The Sun City Sun • March 17, 2026

Where patience turns into magic.

BY JOE TURINO Contributor

Schade celebrates major photo wins

Sun City resident and longtime member of the Sun City Photography Club Sophia Schade is earning recognition both internationally and closer to home after her striking image, “In the Fog of an Alabama Morning: Thousands of Sandhill Cranes,” captured first place, Best of the Month for January 2026, in the Global Photographers Network Online Awards, an international competition drawing photographers from around the world.

Schade’s success continued with an exceptional showing at the 2026 Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association Members’ Choice Awards, announced during the organization’s annual convention in February in Columbia, South Carolina. Competing at the highly competitive Tier 1 level, she achieved what was described as an “unprecedented six winners” across multiple categories. The ribbons were awarded through the CNPA Members’ Choice competition and voted on by the full CNPA membership representing all 13 regions in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Her four first-place Tier 1 awards included “Moon Rise” (Artistic), “Flower in Water Drop” (Small Stuff), “Reflection — Aiken, S.C.” (Landscape), and “Having Fun with Water Drops” (Birds). She also earned a second-place Tier 1 award for “Magical Morning” (Landscape) and a third-place Tier 1 award in the Birds category for “Lunch Time.”

Adding to her international accomplishments, Schade also received an International Gold Medal from the Photographic Society of America at the Sri Lanka 3rd International Gathering, highlighting the global reach of her work.

Schade moved to Sun City from Atlanta about 10 years ago and says photography was not a serious interest before arriving. She joined the Sun City Photography Club about three years later and credits fellow members with helping her build the technical foundation that launched her photography journey. From there, curiosity and daily practice helped her develop her own style and approach behind the camera.

Over the years, Schade has also shared her knowledge with fellow photographers through classes and club programs. She has served the Photography Club as PR chair for six years, Creative Vision PR chair for four years, Nikon SIG leader, speaker chair for two and a half years, and an instructor of numerous classes, including iPhone photography.

Wildlife photography, particularly birds, soon became a favorite subject. She credits fellow photographer Rich Matheny, also a member of the Sun City Photography Club, with helping her better understand bird behavior and said, “Most importantly, he taught me to trust my instincts.”

Her photography journey began simply with an iPhone before she later invested in Nikon equipment. Even today, she says smartphones remain valuable tools for travel and spontaneous moments when carrying a full camera system may not be practical.

“When I’m behind the lens, everything else disappears. I’m fully present,” she said. Photography allows her to tell a story — sometimes the subject’s story and sometimes her own emotions reflected in what she sees.

Schade says great photography often comes down to patience, observation and

mastering the fundamentals of the craft. She encourages photographers to focus on the elements that bring images to life.

“Light matters. Small details matter. Learn your camera and truly understand it. Study your subject and what it is doing. Be patient. And most importantly, find your own voice,” she said.

Those principles have guided her journey from a beginner with an iPhone to an award-winning photographer whose work

is now recognized internationally. As Schade often reminds fellow photographers, the real magic of photography happens when patience meets the right moment.

“Where patience turns into magic.” Residents interested in learning more about the Sun City Photography Club, the organization that helped launch Schade’s photography journey, can visit them online at pcschh.org.

Sun City dancers present Musical Icons tribute

BY BARBARA LE MAY Contributor

For more than 20 years, the dance clubs of Sun City have produced the annual Rainbow of Rhythm performance. This year’s production will be held April 17 and 18 on the Magnolia Hall stage. The dancers continue to prove that age is no barrier to artistry, passion or rhythm.

The show, titled A Dance Tribute to Musical Icons, promises to be one of the most dazzling showcases yet — a heartfelt tribute to iconic songs and performers who helped shape the soundtrack of our lives. The stage will be alive with variety.

Artistic directors Laurie Rotondo and Deb Zak return this year to weave the dance routines into an unforgettable show. They have brought a special kind of magic to Rainbow of Rhythm, and organizers say they are confident this year’s production will be just as memorable as last year’s. Martha Spisso has taken on the role of producer, a position she has held in the past and one she continues to handle with her trademark Southern grace.

From the elegance of ballroom waltzes to the spirited stomps of clogging, the evening will highlight the diversity of dance styles embraced by the community. Audiences can expect tap routines sparkling with syncopated beats, jazz numbers bursting with energy and flair, lyrical and contemporary dances that tell stories through movement, musical theater pieces blending drama, humor and choreography, and line and square dancing that bring everyone together in joyful camaraderie. Each number is more than choreography. It is a chance to relive cherished moments and celebrate the music that has carried audiences through life’s milestones.

Each performance is choreographed by dedicated instructors and brought to life by dancers who rehearse tirelessly, proving that creativity and vitality flourish at every age. Instructors nurture not only technique but also confidence and camaraderie. Rehearsals are filled with encouragement, shared stories and plenty of laughter — proof that the journey can be just as meaningful as the performance.

One choreographer receiving special recognition this year is Denise La Joie, who brings her talents to the Sundancers

group. Though small in stature, she is a formidable presence in the dance studio.

La Joie teaches weekly classes in beginner tap, contemporary dance, introductory musical theater for nonperformers and advanced musical theater. Her choreography, set to memorable songs, is expected to captivate audiences.

The production pays homage to legendary artists whose music transcends generations. Songs featured in the program include Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like a Woman,” Adele’s “Rumour Has It,” and Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way.” Other highlights include iconic hits from Dolly Parton, Diana Ross and Lionel Richie. The timeless music provides the perfect backdrop for dancers to shine while reminding audiences of the enduring power of song.

For the dancers, Musical Icons is more than just a show. It is a celebration of community, resilience and joy. The production fosters friendships, encourages physical activity and offers a creative outlet that enriches daily life. It is also a place where a few sore knees can come together in perfect harmony.

For audiences, the show offers a chance to witness artistry that is both inspiring

and deeply moving. For family, friends and neighbors, it is an opportunity to see the joy of community in motion. The smiles on stage are contagious, and the energy in the room is a reminder that art connects us all.

As the curtain falls and the final bows are taken, Musical Icons leaves behind more than memories of great performances. It leaves a lasting impression of resilience, joy and the power of community. Dance is not just about steps. It is about spirit, and that spirit shines brighter with every beat of the music. This year’s production celebrates the songs that shaped generations, performed by dancers who

prove that passion never retires — even if it sometimes needs a nap after rehearsal. Tickets are $18, or $15 for groups of 10 or more. They go on sale Monday, March 23, at Magnolia Hall from 9 a.m. to noon and will be available each Monday, Wednesday and Friday until showtime at the same location and time. Tickets will also be available at Magnolia Hall one hour before each performance.

Showtimes are Friday, April 17, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, April 18, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Barbara Le May is a Sundancers Member.

One room, endless possibilities

Why flex rooms are so popular

BY GARY SMYTHE Contributor

While hosting an open house recently, I was reminded how much buyers value flexibility in a home. The property featured a large flex room, and throughout the afternoon visitors kept asking the same question: “What would you do with this space?” What followed was a stream of creative ideas. Some people envisioned a deluxe laundry and mudroom complete with a dog-washing station. Others imagined a comfortable living area for a mother-inlaw suite. A few parents immediately saw it as the perfect teen hangout or game room.

That’s the beauty of a flex room.

A flex room is exactly what the name suggests — a flexible space designed to adapt to the needs of the homeowner. Unlike a traditional bedroom, dining room or office that typically serves one purpose, a flex room can evolve over time as your lifestyle changes. For today’s homeowners, that kind of versatility is becoming increasingly valuable.

A space that grows with your life

For many buyers, a flex room starts as a practical solution. Families with pets love the idea of turning the space into a deluxe laundry and mudroom. Adding built-in cabinetry, extra counter space and even a dog-bathing station can transform everyday chores into a much more functional and organized experience.

For multigenerational households, which are becoming more common, a flex room can also serve as a comfortable living area for a mother-in-law suite. With the right layout, it can provide privacy

and independence while still keeping family close by.

A perfect spot for teens (and their friends)

Parents often see another opportunity: a teen hangout. Instead of the living room becoming the default gathering place, a flex room can be turned into a game room, movie space or casual lounge where kids can spend time with friends. Add a sectional sofa, a large TV or even a pingpong or pool table, and it quickly becomes the most popular room in the house.

Work, hobbies and everything in between

Flex rooms are also ideal for today’s work-from-home environment. A quiet office separated from the main living areas can make a big difference in productivity. Others choose to create hobby rooms, fitness areas, craft studios or reading libraries.

The possibilities are nearly endless be-

cause the space isn’t locked into a single function.

A feature buyers are seeking

As I learned during that open house conversation, buyers appreciate having options. A well-designed flex room gives homeowners the freedom to customize their living space around their lifestyle instead of the other way around.

If you’re searching for a home, it’s worth paying attention to floor plans that include a flex room or bonus space. It might not seem essential at first glance, but many homeowners quickly discover it becomes one of the most useful rooms in the house.

Gary Smythe is a local Real Estate Agent with William Raveis Real Estate specializing in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island. Gary@GarySmythe.com. www.WilliamRaveis.com/GarySmythe

BY ANNELORE HARRELL

Contributor

In 1773, England imposed a tariff known as the Tea Act, which placed a tax on various goods imported by the American colonies, including tea. The colonists were not exactly excited about this new expense for their morning cuppa.

Boston, a primary seaport on the Atlantic coast, became the setting for a memorable night when outraged citizens rebelled against what they saw as blatant taxation. Under cover of darkness, and masked like pirates, they boarded a ship newly arrived in port carrying bales of tea and tossed the entire cargo into the harbor.

After that, they disdained to drink another cup of the stuff — at least until the

Coffee

tariff was removed.

Just like that, they became patriotic coffee devotees.

Coffeehouses were not unknown in Boston. In 1670, more than a century before the famous Boston Tea Party, Dorothy Jones obtained a license to sell coffee and opened a shop near the waterfront.

By 1718, drinking this caffeine-loaded brew was almost as popular as beer, and soon Mary Gutteridge opened Boston’s second coffeehouse.

Three centuries later, we have Starbucks.

I love a good cup of coffee.

In the winter of 1974, we were living in Germany. My favorite roommate, George William Harrell Jr., attended a conference in Berchtesgaden. I tagged along.

One morning I ignored the Autobahn and drove through a valley following a river that led toward Salzburg, Austria. Two doors down from where Mozart once lived stood a charming café, and I stepped inside for coffee.

My toes were frozen.

The café was dimly lit with parchment

lampshades that cast a soft yellow glow. It smelled old and comforting, and best of all, it was warm. The waiter, dressed in the obligatory black and white, took my order in my best German. When he re turned with the coffee, he gave a brief nod and brought me a copy of that day’s New York Times from the stand against the wall.

Not all coffeehouses in Europe are that congenial.

The other day I gave a talk on Hilton Head Island. I met some charming people, enjoyed a delicious lunch and managed to leave the island before the afternoon traf fic began its daily exodus. My daughter Tamela and her husband, Nick, were with me.

For a treat, we stopped at the Starbucks in Bluffton, the one managed by Lisa. Their menu might as well have been Greek. I had no idea what a Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino Blended Beverage was, although it sounded intriguing. Bless her, Lisa guided me through the unfamiliar descriptions, and I ended up enjoying a caffe latte and a Yuzu Citrus

A 5,319-yard hole-in-one

to say it was delicious. I still fondly remember Mama’s green enamel coffee pot. The basic formula was simple: add just the right amount of water, bring it to a boil, turn off the heat and stir in the coffee.

Boiled coffee is spoiled coffee. Let it sit for a bit so the grounds settle, then pour that aromatic cup through a strainer.

Nothing quite like it.

BY RICH BERNSTEIN Contributor

A lifelong golfer, I admit to being a little embarrassed and frustrated about the gaping hole on my golf bucket list. No matter what breakthroughs I’ve accomplished, the reality is that my bucket list will never be fulfilled until this must-have golf feat is finally realized. Looking at the checkmarks on my golf bucket list, you’ll see scorecards showing first-ever milestone rounds breaking 100, 90, 80, a once-in-a-lifetime sub-70 and the first round I scored below my age. There’s a checkmark for my most-holes-playedday — 54 holes —comprised of 36 holes, followed by two “emergency nines.” There

are checks for courses I’ve been fortunate to play and the Majors I’ve witnessed.

Yet, there remains a void as I review my list. I’m not getting any younger, and the pressure builds to post the granddaddy, the crown jewel, the gold standard of checkmarks — an official hole-in-one.

Upon arrival at every par-3 tee box, I look forward to finally getting the hole-inone monkey off my back. My enthusiasm, however, is tempered when one of my playing companions, who typically has a hole-in-one notch in their belt, subtly asks “Have you ever had a hole-in-one?”

Grimacing silently, I’ve pretended to listen with joy about how their perfectly struck shot landed two feet beyond the pin and sucked back, as if pulled, into the bottom of the cup. I’ve suffered through endless narrations of every flight, bounce and roll of each of their aces. Woo-hoo, so happy for all of you!

I’ve had my share of sit-on-the edgers,

bang-off-the-flaggers, finish-behind-the-holers — yet sadly not a single bucket-list-qualifying-finish-in-the-cupper. If you ask me, at this point, based on the number of ace-attempts I’ve had over the years, I should get a checkmark for defying all laws of probability by NOT getting a hole-in-one!

Admittedly unofficial, I do take great pride in my 5,319-yard ace, which must be the longest ever recorded. My sliced drive, struck from the tee box on hole number three, banged off the trees lining the right side of the fairway and mysteriously found its way into the bottom of the cup on the adjacent sixteenth hole. A more rules-conscious player may have taken relief, dropped the ball off the surface of the green and continued playing the third hole. But if you look up the definition for a hole in one, it simply states hitting a single shot from the teeing ground into the cup. There’s no mention made as to which

cup, so why not simply add the total yardage of holes 3 through 16 and declare hitting a 5,319-yard hole-in-one?

Despite more than sixty years and an untold number of shots, that remains my only hole-in-one on record, unofficial as it may be. My golf bucket list remains incomplete – no wall plaque displaying a photo of me holding up the ball played for an official ace, no scorecard highlighting the “1” officially posted, no remembrance of a 19th hole celebration with my buddies for my first official ace.

All those things would certainly be nice, but when you’ve already made a 5,319-yard “unofficial” hole-in-one, does it really matter?

Rich Bernstein is a resident of Sun City. Rich has been experiencing the joy, challenges and frustrations of golf since his selection as the 6th player on his 5-player high school golf team.

Jill Kooken’s 52-hour stained-glass winner

BY JOE TURINO Contributor

Creating a stained-glass artwork is a process that demands patience, precision and time. For Sun City resident Jill Kooken, it took about 52 hours to craft the intricate piece that earned her the People’s Choice Award in the stained-glass category at Sun City Creative Vision 2026 (CV2026).

Sun City residents attending the annual exhibition selected Kooken’s vibrant work, titled “Pink Pirouette,” as their favorite among the stained-glass entries.

The 2026 event brought together members from four Sun City clubs — the Photography Club, All About Art Club, Glasscrafters Club and the Woodworkers & Model Makers Guild — in a collaboration celebrating creativity across multiple art forms.

For Kooken, the recognition was both gratifying and a little unexpected.

“I was surprised,” she said when she learned her piece had received the People’s Choice honor.

Creating a stained-glass piece involves multiple careful steps that require pa-

tience and skill.

“You choose your glass, cut your pattern, score the glass and break it,” Kooken explained. “Then you grind it, foil it, solder it and frame it.”

Despite the complexity of the process, the work brings her a sense of calm and concentration.

“It’s my therapy,” she said. “I like choosing a piece to make. I like scoring the glass, breaking the glass and fitting it together. I like doing puzzles, and stained glass is a lot like that.”

What makes Kooken’s achievement even more notable is that stained glass was not a hobby she brought with her to Sun City. She and her husband moved to the community eight years ago from Columbus, Ohio, and she discovered the craft after joining the Sun City Glasscrafters Club in early 2018.

“I was pretty addicted,” she said with a laugh.

After completing the club’s required training courses, she spent many hours working in the studio and eventually helped teach introductory stained-glass classes.

When the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily closed the studio, Kooken adapted by creating her own workspace at home.

“I built a studio in my garage so I could keep working,” she said, allowing her to continue developing her craft.

Creative Vision pairs a photographer with an artist, glasscrafter or woodcrafter, with the photographer’s image serving as inspiration for a new work interpreted in a different

medium. In CV2026, Kooken’s winning stained-glass piece was inspired by photographer Everett Denning’s photograph “Pretty in Pink,” which she transformed into her glass creation “Pink Pirouette.”

Today she remains active in the club and recently took on responsibility for or ganizing studio monitors who help keep the glass studio open for members.

With “Pink Pirouette” capturing the People’s Choice honor at CV2026, Kooken’s dedication, creativity and the many hours required to shape and assemble each piece of glass clearly resonated with Sun City residents — a shining example of how inspiration and craftsmanship come together in the Creative Vision tra dition.

Creative Vision highlights the collabo rative spirit among Sun City’s creative clubs. Kooken’s award-winning piece reflects both the skill required to master stained glass and the inspiration that comes from transforming another artist’s vision into something entirely new.