Hilton Head Monthly Voice Voice of the Lowcountry 
PALMETTO BLUFF BAT PROJECT REVEALS 13TH LOCAL SPECIES
Every evening, as the Lowcountry sky darkens, you’ll see them swooping and diving, flying pell-mell. Their flight pattern is distinctive, and once you learn to recognize it, you’ll start to see bats everywhere at dusk.
Fourteen species of bats can be found in South Carolina; until recently, only 12 were known to be present in Beaufort County. But there’s a new bat in town.
FOOTHILLS TRAIL OFFERS GREAT FALL HIKING IN THE UPSTATE
Living in the Lowcountry, where the only thing approximating a hill are berms on a Hilton Head Island golf course or the graceful arch of a bridge, it’s easy to forget that South Carolina has its own small share of the majestic Appalachian Mountains.
Tucked away in the northwest corner of the state lies the Foothills Trail, a shorter — but no less spectacular — cousin to the more famous Appalachian Trail. The idea for this National Recreational Trail began in the 1960s as an effort to preserve and protect the beauty of the Appalachian foothills. The trail corridor was completed in 1981.
POLO RETURNS TO ROSE HILL UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP
The Two Hundred Club of the Coastal Empire and the Lowcountry Foundation for Wounded Military Heroes have partnered to revamp the popular sporting event formerly known as Polo for Charity, which was organized by the Rotary Club of Okatie-Bluffton for 20 years. It's now called Polo 4 Heroes and supports wounded veterans and first responders.
The Two Hundred Club of the Coastal Empire provides financial assistance to surviving spouses and dependents of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and paramedics killed in the line of duty, while the Lowcountry Foundation for Wounded Military Heroes supports wounded veterans through a variety of charitable programs. Together, they have donated over $4 million to their beneficiaries.
NASCAR'S LYN ST. JAMES REFLECTS ON HER IMPACT AS CONCOURS CELEBRATES WOMEN BEHIND THE WHEEL
The automotive world, it’s often said, is a man’s world. Most body shops are dominated by men, and most automotive hobbyists — the people who tinker in their garages over the weekend, restoring classic cars or just fiddling with the one they’re driving at the moment — and racing fans tend to be men, statistics indicate.
But then, Lyn St. James has never been one to be held back by stereotypes. And certainly not when it came to her racing career.
WILL MILLENNIALS CONTINUE AMERICA'S LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE AUTOMOBILE?
As the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival looks down the road to future festivals, a fork in the road looms: Will automotive hobbyists and car collecting become a thing of the past, or can future generations be convinced to take it for a spin?
As ever-evolving technology makes cars seem less like works of art and more like robots and computers — and as self-driving cars and ride-sharing services impact rates of car ownership — industry insiders worry that future generations won’t share their appreciation for a well-designed chassis or the throaty purr of a carefully maintained engine.
NEW LEADERSHIP WILL STEER HHI CONCOURS
In just a short while, elegant cars, boats and motorcycles will make their way to the Lowcountry for the annual Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival. It’s a bittersweet moment for me, because this will be my last year as Concours president after 16 years behind the wheel.
THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD’S FAVORITE PARTY RETURNS
If there’s one thing that could be said for Hilton Head Island, it’s that we make everything just a little bit more fun. Take that big cocktail party we throw every April — you know, the one with the golf tournament? For pro golfers, that’s the most fun they’ll have on the tour all year.
It’s very much the same in the automotive world. The Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival has quickly earned a reputation as the “fun” Concours event among automotive aficionados from coast to coast. Let Pebble Beach have its pomp and circumstance. Here on Hilton Head, Concours offers an enjoyable week of automotive excitement.
If you live in the Lowcountry year-round, chances are your friends who live elsewhere are jealous. This area’s beautiful beaches, worldclass resorts and wide selection of restaurants, shopping and activities make Hilton Head Island, Daufuskie Island and Bluffton top vacation destinations and a great place to call home. For those who decide to stay year-round, the Lowcountry’s many planned communities offer beautiful homes and unparalleled amenities.
PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS OF HILTON HEAD AUDUBON
Birding is one of America’s favorite leisure pastimes. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, more than 45 million Americans watch birds, whether in our backyards or in a local park or far-flung destination.
The good news is that on Hilton Head Island, you don’t have to go far to enjoy great-looking birds. You just need to step outside. More than 220 bird species have been observed on Hilton Head, and fall migration is a great time to see them.
NEW SUPERINTENDENT SEES POTENTIAL FOR EXCELLENCE
Months before he was named superintendent of the Beaufort County School District — even before he applied for the job — Frank Rodriguez spent four days scoping out the Lowcountry.
He traveled throughout the county, frequenting all the places where ordinary folks might be found. Grocery stores, post offices, public spaces. He told people he was thinking about moving here, that he has two kids — boys ages 10 and 14 — and asked what they thought of the public schools.
