Hilton Head Living

PEOPLE AGES 65 AND OLDER IN BEAUFORT COUNTY

EVERETT MILES PUTS YOUNG PEOPLE FIRST DURING RETIREMENT

A couple of telephone calls and a love of making a difference in the lives of the underserved led to accomplishments that Everett Miles never would have predicted. 

His parents had very little formal education, but they believed in its value and wanted it for their children. They were intelligent and had a strong work ethic; the dry-cleaning business they built in Richmond, Virginia, was the largest in their community. It made sense, then, that Miles would embrace learning and study business administration. 

SERVICE CLUB IS A HIT AT ST. FRANCIS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Newcomers might be surprised to find that a service group called Beta Club is one of the most popular student organizations at St. Francis Catholic School on Hilton Head Island. But a recent trip to play Pictionary with residents at Bloom at Hilton Head assisted living highlighted the club’s appeal.

On a Monday afternoon when they would normally be in study hall, eighth-graders gathered in the school’s cafeteria. They discussed a bit of club business — possible locations for an upcoming beach cleanup day — and then, after adult sponsor Laura Christie checked to make sure each student had handed in a permission slip, the group walked through the school’s parking lot to Bloom.

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

Photo: Carolyn Vanagel (left) is passing the baton to Lindsey Harrell, who will take over as president of the Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance & Motoring Festival. 

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.