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Day: July 28, 2020

Tidelands Health

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Health Initiatives For the Covid-19 Crisis by Melissa LaScaleia Tidelands Health is the largest health care provider along the Grand Strand, and serves both Horry and Georgetown counties. The not-for-profit 501(c)(3) has more than 2,000 employees and multiple service lines and ambulatory sites, as well as two acute-care hospitals and two inpatient rehabilitation hospitals.  All of these resources means more comprehensive care for the community. The organization has been known as Tidelands Health since 2015 but traces its roots to 1950, when they had one hospital in Georgetown. “Because we’re situated in one of the fastest growing regions of the country, we’ve grown very fast over the past ten years as we’ve continued to expand the organization to meet the needs of the population— both with geographic distribution as well as with the size and scale of our offerings,” says Gayle Resetar, chief operating officer of Tidelands Health. As with any health system, Tidelands Health has a number of services to care for you if you’re sick, but they also prioritize proper health screenings for at-risk populations to have early detection and thus early intervention. “We’re engaged in identifying how we can prevent disease,” Gayle says. “We’re not just taking care of patients with illnesses, but those who may be more susceptible to them.  “Our mission is to help people live better lives through better health. We’re very interested in our community’s health status as much as we’re interested in providing exemplary sick care.” To date, Tidelands Health has performed more than 15,000 Covid-19 tests, and by the end of July, should have completed another 10,000. (Photo by Josh Bell) In keeping with this mission, Tidelands Heath is engaged in a variety of population health initiatives like pre-diabetes and cancer screenings.  Since Covid-19, they’ve incorporated testing for the virus into their protocol. “When Covid-19 began full scale in March,” Gayle says, “we began ramping up for a spike in ICU admissions and began to do a few things to be prepared to respond to a significant increase in inpatient hospitalizations.  “The timing was such that when schools closed, businesses closed, and the stay-at-home order was issued, we flattened the curve. We temporarily suspended elective surgeries and procedures both to ensure that we had sufficient workforce for emergency cases, as well as to make sure that we had sufficient personal protective equipment.  “We certainly saw some Covid-19 patients, but we didn’t see the surge we anticipated. “When we began to work on preparations, what we called our surge program, we began processes to make sure we were actively screening and testing patients at the right time, in the right place, and with the right resources. Through the early part of Covid, we managed to not overwhelm our system, and were able to provide the services the community needed.” By May, as the system began to be more stable, Tidelands Health began to encourage the community to get their normal health care services back on track.  Safe in Our Care is a campaign of protocols and procedures they implemented— setting in place different ways of doing business. “We changed the way we operate,” Gayle says. “We began screening patients for fevers when they came in the door, increased sanitary procedures, and ensured adequate distance between people so that we were ready to safely take care of people.” At the same time, the state was working on beginning to lift the stay-at-home order and getting businesses operational again, but wanted to do that with an expansion of community-wide screenings for Covid-19 on a large scale. “DHEC asked for provider partners to help facilitate testing in the community,” Gayle says. “We were actively testing in our primary care locations, and were well positioned to step up and support their mission of testing 2% of the population. We also set up outdoor clinics where you could go and be evaluated if you had symptoms of Covid-19, instead of having to go to the emergency room.” Tidelands Health has streamlined their testing procedures so that they are able to test 3,000 people over the course of 6-7 hours with an average wait time of 1 hour per person. Above, an aerial view of one of their test sites. (Photo courtesy of Tidelands Health) As of mid July, Tidelands Health has performed more than 15,000 Covid-19 tests. In partnership with DHEC, they are on track to completing another 10,000 tests by the end of July. “We’re leading our community with this,” Gayle says. “There’s no other health system in our community that’s been involved with testing the way we have been.” Tidelands Health administers tests in a variety of different ways. If you are admitted to the hospital you may receive one. If you have symptoms of Covid-19, you can go to one of their primary care clinics to be evaluated by physicians.  Other testing events are free drive-through community screenings in partnership with DHEC where no appointment is necessary. At the free testing events, people wait in line from the safety of their cars and pull up to check-in stations to register. Then they drive on to a collection station to give a specimen to be tested.  Tidelands Health has perfected the efficiency of these events so that they are able to test 3,000 people over the course of 6-7 hours, with wait times averaging about one hour per person. The turnaround time for test results is no more than five business days. “There aren’t many places testing 3,000 people a day,” Gayle says. “And not every community health system is testing at community health events. Some health providers have stopped testing for asymptomatic people.  “Right now, we’re continuing to break records every day with widespread increases in Covid-19 cases in our community and the number of hospitalizations is growing as well. “These community screenings are a piece of our overall response plan. It’s a two-part process— working with additional staff for ICU beds, and testing. Testing is one of the weapons in our arsenal because … Read more

Cleaning and Covid-19 With Healthy Home

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A Clean You Can Count On by Healthy Home With the current climate of Covid-19, people now more than ever before want to know how to clean and disinfect their homes and businesses properly to stay safe. A poll by The American Cleaning Institute, has found that 4 out of every 10 Americans are not using disinfectant sprays and wipes properly— a scary statistic. Below are The American Cleaning Institute’s key tips to properly disinfect surfaces.  Pre-clean any surfaces prior to disinfecting to remove any excess dirt or grime. Use the disinfecting spray or wipe as directed on its label. After disinfecting, let the surface air dry, making sure it stays wet for as long as recommended on the product label (usually at least 10 minutes). This is absolutely critical to ensure that the proper germ or virus kill takes place as intended. Don’t reuse a disinfectant wipe. Hard surface floors can be a reservoir for bacterial contaminants and other unwanted matter that conventional cleaning cannot effectively clean. (Photo Healthy Home) Remember that the priority is cleaning— disinfecting should always take place last, as disinfectants are not as effective when applied to uncleaned surfaces. Green Seal, another organization, reminds us that when you clean, you create a safer and healthier indoor environment.  Carpets, upholstery, mattresses, hard flooring and air ducts should all be cleaned on a regular basis. It’s not the visible soil that affects your health— it’s the unseen germs and bacteria.  A recent survey found that 90% of the soles on shoes had traces of dead matter on them. Even hard flooring appearing clean can be a reservoir of bio contaminants.  Viruses and mold spores have always been all around us. They are nothing new. Simply continue regular cleaning and maintain a clean environment to stay safe. A virus is very opportunistic— even if there is .1% of RNA left, once it attaches to a host it will grow again. A virus does not like warm, dry air so keep the humidity down in your home too. To be effective against killing viruses and bacteria sufficiently, fogging should be administered by a technician in full PPE gear, like the one shown above, after a deep cleaning of the space. For businesses, it’s also important to prevent cross contamination by using separate cloths for each individual surface that you’re cleaning, then allow ten minutes for the surface to air dry for the disinfectant to work. If using a disinfectant fogging for an indoor space, it’s critical that you first clean the interior surfaces, and that the fogging is administered by a technician in full PPE gear to prevent any contamination from the technician. Secondary exposure of uninfected people to objects and surfaces with residual viral particles is more likely with Covid-19 than the normal flu, as some early reports from the CDC indicate that the virus may remain visible on nonporous surfaces for up to nine days as compared to the 1-3 days for normal influenza viruses.  While the exact extent of disease transmission from contact with surfaces is currently unknown, initial indications are that prolonged exposure to contaminated surfaces does lead to higher infection rates. Healthy Home also deep cleans area rugs at their rug spa on Hwy 501. Carpets should be cleaned on a regular basis to ensure they are free of allergens, mold, and unseen particles that trap viruses and bacteria. (Photo by Meganpixels Parker) HEPA vacuuming and the use of air scrubbers can also improve the environment by reducing the level of airborne particles. The removal of aerosolized particles during the cleaning process may further improve the overall cleanliness of your space and reduce transmission risks. To break the chain of Covid-19 from secondary surfaces is serious work and carries some risk. Therefore, all safety and health procedures must be followed without exception.  Healthy Home has been serving our community in the business of cleaning since 1986. We clean for health, not appearance, and during these times, you need a clean you can trust. We follow a strict and reliable protocol and are happy to share our cleaning methodologies with you. A great quality company will do an ARP test before and after to show you their results. The test does not identify viral contamination of the space, but will give you the overall reduction in biological contaminations whether you’re a homeowner or a business. Healthy Home Globe Phone Map-marked-alt Facebook

Window Genie of Myrtle Beach

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We Clean Windows and A Whole Lot More by Melissa LaScaleia Window Genie of Myrtle Beach offers a variety of services for their residential and commercial clients and condo associations. They specialize in installing window tints and film; and cleaning windows, roofs, gutters and more.  Window film is something that many people may not be that familiar with, but its benefits are many.  Films are made to reduce the heat gain from the sun; reduce glare; prevent fading of interior furnishings, like rugs walkways and flooring; limit visibility for greater privacy; to enhance security, safeguarding windows and doors against a storm or a break in; and for decoration. “As a homeowner, you want to think about your home’s security and efficiency as well as its aesthetic resale value,” says Tom Washer, the owner of the franchise. “And we can address those concerns and much more. If you have a room in your home that is too hot to sit in during midday, we can correct that— reducing the temperature by up to 79%. If there is a glare on your television or computer screens, film can help with that and reduce glare by up to 85%. “If because of the proximity of your houses, your neighbors can see into your bathroom, we can correct that. If you look outside your window and see the side of your neighbor’s house, we can correct that so you’re looking at something nice. If you have windows that may not hold during hurricane or storm winds— we can correct that too.”  Privacy and opaque film will transform a window into something much like an etched glass window— limiting visibility both in and out. One of its most common uses is on front doors. In addition to being the owner and proprietor of Window Genie, Tom Washer (above), is also a USAF veteran and proud supporter of Creekfront Salkehatchie and The Wingman Foundation. Tom uses protective safety and security window films by SunTek, a leading brand of window films manufactured by Eastman Chemical, and decorative films by Solyx. In our area, the film is often installed to protect against wind, storm and hurricane damage, and protects against glass breakage. “You don’t have to install hurricane shutters if you have security film,” Tom says. “Because the film will protect your window and thus your home. If the window breaks, it’s still going to stay in place and prevent water from coming inside.” All the SunTek brands have a limited lifetime warranty for residential installations that cover any peeling, chipping, cracking or fading. The company will replace the film at no additional cost. Commercial installations come with a three-year warranty. “We’re not perfect, but we try to be,” Tom says. “Our first priorities are to have respect for the customers, respect for each other, and to provide a quality service at a fair price.” Tom is a veteran of the United States Air Force. He joined when he was seventeen-years old and served for four-and-a-half years in Arizona, Texas, Panama, and Oklahoma City.  When he was in the military, he gained a lot of knowledge working in the maintenance analysis division. He then spent thirty-five years of his civilian life working in sales and management for consumer products throughout New England and Texas.  During that time, he and his wife lived in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, but eventually became tired of the snow and cold weather. Window Genie conducts a free assessment of your home’s health before they commence work, surveying it for anything that needs to be repaired or could cause a problem for you down the road, even if they don’t perform that service. It’s all part of their commitment to offering the best service possible. Interested in joining a franchise, they relocated to Myrtle Beach in 2014. Now, instead of shoveling snow off his roof, he’s helping his customers in Myrtle Beach to clean algae off theirs, as Window Genie also specializes in pressure-washed roof cleaning.     “Algae occurs on a ten-year cycle, growing on a roof and eating the limestone,” Tom says. “If you don’t clean it off, it reduces the life of your roof by 10%. Coastal areas are more susceptible. If you’re selling your home, having algae on the roof can be a big deterrent because it looks dirty and people understand that the life expectancy of the roof is reduced, costing them more money.” Window Genie offers free, onsite consultations to assess your home’s needs before conducting any work. “I’ll survey your home for anything that needs to be repaired or could cause a problem down the road, regardless of whether we offer that service or not,” Tom says. “That way, we can best serve the customer. If I don’t perform the service, I have extensive contacts through BNI and can refer you to someone who can take care of it.  “People who join BNI have a high level of personal accountability, because their success as small business owners as well as their ability to stay in the group depends on their skill, follow-through, and customer service, so I feel confident in the referrals I make.” Tom’s contacts extend beyond his own personal network to include a highly renowned, country-wide brand.  Window Genie is part of Neighborly Brands, which represents thirteen brands across the country that offer everything from painting, to plumbing, electrical work, appliance repair and more. There are many franchises in Myrtle Beach that fall under their umbrella.     And at holiday time, Window Genie also conducts onsite evaluations and helps design, install, take down, and store holiday light displays. “We offer a free consultation to determine your needs, and supply everything completely,” Tom says. “We’re very skilled in holiday light designs, and can take special orders through our national supplier, Village Lighting, to fulfill any custom design request.” “The best part of what we do is making a difference,” Tom says. And people can find their cheery and colorful work truck driving along the Grand Strand … Read more

810 Billiards & Bowling

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Back and Ready for the Seasons Ahead by Melissa LaScaleia In 2014, Mike Siniscalchi left NYC and the world of finance, and relocated to Myrtle Beach with his family to open the first 810 Billiards & Bowling location in North Myrtle Beach.  His intention was to bring an affordable, upscale bowling alley and family-style entertainment venue to the Grand Strand, like those he had experienced in New York. The venture was a hit, and two other locations soon followed in Conway and the Market Common. The name 810 Billiards & Bowling is a reference to 8-ball billiards and ten-pin bowling— two things that are at the core of the company’s entertainment offerings.  Mike rounds those offerings out with interactive games in lieu of the seemingly ubiquitous video games and screens that fill most people’s lives.  “The central theme of what we offer is to have actual interactions with your friends and family,” Mike says. “To spend quality time together in ways that are enriching and rewarding, and to make the experience affordable for everyone.”  In keeping with this mission, many of the games are free. For the ones that are expensive to maintain, they charge a reasonable rate— around $4-5 per hour to rent. For those who enjoy watching more than playing, they also have a great sports bar environment.  The Market Common venue is their flagship location with their largest array of games and entertainment selections, including a stage that features live music every Friday night.  Check their Instagram and Facebook pages for the current band schedule. The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar is the newest addition to the Market Common location, and serves up milkshakes as fun, fascinating, and crazy as their mascot implies. (Photo The Crazy Mason) They also have games like shuffleboard, billiards, ping pong, darts, air hockey and corn hole. There are public bowling lanes as well as private ones for parties and functions; they also have shelves filled with scores of board games for both kids and adults. A recent addition to this location is an indoor, 3D-zombie-pirate-themed 18 hole miniature golf course, appropriate for children but still enjoyable for adults, which opened in January of this year. “It’s been a huge hit with kids and adults alike,” Mike says. To complement their entertainment offerings, 810 Billiards & Bowling has a big focus on quality foods and drinks. They don’t serve the types of foods you would expect from a traditional bowling center.  Instead, there’s a complete scratch kitchen with full waiter service everywhere in the building, no matter where you are. They have house-cut french fries, short-rib Angus chargrill burgers, and scratch-made dough for in-house, brick oven pizza. They serve the same menu at each location throughout the day. Mike is also proud to announce the addition of the Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar— an independent business that just opened inside of the 810 Market Common location. They craft gourmet milkshakes out of delectable ingredients and incorporate confections like candies, cookies, and cake. “The demand has been through the roof,” Mike says. “They have multiple-hour-long waits for their milkshakes, and people love posting pictures of their personal creations on social media.” Mike has enjoyed the journey since he’s opened the location in the Market Common two years ago. “Most of the reasons why we came here have proven to be true,” he says. “The Market Common continues to be a destination spot for locals and visitors. People come to our door and have an enjoyable evening, and we’re glad to be a major part of what brings them here—to provide a unique entertainment venue for people. 810 also has a great sports bar environment and a from-scratch kitchen which serves food from open to close at every location. (Photo 810 Billiards and Bowling) “We’ve found the Market Common to be a great lifestyle center that understands what people want— quality, convenience, and lifestyle options— to be able to walk around with ease and eat and drink at the same venue.  “The Market Common does a great job curating things, and we’re happy to continue to be a part of what we think is the strongest destination-shopping and dining experience in Myrtle Beach.” In the weeks immediately following the Covid-19 pandemic, like many other establishments, the fun and offerings of 810 Bowling were put on temporary hold.  Mike took this time to build a safety and sanitation protocol for his business, so that when they did reopen, they could do so safely. “All of our 810 locations had professional sterilization services come through during the quarantine phase of the pandemic,” Mike says. “And since reopening, we’ve put safety measures in place that have met and exceeded the requirements of the CDC and DHEC. “All of our staff are wearing masks. We’ve installed sanitizer stations throughout the building for easy access for guests. We have all surfaces, balls and shoes sanitized with greater frequency. We’ve rearranged the bar and entertainment and dining space to ensure social distancing. We only allow bowling on every other lane to ensure social distancing is maintained. And we’ve posted appropriate signage throughout the building so guests are aware of what they should do to ensure everyone’s safety.” Recently, Governor McMaster announced the formation of the Palmetto Priority Initiative. In a press release, he advised South Carolina and Grand Strand area citizens to only frequent establishments that have met the safety standards of this initiative with an accompanying certification. All of Mike’s 810 locations have met and exceeded these requirements. “We’re proud of this, that people can visit us safely,” he says. “We received our certification and decals at the beginning of July, and are enjoying seeing everyone again.” “We just want to offer a fun night out for people, where they can have a good time, and feel like they got a lot for their money,” he adds. New this year, 810 Billiards & Bowling is offering franchise opportunities. Their first location will open in Phoenix, Arizona later this year. 810 … Read more

Grand Strand Bathtub Repair, Refinishing and More

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Repairing With Artistry and Skill by Melissa LaScaleia Steve Dunham is the owner and man-power behind Grand Strand Bathtub Repair, Refinishing and More.  He hails from Southern California, where he worked for many years in the grocery store business. Twenty-five years ago, he and his wife decided to move back to her native state of Pennsylvania.  Steve began fixing his house in preparation to sell it, when he noticed there was a crack in his bathtub. He called a company to discover his options for repair; and the repairman Steve encountered began to speak to him about the art of restoring bathtubs. One thing led to the next, and soon the repairman was sharing all about the franchise company he owned, and the positive aspects of it.  Steve thought about the opportunity for himself, and when he moved back to Pennsylvania, he decided to buy the franchise for his local area.  “Within two weeks I was in training in Utah,” he says. “I also had a friend, Larry Brown, who had a franchise in bathtubs. He took me under his wing for about a year and trained me as his apprentice. I learned from doing it— hands on.”  Steve has now been in the bathtub repair industry for the past twenty-two years.  “I’ve been very blessed,” he says of his career and life. “Being self-employed gives me a sense of freedom which I truly love.”  Steve can repair and refinish any type of fiberglass or porcelain bathtub or shower, fixing things like cracks, chips, and holes; he also repairs things like vinyl fencing and windows that are cracked or broken. If you have a weak shower or tub bottom, he can install a fiberglass inlay to give you a brand new bottom.     “Once the floor cracks in a tub or shower, people think they need to get a new one, but I can fix it and match it perfectly, and it will be stronger than it was when it was new,” Steve says. “Why would you replace this item when you can refinish or repair it for a third of the cost? “What I do is very fulfilling for me; I can save people a lot of money. And I’m not going to be in your house for days or a week with a messy replacement process. I’m in and out. It’s convenient— no mess, no dirt, no hassle.” Steve installs shower doors, or removes them— repairing the holes and matching the color exactly so you can’t tell they were ever there. He can also refinish tubs and showers to change their color; and people are hard pressed to notice any real difference between a refinished versus a new tub. “I take something damaged or old and make it look new again,” he says of his work. “It’s not like building something. It’s more like an art. I have to paint it and make it match and shine and blend. There aren’t a lot of people who do what I do.” Steve can work magic to almost any tub or shower configuration as the above photo and his numerous positive Google reviews attest, reaffirming his motto— “Don’t replace it, repair it.” (Photo Grand Strand Bathtub Repair) Grand Strand Bathtub Repair also offers a walk-through conversion which will turn your existing bathtub into a walk-in bathtub or a walk-in shower. The installation lowers the front skirt of the tub. If someone has knee, ankle or hip problems or is elderly, the ledge is hard to navigate. With the tub cut-out, you can step on the walk-through and get yourself into the tub with ease. “And there’s also an installation I can do if people want to use their tub to take a bath in after I’ve done the cut-out,” Steve says. “The cut-out facilitates greater safety and ease getting in and out of the tub and therefore gives you more confidence. Many elderly/handicapped people have a hard time getting over the railing. At some point it becomes scary. I’ve installed thousands of these in retirement homes, and it’s a great idea for handicapped people as well.” The walk-through conversions are fantastic for the same reasons: they are easily accessible,  safe, and economical. “I can do this job in less than one day,” Steve says. “It’s not a big mess. Since Myrtle Beach has so many retirees, when you hit a certain age, it’s important to seriously consider this benefit. I also install grab bars, which add an added level of stability and security as well as confidence for handicapped and older individuals.”  Steve works residentially as well as commercially— for hotels, vacation lodges, retirement communities, and more. He takes pride in the work that he does— in the level of experience that he brings to the table, as well as his attentiveness to his customers and professionalism. “The knowledge and capabilities that a person has when they’re offering me a service means more to me than a lot of things,” he says. “I really pride myself on the detail I put into my work, and the time I devote to it.” “I try to return calls the same day, but always with promptness,” he says. “When I schedule, I follow through, and I’m very good at communicating with my customers.”  Steve moved to Myrtle Beach earlier this year, starting his business locally in January. He’s happy to now call Myrtle Beach home, and to bring his skill in repairing and refinishing to the area.  “My daughter played Division 1 softball against Coastal Carolina University and colleges in Charleston and the surrounding area, so we used to come down here together a lot,” he says. “I knew I loved the area, and I was looking for a change. I didn’t want to return to California, but I liked the beach and the warm weather and decided to make Myrtle Beach my home.    “Here, I get to relive what I lived in Southern California. I can sit outside, enjoy the beach, … Read more

The Annual Ground Zero Dragon Boat Festival Goes Virtual

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by Melissa LaScaleia Ground Zero non-profit 501(c)(3) is a not only a physical establishment in Myrtle Beach, but also a support network, where every teenager can go, belong and grow.  Through life-changing experiences and nurturing relationships, Ground Zero makes a positive impact in the lives of today’s teenagers— empowering them and giving them the tools and support necessary to transform their lives and build a better future for themselves.  Ground Zero offers these resources for junior high school and high school teens, years which for many, are difficult and complex.  Traditionally, the Ground Zero Dragon Boat Festival is held annually at Grand Park in the Market Common the last Saturday of April.  The festival serves a dual purpose— it’s Ground Zero’s largest annual fundraiser which keeps operations steady throughout the year and supports their youth programs, and is itself, a fun-filled, community-building activity that everyone looks forward to and rallies behind— whether as a spectator, sponsor, or participant in the races. Around 8,000-10,000 people turn-out to witness and cheer-on the scores of brightly colored boats manned by local teams as they race against one another on the lake.  There are DJs, vendors, and live entertainment in addition to the races— ensuring a very good time for all. This year, Covid-19 raised many challenges for Ground Zero, first in postponing, then in how to coordinate appropriate social distancing at this local, beloved event. Consequently, this 12th year of celebrations will deviate from the norm and be held virtually, rather than physically.  The Dragon Boat community has proven over the years that they are passionate, strong and dedicated to making a difference in the lives of local teenagers. That same spirit and momentum of support and strong purpose remains constant with this year’s Virtual Dragon Boat Races. Throughout the month of August, via Facebook, video chats, and email, Ground Zero will lead Dragon Boat team members to raise funds for the ministry. There are incentives and prizes in store for those who rank among the highest fundraisers for this virtual race. And new this year, they are launching the Your Year Scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded to a high school senior for further education or any structured program that is beneficial for his or her faith and future. Mark your calendars for August 22; there will be a live TV broadcast from Ground Zero for reports on how much they’ve raised, how much there is left to achieve, and all-around celebrations for what has been and continues to be accomplished. We’re all in this boat together right now, proverbially, if not physically speaking. So let’s continue to make a difference and a positive impact. Ground Zero Ministries and the 12th Annual Dragon Boat Festival Virtual Fundraiser To get involved visit: Globe Facebook Or contact Kaydee Culclasure: Phone Envelope

American Red Cross Military Resources

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by Melissa LaScaleia Most of the time, when people think about American Red Cross, they think blood donation drives for accident victims, and capable volunteers who offer disaster relief services. But American Red Cross offers a much broader scope of benefits for our community. “We help folks in the United States Armed Forces— both active duty members and families, as well as veterans,” says Ben Williamson, director of communications for American Red Cross, South Carolina.  “Our team and our volunteers provide home comforts and critical services both on armed forces bases and military hospitals around the world.”  There are several capacities in which American Red Cross offers assistance.  The first is that they help military families with emergency communications during deployments. The American Red Cross Hero Care Center, as it’s called, is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for emergency communication.  If you have an emergency and need to contact a deployed military member of your family, you can reach out to the Center, and they will get in touch with your loved-one overseas immediately.  And vice versa; if a deployed individual has an emergency, Red Cross is the means of communication that will reach out to the family at home.  Another service they provide is helping families to prepare for deployments. This can be something that is psychologically, emotionally, and logistically challenging for families. Consequently, Red Cross partners with the U.S. military to offer courses families can take together, to prepare for what a deployment will be like. Then, when the military members return home, Red Cross holds reconnection workshops for soldiers to help them reintegrate into society. “We conduct mock deployments for families so they can become familiar with the situation and know what to expect,” Ben says. “And upon their return, we provide practical support like referrals, networking, and training to help them find a job, or get job training, to help them readjust with greater ease. We also offer programs to help support them emotionally.” The programs cover common topics of concern like dealing with stress, anxiety, and emotions, as well as reconnecting with their spouse and kids. “Whatever it is that they are struggling with upon their return, whether it is therapy or counseling or anything else, we help them get reconnected and reintegrated,” Ben says. The American Red Cross also offers supportive programs for families of military members, and hosts family events around the country. “We’re able to provide services for them, like counseling, while their loved one is deployed,” Ben says. Last fiscal year 2019, Red Cross provided nearly 14,000 case services to military, veterans and their families in South Carolina, alone. They educated more than 41,000 military veterans and their families about the services that Red Cross provides in South Carolina, alone.  “The big priority for us is that we continue to serve our nation’s veterans even after their service ends,” Ben says. “There’s a couple ways we do that. We help them get connected with the state, national, and local resources that they need, and with any groups that can provide them with food, clothing, and shelter. We get them referrals to get them connected to the right people so that they can get the help that they need.”  Another large-scale service they provide is to help veterans prepare evidence to support their claim for veteran’s assistance benefits, which most of the time, are financial.  American Red Cross also does their best to provide comfort kits to as many homeless veterans as they can. The kits contains essentials like a blanket, hygiene products, and snacks.     If you or anybody you know is or was in the military and is in need of some assistance, then please visit www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/military-families to see a list of available resources.  If you’re interested in helping American Red Cross fulfill their mission, then please visit www.redcross.org to donate or volunteer. 

Grilled Salmon with Lemon Cilantro Butter Sauce

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The Ancient Romans had great regard for the lemon, due to its many uses and healing properties, as well as for its beauty, which enhanced the appeal of their lavish gardens.  Lemons grow in sunny Myrtle Beach, and if you’re lucky enough to have a tree or two, you’re sure to delight in this recipe all the more as you reminisce about bygone centuries.  Celebrate the heighth of summer and grilling season with the flavors of fresh lemon and herbs. This versatile sauce is delicious on salmon, but any local wild fish will do. It’s also delightful on grilled corn, green beans, or wilted greens. It tastes so good you’ll want to make it for all of your summer favorites. You can prep it in a flash and it keeps well in the fridge for a day or two.  This recipe yields about 1 cup.  Ingredients 1 large garlic clove  ¼ cup fresh lemon juice 1 tsp salt ½ tsp freshly grated black pepper 1 stick of unsalted butter ¼ cup fresh cilantro 2 salmon fillets zest of one lemon Directions Melt the butter and set aside until cool. Add the garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper to a blender and puree. Add the melted butter and blend until emulsified, less than a minute. Chop the cilantro finely, and stir in.  Preheat the grill to medium. Season salmon with salt and pepper, then grill on an oiled rack for 4 minutes.  Flip the salmon and grill 4-6 minutes more, or to taste. Remove to a warmed serving platter.  Sprinkle with lemon zest and drizzle the sauce over the salmon.  Serve immediately. 

Q&A with Cindy Collins

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City of Myrtle Beach Landscaper and Part Time Astrologer by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family.  I live with my son, Zachary Paul, he’s 24; and my husband, Dennis Collins. Where are all the places you came from? Where do you live now? I lived in Buffalo, NY, and then moved down here. I live in Loris now. Why did you move to this area? My aunt and uncle lived in Myrtle Beach and invited me to visit them for a vacation. I hated the cold, and I said, “No thanks, I’m coming down to live here.” I’ve been here now more than 20 years. I met my husband down here. What is your favorite place in Myrtle Beach? The ocean. What do you like the most about living here? The weather and the people. How has your lifestyle changed since moving here? I got married, I had my son. Then I got a job working for the City of Myrtle Beach. I maintain all the grounds around the Market Common, from the front gate to the back gate, the mowing, pruning, planting, etc. I had no prior landscaping experience when I began. I’ve been doing this for the past twenty-one years. What new activities have you taken up since moving here? We began raising chickens. We’ve been doing it for about seven years and now we have thirty. We have fresh eggs every day. I share the eggs with people at work, my neighbors, and my husband’s mom. We also enjoy walking around the neighborhood for exercise. Do you find people friendlier or more at ease? Yes, they are a lot friendlier. What is one thing that your neighbors don’t know about you?  I like to watch the sky at night. I have a telescope that I set up on my back porch. It’s a hobby of mine learning about the stars and the planets. Google is my friend for this. I also read books and watch documentaries. What are your favorite things to do here? I like having bonfires with my family. I built a fire pit in my backyard, and we like to sit around it and simply enjoy the fire. It’s something that we like to do in the fall, it’s much too hot in the summer. I also like to try new things, especially new restaurants. I love seafood. I haven’t found anything that I don’t like in terms of new things that I’ve tried. I like to cook too. I make soups and stews in the winter, dishes to keep you warm. I would say my style is a down-home kind of cooking. Is there anything that you miss or would like to see in Myrtle Beach? No. It fits my ideal of everything I want.

Resource Support For Parents and Children in the Covid Age

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Online Resources Courtesy of The Horry County Memorial Library by Emily Smith In the age of Covid-19, online resources have been providing parents and guardians nationwide the support they need to educate children and teens from home.  Now that businesses and non-profit organizations are reopening, and parents and guardians have more demands placed on their time, these online resources are even more important to helping everyone stay on track. The Horry County Memorial Library system in Carolina Forest, has been working tirelessly to provide classes and programs as usual, now in different formats. They offer things like virtual story time and weekly fun challenges. Now that August is here, their summer events will be winding down to be replaced with fall ones. Those with library cards will continue to have access to dozens of digital educational resources. If you visit the library’s website, hcml.org, you will find a link for resources on the left of their homepage. Click that, and the sub-menu provides additional links. There is a virtual goldmine of resources located under the “Find Articles (Databases)” header. That link will take you to a plethora of sources, including but not limited to classes for all ages, studies, reference materials, and even tutors. Students in any grade will find, Learn 360 or Britannica School Edition helpful, while young ones can get ahead of the curve with BrainPOP Jr. There are practical sources, such as auto repair, a DMV Permit practice test, career transition assistance, even a small business reference center. You can even try a digital book club or explore your ancestry. Just about everything available is free, for those who access it through the library website with their library account information.  The library is the perfect assistant to fill in any real-world and educational gaps for both your child and you.  For more information on how to utilize this virtual scholastic support tool, visit hcml.org or call your local Carolina Forest Library branch at 843-915-5282.

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