April
2003 - Readers Forum
FRIEND
WITH A VISION
I was sorry to read about Charles Fraser’s accidental
death. Nice words about him in your Feb. issue. He really
was quite a guy. Thirty years ago, I sold four platform tennis
courts to him for installation at the then recently built
Plantation Club. He was dubious as to whether the “Northern
game” could ever become popular in the South, but he
purchased them anyway. Why? Because a platform tennis tournament
I was promoting was going to be televised on CBS’ “Sports
Spectacular.” I was looking for a site for staging the
event. He knew the value of national television from the Heritage
Golf Classic. “All the public has to do is to see this
place on TV and they’ll want to come to visit and to
live here,” he said with both conviction and prescience.
We made the deal with a handshake. Platform tennis hasn’t
taken off (yet) in the South, my courts are long gone, but
Hilton Head Island is certainly thriving!
Dick Squires
Connecticut
STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART
On behalf of the Children’s Relief Fund, I would like
to thank you for the beautiful article on our “Straight
from the Heart” (Feb.
issue) dinner dance and silent auction. Because of your involvement
and through the help of our very generous community, we are
able to provide the special needs children in our area with
the tools necessary to promote their future and help them
to live happy, healthy lives. I’m sure God will bless
you for your generosity in helping our special angels.
Rose Fotia
Hilton Head
MORE TO THE STORY ON WEIGHT LOSS
As a part time resident of Bluffton in Colleton River, I’m
always eager to read my copy of the Hilton Head Monthly. I
read with
particular interest Elizabeth Hamrick’s February article
“Shaping Up Nicely” about the Hilton Head Health
Institute. As a clinical psychologist, I have specialized
in working with the overweight and have known Dr. Peter Miller
for many years and a member of my Structure House program
worked for Dr. Miller when he founded the Institute. Of special
interest to me was the article’s positioning of the institute
as a blend of spa and clinic and the reference to Structure
House as a “renowned” program that fosters lifestyle
change. This much is true. Unfortunately, Ms. Hamrick identified
the program as “Structure House at Duke University.”
While I have an appointment in the Department of Psychiatry
and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University and Medical Center,
Structure House has always been independent of Duke University
and of the Duke University Medical Center. I helped establish
the original Diet and Fitness Center at Duke University in
the early 1970s and, based on my experiences there, decided
in 1977 to establish Structure House to pioneer my belief
in the behavioral approach to weight loss and lifestyle change.
I have devoted my career to working with individuals with
weight issues and still direct the
day-to-day clinic and obesity research operations at Structure
House. If interested, please refer to www.structurehouse.com
for more information on the program.
Gerald J. Musante, Ph.D.
Director and President
Structure House
HEARTFELT THANKS
On behalf of the American Heart Association, we would like
to thank everyone who helped raise $60,000 for our annual
Fashions and Flavors ala Heart, presented by the Hilton Head
Regional Medical Center. (Thanks to the Mall at Shelter Cove,
the chefs from the Hilton Head Chef’s Association, our
major sponsors, our in-kind sponsors, musician Duchess Raehn,
emcee Sonny Huntley, the volunteer models and the stores that
provided the clothing, businesses and individuals who donated
items for auction, the committee and many volunteers and spouses
who helped and all our guests). Since
heart disease and stroke continue to be the nation’s
#1 and #3 killers, and last year alone 66 research projects
were turned away due to lack of funding, we appreciate your
support of this event. Mark your calendars for Sunday, February
7, 2004 for next year’s event!
Samantha Oppenheimer
MC Strong
Cindy Kalan
Hilton Head
WHAT’S
IN A NAME?
In regard to Rob Kaufman’s last editorial, he was right
on target except not commenting on the change of name for
the Art Center. My wife and I lived on Hilton Head Island
for 10 years prior to moving to Sun City in January, 2003.
We gave a healthy sum of money in the early drives of the
Art Center. The Self family did more than their share; to
remove their
name for promotional purposes is not correct or moral. You
can take it from there.
Charles M. Mitchell
Bluffton
CORRECTION
Our March story on the Hilton Head Boys & Girls Club
gala (p.50) was incorrectly attributed to Elizabeth Hamrick.
The writer was Mary McAuliffe.
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