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April 18, 2017 • SECTION SC Volume 20, Issue 8

Avant-Gardeners Annual Garden Tour, May 15 See page 6SC PHOTO BY TOM MILLS

SEE SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION INSIDE

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April 18, 2017

Featured Pet

www.blufftonsun.com 14-D Johnston Way (physical) P.O. Box 2056 (mailing) Bluffton, SC 29910 843-757-9507 • 843-757-9506 (fax) Publisher

B.J. Frazier, bjf.citysun@hargray.com

Editor

Lynne Hummell, editor@hargray.com

Advertising Sales B.J. Frazier, 843-422-2321 Tim Anderson, 843-540-0882 Art Director

Kim Bowen

Contributors

Don Avedon Mary Dempsey Margret VanOrden Maloney Chris Roosa

On the cover: Barb Kocevar’s garden on Maplemere Lane is only two years old, because she just moved to Sun City in 2015. She calls it Hodge Podge Lodge, because she simply chooses plants she likes. See page 6SC. Photo by Tom Mills.

Editor reserves the right to edit or reject material, including advertisements. The Sun City Sun does not verify, endorse nor warrant any advertisers. The editorial views expressed are not necessarily those of the Editor and Publisher.

McKenzie is a lovely 4-year-old girl. She has really come out of her shell and cannot wait to meet new people. She enjoys being pet and gets along well with her roommates. She is spayed, microchipped and up to date on vaccinations. Meet McKenzie at the Palmetto Animal League Adoption Center in Okatie from noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Email us at info@palmettoanimalleague.org or call 843-645-1725 for more information.

April 18, 2017

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April 18, 2017

Technology, automation changing job prospects

By Don Avedon CONTRIBUTOR

In 1899 Charles H. Duell, director of the U.S. Patent Office, said, “Everything that can be invented has been invented.”

Of course he couldn’t have been more wrong. No one would argue with the fact that in our lifetime, science has produced a great deal of new technology and many innovations that have improved our lives, enhanced productivity and extended human longevity.

A few reminders: vaccines, data processing, the internet, wireless technology, medical scanners, factory automation and hundreds more.

There is every reason to believe that there is a lot more to come when we read about such things as artificial intelligence (AI), robots, and autonomous vehicles.

The negative side of all this tech-

nology, innovation and automation is the loss of jobs. One could argue that every one of the new widgets or doohickeys required inventors, developers and people to build and repair these devices and systems.

Didn’t we face the same thing during the 20th century’s Industrial Revolution, when there was lots of automation replacing manual tasks?

Yes, but with the Industrial Revolution the changes took place over many years and several generations, which gave us time to adjust.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics tells us that production jobs fell by about 5 million since 1987, but the country’s manufacturing output increased by more than 86 percent over that same period.

This is a complicated story, but it is mostly about microchips, computers and automation. Bringing automated factories

in Mexico and China back to the U.S. is not going to solve the jobs problem.

Today’s automation is happening much faster, and we are not creating as many new jobs compared to the number of jobs being eliminated. The new jobs also require much more education than the old jobs did.

Are we reaching a point where we just don’t need so many workers, and therefore large unemployment will be the norm? What then?

A few things that should be considered: Provide tuition-free college at state intuitions for families earning less than $125,000 per year. (A similar plan recently was signed into law in New York.)

We need to do more regarding education; it should be called “skill development” and include trades. Not everyone can go to college and handle subjects like

calculus or psychology. We need trade schools to prepare people to repair medical scanners, air conditioners, computers and those autonomous cars.

Young workers need to have a mindset to understand that in their lifetime they will have to transition multiple times to several different jobs as the pace of change accelerates, and they need to be lifelong learners.

We could shorten the workweek for everyone across the board.

Or if you want to go off the deep-end, implement universal basic income (UBI), which is a program where governments give every citizen a monthly stipend to help pay for basic needs, i.e., food, medicine, shelter. Finland is experimenting with this in one town.

Don Avedon can be reached at don avedon@aol.com

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April 18, 2017

Seven Sun City gardens featured in tour May 15

By Mary Dempsey CONTRIBUTOR

Ahhh . . . the beauty of spring in Sun City. There’s no better way to show off our community than to offer a garden tour, and the Avant-Gardeners Club will do just that.

Mark your calendar for the May 15 event, when visitors will have four hours (from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) to leisurely stroll through seven magnificent gardens located throughout the community.

Only 400 tickets will be sold. They are priced at $6 for members and $9 for non-members and are available by contacting Irene Randall at 843-705-9309 or Phyllis Hannan at 843-705-2741.

Avant-Gardeners garden tour chairperson Phyllis Hannan said that this event has been a year in the planning and involves more than 50 volunteers.

At this time last year, a committee of volunteers started scouting neighborhoods looking for special gardens to

highlight in the 2017 spring tour. Other volunteers assisted homeowners in readying the gardens, selling tickets and preparing publicity.

On the day of the event, club members will be stationed in the gardens to greet visitors and answer questions. Ticket holders are invited to enjoy refreshments prepared by club members and served at the Lakehouse from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

P H OTO B Y TO M M I L L S Barb Kocevar’s garden on Barb Kocevar, left, and Phyllis Hannan stop for a moment while Maplemere Lane is one of checking on Kocevar’s garden, which is on the tour. Hannan is the gardens on the tour. The the chair of the Avant-Gardeners Club’s 2017 tour. dening but with three boys had little time Kocevars have been in Sun City for only to pursue a hobby. Now she has created two years so this is a very new garden. what she calls her Hodge Podge Lodge. “I “We spent most of our lives in do not have a theme for my garden,” she Pennsylvania so Southern gardening is a said. “I search online and in nurseries just brand new experience for me,” she said.

Kocevar always had an interest in gar- finding and ordering plants I like.”

The garden features a large variety of flowering plants and succulents interspersed throughout with birdhouses, a birdbath, whimsical ceramic rabbits and a butterfly house.

As in the creation of this garden and all others on the tour, no professional landscaping had been utilized.

Maintaining such a garden requires time and energy. “I have a daily routine of deadheading and weed picking,” she said. “I keep up with the garden, spending a small amount of time each day. The key is to keep ahead of it.”

The tour enables visitors to enjoy a total of seven lovely gardens.

Although not part of the tour, why not end the day with a visit to the community’s hummingbird and butterfly garden?

Money raised by the tour is used to maintain this garden, located at Lake Somerset.

Mary Dempsey is a freelance writer living in Sun City.

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Second annual Pet Fair slated for May 15 at Pavilion The Sun City Hilton Head Dog & Pet Lovers’ Club is holding its second annual Pet Fair from 10 a.m. to noon May 20 at the Town Square Pavilion.

Last year’s event was a huge success and many vendors will be returning, and a host of new exhibitors will be on hand.

Beaufort Country Animal Services will be providing free microchipping and rabies vaccines. Locally renowned animal trainer Abby Bird will again be demonstrating dog agility and giving tips on good canine citizenship.

Attendees will be able to meet Dr. Courtney Van Acker, a local pet chiropractor, who can show how minor adjustments can relieve aches and pains pets might be experiencing.

Club President Connie fisher will be taking professional photographs to create portraits of pets.

All proceeds from the Fair are donated to local animal rescues and charity

groups. Palmetto Animal League, JARM, Maranatha, Rogue Rescue, and Hilton Head Humane will all be represented once again, along with several other rescue groups. Attendees can sign up to volunteer, become a foster home or start the process to adopt one of the many pets looking for forever homes.

There will be drawings and prizes and an array of pet product vendors such as Petco and All four Paws, as well as a groomer, a boarding facility, day care and veterinary services.

The Pet Fair is open to all Sun City residents their friends and family, and of course, their pets. Guests are asked to bring a donation of food, towels and blankets, toys, and even gift cards.

For more information, call Lucia Crosby at 443-789-8898, visit www.schhdogclub.org, or follow the club page on Facebook at Dog & Pet Lovers Club Sun City Hilton Head.

They’re Hooked!

P H OTO B Y S O P H I A S C H A D E

The Sun City Fishing and Hunting Club held its annual Freshwater Fishing 101 Seminar on March 31 at Lake Somerset. The seminar was open to all Sun City residents, and approximately 40 attended. Longtime residents and fishermen Don Field, John Hanson and Bill Syling taught guests about various fishing tackle, techniques and lures used to catch largemouth bass and crappie in Sun City lagoons.

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April 18, 2017

Acting teacher got her start at Atlantic City’s Steel Pier

By Mary Dempsey CONTRIBUTOR

If you are a “Jerseyite” now living in Sun City, you probably remember Atlantic City’s famous Steel Pier, the 1,000-foot-long amusement area on Boardwalk Avenue.

During the 1950s, it was my family’s go-to place for a summer weekend. My sister and I were enthralled by the midway games, the diving horse, and the Tony Grant’s Stars of Tomorrow shows.

Unbeknownst to us at the time, we might have been watching Sun City’s Bette Bowers performing there with the likes of Frankie Avalon and Connie Francis. Every summer from the age of 9 to 14, Bowers performed comedy monologues on that stage.

“From the time I was 5, my creative mother acted as my theatrical mentor,” said Bowers. “I have been involved in the theatre all my life.”

The many faces of Bette Bowers, who has been performing in theatre since the age of 5 and continues to teach the art of acting. Photos by Tom Mills.

Bowers studied acting at the Pittsburgh Playhouse as a teen and won acting and comedy awards during her college years.

She became a teacher of English, public speaking and play directing, but her real passion was teaching acting skills, which she did in both the academic arena and community theaters.

Throughout her career, Bowers continued to focus on teaching acting skills.

She says that acting does not come naturally. There is a necessary educational

process involved.

“I am a strong proponent of the importance of learning to act. Every actor must learn the process of creating a believable character,” Bowers said. “If you want to learn to dance, you take dancing lessons. If you want to learn to sing, you take singing lessons. Acting is no different. An actor’s job is to assume a persona that is not his own. An actor must be taught how to do this.”

Since coming to Sun City from Ohio in 2011, Bowers has been involved in the

Sun City Community Theater, where she has facilitated two acting workshops and directed several monthlies. Along with Eileen Waite, she most recently codirected the very well received show “Intimate Apparel.”

“Eileen and I brought together our education and theater experiences of over 50 years,” Bowers said. “The experience was challenging, exciting, sometimes frustrating but very satisfying.”

Mary Dempsey is a freelance writer living in Sun City.

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April 18, 2017

St. Jude Children’s Hospital a godsend for families

By Margret VanOrden Maloney CONTRIBUTOR

St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., owes its existence to Amos Muzyad Yakhooab Kairouz, who was born and raised on a horse farm in Michigan.

At the age of 28, he changed his name to Danny Thomas, a moniker now indelibly associated with the hospital, perhaps as well known for his work there as he was for his career as a television actor, comedian and producer.

Thomas’s dream of becoming a comedian was at a low spot when he prayed to St. Jude Thaddeus as he donated his last $7 at the altar of his Catholic church. He proposed a deal to the “patron saint of lost causes.” He promised that if he could succeed as a performer, he would build a shrine to St. Jude. As the saying goes, “the rest is history.”

His career flourished, and in the late

1950s he began creating a general hospital for children, but soon decided it could better serve as a cancer center. “No child should die in the dawn of life” became his motto. St. Jude opened in 1962.

Children and grandchildren of several Sun City residents have been treated at the Memphis facility. Jennie Moore’s son, Joseph Kendall Nickolaus, a victim of acute myeloid leukemia when he was 17, was one of them.

Moore recalled the first signs of the disease were a bruise and small, reddish spots. Their family physician immediately sent Joe to St. Jude’s, where he was admitted and treated.

“We drove from our home in Baton Rouge and arrived in Memphis at 5 a.m. expecting a long wait before being admitted, but we were delighted to find the hospital up and running with full staff – even at that hour,” said Moore.

Joe was an in-patient for 40 days, and

Joseph Kendall Nickolaus

his family is still grateful for the generous assistance given them.

They stayed at a local hotel, were provided with meals, and later, during Joe’s out-patient treatments, were able to fly to and from the hospital, all at no charge to them.

“The bonding among the patients is amazing,” said Moore, “and this too is

great comfort to the parents.”

Joe, whose treatment continued, was able to return home and graduate from high school with his class. Even as his illness worsened he sponsored a Radiothon, Joe Nickolaus Day, and raised $45,000 to benefit St. Jude’s.

Sadly, Joe Nickolaus succumbed to the disease when he was 18.

Joe’s family feels that St. Jude patients receive not only medical care, but are given comfort and the loving hope they need.

“Mental and spiritual peace for the patient is an important element of care,” said Joe’s stepfather, Joe Moore. “St. Jude’s was a true godsend.”

A fundraiser for St. Jude will be held in Sun City in September. Watch for more information about this annual event. To learn more about the hospital, visit www.stjude.org.

Margret VanOrden Maloney is a freelance writer who lives in Sun City.

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Bluebird eggs delight homeowner

P H OTO S B Y S O P H I A S C H A D E

Sun City resident and photographer Sophia Schade installed a bluebird house in her backyard for the first time this year. “Before I knew it, a beautiful couple started to hang out,” she said. “I started feeding them and they made my birdhouse their romantic place to hang out and decided to make it their home. I watched them build their nest – a neat, cup-shaped, woven nest of 100 percent fine grass or pine needles.” Schade recently discovered five eggs in the nest. “The eggs are powder blue. What a beautiful sight!” she said. “I am going to be a mommy! Now the worrying begins. How will I pay for college? Are all five going to hatch? I have to wait 14 days for our chicks to hatch.” Schade reports that male Eastern Bluebirds (pictured above) are a brilliant royal blue on the back and head, and warm red-brown on the breast. Blue tinges in the wings and tail give the grayer females an elegant look.

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