Hilton Head Island is known for its beautiful beaches, great restaurants and of course, the famous red and white lighthouse in Harbour Town, but when pulling back the outer layer, Hilton Head is so much more. It’s filled with rich, rooted culture, gorgeous, pristinely preserved nature, and a strong, close-knit community. With the island only being around 12 miles long and 5 miles wide, you can imagine how having a tight community is a must for many locals.

Seeking a little of your doctor’s attention when you are well just may prevent having to seek a lot of his/her attention in the future. Most of us understand it’s the little things that eventually band together and gang up on our health. One thing you must know without doubt: A penny of prevention is worth a pound of cure! In other words, early detection is the first line of defense when it comes to staying healthy—at every age! Be wise. Early detection doesn’t just pertain to cancer. By getting your yearly physical exam, early detection can find the beginning of little things before they become big problems. Common conditions that can be stopped, managed, or even reversed include high cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugars and blood pressure. Other factors can memory blips or weight gain. It’s easy to not give these symptoms that may be lurking inside of you a fighting chance. The fact is: When you regularly stay in touch with your health through physical exams, you are the winner!
Exams for the Decades — What you need now:

You may worship the sun, but the relationship isn’t mutual. Living in the Deep South, especially
on the coast, urges us to spend time on boats, courts, courses, sandbars and beaches—activities none of us are willing to forfeit. The good news is you don’t have to give up relishing your sunny days! Read on as our local medical experts shine the light on how to protect your skin from cancer.

I love summer, and getting out in the sunshine. Don’t you love the feel of that warmth on your skin? And yes, I love to get a tan. What I don’t love is to over pay for skincare products about which I know little or nothing. I have repeatedly preached about how we need to read and understand food labels, but we also need to understand what we feed to our skin. The prices of skin lotions and creams can be totally out of sight, and labels can be deceptive. Read on for a quick overview of some things to watch out for as you shop for that special item:

Right away, I will tell you to check out definitions of product types. For example, the term natural is very different from the term naturally derived. Also, the term non-toxic has a funny sort of description, as nearly everything can be toxic if you consume enough of it. This term is practically meaningless unless you take it in the literal sense, which means it is not poison, and who would sell something poisonous anyway?

Keeping it fresh is a huge challenge. I don’t just mean those of us who like to lay out in the sun and drink wine, or have chips and a soda for lunch either. I mean ME! I have been writing this column for quite a while, and I always try to bring something new to the table. No pun intended—I don’t mean just food either. In fact, I subscribe to five magazines to stay current and try to keep you current, as well. Getting in a rut is all too simple because the “rut” things we do are feel good stuff. Otherwise why would we keep doing them?

This month I have several anti-rut suggestions that are cheap and easy, which happen to be my favorite two adjectives for things in life. Oh, is that a rut? I think yes. Sigh. Which leads me to my first suggestion: Stick to anti-rut tactics that suit your lifestyle. Don’t go too far out of the box, or you will never stay there. Cheap and easy suggestion number one is to do more of what you are doing, but change it up a bit. I volunteer at a thrift shop, and I have been working in the ladies clothing department. I recently asked to switch to the book section for a while and be trained on the cash register. Now I enjoy my volunteer work so much more and plan to stick to it. Cost? Zero! Satisfaction and new fun? $$$$$!

“I decided that instead of riding on the back of a Harley, I wanted to ride my own. I found a safety course, which I passed, then got my own Harley weeks later. I’ve been riding for 26 years now!”

“I did a Lucille Ball in the kitchen. I owned five restaurants and had just ordered two thousand dollars of fish from Charleston, but when I opened the refrigerator it was hot and the fish were spoiled. It was the last straw. I started throwing plates, food and pans until one of my employees found me in a pile on the floor—crying. He ran out and got my husband, who said we would close the first of the year. My goal was to never have another employee, and so I became a sculptress.”

We were out cruising in our CraigCat and got caught in a storm. We went into a small creek for some protection. Well, we managed to corner a large shark in the creek… talk about scary! Finally it swam between the floaters on the boat. What a relief!

My sister was driving the boat when she was a teenager. We were going pretty fast into a cove at Lake Murray. Dad told her to turn, and she said she couldn’t. As we got closer to running ashore, he screamed, “Turn!” She turned around with the steering wheel in her hands and screamed, “I can’t!” Dad lunged forward to cut the engine, and we barely missed barreling onto land.

Documentary films are defined as non-fictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining historical record. This July, seven documentaries are being introduced.

Let’s face it, this spring has been pretty weak in the mainstream film release department, so why not try the real stuff—documentaries.

“There is nothing newer than looking at the past,” said Darius Arya, Rome based archeologist and filmmaker. For Darius, Rome is more than ancient history, it is living history and an ongoing story that Darius takes to lecture halls, the field and the big screens.

“Everyone dreamed of being Indiana Jones,” Darius said. “I figured I’d just do it. I wanted to be knee-deep in ancient inscriptions and underground sites, so I started with Latin.” While studying Classical Studies at University of Pennsylvania, Darius was accepted to participate in a semester in Rome at the Center for Classical Studies. While his focus was Greek and Latin, Darius was captivated by the active history all around him, which inspired him to continue his education with a Masters and PhD in Classical Archaeology at the University of Texas at Austin. He was awarded a Fullbright Scholarship at American Academy in Rome.

Meet Our May Pet Makeover Doggie, Auggie! He is adorable and loving, but most of all he’s just a giant goofball. Augustine, (Auggie is my nickname for him) is not like other dogs. His sweet personality is perfectly paired with a chill cha-risma. Not knowing anything about Auggie, most would stereotype him with the usual “big dog” characteristics—boisterous, cumbersome, gigantic, but he is actually a cuddly lap dog. This big, furry goof, which now resides at Hilton Head Humane Association (HHHA), has a tendency to rub up on you, walk in between your legs, give out hugs, and the occasional lick on the face.

“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” – Plato

Ken Weisner has worn many hats in his more than 35 years on Hilton Head Island. From bartender to personal trainer to staffing specialist, Ken has never been afraid to take risks and try new things. Still, by the looks of his newest title, this might be one of the most intriguing reinventions yet: Chief Playmaker.

In 2017, Ken founded Beach Play Company of Hilton Head, specializing in beach parties with a purpose. Understanding that today’s consumers are looking for unique, one-of-a-kind experiences, Ken helps people connect with each other through play, creating unique memories that will last a lifetime.
For some gatherings, such as family reunions or wedding parties, the goal may simply be a day of fun at the beach. For this, Ken offers a long list of activities including fishing and crabbing, beach Olympics, water gun games, and scavenger hunts, just to name a few!

Queen for a day?  Some of us would be happy to be queen for 10 minutes! Our busy, over-scheduled lives sometime scream for a little royal pampering, but what if that pampering wasn’t temporary, and the throne was a seat where your mirror always reflected beauty and confidence? Well, Personal Stylist, Image Consultant, and Color Analysis Expert, Wendy Jacobs of Bluffton’s House of Colour (HOC) just might be your fashion fairy-godmother.

The role of queen was recently played by Pink Magazine’s Advertising Sales Executive, Dawn Harris. A day of exploration into her color style and profile was great fun, but the method ... purely scientific.

“In my neighborhood all my friends’ mothers were like Betty Crocker. My mother, Bette, was 6-foot-tall and sometimes in jail for protesting nuclear power; we lived next to Three-Mile Island. Mom had been a Lt. Colonel in WWII, a nurse who saved lives. In retrospect, I’m damn glad she was my Mom—forget about the cookies!”

“My oldest son got pulled over for drag racing his Camaro. My smart-self decided to drive him to school to embarrass him. But I forgot I didn’t know how to drive the thing! I was so ashamed.”

“My MOMFAIL was in advising my girls not to date the bad boys. LOL! They never listened, as usual!”

George Tribilcox is a man who knows what he likes. He also knows how to get it when not within reach. George freely acknowledges that he is a fan of Pink magazine. Monthly, George would be on the lookout for the next issue. On one occasion a few years ago, George could not find a copy in the Beaufort area. Not wanting to miss a month of the magazine he so enjoys, he solved the problem quickly. He drove from his home on Fripp Island to the Hilton Head headquarters of Pink Magazine. Upon arrival, George shared he had driven over an hour for his monthly Pink fix.

“I love the stories and artwork in Pink. I even take them home to Maryland for my friends to read…”

“Pink Magazine is full of inspiring and informative articles. A lot of businesses that advertise in it are great. And, I’m all for being the best woman I can be. Staying in good health and the listing of top doctors and businesses to enhance any features you want to have taken care of—inspires!”

“I love networking with incredible women through Pink Magazine!”

“Pink makes me feel very supported by other women.”

“Pink is Fun, Beauty, Life and Love.”

One evening, as Wayne Beckley leisurely enjoyed a glass of wine, he found himself thinking about the ‘French Paradox’, a research study in which the French were found to suffer significantly lower rates of heart disease despite a diet rich in saturated fats. While many theories were proposed, one stood out—it must be the wine. Red wine, long a staple in French households, contains a high concentration of the antioxidant Resveratrol, which helps neutralize the toxic effects of natural cell metabolism.

As he slowly finished his glass, he pondered: If red wine was so beneficial to the inside of our bodies, what about the outside?

“On the way to Jamaica, at the tender age of 18, I immediately had guys approaching me saying something I thought was an offer of a picture, and of course, I said – ‘yes’. What they were asking was my hand in marriage!”

“I was traveling in Sweden by train, it stopped, and everyone got off except me and my friend; we were busy talking, not paying attention. The train started moving and rolled into a dark tunnel and turned itself off. We had to pull the windows down and yell for help!”

“I was at Disney World where apparently I had split my pants in the back and did not know. A couple hours later, when I went to ride the magical teacups, I noticed my behind was cold on the seat! Now my family has a joke: ‘Why don’t we do what Mandy’s pants did at Disney and split!’”

It was my great honor and privilege to meet and interview our February Motivational Man, Dick Rigler. The 94-year-old veteran of World War II is a tall handsome fellow with an engaging smile, sparkling eyes, and a quick wit. His visual impairment and walker don’t compromise his zest for living. He has gathered bushels of memories throughout his life.

The first memory he chose to share is one that indelibly shaped his life. He was a mere 18-year-old boy when Uncle Sam summoned him in April of 1943. As a member of the 104th Infantry Division, Dick experienced his first battle in Holland, after which he marched with his troops through Germany and met up with the Russians just south of Berlin. He saw front line combat in Germany and witnessed several of his army buddies killed. Dick recalls: “We were babies when we crossed the Roer River. I was a combat engineer, and it was our job to take the infantry safely across the river in rowboats before dawn with 11 mph river currents.”

“I met a really nice, well-educated guy back in my single days of the early ‘70s.  He turned out to be a warlock. He put a spell on my roommate and the following week she lost her job and her cat died!”

“I dated two guys at the same time. When they both showed up at my house at the same time, one held me down, while the other wanted to cut all my hair off so no one would date me. LOL! It didn’t happen. I still have all my hair!”

“The doctor I worked for and his wife were coming for a Christmas get-together, and I wanted everything to be perfect. I made two different dishes, covered them with foil, and placed them in the refrigerator in similar oven/fridge safe pans. Minutes before my guests arrived, I put one of the dishes in the oven to cook. When my boss walked in, he pointed out something was burning! I put the wrong dish in the oven; the congealed, strawberry pretzel salad was toast.”

“I gave the wrong present to my old boyfriend; it was supposed to go to my new boyfriend!”

James Hester, CEO and one of several counselors at Hope Performance Systems on Hilton Head, is the perfect Motivational Man for our January theme: #FindYourBalance. Both he and his company are all about new beginnings, keeping balanced, and most of all, hope.

James was born in South America to a Peruvian educator mother and an American father, who was in the oil business. Sadly, they both passed away last year. “The worst year of my life,” James said, “but they passed on a great heritage.” Among the gifts he received from his mother: the ability to speak fluent Spanish, a thirst for learning new things, and a passion for mentoring others. From his father, James inherited the desire and drive to become an innovative businessman with big plans on the horizon.

Ross Vezin is a tall, lanky redhead with a big smile and a firm handshake. He greeted me wearing a crisp, ironed uniform, indicating he’s a Captain with the City of Beaufort and Town of Port Royal Fire Departments. He looks a little young to have already attained this rank, but he admits to being 30, has over 10 years of experience with the department, and holds a Master’s degree. He is definitely a young man with lots to give to the community and does he ever deliver!

Ross chose a career in firefighting after his best friend’s father, Captain Jim Dillon of Miramar (Florida) Fire and Rescue was killed in the line of duty in 2006. Dillon’s role model as a selfless public servant of the community inspired Ross to attend the Fire Academy in Florida. After graduation, Ross sent out applications all over the Southeast, and the City of Beaufort invited him for a physical agility test and interview. A few days later they offered him the job, and Ross moved and made Beaufort his hometown.