LifestylesPage 1B // The Brunswick News // Thursday, April 25, 2019 ALSO INSIDE: Advice 2B // Comics 6B // Classifieds 7B

By LINDSEY ADKISONladkison@thebrunswicknews.com

Through weddings, births, vaca-tions, holidays — one’s memories form the very fabric of their life. When those are taken away, it changes every thing about one’s story and sense of self.

It’s something Melissa O’Hal-loran knows well. The executive director of Memory Matters in Brunswick works with families who have been impacted by Alz-heimer’s and other dementias.

The statistics about the illnesses, she says, are staggering.

“Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., 1 in 3 seniors pass with some form of dementia and one case of dementia is diagnosed every four seconds, globally,” she said.

“In recent years, Coastal Georgia had almost 2,000 people living with Alzheimer’s alone that doesn’t include other forms of dementia and those who go undiagnosed.”

While there isn’t a cure, there is help. Memory Matters offers education and enrichment resourc-

es for families dealing with these diseases. They also offer programs for those suffering with memo-ry loss that include seated yoga, art classes, coloring and puzzle groups.

“We facilitate support groups in Brunswick, Darien, St. Simons and Jekyll islands where caregivers can learn and build a network of friendship and support,” she said.

“Our facility is the one stop shop for educational materials post diagnosis, plus we host educational events for our families such as Emergency Preparedness & Estate Planning.”

All of their activities and services are free, which makes fundraising a necessity. That’s how the Memory Matters Garden Party was formed. It will return for its second year from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Musgrove Retreat on St. Simons Island.

“This event is the foundation supporting the continuation of Memory Matters’ programming,” she said.

“We simply couldn’t continue having such a positive impact in

our local community if not for this incredibly important event and our supporters.”

The afternoon will feature a number of wines paired with light fare created by A Moveable Feast in Brunswick.

“Tonic Blue will be entertain-ing, and we will have an abundant silent auction with items from spa packages to getaways to com-missioned art and everything in between,” O’Halloran said.

The historic setting is also a draw within itself. The property dates back to 1938, when it was constructed by R.J. Reynolds

Tobacco heir and philanthropist Nancy Susan Reynolds. Other historical highlights include Pres-ident Carter’s first pre-inaugural cabinet meeting.

“If it is a first time visiting Musgrove, we highly recommend our VIP ticket which includes a walking history tour. It’s truly a delightful afternoon of great food, drink and ambiance that supports

our very worthwhile cause.”All of money raised goes di-

rectly back into supporting local families in need.

“Purchasing a ticket to our fundraiser or even donating if you cannot attend, helps to ensure that no family in the Golden Isles will have to navigate their memory loss journeys alone,” O’Halloran said.

Memory Matters to host Garden Party fundraiser

Provided photo

Musgrove Retreat, the location for the Garden Party, is pictured.

Bobby Haven/ The Brunswick News

Several members of the Mozart Society are pictured. They are Billy Gibson, from left, John Harper, presi-dent, Patty Gibson, treasurer, and Rhonda Hambright, seated.

IF YOU GO

Memory Matters Garden Party will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at Musgrove Retreat, 5720 Frederica Road, St. Simons Island. General ad-mission tickets are $75. VIP admission is $95. Tickets are available at www.memor-ymattersglynn.com or by calling 912-264-0777.

Friday, April 26Relay for Life will be held from

6 to 11 p.m. at Golden Isles Church of God in Brunswick. Various food vendors will be selling items. There will also be a number of activities for children. Attendees are encouraged to bring cash to participate in the events and to purchase snacks. Roy Gentry and the Hired Guns and Pawn Shop Junkies will provide the entertainment. For more informa-tion, visit http://relay.acsevents.org.

The Golden Isles Chapter 887 of the AARP will meet at 11:30 a.m. at the Golden Corral Restaurant, 114 Golden Isles Plaza, Brunswick. The speaker will be Catherine Green of the Legal Aid Services. She will speak on wills, probates and powers of attorney.

The City of Brunswick will host

an Arbor Day ceremony at 4 p.m. at Mary Ross Waterfront Park in down-town Brunswick. Two oak trees will be planted. The public is welcome.

Saturday, April 27Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation

will offer its Ghosts and Legends tour at 6:30 p.m. at the location, 5556 U.S. Hwy. 17N, Brunswick. The cost is $15 per person. For more information, visit gastateparks.org/HofwulBroadfieldPlantation.

Lanier of Glynn, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Chapter No. 2354, will hold a Con-federate Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. in Hanover Park to memori-alize and honor Confederate, and other American veterans. Thomas Marsh Forman Camp No. 485 Sons of Confederate Veterans will also be in attendance with an honor guard

salute.Golden Isles Fund for Trees

(GIFT) will be holding a Lover’s Oak Festival from 9 a.m. to noon in the 800 block of Albany St., Brunswick. Historians will be on hand to share history and activities for children are planned. Owen Plant will provide the entertainment. For more informa-tion, call 912-689-7408.

Girls on the Run of the Golden Isles Celebration 5K will begin with registration at 7:30 a.m. and the race starting at 8:30 a.m. at Blythe Island Regional Park in Bruns-wick. The registration fee is $30. For online registration and more information visit www.gotrgolden-isles.org

The Ashantilly Center in Darien will host Jerushia Graham who will offer a program on how to make recycled paper. The workshop will be held at 10 a.m. on the grounds of Ashantilly Center in Darien, Ga. Hwy

99, Darien. It is free but reservations must be made by calling 912-437-4473 or emailing ashantillycenter@gmail.com.

SoGol Gallery, 1413 Newcastle St., Brunswick, will host Bill Mullis in concert for a night of inspirational music. It will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the gallery. Advance tickets are $12 and $15 at the door. For tickets or more information, visit billmullis.com/tickets.

The Jekyll Island Authority will open the new Mosaic museum at 9 a.m. with activities running from 11 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the location, 100 Stable Road, Jekyll Island. Exhib-its will explore Jekyll Island’s history, from the Native American Era to the present-day. For more information, visit www.jekyllisland.com.

The Garden Party, an annual fundraiser for Memory Matters, will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Grovehouse and garden at Musgrove

Retreat on St. Simons Island. A light fare will be provided by A Moveable Feast. There will also be a wine tasting and live music by Tonic Blue, as well as live and silent auctions. To purchase tickets please visit www.memorymattersglynn.com and click on Garden Party Fundraiser link or call us at 912-264-0777.

Sweet Spirits Pageant for those with special needs will be held at 2 p.m. at the Brunswick Elks Lodge, 1509 Union St., Brunswick. There is a $20 registration deposit which will be returned. Door admis-sion is $1 per person. For an entry form or more information, call Janet Richey at 912-399-1423.

Cassina Garden Club will hold its 13th annual Tabby and Tillandsia Garden Walk from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning at the tabby cabins, 1195 Arthur J. Moore Drive, St. Simons

By LINDSEY ADKISONladkison@thebrunswicknews.com

Patty Gibson flipped through the pages of the pamphlet, each one featuring name upon name, 409 in

total. All are students who were given a scholarship by the Mo-zart Society. For many, it was a gift that changed their lives.

“This is a list of all of the scholarships. Some of them have won it a couple of times,” she said. “We’ve been giving schol-arships since 1956.”

It has been a huge part of the Mozart Society’s mission since it formed in 1955. The organiza-tion was the first of its kind in the country and is affiliated with the International Mozart Foundation in Salzberg, Austria.

Its early days were focused on offering music lovers a place to share that passion through con-certs and events, but over time, offering music students financial support became its primary pur-pose. The 501c3 has also donat-ed instruments, as well.

Rhonda Hambright, a member, singer and music teacher, can re-call many of the students who have received aid from the orga-nization, noting that several have gone on to play professionally.

“One example of someone who went through the whole thing was Patrick Harvey, who played piano. He won scholarships

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