Dear Reader,
In September, we bit our fingernails as we stared down yet another hurricane, hoping our collective will would change Irma’s mind. We watched as she decimated the vulnerable Caribbean and then barreled straight up Florida. Then, even as many of us had evacuated, the fierce storm drew further west, to our relief. It was certainly an emotional time that stung more with the fresh memory of Hurricane Matthew.
The sliver of storm we got certainly made an impact, stalling the flow of our lives and livelihoods for days. Those who stayed watched as the storm surge buoyed an 8-foot king tide as the water bubbled too close for comfort. Beaches and dunes were transformed overnight. A red Coast Guard buoy washed ashore and quickly became an icon of the storm.
Nevertheless, as the debris clears, we find ourselves #LowcountryStrong. Inside this issue of Hilton Head Monthly, you’ll find a pullout guide featuring many businesses represented by Shop More Local. Founded by my husband Marc just after Hurricane Matthew, this nonprofit group supports local businesses through wide-sweeping marketing initiatives. What better time to come together then after yet another storm? And speaking of local businesses, don’t forget to cast your vote in the annual Hilton Head Monthly Reader’s Choice Awards. The deadline is Oct. 15, so show some love for your favorite local professionals and businesses.
Looking out my window, I can see the marsh grass growing ever more golden as if to say, “Fall is here.” That means it’s almost time for the annual Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d’Elegance, certainly a cornerstone of Hilton Head social life. For the last 16 years, it has drawn a devoted crowd of car enthusiasts while bringing the community together. We look forward to dressing up, seeing and being seen, and admiring the timeless automobiles. To foreshadow the elegance to come, we’ve paired fashion with horsepower in our fall fashion shoot in the gorgeous Oldfield community. Our models showcased a variety of looks offered by local boutiques this season.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention breast cancer awareness this month. This issue features a touching story of a mother and daughter who both beat the disease; they went on to walk in Pledge the Pink, three races on three islands over three days to raise money for treatment, research and prevention.
Also, we are pleased to see a new month-long festival enrich the island. Presented by the Arts & Cultural Council of Hilton Head, Crescendo! is a celebration of Lowcountry arts including dance, theater, live music, art and history.
Also in this issue: Native islanders present a fishing clinic; a couple moves off the grid into a “tiny house” on Daufuskie Island; and, in a new edition of Where Are They Now?, an island native reinvents herself in Charleston.
Anuska Frey, Publisher
anuska@hiltonheadmonthly.com
