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(43406, 4, '2020-02-20 07:15:16', '2020-02-20 12:15:16', '<b>LowcoSports.com</b>\r\n\r\nTeam RBC ambassadors Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk, Graeme McDowell, and Brandt Snedeker will all be competing for a chance to take home another plaid jacket when the 52nd annual RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing returns to Harbour Town Golf Links from April 13-19.\r\n\r\nKuchar won the 2014 RBC Heritage in dramatic style, holing a bunker shot for birdie on the 18th hole to cap a final-round 64 and a one-stroke victory.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>Kuchar, who has been part of Team RBC since 2011, earned a runner-up finish at the 2019 RBC Heritage, falling by one stroke to C.T. Pan. His final round 4-under 67 was capped off by an 8-foot birdie putt on No. 18. The Sea Island, Georgia, resident has competed in the RBC Heritage 16 times since turning pro in 2000. He carded his eighth and ninth PGA Tour victories during the 2019 season.\r\n\r\nTwo-time champion and Team RBC ambassador Furyk served as the U.S. captain for the 42nd Ryder Cup in 2018. He was also an assistant captain on the winning 2017 Presidents Cup team. The University of Arizona grad has won 17 PGA Tour titles, and was the 2010 Player of the Year and FedExCup Champion. He will be making his 20th start at Harbour Town this April.\r\n\r\nSnedeker earned his ninth win on the PGA Tour at the 2018 Wyndham Championship. After winning the 2011 Heritage, Snedeker secured two PGA Tour victories in 2012, first at the Farmers Insurance Open and then at the Tour Championship. Those wins helped him earn the 2012 FedExCup title. He will be making his 15th start at Harbour Town Golf Links this April.\r\n\r\nNorthern Ireland’s McDowell earned his second PGA Tour win at the 2013 RBC Heritage, where he defeated Webb Simpson in a sudden-death playoff. In 2019 he carded his fourth win, at the Corales Puntacana Resort &amp; Club Championship. McDowell has 11 victories on the European Tour and will be making his 11th start at Harbour Town.\r\n\r\nThe tournament previously announced Team RBC ambassadors Simpson, Corey Conners, Adam Hadwin, and Ryan Palmer also have committed to play in this year’s Heritage.\r\n\r\nSimpson earned his sixth PGA Tour victory earlier this month at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native beat Tony Finau on the first playoff hole. His other PGA Tour victories include the 2012 U.S. Open and the 2018 Players Championship.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>Simpson joined Team RBC in 2019, and he has a great history at the RBC Heritage. He has carded six top-20 finishes in 10 starts, including a second-place finish in 2013 after losing a sudden-death playoff to fellow RBC Team ambassador McDowell.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nConners joined the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour at last year’s Valero Texas Open. He started the final round trailing Si Woo Kim by one stroke and won by firing a 6-under 66, making him the first Monday Qualifier to win on the PGA Tour since 2010. The Ontario, Canada, native made his first professional start at the 2015 RBC Heritage after receiving a sponsors exemption and will be making his third start at Harbour Town this year.\r\n\r\nHadwin is from British Columbia, Canada, and graduated from the University of Louisville in 2009.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>He earned his first win on the PGA Tour at the 2017 Valspar Championship. He has also earned two wins on the Korn Ferry Tour and The Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>In 2019, he qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs for the fifth time in as many seasons on the PGA Tour. He will be competing in the RBC Heritage for the fifth time.\r\n\r\nPalmer will be making his 11th start at Harbour Town this spring. The Texas native has earned four victories on the PGA Tour, including a win at the 2019 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He has already carded two top-10 finishes this season.\r\n\r\nFor more information on the 52nd annual RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing tournament, visit rbcheritage.com or call 843.671.2448.\r\n\r\nThe tournament is operated by the Heritage Classic Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting educational and charitable initiatives to enhance the quality of life and economic vitality throughout South Carolina.', 'Team RBC ambassadors are coming back for more plaid', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'team-rbc-ambassadors-are-coming-back-for-more-plaid', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:15:16', '2020-02-20 12:15:16', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43406', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43408, 4, '2020-02-20 07:15:48', '2020-02-20 12:15:48', 'The University of South Carolina Beaufort has earned a silver award on the 2020 Military Friendly School list, a compilation of the top 20 percent of American colleges, universities and trade schools that provide a supportive environment for military personnel making the transition to civilian life.\r\n\r\nThe Military Friendly Silver Designation is awarded to schools that meet the requirements and score within 20 percent of the 10th ranking school in their category. Only a select group of institutions achieves this honor.\r\n\r\nUSC Beaufort earned a bronze award last year, a distinction awarded to schools that score within 30 percent of the 10th best school in their category. Schools that earn a bronze award are considered to have exceptional military/veteran programs.\r\n\r\nThe military friendly schools list is compiled annually by VIQTORY, a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business. The annual ratings are assessed through an evaluation of public data about the college or university and proprietary data gathered through the annual Military Friendly Schools survey. The survey assessment is offered at no cost to more than 8,800 institutions nationwide.\r\n\r\nSurvey responses are judged on the basis of multiple categories, including academic policies and compliance, graduation and career outcomes, culture and commitment, military student support and retention, and more.\r\n\r\nThe final survey results and ratings are determined by combining an institution’s survey scores with an assessment of the institutions ability to meet minimum thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans. The benchmark is set by the score of the leading institution.', 'USC Beaufort named to 2020 military friendly schools list', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'usc-beaufort-named-to-2020-military-friendly-schools-list', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:15:48', '2020-02-20 12:15:48', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43408', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43410, 4, '2020-02-20 07:18:08', '2020-02-20 12:18:08', 'Fourth-grader Parker Star thought he was in trouble several weeks ago when Okatie Elementary School’s principal walked into his classroom along with his parents.\r\n\r\nBut the news was all good: Star had been named as one of 15 finalists in the school district’s 2020 Sodexo Future Chef Competition.\r\n\r\nAnd Monday, Feb. 17, Star outdueled the other finalists to earn the cooking championship with his made-from-scratch zucchini-and-sweet potato “Harvest Muffins.”\r\n\r\n“I didn’t think I was going to win after this weekend,” said Star, explaining that his most recent test batch of muffins were left “super soggy” because he didn’t squeeze enough moisture out of the zucchini before completing his muffin mixture.\r\n\r\nFor his first-place finish, Star was awarded a prize basket of cookware, kitchen utensils, a cutting board and a personalized Future Chef apron. He now has a chance to move on to the 2020 regional and national Future Chef competitions. More than 2,500 students from 253 school districts across the nation are competing in similar events this spring.\r\n\r\nBeaufort County’s 15 finalists were chosen from aspiring young cooks from district elementary schools who submitted recipes in this year’s challenge, sponsored by Sodexo. The category was “Reimagining Your Favorite School Lunch.”\r\n\r\nFirst runner-up was fifth-grader Macy Benson (Hilton Head Island Elementary) for her “Zucchini Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs. Second runner-up was fourth-grader Nigel Poulin (Beaufort Elementary and second year as a finalist) for his “Loaded Vegan Nachos.”\r\n\r\nAll participants received gift bags including certificates, medals and personalized aprons. Second and third runner up received additional prizes.\r\n\r\n“These students are so talented and energized,” said Sodexo Operations Manager Robert Edwards. “To see them showcase their creativity this way is really wonderful.”\r\n\r\nEdwards said the company’s annual competition is particularly appropriate for Beaufort County because it’s a tourism-focused economy with many opportunities in the hospitality industry.\r\n\r\nThe other 2020 finalists were: Emma Bernhard (Grade 3), Broad River Elementary; Myrandia Cole (Grade 5), Beaufort Elementary; Byron Crosby (Grade 5), Beaufort Elementary; Kamaria Cunningham (Grade 5), Beaufort Elementary; Abigail Dublin (Grade 3), Hilton Head Island Elementary; Alaiya Flanders (Grade 5), Beaufort Elementary; Mia Jaquiss (Grade 4), Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts (third year as a finalist); Ava Keller (Grade 4), Coosa Elementary; Kadence McMillon (Grade 5), Beaufort Elementary; Charley Ocello (Grade 5), Hilton Head Island Elementary; Chyna Ramos (Grade 3), Hilton Head Island Elementary; and Savannah Senna (Grade 1), Coosa Elementary.\r\n\r\nThe finalists prepared their dishes today before presenting and explaining them to a panel of six judges, who scored each dish on things like originality, taste, healthy aspects and kid-friendliness.\r\n\r\n<i>Parker Star, an Okatie Elementary School 4th-grader, won the championship Monday, Feb. 17 in the school district’s 2020 Sodexo Future Chef Competition. Photo by Beaufort County School District.</i>', 'Okatie 4th-grader wins school district cooking competition', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'okatie-4th-grader-wins-school-district-cooking-competition', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:18:08', '2020-02-20 12:18:08', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43410', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43415, 4, '2020-02-20 07:19:22', '2020-02-20 12:19:22', '<i>Hundreds of students and their families converged on Lowcountry Montessori School for its annual International Night on Thursday, Feb. 13. Families snacked on international food in classrooms decorated to represent specific countries. Jasmine Belflower shows her daughter Willow, a 10-year-old 4th-grader at Lowcountry Montessori and Violet, a 7-year-old 1st-grader, some of the finer points of Scotland’s Loch Ness and the legendary sea serpent “Nessie” in Amy Feaver’s primary class of 3- to 6-year-old students. Photo by Bob Sofaly.</i>', 'International Flavor', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'international-flavor', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:19:22', '2020-02-20 12:19:22', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43415', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43418, 4, '2020-02-20 07:20:48', '2020-02-20 12:20:48', 'The Beaufort Sportfishing &amp; Diving Club’s (BSFDC) Year Round Annual Fishing Tournament is entering its second decade and under way for 2020.\r\n\r\nBeginning this month, every angler who enters the tournament by weighing in an eligible species will be entered into a monthly drawing for a $50 prize.\r\n\r\nThe hosts for the Year Round Fishing Tournament who will be sponsoring the quarterly prize money are Beaufort Boat &amp; Dock Supply, Butler Marine and Port Royal Landing Marina.\r\n\r\nEach month the name of each angler will be recorded when their fish is weighed in at the Port Royal Marina during working hours. The following month, a name will be drawn out of the hat at the BSFDC’s monthly meeting.\r\n\r\nThe winner will be notified and requested to attend in advance of the next monthly meeting. If they are not present, their prize money will be donated to the Waddell Mariculture Center, which the BSFDC supports each year for development and research for the local fisheries.\r\n\r\nThe monthly drawing $50 prize will hopefully help increase participation while the focus still remains on promoting fishing opportunities in the Lowcountry.\r\n\r\nRules and regulations for the tournament can be found at most fishing tackle dealers, marinas, and seafood stores throughout Beaufort County. Additional information is on the BSFDC’s website at www.beaufortfishingclub.com.', 'Year-round fishing tournament underway', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'year-round-fishing-tournament-underway', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:20:48', '2020-02-20 12:20:48', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43418', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43420, 4, '2020-02-20 07:21:31', '2020-02-20 12:21:31', '<b>LowcoSports.com</b>\r\n\r\nUSCB softball suffered its first defeat of the season Saturday, splitting a pair of pitching duels at Middle Georgia State.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nPlaying on the road for the first time this season, the Sand Sharks dropped a 2-1 decision to the Knights in the opener before winning the second game by the same score.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nA pair of USCB errors opened the door for Middle Georgia to plate a pair of runs in the third inning of the opener, and the Sand Sharks stranded the tying run at third in the seventh.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe defensive miscues spoiled another strong outing from Maria Molloseau, who allowed two unearned runs and three hits over six innings while striking out five. Emily Martin was 2-for-3 to lead the USCB offense in the opener.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nIn the second game, the Sand Sharks did all of their damage in the fourth inning, when a Knights error allowed Haley Hawkins to reach with two outs and opened the door for a two-run rally. Martin followed with an RBI double to score Hawkins, then came around to score on Jodi Hatcher’s two-out, RBI single.\r\n\r\nUSCB made the lead stand up, as Rachel Catt limited the Knights to one run and four hits over 5 1/3 innings to earn the win, and Molloseau retired the last five batters to nail down the save. Kaleigh Furbush was 2-for-3 for USCB.\r\n\r\n<b>UP NEXT</b>\r\n\r\nUSCB (9-1) faces Freed-Hardeman at noon Friday to open the Reinhardt Invitational in Waleska, Ga.', 'USCB Sand Sharks split on first road trip', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'uscb-sand-sharks-split-on-first-road-trip', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:21:31', '2020-02-20 12:21:31', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43420', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43422, 4, '2020-02-20 07:23:10', '2020-02-20 12:23:10', '<b>LowcoSports.com</b>\r\n\r\nThe honors continue to roll in for Whale Branch boys basketball star Nick Pringle, who on Wednesday was announced as part of the South Carolina team for the 2020 Carolinas Classic All-Star Basketball Games.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nPringle is one of 10 players selected for the South Carolina boys team, which will square off against a team of North Carolina all-stars on March 28 in Wilmington, N.C. The Wofford signee was the only area player selected this season but is the second in the past three years. Bluffton’s Jermaine Patterson was picked in 2018.\r\n\r\nA 6-foot-8, 200-pound, forward, Pringle will get a chance to play alongside some outstanding talent for the Palmetto State squad. He will be joined by Emorie Knox (Myrtle Beach), Kelton Talford (Great Falls), Patrick Iriel (AC Flora), Myles Tate (Dorman), PJ Hall (Dorman), Latavian Lawrence (Gray Collegiate), Ja’von Benson (Ridge View), Kaleb Mack (Mauldin), and Raekwon Horton (Keenan).<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nPringle is averaging 15.2 points and 10.9 rebounds for the Warriors, who won the Region 5-2A title and are set to open the Class 2A playoffs at home Wednesday, Feb. 19.', 'Whale Branch star Pringle picked for Carolinas Classic', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'whale-branch-star-pringle-picked-for-carolinas-classic', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:23:10', '2020-02-20 12:23:10', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43422', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43425, 4, '2020-02-20 07:26:21', '2020-02-20 12:26:21', '<b>Warriors\' Hazel, Frazier sign<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>with Flying Fleet</b>\r\n\r\nTwo Whale Branch football stars made their college plans official Wednesday, as De’Arius Hazel and JacQuez Frazier signed their letters of intent to attend Erskine College in the fall.\r\n\r\nBoth linebackers, Hazel and Frazier were All-Lowco First Team selections after anchoring the Warriors’ strong defense as seniors.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nFrazier racked up a team-high 127 tackles, including eight tackles for loss, and two sacks. Hazel amassed 95 tackles (four for loss) and two sacks before a season-ending knee injury, and he also was the team’s leading rusher prior to the injury.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nNow they’ll get the chance to continue doing damage together at Erskine, which is reviving its long-dormant program this fall. The Flying Fleet brought in their first recruiting class last season and practiced in the fall with players using their redshirt season.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe startup program provided a great opportunity close to home for the Whale Branch duo to continue their academic and football careers.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n“It was a dream that has come to a reality,” Hazel said. “Especially with me having the injury that I had, it was great to know that I secured another opportunity to play the game I love.”<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Creek’s Franco<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>inks with Wolves</b>\r\n\r\nBattery Creek’s Shawn Franco signed to play football at Newberry College earlier this month.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/S.-Franco-2-768x576.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-43426 alignright\" src=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/S.-Franco-2-768x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"352\" height=\"265\"></a>The senior defensive lineman celebrated the big day in front of family, coaches, and friends. Franco was a two-year starter for the Dolphins and also has thrown discus and shot put for the track and field team.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n“Newberry College is receiving a strong student-athlete who has also excelled in the classroom,” Battery Creek athletics director Sarah Hayes said. “Congratulations, Shawn! Battery Creek High School is proud of you!”', 'Football Signings', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'football-signings', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:26:21', '2020-02-20 12:26:21', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43425', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43429, 4, '2020-02-20 07:28:50', '2020-02-20 12:28:50', '<b>By Gabriel Jenkins</b>\r\n\r\n<b>LowcoSports.com</b>\r\n\r\nBluffton’s boys rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to win 67-59 at Beaufort High on Tuesday, spoiling the Eagles’ season finale.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe Eagles played aggressive defense early, getting blocks and steals throughout the first quarter and building a nine-point lead midway through the second before leading 33-25 at halftime.\r\n\r\nThe Bobcats started to find the range on offense in the third quarter, and they slowly crept back into the game before pulling even at 52 to end the period.\r\n\r\nBluffton took control in the fourth quarter, using good ball movement and fast-break points to pull ahead. The Eagles regrouped and brought the lead down to five points with one minute left, but they couldn’t close the gap.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nLee Kirkland led the Bobcats with 22 points, and Tyler Rice added 15. Zyrin Odom led the Eagles with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Ollie Holmes put up 15 points.\r\n\r\n<b>Bobcats beat Eagles to complete perfect region run</b>\r\n\r\nBluffton’s girls finished off their perfect run through the Region 7-4A schedule with a 55-30 road win over Beaufort High on Tuesday.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nTacoya Heyward scored 13 of her game-high 17 games in the first quarter to help the Bobcats race out to a 21-1 lead after one quarter. Tatyana Aiken added 13 points for the Bobcats, and Kayleigh Washington had eight.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nLayla Warren scored 13 points, and Sequoia Smalls had seven for the Eagles.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;\r\n</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<i>Beaufort’s Rush Riley, left, outmaneuvers Bluffton’s Lee Kirkland and moves in to score during the first half Tuesday, Feb. 11 at Beaufort High School. The Eagles lost to the Bobcats 67-59. Photos by Bob Sofaly.</i>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Bobcats rally past Eagles in region finale', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'bobcats-rally-past-eagles-in-region-finale', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:28:50', '2020-02-20 12:28:50', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43429', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43432, 4, '2020-02-20 07:30:01', '2020-02-20 12:30:01', '<b>Activities at Hunting<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Island State Park</b>\r\n\r\nThere are fun, interesting and educational activities every day hosted by Park Ranger and Lowcountry Master Naturalist Megan Stegmeier.\r\n\r\n<b>Sundays: </b>Sand/Candy Art, 11 a.m.; Do You Want To Build a Snow Globe, 2 p.m.; Stargazing Lighthouse Climb (Feb. 23), 5:45 p.m.\r\n\r\n<b>Mondays: </b>Reptiles of the Lowcountry, 11 a.m.; A Walk In The Woods (Feb. 24).\r\n\r\n<b>Tuesdays:</b> Driftwood Painting, 11 a.m.; CCC Video, 1 p.m.; Beach Walk, 3 p.m.\r\n\r\n<b>Wednesdays:</b> Alligator Talk, 11 a.m.; Stepping Stones, 2 p.m.\r\n\r\n<b>Thursdays:</b> Interpretive Lighthouse Tour, 10 a.m.; CCC Video, 1 p.m.; Feeding Frenzy, 3 p.m.\r\n\r\n<b>Fridays:</b> Fish Printing, 2 p.m.\r\n\r\n<b>Saturdays:</b> Sunrise Lighthouse Climb (Feb. 29), 6:30 a.m.; Tie-Die, 11 a.m.; No Bones About It (Feb 22), 1 p.m.; Pinecones for Passerines (Feb. 29), 1 p.m.\r\n\r\nFor a description of these programs and a complete calendar of activities, go to southcarolinaparks.com/hunting-island and click on “Programs &amp; Events.”\r\n\r\nAll are invited to attend these free events, though there is an entry fee to Hunting Island State Park and reservations are needed for lighthouse programs. For more information, call 843-838-7437 or go to the Friends of Hunting Island website and the Facebook page: FOHI Sea Turtle Conservation Project.\r\n\r\n<b>Hunting Island Lighthouse Tours</b>\r\n\r\n10 a.m., every Thursday (Feb. 20, 27). The Friends of Hunting Island will present Lighthouse tours of the historic Hunting Island Lighthouse. Keeper Ted and his team will tell you all about the history of the Lighthouse, which was built in 1875 and is the only Lighthouse in South Carolina open to visitors. If you are at least 44 inches tall you may also climb the 167 steps to the top of the Lighthouse. Reservations are recommended by calling the Nature Center at 843-838-7437. Regular Thursday tours are $2 per person. Park entry fees apply.\r\n\r\n<b>Books Sandwiched In</b>\r\n\r\nNoon-1 p.m. each Monday,<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret Street, Beaufort. The Friends of the Beaufort Library host the popular 8-week series, featuring book talks by local personalities to provoke interest in books; both fiction and non-fiction. After each talk presenters will welcome questions. The series is free and open to the public. For program details, email Vicki Mix at scvgamix7@gmail.com. For more information, visit friendsoftheBeaufortlibrary.com.\r\n\r\nSchedule: Feb. 24 – Being Mortal by Atul Awande, presented by Dr. Steve Kessell; March 2 – Islands in the Stream by Ernest Hemingway, presented by Liz Farrell.\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort Christian Women’s Connection lunch</b>\r\n\r\n11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 20, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, Lady’s Island. Lunch by Holmes Catering is $18. Sheree Darian is the guest speaker. Tours of Beaufort is the focus of Bill Reynolds’ feature talk. Call Marti Myers at 843-321-0962 by Feb. 14.\r\n\r\n<b>Bruff presents Trouble the Water</b>\r\n\r\n5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott St. Local author Rebecca Bruff will present her debut novel Trouble the Water about the life of Beaufort hero Robert Smalls. There will be a question and answer session with a book signing to follow. Sponsored by the Beaufort Branch Library Book Club and the Friends of the Beaufort Library, the event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 843-255-6458.\r\n\r\n<b>Northern Beaufort County Democratic Club campaign planning meeting</b>\r\n\r\n7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, Grand Army Hall of the Republic, 706 Newcastle Street. Special treats will be handed out for everyone who voted Absentee in Person or Absentee by Mail by the time of the club meeting. There will be a special announcement for all those who want to start working on flipping the Senate and on electing a Democratic President.\r\n\r\n<b>Reaching Back to Move Forward</b>\r\n\r\n6:30-8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 20, MacLean Hall (Building 12) Auditorium, TCL Beaufort Campus, 921 Ribaut Road. A celebration of black culture through song, sight and spoken word.\r\n\r\n<b>Republican Women’s Club Membership Drive Luncheon</b>\r\n\r\n11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, Dataw Island Club, 121 Dataw Dr., St. Helena Island. State representative Shannon Erickson will be the featured speaker. The cost of the luncheon is $30 and is by reservation only. This year is the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote. Please join us to hear how you can get involved in the 2020 election campaigns and the celebration of our right to vote. For reservations, please call Elaine Gantt at 843-379-0056 or email eygantt@gmail.com.\r\n\r\n<b>Preserving Fort Fremont Artifacts</b>\r\n\r\n10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, St. Helena Beaufort County Public Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Rd. Rod Kesting will lead a discussion on preservation efforts at Fort Fremont. The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, call the St. Helena Library at 843-255-6487.\r\n\r\n<b>Lowcountry Community Concert Band’s “Folk Frolic”</b>\r\n\r\n7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 157 Lady’s Island Drive. Admission is free, though free-will donations will be gratefully accepted. The program – “Folk Frolic” – includes “The Running Set” and “Rhosymedre” by Vaughan Williams, “Second Suite for Military Band,” by Gustav Holst, “Pineapple Poll (Opening Number)” based on music by Sir Arthur Sullivan, “Irish Tune from County Derry” and “Themes from ‘Green Bushes’” by Percy Grainger, and “Galop” from “Moscow, Cheremushky,” by Dmitri Shostakovich. The Lowcountry Community Concert Band consists of about 60 volunteer musicians and is sponsored by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at USC Beaufort. For more information, contact Pete Johnson at 267-884-6805, Rick Eckstein at 843-707-7813 or Carolyn Christy at 843-540-7605.\r\n\r\n<b>Pianist Marco Mantovani</b>\r\n\r\n5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, Fripp Island Community Centre, 205 Tarpon Blvd. You receive a free pass at the security gate. Admission at the door — cash or check only, no credit cards. You can call Vanessa Peñaherrera 704-807-0255 for reservations: adults $30, students and children are free through a grant from the Peg Gorham Memorial Fund. You are invited to the catered \"Meet-the-Artist\" reception that follows the performance. This concert is sponsored by the Fripp Island Friends of Music and the S.C. Arts Commission, and it helps sustain the FIFOM’s Music-in-the Schools Program. See our website frippfriendsofmusic.com.\r\n\r\n<b>Monday night is Movie Night</b>\r\n\r\n7 p.m. Mondays, USC Beaufort Center for the Arts, 801 Carteret Street. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased online (www.uscbcenterforthearts.com) or at the USCB Center for the Arts box office. Upcoming schedule: Feb. 24 – Ford v Ferrari; March 2 – Bombshell; March 9 – Parasite; March 16 – A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood; March 23 – 1917; April 27 – Little Women.\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort Branch of the American Association of University Women</b>\r\n\r\n6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, First Presbyterian Church’s Fellowship Hall. Layla Manning will present “Discovering the S.C. State Parks as an Ultimate Outsider.” The public is invited. A catered dinner will begin the evening. The presentation immediately follows. Reservations may be made by calling Maureen Brady at 843-838-2665. All women and men are welcome. AAUW strives to create societal change through non-partisan advocacy on issues impacting women and girls. Each year the Beaufort Branch of AAUW awards a scholarship to financially assist a non-traditional student at one of Beaufort County colleges.\r\n\r\n<b>Beyond the Bricks: eBooks, Audiobooks, and More!</b>\r\n\r\n2:30-4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25 and<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>9:30-11 a.m. Friday, March 6, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott St. Bring your tablet, cell phone, or laptop and learn how to use the free digital services offered by the library. Free. For more information, call 843-255-6458 or visit beaufortcountylibrary.org/subscribe.\r\n\r\n<b>USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service &amp; Minority Landowner Magazine Workshop</b>\r\n\r\nAll day, Feb. 26-27, St. Helena Island. For farmers and landowners in Beaufort County. On Feb 26, USDA will have representative to share information to help improve your farm whether large or small. Experts will be available for financial assistance programs and conservation planning and much more. Feb. 27 will be a Seasonal High Tunnel hands-on workshop. A high tunnel can increase production and profits by extending the growing season. Workshop is free and lunch is provided both days. RSVP by Feb. 25. Contact Beaufort Conservation District at 843-255-7306 or email bswcd@islc.net to receive full flyer by email.\r\n\r\n<b>Fripp Island Audubon Club</b>\r\n\r\n7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 27, Fripp Island Community Center. Ten Eych Lecture Series welcomes guest speaker David E. Reichle, Director of the Environmental Sciences Division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory for Environmental, Life and Social Sciences. Meet and greet at 6 p.m. Bring snacks to share. Pick up pass at gate. For more information, email frippaudubonclub@gmail.com.\r\n\r\n<b>American Legion Youth Programs Golf Tournament</b>\r\n\r\nFriday, Feb. 28, The Legends at Parris Island golf course. The tournament supports various local America Legion youth programs, including baseball, Boys State, Law Cadet Academy, college scholarships and oratorical contests. Participants will enjoy a box lunch, drinks, prizes and Mulligans. Prizes include closest to the pin on all par 3s, hole-in-ones on all four par 3s including $10,000 on hole No. 10. Hole sponsors and players may visit www.bftamlegpost9.org or contact American Legion Golf, P.O. Box 2540, Beaufort, S.C. 29901 or call George Miller at 843-470-0928. Registration to play should be completed by Feb. 24 to gain access to MCRD Parris Island.\r\n\r\n<b>27th annual Goodwill Tournament by Club Karate</b>\r\n\r\n10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 29, Beaufort High School gym. Spectator admission is free. Registration is $60 prior to Feb. 23 and $65 afterward. This is a highly attended event with karate schools from all over the southeast competing. For more information, visit Clubkaratellc.com or email Clubkick@gmail.com.\r\n\r\n<b>Sunrise Lighthouse Climb</b>\r\n\r\n6:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 29, Hunting Island Lighthouse Complex. Cost $15. Come and join a naturalist in climbing the lighthouse to experience the morning beauty of Hunting Island from above, while learning about the history of the lighthouse. Don’t forget to bring your camera to capture some amazing shots. A small breakfast of doughnuts and coffee is provided. Must be 44-inches tall to climb. Pre-registration is required. For more information, contact the Nature Center at 843-838-7437.\r\n\r\n<b>Maye River Quilters Guild</b>\r\n\r\nSaturday, March 7, Palmetto Electric Cooperative, 1 Cooperative Way, Hardeeville. On the first Saturday of every month, the Maye River Quilters Guild members meet at 9:30 a.m. for social exchange. The meeting starts at 10 a.m. Block-of-month members meet at 9 a.m. Please call 847-707-6034 or visit www.mayeriverquiltguild.com.\r\n\r\n<b>Wardle Family YMCA offers CPR training</b>\r\n\r\nThe Wardle Family YMCA, at 1801 Richmond Ave in Port Royal, offers CPR classes for community members from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays on the following dates in 2020: March 7, April 4, May 9, May 16, June 27, July 18, Aug. 22, Sept. 12, Oct 24 and Nov. 21. Cost is $35 for this YMCA certified course and those interested need to register at the Y as space is limited and filled on a first come, first serve basis. Questions? Contact Lou Bergen, Aquatics Director to register for this class. Call the Y at 843-522-9622 or visit beaufort-jasperymca.org.\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort County Historical Society “Historically Speaking” lectures</b>\r\n\r\nAll talks, held at noon on Thursdays, are free and open to the public. Donations are welcome. First-come, first-seated, doors open 30 minutes prior to event.\r\n\r\nMarch 12: Dr. Lawrence Rowland, “Kate Gleason, Libby Rowland, and Beaufort in the 1920s,” St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis, Sr. Blvd. St. Helena Island.\r\n\r\nMay 7: 81st annual meeting, Dr. Dale Rosengarten, “Blue Collars to Blue Serge Suits: Beaufort’s Jewish Settlers,” St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis, Sr. Blvd., St. Helena Island.\r\n\r\n<b>3rd annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival</b>\r\n\r\nNoon to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 14, Beaufort Town Center. The event is free and open to the public.\r\n\r\nArea restaurants and food trucks will be selling food and drinks, and there will be live entertainment. The event will also have activities for children of all ages. New to the Festival this year will be an adult and kids costume contest. The event benefits Beaufort County Animal Services. The Festival is accepting vendor applications online until March 1. Additional information can be found on the Beaufort Town Center website (www.beauforttowncenter.com) and Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/BeaufortTownCenter).\r\n\r\n<b>The Pickled Eagle Championship pickleball tournament</b>\r\n\r\n8 a.m. Saturday, March 14, Beaufort High School Tennis Courts. On site registation begins at 7:30 a.m.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>Cost $40, $5 for each additional division. Double elimination. Skill divisions: 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0. Two division of singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles. Age divisions restricted to 50+, 60+ and 70+. To register online, go to pickleballtournaments.com and search pickledeagle. Register online and get a free T-shirt. Proceeds go to the Beaufort High School tennis team.\r\n\r\n<b>America’s Boating Course</b>\r\n\r\n8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 14, Saturday, March 21 and Saturday, March 28, Port Royal Town Hall, 700 Paris Avenue, Port Royal. Offered by America’s Boating Club of Beaufort. If you are new to boating, have never taken the course or just want to refresh your knowledge about boating this is a course to consider. Learn the basics of recreational boating in this National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved class. Satisfies South Carolina Boating Educational Course Requirements. And many boat insurance companies offer discounts to graduates. Price: $75 includes book and navigation tools; additional person in household sharing the book is $17. Contact hlontz@yahoo.com for more information.\r\n\r\n<b>Adaptive Golf Experience Coaches Training<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b>\r\n\r\n5-8 p.m. Friday, March 20 at Parris Island Four Winds and 8 a.m. Saturday, March 21 at Parris Island Driving Range. With PGA/LPGA Master Golf Professional Judy Alvarez. Cost $20 per person. Included Friday dinner and book. Workshop designed for therapists and volunteers who want to serve as Adaptive Golf Coaches. For more information or to register, go toAdaptiveGolfExperience.com.\r\n\r\n<b>Low Country Kappa Delta Alumnae Chapter Pancake Breakfast</b>\r\n\r\n7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, March 22, Skillets Cafe, 1 N. Forest Beach Drive, Coligny Plaza, Hilton Head Island. The $10 breakfast special ($5 for children) includes a short stack of pancakes, bacon or sausage, and coffee or juice. Breakfast sales benefit CAPA (Child Abuse Prevention Association) of Beaufort. No reservations are necessary. For more information, call 843-815-5951.\r\n\r\n<b>The Historic Port Royal Museum</b>\r\n\r\n10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, The Historic Port Royal Museum, 1634 Paris Ave. The museum features the turn-of-the-century businesses and industries of Port Royal: Shrimping, crabbing, oystering, the railroad, the school and the mercantile. Informative short lectures are given every Saturday at 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. by historian Woody Collins. Great gifts featuring local artists are available. For more information. visit www.portroyalhistory.org,<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>email unionchurch1004@gmail.com or call 843-524-4333. You can also find us on Facebook!\r\n\r\n<b>Al-Anon Family Groups</b>\r\n\r\nAre you concerned about a loved one’s drinking or drug use? Join a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics and addicts who share their experience, strength, and hope to solve common problems. Free. Al-Anon meetings take place on Hilton Head Island, in Bluffton and in Okatie. Ala-Teen meetings are 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Bluffton United Methodist Church. To find a local meeting, go to al-anon-sc.org.\r\n\r\n<b>Multiple Myeloma support group</b>\r\n\r\nThird Saturday each month, St. Luke United Methodist Church, Okatie Highway, Okatie. For patients and families in the Savannah/Bluffton/Hilton Head Island/Beaufort areas. Contact Julie for more information at 843-729-8061 or tugboatjulie@yahoo.com.\r\n\r\n<b>Free vessel safety checks</b>\r\n\r\nBeaufort Sail and Power Squadron aka America’s Boating Club of Beaufort, a local non-profit organization with a focus on boating safety and education is offering free vessel safety checks to community boaters. Please contact Charlie Weaver at 843-836-1500 to schedule your inspection (please leave a message) or email us at beaufort.sailandpower.squadron@gmail.com.\r\n\r\n<b>Get moving with Beaufort Track Club</b>\r\n\r\nJoin the Beaufort Track Club at the Beaufort High School track from 6:30-7:30 p.m. each Tuesday night for an open community track workout. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced workouts are posted each week to ensure that you are getting the workout that you need.\r\n\r\nVisit the Facebook page “Beaufort Track Club” for more information.\r\n\r\n<b>Parkinson’s support group</b>\r\n\r\nA support group for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease and carepartners meets the first Thursday of each month at the Beaufort Memorial Lifefit Wellness Center from 1:30 to 3 p.m. For more information, visit our Facebook page or call Ric at 843-525-1229.', 'What’s Happening', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'whats-happening-10', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:30:01', '2020-02-20 12:30:01', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43432', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43434, 4, '2020-02-20 07:31:29', '2020-02-20 12:31:29', '<strong>By LAURA KAPONER</strong>\r\n\r\nPeer Support Specialists (PSS) are not clinicians, social workers, or medical professionals, and they are not looking to replace any of these integral roles in an individual’s recovery.\r\n\r\nA PSS is someone in recovery with either a mental health diagnosis and/or a substance use disorder hoping to join the treatment team in a collaborative-based approach enhancing the level of care an individual may receive.\r\n\r\nPerhaps the best way to summarize is they are someone who “offers hope, support, and advocacy to others through his or her own shared experiences.”\r\n\r\nDave Pruett, a certified PSS, has more than 30 years in recovery. Like so many hiding from the stigma, Pruett came out of the “recovery closet” hoping to use his own recovery journey to help peers with their journeys.\r\n\r\nPruett took CPSS training on the state level leading to a career with the S.C. Department of Mental Health (SCDMH). Pruett is now the PSS Supervisor at Berkeley Mental Health Center with SCDMH.\r\n\r\nRecently, Pruett received PSS certification nationally through Mental Health America.\r\n\r\nPeer support isn’t a one way street. Pruett believes the work he does equally impacts his own recovery.\r\n\r\nIt’s important while working within a collaborative team to adhere to one’s area of expertise. Pruett doesn’t provide therapy or medical advice. But Pruett does provide an example of recovery so the individuals he works with can reach the recovery goals they have chosen using their own personal strengths.\r\n\r\nPruett recognizes he may encounter a recovery issue he isn’t well versed in. This is where being part of a team is most beneficial to the individuals he serves.\r\n\r\nWhat makes Pruett’s efforts so effective is that he meets his peers “where they are.” This means the services he provides aren’t about forcing or promoting his own personal strategies. His method is to share what has worked and what hasn’t worked in his own journey.\r\n\r\nPruett will support the individual he serves with the freedom to make the choices that serve them best. The relationship between a PSS and their peers is completely voluntary. The individual in recovery is in the driver’s seat as the PSS sits right beside them.\r\n\r\nPruett also recognizes in order to establish a trusting and effective relationship he needs to foster a safe and judgment free environment.\r\n\r\nPeer Support isn’t about creating one path everyone in treatment needs to follow. Peer Support is about tailoring individual approaches in an effort to address the specific recovery goals and challenges that particular peer is facing.\r\n\r\nPruett realizes he needs to achieve a balance between using examples from his own journey to build rapport while keeping the primary focus on the individual he is working with.\r\n\r\nPeer support isn’t about fixing anyone’s problems, it’s about starting a conversation in hopes of reducing stigma and advocating for others in recovery to allow their voices to be heard.\r\n\r\n<i>Laura Kaponer is a mental health advocate and blogger, as well as a volunteer with the local chapter of NAMI. You can find her on social media by searching #Laurakaponeris1in5.</i>', 'How do we know recovery is real if we don’t talk about it?', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'how-do-we-know-recovery-is-real-if-we-dont-talk-about-it', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:31:29', '2020-02-20 12:31:29', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43434', 0, 'post', '', 0);
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(43436, 4, '2020-02-20 07:32:32', '2020-02-20 12:32:32', '<b>Provided by Wells Fargo Advisors</b>\r\n\r\nFor millions of unpaid U.S. caregivers, finding a healthy balance between taking care of children and elderly loved ones is a constant challenge—and often a drain on time, health, and finances.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nAccording to a 2017 report from Transamerica Institute, 74 percent surveyed have been caregivers for one or more years, with 27 percent providing care for five or more years. Caregiving is a full-time job for many—even though 52 percent are already employed. Thirty-six percent of caregivers spend 100 or more hours per month on time-intensive duties including companionship, meal preparation, personal care, and feeding.¹ <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nAdditionally, the health of caregivers often takes a back seat to those they care for—55 percent admit their duties leave them physically and emotionally exhausted. Seventeen percent say their general health has declined since becoming a caregiver.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nWhich begs the question: “Who cares for the caregivers?”<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nIf you’re a caregiver, or know someone who is, here are five time-and-money strategies to help manage everyone’s needs.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n<b>1. If you work, talk with your employer. </b>Caring for family members can be a 24-hour-a-day responsibility, making it nearly impossible to coordinate with the demands of a full-time job. Among those who are employed or who have held jobs during their time as caregivers, approximately one-third have used personal, vacation, and sick-leave days for caregiving. Furthermore, depending on household income level, as many as one-fifth of caregivers have taken a leave of absence.¹<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nTo find a better balance between your home and work life, discuss these options with your manager and human resources professional:\r\n\r\n<b>Determine if your situation qualifies for the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). </b>Under this federal law, your employer is required to protect your job while you take unpaid leave for qualified medical and family situations. Under FMLA, eligible employees can take 12 weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Ask if your company has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).</b> Many companies have an EAP built into their benefit plans to assist with the challenges that come with caregiving. Benefits may include referrals to counseling services and support groups for caregivers as well as long-term care services for care recipients.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Adjust your work schedule or location.</b> To help you stay productive in your job and be near your loved ones, talk with your manager about a flexible schedule or working from home—which can also save on commuting time and transportation expenses.\r\n\r\n<b>2. If others don’t volunteer their help—ask for it. </b>Don’t assume—or let others assume—you can handle all the caregiving responsibilities alone. If family and friends volunteer help, take it. If they don’t offer, recruit others to ease the burden. Discuss with family members how much time, energy, and money each is able to contribute to your loved one’s care.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nPost and share a caregiving chart that lists everyone’s tasks on a weekly or monthly basis. Every minute delegated is time back for you, so no task is insignificant—from your child playing a game with grandma to your sister taking your father to his doctor’s appointment.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n<b>3. Organize financial resources. </b>A recent AARP study found U.S. caregivers spend an average $6,954 a year on out-of-pocket caregiving expenses.² Get a handle on all family financial resources and current living costs. Estimate outlays down the road and plan for emergencies (three or more months of income saved is a good goal). Use budgeting software to track your finances.\r\n\r\n<b>4. Take advantage of (free) resources providing assistance. </b>Resources such as Eldercare.gov, Caregiver.com, AARP.org, and Medicare.gov can provide useful information and contacts. If you’re caring for someone on Medicaid, find out if your state offers a program that allows recipients to use benefits to pay caregivers. Also check with religious organizations and social services agencies in your community that may provide free or low-cost care or companionship for elderly adults.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n<b>5. Take care of yourself.</b> Save for your future—don’t let supporting loved ones jeopardize your own long-term financial security. Contributions to 401(k) and pension plans, IRAs, and 529 college savings accounts offer tax benefits that can help you invest more tax efficiently.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nFinally, don’t feel guilty about scheduling “me time”—have dinner out with friends, play a round of golf, or join a book club or gym. Keep your own health in check with regular doctor visits, and use your vacation time to get away and rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit.\r\n\r\n¹Transamerica Institute, “The Many Faces of Caregivers: A Close-Up Look at Caregiving and Its Impact” Report, 2017. https://www.transamericainstitute.org/docs/default-source/caregivers-research/the-many-faces-of-caregivers-research-report-2017.pdf\r\n\r\n²AARP, “Family Caregiving and Out-of-Pocket Costs: 2016 Report,” 2016.\r\n\r\nhttps://www.aarp.org/caregiving/financial-legal/info-2017/out-of-pocket-cost-report.html\r\n\r\n<i>Wells Fargo Advisors is not a tax or legal advisor.</i>\r\n\r\n<i>All investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing in a 529 savings plan. The official statement, which contains this and other information, can be obtained by calling your financial advisor. Read it carefully before you invest.</i>\r\n\r\n<i>This article was written by Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Katie C. Phifer, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Associate Vice President-Investments in Beaufort, SC at 843-524-1114.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>Any third party posts, reviews or comments associated with this listing are not endorsed by Wells Fargo Advisors and do not necessarily represent the views of Katie Phifer or Wells Fargo Advisors and have not been reviewed by the Firm for completeness or accuracy.</i>\r\n\r\n<i>Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANK-GUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE</i>\r\n\r\n<i>Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo &amp; Company.</i>\r\n\r\n<i>© 2019 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC. All rights reserved.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></i>', 'The Caregiver Crunch: Five Time-and-Money Coping Strategies', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'the-caregiver-crunch-five-time-and-money-coping-strategies', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:32:32', '2020-02-20 12:32:32', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43436', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43438, 4, '2020-02-20 07:34:02', '2020-02-20 12:34:02', '<b>Special to The Island News</b>\r\n\r\nCupid made several special deliveries to the Beaufort Memorial Collins Birthing Center on February 14.\r\n\r\nThe first little Valentine to arrive was Karee Smalls, who was born at 9:37 a.m. to Jasmine Scantling and Tywonne Smalls of Beaufort – and who looks pretty content resting on a quilt of pink hearts and flowers donated by the Sea Island Quilters.\r\n\r\nBy the end of the day, Karee (far left) had lots of company in the nursery with three additional little sweethearts arriving that afternoon: Lincoln Williams at 3:07 p.m. (parents Emily and Johnathan Williams of Beaufort); Luisa Valeria Gomez Cobos at 3:40 p.m. (parents Carla Dominguez Cobos and Daniel Gomez Castillo of Ridgeland); and Everly Krushel at 2:50 p.m. (parents Skye Hayes and Keith Krushel of Bluffton).', 'Valentines babies arrive', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'valentines-babies-arrive', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:34:19', '2020-02-20 12:34:19', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43438', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43441, 4, '2020-02-20 07:35:40', '2020-02-20 12:35:40', '<b>Eddings Point<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Boat Ramp<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>closed for repairs</b>\r\n\r\nThe boat ramp at the Eddings Point Boat Landing will be closed temporarily for repairs. A notice will be sent once repairs are complete and the ramp reopens. The landing remains open to the public.\r\n\r\nFor more information, please contact Beaufort County Public Works Director Neil Desai at 843-255-2740.\r\n\r\n<b>CERT training scheduled for March</b>\r\n\r\nBeaufort County residents interested in learning more about self-sufficiency during a disaster are invited to participate in the Community Emergency Response Team Program. Participants will learn to provide emergency assistance to their families and neighbors.\r\n\r\nCERT classes are free of charge. The next series will start Tuesday, March 10. Classes will be held at the Technical College of the Lowcountry (Room 125), 100 Community College Drive, Bluffton (map).\r\n\r\nThe course will be taught in four class sessions from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and one Saturday exercise class from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.:\r\n\r\nTuesday, March 10 – Personal Preparedness and Hazard Mitigation\r\n\r\nThursday, March 12 – Disaster Medical I\r\n\r\nTuesday, March 17 – Disaster Psychology/Terrorism Response\r\n\r\nThursday, March 19 – Disaster Medical II / CERT Organization\r\n\r\nSaturday, March 28 – Fire Suppression /Disaster Search Techniques Exercise\r\n\r\nFor more information or to register send an email to cert@bcgov.net or call Major David Zeoli, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office at 843-812-8035 or Stephanie French at stephanief@bcgov.net or 843-441-5958.\r\n\r\n<b>MCRD Parris<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Island holding<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>live-fire training</b>\r\n\r\nMarine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island will be conducting extended live-fire training from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Feb. 26-27. The marsh and waterways in the range impact area to include Archers Creek,\r\n\r\nRibbon Creek, and Edding Creek will be closed to boater traffic.\r\n\r\nFor questions regarding firing times and waterway closures, please contact the Weapons and Field Training Battalion Range Control at 843-228-3170.\r\n\r\n<b>Boyles confirmed<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>as SCDNR head</b>\r\n\r\nThe South Carolina Senate by unanimous vote confirmed Robert H. Boyles Jr. as director of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR).\r\n\r\n“I am humbled and excited for the privilege of serving as the next director of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources,” Boyles said in a release. “I look forward to working with our staff, our many constituent groups, partners, and leaders across the state to help build a durable natural resources stewardship ethic for South Carolina. We have many challenges, but I am confident that we can work together to help improve conservation of our natural resources for us and for our children.”\r\n\r\nNorman Pulliam of Spartanburg, SCDNR Board chair, called Boyles “a man of great integrity who will lead this department to new heights of natural resources conservation. We went through a national search to find a new director, and Robert came out on top. He was the unanimous choice of both the selection committee and the full board. Robert will continue the great leadership that was exemplified by his predecessor, Alvin Taylor.”\r\n\r\nBoyles has served as interim director since May 2019, when former director Alvin Taylor retired. In November 2019, the SCDNR Board chose Boyles as the next director, subject to confirmation of the S.C. Senate.\r\n\r\n<b>SC tourism<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>enjoys record year</b>\r\n\r\nTourism in South Carolina is now a record $23.8 billion industry, supporting one in every 10 jobs and generating $1.8 billion in state and local taxes, according to figures released Monday, Feb. 17 by the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.\r\n\r\nSCPRT Director Duane Parrish announced the new impact in a “State of the Tourism Industry” presentation during the Governor’s Conference on Tourism &amp; Travel at the Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort and Spa at Grande Dunes. The figures represent tourism business activity for the 2018 calendar year, the latest for which there is a comprehensive analysis.\r\n\r\n<b>Rucker named SC tourism ambassador</b>\r\n\r\nThree-time Grammy Award winner and South Carolina native Darius Rucker will serve as an official ambassador for South Carolina tourism in 2020, under a new partnership with the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.\r\n\r\nWorking collaboratively with SCPRT, Rucker will share his music and name recognition to strengthen the state’s tourism brand, leveraging his national and global appeal to promote South Carolina as a preferred travel destination.', 'News Briefs', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'news-briefs-142', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:35:40', '2020-02-20 12:35:40', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43441', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43443, 4, '2020-02-20 07:36:20', '2020-02-20 12:36:20', '<b>By Sgt. Ashley Phillips</b>\r\n\r\nMarine Corps Air Station Beaufort held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Townsend Bombing Range (TBR), Jan. 29 in southeast Georgia. The ceremony was held to commemorate the expansion and moderization of TBR, the East Coast’s premier air-to-ground bombing range.\r\n\r\n“When I first encountered the range and started working with the personnel in 2015-2016 it was still operated by Georgia Air National Guard,” said Lt. Col. Brian Gerschutz, the Pilot Training Center officer in charge and an instructor pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501. “Prior to the full transfer of ownership to the Marine Corps, it was trending toward becoming obsolete. There was little to no modernization. The Marine Corps began numerous initiatives to not only modernize the range but also its size expansion.”\r\n\r\nAlthough MCAS Beaufort owned the bombing range, until October 2017 the Georgia Air National Guard maintained and operated it. Since then, MCAS Beaufort assumed full operational responsibility of the range and expanded the range from 5,183 acres to 33,834 acres.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n“Townsend Bombing Range is important not only to the Marine Corps but also for other aviation platforms in the U.S. southeast. Its expansion and modernization of our air-to-ground targets will make it a first-class training range,” Gerschutz said. “As our aircraft and weapons evolve and become more precise, they are also increasingly longer in range, so it’s important for our ranges to evolve and enable our pilots to employ those long range precision weapons. Townsend gives us this capability.”\r\n\r\nIn 2003 Marine Aircraft Group 31 proposed the expansion of the range to meet the need for the pilots and air crews to train as they fight, using precision guided munitions. Previously, due to the size of the range, the aircrews were only able to train with gravity bombs.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe range not only services the Marine Corps, but also the aircrews of the Navy, Air Force, Air National Guard, Army and Army National Guard from nearly 15 installations along the East Coast. It’s about 82 miles southwest of MCAS Beaufort in Townsend, Ga. The nation’s aircrews use it as an inert air-to-ground training range to drop precision guided munitions.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n“The impact that (TBR) has, particularly for MAG-31, is it’s pretty much a backyard bombing range for them,” said Dave Wilson, a retired MCAS Beaufort Logistics Officer. “For the F/A-18s and F-35Bs both a large portion of their mission is to do air-to-ground, which is deliver air-to-ground ordnance on time, on target and Townsend bombing range is where they practice a bulk of that mission.”', 'MCAS Beaufort celebrates  improved Townsend Bombing Range', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'mcas-beaufort-celebrates-improved-townsend-bombing-range', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:36:20', '2020-02-20 12:36:20', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43443', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43445, 4, '2020-02-20 07:36:53', '2020-02-20 12:36:53', 'The Mather School LowCountry Chapter will celebrate its annual Mather School Founder’s Day Weekend this weekend Feb. 20 through 22.\r\n\r\n<b>Schedule</b>\r\n\r\nHere is the list of daily events:\r\n\r\n<b>6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20: </b>TCL Student Organization presenting The Life of Rachel Crane Mather in observance of Black History Month at TCL’s Campus, McLean Auditorium. 920 Ribaut Rd.\r\n\r\n<b>12:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21: </b>The Mather annual bell-ringing and the official name change to Technical College of the Lowcountry Beaufort Mather Campus. Following this historical event, there will be a reception in the Mather Museum and Interpretive Center. The event starts at TCL’s Campus then moves to the Mather Museum and Interpretive Center.\r\n\r\n<b>Noon, Saturday, Feb. 22: </b>The Mather Annual Founder’s Day Luncheon – keynote speaker: Congressman Joe Cunningham, 1st District, South Carolina. At Dataw Island Country Club, 121 Dataw Drive, St. Helena Island.\r\n\r\n<b>Tickets</b>\r\n\r\nSpecial priced tickets for the Friday evening social and Saturday luncheon combined are $75. For the Friday evening social only, tickets are $30 and for the Saturday Luncheon only, tickets are $50.\r\n\r\nEvent tickets can be purchased by contacting the following committee staff members: Ms. Eleanor F. Delvin 404-388-6841; Ms. Alvesta Robertson 843-524-6123; Ms. Gail Peyton Floyd 803-237-6361.', 'Mather School to celebrate Founder’s Day', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'mather-school-to-celebrate-founders-day', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:36:53', '2020-02-20 12:36:53', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43445', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43447, 4, '2020-02-20 07:37:58', '2020-02-20 12:37:58', '<h2><b>First major grant goes to Beaufort County’s Hopeful Horizons\r\n\r\n</b></h2>\r\nThe Coastal Community Foundation, a philanthropic organization serving coastal South Carolina, has started a new chapter in the Southern Lowcountry region including Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties with the launch of its largest grant program yet, ncuding an advocacy initiative to stand up for policies addressing community-wide issues.\r\n\r\nWith support from a generous anonymous donation, the Foundation has launched the Catalyst Grant program supporting nonprofits\' large-scale projects through collaborative, equitable and innovative approaches.\r\n\r\nWith this addition, the foundation\'s annual grantmaking in the region will exceed $1 million.\r\n\r\n“We call this the Catalyst Grant because we want to spark lasting, positive outcomes in the Southern Lowcountry region by supporting bold ideas,” Vice President of Grantmaking and Community Leadership Edie Blakeslee said. “The nonprofits serving this region have so much community wisdom, but we know how difficult it can be to pursue big ideas if you’re working on a tight budget with a small staff. We asked ourselves, ‘What if that barrier was eliminated? How much good might we be able to do?’”\r\n\r\nThe program\'s first grant of $750,000 was awarded to Hopeful Horizons, a children\'s advocacy, domestic violence and rape crisis center based in Beaufort County. This significant investment — among the largest single grants ever awarded by Coastal Community Foundation — will enable the nonprofit to expand its service and open a satellite office in Colleton County, which has the highest rate of child abuse cases in South Carolina.\r\n\r\nAt this new office, Hopeful Horizons will support victims of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault with intake assessments, forensic interviews, therapy, support groups and other critical services.\r\n\r\n“We are honored to be chosen as the first recipient of the Coastal Community Foundation’s Catalyst Grant,” Hopeful Horizons CEO Kristin Dubrowski said in a release. “This investment in our work allows us to make a broad array of life-changing services much more accessible to survivors of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault living in Colleton County.”\r\n\r\nThe Catalyst Grant is one of four categories of The Beaufort Fund, the Foundation\'s annual grants program that supports nonprofits serving the Southern Lowcountry region. This year, 75 nonprofits were awarded a total of $826,567 through the Beaufort Fund. Since it was established in 1998, the Beaufort Fund has awarded more than $10 million in this region.\r\n\r\nCoastal Community Foundation of South Carolina is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create vibrant communities by uniting people and investing resources across Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry and Jasper counties. For more information, visit coastalcommunityfoundation.org or call 843-723-3635.\r\n<h2><b>&nbsp;</b></h2>', 'Coastal Community Foundation launches major Lowcountry effort', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'coastal-community-foundation-launches-major-lowcountry-effort', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:37:58', '2020-02-20 12:37:58', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43447', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43449, 4, '2020-02-20 07:38:30', '0000-00-00 00:00:00', '', 'Celebrating Good Work', '', 'draft', 'closed', 'closed', '', '', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:38:30', '2020-02-20 12:38:30', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43449', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43450, 4, '2020-02-20 07:40:50', '2020-02-20 12:40:50', 'Do you remember the Mantovani Orchestra playing “Some Enchanted Evening?” Magical, don’t you agree?\r\n\r\nWell, pianist Marco Mantovani may as well be related to the conductor Annunzio Mantovani. He shares that captivating name and he plays the piano with that magical Mantovani touch.\r\n\r\nAsk Marco Mantovani when you come to Fripp Island at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23 for his concert whether Annunzio and he are family members. It will be an enchanting evening.\r\n\r\nMarco Mantovani was born just barely three decades ago in Mantova, Italy. He received his musical training in various European schools: in Lucio Campiani, the conservatory of music in Mantova, the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole in Florence. Needless to say, Marco graduated with honors from both.\r\n\r\nIn 2017, he earned his Master in Piano Performance with the highest distinction at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Brussels and received the Ingeborg Köberle Award for being that “year\'s most promising student.” He is currently pursuing his Ph.D there, his project being the interpretation of Schuman’s piano works composed between 1836 and 1838.\r\n\r\nFundamental for Marco’s artistic development have been famous mentors. One is the great Portuguese pianist Maria Jõao Pires, who founded the Chorale Hesperos, a choir for underprivileged children for which Marco serves as the accompanying pianist.\r\n\r\nAnother is his teacher Aleksandar Madzar who said that Marco “is one of the most wonderful and complete talents I encountered in recent years. His musicianship is really of the finest kind. All parameters of the most complex repertoire are perfectly mastered, and there seem to be very few limits to what he can do, whether artistically, or instrumentally ...”\r\n\r\nMarco’s repertoire ranges from Bach to contemporary music. He has played solo, but sometimes also with orchestras or with violinists like Carola Zosi, in famous concert halls all over Italy and in numerous other European countries such as Austria, Belgium, and Germany.\r\n\r\nThis concert is sponsored by the Fripp Island Friends of Music and the S.C. Arts Commission, and it helps sustain the FIFOM’s Music-in-the Schools Program. See our website frippfriendsofmusic.com.\r\n<h2>Want to go?</h2>\r\n<b>What:</b> Pianist Marco Mantovani.\r\n\r\n<b>When:</b> 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23\r\n\r\n<b>Where:</b> Fripp Island Community Centre, 205 Tarpon Blvd.\r\n\r\n<b>Tickets: </b>Adults $30, kids free. Call Vanessa Peñaherrera 704-807-0255 for reservations. Cash or check only, no credit cards.', 'Marco Mantovani, a piano magician, comes to Fripp Island', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'marco-mantovani-a-piano-magician-comes-to-fripp-island', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:40:50', '2020-02-20 12:40:50', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43450', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43452, 4, '2020-02-20 07:42:33', '2020-02-20 12:42:33', '<i>Republican S.C. Senator Tom Davis, right, explains why he supports the proposed Equal Rights Amendment as S.C. Senator Margie Bright-Matthews, a Democrat from Walterboro, listens during the 100th anniversary celebration of the League of Women Voters on Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club. Photo by Bob Sofaly.</i>', 'League of Women Voters celebrates 100 years', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'league-of-women-voters-celebrates-100-years', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:42:33', '2020-02-20 12:42:33', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43452', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43455, 4, '2020-02-20 07:43:14', '2020-02-20 12:43:14', '<b>Feb. 20</b> – Beaufort County’s Airports Board*, 1:30 p.m., County Council Chambers, Administration Building, Beaufort County Government Robert Smalls Complex, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort\r\n\r\n<b>Feb. 20</b> – Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation, 2:30 p.m., Chancellor’s Conference Room, USCB Hargray Building, 1 University Boulevard, Bluffton\r\n\r\n<b>Feb. 20</b> – Sheldon Fire District Board, 7 p.m., Station 40, 5 Fire Station Lane Sheldon\r\n\r\n<b>Feb. 20</b> – City of Beaufort’s Cultural District Advisory Board, 2 p.m., City Hall, Executive Conference Room No. 2, 2nd Floor, 1911 Boundary Street, Beaufort\r\n\r\n<b>Feb. 24</b> – Beaufort Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees (Finance), 7:30 a.m., Boardroom, Third Floor, Beaufort Memorial Medical and Administrative Center, 990 Ribaut Road, Beaufort\r\n\r\n<b>Feb. 24</b> – Beaufort County Executive Committee*, 5 p.m., Council Chambers, Administration Building, Beaufort County Government Robert Smalls Complex, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort\r\n\r\n<b>Feb. 24</b> – Beaufort County Council Regular Session*, 6 p.m., Council Chambers, Administration Building, Beaufort County Government Robert Smalls Complex, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort\r\n\r\n<b>Feb. 25</b> – Camp St. Mary\'s Stakeholders Workshop, 6 p.m., St. John Paul II Catholic School, 4211 Okatie Hwy, Ridgeland\r\n\r\n<b>Feb. 25</b> – City of Beaufort’s Work Session, 5 p.m., City Hall Planning Conference Room, 1st Floor; Regular Meeting, 7 p.m., City Council Chambers, City Hall-2nd Floor, Beaufort\r\n\r\n<b>Feb. 26</b> – Beaufort Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, 7:30 a.m., Boardroom, Third Floor, Beaufort Memorial Medical and Administrative Center, 990 Ribaut Road, Beaufort\r\n\r\n<i>*Will be televised on The County Channel</i>', 'Public Meetings – Feb. 20-26', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'public-meetings-feb-20-26', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:43:14', '2020-02-20 12:43:14', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43455', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43457, 4, '2020-02-20 07:44:09', '2020-02-20 12:44:09', '<h2>Lady’s Island Middle School supports its principal</h2>\r\nI have taught at Lady’s Island Middle School since we opened the doors of the school in August of 1984. Prior to that, I taught for four years at St. Helena Jr. High. I have lived on St. Helena Island for more than 30 years.\r\n\r\nThe staff at Lady’s Island Middle School is working hard to provide our students with a safe and positive learning environment. As educators we work tirelessly every day to teach our students through interesting, fun and high-quality learning experiences.\r\n\r\nWe believe every student has the right to learn in a classroom setting that is friendly, respectful and non-disruptive.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, our students are not quite where they need to be. Sixty-five percent of our students are not on grade level in ELA and Math. That is a fact. The community may not like those numbers – I can assure you we do not either.\r\n\r\nMr. Hall and the staff at Lady’s Island Middle School have taken measures to begin to correct both historically low scores and poor decisions by students at our school. This may be uncomfortable to some, but it is necessary and should be addressed with no further delay.\r\n\r\nComplaining on social media does not solve the problem; the problem is solved when school staff, parents and students work together to achieve a common goal. Our goal for our students is to help them grow to be successful in high school and beyond, as well as good citizens and community members.\r\n\r\n<b><i>– Scott Shipsey</i></b>\r\n\r\n<b><i>Teacher, Lady’s Island Middle School</i></b>', 'Letter to the Editor', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'letter-to-the-editor-38', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:44:09', '2020-02-20 12:44:09', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43457', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43459, 4, '2020-02-20 07:45:38', '2020-02-20 12:45:38', 'The Beaufort County Open Land Trust announced last week that Beaufort County has closed on the purchase of a Lady’s Island property known as Pineview.\r\n\r\nAcquired through the County’s Rural and Critical Land Preservation Program, the forested 108-acre property has more than 2,200 feet of water frontage on Rock Springs Creek.\r\n\r\nPineview sits next to the 517-acre protected Holly Hall Plantation. The undeveloped land contains a mixture of forested uplands and wetlands, providing significant wildlife habitat and natural stormwater filtration and recharge benefits. Beaufort County will manage the property for its optimal ecological benefit and will consider future passive recreational opportunities on-site.\r\n\r\n“Conservation is a must in Beaufort County,” Beaufort County Council Member York Glover said in a release. “Beaufort County is changing, but we must do our part to preserve a sense of history for the generations to come. Acquiring this tract on Lady’s Island will add to other tracts that have been preserved by the County over the years.”\r\n\r\nBeaufort County has permanently protected Pineview by placing restrictive covenants on the property. The County has a contract with the Beaufort County Open Land Trust to manage land acquisitions for the Rural and Critical Land Preservation Program.\r\n\r\nFor more information about this property, contact the Beaufort County Open Land Trust at 843-521-2175.', 'County acquires, to preserve 108 acres on Lady’s Island', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'county-acquires-to-preserve-108-acres-on-ladys-island', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:45:38', '2020-02-20 12:45:38', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43459', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43461, 4, '2020-02-20 07:46:06', '2020-02-20 12:46:06', 'U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) has announced he is accepting congressional internship applications for available positions in his Washington D.C., North Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville offices for the summer of 2020.\r\n\r\nThe internship program offers undergraduate and graduate students practical experience in constituent services, the legislative process, government policy, and press. The internship provides students with the ability to work with and learn from public service professionals. Students will learn invaluable work experience and skills throughout their internship that will help them gain a better understanding of how their government functions.\r\n\r\nIn Washington, interns have the unique chance to research legislation, attend Congressional hearings and briefings, assist with press tasks, and help with constituent letters on issues. Responsibilities also include answering phones, helping to coordinate meetings, and other administrative tasks.\r\n\r\nBy the end of the program, students will come away with a stronger understanding of the lawmaking process, will have improved their communication writing skills and critical thinking abilities.\r\n\r\nIn the South Carolina offices, interns will take an active role in the community, working on state-based projects of importance, while also answering phones, completing research and other projects, and being an integral part of day-to-day office operations. State office interns have the ability to assist with issues that are personally affecting our constituents.\r\n\r\nInternship hours are flexible to accommodate students\' course schedules, but can generally run 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Interested South Carolina students can apply through Scott’s website (https://www.scott.senate.gov/constituent-services/internships). For additional questions, contact the internship coordinator at internships@scott.senate.gov or 202-224-6121.', 'Scott accepting applications for Summer 2020 internships', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'scott-accepting-applications-for-summer-2020-internships', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:46:06', '2020-02-20 12:46:06', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43461', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43463, 4, '2020-02-20 07:47:30', '2020-02-20 12:47:30', '<b>By MINDY LUCAS</b>\r\n\r\nThe City of Beaufort’s annexation of a Lady\'s Island property once met with heavy opposition has become a reality.\r\n\r\nThe annexation request was given final approval at City Council’s most recent meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11.\r\n\r\nThe property – a collection of smaller parcels totaling 6.9 acres along William Street and Mayfair Court – was among two such properties that came under fire last summer when area residents turned out by the dozens to protest their annexation.\r\n\r\nResidents took particular issue with the annexation of the larger parcel, a 20-acre property along Miller Drive East that includes a five-acre lake, citing concerns over increased development, density and traffic in a largely residential area east of Sam’s Point Road.\r\n\r\nBoth applications for annexation received preliminary approval at council’s Aug. 27 meeting, and received different zonings from what applicants had originally requested.\r\n\r\nHowever, local builder Merritt Patterson who owns the William Street and Mayfair Court parcels, asked that his annexation request be removed from consideration after that meeting saying he didn’t want to be “thrown into the same emotional environment” as the Miller Drive East application.\r\n\r\nAt Tuesday night’s meeting, council members Nan Sutton, Mike McFee, Stephen Murray and Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling gave final approval to Patterson’s request for annexation. Council member Phil Cromer was absent.\r\n\r\nIn addition, council members had only given preliminary approval for a T3N zoning, at its Aug. 27 meeting. That zoning or “Neighborhood District” allows for residential housing of various sizes and types.\r\n\r\nHowever, at Tuesday night’s meeting, council members approved Patterson’s request for a T5-UC zoning. That zoning, or “Urban Corridor District,” consists of “higher density, mixed-use buildings that accommodate retail, row homes, offices, and apartments located along primary thoroughfares,” according to the Beaufort Code.', 'City completes controversial annexation of Lady’s Island property', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'city-completes-controversial-annexation-of-ladys-island-property', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:47:30', '2020-02-20 12:47:30', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43463', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43465, 4, '2020-02-20 07:48:35', '2020-02-20 12:48:35', 'Beaufort History Museum will present a lecture on Confederate General Stephen Elliott at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 3 at First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, located at the corner of North and Church Streets.\r\n\r\nThe Speaker is D. Michael Thomas, author of “Confederate General Stephen Elliott: Beaufort Legend, Charleston Hero.”\r\n\r\nAdmission to the lecture is free. A donation of $5 is suggested and reservations are required. To sign up visit the BHM website at www.beauforthistorymuseum.com. Please print the ticket and bring to the event.\r\n\r\nFunds collected will be used to support ongoing Museum programs and the renovation of the Exhibit Hall currently underway. Phase I of the renovation is now open and planning for Phase II is under way.\r\n\r\nA South Carolina native, Thomas is the author of two well-regarded books. In addition to his work on Stephen Elliott he has also written “Wade Hampton’s Iron Scouts: Confederate Special Forces,” published in 2018.\r\n\r\nThomas graduated from The Citadel in Charleston with a B.A. in History and is a Vietnam veteran with active duty service in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1972.', 'Beaufort History Museum to  host lecture on Confederate Elliott', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-history-museum-to-host-lecture-on-confederate-elliott', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:48:35', '2020-02-20 12:48:35', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43465', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43468, 4, '2020-02-20 07:50:32', '2020-02-20 12:50:32', '<i>Construction of the new high-level fixed-span Harbor River Bridge spanning St. Helena and Harbor islands is still under way with the span now clearly visible. The current “swing bridge” is 78 years old and closes to vehicular traffic to allow shrimp boats to pass. The new single-span, 3,353-foot long bridge, according to the S.C. Dept. of Transportation, will be high enough to allow the boats to pass unimpeded underneath the bridge without stopping vehicular traffic. Photo by Bob Sofaly.</i>', 'Up, Up and Away', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'up-up-and-away', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:50:32', '2020-02-20 12:50:32', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43468', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43471, 4, '2020-02-20 07:52:18', '2020-02-20 12:52:18', '<strong>Editor\'s Note:</strong> This is the second installment in a series of three essays on the State v. Plath and Arnold trial that happened in 1979. The first part can be found at&nbsp;<a href=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/looking-back-on-the-tragedy-of-april-12-1978/\">https://staging.yourislandnews.com/looking-back-on-the-tragedy-of-april-12-1978/</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>By SCOTT GRABER</strong>\r\n\r\nJohn Plath, then 21 years of age, walked into the courtroom with dark, penetrating eyes and a well-sculpted nose. He wore a cross around his neck, parted his long, dark hair down the middle and presented a countenance that reminded one of Jesus Christ.\r\n\r\nJohn Arnold had a face that was in no sense attractive or biblical. Arnold’s nose was large, his nostrils spreading down across pitted checks. His lips were large and tubular, made even larger by a mustache that came to a point just below his nose. His face suggested plastic surgery gone bad.\r\n\r\nRalph Baldwin and I were representing John Arnold and in the beginning he maintained that he did not take part in the killing of Betty Gardner — saying he stood by while Plath and the older girl did the choking, stomping and stabbing.\r\n\r\nConvincing a jury that John Arnold — called “Mad Dog” by the Solicitor — was a bystander would have been hard under any circumstances. But it was made harder by a rash-like scar that began under his right eye and ran down his neck and onto his shoulder and torso. This “wine stain” was the singular feature that everyone would remember about John Arnold.\r\n\r\n“This is going to be a right gory case, but its my duty to present all the facts” Solicitor Randolph “Buster” Murdaugh said in his opening remarks. “This is as cold blooded a killing as has ever been performed in Beaufort County or the State of South Carolina.”\r\n\r\nThe Solicitor really didn’t need any preamble. The teen-aged girl (John Plath’s companion) had turned “State’s evidence,” and she took the stand and told her story in deliberate detail.\r\n\r\nAccording to the girl, Betty Gardner was required to perform oral sex on Plath, and on her, after which Gardner was beaten, dragged around with a belt and choked with a garden hose.\r\n\r\nAt one point the Solicitor made girl stand up and wrap a section of garden hose around his neck. For several minutes the Solicitor paced back and forth in front of the jury box with the hose still wrapped around his neck saying, “I’m going to leave it here because we’re still going to be talking about it.”\r\n\r\nAccording to the witness, the garden hose was not killing Betty Gardner fast enough so Plath began jumping up and down on her neck. Then Arnold used Plath’s pocket knife to stab Betty Gardner. But she would not die.\r\n\r\nBy this time, Murdaugh was lying down on the floor of the courtroom playing the role of the dying woman, while the girl and a Sheriff’s Deputy, Gerald Wagner, pulled the ends of the hose.\r\n\r\n“Don’t get between me and the jury,” Murdaugh shouted when the courtroom choreography did not suit the Solicitor.\r\n\r\nAfter the re-enactment, the case was over as far as guilt or innocence. No amount of cross examination, or testimony from Plath was going to change the outcome. The only question remaining was whether John Arnold and John Plath would spend the rest of their lives in prison or die in the electric chair, which had been residing in my garage since Ralph and I had subpoenaed the chair from Columbia.\r\n\r\nRalph and I shifted our emphasis to the 2nd trial that would determine whether Arnold would live or die.\r\n\r\n“This morning we will call several sociologists to discuss the death sentence,” I said, as the sentencing trial began. “We will discuss the historical and cultural context of death and why most primitive societies do not use it. Why is it more frequently used in complex industrial societies?”\r\n\r\nBut in 1979, these Beaufort County jurors were not interested in “discussing the historical and cultural context of death.” Nor were they interested in hearing the priests, psychologists or young lawyers pontificate about the electric chair being barbaric or backward and not really effective as a deterrent to crime.\r\n\r\nIn his response to our arguments, the Solicitor said that if the jury gave these two boys life imprisonment, he would “never bring another death penalty case in Beaufort County.”\r\n\r\nAnd this threat was the basis of our appeal to the Supreme Court and, subsequently, the Court’s setting the jury’s death verdict aside.\r\n\r\nAnd so the Pennsylvania boys came back to Beaufort for a second trial. This time there was a new judge, Luke Brown, and a new jury.\r\n\r\nBut the facts were not new. And those facts had the same impact on the new jury as they had on the first. Once again, Plath and Arnold were sentenced to death in the electric chair.\r\n\r\n<i>Scott Graber is a lawyer, novelist, veteran columnist and longtime resident of Port Royal. Email Scott at cscottgraber@gmail.com.</i>', 'Facts of Gardner case twice lead to death sentence', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'facts-of-gardner-case-twice-lead-to-death-sentence', '', '', '2020-12-04 02:44:21', '2020-12-04 07:44:21', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43471', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43473, 4, '2020-02-20 07:53:32', '2020-02-20 12:53:32', '<b>By MINDY LUCAS</b>\r\n\r\nAfter a lengthy and, at times, heated discussion on parliamentary procedure, Beaufort County Council members attempted to unseat council chairman Stu Rodman at its regular meeting held Monday, Feb. 10.\r\n\r\nCouncil member Mike Covert attempted several times during the course of the meeting to make a motion to amend the council’s rules and procedures and terms governing the chairman’s position. However his motion to amend was overruled by Rodman.\r\n\r\nA motion to overturn Rodman’s ruling and allow for the earlier motion also failed in a 5-5 vote.\r\n\r\nLater in the meeting, Covert made additional remarks voicing his displeasure with the chairman, citing recent controversy as reported in local media.\r\n\r\n“Throughout the last year or so there have been numerous articles in local, regional as well as national newspapers and social media ‘newspapers’ on the state of affairs of the current chairman,” Covert said.\r\n\r\nCovert went on to say he has received countless anonymous letters and phone calls on the chairman’s harassment of the county administrator, county employees, vendors and other members of political bodies as well as his “strong arming” of meetings and agendas for his own purposes.\r\n\r\n“This can not continue,” Covert said.', 'Attempt to unseat Beaufort County Council Chairman fails in split vote', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'attempt-to-unseat-beaufort-county-council-chairman-fails-in-split-vote', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:53:32', '2020-02-20 12:53:32', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43473', 0, 'post', '', 0);
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(43475, 4, '2020-02-20 07:55:38', '2020-02-20 12:55:38', '<h2><b>Beaufort’s International Film Festival enjoying increased numbers since its ‘breakout year’\r\n\r\n</b></h2>\r\n<b>By MINDY LUCAS</b>\r\n\r\nFilm festivals like Beaufort’s own, which takes place this week, aren’t just a lot of fun for those who enjoy seeing new movies or hobnobbing with stars. They can actually be good for local economies as well.\r\n\r\nIn fact, really good, some say.\r\n\r\nTake Sundance for instance. Widely considered one of the world’s premiere film festivals, Sundance generated $182.5 million in economic impact for the state of Utah last year, according to the Sundance Institute. It also attracted more than 122,000 attendees from 48 states and 35 countries.\r\n\r\nAnd while the Beaufort International Film Festival isn’t in the same economy of scale as Utah’s 11-day mega event, the festival has been seeing some respectable numbers of its own in recent years, and is even growing in attendance, said Ron Tucker, President/CEO of the Beaufort Film Society, which produces the festival.\r\n\r\n“We call 2010 our breakout year,” Tucker said.\r\n\r\nThat was the year that the festival’s estimated attendance jumped from 500, recorded just three years earlier, to 5,000.\r\n\r\nA number of factors conspired to get to that heady number, Tucker explained.\r\n\r\nFirst, an aggressive campaign to make Beaufort more welcoming to festival goers was launched by the Beaufort Film Society, which had become the festival’s sole producer that year.\r\n\r\nAs Tucker went on to say, the society worked to build alliance with hotels, restaurants and other local businesses in an effort to increase the area’s sense of hospitality.\r\n\r\nSecond, 2010’s festival featured Beaufort’s own Pat Conroy, actress Blythe Danner and actor Michael O’Keefe. The star-studded weekend had people talking about the festival for a long time after it was over, which helped to raise the festival’s profile, Tucker said.\r\n\r\n“That kind of launched us onto another level,” he said. “We went from not being known, to being pretty well known.”\r\n\r\nAdditionally, social media, which had also begun to grow exponentially by 2010, coupled with word of mouth, has continued to fuel the festival’s popularity.\r\n\r\nTen years later, those earlier efforts are paying off, he said. Last year, the festival – now a five day event – saw a record setting 16,000 in attendance. In addition, hotels had to add additional nights to accommodate longer visits.\r\n\r\nThe increased numbers are also reflected somewhat in a zip code analysis conducted last year by the Greater Beaufort-Port Royal Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Lowcountry and Resort Islands Tourism Institute (LRITI) at the University of South Carolina Beaufort.\r\n\r\nAmong those who responded to the survey, visitors in particular had been to the festival before and tended to stay in Beaufort for multiple days. In addition, when they visited, they cited the festival as their primary reason for visiting, confirmed Anton Abraham, interim director for LRITI.\r\n\r\n“What I always find quite interesting is, it’s a very local festival but it does attract tourists and they do come for this event,” Abraham said. “They travel specifically to Beaufort for the festival.”\r\n\r\nWhat’s more, while the survey does not stand in for an economic impact study – which can be quite expensive for municipalities or entities to conduct – some things can still be gleaned from the data collected, he said.\r\n\r\nFor instance, of those visitors who were surveyed:\r\n\r\n46 percent said they planned to spend $100 or more per night on accommodations.\r\n\r\n68 percent will spend at least $50 or more per day eating at restaurants.\r\n\r\n24 percent will spend at least $50 or more per day on recreation such as golf or bicycle rentals (37 percent said they would spend less than $50).\r\n\r\n36 percent will spend $50 or more per day on retail shopping (46 percent said they would spend less).\r\n\r\n“That’s why it’s so important for the local economy,” Abraham said. “They’re eating in restaurants, spending money on recreation or retail and that is feeding into the local economy,” he said.\r\n\r\nAndra Reeve-Rabb, Dean of the School of Entertainment Arts for Savannah College of Art and Design, echoed what Abraham said.\r\n\r\nSCAD’s annual film festival, which saw more than 60,000 visitors in 2019, generates millions of dollars in economic impact each year for the city of Savannah, she said. And the impact can be felt even after the last popcorn is sold, she noted.\r\n\r\n“Many directors and producers who attend the festival fall in love with Savannah. This often leads to future projects,” she said. “Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins attended the film festival in 2018. Last summer he began filming his new series “Underground Railroad” in Savannah, hiring hundreds of local actors, below-the-line workers and SCAD students.”\r\n\r\nSCAD’s festival in particular provides opportunities for potential employees to plug into Georgia’s growing film industry.\r\n\r\n“Our SCAD students and community members have the opportunity to interact with the best directors, producers, writers, actors, set designers in the business,” she said. “Making those connections leads to our students getting jobs without having to move to Hollywood or New York. They can stay and work in Savannah, and keep contributing to the local economy.”\r\n\r\nLike SCAD’s festival, Tucker said, the Beaufort festival too has filmmakers, not just fans, who come away from the event talking about the positive experience they had in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. They then go on industry sites, such as www.filmfreeway.com, where they comment and tell other filmmakers about the Beaufort festival.\r\n\r\nTucker and his wife, Rebecca Tucker, who serves as vice president for the film society, said they have been “pleasantly surprised” by that aspect.\r\n\r\n“It has taken on a power of it’s own, mainly through word of mouth from the filmmakers,” he said. “And then they tell other filmmakers, and then when they submit films that are at such a level that they are competing at Tribeca, Cannes, Sundance and South by Southwest, then your pedigree changes and you’ve got filmmakers that are accomplished, that are award-winning that are coming here.”\r\n\r\nWord of mouth not only can be a useful tool when making future marketing decisions, it may just be one of the most important determinants when looking at a festival’s overall success, Anton Abraham said.\r\n\r\nIn the 2019 survey, 84 percent said they were extremely likely to recommend Beaufort’s festival to friends.\r\n\r\n“That percentage is very, very big,” said Anton Abraham. “And is basically a testament to the success of this festival.”\r\n<h2><b>&nbsp;</b></h2>', 'Experts: Film festivals big for local economies', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'experts-film-festivals-big-for-local-economies', '', '', '2020-02-20 07:55:38', '2020-02-20 12:55:38', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43475', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43480, 4, '2020-02-20 07:58:15', '2020-02-20 12:58:15', '<b>By MINDY LUCAS</b>\r\n\r\nAbout 40 people turned out Wednesday, Feb. 12 to hear Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard at the Gullah Jazz Café in Beaufort.\r\n\r\nThe Democratic presidential candidate, who finished with just 3 percent of the vote in the New Hampshire primary, downplayed her low ranking performance saying she would continue doing what she was doing when asked if she would change her strategy going forward.\r\n\r\n“I’m not a billionaire or as well known as some of the other candidates, but we are fueled by contributions from individuals all across the country, incredible volunteers who are helping us get our message out there to voters … so that’s what I’m going to continue to do,” she said.\r\n\r\nThe combat veteran talked about such topics as healthcare and education at the townhall styled event but underscored that she believed the country could not pay for these things if it continued to fund wars and a continued military presence like the one in Afghanistan.\r\n\r\n“Unless we deal with the cost of war and the priorities in this country that, in my view, have been wrong for so long, we won’t begin to be able to pay for the things that we need …,” she said.\r\n\r\nGabbard also talked about the importance of bringing the country together, but also stated that same message of unity made her the best candidate to beat Donald Trump.\r\n\r\nShe spoke for about 10&nbsp;minutes before taking questions from those gathered for the event, many of whom said they were Independents or Libertarians.\r\n\r\nBrittany Culbertson, who identified herself as a moderate Democrat, asked the Congresswoman to explain her vote on impeachment. Gabbard voted “present” on the House’s two articles of impeachment.\r\n\r\n“Continuing this hyper-partisanship through this avenue of impeachment would only further divide our already divided country,” she said. “And it would increase the likelihood that it would be more difficult to beat Donald Trump at the ballot box.”\r\n\r\nGabbard went on to say that the Senate was never going to “kick him out of office.”\r\n\r\n“That was not a realistic outcome,” she said.\r\n\r\nAfter the event, Culbertson said, while she appreciated Gabbard’s emphasis on foreign policy, she didn’t buy her answer on impeachment.\r\n\r\n“It’s not a referendum on what would happen, but rather it’s about what you believe did happen,” she said.\r\n\r\nThe S.C. Democratic Primary is Saturday, Feb. 29.\r\n\r\n<i>Democratic presidential hopeful Tulsi Gabbard held a town hall meeting at the Beaufort Black Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Feb. 12. Gabbard answered questions on topics ranging from gun control to attacks on the U.S. Constitution. Photo by Bob Sofaly.</i>', 'Hawaii Congresswoman Gabbard makes campaign stop in Beaufort', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'hawaii-congresswoman-gabbard-makes-campaign-stop-in-beaufort', '', '', '2020-02-20 08:00:42', '2020-02-20 13:00:42', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43480', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43488, 4, '2020-02-26 13:04:19', '2020-02-26 18:04:19', '<strong>By LEE SCOTT</strong>\r\n\r\nLast week I found myself crawling around in the engine room of a power boat that my spouse was renovating. It was my own fault, you see, I had lost a bet. Truthfully, I had lost two bets.\r\n\r\nNormally, I am not a gambling person; unless I am sure I am right. But my spouse challenged me with something that I was positive I had the correct answer. Before I knew it, I was shaking hands on a $100 bet.\r\n\r\nAfterward, we had to prove to one another who had the correct answer. Then to my dismay, I realized I was wrong.\r\n\r\n“Uh oh! $100.”\r\n\r\nTwo days later, I foolishly agreed on another bet. After all, I wanted to win my $100 back and I was sure of the answer on the debated question. You guessed it, I was wrong and down $200.\r\n\r\nNow you must understand that we do not actually use cash in our betting. What is the purpose, we are married?\r\n\r\nBut there is a value to the money that the losing party owes, and it is normally in the potential cost of some project that the other person desires. We have negotiated the value of jobs like moving furniture in my office – which was paid off with some his betting debts.\r\n\r\nLet’s be clear here. The credits and debits do not come into play with household chores. As it happens, I am the “helper” on many of the home projects, but on the projects, which are his alone, or mine alone, then debts must be satisfied.\r\n\r\nThat is why I found myself in the engine room. He needed me, or at least some other smaller person, to crawl around in there instead of him, and he did not want to pay the going rate.\r\n\r\nFortunately, for me, this was not the normal kind of job. He really needed me.\r\n\r\nHe did not have to hire a sub-contractor, and besides, he knows that we communicate very well on these kinds of projects. That drove my “hourly” rate to $150, which he agreed upon.\r\n\r\nThen it took longer than he had anticipated. By the time I crawled up out of the boat basement and into the main cabin, I was a mess. There were dirt smudges all over my old khakis, plus my old sweatshirt was torn. But I came up with a smile on my face.\r\n\r\n“What are you so happy about?” he asked.\r\n\r\n“You owe me!” I said gleefully. “I gave you $300 worth of work and paid down my $200 bet. Now it’s payback time and I have a few personal chores in mind.”\r\n\r\nThat is when he turned to me and smiled, “Oh yeah, want to bet?”\r\n\r\n<i>Lee Scott, a writer and recent retiree, shares her everyday observations about life after career. A former commercial banker responsible for helping her clients to reach their business objectives, Scott now translates those analytical skills to her writings. She lives on St. Helena Island and enjoys boating, traveling and reading.</i>', 'Sometimes by losing you get a lot accomplished', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', '43488-2', '', '', '2020-12-04 22:57:57', '2020-12-05 03:57:57', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43488', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43490, 4, '2020-02-26 13:05:32', '2020-02-26 18:05:32', '<strong>Editor’s Note:</strong>&nbsp;This is the third and final installment in a series of three essays on the State v. Plath and Arnold trial that happened in 1979. The first part can be found at&nbsp;<a href=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/looking-back-on-the-tragedy-of-april-12-1978/\">https://staging.yourislandnews.com/looking-back-on-the-tragedy-of-april-12-1978/</a>. The second part can be found at&nbsp;<a href=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/facts-of-gardner-case-twice-lead-to-death-sentence/\">https://staging.yourislandnews.com/facts-of-gardner-case-twice-lead-to-death-sentence/</a>.&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>By SCOTT GRABER</strong>\r\n\r\nWriters cannot escape their own history. We write what we know, what we have experienced.\r\n\r\nIn 1979 I was eight years out of law school and still believed the system in South Carolina was fundamentally fair. Yes, there were colorful characters like Randolph “Buster” Murdaugh; and irascible judges like Clyde Eltzroth, but the legal system delivered fundamental, if imperfect justice to the citizens of this small, misunderstood State.\r\n\r\nThe Arnold trial taught me about the far from equal battle that takes place in our courts every day — the State gave us a whopping $3000 to fund our months-long case. It was an awakening regarding the “presumption of innocence” — piously repeated by every judge and largely ignored by every jury.\r\n\r\nBut beyond these revelations, this trial reinforced the vague notion that certain people — given their biology and the circumstances of their birth — never have a chance.\r\n\r\nIn the 60s and 70s, there was a theory that men born with an extra Y chromosome were prone to aggression. At the time of the trial my father was an immunologist at MUSC, and I convinced him to take a tissue sample from John Arnold’s cheek.\r\n\r\nIf he had tested positive for the extra chromosome, we intended to argue that John Arnold was biologically prone to violence. But he didn’t have that extra chromosome, and we didn’t make that argument. Eventually the extra chromosome theory was debunked.\r\n\r\nNow the genetic basis for criminal behavior is well established. Recent studies, especially among identical twins, show that identical twins are more similar to each other in terms of violence than fraternal twins.\r\n\r\nA landmark study in 1984 showed that children (in Denmark) adopted from parents with a criminal record are more likely to be criminals themselves.\r\n\r\nBrain imagining studies have found that murderers tend to have poorer functioning of the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain that regulates impulsive behavior. Other studies have found that psychopaths have an 18 percent smaller amygdala — the part of the brain where moral decisions are made.\r\n\r\nI believed then, and believe today, that Arnold’s grotesque face, along with the blood-red birthmark, was a source of constant humiliation. I believe that this rejection, together with an unscanned brain deformity, was part of the reason he did what he did on that afternoon in 1978.\r\n\r\nThere is, however, no rational defense for the blows that he stuck, the stabbing and the killing of Betty Gardner. The only question to be decided was whether or not he should forfeit his life for what he did.\r\n\r\nThe death penalty, like the existence of God, is something one believes in or does not believe in. When it is discovered that an innocent man has been wrongfully executed, the death penalty falls out of favor. It is put on hold for a year or two while there is a renewed, national debate about its use in the United States.\r\n\r\nBut when you have a killing, like the Betty Gardner killing, many rational people believe the only response is execution. That Old Testament thinking was in vogue — in South Carolina in 1979 — and remains in place today. It remains in place despite evidence that points to biological imperatives beyond the conscious control of the killer.\r\n\r\nState after state, most recently Maryland, have come to the conclusion that there are too many scientific variables, too many unknowns, to give this life or death decision to a jury. South Carolina is not one of those states.\r\n\r\nAt the end of the first trial Judge Eltzroth called me into his chambers, put his hand on my young shoulders, and said, “You can’t make chicken soup out of chicken shit.” And for a number of years I walked around with that rationale in my head.\r\n\r\nBut as I have aged, I’ve wondered what I might have done differently. Was there some expert I might have called that would have saved the life of John Arnold. If we had been given more than $3,000, could we have mounted a better defense?\r\n\r\nBut in 1979, I was caught up in a drama that was beyond my pay grade; that I could not control; where the outcome was pre-ordained. I played my role, the judge and jury played theirs, and Beaufort County and the State of South Carolina moved on.\r\n\r\n<i>Scott Graber is a lawyer, novelist, veteran columnist and longtime resident of Port Royal. Email Scott at cscottgraber@gmail.com.</i>', 'We all played our roles but outcome was already decided', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'we-all-played-our-roles-but-outcome-was-already-decided', '', '', '2020-12-04 02:43:02', '2020-12-04 07:43:02', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43490', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43492, 4, '2020-02-26 13:06:27', '2020-02-26 18:06:27', '<b>Beaufort middle schooler aces WordMasters</b>\r\n\r\nA Beaufort Middle School 6th-grader was one of eight Beaufort County School District elementary and middle school students who earned perfect scores in the fall edition of a national vocabulary competition.\r\n\r\nLiam Gibbons was perfect on the WordMasters Challenge, the nation’s longest-running language arts competition for elementary and middle school students, which holds three meets for nearly 125,000 students during each school year.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n“We’re very proud of these students and their teachers,” Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said in a release. “A strong vocabulary is an important part of being able to communicate effectively, and these national recognitions show that these students and their teachers are off to a tremendous start.”\r\n\r\nThe WordMasters Challenge is an exercise in critical thinking that encourages students to become familiar with new words that are considerably harder than grade level, then challenges them to use those words to complete analogies that express various kinds of logical relationships.\r\n\r\n<b>4 Holy Trinity students National Merit finalists</b>\r\n\r\nFour Holy Trinity Classical Christian School students were among the 15,000 nationwide who have advanced to National Merit Scholarship finalists.\r\n\r\nFour seniors from the first graduating class advanced – Sydney Lawrence, Caroline O\'Neal, Morgan Chumney, and Sarah Lawrence. These four students were named as Semifinalists in September and went through a qualifying process that includes providing their academic record, the school\'s curricula and grading system, PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index score, a written recommendation provided by their school, information about the student\'s activities and leadership, and the finalist\'s own essay in order to advance to finalist standing.\r\n\r\nBeginning in March and continuing to mid-June, more than half of these finalists will be selected to receive a Merit Scholarship award.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n<b>United Way offering scholarship for female students</b>\r\n\r\nThe United Way of the Lowcountry is now offering a $1,000 scholarship open to local female college students of any age.\r\n\r\nThe recipient must be a resident of Beaufort or Jasper Counties, must be currently employed and have viable satisfactory employment rating, may be a new or returning student seeking to register for a minimum of six credit hours at Technical College of the Lowcountry or USC Beaufort (If a returning student, must have a GPA of 3.0 or greater).\r\n\r\nCandidates must have references from two employers or faculty/administrators to speak to the applicant\'s professionalism and work-ethic, and must have made some contributions to the community through volunteering in church, non-profits, civic organizations, educational institutions, etc.\r\n\r\nApplicants must submit a one-page personal statement, explaining how this scholarship will help break barriers to education and how the funds will be utilized. Application deadline is March 6.\r\n\r\n<b>Board approves program manager, four construction firms</b>\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort County Board of Education approved Atlanta-based CBRE Heery Inc. to help manage construction projects funded by the school district’s $345 million bond referendum approved by voters in November.\r\n\r\nThe Board also approved four South Carolina-based construction firms – Contract Construction of Ballentine; H.G. Reynold Co. of Aiken; M.B. Kahn Construction of Columbia and Thompson Turner Construction of Sumter – to build specific referendum-funded projects related to safety/security, technology upgrades, playground improvements at one school and athletic facilities improvements at another.\r\n\r\nReferendum projects will be completed at Beaufort High School; Lady’s Island Middle School; Beaufort Elementary School; Hilton Head Island Elementary School; Whale Branch Middle School; H.E. McCracken Middle School; and Right Choices.\r\n\r\nTwo additional schools – Bluffton Elementary and Whale Branch Elementary – will be closed this summer for previously scheduled work funded with “8 percent” dollars, and while closed, additional referendum-funded work will occur. Whale Branch Early College High School is scheduled to have its athletic track resurfaced using 8 percent funding. While this work is under way, referendum-funded athletic work at the football field will occur.\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort’s Mitchell named to Dean\'s List at Limestone</b>\r\n\r\nSammy Mitchell of Beaufort was named to the Dean\'s List for the fall 2019 semester at Limestone College in Gaffney. Full-time students (taking a minimum of 12 semester hours) receiving the grade of \"A\" in all their courses are included on the Dean\'s List.\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort cadets awarded gold stars at The Citadel</b>\r\n\r\nGold stars were awarded to cadets and students at The Citadel who achieved a 3.7 grade point average or higher in the fall 2019 semester. Cadets and students who achieve gold star recognition are also placed on The Citadel\'s dean\'s list.\r\n\r\nThe nearly 600 cadets and students awarded gold stars included the Beaufort trio of Thomas Henderson, Christian Najjar and Reed Reichel.', 'Education Briefs', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'education-briefs-4', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:06:27', '2020-02-26 18:06:27', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43492', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43494, 4, '2020-02-26 13:09:30', '2020-02-26 18:09:30', 'On a windy Friday afternoon, Beaufort’s campus of the Technical College of the Lowcountry officially changed its name to Technical College of the Lowcountry Beaufort Mather Campus during the Mather School’s annual bell-ringing ceremony.\r\n\r\nThe ceremony was a part of the annual Mather School Founder’s Day. Honored guests included S.C. State Representatives Shedron Williams and Shannon Erikson, as well as Mather School graduates, including two of the oldest –<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>Eleana Green Wiley and Johnnie Bampfield James.\r\n\r\nThe Mather school was created in 1868 by Rachel Crane Mather to educate the daughters of liberated slaves.\r\n\r\nIn 1901, the school graduated its first students from elementary school, and in 1932, the school’s high school program was approved by the South Carolina State Department of Education as Mather Industrial School.\r\n\r\nBy 1954, the Junior College Department, allowing male students, was added. Accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools followed in 1955, and one year later, Mather Junior College graduated its first class.\r\n\r\nIn 1968, the Beaufort campus was given to the State of South Carolina as an area trade school.\r\n\r\nIn 1970, The Mather School became known as the Beaufort Regional Training Center, which later joined the State Technical College System and eventually became Beaufort Technical College. In 1988, the name changed to the Technical College of the Lowcountry.', 'TCL’s Beaufort campus gets a name change', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'tcls-beaufort-campus-gets-a-name-change', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:09:30', '2020-02-26 18:09:30', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43494', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43498, 4, '2020-02-26 13:11:00', '2020-02-26 18:11:00', '<b>Donate non-perishable<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>foods to YMCA</b>\r\n\r\nSnowbirds! Wondering what to do with your unopened, non-perishable food items at the end of your stay? Drop them off at the YMCA and we’ll deliver them to a local food bank on your behalf. The YMCA is conveniently located in Port Royal at 1801 Richmond Ave. For more information, call 843-522-9622 or email beaufort-jasperymca.org.\r\n\r\n<b>Hunting Island<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Lighthouse Tours</b>\r\n\r\n10 a.m., every Thursday (Feb. 27; March 5, 12, 19, 26) and some Tuesdays (March 10, 17, 24). The Friends of Hunting Island will present Lighthouse tours of the historic Hunting Island Lighthouse. Keeper Ted and his team will tell you all about the history of the Lighthouse, which was built in 1875 and is the only Lighthouse in South Carolina open to visitors. If you are at least 44 inches tall you may also climb the 167 steps to the top of the Lighthouse. Reservations are recommended by calling the Nature Center at 843-838-7437. Regular Thursday tours are $2 per person. Park entry fees apply.\r\n\r\n<b>Fripp Island Audubon Club</b>\r\n\r\n7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 27, Fripp Island Community Center. Ten Eych Lecture Series welcomes guest speaker David E. Reichle, Director of the Environmental Sciences Division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory for Environmental, Life and Social Sciences. Meet and greet at 6 p.m. Bring snacks to share. Pick up pass at gate. For more information, email frippaudubonclub@gmail.com.\r\n\r\n<b>American Legion Youth Programs Golf Tournament</b>\r\n\r\nFriday, Feb. 28, The Legends at Parris Island golf course. The tournament supports various local America Legion youth programs, including baseball, Boys State, Law Cadet Academy, college scholarships and oratorical contests. Participants will enjoy a box lunch, drinks, prizes and Mulligans. Prizes include closest to the pin on all par 3s, hole-in-ones on all four par 3s including $10,000 on hole No. 10. Hole sponsors and players may visit www.bftamlegpost9.org or contact American Legion Golf, P.O. Box 2540, Beaufort, S.C. 29901 or call George Miller at 843-470-0928. Registration to play should be completed by Feb. 24 to gain access to MCRD Parris Island.\r\n\r\n<b>Family Health Jamboree</b>\r\n\r\n10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 367 Keans Neck Road, Dale. The Jamboree is designed to provide “health support services” to families and individuals – both adults and children. You will be able to get the following screenings done: prostate, glucose (sugar), hypertension and/or cholesterol. Also Welvista Prescription Assistance and eye exam and eyeglasses vouchers will also be available. For more information contact Madie Orage-Green at 843-525-4081.\r\n\r\n<b>27th annual Goodwill Tournament by Club Karate</b>\r\n\r\n10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 29, Beaufort High School gym. Spectator admission is free. Registration is $65. This is a highly attended event with karate schools from all over the southeast competing. For more information, visit Clubkaratellc.com or email Clubkick@gmail.com.\r\n\r\n<b>Sunrise Lighthouse Climb</b>\r\n\r\n6:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 29, Hunting Island Lighthouse Complex. Cost $15. Come and join a naturalist in climbing the lighthouse to experience the morning beauty of Hunting Island from above, while learning about the history of the lighthouse. Don’t forget to bring your camera to capture some amazing shots. A small breakfast of doughnuts and coffee is provided. Must be 44-inches tall to climb. Pre-registration is required. For more information, contact the Nature Center at 843-838-7437.\r\n\r\n<b>Riverview Baptist<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Church Homecoming</b>\r\n\r\n10 a.m.-noon, Sunday, March 1, Riverview Baptist Church, 2209 Boundary Street. Join the members for \"Showers of Blessing\" as they celebrate God\'s blessings. A special skit, a video highlighting past and present times at Riverview, and the dedication of the 2019 Prayer Stone Path will be a part of the day\'s celebrations. Following these celebrations enjoy some Southern Baptist Food and fellowship.\r\n\r\n<b>Books Sandwiched In</b>\r\n\r\nNoon-1 p.m. each Monday,<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret Street, Beaufort. The Friends of the Beaufort Library host the popular 8-week series, featuring book talks by local personalities to provoke interest in books; both fiction and non-fiction. After each talk presenters will welcome questions. The series is free and open to the public. For program details, email Vicki Mix at scvgamix7@gmail.com. For more information, visit friendsoftheBeaufortlibrary.com.\r\n\r\nSchedule: March 2 – Islands in the Stream by Ernest Hemingway, presented by Liz Farrell.\r\n\r\n<b>Monday night is Movie Night</b>\r\n\r\n7 p.m. Mondays, USC Beaufort Center for the Arts, 801 Carteret Street. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased online (www.uscbcenterforthearts.com) or at the USCB Center for the Arts box office. Upcoming schedule: March 2 – Bombshell; March 9 – Parasite; March 16 – A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood; March 23 – 1917; April 27 – Little Women.\r\n\r\n<b>Lecture on Confederate General Stephen Elliott</b>\r\n\r\n2 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, North and Church Streets. Beaufort History Museum will present a lecture on Confederate General Stephen Elliott by D. Michael Thomas, author of “Confederate General Stephen Elliott: Beaufort Legend, Charleston Hero.” Admission to the lecture is free. A donation of $5 is suggested and reservations are required. To sign up visit the BHM website at www.beauforthistorymuseum.com. Please print the ticket and bring to the event. Funds collected will be used to support ongoing Museum programs and the renovation of the Exhibit Hall currently underway. Phase I of the renovation is now open and planning for Phase II is under way.\r\n\r\n<b>Engage Series addresses depression, substance misuse, suicide</b>\r\n\r\n6-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, USC Beaufort Center for the Arts.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>Come out and listen to Shavon Jenkins- Coaxum, M.A., LPC, LAC, MAC and Edward Dela Fuente, LCDC-1 address depression, substance misuse and suicide and ask them any questions you may have on these topics. This is a free event that is open to the public. Before the event (5:30 p.m.) there will be resource tables in the lobby with information on local support groups pertaining the topics discussed. For more information, go to USCBCenterForTheArts.com or call 843-521-3145.\r\n\r\n<b>Beyond the Bricks: eBooks, Audiobooks, and More!</b>\r\n\r\n9:30-11 a.m. Friday, March 6, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott St. Bring your tablet, cell phone, or laptop and learn how to use the free digital services offered by the library. Free. For more information, call 843-255-6458 or visit beaufortcountylibrary.org/subscribe.\r\n\r\n<b>COSY’s All Things<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Southern fundraiser</b>\r\n\r\n6 p.m. Thursday, March 5, Tabby Place, Port Republic Street, Beaufort. The Beaufort County Collaborative Organization of Services for Youth (COSY) Trust will be celebrate “All Things Southern” at its annual fundraiser. Advance tickets are $25 per person, $35 per couple; at the door, $35 per person, $45 per couple. To purchase tickets online contact https://helpalowcountryfamily.org.\r\n\r\nThe evening will feature food from local restaurants, entertainment and the opportunity to give back to the Trust which provides financial support to at-risk children and their families. For more information about the event or the COSY program, contact the COSY Trust Facilitator at PeggySimmer2019@hotmail.com\r\n\r\n<b>Indivisible Beaufort<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>March meeting</b>\r\n\r\n11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 7, St. Helena Island Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Indivisible Beaufort’s March meeting will focus on the issue of voter suppression and how to prevent it. Michael “Nathan” Campbell, an educator at May River High School, will present “A Guide to Fighting Voter Suppression.” The documentary SUPPRESSED by filmmaker Robert Greenwald will also be shown. Mr. Campbell currently runs the Youth in Government, Model United Nations and Academic World Quest programs at the school as well as serving as the Advanced Placement Coordinator. Indivisible Beaufort S.C. is a non-partisan group of local residents who believe this nation embodies rights and respect for all. The group is working to ensure those rights and freedoms remain available to everyone. For more information contact JusticeIndivisibleBSC@gmail.com.\r\n\r\n<b>Maye River Quilters Guild</b>\r\n\r\nSaturday, March 7, Palmetto Electric Cooperative, 1 Cooperative Way, Hardeeville. On the first Saturday of every month, the Maye River Quilters Guild members meet at 9:30 a.m. for social exchange. The meeting starts at 10 a.m. Block-of-month members meet at 9 a.m. Please call 847-707-6034 or visit www.mayeriverquiltguild.com.\r\n\r\n<b>Wardle Family YMCA<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>offers CPR training</b>\r\n\r\nThe Wardle Family YMCA, at 1801 Richmond Ave in Port Royal, offers CPR classes for community members from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays on the following dates in 2020: March 7, April 4, May 9, May 16, June 27, July 18, Aug. 22, Sept. 12, Oct 24 and Nov. 21. Cost is $35 for this YMCA certified course and those interested need to register at the Y as space is limited and filled on a first come, first serve basis. Questions? Contact Lou Bergen, Aquatics Director to register for this class. Call the Y at 843-522-9622 or visit beaufort-jasperymca.org.\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club’s March meeting</b>\r\n\r\n7 p.m. Thursday, March 12, Beaufort Yacht Club, Lady’s Island off Meridian Road. The social begins<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>at 6:30 p.m. March\'s presenter will be Capt Mike Edmond. Edmond is well known for his expert rod and reel repair and custom fishing rods. He will assist everyone preparing their equipment for the upcoming season, including discussing the latest fishing lines, rods, reels, and very importantly of setting your drags properly. As a bonus all members are invited to bring their extra fishing equipment to display before the meeting to sell or trade.\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort County Historical Society “Historically Speaking” lectures</b>\r\n\r\nAll talks, held at noon on Thursdays, are free and open to the public. Donations are welcome. First-come, first-seated, doors open 30 minutes prior to event.\r\n\r\nMarch 12: Dr. Lawrence Rowland, “Kate Gleason, Libby Rowland, and Beaufort in the 1920s,” St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis, Sr. Blvd. St. Helena Island.\r\n\r\nMay 7: 81st annual meeting, Dr. Dale Rosengarten, “Blue Collars to Blue Serge Suits: Beaufort’s Jewish Settlers,” St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis, Sr. Blvd., St. Helena Island.\r\n\r\n<b>Friends of Fort<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Fremont / Southeast<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Chapter of the Native Plant Society oyster roast</b>\r\n\r\n5:30-8 p.m. Friday, March 13, Live Oak Park, Port Royal. The Friends of Fort Fremont and the Southeast Chapter of the Native Plant Society will be holding their annual fundraiser. Tickets are $30 per person and include oysters, chili, appetizers, and dessert. There will be live music and amazing silent auction items. Tickets may be purchased at<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>www.fortfremont.org or by check payable to Friends of Fort Fremont, Box 982, St. Helena Island, S.C. 29920. For more information, call Janelle Proctor at 843-441-3036\r\n\r\n<b>3rd annual<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>St. Patrick’s Day Festival</b>\r\n\r\nNoon to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 14, Beaufort Town Center. The event is free and open to the public.\r\n\r\nArea restaurants and food trucks will be selling food and drinks, and there will be live entertainment. New to the Festival this year will be an adult and kids costume contest. The event benefits Beaufort County Animal Services. The Festival is accepting vendor applications online until March 1. Additional information can be found on the Beaufort Town Center website (www.beauforttowncenter.com) and Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/BeaufortTownCenter).', 'What’s Happening', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'whats-happening-11', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:11:00', '2020-02-26 18:11:00', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43498', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43500, 4, '2020-02-26 13:11:41', '2020-02-26 18:11:41', 'The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center\'s third annual Camp Conroy will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 15 to 26.\r\n\r\nPresented in partnership with Beaufort Middle School, the collaborative experience will provide campers (ages 8-14) with a hands-on opportunities to create a book from start to finish. This year\'s theme will focus on trees as a way to learn and share stories of ourselves, our families, and our environment.\r\n\r\nCampers will work together with a trio of talented instructors — Lisa Anne Cullen, Miho Kinnas, and Robin Prince Monroe — to develop their skills in writing, illustrating, photographing, editing, and storyboarding toward their goal of publishing a book.\r\n\r\nThroughout Camp Conroy, participants learn from the instructors and camp counselors to create, revise, and compile their creative writing and art for publication. Young writers and artists get to experiment with their own stories, essays, poems, artwork, and photographs.\r\n\r\nThe campers will also learn to critique one another\'s work, a key and engaging part of the collaborative process.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe camp will include one field trip day in downtown Beaufort and several workshops with special guest instructors. At the end of the camp, the Conroy Center will host a reading and a display of the campers\' work, with family and friends invited to attend and be the first to see a mock-up of the campers’ new book.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nCamp Conroy is limited to 30 participants. The $299 registration for Camp Conroy includes all materials, instruction, the field trip, and daily snacks. Campers must bring their own lunch and drink each day. Registration is now open online at https://campconroy2020.bpt.me/.\r\n\r\nA limited number of full and partial scholarships are available. To apply, please submit a sample of the student’s work (essay, poem, artwork, or photography) with a brief statement of financial need by Friday, May 8, to the Pat Conroy Literary Center, 905 Port Republic St., Beaufort, S.C. 29902, Attention: Camp Conroy. Scholarship recipients will be contacted by May 29.', 'Registration open for 3rd annual Camp Conroy', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'registration-open-for-3rd-annual-camp-conroy', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:11:41', '2020-02-26 18:11:41', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43500', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43502, 4, '2020-02-26 13:12:47', '2020-02-26 18:12:47', 'Hosted by the Foundation for Leadership Education, The Duke Symphony Orchestra will entertain Beaufort for the 17th year.\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort Academy Blue Notes, directed by Vic Varner, will perform, as well, playing two pieces accompanied by the orchestra for the third year in a row.\r\n\r\nThe concert will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 28 at USC Beaufort’s Center for the Arts.\r\n\r\nFollowing the show, there will be an optional “Conductor’s Reception” at a private home in downtown Beaufort, wherein guests enjoy refreshments and meet the Duke students and their leader, conductor Harry Davidson. All proceeds from the event will help provide educational leadership scholarships through The Foundation for Leadership Education.\r\n\r\nBeaufort is the only community that partners and hosts Duke for off campus performances. The Duke Symphony Orchestra has consistently recruited more than 80 to 100 members each year, comprised of musicians from the Duke student body (primarily undergraduates) and the surrounding university community.\r\n\r\nPurchase tickets online at www.LowcountryLeaders.com. Guests can choose general admission ($40 advance, $50 at door) or premier admission ($80 advance, $90 at door), which includes the “Conductor’s Reception.” Note that last year\'s performance sold out, and tickets are not guaranteed at the door.\r\n<h2>Want to Go?</h2>\r\n<b>What:</b> The Duke Symphony Orchestra\r\n\r\n<b>When: </b>7 p.m. Saturday, March 28\r\n\r\n<b>Where:</b> USC Beaufort’s Center for the ArtsBriefs\r\n\r\n<b>Tickets:</b> General admission ($40 advance, $50 at door) or premier admission ($80 advance, $90 at door), which includes the “Conductor’s Reception.” Purchase tickets online at www.LowcountryLeaders.com.', 'Duke Symphony Orchestra returns to Beaufort in March', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'duke-symphony-orchestra-returns-to-beaufort-in-march', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:12:47', '2020-02-26 18:12:47', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43502', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43504, 4, '2020-02-26 13:14:12', '2020-02-26 18:14:12', '<h2><b>David McVicar production reframes opera in modern times</b></h2>\r\n<b>By ALAN SCHUSTER</b>\r\n\r\nBest known – until now – for his famous oratorio, “Messiah,” written in 1741, Handel now enjoys acclaim for “Agrippina,” an opera he composed 32 years earlier at the age of 24. Here are a couple of reasons why.\r\n\r\nWrites Zachary Woolfe of the New York Times, “This Agrippina – yanked from ancient Rome into a deliciously bleak vision of our time – is played with electric vividness, and starring a guns-blazing Joyce DiDonato. It should put to rest, once and for all, any notion that Handel belongs at the Met less than Verdi, Puccini or Wagner. Bold, funny, magnetic and unsettling through its power struggles, this production musically and dramatically, fills the company’s looming proscenium.”\r\n\r\nAnother critic of the Met’s Feb. 6 premiere, Opera Wire’s David Salazar, wrote that David McVicar’s production “gave Met audiences what is without any doubt, the intellectual pop hit of the 2019-20 season. It is so full of pop culture references that it can truly hit a wide-ranging audience in one go. It’s a mad romp from start to finish with so much pizzazz that its three hours of music and endless sequence of arias will fly by without you ever noticing. In McVicar’s hands, it feels like the most relevant and powerful of all operas.”\r\n\r\nIn the title role, mezzo-soprano DiDonato earned superb reviews, among them being “a tiger mom with sass, as ruthless as she is beguiling ...” and “... her voice is equally powerful, in complete control, with humour and balance and some stand-out moments of exquisite coloratura.”\r\n\r\nJoining DiDonato on-stage will be an all-star cast featuring mezzo-soprano Kate Lindsey as Agrippina\'s son (trouser role) and future emperor Nerone; soprano Brenda Rae as the seductive Poppea; countertenor Iestyn Davies as the ambitious officer Ottone; and bass Matthew Rose as the weary emperor Claudius. Harry Bicket, an acclaimed Handel conductor who has led previous Met productions of Rodelinda and Giulio Cesare, takes the lead in the pit, conducting from a harpsicord.\r\n\r\n<b>Act I</b>\r\n\r\nWhen her husband, Roman emperor Claudius (Claudio), is apparently drowned at sea, Agrippina plots for her son Nero (Nerone) to be his successor. In fact Claudius has been saved by Otho (Ottone) and the immminent coronation of Nero is abandoned.\r\n\r\nOtho arrives and tells Agrippina that Claudius, in gratitude, has appointed him his successor. He also tells her that he is in love with Poppea.\r\n\r\nAgrippina, aware that Claudius also loves Poppea, tells Poppea that Otho has agreed to give her to Claudius in return for the crown. She suggests to Poppea that by telling Claudius that Otho has refused Poppea access to him, the emperor will dismiss Otho from the throne.\r\n\r\n<b>Act II</b>\r\n\r\nOtho claims his reward from Claudius who denounces him as a traitor. He is then vilified by Agrippina, Poppea and Nero.\r\n\r\nBut Poppea begins to doubt his guilt, and eventually Otho convinces her of his innocence. Agrippina then tells Claudius that Otho is plotting against him and persuades him to appoint Nero emperor.\r\n\r\n<b>Act III</b>\r\n\r\nPoppea tells Claudius that whereas she once thought Otho had betrayed him, it was Nero, whom she then reveals hiding behind a curtain in her room. Claudius dismisses his stepson, who informs his mother of Poppea\'s treachery.\r\n\r\nAgrippina confronts Claudius, berates him for succumbing to Poppea\'s influence, and claims that Otho loves Poppea, thereby forcing Claudius to summon all three.\r\n\r\nHe orders Nero to marry Poppea and leaves the succession with Otho, who requests that he might forgo the crown for Poppea\'s hand in marriage. Claudius agrees, and blesses Poppea and Otho\'s marriage.\r\n\r\nHandel sidebars: In one aria, Agrippina becomes a rock diva, singing with a microphone and playing to the audience. At a bar, everyone’s either on their device or on their phone, ignoring each other. One creepy guy is clumsily taking selfies. Claudius practices hitting golf balls during an aria.\r\n\r\nAnd finally, among the principal characters – Agrippina, Nerone, Poppea, Ottone, Claudia, Pallante, Narciso and Lesbo – none of them are tenors. Pure Baroque.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Want to Go?</h2>\r\n<b>What:</b> Met Opera’s Live HD broadcast of Handel’s Agrippina.\r\n\r\n<b>When:</b> 12:55 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 29\r\n\r\n<b>Where:</b> USC Beaufort Center for the Arts, 801 Carteret St., Beaufort.\r\n\r\n<b>Tickets:</b> All seats are general admission. Adults $20; OLLI members $18; Students free. Tickets are\r\n\r\navailable at the box office; order on-line at www.centerforthearts.com; or call 843-521-4145.', 'Dark humor brightens ‘Agrippina’ in Met Opera HD', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'dark-humor-brightens-agrippina-in-met-opera-hd', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:14:12', '2020-02-26 18:14:12', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43504', 0, 'post', '', 0);
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(43506, 4, '2020-02-26 13:15:20', '2020-02-26 18:15:20', 'The work of artist Anne Kennedy will be featured at the Beaufort Art Association (BAA) starting March 1 and running through April 26. The theme of her exhibit is “Hot Wax, Cool Paintings” featuring encaustic painting, which is an unusual blend of hot wax with pigment.\r\n\r\nAn opening reception will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 6 at the Gallery at 913 Bay Street in Beaufort. Light refreshments will be served. There will also be on exhibit the work of 65 other local artists, who are members of the Gallery. The public is invited.\r\n\r\nKennedy started her career as a cytologist, which she says was defined by “looking for the smallest of changes in shapes and colors of cells of the human body using a microscope. For many years, this was my art,” she said. “Now, I work in oils, mixed media, alcohol inks, and my passion, encaustics.”\r\n\r\nAn ancient technique dating back to the Greeks, encaustic means “to heat or burn in.” Greek mariners used wax to caulk ship hulls; pigmenting the wax gave rise to the decorating of warships.\r\n\r\nThe use of encaustic on panels rivaled the use of tempera in what are the earliest known portable easel paintings. Tempera was a faster, cheaper process, while encaustic was a slow and difficult technique. It allowed the paint to be built up in relief, and the wax gave a rich optical effect to the pigment making it startlingly life-like.\r\n\r\nEncaustic had far greater durability than tempera, which was vulnerable to moisture. Perhaps the best known of all encaustic work are the Fayum funeral portraits painted in the first through third centuries A.D. by Greek painters in Egypt.\r\n\r\nThe 20th century has seen a rebirth of encaustic on a major scale, having overcome the laborious job of melting the wax.\r\n\r\n“I have found my true calling as an artist with this natural medium,” says Kennedy. “As a beekeeper, I use the wax from my bees mixed with the resin of trees and pure earth pigments to make the “paint” that I work with. The sensuality of melted wax, the luscious colors, the feel of working with this difficult but forgiving medium has forever found a place in my heart.”', '“Hot Wax, Cool Paintings” will be featured at BAA Gallery', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'hot-wax-cool-paintings-will-be-featured-at-baa-gallery', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:15:20', '2020-02-26 18:15:20', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43506', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43509, 4, '2020-02-26 13:17:57', '2020-02-26 18:17:57', '<i>The Lowcountry Community Concert Band gave a special performance called Folk Frolic on Sunday, Feb. 23 at St. John’s Lutheran Church on Lady’s Island. The band is an all-volunteer group of about 60 musicians and is sponsored by the Other Lifelong Learning Institute at University of South Carolina Beaufort. Here they play their opening number, “The Running Set” by Vaughan Williams. Photo by Bob Sofaly.</i>', 'FOLK FROLIC', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'folk-frolic', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:17:57', '2020-02-26 18:17:57', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43509', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43624, 4, '2020-03-05 10:50:47', '2020-03-05 15:50:47', '', 'Screen Shot 2020-03-05 at 10.50.27 AM', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'screen-shot-2020-03-05-at-10-50-27-am', '', '', '2020-03-05 10:50:47', '2020-03-05 15:50:47', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Screen-Shot-2020-03-05-at-10.50.27-AM.png', 0, 'attachment', 'image/png', 0),
(43514, 4, '2020-02-26 13:19:35', '2020-02-26 18:19:35', '<b>By FRED GASKIN</b>\r\n\r\nI’ve had the pleasure of helping many members of our community with their investment needs as it relates to planning for retirement. Thankfully, there has been increasing effort put forward on providing better, and more tailored education resources to investors as they plan for their “golden years.”\r\n\r\nOf interest, the data suggests the burden of retirement planning can be more challenging for women, because they face a unique set of circumstances when it comes to retirement planning. But being more aware of these challenges is the first step to helping to overcome them.\r\n\r\nAt Schwab, we generally highlight four key considerations to help women prepare for and be confident in their financial future. Keep in mind, this information should not be considered personalized investment advice or recommendations. Because each situation varies, it’s important to review for your own particular situation.\r\n\r\n<b>1. Women may have a lengthier retirement.</b>\r\n\r\nWomen tend to outlive men by an average of five years, according to the National Center for Health in 2016. Though a longer retirement means more time to travel the world and spoil grandchildren, it also means women will have to save more money to last them through their longer lifespans.\r\n\r\n<b>Tip:</b> Though you may want to gradually reduce your exposure as you get older, consider maintaining a portion of your savings in stock investments to help counteract the impact of inflation.\r\n\r\n<b>2. Women may have a more expensive retirement.</b>\r\n\r\nNot only do women have to plan for more years in retirement, but they often have to anticipate higher expenses. Longer life expectancies can translate into increased medical expenses and a higher likelihood of entering a nursing home or assisted living community, or hiring formal home care, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars a year.\r\n\r\n<b>Tip: </b>Medicare benefits cover some medical costs during retirement, but consider signing up for supplemental insurance.\r\n\r\n<b>3. Women potentially have to save more to make up for earnings loss.</b>\r\n\r\nOn average, women still earn lower salaries than their male counterparts. In 2015, women still earned only 80 cents for every dollar men earned, according to U.S. Census Bureau’s data for full-time, year-round workers’ median earnings released in September 2016.\r\n\r\nPlus, over the course of their working years, women spend more time out of the workforce to care for their families, according to the AARP Public Policy Institute. To counteract the forces that are weighing on their ability to accumulate savings, women should focus on socking away as much as possible during the years they are working and earning an income.\r\n\r\n<b>Tip: </b>Your level of savings is the biggest factor in determining whether you will meet your retirement financial goals, so start early.\r\n\r\n<b>4. Women may receive less in Social Security benefits.</b>\r\n\r\nLower salaries and fewer years in the workplace also put women at a disadvantage when it comes to Social Security benefits. In fact, women earned on average about 20 percent less in Social Security than men in 2015, according to the Social Security Administration.\r\n\r\nWhile this may be difficult to accept, women who may become widows due their longer life expectancies should consider how they can maximize their Social Security survivor benefits.\r\n\r\n<b>Tip:</b> Consider delaying the start of your Social Security benefits.\r\n\r\nPlanning ahead is certainly the most valuable tip. There is never a bad time to start planning for your future, whether you’re 17 or 70.\r\n\r\nA mistake many investors make is to delay action because they’re unsure about their specific goals, they worry that planning is too complicated, or they don’t know how to get started.\r\n\r\nTo them I say, “You can always change your mind, and your plan, but make it a goal in 2020 to get started on planning your future!”\r\n\r\n<i>Fred Gaskin is a Financial Consultant at Charles Schwab with over 30 years of experience helping clients achieve their financial goals.</i>\r\n\r\n<i>Some content provided here has been compiled from previously published articles authored by various parties at Schwab. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, Schwab recommends consultation with a qualified professional. Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal.</i>', 'Four retirement tips for women', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'four-retirement-tips-for-women', '', '', '2021-03-30 15:01:47', '2021-03-30 19:01:47', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43514', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43516, 4, '2020-02-26 13:21:03', '2020-02-26 18:21:03', 'Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s Joint Replacement Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification, a demonstration of continuous compliance with its performance standards.\r\n\r\nThe Gold Seal is The Joint Commission’s highest award and a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.\r\n\r\nBeaufort Memorial is one of only three hospitals in the state to receive the advanced certification, which is awarded in collaboration with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Awarded for a two-year period, the certification was established in 2016 in response to the growing number of patients undergoing total hip or total knee replacement surgery, as well as to the increased focus on clinical evidence-based patient care as it relates to pain management, quality of life and the return to normal daily activities.\r\n\r\n“We are extremely proud of our award-winning Joint Replacement Program and all of the providers who have worked to ensure the best outcomes for our patients,” Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley, MHA, said in a release. “Receiving advanced certification is a testament to the high standards of our surgeons and staff and our commitment to providing the highest quality care to our patients, and proof positive that Beaufort Memorial is the region’s choice for total hip and knee replacements.”\r\n\r\nBeaufort Memorial underwent a rigorous on-site review last fall. During the review, a surveyor from The Joint Commission evaluated compliance with related certification standards, including program management from initial visit to post-discharge care. The surveyor also conducted on-site observations and interviews.\r\n\r\nIn addition, Beaufort Memorial recently announced that its Joint Replacement Center orthopaedic team had begun using the state-of-the-art Mako Robotic Arm-Assisted Surgery System to perform total knee replacements. The MAKO allows the surgeon to create a plan unique to a patient’s anatomy, and then use the robotic arm to implant the components with greater precision, leading to better function and more natural movement.\r\n\r\n“Continuous review of the latest evidence-based practices and orthopaedic technologies has allowed us to provide our community with the best in joint replacement care,” Baxley said. “It’s an honor to be recognized for doing what all of us at Beaufort Memorial are committed to do — provide the best possible outcomes for our patients, getting them back to doing the things they love to do, as quickly and safely as possible.”\r\n\r\nFor more information, please visit BeaufortMemorial.org/JointReplacement.', 'BMH honored for joint replacement performance', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'bmh-honored-for-joint-replacement-performance', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:21:03', '2020-02-26 18:21:03', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43516', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43519, 4, '2020-02-26 13:22:16', '2020-02-26 18:22:16', 'Publix Pharmacy and Beaufort Memorial Hospital (BMH) recently unveiled the supermarket’s first two in-store Walk-In Care centers in South Carolina, with locations in Beaufort and Bluffton. The Beaufort clinic is located in the Lady’s Island store at 61 Lady’s Island Dr.\r\n\r\nAt the telehealth sites, patients can speak directly with a board-certified provider via video conferencing technology. The provider can direct the patient to use the available medical tools to make a diagnosis and write prescriptions that can be picked up at the pharmacy. Visits are $59 and do not require an appointment.\r\n\r\nIn order to familiarize local residents with the new clinics, BMH and Publix Pharmacy will be hosting an open house in the store from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays through March 21. Staff will be on hand to offer free demonstrations of the technology.\r\n\r\nPowered by the hospital’s BMH Care Anywhere online virtual care service, each telehealth center features a private room with teleconferencing and medical diagnostic equipment, including stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, high-definition cameras and other tools necessary for common diagnoses.\r\n\r\nFor more information, visit BeaufortMemorial.org/PublixWalkInCare.', 'Publix, Beaufort Memorial to show off Walk-In Clinics', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'publix-beaufort-memorial-to-show-off-walk-in-clinics', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:22:16', '2020-02-26 18:22:16', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43519', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43522, 4, '2020-02-26 13:23:17', '2020-02-26 18:23:17', '<b>Family Health Jamboree<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>coming to Dale</b>\r\n\r\nThe Family Health Jamboree will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 29 at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 367 Keans Neck Road, Dale, SC 29940.\r\n\r\nThis massive Event is sponsored by Mt. Carmel Baptist Church Med-I-Assist Program, AccessHealth Lowcountry, Beaufort Memorial Hospital Wellness Mobile Unit and SCDHEC-Community System Team-Lowcountry Region.\r\n\r\nThe Jamboree is designed to provide “health support services” to families and individuals – both adults and children. You will be able to get the following screenings done: prostate, glucose (sugar), hypertension and/or cholesterol. Also Welvista Prescription Assistance and eye exam and eyeglasses vouchers will also be available.\r\n\r\nFor more information contact Madie Orage-Green at 843-525-4081.\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort Twilight Run needs volunteers</b>\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort Twilight Run, set for March 21, needs volunteers to help paper the town with BTR posters and to assist along the race course and throughout the Habersham Marketplace the day of the race.\r\n\r\nVolunteers may contact Ashley McCartney with questions at 760-583-6688 or ashleym.mccartney@yahoo.com.\r\n\r\n<b>Erickson,<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Campsen address Republican Women</b>\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort Republican Women’s Club was joined by State Representative Shannon Erickson and State Senator Chip Campsen at its annual Membership Drive Luncheon on February 22 at the Dataw Island Club. BRWC President Elaine Gantt thanked them for helping to make it a successful event. For information about membership or the next luncheon scheduled for April at the Old Beaufort Bar &amp; Eatery, call Elaine at 843-379-0056 or email eygantt@gmail.com.\r\n\r\n<b>Workshop to<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;f</span></b><b>ocus on historic buildings, taxes</b>\r\n\r\nA workshop sponsored by the City of Beaufort and the Historic Beaufort Foundation will focus on state and federal tax incentives available to assist with the costs of preserving historic buildings. Both owner-occupied historic homes and buildings used to produce income, such as stores, offices and apartment buildings, may be eligible for tax incentives.\r\n\r\nThis workshop, presented by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, is open to the public and will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, at Beaufort City Hall, 1911 Boundary Street, 2nd Floor, Council Chambers.\r\n\r\nArchitects, real estate professionals, interior designers, contractors, developers, accountants, planners, owners of qualified historic properties, and those interested in the economic benefits of historic preservation are encouraged to attend. For more information, and to reserve your space, please call Tara Hodges at 843-379-7519 or email her at thodges@cityofbeaufort.org.\r\n\r\n<b>Howard holding meeting on Shell<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Point drainage issues</b>\r\n\r\nBeaufort County Council Member Alice Howard (District 4) will host a community meeting for residents of Shell Point to discuss existing stormwater and drainage issues. Dan Ryback, Interim Beaufort County Stormwater Manager, and Neil Desai, Beaufort County Public Works Director, will be available for questions.\r\n\r\nThe meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27 at Port Royal Town Hall, 700 Paris Avenue, Port Royal. The meeting is open to the general public. Residents do not need to register in advance for the meeting. For more information, please contact Beaufort County Council Member Howard at ahoward@bcgov.net, 843-255-2202 (office) or 843-986-7403 (mobile).\r\n\r\n<b>County Council’s Howard, Flewelling hosting meeting</b>\r\n\r\nBeaufort County Council Members Alice Howard (District 4) and Brian Flewelling (District 5) are hosting a joint public meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 3 about county solid waste and recycle services. The meeting will be held at the Beaufort County Disabilities and Special Needs Department’s Large Meeting Room, 100 Clear Water Way, Beaufort.\r\n\r\nThe guest speaker will be Dave Wilhelm, Beaufort County Assistant County Administrator for the Public Works and Sustainability Division. Residents do not need to register in advance for the meeting. For more information, please contact Howard at ahoward@bcgov.net, 843-255-2202 (office) or 843-986-7403 (cell); or Flewelling at brianf@bcgov.net or 843-255-2200.\r\n\r\n<b>County hosting 2 meetings on Comprehensive Plan</b>\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort County Planning Department is hosting two workshops to invite public comment on the County’s Comprehensive Plan. This effort to allow stakeholders an opportunity to articulate their vision for Beaufort County’s future, will be led by Design Workshop, the primary consultant.\r\n\r\nAttendees will hear a presentation explaining a comprehensive plan and have an opportunity to participate in an interactive table exercise to articulate their vision for the County’s future.\r\n\r\nThe workshop schedule is as follows:\r\n\r\n6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, Battery Creek High School Cafeteria, 1 Blue Dolphin Drive, Beaufort.\r\n\r\n6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5, Buckwalter Recreation Center (Room No. 2), 905 Buckwalter Parkway, Bluffton.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the Beaufort County Planning Department at 843-255-2140.\r\n\r\n<b>Judge allows SC’s suit to block offshore drilling to continue</b>\r\n\r\nA federal judge has ruled that South Carolina’s lawsuit to block offshore drilling off the coast of South Carolina can move forward. United States District Judge Richard Gergel issued the written opinion Tuesday, Feb. 18.\r\n\r\nThe federal government had asked that South Carolina’s lawsuit be dismissed.\r\n\r\n“I would like to thank Judge Gergel for allowing South Carolina’s claims to go forward,” Attorney General Alan Wilson said. “This case is vital to South Carolina and its beautiful coastline and natural resources.”\r\n\r\nThen-President Obama issued an executive order withdrawing Outer Continental Shelf Lands belonging to the United States from being leased for oil and gas exploration. President Trump then issued an executive order to undo President Obama’s order. South Carolina Attorney General Wilson argues that Congress gave presidents the authority to withdraw land from leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf but did not give presidents the power to reverse that decision and make such areas eligible again for leasing.\r\n\r\nThe federal government asked that South Carolina’s lawsuit be dismissed but Judge Gergel agreed with the State and his order allows it to proceed.', 'News Briefs', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'news-briefs-143', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:23:17', '2020-02-26 18:23:17', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43522', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43524, 4, '2020-02-26 13:23:51', '2020-02-26 18:23:51', 'The Junior Service League of Beaufort (JSLB) is still seeking donations of formal dresses for the 9th annual JSLB Prom Boutique to be held from 1 to 4 p.m. March 7 at the Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry.\r\n\r\nJSLB will accept new or gently used long and short dresses, in all sizes and with accessories, such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets, shawls and handbags. Dresses must be clean and have no visible tears or stains.\r\n\r\nThe Junior Service League of Beaufort’s Prom Boutique allows Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton counties’ junior and senior students to shop for and select the perfect dress, jewelry, and accessories for prom for free. Since 2011, JSLB’s Prom Boutique has helped girls in our community experience the magic of finding the perfect prom dress.\r\n\r\nDonation drop-off locations include:\r\n\r\n<b>The Beaufort Sound:</b> 206 Sea Island Parkway, Suite 31 on Lady’s Island (Located in Tidewatch)\r\n\r\n<b>Sugar Belle:</b> 906 Boundary Street in Beaufort\r\n\r\n<b>Sprenger Health Care of Port Royal:</b> 1810 Richmond Ave. in Port Royal\r\n\r\n<b>Amazing Rentals:</b> 352 Argent Boulevard in Hardeeville\r\n\r\n<b>Hobbit Hill:</b> All Beaufort Locations\r\n\r\n<b>Kinghorn Insurance:</b> 910 Carteret Street in Beaufort\r\n\r\n<b>Regions Bank: </b>146 Sea Island Parkway on Lady’s Island\r\n\r\n<b>Lux – A Medical Spa:</b> 350 Fording Island Road, Suite 101 in Bluffton\r\n\r\n<b>Pink Magazine: </b>37 New Orleans Road, No. M on Hilton Head Island\r\n\r\n<b>Savvy Apple: </b>1724 Ribaut Road in Port Royal\r\n\r\nFor more information about JSLB’s Prom Boutique, please contact Communication Director Hannah Nichols, at communication.jslb@gmail.com, or visit www.jslbprom.com.', 'Junior League still seeking dresses', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'junior-league-still-seeking-dresses', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:23:51', '2020-02-26 18:23:51', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43524', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43526, 4, '2020-02-26 13:25:00', '2020-02-26 18:25:00', 'Hopeful Horizons was the big winner at the The Fripp Island Women’s Club Bingo, Barbeque and Hopeful Horizons evening held Friday, Feb. 7 at the Fripp Island Community Center.\r\n\r\nSheila Tindall and Nancy Wingenbach of the Women’s Club Outreach Committee presented the evening\'s proceeds of $4,325 to Kristin Dubrowski, CEO of Hopeful Horizons, the children’s advocacy, domestic violence prevention and rape crisis center based in Beaufort County.\r\n\r\nThe evening included a presentation by Hopeful Horizons guests, seven games of bingo with individual prizes, the traditional grand prize cover all, a delicious barbeque dinner which was shared with Hopeful Horizons residents, and a raffle of items created and donated by Fripp Island artists and merchants.', 'Bingo, barbeque on Fripp benefits Hopeful Horizons', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'bingo-barbeque-on-fripp-benefits-hopeful-horizons', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:25:00', '2020-02-26 18:25:00', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43526', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43529, 4, '2020-02-26 13:26:00', '2020-02-26 18:26:00', 'Technical College of the Lowcountry\'s Center for Business and Workforce Solutions is offering a free spring workshop \"Leveraging QuickBooks for Business Success.\"\r\n\r\nDiscover the industry\'s best tips and tricks for maximizing your business through QuickBooks. Learn how to ease bookkeeping struggles; transfer information to an account; send invoices via email; accept payments online; and balance bank statements using QuickBooks.\r\n\r\nThis hour-and-a-half interactive workshop will be led by TCL\'s Administrative Office Technology Instructor, Latesha McComas. Be sure to RSVP for your preferred location.\r\n\r\n6-7:30 p.m., Monday, March 9,<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>Beaufort Campus. RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/sn8xvqq.\r\n\r\n6-7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 12, Hampton Campus. RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/s62nbbt.\r\n\r\n6-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 17, New River Campus. RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/r5t6jdb.\r\n\r\nSpace is limited. For more information, contact Melanie Gallion at 843-525-8224 or mgallion@tcl.edu or visit www.tcl.edu/bizu.', 'TCL offering Quick-Books workshop', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'tcl-offering-quick-books-workshop', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:26:00', '2020-02-26 18:26:00', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43529', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43531, 4, '2020-02-26 13:28:14', '2020-02-26 18:28:14', '<b>By JEFF EVANS</b>\r\n\r\nPresidential candidate Tom Steyer spoke to a group of about 60 at the United Church of Jesus Christ For All People on Monday, Fed. 24 about his campaign saying he was “… certainly not a Republican, not a centrist Democrat, and not a Democratic Socialist either. I’m a proud Progressive Democrat.”\r\n\r\nSteyer said he thought government had a place in the lives of Americans and that throwing out the entire private healthcare system in this country was a mistake.\r\n\r\nHe also stated that he agreed with the idea or reparations for the country’s past history of slavery and that on his first day in office he would appoint a commission to determine the best way to approach it.\r\n\r\n“When I look in a mirror, I see a white guy,” Steyer said. “I don’t think I should be the one to decide how those reparations should be made but I do lean to making those reparations to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In the last 10 years, federal funding to HBCUs have declined 47 percent, and I believe this is where those funds could make the most impact.”\r\n\r\nSteyer’s appearance in Beaufort followed meet-and-greets Sunday in Yemassee and Monday morning on Hilton Head Island.', 'Steyer makes campaign stop in Beaufort', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'steyer-makes-campaign-stop-in-beaufort', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:28:14', '2020-02-26 18:28:14', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43531', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43535, 4, '2020-02-26 13:29:22', '2020-02-26 18:29:22', 'The Beaufort County Collaborative Organization of Services for Youth (COSY) Trust will be celebrating “All Things Southern” at its annual fundraiser 6 p.m. Thursday, March 5 at Tabby Place on Port Republic Street.\r\n\r\nAdvance tickets are $25 per person, $35 per couple. At the door, it’s $35 per person, $45 per couple. To purchase tickets online, contact https://helpalowcountryfamily.org.\r\n\r\nThe evening will feature food from local restaurants, entertainment and the opportunity to give back to the Trust which provides financial support to at-risk children and their families. The Trust helps provide additional activities such as sports program and summer camps for clients who might not otherwise be able to participate.\r\n\r\nThe COSY program is comprised of representatives from 14 state, regional and local agencies, which provide case management for clients and their families.\r\n\r\nThe South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has recognized COSY as a mediation model and is working to replicate the process in the other counties.\r\n\r\nFor more information about the event or the COSY program, contact the COSY Trust Facilitator at PeggySimmer2019@hotmail.com.', 'COSY to hold annual fundraiser', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'cosy-to-hold-annual-fundraiser', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:29:22', '2020-02-26 18:29:22', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43535', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43537, 4, '2020-02-26 13:30:38', '2020-02-26 18:30:38', 'What happens when you or someone you love experience a tough subject such as depression, substance misuse or suicide? Does anyone talk about it in your home or is it an avoidable topic?\r\n\r\nFrom 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, professionals will address the elephant in the room at the USC Beaufort Center for the Arts. This is a free event that is open to the public.\r\n\r\nCome out and listen to Shavon Jenkins- Coaxum, M.A., LPC, LAC, MAC and Edward Dela Fuente, LCDC-1 speak and ask them any questions you may have on these topics.\r\n\r\nBefore the event (5:30 p.m.) there will be resource tables in the lobby with information on local support groups pertaining the topics discussed. This event is a community partnership between The Beaufort County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Department, USCB Center for the Arts and The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and is a part of the Engage Series offered monthly through the Center for the Arts.\r\n\r\n“Engage Beaufort” is a monthly series of forums on topics that impact our lives ranging from mental health to environmental issues. Engage is free and open to the public.\r\n\r\nFor more information, go to USCBCenterForTheArts.com or call 843-521-3145.', 'Engage Series addresses depression, substance misuse and suicide', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'engage-series-addresses-depression-substance-misuse-and-suicide', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:30:38', '2020-02-26 18:30:38', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43537', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43539, 4, '2020-02-26 13:36:16', '2020-02-26 18:36:16', '<b>Feb. 27</b> – Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority, 8 a.m., Executive Board Room, 6 Snake Road, Okatie\r\n\r\n<b>Feb. 27</b> – Beaufort County’s Zoning Board of Appeals*, 5 p.m., Council Chambers, Administration Building, Beaufort County Government Robert Smalls Complex, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort\r\n\r\n<b>Feb. 27</b> – Beaufort County Council Member Alice Howard to Host Community Meeting to Discuss Shell Point Stormwater Issues, 5:30 p.m., Port Royal Town Hall, 700 Paris Avenue, Port Royal\r\n\r\nLowcountry Council of Governments, 6:30 p.m., LCOG Office Point South, 634 Campground Road, Yemassee\r\n\r\n<b>Feb. 27</b> – Park &amp; Tree Advisory Commission, 3 – 5 p.m., City Hall, Planning Conference Room, 1st Floor, 1911 Boundary Street, Beaufort\r\n\r\n<b>Feb. 28</b> – Northern Beaufort County Regional Plan Implementation Committee, 9:30 a.m., Executive Conference Room, Administration Building, Beaufort County Government Robert Smalls Complex, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Feb. 28</b> – Beaufort County Northern Regional Plan Implementation Committee Meeting, 9:30 a.m., Executive Conference Room, Administration Building, Robert Smalls Complex, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort\r\n\r\n<b>March 2</b> – Beaufort County Council’s Natural Resources Committee*, 2 p.m., County Council Chambers, Administration Building, Beaufort County Government Robert Smalls Complex, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n<b>March 3</b> – Beaufort County School District’s Board of Education, 6 – 8 p.m., County Council Chambers, Administration Building, Beaufort County Government Robert Smalls Complex, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort\r\n\r\n<b>March 4</b> – Beaufort County Comprehensive Plan Update, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Battery Creek High School Cafeteria 1 Blue Dolphin Drive, Beaufort<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n<i>*Will be televised on The County Channel</i>', 'Public Meetings Feb. 27 – March 4', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'public-meetings-feb-27-march-4', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:36:16', '2020-02-26 18:36:16', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43539', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43543, 4, '2020-02-26 13:36:53', '2020-02-26 18:36:53', 'The Beaufort County Zoning Board of Appeals has scheduled a public hearing for Thursday, Feb. 27 to hear an appeal from the developer seeking to build an \"Eco-Tourism\" resort on Bay Point Island off St. Helena.\r\n\r\nThe hearing will be held at 5 p.m. in the County\'s Robert Smalls Complex at 100 Ribaut Road.\r\n\r\nThe developer originally sought to work through the Town of Hilton Head, asking that the Town annex Bay Point Island and take control of the development process. Under state law, a municipality can annex property that would be contiguous to the town, even across waterways. The developer\'s request was ultimately withdrawn, and they filed a new request with Beaufort County.\r\n\r\nOn Dec. 20, after a lengthy public meeting and following an in-depth examination of the resort proposal, the County\'s Community Development Department rejected the developer\'s application, saying the proposal failed to meet the standards for an \"eco-tourism\" resort under the County Development Code.\r\n\r\nThe developer, as is permitted, filed an appeal of the decision with the ZBOA, which will hear the appeal on Feb. 27.', 'Zoning Board will hear Bay Point’s appeal', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'zoning-board-will-hear-bay-points-appeal', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:36:53', '2020-02-26 18:36:53', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43543', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43545, 4, '2020-02-26 13:38:46', '2020-02-26 18:38:46', 'Kaylin Garst, Executive Branch Director of the Wardle Family YMCA located in Port Royal, was a featured speaker at The Interstate Migratory Education Council Meeting held Jan. 22-24 in Charleston.\r\n\r\nThe Interstate Migrant Education Council (IMEC) is nationally-recognized organization that consists of prominent individuals who volunteer their time and expertise to enhance educational opportunities for migrant students who are without a natural advocacy group.\r\n\r\nThe January meeting was attended by representatives from 23 states including staff from the S.C. Department of Education and Deputy State Superintendent John R. Payne.\r\n\r\nGarst’s presentation titled “Making More Possible” highlighted the YMCA’s successful Migrant Summer Education Camp held annually for children of seasonal migrant workers and Out of School Youth (OSY), who are in Beaufort County while working the local summer produce harvest.\r\n\r\nPayne commented that, “Garst’s presentation not only reflected her knowledge and dedication, but equally showed a national audience the great work we are doing in South Carolina.”\r\n\r\nThe presentation explained the YMCA program and how the Y’s existing areas of focus; youth development, healthy living and social responsibility are incorporated in the daily activities of the campers and OSY participants. It also focused on the benefits of operating a Migrant Education Program (MEP) through a YMCA as well as the importance of involving community partners in order to enhance the camp experience, including authentic education applications.\r\n\r\nThe presentation embraced the importance of celebrating accomplishments that many times result in powerful moments for the campers, volunteers and staff. Moments many remember and value the rest of their lives.\r\n\r\nFrancisco Garcia, Executive Director of the IMEC added that Garst’s presentation was “very focused and provided meeting participants with a very good understanding of S.C.’s educational and mission for educating all children including migrant children.” He added that, “She demonstrated a commitment for educational equity while showing that with coordination of services much could be accomplished. The information (she) shared contributed to the overall success of the meeting.”', 'Local YMCA director speaks to migrant education group in Charleston', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'local-ymca-director-speaks-to-migrant-education-group-in-charleston', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:38:46', '2020-02-26 18:38:46', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43545', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43548, 4, '2020-02-26 13:40:03', '2020-02-26 18:40:03', '<h2><b>Beaufort International Film Festival a record-setting success\r\n</b></h2>\r\nThe curtain closed on the record-setting 14th Annual Beaufort International Film Festival on Sunday evening as Oscar-, BAFTA-, and Emmy-Winning sound designer/editor Eugene Gearty was awarded the Pat Conroy Lifetime Achievement Award.\r\n\r\nA new attendance record was set with 17,400 seats filled over four days of film screenings, workshops, parties and more. The average attendance per screening was also a record at 412.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nMarine Corps veteran and filmmaker Joshua DeFour was presented the Santini Patriot Spirit Award for his short film, the 11th Order.\r\n\r\nSouth Carolina based filmmaker John Reynolds was presented the prestigious Behind The Scenes Award.\r\n\r\nFilmmakers, film lovers and fans of the festival showed up to experience some or all of the six-day film festival.\r\n\r\nNearly 400 entries were received from more than 40 countries. The competition was narrowed down to the screening of 53 films and seven screenplays.\r\n\r\nAwards were presented in 13 different categories.\r\n\r\nAmong the top winners were Ontario, Canada’s Sean Cisterna, whose film “From The Vine” won Best Feature and nabbed him the Best Director award and “My Father’s Brothers,” directed by Shawn Kelley of Charlotte, N.C., which took home Best Documentary (Feature) and Audience Choice.\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort International Film Festival is produced by the Beaufort Film Society. For more information, visit http://www.beaufortfilmfestival.com\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort Film Society is a nonprofit, 501 (c) 3, member-supported organization dedicated to providing the highest levels of entertainment and education to the public from all areas of the film industry.\r\n\r\n<b>The Awards</b>\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort Film Society Volunteer of the Year: </b>Jenny Steadham, Beaufort\r\n\r\n<b>Best Feature: </b>From The Vine, directed by Sean Cisterna, Ontario, Canada\r\n\r\n<b>Best Documentary (Feature):</b> My Father\'s Brothers, directed by Shawn Kelley, Charlotte, N.C.\r\n\r\n<b>Best Documentary (Short):</b> Waterproof, directed by Ross Kauffman, South Hampton, N.Y.\r\n\r\n<b>Best Short Film:</b> Miner\'s Mountain, directed by Bennett Pellington, Wilmington, N.C.\r\n\r\n<b>Best Student Film: </b>A Lonely Death, directed by Matt Suppes, Orange, Calif. (Dodge College, Chapman University)\r\n\r\n<b>Best Comedy: </b>Notice, directed by Phyllis Jackson, Atlanta, Ga.\r\n\r\n<b>Best Animation: </b>Misguided, directed by Sean Kim, Orlando, Fla.\r\n\r\n<b>Best Scre</b><b>enplay: </b>Away With My Heart, written by Hoyt Richards and Lawrence Nelson II, Los Angeles, Calif.\r\n\r\n<b>Best Actress: </b>Suzan Anbeh, Berlin, Germany (Effigy: Poison in the City)\r\n\r\n<b>Best Actor:</b> Tim Realbuto, New York, N.Y. (Yes)\r\n\r\n<b>Best Director: </b>Sean Cisterna, Ontario, Canada (From The Vine)\r\n\r\n<b>Audience Choice:</b> My Father\'s Brothers, Director Shawn Kelley, Charlotte, N.C. (Documentary Feature)\r\n\r\n<b>Susan A. K. Shaffer Humanitarian Award:</b> Flint: The Poisoning of An American City, directed by David Barnhart\r\n<h2><b>&nbsp;</b></h2>', 'And let’s roll the credits', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'and-lets-roll-the-credits', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:40:03', '2020-02-26 18:40:03', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43548', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43550, 4, '2020-02-26 13:42:00', '2020-02-26 18:42:00', '<b>By MINDY LUCAS</b>\r\n\r\nIf you’re looking for some good food and a good time in the name of a great cause, look no further. The 2020 Bands, Brews &amp; BBQ is coming up this weekend.\r\n\r\nSponsored by Beaufort Memorial Hospital, the two-day event will feature live music, a barbecue competition, craft beers and children’s activities.\r\n\r\nFunds raised will go toward the Friends of Caroline Hospice, a local organization serving the needs of Beaufort County residents.\r\n\r\n“It’s a fun, family friendly event and it supports a great organization,” said the organization’s Director of Community Engagement LaNelle Fabian. “And it’s the first event of the season, so we kick off the season in Port Royal with it.”\r\n\r\nAs Fabian explains, Friends of Caroline dates back to 1977 when Caroline Sue Quann, who was from Beaufort, died of cancer at the age of 31.\r\n\r\nQuann’s wish was to be at home for her final days where she could die with grace and dignity, said Fabian. A group of her friends resolved to provide her with companionship and medical care during this time.\r\n\r\nAfter her passing, the same group went on to form Friends of Caroline Hospice and the organization became the first non-profit hospice in Beaufort County.\r\n\r\nProceeds from the event will benefit the organization in its mission to provide quality-of-life care that offers hope and encouragement to those nearing the end-of-life’s journey and support for their family, friends and the community.\r\n\r\nFriday night will feature a Wing Throw Down from 5 to 9 p.m. at the port, in Port Royal, or 601 Paris Avenue. Event goers can sample wing recipes from participating cooks while enjoying live music from Savannah Country/Americana band, Lyn Avenue.\r\n\r\nA barbecue tasting will follow from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Cook teams from across the Southeast will be cooking up award-winning recipes at this official South Carolina Barbecue Association sanctioned event.\r\n\r\nLive music on Saturday will include Sidestreet Walkers, Chris Jones and Frogmore Stu.\r\n\r\nDaily admission is $10 per person. Children 10 and younger will be admitted free. Samples of wings and barbecue on both days will be available with $1 tickets, sold at the event. Beer, soda and wine will be available for purchase.\r\n\r\nWeekend passes are available online only for $15 per person. General admission passes are available online and at the gate.\r\n\r\nThe event will take place rain or shine. For tickets or more information call 843-525-6257 or visit www.fochospice.org.\r\n<h2>Want to go?</h2>\r\n<b>What:</b> Bands, Brews &amp; BBQ\r\n\r\n<b>When:</b> 5-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28 (Wing Throw Down);\r\n11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29 (BBQ Tastin’)\r\n\r\n<b>Where:</b> Paris Ave., Port Royal\r\n\r\n<b>Tickets: </b>Daily admission is $10 per person. Children 10 and younger free. Samples of wings and barbecue on both days will be available with $1 tickets. Beer, soda and wine available for purchase. Weekend passes are available online only for $15 per person.', 'Port Royal’s Bands, Brews & BBQ to benefit Friends of Caroline Hospice', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'port-royals-bands-brews-bbq-to-benefit-friends-of-caroline-hospice', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:42:00', '2020-02-26 18:42:00', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43550', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43553, 4, '2020-02-26 13:46:52', '2020-02-26 18:46:52', '<h2><b>After 22 years, Mark and Rita Wolfe saying goodbye to one of Beaufort’s most beloved ‘dive’ bars<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b></h2>\r\n<strong>By ERIN MOODY\r\n\r\n</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen Mark Wolfe first walked into the gas station-turned-bar his wife, Rita, bought on Lady’s Island in 1998, he looked around at the black mold, at the motorcycle burnout and exhaust circles on the floor and ceiling, at the dark, nearly windowless room, and turned to his tearful wife and promised her, “It’s OK, sweetheart, I’ll fix it.”\r\n\r\nAnd fix it, he did.\r\n\r\nWith fellow retired Marine Steve Tinsley volunteering at his side, Mark began turning The Fillin’ Station into a place where locals and tourists gathered for a drink, for a steak dinner, for the view and, most importantly, for the company.\r\n\r\n“We try to treat everyone like family and everyone becomes family,” Rita said.\r\n\r\nTwenty-two years and countless improvements later, Mark and Rita are preparing to turn over the keys to one of Beaufort’s most beloved “dive” bars March 6 to new owners Ron and Shannon Boyd.\r\n\r\nOut went the pillars for the old gas pumps. In went windows so Mark could enjoy the view of Factory Creek from behind the bar he manned every day except Sundays, when The Fillin Station was closed. Out went the port-o-potties, and in went useable bathrooms.\r\n\r\nWhen they started cooking dinners, in went a full kitchen to meet health code, even though the couple continued to cook almost exclusively on the outdoor grill. In went a small porch to replace a rickety picnic table on grass, and later a much larger deck to seat the hundreds of people who came on Friday nights for one of Mark’s infamous steaks.\r\n\r\nA representative from the property owner came by early on, saw what Mark was doing to improve the building and said they’d keep the rent stable, a promise kept for more than two decades until the property was annexed into the City of Beaufort.\r\n\r\nTiffany Simmons remembers the first time she came into The Fillin’ Station, well before it became 21-and-up. Last Friday, she sat with Mark cutting out announcements about Rita’s “16th” leap-year birthday party Feb. 29 and prepping scrapbook pages for friends and customers to fill with memories.\r\n\r\n“I was only 11 years old the first time I stepped into this bar. My parents were good friends of Mark and Rita,” she said. “There used to be kids running around here all the time.”\r\n\r\nThe bar developed with time and as needs arose.\r\n\r\nSteak night started out free, Mark said, and prices could only go up as costs and demands did.\r\n\r\nOver the years, there were hot dog and burger nights, crab legs, fried pork chops, spaghetti and, for those who knew to ask, lumpia egg rolls hand made by Rita, who was born in the Philippines.\r\n\r\nEvery year, Mark and Rita would take time to go back to Rita’s hometown and take enough to feed 100 families. They handed out bags of food to the poorest people they could find so, as Rita said, “At least for one day they could eat good.”\r\n\r\nThis year their trip is postponed due to the coronavirus, but she is stockpiling to feed 200 families.\r\n\r\nThe Wolfes worked hard, side-by-side, with the help of family and friends to create a relaxed and welcoming place.\r\n\r\n“That’s the one good thing we have, everyone we have (in Beaufort) comes in here, from every walk of life, and the one thing they have in common is they are all down to earth in here,” Mark said.\r\n\r\n“I just want to say thank you so very much for meeting all these great people,” Rita added.\r\n\r\nAfter locking up after Rita’s birthday Saturday night, the couple will return Monday to help the new owners adjust for a few weeks.\r\n\r\nRon and Shannon Boyd moved to Beaufort from Savannah in Oct. 2018. They were looking for a change from Shannon’s long commute and hours in the aerospace industry when they rented an AirBnB on Lady’s Island and ended up stopped at The Fillin’ Station.\r\n\r\nRon had operated two grills and bars in the past and had been thinking about opening another one. So when he bought the property and talked with Mark and Rita about buying the business as well, pieces fell together.\r\n\r\nThey will celebrate March 6 with a transition party and live music from the Gary Byrd Band.\r\n\r\nThe couple is excited to take over and plans to keep operations largely the same, although they intend to get a Sunday liquor license so they can do brunch, to add more weeknight dinners and build a college football Saturday crowd.\r\n\r\nOver time, like the Wolfes did, the Boyd’s intend to continue the building’s improvements with more outdoor seating, heaters and possibly an outdoor bar.\r\n\r\nWhile Ron said he is not worried about the day-to-day operations and is excited for the challenge, there’s one skill he knows he must learn before Mark steps into retirement.\r\n\r\n“I really need him there on a Friday night so I can see how you cook 150 steaks to order (on a Lowe’s charcoal grill) and still remember who they go to,” he said.\r\n\r\nEDITOR’S NOTE:\r\n\r\n<em>It’s only fair to disclose that the writer of this story, as well as this editor, may have spent an inordinate amount of time at The Fillin’ Station, along with an always changing yet solid group of friends sometimes referred to as the North Street Mafia. Let the record show that together and alone at this establishment we have laughed and cried, sung and danced, been fools and kings, whispered and shouted, loved and fought and, above all, made some memories … and some friends.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></em><i>– Mike McCombs</i>\r\n\r\n<strong>&nbsp;</strong>', 'THE FILLIN’ STATION: \"They are all down to earth in here\"', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'the-fillin-station-they-are-all-down-to-earth-in-here', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:46:52', '2020-02-26 18:46:52', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43553', 0, 'post', '', 0);
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(43557, 4, '2020-02-26 13:49:24', '2020-02-26 18:49:24', '<b>By MINDY LUCAS</b>\r\n\r\nFor months now, Beaufort County residents have had a front row seat to national politics as a number of candidates for president have passed through the Lowcountry.\r\n\r\nNow all the speeches and town halls are over, and it’s the voters’ turn to have their say.\r\n\r\nIf you’re interested in voting in the Saturday, Feb. 29 Democratic presidential primary, here’s what you need to know:\r\n\r\n<b>About the Primary</b>\r\n\r\nSouth Carolina’s “First in the South” primary usually includes both a Republican and a Democratic Presidential Primary held on separate dates.\r\n\r\nHowever, this year is different.\r\n\r\nIn September, the South Carolina Republican Party voted to cancel its presidential primary and give the state delegates to incumbent President Donald Trump, which leaves only a Democratic contest this year.\r\n\r\n<b>Who Can Vote</b>\r\n\r\nAs an open primary state, registered voters usually can cast a ballot in either party’s primary but not both. Since there is only one contest this year – and South Carolina does not register by party – Saturday’s election is open to all eligible voters.\r\n\r\nWho is eligible? Anyone who has registered in South Carolina can vote. However, South Carolina’s deadline to register has passed.\r\n\r\n<b>Who’s on the Ballot</b>\r\n\r\nHere is who and how the following Democratic Presidential Candidates will appear on the ballot: Joseph R. Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Tulsi Gabbard, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer and Elizabeth Warren.\r\n\r\nMike Bloomberg chose to skip states holding early primaries so will not be on South Carolina’s ballot.\r\n\r\n<b>What Can I Expect?</b>\r\n\r\nGenerally, primaries don’t see as large a turnout as a general election. However, since there is only one presidential primary this year, and it is on a Saturday, that could draw additional voters.\r\n\r\nOr, it may not.\r\n\r\nAs Beaufort County’s Board of Voter Registration and Elections Director Marie Smalls said, you never know what drives voters to turn out.\r\n\r\n“It’s difficult to say, and we really won’t know until Saturday,” she said.\r\n\r\nWhatever the case, if there are lines when you show up at your precinct, make sure to bring your patience, and perhaps something to read.\r\n\r\nSomething else voters should expect – new electronic voting machines. South Carolina’s new voting system, which combines the familiarity of touchscreen technology with the security of a paper ballot, was first rolled out in smaller elections last year. This will be the first statewide election to use the new machines.\r\n\r\nTo view a video of how the new machines work, go to www.scvotes.org/south-carolina-voting-information-page.\r\n\r\n<b>Where to Vote</b>\r\n\r\nPolls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29. To find your precinct, check your voter registration, or go to www.scvotes.org.\r\n\r\nAlso, while South Carolina does not have early voting, voters can still vote by absentee ballot at the county’s election offices up until 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28. Offices are at 15 John Galt Road, in Beaufort, and at 61B Ulmer Road, in Bluffton.\r\n\r\n<b>What You Need to Bring</b>\r\n\r\nYou will need a photo ID in order to vote. The following are accepted:\r\n\r\nS.C. driver’s license\r\n\r\nS.C. Department of Motor Vehicles ID card\r\n\r\nS.C. voter registration card with photo\r\n\r\nFederal military ID\r\n\r\nU.S. passport\r\n\r\nIf you forget to bring your photo ID, you may vote with a provisional ballot. However, you will need to show your photo ID to the election commission before to the certification of the election in order for your vote to count. The Democratic Presidential Primary will be certified on Thursday, March 5.\r\n\r\n<b>What’s Next?</b>\r\n\r\nAfter South Carolina’s contest, the focus will shift to March 3, or “Super Tuesday.” That’s when 14 states – including California and Texas – will hold their primaries, all on the same day.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<i>Democratic candidate for President Tom Steyer made a campaign stop at the Family Worship Center in Yemassee on Sunday, Feb. 23. Photo by<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></i><i>Bob Sofaly</i>', 'Voters’ guide for Saturday’s presidential primary', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'voters-guide-for-saturdays-presidential-primary', '', '', '2020-02-26 13:49:24', '2020-02-26 18:49:24', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43557', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43565, 4, '2020-02-29 21:33:54', '2020-03-01 02:33:54', '<b>By MINDY LUCAS</b>\r\n\r\nOn a brisk, sunny Election Day in the Lowcountry, hundreds if not thousands, went to the polls in Beaufort County to cast their ballot for the Democratic nominee for president.\r\n\r\nAt the Charles L. Brown Activity Center in Beaufort, where three precincts vote, 262 people had voted as of 11 a.m. on Saturday.\r\n\r\nOver at Port Royal’s Town Hall where two precincts vote, 213 had voted as of 1:45 p.m. Poll worker Debra Webb said turnout had been “steady” with no lines or waiting.\r\n\r\nTraffic outside, however, was another issue.\r\n\r\nCars from the 2020 Bands, Brews &amp; BBQ, a benefit event, lined both sides of Paris Avenue making it a little tricky to find parking for those who only wanted to vote.\r\n\r\nBut for Lauren Moules who was hoping to find a parking space close by, it wasn’t a problem.\r\n\r\n“I pulled right into a spot,” said Moules, who was walking with a cane due to a recent car accident.\r\n\r\nDespite moving just a little slower than usual, the Port Royal resident who just turned 30 still felt it was important to get out and vote – especially for those her age, she said.\r\n\r\nMoules, who typically votes Republican, voted for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. It was the first time she had voted in a Democratic Primary and while she wasn’t ready to say she was switching parties just yet, she said she liked “Bernie” even though she didn’t necessarily side with his views.\r\n\r\n“I just feel like he’s gained momentum,” she said.\r\n\r\nSouth Carolina’s “First in the South” primary has drawn the nation’s attention not only for its early voting before Super Tuesday – in which 14 states will vote – but for its diversity.\r\n\r\nAccording to the (Charleston) Post and Courier and other media outlets, absentee voting in the Democratic primary had surpassed 2016 numbers and could be even higher, after all votes had been counted.\r\n\r\nOver on St. Helena Island, 191 people had voted as of 2:30 p.m., with an additional 10 people having voted curbside, said poll clerk, Roosevelt McCollough.\r\n\r\n“They’ve been slowly coming in,” he said, adding that he hoped to see that number reach at least 400.\r\n\r\nHolly Hook, who walked out of the library’s conference room at a brisk pace, explaining she was late for an appointment, said, “I voted for Joe Biden and I hope he wins.”\r\n\r\nAbout five miles away, at Lady’s Island Elementary, 299 people had voted as of 2:45. Poll worker Inez Washington said that voters had been steadily coming in all day with about “3, 4, or 5 people at a time.”\r\n\r\nOutside Lisa Wandrick, of Lady’s Island, said she voted for “Pete.” She liked the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, because he was new, she said.\r\n\r\n“And knowing what I know about the others from previous elections,” she said. “I was just drawn to him.”\r\n\r\nAnd his age made a difference as well, she said.\r\n\r\n“It’s kind of time to get some new blood,” she said.\r\n\r\nBut no matter who voters wanted to see win in South Carolina, Wandrick said it was just important to get out and vote.\r\n\r\n“Everyone should vote and they should be an informed voter,” she said. “They have the right, they should exercise it.”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'SC Democratic Primary: How Beaufort County voted', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'sc-democratic-primary-how-beaufort-county-voted', '', '', '2020-02-29 21:33:54', '2020-03-01 02:33:54', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43565', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43568, 4, '2020-03-04 14:15:35', '2020-03-04 19:15:35', '<b>Activities at Hunting<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Island State Park</b>\r\n\r\nThere are fun, interesting and educational activities every day hosted by Park Ranger and Lowcountry Master Naturalist Megan Stegmeier.\r\n\r\n<b>Sundays: </b>Sand/Candy Art, 11 a.m.; Do You Want To Build a Snow Globe (March 15, 22), 2 p.m.\r\n\r\n<b>Mondays:</b> Reptiles of the Lowcountry (March 16), 11 a.m.; A Walk In The Woods (March 16), 3 p.m.; Secrets of the Salt Marsh, 4 p.m.; Full Moon Lighthouse Climb (March 9), 7 p.m.\r\n\r\n<b>Tuesdays: </b>Driftwood Painting, 11 a.m.; Beach Walk, 3 p.m.\r\n\r\n<b>Wednesdays:</b> Alligator Talk, 11 a.m.; Stepping Stones, 2 p.m.\r\n\r\n<b>Thursdays: </b>Interpretive Lighthouse Tour, 10 a.m.; Feeding Frenzy, 3 p.m.\r\n\r\n<b>Fridays: </b>Nature Center 20th Anniversary Celebration, 1 p.m.; Fish Printing (March 6, 13, 27), 2 p.m.\r\n\r\n<b>Saturdays: </b>Sunrise Lighthouse Climb (March 28), 6:45 a.m.; Tie-Die, 11 a.m.; No Bones About It (March 7, 21), 1 p.m.; Driftwood Painting, 2 p.m.\r\n\r\nFor a description of these programs and a complete calendar of activities, go to southcarolinaparks.com/hunting-island and click on “Programs &amp; Events.”\r\n\r\nAll are invited to attend these free events, though there is an entry fee to Hunting Island State Park and reservations are needed for lighthouse programs. For more information, call 843-838-7437 or go to the Friends of Hunting Island website and the Facebook page: FOHI Sea Turtle Conservation Project.\r\n\r\n<b>Donate non-perishable<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>foods to YMCA</b>\r\n\r\nSnowbirds! Wondering what to do with your unopened, non-perishable food items at the end of your stay? Drop them off at the YMCA and we’ll deliver them to a local food bank on your behalf. The YMCA is conveniently located in Port Royal at 1801 Richmond Ave. For more information, call 843-522-9622 or email beaufort-jasperymca.org.\r\n\r\n<b>Hunting Island Lighthouse Tours</b>\r\n\r\n10 a.m., every Thursday (March 5, 12, 19, 26) and some Tuesdays (March 10, 17, 24). The Friends of Hunting Island will present Lighthouse tours of the historic Hunting Island Lighthouse. Keeper Ted and his team will tell you all about the history of the Lighthouse, which was built in 1875 and is the only Lighthouse in South Carolina open to visitors. If you are at least 44 inches tall you may also climb the 167 steps to the top of the Lighthouse. Reservations are recommended by calling the Nature Center at 843-838-7437. Regular Thursday tours are $2 per person. Park entry fees apply.\r\n\r\n<b>Monday night is Movie Night</b>\r\n\r\n7 p.m. Mondays, USC Beaufort Center for the Arts, 801 Carteret Street. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased online (www.uscbcenterforthearts.com) or at the USCB Center for the Arts box office. Upcoming schedule: March 9 – Parasite; March 16 – A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood; March 23 – 1917; April 27 – Little Women.\r\n\r\n<b>COSY’s All Things Southern fundraiser</b>\r\n\r\n6 p.m. Thursday, March 5, Tabby Place, Port Republic Street, Beaufort. The Beaufort County Collaborative Organization of Services for Youth (COSY) Trust will be celebrate “All Things Southern” at its annual fundraiser. Advance tickets are $25 per person, $35 per couple; at the door, $35 per person, $45 per couple. To purchase tickets online contact https://helpalowcountryfamily.org.\r\n\r\nThe evening will feature food from local restaurants, entertainment and the opportunity to give back to the Trust which provides financial support to at-risk children and their families. For more information about the event or the COSY program, contact the COSY Trust Facilitator at PeggySimmer2019@hotmail.com.\r\n\r\n<b>Beyond the Bricks: eBooks, Audiobooks, and More!</b>\r\n\r\n9:30-11 a.m. Friday, March 6, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott St. Bring your tablet, cell phone, or laptop and learn how to use the free digital services offered by the library. Free. For more information, call 843-255-6458 or visit beaufortcountylibrary.org/subscribe.\r\n\r\n<b>Indivisible Beaufort March meeting</b>\r\n\r\n11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 7, St. Helena Island Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Indivisible Beaufort’s March meeting will focus on the issue of voter suppression and how to prevent it. Michael “Nathan” Campbell, an educator at May River High School, will present “A Guide to Fighting Voter Suppression.” The documentary SUPPRESSED by filmmaker Robert Greenwald will also be shown. Mr. Campbell currently runs the Youth in Government, Model United Nations and Academic World Quest programs at the school as well as serving as the Advanced Placement Coordinator. Indivisible Beaufort S.C. is a non-partisan group of local residents who believe this nation embodies rights and respect for all. The group is working to ensure those rights and freedoms remain available to everyone. For more information contact JusticeIndivisibleBSC@gmail.com.\r\n\r\n<b>Maye River Quilters Guild</b>\r\n\r\nSaturday, March 7, Palmetto Electric Cooperative, 1 Cooperative Way, Hardeeville. On the first Saturday of every month, the Maye River Quilters Guild members meet at 9:30 a.m. for social exchange. The meeting starts at 10 a.m. Block-of-month members meet at 9 a.m. Please call 847-707-6034 or visit www.mayeriverquiltguild.com.\r\n\r\n<b>Shorebird Stewardship Training</b>\r\n\r\n10 a.m. Saturday, March 7, Harbor Island Community Center. With Nolan Schillerstrom of Audubon S.C., learn about our beautiful shorebirds and how you can help them survive in a changing world. Every summer Shorebirds in South Carolina face many obstacles in their fight to survive. Come and learn how you can help make a difference by becoming a Shorebird Steward. No experience required. We will learn about the birds that visit our beaches in migration, the ones that raise a family here and how to be an advocate for their survival. Email Hlshorebirds@gmail.com to register.\r\n\r\n<b>Wardle Family YMCA offers CPR training</b>\r\n\r\nThe Wardle Family YMCA, at 1801 Richmond Ave in Port Royal, offers CPR classes for community members from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays on the following dates in 2020: March 7, April 4, May 9, May 16, June 27, July 18, Aug. 22, Sept. 12, Oct 24 and Nov. 21. Cost is $35 for this YMCA certified course and those interested need to register at the Y as space is limited and filled on a first come, first serve basis. Questions? Contact Lou Bergen, Aquatics Director to register for this class. Call the Y at 843-522-9622 or visit beaufort-jasperymca.org.\r\n\r\n<b>Full Moon Lighthouse Climb</b>\r\n\r\n7 p.m., Monday, March 9, Hunting Island Lighthouse Complex. Cost $15. Come and join a naturalist in climbing the lighthouse to explore the stars and the full moon all from the quiet of the lighthouse. Must be 44-inches tall to climb. Pre-registration is required. 15-person limit. For more information, contact the Nature Center at 843-838-7437.\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club’s March meeting</b>\r\n\r\n7 p.m. Thursday, March 12, Beaufort Yacht Club, Lady’s Island off Meridian Road. The social begins<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>at 6:30 p.m. March\'s presenter will be Capt Mike Edmond. Edmond is well known for his expert rod and reel repair and custom fishing rods. He will assist everyone preparing their equipment for the upcoming season, including discussing the latest fishing lines, rods, reels, and very importantly of setting your drags properly. As a bonus all members are invited to bring their extra fishing equipment to display before the meeting to sell or trade.', 'What’s Happening', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'whats-happening-12', '', '', '2020-03-04 14:15:35', '2020-03-04 19:15:35', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43568', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43571, 4, '2020-03-04 14:17:46', '2020-03-04 19:17:46', 'On Friday, March 6, the Downtown Merchants Association will host an evening of shopping, dining, and entertainment to celebrate First Friday.\r\n\r\nThe fun will kick off at 5 p.m. and run until 8 p.m. Member businesses will offer special promotions, raffles and activities for shoppers to enjoy.\r\n\r\nThe celebration is an opportunity for everyone to visit with and get to know the wonderful people who own and work in the eclectic and unique businesses downtown.\r\n\r\nEveryone is encouraged to stop at the First Friday information table – set up on the clock plaza at Bay and West streets – to learn more about the Merchants Association and pick up a shoppers card for a list of participating businesses and in-store happenings.\r\n\r\nA detailed list of the special activities, promotions, sales, and contests offered by participating Merchants Association members can be found on the association’s website –<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>dbmerchantsassociation@gmail.com.\r\n\r\nThere will be music to set the atmosphere during the evening – musician John Sundrla will be at the plaza to entertain the crowd.\r\n\r\nShoppers will also have an opportunity to meet with representatives from the committee working on the development plan for Whitehall Park. They will be at the clock plaza to share information about the plans for the public park and conduct a survey regarding the design of the future 10-acre site.\r\n\r\nFirst Friday is a perfect reason to visit downtown and have a great meal, check out unique shops, galleries, and specialty stores in support of local businesses.\r\n\r\nThis and all First Friday events are free and open to the public.', 'Shop and hop downtown this First Friday', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'shop-and-hop-downtown-this-first-friday', '', '', '2020-03-04 14:17:46', '2020-03-04 19:17:46', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43571', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43573, 4, '2020-03-04 14:19:54', '2020-03-04 19:19:54', '<b>By ALAN SCHUSTER</b>\r\n\r\nIt has been written that Richard Wagner’s experiences during a stormy voyage across the North Sea had inspired him to write an opera based on the legend of a phantom ship.\r\n\r\nAccording to the legend, a Dutch sea captain had sworn by all devils that he would round a certain cape even if it took him until Judgment Day. For his defiance, Satan doomed him to sail the seas forever – unless he could find a woman who would redeem him through love. He was permitted to go ashore once every seven years in search of that woman.\r\n\r\nSo inspired was Wagner by the legend that he not only wrote the music, but the libretto as well, all of which took him less than two months to complete. From start to finish, it was his first “music drama” – entitled Der Fliegende Hollander (The Flying Dutchman) – which premiered in Dresden in January, 1843.\r\n\r\nConsidered by many as being a milestone on his road to music-drama, one opera writer recently defined it as “an extraordinary combination of operatic lyricism and magnificent theatrics, combined with a continuous musical flow.” The Met has called their new production by Francois Girard as one which turns the stage into a rich, layered tableau reminiscent of a vast oil painting.\r\n\r\nThe cast: The Dutchman, Evgeny Nikitin, replacing an injured Sir Bryn Terfel; Daland, a Norwegian sea captain, Franz-Joseph Selig; Senta, Daland’s daughter, Anja Kampe; Eric, a huntsman, Sergey Skorokhodov; the Steersman, David Portillo; and Mary, Senta’s nurse, Mihoko Fujimora. Conducting: Valery Gergiev.\r\n\r\n<b>I: </b>The action takes place during one of those seven-year intervals. A storm has broken. Daland\'s ship seeks refuge in a quiet bay. His sailors retire, leaving the helmsman on watch. He falls asleep. A ghostly vessel appears.\r\n\r\nThe Dutchman captain, who once defied God, is cursed to roam the seas forever without rest. Every seven years waves cast him ashore. If he finds a wife who will be true, he will be redeemed from his curse. He laments his fate and invokes the Final Judgment.\r\n\r\n<b>II:</b> Daland and the Dutchman become acquainted. Without revealing his fate, the Dutchman makes a deal with Daland, who promises him a treasure in exchange for Senta’s hand. But will she be the one to free the Dutchman from his curse?\r\n\r\nThough she was engaged to Erik, the young woman has always been fascinated by the legend of the Flying Dutchman. She wants to be the one to set him free. The Dutchman of Senta\'s imagination now stands before her.\r\n\r\nAfter rejecting Erik, who tells her a strange dream, she swears to be true to the Dutchman until death, and the stranger is sure he will finally be delivered.\r\n\r\n<b>III: </b>The sailors have returned and are engaged in merry-making. Their singing and dancing contrasts with the mournful sounds coming from the ghostly vessel moored nearby. Festivities end and danger looms.\r\n\r\nErik, who reproves Senta for deserting him, tries – but fails – to convince her to take him back. The Dutchman overhears their conversation and believes he has been betrayed. He tells Senta of the curse and reveals that the is the Flying Dutchman. He sets sail, believing his only hope for salvation is lost.\r\n\r\nIn a final desperate gesture, Senta throws herself into the sea. As the ship starts to sink, Senta and the Dutchman are seen ascending to heaven.\r\n\r\nThe first of Wagner’s many music-drama highlights begins as soon as the conductor reaches the podium. It’s a splendid overture, mainly stormy but with patches of calm. In addition to being a beautiful musical narrative of the entire opera, it quickly was on its way to becoming a popular concert piece as well.\r\n\r\nAnother gem, this one opening the second act, is known as the “Spinning chorus,” in which the girls\r\n\r\nsing a prayer to the winds to bring their seafaring lovers home soon. It’s a memorable tune, including some teasing of Senta for gazing so dreamily at the portrait of the Dutchman, leading her to sing above the accompaniment, claiming that she will be the woman to save him unto death.\r\n\r\nAn exceptional piece ends the act when Senta and the Dutchman come face-to-face, each taking turns to express that this is the one of their dreams, then singing together in Wagner’s first great love duet climax.\r\n\r\nSomeone once wrote that the opera “has as much spectacle impact as the music.” The brief final act – about 30 minutes – is a fine example, beginning with rousing male and female choruses who marvel at the Dutchman’s ghostly ship lying nearby. All of which leads to Senta’s rush to the edge of a cliff, then leaping into the sea below.\r\n<h2>Want to go?</h2>\r\nWhat: Met Opera’s Live HD broadcast of Wagner’s Flying Dutchman.\r\n\r\nWhen: 12:55 p.m., Saturday, March 14\r\n\r\nWhere: USC Beaufort Center for the Arts, 801 Carteret St., Beaufort.\r\n\r\nTickets: All seats are general admission. Adults $20; OLLI members $18; Students free. Tickets are available at the box office; order on-line at www.centerforthearts.com; or call 843-521-4145.', 'Wagner’s ‘Flying Dutchman’ opera storms into USC Beaufort', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'wagners-flying-dutchman-opera-storms-into-usc-beaufort', '', '', '2020-03-04 14:19:54', '2020-03-04 19:19:54', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43573', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43575, 4, '2020-03-04 14:21:30', '2020-03-04 19:21:30', '<strong>By LEE SCOTT</strong>\r\n\r\nThere was an annoying little bird tapping at my window recently. As it turned out, she was not really tapping as much as flinging her body into the window.\r\n\r\nShe was a small gray bird with a red spiked hairdo that reminded me of someone dressed up to go to an alien creature convention. I believe she was either a sparrow or a finch.\r\n\r\nI did everything to make her stop. I closed the curtains, I folded down the shade, turned off lights. She would not stop until I pounded on the window. Then she would fly off, only to return a short time later, lunging herself toward me, or her mirrored self.\r\n\r\nHer favorite limb appeared to be one on the large Magnolia tree outside my office window. When I knocked on the glass to get her to stop running into the window, she would fly from one limb to another.\r\n\r\nIt was hard to spot her because of her size. She was much smaller than the Magnolia leaves and her grayish feathers would fade into to the limbs.\r\n\r\n“Knock it off!” I screamed at her numerous times.\r\n\r\nThe truth is I started to get quite fond of that bird and decided I would rather not have her break her neck on the window. It appeared as if she liked me too. I thought birds were afraid of humans. Or maybe she suffered brain damage from flying into the window so many times.\r\n\r\nI finally had it the other day. I went down to the garage and pulled out one of those long-poled tree trimmers. The only way to get this bird to leave me alone was to trim off some of the branches. As I stood there getting ready to open the window, she flew toward me. I quickly shut the window.\r\n\r\nThat is when I realized that if I did not time this right, she would come into the house and most likely wind up in one of the skylights. All I could imagine was her stuck in the skylight flying up to the glass trying to get out.\r\n\r\nI smacked the window to scare her, and she flew down to a small bush. I started cutting quickly to get the limbs down before she came back.\r\n\r\nIt worked. No more bird. I was not sure where she went, but at least I did not have to worry about finding her broken body in my yard.\r\n\r\nLater that night my husband asked, “Do you hear that noise?”\r\n\r\nI recognized the sound at once. “A gentle tapping, tapping on my chamber door.”\r\n\r\n“Tis the wind,” I said, “and nothing more.”\r\n\r\n<i>Lee Scott, a writer and recent retiree, shares her everyday observations about life after career. A former commercial banker responsible for helping her clients to reach their business objectives, Scott now translates those analytical skills to her writings. She lives on St. Helena Island and enjoys boating, traveling and reading.</i>', 'My Edgar Allan Poe moment', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'my-edgar-allan-poe-moment', '', '', '2020-03-04 14:21:30', '2020-03-04 19:21:30', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43575', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43577, 4, '2020-03-04 14:22:55', '2020-03-04 19:22:55', '<strong>By SCOTT GRABER</strong>\r\n\r\nIt’s Saturday morning, cold, but I’ve got a serious, cedar log fire that floods our small, minimalist living room with cedar-scented heat. I also have the Wall Street Journal.\r\n\r\nThis morning, the Journal tells us that Bayer — the maker of Roundup weedkiller — wants to settle a wave of lawsuits that allege that Roundup causes cancer. Apparently Bayer and various plaintiffs are moving toward a $10 billion dollar settlement. But what makes this settlement interesting, and difficult, is that Bayer wants to continue to sell Roundup after the settlement.\r\n\r\nThis article takes me back to the summer of 1967. That summer I was just graduated from college — working at the Medical College in Charleston — and waiting to go off to law school. I found myself attached to a young epidemiologist named Jack Finklea.\r\n\r\nJack had grown up in Florence and gone to college at Davidson and then to the Medical College of South Carolina. In 1967 he was working out of a small laboratory located in a pre-fab, storage shed-like building more or less hidden on the medical campus.\r\n\r\nBut Jack’s shed housed two other doctors and a half dozen medical students caught up in Jack’s fevered curiosity.\r\n\r\nIn those days, Jack was interested in lead, especially lead in peeling paint that had been absorbed by African American children in Charleston’s nearby housing projects. He was also interested in arsenic then used to control weeds by South Carolina’s cotton growing farmers. My job was to find children, and farmers, and collect their blood (or urine) to determine if lead or arsenic had worked their way into their tissue.\r\n\r\nThen, in the summer of 1968, Jack asked me to go to Trinidad and help him study nephritis — a kidney infection. My job was to find folks who would agree to take an experimental drug; and also agree to be bled on a regular basis. This involved driving a jeep through lush tropical mountains, a bag of cash for those who volunteered for our study, and weekends in Port of Spain.\r\n\r\nIn Port of Spain, we took our meals with an aging British expatriate who ran a boarding house overlooking Queen’s Park. Her meals were bland and uninteresting to a boy who had subsisted on a diet of pulled pork and fried okra; but her gin and tonics were of more interest.\r\n\r\nJack was one of those rare people who could look at disease; who could see connections that are not apparent; who could design a study confirming the connections. But Jack’s great gift was the ability to sell those not so obvious connections to the EPA, or the National Institutes of Health or a drug company like Parke Davis.\r\n\r\nAnd for one short, hot Trinidadian summer I got to sit on a darkened veranda in Port of Spain and talk about DDT, kidney failure and “Goldie,” our stunningly gorgeous, mixed-race house servant.\r\n\r\nWithin a couple of years, others saw Jack’s brilliance and he was hired to direct the EPA’s National Research Laboratory in Durham, N.C. It was here that he made a connection between sulfate emissions from power plants and acid rain. This connection annoyed the power industry, and the resulting controversy caused Jack to resign in 1974.\r\n\r\nFrom there he took over as Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health where he took aim at the chemical industry identifying 65 potentially dangerous chemicals at job sites — versus the 23 that had been previously identified. Eventually Jack would identify more than 100 chemical compounds considered to be potential carcinogens.\r\n\r\nIdentifying carcinogens was controversial work inasmuch as a connection with cancer was then, and is now, a death sentence for any such product. And so Jack found himself embroiled in internal fights; and then getting (chemical) industry criticism for NIOSHA’s determinations.\r\n\r\nAfter three years of turmoil, Jack resigned, returning to the University of Alabama where he established a research lab that looked at the effects of welding gas on workers. In 2000, Jack died after a long history of coronary disease and bypass surgery.\r\n\r\nThroughout his professional life, Jack Finklea looked at thousands to substances trying to make a scientific determination if they were detrimental to America’s health. It is interesting that today glyphosate – aka Roundup – has been determined to be safe by our EPA; but the World Health Organization says glyphosate can “probably” cause cancer.\r\n\r\nThis difference of opinion has not stopped a wave of lawsuits against Bayer — the manufacturer of Roundup.\r\n\r\nOn mornings like this, I wish I could pick up the phone and ask Jack about glyphosate.\r\n\r\n<i>Scott Graber is a lawyer, novelist, veteran columnist and longtime resident of Port Royal. Email Scott at cscottgraber@gmail.com.</i>', 'I wish I could pick up the phone and call Jack', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'i-wish-i-could-pick-up-the-phone-and-call-jack', '', '', '2020-03-04 14:22:55', '2020-03-04 19:22:55', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43577', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43579, 4, '2020-03-04 14:24:45', '2020-03-04 19:24:45', '<b>Indivisible Beaufort<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>meets March 7</b>\r\n\r\nIndivisible Beaufort’s March 7 meeting will focus on the issue of voter suppression and how to prevent it.\r\n\r\nMichael “Nathan” Campbell, an educator at May River High School, will present “A Guide to Fighting Voter Suppression.” The documentary SUPPRESSED by filmmaker Robert Greenwald will also be shown.\r\n\r\nMr. Campbell currently runs the Youth in Government, Model United Nations and Academic World Quest programs at the school as well as serving as the Advanced Placement Coordinator.\r\n\r\nThe meeting will take place at 11:30 a.m. in the St. Helena Island Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island.\r\n\r\nIndivisible Beaufort S.C. is a non-partisan group of local residents who believe this nation embodies rights and respect for all. The group is working to ensure those rights and freedoms remain available to everyone. For more information contact JusticeIndivisibleBSC@gmail.com.\r\n\r\n<b>County holding meeting on Cat Island zoning</b>\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort County Planning Department will host a public meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 19 to discuss the current zoning use for all areas of Cat Island, to include its golf course, in addition to information about procedures related to the County’s development and rezoning processes.\r\n\r\nThe meeting will be held in the County Council Chambers, Administration Building, Robert Smalls Government Complex, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort. Beaufort County Planning Director Eric Greenway will be the guest speaker. For more information, please contact the Beaufort County Planning Department at 843-255-2140.\r\n\r\n<b>School district seeks community feedback on<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>draft strategic plan</b>\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort County School District is holding two public forums to seek community feedback on a draft of the district’s 2020-21 strategic plan.\r\n\r\nOne forum will be held for residents of northern Beaufort County and one for residents of southern Beaufort County, although residents may attend either event:\r\n\r\nThursday, March 5 – 5:30-7:30 p.m., school district office, 2900 Mink Point Blvd., Beaufort.\r\n\r\nTuesday, March 10 – 5:30-7:30 p.m., Bluffton High School, 12 H.E. McCracken Circle, Bluffton.\r\n\r\n<i>Each forum will include an overview of the draft strategic plan’s componen</i>ts as well as breakout sessions for stakeholder groups to review, evaluate and comment on the draft plan’s goals and actions.\r\n\r\n<b>Good Neighbor Free<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Medical Clinic of Beaufort seeks executive director</b>\r\n\r\nThe Good Neighbor Free Medical Clinic of Beaufort is in search of an Executive Director. The Executive Director manages all non-clinical aspects and programs of the clinic and nurtures the delivery of high-quality healthcare services. Primary responsibilities include overall administration of the organization, management of staff and volunteers, developing and cultivating cooperative relationships with community groups and organizations, fiscal oversight, fundraising, grant writing and resource development and other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors. Full Time. Salary is negotiable. Send info to SearchBeaufort@gmail.com.\r\n\r\n<b>Elliot’s Beach closed<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>on MCRD Parris Island</b>\r\n\r\nThe U.S. Army\'s Charlie Company, 51st Expeditionary Signal Battalion from Fort Lewis, Wash., will be conducting a field training exercise at Elliot\'s Beach on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island through March 8. During this time, access will be closed to all pedestrians and non-official vehicles.', 'News Briefs', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'news-briefs-144', '', '', '2020-03-04 14:24:45', '2020-03-04 19:24:45', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43579', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43581, 4, '2020-03-04 14:25:28', '2020-03-04 19:25:28', 'Burton Fire District’s Morgan Clifton was among the 20 recruits graduated by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation’s South Carolina Fire Academy on Friday, Feb. 28 from its eight-week firefighter candidate school in Columbia.\r\n\r\nThe keynote speaker was Chief Colleen Walz of the St. John’s Fire District. The 20 firefighters underwent a 320-hour training program of classroom and hands-on firefighting skills development.\r\n\r\n“This challenging eight-week program requires commitment, passion, and dedication,” Fire Academy Superintendent Dennis Ray said in a release. “These recruits have successfully worked together as a team, performed extensive hands-on training with live fires, and passed intensive practical skills evaluations and written tests to meet the National Fire Protection Association standards,” he said.\r\n\r\nThe comprehensive training, offered quarterly at the Fire Academy, includes emergency responder first aid training, hazardous materials operations training, auto extrication, flammable liquids and gas firefighting, rescue training, and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Firefighter I and Firefighter II levels.\r\n\r\n“With the successful completion and graduation of these new firefighters who will now be dedicating their lives to serving their communities and the state, our South Carolina fire service is enhanced,” Ray said. “I am proud of their accomplishments and I also commend the dedicated Fire Academy instructors who brought the recruits through these weeks of instruction leading to graduation.”', 'Burton’s Morgan Clifton graduates State Fire Academy', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'burtons-morgan-clifton-graduates-state-fire-academy', '', '', '2020-03-04 14:26:28', '2020-03-04 19:26:28', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43581', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43584, 4, '2020-03-04 14:32:07', '0000-00-00 00:00:00', '<h4>Photo by BOB SOFALY<i>\n\n</i><em>Black belt Logan Guptil, of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., does a high kick while performing his “kata” during the Good Will Karate Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 29. Guptil took first place in Black Belt Kata. Kata is a rehearsed performance used to improve proper body mechanics used in other martial arts techniques.&nbsp;</em></h4>', '', '', 'draft', 'closed', 'closed', '', '', '', '', '2020-03-04 14:32:07', '2020-03-04 19:32:07', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43584', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43587, 4, '2020-03-04 14:36:29', '2020-03-04 19:36:29', 'Beaufort Memorial Hospital celebrated the completion of the steel structure for its new three-story Okatie medical office building with a “topping off” ceremony last week. About 100 local officials, hospital staff, board, and physicians – as well as the all important construction crew – were on hand for the ceremony on the site of the new facility on Okatie Center Blvd. near Sun City.\r\n\r\nFollowing a long-standing builders’ tradition, those involved in the project signed the last beam which was hoisted to the top by crane, along with a small tree and an American flag.\r\n\r\nConstruction of the 70,000-square-foot Okatie Medical Pavilion began in May 2019 and is scheduled to be completed late this year. Once open, it will provide residents of southern Beaufort and Jasper counties more convenient access to a variety of medical services and specialties, from primary care to cancer treatment. Sub-specialists from MUSC Health will also have offices there.\r\n\r\n“This is a big milestone for us, marking our most significant increase in health care services south of the Broad,” Beaufort Memorial Hospital President and CEO Russell Baxley said in a release. “This facility will help ease the demand for medical services in an area that has experienced a huge influx of new residents.”\r\n\r\n<i>Above: Beaufort Memorial CEO Russell Baxley signs the last beam at Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s new Okatie Medical Pavilion. Photo by Paul Nurnberg.</i>', 'Beaufort Memorial tops off new Okatie Medical Pavilion', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-memorial-tops-off-new-okatie-medical-pavilion', '', '', '2020-03-04 14:36:29', '2020-03-04 19:36:29', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43587', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43590, 4, '2020-03-04 14:38:42', '2020-03-04 19:38:42', 'To help meet the critical need for vascular specialists in the Lowcountry, Beaufort Memorial has added two more vascular surgeons to its medical staff. Drs. Ravikumar Veeraswamy and Mathew Wooster have joined board-certified vascular surgeon Dr. Chad Tober and physician assistant Annsley Troxell, as well as the four general surgeons currently practicing with Beaufort Memorial Surgical Specialists.\r\n\r\nBoth physicians are on the faculty at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and treat the entire spectrum of vascular diseases and conditions, including abdominal aortic aneurysm, carotid artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, deep vein thrombosis and varicose veins.\r\n\r\nRaised in Irmo, Dr. Veeraswamy earned both his undergraduate and medical degrees from Johns Hopkins University. He completed his residency and fellowship at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, and an additional fellowship at Washington University.\r\n\r\nA highly experienced surgeon who is board-certified in both vascular and general surgery, Dr. Veeraswamy is professor and chief of vascular surgery at MUSC and serves as director of its residency program. Prior to joining MUSC, he was an associate professor of surgery at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, and on the clinical staff at Emory University Hospital and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for more than a decade.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/WoosterMathew-Surgery.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-43591 alignleft\" src=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/WoosterMathew-Surgery-731x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"293\" height=\"410\"></a>A South Carolina native, Dr. Wooster earned his B.S. in Biology at Duke University and his medical degree at MUSC. He completed his residency at the University of South Florida and joined the MUSC medical and teaching staff as assistant professor in 2017.\r\n\r\nBoard-certified in vascular surgery, Dr. Wooster is also the director of the vascular surgery clerkship at MUSC, where he oversees medical students during their surgical rotations.', 'Two MUSC vascular surgeons join Beaufort Memorial staff', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'two-musc-vascular-surgeons-join-beaufort-memorial-staff', '', '', '2020-03-04 14:38:42', '2020-03-04 19:38:42', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43590', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43594, 4, '2020-03-04 14:40:18', '2020-03-04 19:40:18', 'The City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department responded to a structure fire in a duplex at the Marsh Point Apartments at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 1 in Beaufort and discovered a body.\r\n\r\nThe first arriving unit arrived on scene in 3 minutes, 31 seconds and reported that heavy smoke was coming from the roof of the structure. While fire crews were extinguishing the fire and performing a search and rescue of the residence, they found a deceased adult female.\r\n\r\nFirefighters were able to bring the fire under control, extinguishing it in approximately 5 minutes. Fire crews were able to prevent the spread of any fire or smoke to the adjacent residence.\r\n\r\nThe City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department called the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to assist with the fire investigation. A total of 24 firefighters were on scene of the incident. Firefighters stayed on scene to assist SLED.\r\n\r\nBattalion 1, Engine Company 1, Ladder Company 2, Engine Company 3, Engine Company 4, Squad 4, MCAS Ladder Company 88, Car 1, Car 2, Car 3, Car 4, Car 5, Beaufort County EMS, City of Beaufort Police Department, SLED, and the coroner all responded to the incident.', 'Beaufort/Port Royal Fire Department discovers body', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-port-royal-fire-department-discovers-body', '', '', '2020-03-04 14:40:18', '2020-03-04 19:40:18', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43594', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43596, 4, '2020-03-04 14:42:01', '2020-03-04 19:42:01', '<b>March 5</b> – Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration and Elections Canvass Hearing, 10 a.m., 15 John Galt Road, Beaufort.\r\n\r\n<b>March 5</b> – Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration and Elections Board Meeting to Certify Election Results, noon, 15 John Galt Road, Beaufort.\r\n\r\n<b>March 5</b> – Beaufort County Planning Commission Special Workshop, 1 p.m., Executive Conference Room, Administration Building, Beaufort County Government Robert Smalls Complex, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort.\r\n\r\n<b>March 5</b> – Beaufort County Design Review Board, 2:30 p.m., Grace Coastal Church, 15 Williams Drive, Okatie.\r\n\r\n<b>March 5</b> – Beaufort County Parks and Recreation Board*, 2:30 p.m. Room 137 Buckwalter Recreation Center, 905 Buckwalter Parkway, Bluffton.\r\n\r\n<b>March 5</b> – Lady’s Island Plan Implementation Committee, 3 p.m., Executive Conference Room, Administration Building, Beaufort County Government Robert Smalls Complex, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort.\r\n\r\n<b>March 5</b> – Beaufort County Comprehensive Plan Update, 6:30- 8:30 p.m., Buckwalter Recreation Center, Room 2, 905 Buckwalter Parkway, Bluffton<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n<b>March 9</b> – Beaufort County Council Executive Committee*, 5 p.m., Beaufort County Council Regular Session*, 6 p.m., Hilton Head Island Branch Library, 11 Beach City Road, Hilton Head Island.\r\n\r\n<b>March 10</b> – Beaufort City Council Work Session, 5 p.m., City Hall Planning Conference Room. first floor; Regular Meeting, 7 p.m., City Council Chambers, City Hall second floor, Beaufort Municipal Complex, 1911 Boundary Street, Beaufort.\r\n\r\n<b>March 11</b> – Stormwater Management Utility Board*, 2 p.m., Executive Conference Room, Administration Building, Beaufort County Government Robert Smalls Complex, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort.\r\n\r\n<b>March 11</b> – Library Board, 4 p.m., Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort.\r\n\r\n<b>March 11</b> – City of Beaufort’s Historic District Review Board, 2 p.m., City Hall, 1911 Boundary Street, Beaufort.\r\n\r\n<i>*Will be televised on The County Channel</i>', 'Public Meetings March 5–17', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'public-meetings-march-5-17', '', '', '2020-03-04 14:42:01', '2020-03-04 19:42:01', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43596', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43598, 4, '2020-03-04 14:48:21', '2020-03-04 19:48:21', 'It’s the one they talk about all year long. And it’s coming Saturday.\r\n\r\nNow in its 16th year, the Beaufort Charities Oyster Roast is the granddaddy of Beaufort County oyster roasts. As many as 2,500 people are likely to pack Live Oak Park in Port Royal from 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday.\r\n\r\nThe event will offer all-you-can-eat oysters from 1 to 8 p.m., two live auctions (3–4 p.m. and 7–8 p.m.) and a free kids zone.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe Embers will provide the entertainment from 4 to 7 p.m., followed by Steel Rail Express from 8 to 10 p.m. A DJ will play from 1 to 3 p.m.\r\n\r\nThere will be cold beer, wine and liquor available. Bottomless beer cups are $13, while beer tumblers are $25. Bringing lawn chairs is advisable.\r\n\r\nTickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the gate. For tickets and more info, go to https://www.beaufortcharities.org/oysterroast.\r\n\r\nThis year’s event is sponsored by SERVPRO, Lee Distributors, Sea Island Dentistry, Schiller and Hamilton Law Firm, Berkshire Hathaway Bay Street Realty Group and Meritus Builders.', 'Beaufort Charities Oyster roast set for Saturday in Port Royal', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-charities-oyster-roast-set-for-saturday-in-port-royal', '', '', '2020-03-04 14:48:21', '2020-03-04 19:48:21', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43598', 0, 'post', '', 0);
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(43600, 4, '2020-03-04 14:50:18', '2020-03-04 19:50:18', '<h2><b>Beaufort County, like rest of state, shows big<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>increase in turnout</b></h2>\r\n<b>By MIKE MCCOMBS</b>\r\n\r\nWhen Joe Biden won South Carolna’s First in the South Democratic Primary on Saturday, Feb. 29, is wasn’t just a big win for him. It was the biggest turnout for South Carolina Democrats ever.\r\n\r\nThe 539,020 voters who cast ballots in the primary exceeded 2008’s total by 6,869.\r\n\r\nAnd Beaufort County played a big part in the record-setting day. With an 81 percent increase in voter turnout over the last primary, the county was second only to York County, which saw an 86 percent increase.\r\n\r\n“The party (in Beaufort County) will have more voters heading to the polls in November,” Beaufort County Democratic Party Chair Mayra Rivera-Vazquez said Monday night. “South Carolina wants a change and will elect more Democrats up and down the ballot in November. South Carolinians are ready to send Lindsey (Graham) home and re-elect Joe Cunningham to Congress.”\r\n\r\nRivera-Vazquez said the numbers were a good indication Cunningham could hold on to his 1st Congressional District seat.\r\n\r\nIn Cunningham’s district, all four counties represented in the district saw a significant increase in Democratic participation – Beaufort (81 percent), Berkeley (63), Dorchester (62) and Charleston (58). And the 1st Congressional District had the state’s highest turnout in pure numbers – 103,538 votes.\r\n\r\n“Suburban voters in the Lowcountry are more moderates,” Rivera-Vazquez said, “and will align with the issues that Joe is fighting for in the Congress.”\r\n\r\nSeveral regions of the state that have long been strictly Republican territories saw big increases in Democratic participation, as well. In addition to York County, Lancaster County saw a 75 percent increase in participation and Greenville County saw a 72 percent increase.\r\n\r\nThose numbers may bode well for Jaime Harrison, who is fighting to take the U.S. Senate seat of Lindsey Graham, a big ally of President Donald Trump. Harrison has been polling well, within the error margin of Graham, who has been in the Senate since 2002.\r\n\r\n“Definitely, the chances of having Jaime Harrison as our next U.S. Senator are higher,” Rivera-Vazquez said. “Look at the numbers, especially in counties that are traditionally Republican. This turnout is a strong message that South Carolinians want a change and they will send Lindsey Graham home and elect Jaime Harrison.”\r\n\r\nRivera-Vazquez downplayed any significant impact of state Republicans’ Operation Chaos efforts to skew the Democratic race toward Bernie Sanders\r\n\r\n“Look at the numbers,” she said. “Biden led every poll in S.C. and not only with black voters, but in every demographic.”\r\n\r\nAnd if Republican voters changed the margin of victory, it wasn’t by a significant amount.\r\n\r\n“This is a monumental moment for Democrats in South Carolina,” South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Trav Robertson Jr. said in a release. “Voter turnout from this past weekend reflects what many of us already knew: South Carolinians have had enough. These numbers should scare Republicans.”\r\n\r\nRobertson said Democrats must now “take advantage of this opportunity” and put their candidates in a position to win in November.\r\n\r\nRivera-Vazquez was confident they could.\r\n\r\n“Prepare for November,” she said. “Change will come.”\r\n\r\n<i>Mike McCombs can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.</i>', 'SC Democrats show up  at polls like never before', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'sc-democrats-show-up-at-polls-like-never-before', '', '', '2020-03-04 14:50:18', '2020-03-04 19:50:18', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43600', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43602, 4, '2020-03-04 14:51:37', '2020-03-04 19:51:37', '<h2><b>SC Democratic Primary: Former VP wins decisively in state, Beaufort County</b></h2>\r\n<b>By MINDY LUCAS</b>\r\n\r\nAfter months of campaign stops, town halls and door-to-door canvassing, the run-up to South Carolina’s Democratic Primary is over with former Vice President Joe Biden walking away with a decisive victory in hand.\r\n\r\nThousands went to the polls on Saturday, Feb. 29, in Beaufort County to cast their ballot.\r\n\r\nAt the Charles L. Brown Activity Center in Beaufort, where three precincts vote, 262 people had voted as of 11 a.m. on Saturday.\r\n\r\nOver at Port Royal’s Town Hall where two precincts vote, 213 had voted as of 1:45 p.m. Poll worker Debra Webb said turnout had been “steady” with no lines or waiting.\r\n\r\nTraffic outside, however, was another issue.\r\n\r\nCars from the 2020 Bands, Brews &amp; BBQ, a benefit event, lined both sides of Paris Avenue making it a little tricky to find parking for those who only wanted to vote.\r\n\r\nBut for Lauren Moules who was hoping to find a parking space close by, it wasn’t a problem.\r\n\r\n“I pulled right into a spot,” said Moules, who was walking with a cane due to a recent car accident.\r\n\r\nDespite moving just a little slower than usual, the Port Royal resident who just turned 30 still felt it was important to get out and vote – especially for those her age, she said.\r\n\r\nMoules, who typically votes Republican, voted for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. It was the first time she had voted in a Democratic Primary, and while she wasn’t ready to say she was switching parties just yet, she said she liked “Bernie” even though she didn’t necessarily side with his views.\r\n\r\n“I just feel like he’s gained momentum,” she said.\r\n\r\nSouth Carolina’s “First in the South” primary has drawn the nation’s attention not only for its early voting but for its diversity.\r\n\r\nAccording to the (Charleston) Post and Courier and other media outlets, absentee voting in the Democratic primary had surpassed 2016 numbers and could be even higher, after all votes had been counted.\r\n\r\nOver on St. Helena Island, 191 people had voted as of 2:30 p.m., with an additional 10 people having voted curbside, said poll clerk, Roosevelt McCollough.\r\n\r\n“They’ve been slowly coming in,” he said, adding that he hoped to see that number reach at least 400.\r\n\r\nHolly Hook, who walked out of the library’s conference room at a brisk pace, explaining she was late for an appointment, said, “I voted for Joe Biden and I hope he wins.”\r\n\r\nAbout five miles away, at Lady’s Island Elementary, 299 people had voted as of 2:45. Poll worker Inez Washington said that voters had been steadily coming in all day with about “three, four or five people at a time.”\r\n\r\nOutside Lisa Wandrick, of Lady’s Island, said she voted for “Pete.” She liked the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., because he was new, she said.\r\n\r\n“And knowing what I know about the others from previous elections,” she said. “I was just drawn to him.”\r\n\r\nAnd his age made a difference as well, she said.\r\n\r\n“It’s kind of time to get some new blood,” she said.\r\n\r\nBut no matter who voters wanted to see win in South Carolina, Wandrick said it was just important to get out and vote.\r\n\r\n“Everyone should vote and they should be an informed voter,” she said. “They have the right, they should exercise it.”\r\n<h4>S.C. Democratic<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>Primary Results</h4>\r\n%Votes\r\n\r\nJ. Biden 48.44 256,111\r\n\r\nB. Sanders 19.90 105,226\r\n\r\nT. Steyer 11.33 59,917\r\n\r\nP. Buttigieg 8.25 43,612\r\n\r\nE. Warren 7.06 37,353\r\n\r\nA. Klobuchar 3.15 16,678\r\n\r\nT. Gabbard 1.28 6,755\r\n<h4>Beaufort County Democratic Primary Results</h4>\r\n%Votes\r\n\r\nJ. Biden 45.84 11,287\r\n\r\nB. Sanders 15.23 3,750\r\n\r\nP. Buttigieg 12.47 3,070\r\n\r\nT. Steyer 12.22 3,009\r\n\r\nE. Warren 6.91 1,701\r\n\r\nA. Klobuchar 5.58 1,373\r\n\r\nT. Gabbard 1.18 290\r\n\r\n<i>*Unofficial totals via scvotes.org</i>\r\n\r\nCounty Elections Board to certify results Thursday\r\n\r\nThe Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County will hold their monthly board meeting at noon on Thursday, March 5. This meeting will be held after the Canvass Hearing to certify the Beaufort County results of the Democratic Presidential Preference Primary in the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County Beaufort office at 15 John Galt Road.', 'Biden brings  home big victory', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'biden-brings-home-big-victory', '', '', '2020-03-04 15:11:56', '2020-03-04 20:11:56', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43602', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43605, 4, '2020-03-04 14:59:26', '2020-03-04 19:59:26', 'Sponsored by the Historic Beaufort Foundation, the 2020 Spring Architects’ Tour set for Saturday, March 14 showcases the creative and distinctive imprint of some of Beaufort’s most accomplished architects.\r\n\r\nBeaufort has boasted some of the best of southern architecture since building began here in the 18th century, and today’s local architects continue the tradition. This year, the tour features the work of Allison Ramsey Architects, Frederick and Frederick Architects and Montgomery Architecture &amp; Planning.\r\n\r\nThe annual tour provides a sample of both traditional and contemporary architecture that interprets the Lowcountry in the 21st century.\r\n\r\nOne featured example this year is located on Sunset Bluff, Lady’s Island. With a spectacular view of Downtown Beaufort across Factory Creek and a sunset show every night, this house was built for entertaining and features great outdoor living spaces, an inviting pool and spacious kitchen, with room to accommodate kids, grand-kids, and friends.\r\n\r\nThe house was designed by Frederick &amp; Frederick Architects with interior design by LGB Interiors and construction by Broad River Construction.\r\n\r\nThe tour is sponsored this year by Gilbert Law Firm.\r\n\r\nReservations are necessary and available by calling HBF at 843-379-3331 or going online to www.historicbeaufort.org. Tickets are $65 per person. The tour is self-paced and self-driven.\r\n\r\n\r\n<i>Above: The Sunset Bluff Home designed by Frederick &amp; Frederick Architects, with interior design by LGB Interiors and construction by Broad River Construction.</i>\r\n<h2>Want to go?</h2>\r\n<b>What:</b> Historic Beaufort Foundation’s 2020 Spring Architects’ Tour.\r\n\r\n<b>When:</b> March 14.\r\n\r\n<b>Where: </b>Various sites.\r\n\r\n<b>Cost:</b> Tickets are $65 per person.\r\n\r\n<b>Reservations:</b> Call 843-379-3331 or visit www.historicbeaufort.org.', 'HBF’s Architects’ Tour to be held March 14', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'hbfs-architects-tour-to-be-held-march-14', '', '', '2020-03-04 14:59:26', '2020-03-04 19:59:26', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43605', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43608, 4, '2020-03-04 15:01:10', '2020-03-04 20:01:10', 'The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center at 905 Port Republic St. will host a free public reading by five writers at 5 p.m. on First Friday, March 6.\r\n\r\nWine and light refreshments will be served, and books will be available for sale and signing.\r\n\r\nThe participating writers are in Beaufort to also serve as faculty members for the Conroy Center’s Writers Retreat Weekend at the Anchorage 1770 Inn on Saturday and Sunday, March 7 and 8.\r\n\r\nParticipating in the First Friday Reading are three winners of the prestigious Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction: novelists Mindy Friddle (Secret Keepers), Bren McClain (One Good Mama Bone), and Tiffany Quay Tyson (The Past Is Never); along with poet, novelist, editor, and teacher William Walsh (Fly Fishing in Times Square) and novelist and author consultant Stephanie Austin Edwards (What We Set in Motion).\r\n\r\n<b>About the authors</b>\r\n\r\nBefore <b>Stephanie Austin Edwards</b>&nbsp;(above) returned to the Lowcountry of South Carolina, and to her love of writing, she had a 22-year career in New York theater, film, and television. She now writes fiction and non-fiction, facilitates writers groups, teaches writing workshops, and consults with authors. Her debut novel, What We Set in Motion, won a Best Submission Award at the Atlanta Writer’s Club Conference. She is also a contributing writer to Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy.\r\n\r\n<b>Mindy Friddle</b> is the author of The Garden Angel, selected for Barnes &amp; Noble\'s Discover Great New Writers program. Her second novel, Secret Keepers, won the Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction. Her recent short stories have appeared in Hayden’s Ferry Review, Southern Humanities Review, Steel Toe Review, and Phoebe. The South Carolina Arts Commission granted Mindy a Fellowship in Prose, and she has twice won the South Carolina Fiction Prize. Named a Walter E. Dakin Fellow in Fiction at the Sewanee Writers\' Conference, Mindy has been awarded residencies at Ragdale and Bread Loaf.\r\n\r\n<b>Bren McClain’s</b> critically acclaimed debut novel, One Good Mama Bone from Pat Conroy’s Story River Books, won the 2017 Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction and the 2018 Patricia Winn Award for Southern Literature. It was also named Pulpwood Queen 2017 Book of the Year, a 2017 Great Group Reads by the Women’s National Book Association, a Southeastern Independent Booksellers Association (SIBA) Okra pick, longlisted for SIBA’s Southern Book Prize and a finalist for the 2018 Crook’s Corner Prize. The novel was recently published in France and retitled Mama Red. She is also a contributing essayist to the award-winning anthology Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy.\r\n\r\n<b>Tiffany Quay Tyson </b>is the author of two novels. Her most recent, The Past Is Never, received numerous awards including the Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction, the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize, the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Award for Fiction, and the Mississippi Author Award for Adult Fiction from the Mississippi Library Association. Her debut novel, Three Rivers, was described by novelist John Dufresne as, “heartfelt, redemptive, sometimes harrowing, and irresistible.” She serves on the faculty of Lighthouse Writers Workshop and the Lighthouse Young Writers Program in Denver, Colo.\r\n\r\n<b>William Walsh</b> is the author of four books of poetry, four novels, three film screenplays, a collection of interviews, an anthology of contemporary American poetry, and a collection of essays. He is the director of the Etowah Valley MFA Program at Reinhardt University in Waleska, Ga., where he teaches graduate and undergraduate creative writing and literature. Among his awards for his writing, he has received the 2018 ĆerveŃa Barva Press Editors Book Series Award, Georgia Author of the Year, and his work has been recognized by the Association of American University Presses as a Selection for Public and Secondary Libraries. He is also a contributing writer to Our Prince of Scribes.', 'Conroy Center hosting author reading on First Friday', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'conroy-center-hosting-author-reading-on-first-friday', '', '', '2020-03-04 15:01:10', '2020-03-04 20:01:10', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43608', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43611, 4, '2020-03-04 15:04:57', '2020-03-04 20:04:57', '<strong>Photo by BOB SOFALY</strong><i>\r\n\r\nOnly in Port Royal can one eat fresh barbecue, have a good micro brew beer and listen to live music with a shrimp boat background while raising money for a good cause. Here, patrons enjoy some fresh barbecue during Saturday’s Bands, Brews and BBQ event to benefit Friends of Caroline Hospice.&nbsp;</i>', '', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', '43611-2', '', '', '2020-03-04 15:04:57', '2020-03-04 20:04:57', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43611', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43614, 4, '2020-03-04 15:10:51', '2020-03-04 20:10:51', '<h2><b>$1 bills removed from bar’s walls, ceiling will go to Honor Flight for WWII veterans\r\n\r\nBy BOB SOFALY</b></h2>\r\n<b>\r\n</b>A small army of volunteers helped take down stapled one dollar bills from the walls, ceiling and just about everywhere else one might think of to attach a dollar bill during Operation Pull Down on Saturday at Johnson Creek Tavern.\r\n\r\nDiners at Johnson Creek Tavern typically sign dollar bills and staple them to the walls and ceiling of the restaurant. Coleman White, co-owner of the popular restaurant and bar near Hunting Island, said the bills are removed each year and donated to charity.\r\n\r\n“In 2018, we donated more than $17,000 to the Honor Flight for World War II veterans,” he said.\r\n\r\nThe money will go to Honor Flight Savannah, where it will defray the expenses for veterans to visit Washington, D.C. on April 24–26 to see the nation’s war memorials.\r\n\r\nAll totaled, White said over the last few years Johnson Creek Tavern has donated more than $51,000 to charity, all from dollars bills stapled to its walls.\r\n\r\n<i>Above: Money seems to be falling from the ceiling of Johnson Creek Tavern as volunteers work in other rooms to remove thousands of dollar bills destined to be donated to charity. Here, Craig Bowman, center, removes some of the money from a window frame covered with dollar bills. Photo by Bob Sofaly.</i>\r\n<h2><b>&nbsp;</b></h2>', 'OPERATION PULL DOWN', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'operation-pull-down', '', '', '2020-03-04 15:10:51', '2020-03-04 20:10:51', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43614', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43619, 4, '2020-03-03 15:14:17', '2020-03-03 20:14:17', '<strong>Photo by BOB SOFALY</strong>\r\n\r\n<i>Black belt Logan Guptil, of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., does a high kick while performing his “kata” during the Good Will Karate Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 29. Guptil took first place in Black Belt Kata. Kata is a rehearsed performance used to improve proper body mechanics used in other martial arts techniques.&nbsp;</i>', 'KICK IT UP', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'kick-it-up', '', '', '2020-03-04 15:17:05', '2020-03-04 20:17:05', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43619', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43623, 4, '2020-03-04 15:21:22', '2020-03-04 20:21:22', '', 'Lowco Sports Web', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'lowco-sports-web', '', '', '2020-03-04 15:21:22', '2020-03-04 20:21:22', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Lowco-Sports-Web.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(43626, 4, '2020-03-11 08:37:46', '2020-03-11 12:37:46', '<b>Activities at Hunting<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Island State Park</b>\r\n\r\nThere are fun, interesting and educational activities every day hosted by Park Ranger and Lowcountry Master Naturalist Megan Stegmeier.\r\n\r\n<b>Sundays: </b>Sand/Candy Art, 11 a.m.; Do You Want To Build a Snow Globe (March 15, 22), 2 p.m.\r\n\r\n<b>Mondays:</b> Reptiles of the Lowcountry (March 16), 11 a.m.; A Walk In The Woods (March 16), 3 p.m.; Secrets of the Salt Marsh, 4 p.m.; Full Moon Lighthouse Climb (March 9), 7 p.m.\r\n\r\n<b>Tuesdays: </b>Driftwood Painting, 11 a.m.; Beach Walk, 3 p.m.\r\n\r\n<b>Wednesdays:</b> Alligator Talk, 11 a.m.; Stepping Stones, 2 p.m.\r\n\r\n<b>Thursdays: </b>Interpretive Lighthouse Tour, 10 a.m.; Feeding Frenzy, 3 p.m.\r\n\r\n<b>Fridays: </b>Nature Center 20th Anniversary Celebration, 1 p.m.; Fish Printing (March 6, 13, 27), 2 p.m.\r\n\r\n<b>Saturdays: </b>Sunrise Lighthouse Climb (March 28), 6:45 a.m.; Tie-Die, 11 a.m.; No Bones About It (March 7, 21), 1 p.m.; Driftwood Painting, 2 p.m.\r\n\r\nFor a description of these programs and a complete calendar of activities, go to southcarolinaparks.com/hunting-island and click on “Programs &amp; Events.”\r\n\r\nAll are invited to attend these free events, though there is an entry fee to Hunting Island State Park and reservations are needed for lighthouse programs. For more information, call 843-838-7437 or go to the Friends of Hunting Island website and the Facebook page: FOHI Sea Turtle Conservation Project.\r\n\r\n<b>Donate non-perishable<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;f</span></b><b>oods to YMCA</b>\r\n\r\nSnowbirds! Wondering what to do with your unopened, non-perishable food items at the end of your stay? Drop them off at the YMCA and we’ll deliver them to a local food bank on your behalf. The YMCA is conveniently located in Port Royal at 1801 Richmond Ave. For more information, call 843-522-9622 or email beaufort-jasperymca.org.\r\n\r\n<b>Hunting Island<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Lighthouse Tours</b>\r\n\r\n10 a.m., every Thursday (March 19, 26) and some Tuesdays (March 17, 24). The Friends of Hunting Island will present Lighthouse tours of the historic Hunting Island Lighthouse. Keeper Ted and his team will tell you all about the history of the Lighthouse, which was built in 1875 and is the only Lighthouse in South Carolina open to visitors. If you are at least 44 inches tall you may also climb the 167 steps to the top of the Lighthouse. Reservations are recommended by calling the Nature Center at 843-838-7437. Regular Thursday tours are $2 per person. Park entry fees apply.\r\n\r\n<b>Friends of Fort<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Fremont / Southeast<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Chapter of the Native<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Plant Society oyster roast</b>\r\n\r\n5:30-8 p.m. Friday, March 13, Live Oak Park, Port Royal. The Friends of Fort Fremont and the Southeast Chapter of the Native Plant Society will be holding their annual fundraiser. Tickets are $30 per person and include oysters, chili, appetizers, and dessert. There will be live music by the Sweet Ferns and amazing silent auction items. Tickets may be purchased at<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>www.fortfremont.org or by check payable to Friends of Fort Fremont, Box 982, St. Helena Island, S.C. 29920. For more information, call Janelle Proctor at 843-441-3036\r\n\r\n<b>3rd annual St.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Patrick’s Day Festival</b>\r\n\r\nNoon to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 14, Beaufort Town Center. The event is free and open to the public.\r\n\r\nArea restaurants and food trucks will be selling food and drinks, and there will be live entertainment. The event will also have activities for children of all ages. New to the Festival this year will be an adult and kids costume contest. The event benefits Beaufort County Animal Services. The Festival is accepting vendor applications online until March 1. Additional information can be found on the Beaufort Town Center website (www.beauforttowncenter.com) and Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/BeaufortTownCenter).\r\n\r\n<b>The Pickled Eagle Championship<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>pickleball tournament</b>\r\n\r\n8 a.m. Saturday, March 14, Beaufort High School Tennis Courts. On site registation begins at 7:30 a.m.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>Cost $40, $5 for each additional division. Double elimination. Skill divisions: 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0. Two division of singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles. Age divisions restricted to 50+, 60+ and 70+. To register online, go to pickleballtournaments.com and search pickledeagle. Register online and get a free T-shirt. Proceeds go to the Beaufort High School tennis team.\r\n\r\n<b>America’s Boating Course</b>\r\n\r\n8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 14, Saturday, March 21 and Saturday, March 28, Port Royal Town Hall, 700 Paris Avenue, Port Royal. Offered by America’s Boating Club of Beaufort. If you are new to boating, have never taken the course or just want to refresh your knowledge about boating this is a course to consider. Learn the basics of recreational boating in this National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved class. Satisfies South Carolina Boating Educational Course Requirements. And many boat insurance companies offer discounts to graduates. Price: $75 includes book and navigation tools; additional person in household sharing the book is $17. Contact hlontz@yahoo.com for more information.\r\n\r\n<b>Believe In A Better<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Coast Oyster Roast</b>\r\n\r\n2-4 p.m. Sunday, March 15, Lady’s Island Oyster, 14 Hutson Lane, Seabrook. Fundraiser for Richard Hricik, Democrat for S.C. Senate District 43. Minimum $45 donation includes oysters, beer, wine. Children 13 and younger free. For more information or to RSVP, call Emily at 843-532-3434 or email thankyou@richardforsc.com.\r\n\r\n<b>Monday night is Movie Night</b>\r\n\r\n7 p.m. Mondays, USC Beaufort Center for the Arts, 801 Carteret Street. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased online (www.uscbcenterforthearts.com) or at the USCB Center for the Arts box office. Upcoming schedule: March 16 – A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood; March 23 – 1917; April 27 – Little Women.\r\n\r\n<b>Adaptive Golf Experience Coaches Training<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b>\r\n\r\n5-8 p.m. Friday, March 20 at Parris Island Four Winds and 8 a.m. Saturday, March 21 at Parris Island Driving Range. With PGA/LPGA Master Golf Professional Judy Alvarez. Cost $20 per person. Included Friday dinner and book. Workshop designed for therapists and volunteers who want to serve as Adaptive Golf Coaches. For more information or to register, go toAdaptiveGolfExperience.com.\r\n\r\n<b>FWDG hosting nature photographer John Nickerson</b>\r\n\r\n11 a.m. to 4 p.m.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>Saturday, March 21, FWDG, 745 Robert Smalls Parkway, Beaufort. Local furniture store FWDG is hosting award-winning nature photographer John Nickerson (Leaning Palm Studio). Guests will have an opportunity to meet the photographer and view his prints. Nickerson’s work is centered around capturing the beauty of South Carolina natural world. Fifteen percent of the purchase price of the prints will be donated to the Port Royal Sound Foundation. FWDG will also donate $500 to the Foundation. The photography pop-up gallery is free to attend and open to the public.', 'What’s Happening', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'whats-happening-13', '', '', '2020-03-11 08:37:46', '2020-03-11 12:37:46', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43626', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43628, 4, '2020-03-11 08:38:57', '2020-03-11 12:38:57', '<strong>By SCOTT GRABER&nbsp;</strong>\r\n\r\nIt’s Saturday and I’m in Montgomery, Ala., with my wife, Susan, and we’re at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice — aka the Lynching Memorial—which was built by the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI).\r\n\r\nThis installation of rectangular steel boxes memorializes 4,400 people who were lynched — mostly in the American South — between 1877 and 1950. Each rusted box represents a county, and they are lined up like a regiment of silent infantry, and each is inscribed with the names of the men (and women) who were lynched in each of these counties. This is not a destination I would have chosen on my own.\r\n\r\nAlthough my destinations tend to favor West Africa or Northern Italy, there was a time when I sought-out well-tended fields where thousands of young farm boys perished in an effort to capture an insignificant ridge or an unimportant stone bridge. My wife was never enthusiastic about my taking our son to Antietam or Petersburg; although we would later learn that her great grandfather, Joseph Reid, had fought with the 7th Virginia Calvary, Ashby’s command, and his sidearm resides in our bookcase.\r\n\r\nIn those days I believed that the Civil War had dealt with slavery in the sense that hundreds of thousands soldiers had paid a price for that sin. I believed that their blood, both blue and gray, had bought some measure of absolution for our collective guilt. I was not so naive to think there were no lingering problems. But believed a gradual reconciliation was under way.\r\n\r\nThe EJI says the Civil War was only a promise—an unfulfilled promise followed by years of violence, and intimidation, and that ultimately blacks were forced off the land and into urban ghettos. The EJI says we must acknowledge the horror — and take responsibility for it — if we want redemption.\r\n\r\nThe Memorial also comes with a museum which is a modest, white-painted brick building within 500 yards of the Alabama River where many of the slaves arrived by steamboat.\r\n\r\nThe Legacy Museum begins its narrative with a video showing that most of these slaves arrived from Richmond, Norfolk and Baltimore — cities in the Upper South — rather than Liberia or Angola.\r\n\r\nAfter that, one descends a ramp into a darkened simulated prison where wraith-like, holographic men, women and children tell their haunting stories. This leads to a larger room where one takes a journey from slavery times to the time of lynchings, immigration, segregation and, ultimately, resistance. All of which is presented by way of enlarged photographs, videos and interactive maps.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nOne of the maps tells us — county by county — where the lynchings took place and who was lynched. In this regard, there was one lynching in Beaufort County — a man named William Cornish in 1901. By contrast, there were 10 lynchings in Colleton County and six in Hampton County. (I suspect the number is low in Beaufort because black folk still enjoyed a numerical majority in 1901.)\r\n\r\nThe museum experience is not pleasant — or particularly hopeful — and I walked through the exhibits stunned and stupefied all the while trying to deal with my feelings. And I suspect these feelings vary with each individual visitor.\r\n\r\nA few may think what is presented is exaggerated. Some may feel it’s time to move on; or that they cannot be blamed for the sins of their grandparents. But I believe the vast majority come away sad and many of the white folks feel a sense of shame.\r\n\r\nBut the problem I have is that I knew my grandparents — they lived in Florence County where there were nine lynchings — and I loved them. It is tough, perhaps its impossible, to condemn the people who nurtured you and with whom you share your DNA. But the Montgomery memorial stirs-up deep, long-buried anger and anguish for the sin that was part of our nation’s birthing.\r\n\r\nIt is remarkable that Alabama — cradle of the Confederacy — gives us a shot at redemption.\r\n\r\n<i>Scott Graber is a lawyer, novelist, veteran columnist and longtime resident of Port Royal. Email Scott at cscottgraber@gmail.com.</i>', 'I am hopeful we have a shot at redemption', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'i-am-hopeful-we-have-a-shot-at-redemption', '', '', '2020-03-11 08:38:57', '2020-03-11 12:38:57', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43628', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43630, 4, '2020-03-11 08:40:51', '2020-03-11 12:40:51', '<strong>By LEE SCOTT</strong>\r\n\r\nOn Tuesday, March 17, Americans across the country will celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. Even people with no Irish ancestry will wear green.\r\n\r\nEmployees will sit around their offices eating green frosted cupcakes. The men will wear their Shamrock ties and the women will put on their Leprechaun scarves.\r\n\r\nAll the local bakery shops will serve green frosted donuts and (heaven help us), the local bars will serve green beer. Of course, a dark glass of Guinness is also acceptable for the holiday.\r\n\r\nAnd even though my spouse will only drink his Heineken (a Dutch beer), at least it comes in a green bottle.\r\n\r\nNow when I was a child, my parents made a big deal out of Saint Patrick’s Day. My mother’s name was Claire Kelly – talk about Irish!\r\n\r\nAnd my Dad’s mother was also part Irish. And like many descendants of the Irish, we always celebrated.\r\n\r\nDad would put on a pot of corned beef and cabbage and it would be simmering in a pot all day. He would also concoct a mustard sauce to put on the food. It was delicious.\r\n\r\nHowever recently, I had my DNA tested and, lo and behold, there in my DNA, was proof that I also had Viking blood running through my veins. According to the paperwork, many Norwegian women have light eyes (blue or green) blonde hair (my original hair color) and are of tall stature.\r\n\r\n“My People!” I said to my spouse.\r\n\r\nYes, there is still a lot of Irish in my DNA, but I was excited to learn of this Viking connection. Now with all the new genetic testing, it turns out that many of the Irish descendants have some ancestors from Norway. The Irish coastal towns were popular with the Vikings and it was the Vikings, after all, who founded towns like, Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, and Cork. Their recorded history in Ireland dates to 795 A.D.\r\n\r\nAfter reading up about the Irish and Norwegian history, I realized I did not know my Viking holidays. I knew that Saint Patrick’s Day commemorates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland but was unaware that Norway also celebrates the arrival of Christianity with Saint Olaf’s Day.\r\n\r\nAnd so, in order to honor my newly discovered ancestors, I plan on celebrating Saint Olaf’s Day which is July 29. I was also pleasantly surprised to find out that the Norwegians eat a popular dish called Kumla which is made up of chopped ham and grated potato. Now I can plan my Saint Olaf Day dinner menu.\r\n\r\nAnd so, to honor all my ancestors I bid you – Slan Abhaile (safe home) in Irish Gaelic and Hadet (good-bye) in Norwegian.\r\n\r\nHappy Saint Patrick’s Day to you, regardless of your ancestry.\r\n\r\n<i>Lee Scott, a writer and recent retiree, shares her everyday observations about life after career. A former commercial banker responsible for helping her clients to reach their business objectives, Scott now translates those analytical skills to her writings. She lives on St. Helena Island and enjoys boating, traveling and reading.</i>', 'Happy Saint Patrick’s Day regardless of your ancestry', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'happy-saint-patricks-day-regardless-of-your-ancestry', '', '', '2020-03-11 08:40:51', '2020-03-11 12:40:51', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43630', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43632, 4, '2020-03-11 08:45:30', '2020-03-11 12:45:30', '<strong>Photo by Bob Sofaly</strong>\r\n\r\nFriday was Grab Your Hat and Read With the Cat Day, part of the Read Across America initiative for pre-K through 3rd grades. Area elementary school students took full advantage as they came by the bus load to the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s Historic Campus to have volunteers read to them. Here, after reading stories about dogs helping people, Aiiana Chapin, 7, of Port Royal Elementary School, pets Bailey a seven-year-old American Mixed Breed.&nbsp;', '', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', '43632-2', '', '', '2020-03-11 08:45:30', '2020-03-11 12:45:30', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43632', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43635, 4, '2020-03-11 08:55:21', '2020-03-11 12:55:21', '<b>Opozda named executive director for Help of Beaufort</b>\r\n\r\nLori Opozda has been named executive director for Help of Beaufort, an area organization that provides such services as meals to those who are ill, disabled or are in need of meal preparation through its Mobile Meals program.\r\n\r\nOpozda has served with the organization for five years, starting as a pantry volunteer and head of pantry, then as a board member and interim executive director. She was named as the organization’s permanent director in December.\r\n\r\nThe organization is planning a smoked ham sale for Easter weekend and a 5K walk on May 11.\r\n\r\n<b>Sanders joins<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Collins Group Realty</b>\r\n\r\nWendy Sanders has joined Collins Group Realty as team support specialist for the company’s Hilton Head office.\r\n\r\nSanders will be responsible for welcoming valued clients, office administration and support for the company’s marketing department.\r\n\r\nA Clemson alumnus, Sanders holds a degree in marketing and has previous work experience in advertising and communications on Hilton Head Island and in Greensboro, North Carolina. She and her husband Chris, have lived on Hilton Head for 25 years and have three children.\r\n\r\n<b>LED Lowcountry taps Anderson to head company’s marketing department</b>\r\n\r\nLED Lowcountry has tapped Steve Anderson to head the company’s marketing and communications department. The Bluffton-based business specializes in energy-efficient lighting for commercial and industrial facilities throughout coastal South Carolina and Georgia.\r\n\r\nAnderson will focus on working with property managers and gated community management to reduce their costs through LED lighting conversion.\r\n\r\nA graduate of the College of Charleston with degrees in communications and business, Anderson has more than 25 years of experience in commercial and residential property management in South Carolina and Georgia.\r\n\r\n<b>Port Royal’s ZenDen<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>to celebrate second anniversary with event</b>\r\n\r\nPort Royal’s ZenDen will hold an anniversary celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 21 at the business at 707 and 709 Paris Avenue.\r\n\r\nZenDen, which is celebrating its second anniversary, features art, soap, jewelry, textiles and handmade furniture from local contributors and those who are practitioners of the healing arts.\r\n\r\nThe event will feature hourly giveaways and food trucks and many of ZenDen’s artists and contributors will be on hand. The Garden Market will also be open for the season.\r\n\r\n<i>Have an employee or business announcement? The Island News routinely prints business briefs when space allows. Send announcements to: mindy@yourislandnews.com.</i>', 'Business Briefs', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'business-briefs-27', '', '', '2020-03-11 08:55:21', '2020-03-11 12:55:21', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43635', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43637, 4, '2020-03-11 08:56:25', '2020-03-11 12:56:25', '<b>March 12</b> – Rural and Critical Lands Preservation Board, 3 p.m., Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority, 6 Snake Road, Okatie\r\n\r\n<b>March 12</b> – City of Beaufort Design Review Board, 2 p.m., City Hall, 1911 Boundary Street, Beaufort\r\n\r\n<b>March 16</b> – Beaufort-Town of Port Royal Metropolitan Planning Commission, 5 p.m., Beaufort City Council Chambers, 1911 Boundary Street, Beaufort\r\n\r\n<b>March 18</b> – Daufuskie Island Fire District, 1 p.m., Fire District #16, 400 Haig Point Road, Daufuskie Island\r\n\r\n<b>March 18</b> – Alcohol and Drug Abuse Board, 4 p.m., Room 280, Administration Building, Beaufort County Government Robert Smalls Complex, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort\r\n\r\n<b>March 18</b> – Beaufort County Transportation Committee, 4 p.m., County Council Chambers, Administration Building, Beaufort County Government Robert Smalls Complex, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort\r\n\r\n<i>*Will be televised on The County Channel</i>', 'Public Meetings March 12–18', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'public-meetings-march-12-18', '', '', '2020-03-11 08:56:25', '2020-03-11 12:56:25', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43637', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43639, 4, '2020-03-11 08:57:22', '2020-03-11 12:57:22', '<b>County holding meeting on<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Cat Island zoning</b>\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort County Planning Department will host a public meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 19 to discuss the current zoning use for all areas of Cat Island, to include its golf course, in addition to information about procedures related to the County’s development and rezoning processes.\r\n\r\n<i>The meeting will be held in the County Council Chambers, Administration Building, Robert Smalls Government Complex, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort. Beaufort </i>County Planning Director Eric Greenway will be the guest speaker. For more information, please contact the Beaufort County Planning Department at 843-255-2140.\r\n\r\n<b>100 Women<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Who Care make<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>gift to Lions Club</b>\r\n\r\nThe 100 Women Who Care – Beaufort Chapter has selected the Beaufort Lions Club to receive a $12,500 gift for their work in assisting citizens of northern Beaufort County with vision needs such as eye examinations, glasses, and eye surgeries.\r\n\r\nThe group of 100 emphatic women is committed to supporting the needs of northern Beaufort County residents. The Beaufort Lions Club will use the gift to continue its work assisting citizens of northern Beaufort County with vision needs.\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort Lions Club meets the first and third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Golden Corral on Robert Smalls Parkway, and the 100 Women Who Care – Beaufort Chapter meets quarterly at the First Presbyterian Church at the corner of North and Church.\r\n\r\n<b>Coastline features<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>two mayors</b>\r\n\r\nA new episode of The County Channel’s series Coastline features the mayors of southern Beaufort County. Joining host Suzanne Larson, is Town of Hilton Head Island Mayor John McCann and Town of Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka. This 67th Coastline episode highlights the many changes happening within each town and the proposed referendum. Mayor McCann explains how investing in the town’s future starts with the citizens who live there. Mayor Sulka provides insight on town initiatives to work alongside others at the\r\nCounty level.\r\n\r\nCoastline 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.\r\n\r\nWatch 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 https://beaufortcountysc.gov/.\r\n\r\n<b>Lowcountry GOP Victory Headquarters grand opening</b>\r\n\r\nThe Lowcountry GOP – the Beaufort County GOP, the Jasper County GOP, SCGOP 2020 Victory and Team Graham – will hold a grand opening for its victory headquarters from noon until 4 p.m. Saturday, March 14 at 149 Riverwalk Blvd. in Ridgeland (Riverwalk Commons off Hwy. 170).\r\n\r\nThere will be refreshments, campaign materials and volunteer sign-ups. For more information, contact bcrpscgop@gmail.com, visit beaufortscgop.com or text or call 843-608-3214.', 'News Briefs', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'news-briefs-145', '', '', '2020-03-11 08:57:22', '2020-03-11 12:57:22', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43639', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43641, 4, '2020-03-11 08:58:13', '2020-03-11 12:58:13', '<h2><b><i>John V. VanHolt was one of original African-American Marines\r\n\r\n</i></b></h2>\r\nThe Montford Point Marine Association, Chapter 9, of Beaufort will posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal – the highest civilian award in the United States – to the family of John V. VanHolt in a ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14 at the Technical College of the Lowcountry auditorium.\r\n\r\nVanHolt, who passed away in 2004, was one of the original African-Americans to enter the United States Marine Corp in 1943 and proudly served his country and Corps during World War II. His sister, Shirley VanHolt Norman, will receive the award prior to the Montford Point Marine Gospel Showcase program.\r\n\r\nThe award ceremony is open to all residents of Beaufort County and members of all veterans organizations. The history of the original Montford Point Marines will be addressed by Tyron Jackson, the president of the Beaufort Chapter.\r\n\r\nThe Montford Point Marines were the first African-Americans to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps after President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an Executive Order establishing the Fair Employment Practices Commission in June 1941.\r\n\r\nThe recruits trained at Camp Montford Point in Jacksonville, N.C. from August 26, 1942 until the camp was decommissioned on September 9, 1949. The largest number of black Marines to serve in combat during World War II took part in the seizure of Okinawa, with approximately 2,000 seeing action.', 'Marine to be honored posthumously', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'marine-to-be-honored-posthumously', '', '', '2020-03-11 08:58:13', '2020-03-11 12:58:13', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43641', 0, 'post', '', 0);
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(43643, 4, '2020-03-11 09:04:24', '2020-03-11 13:04:24', '<h2><b>Beaufort native Greenly enjoying his best life\r\n</b><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">\r\nBy MINDY LUCAS</strong><b>\r\n</b></h2>\r\nMike Greenly is living his best life.\r\n\r\nThe 75-year-old Beaufort native, who now lives in New York City, has had a full life as a former executive-turned-freelance writer, inspirational speaker and speech coach.\r\n\r\nHe regularly works with clients from all over the world – some of whom he’s never even met. And he enjoys helping people, whether it’s by writing a speech that could make a career or helping someone to overcome a fear of public speaking.\r\n\r\nIt’s a story that could have ended with its first act and still have been pretty good story.\r\n\r\nBut it didn’t end there. In fact, in some ways, it only started there.\r\n\r\nGreenly, who once struggled to find his own voice in the world, has gone on to write hundreds of songs for others to sing – from pop songs to chorals to country songs and even dance club hits.\r\n\r\nYes, dance club hits.\r\n\r\nIn fact, as a Billboard Top 10 lyricist, Greenly has had multiple songs on the Dance Club Charts – including four that went on to become No. 1 hits.\r\n\r\nTake for example “With You,” written for Kimberly Davis, lead singer of the ‘70s band Chic, of the mega disco hit “Le Freak” fame. It’s a song that came in at No. 4 on the Billboard Dance Club Chart in 2014.\r\n\r\nOr “Get Up,” another hit written for Davis that came in on the same charts at No. 12 in 2010.\r\n\r\nHe also wrote Virginia’s new official state song “Our Great Virginia” which was passed into law in 2015, as well as many others.\r\n\r\n“But writing a song is different from having a song published,” he said recently, by phone from his home in Manhattan, explaining that not every song he writes is published or becomes a hit.\r\n\r\nStill, not bad for a once shy and sometimes bullied Jewish kid from Beaufort who went on to launch not one but two successful careers.\r\n\r\nIt’s a second act that many only dream of or romanticize, but for Greenly, the road to success or self fulfillment wasn’t always an easy one.\r\n\r\n<b>Early Memories</b>\r\n\r\nBorn in Wichita Falls, Texas, Greenly was just an infant when his family moved back to Beaufort where his mother was originally from.\r\n\r\nIn those days, Jewish families in Beaufort were so few in number that Greenly can still recall many of them by name.\r\n\r\n“It was a very small community,” he said.\r\n\r\nHe particularly remembers the Keyserlings and their son Billy, who would later become one his oldest friends and confidants.\r\n\r\nAnd he still remembers what it felt like to be viewed with contempt or suspicion, and be called a “dirty Jew boy.”\r\n\r\n“I felt hurt and wounded,” he said, recalling painful memories from that time.\r\n\r\nAs an English major later at Duke University, Greenly struggled with anxiety and depression. In danger of losing his scholarship, he was advised to go to psychotherapy which he credits not only for saving his college career, but for saving his life.\r\n\r\nPsychoanalysis and learning to embrace his “authentic self” also helped him later in life when he finally learned to accept that he was gay, he said. And going through some of those painful earlier times helped him to become more empathetic and more respectful of others.\r\n\r\n“Because I’ve been through it,” he said. “And now I accept myself and am more accepting of everybody’s differences around me, and I’m happier.”\r\n\r\n<b>Early Career Moves</b>\r\n\r\nWriting lyrics wasn’t something Greenly set out to do. Not at first anyway.\r\n\r\nAs a former Avon executive, Greenly would often change or edit songs that would come across his desk meant for use in marketing initiatives or sales meetings simply because he knew the campaigns or projects better than the person writing them. Before long, he was writing the song lyrics himself.\r\n\r\nOne day, after leaving Avon to go out on his own, he and a composer friend who had teamed up on a song for an agency pitch, received particularly good feedback.\r\n\r\nAfter the meeting Greenly turned to his friend and said, “You know, they loved our song. Why don’t we try writing songs for the public?”\r\n\r\nAfter his initial foray into “public” songwriting, Greenly was hooked.\r\n\r\nSoon he was writing songs not just for pop singers and powerhouse vocalists like Kimberly Davis, who he met when she would come in for agency work as a demo artist, but lyrics for chorals and songs “with a purpose” as well.\r\n\r\nSongs like “Always My Angel,” a song he was asked to write in memory of those who were killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting in 2012.\r\n\r\nOr “I See You,” a song he wrote to call attention to the way older Americans are sometimes treated. Performed by recording artist Grant Maloy Smith, the song was recently adopted by the organization Masterpiece Living, a multi-specialty group specializing in aging issues.\r\n\r\n“I love using my words to make a difference,” he said.\r\n\r\nGreenly’s longtime friend, and Beaufort Mayor, Billy Keyserling said Greenly’s song “Common Ground” about putting aside differences and trying to find common ground with others “really resonated” with him.\r\n\r\n“It connected with me in a way that I hadn’t really thought about,” he said, adding that he is looking to incorporate it in the work he is doing with Reconstruction Beaufort or as he thinks more about what he’d like his legacy to be.\r\n\r\nThese days, Greenly is enjoying life more than ever – whether he’s writing songs, working on more corporate endeavors or walking executives through the ins and outs of public speaking.\r\n\r\nHe’s particularly excited about an upcoming Earth Day-themed performance at Carnegie Hall in April. The performance features a number of award winning performers and songwriters from a variety of genres and Greenly will be making a presentation on songwriting.\r\n\r\n“I’m thrilled,” he said, laughing. “My parents would be so proud.”\r\n\r\n<em>Above: Beaufort native and songwriter Mike Greenly (left) often teams up with members of the Nile Rodgers &amp; Chic band including Nile Rodgers (right) and singer Kimberly Davis, not pictured. Photo by&nbsp;</em><em>Billy Hess.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>&nbsp;</em>', 'A Songwriter\'s Second Act', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'a-songwriters-second-act', '', '', '2020-03-12 10:37:16', '2020-03-12 14:37:16', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43643', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43647, 4, '2020-03-11 09:09:17', '2020-03-11 13:09:17', '<b>By MIKE McCOMBS</b>\r\n\r\nIt was roughly at this time a year ago that Tyler Littlejohn made a discovery.\r\n\r\nBorn and raised in Beaufort, the longtime food and beverage worker was employed at Panini’s in downtown Beaufort when he decided to put everything into his music.\r\n\r\n“I found out you could get paid for singing at a restaurant,” Littlejohn said, “… and then they’d still feed you at the end of the night.”\r\n\r\nThat was enough for Littlejohn, who began performing under the name Campfire Tyler, to finally kick the food and beverage industry and take a chance on himself. He began busking, first at Panini’s, then Hemingways, and eventually achieved a milestone of sorts when he made performing his sole source of income.\r\n\r\nOn Friday, Littlejohn, 27, will reach another milestone of sorts, when he releases his first album.\r\n\r\nEarly on, Littlejohn aimed to make his shows really personal, “like we were just hanging out in the back yard,” he said. “That’s where the name Campfire Tyler came from.”\r\n\r\nHe says the process of both writing and recording an album really coincided with yet another milestone in his life. When he quit drinking.\r\n\r\n“(The songwriting really) started as a way to keep busy when I quit drinking,” Littlejohn said.\r\n\r\nMost of the seven originals on Campfire Tyler’s self-titled release were started in July but finished after Littlejohn quit drinking in September.\r\n\r\n“I was just holding myself back. I was masking a bunch of things by drinking,” he said. “Sometimes, we just need to get out of our own way.”\r\n\r\nStill, it’s not like Littlejohn wrote a handful of songs and an album appeared. It took a chance meeting to put Campfire Tyler on the path to his first professional recordings.\r\n\r\nLittlejohn took his 7-year-old daughter to see a kids show put on by Jevon Daly, a longtime local musician, at Coligny Plaza on Hilton Head Island. It was when he chatted Daly up about a song he had performed that Daly, in turn, steered him toward Kyle Wareham.\r\n\r\nWareham recorded and produced Campfire Tyler. After the initial tracks were recorded in November at Shelter Recording Studios on Hilton Head with Littlejohn and his guitar, Wareham fleshed them out, adding other instrumentation and polishing the product. Recording wrapped up in February.\r\n\r\nLittlejohn says Campfire Tyler has “an earthy feel. It draws from a lot of influences … bluegrass, hip-hop, rock and country. All kinds of music.”\r\n\r\nAnd he says in some way, all of the songs are based on what was happening before and during his recovery. Littlejohn is particularly happy with the track Hot and Cold, his favorite song on the album.\r\n\r\n“The song itself helped me get through some things,” Littlejohn said. “It helped me say some things I couldn’t say at the time.”\r\n\r\nThough he enjoys performing, Littlejohn says he’s found the best part of the process is the songwriting. “I love performing,” he said, “but songwriting is a way to express myself.”\r\n\r\nIf you’ve grown to enjoy seeing Campfire Tyler performing around town though, have no fear. He won’t be giving it up anytime soon. He will continue to mix his dozen or so originals in with an eclectic group of cover songs, from Shaggy to a mash-up of Britney Spears’ Baby One More Time and Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game.\r\n\r\nFrom Boondocks to Hemingway’s and Bricks to Rosie’s, Littlejohn will be busy. He has even locked up a regular summer gig on Hilton Head, playing every Thursday night at the Frosty Frog from the first of June through August.\r\n\r\nIn the meantime, Littlejohn plans to put any proceeds from his recording back into promotion for his live gigs and keep plugging along.\r\n\r\n“Sometimes you’ve got to get out of your own way.”\r\n<h2>Want to go?</h2>\r\n<b>What:</b> Campfire Tyler album release.\r\n\r\n<b>When:</b> 6 p.m. Friday, March 13.\r\n\r\n<b>Where: </b>Island Tattoo, 115 Arrow Road, Hilton Head Island.\r\n\r\n<b>About it:</b> There will be food, discounted tattoos and Campfire Tyler’s self-titled release will be available for $10 on all digital platforms and compact disc (if they ship on time).\r\n\r\n<i>Above: Campfire Tyler performs on the patio at Hemingway’s Bistro on Sunday, March 8. Photo by Mike McCombs.</i>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Beaufort’s Campfire Tyler takes his music from backyard to the studio', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beauforts-campfire-tyler-takes-his-music-from-backyard-to-the-studio', '', '', '2020-03-11 09:09:17', '2020-03-11 13:09:17', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43647', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43652, 4, '2020-03-11 09:13:50', '2020-03-11 13:13:50', '<b>Bluffton High team<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>wins countywide<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>academic competition</b>\r\n\r\nA team from Bluffton High School took the top spot March 7 in Beaufort County’s Academic WorldQuest Competition at Hilton Head Island High School\r\n\r\nBluffton High’s winners emerged victorious from an eight-question tie-breaker to narrowly beat a team from May River High that finished in second place. A team from Hilton Head Island High came in third, while a team from Whale Branch Early College High tied with Hilton Head Christian Academy for fourth. Teams from Beaufort High and May River High came in fifth and sixth, respectively.\r\n\r\nThe World Affairs Council of Hilton Head presented the ninth annual competition in partnership with the Beaufort County School District. This year\'s categories for questions focused on the nation’s top national security issues as voted on by the leaders of World Affairs Councils across the country.\r\n\r\nBluffton High will travel to Washington next month for the national competition, said Ivan Bennett, the project director for WorldQuest in Beaufort County. The World Affairs Council pays the students’ travel expenses.\r\n\r\nAcademic WorldQuest is the flagship educational program of the national network of World Affairs Councils and is held annually in more than 40 U.S. cities in 27 states.\r\n\r\n<b>BA hosting Enrollment<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Open House on March 12</b>\r\n\r\nBeaufort Academy is currently enrolling for the 2020-2021 school year, and invite prospective students and parents to explore BA as they make a decision for next school year. BA is hosting an Enrollment Open House on Thursday, March 12 to display what Beaufort Academy offers students in grades Pre-K2 through 12. Learn about leadership integrated curriculum, electives, athletics, and programs.\r\n\r\nFor all Open House attendees, BA is offering waived application fees, a savings of $100 per student applicant.\r\n\r\nOn Thursday from 9-11 a.m. or 4-6 p.m., student ambassadors will give tour of BA’s campus, and prospective students and parents will meet Beaufort Academy’s educators and students. Explore the new robotics team, choral ensembles, and speech and debate team. The Athletic Director will be available to answer any questions about the 12 inclusive athletic teams that students in middle and upper school can participate in.\r\n\r\nSummer enrichment camp information will also be available. BA welcomes the opportunity for parents to tour our campus and discuss how BA can help your student become a successful, engaged, independent learner.\r\n\r\n<i>Above: On Feb. 25, Beaufort City Council recognized Cory Sharrow, a senior at Battery Creek High School, as Battery Creek Student of the Month for demonstrating perseverance as part of character education in the schools. Cory Sharrow, at right, is joined by his mother, Michelle Sharrow, and Mayor Billy Keyserling.</i>', 'Education Briefs', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'education-briefs-5', '', '', '2020-03-11 09:13:50', '2020-03-11 13:13:50', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43652', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43655, 4, '2020-03-11 09:16:27', '2020-03-11 13:16:27', '<b>By Jacquelyn Markham</b>\r\n\r\n“You have a voice — a big voice — so you want to vote in every single election,” Catherine Forester, Founding President of the League of Women Voters of Beaufort, told those who gathered at the Centennial Soiree hosted by the League to celebrate the Feb. 14 birthday of the League of Women Voters of the United States.\r\n\r\n“That is our privilege; yes, it’s a right, but it’s a privilege,” Forester continued, as she urged the audience to take their right to vote seriously.\r\n\r\nMany of the LWVB members and guests at the soiree wore extravagant white hats and white dresses draped with “Votes for Women” sashes or embellished in gold. The women’s costumes called to mind the spirits of their foremothers who fought diligently for the vote in a “century of struggle,” as historian Eleanor Flexner coined it in her 1959 groundbreaking study of the women’s rights movement in the United States.\r\n\r\nHeld Feb. 15 at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club on Lady’s Island, the Centennial Soiree also celebrated the third anniversary of the local League of Women Voters, recognized for its contributions in a proclamation presented to LWVB by the county and city of Beaufort.\r\n\r\nAlice Howard, Beaufort County Councilwoman, read the proclamation at the soiree. Among other resolutions, it honored the founding members, Catherine Forester, Susanna Glattly, and Julie Laney and proclaimed February 15, 2020 as a day in honor of the League of Women Voters of Beaufort Area.\r\n\r\nHoward ended her reading by challenging women to run for office, especially the young women who represented the Harriet Keyserling Emerging Leaders Program. This program, also honored in the proclamation, was established in Keyserling’s name to develop and support emerging leaders in our community.\r\n\r\nThis significant birthday soiree in Beaufort was in sync with the national celebration of the LWV. In a letter published by the Washington Post, the LWV was commended for its 100 years of “empowering voters and defending democracy.”\r\n\r\nThe League of Women Voters was founded by Carrie Chapman Catt in 1920 during the convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, held just six months before the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified.\r\n\r\nAs the suffragists knew, women’s right to vote would not end the fight for equality, so in 1923, Alice Paul introduced the Equal Rights Amendment, a priority for today’s LWV nationwide. While the soiree celebrated the victories, it also included a program on the status of the Equal Rights Amendment.\r\n\r\nThe ERA panel made up of Senators Margie Bright Matthews and Tom Davis, and moderator Maureen Woodlock, informed the audience on ERA both nationally and in the state. Speaker Shirley Perry recited Sojourner Truth’s speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?” and Professor Robert Landrum provided a historical perspective of the League of Women Voters for the program. The young women of Battery Creek High School representing the LWVB Harriet Keyserling Emerging Leaders Program were special guests.\r\n\r\nA birthday celebration would not be complete without food and drink, and Debbi Covington catered the party in style.\r\n\r\nLWVB would like to identify the committee: Anne Bander, Jane Caffrey, Barbara Childs, Catherine Forester, Irene Goodnight, Tedi Light, Maryellen McManus, Jean Stokes, Lisa Wandrick, Maureen Woodlock and officers Catherine Forester, President; Anne Bander, Secretary; and Lynn Quigley, Treasurer.\r\n\r\nThe League of Women Voters of Beaufort is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that encourages informed and active participation in the voting process. For more information, contact lwvbeaufort@gmail.com.', 'League of Women Voters Beaufort celebrates 100-year birthday', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'league-of-women-voters-beaufort-celebrates-100-year-birthday', '', '', '2020-03-11 09:16:27', '2020-03-11 13:16:27', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43655', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43659, 4, '2020-03-11 09:20:41', '2020-03-11 13:20:41', '<b>By MINDY LUCAS</b>\r\n\r\nSixty-nine-year-old Emily Upperman started playing pickleball four years ago after she and her husband retired and moved to Port Royal.\r\n\r\nSome neighbors had told them about a group that played at The Shed – the town-owned building on Paris Avenue – so one morning Upperman decided to give it a shot. She was hooked from the start.\r\n\r\n“It’s probably the most fun I’ve ever had,” she said. “It’s exercise without feeling overwhelmed.”\r\n\r\nThe sport is growing as can be seen over on Hilton Head and in Bluffton where there are hundreds of players and a number of courts, both public and private. And now the craze seems to have caught on North of the Broad, particularly in Port Royal.\r\n\r\nThe group of men and women, retirees and working professionals, started with about 16 members but has since grown to more than a hundred, Upperman said. Each player has been paying the Town of Port Royal $50 per person, or $75 for non-residents, for six months of unlimited play.\r\n\r\nBut now the group will have to find another place to play.\r\n\r\nThe Town of Port Royal has approved the sale of the 6,000-square-foot space to high-end Charleston furniture and cabinetry makers, Perrin Woodworking, and expects to close on the sale next month, confirmed Mayor Joe DeVito. The town will keep a separate building behind The Shed which currently houses a dance studio and marketing firm.\r\n\r\nIn the meantime, DeVito says the town is “actively pursuing options” to help locate a new home for the Pickleball community and “would love to see them continue to play in Port Royal.”\r\n\r\nA cycling enthusiast himself, DeVito said he and other council members have been receptive to the idea of Pickleball in Port Royal and feel it fits with the Port Royal brand of “Cool, coastal and far from ordinary.”\r\n\r\n“There’s no question it does,” he said. “Pickleball is growing. It’s a great sport for people to stay active. It’s fairly low impact and easy to do, and it’s exciting and that’s what Port Royal is all about.”\r\n\r\nOne idea as a possible home for the soon-to-be displaced players is to use some abandoned tennis courts behind Port Royal Elementary, said both DeVito and members of the pickleball community. However, the courts would need to be refurbished before playing on them, and the town would need to work out details for their use with the school district.\r\n\r\nIn the meantime, pickleball fans say it’s not just a fun sport with great camaraderie, it’s also good for your health.\r\n\r\nBut what exactly is pickleball?\r\n\r\nAccording to the USA Pickleball Association, pickleball is a paddle sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton and Ping-Pong. It can be played indoors or outdoors as doubles or singles, and is usually played on a badminton-sized court with a slightly modified tennis net.\r\n\r\nAlso, since the court is a fourth of the size of a tennis court, there’s less ground to cover making it ideal for players of all ages.\r\n\r\n“Pickleball could be a sport enjoyed by all ages that the younger could learn from the older how to play, and I think that would be a great bond for the two generations,” Upperman said.\r\n\r\nWhat’s more, since it’s low impact, many people who are no longer able to play tennis have turned to pickleball a source for continued fitness, she said.\r\n\r\nUpperman’s group, made up of retirees, plays as many as five mornings a week. Another group made up of people who work during the day, plays two evenings a week at The Shed, she said.\r\n\r\nThere are also out-of-towners, or visitors to the area, who have played at The Shed, she said.\r\n\r\n“I would say we are averaging about 10 people a month who come through and play on their way to Florida, and then they stop and play on their way back,” she said. “But we are told all the time that people are vacationing now where they can find a place to play.”\r\n\r\nShe and others in the group hope Port Royal will embrace the sport and thinks it would be a “very good asset” to help market the area.\r\n\r\n“For Port Royal, that would be real feather in their cap,” she said.\r\n\r\n<em>Above: Pickleball enthusiasts will soon be looking for a new venue in which to play their fast-paced game as they will be losing The Shed in Port Royal to development. Here, Rosemary Rosen returns a volley while teammate Jan Glover sets up during their weekly game Friday morning at The Shed.</em>', 'Port Royal pickleball players looking for new home for sport they say is growing', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'port-royal-pickleball-players-looking-for-new-home-for-sport-they-say-is-growing', '', '', '2020-03-11 09:20:41', '2020-03-11 13:20:41', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43659', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43664, 4, '2020-03-11 09:24:12', '2020-03-11 13:24:12', 'The Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry welcomed members and guests to their annual meeting Feb. 20, which recognized volunteers, donors and staff who helped advance the Y’s cause to strengthen the foundation of our community.\r\n\r\nThe meeting was presided over by in-coming YMCA Board Chair, Bennett Schiller, and Y CEO, Michael Bostwick. Schiller has served on the YMCA Board in various capacities including Treasurer and Vice-Chairman for five years.\r\n\r\nDuring the annual meeting the Y welcomed three new board members: City of Beaufort Human Resources Assistant Shantell Miller; retired businessman Larry Schaefer; and Port Royal Town Councilman and lawyer,\r\nKevin Phillips.\r\n\r\nDuring the program, four volunteer/organizations received special recognition for their service to the Y, and Y staff member, Karen Prince, was presented with the Employee of the Year award. Prince has been with the Y for 17 years working in the YMCA childcare department.\r\n\r\nJennifer Tuckwiller received the 2019 Robert V. Wardle Service to Youth Award. This award is given in honor of Robert V. Wardle, whose donations were instrumental in the founding and continued operation of the Wardle Family YMCA. Tuckwiller is the past YMCA Board chair and a member of the Beaufort Beach Ball Fundraiser and Auction Committee, as well as a volunteer and sponsor of the annual Beaufort River Swim and BYAC Swim Team.\r\n\r\nCarolina Sportscare and Physical Therapy was named Community Partner of the Year, awarded to the Y partner who exemplifies a strong commitment in strengthening our community; Community Bible Church was named Volunteer of the Year in recognition of demonstrating exceptional dedication to YMCA values by giving of time and talent; and Carmen Meyer was recognized as Active Older Adult of the Year for demonstrating a love of life by being active and being a model for healthy living that has no age limit.\r\n\r\nThe Y also celebrated the positive impact made through Y programs and services; welcoming 2,184 new members in 2019, that overall expands the Y reach to more than 12,000 children, families and adults through YMCA sports, summer camps, childcare, BYAC swim team, wellness programs, and swimming lessons. The Y’s Annual Scholarship Campaign provided financial assistance totaling $345,147 for YMCA programs and services.\r\n\r\nThose in attendance were also treated to two powerful and personal Y stories; one by long-time Y supporter Brenda Black and one from Y Preschool parent Doshie Sample.\r\n\r\nOverall, members visited the Y 121,228 times throughout 2019.\r\n\r\n\r\n<em>Above: Jennifer Tuckwiller receives 2019 Robert V. Wardle Service to Youth Award, with Mike Bostwick, YMCA CEO</em>', 'YMCA celebrates successful 2019 at annual meeting', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'ymca-celebrates-successful-2019-at-annual-meeting', '', '', '2020-03-11 09:24:12', '2020-03-11 13:24:12', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43664', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43668, 4, '2020-03-11 09:27:00', '2020-03-11 13:27:00', '<h2><b><i>Living History Encampment returns to the Arsenal Saturday\r\n\r\n</i></b></h2>\r\nThe Beaufort History Museum will present its fifth annual Living History Encampment from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 14 in the Arsenal courtyard in downtown Beaufort.\r\n\r\nRe-enactors coming to Beaufort from several states will portray Union troops from the Department of the South who were garrisoned in the Lowcountry and occupied the Beaufort Arsenal during the Civil War.\r\n\r\nThe re-enactors will set up camp in the walled Arsenal courtyard and provide a unique educational opportunity for visitors of all ages, who will be able to interact with the soldiers to learn firsthand how life was lived in Beaufort during the Civil War years. A Civil War era cannon will be on display in the Arsenal courtyard the day of the event.\r\n\r\nThe Museum is again partnering with the National Park Service (NPS) and its Reconstruction Era National Historical Park Visitors Center, located in the old Firehouse building on Craven Street across from the Arsenal, and with Beaufort County Library. The Museum’s highly acclaimed exhibit, Reconstruction Beaufort, is on display at NPS’ visitors center, which will be open the day of the Encampment.\r\n\r\nBeaufort is the place where Reconstruction first began during the early years of the Civil War. The National Park Service plans special activities the day of the Encampment event for kids who want to earn their Junior Ranger badges and will have docents on hand at its visitors center.\r\n\r\nAdmission is free to the Encampment in the Arsenal courtyard (donations to support the Museum are much appreciated).\r\n\r\nOn the day of the Encampment event, admission to the Museum’s Exhibition Hall on the second floor of the Arsenal will be specially priced at $6 per visitor ($5 for seniors). Museum members, children, and active military and their families are admitted to the Museum free of charge at all times.\r\n\r\nAdmission is free to the National Park Service’s Reconstruction Era National Historical Park Visitors Center.\r\n\r\nFor more information, visit beauforthistorymuseum.wildapricot.org/event-3761932.\r\n<h2>Want to go?</h2>\r\n<b>What:</b> 5th Annual Civil War Era Living History Encampment.\r\n\r\n<b>When: </b>9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, March 14.\r\n\r\n<b>Where: </b>The Arsenal courtyard.\r\n\r\nCost: Free and open to the public (donations accepted).\r\n\r\n<b>For more information: </b>Visit beauforthistorymuseum.wildapricot.org/event-3761932.\r\n<h2><b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></h2>', 'Union forces will again occupy downtown Beaufort', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'union-forces-will-again-occupy-downtown-beaufort', '', '', '2020-03-11 09:27:00', '2020-03-11 13:27:00', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43668', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43670, 4, '2020-03-11 09:30:11', '2020-03-11 13:30:11', '<strong>Photo by BOB SOFALY</strong>\r\n\r\nMore than 30 volunteers with the Gullah/Geechee Initiative Foundation on Saturday converged at the Martin Luther King Park near Penn Center on St. Helena Island to help pick up trash and debris. The event, according to organizer Kamal Wigfall, was held in conjunction with Clean Up Beaufort County and will become an annual event.&nbsp;', 'Making It Shine', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'making-it-shine', '', '', '2020-03-11 09:30:11', '2020-03-11 13:30:11', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43670', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43675, 4, '2020-03-11 09:44:45', '2020-03-11 13:44:45', '<b>By MINDY LUCAS</b>\r\n\r\nOne of the country’s leading authorities on the economics of historic preservation is coming to Beaufort.\r\n\r\nDonovan Rypkema will be the keynote speaker at the Historic Beaufort Foundation’s annual meeting this month.\r\n\r\nA principal at a Washington, D.C.-based real estate and economic development-consulting firm, Rypkema has worked with clients in both the public and non-profit sector. He teaches a course on the economics of historic preservation at the University of Pennsylvania where he received the 2008 G. Holmes Perkins Award for Distinguished Teaching.\r\n\r\nRypkema holds a Master of Science degree in Historic Preservation from Columbia University and has authored several publications including Community Initiated Development, The Economics of Rehabilitation, and the Feasibility Assessment Manual for Reusing Historic Buildings.\r\n\r\nRypkema’s book, The Economics of Historic Preservation: A Community Leader’s Guide is widely used by preservationists nationwide and has been translated in to Russian and Korean.\r\n\r\nThe lecture is co-sponsored by the City of Beaufort and will be at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, at USC Beaufort’s Center for the Arts, at 805 Carteret Street. A reception will follow the lecture.\r\n\r\nTicket prices are $25 with discounts and free tickets available for members at various levels. Call 843-379-3331 for reservations.', 'Rypkema to speak at HBF meeting', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'rypkema-to-speak-at-hbf-meeting', '', '', '2020-03-11 09:44:45', '2020-03-11 13:44:45', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43675', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43678, 4, '2020-03-11 09:51:50', '2020-03-11 13:51:50', '<b>By MIKE McCOMBS</b>\r\n\r\nCountry star Rodney Atkins will headline this year’s Beaufort Water Festival concert July 18 at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.\r\n\r\nAtkins, the 2006 Academy of Country Music’s Top New Male Vocalist, has sold more than 13 million albums and produced six No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot Country 100 charts (If You\'re Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows, 2006; Watching You, 2007; These Are My People, 2007; Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy), 2008; It\'s America, 2009; and Take a Back Road, 2011).\r\n\r\nHis single Watching You was the No. 1 Song of the Decade according to Country Aircheck.\r\n\r\nThough he began recording in 1997, he didn’t release his first album until 2003’s Honesty. His other albums include 2006’s If You\'re Going Through Hell, 2009’s It\'s America and 2011’s Take a Back Road.\r\n\r\nHis latest studio album, 2019’s Caught Up in the Country, was his first release in seven years.\r\n\r\nAtkins believes it’s the most daring collection of his career, touching on emotions and sounds which will continue to expand his range — from the twangy title track to the slow-burn cover of Jason Isbell’s Cover Me Up.\r\n\r\n“I’ve never taken it lightly,” he said in a release, “but with some of the other albums, I got to take my time for part of the album. But then when you get that first single finished, you gotta go, and you start working at a faster pace for the second half of the album. This time, I got to take that time with every song.”\r\n\r\nOpening for the evening will be Scott Stevens, followed by Lainey Wilson as the second act.', 'Country star Atkins to headline Concert in the Park', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'country-star-atkins-to-headline-concert-in-the-park', '', '', '2020-03-11 09:51:50', '2020-03-11 13:51:50', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43678', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43681, 4, '2020-03-11 09:55:56', '2020-03-11 13:55:56', '<b>Photo by BOB SOFALY</b>\r\n\r\nBeaufort Charities managed to avoid the rainy weather that had besieged Beaufort for a week and pulled off a miracle for their 16th annual Beaufort Charities’ Oyster Roast on Saturday, March 7 at Live Oak Park in Port Royal with lots of sunshine and mild temperatures.\r\n\r\nIt was estimated that around 5,000 people participated in this year’s fundraiser, up about 2,000 over last year’s numbers.\r\n\r\nOne man, sitting by a big bonfire and sharing a plate of oysters with his wife asked, “Where else can ya sit under the shade of an oak tree on a sunny day and eat fresh oysters beside a fire?”', 'Beaufort Charities’ big event blessed with sun, good numbers', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-charities-big-event-blessed-with-sun-good-numbers', '', '', '2020-03-11 09:55:56', '2020-03-11 13:55:56', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43681', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43686, 4, '2020-03-11 09:59:23', '2020-03-11 13:59:23', '<b>By MIKE McCOMBS</b>\r\n\r\nIf you like the way Tom Davis has conducted his business in the South Carolina State Senate since 2009, you will have the opportunity to keep him there in November.\r\n\r\nDavis, who has lived in Beaufort County for more than 35 years, announced Monday, March 9 he intended to run for re-election to the S.C. Senate for District 46, which includes parts of Beaufort and Jasper counties. Governor Mark Sanford’s former chief of staff, Davis was first elected in 2008.\r\n\r\n\"Our district and this state have unlimited potential,\" Davis said in a release. \"The question is whether we are advancing solutions that will unlock that potential in ways that promote prosperity, freedom and free markets.\"\r\n\r\nIn recent years, Davis has been noted for his support for legalizing medical marijuana and restructuring the way in which South Carolina spends money dedicated to roads and bridges, taking politics out of the equation and addressing much-needed repairs instead of new projects.\r\n\r\nHis re-election media release touts the legislation Davis has authored that has become law. Among those bills are:\r\n\r\n<b>Act 191: </b>Expanding markets for wind insurance and lowering homeowners\' premiums;\r\n\r\n<b>Act 194: </b>Legalizing social games of chance like poker, bridge, and mah-jongg;\r\n\r\n<b>Act 221: </b>Legalizing the consumption of cannabis oil by those with epilepsy;\r\n\r\n<b>Act 234:</b> Expanding nurse practitioners’ scope of practice;\r\n\r\n<b>Act 162:</b> Creating a cause of action against companies that target and defraud seniors;\r\n\r\n<b>Act 62:</b> Subjecting utility monopolies to competition and promoting renewable energy;\r\n\r\n<b>Act 32: </b>Expanding physician\'s assistants\' scope of practice.\r\n\r\n\"Tom Davis is truly a champion for the people he represents – ensuring they get a fair deal from the General Assembly – and also for citizens and taxpayers across the state who want a more open and accountable government,\" State Senate President Sen. Harvey Peeler said in a release. \"He is respected by his colleagues in both chambers and by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for his principled, intelligent advocacy on behalf of what he believes.\"\r\n\r\nDavis has received \"Legislator of the Year\" awards from a broad range of groups, including the South Carolina Club for Growth and the S.C. Association of Taxpayers, the Conservation Voters of South Carolina and Sierra Club South Carolina (for opposing offshore drilling, protecting the environment, and championing renewable energy), and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the S.C. Public Health Association (for increasing access to healthcare, especially in rural areas).\r\n\r\n“I am a state senator, and I am passionate about effecting change to improve the lives of all South Carolinians,” Davis said. \"But I also have a special obligation to the people of Beaufort and Jasper counties – to make sure they are treated equitably when the state decides how to spend our tax dollars. Before I was elected in 2008, our area wasn\'t being treated fairly – but we are now.\r\n\r\n\"For example,\" he continued, \"USC Beaufort used to be funded at only 38 percent of the statewide per-pupil average; now, in 2020, after many years of hard work and advocacy, it will be funded at 100 percent. And there\'s been progress like that for our area across the board – on roads and bridges, K-12 education, economic development, and more. I am running for re-election to the South Carolina Senate in order to continue and build on these legislative accomplishments.”\r\n\r\nDavis’ opposition is Democrat Nathan Campbell, an educator.', 'Davis will run again', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'davis-will-run-again', '', '', '2020-03-11 09:59:23', '2020-03-11 13:59:23', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43686', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43691, 4, '2020-03-11 10:01:58', '2020-03-11 14:01:58', '<h2><b><i>Rodman’s resignation comes after council members call for immediate action</i></b></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<b>By MINDY LUCAS</b>\r\n\r\nBeaufort County Council Chair Stu Rodman abruptly resigned as chair at the end of the county’s regular meeting held Monday, March 9, but not before a contentious discussion was held in which calls for his immediate resignation were voiced by several council members.\r\n\r\nRodman had come under fire in recent months after it was reported in local media that he had used his personal email to discuss county business such as a controversial roads project on Hilton Head Island.\r\n\r\nThose emails showed he had attempted to steer the project by side-stepping the County Administrator Ashley Jacobs by contacting the county’s Director of Construction, Engineering &amp; Facilities privately through his personal email. He then denied those emails existed after a resident filed a request using the Freedom of Information Act, but a later request of other council members emails showed\r\ntheir existence.\r\n\r\nCouncil members also voiced concerns at Monday night’s meeting over Rodman’s treatment of Jacobs and other county employees, took issue with the way in which Rodman attempted to limit public comment and asserted that he had disregarded parliamentary procedure or had used council agendas in way that benefited him.\r\n\r\n“The temperature at the administration building is horrible right now,” said Councilman Mike Covert, one of Rodman’s strongest critics in recent months.\r\n\r\nAt February’s meeting Covert said he had received countless anonymous letters and phone calls on the chairman’s harassment of the county administrator, county employees, vendors and other members of political bodies as well as his “strong arming” of meetings and agendas for his own purposes.\r\n\r\n“This county is in such a bad spot right now,” Covert said Monday night. “We’ve asked you to resign and let’s move on.”\r\n\r\nRodman, who began the meeting seemingly resigned to allow for an election of a new chair, initially proposed that a series of meetings be conducted by councilman Larry McElynn in which McElynn would interview each council member and the county’s administrator to “identify if there are any people who feel that I’ve done something unprofessional, or that is detrimental to the county in anyway,” he said.\r\n\r\n“Because people have been critical of me, I’m entitled to have the opportunity to confront my accusers,” he added.\r\n\r\nHe then proposed that an election be held after those interviews in two weeks. But that proposal received immediate pushback from council members.\r\n\r\nAs he did in February, Covert once again attempted to make a motion to amend the council’s rules and procedures as it relates to the chairman’s removal. Rodman then overruled the motion, stating that since it was an “off-agenda item” it was out of order. The embattled chairman then attempted to adjourn the meeting.\r\n\r\nHowever, Councilman Brian Flewelling, the council’s parliamentarian, advised the chairman that parliamentary procedure dictated that the matter be allowed. A vote to overturn or sustain the decision of the chair was held and the decision to allow the motion passed 7 to 4.\r\n\r\nA lengthy discussion followed, at which point several council members argued not to change the rules but rather that the chairman go ahead and resign.\r\n\r\n“There is a path forward that I think should be taken,” said Councilman Joe Passiment who called the discussion “troublesome” before asking that Rodman go ahead and vacate the chairmanship.\r\n\r\n“So I’m going to ask you to do us a favor and do it that way because I think it would be in the best interest of everyone,” he said.\r\n\r\nCouncilman Chris Hervochon who voted for the chairman’s objection to be overturned also called for immediate action.\r\n\r\n“Where we are right now, I think we need immediate certainty for the public, I think we need immediate certainty for this council, and I think we need immediate certainty for the administration,” he said.\r\n\r\nHowever, Rodman continued to argue that he was entitled to hear “from his accusers” and asked that members bring forward specific grievances.\r\n\r\nHervochon stated that he had brought his concerns to the chairman the day before by phone and asked him to resign. He also mentioned that in addition to his concerns, Councilman York Glover had outlined his in an email to the chairman, and yet no action was taken to address those.\r\n\r\n“It really has to do with protecting this county as it moves forward and the best way to do that is to make sure the integrity is there, the honesty is there, transparency is there,” Glover then stated. “We can move this county forward but it’s going to take everybody working together and not dividing us as a community.”\r\n\r\nRodman then called for a 5-minute break after which he announced his immediate resignation. The move automatically made Vice Chairman Paul Sommerville temporary chair.\r\n\r\nFollowing procedure, Sommerville then called for nominations for a new chair. The council voted unanimously to elect Joe Passiment chairman.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n.', 'Beaufort County Council chairman resigns', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-county-council-chairman-resigns', '', '', '2020-03-12 23:02:32', '2020-03-13 03:02:32', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43691', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43694, 4, '2020-03-11 11:28:57', '2020-03-11 15:28:57', '', 'Screen Shot 2020-03-11 at 11.27.53 AM', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'screen-shot-2020-03-11-at-11-27-53-am', '', '', '2020-03-11 11:28:57', '2020-03-11 15:28:57', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Screen-Shot-2020-03-11-at-11.27.53-AM.png', 0, 'attachment', 'image/png', 0),
(43695, 4, '2020-03-11 14:39:25', '2020-03-11 18:39:25', 'After extensive internal discussions and consults with state and local health officials/experts, USC Beaufort is extending Spring Break for one week, March 16-21, as the university further evaluates the potential impact of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDuring this time, no in-person classes will meet. However, all online courses will continue as scheduled.\r\n\r\nStudents away on spring break have been encouraged to not return to campus until notification that in-person classes will resume. However, university operations will remain open, including all residence halls and dining service.\r\n\r\nUSC Beaufort is working actively with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to monitor the spread of Novel Coronavirus in S.C. and across the country.\r\n\r\nUSCB’s first priority is to protect the health and well-being of the full university community. All students, faculty, and staff have been urged unreservedly to put their health and well-being first and to make prudent individual decisions.', 'USC Beaufort extends spring break in response to coronavirus', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'usc-beaufort-extends-spring-break-in-response-to-coronavirus', '', '', '2020-03-11 14:41:05', '2020-03-11 18:41:05', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43695', 0, 'post', '', 0);
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(43699, 4, '2020-03-11 20:51:43', '2020-03-12 00:51:43', '<strong>By MIKE McCOMBS</strong>\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort County School District sent an email and made robocalls to all parents of district students<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>late Wednesday in response to an employee at Beaufort High School who is self-quarantined while awaiting results from a test for COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus.\r\n\r\nThe release does not specify if the employee is a faculty member or a staff member, but says he/she<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>“had not traveled internationally or to any locations in the U.S. with confirmed COVID-19 cases” and is considered to be a low risk. The employee was tested out of caution.\r\n\r\nThere are still no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Beaufort County.\r\n\r\nAccording to the release, the school district is taking extra precautions, but as of now, all schools are operating on normal schedules.\r\n\r\nThe following is the complete text of the message to parents:\r\n\r\nGood evening, parents.\r\n\r\nAn employee at Beaufort High School is self-quarantined while awaiting results from a test for COVID-19. The employee is considered to be at low risk and had not traveled internationally or to any locations in the U.S. with confirmed COVID-19 cases. The employee was tested out of an abundance of caution, and there are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Beaufort County.\r\n\r\nClasses at Beaufort High are operating on normal schedules, and custodians are continuing to treat all classrooms every day – not only at Beaufort High but at all district schools – with a hospital-grade disinfectant.\r\n\r\nWith all actions related to COVID-19, the school district is following recommendations from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and the South Carolina Department of Education. Neither DHEC nor SCDE has recommended any school closures at this point, and again, there are no confirmed cases in Beaufort County. If the situation changes and school closures are recommended, parents and students will be notified immediately.\r\n\r\nBeaufort County families have understandable concerns about the growing numbers of COVID-19 cases across the nation. According to health experts, here’s what children and families can do to stay safe:\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.</li>\r\n 	<li>Avoid close contact with those who are sick.</li>\r\n 	<li>Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers (60 percent alcohol or above) when hand-washing is unavailable.</li>\r\n 	<li>Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, and cough into your elbow.</li>\r\n 	<li>Clean frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household detergent and water.</li>\r\n 	<li>If you feel sick, stay home unless you are seeking medical care. Keep children at home if they are sick.</li>\r\n 	<li>Get this year’s influenza vaccine if you have not already done so.</li>\r\n 	<li>Avoid large crowds.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nFor more information on COVID-19, visit these websites:\r\n\r\nSouth Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) – <a href=\"https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3A%2F%2Fscdhec.gov%2Fhealth%2Finfectious-diseases%2Fviruses%2Fcoronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19&amp;c=E,1,Fh16oLEVoWZcSj1bq58JKwzFjxJ5_0fvoo4NVgIC2ZDVZIrS2ha8QFxQW4TJsVdH-lIHaBHfnc-yu987noibKrV339kFG598wTlqdWMm8pg_3gLMzKHN5Q,,&amp;typo=1\">https://scdhec.gov/health/infectious-diseases/viruses/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19</a>\r\n\r\nCenters for Disease Control (CDC) – <a href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html\">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html</a>', 'Beaufort High School employee self-quarantined, awaiting results from COVID-19 tests', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-high-school-employee-self-quarantined-awaiting-results-from-covid-19-tests', '', '', '2020-03-11 20:51:43', '2020-03-12 00:51:43', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43699', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43702, 4, '2020-03-12 12:23:05', '2020-03-12 16:23:05', '<em><strong>From Staff Reports</strong></em>\r\n\r\nFour Beaufort Memorial Hospital employees are in self-isolation following contact with two people under investigation for possible exposure to the coronavirus, according to a media advisory issued by the hospital on Thursday, March 12.\r\n\r\nThe South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is testing those under investigation for the virus, or COVID-19. &nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe four employees will remain isolated until tests results are reported. Appropriate actions and guidelines will be followed based on those results, according to the advisory.\r\n\r\n“Our four employees are considered low-risk for COVID-19; however, testing for COVID-19 will be conducted by an authorized lab as a precaution,” said Beaufort Memorial Hospital President and CEO Russell Baxley.\r\n\r\nTo ensure the safety of all patients and staff, the hospital is continuing to follow patient-handling and infection-prevention guidelines recommended by DHEC and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the advisory stated.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Coronavirus update: 4 Beaufort Memorial Hospital employees in self-isolation', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'coronavirus-update-4-beaufort-memorial-hospital-employees-in-self-isolation', '', '', '2020-03-12 12:58:16', '2020-03-12 16:58:16', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43702', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43712, 4, '2020-03-12 13:29:53', '2020-03-12 17:29:53', '<em><strong>From Staff Reports</strong></em>\r\n\r\nParris Island\'s Marine Corps graduation ceremony for Friday, March 13, has been cancelled, according to a statement posted on the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island\'s Facebook page.\r\n\r\nThe statement posted on Thursday, March 12, read:\r\n\r\n\"Out of an abundance of caution, all aspects - to include the remaining family day activities and tomorrow\'s graduation ceremony - at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island are cancelled. Our newest Marines will depart the Depot today with their families. We understand the significance of this event to Marines and their families, but we must remain cautious and focused on public safety.\r\n<div class=\"text_exposed_show\">\r\n\r\nFuture graduations will remain closed to the public until further notice. Although the graduation ceremony is cancelled, recruit training is ongoing.\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n</div>', 'Parris Island cancels Marine Corps graduation ceremony', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'parris-island-cancels-marine-corps-graduation-ceremony', '', '', '2020-03-12 13:48:36', '2020-03-12 17:48:36', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43712', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43714, 4, '2020-03-12 22:52:50', '2020-03-13 02:52:50', '<em>Check back daily for online updates to this story.</em>\r\n\r\n<b>BY MINDY LUCAS</b>\r\n\r\nAs new possible cases of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, emerged across South Carolina on Thursday, March 12, here in the Lowcountry local governments enacted emergency plans and cancelled more events as a precaution.\r\n\r\nTwo new possible cases of the virus – one in Lancaster County and one in Kershaw County – were announced by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) in a news release issued Thursday.\r\n\r\nThat brings the Palmetto State\'s number of presumptive positive cases to six and the number of confirmed cases to six for a total of 12 cases.\r\n\r\nAs of Thursday afternoon, there were still no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Beaufort County.\r\n\r\nAround Beaufort:\r\n\r\n<strong>Beaufort Memorial Hospital</strong>\r\n\r\nFour Beaufort Memorial Hospital employees are in self-isolation following contact with two people who are being looked at by DHEC for possible exposure to the coronavirus, according to a media advisory issued by the hospital on Thursday, March 12.\r\n\r\nDHEC is testing the two and the four hospital employees will remain isolated until tests results come back.\r\n\r\n“Our four employees are considered low-risk for COVID-19, however, testing for COVID-19 will be conducted by an authorized lab as a precaution,” said the hospital’s President and CEO Russell Baxley.\r\n\r\nTo ensure the safety of all patients and staff, the hospital is continuing to follow patient-handling and infection-prevention guidelines recommended by DHEC and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the advisory stated.\r\n\r\nIn addition, the hospital has enacted new visitor restrictions and additional precautionary measures including:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li><strong>Increased Visitor Restrictions</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nOnly one visitor per patient, including pediatric patients, will be allowed. Locked units, including the labor and delivery and intensive care units, will also be limited. Restrictions for visitors under age 18 will remain in effect until further notice.\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li><strong>Separate Sick and Well ER Waiting&nbsp;&nbsp; </strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nPatients and visitors in the ER will be asked to wait in separate areas. Patients and visitors will be directed appropriately when they enter the waiting room.<strong>&nbsp;</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Feeling sick? </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>&nbsp;</strong>Those who are experiencing fever and respiratory symptoms or who are concerned they may have the virus are encouraged to use the hospital’s call ahead service.\r\n\r\nPatients who use the service will receive a brief phone screening and instructions for what to do next. Based on their responses, patients could be asked to go to one of two Express Care locations in Beaufort or Bluffton to receive rapid influenza and strep tests.\r\n\r\n“The call-ahead screening process is designed for patients who meet the high-risk criteria for COVID-19, including travel outside of the U.S. in the past 30 days and fever, cough and shortness of breath,” said the hospital’s Infection Prevention Manager Sherri Rabon.\r\n\r\n“The goal is to decrease the risk of exposure to patients and staff, while providing symptomatic patients with clinical screenings and testing quickly and safely,” Rabon said.\r\n\r\nIn some cases, patients may be asked to wait in their cars while a medical provider administers and processes the tests. If both tests are negative and is not the flu or strep, patients will be given additional instructions to receive further testing at the hospital’s emergency department.\r\n\r\nWhile Beaufort Memorial does not provide testing for COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and DHEC have encouraged hospitals to conduct certain tests before contacting DHEC to collect specimens for testing.\r\n\r\nThose who are feeling sick can also use the hospital’s telemedicine service, BMH Care Anywhere, which also provides providers who can screen patients and refer them to a higher level of care if needed. BMH Care Anywhere is available in the App Store and Google Play, and at <a href=\"http://www.bmhcareanywhere.org\">www.bmhcareanywhere.org</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>City and County Governments</strong>\r\n\r\nAt Beaufort’s regular city council meeting on Tuesday, March 10, City Manager Bill Prokop said he and staff were following the recommendations of DHEC, county and state authorities.\r\n\r\nProkop also said they would be meeting next week with their own emergency management team to put a plan in place “should the virus become more serious in our area,” he told council members.\r\n\r\nBeaufort County Administrator Ashley Jacobs said the county’s EMS Department and Detention Center have activated their pandemic plans, were stocking up on supplies and planning for staffing shortages.\r\n\r\nThe county, she said, will follow the protocols established by DHEC and the CDC.&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Beaufort Schools</strong>\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort County School District had announced earlier in the week, that an employee at Beaufort High School was self-quarantined and awaiting results from COVID-19 test.\r\n\r\nHowever, by Thursday, the employee had received the results of the test, which were negative and signified that the person did not have COVID-19.\r\n\r\nThe employee will return to work once clearance from a medical professional has been provided, said Jim Foster, the district’s director of communications, in an email sent Thursday afternoon.\r\n\r\nFoster also said the district is postponing non-essential, out-of-district student trips for the next 30 days and was temporarily suspending all CTE student internships in health care-related settings, which affects about 45-50 high school students district-wide.\r\n\r\nIn addition, the district is awaiting guidance from the South Carolina High School League regarding scheduled athletic competitions.&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>University of South Carolina Beaufort</strong>\r\n\r\nThe University of South Carolina Beaufort announced on Wednesday that it is extending its spring break by one week, or through March 21.\r\n\r\nThe university will not hold any in-person classes during this time. However, online courses will continue as scheduled, and all residence halls and dining service will remain open, a statement issued by the university said.\r\n\r\nStudents are asked not to return to campus until notification that in-person classes will resume.\r\n\r\nIn addition, all intercollegiate athletic competitions have been suspended through Thursday, March 26.\r\n\r\n“Our first priority is always protecting the health and well-being of the full university community,” the statement said.\r\n\r\n<strong>Parris Island and Naval Hospital</strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong>\r\n\r\nParris Island cancelled its Marine Corps graduation ceremony for Friday, March 13, according to a statement posted on the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island’s Facebook page.\r\n\r\n“Out of an abundance of caution, all aspects – to include the remaining family day activities and tomorrow’s graduation ceremony – at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island are cancelled. Our newest Marines will depart the Depot today with their families. We understand the significance of this event to Marines and their families, but we must remain cautious and focused on public safety,” the statement said.\r\n\r\nThe post went on to say that future graduations will remain closed to the public until further notice. Although the graduation ceremony is cancelled, recruit training is ongoing.\r\n\r\nOn Wednesday, Capt. Bryan McDonnell, the depot’s director of communication strategy and operations, said that no recruits had been treated for the virus or had been quarantined at that time.\r\n\r\nOver at the Naval Hospital Beaufort, where recruits would be sent if they were sick or needed to be treated for illness, Public Affairs/ Customer Relations Officer Trey Savitz said, as of 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, they had not seen any cases.\r\n\r\nThe hospital, which has 8 beds for non-ambulatory patients, expects to see cases if the disease continues to spread, he said.\r\n\r\n“But we will also treat this just like we treat the flu – with contact precaution and remaining away from people who are sick.”\r\n\r\nIn the meantime, all recruits that come in to Parris Island, are undergoing a screening process that entails both a verbal component such as asking recruits about recent travel to foreign countries, and a physical component in which the mouth is swabbed and a sample is sent off for testing, Savitz said.\r\n\r\nIn addition, the hospital has enacted its emergency management plan for pandemics which includes limiting contact, additional training for staff who may be answering patient questions and using telephone screening to talk to patients who are concerned they may be sick.\r\n\r\nThe hospital has daily “Table Top” meetings that include all heads of departments, infectious disease specialists and medical staff as well as the hospital’s commanding officers, Savitz said.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>&nbsp;</strong>', 'Coronavirus update: Cancellations, self-isolations and emergency plans enacted', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'coronavirus-update-cancellations-self-isolations-and-emergency-plans-enacted', '', '', '2020-03-13 12:27:25', '2020-03-13 16:27:25', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43714', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43724, 4, '2020-03-13 16:26:33', '2020-03-13 20:26:33', '<b>BY MINDY LUCAS</b>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Governor Henry McMaster is expected to declare a state of emergency, and order some schools in the Midlands to close, at a press conference to include state public health officials.</p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">The announcement, which will be made at 5 p.m. today, Friday, March 13, follows President Trump\'s earlier announcement declaring a national emergency in response to the coronavirus outbreak.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">McMaster will&nbsp;direct schools in Kershaw and Lancaster counties to close for a period of 14 days, according to a media advisory issued Friday afternoon.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">In addition, the governor\'s order will direct&nbsp;the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to consult with the state\'s Superintendent of Education and local school district leadership to provide guidance on if and when remaining school districts should decide to close schools and for what period of time.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Additional actions to be included in the governor\'s executive order:</p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li class=\"p1\">All state government offices shall remain open for operation during their normal business hour</li>\r\n 	<li class=\"p1\">Visitation at state and local correctional facilities in all 46 counties shall be suspended immediately</li>\r\n 	<li class=\"p1\">DHEC shall immediately restrict visitation to nursing homes and assisted living facilities with the exception of end of life situations</li>\r\n 	<li class=\"p1\">State price gouging laws shall go into effect immediately</li>\r\n 	<li class=\"p1\">The State Emergency Management Plan shall be activated</li>\r\n</ul>', 'S.C. Governor to declare State of Emergency, order some schools in Midlands to close', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 's-c-governor-to-declare-state-of-emergency-order-some-schools-to-close', '', '', '2020-03-13 16:47:21', '2020-03-13 20:47:21', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43724', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43732, 4, '2020-03-13 19:38:31', '2020-03-13 23:38:31', 'BY MINDY LUCAS\r\n\r\nA cruise line company which specializes in small capacity passenger cruises with stops in Beaufort has canceled its cruises to the city for the weekend.\r\n\r\nAmerican Cruise Lines, which has two itineraries that includes Beaufort as a stop, has cancelled cruises that were to take place on Saturday, March 14, said Alexa Paolella, public relations manager for the company.\r\n\r\nWhen contacted earlier on Friday, March 13, Paolella said there were no plans “at the moment” to cancel cruises but contacted <em>The Island News</em> later to say the company had cancelled cruises for the weekend – an indication of just how quickly businesses and organizations are changing planned events and recreational activities in response to the coronavirus outbreak.\r\n\r\nA ship from the cruise line could be seen in Beaufort as recently as Thursday, March 12, despite earlier travel advisories from both the U.S. Department of State and the Centers for Disease Control&nbsp;recommending that travelers, particularly those with underlying health issues, defer all cruise ship travel worldwide.\r\n\r\n\"...&nbsp;Because of the unusual nature of the novel coronavirus outbreak, the US government is advising US travelers, particularly those with underlying health issues, to defer cruise ship travel,\" the CDC stated. \"Recent reports of COVID-19 on cruise ships highlight the risk of infection to cruise ship passengers and crew. Like many other viruses, COVID-19 appears to spread more easily between people in close quarters aboard ships.\"\r\n\r\nAsked if Saturday’s cancellations were in response to the outbreak, Paolella stopped short saying that “in general yes,” but that the company had experienced cancellations by passengers which affected their decision. Those passengers were given the option to select another cruise or the same itinerary at a later date, she said.\r\n\r\nOne of the ships will still dock at Waterfront Park on Saturday but with only a minimal crew and will not have any passengers, said Kathleen Williams, communications/ marketing manager for the City of Beaufort.\r\n\r\nWhen asked earlier in the day about cruises to Beaufort, Williams said the city does not have the authority to prevent ships from the cruise line from stopping in Beaufort or disembarking passengers.\r\n\r\n“That authority would come from the State of South Carolina, and/or DHEC,” she said.\r\n\r\nSafe Harbor Marinas, which manages the Beaufort Marina, gave permission for the ship to dock, in coordination with Beaufort City Manager Bill Prokop, she said, so while visitors will still see the ship in port, there will be no passengers onboard.\r\n\r\nUnlike larger cruise lines, which can carry thousands of passengers and visit foreign ports, American Cruise Lines specializes in domestic river and coastal cruises, and operates ships that only have a capacity of 100-200 passengers.\r\n\r\nThe company offers two cruises that feature stops in Beaufort. One, an 8-day trip called the “Historic South and Golden Isles Cruise,” stops in Charleston, Beaufort and Hilton Head before heading on to Georgia and Florida. Another, an 11-day “East Coast Inland Passage Cruise,” includes stops in Beaufort and Hilton Head before departing the state.\r\n\r\nThe company also sent a statement on Friday after being contacted earlier in the day:\r\n\r\n“American Cruise Lines has implemented the Coronavirus Prevention Measures from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and we are actively monitoring the situation.&nbsp;We have adopted all current pre-screening measures and rigorous shipboard sanitation techniques. American will continue to update procedures and take all appropriate steps to ensure the safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit,” the statement read.\r\n\r\nThe next scheduled dates for cruises that include stops in Beaufort are March 22 and March 29, Paolella confirmed. As of Friday, those cruises were “still on” but added that additional changes to cruise schedules could be forthcoming “in light of circumstances.”\r\n\r\n<em>Pictured above&nbsp;– a cruise ship from American Cruise Lines stopped as recently as Thursday, March 12, in Beaufort, and passengers could be seen disembarking.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Cruise line company cancels weekend cruises to Beaufort', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'cruise-line-company-cancels-weekend-cruises-to-beaufort', '', '', '2020-03-13 20:59:33', '2020-03-14 00:59:33', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43732', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43747, 4, '2020-03-14 21:19:03', '2020-03-15 01:19:03', '<b>BY MIKE MCCOMBS</b>\r\n\r\nIt may have already been here, but the COVID-19 novel coronavirus has officially made it to Beaufort County.&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced Saturday afternoon that is investigating six additional cases of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, three of which are in Beaufort County.\r\n\r\nAccording to DHEC’s release, “two cases are close contacts of each other and had known exposure to a confirmed case of COVID-19 from another state. The other case has no known connection to any other case and recently traveled internationally. All three cases are currently isolated at home.”\r\n\r\nThis brings the total number of cases statewide to 19.\r\n\r\nBeaufort Memorial spokesperson Courtney McDermott could not confirm whether the Beaufort County cases were among those sent to the hospital for testing.\r\n\r\nFour Beaufort Memorial staff members were in self-quarantine following contact with two patients at the hospital who may have been infected. According to McDermott, they “remain in self-quarantine pending the results of their tests.”\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort Memorial Hospital expands visitor restrictions</b>\r\n\r\nIn response to DHEC’s confirmation of cases in Beaufort County, Beaufort Memorial Hospital (BMH) expanded visitor restrictions, effective immediately.\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Only immediate family members over age 18 are allowed to visit patients.</li>\r\n 	<li>Only one visitor per patient is allowed. Additional visitors should not come to the hospital.</li>\r\n 	<li>Groups of visitors “taking turns” in and out of a patient’s room will not be permitted.</li>\r\n 	<li>Visitors with any symptoms of illness will not be allowed to visit patients or patient care areas.</li>\r\n 	<li>All pre-existing visitor restrictions will remain in place until further notice.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nThe patient’s provider and care team will work with families who have special circumstances, such as a critically ill or injured family member, on a case-by-case basis.\r\n\r\n“Our number one priority is the health and safety of our patients and staff,” Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley said in a release. “Given the rapidly evolving nature of this pandemic we ask for patience and cooperation as we work to provide the best care possible to our patients.”\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort County School District expects a Sunday announcement</b>\r\n\r\nBeaufort County School District’s Director of Communications Jim Foster issued a release to confirm that none of the three confirmed Beaufort County cases involves a Beaufort County School District student or employee.\r\n\r\nSuperintendent Frank Rodriguez will be consulting with DHEC, the governor’s office and State Education Superintendent Molly Spearman, and there will be an announcement on Sunday regarding school schedules.', 'Coronavirus update: First three cases confirmed in Beaufort County', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'coronavirus-update-first-three-cases-confirmed-in-beaufort-county', '', '', '2020-03-14 21:31:11', '2020-03-15 01:31:11', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43747', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43834, 4, '2020-03-22 15:20:15', '2020-03-22 19:20:15', '<h2><b>Ignoring social distancing order puts our entire community at risk</b></h2>\r\n<b>By BILLY KEYSERLING</b>\r\n\r\nHello Beaufort and friends, I hope all are faring well. I am physically fine and am protecting myself (and others I might otherwise spend time with) by limiting physical contact to my girlfriend, key city staff, my Vespa and my small boat.\r\n\r\nBut I must say my mind is boggled by what I see happening around the world, including our special hometown. Following selfish whims, by refusing to respect others, some of us are putting our community at even greater risk, conceivably extending – rather than ending – the health risk of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus.\r\n\r\nA Water Festival-like party Saturday on the sandbar set me off because it demonstrates seemingly selfish people’s disregard for the health and safety of themselves, their families, friends and others. It reminded me of the thousands of students (and others) who, foolishly thinking they are not at risk because of their age, flocked to the beaches until the beaches were forced to be closed and off limits.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, because people did not show restraint, we have been forced to reach out to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and the Governor’s office seeking enforcement of the social distancing order. This takes resources from other necessary functions, puts our public safety personnel at risk and requires financial resources more usefully deployed to other pressing needs.\r\n\r\nI know we can do better. Believe me, the stakes could not be higher.\r\n\r\nThe human suffering could not be higher.&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe economic consequences to businesses and those they have to lay off and those being laid off could not be higher.\r\n\r\nThe financial stains of limited local and state government and our hard working staff could not be higher.\r\n\r\nOur individual personal and financial conditions, which are already strained for many Lowcountry residents, are at risk.\r\n\r\nThe risks of medical, public safety, law enforcement, and first responders could not be higher.\r\n\r\nWe have already temporarily lost the service of four first responders in our small city fire department who, due to exposure while transporting a patient, have been quarantined, thereby putting extra strain, and risk of exposure on their co-workers and their families. The fast-traveling virus can only be contained by social distancing.\r\n\r\nAs a community, we know the benefits of working together to find a common good and we do it almost every day to maintain the special place we call home. We must rise to the even greater challenge by thinking and acting beyond immediate gratification.\r\n\r\nFive cities have mandated lock ins. We don’t want to have to go there, but the behavior of some is forcing this consideration.\r\n\r\nIf we don’t change our behavior, the President and Governor will be forced to require us to do what we know is best and can do without force.\r\n\r\nPlease don’t be misled and think this is just a problem only for medical professionals. Yes, they can treat those who fall ill.\r\n\r\nBut it is our job to stop the pandemic by social distancing.\r\n\r\nThe President and others have referred to this as a war. During a war, in whatever ways we can, we must enlist and pitch in – or else be drafted – to join the fight. I can assure you that staying home is the best way to contribute, to do your part, to win this war.\r\n\r\nIf we all do that, we can starve the virus, suck the oxygen from its existence, and it will starve and die.\r\n\r\n<i>\r\nBilly Keyserling is the mayor of the City of Beaufort.</i>\r\n\r\n<b>Editor’s note:</b> This column was taken with permission from City of Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling’s regular email newsletter.', 'Coronavirus update: Beaufort can and must be better, please', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'coronavirus-update-beaufort-can-and-must-be-better-please', '', '', '2020-03-22 15:26:06', '2020-03-22 19:26:06', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43834', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43754, 4, '2020-03-15 14:48:43', '2020-03-15 18:48:43', '<b>From staff reports</b>\r\n\r\nAccording to a Sunday afternoon report by Meg Kinnard of the Associate Press, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster will announce temporary closures for schools across the state as the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis grows.\r\n\r\nMcMaster spokesman Brian Symmes confirmed the story to the AP.\r\n\r\nSchools will close beginning Monday through the end of March. Food centers will be set up for students reliant on food provided in schools.\r\n\r\nBeaufort County School District’s Director of Communications Jim Foster said the county had not received any advance notice, but said, “it’s gonna happen.”\r\n\r\nBeaufort County Schools Superintendent Frank Rodriguez had been expected to make an announcement on Sunday regarding school schedules following McMaster’s 4 p.m. press conference.\r\n\r\nBeaufort County will carry the press conference live on <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDAzMTUuMTg3NjMxNjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2JlYXVmb3J0Y291bnR5c2MuZ292L3RoZS1jb3VudHktY2hhbm5lbC8_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.kaa8mymclOet0LtRJey-hYh35eyroFxJfqnU2YcL40M/br/76144238839-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The County Channel</a> as well as Comcast Ch. 2, Hargray Chs. 9 and 113, and Spectrum Ch. 1304. It will also be shown on <a href=\"http://www.scetv.org/\">www.scetv.org</a>.', 'Coronavirus update: Governor reportedly to close SC schools', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'coronavirus-update-governor-reportedly-to-close-sc-schools', '', '', '2020-03-15 14:48:43', '2020-03-15 18:48:43', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43754', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43756, 4, '2020-03-15 15:58:30', '2020-03-15 19:58:30', '<div class=\"\">\r\n<div class=\"\" dir=\"ltr\">\r\n<div class=\"\" dir=\"ltr\">\r\n<div class=\"\">\r\n<div class=\"gmail_signature\" dir=\"ltr\">\r\n<div class=\"\" dir=\"ltr\">\r\n<div class=\"\">\r\n<div class=\"\" dir=\"ltr\">\r\n<div class=\"\">\r\n<div class=\"\" dir=\"ltr\">\r\n<div class=\"\">\r\n<div class=\"\" dir=\"ltr\">\r\n<div class=\"\">\r\n<div class=\"\" dir=\"ltr\">\r\n<div class=\"\">\r\n<div class=\"\" dir=\"ltr\">\r\n<div class=\"\">\r\n<div class=\"\" dir=\"ltr\">\r\n<div class=\"\">\r\n<div class=\"\" dir=\"ltr\">\r\n<div class=\"\">\r\n<div class=\"\" dir=\"ltr\">\r\n<div class=\"\">\r\n<div class=\"\">\r\n<div class=\"\">\r\n<div class=\"gmail_default\">\r\n\r\n<b>Staff reports</b>\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort Twilight Run, presented by Habersham Properties, has announce this year’s race, scheduled for March 21, has been canceled, according to a release from organizers.\r\n\r\n“Like many of you, we were holding out hope that the event would have a chance to go on as planned,” the release said. “However, with the escalation of the coronavirus since last week, and especially with confirmed cases in Beaufort County as of (Saturday), we have determined the only clear path forward is to cancel the 12th annual Beaufort Twilight Run scheduled for March 21. We are heartbroken not to host this year’s event, but the safety of our community, school and race participants is our top priority.”\r\n\r\nAccording to the release, race registrants and sponsors were to receive an email with instructions and details regarding refunds, picking up event merchandise, etc., later on Sunday.\r\n\r\n<b>TCL closing, shifting to online classes</b>\r\n\r\nThe Technical College of the Lowcountry is canceling in-person classes through March 31. For currently enrolled students: more information about course delivery will be forthcoming on Monday. TCL will provide additional information related to faculty, staff and employees as information becomes available later Sunday night.\r\n\r\nOver the next few days, TCL will be transitioning to all online course delivery. As the situation evolves, the school will post any pertinent information related to college plans at <a href=\"http://www.tcl.edu/emergency\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.tcl.edu/emergency</a>.\r\n\r\n<b>Historic Beaufort Foundation closes Verdier House, halts Lafayette Soiree ticket sales</b>\r\n\r\nThe Historic Beaufort Foundation announced Sunday in a release the temporarily closure of the John Mark Verdier House Museum to the public and the postponement the sale of tickets for the Lafayette Soiree.\r\n\r\n“Along with cultural organizations across the country, we are closely watching the spread and impact of COVID-19,” the release said. “Employing guidance from our state and local health departments, as well as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), we have provided ongoing updates to our visitors and staff about the best ways to protect themselves and limit the spread of the virus.”\r\n\r\nHBF will re-assess in two weeks. It will also make a decision this week regarding possible postponement of of the group’s annual meeting.\r\n\r\n<b>Canceled</b>\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort County Board of Education’s Finance Committee meeting scheduled for Monday has been cancelled.\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>', 'Coronavirus update: Beaufort Twilight Run canceled; TCL closes, going online', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'coronavirus-update-beaufort-twilight-run-canceled-verdier-house-closed', '', '', '2020-03-15 19:29:14', '2020-03-15 23:29:14', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43756', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43759, 4, '2020-03-15 19:26:54', '2020-03-15 23:26:54', '<h2>Total number of cases in state rises to 28</h2>\r\n<b>From staff reports</b>\r\n\r\nAs expected, with the numbers of COVID-19 cases increasing, Gov. Henry McMaster today ordered all South Carolina schools to close until March 31.\r\n\r\nAll school-related events, including after-school activities and spring sports, have been put on hold by the governor’s order.\r\n\r\nA news release from Beaufort County School District said while schools are closed, students will be able to participate in online learning activities. The schools will communicate with parents on Monday about those procedures, and paper-based work packets will be prepared for students who don’t have Internet access at home.\r\n\r\n“This is an unprecedented situation, something that has never occurred in our lifetimes,” Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said in a release. “But our school teams have been preparing for this, and they’re moving forward with their plans.”\r\n\r\nIn addition to at-home lessons, the school district will offer free breakfasts and lunches on weekdays at regional pick-up locations across the county. The first availability will be lunch on Monday.\r\n\r\n“Thousands of Beaufort County families depend on our schools to provide meals for kids, and we don’t want the current emergency to stop that,” Rodriguez said. “Our food service contractor, Sodexo, has set up a distribution system we can fine-tune as needed in the days ahead.”\r\n\r\nRodriguez said any child age 18 or younger can receive free breakfasts and lunches regardless of meal status during the school year.\r\n\r\nMeals will be prepared and transported to 11 sites across the county: Battery Creek High School, Beaufort High School, Beaufort Middle School, Bluffton High School, Hilton Head Island High School, James J. Davis Early Childhood Center, Okatie Elementary School, Red Cedar Elementary School, St. Helena Elementary School, Whale Branch Early College High School and the Port Royal YMCA.\r\n\r\nDrive-through meal pick-ups will be available in the bus rider drop-offs at each location from 7:15-8:45 a.m. (breakfast) and 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (lunch).\r\n\r\nStudents must be present at the time of pick up. All food will be “grab-and-go,” with no food consumed on site. No one will be allowed in the school buildings.\r\n\r\nBreakfast items will vary and may include cereal with milk, fruit, Fruit Frudels, whole grain Pop Tarts, cereal bars, milk and juice. Lunches will be sandwiches, fruit, fresh vegetables and milk.\r\n\r\nSchools are closed for MCAS Beaufort as well, according to a statement on the MCAS Beaufort Facebook page: “In alignment with Governor McMaster’s announcement that all public schools will be closed and in cooperation with Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), the commanding officer of MCAS Beaufort authorizes the closure of all DoDEA schools on Laurel Bay. DoDEA will be sending out more information regarding the closure shortly.”\r\n\r\nLowcountry Montessori School is closed for the next two weeks, as well. Parents were notified in an email that went out Sunday morning.\r\n\r\nS.C. DHEC is investigating nine additional cases of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, as of Sunday afternoon. This brings the total number of cases statewide to 28.', 'Coronavirus update: SC schools closed; Beaufort County Schools will feed children', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'coronavirus-update-sc-schools-closed-beaufort-county-schools-will-feed-children', '', '', '2020-03-15 19:26:54', '2020-03-15 23:26:54', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43759', 0, 'post', '', 0);
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(43762, 4, '2020-03-15 19:39:49', '2020-03-15 23:39:49', '<h2><b>Administration announces partial closings, staff reductions</b></h2>\r\n<b>From staff reports</b>\r\n\r\nTo help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), Beaufort County implemented a COVID-19 operations plan Sunday until further notice, upon the Governor’s State of Emergency in effect for South Carolina and due to the local COVID-19 outbreak.\r\n\r\nThe goal of the plan is to minimize exposure between County staff and the public. To do so, a strategic and temporary reduction in County staff is in effect. <strong>The plan is subject to change while active to include essential departments possibly changing to non-essential status.</strong> Changes to this plan impacting the at-large community will be made public.\r\n\r\nMany County locations will remain open, but with limited staff who will conduct internal and external business by telephone and electronically as much as possible. The public should expect to experience County staff practicing social distancing.\r\n\r\nThe County asks citizens to proactively limit their interactions with County staff as much as possible and to do as much business as possible with the County online. Citizens are also strongly encouraged to limit their visits to County buildings unless having urgent business matters that must be handled in person.\r\n\r\nThe following County locations will be closed to the public beginning Monday, March 16 through at least Tuesday, March 31:\r\n\r\n• <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDAzMTUuMTg3NjkxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2JlYXVmb3J0Y291bnR5c2MuZ292L2FsY29ob2wtYW5kLWRydWcvP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.bF9hzeB0eTNh5tZCHPHl0Yz2qMih1OCuv1i2vw_4AJU/br/76149136373-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alcohol and Drug Abuse Department</a> (Beaufort and Bluffton locations)\r\n• <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDAzMTUuMTg3NjkxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2JlYXVmb3J0Y291bnR5c2MuZ292L2FuaW1hbC1zZXJ2aWNlcy8_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.Sb6CV3mVMzWCDJco-wPvuqUVNXV_DmtLoAZMstYZQJk/br/76149136373-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Animal Shelter</a> (no adoption or pet glancing/visiting)\r\n• <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDAzMTUuMTg3NjkxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2JlYXVmb3J0Y291bnR5c2MuZ292L2Fzc2Vzc29yLz91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.HlBU4ho5m5mMpHDA5RHSvjdKcf-IL3EeU9hPt6WtVLQ/br/76149136373-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Assessor’s Office</a> (all locations)\r\n• <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDAzMTUuMTg3NjkxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2JlYXVmb3J0Y291bnR5c2MuZ292L2J1c2luZXNzLWxpY2Vuc2UvP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.y-TkvUhmaNHpvQ_aOIfSOwls4ArRlCvu7uDTlag0xfs/br/76149136373-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Business License Department</a> (all locations)\r\n• <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDAzMTUuMTg3NjkxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2JlYXVmb3J0Y291bnR5c2MuZ292L2Rzbi8_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.BW7jEFMSqquQRmRhGiiGsNteASeatJ9I27ds2N3cvGs/br/76149136373-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Disabilities and Special Needs Department</a> (all non-residential programming)\r\n• <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDAzMTUuMTg3NjkxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5iZWF1Zm9ydGNvdW50eWxpYnJhcnkub3JnLz91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.90SP85Gw2f5zitqk9lZHLVHItAWHW2r-UERlpOYjvns/br/76149136373-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Library branches</a> and bookmobile services\r\n• <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDYsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDAzMTUuMTg3NjkxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5iY3NjcmVjLmNvbS8_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.tvU8p9DAVeAOsr8Q0cSVm2beKTuKg1_DuypmoUortEU/br/76149136373-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Parks and Recreation</a> facilities and pools\r\n• <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDcsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDAzMTUuMTg3NjkxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2JlYXVmb3J0Y291bnR5c2MuZ292L3JlY29yZHMtbWFuYWdlbWVudC8_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.4e-GJRp8AdNK2UFoeq7KqQYI_fwIjucNL7HVUVS3YxY/br/76149136373-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Records Management Department</a>\r\n• <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDgsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDAzMTUuMTg3NjkxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2JlYXVmb3J0Y291bnR5c2MuZ292L3JlZ2lzdGVyLW9mLWRlZWRzLz91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.rY7Q0LLVgG_vTP9zXBWFEqW3OG1dKF-1FvgZj2i8P6U/br/76149136373-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Register of Deeds’</a> public deed room\r\n\r\nAdditionally, FOIA services and public visitation at the <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDksInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDAzMTUuMTg3NjkxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2JlYXVmb3J0Y291bnR5c2MuZ292L2RldGVudGlvbi1jZW50ZXIvP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.AoUvTDKqrPOw75DQyuyYh-XuJitX00tSnJoKwxHwFUg/br/76149136373-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Detention Center</a> are suspended until further notice. All <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDAzMTUuMTg3NjkxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2JlYXVmb3J0Y291bnR5c2MuZ292L3NvbGlkLXdhc3RlLWFuZC1yZWN5Y2xlL2NvbnZlbmllbmNlLWNlbnRlcnMuaHRtbD91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.4QpBc6Mu6BIsG5QrVxFS-5ThSUgYWCTCfLbWS_dzSQk/br/76149136373-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Convenience Centers</a> will remain open according to their normal operating schedules for now.\r\n\r\nOperations at the <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDAzMTUuMTg3NjkxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmhpbHRvbmhlYWRhaXJwb3J0LmNvbS8_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.qXoeHsC25Zp9IrMSJUdvdQGGGEl1qf96LvNlD7Pmv2k/br/76149136373-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hilton Head Island Airport</a> and <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDAzMTUuMTg3NjkxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5iZWF1Zm9ydGNvdW50eXNjLmdvdi9iZWF1Zm9ydC1jb3VudHktYWlycG9ydC9pbmRleC5odG1sP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.78eQIG2Q3Ek8Ry-o7xtoMexAPc-azbdYu4cGqZHQRn8/br/76149136373-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lady’s Island Airport</a> remain available. Travelers should contact their airline carrier for questions about flight schedules. Information on the operating status of the nation’s major airports can be found at <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDAzMTUuMTg3NjkxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5mbHkuZmFhLmdvdi9mbHlmYWEvdXNtYXAuanNwP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.2Wkvrw2DInbW8e8emco79uiIT-zRPWF1v809ZNFFHGY/br/76149136373-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.fly.faa.gov</a>. Inquiries regarding flight information at Hilton Head Island Airport should be directed to <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDAzMTUuMTg3NjkxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hYS5jb20vaG9tZVBhZ2UuZG8_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.t0rHrfEYjq55qH3AIQXKhwCbJs6WT2-tvW2giVK-FUY/br/76149136373-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American Airlines</a>, <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.9KMKDwWCQXizW84OjLrqwvM0air-U6t5IhFCqpx1HXw/br/76149136373-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Delta Air Lines</a>, or <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTYsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDAzMTUuMTg3NjkxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy51bml0ZWQuY29tL2VuL3VzP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.oC4rNsgeD52Fqqg0oQk0_oBODEQ8RWv43n4A8UvYEXg/br/76149136373-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">United</a> Airlines.\r\n\r\nEmergency and public safety services remain available as normal. Visit <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTcsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDAzMTUuMTg3NjkxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2JlYXVmb3J0Y291bnR5c2MuZ292Lz91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.mVRZcXumlKC6Ori5RYGCcTEoK1oEctZEBbYEGBGlaWY/br/76149136373-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.beaufortcountysc.gov</a> for additional information.\r\n\r\nPlease continue to follow only official government sources of information.\r\n\r\nBeaufort County is concerned about the health and well-being of its residents and visitors. County leadership, including public safety and emergency management officials, continues to closely monitor developments related to COVID-19.\r\n\r\n<b>County Council meetings</b>\r\nBeaufort County Council plans to hold its scheduled meetings during the declaration of emergency; but, in the interest of public health and due to the coronavirus outbreak, citizens are reminded that all County Council regular and committee meetings are broadcast on Comcast Ch. 2, Hargray Chs. 9 and 113, and Spectrum Ch. 1304, as well as live-streamed on our website via <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTgsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDAzMTUuMTg3NjkxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2JlYXVmb3J0Y291bnR5c2MuZ292L3RoZS1jb3VudHktY2hhbm5lbC8_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.Ao19d-bw3eYzTwm_nT13_WzINMkDaINRTF8rv4Tul5w/br/76149136373-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The County Channel</a>.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, public comments and public hearing comments are accepted in writing via email to the Clerk of Council at <a href=\"mailto:sbrock@bcgov.net\">sbrock@bcgov.net</a> or P.O. Drawer 1228, Beaufort, S.C. 29901.\r\n\r\nOther County-sponsored public meetings are subject to cancelation or postponement. Updates will be provided on the County’s website calendar at <a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTksInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDAzMTUuMTg3NjkxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2JlYXVmb3J0Y291bnR5c2MuZ292Lz91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.YwbG20iyE7EQ92KmMqMp4Q0eDVFkEL6dBKglUc5AYDI/br/76149136373-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.beaufortcountysc.gov</a>.', 'Beaufort County initiates COVID-19 Operations Plan', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-county-initiates-covid-19-operations-plan', '', '', '2020-03-15 19:39:49', '2020-03-15 23:39:49', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43762', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43764, 4, '2020-03-16 11:20:03', '2020-03-16 15:20:03', '<em><strong>From Staff Reports</strong></em>\r\n\r\nBeaufort County is expected to activate its Emergency Ordinance today, Monday, March 16.\r\n\r\nMembers of Beaufort County Council will meet at 12:45 p.m. at the Robert Smalls Government Complex to declare a public health emergency, according to an advisory issued by the county.\r\n\r\nThe meeting will be broadcast live on <a href=\"https://www.beaufortcountysc.gov/the-county-channel/index.html\">The County Channel</a>.', 'Coronavirus Update: Beaufort County to active emergency ordinance', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'coronavirus-update-beaufort-county-to-active-emergency-ordinance', '', '', '2020-03-16 11:22:07', '2020-03-16 15:22:07', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43764', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43768, 4, '2020-03-16 11:59:37', '2020-03-16 15:59:37', 'BY MINDY LUCAS\r\n\r\nThe first death related to the coronavirus, or COVID-19, in South Carolina has occurred, according to state health officials.\r\n\r\nThe patient was from Lexington County and was a resident of Lexington Medical Center Extended Care Skilled Nursing Facility, according to a news release issued by the&nbsp;South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC)&nbsp;on Monday, March 16.\r\n\r\n“We regret to report that South Carolina has suffered its first death in an elderly person recently reported to have been diagnosed with COVID-19...” said&nbsp;Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC Physician Consultant. “Our state health officials continue to work with national and local partners to respond to this ongoing public health matter.”\r\n\r\nDHEC is working with the facility to identify all contacts with the individual and is providing guidance about infection control measures to prevent the spread of the virus.\r\n\r\n“We know that many South Carolinians are concerned about what impact this virus may have on themselves, their loved ones, and our state,” said Dr. Traxler. “This is a rapidly evolving public health event, and DHEC takes every new infectious disease seriously. This is an example of the importance of taking precautions to protect those at higher risk, like the elderly and people with serious underlying health conditions.”\r\n\r\nDHEC will alert the public on all COVID-19 related deaths, the release stated.&nbsp;\r\n<p align=\"center\">&nbsp;</p>', 'South Carolina health officials report first COVID-19 related death', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'south-carolina-health-officials-report-first-covid-19-related-death', '', '', '2020-03-16 12:07:32', '2020-03-16 16:07:32', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43768', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43770, 4, '2020-03-17 17:40:05', '2020-03-17 21:40:05', '<b>BY MINDY LUCAS</b>\r\n\r\nTwo Marines based at Parris Island are in self-quarantine after traveling overseas, according to officials at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.\r\n\r\nThe individuals – a chief warrant officer and a master gunnery sergeant – are “asymptomatic” in that they are not showing or presenting any symptoms of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, said Captain Bryan McDonnell, director of communication strategy and operations at the Depot.\r\n\r\nThe officers work at the base and were on leave when they elected to self-quarantine, McDonnell said.\r\n\r\nCurrently, there are no cases of COVID-19 at the base, he said.\r\n\r\nIn addition, the Marine Corps announced on Monday, March 16, that it has temporarily suspended the standard 10-day leave period granted to new Marines following their graduation from recruit training.\r\n\r\nThe move was made “in accordance with the latest Department of Defense guidance regarding COVID-19” and was designed to preserve the readiness of the force, the statement said.\r\n\r\nThe statement went on to say, “While we understand this is challenging for new Marines and their families, this policy protects Marines, their families, Civilian Marines, and the community at-large from additional exposure.”\r\n\r\nThe Depot has plans to live stream all graduations during this period, which will be available on the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island’s official Facebook page.\r\n\r\nAfter graduation, all new Marines will report to the corps’ School of Infantry, where the next phase of their entry-level training will begin. From there, they will continue on to their assigned unit or additional formal training as required, the statement said.\r\n\r\nThe leave policy is effective through May 11 and will be reviewed based on conditions at the time.', 'Coronavirus update: 2 Marines based at Parris Island are self-quarantining, leave period for new Marines suspended', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'coronavirus-update-2-marines-based-at-parris-island-are-self-quarantining-leave-period-for-new-marines-suspended', '', '', '2020-03-17 19:08:23', '2020-03-17 23:08:23', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43770', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43772, 4, '2020-03-17 18:25:54', '2020-03-17 22:25:54', '<b>By MIKE McCOMBS</b>\r\n\r\nLiz Farrell, columnist and senior editor at The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette, has been named Public Information Officer for Beaufort County, County Administrator Ashley Jacobs confirmed on Tuesday afternoon.\r\n\r\nFarrell has been instrumental in The Island Packet’s coverage of the controversy surrounding recently resigned Beaufort County Council chairman Stu Rodman.\r\n\r\nA 1997 graduate of Gettysburg (Pa.) College, Farrell has been at The Island Packet for more than 16 years, starting as a copy desk chief in 2003. She also served as Entertainment Editor and Features Editor before moving into her current position in February of 2015.\r\n\r\nPreviously, she worked at the Frederick (Md.) News-Post and the Gettysburg (Pa.) Times.', 'Packet’s Farrell hired as PIO for Beaufort County', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'packets-farrell-hired-as-pio-for-beaufort-county', '', '', '2020-03-18 10:02:25', '2020-03-18 14:02:25', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43772', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43775, 4, '2020-03-18 10:11:26', '2020-03-18 14:11:26', '<strong>By LEE SCOTT</strong>\r\n\r\nMy husband and I attended a dinner party the other night. It was one of those gatherings where one always brings some kind of hostess gift.\r\n\r\nMany times, we will bring a bottle of wine or maybe some flowers. It depends on the kind of get together.\r\n\r\nAs we were driving over to our friends’ home, my husband said, “Oh, we forgot the wine.”\r\n\r\n“No,” I replied, “I have something else for them tonight.”\r\n\r\nAs usual, the hostess met us at the door and put the hostess gift aside as we greeted one another. And her husband tended to our drink requests. We stood chatting around with some of the other couples when we all heard the wife in the kitchen laughing hysterically.\r\n\r\nI knew right away, she had opened our hostess gift.\r\n\r\nShe walked into the living room with the bag in her hand and pulled out a roll of toilet paper. Everyone laughed because we all know how precious the gift is right now. After all, how many of us have gone into the stores and discovered empty shelves where once there was toilet paper.\r\n\r\nWe started to discuss other “hostess gifts” that would be welcomed now. Naturally, Purell and other hand sanitizers were on the list, but so was soap and bleach. We also started to discuss the ways in which we have changed our own behavior.\r\n\r\nHow long have those wipes at the grocery store been available to wipe the shopping cart? How many of us have regularly used them? How often have we washed our hands for the correct amount of recommended time?\r\n\r\nAfter a while, it seemed evident, that regardless of one’s current health, and regardless of a potential virus coming into the community, we believe that the steps being taken now are pretty much common sense.\r\n\r\nBut for the most part, we just have not been doing them. Little kids have been sneezing into their sleeves for years now, and adults have not. This has been an eye-opener.\r\n\r\nAs we were having dinner, the topic turned to other creative gifts we might give. Our hostess suggested little timers next to the sink that beeped after 20 seconds to let the hand washer know they are finished. Imagine the shame coming back to the dinner table and hearing the beeper go off in the other room.\r\n\r\nAt the end of the evening we started to say goodbye. There was none of the usual hugging and kissing. We did our “air” kisses to one another and nodded appropriately.\r\n\r\nWe of all people understand the seriousness of the situation. We are all older than 60.\r\n\r\nBut we also acknowledged that good friends and laughter are always a key to good health.\r\n\r\n<i>Lee Scott, a writer and recent retiree, shares her everyday observations about life after career. A former commercial banker responsible for helping her clients to reach their business objectives, Scott now translates those analytical skills to her writings. She lives on St. Helena Island and enjoys boating, traveling and reading.</i>', 'The best hostess gift I’ve ever given', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'the-best-hostess-gift-ive-ever-given', '', '', '2020-03-18 10:11:27', '2020-03-18 14:11:27', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43775', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43777, 4, '2020-03-18 10:12:39', '2020-03-18 14:12:39', '<strong>By SCOTT GRABER</strong>\r\n\r\nIn the 1970s, Beaufort was a small town. If one wanted weekend excitement one had to travel.\r\n\r\nThere was Charleston (Henry’s or Marianne). And there was Atlanta (The Sun Dial or Manuel’s Tavern). But Susan and I often drove down to St. Augustine.\r\n\r\nIn those days St Augustine — like Taos and Key West — was a destination for those of my generation seeking an alternative, off the grid life style. There was live music; candle and incense shops; and small, pop-up restaurants where one found interesting food and provocative conversation.\r\n\r\nAfter our son arrived in 1980, we found that St. Augustine was still a great place to visit. On Friday, we would leave Beaufort at 11 a.m., arriving in St. Augustine in time to deposit our son, Zach, at Castillo San Marcos. Susan and I would walk across the street to the White Lion Tavern and drink Portuguese wine until we heard the cannon fire at 5 p.m. We would pay the tab and walk back to the fort where we would find our son waiting on the drawbridge.\r\n\r\nIn those days, we would stay at the St. Francis Inn on St. George Street. This historic inn (1791) comes with courtyard and with guests who usually want to talk.\r\n\r\nWhen sitting in the courtyard (with a glass of Chardonnay) it was easy to find common ground. Several weeks ago we decided to make another run to St. Augustine and revisit the scenes of our youthful indiscretion.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately there was no room at the St. Francis, so I made a reservation at the Casa de Solana — another stucco on coquina stone house. This one built by Don Manuel Solana in 1763.\r\n\r\nCasa de Solana also comes with a courtyard, and complimentary wine, and that’s where we found Bill and Lisa.\r\n\r\n“We’re from Cleveland,” they said.\r\n\r\n“We’re so very sorry about the Browns,” I said. “It was a disappointing season.”\r\n\r\n“You don’t know the half of it,” Bill said shaking his head in despair.\r\n\r\nI’m not good at “sports-speak,” but every big screen-owning male knows that this was the year the Cleveland Browns were going to take their long-suffering fans to the playoffs.\r\n\r\n“What gets you excited?” I asked trying to change the subject.\r\n\r\n“We’re moving to South Carolina,” they replied. “A place called Summerville. Do you know anything about South Carolina?”\r\n\r\n“No, we really know nothing about South Carolina”, I wanted to say. And, yes, there would have been some truth in that denial. But we told Lisa and Bill we lived in Beaufort.\r\n\r\n“You must love it,” Lisa said. “Tell us what you love the best.”\r\n\r\n“Well,” I said, “We don’t have an NFL team, and you won’t able to sit outdoors and watch the Browns.”\r\n\r\n“I don’t care if we ever sit in a stadium and watch the Browns,” she replied. “And we sure won’t miss the arctic wind that blows into the stadium from the lake,” Bill said.\r\n\r\n“But you’ve never lived in South Carolina in August,” I said. “There’s constant, corrosive, spirit-killing heat that sucks the energy and ambition out of your body.”\r\n\r\n“But you do have air conditioning in South Carolina?” Lisa said.\r\n\r\n“We also have hurricanes,” I replied.\r\n\r\nMy reluctance to encourage Lisa and Bill has everything to do with the fact that South Carolina is filling up with retirees and that ongoing tsunami has changed the topography. But in York County, S.C, the Republican-led County Council has said “Enough!”\r\n\r\nThat council — trying to control the out-of-control growth at Lake Wylie — has put a 16-month moratorium on commercial and re-zoning requests. This “pause” has the backing of the South Carolina Municipal Association.\r\n\r\nThe Wall Street Journal reports (Feb. 4, 2020) that “Booming towns across the Sunbelt are struggling with unintended consequences of growth. After years of taking a hands-off approach, they now find themselves without the tax structure or the long term infrastructure plans needed to deal with the present growth …”\r\n\r\nBut, of course, we in Beaufort County had our opportunity (in the 1990s) to put a “Comprehensive Plan” into place that would have controlled growth and, more importantly, designated areas of the County where there would be no serious residential or commercial growth.\r\n\r\nThat plan was disemboweled.\r\n\r\nLet’s hope that the York County Council has the courage to stay the course and the will to save some of its character, part of its culture, some little thing to distinguish it from the suburbs of Charlotte.\r\n\r\n<i>Scott Graber is a lawyer, novelist, veteran columnist and longtime resident of Port Royal. Email Scott at cscottgraber@gmail.com.</i>', 'Finding an opportunity missed in St. Augustine', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'finding-an-opportunity-missed-in-st-augustine', '', '', '2020-03-18 10:12:39', '2020-03-18 14:12:39', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43777', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43779, 4, '2020-03-18 10:14:21', '2020-03-18 14:14:21', '<strong>By BILL ROGERS</strong>\r\n\r\nHere’s a shout out to South Carolina’s 98 newspapers.\r\n\r\nIt is Sunshine Week, an annual nationwide celebration of access to public information and what it means for you and your community. In these times when the media is increasingly accused of lying, it is appropriate to look at important stories S.C. readers would not likely have gotten recently if it weren’t for newspapers and their reporters:\r\n\r\nA dogged weekly newspaper found that in Atlantic Beach general sessions court, 75 percent of the warrants were dismissed because police routinely didn’t show up for court.\r\n\r\nReporters at a daily newspaper exposed how sheriffs across the state lined their pockets on the public’s dime. The five-month investigation found that in the past decade, no fewer than 11 of South Carolina’s 46 counties have seen their sheriffs accused of breaking laws — nearly one in four.\r\n\r\nA reporter combed through 7,000 pages of legal documents to find that more than 1,000 ethics complaints have been lodged against S.C. judges, including allegations of influence peddling and conflicts of interest. Zero judges were punished publicly as a result.\r\n\r\nTwo Upstate newspapers examined more than 3,200 civil forfeiture cases from across South Carolina. Their reporting showed that police are systematically seizing cash and property — many times from people who aren’t guilty of a crime — netting millions of dollars each year.\r\n\r\nA newspaper used the Freedom of Information Act to prove long-denied allegations that a deputy sheriff had sex with a high school principal in her office and drove her around in his patrol car while on duty. The principal was removed but got a sweetheart deal to go away.\r\n\r\nA county magistrate, who had been suspended from the bench, was given a year’s back pay by a county administrator without approval of county council.\r\n\r\nThere are dozens of additional Sunshine Week reporting examples from the past year.\r\n\r\nAnd the battle goes on. There has been an effort in the S.C. House of Representative to close public access to business license applications. If passed, this would mean the public could not find out if an objectionable business is opening in their neighborhood. Who are they trying to protect and why?\r\n\r\nIn the preface to “A Public Officials Guide to Compliance with South Carolina’s Freedom of Information Act,” Attorney General Alan Wilson recommends that, when in doubt, public bodies should disclose public records, announce meetings correctly and keep meetings open to the public.\r\n\r\nIn reality, public bodies are more likely to listen to their constituents about government transparency.\r\n\r\nSo stand up and be heard when you see a problem.\r\n\r\nNot just for Sunshine Week, but for every week of the year. Government belongs to you.\r\n\r\n<i>Bill Rogers is executive director of the S.C. Press Association, which represents the state’s 15 daily and 83 weekly newspapers. The Press Association has been defending the public’s right to know since 1852.</i>', 'Stand up, be heard – government belongs to you', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'stand-up-be-heard-government-belongs-to-you', '', '', '2020-03-18 10:14:21', '2020-03-18 14:14:21', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43779', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43781, 4, '2020-03-18 10:15:25', '2020-03-18 14:15:25', '<b>Phi Kappa Phi<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>inducts new members</b>\r\n\r\nTwo Beaufort residents recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation\'s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.\r\n\r\nKimberly Islas (29907) and Nicole Bossak (29906), both students at The Citadel, were honored.\r\n\r\nThey are among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership.', 'Education Briefs', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'education-briefs-6', '', '', '2020-03-18 10:15:25', '2020-03-18 14:15:25', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43781', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43783, 4, '2020-03-18 10:16:09', '2020-03-18 14:16:09', 'Herbert Berg, former interim Superintendent for Beaufort County School District, was named S.C. Superintendent of the Year by the South Carolina Athletic Administrators Association during its springtime conference March 11 in Charleston.\r\n\r\nBerg, a longtime educator in South Carolina and past superintendent in Lexington 5 and Kershaw County school districts, served as Interim Superintendent in Beaufort County during 2018-2019 and helped transition to the permanent leader, Frank Rodriguez.\r\n\r\nThe athletic administrators from across the state recognized Berg for the initiative he put in place in Beaufort County with stipends for coaches, as well as adding critical athletics facilities to the successful 2019 school bond referendum package.\r\n\r\n“I am very humbled to receive this award,” Berg said in a release. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Beaufort County School District, and certainly it was a huge thrill to see voters overwhelmingly pass the $345 million referendum last November.\r\n\r\n“Passing that referendum is going to make a difference to the entire community for decades to come, starting with classroom instruction but also including upgrades for student athlete facilities.”\r\n\r\nBerg’s honor was for 3A, 2A and 1A schools. He was nominated by Chad Cox, principal at Battery Creek High School; Carlos Cave, athletic director at Whale Branch Early College High School; and Jon Monmonier, athletic director at Hilton Head Island High School.', 'Former BCSD interim superintendent Berg earns statewide honor', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'former-bcsd-interim-superintendent-berg-earns-statewide-honor', '', '', '2020-03-18 10:16:09', '2020-03-18 14:16:09', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43783', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43785, 4, '2020-03-18 10:17:19', '2020-03-18 14:17:19', '<b>From staff reports</b>\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort Twilight Run, presented by Habersham Properties, has announce this year’s race, scheduled for March 21, has been canceled, according to a Sunday release from organizers.\r\n\r\n“Like many of you, we were holding out hope that the event would have a chance to go on as planned,” the release said. “However, with the escalation of the coronavirus since last week, and especially with confirmed cases in Beaufort County as of (Saturday), we have determined the only clear path forward is to cancel the 12th annual Beaufort Twilight Run scheduled for March 21. We are heartbroken not to host this year’s event, but the safety of our community, school and race participants is our top priority.”\r\n\r\nAccording to the release, race registrants and sponsors were to receive an email with instructions and details regarding refunds, picking up event merchandise, etc., later on Sunday.\r\n\r\n<b>USC Beaufort transitioning to online</b>\r\n\r\nIn response to Governor Henry McMaster\'s State of Emergency declaration Sunday ordering the closure of all public education, USC Beaufort will transition from in-person instruction to online instruction March 23-April 5.\r\n\r\nThis comes after USCB extended Spring Break for one week, March 16-21, following extensive internal discussions and consults with state and local health officials/experts.\r\n\r\nResidence Halls were to close Tuesday, March 17, at 5 p.m. and will remain closed through Sunday, April 5.\r\n\r\n<b>TCL closing, shifting<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>to online classes</b>\r\n\r\nThe Technical College of the Lowcountry is canceling in-person classes through March 31. For currently enrolled students: more information about course delivery will be forthcoming on Monday. TCL will provide additional information related to faculty, staff and employees as information becomes available later Sunday night.\r\n\r\nOver the next few days, TCL will be transitioning to all online course delivery. As the situation evolves, the school will post any pertinent information related to college plans at www.tcl.edu/emergency.\r\n\r\n<b>Historic Beaufort Foundation closes Verdier House, halts Lafayette Soiree<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>ticket sales</b>\r\n\r\nThe Historic Beaufort Foundation announced Sunday in a release the temporarily closure of the John Mark Verdier House Museum to the public and the postponement the sale of tickets for the Lafayette Soiree.\r\n\r\n“Along with cultural organizations across the country, we are closely watching the spread and impact of COVID-19,” the release said. “Employing guidance from our state and local health departments, as well as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), we have provided ongoing updates to our visitors and staff about the best ways to protect themselves and limit the spread of the virus.”\r\n\r\nHBF will re-assess in two weeks. It will also make a decision this week regarding possible postponement of of the group’s annual meeting.', 'Roundup: Beaufort Twilight Run canceled; USC Beaufort, TCL going online', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'roundup-beaufort-twilight-run-canceled-usc-beaufort-tcl-going-online', '', '', '2020-03-18 10:17:19', '2020-03-18 14:17:19', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43785', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43787, 4, '2020-03-18 10:20:01', '2020-03-18 14:20:01', '<b>By MINDY LUCAS</b>\r\n\r\nA cruise line company which specializes in small capacity passenger cruises with stops in Beaufort canceled its cruises to the city for the weekend.\r\n\r\nAmerican Cruise Lines, which has two itineraries that includes Beaufort as a stop, has cancelled cruises that were to take place on Saturday, March 14, said Alexa Paolella, public relations manager for the company.\r\n\r\nWhen contacted earlier on Friday, March 13, Paolella said there were no plans “at the moment” to cancel cruises but contacted The Island News later to say the company had cancelled cruises for the weekend – an indication of just how quickly businesses and organizations are changing planned events and recreational activities in response to the coronavirus outbreak.\r\n\r\nA ship from the cruise line could be seen in Beaufort as recently as Thursday, March 12, despite earlier travel advisories from both the U.S. Department of State and the Centers for Disease Control recommending that travelers, particularly those with underlying health issues, defer all cruise ship travel worldwide.\r\n\r\n“… Because of the unusual nature of the novel coronavirus outbreak, the US government is advising US travelers, particularly those with underlying health issues, to defer cruise ship travel,” the CDC stated. “Recent reports of COVID-19 on cruise ships highlight the risk of infection to cruise ship passengers and crew. Like many other viruses, COVID-19 appears to spread more easily between people in close quarters aboard ships.”\r\n\r\nAsked if Saturday’s cancellations were in response to the outbreak, Paolella stopped short saying that “in general yes,” but that the company had experienced cancellations by passengers which affected their decision. Those passengers were given the option to select another cruise or the same itinerary at a later date, she said.\r\n\r\nOne of the ships will still dock at Waterfront Park on Saturday but with only a minimal crew and will not have any passengers, said Kathleen Williams, communications/ marketing manager for the City of Beaufort.\r\n\r\nWhen asked earlier in the day about cruises to Beaufort, Williams said the city does not have the authority to prevent ships from the cruise line from stopping in Beaufort or disembarking passengers.\r\n\r\n“That authority would come from the State of South Carolina, and/or DHEC,” she said.\r\n\r\nSafe Harbor Marinas, which manages the Beaufort Marina, gave permission for the ship to dock, in coordination with Beaufort City Manager Bill Prokop, she said, so while visitors will still see the ship in port, there will be no passengers onboard.\r\n\r\nUnlike larger cruise lines, which can carry thousands of passengers and visit foreign ports, American Cruise Lines specializes in domestic river and coastal cruises, and operates ships that only have a capacity of 100-200 passengers.\r\n\r\nThe company offers two cruises that feature stops in Beaufort. One, an 8-day trip called the “Historic South and Golden Isles Cruise,” stops in Charleston, Beaufort and Hilton Head before heading on to Georgia and Florida. Another, an 11-day “East Coast Inland Passage Cruise,” includes stops in Beaufort and Hilton Head before departing the state.\r\n\r\nThe company also sent a statement on Friday after being contacted earlier in the day:\r\n\r\n“American Cruise Lines has implemented the Coronavirus Prevention Measures<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and we are actively monitoring the situation.We have adopted all current pre-screening measures and rigorous shipboard sanitation techniques. American will continue to update procedures and take all appropriate steps to ensure the safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit,” the statement read.\r\n\r\nThe next scheduled dates for cruises that include stops in Beaufort are March 22 and March 29, Paolella confirmed. As of Friday, those cruises were “still on” but added that additional changes to cruise schedules could be forthcoming “in light of circumstances.”', 'Cruise line cancels weekend cruises to Beaufort', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'cruise-line-cancels-weekend-cruises-to-beaufort', '', '', '2020-03-18 10:20:01', '2020-03-18 14:20:01', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43787', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43790, 4, '2020-03-18 10:21:00', '2020-03-18 14:21:00', '<b>By MINDY LUCAS</b>\r\n\r\nFor families, students, or those working from home during the coronavirus outbreak, a regional telecommunications company has stepped in to make things a little easier.\r\n\r\nHargray will begin offering free Internet service for 60 days to households with K-12 or college students in its service area who do not already have a Hargray Internet subscription, according to a release issued by the company on Monday, March 16.\r\n\r\nTo learn more about the program and to enroll, visit www.hargray.com/freeinternet.\r\n\r\nIn addition, Hargray is offering discounted Internet speed upgrades to existing customers who may need additional bandwidth to accommodate higher Internet usage in their homes during this time. Hargray will also offer discounted packages to new customers without K-12 or college students.\r\n\r\nTo learn more about these offers, call 877-427-4729.\r\n\r\nThe company has also taken the “Keep Americans Connected” pledge launched by the Federal Communications Commission. As part of the pledge, the company will waive late fees and not terminate service to residential or small business customers that are unable to pay their bills due to economic circumstances related to coronavirus.', 'Hargray launches free Internet service for students, discounted services for customers', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'hargray-launches-free-internet-service-for-students-discounted-services-for-customers', '', '', '2020-03-18 10:21:00', '2020-03-18 14:21:00', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43790', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43792, 4, '2020-03-18 10:22:02', '2020-03-18 14:22:02', 'Beaufort River Swim+5K Run will be Saturday, June 6, in downtown Beaufort.\r\n\r\nNew this year is the addition of a 5K Run which will follow the 3.2-mile competitive open-water race and the 1-mile Fun Swim. The 5K Run, presented by Beaufort Memorial Hospital, means there will be multiple options for participants: Swim, swim and run, run, or team up for a relay.\r\n\r\nThe 5K Run route starts on Bay Street, traverses the Woods Memorial Bridge, turns into Meridian Rd, turns around and returns along the same route back to Bay Street.\r\n\r\nCompetitive swimmers, triathletes, high school, college and recreational fitness swimmers and runners will have a chance to challenge themselves beyond the pool.\r\n\r\nThe BRS+5K Run benefits the YMCA Learn to Swim Program, which allows the Y to teach water safety and swimming lessons to children and adults in need in our community for little to no cost.\r\n\r\nRegistration for all BRs+5K events is completed online.\r\n\r\nVisit beaufortriverswim.com. For more information including sponsorship opportunities contact Event Director Denice Fanning at d.fanning@wardlefamilyymca,org or 843-521-1904.', 'Beaufort River Swim+5K run set', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-river-swim5k-run-set', '', '', '2020-03-18 10:22:02', '2020-03-18 14:22:02', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43792', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43794, 4, '2020-03-18 10:26:48', '2020-03-18 14:26:48', '<strong>Photo by BOB SOFALY</strong>\r\n\r\nCAPA of Beaufort raised about $200,000 during its annual Dancing With Our Stars benefit held Saturday.\r\n\r\nThis year’s winners included Douglas Massalon and Megan Howe — People’s Choice; Ginger Wareham and Ashtin Bellamy — Best Costume; Kimani Brown-Carpenter and Mona Lise Dickson — Judges’ Choice; and Sonya Reiselt and Michael Ulloa — Alumni Choice\r\n\r\n<em>Above: Korey Bromery, left, and Erin Hancock got a little funky during Saturday night’s Dancing With Our Stars. The team performed a very physically challenging routine as can be seen in this photo.</em>', 'Dancing With Our Stars for CAPA of Beaufort', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'dancing-with-our-stars-for-capa-of-beaufort', '', '', '2020-03-18 10:26:48', '2020-03-18 14:26:48', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43794', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43868, 4, '2020-03-26 07:55:07', '2020-03-26 11:55:07', '<b>Staff reports\r\nPhoto by Bob Sofaly</b>\r\n\r\nFollowing an initial week that saw more than 17,000 free student meals distributed county-wide, the Beaufort County School District on Monday, March 23, consolidated breakfast and lunch pick-ups during the coronavirus-related school shut-down.\r\n\r\nNow, any child younger than 18 can get two free meals – a breakfast and a lunch – each weekday using a single trip. The free meals can be picked up from 9 a.m. until noon at 12 sites scattered through Beaufort County as well as through a network of 20-minute school bus stops.\r\n\r\nThe revised schedule of bus stops has been posted on the school district’s website (beaufortschools.net) and social media platforms. Parents and students were to be informed about the changes over the weekend through phone calls and e-mails.\r\n\r\n“This new procedure will make meal pick-ups safer and more convenient,” Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said in a news release. “Parents and students will have to make only one trip per day instead of two, and they also will shorten the amount of time they’re exposed to possible illness.”\r\n\r\nWorking with Sodexo, its food service contractor, the school district began distributing free meals last Monday, the first day of statewide school closures ordered by Gov. Henry McMaster because of health concerns related to COVID-19. All schools are currently closed through March 31.\r\n\r\nDuring the shutdown, any child age 18 or younger can receive free breakfasts and lunches regardless of meal status during the school year.\r\n\r\nMeals are prepared and transported to 12 sites across the county: Battery Creek High, Beaufort High, Beaufort Middle, Bluffton High, Hilton Head Island High, James J. Davis Early Childhood Center, Okatie Elementary, Red Cedar Elementary, St. Helena Elementary, Whale Branch Early College High, Whale Branch Middle School and the Port Royal YMCA.\r\n\r\nDrive-through meal pick-ups will now be available in the bus rider drop-offs at each location each weekday from 9 a.m. until noon. Students must be present at the time of pick up, and all food will be “grab-and-go,” with no food consumed on site.\r\n\r\nMeal pick-up procedures also are being improved to enhance safety. When picking up meals at one of the 12 distribution sites, parents will be asked how many children are in the car. They will then pull their vehicle forward to a space when they can exit their vehicles and pick up the correct number of meals from a table.\r\n\r\nThe revised procedures are designed to maintain safe physical distances between parents, students, food service workers and bus drivers.\r\n\r\nBreakfast items vary and may include cereal with milk, fruit, Fruit Frudels, whole grain Pop Tarts, cereal bars, milk and juice. Lunches are sandwiches, fruit, fresh vegetables and milk.\r\n<h2>School Meal<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>Pick-up Spots</h2>\r\nFree meals can be picked up from 9 a.m. until noon at 12 sites scattered through Beaufort County as well as through a network of 20-minute school bus stops.\r\n\r\n<b>Drive-through pickups</b>\r\n\r\nBattery Creek High School\r\n\r\nBeaufort High School\r\n\r\nBeaufort Middle School\r\n\r\nBluffton High School\r\n\r\nHilton Head Island High School\r\n\r\nJames J. Davis Early Childhood Center\r\n\r\nOkatie Elementary School\r\n\r\nRed Cedar Elementary School\r\n\r\nSt. Helena Elementary School\r\n\r\nWhale Branch Early College High School\r\n\r\nWhale Branch Middle School\r\n\r\nPort Royal YMCA\r\n\r\n<b>Bus-stop pickups</b>\r\n\r\nThe revised schedule of bus stops has been posted on the school district’s website (beaufortschools.net).\r\n\r\n<i>Above: Students in Beaufort County Schools who regularly get school breakfast and lunch aren’t having to go without while schools are closed during the coronavirus pandemic. Michelle Ferguson, left, and Jashareon Wells of Sodexo, pack up school lunches consisting of one sandwich, a fruit, pre-packaged vegetables and a carton of milk. Ferguson said they started out by giving out a few more than 200 lunches on Monday. She said by Friday, March 20, they were up to 800 free lunches.&nbsp;</i>', 'Beaufort County School District revises free student meal distribution', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-county-school-district-revises-free-student-meal-distribution', '', '', '2020-03-26 07:55:07', '2020-03-26 11:55:07', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43868', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(43801, 4, '2020-03-18 10:30:08', '2020-03-18 14:30:08', '<strong>Photo by BOB SOFALY</strong>\r\n\r\nDiane Ashdon, left, of Sassi Faces paints Spider Man’s web on Gavin Killebrew, 6. Face painting was just of many fun events at the 3rd annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival. The annual event is to benefit the Beaufort County Animal Services. Photos by Bob Sofaly.', 'GETTING THEIR GREEN ON', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'getting-their-green-on', '', '', '2020-03-18 10:30:08', '2020-03-18 14:30:08', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=43801', 0, 'post', '', 0);
