County offices, facilities closed for July 4
All Beaufort County offices, to include Convenience Centers, Library branches, and Parks and Recreation facilities (except the Charles “Lind” Brown outdoor pool) will be closed July 4 in observance of the Independence Day holiday. All facilities will open according to their regular schedules July 5. Residents are encouraged to plan accordingly.
Lowcountry VITA providing tax preparation services
The Lowcountry Area VITA Coalition, in partnership with the United Way of the Lowcountry, Inc., and the Beaufort County Human Service Alliance is now providing extended tax preparation services in Beaufort and Bluffton for prior year returns (2015-2017), amended returns and late 2018 filings.
Appointments are available at the following locations between 1:30-4:30 p.m.:
– Beaufort Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort (second Tuesday of the month, July 9, Aug. 13, Sept. 10, Oct. 8)
– Bluffton Library, 120 Palmetto Way, Bluffton (third Tuesday of the month, July 16, Aug. 20, Sept. 17,
Oct. 15)
These dates are by appointment only. Visit www.vitalowcountry.org to schedule your appointment for any of the above dates.
Please bring a photo ID and social security cards for all persons on the return. Additionally, clients should bring the following to the tax preparation site: A complete copy of last year’s return (not required but helpful to the tax preparer), all 2018 informational statements (including but not limited to wage statements – Form(s) W-2, interest and dividend statements – Form(s) 1099INT and 1099DIV, mortgage interest statements – Form(s) 1098, pension and social security statements – Form(s) 1099R and SSA-1099, and tuition payments statements – Form(s) 1098-T), information on deductions and bank account number and routing number to deposit your refund
To learn more about the Lowcountry Area VITA program or to volunteer, please contact Theresa Jackson at 843-321-9071 or lowcountryvitacoalition@gmail.com. You may also visit our website at www.vitalowcountry.org.
Coastline discusses programs, services available for veterans
A new episode of The County Channel’s series Coastline discusses the programs and services available to veterans living in Beaufort County as well as the incredible history of Beaufort National Cemetery. Joining host Suzanne Larson is Beaufort County Veterans Affairs Officer Carl Wedler, Veterans Affairs Counselors Damian Ashcraft and Walt Field, and Beaufort National Cemetery Director Christopher Hickey.
Coastline airs on The County Channel Sundays at 9:30 a.m., Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m., Thursdays at 8 p.m., and Fridays at 9 a.m. Coastline is a monthly news show filmed in-studio and produced by The County Channel.
Watch all programming for The County Channel on Comcast Ch. 2, Hargray Chs. 9 and 113, and Spectrum Ch. 1304. Viewers can also watch programming live and on-demand at The County Channel’s website at www.beaufortcountysc.gov.
County Accommodations Tax Board accepting grant applications
The Beaufort County Accommodations Tax Board is now accepting applications from organizations in Beaufort County wanting to receive grants from the 2 percent state accommodations tax fund.
South Carolina law allows for a 2 percent tax levy on the rental of all transient accommodations to help provide financial support to promote tourism and fund tourism-related activities in municipalities and counties within the state.
As a result, individuals staying overnight in hotels, motels, inns, and vacation rentals pay 2 percent in addition to the statewide sales tax and any local sales and use tax applied to their lodging cost.
The current year application (2019/2020) is available online.
Applications will not be accepted if received incomplete or after 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9. Questions regarding the application process should be directed to Linda Maietta at 843-255-2297 or atax@bcgov.net.
Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club will meet July 11
The Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club’s July meeting will be held Thursday, July 11, 2019 at the Beaufort Yacht Club on Lady’s Island off Meridian Road.
The social begins at 6:30 p.m.; the meeting at 7 p.m.
Our July guest speaker is Bryan Frazier, a marine biologist with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, where he has been conducting research on sharks since 2001. His research focuses on studying habitat use and dynamics of estuarine and coastal fishes focusing on sharks.
He is the principal investigator of several seasonal surveys investigating estuarine and coastal abundance of sharks in South Carolina. Current research projects include movement ecology of bonnethead and tiger sharks, life history of bonnethead and spinner sharks, distribution and trophic ecology of scalloped and Carolina hammerheads and post-release mortality of blacktip sharks.
Frazier’s overall research focuses on providing data critical to effective management of shark populations in the United States.
Episcopal Church hosting Open Conversation
The Episcopal Church in South Carolina will host a public Open Conversation in Beaufort from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 11 at St. John’s Lutheran Church at 157 Ladys Island Drive.
TECSC is offering this Open Conversation to provide information, listen, and answer questions about the life and ministry of our diocese and faith communities.
Led by Bishop Skip Adams of TECSC, the Open Conversation will include other clergy and lay leaders, including Archdeacon Callie Walpole and the Rev. Bill Coyne, Diocesan Missioner for Returning Congregations.
The event is open to the public, and will be of special interest to people who attend Episcopal/Anglican churches in the region, including those affected by the 2017 state Supreme Court decision to return the property of the Diocese of South Carolina and 29 parishes to The Episcopal Church.
“We encourage people in parishes who are affected by the court ruling to bring their questions and concerns to this Open Conversation,” Coyne said. “This is an opportunity to engage with one another with an open heart as we walk the road toward reconciliation together.”
