisition of these units, comprised of apartments and townhomes, furthers their mission to provide affordable housing for local workers. The organization now owns 34 units across the region, including 11 units previously purchased on Hilton Head Island.

fordable for households earning between 50% and 120% of the area median income, with the option for families to purchase the units over time, ensuring sustainable homeownership opportunities.”

Since acquiring Hilton Head Medical Center and Coastal Carolina Hospital in Hardeeville, non-profit Novant Health has been working on creating solutions to affordable housing in Beaufort and Jasper counties.

Resources facilitating this purchase include a $600,000 grant awarded by Beaufort County in December 2024, administered through the Beaufort Jasper Housing Trust. The grant will support the preservation of these 23 housing units, ensuring affordable local living options for workers.

Support for these acquisitions also included a $1 million pledge of altruistic capital from Community Foundation of the Lowcountry and a $1 million donation from Novant Health. The CCDC notes both organizations have made affordable workforce housing a priority, citing the value in sustaining a vibrant and resilient local workforce.

“This incredible partnership with The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, Novant Health and Beaufort County has empowered CCDC to secure long-term affordability for local working families,” said Alan Wolf, Chairman of the CCDC Board of Directors. “These 23 units will remain af-

Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has played an important role in convening local nonprofits, organizations, businesses and donors committed to creating more affordable workforce housing. CFL hosted the second Lowcountry Affordable Housing Forum on November 12 at TCL’s Culinary Institute of the South in Bluffton. Wolf, who attended the forum, said people were visibly shocked when a presenter cited statistics on the lack of affordable housing.

“I saw jaws drop,” he recalled. “It’s as dire as you can imagine. “It is imperative that we preserve our housing stock.”

The National Low Income Housing Coalition cites a national affordable housing shortfall of 7.5 million, and Beaufort County reports indicate this area is following the trend where housing costs are rising faster than incomes. In addition to housing insecurity and homelessness, studies have shown that a lack of affordable housing can cause lowered productivity, unemployment and underemployment, poor

Mathew Epps MD, MS, DABS

Jane Epps RN, BSN

HOUSING

FROM PAGE 27A

mental health and stagnating economic growth.

According to Wolf, the idea for this effort to create affordable housing options came together two years ago. The CCDC gathered partners and began to tackle the issue. The organization became a 501c3 in May 2023 and made its first purchase that July.

Workers interested in renting from CCDC can apply for housing at www.ccdc-sc.org, where detailed application criteria and eligibility information is available. CCDC prioritizes local workers seeking to live in the communities where they are employed.

Channing Heiss is a freelance writer and a member of the Beaufort County disAbilities Coalition.

Alan Wolf

BY DR. OSWALD MIKELL Contributor

This facial rash causes bumps to develop around the mouth. In some cases, a similar rash may appear around the eyes, nose or forehead. While this condition can happen to anyone, it’s most commonly seen in women (90% of cases), but it can affect men as well.

Q: I have a rash under my nose and on my chin. It seems to clear up, but then reappears. What is it?

A: It could be perioral dermatitis. You should consult a dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis.

Q: What causes this condition?

A: The exact cause of perioral dermati-

Perioral Dermatitis

tis is not known. However, it may appear after topical steroid creams are applied to the face to treat other conditions.

Other causes may also come into play, such as:

• Make-up, cleansers and cosmetics applied to the area affected on the face. It may be that certain ingredients of cosmetics may act as the trigger.

• Physical factors such as strong winds and ultraviolet light.

• Fluorinated toothpaste has been suggested as a possible trigger.

• Yeasts and bacteria that live on the skin and in hair follicles have been suggested as a possible trigger. (However, perioral dermatitis is not just a simple skin infection.)

• Hormone factors may play a part.

• Oral contraceptives may be a factor in some cases.

Q: What are the symptoms of perioral dermatitis?

A: Perioral dermatitis results in bumps

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around the skin of the mouth, and a rash may appear around the eyes, nose, forehead or chin. These symptoms often resemble those of rosacea or acne, but it is not either of these conditions. Often, the skin just next to the lips is not affected, so it appears that the rash almost forms a ring around the mouth. The severity of the rash can vary from a few minor spots that are barely noticeable to a definite and obvious lumpy rash that is around the mouth. The rash is not usually painful, however, some people report a mild burning or itchy feeling. Others report that the affected skin feels tense. The rash is not serious and is not associated with any underlying disease. However, it can be unsightly.

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Q: How do I know if I have perioral dermatitis?

A: You should consult a dermatologist who will likely make a diagnosis based on your skin’s appearance. No tests are usually done. In some cases, a culture for bacteria may be needed to eliminate the possibility of infection.

Q: How is perioral dermatitis treated?

A: To treat perioral dermatitis, discontinue the use of all topical steroid medications and facial creams.

Oral antibiotics, used as an anti-inflammatory drug, may also be prescribed.

If you have a persisting rash, call Dermatology Associates of the Lowcountry (843) 689-5259 (Hilton Head) or (843) 7050840 (Bluffton/Okatie) to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Oswald Mikell, MD • Dermatology Associates of the Lowcountry American Board of Dermatology | American Board of Cosmetic Surgery

Oswald Mikell

Stand up straight; long-term effects posture has on your body

BY DR. KENNETH HORUP Contributor

Do you know that feeling where you sit crisscross-apple sauce too long and all the sudden your foot is “asleep”? Or do you sit with your legs crossed and stand up an hour later to find your legs are weak? Maybe you sleep in an

unusual position one night and wake up to your hand or arm tingling. Many people have experienced the “falling asleep” sensation, me included. That sensation is the short-term effect of poor posture and positioning, but I want to dive into what long term effects arise from poor posture. When poor posture and positioning are done regularly, it can have a negative impact on our health. Doctors often refer to

Dr. Ken Horup

this sort of injury as a “repetitive motion” injury; these injuries result from repeated stress on a specific muscle, ligament or nerve. So, what actually happens? Well, I will start by saying every person and every case is unique, as we all have different habits, but I will talk about a few common occurrences I see in my office.

As a chiropractor, I see the consequences of poor posture on the vertebrae daily, and you have seen it too. Some individuals are unable to stand straight, some have a tilt in their shoulders, and others develop chronic pain. Although not all these conditions develop purely from posture, many are exacerbated due to poor posture and collapsing of the spine. I make sure all my patients know correct posture, and I encourage them to always think “chest forward” when sitting, standing, walking, etc. Good posture is necessary for good spinal health. Whether it’s kyphosis, scoliosis or chronic back pain, poor posture can create long-term problems that require a lot of work to reverse.

As a doctor who serves patients with nerve damage, I see that poor posture also may affect the nerves in your body. When I mentioned earlier that your limbs may feel “asleep” or tingle when you first move out of position, that is your nerve telling you something is wrong. Whatever position and posture you had before was pinching the nerve. It’s like you put a kink in your water hose. The water can’t flow easily. Your nerve couldn’t work properly because your body’s misalignment was putting pressure on it. Repetition of this may cause long-term nerve damage that can result in neuropathy or other nerve conditions. These too are difficult to reverse and require much work to improve.

In my experience, patients typically have some understanding of correct spinal posture and are usually aware of the impact that those postures can have on the quality of their life. To help improve it, I tell them to practice a couple different exercises. First, instead of thinking “shoulders back,” think “chest out.” Pretend there’s a string attached to your chest, and someone is pulling you from it, like superman standing for a power pose. Second, set a reminder on your phone to correct your posture. We may be distracted throughout our day with work, friends, the internet, etc. and don’t realize we are slouching. Sometimes, a simple alert is all you need to create a habit. The saying, “if you don’t use it, you lose it” is spot on. Make sure you don’t lose it, as posture can make or break your ability to keep walking as we age. Lastly, sit against a wall or a straight surface and feel what it is like to have the whole vertebrae touching the wall and the back of your head. It may even be uncomfortable for you if it is not in your daily practice, but it’s a good reminder of where you should be.

Posture is an often-overlooked necessity for our health. Like braces help your teeth structure stay inline, our posture is the spine’s “brace.” It helps our structure from permanently moving out of place. Proper posture may help you avoid spinal conditions, nerve conditions and other repetitive injury conditions. If you are concerned about your posture, I encourage you to consult a professional for the best recommendations for your specific needs because our mothers were right, you need to “stand up straight!”

Dr. Kenneth Horup, DC is a Chiropractic Physician at Discover Specific Chiropractic, Board Certified in Neuropathy.

The SCIIJ supports the development and production of independent and nonprofit news in S.C. to promote democratic ideals.

BY LISA HOSTETLER BROWN Contributor

Expert Answer: A power of attorney (POA) is a document typically guided by state law that authorizes one or more parties (known as the “agent” or “attorney-in-fact”) to act on behalf of a person (referred to as the “principal”).

A POA can be tailored to allow the agent to make only certain types of decisions. For example, a power of attorney can be used to allow another person to stand in your shoes and close a real estate transaction on your behalf. Powers of attorney that only allow an agent to do certain things are commonly referred to as a limited power of attorney.

A limited POA (LPOA) is usually limited to a timeframe, event or specific purpose. As a result, it is only appropriate for some situations. For example, it is a bad option where you would like an agent to have a wide range of authority to handle your affairs with little restrictions.

Common examples of where it may be a good option are:

• You are physically unable to handle specific matters — for example, you are out of the country, traveling or ill.

• You need assistance with certain transactions where the agent you choose is a professional with specialized knowledge.

• You temporarily need an agent to be able to act on your behalf.

• You need an agent to act for you only for a specific transaction.

When choosing an agent to appoint, it is

essential to find someone trustworthy, who ideally knows your wishes and will work in your best interest but can maintain an objective perspective. A capable agent will also be responsible and fair and have strong organizational skills. Note that, for a fee, you can hire a professional to take on this role.

You should not rely on a limited power of attorney for your general estate planning needs. All too often, we see powers of attorney that are too restrictive and do not allow the principal to take all the ac-

tions necessary to preserve assets when planning for Medicaid. It is extremely important to ensure that you have the right power of attorney in place so that your agent has a full suite of options to engage in asset protection for you, your spouse and your heirs.

Each state’s laws and rules regarding what constitutes a valid POA and what responsibilities are conferred on an agent are unique. In addition, a power of attorney form must generally be executed in a specific manner to be valid. Seek the assistance of an elder law attorney to prepare a valid power of attorney appropriate to your particular needs.

For educational purposes only. This is not legal advice. Lisa Hostetler Brown is a Certified Elder Law Attorney certified by the National Elder Law Foundation. 2 Hampton Hall, Bluffton, SC 29910 | 843757-5294 | LawyerLisa.com/Bluffton

Lisa Hostetler Brown

Deck the halls safely or watch them fall: holiday fire tips for the host with the most!

BY CINDA SEAMON Contributor

Holiday celebrations and parties can put your home at risk for fire. Preparing for guests can be a challenge. While decorations and great food may seem like the most important aspects of holiday entertaining, don’t overlook the safety of your guests. Follow some simple safety tips, and make it a safe party.

If you plan on having smokers at your party, use large, deep, non-tip ashtrays. Empty ashtrays often and wet the contents before disposing of them.

Always have non-alcoholic beverages available for party guests, and serve something to eat before serving alcoholic beverages. High protein foods stay in the stomach longer and slow the absorption of alcohol into the system. Don’t let your guests drink and drive.

Test your smoke alarms and tell guests about your home fire escape plan.

Keep fireplaces clean and never burn trash or paper, especially wrapping paper.

Remember that two of every five home decoration fires

are started by candles, and nearly half of holiday decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source (NFPA.org).

At many parties, outdoor fireplaces and chimineas on the patio are a favorite. They can add ambiance as well as heat to a cool evening. When it comes to starting these fires, there are a few things to keep in mind. Keep the fire small. The bigger the fire, the bigger the chance for disaster.

Your pit or chiminea should be at least 10 feet away from any structure or combustible surface. Before lighting, check the weather forecast. Windy conditions can blow embers. Also be aware of burn bans or ordinances in your town or county.

Clear the area around your pit or chiminea. Leaves or other dry materials can lead to a fire accidentally spreading. Always have a water container nearby and a garden hose before starting the fire.

You can use a crumpled piece of paper or a storebought fire starter in the pit. As the fire begins to burn, you can add sticks or a log or two.

Never use an accelerant like gasoline as it can increase the chances of your clothes catching on fire or the fire spreading rapidly.

When extinguishing the fire, take the ashes, spread them over a large surface area and let them cool for a bit. Then take water and pour it over the ashes, but still monitor it. Remember, the fire can still flare up in the night and even up to three days.

Cinda Seamon is the Fire and Life Safety Educator for Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue.

Built with Integrity: take ownership of your life and watch everything change

BY RYAN CHOWANSKY Contributor

Let me ask you something: Who’s responsible for your results? The President? Your boss? Your family? The economy? Nope.

It’s you.

At Bluffton Builders, we don’t just build homes, we build trust, deliver results, and take full ownership of everything we touch. That’s what it means to be Built with Integrity.

We own the wins, we own the losses, and we own the process. And here’s the kicker: you can apply this same principle of ownership to your own life and see re-

sults beyond what you thought possible. What Ownership Looks Like in Business

In our world, ownership isn’t optional, it’s a requirement. Construction projects are complicated. Between budgets, designs, unexpected issues and people problems, there’s no room for finger-pointing.

When we commit to a project, we’re not just managing it; we’re owning it.

That means:

We take responsibility for everything. If there’s a delay, it’s on us. If something doesn’t go as planned, we fix it. No excuses. No blaming. Just results.

We over-communicate:

While most people avoid hard conversations, we lean right into them. Whether it’s updating clients about a delay or explaining why costs shifted, or the fact we had to rip out a $40,000 tile job because the tile guy used the wrong sealer at the

very end, we handle it with transparency and confidence (and in that unfortunate example, our own wallet).

We deliver what we promise (and then some):

By the time we leave your project, it will be done properly, and we will come back on our work afterward.

Working ownership into your life:

The truth is, life is no different. Success, failure, progress, they’re all tied to one thing: your willingness to own the outcome. When you stop blaming external factors and start taking ownership, you unlock a new level of freedom and power.

Let’s break it down.

Own your choices:

Everything in your life is the result of your decisions. Your job, your health, your relationships, they’re all a reflection of the standards you’ve set. If you don’t like something, change it. Stop waiting.

Start acting. What you did three months ago got you to where you are today, so if you want to change where you’re going in three months, it starts today.

Own your time:

Most people waste time complaining about problems. Winners use that time to find solutions and fix them. Set priorities. Focus on solutions. The more you control your time, the faster you control your life.

Own your relationships:

Communication isn’t just important, it’s everything. Be clear. Be honest. Be intentional. Stop avoiding tough conversations. You’d be surprised how quickly life gets better when you address what’s holding you back.

Own your mistakes:

Success isn’t about never failing; it’s about learning faster than anyone else.

INTEGRITY CONT. ON PAGE 35A

Ryan Chowansky

INTEGRITY

FROM PAGE 34A

When you mess up, don’t cover it up. Own it, learn from it, and move forward.

The freedom in ownership:

Here’s what no one tells you: as hard as ownership is, ownership isn’t a burden, it is freedom. When you take full responsibility for your life, you stop waiting for someone else to fix things.

You become the solution.

At Bluffton Builders, ownership isn’t just how we run our projects, it’s how we run our lives. Every day, we show up, take responsibility, and get it done. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s who we are.

And here’s the best part: you can do it, too. Ownership is a skill. The more you practice it, the better you get. The more you own your results, the better the results will be on the next go round.

Stop pointing fingers. Stop dodging that conversation. Stop making excuses. Start building your life the way you want it to be, Built with Integrity.

Because when you own everything, you can have anything. Start Building with Integrity, today.

Ryan Chowansky is the owner of Bluffton Builders, LLC, www.bluffton.builders.

Senior cat finds healing and hope at Palmetto Animal League

BY LINDSAY PERRY Contributor

~ Holiday Parties ~ ~ Bridal Showers & Parties ~ ~ Getting Ready Bridal Beauty Party ~ ~ Employee or Client Appreciation ~ ~ Corporate Events & Retreats ~ ~ After Golf Gatherings ~ ~ Any Reason at All for Spa Day with Friends ~

Stop by for a tour, call our concierge team at 843-960-0100 or email us at info@whispercreekspa.com for a special events brochure.

“Though no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending.” - Carl Bard Target was adopted from Palmetto Animal League in 2014. At just a year old, he had his whole life ahead of him. Ten years later, you can imagine our dismay when Target came back to PAL in terrible shape. A good Samaritan rescued him, and he arrived at our adoption center in critical condition. He couldn’t walk, and he was so thin you could see all his bones. To make matters worse, Target’s skin was covered in scabs.

“His skin was so irritated that when he tried to scratch an itch, he’d scratch so hard he’d fall over,” recounts PAL President Amy Campanini. “It was almost like he was having a seizure. It was so bad.”

Our vets at the PAL Veterinary Clinic examined the now 11-year-old Target, and radiographs revealed an old injury to his hind end. We have no idea how long he was outside on his own trying to survive. Once safely at PAL, good food, a soothing bath and medication to ease his discomfort started Target on his journey toward healing.

“Proper nutrition has allowed him to make an incredible recovery,” says Campanini. “His weight is almost back to normal, his itching fits have nearly stopped, and his beautiful, tabby fur is coming back beautifully. But the most incredible thing is that he’s walking!”

While he’ll never walk normally again due to the long-ago injury, Target gets around amazingly well.

“He will never jump on your furniture or counters, and he is the most affectionate cat,” says Campanini. “All he wants are naps and attention.”

Target has free reign of PAL’s front office while he waits for a loving home

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 through January 4. All pets are spayed/neutered, microchipped and up to date on vaccinations. Can’t adopt? You can still make a difference! Drop by the PAL Adoption Center at 56 Riverwalk Blvd in Okatie for our Holiday Open House Saturday, December 14 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy cookies, cocoa and lots of good cheer as you spend time with homeless, yet hopeful, pets. Please consider bringing a donation to make their holidays a little brighter.

As for Target, this gentle, loving senior cat is waiting to start his brandnew ending with someone like you.

Lindsay Perry is the Marketing Coordinator for Palmetto Animal League.

Nature’s Way

Change of seasons means change of species

BY COLLINS DOUGHTIE Contributor

Over the years at about this time, I almost always mention in my columns about the October/November underwater “traffic jam” where fish, shrimp, crabs and just about every other saltwater creature is on the move. Some are heading south, others north, east or west, and collisions between these groups are not only possible but pretty much 100% guaranteed. With that said, this phenomenon is in full swing, and with both the water and air cooling down, it was time for me to get out there to see what was shaking. As hot as it was this summer, I fished less than any year I can remember. I think that first cool streak gave me an itch, and like any itch, I just had to scratch it.

Uncovering my 16’ skiff called the Marsh Monkey, I checked to make sure it would even fire up, which it did, and decided to give sheepshead a go. Calling my long-time friend George Norton, it didn’t take much convincing and he was all in. Luckily, the day before we planned to go it was warm, and at low tide, I went in search of fiddler crabs, a sheepshead’s go-to favorite treat. With mid-calf rubber boots on, I slogged through knee high marsh grass, and there they were by the hundreds. Herding them to more open terrain, it didn’t take long to snatch several dozen large males and females. Now, if only the sheepshead were inshore yet. I told George there were no guarantees. More of a winter species, all we could do was give it our best shot and

hope that pinfish, small black sea bass and other nuisance nibbles didn’t eat all our crabs before a sheepshead even had a chance to crunch one.

Meeting up, we headed to a spot that I have caught some of my largest sheepies over the years and anchored up. Down went our baits and nibble, nibble and nothing. The small bait stealers were still around, but maybe a black striped monster would beat these pests to the punch. After catching several small sea bass, I had my doubts whether our targeted species had made it inshore yet. Just as that thought crossed my mind, I heard the drag on George’s reel screaming, and I mean really screaming. Turning around, his rod was bent double and with all sorts of structure around, that fish was doing its darndest to get to any piece of structure that might chaff through George’s line. This way, that way and everywhere in-between, that fish gave George all he could handle, but after a

lengthy battle, I saw the fish. It was monster sheepshead, easily over 10 or 11 pounds, and when I finally netted it, only the head would fit in the net! In his mid 70’s, George regressed a good 60 years. Using a saying my dad often pulled out in similar situations, George looked like a mule eating briars. We moved spots a couple more times, and in all, caught at least two dozen sheepshead, releasing all but one. That monster he caught had enough meat to feed a family of five two nights in a row.

Thinking that was going to be my only trip that week, my phone rings, and this time it was Wexford Plantation resident Jon Harrigan. He asks me if I would fish with him in a Wexford Bull Redfish Tournament, but the only day he could fish was that Friday since he was scheduled to leave town the following day. It had been easily six or seven years since I had fished for these giant redfish because when bull red-

fish school up in the fall, that is their mating period, and I prefer to let them do their thing without hooks hanging from their jaw. Looking at the forecast, it couldn’t have been any worse. It was a full moon (typically terrible for fishing), the tides were huge at 10 ½ feet and the wind was howling out the north between 15-25mph. If that wasn’t enough, the water looked like chocolate milk. I told Jon we would be lucky to catch anything, but we would give it a try.

The only place that might be out of the wind and waves was the Broad River Bridge. The tide was ripping so fast it was hard to even anchor. Using our largest weights so our bait would hit the bottom, the only bites we got were a couple of small sharks. It just wasn’t going to happen, so we reeled everything in, and I went to a spot further down the sound that I hadn’t fished in eons. Anchored, in went our baits and within seconds, Jon brought in a nice bull red that measured 35”. Pretty much average, we released it, and just about the time we were about to give up, Jon’s rod bent over and this fish was no slouch. Once in the boat, it was long and super fat, way bigger than the first and measured 40” long. I have yet to hear if it was in the running, but between these two trips, I am hot to trot, and best of all, I will never have a drop of sweat.

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

George Norton with stud sheepshead Jon Harrigan with 40” bull redfish

Plastic surgery for men

BY DR. RONALD FINGER Contributor

The most common problems are:

1. Hair loss--the most common aging problem for men. However, it is a problem for women and people of any ethnicity as well. A hair transplant is under local anesthesia, and the grafted hair should grow for a lifetime. There are no scars to be seen. It’s virtually painless, and the results look completely natural. Downtime is a few days. I’ve had people ask patients if they had facelifts after hair transplants.

2. Fillers (volumizers)--to fill lost volume and the depressions of the face that occur with aging. Typical fillers are Juvederm or Restylane products and others. They are effective in turning back the clock for males and females. Men may prefer a stronger jawline and chin which can be accomplished with fillers. Improvements can be dramatic if performed with skill. Some of the latest fillers last five years.

3. Liposuction: hated are “love handles” and/or the lower abdomen. Local anesthesia can be used, and recovery time is minimal. For loose skin treatment non-surgically, radiofrequency devices such as the Renuvion or VirtueRF Microneedling appear to be the latest technology, and they are effective. If the skin is too excessive, surgery may be necessary.

4. Upper and/or lower Eyelid Surgery--often done under local anesthesia. Great care must be taken to avoid the appearance of feminine eyes. There is some bruising and swelling following surgery. A lower eyelid lift usually involves removing

the “bags” and can be done with the upper lid surgery or alone. Alternatively, non-surgical eyelid bags can be removed and skin tightened with VirtueRF Exact, which has become very popular. These are all office procedures.

5. Gynecomastia— or man breast, hated by most men. Often occurring during puberty, weight gain and in older age or bodybuilders who take testosterone. This is very common and embarrassing. The treatment involves liposuction with Renuvion and/or removing breast tissue through a small incision just below the areola. Local anesthesia is used if desired. Men having had this procedure are elated with the result.

6. “Turkey Gobbler” surgery— excess skin and/or fat in the neck, often treated with liposuction and Renuvion (to tighten the skin). Facelifts usually include the neck, but many men prefer something simpler and more direct, such as a direct excision of skin and fat. This is uniformly successful. There is a faint vertical scar in front of the neck, but the more obvious Turkey-gobbler is gone.

7. The newest alternative to the minimal or non-surgery procedures mentioned above is the Renuvion to tighten skin virtually anywhere, the Helix CO2 laser and the very high tech Microneedling VirtueRF. The latter two are radiofrequency devices which emit heat to stimulate collagen and elastin. They are often used simultaneously with a laser such as the Helix CO2 laser or the Virtue RF. Combination therapy appears to be the future for effective non-surgical age reduction with minimal recovery.

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

Dr. Ronald Finger

Real estate tips to maximize the final weeks of 2024

BY CHIP COLLINS Contributor

As we enter the final weeks of 2024, the real estate market is providing unique opportunities for buyers and sellers to maximize their advantages in a market influenced by seasonal distractions and economic factors.

If you’re a buyer, now is a prime time to make your move. With the holidays approaching, many potential buyers are turning their attention to travel and family, which means fewer people actively looking at properties. This reduced competition allows those who remain focused to get the property they want with fewer competing offers.

Additionally, some sellers in the market may be motivated to close before the end of the year. Whether they’re eager to avoid the holiday hassle of viewings or have travel plans that make being on the market inconvenient, motivated sellers can be more open to negotiations. This could mean a better price, a flexible closing date or even a leaseback arrangement where the seller rents the property temporarily after closing. A motivated seller could work to your advantage in the last weeks of 2024. For those looking to invest in rental properties, now is a fantastic time to buy and prepare for the Spring rental season. Buying in the winter months allows you to interview property management companies, make any needed updates and set up your bookings for peak season well ahead of the rush. Spring rentals bring high demand. By jumping on this strategy early, you’ll avoid the Spring scram-

ble and maximize your rental income potential by being ready before the rental season kicks into high gear. If you’re considering selling, this time of year offers an opportunity to get ahead without committing to a full listing just yet. We call it a “light switch listing.” The idea is to prepare your property with quality photos and listing details now while everything outside still looks great, then “flip the switch” to list officially when you’re ready. This strategy works especially well in South Carolina’s fall, where the colors are vibrant, the grass is still green, and the skies are stunning. With photos taken now, you’ll be ready to enter the market in early 2025 without worrying about less-than-ideal outdoor conditions or holiday decorations distracting from your listing photos. Along with photos, a pre-sale inspection can be advantageous. This allows you to identify and address any potential issues before a buyer’s inspector finds them, avoiding surprises during negotiations. Whether it’s repairs, staging, or minor updates, a little proactive work now can pay off when it’s time to sell. And with contractors getting busy during the holidays, early prep ensures you’re not caught scrambling. We know many sellers think of Spring as the ideal time to list, but that’s what everyone else is thinking too. By Spring, the market can be flooded with listings, creating more competition and putting pressure on pricing. Instead, by listing a bit earlier, you’ll stand out to active buyers now, many of whom have time on their hands during the holiday season to browse properties. Listing ahead of the traditional Spring rush can help you set the

• Complimentary exams and x-rays

• Braces and aligners for all ages

• Flexible financing

• No referrals needed for consultations

AAO recommends the first orthodontic consultation should be performed at age 7

Hours Mon - Thurs 8am - 5pm For appointments or information, visit

or contact either office.

Formerly Bluffton Orthodontics, now under new ownership and name, Dr. Sherwood Miler will continue the 10-year legacy in the Lowcountry.

Our goal remains to provide high-quality, personalized orthodontic care in a welcoming environment, and we are excited to serve both our existing and new patients. We’re deeply committed to our Lowcountry community, actively supporting local organizations, and creating smiles in the area we call home.

Chip Collins

REAL ESTATE

FROM PAGE 39A

standard on pricing rather than competing with dozens of similar listings. We’re always encouraging clients to lead the market, not follow it, especially when it comes to timing.

As we wrap up 2024, buyers and sellers have distinct advantages in the Lowcountry real estate market. Buyers can find opportunities in a less competitive market with motivated sellers, while sellers who get ahead of the Spring crowd can capture more attention. Utilizing these strategies could give you a valuable edge as we head into 2025.

Chip Collins is the Broker-Owner of Collins Group Realty founded in 2002. Find Chip at chip@ collinsgrouprealty.com or collinsgrouprealty.com

77 Bainbridge Way priced strategically for a fast sale. Sold for $737,000 within a week for a fast closing in early November.

70 Pennington Dr. Suite 6

Start your New Year’s resolutions TODAY!

BY ROB PEARSON Contributor

Many of us, regardless of age and life experiences, establish resolutions around this time of year and wait until the New Year to begin implementing them. Why wait? Let’s start today! Ask anyone involved in the fitness industry and you’ll hear about how their facility and trainers’ schedules are packed in January, less so in February and continue to be less crowded as the new year turns into spring and beyond.

According to surveys, only 9% of Americans complete their resolutions. With 23% of people quit trying before January 7th, the second Friday of the year is unofficially designated as Quitters Day. About 43% quit trying by January 31st. What does this say about us as a society?

If you really want to make positive changes in your life, start TODAY and begin shaping the new you now. Whether it involves changes in diet and exercise (the two most common resolutions), sleep, friendships, family and neighbor relations, hobbies, work, spiritual and mental well-being, there is no better time than NOW to initiate your plan.

After you have decided what areas in your life need to be tweaked, write them down. Use your favorite electronic device to list them (i.e. Apple’s Notes).

Here are some basic ideas to consider doing that could make huge impacts on your mental and physical well-being. With your new determination and attitude, they could even become a permanent part of your life!

Try eliminating (at least greatly reducing) digital scrolling. Limit yourself to a specific amount of time each day. Don’t start your limited scrolling time until after you’ve accomplished a resolution.

Drink more water! Think of all the money you could save if you switched to water and away from expensive ‘drive-thru drinks’ while simultaneously improving your health.

Find a mode of exercise you love. Be it walking, biking, pickleball, tennis, golf, swimming, working out and so many other fun ones to choose from. The key is to enjoy your time exercising and consistently do it. Your heart and mind will love you for it!

Make Mental Health a priority. By adhering to your resolutions, in no time you will be feeling better about yourself and have an improved outlook on life. It may add more fulfilling and healthy years to the limited time we have on this planet. As the Nike ads say, ‘Just Do It’.

Rob Pearson, M.S. is Executive Director of Mental Health America of the Lowcountry, providing daily adult group mental health counseling programs in Bluffton and Beaufort for clients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, PTSD and more. Contact: robp@mhalowcountry.org , 843-415-9110

Rob Pearson

Spillin’ the Tea... Tales from the Lowcountry

This story is from a collection of interviews from long time locals who have generously shared their lowcountry memories with me to be saved for historical purposes and future generations

Walter Greer Jr. and growing up on the island

BY PAUL TOLLEFSON Contributor

The year was 1960, and Hilton Head had not quite taken off with the “Boom” from tourism yet. Sea Pines was in its beginning stages of development and Harbour Town was still eight to nine years away from being built.

Walter Greer Jr., along with his brother, sister and parents moved to the island from the rural Greenville area for his father to live out his dream of becoming an artist. Walter Sr. left his family chemical business and purchased a small lot in Sea Pines on Snowy Egret Road and built a small, 1200 squarefoot house to call their new home.

Soon enough, Walter Jr., along with his brother and sister, started school in Bluffton. In those days the older kids of the schools were the bus drivers, and at that time, Walter remembers that his bus driver was Jimmy Richardson, whose father owned the Red and White Supermarket.

“I remember the long drive to Bluffton on that bus in the very early hours of the morning. Most of the streets were still oyster shell, and I remember there were so many winding roads to get from Sea Pines out to Bluffton school.”

“Some days, on the way back home, the bus would stop at Mr. Abe Grants small convenience store around mid-island. The store couldn’t have been much bigger than a small garage, but I loved when we got to stop after school! We’d pull off, and everyone would go inside to buy something, if

you had any money of course. I’d always opt for a moon pie and a cold RC Cola!”

Life was simple for Walter in those days.

The kind of days where when you got out of school for the summer, the shoes came off, and they didn’t go back on till school was back in session. Most days were spent fishing, hunting, playing on the beach or pretty much whatever else they could find to do on a still very unpopulated Hilton Head.

“We used to do a lot of hunting in those days. There was no Palmetto Dunes yet, and that whole area was the North Carolina Hunt Club. We of course weren’t allowed to hunt in there, but we found ways around that,” laughed Walt.

“I remember that me and my buddy Johnny Whitten used to climb to the top of the light house that was there in what is now Leamington. Well, it was pretty much the best deer stand there was! We used to be able to see everything from up there. If

we got a deer, we would just field dress it right there and pack it out and walk the beach back home. “

“Because we were so close to the hunt club, the game wardens in there, or the land managers, didn’t like us to say the least, especially for hunting from the lighthouse. I remember one time they chased us through the William Hilton Inn! Here we are, two teenagers with rifles and full camouflage, running through the lobby of this hotel being chased by these game wardens! Once we hit that beach, we were gone!”

“During that time on Hilton Head, there were all sorts of animals in those woods. Deer, wild pigs, rattlesnakes, you name it, Hilton Head had it. My brother John shot a bobcat right outside the main gate of Sea Pines when he was about 12 or 13.”

“One of my favorite hunting memories beside the lighthouse story had to do with a 400 lb. wild pig. One of our favorite spots to hunt wild pigs was near to where the intersection of Cordillo and Pope Ave. meet. Well, me and my buddies shot this huge pig. The only problem was it was so big that we didn’t know how we were going to get it home. One of my buddy’s family owned the Exxon that was down near the beach. His name was Brother Roller, and he was just getting ready to close shop for the day. Well, we decided that we were

going to drag this 400 lb. pig down Pope Ave. to that station, which we did! We talked Brother Roller into letting us hoist this thing up using the grease rack, and we ended up butchering it in the station that night. Of course, being teenagers, we didn’t clean up our mess all that well, and the next day, Mr. Roller comes into the shop and was pissed at the mess we left!” It was only about three years before Walter’s mother decided that Hilton Head Island was not for her, so she packed up the kids and moved back to the rural Greenville area, while Walter’s father stayed to live out his dream of being an artist, which he did. Walter would come down to visit on the weekends, but those three years gave him memories that 60+ years later, he can still smile and laugh at. Walter did confess to me that if his family would have moved to Bluffton and not Hilton Head, they probably would have stayed. “I’m a country boy, through and through, and Bluffton was more of our kind of people at that time than Hilton Head was. Nonetheless, I had a great time!”

Paul Tollefson is the Director of Tennis at the Hampton Hall Club in Bluffton. He found his love for the Lowcountry in early 2002 after graduating high school and unsure of what career path he was destined towards. After moving from Hilton Head to Bluffton he became enthralled with the history of the town and the people and cultures that called it home for many generations. He has found a passion in writing and enjoys being able to share the stories and pictures of long-time locals. He is the co-creator of the Facebook page “Bluffton Then and Now”.

Paul Tollefson

Historical merger between Hilton Head Preparatory and Sea Pines Montessori Academy

BY TRACY WINSLOW Contributor

Hilton Head Preparatory School and Sea Pines Montessori Academy have announced a historical merger between Hilton Head Island’s two oldest schools. The newly unified institution will operate as Hilton Head Preparatory School, with a dedicated Montessori-based division, Sea Pines Montessori Academy at Hilton Head Preparatory School.

Hilton Head Preparatory School is a co-educational day and boarding school on Hilton Head Island. The school was founded in 1965 by Charles Fraser during the development of Sea Pines Resort and

was known Sea Pines Academy. In 1985, Sea Pines Academy merged with May River Academy to become Hilton Head Preparatory School. Hilton Head Preparatory employs a traditional style of education that focuses on teaching subjects individually with students working at the same pace in college preparatory programs.

Sea Pines Montessori Academy was built in 1968 by Charles Fraser’s wife, Mary Fraser, as the first Montessori preschool in South Carolina. Montessori education is a method that integrates subjects and uses a self-learning model. Lessons are taught at the students own pace through play and hands-on activities in multi-aged classroom environments. Students entering Hilton Head Prepara-

MERGER CONT. ON PAGE 45A

PALMETTO ANIMAL LEAGUE

Tracy Winslow

MERGER

FROM PAGE 44A

tory School can opt into one of the two programs. Children aged fifteen months through third grade can enroll in either Sea Pines Montessori Academy at Hilton Head Preparatory School or directly into the Hilton Head Preparatory School. However, all students in fourth grade and beyond will be enrolled in the Hilton Head Preparatory School.

Hilton Head Preparatory School’s Head of School, Paul Horgan, will oversee the unified institution. He says the following about the merger, “This partnership is the culmination of a long-standing relationship between our schools. By bringing Sea Pines Montessori into the Hilton Head Prep family, we are enhancing our mission to provide a cohesive, world-class education from the toddler years to college preparation. I am honored to lead this initiative and confident that this will strengthen our community for years to come.”

The co-chairs of the Sea Pines Montessori Board, Kelley Stearns and Sydney

Hitchcock, are equally enthusiastic about the merger. “The collaboration between our schools will provide an unparalleled educational pathway, guiding children from their earliest years through high school graduation. By uniting our strengths, we can uphold our cherished Montessori tradition while providing enhanced opportunities for growth, continuity, and innovation in a nurturing environment.”

The unification is part of Hilton Head Preparatory School’s five-year strategic plan. Sources say most parents are excited about the merger. There are a few Montessori parents, however, that are disappointed the program will now end after third grade instead of continuing through the traditional eighth grade Montessori curriculum.

Both institutions hope to make a seamless transition for parents and students opting to begin their child’s education through Sea Pines Montessori Academy as they join the rest of the student body at the Preparatory School, located next door.

Sam Bauer, the current chair of the

Hilton Head Preparatory School’s Board of Trustees feels the merger is cause for celebration. “This partnership is truly historic, bringing together two institutions that have deep roots in Hilton Head Island’s legacy. We are thrilled to come full circle, uniting the Fraser family’s vision under one banner. This will be a game changer for both current and future

families in the community.” The merger is effective immediately.

Tracy Winslow is the owner of the Low Country’s premier yarn store - Low Country Shrimp and Knits. Tracy has a degree in journalism, so it’s not completely weird she is writing a serious article. Although her writing is typically humorous about life’s antics and anecdotes in her humor column, Chaos on Fire.

Whether you’re recovering from an injury, dealing with a chronic condition, or simply looking for a comfortable and convenient chair, Zecliner® is the ideal choice that provides you with the support and assistance you need.

A NIGHT FILLED WITH LIGHT

Christmas Eve

UNDER THE STARS

DECEMBER 24TH 6:30PM

Free refreshments starting at 6:00pm

Family-Friendly Candlelight Service

Bluffton Oyster Factory Park 63 Wharf St., Bluffton SC 29910

A service for the community by The New Bluffton Worship & First Zion Missionary Baptist Church

Christmas is truly a season of light. Not just light shows or tree decorations, but to worship God for the light of hope that came when Jesus was born. The service includes messages, carols, and lighting of candles to Silent Night under a Christmas sky on the May River at Oyster Factory Park in Old Town Bluffton.

The New Bluffton Worship is an independent church family with a non-trditional style of worship. Regular Schedule in-person or live streamed: 9:00 & 10:30AM at 39 Persimmon St. #203, Blufft5on 29910 www.theNewBlufftonWorship.com

Experienced Interventional Cardiologist Joins Beaufort Memorial Heart Specialists

To further expand and enhance cardiac care for Lowcountry residents, Beaufort Memorial has added an experienced physician to the team at Beaufort Memorial Heart Specialists.

Board-certified in Internal Medicine and fellowship-trained in Cardiovascular Disease as well as Interventional Cardiology, Dr. Francis O’Neill brings his background with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to Beaufort Memorial Heart Specialists where he, alongside the practice’s other board-certified providers, will diagnose and treat patients with cardiovascular conditions. In addition to seeing patients in both the practice’s Beaufort and Okatie offices, Dr. O’Neill will also perform cardiac catheterization procedures in the new cath lab at Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s main campus.

“Dr. O’Neill will be a fantastic addition to our team of skilled cardiologists at Beaufort Memorial Heart Specialists,” said Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley. “His experience in compassionate, patient-forward cardiac care will truly be a benefit for patients here in the Lowcountry.”

completed rigorous training in coronary interventions at Morristown Memorial Hospital in New Jersey. Having performed over 1,000 coronary procedures, his focus is interventional cardiology – but his diverse experience will bring specialized, high-quality care in the areas of heart failure, hypertension, pacemaker and defibrillator management, coronary disease, pulmonary embolism, cardiogenic shock, valve disease and arrhythmia management.

Dr. O’Neill describes always having an interest in medicine and felt drawn to a career where he could help. That interest developed further when his father passed away from cancer when he was 13 years old.

While attending medical school, he discovered an aptitude for cardiology.

“Once you find something you’ve got a knack for, you tend to fall in love with it, too,” he said, which led to honing this skill with over a decade of training.

Dr. O’Neill’s rural upbringing on a dairy farm in upstate New York is one of the factors that attracted him to Beaufort; he and his wife, Rita, wanted their children to grow up in a smaller community. The desire for connection drives his philosophy of care, too.

“I look at each of my patients as a whole person and treat them like I would treat my family,” Dr. O’Neill said. “Their care is not a transaction; it’s a conversation; I’m going to listen.”

The New York native joins Beaufort Memorial from his role as an interventional cardiologist and Director of both Cardiac Catheterization and Cardiac Critical Care at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, N.Y. He had hospital privileges at Northshore University Hospital, South Shore University Hospital, Huntington Hospital, LIJ, Peconic Bay and Mather Hospitals, and

At the practice, Dr. O’Neill joins board-certified cardiologists Drs. Stephen G. Fedec and Stuart Smalheiser, as well as physician assistant Tara Kay and nurse practitioner Taylor Robinson.

Beaufort Memorial Heart Specialists is located in Beaufort at 300 Midtown Drive and in Okatie at the Okatie Medical Pavilion (122 Okatie Center Blvd. North, Suite 300).

To schedule an appointment with Dr. O’Neill or one of Beaufort Memorial’s heart care specialists, call (843) 770-4550.

First Zion Missionary Baptist is located at 10 Robertson St. in Old Town Bluffton.

Dr. Francis O’Neill

BY REV. DR. CHRISTOPHER L. THOMPSON Contributor

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go,” is the beginning of a Bing Crosby song that is normally played around this time of the year. This song signals the beginning of our gift exchanging, sitting down to another big meal with family and friends. Of the stores being overrun with shoppers, the roads being filled with traffic, and everyone trying to be on their very best behavior as we scramble for those last minute what-nots and what-cha-ma-call-it’s that we didn’t get early in the year. This season also speaks of excess and abundance. This season speaks of capitalistic traditions vs. what this season is really about. For many of us, it is tradition; this way of celebrating is all that we know. However, there is room for improvement, not to say that what we are doing is wrong. What I am saying is that it is time for a new thing. Let’s modify our tradition to

match what God did for us way back when and continues to do for us today. Let us think about those who are in need. Those who need a miracle. Those who need to believe that there is still good in this world. There is a group of our neighbors who feel like they are the last, the least, the left out and the lost of our society. This is how we were before God sent Jesus. We were the last, the least, the left out and the lost because of sin. God saw that there was still some good in the

world, so he sent Jesus to come and redeem us before we were completely lost. There are many in our own communities who feel helpless and hopeless but will not say a word because of fear. Fear of being talked about and made to feel worse than they currently feel.

For this reason, I am asking that we begin this season to do a new thing. Let us look to the book of Proverbs, the 22nd chapter and the 6th verse, which states “6Train up a child in the way he should

go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (NKJV)

In the Book of Acts, the 20th chapter and the 35th verse, Luke records these words

“35I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (NKJV)

Within these two texts, we find the direction that we need to take in this season, a new tradition that we need to implement to ensure that we are really capturing the meaning of this season. Training our children to give to those who are in need, the same way that God gave to us through Jesus Christ and continues to bless us with life, health and strength. Season’s Greetings, and may God continue to bless you today, tomorrow and forever.

Rev. Dr. Christopher L. Thompson is pastor of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Okatie.

BY ROSEMARY STAPLES Contributor

Birders, duck!

In the Victorian era, sportsmen celebrated Christmas Day with contests or “side hunts,” to see who could kill the most birds in the shortest amount of time. Thousands were massacred during these hunts, but it was the demand for women’s feathered hats that almost decimated the avian population in the late 1800s. An estimated fifty species were wiped out and five million birds killed annually, in the name of fashion.

In 1900, ornithologist and magazine publisher, Frank Chapman, proposed a new type of holiday hunt — instead of killing birds, let’s count them! Twenty-seven birders across the U.S. and Cana-

da volunteered. Counters recorded 89 species and 18,500 birds in the Audubon Society’s first Christmas Bird Count (CBC), which became an annual event.

Fast forward to Hilton Head Island,1960. Charles Fraser was developing his 5000acre Sea Pines resort, then a remote wilderness where occasional hunting was allowed. According to Charles’ nephew, Joe Fraser, “Charles invited people over to hunt for long weekends,” to help market Sea Pines.

Not all these early islanders were hunters — at least not with guns. That autumn, Caroline “Beanie” Newhall, a feisty Sea Pines birder and nature lover, helped establish the Audubon group, and its members were busy planning Hilton Head’s first CBC.

December 31, 1960, 6am — Beanie and fellow birders met at the forest preserve in Sea Pines. Armed with binoculars and notepads, the counters trudged through

shrubs and rice fields, recording widgeons, woodpeckers — anything in sight. They heard a few duck calls. A flock of mallards flew toward them, then shotgun blasts pierced the morning calm! Ducks dropped like stones. No doubt the birders ducked too.

Shrieks, shouts and a few choice words

spewed forth before the shooting stopped. Hunter heads popped up from a nearby field of cattails. No one was injured, and Beanie, “madder than a wet hen,” headed straight to Charles’ office to voice her displeasure.

Reverend Shannon Bullion

Rosemary Staples

DUCK

Charles was at his real estate office when Beanie arrived, maybe expecting her visit. No record of the discussion survives, but we know that Beanie wanted a preserve where nature lovers could be safe, and Fraser wanted a safe place for people to live. They came to terms, and in 1965, Charles donated fifty-acres of forested land to Beanie, eventually named the Audubon Newhall Preserve to honor her conservation efforts.

“Beanie could be very convincing with Charles,” said Joe. “Charles still offered hunting trips, but never again did a bird count and a duck hunt take place on the same day!” In 1971, Sea Pines was finally designated a wildlife sanctuary. Hunters left for shooting grounds elsewhere, while the CBC has taken place on Hilton Head every year since 1960.

This holiday season, the National Audubon Society celebrates its 125th CBC. Tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Western Hemisphere will identify and record every bird they see or hear on a scheduled date between December 14 and

January 5. Promoting conservation, monitoring bird populations, and developing protective strategies are just a few of the scientific aims for this collective birdwatching event.

In our area, the Sun City-Okatie count is scheduled for Saturday, December 14th, and the Hilton Head count is Monday, December 16.

To get a heads up on the birds we expect to see, you are invited to Hilton Head Audubon’s annual birding review, this year featuring Dr. Andy Jones, Executive Director of the Spring Island Trust and Lowcountry Institute. Dr. Jones is a lifelong naturalist, with a passion for the biodiversity of the southeastern United States. Join HH Audubon, Thursday, December 5th, 7:00 pm in Fellowship Hall at First Presbyterian Church on HHI. For more information, go to https://hiltonheadaudubon.org/

Rosemary Staples is a board member of Hilton Head Audubon, long time Lowcountry resident, writer, speaker, storyteller and Master Naturalist.

Melissa here you go. There pictures are by two different photographers.

Melissa here you go. There pictures are by two different photographers.

Snowy Egrets were almost hunted to extinction for their delicate feathers. Photographer Patty Kappmeyer

Snowy Egrets were almost hunted to extinction for their delicate feathers. Photographer Patty Kappmeyer

Snowy Egrets were almost hunted to extinction for their delicate feathers.

Snowy Egrets

almost hunted for their delicate feathers. Photographer Patty Kappmeyer

Male and female mallard are year-round residents, although winter migrants visit

Male and female mallard are year-round residents, although winter migrants visit the Lowcountry Photographer Mary Alice Tartler

Male and female mallard are year-round residents, although winter migrants visit the Lowcountry Photographer Mary Alice Tartler

Male and female mallard are year-round residents, although winter migrants visit the Lowcountry Photographer Mary Alice Tartler

COTP Cantata Choir

PHOTOGRAPHER PATTY KAPPMEYER

PHOTOGRAPHER MARY ALICE TARTLER

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One true kind heart

BY DANIE CONNOLLY Contributor

I’m about to ask for your help - now. You’ve told yourself you gave enough already - what more could you possibly do? I don’t know - I wish I did. I wish there was one word that we could conjure

HEART

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Danie Connolly

up that could change life for the better for everyone.

The world is crazy right now. People are angrier and hurting for many reasons and there are a million excuses why you can’t pitch in, why you can’t help, why you can’t be there for someone else.

I’m writing against an already packed deadline but at this time of year, everything is a priority - people need to eat, bills have to be paid. You know what I’m talking about.

There’s never enough time or money or people or help because everyone lives in their own private world. The most frequent fact I hear repeated over and over is that no one realizes that even under this warm, smiling sun with the perfectly fluffy clouds, children go home to empty cupboards. They hope that Monday comes quickly, and they’ll benefit from the free breakfast and lunch programs. These children wear hand me down clothes and shoes either too small or way too big. The holidays are the least of their concerns. They’re all trying to put on a brave face, so everyone believes that all is well in Beaufort County. It’s not.

Out of pride, out of budget cuts, and out of luck. It’s true here and in a lot of American communities - especially Hilton Head.

That’s where Matt Bauman, a baseball coach with a heart of gold, is living his dream.  It started innocent-

ly enough - Matt didn’t want to waste anymore food after his friends gathered for the holidays. Instead of food, he asked his friends to bring an unwrapped toy for a child for Christmas.  As a teacher, he’d heard the stories of when teachers asked their young students what they wished for Christmas.

At the top of the Santa letters were comments that would break their hearts - “Santa forgets about us”. The fear of not having what you need during a crisis is life shattering. Bauman needed to create a project or a program that would quell that angst.

Matt’s team would attempt to make it as enjoyable and as seamless as they could to possibly fulfill that dream list. Over a seven-year span Matt discovered that there a lot of like-minded people in his community that were willing to give and find others that can as well and give again! In a blink of an eye, the charity that he started by asking people to donate unwrapped presents turned into Deep Well Santa Shop in Hilton Head. He asked stores if he could place a collection box in their businesses. He collected the unwrapped presents on a specific date and set up a little mini storefront shopping area at Deep Well. Matt’s efforts for his toy drive go directly to the established Deep well Project that facilitates the Santa Shop. It’s been effectively running for over 10 years.

HEART

FROM PAGE 51A

Needy families started coming to the Santa Shop at designated times to pick out the things that would matter to their kids on Christmas morning.

There now are 800 families! The boxes to collect the unwrapped gifts has grown to 76! Thanks to the generosity of so many businesses and individuals, Matt has watched a simple idea grow in his heart and everyone’s’ who volunteered.

Let’s just say that the job task was overwhelming, but fortunately Matt Bauman is not just a coach of baseball but of the human heart.

I don’t know Matt personally, but I know when people communicate with each other they don’t really talk with a voice or sound. They talk with their one true kind heart - he grew up in that kind of family. Something tells me that you do, too.

Everyone needs to move fast to make this year successful. They need all the community support that can be mustered prior to December 6. The boxes that

are filled with whatever donations accumulated get picked up and they have just four short days to turn the Deep Well Santa Shop into the designated Santa Shop.

At the end of the day Matt Bauman can close his eyes and know that you do what you need to do and then you do a little bit more.

Here’s a list of the stores and places that you can bring an unwrapped brandnew gift for someone else that needs far more than you do. Any unchosen gifts after the Shop closes are distributed to other charity establishments for disbursements. Thank you in advance for your help.

BY KAT RICE Contributor

Tunnel to Towers 5k raises thousands

On September 11, 2001, firefighter Stephen Gerard Siller was on his way to the golf course when he heard that a plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel was blocked off, but Steven was determined to get to the scene, so he strapped 60 pounds of gear to his back, running nearly two miles through the tunnel toward the buildings, where he would eventually give up his life in his pursuit to save others. Out of Steven’s heroism came the Tunnel to Towers (T2T) Foundation, which has been helping Veterans and families of fallen first responders ever since. The foundation hosted their first 5k in New York in 2002 where runners met at the Battery Tunnel and replicated Stephen’s

T2T CONT. ON PAGE 54A

footsteps toward the towers. The race has now expanded to cities all over the country, including here in Bluffton.

T2T reached out to Bluffton’s Palmetto Running Company (PRC) three years ago to gauge their interest in hosting the race in this area. PRC Founder and owner, Rob Fyfe, jumped at the opportunity. As former New York residents, Rob and his wife experienced the loss of that day firsthand.

Fyfe explains, “this event is important for me because [9/11] affected us and we lost friends that day. Being from New York, it means so much because it affected me closely.”

The Bluffton Tunnel to Towers 5k was held on November 17th at Rose Hill Plantation. The event hosted over 1200 participants and raised $100k from sponsorships, donations, and registration.

The race itself is different than most 5ks. The local police donated their services for traffic and Beaufort County flew a helicopter overhead as runners waved small American flags in the air. Participants chose a badge to go with their race

bib that had the photo ID of a fallen first responder from the tragic day. Runners/ walkers were divided into waves— the first was military and first responders, many of them wearing their uniforms and gear, and the second wave included everyone else following their lead.

The pre-race ceremony was an emotional occasion with two speakers who shared their stories.

One retired firefighter told his poignant story of surviving 9/11 while losing over twenty of his men in the devastation. He encouraged the crowd that, “this foundation inspires all of us to do good every day and that’s just what we’re doing. We are here to take care of those who take care of us.”

The second speaker was Bluffton local Katie Morton and her children. Katie’s husband Mitchell, a United States Marine, lost his battle to a rare and aggressive form of cancer two years ago, leaving her a grieving single mom with a huge mortgage. T2T stepped in and, as of Memorial Day this year, paid off her home.

The T2T foundation has dozens of programs for supporting military, veterans,

and first responders. Not only do they pay off and buy homes for heroes, but they also recently started a program to remove veterans from homelessness. The foundation is buying and renovating hotels, including one in Charleston, where they have housed 40,000 displaced vets to date. And all the proceeds from T2T 5ks go directly to programs like this.

Fyfe knows the heart of the T2T 5k is much bigger than a running event. He says, “it’s not who’s the fastest or the best. This day is about bringing the tragedy to

life for this area. It’s a moment in US history that shouldn’t be forgotten.” You can find out more about supporting Tunnel to Towers at T2T.org.

Bridge to nowhere? 278 Corridor debate demands action and fresh

BY STEVE BAER Contributor

Please watch this video regarding the 278 Corridor Project. Beaufort County Council had an approximately 1-hour discussion on Tuesday November 12th, 2024, regarding the recently failed 2024 Tax Referendum and the 278 Corridor Project. I urge everyone to watch it at: https://beaufortcountysc.new.swagit.com/videos/319811 Agenda item 13.

Basically, the State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) wrote to the County asking how they are going to come up with the missing funds, now that the tax referendum has failed. They gave the County 15 days to answer.

There is a lot of material covered, but my quick summary includes:

1 – the County Council is in no mood to raise taxes. They have few options available. They will write that to the SIB.

2 - The current plan would not be complete until 2030. (Some of us believe it is a brute force junk plan that will not work well and is not worth the time and money.)

3 - There is still a very large lack of un-

derstanding by some on County Council. For example, some believe that the only options are build the current plan OR repair the faulty bridge by closing one lane in each direction for years. That is just faulty logic.

Many of us believe that there may be other better, faster, more cost-effective plans that have been suppressed and ignored for years.

Now is the time to find them!! I urge that the residents and the Town form a real task force (not the past stacked committee) of engineers and residents to help explore our options. One major stone to look under is to reduce the size of the planned 11-equivalent lane bridge (currently costing $350-$375 million), and the huge, planned intersections. Then spend some of the saved money on eliminating the congestion caused by the 3 traffic lights and lack of an express connection to the Cross Island Parkway. These ideas have been politically suppressed since 2020.

Steve Baer is a former Beaufort County Councilman and holds a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering.

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The Village at Wexford Hilton Head Island

BY ABBY BIRD AKA ALPHADOG Contributor

Well over a decade ago, a couple of very insightful people at Hospice Care of the Lowcountry contacted me about offering a pet therapy component to people that were receiving hospice or lived in residential care facilities. They surmised that this would be a very emotionally valuable additional service.

Very often people living in care facilities have not been able to take their pets with them due to their lack of ability to care for them, or that specific facility does not permit residents to own pets. In other cases, it may have been years since the person has owned a pet. We are all aware how emotionally soothing it is to be able to give and get loving from pets. Medically and psychologically, it has been proven that being with a pet can calm anxiety, lower blood pressure and promote a more relaxed sense of well being. Loving on a pet can even help to lower physical pain. In lots of cases, it may

Hos-pets therapy dogs

stimulate remembrances of former loved pets and be very emotionally satisfying. Volunteers with this program often remark that petting a therapy dog and sharing pet stories enhances the residents and patients’ connection with the volunteer and brings joyful smiles and memories. It also provides a connection and companionship when family is not available for

that person.

We have the ability to visit in a patient’s home and with their family. Loving on the Hos-pets relieves stress and brings enjoyment to all. We also visit many of the areas assisted living residences to visit with those that are dog friendly and would like to pet and chat. And we also offer group visits where resi-

dents gather in a social area and get to be visited by multiple dogs of all sizes, providing lots of kisses!

Hospice Care of the Lowcountry encourages people in the community who wish to volunteer and have a people friendly, well-trained dog to contact them about the process to have the dog trained and certified and to have the human volunteer trained as well. It is one of the most rewarding volunteer programs in the area and brings joy to all, the patient, family, staff, volunteer and dog! If you have an interest in giving back in this way, either contact me at alphadogtrainingacademy@gmail.com or Hospice Care of the Lowcountry at ccamp@hospicecarelc.org for further information. Over the years more than 250 local therapy dog teams have been part of this program. We look forward to hearing from you about this special volunteer opportunity. Abby Bird is the owner of Alphadog Training Academy. AlphadogTrainingAcademy@gmail.com

that capture memories and create joy Holiday photo gifts

BY RHODA GORDON Contributor

The holidays are a time for creating and cherishing memories, making it the perfect season to turn your favorite photos into thoughtful gifts. Whether it’s a custom photo book, a framed print, or a unique DIY creation, photo gifts capture special moments and allow you to share them with loved ones in a meaningful way. In this article, I’ll explore creative ideas for holiday photo gifts that are sure to bring smiles and keep precious memories alive for years to come.

Personalized Photo Books

A photo book filled with snapshots from recent trips, family gatherings, or everyday moments makes a wonderful keepsake that will be treasured for years to come. Creating a photo book is easier than ever with tools like the Apple Photos app or trusted websites such as Printique and MPIX, which offer user- friendly interfaces and high-quality results. For the best outcome, be sure to upload full-resolution images to ensure crisp, vibrant prints.

Custom Photo Calendars

With the New Year fast approaching, a personalized photo calendar is a heartfelt and practical gift idea. Highlight your favorite photos from the past year to create a calendar that celebrates special memo-

ries month by month. Your loved ones will enjoy revisiting these moments throughout the year, making it a gift they’ll look forward to all year long.

Digital Photo Frames: A Modern Way to Relive Memories

A digital photo frame is a fantastic gift for displaying your favorite moments in a sleek, modern way. It’s a stylish and space-saving alternative to traditional frames, allowing you to showcase hundreds of photos without taking up any extra room. Here’s why they’re a holiday hit:

• Endless Slideshow: Enjoy a rotating gallery of cherished memories, keeping your photos fresh and engaging every day.

• Versatile Display: Easily swap photos to match the season, a special occasion, or

your current mood—no printing or reframing required!

• Connected Convenience: Upload photos directly from your smartphone, social media, or cloud storage, making it effortless to keep your frame updated with new memories.

• Space-Saving: Perfect for small spaces, a single digital frame can showcase your entire photo collection.

One of the most popular options on the market is Nixplay, known for its highquality displays and user-friendly features. A digital frame makes a thoughtful gift that blends technology with sentimentality.

Custom Photo Puzzles: A Gift of PHOTO GIFTS CONT. ON PAGE 58A

Rhoda Gordon

PHOTO GIFTS

Fun and Connection

Turn a favorite photo into a custom jigsaw puzzle for a truly unique and interactive gift. Whether it’s a family portrait, a vacation snapshot, or a beloved pet, photo puzzles offer hours of entertainment while bringing people together. They’re perfect for family game nights or as a way to spend quality time during the holidays. Once completed, they can even be framed and displayed as a keepsake.

Projector App: Relive Home Movies

Like Never Before

Bring your family together to relive treasured moments with the Projector App. Perfect for those with digital home movies transferred from VHS tapes, DVDs, or film, this app mimics the look and feel of streaming platforms like Netflix—only it’s your personal family movie archive!

• Seamless Viewing: Gather around the TV and enjoy a binge-worthy experience of your own family’s history.

• Secure Sharing: Share your digital

movies with loved ones securely, ensuring only those you choose can access them.

• Nostalgic Fun: Create a holiday tradition of watching old home movies while making new memories.

The Projector App transforms digital movies into a cozy, shareable experience that connects generations and celebrates your family’s story.

DIG YOUR PHOTOS!: The Perfect Gift for Preserving Memories

Looking for a gift that truly lasts a lifetime? DIG YOUR PHOTOS! has everything you need to organize and preserve your precious print photos. This all-in-one kit includes easy-to-follow direction cards and videos that guide you step-by-step through four simple phases, transforming piles of pictures into a beautifully organized collection. It’s the ideal gift for anyone who wants to save their story, protect their family’s legacy, and relive cherished memories.

Give the gift of organization and nostalgia this holiday season with DIG YOUR PHOTOS!—because every photo has a

story worth saving.

Photo gifts are more than just presents—they’re a way to celebrate cherished memories and strengthen connections with loved ones. Whether you choose to create a personalized photo book, a set of holiday cards, or a DIY masterpiece, these heartfelt gifts are sure to leave a lasting impression. This holiday season, let your photos tell the story of your favorite moments and spread joy that will be remembered long after the festivities are over. Start creating your photo gifts today and give the gift of memories!

Rhoda Gordon is a local certified photo manager, owner of Sunflower Photo Solutions and creator of DIG YOUR PHOTOS!, a DIY photo organizing kit. Rhoda has been helping families and businesses organize and back up their print and digital collection for almost a decade. See more tips, tricks and how-tos on her YouTube channel: youtube.com/@digyourphotos and check out sunflowerphotosolutions. com and digyourphotos.com for guidance and support with your media collection or any of your Holiday projects.

Tracy’s Big Adventure

BY TRACY WINSLOW Contributor

My husband is always trying to get me to “find a hobby”.  When I tell him that I have several hobbies –knitting, writing, reading, gardening – I am quickly

informed that these things are not, in fact, hobbies. These are things that people do right before they die of old age, or more likely, die of boredom from their lame hobbies.

People need to fill their soul with things that make

them happy and give them purpose. Some golf, some work with charities, some spend their entire summer at the May River sand bar. I have several friends who

Tracy Winslow

ADVENTURE

are triathletes in their free time. I am a runner when I have the chance (which is hardly ever these days). And I would totally be a triathlete – except for all that swimming. Mostly I hate being in the water with all that yucky, nature-y stuff – which kind of gets in the way of my triathlon career. Wait! There’s still biking...

My husband gladly bequeaths to me his old Trek ten-speed bicycle. There are so many trails and bike paths here – we should take advantage of them. I used to love riding my bike when I was a kid. Plus, there has to be a reason for the adage “It’s just like riding a bicycle,” right?

First off, I need a helmet, and I find one that looks like a straw hat. I mean, one must look chic and stylish while gallivanting around the Low Country. I put my hair in a cute side ponytail that falls perfectly below the helmet onto my shoulder, to wave in the breeze as my personal hello to those I pedal past. Pink plaid capris, pink sneakers, and a cute white shirt completes the ensemble. Maybe I’ll even bike to the farmer’s market in Old Town and buy yummy fresh vege-

tables for dinner! I’ll put them in a basket and sing songs from the Sound of Music while drinking freshly-squeezed lemonade en route home. My cheeks will match my pink outfit from the breeze, and lungs will be exuberant from all the fresh air. I’m so excited to start this fun husband-approved hobby!

I throw one capri’d leg over my new-to-me bike, hop onto the seat, and begin pedaling. And wobbling. And shaking. And panicking that I am going to tip over and crash onto Bluffton Parkway, which is making me wobble even more, which makes me panic even more. My husband zips by at about 1,000 mph, jumps the curb, and yells “Do a pop-awheelie!” at me.

Several horrifying minutes later I make it

to the end of the road, not even a half mile from our house. My once-cute ponytail is now a tangle of dreadlocks. The helmet is askew on my head. My capris are covered with chain grease from getting on and off the bike seat while trying to avoid plummeting to a certain death off the ginormous ledge on the side of the road (also known as the sidewalk). My hands have molded their death grip permanently on the handlebars because I almost rode right into the pond and became an alligator hors d’oeuvre.

I manage to stop the bike next to my husband, who barely notices because he is busy doing burnouts. I am shaking so hard that I catch a plaid pant leg on something and almost knock us both to the ground. Then, admitting defeat, I slowly turn the bike and walk towards the safety of home. My hus-

band speeds away, waving and yelling about going to get a bell so he can avoid hitting hazards in the road - like me. I’m hoping to hide my bike in the basement of the Alamo, or at least behind something big and heavy in the garage before he gets home. I don’t want him to see it and suggest we try to kill ourselves again, this time on Hilton Head Island.

When my husband returns from his cute little 20-mile excursion, I decide to ask him what constitutes a hobby in his mind. He looks at me like I have just informed him I have announced my intent to breed alpaca in our garage.

“Motorcycles, dirt bikes, four wheelers. You know, fun stuff?”

If the potential for death during an outing is not present, then it is clearly not a viable hobby in his mind. I’ve tried his hobbies. I really wanted to like being on a motorcycle. I quickly learned that it is super scary and hurts my butt. Dirt bikes and four wheelers are scary and way too dirty. I mean, hello! It’s called a DIRT bike.

I’ve decided that with my considerable lack of grace, endurance and bubble wrap, a

ADVENTURE CONT. ON PAGE 61A

ADVENTURE FROM PAGE

more sedentary hobby is really more up my alley. (Speaking of alley - bowling is out too since I once broke my finger while bowling.) Looks like I’m happiest (and safest) while knitting and writing. When I inform my

To the Editor:

At the apex of God and truth there is freedom. When Thomas Aquinas said, “ Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by man’s own will,” this was a revolutionary thought for the 13th century. Aquinas was one of the first theologians to openly admit that free will was part of the human condition.

The Enlightenment era thinkers of the 17th and 18th centuries echoed these sentiments - “To love truth for truth’s sake is the principal part of human perfection in this world, and the seed-plot of all other virtues.” - John Locke

The theories of religion and freedom

husband of my hobby epiphany, he tells me that I’m “A woman on the edge. The edge of Wuss Cliff.”

Clearly every day of our marriage is like a Hallmark movie where the protagonist some-

how falls for the stunt man/secret agent - despite the fact that she usually wants to be left alone and knit sweaters she will never wear.

Tracy Winslow is a Spanish professor and owner of the Low Country’s premier yarn store - Low Country Shrimp and Knits. In the 37 seconds a day she isn’t trying to explain how pret-

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

have always been interconnected.

The founders of America took these thoughts and forged our Declaration of Independence, and later our Constitution. The goal was freedom for all religions and protection of our peoples. Without freedom, law loses purpose and without law, liberty also loses its nature and moral restraint.

Moving focus to current events, it’s easy to see why some would find the election win of President Trump confusing. He is not a figure who leads with morality first, nor is his leadership style well-focused on the enhancement of freedoms.

The analytical look at the election shows

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erite and imperfect are not the same, ordering yarn from a company whose website isn’t in a language she speaks, or relaxing with her boring hobbies, she can be found writing about her numerous anecdotes in her humor column, Chaos on Fire.

all sorts of factors contributing to his victory, beginning with a far-left that is out of sync with many Americans. But what about freedom?

Freedom is a fickle concept. What it means to one is not what it means to all. In many ways it’s based on your experiencesbut without truth it is a fools errand. If you base your decisions on false narratives, you have given up on your ability to chose - and therefore you are not free. This is why the enlightenment thinkers, and the founders all focused on science.

If you understand the natural world, you become more free with regards to every decision. And folks who have chosen to reject

God and still retain a high-level of morality can argue that they might just be the most free of any of us. This is the separation of Church and State the founders wrote about. Rejecting your will to reason and inserting the beliefs of even God himself is renouncing your own freedom. At the apex of God and truth there is freedom. What I think the founders sought in their creation of this nation was to find the true essence of self-governance. If people receive honest information and make decisions with consideration to others, this is our true expression of freedom.

Jeff Urell, Hilton Head Island

Beaufort Memorial Unveils New MRI Suite in Hilton Head at Island Imaging Center

Beaufort Memorial Island Imaging Center on Hilton Head Island unveiled a new addition to its services at the end of October: a state-of-the-art MRI suite bringing advanced imaging technology to the Island.

The nonprofit hospital hosted a ribbon cutting on Oct. 28 with Mayor Alan Perry and members of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce to celebrate at their Hilton Head Island facility. The addition brings the most advanced imaging technology to the island, offering exceptionally detailed images and faster scan times, while also providing a more comfortable experience for patients.

“When we bought this center a year and a half ago, we promised to expand services to include a brand-new MRI, and that’s what we’ve done,” said Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley. “We are committed to continuing to expand services on Hilton Head Island, and we very much look forward to making more announcements in the coming months about the things Beaufort Memorial is doing on the Island and south of the Broad River.”

Beaufort Memorial acquired Island Imaging on Hilton Head Island last year. The center offers a comprehensive array of imaging services including X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, fluoroscopy, bone densitometry and elastography, as well as breast screening services such as 3D mammography with same-day results.

Beaufort Memorial Island Imaging Center is located at 40 Palmetto Parkway on Hilton Head Island. Call 843-681-1999 to schedule your imaging appointment.

PERMANENT HAIR REMOVAL: Zapped by Diane, Licensed Electrologist for over 20 years. Safe, sterile, permanent hair removal. Sheridan Park in Bluffton; close to Hilton Head, Okatie, Savannah, & Beaufort. Hours are M-F, 10 AM to 5:15 PM. Call 203-241-0553 for an appointment.

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Do you like to write? Do you like to tell stories?Can you take nice photographs? Do you want to contribute to the Bluffton Sun? If so, we want to connect with you! Email editor@blufftonsun.com

YOUR AD HERE CAN REACH 25,000 households and businesses from Moss Creek to Sun City to Callawassie Island. Promote services, sell goods, announce a yard sale, buy a house, sell a house, find a job, find employees, ask for help, offer help! Ads starting at $28 for 40 words. 843-757-9507.

Arts & Entertainment Calendar

NOVEMBER 1 THROUGH DECEMBER 13

3rd Annual Beaufort County First Responder Food Drive to benefit Help of Beaufort and Bluffton Self Help - The food drive, which runs November 1, 2024, through December 13, 2024, is geared towards ensuring food bank shelves are restocked ahead of the Christmas holiday. Donations will be collected and distributed to Help of Beaufort and Bluffton Self Help on December 16, 2024.

NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 11

11th Annual Town Toy Drive - Drop off new, unwrapped toys (infants to 15 years of age) at the Bluffton Police Department (101 Progressive Street) or Bluffton Town Hall (20 Bridge Street)All toys collected will go to local families through Bluffton Self Help.

NOVEMBER 28

Palmetto Bluff Turkey Trot 5K and Kids Fun Run - Join Palmetto Bluff on Thanksgiving Day for an annual tradition - the Palmetto Bluff Turkey Trot 5K and a kid’s “Turkey Chase” fun run around Village Square. All proceeds from the registration fees will be donated to Memory Matters, a non-profit organization supporting families and individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The race starts in front of the River House in Wilson Village and runs through beautiful Palmetto Bluff, a perfect one-loop course. Pre-race, kids can participate in the “Turkey Frisbee Toss” and win a chocolate turkey. On course electrolytes and post-race refreshments will be available for all participants. Race starts at 9:00AM. General Public Race packet pick up is on Tuesday November 26th, 2024,

4-6PM at the New Palmetto Running Company, 25 Minetta Lane, Bluffton. Palmetto Bluff residents may also pick up on November 27th, 2024, at the Chapel next to the Wilson Village Green from 1pm to 5pm. Online registration with guaranteed t-shirt (sizes not guaranteed) closes at 11:59AM on Sunday, November 17th. Adult registration fee is $35, and kids fun run is $25. Online registration without guaranteed t-shirt closes at 11:59AM on Monday, November 25th. Adult registration fee drops to $25. If additional t-shirts are available, they can be purchased at packet pick-up for $10. NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION AVAILABLE.

Strollers and Dogs Welcome. Click the link to register: https://runsignup.com/ Race/SC/Bluffton/PalmettoBluffTurkeyTrot5K

DECEMBER 12

Four Corners Gallery – Pop Up show on Thursday, December 12th, from 5PM – 8PM. One day showing and sale, glassworks by Jonathan Poirier and Dan Clausen. Refreshments served. 1263-B May River Rd, 843-7578185, www.fourcornersgallerybluffton.com.

DECEMBER 14

Jingle All the Way 5K - The Technical College of the Lowcountry’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) club will once again host its popular ‘Jingle All the Way 5K’ run this year. The fundraising event will take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14 on TCL’s Beaufort Mather Campus, at 921 Ribaut Road. The race is open to runners and walkers of all abilities and will take participants across TCL’s beautiful and historic Beaufort Mather campus, through the artistic Ribaut Road tunnel and out to the scenic

Spanish Moss trail. Registration is $25 and includes cookies from TCL’s Culinary Institute of the South and a T-shirt. Prizes will be awarded for top three male and female runners and various male and female age categories. All proceeds from the race will go toward educational costs for students in TCL’s PTA program. The deadline to register is Dec. 11. For more information or to register visit www.tcl.edu/jingle.

DECEMBER 14

7th Annual Bluffton “Shop with a Cop”Each Bluffton School Resource Officer will select two (2) children in their school. There are nine (9) schools in Bluffton, so a total of 18 children will be selected. This heartwarming initiative is aimed at bringing holiday cheer to families in need. Each child will receive a gift card and then they will go on a shopping spree with a Bluffton Police officer to pick out holiday gifts, and other essential items for their family or they may shop for themselves. Monetary Donations for Shop with a Cop: Donate through the Bluffton Police Department Benevolence Fund via the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. The link is: https://lowcountry.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/ create/fund?funit_id=1039. Or you can send checks to The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, P.O. Box 23019, Hilton Head Island, SC 29925. Be sure to write “Shop with a Cop” in the memo section. CFL is a 501[c][3], and donations are tax-deductible.

DECEMBER 22

The Hilton Head Island Jingle Jingle Bridge Run - an Island holiday tradition since 1992, will take place on Sunday, December 22nd, beginning at 8 a.m. This

year’s event features both 5K and 10K races, starting and finishing at Crossing’s Park, and will take participants across the scenic Broad Creek on the Cross Island Expressway. All participants will receive a colorful Long Sleeve Jingle Jingle Bridge Run T-shirt. Following the races, there will be an awards ceremony complete with refreshments, music, and door prizes. Awards will be given to the top three overall male and female finishers, the top male and female masters, as well as the top three runners in each age group. To celebrate the season, we encourage all participants to wear holiday costumes, including elf and Santa outfits! A percentage of proceeds from the event will benefit local charities. For more information or to register visit bearfootsports.com or call Bear Foot Sports at 843/757-8520.

DECEMBER 24

Christmas Eve Under the Stars - a family-oriented outdoor worship service at 6:30p.m. under the night sky in Old Town Bluffton at Oyster Factory Park on the May River at 63 Wharf St. The service is a cooperative effort by The New Bluffton Worship and First Zion Missionary Baptist Church to bring the community together at Christmas. Carols and music provided by Bluffton Worship’s band and special musicians from First Zion. Worship includes the traditional lighting of Christmas candles to the singing of Silent Night. Free-will offerings gratefully accepted for local missions. While seating is available at the park site, you may also bring a chair. Free refreshments provided under the pavilion.

More information: www.thenewblufftonworship.com

Seeking water, discovering rocks

BY LUKE FRAZIER Contributor

I recently transplanted to the Lowcountry, and my usual first step in exploring a new place is to find its connection to water. How a place acknowledges and relates to forms of water existing in its midst says a lot. A place’s relationship to its water frequently generates stories, those things which writer Joan Didion says we tell ourselves in order to live. This might sound coastal-exclusive but it’s really not. Plenty of cities and areas are built around or even because of proximity to water, and features and fountains abound in the semi-arid heartlands and beyond. Even a place like Salt Lake City can delight a visitor via a cascading

waterfall from a downtown building’s front, elevating an otherwise concrete mood.

One thing that drew us to this area is the abundance of marshes, inlets, ponds, rivers, streams, tidal flats, creeks and (of course) the Atlantic Ocean in the immediate vicinity. I’ve only just begun to get my feet wet, literally and figuratively.

So, when I had an appointment in Old Town Bluffton and arrived early, I headed straight toward the water to check it out. I landed in Wright Family Park, where the Calhoun Street Dock extended into the sunny morning shimmer of the May River. Beautiful spot, with the gothic Church of the Cross acting as an anchor

DEC 4 – DEC 29

THE ULTIMATE SHOW-BIZ MUSICAL

Come along and listen to the lullaby of Broadway! 42nd Street celebrates the magic of showbiz. Set in the 1930s, aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer comes to the big city and soon lands her first big job in the ensemble of a glitzy new Broadway show. Can she make it in the big city? Songs like “We’re In the Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” and “Shuffle Off to Buffalo” make this show a fan favorite!

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FEB 17 | 4 & 7:30 PM

SONGS TO MAKE YOU SWAY

Broadway star David Burnham (Wicked, A Light in the Piazza) returns to celebrate the songbook of 5x Grammy Award-winner Michael Bublé! Burnham, of the Broadway Tenors, captures Bublé’s wit and charm, infusing hits like “Cry Me A River,” “I Haven’t Met You Yet,” “Save The Last Dance For Me,” “Home,” and “Sway” with all of Bublé sincerity and richness.

February 24 - March 2, 2025

ROCKS

FROM PAGE 3B

to a history of gathering by the river since 1854.

There were a couple of gatherings this morning, one looked like a high school class earnestly talking literature on the steps, led by a teacher with his back to the river; another was a group leaving the church in bubbling conversation. I scanned the horizon and noted a few birds, when I turned to head back up the ramp, I saw the “Bluffton Is A State Of Mind” sign mounted in the little shelter structure.

story behind this one, but as far as tag lines go, at least it’s invitational, leading to a question about what just might compose the mind of Bluffton.

From what I had seen, there was already a good deal of water to keep in mind, along with the interesting looking spots that dot the shoreline in both directions. Then I saw the painted rocks massed beside the wooden walkway and knew there was more to the story.

Subsequent research details the story of

Hilton Head rated #1 island in continental US with easy access through SAV and HHI airports

Intermediate/Newcomer program with expert lectures before the afternoon session I/N games are highlighted in red on the schedule

Four days of Mid-Flight Events - Pairs and Teams

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Game starting times (10, 2:30, and 7:30) allow players to enjoy Hilton Head’s wide array of excellent restaurants

Hilton Beachfront Resort & Spa

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Book your group rate for the 2025 Hilton Head Regional

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Deadline: Feb 3. One night’s deposit required at booking, forfeited if a cancellation is requested after Feb. 21

Free parking for all. Resort fees are waived at checkout. Call the hotel’s Group Housing Department at (843) 686-8421 for assistance with late reservations. If desired reservation is unavailable, email Ezz Khalifa at hekbridge@gmail.com to be added to the waitlist.

Declarations like this, even for a marketing guy like me, can sometimes rankle in their overreach. I don’t know any of the

TO GO & CATERING AVAILABLE OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 4:00PM TO 10:00PM

Feast of the Seven Fishes

Entrées

27 CHICKEN PICCATA 26

CHICKEN MARSALA 26

CHICKEN CACCIATORE 28

CHICKEN VESUVIO 29

EGGPLANT ROLLATINI DINNER 24

CALAMARI NONNA

ROSA DINNER 26

SHRIMP ARRABBIATA 29

SHRIMP SCAMPI 27

LUNCH PARTIES AVAILABLE BY RESERVATION ONLY

Christmas Eve Special Tuesday, December 24th

FIRST COURSE SECOND COURSE Salmon Carpaccio Seafood Salad

THIRD COURSE FOURTH COURSE Trout, Baccala, Swordfish Lobster Fra Diavolo

DESSERT COURSE Sfogliatelle & Limoncello

Two Seatings 5:00PM & 7:30PM • $95 p.p. (TAX, GRATUITY, AND ALCOHOL NOT INCLUDED) RESERVATIONS ONLY! Join us New Year’s Eve! 3 Seatings 4:00pm • 5:30pm • 7:30PM Special Menu

Winter Wonderland

Dec 5th, 12th, 26th

– 12:00pm

ROCKS

FROM PAGE 4B

a Bluffton guy named Steve Gregar, who initiated a treasure hunt of sorts for a rock he painted Waldo on and hid in town back in 2022. It sparked the imagination of many and they joined the story that eventually became this pile of painted images, positive declarations, wishes, testimonies, pleas, and at least one marriage proposal. A collection of momentary stories Bluffton is telling itself in order to say we are here, witnessing by the river.

The range of artful expressions is wide, but that’s just part of the charm. There is no juried selection process, it seems that you can just contribute at will. Some rocks have gotten hidden (or were purposely cast in the overgrowth?) and this speaks to the evolving time element of what is essentially an ongoing community performance art piece.

The revered performance artist Maria Abramovic (who once sat for over 700 hours in the atrium at MoMA in the spring of 2010 while people took turns sitting across from her) recognizes the inherent value of connection. She relates the performance of life itself as

connection, saying, “There is no other celebration of life than to connect.”

These Bluffton rocks connect strangers in what amounts to a great reminder in an often-fractious world. They are an opportunity to weave new narratives into the blink-of-an-eye lifetime we have. There is a story behind each and every rock, and they are shared as they rub up against each other and are seen by pilgrims traveling to the water (or happened upon unexpectedly).

For me, the message on a rock that looks like it has been there for a while resonated the most on this gorgeous morning. Its simple suggestion in blue and pink lettering with little flower accents told an ancient story in itself:

“Look around and ask how can I help.” In this case help already arrived, we just have to discover the rocks to know.

Luke Frazier is a writer and award-winning media producer who recently transplanted to the Lowcountry. He runs NOW Communications, which focuses on the needs of mission-driven organizations (nowandfuturecomms@ gmail.com / (216) 633-6970).

Pets of the week

Avery

Avery is a fun-loving dog with a personality all his own. He loves to sprawl out on his back and soak up the sun (sometimes in the middle of a walk). He is affectionate and loves attention but also has an independent streak. If you’re looking for a dog with a big heart and just the right amount of spunk, Avery could be your perfect match! He is a year old, neutered, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped. For more info, call Palmetto Animal League at 843-645-1725 or email Info@PalmettoAnimalLeague.org.

Zeal

Zeal is a mature, full-figured tuxedo girl with lots of love to give! She’s an 8-year-old southern belle who likes to spill the tea and tell you all about her day. Zeal gets along well with other cats and is people-friendly to the max! She dreams of a home with a sunny window seat, yummy food, and lots of love. She is spayed, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped. For more info, call Palmetto Animal League at 843-645-1725 or email Info@PalmettoAnimalLeague.org.

OLD TOWN BLUFFTON

ShopOldTownBluffton.com

MALL-TERNATIVE PJ PARTY

November 29th 11am-6pm

Wear your most comfortable PJs and relax while you find the BEST deals for all your gift giving this Holiday season!

2ND ANNUAL JINGLE STROLL

December 5th 3pm-6pm Find treats for every age and a few just for yourself!

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING

December 6th 5:30pm

Tree Lighting will be at Martin Family Park then visit Santa’s Workshop to watch “Polar Express” Train rides available 6-8pm!

CHRISTMAS PARADE

December 7th 10am

53rd annual parade through Historic Old Town Bluffton

MENORAH LIGHTING CEREMONY

December 29th 5:30-7:30 2nd annual ceremony at Martin Family Park

Open Christmas Eve

11am-6pm

Christmas Eve Menu

3 Course Menu $43 per person

ADD ON APPETIZERS

LAMB LOLLIPOP

Tender lamb chops chardusted and grilled, served with homemade horseradish sauce (GF) $19

BLACKENED TUNA

Pan seared ahi tuna served rare over green mustard and avocado salad mix drizzled with ponzu $15

CALAMARI

Fresh tender squid, lightly floured and fried, served with lemon wedges and homemade marinara sauce $13

STARTERS

(CHOOSE 1)

GREEK NACHO

Crispy pita chips topped with house seasoning, ground lamb, arcadian lettuce, onions, tomatoes and tzatziki sauce $14

Styles of ballroom dancing

BY SANDRO VIRAG Contributor

pated steps. It has a lot of hip movements making it fun.

HOUSE SALAD • CAESAR SALAD • NE CLAM CHOWDER

ENTREES (CHOOSE 1)

EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA

Lightly egg battered eggplant layered with mozzarella cheese and marinara, served over a bed of spaghetti

CHICKEN PARMIGIANA

Breaded chicken breast topped with marinara and mozzarella cheese, served over a bed of spaghetti

GROUPER FRANCAISE

Lightly egg battered grouper, lemon and white wine squce over spaghetti

RIBEYE

16oz. char grilled cowboy cut ribeye steak served with baked potato

PARMESAN HERB

CRUSTED SALMON

Fresh salmon crusted with parmesan and herb served over creamy risotto

LAMB KEBAB

Marinated lamb, peppers, onions and tomatoes served with jasmine rice

BONE-IN PORK CHOP

French cut pork chop topped with brandy glaze, served with baked potato

SICILIAN CHICKEN

Sautéed chicken breast with Hungarian hot and sweet peppers, mushrooms, onion, capers and spinach with a touch of marinara over jasmine rice

PAN SEARED HALIBUT

Pan seared halibut topped with arugula and cilantro drizzle over parmesan risotto

OSSO BUCCO

Oven roasted pork osso bucco served with vegetable broth over mashed potatoes

(CHOOSE 1)

There are so many different styles of ballroom dance. Each has unique characteristics and cultural significance. Every dance style not only showcases physical skills, but also tells a story through movement which reflects the heritage from which they came.

Ballroom dancing dates back to the 16th century in European high society. Initially dances were simple forms of social gatherings where couples would showcase their elegance and poise. Over the centuries, many styles emerged influenced by cultural shifts and musical trends and led to the standard ballroom dance styles of today.

The Waltz is known for its smooth, flowing movements and is often considered the foundation of ballroom dancing.

The Tango originated from Argentina. It is passionate and dramatic marked by sharp movements and a strong connection between partners.

The Foxtrot blends slow and fast steps, making it versatile for many musical tempos. The Foxtrot is known for its smoothness and elegance and is often seen in American ballrooms.

The Quickstep is an upbeat and lively dance combining fast paced footwork with hops and skips. It is energetic and requires good stamina and coordination.

The Cha-cha is a Cuban dance with a lively rhythm, playful spirit and synco-

The Rumba is often referred to as the “dance of love”. It is sensual and romantic focusing on hip movements with controlled steps.

Swing dance is a group of social dances that developed with the swing style of jazz music in the 1920s-1940s. It encompasses several different dance styles including the Charleston, Lindy Hop, Collegiate Shag and others. It is often called the Jitterbug.

Samba is a lively, rhythmical Brazilian dance. It is syncopated and has bouncing movements. It is usually set to upbeat, syncopated Brazilian music with strong percussive rhythms. There is much tilting and rocking with this dance.

Salsa originated in the Caribbean. It is very popular and is influenced by Cuban dances. Usually performed with a partner, the technique is in place with forward and back movements and single and double side steps.

As you can see, it is almost overwhelming the number of ballroom styles that exist. Start your ballroom dancing with one that you think you might really enjoy and just keep adding on as you progress. You’ll be surprised how many dance styles you are able to learn over time.

Sandro Virag is a partner and instructor at Hilton Head Ballroom Dance Studio of Hilton Head, hiltonheadballroom. com

“The ability to have our Mortgage and Insurance companies under the same umbrella is so helpful.”

- Angela Rizzi, Naples, FL

“What we love about the Luxury Properties Division is the additional marketing. It’s a very powerful tool.”

- The Broadhurst Group, Bluffton, SC

The Best Agents in Real Estate

“I really like the beauty of the office and how professional it looks because when you bring a customer into the office it validates you.”

- Neha Ketkar, Sarasota, FL

“I can get support, which is something you don’t find in large corporate entities. Family-owned, privately-held, a very different experience.”

Collin Sullivan, Boston, MA

Hampton Lake | Bluffton

Belfair | Bluffton

A culture shift for Bluffton football

BY KAT RICE Contributor

Bluffton High School football has secured three straight years of winning seasons culminating in three straight years of playoff appearances. This trend is a big departure from the previous three seasons when the team went 3-27 overall.

Coach Hayden Gregory believes the difference has been a change in mindset. “This group of seniors, they’ve changed the culture– they’re fighters and they’re winners,” he says.

The team proved their fighting spirit several times this year when games got down to the wire.

In October, they faced Beaufort High, a school known for its winning football program. The battle was tight all game and Lucas Gates returned a kickoff 83 yards to tie it up, creating a catalyst for the Bobcats’ eventual win.

On November 1st, the team hosted May River and, tied in the 4th quarter with minutes left, senior Ethan Cartmel nailed a 44-yard field goal straight through the uprights. The defense followed with a huge stop at 4th & 1 to secure the W.

Coach Gregory says that, in the past, the team would have folded under pressure, but this team just refuses to let doubt stop them.

The team is young and talent ed with junior quarterback Aeden McCarthy’s strong arm, quick decision making, and superior run game. And there’s Carnell Warren’s tal ent as wide receiver, earning him a top 10 rank for the state and securing him offers from ten D1 schools.

But Gregory believes it’s the se niors who have been the difference makers this season. “What this group

has done, what this group of seniors has done, is believe.”

Senior Nate Ulmer is a top receiver in the state with over 900 yards in 10 games. Coach says he’ll not only play in college, but he’ll play at a high academic school with his class rank of 20th out of over 300 students.

Gavin Carrick, starting center, is ranked the number one long snapper in the state, securing a D1 school in his future.

And Jaden Jeffries has been pivotal for the team’s defense as a defensive back with great leadership qualities and several D2 offers. Gregory says Jeffries is a big reason why the defense has become one of the team’s strengths this season.

The team faced the May River Sharks on November 15th for the second time this season in the first round of the playoffs. The game went to a second overtime, Bluffton and May River each scoring to bring the score to 45-44, Bobcats. But May River attempted and converted on a two-point play for the win, beating the Bluffton High by one heartbreaking point.

As Coach Gregory says, “these seniors expect to win, and they fight until the very end.” The season didn’t end how the team wanted, but the leadership and

thing Bluffton football

The Heritage Library has had the privilege to be a part of our community for more than 27 years and our success is a direct result of the support provided by our donors, members and volunteers. We offer our heartfelt thanks for your past support and humbly ask for your continued support. As we close out this year, we ask that you once again support the work that we do and give generously.

Thank you and best wishes for a holiday season filled with joy. Research your family roots this summer on Hilton Head Island.

BY TERRY HERRON Contributor

The Gullah & Latino Advisory Coun cil (GLAC) has teamed up with the Hilton Head MLK Committee-for-Justice and the Hispanic Business Association of the Lowcountry.

The three local organizations will hold their second annual Christmas Concert, December 15th & 16th in the music hall of Christ Lutheran Church, at 829 Wm. Hilton Parkway on Hilton Head.

Details and tickets are available at www.lowcountrydiversity.org, at a very affordable $30 per person. It’s and a really big show and also an annual fundraiser to support and improve everyday living standards and community services for Gullah, Latino and other underserved, marginalized groups in the lowcountry.

Talking about the Christmas Con-

A lowcountry Christmas

A LOWCOUNTRY Christmas

cert, producer and performer Terry Herron says, “I’m serious when I tell people that this is an incredibly professional, high energy, surprising, fun, funny, emotional and engaging musical event. It’s also inspiring and delivers a very special come-together moment for the audience.”

Artists

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 6pm v MONDAY, December 16, 6pm

“I’m also excited about the quality and diversity of this show in terms of the music content and the performers

themselves. It’s a sort of 60’s kind of concert when you really feel the love and mutual respect in the room. The show has 8 solo performers, who will sing many of America’s most popular Christmas songs, plus some Latin singers & musicians, and a few Gullah friends singing Christmas Gospel classics that truly ‘rocks’!

The same amazing concert! Two separate dates!

LUTHERAN CHURCH 829 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island

This combination of music and diversity has never been heard or seen in

the Lowcountry. You will laugh, cry, applaud, sway, sing-along … and feel the warmth and love in the room and onstage. You will also be supporting your fellow residents who are anxious to come into the mainstream, and feel welcomed, needed and valued. These two powerhouse minorities represent a significant and critical Economic Engine for our region. “Let’s invite them in – they are our neighbors.”

The three organizations sponsoring this unique concert are each involved in supporting the underserved communities of the Lowcountry, including Beaufort & Jasper Counties

Terry Herron is Co-producer of this event and a charter member of The Gullah & Latino Advisory Council, for more information please contact him at terry@herron-group.com, 843-271-9919, or www.lowcountrydiversity.org

Holiday reads and lowcountry treasures: a book lover’s gift guide for all ages!

BY GLENDA HARRIS Contributor

As the Christmas season approaches, we all need gift ideas for family and friends. I’ve always found that books make fabulous gifts, especially in today’s world with multiple options…an E-book, an audio book or the standard-bearer of all, the printed and bound book. This last option is still the favorite of many and can be retired to your bookshelf collection when you’re finished.

Below you will find suggestions including quite a few by Lowcountry writers and books set in the Lowcountry. More and more writers are choosing the Lowcountry and our barrier islands for the ambiance and rich history here.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS:

First, let’s look at some choices for children’s books. These are fabulous, time-honored books, perfect for introducing reading to a child and sharing with them your joy and interest. For reading aloud to young children and for reading on their own, consider Lowcountry A-Z by Carole Marsh Longmeyer, a local resident. Her books are filled with humor, mystery and kids love them. Also consider “Stars of Wonder” by Rebecca Dwight Bruff who relocated to the Lowcountry a few years ago. This adventure story with colorful illustrations conveys messages of courage and cooperation.

And of course, the classics never disappoint. Remember the Night Before Christmas” by Clement Moore, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens and “The Nutcracker” by E.T.A. Hoffman? All long-time favorites.

More contemporary choices include “The Christmas Owl”, “Sneezy the Snowman” and “Christmas at Hogwarts (Harry Potter) by J.K. Rowling and Ziyi Gao.

ADULT BOOK IDEAS:

Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews

A Lowcountry Christmas by Mary Alice Monroe (winner of the Southern Book Prize).

Christmas in Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson Harvey

The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Col-

gon

Jingle All the Way by Debbie Macomber

Lowcountry Boughs of Holly by Susan M. Boyer (Book 10 of the Liz Talbot mystery books)

A Seagrove Christmas by Rachel Hanna

These books can all be found on Amazon but please consider buying from your local independent bookstores. Visit the store and enjoy a personal and touch-rich experience or buy online by going to www.bookshop.org. When you use this site, a percentage of your purchase amount returns to the small business you designate, to help them compete with major retailers.

In Bluffton, “The Storybook Shoppe is located at Tanger 2 on Fording Island Road. Another local store is “The Kneady Cat Books & Gifts” on Buckwalter Parkway. On the island, visit “By Hand, Ink” at The Shops at Sea Pines Center. A LOWCOUNTRY SALUTE TO THESE FABULOUS, ENDURING WRITERS:

Patti Callahan Henry - “The Secret Book of Flora Lea”, “Once Upon a Wardrobe” and her most recent novel, “The Story She Left Behind”. Excellent reads!

Mary Alice Monroe - Check out the ever-popular “Beach House” series and any of her other books. Coming soon is her highly anticipated historical fiction novel, “Where the Rivers Merge”.

Elizabeth Robin - Discover her three chap books of poetry. Filled with exquisite and unflinching poems, these titles are “To My Dreamcatcher”, “Where Green Meets Blue” and “Silk Purses and Lemonade”.

And one more thing…we can’t talk about Lowcountry stories without remembering and honoring Pat Conroy, Anne Rivers Siddons and Dorothea Benton Frank, three writers who brought Lowcountry books to the world and will never, ever be forgotten.

Here’s to happy shopping. Y’all be safe out there!

A former Bluffton resident, Glenda finds stories everywhere and writes about nature, travel, healthy living and books.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW BRIDGE

HILTON HEAD BRIDGE CLUB, WINTER 2025 LESSONS

Bridge is a game you can enjoy for a lifetime! This Winter the Bridge Center is offering a wide variety of classes for both beginners and those who want to take their game to the next level.

CONTINUED BEGINNER BRIDGE LESSONS - JOIN US AND LEARN WEDNESDAY MORNINGS FROM 10 - 12 AT THE BRIDGE CENTER

This winter we will be learning about Preemptive Bidding, Overcalls, Takeout Doubles, the Stayman Convention, and Jacoby Transfers. You can attend classes as they fit your schedule.

January 15: Preemptive Opening Bids

January 22: Weak Two Opening Bids

January 29: Overcalls and Advances

February 5: Take Out Doubles

February 12: Practicing Overcalls and Take Out Doubles

February 19: The Stayman Convention

March 5: Jacoby Transfers

March 12: Review of Responses to 1NT Opening Bids

March 19th: Practice Duplicate Game

Taught by Kristi Menees, kristimenees@mac.com. 551-795-6329. We will be using Audrey Grant’s Bridge Basics 2 and 3. Each class will be $20.

SUCCESSFUL SLAM BIDDING - 3 TUESDAY MORNINGS IN FEBRUARY FROM 10 - 12 AT THE BRIDGE CENTER

We will work on 3 fundamental requirements of successful slam bidding: Combined Strength, Trump or Notrump Agreement, and Controls. Come alone or bring a partner!

February 4: Fundamentals of slam bidding, bidding notrump slams, Gerber convention, and when is 4NT not Blackwood

February 11: Bidding suit slams, Jacoby 2NT, Blackwood convention

February 18: Control showing cue bidding and putting it all together

Each class will begin with a 20-minute presentation of the day’s topic. Hands will be presented and discussed, followed by students bidding and playing 8 practice hands. An analysis of each hand will include the auction, final contract, opening lead and the play of the hand. Students will receive handouts.

Taught by Helen Pawlowski. For more details, contact Helen at: hvpawlowski53@gmail.com. Each class will be $20.

SUPERVISED PLAY - THURSDAY MORNINGS FROM 10-12 AT THE BRIDGE CENTER

Supervised play is a program designed to help you hone your bridge game. It’s a fun, relaxed program that starts with a 15 minute mini-lesson. After the lesson, each table plays at their own pace, asking questions at any time.

Contact Kristi Menees with any questions at kristimenees@mac.com or 551-795-6329. The cost is $15

Check Hilton Head Bridge Club Web site, www.bridge webs.com/hiltonheadisland/ for a complete list of lesson topics for the Beginner and Advanced Beginner classes. HILTON HEAD ISLAND BRIDGE CLUB, ACBL Sanctioned

See our website www.bridgewebs.com/hiltonheadisland for a schedule of our Face to Face duplicate games. Located at : 95 Mathews Dr., Port Royal Shopping Center. For more info: 843-342-7529. Also see us on Facebook: Hilton Head Bridge Club

A whole lot of gratitude

BY KEVIN FITZPATRICK Contributor

There are some days where I get a bit testy about how things are going as age rears its sometimes-ugly head. I used to be able to spend hours in the water: swimming, body surfing, surfing, swimming laps. I loved to run and would easily do 3-5 miles (now understand that my version of “run” was what most would call a jog with a 12 minute per mile pace, at best). Tennis, racquetball and golf (walking and carrying my own bag) were all things that brought me much joy.

Flash forward to 2024 and septuagenarian status: My surfing days are behind me, body surfing is pretty much a one-off event when it does occur, lap swimming is still strong with a mile being the goal each time I push off (somedays a bit less, some days a lot more) but now I have developed “swimmer’s shoulder.” Running

GRATITUDE CONT. ON PAGE 17B

has been curtailed pretty much down to walking due to arthritis in the feet, a recent development, requiring orthotics to keep the discomfort down. Tennis and racquetball are pretty much gone, and golf is now an event where the biggest annoyance is when the course is “cart path only,” so instead of riding right up to your ball, you have to walk an extra few yards from the cart path (never mind the loss of distance as an “old man,” even with the latest advances in equipment). So, I spent a short time wallowing in self-pity recently, and then, during one of the last swims (the community pool closes from Nov. 1 till April 1, and the town pool is under renovation till at least Feb.), it hit me like a brick. Why am I focusing on what I used to do instead of what I am still perfectly able to do and how much of it can be done here in the Lowcountry.

While the community pool closure usually means having to drive to the town pool, and that is not available for a few months this time, it’s not a permanent “miss,” it’s simply an an-

Chicken & Asparagus

Flounder

GRATITUDE

noyance (though I do lament that there seem to be no health clubs with readily accessible indoor pools for lap swimming unless you live in certain communities, the way there were back in the northeast). In this case for the time being, it’s time to lace up and take advantage of the blessedly mild weather making running an easy Nov.-May activity. What I did due to the two above mentioned “ailments” is to alternate activity - one day in the water, one day on land, as the pool was getting ready to close. With stretching ahead of time, the shoulder issue is pretty much gone (and the months of rest should really take care if it). That allowed me to start long, active walks again to adjust to the orthotic on the right side that was causing the irritation. As I am writing this, I’ve almost hit the 3-mile mark, and it seems to be getting a bit more calloused by day, so I’m hopeful that soon I can add small jogging intervals with the goal being a full 5K and eventually 5-mile jog before the pool reopens. The overwhelming sense of thankfulness and gratitude that at 72, my biggest opponent

was my own doubt was a very good place to land.

The ability to be able to do it, daily, without worrying about slipping on ice (not fun when you’re old as dirt), having to wear multiple layers and gloves just to stay comfortable is a real gift that living in this area delivers every day. Having tree lined paths where you are not dodging cars, trucks and buses, where you can actually listen to music and let it take your focus off the stiffness of age is another present that I enjoy opening each time I lace up. Smiling at and being smiled at by others on foot, on bikes, walking dogs, pushing strollers is also uplifting and provides motivation on days where I may not start out really being excited about it.

I am thankful for not only the ability to keep doing it, but the desire to keep doing it. I am grateful for the technology where I can listen to whatever music I’m feeling on bone conduction headphones both while running and swimming laps. It’s a long way from carrying a “Walkman” and having the tape run out before you finished

running, and not being able to listen to music at all while swimming (an hour of laps can be very tedious, the music lifts that veil of tedium and actually allows you to not even think about what is going on). I am also grateful that my Apple Watch times things, measures things, and yes, counts the laps while swimming so I don’t even have to do that (most often I end up doing more than I plan to since I now don’t even look at the watch for an extended period). I am continually thankful for the overabundance of sunny days and mild weather where, even when the pool is chilly in the beginning and end of the season, it’s a simple matter of wearing a rash guard for insulation and getting adjusted. When I drove away in August of 2021 from the home we lived in for the past 20 years to take a leap of faith and come down where we knew no one, had no family, and as retired folks were not going to meet new work colleagues, I purposely played a song that has been a favorite since the first time I heard it at as the closing song on first night of the Reunion Tour in 1999 at the Brendan Byrne Arena. A piece of it is worth using to close this show as well it

speaks volumes about our relocation.

“Grab your ticket and your suitcase

Thunder’s rolling down the tracks

You don’t know where you’re goin’

But you know you won’t be back

Darlin’ if you’re weary

Lay your head upon my chest

We’ll take what we can carry

And we’ll leave the rest

Big Wheels rolling through fields

Where sunlight streams

Meet me in a land of hope and dreams”

“This train

Carries saints and sinners

This train

Carries losers and winners

This Train Carries lost souls

This Train

Dreams will not be thwarted

This Train

Faith will be rewarded”

Land of Hope and Dreams, Bruce Springsteen

Kevin Fitzpatrick is a retired teacher who, along with his wife Sue (also a retired teacher) is enjoying exploring life in the Lowcountry and all it has to offer.

Sea Pines Center Hosts Holiday Market December 5

It’s become an island tradition – the Holiday Art Market at the Shops at Sea Pines Center – where you’ll find everything you need to deck the halls for the holidays and fill those stockings with care, all from local artists, artisans, crafters and merchants.

Scheduled for Thursday, December 5, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., in the outdoor plaza at Sea Pines Center, more than a dozen local artists and artisans will join the Center’s unique collection of shops and restaurants to offer this special holiday shopping experience. From stunning paintings and sculptures to handmade jewelry and ceramics, the talented artists and artisans have created original pieces that you won’t find anywhere else. Wearables, keepsakes, and even future family heirlooms are among the variety of gifts that Holiday Market attendees can peruse for inspiration, or purchase on the spot.

“We’ve always thought Christmas shop-

ping should be more of a pleasure and less of a chore,” said Sea Pines Center merchants association chairman Andrea Bragg of Forsythe Jewelry. “The locally-owned shops here, as well as the local artists and artisans who join us annually for this celebration, have cultivated a special sense of Lowcountry style. And our outdoor plaza at sunset is a particularly lovely place for a leisurely stroll.”

But wait, it gets even better! Several local entertainers will enhance the festive atmosphere with holiday music and mem-

ories. The popular Shore Notes, a women’s troupe of barbershop harmonizers, will be among the merry music makers, celebrating the sounds and songs of the season.

“So, mark your calendars and gather your friends for a fun evening,” said Bragg. “Discover the joy of giving with thoughtful, one-of-a-kind presents that will surely bring smiles this holiday season.” For more information, visit TheShopsAtSeaPinesCenter.com.

More than a dozen local artists will showcase their work at the Holiday Art Market in Sea Pines.

Right: The popular Shore Notes A Cappella Chorus will return to the Holiday Art Market, entertaining shoppers with festive Christmas carols.

Sip, shop, and mingle with adoptable pets at PAL Thrift’s holiday open house

‘Tis the season for holiday shopping! Take care of your Christmas list and more during Palmetto Animal League Thrift’s Holiday Open House Saturday, November 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“It’s a fun and festive event filled with good cheer and great deals” says PAL Development Coordinator Stephanie Bashaw. “So many families enjoy shopping together to kick off the season, and we hope to become a

part of those traditions.”

Guests will enjoy holiday refreshments and mingle with adoptable pets as they browse a huge selection of vintage dishware, collectibles, antiques, jewelry, home decor, artwork, pet items, and more!

“Join us at PAL Thrift on November 30, just one day after Black Friday, and you’ll be sure to cross some gift items off your list,” says Bashaw.

Shoppers will receive 15% off their entire purchase when they bring a pet food donation, valued at $10 or more, to help make the holidays brighter for pets at the PAL Adoption Center.

“When you shop at PAL Thrift, you are supporting PAL’s No Kill Adoption Center in Okatie that cares for some 300 homeless pets while they wait to find a loving home,” explains Bashaw.

Meet some of those adorable, adoptable pets this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Palmetto Animal League Thrift Store located at 1 Sherington Drive, Suite B in Bluffton’s Sheridan Center.

Bashaw encourages everyone to think of PAL Thrift for holiday gifts knowing that all purchases and quality donations give abandoned, abused, and neglected animals a second chance at life.