For many of us, whose mothers have passed on, Mother’s Day is a time to remember. My relationship with my mother was always one of respect and love, but I did spend a lot of time worrying about whether or not she approved of my life and the choices I had made. Before she died, we had a chance to really talk things through, and I realized that, yes, I was loved and approved of; her seemingly constant “suggestions” were always given from a place of love and a deep concern for my welfare. This knowledge was instrumental in helping me make peace with losing her. Now the tables are turned, and my brilliant, beautiful daughter is an adult who, I believe, feels much the same way I did years ago. I would rather not wait until I’m on my deathbed to make sure she knows that, yes, I love her and, yes, I approve of her life, her choices and am well pleased with the woman she has become. Life is unpredictable, and all we really have, for sure, is the love of family and friends.

I dedicate this issue of Sasee to all the mothers who are no longer with us. We love you.

Claudia Berner’s parents, Walter and Muriel Berner, retired to their beloved Murrells Inlet to golf and enjoy their retirement years. On her frequent visits, Claudia started noticing differences in her dad, small quirky things that were not a part of his personality. After his eventual diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, Walter asked Claudia to make sure he was able to stay home with his wife of 62 years and live out his remaining days with dignity. While it was not easy, Claudia and her siblings found help and developed a routine of love and caring that gave meaning to their beloved father’s last years. After Walter’s death, Claudia and Barry Weber, a Registered Nurse, who was her father’s main caregiver and close family friend, opened Grand Strand Homewatch CareGivers in Murrells Inlet to help other seniors maintain their independence in the face of illness or age-related issues.

Claudia, tell us about your dad.

Dad was a magnificent man with a huge personality and has been my role model for so many things. He worked for Exxon for 40 odd years and people who worked for him would tell me how lucky I was to have him for my father. He had a passion for life and for his family, and even in his declining years he would tell my mom how pretty she was and how much he loved her. My dad was my hero.

An adventurer at heart, Dad was born in Miami and grew up in and around the water. This was always his passion, and when he bought his boat he named it Porfin, Spanish for “At Last.” He and his sailing cronies would sail all the different routes. Once they sailed Christopher Columbus’ route and eight hours off shore the battery died, so for 21 days they had only sails. He said the worst thing about it was the warm beer!

After looking around the country, my parents fell in love with Murrells Inlet and were drawn to settle here after dad retired. He became active in the community, serving on the Board of Murrells Inlet 2020. Working with Al Hitchcock, owner of Drunken Jacks, Dad was able to get grants from Exxon to start the first section of the Marshwalk.

I always wanted to make him proud – I think I’m more like him than he wanted me to be! [laughing]. I even followed in his footsteps and was employed with Exxon before switching to the medical field.

How did you and your family adjust to caring for your dad?

I promised Dad that as long as he was safe, we would keep him at home with my mother. At first, I visited often because I didn’t really trust anyone. I soon learned that there is a huge need for good caregivers that you are able to trust with your loved ones.

There are necessities in caregiving: basic hygiene, physical stimulation and allowing the person dignity and honor. We wanted Dad to be able to get out and enjoy Murrells Inlet, to enjoy the restaurants he loved and have the very best quality of life. At first, Mom didn’t understand that she needed to let someone help her take care of her husband. We had to allow her the dignity of caring for her husband and continuing with her life, but also give Dad what he needed. There were some funny moments – sometimes he’d go into a restaurant and eat with both his hands! Luckily, most people were very understanding.

Murrells Inlet is such a great community. We met Barry when he came to us after working with another resident of Wachesaw Plantation. Dad took to Barry like crazy! He looks a lot like my brother, which made transition from caregiver to close friend very easy. He and my mom are now best friends.

Routines and consistency are so important to anyone who is memory impaired. We had a bedtime ‘ritual’ that soothed him. Barry would rub his back, and I would read to him. He liked Winnie the Pooh the best. Then we would say our prayers, and he would open his eyes and join in with the phrases that were familiar to him.

Barry and I always strived to do things better. I started having our local Piggly Wiggly put together a grocery order, and Barry would pick it up. We found someone to come and cut Dad’s hair, take care of the housework, etc. Barry would always call me and let me know what was going on. He would often send pictures or arrange a time to Skype so the family could stay connected. When Dad started to decline, we were all able to be there at the end.

Why did you decide to open Homewatch Caregivers?

After we lost Dad, I knew there was a need. We looked at several franchises, but many were in it for the money only. We don’t want to be the biggest, just the best. Supervised by Barry, we customize the care plan for each client. We have one client who wanted an outing with “the boys,” so Barry arranged that for him. With our help, the primary caregiver, usually an adult daughter, always knows what’s happening with her parents.

We are not a medical service, but provide a continuum of care. Usually, we start our services as companions and the care increases as the illness progresses. Big changes are hard on people who are ill. This business is my dream and my Father’s legacy.

Grand Strand Homewatch Caregivers is located at 3577 Highway 17 Business in Murrells Inlet. Call (843) 299-0291 for more information or visit www.homewatchcaregivers.com/myrtle-beach

Two couples were married in April: Sixty-three years apart. Much about their lives is very different, but the love they share is unchanged by the passage of time.

The first boy met the first girl, and they fell in love. He asked, and she said yes. Thus began their life together. The boy was handsome, just out of the Navy. He bought a Harley Davidson motorcycle and was driving it home from Conway to Little River when he spotted her on the side of the road, talking with a group of girls. Sweet sixteen, pretty and perfect in his eyes, it was love at first sight. They were married two weeks before she turned 17. That was 64 years ago this month. The boy was Merlin Bellamy, well-known as the North Myrtle Beach Police Chief for many years, and his love for his wife, Joyce, has been the guiding force of his life.

“The pride of my life is my wife,” said Mr. Bellamy while we visited in Myrtle Beach Manor where he was a patient. [Mr. Bellamy has since returned home.] “I saw her that day when I was coming home from Conway on my motorcycle, and knew I had to have her as my wife.”

Young Merlin’s family attended the same church as Joyce’s, and he asked his sister to bring that “Hunt girl” home for dinner after church so he could begin his campaign to win her heart. Unfortunately, his sister brought home the wrong Hunt sister! “She was such a beauty, I knew I had to act fast or someone else would snap her up,” Mr. Bellamy remembered. “After my sister brought home the wrong girl, I started hanging around my cousin’s store on Hwy. 90 because it was across the street from her house.”

Fortunately for this love sick young man, Joyce felt the same way, and he began visiting her at home. “They used to laugh and say that Joyce’s father had to sweep me off the steps at night to get rid of me,” he said laughing. The couple were soon married and settled in Little River to begin their life together, raising a daughter and a son, and now have five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Mr. Bellamy began his career in law enforcement as a Special Deputy Sheriff in Horry County, serving the Ocean Drive area. When North Myrtle Beach incorporated, he became the new city’s first police chief, serving until his retirement in the 1970s. Today he is still known by many as simply, “Chief.” “I never had to shoot anyone,” said Chief Bellamy. “I was cautious about what I said and was always making new friends. I didn’t want to give anyone a record if it was not necessary.”

Chief Bellamy was loved and respected by his community, but became a true hero on October 14, 1954. “That day, I received a call from a weather forecaster in Charleston. He asked if I knew that Hurricane Hazel was coming our way and would hit North Myrtle Beach at around 8 o’clock the next morning. Until that phone call, we all thought the storm was going to pass out to sea and leave us mostly unscathed.”

This courageous man immediately recruited local firefighters, and the group began going house to house, evacuating the entire town. Through Chief Bellamy’s efforts, many lives were saved. “My siren blared all night while we knocked on doors. I didn’t lose anyone under my jurisdiction.” Hurricane Hazel leveled the Grand Strand and, years later, Chief Merlin Bellamy would again tell his story on national television when he was featured on The Weather Channel’s “Storm Stories.”

Through it all, Joyce was by his side, raising their family and making a home. “I don’t believe we’ve ever had a really bad argument,” Mr. Bellamy said, glancing at his wife who nodded her agreement with a smile. “We lived together in unity.”

After Hurricane Hazel, Chief Bellamy tried to learn everything about hurricane preparedness and it became a family tradition to keep up with storms. “After Hazel, I started helping the weather bureau and gave hurricane preparedness talks with Diane DeVaughn Stokes. “We spoke all over the community, and I enjoyed knowing I was helping save lives.”

A talented musician, Mr. Bellamy played guitar and harmonica for many area square dances, and he and a group of friends would get together in his garage on Friday nights to pick and sing bluegrass tunes, eventually recording several CDs. He remembers well the first song he played for his beloved Joyce, “My Filipino Baby.”

Merlin Bellamy’s love for his wife has remained strong. “I’ve never been sorry I married Joyce and have never seen another lady I wanted,” he began. “The secret to a good marriage is love – without love you’re in trouble. If God said I could have another life, I’d say let’s keep it the way it is. I’m proud of my past.”

Fast forward to the 21st century and love blooms for another young couple. Their lives are very different from the Bellamy’s, but the love is much the same – cute boy knows pretty girl for years, a spark ignites, boy asks, girl says yes and two lives are joined together. “I knew Jewell growing up,” began O’Neil McCoy, General Manager of Broadway at the Beach. “Our best friends are brother and sister, and they set the whole thing in motion.”

Kevin Teachey of Gene Ho Photography

Both Myrtle Beach natives, O’Neil and Jewell McCoy might have never gotten together if not for some behind the scenes intervention by their friends. “I’m six years older than Jewell, and she was in her senior year at USC. I had already finished my graduate work at Clemson and had just ended a relationship. I told myself I was just going to date and have fun – famous last words.”

Love will have its way. O’Neil had always thought Jewell was cute, but didn’t know she was interested until he heard she might have a crush on him. “I decided to call her out of the blue at school. It was the most awkward conversation you can imagine. I had written an outline with bullet points so I wouldn’t forget what I wanted to say – but she still agreed to go out with me,” he said laughing.

After that first date in January of 2009, O’Neil knew he wouldn’t be “just dating” Jewell. “She graduated in May and moved back home to work at South Atlantic Bank. I never dated anyone else,” O’Neil said. In May, 2010, O’Neil and Jewell took his niece and nephew, who call him “Uncle No No,” to the beach to collect shells. Later, O’Neil’s nephew confided that he wanted to surprise Jewell with a necklace made from the shells.

“I told Jewell about the necklace – we both thought it was adorable. What Jewell didn’t know was that I had decided to propose to her during our upcoming trip to the Bahamas. The kids made a box and decorated it with seashells. Inside the box was a shell necklace that I had made, and on the lid was written ‘Will you marry No No?’ I taped the ring on the last ‘O.’”

Jewell said yes, and the couple came back from their vacation excited to begin planning their wedding. “We wanted a small wedding with just our family and close friends,” said O’Neil. “We looked at several destinations, but chose Bald Head Island, a small island located off the southeastern shore of North Carolina that is only accessible by boat or ferry.”

The big day was planned for April 9, 2011, and everything went off without a hitch. “All I cared about was delicious food and a great band. Jewell and her mom planned everything else. I am the outgoing one, and Jewell is somewhat reserved. I thought she would have a hard time being the center of attention, but it turned out that she was calm and collected, and I was a total wreck!”

After a honeymoon in Jamaica, the McCoy’s returned to Myrtle Beach and moved into O’Neil’s condo. Their first year of marriage has been good. “We cook together a lot; Jewell has become a great cook,” began O’Neil. “And we ride bikes together. We don’t take advantage of the beach as much as I would like, but that’s true of many locals I think.”

O’Neil and Jewell are surrounded by family living in the area, including both sets of parents. The family is very close and spends a lot of time together. Jewell has left banking and gone back to school for her Masters in Counseling.

“It’s been a fun first year of marriage, said O’Neil with a big smile. “We like each other – I married my best friend.”

In this month’s “Women & Men Who Mean Business” feature, I asked business owners to tell me their favorite Easter or Passover memory. After hearing all the wonderful stories they had to tell, I thought about my own celebrations. I come from a traditional Southern home, and church was always a big part of our Easter celebration, but waking up on Easter morning, knowing the Easter Bunny had come was almost as much fun as Christmas. The day before Easter was spent dyeing Easter eggs, and, to this day, I still love swirling hard-boiled eggs through little cups of dye until they are the perfect shade of yellow or blue. These days, Easter is much more sedate, spent visiting with family and enjoying Grandma’s perfect potato salad, but it is still one of my favorite holidays.

April is also the month Sasee celebrates weddings, and I know you’re going to enjoy reading the wonderful essays submitted by our talented writers. I believe this issue is best read on the porch, enjoying our delightful spring weather, with a glass of something cold by your side. I would love to see a photo of you reading this issue in your perfect spot – you might just be published in an upcoming Sasee!

Happy Spring!

Pawleys Island resident, Kira Roff, is passionate about trash – or, rather, recycling and what happens to the trash after it gets thrown out. The Wisconsin native, and former Vice-President of Operations and Events at Brookgreen Gardens, started Brookgreen Garden’s recycling program. Once accomplished, her dedication to improving and maintaining our environment eventually led Kira and her husband Steve to open Fisher Recycling Grand Strand in 2010, providing commercial and residential recycling services in Horry and Georgetown Counties.

Why did you choose a recycling business?

When I worked for Brookgreen Gardens, visitors would ask where to recycle their plastic bottles and, at that time, there was no recycling program. I knew I wanted to help start a program in Brookgreen, but it seemed overwhelming. I contacted the S.C. Department of Commerce and DHEC, and found a lot of great information that helped us implement the program.

My husband has his own fishing charter business, and I was interested in helping our community and area businesses recycle, more for altruistic reasons in the beginning. I found out there was no commercial recycling available for businesses to commingle their glass, plastic, tin and paper, or to do educational training for staff. I finally decided to go for it – it was a leap of faith that has worked out well. We have the passion to match the hard work that goes along with owning and operating a recycling business. And, I have never worked harder in my life.

Everything that goes into the garbage is buried, while recycled materials are used again and again. Glass, for example, only takes about 30 days to be back in use, and can be endlessly recycled. Paper can be recycled over and over before more virgin paper has to be added. Making products from recycled steel, glass, plastic or paper saves 40-70% in energy, and what many people don’t realize is that recycling creates jobs. There are over 300 recycling businesses in South Carolina, and the industry has produced 37,000 direct and indirect jobs.

What can we do at home?

Just start small, every little bit helps. Everyone makes a difference. There are drop-offs for recycling in Horry and Georgetown Counties, or, if you don’t have time, we offer residential pick-up. Get a reusable coffee cup or water bottle, buy reusable bags for shopping, unplug your phone chargers when not in use and turn off lights – it really adds up. Our environment is ultimately resilient, can “bounce back” given the chance, and recycling is an incredible opportunity to help it do so.

Why did you move here from Wisconsin?

My family came here for vacation for years, starting when I was about seven years old, and we would camp at Huntington Beach State Park. In 1998, a friend of mine and I were here camping and had signed up for a park program the next day, but a middle of the night rainstorm and wet tent caused us to be late. After the program was over, I had a few questions for the guide, and he teased me about being late. I went to another program the next day, and if you haven’t guessed, the guide was my future husband! At that time, he worked as an Interpretive Park Ranger at Huntington. Eight months later we were married, and I moved to South Carolina. That was 13 years ago. Today, we have two children; our son, Wyatt, is 10 and daughter, Bryn, is 11. Both were born in Georgetown County.

Steve and I are both passionate about the environment and have always tried to reduce our own carbon footprint. When we were first married, Steve worked – and we lived – in Huntington, so when I went to work for Brookgreen, I would ride my bike there and back every day. After we had children I did have to get a car, but for a long time, we were a “one-car household.” Now I drive a clean-running diesel that gets 50 mpg and try to carpool and plan my trips to save energy.

What do you do for fun?

Sleep! [laughing] We also do a lot of volunteer work at our church, Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church, and with the South Carolina Department of Commerce and the Recycling Industry, as well as Murrells Inlet 2020 and Surfrider Foundation. Everything we do is family-oriented. We have a lab/boxer mix dog that I try to run every day. In the summer, we love boating. I would love to travel the world more if I could…maybe someday I will travel again.

Being able to be around for my children is one of the many benefits of having my own business. I love my work and believe it is important, not just for my children but our community and environment as a whole. One of my favorite quotes is “Be the change you want to see in the world.” That’s what I’m trying to do.

For more information about recycling and how to get started, visit www.fisherrecycling.com/grand_strand or call Kira at (843) 543-9811.

Early one morning, not too long after sunrise, I was coming back from a jog on the beach. My route takes me up and down the South Causeway in Pawleys; the road that connects the island to the mainland, over Pawleys creek and surrounding salt marsh. In the twenty-odd years I’ve lived in the area, I’ve probably been up and down that same road thousands of times and always appreciate its beauty. But, this particular day, as I was heading home my mind was already on what I had to do that day when, for some reason, I looked up. A huge double rainbow was stretched across the entire sky, and it was so magnificent I stopped in my tracks. After a few minutes a car drove by me – and stopped to stare at the rainbow. By the time the colors started to fade there were half a dozen cars pulled off the road, each with a face lifted up to the sky in awe. It was an experience I’ll never forget, and it helps me remember to never take for granted the beauty that we are all so fortunate to behold every day.

This month, you’ll meet people who love our wealth of natural beauty and work to preserve it for generations to come. Plus, you’ll meet our first ever “Sasee Rising Star,” Mackenzie Jones. I hope you have as much fun reading this great issue as we did putting it together!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Typing “acts of generosity and kindness today” into your computer’s search engine will bring up more than six million results – the hungry are being fed, a helping hand is given to someone in need or a kind word changes a life. Good deeds, great and small, are found everywhere and are mostly done without fanfare and recognition. Grand Strand resident since the mid 1970s, Brenda Rosen is one of those six million who, day after day, works to make the world a better place for her family, friends and our community.

Petite and lovely, Brenda looks much younger than her 73 years, but the first thing you notice is her big smile. Born in Haverhill, Mass., Brenda was the youngest of three children, all first generation Americans. Her father immigrated to this country from Poland and her mother from Russia, both fleeing persecution due to their Jewish faith. Her parents worked hard and were successful, giving their children a happy, middle class upbringing. They instilled a strong work ethic in their brood, but also the importance of giving back. “My parents were always very generous, “Brenda remembers.

While a senior in high school, Brenda agreed to a blind date with a young M.I.T. student whose roommate was dating one of her friends. It was the beginning of her love affair with Dick Rosen, a native of Georgetown, S.C., that has lasted through 54 years of marriage, three children and six grandchildren. After graduation, Brenda went to Boston University and dated Dick all through college. The two were married in February of 1958; three weeks after Dick completed his graduate studies.

The couple settled in Massachusetts, where Dick began his successful career, and Brenda supervised her growing family while working part time. While his work demanded a lot of travelling, Dick always made sure the family vacationed in Georgetown each summer. In 1973, Dick became general manager of AVX Corp., and the family moved to Myrtle Beach. Brenda’s children were still in school, and she began to work at the then new Myrtle Square Mall in Belk department store as the fashion coordinator. “I have always loved clothes and shopping, so this was the perfect job for me,” Brenda said with a laugh.

Always generous with her friends and family, it was Hurricane Hugo in 1989 that started Brenda’s philanthropic journey. “After the storm, I got involved with the American Red Cross. A group of us helped set up a relief center at the old Tads in Myrtle Beach, distributing vouchers for hotels, clothing and food.”

That same year, Dick’s mother passed away after a battle with cancer and Brenda, touched deeply by her mother-in-law’s death, became involved with the American Cancer Society. A few years later, her husband’s father was cared for by Tidelands Hospice and, in typical Rosen fashion, they became supporters of the organization, eventually helping build the new Tidelands Hospice House. “I am too sensitive to volunteer for Hospice, but we do support their mission,” said Brenda.

Fond memories of taking her children to Brookgreen Gardens while they were growing up led Brenda to get involved with this non-profit. An avid gardener, Brenda loves her work with Brookgreen, telling me, “We were always members, but I became president of the Friends of Brookgreen Gardens and chaired the Brookgreen Gala. Today, I still serve on the executive board.”

Bob Jewell, President and CEO of Brookgreen Gardens, is enthusiastic and appreciative of the support both Brenda and Dick have given the non-profit, saying, “Brenda has been wonderful for Brookgreen. There’s actually a garden here named after her! She is always here and always involved. Brenda is a passionate person and brings her passion to the support of Brookgreen.”

Personal loss and tragedy affect us all, and Brenda is not exempt. Her ability to take a personal loss and turn it into a triumph is what makes her truly unique. “My brother was stricken with Alzheimer’s disease at 65 and lived 10 years before he died,” she began. “It affected me deeply; we were very close. He was a brilliant lawyer and a wonderful man.” Brenda has also faced her own mortality with a breast cancer scare and a diagnosis of melanoma, which has fortunately been cured. These events led this philanthropic woman to become involved with the neuroscience department of the Medical University of South Carolina where she now serves on the advisory board.

“I had a cocktail party recently at my beach house in Pawleys Island to spread the word about some of the new treatments available at MUSC. It is a wonderful place – they really have it all,” Brenda said thoughtfully.

These are only a few of the many, many charities that Brenda and her beloved Dick support. They funded a school at Temple Emanu-El in Myrtle Beach and support the synagogue in Georgetown as well. Higher education also benefits from the Rosen’s generosity with Brenda’s service to the Horry Georgetown Technical College Foundation Board; the Rosen’s also fund a scholarship for deserving students. CCU also benefits from Brenda’s altruistic spirit through the Women in Philanthropy and Leadership group which provides scholarships for local students who have financial need as well as academic excellence.

“We should all give back,” Brenda told me vehemently. “Dick and I have been very fortunate. If I see someone with a sign asking to work for food, I will always stop and help. No one would do that if they didn’t really need a hand. Pay it forward – it makes us feel good to help.”

In spite of her many commitments to the community, Brenda always puts family first, and her husband is first in the family. “Dick is my life, as I am to him. We have built a wonderful family.” Every year the couple takes their children, spouses and grandchildren on a special trip around the holidays. This past year, they visited Mexico. “Dick is the most wonderful, unselfish man I have ever known,” smiled Brenda. “I am truly spoiled. There is nothing too good for us. I spent a lot of time alone while he was working through the years. It’s nice to have him with me now.”

Brenda is also a devoted friend to those she chooses to love. One of her closest friends became ill and was unable to get a definitive diagnosis. With Brenda’s help, her friend was flown to Cleveland and soon discovered she has ALS. Of course, Brenda went with her, offering as much support as possible in the face of such a grim diagnosis.

Pawleys Island resident, Barbara Kee, met Brenda playing golf soon after moving to the area and the two have become close friends. Barbara told me, “Brenda is such a wonderful friend. I was new to the area, and Brenda immediately began to include me in all her activities. Having known her for several years, I’ve learned that she has so many friends, some of whom go back decades. She keeps everyone in her family close; she is constantly calling, visiting and in some way caring for each and every one of them. For me, she has been there to share joy and sadness. Rarely does she offer advice – although we know she can – but she shares your grief as if it was hers…nothing is said, she is just there to support. I admire her so much. She has a lot, as we all know, but she is always giving so much back, not only with financial support but with her time and energy.” Barbara laughed and continued, saying, “She also loves dogs. One time, I picked her up at Food Lion to sneak down to St. Frances Animal Center to check out the dogs without Dick knowing about it!”

Brenda does take time for herself. She works out three times a week with a personal trainer and plays golf – when the weather is nice. “I am definitely a fair-weather golfer,” she told me laughing. And, this woman does love to shop. “I take my granddaughters shopping whenever I can!” An avid reader, Brenda enjoys her Kindle and is currently reading, The Cat’s Table, by Michael Ondaatje.

While preparing for our photograph, Dick laughed and referred to himself and his wife as “beauty and the beast!” He then became more serious and said, “A lot of what we do is because of Brenda’s initiative. She does so much to help people – and is a truly good person.”

“I love people and being around them,” Brenda told me. “I’m not better than anyone; I’ve just been given the opportunity to do more. I think most people are generous and would do what we do. I am very fortunate.”

For over fifty years, visitors and residents to the island of Sunset Beach, North Carolina, made their way slowly over a one-lane wooden pontoon bridge to reach this peaceful, slow-moving beach community. Island life revolved around the opening and closing of the bridge, which took 15 minutes to accomplish. Dinner plans off island were always prefaced with the question: “Want to go before the bridge opens or after?” Vacationers hearing the “thunk-thunk” of their tires on the bridge would release the cares of everyday life and know that vacation had truly begun.

But, as idyllic and picturesque as the bridge was, there were safety concerns. Emergency vehicles might get stuck on the mainland while a sick or injured islander lost precious minutes that could conceivably cost a life. Residents could become stranded during a major hurricane and be left alone to face the wrath of nature on a small, unprotected strip of land. And, the hands of time had taken their toll on the last pontoon bridge still in operation on the East Coast – each year it sank just a little lower into the waters of the Intracoastal Waterway. The beautiful, new, Mannon C. Gore Bridge was built, opening on November 11, 2010, sailing majestically over the waterway – giving residents a safe and secure way to travel back and forth.

But, three women who love Sunset Beach, Chris Wilson, Ann Bokelman and Karen Dombrowski were determined to preserve the Old Bridge and its history for future generations. Together they formed The Old Bridge Preservation Society, and through their efforts, the Old Bridge and Tender House were relocated to a lovely, shaded piece of property within sight of the new bridge. Today, The Old Bridge Museum and Interpretive Center site is open to the public with periodic events highlighting the history and charm of this small sea island. The museum itself will be open to the public as soon as the restoration is complete.

How did you all get involved with the preservation of the Old Bridge and Tender House?

Karen: I’m originally from Buffalo, New York, vacationed here for many years and moved here permanently three years ago. Before I moved, I was involved with the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservatory and have a heart for preservation. It was truly serendipity that Ann, Chris and I sat near each other at a Sunset Beach town meeting about the fate of the Old Bridge. When we learned it was set to be demolished, we knew we had to do something. We thought we would save a bridge, but it quickly became a labor of love.

Ann: I moved here from Richmond, Virginia, and have lived here for five years, but, like Karen, have vacationed in Sunset Beach for years. Bridges connect places, but the Old Bridge connects people – past and present. This bridge represented our island and a simple, non-commercial life for many years. We are trying to tell the story of Sunset Beach, and are collecting stories of what the bridge has meant to people through the years – weddings that were late, proposals that were made on the bridge – we’re keeping history alive.

Chris: I moved here six years ago from Dublin, Ohio, but am a native of Rochester, New York. The three of us have become kindred spirits through a love for our island and the Old Bridge. We had no idea how we were going to preserve it – but with lots of help we saved it for future generations! Karen helped us with a contact at English Construction, the construction company that was building the new bridge, and they helped this dream take shape. We knew the construction company would actually own the Old Bridge after the new one was complete – and they sold it to us for $1! Then, bless them, they moved it to our site – free of charge. It was an amazing feat to move the Old Bridge and Tender House with very little damage to either. We also owe a huge debt to Ronnie Holden, who offered us the use of three properties, our choice, for the site of the museum. Ronnie and his wife, Clarice have been wonderful supporters of our mission.

Karen: The three of us spent time with the last Bridge Tenders and learned how the bridge operated, as well as many wonderful stories. We also have the logs that were kept by the Bridge Tenders. They recorded each and every boat that came through, along with the weather and time of day. These interviews were recorded and will be shown at the museum when the restoration of the Tender House is complete.

Ann: During the final stages of building the new bridge and moving the old one, the three of us were on call 24/7 for meetings with various people involved with the project. It has been a huge learning experience and a tremendous amount of work.

Chris: Last summer a woman was riding her bike by our site and got so excited when she saw the Old Bridge she fell off of her bike! Another person started to cry when she realized we had saved this piece of island history. People stop by and tell us stories and have their picture taken by the Old Bridge. A family reunion group of around 40 people even stopped by for a group photo.

Ann: We have a membership society for people who want to be a part of our mission, and a special Junior Bridge Tender membership for children, who are an important part of our group. We have children out here at every event – they help with fundraisers, give tours and record stories. It’s very rewarding to see how excited they are about the history of our community.

What’s coming up for the Old Bridge?

On Saturday, April 14, we’re having a fundraiser at Silver Coast Winery. “An Evening of Fabulous Music” will be at 7 pm with entertainment by Brunswick Big Band and vocalist, Linda Ladrick. Tickets are $25 and will support the continued restoration of the Old Bridge and Tender House. Tickets are available on our website.

We are moving forward with the restoration and programming for visitors, and just finished touching up the bridge with the original type of silver paint used by the state and have had helical anchors installed. We will eventually have changing exhibits in the Tender House as the restoration continues. A local engineer volunteered to build a scale model, 12′ x 12′, of the Old Bridge and Tender House and his presentations always draw a crowd.

This is a fantastic community.

Learn more at www.oldbridgepreservationsociety.org or find Old Bridge Preservation Society on Facebook.

We live in an amazingly generous community. I have had the privilege of working with volunteers and hearing stories of kindness that confirm my belief in the innate goodness of most people. I’ve also found that the smallest thoughtful gesture can change someone’s day for the better. During the holidays, I was out shopping. It was only a few days before Christmas and most faces held a grim, determined look that mirrored the way I was feeling. I decided to give everyone I met a big smile and, if possible, a kind greeting. Wow, what a response! By the time I finished my shopping I felt like a million bucks. Nearly everyone I met smiled back and greeted me in return. My decision to change my attitude altered the course of my day and, hopefully, the day of a few others.

This month you will meet a few local women who have unselfishly uplifted lives and their communities through hard work and generosity. However, I know there are many unsung heroes who, day after day, change our world for the better. To all of you; from all of us – thank you!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Gracious, articulate and attractive, 81 year-old Nell Cribb, lifelong resident of Georgetown, is someone most people in this small town know – or have at least seen walking the streets of the historic district in period dress while operating her tour company, Miss Nell’s Walking Tours. This active octogenarian also collects Coca Cola® memorabilia and has it displayed throughout her lovely Front Street home. Recently retired from the tour business, Nell sat down with Sasee to share some of her memories.

Why did you start Miss Nell’s Walking Tours?

This was my retirement business. I was the secretary at Winyah High School for 31 years, and when I retired I knew I wanted to do something outside and be around people, so this was a perfect fit. I have been blessed with two fulfilling careers.

When I started doing tours, I thought it would be busiest in the summer months, but spring and fall were the best times. I did tours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm, but I would take appointments for other times. Sometimes I did as many as four a day!

When I was growing up, my parents instilled in me an appreciation for history. They both loved Georgetown and passed that love on to me. People here have been so friendly and receptive to my tours and the tour goers. My guests would tell me that they were pleasantly surprised that everyone spoke “Good Morning” to them without knowing them! I told them that was good old Southern hospitality. And, many of the historic homeowners would allow me to take guests into their homes – a perfect example of how welcoming and gracious the people of Georgetown are to everyone.

I was always conscious that my guests were getting their impression of Georgetown through me. I wanted them to have a good time, so I always tried to tailor the tours to the interests of the people taking them. Every tour was a little different. Most people remember stories and tidbits, not necessarily historical facts.

I also did step-on tours on charter buses and even small cruise ships that dock here on the way to Florida from Boston. Once, a tour bus operator stopped me, frantic, saying the company had not scheduled a step-on tour guide for the group. I told him to let them go shopping for an hour while I conducted a scheduled tour. Then, he told me there was no money budgeted for the tour – I told him not to worry, I would do it anyway. I always wanted to give people enough information to entice them to come back and get to know Georgetown a little better. It turned out that the people on the bus took up money to pay me. If I hadn’t stepped up, those people may have left Georgetown with the wrong impression and might never have come back.

What do you think of Georgetown today?

I think it’s getting better and better. The late Tom Davis, former publisher of the Georgetown Times, started the idea for our Harborwalk, and it has been wonderful for Georgetown. And, now we have the Winyah Auditorium for cultural events.

There is always something new to learn about this town. Once in a while someone on a tour would ask me a question I just did not know. I was always honest, and I would get their name and address and mail them the answer.

I love your home and all of your Coca Cola® memorabilia. How did you start collecting?

I have lived here since 1970 – the house was built in 1923 and ’24. At one time, the city stopped at St. James Street [about a block from Nell’s house], and this area was called “Browntown.” The oldest house in Georgetown, the Ulmer House, was built in 1734 and is on Prince Street.

I never said, “I’m going to start collecting Coca Cola® things;” it just happened. At Christmastime, the coke company would send me a case of bottled Cokes, and I put all gifts under the tree. The year the local bottling company closed I was given cups, plates, etc., and I put those under the tree as well. My friends noticed and started giving me more Coke items. My latest is a six pack of Cokes from Dubai featuring South Africa’s 2010 World Cup.

What are your plans for the New Year?

After 22 years of giving tours, I decided it was time to step away. Someone else may be able to portray Georgetown in a completely different light. I turned my business over to native Georgetonian, Debbie Summey.

Hopefully, this year I’m going to inventory my Coca Cola® collection. I need to get this done for my daughters, Vickie and Cammie. I’m not good on the computer, but a friend has offered help. Someone told me I should ask Ripley’s to come and do the inventory – I may have one of the world’s largest private collections!

I am family-oriented and have been doing a quarterly family newsletter for the past 40 years. We are a big family; I was one of twelve children and eleven lived to adulthood. I believe it’s important that we stay connected. People used to have Sunday dinners at Grandmother’s house and always knew who they were related to – it’s not that way anymore. I thank God every day for my life, and that I was fortunate enough to grow up and live in Georgetown and share my talents with others.