Hiton Head Flat fact: In the Lowcountry, the country is, well, low

Courtesy of www.islandpacket.com

By JOSH McCANN
jmccann@islandpacket.com
843-706-8145

Published Friday, January 29, 2010

Lowcountry? Perhaps its low country.

Beaufort County and its surroundings are so overwhelmingly flat that most of the highest points are manmade.

County officials say a 2002 survey performed by an airplane using a laser showed mounds as high as 70 feet above sea level. But many of those were related to the building boom then under way.

"A lot of them are piles of dirt," said Dan Morgan, director of the county's Geographic Information Systems. "It's not natural."

The county's loftiest natural locations are probably about 40-feet high, he said.

Some of the lowest elevations recorded in 2002 were also created by humans -- the remains of old mining sites or the result of developers carving out bodies of water, Morgan said.

That's how Berkeley Hall in greater Bluffton manufactured what it claims is the highest point in the county near the 8th hole on its north course. Staff estimate the spot, atop a gully that separates tee from green, might be as high as 70 feet above the fairway's lowest point.

When Tom Fazio was designing the course, he piled up earth -- dug to form a lake -- to create a hill by the back tee, assistant golf professional Loren White said.

"They had to put it somewhere," White said. "There's actually quite a few hills on that golf course."

Fazio designed a rolling layout so the course would be different from others in the area, including its flatter, southern sister, White said. The undulating design provides a welcome change of pace for club members, many of whom moved here from the likes of Ohio or the Northeast.

"It's more like what you would see up there," White said. "It almost makes them feel like they're back home."

A similar story accounts for the highest point on Hilton Head Island, according to staff at the Country Club of Hilton Head.

Near the ladies tees of that club's signature 12th hole, a "silly little plaque" proclaims the highest point on the barrier island, towering 20-some feet above sea level and the nearby Skull Creek.

Tom Briley, a self-described "old retiree who works part-time" in the pro shop, said the claim of either local club doesn't impress him much. "Neither one of them were hills when the Indians were here," Briley said. "They pushed up a lot of dirt so they could brag about having the highest point."

He prefers our topography to that of central Pennsylvania, which he left about nine years ago.

The reason? No awkward uphill or downhill lies.

"It makes the golf courses easier than the ones most of us played up north," he said.

Not having significant hills for miles around impacts other types of athletes, too.

Dave Adams knows something about the problems the area's terrain poses for distance runners. He is athletic director at Bluffton High School, and his son, David, became a state record-holder in cross-country at Hilton Head Island High School.

Bluffton High's teams travel by bus about once a week to traverse area bridges to get the feel of hills, but it's still difficult for athletes here to practice ascending extended grades, Dave said.

As a result, few Lowcountry schools excel at distance running, he said.

Dave compared the challenge Lowcountry runners face to that football players would if they were prohibited from lifting weights. His son only became a rare exception to the rule by substituting work in the weight room and pool and on a stationary bike, Dave said.

"It was always a challenge," he said.

But it's one you can see coming a long way off.

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Hilton Head vacation rentals

ResortQuest Hilton Head Honors Lowcountry Culture with the Annual Gullah Celebration, February 1 – 28, 2010

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina has a long history of culture rooted in the early settlement and colonization of the United States. The Gullah Celebration is a unique event that pays homage to the culture and language of the original “Gullah”, West African slaves who were brought to work the cotton plantations of the South. ResortQuest Hilton Head offers vacation rentals and condominiums on Hilton Head Island and is proud to support the Gullah Celebration, a Hilton Head cultural event.

January 23, 2010 Hilton Head Island SC – Although its origins are rooted in slave history of the South, the Gullah Celebration in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina has become a tribute to West African language, crafts, culture and art. Described as “One of the cultural wonders of the world you must see,” by USA Today, the Gullah Celebration spans the month of February, and is hosted by the Native Island Business and Community Affairs Assocation, Inc (NIBAA).

The original “Gullah” were African slaves who were shipped across the Atlantic from West Africa to work the cotton plantations of the South. Out of this slavery was born a unique culture that is now known as Gullah. Although commonly associated with the language of these West African immigrants, the essence of Gullah encompasses the struggle, spirituality, perseverance and tradition of the people. The modern day Gullah subscribe to high religion and the celebration of spiritual redemption in leading their daily lives. The culture is a thriving mix of language, folktales and superstition that has shaped generations of families who live on Hilton Head Island and in the Lowcountry today.

Schedule of events for the month includes: De Aarts Ob We People XII Art Show & Sale, an Ol’ Fashioned Gullah Breakfast, National Freedom Day, A Gullah Film Fest Series, A Taste of Gullah – Food & Entertainment, The Arts, Crafts & Food Expo on Presidents Day Weekend, and The Youth Musical.

For additional information regarding event schedules, group ticket sales, or hotel and travel information, contact the Gullah Celebration Hotline: (877) 650-0676 or locally: (843) 689-9314, or visit www.gullahcelebration.com.

ResortQuest Hilton Head Island supports this celebration of local culture and community awareness. Guests searching to experience the Gullah Celebration this February can book vacation rentals and condominiums on Hilton Head Island through the ResortQuest Hilton Head Island vacation rentals website, www.resortquesthiltonhead.com. The Hilton Head Island vacation rentals offered by ResortQuest Hilton Head Island offer the space, amenities and location ideally suited for a family retreat. Guests enjoy free tennis, discounted golf, free DVD rentals and the exclusive ResortQuest Recommends program offering deals and discounts on over 160 restaurants, shops and activities. All vacation rentals offer fully-equipped kitchens for family meals and immediate access to beaches, tennis, golf and water sports.

In addition to attending the annual Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration which gives visitors the opportunity to share in rich cultural traditions and crafts; while in town, guests can also visit Mitchelville - the first freed Negro township; Gullah Heritage Trail - Hilton Head Island; Ibile Indigo House - a working studio where visitors learn the tradition of West African indigo-dye processes and products; Zion Chapel of Ease - Hilton Head's oldest cemetery; Queen Chapel AME Church - established in 1860 as a "praise house" for Pope Plantation slaves.

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Hilton Head Vacation Rentals

Hilton Head Restaurant Week - yum, yum!

Hilton Head Chamber presents Restaurant Week!
January 23-30, 2010
Hilton Head Island & Bluffton



Are you dying to try that new Hilton Head hot spot that you just haven't made it to yet? Or, do you just need a decadent night out at an old favorite that you haven't been to in awhile?

Well, get ready for the 2nd Annual Restaurant Week, being held January 23-30, 2010!

Presented by the Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, the Hilton Head Restaurant Week is modeled after similar popular events held in NYC and Los Angeles and features local participating which will be offering specially price-fixed “prix fixe” menus. Enjoy fantastic meals at some of Hilton Head's most popular and renowned dining locations - often for a fraction of the normal price!

To make a reservation, or to find out specific information about each restaurant’s menu, please contact the restaurant directly. Thank you and bon appetit!



Alexander’s
(843) 785-4999
Palmetto Dunes
76 Queens Folly Rd
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.alexandersrestaurant.com

Antonio's
(843) 842-5505
Village at Wexford
1000 William Hilton Parkway
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.antonios.net

Aqua Grille and Lounge
(843)341.3331
10 North Forest Beach Drive.
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.aquagrilleandlounge.com

Aunt Chilada's Easy Street Cafe
(843) 785-7700
69 Pope Avenue
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.auntchiladashhi.com

Big Bamboo Cafe
(843) 686-3443
1 N Forest Beach Dr # 210
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.bigbamboocafe.com

Bistro 17
(843) 785-5517
Shelter Cove Harbour
17-D Harbourside Lane
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.bistro17hhi.com

Black Marlin Bayside Grill
(843) 785-4950
Palmetto Bay Marina
86 Helmsman Way
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.blackmarlinhhi.com

Bluffton Live!
(843) 815-5483
2 Gateway Village (by Home Depot)
Bluffton, SC
www.BlufftonLive.com

British Open Pub
Village at Wexford
1000 William Hilton Parkway, Suite D-3
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.britishopenpub.net

Café St. Tropez
(843) 785-7425
South Island Plaza
841 William Hilton Parkway
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.cafesttropezofhiltonhead.com

Charley’s Crab
(843) 342-9066
2 Hudson Rd
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.muer.com

Charlie's L'etoile Verte
(843) 785-9277
8 New Orleans Road
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.charliesgreenstar.com

Chef David's Roastfish and Cornbread
843-342-2996
70 Marshland Road
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.roastfishandcornbread.com

Christine’s Cafe
(843)785-4646
The Atrium Building
840 William Hilton Parkway
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.christinescatering.com

Claude & Uli's Signature Bistro
(843) 837-3336
Moss Creek Village
1533 Fording Island Road, Suite 302
Bluffton, SC
www.claudebistro.com

Conroy’s Restaurant & Lounge
(843) 686-8400
Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa
1 Hotel Circle
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.hiltonheadmarriott.com

CQ's
(843) 671-2779
140A Lighthouse Road
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.cqsrestaurant.com

Crane’s Tavern Steakhouse & Seafood
(843) 341-2333
26 New Orleans Road
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.cranestavern.com

The Crazy Crab
(843) 681-5021
104 William Hilton Parkway
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.thecrazycrab.com

The Crazy Crab
(843) 363-2722
Harbour Town
149 Lighthouse Road
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.thecrazycrab.com

Deli By the Beach
(843)785-7860
Village at Wexford
1000 William Hilton Parkway, Suite B1
Hilton Head Island, SC

DelVecchio's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria
(843) 842-8700
890 William Hilton Parkway
1 Fresh Market Shoppes
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.delvecchios.com

Flavors
(843)785-3115
Heritage Plaza
81 Pope Avenue, Suite 12A
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.flavorsofhiltonhead.com

Frankie Bones
(843) 682-4455
1301 Main Street Village
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.frankieboneshhi.com

Giuseppi's Pizza & Pasta
(843) 785-4144
The Plaza at Shelter Cove
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.giuseppispizza.com

Giuseppi's Pizza and Pasta
(843) 815-9200
Kittie's Crossing
25 Bluffton Road
Bluffton, SC
www.giuseppispizza.com

Grumpy Grouper Grille
(843) 842-2455
71 Pope Ave # E
Hilton Head Island, SC

Harbour Town Grill
(843) 363-4080
11 Lighthouse Lane
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.seapines.com

HH Prime Steaks and Seafood
(843) 341-8058
Hilton Oceanfront Resort, Palmetto Dunes
23 Ocean Lane
Hilton Head, SC
www.hhprime.com

Hilton Head Brewing Company
Hilton Head Plaza
7C Greenwood Drive
Hilton Head Island, SC

Hot Dog Harbour
(843) 785-5400
Coligny Plaza
1 North Forest Beach Drive
Hilton Head Island, SC

Hudsons
(843) 681-2772
1 Hudson Rd
Hilton Head Island SC
www.hudsonsonthedocks.com

Hugo’s at Wexford
(843) 785- 4846
Village at Wexford
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
www.hugosatwexford.com

Island Bistro
(843) 785-4777
Heritage Plaza
81 Pope Avenue, Suite 10-A
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.islandbistrohhi.com
VIEW SPECIAL PRIX FIXE MENU

It's Greek to Me
(843)842-4033
11 Lagoon Road
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.itsgreektomesc.com

The Jazz Corner
(843) 842-8620
The Village at Wexford, C-1
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.thejazzcorner.com

Jim 'N Nicks B-B-Q
(843) 706-9741
872 Fording Island Road
Bluffton, SC
www.jimnnicks.com

Kenny B's Cajun Seafood Hut
(843) 785-3315
Circle Center
70 A Pope Avenue
Hilton Head Island, SC

La Famiglia
(843) 785-3455
807 William Hilton Parkway # 1600
Hilton Head Island, SC www.lafamigliahhi.com

LeBistro
(843) 681-8425
430 William Hilton Pkwy # 301
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.lebistroofhiltonhead.com

Market Street Cafe
(843) 686-4976
Coligny Plaza
4 Egret Street
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.marketstreetcafe.com

Marleys Island Grill
(843) 686-5800
35 Office Park Road
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.marleysislandgrille.com

Mellow Mushroom
(843) 686-2474
Park Plaza
33 Office Park Road # 15
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.mellowmushroom.com

Michael Anthony’s
Orleans Plaza
37 New Orleans Road, Suite L
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
www.michael-anthonys.com

Old Fort Pub
(843) 681-2386
65 Skull Creek Drive
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
www.oldfortpub.com

Old Oyster Factory
(843) 681-6040
101 Marshland Road
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.oldoysterfactory.com

One Hot Mama’s American Grill
(843) 682-6262
Hilton Head Plaza
7 Greenwood Dr # A,
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.onehotmamas.com

Outback Steakhouse
(843) 681-4329
20 Hatton Place
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.outback.com

Red Fish
(843) 686-3388
8 Archer Road
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.redfishofhiltonhead.com

Reilley’s North
(843) 681-4153
Port Royal Plaza
95 Mathews Drive
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.reilleyshiltonhead.com

Reilley’s South
(843) 842-4414
Hilton Head Plaza
7D Greenwood Drive
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.reilleyshiltonhead.com

River House Restaurant
The Inn at Palmetto Bluff
(843)706-6500
476 Mount Pelia Road
Bluffton, SC
www.palmettobluffresort.com

Robert Irvine's eat!
(843) 785-4850
Village at Wexford, Suite B6
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.eathhi.com

Santa Fe Cafe
(843)785-3838
Plantation Center
807 William Hilton Parkway
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.santafecafeofhiltonhead.com

Sea Grass Grille
(843)785-9990
807 William Hilton Parkway, Suite 1000
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.seagrassgrille.com

Sigler's Rotisserie and Seafood
(843) 815-5030
12 Sheridan Park Circle
Bluffton, South Carolina
www.siglersrotisserieofhiltonhead.com

Signals Lounge
Crowne Plaza Hilton Head Island Resort
(843) 842-2400
130 Shipyard Drive
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
www.cphiltonhead.com

Signe’s Heaven Bound Bakery & Cafe
(843) 785-9118
93 Arrow Road
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.signesbakery.com

Skillets Café
843.785.3131
1 N Forest Beach Dr.
J-1 Coligny Plaza
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
www.skilletscafe.com

Stellini Italian Restaurant
(843)785-7006
15 Pope Avenue Executive Park
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.stellinihhi.com

Truffles Cafe
(843) 785-3455
Sea Pines Center
71 Lighthouse Road
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.trufflescafe.com

Truffles Cafe
(843) 815-5551
91 Towne Drive
Bluffton, SC
www.trufflescafe.com

Truffles Grill
(843) 785-3663
Pope Avenue
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.trufflesgrill.com

Up the Creek Pub
(843) 681-3625
Broad Creek Marina
18 Simmons Road
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.broadcreekmarinahh.com

Urban Bistro
(843) 815-6960
4376 Bluffton Parkway, Suite 101
Bluffton, SC
www.urban-bistro.com

The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa
2 Grasslawn Avenue
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.westin.com/events

WiseGuys
(843) 842-8866
1513 Main Street
Hilton Head Island, SC
www.wiseguyshhi.com

Vacation Rentals Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head Island: How you can help the relief efforts in Haiti

Courtesy www.islandpacket.com

Local Red Cross to act as clearinghouse for donations to help Haiti quake victims


The Lowcountry chapter of the American Red Cross is accepting donations to support those affected by the Haitian earthquake.

The Red Cross is contributing an initial $1 million from its International Response Fund to support the relief operation, according to a news release. The organization also is sending supplies, including tarps and cooking sets, from its warehouse in Panama to meet the immediate needs of 5,000 families.

Donations can be made locally through the Palmetto Service Center on Sheridan Park Circle in Bluffton by calling 843-757-7437 or online at www.LowcountryRedCross.org.

The Red Cross also is receiving money through a third-party fundraiser sponsored by Mobile Accord, according to the news release. Donors can text "Haiti" to 90999 to send a $10 donation.

The Red Cross is deploying only volunteers specially trained to manage international emergency operations. Eileen Hadbavny of the Red Cross' Carolina Lowcountry Chapter said Wednesday no groups of local volunteers had been sent to Haiti.

"Usually during international disasters, the best way to support, if people want to get behind those on the ground, is to provide a financial donation through the Red Cross," she said.

Telephone, Internet and other communication lines are often disrupted in disasters. The Red Cross advises those with loved ones in Haiti to be patient and continue to call or contact other relatives who live nearby.

If trying to reach a U.S. citizen living or traveling in Haiti, contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747.

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Hilton Head Island, SC

History Park Considered for Hilton Head Island

Courtesy of www.islandpacket.com

By LAURA NAHMIAS
lnahmias@islandpacket.com
843-706-8169
Published Saturday, January 2, 2010

History park proposal considered for Hilton Head Island

A Revolutionary War-era cemetery and an early-1800s mausoleum on Hilton Head Island are the centerpieces of a proposed history park an area group says will bring history to life.

The cemetery and mausoleum, owned by the Heritage Library Foundation, stand at the headwaters of Broad Creek, near the intersection of Mathews Drive and William Hilton Parkway.

"This (site) was really the center of civilization for Hilton Head Island," said Jason Stevens, a foundation volunteer who helped develop the proposal along with foundation president Robert Smith.

Before the Civil War, the island had as many as 25 plantations, said Smith. Plantation owners attended church at Mt. Zion Chapel of Ease, a small wooden structure on the site. Their slaves worshipped in a separate prayer house. Both structures were dismantled by Union soldiers during the Civil War to build temporary housing for themselves.

But that wasn't the site's first brush with history.

In 1781, it was the location of the ambush of Revolutionary-era landowner and patriot Ambrose Davant, Stevens said.

Hilton Head Islanders supported the Revolutionary rebels and drew the ire of nearby Daufuskie Islanders, who supported the English Crown. Tories from Daufuskie rowed to Hilton Head and lay in wait for Davant in the woods near where the cemetery now stands.

They shot him dead.

Later, in 1795, the first body was buried in the cemetery, which now includes members of some of the island's leading families -- Baynards, Kirks and Stoneys.

The 2.3-acre site also included a muster house and Masonic lodge, according to a 1825 map.

The mausoleum and cemetery largely fell out of use by the end of the Civil War.

"People drive by this site every day and are completely unaware of its historical significance," Stevens said after he recounted the skirmishes and stories of the people who lived and died near the island's core.

The mausoleum and cemetery are inaccessible from the highway. Shrouded in moss and with only a few historical markers to highlight the area, most people pay little attention to the place that was once at the epicenter of Hilton Head social life in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Stevens said.

Foundation members want to place markers where the church and other buildings stood.

Another part of the plan is to grow crops similar to those planted at the plantations, including indigo and a local strain of cotton known as sea island cotton.

The foundation is asking the town to consider ways that it can promote the site as a tourist attraction by adding historical markers and information kiosks, as well as developing town-owned land near the site for parking and bike access.

The town's Public Facilities Committee will consider the proposal Tuesday.

The foundation's ideas are still flexible and funding hasn't been discussed, said Curtis Coltrane, assistant town manager. He said the site, so close to the parkway, might be difficult to develop but the town is open to suggestions.

Foundation president Smith believes the site would be a boon for the island.

"It will give the community and our visitors a wonderful place to learn about and celebrate the Island's fascinating history," he wrote in a foundation newsletter.

Hilton Head Island