Howard, Geier hosting town hall meeting
Beaufort County Council Member Alice Howard (District 4) and Board of Education Member Richard Geier will host a joint community meeting to discuss population growth especially along Salem Road and Parris Island Gateway, traffic safety including pathways and sidewalks and any other topics brought up by attendees.
The meeting will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 29, at Port Royal Community Center, 1514 Richmond Avenue.
Representatives from Beaufort County Engineering will be present to answer questions. The meeting will cover various aspects of transportation improvements, such as road enhancements, and pedestrian safety measures. There will also be an update on northern Beaufort County traffic issues to include what has been accomplished, what is planned and answer any questions that may come up about the one cent sales tax projects.
The meeting is open to the public as well as residents in Council District 4. For more information please email Council Member Howard at ahoward@bcgov.net, or call her at 843-986-7403.
LIBPA hosting Hurricane Preparation event
The Lady’s Island Business & Professional Association will offer a wine-and-cheese event from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 29, at the Beaufort Realtors’ Association Headquarters at 22 Kemmerlin Lane, Lady’s Island.
Colonel Neil Baxley from the Emergency Management Division of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office will make a special presentation. Baxley will give an update on hurricane preparation for the Lowcountry. This informative event is open to the public and free.
2024 Run Forrest Run 5KT-shirt Design Contest
The Beaufort Digital Corridor is hosting a T-shirt design contest to find a fresh design for its race gear for the 2024 Run Forrest Run 5K. Race organizers have opened the contest to creatives living both locally and internationally. The winning design will combine the charm of the Forrest Gump movie and a love for running through the Lowcountry. The prize package includes a $300 cash prize and two race vouchers to participate in the 5K. As the contest closes August 31, artists should hurry to submit their designs at https://bit.ly/3Z1A4sP.
ATAX grant applications now available from City
Accommodations Tax (ATAX) Grant Applications for Fiscal Year 2025 are now available from the City of Beaufort. The application may be accessed on the City’s website on the City’s Finance Department page (https://bit.ly/3ysHWsN) or at the City Hall, Finance Department, 1911 Boundary Street. For additional information contact the ATAX Administrator Jay Phillips at jphillips@cityofbeaufort.org or 843-525-7071.
The City of Beaufort will hold mandatory workshops for applicants at the Beaufort City Hall, Community Development Conference Room, 1911 Boundary Street, at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 28, and at 10 a.m., Friday, Aug, 30.
All potential applicants are required to attend one of the two mandatory workshops.
Applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13.
Applicants will present their requests to the TDAC in the Council Chambers on Friday, Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
South Carolina established in the 1980s a 2 percent tax on overnight accommodations in addition to the statewide sales tax. South Carolina Code of Laws Title 6 Chapter 4 Allocations of Accommodations Tax Revenues states how those monies are to be allocated. A small portion of the ATAX money stays in the local municipality or county where it is collected. The remainder must be used to attract and provide for tourists and must be spent on tourism-related expenditures that promote tourism and attract visitors.
Allison Road to remain closed until Aug. 30
Allison Road, from Ribaut Road to Battery Creek Road, will continue to be closed to through traffic through Friday, Aug. 30.
Currently, the City is engaged in a streetscape project along Allison Road, which involves undergrounding of utilities, new stormwater drainage, new sidewalks and landscaping.
Due to the impact of rain from Tropical Storm Debby, the contractors need to work until the end of the month before the road can be reopened.
Allison Road is open to local residents only.
City of Beaufort offices closed for Labor Day
City of Beaufort offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 2, in honor of Labor Day.
Capital Waste Services will not be providing trash or recycling services on Labor Day. If you are a Monday customer, your pickup will be pushed back to Tuesday, Tuesday service will move to Wednesday, etc.
Downtown Marina feedback forum to be held Sept. 5
Safe Harbor, which manages the Downtown Marina, and City of Beaufort are hosting a review and question-and-answer session for a revised layout of the Downtown Marina improvements.
The revised layout addresses comments from City Council and the public during a City Council Work Session held on March 26.
The event will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept, 5 at Henry C. Chambers Park, Pavilion 950 Bay Street, Beaufort.
If it is raining hard, the event will be moved to City Hall.
Groups hosting A Fund Raising Fish Fry
Penn Center, The St. Helena Gullah Project, the S.C. Coastal Community Development Corporation, Marshview Community Organic Farm, The Gullah Grub Restaurant and the Lowcountry Gullah Foundation are sponsoring A Fund Raising Fish Fry to help reduce the loss of land on St. Helena Island.
The event will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6 at the Center Stage Area at Penn Center, 16 Penn Circle West, St. Helena Island. Meals, which cost $18, include fried fish, baked beans, pasta salad, dinner rolls, and a drink.
Tickets can be purchased on site the day of the event or in advance until Sept. 6. For credit card payments, call the Penn Center Welcome Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday at 843-838-7105.
For those interested in sponsorship, call Penn Center, Inc., at 843-541-0128. To contact Planning Committee Chair Sara Reynolds Green, call 843-473-0477, or Co-Chair Barbara Gardner Hunter, call 347-497-9326.
Indivisible Beaufort meeting
Indivisible Beaufort is hosting its next meeting at 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 7 at the downtown Beaufort Library at 311 Scott Street.
The featured speaker will be Chris deVries, who will talk about what you need to know about the next South Carolina Legislative Session.
deVries spent more than 35 years as a nonprofit executive and lobbyist in Washington D.C. She is now involved in leadership in many local groups focusing on advocacy, elections, and politics.
Currently, deVries is serving as Chair of the Board of Directors for Planned Parenthood Votes South Atlantic.
deVries will discuss some of the legislation from the last session and what we can expect for the next. She will also explain what could impact the legislation and how citizens can influence the agenda.
The event is free and open to the public.
Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club meeting
The Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club’s September meeting will be held Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club located on Lady’s Island off of Meridian Road. The social begins at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will start at 7.
Well known local Captain Jason Woodham of Merrikohl Outfillers Fishing Charters (www.merrikohl.com) will make a presentation on Tarpon. He will also discuss rod and reel setups and baits of choice.
Guests are welcome. Reservations are not needed. For additional information, please contact Captain Frank Gibson at 843-521-7340 or email fgibson@islc.net.
A construction reminder
IPW Construction Group will continue to perform shoulder closures and temporary lane closures the entire length of Laurel Bay Road in Beaufort. Closures will take place between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday to Saturday, until the end of the year.
During this time, please prepare for and expect minor delays in traffic. Drivers traveling through the area are asked to please be mindful of our traffic control team and the crews working within the area. In addition, the ramp coming off U.S. 21 onto Laurel Bay Road is permanently closed.
Free Summer Tax Prep Available for Lowcountry Residents Who Missed Deadline
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is offering a free summer tax preparation program for qualifying residents of Beaufort and Jasper counties who missed the traditional tax filing deadline.
This 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 (age 60+) in accurately and efficiently filing their federal and state tax returns.
“We understand that filing taxes can be overwhelming, especially for those who have limited resources,” United Way Volunteer and VITA Program Coordinator Sherry Halphen said. “Our summer tax preparation program allows residents to receive free assistance from IRS-certified volunteers, ensuring they receive every deduction and credit they deserve.”
Program Details:
- What: Free tax preparation assistance by IRS-certified VITA volunteers.
- When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26.
- Where: United Way of the Lowcountry Bluffton Office (10 Buckingham Plantation Drive, Suite D, Bluffton, S.C. 29910)
- Appointments Required: Call 843.321.9071 or email lowcountryvitacoalition@gmail.com
- Visit www.uwlowcountry.org/VITAforeligibility requirements and a list of documents to bring with you to your appointment.
ATAX Committee hosting mandatory workshop for interested applicants
The State 2% Accommodations Tax grant cycle will begin in a few months. In order to apply for this year’s State 2% ATAX Grant, the State Accommodations Tax Committee is hosting a mandatory workshop to help ensure proper application and expenditure of funds. This will also allow applicants to ask questions and get a better idea of the process.
To be eligible for State 2% Accommodations Tax funds, a representative from each organization must attend one of the two workshops. RSVPs are not mandatory, but greatly appreciated. RSVP to atax@bcgov.net with name of attendee(s), organization, contact information and the workshop date of choice.
Attendees will be required to sign in at the workshop, to be held at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 3, in Beaufort County Council Chambers, 100 Ribaut Road.
The State 2% ATAX Grant Application will be available soon. The process has been streamlined to make it easier for applicants. The deadline this year will be Friday, Sept. 13, at 11:59 p.m. Applications received after this time will not be eligible for funding.
For questions and more information, contact Brycen Campbell, Senior Accountant for Beaufort County Finance at 843-255-2316 or Brycen.Campbell@bcgov.net.
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, Oct. 15: Hilton Head Branch Library, 11 Beach City Road.
- Tuesday, Oct. 22: St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road.
- Tuesday, Feb. 18: Lobeco Branch Library, 1862 Trask Parkway, Seabrook.
- Tuesday, Feb. 25: Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Way.
- 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.
