Hilton Head People

THE WATTERSON FAMILY FOUNDATION FLOURISHES AS MAJOR FORCE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE 

For many of us, this past year has been one of unimaginable struggle. Whether you have lost a loved one to COVID-19 or you’ve seen your small business hobbled or your livelihood destroyed by the financial meltdown that followed the pandemic, 2020 has been a year of almost unsurmountable challenge. 

But sometimes, from the darkest days shine the brightest hopes. Sometimes adversity teaches us, makes us stronger as we turn our wounds to wisdom. Few know how much of a motivating factor hardship can be better than Billy Watterson.

NEW VIM PATIENT CARE LEADER INSPIRED BY HER MOTHER, THE NONPROFIT’S FIRST CLINIC DIRECTOR

Life has a way of coming full circle. And that is the case at the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic on Hilton Head Island. 

When the clinic opened its doors in 1993, Angie Greenfield was the organization’s first clinic director. Earlier this year, director of patient care, Julie Copp, retired. She was succeeded by Jennifer Gatlin, Greenfield’s daughter. 

POSITIVE INTERACTIONS TOP PRIORITY FOR NEW BLUFFTON POLICE CHIEF

As cities and towns around the country grapple with tenuous relationships between communities and police, Bluffton has hired a police chief who places positive community relations at the top of her agenda. 

Bluffton is a special place where the police department and the community are integrated, Chief Stephenie Price said. And even though she is the department’s third permanent chief of police since Joey Reynolds retired in 2017, morale is high, Price said. 

PUBLIC WILL HAVE INPUT ON FACE MASK ORDINANCE

One of the responsibilities as chairman of the Beaufort County Council is to place items on the council agenda that will ensure and protect Beaufort County so that it will continue to be one of the most desirable places in the United States to live, work, vacation, enjoy and appreciate. 

The super majority of council honestly believed that the emergency ordinance that we originally passed and renewed has helped to protect Beaufort County from suffering a greater loss of life and incidence of illness while ensuring that our economy stayed open as much as possible. 

STONEWORKS WELCOMES SALES REPRESENTATIVE

Carole May has been hired as an outside sales representative at StoneWorks. May is responsible for developing professional relationships and connecting different industries with the StoneWorks mission. Her professional background includes sales positions in the wholesale and retail industries, including the furniture industry and outside sales for soft goods.

1. HOSPICE CARE OF THE LOWCOUNTRY NAMES DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

James Dismond has been named director of development at Hospice Care of the Lowcountry. Originally from Tompkinsville, Ky., he attended Berea College and Marshall University. 

The coronavirus pandemic continues to sweep across the country — and Hilton Head Island is certainly no exception. Especially hard hit are the patients of Volunteers in Medicine HHI, 10,000 people living and/or working here without health insurance. 

Many are on the front lines — landscapers, food and beverage employees, housecleaners, retail store workers, deliverers and others who keep the island and its economy humming.  For them, social distancing is often not available. They and their families are virus-vulnerable.  This summer, nearly a third of the 600 VIM patients who were tested for COVID-19 tested positive.

The Santa Shop at Deep Well has some new twinkles this year. Re-designed for social distancing, Santa’s Shop will still offer meaningful gifts that parents personally select for their children ages 1 to 12 years old. The Santa Shop has served 500 to 900 children per year during the last five years 

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Deep Well will not place toy collection bins around the island. Donors who wish to purchase or collect gifts can review the Santa Shop Wish List on Deep Well’s website. These items can be dropped off at Deep Well at 80 Capital Drive before Dec. 10. 

J COSTELLO GALLERY HIGHLIGHTS STORYTELLING OF NEW ARTISTS

Ten years is a significant period of time by any measure, and in the art world notably so. Established in 1999, J Costello Gallery celebrates 10 years this month in its location at Red Fish restaurant on Hilton Head Island.

The gallery was previously in the Seacrest Building on the south end of the island, before moving to its current spot in 2010.