GIM_Mar_Apr26_web

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

42 THE PERFECT PALETTE: Color assessments have been around since the 1970s and allow individuals to better understand their best shades for clothing, makeup, and hair color.

48 THE BEAUTY OF JOY: For our styled Beauty shoot, we feature the incredible Anna Chandler, who shares a number of styles that embrace various celebrations. We set the scene in the historic Reynolds House in downtown Brunswick.

58 MASTERING MAKEUP: Gerald Dampier, a.k.a. Glam King, held his inaugural master class series, sharing all sorts of makeup tips and tricks (along with product recommendations) for ladies of all ages.

64 REVOLUTIONARY RIPPLES: Dr. Whitney Nell Stewart, executive director of the Coastal Georgia Historical Society, shares a look at local Revolutionary War history along with the details of the upcoming First Oval Office Project, a replica of George Washington’s mobile field quarters, which will be visiting the Golden Isles in March.

73

FINDING FREE

DOM: Jameshia Wilson has faced her fair share of challenges in life, including battling alopecia. Instead of giving in, she rose up, embracing her new look and creating Light of Beauty, a spa in Darien, where she helps others feel their best.

3011 Altama Ave, Brunswick GA 31520

Publisher Buff Leavy

Editor

Proofer

Advertising Director

Lindsey Adkison

Heather Murray

Kasey Rowell

Account Executive Jenn Good

Contributing Writers

Contributing Photographers

Taylor Cooper

Michael Farris Jr.

Sam Ghioto

Ronda Rich

Dr. Whitney Nell Stewart

Contributing Designers

Stephanie Conti

Terry Dickson

DeVoss Photography

Sam Ghioto

Blue Franswa

Rainey Gregg

Michael Hall

Michelle Holton

Kyle Morgan

Emilee Smith

Aric Sparmann

Stacey Nichols

Donte Nunnally

Terry Wilson

Golden Isles Magazine is published six times per year by Brunswick News Publishing Company

To subscribe online to Golden Isles Magazine, go to goldenislesmagazine.com/subscribe

About the Cover: Our styled beauty shoot features the lovely Anna Chandler at the historic Reynolds House in Brunswick. She celebrates with colorful confetti in a dress by Two Friends on St. Simons Island. It was photographed by DeVoss Photography.

Dolphin Tours | Private Boat Tours

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Group Tours | Specialty Tours

Newest Boats in the Golden Isles Up to 98 passengers

Submissions

Golden Isles Magazine is in need of talented contributors. Unsolicited queries and submissions of art and stories are welcome.

Please include an email address and telephone number. Submit by email to the editor, Lindsey Adkison: ladkison@goldenislesmagazine.com or by mail to 3011 Altama Ave, Brunswick. Only work accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope will be returned.

DOLPHIN TOURS

Advertising

Information regarding advertising and rates is available by contacting Jenn Good at 912-265-8320, ext. 356 or by email at jgood@thebrunswicknews.com or Kasey Rowell at 912-265-8320 ext. 334 or by email at krowell@thebrunswicknews.com

All content is copyright of Golden Isles Magazine, a publication of Brunswick News Publishing Company. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without express written permission from the publisher. We have sought to ensure accuracy and completeness of the content herein, but neither Golden Isles Magazine nor the publisher assumes responsibility for any errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or other inconsistencies, including those related to quotations. We reserve the right to refuse advertising. All advertisements appearing herein are accepted and published on the representation that the advertiser is properly authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. All ads are paid advertisements and/or gifts given as part of a contractual agreement regarding Brunswick News Publishing Company. Neither Golden Isles Magazine nor the publisher

A TRIBUTE TO THE ALLMAN BROTHERS

In 1970, the Allman Brothers Band took the stage at Gould Auditorium, leaving a lasting mark on Jekyll Island’s music history. Set against that same iconic backdrop, this outdoor concert celebrates a revival of the southern classic.

MARCH

Artistically hand carved, cast, Golden Isles, our unique designs include bracelets for all wrist sizes, earrings,

EDITOR’S NOTE

JOYFUL Beauty

Idistinctly remember the day I first met our cover girl, Anna Chandler. I’d seen her smiling face around The Club, where she was a Zumba instructor and I was a yoga teacher. But, the first time we actually spoke was on a call. I was interviewing Anna ahead of her performance of “God Bless America” at an Atlanta Braves game. It was one of those conversations where your face hurts at the end of it because you’re grinning the entire time. Even through the phone, her enthusiasm and zest for life were contagious. So, when I was brainstorming the cover of this year’s beauty issue … she was the first person who came to my mind. And boy, oh boy was she perfect for it. We had a ball shooting with Priscilla of DeVoss Photography at the gorgeous Reynolds House.

And our makeup artist Teana Garrison of Down the Isle and MacKenzie Wommack of Hair By Mack were hilarious and helpful. Not only were they spot-on with creating the looks, they also helped with our confetti tossing. It’s impossible to properly do confetti without friends, y’all. And to Port City Partners, owners of the Reynolds House, thank you for for letting us do it. While the cover story embodies the beauty of joy, the same thread runs through all of our features. And sure, they offer us some valuable tidbits about makeup, color palettes, and spa services, but it’s more than that.

Speaking of gratifying experiences, I cannot tell you guys how incredible it was to meet and speak with Jameshia Wilson. The owner of Light of Beauty Spa in Darien shared her alopecia journey with us and how she was able to find freedom in being herself. She is truly a queen and I have to send my girl, Tresena Bowe, a big “thank you” for introducing us.

ageM ar ke t, St. Simon sIs la nd (912) 6 3 8. 3636 www.GIBCoBra c elets.co m

Take my dear friend, Gerald Dampier. The Glam King himself, who hosted two makeup master classes recently, where he shared his wealth of knowledge with attendees. I went to his session for more mature ladies and I learned so much. What made it even more special though was to see Gerald doing what he loves and sharing his passion. That was truly beautiful.

In our Perfect Palette feature, we reunite with Teana and Mack at their new space in Refresh and Refine. Teana leads us through one of her color assessment sessions. You can tell it’s something she relishes, and finding her friend, Mack’s, color palette was a gratifying experience.

Last but not least, my new friend, Dr. Whitney Nell Stewart, makes her GIM debut. The newly-minted executive director of the Coastal Georgia Historical Society writes about local Revolutionary War history and an upcoming exhibition that’s making its debut in the Golden Isles. And if you’ve been following me for any length of time, you know how excited this makes me. I’m a huge fan of any and all Revolutionary War history. Whitney outlines it beautifully and you guys won’t want to miss it. You can feel the passion she brings to this and all of her historical work.

As you can see, writing this issue has certainly been an exercise in joy for me. I adore all of these folks and the exuberance they bring to their work and to the world. I hope you enjoy it, too.

Joyfully yours, — Lindsey

After 135 Years,

We’re In Our Prime

call it “Our Prime,” but it’s always been yours.

reached our prime because you trusted us with the ideas, goals, and hard work that helped shape our communities. For 135 years, we’ve shared a local history built side by side. This milestone isn’t about us. It’s about celebrating the impact you’ve made and how you’ve made us better. When you find your prime, we’re reminded we’ve found ours, too.

celebrating the impact you’ve made and how you’ve made us better. When you find your prime, we’re reminded that we’ve found ours, too.

Let’s keep building what’s next, together.

Let’s keep building what’s next, together.

convenient locations in Glynn County

4 convenient locations in Glynn County

Cover

Sally Chao: What a wonderful cover! So looking forward to reading this!

Stephanie Conti: Can’t love this more! Breanna Young, your girl looks beautiful … inside and out!

Kaylee Murphy: Beautiful!

Catherine Blake: Oh, this is stunning! The colors in this are spectacular. Only you, Lindsey Adkison, could envision something like this — so unique and beautiful! Well done.

Cheri Wood: Absolutely a work of art … it’s beautiful. Award worthy for sure.

Melissa Purvis: So proud of Celia and her passion for helping others.

Susan Garrett: Gorgeous cover, Lindsey. Can’t wait to read about Celia and all of the other stories in this issue!

Chris Busby: Amazing organzaiton and even more amazing founder! Thank you for highlighting all of the wonderful things Celia is doing through HPIN!

Word On The Street

Your reactions sent to us by emails, posts, & tweets

TIME TO GET SOCIAL

instagram.com/goldenislesmag facebook.com/goldenislesmag twitter.com/goldenislesmag

If you prefer to send us your comments by email, contact Editor Lindsey Adkison at ladkison@goldenislesmagazine.com. Anything posted to our social media accounts or emailed directly to the editor will be considered for publication. Comments may be edited for clarity or grammar.

Paw Prints

Bailey Georgia: (Stephanie Schaffer) has done amazing things and she is an amazing person along with her group.

MK France: Way to go Steph and crew!! We have 20 paws up for your continued success in helping these babies.

Golden Isles Track Club: (Stephanie) is an amazing person.

Paper Skin + Helping Hands

Stephanie Conti: The number one way you can help cancer patients is with blood donation. We have experienced it first hand!

Robin Hart Williams: Enjoyed this story! Enjoyed the entire magazine — as I always do. Happy New Year!

Emily Lynn Haas: Blood donors literally saved my life … so a big thank you from me!

Tammy Johnson Fluech: I donate this year for my Dad, he’s gone now but as a cancer patient he needed it. (Lindsey) was my reminder to do it, thanks for encouraging others and me.

@Kellis_beauties: Bless you!

Brighter Days with a Better Glynn

Shameka Frazier Sorrells: Extremely proud of this team and our community. We all we got.

Angela Ratcliffe: If “Do something” was an organization.

Al Diggs: Be the change

In recent years, there’s been a palpable shift in focus, moving from external aesthetics to embracing internal balance.

It’s something that Melissa Renee has been grateful to see. A few years back, the local writer was on her own journey toward healing deep-seated trauma. While she found some direction through self-help books, Melissa couldn’t quite find the right fit … so she decided to write it.

Water Before Coffee, her debut work, is set to hit shelves this spring. We took a moment to sit down with the newly-minted author to talk about her background, her book, and what she hopes readers pull from its pages. Read on.

GIM: Thank you so much for taking the time to share with us. Let’s start at the beginning. Where are you from and how did you get into writing?

Melissa: I am originally from Powder Springs, Georgia, where I grew up and lived most of my life. I was very lucky that my parents planted their roots early and kept us in one place until we were adults. My husband and I moved to the Golden Isles in November 2024 because we fell in love with the area. I’ve always been interested in writing and have several writers in my family. In high school, I began taking writing classes and even wrote for the school newspaper, which I really enjoyed. Moving here gave me a new sense of inspiration that helped me finally bring the book together.

GIM: This is your first book. What made you want to write Water Before Coffee

Melissa: About six years ago, I was facing some difficult life events and naturally turned to self-help books to help me navigate everything. I struggled to find a book that spoke to all of the areas I was dealing with because of trauma, so once I began improving, I decided to write the book I needed. I knew I wasn’t the only person facing those challenges and that many people had multiple parts of their life being affected at the same time. I paid close attention to my own healing process and took note of everything that helped me in hopes of supporting others going through similar experiences. I’m already working on my next book and have several ideas for future non-fiction projects, including a series.

GIM: Talk a bit about it. What’s the topic and what does it offer readers?

Melissa: Water Before Coffee many areas of life that are impacted after traumatic experiences and guides them through healing each one. This includes mental health, relationships, family dynamics and friendships, career direction, and the loss of motiva tion or creativity that often follows difficult seasons.

The book helps readers reconnect with themselves and shift from feeling numb or stagnant to moving forward with clarity, intention, and confidence.

GIM: Why was this an important topic for you and why do you think it’s something we need now?

Melissa: Healing matters because what we don’t change, we choose. We can wake up every day feeling unmotivated, overwhelmed, or weighed down by our past, or we can choose to focus on healing from within and building something better for ourselves. Everyone goes through hard seasons, and how we choose to move forward shapes the direction of our future. It’s easy to feel burnt out today and unsure where to begin when so many areas of life feel like they are falling apart at once. This book breaks everything down piece by piece and

makes the process feel manageable. It’s also designed so that if a certain area of your life starts feeling unsteady again, you can pick the book back up and go straight to the chapter that supports you.

GIM: Outside of writing, what are some hobbies and activities you enjoy locally?

Melissa: Outside of writing, I love reading, and there are so many beautiful spots around the Golden Isles to enjoy a book, from the beach to the nature preserves.

My husband and I are big racing fans and enjoy going to Golden Isles Speedway to watch the local races. I also love a Saturday night in Pier Village, playing billiards, and walking along the pier.

• Water for Coffee is currently available for pre-oder at PelicanSailPress. com.

WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON | PHOTOS BY MICHAEL HALL

Upcoming garden Walk aims to help preserve the past

The room is small with tabby walls, thick pine beams, and well-trod wooden floors. More than 150 years after the residents lived there, the tabby cabins at Gascoigne Bluff offers a tangible link to the past.

The two small structures were constructed in the 1830s and housed the enslaved people forced to work on Hamilton Plantation.

They stand as lingering reminders of those who are so often forgotten by history.

Since 1932, the Cassina Garden Club has been the steward of these landmarks.

“The garden club was formed in 1928, so we will be having our 100th anniversary in 2028,” says Dottie Fielder, past-president of Cassina. “In 1932, the cabins had just been sitting here rotting. The club asked the county if they could meet there. So they cleaned them up and started meeting there. They became the keepers of the cabins.”

The cabins were formally deeded to the club in 1950.

Over the years, generations of women have worked to raise funds for their upkeep and to spearhead educational and outreach programming.

Today, that mission falls to the current leadership, who recently gathered inside one of the cabins to discuss the past, present, and future of the site.

The club continues to oversee repairs and archaeological excavations conducted there. They have also added interpretive signage at other locations, such as Neptune Park, with QR codes linking visitors to maps and a deeper history of the cabins. The club also tends the gardens, ensuring native and historically accurate plants are present and identified.

For current members, preserving this important piece of the past is a serious charge.

“We have a really important responsibility here to maintain this property,” says Eydie Searles.

As a newcomer, Yvonne Williams has been astounded by the deep history she’s found as a club member.

“I think the history is so overwhelming, the eras it covers here … from Oglethorpe landing right out there to the development of the plantation days,” Williams says. “You can’t go to many places with that much history.”

Of course, to keep that going, the club must raise funds. They do offer a popular holiday bake sale at Christmas, which helps, but their largest event is the Tabby & Tillandsia Garden Walk.

It began in 2007 and features a number of stunning private gardens on the island. And, after an unfortunate hiatus due to the weather in 2024, Cassina is thrilled that the event is returning on April 25.

This year, Searles, Anneliese Maddox, and Jenny Gregory are the co-chairs of the event, tasked with selecting the homes and making sure the walk goes off without a hitch.

“This year, we actually had a plethora of people helping us. Beth at Frederica helped us get three gardens out there … every one is absolutely fabulous,” Maddox says. “Then, we have a club member who helped connect us to homes on East Beach. We have three gardens there. We have one on Old Demere and one in Brockington.”

The committee likes to offer tour-goers a mix of large and small gardens — over-the-top showstoppers and more manageable yards accessible to mere mortals.

“Sometimes people like the smaller gardens better. It’s something people can actually see themselves re-creating at their home,” Searles says.

Jacob Boatright proudly announces the merger of Dynamic Landscape and Coastal Bloomers. Karen Summers and her team bring 30+ years of expertise in seasonal and year-round color for residential and commercial properties, interior and exterior. Two industry-leading companies unite to expand capabilities and deliver unmatched landscape solutions.

Considering that the 2024 walk had to be shelved due to the impact of Hurricane Helene and the January freeze of 2025, regular participants are looking forward to the tour more than ever.

“We have so many people who come here every year just for the tour. They plan and stay for a week after it,” says current Cassina President Sally Chao.

There’s already been a spike in website hits that indicates blooming interest — even in December.

“Our analytics have really been off the charts,” Website Chairman Lynda Byrnes says. “We’ve had a lot of traffic.”

Tickets go on sale in March and end at midnight on April 24, the day before the walk. They are available on their website — and in-person at Maggie’s, ACE Garden Center, GJ Ford Book Shop, and Frederica Pharmacy, all on St. Simons Island. Following the walk, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 25, there will be a celebration at the cabins featuring food trucks and entertainment.

“That’s really a lot of fun,” Maddox says.

For Chao and the rest of the members, this year’s success is more important than ever before, and they hope the community will continue to support their effort.

Sneak Peek

Take a look at two locations to be featured on the 2026 Tabby & Tillandsia Garden Walk:

An East Beach Stunner

Behind the wall of a modern beachfront home, attendees will find a home and garden beyond their imaginations. The experience begins in front with a renovated courtyard featuring a meditative space complete with fountains. Sabal palms lead guests to the expansive backyard. Flower beds — featuring roses, azaleas, hydrangeas, and much more — frame the backyard, which also features a pool, bocce ball court, and a large pool house. Climbing vines sneak along trellises while fruit trees punctuate the space.

A Modern French Frederica Farmhouse

A vibrant garden welcomes guests to this gated home in Frederica Township. The front yard features a fountain surrounded by colorful blooms. Flower beds wrap around both sides of the home and direct visitors toward the stunning backyard. There, they find a pool, large cabana, and fire pit all overlooking the river. Olive trees, lantana, roses, camillas, and dwarf morning glory are found throughout the landscaping.

Trade St., Suite E Brunswick, GA 31525-0575

Isles

Around the Town

march

March 1

QGolden Isles Arts and Humanities will host In Here: Emerging Voices presented by the Jacksonville Dance Theatre at 3 p.m. at the Ritz Theatre, 1530 Newcastle St., Brunswick. The show will celebrate the creative voices within its company. Advance tickets are $15 for adult members and $10 for senior members. Nonmember tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors. Admission prices increase by $5 on the day of the show. For details or tickets, visit goldenislesarts.org.

March 5

An Art Stroll will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. along galleries on St. Simons Island. Stops will include ArtTrends Gallery, Anderson Fine Art, Wallin Gallery, Julep Gallery and Glynn Visual Arts. For details, visit arttrends.gallery.

March 6

The Brunswick Downtown Development Authority will host First Friday, a monthly block party in downtown Brunswick. It will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. along Newcastle and surrounding streets. Restaurants will offer specials and entertainment. Merchants will extend their hours. There will also be food trucks serving crowds. For more information, visit discoverbrunswick.com.

March 6 - 8

The Jekyll Island Arts Association will host its Spring Arts Festival featuring a variety of artists, musicians, and authors. There will also be a bake sale. It will be held from 10 to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It will return from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. All events will be held in and around Goodyear Cottage in the Jekyll Island Historic District. For details, visit jekyllartists.com.

March 7

The Golden Isles Rotary Club will host its annual Red Hot Chili Cookoff from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Postell Park on St. Simons Island. Teams will serve up their best recipes for judges and attendees to taste. Awards will be distributed. Tickets are $10 for adults and are available at EventBrite.com.

March 14

The 71st annual Christ Church Tour of Homes will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regular tour tickets are $85. VIP tickets are $275. Parking for general admission will be at Christ Church Frederica, 6329 Frederica Road, St. Simons Island. Buses will take attendees to the homes. For tickets or more information, visit ccfssi.org/events/2026-christ-church-tour-of-homes.

March 21

The 13th annual Albert Fendig Plein Air Affair will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation, 5556 U.S. Highway 17N, Brunswick. Artists will paint locations throughout the historic property. The works will also be exhibited in a traveling show around the Isles. Artists’ entry fee is $30. Park admission is free for those 5 and under. It is $5 for youths (ages 6 to 17); $8 for adults; and $7 for seniors. For more information, visit gastageparks.org/hofwylbroadfieldplantation.

March 21

The Department of Natural Resources will host CoastFest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mary Ross Waterfront Park in Brunswick. The day-long event will feature exhibitions, animal showcases, and live entertainment. For more information, visit coastalgadnr.org.

March 22

Golden Isles Arts and Humanities will host Wildflowers: Women of Country Music with Katie Deal at 3 p.m. at the Ritz Theatre, 1530 Newcastle St., Brunswick. She will showcase music by Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Reba McEntire, Crystal Gayle, and more. Advance tickets are $15 for adult members and $10 for senior members. Nonmember tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors. Admission prices increase by $5 on the day of the show. For details or tickets, visit goldenislesarts.org.

March 27

Golden Isles Live! will host Bridge and Wolak, an internationally-acclaimed music duo, at 7:30 p.m. at the Ritz Theatre, 1530 Newcastle St., Brunswick. Individual adult tickets are $40 and $20 for students. For details or tickets, visit goldenisleslive.org.

april

Throughout

April

Golden Isles Arts and Humanities will host its annual Recycled Art Exhibition throughout April. Area students will showcase the trash they’ve turned into treasure at the Ritz Theatre, 1530 Newcastle St., Brunswick. An opening reception will be held at 5 p.m. April 3 during First Friday. For more information, visit goldenislesarts.org.

April 1

The CASA Fashion Show will return to the Cloister on Sea Island with doors opening at 11:30 a.m. with the program following at noon. Lunch will be served and models will share fashions from area retailers. For tickets or more details, visit casaglynn.org.

April 3

The Brunswick Downtown Development Authority will host First Friday, a monthly block party in downtown Brunswick. It will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. along Newcastle and surrounding streets. Restaurants will offer specials and entertainment. Merchants will extend their hours. There will also be food trucks serving crowds. For more information, visit discoverbrunswick.com.

April 9

Golden Isles Arts and Humanities will host its Cinema Gourmet program at 6:30 p.m. at the Ritz Theatre, 1530 Newcastle St., Brunswick. The film will be Jaws. The program will include a talk and a meal from Indigo Coastal Shanty. Admission is $20

for the talk, meal, and film. It’s $7 for the talk and film only. Reservations should be made by April 6. For tickets or more information, visit goldenislesarts.org.

April 11 to 12

Glynn Visual Arts will host Art in the Park, a fine art festival, held in Postell Park on St. Simons Island. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It features a number of artists both local and regional. For details, visit glynnvisualarts.org.

April 16 to 19

The Georgia Tribute Festival, formerly the Georgia Elvis Fes tival, will feature a number of performers paying homage to musical legends including Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, and more. It will include four Las Vegas-style shows along with a Rockabilly Revival concert. For a complete listing of events, visit tributefestival.rocks/georgia.

The Blessing of the Fleet will be held April 16 to 19 along the Darien waterfront. Food, music, and entertainment will be offered. The blessing itself will be held at 2 p.m. April 19. For details, visit mcintoshchamber.com/blessing-of-the-fleet.com.

April 17

Golden Isles Live! will host GQ, Gentlemen’s Quartet, at 7:30 p.m. at Wesley Church, 6520 Frederica Road, St. Simons Island. The group offers a fusion of pop music and comedy. Individual adult tickets are $40 and $20 for students. For de tails or tickets, visit goldenisleslive.org.

April 19

Memory Matters of Glynn will host Music and Memories from 5 to 8 p.m. at the King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort, 201 Arnold Road, St. Simons Island. Entertainers will share various kinds of music. Food, wine, and signature cocktails will be served. There will also be silent and live auctions. For tickets, visit EventBrite.com.

April 24

The Coastal Symphony of Georgia will host its 21st annual Cabaret: Amalfi Amore: Love, Laughter, and Limoncello at 6 p.m. at Frederica Golf Club on St. Simons Island. There will be custom cocktails, dancing, a gourmet dinner, and a live auction. The entertanment will be provided by John Tibbetts, baritone and Victoria Isernia, mezzo soprano accompanied by Daniel Solberg. For details, visit coastalsymphonyofgeorgia.org.

April 25

Cassina Garden Club will host its Tabby and Tillandsia Garden Walk from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at gardens around St. Simons Island. Tickets are $35 per person in advance or $40 at on tour day. They may be purchased online at cassinagardenclub.org or at local businesses including ACE Garden Center, GJ Ford Bookshop, and Righton Books, all on St. Simons Island. They may also be bought at the Will Call table at the tabby cabins, 1195 Arthur J. Moore Drive at Gascoigne Bluff on St. Simons Island. For more information, visit cassinagardenclub.org.

April 26

Golden Isles Arts and Humanities will host its Still Standing: A Tribute to Elton John, featuring Ben Frey, at the Ritz Theatre, 1530 Newcastle St., Brunswick. Advance tickets are $15 for adult members and $10 for senior members. Nonmember tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors. Admission prices increase by $5 on the day of the show. For details or tickets, visit goldenislesarts.org.

The Easter Bunny

t’s nearly that time. The Easter Bunny is about to hippity hop right on into the Golden Isles.

While this holiday is truly rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, this fun and furry element has been bringing a bit of cottontail joy to the occasion for decades.

For this incarnation of Just the Facts, we explore some numerical statistics about this beloved bunny and some related tidbits. Check it out:

6,635 lbs.

The largest chocolate bunny ever made was crafted in Brazil by the Equipe da Casa de Chocolate in 2017. It weighed 6,635 pounds and was almost 15 feet tall.

90 MILLION

It’s estimated that 90 million chocolate bunnies are produced for Easter each year in the United States.

500 MILLION

The Cadbury Creme factory in Birmingham, England, produces 500 million eggs every year.

1800S

The first edible Easter bunnies weren’t made of chocolate. They were created from sugar and pastry in Germany during the 1800s.

500,000

The largest Easter egg hunt included more than half a million eggs at an event in Florida in 2007.

More than 1 billion Peeps are eaten worldwide during the Easter season. 1.5 BILLION

About 5.5 million Peeps are produced each day in preparation for the holiday. 5.5 MILLION

Some — non-magical rabbits — can reach speeds of 35 to 45 miles per hour.

Land More Memories

Brunswick Golden Isles Airport is your shortcut to a longer vacation with daily first-class round-trip flights to and from Atlanta in just an hour. Skip the traffic delays and enjoy the convenience of free parking right in front of the terminal. With a quick security check and baggage claim just steps away, you’ll find more time to make the most of your visit. It’s easy going from here.

Visit FlyGCAirports.com or call 800.221.1212.

The first Easter Bunny tales surfaced in the United States in the 1700s, when German immigrants shared their “Osterhase” or  “Oschter Haws” (which means “Easter hare”) folklore, a rabbit that laid colored eggs for children.

DUE SOUTH

Pretty Is As Pretty Does

WORDS BY RONDA RICH | PROVIDED PHOTO

IIt happened recently. A photo came up on my phone of a pretty, coquettish woman cuddled against my husband in a corner booth. Both were smiling broadly.

I wasn’t jealous. I smiled at the memory, enjoying it for several minutes.

The woman was 95 years old but looked much younger. She reminded me of a 1940s starlet. Her face was beautifully put together. Her lipstick was well applied, which she always did as soon as she finished dinner. Daintily, she would pull out her small purse, retrieve her lipstick, then discretely apply it.

What I loved about the photo — and what I wished to duplicate — was her girlish pose. Her forefinger touched her cheekbone while the other fingers dangled femininely under her chin. Her eyes glistened with light and joy. She loved John Tinker and always insisted that he sit by her at dinner so they could discuss filmmaking — she had established a company that made training films at Glynco — and, to be honest, her knowl-

edge matched my Emmy award-winning Hollywood writer/showrunner husband.

On the other hand, I always got to sit by her handsome husband while he often spoke of his Tuesday night poker game.

“Cleaned ‘em out last night,” he’d say, grinning. In all the years of friendship, I never knew him to lose a poker game, a fact that thrilled him enormously.

Anne Hodnett was 85 when I met her. The first time we had dinner, she wore a red newspaper boy’s hat, adjusted at a jaunty angle. Her girlishness never died. She often tilted her chin, looked up through her lashes, and punctuated the sentence with a flutter.

Though she died at 99, she had planned to be at least 100 and was hoping to make it to 105. And get this — at that age, she was still wearing high heels, albeit kitten heels, and she swayed her hips when she walked. She was the most perfectly feminine female I ever met.

Her beauty, with the incredible smile, was more than skin deep. Whenever someone stopped by our dinner table to say “hello,” she always knew something personal to ask.

“How is your arthritis?” or “How is your grandson doing at college?” Or, she was making a pecan pie to cheer up someone.

One of my favorite things about “Mom” as I called her — because she came along shortly after my Mama died and I needed a mother’s love so much — was her lilting, Southern accent that comes only from those born in Virginia. All the decades, she lived on St. Simons Island, she never lost the beauty of that accent. I wish I could hear it again.

The moment that Roy — I called him Pop

— saw the dainty, petite beauty, he declared to himself that he would marry her. Never mind that she already had a suitor but, as with the game of poker, Pop never lost. He married her — then immediately shipped out to fight in the European theater of World War II.

Mom had another love. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. On the day she went into labor, slightly less than a year after she and Roy married, Roosevelt died unexpectedly at the Little White House in Warm Springs, Georgia. April 12, 1945. The doctors, knowing Anne’s love and admiration for Roosevelt, instructed no one to tell her that he had died. In the labor room, while Pop was off fighting a foreign war, she overhead two nurses discussing Roosevelt’s death.

Mom began to weep, forgetting the torturous labor pain because, when Anne Hodnett loved someone, she loved them deeply.

When I was growing up, Mama said repeatedly, “Pretty is as pretty does.” I wasn’t a cute girl but I told entertaining stories. At four, I dramatically repeated Sunday School stories and, by six, I cleverly delivered hilarious lines, keeping my parents completely entertained.

By 11, I turned uglier with plump, freckled cheeks, hair that was somewhat red with hints of brown thrown in, and a few pounds too many.

“If you have personality, you have beauty,” Mama said. She felt sorry for me.

Visual Arts Center

(One

When I was 12, a gorgeous man with shiny blonde hair was hit by a truck while he was walking — after running out of gas — and killed. He had gone to our little country church so my cousin and I always elbowed each other when he walked in. To his funeral came his girlfriend, the reigning Miss Georgia.

I stood, patiently waiting, while she and Mama talked. Miss Georgia looked down at me, dressed in a green, quilted, homemade jumper and turtleneck sweater.

“Is this your daughter?” she asked.

Mama nodded. Miss Georgia looked back at me and said, “She’s pretty.”

It changed my view of myself. I then felt pretty so I acted prettier. More like Anne.

COME SEE OUR NEW HOME at 106 ISLAND DRIVE!

100 Sylvan Blvd. Suite160 St. Simons cell (912) 996-0867 ginadlever@gmail.com Gina D’Amico Interiors

NATURE CONNECTION

Marsh to the Future

W“The only constant is change.”

— Heraclitus

* Editors note: This is the first installment of a multi-part series.

When I was a child, I thought my parents were going to live forever. I was born into this world completely unaware of the concept of “death,” which in our culture is a taboo subject.

In college, I worked at Crab Daddy’s on St. Simons. One day Mom called me before work and told me Dad had a heart attack. He needed to have surgery the next morning. Luckily, I had just finished my finals at the College of Coastal Georgia, and I could put my life on hold and give Dad my full attention. I took off work and went to see him in the hospital. I could visibly see the discomfort in him. We sat in the waiting room for hours the next morning when the doctor came out.

“He’s going to live, but he needs a serious lifestyle change,” he said frankly.

We saw Dad that morning, and he was heavily sedated.

“Where’s Sam?” he asked.

“I’m right here,” I said as I walked over and grabbed his hand, shedding a

tear. We had no clue if he was going to make it through the surgery, but he did. Now, it was time for him to heal and move forward with rehab, and only time could tell how much longer healing would take.

Twenty years old at the time, I was desperate to get my life together. Bussing tables wasn’t exactly what I wanted to be doing. Working in a restaurant for hours upon hours can be great money, but something in my soul was yearning beyond a paycheck. I needed a change and a stark one, but I had no clue what I should be doing.

One evening I showed up to work around two in the afternoon, and I began setting up plates on the tables. Beautiful black and white photographs of the marshes caught my attention. I remember the times when Dad took

me out on the boat growing up, and when the economy crashed, necessity made him sell it. Years had passed since my time in the marshlands, and here at this restaurant, those photos struck a deep chord. Chills ran down my spine.

As evening came, so did the hordes of people. I became inundated in the rush, and I did my job on autopilot. I hustled around the dimly-lit building collecting dirty dishes, sending them to the dishwasher, bursting back onto the floor and distributing clean salad plates. Yet, I wasn’t thinking. My mind slipped away into a deep recess. Somehow, I was elsewhere. Somehow, I was paddling a saltmarsh creek.

A light morning glaze shed across the sky, and the marsh was flooded by saltwater. A light wind textured the purplish hue of the water with ripples, and the flowy spartina grass swayed. I could smell the salt air that hazed the sky above the ocean miles away, and I knew it was there because audibly waves roared in the distance like a long howling wind. I paddled stroke after stroke after stroke. There was no destination in my mind except for the journey I was on, and what was this journey exactly? I had absolutely no clue, but it was right. The path wasn’t clear, but it was a path to take a leap of faith on.

I need to kayak, I thought as I loaded plates into a bus tub. Within a week, I quit the bussing gig, and I started guiding kayak tours for SouthEast Adventure Outfitters on St. Simons. At first, I thought this job would be an excellent way to expand my photography portfolio as I took interest in becoming a professional photographer someday, but I had no clue I’d become completely enamored with the history and ecology of the Georgia coast.

I kayaked almost every day that summer, and I would go home to see Dad. He was proud of me for finding meaning in the marshes, and I confess that I wish we could have spent more time together throughout the years. A regret lingered in my mind that I couldn’t evade.

Now was the time to make the most of this opportunity. Naturally, I had tons of questions.

How is this ecosystem so pristine? Why isn’t it developed like northeast Florida or New England?

I’d wake every morning before the sunrise, sip on black coffee, and read. I now had an obsession the salt marsh, and I didn’t tell anyone about it.

Rahab’s Rope exists to empower women and children in the fight against human trafficking. Profits from our local and global artisans fund the mission.

GOLDEN ISLES DENTAL ASSOCIATES

BY DESIGN

Coastal lifestyle brand moving to new location

PROVIDED CONTENT

PPorch+Patio has always been a bit of a love letter to coastal living — sun on your shoulders, salt air in your hair, and a porch that feels like the best room in the house. That’s why our next chapter feels so right: we’re moving our St. Simons location into a new space in Redfern Village.

If you’ve shopped with us, you already know we don’t think outdoor furniture is just “stuff.” It’s where grandkids eat popsicles, where four-legged friends laze

away slow hours, where friends linger after dinner, and where you savor a cup of coffee before the day gets busy. And while our current store has served us well, we’ve outgrown the kind of space that can only show some of what we do. The new Redfern Village location will let us do it properly — with more room to see full collections together, space to compare materials and finishes, and a layout that makes it easier to imagine your own backyard, porch, poolside, or screened room coming to life.

Redfern Village also fits the Porch+Patio personality: walkable, charming, locally grounded. It’s an area that feels curated and authentic. We love the idea of you popping in after lunch, stopping by while you’re running errands, or making an afternoon of wandering the village with an iced coffee in hand. Our new space will be designed to make creating your outdoor sanctuary feel easy and inspiring; a small pleasure, not a chore.

Of course, a move isn’t just a change of address. It’s a chance to reintroduce ourselves — to say, “Here’s what we’re seeing. Here’s what we’re excited about. Here’s what we think outdoor living is becoming.”

Looking ahead to spring 2026, the biggest trend we’re seeing isn’t a single color or a particular style. It’s continued growth of the mindset shift that came about with the pandemic. Outdoors is no longer “extra.” It’s where life happens — especially in a place like St. Simons, where we’re lucky enough to use patios and porches for months on end. People want their outdoor spaces to work harder and feel better; they are now essential, well-designed, integrated extensions of indoor living areas rather than an afterthought.

One of the clearest directions is comfort-first seating. The days of stiff, formal outdoor sets are fading fast. Customers are gravitating toward deep seating

that feels like an indoor sofa with plush cushions, supportive proportions, and room to truly lounge. Modular and flexible layouts are also having a moment. Think sectionals that can be reconfigured, swivel chairs that let you turn toward conversation or the view, and pieces that make entertaining feel effortless rather than staged.

We’re also seeing a steady rise in mixed materials — combinations that feel collected and complementary rather than matchy-matchy. Think woven textures paired with clean-lined aluminum, warm teak-like tones next to crisp coastal neutrals, and stone or concrete-look tabletops that anchor a space without feeling heavy. These blends add depth and make a porch feel designed, not just furnished.

Sustainability continues to matter, but it’s becoming less about buzzwords and more about practicality. Customers are choosing durable low-maintenance materials that hold up to humidity, salt air, and everyday life. They want pieces that look good today and still look good years from now. That’s not a trend; it’s common sense.

And don’t worry, we’re still bringing all the fun! The new Red-

fern Village store will continue to carry the gifts and accessories you’ve come to love: unexpected pieces that make you smile, perfect hostess gifts, and finishing touches that make outdoor spaces feel personal. From pillows and planters to little “I didn’t know I needed this” finds, those discovery moments are still very much part of who we are.

Our move to Redfern Village is about making room for all of this: bigger inspiration, better shopping experience, and more ways to help you create an outdoor space that fits your life. We can’t wait to welcome you into the new store, show you what’s new for spring 2026, and help you build a space that makes you exhale the second you step outside.

Porch+Patio has always believed your outdoor space should feel like an invitation. In Redfern Village, we’re ready to make that invitation even better.

• Porch+Patio is located at 262 Redfern Village, St Simons Island. Porch+Patio in Kingsland is located at 1621-D GA Hwy 40 E (next door to Willie Jewell’s BBQ). Showrooms are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. More information available at porchandpatiostore.com.

Red Light therapy offers pain relief, healing

WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON | PHOTO PROVIDED

TThere’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to do the things you want to do. And here, I’m speaking from experience. As an Ashtanga Yoga practitioner for more than a decade, I’ve had my fair share of injuries. Most recently, it’s a recurring bout of tendonitis in my shoulder thanks to repetitive motion.

I did all of the typical things — rest, ice, heat — and even anti-inflammatories. But it always returned.

So I turned to the place I’ve seen so many folks look to — Heller Healthcare.

I’ve been writing their health profiles for The Brunswick News for years now. And I’ve seen how their plethora of treatment options have helped countless patients. From diet revamps to stem cell therapy, I have personally heard testimonials from so many grateful people whose lives have been completely changed thanks to Dr. Jen Heller and her team.

And recently, they’ve added a new cutting-edge treatment to their ever-growing practice — red light therapy.

While it might seem to be familiar these days, Heller Healthcare is — true to form — doing it bigger and better.

Nestled in their clinic at 208 Scranton Connector in Brunswick, the staff has

created a quiet sanctuary with multiple anti-gravity chairs, which offer light stretching (much like the roller tables for Heller’s chiropractic patients).

During the treatment, one can relax in the chair while the red light cuff is applied to the targeted area (in my case, the left shoulder). From start to finish, the process only takes 20 minutes, and admittedly, it’s a lovely way to spend a lunch break.

While my sessions have just begun, Cyndi McMaster has been at it for a while. She serves as Heller Healthcare’s case manager and head of community outreach, but as so many in the office are, she’s also a dedicated patient.

She began treatment following a full knee replacement and used red light therapy as part of her recovery regimen.

“I’ve been doing it for about nine weeks. I noticed a real shift around week six. I had a concert in Jacksonville and then we had PorchFest,” she said, seated in the red light room. “I was dreading it because I just knew I was going to be in pain. In my head, I’d already knew that I was going to sacrifice physical health for mental health.”

After a weekend of walking and standing, McMaster was expecting to wake up to a very angry knee on Monday. But she was pleasantly surprised.

“I wasn’t throbbing or aching,” she said. “And this is the only thing I’ve been doing different on my knees. It has to be this.”

The effect was so impressive, she decided to test out her mobility in a way she hadn’t in a while.

“I got on my bike and was able to ride three miles,” she said. “I could do a full rotation too … I’ve got my mobility back.”

And there’s more good news for Heller’s patients. The red light therapy options have recently been expanded. The practice is now offering a state-of-the-art zero-gravity red light bed for full body rejuvenation, as well as for weight loss. It has specialized wavelengths that penetrate through skin and tissue to stimulate cells, helping with reducing pain and inflamation, body contouring, increased circulation, and so much more.

“This is commercial medical grade, so it’s very different than red light products you find on Amazon or in stores. It has so many beneficial effects, all scientifically proven. It’s even a mood booster. I always have a kick in my step after I do it,” she said.

The red light treatments also pair perfectly with the plethora of functional medicine options Heller Healthcare offers, which include:

• Diagnostic Testing

• Chiropractic Care

• Stretch & Rehab Therapy

• Nutraceuticals

• Regenerative Medicine (stem cell therapy)

The red light treatment is also a game changer when it comes to Heller Healthcare’s assisted weight loss program.

“This doesn’t include pills or shots, though can be used to support, maximize GLP1s,” McMaster explains. “The red light (photobiomodulation) triggers a biochemical response within fat cells, stimulating enzymes to break down triglycerides into fatty acids, glycerol, and promotes natural body sculpting.”

Whether it’s recovering from an injury or banishing stubborn belly fat, finding freedom from pain with stem cell therapy or regular chiropractic care, Heller Healthcare has the answers so many are seeking.

“There are three stressors of life … physical stress (pain, inflammation, injury), chemical stress (weight, hormone, and blood lab imbalances), and emotional stress,” Dr. Heller says.

“I can help our patients with their physical stress through chiropractic care, deep tissue muscle rehab, and stem cell therapy. And then, if I can help our patients who have chemical stress through red light therapy, weight loss, functional medicine, and body sculpting … through those avenues, hopefully, their emotional stress will go down.”

• To learn more about Heller Healthcare and its sister practice Golden Isles Functional Medicine, visit hellerhealthcare.com. To schedule a free consultation, call 912-264-2244.

Coastal Benefits offers insurance guidance

WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON

TThere are few things in life as confusing as insurance. While it’s a labyrinth in the best of circumstances, once a person approaches 65, things become even more mystifying.

But that’s where Brelynn DuMortier comes in. The licensed insurance broker, who owns Coastal Benefits with fellow broker Jennifer Bell, has extensive experience helping clients navigate these unfamiliar waters.

“It’s overwhelming, and I think that’s true for the majority of people. I think it’s a little bit scary too because people don’t know what they need or how much,” DuMortier says. “It can be a hard process, and we just try to make it easy.”

They welcome clients to their office, located at 26 Coral Park Way, Brunswick, where they discuss a variety of health insurance topics.

And DuMortier says, they do it for free.

“We’re brokers, so we get commissions through some of the plans that we sell, not all of them. But it doesn’t change the cost for the people coming in, so we’re basically a free service,” she says. “Then, if they have any problems during the year, then they can give us a call, and we can try to help with that too.”

Coastal Benefits primarily focuses on

three branches of insurance: employer-sponsored employee benefits, individual policies for those under 65, and Medicare plans.

DuMortier says that, when facing the latter, planning is crucial.

Medicare is government-based insurance with parts A, B, C, and D.

Part A is funded by money that’s been taken out of an employee’s paycheck.

“Part B is something you have to sign up for separately. And what surprises a lot of people is that it has a premium. You have to pay for it every month once you sign up, and it only covers medical expenses. But it does not cover 100% of everything, which also surprises people. Generally, it covers like 20%,” she says.

“Part A is inpatient hospital coverage, and then Part B is everything outside of that — so lab work, ER trips, outpatient surgery, doctor visits, and preventative visits. What Medicare doesn’t cover, people have to pay out-of-pocket.”

That’s why having supplemental Medicare plans is essential, DuMortier said. It can help with the costs of prescriptions, doctor visits, and other medical issues.

“Medicare pays about 80% of the bills,” DuMortier said. “That’s why it’s so important to have supplemental insurance, because you can end up with out-of-pocket costs. Most people who have supplemental insurance — you never hear from them, because they’re taken care of.”

There’s also Part C — advantage plans — and Part D — prescription coverage.

“Those aren’t government-based … they’re separate plans through private insurance carriers,” she said. “Then,

there are supplement or MediGap policies that you can layer on top.”

It’s essential to start thinking about and considering options well in advance of turning 65.

“I would say maybe six months ahead and try to figure out what you need to do and when. Start looking at the prices and pulling together information. If you have an employer-based plan, look at how much you are paying for it and what kind of coverage it is,” she says.

“Then, we can compare Medicare to that. We can’t do anything officially until three months before someone’s 65th birthday, but we can start planning. That way, when the time comes, we know which way to go.”

While extensive time isn’t always an option, for DuMortier, it’s a big help and certainly aids in avoiding penalties.

“I get a lot of people who call and say, ‘I’m turning 65 next week. What do I have to do?’” she says with a laugh. “And it’s not too late, but they should have already looked at things, because by waiting, they could be without coverage completely, or they may have a lapse in coverage where they’re gonna have to be very careful.”

Social Security also plays a factor. If a person is already on Social Security, they’re automatically enrolled in Medicare. It starts on the first of the month of their birthday.

“If they are not on Social Security, then we have to come up with a timeline of when they’re going to apply and what kind of extra coverage they want on top of the Medicare coverage … we run through all the options,” she said.

“There’s a certain window that you can sign up for Medicare — three months before the month of your birthday and then three months after, without getting any penalty. Unless you’re already on employer-based insurance, and then the rules are different.”

These types of regulations make having an expert like DuMortier critical. Each person’s situation is unique, so their plan has to be customized.

“We look at everything ... figuring out how much you want to pay per month and what the best coverage is. Then, we look at all of the carrier options. We figure out what’s best for the whole family, not just the person who’s hitting Medicare age.”

• For more information about Coastal Benefits, 4000 Coral Park Drive in Brunswick, call 912-265-6909 or visit  coastalbenefitsinc.com.

GAME CHANGERS

Tina Sportschuetz

WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON AND PROVIDED PHOTOS

TThe winding driveway leading to the Stables at Frederica seems a world away from the busyness of every day life.

That’s precisely what Tina Sportschuetz loves about it. On any given day, the owner of Puppy Paradise (who is also a licensed attorney) can be found atop her horse, Zorro. The silky black Andalusian is as majestic as they come and it makes sense why.

“They were the horses of the kings. They’re Spanish. They would ride them into battle. A solid black one is very rare. It was bred out of them. They are mostly grey now,” she says.

That notion of a battle horse will come back into the equation a little later. From their first meeting though, Tina knew she had something special.

“After a few months of looking, I found him in Washington state and I flew out the next day to meet him,” she says.

Tina and Zorro returned to St. Simons, both sharing something in common — they were pretty green. Tina, who grew up in Germany, hadn’t seriously ridden since she was a teenager. And, of course, Zorro was a 4-year-old stallion — basically, a baby.

“It was in 2019 and was a really bad choice looking at it now,” Tina says with a laugh. “I had not ridden at all and he was a 4-year-old stallion, which wasn’t super safe. He had absolutely no training and I knew nothing. It could have turned out really badly.”

Thankfully, though, Zorro and Tina proved to be a perfect match. Under the watchful eye of trainer Allie Zorn, the two became quite the powerful pair.

“Allie says, ‘You need to decide if you want to be a trail rider or competition rider.’ I was like, ‘both,’ and she says, ‘You can’t do that’ … I said, ‘Yes, I can,’” Tina says with a laugh.

While she does love having casual trots with Zorro, the two decided to start training for dressage competitions. Allie, who also competes in addition to owning the stables, was her guide.

“She did have to have a bit of a mentality shift from ‘I’m doing this as stress reliever and to have fun,’ to ‘I’m doing this for growth,’” Allie says. “Turns out, she is actually highly competitive. Tina enjoys more than she likes to admit. That’s something that this particular sport of dressage is very good at … a lot easier to have measurable improvement.”

Dressage, which outsiders may see as fancy prancing, has links to ancient Greek battle readiness. Later, it evolved into an art form enjoyed by the nobility in the Renaissance.

“It was made originally to teach war horses who carried big heavy knights how to be better on the battlefield,” Allie says. “One of the fanciest moves is literally how to trample someone … just trotting in place.”

These days, dressage is an elevated equestrian event. Tina and Zorro started making waves in the world of amateur competitions. After just a year, they were crowned first level freestyle reserve champion at USDF regionals last October at the Georgia International Horse Park.

That win earned Tina and Zorro an invitation to U.S. Dressage Finals in Ohio. Allie, too, competed in the professional category with her horse, Neptune. But she kept her eye on Tina.

“She was more focused than I’ve ever seen her on championship day … so focused it was odd, like I was concerned,” Allie teases.

It worked though. Tina and Zorro earned a 67.491%, clinching a top-10 finish in the division. A stunning achievement for such newbies.

But Tina knows exactly why she’s done so well.

“I’ve had a lot of trainers … here and in Germany, but Allie is by far the best,” she says.

Allie is quick to shake off that praise though “I think a lot of dressage teachers teach the way they were taught,” she says. “And they only teach adults. I also teach kids and I think I describe things in a way that works for Tina since English isn’t her first language.”

This dynamic duo (well, trio including Zorro), plan to keep it going. Tina is now working on her second level techniques and hopes to qualify for another freestyle event in the 2026 U.S. Dressage Finals.

And, while that would be nice, she mostly enjoys being able to take the journey with

the horse (and friend) that she loves.

“Having a horse is like being able to love on a unicorn,” Tina says with a laugh.

Allie agrees but thinks that horses offer riders even more.

“They’re also a great equalizer. In many ways, horses are very selfish … they’re not concerned with your schedule or your worries. They need what they need,” Allie says. “It’s the rider who has to change and accommodate the horse — not the other way around, which I think is a good lesson in life. Sometimes you can’t change the circumstances, you have to figure out how to work with it in the circumstances that exist.”

• The Stables at Frederica offer a wide variety of training, as well as trail rides. To learn more, visit thestablesatfrederica.com.

WORDS BY TAYLOR COOPER | PHOTOS BY TERRY DICKSON Palmer’s new look

PPart of the St. Simons Island charm is its laid-back atmosphere and slower pace of life; little changes there from day to day, or year to year in some cases. Stories are a dime a dozen about families visiting the island for generations, vacationers sharing the same charm with their children and grandchildren.

There’s a lot to love about Palmer’s Village Cafe, located about halfway down the Pier Village strip, on the golf course side. Someone like Chef JB Belechak notices details, and it’s especially easy to tell when something’s amiss in a place like the Pier Village.

“We’re the only dark building on the block again. Have you noticed that? Everyone else turned white, and we turned dark,” says Belechak, gesturing to the building’s facade.

This writer hadn’t noticed, but he — regrettably — doesn’t spend as much time in the village as Belechak does.

That’s not a bad thing, in Belechak’s eyes.

“It accentuates and distinguishes us a little more,” he says.

It seems most new buildings that are springing up bear that characteristic white with black trim, not to mention every housing flip job ends with a coat of white paint on the outside and the inside.

I’d call it passé, but I’m certainly no taste-maker, and this isn’t a column about my disdain for white houses. It’s about Palmer’s, Belechak, and his fellow Chef Joe Moon, who just six months before the publication of this edition in your hands took a role as Belechak’s partner at the cafe.

The changes don’t end outside the building. An interior overhaul brings the cafe a more modern look, with a fresh coat of paint and wainscoting on the walls in the rear room. A seating area at the back of the restaurant could be described as quaint, in that it evokes old-school Southern cafes that megacorporations like Waffle House draw their aesthetic inspiration from.

That, also, is not a bad thing. Like the shadows on the walls of Plato’s cave, the

real thing can’t be compared to what the cave-dwellers see. It’s sleek, with new wood pieces that match the old wooden floors, and a mix of darker and lighter neutral colors on the walls. Some compact golden table lamps finish the look during the dinner hours.

In their words, the look is clean, fresh, more upscale, and refined.

“The designer’s words were ‘a Frenchstyle cafe on St. Simons.’ That’s what she was trying to go for,” Moon says.

“I think they did an excellent job. It’s beautiful, it’s inviting,” Belechak added. Clean, fresh, upscale, and refined can also describe the cafe’s new dinner menu. Another recent innovation at Palmer’s is the addition of dinner.

It’s not entirely new to Palmer’s, Belechak said. When it opened, dinner was offered. It got to be a little too much for the crew to handle at the time, he explained. Around 2012, it was dropped from Palmer’s regular rotation.

“We always had people asking when we were going to open for dinners again,” Belechak says.

They’d done without dinners for longer than they’d been offered, but longtime customers always hoped for their return. Moon’s been working for Palmer and Amanda Fortune — the owners of Palmer’s and nearby Porch — for a long time, and reassigning him to the cafe gave Belechak the chance to offer them that while continuing to pour his heart and soul into the breakfast and lunch part of the business.

“We also slightly updated the lunch menu. We didn’t change it, we just added some things to it to blend the two together, to bring in some of the fish from dinner into the lunch,” Belechak says.

“Breakfast and lunch weren’t as extensive as they’ve normally been, so that we could accommodate putting some of that into the labor of love that is dinner. This whole endeavor has been a labor of love.”

“Our guests are, bar none, the best. We did a few soft openings, and they all went extremely well. Really good feedback,” Belechak said. “That just prompted us to keep going, going, going.”

Belechak and Moon put their heads together to craft the dinner menu, a fusion of their respective repertoires. No small help from a veritable board of taste-testers and input from the Fortunes informed the final menu configuration.

“Southern with a coastal twist, that’s how I look at it,” Moon said.

That means lots of local shrimp and fresh fish, as well as staple Southern veggies like greens, squash, and sweet potatoes, among others. It includes salads, sandwiches, appetizers, and seafood entrees galore.

“It’s about pulling from the heritage and the bounty of what’s around us,” Belechak said. Dinner is served from 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with happy hour specials from 3 to 6 p.m. Breakfast and lunch hours will continue as always, Belechak said.

Among the more popular menu items is blackened grouper with mango pico, but this issue’s centerpiece for The Dish is pan-seared scallops with

a soy butter sauce on a bed of sautéed mustard greens, with collard greens and a smattering of roasted vegetables on the side.

It’s listed on the menu as Seared U-10 Scallops, though it’s served with different side dishes.

“It’s very light, it’s definitely fresh, with a twist of comfort. The brown butter sauce on it is delightful,” Moon said.

If anything, Moon is underselling the creation. Each of the three scallops was cooked to perfection with a slight caramelization along the edges, adding a little crispiness that this writer couldn’t get enough of. It’s a perfect blend of sweet and a little salty, owing to the inherent saltiness of the scallops.

PAN-SEARED scallops with mustard greens and soy butter

Ingredients

Sauce (yields 4-6 servings)

1 lb unsalted butter, small cubed at room temperature

1 Tbsp. soy sauce

½ cup finely-chopped yellow onion

½ cup dry white wine

½ cup white wine vinegar

¼ cup heavy cream

2 cups mustard greens

3 to 5 scallops per person

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Cut butter into small cubes and set aside. In a small saucepan, sweat onion until translucent on low heat. Add white wine, soy, vinegar, and cream. Reduce to ½ cup.

When redux is done, put on super low heat and start whipping in the butter cubes; a few at a time, keeping on heat. Continue to add butter until all is incorporated.

For the mustard greens, lightly sauté with butter, garlic, and season with salt and pepper.

For the scallops (3 to 5 per person), heat a skillet (it needs to be very hot). Add olive oil to the pan, then add dry scallops and sear on both sides. Then, plate on top of the mustard greens then spoon sauce over the top. Enjoy!

1pm-5pm

The Perfect

Theshiny exterior of Refresh and Refine’s latest location gleamed in the afternoon sunlight. Stepping into the renovated space, treatment rooms proved to be as individualized as the clients frequenting them.

A variety of modern chandeliers dangled from the ceilings and chic appointments make each one unique. The room at the end of the upstairs hallway was just such a spot. This was the new home of a dynamic duo — Teana Garrison, owner of Beauty By Teana (hair stylist and makeup artist whose special event business is titled Down the Isle) and her friend, Mackenzie Wommack, who is also a hair stylist and owner of Hair by Mack.

The two have teamed up for countless weddings and other special occasions, traveling to provide services on site (if you’d like a sample of their collab, check out the cover of this very issue). Both ladies say they are excited for their new digs.

“Oh man, we have everything here,” Teana says.

“Botox, fillers, facials, spray tanning,” Mackenzie lists.

“Concierge wellness with Dr. Kelly,” Teana adds.

In short, if it has to do with beauty and wellness — it can be found at Refresh and Refine. The new location opened in early April and the ladies set up their joint space together. While they both offer similar services, today’s endeavor was one that Teana was spearheading. That was a color assessment of Mackenzie.

Picking the appropriate color palette is a longstanding tradition in the broader world of cosmetology, dating back to the early 20th century. It was first popularized by artists and psychologists. Later, in the 1970s and 1980s, Suzanne Caygill and Carole Jackson created a seasonal color analysis. It aimed to help women find their perfect palette based on undertones, hair and eye color, along with personal style.

As a hair stylist and makeup artist, Teana was naturally intrigued.

“… when I saw colors of hair or different colors of makeup on people that just didn’t quite look right, the color analysis science behind it started to make sense,” she says. “I started to understand why certain hair colors wouldn’t look good on someone or certain makeup colors wouldn’t look good compared to others. I then started to research and try to learn on my own.”

But she didn’t stop there. She went on to take formal classes online to learn all she could.

“I actually took two different classes as there are different color analysis systems. Both of them taught me a lot. They were basically teaching a lot of the same things, but not everything was the same, which was interesting,” she says. “It was not a cheap course to take, but I truly felt that it would help with my business would also take some stress off my neck and back to do color analysis instead of so much hair behind the chair.”

For this particular session featuring MacKenzie, Teana started with reds. This, she says, will help determine her dominant undertone.

Pulling a special drape from her assortment of shades neatly filed on a rack, she held it up to Mackenzie’s face.

“We have a cool red and a warm red. That tells a lot about what goes best with your undertones,” she says, gazing at MacKenzie in the mirror. “We’re going to drape her with a warm red. It looks really pretty. Now, let’s put the cool red over her. You’re looking for undertones. The color under the skin … almost like aura colors. When you put it up against the skin, which works best with the reflection.”

Of course, with someone as stunning as Mackenzie, all colors look pretty darn good. But Teana says there’s definitely one that works better than the other.

“You want to do it a couple of times so the client can see,” she says, swapping the drapes. “I think she’s more of warm.”

Teana then brings in another set of shades to be sure.

“We will do icy pink, which is a pretty color. Then, we will do a warmer orange. I think, again, that it’s the warm because while both look good, the warmer makes her pop more,” she says.

She points to the sharpness of the jawline, under-eye tone, and overall harmony as indicators.

“The pink just kind of blends in. It washes her out … I definitely think Mackenzie is a warm,” she says.

Once that’s established, Teana takes a moment to find Mackenzie’s neutral.

“Brown or black,” she says, draping the colors over her. “The brown just pops more. So brown would be your black.”

“I have to get rid of all my black clothes,” Mackenzie teases. Another good parameter is gold versus silver. That can come in handy when selecting jewelry or a sparkly outfit.

“… maybe for a New Year’s Eve dress,” Teana says. “But I think she’s definitely a gold. Silver washes her out. If she does wear silver, she will want to add some pops of warmth.” With all of this information in hand, it’s time to get down to business. She is a warm — but what season is Mackenzie?

There are color schemes for summer, winter, spring, and autumn, along with warm and cool variations of each.

Teana moves methodically between the rack of colorful drapes and the chair. After multiple drapings and deliberations, it’s decided.

“She’s a tough one … she can do a lot of things. But I think the one that’s the best is an autumn,” she says. “A warm autumn for sure.”

There are also of other sub categories that Mackenzie could work into her palette. But overall, the goal remains the same — to use the right colors to look one’s best.

Teana says it’s like adding a little bit of magic to your life.

“I feel like this can help everyone — from teenage girls to women in their 70s, 80s, and 90s — feel and look their best,” she says.

Of course, she adds, men can benefit as well.

“I practiced on my husband and now he will only wear colors in his season,” she says.

It’s not just for humans either. Teana says the same concepts can be applied to interior decor and accessories.

“They want to decorate their house around their colors. They want to buy decor, whether it’s a coffee cup, shoes, a favorite blanket, or their car … all in their colors,” she says.

And, of course, pets can get in on the action, too.

“I even went as far as to buy a harness and a leash that goes with my dogs’ colors,” she says with a laugh.

• To learn more about color assessments, follow @beauty_by_teana. For more information on Hair By Mack, follow @ hairby_mackk. Both are on Instagram. For details on Refresh and Refine, visit refreshandrefinessi.com.

WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON PHOTOS BY DEVOSS

Hot pink azeleas danced in a dainty spring breeze outside of 1715 Reynolds Street in downtown Brunswick. The freshly-renovated Victorian home, constructed in 1912, is the latest event space unveiled by Port City Partners. Located across from the historic Glynn County courthouse, it’s an ideal spot for a pre- or post-wedding gathering. Today however, it was playing host to five local ladies, florals, fab fashions — and confetti (lots and lots of confetti).

For this particular styled Beauty shoot, we assembled a team of ladies to create a spread centering on joy. Namely, the joy of celebrations.

MacKenzie Wommack of Hair By Mack was tasked with taming the tresses. Teana Garrison of Down the Isle was on glam duty, creating the makeup looks. Priscilla Boudreau of DeVoss Photography was behind the lens.

beauty

And then, there was Anna Chandler — our model. Anna was the ideal person to be the face of this shoot because there is no one who embodies joy quite the way this gal does. A Delta flight attendant, Realtor, and Zumba instructor, Anna certainly qualifies as outgoing and vibrant … but there’s more, though all the clichés seem to fall short.

A ray of sunshine?

A flower in bloom?

Glitter in human form?

She simply exudes light. It’s woven into the fabric of her being, so having her allowed for truly immaculate vibes. Through the afternoon, we explored four looks that would prove perfect for various celebratory events. That is a bridal (or baby) shower; a date night or party; a dress for a wedding guest; and a bridesmaid look, which we paired with a floral bouquet from Wünderbar Floral Design. Read on for the fabulous results.

This sweet Never a Wallflower Chloe Maxi Dress is the perfect look for a spring fling like a picnic, bridal shower, or baby shower. The dress, from Two Friends on St. Simons Island, is paired with Dolce Vita Dorsey Raffia Bow flat sandals. Mack opted for loose, feminine curls, and Teana matched that energy with delicate, daytime makeup in soft hues.

Local artist MS Ottley’s handpainted Champagne bottles can be customized for a variety of events, but they are especially popular with weddings. Her work can be viewed at her boutique space at 215 Mallery St., Suite 3, St. Simons Island. Her website is msottleyart.com.

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Anna is also wearing a Mignonne Gavigan Bacchus charm necklace, Julie

and holding a BTB

All of her accessories are also from

For this look, we kicked things up a notch. This look includes a bright, bold Elizabeth James Frannie skirt and Paloma top in Indian Flower Poppy from Two Friends. Teana upped the drama, especially to Anna’s eyes, while Mack popped a fun pony tail. This outfit would be perfect for a night on the town for a date, a girls’ night, or a party.

The boutique paired it with M. Donahue Collection Green Quartz Small drop earrings, a Capucine de Wulf Veranda

and an orange

All are from Two Friends.

For our wedding guest look, Two Friends offered up this Rhea Dress by Hutch, which features a white top (with two options for the neckline — one shoulder or a T-neck).

Anna is carrying a jeweled clutch by Pamela Munson. She’s also blinging in Julie Vos Iridescent Clear Crystal Chandelier Earrings. Mack styled Anna’s hair in a dramatic updo, with Teana switching up the palette and deepening the shades. (Mack and Teana also came through with the confetti tossing for some of these cover shots, thanks y’all).

This unique cascading bouquet features white tulips, lilies and Bells of Ireland. It’s embellished by a white silk ribbon and pearl inserts. It was designed by Wünderbar Florals.

The final fit was this stunning periwinkle Daymor Couture Tier Dress from Evelyne Talman on St. Simons Island. The beaded neckline matched the crystal earrings also from the shop. She carried a bouquet by Wünderbar Floral Design.

The venue — Reynolds House is a historical event venue located in downtown Brunswick. The Victorian home was originally constructed in 1895. The property offers a parlor, catering kitchen, dining room, den with a fireplace, and a veranda. Upstairs there’s also a veranda, along with bridal and groom suites. It is located at 1715 Reynolds St., Brunswick, across from the Glynn County Historic Courthouse. For more information, visit portcitybrunswick.com/reynoldshouse.

THE BASICS WITH THE GLAM KING

MASTERING Makeup

The Brunswick Country Club was all abuzz on a cloudless Sunday afternoon. Golfers flocked to the greens in such droves that an overflow lot was the only available space for those with a different kind of drive — the quest to create a flawless face.

This was the day that Brunswick’s own Glam King a.k.a Gerald Dampier was hosting the second of his two-day makeup master class. The first session was held on Saturday and catered to those in their 20s and early 30s. Sunday was geared toward a more “mature” audience, looking to snag Dampier’s secrets of hiding fine lines, wrinkles, and other tale-tale signs of “wisdom.”

Walking down the club’s hallway — flanked by trophy cabinets and framed photos — the sound of laughter intermingled with pop beats flowed from one of the meeting rooms.

Inside, Dampier is front and center, handing out bags bursting with cosmetic goodness and directing attendees toward the tray of sweet treats in the back.

Once settled, the lesson begins. Today’s model is stylist extraordinaire Alicia Brooks of the Hair Cottage. The day prior Hannah Brown (pictured throughout our spread) was seated in the chair.

Regardless, the tips and tricks Dampier shared were more or less universal. A fresh canvas … er, face, should always begin with moisturizing.

“We’re going to be doing my signature look, which I call ‘snatural,’ it’s snatched but also very natural,” he says, pulling a Clinique bottle from his enormous bag. “I love Clinique moisturizer because it’s not too thick under the foundation. If the foundation is too thick, it settles into the creases. You also want to get some type of SPF in your moisturizer because that helps with anti-aging. The prep is crucial.”

After thoroughly moisturizing the skin, he’s ready to begin. Dampier has an application sequence that might seem unusual to some, but it’s a method that he swears by. He begins with the eyebrows, then on to the eyes themselves. From there, he moves to foundation and concealer, finishing with the lips.

“This way, you can go back and clean up anything you need to from your eye makeup. It works best for me, especially when I have to do six girls on a wedding day,” he says. Dampier begins by dapping a Neutrogena eye cream under Brooks’ eyes. As it absorbs, he moves on to brushing and filling in her brows with a pencil and brush.

“You really want to feather it out. It doesn’t need to be harsh. You don’t want Nike check marks,” he says, eliciting a chuckle from his audience. “And you want to make sure

to follow your natural brow and not go beyond that. It will look droopy.”

He applies a concealer to the eye lids. Today, he’s using Tarte’s Shape Tape, which allows the makeup to adhere better. Holding a shadow bush lightly, he sweeps a deep mauve color in the crease, covering midway and on the outer side of the lid.

“You really only need a three-color palette. We have this darker mauve, which I’ll use in the crease, then the lighter color on all of the lid, then I’ll use the shimmer as a highlighter,” he says. “This is Makeup By Mario. I really love his stuff.”

After building up Brooks’ shadow, it’s time to move on to one of makeup’s most mysterious mistresses — lash application.

“They used to be my ultimate ene-

my. But you just have to practice. Hold them on your eye and see how much is left over on the outside. Then, trim them … always from the outside, never the inside,” he says. “Hold them with tweezers. Apply the glue … and I like clear glue not black. Wait 30 to 60 seconds before applying them. You can move them around to where they need to be. And if you mess up, you can always just try again. Pinch them with the real lashes to blend them together.”

To make the lashes appear natural, he adds mascara and uses his darker mauve shadow to blend the real and faux lash lines together.

“For mascara, you cannot beat the OG, Great Lash by Maybelline. That green and pink tube … it’s iconic,” he says.

Next up are foundation, concealer,

and blush. Dampier stresses the importance of starting with the cream to lay down the base before bringing in powder.

“I love Charlotte Tilbury, but that can be pricey. Honestly, in a pinch, $8 e.l.f. works fine,” he says. “I like to mix colors together because no one is actually the color that comes in a bottle. There are no rules when it comes to makeup.”

After tapping concealer under eyes, he also uses the same technique to dab on the foundation.

“Don’t sweep it,” he warns.

Blending is next. Once that is seamless, he adds cream blush.

“I really love blush. This is a pinky shade. Follow along the cheekbone. Then, go back and add to the apples. I’m taking a peachy blush and fusing them together,” he says, demonstrating. “This is YSL. I’m a sucker for YSL, but you can find more affordable options.”

To set the creams, powder is on deck. As with his other products, Dampier enjoys a mix of high-low merch.

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“MCo, y’all. If you get nothing else from this, MCo powder … it’s under $10 and it’s great. You can get it from Target or Amazon,” he says.

The same goes for the bronzer. He sweeps the golden shade along the nose, tops of check bones, forehead, and chin.

“I’m using a Kylie Blush Peach Bronzer. Blend upward towards the temple. Never blend or brush down,” he instructs.

“Then, I go back and use a translucent MCo powder to clean everything up.”

Last, but certainly not least, is the precious pout.

“I know Alicia loves an overline … so I use this nude pencil to overline the lips. I leave the center blank, then go back with my MCo Beauty Naked Desire. Then, gloss. I love me some gloss,” he says.

Stepping back from Brooks’ glammed face, he admires his work.

“You can see … she does have a good bit of makeup on, but it’s not too much,” he says.

To set it, he spritzes L’Oreal 3 Second Setting Mist.

“You can use something lighter but if you’re going to be out all day in the heat … this does the trick,” he says.

Once the tutorial is complete, the attendees have time to try tricks on their own — including applying the elusive false lashes. Dampier is hands-on with his students, answering questions and helping troubleshoot.

For him, it was the perfect scenario to help share the wealth of knowledge he’s accumulated.

“I wanted to have a makeup class

because I’ve had clients, for years, ask me, ‘Please do a big class so we all can learn all your tips and tricks.’ It just never felt right or I would try and put something together and it would fall through. But, it finally all came together,” he says.

“I think a makeup class is beneficial because a lot of ladies go in these makeup stores and a sales associate makes them buy all these products and then they go home and they are like, ‘Wow, I don’t know how to put any of this on.’ That’s where I come in … to educate you how to properly put all those products on.”

While some may see sparkly shimmer and shades as trivial, Dampier knows better. Having a command of cosmetics allows women to boost their confidence and feel like their best selves.

“Listen, every woman I know wears a little bit of makeup. It’s just a quick confidence boost. You don’t have to wear a full face everyday, but a little tap of concealer, mascara, and a little lipstick will do you good,” Dampier says.

“Any time I put myself together, I just feel better about everything. My day goes smoother when I do those few extra steps in the morning. You always want to put your best self forward.”

• To learn more about Dampier and for future classes, follow him @glam.king on Instagram.

Commemorating the Semiquincentennial on the Georgia Coast

WORDS BY DR. WHITNEY NELL STEWART | ARIC SPARMANN

AND PROVIDED

Revolutionary Ripples

Families divided. Neighbor against neighbor. Friends on opposite sides.

If you think I’m describing our contemporary political moment, you’d be wrong. This was the reality for Georgians during the American Revolution, including those along the coast of the youngest and southernmost of the 13 original colonies.

Coastal Georgia has always been a crossroads for cultures and a crucial element in understanding our nation’s history. This year, as we celebrate the Semiquincentennial — or 250th — anniversary of the founding of the United States, the Coastal Georgia Historical Society is exploring our local revolutionary origins. The stories that emerge are more complicated, interesting, and pertinent than the narrative of the American Revolution mythologized in films and paintings. They reveal real-life people from very different backgrounds all struggling not just to survive but to create a better world. Through exploring this history, we can appreciate the complexity of the conflict between Loyalists and Patriots and how the issues of the Revolution affected the daily lives of all Coastal Georgians — women and men, metropolitan and rural, enslaved and free.

Before the British arrived in Coastal Georgia, the area’s longstanding Indigenous societies had been radically changed through contact with French and Spanish settlers. Disease and conflict had devastating effects on these groups, but they endured and adapted. Survivors formed new confederations, and by the end of the 1720s, a new community called the Yamacraw formed out of the remains of the Creeks and Yamasee.

James Edward Oglethorpe, the founder of Britain’s Georgia colony, saw the Yamacraw as a potential ally. Oglethorpe’s vision for the colony began as a moral project, seeking to reform England’s penal system. Instead of being sentenced to jail, Oglethorpe hoped, England’s debtors could populate Georgia. He believed that these “worthy poor” could be transformed into farmers, merchants, and artisans. His arguments convinced King George II, who granted a charter establishing Georgia in 1732 and named a group called the Trustees to govern the new colony. In November 1732, Oglethorpe and 114 British settlers set sail for Georgia.

The Georgia colony was an important buffer between the British colonies to the north and Spanish Florida to the south, yet the colony’s establishment only inflamed tensions between the Spanish and the British. Clashes continued until the 1742 Battle of Bloody Marsh finally drove the Spanish from Georgia, solidifying British control of the area.

In 1758, Georgia’s leadership was transferred from the Trustees to a royal governor, James Wright. Unlike more established, older colonies like Virginia and Massachusetts, Georgia did not have a long history of self-governance and had been prospering under their royal governor. As a result, when revolutionary fervor and action spread across the British colonies in the 1770s, Glynn County and much of Coastal Georgia was spilt between the two main competing factions of Loyalists and Patriots.

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Many Georgians were not quick to rebel against the crown, fearing a threat to trade, security, and slavery. Our slice of Coastal Georgia was, in many ways, a bastion of Loyalism. Even today, place names here bear the mark of British influence. The city of Brunswick was named to honor King George III: its name comes from the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, the ancestral home of the king’s House of Hanover. On St. Simons, Demere Road takes its name from two brothers, Paul and Raymond Demeré, who served under Oglethorpe. Jekyll Island’s Captain Wylly Road also takes its name from a Loyalist family who resided there.

While the Loyalist influence was strong in Coastal Georgia, it wasn’t the only powerful voice. By 1774, the Sons of Liberty had gained a foothold in Savannah. Locally known as the “Liberty Boys,” the group held meetings and elections at one central location: Tondee’s Tavern. Despite an order by Governor Wright that forbade meetings critical of British rule, a group of around thirty participants continued to gather — secretly, and then publicly — at Tondee’s. They were aided by Peter Tondee and his wife Lucy, who operated the tavern alone after Peter’s death in 1775. On June 5, 1775, the Liberty Boys “celebrated” King George III’s birthday with drinking, demonstrations, and the construction of a liberty pole. Now a lesser-known symbol of the Revolution, a wooden pole topped with a “cap of liberty” was at the time a common signifier of dissent in the British American colonies. At times, a red flag was run up the pole as a call for Sons of Liberty to gather.

Patriots like the Liberty Boys found themselves with friends in high — and unexpected — places. Across the Atlantic, the cause of American independence had an important supporter in John Glynn, for whom the county would be named. He was the chairman of the Society of the Bill of Rights, a British group that, as early as 1771, called for “the full and equal representation of the people” and for the end of taxation of the American colonies without representation.

On August 10, 1776, Archibald Bulloch — who had served as one of Georgia’s representatives to the Continental Congress — read the Declaration of Independence aloud for the first time in Georgia on the front porch of Tondee’s. The Declaration itself built upon a long tradition of ideas, meetings, and grievances like those expressed by the Society of the Bill of Rights and the Sons of Liberty. Yet the concepts at this founding document’s core were revolutionary — and they affected groups of American colonists in drastically different ways.

As the war continued, Patriot outposts in Coastal Georgia often came under attack by forces from nearby British East Florida. By 1778, though, Georgia had begun to build its own navy. St. Simons Island had once been the last bastion of the British defense against Spanish Florida. Now, the island — and the Frederica River — became the site of a new conflict.

Early in the war, the Georgia Council of Safety, which directed Georgia’s military activities, commissioned armed sailing

ships called galleys to patrol the coastal waterways. In early April 1778, when Georgia Navy officials learned that several British ships had entered St. Simons Sound, these galleys quickly became indispensable. The British vessels — the HMS Galatea, Hatter, Hinchinbrook, and Rebecca — were confronted by three Georgia galleys with distinctly American names. On April 15, 1778, with about 360 men aboard, these ships, the Washington, the Lee, and the Bulloch, sailed from Darien towards the St. Simons Sound.

Three days later, on April 18, the three galleys anchored near Fort Frederica. Troops on land took British prisoners at the fort, but one scouting party escaped and informed the British ships of the galleys’ presence. By the morning of April 19, the galley crews decided to attack. They fired on the British vessels from half a mile away. Reports concluded that even the weather itself seemed to assist the galleys. The British retreated down the river, hoping to find a better position, but instead, the Hatter, Hinchinbrook, and Rebecca all ran aground nearly simultaneously. Their crews abandoned ship and headed for the Galatea, anchored in the St. Simons Sound. The loss of the three ships left the Galatea as British East Florida’s only naval defense. The Georgia Navy’s invigorating triumph led Coastal Georgia into a new — and final — phase of the war.

In March 1778, letters between Major-General George Germain, British Secretary of State for the Colonies, and Sir Henry Clinton, the new Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in America, discussed a strategy that they believed would turn

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the tide of the war. The “Southern Strategy,” targeting Savannah and Patriots in the backcountry, would also decimate the southern colonies’ economies by capturing plantations that produced rice, tobacco, and other exportable products.

The campaign’s early success hinged on the British siege and capture of Savannah on December 29, 1778. Despite the victory in Savannah, though, other outposts along the coast gave the British plenty of trouble. The then-active port of Sunbury, now a ghost town south of Savannah, was home to a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Lyman Hall, and a liberty pole like the one installed at Tondee’s Tavern. When British Colonel Lewis Valentine Fuser was ordered to capture Sunbury in November 1778, he also demanded the surrender of nearby Fort Morris, a Patriot stronghold. The fort’s commander, Lieutenant Colonel John McIntosh, responded: “We, Sir, are fighting the battles of America … as to surrendering the fort, receive this laconic reply: Come and Take It!”

The British eventually captured Fort Morris in January 1779 and wreaked havoc up and down the coast: Sunbury was heavily bombarded, and the church in the nearby town of Midway was burned, only to be replaced in 1792 with a building that

still stands today. In October 1779, though, the British were forced to defend Savannah against an attempted recapture by Patriot forces. The British held the city, but the fighting in the southern theater dragged on, leading to the siege of Yorktown and the end of the war two years later in 1781. The conflicts on the Georgia coast may have seemed small, but compounded with British losses throughout the colonies, these “battles of America” paved the way for independence.

Here in the U.S., we’ve long celebrated the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Independence Day, marked by parades, speeches, music, and fireworks, quickly became an essential element of the national story.

A century after the exposition, towns and regions across the United States wanted to mark the Bicentennial in their own ways. Coastal Georgia was certainly no exception. 1976 was an incredibly busy year for local historical organizations, who used the bicentennial of the city of Brunswick in 1971 as a starting point for even larger festivities. The Brunswick chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution published “Streets and Squares of Olde Brunswick,” a pamphlet that included an 1837 map of the city and explanations of the names of its historic parks and avenues. A January 1973 report called “200 Years of Days to Remember,” prepared for the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission by the State of Georgia, shared pages of information on the Glynn County area and included $100,000 for the historic preservation of the St. Simons Island Lighthouse.

In 2026, during the Semiquincentennial, it’s our turn to mark a milestone — and our turn to define what the Revolution means to us. How has the legacy of the Revolution shaped our nation over the past 250 years? What are the lessons — the good, the bad, the ugly — that we

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can take away from the Revolution? And how can we apply those lessons during this time of heightened division in our country?

This year, the Coastal Georgia Historical Society joins organizations around the country to reflect on our revolutionary origins and look toward the future. At CGHS, we believe in the power of history to shape our world for the better, and we hope this national moment of historical reflection will do just that. We encourage you to commemorate the Semiquincentennial in your own way, and we hope you will join us for a very special event — Revolution on the Coast: A 250th Celebration from March 9 – 15, 2026. This week-long history festival will bring Georgians to our beautiful coast to experience and explore the American Revolution and the nation’s big birthday. The main event of RC250 is the First Oval Office Project of the Museum of the American Revolution, which over the weekend will bring a replica of General George Washington’s Revolutionary War tent — the mobile command center of the Continental Army — to Gascoigne Bluff Park. The project also includes several other tents, like “common” soldiers’ tents and a dining tent, as well as costumed interpreters that will reveal the different experiences of those who served and sacrificed during the war. In addition, CGHS will provide complementary experiential programming during the weekend as well as in the week leading up to the event. This will be the first time this special program has visited the state of Georgia, providing a meaningful moment to honor the ideals and actions that defined the founding of our nation. Other community organizations are integral to the planning and execution of the event, making this Philadelphia-bred program a locally run initiative.

Please visit coastalgeorgiahistory.org/ RC250 for more information on CGHS’s observation of the 250th. If you’re looking for more related sites in Georgia, visit exploregeorgia.org/ga250 for ideas. No matter where you’re from or where you’re heading, america250.org can also help you find a place to celebrate at home or on the road.

Finding Freedom

The inspiring life of Jameshia Wilson

“I love uplifting others, and I’m a God-fearing young lady. That’s my grounding station.” — Jameshia Wilson

When Jameshia Wilson was a small girl, she was already facing some pretty big challenges.

The McIntosh County native knew she had a family history of alopecia, a condition that spurs chronic hair loss. The idea that she would, one day, start losing her hair was a reality she had to face.

“They say, ‘Your hair is your glory,’ and so, that was a hard hit. I feel like, at a young age, I had to come to terms with that,” Jameshia says.

“… looking at my father, looking at my aunt … even my grandfather — they all had it. So it was something I came to terms with when I was like 10 or 11.”

That eventuality came sooner than she expected. It started in her elementary years, but became more noticeable in middle school. Luckily, her mother, Candace, was a hairstylist who could offer creative solutions.

“My mother has been a hairstylist for 30-plus years. So she would make me wigs and we have this thing called quick weaves … we would do cute little styles,” she said. “Friends would say, ‘Where did your hair go?’ And that really did dampen my spirit.”

As a child, small spots would appear and then her hair would grow back. When Jameshia hit high school, though, the hair loss accelerated and began to significantly impact her life.

“It really started just to fall out and not come back. I did sports, but I never ran track. My coach was so upset with me, because I wouldn’t do it. I never told her why I wouldn’t run track. I never ran track because it was the hottest time of the year and I knew that I would sweat my (hair extensions) out.”

That would show the extent of her hair loss to everyone. Instead, Jameshia shelved her track dreams and focused on basketball, a sport where hiding her alopecia was easier.

While Jameshia was fighting this battle, she did have plenty of support on the sidelines, especially from her family.

“I come from a great family. They’re always covering me and speaking words of encouragement. My mom would always say, ‘It’s gonna be OK.’ My grandma, you know, would be praying over my scalp,” she laughs.

Once high school ended, Jameshia had enough of trying to hide the condition and made the difficult decision to cut all of her hair off.

“By the time I was 18, I only had a little mohawk. I told my mother to cut it. I was like, ‘I’m done. Just cut it off,’” she says. “I would rock my wigs and rock my wraps. I just kept going with it.”

She moved to Tampa and attended the Aveda Institute. There, she learned the ins and outs of all things cosmetology. But she learned even more about herself.

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After encouragement from friends (and the stifling Florida heat), Jameshia decided to stop covering her head.

“I was an aesthetics instructor and a model for my students. Those girls, they just transitioned me into this warrior queen,” she says with a laugh.

“It really helped me be myself in a sense. I didn’t have to pretend or try to fit in. I felt freer when I gave up the wraps and the wigs.”

She will still don them occasionally — especially when it’s cold — but the coverings no longer serve as armor or a disguise.

It’s a lesson she hopes others who suffer from alopecia will eventually discover for themselves.

“That’s the main thing I tell them: to be free, stop hiding. You don’t have to hide,” she says.

It’s become a mission of hers. That, and to help others shine their brightest. To that end, Jameshia moved back to Darien and opened Light of Beauty Spa.

Her father, Jacob (also in the industry as a longtime barber) built out an existing space so that Jameshia could join her mother.

“My mom is my best friend, so it’s great. I’ve been working with my mom since I was a little girl. She’s in the front, and I have my section in the back for peace and quiet. I offer massages, facials, waxing, dermaplaning, microdermabrasion,” she says. “My mas sages aren’t a

traditional massage. I like to incorporate sports therapy, medical massage, reflexology, and fascial manipulation, too.”

Her goal with her massage work is to offer clients a respite that so many struggle to find.

“I want you to relax and just take a load off. People don’t realize that when you go and get a massage, that equates to 8 hours of sleep if you fully surrender,” she says.

Of course, true to form, Jameshia has set her sights on offering her clients even more. She’s currently enrolled in nursing classes with designs on transforming Light of Beauty into a med spa in the not-too-distant future.

“Botox, IV hydration therapy … things of that nature, more medical services. I want to bring that to my community,” she says. “I am constantly expanding myself and forever learning.”

She means it, too. Not only is the 30-year-old running a business and attending nursing classes, she’s perfecting her Spanish after moving to Costa Rica for a month to study the language.

She’s also taken up a new hobby with a special friend.

“I recently got my own horse, Stella. We’re working together to learn barrel racing. I love horses. I’m a country girl at heart,” she says.

Whether Jameshia is giving a facial or running routes in the saddle, she is always centered in the same space.

“I love uplifting others,” she says. “And I’m a God-fearing young lady. That’s my grounding station.”

• To learn more about Light of Beauty Spa, visit lightofbeautyspa. com or follow @lightofbeautyspas on Instagram.

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MARCH 14-15, 2026

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JUNE 6-7, 2026

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WORDS BY MICHAEL FARRIS JR.

PHOTO BY ALLIE BARBONE AND MICHAEL HALL

THE LONG STRIDE

A VIEW FROM THE STAGE: BEING A MUSICIAN IN THE GOLDEN ISLES

TThe crowd at Tipsy McSway’s was bobbing along to the beginning of “Gimme Three Steps” by Lynyrd Skynyrd when a loud pop caught my attention. Looking over to my right, I saw a small wisp of smoke rising from the bass equipment. The bassist and I looked at each other wide-eyed, but, as they say, “The show must go on!” Despite the bass amp head kicking the bucket and our decibel output setting off the seismic activity sensors at Tipsy’s, we pressed through the speed bumps and kept the party alive with music.

At the time of this publication, my band, The Long Stride, will just be celebrating our first year of existence. Comprised of myself (on the drums), guitarist and lead vocalist Blane Wheeler (formerly of the band Rosatoi; also performing originals as Blaine Laurent), bassist Gary Moore (formerly of South of Savannah), and recently-added guitarist and vocalist George Alread (of Suzy and the Birddogs fame), we hit our — well — stride early on with a lot of enthusiasm from members of the community.

Glynn County’s music scene is unlike anything I’ve experienced. Growing up in Northern Virginia on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., it seemed like outside acts got preferential treatment over local artists. A brief stint in southeast Idaho eventually landed me in Brunswick, and, with all due respect, the Idaho scene was almost a non-starter. In Brunswick, it’s almost impossible to visit a restaurant or brewery without running into live entertainment. And not just one or two singers with an acoustic guitar — although that’s also a regular treat in itself! — but full-on bands and their loyal fans are essentially a fact of life. Pile on top events like PorchFest, entrepreneurial supporters like Susan Bates, Glynn County’s musical dispatch services like The Brunswick

News’ Coastal Scene and EIL’s “I’m With the Band” on social media, and even our own Golden Isles Music Awards; you quickly perceive a music lover’s paradise.

And that’s not to mention all the bands. Rock bands, country bands, punk bands, emo bands, metal bands, pinebox bands, and all the bands in between, it’s almost surprising that the market isn’t oversaturated. With that wealth of options, one might think, “Who needs another band?” That was certainly a consideration when Blane and I began our years-long hunt for a bassist, but we stuck to it, and here we are, covering some of the finest music to come from the ‘60s, ‘70s, and a taste of the ‘00s for the “younger” crowd.

So, what’s it like performing in the Golden Isles? It might look how you expect. You form the band (which, depending on who you are, this might be the hardest part). You put in the practice time, hashing out the setlist, trying to find the perfect balance between each band member’s preferred musical taste and the shared musical tastes. You inform the world of your existence, pull some strings, and pretty soon, a restaurant or a booker is on the phone scheduling your gigs. You practice some more, and before you know it, it’s gig day. Pack up the car with your gear and pray that you get good parking (seriously, it works; how else would I have been able to park right next to Mullet Bay for our gig there during the height of Frat Beach?). You sweat bullets unloading, sound check with your band mates, and then you let the muscle memory from all the practice take you on the ride for the next few hours.

Sounds pretty cut-and-dry, but what’s it really like performing in the Golden Isles? In one word: Humbling. While the people who get up and dance look like they’re having a lot of fun, it’s way more fun to be a part of the ensemble, making them dance. Watching the crowd grow at PorchFest — even with the three power outages that interrupted our show — and hearing all the positive feedback afterward is a resounding testament to the open-armed acceptance this community has for its local musicians.

While the nights may get late and the summer days may be brutally hot, I know I will do this until I can’t anymore. It’s audacious for me, a relative newcomer to the music scene, to speak for the musicians you love, the bands we’ve covered as Golden Isles Magazine, and the bands we’ve yet to cover, but I will say for us all, “Thank you.” Thank you for the love, the support, and the encouragement to collectively share in this musically vibrant community together.

HANDBAG BINGO BENEFITS SAFE HARBOR

Safe Harbor Children’s Center in Brunswick recently hosted its annual Handbag Bingo at Frederica Golf Club on St. Simons Island. The event included wine, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, and designer handbags. The speaker was Elyce Arons, co-founder of Kate Spade and Frances Valentine. Proceeds from the soirée benefit the nonprofit’s programs. For details, visit safeharborcenterinc.org.

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GLYNN VISUAL ARTS HOSTS OPENING RECEPTION

Glynn Visual Arts recently held an opening for a new exhibition titled From the Coast to the Mountains. It featured the works of artists Thomas L. Cato and George Netherton. The show included photography and paintings of the coastline, the marshlands, and the mountains. For details about the arts center, visit glynnvisualarts.org.

A TASTE OF GLYNN AIDS AMITY HOUSE, GLYNN COMMUNITY CRISIS CENTER

Hundreds recently attended Taste of Glynn at Sea Palms Resort on St. Simons Island. The culinary event featured multiple restaurants and food vendors s haring samples of dishes in various categories. Ticket-holders cast votes for their favo rites at each booth. There were also silent auctions, along with live music. For details, visit atasteofglynn.com or amityhouse.org/home.

GOLDEN ISLES LIVE! HOSTS WADDINGTON BROTHERS

Golden Isles Live! recently hosted a concert featuring the Waddington Brothers at Wesley Church on St. Simons Island. They are a four-piece bluegrass and western band from rural North Dakota. Golden Isles Live! is a nonprofit organization that formed to offer elevated entertainment in the area. It was founded in 1938. For details about the group and its programming, visit goldenisleslive.org.

Making Life’s Moments Possible

With so much to see and do in the Golden Isles, it’s important to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. Southeast Georgia Health System has served residents and visitors of the Golden Isles since 1888. Along with our Southeast Georgia Physician Associates providers, we offer the same leading-edge health care services and technologies found in major cities, right here in our coastal community. And, as an employer, we empower our team members to live full, balanced lives so they can enjoy everything the Golden Isles has to offer.

Innovative Technology + Exceptional Health Care + Fulfilling Careers