Lowcountry Alumnae of Pi Beta Phi to meet
The Lowcountry Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi will hold their first event of the club year on Thursday, September 22, at 5:30 p.m. at the home of Edie Smith in Beaufort.  Tapas, Desserts &amp; a Convention report will be the highlights.  For more information and to RSVP please contact Edie at 522-2003.

Beaufort snowboard, ski club to meet
The Beaufort Ski/Snowboard Club will have a meeting/greeting at Brick’s on Boundary on Fri., Sept. 23, at 6 p.m.  The owner, Josh Poticha has joined our club as well, and he’s offering great specials!  We will be discussing upcoming trips and activities as well as enjoying fellowship and networking.  Anyone with interest is welcome! For additional information, contact Julie at tugboatjulie@yahoo.com.

Historic Port Royal Foundation lecture
The Historic Port Royal Foundation is proud to present Dr. Chris Marsh, director of the Low Country Institute on Spring Island.  Dr. Marsh will begin the Fall Speaker Series presenting, “Port Royal, Past, Present and Future,”  a look at our environment 450 years ago, 100 years ago, and what it might be 100 years from now.  Dr. Marsh will speak in the Historic Union Church, 1004 11th Street, Port Royal, September 23, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 each and may be purchased by calling Anna Ellerbe at 522-9923, for advanced reservations. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.

Author Scott Graber to hold book signing
Scott Graber will be signing his latest book, “Ten Days In Brazzaville,” at a Wine &amp; Sign on Saturday, September 24 from 2 - 6 p.m. at the Beaufort Bookstore, 2127 Boundary St. This book is the second in a mystery series about a small town lawyer.  525-1066.

Get ready for annual Youth Conference
The 19th Annual Beaufort County Youth Conference will be held September 24 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Technical College of the Lowcountry, 914 Ribaut Road, Beaufort. This free conference is planned by teens, for teens. All middle and high school students are invited to participate. There will be workshops, T-shirts, lunch and entertainment. For more information/registration, call Carrie at 812-4399 or Theresa at 838-7922.

Fripp Island Friends of Music hosts Hotlanta
Hotlanta, Dixieland Jazz Quartet presented by Fripp Island Friends of Music: on 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept.. 25, at Fripp Island Community Center, Fripp Island. The cost is $20 a person; $10 for students. Free Fripp pass at gate. Attendees are invited to join the artists at a catered event after the performance. For details, call 843-838-6655.

Fripp Audubon Club to host special field trip
Monday September 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. come on a special Fripp Audubon Field Trip. Meet at Fripp Marina and Captain Ralph Goodison will take the Audubon Club on a special nature cruise on the Fripper. The boat will take 40 people and we will explore the local rivers and streams and talk about all aspects of our nature in this unique environment. We will have a chance to explore our habitats and the environments of the Beaufort Barrier Islands IBA. We hope to see late migration species coming through. The boat will hold 40 participants and we ask that you RSVP to hold a seat as soon as possible. There will be a $15 charge per person. Payment for tickets can be prepaid or at the dock (checks to Fripp Audubon Club). For cash exact change would be appreciated. What to bring:  Lunch, sun screen, Binoculars, sweaters or jacket if necessary. Contact questions: pete.richards @comcast.net or 441 2153.

Beaufort Writers meet
Beaufort Writers meets every second and fourth Tuesday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Lady’s Island Airport Conference Room. The next meeting will be Tuesday, September 27.

Lowcountry Writer’s Critique Workshop
Lowcountry Writer’s Critique Workshop with Stephanie Austin Edwards will be held at ARTworks in Beaufort Town Center. Restart, refine or finish your creative writing now. The best way to learn to write is to do it. Find out what’s working and what needs work in a supportive, constructive way. Wednesdays, September 28-October 26, 6-8 p.m., $100. steffed65@islc.net, 843-597-3910.

Upcoming events at the Beaufort library
The following library-sponsored event will take place at the Beaufort library:
• Inspirational Book Club: Wednesday, September 28 at 10:30 a.m. at the Beaufort Branch Library. Join the Inspirational Book Club for a book discussion of “Unbroken” by Lauren Hillenbrand.

Port Royal Farmers Market Lunch &amp; Learn
The Lunch and Learn series will hold its final class of the 2011 season on Saturday, October 1, at the Port Royal Farmer’s Market. This free, open air class, will begin at 11:30 a.m.  Master Gardener Sandra Educate will conduct a class on Lasagna Gardening. Nope, not pasta, but a no dig, no till, no kill method of starting a garden bed. Lasagna gardens overcome the problems of poor soil, poor drainage and soil preparation.  Come to the big oak tree behind the Master Gardener table and be sure to bring a folding chair and a market basket to hold the locally grown produce and flowers. Classes will resume next spring.

Freedom from Smoking series of classes held
The next session of Freedom from Smoking classes begins Tuesday, Oct. 4 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at LifeFit Wellness located at 989 Ribaut Road in Beaufort. This is the American Lung Association’s program to help people who want to break their tobacco habit and is considered the “gold standard” in smoking cessation programs. The classes last for seen weeks and have eight sessions where you learn your own smoking pattern, and how to deal with triggers and urges before you actually quit smoking! The cost of the program is $60 and preregistration is strongly recommended due to limited space. Please call 522-5635 to secure your seat soon. Kitty Parker CRT/RCP is the program facilitator.

Free notary public training for county
Secretary of State Mark Hammond is offering a free regional notary public seminar Tuesday, October 4 for all Beaufort County and surrounding county notaries and those interested in becoming a notary. Notaries public hold an important position of responsibility. It is critical to understand the duties and responsibilities of notaries under South Carolina law. Once commissioned as a notary public, it is the responsibility of the notary to maintain a level of training necessary to perform the duties of the position as required by law. This seminar will address state laws governing the duties and responsibilities of notaries. The unauthorized practice of law will also be addressed in a joint session with a representative from the South Carolina Bar. Attending a Notary Public seminar is not required — the seminar is a public service of the Secretary of State’s Office. You may register for the seminar at www.surveymonkey.com/s/7TQLRZG or by emailing rdaggerhart@sos.sc.gov.  Please state your name, the location of the seminar you wish to attend, and a telephone number. The seminar will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Black chamber of commerce to meet
The Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce (BCBCC) will hold a public meeting on Thursday, October 6, at its office at 801 Bladen St., at 11 a.m. The purpose of the meeting is to give the public an opportunity to become acquainted with a proposed Rural Development Project on 711 Bladen Street in Beaufort consisting generally of BCBCC new office space, training facilities, business incubators for new small businesses, showroom for local artists and a meeting facility. Citizens will have the opportunity to comment on such items as economic and environmental impact, service area and other alternatives.

AGLOW Area Team has annual conference
South Carolina AGLOW Area Team is having its annual Leadership Development Training Conference on Saturday, November 5, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Quality Inn at Beaufort Town Center. Speaker will be Joy Green of Florida who serves as the U.S. Director for the Southeast Region giving oversight to Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. For cost or additional information, contact Gloria Gourdin at 843 407-6667 or scaglowareateam@yahoo.com.

PaddleFest 2011 will be at Hunting Island
WHAT: PaddleFest 2011
WHERE: Hunting Island State Park, Lagoon, Parking Lot J
WHEN: Saturday, November 5, 1 p.m., start time
REGISTRATION: 11 a.m. Race Day at Hunting Island State Park
DESCRIPTION: 3 and 6 mile kayak, canoe, outrigger canoe and stand up paddleboard races which begin and finish in the Lagoon near Parking Lot J. All events will start together.  There are categories (kinds of boats) and divisions (age groups) for everyone! Awards ceremony and cookout will follow the events at Parking Lot J.
REGISTRATION: In person at Higher Ground, 2121 Boundary Street, Ste. 101, Beaufort, or www.active.com.
CONTACT: Tim at Higher Ground, 843-379-4327, or Dinah at 843-252-4820 Email: higherground@hargray.com, dinahbrock@me.com or visit www.HigherGroundBeaufort.com and www.active.com.