By Jim Hicks
Local Business Expands. Mr. Jeff Scott, owner of the Escape Massage Center franchise which has a site across from New Point on Sams Point Road, announced during a recent visit that the response to their Lady’s Island Center has been superb and as a result he is opening a second location in Bluffton.

Church Construction Initiated. Some may have noticed the site preparation under way on the property located on Holly Hall Road just after exiting Sams Point Road. After many years of planning, the Grace Chapel AME Church is starting efforts which will result in a new church home for their congregation. Due to an error in communication, the company hired to prepare the site for construction clear cut the vegetation from the site resulting in a “stop work” order being issued. But a few days later a remediation plan was agreed upon and work has resumed.

Lady’s Island Park Construction. Progress on the Lady’s Island Park on Springfield Road continues with the construction of bathrooms.  The two ball fields now have their backstops and two multipurpose fields are near completion.  The next step is the installation of equipment for the children’s playground.  As to a projected completion date for the park, plan on the first part of 2012.

Is it time for a decision as to the future of Lady’s Island Airport?  Recently there has been discussion regarding the Hilton Head Airport.  The master plan for the Lady’s Island Airport is completed and once again the question of lengthening the runway will have to be addressed.  If the decision is to not lengthen it to accommodate additional types of aircraft fewer modern planes will be able to utilize the airport. With it harder to get to northern Beaufort County by private or business aircraft and the closest airport with a runway of sufficient length being at Walterboro, this will have a negative economic impact on Beaufort.  On the other hand, to lengthen the Lady’s Island Airport runway is very expensive and environmentally challenging.  There are no easy answers but the question does need to be addressed.