August 2023 Hilton Head Island Magazine

Hilton Head Island

MAGAZINE

August 2023 / $4.95

Golf Course Pergolas

Cart Barns/Club Houses

Commercial Properties

Residential Properties

Back-Up Power for Courses

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

WRITERS AND CONTRIBUTORS

Amy Coyne Bredeson, Amy Bartlett, Lawrence Conneff, Marcia Cornell, Heather Edge, Jessica Farthing, Nina Greenplate, NancyLee Honey, Justin Jarrett, Barry Kaufman, Mark E. Lett, James Mallory, Kingston Rhodes, Edward Thomas

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Guido Flueck, Rob Kaufman, Ruthe Ritterbeck

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COVER PHOTOS

Head Head Island Magazine Cover: Rob Kaufman

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Hilton Head Island Magazine and Bluffton and the Lowcountry Magazine: Celebrating the Lowcountry

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< GUIDO FLUECK I PHOTOGRAPHER Fashion, page 44

Guido Flueck’s formative years were spent at Einsiedeln Monastery, Switzerland, where he found a passion for photography.

Flueck became a ski instructor in the nearby mountains, and there he was discovered by a fashion photographer to be a model. He worked in Europe and NYC and was on the cover of GQ magazine. After 10 years of modeling, he switched to photography.

< AMY BARTLETT | WRITER SCORE, page 36

A published author and 20-year veteran of marketing, media and ministry, Amy Bartlett has built a life on the power of story. Lately she chases it with a dog and a little boy in tow, reading everything in print, writing new books and building a home.

< NINA GREENPLATE | WRITER Lego artist, page 78

Nina Greenplate is a freelance writer and editor with a great love for people and their stories. In 2014 she self-published her first book of poetry and is currently working on her second, a children’s Christian poetry work. Her family is her greatest joy.

< JUSTIN JARRETT | WRITER Youth Baseball, page 94

Justin Jarrett has been writing about sports and the people who play them in the Lowcountry since 2005 . He founded Lowco Media and LowcoSports.com in 2017. He lives in Bluffton with his wife and two children and spends a large percentage of his waking hours thinking about baseball.

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celebrating our community

note

Our community is thriving with engaging entrepreneurs, vibrant personalities and flourishing businesses. It’s a joy to be immersed in an area full of spirited people and organizations — and to live in an area that continues to grow and seek to improve our way of life.

This month we put a spotlight on the Lowcountry’s projects, planned blueprints for the future and the economic outlook. It’s a primer on how our community has grown and how it continues to move forward.

Sonya Grant is a young fashion designer who continues to promote the Gullah culture. Learn about her apparel and her passion to educate people about her heritage.

Rock ‘n’ roll and real estate go hand in hand, right? They certainly do if you are Rick Saba. The real estate guru continues to enjoy being the vivacious frontman for The Rolling Stones cover band, White Liquor. Enjoy this fun story.

Art comes in many forms. For Chris Sudduth it emerges in snow cones and Legos. Read about Sudduth’s “cool” business and his creative artwork.

It’s back-to-school time. The Lowcountry has many of the finest educational institutions around, and we highlight some of the schools.

We love to learn about those who brighten the days of others. Recently Life Care Center of Hilton Head launched a Pen Pal program for its residents. The response was overwhelming, with letters arriving from throughout the Lowcountry and country.

The summer’s heat can be unrelenting. If you are looking for a weekend getaway to cooler climates, consider a trip up state to enjoy our state’s beautiful waterfalls. Learn about hikes that showcase stunning scenery.

Cooperstown is the ultimate destination for baseball players. Read about a local youth team that had a hall-offame experience competing in the town and visiting the hallowed museum.

This issue also offers a calendar of fun events, savory meal and drink recipes and tips to create your dream room online.

Enjoy reading.

KEITH BACH, PRESIDENT keith@anthemmediagroup.com

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captivating storytelling

It was chaotic. It was captivating. It was unnerving. It was relentless. I wish it didn’t end.

When watching a television show or movie, or reading a book or short story, tension keeps us absorbed and focused.

An engaging storyline is amplified by moments of breathless anticipation, paced expertly by sharp dialogue or precise phrasing. Most experiences are appreciated in the moment but then dissolve among the monotony of hundreds of other shows or books, never to be thought of again. But sometimes a moment violently grabs us, holds tight and does not let go.

I experienced such a moment recently while watching “The Bear,” the instantly attention-grabbing adult drama streaming on Hulu.

The story of an acclaimed young chef who comes home to Chicago to run his family’s sandwich shop is rife with tension from the onset (including a brilliant, nerve-rattling, one-shot 20-minute episode in Season 1 that I still think about).

Season 2 begins with (relatively) calmer episodes, with the simmering tension building toward the planned opening night of a new restaurant. But then the sixth episode — “Fishes” — explodes into 66 minutes of unrelenting intensity that was engrossing, at times heartbreaking, and had my unwavering attention.

The Christmas Eve episode, an anxiety-inducing flashback that painfully spotlighted the Berzatto family’s trauma and dysfunction, was a tour de force of acting, script writing, camera work and music selection. It was a reminder of how beautiful storytelling can grip us and leave lasting impressions.

From a calm but ominous cigarette-sharing opening chat among siblings in the cold (with shouts heard coming from inside the home as “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” played), to tempers getting heated in the kitchen and at the dinner table, and to its haunting closing scene of characters dissociating after a jolting crash, the episode exemplified how tension can be so riveting.

The best storytelling has us hanging on each word, feeling invested in the fate of the characters and excited and anxious for what happens next.

Julie Otsuka’s stunningly moving short story “Diem Perdidi,” about a mother slowly losing her memory, comes to mind.

As does journalist Garrett M. Graff’s article, “We’re the Only Plane in the Sky,” a masterwork that chronicles the experiences of those on board Air Force One in the harrowing hours immediately after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Such stories leave us buzzing, exhausted, and wanting more.

ANTHONY GARZILLI, EDITOR anthony@anthemmediagroup.com

OUTREACH CELEBRATE

If you have photos of an event to submit for consideration, please email them to anthony@anthemmediagroup.com

As part of the Hilton Head-based Neighborhood Outreach Connection summer education and enrichment programs, the Coastal Discovery Museum provided learners with a look at some interesting critters.

The Town of Bluffton hosted its second annual Independence Day Celebration.

Okàn held a ribbon-cutting for its grand opening at The Bridge Collective. The Town of Bluffton welcomed chef Bernard Bennett.

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

HOPEFUL HORIZONS

USA 5K SISTER CITY VISIT

If you have photos of an event to submit for consideration, please email them to anthony@anthemmediagroup.com

Sea Turtle Patrol staff volunteered at the USA 5K sponsored by Hilton Head Running Company.

The Town of Hilton Head hosted 30 Italian high school students and two chaperones. The visit was part of a 2019 sister-city pact with Verona, Italy, and organized by the Italian-American Club of Hilton Head.

At its annual gala Hopeful Horizons raised close to $85,000. The event highlighted the need for programs and services for survivors of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault in Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper and Allendale counties.

Charlotte Lewis was awarded the key to the Town of Bluffton for her gold-medal performance at the Special Olympics World Games.

august

40 I RUBY LEE’S REVIVAL

Honoring his family, restaurateur

Tim Singleton re-opens restaurant with savory soul food and top entertainment.

44 I ROCKIN’ REALTOR

Rick Saba has unmatched energy as frontman for Rolling Stones cover band and accomplished real estate agent.

48 I CULTURE APPRECIATION

Through her thriving business Sonya Grant continues to live her dream as a fashion designer and promote the Gullah way of life.

78 I ALL-AROUND ARTIST

Chris Sudduth creates flavorful snow cones and a collection of whimsical and inspired pieces of Lego art.

84 I MYSTERIOUS HISTORY

The mystique of the Sea Pines Shell Ring persists. The pre-historic site a focal point for shell ring studies in the country.

96 I SPOTLIGHT ON SCHOOLS

The Lowcountry has many premier educational institutions. Here’s a look at some of our area’s schools.

Rick Saba

18 I THE Q & A Mayor Alan Perry promotes communication.

20 I 360/40

Hilton Head plans anniversary celebration.

22 I BUILDING FORWARD

The island goes ahead with capital projects.

24 I HOUSING ON FAST TRACK

Strategy for workforce projects takes shape.

28 I BLUE PRINT FOR BLUFFTON

Town continues quick growth.

30 I AROUND TOWN

Highlighting the top news from around the Lowcountry.

32 I GIVING SPOTLIGHT

Turtle Trackers protect endangered sea turtles.

34 I ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

County’s Development Corporation gives a look at what’s ahead.

36 I VALUED MENTORS

SCORE helpers guide entrepreneurs.

38 I LOCAL LEADERS

Bluffton Young Professionals network in the community.

52 I FABULOUS FASHION

Take a look at the latest styles.

60 I FINEST RUM

Hilton Head Distillery crafts authentic cocktails.

72 I PERFECT FIT

Find the right furniture size for your living area.

74 I LOVE OF LITERACY

Joe Distelheim Award honors students.

76 I WRITTEN CONNECTIONS

Pen Pal program inspire hundreds of letters.

82 I CREATIVITY IGNITED

Telfair debuts Children’s Museum.

86 I WONDERS OF WATERFALLS

Hike these trails for breathtaking experiences,

90 I MIND THE MANATEE

A primer on these gentle mammals.

92 I ON THE RUN

The Greenery employee set for endurance race.

94 I COOPERSTOWN CLASSIC

Youth baseball team enjoys dream trip.

Tim Singleton

alan perry

HILTON HEAD ISLAND MAYOR

Born in Charlottesville, Va., Alan Perry began spending summers on the island as an infant. His family made the move full-time when he was a toddler, setting the wheels in motion for him to one day stand as Hilton Head Island’s mayor. We sat down with Perry to find out more about his path to the position and what he hopes to accomplish.

Q: What have you learned in your first few months as mayor?

A: Think before you speak. Make certain you’re saying the right thing. But also listen appropriately, because there are messages out there sometimes that the delivery of the message may not be the best but the message is important. You really have to make sure you understand people’s positions and opinions and make sure you’re taking that into account.

Q: What are some of your primary goals and visions for the remainder of your tenure, however long that may be?

A: I want people to see that we’re doing the right things from a government standpoint, and we’re having fun doing it. Clear and accurate communication is so important to the community, and that’s something that always drives the complaints and people not knowing certain things. So, the better we can communicate, the clearer we can communicate, the more knowledge that we can provide to our citizens and our guests, the better off everybody is when there’s an understanding as to why we’re going in this or that direction.

Q: When folks find out you’re the mayor of Hilton Head, I imagine there’s a reaction. What’s that typically like?

A: Disbelief. They’re like, really, you’re the mayor? Somebody gave me the best compliment the other day. He introduced me to somebody as, “This is Alan Perry, aka the mayor. But he’s more Alan Perry than he is the mayor.” That tells me that I’m doing myself right because I’m not trying to use the position to further me. When I’m out and about, I’m wearing shorts, T-shirt, flip-flops and a hat. Sometimes I have to show them a picture to prove who I am.

Q: What do you like to do when you get a little downtime?

A: My wife and I are boaters, so we always hit the water and enjoy the waters around us and go to the sandbars and cruise around. We went to Port Royal last weekend. Just get out and relax.

hilton head celebration

TOWN WILL MARK 360TH AND 40TH MILESTONE ISLAND ANNIVERSARIES

By Anthem Media Group

Hilton Head is honoring its history.

The Town of Hilton Head is recognizing two milestones this year: the 360th anniversary of the sighting of the headlands of the island by Captain William Hilton and the 40th anniversary of the island’s incorporation as a municipality.

To spotlight these watershed moments, the Town of Hilton Head Island has planned a series of events that will celebrate the island’s history, ecology, culture, and people.

“We want to unite the community to celebrate what is

important to us. Each of us has a story about how this place has inspired, nurtured, or sustained us,” said Mayor Alan Perry in a news release.

The celebrations will include two free “anchor” events: a community picnic on Saturday, Aug. 26, and a concert in the park on Sept. 16.

Between those dates will be a series of unique experiences designed to honor the Island’s rich natural, cultural, and historic resources.

To stay updated with all the happenings, a website (hiltonheadisland360-40.org) has been launched to provide details about celebration events and chronicle the island’s history and accomplishments. The site allows community members to share memories, milestones, and photos.

In addition to the community picnic, tours, concerts, and music happenings, there are opportunities for the public to be involved with the celebration:

Volunteer for 360/40 Celebration Events: The 360/40 Celebration Committee seeks volunteers to help with the community picnic, community concert, and various celebration events from Aug. 26-Sept. 16. Sign up at the 360/40 event website. Submit a Hilton Head Island Milestone: Share memorable moments or photos about Hilton Head Island’s unique history and culture. Submit online at the 360/40 event website.

Submit a 360/40 Celebration Event: Submissions welcomed from nonprofits, businesses, and the cultural community. Submit your event information by Aug. 1 for the second round of promotions. Go to the 360/40 website.

To learn more, visit hiltonheadisland360-40.org. For questions, email 360-40celebration@hiltonheadislandsc.gov.

COMMUNITY PICNIC

WHEN: 4-8 p.m. Aug. 26

WHERE: Lowcountry Celebration Park. 94 Pope Avenue, Hilton Head

DESCRIPTION: Enjoy complimentary traditional picnic fare (hamburgers, hot dogs, non-alcoholic beverages), fun and games (face painting, animal balloons, bounce houses, rock climbing, and more) for all ages. Local musicians. Recognition of community members and organizations. Free.

COMMUNITY CONCERT

WHEN: 7 p.m. Sept. 16

WHERE: Lowcountry Celebration Park. 94 Pope Avenue, Hilton Head

DESCRIPTION: Finale of the 360/40 celebration and

o f t h e T o w n ' s i n c o r p o r a t i o n a n d t h e 3 6 0 t h a n n i v e r s a r y o f t h e I s l a n d ' s s i g h t i n g w i t h a m e n u o f e v e n t s !

C o m m u n i t y P i c n i c A u g u s t 2 6 | 4 p m - 8 p m L o w c o u n t r y C e l e b r a t i o n P a r k

C o m m u n i t y C o n c e r t S e p t e m b e r 1 6 | 7 p m L o w c o u n t r y C e l e b r a t i o n P a r k

‘there’s a lot going on’

HILTON HEAD ISLAND HAS STRATEGIC PLANS FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Written by Mark E. Lett

For those tracking the growth and development of Hilton Head Island, here’s a suggestion: Don’t blink.

The town has a hot list of projects coming into view to upgrade, update and – in some cases – upend life on the island.

The stepped-up pace of change follows a choppy period of fits and starts caused by COVID-related health and economic uncertainties.

“There’s a lot going on – a lot,” said Mayor Alan Perry. “We had two years of COVID and now we have a lot on the table.”

The challenge, he said, is “to get it right.”

The Hilton Head game plan is to utilize a handful of comprehensive and detailed documents advanced by town leaders and stakeholders.

A “Strategic Action Plan” spells out an ambitious blueprint for “our vision for the community over the next two fiscal years,” said Town Manager Marc Orlando in rolling out strategies ranging from protecting natural resources and historic neighborhoods to adding so-called “workforce housing,” and enhancing roads, parks and beaches.

With that, the town is pressing ahead with a Capital Projects Fund of nearly $40 million for the 2024 fiscal year. Among the targets:

• $11 million to improve the safety, convenience and appeal of roads, paths and intersections;

• $4.5 million for beach renourishment, parking and access;

• $9.1 million for parks and recreation facilities, including baseball, soccer, basketball, pickleball, basketball. Also picnic areas and playgrounds.

• Some $15 million for equipment and vehicles for fire services and public safety.

“Through careful planning and priority-based budgeting, we’ve positioned ourselves to invest funds into revitalizing our island, energizing our economy and enhancing our quality of life,” Orlando said.

The activity comes as Hilton Head Island observes the 40th anniversary of the town’s incorporation and the 360th anniversary of the sighting of the island by English Captain William Hilton, who was aboard his ship “The Adventure.”

In reviewing the island’s front-and-center projects for the year ahead, Mayor Perry cites initiatives that include:

“Through careful planning and priority-based budgeting, we’ve positioned ourselves to invest funds into revitalizing our island, energizing our economy and enhancing our quality of life,”

– Marc Orlando

GROWTH MANAGEMENT

A key to the town’s success in managing growth is the acquisition and use of property. Over 40 years, Hilton Head has spent some $150 million to acquire more than 300 parcels of land covering more than 2,000 acres.

The land purchases are essential to guiding economic development, providing water access, preserving the environment, and balancing growth and green space and livability, the town said.

Among the most significant areas for attention is the so-called “Mid-Island Tract” — 103 acres inside boundaries formed by Hilton Head Parkway and Dillon and Union Cemetery roads.

Acquired by the town a decade ago and now vacant, the tract is in line for a community park, a playground, picnic pavilions, an event pavilion, multi-use sports fields and other amenities. Park features are expected to include community gardens, a nature preserve, an interactive water area and space for weddings and other events.

The Mid-Island park is part of an overall review of public spaces, said Perry, adding “we need to make certain our parks are best in class.”

The tract tucks into an overall Mid-Island District where the town plans an array of initiatives to “reimagine” and add commercial, retail and residential centers and a cohesive historic district. The district includes areas along Union Cemetery, Beach City and Dillon roads, to Broad Creek (including areas along the William Hilton Parkway) and the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

Ongoing development of Mid-Island continues as land in strategic locations is added to the town’s portfolio. Among those:

• Shelter Cove – The town council voted in June to spend nearly $4 million to acquire the site of a former Cracker Barrel restaurant, adjacent to property already held by the town. The purchase is expected to enable extension of the park and pathway system along Broad Creek and include a boardwalk. “This is a strategic property acquisition that protects sensitive Board Creek frontage for open space, park and recreational opportunities and will enhance the quality of our natural environment for residents and visitors,” said Perry.

• Mathews Drive – Officials said they expect to close a $350,000 deal to purchase a half-acre on Mathews Drive, described by Perry as important to “protecting sensitive Broad Creek frontage for green space” and preserving the creek’s environment. The tract is at the mouth of the creek, across the street from Central Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church.

• Bryant Road – The town acquired 7.19 acres at 30 Bryant Road for $3.4 million, with an eye toward developing housing for island workers. The site off Spanish Wells Road near the Cross Island Parkway formerly was a mobile home park site.

HONORING AND PRESERVING HISTORY

Officials said the five-member board of the Gullah. — established last fall — is close to selecting a director.

That decision would move the town a step closer toward protecting the “historic and culturally sensitive neighborhoods” that are vital part of island history. Those areas include: Baygall, Big Hill, Chaplin, Gardner, Grassland, Jarvis, Jonesville, Marshland, Mitchelville, Spanish Wells, Squire Pope, and Stoney.

For the year ahead, the town has earmarked $5.3 million in state and county grants and funds. The mission: To serve neighborhoods where generations of native Islanders “live and strive to preserve their culture.”

The organization’s focus calls for promoting business expansion and retention, pursuing affordable housing, encouraging entrepreneurialism and providing land planning assistance.

“The Corporation has been formed with a goal of stabilizing, protecting, and promoting historic and culturally sensitive communities,” said Krishana Perry, the town’s principal planner for Historic Neighborhood Preservation.

“It will create strategic programs related to, but not necessarily limited to, economic development initiatives, affordable housing, streetscaping which includes the improvement of public roadways through design, landscaping, and lighting among other improvement, neighborhood planning, targeted investment and financial resource provider, resident education, and other support services opportunities.”

housing on a fast track

Written by James A. Mallory

HILTON HEAD’S STRATEGY FOR WORKFORCE PROJECTS TAKES SHAPE

Hilton Head Island continues to build out a framework it hopes will lead to more workforce housing.

The Town adopted the Workforce Housing Framework last November as part of a long-term strategy to create affordable housing on the island, whether by the Town or private developers. The Framework comes as local businesses struggle to retain employees and maintain service.

The workforce housing shortage has been a growing issue for years, not just on Hilton Head but in tourist spots around the country. In the postCOVID world, escalating real estate prices make it nearly impossible for many workers to live near their jobs. But the process to change this will not be completed overnight.

“When we do new construction, it takes a lot of time for planning and construction,” said Missy Luick, Assistant Community Development Director for the Town of Hilton Head Island. “It is years in the making, but it is money well spent because it will be our housing in the future.”

Alex Brown, Ward 1 Town Council member, said Hilton Head had come a long way in putting together the infrastructure to get housing built. He pointed to the strategic framework and the expansion in June of the Town’s fiscal year 2024 budget to include $3.3 million for workforce housing, an increase from the $1 million allocation approved when the Framework was launched.

“I think we are moving in the right direction,” he said.

Luick is on point for the Town’s housing framework project, which builds on a housing strategic plan unveiled in 2019. The need to address workforce housing gained added urgency last August when residents of Chimney Cove Apartments, many of whom worked in the island service industries, received 30-day eviction notices. The owner wanted to sell the property. Housing

advocates and community and religious leaders kept the crisis at the forefront, and the 300 eviction notices were rescinded a month later. The Chimney Cove crisis led to the fast-tracking of a plan that became the housing framework.

PILLARS OF PROGRESS

The Framework has four pillars. A key one is community input. In May, the Town Council approved the creation of a Workforce Housing Action Committee. It will serve as the reviewing body for the strategy. The committee will have seven to 11 members with experience in workforce housing, real estate, nonprofits and philanthropy. There will also be representation from workforce housing residents. The council has approved the appointment of six committee members, Luick said. A minimum of seven members is needed to get the process started.

“The community pillar is where the heart of the action committee lies,” she said.

A Housing Action Committee task will be to develop an anti-displacement plan to prevent another situation like what happened at Chimney Cove, Luick said. This plan would have triggers allowing the Town to react in a manner that benefits all parties.

Renter displacement happens more often than realized, Brown said.

“When it (property) is redeveloped, the only option for the renter is to leave the island,” he said. “We want to put together a structured plan so that there is a better outcome.”

The remaining Framework pillars call for:

• Creating an environment that stimulates the development of workforce housing,

• A dedicated staff for planning and coordination,

• A revenue model for funding housing initiatives and partnerships.

In addition to the money earmarked by Town Council in June, revenue may be further enhanced by a new state law that allows communities to apply up to 15 percent of accommodation tax money toward workforce housing.

“It is an exciting change to state law that brings a potentially significant amount of money for program activities,” Luick said.

“Our goal with theofproduction housingworkforce is to create vibrant, sustainable communities complete amenitieswith for livability that are fully integrated within the neighborhood where it is located.”

– Missy Luick

The Town is still seeking to hire a full-time workforce housing manager who will plan, coordinate and implement the workforce housing program. However, filling the position has taken longer than expected, in part because of the cost of housing on the island, Luick said.

“We started advertising in January,” she said. “It’s not been for lack of effort. We’re still in the candidate review and interview process. Hopefully, we are nearing a candidate.”

The Town hasn’t sat still waiting for the Housing Action Committee to get rolling. It is close to announcing a developer/ partner for the Northpoint public-private partnership. That collaboration will build workforce housing on Town-owned land near the north end post office, Luick said. In addition, an analysis of Town-owned property was done to find out what is available for redevelopment into workforce housing, she said. Also, the Town got council approval to acquire seven acres on Bryant Road, off Spanish Wells Road, near the Cross Island Parkway for workforce housing.

Hilton Head also joined seven other municipalities that pledged $3.4 million toward the Beaufort Jasper Housing Trust, whose stated goals include creating new workforce housing or rehabilitating existing for households at or below 100 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), with priority given to households at 60 percent of the AMI.

“That regional effort is queued up and activated,” Luick said. “It is another resource in the housing landscape.”

Luick said the workforce affordability range on Hilton Head Island is currently 60 to 100 percent of Beaufort County’s area median income (AMI) set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for current Workforce Housing policies. As of May, the AMI was $111,300 for a family of four, up from $95,600 a year ago. The Housing Action Committee could recommend to Town Council an adjustment to the AMI range which would be a future policy decision, Luick said.

“We want it (workforce housing) to be integrated within the community,” she said. “Our goal with the production of workforce housing is to create vibrant, sustainable communities complete with amenities for livability that are fully integrated within the neighborhood where it is located.”

View the Workforce Housing Framework at: www. hiltonheadislandsc.govworkforcehousing/framework/

bustling bluffton

TOWN CONTINUES ITS FAST-PACED GROWTH

Written by Mark E. Lett

Bluffton’s ride on the growth train is starting to look like a never-ending journey.

In the past quarter-century the town has grown – and grown – at one of the fastest clips in the Palmetto State. Now, Bluffton is throttling up for more.

The path to the future builds upon a head-spinning recent history that includes:

• Expansion from a tidy jurisdictional boundary of one square mile to a community mosaic of 54 square miles – making Bluffton the fifth-largest municipality in South Carolina.

• A steadily growing population barreling toward 40,000, compared with fewer than 30,000 just a few years ago.

• An ambitious To-Do list of projects in the works, in planning stages and filling wish lists in the public and private sectors.

• A town-sponsored website that tracks development and community improvement projects. The site is comprehensive, extensive, exhaustive and, some would say, exhausting. The “Blueprint Bluffton” plan adopted last year covers more than 220 pages, describing strategies and vision for preserving the best of the past while preparing for tomorrow.

“I am proud of the dedication put forth to maintain the specialness of our town and the efforts to make it better,”

Mayor Lisa Sulka said in rolling out the blueprint and complimenting the work of stakeholder groups, community planners, town staff and others.

Bluffton’s rapid expansion has been so remarkable that citizens are advised to review a raft of online data, including a Map Gallery providing updates about current developments (www. townofbluffton.sc.gov.686/Map-Gallery) and a Capital Projects Dashboard map describing the purpose, funding and status of each Town project.

Managing such relentless change demands that all involved – elected officials, town employees, developers, investors, lenders and other government bodies – function effectively somewhere between the perfect world and the bottom line.

It’s a balancing act replete with the tensions of embracing change while respecting the town’s qualities as an eclectic, funky, fun-loving, artistic, foodie-family-friendly place.

It’s not for nothing that locals sport T-shirts and hang posters extolling a “Bluffton State of Mind.”

Among those giving the growing community a smiling “Thumbs Up” is Lou Lunardini, a retired minister. The preacher and his wife, Lois, came to Bluffton nearly a quarter-century ago and have enjoyed a front-row view of the town’s evolution.

The couple had considered retirement in Annapolis, Maryland, and North

Carolina’s Outer Banks. But in Bluffton, Lunardini said, “our clan has loved seeing stores come in and claim territory and customers, schools dot the landscape attracting younger families and necessitating a host of services to meet expanding needs and opportunities.”

Those changes are part of a development story told in fits and starts, producing a town map that one Bluffton office describes as “zig-zaggy.”

Indeed, if you hold a map of the city to the light it appears to have holes for areas that remain separate from the incorporated town. Officials point to South Carolina’s complex annexation laws as the reason. Among the law’s mandates is property owners must be adjacent to the town by land or water and must petition for annexation. A town is not permitted to petition the property owners.

Moreover, 75 percent approval of all residents is necessary to submit a petition for annexation.

Bluffton’s rapid ramp-up has occurred despite the tedious process, with the start of the big boom generally traced to the 1998 annexation of Palmetto Bluff, a vast community at the confluence of the May, Cooper and New rivers. The Palmetto Bluff annexation triggered a domino effect. By the spring of this year, residential build-out of approved projects had reached 76 percent and non-residential build-out was 36 percent.

Town officials emphasize that

managing growth is a group effort that demands cooperation and collaboration with county, state and federal agencies. A year ago, Bluffton owned and maintained only 13 roads: Hampton Parkway, Dr. Mellichamp Drive, Buckwalter Parkway and Progressive, Thomas Heyward, Calhoun, Green, Pritchard, Water, Allen, Lawton, Church, and a portion of Bridge streets.

Sulka, mayor since 2008, said it often seems “every inch of earth” involves multiple decision-makers.

For many initiatives, town officials note, Bluffton has a “voice,” but not the sole “vote” on how to proceed. Rather, the process requires deft choreography of the Beaufort County School District, Beaufort County, the South Carolina Department of Transportation, the Beaufort Jasper Water Sewer Authority, the Bluffton Township Fire Department and the Beaufort County Parks & Leisure Services.

Bluffton has made the health of the May River as the top priority. Debbie Szpanka, the town’s Director of Communications and Community Outreach, said Bluffton has targeted nearly $14 million in the past decade to protect May River and surrounding waterways.

Among its most recent initiatives: A $6 million state grant awarded to Beaufort County, Bluffton and Beaufort Jasper Water Sewer Authority to install a new sewer system in Bluffton’s Stoney Creek Watershed, adjacent to the May River.

HILTON HEAD ALL-STARS REACH FINALS OF STATE BASEBALL TOURAMENT

The Hilton Head Baseball Assocation’s 8-under all-star team advanced to the Dixie Youth Baseball state Division 1 AA coach pitch finals in Dillon. The team lost to Lancaster but won the tournament sportsmanship award. To advance to state, the team went undefeated in the District 8 tournament (4-0 record) and outscored their opponents 45-2.

SECOND HELPINGS APPEALS FOR FUNDS

Second Helpings, the nonprofit food rescue organization, seeks the public’s help to replace its No. 6 truck, which has been in use for 12 years and has more than 150,000 miles. Replacing refrigerated trucks is costly. Donate online at secondhelpingslc.org/7206# or send a check to Second Helpings, PO Box 23621, Hilton Head Island, SC 29925

HHBA All-Star 8-U team

USCB PROFESSOR WINS NATIONAL ENDOWMENT

USCB English Professor Dr. Mollie Barnes, who specializes in 19th century U.S. literature, won a summer stipend grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for the research and writing of her book “Paper Heroines: How Women Reformers Wrote One Another’s Lives in the Sea Islands, 1838-1902.” The focus of her book is on how women reformers in the Sea Islands of South Carolina historicized their peers in journals, diaries, biographies, and other forms of life writing. The book is under advance contract with University of South Carolina Press, forthcoming in spring 2025.

FATAL ALLIGATOR ATTACK

A 69-year-old Spanish Wells resident died after an alligator attack near a lagoon bordering the golf course, according to the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office. The resident, identified as Holly Jenkins, was found at the edge of the lagoon and appeared to be unresponsive, the county’s Sheriff’s Office said. Rescue efforts were made, but an alligator appeared and was “guarding” the woman, interrupting emergency efforts, the BCSO said.

The gator was safely removed from the area and the woman’s body was recovered. Deputies learned that the woman was walking her dog earlier that morning when the attack occurred. On Aug. 15, 2022,

an 88-year-old Sun City woman was killed by an alligator at a lagoon near her home.

HILTON HEAD COMMUNITY TEMPORARILY BANS FISHING

Shipyard banned fishing days after an incident involving an alligator. According to a post on the Hilton Head–based community’s website, Shipyard said even though nobody was hurt, it was a “close call” when an alligator followed a man who was fishing near the golf club. After consulting with K&K Wildlife – and the removal of another alligator –The Shipyard Executive Committee banned fishing through Labor Day weekend. The decision will be revisited when the committee meets in the fall.

LOCAL GOLFER WINS WOMEN’S AMATEUR TITLE

Sophia Burnett, of Colleton River Club, won her second Women’s South Carolina Association Golf Association Amateur championship. Burnett, from Bluffton, who starred at Hilton Head Prep, shot a 74 in the event’s final round at Fripp Island Club to finish with a 218 over three days. She attends the University of South Carolina

HISTORIC BLUFFTON FOUNDATION EARNS PRESERVATION GRANT

The Town of Bluffton awarded a Historic Preservation Grant to the Historic Bluffton Foundation for exterior renovations to the enslaved

cabin on the grounds of the Heyward House Museum and visitors center. The $12,075 grant will help cover the cost of the project.

The Town’s Historic Preservation Grant Program, established in January 2022, 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 so, collectively, these will continue to represent the history of Bluffton. To date, more than $60,000 has been awarded under the Program.

“The Town’s historic preservation grants help ensure these meaningful components of Bluffton’s history won’t be lost to time,” Mayor Lisa Sulka said.

SUSPECT CHARGED IN 2021 SHOOTING OF BLUFFTON TEEN

A Jasper County resident was charged in connection with a 2021 shooting on Bluffton Parkway that killed D.J. Fields, a popular Bluffton High School football player, and left two others injured, the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office said. The defendant was a minor at the time of the incident and has not yet been publicly identified. Solicitor Duffie Stone said in early July that he intends to petition to have the person waived up to general sessions court to be tried as an adult. The defendant is the fifth person charged in connection with the shooting.

turtle trackers

PROTECTING ENDANGERED SEA TURTLES

Turtle Trackers of Hilton Head Island, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, was established in 2016 to assist with the preservation efforts for endangered sea turtles nesting on Hilton Head Island and to educate the public for the protection of the sea turtle hatchlings headed to the ocean.

Turtle Trackers relies on the generosity of donors and grants to fund its operation. To make certain that funding exists for years to come, Turtle Trackers recently established the Sea Turtle Preservation Endowment Fund with Community Foundation of the Lowcountry.

The purpose of the fund is to ensure that resources for sea turtle preservation efforts and programs will continue to be available to fulfill the mission of Turtle Trackers, said Turtle Trackers President Beverly Crylen.

Turtle Trackers began with a Sea Pines chapter and has expanded to six chapters island-wide with more than 550 members.

Programs include on-beach activities to ensure the beach is clean, flat, and dark for nesting sea turtles who come ashore beginning in May to lay their eggs, as well as for the hatchlings who make their way from their nests to the sea. The sea turtle nesting and hatching season on Hilton Head Island runs from May through October.

Turtle Trackers utilizes informed volunteers for Sea Turtle Patrol educational presentations, in-school education for local elementary school students, operates Sea Turtle Learning Stations at various locations throughout the island during sea turtle season, and provides materials and educational programs for tourists vacationing on island resorts.

Turtle Trackers members provide sea turtle protection and education along the Hilton Head Island’s 14 miles of beach.

“It literally takes a village to provide the education and protections necessary for successful sea turtle preservation,” said Crylen. “We expect our needs to expand in the years to come as Hilton Head continues to flourish as a desirable ecotourism and vacation destination, as well as a second- and permanent-home location.”

The partnership between Community Foundation of the Lowcountry and Turtle Trackers goes back to 2016 when the original Sea Turtle Preservation Fund was created. The Community Foundation staff plays an administrative role in managing the Turtle Trackers’ funds and provided guidance and recommendations for Turtle Trackers leadership.

spotlight on giving

BLUFFTON ROTARY GIVES BACK TO UNITED WAY

Rotary Club of Bluffton Club president Dan Ciuffreda, right, presented a check to United Way of the Lowcountry Philanthropy Director Michael Murphy. The funds will help purchase books for United Way’s Read Indeed tutoring program at Red Cedar Elementary School, a Facebook post noted.

SECOND HELPINGS DISTRIBUTES FOOD

Second Helpings held a healthy food distribution on HHI. Volunteers from The Deep Well Project, Saint Andrew By-TheSea UMC, Central Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Holy Family Catholic Church HHI, and Sandalwood Community Food Pantry helped load vehicles with food to help feed those in need on HHI, according to a Facebook post.

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business is booming

BEAUFORT COUNTY SEES SURGE IN PROJECTS AND NEW JOBS

By Edward Thomas

Companies from around the world are moving to Beaufort County and feeling welcome in large part due to the enterprising and resourceful leadership of John O’Toole, Director of the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation.

The past 2 ½ years since COVID have been especially bountiful for O’Toole, who was selected in November 2017 to assume the role of heading up the county’s economic development program, and his senior project manager, Charlie Stone, as they have shepherded a growing list of prospects who are enthusiastic about the business climate in Beaufort County.

The BCEDC works closely with the South Carolina Department of Commerce and the Southern Carolina Alliance to market Beaufort County. Even during the COVID years, their collaborative approach has led to impressive results in filling the pipeline with prospects.

Over the years there has been $330 million in capital investment, more than 60 new projects, and nearly 1,300 new jobs created and retained. There has also been $15.9 million in incentives and site development grants.

“Our promise to our current residents is to identify businesses that will diversify and improve our local economy but do no harm to our environment,” says O’Toole. “We pursue businesses that are economic driving-type companies, such as light manufacturing

Photo supplied

John O'Toole

entities, suppliers for hi-tech aviation and aerospace industries, back-of-office type operations, and green businesses or even headquarters.”

O’Toole notes that for most of the past half century Beaufort County has been dominated by hospitality, tourism, and retirement-related businesses — like medical facilities and home builders — south of the Broad River, and military/defense installations on the north.

He explains that his mandate has been to identify and attract diversity and focus on companies that can help lift the average wage expectations for young people coming out of school so they will want to establish a long-term future locally.

The BCEDC’s programs extend beyond local borders. Recently O’Toole and Stone participated in the Select USA Investment Summit, a prominent trade show organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce. This event connects companies from across the globe with U.S. markets. It attracts foreign investments, which has been a South Carolina priority.

BCEDC works closely with the South Carolina Department of Commerce and Southern Carolina Alliance to market the Lowcountry Region for global opportunities.

While working with a delegation at the Paris Air Show, O’Toole happened to meet William Fugate, a Business Development Manager for SkyDrive, a Japanese company that was interested in entering the U.S. market with new technology for “flying cars.”

O’Toole briefed Fugate on what this area of South Carolina could offer, and after exploring several other destinations in the United States, Sky Drive felt Beaufort County was a good fit.

The location made sense because of several factors including climate, proximity to small city centers, a robust manufacturing supply chain nearby, and the fact that our state is already playing a significant role in both commercial and military aviation.

A team of Sky Drive officials visited the area, and Fugate reported to O’Toole that the Japanese visitors were “especially impressed with local Southern hospitality.”

In July, the Federal Aviation Administration certified for testing the first flying cars in the United States. These are fully electric, vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles that are expected to be in full use within the next two or three years.

O’Toole is excited about the glamour of this new entry to the Beaufort County economy, but knows it’s important to keep key companies already located here from being snatched away.

One such “save” was keeping Kigre, Inc, a Hilton Head Island specialist in laser glass facility for the aerospace industry, on the island when it was purchased by L3Harris Technologies, an $18 billion global aerospace and defense innovator.

“It’s an environment where the right businesses can thrive,” O’Toole said of the county. “It’s why we picked our motto: “Good for your business. Good for your soul.”

working together to help others

SCORE SC LOWCOUNTRY MENTORS GUIDE ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS

Written by Amy Bartlett

When you peel the onion that is the SCORE volunteer mentor organization, it’s an unending discovery of sacrifice and impact, going back nearly 60 years and influencing a surprising number of local businesses and business leaders.

A resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration, SCORE has educated and mentored more than 11 million small business owners and entrepreneurs across the country since starting in 1964, offering free and confidential business mentoring, education, and resources to help clients start or grow their businesses. SCORE has 230 chapters nationwide with more than 10,000 volunteers.

Nationally last year 30,453 new businesses were started.

SCORE SC Lowcountry, which has 43 volunteers, makes a local impact. In 2022, 164 jobs were created.

“The beauty of the way SCORE works is we work with each other,” says Karen Casey, mentor at SCORE SC Lowcountry.

The network she describes refers to leaning into one another’s areas of expertise.

"If I’m helping someone with finance, but then we need HR input, we can connect them to an HRexperienced volunteer,” Casey said.

After retiring from a 30-year career in banking, Casey (CPA, CFP) wanted to use her knowledge and skillsets to help others.

“I found an article on SCORE SC Lowcountry and was intrigued by helping small businesses succeed, Casey said. "My greatest satisfaction is watching my clients succeed. Luana Graves Sellars is one of them and providing her direction to fulfill her passion and watch her quit her full-time job and make the scary step toward supporting the Gullah Geechee community through her podcast, Foundation and speaking engagements was amazing.”

Well equipped with a journalism degree from

Southern Illinois University, complete with a minor in Black History, Casey said Sellars still wasn’t sure where to begin when facing the vast landscape of Gullah culture and history that goes hand in hand with life on Hilton Head Island.

Now, she’s published regular columns and series ("First Families of Hilton Head and Local Roots"), produced documentaries ("Freedom Day: The Historic Families of Mitchelville, Juneteenth: The Birth of Freedom" and "Harriett Tubman: From the Railroad to A Spy"), and has grown a listenership as a cultural authority and subject matter expert as the host of the Lowcountry Gullah Podcast.

Another success story?

Casey shares, “Another client, who was referred to me from a bank, wanted to buy the bridal shop she managed. The bank could not provide financing since she was a startup. I worked with this client to develop a business plan and financial projections and submitted it to a financial intermediary that does finance startups. When they approved her loan and she bought the business, we celebrated, and I received so much satisfaction that I helped another person achieve their dreams and launch a successful business.”

Having a SCORE business mentor provides entrepreneurs access to a network of 10,000 volunteers.

Locally, the SCORE chapter provides introductions to other clients and professionals who can help a business thrive in the community.

The website also offers scores of online webinars, workshops, and resources from specific blogs on how to start a food truck business, to biz basics like how to write a winning business plan, to end-ofshift support like how to make an exit strategy for changing or closing your business well.

For more information, visit score.org/ sclowcountry.

localdeveloping leaders

BLUFFTON CHAMBER YOUNG PROFESSIONALS PROGRAM ENHANCES COMMUNITY THROUGH NETWORKING

By Lawrence Conneff

A town that grows quickly is going to attract its share of young professionals.

Seven years ago, the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce started a program that allows new residents, Lowcountry natives and those in between to network and learn ways to help their community.

“The Bluffton Chamber Young Professionals program exists to develop strong local leaders who enhance the community by helping them strengthen necessary personal and professional skill sets,” according to the chamber. “We engage area young professionals with the broader business community in order to help them establish a local professional network and equip them to give back to the community.”

Program membership is open to young professionals, usually between the ages of 21 and 40, with free attendance for the first event. After their first event, prospective members can join the program for less than $100 annually, the chamber said, or pay per event.

“The program is structured in a way that gives young professionals experience leading as they learn from the experience of seasoned professionals who serve as mentors and coaches,” the chamber said. “This networking group meets monthly to learn from an expert on a major topic of leadership and professionalism.”

Sophia Short, a broker with PMC Mortgage, chairs the program’s leadership team, which also consists of Derris Felder, Alex Gonsor and Anthony Nelsen.

“Our number one goal as a leadership team is to make networking more accessible for young professionals, whether that means (they’re) young within their careers,

new to the area, looking for a new job opportunity, or just trying to expand your professional network,” Short said. “As a BCYP member, you get to attend all of our thoughtfully planned events and network with a vast array of local industry leaders that you otherwise wouldn’t get the chance to meet in your typical day-today professional setting.”

Short said a friend invited her to attend her first event and she “immediately recognized the benefits of being involved with a community-driven networking group.”

“On a personal level, speaking in front of groups of 30 to 40 isn’t something most people have a ton of practice in, but I’ve felt a true shift in my confidence,” Short said. “I have seen successful networking firsthand, as I am fortunate enough to have met my new employer and coworkers through consistent monthly attendance of BCYP events.”

Bluffton Chamber Young Professionals events are usually held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month. Keep track of upcoming events at blufftonchamberofcommerce.org/events/calendar or call 843-757-1010. Chamber membership is not required to participate in the program.

“I recommend BCYP to everyone, but especially those who are looking for a cost-effective way to be involved with the local Bluffton community,” Short said. “Networking aids in boosting professional confidence, which can empower members to feel comfortable in professional settings, assist them in asking for help, and help build their own toolbox of information that they can use within their own career.”

business news

HILTON HEAD WELCOMES NEW HIRES

Andrew Davis joins the Town of Hilton Head as its director of marketing and communications. He begins his new position Aug. 14.

Davis has served as anchor, reporter, investigative reporter, and producer for several networks during the last 29 years, including 14 years covering news in the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry.

Shena Smith has joined the Town of Hilton Head as its new finance assistant. Smith has experience working at Fripp Island Resort and Marriott Grande Ocean Resort. She has a bachelor of science degree in parks, recreation, and tourism development from the University of Missouri.

Richard Edwards is the Town of Hilton Head’s new community planning manager. He will lead the town’s planning initiatives, shaping the community's current and long-term policies. Edwards has worked with multiple municipalities as a planning manager at Clark Patterson Lee.

BRANCHES OPENS ON HILTON HEAD

Branches Designs held a grand opening in June for its new location on the island at 88 Arrow Road. Family-owned and operated since 1995, Branches specializes in permanent botanicals and florals, custom faux floral and greenery, home decor, salvaged goods, and antiques.

SEA PINES RESORT PROMOTES EXECUTIVE CHEF

Ben Harris has been promoted to resort executive chef at The Sea Pines Resort. He joined the culinary team in 2018. He will oversee all resort restaurants including Quarterdeck, Links, an American Grill, Coast, Ocean Lounge, Fraser’s Tavern and Harbourside.

UNITED WAY OF THE LOWCOUNTRY ADDS THREE BOARD MEMBERS

Brian Etheridge, Tamara Herring and Rick

Siebenaler have been named to the board at the United Way of the Lowcountry. Etheridge is a global real estate advisor at Daniel Ravenel Sotheby's International Realty. Herring is the executive director of the Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage in Ridgeland. Siebenaler is an experienced senior executive and consultant specializing in cyber risk.

LIVE OAK WEIGHT LOSS DEBUTS

Live Oak Weight Loss held its grand opening at 90 Main St. Suite C, Hilton Head. The business helps people meet their health and wellness goals.

BLUFFTON SELF HELP NAMES NEW BOARD CHAIR

Joel Taylor has been elected as board chair at Bluffton Self Help. He succeeds Doug Adamson, who served as chair since 2017. Taylor is the market chief executive officer of Hilton Head Regional Healthcare. He also serves on the board of directors of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce

ROC DENTAL GROUP WELCOMES HYGIENIST

Julie Lewellyn was hired by ROC Dental Group as a dental hygienist at its Bluffton location. She has been a dental hygienist for 30 years, 20 in the Lowcountry.

TOWN OF BLUFFTON ADDS 3 TO STAFF

Jennifer Moreno, Eileen McCallum and Luke Courtemanche have joined the Town of Bluffton. Moreno is a data entry clerk for the Bluffton Police Department, McCallum is a video/events coordinator in the Communications and Community Outreach Department, and Courtemanche is a public works worker for the Public Services Department.

DAUFUSKIE VISITOR CENTER OPENS IN BLUFFTON

A ribbon-cutting was held for the Daufuskie Island Ferry and Visitor Center. It is located at Tanger 2 at 1414 Fording Island Road in Bluffton.

Lewellyn

Harris

Etheridge

Taylor

Smith

THE REBIRTH OF RUBY LEE’S

Written by Barry Kaufman |

Photos by Rob Kaufman

TIM SINGLETON REOPENS AN ISLAND INSTITUTION AND CARRIES A FAMILY LEGACY FORWARD

When stepping inside Ruby Lee’s on Old Wild Horse Road, it’s easy to get a sense of déjà vu. The wood paneling on the walls and up the bars, the oil paintings of classic African-Americana and the wide stage in the corner for live music all create the same relaxed vibe that made the original Ruby Lee’s and later the south end iteration of the restaurant such an icon.

Similarly, the food offers up much the same experience as it had in the past.

From oxtail stew to fried chicken, it’s a revamped soul food menu that offers an updated take on timeless Southern dishes.

And of course, there’s the iconic silhouette of Ruby Lee herself, still adorning the front door, keeping an eye on the proceedings.

“It’s all about respecting that name and honoring her, having that legacy live on for my kids and their kids,” said owner Tim Singleton. “That’s why I’ve got a lot of work to do to climb back in the good graces of her heavenly spirit.”

So much of Ruby Lee’s seems familiar, but there is a distinct change in Singleton. Behind the sunglasses, the eyes seem a little wiser. There’s a little more gray in the beard than when he opened the original Ruby Lee’s in 2012, and Ruby Lee’s South in 2016.

The determination to honor his family’s legacy remains strong.

But then, having your shortcomings broadcast to everyone in Beaufort County would light a fire in anyone’s belly.

“People go through ebbs and flows in their lives. I just get mine on the front page because I’m Tim Singleton,” he said. “Unfortunately, the sensationalism of certain stories about certain people always gets enhanced. You know, I don’t know who doesn’t have tax issues.”

Here’s the part of the story you heard: Tim Singleton, lifelong island resident, was arrested on March 4, 2021 by agents of the S.C. Department of Revenue. He was charged with failing to file tax returns and for operating without a retail license. You most likely saw his mugshot — it was everywhere after the arrest.

Here’s the part of the story that didn’t garner as much media attention: According to the S.C. Department of Revenue, the charge for operating without a retail license was dismissed. Three failure-to-file taxes charges were consolidated into one charge, to which he pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to time served (one day) and paid a $128.75 fine. Prior to the sentencing, Singleton paid $25,000 and agreed to restitution.

“I’ve stood up, and I’m very accountable for it. I’m embarrassed by it, actually, because I’m not an accountant or a bookkeeper or any of those things,” he said. “I never claimed to be, but my name is on everything. So, guess who’s responsible?”

Singleton holds no ill will toward the state or the officers who arrested him, saying they were simply doing their job. He is grateful to his vast support system which was there for him during the year and a half that he sank into depression.

“I’ve stood up, and I’m very accountable for it. I’m embarrassed by it, actually, because I’m not an accountant or a bookkeeper or any of those things. I never claimed to be, but my name is on everything. So, guess who’s responsible?”

And he’s eager to turn the page and continue telling the story of Tim Singleton. And that story is written all over the menu at Ruby Lee’s.

Every time someone discovers the soul food flavors that Ruby Lee brought to her cooking, brought into the 21st century by the chefs at the restaurant which bears her name, that story gets told anew.

“That is my validation right there,” said Singleton. “Whether it’s an old white guy or a young Black kid, everybody’s licking their fingers. That’s validation.”

If you can’t find redemption in a bowl of oxtail stew, then you won’t find it anywhere.

For Singleton, carrying on that culinary tradition is something he’s not doing for the present, but for the future.

“I’m really proud that my son and his buddies who graduated from college are here now and they’re carrying that load,” he said. “It’s a beautiful thing to be able to support other livelihoods… they’re learning the business, and they’re responsible to carry on this legacy anyway.”

Back in his original location, (the re-opening was last fall) humbled by his mistakes, Tim Singleton has emerged from a year and a half under the microscope, eager to move forward.

“I’m on the other side of it now. I’m proud of Ruby Lee’s. I’m proud of my supporters,” he said. “I’m proud to be not only a Black man in the state of South Carolina and the United States of America, but a Black leader, a Black father. That is great. And that’s all that matters.”

Tim Singleton continues to honor his family’s legacy by re-opening Ruby Lee’s.

Hilton Head Island

rick saba rocks

WHITE LIQUOR FRONTMAN HAS ENERGETIC PASSION FOR ROLLING STONES, REAL ESTATE AND LACROSSE

Written by Barry Kaufman I Photography by Ritterbeck Photography

As legendary frontman of The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger has been many things during the group’s decades of rock-and-roll dominance. To one generation he was a sex symbol. To another, the elder statesman of rock. To another, he’s the keeper of moves worthy of a Maroon 5 song.

The point is, it’s an evolution.

The same could be said for Rick Saba, Hilton Head Island’s answer to Mick Jagger. As frontman of White Liquor, he has spent decades thrilling crowds with his chameleon-like embrace of Mick’s famous stage presence. Wiggling around on stage, seducing the crowd and vamping his way through one of the greatest catalogues a cover band could ask for, he’s far more than just an impersonator. He’s injecting his own energy, his own spark, into one of the greatest shows in rock.

Or at least he’s doing all of that as long as he can be done at a reasonable hour.

“We can’t do late nights anymore,” he said. “Between work and kids, the show has to be done by 10, and we have to be home before midnight.”

Interviewed just a week before the 71st anniversary of the first Rolling Stones concert, Saba is now able to look at his own rock ‘n’ roll history with similar nostalgia.

“We were a lot crazier back in the day. I used to be jumping off tables; now I’m looking at a table and thinking, ‘I don’t know, that looks pretty high,’” he said with a laugh.

Those were days when White Liquor were the new kids on the block of an established island scene that featured names like the Simpson Brothers and David Wingo. While cementing their own legacy in music, the members of White Liquor were spending their days as average working men.

Saba, for his part, would spend his days in real estate and coach lacrosse at the Island Rec Center. His lacrosse background is legit. Saba is tied for second among career goal scorers (109) at Vermont-based St. Michael’s College and is fourth all-time at the school in points (150). He was inducted into the college’s athletic hall of fame in 2011.

His star rose in real estate with the same trajectory as his rock-star status, becoming one of the more recognizable faces in a very crowded industry over 23 years. He won the HHAAOR Realtor of the Year Award in 2009 and was president of the Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors in 2005.

His latest venture, COAST Brokered by eXp Realty, saw him partnering with fellow real estate icon Tristan O’Grady in a sleek south-end location that blurs the line between real estate office and chic hangout spot.

“There were some gigs we couldn’t do because I was caught up getting the office set up,” he said. “Now that we’re good to go, we can start playing more.”

Of course, these days they’re not playing the kinds of gigs the did back in the day, like Moneypenny’s infamous “California New Year” party which didn’t even start until 3 a.m. A far cry from just a few years ago when the boys played at the then-recently-opened Boardroom, and went

into what Saba calls “panic mode” when they found out they weren’t going on until 11:30 p.m.

“We all still love it, is the thing,” said Saba. “People ask when we’re going to stop, but we’re all just buds. And it’s still fun. We’ve gotten to a point where you work all day, then you show up to the show and all this stress just goes away. It’s just incredible.”

As he’s aged to embrace his own elder statesmen role, Saba relishes the chance to still hang with bandmates he’s known for decades, even as the lineup has rotated.

“We don’t even practice anymore. Well, maybe every so often,” said Saba. “We’ve gotten tighter just because we

Photo SUPPLIED

Rick Saba’s multi-faceted interests include lacrosse, real estate, and rocking out as frontman for White Liquor.

play together so much.”

Lead guitar and vocalist John Wilkins jumps in and out but is a regular fixture, while Ritchie D., Kieran O’Grady, Ben Russ and Ken Kendrick are standbys. (Russ has shifted over to keyboards to give White Liquor some of that Chuck Leavell energy).

But of course there will always be one hole in the lineup that no one can ever fill. Already in his 70s when White Liquor first started tearing up the late-night scene, Joe Gianferrara was a rock star right up until the end. He passed into legend in 2017.

“We miss Joe G.,” said Saba. “For a while, that’s why I did

it. It was just a chance to hang out with him. People still ask about him. Complete legend.”

One benefit of raising a family while establishing a legacy as a local rock legend is that Saba has been able to start raising his own fill-in players when there’s a hole in the lineup.

“My son Brady is 16, and he’s a really good guitar player,” said Saba. “He might jump up on some gigs soon.”

There are a million ways to keep yourself young, but if both Rick and Mick are any indication, there’s no fountain of youth like a microphone, a stage, and some of the greatest rock songs ever written.

Photo: © Chris St. Jacques

GUL LA

Sonya Grant continues to promote the Gullah culture through her thriving business.

sharing the culture

ENTREPRENEUR SONYA GRANT BOOSTS GULLAH WAY OF LIFE

Written by Amy Coyne Bredeson I Photography by Ritterbeck Photography

A sixth-generation Gullah native of Hilton Head Island, Sonya Grant has fond memories of growing up in the island’s close-knit Gullah community.

Grant, now 35, grew up surrounded by her people, direct descendants of West Africans who were enslaved in the Lowcountry and lived in Mitchelville, the country’s first self-governed town for formerly enslaved people. She grew up enjoying the unique culture of the Gullah people — the cuisine, the arts, crafts, music, customs and language of her ancestors.

“It wasn’t necessarily told to me, ‘This is Gullah,’” Grant said. “It’s just the natural traditions and the things that we did as a family.”

Things like eating rice every day and practicing the traditions of the Gullah church.

Just as her ancestors had done generations prior, Grant was baptized in the river, wearing a white robe and head covering. Around the age

of 6, she marched with fellow Christians across the street from Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church on Squire Pope Road to Skull Creek near Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks, singing hymns all the way there and back.

Grant knew at a young age that she wanted to be a fashion designer. Inspired by the rich culture of the Gullah people and the entrepreneurial spirit of family members, Grant was able to accomplish her dream by launching Gullah T’s N’ Tings.

In June 2020, she began selling her signature Gullah-themed T-shirts on Etsy. Three years later she has expanded her business to include sweatshirts, scarves, hats, mugs, beach towels, jewelry and leather bags. Her products can be found on Etsy as well as her website.

Grant emphasized that Gullah T’s N’ Tings is not just for Gullah people. People often ask if they should wear her apparel if they are not Gullah.

She answers that question with a resounding “yes.”

“It’s culture appreciation as opposed to appropriation,” Grant said. “We all have to treasure it in order for it to sustain.”

Grant encourages people to learn about the Gullah culture and its local history by reading “Gullah Days: Hilton Head Islanders Before the Bridge 1861-1956.” The book was written by her aunt Carolyn Grant, along with two other Gullah descendants Thomas C. Barnwell Jr. and Emory Shaw Campbell.

“The movement can’t continue without everyone involved,” Sonya said.

She was raised in the Chaplin neighborhood of Hilton Head by her mother, Terry Grant, her aunt Carolyn, and her grandparents Charliemae and Abe Grant. For decades, her grandparents owned a popular island restaurant, Abe’s Native Shrimp House, which served traditional Gullah dishes, such as shrimp and grits.

Sonya said there were many more Gullah-owned businesses on the island when she was a child compared to now. She had her hair done at a Gullah salon. Her family frequented Grant’s Mini Mart, Driessen’s Grocery & Service Station, and her great-aunt’s produce stands. Many of her teachers in grade school were also Gullah.

Sonya wants to ensure the Gullah way of life is not lost and wants to share the beauty of it with the world.

“I want the people that visit to be enthusiastic to learn about the culture here,” she said, “and get excited about things other than just the beach and resort life, but really get invested in what the natives have built here.”

Sonya hopes to continue expanding her business with new designs and products available within the next year, and to have more pieces readily available for purchase.

“None of it would’ve been possible without the help of my family and the community,” Sonya said.

To view Sonya’s creations, visit gullahtsntings.com or search for “GullahTsNTings” on etsy.com. Follow Gullah T’s N’ Tings on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

into the woods

PHOTOS BY GUIDO FLUECK

MODELS:

Emily Francis

Madison Francis

Catalina Zamora

Jordan Up De Graff

Finn Sweeney

SM Bradford Co.

1000 William Hilton Pkwy Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 smbradfordco.com

Fresh

B-Jack’s Deep South Mercantile 16 Church Street Bluffton, SC 29910

rich. delicious. flavorful.

HILTON HEAD DISTILLERY CRAFTS AUTHENTIC RUM COCKTAILS

Written by Jessica Farthing | Photos by Rob Kaufman

Hilton Head Distillery got its start in Greenville, S.C., as the Dark Corner, opening a sister spot on Hilton Head Island.

Though the original business was focused on whiskey, it seemed logical for Hilton Head’s tropical weather and beachy vibes to offer alcohol with a tiki flair. When the distillery hired Whitney Meriwether as a master distiller, the idea of focusing on rum was perfected.

Meriwether moved to Hilton Head in 2020 from his distiller position in Seattle, looking for a life change and sunny weather. For the last few years he worked to learn what the distillery offered and enhance the products. The idea was to change the business focus to an American rum house, drawing on the Caribbean methods of rum creation.

He focused on pure ingredients to an extreme rarely seen in distilling. There are no prepared flavors in the rums offered on the menu. The Toasted Coconut Rum is made from coconuts that were toasted and added to the distilling process.

The Dark Pineapple Rum is made when pineapples are cooked on charcoal grills, then added when the alcohol is in the barrel at a high proof. This allows the fruit flavors to be extracted into the rum while it ages.

The team spent the last few years creating natural rum flavors under the creative direction of Meriwether, who moved from distiller to general manager in 2022.

“Everything you see now on our menu is either Whitney’s original product or his reinvented interpretation of a product that we had previously,” said Michelle Swanson, Director of Operations and Marketing.

The menu inspired thoughts of sunshine and sandy toes. There were tastes of bananas, spices, cream from a local farm and coffee flavors from the Lowcountry’s own Corner Perk. When Meriwether found locally grown and dried chilis at a Hilton Head bodega, he bought them to add to the Mexican Chocolate Cake Rum, a palate pleaser that combined the flavors of cocoa nibs, milk chocolate, cream, cinnamon with a little heat.

Swanson’s personal favorite on the menu is the Solera Rum, aged for seven years in a series of port wine and bourbon casks using the largest Solera system in the continental United States.

“I love the flavor profile. It is rich, delicious, very sippable,” Swanson said. “I like to approach it the way a lot of people approach whiskey. You can drink it neat or on the rocks, or you can put it in a cocktail. It’s very elevated and unique. The rum actually moves to a new barrel every quarter, 36 different barrels.”

The result is rum with deep flavors of caramel and vanilla, smoky oak and tropical fruit. It can be enjoyed by itself or layered with other ingredients at the distillery’s in-house bar, where tiki cocktails enhance the rum offerings. There’s also food

bourbon agreement

INGREDIENTS

1.5 oz Hilton Head Atlantic Bourbon

½ oz Hilton Head Panela Rum

1.5 oz Darjeeling Tea

½ oz Lemon Juice

½ oz Simple Syrup

Pinch of salt

DIRECTIONS

Add the ingredients into a shaker tin with ice, and shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube, and garnish with a lemon twist.

planter’s punch

INGREDIENTS

3 oz Hilton Head Dark Pineapple Rum

1 oz Lime Juice

¾ oz Grenadine

¼ oz Falernum

2 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Light Soda Water

DIRECTIONS

Place all ingredients into a shaker tin with ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Fill a tall glass with nugget or crushed ice. Pour the cocktail over ice and top with soda water. Garnish with a generous mint leaf and silly straw.

available for a complete night out, a series of small plates and sandwiches offered to cure any snack cravings. For those looking for non-alcoholic refreshment, the bar serves lemonade and agua fresca.

The staff is interested in making the distillery more than just a one-time visit.

“We love our tourists. We get a great crowd in there in the summer, but we also really want to be a place that locals want to come hang out,” said Swanson. “We don’t want it to feel like a one-and-done experience. There’s a lot of different options and you could go really big, but you could also just come and have a couple of drinks with your friends.”

The distillery offers a tour for those curious about the distilling process that lasts around an hour. Visitors get to walk through the entire production facility and enjoy a private tasting in the VIP area overlooking the equipment. There’s a full bottle shop with tastings, along with that cocktail bar, for those who aren’t interested in the tour. Guests are almost sure to find their new favorite rum, now shipping to 42 states in case you run out. If you aren’t sure how to mix up a perfect rum beverage, they also host classes.

The distillery prides itself on authenticity and the quality of their ingredients. The result is a selection of rums full of flavor that offer an exciting and interesting tasting experience.

tomato pie

A SOUTHERN SUMMER STAPLE

INGREDIENTS

• 1 9-inch frozen pie crust.

• 3 large tomatoes, sliced ¼ inch

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped

• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

• ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

• ¼ cup mayonnaise

• Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees

• Bake pie shell 10 minutes. Remove and let cool.

• Reduce oven to 350 degrees

serves: 8

• Place tomato slices on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt. Let sit for 5-8 minutes. Pat out extra moisture.

• Place half of the tomatoes around the bottom of the pie crust.

• Add half of the garlic cloves, half of basil, half of cheddar and half of mozzarella.

• Starting with remaining tomatoes, add other layers.

• Apply mayonnaise over final mozzarella layer.

• Place in oven.

• Bake for 30-40 minutes until pie is lightly browned and cheese is melted.

• Let cool for 1-2 minutes before serving.

tonya hudson’s swordfish with lemon caper sauce

At the seafood counter, you’ll find swordfish sold as steaks – thick pieces with a swirly muscle pattern weighing between 6 oz. to 1 lb. each. These are hefty cuts that feel more like ribeye steaks than fish filets, but the weight and texture make swordfish so appealing to both pescatarians who want to get the most out of their grill before summer ends and beef lovers looking to switch up their protein game. Swordfish is an excellent source of lean protein and packs a heavy nutritional punch: swordfish has high concentrations of niacin, vitamin B-12, zinc, and omega-3 fats, which can improve brain function, energy levels, and immune response. Despite swordfish’s considerable nutritional value, it’s quite low in calories, making it an excellent choice for those working towards their wellness goals.

Swordfish has a dense flake but is mild and permeable enough to absorb other flavors, like a light, bright lemon caper sauce. While swordfish is caught locally off the Atlantic coast and is available year-round, enjoying this warm-water fish with a citrus-y sauce will help you savor the last few weeks of summer.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 1 large lemon, peeled, cut crosswise into 8 1/4” slices, seeded, with all the juice

• 2 tablespoons drained nonpareil capers

• Sea salt and freshly ground white pepper to taste

• 3 swordfish steaks cut 1 1/4-inches thick (about 1 pound each)

• 3 tablespoons (very green) extra-virgin olive oil

• 2 teaspoons finely chopped parsley for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over medium low heat. Stir constantly until the butter is light brown, about 3 minutes.

2. Cut the lemon slices into quarters. Add them (with their juice), and the capers, to the saucepan. Reduce the heat and cook, shaking the pan several times, until the lemon and capers are heated through, about 1 minute. Taste for and correct seasoning.

3. Light a grill or preheat the broiler. Brush the swordfish with olive oil on both sides. Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground white pepper to taste.

4. Grill or broil the swordfish about 4 inches from the heat, turning once, until charred outside and still slightly pink in the center (3 to 4 minutes per side).

5. Transfer the swordfish to a large platter and cut into thick strips (or leave whole). Pour the lemon and caper sauce over the fish and serve immediately, garnished with the chopped parsley.

Tonya Hudson is owner of Hudson’s Seafood Market, known far and wide for selling the freshest and best seafood for over 5 generations. Find them at 175 Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head Island, 29926

chicken

and avocado wrap

QUICK. EASY. DELICIOUS.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tortilla wraps

• 2 ripe avocados, sliced

• 1 large chicken breast

• ½ cup cherry tomatoes

DIRECTIONS

• Cook and slice the chicken breasts.

serves: 2

• 1 cup shredded lettuce

• 1 cup sour cream

• 2 cups grated cheddar cheese

• Salt and pepper

• With the wraps open on a plate, to each one add chopped lettuce, tomatoes, avocado slices, and slices of chicken. Top with desired amount of cheddar cheese. Add light sour cream.

• Add salt and pepper, if preferred.

• Fold sides carefully and roll tight.

• Preheat pan to medium and grill for 1-2 minutes until brown. Flip and grill other side. You can also put tortillas in microwave-safe plastic wraps and heat for 15-20 seconds.

• Serve

pineapple salsa dip

serves: 4

BRIGHT COLOR AND BRIGHT FLAVOR

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups diced pineapple

• 2 medium tomatoes, chopped

• 1 cup red onion, chopped

• 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced

• ¼ cup minced cilantro

• ½ teaspoon ground coriander

• 1 tablespoon lime juice (optional)

• 1 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS

• In a small bowl mix salt and ground coriander

• In a separate bowl add pineapple, tomato, onion and then add jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice and salt and coriander mix.

• Serve cool

frittata

FABULOUS FARE

INGREDIENTS

• 12 large eggs

• 1 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed

• 4 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 cup mascarpone cheese

• 1 spring onion

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)

DIRECTIONS

• Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

• Clean spring onion and cut into ¼ inch pieces.

• Chop off any ends of asparagus.

serves: 8

• Using a skillet at medium-high, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and asparagus and cook until crisp (2-3 minutes). Remove.

• Reduce heat to medium and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, spring onion, ½ teaspoon of salt to skillet. Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes.

• Whisk together the eggs in a bowl and add ½ teaspoon salt.

• Add eggs to skillet and then asparagus on top.

• Sprinkle with grated Parmesan (optional)

• Bake for 20-22 minutes.

• Serve immediately.

visualize your dream room

Written by NancyLee Honey

ONLINE PLANNERS HELP CUSTOM-DESIGN YOUR SPACE

Tired of your living- or family-room arrangement? Pushing that furniture around to a new spot could be dangerous to one’s health.

What to do? Well, there’s a way to rearrange your living spaces without lifting, shoving and dislocating your back: consider an online room planner.

This room design software is a super way to replace a boring room with an exciting one without landing in the ER.

It only takes a few moments until customers can see a lovely, realistic room, precisely to scale. Within minutes furniture can be perfectly placed or quickly rearranged, allowing a quick view of changes they were struggling to visualize.

What a magical, back-saving way to experience a new home or room, and with instant success.

Often when selecting furniture, visualizing how it works in our home is a challenge. However, with good 2-D and 3-D online room planners, the stress melts away.

Entire homes can be planned with furniture easily moved about to see how it looks, feels and fits in another location. Focus on what’s most important in the room and home and then try different renditions.

A room planner does not require a lot of technical skill and within minutes can give you insight of any room in your home to help turn it into a magazine picture.

There are a variety of basic options to help you get started:

• Magic Plan: This app is great if you are sitting on the couch with your phone, dreaming up ideas. You can measure and sketch interior plans in 2-D and 3-D.

• Plan Your Room: This site (planyourroom.com) is a basic digitized kit, best used on a laptop or desktop. Options for a living room, bedroom, dining room and home office.

• FloorPlanner: A highly rated tool, FloorPlanner helps a user create an accurate drawing in 2-D. Click on 3D to see your plan from every angle. Floorplanner.com.

• Sweet Home 3D: Entry-level tool. Draw the plan of your house, arrange furniture, and visit the results in 3D. Sweethome3d.com.

Locally, businesses that offer online planners, including Coastal Home, use on-site planners to help out-of-state customers who are moving to the area.

“Our online room planner gives those who live in other states a way to look at room arrangements and how our furniture will fit into their homes here,” said Steve Steele, owner-operator of Coastal Home.

Steele said Coastal Home, which has served the Lowcountry since 1995, said his company added an on-site room planner during the COVID pandemic to help clients “visualize configuration of their furniture and if that sofa they love will fit where they want it.”

The best interior design software can ensure real-world dimensions and previews of the room without physically spending back-breaking hours re-locating pieces of furniture. Homes or rooms can quickly be redesigned, remodeled so family and friends can view changes and offer suggestions, if wanted.

These online tools are all about visualization and modifying rooms in real time.

Even with the available quick touch-of-a-finger technology, many people still prefer to see their rooms in beautiful designs created by a professional decorator/designer with whom they can sit and discuss their ideas.

With many hours of expertise helping clients from every area in the U.S., Donna Coudes, owner of Interiors by Donna Coudes, said she loves designing perfect homes with personal touches specifically for her clients.

“You know within 15 seconds of entering a room the character and preferences of the owners, so it’s significant to capture the essence of the family,” she said. “Discovering with them the ideal setting where they will enjoy their lives is always very rewarding. We linger and talk together to determine their favorite style, colors, most utilized rooms and number of people who will be living in their home.”

A personal touch can also be rewarding. What’s the best decision for you? Maybe both options.

Using an online planner or having a sit-down conversation with a designer/decorator can be complementary components to designing your home.

No matter how we get there, choices for modifying or rearranging home life will reflect hopes, dreams and happy times ahead.

the perfect fit

CHOOSE THE RIGHT FURNITURE SIZE FOR YOUR LIVING SPACE

Written by George Armond

Redecorating can be fun as we fill our minds with myriad ways to re-shape our room. But it can also be stressful. We want our furniture to look stylish but also fit perfectly in our space. Here are some tips to ensure your selections offer the perfect fit.

MEASURING THE SPACE

You might have an idea about the size of the space, but it’s good to get exact measurements. Get accurate measurements, including length, height and width. Measure every wall, and don’t forget the height of the ceilings.

This will help give you a clear picture of what you might need when searching for the best furniture.

HAVE A PURPOSE

Start with an idea of what you want the space to be. Is it a room that will entertain a lot of people, or will it be for small gatherings?

It sounds like a small thing, but it’s good to envision exactly what you want the room’s purpose to be.

For bigger spaces consider a sectional sofa, which is comfortable and has room to seat several guests.

If you will also use the space to eat, think about a large coffee table (more than 50 inches). It’s good for putting out food and for game night.

For smaller rooms consider a few bigger items (not necessarily smaller pieces). This will allow the space to breathe.

Also consider furniture that has multiple uses. Ottomans with square or rectangular shapes can be used as coffee tables. Or consider a round drum coffee table that doubles as a storage bin.

CLEAR A PATH

No matter the size of the space, it’s important to provide enough space for people to move easily. Aim to leave one to two feet between the sofa and coffee table and about three feet between other furniture pieces. For smaller rooms rounded chairs or armless slipper chairs help make things easier to move around.

PLAN THE LAYOUT

Consider where you want each piece to go. Do you need a three-seat sofa and a love seat so guests can watch TV? Think about what the room’s focal point is. It might be a fireplace or window overlooking the yard. Arranging furniture around the focal point will enhance the room’s appeal.

No matter the size of the space, the most important thing is choosing furniture that matches your style. Whether it’s contemporary, minimalist, traditional or chic, the room should bring you joy.

must read

THE UNDERWORLD: JOURNEYS TO THE DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN

Susan Casey, a New York Times bestselling author, provides an “awe-inspiring” portrait of the mysterious world beneath the waves. The deep ocean has always been a source of wonder – and terror. What’s down there?

The book takes readers on a journey through the history of deep-sea exploration. “The Underworld” explores myths and legends of the ancient world, storied shipwrecks and the scientists who are learning to understand the complexity of the creatures who live in the realms long thought to be devoid of life.

Casey learns the deep is a vibrant realm that’s home to “pink gelatinous predators” and shimmering creatures. She traversed the globe, joining scientists and explorers on dives, interviewing the marine geologists, marine biologists and oceanographers who are searching for knowledge in this “vast unseen realm.”

new this month:

In 1972 workers find a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Who the skeleton was and how it got there were secrets kept in the neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived. When the truth is finally revealed about what happened, James McBride’s novel shows us that even in dark times it is “love and community—heaven and earth—that sustain us.”

Three daughters ask their mom to tell the story of Peter Duke, an actor with whom she “shared both a stage and a romance” at a theater company called Tom Lake. The story forces the daughters to examine their relationship with their mother. The novel is a meditation on youthful love, married love and the lives parents have led before their children were born.

Set in New York in the 1920s, this true-crime novel is based on a notorious murder and a conspiracy to bury the truth. Scandalous flapper Dot King is found dead, and a fortune of jewels is missing. The newspapers and detectives chase the story as an assortment of characters guard secrets.

A multi-generational novel about a Korean family living under Japanese occupation. In the 1930s a contender for the Olympics would have had to run under the Japanese flag. Nearly a century later, his granddaughter, living in Japan, is training to run a marathon. She summons Korean shamans to connect with her grandfather. Ghosts appear, and the granddaughter must uncover their stories to free their souls.

Susan Casey

for the love of literacy

JOE DISTELHEIM AWARD HONORS STUDENTS

Written by Anthony Garzilli

Joe Distelheim’s journalism career spanned 38 years and five states. The former Hilton Head Island resident, who spent 10 years volunteering at The Literacy Center, left a legacy that his colleagues wanted to honor. They decided to recognize literacy students of Bluffton Self Help, which merged with The Literacy Center in 2021, with the Joe Distelheim Award for Literacy.

The inaugural winners were recognized last year. This year’s winners, who each received $500 and an engraved platter, were nominated by volunteer tutors at Bluffton Self Help.

“A recurring theme was how these learners of English were not only high achievers but cheerfully aided others in the class — and helped the tutors as well,” noted committee member Alex Cruden. “They had excellent attendance records while at the same time fulfilling job and family responsibilities and otherwise leaping life’s hurdles.”

ANDREA ORDONEZ

Andrea Ordonez set herself apart by showing great determination and dedication to learning the English language, according to her tutor Marcia Patton.

Ordonez, who works at Flowers by Sue on the island, proved to be a peer instructor, clarifier, and role model. Her helpful nature includes providing detailed instructions to her classmates on new concepts and group activities.

“I occasionally notice the other students look to her when they begin to answer to ensure they are understanding and responding appropriately,” Patton wrote in her nomination. “A smile or nod of her head encourages them to proceed.”

Patton wrote that Ordonez exemplified Distelheim’s belief that education is a “gateway to success and an opportunity for her to achieve her future goals.”

GABRIELA MELÉNDEZ

Gabriela Melendez immigrated from Honduras to the United States in 2021 with her son, who at the time was 4 years old.

Melendez wanted to learn English because her son had experienced some health issues, according to her tutors Sue Summers and Ann Kummer. She was determined to learn English to better interact with healthcare providers so she could help her son. Melendez advanced quickly and easily through the text. She took her Level 1 post-test, and as her tutors expected, she scored into Level 2.

“In class, she is always inquisitive, engaged, enthusiastic, hardworking, and eager to learn English,” the tutors wrote. “Her attendance was excellent, and she showed complete attention throughout each class.”

FEDERICO MÉNDEZ RAMÍREZ

Federico Mendez was lauded for being an enthusiastic student who could always be counted on to participate in class activities and finish his assignments.

“It is obvious that he wants to learn because he asks questions when he does not understand something and makes sure that we check his work,” wrote his tutors Mary Bernard and Kimberly Hagenbach.

Mendez has an early morning job working at a golf course, but always appears “energetic and happy to learn” as much English as he can during class.

During the last day of class, students played a game modeled after Jeopardy! There were pictures and words for the 50 questions. Mendez won the gold medal.

JUAN CARLOS MUJICA

Juan Carlos Mujica, who was looked to as a leader in class, studied English independently. The combination of in-class work and independent study was reflected in his “ability, confidence, and willingness to help other students” better understand the lessons, wrote tutor Joel Biterman.

Mujica showed consistent improvement in comprehension and written and verbal competence since the beginning of the school year. He was recognized for always being on time or early for class.

“Juan Carlos is intellectually curious and is constantly seeking to improve his English language skills,” Biterman wrote.

making written connections

HUNDREDS OF LETTERS ARRIVE FOR RESIDENTS OF LIFE CARE CENTER’S PEN PAL PROGRAM

By Anthony Garzilli

The letters come from throughout the county and the country — and even from overseas. They arrive with pleasant greetings from children and adults and bring a smile to the faces of the recipients.

The correspondence always begins with a question: Will you be my pen pal?

Life Care Center of Hilton Head, a nursing and rehabilitation center, is always looking to engage its residents. Earlier this year the center wondered if the residents would be interested in having pen pal relationships.

The response was positive.

In May the center posted on Facebook photos of residents who sought to correspond with people. They were pictured holding signs that reflected their topics of interest.

Eddie looked for someone who enjoys Atlanta Falcons football and gardening. Mary was interested in communicating about bowling, baseball and the Yankees. Ruby hoped her pen pal would correspond about church, basketball and current events.

And Georgetta looked for someone who enjoys country music, church and collecting.

Morgan Wogenstahl, who was the Life Care Center’s activities director when the program launched, hoped the initiative would get a decent response.

She certainly didn’t expect what happened.

“It blew up more than I could have ever possibly imagined,” she said.

From the Lowcountry, Canada and England, the Facebook posts quickly spread and letters kept arriving. Hundreds of letters have arrived, with some residents receiving 40 each.

“We have had an overwhelming response,” Wogenstahl said.

The center has about seven residents who participate in the program. Some of them write their own letters and others get assistance from the staff. The letters range from brief notes saying that the person saw the Facebook post and thought they’d get along, to others who also sent gifts.

Eddie, the Falcons fan, has received hats and shirts and blankets from his favorite team’s rooters.

The program’s reach pleased Wogenstahl, with letters also having arrived from Texas and Washington state, among many areas of the country. There’s been a large variety of age groups that have sent letters, some handwritten and others typed out.

Wogenstahl said a “big surge” of letters came from a child care center from children as young as 5 and 6 years old.

Photo by Rob Kaufman

Life Care Center executive director Sheri Boyles said she enjoys seeing the reaction of the residents.

“The fun part is seeing the residents light up with the amount of mail that they have gotten,” she said.

Wogenstahl, who noted there have been a few residents who already have had back-and-forth correspondence with letter writers, said the letters always brighten the day of the residents.

“I definitely see an improvement in a lot of their general everyday moods,” she said.

A lot of the residents have enjoyed learning about other people, and they like to be able to share their stories.

“We leave it up to the residents what they are comfortable sharing and who they are comfortable sharing it with,” Wogenstahl said.

Even though Wogenstahl recently left Life Care Center, she and Boyles said the program will continue (Kailey Smith has taken over the initiative) with new residents having an opportunity to participate, whether they are in long-term care or rehabbing for several weeks.

“It’s been so much more than I ever expected,” Wogenstahl said.

“The fun part is seeing the residents light up with the amount of mail that they have gotten.”

– Sheri Boyles

WHIMSICAL ARTISTRY

CHRIS SUDDUTH CRAFTS CUSTOM LEGO WORKS AND FLAVORFUL SNOW CONES

Chris Sudduth loves being a local. His business and his art mesh nicely, all for the joy that it brings to him and the lucky one who comes through his door.

He has called Hilton Head Island his home since 2009 and opened “Sno Cones by Chris” on Palmetto Bay Marina just four years later.

“Even on a bad day, I am happy to be here,” he says.

Sudduth’s grateful enthusiasm is unmistakable, and customers are greeted with more than just tasty treats.

Sudduth is gifted in the art of Legos, and his shop is a showcase of his talented and whimsical work.

“When I opened, I had around 20 to 25 pieces,” he says. “Now, there are several hundred.”

Countless two-dimensional Lego portraits hang, showing famous actors, landscapes and fictional film characters.

Some examples include Marilyn Monroe, The Harbour Town Lighthouse, Bob Marley, Audrey Hepburn, the Hulk, and even Sudduth’s self-portrait.

Three-dimensional historic pieces and familiar landmarks are a sight to see. The Statue of Liberty, The Twin Towers, Empire State Building, World Trade Center, and the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), are all built to scale.

One of Sudduth’s first, and continually evolving, pieces is the Titanic.

“Since the 1997 movie, I’ve been working on and off of it,” he says. “I’m always making changes to perfect it.”

Story by Nina Greenplate | Photography by Ruthe Ritterbeck

Larger and more realistic smokestacks are his most recent additions to the ill-fated ship. Lady Liberty was Sudduth’s second creation. Currently, he is adding windows to the Cape Hatteras and Hunting Island Lighthouses.

Sudduth created a surprising optical illusion showing Darth Vader’s Lego head shot when viewing the piece from its right side. As you move to the left, it morphs into Anakin Skywalker.

An entertaining collection of more than 30 animated Lego pieces is also on display. Watch Cookie Monster dreaming of cookies, Pegasus flying, flowers dancing, a pair of red sneakers toe-tapping, dolphins diving, a fan blowing; chicks popping out of their egg shells, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley’s car flying around the Whomping Willow Tree. The list goes on and on.

His work is for sale, with flat pieces easily able to ship. 3-D and animated pieces are not able to be packaged for delivery because they are delicate to handle and are never glued.

“I wanted to do something a little different and make a place where people can come and look at and appreciate things that I have made,” he says. “When waiting for their snow cone, they have something to be entertained by.” Indeed.

Let’s not forget the snow cones. Surprised that there were no such shops when he moved here, Sudduth decided to put his love for them into a perfected passion.

He serves 37 homemade, never store-bought, flavors. Ten are dye-free, and all are allergen friendly, without dairy, eggs, nuts or high fructose corn syrup. He also freezes his own ice in cubed trays because shaving small blocks is a better way to hold his yummy flavors than bagged ice

“When I was a kid in Maryland, I’d always go to a great snow-cone stand, and there was always a line,” he says. “I think I’ve perfected the way to make them taste the way they’re supposed to.”

His marina shop is open from Easter through Labor Day, but in the offseason he is available for mobile parties and events.

One of the best snow-cone compliments Sudduth ever received came from a Maryland family who had also been a fan of his hometown shop. As this was Sudduth’s inspiration, their insistence that his cones were better brought a smile to his face.

“You’re chasing this dream of being as good as someone you’ve admired your whole life,” he says. “And they say, ‘Yours are better.’ That’s the best compliment.”

Sudduth feels like he’s found his “calling” with his shop.

“I’m willing to put the time in and to perfect my (Lego) art, as well as make the best snow cones ever,” he said.

igniting creativity

HIGHLY ANTICIPATED TELFAIR CHILDREN’S ARTS

MUSEUM DEBUTS

By Anthem Media Group

The new Telfair Children’s Arts Museum, which offers transformative learning experiences, has opened in Savannah, Ga.

The long-anticipated opening last month unveiled the innovative transformation of part of the Jepson Center into a space that ignites creativity and inspires children of all ages, a news release said.

Jepson Center guests enter CAM through an informative tunnel gallery that serves as a portal to spaces filled with state-of-the-art technology and activity stations.

The Children’s Arts Museum will serve as a major attraction for thousands of annual visitors to Savannah, as well as area families and school children.

Since the 1920s Telfair has welcomed more than 250,000 students to the museum through a partnership with SavannahChatham County Schools, and educational tour programs which continue to evolve today under the leadership of Harry DeLorme, longtime Director of Education and Senior Curator.

“This museum will not only be an exciting place for families visiting Savannah, but a wonderful opportunity for local families and schools to engage with art, technology, and innovation,” said DeLorme. “We are excited that CAM expands Telfair’s capacity to offer Pre-K and family programming and to provide unique and immersive experiences for children of all ages in the Coastal region.”

Said Savannah Mayor Van Johnson: “This is a wonderful opportunity for Savannah, her residents, and guests to experience art in a family-friendly environment.”

CAM offers fun, educational experiences that address the needs and expectations of contemporary audiences ranging from traditional methods of learning to high-tech interactive experiences.

Visitors will be able to enjoy comfortable family lounge areas, an engaging toddler section for children up to 3 years old with tactile exhibits, and a suite of immersive and interactive spaces to inspire imagination and an early passion for art.

“Telfair Museums is proud to open the Children’s Art Museum, which will serve both our local community, the wider region, and visitors from all over the world,” said Benjamin T. Simons, Telfair’s executive director and CEO. “We are grateful for the tremendous support from our corporate, foundation, and individual sponsors of CAM. We know this will be a place of great exploration, excitement, and encouragement as we make art accessible to the young.”

PREHISTORIC MYSTIQUE

Story by Kingston Rhodes

SEA PINES SHELL RING REMAINS SHROUDED IN MYSTERY

Hilton Head Island has a diverse and multi-faceted historical narrative.

Archeologists and historians have evidence of prehistoric history locally that stretches as far back as 4,500 years when indigenous people left their mark on the island’s sandy, moist soil. However, once records began being chronicled, a colorful island history unfolded. Today numerous historic markers dot the 41-square-mile island, including the mysterious Sea Pines Shell Ring.

Glen McCaskey is one local resident who has played a meaningful role in determining the focus of several landmarks. McCaskey, 82, was originally recruited by Sea Pines Company founder Charles Fraser to help ensure that Fraser’s specific standards of environmental stewardship and preservation of the island’s rich, natural beauty and historic significance would be maintained.

“When I arrived, our Sea Pines Master Plan revealed a fascinating nature preserve of nearly 600 acres right in the heart of the 5,200 acres planned for development,” says McCaskey. “It was centered around this small, preistoric ring of large oyster shells that had been identified a few years earlier as being something rare, and had undergone its first tiny excavation by Alan Calmes, an expert from the University of South Carolina.”

McCaskey notes that one of his immediate assignments was to oversee the design and project planning for the Forest Preserve, which Fraser believed would ultimately become a popular visitor experience and help set Hilton Head Island apart from other oceanfront destinations like Myrtle Beach.

“Protection of the Shell Ring became a priority,” states McCaskey, “and when I first saw it, I was surprised because it was hardly noticeable due to the fallen leaves, brush, and loose soil covering the site. But there definitely was a mystique that surrounded the clearing.”

On June 1, 1971, the Sea Pines Forest Preserve was officially dedicated as a “Wildlife Habitat and Outdoor Recreation Facility.”

Thousands of visitors and dozens of archaeologists have since visited the Preserve, with its main attraction being the small, yet mysterious, prehistoric shell ring measuring 120 feet in diameter and 18 inches high.

According to the Archaeological Society of South Carolina, Hilton Head Island has become a center point for shell ring studies in the United States. There are believed to be more than 50 shell rings in the Southeast, according to S.C. Department of Natural Resources

Archaeologist Dr. Matthew Sanger, now with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, has conducted multiple excavations at the Sea Pines Shell Ring site. Since his most recent one five years ago he and his team have discovered a dozen more potential shell rings on the island using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology drones that use light in the form of a pulsed laser to target potential locations.

Indeed, the intent of the shell rings continues to captivate the interest of archaeologists who desire to “crack the code” of why they were so purposefully constructed and why they are uniquely found on the barrier islands of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

Interestingly the only other place in the world where similar shell rings are found is in Japan – and there the rings are not complete circles, but horseshoes.

As for their purpose, the most popular theory continues to be that they were constructed for ceremonial reasons. Other scientists theorize they were merely gathering spots to dine or conduct family meetings.

As McCaskey says with a grin, “Finding shell rings with technology is one thing, but figuring out their purpose is quite a different dilemma that we may never resolve.”

To find Sea Pines Shell Ring, enter the gated resort community via the Greenwood Drive access, near Sea Pines Circle. Pay for a visitor pass. Proceed about one mile until you see a sign on the left-hand side. Pull in and park. Pick up the Visitor Map and follow the trail through the woods.

It’s a scenic 20-minute walk where you will pass recreational lakes and cross boardwalks in places. Make sure to have bug spray at certain times of the year.

WONDERFUL WATERFALLS

Twin Falls

HIKE THESE TRAILS FOR BREATHTAKING EXPERIENCES

Written by Anthony Garzilli

The upper state of South Carolina is home to some of nature’s most awe-inspiring beauty. The scenery is magnificent, augmented by spectacular waterfalls. Many waterfalls can be viewed after a decent, but not overly strenuous, trek through the woods.

From easy to difficult, here are a few waterfalls that are worth the hike.

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: EASY

Wildcat Wayside

This short trail begins with a steep set of stairs that climb beside a small but “beautiful” waterfall, as described by the South Carolina Trails website. The rest of the short trail is an easy, gently sloping walk that begins under a canopy of white pine and hemlock, follows a stream through thickets of rhododendron and mountain laurel, and ends at the base of a 130-foot waterslide. Located off the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway near Greenville, Wildcat is about four hours away.

Length: 0.8 miles

Type: Round Trip

Surface: Natural

Twin Falls

The left - and larger of the falls - pitches from a height of 75 feet over a slab of granite. The right side manages a short drop onto another chunk of stone and then slides down a 45-degree slope before rejoining the other fall. It’s an estimated 15-minute walk. Twin Falls is in Sunset, about a five-hour drive.

Length: 0.3 miles

Type: Normal

Surface: Natural

Miuka Falls (or Cheohee Falls)

A 75-foot waterfall is tucked away on a spur trail off the popular Winding Stairs Trail. Beginners can easily venture along this trail.

The hike is noted by South Carolina Trails as an easy 45-minute hike that features birds, small animals and lively wildflowers. More gently graded than steeped, this hike is good for beginners. Be aware that thick foliage at the falls could make getting a clear view a challenge. This hike is located near Mountain Rest (about a five-hour drive).

Length: 1.2 miles

Type: One Way

Surface: Dirt

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: MODERATE Lower Whitewater Falls

The Whitewater Falls chain, which includes six waterfalls along the North and South Carolina border, is the highest series of falls in eastern North America. Located about a half-mile down the Whitewater River from the Upper Falls, the Lower Falls features a 200-foot drop. From the parking area a moderate hike of 45 minutes to an hour will bring you to an overlook where you’ll find an “unparalleled view” of the Falls, according South Carolina Trails. The Lower Falls is in Oconee County (five-hour drive).

Length: 2 miles

Type: One Way

Surface: Natural

King Creek Falls

The 70-foot King Creek Falls is good for hikers of all abilities. A moderate 30-minute hike will lead hikers to a spot where they can “relax all day long” on a tree trunk and enjoy the spray from the falls. The site notes that the drop appears to be much higher than 70 feet. Estimated time to hike is about 30 minutes. Located in Mountain Rest, which is about five hours away.

Length: 0.5 miles

Type: One Way

Surface: Natural

Brasstown Falls

Located in the southern edge of Sumter National Forest, Brasstown Falls tumbles for 120 feet in three consecutive and “equally dramatic drops.”

Oppossum Creek Falls

It’s considered a nice place to bring the family because of the moderate, 20-minute hike and calm swimming hole at the base of the upper falls. A beautiful hike during the fall. Drive time to Brasstown Falls is five hours.

Length: 0.3 miles

Type: One Way

Surface: Natural

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: DIFFICULT

Oppossum Creek Falls

This is a challenging two-hour hike for the 50-foot Opossum Creek Falls. Most of the two-mile hike moves along a “pleasant” forest service trail. When you reach the Chattooga River, turn left onto a heavily vegetated path and “scramble” around rocks and trees for a half-mile hike to the base of the falls. The Opossum Falls is a fivehour drive in Long Creek.

Length: 2 miles

Type: One Way

Surface: Natural (Rocky)

Lee Falls

Considered one of Oconee County’s most scenic waterfalls, the 75-foot-high falls has no official trail, but for years it’s been a well-traveled 1.5-mile trek. Look for a spray cliff which brings a habitat of amphibians, mosses, and ferns. There are several streams on the way to falls. Hunting is allowed in this area, so South Carolina Trails suggests wearing brightly colored clothes. Lee Falls is in Tamassee, which is a five-hour drive.

Length: 1.5 miles

Type: One Way

Surface: Natural

Blue Ridge Electric Co-Op Passage

Get set for a long but rewarding hike. The Jocassee Gorges area of the trail (10 miles) is in some of the most “rugged and remote” hiking areas in the state, but you will see mountain top vistas, waterfalls, and a large boulder field. There are birds, deer, and foxes. Make sure to carry water and food if needed. Insect repellent is recommended during warm months.

Length: 12.3 miles

Type: One Way

Surface: Natural (rugged), Bridge.

Source: sctrails.net

Brasstown Falls

King Creek Falls

mind the manatee

By George Armond

GENTLE MAMMALS ARE POPULAR SUMMER VISITORS

The Lowcountry welcomes friendly visitors each summer. Manatees have been spotted in South Carolina since the 1800s, but Beaufort County historically appears to be a popular destination.

According to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, there had have more than 500 sightings in Beaufort County since 1850 (as per a 2004 report).

Summertime is a hot time for sightings. Records show manatees are most spotted in the state in July and August.

SCDNR began a formal project to document manatees in the 1990s and reported 848 sightings in the state between 1996 and 2003. In 1998, there was a record 190 sightings in South Carolina.

Here are some more facts about these gentle mammals.

ROBUST MAMMALS

On average, manatees are 11.5 feet long with an average weight of 2,200 pounds. In the “murky” waters of South Carolina, only the small head is sometimes seen as the animal surfaces for air, according to SCDNR.

The head is rounded and indistinct from the body, with no neck area apparent. Their eyes are small. Manatees have flexible flippers which help them maneuver.

A large tail is rounded and horizontally flattened which helps propel the manatee forward.

Manatees enjoy our water’s warm temperatures. They typically arrive in May and leave by November when the temperatures dip below 68 degrees.

RELAXED PACE

Manatees move slowly. They often rest and then travel. They like to eat aquatic plants and can consume floating, emergent, and submerged vegetation from freshwater, brackish, and saltwater environments, according to savethemanatee.org.

They surface to breathe air on an average of every three to five minutes.

When manatees rest, they can stay submerged for up to 20 minutes. Even though manatees can swim up to 20 miles per hour in short bursts, they usually swim about three to five miles per hour.

ENDANGERED SPECIES

The West Indian manatee is listed as endangered by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the South Carolina Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act.

The manatee population is estimated to be 13,000, with more than 6,500 in the southeastern United States and Puerto Rico, according to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Manatees are also found in the Greater Antilles, the east coast of Mexico and Central America, along the north and northeast coast of South America, and in Trinidad and Tobago, per SCDNR.

SCDNR Tips for Being Manatee-Friendly:

• Dock owners should never feed manatees or give them fresh water. This could teach the animals to approach docks, putting them at greater risk of a boat strike; plus it is illegal.

• Never pursue, harass or play with manatees. It is bad for the manatees and is illegal.

• Boaters should look around for manatees before cranking their motors, and watch for large swirls in the water, or “footprints,” that may be caused by manatees diving away from the boat.

• Heed “slow speed,” “no wake” and manatee warning signs, especially around docks. Use caution when navigating in shallow water and along the edge of a marsh. Manatees cannot dive away from boats in these areas.

• Wear polarized sunglasses to reduce glare, making it easier to spot manatees below the surface.

Sources: SCDNR. Savethemanatee.org. USFWS

ready to run

RONALD VARGAS SET FOR 200-MILE ENDURANCE RACE IN CASCADE MOUNTAINS

Ronald Vargas is ready to run.

Vargas, 57, is a production manager at The Greenery, where he has worked for more than 24 years.

A veteran of endurance races, his next run will be at the 2023 Bigfoot 200-mile race in the Cascade Mountains range in Washington state Aug. 11-15.

Vargas, a native of Costa Rica, grew up playing soccer and became an ultramarathon runner 10 years ago. He has completed five 100-mile races, five 50-mile races, two 24-hour races and numerous marathons and trail runs.

A recently completed 160-mile race from Hutchinson Island, Ga., to St. Marys, Ga., was finished in 40 hours and 18 minutes.

But the Bigfoot 200 will be the longest endurance race he has attempted.

The Bigfoot 200 starts at Mount St. Helens and finishes in Randle, Wash., going “point-topoint” through the Cascade Mountains, including 46,000 feet of ascent throughout the race, a news release said.

To prepare for the Bigfoot 200 race, Vargas has been running more than 80 miles per week in the Lowcountry and in higher elevations in North Carolina. He plans to train at higher elevations in the coming weeks to prepare for the tough terrain of the

endurance event.

At the Bigfoot 200, runners will explore such varied terrain as the volcanic Mount St. Helens, long mountaintop ridgelines, mountain and lake views, deep old-growth forests, and misty mountain tops, according to ultrarunning.com.

Runners will be well supported with 14 full aid stations. Participants will have six sleep stations along the journey.

“Ronald truly embodies the ‘never give up’ spirit, and we are honored to call him part of The Greenery family,” President and CEO of The Greenery Lee Edwards said in a news release. “Our whole team is supporting him on this journey, and we know he will make us proud.”

There are entry fees and travel costs to compete in the event. Other costs include provisions for the four-day race as well as a crew of people to deliver food, shoes, water and a van for short rests for Vargas.

“It’s always exciting to take on a new challenge,” said Vargas. “I appreciate the support of my family, friends and The Greenery that has brought me this far, and I will do my best to represent them all out there on the course.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up to support his journey. Visit gofund.me/2b16b20d

Story by Anthony Garzilli Photo Supplied

BONDING OVER BASEBALL

Story by Justin Jarrett | Photo by Beth Mitchell

YOUTH TEAM LIVES THE DREAM IN COOPERSTOWN

If you’ve ever wondered, as I often have since childhood, what happens to the old-timey baseball players in “Field of Dreams” after they walk back into the cornfield, I’ve found as satisfying an answer as any in the notion that they walk out the other side into Cooperstown Dreams Park, a sleepover camp in upstate New York, masquerading as a baseball tournament (or vice versa) just up the road from the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

It’s something like heaven for baseball-loving 12-year-olds.

I experienced it firsthand recently with my son and the Bluffton Waves team I founded when he was 8. We made the pilgrimage in June, spending a week bunked up as a team in cabin 45A, with a giant baseball card featuring Cardinals legend Bob Gibson posted outside the door, and eating, sleeping, and breathing baseball.

In fact, most of us only left the Baseball Village twice. I’d be lying if I said we had the full Cooperstown experience, but one of those outings was taking the entire team to the Hall of Fame, which included a private talk from an outstanding docent, an emotional and inspirational short film that made me feel like a 12-year-old again, and walking through the incredible museum that illustrates the history of the game that brought all of us together.

Our head coach, Aaron Jackson, gave the players homework before the field trip: To return with three things they learned at the Hall. To their credit, most came back with far more than three despite the swiftness with which they absorbed everything.

Opened in 1996, Cooperstown Dreams Park attracts hundreds of baseball teams from around the country to the cradle of the sport each summer for a series of weeklong camps accompanied by an epic tournament.

The games are played in enclosed stadiums with 8-foot solid green fences that make a satisfying thump when

roped with a line drive and majestically swallow up home run balls as they disappear over the wall.

It’s a hitter’s paradise — the 200-foot markings on the outfield walls are generous and there are no batter’s boxes, so hitters can crowd the plate and take chances slugging homers.

We won more games (4) than we lost (3) with two of our losses coming against teams that made the final 16 of the 78-team tournament, but we gained so much more.

The Baseball Village was teeming with more than 800 pre-teen ball players every day, and in between games they intermingled to trade team pins, play Spikeball or take part in one of about 20 concurrent Wiffle ball games taking place at any given time.

“The team from Hawaii is on the other side of our bunk,” said one player from the Sandy Springs (Ga.) Billy Goats. “I got one of their players’ number and we’re gonna be friends. How cool is that?”

Indeed, baseball friends can come from the most unexpected places. Our first loss of the tournament was a heartbreaker against Dry Pond (N.C.) Baseball, which happened to be in the bunk directly across from ours.

But two days later, after we had been eliminated, our boys bounced out of bed at the break of day and asked to go watch the Dry Pond game in the round of 16 against the No. 1 seed.

They spent the entire game hooting and hollering from the outfield berm — “We’re the Dry Pond student section,” they told me — and joined the team huddle after a tough loss to the Texas Sun Devils.

“Coach Justin, I thought Dry Pond was gonna be our mortal enemies,” our shortstop, Austin Broene, said. “But they turned out to be our best friends.”

Thanks to the bonds formed by the great game of baseball, sometimes those are the same thing.

back to school

LOWCOUNTRY OFFERS TOP-QUALITY LEARNING

by Anthem Media Group

The Lowcountry is teeming with fantastic education options, with some of the best schools in the country. Our area includes private, public, and higher-education institutions that prepare its students to succeed.

Our private schools annually are ranked among the top in the state and our colleges, with undergraduate and graduate programs, attract students from around the country and the world.

The Beaufort County School District educates nearly 22,000 students in 40 schools, offering pre-K through Grade 12 classes. With state-of-the-art facilities and campsues, the schools also offer high-level athletic programs and extracurricular activities. Education is a top priority in the Lowcountry. Here are some of the area’s finest institutions.

PUBLIC SCHOOL:

BEAUFORT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Type: Public

Grades: Pre-K-12, Adult Ed Student population: 21,500

Website: beaufortschools.net

At the Beaufort County School District, academic excellence and student success is at the forefront of everything it does. With three of its high schools ranked in South Carolina’s Top 35 by U.S. News and World Report magazine, and all six ranked in the state’s top half, the district has a proven track record of achievement. Under the leadership of Superintendent Frank Rodriguez, student literacy test scores on state assessments are the highest in the district’s history. With more than 3,000 employees, it

is one of the largest employers in the county. The school district believes in fostering a collaborative environment that supports and nurtures the potential of every student.

The district has a wide span of offerings, from the highest academic courses for college credit to career and technical education programming so students can earn industry certifications to support their career aspirations. Through its dual enrollment partnerships with Technical College of the Lowcountry and the University of South Carolina Beaufort, students can participate in college-level courses while still in high school. In the 2022-23 academic year, the district had more than 700 student enrollments in dual enrollment classes, preparing them for the rigors of college and beyond.

HILTON HEAD PRIVATE SCHOOLS: HERITAGE ACADEMY

Type : Private

Grades : 6th to 12th grade

Websit e: heritageacademy.org

A private, coeducational school for grades 6 to 12, Heritage Academy is fully accredited by SCISA and COGNIA. The school has students from the local community, as well as internationally, who take advantage of the school’s unique academic program and philosophy. Heritage Academy’s students actively engage in learning as accomplished scholars, artists, and athletes whether in the classroom or pursuing extracurricular activities. The academic expectations and level of instruction at Heritage Academy exceed SCISA/COGNIA guidelines, university admissions criteria and NCAA Eligibility Center standards.

HILTON HEAD PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Type: Private

Grades: Junior Kindergarten to 12th grade

S tudent Population: 440

Website: hhprep.org

With new Head of School, Paul W. Horgan, completing his first year, exciting things are on the horizon for Hilton Head Prep. Hilton Head Prep is an accredited independent school with exemplary faculty who strive to create students of character, integrity and responsibility in a safe and welcoming environment. With small class sizes , Hilton Head Prep uses an innovative college preparatory curriculum that includes courses in liberal arts, science, technology and ethics, as well as rigorous Advanced Placement and honors courses. The school is continually ranked among the top K-12 independent schools locally, regionally and nationally, and 100% of Hilton Head Prep graduates are accepted to college. Hilton Head Prep also offers numerous opportunities for participation in athletics, the arts, after-school clubs and community service.

ISLAND ACADEMY

Type: Private

Grades: Preschool to 12th grade

Website: hhiacademy.org

The mission of The Island Academy of Hilton Head is to provide students with a collaborative, challenging, and creative learning environment empowering them to be contributing citizens. The school seeks to ensure that all students participate in their own education. It provides a unique learning opportunity by partnering with the community, focusing on mastery over grades, and teaching children how to become curious lifelong thinkers and doers who explore and create in and beyond the classroom.

ST. FRANCIS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Type: Private

Grades: Pre-K4 to 8th grade

Website: sfcshhi.com

The school’s mission is to nurture students’ spiritual and intellectual growth in “an authentically Catholic community committed to academic excellence.” It provides each student with a solid academic background, using the best available teaching methods, materials, and technology.

SEA PINES MONTESSORI ACADEMY

Type: Private

Grades: 18 months to 6th grade

Website: spma.com

Sea Pines Montessori Academy provides high quality authentic Montessori education to children beginning at the toddler age through grade 6.

Founded in 1968 by the late Mary Fraser, the school has grown exponentially in the past 55 years. The school serves children ages 18 months through 12 years old and will be adding a middle school classroom in the fall of 2024. The facility offers large classrooms, full library, school gardens, and a shaded playground.

The Montessori method has been inspiring and developing capable people who not only excel academically but who are thoughtful and have a strong sense of self and their relation to the world. Through carefully designed multi-age classrooms the child can work with hands-on multisensory materials designed to ignite a love for learning. SPMA enriches the Montessori curriculum with additional music, art, Spanish, and physical education classes for children in kindergarten and up. Elementary students have music classes with instruction in Suzuki violin, fitness classes with formal lessons in tennis and golf, and opportunities to participate in Model UN.

BLUFFTON PRIVATE SCHOOLS: CROSS SCHOOLS

Type: Private

Grades: Pre school-12th grade

Website: crossschools.org

Cross Schools inspires future leaders to grow spiritually and academically by “intentionally designing opportunities for inquisitive learning and active service all for the glory of God.” Small classes, rigorous academics, various enrichment courses, community service, athletics, and faith-based learning help prepare the children to grow into collaborative thinkers with moral and spiritual principles.

HILTON HEAD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Type: Private

Grades: Kindergarten to 12th

Website: hhca.org

Student Population: 630

HHCA will welcome more than 630 students to its state-of-the-art K-12 Bluffton campus with the start of the new school year — a record-high enrollment in the school’s 44-year history. HHCA’s innovative campus, which opened in Bluffton in 2021 and serves families from all over the Lowcountry, boasts a 95% retention rate.

HHCA’s inquiry-based learning model focuses on outcomes that matter, a culture that empowers, teaching that engages, and technology that enables — in a distinctively Christian environment. Students have the opportunity for deeper learning through practical application, giving them real-world experience that prepares them for future success in their desired field.

HHCA has a guidance team with a proven history of preparing students for college, career, and life. One hundred percent of students who apply to college are accepted, and over 90% earn merit-based scholarships. Ranked among the top private K-12 schools in South Carolina and voted the No. 1 K-12 school in Bluffton, HHCA offers award-winning fine arts programs and athletic teams.

JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Type: Private

Grades: 6th to 12th grade

Website: johnpaul2school.org

John Paul II Catholic School educates students of all faiths in a caring, Christ-centered environment. JPII prepares students to be “scholars with a soul in accordance with the traditions of the Catholic faith” and through the intentional commitment to our core values of service, high expectations, innovation, excellence, leadership, and discipleship.

MAY RIVER MONTESSORI

Type: Private

Grades: Preschool to 12th grade

Website: mayrivermontessori.com

May River Montessori inspires a love of learning, compassion, and acceptance through an authentic Montessori community. May River Montessori opened its doors in 1987. Since then the school has continued to grow through three relocations and over seven major additions and renovations to its current home. May River Montessori has played a significant role in the social and educational environment of the growing Bluffton community.

ST. GREGORY THE GREAT CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Type: Private

Grades: Pre school to 6th grade

Website: sggcs.org

Saint Gregory the Great Catholic School is dedicated to the spiritual, cultural, social, moral, and intellectual development of students of all faiths. As a preschool through 6th grade ministry of Saint Gregory the Great Parish, in collaboration with its families and faith community, it offers a challenging curriculum in a “nurturing, Christian environment, rooted in Catholic tradition.”

HIGHER EDUCATION:

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT

Type: Public university

Grades: Undergraduate and graduate programs

Website: uscb.edu

Student Population: 2,100

USCB offers small classes and personalized instruction in 51 areas including 19 bachelor’s degree and two master’s degree programs. Associate’s degrees and 100 percent online degrees are also offered. The graduate programs are M.S. in Computational Science and M.Ed. in Literacy. USCB specializes in experiential learning, with students participating in internships, community service projects, international programs, fieldwork and research. The Beaufort College Honors program is open to qualified students of all majors and has specific cohorts in Biology and Nursing. The Sand Sharks compete in 13 men’s and women’s sports — baseball, basketball, softball, women’s soccer, golf,

cross country, indoor/outdoor track and field — in the NCAA Division II Peach Belt Conference. Students from 31 states and 19 countries live in apartment-style residences on the Beaufort and Bluffton campuses. USCB’s world-renowned Hospitality Management program is based on Hilton Head Island.

USCB is the lead on a $1 million National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines Development Award to establish the Maritime Cybersecurity Institute in the Lowcountry. Collaborating with partners, USCB will conduct research to understand vulnerabilities, interdependencies and risks in the regional maritime ecosystem and develop technologies to enhance safety and security. Enhanced cybersecurity education and workforce development programs are among the program’s goals.

TECHNICAL COLLEGE OF THE LOWCOUNTRY

Type: Public

Grades: Two-year, post-secondary education and workforce training.

Website: tcl.edu

The Technical College of the Lowcountry offers 60+ degree, certificate and diploma pathways across credit and non-credit programs. Our student body is diverse, active and engaged. Student-centered learning happens in real-world settings in and out of the classroom, in-person and online. The College offers the highest quality programs to prepare you to transfer to a four-year university or to enter a high-skilled, in-demand career.

SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN (SCAD)

Type: Private, nonprofit, accredited university

Grades: Undergraduate and graduate studies

Student Population: 16,000+

Website: scad.edu

SCAD is a private, nonprofit, accredited university, offering more than 100 graduate and undergraduate degree programs across locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and online via SCADnow. SCAD enrolls more than 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 120 countries. The future-minded SCAD curriculum engages professional-level technology and myriad advanced learning resources, affording students opportunities for internships, professional certifications,

and real-world assignments with corporate partners through SCADpro, the university’s renowned research lab and prototype generator. SCAD is No. 1 in the U.S., according to Art & Object’s 2023 Best Art Schools ranking, with additional top rankings for degree programs in interior design, architecture, film, fashion, digital media, and more. Career success is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni employment rate. For the past five years, 99% of SCAD graduates were employed, pursuing further education, or both within 10 months of graduation. SCAD provides students and alumni with ongoing career support through personal coaching, alumni programs, a professional presentation studio, and more.

What starts here changes everything.

school news

COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES NOVEMBER BOND REFERENDUM

The Beaufort County Board of Education voted to hold a county-wide bond referendum in November aimed at improving school safety, rebuilding or replacing inadequate facilities, population growth, and adding Career and Technical Education space to address academic needs, a news release said. The Nov. 7 referendum will seek voter approval for $439 million in school safety and security enhancements; a rebuild of Hilton Head Island High School; replacement of Lady’s Island Middle School, a new Pre-K-5 elementary school in Bluffton, a gymnasium for Riverview Charter School, career and technical education renovations and additions, a technology warehouse imaging center, HVAC replacements, furniture, parking lots/drives/ sidewalks, a new early childhood center, and a kitchen at Right Choices.

MAY RIVER HIGH WELCOMES NEW PRINCIPAL

KaRon Webb, Ed.D., is the new principal at May River High School. Webb began his administrative career as an assistant administrator at Spring Valley High School in Columbia and served as assistant principal in Chester and as principal of Ridge Spring-Montetta Middle/High School in Montetta.

BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL OPENS NEW ATHLETIC FACILITIES

A ribbon-cutting ceremony at Bluffton High School marked the official opening of the athletic field house and wrestling-cheer room. The projects were built using revenues from the Beaufort County School District bond referendum approved by county voters in November 2019. The 5,710-square-foot field house, located adjacent to the football stadium and track, has locker rooms for fall and spring athletes, a referee locker room, and a training room. The 2,878-square-foot wrestling-cheer room is near the school’s gym.

WHALE BRANCH NAMES ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Kaysee Sullivan is the new athletic director at Whale Branch High. Sullivan competed as a thrower for the University of South Carolina. She has worked as an athletic director at South Mecklenburg in North Carolina. Sullivan was a three-sport star at Fort Dorchester.

HILTON HEAD PREP NAMES NEW ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Shon Hardy is the new athletic director at Hilton Head Prep. Hardy previously was athletic director at Calvary Day School in Savannah, Ga. He was the assistant women’s basketball coach at Northeastern University in Boston, head varsity women’s basketball coach at Ravenscroft School in Raleigh, N.C. and athletic director at Episcopal Collegiate in Little Rock, Arkansas.

BLUFFTON HIGH HIRES SOFTBALL COACH

Rachael Zeides is new varsity softball coach at Bluffton High. She played shortstop at Rider University in New Jersey. Zeides received a bachelor of arts degree in secondary education and mathematics. She teaches math at the high school.

HHCA STUDENTS ELECTED TO LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AT SC GIRLS, BOYS STATE

Five rising seniors represented Hilton Head Christian Academy at this summer’s Palmetto Girls State and Palmetto Boys State programs. Each was elected into leadership positions by their peers. Palmetto Girls State: Margaret Hiers, Elected Federalist Party Council Executive Chairwoman; Emme Lentz, Mayor and House Representative; Briana Williams, Treasurer of the Federalist Party.

Palmetto Boys State: Jack Mau, Mayor and Senator; Connor White, Mayor and Senator. The programs provide impactful leadership and citizenship training and educate high school students about state and local government and citizenship, HHCA said.

entertainment & exhibitions

AUG. 3

THE LOWCOUNTRY CHAPTER OF AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AT THE FARMERS MARKET OF BLUFFTON: Enjoy fun and invigorating music performed by some of the finest musicians in the Lowcountry on the first Thursday of every month. The Lowcountry Chapter of American Guild of Organists will be highlighting music for the organ, recorder, piano and

other collaborative instruments. It will feature audience favorites by Bach, Handel and Beethoven as well as the most requested repertoire for weddings, including, “Trumpet Voluntary” and “Pachelbel Canon.” An audience sing-along will be held at each concert. 1 p.m. Bluffton United Methodist Church, 101 Calhoun Street, Bluffton. For more information, contact Dr. Pamela Kane at pkane@sgg.cc. 843-706-4534 or townofbluffton.sc.gov

AUG. 5

ANONYMOUS ANCESTORS: A new exhibition fusing together history and art, featuring the mixed media work of Susan Lenz. Members-only preview will be on Aug. 3 from 6 p.m.- 7 p.m. for Morris Center Members. The Artist Talk will be on Aug. 26. Open Tuesday- Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, 10782 S. Jacob Smart Blvd., Ridgeland. 843-284-9227 or morrisheritagecenter.org.

JERSEY BOYS

BELOW THE SURFACE: UNDERWATER FANTASIES ON EXHIBIT

AUG. 30- SEPT. 29

A collection of paintings by Judy Blahut will be on display at The Art League Gallery located inside of The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. Blahut’s collection features fantastical “waterscapes” made of sinuous and lyrical forms bathed in translucent light. This new series from the lifelong painter is an ode to water’s hidden beauty and power. Meet the artist and enjoy refreshments at the opening reception on Wednesday, Aug. 30 from 5-7 p.m. The Artist’s Demonstration will take place on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 11 a.m. Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-681-5060 or artshhi.com.

AUG. 12

JERSEY BOYS: Enjoy this Tony Awardwinning musical about The Four Seasons. Watch the rise, struggles, disagreements and the amazing triumph of a group of friends whose music symbolized a generation and was loved for generations to come. Tickets are $57- $62. The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Ln, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-2787 or artscenterhhi.com

AUG. 15

VOICES UNDER THE STARS: A Hilton Head Park Concert: Pack up your picnic basket and come enjoy our beautiful singers and members of the Hilton Head Symphony as they team up for an unforgettable evening under the stars. Free and open to the public.

In partnership with Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra. Lowcountry Celebration Park, 94 Pope Ave, Hilton Head Island. vivenu.com

AUG. 16- 26

COMEDY & MAGIC WITH KERRY

POLLACK AND TIM HILL: Kerry Pollock is known for his clean and original approach to entertain audiences for nearly three decades. Tim Hill enjoys performing a show that is fun and free of offensive or embarrassing material. Comedy Magic Cabaret, 843 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head Island. 843681-7757 or comedymagiccabaret.com

AUG. 22

AN EVENING WITH AUTHOR AMY PAIGE CONDON: Enjoy an evening with Amy Paige Condon as she

releases her first paperback biography on the influential editor Bill Baggs. Bill Baggs is the late editor of the former Miami News who was known to challenge unpopular ideas in his front-page columns, such as protesting the environment, desegregating public schools and peace in Vietnam.

The Miami News earned three Pulitzer Prizes under Baggs’ leadership. Condon retraces how an orphaned boy from rural Colquitt, Georgia used his column as a bully pulpit for social justice and wielded his pen like a scalpel to reveal the truth. Free event. 5 p.m. The Conroy Center. 601 Bladen St, Beaufort. Books will be available for sale and signing. Call to reserve your seat in advance: 843-379-7025.

meet ups and markets

AUG. 4

FRIENDS FOR CAREGIVERS: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT DEMENTIA RESEARCH: Join this informational Zoom meeting about caring for someone with dementia. RSVP to this event by calling 843-842-6688 or info@mymemorymatters.org. mymemorymatters.org

AUG. 12

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.

AUG. 17- SEPT. 14

SAVVY CAREGIVER: Join this five-week session each Thursday and learn the tools to become the best caregiver you can be for your loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another dementiarelated disease. Grace Community Church, 450 Spanish Wells Rd, Hilton Head Island. Cost is $99. Register online to secure your space. 843-8426688 or info@mymemorymatters.org. mymemorymatters.org

AUG. 19

CARS AND COFFEE: Cars and Coffee

HHI is a meet up for car enthusiasts. All are welcome to attend this event held the 3rd Saturday of each month. Free to attend. 8 a.m.- 11 a.m. USCB Campus, 1 University Blvd, Bluffton. carsandcoffeehhi@gmail.com or carsandcoffeehhi.com.

AUG. 19

BOATING SAFETY CLASS: America’s Boating Club Hilton Head hosts an America’s Boating Course safety class. Open to the public. $75 for individuals or $100 for couples. Children with parents $20. Visit abchh.org and look for Upcoming Classes under the education tab. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. USCB Osher Learning Center in Bluffton.

AUGUST (DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED)

WANDERLUST MARKETS- HILTON HEAD ISLAND: 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. Lincoln & South Brewing Company, 138 Island Drive, Hilton Head Island. Follow @Wanderlust Markets on Facebook for more information. 843-422-3992 or uscroach@gmail.com.

summer events

HARBOURFEST AT SHELTER COVE

HARBOUR & MARINA: A weekly celebration with live music and entertainment, arts and crafts, kids’ activities and Tuesday Night Fireworks. Receive text alert updates: Text PD to 833-428-2890. 1 Shelter Cove Ln, Hilton Head Island. sheltercoveharbourfest. com

PERFORMANCES BY SHANNON

TANNER: Two shows: 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays through Aug. 25.

CAPPY THE CLOWN: Monday through Friday through Sept. 1 and Labor Day Weekend on Sept. 2-3. 6 p.m.- 9 p.m.

FIREWORKS: Enjoy fireworks on Tuesday evenings on Aug. 1, 8, 15 and 22. Fireworks begin when the sky is dark.

PARROT PALOOZA WITH SHANNON

TANNER AND THE OYSTER REEFERS: Shows begin at 7 p.m. on Thursdays through Aug. 24 and on Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 2 and 3.

AUG. 3, 10, 17

MOVIE NIGHTS AT SHELTER COVE

TOWNE CENTRE: Bring lawn chairs, blankets, pillows and snacks to this family friendly event at the park. Free and open to the public. Rain or shine. Local restaurants are located within a short walking distance to the park.

8:30 p.m. Aug. 3- Beauty and the Beast, Aug. 10- Cars, Aug. 17- Remember the Titans. Shelter Cove Community Park, 39 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head. sheltercovetownecentre.com

AUG. 4, 11, 18

SUNSET CELEBRATION SUMMER

CONCERT SERIES: Bring lawn chairs, blankets and snacks to this family friendly event. Free and open to the public. Rain or shine. Local restaurants are located within a short walking distance to the park. 7 p.m.- 10 p.m. Aug. 4- Tower of Funk & The Choosy Mother’s Horns, Aug. 11- Cranford Hollow, Aug. 18- Deas-Guys.

Shelter Cove Community Park, 39 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head. Sheltercovetownecentre.com.

SUNDAYS

DEAS GUYZ AT THE JAZZ CORNER: 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.

MONDAYS THROUGH AUGUST

THE SEA TURTLE PATROL TALKS: Bring a chair and enjoy this family- friendly event presented by Director and Marine Biologist, Amber Kuehn, who will let you know how you can help protect this endangered species.

Free and open to the public. 8 p.m.- 9 p.m. Lowcountry Celebration Park, 94 Pope Avenue, Hilton Head Island. seaturtlepatrolhhi.org

MONDAYS

SHUCK IT TRIVIA AT BROTHER SHUCKERS

BAR & GRILL: Best trivia on the island. 6:30 p.m., 7 Greenwood Dr, #3, Hilton Head Island. 843-785-7000 or brothershuckershhi.com

MONDAYS

SING INTO SUMMER: Join the Shore Notes women’s chorus summer camp on Aug. 7, 14 and Aug. 21. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Okatee Baptist Church, 5467 N. Okatie Hwy (Route 170), Ridgeland. 843-705-6852 or hiltonheadshorenotes.com

TUESDAYS

HILTON HEAD FARMERS MARKET: Visit our expanding list of regular vendors, plus a rotating schedule of food trucks and new arrivals. Find the freshest local produce, fresh meats, seafood and fresh, baked goods. 9 a.m.- 1p.m. Coastal Discovery Museum, Honey Horn Campus, 70 Honey Horn Dr, Hilton Head Island. ContactRex, Manager- 843-415-8500 or info@ coastaldiscovery.org. coastaldiscovery. org. coastaldiscovery.org

TUESDAYS

THE FARMERS & MAKERS MARKET: A local, charming festival featuring artisans, craft makers and fresh local foods including seafood, produce, breads and baked goods. 10 a.m. -2 p.m. The Shops at Sea Pines Center, 71 Lighthouse Road, Hilton Head Island. 843-363-5699 or theshopsatseapinescenter.com

TUESDAYS

FAT TUESDAYS: A swinging celebration of New Orleans & Beyond: 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.

TUESDAYS THROUGH AUGUST

KAYAKING TOUR OF JARVIS CREEK: Meet at Jarvis Creek and kayak from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. $40/Adult, $36/Child. Book online to reserve in advance. coastaldiscovery.org

WEDNESDAYS (DATES MAY CHANGE)

FARMER’S MARKET AT THE FARM IN PALMETTO BLUFF: Lowcountry Made vendors include local artists, makers and artisans. Upcoming dates include October 4th & 18th, November 8 & 29th and December 17th. Free and open to the public. 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. Lcmade.com.

WEDNESDAYS- AUG. 2, 9, 16, 23 ROOT AND BLOOM MARKET: Join us at this weekly market supporting small business and featuring natural foods, organic produce, pastured meats, select artisans and natural wellness products. 3 p.m. -7 p.m. Martin Family Park, 68 Boundary Street, Bluffton. discoverrootandbloommarket.com

WEDNESDAYS

CLASSIC OPEN MIC NIGHT HOSTED BY WILL COOK: Featured artists every week. Beginning at 8 p.m. until late. Elements Restaurant and Lounge, 2 N Forest Beach Dr, Hilton Head. 843802-4942 or elementshhi.com.

WEDNESDAYS

DOLPHIN & NATURE CRUISE: Meet at Broad Creek Marina for this family friendly cruise along Broad Creek and explore the waterways, salt marsh, dolphins and more. $30/Adult, $20/ Child (ages 1-12). 3 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. coastaldiscovery.org

THURSDAYS

DUELING PIANO SHOW: The only Dueling Pianos Show on Hilton Head Island takes place each Thursday night on the Rooftop Bar. 8 p.m. -11 p.m. Poseidon, 38 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-341-3838 or therooftophhi.com

THURSDAYS

CORNBRED AT BROTHERS SHUCKER’S: Enjoy live music beginning at 8:30 p.m. 7 Greenwood Dr, #3, Hilton Head Island. 843-785-7000 or brothershuckershhi.com

THURSDAYS

FARMERS MARKET OF BLUFFTON: Meet local farmers, chefs and artisans every Thursday on Boundary Street and purchase fresh strawberries, produce, beets, potatoes and more. 12 p.m. -5p.m., Martin Family Park, 68 Boundary Street, Bluffton. 843-4152337 or farmersmarketbluffton.org

THURSDAYS

EXPLORE PINCKNEY ISLAND: Meet at Pinckney Island to experience history and nature during a 1.5 mile guided tour of this diverse national wildlife

refuge. $15/Adult, $7/Child (ages 4-12). Book online in advance on coastaldiscovery.org

FRIDAYS

SAVANNAH PORT CRUISE: Meet in Savannah and join this cruise to experience the nation’s largest port in action from the water. The Savannah Port has over 50 piers, wharves and docks. $65/Adult, $45/ Child. 10 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. Book in advance at coastaldiscovery.org.

BEGINNER SHAG LESSONS AND SOCIAL DANCING: The Hilton Head Island Carolina Shag Club hosts Friday night beginner lessons followed by social dancing. Dances are open to the public and include all styles of dance such as ballroom, wing, country or line dancing. Floor fee is $5. Lessons begin at 5 p.m. Christ Lutheran Church, 829 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head. 843-363-6008 or hiltonheadshagclub.com

SATURDAYS

HILTON HEAD COMMUNITY

MARKET: A volunteer organized food event featuring local artisans and makers. 50 percent of all vendor fees received are donated to a local non-profit organization each month. 9 a.m. -12 p.m. 39 Shelter Cove Ln, Hilton Head Island. Follow @hhicommunitymarket on Facebook.

SATURDAYS

LOUISE SPENCER AND RICK

RADCLIFF AT KIND OF BLUE: Vocalist Louise Spencer and pianist Rick Radcliff offer an evening of jazz and dancing. 5:45 p.m. -7 p.m. Call for reservations- 843-686-2868 or kindofbluehhisc.com

worth the drive

AUG. 2

COUNTING CROWS IN CONCERT: Seasoned rockers who got their start in the 90s with tunes such as “Mr. Jones,” “A Long December,” “Round Here,” and more have released a new EP, ‘Butter Miracle, Suite One’ and North American Tour. Credit One Stadium, 161 Seven Farms Dr, Charleston. 843-856-7900 or ticketnetwork.com.

AUG. 4-6

MONSTER JAM: Monster trucks face off in three forms of competition: racing, twowheel skills and freestyle. Enmarket Arena, 620 Stiles Ave, Savannah. Aug. 4th -5th at 7 p.m. Aug. 6th at 1 p.m. Tickets range from $35- $226 and can be purchased online at vividseats.com.

AUG 13

PATTI LABELLE IN CONCERT: 7 p.m.- 11 p.m. Savannah Civic Center, 301 W Oglethorpe Ave, Savannah.

looking ahead

SEPT. 2 & 3

THE WORLD’S BEST POLICE TRIBUTE BAND: Tickets are $63 and can be purchased online. Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-2787 or artshhi.com

SEPT. 9

3RD ANNUAL MOVE YOUR MIND 5K WALK/RUN: A 400-meter kid’s fun run will be added for children 6 and under before the race begins. The event is in front of the Marriott Grande Ocean. Pet friendly. Complimentary pancakes will be served following the race by volunteers from Providence Presbyterian Church. Complimentary parking will also be provided by PPC and is directly across the street from the starting line of the race. Medals will be given to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners of the 400-meter

as well as the overall 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners of the 5K and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd dogs that cross the finish line! 8 a.m.-10 a.m. 51 S. Forest Beach Dr, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-6688 or mymemorymatters.org

SEPT. 16 & 23

WALK FOR WATER: This year’s event includes two back-to-back Saturday walks planned to raise awareness of the global water crisis and raise money to provide sustainable, safe water around the world. All funds raised will benefit Water Mission, a non-profit ,Christian engineering organization based in Charleston that helps to create safe water solutions in disaster areas and developing countries. All participants will receive a T-shirt. The first walk will take place on Sept. 16 at Live Oaks Park in Port Royal. The second walk will take place at Wright Family Park in Bluffton. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Robert Lasher at 843-906-8118 or rlasher5519@ gmail.com. Register online at walkforwater.com/beaufortco or call 843-769-7395.

SEPT. 27- OCT 29

CLUE: Enjoy this hilarious, farce meets murder mystery inspired by the board game and based on the iconic 1985 film. Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Ln, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-2787 or artshhi.com

OCT. 5, 12, 19

BRAIN BOOSTERS: This three-week course will take place on Thursdays inside the Okatie Pines Retirement Community in the theatre. Okatie Pines Retirement Community, 142 Okatie Center Blvd N, Okatie. 843842-6688 or mymemorymatters.org.

BOAT RACK

Photo: Sasha Sweeney