At the Helm

Happy new decade! Over the past 35 years, we at Monthly have followed our mission to be the “Voice of the community.” We have grown to be the leading local media channel that inspires, informs and, most importantly, connects Lowcountry residents. 

As we welcome the new decade, we decided to turn a new page in our long history and make VOICE our new brand going forward. While the word “Monthly” denoted our publishing frequency, we feel “Voice” is more telling of who we are and what we aim to do: Convey all the stories worth telling by covering a wide spectrum of topics, and give our audience a true sense of place. Through our online and social presence, our newsletters, the print edition and other specialty publications, we are uniquely positioned to make a positive difference in our community by being dedicated to local journalism and the place we call home. 

Dear Reader,

A look at the dedication that went into Monthly in 2019, by the numbers: 

18,480 HOURS OF WORK BY STAFF AND CONTRIBUTORS

  2,174 PAGES 

          1 COMMUNITY

Dear Reader,

In between courses of turkey and pumpkin pie, Thanksgiving presents an annual opportunity for reflection. At Monthly, we’re profoundly grateful for many things: for the opportunity to live in such a beautiful destination, for our friends and family, and for having the chance to participate in our readers’ lives.

Despite the many culinary preparations that go along with Thanksgiving, the meal is the centerpiece — but it’s not the celebration. Whether the feast is transcendent or simple, Thanksgiving is defined by the act of coming together. It’s also an opportunity to extend the ritual of gratitude outside of ourselves. Bring everyone you can to the table or let yourself be brought to it. Give thanks for what you have and whom you love.

Dear Reader,

Here at Monthly, we’re feeling grateful that the Lowcountry escaped the wrath of Hurricane Dorian — and sad for residents of the Bahamas who were not as lucky. We encourage you to donate to the recovery efforts for them and for Texas, which was hit hard with flooding after Tropical Storm Imelda, 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,

September is when locals get to enjoy the best the Lowcountry has to offer. 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 help the Lowcountry thrive.

In these pages, you’ll hear from the mayors of Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and Hardeeville. We also check in with town officials and show you a snapshot of growth and development on the mainland by the numbers. We’ve also included an update about what’s happening on Pope Avenue and at Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park.

Dear Reader, 

“One of life's most persistent and urgent questions is, 'What are you doing for others?’” Civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. posed this question in a 1963 speech about the importance of altruism versus selfishness. We believe that caring for others is worth celebrating, and every year, our August issue looks at pure and boundless love — the best part of the decidedly mixed bag called human nature.

Many Lowcountry residents spend a lot of time making sure the pets, seniors and children in their lives are well cared for and happy. This month, we celebrate our love for animals, compassionate care of the elderly and the late summer rite of students returning to school.

Dear Reader,

In July, the Lowcountry welcomes thousands of visitors who flock here for precious vacations with family and friends. Despite some traffic headaches, tourism is one of the largest job creators in the Lowcountry and we are grateful that so many families want to spend their time and money here. Many Beaufort County residents work hard to make sure these guests have a wonderful time while they’re here, and in this issue, we introduce you to some of the folks who are on the front lines of summer every day: guarding our beaches, serving meals, guiding boats safely to shore and more.

It’s finally summer — the season that children and teachers have been longing for.

All over the Lowcountry, we’re rolling out the red carpet for the visitors who sustain our economy and show us just how good we’ve got it living here year-round. From all over the country and the far corners of the world, they’re arriving to revel in what we sometimes take for granted: wide, clean beaches; rolling waves; and days filled with golden sunshine.

The Lowcountry is a special place in the spring.

As the last bit of cold fades away and the wisteria and Carolina jasmine bloom, we’re ready to get back outside and explore all the Lowcountry has to offer.

Here at Monthly, we’re celebrating mothers in this issue. We hope you enjoy writer Laura Jacobi’s story about the sacrifices made by parents of promising young athletes, and our feature about a Hilton Head Island mom who is a social media entrepreneur. We also sit down with Laura Cramer, who is 93 years old and still actively — and very successfully — selling real estate in Sea Pines with her daughter, Carol.