NEWS BRIEFS

Filing open for Port Royal Town Council election

The Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration and Elections will be holding a General Election on Nov. 4, 2025, to fill two Town Council seats in the Town of Port Royal.

Candidate filing opened on Aug. 8, and closes at noon on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Filing must be done in person at Port Royal Town Hall at 700 Paris Avenue.

The filing fee for Town Council is $100 and is due at the time of filing. Candidates must be eligible voters residing within the town limits and must complete the Statement of Intention of Candidacy – Non-Partisan form.

State ethics filings, including a Statement of Economic Interests and Campaign Disclosure, are also required. These can be completed through the State Ethics Commission at www.ethics.sc.gov .

Voter registration deadlines are as follows:

• In Person: Friday, Oct. 3, 2025

• Online/Email/Fax: Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025

• By Mail: Must be postmarked by Monday, Oct. 6, 2025

For more information and filing forms, visit www.beaufortcountysc.gov/vote.

ShellRing hosting Secrets of the Salt Marsh by FOHI

The Friends of Hunting Island present the Secrets of the Salt Marsh at 2 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 17 at ShellRing Ale Works in Port Royal.

Erin Rogers, Coastal Manager of the South Carolina Audubon Society, will give a conservation talk during which she will reveal the complex ecology and secretive creatures of the Carolina Salt Marsh.

The event is free and open to the public. Pleas email FOHIConservationOutreach@gmail.com to reserve a spot.

Saint Peter’s 65th annual Fall Bazaar vendors spaces available

Saint Peter’s Catholic Church will hold its 65^th annual Fall Bazaar on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., on the church campus at 70 Lady’s Island Drive in Beaufort.

The Bazaar features international foods, a craft fair, a sweet shoppe, in-person and online silent auctions, wine and beer garden, plant sale, church tours, and Kids Zone with inflatables, games, and the Beaufort Barnyard Petting Zoo.

Artists and crafts people interested in a 10-foot-by-10-foot space can send an email to gather@stpetersbeaufort.org for more information. Indoor space is very limited, so those interested should reach out as soon as possible.

The Bazaar will raise funds for Lowcountry Outreach, a Saint Peter’s ministry that works to increase scarce services in northern Beaufort County. Lowcountry Outreach partners with several agencies and services such as Good Neighbor Medical Clinic, Lowcountry Legal Volunteers, and Alienated Parents of Adult Children among others. Its Angel Rides program has completed more than 850 rides for people needing transportation to medical and other needed appointments. Additional information can be found at www.LowcounryOutreach.org.

Poll workers needed; training available

The Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County will be holding 10 new poll worker training classes.

All of the classes will be held at the main office, located at 15 John Galt Road, Beaufort, S.C. 29906. The classes will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the following dates: Wednesday, Aug. 20; and Wednesday, Sept. 17.

To sign up for a class, visit https://beaufortsc.easypollworker.com/home.

United Way of the Lowcountry offers additional free tax prep days

United Way of the Lowcountry’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is offering additional free tax preparation days to help qualifying residents of Beaufort and Jasper counties file their federal and state tax returns accurately and efficiently.

The program – a collaboration between the IRS, Beaufort County Human Services Alliance, and United Way of the Lowcountry (UWLC) – is designed to assist low-income individuals and families, non-English speaking taxpayers, people with disabilities, and seniors with their tax filing needs.

In Bluffton, the service is available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, Sept. 29, at the Bluffton Public Library at 120 Palmetto Drive.

In Beaufort, the service is available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, Aug. 25 at the United Way of the Lowcountry Beaufort Office at 1277 Ribaut Road.

Limited spots are available, and in-person appointments are required. Visit www.uwlowcountry.org/VITAto reserve your spot, check for eligibility requirements and to find a list of necessary documents to bring.

Human Services accepting grant applications

Beaufort County Human Services is accepting applications for the FY26 Grant Program. Applications will be accepted until Friday, Aug. 22. Any application received after that date, will not be considered.

According to the Community Services Grant Program webpage, “Funds for this grant program are provided by County Council of Beaufort County. Established in 2013, the Beaufort County Community Services Grants Program supports local non-profit human service organizations in enhancing residents’ quality of life. All grant awards are contingent upon the availability of funding.”

To be eligible for the Community Services Grant, organizations are required to meet specific criteria:

Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations whose mission aligns with improving quality of life for Beaufort County residents, particularly those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged
Agencies must directly serve Beaufort County and use all awarded funds for the benefit of its residents
Only one application per organization (identified by EIN) will be accepted, and fiscal agents are not permitted
Agencies seeking funding must register their organization prior to applying; instructions are provided within the application

Eligibility, criteria, application timeline and the application itself are all outlined at https://bit.ly/4l8UTe8 for interested groups.

Funds may not be used for: