Dawson to host District 1 community meeting
County Council Member Gerald Dawson (District 1) will host a district meeting for the Sheldon community to discuss updates on construction of the Agnes Major Community Center.
The meeting will be 6 p.m., Thursday, May 8, at Elijah Washington Medical Center at 211 Paige Point Road in Sheldon.
Eric Brown, County Parks and Recreation Director will give an update on the project.
For questions and more information Council Member Dawson at 843-986-7265 or gdawson@bcgov.net.
Military Appreciation Day set for May 9
The Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Military Enhancement Committee of Beaufort are hosting Military Appreciation Day from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, May 9 at Laurel Bay.
The community event is free and open to veterans, active-duty military and their families. There will be family entertainment, a kickball tournament, kids bounce houses, local business giveaways and appearances by base commanders and local elected representatives. Free hot dogs, popcorn and soft drinks will be served.
Ribbon cutting for Southside Pickleball Courts
Beaufort County Parks and Recreation is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Southside Pickleball Courts at 3 p.m., Friday, May 9. The courts are located at 1408 Battery Creek Road.
Opening remarks will be made by County Parks and Recreation Director Eric Brown, County Administrator Michael Moore, and County Council Chair Alice Howard. Remarks will be followed by the ribbon cutting and brief tour of the pickleball facility.
Veterans Wills Clinic to be held May 9
Lowcounty Legal Volunteers is hosting a free Veterans Wills Clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, May 9, at the Beaufort County Disabilities and Special Needs Office at 100 Clearwater Way in Beaufort.
Pre-registration is required. Apply at LowcountryLegalVolunteers.org.
Rotary Club hosting annual Vidalia onion fundraiser
The Rotary Club of Beaufort is hosting its annual fundraiser – the sale of farm-fresh Vidalia onions in either 10-pound or 25-pound bags ($12 or $25).
The onions must be pre-ordered before Friday, May 9 and will be available for pick-up between noon and 12:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Sea Island Presbyterian Church, Lady’s Island, on Wednesday, May 14.
The money raised by this fundraiser is used to support grant requests from nonprofit organizations north of the Broad River in Beaufort County. Onions can be ordered and paid for at www.beaufortrotaryclub.org.
Coffee & Convos with the City Manager
Come out this May for a unique opportunity to meet Beaufort City Manager, Scott Marshall, over a cup of coffee. This is your chance to engage in casual conversations, share your ideas, and ask any questions you may have about our beautiful city of Beaufort.
The Coffee & Convos will take place on three Friday’s in May:
— 9:30 to 11 a.m., Friday, May 9, Magnolia Cafe;
— 9:30 to 11 a.m., Friday, May 16, Sunny Summers Cafe;
— 9:30 to 11 a.m., Friday, May 30, Mameem & Maudie.
Grab a coffee, come on in, and share your thoughts. We look forward to seeing you there. Let’s make Beaufort an even better place to live together.
United Way ribbon cutting
The United Way of the Lowcountry is holding a special program and ribbon cutting at its 2025 Annual Meeting for its Showers of Dignity mobile trailer.
The event, along with a fun, casual picnic, is being held from 11:45 to 1:30 p.m., Monday, May 12 at the Port Royal Sound Foundation Pavilion at 310 Okatie Highway in support of a stronger, self-sufficient Lowcountry. Lunch begins at noon. Go to https://bit.ly/3RQWR61 to RSVP.
LWV Beaufort sponsors state legislative review
Rev. Nathan Woodiff-Stanley, minister of Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort and part-time director of the S.C. UU Justice Alliance, will speak Wednesday, May 14 on “The Path Forward: Post Legislative Session.”
Sponsored by the League of Women Voters Beaufort, the review of the legislative session which ends Thursday, May 15 will include a review of bills passed and actions local supporters can consider for those bills how local representatives voted.
The meeting starts at 5:30 pm at the UUFB at 178 Sams Point Road.
Northern Beaufort County Democratic Club to meet May 15
The Northern Beaufort County Democratic Club will be meeting at 6 p.m., Thursday May 15 at the Old Grace AME Chapel at 502 Charles Street in downtown Beaufort. Our guest speaker will be Mac Deford, who in 2024 ran for election to the U.S. House to represent South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District.
The NOB Dems, along with several other groups, rally together every Monday at 4:30 p.m. in front of the Beaufort City Hall to exercise their 1st Amendment rights to speak up for democracy and defend the Constitution. These rallies are going on all over the United States. If the public wishes to add their voice in support, bring a sign (no vulgarity), stay behind the sidewalk, and off the median.
SCDNR using area boat landings for shellfish bed reseeding
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) will be conducting its annual shellfish ground management efforts (oyster shell reseeding) at several Beaufort County boat landings beginning this week and running through the end of May.
The boat landings will remain open to the public, however there will be increased truck and barge activity throughout each day while SCDNR reseeds the oyster beds at each location.
The schedule is as follows:
- Monday, May 12-Thursday, May 15: Broad River Boat Landing, Beaufort.
- Monday, May 19-Wednesday, May 21: Edgar Glenn Boat Landing/Chechessee Landing, Okatie.
The barge will occupy one ramp while it is being loaded. Loading will take approximately two hours. At least one ramp will be available for public use while the barge is being loaded.
For questions and more information, contact County Public Works Director Bradley Harriott at 843-255-2740.
May LIBPA Meeting
Beaufort County Director of Veterans Affairs Caroline Fermin will be the featured speaker at the Lady’s Island Business & Professional Association’s next meeting at 8 a.m., Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the Beaufort Realtors’ Association Headquarters at 22 Kemmerlin Lane on Lady’s Island. Please stop by for coffee and conversation concerning the community.
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, May 14; Saturday, May 24; Wednesday, June 18; Wednesday, July 16; Saturday, July 26; Wednesday, Aug. 20; and Wednesday, Sept. 17.
To sign up for a class, visit https://beaufortsc.easypollworker.com/home.
County VA to offer End of Life Planning Seminars for veterans, families
Beaufort County Veterans Affairs is hosting End of Life Planning Seminars for veterans and their families.
These seminars address things veterans and their families can do today to ensure their personal effects are in order. They also discuss Veterans Affairs benefits that surviving spouses may be entitled to receive.
They will be offered at either 9 a.m. or 1 p.m., at convenient locations around Beaufort County:
- Tuesday, May 20: Hilton Head Branch Library, 11 Beach City Road.
- Tuesday, May 27: Beaufort Library, 311 Scott Street.
RSVPs are required for space and resource purposes. Please contact Crystal at 843-255-6880 to reserve your seat. For questions and more information please contact Beaufort County Veterans Affairs at 843-255-6880.
Leadership Beaufort application window open
The application window for the 41st class of Leadership Beaufort (August 2025-May 2026) is now open. Visit https://bit.ly/3EnhSlz to learn more and access the application.
Deadline to submit applications is Friday, May 23. The program builds community trustee leadership through an in-depth view of cultural, economic, historic, social, educational, environmental and government resources.
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., Mondays, July 28; and September 29, at the Bluffton Public Library at 120 Palmetto Drive.
In Beaufort, the service is available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mondays, June 23 and August 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.
— Staff reports
