[caption id="attachment_30800" align="aligncenter" width="640"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/palms.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-30800"><img class="size-full wp-image-30800" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/palms.jpg" alt="Larry Sanders, Pastor Pete Bernston, Rev. Thomas Pearson, Shellie West, Eric Lowman, Jack Hills, Jillian Eighmy, Sharon Boulware, Bill Grainer, Mike Porter, Marcia Harrison, Ed Hazlett, Spike Kammaner, Barbara Lesnick and Frank Roland attended the Church of the Palms ground breaking ceremony." width="640" height="424" /></a> Larry Sanders, Pastor Pete Bernston, Rev. Thomas Pearson, Shellie West, Eric Lowman, Jack Hills, Jillian Eighmy, Sharon Boulware, Bill Grainer, Mike Porter, Marcia Harrison, Ed Hazlett, Spike Kammaner, Barbara Lesnick and Frank Roland attended the Church of the Palms ground breaking ceremony.[/caption]

<b>Church of the Palms holds </b><b>ground breaking ceremony</b>

A ground breaking ceremony was held recently at the Church of the Palms new Christian Life Center.

The new Christian Life Center is the cornerstone element of the church’s Vision 2020 strategy, which calls for increased connection with the community, enabled by more space.

The new Christian Life Center will include additional Sunday school/small group meeting rooms, a music suite, a fellowship hall, a full kitchen and restrooms with showers.

Clayton Construction Company Inc. of Spartanburg is the general contractor, with BB&amp;T providing construction funding.

<b>Coastal Carolina CEO </b><b>to be guest at networking</b>

The Greater Bluffton Chamber will hold a coffee networking from 8:30-10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, at Coastal Carolina Hospital.

Joel C. Taylor, the new chief executive officer of Coastal Carolina Hospital, will be the special guest.

As CEO, Taylor oversees strategic, operational and clinical activities for the 41-bed hospital in Hardeeville. Coastal Carolina Hospital is located at 1000 Medical Center Drive.

This event is free and open to the public.

<b>Beaufort chamber to accept applications</b>

Are you interested in being more involved with the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce in the new year?

If so, an informational meeting for anyone interested in serving as an ambassador in 2017 will be held from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, at the chamber offices at 701 Craven St. in Beaufort.

Chamber representatives will discuss the application process and requirements to serve. Coffee and breakfast will be provided by Bojangles'.

In order to apply, attendance at this meeting is mandatory and applications will be due by Friday, Jan. 27. Twelve Ambassadors will be chosen.

Visit www.beaufortchamber.org.

<b>Save the date for </b><b>State of the Bases </b>

The Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce is encouraging people to save the date of Wednesday, Feb. 1, for the State of the Bases breakfast meeting. Attendees will hear updates from the military leaders of the three local military installations.

Additionally, the Military Enhancement Committee will honor one military family per quarter who exemplifies going "beyond the call of duty," serving as leaders and role models in their community and dedicating themselves to their families and the military lifestyle.

The selected family will be announced at the State of the Bases meeting.