<b>Lowcountry Ladies of South Carolina gather</b>

Lowcountry Ladies of South Carolina, honoring our many years of community service, will feature a delightful luncheon, music by The Lavon Stevens Band and a Fashion with a Passion Show on Saturday, April 27, at 11 a.m. at The Holiday Inn in Beaufort, 2225 Boundary Street. $35 Donation. Contact Veronica Miller for details, 843-263-6929.

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<b>Presentation discusses woodpecker’s survival</b><b> </b>

Helped by private property owners, Red-cockaded Woodpeckers fight for survival in the South’s long-leaf pine forests. Paige Koon, SCDNR, tells this amazing tale as Fripp Audubon &amp; Naturally Fripp Community Habitat host her free presentation, Thursday, April 25, at Fripp Island’s Community Centre, 7 p.m. Free pass at Fripp gate. “Meet-‘n’-greet,” 6 p.m. Contact pete.richards@comcast.net or call 843-441-2153 and visit www.islc.net/audubon.

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<b>MARTeaNI fundraiser will be at Breakwater</b>

The 2013 MARteaNI, an evening of cocktails and friends, will be held Thursday, April 25 at 7 p.m. at Breakwater Restaurant &amp; Bar, 203 Carteret St., Downtown Beaufort. No cover charge, special martini menu, raffles, regular Breakwater menu offered. Everyone is welcome! The MARTeaNI is a fundraiser for the Officers Spouses Club Senior Citizens Tea — a 44 year tradition celebrating local seniors.

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<b>HBF dinner and lecture: South Carolina loyalists</b>

The intriguing story of colonial South Carolinians who did not support the American Revolution and the description of their exile will be told by architectural historian Colin Brooker at the Verdier House Dinner &amp; A Lecture series, Monday, April 29 at 5:30 p.m. at the Verdier House, 801 Bay Street. “A Southern Diaspora: Loyalists Abroad” is the topic of the lecture by Brooker who has spent the past few years researching the homes and plantations of the loyalists who re-settled in the Bahamas after fleeing South Carolina. “Dinner and a Lecture” is open to HBF members and non-members; the lecture series features a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception, 5:30 – 6 p.m. The program is 6 – 7 p.m. followed by audience questions. Admission to the lecture is $15/$25 per member/member couple respectively, and $20/$30 per non-member/non-member couple respectively. Seating is limited; call 379-3331.

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<b>Iron Mike Bike Tour will be held on Parris Island</b>

The Parris Island Historical and Museum Society will sponsor the Iron Mike Bike Tour of historic Parris Island on Saturday, May 4. The Iron Mike Bike Tour is 15 scenic miles and takes riders on a 16-stop tour of Parris Island’s history including several archaeological sites, colonial plantation site and military historic sites. The tour is self guided and starts at the Parris Island Museum, Bldg. 111. Riders can begin at their leisure between 9 a.m. and noon. The event is free and open to the public. Those who join the Parris Island Historical &amp; Museum Society ($20 annual membership) will receive a free event T-shirt. A driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance are required to access the base. For more information, call 843-228-2951, or email tjscanlon222@hotmail.com.

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<b>Church holding annual Cartere</b><b>t Closet Sale</b>

The UMW of Carteret Street United Methodist Church is holding their 3rd annual Carteret Closet Sale on Friday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The sale will be held in the fellowship hall of the church at 408 Carteret Street and the proceeds will go to mission programs.

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<b>Library presents mini-comic creation showcase</b>

At the Mini-Comic Creation Showcase, bring stories to life through drawing and text. Under the direction of a professional graphic novel illustrator, teens can create their own mini-comic booklet. Just like the pros, teens are welcome to participate in a brief comic artists’ showcase until 1 p.m. Ages 12-18. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, at the St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island, Community Meeting Room. Free; all supplies provided. For more information, call 843-255-6547 or email mflorencio@bcgov.net or visit www.beaufortcountylibrary.org.

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<b>Black Chamber will have Friday Networking event</b>

The Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce will have its First Friday Networking Event on May 3, hosted by the Nu Delta Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.  Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs is the theme.  They are seeking women who are interested in having a display presenting their business or service.  To secure a booth, call 843-252-3863 or 843-707-9031.  The meeting will be held at the Charles “Lind” Brown Center (formerly the Green Street Gym) located at 1001 Hamar Street in Beaufort beginning at 6 p.m.  The public is invited. For more information, call 843-986-1102.

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<b>Community Prayer </b><b>Breakfast held at YMCA</b>

The YMCA of Beaufort County, located at 1801 Richmond Ave., will host the fifth Annual Community-Wide Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, May 2, at 7 a.m. The event is part of a nationwide National Day of Prayer celebration and is free and open to the community.  Sponsored by the Wardle Family YMCA and catered by The Link Church, the event will feature guest speaker Jerry Stokes.  Reservations are required and may be made by calling 843-522-9622.  YMCA membership is not a requirement to attend. Stokes is the owner of several automobile dealerships, import and domestic. He served in the United States Army, and presently serves as an elder at Community Bible Church of Beaufort.

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<b>Sea Island Quilters will display works at show</b>

Sea Island Quilters “Southern Comforts” Quilt Show 2013 will be held May 3, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and May 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lind Brown Neighborhood Activity Center in Beaufort. Cost is $6, under 12 free. There will be more than 150 quilts on display with vendors, books, boutique, demonstrations and a silent auction.

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<b>Lady’s Island Country Club has charity tourney</b>

On Friday, May 10 the third annual charity tournament for the late Kay Yow, WBB Coach at NC State, who died of breast cancer in 2009, will be held at Lady’s Island Country Club. Once again there will be celebrity coaches and local notables playing in the scramble format. Sign up has begun. You can sign up your team of four or play in a threesome with a celebrity coach. Cost is $60 which includes golf and cart, buffet and beverage cart while playing. Lots of prizes, silent auction, tee gifts and 50/50 drawings. T-shirts are on sale for $12. Call Carol Meegan for more information or to sign up at 522-9053.

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<b>Recycle electronics, shred documents at event</b>

Do you have old computers or TVs that need to be thrown away or old documents that need to be disposed of safely and properly? On May 11 from
9 a.m. to 3 p.m., The Beaufort County’s Solid Waste and Recycling Division is holding an Electronics Recycling and Shredding Event. S.C. Law 48-60, enacted last year, prohibits dumping of electronic items in the landfill or at county convenience centers so this is the time to get rid of old electronics and it’s the perfect time to shred personal and tax documents. This event is taking place at 140 Shanklin Road near the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort. If you have questions about this event call the Solid Waste and Recycling Division at 843-255-2734 or go to www.bcgov.net/recycle.

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<b>Lilies on the River celebrates women</b>

Hope Haven of the Lowcountry is celebrating its 9th Annual Lilies on the River event on Saturday, May 18. Lilies on the River is an annual fundraiser put on by and benefiting Hope Haven of the Lowcountry, the region’s nonprofit children’s advocacy and rape crisis center. The event gives people the opportunity to honor the women who have made a positive impact in their lives. The public can purchase lilies to honor or memorialize the important women in their lives. This year’s event will be held at the River House in beautiful Spring Island. This year, Hope Haven will be honoring the Spirit of Friendship ladies for their unwavering support of the work of Hope Haven.  The event begins with a luncheon at 12 P.M., a silent auction, a champagne toast, and includes a ceremony where all the lilies are released into the water with the names of women being honored and remembered displayed. Tax-deductible lilies may be purchased through May 3 for $15 per lily per woman honored by visiting Hope Haven’s website at www.hopehavenLC.org or calling Hope Haven at 843-524-2256.

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<b>Library: Meet explorer Captain William Hilton</b>

All ages can come meet explorer Captain William Hilton as he tells you about his adventures along the Carolina coast. Learn about his life, discoveries, and the beginnings of colonial South Carolina with living historian Dwayne Pickett on Saturday, May 18, from 1- 2 p.m., at the Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, SC 29902. For more information, call 843-255-6458, email sedmonds@bcgov.net or visit www.beaufortcountylibrary.org.

<b>Local minister will hold graduation celebration</b>

Jonas “With the Bonus!” Gadson was born and raised on St. Helena Island. He attended St. Helena Elementary and graduated from Beaufort High School where he was inducted into the Beaufort High Alumni Hall of Fame for distinguishing himself in “profession, leadership and service.” Gadson will receive his Doctorate Degree in Theology on Friday, May 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Carolina Theological Bible Institute in Bowman, S.C. The nationally-known motivational speaker, radio personality, author and minister of the Beaufort Church of Christ will graduate from the Leadership Class of 2013 through the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce in May. The public is invited to his Graduation Celebration on Saturday May 11 at 4 p.m. at the Quality Inn – Town Center, 2001 Boundary Street, Beaufort. Formal dinner for young adults and adults only. For more information, call 843-524-4281 or 843-379-8145 or email jonasgadson@yahoo.com.
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