cover notes
The image on our cover is from 'Moments of Stillness,' featuring work by Carol Dulude, coming to the Society of Bluffton Artists Gallery in June. For more information, see our story on page 10.
yWeekly
May 6 – May 19, 2026
ro w c o unt
LFounding Publisher and Patron Saint: Jeff Evans
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May 24, 2026 • 7:00
Join the Hilton Head Choral Society in honoring the brave men & women of our Armed Services who served valiantly to protect the freedoms we enjoy today.
In honor of America's 250 years of independence, this inspiring program will feature special guest musicians Category V Brass & keynote speaker James (Jim) F. Berl. Performers from the Lean Ensemble Theater will present dramatic readings of authentic correspondence from American service members in a moving & uplifting grand nale to the Choral Society's 50th anniversary season.
In Memory of Bob Gaddis
With Category V Brass from Columbia, SC
Dr. Dustin Ousley, Artistic Director
On getting my buntings back
After my husband died last September, I kind of let some things go. And I’m not just talking about my hair.
I was suddenly so encumbered with enormous new responsibilities – and drowning under so much paperwork – I fell down on some of the little duties that might have sustained me, even brought me joy, through that terrible period.
One, in particular? Birding. While I kept my feeders full – sort of – my efforts were perfunctory. Rote. I was just going through the motions. I didn’t really watch the birds, didn’t follow fall migration, didn’t use my Merlin app to identify the various warbles wafting through my yard. I barely even heard them.
I was always too tired, too frantic, or too numb to notice. And then winter came, and by the time my workday finally ended, it was too dark to sit outside.
Blah blah blah. Excuses, excuses. The point is, I dropped the ball on my birds.
And, reader, I got my comeuppance!
A few weeks ago, I started noticing posts on Facebook, captivating photos with captions like the following:
“I know it’s spring, because the painted buntings are back!”
“The painted buntings have returned! Hallelujah!”
“Look at this beauty! God broke the mold when He made the painted bunting!”
So many posts. So many photos. So many painted buntings…
And I hadn’t seen a single one in my yard.
A little history: When I first started watching birds, many years ago, the painted bunting was my white whale. I know that’s a weird label to slap on a tiny, technicolor land creature, but you know what I mean. I was obsessed!
And it took me a very long time to lure painted buntings to my yard. There was much experimentation with birdseed (white millet is key) and other attractions (a water element helps), and even recorded birdsong (yes, I was shameless), but finally, about six or seven springs ago, I was triumphant in my pursuit!
I vividly remember the evening it happened. I was sitting on my patio, talking on the phone to my mom in Alabama – I believe it was our Sunday Wine Chat – when something bright caught the corner of my eye. I slowly turned my head toward the feeders. No sudden moves. I could barely breathe. “Oh, Mom,” I whispered. “He’s finally here… And he’s GLORIOUS.” Some tears were shed, which may have been a wine thing, but I don’t think so.
After that, I had buntings a ‘plenty in my yard. And for the past two or three years, I’d even had them over-wintering here. As in, year-round occupation. Full-time residency. I never got used to them. They never became ho-hum. I never stopped being awestruck by these diminutive marvels of grace and beauty, and I never took them for granted.
But then Jeff died. And my whole world went dark. Suddenly, birding was… for the birds.
And while I wasn’t paying attention, the painted buntings disappeared from my yard. I hadn’t even noticed.
Until the Facebook posts started. And a raging case of FOMO kicked in. (Some people have a “fear of missing out” on parties. For me, it’s birds.) It felt good to care again. Maybe, just maybe, I was getting my mojo back. Sometimes, it takes a little FOMO to recover your mojo.
Thus began a new quest. A mission. I would get my buntings back or bust!
It wouldn’t be easy. The feeder that held my white millet seed was filthy. Disgusting. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d cleaned it. When I looked closer, I was horrified to find that all the little dispenser holes were clogged. I’d been filling the feeder, but hardly any of the seed was getting through to the birds. No wonder they’d left. I had neglected them! Starved them!
I keep my white millet seed in a big, fancy “squirrel buster” feeder. It was so gross, it really needed to be run through a carwash – deluxe level – but instead I took it apart, soaked it in the bathtub, then scrubbed it within an inch of its life. I even had to take an ice pick to some of those gunky holes, but when I was finished, the feeder was like new! I filled it with white millet, hung it back up, and waited.
And waited and waited.
Days later, still no buntings. I reminded myself that Rome wasn’t built in a day. That good things come to those who wait. That patience is a virtue.
“signs” are a thing, that the universe has a “secret language,” etc. – while my soul was guzzling it like so much water in the Sahara.
According the author – Laura Lee Jackson, who fancies herself a medium – signs from the beyond aren’t just real, they are everywhere, if only we know how to recognize them. And not only that – we can actually ask for specific signs, and they will come to us.
Again, I was on the fence. (In case y’all hadn’t noticed, the fence is my comfort zone.) But it was 1:45 am, and I thought What the Heck. I prayed to the God Energy, my Spirit Guides, and my Loved Ones on the Other Side – my “Team of Light” as Laura Lee calls it – to send me a painted bunting, and to do it soon. I bargained with my Light Team: “If you send me a painted bunting tomorrow, it will be a sign unto me. I will believe in all of it. The Love that Connects Us, Spirit Guides, the Other Side, the Secret Language of the Universe… the whole shebang.
Well, reader, I fear you won’t believe me, but it happened. The next morning – Sunday morning – I was washing my breakfast dishes when I glanced out the window and saw her.
These cliches weren’t cutting it with me. I needed to step up my game.
Remember how I mentioned a “water element”? I once had a lovely bird bath – a Mother’s Day gift from Jeff and Amelia – but it was destroyed by the one-two punch of a tropical storm/racoon attack a few years ago, and I hadn’t replaced it. I wasn’t in the mood to shop – or spend money, frankly – so when I spied our old chiminea against the house, I had an idea. It was too heavy to lift – Jeff was the resident lifter – but I managed to drag it over near the feeders, plopped a large ceramic bowl full of water on the top, and voila… instant water element! Would it work? Who knew?
In bed that night, I was reading “Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe” – a book dozens of people have recommended since Jeff’s death – and my skeptical mind was, as always, resisting its premise – that
Not the flashing, dazzling, multi-crayon-colored male that comes to mind when you hear the words “painted bunting”… but something that felt even more right in that moment: a little green female.
She sat there on my spanking-clean feeder, next to my chiminea/water element, casually nibbling her white millet seed. Delicate and fragile and so very beautiful. I knew there would be a boy in the yard soon. Probably several boys, and more girls, and eventually, some juveniles.
The painted buntings were back. Was it a sign? I’m still not entirely sold. I long to be all-in, but my fence sitting runs deep.
All I know is that for today, it’s enough.
Margaret Evans is the publisher and editor of Lowcountry Weekly. She has been writing her award-winning column, Rants & Raves, for more than 25 years.
Margaret Evans
Lafayette Soiree Returns
One of the Lowcountry’s most-anticipated social events, Historic Beaufort Foundation’s Lafayette Soiree, is set for May 16 at the 200-year-old George Moss Stony House in the National Historic Landmark District.
This year’s fundraiser, from 6-10 PM, will be held at the home of Denny and Sandy Wiener, on the historic Point, overlooking the Beaufort River. Tickets are available at www. historicbeaufort.org and are $200 for HBF members and $250 for non-members.
Tickets tend to sell quickly, and the event is held rain or shine.
Historic Beaufort Foundation is grateful to Denny and Sandy Weiner for sharing their exquisite property with us for this year's Lafayette Soirée, said Lise Sundrla, HBF's executive director.
“And, we are so appreciative of this year’s co-chairs, Rob and Meg Wynne and Sherwood and Margaret Miler, and our many sponsors and volunteers for their support of this much anticipated annual event,” she said.
The evening will feature a sampling of Lowcountry cuisine, perfectly curated libations, a silent auction, and live music with the band We Got the Beat.
A John Campbell painting of Beaufort from 1798 shows an early Federal style home on this property, facing the Beaufort River. Dr. George Moss Stoney, a physician and Hilton Head Island landowner, is thought to have remodeled or rebuilt the structure in the early 19th century.
“We are very pleased to support HBF by offering our yard and garden once again for their annual Soirée. HBF importantly serves our local communities in their efforts to retain the historic character of Beaufort,” said the Weiners.
The US Direct Tax Commission seized the house during the Civil War. In 1869 the property was sold to Anna Pollitzer, wife of Moritz Pollitzer, a native of Austria. He came to Beaufort during the Civil War from New York to
become a cotton merchant, and later he was elected mayor of Beaufort.
The property stayed in the Pollitzer family for five generations and was the childhood home of another Beaufort mayor, the late Henry C. Chambers, a Pollitzer descendent and visionary of the Henry Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort.
During the Civil War, Union forces took over the house and used it, like many others in downtown Beaufort, as a hospital and medical center. For the Soirée, only the grounds will be open to guests.
“The Lafayette Soiree brings together people from across the Lowcountry and beyond to celebrate Beaufort’s history and HBF’s continued work to preserve and protect Beaufort’s historic, architectural and cultural heritage,” Sundrla said. “It’s one of the most special nights in Beaufort every year, and it’s our primary fundraiser for the work that lies ahead.”
Since the 1980s, Historic Beaufort Foundation has been holding the annual Lafayette Soirée in recognition and celebration of the Marquis de Lafayette's visit. For more than 150 years, HBF's flagship property, the John Mark Verdier House, ca. 1804, has been thought to be the location where Lafayette spoke to Beaufort-area residents during his visit in March 1825.
Over the past 60-plus years, the Historic Beaufort Foundation has played a significant role in the preservation and protection of Beaufort’s historic resources.
Historic Beaufort Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit education foundation created to preserve, protect, and present sites and artifacts of historic, architectural, and cultural interest throughout Beaufort, South Carolina. For more information on the entity’s mission and history, please visit historicbeaufort. org and follow them on social media, including Facebook and Instagram.
Lafayette Soiree 2024
Celebrating 250 Years with Words, Music, and Cake!
The decision to declare independence was bold and risky, and the outcome far from certain. In 1776 no one in the colonies was more motivated or more determined to rise to the challenges that lay ahead than the patriots of South Carolina. On June 6, 2026, no one will commemorate their success with greater joy and enthusiasm than the citizens of the South Carolina Lowcountry who gather at the USCB Center for Arts in historic Beaufort for an afternoon of history, music, and birthday cake. The program will comprise three parts: a combined lecture by eminent historians Drs. Lawrence Rowland and John McCardell-tracing the sources and discussing the causes of the American Revolution and South Carolina’s role in its success from 3-4, a short break for the essential and delicious birthday cake with lemonade, and then from 4:30 to 6 an all American concert for four hands by brilliant pianists Jeewon Park and Andrew Armstrong-presenting works by American composers including Sousa, Joplin, Barber, Gershwin, and more.
Our founders fought for and then created a republic whose motto, still on the dollar bill, was Novus Ordo Saeclorum (a new order of the ages). Those Founding Fathers clearly delineated that new order in official documents, but nowhere would it be better expressed than in the newly formed coun-
try’s music. For the last two hundred and fifty years, we have exercised our hard-won freedoms and enjoyed the distinctly American musical compositions that have declared them loudly, rhythmically, and uniquely both to ourselves and to the world at large. It is now time to engage our minds and tap our feet in celebration.
Doors of the USCB Center for the Arts will open at 2:30. Lecture begins at 3 pm, cake and lemonade at 4, and concert at 4:30.
Purchase your ticket for $30 at www.uscbchambermusic.com/250.
Dr. John McCardell
Dr. Lawrence Rowland
Pianist Jeewon Park
Pianist Andrew Armstrong
Habitat for Humanity Launches 'House Parties for Homes'
Habitat for Humanity of the Lowcountry is excited to announce the successful launch of its newest grassroots fundraising initiative, House Parties for Homes, a creative and community-driven approach to raising funds and awareness for affordable housing in Beaufort and Jasper counties.
The initiative kicked off with two inaugural events hosted by dedicated community supporters Kevin Anton and Shellia Jenkins Ward. These gatherings brought together friends, neighbors, and local advocates in a relaxed, welcoming setting to learn more about Habitat’s mission and the growing need for safe, affordable housing in the Lowcountry.
Kevin’s party was a “Happy Hour” cocktail party held in February at the Fripp Island Community Centre. His event raised $10,275 toward the third Fripp Island sponsored home to be built by Habitat.
Shellia Jenkins Ward centered her house party around her 65th birthday celebration. More than 75 people joined her April 11th at the Battery Point Club House on a perfect Saturday afternoon both to wish her happy birthday and to contribute to a cause she is very passionate about.
Friends, former classmates, neighbors, and family travelled from near and far to celebrate Shellia’s generosity and share in her support for Habitat. Her event raised $10,529 as of Tuesday, April 21st, with more donations still on the way.
“I wanted to highlight the love people have for the Habitat organization and the great work it does by providing opportunity to our community for affordable homeowners,” Shellia said.
“Putting the party on was pretty easy,” Anton said. “We invited about 120 people and had about a 66% acceptance.” He added, “The most work was sending out the thank you notes. Thank God Irene (his wife) is a good sport!”
“I also wanted my 65th birthday to be filled with love! I invited family, friends and neighbors to share their love by giving to this organization instead of giving to me. God’s love is amazing isn’t it! I take no credit for this; I was just the vessel he used to get the work done.”
“House Parties for Homes is all about bringing people together in a personal and meaningful way,” said Brenda Dooley, Habitat for Humanity of the Lowcountry CEO.
“Kevin and Shellia set the tone beautifully with their events, creating spaces where guests could connect with our mission and see firsthand how they can make a difference.”
Both events were met with enthusiasm and generosity, raising critical funds to support Habitat for Humanity of the Lowcountry’s homebuilding and repair programs. In addition to financial contributions, the gatherings helped expand Habitat’s net-
work of supporters and inspired new volunteers and advocates. Kevin’s and Shellia’s leadership demonstrates the power of community-driven efforts in addressing the housing challenges facing the region.
Habitat for Humanity of the Lowcountry plans to continue expanding the House Parties for Homes initiative and is inviting others in the community to consider hosting their own events.
“Anyone can be a host,” added Dooley. “Whether it’s a small gathering or a larger celebration, every event helps us build more than homes—we’re building hope, stability, and opportunity.”
For more information about hosting a House Party or supporting Habitat for Humanity of the Lowcountry, please contact Michele Barker at 843-522-3500, ext. 3004, or michele@lowcountryhabitat.org
Art League Academy Hosts Massive Clean-out Sale
Art League Academy is opening its doors for a massive clean-out sale featuring art supplies, frames, and books on Friday, May 29th, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and Saturday, May 30th, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Artists, hobbyists, and art lovers are invited to browse a wide variety of professional and student-grade supplies including paints, pastels, paper, canvas, board, and mediums. The sale will also feature studio equipment such as studio and plein air easels, canvas rolls, and more—plus tons of beautiful frames, some brand new. In addition, a curated selection of art books donated over the years will be available for purchase, offering inspiration and instruction across a range of techniques and styles.
Everything is priced at a fraction of retail cost, making this a rare opportunity to stock up on quality materials while supporting a great cause.100% of proceeds benefit Art League of Hilton Head, helping to fund community art programs, exhibitions, and educational workshops.
Art by Frank Gorman
Event Details:
What: Art Supplies, Frames & Books Clean-Out Sale
When: Friday, May 29th, 10:00 AM –2:00 PM | Saturday, May 30th, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: Art League Academy, Hilton Head Island, SC
Proceeds: 100% benefit Art League of Hilton Head
Don’t miss this chance to find hidden treasures and support local arts education. For more information, contact Art League Academy atacademy@ artleaguehhi.org.
ABOUT ART LEAGUE OF HILTON HEAD:
Art League of Hilton Head is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit visual arts organization on Hilton Head Island with a synergistic art gallery and teaching Academy.
Art League Academy welcomes artists and students in all media at all skill levels, including true beginners. Taught by professional art educators, students can choose from many art classes and
workshops in most media. Art League Academy is located at 106 Cordillo Parkway. The Academy Manager’s office hours are Monday and Friday, 10am - 2pm.
“Inspiring visual arts for our community and its visitors through exhibitions, education and partnerships” is Art League of Hilton Head’s mission.
For more information, call 843.842.5738 or visit www.ArtLeagueHHI.org, follow Art League of Hilton Head on Facebook, Instagram, or connect on LinkedIn.
Ongoing Exhibits...
WATER WATER EVERYWHERE
Frank Gorman is featured artist at the Beaufort Art Association Gallery, with his exhibit Water Water Everywhere.
“At the heart of every canvas is something deeper - a reverence for creation, a belief that the Lowcountry is not merely beautiful but sacred.” says Frank. “Each morning, God sets a new scene. New light. New shadow. New invitation.”
Frank’s exhibit will be on display at the BAA Gallery through June 28th. www.beaufortartassociation.com
WHISPERS FROM THE SOUL
Theresa King’s featured exhibit Whispers from the Soul is currently on display at the Art League of Hilton Head Gallery.
Inspired by a lifelong connection to nature, King’s work reflects a sense of joy, spirituality, and connection to healing energy. “I grew up in a chaotic atmosphere, and the only time I felt peace was [lying] on the ground looking up at the clouds in the sky,” she says. That early sense of quiet continues to influence her work, where clouds and movement appear as recurring elements. “Nature has always been my inspiration. I could sit and watch clouds for hours.”
Whispers from the Soul will be on display through June 19. www. artleaguehhi.org
The Tuckers with Vanna White, BIFF 2016
Frank Gorman
Starry Night by Jane Capraro
Theresa King
Moments of Stillness
The Society of Bluffton Artists (SOBA) invites the community to experience Moments of Stillness, a featured artist exhibition by Lowcountry painter Carol Dulude, on view June 1 through June 27 at SOBA’s new gallery location in Old Town Bluffton.
An opening reception will be held from 4-6 p.m. June 4, offering guests the opportunity to meet the artist and enjoy an evening surrounded by her calming, nature-inspired works.
Dulude, an acrylic painter based in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, is known for her serene landscapes that capture the quiet beauty of coastal environments. Her work is deeply influenced by her upbringing in Canada and years spent in Massachusetts, ultimately leading her to the tranquil marshes and waterways of the Southeast. Beginning her artistic journey in retirement, Dulude approaches painting as both a creative pursuit and a contemplative practice.
Through soft color palettes, expansive horizons, and subtle transitions of light and atmosphere, her paintings reflect the peaceful interplay of water and sky. Each piece invites viewers to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with the simplicity of the natural world.
“My acrylic landscape paintings focus on creating calm, quiet spaces that invite reflection and stillness,” said Dulude. “Using subtle color palettes and soft transitions, I aim to capture the peaceful atmosphere found in natural environments. Acrylic allows me to build gentle layers that suggest light, distance, and mood. Through these landscapes, I hope viewers can pause and experience a moment of tranquility.”
This exhibition continues SOBA’s tradition of showcasing regional artists while fostering a welcoming space for creativity and connection within the community. Visitors are encouraged to explore the gallery’s new home at 7 Church Street and experience the same vibrant artistic spirit in its refreshed setting.
Exhibition Details
Exhibit Title: Moments of Stillness
Artist: Carol Dulude
Dates: June 1 – June 27
Reception: 4–6 p.m. June 4
Location: Society of Bluffton Artists Gallery
About the Society of Bluffton Artists (SOBA)
The Society of Bluffton Artists is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting visual arts in the Lowcountry. Through exhibitions, classes, and community events, SOBA provides opportunities for artists of all levels while enriching the cultural landscape of Bluffton and beyond. The gallery, located at 7 Church Street in Old Town Bluffton, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.
For more information, visit www.sobagallery. com or call 843-757-6586.
Artist Carol Dulude
Carol Dulude featured at the new SOBA
Sing, Honor, Remember
Hilton Head Choral Society Celebrates America
By Emily Campbell
For many in the Lowcountry, Memorial Day weekend marks the official kickoff to a long awaited summer season of vacations and cookouts. What if this year you chose to connect to the deeper significance of this holiday with reflection and gratitude for the men and women who served our country and died for our freedom? This Memorial Day Sunday, the Hilton Head Choral Society invites the community to pause for something a little bit more meaningful. On Sunday, May 24, at 7 p.m., the Celebrate America concert will take place at First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island.
The concert will feature a moving and thoughtfully curated selection of patriotic music and readings reflecting on the nation’s 250-year history of independence and also its spirit. The Choral Society will be accompanied by a string quartet as well as Columbia-based Category V Brass, whose dynamic and stirring sound enhances this beloved Memorial Day tradition.
Founded in 2017, Category V Brass is a dynamic brass quintet whose members perform with leading orchestras throughout the Southeast. Their distinctive name was inspired during a rehearsal weekend as Hurricane Irma approached South Carolina, forecasted to reach Category 5 strength. Since then, the quintet has embraced that powerful spirit that is evident in each of their performances.
Celebrate America will commence with a formal presentation of the colors by the Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue. As the colors are carried forward, a reverent stillness will create a shared sense of respect and quiet reflection that underscores the true purpose of the program. It is a powerful opening that sets the tone for the evening along with choral singers dressed in their red, white, and blue rising in song in honor of our country.
Concertgoers can sing along to beloved classics such as “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” and enjoy beautifully arranged works like “Gentle Annie” and “Ashokan Farewell.” The program also includes stirring tributes of “God Bless America” and the nostalgic “We’ll Meet Again,” as well as the vibrant choral piece “I Hear America Singing.” Together, these selections create a powerful musical journey that honors the past while celebrating the enduring spirit of America.
One of the highlights of the evening this year is a unique partnership with Hilton Head’s Lean Ensemble Theater. These talented actors will read authentic, firsthand letters sent home by American service members. The readings will include letters from the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and World War I. These firsthand accounts will offer a powerful and personal window into history, drawing audiences closer to the true realities and sacrifices of war across the centuries.
“When you hear those letters read aloud, the music changes,” says Dr. Dustin Ousley, HHCS Artistic Director. “It takes these huge historical events and brings them down to the human level. Our members have been looking forward to this performance all year because it’s our humble way of saying ‘thank you’ to those brave men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice.”
Longtime Hilton Head Island resident, James (Jim) F. Berl, will provide a keynote address at this year’s concert. A former Judge Advocate General attorney, Jim served in the Army during the 1980s, including the U.S.-led invasion of Grenada and a posting in Europe. After completing his military service, he returned to the Lowcountry where he has been in private practice on Hilton Head for almost 40 years.
Historically for the HHCS, the annual Memorial Day weekend concert has a rich tradition that dates back to 1999, when it was first introduced as the Festival of Freedom. That inaugural performance featured the Parris Island Brass Quintet along with patriotic songs of remembrance. Current and longtime HHCS member Kathy Burmeister was a part of that performance.
“I’ve been part of this concert since its beginning, and it’s been incredible to watch it grow into such a meaningful community tradition for the Lowcountry,” said Kathy Burmeister. “Each year, it brings together locals and newcomers to reflect and con-
nect, and that’s what makes it so special.”
The event evolved into A Memorial Day Tribute in 2000 and then, from 2001 through 2025, became known as America Sings!. Over the years, thousands of Lowcountry residents and visitors alike have made this special event a traditional part of their Memorial Day weekend.
As Celebrate America carries forward this long-standing tradition, this year’s concert offers an evening of music that is both meaningful and memorable alongside pieces that reflect the heart of our nation’s story. The program is designed to bring the community together in an evening of gratitude and remembrance as well as celebration. As the final notes fade, the Choral Society’s hope is that audiences will leave with more than just the music in their minds, but also a lasting sense of connection in their hearts that defines the very significance of Memorial Day weekend.
Tickets are available now at www.hiltonheadchoralsociety.org. For more information or assistance with ticket purchases, call 843-341-3818 or email tickets@hiltonheadchoralsociety.org.Top of Form
Concert Details
What: “Celebrate America” concert
When: Sunday, May 24, at 7 p.m.
Where: First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island
Tickets: Available at hiltonheadchoralsociety.org
Hilton Head Choral Society
Category V Brass
I Found My Thrill...
I F ound My Thrill...
Is it just me, or do blueberries make you think of Violet Beauregarde? How about Fats Domino? I’ve been singing “Blueberry Hill” ever since I started cooking this morning – much to the chagrin of my two tabby cats. It’s that time of year again. Yay for Blueberry Season! South Carolina summers bring ripe blueberries to roadside stands, farmers’ markets, and local grocery stores. Blueberries are small, nutrient-dense berries with a high antioxidant content that provides health benefits for our brains, hearts, and metabolism. They’re rich in anthocyanin, which gives them their blue color and helps to fight inflammation and cell damage. Blueberries are low in calories (about 85 per cup) and are an excellent source of fiber, iron, and vitamin C. Round and smooth-skinned blueberries are juicy and sweet. Cultivated blueberries comprise the majority of those that reach the market, and the season typically spans from May through October. Choose blueberries that are firm, uniform in size and indigo blue with a silvery frost. Discard shriveled or molded berries. Don’t wash the berries until you’re ready to use them. They can be stored in a single layer in a moisture-proof container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and they freeze beautifully.
P.S. Willy Wonka fans will remember Violet Beauregarde. She was the bratty girl who turns into a giant blueberry in Roald Dahl’s children’s book from 1964, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Blueberry Skewers with Whipped Ricotta
Whipped ricotta cheese is one of my new favorite things! Served with blueberry skewers, it’s a great carbfree appetizer or even a delightful breakfast offering.
1 cup fresh blueberries
Wooden skewers
1/2 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon fresh mint, roughly chopped
1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
Sea salt
Thread 7 or 8 blueberries on each skewer. Place ricotta in a small mixing bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat ricotta until it’s smooth and creamy. Place the ricotta in a small serving bowl. Drizzle with honey. Garnish with fresh mint and lemon zest. Sprinkle with a bit of sea salt. Serve immediately. Serves 4.
Blueberry Chicken Thighs
Fresh or frozen blueberries work well for this easy entrée. Don’t skip searing the chicken thighs!
6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 cup blueberries
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear thighs 2 to 3 minutes per side or until golden brown. Remove chicken and place in a baking dish that has been lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Add garlic, vinegar, honey, thyme, and blueberries to skillet with pan drippings cook over medium heat until sauce begins to thicken. Pour sauce over chicken in baking dish. Bake, uncovered, for 30 to 35 minutes or until chicken reaches 165 degrees internally. Serve with mashed potatoes or rice. Serves 4 to 6.
By Debbi Covington
Blueberry-Pecan Croissant Bread Pudding
This yummy bread pudding is a great dessert, breakfast option or holiday bunch dish. Serve it warm with whipped cream or ice cream. Day old croissants work best.
6 large croissants (or 15 small)
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature 1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups
blueberries
1 cup chopped
pecans
For the custard:
4 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup heavy
cream
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon
ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Tear
croissants into large bite-sized pieces and place them evenly in dish. In a medium bowl with a hand mixer, beat cream cheese with sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Drop spoonfuls of mixture evenly over the croissants in baking dish. Evenly scatter blueberries across the top. Sprinkle with chopped pecans. In same mixing bowl, whisk eggs with milk, cream, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt. Slowly pour custard over croissants, making sure all pieces are moistened. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake, uncovered, for 45 to 50 minute or until top is golden brown and center is set. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Serves 8 to 10.
The writer owns Catering by Debbi Covington and is the author of three cookbooks, Celebrate Beaufort, Celebrate Everything! and Dining Under the Carolina Moon. Debbi’s website address is www.cateringbydebbicovington.com.
She may be reached at 843-525-0350 or by email at debbicovington@gmail.com.
Love in Action
How one Hilton Head woman turned years of caregiving into a mission for others
By Leigh Cocanougher
After Susan Mosher’s husband Michael was diagnosed with Young-Onset Parkinson’s in 1999, she did what countless care partners before her have done: she figured it out as she went. She scoured the internet, attended webinars, read everything she could find, and leaned hard into the steep learning curve of caring for someone through a progressive neurological condition.
What she didn’t expect was that two decades of experience would one day make her a guide for others walking the same path. Today, Susan is a tireless advocate in the Hilton Head community, determined to make sure no one faces Parkinson’s alone.
“I don’t want to waste the experience I gained. I want to use it for good,” she says.
A Long Road, Honestly Walked
Although Michael had suspected for about a year that something was wrong, the official diagnosis of Parkinson’s at age 43 still came as a shock. For Susan, the moment remains vivid. “I still remember that first appointment and all the emotions,” she says. “There was some crying. But from then on, he never complained. He never said, ‘Why me?’ Not once, through the whole journey.”
In the years that followed, Parkinson’s gradually tightened its grip, and Susan’s role as care partner grew alongside it. What began as small adjustments eventually became full-time responsibility, especially after 2019, when Michael suffered a serious fall that left him with five broken ribs and pneumonia. From then on, managing his care became her primary focus. She gradually built what she now calls her “care partner toolkit,” a set of practices that helped her stay grounded through years of uncertainty. Therapy, walking in nature, meditation, regular exercise, and short respite trips all became essential.
Just as importantly, she learned to recognize her own limits and respond to burnout before it became overwhelming. Eventually, that meant bringing in home health aides and creating a rotating night-shift schedule to ensure sustainable care for both Michael and herself.
Finding Support through the Davis Phinney Foundation
About a decade ago, Susan discovered the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s (DPF), and it marked a turning point in her Parkinson’s journey. Founded by Olympic cycling champion Davis Phinney, the nonprofit has built a reputation for focusing not just on managing Parkinson’s, but on living well today. Right away, the emphasis on exercise, community, and practical resources resonated deeply with Susan.
DPF’s monthly care partner meetup, in particular, offered something she hadn’t found elsewhere: validation. “There were so many conversations with different specialists that confirmed I was on the right track,” she says.
After being invited to speak as a guest panelist on long-term caregiving, Susan applied to become a DPF Ambassador. The role felt like a natural next step. As an Ambassador, she participates in monthly meetings and collaborative roundtables with other volunteers, sharing strategies and offering mutual support. She also helps connect newly diagnosed individuals and families with DPF’s extensive library of free resources, including the Every Victory Counts® manual, a handbook on how care partners and their loved ones with Parkinson’s can live well today.
“The resources I wish I’d had 25 years ago are the ones I now try to get into other people’s hands,” she says.
What’s Available Right Here in the Lowcountry
Since moving to Hilton Head in 2019, Susan has found a growing Parkinson’s community and, over time, has become a key connector within it. She not only helps people find existing support, but also works to strengthen and expand what’s available.
Part of that effort involves education. In addition to supporting individuals and families, Susan often raises awareness within the medical community. “We have a ways to go in educating the community,” she says. “Most people still see Parkinson’s just as a motor disease. There is so much more to it than tremors and stiffness and changes in gait.”
That gap, however, also creates opportunity. After connecting a local physician with Davis Phinney Foundation materials, Susan saw firsthand how impactful that knowledge-sharing could be. The doctor, she says, was eager to learn and began sharing those resources with newly diagnosed patients. “She doesn’t just give them the meds and say, ‘See you in six months,’” Susan explains. “Instead, it’s, ‘Here’s some information, here’s someone to talk to.’ A roadmap.”
At the same time, Susan continues to point people to the support already available locally. Today, that includes monthly Parkinson’s support groups in Bluffton and Beaufort County, an informal “PD Ladies” group in Sea Pines, and a care partner luncheon group through the Women’s Association of Hilton Head Island (WAHHI). In addition, programs like Rock Steady Boxing in Bluffton offer non-contact boxing classes specifically designed for people with Parkinson’s, helping improve strength, balance, and coordination.
During the pandemic, Susan also launched her own virtual care partner support group, which continues to meet online and now includes participants from Maine,
North Carolina, and South Carolina.
At the same time, she’s working to rebuild a critical piece of local infrastructure: an exercise class for people with Parkinson’s in Hilton Head. When a previous program lost its lease, the offering disappeared. Susan is now coordinating with trainers to secure certifications and hopes to relaunch the class by Labor Day.
Looking even further ahead, she plans to establish a foundation in Michael’s honor to help fund Parkinson’s fitness programs for those who cannot afford them. “I believe there are some people for whom it’s just not in the budget,” she says. “Exercise is one of the most important tools we have for slowing Parkinson’s progression, and I don’t want cost to be the reason someone misses out.”
Susan Mosher is proof that a care partner’s experience, however hard-won, doesn’t have to end when their loved one is gone. For her, it became a calling. And for anyone newly navigating Parkinson’s, her message is simple: reach out, connect, and don’t do it alone.
Lowcountry locals can connect with Susan Mosher at: https://davisphinneyfoundation.org/ambassador/susan-mosher/.
Susan and Michael Mosher
Why Therapy?
There are many important ideas to explore in the realm of emotional and mental health. Trauma, EMDR, DBT, eating disorders and body image distortions are among them. But before exploring any of these, there is a more fundamental question: What actually keeps us from getting therapy? Why do we resist getting help?
At 74 years old, and a psychotherapist for 42 years, I recently decided to go back to therapy. I have been a clinical social worker providing individual, couples and family therapy for 42 years and frankly, it feels like I have been in therapy for 44 years. (I was in therapy for 2 years prior to becoming a therapist myself). It was my training and it is my personal opinion that a therapist must continually reflect and observe their own process as well as that of their clients.
This personal reflection should continue throughout the therapist’s and the client’s life. It is, after all, what we teach with all the, “how did you feel about that” questions. You can give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. If you teach a man to fish, he will eat all his life. Practice what you preach fits here too. If, in fact, I lived this truth, why go back to therapy now? This is the question I asked myself and the one all my friends asked me as well. “You don’t need therapy, why are you going to therapy?”
Why would I gift myself with an hour a week of being listened to by someone trained to listen deeply, offer objective
feedback and listen without expectation of reciprocity? This is a rhetorical question. “Why wouldn’t I?” is the better question. If we can agree that it is always valuable to have support as we navigate each new stage of life and its challenges, why wouldn’t I seek that support?
Society likes to say that there is no longer a stigma associated with going to therapy. But, as long as there has to be something wrong, we are still judging people who are courageous enough to ask for help. Therapy is still accepted but only for the broken among us. Who among us is not broken open from time to time? Are we living fully if life doesn’t break us occasionally?
Who doesn’t require insight and support and who will not benefit from help when navigating a new terrain on life’s journey? Facing the challenges of adolescence, learning to be an adult, having a baby, career change, divorce, illness, the death of a loved one, aging, facing our own death just to name a few. Yes, good friends, family members and partners can fill some of this need and should, but is it right to task them with the job of going deep into old wounds with you? Is it fair to expect them to know how to guide you there, to know when you are ready to go there and help you back out when you are done? Are they able to hold space for your inner child’s pain and light your way back to your adult self who is now encouraged to
Tues - Sun: 11am-9pm
see that child with the love and compassion that they deserve and deserved?
We would never expect a friend to pull a tooth, file a document with the court, or replace our engine but we dismiss therapy as “someone to talk to” or the opposite, “YOU need to talk to someone.” Therapy should be for personal growth as well as for times of confusion, loss and emotional pain. If this is earth school, shouldn’t self-reflection and self-knowledge be a necessary course in the curriculum?
Is it scary to open up to another person, a stranger? No, it’s terrifying. Finding the right person, someone you can trust and who offers unconditional acceptance, someone who really gets you, can be a challenging process and may take time. Consider interviewing a number of people before you find the right person. A recommendation from someone you trust that has had a good experience can help a lot.
Asking the potential therapist about their experience and the types of therapy they offer is a good place to start an interview. Offer your goals and what you would like to accomplish in this first conversation as well so that the counselor can assess whether it is a good fit for them as well. After the first conversation, ask yourself, how do I feel about this person. Your gut reaction is something you will want to grow, and this is a good place to start growing this intuitive skill.
Feeling safe in the relationship is necessary if you are going to expose thoughts and feelings that you may not have yet admitted to yourself. This level of honesty is the only way therapy can help. Therapy needs to always be a judgment free zone. You are looking for direction and feedback presented with understanding and care. “Everyone is doing the best they can with what they have learned so far.”
This concept from DBT, Dialectic Behavioral Therapy, underlies any supportive therapy and how we can learn to compassionately view our past selves as well. Learning to forgive ourselves for what we didn’t know and experiencing that direct-
by Karan Killoran WHOLLY HOLISTICS
ly in a therapeutic relationship is fundamental to the process.
And, before you ask, yes even Hitler can be seen in this light. How many lessons or lifetimes does it take to wake up to the lesson that we are all here to learn to love? How many to truly understand that we are all connected, we are all one and we all come from Source? We will never know the answer to that question but we can know and experience that living a loving life is the path to peace and counseling can be an important part of clearing this path. My path with counseling has ended for now. I will return for guidance in the future if it calls me. My experience, as I expected, was helpful, enriching and even fun.
It is my belief that facing our current and past pain increases self-awareness, can soothe pain and clear emotional blocks. This pain causes energetic blocks that keep us locked in fear. When we face this pain and heal it, the energy flows again. Our alignment and connection to Source, God, Divine Spirit or however you understand this life force, returns and grows stronger. We are nature and Divine energy is our birth right. This energy is always available to us especially when we heal and embrace self-love and love for all.
Karan Killoran earned her MSW in clinical social work from Boston University. Her career included five years as a family therapist at McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA and working with adolescents and their families at Yale University Hospital. Most recently, she retired from her work as a Military Family Life Counselor.
Noisy Birds, Texas Bluebonnets, & Live Oaks
Occasionally it’s nice to push your boundaries. When travelling, I look for familiar plants, interesting history, architecture, and local landscapes. Spring break afforded a trip with my oldest granddaughter to visit her maternal grandmother and great grandmother in south Texas. Hoped to see fields of blue bonnets Lupine spp. Well, not so fast! Drought there has delayed their appearance, but to my surprise the landscape there has miles of Live Oak Quercus virginiana. It didn’t have our Spanish moss but instead there were clumps of moss, Tillandsia recurvata, about the size of a tennis ball. Like our draping moss it is an “air plant,” providing habitat for insects, and, in turn, benefits for songbirds and other animals. Speaking of birds, the first morning of our visit we were greeted by the mourning doves, cardinals, and Carolina wrens loudly welcoming us to Goliad, one of the oldest towns in Texas. We arrived at night, so I was surprised on our visit to see so many familiar trees and shrubs and a few unfamiliar ones too. Across the street from grandma’s old 1904 farmhouse was a beautiful Sable palmetto and what appeared to be live oaks, only they had white flowers, rough
leaves, and berries instead of catkins and acorns. Mexican plum, Prunus mexicana, or Bigtree plum were all over the yard. Two large Vitex shrubs were planted on either side of the front walk, which according to family lore were from seeds from the cemetery where a great-great grandmother is buried. The medium purple blooms show off in terminal clusters and are especially attractive to pollinators. Out in the back shrubby yaupon holly, hackberry, and St. Augustine grass were also familiar plants. They had recently cut down three huge hackberry, Celtis laevigata, trees. The stumps were probably 3’-4’ across so they may have been planted about the time the house was built.
The soil in that part of the state is sandy and rocky, mainly limestone, and the buildings and architecture are Spanish influenced. Because of the alkaline soils, even without much rain native groundcovers and flowers were blooming all over town. I was able to identify a couple of them when, at the end of the trip, I checked off one of my “bucket list” places to visit. While in Goliad we visited the Saturday Farmers Market on the main square of town. Vendors from all over
By Laura Lee Rose
south Texas come to the market on the second Saturday. There were some very tempting items, and we had the best Strawberry lemonades I’ve ever tastedfresh strawberries mulled with lemons and sugar and topped with razor thin strawberry slices. We also toured the Garden’s Path, a darling nursery which had all the new spring offerings of bedding plants, shrubs, and succulents. The crown jewel is a HUGE live oak which the salesperson said was 900 years old, according to the local history museum is about the same time the Native Americans were starting to use bows and arrows. The tree was a perfect canopy for their plants, pots, and garden angels. Alas, I could only look.
On the last full day of our trip, we drove the rental car back to Austin and met a family friend who is a member of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. And yes, they had blue bonnets blooming (and irrigation). Our visit there was too short to take it all in; the staff do a wonderful job of educational displays,
programs, and maintaining the grounds. They used natural wood features and limestone hardscaping as paths and beds. At LBJWC there were so many botanical treasures and great information. I did buy a seed pack of Texas blue bonnets and will be adding a generous amount of limestone to the flower beds if they agree to germinate.
Our spring break had all the necessary ingredients: family, garden angels, lots of plants, great food, and noisy birds.
For more information on the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center visit https://www.wildflower.org
Lee Rose is a native of South Carolina and has lived in the Lowcountry for many years. Certified Nursery Professional and retired from the Clemson Extension Service, she taught Master Gardener classes and encouraged professional landscapers. A board member of the South Carolina Native Plant Society and President of the South Coast Chapter, Laura Lee encourages the use of native plant material and sustainable landscaping.
Laura
Mexican Plum
Garden Angels
Boneyard Reach
I gave up drugs and alcohol twenty years ago but still get high on a regular basis. It probably won’t surprise some readers that of course I mean I get elevated by the natural world and superb sights here in the Lowcountry.
When I engage with our local environment, I feel ripples and buzzes in ways that are like the best parts of being intoxicated: an overwhelming sense of things being beautiful and wondrous all around you. An embracing and rewarding feeling of simply being in the time and place you are and how grand it all is. A propensity to grin and chuckle at everything and nothing.
Until my substance abuse turned from having fun to just having problems, that is how getting high felt to me. And the place where I now get waves of that kind of feeling is Boneyard Beach on Hunting Island. You can access it via a half-mile trail from the Nature Center and crossing a short bridge or by walking south from the South Beach parking lot. Either way yields mighty rewards.
I’ve written a couple of things that have touched on the beauty of Hunting Island, one column described a magical walk on the Diamondback Rattlesnake Trail. But I’ve hesitated to write about beauty at Boneyard Beach because, well, it just felt simulta-
neously too easy and too hard. Low hanging fruit and the Gordian Knot squaring off on my keyboard.
The easy part is to describe how gorgeous it is, e.g., likening it to a love letter delivered to your heart, written on God’s stationary. Or comparing it to swallowing a rainbow with an amazing sunset chaser. Or living inside the guitar solo in Hendrix’s version of All Along the Watchtower. You could even say it is like having a visual orgasm that feels like Meg Ryan sounded in the movie When Harry Met Sally.
Stunning, magnificent, exquisite—take your easy pickins’ and be done with it.
The hard part is the “you know if you know” factor. Everyone I meet who has been out there doesn’t need a flowery description of the self-evident majesty that awaits you among the downed tree clusters and otherworldly elements weathered by storms and shifting tides. What else can you say? You nod knowingly along with them and stutter a few inconsequential platitudes. Talk about who you brought there and what they said.
Of course there is the jolt of excitement if someone who hasn’t been there overhears your conversation with other Boneyard Beach have-beens. It’s a chance for all us acolytes in the Church of Dem Bones to turn
By Luke Frazier
together and sing choruses of praise.
So my hesitation in writing about this shimmering altar of transcendent landscape is based on the unfair fight between words and vision. But there is a reason to struggle and seek to spread the good news of Boneyard Beach. More people than you think, even people who have lived in Beaufort County awhile, have never been out there or hardly ever do.
My testimony is that your soul is going to be happily rewarded if you visit this unique place on planet earth. It’s got a mood and a vibe, a presence and a weight. You can wander and wonder: how can walking among the dead make you feel so alive?! Perhaps the trees aren’t dead after all, just a different kind of animated spirit.
The Gordian Knot was famously solved by Alexander the Great not by untangling, but by simply cutting it in half. I think I’ll take my cue from him. The bold solution to the mystery of Boneyard Beach is to witness it for yourself, no words required.
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TO RENT or OWN
ITALY: Tuscany townhouse for rent by the week in historic UNESCO village. Sleeps 4, large furnished garden, easy walk to shops and excellent restaurants. www.cozyholidayrentals.com or 401-862-2377.
FURNISHED LUXURY APT In the heart of downtown Beaufort. 2BR, 2BA, W/D, Housewares. Please call 843-812-4229.
FOR RENT ON FRIPP 371 Speckled Trout Rd, Charming coastal retreat! Enjoy serene water views, mod -
ern amenities, a fully equipped kitchen, spacious living, and quick access to fishing, beaches, and local dining. $3,500/mo. Call Diana Lopez at 276-6851260. Relaxation awaits!
CLASSES & SEMINARS
FREE HYPNOSIS/HYPNOTHERAPY INFORMATION session and guided group meditation workshop. This free session will focus on stress reduction and relaxation. Open to the public, every 3rd Monday of the Month, at 7 pm Eastern via Zoom. Bring a friend, learn more and RSVP for Zoom Link at www.guidepathhypnosis.com or contact Chris at chris.guidepath@gmail.com
BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY ONGOING PROGRAMS & CLASSES Stitch Happens, Mondays @ 1:30, Bluffton; Basic Computer Skills Class 1st & 3rd Fridays @ 11:30am, Lobeco; Dungeon & Dragons Teen Club Mondays @ 4; Teen Gaming Club 1st & 3rd Wednesdays @ 4.
FRIDAY SOCIAL DANCES: The Hilton Head Carolina
Shag Club hosts Friday dances from 6-9 pm at Christ Lutheran Church (HEINRICHS HALL) , 829 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head. The Shag dance is the state dance of South Carolina. If you know it, come dance with us. If you don’t know it, we’ll teach you!! We have regularly scheduled classes. $8 Cover fee. Bring your own Food and Beverage. DJ’s provide EXCELLENT music! We have many annual events and dance parties. Come have some fun!!! www.hiltonheadshagclub. com.≠
ART LEAGUE OF HH CLASSES & WORKSHOPS With over 25 local professional art educators, and guests from around the world, Art League of Hilton Head offers classes and workshops in all media for all levels of students. Visit www.artleaguehhi.org or email academy@artleaguehhi.org for more info.
POTTERY CLASSES IN BEAUFORT McSweeney Clay Studio offers morning, afternoon and evening classes for children and adults. Pottery dates and parties available as well. Classes are on going. Beginner or advanced welcome. mcsweeneyclaystudio.com or call 843-694-2049.
LOWCOUNTRY SHAGGERS Mondays - Holiday Inn, 2225 Boundary St. 6-9pm. Shag Lessons with Tommy & Sheri O'Brien and others. Occasional Ballroom and once a month Line Dance. Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced lessons. Open dancing after lessons. Visit www.lowcountryshaggers.com or lowcountryshaggers@aol.com
WEDNESDAYS, BEAUFORT SHAG CLUB meets evenings at AMVETS, 1831 Ribaut Rd., Port Royal from
7-9pm, and the 2nd Sat. of the month 7-10pm. Free lessons to members Sep. to June. Visit The Beaufort Shag Club on Facebook
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
FREE VESSEL SAFETY CHECK by local members of the America's Boating Club of Beaufort. If your boat passes, you will receive a VSC decal to mount on your boat that will be visible to other boaters and maritime law enforcement personnel. Contact safety@beaufortboatingclub.com
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED to staff The Lending Room, 954 Ribaut Rd across from Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Help us receive donations of gently used medical equipment and distribute them to those in need. We need to staff our showroom M-F 9:30-3:30 and Sat. AM. Shifts only 3 hours long. No experience is required but a familiarity with commonly used medical equipment helpful. Training will be provided. If you are looking for a rewarding volunteer job, learn about TLR and find volunteer application forms at lendingroombft.com or call Barbara at 314-660-4233.
LOCO SCRIBBLERS 3:00 5:00 p.m. every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. Are you a scribbler (professional or hobby writer)? Check out our small, informal Beaufort area writers club. All skill and subject levels welcome: fiction, short stories, poetry, non-fiction, and memoirs. Free. Call or email for more info and meeting location in Port Royal: beaufdick@gmail.com or 843-322-0616.
SEA ISLAND ROTARY CLUB has a 12:15 lunch meeting every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island. Social gathering every 3rd Tuesday at 5:30 pm, locations vary and posted on our website. For more information about the Rotary Club of Sea Island please visit our website at www.seaislandrotary.org
BRIDGE CLUB at the Beaufort Branch Library Wednesdays at 11am. Join a session for beginners new to the game, other sessions will provide some instruction and we will learn as we play. Join us if you want to learn a new game, practice your skills, or need more players. Call the Library at 843-255-6458 for more information.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for military lounge at the Savanna/Hilton Head Airport operated by a cadre of volunteers. The former USO Lounge is now “Savanna Salutes,” and continues to provide a respite for travelling active duty, retired and reserve military, veterans and families. We need volunteers to keep the lounge open from 8 am to 9 pm, 7 days a week. There are 3 shifts each day, with 2 volunteers for each. Interested? Info and application forms are at the www.savannahsalutes. org or contact Tedd Sheyda at (843) 368-2341. or TSheyda@savannahsalutes.org The airport provides free parking.
VETERANS FIRST THRIFT STORE is in need of volunteers. Summer hours are Thursday thru Saturday10am-4pm. Volunteer hours are very flexible! Stop in the store at 612 Robert Smalls Parkway to fill out a volunteer application or call the store at 843-263-4218. Please consider helping this very worthwhile organization!!
SECOND HELPINGS seeks volunteers to crew trucks in Bluffton and Beaufort to distribute food to local charities. Offering a flexible schedule at your convenience. Email officeadmin@secondhelpingslc.org
BEMER LONGEVITY TECHNOLOGY 9a Wednesdays via Zoom. Seen the buzz on “life span VS health span”? Want to grow better, not older? Haven’t heard of BEMER yet? Come for Q&A about how this longevity-enhancing
medical device can enhance your health, fitness and overall well-being in just 8 minutes 2X/day. Offered by BEMER Specialist - Human & Equine, Elizabeth Bergmann. Text 410-212-1468 to get the Zoom link. Free. CARIS HEALTHCARE: WE HONOR VETERANS Hospice Program. You a Vet with a little time to share with other Vets with limited time? The We Honor Veterans program seeks volunteers who are Vets to offer a listening ear for our Veteran patients. Volunteers also participate in our Pinning Ceremonies for Veteran patients. Contact 843473-3939 or smilliken@carishealthcare.com
SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY: Non-denominational meditation, silent prayer and healing group forming. All welcome. No meditation experience needed. 843-489-8525.
HABITAT RESTORE NEEDS VOLUNTEERS We're looking for volunteers. Cashiers, sales floor associates, donation processing, donor data entry, and donor ambassadors. Visit lowcountryhabitat.org/volunteer or call 843-525-0055.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for Calhoun Station Thrift Store in Bluffton. All funds generated are returned to other nonprofits in the community. Open Wed & Sat 10am to 1pm at 77 Pritchard St. Volunteers can stop by or contact Cate Taylor, 843-310-0594 or catetaylor@frontier.com
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for HELP of Beaufort, 530 Charles St. Looking for committed volunteers for clothes sorting, pantry help, front desk help and Mobile Meals drivers. We are open M-F from 9:30-12:30, Mobile Meals delivers to home bound seniors 5 days/week, routes takes about 30-45 mins. Email Lori at helpbeaufort@gmail.com, or call 843-524-1223, or stop in and fill out an application.
PORT ROYAL MUSEUM is open Thursday through Sunday at 1634 Paris Ave., from 10 - 3 or upon request. Free admission! Call 843-524-4333 or email historicportroyalfoundation@gmail.com to request a special opening.
PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP - First Thursday of the month at Beaufort Memorial LifeFit Wellness Center, from 1:30-2:45pm, 900 Ribaut Rd. Beaufort. We're individuals with Parkinson’s, care partners of those with Parkinson’s, and individuals or companies providing products or services for Parkinson’s patients. For more info: Rick Ostrander at pdawaresc@gmail.com or Facebook at Parkinson’s Support Group Of Beaufort SC Port Royal & Lady’s Island.
TOUR HISTORIC FORT FREMONT – Running through July, the Fort Fremont History Center will expand operating hours to Thursdays from 1 to 4 pm, Fridays from 1 to 4 pm, Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm, and Sundays from 1 to 4 pm. No admission fee. Docent-led tours are available by request. The Fort Fremont Preserve is open from dawn to dusk, Monday through Sunday. A self-guided walking tour is available for smartphones from the Apple or Google Play stores. For more information or to download the app, visit www.fortfremont.org
US COAST GUARD AUXILIARY, Flotilla 07-10-01, Port Royal Sound, a uniformed, all volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard. We conduct safety patrols, assist search & rescue, teach boat safety, conduct free vessel safety checks and other boating activities. Monthly meetings are open to all and held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at the Port Royal Sound Foundation classroom at 7pm. For info call Flotilla Commander Pattie McGowan (706-633-6192) and on FacebookUSCGA Beaufort.
BEAUFORT TOASTMASTERS CLUB meets from 5:30 pm - 6:45 pm the first & third Tuesday, in the Beaufort College Building, Rm. 103 (USC-Beaufort Campus), 801
Carteret Street, Beaufort. To learn more visit beauforttoastmastersclub.toastmastersclubs.org
FREE ACUPUNCTURE FOR VETERANS – Veterans, Active Duty, Transition. Their Families and First Responders are Eligible. First & Third Wednesday 46pm. Walk In Clinic. No Need to Pre-Register or Call. Nourishing Health Acupuncture and Herbs Clinic. 1214 Prince Street, Downtown Beaufort.
CRESCENT HOSPICE SUPPORT GROUP: Last Wed. and Thurs. of the month. Weds. 10-11am at Sun City; Thurs. 12-1pm Brookdale Hilton Head Ct., Hilton Head; for those who provide physical, emotional or practical support to a family member or friend. Jodi Johnson, LMSW. Bereavement Group: 5-6 pm., Fridays, 10 Buckingham Plantation Drive, Suite A, Bluffton; for those who have experienced a loss and would like support and info associated with grief and bereavement. Corrie VanDyke, LMSW or Marie James, MA. 843-757-9388.
INTERESTED IN HEALTHY EATING? Second Helpings, of Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper counties, seeks committee members and chairperson for Healthy Food Program. Funding available to procure fresh produce and protein for the 60 food pantries and soup kitchens served by Second Helpings. Contact Exec. Dir. Lili Coleman, 843689-3616 or execdirector@secondhelpingslc.org
BORN TO READ working for early childhood literacy, needs volunteers to deliver books and materials to new mothers at Coastal Community Hosp., HH Hosp., and BMH. Visits are from 10am – noon. More info at borntoread.org or call 843-379-3350.
THE LITERACY CENTER is seeking volunteers to tutor adults in reading, writing, math and ESL. Students hope to acquire skills to pursue life goals, support families, and contribute to our community. Daytime and evenings in Bluffton and HHI. Call 843-815-6616 (Bluffton); 843-6816655 (HHI). No teaching, tutoring or other language knowledge necessary. www.theliteracycenter.org
THE SANDALWOOD COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY. Volunteer-based, non-profit provides groceries, clothing and basic items to ANYONE in need. Open Tuesdays 9am12pm at 114 Beach City Rd., Hilton Head. Donations of food and funds needed. For info: Rev. Dr. Nannette Pierson at 843-715-3583 or sandalwoodpantry@gmail.com
PARRIS ISLAND MUSEUM. The legacy of the Marine Corps and the history of the Port Royal region. Thousands of artifacts, images, and other materials illustrate the stories in exhibit galleries from Native American to modern Marines. FREE admission. Mon-Sat 10am4:30pm and 8am on Graduation Days. Closed Federal Holidays. Info at parrisislandmuseum.org or 843-228-2166.
CHRIST CENTERED RECOVERY MEETINGS At Praise Assembly Church Fridays for “Celebrate Recovery”, addressing life’s problems by looking to scripture. Meal at 6pm; Praise, Worship; Big Meeting. 6:30pm; Small Groups at 7pm. 800 Parris Island Gateway, Beaufort. Info at 205-475-3600 or 303-521-1891.
ALZHEIMER'S FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER BEAUFORT, Support Groups: Caregiver - Friday, 12:30 p.m., Living with Alzheimer's - for those in very early stages - Mondays 1:00 p.m., Respite Programs: Social Day Program 10:00 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. $45 Day Fee, Tuesdays and Fridays. Meetings at Carteret Street Methodist Church, 408 Carteret St., Beaufort; In Home - Respite Aides available for 2 hr. minimum, $14-$27. Early Memory Loss: Maintain Your Brain2nd and 4th Thursdays, 10-11:30 a.m., $10/person, $15/couple, Carteret Street Methodist Church, Beaufort; Memory Screenings available call 843-521-9190 or make an appointment, 1500 King St, Beaufort, free; Purple Haven ProjectEducate local establishment staff to better interact with a person with Alzheimers call 843-521-9190.
BEAUFORT/PORT ROYAL
Foolish Frog, 846 Sea Island Pkwy, St. Helena Island. (843) 838-9300. Foolish Frog on Facebook
Luther’s Rare & Well Done, 910 Bay Street. (843) 521-1888 or Luther's on Facebook
Q on Bay, 822 Bay St, Beaufort. (843) 524-7771 or www.qonbay.com
Rosie O’Gradys Irish Pub, in Beaufort Town Center. Irish American Sports Pub & Eatery. C'mon down! Rock & Roll Lunch. Monday - 25% Off Burgers; Tuesday - 25% Off Fish & Chips. Wed, Fri & SatKaraoke. (843) 379-7676 or Rosie's on Facebook
Saltus River Grill, 802 Bay St, Beaufort. (843) 379-3474 or www.saltusrivergrill.com
BLUFFTON/HILTON HEAD
Big Bamboo, Coligny Plaza. (843) 686-3443 or www.bigbamboocafe.com
Captain Woody’s, 14 Executive Park Rd., Hilton Head, 843-785-2400; OR - 17 State of Mind St., Bluffton, . Tuesdays - Chris Jones, Wednesdays - Trivia. Thursdays - Jevon & Andy. www. captainwoodys.com
The Jazz Corner, Village at Wexf1ord, Hilton Head. Sundays - Deas Guyz; Mondays - A Journey Through Jazz with The Martin Lesch Band; Tuesdays - Fat Tuesdays: A Swingin' Celebration of New Orleans and Beyond; Wednesdays -Quiana Parler w/Lavon Stevens Trio; Thursdays - Lavon Stevens with Louise Spencer. Check website for other dates. (843) 842-8620 or www.TheJazzCorner.com
OUT OF TOWN
The Music Farm, 32 Ann Street, Charleston. For live music schedule, call (843) 853-2252 or www.musicfarm.com
The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston. For live music schedule, visit (843) 571-4343 or www.charlestonpourhouse.com
Windjammer, 1008 Ocean Blvd, Isle of Palms. For live music schedule, call (843) 886-8596 or visit www.the-windjammer.com
Editors Note: Events listed here may be subject to postponement or cancellation. Please check for further information.
FILM/THEATER/DANCE
Mon 5/4, Monday Movies will screen the Oscar-winning film One Battle After Another at USCB Center for the Arts in Beaufort. Screenings at 3pm and 7pm. www.uscbcenterforthearts
Mon 5/11, Monday Movies will screen Sentimental Value at USCB Center for the Arts in Beaufort. Screenings at 3pm and 7pm. www. uscbcenterforthearts
5/15 - 5/19, Seussical, Jr., performed by the Beaufort Children's Theatre. This colorful, family friendly musical brings your favorite Dr. Seuss characters together on stage! Tickets: $24 adults; $20 seniors/military; $16 students. USCB Center for the Arts, Beaufort. www.uscbcenterforthearts.com
6/24 - 8/9, Mean Girls: The Musical, at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. For tickets and more information, visit www.artshhi.com
GALLERIES/ART
Now - 5/8, 5th Annual Beaufort County High School Regional Art Exhibition at Coastal Discovery Museum. 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head. www.coastaldiscovery.org
Now - 5/8, SOBA High School Art Show at the Bluffton Public Library. Reception on 4/11 at 11 am. www.sobagallery.com
Now - 5/15, Layers of Life: Artwork by Debi West at Art League Gallery. Opening Reception 4/15 from 5-7pm. 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head. www.artleaguehhi.org
Now - 6/28, Water Water Everywhere, featuring artwork by Frank Gorman. Beaufort Art Association Gallery, 913 Bay Street, Beaufort. Opening Reception Fri 5/1, 5-8pm. www.beaufortartassociation.com
Now - 6/19, Whispers from the Soul, featuring artwork by Theresa King. Art League Gallery, 14 Shelter Cover Lane, Hilton Head. Opening reception Wed 5/19, 5-7pm. www. artleaguehhi.org
5/29 - 5/30, Art Supplies, Frames & Book Sale at Art League Academy on Hilton Head. Fri 10am - 2pm, Sat 8am - noon. www. artleaguehhi.org
6/1 - 6/27, Moments of Stillness, featuring art by Carol Dulude at SOBA Gallery. Opening reception 6/4, 4-6pm. www.sobagallery. com
BOOKS & WRITERS
Thur 5/7, Marybeth Walen (Handle with Care) in conversation with Cassandra King at the Pat Conroy Literary Center in Beaufort. 5-6:30 pm. www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
Thur 5/14, Virtual Open Mic Night, featuring William Walsh (Haircuts for the Dead), sponsored by the Pat Conroy Literary Center from 6-7:30 pm. www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
Wed 5/20, Family Reading Circle, 3:30 - 5:30, prizes and treats! Beaufort Bookstore, 2127 Boundary St, Beaufort. www.thebeaufortbookstore.com
Fri 5/22, Evening with Sallie Ann Robinson (Gullah Home Cooking the Daufuskie Way) at the Pat Conroy Literary Center from 5-6:30 pm. www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
MUSIC
Sun 5/24, Celebrate America, a Memorial Day concert by the Hilton Head Choral Society, featuring Category V Brass. 7pm at First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway. Tickets available at www.hiltonheadchoralsociety.org
Sun 5/30, Wind in the Wood, Historic Beaufort Society welcomes this virtuoso recorder concert, featuring Steve Rosenberg, Julia Har-
low and Marcy Brenner. Second-floor ballroom of the John Mark Verdier House, 801 Bay Street. This is a Piccolo Spoleto event. Tickets available at www.historicbeaufort.org
Sat 6/6, Vivaldi Guitar Concerto and Beyond, Historic Beaufort Society welcomes the Avanti Guitar Trio, playing Bach to Vivaldi to the Beatles. Second-floor ballroom of the John Mark Verdier House, 801 Bay Street. This is a Piccolo Spoleto event. Tickets available at www.historicbeaufort.org
OTHER EVENTS
Sat 5/16 Lafayette Soiree, sponsored by Historic Beaufort Foundation. At the Moss Stoney House . 6-10 pm. Tickets available at www.historicbeaufort.org
Sat 6/6, 20th Anniversary of the Beaufort River Swim. Participants can choose a 3.2 mile swim, a one-mile swim, and/or and optional 5K run, all set along the Beaufort River. Sponsored by the Wardle Family YMCA, proceeds directly support water safety programs. Registration closes at 8pm on 6/3. Visit www.beaufort-jasperymca.org
Sat 6/6, 250 Year Celebration of America at USCB Center for the Arts. With lectures by Drs. Lawrence Rowland and John McCardell, music by pianists Jeewon Park and Andrew Armstrong, and cake! Doors open at 2:30. Lecture at 3pm, cake and lemonade at 4, concert at 4:30. Tickets are $30 at www.uscbchambermusic. com/250
Tuesdays, Tours of Hunting Island sponsored by Friends of Hunting Island Keeper Ted and his team. For info call the Nature Center at 843838-7437. Tours free are and park entry fees apply.
First Saturday of the Month, Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud at Port Royal Farmers Market. DAYLO students and other volunteers will read to young children between 9am and noon.
Third Thursday, TECHconnect is a monthly networking event for professionals working in and around technology. Come join the conversation at BASEcamp 500 Carteret 5:30-7:30pm. 843-470-3506. www.beaufortdigital.com
Thursdays, History Tours of Fort Mitchell by Heritage Library, 10am. $12/Adult $7/Child. 843-686-6560.
Ongoing, Beaufort Tree Walk by the Lady’s Island Garden Club through the historic Old Point. Takes about an hour and is a little over a mile. Starts at the corner of Craven & Carteret Streets ending in Waterfront Park. Booklets with a map and tree info available FREE at the Visitors Center in the historic Arsenal on Craven St.
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