sort of felt like I was on a summer vacation as we put together this issue highlighting all the fun things the Lowcountry has to offer.
As always, we were at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina to kick off the first HarbourFest night on June 3. There was a huge crowd for the inaugural fireworks night of the 36th season and we were there to chronicle all the families who had come back to get their hats signed by Shannon Tanner and their faces painted by Cappy the Clown. See the story on page 36.
Then it was off to beautiful Beaufort for a different sort of backdrop to our July fashion spread. We popped into the kazoo museum, trekked to the Boneyard Beach, posed in front of the lighthouse, and lunched with Campfire Tyler at the Waterfront Park. Head on over to page 44 to follow those adventures.
While not wasting time on TikTok a few months ago, I came across a video from someone who had just been to Eudora Wildlife Animal Safari, in Salley, SC. On a visit to Pine Mountain, Georgia, a few years ago, I had the opportunity to feed wild animals from the car, so I was eager to do it again. I had no idea we had one so close – so Jevon Daly and I headed out in our safari gear to have one of the most unique day-tripping
experiences I’ve had in a while. Cruise on over to page 130 to read Barry Kaufman’s article and follow us on social for the video of an unforgettable experience with Ellie the Giraffe. One bit of advice: Maybe take your older car … the camels can be aggressive when trying to get the snacks you’re feeding them from your car window!
If you’re going to be on an island on vacation, you must get out on a boat. Our resident therapist, Sheila Tucker, and I did just that for the maiden voyage of the Outside Hilton Head Lowcountry Boil dinner cruise. The vibes were high as we boarded the Aloha with our other media friends and enjoyed a delicious dinner and cocktails provided by Sprout Mommas. For details on how to book this experience and several other fun on the water adventures, sail over to page 30.
We had so much fun putting together this issue for summer, and I hope you enjoy learning about things that maybe you didn’t even know existed around here.
Have a wonderful July! We’ll see you next month for our highly anticipated Women in Business issue!
Photography by The Wonder Road
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMBER KUEHN
A COMMITTED RELATIONSHIP,
DAY AFTER DAY
There is no such thing as a weekend. It could be Stranded Sea Turtle Sunday, Washed up Whale Wednesday, Tourist Trouble Tuesday. Whatever it is, it is completely unpredictable and constantly changing with the weather, wildlife, and whim.
Maintaining this ridiculously random day-to-day is like a competition with an unseen opponent. After two decades, I’ve encountered most of the wildlife hurdles repeatedly and experience has equipped me with the confidence to handle it.
It’s like any relationship. I’m attached to the beach because I spend time with it while taking care of it for those that depend on it. Long nights are spent enforcing personal property removal after sunset, assisting town code enforcement with lighting violations after 10 p.m. on Saturday nights, nightly monitoring for three renourishment projects, and of course, Sea Turtle Patrol and Stranding Response.
Observing 3 million beachgoers annually and becoming politically involved to advocate for beach ordinances to mitigate human impact on sea turtle nesting habitat requires persistence and dedication. Relationships are hard work, but there is always potential for unexpected moments that revive the passion and refresh stale initiative.
BACK TO THE BEACH
After the whale incident that consumed me for three days in May, I was headed home when I got a call from the SCDNR radio room. “There is a sea turtle with a hook in its mouth. The fisherman is keeping it in the surf until help arrives. The location is beach marker 8 on Hilton Head Beach. Will you respond?”
“Seriously?” I answered in disbelief. I turned the truck around.
As I rounded the sandy toe, I was relieved to see a familiar red Tacoma carrying one of my lifeguard friends and it made me smile. I was so tired.
A juvenile loggerhead found her way back to Hilton Head Island about 10 to 15 years early, and an unfortunate encounter with a fisherman's hook is the only reason her presence was discovered by
Sea Turtle Patrol.
Just one look, and I knew immediately that the sea turtle was a loggerhead, but then I realized … I’ve never seen a loggerhead like this one! It was only 48 centimeters – about 18 inches long! My heart reacted, my passion flared, and I woke up. If you just thought to yourself “What’s the big deal?” let me explain.
A loggerhead this size has recently returned from its migration to the Azores (Portugal) and Canary Islands (Morocco). It left the East Coast of the USA as a tiny hatchling and statistically, it is 1 of 100 hatchlings that survived the
nearshore predators and the three-day swim from the shore to the Gulf Stream current, 70 miles east of Hilton Head Island.
There is no reliable statistic for loggerhead hatchlings surviving the full migration and the next 30 years before becoming sexually mature. Loggerheads return to the East Coast at approximately 15 years old, but are rarely seen in our area. I assume that they prefer a familiar habitat, the visibly clear water of the Caribbean Sea that is similar to the islands where they grew up.
Loggerheads eat things that can be found on the ocean floor such as whelk, clams, crabs, and urchins. Very little sunlight penetrates the water in the Lowcountry because it is filled with larval fish, crabs, shrimp, oysters, etc. The density of these microscopic spawn in the warm, cozy
Loggerheads eat things that can be found on the ocean floor such as whelk, clams, crabs, and urchins.
summer months is immense in Beaufort County’s salt marsh estuary, the “Nursery of the Ocean.” Light encounters the surface of the water and “bends” – which is called “refraction.”
Individual light waves penetrate the water and reflect on the high concentration of microscopic organisms. Without light in the water, you can’t see through it – it is dark, NOT dirty!
Sea turtles are reptiles and therefore have lungs to breathe air. However, they have evolved the ability to smell their prey underwater in areas where light does not reach the ocean floor. They open their beak slightly to take in water and force the water out of their nostrils. Before the water is expelled, it passes an olfactory gland, which allows them to smell the water and identify food items that are nearby.
These new loggerhead recruits will rely on this instinctual ability passed down through 100 million years of evolutionary adaptation to find food in their new, bountiful but obscure Lowcountry foraging ground.
A MESSAGE OF HOPE
Since this sea turtle is not sexually mature, there was no visible indication of gender. I went with “female” in my narrative, because I hope that she survives for another 10 to 15 years to lay eggs on this Hilton Head beach.
I had never held a juvenile loggerhead. I flipped her over onto her carapace (shell) to remove the hook. Only a hatchling sea turtle can turn itself back over. This method is not harmful to the turtle and it allowed us to keep her still. To prevent her beak from biting my fingers, I inserted a plastic tent spike for her to bite down on and we were able to easily remove the circle hook with plyers.
She was very active and ready to return to the water, but first, I had to measure and take pictures for my SCDNR stranding report. I am permitted (SCMTP- 566) to handle endangered sea turtles when necessary, but I must admit that I did not want to put her back on the sand. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. It wasn’t happiness; it was pure joy.
This loggerhead had not been out of the water since she emerged from her nest and followed the reflection of the moon on the water to find the ocean years ago. When it was time to put her back on the sand, she directed her gaze to the ocean. Her loggerhead gait – the alternating front flipper crawl – was very awkward. As she entered the water, her practiced and efficient breaststroke propelled her gracefully into her element.
Afterwards, I called my SCDNR supervisor in Charleston in disbelief. She said that she had gotten another recent report of a juvenile similar to this one. “It is a good sign,” she said. “It means that we are getting early recruitment to the area.”
In contrast to the sad sperm whale scenario, the ocean delivered a message of hope to the beach and the beach shared it with me. I can’t ignore the timing. It was the spark that we needed to revive and refresh our relationship.
Before she left, I took a small piece of keratin from her shell for a DNA sample. If she returns to nest in 10 to 15 years, I will know who she is. She is now a character in my journey and I am so privileged to have met her.
Sea Turtle Patrol's Amber Kuehn poses with the young loggerhead turtle after removing a fisherman's hook from her mouth.
A group heads out on a dolphin excusion with Island Explorer.
Article by Barry Kaufman
Photography by M.Kat
BRING ME THAT HORIZON
Ultimate aquatic adventures abound
This is it. This is your summer.
This is the year you grab life by the wheel and head out to explore the natural majesty and unfettered excitement that has made the Lowcountry one of the world’s most enticing destinations for adventurers. Along our creeks and lagoons, among the waves, and out into the open ocean that stretches to the horizon, there are countless ways to lose yourself, find yourself, and reconnect with your thirst for life.
In a place like this, in a county where the water makes up more acreage than the land, it’s truly the only way to satisfy that thirst. Let the landlubbers play their pickleball. Let them scald themselves on the beach’s alabaster sand. We, those who yearn for adventure with every fiber of our being, know that the sea’s challenges are met only by the daring. And this is the summer we answer that challenge.
So raise the colors, hoist the anchor and rig the sails. We’re heading out to adventure.
Feast of the Seas: Outside Hilton Head’s Lowcountry Boil Dinner Cruise
If there is a single name that has become synonymous with adventure on the water, it’s Outside Hilton Head. Since its 1979 inception as a windsurfing
school, the brand created by owner Mike Overton has evolved to incorporate everything the water touches. Kayak rentals, dolphin cruises, fishing and shrimping expeditions, family beachcombing getaways – if it floats, they have a hand in it.
With Outside’s latest offering, they have completed the final piece of the puzzle in offering every experience possible on the waves.
“One of the most common questions we would get was whether there is a dinner cruise. There was a real hole in the marketplace,” said Matt McKee, director of marketing for Outside Brands. “Up until now, there really hasn’t been one.”
Launching for the first time this past May, Outside Hilton Head’s Lowcountry Boil Dinner Cruise takes guests for a two-hour cruise up Broad Creek and into Calibogue Sound on a relaxing sunset sail. Along the way, they’ll dine on our region’s signature dish, provided by the culinary wizards at Sprout Momma.
“We use them for catering all the time in our destination marketing division, so they were the perfect fit for this cruise,”
McKee said. “It’s a true dinner cruise experience, with lively conversation and so much to see on the water. And it’s very family friendly.”
The Outside Hilton Head’s Lowcountry Boil Dinner Cruise sets off every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Visit outsidehiltonhead. com for details and to book your spot.
Chart Your Course: Aloha Pontoon Boat Rentals
When it comes to adventure, a captain wants but one thing: their hands on the wheel, guiding the way forward. Not to be crew or a passenger on someone else’s journey, but to be the one setting the course.
For a captain, there’s no substitute. And a year ago, Shelter Cove Marina gave every captain their wish when the rental side began offering a ship you can call your own, if only for the day. But these aren’t just any ships.
The Aloha Club Series pontoon boats they have on offer are some of the slickest party boats on the water. Powering through the water under the power of 150 horses, these boats hold up to a dozen passengers, with Garmin GPS to show you the way and top-of-the-line Bluetooth sound to keep the party bumping.
Simple to operate for even the greenest sea dogs, the GPS allows marina staff to set a custom route for you to follow, whether it’s a stirring trip around Harbour Town, a day trip to Daufuskie, or a peaceful sail on the May River.
“It’s a great way to spend the day with the family,” said Mason Lemon, harbourmaster at Shelter Cove Marina. “I always say that seeing the island by water is a totally different experience than by land. There’s so much to see … birds, dolphins, manatees, sea turtles … You can take these boats out fishing or just for a sunset cruise.”
The Ohana's captain and first mate welcome guests aboard Outside Hilton Head's Lowcountry Boil dinner cruise.
CH2's Maggie Washo and Outside Hilton Head's founder Mike Overton pose for a photo on the inaugural sailing of Outside Hilton Head's Lowcountry Boil Cruise.
Sprout Momma's owner Kim Tavino serves up a lowcountry boil with Jacqui.
A sunset cruise aboard the pontoon boats available for rent through Palmetto Dunes Resort.
Pontoon boats available for rent at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina.
Whatever the captain decides, that’s where these party boats will take you. But get yours early. “They stay pretty steadily booked up, so we definitely recommend booking ahead of time,” Lemon said.
You heard the man. Visit ShelterCoveMarinaBoatRentals. com to book yours.
Sail Like a Local: Native Son Adventures
Few people on Hilton Head Island can claim the kind of connection Byron Sewell enjoys with our area’s waterways. The son of famed surfer Hamp Sewell, Byron grew up with salt water in his veins, exploring the islands, shorelines and creeks that surround the island. The water was his playground, and when he launched Native Son Adventures, he did so in order to share that same unbridled wonder that still draws him in.
“I always wondered how I could make a living doing this stuff, and I still can’t believe it’s really happening,” Sewell said. “It’s such a great thing to see families connecting. That’s probably one of my favorite things.”
Like the wilderness of his youth, there are few limits to what you can do through his Native Son Adventures. There are, naturally, the fishing charters, leaning into Sewell’s lifetime of experience and secret knowledge of the area’s biggest honey holes. But for true immersion, you have to try the Day With a Native tour.
“It’s such a variety. We can fish, if the fish aren’t biting we can paddleboard from the boat … we don’t know what’s
A family enjoys an all-day boat excusion with Native Son Adventures.
A Blue Crab is discovered!
A small visitor learns to ride a wave at Hilton Head Outfitters Surf Camp.
going to happen. We just keep moving and following what nature’s giving us,” Sewell said. “We try to make every trip a real adventure. I have my dolphin calling horn, I put the kids in charge of spotting dolphins or baiting a crab trap. … That’s how my dad was with his surfing school, going way over the top in making things super exciting.”
The latest addition to the fleet, a custom-built tiki boat, takes families out on evening trips complete with island music, a full tiki bar, and a diving platform for getting up close and personal with native sea life. Visit nativesonadventures.com to start exploring.
A Jaws-ome Encounter: Outcast Sport Fishing
Hilton Head Island is home to any number of fishing charters, led by dedicated and experienced captains who can
take you out to sea in pursuit of cobia, king mackerel, and the great sportfish that lurk just offshore. But somehow only one of them has found himself consistently in the headlines for his catches. If you ask Chip Michalove why he has maintained such a high profile, his answer is simple: sharks.
“There’s no Tarpon Week on the Discovery Channel,” he said with a laugh. “There are a lot of really great fishermen on Hilton Head and I fortunately picked the species that makes the most news.”
His charter, Outcast Sport Fishing has garnered a reputation for landing some of the most fearsome predators on earth, reeling in hammerheads, tiger sharks, and the occasional great white.
“Fifteen years ago, we were fishing for edible species a
A happy fisherman snaps a quick photo before the shark is released back into the water.
Chip Michalove, owner of Outcast Sport Fishing, poses with a hammerhead shark before it is released.
Photo courtesy Chip Michalove
lot. Now we’re all fishing for Instagram pictures,” Michalove said. “It works out for me because I don’t have to spend two hours cleaning a fish. Plus I get to release them, which I like to do anyway.”
The move to start casting out for sharks was a natural evolution from Michalove’s fishing charter. When he used to try to end each trip with a monster shark, he quickly realized that the grand finale was becoming the main event. The thrill of reeling in some gigantic fish is one thing. The adrenaline rush of coming face-to-face with a prehistoric killing machine is something else.
“I’d have charters where’d we catch a sailfish and I wouldn’t hear from them again. But we’d catch a 12-foot hammerhead and they’re calling me six months in advance the next year and booking multiple days. Sharks are a completely different animal.”
Check out outcastfishing.com to book your next great white encounter.
The
Sweet
Life: Island Life Rentals
Founded by the legendary charter captain Jim Harkins, Island Explorer was already one of the most storied companies in the Lowcountry when Jeremy Gonsalves purchased it last year. Where he’s taken it since, merging it with his own Island Life Bike Rentals, has created an entirely new dynamic to the already incredible experience.
“This has always been something I love doing,” he said. “What I want to do is bring a little bit of my hospitality background to it and really focus on what the customer wants.”
Helping him achieve that goal is a crew of experienced, knowledgeable captains who stayed on as the company changed hands. Piloting a fleet of 12-passenger Carolina skiffs, they take explorers out from the gentle berths of Broad Creek’s Old Oyster Factory. These tamer waters provide a smooth, relaxing start to adventures that encompass experiences from dolphin tours and Daufuskie day trips to one of the island’s most intriguing geographical quirks.
“The vanishing island is by far our most popular outing,” Gonsalves said. “When you get out to the sound, there’s an island that exposes itself only at low tide. We let everyone off the boat and they just get to explore and comb the sand for starfish, crabs, shells … and it’s such an experience doing all of this in the middle of Calibogue Sound.”
To book your next adventure, visit islandliferentalshhi. com.
Beachcombers on an Island Explorer trip search for hidden treasures.
ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN . PHOTOGRAPHY BY MAGGIE WASHO
TUESDAYS AND FOREVER
HarbourFest at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina
IS MORE THAN A SINGLE NIGHT
There are few of us who can claim to have grown up here.
But there are a lucky handful of locals who carry fond memories of childhood summers on Hilton Head Island, of making the annual trek down from whatever midwestern or northeastern state we then called “home.” And we owe more to those memories than we know.
It was those remnant thoughts of summer happiness, lingering in our mind, that first nudged us to think about moving. They were the high we chased as we packed up stakes and took the plunge to do what most only dream of –calling paradise “home.” Those memories, ultimately, are what brought us here.
Fireworks light up the sky on a Tuesday night in June as guests at ELA's On the Water enjoy the view at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina.
And for a lot of us, those memories sure feel a lot like a Tuesday night at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina.
As a transplant now in my 23rd year in the Lowcountry, I speak from experience. I don’t remember exactly the first
time I experienced HarbourFest, but I still look back on all those childhood visits as a core part of what led me here. I can remember sitting on the terrace at San Miguel’s, before the Yacht Club Villas were built, enjoying a panorama
Shannon Tanner interviews a small visitor to Hilton Head Island while a large crowd looks on.
Children wait patiently for their turn in the unicorn bounce house.
across the harbour, lit dazzling green by pyrotechnics. I remember seeing a plane flying just above the show, and thinking those people right there were the only ones who had a better view than I did. But, I reasoned, I had easy access to nachos and therefore was ahead of the game.
I was brought back to that memory last month as I brought my daughter down to HarbourFest. By the time we arrived, the terrace at San Miguel’s was full. But just as well. My daughter just wanted to watch Shannon Tanner. She wanted to enter the messy hair contest. She wanted to do the “Flying Purple People Eater” dance. And she wanted a hat.
I acquiesced on the hat. And on a few scoops at Frosty’s Ice Cream (and I’m glad I did, as their Peanut Butter Brownie is now an all-time favorite). And yes, I also did the “Flying Purple People Eater” dance.
In between sets, I looked around and wondered how many other parents were in my exact same situation. How many of them, lured by the same nostalgia, were now bringing their own kids to experience HarbourFest. I know of at least one for sure, a gentleman named John Watkins who has been visiting since he was a baby.
His parents had been making the trip regularly since 1971, and first introduced him to HarbourFest sometime in the late ’80s. They were there with him, that night, now taking their grandchildren. This evening was the first visit for his own daughter.
“It’s enjoyable. We’re definitely excited,” said Watkins, who now lives in Charleston. “My son has seen the fireworks, but she’s never seen them.”
And that simple thread that HarbourFest represents might be the single greatest thing about it. For those of us who visited as kids, it’s our Disney World. It’s that place we come back to with our children to recapture some of that magic and hope we can pass it along.
And like Disney World, the only thing better than the
CH2 writer Barry Kaufman and his daughter, Charlie, enjoy a creamy treat from Frosty's Ice Cream.
Palmetto Kettle Corn
nostalgia of it all is seeing how it has changed. We didn’t have a train that ran through HarbourFest when I was a kid, but I’m glad my daughter can enjoy it. The number of vendors and activities has exploded, giving the next
generation even more happy memories.
You can look to the impact the event has had on our community – how it represents the largest multi-week event on Hilton Head, bringing in untold numbers of visitors. How
Nana Agyeman sells beautiful baskets from Ghana at his booth near the King Neptune statue.
the merchants within Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina can count on a bustling crowd paying them a visit every week. How the community has in turn embraced it, sponsoring it and helping it grow.
These things speak to an event that plays a pivotal role in defining who we are as a community. For those of us who view Tuesdays at HarbourFest as a chance to be a kid again, the greatest part of being there is feeling that thread again. That thread is what pulled us here, and now we have a chance to pass that along to our own kids.
HarbourFest returns every Tuesday during the summer, with entertainment starting at 6 p.m. and fireworks starting when the sky is dark. For the full summer schedule of entertainment and fireworks, visit ShelterCoveHarbourFest.com. Visit the Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina Facebook page (@ShelterCoveHarbourMarina) for show updates throughout the summer.
Cappy the Clown
A family in matching Buc-ee's tees head towards the festivities at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina.
Brittany, Joyce, Mya, and Marilyn, an extended family from Texas and New Orleans, enjoy their first visit to Hilton Head Island.
Locals Love Fireworks Nights Too!
(from left to right) Lauren, Patrick, Emily and Christy Hensley celebrate an average Tuesday in June with the Schroeder family and Noah Hightower.
Article by Laney Sewell
Kicking Off the Fourth of July with a Bang. Literally.
It’s July! This means a few things. We have entered the time when you walk outside and are sweating far beyond your phone becoming slippery – you are in a nightmare.
It’s about a thousand degrees and I am judging everyone I see with a sunburn.
The Fourth is here, which is a phenomenal excuse to have a hot dog, beverage, and give your dog a random substance or silly drug while in a blanket burrito because those fireworks are loud and proud, y’all. Not to sound like an unpatriotic Scrooge or whatever, but there is absolutely no reason for those fireworks to still be going past midnight. Some of y’all clearly don’t believe in bedtime – or choosing peace. Why are we awake past midnight anyway?
I’ve found myself saying “I can’t believe it’s (insert date)” since about March, but I really can’t believe it’s July. This has got to be a joke. It’s gotten to a point where I don’t care to know what day it is unless it’s Saturday for a variety of reasons: I’ll probably be at work, so no, I do not want to know what the UV index is; or I am not leaving my home, in order to prevent road rage caused by those who have apparently never been anywhere before or seen a traffic circle.
I will say this once, with an extreme amount of love and respect for our out-of-town friends who stimulate our economy: If 15-year-old me could figure it out, I promise that you can.
If I were a government official (even brainstorming this is laughable), I would make a rule that if you are going to visit our little paradise, you must pass a brief road test. There will be three questions. No partial credit. It’s pass or
fail, baby. One question is about traffic circles, one about “keep moving, switch lanes later,” and one about “if you are turning left you must yield to those going straight through certain south-end intersections.” Yield, and go! So fun, so simple, almost mindless! This is not targeted whatsoever. I am not calling anyone out, and I’m not scared at all! Nervous laughter and slight panic ensue.
It seems appropriate for me to mention once again the Amigos skinny coconut margaritas. (No context, but this is important.) They serve them to-go. Like, you can literally buy them, take them home, and enjoy them in the privacy of your space. With no one there. Enjoy responsibly, but maybe not on Tuesday nights because I’m not the most patient person, and that line is getting longer by the week.
But back to the main event: the Fourth of July! This is probably the only holiday that any Southern woman will approve of a T-shirt and flip flops as attire. Bedazzled baseball hats. Light-up accessories – and I mean an obnoxious amount. Not the obnoxious amount in the sense that a young family member distributed them, but an obnoxious amount that just … somehow … works. Something that makes no sense even – anything and everything goes. It’s awesome. You know what else is awesome? Those plastic Tervis wine glasses, with the stem. Perfect for the boat or pool. Winning!
Continuing with my very professional-grade holiday content, let’s talk scheduling. This is a very serious question not meant in a snarky way whatsoever: Has anyone ever seen the flyover at the time it was actually supposed to happen? If you have, I would like two forms of evidence. I’m not hiding behind a screen calling you a liar, but I don’t believe you.
Oh boy, am I relieved to get that off my chest! Every year, we all discuss what time it will be held, and then wait around confused, only to stare at each other in a “Was that it, or are we just confused?” rage. There really is no telling what time this magical event will go down, but it’ll probably be an hour past the brutally disgusting hot dog eating contest.
Gregg Russell is back in Harbour Town and apparently so is the entire Midwest. It’s very hot. Bugs are somehow everywhere. It’s impossible to make Rainbow flip flops work with my business casual. My Subaru is a million degrees every time I get in it. Times are tough, y’all, times are tough.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Do not ask me what I am doing this summer and expect an exciting answer. As soon as it gets here, the sooner I hope it’s over. I know there are some kids out there who cry at the thought of school, but there are kids like me who would ask to go buy school supplies the day the list is posted. You are one or the other, there is no in-between. (To my school supply friends, how’s your Google calendar obsession going? Mine is color-coded.)
I wish you all a very happy and safe holiday weekend spent with family and friends. Next time you hear from me, we’ll be discussing August, one of the worst months of the year (other than my August birthday friends) and how it cannot get muggier out and we’re complaining about school traffic.
Wishing you all the best that the remainder of the summer has to offer, and try to enjoy the little things. Full disclosure, I will probably be complaining soon about it being cold and gray out, but we are dangerously close to football season and the fall, which is my true time to shine. Why does it rain every single day in January? Why is Thanksgiving the best holiday of the year? Because it just is. Here’s to us!
Find Julia's ensemble at STMT Boutique. Find Emmett's ensemble at Outside Hilton Head.
Photography
by
Maggie Washo
Styled by Kandace Cunningham
Modeled by Emmett Hartman + Julia Rockett
FROM WATERFRONT PARKS AND SECRET DRIFTWOOD BEACHES TO KAZOO MUSEUMS AND ANTIQUING, BEAUFORT IS A GREAT PLACE TO SPEND THE DAY OR WEEKEND
Have you been to Beaufort lately?
This sleepy little town about halfway between Hilton Head Island and Charleston is growing like the rest of the Lowcountry, but continues to retain its charm. We spent the day skippity-be-bopping to points of interest like the secret driftwood beach at Hunting Island (it's a bit of a hike to get there), the Kazoobie Kazoos factory and museum and (of course) the Hunting Island Lighthouse. We suggest you put Beaufort on your to-do list this summer—if only for some shopping on Bay Street paired with a leisurely lunch overlooking Waterfront Park.
Find Emmett's ensemble at Southern Tide
Find Julia's ensemble at Jean-Pierre Klifa. Find Emmett's ensemble at John Bayley.
For an alternative way to see Beaufort, catch a ride with Southurn Rose Carriage Tours and learn a bit of history as you take in the beautiful moss-covered live oaks and smell the sweet pluff mud on the waterfront. Your entertaining guide will teach you about Beaufort's Civil War history, while you view Victorian architecture from the cushioned seat of your open-air carriage.
To enjoy a bit of excercise on your Beaufort adventure, be sure to climb to the top of the Hunting Island Lighthouse for one of the most magnificent views of the shoreline you'll ever see. It's 167 steps to the top of this beautiful black and white icon, which was destroyed during the Civil War and then rebuilt. The rebuilt lighthouse was originally located about a mile and a half north of where it now stands. The decision was made to move it in order to save it from rapid erosion.
In the October 2023 Arts + Music issue of this very magazine, Beaufort's own satirical songwriter, Campfire Tyler, graced our cover. So of course we called him to see if he could meet us for lunch at Panini's on Bay Street... since we were back in his hood and all. Campfire Tyler can be found all over the Lowcountry music scene, and you can catch him at the upcoming Hilton Head Island Jam Songwriter Festival, coming in September. In his spare time he likes writing songs about local businesses.
Did you know there is a museum in Beaufort dedicated to the illustrious history of the kazoo? It's true! Visit thekazoofactory. com to book your tickets and tune into our August issue to learn more!
Find Julia's ensemble at Birdie James
Find Julia's ensemble at Currents. Find Emmett's ensemble at Southern Tide.
Find Julia's ensemble at Coastal Bliss. Find Emmett's ensemble at Outside Hilton Head
No, your eyes do not deceive you. This is a wall of lettuce, grown under special lighting in nutrient -dense conditions indoors, keeping it safe from tiny little garden creatures eager to sink their teeth into beautiful butter lettuce and ravishing radishes. For the backstory on New Leaf Lettuce, Selma Davis, and why Julia is posing next to a wall of greens, flip on over to page 74.
Julia's ensemble by Kelly Caron Curated
To find the Boneyard Beach of Hunting Island, you'll first drive to the Hunting Island Nature Center. To the left of the parking lot is a winding trail through Lowcountry vegetation that leads to a boardwalk over water. As you reach the top of the bridge, the view opens up to a quiet beach littered with majestic old trees. Don't forget the bug spray.
Find Julia's ensemble at Gigi's Boutique. Find Emmett's ensemble at Palmettoes.
Find Emmett's ensemble at Palmettoes
Find Julia's ensemble at The Haven
Sometimes all you need is a waterfront swing and a little time to waste. Beaufort's Waterfront Park is a great place to sit back and enjoy the view. It also plays host to multiple events during the Beaufort Water Festival, held this year from July 11-20. Visit. bftwaterfestival.com for a full list of events.
Find Julia's ensemble at Evelyn and Arthur
Find Julia's ensemble at Maggie and Me. Find Emmett's ensemble at John Bayley.
Find Julia's ensemble at Collage.
Audrey S. learns the perfect blush placement for her character,
Director and choreographer, Jelani Remy discusses the set with SSTI founder & producer Ben Wolfe. This is Remy’s first summer with SSTI. He recently graced the Broadway stage in Back To The Future.
“It’s real, I swear!” Lily Aldrich and the “Doralee” wig, styled after the famous locks of Dolly Parton herself.
Students of the technical program mix the perfect hue to bring the early 80s to the stage.
The 9 to 5 sign hangs in the proscenium. It was designed and built in a scene shop just a few steps from the stage.
"Violet."
Tyler Ely, a scenic team member, spray paints filing cabinet handles for the 9 to 5 set.
Article By Cheryl Ricer
Photography by M.Kat
SSTI Makes CaliberBroadway-Magic on Hilton Head Island
When the lights go up on the stage of Seahawk Cultural Center at Hilton Head Island High School each summer, the audience beholds a production that is far beyond the modest trappings of a typical student performance.
Instead, what unfolds is something much grander. The audience sees an astonishingly polished theatrical production complete with Broadway-quality sets, lush orchestration, professional lighting and sound design, and a cast that commands the stage with remarkable poise and power. It’s a show that would feel right at home in any major metropolitan theatre.
This exceptional performance is the work of the Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute (SSTI), which has been redefining what’s possible in musical theatre production since its founding in 2008. Under the vision of founder and executive director Ben Wolfe, SSTI has grown into a powerhouse experience that mounts full-scale musicals in just 17 days of rehearsal.
Yes, you read that correctly: 17 days.
SSTI productions are intentionally ambitious, taking on shows that are typically attempted only by professionals, because the director, cast, and crew approach the challenge as if they are a professional company.
The notable difference is that SSTI casts are not professionals, but experienced performers from across the country who share a passion for musical theatre and their exceptional talent for singing, dancing, and acting.
The SSTI performance program selects approximately 25 young performers from a national pool of applicants each
Elle W. gets into character while her custom wig is styled and secured.
A custom mustache is carefully applied, transforming Chip D. into “Mr Hart.”
Anything
Goes at SSTI is fast paced, funny, and full of talent!
year. The artists arrive on Hilton Head Island for a four-week intensive that culminates in a full-scale production. They rehearse six days a week, eight hours a day, learning blocking, choreography, music, and scene work at a relentless but rewarding pace. It’s boot camp for aspiring Broadway stars – and an unforgettable, transformational experience.
“It’s not just about putting on a great show,” Wolfe said. “It’s about preparing these students for what life in professional theatre actually looks like. That means discipline, stamina, focus, and the ability to collaborate at a high level. When they leave SSTI, they’ll be able to take those skills and apply them towards any job or project for the rest of their lives.”
Wolfe’s approach to theatre is rooted in one fundamental belief: When you raise the bar, young people will rise to meet it. And rise they do. Every detail of an SSTI production is executed with the polish and professionalism one would expect from a national tour.
Wolfe brings in designers and technicians from Broadway and the wider professional theatre world, building each production from the ground up with the same rigor as an equity house. Everything is custom-built. The sets are fabricated by professionals who also design for major theatres across the country. Costumes are created by experienced designers and brought to life by a team of artistic technicians. Lighting and sound are orchestrated
to match the mood and movement of each scene with cinematic precision. The orchestra pit isn’t an afterthought. It’s a crucial piece of the whole puzzle, with SSTI flying in professional pit musicians from across the country for twoweek stints.
SSTI’s productions can involve upward of 75 people working behind the scenes – carpenters, costumers, electricians, stagehands, and production assistants – all collaborating to mount a fully realized, professionalquality show.
“We’re not just putting on a musical,” Wolfe said. “We’re delivering an experience, for the audience and for the performers.”
SUMMER SEASON
This July, the SSTI team is producing Anything Goes, Cole Porter’s madcap tale of romance, mistaken identity, and high-seas hijinks aboard the S.S. American. With showstopping dance numbers and one of the most beloved scores in Broadway history, including “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “You’re the Top,” and “Anything Goes,” this production promises to be a dazzling, family-friendly escape.
Directing this high-energy comedy is Broadway’s Jacob Brent, an SSTI favorite whose previous directorial credits here include last summer’s production of Gypsy, as well as acclaimed runs of A Chorus Line, The Music Man, and Hello, Dolly! Brent, perhaps best known to Broadway audiences
for starring as Mistoffelees in Cats, brings a keen eye for movement, storytelling, and theatrical flair. His return to SSTI is always a highlight for performers and audiences alike.
“Jacob’s productions are always electric,” Wolfe said. “He brings a contagious energy to the room, and our actors thrive under his direction. This show is the perfect match for his skillset – big choreography, bold characters, and nonstop fun.”
Anything Goes is SSTI’s second show for this season, following 9 To 5, which ran in June with a different cast, directed by Broadway’s Jelani Remy.
GROWTH THROUGH EXCELLENCE
Wolfe, who launched SSTI as a 22-year-old theatre teacher, has turned what began as a small summer enrichment program into a nationally respected training ground for young performers. SSTI alumni have gone on to study at some of the most prestigious performing arts programs in the country, including Carnegie Mellon, University of Michigan, NYU Tisch, and Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Many have appeared on Broadway, national tours, and in major film and television roles.
But SSTI’s focus isn’t just on what students can achieve. It’s about who they become in the process.
“One of the things I tell students all the time is, ‘You don’t have to be the best. Just be better than you were yesterday,’” Wolfe said. “We create an environment where
The production is supported by several wardrobe staff, who ensure that each and every sailor is suited correctly.
growth is constant, and excellence is expected. And the students thrive in that atmosphere.”
That environment is supported by a staff of professionals who work as mentors, not just instructors. SSTI brings in Broadway veterans, choreographers, vocal coaches, and working actors to lead masterclasses and provide individualized coaching throughout the program. The level of access and attention students receive is, in a word, extraordinary.
So is the level of trust. Wolfe places the full weight of the production on the shoulders of these student performers, and they carry it with remarkable grace.
“By the time opening night arrives, these young artists have poured everything they have into the show,” he said. “They’ve earned the right to be up there. And the audience can feel that.”
That audience has grown exponentially in recent years. SSTI’s summer productions draw theatregoers from across the Lowcountry and beyond. Many return year after year, marveling not only at the quality of the shows but also at the depth of emotion and commitment displayed by such young performers.
For Wolfe, the magic lies in the blend of the professional and the youthful, the polish and the passion.
“There’s something incredibly powerful about watching a young person wholeheartedly commit to their passion –
whether it’s musical theatre, sports, or science,” he said. “The dedication and discipline it takes to pursue excellence at that age is nothing short of inspiring. That passion radiates from our stage, and it’s exactly what keeps audiences coming back to SSTI productions.”
That joy is something Wolfe himself felt as a teenager growing up in Georgia, where opportunities for high-level theatre training were few and far between. SSTI, in many ways, is his answer to that lack – a chance to provide the kind of experience he once dreamed of having.
“It’s about opening doors,” Wolfe said. “We’re giving
It’s a very tight schedule for the scene shop! Madisen Frazier applies wood grain to a set piece, about an hour before it’s going to be used.
kids a glimpse of what’s possible, and the tools to get there.”
Now in its 18th season, SSTI continues to evolve. What began years ago with a single musical and a few dozen students has expanded to include multiple sessions, including a tech-intensive program for students interested in specialties like stage management, lighting, and set design.
Through it all, Wolfe remains the driving force – visionary, mentor, producer, and believer.
“SSTI is a community effort,” he said. “We start every day gathered together in a giant, company-wide circle. What began as a simple attempt to reinforce names and jobs on
Marlena Trudnak (left) of the wigs and makeup team, instructs the students on achieving the makeup look created for them by the designer.
the campus has become a metaphor for the community we build. Without each person in that circle, there is a gap, a missing link. It takes each person to make this complicated SSTI world spin, and it’s a group effort. ‘That’s not my job’ is a banned phrase on the SSTI campus.”
Backstage, just before the curtain rises, Wolfe always takes a moment to look around and appreciate the moment. He watches the tech crew making final adjustments, the orchestra tuning their instruments, the cast warming up in nervous excitement. It’s a flurry of activity, a symphony of purpose. In that moment, everything comes together.
“When the curtain finally rises,” Wolfe said, “it’s the result of countless dreams, hundreds of hours, and thousands of tiny decisions, all converging in a once-in-a-lifetime moment.”
ANYTHING GOES
July 25 - August 3
Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 1 p.m.
Seahawk Cultural Center
26 School Road, Hilton Head Island
Tickets and info: hhisummermusicals.com
A wardrobe team member with a sketch created by the costume designer and the correlating costume piece.
Wig and makeup designer Madison Weber (middle) demonstrates correct makeup application techniques to performing students.
After the students are instructed on their makeup look, they are expected to apply it themselves for every performance. Just like Broadway.
Summer: a time for fun, friends, and sunshine!
Find Kenna's ensemble at Island Child
Find Lucia and River's ensembles at Lennie + Remi
Bubble Party
in the Park
Whether your littles are headed to a playdate in the park, lunch with the grandparents or a backyard BBQ, they can show up in style with these adorable looks from Lennie + Remi and Island Child.
Modeled by Kenna and River Wareham and Lucia Garcia Dominguez
Styled by Kandace Cunningham
Photography by M.Kat
Find Kenna's ensemble at Lennie + Remi
Find Lucia and River's ensembles at Island Child
Recipes by Charlotte Hardwick . Photography by M.Kat
EAT THE RAINBOW THIS SUMMER
Charlotte Hardwick has studied more than 100 dietary theories with some of the world’s top health and wellness experts. Her teachers included Dr. Andrew Weil, director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine; Dr. Deepak Chopra, leader in the field of mindbody medicine; Dr. David Katz, director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center; and Dr. Walter Willett, chair of Nutrition at Harvard University, along with many other innovative researchers and doctors.
In the height of the pandemic, Hardwick returned home to Hilton Head Island after traveling extensively and
putting down roots in California and Florida. Her emphasis has always been on overall wellness, and she empowers her clients to make gradual changes in their lives and in their diets.
She often provides support for the whole family by encouraging this change to begin in their own kitchens and offers holistic health counseling as well as cooking classes. Hardwick’s classes are inspired by local and seasonal foods. She believes food should be sourced and cooked with love and integrity and encourages her clients to get organized in the kitchen and cook simply with whole foods.
Charlotte Hardwick picks herbs from her garden.
As part of her wellness offerings, Hardwick also teaches yoga classes for all levels at her home studio. Her classes are designed to strengthen the nervous, immune, and lymphatic systems while encouraging people to practice mindfully at their current ability. Classes include the use of props to gently create space in the body and connect movement to breath in a meditative way to open and clear the body, mind, and heart.
Hardwick will be leading small groups this fall through her new book, Finding a Way to Be Here, weaving together cooking for the season, broths, teas, yoga, meditation, and writing for clarity and change. Learn more about her work and new workbook at flowandnourish.com.
What follows are some of Hardwick’s favorite summer recipes from her book, with most ingredients sourced locally from farmers’ markets and Mrs. Campbell’s stand on Spanish Wells Road.
SUMMER
Summer is filled with cooling fruits and vegetables to support long, warm days. There is an abundance of delicious produce that includes corn, peaches, tomatoes, watermelon, cherries, and cucumbers. Many people avoid these vegetables and fruits because they think they are too high in sugar or carbohydrates, but please don’t miss enjoying summer's offerings.
The bounty of summer is here to nourish you from the inside out. Many of these fruits and vegetables are here to hydrate and literally protect you from the sun. Summer days are long and warm, so energy and hydration is key. Think about eating your water: an ounce of waterrich vegetables or fruit is almost an ounce of water. Water is in the structure of the fruit and vegetable and is gradually released to hydrate instead of passing through the body.
An ingredient called lycopene, which is a phytonutrient, helps protect skin from sun damage. Tomatoes, for example, make lycopene to protect themselves from sun damage. When we eat those plants, we reduce the damage from UV light and decrease our chances of sunburn.
The colorful produce of summer is loaded with fiber, vitamins, and minerals to nourish us and requires minimal cooking. I love to fill my kitchen with beautiful produce, throw together fresh salads and enjoy the fruit I don’t eat during the colder months. I put cooling cucumber in my water, blend watermelon and drink as a juice, chop tomatoes and basil, and keep meals very simple. This makes summer cooking easy and allows more time to be outside.
The energy of the sun is undeniable and I appreciate the inspiration this season brings to move more and allow a little more freedom in our day to day. Even if you don’t cook much in the summer, you can always be inspired by the colors that surround you with this season’s incredible abundance.
HIBISCUS TEA
Hibiscus is packed with antioxidants and is rich in antioxidants such as beta-carotene, high doses of vitamin C, and anthocyanin. It offers many benefits, but it is amazing for the skin and perfect for a summer tea.
In honor of summer, you can make sun tea by simply filling a large glass jar or pitcher with water, and add four tea bags per half gallon, based on the size of your container. Place your jar or pitcher outside where the sunlight can warm the container for about three to five hours. When the tea has reached its desired strength, remove it from the sun and put it in the refrigerator to enjoy cold.
Fresh fruits and vegetables at Mrs. Campbell's stand on Spanish Wells Road
WATERMELON JUICE
Watermelon juice couldn’t be easier. It really isn’t even a recipe and you don’t need a juicer, just a blender.
Scoop the watermelon into the blender, blend until smooth. You don’t need to strain it unless it has seeds in it. (You can buy seedless watermelons.) If you have a big watermelon, you can do batches of the juice and store in the refrigerator for a few days.
I like to store the juice in jars because it separates, and you can just give it a shake. I love to freeze into cubes and serve with sparkling water or lemonade and mint.
TOMATO PIE
1 9-inch piecrust
5 tomatoes, sliced
½ yellow onion, chopped
15 basil leaves, chopped
2 cups shredded parmesan
¾ to 1 cup mayonnaise
Salt and pepper
Preheat oven to 350°.
WATERMELON GAZPACHO
Serves 6
4 cups seedless watermelon, cubed
1 peeled and diced cucumber, reserve half
3 medium diced tomatoes, reserve half
1 red bell pepper, diced, reserve half
1/3 cup chopped green onions, reserve half
Big handful of fresh basil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper
Optional jalapeno
Set aside the reserved half of the chopped cucumber, tomatoes, red pepper, and green onions and place the remaining half in a blender.
Add the watermelon, basil, vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings. Stir in the reserved chopped vegetables.
Chill for 3 to 4 hours or overnight
To serve, drizzle with olive oil and garnish with diced avocado.
Use a serrated knife to cut the tomatoes into slices ¼-inch thick. Set a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet and line with paper towels. Arrange the tomato slices in a single layer on the paper towels and sprinkle them with the salt. Let them drain for 15 to 30 minutes. Blot the tomatoes dry with more paper towels.
Meanwhile, stir together mayonnaise, chopped onions, grated parmesan, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. You want a paste you can spread on the bottom and top of the pie.
Cover the bottom of the pie with the mayonnaise mixture, then layer with tomatoes, chopped basil, parmesan, more tomatoes, chopped basil, grated parmesan, and finish with tomatoes. Cover the entire top with the mayonnaise mixture and bake until the top is browned, about 30 minutes.
Place on a wire rack to cool to room temperature before serving.
SUMMER CORN SALAD
Serves 4-6
2 cups of corn off the cob
1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 diced orange pepper
1 diced red pepper
1 cup diced cucumber
1-2 avocados, cubed
1 16-ounce container of mozzarella petals
1 cup fresh chopped basil
Whisk together for dressing: Juice of 3 limes
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Pinch of salt and pepper
Della Campbell and Charlotte Hardwick
CUCUMBER FETA SALAD
Serves 6
4 pitas
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons sumac
1 garlic clove
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar or fresh lemon juice
¼ cup olive oil
3 cups cucumbers, sliced
1 can (15 ounces) white beans, drained and rinsed
¼ cup thinly sliced red onions
4 ounces of feta, crumbled
4 tablespoons dill
Pre heat oven to 400°.
On a sheet pan, toss the pita with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and sumac. Bake the pita until brown, about 8 minutes. Let cool.
Whisk together red wine vinegar, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper for the vinaigrette.
Make the salad with cucumbers, white beans, red onions, feta, and dill. Toss the salad with half of the vinaigrette, then toss in the pita chips. Add more vinaigrette as you like.
GREEN BEAN POTATO SALAD
Serves 4-6
4 small red skinned potatoes
Big handful of green beans
1 small scallion, white and tender green parts, chopped
¼ cup chopped dill
6 stalks celery, diced
1 cup black olives
1 tablespoon chives
Red wine vinaigrette:
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons grainy mustard
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender (about 10-15 minutes). Steam green beans.
Make vinaigrette.
Sauté leeks with dill in a splash of olive oil over medium heat until crispy.
In large bowl, toss potatoes, green beans, celery, olives, chives, and half of the leek mixture with a splash of vinaigrette. Garnish with the remaining leek mixture.
FROZEN CHOCOLATE
BLACKBERRY BARK
1 cup chocolate chips
1 tablespoon coconut oil
½ cup berries
Melt chocolate with coconut oil over low heat in a glass bowl over boiling water until it is smooth. Take off heat and stir in your berries until completely coated. Pour the chocolate and berry mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and spread it so it’s flat. Put it in the freezer for an hour.
After the bark has solidified, take it out, break it into pieces, and store it in a container in the freezer for a healthy delicious treat anytime.
Of course, you can substitute berries for nuts, seeds, coconut, or dried fruit, but I make this with berries all summer long.
FRUIT COBBLER
Melt 1 stick of butter in a deep casserole dish and make a batter of:
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
¾ cup milk
pinch of salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
Pour in melted butter. Don’t stir.
Pour in batter. Don’t stir.
Pour in 1 cup fruit. Don’t stir.
Bake at 350° for 1 hour.
Tad and Selma Davis are photographed on their property on St. Helena Island.
Article by Cheryl Ricer . Photography by M.Kat
When Selma Davis left behind a 25-year career in public education, she didn’t expect to find her second calling inside a refrigerated shipping container. But in the heart of St. Helena Island, nestled between Spanish moss and salt marshes, she and her husband, Tad, have cultivated something extraordinary. Somersett Farm, home to New Leaf Produce, is a hydroponic farm growing clean, green, nutrient-dense produce with the help of LED lights, volunteers, and a whole lot of heart.
“I was just scrolling on TikTok one night when I stumbled across someone growing lettuce in a container,” Davis recalls with a laugh. “That one video changed everything.”
From the outside, the white Freight Farms container looks like an ordinary storage unit. Step inside, however, and you’re greeted by rows of radiant greens – arugula, basil, romaine, microgreens – thriving in vertical towers under pink-hued grow lights. The air smells of earth
new LEAF, new LIFE
HOW ONE EDUCATOR PLANTED A FRESH FUTURE IN A SHIPPING CONTAINER
and chlorophyll. The temperature is cool, the humidity controlled, the vibe somewhere between a science lab and a secret garden.
“I knew nothing about hydroponics,” Davis said. “But I knew how to learn. After 25 years in education, you figure out how to research, how to ask the right questions, how to lean into what excites you.”
The decision to name the land Somersett Farm was no accident. Somersett Rivers, a freedman, once owned this very plot in 1865. “That history is sacred,” Davis said. “To know this land once belonged to someone who persevered through slavery and Reconstruction – that legacy inspires me every day.”
New Leaf Produce may be futuristic in its approach, but it is deeply grounded in the past. “Farming is ancestral,” Davis said. “This is about
Griffon keeps a watchful eye over his farm.
Fresh produce on display and ready for purchase at New Leaf.
Beautiful bright radishes ready to go to market.
reconnecting with something primal: growing your own food, feeding your community, respecting the land – even if that land happens to be inside a box with climate control.”
Davis’s transition from educator to urban farmer was swift but thoughtful. “I went from managing classrooms to managing climate zones, pH balances, and LED light schedules,” she said. “But the heart of it is the same. In both careers, you’re nurturing growth.”
And just like in her teaching days, Davis thrives on collaboration. Volunteers from around the community stop by to help seed trays, harvest greens, and package produce for delivery. Family members pitch in, too – husband Tad helps by creating more thoughtful infrastructure to support the farm’s growth, and her son Henry tackles more technical issues, while she manages the farm’s operations and the business.
“Honestly, it feels like a classroom sometimes. I’m constantly explaining how things work, helping people get hands-on experience, and sharing knowledge,” Davis said. “Except now, instead of test scores, we measure success in pounds of lettuce.”
What sets New Leaf Produce apart isn’t just its state-of-the-art hydroponic system; it is also the farm’s commitment to quality, transparency, and community. Each week, freshly harvested produce
Selma's wall of hydroponically grown lettuce on Somersett Farm.
Baby plants get their start in tiny trays before being moved to a larger growing area.
makes its way to local restaurants and homes around the Lowcountry.
“We harvest in the morning and deliver that same day,” Davis said. “It doesn’t get fresher than that. Chefs love it because they can count on consistency and flavor. Customers love it because they know exactly where their food is coming from.”
The hydroponic system uses 90% less water than traditional farming and eliminates the need for pesticides or herbicides. “There’s no runoff, no soil degradation, no exposure to the elements,” Davis said. “It’s cleaner, safer, and more sustainable. Plus, it allows us to grow year-round, regardless of the weather.”
GROWING MORE THAN FOOD
Beyond the produce, Davis is growing awareness about food systems, local sourcing, and environmental responsibility. She speaks at schools and community events, sharing her journey and inviting others to reimagine what farming can look like.
“We have a huge opportunity here,” Davis said. “This kind of farming can happen anywhere – in a city, in a food desert, even in a backyard. If I can learn it, others can too. And that’s part of the mission.”
Davis believes food is one of the most powerful connectors in a community. “It brings people together. It’s culture, it’s care, it’s nourishment. When you grow something yourself, it changes how you see the world.”
For Davis, the magic lies not just in the harvest, but in the process itself.
“The most wonderful part of my job is growing food. Produce is beautiful,” she said. “From the planting of the seed to (putting food on) the plate, I am able to experience each step of that journey. I have always experienced great satisfaction growing food for my family and friends. Sharing in the bounty of a garden is simply sublime.”
Now, with her hydroponic farm, that circle has expanded.
“Now that I have this tool, I am able to grow food for a wider community. That is a powerful community role, which I take very seriously,” Davis said. “I take pride in supplying chefs who trust me to provide clean, green, hyper-local produce, delivered on the day of harvest. I love what I do.”
As demand grows, the Davises hope to expand operations, perhaps even adding a second container to increase production. But they’re in no rush. “We want to grow thoughtfully,” Davis said. “The goal isn’t to go big. It’s to go deep, to feed our community well, to teach others what’s possible, and to stay true to our values.”
In a world where the food system often feels distant and impersonal, New Leaf Produce offers something different: intimacy, intention, and integrity.
“I may have left the classroom, but I never stopped being a teacher,” Davis said. “Now, I just happen to grow lettuce on the side.”
Donald and Emma Stevenson sell produce from their stand. They've been at the Bluffton Farmer's Market from the beginning.
A gyro and spanikopita from Two Birds Greek Street Food
Kristina and Daniel from Lowcountry Citrus Grove sell pies.
ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT
NEW MARKET BLEND the
EVERY THURSDAY, OLD TOWN BLUFFTON COMES ALIVE WITH FLAVORS, SOUNDS, EXCITEMENT
For the most part on the daily, fruits and vegetables are a side dish. But every Thursday, when the Farmers Market of Bluffton comes to Martin Family Park, they’re the main course. Of course, if you’re on the hunt for sides, you’ll find them. Something unexpected for lunch, and maybe a few goods to take home.
Vendors offering everything from farmfresh fare to hand-pressed juice. Here, among the tents, booths, trailers, and trucks you’ll find a true sense of Bluffton’s vibrant community
Giant beets
Cindy and her daughter sell ice cream at their Sweet Pedals cart.
Delicious juices on ice from Well House Juicery
among the multi-faceted offerings that dot the park.
“We’ve added not only new vendors to keep that variety, but also other programs and things that entertain the community as well. Anything from fencing to dog adoptions – and a lot more nonprofits are reaching out, asking if they can be part of the market to create awareness or draw out new volunteers,” said Kim Viljac, whose tenure as executive director for the Farmers Market of Bluffton has seen it grow to incredible heights. “The whole community is constantly changing and evolving, and we’ve evolved with it. We’ve welcomed everybody with open arms in terms of community awareness and vendors that fit our criteria, which is in the simplest terms, either you eat it or grow it.”
And this summer, there is a whole new crop of newcomers waiting for you every Thursday in Martin Family Park.
Vendors display their wares at the Bluffton Farmer's Market on a Thursday in June. Adjacent to the Bluffton Farmer's Market, you can find the local artisans of The Bridge Collective Market.
Among the more traditional family farmers is Jim Larnish, whose Son-Rise Farm produces fruits and vegetables for sale and to be given to those in need through their First Fruits ministry. In his third year of farming, he sells exclusively at his home market in Walterboro and in Bluffton.
“I did some checking around, and the way it was run, its location and its traffic flow were amazing,” Larnish said. “I find it to be a wonderful market in many respects, and the atmosphere is outstanding. I truly am thankful for the opportunity.”
Even less-established farms have an opportunity to showcase their wares at the market. Lowcountry Citrus Grove, another new vendor, doesn’t even have any produce to sell yet. But that hasn’t stopped them from making their introduction to Bluffton.
“Everything’s still growing. We’ve put in strawberries and blackberries, and we have a mandarin orchard, but they take time to develop,” said Kristina Barmettler with Lowcountry Citrus Grove. In the meantime, she is putting her skills as a baker to good
use, serving up pies, breads, and pastries made from local fruits and vegetables. “We used to have a baker in Northern California, so this was easy to fall back on. We’re using strawberries from one of the other farms here, zucchini from another and eggs from another. … It helps to grow the farm, because when you’re new, it’s all upfront costs.”
That unique ability of the market to help grow businesses is easy to see with just one lap around the park. Stop by the Well House table and talk to Sam Boring, and she’ll tell you all about how the market helped her fresh juice business succeed.
“We started out in our kitchen on Lady’s Island before we got connected here in Bluffton about a year and a half ago. It has taken off now,” Boring said. “We get enough preorders now that before we’re even here, we’re halfway sold out of what we could press. The rainbow-colored array of juices Boring and her husband, Tim, produce don’t just taste delicious. Each carries its own formula of healthy produce to fight inflammation, cure hangovers, or just give you a little pep in your step.
“We weren’t sure if Bluffton would even take to juice, but they’ve really been good to us,” Boring said. “In fact, my husband and I both worked full time in pharmaceuticals and we both quit our jobs to pursue the juice business.”
New businesses have taken notice of the unique ability that the Farmers Market has to get a business noticed and get it to the next level. After debuting her Sweet Pedals concept at Mayfest this year, Cindy Bass knew the market would be the perfect fit for her unique ice cream sandwich cart. “I work at The Pearl as well, so I’m very familiar with the Farmers Market,” she said.
Indeed, on a sunny day you’ll find a mob of kids surrounding the Sweet Pedals ice cream trike, drawn by the intoxicating blend of ice cream and cookies. “I knew I wanted to be there because there are a lot of great vendors and it’s always busy.”
Even established businesses have taken notice. Katherine Graham has been selling her line of Good Graham gluten free, grain free, dairy free, and cane sugar free foods for nearly five years in her native Savannah. Seeing the number of customers coming from Bluffton, she made her debut on this side of the river in May.
“I think they have done an amazing job with the balance of meat and produce vs. prepared foods. For a successful farmers market, it is a must to have your meat and produce vendors. A lot of markets try to just have one and then have 30 prepared foods and crafts. I could tell when I visited that this market works. They understand.”
That measured growth has been what has fueled the Farmers Market of Bluffton into a Thursday institution. Yes, you can go there and sample fare from Greek to African to Gullah. You can go there and discover new nonprofits in our area. You can go there just to see who’s there this week. But you’re always going to leave with some of the freshest fruits and vegetables you’ll ever experience.
“We’re here to support the agricultural community and the food community and, of course, new businesses. We hate to see old vendors go, but we feel so proud when their drive allows them to move on. It creates room for new businesses and new families that are moving to the area to start up their own businesses, which is a lovely thing to see,” Viljac said. “Sometimes people feel like they're coming every week and see the same thing all the time. But you never know what you're going to find there.”
MEET THE DOCTORS
HEIDI HARRINGTON, M.D.
Beaufort Memorial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics
Beaufort Memorial Okatie Medical Pavilion, Suite 220
122 Okatie Center Blvd. North, Okatie (843) 707-8020
BeaufortMemorial.org/HeidiHarringtonMD
What is your specialty?
I am a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, which means I perform a broad range of reconstructive and cosmetic surgeries with the goal of restoring form and function – whether it be after trauma, cancer, aging, childbirth, weight loss, etc.
What is one aspect of the job that you find particularly rewarding?
The most rewarding part of my job is the relationships I form with my patients. I get to walk them through a transformation, whether it be a cosmetic transformation or reconstructive. Getting to an end result where my patient feels better about herself or himself and knowing I’ve helped them get back to where they once were, or to where they always wanted to be so they can reclaim who they are, makes my heart happy.
What drew you to medicine?
I was always a helper and a fixer, and I was always drawn to biology because I always loved learning about how animals worked. I grew up on a horse farm and was in awe of our vet who would always come to the rescue during the scariest times. Fast forward to high school, when a sports injury put me in the hands of an amazing orthopedic surgeon, and I thought, “That’s what I want to do” – help people that have something bad happen to them, and get them back to what they love doing.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of medicine?
I love the pursuit of wellness and fitness. I’ve been a competitive athlete my whole life: showing horses at the national level, field hockey, basketball, collegiate rugby, amateur Muay Thai kickboxing, CrossFit, Olympic lifting, trail running, you name it. In recent years, I’ve gotten very involved in competitive cornhole and compete all over the country.
“If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be …”
I’d be a professional athlete, of course! But since that ship has sailed, I would actually love to be a professional event and holiday decorator. I am very detail oriented, and I love making moments and events beautiful, fantastical, and memorable. I love the process of imagining something amazing that no one else can see and then bringing it to life with my own hands and seeing the smiles it brings. Come trick or treating at my house next year, you’ll know what I mean!
What are you watching on Netflix these days?
I’m a big documentary person – I love learning. People are fascinating; I like to learn about the beautiful things they’ve done and the terrible things they’ve done and why. A recent documentary I watched on Netflix was “Martha.” It was great!
What skill or craft would you like to master outside of your profession?
I really want to learn how to use a sewing machine; that has been on my to-do list for 30 years. And with all this beautiful water here, I want to become a boat person. So, I’m in the market for a mentor with a boat … who also knows how to thread a Singer!
DR. HEATHER HINSHELWOOD
Fraum Health
1403 Main Street Village
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 258-4317
Fraum.com
What is your medical specialty, and how would you describe your approach to patient care?
I specialize in restorative and integrative medicine, with a strong focus on non-surgical solutions for chronic pain and inflammation. At Fraum Health, we take a whole-person approach to healing, looking beyond symptoms to address the underlying dysfunction. Whether it’s joint pain, fatigue, or neuropathy, our goal is to restore mobility, reduce pain, and help patients get back to living fully. I believe medicine works best when it empowers people, not when it limits them to medications or surgery.
Why did you and your partner choose to acquire Fraum Health in 2023?
We saw a clear opportunity to serve the Hilton Head community differently. After years of working in traditional medicine, we were ready to create a space that treats the person, not just the diagnosis. Fraum Health already had an outstanding foundation in chiropractic and cellular therapies, and we knew we could expand that with a medical program focused on prevention, regeneration, and longterm vitality. It’s incredibly rewarding to help patients avoid surgery and find relief through innovative therapies.
What makes Fraum Health unique compared to other healthcare providers?
We offer an integrated, patient-centered, personalized approach leveraging the best of modern medical science with advanced nonsurgical treatments. From spinal decompression and laser therapy to cellular technologies, including stem cells, we provide solutions that
support the body’s healing process. Many of our patients are “active agers” who want to keep golfing, playing pickleball, or chasing after grandkids, and we help make that possible without downtime or drugs that just mask the pain. Our focus is addressing the specific concerns and needs of our patients individually.
What’s something patients might not realize when they first come to see you?
Pain can sneak in slowly and become your “new normal” without you realizing how much it’s stealing from your daily life. I’ve had patients say, “I didn’t know how bad it had gotten until I felt better.” Sometimes we accept stiffness or fatigue as a part of aging, but it doesn’t have to be. We take the time to uncover what’s really going on, so patients leave with more than a diagnosis, they leave with hope and a plan.
What’s the most fulfilling part of your work?
There’s nothing better than seeing someone get their life back without going under the knife. One of my favorite moments is when a patient says, “I can finally sleep through the night,” or “I’m playing tennis again.” These aren’t small wins, they’re life changing. Helping someone return to what they love is what drives me. Every patient who walks through our doors is treated with compassion, respect, and a relentless commitment to better outcomes.
How do you recharge outside of the office?
I’m happiest near water. I love going out on the boat with my fiancé and our children. Nature keeps me grounded, and those quiet moments help me show up for patients with energy, clarity, and heart. When I want an outlet, I love to go to CrossFit and get a good sweat.
CORY MESSERSCHMIDT, MD, FAAOS
Beaufort Memorial Orthopaedic Specialists
122 Okatie Center Blvd. North, Okatie and 1680 Ribaut Road, Port Royal (843) 524-3015
BeaufortMemorial.org/CoryMesserschmidtMD
What is your specialty?
I am an orthopedic surgeon, which means I diagnose and treat conditions of the musculoskeletal system. This includes bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. This involves both surgical and non-surgical methods to treat injuries, correct deformities, and improve mobility and function. Common procedures include joint replacements, fracture repairs, and arthroscopic surgery.
Why did you become a physician?
I became a physician because I’m drawn to solving complex problems. Medicine is the ultimate intersection of critical thinking, human connection, and real-world impact. Each patient presents a unique challenge – piecing together symptoms, test results, and clinical judgment to find the best path forward. The ability to solve problems that directly improve someone’s quality of life is both intellectually fulfilling and deeply meaningful. It’s that combination that made medicine the right path for me.
What is one aspect of the job that you find particularly rewarding?
I've always been drawn to the mechanics of the human body and enjoyed working with my hands—building, repairing, understanding how things fit and move. Orthopedic surgery was a natural fit. It allows me to apply that mindset to medicine, helping people by physically reconstructing and restoring function. There's something incredibly satisfying about seeing tangible improvement.
What is exciting about your field right now?
Robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) are changing the way we practice orthopedics. With these evolving technologies, we can diagnose and treat patients more accurately. From diagnosis to surgery to rehabilitation, AI enables more personalized, data-driven care, enhancing both patient outcomes and surgeon performance.
What are your hobbies and interests outside medicine?
Staying active outside with my family. I enjoy golf, tennis, and basketball. I have taken a recent interest in pickleball. It’s a fun activity, a good workout, and a great way to meet people. I am also a professional soccer fanatic. I follow the English Premier League closely and I’m an avid supporter of Chelsea Football Club. I even attended a match at Stamford Bridge in London a few years ago. Go Blues!
“If I wasn’t a doctor, I’d be …”
A disc jockey. Music has always played an important role in my life, and my musical tastes are pretty diverse. I love
how music sets the mood and brings people together. In the operating room, it helps create a rhythm, and I enjoy curating a vibe that keeps everyone relaxed yet focused. I even have my own DJ equipment and have been known to play the occasional birthday party.
What skill or craft would you like to master outside of your profession?
I’d love to become a master Lego builder. Lego was a quintessential part of my childhood that I have recently rediscovered as an adult. There’s something incredibly creative and satisfying about starting with a pile of small, ordinary pieces and building something complex, imaginative, and detailed. I think there’s a quiet genius in being able to visualize something intricate and then build it, brick by brick.
DR. JARROD LITTLE
Revive Palmetto Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery 206 Bluffton Road, Suite 201 Bluffton (843) 480-0060 revivepalmetto.com
What is one aspect of the job that you find particularly rewarding?
I have the greatest job in the world. I have the opportunity to care for the young and the aged. I am able to treat patients when they are battling trauma or cancer, then again for cosmetic procedures. Our field has a rich academic history and borne out of the necessity to solve complex problems with innovative solutions. My background in academic surgery allowed for teaching and scientific research directed at developing novel therapies.
Are there any challenges in the profession? What are they and how do you overcome them?
The field of aesthetic plastic surgery has been invaded by those without the training and expertise to ensure safety and outstanding results. Now, more than ever, it is critical ensure that plastic surgery procedures are being performed by surgeons who are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
What drew you to medicine?
More than any other specialty, plastic surgery allows for the most creativity and diversity of treatments, from common injectable procedures to incredibly complex, life-changing cosmetic transformations.
What is exciting about your field right now?
The understanding of the aging process is constantly evolving, as are the available technologies to address the processes. This allows for constant innovation and opportunities to restore and rejuvenate. However, it is critical that those treatments have scientific backing and are safe. When evaluating a new technique or technology, I always have to ask, “Would I offer this to someone in my family?” If I would not do it to one of my loved ones, I won’t offer it to my patients. Ultimately, our goal is to treat our patients as we would our family.
Dr. Phillip Crace grew up in rural southeast Kentucky. He attended Georgetown College on both an academic and athletic (football) scholarship and earned his bachelor’s degree in biology. He was then awarded a master’s degree in biomedical sciences from Barry University in Miami, Florida, and then an MBA from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
DR. PHILLIP
CRACE
Sculpt Cosmetic Surgery
25 Minetta Lane, Suite 106 Bluffton (843) 505-5355 sculpt-cosmeticcurgery.com
After graduate school, Dr. Crace felt that medicine was his true calling. He applied and was accepted into the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. He was awarded his Doctorate in Medicine in 2003. Dr. Crace was then chosen amongst numerous applicants for a competitive five-year general surgery residency position in Cincinnati, Ohio.
From 2008 through the spring of 2023 Dr. Crace practiced general surgery. While Dr. Crace has and always will remain passionate about general surgery, the desire for a better quality of life and appeal to aesthetics lead him to a career change.
Thus, after numerous discussions with his family and much prayer, Dr. Crace decided to pursue study in the art of cosmetic surgery. He has spent the past two years training and then working at one of the most prestigious cosmetic surgery centers in Louisiana.
He now lives here in the Lowcountry with his wife of 22 years, Amy, and their three children, Charles, Abigale, and Jackson.
Dr. Crace has partnered with the practitioners of The Beautique medical aesthetics as their medical director. He is proud to offer the Lowcountry a wide range of cosmetic body procedures. He is passionate about restoring his patients’ self-esteem by erasing the scars of time, motherhood, and busy lifestyles. As he says, “All of my patients are beautiful, but sometimes we need to show them that again.”
Dr. Crace looks forward to meeting new clients and is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to serve as their guide on this journey.
Novant Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
75 Baylor Dr, Suite 155 – Bluffton
8 Hospital Center Blvd, Suite 110 – Hilton Head
97 Sea Island Pkwy, Suite 203 – Beaufort (843) 682-7480
Novanthealth.org
The arrival of Novant Health in the Lowcountry has been truly transformative in many ways, especially within the realm of orthopedic care. Novant Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine (formerly Hilton Head Orthopedics) has grown dramatically adding 8 new providers this year taking the practice from 12 providers to 20. The addition of new providers has also allowed for expansion of services across Beaufort County. In addition to the Bluffton area, Novant Health is now offering fulltime orthopedic care in Beaufort and Hilton Head. The increase in orthopedic care has also fostered a more robust orthopedic surgical program at Novant Health Coastal Carolina Medical Center with the implementation of the Mako Robotic Surgical System for knee replacements.
One of Novant Health’s newest orthopedic surgeons is Dr. Robert Schaefer. Dr. Schaefer comes to Hilton Head with 32 years of experience both treating patients and serving as team physician for area high school and collegiate teams in North Carolina, where he was previously practicing. While he may be new to practicing in this area, he is not new to the area.
“I’ve lived in Colleton River for the past 3 years while commuting to work in North Carolina,” said Dr. Schaefer. “Novant Health has really been growing the orthopedic program. It had a somewhat smaller footprint before, and they’ve essentially doubled it. I am thrilled to be practicing here in the Lowcountry with Novant Health.”
Dr. Edward Blocker is another new face with Novant Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, and he is no stranger to patients locally. He has been treating patients in Beaufort since 1998 and will split his time between the practice locations both north and south of the Broad River as he brings his talent and experience to Novant Health.
“The difference with Novant Health is that they’re really patient-oriented. They put patient care at the center of their philosophy. A lot of people say that, but it’s clear that it’s their goal,” Dr. Blocker said. “When we started doing surgery at Coastal Carolina, they were willing to buy us a $1 million dollar robot. They invest in technology and it’s just a good culture from the CEO on down. And now they’ve created this team that has 50+ years of experience between us.”
One member of that team comes to Novant Health from a decidedly different direction. Until recently, Dr. Addison Wilson saw patients as part of his service to the United States Navy. His move to the private sector lets him use the skills he learned serving our nation’s heroes.
“The Navy gave me amazing training. I’ve worked at 10 different hospitals over the years, I’m licensed in six states, and I’ve done a lot of work outside the Navy to build my skillset,” Dr. Wilson Said. “My real expertise is in sports medicine – and being in the military is one of the hardest sports there is.”
The last piece of this puzzle came in the form of Dr. H. Kevin Jones, a true local who grew up on Hilton Head Island and has practiced in the Beaufort area since 1989. Specializing in joint reconstruction, hip and knee surgeries, and arthroplasty, he has built a solid foundation of loyal patients, and he looks forward to adding his talents to the Novant Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine team in the Beaufort and Bluffton locations.
“The group we’re working with is really focused on patient care. You couldn’t ask for better partners. We can network with Drs. Norcross and Mulieri, who are real experts in their fields and also with the physicians of Chatham Orthopaedics to now have a total comprehensive program,” Dr. Jones said. “People don’t have to leave the area to get truly comprehensive care now.”
H. Kevin Jones, MD; Robert Schaefer, MD; Edward Blocker, MD
Addison Wilson, MD
TARAS NEBELUK, DO
Novant Health Infectious Disease Care
75 Baylor Dr Suite 205B Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 288-4577
novanthealth.org
KATELYN MASON, PA-C
Novant Health Neurology
11 Arley Way, Ste 201 - Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 836-3667
novanthealth.org
For too long, patients who were battling an infectious disease were forced to do so on two fronts. First, there was the internal battle, with their own immune system working alongside their treatment to fend off and eliminate the infection. The second front was the battle against the hours-long commute to the nearest infectious disease expert.
With the arrival of Dr. Taras Nebeluk in the Lowcountry, both of those battles have become easier than ever to win. “It’s a great opportunity to come and treat infectious disease in a community that’s expanding and really doesn’t have the coverage,” he said.
Treating a wide range of infections, from orthopedic infections to airborne illness and blood diseases like HIV and hepatitis, Nebeluk brings a wealth of knowledge to bear on each patient. As part of Novant Health, he can provide them that care from beginning to end. “I have a clinic in Bluffton, and I also cover Hilton Head Hospital and Coastal Carolina so I can offer that continuum of care. I see patients as inpatients and outpatients, and work closely with so many surgeons, primary care providers, and specialists to best coordinate their care.”
Dr. Nebeluk being here gives patients a skilled infectious disease expert without having to leave town, and it has given him and his family the chance to live their coastal dream. “There’s so much to do here,” he said. “My wife, 3-year-old son and I go to the beach nearly every weekend.”
Arecent addition to Novant Health in Bluffton, Katelyn Mason, PA-C has a long history in medicine. Originally from Indiana, she and her husband moved south to Myrtle Beach as soon as she graduated, and she practiced there for five years. But her journey to being a passionate health care provider who focuses on neurology is even longer.
“I honestly have the most convoluted medicine story. I spent a lot of time in eye doctors’ offices when I was young, and actually went into pre-optometry, before switching to pre-med,” she said. It was at that point that medicine became personal. “I have migraines, and my neurologist, Dr. David Robertson, took me on as my mentor. I wanted to have that same kind of relationship with my patients.”
One of the few PAs who focus on neurology, she brings an extra level of care and dedication to her practice. “I like that I can have that, ‘I’ve been there. I get it’ moment. It makes a big difference with patients,” she said.
While her area of focus is on neurology, she also sees patients for a wide range of illnesses and issues. To her, it’s less about treating an issue and more about working with the patient to give them the best health.
“I want patients to be involved in their care. I’m not the kind of care provider who is going to dictate what they do,” she said. “I like to give them options and let them know it’s important to be part of your care.”
DR. ROCHELLE RINGER
Novant Health Breast Health Center
75 Baylor Drive, Suite 100 Bluffton (843) 836-1600 novanthealth.org
What is your specialty?
I am a breast surgeon. I take care of breast-related problems such as breast cancer, breast lumps and bumps, and family history of breast cancer.
Why did you become a physician?
Unlike many of my colleagues, I don’t come from a family of practicing physicians. When I was in high school, I saw a video of a heart surgery during a health class, and I knew from that moment I wanted to be a physician.
What is one aspect of the job that you find particularly rewarding? In my line of work, I see a lot of cancer patients. Taking these patients
DR. ROCHELLE RINGER
SPOTLIGHT:
EDUCATION:
Pittsburgh - University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Fellowship, 2008
Indiana University School of Medicine Medical school, 2002
Cincinnati - Good Samaritan Hospital Residency, 2007
CERTIFICATIONS: Surgery
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 23 Years
on during one of the most vulnerable and difficult times in their life and watching them come through on the other side is one of the things that gives me the most joy.
Are there any challenges in the profession? How do you overcome them?
In this day and age, time is everything. Wanting to be able to provide the time that each patient needs to manage their individual situation is tough to navigate within a health system that operates in a more fast-paced manner. I strive to give each patient as much time as I possibly can to ensure they feel they are fully taken care of.
What is exciting in your field right now?
The medical field is ever-evolving. We are consistently seeing new technologies to aid with things such as better and earlier detection of cancer, better and shorter treatment times, decreasing side effects of treatment, etc.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of medicine?
I love to travel. I love exploring different cultures and seeing how they experience life. I have also taken up learning Italian with the hopes of gaining Italian citizenship soon.
You have 30 minutes of free time. How do you pass the time?
Reading a book or going on a walk with my family.
DR. RAVINA BALCHANDANI
Heart Associate of Hilton Head, LLC 35 Hospital Center Commons, Ste. 101 - Hilton Head Island 14 Westbury Park, Ste. 103 - Bluffton (843) 682-4673 (HOPE) heartassociateofhiltonhead.com
What is your specialty, and what inspires you to practice?
I’m an interventional cardiologist, which means I treat heart disease using minimally invasive procedures – but I’m deeply committed to heart disease prevention with the use of advanced lipid profiles, genetic testing, and newer imaging modalities. My philosophy is to meet patients exactly where they are. For some, that means urgent intervention to save their life. For others, it’s about reducing risk factors, improving heart health, and even coming off medications over time. What inspires me is seeing patients get better – and stay better – through care that’s personalized, precise, and grounded in long-term well-being.
What is one aspect of the job you find rewarding?
Helping patients return safely to the activities they love, whether that’s the tennis court, the golf course, or daily walks, after a medical event.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of medicine?
After more than a decade practicing in Long Island, I’ve embraced life in the Lowcountry for more than 15 years. I love the water, sunsets, fishing, kayaking, oystering, beach walks, especially when shared with my lovely husband.
What is exciting about your field?
Advancements in technology continue to expand what we can treat with minimally invasive techniques, helping more patients avoid open-heart surgery and recover with confidence.
SMART GROWTH: BLUFFTON COMMUNITY HOSPITAL WILL FIT RESIDENT NEEDS
Residents in the booming town of Bluffton have experienced some notable challenges over the past decade as the population of the area has grown faster than its infrastructure.
Healthcare is no exception – and the town’s first community hospital, driven by Beaufort Memorial, is set to be open and seeing patients at the beginning of 2027, less than a year and a half away.
“Bluffton keeps growing; it’s one of the fastest growing municipalities in the state,” said Bluffton Mayor Larry Toomer, who noted that out of the area’s main infrastructure needs, medical facilities and medical care top the docket.
On May 7, Beaufort Memorial – with the help of more than 150 community members – broke ground on the 28bed, $103 million Bluffton Community Hospital, which is
currently under construction on the corner of Bluffton and Buckwalter Parkways.
“We know that patients are choosing to travel from Bluffton to Beaufort Memorial Hospital for care, so it’s incumbent upon us as healthcare providers to make sure we meet the patients where they are,” said Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley. “We need more accessible care. This facility allows us that opportunity.”
The nonprofit hospital system has had a foothold in Bluffton since 2006 and has been committed to bringing the same care to their own backyard that Bluffton patients travel to Beaufort to receive.
Growing with the community isn’t enough, said Steve Meyer, board chair of South of Broad Healthcare, a Beaufort Memorial affiliate.
Beaufort Memorial Bluffton Community Hospital, scheduled to open early 2027.
Officials from Beaufort Memorial, the Beaufort Memorial Foundation, South of Broad Healthcare, the Town of Bluffton and Beaufort County ceremoniously break ground for the new hospital.
Photos by Oceano Blue Media
WHY A ‘COMMUNITY HOSPITAL’?
It’s there in the name – Bluffton Community Hospital – but what does it mean?
“Beaufort Memorial was founded in this community, in Beaufort County, more than eight decades ago,” said hospital President and CEO Russell Baxley. “We’ve been working ever since to evolve and expand to meet its healthcare needs.”
Beaufort Memorial has invested in the community through outreach and education initiatives, as well as charity care and providing free services to patients of other community safety net partners such as the Bluffton and Hilton Head Island Volunteers in Medicine (VIM), Good Neighbor Medical Clinic, and AccessHealth of the Lowcountry.
The organization has also worked to address barriers to care by providing free rides to patients without transportation, offering free health screenings at neighborhood events on the Beaufort Memorial Mobile Wellness Unit, providing assistance with the cost of medications and supplying 250 meals every week to food insecure community members. It also means providing some services like mental health and inpatient psychiatric services at a loss because they are desperately needed and no one else is meeting those inpatient and acute care needs.
“Continuing that outreach and charitable partnerships with the Bluffton Community Hospital and organizations south of the Broad River will further Beaufort Memorial’s mission to expand access to care,” Baxley added. “We are committed to addressing the barriers to healthcare in our community that affect health outcomes, and that is exactly what a community health system does.”
“The growth has to be strategic, and this hospital is an example of smart growth,” Meyer said. “Beaufort Memorial is rightsizing this facility, which will be efficient, state-of-the-art, and technologically advanced without overbuilding, providing patients south of the Broad River with highly specialized healthcare without driving up its costs to those patients or the community.”
The 90,000 square-foot, three-story facility will include a full-service emergency department, surgery center, laboratory, inpatient acute nursing unit and imaging services.
“This is a community hospital; it is built for the Bluffton community,” Baxley explained. “It’s going to be focused on what Bluffton patients need.”
CREATING JOBS, BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES
In its first year, the Bluffton Community Hospital will create 250 jobs, with between 70 and 80 of them nursing positions.
Employing more than 2.2% of the county’s workforce, Beaufort Memorial is currently the county’s largest private employer. While the hospital in Bluffton will be convenient for patients south of the Broad River who currently travel to the hospital in Beaufort to receive their care, the new location will open more career and advancement opportunities for the nursing talent in the Lowcountry as well.
Tricia Evegan, BSN, RN, Beaufort Memorial director of nursing supervisors and float pool, lives in Bluffton and said she’s thrilled about the opportunities that a hospital in the area provides to the organization’s staff.
“Currently, there is no hospital in Bluffton, which means that local, convenient hospital employment opportunities for the nursing talent and other caregivers in the Bluffton area are limited,” Evegan said. “This community hospital will allow more individuals the opportunity to join the organization, as well as the opportunity to advance into leadership roles.”
Evegan has been commuting from Bluffton to Beaufort for two decades, choosing a lengthy commute to work in an organization with “a deep connection to and roots in the community.”
“Our strength is in our people, and this new hospital will allow us to continue to become stronger,” Evegan added.
Along with advancement opportunities for Bluffton nursing talent, the addition of a hospital in the southern part of the county will allow current Beaufort Memorial providers flexibility in providing coordinated care countywide. With the help of Beaufort Memorial’s association with MUSC Health, this hospital will allow for the recruitment of even more physicians to the market, expanding primary and specialty
Bluffton resident Tricia Evegan, the hospital's director of nursing supervisors and float pool, with Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley.
Baxley addresses attendees at the May 7 groundbreaking celebration.
care throughout the Lowcountry – not just in Bluffton.
“This hospital touches on so many priorities for us, like access to care in a growing community and provider recruitment,” Baxley said. “As we build this new facility, it’s an anchor to recruit more providers and allows us to meet the staff where they are, too. As Bluffton grows, as Beaufort and Hilton Head Island grow, we want to provide other locations for our great nursing, clinical, support, and medical staff members.”
BEYOND BLUFFTON
While Bluffton’s need for a hospital has steadily increased over the past few years, the Bluffton Community Hospital is just one step in the direction of expanding access for patients in the southern part of the county.
This summer, the organization will hit another construction milestone on a completely different facility – a combination emergency room and urgent care located on the south end of Hilton Head Island at 1016 William Hilton Parkway.
The combination facility will be one of the first of its kind in South Carolina, with a unique billing process that charges patients only for the specific services rendered. The typical bill for an emergency room visit for an emergent case costs about $3,712, though many ER cases are actually non-emergent and can be treated easily at an urgent care center.
“One of the things that we talk about more and more these days is the cost of care,” Baxley said. “This facility’s approach not only potentially reduces out-of-pocket expenses for patients but also saves time and alleviates the stress of choosing between ER and urgent care.”
Beaufort Memorial has also made strides in making workforce housing affordable, and this summer, the organization will be breaking ground on LiveWell Terrace by BMH, an affordable housing development also located in Bluffton – less than a mile from the future hospital.
The next few months will also see new providers joining the ranks of the organization in primary care as well as specialty care areas like orthopedics, pulmonology, and cardiology.
“Patients in Bluffton and throughout the Lowcountry deserve improved accessibility to high-quality, innovative healthcare,” Baxley said. “We are making huge strides as a nonprofit health system to deliver that care to them.”
OSTEOPOROSIS & AGING JOINTS
OLDER DOES NOT HAVE TO MEAN WEAKER
When it comes to bone health, women face unique challenges, especially as they age, according to Dr. Kevin Jones, orthopedic surgeon with Novant Health.
“Women have a higher incidence of osteoporosis,” Dr. Jones said. “It’s important that their bone density is monitored, particularly after age 50, with routine tests so we can treat it early if needed.”
Fortunately, modern medications can not only improve bone density but, in severe cases, even restore more normal bone quality and accelerate healing.
Low bone density significantly increases the risk of fragility fractures. “These are fractures that can happen from relatively minor events, like a simple fall,” Dr. Jones said. “It could result in a broken hip, ankle, or other major bones – sometimes requiring surgery.”
The good news is that if low bone density is detected early, there are ways to strengthen bones and prevent injury. This is especially important for patients preparing for joint replacement surgery.
“If a patient has poor bone quality, we can improve it with medication before surgery to ensure better outcomes,” Dr. Jones said.
The best ways to improve and maintain strong bone health include:
• Get enough calcium and Vitamin D, such as through dairy, leafy greens, and fortified foods.
• Engage in weight-bearing and strength-training exercises, which stimulates bone formation.
• Avoid smoking and limit alcohol. Both decrease bone mass and increase fracture risk.
• Discuss bone-strengthening medications or supplements with your doctor.
Aging also affects the joints. The most common issue is osteoarthritis, where the cartilage that cushions the joints wears down.
“Eventually, it can wear down to bone, which often leads to joint replacement,” Dr. Jones said. “While genetics plays a big role, sometimes it can be delayed or managed with non-surgical treatments.”
SURGERY AT ANY AGE – WHEN
IT’S NEEDED
Dr. Jones emphasized that joint problems can affect people at any age. “We treat all age groups,” he said. “With younger patients, we try to avoid surgery, but when pain severely impacts quality of life, surgery may be the right solution.”
For patients who need surgery, advances in technology are improving outcomes. “I’m very proud of our robotic joint replacement program,” Dr. Jones said. “At Novant Health, we use state-of-the-art robotic equipment to perform
precise procedures, which leads to faster recovery and better results.”
Robotic technology allows the surgical plan to be customized and pre-programmed. “It minimizes trauma to the tissues, especially in knee replacements,” Dr. Jones said. “That means less irritation and quicker recovery.”
Post-surgery, patients are encouraged to begin moving the same day. “Many joint replacements are now outpatient procedures, or patients stay just one night,” Dr. Jones said. “Most people need about six weeks for the tissues to fully heal, but they’re up and walking right away.”
For women, especially those over 50, staying proactive about bone and joint health is key. As Dr. Jones said, “It’s all about prevention, early detection, and knowing there are advanced treatments available if needed.”
THE BEST WAYS TO IMPROVE AND MAINTAIN STRONG BONE HEALTH INCLUDE:
• Get enough calcium and Vitamin D
• Engage in weight-bearing and strength-training exercises
• Avoid smoking and limit alcohol.
• Discuss bone-strengthening medications or supplements with your doctor.
> Dr. Kevin Jones, orthopedic surgeon with Novant Health.
Located mid-island on Hilton Head, Tidewater Landing is a highly limited waterfront community made up of just five deepwater homesites.
Article by Cheryl Ricer
Photography by Skycam Digital
Construction by H2 Builders
Interiors by J. Banks Design Group
Architecture by Grady L Woods, AIA, NCARB with Woods Dendy Architects
Listed by Maxey Distinctive Properties, Maxey
Blackstream Christie’s International Real Estate Offered at $10,750,000
90 TIDEWATER MANOR
A DEEPWATER DREAM HOME IN THE HEART OF HILTON HEAD
Tucked away in the exclusive gated enclave of Tidewater Landing, 90 Tidewater Manor is more than a luxury home – it’s a master class in Lowcountry living. Represented by Nickey Maxey and Lindy Kopotic, Realtors with Maxey Blackstream Christie’s International Real Estate, this rare offering is a lifestyle in itself, blending modern comforts with timeless design and waterfront serenity.
Located mid-island on Hilton Head, Tidewater Landing is a highly limited waterfront community made up of just five deepwater homesites. “The area is super exclusive,” Kopotic said. “There are only two homes built in there so far, and each one has its own deepwater dock. It’s incredibly private, serene, and perfectly located between the north and south ends of the island.”
Built by the renowned H2 Builders and designed by the award-winning J. Banks Design Group, 90 Tidewater Manor stands on two full-sized lots totaling 1.78 acres. The second lot, a blank canvas spanning more than half an acre, conveys with the home and offers limitless potential – a
and travertine floors downstairs complement the custom wood flooring found upstairs.
Throughout the kitchen and beyond, natural textures and thoughtful finishes create a refined yet inviting aesthetic.
Authentic barn wood ceilings, reclaimed beams from a Pennsylvania Amish barn,
guest home, a private sports complex, or consider the included architectural renderings for a custom chipping green and pickleball court.
“(This property at) 90 Tidewater is really two properties in one,” Kopotic said. “There’s even a detached three-car garage that connects to the second lot, and we already have plans in place to convert it into a full mother-in-law suite. Whether you want to expand your living space or just preserve the extra privacy, you have options.”
REFINED INTERIORS AND RESORT-LEVEL AMENITIES
The home itself spans more than 8,025 heated square feet, with every inch thoughtfully curated. From the moment you enter, it’s clear that no detail has been overlooked. Built in 2015, the home still feels brand new – its timeless Lowcountry design has aged beautifully.
“The home is absolutely pristine. Every time someone walks in, they ask if it was just built,” Kopotic said. Wide open spaces, custom finishes, and abundant natural light create an elegant yet comfortable atmosphere perfect for both everyday living and grand-scale entertaining.
Highlights abound: a custom golf simulator, a plush movie theater, a fully equipped home gym with an infrared sauna, and a 600-bottle, climate-controlled wine room outfitted with glass doors and WhisperKOOL system. The Control4 SMART Home system allows for full automation of lighting, sound, security, and climate – from the dock to the front door.
The expansive layout includes five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, with each bedroom situated in a different wing of the home for ultimate privacy.
The primary suite is an oasis unto itself. Located on the main level, it features a cozy sitting area with panoramic views of Broad Creek and private access to the lanai. “You can walk right outside and watch the sunrise – the views are just magical,” Kopotic said.
The spa-like bathroom is finished in exquisite marble and includes dual vanities, a soaking tub, and a large walkin shower with multiple spray heads. But it’s the closet that takes things to another level. “The primary closet has a floating island in the center, and the hanging space goes three levels high. It’s a dream,” Kopotic said.
All guest rooms feature en suite baths, and one serves as a second primary with its own private waterfront balcony. Upstairs, a flexible bonus space includes a kitchenette with a full-sized Sub-Zero fridge, a second laundry room, and ample room for lounging or working.
“The Manor is perfect for multigenerational living, or just giving guests their own sanctuary,” Kopotic said.
A KITCHEN WORTHY OF AWARDS
At the heart of the home lies the kitchen, a true showpiece that won the prestigious Lighthouse Award for Best Kitchen Design. Centered around an oversized marble island, the space is equal parts functional and beautiful. Custom cabinetry, professional-grade appliances, and a
The primary suite is an oasis unto itself. Located on the main level, it features a cozy sitting area with panoramic views of Broad Creek
massive custom metal hood with a warm bronze finish elevate the space into culinary artistry.
Adding to its functionality is a separate scullery, or back kitchen, complete with an additional Sub-Zero refrigerator and steam oven. “The scullery kitchen is amazing for entertaining,” Kopotic said. “You can prep and clean without disrupting the main kitchen space.”
Throughout the kitchen and beyond, natural textures and thoughtful finishes create a refined yet inviting aesthetic. Authentic barn wood ceilings, reclaimed beams from a Pennsylvania Amish barn, and travertine floors downstairs complement the custom wood flooring found upstairs. Every detail has been hand-selected to harmonize with the Lowcountry setting.
INDOOR TO OUTDOOR LIVING
One of the most striking architectural elements of 90 Tidewater Manor is its seamless transition from indoor to outdoor living. Oversized pocket glass doors fully slide into the walls, turning the main living area into an open-air pavilion overlooking the water.
“When those doors are open, it completely transforms the home,” Kopotic said. “It creates one massive space that’s perfect for entertaining.”
And entertain they have. The current owners have hosted gatherings for up to 150 guests using just the home’s interior and outdoor living areas. The lanai features a full kitchen with a Wolf rotisserie grill, Sub-Zero refrigeration,
multiple lounge areas, and a stone fireplace. The negativeedge chlorine pool with an AquaKool system offers cool comfort on hot days, while the adjacent Hot Springs spa provides year-round relaxation.
Nearby, a dedicated pool bathroom and outdoor shower offer convenience and comfort for long days spent outdoors.
Down at the water’s edge, the private deepwater dock awaits – usable 24/7, thanks to the prime location. Crafted with premium IPE wood and outfitted with WiFi, speakers, a granite-topped bar, a sink, and undercounter
refrigeration, the dock feels like your own personal marina. There’s space for a boat up to 53 feet, plus a remote-control lift and dedicated kayak floats.
“They’ve even created a U-shaped seating area with custom cushions. It’s such a cool hangout space,” Kopotic said. “You can watch dolphins swim by while listening to music, all synced to the home’s audio system.”
A TURN-KEY LUXURY ESTATE
Every feature in this home speaks to quality and intention. Custom metal barn doors frame the dramatic
Every feature in this home speaks to quality and intention.
The negative-edge chlorine pool with an AquaKool system offers cool comfort on hot days
Down at the water’s edge, the private deepwater dock awaits – usable 24/7, thanks to the prime location.
two-story gas fireplace in the main living room. The bar area features reclaimed tin countertops for a rustic-modern flair. Two laundry rooms, multiple storage zones, and a sevencar garage – all with lift-ready bays and four and a half of those climate-controlled – cater to both convenience and hobbyists. As well, there are hurricane-grade windows and doors throughout, ensuring beauty and resilience in equal measure.
Recent 2024 updates include a lush Italian-inspired garden with custom lighting and various landscape enhancements. For eco-conscious homeowners, the property includes raised garden beds with irrigation, and a mosquito misting system offers chemical-free comfort throughout the grounds.
Truly a turn-key transition, 90 Tidewater Manor is more than just a home. It’s a personal resort. A place where mornings begin with sunrise coffee by the water, and evenings end by the fireplace under the stars.
“It’s not just a home, it’s a lifestyle,” Kopotic said. “Whether you’re fishing off the dock, hosting a cocktail party, or simply enjoying the quiet, this property just makes you feel good.”
With its rare combination of deepwater access, expansive privacy, exquisite design, and state-of-the-art features, 90 Tidewater Manor is one of Hilton Head Island’s finest residential offerings – a truly unmatched coastal retreat.
Offered at $10,750,000
90 Tidewater Manor, Hilton Head Island, SC
• 5 bedrooms | 6 full baths | 1 half bath
• 8,025-plus heated square feet
• 1.78 acres (two lots included)
• Private deepwater dock with 53-foot-boat access
• Infinity-edge pool and outdoor entertaining spaces
• 7.5 car garage | golf simulator | movie theater | home gym with sauna
• Turnkey - Sold furnished!
To schedule your private showing, contact Maxey Distinctive Properties with Maxey Blackstream Christie’s International Real Estate. To learn more, visit 90Tidewater.com.
FIRST STEPS AT
FIRST TEE
YOUNG COLLEGIATE GOLFERS EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR LIFE LESSONS LEARNED
By now, most people understand that the full mission of First Tee – The Lowcountry goes far beyond just golf. It’s common knowledge that a large part – perhaps the most important part – of their curriculum focuses not just on creating better golfers, but creating better people.
However, what might be most remarkable about what this program does for young people is how those lessons guide them long after they leave the nest and head to college.
Jeep Patrick, now a rising sophomore at Presbyterian College, describes it this way: “First Tee has been such an important part of preparing me for college golf. My coaches and mentors have helped me and are always there to cheer me on. The core values of First Tee are legit. It’s very cool that so many of the kids I started with at First Tee – The Lowcountry are playing college golf and will be friends for life. I will always be grateful to First Tee, and always tell anyone that asks my opinion on the best path to being a Division I golfer that it starts with First Tee. There isn’t a better foundation for a young golfer.”
As executive director, Pat Zuk has been fortunate to see these kids as they make the transition into adulthood, having watched their development from the beginning. “The first time I got to know Tag Graziano was during an Eagle level class. I didn’t know anything about him, but I just saw him hitting everything flush. Right in the middle
of the face,” Zuk said. “I didn’t mean to say it out loud, but I let out ‘Jeez, does this kid ever miss the middle of the club face?’ Beyond that, he’s just a good kid. I know he’s a good teammate because I watched him in the state championships with Prep.”
Like Patrick, Graziano will be taking his talents to the golf team at Presbyterian College.
Lexi Milbrandt is another First Tee alum who will soon be playing for her college team. “She is a very sound player who has really worked hard on her game with Karen Ferree. She has the potential to be a really good player,” Zuk said. “She actually worked for us part-time a couple of winters ago and she did a phenomenal job. I’m so happy to hear that she’s going to play in college and that she’s following her dream.”
Ask any of the coaches at First Tee, and they’ll tell you what a joy it is to even have the slightest hand in the growth and development of these kids. But if you ask the kids, they’ll tell you that they definitely got the better end of the bargain.
“I am deeply grateful to the First Tee and its core values, which have shaped me far beyond the game of golf,” said Cade Kriscunas, who is University of Marylandbound. “The lessons I have learned will stay with me for life! I especially want to thank the First Tee – The Lowcountry and its dedicated volunteers for their unwavering support and encouragement as I shift to collegiate golf.”
ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN . PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT
Four New Favorites in Coligny
FROM MOUTHWATERING FARE TO DAZZLING FASHION, HILTON HEAD’S DOWNTOWN HAS IT ALL.
As it enters its 70th year, Coligny continues to grow, evolve, and show us all how it has continued to be the most dynamic, exciting place to eat, shop, and dine on Hilton Head Island. A beloved cornerstone of the island’s cultural and commercial life since 1955, Coligny has always balanced a deep sense of tradition with a flair for bringing to us the latest and greatest.
That dual spirit is alive and well today, as this iconic plaza welcomes a fresh wave of energy with the introduction of four exciting new tenants. Each one brings something new to the table – sometimes literally – making this summer the perfect time to rediscover the magic of Coligny.
Slowcountry BBQ has opened its doors, with a mouthwatering array of Southern favorites like fried chicken and sandwiches. The fundamental value of honest scratch cooking is in every bite.
Jean-Pierre Klifa's new location in Coligny Plaza
Slowcountry BBQ
The Christmas Mouse Nine Line Apparel
“We’re excited to open and expand on the original concept that we had at Forrest Fire BBQ,” said Lee Lucier, co-founder of Slowcountry BBQ. “With this change we’ve expanded on the menu based on what the customers were asking for. More sandwiches,
burger offerings, a true kids’ menu … it’s really a much more balanced menu. Plus, we’ve switched from a buffet style service to counter service. Everything’s cooked to order with a fresh, new menu.”
From the down-home simplicity of great
Dozens of s'mores ornaments hang on a tree at The Christmas Mouse
Nine Line Apparel is located adjacent to The Frosty Frog.
Pretzel bites at Slowcountry BBQ
Lowcountry cuisine, we then step into the dazzlingly colorful fashion of French designer Jean Pierre Klifa, whose famed palette of fearless colors and elegant lines have come to Coligny. Marking his 12th boutique across the country, the Coligny location serves as the perfect venue for Klifa’s upscale resort stylings.
“I’m excited to bring my collection to Hilton Head,” Klifa told C2. “It’s a destination with a vibrant energy, and I think my designs will fit right in.”
From fashion forward designs to apparel with attitude, we now turn our attention to another new face at Coligny, Nine Line Apparel. Famed for their unapologetic patriotism, this Savannah brand has made a massive impact across the country. Its eye-catching T-shirts, hats, drinkware, and stickers celebrate freedom with a fearless dedication to the stars and stripes – and an often cheeky sense of humor.
From the land of the free, we make our way to the North Pole where Santa’s workshop has been busy getting things ready for The Christmas Mouse to open its doors in Coligny. Celebrating the season year-round, this holly jolly boutique is a winter wonderland of ornaments, decorations, and collectibles. Its Coligny location, festooned in garland and hundreds of twinkling lights, will give you a chance to get a jump start on the festivities.
With so much more to offer than ever before, Coligny is swinging into its 70th summer in style. If you’ve been looking for unbelievable Southern cuisine, haute couture French fashions, relentlessly patriotic apparel, or a little taste of the holiday season, Coligny is the place. In fact, no matter what you’re looking for, you’ll probably find it here.
Shop the look at Jean-Pierre Klifa
Stephen Neczypor and his 1970 Dodge Challenger
Tony Fiteni sits in his 1968 Corvette Roadster
Steve McCaskey with his red 1977 Jeep CJ-7
Nick and Cat Monroe with their red 1963 Chevy Corvair Convertible
Mark & Lennel Piekarski with their 1969 Volkswagen camper van
ARTICLE BY CHERYL RICER PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT
Classic Cars, Big Hearts
CAROLINA DREAMERS CAR CLUB TURNS PASSION INTO PURPOSE
In the heart of the Lowcountry, where winding roads lead to beautiful beaches and charming Southern towns, a rumble of engines signals more than just a love for classic chrome and horsepower. For more than 30 years, the Carolina Dreamers Car Club has not only celebrated the artistry of automobiles – but also fueled a deep commitment to giving back.
Founded in 1993 and based in Bluffton, Carolina Dreamers is a nonprofit organization made up of car enthusiasts who share a passion for automobiles of all shapes, ages, and sizes. But, as current club president Steve McCaskey points out, the club’s purpose extends far beyond the vehicles themselves.
“Our mission is not just to get car enthusiasts together and enjoy the camaraderie,” said McCaskey, who has been with the club since 2022. “It’s to raise funds for four different charities each year. That’s the whole heart of it.”
McCaskey recently stepped into the role of president after serving two years as vice president. He said at the end of each year, four selected nonprofits are awarded funding during a celebratory January meeting.
“My favorite month is December, when our treasurer says we have met our fundraising goal,” McCaskey said. “Then in January, presenting those checks – it’s the most exciting thing we do.”
Tony Munshi poses next to his Superformance MKIII 1965 Cobra replica
Ken Geraghty and his 1948 Mercury Eight
Larry Myers and his 1996 Collector's Edition Corvette
Carl Thompson with his red 2017 Dodge Viper TA 2.0
Macon and Donna Jones pose with their 2005 Cadillac ZLR
Scott Foley and his 1969 Pontiac GTO
The club’s charitable beneficiaries rotate each year and span a wide range of causes. For 2025, recipients include Friends of Caroline Hospice, Lowcountry Food Bank, Deep Well Project, and the Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA). In previous years, the club has supported veterans’ groups, pet rescue organizations, and women’s shelters.
Club member Tony Fiteni, who has been with the Dreamers since 2011, is part of the committee that helps select each year’s recipients.
“It’s a great social outlet for my wife and me. We’ve made so many good friends through the club,” Fiteni said. “But most importantly, it’s a way to give back. We take the time to research and find charities that really need support, and it feels good knowing we’re making a difference locally.”
FROM DRIVEWAYS TO DRIVE-INS
While charitable giving is the heartbeat of the Carolina Dreamers, their community presence is visible throughout the Lowcountry. The club currently boasts around 120 member households, and nearly as many cars. From 1930s
“You don’t even need to own a car to join,” McCaskey said. “You just need to be a car enthusiast. We’re completely inclusive. It’s not about what you drive, it’s about your love for all things automotive.”
classics to 2025 Corvettes, the collection is as diverse as its members.
“You don’t even need to own a car to join,” McCaskey said. “You just need to be a car enthusiast. We’re completely inclusive. It’s not about what you drive, it’s about your love for all things automotive.”
Each month, the club hosts several events known as Cruise-Ins. Held at local venues (as listed on the club’s website), these gatherings draw anywhere from 25 to 40 classic cars. Patrons get to stroll through a temporary museum of polished chrome and engines, while the club raises funds for its annual charity drive.
Members also attend local car shows sponsored by others, such as the monthly Cars and Coffee held at USCB in Bluffton, Auto Island Caffeine and Fuel, and additional special events.
They also hold a monthly Clean Sweep Road Cleanup on Hwy. 46 in Bluffton, led by longtime member Bill Kelly.
“Bill has been a cornerstone of the club for 25 years,
Will Stephens and his '20 Jeep Gladiator in black
Mike Reilly with his yellow Chevy Chevelle
Steve Braun and his 1971 Olsdmobile Cutlass Supreme convertible
consistently demonstrating a passion for community, camaraderie, and responsibility,” McCaskey said. “He has faithfully led our monthly road cleanup program, coordinating volunteers, managing logistics, and ensuring that our group continues to give back to the local area in a meaningful and visible way. His leadership in this initiative has not only kept our roads cleaner but has also served as a powerful example of what it means to be a responsible and engaged Carolina Dreamer club member.”
Each fall, the Carolina Dreamers host their marquee fundraiser, the annual Dreamers Car Show. Scheduled this year for November 8 at Reichenbach Chevrolet, it’s a full-day celebration of cars, music, food, and philanthropy.
“It’s really a great event,” McCaskey said. “We’ll have a DJ, maybe 125 cars in the lot, and judges selecting the top 20 vehicles for special plaques. It’s our biggest fundraising day of the year.”
Dave Przekora and his 1949 Ford
Baylor Ocain and his 2006 Corvette
Attendees from across the region are invited to showcase their vehicles for a small fee, with proceeds benefiting the club’s chosen charities. In addition to car registration, the event features silent auctions and vendor booths, making it a community celebration that appeals to car lovers and casual visitors alike. Vice president and organizer Steve Braun is on the lookout year-round for sponsors, providers of silent auction items, and vendors that contribute to make the Annual Dreamers Car Show a great success.
ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE
Despite their deep love of all things automotive, the Carolina Dreamers Car Club is ultimately about people –members, families, neighbors, and strangers brought together through shared interests and a desire to give back.
“Maintaining and growing momentum requires us to continually engage new members who share our enthusiasm for classic cars, community involvement, and fellowship,” said Will Stephens, club secretary responsible for membership. “New members bring fresh energy, new ideas, and help ensure the continuation of our traditions for years to come.”
Stephens said current members are encouraged to be ambassadors of the Carolina Dreamers. “Invite a friend to a meeting, bring someone to an event, or simply share what being part of this club has meant to you,” he said. “Our ability to thrive depends not only on the cars we celebrate, but on the people who carry our mission forward.”
Fiteni agreed. “The club has grown so much since I first joined, and through the leadership of the present and past presidents, so has the amount of money we’re able to donate,” he said. “It’s proof that when people come together around something they love, they can accomplish something truly meaningful.”
In the Carolina Dreamers Car Club, every polished fender, every purring engine, and every dollar raised tells a story –not just of vintage vehicles, but of compassion, purpose, and community spirit cruising at full throttle.
Interested in joining or learning more? Visit CarolinaDreamers.info or attend a cruise-in. Just bring your love of cars and your big heart.
Present-day Palmetto Bluff has been shaped by the property’s illustrious history, and echoes of its remarkable legacy reverberate today.
BY MORGAN STEWART
PHOTOS BY PALMETTO BLUFF
Divided Loyalties
GUNFIGHTS, NAVAL BATTLES, AND FAMILIES TORN APART BY THE FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE
South Carolina was the site of more than 400 battles and skirmishes during the American Revolution – including its bloodiest encounter, the Battle of Eutaw Springs. This summer, several events will take place throughout Beaufort County as part of a statewide commemoration, including a July 5 presentation and walking tour at Palmetto Bluff of the cemeteries near Wilson Village. The event will be led by Palmetto Bluff archaeologist Katie Epps.
In partnership with South Carolina 250 (SC250), the official commission leading the state’s commemoration of the United States Semiquincentennial, and the local initiative, Beaufort County 250, Epps will lead attendees through some of the property’s fascinating burial grounds while highlighting the landmarks, events, and remarkable stories of the Revolutionary War in the Lowcountry.
Epps and archaeological technician Zoe Klauck also will conduct a brief overview of Palmetto Bluff’s later history, from the Civil War through the early 20th century.
“Though not usually included in discussions of the famous battles of the Revolutionary War, from gunfights and shipwrecks to families with loyalties divided in the fight for independence, Palmetto Bluff has stories to tell,” Epps said. “We are honored to partner with SC250 and Beaufort County 250 to illuminate the role this slice of the Lowcountry played during this pivotal moment in our nation’s history.”
Palmetto Bluff Archaeologist Katie Epps will lead a July 5 walking tour of Palmetto Bluff that will highlight pivotal moments during the Revolutionary War.
While South Carolina experienced many well-known events during the fight for independence – including the battles at Stono Ferry and King’s Mountain – present-day Beaufort County was the site of many episodes that altered the trajectory of the Revolution. The Beaufort District, named after Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort, was formed in 1769 and originally included present-day Beaufort, Jasper, and part of Hampton counties. In 1868, the district was redesignated as Beaufort County and, in the years that followed, land was ceded to create Hampton and Jasper counties.
Bloody Point on Daufuskie Island was named after a series of skirmishes between indigenous peoples and colonists in 1715.
The Beaufort District’s first significant engagement of the Revolutionary War occurred in July 1775 and was known as the Bloody Point Naval Action.
Having received intelligence that the British were to receive a shipment of gunpowder from an incoming supply ship escorted by the armed schooner Phillippa, two South Carolina barges and a Georgia schooner surrounded the incoming boats, recovering 16,000 pounds of gunpowder. The cargo was divided between the South Carolina and Georgia Patriots, with the South Carolina contingent sending 4,000 pounds of the captured ammunition to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
To commemorate the anniversary of this action, historical sites throughout the county will host a series of events July 3-5. The tour at Palmetto Bluff will focus on a consequential episode that transpired in April 1781 on the property – the killing of Patriot James Doherty by Richard Pendarvis and his band of Tories.
Like the rest of the South at the dawn of the American Revolution, the residents of May River Neck (the original name of present-day Palmetto Bluff) were caught in the chaos of a divided nation with neighbors, and sometimes even families, on opposing sides. Turmoil erupted among patriots, loyalists, and neutral parties who refused to take a side, fueling tensions that rippled through the colonies resulting in an ideological clash which turned into a bloody conflict at Palmetto Bluff.
Pendarvis, a well-known Loyalist with the moniker “Tory Dick,” lived in a home he built on 200 acres overlooking the May River, gifted to him by his father, Josiah Pendarvis, who had purchased the first tract of land sold on May River Neck, a 650-acre parcel he named Montpelier Plantation after the French town. Richard’s wife, Margaret Martinangele, was the daughter of a Loyalist family from Daufuskie. As battles and skirmishes erupted along the Eastern Seaboard, local clashes between Tories and Patriots began to pit neighbors and friends against one another.
Katie Epps and the archaeology team are the keepers of the historical world of Palmetto Bluff.
In 1780, Pendarvis was part of a Tory militia that went to Bear Island, a plantation located on the mainland near Pinckney Island, that was owned by Doherty, who had been a close friend of Pendarvis before the war. Though accounts from the opposing sides differ, by the end of that fateful night, Doherty was dead, and Pendarvis had a hand in it.
An account in the Loyalist newspaper stated that Pendarvis, his lieutenant William Patterson, and several other Tories arrived at Doherty’s plantation. Doherty and his six or seven companions opened fire, killing one Tory and wounding another. The Tories returned fire, resulting in Doherty's death. In a contradictory account, the Patriots claimed that the Tories had threatened to kill Doherty, prompting them to plan an ambush. However, the Tories arrived early, and Doherty’s companions fled. When the Tories encountered Doherty, they opened fire, striking him, though the wound was not fatal. Doherty called for the Tories to approach and shake his hand. Suspecting a trap, Pendarvis and his group opened fire again, killing Doherty.
Revenge came four months later with Doherty’s nephew, Captain James Leacroft, leading members of the Patriot militia, dubbed the Bloody Legion, to Pendarvis’s plantation in May River Neck. They shot Pendarvis in the front yard of his home while his wife watched, and stole three of his horses and his gun before leaving.
As with so many during the War for Liberty, Doherty and Pendarvis were loyal friends turned mortal enemies. Two men lost, not in formal battle, but to petty revenge and murder.
After the war, differences were set aside as communities in the region worked toward building a united nation. Pendarvis’ widow, Margaret, whose husband and brother were killed by the Bloody Legion, remarried two years later – not to a Loyalist, but to a neighboring plantation owner and Patriot at Palmetto Bluff, Captain William Mongin, whose brother and uncle were members of the Bloody Legion.
Pendarvis’ brother-in-law, John Screven, owned land near Pendarvis and was also an ardent supporter of the Patriot cause. Screven later owned Montpelier Plantation, which was subsequently owned by George Hipp.
The Screven-Hipp Cemetery is nestled behind a wall of greenery, across from the parking lot at the Palmetto Bluff Canoe Club pool. This cemetery contains burials from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The Emily Geiger Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution erected plaques on the cemetery gate to commemorate the burial of Revolutionary War soldier John Screven and Revolutionary War Patriots Elizabeth Screven and George Hipp. Pendarvis and his father are possibly buried there, though no stones mark their graves.
Palmetto Bluff’s surprising past and those who lived there during the Revolutionary War will be discussed July 5 when Epps and the Palmetto Bluff archaeology team lead a 1.8-mile walking tour of Palmetto Bluff that includes four of the property’s cemeteries where some of the participants are believed to be buried.
The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, with light refreshments provided. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required, as the walk will include areas of uneven terrain. Cost is $40 per person. Proceeds will be used for cemetery restoration work in Palmetto Bluff cemeteries. Space is limited; email info@pbconservancy.org to purchase a ticket.
(This article is based on “Loyalties Divided” by Katie Epps, Palmetto Bluff Archaeologist. The article appeared in the Spring/Summer 2025 issue of The Bluff magazine.)
Bacon, egg and cheese on an everything bagel
Article by Barry Kaufman
Photography by Maggie Washo
More Love to Go Around
ISLAND BAGEL & DELI EXPANDS TO BUCKWALTER
For years now, it has been a persistent question on Bluffton’s mind: What’s going on with the old Bojangles? It was an enduring mystery ever since the popular fast-food joint abruptly shut its doors three years ago without notice. For a restaurant at the edge of Bluffton’s busiest thoroughfare, a spot that guarantees regular drive-through traffic, it seemed inconceivable that it would sit vacant so long.
When, we asked ourselves, would some smart restaurateur seize on the absolute goldmine in the heart of Bluffton? When we got our answer, “overjoyed” doesn’t begin to describe the reaction.
Island Bagel & Deli, one of the most popular breakfast spots in town, a place we regularly mobbed, overrunning the modest parking of Sheridan Park, was getting a second Bluffton location.
“I can’t wait,” said owner Ana Rojas. “This has been so long coming.”
As we spoke, the doors had not yet opened. There were still a few approvals and inspections to go through. Pity the poor town official who had to suffer an entire town’s impatience for their favorite bagel place.
“Everything else is ready,” Rojas said. “We needed to get into a bigger place so we could better serve our customers. It means so much to me when people wait for a parking spot just for a bagel and cream cheese. It means we have that support, and now we can get them a little more room.”
The new location marks the third in Rojas’ growing empire, the first expansion since she took over the Lowcountry institution four years ago.
Famed for their homemade bagels, flawlessly baked rings of joy that thread the needle of chewy and fluffy for the ideal texture and flavor, both locations have gained a loyal following.
And if you think people only come for the bagels, you haven’t seen what they do with them. Those bagels provide the foundation for deli sandwiches that rival any New York City shop, layered with freshly sliced cheese and Boar’s Head meat. They deliver a doughy counterpart to the creamy deliciousness of hand-crafted cream cheese in a kaleidoscope of flavors. And they share the spotlight with freshbaked cookies, muffins, Danishes, and scones, not to mention the chicken salad and egg salad the team prepares fresh every day.
A bagel buffet with an assortment of cream cheese
Island Bagel's new location on Buckwalter Parkway is set to open soon!
Start your day out with a delicious sausage, egg & cheese from Island Bagel!
A veggie bagel sandwich with a side of pasta salad
The Island Bagel team gets their first look at the new location in Bluffton.
Italian Sandwich
The original locale, on Hilton Head Island, supplies all the bagels for both locations fresh every morning. With the second location opening in Bluffton, Rojas has the opportunity to work even more of Island Bagel’s culinary magic.
“The other reason we wanted this location was to get a bigger kitchen, so when the Sheridan Park store is running out, they don’t have to wait for the island to supply them,” Rojas said. “We’ve been looking for a bigger kitchen so we can bake everything here, but now, since we have so much space, we’re going to be able to expand our offerings.”
That includes chicken salad and egg salad by the pound, a greater variety of breakfast items, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. And that’s just what the expanded kitchen in the new location offers. Its layout, having formerly operated as a fastfood place, will give Island Bagel & Deli something it has never had before: drive-through service.
“That won’t be open immediately when we open; we have to make sure everyone is trained on it. But we’re excited to be able to offer that,” Rojas said. “In the meantime, we’ll operate as always, with customers ordering ahead or through DoorDash.”
As if that wasn’t enough, the Buckwalter location will extend the store’s hours, staying open until 4 p.m. to give all those hungry teens a place to grab an afternoon snack. “Between all the schools and the hospitals, it’s a perfect place for us,” Rojas said.
For Bluffton, it’s a win-win. We get easier access to our favorite bagels, more offerings to sample, and a wider window of time to get our order in. For Rojas, it also represents the opportunity to turn her business into a family venture, with her son Jesse serving as manager of the new location along with superstar manager Peyton B.
“I’m excited for it. Not just because I won’t have this lady over here bossing me around all day,” he said with a laugh. “I’ve been managing the island location for the past two years, so it will be exciting to start in the new place.”
Bluffton, you’ve been asking for years what’s coming. Now that you know, get ready for even more of your favorite bagels and more.
“I’m so blessed. I thank God for his grace and to my team for their extraordinary talent and hard work. It’s great to have such amazing people behind me,” Rojas said. “I just want to keep working and offer the best to my customers. They’re the people I love.”
Ana Rojas and her son, Jesse, pose for a quick photo at their busy Hilton Head Island location.
Photography by M.Kat
A LINE IN THE SAND
COURTNEY’S THOUGHTS
Well, readers, it has finally happened. After 10 years we have received a reader question. Now that we have crossed this threshold, I imagine the floodgates will open. Please, floodgates, open. Barry and I spend most months trying to remember if we have already tackled the topic at hand. Some fresh ideas would be very welcome.
So, we received a group text from a mutual friend asking (ironically) that we discuss group text messages. Now why didn’t I think of that? I am vehemently opposed to all things group – chats, texts, projects, emails (and the dreaded “reply all” option), trips, et al.
The timing of the request was quite perfect, as I was currently six months deep in a group text chain whose sole
purpose was to organize a group trip. My worst nightmare. Allow me to tackle the former, before I delve into how the latter panned out.
Not every text message necessitates or deserves a response; however, we have been trained to believe that they do. We have also been trained that via text message, even the most mundane of information can be shared. So now because of texting we are oversharing, because via text you do not actually need a captive audience. As a result, I am receiving dozens and dozens of messages and now I feel the pressure to respond. And do you know what I dislike more than dozens and dozens of messages? Pressure.
In a group text situation, I now must also keep up with the multitude of replies. If someone likes a message, now I feel inclined to also like or “haha” it. Maybe things get crazy, and I must give it a double exclamation mark. I do not like this.
Group texts are small talk. I dislike small talk. Anything of a group nature requires managing the personalities and communication styles of multiple people, which complicates everything and therefore why I personally have been firmly in the anti-group anything camp.
That is until … my husband and some friends bid on a villa in southwest France at a charity auction, unbeknownst to me. I thought we were bidding on a local wine tasting until I was told, “I have bad news and good news. The bad news is we did not get the wine tasting. The good news is … We’re going to France.”
That was, in fact, not good news. As the information unfurled, I learned we were now the proud owners of a seven-night stay in a villa with two other couples. And the hits just kept on coming. Because I was the known entity of the group, the charity put the “win” in my name and therefore all communicating and coordinating with the trip company became my responsibility. So now, in addition to “winning” a trip I did not want to go on, I was also the trip planner. More bad news.
Thus began the six-month group text about all things France. Travel dates. Flights. Excursions. Fridge stocking. Car rentals. Bedroom configuration. Does the villa have toilet paper? You name it. We discussed it.
And then, before we knew it, the trip was here. My anxiety was at an all-time high, driven primarily by the fact that I wanted to still be friends with these people when it was all over. But no one’s anxiety was higher than my husband, who was worried about my worries. Sounds fun, right?
Guess what? It was. We returned three days ago from nine spectacular days in France – five in a group setting – and we had a ball. Together we discovered French villages, chateaus, and centuries-old chapels, we toured vineyards and tasted (a lot of) wine, cooked together, enjoyed chef’s dinners, a spa day, and lounged by the pool.
I fully relaxed and unplugged and for the first time in the history of my life. I did not work on vacation. I was too busy having fun with the best travel companions who shared our curiosity and appetites. It was sublime.
But while I may consider another group trip, please do not include me in your group texts. I’m meme’d out.
BARRY'S THOUGHTS
Like so many people who couldn’t find anything relevant to study in college, I was a communications major. While this did make me essentially unemployable for any job that didn’t involve writing juvenile humor, it also provided me with an actual academic background for this month’s column.
Because group texts are a fascinating medium for communication, albeit one we’re still trying to figure out. And I’ve found that what really irritates people about group texts isn’t a fault in the medium. It’s a fault in the user. Or rather, users.
Believe me, I understand the hangups that people have about group texts. Here’s a great example: This column was suggested via group chat that I received at 9 a.m. on a Saturday. By the time the buzzing from my watch woke me up, I was already a dozen messages late to a party I hadn’t RSVP’d to and was by no means
dressed for. This was irritating, if only mildly.
One time, as I turned off airplane mode during a tight layover, I found that I had been added to a group text of dozens of strangers and one person I knew. And they were all yakking back and forth, liking and reacting to each other’s messages, blocking out my itinerary and boarding pass with bubbles upon bubbles. That was far more irritating. So, I muted the conversation and politely texted my friend asking to remove me.
Yes, it can be irritating.
But look around you. Irritation is the price of admission for life in the modern world. Back when people talked to each other on the phone like cavemen, there was a certain tacit understanding that you don’t call someone early on a weekend – because we’d had the phone for a century or so and we’d established that protocol.
We haven’t really had a chance to establish those protocols for group texts. This has all come at us too fast. And to make matters worse, each of us has a strict set of do’s and don’ts for texting that exists entirely in our own head. And we kind of assume everyone else follows those same rules.
But they don’t. They’re following their own rules, blissfully unaware of how many of yours they’ve broken by letting the entire group know the urgent news that they have emphasized a message. (And as a quick aside to the iPhone users out there from one of those Android people you despise so much – what on earth does it mean to “emphasize” a message?)
But they’re only breaking your rules because, in an increasingly isolated and lonely world, they chose to reach out to you. And maybe to a few dozen other people. To communicate with greater ease than humans have enjoyed since we discovered language.
Text messaging, especially group messaging, has simply made it easier to chat with a group of friends as large or as small as you’d like to chat with at that time. That’s the new medium. But it comes with a price. You agree to be subjected to other people’s preferred ways of using the medium. If you can’t square that with your own rules, well, just hit the ignore button.
A giraffe reaches past the enclosure for a tasty leaf at Eudora Wildlife Safari Park.
ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT
Welcome to the Jungle
There are two vital components to the perfect summer day trip: the journey and the destination. The journey to Eudora Wildlife Safari Park from the greater Bluffton/ Hilton Head Island metroplex is one that lets you truly appreciate the Palmetto State. Apart from a brief stretch on I-95, the majority of the route snakes through back roads that showcase sights from rolling cornfields to picturesque smalltown Main streets.
In places, the blacktop is little more than islands of asphalt held together by patching tar. But you know you’re getting close when the blacktop disappears altogether, transitioning to a sandy ribbon of dust through rows of loblolly pines and red cedars.
And that’s when the true fun begins. Because that dusty trail winds through 150 acres of animal encounters that are unlike anything else you’ll find no matter where in the state you travel.
“It’s amazing how things lined up, being where we are,” said Mark Nisbet, the park’s owner. “You draw a circle two hours around us and you hit all the major populated areas in South Carolina. It’s easy to get to.”
Eudora Wildlife Safari Park is the coolest place in South Carolina you’ve never heard of.
The main attraction is the nearly three-mile-long trail that weaves around the park, traversing grasslands and forests that mimic the creatures’ natural habitat. As you roll through at a leisurely 5 mph, windows down to greet an entire zoo’s worth
A blackbuck antelope blends in with his surroundings.
A zebra approaches the car looking for tasty snacks.
A ring-tailed Lemur says hello
CH2's Maggie Washo has an unforgettable experience with Ellie the giraffe.
of animals who come right up to your car, you’ll encounter herds of exotic animals from around the world. It’s a wild experience in every sense of the word, one that takes you around the world without leaving your car.
Opening the park was the culmination of a long journey for Nisbet and his family. He’d spent 30 years working with exotic animals, putting on educational shows that traveled all over the Southeast. “We started out with just 30 acres with camels, a few zebras, and animals we used in the educational show,” he said. “They all lived out in the pasture, and we always thought someday we’d open the park.”
Opportunity struck when the world shut down in 2020.
“We were down in Florida when the pandemic started developing. All the events we had were cancelled and the kids were home from school. We had folks who worked for us who were from this area and we saw that safari parks across the country were doing well,” Nisbet said. “It was kind of the perfect storm.”
During the era of social distancing and compulsory isolation, it was the perfect escape for families looking to get out of the house.
“The first weekend we had 15 cars,” Nisbet said. “By the second week, the half-mile dirt road that leads to our farm was bumper to bumper to get in. The next week, it was a two-hour wait to get into the park.”
The word was out, and Nisbet was able to not only realize his long-held dream of opening a safari park, but he was able to invest back into his business.
The herd now totals around 400 animals, by Nisbet’s reckoning. And they represent a global coalition of some of the most fascinating animals you’ll ever get to feed from your hands. There are the American Bison, whose trademark move is putting their entire heads in your car and wagging their tongues at you until you feed them. The Blackbuck Antelope, who love a good scratch between the horns as much as they love carrot sticks (which is a lot). The ostriches,
An African Watusi shows off his giant horns.
A sleepy Binturong (also known as a bearcat) opens one eye to check out visitors to the park.
Safari Jevon on the hunt for kangaroos.
who are shameless treat thieves not above snaking their entire neck into your car in pursuit of food.
And among the herd, you’ll start to notice which ones have this whole safari park thing figured out. One particularly robust Brahman likes to camp out by the entrance, wedging himself between your vehicle and the gate so you’re forced to feed him until he’s had his fill.
The addaxes and Scimitar oryxes will sneakily position one of their flock in front of your car, leaving you stuck until everyone has eaten. And then there’s Scary Larry, a feisty ostrich who can be found zigzagging across the park in pursuit of the most generous drivers on the trail.
Of course, it can be a little bit harrowing to see the
swinging antlers of a Texas Longhorn mere inches from your car’s paint job, but there are alternative ways to take in the park.
“If you get a big group, the wagon tour is really nice because you get to experience it with all of your friends and we have a safari guide on there as well,” Nisbet said.
Whichever way you experience it, make sure you buy extra food. They’ll tell you that you only need two per person, but it’s very easy to run out early. Especially if Scary Larry is feeling feisty that day.
Eudora Wildlife Safari Park is located at 219 Salem Lane in Salley. Visit eudorasafaripark.com to learn more and book tickets.
CH2's Jevon Daly & Maggie Washo check out the concession stand and gift shop. A highland cow
A sleepy kangaroo takes a mid-day nap.
Eudora Wildlife Safai Park
Meet the StarS of the Show
Here’s the full rundown of the animals you’ll meet during a trip to Eudora Wildlife Safari Park:
Giraffe
Blackbuck Antelope
Emu
Water Buffalo
Texas Longhorn
Aoudad
Ostrich
American Bison
Grant’s Zebra
Nilgai
Wildebeest
Dromedary Camel
African Watusi
Miniature Zebu
Rhea
Brahman
Poitou Donkey
Tibetan Yak
Miniature Donkey
Bactrian Camel
Scottish Highlander
Belted Galloway
Addax
Llama
Alpaca
Scimitar Oryx
Gir
Eland
Miniature Hereford
Sheila Tucker owns and operates Heart Mind & Soul
Counseling
YOUR THOUGHTS CALLED: THEY’D LIKE
A HEALTHIER SNACK OPTION
Saturday mornings when I was a kid meant a bowl of cereal and a front-row seat on the living room carpet. The lineup was The Jetsons, The Flintstones, and a slew of enticing commercials for My Little Pony and Frosted Flakes. But what stands out most to me now – far more than Fred yelling, “Wilma, I’m home!” or
George Jetson’s flying car – were the public service announcements wedged between cartoon segments and commercials.
There was Schoolhouse Rock, with its animated scroll explaining how a bill becomes a law. They really should bring this one back. And there was Timer, an egg-shaped character in a top hat and bowtie,
ARTICLE BY SHEILA TUCKER . PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT
singing, “You are what you eat from your head down to your feet.” Timer waltzed through conveyor belts of food labeled “fats,” “proteins,” and “carbs,” explaining how nutrition fuels our bodies and minds.
It was delightfully weird. And sneakily educational. Check it out on YouTube.
Timer might have been talking about physical food, but the message stuck with me more deeply. If we are, in fact, what we eat from our heads down to our feet, shouldn’t the same apply to what we think?
YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK
The medical world often reminds us how our food choices impact our physical well-being. Too many cookies and not enough vegetables? You’re probably not feeling your best. But what about your thoughts? What’s the quality of your mental nutrition?
Our minds are constantly spinning, whispering (or sometimes shouting) thoughts at us throughout the day. Minds think. That’s what they do. Some are helpful. Others are, well, not so much. Unless you intentionally tune in with curiosity, those thoughts have the potential to play in the background like bad hold music or, even worse, they become your beliefs.
Your thoughts have a profound way of shaping how you perceive yourself, your relationships with others, and how you navigate the world.
If your internal playlist includes greatest hits like “I’m not good enough,” “I should be doing more,” or “Everyone else has it together except me,” then it’s no wonder you’re feeling depleted. Just like bodies need nourishing food, minds need nourishing thoughts.
If your internal playlist includes greatest hits like “I’m not good enough,” “I should be doing more,” or “Everyone else has it together except me,” then it’s no wonder you’re feeling depleted. Just like bodies need nourishing food, minds need nourishing thoughts.
When was the last time you really listened to your thoughts? Not just heard them, but paused long enough to ask: Where did that come from? Is this even remotely helpful?
Many of your thoughts are automatic. They were planted years ago, by a parent, a teacher, a social comparison, and now they loop without question. They inform how you relate to the world around you. The good news? You can interrupt the loop.
Try this:
Notice your thoughts (especially the ones that spark a reaction).
Name them. Is this self-doubt? Comparison? Shame? Fear? Nurture a new one. Try something softer, like: “I’m learning,” or “This is hard, and I’m trying,” or “It’s OK to start small.”
Side note: You can also notice the thoughts that elicit joy or excitement. Your “nurture” phrase might sound like “Wow, this is nice” or “I want to do that again.”
It’s not about becoming relentlessly positive or pretending
everything is great when it’s not. It’s about offering your mind the same nourishment you’d give your body – something balanced, kind, and sustaining.
REPETITION MATTERS
I heard an ad on a podcast the other day – one that’s played probably a dozen times – but this time, it stuck. Without realizing it, I was on the advertiser’s website checking out their product.
That’s the power of repetition. It’s how we learn. It’s also how we get stuck.
Negative self-talk, shame spirals, and overthinking thrive on repetition. But so does growth. The more often you practice self-compassion and curiosity, the easier it becomes to access those skills.
You might have heard these classic sayings: “Where the mind goes, your energy flows” or “What you feed grows.” They are right.
You repeat affirmations and mantras not because they’re magic but because they’re training the way you think. Just like Timer reminded us that food becomes energy, your thoughts become patterns. And those patterns become the way you relate to yourself and others.
Here’s the irony: As I sat down to write this piece about the importance of mental nourishment, my thoughts began to heckle me.
Blinking cursor. Blank page.
“You have no idea what to write.”
Several deep breaths later, I began to write as I usually do. I wrote about not knowing what to write, one sentence at a time. Just to keep going. In all honesty, I could curate a collection of my pieces aptly called “Tales of Nothing to Say.”
It’s interesting how taking action can silence the voice that tries to derail you. I didn’t need to feel inspired to write or to change my thinking. I needed to start, even if it was messy.
This begs the question: What are you feeding your mind?
If you’re constantly consuming content – news, social media, emails, texts, or your own unhelpful thoughts – it can feel like mental snacking all day long. No wonder your brain feels bloated and burned out.
I’ll repeat it: Mental nutrition isn’t only about positive thinking. It’s also about intentional consumption. Ask yourself:
• What am I reading, watching, and listening to?
• How do I feel after spending time with this person or reading this post?
• What am I telling myself after a tough day?
Mental nourishment might look like:
• Reading something inspiring before bed.
• Journaling about what’s working instead of what’s not.
• Calling a friend.
FINAL THOUGHTS
You can’t control everything that happens to you, but you can influence how you respond. You can decide what thoughts you feed. You can shift your mental menu toward something more nourishing.
Here’s one more exercise you can try today:
• Name one unhelpful thought you’ve been repeating.
• Replace it with something kind and helpful.
• Rinse and repeat. Again. And again.
I’m going to take some artistic liberty to amend Timer’s song: “You are what you think from your head down to your feet.”
So, what are you feeding your mind today?
Article by Lynne Cope Hummell . Photography by M.Kat
GOOD SPELLERS, UNITE! IT’S TIME FOR
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Words matter. Words are critical in life at every age. Without words, how could we ever communicate?
The fact that you are reading this article means that you appreciate words, too.
Words sometimes are also fun, and that’s just one reason audiences across the country continue to enjoy productions of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Lucky for local readers, this delightfully peculiar and wacky musical will be performed weekends July 11-August 3 at Sea Glass Stage at Coligny.
“There’s something so lovable about The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” said Alex Clark, who directs this production. “It has quirky humor and eccentric characters, but the root of it is about growing up, finding connection, and learning to laugh at life’s awkward moments.”
Audiences are sure to laugh as well, because the cast is chock full of talented people who happen to be funny.
Appearing as the middle school spellers are Sadie Beaumont as Marcy, Mark Erickson as Chip, Dan Franke as Barfee, Chloe Fry as Olive, Natalie Miller as Schwartzy, and Alyssa Vogt as Leaf. Drake Carney plays Mitch, the spelling bee moderator and also former champion; Ellie Friedman is Rona Lisa, another former winner, who is now a tough but kind-hearted counselor; and Kyle Price portrays the vice principal who is also the word pronouncer.
Beaumont, Fry, Vogt, Friedman, and Carney are appearing on the Sea Glass Stage for the first time.
Friedman is especially happy to be joining this cast. “Theatre is my home,” she said. “I’ve been involved in local community theatre for 30 years now, and I know I will never tire of the process of new and old friends coming together to create ephemeral, mortal art to share with our audience.”
Price was excited to be cast in his second show with Sea Glass, following on the heels of The 39 Steps in May. “Theatre is the only place I can be a 37-ish-year-old swinging bachelor one month and a disgruntled vice principal at a spelling bee the next,” he said.
Clark said she was drawn to this show because it’s “heartfelt and outright hilarious. It allows actors to be silly one moment and vulnerable the next. That’s something I think every audience member, regardless of age, can relate to.”
The spellers are competitors of varied talent, including a former champion, a politically aware young student, a goofy homeschooler, a know-it-all, a perfectionist, and the quiet kid. (A couple of the students might appear to be a bit tall for middle schoolers, but pay that no mind. Grown men are sometimes
Appearing as the middle school spellers are Sadie Beaumont as Marcy, Mark Erickson as Chip, Dan Franke as Barfee, Chloe Fry as Olive, Natalie Miller as Schwartzy, and Alyssa Vogt as Leaf. Drake Carney plays Mitch, the spelling bee moderator and also former champion; Ellie Friedman is Rona Lisa, another former winner, who is now a tough but kind-hearted counselor; and Kyle Price portrays the vice principal who is also the word pronouncer.
thought to be “just like 12-year-old boys,” aren’t they?)
You will want to cheer for these spellers as they navigate the pressures of competition, puberty, and personal growth – all while spelling some of the most impossible words imaginable.
Additional spellers are four real – not planted! – audience members at each performance who are invited to volunteer to come onstage to compete alongside the six spellers.
If you’ve ever participated in a real spelling bee, you might recall there are questions you can ask after the proctor gives you a word. You can ask the language of origin, the definition, and ask that the word be used in a sentence. If you happen to be chosen from the audience, keep these options in mind and use them all to your best advantage!
Involving the audience directly is one of the fun and unusual aspects of this show. While some might be horrified to be called onstage, others will delight in being invited to join in. It’s another fun feature that Clark finds endearing.
“I also love how this show invites community and spontaneity. With elements of improv and audience participation, no two performances are ever exactly the same,” she said. “I hope you laugh, I hope you cheer, and most of all, I hope you see a little bit of yourself in these lovable overachievers.”
The play was written by William Finn, first performed in New York City in 2004, and appeared on Broadway in 2005. The show has won numerous awards, including a Tony for Best Book of a Musical and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical.
Choreography is by Jessica Walck, who directed The 39 Steps in May. Music direction is by Bob Adams, who is enjoying his second show with Sea Glass Stage Company.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, July 11 through August 3 at Sea Glass Stage at Coligny, 1 North Forest Beach Drive, Unit I-5, on Hilton Head Island. Tickets are $35 adults, $20 students, and are available at sgstage.org and, if any remain, at the door just prior to each performance.
To assist the potential chosen few audience spellers, following are some words, their definitions, and a sample sentence to study.
Muntjac (MUN-jack)
A type of deer from Southeast Asia, with tiny antlers, large tusks, and a loud barking sound when it cries.
Sentence: The other reindeer used to laugh at Rudolph, but that all ended when the muntjac came to town.
Alkekengi (AL-ka-KEN-gee)
An ornamental arboreal plant consisting of a whirl of bracts that is exterior to the inflated calyx or results from the union of the sepal appendages. Also called Chinese lantern plant.
Sentence: Look at that beautiful alkekengi.
Concinnity (con-SIN-ity)
Neatness and elegance especially in style.
Sentence: Barbara Jean thought that her mama’s new trailer lacked the concinnity of their former double-wide.
SUMMER BRINGS COMMUNITY FUN AND OPPORTUNITIES TO CELEBRATE
For many of us, it’s our favorite time of the year. And I couldn’t agree with author Kellie Elmore, well, more: “Some of the best memories are made in flip flops.”
Lowcountry summers are the “why” behind our annual, robust visitor brigade. Summertime brings that irresistible combination of sweet seasonal fruit, frothy cold brews, warm evening breezes, and refreshing splashes in our local waterways.
It’s also a time to come together as a community and celebrate the freedom we enjoy today because of those who came before us.
The July 4 holiday and our peak beach season is always a special time for family traditions on Hilton Head Island. For those who love the sound of freedom while enjoying a beach day, there’s the annual Salute from the Shore flyover that starts in North Carolina and ends here in the Lowcountry at 1:30 p.m. In addition to the rousing July 4 fireworks displays at Harbour Town in Sea Pines and in Shelter Cove Harbour, residents and visitors alike are free to “ooh and ahh” at firework displays during Shelter Cove’s HarbourFest on Tuesdays throughout the summer.
For those brave enough to stand our signature humidity, there’s the USA 5K at Coligny Beach and the Firecracker 5K at Honey Horn, both on the morning of July 4. Even more family-friendly fun that also supports our local community can be found at these upcoming events:
• Party in the Park, bi-weekly Thursdays, now through July 24, 6-8:30 p.m. at Lowcountry Celebration Park.
• 2025 Jazz in the Park Series, bi-weekly Tuesdays, now through Sept. 2, 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Lowcountry Celebration Park.
ABLUFFTON’S
s Bluffton continues to grow, it’s more important than ever for residents, especially those new to our community, to understand how their local government works. That’s why the Town of Bluffton created a Resident Resource Guide, a printed reference designed to help you navigate the town’s services, structure, and responsibilities. It was mailed to all residents in June.
This guide is essentially the print version of Bluffton’s Mobile Town Halls, an outreach initiative we launched to meet residents where they are, listen to their questions, and explain how Bluffton operates. During those conversations, one theme was clear: People bring expectations based on how their previous hometowns functioned. In Bluffton, things might work differently. This guide helps explain how and why.
The Town of Bluffton operates under a council-manager form of government. This means your elected officials on town council set the vision, policies, and ordinances. The town manager and staff are responsible for implementing those directives. This structure differs from a “strong mayor” system, and the guide outlines how these roles work together to serve you.
The guide also clarifies what the town is – and isn’t – responsible for. Roads, for example, might fall under town, county, or state jurisdiction. Fire protection is provided by the Bluffton Township Fire District, while the town oversees
A Note from Hilton Head Island Mayor Alan Perry
A Note from Bluffton Mayor Larry Toomer
• Movie Nights in the Park, Thursdays, now through Aug. 14, 8:30-10:30 p.m. at Shelter Cove Community Park.
• Sunset Celebrations, Fridays, July 11-Aug. 15, 7-10 p.m. at Shelter Cove Community Park.
• Summer Jams, July 4 and Tuesdays, July 8-29, 5:309:30 p.m. at Shelter Cove Community Park.
Last month, we observed the national Juneteenth holiday (June 19) and commemorated the end of slavery in the U.S. During several days of festivities and fellowship at the Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park, I was honored to share a proclamation with attendees honoring the resilience and contributions of all Black Americans, and in particular the African Americans who established the first self-governed freedmen’s community in the nation.
According to exploremitchelville.org, “Mitchelville became a vibrant, self-governed community, both defined and accentuated by the customs and cultures of native islanders, the Gullahs, and those brought to America from a multitude of countries and islands. At its height, Mitchelville boasted 1,500 to 3,000 residents and demonstrated freedom and opportunity for African Americans diverse in backgrounds and origins.”
The Town proudly supports Mitchelville Park’s ongoing endeavors to educate and inspire residents, visitors, and others to learn and grow from efforts made to preserve this rich cultural history and Gullah Geechee community traditions, right here on Hilton Head Island.
A Note from Mayor Toomer continued
police services for town residents. The guide also explains development agreements, annexation law, and their legal parameters. The guide explains who handles what, so you know whom to call and what to expect.
One of our key messages is: When in doubt, reach out. The guide is a great first stop for common questions, but town hall is always just a phone call, email, or visit away. Our goal is to make local government accessible and transparent, and that works only when residents feel comfortable asking questions.
Bluffton is not just where you live, it’s your town. Your voice matters here. From public meetings and advisory boards to community events and volunteer projects, your involvement helps shape our future. The guide includes information on how to get engaged and make your voice heard.
We created the Resident Resource Guide not just to inform, but to help build community. We hope the guide helps you feel more connected and confident about how Bluffton works, whether you’ve lived here all your life or just moved in last week.
We’re proud of this town, its history, its growth, and the deep pride our residents feel in calling Bluffton home.
I encourage you to take a few minutes to read through the guide, ask questions, and get involved. #KnowYourTown. And remember, we’re here to help. If you would like additional copies of the guide for yourself or your organization, contact Public Information Officer Debbie Szpanka at dszpanka@townofbluffton.com. A digital copy of the guide is available on the town’s website, townofbluffton.sc.gov. The guide includes useful information for everyone who has Bluffton in their address, whether you live inside the town limits or not.
A Note from Mayor Perry continued
My Milkshake Brings
All the Girls to the Yard
My obsession is ice cream. Plain and simple. Not only can I not get enough of it, but I will walk barefoot about 15 feet for some, if it is good. In all kinds of weather, I might add.
One would deduce, simply by association, that would mean I am equally obsessed with the milkshake. I am not. I love them, of course, but I don’t dream about them like I do a pint of Ample Hills Creamery or Off Track in Charleston or Leopold’s in Savannah.
Why not? Well, I’m glad you asked.
One should know that the perfect milkshake is not simply a matter of adding milk to a large cup of ice cream and then hitting it with a blender. Not at all. The ideal milkshake is carefully crafted. Not all ice creams make for great milkshakes. How do I know this?
Once upon a time in Savannah, during a chat with the owner of a newly opened burger and wings joint, he asked me to try a milkshake. OK, I’ll bite – or sip. It was excellent. Seth proceeded to tell me that they sampled about 40 different ice creams to get to that final product. Something about fat content and thickness and consistency.
There was a lot of science that day. I glazed over, tuned out, and sucked on the shake.
Since that day, I’ve understood why no matter how well-intentioned some places may be about a milkshake, they just don’t hit that sweet spot of perfection. Don’t get me wrong, many do, but perfection is a fleeting thing. That’s what makes it special.
Fortunately for you, it now exists on Hilton Head Island. The Milkshake Factory is that place.
I admittedly had never heard of the Milkshake Factory until a friend of mine on the island mentioned it to me in passing back around Memorial Day. It took me two weeks to get there, but I was able to have a chat with Brent Howard. Brent is one of a group of partners who own this location in Main Street Village. It also wasn’t until that first visit that I realized that The Milkshake Factory is a Pittsburgh-based chain that started back in 1914.
My visit with Brent was quick, but very helpful in understanding the concept. The ice cream and flavor syrups are proprietary. The Milkshake Factory has developed their recipes and the products are mass-
produced for them. I make a point of this because of what I made reference to earlier. These ice creams aren’t being made for a bowl with fudge on them. They are being made to be blended with milk and other flavorings. I don’t think I have any problem convincing you that The Milkshake Factory is all about the milkshake.
There’s a large menu on the wall. They have their specialties, of course, but I’m fairly certain you can make your own. They are thick and rich and everything you want a milkshake to be.
My first dabble was called The Cookie Jar, which featured chocolate chip cookie dough, crushed cookies and cream, peanut butter cookie crumbles, topped with a chocolatedipped cookies and cream cookie. I thought it would be good, of course. But I didn’t expect what happened after a first sip.
The moment stopped me in my tracks. I turned to my friend standing next to me holding a mint chocolate chip shake she hadn’t sipped yet. I begged her to do so.
I could tell she liked it, but she wasn’t nearly as impressed as I was. Something about not being a big milkshake person and a bunch of other foolishness that sounded like Charlie Brown’s teacher. Yeah, OK, whatevs. This is serious business. This was the best milkshake I had ever tasted. Every subsequent sip confirmed my belief. Just outstanding.
In fact, I liked it so much that I did something I rarely do. I asked my friend to take my phone and shoot a video of my natural reaction in the wake of that milkshake experience. I sipped on the s’mores shake we had left over and loved that too. And as I mention in the video, I don’t even like s’mores. But that’s just me. The taste of the shake I had was wonderful.
All of that to say I simply love what this place is all about. If you are scoring at home, then you know we don’t generally make a big fuss about chain restaurants around here. It’s an unofficial policy.
But sometimes, something comes along that demands your attention. If you like milkshakes, then this is one of those times and I already told you where I stand with them.
The only challenge for me now is to resist the temptation to pull in for one on my way back home to Savannah whenever I’m on the island. I don’t want to be needing a nap on my drive, and they aren’t fat free. They are thick, heavy, and very rich. Anything in moderation, of course, but proceed with caution, lest you ruin your hot boy summer before it gets started.
Once they make it to Savannah, which Brent tells me they hope to eventually do, then I will have my own set of problems to deal with. In the short term, you need to head over to TMF and Drink It and Like It.
> Jesse Blanco
July 2025 Calendar
MONDAYS
Free Golf Clinic
4 p.m.
Robert Trent Jones Course Palmettodunes.com/golf
TUESDAYS
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Farmers & Makers Market
The Shops at Sea Pines Center
TUESDAYS
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Hilton Head Farmers Market
Coastal Discovery Museum
70 Honey Horn Drive
SATURDAYS
Hilton Head Community Market
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Shelter Cove Community Park
Local artists, makers, farmers
SUMMER
MUSIC
SERIES
Coligny Center Stage
6:30 p.m. Daily
JEVON DALY
KIDS’ SHOW
6:30 p.m. Sun-W-F Coligny Center Stage
CAPPY THE CLOWN
Kids Activities M-F, 6-9 p.m.
Shelter Cove Harbour
GREGG RUSSELL SUMMER CONCERTS
M-Th, 8-9:30 p.m.
Liberty Oak at Harbour Town
8, 15, 22, 29
Tuesdays in July
HARBOURFEST
Shannon Tanner & Fireworks
6:30-9 p.m.
Shelter Cove Harbour
4 Friday
GREGG RUSSELL
4TH OF JULY CONCERT 8-9:30 p.m.
FIREWORKS!
Liberty Oak at Harbour Town
4 Friday
SHANNON TANNER’S PATRIOTIC FAMILY SHOW
6:30-9 p.m. FIREWORKS!
Shelter Cove Harbour
7 Monday POLAR BEAR SWIM
1 p.m.
Harbour Town Pool seapines.com
8 Tuesday
JAZZ IN THE PARK
Junior Jazz All Stars
7:30 p.m. FREE
Lowcountry Celebration Park
9 Wednesday
SANDY SLEDDING
10-11:30 a.m. Team Challenge $40 seapines.com
10-11
Thursday and Friday
GABRIEL & CO. TRUNK SHOW & BUJUKAN BRACELET BAR Forsythe Jewelers 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
11 Friday
SANTA’S SUMMER EXPRESS
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Harbour Town - $8/person seapines.com
JULY 11AUGUST 3
“THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE” Sea Glass Stage at Coligny sgstage.org
17 Thursday
1ST ANNIVERSARY PARTY 4-7 p.m.
Brims on the Bluff 10C Johnston Way, Bluffton
JULY 25AUGUST 3
“ANYTHING GOES” Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute - Seahawk Cultural Center hhisummermusicals.com
