Hilton Head People

HILTON HEAD NATIVE CHRIS SCHEMBRA EXPLORES LIFE AND FOOD IN NEW BOOK

Few New Yorkers have the audacity to host 184 people in a studio apartment. But Chris Schembra did so every week for a year, donning an apron and a smile while putting guests to work before sharing in the centerpiece of the night: a simple bowl of pasta.

I am lucky to count myself as one of over 800 people Schembra brought together that year for what became known informally as the 7:47 Club — for the time the pasta is dropped in the pot. The networking events soon became Schembra’s full-time pursuit as the waitlist grew and he flexed his chops as a former theater producer, expanding his dinner model for business owners and their clients across the country.

HELP AVAILABLE FOR CORONAVIRUS-RELATED JOB LOSSES 

State officials ordered all bars and restaurant dining rooms closed as of March 18, leaving many in the service industry without jobs. Companies that have to shut down temporarily or lay off workers because of the effects of the virus can apply to get those employees short-term unemployment benefits. The benefits will cover six weeks of pay, but only if employers apply for it. For more information, go to dew.sc.gov. 

ESTATE PLANNING OFFERS PARENTS A CHANCE TO PLAN AHEAD

To a parent, the world can be a scary place. Handing the car keys over to a new driver, catching the toddler before they touch the hot stove, dropping your teen off at college for the first time — the list of worries is endless. But there’s another that many parents may not consider until it is too late: What happens if you aren’t able to be there for your kids anymore?

For children, the death or serious illness of a parent can represent one of the biggest threats to their well-being and security. And while parents can’t always stop bad things from happening, they can help their families cope with the changes that life may bring — but only if they plan ahead. 

FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE OF COVID-19 IN ITALY SHOWS LIFE GOES ON

I’m an 18-year-old junior at Bluffton High School. But since September, I’ve been living and studying in Sicily, Italy, as part of a Rotary Club exchange program. What started out as the trip of a lifetime became one of the most intense experiences of my life thanks to the spread of the novel coronavirus. 

Here is my firsthand look at how Italy — one of the countries hardest hit by the COVID-19 virus — responded to pandemic, and what it could mean for America. 

Tracy Dayton of Charter One Realty gives her clients exemplary real estate service from start to finish. Respect, communication, and pro-fessionalism are part of her work ethic as a full-time agent dedicated to client satisfaction.

Oak Advisors, LLC built their reputation on their personable service and thorough attention to detail when it comes to pro-tecting their clients’ financial interests. We talked to a few of their leading ladies about the business.

As an organization, SERG Group is no stranger to elevating women to posi-tions of leadership. Across the board, in nearly every capacity, you’ll find a woman helping create the dining experience that has made SERG Group successful. One such example is Lori Taylor, who led the charge into Bluffton with the opening of Giuseppi’s Pizza and Pasta Bluffton and has been a mainstay ever since.

Since 1979, Hilton Head Christian Academy has been a leader in Lowcountry educa-tion, broadening horizons and molding the leaders of tomorrow. We asked members of the HHCA guidance team: “What’s the most important part of your job?” Here’s what they said.

Karena Brock-Carlyle, former principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, considers her life today as her third act. Following a successful career on the stage, one that saw her dance at the White House twice and partner with the likes of Rudolph Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov, and a second act as the Artistic Director for the Savannah Ballet, she came to Hilton Head in 1985 to start her own school and company.