At the Helm

“Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place.”

While reading about love and thinking about Valentine’s Day, we stumbled upon this quote by late African-American author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston. Even for those who proclaim themselves cynical about the holiday, her words are uplifting: Love makes you brave enough to come out of hiding and reveal yourself. But it’s also complex. Hurston’s use of the verb “crawl” shows how difficult love is — we sometimes enter it reluctantly, slowly, almost against our will.

At Hilton Head Monthly, we believe in the power of positive thinking. We’re sure that 2019 will be a great year to live in the Lowcountry.

Since January is here once again, it’s time for our annual “Intriguing People” issue featuring some of our area’s most fascinating men and women. This year, we celebrate local innovators and inventors. According to the dictionary, while invention is the “creation of a product or introduction of a process for the first time,” innovation happens when someone “improves on or makes a significant contribution” to something that has already been invented. To put it another way, Thomas Edison was an inventor and Steve Jobs was an innovator. We’re grateful to the Don Ryan Center for Innovation for connecting us with the creative, forward-thinking folks we feature this month. 

The holiday season is the most wonderful time of year for many Lowcountry families, and we appreciate you sharing yours with us by reading this issue. The great American writer Washington Irving once said: “’Tis the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart." We couldn’t agree more.

Every month, the tagline “Your Voice” is an integral part of the cover  design for Hilton Head Monthly and Bluffton Monthly. This is more than just a catchy slogan. We strive to be the heart and soul of the Lowcountry’s identity and culture, and to accurately reflect what’s going on around town. By celebrating local life in all its facets and showcasing the community’s vibrant diversity, we bring people, places and causes together. 

THANKSGIVING IS AN INVITATION TO BE GRATEFUL FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE WE CALL HOME.

The season of gratitude is upon us, and with it comes the chance to be our best selves. In this issue we explore the themes of Thanksgiving, flight, luxury and sacrifice for our country, and we invite you to delve into them with us.

To live in a democracy is a luxury that many in the world don’t have. Just ask any immigrant who worked hard to gain U.S. citizenship — you will get a new perspective on what a privilege it is to exercise your right to vote. Regardless of your political persuasion, we hope you get out there and make your voice heard at the polls this month.

Here at Monthly, we’re feeling grateful this month that the Lowcountry escaped the wrath of Hurricane Florence — and sad for our neighbors to the north who were not as lucky. We encourage you to donate to the recovery efforts through reputable charities such as the American Red Cross and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. We hope we will never again need their disaster relief services here, but it could have been us. 

Dear Reader,

How do you know it’s September in the Lowcountry? The number of vacationers drops precipitously, there’s almost always a breeze at the beach, and Monthly brings you our annual City Guide. A September tradition here at Frey Media, the City Guide offers a chance to take stock of who we are as a community — including the places we love and the neighbors who make the Lowcountry thrive.

Dear Reader,
Every year, our August issue is one of our favorites because the stories in it are about pure and boundless types of love—the best part of the decidedly mixed bag called human nature. Our love for our pets, the rewards and challenges of caring for the elderly, and the daily efforts of both parents and teachers in the long march to educate children prove that, as a species, we’re hard-wired for goodness.

In July, the Lowcountry rolls out the red carpet for the thousands of visitors who flock here — mostly for a week at a time. Many Beaufort County residents work hard to make sure these visitors have a wonderful time — about 30 percent of Beaufort County jobs are directly related to tourism. Despite some traffic headaches, we’re grateful that so many families want to spend their free time and vacation dollars here.