Hilton Head Monthly May 2019

MOTHER’S DAY: FASHION, PAMPERING & BRUNCH

SHARK WHISPERER HHI’S CHIP MICHALOVE TRACKING GREAT WHITES

DRIVING AMBITION

PARENTS GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR ATHLETES

+The Grace PALMETTO BLUFF’S ANTIQUE YACHT your voice MAY 2019

monthly

TM

address 14 Westbury Park Way, Suite 200, Bluffton 29910 offices 843-842-6988 web hiltonheadmonthly.com

FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS for Residents of Beaufort and Jasper counties! $1 or less per month for out-of-area mailings hiltonheadmonthly.com/subscriptions

MEDIA ENTREPRENEUR

Marc Frey marc@hiltonheadmonthly.com PUBLISHER Anuska Frey anuska@hiltonheadmonthly.com EDITOR IN CHIEF Carol Weir carol@hiltonheadmonthly.com SENIOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sasha Sweeney sasha@hiltonheadmonthly.com ART & PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Michael Lupi mike@hiltonheadmonthly.com GRAPHIC DESIGN Christine Cannon Allyson Venrick ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Rebecca V. Kerns rebecca@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-816-2732 Cathy Flory cathy@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-384-1538 Majka Mochnac majka@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-290-9372 Mary Ann Kent maryann@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-384-9390 Steve Bailey steve@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-384-9302 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Christine Cannon, Carrie Hirsch, Rob Kaufman, Mindy Jo Photography, Ruthe Ritterbeck, Lloyd Wainscott, Piper Vanloh CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mark Anderson, Queenie Bontuyan, Clay Bonnyman Evans, Jessica Farthing, R.L. Hamilton, Carrie Hirsch, Laura Jacobi, Kim Kachmann, Barry Kaufman, James Mallory, Nell Quest, Dean Rowland, Mike Sampogna, Jed Sapio, Nicole Schultz

4 hiltonheadmonthly.com

››

May's

Must Reads

16

34

66

48

114

144

16 The Shark Whisperer

34 New Animal Campus

114 Page Island

48 Laura and Carol Cramer

144 Mother's Day Brunch

Chip Michalove knew they werer here all along.

Beaufort County and Hilton Head Humane team up.

Mother-daughter duo dominate Sea Pines real estate.

6 hiltonheadmonthly.com

66 Summer Camps

Keep kids busy with camps for sports, arts and more.

This Lowcountry island is untouched by time.

Make these simple recipes to treat her.

››In this Issue +

52 50 NEWS 38 Noisy Neighbors

St. James church needs to move.

104

BUSINESS 40 Botany Bay Sea Salt

This gourmet salt is made nearby.

LIFESTYLE

44 SEP IRA Retirement saving for self-employed.

104 The Grace

MOTHER'S DAY

HISTORY

Cruise on Palmetto Bluff's WWI yacht.

50 Making a Brand

112 The Yemassee Were Here

52 Makeover Magic

SPORTS

Amber Faust's Instagram works for her.

Monthly gives HHI nurse a new look.

56 Gift Guide

Make her day with these great gifts.

EDUCATION

How early native peoples lived.

120 Traveling Team Parents Young athletes are grateful.

MAYFEST

62 Hilton Head Middle School

124 Ugly Dog Contest

HEALTH

RELIGION

New principal makes gains.

Eccentricity rules the day in Bluffton.

64 VIM Dental

130 Church of the Palms

HOME

72 Home Renovations

138 All Saints Garden Tour

Eligible patients can get free care.

These projects make financial sense.

8 hiltonheadmonthly.com

All are welcome to worship here.

GARDEN

This annual spring event is beautiful.

IN EVERY ISSUE 10 At The Helm 12 Opinion 14 Behind the Scenes 26 News 28 Where in the World?

30 Social Spotlight

32 Community Connection 46 On the Move 82 Real Estate News 133 Calendar 152 Restaurant Listings 160 Last Call

››At the Helm

Dear Reader,

T Anuska Frey – publisher anuska@hiltonheadmonthly.com

Carol Weir – editor carol@hiltonheadmonthly.com

10 hiltonheadmonthly.com

he Lowcountry is a special place in the spring. As the last bit of cold fades away and the wisteria and Carolina jasmine bloom, we’re ready to get back outside and explore all the Lowcountry has to offer.

Here at Monthly, we’re celebrating mothers in this issue. We hope you enjoy writer Laura Jacobi’s story about the sacrifices made by parents of promising young athletes, and our feature about a Hilton Head Island mom who is a social media entrepreneur. We also sit down with Laura Cramer, who is 93 years old and still actively — and very successfully — selling real estate in Sea Pines with her daughter, Carol.

We know how hard it can be for moms to find their “me” time. That’s why Monthly treated Hilton Head Hospital labor and delivery nurse Morgan Edmunds to a makeover for Mother’s Day. Stylist Katherine Mademann coached her through a fabulous transformation. Many thanks to boutiques Coastal Bliss on Hilton Head Island and Cocoon in Bluffton for providing clothes and to Enliten Salon for hair and makeup.

On her special day, let Mom take the morning off. We’ve rounded up a few simple, kid-and-dad recipes for a delicious Mother’s Day brunch at home.

This month, make sure you spend time outside before temperatures climb and summer visitors arrive en masse. We suggest a day cruise on The Grace at Palmetto Bluff, one of the last remaining early gas-powered yachts. Read about her long history of prior owners dating back to World War I. Speaking of the outdoors, don’t forget to stop by the Bluffton Village Festival — better known as Mayfest — on May 11. We love this annual outdoor festival that features the best of Bluffton’s art, food and culture — complete with the must-see World’s Ugliest Dog Contest.

Finally, in our annual Health & Wellness Guide, we encourage you, dear readers, to take care of yourselves and pursue a healthy lifestyle. This useful guide includes a directory of local health care providers and is included with home delivery issues and distributed in doctors’ offices, urgent care centers and hospitals throughout the Lowcountry. Or stop by our office in Bluffton to pick up a copy!

››We Asked, You Answered

Paint pottery at the Art Café.

— Brittany Megan Scheriff

Warm weather is here, and summer visitors will arrive en masse soon. What fun activities on Hilton Head Island would you like to do before they get here?

Drive to the island on Saturdays.

—Dylan James Moore

Support the Beaufort County FC – Womens’ Premier Soccer League team! The WPSL is the largest women’s league in the world. The team will be playing at Hilton Head Christian Academy throughout the summer. Check their Facebook page and come. — Julie Haughton

Take a walk or bike ride on Pinckney Island.

— Lisa Meotti Simons

Tiki Hut .— Jani St James

— Dan Hogan

— Bonna Keckley

Kayak Sharks teeth hunting!

Surf camp!

Beach yoga!

— Byron Sewell

Go to Pool Bar Jim’s!

— Jennifer Hurley Plant

— Rita Jaklitsch

Eat at [Skull Creek] Boathouse without waiting for two hours.

— Gretchen Maldonis

Take a dolphin cruise.

— Lorraine Bray

Simply walk the beach and experience pristine nature.

Play mini golf at Pirate’s Island.

Take a horseback ride at Lawton Stables.

Go grocery shopping on a weekend.

— Terri Leonard Philpot

Walk the beach with my two dogs.

— Debbie Birkett

— Kayla King

Get ice cream after the beach

by Coligny.

— Vashti Cintron

12 hiltonheadmonthly.com

››Behind the Scenes

ONLINE

EXCLUSIVE CHECK IT OUT AT: HILTONHEADMONTHLY.COM

Morgan Edmunds (center) got a makeover from Rachel Mayoh (left), the owner of Enliten Salon, and stylist Katherine Mademann.

The Wexford Charitable Foundation has reached a million-dollar milestone, but the huge fund had modest beginnings.

Wexford resident Jim Hicks, who established the foundation in 2012, got inspired when he volunteered with the American Red Cross in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina. “That experience taught me that anyone can make an impact when it comes to helping people in need. As a consequence, I realized that Wexford could make an impact by supporting local charities that are helping those in need every day,” he said.

Editor Carol Weir made a batik animal and shot some photos at the Rec Center, where artist Stella Lee Anderson is leading a series of community workshops.

Publisher Anuska Frey stopped to chat with long-time friend and Heritage Classic Foundation Trustee, Stan Smith.

With a mission to support health, hunger, education and humanitarian charities, the Wexford Charitable Foundation initially focused on smaller agencies. Thirteen charities were supported in the first year with grants totaling $60,000. By 2019, annual grants totaling more than $200,000 were distributed to 32 local charities.

MONTHLY CONTRIBUTORS

Read the full story by Carrie Hirsch online at hiltonheadmonthly.com.

PIPER VANLOH Photographer

LAURA JACOBI Writer

RICH THOMAS Historian and writer

Piper Vanloh is a 7th grader at Hilton Head Middle School. She is a world traveler, incredible artist, avid sailor and the best big sister around.

Laura Jacobi has lived in the Lowcountry for more than 15 years. She is a former newspaper journalist, a freelance writer, real estate marketer, loving wife and mom of two active boys.

Corporate leadership consultant Rich Thomas has extensively researched the history of Hilton Head Island, is active on the boards of area historical foundations and conducts history tours on the island.

14 hiltonheadmonthly.com

MOTHER’S

On the Covers: Great White Sharks live off the coast of Hilton Head Island.

Chip Michalove has a special talent for catching them.

DAY: FAS HIO

N, PAMPER

ING & BR

UNCH

SHARK W HHI’S CH IP HISPERER TRACKIN MICHALOV E G GREAT WHITES

DRIVING

PARENT AMBITION S GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR ATHLETES

+The Grace PALMET TO BLU ANTIQUE FF’S YACHT

your vo

ice

MAY 201

9

››Outdoors

The Shark Whisperer LOWCOUNTRY CAPTAIN IS HOOKED ON GREAT WHITES

16 hiltonheadmonthly.com

May 2019 17

››Outdoors

18 hiltonheadmonthly.com

BY JESSICA FARTHING PHOTO BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT & SUBMITTED BY CHIP MICHALOVE

C

hip Michalove has always been obsessed with sharks.

Luckily for him, there are plenty of them out in the waters surrounding the Lowcountry.

“When I started out, I thought there were two or three great whites off of our coast,” he said. “But we really have over 1,000.”

But Michalove — who set a record for catching the biggest male great white shark on the Atlantic Coast using just a rod and reel and runs Outcast Sport Fishing — is quick to assure visitors that there’s nothing to fear from these giant sea creatures. Sharks can be found off the coast of the Lowcountry in winter, migrating south from Cape Cod and even Canada to feed in warmer waters. When northern waters warm back up, the sharks make their way back home.

“They are not cruising the surf and they aren’t here in the warmer HIlton Head Island months,” Michalove said. “By the charter captain time spring break rolls around, Chip Michalove, these sharks are pretty much is helping gone.” researchers study His love for sharks stemmed the habits of great from a childhood trip to Hilton white sharks.

Head Island from his family’s home in Louisville, Kentucky. His family took a fishing charter and he caught a 6-foot shark. He was hooked.

Eventually, his family moved to Hilton Head.

Michalove bought his first charter boat in his early 20s, and even though he offered trips for all the Lowcountry’s best fishing — cobia, king mackerel, redfish — he made his mark catching sharks. He even went so far as to guarantee charter clients would catch a shark. He was convinced that a predator at the top of the ocean food chain was out in the depths.

“I just wanted to be the first person to see a great white here or catch a white in the state, and we finally got our first one five years ago,” he said.

May 2019 19

››Outdoors

20 hiltonheadmonthly.com

May 2019 21

››Outdoors

Chip Michalove's boat, the Outcast, has seen a lot of shark action.

22 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Three days after his first catch on a rod and reel, he and his crew got another. Then he caught more. Pretty soon, Michalove started piecing together migration patterns, ideal water temperatures and the right bait. After a lot of trial and error, he figured out how to find the sharks in their winter habitat and has caught more great whites on rod and reel than anyone in the Atlantic. He also holds the record for the largest male caught on rod and reel in the Atlantic, reaching over 15 feet and weighing in around 2,500 pounds.

That’s not his biggest catch, though:

One rainy, windy night, he caught an even bigger one.

“It was a skeleton crew, only me and another girl and guy on the boat,” he said.

“We hooked three white sharks that day and the largest one, a female, is still my largest to date. It was almost as wide as the boat and it pulled us through the water. It wasn’t panicked, it was just swimming.”

The scientific community has taken notice of Michalove’s shark skills.

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy reached out for his help

tagging sharks to track their depths, their locations, the surrounding water temperatures, and other factors.

“I’ve watched Dr. Greg Skomal on ‘Shark Week.’ The fact that he called and asked if I could work with them has been awesome,” Michalove said.

But he’s careful to minimize the effect of the catch on any great whites he snares.

He lets the shark pick the side of the boat to come to, leaving one motor in gear and slowly moving forward to keep the shark breathing without exertion. And he tries to learn as much as possible from the

May 2019 23

››Outdoors

‘‘

THEY ARE NOT CRUISING THE SURF AND THEY AREN’T HERE IN THE WARMER MONTHS. BY THE TIME SPRING BREAK ROLLS AROUND, THESE SHARKS ARE PRETTY MUCH GONE. – CHIP MICHALOVE

24 hiltonheadmonthly.com

shark while it’s still in the water alongside the boat.

“We put a camera in the water and get photo IDs of them,” he said. “We try to get a drone up and get as much data as we can from the fish. When we are finished, I take my hand and push the nose up. I pop the hook out and push him or her on their way.”

To date, Michalove has hooked around 50 Great White sharks and tagged about 20. Shark fans can follow along the Sharktivity app, tracing the movements of sharks like Frank, a 7.5-foot male who pops up often on the transmissions.

“We are just scratching the surface” of shark research in the Lowcountry, Michalove said. “It was a fish that we didn’t even know was out there and now we are catching multiple a day of all sizes.

It’s just mind-blowing.”

May 2019 25

››News

MAY

hit

FIFTH-GRADERS PROPOSE SOLUTION TO BEACH TRASH Three fifth-grade students have challenged the Town of Hilton Head to enclose trash and recycling facilities on the beach to eliminate spills. Rosa Olivetti, Joshua Prada and Ethan Simpson presented the idea to Hilton Head Island Town Council in December. They estimate it would cost $120,000 to replace existing rubber trashcans with wooden trash corrals that would prevent the cans from spilling over and littering the beaches.

list

HILTON HEAD AIRPORT WELCOMES UNITED AIRLINES

United Airlines has launched twice-daily nonstop flights to Washington Dulles International Airport, twice-weekly flights to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, and weekly flights to New York’s Newark Liberty International Airport.

VIM DERBY DAY FUNDRAISER MAY 4 The Kentucky Derby Party will be from 4:30-7:30 p.m. May 4 at the Rooftop Bar at Poseidon restaurant at Shelter Cove Towne Centre.

TEDXHILTONHEAD MAY 11 TED is a nonprofit group devoted to spreading ideas through short, powerful talks. This time the theme is “reinvention.”

HILTON HEAD ISLAND COMMUNITY BEACH BIKE RIDE AT COLIGNY BEACH MAY 17 Nothing tops riding a bike by the water. Join the community beach bike ride sponsored by Coligny Plaza and the Town of Hilton Head Island.

CERVEZA ESTRELLA JALISCO FIESTA DE MAYO FESTIVAL MAY 19 A celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, the festival is a combination of music, food, dancing, arts and crafts, kids activities and booths by community groups throughout the festival grounds.

26 hiltonheadmonthly.com

CHAMBER MAY FACE COMPETITION The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce has been notified that its contract as Hilton Head Island’s destination marketing organization may not be renewed in 2020 and that the town is likely to start a bidding process for the next DMO. The chamber’s contract is up in November 2020, and the town must give a one-year notice if it plans not to renew. The move comes after nearly a year of scrutiny by Town Council members over the chamber’s use of $1.8 million in accommodations tax funds in 2018.

FURMAN STUDENT DIES AT HILTON HEAD PARTY Caroline Smith, a 20-year-old Furman University student, died in April during a party on Hilton Head Island. Smith, of Atlanta, was drinking at a fraternity event and talking with her boyfriend when she said she did not feel well and collapsed, according to a Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office report.

Her boyfriend called for help and began CPR. Smith was on Hilton Head for Kappa Alpha fraternity’s spring formal, which was canceled following her death.

DEVELOPER WITHDRAWS PLANS FOR APARTMENTS Spandrel Development Partners of Charleston has withdrawn an application to convert the land at Hilton Head Christian Academy into a 300-unit apartment building after a heated Town Council meeting in April where members of the public spoke out against the development. Critics said the apartments would exacerbate over-development on Hilton Head.

NEW HOTEL TO OPEN IN OCT. A six-story Courtyard by Marriott hotel with 115 rooms and a rooftop pool will open in October in Hilton Head’s Coligny Beach area, according to John Lee, the senior vice president of Southeastern Development Associates. The hotel’s construction comes after a 2014 rewrite of zoning rules. The hotel, which will be up to 65 feet tall, was permitted to stand taller than most buildings because it is farther off Pope Avenue, according to 2015 meeting minutes from the town’s Board of Zoning Appeals. Southeastern Development Associates is also giving Heritage Plaza a facelift.

PAN WINS HERITAGE C.T. Pan of Taiwan won the 51st RBC Heritage Presented

by Boeing at Harbour Town Golf Links. Pan, 27, is the first Chinese golfer to win the tournament. This is his first PGA Tour victory. Pan shot a 4-under 67 to finish at 12-under 272, a stroke ahead of Matt Kuchar. He left Hilton Head Island with a plaid jacket and $1.2 million — close to half his total previous career earnings. In a news conference, Pan said he learned to play golf because his mother is a caddie and his father, now deceased, also worked at a golf course and encouraged him. Pan played golf at the University of Washington, graduating in 2015 with a degree in communications. He turned pro the same year.

FORMER MELROSE OWNERS INDICTED A former owner of Melrose Resort and his business partners were indicted last month on charges of defrauding and conspiring to defraud investors and the Beaufort County Treasurer’s Office.

The indictment, filed in U.S. District Court in Charleston, alleged that James Thomas “JT” Bramlette, Anthony Mark Hartman, Travis Kozlowski and “others known and unknown to the Grand Jury ... agreed together to execute and attempt to execute a scheme” centering around the Daufuskie Island resort.

While not paying resort employees, vendors and contractors, Bramlette spent more than $1.5 million on personal expenses such as mortgage payments, car payments, country club dues and college tuition, according to the indictment.

Pets of the Month

Thelma

Willard

Age: 7

Age: 10

Gender: Female

Gender: Male

Weight: 59 pounds

Weight: 63 pounds

Breed(s): Terrier mix

Breed(s): Pit bull/boxer mix

Temperament: Thelma is sweet and loves to go for walks and be hugged and kissed. She’s great with kids but can be very picky with other dogs, so it’s best for her to be the only dog.

Temperament: Willard is a gentle giant. He loves to be petted, scratched and rubbed. He enjoys walks, running and sitting next to you. Willard first came to Noah’s Arks Rescue after being shot by police, but he is completely healed and ready for adoption.

Adopt them at: Noah’s Arks Rescue in Ridgeland

Go to noahs-arks.net or call 843 540-6755. Hours are by appointment only.

BOAT CRASH ROCKS LOWCOUNTRY

Almost two months after 19-year-old Mallory Beach was killed in a boat crash near Parris Island, Paul Murdaugh, 20, was indicted by a Beaufort County grand jury on one count of boating under the influence causing death and two counts of boating under the influence causing great bodily injury, according to a spokesman for South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson’s office. Wilson’s office will prosecute the case.

Both the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and 14th Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone recused themselves from the case due to long-standing relationships with the Murdaugh family. The son of former solicitor Randolph Murdaugh III owns the boat involved in the crash and is Paul Murdaugh’s father. The group of underage Hampton County boaters appeared to be “grossly intoxicated” at the scene of the Feb. 24 crash, in which Beach was thrown from the boat and killed, said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Maj. Bob Bromage.

Beach’s mother filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Hampton County alleging that two businesses — one in Beaufort and the other in Ridgeland — as well as two party hosts in Beaufort had provided alcohol to the group in the hours leading up to the crash.

Randolph Murdaugh served as solicitor of the 14th Judicial Circuit, which includes Beaufort and Hampton counties, from 1986 to 2006. He continues to work for Stone’s office as a contractor on criminal cases, according to the Solicitor’s Office.

May 2019 27

in the World ››Where is Monthly?

Normandy

Egypt Bruce and Martha Turnbull posed with Monthly in front of ruins in Luxor, Egypt.

We love to see where Monthly travels! Submit your photos to editor@ hiltonheadmonthly.com for this section. Space is limited.

Lou and Jeffrie Natale and Peter and Susan Carlson visited Omaha Beach in Normandy, France with Monthly.

France Jim and Mary Marten and Susan and Don Schopfer enjoyed dinner with Monthly at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

China

Morocco Barbie and Spence Stouffer introduced Monthly to Casablanca, Morocco.

28 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Keith Bach and Chris Tremblay took Monthly to visit the Great Wall of China.

››Heritage Social Spotlight

30 hiltonheadmonthly.com

To submit a photo of your event for Social Spotlight, email editor@hiltonheadmonthly.com

May 2019 31

››Community Connection

Generosity is one of the best things about the Lowcountry. Has your business or organization given back to the community?

Submit your photos to editor@hiltonheadmonthly.com for this section. Space is limited.

SPENCER FETED AT RETIREMENT BASH

Denise K. Spencer was honored at a retirement party April 9 at Sea Pines Country Club. Spencer served as president and CEO of Community Foundation of the Lowcountry for more than 12 years. Under her leadership, the group more than doubled its combined assets to more than $72 million. She also was instrumental in developing the partnership to give all Hilton Head Island residents access to public sewer as part of the Project SAFE initiative.

Speakers at the event included Herbert Ford, commissioner at Hilton Head Public Service District; David Bennett, former mayor of Hilton Head; and Eddy Hoyle, former executive director of Memory Matters. Hilton Head Island Town Council member David Ames presented Spencer with a commendation from the town. Spencer’s successor, Christopher Kerrigan, started last month.

CITADEL OFFERING ONLINE DEGREE

The Citadel Graduate College has launced a new master’s program in military history.

The 30-hour online program kicks off in the fall and provides an advanced historical study of the theory and practice of warfare, the institutions and operations of military forces, and the impact of militaries and warfare on societies. For more information, call 843-953-5073 or go to citadel.edu/root/military-history.

UNITED WAY ACCEPTING GRANT REQUESTS

United Way of the Lowcountry has opened the next funding cycle for local nonprofit groups working in the areas of education and health.

This year, there are changes in the financial threshold requirements. For more information or to apply, visit uwlowcountry.org. United Way’s Community Impact Committee is also looking for volunteers to help visit, report and evaluate agencies and programs that serve residents of Beaufort and Jasper Counties. For more information, call 843-379-3067.

COAST GUARD AUXILIARY OFFERING FREE BOAT CHECKS

LOCAL GROUP WINS COOKIE CONTEST

Pockets Full of Sunshine, a local organization that helps adults with disabilities in the Lowcountry, was one of two winners of the inaugural RBC Heritage cookie contest.

Members baked M&M and peanut butter cookies at the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s Hilton Head Island campus and won the opportunity to have their winning cookie sold at the tournament. Pro golfer Jim Furyk visited the group as they baked their last batch.

HOWARD FAMILY DENTAL NAMES SMILE MAKEOVER WINNER

Dr. Adam Squicquero and his team at Howard Family Dental in Bluffton donated $75,893 in dental services to the winner of their smile makeover contest, Charlie Card of Bluffton.

32 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Local boat owners can have their boats inspected and receive a 2019 Safety Decal from the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The decal notifies both the U.S. Coast Guard and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources that the vessel has complied with regulations, often eliminating the need for a random safety stop on the water.

Request a free vessel safety check at cgaux. org/vsc/.

BLUFFTON WANTS DRIVERS TO FOCUS ON 43 KEY SECONDS

The town of Bluffton has partnered with the Lutzie 43 Foundation, a nonprofit organization that encourages young people to practice safe driving. Its 43 Key Seconds Initiative — which includes “Clear Head, Clear Hands, Clear Eyes and Click It!” — emphasizes the first 43 seconds after drivers enter their vehicles. Mike Lutzenkirchen, the founder of the Lutzie 43 Foundation, accompanied Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka and Bluffton Town Council members at a news conference where he explained that he started the foundation after his son, Auburn University football player Phillip Lutzenkirchen, was killed in a car accident. Lutzenkirchen also told Bluffton High School juniors and seniors at a school assembly that he, his wife and two of his three daughters found out about Phillip’s death after pulling into their driveway and seeing a sticky note on their door.

“I watched my wife dropped to her knees,” he told the students. “In life, there are intentional decisions and unintentional results.”

May 2019 33

››News

Shelter in Place

NEW ANIMAL CAMPUS IS STATE-OF-THE-ART

BY CAROL WEIR | PHOTOS BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT

A

ugustin may have been adopted by now, but if not, the friendly, 60-pound golden retriever mix is in good hands at the new Beaufort County Animal Campus in Okatie. He’s got a spacious kennel with a doggy door separating private inside and outside areas, a large play yard where he can run with his friends, staff who walk him on a leash on a path around a small lake and volunteers who pet him. When potential adopters come to see Augustin, they’ll take him outside to an acquaintance yard or, if it’s

34 hiltonheadmonthly.com

raining, they’ll get to know him in a comfortable meet-and-greet room.

Augustin is one of 24 dogs and 48 cats and kittens that can be housed at the new 10-acre animal campus, which opened in April as a partnership between Beaufort County Animal Services and Hilton Head Humane Association. Many people contributed to the new facility, which is the largest public-private partnership in Beaufort County.

“This doesn’t exist in this world,” said Hilton Head Humane board chair

Chuck Laine. “Not too many organizations are going to make the financial commitment.”

Laine wouldn’t specify how much Hilton Head Humane contributed to the animal campus project — which was built on county-owned land — but said the nonprofit group gave “millions of dollars.”

The 20,000 square foot facility — located in the center of the county near the intersection of S.C. 170 and U.S. 278 — includes Beaufort County Animal Services and Hilton Head Humane Association’s

Does your dog need a summer cut?

Call us today to book your dogs groom!

Does your dog have itchy skin?

Ask for a Oatmeal & Tea Tree bath to soothe dry, itchy skin.

Premium Boarding Doggie-Daycare • Grooming Onsite Veterinary Hospital 105 Dillon Road, Hilton Head 843.681.8354 • www.EvergreenPetLodgeHHI.com

Spay/Neuter Clinic and second adoption center. It combines all these services under one roof, instead of separate locations on opposite ends of the county.

“We will now be transporting animals down a hallway versus a highway,” said Tallulah King McGee, director of Beaufort County Animal Services.

In the world of animal rescue in the Lowcountry, that dogs and cats are being shared at all between the Humane Association and Beaufort County Animal Services is something of a miracle. For years, the two organizations had an adversarial relationship because the county euthanized animals and Hilton Head Humane Association runs a no-kill shelter.

Several watershed moments led to the ability to cooperate, Laine said. First, about 10 years ago, Rick Caporale, then a member of Beaufort County Council, drew attention to the low survival rate of animals surrendered to or picked up by the county. Overcrowding at the county facility in Beaufort meant that healthy, adoptable animals were being euthanized. The key to lowering the death rate was reducing animal

May 2019 35

››News Beaufort to Hilton Head Humane’s offices on Hilton Head Island, home to the group’s spay and neuter clinic, medical clinic and adoption center.

Initially, Hilton Head Humane Association members resisted the idea of a joint animal campus, Laine said, because they didn’t want to be associated with an organization that euthanized animals. But as survival rates began to rise, “they saw that we can be a no-kill county,” Laine said.

Before King McGee took over, only 10 percent to 15 percent of the about 5,000 animals who came to the county shelter each year survived. Now, about 87 percent are saved, and the number of intakes has fallen to about 3,000. Only animals that pose a public threat to humans or other animals and those with untreatable illnesses — including feral cats with feline leukemia — are euthanized, Laine said.

The old county shelter building, which is in bad shape, will close soon.

Hilton Head Humane Association’s original center and clinic on Hilton Head remains open. The new spay/neuter clinic will not compete with local vets — it’s for shelter animals and residents who can’t afford to spay or neuter their animals at a private clinic.

overpopulation by spaying and neutering animals as early as possible, but progress didn’t really start to happen until seven years ago when King McGee took over as director of Beaufort County Animal Services.

“The culture changed, which was paramount to making this successful,” Laine said. “Franny (Gerthoffer, executive director of Hilton Head Humane) and Tallulah both had fire in their bellies for the cause.”

Gerthoffer and King McGee worked together to start an aggressive county-wide spay and neuter campaign, coupled with foster, adoption, heartworm prevention and microchipping programs. But animals constantly needed to be driven from Beaufort County’s facility near Marine Corps Air Station

36 hiltonheadmonthly.com

LOOKING FOR A FRIEND? The Beaufort County Animal Campus is at 10 Pritcher Point Road in Okatie. It’s open for adoptions from10 a.m.-4 p.m. seven days a week.

For more information, call 843-645-8400 or 843-255-5010

Elizabeth Wainscott meets a cat at the new Beaufort County Animal Campus.

Gerthoffer plans to rotate the humane association’s adoptable animals between Hilton Head and Okatie.

“If you come every week, you’ll find a new treasure,” she said.

The new animal campus is attracting a wide variety of people who want to volunteer or to adopt. Twenty-six animals were adopted during the first week. Gerthoffer said they owe their new lives to the village of Lowcountry residents — from donors to board members, veterinarians, groomers, photographers, graphic artists and customers at The Litter Box thrift store — who made this dream possible.

May 2019 37

››News

Noisy Neighbor

CHURCH IN AIRPORT ZONE WORKING WITH TOWN TO FIND NEW HOME

BY JAMES A. MALLORY | PHOTO BY CHRISTINE CANNON

H

istoric St. James Baptist Church has co-existed with its neighbor, Hilton Head Island Airport, for decades.

But last year’s expansion of the airport’s runway and the resulting increase in takeoffs and landings by larger regional airplanes is more than members of the 133-year-old church can take.

“My observation has been, when I see planes coming over, they are coming in very low,” said Blewett Wright, chairman of the church’s airport committee, adding that with more planes coming in, the location “has become more of a hazard.”

The health and safety of the

38 hiltonheadmonthly.com

congregation, approximately 200 members, became a priority, leading the church to begin relocation talks with the town, Wright said. “We’re at point now where it is really not much of a choice,” he said.

Officials at the church, which was founded in 1886, are negotiating with the Town of Hilton Head Island to relocate, along with the historic Cherry Hill School. One new home under consideration is 4.4 acres on Beach City Road. The site, adjacent to Mitchelville Freedom Park, is jointly owned by the town and Beaufort County.

Hilton Head Town Council in February authorized town manager Steve Riley to negotiate with St. James officials, said Charles Cousins, assistant to the town manager. If the deal goes thorough, the town and county would sell its land to St. James, and Beaufort County would take control of the current church property and combine it with other airport land holdings, Cousins said.

The county and church are working on determining the value of the existing church site, the cost of a new church building and the cost to relocate the school, he said.

“At this point, the plan would be to move Cherry Hill School and build a new church,” Cousins said.

Beaufort County Council committees are vetting the proposed land sale and a recommendation is expected to go to the full council for a vote by June, according to Eric Greenway, community development director for Beaufort County.

The FAA, which would pay for most of the acquisition and relocation costs, must also sign off on the purchase plan, Cousins said. Some local funding will also be necessary, he added.

Located at the intersection of Beach City and Dillon roads, St. James has long been in what the FAA calls the airport’s “object-free zone,” which means the church is eligible for federal funding to help pay for the move. Cherry Hill School is right across Dillon Road.

Church and county officials long have known that this move might eventually be necessary.

“The acquisition to protect the church was always needed, even with the old runway,” said airport director Jon Rembold.

The proposed parcel on Beach City Road is appealing to the church because of

THE ACQUISITION TO PROTECT THE CHURCH WAS ALWAYS NEEDED, EVEN WITH THE OLD RUNWAY. -HHI AIRPORT DIRECTOR JON REMBOLD

its proximity to Mitchelville, established during the Civil War as the nation’s first self-governing town of formerly enslaved people.

“The church’s overriding desire is to remain in the Mitchelville area,” said Chester Williams, the church’s legal counsel. “Some people would argue that St. James is the heart of Mitchelville.”

St. James was founded in 1886 by former members of First African Baptist Church, which was established by residents of Mitchelville in 1862. St. James’ current sanctuary — its third — was built in 1972 and renovated in 2005.

Cherry Hill School was built by Mitchelville descendants in 1937 and taught African-American children until 1954. St. James bought the building in 1956.

Rembold said negotiations between town and church officials “have been positive, and the exchange of information has been open and free.”

Wright agreed, “So far, everyone who is in this process has been negotiating in good faith and it has been favorable. We just hope that it continues, and St. James comes out with our expectations (met).”

Last July, following the runway expansion completion, American Airlines started three daily round trips between Hilton Head and Charlotte using regional jets. At the end of March, United Airlines began service to Washington, D.C., with plans to add flights to Chicago and New York/Newark. Delta is set to begin service this month.

Once Delta arrives, there will be eight flights a day at the airport, Rembold said.

The number of flights on weekends will vary between 10 and 12.

The arrival of additional airlines has prompted the airport to begin exploring the expansion of the terminal facilities, including parking, Rembold said.

May 2019 39

››Business

Bertha Booker’s gourmet salt comes from sea water captured in ponds inside greenhouses.

40 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Salt of the Sea

CHARLESTON ENTREPRENEUR FINDS NEW BUSINESS BRINGS FLAVOR TO LIFE STORY AND PHOTOS BY DEAN ROWLAND

S

alt and its partner, pepper, are ubiquitous; they’ve got a spot on practically every table in America.

But rarely do we think about where that salt comes from.

That’s where Charleston native Bertha Booker comes in.

Her Botany Bay Sea Salt is made from all-natural salt she produces on a friend’s plantation on Wadmalow Island, just south of the Holy City. It’s a one-woman show: She harvests the flaky salt from three enclosed greenhouse ponds, labels the jars and containers, and then sells them at the Charleston Farmers Market and on her Facebook page, Botany Bay Carolina Sea Salt.

Booker, South Carolina’s first sea salt maker since the Civil War, was the first in the state to receive a “verification registration certificate” in 2012 from the S.C. Department of Agriculture that ensures her product’s safety.

“I’m not trying to compete with Morton’s; I’m trying to do something natural, local and something with historic value,” the College of Charleston graduate said.

The process begins by transporting salt water from nearby rivers and creeks and the ocean, filtering it and feeding it into shallow food-grade solar salt ponds. The water slowly evaporates in the Carolina wind and sun, and sodium chloride salt crystals are formed. A quick rinse removes residual minerals like magnesium and potassium, but it doesn’t affect the texture or flavor of the salt.

“Basically, it’s a natural evaporation

process,” said Booker, who is developing a water distillation technique in her spare time. “The water starts out at about 3 percent salinity, and then it becomes more concentrated as it evaporates. It has to reach a certain salinity, a very high salinity. Then the salt crystals grow.”

She does not grind the crystals when she packages her salt for market.

“Compared to Morton’s or more industrialized salt, mine is flaky through a natural process,” she said. “For thousands of years it was natural solar evaporation, called an open pan process, but modern salt is done in a vacuum pan process. Mine can be damp, but it doesn’t clump, and it won’t come out in a salt shaker. All of my salt is sold exactly as it was made.”

She sells two products: flaky-textured white shavings encased in containers for $8 to $10 and a brown live oak-smoked salt that’s blended with pecan and hickory and sold in jars for $14 to $16. The containers come with a grinder attached at the top, while jars come with a small serving spoon attached. Each bears a custom-designed label.

“My goal is to make a really nice flaky salt that’s really pleasing to eat and a little bit crunchy,” Booker said. “A lot of the sea salt you get on the market today, especially from the big makers, are using chemicals to try to make a flaky salt. They use crystal modifying agents.”

The business is a happy ending to a not-so-happy time: Booker was laid off from her corporate job at a large shipping company in Shanghai, China, in 2010 during the Great Recession. She

May 2019 41

››Business

wasn’t sure what she wanted to do next — she just knew that she wanted to be an entrepreneur. So she applied for and was accepted into a program for like-minded peers. But she still didn’t know what business plan to develop.

As fate would have it, she was kayaking by herself in Botany Bay Wildlife Preserve in 2011 and realized she forgot to bring salt for dinner at the campfire. So she scooped up some salt water, boiled it and enjoyed the pure briny salt — and found her future.

42 hiltonheadmonthly.com

“I was deciding what my business plan would be,” she said. “I could make salt. There’s nobody else in the state who was doing it.”

Diligent research, an intrepid business spirit and a relentless pursuit of a new dream led her to South Carolina regulatory health officials to get their approval. State officials were understandably clueless.

“So they looked and looked and said, ‘Well there’s nothing that says you can’t harvest sea water for the purpose

of making sea salt.

However, there’s nothing in the books that says you can either.’ I think that really shows you that nobody could imagine in a million years that anyone would ever make sea salt in South Carolina again,” Booker said.

The first to produce sea salt in South Carolina was French Huguenot colonist William Mellichamp, who harvested salt from the sea in 1724 at Botany Bay. He met resistance from other merchants because salt was a luxury commodity back then and a financial backbone in trade with England. But he persevered and founded a salt-producing business. That perseverance resonated with Booker, who spent 18 months dealing with the state to establish the safety of her salt.

“It’s a kindred spirit (with Mellichamp),” she said. “We don’t think about how important salt is in our history.”

In the end, she’s happy it all worked out.

“This is the perfect thing for me,” Booker said.

“I absolutely love every aspect of it.”

For more information call 843-599-7233. (left) Solar power is used to evaporate water and make the salt, which is sold at the Charleston Farmer’s Market. Owner Bertha Booker is working on a website for her salt.

May 2019 43

››Business

On Your Own?

SAVING FOR RETIREMENT IS STILL POSSIBLE FOR RISING NUMBER OF SELF-EMPLOYED WORKERS

BY BARRY KAUFMAN

F

or many looking to cast off the corporate shackles and live in the freelance eatwhat-you-kill, work-in-your-PJs wilds of the gig economy, there is one very large incentive keeping them in the 9-to-5. No, it’s not the endless supply of free birthday cakes that seem to pop up weekly in your typical office — although freelancers do miss them from time to time. It’s the chance to invest in your future.

Stay in the machine, toil among the cogs, and you can at least count on your employer to offer you a 401K. Your company might even match your contributions — the opportunity to get money for literally nothing definitely makes one take a long look at their cubicle before tendering that resignation letter and setting out a shingle.

But don’t joylessly plop yourself back down in that task chair just yet — there is a way to enjoy the unfettered lifestyle of the self-employed while socking away money tax-free.

It’s called a SEP IRA, or Simplified Employee Pension Individual Retirement Account.

Much like a traditional IRA, a SEP IRA lets you make tax-deductible contributions to an investment account while deferring taxes until you reach retirement age, at which point distributions are taxed as income.

As you’d imagine, when the IRS gets involved, there are mountains of fine print, but it’s in those caveats we find a product perfect for small businesses and the self-employed.

“For those who are self-employed, A SEP IRA allows them to contribute a larger percentage of their salary. In 2019, they’re allowed to contribute $56,000 or 25 percent of their compensation, whichever is less. If they go to a regular IRA, they have a $6,000 cap,

44 hiltonheadmonthly.com

OTHER OPTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES Beyond a Simplified Employee Pension Individual Retirement Account, there are a few options for small businesses to pursue as they attempt to court the best talent with sweet investment plans.

A SIMPLE (Savings Incentive Match for Employees) IRA is designed for companies of 100 employees or less. As easy to set up as its name suggests, it caps contributions at $13,000 a year for employees under 50 and $16,000 a year for employees over 50.

A traditional 401K allows employees to contribute up to $18,000 a year, as long as the employer contributes as well. They’re much harder to set up, but they help lower your tax burden and are good for businesses of more than 100 employees with payroll north of $500,000.

or $7,000 if they’re over 50, on what they can contribute in an IRA,” said Eric Magnin of Boys, Arnold & Co., a financial planning and wealth management firm. “What’s good is they’re portable. You can move them … to another IRA; if you have another IRA, you can drop it into the SEP, so it’s all managed in one spot.”

In addition to giving you the ability to sock away more money than a traditional IRA, a SEP IRA is extremely friendly to the feast-or-famine income cycle of the self-employed.

Magnin notes that there are no penalties if you don’t contribute during one of the “famine” cycles. And since a sole practitioner is usually serving as CEO, IT administrator, office manager, marketing department and janitor, a SEP IRA’s ease of use is a huge advantage.

“There’s no administration, so there’s no filing with the IRS like you have with other plans,” said Bill Brady with Crossroads Financial Group.

An EP IRA allows the self-employed entrepreneur to contribute more to their account than a traditional IRA, gives them an escape plan if corporate America comes calling again and it’s easy to use. What’s the downside? For one, no catch-up contributions if you’re over 50. For another, there’s no Roth IRA equivalent to a SEP IRA, meaning you can’t elect to pay taxes on contributions now in order to take distributions taxfree in retirement.

“Because it is a variation of an IRA, that money is always liquid, but if you pull it out before age 59.5, there’s a 10 percent penalty and you have to pay taxes on it,” Brady said. “To complicate things maybe another step, when you hit age 70.5, at that point the government tells you that you have to start taking money out of it.”

Another possible sticking point for those eyeing a SEP IRA comes when that sole proprietor becomes a small business. “It becomes a bit of a challenge if you have employees,” Brady said.

“They have to be placed on the plan as well if they’re eligible.”

Thankfully, there are conditions on what constitutes an “employee” to the IRS. They must be 21 or older, have worked for the company for three to five years and have received compensation of at least $600.

“It gets a little iffy, but the distinction is, ‘Are you employed by yourself?’ If you are, good, then you can have a SEP IRA rather than a traditional. If you have employees, you have to look at how many of those employees you have to cover,” Brady said.

Ultimately, a SEP IRA is designed for the modern workforce of the self-employed.

“There are other plans,” said Brady. But if you’re selfemployed and want to sock some money away, it’s the way to go.”

Added Magnin, “My thinking is anytime you can save for retirement and defer taxes, that’s a win-win.”

Ready to set one up yourself? Search irs.gov for IRS Form 5305-SEP.

May 2019 45

››On the Move THE GREENERY ADDS MANAGER Catrina Dickinson has joined the team at The Greenery as a regional seasonal color manager. In her new role, Dickinson will oversee the floral technicians, coordinate maintenance schedules and evaluate the performance of color beds to ensure optimal appearance year-round. She graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara and has more than 15 years of experience in floral design and maintenance. She is a recipient of the MALTA award for her commercial color displays and received the Hilton Head Island Beautification award for the Port Royal Plantation entrance.

SEA PINES SELECTS ARCHITECT, CELEBRATES INSTRUCTOR Sea Pines Country Club has selected golf course architect Phil Smith to create a masterplan for its Arnold Palmer-designed Club Course. Smith has more than 30 years of experience working with PGA Tour and golf course design legends Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf.

He has led numerous high-profile renovations, including a complete redesign of the Phoenician Golf Club.

Also in Sea Pines, Tim Cooke, director of instruction at The Golf Learning Center at The Sea Pines Resort, has been named to Golf Magazine’s list of Top 100 Teachers in America for 2019-20. It is the second consecutive year that Cooke has been selected for this honor.

THE FIRST TEE NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The First Tee of The Lowcountry has welcomed Pat Zuk as its new executive director. Previously, Zuk led The First Tee of Greater Kansas City for 15 years as both program director and executive director. He has also recently served as a consultant for The First Tee, helping refine the national organization’s programs through chapter observations and coach training classes. The First Tee of The Lowcountry is dedicated to positive youth development by teaching young people the fundamentals of golf and building character through nine core values.

HILTON GRAND VACATIONS NAMES NEW GENERAL MANAGER

Hilton Grand Vacations has welcomed Caleb Graham as general manager of the Ocean Oak Resort by Hilton Grand Vacations Club. In his new role, Graham will provide strategic oversight of daily operations at the resort, focusing on maximizing owner, guest and team member satisfaction. Prior to joining Hilton Grand Vacations, Graham served as director of operations for The Plaza Resort & Spa and as general manager for Boardwalk Inn & Suites Daytona Beach.

PAWMETTO WALKERS OFFERS FULL-SERVICE PET CARE

Stefany Cerame has opened Pawmetto Walkers, a fully licensed and insured dog walking and pet sitting company.

Cerame has been caring for animals professionally since 2010, from Columbia’s Riverbanks Zoo to the Georgia Aquarium. Offering full-service dog walking, dog jogging, poop scooping and pet sitting, Pawmetto Walkers gives pet owners peace of mind thanks to GPS tracking and notifications.

SONESTA HIRES CONFERENCE SERVICES MANAGER ARROW EXTERMINATORS MERGES WITH CAROLINA TERMITE & PEST CONTROL Atlanta-based Arrow Exterminators has acquired Carolina Termite & Pest Control Inc., giving Arrow the opportunity to strengthen its presence in the Hilton Head Island, Beaufort, Bluffton and Daufuskie Island markets, serving both residential and commercial customers. Carolina Termite & Pest Control joins Arrow’s other offices in South Carolina and will eventually operate under the Arrow Exterminators brand.

46 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Lindsay Wooten has joined the staff at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island as the new conference services manager. In her new role, Wooten will be responsible for coordinating meetings, conventions and events at the resort. Previously, she served as catering sales manager at The Ridge Hotel in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, as well as multiple hospitality positions at resorts throughout the country.

PALMETTO DUNES RESORT HIRES FOUR Stephen Arnold, Brandi Darbonnier, Kimberly McKee and Taylor Woodward have joined the staff at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort.

Arnold will serve as general manager of the Robert Trent Jones Course. Originally from Owensboro, Kentucky, Arnold joined the resort as a golf assistant in 2008. He studied sports administration at the University of Louisville.

Darbonnier is the resort’s new group golf sales coordinator. Originally from St. Charles, Missouri, Darbonnier was accepted on a golf and academic scholarship to Northwood University in West Palm Beach.

McKee will serve as assistant manger at Alexander’s Restaurant & Wine Bar. She is originally from Lexington, Kentucky. She owned and operated several restaurants in Charleston before relocating to Hilton Head Island, and is also a licensed real estate agent.

Woodward is the chef de cuisine at Alexander’s Restaurant & Wine Bar. Woodward joined Alexander’s in November 2018 as sous chef. Woodward graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and previously worked for national brands like Whole Foods and Microsoft.

PEACOCK AUTOMOTIVE CEO EARNS TOP HONORS Warner Peacock, chairman and CEO of Peacock Automotive, has been named the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year. The Jasper County Chamber of Commerce presents this annual award to an individual judged to exhibit the qualities of a model business person. The award criteria call for the honoree to be an executive for an established business with a substantial history, one that exhibits growth in the number of employees and an increase in sales, responds effectively to adversity and contributes to community projects. Peacock and his companies take an active role in community charities.

May 2019 47

››Home

48 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Staying Power MOTHER-DAUGHTER REAL ESTATE DUO SETS THE PACE IN SEA PINES SALES

BY DEAN ROWLAND | PHOTO BY ROB KAUFMAN

E

ver since Laura Cramer graduated from Duke University and then Washington University with a master’s degree, she has been a doer. A former college registrar and dean, she’s been active in local civic affairs, government, a board member at various organizations, and a top producer selling Sea Pines real estate for more than 40 years.

She is 93 years old, by the way, and has lived in Sea Pines since 1976.

She still works in her South Beach real estate office, works her extensive client book, meets regularly with her lunch bunch group, is a voracious reader, and is movingly articulate and humble when talking about her accomplishments.

In the mid-2000s Laura’s daughter, Carol, who moved to Hilton Head Island in 1982 after graduating from law school, saw an opportunity to join her mother’s thriving business after spending nearly 10 years as the Sea Pines corporate counsel and another 15 years in private practice.

When the recession staggered the local economy in the late 2000s, the Cramers were working as independent contractors for Sea Pines Resorts at the welcome center front gate.

“I had three oceanfront houses that sold for more than $4 million, all of which were torn down upon closing,” said Laura, referring to the stellar 2007 before the economy crashed. “It came to a screeching halt. The phone never rang once. It was dead.”

In 2008, an opening arose in the South Beach office of Sea Pines Real Estate, and Laura and Carol joined what was then Bob Clark & Associates. That association morphed into a five-way partnership as Clark, Cramer & Frank. When Sea Pines Co. divested itself of real estate sales in 2009, the Cramers moved and Laura became the broker-in-charge of the new Sea Pines Real Estate South Beach.

“Since 2007, we have sold more homes in Sea Pines than any other agent or team,” said Laura, who has enjoyed oceanfront living in Sea Pines since 1981.

The numbers tell the story of their success: CCF closed on 581 transactions totaling more than $410 million from 2008 to March 2019.

Putting them in industry perspective, those numbers reflect 42 percent more transactions and 37 percent more

dollar volume than that generated by the No. 2 agent/team selling Sea Pines over that 10-year period.

“We have a really good mixture here of different characters, backgrounds and strengths,” said Laura, a St. Louis native. “It’s a great combination.”

The CCF partnership she talks about is Bob Clark, another Duke graduate; Forest and Linda Frank; and Laura and Carol, also a Duke graduate. Together, they formed CCF in 2009. All are principals and owners.

“We work as a team on many of our listings and sales, but even on our team business we always have one agent as the lead with whom the client mainly deals,” Laura said.

Laura’s journey in the Lowcountry began when she and her husband moved to Hilton Head permanently in 1976 and she applied for a job with The Sea Pines Resort, which was then still headed by visionary Charles Fraser.

“They suggested I go into real estate, so that’s what I did,” Laura said. “We had been coming here for a number of years, and we could see what was developing and it seemed like it was a pretty good idea.”

It has been quite a real estate ride for Laura ever since.

“I’m lucky to be in this business,” she said. “I was taken in by Sea Pines and given a chance in the main office. It was like selling shoes back then; you just had to decide which pair they wanted.”

Carol, sitting across from her mom, laughed: “She’s completely underselling herself.”

After a few brief years working with her mother when the recession hit, Carol was fortunate to be able to resume family law practice and did double-duty as a broker/lawyer, finally closing the book on her last family law case in 2015.

She’s thrilled to be working with her “honest, hardworking and diligent” mother.

“Not many people have the opportunity to join their extremely successful mother,” said Carol, whose two sons graduated from Hilton Head Preparatory School. “She has been an exhausting, but never exhausted, sight to behold her entire life.”

The cozy arrangement suits Laura just fine.

“Now she’s the one doing all the work,” she laughed. “I mean, my God, I’m so old.”

May 2019 49

#Building Her Brand HILTON HEAD MOM MAKES SOCIAL MEDIA PAY OFF

PHOTO BY PIPER VANLOH

BY NELL QUEST

I

n most ways, Amber Faust is like any other mother of three: constantly busy, splitting her time between work, activities, and driving her kids all over Beaufort County. But there is one thing Faust has that many of us don’t: an Instagram following of more than 200,000.

With her website (faustisland.com) and Instagram account (@faustisland), Faust has built a small empire as a professional social media influencer.

What does being an influencer entail? For Faust, it means partnering with various companies and brands on product reviews and promotions — for which she is paid and receives some pretty nice perks.

It’s not as easy as it sounds, she said; running Faust Island’s social media pages isn’t the same as posting pictures of your kids or pets on your personal Facebook page. But she said she didn’t start out looking to become an influencer.

“Nobody says in third grade, ‘I want to be an influencer when I grow up,’” she said. “I actually wanted to be an archaeologist but was given the impression girls didn’t do that.”

Even as brands started reaching out to partner with her, drawn by her endearing, authentic attitude in her photos and posts, she “didn’t even know what this was that I was doing.”

For the Hilton Head Island mom, it all began with photos. Faust used to be a professional photographer, and after the birth of her second child three years ago, she put her skills to work taking pictures of baby Oli, and her older daughter, Piper. When she started posting the pictures to Instagram, people loved them.

50 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Above: Amber Faust of Hilton Head Island is a social media influencer. She gets creative to make a living on Instagram.

Opposite page: Faust posts product endorsements in addition to personal content.

PHOTOS FROM @FAUSTISLAND

“To be honest, I think it started because people like babies. Babies are cute, so people like to follow babies,” she said.

Gradually, Faust’s audience grew — and kept growing. She hit about 50,000 followers before she realized that this could be more than a hobby. By then, she was pregnant with another son, Milo, so when baby- and family-oriented product companies started contacting her to ask if she wanted to partner with them, she said yes.

In the beginning, she mostly got paid in free stuff. Companies would send her free diapers, baby sleep products, food or clothes. With two young sons only 15 months apart, a tween, and a husband who had recently begun training as a firefighter, this was a major score for her family. And Faust figured that if she liked the products, she didn’t have to feel uncomfortable posting positive reviews.

But then one company’s request caught Faust off-guard: When asking if she would be a brand partner, the company asked Faust to send over her rates and media packet.

“Am I supposed to be charging for this?” Faust said she wondered.

She reached out to a family member with a marketing and advertising background, and he helped her leverage her Instagram profile to build a real business — putting a media packet together, figuring out going rates, and hooking up with agencies to help her be more selective about brand partnerships. Like any other contractor, the work isn’t always steady, but it pays well.

Today, Faust runs her social media life like it’s a small business — because for her, it is. As her business grows, her clients and audience are bigger, her projects are more complicated, and her follower count keeps growing. But she must balance those successes with her home life, including her increasingly active kids and her husband’s firefighter schedule.

“For the most part, I’m still that mom who works on top of the pile of Legos and building blocks,” Faust said. “I’m just glad that I have a good camera that works, and I know how to use it.”

May 2019 51

Style-wise

HILTON HEAD MOM AND NURSE STEPS UP HER LOOK

BY CAROL WEIR | PHOTOS BY SASHA SWEENEY

A

s both a labor and delivery nurse and a mother, Morgan Edmunds spends her days tending to the needs of others.

Time to focus on herself — and her appearance — is in short supply for this Hilton Head Island resident. But with a new phase of her career coming, Edmunds knew she needed to work on her look. She decided to enter Monthly’s style makeover contest and, to her surprise, she won.

Of the 24 contest entries, Edmunds’ name was selected in a random drawing for a makeover supervised by stylist Kathryn Mademann. Boutiques Coastal Bliss of Hilton Head Island and Cocoon of Bluffton provided clothes, and Enliten Salon on Hilton Head Island transformed Edmunds’ hair and makeup.

Edmunds, who is 5-foot-4 and size 10-12, wears a uniform to work at Hilton Head Hospital. At home, she puts on casual, comfortable clothes that let her keep up with her 3-year-old daughter. Because she’ll complete a master’s degree at Union University in December and is hoping to become a clinical educator in a hospital or a professor of nursing, she needed to begin building a professional wardrobe.

And it had been months since Edmunds got her hair done or shopped for new clothes.

“I’ve been working a lot and I haven’t had the money or the time, honestly,” she said.

Edmunds and Mademann met at Cocoon, in Bluffton’s Calhoun Street Promenade.

There Mademann, Ann Marie Goodliffe and Linda Iaocovelli suggested that Edmunds try on a sleeveless orange floral print sheath dress by Jude Connally and a white cardigan sweater by Duffield Lane.

“We liked this dress because of its bouquet of tangerine and coral colors, which complemented Morgan’s skin tones,” Mademann said. “The cardigan is for an air-conditioned office.”

Orange, Edmunds said, isn’t a shade she normally wears, but she liked the shape of the dress and its fabric.

52 hiltonheadmonthly.com

“Morgan felt stuck with her wardrobe. During her work day, she wore scrubs and her day-to-day clothes were too casual,” Mademann said. “When she thought about creating the wardrobe she’ll need for the future, she felt overwhelmed.”

In addition to professional clothes, Morgan needed an outfit for casual Fridays at an office, going out with friends or a date night with her husband, Matt — easy to find at the upbeat, contemporary Coastal Bliss on Shelter Cove Lane. There, Marcia Day helped Edmunds pick out a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and a floral top, both by NYDJ. A short, cream-colored bomber-style jacket by Cupcake and Cashmere completed the look.

Edmunds loved them all.

Jeans, she said, usually don’t work for her because she finds them too confining. But the stretch denim and the fit made her a convert.

Morgan Edmunds of Hilton Head Island won Monthly’s makeover contest. She was treated to a wardrobe consultation, hair and makeup.

May 2019 53

54 hiltonheadmonthly.com

“These will fit any body type. Even when I’m going out, I want to be comfortable,” she said.

The fashionable bomber jacket both punched up Edmunds’ style and made her think of her grandfather— Col. Robert Morgan, a World War II pilot who flew the famous B17 Memphis Belle bomber that inspired a 1990 movie by the same name.

“This jacket is very versatile and would look great with white jeans, too,” Mademann said.

The next day it was off to Enliten Salon on New Orleans Road, where Mademann and salon owner Rachael Mayoh discussed how to best give Edmunds professional, polished hair and makeup. Mayoh re-shaped and trimmed Edmunds’ graduated bob, lightened her base hair color and added highlights around her face with a lightening wand by Kevin Murphy. She used all Aveda hair and makeup products, including tinted moisturizer and neutral, slightly smoky shades around Edmunds’ eyes.

Two different lip colors — a soft pink for the outfit from Coastal Bliss and an apricot shade to wear with the dress from Cocoon — looked great with Edmunds’ skin tones and bright blue eyes.

“Because of her almost snow-white skin, when she puts on a softer color it radiates,” Mademann said.

The results? “Amazing,” Edmunds said. “I’m definitely going to be more adventurous!”

For more info, please visit hiltonhead.cyclebar.com or call us at 843-707-6961

May 2019 55

››Gift Guide

Bronzers, blushes and brushes

by Jane Iredale.

Pure Medical Spa 843.815.6699 Puremedspamd.com

Stunning necklace from Uno de 50, handmade in Spain.

Gifted Hilton Head 843.842.8787 Giftedhiltonhead.com

Sea Turtle Collection by Belle Etoile.

Featuring rich hand-painted Italian enamels on pave-set sterling silver, the Sea Turtle Collection is your island escape!

Heritage Fine Jewelry Shelter Cove Towne Center 843.689.2900 HeritageJewelersHHI.com

Show mom some love with a super soft and comfy Salty Dog “Luv Dog” shirt or a bright new color tee, like Charisma Coral.

Salty Dog 843.842.6331 saltydog.com

Beaded Bird Earrings

by Oliphant.

Outside Hilton Head 843.686.6996 shopoutside.com

56 hiltonheadmonthly.com

David Yurman Helena bracelet in sterling silver and 18K yellow gold with diamonds and gold dome end caps.

Forsythe Shops at Sea Pines Center 843.671.7070 ForsytheJewelers.biz

Hibiscus Glass Pink and Cobalt Bud Vases by Vietri.

Cocoon 843-815-3315 www.CocoonBluffton.com

Mariposa Sand Dollar Platter.

Coastal Treasures Harbour Town 843.671.3643 islandgifthhi@gmail.com

May 2019 57

››Gift Guide

Skin Products from ZO Skin Health by Zein Obagi MD. Envision Medical Spa 843.815.7222 Envisionmedspaservices.com

The 4Ocean Bracelet - By purchasing this bracelet, you will remove one pound of trash from the ocean and coastlines. Love your mother by loving our Mother Earth.

Quiet Storm Coligny Plaza 843.671.2551

NUFACE MINI-Facial Toning Device.

Faces Day Spa The Village at Wexford 843.785.3075 FacesDaySpa.com

A basket full of skincare products!.

Bluffton Aesthetics 843.505.0584 blufftonaesthetics.com

Every Mother loves flowering trees and plants in beautiful planters!

Bruno’s Landscape & Nursery 843.682.2624 brunolandscapeandnursery.com

58 hiltonheadmonthly.com

May 2019 59

››Education

Progress Report

HILTON HEAD MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL ROLLS UP HER SLEEVES

BY CAROL WEIR | PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE CANNON

T

ough situations call for strong leaders. And after Hilton Head Island Middle School received a rating of “unsatisfactory” on the latest state schools report card, new principal Pat Freda is working hard to help turn it around.

District officials knew the school wasn’t thriving and at the end of last year tapped Freda, who was then principal at Bluffton Middle School, to lead its recovery.

“I was asked to come here by our previous superintendent, and I agreed,” she said. “A piece of my heart is here. I felt that I could help.”

Coming back to Hilton Head Middle is like returning home for her. Freda lives on Hilton Head Island and her own children, now adults, moved through the Hilton Head schools cluster. Before taking the helm at Bluffton Middle, she spent 17 years at Hilton Head Middle as math teacher, curriculum coordinator and assistant principal.

“I knew there would be huge parent and community support waiting for me and they haven’t failed me,” she said.

The state report cards grade schools based on several criteria, including test scores, student and parent engagement — measured by response rates to surveys — and how well schools are closing the achievement gap between whites and minorities. It was this last area that contributed most to Hilton Head Middle’s poor showing: subgroups of students — especially students for whom English wasn’t a first language—weren’t improving fast enough in reading and math.

Hilton Head Middle is 44 percent Hispanic, with the majority of these students considered English language learners. Two percent are Asian or Pacific islanders, 40 percent are white and 14 percent are black. In addition, about 48 percent of students are below the federal poverty line. Disparities in standardized test scores among students of different races, ethnicities and family incomes is another focus of the state school report cards.

Although she acknowledges the school has had problems with discipline, support for English language learners and teacher retention, Freda said Hilton Head Middle has many strengths and “didn’t deserve that rating.”

She moved quickly to put in place many programs that had worked at Bluffton Middle School, including doubling the time spent in language arts classes — from one hour to two each day — for students for who are still learning English and those struggling in reading and writing.

“They are losing an elective, but if you’re not meeting the standards in the middle grades, you can’t catch up in high school,” she said.

Newcomers who know no English are placed in a new program that emphasizes basic survival skills.

In math, as part of a district-wide initiative, students work

62 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Hilton Head Middle School principal Pat Freda poses by a mural inside the school and (opposite page) with sixth grader Ny'Asia Williams, left, and seventh grader Mayra Fernandez.

in pairs to discover answers to problems and explain their methods and findings to each other. To improve discipline, Freda is using both carrots and sticks — so to speak. Students earn stamps towards a quarterly incentive party when adults “catch them doing the right thing, like being helpful, compassionate and responsible.” Those who misbehave get after school detention or eat lunch in the main office under Freda’s watchful eye.

“They really hate this,” she said, a bit gleefully.

Behind every good principal stands a great team, and Freda is quick to praise hers, including reading coach Angela Bellantone, assistant principal Beth Bournias and her assistant Cathy Woloszyk— who all followed her from Bluffton Middle. Three community groups, including Central Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church, mentor students at Hilton Head Middle. The parent teacher organization is huge, and the school improvement council recently won a state award for its Stingray Support Circle — named after the school’s mascot and providing uniforms, school supplies, and healthy food to students in need and helping teachers fulfill classroom wish lists. The purpose of the Stingray Support Circle, said chairwoman Shannon Bedenbaugh, is “to make sure people are taken care of in this building and have the tools they need to be successful.”

Morale among teachers is up.

“Pat treats us with respect,” said Spanish teacher Irma Rameizl, who has been at the school for 18 years. “She’s a good leader.”

Parents, meanwhile, praise new dismissal procedures that provide more supervision and a better traffic flow at the end of the school day, and students say new after-school clubs and more

resources for the band and strings programs have made coming to school more fun. Hilton Head Middle School has a student council for the first time and held its first-ever talent show recently.

Even as her voice fills with optimism about the school’s future, Freda cautions that it will take time to see the fruits of today’s efforts.

“This is not a one-year fix. It’s two to three years,” she said.

“Each year, we will see movement in a positive direction.”

May 2019 63

››Health

All Smiles

VIM’S DENTAL CLINIC ON HHI PROVIDES FREE CARE FOR ELIGIBLE PATIENTS

BY MIKE SAMPOGNA | PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE

V

olunteers in Medicine Hilton Head Island’s state-of-theart dental clinic changes patients’ lives every day. Many of the clinic’s patients have had limited or no access to dental care, and they’re immensely grateful for their new smiles.

“Oh my God, they’re fabulous!” said VIM dental patient Sandra Easterline of her new dentures. “Without them, I would probably be walking around with my hand over my mouth. They gave me back my smile and basically changed my life.”

VIM started seeing dental patients shortly after the clinic opened in 1993, said VIM dental director Lisa Beddie. Today, thanks to generous donations, the clinic is equipped to treat eight dental patients at a time and is manned by 25 volunteers each week.

In 2018, the dental clinic provided nearly $1.5 million dollars in dental services to members of the community, including $115,000 in partials and dentures, Beddie said. There were approximately 6,000 dental visits and 572 new patients, who received basic dental services like cleanings, fluoride treatments, fillings, extractions and root canals. All of the funding comes through donations and grants, making it possible for patients like Easterline to receive care.

“I would not have been able to do this on my own without dental insurance,” Easterline said. “I think a lot of people

64 hiltonheadmonthly.com

don’t know that they can go to Volunteers in Medicine Volunteers in Medicine Dental Clinic's Denise Brewster examines [if they meet the eligibila patient (left). The clinic on Hilton ity requirements]. I always Head Island treats children and wake up with a smile.” adults (top right).Dr. Rob Lindsey is a Dr. Rob Lindsey has been volunteer dentist and board member a member of the free clinat VIM on Hilton Head Island. ic’s board of directors for almost two years and has volunteered as a dentist at the facility for the past five years. He volunteered in Lafayette, Indiana, before he retired to Hilton Head. He knew VIM was something he’d find rewarding.

“The biggest payback we get is the gratitude from our patients,” he said. “Many of our patients are employed in the hospitality industry here on the island. Restoring their teeth enables them to find employment and feel good about themselves. In that scenario, we are helping everybody in our community.”

Beddie began her dental career in the U.S. Navy, where she was initially trained as a dental technician and eventually provided hygiene for military personnel before transitioning to private practice and graduating from Saint Mary’s College of California.

DO YOU QUALIFY?

New patient registration at Volunteers in Medicine Hilton Head Island Clinic is from 12:30-3 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at the clinic, located at 15 Northridge Drive on Hilton Head.

To qualify for care at VIM HHI, you must meet the following requirements: • You or a member of your immediate family living in the same household must reside or work on Hilton Head or Daufuskie islands.

• You must have lived or worked on Hilton Head or Daufuskie for at least 30 days.

• Your family income must be less than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines — for single adults, gross monthly income cannot exceed $2,023.

• You must have no usable medical insurance.

For more information, go to vimclinic.org

DERBY DAY FUNDRAISER Fans of thoroughbred racing can help VIM make it to the winner’s circle by attending an upcoming fundraiser for VIM’s dental clinic. The Kentucky Derby Party will be from 4:30-7:30 p.m. May 4 at the Rooftop Bar at Poseidon restaurant at Shelter Cove Towne Centre. Enjoy food, drinks, games, giveaways and, of course, the race. Tickets are $100 in advance/$125 at the door. For more information, call the VIM development office at 843-689-6612.

She said she finds working at VIM incredibly rewarding.

‘It’s been a wonderful opportunity for me to see a very different aspect of dentistry,” she said. “As a part of this incredible team of talented volunteers, I am reminded how life-altering dentistry can be for those who have access to none. You get to change somebody’s life every single day, and for this I am grateful.”

May 2019 65

››Summer Camps

Summer Camps SUMMER VACATION IS ALMOST HERE, AND WITH IT THE ANNUAL QUESTION FACED BY PARENTS: WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THE KIDS? WHETHER YOU NEED CARE FOR THEM WHILE YOU WORK, ARE LOOKING TO KEEP THEM ENTERTAINED FOR A WEEK OR TWO, OR JUST WANT TO GET CHILDREN OUT OF THE HOUSE FOR A FEW HOURS SO THEY DON’T SPEND THE WHOLE DAY PLAYING VIDEO GAMES OR WATCHING NETFLIX, THE LOWCOUNTRY HAS A GREAT SELECTION OF SUMMER CAMPS.

Art, Dance & Theater 2019 Hilton Head Jazz Camp by the Junior Jazz Foundation: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 8-13 at Hilton Head Christian Academy.

Students ages 14-20 will learn jazz through large bands, small combos, theory, improv, elective courses, master classes and performances, culminating in a camp recital and finale concert.

Tuition is $399 with payment plan and scholarships available.

843-321-8174 or contact@hhjazzcamp.com.

2019 Hilton Head Jazz Clinic by the Junior Jazz Foundation: 1-4 p.m. June 24-28 at Hilton Head Christian Academy. The fifth annual jazz clinic for students ages 10-14 is a combination of private lessons and small combos, with instruction in theory and improv. Includes an all-day trip to Savannah on June 26 and a final performance at 5 p.m. June 28. Tuition is $199 with payment plan and scholarships available. 843-321-8174, or contact@hhjazzcamp.com.

A&R Workshop Summer Session: 9:30 a.m.-noon or 1-3:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays on June 10-Aug. 16 at A&R Workshop.

Kids will create four DIY youth projects and a T-shirt over the course of the camp. Participants will be able to customize and choose their project paint colors from our decor line of paints.

An optional Friday half-day camp is available. Kids are encouraged to bring a snack and drink to enjoy during breaks. For ages 7-14. $180 a week. 843-802-4071.

Alliance Dance Academy: Three weeks for campers age 3-7 will each revolve around three themes, with Princess 1 on June 3-7, Animal Action on Aug. 5-9 and Princess 2 on Aug. 5-9. Explore each through crafts, books, movies and dance. $200 per camp, with 10 percent discount for additional campers. 843-747-8277.

Arts Center of Coastal Carolina: The following camps are held at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane on

66 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Hilton Head Island. For more information, camp times, and to register for any of the above listed camps, call Alana Adams at 843-686-3945, ext. 205, or visit artshhi.com/workshops.

• Take the Stage! Performing Arts Camp, June 17-21 and July 15-19. Explore music, dance and drama in this one-week camp. Ages 6-8 and 9-13. $110.

Arts Center of Coastal Carolina: The following camps are held at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane on Hilton Head Island. For more information, camp times, and to register, call Alana Adams at 843-686-3945, ext. 205, or visit artshhi.com/workshops.

• Take the Stage! Performing Arts Camp, June 17-21 and July 15-19. Explore music, dance and drama in this one-week camp. Ages 6-8 and 9-13. $110.

• Mixed- Up Masterpieces Visual Arts Camp, June 17-21 and July 15-19. Students will study folk and fine art from all around the world. Ages 6-8 and 9-13. $110.

• Theatre Camp, July 22-26 and Aug. 5-9. Campers will experience a mini-production and will be not only the cast, but will also the production crew. Learn how to understand and develop characters, create sets and props, and design costumes. Ages 9-14. $210.

• Kids 'n' Clay Camp, July 22-25, Aug. 2. Students will expand their imaginations as they explore the exciting world of clay and learn a variety of ceramic hand-building techniques including pinch, slab, coil, surface decoration, glazing, and more. Ages 7-12. $115.

• Legally Blonde Dance and Drama Camp, July 29-Aug. 2.

Students will learn a variety of dance and drama techniques while working with the dance captain of the Arts Center's summer production, "Legally Blonde." Intermediate dance skills required. Ages 10-16. $120.

(843) 342-5439 - Call Ginny Taylor 21 Mathews Dr. • Suite 2 • Hilton Head Island, SC 29926

Bluffton School of Dance: Elementary School Dance Camp: Four sessions held June 10-14, June 17-22, July 22-26 and July 29-Aug. 2, with four classes a day and rehearsals/design time.

Each session will allow campers ages 6-10 to pick a theme and then create and perform their own shows — from costumes and decorations to music. $250. 843-815-2619.

Bluffton Youth Theatre: “Wizard of Oz”: 10 a.m.-4 p.m July 22-Aug. 6 at Hilton Head Preparatory School’s Main Street Theatre. Campers ages 5-17 can audition for “The Wizard of Oz” and perform it Aug. 8-11. $350 Price includes T-shirt, professional headshot, DVD and script. byt.blufftonsc@gmail.com.

Idea Studio: Kidzart Summer Camp: 9 a.m.-noon for grades K-4; 1:30-4 p.m. for grades 4-8. Offering week-long MondayFriday camps through June and July at Studio 2 with fun themes and arts & craft projects for all ages. $150-$175. 843-342-5439.

LowCountry Community Church Kids: Kids Art Camp: POWER UP: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. June 24-28 at 810 Buckwalter Parkway in Bluffton. Camp artists will lead students ages 6-12 as they create works of art. $60 per child, with a cap of $150 per family. A $25 deposit is required per camper. 843-836-1101.

May 2019 67

››Summer Camps Arts Center of Coastal Carolina: The following camps are held at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane on Hilton Head Island. For more information, camp times, and to register, call Alana Adams at 843-686-3945, ext. 205, or visit artshhi.com/workshops.

• STEAM Tinker Camp, June 10-14 and July 8-12. Campers will learn about concepts such as geometry, engineering, circuits, forces of motion, and simple machines. Session 1 and 2 will have complete different projects. Ages 7-12. $130.

• STEAM Digital Arts Camp, July 29-August 2. Students will learn art and design techniques such as graphic design, 3-D modeling, 3-D printing, and virtual reality design. Ages 9-16. $130.

Enrichment & Academics Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island: From June 10-Aug. 3, the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island is offering programs for students ages 6-17 including STEM-infused arts programs and technology, outdoor fun, field trips and more. $16 per child dropin, $480 per child for eight weeks, $720 for two children for eight weeks or $800 for three or more children in the same family for eight weeks. 843-689-3646.

Camp Conroy: Build a Book: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. June 17-28 at Beaufort Middle School. Campers will learn about book-building. This year’s theme is “Garbage and the 4 Rs: Recycle, Reuse, Renew, and Repurpose, Making the World a Better Place.” Participants will write, illustrate, photograph, edit, storyboard, and produce a book, which will be part of an exhibition at the Pat Conroy Literary Center in Beaufort. Family and friends will be invited to a closing celebration at the center, and the books will be available for order. For ages 8-15. $299. campconroy2019.brownpapertickets.com.

Hilton Head Prep: Brick Building with Lights & Sounds: 9 a.m.noon June 3-7 at Hilton Head Preparatory School. Combining architecture with electronics and science, this camp lets kids ages 7-12 design their own creations with working lights and sounds. They can even take their creations home with them. $185. 843-715-8552.

Hilton Head Prep: Follow Me Robot: Runs from 1-4 p.m. June 3-7 at Hilton Head Prep. Campers ages 7-12 can build their own intelligent robots that follow commands and move on their own, and then compete in groups in sumo wrestling on obstacle courses. Students can take their robots home with them. $185.

843-715-8552.

Hilton Head Prep: Harry Potter Magical Mystery Tour: 9 a.m.noon June 10-14 at Hilton Head Prep. Wizards ages 6-11 can earn their Hogwarts degrees in wizarding activities from Quidditch to potions and charms at the intersection of magic, science, art and literature. $185. 843-715-8552.

Hilton Head Prep: Arcade Electronic Galore: 9 a.m.-noon June 17-21 at Hilton Head Prep. Students ages 8-13 can build and play their own arcade games working with electronics and circuit boards to create lights and sounds and expand their STEM knowledge. $195. 843-715-8552.

68 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Hilton Head Prep: Creative Writing Workshop: 8:30 a.m.-noon July 8-12 at Hilton Head Prep. This camp will help unlock the creative passion in campers ages 12-17 to create and illustrate original works. Campers will work on their own manuscripts and then share with others. Snacks included. $175. 843-715-8552.

Hilton Head Prep: Let’s Read a Beach Book: 1:30-4 p.m. July 8-12 at Hilton Head Prep. Campers ages 12-17 will work with camp leaders in writing a "beach book." Campers will individually choose a book, explore its themes, read, have snacks, and write reviews of our books. $175. 843-715-8552.

Island Recreation Center: Summer Day Camp: June 3-Aug. 9 for students in grades K-8 at Island Rec Center. Daily activities include field trip, sports, arts, crafts and more. Yearly registration fee of $50 per family or $30 for one child; camp rate is $33 a day or $165 per week. Scholarships available. 843-681-7273.

The Sandbox: An Interactive Children’s Museum: Camps for ages 3-10 run 8:30-11:30 a.m. July 1-26; camps for ages 4-12 are 7:30 a.m.-noon June 3-Aug. 16. Children will enjoy supervised play time at The Sandbox, plus fun themed activities, crafts, and outside play. For ages 3-10, the weekly fee is $125 for members or $160 for non-members; daily fee is $30 for members or $40 for non-members. For ages 4-12, weekly fee is $150; daily rates and 20-day packages are available. 843-842-7645.

Sports & Outdoors Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club Summer Camp: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. June 10-Aug. 2 at Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club. Land- and water-based activities let campers ages 6-12 explore the outdoors, with kayaking, tubing, arts & crafts and more. $230 a week for yacht club members; $275 for non-members. 843-522-8216, byscsummercamp2@yahoo.com.

Camp Driftwood: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. weekly in June and July. Children will learn how to handle, groom, tack up, ride and care for a horse during Driftwood Stable’s five-day program for beginner riders.

Camp activities include hands-on horsemanship, arts and crafts, a Friday game day with pizza party and, of course, daily horseback riding lessons at the only recognized riding academy in South Carolina. For ages 7 and older. $500 a week. 843-802-0126.

Energy Gymnastics: Summer Camp: June 3-Aug. 9 at 84D Beach City Road. With a different theme each week, campers ages 6-14 will practice gymnastics, tumbling, cheer prep, parkour, self-defense and children’s yoga. Cost is $155 for a half day (9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 12:30-4 p.m.) and $225 for a full day (9 a.m.-4 p.m.). 843-686-3496.

Hilton Head Prep: Marine Biology: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. June 10-4 at Hilton Head Prep. Activities will include loggerhead turtle sights, kayaking, crabbing, transect studies, exploring mud flats, birding, shark fishing, photography, plankton collections, lab work, and dolphin observations. For campers ages 12-18. $205 with a $60 additional fee for participation in working with sharks, kayaks, and dolphins. 843-715-8552.

Hilton Head Prep: Animals of the Lowcountry: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

June 17-21 at Hilton Head Prep. Activities will include crabbing, exploring salt marsh mud flats, bird watching, hands-on with alligators, working a farm, domestic animal care, police and therapy dogs, and dolphin interaction for campers ages 9-14. $200 with additional $40 fee for participation in working with sharks, kayaks, and dolphins. 843-715-8552.

Hilton Head Prep: Junior Dolphin Football Camp: 9 a.m.-noon June 3-7 at Hilton Head Prep. Dolphin Football Camp will introduce and develop game fundamentals including throwing, catching, kicking, blocking, tackling and agility as well as an introduction to strength and conditioning. For ages 9-13. $160. 843-715-8552.

Hilton Head Prep: Basketball Camp: July 15-18 at Hilton Head Prep. Open to students in grades 8-12. 9:30 a.m.-noon is devoted to skill work, defense, and the fast break. 6-8 p.m. is for games.

Camp emphasis is on doing things properly, intensity, and hard work and best effort all the time. $190. 843-715-8552.

Hilton Head Prep: Summer Strength & Conditioning: 8-10 a.m., June 3-July 26 at Hilton Head Prep. Campers ages 12-18 will train like a professional athlete. Sessions will focus on the development of speed, agility, quickness, strength, flexibility, explosiveness and power. $110 per week, free for Hilton Head Prep students. 843-715-8552.

Island Gymnastics Summer Camp: Activities will include free play, games, arts and crafts, movies and snacks. Kids should bring their own lunches. Registration opens May 1. 843-645-6957.

Learn to Sail Summer Program: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Dates vary by program at Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club.

Campers ages 8-18 will get out on the water and learn the fundamentals of sailing and advanced techniques from seasoned

May 2019 69

››Summer Camps instructors. Prices vary by program. 843-522-8216 or lts@beaufortsailing.com.

LowCountry Community Church Kids: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. June 3-7 at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. The “Beyond the Gold” sports camp will combine biblical teaching alongside sports coaching.

Sports include soccer, basketball, cheering and ultimate Frisbee.

Prices and ages vary by activity. 843-686-3945.

Outside Hilton Head: Surf School, an educational camp at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa, will teach campers ages 7 and older to surf through a course that emphasizes safety and the fundamentals of surfing. Basic instruction will be provided per conditions on surfboards, paddleboards and boogie boards.

Starting at $80. 1-800-686-6996.

Outside Hilton Head: Kids Waterfun Day: 8:30-11:30 a.m. Fridays, June-August, at Shelter Cove Marina. Campers ages 7 and older will enjoy fun water games. $65, 1-800-686-6996.

Outside Hilton Head: Teen Stand-Up Adventure Camp: 2-4 p.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays. Shelter Cove Marina will host Outside Hilton Head’s Teen Stand-Up Adventure Camp, an exciting twohour day camp that and allows campers ages 11-17 to explore the creeks and salt marshes on a paddle board, glimpsing fantastic vistas and wildlife. $45. 1-800-686-6996.

70 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Outside Hilton Head: Teen Tubing Adventure: This fun-filled tour for campers ages 13 and older is presented by Outside Hilton Head, leaving Shelter Cove Marina before ripping through the local waterways on a quest for speed and thrills. $55. 1-800-686-6996.

Outside Hilton Head: Coastal Carolina Camp: 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays at Shelter Cove Marina. Coastal Carolina Camp offers a range of different daily activities for campers age 7 and older, including calm-water kayaking, crabbing, water trampoline, environmental discovery tour, and beachcombing. $125 for a two-day session. 1-800-686-6996.

Outside Hilton Head: Adventure Island: 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Fridays. Adventure Island camp takes campers ages 12-17 to Page Island, just across the river from Daufuskie Island. It is the main outpost for kayaking, fun family outings, challenge courses, and many programs that let kids explore the outdoors. $95 for a twoday session. 1-800-686-6996.

Smith Stearns Tennis: High quality tennis instruction of various levels. Child must have had some prior tennis training. Ages 8 and above. $995/week. 8-10 a.m. and 2-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, Saturday 8-10 a.m. Morning, afternoon and daily rates available.

843-363-4789 or smithstearns.com.

South Carolina Yacht Club Sailing Camp: June 10-Aug. 9 at South Carolina Yacht Club. The Junior Sailing Program is the premier sailing program for Hilton Head Island juniors. The camp offers five levels of instruction for ages 6-17. $145-$1,300 based on experience. 843-681-7292.

South Carolina Yacht Club Summer Swim Lessons: South Carolina Yacht Club will offer private individual lessons for ages 3 and older Mondays-Thursdays. Private 30-minute lessons are customized for each swimmer depending on their skill level; semi-private lessons are designed for two participants and are ideal for siblings or friends of equivalent skill level. Lessons consist of five 30-minute classes. $45-$175 depending on type of lesson. 843-681-3100.

Van de Meer: Junior Summer Tennis Camp: May 27-Aug. 24 Sundays-Fridays at Van de Meer Tennis. Each session offers 25 hours of technical and tactical training from our world-class international staff. Campers ages 12 and older will learn from former ATP, WTA, Davis Cup, Fed Cup and top collegiate players. $735 a session for commuters, $1,115 a session for boarders.

1-800-845-6138.

May 2019 71

››Home

Curb Appeal

THESE HOME RENOVATIONS WILL PAY OFF

BY DECKER WELLS

I

f you’re planning to do some home improvement projects this year, it’s important to spend your money wisely. What you'll get back on your investment when you eventually sell your home depends on a variety of factors: the value of your house, the value of houses in your immediate neighborhood, how soon you sell after making improvements, and the quality of the project itself. Installing a $10,000 stove in a $200,000 house, for example, usually isn’t a good idea.

While it’s possible to over-customize your home or to spend more money than is wise on renovations, research by the housing industry shows that these projects — when done well — practically guarantee a full return on your investment. They’ll also increase your enjoyment of your home, the findings show. And keep in mind: return on investment values and remodeling costs cited here are subject to change.

72 hiltonheadmonthly.com

A MINOR BATHROOM REMODEL It costs about $10,500 to replace the tub, tile surround, floor, toilet, sink, vanity and fixtures in your bathroom. You’ll get back an average of $10,700 at resale, a recoup rate of 102 percent. There also are a few easy projects you can take care of yourself that will go a long way in revamping the look and feel of your space.

If you can pipe a child’s name on a birthday cake, you can recaulk a tub. Use a softener like Caulk-Be-Gone to get rid of the old caulk, and then fill the tub with water after you’re done to stretch the caulk while it dries. Re-glaze the tub for a like-new finish.

Also remove dated wall coverings and apply a fresh coat of paint.

For damaged walls, spray-on texture provides quick coverage.

ENHANCE YOUR LANDSCAPING The average homeowner spends about $3,502 on landscaping and $1,465 on a designer, according to the American Nursery Landscape Association. Not sure where to start? Local garden centers often offer free design services — or ask your neighbors what works for them.

A splash of color at the front of the house is an eye-catching plus. For maximum impact, use one color and vary the height of plants. If your doorway is overwhelmed by greenery, get out the shears and start pruning.

May 2019 73

››Home

CAMOUFLAGE UNATTRACTIVE VIEWS Hide unsightly views such as air conditioning units, pool heaters or deck storage by hiring a contractor to build a service yard or buying a pre-built structure. Make sure it matches or complements the siding of your home.

SPRUCE UP THE FRONT VIEW Making your home look better on the outside can be simple as upgrading your mailbox, installing new light fixtures on the porch, replacing tired porch railings or adding a splash of color by painting the front door a bold hue.

PLANT THE SEED Trees are one of the few things that truly appreciate over time.

You can buy a sapling for just $10 at the nursery, and once it has grown, a mature tree can add thousands to the value of your home — not to mention the value of added shade, privacy and cooling in the summer and heating in the winter. Trees also add charm.

Make sure you know how large the tree will get over time, and be sure to leave enough space for growth. To maximize attractiveness and minimize yardwork, choose a tree that keeps its leaves in the winter.

74 hiltonheadmonthly.com

May 2019 75

Luxury Homes OF THE LOWCOUNTRY

E

xcellent opportunity for investors looking for the perfect turn-key transaction. Sea Pines oceanoriented home is being sold totally furnished and ready for renters. 2019 bookings through Wyndham Vacation Rentals are already in place. Projected gross annual rental income is between $140K and $160K. Warm, spacious, and meticulously maintained, house is a 3-minute stroll to Hilton Head’s internationally acclaimed beach. An open floor plan, light-filled rooms, highest quality custom home construction, built-in cabinetry, abundant storage, hard wood floors and varied ceiling heights give character to this architect-designed luxury home.

Sea Pines 8 West Beach Lagoon Road Hilton Head Island Bedrooms: 5 | Baths: 5 full, 2 half 6,200 sq. ft. $2,195,000 furnished Contact: Joan E. Diamond CENTURY 21 Diamond Realty 843-295-0131 joanediamond.com

Estate ››Real News TURNER AND RUDD TEAM UP AT CHARTER ONE

Realtors Rick Turner and Linda Rudd have created the Turner Rudd Team at Charter One Realty.

Turner moved to the Lowcountry in 1972 from Indiana and has been a full time Realtor since then. He founded and co-founded several highly successful real estate companies.

Rudd move to the area in 1990 from Kansas City and has been in business since 1998. She was formerly with Engel & Volkers.

The two previously worked together for 15 years.

In addition to the principals, other Realtors on the team include Ken Hiatt, Marcia Hunter and Kathy Ross.

The Turner Rudd Team of Charter One Realty will specialize in the luxury market, working with both buyers and sellers.

VILLAGE PARK HOMES ADDS FOUR Angie Currall, Jillian Gerber, Marcia Hunter and Jenna Marstiller have joined the team at Village Park Homes.

Currall will serve in the purchasing department as an operations administrator. Gerber has been hired as a sales professional at Alston Park at New Riverside. Hunter will serve as a construction permit specialist on the preconstruction team and has a background in local government administration.

Marstiller will serve as construction starts administrator in the pre-construction department. Previously, she held a position with the town of Bluffton.

May 2019 81

››Real Estate News BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY WELCOMES ONE Sarah O’Leary Takacs has joined the team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hilton Head Bluffton Realty as a sales professional. In her new role, Takacs will be responsible for residential real estate sales in the Hilton Head Island and Bluffton markets. She has 37 years of local real estate sales experience. Prior to joining Berkshire Hathaway, she was a real estate professional at Keller Williams.

COASTAL LONG TERM RENTALS OPENS SECOND LOCATION

Coastal Long Term Rental Company has opened a second location in Bluffton. The company has been serving property owners, investors and renters on Hilton Head Island for nearly 40 years. The new location is at 7 Simmonsville Road in Bluffton.

SELL JOINS PALMETTO DUNES Laurie Sell has been hired as a commercial property manager at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort. In her new role, Sell will be responsible for managing the operation of commercial real estate properties in Shelter Cove Harbour and Palmetto Dunes. Previously, she managed a team of agents for 20 years in the Michigan real estate industry.

MORTGAGE RATES DIP BELOW EXPECTATIONS

Mortgage rates have been volatile this year, dropping a full percentage point in March—the biggest one-week fall in a decade. Some forecasts had predicted that rates would climb to 5.25 percent in 2019. But instead, the average 30-year rate was about 4.3 percent at press time, according to Bankrate.com. The rate drop comes just in time for the spring home-buying season. Because lower interest rates make monthly payments less expensive, the rate cut should give the housing market a boost, real estate experts agree. The record low for 30-year fixed mortgage rates was 3.5 percent in late 2012. Thirty years ago, home buyers were looking at an average 30-year rate of 11.13 percent

NEW HOMES AND AMENITIES UNDERWAY AT HAMPTON LAKE Hampton Lake, a masterplanned real estate community in Bluffton, is undergoing changes.

In late spring to early summer, a new section of homes by Shoreline Construction will be released. This 15-lot area surrounds the new track and sports field at Parkside. Homes in this area will be 2,200 to 2,800 square feet and priced from the low $500,000s. A new sports field is nearing completion at Parkside Amenity Center. It will include seven acres of green space with a quarter-mile rubberized track bordering a large grass multipurpose sports field. A new playground, four Har-tru pickleball courts and two bocce courts were installed recently. Architectural plans are complete on a new activity barn and pool at the Parkside Amenity Center. The activity barn will host meetings, concerts and large gatherings.

Construction on a new gated entrance across from River Ridge Academy also will begin soon.

82 hiltonheadmonthly.com

MARGARITAVILLE HOLDS ADULT SPRING BREAK EVENT

The Spring Break Celebration at Latitude Margaritaville Hilton Head attracted more than 1,500 visitors who enthusiastically participated in the day’s festivities. Guests donned hard hats and booties to tour the under-construction amenities slated for opening this winter.

Amenities will include a Latitude Town Center, Fins Up! Fitness Center, Paradise Pool, Latitude Bar & Chill Restaurant and more.

Trolleys and signature Margaritaville shark fin-topped golf carts transported prospective home owners to see the nine fully-furnished model homes.

PROGRAMS EXIST TO HELP FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS Younger consumers and other first-time homebuyers should research assistance programs offered by banks and other entities. Many banks and state programs offer down payment subsidies or a reduction on closing costs. However, the Federal Housing Administration is toughening up its standards for mortgages made to home buyers with small down payments, low credit scores and high levels of debt. The tighter standards will impact those who have the weakest financial profiles — FICO scores under 640 with debt-to-income ratios above 50 percent. Nearly 83 percent of FHA home-purchase loans made in January went to first-time home buyers and just under 40 percent went to minorities, according to HUD.gov. For a list of state-backed home buyer programs, go to HSH.com. First time homebuyers are also able to talk with a HUD-approved housing counselor.

Go www.hud.gov.

LIVE BY THE WATER PAL M E T TO D U N E S | SHE LTE R COV E | LE A MI N GTON H I LTO N H EA D I S L A N D, S O U T H C A RO L I N A

Three communities that are defined by the water. Three miles of pristine white, sandy beaches. An 11-mile man-made lagoon that winds throughout. Two beautiful lakes. The largest deep-water marina on Hilton Head Island and easy access to the sparkling tides of Broad Creek. It’s all here, at the heart of Hilton Head Island’s natural splendor.

It is quite a story told by the water, and since 1976, no one has told this story like Phil Schembra, specializing in these three extraordinary communities since his arrival on Hilton Head Island.

Experience what makes life so special near the water, and learn from a real estate professional who has lived and breathed this community for 43 years.

Give Phil a call to begin creating your own lifetime memories.

Philip A. Schembra Broker-In-Charge

Hilton Head Island’s #1 All-Time Listing and Selling Agent in one community $1,000,000,000 (billion) in personal sales since 1976 phil@schembrarealestate.com schembrarealestategroup.com luxuryrealestate.com

#1 Individual Sales Volume | Hilton Head Island #5 Individual Sales Volume | South Carolina

800.845.9506 | 843.785.2452 The Plaza at Shelter Cove next to Whole Foods

H I LT O N H E A D I S L A N D A N D T H E L O W C O U N T R Y

Jennifer Messier Michael Moore Barbara Frank Jim Laferriere REALTOR®

843.785.2452

REALTOR®

REALTOR®

REALTOR®

Cris Curtis

Shannon Tanner

Sara Kurtz

REALTOR®

REALTOR®

REALTOR®

843.338.6042 315.725.4411 843.684.0755 843.785.2452 843.422.4270 843.422.5931

››Lifestyle

l u f e Grac g n i s i Cr u TOUR THE MAY RIVER ABOARD AN ANTIQUE YACHT

BY KIM KACHMANN PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN

104 hiltonheadmonthly.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF PALMETTO BLUFF

T

o cruise aboard the antique motor yacht Grace is to be transported back in time to the heyday of water travel. To travel on the restored 60-foot wooden yacht from 1913 through the May River is to receive the gift of beauty. The Grace is still going strong, taking passengers of all ages from Palmetto Bluff down the glittering May, surrounded by the river’s wide expanse of chartreuse green marshlands and a canopy of blue sky.

Participants on the informative and educational tour will get to ride on one of the last remaining pre-World War I gaspowered yachts and might also get another unique experience: Spotting May River dolphins protecting their young. Bluffton’s dolphins don’t migrate like some other populations—the May is their home.

The Grace, built in 1913, has held up well against the elements over the years thanks to the durable, dense woods used in its construction: Rich Honduran mahogany, steam-bent oak ribs and heart pine decking. The Grace’s elegant bulkheads also are paneled with Honduran mahogany.

Joseph Cousins built the Grace to ferry him from his private estate on the north shore of Long Island Sound to Manhasset Bay in Queens, New York. One of the first commuter yachts, the boat was built by the New York Yacht Co. in a boatyard in what now is Harlem.

Since then, the Grace has led the

May 2019 105

››Lifestyle MOTHER’S DAY CRUISE Palmetto Bluff is offering Mother’s Day cruises aboard its antique motor yacht, Grace. Cruise options are: • Mimosa cruise: 10:30 a.m., light breakfast of pastries and fruit • Scenic cruise: 2 p.m., light beverages • Sunset cruise: 6:30 p.m., beer, wine, beverages and appetizers For prices and reservations, call 843-706-2757.

kind of life that novels are based on. After transporting millionaires on the Hudson River and Long Island Sound in the 1920s, she toured with a floating theater group that brought culture and revelry to desolate river towns far removed from highways and railroad lines. She is rumored to be witness to a murder and she mysteriously fell off the radar for decades, only to be discovered in the 1980s.

When Crescent Communities purchased Palmetto Bluff in 2000, officials knew they needed a flagship piece that would link the property’s past and present. Grace, then named the Zapala, was at another resort. Palmetto Bluff’s developers bought her and rechristened her the M/V Grace, named after the sister of one the property’s early 20th-century owners: Grace Vanderbilt, the sister of R. T Wilson Jr., a wealthy New York investment banker who bought Palmetto

106 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Trey Snow stands in the stern of the Grace as she cruises the May River.

Original artwork by James McDonald 149F LIGHTHOUSE RD • HARBOUR TOWN • 843.671.3643 JEWELRY, FINE GIFTS, LOCAL WINES featuring: M A R I P O SA • J O H N M E D E I RO S • C A S PA R I CRISLU • LE CADEAUX • MEGHAN BROWNE

Bluff in 1902. She married Cornelius Vanderbilt III but was scorned by the Vanderbilt family, who regarded her as a social-climbing party girl.

At Palmetto Bluff, the Grace has hosted countless tours, parties and weddings, and was completely restored in a painstaking, historically accurate renovation in 2014. The boat holds 24 passengers, including a captain, bartender and server.

The Grace’s captains, Herb Rennard and Ed Johnson, make sure that passengers learn about the Lowcountry’s beautiful landscape and its wildlife while they’re out on the water.

The May River is an estuary of flowing sea grasses, marshes and creeks that drift into Calibogue Sound and Port Royal Sound on the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Thanks to its millions of microorganisms, the river is the ocean’s nursery for fish,

May 2019 107

››Lifestyle

crabs, oysters, dolphins and other marine life; the marsh grasses act as filters that clean the water.

“The waters around the May River are still unpolluted and pristine,” says Rennard. “These waters are the nurseries of the oceans.”

Rennard looks the part of a seaman, with his weathered face and white hair and beard. He delights in sharing the rich history of the area and captures the character of the river and the Lowcountry’s

108 hiltonheadmonthly.com

beaches, salt marshes, plants and marine life. The salinity of the May River gives its oysters their unique taste, he explains, adding that more than 100 shrimp boats once plied the waters around Bluffton.

Fewer than 20 remain today. From the late 1800s to 1980s, seafood was the economic engine of Beaufort County — until land development became the region’s economic mainstay.

While Rennard gives the history lesson, Johnson navigates the May, where

treacherous oyster beds and hidden sandbars can quickly ground a boat. Johnson’s knowledge of the river bottom is ingrained after years on the water. Once, he recalls, an outgoing tide stranded the Grace on the bottom — but passengers didn’t object so long as the wine flowed.

In addition to scheduled tours, The Grace is available for private charter. For more information, call 843-706-2757. For reservations, call 843-706-3876.

Discover Palmetto Bluff LOCALS ARE WELCOME TO SPEND A DAY IN NATURAL LUXURY

BY KIM KACHMANN | PHOTOS COURTESY OF PALMETTO BLUFF

N

estled within an extensive nature preserve of dense vegetation, pine trees and ancient live oaks, Palmetto Bluff includes two Lowcountry-style villages with world-class options for dining, accommodations, shopping, and recreation.

Some areas and amenities are only for residents, but many are open to the public. Everything on this list is available to locals.

For inquiries, accommodations or dining reservations, call: 855264-8705. For more information go to: montagehotels.com/ palmettobluff and palmettobluff.com

The Spa at Montage Palmetto Bluff: Spend a day at Spa

Montage, where any treatment includes full use of the spa pool, fitness classes and relaxation areas, whirlpool, eucalyptus steam room, redwood sauna and cold plunge pool for the day.

Buffalo’s: A local favorite, Buffalo’s in Wilson Village specializes in casual Southern Italian cuisine with picturesque views of the May River and chapel.

Canteen: Canteen in the new Moreland Village is a perfect for a cup of coffee or breakfast sandwich in the morning, or a homemade sandwich or salad in the afternoon.

Fore and Aft: Serving casual, light Mexican fare in Wilson Village for lunch, with views of the lagoon waterway edge.

Octagon Bar: The Octagon Bar in the Montage Palmetto Bluff Inn

features shareable bites, creative entrees, steaks, classic cocktails with a creative twist, and locally crafted beers.

Octagon Porch: Rich in Southern hospitality, the Octagon Porch at the Inn offers a warm dining setting reminiscent of a traditional Southern veranda.

River House Lounge: Bask in unparalleled views of the May River from the River House veranda while sipping a cocktail, or relax around the warmth of a crackling fire pit in the evening.

RT’s Market: Take a step back in time and enjoy RT’s Market, Palmetto Bluff’s neighborhood general store where necessities, freshly brewed coffee and delectable treats can be found.

Bike and Pedego Rentals: The Moreland Bike Shop is your expert source for bicycle and Pedego electric bicycle rentals. Miles of paved leisure trails and an off-road biking trail beckon.

Water Sports: At the marina, Outside Palmetto Bluff, a division of Outside Hilton Head, rents equipment and provides guides to help the adventurous explore the stunning sea or tranquil water trails in your own kayak or canoe or be a little more adventurous and grab a paddleboard. For reservations, call 800-686-6996.

For the Kids: Two treehouses, swings and a child-sized zip line offer hours of fun for kids.

May 2019 109

››Lifestyle COMING UP AT THE BLUFF Events happening at Palmetto Bluff in May include: • Mother’s Day Brunch: Octagon Porch will serve a bountiful brunch of fresh salads, entrees and delectable desserts. $80/adult, $30/children 5-12.

• Bluegrass Bookbinding: Artist Tess Lindsey of Louisville, Kentucky handcrafts leatherwrapped journals from locally sourced materials. 10 a.m.-noon May 13-18 at the Artist Cottage. An opening reception and trunk show is 4-6 p.m. May 13, with bookbinding classes 1-3 p.m. May 16 & 17. palmettobluffartist.com/may-2019.

• Summer Concert Series: Enjoy live music under the stars at the Crossroads in Moreland Village. $25 per car. Gates open at 5 p.m., concert starts at 6:30 p.m. June 4, Deas Guyz; July 9, Pretty Darn; Aug. 6, Deep Drawl. palmettobluff.com.

110 hiltonheadmonthly.com

May 2019 111

››History

History Lesson HILTON HEAD ONCE WAS HOME TO YEMASSEE AND CUSABO TRIBES

BY RICH THOMAS

112 hiltonheadmonthly.com

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

I

n the days before Hilton Head Island became the world-class resort destination it is today, it was home to Native American tribes. By the time William Hilton arrived in the Lowcountry in 1663, these tribes — believed by experts to be the descendants of Siberian nomads — had been living on the land surrounding the Port Royal Sound for more than 3,000 years.

Roughly 12 to 19 different tribal groups settled in the Lowcountry, drawn by its fertile soil and easy river access, which allowed for trade with other tribes as far as Alabama and Tennessee. Because they spoke a common Muskogean language, early English explorers referred to these tribes as the Cusabo, or “people of the Coosaw River.” The most prominent of the Cusabo were the Edisto, who lived north of the Broad River, and the Escamacu and Orista, who lived between the Broad and the Savannah rivers.

In 1685, a powerful tribe from the Georgia highlands began to arrive in the Lowcountry, driven from their own lands

by Spanish settlers. Despite their suspicions of the Spanish, the Yemassee tribes got along with English settlers, trading with them and acting as military scouts guarding against surprise attacks from the Spanish. Hilton Head, Daufuskie and other islands in the area became Yemassee strongholds and remained under their control long after most of the tribe had moved up the Broad River to Altamaha Town or to Pocotaligo Town at the headwaters of the Coosawhatchie River.

The Yemassee and the Cusabo depended heavily on the land and the sea for their survival. Crops were grown in communal fields, protected from wild birds by the tribes’ women and children. The tribes’ men tracked large game through the region’s dense forests and

Want to learn more about a tribe that lived on Hilton Head Island? The Yemassee tribe is the subject of this book by Denise Bossy.

The Yemassee fished in large canoes.

PHOTO SOURCED BY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

used spears, arrows, blowguns and slings to bring down their prey. The tribes also fished Lowcountry waters in large canoes — often large enough to seat 20 paddlers — and roasted the fish and shellfish they caught over open fires using seasonings called barbacoa.

Their villages were comprised of circular dwellings with thatched reed walls covered with mud or bark, often built surrounding a communal lodge. Many families tended their own vegetable gardens in addition to the communal fields, and also grew tobacco for personal use or to trade. Their dwellings were kept clean thanks to cedar shavings, which the tribes steamed to drive out insects like lice.

The Yemassee and the Cusabo tribes at first lived peacefully with the European settlers who moved into the area. European trading posts stretched from Charleston into Georgia, and settlers were eager to trade with the tribes for their furs and deerskins. Eventually, however, the relationship between the Native Americans and the Europeans became strained by what the tribes saw as trading and treaty abuses, leading to the 1715 uprising known as the Yemassee War. Joined by allies from the Cherokee and Creek tribes, nearly 8,000 Yemassee warriors attacked English settlements along the coast from North Carolina to Georgia. By 1717, most of the Yemassee had been forced south into Georgia and Florida, where they allied with the Spanish and continued raiding into the area as late as 1728. From 1720 to 1730, Col. John Barnwell employed 60 Tuscarora warriors — mortal enemies of the Yemassee — on his lands near Dolphin Head on Hilton Head Island as scouts and lookouts for the Southern Defenses of the Colony of South Carolina. By 1730, the Yemassee were virtually extinct in local lands and the remnants of the tribe assimilated into the Seminole nation.

May 2019 113

››History

PADDLE BACK IN TIME WITH OUTSIDE HILTON HEAD DURING A TRIP TO PAGE ISLAND

M

ore than three centuries have passed since the Yemassee left their historic home in the Georgia mountains, looking to escape encroachment by Spanish settlers and make a new life amid the bountiful land and waters around what we now know as Hilton Head and Daufuskie islands.

Years of history — the appearance of English-speaking colonists, the American Revolution, African slavery, the Civil War, and modern development — have rendered it all but impossible to experience the islands’ sounds, creeks and rivers as the canoe-paddling Yemassee did.

Even the ecosystem on Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, free of human habitation and agriculture for almost a half century, is still slowly reverting to a natural maritime forest.

But if you squint just a bit and let your imagination run free, you can join Outside Hilton Head on a kayak excursion to Page Island, a series of islets tucked away behind Daufuskie, that allows you to explore native landscapes that remain much the same as they were when the Yemassee arrived.

A 45-minute boat ride takes you across Calibogue Sound, along an oxbow of the Cooper River, and then down Ramshorn Creek (like all local “creeks” and “rivers,” they aren’t, really; lacking a freshwater source, they rise and fall with the tide, just like the rest of the vast Intracoastal Waterway that stretches from Boston to Florida). Disembarking on a dock at a small, lightly-developed island — think hammocks and shelters, not cabins or roads — paddlers don lifejackets and

114 hiltonheadmonthly.com

May 2019 115

PHOTO SUBMITTED

PHOTOS BY CAROL WEIR

››History

116 hiltonheadmonthly.com

How to go to Page Island

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Outside Hilton Head’s The Outback experience combines a Page Island kayak tour with a dolphin eco-tour.

From Shelter Cove: 4.5 hours, $85 for adults, $65 for children. From Savannah Harbor: 5 hours, $95 for adults, $75 for children. outsidehiltonhead.com.

May 2019 117

follow a guide into a spartina grass-enclosed channel circumnavigating the islands.

From the water, centuries-old live oaks draped with Spanish moss, towering loblolly pines and mature palmettos obscure power lines and other signs of civilization.

In summer, the spartina can rise five or six feet on either side of the channel, a green wall that has been renewing itself annually for centuries. Dead shoots fall into the water in fall and winter to be carried away by the tides. Deposited on coastal beaches, they become anchor points for the creation of sand dunes.

Dip your paddle into the mud below your kayak and you feel the scrape of oysters. This staple food for the Yemassee requires both tidal submersion and exposure to air to thrive. Wading birds stalk the shoreline, while osprey, vultures, gulls and even eagles soar and circle overhead.

If conditions permit, you can paddle back to the dock via the Cooper River and Ramshorn Creek, where you might just see dolphins.

Once you put your paddle away, you can explore the islands on foot. While Outside Hilton Head has constructed boardwalks between the first five of the islets, the last three are entirely undeveloped. Exploring Page Island’s native maritime forest ecosystem with the sun on your back and the scent of cedars in your nostrils might be as close to a true Yemassee experience as you can find.

And if there’s time, your guide may even swing by a 300-yearold shell midden or heap, complete with pottery shards, on the trip back to Shelter Cove.

118 hiltonheadmonthly.com

PHOTOS BY CAROL WEIR

››History

Shell rings are evidence of early Lowcountry inhabitants.

May 2019 119

››Sports

ALL STAR PARENTS

BY LAURA JACOBI | PHOTO BY RUTHE RITTERBECK

H

ow far would you go to help your child succeed in a sport where he or she showed promise? How much would you sacrifice?

While many parents in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island spend their afternoons and evenings chauffeuring their children to after-school activities and sports, these parents of young local soccer superstars are in it to win it.

Susan Donahoe-Vance and Barry Vance are the parents of 17-year-old rising soccer star MacKenzee Vance. MacKenzee is a junior at Bluffton High School and plays for the United Soccer Alliance’s U-19 Girls Development Academy team in Clay County, Florida, south of Jacksonville. In fall 2018, she was one of 47 young women from across the country named to the United Soccer Coaches Youth Girls All-American Team.

MacKenzee began training with the development club in Florida in 2017 and practices after school at least four

120 hiltonheadmonthly.com

days a week, with games on the weekend.

“At one time … we all made fun of the crazy families that traveled for soccer,” Susan Donahoe-Vance said. “But as my child grew and … wanted more and more to improve herself, we became the crazy traveling soccer family.”

On the nights MacKenzee has practice, her dad picks her up from school at the bell. She changes into her training gear, eats a light meal and completes her homework in the car to keep up her 4.75 GPA. They drive to Brunswick, Georgia, where they meet up with a carpool that drives MacKenzee and other players the rest of the way to Flemming Island, Florida. After practice, MacKenzee and her dad usually arrive home at nearly midnight. And then she gets up early the next morning to do it all over again.

Susan says her daughter has sacrificed the life of a typical teen to reach her goals, and the whole family has sacrificed a lot of sleep. But she says she will miss the travel

MacKenzee Vance is grateful for her parents' contributions to her budding soccer career. Here she's with mom Susan DonahoeVance. Dad Barry Vance drives her hundreds of miles each week to practice.

May 2019 121

››Sports

‘‘

MOVING AWAY FROM OUR HOME FOR ME TO

HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN A HUGE

SACRIFICE FOR HER. -OWEN VAN MARTER

Owen Van Marter and his mom Suzanne live in Florida during the week so Owen can play for the Orlando City Development League.

Dad Sean Van Marter, a local podiatrist, visits as often as he can.

122 hiltonheadmonthly.com

PHOTO SUBMITTED

soccer lifestyle after MacKenzee heads to UCLA for college, where she has committed to play soccer.

“The ultimate reason we continue this journey is for the love of our daughter,” she said.

MacKenzee is an only child, and she says her mom is like a sister: They laugh, fight, make up and then laugh more — whether it’s about soccer or everyday teenage drama. MacKenzee says her parents have sacrificed their work, free time and energy and she couldn’t be more grateful.

“It’s insane all that my parents have done for me,” she said.

Fifteen-year-old rising soccer star Owen Van Marter says there’s no way he could pursue his dreams of playing for a Major League Soccer team without his parents’ full support. Owen began playing recreational soccer for Island Rec before he was 3 years old; he moved up to Tormenta, a Hilton Head Island travel soccer team, at age 6. In 2018, he was selected as one of 18 players to attend an international soccer tour to Spain, where his team competed in the 18th annual Mediterranean International Cup. To up his game and increase his chances of playing soccer at the professional level, Owen and his mom, Suzanne Van Marter, moved from Hilton Head to Montverde, Florida, in December so he can play for the Orlando City Development Academy. Owen attends a modified school day so he can

train each morning and practice with his team four nights a week.

“It’s because of the commitment (Owen has shown) that his dad and I supported his decision to put himself in a more competitive environment,” Suzanne said.

The temporary move not only allows Suzanne to be there for her son, but also be closer to her daughter, Ava, who attends and plays soccer at the University of Florida.

Husband and father Sean Van Marter stayed back on Hilton Head to operate their podiatry business, but visits as often as possible to see his kids compete in the sport they love.

“Suzanne has always put the needs and priorities of our kids ahead of her own,” he said. “She has been a loving, caring and no-nonsense mother.”

Owen agrees and says he knows without his mom, he couldn’t pursue his soccer dreams.

“Moving away from our home for me to have this experience has been a huge sacrifice for her,” Owen says. “I am so grateful I have a mom that believed in me enough to do it.”

Suzanne said her job as a soccer mom has evolved for her over the years from guiding her children’s athletic success to serving as more of a life coach.

“I try to teach them more about life and the power of perseverance and positive attitudes,” she said.

These are life lessons that work for all ages, on and off the field.

May 2019 123

››MayFest

124 hiltonheadmonthly.com

g o D y r e v E y a D s t I s a H

MAYFEST’S FAMED UGLY DOG CONTEST PAYS TRIBUTE TO MAN’S BEST FRIEND.

BY BARRY KAUFMAN PHOTO BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT

T

Left to right: Richard Coffield, Barry Kaufman and Jacob Preston get organized for this year's Ugly Dog contest at Bluffton Village Festival.

here’s been a tasteful, yet undeniably transformative, change happening in Bluffton in recent years. Sophisticated fine art galleries have sprung up among Old Town’s eclectic shops. Upscale dining has found a seat at the table next to stick-to-yourribs barbecue and freshly shucked oysters.

And it’s not unusual to find a sparkling new Bugatti parked alongside the beat-up old pickups and golf carts.

That’s not to say this change is a bad thing.

Bluffton is nothing if not welcoming. But it does make it important to remember one thing: Bluffton is a state of mind. And that state of mind is, on occasion, a little eccentric. We’d even say downright weird.

“Bluffton’s always had a reputation for being a little off-kilter, which is fun,” said Richard Coffield, who has been an important part of Bluffton’s off-kilter mindset since he launched the Ugly Dog Contest 31 years ago.

This annual canine celebration quickly became a highlight of the annual Mayfest — also known as the Bluffton Village Festival — and standardbearer for Bluffton’s eccentricity.

“We just wanted to do something different, and if we’d held a goat race, we would have had to buy insurance,” he said of the contest’s beginnings. “I don’t know; it was just a silly idea we ran with. I figured we’d do it once just for the heck of it, people would get a kick out of it and that would be it. But everybody liked it. More so than you would have thought.”

Now entering its 31st year, the annual Ugly Dog Contest has been a rite of passage for

May 2019 125

››MayFest

Bluffton potter Jacob Preston makes the trophies for the Ugly Dog contest.

every proud owner of an unsightly pooch. Just don’t ask who previous winners have been.

“I know this will amaze you, but we don’t keep records on this,” Coffield said with a laugh.

The only record of the winning dogs exists in Coffield’s memory, and the memory of those who attend Mayfest. But a few do stand out. There was the inaugural winner — David Pinckney’s dog Striker (“I always told people he wasn’t that ugly, but then I saw a picture of him not that long ago and, yeah, he was.”)

— and the time someone tried to pass off a goat as a dog (“Fortunately, Jimmy Cooler, our town vet at the time, was one of the judges and he was qualified to disqualify it.”).

“The Bush family had a long winning streak with an animal that may or may not have been a dog,” said Bluffton potter — and town icon — Jacob Preston.

“Personally, I suspect some kind of rodent or badger with a serious skin issue.”

The first year’s prize was 50 pounds of dog food and a customized “Ugliest Dog in Bluffton” collar.

The next year, Coffield “got really uptown with it” and had custom trophies made. But when Preston got

126 hiltonheadmonthly.com

involved, it took the Ugly Dog Contest to the next level. His one-of-a-kind creations have made the title of “Bluffton’s Ugliest Dog” a point of pride.

“Each year I forget to make the prizes until reminded by my more responsible associate, Brynne Bowler. By then, it is two or three weeks before the event,” Preston said with his trademark dry wit.

“I make them, knowing they probably won't survive the accelerated drying process. They always do.”

This year, Preston plans on doing something a little different to commemorate a guest judge. And here is where the writer of this piece needs to break the fourth wall a little, in true eclectic Bluffton fashion.

Kyle Poplin, former editor of

Through the Eyes of Amos Long-time Blufftonians will remember Amos Hummell as the bright-eyed artistic whirlwind responsible for the “Living Color” shows that festooned Calhoun Street with vivid hues back in the mid 00s. The irrepressible artist is bringing that vibrancy and energy back for this year’s Mayfest, supplying the art for the official poster.

As for his inspiration, Hummell says, “Inspiration? Fantasy lands.

Creating scenes that move people to daydream, wonder about, stroll through. Color me an escape artist.

It's where I've been hanging out.

Think I'll stay.”

May 2019 127

››MayFest

IF YOU GO: BLUFFTON VILLAGE FESTIVAL The 41st annual Bluffton Mayfest — also known as the Bluffton Village Festival — will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 11 on Calhoun Street in Old Town Bluffton. Here is the schedule of events:

10-11 a.m.: Bluffton School of Dance performs on the main stage

11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Harry Santana on Church Street

11:30 a.m.: 6th annual Pie Eating Contest at Carson Cottages 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Flat Top N’ Fiddle on the main stage

Noon: Kids Donut Eating Contest at Carson Cottages

1 p.m.: Ugly Dog Contest at Carson Cottages 1:30-5 p.m.: Muddy Creek on the main stage

Bluffton Today and one of my mentors, once gave me a dressing down for putting myself into a story when I accidentallyon-purpose ate the historic 10,000th sandwich sold by Bluffton BBQ. Well, it sort of happened again. While speaking with Coffield for this story, he let slip that he’d been looking to hand over emcee duties for this year’s event because he was double booked at a fishing tournament. I accidentally-on-purpose volunteered.

I'm doing my part to keep the Bluffton state of mind alive.

The 31st annual Ugly Dog Contest will be held at 1 p.m. May 11 during Mayfest, between Calhoun Gallery and Gigi’s. I hope to see you and your ugly dog there.

128 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Where toWorship

Christ-driven

CHURCH OF THE PALMS INVITES ALL TO GOD’S HOUSE

BY PORTIA FODEN

130 hiltonheadmonthly.com

“Y

ou belong” is the mantra at Church of the Palms, as it is with intention that this body of believers aims to make all who visit feel welcome, regardless of where they come from, what they believe, or what race, creed, orientation or denomination they are — “...for all are welcome in God’s house.” And so it is with this purpose and the newly-constructed Christian Life Center, which nearly doubled the church’s footprint, that Church of the Palms serves as an outreach center for the Okatie community. Each week, the church hosts several groups and organizations including Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, the Lowcountry Youth Wind Symphony, Al-Anon, Koinonia Caps (caps handsewn for people living with cancer) and, of course, our weekly Bible studies, which include Sisters at 2 p.m.

Tuesdays and 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays and Brothers at 8 a.m. Thursdays and 7:30 a.m. every other Saturday.

Focused on being the hands and feet of Christ in the community, Church of the Palms also hosts Family Promise several times a year. Families finding themselves without homes can focus on putting their lives back together while the church serves their most basic needs of food, clothing and shelter.

Also known as the “Pumpkin Church,” the church hosts one of the best pumpkin patches of our area. Each October, the grounds are covered with pumpkins providing family fun, fellowship and ideal fall photo opportunities. After unloading thousands of orange orbs, the annual event is kicked off with a community shin

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Pastor Pete Berntson (left) leads The Church of the Palms in Okatie.

(Above) The church’s annual pumpkin patch is one of the largest in the Lowcountry and lots of fun.

dig, complete with music, games and a Lowcountry oyster roast. The pumpkin patch winds down on Oct. 31 with an epic Trunk or Treat, attended by hundreds of adorably adorned children.

Other annual events include Fall Festival, Night with Saint Nicholas, Night of Epiphany, Grandma’s Attic, the Okatie Talent show, Easter and Christmas Cantatas and, of course, the Christmas Nativity Pageant on Christmas Eve. Additionally, during the month of July, the church’s campus is transformed into ancient Holy Land for vacation Bible school, where children and adults alike spend an entire week hearing and living out the stories of the Christian faith. Each evening, dinner is served to over 100, with the final night being a multi-generational celebration of fun, food and fellowship.

Church of the Palms offers three worship opportunities: two classic-style services at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays and The Gathering, a contemporary-style experience at 5:30 p.m. Saturdays. Pastor Pete Berntson proclaims at all three services. Holy communion is celebrated on the first and third Sundays and the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Come to Church of the Palms, conveniently located on S.C. 170 and Argent Boulevard in Okatie, where you most definitely belong.

PORTIA FODEN IS DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY MINISTRIES AT CHURCH OF THE PALMS.

May 2019 131

››Calendar | MAY

v

May 27 MEMORIAL DAY REMEMBERANCE: The Hilton Head Island Council of the Navy League, along with the American Legion and Military Officers Association, announce the 26th annual Memorial Day Remembrance. Speaker is Col. Cesar Rodriguez of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. HHI Mayor John McCann will issue a proclamation.

The Hilton Head Choral Society will perform and the Hilton Head NJROTC will present the colors. Free. 10:30 a.m., Shelter Cove Veteran’s Memorial Park, 59 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. hiltonheadnavyleague.com.

Through June 9 JAUME PLENSA’S “TALKING CONTINENTS” EXHIBITION: Telfair Museums’ Jepson Center presents a solo exhibition by artist Jaume Plensa titled “Talking Continents.” $20. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Telfair Museums’ Jepson Center, 207 W York St., Savannah. telfair.org.

Through June 30 “REMBRANDT AND THE JEWISH EXPERIENCE” EXHIBITION AT TELFAIR MUSEUMS: This exhibition contains 21 etchings

by Rembrandt and one drawing

by Rembrandt’s teacher, Pieter Lastman. These works highlight the artist’s nuanced relationship with Amsterdam’s citizens of the Jewish faith and the keen insights Rembrandt brought to interpretations of Old Testament Bible stories. $20. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Telfair Museums’ Jepson Center, 207 W York St., Savannah. 912-790-8800.

Through May 4 “IMAGINATION & FABRICATION”

BY ART QUILTERS OF THE LOWCOUNTRY: This exhibit celebrates fiber art and its unique ability, using various textures and quilting, to create the illusion of a third dimension. Free and open to the public. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. MondaysSaturdays; noon-4 p.m. Sundays and 90 minutes before every Arts Center performance. Art League Gallery, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-681-5060.

Through May 16 “MUSIC & TASTE ON THE HARBOUR”: Now in its 11th season, the spring outdoor concert series features a variety of bands on select Thursday nights until May 16. Free. 6-9 p.m., Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina, 1 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 877-5676513 or sheltercovehiltonhead. com/music-and-taste.

May 1

MARINE MAMMALS OF SOUTH CAROLINA: The Coastal Discovery Museum will host Dr. Al Segars for a presentation about the marine mammals sharing our coast. The cost is $7 per person; open to those ages 12 and older.

Reservations are required. 3 p.m., 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-689-6767, ext. 223.

PALMETTO PLANT EATERS CLUB: Guest speakers Karen Holland and Howard Rankin will discuss the national Healthy Minds Initiative developed by neurologists Dean and Ayesha Sherzai to combat dementia and Alzheimer’s

disease, and the “Imagine …

Hilton Head Island” organization working to make the Lowcountry a brain-healthy community.

The club meets monthly to teach and support whole-food, plant-based vegan eating and living. Free, open to the public.

6:30 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry, 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton.

PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: Belfair, the award-winning private golf club community in Bluffton, is hosting the 2019 PGA Professional Championship, the world’s largest all-professional event. Once inside the Belfair gate, attendees will board free shuttles to the tournament.

May 2019 133

››Calendar May 2-4 “BAREFOOT IN THE PARK”: Neil Simon’s Broadway hit comedy “Barefoot in the Park” closes the Lean Ensemble Theater season with a light-hearted look at a pair of newlyweds, Corie and Paul Bratter, who are just returning from a six-day honeymoon at The Plaza to the realities of married life. $40 for adults; $15 for students and active-duty military. 7:30 p.m.

April 25-27 and May 2-4, and 2 p.m. April 28 and May 5. 843715-6676 or leanensemble.org.

The 312-player PGA Professional Championship field is comprised of players who advance from the 41 PGA Section Championships, along with past champions. The low 20 scorers at Belfair will earn a berth in the 2019 PGA Championship to be played May 16-19 at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York. 2:30-5:30 p.m. 200 Belfair Oaks Blvd., Bluffton.

May 1-June 2 “A CHORUS LINE”: This nine-time Tony Award-winning musical follows a day in the lives of 17 dancers, all vying for a spot in the chorus line of a Broadway show. After the first round of cuts, director and choreographer Zach asks each dancer to talk about themselves. $49 for adults and $36 for children ages 5-15 for shows May 1-2; $59 for adults and $46 for children ages 5-15 for shows May 3-June 2. Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. artshhi.com.

May 2-5 “LOVE LETTERS”: The May River Theatre Co. returns in its 19th season to present “Love Letters”

by A.R Gurney, an emotional play that tugs alternately at the funny

134 hiltonheadmonthly.com

bone and the heartstrings. It tells the story of two childhood friends and their lifelong correspondence. $27. 7 p.m. May 2-4; 2 p.m. May 5. May River Theatre Co., 20 Bridge St., Bluffton. 843-8155581 or mayrivertheatre.com.

May 3-4 NEW YORK DESIGNERS EVENT @ FORSYTHE JEWELERS: Preview the newest collections from New York-based designers.

Goodie bag, special event pricing and a chance to win. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Shops at Sea Pines Center, 71 Lighthouse Rd #300, Hilton Head Island. Call 843.671.7070 or visit forsythejewelers.biz.

May 4 “RUN FOR THE ROSES”: Join Volunteers in Medicine Clinic Hilton Head Island in the excitement of the Kentucky Derby at this horse racing-themed fundraiser.

Each guest will receive a fistful of “funny money” and an “odds board” with clues to the evening’s racing events. $100 in advance/ $125 at the door. 4:30-7:30 p.m., Poseidon Rooftop Bar, 38 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island.

843-689-6612 or vimclinic.org.

8TH ANNUAL WILD WOMEN’S TEA PARTY FOR LOWCOUNTRY LEGAL VOLUNTEERS: Support Lowcountry Legal Volunteers as you enjoy tea sandwiches, a fashion show by Evelyn & Arthur, champagne and Derby-inspired cocktails, desserts, live music by David Kimbell, a silent auction and a chance to win prizes. Ladies, wear a Derby-style hat; prizes will be awarded for wildest and prettiest hats.Tickets are $50 and sponsorships are $75 per person; VIP tables for 8 are $600. 2-4 p.m., Indigo Hall, 101 Berwick Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-815-1570 or lowcountrylegalvolunteers.com.

her book, “Mama’s Pearls,” will also be featured. Both authors will talk about their books and the importance of family, heritage and communal traditions to Southern culture. Ticket prices are $60 a person or $500 for a table of 10.

1-4 p.m., Dataw Island Club, 100 Dataw Club Road, St. Helena Island. beauforthistorymuseum.com.

May 7-June 1

May 6-June 2

”EXPECT THE UNEXPECTING”: Local artist Joy Lillith Hermann works in acrylic and mixed media.

She often uses molding pastes to build her canvases, using layers and layers of glazes and inks to create her paintings. Opening reception is 3-5 p.m. May 12 at the Society of Bluffton Artists Gallery, 6 Church St., Bluffton. 843-7576586 or sobagallery.com.

May 7

“PEARLS OF WISDOM”: Beaufort History Museum will present its fifth annual tea, which is the its main fundraiser. Author Kristy Woodson Harvey will launch her newest book, “The Southern Side of Paradise,” and local author Patricia Bee and

26TH BIENNALE NATIONAL JURIED ART EXHIBITION: Representing 100 artists from 25 states, including South Carolina, the 26th Biennale promises to be a showcase of exemplary artwork.

Top pieces were selected based on originality of concept, composition and execution. The exhibition, which is the longest-running national juried art exhibition in the area, will feature work across seven media categories, including 3-D, oil or acrylic, photography, pastel, mixed media, watermedia and all other. $10. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Mondays-Saturdays; noon-4 p.m.

Sundays and 90 minutes before all Arts Center performances. 843681-5060 or artleaguehhi.org.

May 8

WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY: The Village at Wexford will be holding Wine Down Wednesday — a unique wine-tasting experience with live music on the patio that will give people the opportunity to spend

May 2019 135

››Calendar May 2-5 a fun, relaxing spring evening enjoying a variety of wines from Wexford merchants.

Proceeds will benefit Hilton Head Heroes.

A photo ID is required to participate. $10 a person; $15 at the door. 5-8 p.m., The Village at Wexford,1000 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. villageatwexford.com.

HISTORIC SITES BIKE RIDE BY THE HERITAGE LIBRARY: Historic sites bike ride presented by the Heritage Library and the Town of Hilton Head Island Office of Cultural Affairs. Bikes provided. Free. 1011:30 a.m. Squire Pope Community Park, 137 Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head Island.

May 9

MAY RIVER THEATRE PRESENTS ‘LOVE LETTERS’

T

he May River Theatre Co. opens its 17th season with A.R. Gurney’s “Love Letters,” taking the stage May 2-5 to tug at the funny bone and the heartstrings. The play follows two childhood friends and their life-long correspondence. It’s full of shared nostalgia, missed opportunities and deep closeness.

“Love Letters” establishes the characters without the aid of set, costume or movement. It stars Daniel and Debbie Cort, who headlined May River Theatre’s productions of “The Pajama Game,” “Man of La Mancha” and “The Addams Family.”

The nonprofit May River Theatre was closed for 18 months while Bluffton Town Hall underwent renovation.

Theater founders Jodie and Ed Dupuis and director Bob McCloskey have long had “Love Letters” on their wish list and it seemed appropriate to reopen with this strong showing.

Showtimes are 7 p.m. May 2-4 and 2 p.m. May 5. Tickets are $27 and are available by calling the theater at 843815-5581 or at mayrivertheatre.com. To donate to the theater, send checks to The May River Theatre Co., P.O. Box 1674, Bluffton, SC 29910

136 hiltonheadmonthly.com

LADIES’ NIGHT: Join Outside Hilton Head for ladies’ night and a fun evening of shopping to support Hopeful Horizons. Enjoy local food, drinks, music and a festive atmosphere while shopping Outside Hilton Head’s great selection of women’s clothing and accessories; 20 percent of every sale during the event goes directly to Hopeful Horizons and its mission to create safer communities by changing the culture of violence and offering a path to healing. 3-8 p.m., Outside Hilton Head, 50 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island.

May 11 TEDXHILTONHEAD: TED is a nonprofit group devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks. $75. 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra’s SoundWaves, 7 Lagoon Road, Hilton Head Island. tedxhhi2019.eventbrite.com.

JOE JENCKS: Joe Jencks, a 20-year veteran of the international folk circuit, an award-winning songwriter, and celebrated vocalist based in Chicago, will perform at Music on Malphrus. $20.

Doors open at 6 p.m.; show is at 7 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry, 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton.

843-837-3330 or uulowcountry.org.

GIRL SCOUTS BROWNIE DANCER BADGE PROGRAM: During this two-hour workshop, Brownies will work to meet all five requirements to earn their dance badges. Activities will include a warm-up, learning a choreographed dance, techniques to show feeling in their performance, and choreographing their own short dance before sharing with their families in a final

showcase. Registration deadline is May 3. $20 (includes the dancer badge). Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843686-3945, ext. 205 or artshhi.com.

ROTARY CLUB OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND FEEDING FRENZY SCAVENGER HUNT: The Rotary Club of Hilton Head Island is collaborating with local restaurants and bike shops to host a scavenger hunt and food tasting to raise funds for scholarships for local students. $25. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., University of South Carolina Beaufort’s Hilton Head Island Gateway Campus, 1 University Blvd., Bluffton. hiltonheadrotary.org.

May 12 HELPING PARENTS HEAL: This nonprofit organization is dedicated to assisting bereaved parents, giving them support and resources to aid in the healing process.

This meeting will be held on Mother’s Day from 1-3 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton.

For more information please contact Irene Vouvalides at 201-233-6015 or email irenevouvalides@gmail.com.

May 13-18 BLUEGRASS BOOKBINDING: Tess Lindsey created Bluegrass Bookbinding in 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky, after learning the art of bookbinding in college. The idea led to the old-fashioned trade to crafting handmade leather-wrapped journals from locally sourced materials. 10 a.m.-noon, Artist Cottage, 753 Old Moreland Road, Bluffton.

May 13 MEET & GREET THE MAKER & TRUNKSHOW: Meet Tess Lindsey, learn more about her bookbinding process, and browse her latest collection at the Artist Cottage. $25. 4-6 p.m. Artist Cottage, 753 Old Moreland Road, Bluffton.

May 14 MUSIC AMERICANA: The Lowcountry Community Concert band will perform a “Music Americana” concert featuring the works of great American composers like Aaron Copeland, Marvin Hamlisch and John Philip Sousa. Free. 7 p.m. Rick Eckstein, 843-707-7813; Andrea Sisino, 843-2088249; or Peter Johnson, 267-884-6805.

May 15 HILTON HEAD RIDE OF SILENCE: Hilton Head Island’s annual Ride of Silence honors those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways. Sponsored locally by Kickin’ Asphalt Bicycle Club and part of an international program, the silent procession begins with a sign-in and safety briefing. Free. 6:30 p.m., Port Royal Plaza parking lot by Street Meet, 95 Mathews Drive, Hilton Head Island. 412-360-9838.

May 16 PALMETTO QUILT GUILD: Guest speaker will be a representative from Sulky Threads. The lecture will be about thread jazz or quilting and embellishing, plus needle and thread know-how. The meeting is open to members and guests, with a $5 guest fee. 3 p.m., Hilton Head Island Beach & Tennis Resort, 40 Folly Field Road, Hilton Head Island. palmettoquiltguild.org.

May 16-17 AN AMATEUR’S GUIDE TO BOOKBINDING: In today’s digital age, books — made of real honest-to-goodness paper — are increasingly precious things. This month, put down your tablet and discover the traditional art of bookbinding, mastering complex stitching techniques as well as branding with the help of Louisville, Kentucky-based artisan Tess Lindsey to create distinctive leather-wrapped journals. $60.

1-3 p.m. Artist Cottage, 753 Old Moreland Road, Bluffton.

May 17 PETSMART BLUFFTON: NATIONAL ADOPTION EVENT: The Hilton Head Humane Association will hold an adoption event where many furry friends will be eagerly waiting to find their forever families. Noon2 p.m., 30 Malphrus Road, Bluffton. 843- 836-2020.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND COMMUNITY BEACH BIKE RIDE AT COLIGNY BEACH: Nothing tops riding a bike by the water. Join the community beach bike ride sponsored by Coligny Plaza and the Town of Hilton Head Island. Bring a helmet. 10:30 a.m., Coligny Beach Park, 1 N. Forest Beach, Hilton Head Island. 843-415-5978.

May 19 PETSMART HILTON HEAD: NATIONAL ADOPTION EVENT: Hilton Head Humane Association will hold an adoption event where many furry friends will be eagerly waiting to find their forever families. Noon-2 p.m., 430 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843- 341-2981.

CERVEZA ESTRELLA JALISCO FIESTA DE MAYO FESTIVAL: A celebration of Mexican culture and heritage. The festival is a combination of music, food, culture, dancing, arts and crafts, kids activities and business partnerships, with sponsor booths supporting and connecting with our Hispanic community throughout the festival grounds. The event is open to the public. $7 and free for kids ages 10 and younger. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Shelter Cove Community Park, 39 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-681-2393.

May 19-20 WOUNDED HEROES APPRECIATION EVENT & GOLF CLASSIC: Enjoy live music, food, craft beer, auctions, guest speakers and golf. Entry fee is $200 a person; $800 for a foursome. Hampton Hall Club, 170 Hampton Hall Blvd., Bluffton. woundedmilitaryheroes.org.

May 24 THE CHIGGERS: LIVE AT STREET MEET: Join us outside for music on the patio featuring The Chiggers to kick off Memorial Day weekend. 8-10 p.m. May 24.

Street Meet, 95 Mathews Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-8422570 or streetmeethhi.com.

MAY TIDES MAY 1

AM

L 12:13

AM

PM

PM

MAY 2 MAY 3 MAY 4 MAY 5

L 01:00 L 01:44 L 02:27 L 03:10

H 07:16 H 07:57 H 08:36 H 09:14

L 01:15 L 01:56 L 02:37 L 03:18

H 07:31 H 08:11 H 08:49 H 09:27

MAY 6 MAY 7 MAY 8 MAY 9

L 03:52 L 04:36 L 05:21 L 06:09

H 09:53 H 10:34 H 11:21 –––

L 04:00 L 04:44 L 05:30 H 12:16

H 10:07 H 10:51 H 11:41 L 06:21

MAY 10

H 12:38

L 07:03

H 01:17

L 07:18

MAY 11 MAY 12

H 01:40 H 02:42

L 08:02 L 09:06

H 02:21 H 03:23

L 08:23 L 09:32

MAY 13

H 03:43

L 10:09

H 04:25

L 10:39

MAY 14 MAY 15

H 04:44 H 05:43

L 11:08 –––

H 05:26 L 12:02

L 11:41 H 06:23

MAY 16 MAY 17

L 12:39 L 01:33

H 06:39 H 07:31

L 12:54 L 01:43

H 07:17 H 08:06

MAY 18 MAY 19 MAY 20 MAY 21 MAY 22 MAY 23 MAY 24 MAY 25 MAY 26 MAY 27 MAY 28 MAY 29 MAY 30 MAY 31

L 02:24 L 03:13 L 04:00 L 04:44 L 05:27 L 06:09 H 12:44 H 01:34 H 02:24 H 03:14 H 04:04 H 04:54 H 05:44 L 12:23

H 08:21 H 09:07 H 09:53 H 10:39 H 11:26 ––– L 06:53 L 07:40 L 08:30 L 09:22 L 10:13 L 11:01 L 11:48 H 06:32

L 02:30 L 03:16 L 04:00 L 04:42 L 05:23 H 12:16 H 01:07 H 01:59 H 02:50 H 03:40 H 04:30 H 05:19 H 06:07 L 12:34

H 08:53 H 09:38 H 10:22 H 11:07 H 11:54 L 06:05 L 06:50 L 07:41 L 08:39 L 09:40 L 10:39 L 11:32 ––– H 06:53

H 06:31

L 12:33

H 06:48

Tide Information for Port Royal Plantation May 2019 May 2019 137

››Calendar

May 18

All Saints

HOSTS ANNUAL GARDEN TOUR

S

pring is in the air, and there’s no better way to see the season’s beauty than the All Saints Episcopal Church Garden Tour.

The 32nd annual event will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 18 and will feature seven private gardens in Spanish Wells, Hilton Head Plantation, Windmill Harbour, Belfair and Old Town Bluffton, as well as at Waddell Mariculture Center. Tickets are $35 and include lunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at All Saints Church. The church also will host a boutique and items for sale by Taylors Quality Landscape Supply & Nursery. Local artisans and Master Gardeners also will be on hand to answer questions.

Proceeds from the event will go to Backpack Buddies of Bluffton, Backpack Buddies of Hilton Head, Jasper Backpack Buddies, Hilton Head Island Safe Harbour, St. Stephen’s UMC Outreach Food Pantry, and The Literacy Center.

Tickets are available online until 11 a.m. May 17, as well as at several local businesses. All Saints Episcopal Church is located at 3001 Meeting St., Hilton Head Island. For more information, call 843-681-8333 or go to allsaintsgardentour.com.

138 hiltonheadmonthly.com

June 12-14

SANDBOX AT THE STABLES: The annual Sandbox children’s museum Memorial Day festival at Lawton Stables in Sea Pines includes pony rides, bounce house, crafts, i3 makerspace, Capt. Jack Sparrow and music. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. $5 for ages 1 and up. 190 Greenwood Drive, Hilton Head Island. For more information call 843-8427645 or go to thesandbox.org.

SAVE THE DATE June 4, 6, & 9 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: Join us for three hot summer nights.

Proceeds benefit Family Promise of Beaufort County, whose mission is to provide temporary shelter, family stability and permanent housing solutions for homeless families with children by mobilizing community resources. $25. 5 p.m., Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton.

June 10-14, July 8-12 STEAM TINKER CAMP: STEAM Summer Camp is an exciting and hands-on learning opportunity for youth, with a special emphasis on the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) curriculum areas. Campers will learn about concepts such as geometry, engineering, circuits, forces of motion, and simple machines, while creating projects like “Cranky Contraptions” and “Pendulum Paintings.” Session 1 (June 10-14) and Session 2 (July 8-12) will complete different projects. Ages 7-12. $130. 9 a.m.-noon, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-6863945, ext. 205 or artshhi.com.

JULIE SCHROEDER’S “WATERMEDIA & MORE, MIXING IT UP!” WORKSHOP: Art League Academy will hold a three-day workshop designed to introduce novice artists to different art media in an approachable and fun fashion, while allowing more experienced artists a chance for exploration and expansion. $315 for Art League of Hilton Head members; $350 for nonmembers; $75 for art materials kit. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Art League Academy, 106 Cordillo Parkway, Hilton Head Island.

843-842-5738 or artleaguehhi.org.

June 26-Aug. 4 “LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL”: A fabulously fun award-winning musical based on the adored movie. “Legally Blonde: The Musical” follows the transformation of beautiful and popular Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and obstacles in pursuit of her dreams. “Legally Blonde” is a blast for all ages. Tickets for preview performances on June 26-27 are $40 for adults; $27 for children ages 5-15. Tickets for shows June 28-Aug. 4 are $50 for adults and $37 for children ages 5-15. Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843686-3945, ext. 206 or artshhi.com.

June 17-21, July 15-19 TAKE THE STAGE! PERFORMING ARTS CAMP: Explore music, dance and drama in this one-week camp.

Students will work with professional artists in the Black Box Theatre and will be exposed to a variety of performing art forms. They will create a showcase performance at the end of the week. Session 1 runs June 17-21, Session 2 is July 15-19. $110.

10 a.m.-12:15 p.m. for ages 9-13; 12:45-3 p.m. for ages 6-8. Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843686-3945, ext. 205 or artshhi.com.

MIXED-UP MASTERPIECES VISUAL ARTS CAMP: Students will study folk and fine art

May 2019 139

››Calendar May 19

May 26

CELEBRATE MEXICAN HERITAGE AT MAY 19 FESTIVAL

S

alsa dancing, a taco competition and games for kids are just some of the fun activities planned for the seventh Cerveza Estrella Jalisco Fiesta de Mayo. This celebration of Mexican culture and heritage put on by La Isla magazine will be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 19 at Shelter Cove Community Park on Hilton Head Island.

Live music, cold beer, margaritas and food vendors from many Latin American countries will be on hand, and groups and businesses that support the Lowcountry’s Hispanic community will have booths throughout the festival. And don’t miss the Battle of the Tacos, which will determine the best taco in the region — attendees can taste them all and then vote for the best using the ticket they receive at the festival entrance. Come with an empty stomach and may the best taco win!

Cost is $7 per person; kids ages 10 and younger get in free. For more information, call 843-681-2393 or email andrea@laislamagazine.com.

“AMERICA SINGS”: Joining the Hilton Head Choral Society at the “America Sings” concert are the Hilton Head Shore Notes, Serenade Savannah Brass Quartet and a special guest speaker in an all-American tribute. Ticket prices range from $15 to $25. 7 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-341-3818.

from around the world during this week-long camp. Learning about these works of art will inspire both traditional and unusual 2-D and 3-D masterpieces. A showcase exhibit/reception will be held at the end of the week. Session 1 is June 17-21; Session 2 is July 15-19. $110. 10 a.m.12:15 p.m. for ages 6-8; 12:45-3 p.m. for ages 9-13. Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island.

843-686-3945, ext. 205 or artshhi.com.

June 22- 23 INAUGURAL HILTON HEAD ISLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL: Local Island favorites will be featured as well as new talent at the Hilton Head Island Music Festival. The two-day festival will feature 15 electrifying live performances that include a variety of local, state and regional acts and is expected to draw 1,000 to 1,500 attendees. Tickets are $59; children ages 12 and younger get in free. 3 p.m. Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island.

216-554-7366 or hhimusicfest.com.

July 11-12 MAY RIVER SHRIMP FESTIVAL: Entertainers scheduled to perform include Pinckney Island Boys and Groove Town

140 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Assault on July 11, with Bobby Magyarosi and The Hornan Brothers on July 12. $5; free for children ages 12 and younger. 5:30-9:30 p.m. July 11; 4:30-9:30 p.m. July 12. Bluffton Oyster Factory Park, 63 Wharf St., Bluffton.

843- 757-8520 or blufftonsunsetparty.com

ONGOING HARBOURFEST: An all-summer-long celebration that takes over Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina with fireworks, spinning hats, carnival games, face painting, music and the popular entertainment of Shannon Tanner and Cappy the Clown. The festival kicks off on Memorial Day weekend and runs through Labor Day. welcometosheltercove. com/calendar-of-events.

COASTAL DISCOVERY MUSEUM: The Coastal Discovery Museum offers nature and history tours, exhibits and talks. Some offerings are year-round; others change seasonally. Prices vary. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-6896767, ext. 223 or coastaldiscovery.org.

GARVIN-GARVEY HOUSE TOURS: Visit the newly restored Garvin-Garvey House for

a guided tour. $5. By appointment from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Oyster Factory Park, 63 Wharf St., Bluffton. townofbluffton. sc.gov/garvin-garvey.

FARMERS MARKET OF BLUFFTON: Fresh, locally grown vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants and herbs abound at the Farmers Market of Bluffton, a weekly community event where locals and tourists gather not only to buy excellent produce but also to enjoy delicious food, listen to entertainment, and relax with friends. 2-6 p.m.

Thursdays, 40 Calhoun St., Bluffton. 843-415-2447.

HILTON HEAD FARMERS MARKET: Take home fresh produce, pasture-raised chicken, free-range rabbit, pork, seafood, salsa, fresh sausage, cookies, breads, she-crab soup and much more. Shopping at the Hilton Head Farmers Market is about more than

getting great food. It is also about meeting friends, strengthening community, and rebuilding the local food economy. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays, Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-689-6767, ext. 226 or coastaldiscovery.org.

HISTORIC TOURS BY BICYCLE: Take a ride along the waterfront corridor of Squire Pope Road and learn about Hilton Head Island’s unique and rich history, including its Native American history, the Civil War, Reconstruction, the Gullah community and more. The tour lasts about 90 minutes and is safe, casual and fun. Helmets are required; bug spray and water are suggested. Bring your own bike. $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 10 and older. 10 a.m. Wednesdays, leaving from 137 Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head Island. heritagelib.org.

TEA TIME AT ROSE HILL MANSION: Experience afternoon

tea at a beautiful plantation house in the Lowcountry. Selections include custom crafted teas, elegant finger sandwiches and heavenly desserts.

Small groups or large groups welcome; reservations are required. $40 per person. 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Rose Hill Mansion, 199 Rose Hill Way, Bluffton. 843-757-6046.

ADULT PAINT AND PLAY: Paint and Play is an adult wine and paint night of fun entertainment for all skill levels — no experience needed.

Relax, unwind and let out your inner creativity as artist Kristin Griffis helps you create your own finished piece of artwork. Thursdays, Art League Academy, 106 Cordillo Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843842-5738 or artleaguehhi.org.

FISHING & CRABBING LESSONS: Ben Green with Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church on Squire Pope Road will offer a free missionary program that teaches children fishing and crabbing skills.

4 p.m. Saturdays, Rowing & Sailing Center, 137 Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head Island. 843-816-0172.

GUIDED TOURS OF HEYWARD HOUSE MUSEUM AND WELCOME CENTER: The museum offers guided tours of the fourroom Carolina farmhouse and two outbuildings, which are filled with interesting artifacts and furnishings from the late 1800s into the 1920s. Tours last approximately 45 minutes to an hour and are offered as visitors arrive unless previously scheduled. $10; reservations are not required except for groups of 10 or more. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Saturdays, Heyward House Museum and Welcome Center, 70 Boundary St., Bluffton. heywardhouse.org.

DEAS GUYZ AT THE JAZZ CORNER: $10. 7:30-11 p.m.

Sundays, The Jazz Corner, 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island.

May 2019 141

››Calendar June 7

THE MARKET: The Village at Wexford Market is once again offering local residents and visitors to the area the widest selection of the freshest produce, tasty treats, handcrafted goods and other locally inspired items to area residents and visitors in a unique Lowcountry setting.

Wednesdays through Sept. 4.

For more information about The Market at the Village at Wexford and a complete listing of vendors this season, “like” The Village at Wexford on Facebook.

Interested vendors can contact Michele at shoessox@aol.com.

POCKETS FULL OF SUNSHINE TO HOST BEACH DAY

P

ockets Full of Sunshine will host the 2019 Fun in the Sun for Everyone Day from 10 a.m. to noon June 7 in front of Marriott’s Surfwatch on Hilton Head Island.

Special-needs participants and their families of all ages and abilities are invited to join in this annual event on the beach in a safe and inclusive setting.

Activities will include paddle boarding, boogie boarding, surfing, beach games and relaxation. Lifeguards and volunteers will be included in the event to ensure a safe environment.

Adult or caregiver supervision is required for all attendees.

Shuttles from the parking lot to the beach will be provided. Beach access is wheelchair-accessible.

“Our mission is inclusion,” said Laurin Rivers, one of the founders of Pocketful of Sunshine. “We strongly believe that everyone deserves to be an active participant in their community, so we want this event to bring all the community together — to blend people of all ages, all abilities, and let everyone have a really fun day.”

Registration is requested by May 26 but can be taken until the day of the event. For more information, sponsorship opportunities and registration instructions, go to pocketsfullofsun.org.

142 hiltonheadmonthly.com

MONDAY NIGHT EXHIBITION: Enjoy an exciting tennis demonstration with valuable tips, refreshments, prize drawings, and a traditional fishbowl sale. Sponsored by Sea Pines Real Estate, Prince, Adidas and Wilson.

5:30-7:30 p.m. Mondays through Aug. 26, Sea Pines Racquet Club, 5 Lighthouse Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-363-4495.

Society’s library of films. These films were official submissions and finalists and in some cases won at the Beaufort International Film Festival from 2007-19. Free. 11:30 a.m. checkin, screenings begin at noon, Wednesdays, Technical College of the Lowcountry, 921 Ribaut Road, Building 12, Beaufort.

“JAZZ BY THE SEA”: Modern and classic jazz by the Mike Barbara Trio, featuring pianist Bill Peterson. 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Ocean Lounge, Sea Pines Beach Club, Hilton Head Island. 842-843-1888.

HISTORY CLASSES AT HERITAGE LIBRARY: $15 for Heritage Library members; $20 for non-members.

10:30 a.m.-noon Tuesdays, Heritage Library, 2 Corpus Christi Suite 100, Hilton Head Island. 843-686-6560.

ANCESTRY CLASSES AT HERITAGE LIBRARY: $15 for Heritage Library members; $20 for non-members.

12:30-2:30 p.m. The Heritage Library, 2 Corpus Christi Suite 100, Hilton Head Island. 843-686-6560.

“SHORTS AT HIGH NOON”: This collection features indie short films, student films and animation films included in the Beaufort Film

2019 HAUNTED HISTORY TOURS: Told in Hilton Head’s oldest and most haunted burial place, our stories have a macabre twist and are sure to raise the hair on your neck.

More history than horror, our tales involve real events that have occurred in Hilton Head’s 500 year history and real people who once lived here and are still reported to roam the Island from time to time. Tickets are required. $25 for adults; $20 for children ages 8 to 16. 8 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Zion Chapel of Ease Cemetery, 574 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-686-6560.

Don’t Miss These Upcoming Events

Ne two rk in g at N it e

M ay 1, 20 19 5: 30 PM - 7: 00 PM at Th e Gr in d

blufftonchamberofcommer ce.org

To purchase tickets go to MyLowcountrytix.com

››Dining

RECIPES BY CARRIE HIRSCH PHOTOS BY MINDY JO PHOTOGRAPHY

E

legant gourmet recipes would be great for Mother’s Day brunch. But they require cooking and grocery shopping skills that, in many households, are possessed exclusively by mom. Isn’t she supposed to get a break on her special Sunday?

More than expensive gifts, most mothers love spending time with their families and are touched when loved ones spend time on them.

Here’s an at-home breakfast menu that features simple extras such as fresh berries— not fancy techniques or hard-to-find ingredients — to make the dishes elegant enough to make mom feel special but easy enough for dads and kids to whip up.

144 hiltonheadmonthly.com

MOTHER’S DAY

Sunday Brunch MADE WITH LOVE

Fresh-Squeezed Tangelo Juice

NOTE: Tangelos, also known as honeybells, are derived from a grapefruit crossed with a mandarin orange and are juicy and sweet.

3 tangelos, halved Using a manual citrus juicer, juice each half, then pour juice into juice glass. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

May 2019 145

››Dining Ham & Egg Pesto Wrap 2 thin slices deli ham or smoked turkey 1 tablespoon butter 2 eggs, beaten with 1 tablespoon half-and-half 1 small tomato, seeded and cut into small cubes (reserve some for garnish) 2 tablespoons cheddar cheese, grated 2 tablespoons prepared basil pesto 2 tablespoons fresh spinach leaves, sliced into thin ribbons 2 toothpicks Salt & pepper to taste Arrange deli meat slices on a serving plate.

Melt the butter in a small nonstick skillet. Add eggs and cook, then divide and place in center of deli meat slices. Top with tomatoes, cheddar cheese and pesto. Fold the edges of the deli meat slices inward so the edges overlap and then secure with a toothpick. Garnish with spinach and tomato.

146 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Sparkling Fresh Fruit Yogurt Cup 1 small container plain Greek yogurt (approximately 5.2 ounces) 6 ripe strawberries, rinsed, stems trimmed and sliced into quarters 8 blueberries, rinsed 1 tablespoon honey 4 mint leaves, thinly sliced (save 1 whole leaf for garnish) ½ cup sparkling apple juice, prosecco or sparkling rosÊ Spoon half the strawberries and the blueberries into the bottom of a wine glass and top with half the yogurt. Repeat the layers. Sprinkle with mint and then drizzle with honey. Top with sparkling juice or wine. Customize, by adding additional berries or granola.

May 2019 147

››Dining news

ONE HOT MAMA’S COMING TO BLUFFTON A Hilton Head Island barbecue favorite is opening Bluffton location. One Hot Mama’s is expected to open in June in Berkeley Place, part of Bluffton’s Buckwalter, according to a Southeast Entertainment Restaurant Ground news release.

The restaurant, known for its slow-cooked barbecue, will occupy a 4,300-square-foot corner space adjacent to the Cinemark Bluffton movie theater.

Orchid Paulmeier will be the chef. One Hot Mama’s is owned by SERG, which expects to expand the lunch, dinner, catering and take-out offerings at the Bluffton location.

SERG BUYS 3 RESTAURANTS Three popular restaurants on Hilton Head Island’s south end have been acquired by Southeast Entertainment Restaurant Group.

SERG bought Charbar Co., Holy Tequila! and the recently opened Whiskey Room last month. The restaurants, all located in Park Plaza, were owned by 32-year-old entrepreneur Nick Bergelt’s company, HHI Hospitality.

SERG has no plans to make any staffing changes at the restaurants, according to a news release.

Bergelt said he has decided to focus on franchising his quick-service restaurants Stoner’s Pizza Joint and Healthy Habit, which will open in Park Plaza this summer.

In 2016, SERG was named the largest employer on Hilton Head Island with 764 employees. The restaurant group began with Giuseppi’s Pizza & Pasta in 1984 and today owns 17 restaurants across Hilton Head and Bluffton.

148 hiltonheadmonthly.com

SEAFOOD MARKET TO OPEN IN BLUFFTON A wholesale seafood market is coming to Red Cedar Street in Bluffton this summer, when the Russo family of Savannah will open of a 4,050-square-foot production facility and wholesale market called Russo’s Fresh Seafood.

The company currently provides fish for local restaurants including Barnacle Bill’s Fresh Seafood, Charlie’s L’Etoile Verte, Coast Oceanfront Dining, ELA’s On the Water, The Lucky Rooster Kitchen + Bar, Poseidon Coastal Cuisine, Skull Creek Boathouse, Red Fish Restaurant and WiseGuys.

In Bluffton, Russo’s fish is served at The Cottage Café, Bakery & Tea Room; HogsHead Kitchen and Wine Bar; May River Grill; Mi Tierra Mexican Restaurant; The Pearl Kitchen & Bar; and Savory Cafe and Provisions.

Eventually, Russo hopes to expand the Bluffton location from a wholesale and production facility to include a retail shop.

BAD BISCUIT TO OPEN ON HILTON HEAD Hilton Head Island will soon have its own restaurant dedicated to biscuits.

Located on Dunnagans Alley, Bad Biscuit is owned by Dave Peck — owner of A Lowcountry Backyard, a Southern-style restaurant on the south end of Hilton Head. Bad Biscuit will be a fast-casual restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating where customers order from a counter. It will be open for breakfast and lunch, serving up Southern comfort food with a creative twist. The restaurant is opening this spring.

MAY RIVER COFFEE ROASTERS LAUNCHES CBD-INFUSED BREW

Bluffton-based micro-roastery May River Coffee Roasters has launched a line of CBD-infused gourmet coffees. The CBDC coffees, which each contain 350 milligrams of CBD, are available in three flavors as well as regular and decaf and can be purchased at The Juice Hive & Hemp Emporium and The Cottage Café, Bakery & Tea Room.

MARSHIDE MAMA’S SITE TO GET NEW LIFE

A firm is proposing a restaurant named Slapfish for the half-acre site once home to The Pantry gas station and convenience story on the corner of Arrow Road. The restaurant describes itself as a “modern seafood shack.” David Ramsey presented plans for 153 Arrow Road to the Town of Hilton Head Island’s design review board in March.

PHOTO BY ROB KAUFMAN

NEW SEAFOOD RESTAURANT PROPOSED FOR ARROW ROAD

Pointed Feather LLC has submitted a bid to open a restaurant in the previous Marshside Mama’s on Daufuskie Island. Marshside Mama’s closed more than a year ago, leaving the county-owned building empty. The proposed restaurant would be family-friendly and potentially serve pizza. Charles Huggins, owner of Pointed Feather, indicated the restaurant would be run by his son, who has worked at several restaurants in the area. The contract still requires final approval from Beaufort County Council.

May 2019 149

The Smokehouse

By Dean Rowland

Staying power in the restaurant business on Hilton Head Island requires a smorgasbord of ingredients. Tenacity and consistency probably top the list, along with great customer service, high quality food, a loyal staff, a friendly vibe, a refreshing and inviting environment, and amenities for enjoying two hours or three with friends and family on game day or any day. Add a daily happy hour with a bar menu, live music, Sunday brunch and catering…and, fresh from the smoker, you have The Smokehouse at 34 Palmetto Bay Road.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary of serving locals and tourists the best baby-back ribs and chicken wings this side of the ocean, The Smokehouse began at the corner of Coligny Circle across from the beach in 1999. Surrounded by the public parking lot, the town bought the property early in the early 2000s and owner Jerry Leonard was on notice for years that he eventually would have to move.

So he bought the building and property that was then called Sticky Fingers in 2009 on Palmetto Bay Road, after two previous tenants failed to establish a foothold at that location.

He opened his relocated Smokehouse in 2010 after a major renovation and it’s been successful ever since. Staying power, indeed.

“My goal is to make my customers happy,” said Leonard, who has been an islander for 30 years. “I like cold beer, good ribs, good TVs, nice music, and a clean environment.”

The restaurant’s longevity is rare on the island. But good things happen to a restaurant when it is good, really good.

“We’ve been strong in the community ever since we’ve been here,” he said.

P

A

R

T

N

E

R

P

R

O

M

O

T

I

O

N

Restaurants Brought to you by Monthly, Fork & Fun and Vacation Guide

Our Favorite

Hilton Head – North End

Il Carpaccio nG

200A Museum St. (Across from Walmart) 843.342.9949

CocoNutz Sportz Bar Ga

40 Folly Field Road HHI Beach & Tennis Resort 843.842.0043

Open to the public. Imagine your favorite sporting events shown on dual 125” high-definition screens and 18 other TV’s tuned in to every sporting event imaginable.

That’s what you will find at CocoNutz. If you get hungry, try the “Island’s Best Wings,” 1st place at Wingfest 2017, craft burgers and brews, prime rib.

Serving a wide variety of authentic Italian cuisine, ranging from cuisine of Northern Italy to genuine crispy, thin-crust, Italian-style pizza. Casual, attractive restaurant, with large, attractive bar and a genuine brick oven (imported from Italy) for baking pizza.

Reilley’s North End Pub nGa

95 Mathews Dr. (Port Royal Plaza) 843.681.4153 | reilleysnorth.com

An island institution, Reilley’s has been serving up steaks, seafood, pasta & sandwiches for more than 35 years. Kids eat free Tuesdays with an adult entrée.

Crazy Crab Jarvis Creek nG Hwy. 278 (near Mile Marker 1) 843.681.5021 | thecrazycrab.com

A Hilton Head tradition for over 30 years, enjoy genuine service and fresh seafood. Menu feature crab clusters, local oysters, seafood “your way,” fresh local shrimp.

Plantation Center (Hwy. 278, near Palmetto Dunes) 843.341.3117 | alfredshiltonhead.com Longtime island chef Alfred Kettering's cuisine combines many appealing elements of classic Continental and authentic German cuisine. Casually elegant seating, plus a chef’s counter overlooking the open kitchen.

Reservations recommended.

Big Jim’s BBQ, Burgers & Pizza nG 7 Trent Jones Ln. (Palmetto Dunes) 855.878.1966 | palmettodunes.com/big-jims Big Jim’s offers signature Southern dishes, gourmet burgers, pizzas, soups, salads, seafood, steaks and ribs. Open daily for breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Street Meet: The American Tavern nGa

Port Royal Plaza 843.842.2570 | streetmeethhi.com

Street Meet specializes in homemade versions of regional American bar food. Best Wings, Fish & Chips, Homemade Soups, Salads, Vegetarian Menu, Seafood.

Gator’z Pizza G

40 Folly Field Road HHI Beach & Tennis Resort 843.842.0043 Be sure to stop by Gator’z Pizza and order the “Bigly” MEGA Pizza. It’s 400 square inches of pizza perfection! These delicious pizzas are available for both dine in and take out.

ELA’S Blu Water Grille n G

Hilton Head – Mid-Island

Old Fort Pub G}

Alexander’s Restaurant & Wine Bar G

65 Skull Creek Drive 843.681.2386 | OldFortPub.com

76 Queens Folly Rd. (Palmetto Dunes) 843.785.4999 | alexandersrestaurant.com

Dine indoors or on the patio, enjoy beautiful views of the Intracoastal Waterway. The only AAA Four Diamond Restaurant on Hilton Head. (Won 11 times!) Reservations Recommended.

Menu uses seasonal ingredients with a strong emphasis on seafood while paying homage to Alexander’s original favorites. Dinner from 5–10pm daily.

g BREAKFAST 152 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Alfred’s Restaurant G

n LUNCH G DINNER

1 Shelter Cove Ln. (Shelter Cove) 843-785-3030 | elasgrille.com Fresh catch seafood and prime cut steaks of the highest quality, artfully prepared by their team of culinary experts, compliment the extensive boutique wine selection. Overlooking Shelter Cove marina and Broad Creek, ELA’S offers the island’s best water views. Reservations recommended.

} SUNDAY BRUNCH a OPEN LATE

Fishcamp on Broad Creek nGa

11 Simmons Road (Adjacent to Broad Creek Marina) 843.842.2267 | fishcamphhi.com Fishcamp’s menu consists of seafood and American cuisine, including steak and lobster. They have an outdoor bar and open patio. Family friendly.

The French Bakery & Courtyard Café gn 28 Shelter Cove Ln. 843.342.5420 | frenchbakeryhiltonhead.com

Have breakfast or lunch inside or outdoors in this bakery/café.

Enjoy crepes, omelets, breads, baguette & panini sandwiches, salads, soups, quiches & pastries. Traditional French recipes.

Island Bagel & Deli gn

S. Island Square 843.686.3353 | islandbagelanddeli.com The island's only New York style boiled bagels made daily.

Choose from 16 flavors of bagels, 12 home-made cream cheeses. For lunch: specialty hoagies, classic sandwiches & salads.

Jamaica Joe’z Beach Bar nG

40 Folly Field Rd. (Mid-island) 843.842.0043 | hhibeachandtennis.com Open 7 days. Steps from the beach and a great place to kick back, snack on some pork nachos or a burger, and cool off with a frozen cocktail,cold beer or a soft drink.

Jane Bistro & Bar nG

28 Shelter Cove Lane

(Shelter Cove Towne Centre)

843.686.5696 | janehhi.com Serving classic bistro fare with Lowcountry influences. Favorites include the jumbo lump crab cakes, pecan cranberry chicken salad, crispy flounder and petit filet mignon with pommes frites. Open daily.

Mediterranean Harbour Bar & Grill nGa Shelter Cove Harbour 843.842.9991 | mediterraneanharbour.com

Simon Mikhael has brought Lebanese cuisine to Hilton Head.

Most dishes are grilled or baked, ingredients include lemon, garlic, parsley, olive oil & spices. Enjoy their indoor and outdoor seating with a bar. Open daily.

Old Oyster Factory Ga

101 Marshland Rd. 843.681.6040 | OldOysterFactory.com Panoramic marsh and water views. Specializing in fresh seafood and some of the best steaks on Hilton Head. featured in The Wall Street Journal's “Off the Beaten Track.” Wine Spectator magazine’s “Award of Excellence.”

San Miguel’s nG 9 Harbourside Ln. (Shelter Cove Harbour) 843.842.4555 | sanmiguels.com Located directly on the harbour at Shelter Cove and provides good food and fun. Extensive California/Mexican menu. Try San Miguel’s Fish Tacos, fajitas and chimichangas. Lunch and dinner served daily.

May 2019 153

››Dining | Favorites Santa Fe Cafe nG

807 William Hilton Parkway (Plantation Center by Palmetto Dunes)

843.785.3838 santafecafeofhiltonhead.com Casually elegant dining that captures the spirit of New Mexico. Signature items include Parmesan Chipotle Grouper, 24-ounce bone-in ribeye steaks, fajitas , & Painted Desert Soup.

Sea Grass Grille G

807 William Hilton Parkway

culinary expertise. More than 50 wines by the glass. Winner of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence.

Up the Creek Pub & Grill nGa 18 Simmons Rd. (Broad Creek Marina) 843.681.3625 | upthecreekpubandgrill.com Located on Broad Creek with great marina and water views. Known for smoked wings, hush puppies, buffalo chicken dip, beer selection and the best burgers. Kids menu available. Dogs are welcome.

(Plantation Center by Palmetto Dunes)

843.785.9990 | seagrassgrille.com American and Lowcountry Continental cuisine. Chef Chad brings 38 years of hands-on

Hilton Head – South End Aunt Chilada’s Easy Street Café nG 69 Pope Avenue 843.785.7700 | auntchiladashhi.com Excellent Tex-Mex and American fare. Enjoy the all-you-can-eat crab legs, sizzling fajitas, & margaritas. Reservations & large parties welcome. Private dining/event area.

Live entertainment (seasonally) on the covered patio.

Big Bamboo n G a

Catch 22 G 37 New Orleans Rd. (Orleans Plaza near Sea Pines Circle)

843.785.6261 | catch22hhi.com Catch 22 is locally owned. Dinner is served nightly from 5 p.m. Early Dining Menu from 5:00– 6:00 p.m. All of our beef is aged 28 days, U.S.D.A prime, hand selected and cut in house.

1 N. Forest Beach Dr. Coligny Plaza 843.686.3443 | bigbamboocafe.com

ChowDaddy’s nG

Where the South Pacific meets the Carolina Coast just steps from the beach. A casual hangout with a local vibe serving burgers, seafood and festive libations. Come for the food, stay for the live entertainment!

Offering a wide variety of menu items focusing on buns, bowls, and tacos and great libations.

Serving lunch & dinner daily.

British Open Pub n G

Village at Wexford 843.686.6736 | thebritishopenpub.com Family friendly pub style restaurant with authentic English food with American favorites and certified Angus beef. Try the signature fish and chips or their shepherd’s pie, steak & mushroom pie, lobster pot pie and bangers & mash.

154 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Maine lobster, & crab legs. Pet-friendly outside bar & patio.

14b Executive Park Rd. (off of Pope Ave.) 843.757.CHOW(2469) | chowdaddys.com

Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse G 1000 William Hilton Parkway, B-6 843.715.3565 cowboybraziliansteakhouse.com

A unique, all-you-can eat “Churrascaria.”

Enjoy a 30 item salad bar, 6 Brazilian hot dishes and a “parade” of 16 USDA Prime cuts of beef, lamb, chicken and pork carved at your table by their gauchos.

Carolina Crab Company nG 86 Helmsman Way 843.842.2016 | carolinacrabco.com

CQ’s Restaurant nG 140 Lighthouse Rd. 843.671.2779 | CQsRestaurant.com

Boasting water views, enjoy fresh seafood at an affordable price in a family-friendly atmosphere. Offering an array of seafood; peel-n-eat shrimp, giant Po Boys, burgers,

Fine dining, an intimate atmosphere and a bit of Hilton Head history. Signature dishes include fresh seafood, beef & game.“Bistro” menu offers smaller portions.

Dough Boys Pizza nG 1 New Orleans Rd. 843.686.2697 | DoughBoysHHI.com House-made crusts: traditional hand tossed, thin crust and thick Sicilian. Create-Your-Own-Chopped Salad from 40 different item choices. Specialty subs are served on Amoroso rolls.

FISH Seafood & Raw Bar G Captain Woody’s n G a 6 Target Rd. (off of Palmetto Bay Rd.) 843.785.2400

Charlie’s L’Etoile Verte G 8 New Orleans Road 843.785.9277 | charliesgreenstar.com

Enjoy “Fresh Seafood, Cold Beer & Great Happy Hour & Still A Locals Favorite For Over 30 Years!” Dine inside or outside on the patio. Serving a variety of fresh seafood, sandwiches, award winning soups and salads all at affordable prices.

Open since 1982, Charlie’s, an island favorite among locals and tourists alike, writes its menu daily based on the freshest seafood available. Dinner menu offers an array of 14 fresh fish, rack of lamb, filet mignon and more. An extensive wine list.

Crane’s Tavern Steakhouse & Seafood G

26 New Orleans Rd. 843.341.2333 | cranestavern.com

Perfect for steak and seafood lovers, serving cuts of only USDA Prime grade beef, their Famous Prime Rib. Excellent selection of fresh fish, seafood & pasta dishes.

Crazy Crab Harbour Town nG Sea Pines at Harbour Town 843.363.2722 | thecrazycrab.com Genuine service and fresh seafood; a Hilton Head tradition for over 30 years! Menus feature crab clusters, local oysters, seafood “your way,” local shrimp and more. Dine in the heart of Sea Pines at Harbour Town.

1 N Forest Beach Dr. (Coligny Plaza) 843.342.3474 | gofishhhi.com

FISH Seafood & Raw Bar places a premium on sourcing seafood from local sources and lightly preparing it with a respect for regional foodways and Lowcountry culinary history.

Flatbread Grill & Bar nG

2 N. Forest Beach Dr. (Beach Market Center) 843.341.2225 | flatbreadgrillhhi.com Upscale, casual dining. Enjoy Neapolitan pizza, fresh pasta, gourmet salads, burgers, wraps, flatbread sandwiches and more. Dough & sauces are freshly made.

Frosty Frog Cafe & Pizza nGa Coligny Plaza 843.686.FROG | frostyfrog.com

Dine inside or out on the large patio w/retractable roof. Enjoy daiquiris, wine, beer & a full liquor bar; menu includes burgers, crabcakes, salads, wraps, pizza, calzones, crab legs, shrimp, extensive gluten-free options & a kids menu.

May 2019 155

››Dining | Favorites Delisheeyo n G

32 Palmetto Bay Road 843.785.3633 | delisheeeyo.com Vegetarian. Delisheeyo owner Blake Wearren set out to create a place for people to escape for lunch.

The fruit and veggie smoothies are a quick meal by themselves. Their Buddha Bowls, consisting of steamed grain and healthy toppings of your choice, is a favorite of the regulars. Delisheeyo’s mission is to provide meals that you can trust, that are real, and healthy.

Gusto Ristorante G 890 William Hilton Parkway GustoHiltonHead.com

noodle dishes, tempura, and daily specials, plus sushi and sashimi. More than 20 entrées.

Reservations are recommended for dinner.

Voted Hilton Head's Best New Restaurant.

Executive chef/owner Giancarlo Balestra and his wife Nancy bring the flavors of his hometown of Rome Italy to Hilton Head. Early dining specials by 5:00pm. Closed Monday.

Fresh Market Plaza.

It’s Greek To Me nGa

Hickory Tavern nGa

843.802.0010 | thehickorytavern.com A place where the neighborhood is drawn by a lively bar, great food and a passion for sports and entertainment. Hickory Tavern is the perfect place for a business lunch, or lunch with the girls. Celebrate the day's victories at Happy Hour.

Hilton Head Diner gnGa Hwy. 278 at Yacht Cove Dr. 843.686.2400 | hiltonheaddiner.com One of the island’s only 24-hour restaurants.

Modern diner boasting one of Hilton Head’s most extensive menus. All baking is done on the premises. Beer, wine & mixed drinks available. breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

Hinchey’s Chicago Bar & Grill n Ga 70 Pope Avenue 843.686.5959 | hincheys.com Hinchey’s has much in common with a sports bar, but is very much a restaurant, too. It is casual, with beach-goers invited to stop by for lunch, or for drinks or dinner.

Dine inside or out. Open seven days a week serving lunch and dinner.

Hinoki Restaurant & Sushi Bar nG 37 New Orleans Rd. (Orleans Plaza) 843.785.9800 | hinokihhi.com Serving traditional Japanese dishes including grilled fish, chicken and steak, sukiyaki, 156 hiltonheadmonthly.com

11 Lagoon Rd. 843.842.4033 | itsgreektomehhi.com Genuine Greek cuisine, from gyros to fried calamari to souvlaki to baklava for dessert. Food is prepared with authentic Greek recipes and they have the only gyro machines on the island.

Greek beer and ouzo. Reservations accepted.

Kenny B’s Cajun/Creole Seafood gnG} 70-A Pope Ave. 843.785.3315 “Creole cuisine with a Lowcountry influence.” Order New Orleans traditions such as jambalaya, red beans and rice, and authentic gumbos. Kenny B’s is home of the Island’s best po’ boys and fried seafood.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch.

Michael Anthony’s G

37 New Orleans Rd. (Orleans Plaza) 843.785.6272 | michael-anthonys.com Family owned and operated since 2002, Michael Anthony’s offers upscale classic Italian fine dining featuring innovative preparations and farm fresh ingredients. Open Table rates them as one of the country's Top 50 Italian Restaurants. Dinner is served Monday - Saturday. Reservations suggested.

Nick’s Steak & Seafood G 9 Park Lane 843.686.2920 | nickssteakandseafood.com Nick’s Steak & Seafood emphasizes steaks, seafood and barbecue and offers sandwiches, salads, appetizers, soups, burgers, pasta and a children’s menu. Reservations accepted. Large parties welcome.

Stack’s Pancakes & More g n G

2 Regency Pkwy. & Hwy. 278 843.341.3347

Family owned & operated, serving breakfast & lunch, 7 days. Enjoy pancakes, waffles, house-made fruit sauces, crepes, Crème Brûlée French Toast, shrimp & grits, crab benedict, shrimp omelet topped with lobster cream sauce.

Gluten free items.

Local Pie n G 55 New Orleans Rd. 843.842.PIES | localpie.com Chefs Lee Lucier, Jack McNulty and partner JR Richardson are oven-fired pizza aficionados. The custom pizza ovens are designed to make pizzas with thin, crisp, crusts - Neapolitan-style pizza using ‘double 00’ flour. Their duck prosciutto, bacon, sausages, as well as fresh-water mozzarella are all made in-house. Large screen TV’s, a sprawling 800-foot deck with a bar.

Palmetto Bay Sun Rise Café gn

Palmetto Bay Marina 843.686.3232 | palmettobaysunrisecafe.com Breakfast fare starting before the sun rises, from 6 a.m.

Breakfast and lunch items are available continuously. The cafe offers to-go lunches for charter boats, the beach or any other occasion. Open seven days a week.

Phillys Cafe & Deli n 55 New Orleans Rd. 843.785.9966 | phillyscafe.com

Stellini G

Ombra Cucina Italiana G

15 Executive Park Rd. (near Sea Pines Circle) 843.785.7006 | stellinihhi.com

1000 William Hilton Parkway (Village at Wexford) 843.842.5505 | ombrahhi.com

Family owned & operated since 1989! Popular Italian appetizers and entrees from NY & Northern NJ. Delicious pasta, poultry, veal, seafood, beef and lamb all expertly prepared. Gluten Free & Children’s Menu.

Chef Michael Cirafesi promotes the foods & wines of Italy. He prepares all pastas, homemade gnocchi, desserts and breads daily. An extensive wine list from every region in Italy. A European-style bar & lounge with a vast selection of Italian cocktails. Peanut-free.

Gluten-free pasta available. Open 7 days a week from 4:30. Reservations recommended, walk-ins welcome.

The Studio G 20 Executive Park Road 843.785.6000 | studiodining.com Dine while enjoying watching artists paint in the elegant studio. The menu is inspired by American and global cuisines and uses the finest regional, natural & organic ingredients.

Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan menu offerings.

The Ice Cream Cone

1 N. Forest Beach Dr. 843.785.4440 | colignyicecreamcone.com Serving the finest and best selection of ice creams, softserve yogurts, sorbets, shakes, malts, floats, old-fashioned sodas, sundaes, and so much more!

Truffles nG Sea Pines Center 843.671.6136 | trufflescafe.com Fresh local seafood, Black Angus steaks, baby back ribs, homemade soups, sandwiches, and garden salads. Specialties include glazed grouper, mango salmon, crab cakes, chipotle chicken, meatloaf and fried shrimp. Daily from 11am.

Locally owned and operated for more than 25 years, Phillys’ motto is “Best sandwiches on the island...Period!” Custom sandwiches with bread baked fresh daily. The pita wraps and salads are both imaginative and health-conscious.

Reilley’s Grill & Bar nGa

7D Greenwood Dr. (Reilley’s Plaza) 843.842.4414 | reilleyshiltonhead.com Reilley’s has been serving up steaks, seafood, pasta & sandwiches for more than 35 years. Lunch & dinner daily, & Sunday brunch. The bar is open late. Enjoy Mon.Night Lobster and Fri. & Sat. Prime Rib (reservations required).

Rockfish Seafood & Steaks at Bomboras G a

5 Lagoon Road 843.689.2662 | rockfishhhi.com

A unique family seafood restaurant and bar that is located right near the beach. Offering fresh and local lowcounty ingredients paired with craft beers and wines. Kids menu. Lunches to Go for the beach.

Sea Shack nG

6 Executive Park Rd. (off Pope Ave.) 843.785.2464 | seashackhhi.com Serving up one of the island’s most extensive menus of seafood & more. Voted one of "South Carolina’s best seafood spots" by Coastal Living and Southern Living. Open Mon.Sat. for lunch & dinner.

May 2019 157

››Dining | Favorites Twisted Cork n G

11 Palmetto Bay Road, #102 (next to Staples) 843.802.0510 Open Monday through Saturday, 5-11 p.m.

A local cocktail and wine bar. You can find it in Festival Center Plaza, near the Sea Pines Circle.

BLUFFTON

Vine G Coligny Plaza Shopping Center 1 N Forest Beach Drive 843.686.3900 From marinated octopus to field greens from nearby St. George, the offerings at this intimate bistro are a treat for all. Mediterranean cuisine with a hint of Asian fusion.

Reservations. Dinner starting at 5:30 p.m.

Agave Side Bar nG

The Bluffton Room Ga

A fun laid-back Southwest Tex-Mex Patrón margarita and taco bar specializing in authentic tacos and smooth margaritas.

Happy Hour daily 4-6pm, Taco Tuesdays.

Indoor & Outdoor seating.

Well crafted cocktails and table-side preparations evoke the feeling of a lively dinner party. Dine Tuesday - Saturday for dinner or cocktails. Fridays, they serve a special New Orleans style lunch from 11am to 2pm.

Intended as an adult dining experience.

Amigos, Bluffton nG

British Open Pub nGa

Authentic Mexican taqueria, serving delicious food “inspired by Mexican cuisine from Baja, Mexico, to Santa Barbara, California.” Owner Andrew Farbman created Amigos’ famous BBQ Chicken Salad.

Amigos uses the finest ingredients.

Pub-style restaurant featuring authentic English food. Excellent signature fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, steak and mushroom pie, and bangers and mash. Also wide selection of American appetizers and entrées. Lunch & dinner daily.

13 State of Mind St. 843.757.9190

843.757.3525 | theblufftonroom.com

133 Belfair Town Village 843.815.8226

Sheridan Park 843.815.6736 | britishopenpub.net

Bluffton Brauhaus G 68 Bluffton Rd. 843.757.3334

Brothers Alfred and Volker Kettering offer German classics, like Wiener schnitzel, sauerbraten, roasted duckling with spaetzle and red cabbage. A “Bratwurst Experience” with Thüringer-, Nürnberger- and Müenchner-style sausages, as well as salads, vegetables and fish dishes. 20 beers on tap and bottled beers. Serving dinner only, from 4 p.m. daily.

Calhoun Street Tavern nGa

9 Promenade St. 843.757.4334 | calhounstreettavern.co A place where fine spirits are drunk, laughs are had, and stories are told. Cold beer, classic cocktails, and familiar faces paired with a chef driven menu of southern plates and comforting lowcountry classic food.

ChowDaddy’s nG

15 Towne Dr. (Belfair Towne Village) 843.757.CHOW(2469) | chowdaddys.com Focusing on buns, bowls, and tacos and great libations. Enjoy salads, sliders, a house ground rib eye burger, or their famous smoked fried chicken. Serving lunch & dinner daily.

158 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Cinco Mexican Grill nG

102 Buckwalter Parkway, Suite 3D

(Berkeley Place)

843.815.2233 | cincomexgrill.com Authentic Mexican cuisine made from scratch using both traditional and modern recipes. Popular dishes are the Cinco Bowl, Piña Fajitas, Carnitas, Enchiladas, Chimichangas, Flautas and flan.

Hinchey’s Chicago Bar & Grill nGa 104 Buckwalter Place 843.836.5959 | hincheys.com

Captain Woody’s n G a

17 State of Mind St. (Calhoun Street Promenade) 84.757.6222 Enjoy “Fresh Seafood, Cold Beer & Great Happy Hour & Still A Locals Favorite For Over 30 Years!” They have dining inside and outside on the patio. A big outdoor deck bar featurs beer, wine and specialty cocktails.

Captain Woody’s serves fresh seafood, great signature sandwiches, award winning soups and salads all at affordable prices.

Corner Perk gn 843.816.5674 | cornerperk.com A coffeehouse /brunch restaurant where city meets South. Corner Perk offers the most amazing locally roasted Coffees, Teas, Espresso drinks, Cold Brew, Frappes as well as Skillets, Omelettes, Wraps, Sandwiches, and Salads.

Delectable Desserts by Russ g }

4376 Bluffton Parkway, Suite 202 843.422.9702

Russ Gardiner's bakery offers daily specials in addition to regular favorites like cannoli, cinnamon rolls and several types of bread. Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays.

Closed on Tuesdays.

Hinchey’s has much in common with a sports bar, but is very much a restaurant, too. It is casual, with beachgoers invited to stop by for lunch, or for drinks or dinner.

Dine inside or out. Open seven days a week.

Island Bagel & Deli gn

17 Sherington Dr. 843.815.5300 | islandbagelanddeli.com The island's only New York style boiled bagels made from scratch daily. Choose from 16 flavors of bagels, 12 home-made cream cheeses, pastries & breakfast sandwiches. For lunch: specialty hoagies, classic sandwiches & salads.

Nonna Lucia nG}

5 Godfrey Place 843.837.4554

Recently under new ownership. Family owned and operated. Nonna Lucia offers an extensive wine list, happy hour, early dining & nightly specials. The lunch menu offers authentic Italian dishes as well as 1/2 lb grilled burgers and sandwiches. Open daily at Noon.

Olive & Fig nG

1533 Fording Island Road, Suite 326

(Moss Creek Village)

843.605.4093 Olive & Fig provides guests with a unique opportunity to experience authentic Mediterranean cuisine. The menu features Lebanese and Greek dishes alongside traditional Mediterranean fare, and gluten free and vegetarian options. Open Mon-Sat Closed Sundays.

The Pearl Kitchen + Bar nG

55 Calhoun Street 843.757.5511

Local Pie nG Promenade 843.837.PIES | www.localpie.com Chefs Lee Lucier, Jack McNulty and partner JR Richardson are oven-fired pizza aficionados. The custom pizza ovens are designed to make pizzas with thin, crisp, crusts - Neapolitan-style pizza using ‘double 00’ flour.

Their duck prosciutto, bacon, sausages, as well as freshwater mozzarella are all made in-house. Lunch, happy hour, dinner & late night.

Focused on a complete sensory experience offering fresh, “clean-eating,” contemporary food preparations utilizing the best fresh catch seafood, certified steaks and local produce available. Open for Sunday brunch, lunch & dinner.

Truffles nG Belfair Towne Village 843.815.5551 | trufflescafe.com Casual cafe featuring the “freshest and finest of everything!” Fresh local seafood, Black Angus steaks, baby back ribs, homemade soups and garden salads. Covered patio. Lunch, dinner daily. Full cocktail bar. Happy hour from 4-6.

May 2019 159

››Last Call

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE RITTERBECK

Amazon’s “Alexa” forgot to tell you that she listens to all your conversations.

Marc Frey – media entrepreneur mfrey@freymedia.com

Amazon paid no federal income tax in 2018.

Google pays executives accused of sexual harassment $135 million to exit the company.

Facebook withheld information about Russian election influence on its platform.

The combined wealth of the founders of the above companies is larger than the bottom half of all Americans.

160 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Who will be controlling your mind?

W

e can all agree that monopolies are only good for the company that has achieved dominance.

We can all agree that Google, Facebook and Amazon hold virtual monopolies on search, social media and online shopping, respectively, and combined are the main provider of news to a majority of Americans.

Each of these brands is so large, so wealthy, so influential and so dominant that it is virtually uncontrollable. As such, these brands act as global entities that hover almost above all laws — shifting money around to avoid taxes, buying up competing entities to stifle innovation, taking advantage of the people that work for them, tricking consumers into giving up their privacy, dismissing parental (or congressional) supervision with an attitude, and paying fines imposed by regulatory bodies like the European Union with a shrug of the shoulders.

There are three things that makes these monopolies so dangerous: They are unavoidable, they are greedy and they want to own your mind.

The founders of these companies did not start with an evil plan to control the world; they started out trying to make the world better and simply took advantage of the capitalistic system.

An English journalist recently did a real-life, five-month test to see if it is possible to avoid these tech giants, even adding Apple and Microsoft to the list.

What she found is that it is achievable, but incredibly awkward. And while it is possible to avoid three out of the five giants, it is nearly impossible to avoid all five if you want to life a modern, connected life.

These behemoths are dangerous because they are almost unavoidable, and they continue to infiltrate more and more spaces and will do anything possible to get another sliver of our privacy and our pockets. They no longer act with good intentions; they have become greedy and power-hungry for a simple reason: They can, and they feel they must. They will continue to relentlessly offer us reasons

to use their services, like free email, just so they can become a more dominant part of our lives. The biggest assets for these companies are the number of users they have for each of their offerings and all the information they gather about us: where we live, how and when we move, what we buy, what we write, what we say, what we watch, etc. So, what would make these users even more valuable?

Facebook runs “fake news tests” without users’ permission to study the outcome.

Google summarizes news so that users don’t have to go to the source of the information.

The answer is control of the mind: These brands are hoping to influence what we think, how we vote and our next move, purchase or action. In other words, they no longer want to rely on recording the facts after they happened. They want to anticipate and influence these actions in real time, which would make their data a lot more valuable.

If you think this is too far-fetched, think again. What is stopping these companies from using artificial intelligence to increase their profitability, increase their market share thanks to our addiction to their services, and increase their influence over all of us?

You can think of it in another way: Citizens in communist China or the “free” United States might soon be very similarly controlled just by two different systems: one state sponsored and one self-administrated. The result will be similar. George Orwell’s “1984” was right: “We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means; it is an end.”