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American Red Cross, Sound The Alarm Campaign

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American Red Cross, Sound The Alarm Campaign by Melissa LaScaleia This April and May, the American Red Cross is once again running their national Sound the Alarm campaign. The annual event focusses on home fire safety and prevention techniques to mitigate the occurrence and devastation of home fires. Each Red Cross region around the country runs their own campaign for their area, and every year, a different city and county is selected in which to execute the campaign. “Based on statistics from local fire departments on the number and locations of home fires they’ve seen in the past, they can help us identify which areas of the state where a campaign like this, focused on education and assistance, would be really beneficial to the community,” says Ben Williamson, Regional Communications Director for American Red Cross, Palmetto SC region. The campaign was launched in 2014 in response to the number of home fires the Red Cross saw, occurring regularly, across the country. Red Cross partnered with local fire departments, and volunteers would canvas the neighborhoods of the selected city, installing smoke alarms for people who didn’t have any, testing current smoke alarms, and replacing batteries. They would also go over home safety protocol with families, and help them build an escape plan in the event of a fire. “Every family should be able to have everyone out of their house in two minutes or less,” says Ben. “All the statistics show if there’s a fire, that’s how long you have to get out before you’re trapped inside.” Last year’s event was canceled due to Covid, but this year, it’s returning. In April and May, Red Cross will utilize the services of dozens of volunteers, board members, and potentially other community organizations, that will work in coordination with local fire departments across the state to host a virtual state-wide event to do two things: check families’ smoke alarms, and develop a home fire safety plan. Red Cross and the local fire department recommend that every family have working smoke alarms in every room of their home. “Volunteers will reach out to families, providing guidance and instruction on how to test, replace, or install smoke alarms themselves; or how to get them repaired if necessary; and to help them create a home-fire escape plan,” Ben says. “They’ll also provide guidance on how to teach children— making sure everyone knows what to do in the event of a fire. “What usually makes headlines are big disasters,” he adds. “But home fires are by far the local disaster that we respond to the most— on average, six per day across the state. Home fires claim significantly more lives each year than any other natural disaster nationwide. We hear all the time people say: ‘Oh, it will never happen to me. It will never be my house, never be my family. That won’t happen.’ They say that until that does happen. So we’re trying to make families prepared and take it seriously.” Since the inception of the campaign in 2014, Red Cross has been credited with saving 78 lives through this work across South Carolina— either through people who have had fires in their homes but had functioning alarms, or a plan that allowed them to escape.  Since 2014, across the state, Red Cross, in conjunction with local fire departments, has installed more than 85,000 smoke alarms in homes across the state. “Either through smoke alarm installations or creating home fire safety plans, we’ve made more than 26,000 homes across the state safer,” Ben adds. Before Covid, anyone could reach out to Red Cross, from any city or county, at any point, and request that they come and install smoke alarms in their home. Whether you didn’t have them, or didn’t know how to install them, Red Cross was there to help. “We have temporarily suspended this service,” Ben says. “But we hope in the very near future to reinstate that service again, as we continue to see more and more people get vaccinated.” You can help Red Cross with their Sound the Alarm campaign and help support their mission of home safety in two ways, with a donation of money, or time.  Visit www.redcross.org today to donate funds which will help provide essential materials like batteries and smoke alarms. You can also volunteer your time to help spread their message. American Red Cross Globe

Brookgreen Gardens

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Romance in the Gardens: Vow Renewal Ceremony on Valentine’s Day by Melissa LaScaleia Brookgreen Garden’s annual event celebrating love, Romance in the Gardens, returns during the season of love, and will be held this year on Friday, February 14.  The event is organized and directed by Charlene Sitas, Brookgreen’s director of food service and private events, and Jay Rowe, the vice president of Brookgreen’s public operations.  Seventeen years ago, Charlene and Jay worked together on a wedding at a venue, and then synchronistically found themselves at Brookgreen, where they continue to use their talents to help make magical memories for couples.  Romance in the Gardens is an opportunity for couples to celebrate their marriage and renew their wedding vows— remembering the day that they got married or committed to one another on an iconic day for romance, Valentine’s Day. Vow renewal ceremonies have gained in popularity in recent years, and the reasons why couples choose to participate in one are as unique and multifaceted as the couples themselves.  For some, it’s a way to commemorate a love that has deepened or matured over time. It can be a celebration of a milestone anniversary, like 10, 20 or 25 years, or a celebration of a shorter length of time, 1 or 2 years. For some, it’s a reaffirmation that they still want to be together, a solidifying of their commitment after a rough patch. And for others, it’s a way to strengthen their bond.  Today the pace of life is faster than it ever has been, and a vow renewal ceremony can act as an anchor for couples pulled in many different directions by work and life demands. Whatever a couple’s motivation, they can honor it here.  This year’s ceremony will take place on the bank of Brookgreen Creek. A harpist will play for the duration, and each couple will receive a bouquet of flowers from Brookgreen’s gardens. — Photo Brookgreen Gardens Brookgreen’s ceremony originated with Page Kiniry. It was the first new event she helped implement when she began her tenure as Brookgreen’s president three years ago, and it has now become a much beloved annual tradition, growing in participation in a short time to upwards of 50 couples.  “We have a diverse array of couples who have participated,” Jay says. “There are young couples who have only been married a few years. We had a couple come who had both lost a significant amount of weight and wanted to come and celebrate that. We have numerous couples for whom February 14 is their actual anniversary and wanted to celebrate with other couples who had the same date. It’s definitely a happy event.  It’s a nice gathering of folks who have something in common, who are all here to celebrate their relationship.”  Brookgreen’s ceremony is non-religious so as to be accessible to everyone, and is in no way legally binding. Ron Daise will lead this year’s event which promises to be beautiful.  “We have a new location this year, on the bank of Brookgreen creek,” Jay says. “We’ll have a harpist playing by the water, and each couple will receive a small wedding bouquet of fresh flowers, some seasonal and cut from our gardens. They will also receive their photograph together, and a certificate to commemorate the event.”  — Photo Brookgreen Gardens One of the fun things they’re doing this year is to calculate the total number of years that all participating couples have been married. And they’ll recognize couples who have been married the longest and the shortest amount of time.  As the event will be held publicly in their private gardens, everybody is welcome to attend. A reception at the Leonard Pavilion, a new venue for this year, will follow the ceremony. The Paul Grimshaw Duo will play during the reception for dancing and entertainment. The reception is molded along the lines of a Southern style cake-cutting reception, which was popular back in the ’50s and ’60s. In contrast to the formal sit-down dinners that often accompany weddings today, these events were simple affairs often held in the church social hall directly after the ceremony.  People would enjoy a slice of cake, some pecans grown on the farm, punch, and mints. Brookgreen’s ceremony will include all of the traditional aspects of the Southern classic, plus the addition of champagne. It’s a light and fun time to be reminiscent.  Couples come bedecked in attire as diverse and personal to them as their reasons for renewing their vows.  The gardens area perfect backdrop for a romantic day together. —Photo mwms1916 “Some come in their original wedding attire,” Jay says.  “Sometimes they purchase new clothing, or matching outfits. One couple were simultaneously celebrating their one year anniversary as well as their joint weight loss, and purchased new clothes to celebrate both milestones.”  Pre-registration for the event either online or by phone is required. There is no deadline for registration, but the event usually sells out. Tickets are $50 per couple, $40 for members, and includes admission to the gardens for the day, should couples choose to meander along the paths or have a picnic lunch on the lawns.  “We’re a historical location, and our gardens lend themselves to romance,” Jay says. “And of course today, we host many lavish receptions and grand receptions with dinners and cocktail hours on our premises. But the Southern reception takes us back in history to a tradition that led us to what and how we celebrate marriages today.”  And in the event that couples choose to host their wedding here at Brookgreen Gardens and not just renew their vows, Charlene is the women to call to help you make those plans.  They can accommodate weddings and receptions for 2 people up to 600.  Brookgreen Gardens Map-marked-alt Globe Phone

Always the Season to Give

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The 6th Annual Myrtle Beach Craft Fair by Melissa LaScaleia Mickey Davis and her husband Norton have been spending their winters in Myrtle Beach for the past decade.  “Because it’s winter and there are less tourists here, I notice the unemployment,” she says. “And because of the unemployment, I noticed the lack of food. My son is a food director for the Burlington, Vermont schools, and for years he’s heard about the kids who go home after their lunch on Friday and don’t eat again until Monday when they come to school. And the same thing happens in South Carolina.”  As a career, Mickey was involved in social work, so she’s always tried to help others in one capacity or another.  When she first started coming to Myrtle Beach, she decided to start a food collection box at Ocean’s One Resort, where she stays for the winter. She notified her friends in the resort so they could spread the word, and when the box was full, Mickey would deliver it to the Myrtle Beach chapter of the Lowcountry Food Bank. The box is still there, arriving the first week in December or so, when Mickey gets to town.  “Across the country, 1 out of every 7 people needs a food bank to get the extra food that they’re missing,” she says. “That’s a lot of people.”  Mickey decided to do more. She began a small craft show in the hotel, held every December. Instead of asking people to pay money to be in the show, the vendors bring food donations for the Food Bank, and attendees bring food donations as their admission ticket.  “There had also been a small craft show at another hotel that I participated in as a vendor for a couple of years,” Mickey says. “When the hotel canceled it, I decided that I would start my own to benefit the Food Bank. I didn’t know anybody, but asked around and was referred to the Rec Center in the Market Common.”  Because it was a non-profit event and Mickey was asking for the space for free, she contacted the town supervisor for assistance, asking the city to co-sponsor the event with her. She was approved almost immediately. She began advertising for vendors, and at the first show she secured sixty-five crafters.  “After the first fair, the Rec Center gained the notice of people who had never known it was there,” she says. “People began booking the space to host their own private parties, weddings, and functions. Within two years, the rec center was open full time. I was so pleased that they benefited from the craft fair being there because they were so generous in supporting our cause, donating their space, printing all our flyers, and even donating free coffee.”  Mickey Davis, 81, is the woman-power behind the fair. She identified a need in our community, and garnered vendors and attendees to get involved to help feed the hungry, while having a great time. — Photo Mickey Davis The craft fair has grown exponentially with each passing year, as more and more people turned up, eager to participate in the cause.  “The second year we got two rooms,” says Mickey. “And last year we had the entire building with 105 vendors. Each year we ask for food donations from the vendors who participate and of the people who attend. We also collect money.”  Mickey asks people to bake or bring food for attendees to enjoy as they peruse the fair. The snacks are available for a donation; the monies are given to the Food Bank as well.  Last year’s craft fair drew over 1,500 people who donated 5,492 pounds of food and $2,000 for the Food Bank.  “On the fifth annual, we also collected pet food,” Mickey says, “because we found out that if people have pets, they will share their food with them so the pets don’t starve. And that attracted all the pet lovers to us.”  Mickey is continuously touched by the generosity of the people she meets in helping to support this cause.  “I was in my hotel and met a woman who was there on vacation. When I told her about what I was doing, she went out and purchased $300 worth of food, and then sent us a check for $500 when she returned home. ‘Because it’s for a great cause,’ she said.”  “We find the people here are so friendly and so nice, and we have so much fun when we’re here and enjoy it so much, we just want to give back to this community,” Mickey says of her work. “It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to help people and be able to get the community involved to help. Everybody likes to participate because it’s a feel-good kind of thing.”  Mickey is eighty-one years old, and now that the event is established and going strong, felt that it was time to enlist the assistance of a younger generation in making the fair happen each year.  Nancy and Alex Smith, residents of Myrtle Beach, have taken over the running of the event. Mickey will continue with the advertising, and they will coordinate the rest of the show.  These are the months when people think about giving back, and the first week in December is when you can expect to see the donation box in the lobby of Mickey’s hotel.  Mickey hosts the craft fair in February because the middle of winter is a time of year when donations are needed just as much but happen less. She hopes to see you there. And is taking applications now for vendors. The Myrtle Beach Sixth Annual Craft Fair Sunday, February 9, 2020 Robert Reed Recreation Center, 800 Gabreski Lane, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 Questions and vendor applications: the6thannualfoodbankcraftfair@gmail.com Oceans One Resort Craft Fair to support the Lowcountry Food Bank Second Saturday in December 102 South Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

March of Dimes Presents Their 2019 Annual Fundraising Gala

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Signature Chefs Auction: Salsa By The SeaOctober 2019 by Melissa LaScaleia The March of Dimes is a non-profit organization whose mission is to fight for the health of babies and their mothers through research, education, and advocacy.  For many years, their focus has centered almost exclusively on babies and preventing premature births. But in the past few years, the organization has undergone a significant brand change and broadened their sphere of focus to include expectant mothers, aided in part by their tenacious new CEO, Stacey Stewart.  “She’s aggressive and bold, and was clear about where she was going with our mission,” says Michelle Bessett, development manager for the Myrtle Beach division. “And where she went was bringing mom into the conversation, because a lot of what affects infants can be prevented when the mother is healthier.” Last year, 700 babies didn’t come home with their mothers, inspiring the organization to include maternal morbidity prevention as part of their growing agenda. Today, both mother and baby are the new focus for the March of Dimes, in partnership with the goal of fighting prematurity. One of the ways that March of Dimes does this is by making sure that health care resources are available to all moms.  “A high percentage of mothers who die in birth are African American mothers,” Michelle says. “Conducting and funding research is at the core of what we do to understand why these things are happening. We are out in the community, teaching women to ask empowering questions when they go to their health care appointments, so they can take control of their own health.”     As development manager, Michelle oversees all of the March of Dimes fundraising activities in Horry and Georgetown counties. There are two main ones: March for Babies in the spring, a community walk to support moms and babies; and a Signature Chefs Auction in the fall. “We’re all excited to have a good time,” Michelle says. “The work we do, engaging people, fundraising, is all year round. These two events are the celebrations, and a really fun time.”  The Chefs Auction is a black tie gala event that is unique in its format in that there is no seated, plated meal served. Rather, local area chefs each have their own station, where they will prepare their specialties for guests who have the chance to wander from one station to the next, building their own plates and experience as they go.  There will be a silent and live auction at this year’s event. Items for food-lovers abound, including a private in-home cooking lesson with a participating local chef. — Photo Paula Player “It’s a foodie-lovers paradise,” Michelle says. “Guests get to interact with the chefs personally and ask them questions. All of the chefs and restaurants in participation with us donate their food and their time. They put in quite a bit when they sign up for this.”  Chef Geoff Blount, from the International Culinary Institute of Myrtle Beach, acts as the chef chair, recruiting chefs from smaller, locally owned restaurants with locally-sourced food for the event. He’s been working with March of Dimes in this capacity for over ten years.  Just a few of the restaurants that will be cooking up savory dishes for this year’s event are: 44th and King; Johnny D’s; and Rioz. Peace, Love, and Little Donuts will be giving away party favors.  Past restaurant participants have included: WaterScapes; A Difference in Dining; Wicked Tuna; and Sol Cocina Mexicana.  This year’s theme is Salsa by the Sea, and will feature all Latin and Caribbean foods. Professional salsa dancers will be offering salsa lessons for the guests.  There will be silent and live auctions. Silent auction items will be donated from locally owned businesses.  Chefs are creating the packages for the live auction, offering private cooking classes in which they’ll come into your home and cook with you.  Michelle is inspired by the heart that the community puts into this event every year, and daily inspired by the March of Dime’s mission. “I took this job because of our new focus on women’s health and women’s roles in this process as a whole,” Michelle says. “It’s a much more holistic approach to motherhood and better for the health of the family. That’s a great place to be coming from. “Oftentimes, when you talk about research and medicine, it can sound cold and clinical. But what it means is that we can get health education and resources to people who need them. We believe that every baby deserves the best possible start, and I support that.”  March of Dimes works for advances in medicine and technology to give all babies the best possible start. — Photo March of Dimes As do local Myrtle Beach residents, Steve and Jillian Williams. They are passionate about the work that the March of Dimes is doing so that no other family has to endure what they did.  “Our daughter Charlotte was born on April 12, 2016 at Grand Strand Hospital,” says Jillian. “She was nine weeks premature at 31 weeks and 2 days. She shouldn’t have been as sick as she was, but she was just a really sick baby.  “They rushed her to Mcloed Hospital in Florence where we were for ten days. She had fluid on her brain. Then they sent us to MUSC. She had highs and lows, and towards the end she was just too sick. She had meningitis and scar tissue in her brain, and went downhill very quickly. She was so sick, we were so surprised she lasted for 93 days, and we knew she lasted as long as she did because of March of Dimes and the research they’ve done, that’s given doctors the additional knowledge they need to help babies.” Jillian had always heard about how the March of Dimes fights to save babies and always supported them. But now the organization means something totally new to her. She understands from experience that more research needs to be done.    Jillian and her husband Steven … Read more

2019 Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival

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Friday, September 27 – Sunday, September 29, 2019 by Melissa LaScaleia This is the 44th year that the annual Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival has graced our coastal communities at Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet.    The festival will consist of over one hundred artists displaying their crafts for sale and for view in a variety of mediums: jewelry set with precious gem stones; paintings in oil and watercolor; sketches; photography; sculpture; woodwork; metal work; fabric arts; and more.  The artists and their works will be on display to the public for the duration of the festival, Friday, September 27, through Sunday, September 29, throughout Atalaya— a partly open-aired, castle-like structure overlooking the ocean, which was the winter home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington.  Atalaya is an historic home and an architectural delight. It was built as a giant rectangle; the outer periphery contains individual rooms that surround a series of interior courtyards. Each room showcases one or two artist’s works, and the interior courtyards contain many more.  In the early 1900s, when the Huntingtons were considering purchasing the property, they first arrived to view it via the Waccamaw River, as the land was only accessible by boat.  They built Atalaya in the 1930s during the great depression, and used all local craftsmen for the construction of the house. Atalaya was the initial reason why electric lines were run so far south in Myrtle Beach.  “They brought employment at a time when there was none, and electricity when there was none,” says Brenda Magers. “But their reach was much greater than just the people they employed. It really was a life line to this community. They brought art, industry and education to this area, and enriched the culture.”  Brenda is the park manager at Huntington Beach, and is responsible for managing the festival operations each year, a task she’s been doing since 2006.  “The park service originally decided to host the arts and crafts festival in keeping with the tradition the Huntingtons had established of creating a difference in the community,” she says.  Both Huntingtons were passionate patrons of the arts. Anna was a sculptor, and used to keep live animals at Atalaya which she would use as models to study and sculpt. Much of her work is shown at Brookgreen Gardens, another of their properties.  Today, Atalaya is owned by Brookgreen Gardens, but maintained by the South Carolina State Park Service. The Huntingtons did not have any children, and upon their deaths, they bequeathed their property to the Brookgreen Foundation.  The Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival features more than 100 fine artisans. The festival provides aesthetic beauty against a background of natural beauty. Enjoy fine art, quality crafts, Lowcountry food, and the area’s finest musicians. (SCPRT/Credit Photo by Perry Baker) “The festival began as a tribute to Anna, so that this castle could come to life with art work again,” Brenda says.  The festival is a juried festival, which means that the artists who would like to show must apply to do so; their work is then judged by a blind panel, and only the top scoring artists are admitted.  Gwen Davenport works for the SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism for all forty-seven South Carolina State Parks. She handles all of the marketing for the festival, which she’s been doing for the past five years. Managing the jury process and coordinating the artist side of the festival, falls under her yearly jurisdiction as well.  “I coordinate the selection of the artists, as well as tending to artists’ needs during the festival,” Gwen says. “This is definitely my favorite festival in the park service— it’s a great time. People of all ages come. My favorite part is seeing the festival when it comes together, and everybody is enjoying it and artists are happy and making good sales.”     Around 200 artists apply for a spot at the Atalaya Festival yearly. The application process begins around February, and artists have several months to complete their submissions for review. Once all of the applications are received, a panel of jurors reviews photographs of the artists’ work, and give the art a ranking. The top scorers from each discipline are invited to attend the festival.  All of the jurors are qualified as judges— some jurors are artists themselves, but all have an art background and are experts in a certain discipline. The judging process is kept strictly blind and confidential, so that the artists’ works that are viewed and ultimately admitted are unknown to the judges.  Artists come from all over the country to showcase at the Atalaya Festival. There are many local artists as well.   “It’s truly high-end, quality art that you will see here,” Gwen says. “There is a great variety— both for viewing and for purchase— all in one place.”  About 6000 – 7000 people come out to attend the festival depending on the weather, as it’s a largely open-air event. The entire courtyard is open to the sky, so each artist brings their own tent. There is live music all weekend long, featuring local bands of a more beach and blue-grass vibe, and food vendors selling ice cream and kettle corn, as well as heartier fare.  “We have a fantastic variety of good, local food, and good, local music,” Gwen says.  The admission ticket is free all weekend long, so patrons can return again and again— and have time to consider any large ticket purchases.  “We encourage people to come early in the weekend,” Gwen says. “That way if they see a piece of art and are unsure of the measurements or the placing in their home, they can go home and consider it and come back the next day to buy it. Either way, we want you to come out and enjoy the whole weekend with us.  “As the years and decades roll on, the festival has developed a following, and it’s an established event that everyone knows will feature exceptional art.”  Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival September 27-29, 2019 Huntington Beach State Park 16148 … Read more

The 2019 Fourth of July Murrells Inlet Boat Parade

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Liberty, Justice, and a Good Time For All by Melissa LaScaleia The Murrells Inlet Boat Parade is gearing up to celebrate their 36th year in Murrells Inlet this July 4.  “A group of us began the Boat Parade in 1983 as a way to celebrate the 4th of July,” Lee Hewitt shares. “Other communities had events and ways of celebrating, and we wanted to have something for our community too.”  Many years ago, Lee and his friends, including his mother Adele Hewitt, Bob Hendrick, Norma Coote, Sara Brown, Rose Cook, and Francis and Earl Atkinson, all lived on the creek in Murrells Inlet.  “At the time, there was a Mexican restaurant on the bypass called Rosa Lindas, and we met over margaritas and chips and salsa one night and came up with the idea,” he says. “That first year, we had about five or six boats in the parade.”  Within two to three years of starting it, the parade started to get bigger until it outgrew the group. At that point, they collectively turned it over to the Murrells Inlet Jaycees— a youth civic organization— to organize it, handle the logistics, and use it as a fundraising event to support their community projects.  Lee and his friends made and sold T-shirts that read ‘Murrells Inlet Boat Parade’ and came up with an accompanying logo and a theme that changes each year. It’s a tradition that is still carried on to this day. “The T-shirts were really popular,” he says. “We sold out every year and donated the money to the Jaycees.”  In the ’90s, the Jaycees closed their doors permanently, and the group turned the Boat Parade into a non-profit 501(c)(3). They selected the Boy Scouts of America as the new recipients of the proceeds from their T-shirt-sales.  Since the Boy Scouts have been involved, they’ve raised over $309,000 in T-shirt sales. This year’s theme is ‘Liberty, Justice, and a Good Time For All.’ Leading up to the event, you can buy the T-shirts at Garden City Realty, or Lee’s Inlet Apothecary, both in Murrells Inlet. If there are any left, they will be available for purchase along the Marsh Walk the day of the parade. They are still as popular today as they were back then, so get yours early. They sell out— all 3,000— every year.  — Photo Lee Hewitt Lee has served as cochairman of the parade since the beginning, with his friend, Bob Hendrick, who has since passed away, assisting him as his counter-chairman.  Today, Lee runs things on his own with the help of the Boy Scouts.  “People call me throughout the year to plan for next year,” he says. “This is a big event for everybody— they plan months in advance. We have to create the theme, the logo— secure the permitting. There’s a lot to organize logistically with the Coast Guard, police and restaurants, so everyone can set their schedules.”  The Murrells Inlet Boat Parade is free and open to anyone who wants to participate. You can register your boat before July 4 at several different locations. Or, on the day of the parade, you can register at the Committee Boat, which is at the beginning of the parade.  The time for the parade changes annually, as it’s dependent on the tide. This year’s parade starts at 9am. From beginning to end, it takes about an hour and a half.  It starts at the point of Garden City, which is the mouth of the Inlet, and then runs past the houses of Garden City, along the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk, past Crazy Sister Marina and Belin Methodist Church, and finishes at the end of Parsonage Creek.  The best locations from which to view the parade are along the  Marsh Walk or in the parking lot of Belin Methodist Church.  “You’ll see people decorate their boats, they’ll have costumes, they’ll have music,” Lee says. “We give trophies for the best decorated boats and the best decorated docks. People go all-out with red, white, and blue flags and banners. We’ll have judges on the committee boat and along the creek to judge.”  The Murrells Inlet Boat Parade may be a local event, but its reputation has spread to the point where it has been featured nationally. CBS news did a television clip on it several years ago.  “It’s become a great family event,” Lee says. “Families and friends gather out on the boats; the houses and docks along the creek are decorated. Restaurants along the Marsh Walk serve food and beer. There are picnics and cookouts; people show up by the thousands. It’s a great community event. It creates a strong sense of fellowship, and raises funds for the Boy Scouts. It’s just a good, fun day.”  The Murrells Inlet Boat Parade Thursday, July 4, 2019 Facebook@ Murrells Inlet Boat Parade   Register Your Boat Booty’s Outdoors, 3908 Hwy 17 Business, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576, 843-651-2593 Garden City Realty, 608 Atlantic Avenue, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576, 843-651-0900 Crazy Sister Marina, 4123 Hwy 17 Business, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576, 843-651-3676.   T-shirts Visit Garden City Realty or Lee’s Inlet Apothecary, 3579 Hwy 17 Bus, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576, 843-651-7979, anytime before July 4.

A Day of Hope For Children In Need 501(c)

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Instilling a Sense of Hope During a Single Day in Myrtle Beach by Melissa LaScaleia Sheila Karsevar is no stranger to entrepreneurial pursuits or following her passions. She has owned her own business as a Reliv Ambassador in the health and wellness industry for twenty-three years. She was so successful that sixteen years ago, her husband, Norm retired from his college coaching career and joined her as a partner.  Several years ago, she was searching for ways to make a change in her Myrtle Beach community.  “I love gathering people, having fun, and organizing things,” Sheila says. “And I’ve always loved kids of all ages. It hurts my heart when I see so many children feeling so little hope that they are turning to drugs or suicide as a solution. It felt to me like around the nation, we were losing our children.  “In November 2014, I saw a message online about Joyce Myer Ministry and I started to cry. I didn’t know why I was crying, so I began to pray to understand. Suddenly, I had a vision of a flyer with information on it of the organization I would eventually start— A Day of Hope For Children in Need. It was a very clear vision, and a very clear direction.”  With her new mission, Sheila was ready to get to work.  “I initially thought my husband wouldn’t be supportive because I’m involved in so many things,” she says. “But when I told him about it, he said, ‘Wow, that sounds really cool!’ I felt then that this was going to be very big.”     A Day Of Hope is an event that is held in Myrtle Beach before school starts in August. On this day, children who are in need of assistance (you must pre-register), will receive free haircuts, backpacks filled with school supplies, brand new shoes and new socks, and a big canvas bag of supplies for the home, like toilet paper, hand soap, and laundry soap.  “The point of this day is that volunteers are connecting with and loving on these kids. The day is about the community coming together in unity to support these children and inspire hope in them.” — Sheila Karsevar — Photo Sheila Karsevar “We fill that bag with things that food stamps don’t cover,” Sheila explains, “but are essential for wellbeing.”  Children also receive vision and dental exams and treatments, as well as lunch. The last component— their feet are washed by volunteers in a symbolic reenactment of the Bible story of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. “We chose this act of reverence and honor to show these children an additional gesture of love,” says Sheila. “But it is only if the children are open to it. They still receive shoes and socks regardless. The point is that the volunteers are connecting with and loving on these kids. The day is about the community coming together in unity to support these children and inspire hope in them.”     “What the children hear throughout the day is that they are loved and created for a purpose,” she continues. “That is the heart of this day— that they are loved. They are being appreciated and valued.”  In the fall of 2014, Sheila had been attending a variety of networking meetings when A Day of Hope was born. She organically began to share her vision at those meetings, and soon doors were opening to make that vision a reality.  “There are so many children walking around with no hope, no resources, and nowhere to turn,” she says. “I think people can understand this need in our community, and seeing that they can do something tangible to make a difference, are willing to.  “Every year, it was: how is this going to happen? And as I was out and about networking, people would say to me something like, ‘My company wants to get involved in giving back to the community, do you have any ideas?’ So I would share with them about A Day of Hope.”  All of the supplies that are distributed to the children are brand new and reserved for them individually. — Photo Sheila Karsevar Little River Medical Center volunteered all of their medical services. There are a myriad of hair stylists and local salons involved.  “We have around 200 volunteers that help us,” Sheila says. “And between 40-50 different services that are involved in one way or another, whether it’s from being there the day of, or donations of supplies or services. I have 337 volunteers on my list, and it grows monthly. So it is truly the community coming together to help.” The program is now in its fifth year. Since its inception in 2015, Sheila estimates that they have served approximately 250 children yearly.  Pre-registration for children is required, as the supplies are reserved for them individually. If they cannot attend the event, they can still pick up their supplies. Under Sheila’s watchful eye, there is no waste. Anything that is left over is donated to Fostering Hope or schools most in need.  “It doesn’t matter peoples’ religious beliefs or backgrounds,” she says. “This is just a day to serve the children and support them— to bring a smile to their faces and hope to their hearts.  We have people volunteering from all different backgrounds. It’s a blessing for all all-around.”  So what’s next for Sheila and A Day of Hope?  “In the past few weeks I’ve had five different people say that we need to make this nation-wide. I agree. I feel like the way is being paved to bring this across the country. That would be incredible.” A Day of Hope Non-profit 501(c) To register a child, volunteer, or for more information: 843-568-9522 hopeinaday@gmail.com Facebook @ A Day of Hope Myrtle Beach.  

Carolina Country Music Fest June 6-9, 2019

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Country Music at its Best in Myrtle Beach by Melissa LaScaleia This June, Southern Entertainment returns to our coast to bring country music lovers the much acclaimed Carolina Country Music Fest, CCMF. Running for four days, the festival draws crowds from all over the country by the hundreds of thousands— and as they feature some of the top names in country music, this comes as no surprise.  “This is one of the strongest lineups we’ve ever had,” says Michael Stephens, festival director. “This year marks our fifth anniversary in Myrtle Beach, and we’ve tried to bring in some of the best and newest talent in country music for it.”  Artists at this year’s festival are headliners Alabama, Dierks Bentley, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, and 2019 Grammy winners, Dan + Shay. Brothers Osborne, who won awards and made headlines at the ACM awards in Las Vegas, will also be in attendance.  “From an award and news-worthy standpoint, they are both phenomenal,” says Michael.  Artists will perform on four stages as well as conduct pop-up shows in the back of a Nissan Titan truck. In addition to a huge variety of food and drink, CCMF merchandise and other vendors, attendees can zip line across the festival and climb a ropes course.  CMT TV, the Country Music Television channel will be there, providing national coverage for the festival and Myrtle Beach. Festival goers will receive RFID wristbands which act as their passes for the entire weekend; they can also use the bands to make purchases.  The festival has grown yearly, with 113,000 people in attendance over the four days last year. Each year they’ve sold out Main Stage and Super VIP tickets in advance; and Michael expects to see an increase in numbers this year.  Artists will perform on four stages as well conduct pop-up shows. Attendees can zip line across the festival as well. — Photo Carolina Country Music Fest “We attribute the success to talent, good operations, and destination,” Michael says. “The partnership and cooperation with everyone in Myrtle Beach, from the mayor, to city council, to visitmyrtlebeach.com, has been phenomenal.  “Everyone has thoroughly embraced the festival and worked tirelessly to make it a huge success. And the city uses it frequently in their marketing, to show what their capabilities are for a festival of this magnitude.”  CCMF got started five years ago, when Charlotte-based Southern Entertainment was looking to start a country music festival. Owner Bob Durkin, along with Michael, mapped out the country and saw a void in the Carolinas— a mecca for country music. Having already worked on a collaborative project with visitmyrtlebeach.com to the mutual satisfaction of both sides, they decided to start the festival here.  “Each year we’ve listened to the customers and the city, and continued to build it by improving the experience,” Michael says. “We think this is a great framework. It wouldn’t happen without the cooperation of everyone willing to work hard and improve and make changes every year and continue to make it successful. Once people are on site, we look at the way they are connecting and what they are doing. We try to facilitate a strong connection between the festival, city and patrons.”  “Our military initiatives have always been important to us,” Michael adds. “We offer discounted tickets to all military, past and present.  “USAA, the military bank, are new sponsors for us this year. We have a two-year partnership with them in which, through the Disabled Veterans Association, we are bringing ten veterans from around the country to the festival— sponsoring their travel, tickets and accommodations, and recognizing them for their service on stage, in a ceremony.”  Crowds in the hundreds of thousands come from all over the country to hear some of the best music in the industry. — Photo Carolina Country Music Fest CCMF will also be publicly recognizing the service of Mark Geist, a U.S. military commander who served in Benghazi, Libya. He was directly responsible for saving the American consulate in that country.  CCMF is partnering with the non-profit organization Wounded Warriors, and will be gifting Mark a K-9 dog on stage in gratitude for his heroism.  Some of this year’s additional CCMF sponsors include Coors Light, Coca Cola, American Anthem Vodka, Johnie Walker, Red Bull, Coastal Indian Motorcycle, McDonalds, DonJulio Tequila, and Nissan.  Concomitant with their philosophy of giving back, several years ago, CCMF implemented an initiative called, CCMF Be Kind.  “It’s really to inspire an attitude of kindness between people at the festival, and portray that attitude as a prevalent theme,” Michael says. “We send ambassadors out all four days, and if they see an act of kindness, they hand out prizes including ticket upgrades, meet-and-greets with the artists, CCMF t-shirts, and money on people’s wrist bands to spend on-site. It’s just another way for people to have fun and create memories.  “Our vision for the festival is to maintain and continue to grow the success and fantastic experience of the festival in Myrtle Beach. We have plans to stay here and continue it for years to come.”  New this year, CCMF is hosting a CCM cruise from November 16-21, chartering a Carnival Sunshine Cruise ship from Charleston to the Bahamas. They’ll be giving away one cabin per day at the festival.  “My favorite things about the festival,” Michael says, “are the talent, the country music each day, and seeing people together, forgetting about their everyday lives, and letting loose and enjoying themselves with friends and country music.” Carolina Country Music Fest 704-358-1004 info@ccmf.com www.ccmf.com Facebook @ Carolina Country Music Fest  

Military Appreciation in Myrtle Beach

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Celebrating Our Veterans During the Month of May and Beyond by Melissa LaScaleia May is Military Appreciation Month in Myrtle Beach. Every week and weekend sees a new event which celebrates and recognizes the service of present and former members of the military.  The City of Myrtle Beach as well as the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce sponsor all of the month’s proceedings, which are organized by a committee of veterans and veterans service organizations along the Grand Strand.  “Without news outlets, social media, and community events, veterans can get isolated,” says Chris Aranda, outreach specialist working for the Myrtle Beach Vet Center (one of the partnering service organizations), and himself, a U.S. Army retired combat veteran. “Events like those held throughout the month of May really helps us.”  After returning from a deployment in Iraq in 2004, Chris retired from military service before beginning his work with the Department of Veterans Affairs, at the Myrtle Beach Vet Center.  The Vet Center has been a valuable asset to the veteran community for six years; it provides readjustment counseling with a wide range of services offered to eligible veterans, active duty service members, and their families, in an effort to facilitate a successful transition from military to civilian life. Services offered at Vet Centers nationwide include: individual and group counseling for eligible veterans and service members; family counseling for military related issues; bereavement counseling; counseling and referral for those that experience a military sexual trauma; outreach; substance abuse assessment and referral; employment referral; referral to other VA services; and community education.  Today there are roughly three hundred Vet Centers across the country.  “We assist those suffering from PTSD, anxiety, depression, and readjustment issues,” Chris says. “We’re that focal point across the community— bringing awareness and connecting us all.  “I spent twenty years and a day in the Army, and when I did retire, I needed to be around veterans because I grew up, from the age of eighteen to thirty-eight, around a family of those who served. All I knew was soldiering.”  “My transition was difficult for me, I felt displaced,” he continues. “I thought: ‘What am I going to do?’ I was looking for that connection, and I found that connection when I began to again help veterans and their families across my community.”  Chris Aranda — Photo Meganpixels Parker “Suicide is very prevalent in the veterans’ community,” he adds. “With this work, you’re making a positive change of support in someone’s life today. I just returned from a training in Florida where one of my peers was struggling with his own demons and issues. But to be there together, and be around people who cared, it saved his life that weekend. That means something to me and my colleagues.” In his work with the Vet Center, Chris says he still sees WWII veterans who are struggling with PTSD.  “There are only one percent of us who wear the uniform across the country,” he says. “But it’s the other 99% across our country who welcome us, help us, and integrate us back into the community. We appreciate that the City of Myrtle Beach has given us the entire month of May for recognition of our service, and that month is special to us as a community— it unites us, and ties us to the community in which we live, and we all look forward to it. The City of Myrtle Beach is a special place to live because here veterans are recognized and honored.”  Here is this year’s lineup of events to celebrate the veterans in our community; everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.     On Saturday, May 4 at 9am, there will be a Junior ROTC Drill Competition for all of the Horry County high schools in the parking lot of the Pelican Stadium. This is a free event.  That evening, at 6pm, there is a Pelican’s baseball game held to honor all veterans. Veterans are free to attend; general admission $5.     On Friday, May 17, there will be a Vietnam Veterans Recognition and Welcome Home Ceremony from 1-3pm at the General Robert Reed Recreation Center in the Market Common.  Veterans need not pre-register— they will be identified as they enter.    “We are going to pin them and recognize them with a ceremony,” Chris says. “This is the 50th anniversary of their return home from Vietnam, and many of them were never properly welcomed home initially.”     Later that evening, the Pine Lakes International Country Club will host a formal event— the American Legion 100th Birthday Dinner at 5:30pm. Pre-registration is required.  The staff of the Myrtle Beach Vet Center on location. Front row from left to right: Chris Aranda, Terri Davis, and Tez Ortiz. Back row from left to right: Marcey Cates, Laura Cox, and Susan Toth. — Photo Meganpixels Parker On Thursday, May 23 at noon, the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is sponsoring a golf tournament at the Heritage Golf Course in Pawleys Island. Pre-registration is required.  As a way to give back to the community, the Myrtle Beach Vet Center is holding a Community Picnic on Friday, May 24 at 11am on 21st Avenue and Robert Grissom Parkway. There will be a ceremonial flag presentation as well as food and drink.  The most well-known celebratory event, the Myrtle Beach Military Parade, will be held this year on Saturday, May 25, when fifty vehicles and floats will traverse down Howard Avenue in the Market Common amidst throngs of bystanders.  “It’s a very patriotic parade,” Chris says. “And very well attended.”  Each year, the committee selects two grand marshals for the parade— one celebrity and one local veteran. The grand marshals highlight the event and inspire people to attend and show their support.  Previous grand marshals included veterans: Montell Williams, the TV personality; J.R. Martinez, who was on Dancing With the Stars; Rocky Bleier, a Pittsburgh Steeler in the ’80s; and John Glenn, the astronaut.     “This year we have a very special celebrity grand marshal: Kerri Thomas— an Army Ranger and U.S. Iraqi … Read more

The 14th Annual Myrtle Beach International Film Festival

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This Year’s Spectacular Lineup by Melissa LaScaleia This month, the annual Myrtle Beach International Film Festival (MBIFF), returns once more to the Market Common with film crews flying in from Europe, China, Russia, and everywhere in between.  “The variety of films this year is just phenomenal,” says Jerry Dalton, founder of the film festival and the Myrtle Beach Film Institute.  Jerry’s mission is to bring the magic and art of independent movies to the public and make it affordable and accessible to all. For this reason, tickets to the film festival are astonishingly affordable, and the film institute is free to attend.  “Independent film offers something different from Hollywood movies,” Jerry says. “Not shaped or constricted by Hollywood’s accounting department, its beauty is it’s a story told from the heart, created as art, with no restrictions.”  His festival has been awarded twice by Movie Maker Magazine as one of the top 25 and one of the top 50 film festivals to submit to in the world. Movies are selected at MBIFF based purely on the art of the motion picture alone, voted in by a panel of judges from all walks of life. In this way, Jerry ensures that the films at his festival encompass a broad range of cultural motifs and will appeal to a wide audience.  For this year’s festival, Jerry is most excited about the phenomenal films he’s bringing to the public.  “It’s hard to describe in words how great they are,” he says. “I wish at times I was a film fan and could go in and watch them on the big screen for the first time.”  The festival opens with Moving Violations, a very fun and lighthearted film, followed by two from the Czech Republic and Austria. Jerry Dalton addresses the crowd at last year’s Myrtle Beach International Film Festival, 2018. As the Earth Turns was created by Richard H. Lyford in 1938, and has never been publicly seen. He was a renowned director and producer for Hollywood, worked for Disney, and went on to win Academy Awards; but he also created some movies on his own, outside of the studios.  “He was a trailblazer in the independent film scene for that time,” Jerry says. “Additional films playing this year: Guest Artist with Jeff Daniels shows what a great actor brings to the screen and all the emotions that he evokes. This picture also includes producer Melissa Gilbert and Director Timothy Busfield— both will be in attendance at the festival.  “You Go to My Head, by French filmmaker, Dimitri de Clercq was shot in the Sahara and has phenomenal cinematography. He will also be in attendance at the festival. “The number one trainer of wolves for movies— he does big-budget-film wolf training— spent three years in inner Mongolia creating a documentary that we’ll be viewing to show behind the scenes, how he trains wolves for motion pictures.”  “Elvis Walks Home, is an Albanian film which shows life from a perspective very different from ours here in the U.S.,” he continues. “Films like these, they open the mind. Sometimes, when you live in a small place with a few close friends, your world starts to close up. I see people after they experience these films, and it’s like they’re in shock. They become emotionally involved and so it becomes real for them and a part of them. Sometimes it’s sad, sometimes it’s humorous, but you carry away something that is good.”  MBIFF has a new genre this year— music videos. There is one from Nena (who became famous for her song “99 Red Balloons”), and Dave Stewart (who was part of The Eurythmics in the ’80s).  A group of festival attendees at the 2018 Myrtle Beach International Film Festival. — Photo Meganpixels Parker Vitali Klitschko, a former heavyweight boxing champion of the world, and current Mayor of Kiev, created a music video based on the story of his father, who helped to clean up Chernobyl, and consequently died of cancer.  Julie Gribble wrote and starred in a music video about her life called “Easy.” She is an artist, musician, and actress who has worked on many Disney TV shows and movies, like Zoey 101. She will be performing live on Friday night at the Brass Tap.  Another new genre this year that Jerry is excited about is that of web and TV series. He is also beginning a “MBIFF Wall of Fame” at the Grand 14 Cinema.  Those who are recognizable in their industry who contribute to the fields of TV or motion picture and come to the MBIFF either with their film or as patrons, will be immortalized on the wall with a plaque and receive an award.  In addition to the films, there are events happening all week long. Thursday is a film talk forum.     Saturday from 7-8pm, all audience, film makers, and actors get their red carpet photos, followed by an award ceremony. Myrtle Beach International Film Festival Tuesday, April 23 – Saturday, April 27 2019  Grand 14 Cinema in the Market Common  Tickets will sell out; purchase early. VIP All-Access Pass includes a goody bag and one meal voucher for each of the 5 participating restaurants in the Market Common during that week, $249; Standard All-Access Pass for all events and films, $99; limited number of individual tickets for each movie block, $15.  Facebook Phone Internet-explorer

1000 Lights Water Lantern Festival

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A Light for People Everywhere by Melissa Lascaleia The 1000 Lights Water Lantern Festival is coming to Myrtle Beach for the first time this month. Attendees will gather together at Grand Park in the Market Common to enjoy music and food, and collectively send off their hopes, dreams, and prayers across the lake via lit floating water lanterns.  The company in charge of the festival was founded and is jointly owned by Zach Wertz, Nick Menendez, and Andrew Kenney; it’s based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. The three began formulating their plans last July, and held their first events in September.  “I had worked with events in college, and always loved getting people together and having a good time,” says Andrew in speaking about what motivated him to begin the 1000 Lights Festival. “We saw a group of people in Hawaii doing this, and it inspired us.”  1000 Lights holds water lantern festivals around the country. Last year they put on four events, and this year, they anticipate hosting between thirty and forty. To date, they’ve spread the magic and light of their festival in San Diego, CA; Newport, CA; St. Petersburg FL; Savannah, GA; Tempe, AZ; and Lindon, UT.  This year, they’re adding the Bay area of California; Philadelphia; Syracuse, NY; Cincinnati, OH; Boise, ID; and Toledo, OH to their list of annual stops.  Attendees decorate their lanterns with markers and stencils before launching them across the water. Here, lanterns from the festival in Lindon, Utah, last September. — Photo 1000 Lights “People everywhere are looking for moving, spiritual experiences, but often they don’t know where to find them,” Andrew says. “Our goal is to create a strong atmosphere of beauty and depth of sanctity beyond what people experience on a day-to-day basis. We just hope to spread some light in people’s lives.”  The 1000 Lights Water Lantern Festival has food, vendors, and live music, usually performed by local artists; they also have high stakes bingo with prizes like TVs and tablets. But the main part of the event is the lantern launch.  When people arrive, they receive a lantern packet. 1000 Lights is conscious of the environment and creates their lanterns from sustainable and reusable materials. The base is made from bamboo, and the top is made from rice paper; they are completely biodegradable.  Instead of candles, they are lit with LED lights which they reuse from one festival to the next. They create a buoy line for the lanterns to collect them all at the end, with the intention of leaving the area better than when they found it.  “We give people markers and stencils to decorate their lanterns,” Andrew says. “Some people write goals that they have for the year. Some write tributes to family or friends who have passed on. Others write their hopes and dreams on them. People decorate them throughout the night, and once the sun has gone down, we all gather at the edge of the water— reflecting. It’s a powerful moment and special time that we create with people.”  “I think we have a beautiful world with amazing people in it,” he continues. “But often life is hard for people.  Our goal with this festival is to create a meaningful event where people have a really great experience of whatever type they choose.  “People attend for a variety of reasons— whether it’s family coming together to remember a loved one who has passed; or those who are alone and want to feel a sense of community around sharing their personal dreams; or those who just want to come out on a weekend to get away from the typical rhythm of their day to enjoy a night out with great ambiance and great vibes— and we welcome them all.”  Festival-goers pose for the camera with their lanterns at the Lindon, Utah event, September 2018. — Photo 1000 Lights This is the first time a festival like this has arrived in Myrtle Beach.  “We think Myrtle Beach is a really pretty area,” Andrew says, in speaking about what made them choose to add our city to their list of stops. “I’m really looking forward to our time there. We’re all excited to come, and will be bringing other staff members too.    “The city of Myrtle Beach was awesome to work with— they were really receptive to the idea, and we were excited they were so easy to work with. We haven’t done as many events on the East Coast, but we’re working on it. We love meeting people and visiting new places.”  The 1000 Light team selects locations based on the availability of places that have the infrastructure to support the festival— like a stage for entertainment, and a body of water where the lanterns can be contained— usually a large pond or smaller lake. The festival draws crowds of 1,500 to 4,000 people.  “People have really been enjoying the festival,” Andrew says. “That’s one of the most rewarding parts of this. When you see people, and they share their stories about why they’re here— it’s so moving. At the end, people thank us for what we’re doing, and tell us how much this experience has touched them, and how much they’ve enjoyed it.”  “We want these festivals to be a light for people,” he adds. “Each one will be an annual event; we just hope to create a positive environment and have something to look forward to each year, in each city we visit.” 1st Annual 1000 Lights Water Lantern Festival, Grand Park in the Market Common, Crabtree Lane, Myrtle Beach, SC, 29577   Saturday, April 13, 2019, 5:30pm — 8:30pm Advanced tickets required. No ticket sales at the gate.  Purchase at www.1000lights.com/myrtlebeach or Facebook @ 1000 Lights Water Lantern Festival Myrtle Beach.  $29 for adults; $13 for children 9-13; free under 9.  Envelope Facebook Phone Internet-explorer

Coastal Highland Games

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Bringing a Celebration of Celtic Culture Back to Myrtle Beach by Melissa LaScaleia For the past few years, the Saltwater Highland Games were a hugely popular festival held annually every March in Myrtle Beach. This year, the organizers chose not to host the event. That’s when N.S. Promotions & Events stepped up to the plate, and from the ashes of old memories decided to create something new— The Coastal Highland Games.     N.S. Promos was formed by the owners of Native Sons Screenprint & Embroidery and Festival Promotions—two Myrtle Beach businesses with a strong history of community involvement.  Since 1984, Native Sons Screenprinting & Embroidery has helped thousands of businesses build their brand throughout the Carolinas. The owner, Steve Taylor, has lived in Myrtle Beach his entire life and has always wanted to give back to the community through organizing fun events like the Salt Games—a one-of-a-kind beach competition and festival featuring surfing, volleyball and more. Mike Shank, owner of Festival Promotions, has been organizing events and races in the Grand Strand area for over a decade with successful endeavors such as the Myrtle Beach Turkey Trot and Oktoberfest.  With Festival Promotion’s event management capabilities, and the marketing resources of Native Sons, this past year, Taylor and Shank decided to form a brand-new company: N.S. Promotions & Events—N.S. Promos for short. With over thirty years of combined community involvement, president of operations, Chris Trout, and marketing director, PJ Bernacki, handle day-to-day tasks for N.S. Promos, and are eager to bring the Highland Games to Myrtle Beach.  The Highland Games. — Photo Laura Suarez “As a team, N.S. Promos has always loved the event,” says PJ. “We saw the opportunity to reintroduce this festival to Myrtle Beach once we heard that the former organizers no longer had plans to continue the event.”  The Highland Games originated in Scotland in the 800s, when people held competitions of might to see who was strong enough to be the head of the clan. It was also a way for clan leaders to compete for the title of most powerful clan.  A clan is a large family group related by blood and marriage, but other members joined for protection or survival; others because they supported a leader in the clan and wanted to stand behind him. Clans had their own laws and customs, and were tightly bound together by their loyalty and pride.  Traditionally, there was one member from each clan competing in the games on a large playing field. The families of each contestant would erect tents around the field, which acted as a gathering spot for the entire clan to mingle and enjoy the entertainment while also watching their hero during the competition.  Over time, they evolved into more of a festival— and offered food, music, competitions, and community— and a celebration of Scottish, Celtic, and Gaelic heritage.  The sport part of the games is comprised of a series of individual feats in which competitors measure their skills against one another. The most well known, and almost symbolic of the games is the caber toss, in which a telephone pole is thrown end over end.  There are seven different contests in total—some others include the shot put, the weight throw, and the sheaf throw— in which competitors use a pitchfork to pick up a burlap sack filled with sand and fling it; he who covers the longest distance wins.  “Our event will be a series of games of strength and endurance surrounded by a festival that honors the Celtic culture of the entire region, with an emphasis on Scottish culture,” PJ says.  Caber toss at the Ceres Highland Games. — Photo Ajna Reflections A lot of local chapters of Scottish clans dating back to the 1000s, as well as local chapters of associations from England and Ireland, will be there to set up booths and educate the public about their heritage.  “Each clan has their own tartan—a plaid pattern that they display proudly and is specific to them,” PJ says. “Anybody who has served in the military, police, Navy, and Air Force also have their own tartan, and they will be represented in the opening and closing ceremonies.”  This year’s festival will have bagpipes, marching bands, and drums. They will also have sheep herding demonstrations with border collies, and a kid’s area called the Kid’s Glen.  The glen will feature a petting zoo, playing area, inflatables, face-painting, and pony rides. Knights from the local Medieval Times will be there wielding swords and teaching children the art of sword fighting.  There will be Celtic and Scottish themed live music, as well as acoustic guitar and bagpipes playing on stage throughout the day with some Celtic dance performances.  Vendors, mostly from North and South Carolina, will be in attendance selling authentic Celtic jewelry and art. And, of course, there will be plenty of food trucks including Scottish themed cuisine—local craft and clothing vendors, and adult beverages from Highland Brewery.  The caber toss at the Highland Games. — Photo Ally Middleton “We reached out to local people who had been involved in the games previously for support,” PJ says. “Just like years past, the Southeastern Highland Athletic Group (S.H.A.G.) will help run the athletic portion of the games.  “We have two title sponsors of the event: Palmetto Primary Care Physicians and Surgical Care Affiliates.  With their help, we were able to recruit international pros to come and compete in the event.”  There are also multiple men’s and women’s amateur divisions, and people from the community are invited to sign up to compete. The live music and athletic competitions will begin at 8am; the opening ceremony and procession with representation of the clans and military will occur at 10:30am.  “The Highland Games have always been a success in Myrtle Beach,” PJ says. “The Market Common venue had 10,000 people at their event two years ago, so we anticipate this festival being huge.”  In keeping with the celebration of Scottish culture, N.S. Promos is hosting a Scotch Whisky Tasting event at Atlas Tap House the evening before the event. It will be … Read more

Nights of a Thousand Candles Special Preview Benefit

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The Coastal Insider

Provided by Brookgreen Gardens September was a tough month for many in North and South Carolina due to the hurricane. Brookgreen Gardens also experienced significant flooding during the aftermath of Hurricane Florence.  Unprecedented flooding along the river affected the Lowcountry Zoo and caused significant damage to trails and zoo exhibits. A special preview benefit evening of Nights of a Thousand Candles will help support flood recovery, including reconstruction of the Cypress Aviary Exhibit boardwalk and repair to the Alligator Exhibit. This exclusive evening will be December 1, from 5:30 – 8:30 pm. Each ticket is $100 and will include beverages (including wine or beer) and heavy hors d’oeuvres in the gardens. A limited number of tickets will be available. Entertainment for the evening will include Rebecca Nissen, harpist; the Saltwater Chamber Orchestra, and the Beach Brass Quintet. During the Nights of a Thousand Candles, trees are beautifully illuminated throughout the property creating a spectacular backdrop through which to meander. — Photo Donna Parker The main Nights of a Thousand Candles events kick off on Thursday, December 6. General public tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children. Tickets for Brookgreen members are $20 for adults and $12 for children. Children 3 and under are always free. Tickets may be purchased on our website, www.brookgreen.org.  Groups of fifteen or more may contact Brookgreen’s group sales department for special rates. Inlet Affairs returns to provide their signature Lowcountry dishes in the food tent. In the entertainment tents, favorites such as Bill Oberst, Jr and his one-man rendition of Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, choral group Vocal Edition, and Tru Sol band are returning; as well as pianist Rocky Fretz, and other popular bands. The full entertainment schedule can be found at https://www.brookgreen.org/events/nights-thousand-candles-2018. The visual displays are different every year, and always worth seeing. — Photo WaynesView Photography New for 2018: 3:30 – 4:30 pm in front of The Visionaries sculpture, meet Angus, Brookgreen’s Scottish Deerhound Mascot and learn the history of the Huntington’s and their love for this amazing dog breed. 4:30 – 5:30 pm in the Children’s Garden Reading Room,  A Visit From St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore (‘Twas the night before Christmas)  will be read aloud by a special guest reader. 6:15 pm. The Lighting of the Holiday Tree has been moved to a slightly later time to give more guests the opportunity to enjoy this nightly event. We also have new displays, a new addition to the train exhibit, and other surprises for our guests. Interesting facts: Over 4500 candles are lit by hand every evening. Around 150 volunteers and staff work each night of the event. Almost 2 million other lights are used in addition to candles. The holiday tree alone has over 130,000 lights, and at 80 feet, is taller than the tree at Rockefeller Center in New York City. Staff and volunteers begin decorating in late August. It takes a little over two months to take everything down after New Years. Except for the path luminaries, which burn down each evening, all the candles have to be blown out at the end of each night.  Brookgreen Gardens, a National Historic Landmark and 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is located on U.S. 17 between Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island, South Carolina, and is open to the public daily.  Founded in 1931 by Anna Hyatt Huntington and Archer Huntington, Brookgreen is home to the largest and most significant collection of American Figurative Sculpture in the country, and continues as a leader in sculpture conservation, environmental conservation, and protection of the plants, animals, and history of the South Carolina Lowcountry.  For more information, visit our website or call. Phone Internet-explorer

Watch: The Nutcracker Comes To Life

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Premiering at Coastal Carolina University This 2018 Holiday Season by Liza Mata Celebrate the holiday spirit with this festive, family-friendly ballet. Myr­tle Beach’s Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre presents the magical holiday production of The Nutcracker for the 13th year, with performances on Dec. 8, 9, 15 and 16 at Coastal Carolina University’s Wheel­wright Auditorium in Conway. The Nutcracker ballet tells the story of young Clara who is given a magical nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve by her eccentric uncle and godfa­ther, Herr Drosselmeyer. Adventure awaits as she and her transformed Nutcracker Prince battle the frightful Mouse King before embarking on a journey through the Land of the Snow.  With the help of the Snow Queen, Herr Drosselmeyer, Clara, and her Prince travel to the Land of the Sweets where they are entertained by the Sugar Plum Fairy, her Cavalier, and her Entourage of Sweets.  Bringing the charming Nutcracker story to life are Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre’s cast of sixty of the area’s most talented young dancers together with CYBT ballerina Kiely Elizabeth Clark as the Sugar Plum Fairy, and New York City guest artist Mikhail Ilyin as the Cavalier.  The Nutcracker is staged by CYBT professional artistic directors. Liza Mata and Karen Mata to the magnificent music of composer, Peter Tchaikovsky. A yearly treat for all within the performance is the discovery of which prominent community member will play the role of Mother Ginger. Here a very hairy Mother Ginger takes the stage with fan waves. “It is a labor of love for us to put on this show every year,” says Liza Mata. “The Nutcracker has long been seen as a cultural family favorite during the holiday season, and we are so blessed to be able to bring such a beloved family tradition to the Myrtle Beach area for thirteen years now. Our dancers work tirelessly to bring these performances to life and to bring smiles and joy to their audiences.”  Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre is a non­profit 501(c)3 arts organization dedicated to the artistic and cultural enrichment of Horry and Georgetown counties. Ar­tistic and executive director Liza Mata established Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre in 2006 as the performing company of Coastal Dance Centre, a dance school based in the Market Common.  The school is highly regarded for its pro­gram of dance training, performance opportunities, and professionally staged productions. Coastal Youth Ballet The­atre provides an artistic home base for the area’s most talented young dancers, who are able to participate in full-length ballet productions, performances, scholarship awards, and community outreach en­gagements. A treat for The Nutcracker audience every year is finding out which local and regional celebrities are perform­ing the special role of the beloved “Mother Ginger” character for each performance. The local celebrities and hometown heroes who will be playing “Mother Ginger” have been nominated by their community members and will be featured indi­vidually in each of the performances. The Nutcracker has long been seen as a cultural family favorite during the holiday season. — Photo Liza Mata Lt. Jon Evans, public education offi­cer for the Myrtle Beach Fire Depart­ment, will be Mother Ginger for the 2 pm performance on Saturday, December 15. “I’m honored to be asked to play the role of Mother Ginger this year,” says Evans, who has been with MBFD for more than ten years. “Being a firefight­er is all about serving the community, and while this may not be the typical type of community service for a fire­fighter, I’m looking forward to the op­portunity to be a part of the show and make the holidays a little brighter for the Myrtle Beach area.” The remaining celebrity cast mem­bers for the role of Mother Ginger will be announced at a later date. Past “Mother Gingers” have included Barbara Jo Blain-Bellamy, mayor of Conway; Ed Piotrowski, chief mete­orologist for WPDE; Johnny Vaught, Horry County councilmember; and Randal Wallace, Myrtle Beach city councilmember. The Nutcracker Coastal Carolina University, Wheel­wright Auditorium 108 Spadoni Park Circle, Conway, SC 29526 Saturday, December 8, 2 & 7pmSunday, December 9, 3 pmSaturday, December 15, 2 & 7 pmSunday, December 16, 3 pm Tickets 843-349-ARTS (2787); in person at Wheelwright Auditorium. Box office hours: Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm. Tickets: $10 – $30. To learn more visit www.cybt.org or www.coastaldancecentre.com or contact Liza Mata 843-839-5678.

Surfside Beach 2018 Christmas Parade

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by The Town of Surfside Beach Mark your calendar for December 8, 2018. It’s the 39th annual Surfside Beach Christmas Parade. It’s a great event for the whole family, and a wonderful kickoff to the holiday season. The parade starts at 2:00 pm on Melody Lane in Surfside, and continues up Ocean Boulevard to Surfside Drive. It turns up Surfside Drive and continues to Poplar Drive. The parade has eighty (or more) organizations entered, and some of the organizations have multiple vehicles.  We will have up to four marching bands depending on the weather. The Surfside Beach Police, and Fire and Rescue departments will be represented with patrol vehicles, fire trucks, and rescue vehicles. Local animal organizations bring their dogs and horses to contribute to the festivities.There will be a number of professional floats in the parade too.  Of course, the star of the show, Santa, will be there.  He arrives on his own float, with a group of attendants by his side. Don’t tell the kids, but every organization comes equipped with a load of candy, so make sure you bring a container to hold all the goodies.  It’s free, it’s fun, its the Surfside Beach Christmas Parade. Make it an annual tradition in your household. To learn more, visit our website at www.surfsidebeach.org

Red Cross: The Holiday Cards for Heroes Campaign

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by Melissa LaScaleia Every December, American Red Cross teams up with other non-profits to assist in sending care packages to our military troops stationed overseas. The arm of the Red Cross responsible for this is the Service to the Armed Forces division, or SAF.   Karen Levinson is the team leader for the local Myrtle Beach division; she’s been with the Red Cross for the past three years.  “Every November we start planning our Holiday Cards for Heroes campaign,” she says. “We work in conjunction with the Blue Star Mothers which a nationwide non-profit organization of mothers whose children are currently serving in the military. They are absolutely wonderful, they do so much.” The Blue Star Mothers have access to the mailing addresses of deployed troops, and collect donations to compile and send care packages and gift boxes filled with treats designed to warm the hearts of soldiers abroad. Things like chocolate, chips, and other non-perishable goodies, books, magazines, and other creature comforts of home. The Red Cross collects handmade cards to include as part of the care packages. They attend events like bazaars and frequent busy shopping areas like Broadway at the Beach, soliciting passersby to use their artistic talents to make a holiday card for a service member on the spot. Children and adults alike participate in the activity. “It’s great for building community, it’s really sweet,” Karen says. The Holiday Cards for Heroes Campaign fosters a sense of connection as it brings people together to join in a common cause. Another event the Red Cross is participating in this holiday season is called Wreaths Across America, also in partnership with the Blue Star Mothers. The nationwide campaign collects donations to buy wreaths to put on the gravesites of soldiers during the holiday season. “It’s the first year we’ll be actively participating with them for this. We will help to lay the wreaths at the gravesites for our local division,” Karen says. “I have never served in the military,” she adds. “And this is my way of expressing gratitude to those who have, and showing appreciation for them. We have many former military servicemen on our team. They appreciated what was done for them when they were in the service, and they want to give back, through working with us on this, as well as our other community projects.” December Events CPR/AED/First Aid: Myrtle Beach December 8 December 12 December 22 December 26 Blood Drives December 15 – Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson  December 26 – iHeart Radio at Ripley’s Aquarium  Become a Volunteer: Register now at RedCross.org Sign-up at www.redcross.org/sc.

2018 Surfside Beach Christmas Tree Lighting

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by The Town of Surfside Beach We are getting geared up to celebrate the 2018 holiday season in Surfside. Join us at the Surfside Beach Town Hall for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.  The Christmas tree lighting is normally scheduled for the Thursday after Thanksgiving, this year it will be November 29, 2018, and begins at 7 pm.  We will have live caroling provided by local school children, light refreshments, and of course, a visit from Santa himself. We invite children of all ages to attend and enjoy an annual Surfside Beach holiday tradition. In 2016, Hurricane Matthew had uprooted the large pine tree in front of the Town Hall that was normally decorated for the holidays, and it had to be removed. Rather than cancel the event, the public works department quickly replaced the fallen pine with a palm tree. The event went off as planned, as the tree lighting was saved. The temporary palm tree has since been replaced by a new pine tree.  If you’re a transplant to our shores, why not join us and create a new holiday tradition in your new home? The holidays are a great time to make new friends and re-connect with current ones. Everyone is welcome to celebrate in Surfside Beach.

2018 Surfside Rotary Turkey Trot Run Down

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by The Town of Surfside Beach The 9th Annual Surfside Rotary Turkey Trot will take place in Surfside Beach, on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2018 and will start and finish at the Surfside Pier.  Festival Promotions, which produces the race, is working to make this the premier Turkey Trot in the Southeast, and is very excited to be working with the Town of Surfside to showcase our beautiful community. The course is fast and flat and highlights the beauty of Surfside Beach. Runners will start and finish with a view of the beach and will enjoy many of Surfside’s great neighborhoods. For visitors to Surfside Beach, this is a fantastic area and somewhere you will want to visit over and over. With multiple race options including 5K, 10K, 1 Mile and a free “Tot Trot,” there is something for everyone. Join more than 1,300 runners for this fun event. RACE SCHEDULEWednesday, November 21:– 4-7 pm – Packet Pick Up outside beside the Surfside Pier Thursday, November 22:– 7- 8:20am: Packet Pick Up at the Surfside Beach Pier parking lot– 8:30am: 10K and 5K Races Start– 8:35am: 1-Mile Race Start– 10:15: Tot Trot Starts – Kids in the Tot Trot run for free– Walkers are welcome and encouraged– Runners/walkers with strollers are also welcome A contribution is being made to the Surfside Area Rotary Club to support their charitable works in the Surfside Beach community. Go to mbturkeytrot.com to register or for more information.

It’s a Wonderful Life in Surfside Beach

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by Tabitha Mull The Keep Surfside Beach Beautiful committee and the Town of Surfside Beach are making Surfside a Christmas destination, by lighting our entire town in Christmas lights and decor.  • December 15th bring your chair, a blanket and even a picnic basket to watch the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” under the stars in Martin Field. There will accompanying festivities for all ages. • Every weekend in December, participating businesses will host a toast for our “Chocolate Crawl,” including special events and Christmas surprises for all.• Follow the “It’s a Wonderful Life in Surfside Beach” Facebook page to find out where you can drop off your letter to Santa• Participate in: It’s a Miracle on 29575 Streets. Stay tuned for a secret stocking placed on your door from a neighbor. Fill it with kindness and pass it on to another neighbor. The secret is to keep filling it and passing it on in the Christmas spirit. As Santa’s list grows we will keep you in the know…  Like us on Facebook: “It’s A Wonderful Life in Surfside Beach” page & KSBB-Keep Surfside Beach Beautiful page.

American Red Cross Impact: Serving Our Communities During Hurricane Florence and Beyond

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Serving the Horry and Georgetown Communities During Hurricane Florence and Beyond by Melissa LaScaleia American Red Cross is a nearly two-hundred-year-old non-profit organization that has over 300,000 volunteers nationwide and provides disaster relief on large and small scales, as well as other community support services. Before, during, and after Hurricane Florence hit the Southeastern coast this past September, the Red Cross offered vital assistance in the Myrtle Beach area. “The Myrtle Beach community really rallied around each other as we prepared for the incoming Hurricane Florence,” says Amy Brauner, the executive director for the Eastern South Carolina chapter of the American Red Cross. “Luckily, a lot of people in Surfside and Myrtle Beach were extremely generous helping in the Conway and Socastee areas.” The American Red Cross maintained sixteen shelters in Horry and Georgetown counties before, during, and after the hurri­cane, which were opened by DSS, the Department of Social Services. These shelters originated as evacuation points pro­viding a safe place for people to stay while the hurricane pro­gressed. The Red Cross provided cots, blankets, three meals a day, nurses to help with medications and health services, and mental health sup­port. They also had activities for children. “We provided a safe haven while helping these families back on the road to recovery,” Amy says, “especially in the days and weeks after the storm.”  Hundreds of homes were claimed as destroyed and majorly damaged in our community from floods post-Hurricane Florence. — Photo courtesy of American Red Cross Conway High School was converted into the largest shelter in the area, offering refuge to over 460 people on peak night. Over 2,000 people spent the night in shelters in Horry County on peak night.  “DSS was an outstanding partner to ensure there were safe facilities and everyone’s needs were met,” says Amy. “They were great in helping us organize where we could distribute supplies, and being able to communicate with these severely damaged communities.” The American Red Cross also worked closely with the Horry County Emergency Management Department. “I especially want to recognize Randy Webster for his assistance,” Amy says. “The entire department was essential in preparing us and making sure the roads were clear and safe for our community and especially our volunteers, to get out and serve our community. They were the unsung heroes of the event, as well as the National Guard, the Department of Transportation, and the Salvation Army— all of whom have a seat in this operation center that is run by the Man­agement Department.”  After the storm, volunteer community members with the Red Cross distributed over 5,000 clean up kits across Horry and Georgetown counties, which includes a bucket filled with gloves, mops, bleach, and Damprid, as well as 1000 shovels, rakes, and masks— materials to help peo­ple get started on the road to cleaning up their community after the storm.  “Our caseworkers are also partnering with FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to provide finan­cial assistance to those families that were devastated during the storm,” says Amy. “Traditionally, the homeowner is the one receiving FEMA funds. But thanks to the generosity of our donors, the American Red Cross can provide additional assis­tance to those displaced families— the household that is renting— during the interim period of homelessness.” On the evening before the storm, National Guard servicemen delivered Red Cross cots to shelters via high-clearance vehicles to avoid the swelling waters. — Photo courtesy of American Red Cross “I don’t know how to thank our volunteers enough,” Amy says. “Locally, we had over 300 new volunteers sign up to support our efforts to provide relief and recovery during the hurricane and the thereafter flooding. That’s a huge number. “They were part of activities including handing out clean up kits, providing hot meals, logistics, and making sure we were getting our message out to the commu­nity via social media so the public would know where to turn if they needed help. They also assisted with case manage­ment— evaluating individual homes for damage and ensuring that the family is okay.  “They determine what services and supplies the family needs, and what ave­nues of support or governmental agencies we can connect them with for additional aid. And 91 cents of every dollar donated goes directly towards our mission.” The American Red Cross offers much to our community in times of peace as well. They provide training services in CPR, first aid, AED, and lifeguarding, and train­ing services to the families of our service members. They also offer aid in partner­ship with the International Red Cross. The American Red Cross provides 42% of the nation’s blood supply; international service to the armed forces; and reconnection services for families after large natural di­sasters. They also respond to every local home fire.  More people die in home fires every year than any other disaster. As the fire department goes to put out the fire within a home, the Red Cross is called to be by the side of the family ensuring they have a safe place to stay and financial assistance to bridge the gap to the next day. A resident drives his boat across flooded waters from the aftermath of Hurricane Florence from September 21st and into the following week. — Photo courtesy of American Red Cross This past September, a home in Aynor, South Carolina was damaged by a fire. The Red Cross is providing financial as­sistance for food, clothing, and other es­sentials, as well as comfort kits containing personal hygiene items for the individual. “We’ve partnered with the local coun­ty and city officials and they’ve been just great in helping to get the word out to the community about what our services are,” Amy says. “I also want to say a great thank you to Jamie at Jammin Leather who has held events to support our efforts.” The American Red Cross wants to ensure families are prepared against home fires. They provide free smoke alarms and help you build an evacuation plan for a two minute escape, the time it … Read more

Best of Beach Balls Challenge

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by the Town of Surfside Beach Champion Autism Network Inc. is excited to announce our first Best of the Beach Balls Challenge.  Angelo’s Steak & Pasta, Pink Pineapple Bakery, Chef Bill Twaler of the Myrtle Beach International Culinary Institute, Team Eatz Sports Catering, and other local restaurants, food trucks, catering companies, and home cooks will showcase their meatballs (or meat-substitute balls), and compete to win the “Best of the Beach Balls” designation to help raise money for Champion Autism Network, the 2018-2019 Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce’s Non-Profit of the Year.  The event will be held at the Yaupon parking lot at Yaupon and Surfside Drives in Surfside Beach, from 11 am to 3 pm, and will coincide with the Halloween Rod Run Car Show. Tasting tickets will be sold for $1 each. Judges will be the 2018 Night of Champions winners, Chef Kevin Levine of Scatori’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant, Chef Thomas Barre of The Breakwater, Honoree Chef Jamie Saunders of Johnny D’s Waffles & Bakery, and by our title sponsors, Sammy Truett of Moore and Associates Insurance of Surfside, and Phil Vassar, of Surfside Beach Oceanfront Hotel. Children can trunk-or-treat at the car show and participate in a scavenger hunt throughout the Beach Ball Challenge. There will also be additional activities.   Champion Autism Network Inc. (CAN) is a non-profit organization based in Surfside Beach. Their mission is to spread autism awareness and education, as well as support families dealing with autism. Due to the efforts of CAN, Surfside Beach has become the country’s first autism-friendly vacation destination, with lodging, resorts, restaurants, and amusement facilities trained to handle the challenges people with autism and their families face. To learn more, volunteer, participate, or sponsor, please go to www.championautismnetwork.com, or follow us on Champion Autism Network, Inc. on Facebook. Please #ComePlayWithUs and help to determine who has the Best of the Beach Balls. Monies raised are used to host sensory friendly movies, as well as support other autism-friendly activities for locals and tourists.

Halloween Hot Rod Run Car Show

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by the Town of Surfside Beach The Surfside Beach Annual Halloween Car Show will be held Saturday, October 27, 2018 on Surfside Drive from 10 am to 3 pm. Local car enthusiasts display their classics and hot rods in a casual setting for general viewing. This event is held in conjunction with the Myrtle Beach Car Club, a non-profit whose main purpose is to assist charitable organizations and needy families in Horry County and the surrounding counties, thru the car club hobby.  They are a family-oriented club based in Myrtle Beach— and host several area car shows to raise money for local charities. Interested in showing off your wheels? Registration is at 9 am for participants. Trophies will be awarded at 3 pm. Registrants are requested to bring candy for the kids to “Trunk or Treat.” Visitors, don’t miss this free modern and classic car show; there will be a DJ, and food is available next door at the CAN Best of the Beach Balls Competition. Visit www.surfsidebeach.org for more details.

Keep Surfside Beach Beautiful

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by Tabitha Mull The Keep Surfside Beach Beautiful Comittee Invites you, your friends and your family to our Beach Sweeps. Along with our kind and friendly community, one of our committee’s initiatives is to keep our beaches and beach accesses litter free.  We meet at the Surfide Beach Pier at 10am to 12pm to sweep our beach with our friends and neighbors. We will provide gloves and bags for the beach sweep; dress in cool clothing. Our upcoming Beach Sweep Dates are: Saturday, August 25th 2018Saturday, October 20th 2018 Like our Facebook page for our exciting news and events. We are always looking for volunteers and committee members.  If you are a Surfside Beach resident please email.  We would like to congratulate our August Yard of the Month Winner for August 2018. Eval and Heather SmithTo nominate a YOM please visit our Facebook page or email At Facebook Envelope

Surfside Beach Sunday Serenades

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by the Town of Surfside Beach Busy on Sunday? If you’re looking for something different and unusual to do, why not come to Passive Park on Surfside Drive after 2 pm and listen to the Sunday Serenades?  Ten years ago, Glenn “Hounddog” Hanson had an idea. A talented guitarist and singer knew how hard it could be to find a public place to play. There are a lot of entertainment venues on the Grand Strand, but most of them are looking for bands, or established talent. Hounddog knew there was a lot of talent out there that needed a place to be heard. He approached the Surfside Beach Town Council with the idea of supporting live music by giving the artists a place to perform. The council agreed to the idea, and a small stipend was placed in the town budget. The first year of Sunday Serenades were performed at the pier, at the request of the council. For several reasons, this did not work out, and the show moved to the park for its second season. This was where Hounddog wanted to be all along. The natural setting and the mostly acoustic music were made for each other.   Over the years, the setting has changed. The first few years, performers played on a concrete platform, out in the open. When the town installed the circuit exercise equipment in the park, the platform was taken over by a stationary bike. The bike was moved, and was replaced by a gazebo. Within a few years, the gazebo grew a small stage, and then a roof was put over the stage, to protect the talent from mother nature’s ways. Musicians are given 45-minute sets to display their talents. Hounddog says his only requirement to perform is: “You have to be willing to face the public for 45 minutes.”  He has a roster of repeat players to choose from. If you are interested in playing in the Surfside Sunday Serenades, please contact Hounddog via email or message him via Facebook. Don’t forget to hit “Like” when you go to the Facebook page. At Facebook

Beach Society For The Deaf

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Bringing Awareness About Deafness To Our Community by Melissa LaScaleia Michael Sokolik began the non-profit organization, Beach Society For the Deaf, as a way to build greater awareness of the existence of deaf people in the Myrtle Beach community, and to help foster greater inclusion for them. He has a small team of people who are experienced with the deaf, that are by his side supporting him with this project. One of them is Brooke Lipat, who is a sign language interpreter and assists in teaching ASL classes at Horry Georgetown Technical College. Michael’s inspiration is his daughter, Gracelyn, who at the age of two, was diagnosed deaf in one ear and hard of hearing in the other. “We’re not looking to build Beach Society For the Deaf as a major organization,” Michael tells the Insider in an interview.  “We don’t want to make this about the money.  The money that we are raising is going to be used for providing interpreters for those who are going to doctors appointments or job interviews—it’s to help get them started.” The Sokolik family from left to right. Michael’s wife Stephanie, Gracelyn, Presley, Memphis, and Michael. For Michael, this is mainly about creating awareness in the local community to support not only his daughter, but the other parents of deaf children and people who live here.  Their overall function is to get people involved in the deaf community by learning sign language. Gracelyn, now 4, has a hearing aid that helps her to learn speech.  Sign language is an important way to communicate with her, though, because if she doesn’t say her words clearly, she knows how to sign for what she wants. “She knows how to spell ‘Barbie’ in sign language.  Of all the things I’ve been teaching her,” Michael laughs, “that’s the one she decided to stick with.” The Myrtle Beach Pelicans baseball team is hosting a fundraiser game for Deaf Awareness at Pelican Stadium on Sunday, August 19 at 6:05pm.  It’s a family friendly event with vendors and food concession stands. There will be a few special guests in attendance.  Among them: Curtis Pride, a deaf former major league baseball player; and Jason Hurdich, the sign language interpreter for Governor Haley for the deaf on TV.  He gained national fame overnight for his entertaining facial expressions and interpretation of the governor’s words, when Hurricane Matthew made breaking news. “Gracelyn’s hearing is dropping,” Michael says.  “I want her to know both speech and sign language as equally as she can, because I don’t know what her future holds, at what point she could loose all her hearing; I want to give her as much preparation to support her, as I can.” “We’re hopeful that more people in the community can learn sign language as a way to reach out and include everyone in the community,” he continues. “Some deaf people are isolated because people are intimidated and don’t know how to communicate with them.  I want to change this not only for my child, but the other parents of deaf children who are struggling in our community.” Gracelyn’s older sister Presley, is going to be 11 years old in August.  Her chorus teacher at Forestbrook Elementary School has sponsored her in starting a sign language club— getting students involved in learning sign language for the music that the chorus is singing. “We’re trying to build an interest now so that by the time Gracelyn is in high school, there will be a sign language class just like any other class, as a way to build and foster communication between everybody,” Michael says. “I believe life is about relationships, connecting with people, loving each other.  If the community learned this language, how many more relationships could be built starting here? Beach Society for the Deaf and Pelican’s Fundraiser Baseball Game Pelican Stadium, Sunday, August 19 at 6:05pm.  Tickets for the fundraiser $13, and must be purchased in advance by calling us.  Web sale and walk-in proceeds do not contribute to the fundraiser. Horry Georgetown Technical College offers an inexpensive ASL 1, American Sign Language Level 1 course, from August 27 – October 8, from 6:30-8:30pm. For more info about deaf awareness and to get involved, call Michael at 843-222-2324. Envelope Phone

Grand Strand Beach Renourishment

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by the Town of Surfside Beach Our beaches are constantly moving.  The waves and the winds sculpt the sand into a multitude of shapes.  Nature changes our beaches every day, and every day we lose a little bit of beach. Last t summer, the Army Corps of Engineers spent several weeks dredging sand and renourishing our beaches.  Booster pump stations were anchored off the shores, and piping was run under the water and onto the beach.  Dredging barges pick up sand off the sea bottom, and transfer it to the pumping stations. The sand is deposited on the beach, and evenly spread with heavy equipment.  The newly repaired beach is larger, more stable and provides a better storm barrier.  Due to storm surges from several hurricanes over the past year, over half of the replacement sand has been washed away.  The Army Corp has allocated over $34 million to replace the missing sand.  Due to equipment scheduling issues, this work has to be completed during the summer season.  Starting in August, over 14 miles of Grand Strand beaches will be renewed and refreshed.  Every effort is made to complete the work as fast as possible and all the local beaches will remain open.  You can track the progress of the work at https://arcg.is/Ly4Ce.

Keep Surfside Beach Beautiful Committee

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by the Town of Surfside Beach Surfside Beach Yard of the month: In addition to community projects the Keep Surfside Beach Committee recognizes exemplary examples of gardening by the residents of Surfside Beach.  The monthly Yard of the Month Award showcases the best of our residents’ efforts in beautification of our neighborhood.  Recipients receive the Surfside Beach Yard of the Month sign placed in their yard.  The homeowner’s landscape picture posted on our KSSB-Keep Surfside Beach Beautiful Facebook page and their yard is framed in town hall from the Keep Surfside Beach Beautiful Committee. How your yard can get selected?We encourage all residents to nominate a neighbor’s yard or even your own yard!  To make a nomination send an email to dherrmann@surfsidebeach.org or nominate a yard in the folder on our KSBB-Keep Surfside Beach Beautiful Facebook page The KSBB-Keep Surfside Beach Beautiful committee votes on the nominations at our monthly meetings. Check out all of our Surfside Beach Yard of the Month winners on our KSBB-Keep Surfside Beach Beautiful Facebook page.  We appreciate all of our neighbor’s efforts to Keep Surfside Beach Beautiful! Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Lutz for being the recipients of our June Yard of the Month Winners!!

Guy Daniels Memorial Foundation Surfoff

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by the Town of Surfside Beach The 19th Annual Guy Daniels Memorial Foundation Surfoff will bring together the surf community to celebrate the life of a fellow surfer, while also raising funds to provide scholarships for Horry and Georgetown County students in addition to supporting local environmental causes.  The two-day surf contest, being held July 28th and 29th, kicks off at 8 a.m. on July 28th at 13th Avenue South in Surfside Beach, South Carolina.  A Pro-Am division will be held again this year, bringing the best surfers on the East Coast to the event with $2,000 in cash up for grabs. Held in memory of Guy Daniels, a Surfside Beach surfer and lifeguard who died while jogging in 1999 at the age of 19, the Surfoff aims to bring the surf and local community together to support the causes that Guy believed in.  The Surfoff has a wide range of events for surfers of all ages and skill levels, and no membership in any organization is needed to enter.  Back by popular demand is the family-favorite Push-In heat, as well as the Kids Activity Tent.  Parking will be free and great raffle prizes will be on offer as well. “The Foundation has awarded over $100,000 in scholarships to over 60 students since its inception, and the Surfoff is the reason for that,” said Mikey Pruitt, Director of the Guy Daniels Memorial Foundation.  “We have received tremendous support over the past 19 years from the surf community and the Town of Surfside Beach.  This event wouldn’t be possible without them, and the expansion of the contest with divisions like the Pro-Am will help us continue to grow and award additional scholarships, as well as support the environmental causes that keep our beaches clean.” Continued growth and success of the Surfoff ensure more student scholarships and support for the Guy Daniels Memorial Foundation’s Respect the Beach campaign.  Respect the Beach promotes keeping local beaches clean by working with the Town of Surfside Beach to provide trash and recycling receptacles at Surfside Beach walkovers, as well as receptacles for beachgoers to dispose of their cigarette butts before walking onto the beach. To learn more about the Surfoff, or to donate or volunteer for the Guy Daniels Memorial Foundation, a volunteer-run 501(c)3 non-profit organization, go to www.surfoff.com.

The Insider Then and Now

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Celebrating Our Second Anniversary and Evolution into the Coastal Insider by Melissa LaScaleia It’s been two very full years since we published our first edition of the Insider at the Market Common.  And we’re celebrating our achievements this month by sharing with you the story of our journey from then to now. The concept of the Insider began in 2016, but the vision began much earlier. “People who know me know that I’ve been in this community for a long time,” says Jim Parker, the co-founder of the paper and co-owner of Real Living Home Realty Group in the Market Common.  “I was stationed here with the Air Force from 1978 through 1983, and I’ve been living here ever since.  After moving to the Market Common in 2008, I found myself being asked on a regular basis about what was happening here— the events and places to go spend your time, as well as my opinion on real estate opportunities in the area. “The Market Common has had a really good vibe from the outset, but I found there was no delivery method to get the message out about what was happening when and where, or about the economic development of the area.” Just another day at the Insider office. Round table talks, good-natured humor, laughs and smiles, and of course, Charlie. John Jobson, Jim’s business partner and co-owner of Real Living Home Realty Group and the Insider, shares: “There were so many different moving parts to the Market Common, but it was like the parts didn’t talk—they overlapped.  We saw the Market Common more as a whole, rather than parts.  The city had things going on, but nobody knew the schedule.  The restaurants had events but nobody knew; developers were doing things, but nobody knew what they were doing.  We started the Insider as a publication to connect with the community in a way that we felt wasn’t available— to demonstrate that we are the market experts, and that means we support a cohesive, informed community.  We don’t just have our heads stuck in real estate and numbers.  People matter.  And a community is made up of people, not just buildings.” Jim and his daughter, Megan Parker, started working on the concept and design together in January 2016. “In life, timing means everything,” Jim says.  “I’m fortunate that Megan is talented in graphic design and photography, and she was exiting a five year career and looking for a change.  After thinking the idea through, I realized that if I was ever going to create a publication, it should be now.” Charlie gives Melissa some tips on an article spread. – Initially both Jim and John thought they would create a small newsletter.  But after a few months of seeing how it was unfolding, they realized they had a lot to say, and that they were going to need a writer. Megan and Jim were connected with Melissa LaScaleia, who had a professional writing background.  She was on board from day one. “Everything just kind of fell into place,” Jim says.  “If I hadn’t had a daughter with that skill set, we wouldn’t have moved forward with this venture.  And we were fortunate to know Melissa.  It just continued to take on a life of its own, and we never looked back.  Our first edition was twelve pages, and today it’s forty-eight plus our sixteen page real estate insert.” “I appreciate the opportunity to create something from nothing every single month,” says Melissa of her experience at the Insider.  “I like that the Insider is a platform to share all the beautiful things people are doing in our community as well as the beautiful things they stand for.  At a time when we are bombarded with so much negativity from the media, I’m grateful to be a voice that shares stories of what is good and simple and true.  In my writing, I try to capture the personality behind the business storefront to answer the, ‘Why this?  Why here?’ because that makes a person’s story real and relatable to others.  I’ve met such incredible people through the Insider, both in the office and outside of it.  I just have so much fun doing what I do.” “Starting out, I was excited about meeting more of the community, and to be able to connect to them daily has been rewarding,” says Megan of her experience with the Insider.  “When we’re featuring a business, it’s my duty to showcase them in the best light possible— to communicate with the readers visually.  It’s my job to bring color and paint the picture of their business through photographs and design.” Latoya connects with Cindy Bright while Charlie seizes the chance for some extra lovin’. For some, the idea of real estate brokers starting a community publication might seem odd, but for Jim and John, it’s integral to their business identity. “We’ve been in the brokerage industry our entire careers,” John says.  “And we started a new company in the Market Common because of the opportunities we saw here.  We formed the identity of this real estate brokerage company around our values of community.  We saw a need in this area for a local publication that contains relevant information that is applicable to the community and to real estate.  We tell life stories, we incorporate what is happening with restaurants, with festivals, new and old businesses, big chains, and small stores— we weave the fabric of our local culture through the stories we tell.  The real estate business and business in general is about relationships.  Our industry connects to so many different parts of the community around us.” “We currently have over sixty-five businesses advertising with us,” says Jim, “and 85% of them have long term agreements.  Many have been with us from day one.  It’s exciting for us to hear how they benefitted from our publication.  It’s rewarding to know that we’re helping to build their business at the same time as ours.” … Read more

810 Billiards and Bowling

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Opens in the Market Common June 14 by Melissa LaScaleia In 2014, Mike Siniscalchi left the world of finance and NYC, and relocated to Myrtle Beach with his family. “I wanted to start a business, and in thinking of ideas, I had great memories from my times in New York and Chicago at upscale bowling alleys with my friends.  But they were very expensive outings.  The concept has gained in popularity over the past ten years, but it’s been focussed on dense population areas and people who can afford high prices.  When I moved here I thought, ‘why can’t we take this concept and make it more affordable to people in this area?’” At the end of 2014, Mike purchased a traditional bowling center in North Myrtle Beach that needed a lot of attention and love.  He cobbled his upscale bowling alley idea together with food and other experiences that would appeal to a South Carolina market, and after a thorough renovation, reopened it in 2015 as 710 North Myrtle Beach. The venue was an immediate hit with area residents and tourists.  Mike spent the next year or so refining the concept, fine tuning the operations, and reworking the menu, until he felt good about what he was offering the community.  Then he began looking to expand into new locations. “The first location was different because we were trying to figure out what was going to work best, and wanted to rebrand with our new model going forward,” he says.  “710 is a reference to a 710 bowling split, which is the hardest split to do in bowling.  But we discovered that not many people understood what this was.” Mike Siniscalchi outside 810 Billiards & Bowling in the Market Common, which is occupying the space where the Piggly Wiggly once stood. – Photo courtesy by Meganpixels Parker / Latoya Grayson The Market Common venue is called 810 Billiards and Bowling, a reference to eight ball billiards and ten pin bowling— two things that are at the core of their entertainment offerings. The theme of 810 is summed up in two words— be social. “What that means,” Mike says, “is that we avoid video games and screens and focus on interactive games that enable people to spend quality time together.” The Market Common location has a dizzying array of games and entertainment options— shuffleboard, billiards, ping pong, darts, air hockey, and corn hole to start. There are twenty bowling lanes— sixteen public, and four that are part of a larger private room for parties and functions.  They also have shelves filled with scores of board games for both kids and adults. “The central theme of what we offer is to have actual interactions with your friends and family,” Mike says. “And to make this 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. To complement all the entertainment offerings, 810 Billiards and Bowling has a big focus on quality foods and drinks.  There won’t be a snack counter, or 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 offer house-cut french fries, short-rib Angus chargrill burgers, and scratch made dough for in-house, brick oven pizza. “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,” Mike says. “The other new and unique addition the Market Common location is that we built a stage here and we’ll be hosting live music,” he continues.  “It’s something we’re not able to offer at our other locations, and we’re excited about it.  We want to hear from people in the area who they want to hear play, and we’ll try to give them what they want.” In the spring of 2017, the city of Conway approached Mike to build a location in their area.  He purchased a property and is currently building 810 Conway, which should be completed in the fall of this year. After this, the Market Common approached him about putting an entertainment venue in the former Piggly Wiggly space. “I thought the Market Common was a great location,” Mike says.  “It has a strong community, and a community of many pedestrians; it’s a great destination place, and aside from the movie theatre, there isn’t much in the way of entertainment.  I thought we would be a great fit.” 810 Billiards and Bowling will celebrate its Grand Opening on June 14 and officially welcomes the public on that day.  Come and join the celebration. 810 Billiards and Bowling Open daily 6:30am-2am.   Serving full breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as a full coffee bar. Envelope Facebook Phone Internet-explorer

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