Monthly Columnists

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. 

MY S.C. DISTRICT HADN’T VOTED FOR A DEMOCRAT IN 40 YEARS. WHAT HAPPENED?

In sports, the team that loses is the team that studies the game-day tapes the hardest. In the military, it’s called an after-action review. But somehow in politics, it’s different. Too often, political figures simply blame the other side — or at least someone besides themselves.

On Nov. 6, voters will head to the polls to cast their ballots in midterm elections. The most important regional item is a referendum on a 1 percent tax to fund road, bridge and bike path improvements, which we need.

Chris Ervin doesn’t forget where he came from. At 27, he’s moved to Rock Hill and taken his first steps down his chosen career path, but he still remembers and follows the advice of his grandfather, Hilton Head Island resident Tom Barnwell — known as a champion of the island’s Gullah culture, and for his efforts to improve health care, affordable housing, education and economic development on the island.

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.

At noon Sept. 10, as Hurricane Florence swirled in the Atlantic, South Caroline Gov. Henry McMaster called for a mandatory evacuation for all of Beaufort and Jasper counties. Lane reversals and supervised barricades would restrict traffic coming into Beaufort County and onto Hilton Head Island starting at noon the next day.

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. 

For my high school graduation paper, I wrote about the future of mankind. Freshly influenced by the essay “Brave New World Revisited” by Aldous Huxley, the thesis of my essay was that mankind was not meant to work in order to enjoy life — a believe that many

18-year-olds maintain today — but that we would instead invent machines to take over repetitive tasks and craft “smart apes” that would tackle more nuanced tasks, like gardening.

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.

WHO IS TO BLAME FOR PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES?

Smoking kills. It’s a slogan we’ve heard a thousand times over, thanks to public health initiatives and staunch anti-smoking ad campaigns, court-ordained and paid for by the tobacco industry itself. If you’ve opened a newspaper lately (who does that anymore?) you’ll find stark, full-page ads that say cigarettes claim 1,200 Americans a day. And the warnings are getting dire thanks to a court ruling following a decade-long lawsuit, USA v. Philip Morris USA.

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.