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<p><strong>Hunting Island State Park Nature Center February naturalist programs</strong></p>
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<p>All programs are free with park admission. Call 843-838-7437 for information or reservations.</p>
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<p><strong>Tuesday: Creature Feature </strong>– 10:30-11 a.m., Nature Center. Discover some of the wildlife found around Hunting Island as represented by the animal ambassadors. (all ages); <strong>Traces of Wild Ruffians </strong>– 12:30-1:30 p.m., Nature Center. Find ut what mammals are rummaging through Hunting Island and learn how to identify mammal tracks. (ages 7 to 12); <strong>Beach Walk </strong>– 3-4 p.m., Lighthouse. Walk along the beach with a naturalist to learn more about the treasures from the ocean. (all ages) (not held on Feb. 8).</p>
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<p><strong>Wednesday: Creature Feature </strong>– 10:30-11 a.m.; <strong>Turtle Talk </strong>– 12:30-1 p.m., Nature Center. Learn about the variety of turtles on Hunting Island. (all ages); <strong>Walk With a Naturalist </strong>– 2:30-3:15 p.m., Nature Center. Enjoy a 0.7-mile scenic walk that ends at Little Hunting Island, which you can explore on your own. Wear walking shoes, comfortable clothes, and bring sunscreen, bug spray and water. (limited to 15 walkers) Call by noon the previous day for reservations.</p>
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<p><strong>Thursday: Creature Feature </strong>– 10:30-11 a.m.; <strong>Gator Gab </strong>– 12:30-1 p.m., Nature Center. Congregate around our modern-day dinosaurs and watch our vicious hunters eat a delicious meal. (all ages); <strong>What a Wharf </strong>– 2:30-3 p.m., Nature Center. Walk down the pier and learn how Hunting Island and its ecosystems came to be. (all ages).</p>
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<p><strong>Friday: Creature Feature </strong>– 10:30-11 a.m.; <strong>Serpent Exploration </strong>– 12:30-1 p.m., Nature Center. Get a chance to fight your fears and touch a snake or two. (all ages); <strong>Beach Walk </strong>– 3-4 p.m., Lighthouse.&nbsp;</p>
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<p><strong>Saturday: Creature Feature </strong>– 10:30-11 a.m.; <strong>Sea Turtle Discovery </strong>– 2-3:15 p.m., Nature Center. Four species of sea turtles are found on the S.C. coast, and one is the state reptile. (all ages); <strong>Walk With a Naturalist </strong>– 2:30-3:15 p.m., Nature Center.</p>
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<p><strong>Beaufort County Library Ongoing Programs</strong></p>
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<p>These are the ongoing programs available at the Beaufort Branch Library Downtown: 2:30 p.m., 1st Tuesday each month, Knitting/Crochet Class; all day during business hours, 1st Thursday each month,</p>
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<p>Chess Club; 2:30 p.m., last Tuesday each month, Book to Movie Club (Feb. 22 movie is Hidden Figures); daily during library hours, Escape Quest Games.</p>
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<p><strong>The Historic Port Royal Museum</strong></p>
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<p>10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or upon request, Thursdays through Sundays, 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. Great gifts featuring local artists are available. For more information. visit www.portroyalhistory.org, email unionchurch1004@gmail.com or call 843-524-4333.</p>
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<p><strong>Tour Historic Fort Fremont</strong></p>
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<p>10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Fort Fremont History Center, Fort Fremont Preserve, 1124 Land’s End Road, St. Helena Island. Docent-led tours are at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. every Saturday. Travel back in time to the 1800s and the Spanish American War. Visitors to Fort Fremont can learn about the fort’s history by reading interpretive panels, taking a self-guided tour with a smart phone, visiting the history center exhibit hall, or attending a docent-led tour of the property. The Preserve is open to the public Monday through Sunday from dawn to dusk. For more information, visit www.fortfremont.org or contact Passive Parks manager Stephanie Nagid at snagid@bcgov.net.</p>
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<p><strong>Port Royal Farmers Market</strong></p>
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<p>9 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, year round, 1615 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Rain or shine. For more information, visit http://www.portroyalfarmersmarket.com/, visit @portroyalfarmersmarket on Facebook or call 843-295-0058.</p>
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<p><strong>“Pull Yourself Up” Group Exercise Class for women</strong></p>
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<p>9:30 a.m., select Saturdays, Wardle Family YMCA, 1801 Richmond Ave., Port Royal. This multi-generational women’s group training is a 5-week program taught by Kelly Blackston. It is designed for females who wish to be stronger especially using back muscle shoulders and arms plus build camaraderie and make new friends. Free for ages 13-19; $10 per class for YMCA members; $20 per class for adult non-member. Questions should be directed to Denice Davis, YMCA Healthy Living Program Director at 843-521-1904 or beaufort-jasperymca.org.</p>
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<p><strong>Artists That Teach instructor show</strong></p>
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<p>Through Feb. 25, Art League Academy, 106 Cordillo Parkway, Hilton Head Island. Art League Academy is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday to Friday. There will also be an artists reception from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 19 that is free and open to the public. Art League of Hilton Head is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit visual arts organization on Hilton Head Island with a synergistic art gallery and teaching Academy. For more information, call 843-842-5738.</p>
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<p><strong>Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club’s</strong> <strong>February meeting</strong></p>
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<p>7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 10, Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club, Lady’s Island, Meridian Road. Social begins at 6:30 p.m. Captain Kevin Mears of Cast Away Fishing Charters will discuss Sheepshead. He will present rod and reels, various rigs and sure techniques for hooking. This will also include the proper use of mussels and frozen blue crab when fiddlers are not available. Erin Levesque, Manager of the Waddell Mariculture Center located at 211 Sawmill Creek Road in Bluffton, has extended an invitation to current members of BSDC to tour the newly remodeled facility on Thursday, Feb. 17 beginning at 10 a.m. Remember to weigh in your favorite catch at the Port Royal Landing Marina – Safe Harbor – during regular hours. Congratulations to Patrice Tolmage for winning the monthly $50.00 drawing for December 2021. Winners must be present at the next month’s meeting to receive the cash award. Guests are welcome. Reservations are not needed. For additional information, please contact Captain Frank Gibson at 843-522-2122 or fgibson@islc.net.</p>
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<p><strong>Friends of Port Royal Cypress Wetlands guided tours</strong></p>
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<p>9 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 12; Friday, Feb. 25. The Friends of Port Royal Cypress Wetlands (501c3) offers free tours with Master Naturalist Jill Moore as guide. Learn about the different types of wildlife, birds, and plants that inhabit this special place To sign up for a tour please email Kat Bray at info@foprcw.org. For more information, visit www.foprcw.org, follow us on Facebook at FriendsofPRCypressWetlands, or on Instagram at friendsofprcypresswetlands.</p>
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<p><strong>Hopeful Horizons’ 10th annual Race4Love</strong></p>
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<p>9 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 12, Cat Island. Race4Love is a family-friendly 5K run/3K walk that traverses streets of three Cat Island neighborhoods. Pre-registration is encouraged at race4love.com and virtual options are available. Race4Love benefits survivors of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault in Beaufort County and the surrounding counties. Funds raised help Hopeful Horizons in its mission to end abuse and change lives. Organizers encourage masks and physical distancing when participants are not walking or running the race. For more information, visit www.race4love.com. For more information on Hopeful Horizons, visit www.hopefulhorizons.org.</p>
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<p><strong>Souper Bowl of Caring</strong></p>
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<p>1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 12, Coligny Plaza, in the area between FISH Casual Coastal Seafood and Skillets, Hilton Head Island. Join the community and Coligny Merchants as they host a fundraiser to benefit Second Helpings – a local charity that “rescues” food from local grocery stores and delivers it to food pantries in our area for those in need. Local Coligny restaurants will be serving up their favorite soups for participants to taste and enjoy. Cost is $25. All proceeds go to support Second Helpings. Tickets can be purchased at the event, or advanced tickets can be purchased at https://bit.ly/3qX3BCF. Live music by "Something from Nothing." Hosted by Jesse Blanco from WTOC’s “Eat It and Like It.”</p>
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<p><strong>Beaufort County Library Special Programs</strong></p>
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<p>These are the special programs available at the Beaufort Branch Library Downtown: 2:30 p.m., Feb. 15, Mardi Gras Party; 2:30 p.m., March 17, Gardening Class; 4:30 p.m., April 6, Pat Conroy’s Love of Libraries; 2:30 p.m., April 12, Poetry Slam; 4:30 p.m., April 26, Pat Conroy’s Love of Poetry; 2:30 p.m., May 4, May the 4th Be With You Star Wars Celebration; 2:30 p.m., June 14, Hurricane Preparedness; 2:30 p.m., July 12, Comic Con; 2:30 p.m., Aug. 16, Local Art Display; 2:30 p.m., Sept. 13, Civic Awareness; 2:30 p.m., Oct. 20, Friends of the Library Celebration; 2:30 p.m., Nov. 15, Beekeeping; 2:30 p.m., Dec. 13, Gingerbread House Contest.</p>
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<p><strong>Sea Island Quilt Guild</strong></p>
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<p>6:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 17, Carteret Street United Methodist Church, 408 Carteret Street, Beaufort.</p>
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<p>Sea Island Quilt Guild will be meeting “In Person.” Group will also meet by Zoom for those who are not able to make it to the meeting. February is challenge month. Everyone who is entering the “Happy Quilt” challenge will be bringing their quilts to show and hope to win a prize.</p>
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<p><strong>CPR training</strong></p>
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<p>8 a.m to noon, Saturday, Feb. 19, March 26, April 9, Wardle Family YMCA, 1801 Richmond Ave., Port Royal. Cost is $35 for YMCA certified course. Those interested need to register at the Y as space is limited and filled on a first come, first serve basis. Questions? Contact Contact Frank Hamilton at 843-525-0233 or ghh60fwh@comcast.net.. To register visit the Y front desk or online at beaufort-jasperymca.org and click ‘Register for a Program’ at the top of the page.</p>
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<p><strong>Pray-Sing-Shout: The History of the Prayer/Prays House in the Gullah Geechee Community</strong></p>
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<p>11 a.m. &amp; 6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 22, The Learning Center, 913 West Street, Beaufort. Free and open to the public. Two presentations. Presented by the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. Researcher and cultural preservationist Victoria A. Smalls will discuss the significance of Prayer Houses in building Gullah Geechee communities. The presentation will include images of Prayer Houses still existing in Beaufort County and images of artwork by local and regional artists depicting these Houses of Worship. For more information, email info@gullahgeecheecorridor.org.</p>
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<p><strong>Fripp Audubon Club’s Ten Eyck Lecture Series</strong></p>
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<p>7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 24, Fripp Island Community Center, 205 Tarpon Blvd. In his presentation “The Berry Conundrum: Birds and Their Berries,” retired Massachusetts Audubon Society naturalist Bob Speare will describe how landscaping with native versus non-native plants affects songbirds. What happens when an introduced species produces a greater number of flowers, fruits, and seeds – could this potentially be a greater food supply for birds? What about the nutritional value of food produced by native vs. non-native plants? He’ll address these questions and discuss how we can all make a positive impact on the birds in our yards and local areas. There will be no Meet &amp; Greet. The program will begin at 7 in the Chapel with Club announcements followed by Bob's program. Masks are required in the Chapel. Off island visitors are welcome – receive pass at gate. Visit us at www.islc.net/audubon/ or contact us at frippaudubonclub@gmail.com.</p>
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<p><strong>Beaufort Republican Women’s Club Membership Drive Luncheon</strong></p>
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<p>11:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 26, Carolina Room, Dataw Island Club, 123 Dataw Dr., St. Helena Island. Jessica M. Vaughan, Director of Policy Studies for the Center for Immigration Studies, will be the featured speaker. Vaughan has testified before Congress many times and has appeared on NPR, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and PBS’s News Hour. The cost of the buffet luncheon is $35 and is by reservation only. To reserve a seat, please mail a check to BRWC, P.O. Box 1835, Beaufort, S.C. 29901 by February 16. For further information, call Diane Roney at 843-838-4972.</p>
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<p><strong>Full 30-hour lifeguard training</strong></p>
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<p>March 4-7 &amp; 13; April 22-25 &amp; May 1; May 13-16 &amp; 22, location TBD. Cost is $170. Schedule: Thursday 4 p.m. – swim test; Friday 4-9 p.m.; Saturday 8-5 p.m.; Sunday 1-5 p.m. Those interested need to register at the Y as space is limited and filled on a first come, first serve basis. Questions? Contact Contact Frank Hamilton at 843-525-0233 or ghh60fwh@comcast.net.. To register visit the Y front desk or online at beaufort-jasperymca.org and click ‘Register for a Program’ at the top of the page. See Frank Hamilton for lifeguard recertification dates and times.</p>
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<p><strong>FUN WOMEN 5K Race</strong></p>
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<p>8 a.m., Saturday, March 5, Newcastle and Bay Street, Downtown Beaufort. The certified 5K course will run through downtown and across the scenic Woods Bridge. This race is part of USC Beaufort’s Center For The Arts’ Women’s Wellness Retreat (March 18 and 19, 2022). Our mission is to elevate, empower, enlighten and enrich all women. Topics include financial, spiritual, physical and mental wellness. Register at https://bit.ly/3qjg1V9.</p>
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<p><strong>Sea Island Rotary Club Community Service blood drive</strong></p>
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<p>9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Tuesday, March 8, Big Red Bloodmobile, Hilton Garden Inn, Beaufort. Future donation dates will be Tuesday, June 14; Tuesday, Aug. 23; and Tuesday, Nov. 15. OneBlood is testing all blood donations for the COVID-19 antibody. The antibody test is authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and will indicate if the your immune system has produced antibodies to the virus, regardless of whether you ever showed symptoms. You will be able to see their results approximately two to five days after donating by logging into OneBlood’s donor portal at www.oneblood.org. If you test positive for the antibody, you will be eligible to become COVID-19 convalescent plasma donor. All donors will receive a OneBlood gift and a $10 eGift card. Plus, a wellness checkup including blood pressure, temperature, iron count, pulse and cholesterol screening. OneBlood takes extra precautions to ensure that the donation process is safe from the COVID-19 virus including extra cleanings, wearing masks, etc. All time slots are currently available. Contact District Governor-elect Bob Gross, at bob@beaufortgroup.com or call 843-321-0196 and indicate the time slot that best suits you.</p>
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<p><strong>The Pickled Eagle pickleball tournament</strong></p>
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<p>8 a.m., Saturday, March 12, Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club. On-site registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Cost is $40, $5 for each additional division, three divisions total. Double elimination. Skill division 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0. Men’s doubles, women’s doubles, mixed doubles. Singles, two divisions. Age divisions – skill divisions but limited to 50+, 60+, 70+. Proceeds benefit Beaufort High School Tennis. To register online, go to pickleballtournaments.com and search for pickledeagle. Register online and get a free T-shirt.</p>
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