March 2023 Hilton Head Island Magazine

Hilton Head Island MAGAZINE

NEW YORK CITY PIZZA has been a Lowcountry favorite since 1996.

We have 2 locations on Hilton Head, 1 in Bluffton and 1 in Charleston. With the most all natural ingredients we are a family favorite everytime. Whether you’re a local or just coming for a visit, NYCP is a must eat!

Make sure to visit our website, “like” us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram! Don’t forget to use #Ilovenycp!

We are more than just Pizza! Everything is made from scratch everyday! From our outstanding pasta to our all natural sauce and hand pulled mozzarella! Let us make dinner tonight!

PRESIDENT KEITH BACH keith@anthemmediagroup.com

PUBLISHERS

MEREDITH DIMUZIO meredith@anthemmediagroup.com

SASHA SWEENEY sasha@anthemmediagroup.com

EDITOR

ANTHONY GARZILLI anthony@anthemmediagroup.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR REBECCA CASHWELL

GRAPHIC DESIGNER ALLYSON VENRICK

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

MARY ANN KENT maryann@anthemmediagroup.com

WRITERS

Amy Bartlett, Amy Coyne Bredeson, Becca Edwards, Clay Bonnyman Evans, Nina Greenplate, Justin Jarrett, Barry Kaufman, Mark E. Lett, Vickie McIntyre, Dean Rowland

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Michael Hrizuk, Rob Kaufman, Ruthe Ritterbeck

SUBSCRIPTIONS

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Hilton Head Island Vacation Directory

Hilton Head Island Restaurants and Activities

Hilton Head Island Magazine

Bluffton and the Lowcountry Magazine

COVER

The image on our cover was painted by local artist Ashley Hahn.

2 Finch St. Hilton Head Island, SC 29926

celebrating the lowcountry

Welcome to our debut issue. I’m excited to introduce you to a lifestyle publication that engages the community and celebrates its people and places.

We all love Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and the surrounding Lowcountry and we are the publication that recognizes the richness of our community and puts a spotlight on those who make a difference.

With fascinating feature stories and stunning photography, each month we will engage, inspire, and highlight the issues you care about.

We cover everything that makes the Lowcountry special, from news, events, dining and sports, to culture, history, and the arts.

We are committed to bringing you compelling content — stories that are memorable, thought-provoking and lasting.

The Lowcountry has so much to offer and so many stories to tell, and we are thrilled to be the storytellers. Chronicling life in this area is our passion. From honoring its rich past to spotlighting a promising future, we tell the stories that bring the community together.

Thank you for reading our inaugural issue. I hope you enjoy this issue and continue with us on our journey.

We are just getting started.

Keith Bach

KEITH BACH, PRESIDENT keith@anthemmediagroup.com

community focused

The people and organizations who make a difference in our community constantly inspire us.

We are thankful for those who selflessly give their time, which is why in our debut issue we are pleased to highlight some of the area’s invaluable difference makers.

Read about individuals and groups who continually strive to improve the lives of others.

A wife’s instincts, quick thinking and the help of emergency personnel helped save her husband’s life. The details of her knowledge of CPR and the calm, focused instruction of a 911 dispatcher are riveting and worth your time.

From songs to artwork to knick-knacks, for months many people found the saga of the Little Blue Boat to be a fantastic source of creativity. We spoke to a few of them. Fun story.

Positivity and unity are at the heart of the music of Quintin “Q” Smalls. Learn about Smalls’ passion for uplifting the Lowcountry. Chef Bernard Bennett and his food truck have been a sensation. As he gets set to open his own space, read about the national honor that caught him by surprise.

Spring means sun and outdoor fun. The Lowcountry is packed with exciting events, including IrishFest, with the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, Wing Fest and the Wine and Food Festival. Check out all the information inside.

Our area is packed with activities, but what if you want to get away for the day? North Charleston is an up-and-coming city that features great food, art and history.

We are thrilled to share these stories and more with you. Thanks for reading.

SASHA SWEENEY, CO-PUBLISHER sasha@anthemmediagroup.com

MEREDITH DIMUZIO, CO-PUBLISHER meredith@anthemmediagroup.com

Making a Difference, page 24

Mark Lett has more than 50 years in journalism, from a copy boy at his hometown weekly newspaper near Detroit to reporting and editing for daily newspapers in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana and South Carolina.

Creating light in the world, page 80

Hilton Head Island native Becca Edwards earned her BA in Journalism from Washington and Lee University and MFA in Writing from SCAD, as well as several certifications in such fields as positive psychology, yoga (several modalities), meditation and holistic nutrition—all of which add up to more than 20 years of journalistic experience with the objective to help people feel healthier and happier.

< ROB KAUFMAN I PHOTOGRAPHER

A Taste of Culinary History, 68

Rob Kaufman has been a professional photographer based in the Hilton Head, South Carolina area for more than 20 years. In that time he has honed his photographic skills in such specialties as architecture and interiors, food and products, portraits and weddings and fine art reproduction.

Creating Light in the World, page 80

I love to travel. I am a habitual cookie baker. My dog Jessie rules my life. A favorite quote is from John Lennon: “Count your age by friends, not years.”

< MARK LETT I WRITER

< BECCA EDWARDS I WRITER

< RUTHE RITTERBECK I PHOTOGRAPHER

24 I MAKING A DIFFERENCE

The stewards of the community are the people and organizations who improve our quality of life and move the Lowcountry forward.

34 I THE LITTLE BLUE BOAT

How a small local landmark captured the imagination of many and became a source of boundless creativity.

50 I WALLPAPER’S COMEBACK

Here’s what’s showing up in high design spaces that you can scale for attentiongrabbing and scene-setting home décor.

68 I CHEF BENNETT

Emerging chef and national award semifinalist Bernard Bennett tells stories through high-quality cuisine.

80 I ARTIST ASHLEY HAHN

Faith, light and shadow are words that inspire this accomplished artist.

118 I SPORTS STANDOUT

Hard-working, team-oriented and determined. This local high school star strives to win a championship.

Artist Ashley Hahn with her painting of the Little Blue Boat.

recipes, p.72

18 I THE Q&A

The community is full of engaging personalities. Learn from their insight .

20 I AROUND TOWN

Highlighting the top news items from throughout the Lowcountry.

28 I GIVING SPOTLIGHT

Meet the non-profit that is making an impact in the Lowcountry.

30 I NOT JUST POCKET CHANGE

Don’t toss that loose change. Your coins could be worth more than face value.

42 I STYLE

Trending fashion that is fabulous.

54 I PATIO ESSENTIALS

Plan and design your patio decor and create a space that reflects your personal style.

62 I DEER-RESISTANT GARDEN

Deer are hungry at this time of year. Here’s how to keep your Lowcountry garden beautiful.

72 I RECIPES

Whether it’s an appetizer, main course or dessert, here are dishes to savor.

76 I WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL

In its 38th year, this annual event offers great tastes and gives back to the community.

78 I WINGFEST

More than 6,500 pounds of chicken wings will be served at the family friendly-festive event.

86 I Q SMALLS

The uplifting music of the hip hop artist promotes Gullah culture, sense of community .

92 I CHAIN OF SURVIVAL

How one woman’s CPR classes and the help of EMS saved her husband’s life.

98 I WHAT’S IN A NAME?

The history behind some of the Lowcountry’s favorite locations.

100 I VISIT NORTH CHARLESTON

With its neighborhood charm, this burgeoning Southern city offers plenty of action and trending spots.

108 I WHAT’S BITING

Get out on the water and find the fish that have anglers hooked this spring.

112 I MARCH MADNESS

Hoops terms to know to enjoy the NCAA basketball tournaments.

114 I RUNNING TRAILS

Thinking about where to run? Here are five excellent paths.

SNOW DAY FREEDOM DAY

The Island Rec Center’s Snow Day was a fun community event. As the Rec Center said, it was a “flurry of good times!”

The Freedom Day Celebration at Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park was wonderfully spotlighted by the Town of Hilton Head.

USCB CHICK-FIL-A OPENING BLUFFTON CHAMBER YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

The Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce helped celebrate the opening of Chick-fil-A at the University of South Carolina Beaufort Bluffton Campus.

BCYP Bluffton Chamber Young Professionals Network hosted a fun networking event.

leah arnold

ISLAND REC ASSOCIATION

As the Deputy Parks and Recreation Executive Director and 18-year veteran of the Island Rec Association, Leah Arnold has done more than simply watch the good work this organization does to bring us together through its community programs, events and fantastic facility. From her start as a summer intern fresh from snowy Indiana to today, she’s been one of the driving forces behind it to this day.

Q: You came in right before a period of huge growth for Island Rec, particularly with the facility itself. What has it been like to see that and help steer it?

A: It was a long process (laughs). It took us about 13 years to finally get the expansion and enhancement from start to finish, but it was great to be able to see it grow. A lot of the kids who first started as kindergartners when I was here are now graduating and coming back to work for us. Louis (Wright), our community director, started at 6 years old, and he’s worked his way up and is now here full time. So seeing that gradual process and seeing how much this has meant to the community, it’s really amazing. A half a million people used this facility or the parks in the last year. When I first started, we were trying to get 100,000.

Q: What has been your favorite part of the expansion?

A: Gregory’s Playground is near and dear to my heart. It was built in conjunction with the Children’s Relief Fund and the Kiwanis Clubs of Hilton Head and a lot of other donors, private donors and stuff like that. Just seeing how our special-needs kids are able to get around on that playground — it’s been amazing. And it’s open to the public when it’s not being used by our programs. I think it was just the icing on the cake because that opened about a year after we opened the facility. So just adding that was like the final touch.

Q: What’s your go-to when you have an hour to kill?

A: I like my elliptical upstairs. Everybody knows if Leah is not in her office, they can find her on the elliptical upstairs. There’s one little cardio area, and I go up there for my lunch break and I work out. I can read and relax and zone out. Besides that, I like going and sneaking in with our preschoolers and just saying, ‘Hi.’ I started in our preschool and youth programs, so my heart will always be there. So, just having the kids around and saying, ‘Hi, Miss Leah,’ it brightens my day. It keeps me young at heart.

Q: What’s the one sport you know you can take anyone in?

A: I would say I can still beat the kids in knockout basketball. It’s just a freethrow shooting game. I’m not playing the basketball game; too many surgeries. But I can still beat them in knockout.

Q: What’s the best beach on the island?

A: Driessen Beach or Islanders. I don’t really go to the south end. I’ll go to either one of those beaches a lot with friends to hang out or take my dog Jack for a walk. It’s just nice to be outside.

Z A has been a Lowcountry favorite since 1996

We have 2 locations on Hilton Head, 3 in Blu ton and 1 in Charleston

We use only 100% all natural ingredients in every housemade favorite Whether you’re a local or just coming for a visit, NYCP is a must eat!

NEW YORK CITY PIZZA has been a Lowcountry favorite since 1996. We have 2 locations on Hilton Head, 3 in Bluffton and 1 in Charleston. We use only 100% all natural ingredients in every housemade favorite. Whether you’re a local or just coming for a visit, NYCP is a must eat!

Make sure to visit our website, “like” us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram! Don t forget to use #Ilovenycp!

Make sure to visit our website, “like” us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram! Don’t forget to use #Ilovenycp!

THE BANK

Beer Garden coming to Hilton Head Island

The brew will soon flow on Hilton Head Island. Watterson Brands announced plans for The Bank, a $13 million investment at 59 Pope Ave., which is set to open this spring.

The 17,000-square-foot former Bank of America building, turned brewery, beer garden and restaurant complex, will include indoor and outdoor seating, Side Hustle Brewing Company craft brews, outdoor activities and dining options, including Taco Bills, Bank Burgers, Pizza Co. and Benjamin’s seafood truck, a news release said.

“We’re working on elevating the types of entertainment experiences and venues on Hilton Head and Bluffton,” said Billy Watterson, CEO of Watterson Brands. “We view entertainment as an opportunity to do more than eat a meal. I want people to revel in Lowcountry experiences – in nature, culture, history, cuisine, games and live entertainment.”

The outdoor band shell, measuring 26 feet in diameter, will serve as the main entertainment venue featuring live music. The stage will be located next to the outdoor games and designated family zone. Two new restaurant concepts, Taco Bills and Bank Burgers, are from restaurateurs Marshall Sampson and Bill Alberts, co-owners of Santa Fe.

The Bank plans to add 100 positions. Visit thebankhhi.com.

HILTON HEAD WILL BUY LAND ON JONESVILLE ROAD:

Hilton Head Island Town Council voted unanimously to purchase three parcels located at 200, 224, and 234 Jonesville Road, which will cost $7.6 million. The parcels are situated between The Paddocks and Graham Lane and are a total of 12.019 acres.

“This Council is committed to managing growth. When we learned of the opportunity to purchase this property, we took decisive action to remove it from the threat of immediate development,” said Mayor Alan Perry in a news release.

HILTON HEAD PREP ANNOUNCES BAKALA SCHOLARS PROGRAM:

Hilton Head Preparatory School has launched the Bakala Scholars Program, a competitive merit scholarship designed to attract students from throughout the community. The scholarship offers recipients the opportunity to receive up to the full cost of tuition for each year they attend Hilton Head Prep through graduation. The program is open to students in both middle and upper school. For more information, call 843-671-2286 or email admissions@hhprep.org.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE REVIEWING BANNED BOOKS:

The Beaufort County School District’s Library Materials Review committees were established last fall. The book review committees read assigned books, discussed them with committee members and report findings to the school board and superintendent. Per state guidelines, the committees consist of a district teacher familiar with the content or grade level, a school librarian, a school administrator,

Image supplied

a parent (other than the complainant), a community member, a district-level administrator, and a member of a School Improvement Council in the district. The committees are randomly selected. The most recent decision saw the school board vote 7-2-1 to uphold the committees’ decisions to return nine books to the shelves. The next review of 10 books by the committees was set for Feb. 16 (after our deadline). Overall, 97 books were removed from the shelves and will undergo review.

BLUFFTON POLICE OFFICER INJURED IN COLLISION:

Bluffton Police Department Officer

Frank Ginn Jr. was injured in January after a head-on collision on Highway 170 westbound. He sustained non-lifethreatening injuries, but the town of Bluffton said his injuries will potentially require several months of rehabilitation. Ginn was on his way to work when the collision occurred.

Ginn celebrated his third anniversary with the Bluffton Police Department Jan. 2. South Carolina Highway Patrol arrested a Beaufort male suspect in connection with the accident, according to a news release.

MAJOR PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD:

The New Riverside Barn Park Project in Bluffton held a groundbreaking earlier this year, the next step in the anticipated project. The park, which will be the town’s first park in the New Riverside section of Bluffton, is 37 acres and is located at the intersection of Highways 46 and 170. The park will feature large open spaces, perimeter trails, a large playground for diverse ages, as well as the 2,700 square-

foot iconic barn. This passive park and its barn have the potential to host private and large-scale public events

Bluffton also held a rehabilitation construction kickoff for the Squire Pope Carriage House at Wright Family Park in February. The Squire Pope Carriage House has been stabilized and the rehabilitation work will begin in March. This house, which has weathered more than 150 years of Bluffton’s history, will be designed for future use as a Visitors Center. The Squire Pope Carriage House survived the “1863 Burning of Bluffton” during the Civil War and was a private residence for decades.

BLUFFTON AWARDS FIRST HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRANT:

The Town of Bluffton awarded its first Historic Preservation Grant to the Historic Bluffton Foundation for exterior renovations to the Heyward House on Boundary Street. The $20,000 grant will help cover the cost of the project. The Historic Preservation Grant Program is available to owners of “Contributing Resources” to the Old Town Bluffton Historic District to financially assist in the preservation, restoration, or rehabilitation of these structures with the intention that they will continue to represent the history of Bluffton. For more information, contact Glen Umberger, the Town’s historic preservationist at gumberger@townofbluffton.com

keep up with goings on around town. visit us @ anthemmediagroup.com

BLUFFTON INDUCTS JACOB MARTIN INTO WALL OF HONOR

Jacob Martin, who has been a community leader for decades, was inducted into the Town of Bluffton’s Wall of Honor.

The event recognized Martin’s time as an educator and administrator.

After living in the Midwest, Jacob and his wife, Ida, returned to Bluffton in 1979 where ministry to others was their way of life. Active in Campbell Chapel AME Church, their giving-spirit started in church and extended throughout the community.

Jacob’s public service career spans decades. He was a police officer in Detroit, Michigan and a police chief in Waukegan, Illinois.

Later, he taught government/economics at McCracken High School in Bluffton and retired as a district office administrator after 23 years of service. Martin also served as a municipal court judge for the Town of Bluffton from 1992-1995.

The Bluffton-Hilton Head Island Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committees honored him with a 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award for his public service career and his volunteer activities, including 28 years with Hilton Head Island’s Meals-onWheels program.

He also supported his wife Ida’s contributions. She founded Bluffton Self Help, Inc., and the Bluffton Community Soup Kitchen. She was named to the Wall of Honor in 2012.

The Town named its park on Boundary Street “The Martin Family Park,” in 2021.

HILTON HEAD CELEBRATING ST. PATRICK’S DAY WITH IRISHFEST

St. Patrick’s Day will be celebrated on Hilton Head Island with IrishFest – two days of fun that include the annual parade and an Irish concert.

The 38th Hilton Head Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the highlight of IrishFest weekend on the island, will step off at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 12, on Pope Avenue near Lowcountry Celebration Park, 94 Pope Ave., and ending at Office Park Road.

The parade is expected to draw thousands of participants and spectators of all ages from around the region, according to the HHI St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee.

Local tennis legend Stan Smith was named as grand marshal.

The entrance to the staging area is on South Forest Beach Drive and the parade will begin at the Beach Parking entrance onto Pope Avenue.

Scheduled to march are a number of pipe and drum bands, including Boston Police, Charleston Pipe Band, Coastal Carolina Shields and U.S. Border Patrol.

In addition, the U.S. Navy Band will march in the parade for the first time, and an Irish rock band from Boston, The Fenian Sons, will return for the second year.

Several area high school bands and performance troupes will participate as well – for a total of 15 confirmed bands.

Local businesses, schools and nonprofits will be represented with colorful floats, cars, trucks, boats and other vehicles, along with local and state dignitaries.

Registration is open on the website for entries wishing to participate.

On Saturday, March 11, at 4 p.m. the second annual Irish Concert will be held at Lowcountry Celebration Park, featuring The Fenian Sons and Boston Police Gaelic Column Pipe & Drum.

Photo Submitted

Jacob Martin

This event is free and open to the public. Food trucks will be onsite, and beverages will be available for sale. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets to sit on and enjoy the music.

Founded in 1983 by local business icon Tom Reilley and a few friends and family, the Hilton Head Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the oldest such parade in South Carolina, according to the parade’s website.

For more information and to enter a business, nonprofit, school or other group in the parade, visit hiltonheadireland.org.

IF YOU GO: Concert, 4 p.m. March 11; Parade, 3 p.m. March 12

CANDY/HANDOUTS: Candy and handouts are allowed, but because of safety concerns must be handed to the audience, not thrown or tossed by participants, including marchers, floats, and vehicles associated with the entry.

THE BREEZE TROLLEY: The Breeze Trolley will offer one-way trips from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on parade day, picking up at USCB Hilton Head and dropping off near Lowcountry Celebration Park.

Courtesy HHI

St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee

stewards of the community

Written by Mark E. Lett I Photographed by Ruthe Ritterbeck

THE LEADERS OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR THE REST OF US

They’re out there, from one end of the island to the other. There are more of them than you might think.

They are “stewards” of Hilton Head Island — those joined and active in organizations and associations to preserve the best of the past and clear the way for a pleasing future.

Among them: Jean Fruh of The Outside Foundation, Scott Wierman from the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry and Eric Turpin of the Native Island Business and Community Affairs Association.

They give their time, effort and best ideas to improve the island’s quality of life and range of opportunities.

The Hilton Head ecosystem is much studied and described in classrooms, films, research papers and books.

And, thanks to the folks at The Outside Foundation, islanders – especially children and students — can also see, smell, touch and get soaking wet through outdoor learning opportunities.

Through kayaking for kids, oyster shell bagging and reef restoration, the foundation is determined to promote and protect the island’s precious ecosystem.

“Tangible experiences are so important,” said Jean Fruh, executive director of the non-profit The Outside Foundation, based in Shelter Cove.

Fruh points to the foundation’s Kids in Kayaks initiative, inspired by two middle school teachers. The program enables Beaufort County 7th graders to kayak local salt marshes and tidal rivers for handson learning.

Since the program was launched in the late 1990s, more than 5,000 students, teachers and chaperones have enjoyed the experience, accompanied by master naturalists and conservationists.

The foundation’s ongoing concern for the coastal environment is emphasized by its highly successful support for oyster shell recycling and bed restoration. Launched in 2018, the ambitious program is dedicated to returning oyster shells to the ecosystem.

Oyster reefs are critical habitats for more than 120 species of marine life. Bed restoration created by bagging and strategically placing shells helps create a “living shoreline” along Hilton Head’s waterways.

Some 16 area restaurants participate, as well, by contributing shells. Since the program began, the foundation and a small army of volunteers have combined to gather some 150 tons of shells and build 16 oyster reefs.

“Sustainability of the natural beauty that surrounds us depends on providing all young residents of Beaufort County with opportunities to directly connect with the remarkable ecosystem of our tidal creeks, salt marshes and other natural spaces,” said Fruh.

jean fruh THE OUTSIDE FOUNDATION

scott wierman

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE LOWCOUNTRY

There are gifts – and then there are gifts that keep on giving.

When Hilton Head Regional Hospital was sold, community leaders used proceeds in 1994 to establish a charitable organization – the Hilton Head Island Foundation. A decade later, the foundation was expanded to include all of Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton and Hampton counties under a new name: the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry.

The result has been a powerhouse organization dedicated to improving life throughout the four counties in an array of approaches.

The foundation last year eclipsed a milestone in surpassing the $100 million mark in total grants and scholarships awarded since its work began.

The foundation’s financial support is evident wherever you look in the Lowcountry. Grant recipients in the past year, for example, included support for adult day care, mental health, the Port Royal Sound ecosystem and transportation for participants in a program for adults with intellectual, physical and developmental disabilities.

As Hilton Head and the Lowcountry have expanded, so has the charitable giving of the Community Foundation.

“Community foundations evolve as community needs and opportunities evolve,” said Scott Wierman, foundation chief executive and president.

“By having endowments which are flexible, the Foundation’s board has the ability to address the most pressing needs of the time. The Foundation has always been responsive to the needs of our nonprofit partners.”

Among the diverse, current examples are projects for public art, affordable housing and access to link households to the public sewer system.

“Community Foundation has the pleasure of connecting charitable individuals with causes that matter,” Wierman said. “Our partnerships with donors and nonprofits allow us to connect community resources with solutions to issues facing our region. We are fortunate to live in a community with so many charitable individuals and strong nonprofits that address these issues.”

After a February jam-packed with special events, you’d think the Native Island Business and Community Affairs Association would take a breather.

Not a chance.

Established in 1994, the association is on the go with a busy calendar that includes sponsorships, partnerships and support for an array of needs, activities and opportunities. Among those: art shows, concerts, a holiday market, food events, book and author gatherings, craft events and more.

At the heart of the association’s agenda is the annual Gullah celebration, coinciding with Black History Month. The association has hosted the event since 1996, offering opportunities to experience everything Gullah.

The association also worked closely with town planning officials to research and post signs noting historic Gullah neighborhoods on the island. The association also collaborates with the Mitchelville Preservation project to assure that Gullah history and culture are shared with the community.

Moreover, the association is a community resource committed to improving the quality of life for native islanders. Those efforts include mortgage assistance, small business development, a back-to-school backpack program providing students with food and supplies, and training in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, health and home ownership.

“Moving forward, we will continue to align with the community and the business community to offer assistance – basic business blocking and tackling – to start and manage businesses,” said Eric Turpin, executive director.

The COVID pandemic disrupted a number of events, Turpin said, but this year the association is back in high gear.

The heart of the association’s mission, he said, is “we need to run the organization like we are going to leave it to our grandchildren.”

eric turpin

NATIVE ISLAND BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS ASSOCIATION

caring hearts of south carolina

GRANTING WISHES AND FULFILLING DREAMS

With a mission to “restore hope, happiness, and fill the needs of families who are dealing with a critical illness or injury,” Caring Hearts of South Carolina is making an impact in the Lowcountry.

“It is our dream to foster hope and happiness by fulfilling wishes of families going through these hardships,” said Chelsea Brendlen, who started the nonprofit last year with her husband, Barry.

Wishes include granting a trip, watching a sporting event or going to an amusement park, and providing holiday gifts to shelters and hospitals.

Last October the organization held its first fundraiser, a softball tournament at Volunteer Park in Ridgeland. Sponsors included the SERG Group, Bluffton Pizza Co., Chick-Fil-A, Home Depot, Coastal Sunset Car Wash, Engel & Volkers and Delta Gas Solutions.

The community has contributed. Entertainer Shannon Tanner helped last winter with the “Christmas Wishes from Caring Hearts” by reading Christmas wish letters from nurses at Dwayne & Cynthia Willett Children’s Hospital at Memorial Hospital in Savannah. Edwin McCain joined him.

The Brendlen’s Lowcountry Christmas display raised $11,500, which was donated to Caring Hearts of South Carolina. The donations helped four children at the Children’s Hospital and two other children from other nonprofits in the community.

Caring Hearts of South Carolina is focused on the Lowcountry, but offers help for those throughout the country.

To learn more, visit caringheartsofsc.com.

spotlight on giving

< Bluffton Self Help visited 10 Bluffton schools last month to deliver more than 6,500 school snacks to help students focus on learning. Its Red Apron Volunteers helped stock classrooms with educational games. According to its website, Bluffton Self Help launched the School Snack Program to provide snacks for teachers to utilize when in need. In 2022, Bluffton Self Help provided 23,339 individual snacks to Blufftonarea schools — which is $29,173 worth of snacks.

< The Italian-American Club of Hilton Head recently donated to Circles, an in-person training program that is part of Hilton Head’s The Deep Well Project. The Circles program helps families climb out of poverty and achieve financial stability.

< More than 100 cases of diapers and wipes were collected during the Palmetto Hall Women’s Club Diaper Drive, organized by Suzanne Moyer. The initiative benefited the Sandalwood Community Food Bank, which serves the hungry and the needy on Hilton Head Island.

change not just pocket

YOUR COINS COULD BE WORTH MORE THAN FACE VALUE

Written by Amy Coyne Bredeson

Ever wonder if that pile of change on your bedside table is worth more than its face value? Would you even know if you had a penny that was worth thousands of dollars?

Craig Burgess of A&C Gold and Diamonds has been studying and collecting coins since the 1960s. At his Bluffton store he evaluates and buys gold and silver, as well as coins and paper currency, both domestic and foreign.

“It’s really a good public service because people can come in and get information at no charge,” Burgess said. “I’m always happy to look through coins for people.”

Burgess said you need to take your change to an expert to find out for sure what it’s worth. He also shared details of a few valuable coins people might find.

You have a fairly good chance of finding a 1982 half dollar, which features an image of President Kennedy. The engraver’s initials are missing on some of these half dollars, and they are a little more valuable than their face value. Burgess said these coins are still common to find, and they are worth $5 or $10.

Another coin you might come across is a 2009 penny with die doubling, where it looks like President Lincoln has an extra thumb and extra fingers.

Burgess said this coin is worth between $5 and $20.

You’d be less likely to find a 1909 penny with an “S” mark below the date on the front of the coin and the initials “VDB” engraved very small on the back of the coin. Burgess said this penny was taken out of circulation and is worth between $500 and $2,000.

Another valuable coin is the 1955 penny with a double image, which Burgess said could be worth between $300 and $3,000.

You’d be far less likely to find a 1943 copper penny. There was a lack of copper at the time, so pennies were being made of steel-plated zinc. However, Burgess said the Mint mistakenly made some of the 1943 pennies out of copper. Because so few were made, they are incredibly valuable. Depending on several factors, Burgess said this coin can be worth about $100,000.

The 1913 “V” nickel is the most valuable coin Burgess has ever seen in person. The “V” nickels were supposed to be made only between 1883 and 1912; however, five of these nickels were made by mistake in 1913.

The first time Burgess saw one of the five 1913 “V” nickels was around 1972, when he attended a Georgia Numismatic Association event. His father was president of the group and had arranged to have one of these very rare coins at the event.

Burgess said it was worth $25,000 at the time.

Years later, Burgess got to see another – or possibly the same – 1913 “V” nickel at an exhibit of The American Numismatic Association. He said an acquaintance purchased it and sold it a few years ago for $3.2 million.

“Part of the fun of being a collector is the search,” Burgess said. “So, as you go to a bank for change to go through or as you’re going through pocket change, just realize you may or may not find something. But the search is the joy in it. When you do find something, it’s always exciting.”

Burgess suggests joining a coin club and purchasing a copy of the latest “The Official Red Book – A Guide Book of United States Coins.”

business news

HOSPICE CARE OF THE LOWCOUNTRY NAMES CEO

James Dismond is the new Executive Director/ CEO of Hospice Care of the Lowcountry. He has been with the organization for more than two years and has more than nine years of non-profit and senior leadership experience. He replaces Jenny Brasington, who served as executive director for 13 years. She will remain as a special advisor to the board through Aug. 4.

HILTON HEAD NAMES ASSISTANT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Missy Luick has been promoted to assistant community development director. Luick has held several positions in the Town’s community development department since joining the Town in 2019.

ALDI OPENS IN BLUFFTON

The highly anticipated opening of Aldi was official Jan. 26. The discount grocery chain based in Germany opened at 1131 Fording Island Road. Hundreds of people waited outside to be among the store’s first customers. Aldi said the first 100 customers received certificates that could have been worth up to $100.

SCHOOL DISTRICT NAMES ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Carlos Cave was named Beaufort County School District Athletic Director. He has served as the Whale Branch Early College High School athletic director since 2011 and brings 27 years of educational and/or athletics experience to the position.

PAY PROUDLY HIRES BUSINESS AND PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT LEADER

Michele Morton has joined Pay Proudly, the Bluffton-based credit card processing company, to lead strategic business and people development. Morton will help expand the reach and depth of the company’s credit card processing solutions, support and culture. Morton most recently served

as a strategic growth consultant at Trevally Group and has worked for midsize Wireless Tech organizations for more than 15 years.

VACATION RENTAL COMPANY COMING TO BLUFFTON

Bluffton Traveler, a division of ForeShore, LLC, expects to launch soon. Bluffton Traveler will manage and handle vacation rentals in downtown Bluffton and along the May River, according to a Facebook post. Its website says Bluffton Traveler offers services that include accounting, marketing, and use of the most streamlined and up-to-date technology.

WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF HILTON HEAD HIRES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Nadine Mooers has been named executive director of the World Affairs Council Hilton Head Island. She has led a consulting business and served in various director roles at Hilton Head Preparatory School and the Historic Savannah Foundation. She is a Ramapo College of New Jersey graduate and has completed postgraduate work at Columbia University and Yale University.

PRINCIPAL PLANNER HIRED BY TOWN OF HILTON HEAD

Ashley Goodrich, a certified planning professional with a background in transportation planning and zoning, has joined the Town of Hilton Head Island as a principal planner. She will perform advanced planning, analysis, and research related to implementation of Our Plan, the Town’s comprehensive plan, and community planning initiatives in the Town’s Strategic Action Plan. Most recently, Goodrich held positions as a planning manager and bus maintenance analyst coordinator for the Chatham Area Transit in Savannah.

NEW GENERAL STORE ON HHI

Jarvis Creek General Store recently opened off SC 278 on Spanish Wells Road. The gift store includes brews, snacks, coffee and sandwiches.

Morton Cave

Dismond

Mooers Goodrich

the little blue boat

LOCAL LANDMARK INSPIRES THE LOWCOUNTRY

Written by Amy Coyne Bredeson | Photos supplied

If you have lived or vacationed in the Lowcountry over the past few years, you’ve probably seen the little blue and white sailboat resting beside the first bridge going onto the island. And if you keep up with local news or frequent Facebook, you’ve likely seen some of the hoopla about the stranded vessel.

While some people complained about the abandoned boat, others grew to love seeing it as they traveled to and from the island. The boat, which at first was near the Daufuskie Island Ferry dock but was eventually pushed to the other side of the U.S. 278 bridge where it got stuck in the marsh, became a landmark, a source of inspiration, a fun distraction from the pandemic and politics, and a warm welcome to many. If you zoom in, you can even see it on Google Maps.

Referred to as “Little Blue Boat,” “Little Blue,” “Bluey” and “LBB,” the boat became a phenomenon. People started Facebook pages and groups, shared photos and memes, made pieces of art inspired by the boat, wrote short stories and poems, and even raised money for charity with images of the beloved boat.

Around Christmastime, someone hung lights and a wreath on the boat. There was even a meme of Santa driving the boat through the sky with his reindeer leading the way.

Local designer Aimee Downing of Bluffton sold handmade Little Blue Boat ornaments with the choice of three different designs on oyster shells. Each ornament included a copy of her original poem called “Little Blue Boat.”

In a Facebook post Dec. 18, 2022, Downing wrote, “The little blue boat has inspired so many of us! It’s become a symbol of the island, our lives, the changing tides and evolving seasons.”

After much prodding from his girlfriend, Bluffton singer and songwriter Jevon Daly wrote a song called “Little Blue Boat and You,” which can be found on Spotify and YouTube.

photo by Dillon Lysinger

Daly said he woke up at 4:30 in the morning one day, and the words just came to him:

“All I want for Christmas this year is that little blue boat and a beer

Sailin’ ‘round the island would be fine With my little honey bunny and a bottle o’ wine

We could play hooky, drop a couple lines, shoot the breeze til dinner time

Wouldn’t that be funny watching all the cars go by”

The little blue boat brought out all kinds of creativity –through paintings, sculptures, stickers, jewelry, you name it. Like so many others, Bluffton artist and musician Robin Ross enjoyed seeing the boat when she crossed the bridge. “Going by it every time I went over the bridge, I thought it was so cute,” Ross said.” And then it kind of blew up on social

media, and I thought, ‘Well, maybe that would be a good subject for a painting.’”

She painted the boat with acrylic on canvas, and then took it to Coastal Exchange on May River Road, just across from Squat ‘N’ Gobble. The owner of the store called the next day and said it had sold.

So, Ross painted several more.

Molly Fox Rohrer posted in the Facebook public group “We Love the Little Blue Boat” that she was commissioned to create a necklace for someone and received several more orders as a result. The necklaces were hand-sawed from copper and layers of glass, and fired in a kiln, then put on a sterling silver chain.

Little Blue Boat-themed paintings, T-shirts, kitchen towels, cookies and other items were made and sold to benefit local nonprofit organizations, including Bluffton Self Help, Pockets Full of Sunshine and Turtle Trackers of Hilton Head Island.

Robin Ross

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When people heard that the boat needed to be moved, they rallied on social media in an effort to “Save the Little Blue Boat!”

Bluffton native Cam Letzinger, who owns Letzbuild Handyman Services, came to the rescue. Although the boat couldn’t remain where it was like LBB fans had hoped, Letzinger vowed to move it and restore it to its former glory.

Letzinger said the boat’s owner told him if he could get the boat out of the water, it would be his.

The boat was moved out of the marsh and over to a friend’s dock in late January. Unfortunately, the process was anything but smooth sailing for Letzinger, with one problem after the next.

On Feb. 15, Letzinger finally got the boat out of the water and onto his property, where he will begin restoring it. He’s looking forward to making the Little Blue Boat seaworthy once again.

The cabin needs to be gutted and rebuilt. The mast needs to be put back on, and the boat needs new sails. Letzinger hopes to have it all fixed up in the next six months. He’d love to either offer sailing charters on the boat or turn it into an Airbnb.

Letzinger said he first noticed LBB about three years ago.

“I wanted this boat before anybody even realized it was out there,” Letzinger said. “I’ve always wanted to restore it and get it sailing again.”

Courtesy Global Painting

Aimee Downing’s ornaments.

ongetthe list.

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the artful wall

MAKE A STATEMENT AT HOME WITH THESE DESIGN TRENDS

Written by Amy Bartlett

Not long ago wallpaper was a lost art that had lost its luster, garnering a bad reputation from messy installation and limited looks. Now the wonderful world of wall covering has become its own Art Basel, with an endless array of gallery-ready designs, peel-and-stick applications, and innovative textiles.

Statement wallpapers are on the rise. The right selection can be singularly responsible for an exotic, elegant, serene or electrifying sensation every time you enter a space. It can create an invigorating first impression, a lasting sensation, and feast for the senses that frames for your escapist experience.

Why leave the wanderlust and “feels” to your vacation destinations, when every room in your home can feel like four-star hospitality? Here’s what’s showing up in high-design spaces, that you can steal or scale for attention-grabbing and scenesetting home décor.

• New Millennium Martinique: In 1942 the famed Don Loper papered the walls of the Beverly Hills Hotel with a wide-leaf creation that would go on to influence the entire design world for nearly the next century. Now more than 70 years on, CW Stockwell, the paper’s original manufacturer, released a new collection inspired by the original, reimagined with a sharpened contemporary edge. Tropic and botanical, Martinique as a style “islands” any space with intelligent and relevant design that doubles as a conversation piece when you weave in its iconic backstory.

• Durable Décor: Commercial grade vinyl-based residential collections like Industrial Interiors by Ronald Redding offer incredible grit and staying power through eight “raised relief” wall coverings from “homespun” to “vintage tin.” Keep the high-end luxury of your space no matter the kids, dogs, guests, and that steady stream of raucous renters with a papering approach that promises unyielding strength.

• Faux Finishes: From boutique hotels in NYC to the Beaufort in London, imagine the luxury of walls wrapped in leather. Faux, that is, with Peta-approved methodologies. Line your living space in elegant organic textures from emu to snakeskin to crocodile, which can veer alligator if it suits your South Carolina senses.

• Trompe l’oeil: A French term translated as “deceive the eye” is an artistic technique where “the artist uses realistic imagery to create an illusion where a flat surface appears to be more than meets the eye, according to Daily Art Magazine. In wallpaper terms, these are decorative panels that open up small spaces with added dimension – rocks, stone, wood, brick, et al. Seaside suggestion: Create easy elegance and coastal chic with a textured wallpaper that evokes a seaglass-tiled bathroom. Or for a regional signature, get your tabby concrete look without the added cost or weight, opting for tabby on paper.

Statement wallpapers are on the rise with trends that can set a scene for home decor.

• Lowcountry Landscapes: Surrounded by the majestic tides and waterways, pull the environment of Hilton Head, Bluffton, Beaufort, and beyond into bathrooms, bedrooms, butler pantries, and boardrooms with “biophilic” scenic landscapes and sprawling wall murals that reflect the natural beauty of the coastal southeast.

As design quality continues to refine, the widening wardrobe of “ornamental painted papers” are putting Architectural Digestcaliber art within reach of the most amateur home improvement heroes and remain the secret weapon of some of the area’s most gifted interior designers.

The more that wallpaper designs and textiles refine to highdesign options, the shorter the line between the “A” of some of the world’s finest foyers and set-apart suites and the “B” of your coastal home décor.

Decorative wallpaper creates easy elegance.

patio essentials

TIPS TO MAKE YOUR LIVING SPACE SPECIAL

A porch, deck or patio is a great space to showcase your style and be an extension of your living area. The inviting space is a prime spot for relaxation, entertainment, and dining. Decorating your patio can help create an inviting and comfortable atmosphere, whether you’re looking to host a small group for an intimate get together or plan to entertain a big crowd.

Planning and designing your patio decor can create a space that reflects your personal style and augments your outdoor living experience.

When planning that perfect space consider choosing the right furniture, decorative elements and selecting colors that are emblematic of your style.

WHAT IS YOUR PATIO’S PURPOSE

Have a distinct idea of what you want the patio to be. What do you envision it will be used for? Relaxing, entertaining, or dining?

Having a plan is the first step in designing the perfect porch.

DECIDE ON A THEME

Your porch should represent the way you want to feel when enjoying its confines. Do you want a beachy, breezy feel or something more snug and intimate?

Making those decisions will help make decor choices easier.

FIND FURNITURE FOR YOU

Your space should be stylish and comfortable and your furniture will help define the look. Aim for furniture that is

durable, and all-weather. Outdoor sofas and chairs can be comfortable and suave looking. Wicker, metal, and teak (strong hardwood) are popular for outdoor furniture.

When you cover your furniture, consider polyester and vinyl, which is ideal for waterproofing.

ACCESSORIZE

Brighten up your porch with some colorful cushions, rugs, and pillows. These accessories can brighten up the space and be eye-catching.

SET A FOUNDATION

What will be the focus of your porch? Some ideas include a fire pit, a water fountain or a can’t-miss planter. These items are immediate attention-grabers.

ADD LIGHTING

Outdoor lighting can add a nice mood to your experience. Try stringing lights or adding a chandelier. Consider tiki torches or paper lanterns.

INCLUDE PLANTS

Adding plants to your patio can add a warmth and natural feel to the porch.

Tall potted plants or hanging baskets are attention grabbing. Plants that enjoy the outdoors are succulents, herbs, and fan flowers.

DEFINE THE SPACE

Use outdoor rugs, planters, or decorative screens to help give your space definition.

Outdoor rugs can add color and texture to your patio.

Finds rugs that are durable and can be out in the rain.

Polypropylene is a most popular rug material, good for humid climates.

DISPLAY OUTDOOR ART

Consider hanging some outdoor art on the walls of your patio. Choose

pieces that showcase your personality or add some of your kids’ favorite and most cherished pieces.

Art work is often a good converstation starter.

INSTALL SHELVES

Try adding shelves to create more storage space. These will be good to store gardening tools or outdoor equipment.

ENTERTAINMENT IDEAS

Consider space for a televison if you have company or, if you want the porch to be more a quiet area to gather around and talk and snack, look for the best spots for tables and chairs where everybody can be close by.

WEATHER-RESISTANT MATERIALS

The Lowcountry gets hot and humid and offers plenty of rain. Look for the most weather-ready materials for your porch.

SWEEP AWAY

If you want to keep your beautiful patio clean, sweep often — about once a week or as needed. You can hose off the patio after sweeping, as well.

If you are not using the space, put your chair cushions away so they don’t get dirty or stained. You can wash cushions with mild soap and water.

Your porch should be a haven. With a touch of color, charisma and well-planned design, your space will be a place of comfort and joy.

get planting

TRY OUT YOUR GREEN THUMB WITH THESE EASY-TO-GROW VEGETABLES

Written by Edna LaRue

Growing your own vegetables can be a fun, rewarding, and eco-friendly activity that can provide you with fresh and healthy produce right from your own garden.

tomatoes

FIND A SUNNY SPOT: Tomatoes need a lot of sun, so choose a location that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight every day. They also need well-draining and just slightly acidic soil.

START SEEDS INDOORS: Seeds like warmth. You can start tomato seeds indoors about six to eight weeks before you plan to plant them outside.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT VARIETY: Choose tomatoes best for our climate. There are tomato varieties that are best for the South, including those resistant to disease.

PLANT DEEP: Tomatoes will root along their stems, The Home Depot said. With “leggy transplants,” dig a trench, add a slow-release fertilizer, and lay the stem sideways, bending gently upward. Snip or pinch off the lower branches and cover with soil up to the first set of leaves.

PROVIDE SUPPORT: Most tomato plants will need support as they grow, so stake or cage them to keep them upright.

WATER REGULARLY: Tomatoes need a lot of water — about an inch a week is good. Aim to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.

PRUNE: Depending on the type of tomato you are growing, you may want to prune off some of the new growth that emerges from the main stem to promote stronger, healthier growth.

HANDLE GENTLY: Handle tomatoes as “gently as eggs,” The Home Depot said. Place a soft cloth in the bottom of your picking basket to cushion the fruits.

RIPE AND READY: Tomatoes are typically ready to harvest when they are fully ripe and have a deep, rich color.

radishes

FOLLOW THE SOIL: In the spring, plant radishes as soon as the soil can be worked, usually in late February or early March. Radishes with long roots need deep, loose soil, HGTV suggests.

CHOOSE A PLANTING LOCATION: Select a location that receives at least six hours of sunlight per day and has well-draining soil.

PLANT THE SEEDS: Plant radish seeds about half an inch deep, and 1 inch apart in rows. Space the rows about 6 inches apart. If you want a good supply of radishes, plant seeds every two weeks.

WATER THE SEEDS: Radish seeds need water. Water once a week, and more often during hot, dry weather.

FERTILIZE: Radishes usually don’t need a lot of fertilizer, but work with an all-purpose fertilizer at planting time and don’t fertilize again, HGTV said. If the soil is too rich, or your fertilizer is high in nitrogen, you’ll have more leaves than roots.

THIN THE SEEDLINGS: When the radish seedlings are about an inch tall, thin them so that they are spaced about 2 inches apart.

HARVEST: Radishes are ready to harvest usually about three to four weeks after planting. But check the seed packet — radishes have different grow times. Gently pull the radish out of the soil. Rinse it off.

lettuce

COOLING SEASON: Lettuce is a cool season vegetable, so it is usually best to plant during the cool spring temperatures (about less than 70 degrees).

SEEK SUNLIGHT: Find a spot that gets at least six to eight hours of sunlight each day. Some types can grow in partial shade, with four to six hours a day.

SPACE THE SEEDS: Lettuce seeds should be planted about a quarter inch deep, and spaced about 2 inches apart in rows. Space the rows about 12 to 18 inches apart.

MOISTEN SOIL: It is important that the soil is moist, but not overly wet. Water lettuce once or twice a week, especially during dry weather.

FERTILIZE: Lettuce need nitrogen to grow and it grows its best in fast-draining soil that has rich nutrients and is slightly acidic.

THIN SEEDLINGS: Thining out seedlings when they grow to about one inch tall. Thining will help give your lettuce a great taste — not bitter.

READY TO HARVEST: The time for your lettuce to harvest varies. Leaf Lettuce is ready when they grow to about 3 to 6 inches long, according to The Home Depot. Young baby lettuce leaves can be picked for harvest 25 days after planting and crisphead or iceberg lettuce is ready around 50 to 75 days after planting, according to epicgardening.com.

oh deer!

HERE’S HOW TO PROTECT YOUR GARDEN FROM THE NIBBLING NUISANCE

Written by Dean Rowland

Planning, designing and growing plants, flowers, grasses, bushes and trees in a beautiful Lowcountry garden take lots of work and year-round maintenance.

Any homeowner will attest that garden pests like fungi, mites, insects, bacteria and insects can wreak havoc on the healthiest specimens and are the bane of prized collections.

But deer? They are an entirely different scourge of the earth for gardens. Antelope don’t play here but deer certainly roam. And jump.

Hungry deer are a beautiful menace. They’ll eat anything that’s alive and tasty.

Like to grow tender greens like lettuce and Hosta, tulips and roses in the spring? Those are a dinner plate for deer, along with fruit, leaves on trees and shrubs, twigs and bark. Deer nibbles are plentiful and obvious.

An easy way to keep deer from nibbling on your plants is to grow what they don’t like and won’t eat. Easier said than done because, truth be told, there are few genuinely deer-resistant plants and even fewer deer-proof in South Carolina, Georgia and other southern states.

“Deer are a huge problem down here,” said Jordan Bruno, who manages the nursery at Bruno Landscape and Nursery on Hilton Head. “After the harsh winter we had here, they’re probably going to start eating almost everything.”

And a fact of life is that deer are hungry at this time of year and searching for food in previously untouched areas. Local gardens and their flowers, shrubs and plants are a natural target for herds to find nourishment.

“They’re hungry and they (plantation management) don’t cull a lot of them,” she said. “The population of deer in the plantations has definitely succeeded over the years.”

Deer especially love pansies, geraniums, zinnias, hibiscuses and tropicals for their taste, not scent.

Among the popular deer-resistant plants that grow in the area are are marigolds, sage, petunias, butter daisy, goldenrod, holly fern, cleome vinca, chrysanthemum, crocosmia, goldenrod, butterfly weed, dianthus, Epimedium and rosemary.

Hardscapes like pathways and patios serve as buffers between deer and vegetation.

Once your hardscapes are placed, figure out the color palette that most suits your visual desires, keeping in mind that deer-resistant plants are part of the overall plan.

Limit the color scheme in scope so as not to overwhelm the senses.

Purchase the plants for large groupings so when the deer browse, they won’t be able to nibble on every plant. Damage will be minimal and not so noticeable.

New housing developments for homes and apartments and the advent of community parks has been tearing down deer habitats on this island.

As a result, the deer are scrambling and running around everywhere to find new locations to reside and eat.

“They’re ruining our homes and coming into our yards,” Bruno said.

The options homeowners have to quell the intrusions are limited and surefire solutions are hit and miss.

“We don’t know what to do anymore,” she said, and expects the situation to intensify in the years ahead. “It will be interesting this spring and the next couple of years to see what is deer-resistant and deer-proof.”

Many consider deer-proof to be a misnomer because there is no such vegetation that is truly deerproof,

However, Deer Stopper repels both smell and taste, lasts up to 30 days, and works both day and night.

Deer Stopper has been Bruno’s go-to product for five years, and the nursery sold 1,500-2,000 bottles last year.

“It actually works,” she said.

Goldenrod

Petunias

Marigold

Dianthus

Cleome vinca

One Hot Spot!

Ruby Lee’s offers more of what patrons of the north end location have come to love and expect in the past few years: delicious Southern cooking and a comfortable yet stimulating atmosphere that offers the perfect way to enjoy sports or outstanding blues, jazz and soul from local and regional artists.

a taste of culinary history

CHEF BERNARD BENNETT TELLS STORIES

THROUGH HIGH-QUALITY CUISINE

Written by Barry Kaufman | Photographed by Rob Kaufman

Someone out there knows a secret about Chef Bernard Bennett, but they’re not talking. Whoever this person is, though, has his gratitude. Because it was this mystery benefactor who tipped off the James Beard Foundation about this wildly inventive chef in Bluffton, earning him a nomination as Emerging Chef. He was named as one of 20 semifinalists.

“I really don’t know who it was. But I don’t think you’re supposed to know,” he said.

Regardless, as you can imagine, he’s thrilled. “When I saw that, it was just tears of joy. This is real. And it’s a dream. I’m honored, and humbled and scared and nervous. I just want to live up to it.”

The James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef Awards have been awarded since 1991, celebrating fine-dining establishments, “casual gems,” emerging talents and “established masters.” Finalists will be announced in March.

The nomination comes at an auspicious time for the Chicago-born chef, who worked his way up through the Windy City’s culinary scene in spots like The Promontory, River Roast and Big Jones. With the foundation soon whittling down its list of the country’s brightest up-andcoming chefs, Bennett is in the middle of a highly ambitious construction project. His popular food truck, Okàn, will soon move into its new home at The Bridge Collective, translating the Afro-centric concept into a gorgeous new space.

“The truck is more representative of Caribbean-street foods. Here, we are trying to give people an experience,” he said. “Whether you come in and learn something or not, that’s fine. We want to have an experience.”

Boasting high-end finishes and a dining space that wraps around a wide bar with views out to Calhoun Street, the brick-andmortar version of Okàn will still offer the dishes that have made the food truck such a sensation. For example, the delectably warm and savory hand pies, the sublime roti with its crisp wrap around chickpeas and spices and, of course, the jollof rice.

Emerging chef Bernard Bennett was honored with a James Beard Foundation Award nomination.

“I want to showcase the history of African American cuisine, and jollof rice to me is the mother rice of a lot of these famous dishes –jambalaya, Gullah red rice, paella. Rice was important. A lot of people died, making the land able to grow rice,” he said. “It’s going to be food

that shows you the resiliency and the history of our people, not just African Americans, but everybody that it’s touched.”

And in that we see the true spirit of Okàn — the stories this food can tell. Under Bennett’s skillful care, dishes evoke the African plains where their ingredients first emerged from the earth. They guide you along, flavor by flavor, as those dishes are transported around the world, mingling with European and Middle Eastern influences to create a culinary diaspora.

Okàn Bluffton is on track to open sometime in March. Follow along at @okanbluffton.

“It’s going to be food that shows you the resiliency and the history of our people, not just African Americans, but everybody that it’s touched.”

fried chicken with cabbage

INGREDIENTS

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Vegetable oil

4 brioche buns

SLAW

2 cups shredded cabbage

1/2 cup shredded carrots

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS

For the slaw, combine the shredded cabbage, carrots and parsley in a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl whisk the apple cider vinegar, mayonnaise, and salt and pepper.

Pour the dressing over the cabbage mix, and toss to combine. Refrigerate until ready.

For the chicken, slice each chicken breast in half horizontally for four thin cutlets.

In a shallow dish, combine the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.

In a separate dish, pour the buttermilk. Heat about a quarter cup of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Dip each chicken cutlet in the buttermilk, then coat in the flour mixture.

Fry the chicken cutlets in the oil for 5-6 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through.

Serve the sandwiches by placing a chicken cutlet on a brioche bun and topping it with the cabbage slaw.

avocado salad

INGREDIENTS

2 ripe avocados

1 small red onion (chopped)

1 medium tomato (chopped)

1 small cucumber (chopped)

1/4 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)

Lime juice

Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS

Cut the avocados in half and remove the pit and dice the flesh.

In a bowl, combine the chopped red onion, tomato, cucumber, and cilantro.

Add the diced avocado to the bowl. Drizzle the lime juice over the ingredients and toss to combine.

Season with salt and pepper.

Serve.

salmon rice bowl

INGREDIENTS

1 cup of white rice

2 cups of water

1 salmon fillet

1 tablespoon of honey

1 tablespoon of olive oil

1 sliced avocado

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/4 cup of chopped green onions

Sesame seeds, if preferred

DIRECTIONS

Rinse the rice and add it to a medium saucepan with 2 cups of water and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Bring the rice to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pan with a lid.

Cook until the rice is tender and the water is absorbed.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Mix the honey and olive oil in a bowl. Put the salmon fillet on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and brush on the sauce mix.

Bake the salmon for 15-17 minutes or until cooked through.

Put rice in a bowl and top with the salmon, sliced avocado and green onions. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top and serve.

raspberry - lemon glaze

INGREDIENTS

1 cup powdered sugar

2 cups fresh raspberries

2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

DIRECTIONS

In a small span, combine the raspberries, sugar and lemon juice over medium heat. Cook for 5-7 minutes. Stir occasionally until the raspberries break down and the mixture thickens slightly.

In a bowl, whisk the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water until smooth. Add the cornstarch mixture to the raspberry mixture and whisk to combine.

Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, stir until the glaze has thickened. Remove the glaze from heat and strain to remove any seeds or chunks. Allow the glaze to cool slightly before topping the desserts.

cheers

The Hilton Head Island Wine and Food Festival returns this month with events throughout the island March 19-25.

In its 38th year, the event includes the popular Public Tasting (March 25) at Lowcountry Celebration Park, which will feature about 250 world-class wines and delicious bites from the area’s culinary leaders.

Proceeds from the wine auctions at the Grand Tasting and Public Tasting events benefit the John F. & Valerie Currie Educational Scholarship Fund for college students pursuing a degree in the hospitality and tourism field.

Executive director Jeff Gerber said the scholarships given at University of South Carolina Beaufort and the Technical College of the Lowcountry have totaled $120,000 combined in the last nine years.

The festival begins with Uncorked on Thursday, March 16 at the Shipyard Beach Club. Guests are welcome to bring a “special bottle” to share with friends and fellow wine lovers. Great food (appetizers) will also be offered.

On Sunday, March 19, Craft Beers at the Beach will feature 50 beer selections at the Grand Ocean Terrace at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort. The Sip & Stroll (wine and shopping) is set for Wednesday, March 22 at the Shops at Sea Pines Center.

Already sold out is the Grand Tasting, March 24, which is the culmination of award-winning wines from the international judging competition and top wines from the festival’s wine partners.

Gerber is pleased at how the festival has grown, noting last year it brought about $4 million to local businesses through hotels, dinning, tours, etc.

The fun is expected to continue with a craft beer and music event — Rhythm and Brews — planned for June 3 at the Coastal Discovery Museum. Gerber said there will be about 35-40 craft breweries represented with three to four musical acts, headlined by Tennessee-based country singer and songwriter, John King.

For more information, visit hiltonheadwineandfood.com

HILTON HEAD WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR 38TH YEAR

winging it

Hilton Head Wingfest is returning for its 26th year. The event, presented by Island Recreation Association, Hargray, and Savannah Hilton Head International Airport, is set for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 18 at Lowcountry Celebration Park.

“Be there!” said special event director Joe Cain. The event will feature 20–25 local restaurants cooking their best wings. More than 6,500 pounds of chicken wings will be served at the fun-filled, family friendly-festive atmosphere. There will be a kid’s zone, rock-climbing wall and bungee jump. There’s also a Kid’s Wing Bobbing competition and Adult Wing Eating contest. Vote for your favorite wing and watch the winner be crowned.

There will be more than just wings. Entertainment includes Crosstown Traffic, True Gentlemen and The Naked Karate Girls.

Last year’s Judge’s Favorite’s top prize went to One Hot Mamma’s and the People’s Choice was Coconutz.

Admission is $10. Children under 11 are free. For more information, visit hiltonheadwingfest.com

SCHEDULE

Wing Eating Contest: 2 p.m.

Kids Wing Bobbing: 12 p.m.

Judges Favorite, People’s Choice Winners: 4:15 p.m.

BAND LINE UP

Crosstown Traffic 11-12 p.m.; 2-3 p.m. True Gentlemen 12-2 p.m. The Naked Karate Girls 3-5 p.m.

ANNUAL WINGFEST EVENT SET FOR 26TH YEAR

CREATING LIGHT IN THE WORLD

Artist Ashley Hahn infuses emotion into her work

Written by Becca Edwards | Photographed by Ruthe Ritterbeck

Faith, light and shadow. These three words inspire artist Ashley Hahn.

“I have lived in the Lowcountry for over 40 years,” she said. “Obviously we live in a beautiful place. The tropical colors are astounding. God’s beauty is all around us. There is so much to capture here and to do that I feel drawn to my faith and the use of light and shadow.”

Hahn says that life is made up of light and dark moments, and sometimes “we have to see the dark to appreciate the light.”

“With art we can create light in this world. Ultimately, this is what I hope to accomplish with my work,” said Hahn, who lives in Bluffton.

Many people follow Hahn on social media for this very reason. Whether it is a charcoal portrait of a smiling child, or a watercolor of an indigenous bird, or an oil painting of an oyster, Hahn’s work expresses emotions like joy.

To do this, Hahn says she focuses on the true essence of the subject.

“In portraiture, for example, I always begin with the subject’s eyes. The eyes are my favorite to draw or paint. They create the mood of the piece, and then I work around it,” she said.

When Hahn chooses elements in nature like birds and crabs, the essence of the subject matter is often the blending, mixture and depth of colors.

“I am always walking around and noticing things in nature and thinking, ‘How could I recreate that color? How could I also go beyond what the surface looks like and dive deeper and make the colors more pronounced to more celebrate the subject?’”

Continuing in a spiritual direction Hahn added, “I am so grateful to live in the Lowcountry. Light illuminates the beauty God has created. I want my work to reflect His light as well as the light of emotion.”

The use of color in Ashley Hahn’s work celebrates the subject.

“

In portraiture, for example, I always begin with the subject’s eyes. The eyes are my favorite to draw or paint.”

enter to win!

Although Hahn will say her main purpose is her family, her ability to share her faith with others through her art is a major driving force in her life and has been extremely cathartic for her.

“Some people journal to help them with their feelings or emotions. I draw or paint. I am able to infuse feelings and emotions in my work,” she said. “And, in my non-commissioned pieces, I can put something special to me in the piece that the viewer may not know is there. For instance, I will put a cross in a painting. It is a little added gift or gesture of blessing for the viewer.”

Trained as an architect, Hahn’s evolution as an artist has been about challenging herself and her comfort zones.

She said she started out drawing construction documents by hand with a pencil and then discovered she could make a business out of watercolor renderings of residential and commercial houses and buildings.

“Then I did a portrait of my children and started drawing other family members,” Hahn said. Then I did a booth for MayFest, which led to the honor of being artist of the year soon after (2016).”

As for Hahn’s future, she once again leans on faith, light and shadow.

“My son is in college, and my daughter will be a senior next year. Being an empty nester is going to be hard. But I believe there is also some light,” she said. “I always want to grow as an artist, and I will grow even more so then, hopefully experimenting more with different techniques, doing even more original work and continuing to give joy to people’s lives.”

Hahn’s work can be found at ahahnartist.com

ENTERING IS EASY - simply scan the qr code above or go to anthemmediagroup.com/subscribe and subscribe for free to either our magazine or digital issue and automatically be entered to win!

ONE ENTRY PER ADDRESS. WINNER WILL BE DRAWN APRIL 15TH, 2023 AND NOTIFIED.

Painted by Ashley Hahn and featured on the cover of Hilton Head Island Magazine.

PRESERVING HISTORY WITH HIP HOP

The uplifting music of Quintin Smalls promotes Gullah culture, sense of community

Written by Vickie McIntyre | Photographed by Rob Kaufman

Tired of the negativity echoing around you? Look no further than Hilton Head’s own positive preaching hip-hop artist, Quintin Smalls, otherwise known as “Q,” to brighten your mood. With a flair for mixing storytelling, Gullah history and a love for island living, he’s sure to get you smiling and grooving to his family-friendly rap music.

While his mother’s lineage hails from Hilton Head, Smalls’ father is from Beaufort. And yes, the renowned Robert Smalls, known for freeing himself and his crew during the American Civil War, then rising to prominence in both politics and business, is a distant relative.

“He’s like my great-great uncle,” boasts the 30-year-old with an endless smile.

Smalls’ distant relative also provided inspiration and direction.

“I wanted to dig more into his history and what he did for this culture,” says Smalls. “So, about four years ago, I was on Wikipedia just reading and reading and decided I’d make a song about it.”

“Children’s Story” was the result, an up-tempo retelling of Robert Smalls’ life set to a track by Slick Rick that has become a standard at local festivals and community events. In February, Smalls shared his song with more than 400 attendees at the Freedom Day Celebration held at Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park that also featured Michael Boulware Moore, great-great grandson of Robert Smalls, and the Claflin University Concert Choir.

Smalls admits that finding pride and purpose in singing about his roots took some time. Dance was his first love.

“My mother and grandmother always had speakers blasting on the weekend, playing their songs – oldies like Sam Cooke, James Brown, Houdini – so I was always into the rhythms and dancing,” he recalls.

Winning one talent show after another as a child, Smalls was encouraged by organizers to pursue something other than dance, so more contestants had a chance to win.

His seventh-grade language arts teacher, Mrs. Lauderdale, came to the rescue.

“We had to do a poetry binder and turn it in at the end of the year,” says Smalls. “I realized poetry and rap music are the same thing. Once I understood that, I kept writing more and more.”

Though rapping was a fun way to pass time in the cafeteria with friends, Smalls, like many of his fellow Hilton Head High classmates, headed to college after graduating in 2011, hoping to find a career path.

Impending fatherhood brought him back home a year later. Saddled with a full-time job to support his family, he also pursued music.

In 2017, he teamed up with former classmate Anthony Johnson to create the duo Spiritual Gangsters, his first leap into performing. Their music centered around God and Gullah culture, though Smalls admits it wasn’t enthusiastically received.

“There was a lot of shame at the time about being Gullah,” he explains.

Undeterred, thanks to what Smalls calls his “short-guy syndrome,” he never gave up and “jumped into the Gullah bag as much as possible,” re-branding himself as a positive artist who wanted to share and preserve his culture.

Branching out on his own, he used the foundations of his childhood as inspiration. Everything from the Gullah language to food staples like stewed chicken and red rice, as well as memories like picking collard greens with his grandmother or grabbing oysters from the marsh became fodder for his musical stories.

Themes of love, respect and community were also woven into his lyrics, resulting in “Gullah Life” — Smalls’ first recorded album in 2019 that features 12 songs including “Paradise,” a collaboration with former classmate and local performer Sara Burns.

“It’s one of my favorites,” says Smalls. “The message is so uplifting.”

Two more albums followed, “Coast Boy King” and “Q Da 1” as well as music videos posted to YouTube, but COVID put a damper on live performances.

Quintin Smalls educates through his music.

Last year Smalls was so eager to share his music that he went to each of the Hilton Head schools, asking if he could speak and perform for the students.

“I got to the high school dressed in this all-gold suit with a crown, looking like MC Hammer in dreads,” laughs Smalls, “and they said, ‘I have someone you can speak to.’”

Added last-minute to the school’s Black History program, Smalls told his story, shared some videos and performed several songs. Relieved to hear the rush of applause afterwards, he was also surprised to learn that some students had never heard of the Gullah Geechee.

“I figured I had a lot more people to educate,” reasons Smalls, who now is busier than ever.

Last year Smalls also donned his gold suit (and matching gold shoes) to bring his repertoire of rap music and personal stories to Barb Ready’s second-grade classroom at Cross Schools in Bluffton.

“He was awesome, and they were completely enamored,” she said. “When you can get 16 eight-year-olds to focus on you, you’re doing something right and he had them 100%. They were just waiting for the next thing he would say.”

Last October when the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage

Corridor hosted its Grand Opening Celebration, Smalls was a featured entertainer. According to Executive Director, Victoria Smalls, “He blew everyone away.”

Calling him “brilliant” and “amazingly talented,” she’s grateful for his ability to bring so many untold stories to life, adding, “I’m so proud of him as a young Gullah rapper and as someone who is showing that the Gullah Culture is ever evolving.”

Smalls also enjoys performing at various clubs around town. On Christmas Eve he entertained guests at Red Stripes, a Caribbean restaurant on island, and he’s had several albumrelease parties at the Rooftop Bar at Poseidon.

“It’s a prime location, and we can do our hip-hop thing because it’s a club,” exclaims Smalls, who admits during his last show he “jumped up and down for hours.”

Recently noted pianist, composer and arranger, Martin Lesch, asked him to perform a few songs with him at The Jazz Corner, an event Smalls describes as “a dream come true.”

Ever the optimist, Smalls fantasizes about someday winning a Grammy or appearing on the BET Awards, but adds, “If I’m able to keep preserving anyone’s story who came on our land and made a difference — even my mother’s or grandmother’s story — that’s what it’s all about.”

Hip hop artist Q Smalls giving a performance.

Designer-Craftsman Jewelry Judith Neugebauer

Hand-blown Glass Vitrix

Toys for Kids kidswhokic.com

Construction Toys kidswhokic.com

Earthenware Pottery Donna Toohey

Bird House Larry & Jerry Glass Sea Glass Jewelry Greg Geier

Metal Sculpture Rich Kolb

Purse by Renee

Stoneware Wall Sculpture Rhonda Cearlock

Photography - Wally Smith

Designer-Craftsman Jewelry Ashka Dymel

“Silent Watch” Beki Killorin

Jewelry Chest Jack Curran

Copper-Enamel Sculpture Jim Flood

Perpetual Calendar

Glass Karins Melanie Leppla

Hilton Head International PIANO COMPETITION Returns for ages 13-17

Courtesy of hhipc.org

The Hilton Head International Piano Competition, one of the leading international piano competitions in the United States, operates with a three-year rotation of events: an adult competition for pianists 18–30 years old, a young artist competition for pianists 13–17 years old, and a festival—BravoPiano!—which showcases past prize winners and other prominent keyboard artists performing music ranging from classical to jazz.

The HHIPC, inaugurated by the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra in 2002, draws applicants, artists, and audiences from numerous countries the world over, and many HHIPC artists are now enjoying thriving professional careers.

The HHIPC for ages 13-17 returns March 13-18, when 20 young pianists will compete in three rounds for more than $21,000 in cash prizes. The First Prize winner will also be awarded a return

performance with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra and additional performance engagements.

COMPETITORS THIS YEAR ARE:

Riko Ando, Japan, (15)

David Choi, United States / South Korea, (15)

• William Ge, United States, (15)

• Sawako Harada, Japan, (15)

• Yuhe Jin, China, (15)

• Donghwi Kang, South Korea, (15)

Andrew Li, Canada / Hong Kong, (15)

Caden Lin, United States, (15)

Zarin Mehta, United States, (15)

Takuma Onodera, Japan, (17)

Xinran Shi, United States, (13)

• Rebekah Yinuo Tan, China (16)

• Kevin Wang, Canada, (17)

• Keyi Wang, China, (15)

• Zhonghua Wei, China, (14)

Ruby Wu, Hong Kong, (16)

Lindsey Yang, United States, (17)

Kyle Yeung, United States, (15)

Nathaniel Zhang, United States, (15)

Chengyao Zhou, China, (15)

The most recent adult competition was in March 2022, with 23-year-old Canadian pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko selected as First Prize winner from among 20 performers in Hilton Head (who hailed from eight different countries).

The four rounds included two short recitals for each of the 20 competitors, followed by a longer recital for the six semi-finalists, leading to the ultimate round where the three finalists each played a full piano concerto with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra and Maestro John Morris Russell.

The winners received a total of $34,000 in cash prizes. Competitors stay in the homes of host families, who provide lodging, meals, transportation, and access to a competition quality grand piano for practice.

Island residents also host the judges for dinners in their homes during the week of competition, and others offer the judges use of their grand pianos for personal practice.

In all, more than 200 volunteers devote their time, talents and energy to help staff the competition events.

HOW ONE WOMAN’S CPR CLASSES HELPED SAVE HER HUSBAND’S LIFE

Written by Barry Kaufman | Photos by Rob

Kaufman

None of us ever really expect an emergency. Life has a funny way of throwing us curveballs, surprising us out of complacency with its infinite capacity for surprising us. True wisdom comes in knowing that the curveball will come eventually – and preparing ourselves for it.

Tamra Avrit’s curveball came one night not long ago when she heard a sudden noise coming down her hallway.

At first brushing it off as the washing machine, she grew suspicious after her husband, Bill, didn’t respond to her calls to the other room.

“He didn’t answer me, so I walked down the hallway, and I saw him sitting at the desk chair in front of his computer,” she said. “This awful noise was coming out of him. I went over and I touched him, and his eyes were open, staring straight ahead.

quick thinking and the critical assistance

He was non-responsive, and his lips were blue.” Panic took hold.

Especially when Tamra, an Android user, suddenly found herself having to use her brand-new iPhone to call 911 and couldn’t figure out how to place the call.

“I felt like I was wasting all this time, so I was super hyper by the time I got through.”

Fortunately, there were two things in her favor. The first was the residual knowledge of a CPR class she’d taken five years prior.

“Cinda Seamon was the CPR educator, and she did a great job making you feel that you could be successful,” she said.

The second thing working in her favor was the capable professionalism of Mackenzie Hrobar, the 911 dispatcher who answered her call.

Tamra Avrit’s

of Hilton Head Fire Rescue helped save the life of her husband, Bill.

“Kenzie talking to me was super important. She was so calm and tranquil,” said Tamra. “I just remember I was yelling at Bill, ‘We’re not doing this today.’”

Hrobar talked Tamra through her next steps, guiding her to move Bill to the floor where she could start chest compressions.

“It’s one thing doing it on a dummy. It’s another thing doing it on a loved one,” added Tamra. Nonetheless, she continued administering chest compressions on Bill until help could arrive, pausing only when she began hearing a crunch.

“I told Kenzie, ‘I just heard this crunchy sound. I think I’ve done something,’ and she goes, ‘Put your hands back on and keep compressing. If you broke ribs, it’s OK. He’s gonna live.’”

For what felt like an eternity, but in reality was mere moments, Tamra kept her husband alive. As his heart failed, hers hit 174 beats per minute, according to her Fitbit. It was the dispatcher’s voice in her ear, and the knowledge that the CPR had put in her head, but it was ultimately her own hands that pulled Bill back from the brink.

“It was just one of those calls that really worked out very well from the very beginning, between the wife taking a CPR class and being able to recognize the problem, to our dispatch alerting us,” said Sean Roos, one of the first paramedics on scene. “We were able to define our roles pretty quickly and jump on it. And she was doing chest compressions when we got there. So essentially, we got there, shocked him twice and got him back.”

Tamra’s actions saved her husband’s life, and today Bill is happy, healthy and 50 pounds lighter. But there are many on the island who aren’t as lucky. By their estimates, Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue responds to somewhere around 50 cardiac events like Bill Avrit’s. And of those, just five will survive the incident. As shockingly low as that number seems, it’s actually higher than the national average.

And all it takes to raise it up is to act. The chain of survival, after all, is only as strong as its weakest link.

“Just do something,” said Tamra. “When I was at Savannah Memorial, so many of the medical personnel came up to me and said, ‘Way to do something.’ Evidently there’s a lot of people who won’t touch a loved one. And they panic. But if you do nothing, they die.”

The takeaway being that you can never be too prepared. The unexpected is coming for each of us. All we can do is be ready to face it whenever it comes. To learn more about CPR classes, visit hiltonheadislandsc.gov.

From left, Missy Thompson, Cinda Seamon, and Mackenzie Hrobar

Adam Rocafort, John Amarino, Sean Roos and Justin Cunningham (Deputy Chief of Operations)

Harbour Town Lighthouse

Reflections on a Landmark

Rewarding you at the top of the Harbour Town Lighthouse is not only the Island’s most distinctive store, “the Shoppe at the Top,” but also an unforgettable view – and for many a life-changing inspiration.

The extraordinary vista from this one-of-a-kind vantage point has been the beginning of businesses and careers, families and works of art. Over the years the lighthouse has become the site of countless first kisses, engagements. and weddings. Brides who seek a landmark occasion, a celebration no one will forget, often find their way to the lighthouse. The experience and connections of the Lighthouse staff make the arrangements not only memorable, but also remarkably easy. The Lighthouse is available for private parties and events, too.

The Spirit of Beginning

The Harbour Town Lighthouse has stood for more than 50 years as a beacon and a symbol of the creative spirit of Charles Fraser. The Sea Pines founder and visionary is laid to rest under the Liberty Oak facing the Lighthouse he built as a welcome to all who come to visit or stay a lifetime. It has become a part of the story people take home with them, an essential symbol of the dreams that have come

true here. No matter how often you come to Hilton Head Island, the Harbour Town Lighthouse is a must-do experience.

A visit to Hilton Head Island without a visit to the Harbour Town Lighthouse has been described as, “like going to Paris and not seeing the Eifel Tower. It’s not just a landmark – although it is all of that – the Lighthouse is the single strongest symbol of Hilton Head

This key photo and the inset photo on adjacent page by Jeff Keefer, Vivid Gallery

help prevent heart attacks

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. The thought of a heart attack can be scary. The good news is the risk of a heart attack can be helped with lifestyle changes and following the advice of medical professionals. Follow these steps to help prevent heart attacks. Note: You should always consult a doctor prior to making any lifestyle changes.

EAT A HEALTHY DIET

Eating a healthy diet is one of the most important ways to prevent heart attacks. A healthy diet can include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats. Avoid saturated fat and added sugars.

It is ideal for all of us to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day and limit how the amount we eat of red meat and processed foods.

EXERCISE REGULARLY

Regular exercise is an important way to prevent heart attacks. Get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity, or a combination of both, the American Heart Association said. Add moderate- to highintensity muscle-strengthening activity (such as resistance or weights) at least two days per week. Exercise can also help lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol levels.

MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT

Being overweight or obese can increase the risk of heart disease. There is no “magic formula” for everyone, but be aware of food choices and stay active.

DON’T SMOKE

Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke. More than 480,000 U.S. adults die from smoking-related cardiovascular disease each year, according to AHA statistics. Quitting smoking can improve heart health and reduce the risk of heart disease.

REDUCE STRESS

Stress can contribute to the risk of heart attacks. Manage stress by exercising,

yoga, meditation, or spending time with friends and family.

MANAGE CHRONIC CONDITIONS

Chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, can increase the risk of heart attacks. Manage those conditions through a healthy diet, exercise, and medication as prescribed by a doctor.

GET ENOUGH SLEEP

Getting enough sleep is a key for heart health. Try to get seven to eight hours of sleep per night. The AHA recently added sleep to Life’s Essential 8, its list of recommended behaviors and factors for optimizing heart and brain health.

KNOW THE SIGNS

Knowing the signs of a heart attack is critical.

The signs can include chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, and pain or discomfort in the neck, jaw, or back. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek medical attention.

GET REGULAR CHECK-UPS

Regular check-ups with your doctor are important to monitor your heart health and detect any risk factors or early signs of heart disease. One of the best ways to monitor your health is to regularly see your healthcare provider.

TAKE MEDICATIONS AS PRESCRIBED

If your healthcare provider prescribes medications, it’s important to take them as prescribed. Your health care professional can provide you with tips on how to manage your medications, including what to do if you miss a dose, and if you can take them with other medications.

Hilton Head national

Known as the course “that’s a joy to play”!

The words: “The course was a joy to play” is heard most often as golfers finish their round at Hilton Head National Golf Club. This golfing gem has been heralded for more than 30 years as the best conditioned layout in the Lowcountry. It’s routinely listed among the Top 15 courses in South Carolina.

Distinctive Design

Hall of Fame Gary Player and course architecture award winner Bobby Weed each contributed their distinctive design philosophies here in ways that make every club in your bag important. Golfers will tell you: “it’s a course that’s challenging, but not punishing.” The opening holes offer several strategic risk-reward challenges: – in particular, the Signature 6th. The back nine is tighter, and rewards players with a good short game. Located adjacent to the brand new and exciting Hilton Head National Luxury RV Resort.

Gary Player Bobby Weed

what’s in a name

?

THE HISTORY BEHIND SOME OF THE AREA’S FAVORITE LOCATIONS

Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and the rest of the Lowcountry have a rich history. Through the years the names of some of our favorite spots have been become so familiar that we rarely stop to think about the origins.

But the stories behind the names are certainly worth exploring. With help from The Heritage Library, which is an invaluable resource for Hilton Head history, and other sources, here’s a look at some of the background behind early place names.

BRAM’S POINT

William Gerhard DeBrahm, German surveyor-cartographer, interim Surveyor General of South Carolina, Surveyor General of the Southern District of North America, presented his two-volume report to King George III in 1773. Entitled “Report of the General Survey of the Southern District of North America,” it was the first scientific survey of present-day South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The point of land between Calibogue Sound and Broad Creek honors his memory.

BUCK ISLAND

Off the tip of Bram’s Point between Broad Creek and Calibogue Sound lies a small island, inaccessible at high tide. As a refuge for the white tail deer, it acquired the name Buck Island. Bram’s Point was called Buck Point.

CALIBOGUE SOUND

The deep channel between Hilton Head and Daufuskie Islands has long been known as Calibogue Sound. The word “calibogue” is much like the Creek Indian word for “deep spring.” It has variously been spelled Calibogie and Caleboco, probably referring to the fresh water spring or well on the bluff overlooking the Sound.

DOLPHIN HEAD

The promontory in Elliott’s Myrtle Bank Plantation overlooking Port Royal Sound has long been designated Dolphin Head, honoring the dolphin who continue to abound in the sound. An early cartographer designated it Balinclough Head.

JARVIS CREEK

Jarvis does not have known antecedents or descendants. Yet tradition insists that “a man named Jarvis” was found dead on a small island in Crooked Creek, which runs along the northern boundary of Honey Horn Plantation and empties into Calibogue Sound. Ever since, Crooked Creek has been Jarvis Creek.

PINCKNEY ISLAND

Colonel Mackey bought the island closest to the northwest corner of Hilton Head and the water between it and the main island became known as Mackey’s Creek. The small island was known as Mackey’s Island until it became Pinckney’s Island. In 1734 Col. Charles Pinckney acquired the island, and in 1758 his son, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, inherited the three plantations on the island — Old Place, Crescent and The Place — where Sea Island cotton was raised. In 1818 President James Monroe was entertained there. In 1955 Wood, James Barker, Edward Starr, Jr. and another man bought the island.

PORT ROYAL SOUND

In 1562 a white ship filled with French Huguenot colonists and commanded by Jean Ribaut sailed between St. Helena’s Island (what would later be called Hilton Head), into the mouth of Broad River. It was named Port Royale “because of the largeness and fairness thereof.” The name has endured.

SNAKE ISLAND

As early as 1783 the small island between Long Island and the main body of Hilton Head was designated Snake Island, likely because it was low, little used by humans and consequently highly infested with reptiles. Presently, the name has been euphemistically altered to Deer Island, although there are few deer or snakes there any longer.

UNION CEMETERY ROAD

About one-half mile south of Four Corners, a road branched easterly across Folly Field and Grass Lawn to Springfield and Coggins Point Plantations. On its north side a cemetery was established for the Union soldiers who died here 1861-1872. After the establishment of the National Cemetery in Beaufort, all of the remains were re-interred there. Source: heritagelib.org

BLUFFTON

Bluffton earned its name because its original one-square mile jurisdiction resided on a bluff above the May River. Families built summer homes on “The Bluff” to escape the heat, with high ground and cool river breezes providing relief. Source: townofbluffton.sc.gov

BARREL LANDING

Named for the landing on the Okatie River, where barrels of produce were taken to the surrounding cities of Beaufort, Savannah, and Charleston. Source: hmdb.org

OKATIE

Okatie (meaning quiet waters) takes its name from the nearby Okatee River, an estuary of the Port Royal Sound. The Okatie Indian Tribe was one of the largest tribes within the Yemassee Tribe. Source: beaufortcountysc.gov

north charleston

TAKE A TRIP TO A BURGEONING SOUTHERN CITY

Written by Nina Greenplate

Neighborhood charm with a dash of urban enthusiasm makes North Charleston an exciting must-see destination. Just a few miles north of downtown, this growing city is ready to entertain the southerner in you. Foodie? Eclectic shopper? Craft beer and spirits aficionado? It’s all here and more. Here are some spots not to miss.

PIZZA, MOONSHINE, BREWS AND LATE-NIGHT BITES

Uniquely inspired food and drink establishments give North Charleston a delicious reputation. From breakfast to late-night, a full spectrum of options can have you eating your way through your visit.

Try wood-fired and mouthwatering pizzas at EVO Pizzeria, with topping choices like whipped ricotta, beet puree and pistachio pesto. Gourmet burgers and beer are a hit at Sesame Burger. Check out Basil Thai, Azul Mexicano and LoLA’s cajun and creole style seafood.

There are also traditional Italian and contemporary Chinese-American options. Thirsty? You’ve come to the right place. Firefly Distillery’s claim to fame is being home to the world’s first sweet tea vodka. It has additional original vodkas, maritime-influenced bourbons, rums and 11 moonshine flavors.

Try Ships Wheel Hard Cider or Holy City Brewing’s craft beer selections like Pluff Mud Porter, Wash-Out Wheat, Overly Friendly IPA.

Paddock & Whisky offers a large selection of rotating rare bourbons and whiskeys in their rustic, repurposed bank vault setting. Wine bars and an Irish Pub round out this full circle food-and-drink delight of a city.

ENJOY THE ACTION

Catch the excitement of this city’s own three-time Kelly Cup victors, the South Carolina Stingrays. This professional minor league hockey team fills the nearly 10,000 permanent seats in the North Charleston Coliseum. The complex also houses a 2,300-seat Performing Arts Center that includes the up-and-coming, as well as seasoned entertainers, from musicians to comedians, musicals, popular films, plays, children’s entertainment, and cultural acts. March welcomes Cheap Trick and Gladys Knight, Miss SC USA and Teen USA pageants, and the 50th anniversary tour of Jesus Christ Superstar. The center is also home to North Charleston’s POPS! series, and Broadway’s Best.

photo: wikicommons

ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS

The North Charleston Cultural Arts Department continues to show off the city’s artistic community.North Charleston’s Park Circle Gallery is part of the SC Arts Commission ‘neighborhood art hub’ family. Local and regional artistry is on display, including jewelry, photography, paintings, mixed-media, and other fine creations.

The gallery is free and open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Featured artists are chosen and displayed on a rotating monthly basis. Riverfront Park is a sedate and picturesque landscape resting on the banks of the Cooper River. It serves as a lawn-stage to the National Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition. This unique artistry offers sculptors creative and imaginative opportunities to display their creations throughout the year.

The Park Circle area is walking distance to fun boutiques and eclectic shopping options. Discover cool finds in designer and vintage clothing, furniture, accessories, book and music stores.

wikicommons

Ryan Johnson: wikicommons

H.L. HUNLEY HISTORY

The mysterious disappearance of the American Civil War Submarine, the H.L. Hunley, in 1864 and subsequent discovery in 1995 and recovery in 2000 is now a fascinating tour at North Charleston’s Warren Lasch Conservation Center. Its namesake, Horace Lawson Hunley, was a Confederate marine engineer and the primary developer of early hand-powered submarines such as this vessel. The Hunley, as it’s known, became the world’s first combat submarine to successfully complete a mission of sinking the Union vessel, Housatonic, but curiously vanished soon after. It was not again discovered until the National Underwater and Marine Agency found it in 1995. In August of 2000 the Hunley was lifted and brought to the Conservation Center.

Open weekends, the hour-long tour lets you examine conservation work done to recover and preserve not only the submarine, but also its artifacts.

Visit Hunley.org.

GET AN EDUCATION AT THE FIRE MUSEUM

The North Charleston Fire Museum and Educational Center has the largest collection of professionally restored American LaFrance fire apparatus in the country, according to its website. There are more than 20 vehicles in the collection, dating back to the 1780s. The collection includes an 1857 hand pumper; a 1912 metropolitan steam pumper; and a 1931 pumper with water tank. Visitors can take a tour and see exhibits about advancements in firefighting. There are interactive displays and hands-on equipment.

Check out theater presentations, including one with live smoke. The museum is open MondaySaturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Go online at northcharlestonfiremuseum.org.

must read

THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF TANNER & LOUISE

A college dropout needs some cash. A job is offered to be a caretaker for an elderly woman. No problem. That is until 21-year-old Tanner Quimby meets 84-year-old Louise, who wants nothing to do with a caretaker.

But then Tanner notices some oddities, such as Louise’s tightly locked shed and that the suspect of one of the “biggest jewelry heists in American history” happens to look like Louise.

And then, late one night, Louise insists they leave, beginning an adventure neither will ever forget.

Colleen Oakley, an Atlanta resident, is the best-selling author of “The Invisible Husband of Frick Island.”

new this month:

Named as one of the most anticipated books of the year by several publications, “Pineapple Street” promises to be “a deliciously funny, sharply observed” debut novel.

Rife with the “indulgent pleasures” of life among New York’s one-percenters, “Pineapple Street” is a smart, escapist novel that “sparkles with wit.”

“War Diary” is a gripping recounting of the first 41 days of the war in Ukraine. Yevgenia Belorusets was in her hometown of Kyiv when the war began last February.

Belorusets details the impact the conflict had on the residents, how the city pulled together to support each other, and the “danger of a routine coffee run.”

A collection of 15 stories, including one chronicling two sisters who deal with loss and memory on a perfect summer evening; a story of alienation and miscommunication with a “fresh twist on a folkloric classic”; and a “fantastical,” story that examines a mother-daughter relationship. A suspenseful novel “about the mysteries of fate, the unbreakable bond of siblings, and a notorious serial killer who was said to know the future.”

Katie Shaw was on the cusp of graduation, had a boyfriend and a little brother she protected fiercely, but a violent stranger “changed the fate of her family forever.”

Colleen Oakley

Golden Bear Golf Club is among Hilton Head’s best golf. The 7,014-yard, par-72 Nicklaus-designed golf course offers:

• Outstanding driving range & practice facility

• Ladies-friendly tees

• Corporate outings, tournaments & golf packages

• Full-service clubhouse and grille

• Four-star rating by Golf Digest

Located on Hilton Head Island, Highway 278, inside Indigo Run

For a tee time, call 843.689.2200

Written by Clay Bonnyman Evans

Spring is nearly upon us, and for anglers in and around the coasts of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, that means it’s sheepshead time.

March and April are prime months to go after the blackand-white-striped, spine-backed fish with famously — some say unsettlingly — human-like teeth.

“That time of year the sheepshead bite is really good. And it’s a really good fish to eat — awesome, light and flaky,” says Capt. Jim Clark, a veteran guide of more than 20 years and owner-operator of the 37-foot, twin-motor catamaran, Stray Cat.

Sheepshead typically grow to about 17 inches and average between 2 and 7 pounds, though the world record is more than 21 pounds, says Clark, who also operates the dock for Hilton Head’s North End Charter Fleet. Also known as “convict fish” by virtue of their distinctive vertical stripes, their square, “human” teeth don’t just give them a toothy grin, but also allow them to feed on hard-shelled prey such as mollusks and barnacles.

Sheepshead are plentiful in and around Hilton Head in early through mid-spring, says Clark, whether you’re fishing a big boat at offshore wrecks and reefs or smaller inshore craft near bridge abutments. Anglers typically fish with fiddler crabs bought or gathered from local marsh flats.

crafty fish, Clark says, capable of “stealing your bait before you even know you have a bite. The sheepshead bite is very delicate. You have to hold things real still. It’s pretty handson.”

red bass, and sea trout, says Clark, who in 2007 was named to George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing A-Team, featuring, “captains and pros (who are) among the very best in the sport of saltwater fishing.”

Sea trout typically average two pounds, though the largest one caught in South Carolina waters tipped the scales at 11 pounds. Red fish run from a couple of pounds up to 15

pounds, though the biggest one ever caught weighed a whopping 94 pounds.

“Both of those are really great to eat. We catch them in the creeks, flats and different feeder creeks that empty out into bigger water,” though you can also catch red fish around reefs and wrecks, Clark says.

Farther offshore, spring is a good time to go after triggerfish, red snapper, grouper, amberjack and black sea bass.

“We go 25 to 40 miles offshore for bottom fishing,” Clark says. “It’s a great time, but you want to make sure you go out on good-weather days. We don’t go out if (conditions) are nasty.”

This spring there is also a tournament through April 15 that is taking top anglers 70 miles offshore into the Gulf Stream in search of mahi-mahi and wahoo.

“But that’s a whole different ballgame,” he says.

By the time April is leaning into May, it’s time to start fishing for Clark’s recognized specialty, cobia, aka ling cod and, in Hilton Head waters, brownies.

“We call them brownies,” Clark says with a smile, “because they are brown. And because we basically have no imagination.”

Local cobia are typically 20 to 50 pounds, he says, but the world record is 135.9 pounds.

“The cool thing is just about the time you get tired of fishing for sheepshead, maybe the third week of April, cobia fever hits. When the water temperature gets above 69 and the jasmine starts to bloom, those are the telltale signs that cobia might be around,” he says. “There’s a real good bite at the end of the month, up in the rivers, in Port Royal Sound. You can catch 40- or 50-pound fish and you don’t even have to leave the Sound.”

SHEEPSHEAD

Body gray and nearly oval with five to six dark vertical bars and one on nape. No dark spot near origin of lateral line. Four broad incisor-like teeth on both sides of anterior jaw, several molarlike teeth also present. Dorsal fin has 12 spines and 11 soft rays. Second spine of anal fin very strong.

AMBERJACK

A brownish or bluish-grey back, a silvery-white belly and an amber horizontal strip along the middle of their body. Juveniles have a yellow color and five or six dark vertical bars along the sides.

BLACK DRUM

Deep-bodied, silvery-gray to dark gray with blackish fins. Young fish have four or five vertical black bars that disappear with age. Mouth inferior and horizontal, lower jaw with 10 to 13 pairs of barbels in multiple rows.

COBIA

Elongated body with dark brown sides and back, two sharply defined silver bands on sides. Broad, depressed head, with large, terminal mouth. First dorsal fin consists of seven to nine short, isolated spines not connected by a membrane. Long second dorsal fin with 27 to 33 rays. Upper lobe of caudal fin longer than lower lobe.

REDFISH

Iridescent silver-gray with a copper cast, darker above; one or more oscillated spots on upper sides from below soft portion of dorsal fin to base of caudal fin. Mouth inferior and horizontal, teeth set in bands on both jaws. Chin without barbels, smooth pre-opercular margin.

SEA TROUT

Dark gray above with bluish reflections. Numerous round black spots irregularly scattered on back and sides extend to soft parts of dorsal and caudal fins. Two large canine-like teeth at tip of upper jaw, all remaining teeth small, gradually increasing in size posteriorly on lower jaw. First dorsal fin with nine to 10 spines, second dorsal fin with one spine and 25 to 28 rays. Soft portion of dorsal fin without scales.

SOURCE: DNR.SC.GOV

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MARCH MADNESS

Terms to know during the NCAA basketball tournaments

AT LARGE BID: Teams that receive a bid to the NCAA tournament are broken into two categories: At-large bids, and automatic bids. A selection committee gives 36 at-large bids (not automatic) to teams that did not win their conference tournament but impressed the committee enough to earn a trip to the tournament.

FIRST FOUR: When the tournament was expanded to 68 teams, a new round was added to the format – the First Four. Four games are played (Tuesday and Wednesday for men; Wednesday and Thursday for women) to determine which of the eight teams advance to the first round of the tournament.

CINDERELLA: A Cinderella team is one that is exceeds expectations. Villanova in 1985 is one of the best examples, winning the men’s tournament despite being a No. 8 seed. The Wildcats are the lowest seeded team to win the title. In 2022, the St. Peter’s Peacocks (No. 15 seed) reached the men’s Elite Eight.

ELITE EIGHT: This is the fourth round of the tournament, when eight teams remain. The winners advance to the Final Four.

With the captivating NCAA basketball tournaments set to entertain the country in March, there are terms that will be used countlessly throughout the men’s and women’s competitions. Here’s a guide to some of the most common phrases you’ll hear. The men’s tournament tips-off March 14; the women’s tournament begins March 15.

MARCH MADNESS: The phrase that has become commonplace was first used by an Illinois High School Association executive, Henry V. Porter, in 1939 to describe the state’s annual state tournament, but CBS broadcaster Brent Musburger is credited for bringing it to the NCAA tournament during the 1982 competition.

THE BUBBLE: Some teams are guaranteed a spot in the “Big Dance,” but many others wait anxiously to hear if they will be invited by the selection committee. Most of these teams “on the bubble” have had solid seasons, but not overwhelming enough to secure a spot. Instead, they wait to hear their fate on Selection Sunday.

FINAL FOUR: The goal is to win the title, but schools revel in reaching the round when only four teams remain. The winners of each of the two games advance to compete in the championship game.

ONE SHINING MOMENT: The crowning moment of the tournament. After the title has been won and nets cut down, the song written by David Barrett — and the complementary highlight package — has become synonymous with the tournament. Source: ncaa.com

Palmetto Bluff

New River Linear Trail

on the run

A GUIDE TO TOP TRAILS IN THE LOWCOUNTRY

Written and photographed by Clay Bonnyman Evans

NAN LLOYD NATURE TRAIL

This short circuit of the grounds at historic Honey Horn Plantation winds through natural maritime forest and past salt marsh, a barn and pasture that are home to two marsh ponies, a historic cemetery, flower gardens and more.

• Description: 1.1-mile loop; mix of single-track, gravel path, brief section of open field.

• Look for: Songbirds, osprey, marsh ponies.

• Heads up: Keep your eye out for small stumps and other obstacles on forest portions.

• Access and parking: Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head.

• Top tip: Go on a Tuesday morning and stop by a local farmer’s market.

• Info: coastaldiscovery.org

NEW RIVER LINEAR TRAIL

Following the railbed of the now-defunct Seaboard Air Line Railway, this straight, flat, grassy route extends from the marshy banks of the New River to the southern reaches of Sun City Hilton Head, through cypress swamp and maple forest.

• Description: 5.2 miles, end to end; single-track on grass.

• Look for: Alligators and their young (not aggressive, but do not approach them closely) raptors, deer; interpretive signs.

• Heads up: Exposed to full sunlight for much of the day, so bring water.

• Access and parking: Dirt parking about nine miles south of Old Town Bluffton on S.C. 46, just over a mile past roundabout at New Riverside Drive.

• Top tip: The Town of Bluffton hopes to extend the trail in the future.

• Info: townofbluffton.sc.gov

PALMETTO BLUFF

The unimproved, multi-use River Road Trail takes you past century-old oaks, bluffs and May River landings at the 20,000-acre Palmetto Bluff residential and recreational preserve. (There are also several shorter, paved routes and an unimproved mountain-biking trail.)

• Description: 5.3 miles; varied rugged terrain

• Look for: Alligators, turkey, wood storks, deer

• Heads up: Passes by historic Barge and Moreland landings

• Access and parking: Follow S.C. 46 5.5 miles west of downtown Bluffton, turn left on Palmetto Bluff Road to main gate; tell guards you are going to use trails.

• Top tip: The annual December Buffalo Run features 10K, 30K, 50K and relay events.

• Info: palmettobluff.com

PINCKNEY ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Formerly a private plantation and farm, Pinckney Island is now a 4,000acre wildlife refuge where shore birds nest and alligators sun themselves on the banks of several freshwater ponds. Both grass and gravel roads snake through shady maritime forest and past salt marsh dense with shorebirds, offering the most extensive trail system in the area.

• Description: 14 miles total; gravel road, grass, single-track.

• Look for: Alligators (not aggressive, but do not approach them closely) herons, egrets, white-tailed deer, coyote, armadillo, songbirds (including the occasional rare painted bunting).

• Heads up: No restrooms or water available.

• Access and parking: Turn north off U.S. 278 between Hilton Head Island and Bluffton.

• Top tip: The refuge is always looking for volunteers.

• Info: fws.gov/refuge/pinckney-island

VICTORIA BLUFF HERITAGE PRESERVE

This 977-acre forested preserve, part of South Carolina’s state-park system, features less-traveled, pine-needle-covered trails through thick maritime forests featuring saw palmetto, cabbage palm, oak, and longleaf and slash pine.

• Description: 4-mile loop; dirt/duff trail with semi-developed cross path.

• Look for: Turkey, white-tailed deer, songbirds (vireo, flycatcher, tanager).

• Heads up: Low-lying trail can be soggy after rains; golden-orb spiders weave thick webs between off-trail trees.

• Access and parking: Turn north off U.S. 278 at Sawmill Road; parking area is approximately 1.25 miles west on right.

• Top tip: Cross Sawmill Road to access less-maintained trail leading to the Colleton River and Trask Landing.

• Info: stateparks.com/victoria_bluff_heritage_preserve_in_ south_carolina.html

Pickney Island National Wildlife Refuge

accomplished athlete

ABBY PEDUZZI OF HHCA IS A MULTI-SPORT STAR

Written by Justin Jarrett | Photographed by Rob Kaufman

Whether she has been on the volleyball or basketball court or on the soccer pitch, Abby Peduzzi has been a mainstay on Hilton Head Christian Academy’s varsity girls teams every season since seventh grade.

It’s a remarkable run that will wrap up this spring before she continues her volleyball career at UNC Pembroke.

Before that, she played on the varsity tennis team for two years, and there was that time she had resigned herself to helping the football team until a new student with kicking prowess entered the picture.

“I was so close to being the kicker for them,” Abby says, noting her dad, HHCA head coach Ron Peduzzi, needed a kicker and wasn’t prepared to take no for an answer. “It was going to happen until Chaz Brigstock came to our school and saved me.”

To be clear, she wasn’t shying away from the notion of playing football as much as playing for pops and the perception that perhaps she didn’t earn the job on merit. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Ron and Janet Peduzzi instilled in their children an unrelenting work ethic and unmatched love for competition. It’s no accident that J.P. Peduzzi was a three-sport star at HHCA when his not-so-little sister burst on the scene, and now she’s following his path to the next level and hoping to find the same level of success.

J.P. is a wide receiver at NCAA Division II Washington & Jefferson University in Pennsylvania, where he led the Presidents with 54 receptions, 915 receiving yards, and eight touchdown catches as a freshman last fall.

“My brother just did an interview the other day and he said something that really hit home,” Abby recalls. “We never had participation trophies; you won or you lost. That was a good mindset to have. You’re out there to win.”

And everyone can’t win, even when siblings square off.

“I think growing up with my brother, just playing against him and stuff made me become more physical and aggressive,” said Abby, an island resident. “He

never let me have it. I always had to work for it.”

Growing up in the Peduzzi family meant seeing things through and giving it your all, especially when you wanted to quit.

“I started playing soccer when I was 3, and I hated it,” laughs Abby, a star on HHCA’s back-to-back state championship teams with a shot at a third this spring. She scored 40 goals last season. “I told them I hated to run and I wasn’t playing soccer anymore. They kept me in it, so that turned out well.”

She took up basketball and often held her own as the only girl on a team of boys, but after fifth grade she wanted to give up on hoops.

Again, she was encouraged to continue playing, and again, her perseverance was rewarded. With Abby as a stabilizing force who can dominate in the paint and knock down outside shots, HHCA began the recent hoops season as winners of four consecutive S.C. Independent School Association state titles.

She finally succeeded in giving up a sport in seventh grade, when it came time to choose between continuing on the tennis team or taking up volleyball.

Fast-forward five years and volleyball is the sport she has grown to love the most and the one she elected to pursue in college.

Despite playing up on Low Country Volleyball Club’s 18U national team since she was a sophomore, Abby flew under the radar and received interest from only a handful of the dozens of coaches she emailed. One of those coaches was at UNC Pembroke, where she attended a camp and found her next home.

“I really loved all the other girls in my recruiting class, and they have a great coaching staff and facilities,” she says. “And they’re building a tradition of success. They just won their conference and made the NCAAs for the first time.”

Peduzzi is leaving a legacy that might never be matched.

“I’ve loved it at HHCA,” Abby says. “The people there are what really make it. I’m friends with everyone on all my teams, and it has brought so many different people

into my life. The bonus has been winning.”

In a perfect script, Abby Peduzzi would walk off the soccer pitch for the last time this spring as a champion. But after years of grinding to secure her dreams, winning won’t be the highest objective.

“Just enjoying all the practices and the small moments, because I’ll never get those times back,” she said.

arts & entertainment

MARCH 10

JEVON DALY KID’S SHOW AT COLIGNY THEATRE: Join Jevon in person for an afternoon of fun songs, sing-alongs and audience participation. Seating is based on a first-come, first-served basis. General admission: $5. Doors open at 3 p.m. The show begins at 4 p.m. 1 North Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head Island. Purchase tickets on eventbrite.com

MARCH 10

JEVON DALY LIVE AT COLIGNY THEATRE: Join Jevon live in person for this 18 and older music show featuring two sets of songs, stories and laughs. Special guest Gary Pratt will kick off the show at 8 p.m. Door will open at 7 p.m. General admission is $20. Seating is based on a first-come, first- served basis. 1 North Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head Island. Purchase tickets on eventbrite.com

MARCH 10

RENE MARIE & EXPERIMENT IN TRUTH: Two shows nightly. 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Reservations highly recommended. The Jazz Corner, 1000 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-8620 or thejazzcorner.com

MARCH 11

THE HIGH DIVERS AT ROOFTOP BAR AT POSEIDON: A Charleston-based band with Lowcountry roots and nearly a

38TH ANNUAL IRISHFEST, ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE 2023

decade in the making returns to Hilton Head Island. The High Divers has been covered by Rolling Stone, Paste, Performer Magazine, KDHX, PopMatters, Americana UK and more. 8 p.m. 38 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head. 843-3413838 or therooftophhi.com

MARCH 15 & 29

QUIANA PARLER WITH THE LAVON STEVENS TRIO: Two shows nightly, 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Reservations highly recommended. The Jazz Corner, 1000 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head. 843842-8620 or thejazzcorner.com

MARCH 15 & 29

DEAS GUYS AT THE ROOFTOP BAR AT POSEIDON: Deas Guyz features an entertaining mix of Old Motown,Jazz Standards, Rhythm and Blues, Country, Pop, Rock, Reggae and Dance beats. With the popularity of the group growing it has lead them to performances across the South Carolina as well as Georgia, Florida and North Carolina. 8 p.m. Tickets start at $10. 38 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head. 843-3413838 or therooftophhi.com

MARCH 17 & 18

THE RANDY NAPOLEON TRIO: Two shows nightly, 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Reservations highly recommended. The Jazz Corner, 1000 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-8620 or thejazzcorner. com.

MARCH 20 & 27

THE JACKSON EVANS BAND: Two shows nightly, 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Reservations recommended. The Jazz Corner, 1000 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-8620 or thejazzcorner.com.

MARCH 23-26

ARTS RE-CENTER RETREAT: You will be guided through a series of interactive and compelling lectures, creative, multi-media workshops and thought-provoking blackout sessions.

14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-ARTS or artshhi.com

MARCH 24

LIQUID VELVET AT UNCORKED: A live band that plays 70s and 80s classic rock hits and is influenced by Journey, Fleetwood Mac, Prince and more.

1533 Fording Island Rd, Suite 296, Hilton Head Island. 609-412-6508 or bandsintown.com

MARCH 31

IDLEWILD SOUTH ALLMAN BROTHERS

TRIBUTE BAND AT THE ROOFTOP BAR

AT POSEIDON: The set lists draw from The Allman Brothers Band’s self-titled debut album, second album Idlewild South, Live At Fillmore East, Eat A Peach, and Brothers and Sisters. 9 p.m. Tickets start at $10. 38 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head. 843-341-3838 or therooftophhi.com.

MARCH 31

CHORAL SOCIETY CONCERT: Hilton Head Choral Society Spring Concert: ‘A Mozart Celebration.’ 7 p.m. First Presbyterian Church. 540 William Hilton Pky. 843-341-3818 or tickets@ hiltonheadchoralsociety.org.

MARCH 31 & APRIL 1

THE LARRY FULLER TRIO: Two shows nightly, 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Reservations recommended. The Jazz Corner, 1000 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-8620 or thejazzcorner.com.

IRISH TENOR EMMET CAHILL

Emmet Cahill, a sought-after Irish Tenor, will perform at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina.

Cahill has performed in more than 80 cities across the U.S. and Canada, including his sold-out solo concert debut at New York’s Carnegie Hall. He was chosen to open the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade two years ago and was named ‘Irish Tenor of the Year’ by the Irish American Music Association Cahill’s concerts comprise a varied program of Irish classics, including ‘Danny Boy,’ ‘Irish Eyes are Smiling,’ gospel favorites like ‘How Great Thou Art’ and Broadway hits such as ‘Bring Him Home’ and ‘Music of the Night.’

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. March 2, and 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m March 3. Visit artshhi.com

photo: artshhicom

MARCH 2 & 3

OYSTER ROAST & LOWCOUNTRY BOIL

MARCH 4

HILTON HEAD BREWING COMPANY

Hosted by Hilton Head Brewing Company, Groomingdales, and Rescue Paws International to benefit Breaking the Chains – Saving Animal Victims of the War in Ukraine

Saturday, March 4, 2023, from 2pm–7pm

Meet Tom and the team of Breaking the Chains! These are the guys Hilton Head locals, Jeff from Groomingdales and Derek from Groove Town Assault, volunteered with rescuing animals in the war zones of Ukraine!

Live music with Derek from GTA and Kyle Wareham from Pretty Darn. Locally brewed craft beer, wine, prosecco, auction & raffles. Fresh local oysters and shrimp. $25 per person All You Can Eat.

For more info call 843-816-2555

education

MARCH 23

HOW EFFECTIVE DELEGATION CAN BUILD YOUR BUSINESS: Attendees will leave with practical, easy-to implement tips that can help improve the quality of life both at work and at home through effective delegation. 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Palmetto Electric, Community Room, 1 Cooperative Way, Hardeeville. Purchase tickets online at hbfpllc.com

MARCH 23

LENTEN LUNCH SERIES: Inaugural Saint Luke’s Anglican March Lenten Lunch Series, “Hope in the Shadow of the Cross.” Wednesdays in March, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saint Luke’s Anglican Church on Hilton Head Island. Complimentary soup and salad lunch. Register at www. stlukeshhi.org/march-lenten-lunchseries.html

festivals events

MARCH 4

BLUFFTON FLOWER SHOW : Bluffton’s Flower Show is back in Old Town Bluffton. $5- $25 entry fee. 11 a.m., Heyward House Museum & Welcome Center, 70 Boundary Street, Bluffton. heywardhouse.org

MARCH 4

MALONE BBQ POP-UP AND BURNT CHURCH 2-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

PARTY : Come celebrate the two-year anniversary of Burnt Church Distillery with drinks and grab some BBQ from Texas Barbeque. 120 Bluffton Rd, Bluffton. malonebarbecue.com

MARCH 5

BUZZARD DAY: A family-friendly event that includes a buzzard strut contest, Bluffton buzzard lunch, pin the tail on the buzzard and Jevon’s Kaotic Kids Show. 2 p.m. -4 p.m. Free entry. Martin Family Park, 68 Boundary Street, Bluffton.

MARCH 8

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY/PWB

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE CELEBRATION: Hosted by the Professional Women in Building of the Lowcountry. 5:30 p.m. Burnt Church Distillery, 120 Bluffton Rd, Bluffton. 843-872-0158 or contact meg@ hhahba.com for more information.

MARCH 8

WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY FOR A CAUSE: Wine, music, shopping, refreshments and prizes. Proceeds benefit Second Helpings with the mission to alleviate hunger. Must be 21 to enjoy. Village of Wexford, 1000 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head Island. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased on eventbrite.com

MARCH 18

WINGFEST: A fun family event that includes the best local restaurants, live bands, kids’ activities and wings. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Lowcountry Celebration Park, 94 Pope Ave, Hilton Head Island. 843-6817273 or islandreccenter.org

MARCH 11

IRISHFEST SATURDAY NIGHT CONCERT: Kickoff of IrishFest with a free event with traditional pipe and drums and ending with Boston’s Irish Rock Band, The Fenian Sons. 4 P.M. -7 p.m. Lowcountry Celebration Park, 94 Pope Avenue, Hilton Head. hiltonheadireland.org

MARCH 10

JEVON DALY LIVE AT COLIGNY THEATER:

Join Jevon live in person for this 18-and-older music show featuring two sets of songs, stories and laughs. Special guest Gary Pratt will kick off the show at 8 p.m. Door will open at 7 p.m. General admission is $20. Seating is based on a first-come, first- served basis. 1 North Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head Island. Purchase tickets on eventbrite.com

MARCH 11

THE MEATBALL THROWDOWN: Chefs are ready to battle for the title of Best Meatball in South Beach. Loads of meaty creations and only one champion. You are the judge. Live music on the waterfront. 12 p.m. The Salty Dog, South Beach, Hilton Head Island. 843-671-2233 or saltydog.com

MARCH 12

38TH ANNUAL IRISHFEST

ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE 2023: Get your green on and join us for the best and oldest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in all of South Carolina. 3 p.m., Pope Avenue on Hilton Head Island.

MARCH 18

SHAMROCKIN’ SCAVENGER HUNT : Kids 12 and under can search South Beach for shamrocks redeemable for tasty treats and Salty Dog gear. 9 a.m.11 a.m. A St. Pat’s-inspired breakfast will be served on the waterfront from 8 a.m. -11 a.m. The Salty Dog, Hilton Head Island. 843-671-2233 or saltydog.com

MARCH 22 & 23

DIVE INTO COLOR AT THE LAGOS TRUNK SHOW: Forsythe Jewelers and LAGOS host “Dive Into Color” featuring the Spring 2023 Caviar Collections. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 22, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 23. Forsythe Jewelers, The Shops at Sea Pines Center, Hilton Head. 843-671-7070. Forsythejewelers.biz

MARCH 2-5

Based on the legendary, multi-awardwinning, musical comedy classic about rolling the dice and falling in love under the lights of Broadway. Guys and Dolls JR. is an adaptation of the show considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy. Its namesake ran for 1,200 performances when it opened on Broadway in 1950 and won numerous Tony Awards.

Set in Damon Runyon’s New York City, Guys and Dolls JR. follows gambler, Nathan Detroit, as he tries to find the cash to set up the biggest crap game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck. Meanwhile, his girlfriend and nightclub performer, Adelaide, laments that they’ve been engaged for 14 years without ever getting married. Nathan turns to fellow gambler, Sky Masterson, for the dough, but Sky ends up chasing the straightlaced missionary, Sarah Brown. Guys and Dolls JR. takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, but everyone eventually ends up right where they belong

Showtimes 7 p.m. March 2-4, and 2 p.m. March 5. $5 (8-under), $15 (student) and $25 (adult). mainstagecommunitytheatre.org

GUYS AND DOLLS JR

Photo supplied

Photo: mainstagecommunitytheatre.org

meet ups and markets

MARCH 10

LOT 9 BREWING COMPANY SUNDAY MARKET HOSTED BY ROOT AND BLOOM: Join your local market and enjoy games, good company and shopping with local vendors. 12 p.m. -4 p.m. 678-201-2616 or discoverrootandbloommarket.com

MARCH 11

PALM TREES & PISTONS: Local car show every second Saturday of each month. Showcases local, vintage, antique, exotic, muscle and unique cars owned by locals. 9 a.m. -11 a.m. Sea Turtle Marketplace (Former Steinmart parking lot), 430 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head Island.

MARCH 15

GORDON’S HOP STOP AT ROOT & BLOOM MARKET: Visit the mobile bar on tap with more than eight drafts including craft beer, hard cider and kombucha. Wear green and shop at this natural living/vintage market with a focus on non-toxic living and sustainability. 678-201-2616 or discoverrootandbloommarkets.com.

MARCH 18

CARS AND COFFEE: Cars and Coffee HHI is a meet up for car enthusiasts. All are welcome. Third Saturday of each month. Free. 8 a.m.- 11 a.m. USCB Campus, 1 University Blvd, Bluffton. carsandcoffeehhi@gmail.com or carsandcoffeehhi.com.

MARCH 4

SUPERHERO 5K RUN/WALK BY USCB CENTER FOR THE ARTS: Family-friendly event is open to all ages. It begins on Newcastle and Bay Street and runs through downtown and across the scenic Woods Bridge. 8 a.m. 1015 Bay St, Beaufort. uscbcenterforthearts.com.

MARCH 6 & 7

WORM MOON FULL MOON CRUISE: Join the 63-foot Catamaran with upper and lower decks and spend the evening cruising the Calibogue. Enjoy celestial snacks and lunar libations paired with gorgeous Lowcountry waterway views. 5 p.m. Ages 21+. $38. The Salty Dog, South Beach Marina, Hilton Head Island. cruise.saltydog.com

MARCH 10

AERIAL SOUND BATH AT MOVE FITNESS: Move Fitness partners with Sol Balance to offer sound healing while suspended in an aerial hammock. Leave feeling relaxed, refocused and refreshed. $40/person. 23 Johnston Way, Unit A, Bluffton. movefitnessbluffton.com

MARCH 14 & 28

SOUL FIRE SOCIAL: Join host Candace Blair and explore this two-part course of the 12 energy chakra system. Learn how the shift to 5D has enhanced the traditional seven chakras and activated ve transcendent chakras outside the body. $75. 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Limited Limited in-

person space on North Forest Beach; soulfiresocial.com

MARCH 25

STOP HEROIN BEACHWALK IN MEMORY OF RICKY STEWART JR: An afternoon of fun, food and music. 12 p.m. Tiki Hut, 1 South Forest Beach Dr, Hilton Head Island.

MARCH 25

ADAPTIVE FISHING DAY OUT: A family-fun day of fishing and games with Captain Fuzzy Davis of Silva Dolla Fishing Charters. For all ages. 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Rowing and Sailing Center at Squire Pope Community Park, 137 Squire Pope Rd, Hilton Head Island.

MARCH 9

DISCOVERY NIGHT-SEA TURTLE PAINT

PARTY: Relax and paint during this fun party aided by local artist Camilla Pagliaroli. You will paint on an 11-by-14 canvas using acrylics and take home an original work of art. All supplies are included. Adults are welcome to bring wine. Cost is $35 per person. Reservations are required by calling 843-689-6767 ext. 223 or by booking online at coastaldiscovery.org/calendar

looking ahead

TUESDAYS

HILTON HEAD ISLAND FARMERS MARKET: Enjoy fresh produce, pasture-raised chicken, free range rabbit, pork, seafood, bread, and more. Entrance and parking are free. 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Coastal Discovery Museum. 70 Honey Horn Dr, Hilton Head Island. 843-689-6767 or coastaldiscovery.org

THURSDAYS

FARMERS MARKET OF BLUFFTON: Meet local farmers, chefs and artisans and purchase fresh produce, beets, potatoes and more. 12 p.m. -5 p.m., Martin Family Park, 68 Boundary Street, Bluffton. 843-415-2337 or farmersmarketbluffton.org

worth the drive

MARCH 23- APRIL 8

2023 SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL: More than 90 live performances by top rock, jazz, folk, blues and classical musicians in historic venues across Savannah. Highlights include performances by Buddy Guy, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Patty Griffin, Leo Kottke and Los Labos. Tickets start at $31 and can be purchased at savannahmusicfestival.org or by calling 912-525-5050.

MARCH 23

WANDERLUST MARKETS: A wandering market with rotating vendors in one spot including Ring Stinger Pepper Co, Peace by Piece, A Sweeter Seat, Soul on Fire candles, Saltwater Hippie Company and more. Follow Wanderlust Markets on Facebook for more information. 843-422-3992 or uscroach@ gmail.com.

APRIL 7

GATSBY GALA 2023: Hosted by Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. Guests are encouraged to dress in the glitz and glamour of the 1920s era. Attendees are encouraged to bring canned goods to raise donations for the Emmaus House of Savannah. 41 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Savannah, GA. 912232-1511 or shipsofthesea.org. Purchase tickets at allevents.in/ savannah/gatsby-gala-savannah.

APRIL 14

TRIAL BY FIRE: THE ULTIMATE JOURNEY TRIBUTE BAND: 9p.m. Rooftop Bar at Poseidon, 38 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-341-3838 or therooftophhi.com

APRIL 15

FRIENDS OF THE BROTHERS: THE ALLMAN BROTHERS

TRIBUTE BAND: Come celebrate the legacy of the Allman Brothers Band! 7 p.m. Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort, 40 Folly Field Rd, Hilton Head Island. Tickets can be purchased on ticketmaster.com or friendsofthebrothersband.com

APRIL 22

BEAUFORT WATER FESTIVAL 5K & 10K: The race will start at 8 a.m. in beautiful Port Royal at Live Oak Park with a flat course that takes you along the moss-draped giant live oaks with beautiful views of the Intracoastal waterway. 5K is a run/ walk course and is $20. The 10K is a run-only race and is $25. 700 Paris Ave, Port Royal, SC. Register and purchase tickets on runsignup.com

APRIL 29

SPRINGFEST 2023 SPONSORED BY ZENDEN: Local artists, authors, artisans and more! 707 Paris Avenue, Port Royal, SC. 843-379-9449 or zendenpr.square.site.

APRIL 29

FAIRY & GNOME FESTIVAL: Bring the family and stroll through Oatland’s magical trails. This enchanted event will include a scavenger hunt, fashion show, gem mining, fairyland and gnome home building and food. Tickets can be purchased on site. 10 a.m. Oatland Island Wildlife Center, 711 Sandtown Rd, Savannah, GA. 912-395-1212 or oatlandisland.org.

HINOKI

Japanese Restaurant • Sushi Bar

843.785.9800

Reservations Taken During Regular Business Hours

37 New Orleans Road • Orleans Plaza • Hilton Head Island

LUNCH 11:30 am - 2 pm Tuesday - Friday

DINNER 5:30 pm - 10 pm Monday - Saturday

Early Bird Specials until 6:30 pm

Cocktail Lounge • Full Service Bar

HDTV • Free Wi-Fi • Gift Certificates

TAKE-OUT • Party Platters • Custom Menus

PRIVATE CATERING • Sushi Station & Chefs

Reader’s choice “Best Sushi”

Japanese-Owned & Operated

A COUPLE RIDING BIKES ON HHI BEACH NEAR SEA PINES

Photo: Michael Hrizuk