Day: March 27, 2019

Creating Beautiful Smiles by Melissa LaScaleia “I grew up in Fayetteville, NC,” says Dr. Daniel W. Miller, Jr. “My grandfather was a dentist, and growing up, I used to spend a lot of time with him during the summer months; so began my love affair with dentistry.”  Dr. Miller attended Mars Hill University in the mountains of North Carolina, where he decided to take a pre-med track and double-majored in Biology and Chemistry. He received his degree in dental medicine from The Medical University of South Carolina in 1978. He’s been in practice for forty-one years.  Dr. Miller began his career in Dillon, SC, but eventually, the allure of the ocean brought him and his wife and children to the Grand Strand. They have called Murrells Inlet home since 1993.  Dr. Miller joined Dr. Philip N. Render in practice in 1995. Dr. Miller became the primary partner in the business in 2008. Today he owns the practice with his son Daniel W. Miller III.  Dr. Miller is encouraged: “The future of our practice is in the competent hands of Dr. Daniel W. Miller III, and our new associate, Dr. Benjamin H. Collins.”  Dr. Daniel W. Miller III followed in his father’s footsteps and has been practicing dentistry for fifteen years. He received his undergraduate degree from Wofford College, and received his degree in Dental Medicine from The Medical University of South Carolina in 2004. Dr. Dan also calls Murrells Inlet home and enjoys it with his wife and two children.  Their newest associate is Dr. Benjamin H. Collins, a native of Perry, GA. He came to love the Grand Strand while attending Coastal Carolina University where he received his undergraduate degree in Biology. He also played football at Coastal Carolina University and is a proud Chanticleer. Dr. Collins went on to receive his degree in dental medicine from The Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. In his spare time he enjoys golf and the Inlet life.  “I’m sure my sentiment is echoed by Dr. Dan and Dr. Collins when I say how lucky we are to live and work in a fast growing, ever changing, and diverse community,” says Dr. Miller. “We look forward to serving the dental needs of our community for a long time to come.” South Strand Dental Associates P. A. Envelope Phone Internet-explorer

​Through ART, We Inspire People to Have FUN and Create Lasting MEMORIES by Melissa LaScaleia Mike Heatherman and his wife, Chris, were living in Ohio. After their two daughters were grown and in college, they were looking for a way to move to a warmer climate.  “In 2016, our daughters were home from college on a break and we were looking for something fun to do as a family,” Mike says. “We went to Painting with a Twist in Ohio, and had such a great time that my wife and I decided that it was something we could move south and do.  “We owned a condo in Myrtle Beach already, and always liked coming here. We thought it was a nice community, with a nice change of seasons, but no snow. So Chris retired from public school teaching Spanish, and we moved here and opened our own franchise location.  “At Painting with a Twist, we create fun art, not fine art. People come as a group or individually, and take a class and learn how to paint a painting.”  “It’s more about the experience and having fun than trying to become an artist,” Mike explains. “We play music. People can bring their own wine or beer, or they can buy it from us. And at the same time, they can take something home that they created.”  The Painting with a Twist studio location in Myrtle Beach, SC. — Photo Meganpixels Parker Classes last from 2-3 hours, during which time, people can select from creating a traditional canvas painting to painting on wood, wine glasses, or their newest medium: a Rebeca Flott screen. This is a type of wood screen painting; mud is applied over a screen and then paint is applied over the mud. The screen can be hung in the window and light comes in around the 3D painting.  “We have activities that are perfect for date night, girls night out, parties, team building and corporate outings, or just to come out and have a good time in a safe place,” Mike says. “We also host Paint with Your Hero events for children. We teach local firemen and policemen how to paint a simple painting and then they teach the children. Our space is big enough to hold up to seventy people, or two private parties simultaneously.”  Mike and Chris are passionate about giving back to the local community.  “We hold what’s called a Painting with a Purpose event— where we give 50% of our proceeds back to a charity,” Mike says. “Our goal is to hold them monthly. We are looking for charities on an ongoing basis to partner with to be recipients.”  Painting with a Twist offers offsite painting parties if you prefer to have one in your own locale. They also host kids camps during the summer months and during school breaks. Painting with a Twist Myrtle Beach  Visit their website for their class schedule.  Envelope Facebook Phone Internet-explorer

Bringing the Healing Power of Plants to the Grand Strand and Beyond by Melissa LaScaleia Last year, Myrtle Beach native David Spang opened Coastal Green Wellness in the Market Common— South Carolina’s first CBD dispensary, which he runs with his girlfriend, Crystal Walter.  Their mission is to distribute high quality products to the public; offer knowledge about the healing powers of CBD; and promote and normalize the use of cannabis in the community as a healing tool.  “Over the past year, the success that we’ve had in partnership with medical practitioners in the area, from therapists, to orthopedic specialists, to pain management facilities, and even veterinarians— has been incredible,” David says. “It’s great to see practitioners on board with this. It’s a huge step to see patients bringing it up to their doctors, and even doctors suggesting it to their patients.”  CBD (chemical name cannabidiol) is an organic compound that comes from the hemp, or cannabis Sativa L. plant. In South Carolina, medical marijuana is not legal. But CBD, which has less than .3% of the psychoactive compound THC, found in both recreational and medical marijuana and which makes the plant so controversial, is— and it’s been shown to positively benefit a vast majority of medical conditions— everything from Alzheimers and Parkinson’s, to arthritis, sleep disorders, anxiety, autoimmune disorders, and chronic pain.  “The viewpoint of a drug is not the way to look at CBD,” David says. “It’s truly a vitamin or a nutrient. It promotes normal brain activity and function, and it’s non-psychoactive.  “So although it’s something you would take daily, you would do so in the same way you eat daily to nourish your body. It’s something you would never grow dependent on. We actually use it frequently to get people off of addictive medications— like benzodiazepines or opioids— because it’s excellent at balancing your dopamine and serotonin levels.  “CBD is something you should be able to take less of over time because it builds in the system. Once your body is in homeostasis it’s a lot easier to keep it there.”  David conducts independent lab testing on every product he carries in his store to ensure their potency and efficacy. — Photo Meganpixels Parker Quality control and education are David’s two biggest goals with his store.  “I make sure that my consumers are receiving as organic, safe, and effective a product as possible in the hemp industry right now,” he says. “Because CBD is not regulated by a government agency, there’s no stipulations on what you’re allowed to say in advertising or the quality of the products that you carry.  “There are CBD manufacturing companies purporting to carry pharmaceutical grade products, and charging 200% more for them. But there is no meaning behind their words— it’s all marketing. “Everything I say CBD can do, has been backed up with legitimate medical research. Because testing protocols on illegal drugs in the U.S. are so difficult and expensive to conduct, the majority of the documented research with case studies is coming from outside of the United States, with a large concentration from Israel and Italy.   “Professor Raphael Mechoulam of Israel was instrumental in paving the way for medical research on cannabis for the world; he was the first person to really approach it as medicine.  “There are quite a few reputable universities conducting double blind stage 3 and 4 clinical trials right now, reconfirming small human-based and animal studies, to prove the efficacy of CBD. This is what people would consider concrete evidence, something that is on a par with FDA standards. There’s a lot more funding being put into CBD, making this testing possible.”  David brings the highest quality full spectrum and whole plant extracts of CBD to his store that he can find, all grown in the U.S. To ensure their efficacy, he independently lab tests all of the products that he carries with a company out of Massachusetts called Pro-Verde Laboratories.  “They are one of the leading experts in the nation as far as Cannabis testing is concerned,” he says. “I want to make sure that these companies and products do what they say they are doing. I am positive that I am the only retail location in South Carolina that is doing this.”  In keeping with his mission of educating the public, David invites people to come speak to him about any of their CBD products or current regimen even if they didn’t get the product from Coastal Green Wellness.  Quality control and education are the two biggest aims of Coastal Green Wellness. — Photo Meganpixels Parker “My end goal entirely is for consumers to have the best and safest experience where they are getting the benefits that I believe CBD can offer,” David says. “People can always reach out to us.”  He and Crystal have created and continue to create literature about CBD; the crux of their information being taken from medical facilities.  They currently have about fifteen different pieces of literature on common ailments and the ways that CBD can make a positive impact on those conditions. They’ve updated their website, with a page devoted solely to eduction— so that someone with little to no knowledge about CBD can better understand a range of topics— everything from how to source a high quality product, to legality. “Particularly because I’ve seen how much CBD can benefit communities, it frustrated me that it wasn’t available here,” David says. “I want to help my local community through natural, safe, and alternative medicine, and take away the negative stigma attached to CBD use through education.”  David is expanding the communities he helps with the recent opening of two additional stores: one in North Myrtle Beach, and one in Atlanta, Georgia— with more to come.  “The North Myrtle Beach store will be our company’s flagship location,” he says. “It will set the tone for all our locations moving forward, in terms of being an upscale, inviting experience with high quality products.”  He’s also moving into the wholesale … Read more

A Must-Stop For Craft Beer in the Market Common by Melissa LaScaleia The Brass Tap opened a location in the Market Common in 2016. The craft beer bar and upscale pub-food-eatery is part of a corporate chain with about fifty franchise locations.  Last October, the Market Common venue changed ownership and had a grand reopening. The new owners are based out of Mount Pleasant, SC. They purchased three locations under the new company they formed— SBS Brewing Masters Inc.     “More than a year ago,” says Courtney Dumont, general manager, “The Brass Tap was a little bit of a stepchild in the Market Common. The original owners were not available to invest the appropriate amount of time and energy into it to make it be more successful; and all the employees as well as the community felt that lack.”  Courtney has been with The Brass Tap since the day they opened. She was hired in 2015, while they were still building. She went through corporate training and beer school, then was promoted to a shift manager, and eventually general manager.  “It was a really positive addition,” Courtney says, “to have someone who acts as a direct link between the general managers and owners. He brought in backing for the general managers as well as organization.   “There became greater communication between the three stores— all of us were more in synch; and all of us revamped what we were doing. It brought in a new energy and structure of support.  “The new owners were more involved, and at the same time, they allowed me a greater freedom in running my establishment than I had previously. They have truly given me the reigns; now I have the opportunity to get things that are new and different to expand The Brass Tap’s offerings.”  The Brass Tap changed ownership and had a grand reopening in the Market Common. Courtney Dumont (front and center), wielded the scissors and made it official. — Photo Rachel Ogg The Brass Tap offers a constantly rotating selection of 120 different craft beers— always 60 on tap, and 60 in bottle or can, as well as beer tastings and flights. They are not a brewery and don’t make beer on site; rather Courtney samples brews from all over the world, and selects their best one or two to offer for a limited time. On any given day, the Brass Tap will have between five to ten new beers.  “I select beers based on more than just what I like,” she says. “I meet with representatives, tasting samples; I am very hands-on and always trying new things. There is a trend throughout the seasons as to what styles of beer are more popular. In colder winter months, people prefer darker, sometimes heavier beers—like stout and porter. In the summer, they prefer lighter beers that are crisp and refreshing, or something hoppy like a full-flavored citrus IPA. For craft beer lovers, we can always find something new and exciting every time they come back. They can expand and try new things as we do.”  When original brews hit the market, Courtney grabs them knowing that they will be something innovative that no one in the area has ever tried. And when her distributors have only two kegs of a limited edition, she’s the first phone call they make.  The Brass Tap has a loyalty program called ‘The Brew Crew.’ With every new draft bottle or can purchased, you receive a point. As you gain points with purchases, you earn money back in rewards to use in-house.  “I have had people who have had 300 beers just in my location,” Courtney says. “I know those people and they know me by name. And if people fall in love with something and request it, we will bring it back if we can, as well as fulfill specific requests.”  Though their concept is craft rotation, there are a handful of well-known domestic beer brands that they keep in-house for those tip-toeing into the world of craft beer.  “There are some traditional domestic beers that we have a loyal clientele and following for,” Courtney says, “and we keep those in stock always.”  In addition to beer, The Brass Tap serves upscale pub food, with menu items like fresh prime rib, buffalo chicken wraps, and street tacos, which won first place in the Taste of Market Common, an annual competition in which the public votes on their favorite dishes from local area restaurants.  The Brass Tap team from left to right: Mattie Tippett, Kelsey Dean, Ashley West, Brett Arutz, Courtney Dumont, Shaye Creamer, Steffanie Delgado, Christian Townes, Megan Floyd, and John Wilson. — Photo Meganpixels Parker “We like to consider ourselves more of a polished bar,” Courtney says. “We have more than just burgers and chicken tenders— even though it’s definitely a sports-bar theme.”  The venue has over twenty televisions, and one 82-inch HD TV that they feature all the big games on.  They also have a full wine and liquor menu, and a newly added bourbon whiskey menu, with bourbon flights and tastings.  “We are trying new things with the liquor and bourbon specifically,” she says. “I have charcoal-lined wooden casks, and I’m infusing them with bourbon, Grand Marnier, and different liquors for twenty-one days. The bourbon soaks up the flavors of the wood and other liquors and develops multiple flavor profiles. Nowhere that I know of has a system like this. People are really excited about it.”  The Brass Tap is the only place in the Market Common besides Gordon Biersch that offers a happy hour that is every day of the week, from 4-7pm. And they are known amongst those in the know, for their ‘Bottomless Mimosa Brunch’ on Saturday and Sundays from 11am-2pm.  For $30 per couple, guests receive two entrees and all you can drink mimosas. Brunch items include Southern staples like biscuits and gravy, and sausage-egg burritos.  “Especially being 10 miles from the University, the brunch attracts a much younger crowd on the weekends,” Courtney says. … Read more