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(45857, 4, '2020-09-09 14:13:46', '2020-09-09 18:13:46', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nSouth Carolina Farm Bureau hosted a roundtable with United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers, South Carolina Farm Bureau President Harry Ott and Farm Bureau members.\r\n\r\nThe roundtable, held September 2 in Hampton County, gave Farm Bureau members the opportunity to discuss various agricultural topics and hear more about United States Department of Agriculture’s programs.\r\n\r\n“We are very fortunate to have someone in Washington like Secretary Perdue,” said SCFB President Harry Ott. “He understands a farmer’s perspective and more importantly he wants to listen to know more about what’s happening daily on our farms and in our rural communities.”\r\n\r\nThe panel discussed important agricultural issues including access to labor, feral hogs, rural broadband and relief programs. The Secretary was also able to hear from specialty crop farmers, like mariculturists, on ways the USDA could help support them.\r\n\r\n“It was great to have an opportunity to meet with the United States Secretary of Agriculture yesterday,” said Chris Stevens, chair of the SCFB Young Farmers and Ranchers committee. “Everyone in attendance could tell that he and the USDA have the interest of our South Carolina farmers in mind.”\r\n\r\nParticipants were: Anthony Gray (Hampton), Walter Mack (Beaufort), Jeff Massey (Charleston), Robert Mixon (Hampton), Brad O’Neal (Allendale), Joe Oswald (Allendale), Don Sharp (Allendale), Rachael Sharp (Allendale), Chris Stevens (Horry-Loris), Wesley Ulmer (Colleton), Landy Weathers (Orangeburg) and Gary Youmans (Hampton).\r\n\r\nSouth Carolina Farm Bureau is a grassroots, non-profit organization that celebrates and supports family farmers, locally grown food and our rural lands through legislative advocacy, education and community outreach. The organization, founded in 1944, serves more than 100,000 member families in 47 chapters. For more information, please visit www.scfb.org.', 'SC Farm Bureau hosts Ag Secretary Purdue for roundtable', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'sc-farm-bureau-hosts-ag-secretary-purdue-for-roundtable', '', '', '2020-09-09 14:13:46', '2020-09-09 18:13:46', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45857', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45860, 4, '2020-09-09 14:14:41', '2020-09-09 18:14:41', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nLowcountry Kappa Delta Alumnae Chapter members have worked together on three community-service projects during the COVID-19 pandemic, even though they could not hold face-to-face meetings.\r\n\r\nDonations from the local Kappa Deltas benefited CAPA (Child Abuse Prevention Association of Beaufort) and Bluffton Self Help.\r\n\r\nTeens living in CAPA’s shelter needed school supplies, as fall classes got under way. So Lowcountry Kappa Deltas contributed nearly $300 in backpacks, paper, pens, notebooks, and other school supplies.\r\n\r\nOver the summer, Kappa Deltas “cleaned their closets for CAPA.” More than a dozen large bags of clothing, books, toys and other gently-used household items were delivered to CAPA’s Closet Thrift Store in Beaufort. The donations filled an SUV from top to bottom.\r\n\r\nLowcountry Kappa Deltas also contributed to the “End Period Poverty” project, sponsored by Bluffton Self Help. Kappa Deltas donated nearly $200 in feminine hygiene supplies such as sanitary napkins, tampons, and disposal underwear for local girls and women who cannot afford those items.\r\n\r\nLowcountry Kappa Deltas Alumnae Chapter is a diverse group of community-minded women, who live in Hilton Head, Bluffton, Okatie, Ridgeland and Beaufort. The Lowcountry Chapter is one of 224 active Kappa Delta alumnae chapters across the country.\r\n\r\nThe local Alumnae Chapter has been recognized for community service and programs by Kappa Delta, a national organization for collegiate and alumnae women. For more information, email kdjeanette@aol.com or visit lowcountry.kappadelta.org or Facebook at Low Country, SC Kappa Delta Alumnae Chapter.', 'Lowcountry Kappa Deltas help local charities during pandemic', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'lowcountry-kappa-deltas-help-local-charities-during-pandemic', '', '', '2020-09-09 14:14:41', '2020-09-09 18:14:41', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45860', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45862, 4, '2020-09-09 14:15:57', '2020-09-09 18:15:57', '<strong>Beaufort County seeking input on Whitehall Park</strong>\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort County Passive Parks Manager, in partnership with the City of Beaufort, the Beaufort County Open Land Trust and the Friends of Whitehall Park, are working together to develop a master plan for Whitehall Park.\r\n\r\nVisit https://bit.ly/2Gyhtys to fill out a brief survey about conceptual passive recreation opportunities for Whitehall Park. The online survey will be available until September 20. The County will use this feedback to finalize the master plan for the park.\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact the Beaufort County Passive Parks Manager at 843-255-2152.\r\n\r\n<strong>Coastline features new County leaders</strong>\r\n\r\nA new episode of The County Channel’s series Coastline features two new members of County Administrator Ashley Jacobs’ leadership team.\r\n\r\nCoastline host Scott Grooms welcomes Interim Deputy County Administrator Robert Bechtold, and Assistant County Administrator Jared Fralix to The County Channel Studio.\r\n\r\nMr. Bechtold, who recently retired from the United States Marine Corps, joined the County as an International County Management Association fellow this summer before taking on the role of interim Deputy County Administrator. Mr. Fralix began with the County as interim Director of Traffic Engineering.\r\n\r\nCoastline airs on The County Channel at 9:30 a.m. Sundays, 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays and at 9 a.m. 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 www.beaufortcountysc.gov.\r\n\r\n<strong>US Chamber endorses Cunningham</strong>\r\n\r\nThe U.S. Chamber of Congress on Wednesday, Sept. 2, endorsed Rep. Joe Cunningham for re-election to Congress. Cunningham previously received the Chamber’s Jefferson-Hamilton award for his commitment to bipartisan solutions and the Spirit of Enterprise Award for his support of pro-growth economic policies. The Chamber ranked Cunningham the fourth most bipartisan member of Congress. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business organization representing companies of all sizes across every sector of the economy.\r\n\r\n<strong>County spraying for mosquitoes</strong>\r\n\r\nBeaufort County Mosquito Control may conduct aerial and/or ground treatments through Friday, Sept. 11. Mosquito Control applies EPA-registered public health insecticide during ideal weather using low-flying aircraft throughout daylight hours and spray trucks from about 11 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.\r\n\r\nFor additional information, please contact Mosquito Control at (843) 255-5800.\r\n\r\n<strong>County fee presentations online</strong>\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort County Natural Resources Committee recently hosted a work session to review draft studies to discuss impact fees. The meeting was broadcast on The County Channel and can be viewed at https://bit.ly/336uBCG.\r\n\r\nThe public was invited to submit comments before the meeting and feedback was incorporated into the work session presentations hosted by Committee Chairwoman Alice Howard and Colin McAweeney of TischlerBise.\r\n\r\nTo see the Beaufort County Impact Fee Results presentation, visit https://bit.ly/3h9sOBF.\r\n\r\nTo see the Beaufort County School District Impact Fee presentation, visit https://bit.ly/2R4Jobo.', 'NEWS BRIEFS', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'news-briefs-163', '', '', '2020-09-09 14:15:57', '2020-09-09 18:15:57', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45862', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45864, 4, '2020-09-09 14:16:58', '2020-09-09 18:16:58', 'Sept. 10 – Rural and Critical Lands Preservation Board, 2:30 p.m., watch on the County Channel or county’s Facebook page\r\n\r\nSept. 10 – City of Beaufort Design Review Board Meeting, 2-5 p.m., watch via Zoom or on the city’s Facebook page\r\n\r\nSept. 14 – Beaufort County Council Caucus, 5 p.m., Beaufort County Council Regular Meeting, 6 p.m., watch on the County Channel or county’s Facebook page\r\n\r\nSept. 15 – Bluffton Township Fire District, 4 p.m., watch on the district’s Facebook page\r\n\r\nSept. 16 – Daufuskie Island Fire District, 1 p.m., check for meeting information on www.beaufortcountysc.gov\r\n\r\nSept. 16 – Beaufort County Transportation Committee, 4 p.m., check for meeting information on www.beaufortcountysc.gov\r\n\r\nSept. 16 – Alcohol and Drug Abuse Board, 4-5:30 p.m., check for meeting information on www.beaufortcountysc.gov\r\n\r\n*Meetings are updated as of press time and do not reflect any last minute cancellations.', 'PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR SEPT. 10–16', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'public-meetings-for-sept-10-16', '', '', '2020-09-09 14:16:58', '2020-09-09 18:16:58', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45864', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45866, 4, '2020-09-09 14:17:57', '2020-09-09 18:17:57', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nThe South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) on Wednesday, Sept. 2, directed Beaufort-Jasper Water &amp; Sewer Authority (BJWSA) to remove swimming advisory signs on the Beaufort River.\r\n\r\nThe precautionary signs were erected August 27 after wastewater was released from a Parris Island pump station into the Beaufort River. The overflow occurred due to power failure.\r\n\r\nBJWSA has a well-trained and experienced field operations crew to monitor our wastewater collection system. These crews maintain the sewer lines to ensure the safe daily delivery of an average of 9 million gallons of wastewater to eight area wastewater treatment facilities for treatment and disposal.\r\n\r\nIf you see or suspect any type of spill from the sewer collection system, please contact BJWSA at 987-9200.', 'DHEC directs BJWSA to remove signs on Beaufort River', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'dhec-directs-bjwsa-to-remove-signs-on-beaufort-river', '', '', '2020-09-09 14:17:57', '2020-09-09 18:17:57', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45866', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45868, 4, '2020-09-09 14:19:03', '2020-09-09 18:19:03', '<em>Haley Back snapped this photo of the sunset at Habersham. To submit a Lowcountry Life photo, you must be the photographer or have permission to submit the photo to be published in The Island News. Please submit high-resolution photos and include a description and/or names of the people in the picture and the name of the photographer. Email your photos to theislandnews@gmail.com.</em>', 'Lowcountry Life', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'lowcountry-life-129', '', '', '2020-09-09 14:19:03', '2020-09-09 18:19:03', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45868', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45870, 4, '2020-09-09 14:21:02', '2020-09-09 18:21:02', '<strong>By Mike McCombs</strong>\r\n\r\nIn an effort to make sure Beaufort County voters have the most detailed information possible about upcoming local and state elections, The League of Women Voters of Hilton Head Island and the Bluffton Area and the Beaufort League have joined together to host virtual candidate forums via Zoom.\r\n\r\nThe organizations are asking voters to register for the forums so that each candidate knows that as many of their constituents as possible are participating.\r\n\r\nThe first forum will be for candidates for the Beaufort County Council at 2 p.m. on Saturday.\r\n\r\nGerald Dawson (District 1) and Gerald Glover (District 3) will participate, though they are running unopposed. Brian Flewelling (District 5), also running unopposed, declined to participate, according to the LWV.\r\n\r\nJodie Srutter and Logan Cunningham, candidates for the District 7 seat for which the incumbent is not running, will both participate, as well.\r\n\r\nTo register, visit https://bit.ly/328GoRw. The meeting ID is 822 1137 3891 and the passcode is 860746.\r\n\r\nShould voters have questions for the candidates relative to this campaign, they can send them to pafmontgomery@gmail.com ahead of time.\r\n\r\nThe next scheduled forum will be 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17 for the Beaufort County Board of Education. Voters may register for that forum at https://bit.ly/3jZjaDI.\r\n\r\nDates for the final three forums – State Senate; State House Districts 118, 120, 123; and State House Districts 121, 122, 124 – are tentative. The Island News will update this story when plans are concrete.\r\n\r\nThe League of Women Voters has long one of the foremost organizations supporters of voter education and registration since 1928 when the League held the first Meet the Candidates national radio broadcast in the United States.', 'League of Women Voters hosting virtual candidate forums', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'league-of-women-voters-hosting-virtual-candidate-forums', '', '', '2020-09-09 14:21:02', '2020-09-09 18:21:02', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45870', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45872, 4, '2020-09-09 14:23:28', '2020-09-09 18:23:28', '<h2>Lowcountry response lagging behind last tally</h2>\r\n<strong>By Mindy Lucas</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen it comes to counting its citizens, South Carolina and the Lowcountry are falling behind – not just compared to where other states and regions are now, but compared to the area’s own final response rates from ten years ago.\r\n\r\nDelays due to Covid-19 and an earlier than usual deadline have complicated matters, City of Beaufort’s communications and marketing manager Kathleen Williams said.\r\n\r\nSo much so that city and county officials across the region got together recently to launch an area-wide Census Day, she said.\r\n\r\nHeld Wednesday, Sept. 9, the day served as a reminder of the importance of answering the questionnaire and what having an accurate count can mean to communities across the Lowcountry.\r\n\r\nBeaufort County, for example, is down three-and-a-half percentage points from where it finished in 2010 in terms of its self-response rate, or the number of people who completed the survey themselves.\r\n\r\nWhile three percentage points might not seem like much, for every person not counted, an “undercount” can translate into approximately $3,000 per person per year for the next decade in loss revenue, according to several financial analysis studies done from previous undercounts.\r\n\r\n“So that’s not good,” Williams said of the lagging response rate. “We need to work on that.”\r\n\r\nMeanwhile, officials across the Lowcountry are trying to “shine a light” on why taking the census is so important.\r\n\r\nAccording to the U.S. Census Bureau, census data helps communities to get their fair share of the more than $675 billion per year in federal funding – funding that goes to schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs.\r\n\r\nBusinesses use census data to decide where to build factories, offices and stores, which leads to job creation, while developers use the census to build new homes and revitalize old neighborhoods.\r\n\r\nIn addition, local governments use the data for public safety and emergency preparedness and planning.\r\n\r\nFinally, one of the most significant ways in which census data is used is in determining Congressional and state legislative districts, or apportionment.\r\n\r\nApportionment is the process of dividing the 435 memberships, or seats, in the House of Representatives among the 50 states. After each census, the results are used to calculate the number of House seats each state receives.\r\n\r\nApportionment and federal funding is why it’s so important for municipalities to have as accurate a count as possible, Williams said.\r\n\r\n“That’s why the (Census Bureau) tries to get cities and states to work with them, because it does affect what we can do in terms of funding,” she said.\r\n\r\nIn the last several years, the City of Beaufort has received federal funding for a number of projects including repairs to the Arsenal, infrastructure work at Waterfront Park, the Boundary Street construction project and the current Mossy Oaks Stormwater Drainage Project.\r\n\r\nAnd now with a Sept. 30 deadline looming large, area officials are trying to make sure the Lowcountry doesn’t come up short.\r\n\r\n“That’s why we need to shine a light on this,” Williams said. “And remind people to fill out the census and it’s so easy to do.”\r\n\r\nMindy Lucas is the Beaufort reporter for The Island News and is a staff writer for Lowcountry Weekly. She can be reached at mindy.islandnews@gmail.com.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<b>HAVEN’T TAKEN<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b><b>THE CENSUS?</b>\r\n\r\nIf you haven’t completed the census, it’s not too late. Residents have until Sept. 30 to be counted.\r\n\r\nCall 844-330-2020 to answer questions by phone, or go online and fill out the questionnaire at https://my2020census.gov.', 'City and county officials: Take the census – please!', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'city-and-county-officials-take-the-census-please', '', '', '2020-09-09 14:23:28', '2020-09-09 18:23:28', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45872', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45874, 4, '2020-09-09 14:26:53', '2020-09-09 18:26:53', '<strong>By Mike McCombs</strong>\r\n\r\nOne of the few area events to not be canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic is coming up next week, and the window of opportunity to register is closing soon.\r\n\r\nThe Wardle Family YMCA will host the annual Beaufort River Swim +5K on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. Now in its 14th consecutive year, the race was originally scheduled for May. A 5K run, presented by Beaufort<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>Memorial Hospital, has been added to the event, thus the name change.\r\n\r\nIn addition to the 5K, there are numerous options for swimmers.\r\n\r\nParticipants may compete in one of the two swims – the 3.2 mile competitive swim or the 1-mile non-timed Fun Swim – and can add the 5K run to either swim or participate tandem-style with a 2-person team (one person swims and the other person runs).\r\n\r\nDHEC protocols, as well the City of Beaufort mask ordinance, will be followed, including social distancing for participants before the swim and during the run. All spectators should wear a mask and social distance. There is free parking in the downtown Beaufort waterfront park parking lot until noon.\r\n\r\n“The addition of the 5K is something we have wanted to incorporate into the BRS for a few years, and while this kick-off year for the BRS+5K is not what we imaged, we pivoted and are grateful to be able to host an athletic event right now,”, Y Healthy Living Program Director and BRS+5k Event Director Denice Fanning said in a release. “We appreciate Beaufort Memorial signing on as our inaugural 5K sponsor as well as allowing use of their dock for the Fun Swim again this year.”\r\n\r\nThe BRS is a fundraiser that benefits the YMCA Learn to Swim Program. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than a third of adults in the United States can’t swim the length of a pool, which puts them at risk of being one of the 10 people who drown every day in the U.S.\r\n\r\nRegistration is online only and ends on Thursday, Sept. 17. There is no same-day registration this year.\r\n\r\nSwimmers will be racing “with the tide” making this year’s race start extra early – the start-time for the 3.2-mile race is 7:15 a.m. with the Fun Swim starting at approximately 7:30 a.m., when the competitive swimmers have passed the Beaufort Memorial day dock (the fun swim start location).\r\n\r\nCheck-in starts at 6 a.m. at the downtown Beaufort Marina parking lot. All swimmers will be bused within social distancing guidelines (so more trips on the bus with fewer swimmers on board, thus the extra early start time) to their respective starting points by Y staff.\r\n\r\nVisit beaufortriverswim.com to register and get more details.', 'Registration still open for Beaufort River Swim', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'registration-still-open-for-beaufort-river-swim', '', '', '2020-09-09 14:26:53', '2020-09-09 18:26:53', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45874', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45878, 4, '2020-09-09 14:29:05', '2020-09-09 18:29:05', '<h2><b>Beaufort County School District will provide half-day, hybrid model\r\n</b><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">By Mindy Lucas</strong><b>\r\n</b></h2>\r\nThe Beaufort County School District will provide in-person instruction to some of its special education students this fall, district officials say.\r\n\r\nThe announcement was made at the school district’s Tuesday, Sept. 1 school board meeting.\r\n\r\nWhile the district still plans to open with virtual only instruction this week as it announced earlier in August, it will provide face-to-face instruction for some students with Low Incidence Disabilities (LID). Those include students with intellectual or cognitive disabilities, visual or hearing impairments or those in autism-focused classrooms.\r\n\r\nThe families of 138 students with LID have requested the face-to-face instruction. The district currently serves approximately 220 LID students.\r\n\r\n“We have always maintained that virtual learning is not as ideal as face-to-face instruction,” Deputy Superintendent and Chief of Schools Duke Bradley said.\r\n\r\n“This is particularly evident when it comes to meeting the needs of students with extreme intellectual and physical disabilities. When we say we want success for all students, this is exactly what we mean. As a consequence, we are taking steps to ensure that all students have the tools and instruction they need to make measured progress,” Bradley said.\r\n\r\nFederal law requires special services for students with disabilities.\r\n\r\nBeginning Monday, Sept. 14, the district will provide half-day, face-to-face instruction for these students in a hybrid model.\r\n\r\nDHEC’s Covid-19 metrics down\r\n\r\nBeaufort County School Superintendent Frank Rodriguez also noted at the Sept. 1 meeting that the county’s Covid-19 metrics, which includes the infection rate have dropped to medium risk.\r\n\r\n“If this positive trend continues, we will be able to open schools to all of our students who desire a face-to-face education sooner, rather than later,” he said. “This is what we all want because it’s best for our children. In the meantime, I’m glad we will be able to effectively serve certain special education students, even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.”\r\n\r\n<em>Mindy Lucas is the Beaufort reporter for The Island News and is a staff writer for Lowcountry Weekly. She can be reached at mindy.islandnews@gmail.com.</em>\r\n<h2><b>&nbsp;</b></h2>', 'Some special ed students to get face-to-face instruction', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'some-special-ed-students-to-get-face-to-face-instruction', '', '', '2020-09-09 14:29:05', '2020-09-09 18:29:05', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45878', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45997, 4, '2020-09-17 03:40:51', '2020-09-17 07:40:51', '<b>From staff reports</b>\r\n\r\nBEAUFORT – The Beaufort County School District will resume face-to-face educational instruction in a hybrid model beginning Oct. 5.\r\n\r\nThe announcement came at Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting.\r\n\r\n“The district’s position has always been that we would return to traditional methods of teaching when it was safe to do so,” Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said in a news release.\r\n\r\nRodriguez noted that the district’s risk factors for COVID-19 published by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control have decreased significantly in recent weeks.\r\n\r\n“The common-sense precautions we’re now taking in our day-to-day lives have produced very positive results,” the superintendent said. “In order for us to begin face-to-face instruction – and then to continue face-to-face instruction – all of us have to remain vigilant and stay safe.”\r\n\r\n<a name=\"m_4932911337609866591__Hlk51178867\"></a> In a hybrid AA/BB model, half of the school’s population who registered for face-to-face instruction will attend school on Monday and Tuesday and the other half will attend on Thursday and Friday. While schools are deep cleaned on Wednesday, all students will receive live virtual instruction at home. On the days when students are not receiving live-instruction they will be completing independent work that builds on what they were exposed to in class.\r\n\r\nSchools will notify families next week so they can plan for their child’s AA/BB schedule. Siblings will be assigned the same schedules whenever possible.\r\n\r\nStudents whose parents have chosen all-virtual learning will continue their academic work online.\r\n\r\nAssuming that DHEC’s COVID-19 metrics continue to decrease, the district will transition to traditional in-person classes five days a week when it is safe to do so.\r\n\r\n“Given the uncertainty of this pandemic,” Rodriguez said, “we can’t make promises on when that will happen. But we will conduct a comprehensive evaluation each week in case infection rates increase again, which might require us to take a different course.”\r\n\r\nIn a related development, the district also announced that it is terminating its relationship with K12 Learning Solutions, an online learning management platform.\r\n\r\n“While we believe that K12 provides a quality product, I’ve been disappointed in the company’s ability to meet our expectations,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve been trying to work through our frustrations with K12 in recent weeks, but when our students and teachers are impacted, we needed to move quickly to find a better course.”\r\n\r\nDuke Bradley, the deputy superintendent and chief of schools, said the break with K12 would not create significant problems.\r\n\r\n“Our hope was that K12 would help to make the online learning experience more seamless and easier to manage for teachers,” he said. “But we never viewed their product as the only way to deliver high-quality instruction. Ultimately we place our greatest confidence in the competence and dedication of our teachers, not in technology.”\r\n\r\nBradley said the district already has the essentials needed to provide quality instruction. “We have clear standards and a viable curriculum that will lead to academic success if it’s taught with rigor and consistency.”\r\n\r\nThe district will continue to rely on other online platforms like Zoom, Google Classroom and Seesaw, and will also investigate additional web-based teaching supplements to ensure that students and teachers have the resources they need to be effective in their work.\r\n\r\nSince district schools began the academic year in an all-virtual capacity on Sept. 8, the district has received considerable feedback from parents.\r\n\r\n“I have listened intently to the concerns expressed by our stakeholders, especially the parents who have offered individual testimonies about how virtual instruction is not ideal for their children,” Rodriguez said. “It pained me greatly to hear these stories.”\r\n\r\n“At the same time, I’ve been encouraged by the many success stories and the positive experiences that students and parents have related.\r\n\r\n“It’s my hope that offering a hybrid model – with the ultimate goal of eventually resuming face-to-face instruction five days a week – will relieve some of the burden on families sooner rather than later while still protecting the health and safety of our students, our employees, our families and our community.”\r\n\r\nRodriguez said the district has prepared extensive safety precautions in place to protect students and staff in school buildings.', 'Beaufort County public schools to resume face-to-face instruction in hybrid model Oct. 5', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-county-public-schools-to-resume-face-to-face-instruction-in-hybrid-model-oct-5', '', '', '2020-09-17 03:41:55', '2020-09-17 07:41:55', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45997', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45881, 4, '2020-09-09 14:30:32', '2020-09-09 18:30:32', '<strong>Photo by Bob Sofaly</strong>\r\n\r\nAbout 250 to 300 boats of all sizes and configurations cruised from The Sands Beach in Port Royal to the Richard V. Woods Memorial Bridge on Saturday during the Trump Boat Parade. Most of the participants gathered near The Sands, but many also joined the flotilla along the way in support of President Donald Trump’s re-election efforts.&nbsp;', 'Boats on Parade', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'boats-on-parade', '', '', '2020-09-09 14:30:32', '2020-09-09 18:30:32', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45881', 0, 'post', '', 0),
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(45903, 4, '2020-09-16 11:26:11', '2020-09-16 15:26:11', '', 'Father\'s Day Throwback, Día Del Padre Reversion', 'For Cristhian Varas, as a father, this year’s Father’s Day was tougher than most. He traditionally spends the day with his son, this year he was hundreds of miles away from him undergoing the challenge of recruit training. In spite of that separation and the rigors of training, on Father’s Day, his son was the only thing on his mind.\r\r\r\rPara Christian Varas, como un padre, este año del día del padre fue más difícil que los demás. Tradicionalmente pasaba el día con su hijo, este año él está a cientos de millas de él afrontando el reto del entrenamiento de reclutas. A pesar de la separación y los rigores del entrenamiento, su hijo era lo único que tenía en su mente. \r\r\r\r(U.S. Marine Corps Story by Cpl. Yamil Casarreal)', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'fathers-day-throwback-dia-del-padre-reversion', '', '', '2020-09-16 11:26:11', '2020-09-16 15:26:11', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/6338563.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
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(45915, 4, '2020-09-16 13:59:13', '2020-09-16 17:59:13', '<b>3 Beaufort County seniors honored as 2021 National Merit semifinalists</b>\r\n\r\nFrom staff reports\r\n\r\nThree Beaufort County School District students were announced Sept. 9 as finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.\r\n\r\nBeaufort High School senior Caleb Henry is joined by Dillon Watkins, a senior at Bluffton High School, and Grace Frederick, who graduated a year early from Bluffton. The three students will compete with other national semifinalists for 7,600 college scholarships worth more than $31 million.\r\n\r\n“These are all outstanding students, and we wish them well as they move forward in this prestigious national scholarship competition,” Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said in an email “We’re very proud of them.”\r\n\r\nMore than 1.5 million high school students from about 21,000 American high schools entered the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. About 16,000 semifinalists were announced.\r\n\r\nWhat’s next?\r\n\r\nTo become a finalist in the next stage of the national competition, each semifinalist and his or her high school must submit a detailed application that provides information about the student’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment and honors and awards received. In addition, each semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official and write an essay.\r\n\r\nThree types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2021. Each finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit Scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis. About 1,000 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 220 corporations and business organizations for finalists who meet their specified criteria.\r\n\r\nIn addition, about 180 colleges and universities are expected to finance college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for finalists who attend the sponsor institution.\r\n\r\nThe National Merit Scholarship Corp. is a nonprofit established in 1955, and its scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and more than 400 businesses and higher education institutions.', '3 Beaufort County seniors honored as 2021 National Merit semifinalists', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', '3-beaufort-county-seniors-honored-as-2021-national-merit-semifinalists', '', '', '2020-09-16 13:59:13', '2020-09-16 17:59:13', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45915', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45917, 4, '2020-09-16 14:00:07', '2020-09-16 18:00:07', '<strong>By BECKY SPRECHER</strong>\r\n\r\nEarlier this year, Alan Schuster called and said he was going to retire from writing the previews for the Metropolitan Opera’s Hi-Def broadcast series. Would I be interested?\r\n\r\nI said I would think about it. Alan and Yvonne live just around the corner, and in just moments I heard a thump on my front porch. It was a stack of Alan’s opera books and back issues of Opera News.\r\n\r\nI guess that meant I should say yes.\r\n\r\nI know I’m not the only reader of this paper who anticipated Alan’s previews over the years. If anybody could get you off of the sofa and into a seat at the USCB Center for the Arts on a Saturday afternoon, Alan could.\r\n\r\nFortunately, he’s not going anywhere; he’ll still be around to talk singers and sets, and share backstage gossip and rumors when gathering is safe again. I hope you’ll join me for a rousing virtual ovation for his enormous contribution to the cultural fabric of our community.\r\n\r\nBoth Alan and I came to opera as young people. As a teenager growing up in Westfield, NJ, Alan grudgingly agreed to attend a production of Madame Butterfly at the Met with his mother when she bribed him with a promise to bake his favorite chocolate cake.\r\n\r\n“I was certain I would hate it,” he said, “but five minutes after the curtain went up, something magical happened. I loved it!”\r\n\r\nAfter that he became a regular at the Met, going by himself as a $2 standee in the back of the orchestra section. He saw numerous operas that way, even working up to a supernumerary part in Cavelleria Rusticana.\r\n\r\nMy first exposure to opera was not quite that glamorous, but it was equally memorable in the sense that something magical happened to me, as well. When I was growing up in western Kentucky, I had a 5th-grade teacher named Martha Henry Gregory, an intimidating, triple-chinned figure who played opera highlights during study periods.\r\n\r\nLike many little towns in the 1950s, ours was quite isolated. The closest performing arts venue was the Ryman Auditorium, home of the Grand Ole Opry, in nearby Nashville. My mother once traveled there to see Faust, of all things.\r\n\r\nCan you imagine sitting in those curved church pews surrounded by stained glass windows watching an opera about selling your soul to the devil? It was so eerie that she found herself longing for Flatt and Scruggs or Porter Wagoner to come out and break things up.\r\n\r\nBut I didn’t need a stage because I had what all children have in spades: imagination. From the record player in my classroom flowed music that ignited a stream of colorful images in my mind.\r\n\r\nWhen the Triumphal March from Aida played, I conjured up a vast parade of richly caparisoned camels and elephants, with soldiers in battle gear escorting Pharaoh’s royal court.\r\n\r\nBut the moment when opera really spoke to my heart was when I heard the Pilgrim’s Chorus from Tannhäuser by Richard Wagner. It was in German, so I couldn’t possibly have understood the words, but the beauty of the music and the profound way in which it was sung gave me all I needed to know.\r\n\r\nNo 10-year-old I ever knew understood (or cared about) redemption. Certainly not me. But in an elementary way, I came to realize that the pilgrims had been in great pain and something wonderful had happened to make it go away.\r\n\r\nWhile I’m looking forward to sharing my enthusiasm for opera with you, I take up my pen in uncertain times because of the pandemic. The Met’s stage is officially dark until next year, and although they have given USCB’s Center for the Arts a list of recent Hi-Def transmissions from which to choose, we do not yet know which ones will air or the dates.\r\n\r\nAs soon as we know anything definite, I’ll have a preview for you.\r\n\r\nIn the meantime, there has never before been such an array of opportunities to access opera at home. You can stream the Met’s recent Hi-Def productions On Demand for a small fee. Some recommendations: last year’s “Porgy and Bess,” which aired to a packed house here in Beaufort.\r\n\r\nFor you fashionistas out there, “Marnie” is terrific, with Marnie and her alter-egos clad in 60s-style jewel-toned sheaths and matching three-quarter coats, their blonde hair done up in French twists — just like Tippi Hedren in the Hitchock movie of the same name.\r\n\r\nAnd today’s political scene will seem positively tame by comparison when you watch last year’s huge hit, “Agrippina,” which is set in Nero’s Rome.\r\n\r\nNow let’s be honest here. I know that a good many of you would rather have a root canal than watch an opera. But there’s something here for you, too: The Met Stars Concerts. These are live, one-hour pay-per-view recitals by some of opera’s most glamorous stars in ravishing locations around the world, from the terrace of a chateau in the south of France to palaces in Vienna and Malta.\r\n\r\nAs singer Anthony Roth Costanzo says, “If there was ever a time for opera, it’s now … Ours is an art form made for expressing the indescribable, the unbearable, the catastrophic. An opera singer has to sing about emotions so big, so extreme, that unlike an actor, we can’t just speak plainly but have to scream at the top of our lungs over a hundred instruments wailing.”\r\n\r\nSo prop your feet up on the coffee table, crack open a cold beer or pour a glass of wine, and who knows? Maybe the magic will happen for you, too, like it did for Alan Schuster and me.', 'Tales of the opera ready to be told', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'tales-of-the-opera-ready-to-be-told', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:00:07', '2020-09-16 18:00:07', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45917', 0, 'post', '', 0);
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(45919, 4, '2020-09-16 14:02:06', '2020-09-16 18:02:06', '<b>EDITOR’S NOTE</b>\r\n\r\nRep. Joe Cunningham (SC-01) on Monday urged the Beaufort County Zoning Board of Appeals to reject plans to develop a luxury resort on Bay Point Island. In a letter sent to Vice Chairman Kevin Mack of the Beaufort Country Zoning Board of Appeals, Cunningham called on the Board to deny the special use permit as proposed by the developer, Bay Point Island, LLC, arguing the project does not meet true ecotourism standards.\r\n\r\nDear Vice Chairman Mack:\r\n\r\nI am writing to express my concerns regarding the luxury resort proposed for development on Bay Point Island as an “ecotourism” venture. I urge you to critically consider several problematic implications and detrimental impacts this project presents.\r\n\r\nBay Point Island is a small, low-lying, erosional, barrier island subjected to the persistent forces of the Atlantic Ocean and the Port Royal Sound. As one of only a handful of undeveloped barrier islands in South Carolina, it represents an increasingly rare and invaluable natural resource in our great state. As is, the island provides beneficial ecosystem services as a refuge for imperiled wildlife, a source of commercial and recreational fisheries, and a buffer from increasingly frequent and intense storms to the surrounding communities in Beaufort County. All of this is provided by the island while posing no financial burden to Beaufort County taxpayers.\r\n\r\nDeveloping a large-scale resort, and introducing extensive permanent infrastructure where none currently exists, will compromise each of the valuable benefits the island naturally provides. At over 66,000 square feet of proposed building space, including 50 bungalows, 4 spas, 3 restaurants, a retail center, a cooking school, and more, the proposed resort will potentially require ten septic fields (though the developers have recently informed my staff they would prefer packaged wastewater plants), more than 22,000 square feet of solar fields, and 100,000 gallons of fresh water to operate daily. I am concerned that the construction alone, not to mention the ongoing maintenance of the resort, poses a high likelihood of causing irreparable damage to the island. And, when the infrastructure is ultimately threatened by rising seas and volatile storms and hurricanes, the financial burden of cleaning, repairing, and protecting a private investment and providing evacuation and emergency services will inevitably fall to the taxpayers of Beaufort County.\r\n\r\nBay Point and its surrounding tidal marshes and inlets are a designated “Important Bird Area” by the National Audubon Society. The island historically hosts nearly 8,000 overwintering and migrating shorebirds each year, including federally threatened red knots and piping plovers, and state-listed Wilson’s plovers and least terns. It is also the nesting site of, most recently, over 100 threatened loggerhead sea turtles’ nests. Each of these species is incredibly sensitive to human-driven changes to their habitats. The decline of their populations as a result of coastal development is well-documented and understood. The notion that putting a resort on Bay Point Island would in any way benefit these vulnerable species by foisting humans upon their habitat, as has been argued in the special use application submitted for this project, is a stretch.\r\n\r\nThe introduction of utilities on an undeveloped barrier island presents its own set of environmental consequences. Septic tanks utilize freshwater bacteria to operate. Exposure to saltwater, an inevitable consequence of being situated at a tidally-impacted low elevation, will render these systems inoperable, leading to contamination of the island’s sandy soils and surrounding marshes. The health of the island’s ecosystems, the marsh’s fisheries, and visitors to the island could be put at risk. While septic tanks will impair surface water quality, the proposed well that will serve a portion of the development’s estimated 100,000-gallon daily water needs will threaten groundwater resources by tapping into an aquifer already facing saltwater intrusion impacts. What’s more, there’s no guarantee on behalf of the developers that the aquifer will have the capacity to service the needs of the resort. Regardless, if developed as planned, the resort could impose sudden and toxic run-off into the near pristine marshes of Bay Point, detrimentally impacting fish, mollusk, and crustacean populations. The plan to provide utilities to the luxury resort is, at best, inadequate, and, at worst, an environmental catastrophe waiting to happen.\r\n\r\nAlso of concern is the fact that the proposal fails to consider impacts to the surrounding communities of the island, both military and cultural resources. Bay Point is situated just downriver from the military base at Parris Island and is a mere 15 miles south of the Marine Corps Air Station. The Federal government has invested billions of dollars in Beaufort County to support the Parris Island military base and the Marine Corps Air Station. The developers of the island have claimed to implement and utilize a heli-pad and helicopter in the event of medical emergencies on the island. There may be the potential for this heli-pad to interfere with military operations, and this has not been addressed in the application to the Zoning Board. Even without the helicopters, the displacement of massive flocks of shorebirds could create potentially dangerous situations for training pilots.\r\n\r\nFinally, and importantly, are impacts to the immediately adjacent Gullah/Geechee communities on neighboring St. Helena Island who have relied on Bay Point and its surrounding marshes for sustenance and commercial fishing for generations. Such impacts are of significant concern and have not received adequate consideration. From the start, Queen Quet, queen and Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee nation, has expressed grave concerns regarding the impact of the proposed resort on the cultural and natural resources of the area. So, too, has the Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association. Indeed, a petition in opposition to the proposed resort initiated by Queen Quet has over 27,000 signatures as of the date of this letter.\r\n\r\nFor these reasons, I am asking you to uphold Beaufort County’s current vision of the island as a nature preserve, to recognize it is an inappropriate location for a resort development, and to deny the special use permit as proposed by Bay Point Island, LLC. In the end, true ecotourism would, at a minimum, amplify the history and culture of our community and protect and preserve our natural resources. As proposed, the current project does not seem to meet that standard.', 'Beaufort County should reject Bay Point development', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-county-should-reject-bay-point-development', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:02:06', '2020-09-16 18:02:06', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45919', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45921, 4, '2020-09-16 14:03:23', '2020-09-16 18:03:23', '<strong>By LEE SCOTT</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen my husband and I chose Beaufort to retire, we had certain criteria we were looking for in an area.\r\n\r\nFirst, we liked the idea of a small town and wanted to be near the Intracoastal Waterway since we enjoy going on boat trips. And I wanted to be near a beach.\r\n\r\nBeaufort met our needs. What we did not know was that there was a hidden pearl here. It is the University of South Carolina – Beaufort campus and with it the Center for the Arts. What a treat when we started to see advertisements for various programs being held right here in Beaufort.\r\n\r\nOur first adventure was the Sandwiched-in program. This is a noon-to 1 free program where writers and other speakers come in to discuss a favorite book.\r\n\r\nThe event is sponsored by the Friends of the Beaufort Library. Local businesses add their support and door prizes. The auditorium was packed and not just with retired people. There were business people who would come over and have their sandwiches (hence the name of the program) while speakers made their presentations. Suddenly I found myself picking up books to read that I never might have touched.\r\n\r\nThen there was the Beaufort International Film Festival.\r\n\r\n“What?” I asked. “Here in Beaufort?”\r\n\r\nWhat a treat to find this event. This past February there were more than 17,400 people in attendance over six days. There were 100 filmmakers, 39 states, and five countries represented.\r\n\r\nThe nice part is you have your choice in purchasing tickets. Do you want daily, do you want several programs? What is your preference? It was interesting to meet different people in the audience who would make their annual trip to Beaufort to attend the festival.\r\n\r\nWe have also gone to the “theater” there to watch National Theatre shows – on the big screen. We got to sit in our seats with our popcorn and sodas and relax.\r\n\r\nNow the Arts Center is running a campaign called “Fill the House.” Since they are not having live shows and social distancing is so important, they have decided on a unique fundraiser.\r\n\r\nPatrons are being asked to fill the house by submitting either the names of famous people, or renditions of themselves, along with a check. Local artists will be creating cardboard paintings and “you” become one of the “seat people.” You can even have a cardboard painting of your dog.\r\n\r\nYou can still visit the “Hidden Pearl” in Beaufort. Just go to the USCB Center for the Arts online. They are still doing some amazing things.\r\n\r\nAnd if you want to support Center for the Arts this is the time. Who knows, your cardboard figure may be sitting next to Picasso.\r\n\r\nLee Scott, award winning humor writer takes her “Walter Mitty” like persona and spins tales around everyday life. She enjoys boating, reading, and meeting people. Scott lives in Beaufort with her husband, JD, along with their dog Brandy. You can reach her at Lasshood@aol.com.', 'A ‘hidden pearl’ is right in the heart of Beaufort', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'a-hidden-pearl-is-right-in-the-heart-of-beaufort', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:03:23', '2020-09-16 18:03:23', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45921', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45923, 4, '2020-09-16 14:08:24', '2020-09-16 18:08:24', '<strong>By SCOTT GRABER</strong>\r\n\r\nIt’s Saturday, early, and I’m sitting at my dining room table trying to focus my eyes and my thoughts on the day that lies ahead. Saturday usually sends me into the yard with my friend, Joe Morrall, for some mowing, blowing and trimming.\r\n\r\nThis morning I’ve got the Wall Street Journal (Friday edition) and this comes with a real estate-related insert called “Mansion.”\r\n\r\n“Mansion” is devoted to exotic, wildly expensive homes that typically sell for millions of dollars. There is a focus on size and location but they all come with theme park amenities like candy rooms, helicopter pads, go-cart tracks, water slides and yes, carriages pulled by former Budweiser Clydesdales.\r\n\r\n“Mansion” always features a penthouse located in New York City or Houston. These entire-top-floor, glass enclosed spaces typically have a 360 degree view of New Jersey or nearby Lubbock. Usually there is a resident chef; as well as an onsite physical trainer who competes with the chef over one’s belly fat.\r\n\r\nI must admit that I am drawn to “Mansion” and it’s far-flung properties although I know that I will never set foot on any of these estates or helicopter-accessible islands. I will also admit that I resent the advertising that usually includes the phrase “a life well-lived” in its vacuous, predictable copy.\r\n\r\nI don’t know exactly why I resent these lavish homes — we do live in a capitalist country where conspicuous consumption and gold plated shower heads are encouraged, acceptable and often applauded. But I suspect my resentment is somehow connected to my childhood.\r\n\r\nWhen I was growing up my father was in the U.S. Army and we would move around a lot. Although my father was an officer, I believed we were poor because my parents were frugal, penurious.\r\n\r\nWhen we would move there was always concern about our new “quarters;” my parents wanting to live on the post. Usually base housing was not immediately available and at least on one occasion we lived in a converted barracks building.\r\n\r\nWhen we finally moved into a house it was exactly like every other house (except for enlisted housing) and it came with a small marker identifying Major Graber as its current occupant.\r\n\r\nThe floor plan was exactly the same in each of these houses, and the decor usually reflected one’s the last duty station — especially if that duty station was the Far East or Europe.\r\n\r\nMy mother collected oriental rugs, ginger jar lamps and enameled vases that were blood red. When we would move one or more of these lamps or figurines would be smashed; and we would find our mother weeping as she beheld a headless geisha. Her despair would throw us into a family-wide depression knowing that this item could never be repaired or replaced.\r\n\r\nI believe these long gone, but vividly remembered events now manifest themselves in an unconscious compulsion not to buy or collect or place any emotion into a crystal decanter or Chinese teapot that can be dropped or broken. If I buy anything, which is rare, it is made of brass, cast iron or reinforced with rebar.\r\n\r\nBefore our mother died, she sat me and my siblings down and gave each of her possessions their provenance, “I bought this in Taiwan from a blind man who fought with Chiang Kai Shek.”\r\n\r\nWe promised to remember each item; and to display it with appropriate lighting; but I didn’t take much of anything. For me they came freighted with the possibility of breakage, and the image of a young woman sobbing as she unwrapped the damaged items and tried to fit the broken pieces back together.\r\n\r\nThe decision not to keep any of these once-loved treasures haunts me to this very day. And, of course, I wonder about the few items that decorate my office — small (chipped) Mayan figurines, monkey skulls found on Morgan Island, pictures of myself with deposed African presidents, an autopsy jar full of political buttons.\r\n\r\nMy son, who lives in a studio apartment in Manhattan, observes the “two purpose rule.” Space is so precious that he and his fiance’ must agree that anything they acquire must have two utilitarian purposes.\r\n\r\nAssuming the “two purpose rule” remains in place, most of my dusty, decorative, office ephemera will probably find its way to a consignment shop on Hilton Head. Then bought and showcased by a young developer and his stylish wife recently arrived from Buckhead.\r\n\r\n<em>Scott Graber is a lawyer, novelist, veteran columnist and longtime resident of Port Royal. He can be reached at cscottgraber@gmail.com.</em>', 'You have to apply the ‘two-purpose’ rule to everything', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'you-have-to-apply-the-two-purpose-rule-to-everything', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:08:24', '2020-09-16 18:08:24', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45923', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45925, 4, '2020-09-16 14:09:09', '2020-09-16 18:09:09', 'CROSS COUNTRY\r\n\r\nBHS boys soar to team title in opening meet\r\n\r\nEven without their top runner from a year ago, Beaufort High’s boys cross country team edged Summerville and May River to take the team title at the Eagles’ opening 11-team meet Saturday in Beaufort’s Habersham community.\r\n\r\nWith 2019 Class 4A runner-up Marlon Belden working his way back from an offseason injury, the Eagles placed five runners in the top 16 to finish with 47 points, narrowly defeating Summerville (51) and May River (52). Bluffton (123) was fifth, while Holy Trinity (164) was sixth and Hilton Head High (209) was eighth.\r\n\r\nSeventh-grader Gavin Moore led the way for Beaufort, finishing second in 17:14 in his high school cross country debut, while Summerville’s Daren Hinds (16:15) won the individual title. Joseph Patterson (6th, 17:45) and Connor Eby (9th, 17:49) also placed in the top 10.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nMay River also placed two runners in the top 10, with Mills Campbell (17:34) in third and Jaxon Beebe (17:43) in fifth.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nBobcats, Sharks’ Arroyo outrun the pack at Habersham meet\r\n\r\nBluffton High School’s girls cross country team placed four runners in the top 10 and edged Summerville for the team title, while May River’s Anya Arroyo won the individual title Saturday at an eight-team meet in Beaufort’s Habersham community.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe Bobcats’ top five runners all finished in the top 16, as Bluffton finished with a team total of 40 points, edging Summerville by five points. May River (80) was third, while host Beaufort High (147) was sixth and Holy Trinity (191) was eighth.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nBluffton had four runners break the 22-minute mark, led by freshman Ava Gerschutz (21:35) in fourth, followed by juniors Kaitlyn McDonagh (5th, 21:47) and Penelope Roman (6th, 21:49), and seventh-grader Aubrey Sampson (9th, 21:57).\r\n\r\nArroyo, a sophomore, ran away from the pack, finishing in 19:10 — a full 1:41 ahead of Summerville’s Milaya Buchanan — while teammate Victoria Sosa (21:49) was seventh. Beaufort High’s Anna Brown (22:02) rounded out the top 10.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nVOLLEYBALL\r\n\r\nEagles win crosstown clash with Lions\r\n\r\nBeaufort Academy volleyball picked up a 3-0 road win over crosstown rival Holy Trinity on Thursday.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe Lions put up quite a challenge in the first set before the Eagles settled in and took control to sweep to a 25-21, 25-14, 25-10 victory.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nChase Vaigneur had another big night for BA with 11 kills, 12 assists and four digs, while Shanese Bostick added nine kills, and Maddie Nelson had seven to go with one block and five aces.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nMargaret Hiers dished out 22 assists for the Eagles while adding six kills and four aces, and Mary Hanna Hiers had three aces and a team-high eight digs.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nCreek rallies for 5-set win over Hawks\r\n\r\nBattery Creek volleyball picked up its first win of the season Thursday at Hanahan, winning 3-2 (22-25, 25-18, 13-25, 25-20, 15-11) in Region 8-3A play.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe Dolphins twice had to battle back, as they dropped the first set and found themselves down 2-1 before clawing back to win the final two frames.\r\n\r\nCaroline Malphrus led the Dolphins, collecting eight kills and five digs. Laiani McCullough recorded a team-high seven aces along with 16 assists, and Amber Cooklin contributed six digs.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nBA sweeps past crosstown rival Bridges\r\n\r\nBeaufort Academy volleyball breezed to a sweep of crosstown rival Bridges Prep on Tuesday, winning 3-0 (25-9, 25-9, 25-11).<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nChase Vaigneur had a big night for BA with nine kills, eight assists, and three aces, while Margaret Hiers added five kills and 11 assists, and Claire Tumlin had a team-high five aces.\r\n\r\nSWIMMING\r\n\r\nSeahawks dominant vs. county rivals\r\n\r\nHilton Head High’s girls swept all 11 events while the HHIHS boys won eight of 11 events and the Seahawks swept the team dual scoring in a five-team swim meet at Island Rec Center on Saturday.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nBoth Seahawk teams went 4-0 in dual scoring, while Beaufort High’s boys and Hilton Head Christian Academy’s girls each went 3-1, and the HHCA boys and Beaufort High girls each went 2-2.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nSterling Burd (200 free, 500 free), Katie Lyons (200 IM, 100 breast), and Isabella Pozos (50 free, 100 fly) each won two events for the dominant HHIHS girls, who also swept the three relays. Kyla King (100 free) and Mia Sinkiewicz (100 back) also won races.\r\n\r\nOn the boys’ side, Cohen Bruner (200 free, 100 free) and Tommy Hughson (200 IM, 500 free) were double winners, while Jackson Voelkel (50 free) and Dylan Magda (100 breast) each claimed one victory for the Seahawks, who also won the 200 free and 400 free relays.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nBeaufort High’s boys won the other three events, as James Stone (100 fly) and Samuel Marrero (100 back) each won a race and the Eagles claimed the 200 medley relay.\r\n\r\nTeam Dual Scores: Boys\r\n\r\nHilton Head High 463, Beaufort High 336\r\n\r\nBeaufort High 373, Battery Creek 203\r\n\r\nHilton Head Christian Academy 225, Battery Creek 221\r\n\r\nHilton Head High 484, Battery Creek 205\r\n\r\nBeaufort High 362, Hilton Head Christian Academy 205\r\n\r\nBeaufort High 370, Hilton Head Prep 73\r\n\r\nHilton Head High 483, Hilton Head Christian Academy 195\r\n\r\nHilton Head Christian Academy 227, Hilton Head Prep 74\r\n\r\nHilton Head High 483, Hilton Head Prep 65\r\n\r\nBattery Creek 242, Hilton Head Prep 80\r\n\r\nTeam Dual Scores: Girls\r\n\r\nBeaufort High 262, Battery Creek 175\r\n\r\nHilton Head High 510, Hilton Head Prep 70\r\n\r\nHilton Head Christian Academy 301, Hilton Head Prep 74\r\n\r\nHilton Head High 516, Hilton Head Christian Academy 253\r\n\r\nBeaufort High 262, Hilton Head Prep 74\r\n\r\nHilton Head High 515, Beaufort High 221\r\n\r\nHilton Head Christian Academy 286, Beaufort High 241\r\n\r\nBattery Creek 211, Hilton Head Prep 74\r\n\r\nHilton Head High 518, Battery Creek 173\r\n\r\nHilton Head Christian Academy 305, Battery Creek 176', 'HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ROUNDUP', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'high-school-sports-roundup-2', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:09:09', '2020-09-16 18:09:09', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45925', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45927, 4, '2020-09-16 14:10:01', '2020-09-16 18:10:01', '<strong>LowcoSports.com</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>JPII rally falls<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>short vs. Blazers</strong>\r\n\r\nJohn Paul II fought back from an early 23-point deficit, but the Golden Warriors couldn’t dig all the way out of their early hole on the road, falling 30-20 on Friday, Sept. 11 at Bethesda Academy.\r\n\r\nLed by quarterback Antjuan McKay, who gashed the Golden Warriors on the ground, the Blazers bolted out to a 23-0 lead, but JPII didn’t go quietly.\r\n\r\nThe Golden Warriors got on the board before halftime and recovered an onside kick after pulling within 10 in the fourth quarter but couldn’t close the gap any further.\r\n\r\nJeremiah Young led JPII with 142 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and added 55 passing yards, while Austin McIntosh added 57 yards on 20 carries and Jackson Ogden picked up 45 yards and two scores on eight carries.\r\n\r\nHayden Jennings led the defense with nine tackles (two solo) and a fumble recovery.\r\n\r\nJPII (1-2) is off this week before hosting Pinewood Prep on Sept. 24.\r\n\r\n<strong>BA grinds out tough win at Colleton Prep</strong>\r\n\r\nFor the second straight week, Beaufort Academy used a strong ground game and a stingy defense to claim a hard-fought victory, winning 28-12 on Friday, Sept. 11 at Colleton Prep.\r\n\r\nJa’Sean Lawson rushed for 151 yards and three touchdowns, and Braydon Dineen added a touchdown run for the Eagles, whose defense helped preserve the lead with two fourth-down stops and two goal-line stands.\r\n\r\nThe Eagles jumped out to a 7-0 lead and led 7-6 at halftime before getting the ground game rolling in the second half. They extended the advantage to 20-6, then held off a rally from the War Hawks before punching in another score to clinch the win.\r\n\r\nBA (2-1) opens region play at Northwood Academy next Friday<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>', 'FOOTBALL ROUNDUP', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'football-roundup', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:10:01', '2020-09-16 18:10:01', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45927', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45929, 4, '2020-09-16 14:11:32', '2020-09-16 18:11:32', '<strong>By Wes Kerr\r\n</strong><strong>LowcoSports.com<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></strong>\r\n\r\nIn a year of endless cancellations, postponements, and unknowns for elite runners, a new opportunity was born in the Lowcountry. And the competitors certainly made the most of it.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe Lowcountry Elite 5K, a brainchild of former USCB cross country coach Larry Kimball and fellow running aficionados David Crowell and Tim Waz, showcased talented athletes from across the Southeast on Saturday evening in Hardeeville, with some local competitors joining the mix, too. More than 20 runners took to a flat road on a calm 80-degree evening and put up some blazing times.\r\n\r\nThe women’s race saw a potentially record-breaking result. After pulling away from the pack in the first mile, Annie Rodenfels displayed flawless mechanics on her way to a phenomenal time of 16:08.143. The mark matched the previous South Carolina “all-comers” record of 16:08 and possibly broke it. The Centerville, Ohio, native was a two-time steeplechase national champion at Centre College. A member of the Greenville Elite track club, Rodenfels built off her PR of 15:49 last month at the Music City Track Meet in Nashville. N.C. State graduate student and Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier Kate Sanborn finished second with a time of 16:42, and former Sun Belt champion turned Appalachian State assistant coach Tristan Van Ord took third place with a time of 16:52.\r\n\r\nAfter the first mile, it looked like the men’s race was going to be an epic duel between Eddie Garcia and Victor Pataky. But only Garcia was able to keep the intensity into the turnaround, as Pataky fell off into fourth place, passed by Matt McClintock and Josh Izewski. It looked like Garcia’s race to lose going into the final mile. McClintock emptied the tank and began to close in, but the gap was just a little too large to overcome, as Garcia kept a solid pace all the way to the finish.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe former SEC 10K champion at Florida and U.S. Virgin Islands representative in the 2019 Pan-American Games clocked in with a time of 14:16. McClintock, a former winner of Europe’s Ras na hEireann cross country race and Olympic trial qualifier, crossed the line in second at 14:28. Izewski, another Olympic Marathon Trial participant and Florida Gator, took third by just breaking the 15-minute barrier at 14:59.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nIn order to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 exposure, the pair of races were run without spectators. Coaches and families of the participants were allowed to attend, and all non-athletes were required to wear a mask.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nKimball hopes that this successful event will lead to a variety of exciting showcases featuring the most talented runners in the area and region. He plans on expanding the amount of elite races hosted, especially when the pandemic comes to an end, when cross country fans can once again pack the trails to root on their favorites.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nKimball came up with the idea just a few weeks ago. Now, the dream has been realized. And for the handful of star runners who visited the Lowcountry, it was a much-needed opportunity to test their talents against a strong field and push themselves to their limits. Hopefully, in a year where nothing can be taken for granted, it’s just the first of many.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Lowcountry Elite 5K a hit', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'lowcountry-elite-5k-a-hit', '', '', '2020-09-17 11:27:31', '2020-09-17 15:27:31', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45929', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45931, 4, '2020-09-16 14:13:07', '2020-09-16 18:13:07', '<b>More non-native tegus spotted in SC</b>\r\n\r\nFrom the SCDNR\r\n\r\nThe South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) confirmed on Friday eight additional sightings of the non-native black and white tegus since the initial report from Lexington County in August.\r\n\r\nFive of the sightings were from Lexington and Richland counties, two from Berkeley County, and one from Greenville County. Of these, five tegus have been successfully removed from the wild.\r\n\r\nDue to the establishment of black and white tegus in Georgia and Florida, and the potential impacts they could have on native ground-nesting birds like turkey and quail, as well as other species like the state-endangered gopher tortoise, SCDNR staff have been monitoring tegu reports and information closely.\r\n\r\n“The number and distribution of black and white tegu reports in just a few weeks is concerning. Documented sightings come from as far north as Greenville county and as far south as Berkeley county,” State Herpetologist Andrew Grosse said in a release. “The individuals removed measured between 2- and 3-feet long and consisted of both females and males. Necropsies show the tegus have all been scavenging native plants and animals, including toads, various insects and muscadines. This indicates these individuals are wild, free roaming and foraging opportunistically. It is important that this species does not establish in our state.”\r\n\r\nOn Aug. 21, SCDNR provided information regarding the first confirmed sighting of a wild Argentine black and white tegu in South Carolina, and asked members of the public to report any sightings of wild tegus to the department. After this request for information, more than 80 reports of black and white tegus in the State have been received.\r\n\r\nThe SCDNR appreciates the willingness of South Carolina’s residents to provide information to help protect our native wildlife and prevent the establishment of non-native species. SCDNR continues to investigate all reports and asks that any sightings of black and white tegus in the wild be reported to Andrew Grosse at grossea@dnr.sc.gov. When possible, please submit a photo, location, and time and date the individual was seen.\r\n\r\nAs a non-native species, tegus in the wild in South Carolina are not protected by state wildlife laws or regulations and should be removed from the wild.\r\n\r\n<em>Black and white tegus found by a homeowner in Columbia. Photo by Angie Kodek.</em>', 'More non-native tegus spotted in SC', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'more-non-native-tegus-spotted-in-sc', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:13:07', '2020-09-16 18:13:07', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45931', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45933, 4, '2020-09-16 14:14:36', '2020-09-16 18:14:36', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nThe annual Young Life Fishing Derby Tournament offers avid fishermen and women the opportunity to be involved in a competitive fishing tournament, while also rewarding younger fishers for their participation.\r\n\r\nThis year’s tournament will be held Friday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 3, and all tournament proceeds support Beaufort Young Life.\r\n\r\nThe Captain’s Meeting will be at 6 p.m. Oct. 2 at Beaufort Boat and Dock, 1734 Ribaut Rd., Port Royal.\r\n\r\nThe following morning fishing will begin at 6 a.m., and weigh in will be from 4 to 6 p.m. at Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club, 30 Yacht Club Dr.\r\n\r\nThe weigh-in will be immediately followed by the awards ceremony and raffle drawings.\r\n\r\nThere will be seven different qualifying species: redfish, trout, flounder, black drum, sheepshead, king mackerel and Spanish mackerel.\r\n\r\nEntry fee is $200. There is no limit to number of anglers on a boat. Last year, a total of $10,000 in prizes were awarded to off-shore and on-shore participants. This year there will be seven opportunities to win, one for each species, so a participant can win multiple times.\r\n\r\nYoung Life, a teen outreach ministry, is a world-class organization for adolescents. Young Life’s staff and volunteers enter the world of kids, focusing on what matters to them — fun, adventure, friendship and a sense of significance.\r\n\r\nFor a great day of fishing, a chance to win prize money, and to help impact kids’ lives in Beaufort, come fish in the Young Life tournament. For more information, email Andrew Lancaster at andrewlancasteryl@gmail.com or visit ylfishingderby.com.\r\n\r\n\r\n<em>All proceeds from the fishing derby go to Young Life. Submitted photo.</em>', 'Young Life 2020 Fishing Derby set for October', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'young-life-2020-fishing-derby-set-for-october', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:14:36', '2020-09-16 18:14:36', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45933', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45935, 4, '2020-09-16 14:16:28', '2020-09-16 18:16:28', '<b>WILLIAM ‘BILL’ C. RUSSELL\r\n\r\n</b>\r\n\r\nHMCS William “Bill” C. Russell (USN, Ret.), 84, a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather passed away Saturday, September 12, 2020.He is survived by children: Kathryn Lindemann, William Russell,Jane Greene,Theresa Raino, and four grandchildren.&nbsp;Viewing at Anderson on 9/21 from 5-7pm. St. Peter’s Mass 9/22 at 12:30. Interment 2P.M. National Cemetery (military honors).\r\n\r\n<b>&nbsp;</b>', 'OBITUARY', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'obituary-7', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:16:28', '2020-09-16 18:16:28', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45935', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45937, 4, '2020-09-16 14:17:54', '2020-09-16 18:17:54', '<strong>Symptoms</strong>\r\n\r\nBoth illnesses can cause fever, cough, body aches, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea (especially in children). Learn more about COVID-19 symptoms.\r\n\r\nBoth can result in pneumonia.\r\n\r\nBoth flu and COVID-19 can be mild or severe, or even fatal in rare cases.\r\n\r\n<strong>How It Spreads</strong>\r\n\r\nBoth the flu and COVID-19 spread in similar ways. Droplets or smaller virus particles from a sick person can transmit the virus to other people nearby. The smallest particles may linger in the air, and another person can inhale them and become infected.\r\n\r\nOr, people can touch a surface with viruses on it, and then transfer the germs to themselves by touching their face.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nPeople infected with the coronavirus or the flu may not realize they are sick for several days, and during that time can unknowingly spread the disease to others before they even feel sick.\r\n\r\n<strong>Treatment</strong>\r\n\r\nNeither the flu nor COVID-19 is treatable with antibiotics, which only work on bacterial infections.\r\n\r\nBoth are treated by addressing symptoms, such as reducing fever. Severe cases may require hospitalization and very ill patients may need a ventilator — a machine that helps them breathe.\r\n\r\nAntiviral medications may shorten the duration of both illnesses.\r\n\r\n<strong>Prevention</strong>\r\n\r\nBoth can be prevented by mask-wearing, frequent and thorough hand washing, coughing into the crook of your elbow, staying home when sick and limiting contact with people who are infected. Physical distancing limits the spread of COVID-19 in communities.\r\n\r\nReviewed by Lisa Lockerd Maragakis, M.D., M.P.H.\r\n\r\nhttps://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-disease-2019-vs-the-flu', 'Similarities: COVID-19 and the flu', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'similarities-covid-19-and-the-flu', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:17:54', '2020-09-16 18:17:54', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45937', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45939, 4, '2020-09-16 14:18:35', '2020-09-16 18:18:35', 'From staff reports\r\n\r\nDr. Jamie McWilliams has joined the Howard Family Dental team and will serve patients at both the Bluffton and Beaufort locations. She will care for patients in Beaufort on Monday and Tuesdays and in Bluffton on Thursday and Fridays.\r\n\r\nMcWilliams received both her undergraduate and dental degrees from the University of Kentucky and is a member of the American Association of Women Dentists. She is originally from Barbourville, Ken., now resides in the Lowcountry.\r\n\r\n“I can resonate with how my patients are feeling during treatment, as I’ve undergone extensive dental work myself,” McWilliams said in a release. “My personal experience drives me to make each of my patients feel comfortable at their visit and well informed on their recommended treatment.”\r\n\r\nFor more information or to schedule an appointment, call 912-629-9000 or visit www.HowardFamilyDental.com.', 'McWilliams joins Howard Family Dental', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'mcwilliams-joins-howard-family-dental', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:18:35', '2020-09-16 18:18:35', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45939', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45941, 4, '2020-09-16 14:19:58', '2020-09-16 18:19:58', 'Hilton Head Regional Physician Network welcomes Deana Harmon, DO, FACOOG to Riverside Women’s Care. Dr. Harmon is committed to the care of the whole woman with avid interests in comprehensive obstetrical care, well woman visits and adolescent gynecology. She is da Vinci robotics certified and performs minimally invasive gynecological surgery.\r\n\r\nDr. Harmon earned her medical degree at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg. She completed a combined obstetrics and gynecology internship and residency at the Genesys Regional Medical Center, Grand Blanc, Michigan, a partnering training site of Michigan State University. Dr. Harmon is a member of the member of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of Obstetricians &amp; Gynecologists.', 'Hilton Head Regional Physician Network welcomes Dr. Deana Harmon to Riverside Women’s Care', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'hilton-head-regional-physician-network-welcomes-dr-deana-harmon-to-riverside-womens-care', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:19:58', '2020-09-16 18:19:58', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45941', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45943, 4, '2020-09-16 14:22:20', '2020-09-16 18:22:20', 'Take a moment, think about YOURSELF. Here are some soothing self-care tips from Julie Potiker, author of “Life Falls Apart, but You Don’t Have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos”.\r\n\r\n“As we continue to navigate the realities of the ongoing pandemic, self-care is more important than ever,” says Julie. Here are sugesstions that can help realize some much-needed peace of mind.\r\n\r\n1. Connect with others: Call a dear friend, maybe one you haven’t spoken with in a while. Make a commitment to connect, then practice the art of connecting. If you’re really in a rut, consider making a therapy appointment. I know for myself that when I’ve been at the bottom of the snake pit, I really haven’t wanted to share my story with friends because I get sick of telling it. That’s when it’s time to call in reinforcements. Find a wonderful therapist to hear your story. Many insurance companies are covering remote therapy sessions during the pandemic.\r\n\r\n2. Be your own BFF: Don’t let yourself believe you are not enough, or you may not be able to handle the depths of the emotional storms that blow through your life. Be your own BFF so you can always count on YOU, no matter what hand life deals you.\r\n\r\n3. Embrace the yin and yang of self-compassion: Unfortunately, many of us spend a lot of time worrying about whether our personal way of being in the world is too much or not enough. In thinking about the yin and yang of self-compassion, consider accepting yourself and your energetic way of being as “just right,” just as you are. Keep your eye on the ball of focusing on self-compassion, whether it’s the soft kind or the fierce kind.\r\n\r\n4. Take time away from the 24-hour news cycle: Give yourself permission to step away, turn off the TV, and steer clear of political social media streams when you need a break. Take this time to do something positive and impactful instead — something that makes you feel good and helps others. Volunteer in your community. Donate to a cause you’re passionate about.\r\n\r\n5. Comfort yourself with soothing touch: Placing your hand over your heart — or wherever you find it most comforting (i.e., your shoulder, your cheek) — taps into your body’s mammalian caregiver response and releases oxytocin and opiates in your brain to counteract cortisol, the stress hormone. “I put my hand on my heart probably 20 times a day! Whenever I hear an upsetting story, up goes my hand to my heart. Some of my mindfulness students find that placing a hand on their belly or cheek worked better for them. Try different spots out on yourself and see what works for you.”\r\n\r\n<em>Julie Potiker is a mindfulness expert with extensive teacher training in a variety of tools and methods, including Mindful Self-Compassion. For more information, visit www.MindfulMethodsForLife.com.\r\n</em>\r\n<em>Exclusive content from CARE Magazine</em>', 'Take a moment for yourself using these self-care tips', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'take-a-moment-for-yourself-using-these-self-care-tips', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:22:20', '2020-09-16 18:22:20', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45943', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45945, 4, '2020-09-16 14:23:32', '2020-09-16 18:23:32', 'According to the CDC, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States, aside from non-melanoma skin cancer. It is also one of the leading causes of cancer death among men of all races.\r\n\r\n2017 is the latest year for which CDC incidence data are available. In the United States, 207,430 new cases of prostate cancer were reported among men, and 30,486 men died of this cancer.\r\n\r\nProstate cancer symptoms vary but can include the following:<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\ndifficulty starting urination,<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nweak or interrupted flow of urine,<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\ndifficulty emptying the bladder completely,<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\npain during urination,<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nblood in the urine, and more.\r\n\r\nRecommendations for Prostate Cancer Screening according to physicians at the Cleveland Clinic<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nWhile there is no information yet available that can tell us whether screening for prostate cancer makes a difference in how long a patient will live after his prostate cancer is discovered, we still recommend following screening guidelines.\r\n\r\nThe following should be offered annually:\r\n\r\nAnnual digital rectal exam (DRE) and PSA counseling for all men beginning at age 45 - 50 who have at least a 10-year life expectancy.\r\n\r\nAnnual DRE and PSA counseling beginning at age 40 for African-Americans and those with a positive family history of prostate cancer.\r\n\r\nThe American College of Physicians recommends that all men who are considering DRE and PSA counseling should consider the following:\r\n\r\nThe benefits of one-time or repeated screening and aggressive treatment of prostate cancer have not yet been proven.\r\n\r\nDigital rectal examination (DRE) and PSA measurement can both have false-positive and false-negative results.\r\n\r\nThe probability that further invasive evaluation will be required as a result of testing is relatively high.\r\n\r\nAggressive therapy is necessary to realize any benefit from the discovery of a tumor.\r\n\r\nA small risk for early death and a significant risk for chronic illness, particularly with regard to sexual and urinary function, are associated with these treatments.\r\n\r\nEarly treatment may save lives.\r\n\r\nEarly detection and treatment may head-off future cancer-related illness\r\n\r\nSource: Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/cancer/patient-education/wellness-prevention/screening-guidelines\r\n\r\n<em>Exclusive content from CARE Magazine</em>', 'September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'september-is-prostate-cancer-awareness-month', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:23:32', '2020-09-16 18:23:32', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45945', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45947, 4, '2020-09-16 14:24:30', '2020-09-16 18:24:30', '<strong>Community Foundation of the Lowcountry taps Wierman to lead organization</strong>\r\n\r\nThe Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has named Scott F. Wierman to be its next president and CEO, starting Jan. 1, 2021.\r\n\r\nWierman is currently president of The Winston-Salem Foundation in North Carolina and has worked for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s annual giving program.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nHe has a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Business Administration degree from Babcock School of Business at Wake Forest University.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nWierman and his wife, Lauren, have two daughters and a son. The Wiermans will be relocating to the Lowcountry the first of the year.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n<strong>Carolina Realty of the Lowcountry adds two to team</strong>\r\n\r\nCarolina Realty of the Lowcountry, in Port Royal, has added two real estate agents to its team: Michelle Felver and Cherri Jaynes.\r\n\r\nFelver is an active member of her church, enjoys volunteering and giving back to the community. She has three children and likes to travel, camp, garden and go to estate sales in her spare time.\r\n\r\nJaynes is a member of the Beaufort-Jasper Board of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors. She is an active member of the Junior League of Savannah and enjoys volunteering with other organizations in the community. She has two children and is married to Kevin Jaynes, also a commercial agent at Carolina Realty of the Lowcountry.\r\n\r\nHave an employee or business announcement? The Island News routinely runs business briefs when space allows. Send announcements to: mindy@yourislandnews.com.', 'BUSINESS BRIEFS', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'business-briefs-33', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:24:30', '2020-09-16 18:24:30', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45947', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45949, 4, '2020-09-16 14:26:23', '2020-09-16 18:26:23', 'From staff reports\r\n\r\nBeaufort City Council approved an extension of the City’s mask ordinance through Nov. 1 at Council’s Sept. 8 meeting. The ordinance was set to expire on Sept. 15.\r\n\r\nBeaufort joins the Town of Bluffton, the Town of Hilton Head, and Beaufort County, all of which recently extended their mask ordinances.\r\n\r\nDuring the meeting, Council members agreed that wearing masks has helped to curtail Covid-19 throughout Beaufort County and in the City, and cited a study from the South Carolina Department of Health &amp; Environmental Control showing that jurisdictions with mask ordinances showed a greater decrease in cases compared to those without.\r\n\r\nIn measures to continue to help its merchants during the pandemic, City Council agreed to:\r\n\r\nExtend temporary outdoor leased spaces for restaurants in downtown Beaufort through Nov. 1.\r\n\r\nExtend free parking at the Marina parking lot on Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 1.\r\n\r\nExtend a waiver allowing 9 a.m. horse carriage tours through Nov. 1.\r\n\r\nCity Council also supports a downtown First Friday event on Nov. 6, but declined to close streets on that night. Members determined that there was no way to ensure the number attending would be limited to 250 people, as required under an executive order from Gov. Henry McMaster.&nbsp;', 'Beaufort extends mask ordinance through Nov. 1', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-extends-mask-ordinance-through-nov-1', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:26:23', '2020-09-16 18:26:23', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45949', 0, 'post', '', 0);
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(45951, 4, '2020-09-16 14:29:01', '2020-09-16 18:29:01', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nPresident Donald Trump, a longtime proponent of offshore drilling, threw everyone an election season curve ball at a Jupiter, Fla., campaign appearance on Tuesday, Sept. 8 when he extended a moratorium on drilling off the coasts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.\r\n\r\n“This protects your beautiful Gulf and your beautiful ocean, and it will for a long time to come,” Trump said in a speech in which he touted his environmental record.\r\n\r\nS.C. State Senator Chip Campsen (R-Charleston, Colleton, Beaufort), who represents roughly half of the state’s coastline, authored the state budget proviso currently protecting South Carolina’s coast from offshore drilling. Campsen called Trump’s move a “welcomed layer of additional protection” for the S.C. coast.\r\n\r\n“Offshore drilling is a threat to our coastal economy, quality of life and magnificent natural resources,” Senator Campsen said in a release. “The Lowcountry’s voice was heard loud and clear today in the White House’s 10-year moratorium on offshore drilling and seismic testing.”\r\n\r\nThe move also drew positive reaction – and caution – from others from South Carolina.\r\n\r\n“South Carolina is blessed with the most beautiful and pristine beaches, sea islands, and marshes in the nation. Seismic testing and offshore drilling threatens their health and jeopardizes the future of our state’s $24 billion tourism industry,” S.C. Governor Henry McMaster said in a release. “(Tuesday’s) announcement is good news, but we must remain vigilant in the conservation and preservation of our coastline.”\r\n\r\n“I want to thank the Trump administration for listening to our concerns and announcing this moratorium,” S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson said. “We had sued the federal government to protect South Carolina’s coast from oil and gas exploration and drilling. This is a step in the right direction and we will remain vigilant in protecting South Carolina’s coast and economy.”\r\n\r\n\"President Trump’s announcement of a ten-year moratorium on offshore drilling activity off the coasts of South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia is a clear result of constant pressure from coastal communities like ours who have made it abundantly clear that offshore drilling is dangerous, unwanted, and a threat to our economy and way of life. I’m glad to see the Administration listen to the will of the people,” Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-S.C.) said. \"But make no mistake, as quickly as the president changed his mind on offshore drilling two months before an election, he could change his mind right back the day after the election. The only way we can make sure our coasts are safe for future generations and give coastal communities the certainty they deserve is to pass my bipartisan legislation to permanently ban offshore drilling.\"', 'Reaction to Trump’s offshore drilling moratorium positive, cautious', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'reaction-to-trumps-offshore-drilling-moratorium-positive-cautious', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:29:01', '2020-09-16 18:29:01', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45951', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45953, 4, '2020-09-16 14:30:49', '2020-09-16 18:30:49', '<strong>By Wells Fargo Advisors</strong>\r\n\r\nMany individuals are looking for ways to give back during the coronavirus pandemic. What you may not know is that the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act contains provisions that could make it easier to take tax deductions on charitable donations in 2020.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nHere are possible charitable giving options that you may want to consider.\r\n\r\n<strong>Charitable contribution changes in the CARES Act</strong>\r\n\r\nFor 2020, there’s no income limit on the deduction of cash gifts to eligible charities, excluding donor-advised funds or other supporting organizations. (The deduction for cash gifts to donor-advised funds is still limited to 60% of adjusted gross income.)\r\n\r\nIf you’re in a position to make generous gifts, you could potentially offset all of your taxable income for 2020.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nLikewise, cash gifts could potentially be used to offset Roth IRA conversion income or capital gains realized upon the sale of a concentrated position or real estate.\r\n\r\nThe CARES Act waived required minimum distributions (RMDs) in 2020—but qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) are still allowed for anyone age 70• or older from a Traditional and Inherited Traditional IRA.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n<strong>Determining the<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>best way to give</strong>\r\n\r\nGiven the expanded options available, you may want to consider one or more of the following:\r\n\r\nQCDs. Distributions are tax-free and not included in adjusted gross income. Future RMDs may be smaller since distributions lower the year-end balance, which could result in future tax benefits if tax rates increase in later years.\r\n\r\n<strong>Cash gifts to eligible charities. </strong>These may be deductible up to $300 in addition to the standard deduction. This is a benefit to those who do not itemize deductions. You may offset up to 100% of adjusted gross income if you itemize your deductions, providing a current tax benefit.\r\n\r\n<strong>Stock gifts.</strong> These provide a current tax benefit if you itemize your deductions; they also allow you to avoid taxation on the stock’s appreciation. Deductions for stock gifts are limited to 30% of adjusted gross income when contributing to public charities.\r\n\r\nBefore taking any action, consult with a tax advisor to help determine the best possible outcome.\r\n\r\nWells Fargo Advisors and its affiliates do not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with your tax and/or legal advisors before taking any action that may have tax and/or legal consequences.\r\n\r\nThis article was written by/for Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Katie C. Phifer, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and Associate Vice President-Investments in Beaufort, SC at 843-982-1506.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nInvestments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANK-GUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE\r\n\r\nWells 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.\r\n\r\n© 2019 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC. All rights reserved. #0520-01420', 'How the CARES Act could yield tax benefits for charitable giving', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'how-the-cares-act-could-yield-tax-benefits-for-charitable-giving', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:30:49', '2020-09-16 18:30:49', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45953', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45955, 4, '2020-09-16 14:31:34', '2020-09-16 18:31:34', '<strong>Bluffton Artisan Market</strong>\r\n\r\n1 to 6 p.m. Saturdays Sept. 19, Oct. 3, Oct. 17, Nov. 14 at the Southern Barrel parking lot, Buckwalter Plaza, Bluffton. There will also be a two-day Christmas market from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 27-28. An open-air shopping event with live music that features local makers. Vendor registration for booths is $45 per market for early registration before Aug. 31, $55 for late registration; and $30 per market for Lowcountry Made members. To register, visit lcmade.com.\r\n\r\n<strong>2020 Young Life Fishing Derby</strong>\r\n\r\nFriday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 3, The Captain’s Meeting will be at 6 p.m. Oct. 2 at Beaufort Boat and Dock, 1734 Ribaut Rd., Port Royal. The following morning, fishing will begin at 6 a.m., and weigh in will be from 4 to 6 p.m. at Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club, 30 Yacht Club Dr. The weigh-in will be immediately followed by the awards ceremony and raffle drawings. There will be seven different qualifying species: redfish, trout, flounder, black drum, sheepshead, king mackerel and Spanish mackerel. Entry fee is $200. There is no limit to number of anglers on a boat. All tournament proceeds support Beaufort Young Life. For more information, email Andrew Lancaster at andrewlancasteryl@gmail.com or visit ylfishingderby.com.\r\n\r\n<strong>Maye River Quilters Guild</strong>\r\n\r\n9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, via ZOOM. Membership forms are available on the website for those interested in joining. For meeting dates and times, visit mayeriverquiltguild.com or call 843-530-1244.', 'WHAT’S HAPPENING', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'whats-happening-22', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:31:34', '2020-09-16 18:31:34', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45955', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45957, 4, '2020-09-16 14:34:04', '2020-09-16 18:34:04', '<strong>By Mike McCombs</strong>\r\n\r\nSince the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) began providing a school report that includes for every school both cumulative and rolling 30-day counts of confirmed COVID-19 cases among students, teachers and faculty members, the site (https://scdhec.gov/covid-19-cases-associated-staff-students) has been a work in progress.\r\n\r\nAs of Tuesday, Sept. 8, when The Island News first reported numbers from the site, all Beaufort County Schools were on one list. Since then, DHEC has divided the state into public and private schools, as well as moving all charter schools into one district.\r\n\r\nThere were also several private schools from Beaufort County missing. Now, all except St. Peter’s Catholic are listed, and DHEC spokesperson Laura Renwick said that would soon be taken care of.\r\n\r\nAs far as the numbers themselves, they must be a work in progress, too.\r\n\r\nIn last Tuesday’s report, two schools in Beaufort County had reported cases of Covid-19 among students. This week, one of those schools is shown with zero cases – Lowcountry Montessori.\r\n\r\n“The data within this school reporting is expected to change as new information is learned about previously reported cases,” Renwick said. “We are focusing on reporting cases associated with in-person instruction or attendance. Through our follow-up investigations of positive cases, if cases are determined to be individuals who attend school virtually, they are removed from the dashboard.”<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThis week, among schools in The Island News’ coverage area, two schools had positive cases listed on the site. Coosa Elementary has fewer than five cases among faculty, and John Paul II has fewer than five cases among students.\r\n\r\nBeaufort County School District began virtual learning Tuesday, Sept. 8.\r\n\r\nBeaufort Academy, which began in-person learning on August 12, still has no positive cases, according to DHEC.\r\n\r\nDepartment of Defense Education Activities (DoDEA) schools at Laurel Bay are not listed in the report.\r\n\r\n<em>Mike McCombs is the Editor of<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.\r\n\r\n\r\n</em>\r\n\r\n<b>THE LAST WEEK<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b>\r\n\r\n<b>Monday, Sept. 14</b>\r\n\r\n<b>New S.C. Cases: </b>525\r\n\r\n<b>S.C. deaths: </b>7\r\n\r\n<b>New Beaufort Co. Cases: </b>23\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort Co. deaths: </b>1\r\n\r\n<b>Percent Positive: </b>9.8\r\n\r\n<b>Sunday, Sept. 13</b>\r\n\r\n<b>New S.C. Cases: </b>515\r\n\r\n<b>S.C. deaths: </b>24\r\n\r\n<b>New Beaufort Co. Cases: </b>11\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort Co. deaths: </b>1\r\n\r\n<b>Percent Positive: </b>9.4\r\n\r\n<b>Saturday, Sept. 12</b>\r\n\r\n<b>New S.C. Cases: </b>827\r\n\r\n<b>S.C. deaths: </b>17\r\n\r\n<b>New Beaufort Co. Cases: </b>31\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort Co. deaths: </b>0\r\n\r\n<b>Percent Positive: </b>12.7\r\n\r\n<b>Friday, Sept. 11</b>\r\n\r\n<b>New S.C. Cases: </b>951\r\n\r\n<b>S.C. deaths: </b>53\r\n\r\n<b>New Beaufort Co. Cases: </b>37\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort Co. deaths: </b>2\r\n\r\n<b>Percent Positive: </b>14.9\r\n\r\n<b>Thursday, Sept. 10</b>\r\n\r\n<b>New S.C. Cases: </b>264\r\n\r\n<b>S.C. deaths: </b>24\r\n\r\n<b>New Beaufort Co. Cases: </b>14\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort Co. deaths: </b>0\r\n\r\n<b>Percent Positive: </b>6.0\r\n\r\n<b>Wednesday, Sept. 9</b>\r\n\r\n<b>New S.C. Cases: </b>250\r\n\r\n<b>S.C. deaths: </b>29\r\n\r\n<b>New Beaufort Co. Cases: </b>9\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort Co. deaths: </b>1\r\n\r\n<b>Percent Positive: </b>14.3\r\n\r\n<b>Tuesday, Sept. 8</b>\r\n\r\n<b>New S.C. Cases: </b>339\r\n\r\n<b>S.C. deaths: </b>5\r\n\r\n<b>New Beaufort Co. Cases: </b>6\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort Co. deaths: </b>0\r\n\r\n<b>Percent Positive: </b>11.3\r\n\r\n<b>THE NUMBERS<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></b>\r\n\r\nFrom S.C. DHEC\r\n\r\n<b>Totals</b>\r\n\r\nAs of Monday, Sept. 14\r\n\r\n<b>S.C. confirmed cases: </b>130,256\r\n\r\n<b>S.C. probable cases: </b>2,424\r\n\r\n<b>S.C. confirmed deaths: </b>2,922\r\n\r\n<b>S.C. probable deaths: </b>155\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort County cases: </b>5,180\r\n\r\n<b>Beaufort County deaths: </b>73\r\n\r\n<b>THE AVERAGES</b>\r\n\r\n<b>Last week’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>524.4\r\n\r\n<b>Previous week’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>866.9\r\n\r\n<b>Two weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>782.7\r\n\r\n<b>Three weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>755.6\r\n\r\n<b>Four weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>790.9\r\n\r\n<b>Five weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>1074.4\r\n\r\n<b>Six weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>1,418.1\r\n\r\n<b>Seven weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>1,449.6\r\n\r\n<b>Eight weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>1,860.2\r\n\r\n<b>Nine weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>1,663.1\r\n\r\n<b>10 weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>1,604.1\r\n\r\n<b>11 weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>1,263.6\r\n\r\n<b>Last week’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>18.7\r\n\r\n<b>Previous week’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>31.0\r\n\r\n<b>Two weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>23.1\r\n\r\n<b>Three weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>29.0\r\n\r\n<b>Four weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>35.7\r\n\r\n<b>Five weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>65.4\r\n\r\n<b>Six weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>83.3\r\n\r\n<b>Seven weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>83.9\r\n\r\n<b>Eight weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>72.4\r\n\r\n<b>Nine weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>72.6\r\n\r\n<b>10 weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>52.4\r\n\r\n<b>11 weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>38.9\r\n\r\n<em>&nbsp;</em>', 'DHEC’s Covid-19 dashboard for schools still in flux', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'dhecs-covid-19-dashboard-for-schools-still-in-flux', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:34:04', '2020-09-16 18:34:04', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45957', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45959, 4, '2020-09-16 14:35:33', '2020-09-16 18:35:33', 'Saying it’s what God has told him to do, Thomas Allen, Sr., of Seabrook, – the Waving Man – has been walking up and down U.S. 21, waving at people and cars for several days a week since 2009. On Saturday, the Burton Fire District and members of the community caught up with Allen, in his yellow vest, at one of his waving spots to celebrate his 68th birthday. Submitted photo.', 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY WAVING MAN', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'happy-birthday-waving-man', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:35:33', '2020-09-16 18:35:33', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45959', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45961, 4, '2020-09-16 14:36:31', '2020-09-16 18:36:31', 'For Cristhian Varas, as a father, this year’s Father’s Day was tougher than most.\r\n\r\nVaras traditionally spends the day with his son. But this year he was hundreds of miles away from him undergoing the challenge of training on Parris Island.\r\n\r\nIn spite of that separation and the rigors of training, on Father’s Day, his son was the only thing on his mind.\r\n\r\nMonths after Father’s Day, Varas finally earned the title “United States Marine.”\r\n\r\n“He has been my inspiration since the first day,” Varas said. “Everything I did, eating, training, working, I imagined him next to me. He was my main motivation for all this.”\r\n\r\nVaras looked back on how his son has motivated him ever since he first made the decision to enlist. Even when he was training as a poolee, his son was beside him the whole way.\r\n\r\n“When I was back home training, he would always say ‘Papi, push push!’” Varas said. “Sometimes you are tired, hungry, sleepy, etc., but when you’re a father you have to keep pushing no matter how you feel. You cannot quit on yourself, because that means quitting on those around you. I don’t want my son to have a dad that quits.”\r\n\r\nThroughout the cycle, he mentioned everything he was doing was for his son. He wanted to provide his son a better life and be a role model for him by being part of the most elite fighting force in the world. He expressed how it felt earning his eagle, globe and anchor.\r\n\r\n“I still remember that day perfectly.” Varas said “When that eagle, globe, and anchor was in my hand, I saw that my son, my family, were all behind me watching it all. I was proud of myself, and most importantly, my family was proud of me. All those months, all the sweat and tears, just for this moment.”\r\n\r\nPvt. Cristhian Varas graduated with Fox Company from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island on Aug. 28. While his journey began as a selfless endeavor for his son’s sake, he is now giving his all for his son and his country.', 'Role of father inspired new Marine', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'role-of-father-inspired-new-marine', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:36:31', '2020-09-16 18:36:31', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45961', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45963, 4, '2020-09-16 14:37:33', '2020-09-16 18:37:33', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nThe City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department has been awarded a $200,749 grant from the Department of Homeland Security to enhance firefighters’ training.\r\n\r\nThis grant requires a 10 percent match from Beaufort/Port Royal, bringing the total to $220,824 for training.\r\n\r\nThe grant will allow the Fire Department to send 24 firefighters to advanced emergency medical technician training.\r\n\r\n“This training will increase emergency medical knowledge, skills, and abilities of our professional firefighting staff,” Fire Department Chief Reece Bertholf said in a release. “Our mission is to take a customer service approach in service to our citizens, with caring, empathy, and understanding. This grant aids in achieving that mission while acting as good stewards of public funds.”\r\n\r\nThe purpose of Assistance to Firefighters Grant program is to protect the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel against fire and fire-related hazards. The DHS determined that Beaufort/Port Royal’s Fire Department training project met those criteria.\r\n\r\nThe department has received a number of grants over the years, including a federal SAFER grant of $1.5 million in 2016 that allowed the department to hire 15 firefighters.', 'Fire Department awarded federal training grant', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', '45963-2', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:37:49', '2020-09-16 18:37:49', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45963', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45966, 4, '2020-09-16 14:38:31', '2020-09-16 18:38:31', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nThe League of Women Voters of Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Area and the League of Women Voters Beaufort will present the Beaufort County Board of Education Candidate Forum at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17.\r\n\r\nThe participating candidates for the Beaufort County Board of Education Candidate Forum are:\r\n\r\nDistrict 1: Jevona Armstrong, Earl Campbell.\r\n\r\nDistrict 6: Angela Middleton.\r\n\r\nDistrict 9: Christina Gwozdz, Jennifer Morrow.\r\n\r\nDistrict 11: Ingrid Boatright.\r\n\r\nVoters can register for this Zoom Candidates Forum Webinar at https://bit.ly/2ZDgrYB.\r\n\r\nShould you have questions that you want the candidates to answer relative to THIS campaign, please send them to pafmontgomery@gmail.com ahead of time.', 'LWV hosting Board of Education candidate forum', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'lwv-hosting-board-of-education-candidate-forum', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:38:31', '2020-09-16 18:38:31', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45966', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45968, 4, '2020-09-16 14:43:41', '2020-09-16 18:43:41', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nAdapt and overcome. That’s what the 26th Beaufort Shrimp Festival is all about for 2020.\r\n\r\nDue to limitations on large gatherings and concerns about public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Beaufort Shrimp Festival has been re-imagined.\r\n\r\nInstead of a single weekend event, Beaufort will celebrate the fall shrimp season and highlight the region’s culinary traditions spanning three weeks, from Friday, Sept. 18 through Sunday, Oct. 4.\r\n\r\nLocals and visitors, alike, are invited to the area’s restaurants, shops, and outdoor venues across the Beaufort region to enjoy the best of Lowcountry food and lifestyle.\r\n\r\nThroughout Shrimp Festival Season, participating restaurants region-wide will feature a specially priced fresh shrimp “tasting menu” item and entrée and local shops will feature seafood-themed promotions.\r\n\r\nCheck <a href=\"http://www.BeaufortShrimpFestival.com\">www.BeaufortShrimpFestival.com</a> for the latest information and up-to-date list of participating restaurants to sample the bounty of our Lowcountry waters and celebrate the long tradition of the shrimping industry in Beaufort.\r\n\r\n<b>WANT TO GO?</b>\r\n\r\n<b>What: </b>The 26th Beaufort Shrimp Festival\r\n\r\n<b>When: </b>Friday, Sept. 19-Sunday, Oct. 4.\r\n\r\n<b>Where: </b>Participating restaurants and shops across the Beaufort Region.\r\n\r\n<b>Participating restaurants: </b>Beaufort Inn (Beaufort), Breakwater (Beaufort), Bricks on Boundary (Beaufort), Cuthbert House Inn (Beaufort), Fat Patties (Port Royal), Fish Camp on 11th (New Orleans), Hearth Wood Fired Pizza (Beaufort), Madison’s (Port Royal), Marker 244 (Port Royal), Mezes Mediterranean Grill (Beaufort), Morgan River Grill (Dataw Island), Mr. Seafood (Beaufort), Old Bull Tavern (Beaufort), Plums (Beaufort), Q On Bay (Beaufort), Salt Marsh Brewing (Port Royal), Saltus River Grill (Beaufort).\r\n\r\n<b>For more information: </b>BeaufortShrimpFestival.com.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Beaufort Shrimp Festival 2020: The shrimp must go on', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-shrimp-festival-2020-the-shrimp-must-go-on', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:43:41', '2020-09-16 18:43:41', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45968', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45970, 4, '2020-09-16 14:44:39', '2020-09-16 18:44:39', '<strong>By Mindy Lucas</strong>\r\n\r\nThe City of Beaufort is applying for a federal community block grant to extend the Spanish Moss Trail to Ribaut Road.\r\n\r\nIf approved, the city would receive $200,000 that would enable it to widen the current sidewalk on Depot Road to create a multipurpose path for both pedestrians and bike riders similar to one on Boundary Street.\r\n\r\nThe new path would give a safer connection to downtown neighborhoods and other areas, city officials and proponents of the project said at the Sept. 8 Beaufort City Council meeting. The meeting also included a public hearing on the project.\r\n\r\nCity officials were made aware of the possible funding only recently and were given a short turn around time to apply for the grant if interested, Beaufort City Manager Bill Prokop said.\r\n\r\nIf approved, the project would be funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce specifically given to cities and counties for such infrastructure projects.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nA 10 percent required match would be covered through funding already secured through the penny sales tax referendum and approved by voters in 2018. No money would come out of the city’s operating fund, council members noted.\r\n\r\nFriends of the Spanish Moss Trail, who proposed a similar connector to downtown Beaufort in 2017, have endorsed the application for the extension.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nIn addition, the group proposed that a citizen’s task force be formed to investigate additional routes that would bring the trail further in to the popular Bay Street area, said Friends’ volunteer Executive Director Dean Moss.\r\n\r\nThe grant would only fund the Depot Road connector and would stop at Ribaut Road, officials noted at the meeting. City council voted unanimously to move forward with the match commitment.', 'Beaufort applying for grant to fund Spanish Moss Trail extension', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-applying-for-grant-to-fund-spanish-moss-trail-extension', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:44:39', '2020-09-16 18:44:39', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45970', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45972, 4, '2020-09-16 14:46:04', '2020-09-16 18:46:04', '<h2>Department has added reports<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>on website</h2>\r\n<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nThe City of Beaufort Police Department has added several monthly reports to its website to ensure more transparency and accountability with the public.\r\n\r\n“During the last few months, as the spotlight has shown on law enforcement practices throughout the country, we wanted to make sure our website better reflected our practices and our data,” Interim Police Chief Dale McDorman said in a release. “In fact, we have always collected data, and made it available to members of the public when they requested it, but we wanted to make it easier for the public to access this information. We think we’ve made a good start here.”\r\n\r\nThe department’s changes are broken down into four categories – data, services, hiring and feedback.\r\n\r\n<strong>DATA</strong>\r\n\r\nThe website now includes these monthly reports:\r\n\r\nDemographics of citations: Citations are issued for misdemeanor offenses. This report shows the breakdown by age, gender and race.\r\n\r\nActivity reports: Activity reports are the sum total of activity by officers in any given month. This also includes officer-initiated property checks.\r\n\r\nReports taken: This represents incidents that require further investigation or are reportable to the FBI.\r\n\r\nOther reports include an annual use of force analysis and an annual pursuit analysis. The website also has a serious crime index showing numbers (and trends) from 2017-2019. (This report shows incidents of serious crime in Beaufort have declined over each of these three years, from a total of 759 in 2017 to 526 in 2019.)\r\n\r\nThe website also now lists the daily incident report that is emailed to the media.\r\n\r\n<strong>SERVICES</strong>\r\n\r\nThe department has also added a services section that includes:\r\n\r\nExtra patrol request for residents or businesses: This allows someone to ask for a patrol check during a vacation, for example.\r\n\r\nBicycle registration: This allows someone to register their bike’s serial number and also upload a picture of the bike. If the bike is stolen, and later found, this would make it easier to return the bike to its owner.\r\n\r\n<strong>HIRING</strong>\r\n\r\nThe department has added a section detailing the hiring and training process for a Beaufort police officer.\r\n\r\n<strong>FEEDBACK</strong>\r\n\r\nThe department has added a survey that asks for feedback on such issues as safety, encounters with officers, etc.\r\n\r\n“When City Council met earlier this summer with people from the community who wanted to see more transparency from our Police Department in the way of data and information, we promised that this would happen,” Mayor Billy Keyserling said in a release. “Our department has followed through on this, and is a leader in the region when it comes to transparency.”\r\n\r\nFor more information, contact Capt. George Erdel at gerdel@cityofbeaufort.org or 843-322-7958.', 'City of Beaufort Police making data more easily available', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'city-of-beaufort-police-making-data-more-easily-available', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:46:04', '2020-09-16 18:46:04', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45972', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45974, 4, '2020-09-16 14:47:09', '2020-09-16 18:47:09', 'Beaufort Republican Women’s Club President Elaine Gantt and Pat Stanton from the Beaufort Federation of Republican Men are preparing for the official Grand Opening of the 2020 Beaufort Republican Headquarters at 1208 Boundary St. set for 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 19. Attendees will have refreshments, welcome candidates and kick off the 2020 campaign season. Additional parking is available at Robinson and Grant CPA, 806 Boundary St. The headquarters will be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Submitted photo.', 'Grand Old Opening', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'grand-old-opening', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:47:09', '2020-09-16 18:47:09', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45974', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45976, 4, '2020-09-16 14:48:07', '2020-09-16 18:48:07', '<strong>Mary Jones Clements</strong>\r\n\r\nMary Jones Clements, 83, of Burton and wife of Ted Clements passed away Tuesday, September 8, 2020, in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Viewing, Sunday, September 13, in Helen Galloway\'s Memorial Chapel of Chisholm Galloway Home for Funerals, 808 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC. Graveside Services 10:00 a.m. Monday, September 14, at the Beaufort National Cemetery.\r\n\r\n<strong>Deaconess Louise “Jani Wese” Brown Smalls</strong>\r\n\r\nDeaconess Louise \"Jani Wese\" Brown Smalls, 85, of St. Helena Island, SC, and wife of Deacon Wesley Chris Smalls entered into eternal rest Monday, August 31, 2020, at her residence. Viewing, Wednesday, September 2, Chisholm Galloway Home for Funerals, with Funeral Director Edith Galloway, Beaufort. Graveside services 1:00 p.m. Thursday, September 3, Beaufort National Cemetery, 1601 Boundary Street, Beaufort, SC.\r\n\r\n<strong>Jannie M. Doucet</strong>\r\n\r\nJannie M. Doucet, 75, of the Cedar Grove community of St. Helena, SC entered into eternal rest at the Beaufort Memorial Hospital on Monday, August 31, 2020. Viewing 4-7p.m. Friday, September 4, in Helen Galloway\'s Memorial Chapel of Chisholm Galloway Home for Funerals, 808 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC. Services Saturday, September 5, at 2 p.m., Cedar Grove Cemetery, St. Helena Island.\r\n\r\n<strong>Barbara Jean<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>“Ruby” Taylor</strong>\r\n\r\nBarbara Jean \"Ruby\" Taylor, 65, formerly of Warsaw Island and daughter of the late James Josephus Taylor and Annie Mae McCloud Taylor entered into eternal rest Thursday, August 27, 2020. Viewing 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, September 2, in Helen Galloway\'s Memorial Chapel of Chisholm Galloway Home for Funerals, Graveside services 11:00 a.m. Thursday, September 3 on Warsaw Island Cemetery, St. Helena Island.\r\n\r\n<strong>Henry Singleton</strong>\r\n\r\nHenry Singleton, Sr., 66, of the Tom Fripp community on St. Helena Island, SC passed away at his residence, Tuesday, August 25, 2020. He was the widower of Mary Ann Edwards Singleton. Viewing August 31, in Helen Galloway\'s Memorial Chapel of Chisholm Galloway Home for Funerals, Beaufort. Graveside service September 1, Tom Fripp Cemetery, St. Helena Island, SC.\r\n\r\n<strong>Lillian “Ma” Daise Holt</strong>\r\n\r\nLillian \"Ma\" Daise Holt, 92, formerly of the Cedar Grove community of St. Helena Island, SC entered into eternal rest in Portsmouth, Virginia on Tuesday, August 18, 2020. Viewing from 4-7 p.m. Friday, August 28, in Helen Galloway\'s Memorial Chapel of Chisholm Galloway Home for Funerals. Services 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 29, burial, Cedar Grove Cemetery on St. Helena Island, SC.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>', 'DEATH NOTICES', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'death-notices-9', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:48:07', '2020-09-16 18:48:07', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45976', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45978, 4, '2020-09-16 14:48:45', '2020-09-16 18:48:45', 'Sept. 17 – Airports Board, 1:30 p.m., watch on The County Channel or county’s Facebook page\r\n\r\nSept. 21 – Beaufort County Council’s Finance Committee, 2 p.m., watch on The County Channel or county’s Facebook page\r\n\r\nSept. 21 – Beaufort County Council’s Public Facilities Committee, 3:30 p.m., watch on The County Channel or county’s Facebook page\r\n\r\nSept. 22 – Beaufort City Council, Work Session, 5 p.m., Regular Meeting, 7 p.m., watch via Zoom or on the city’s Facebook page\r\n\r\nSept. 21 – Metropolitan Planning Commission, 5 p.m., watch via Zoom or on the city’s Facebook page\r\n\r\nSept. 23 – Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority, 2 p.m., check for virtual meeting information on www.beaufortcountysc.gov\r\n\r\nSept. 23 – Burton Fire District Commission, 6 p.m., check for virtual meeting information at www.beaufortcountysc.gov\r\n\r\n*Meetings are updated as of press time and do not reflect any last minute cancellations.', 'PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR SEPT. 17–23', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'public-meetings-for-sept-17-23', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:48:45', '2020-09-16 18:48:45', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45978', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45980, 4, '2020-09-16 14:51:53', '2020-09-16 18:51:53', '<h4>Isn’t making a stand the essence of who we are?</h4>\r\nBeaufort County is so blessed to have this island so much to itself: as very nearly untouched by man, so close to the modern world as it is.\r\n\r\nNo matter how \"green\" any plan to develop a resort there may be, dwellings for people with all the proposed amenities – dining facilities, a spa, septic fields, etc., and golf carts on gravel paths (!), will be the absolute end of that unsullied ecosystem those same people will want to experience.\r\n\r\nThe world has so few of these places left; can\'t we please preserve this one? Isn\'t making that stand the essence of who we are in Beaufort County?\r\n\r\nLet the developers build their luxury retreat on less fragile land nearby, and let people experience Bay Point the way we do Pritchard\'s Island now. Remember, \"Take only pictures and leave only footprints\"?\r\n\r\nThe tide of more and more Beaufort County development is ever coming on. The natural way of the world is disintegrating at every turn.\r\n\r\nDo your part to push back. You each can decide to maintain this one small place, in memory of the edge of the sea as it was for many millennia past though it is mostly permanently now gone.\r\n\r\nThank you.\r\n\r\n– Jay Weidner, Beaufort\r\n<h4>\r\nLowcountry Montessori head, story unfair</h4>\r\nAs a journalism teacher and writer, I have greatly appreciated the journalism you do at The Island News. I include (Mindy) Lucas in this message because I have been particularly impressed by the clarity of her writing and the research, the \"digging\" she seems to have done in certain articles that I\'d call investigative.\r\n\r\nReally good journalism is not always easy to find in our small town and in our larger world. Imagine my surprise when I saw the headline on the recent article I reference: Lowcountry Montessori reports COVID-19 cases.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe administrators at this school where I teach have demonstrated rare leadership in this virus crisis time by clearly explaining their plans for instruction, timing virtual opening, hybrid instruction, and face-to-face instruction according to medical data as it develops and is published by SCDHEC. We have not opened our school to face-face or hybrid instruction because the data on COVID-19 cases and the trends in the spread of the virus in our area do not indicate that we should.\r\n\r\nWe are for the time being engaged in virtual online instruction only, wisely so, I believe. Data is evaluated on a timetable made available to everyone in our school community, and I\'m sure our action plan could be made available to you.\r\n\r\nThe Island News headline implies that the virus is at or in the school, when, in fact, if any of our students have unfortunately developed the virus, it is not likely to have been \"reported\" by us. We are not physically with them at this time. Can you see how such a headline reflects negatively on a school that has taken the greatest measures to keep its community safe?\r\n\r\nThe headline is unjustified, misleading, and even a bit strange, I must say, when a following page shows photos of students from another school playing sports without masks or any sort of social distancing, a school that has \"reported\" no cases.\r\n\r\n– Quitman Marshall,<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>teacher at Lowcountry Montessori', 'LETTERS TO THE EDITOR', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'letters-to-the-editor-23', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:51:53', '2020-09-16 18:51:53', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45980', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45982, 4, '2020-09-16 14:53:46', '2020-09-16 18:53:46', 'The “Seat People” are hand-painted wooden cutouts that literally sit in as audience members at USC Beaufort’s Center for the Arts, to help facilitate social distancing. While some of these seat people are dedicated to celebrities like Kate Hepburn and Leonardo DiCaprio, Habersham’s Ron Callari captured this one dedicated to Beaufort’s departing mayor, Billy Keyserling. To submit a Lowcountry Life photo, you must be the photographer or have permission to submit the photo to be published in The Island News. Please submit high-resolution photos and include a description and/or names of the people in the picture and the name of the photographer. Email your photos to theislandnews@gmail.com.', 'LOWCOUNTRY LIFE', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'lowcountry-life-130', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:53:46', '2020-09-16 18:53:46', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45982', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45984, 4, '2020-09-16 14:58:23', '2020-09-16 18:58:23', '<strong>By Mike McCombs</strong>\r\n\r\nIt had been months since Theodora Light – Tedi to those who know her – had gotten the bad news. So long, she doesn’t even remember exactly when she found out.\r\n\r\nLight, who graduated from the University of South Carolina Beaufort in May with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Spanish, was named a semifinalist for the 2020-21 Fulbright U.S. Student Program.\r\n\r\nBut she had since been informed she wasn’t chosen, instead holding a spot as an alternate. With no idea how many others had met the same fate as her, Light knew her chances were slim and had emotionally moved on.\r\n\r\nShe applied to a short list of schools with strong graduate programs in history, including Harvard, before settling<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>on the University of Georgia,<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>though it was really her favorite all along. In June, along with husband Carl, a dog and two cats, Light left Beaufort for a new home in Athens, Ga.\r\n\r\nOn Friday afternoon, Light, who wasn’t feeling well, was lying down for a nap when an unexpected but amazing email popped into her in-box.\r\n\r\n“Dear Theodora,” the letter read, “We are delighted to inform you that you have been promoted from alternate and selected for a 2020-21 Fulbright U.S. Student Award to Spain. The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program of the United States, and you will represent the country as a cultural ambassador while you are overseas, helping to enhance mutual understanding between Americans and the people in Spain.”\r\n\r\nA nontraditional student who carried a workload of 18 credit hours each semester and took summer classes until her senior year, Light has now gone from the first USC Beaufort student to be named a Fulbright semifinalist to the only USCB student to win the prestigious award.\r\n\r\n“The excitement of receiving the Fulbright research grant this early in my graduate studies is almost indescribable,” Light said Monday. “Archives like those in Seville are an historian’s dream and present such an amazing opportunity to craft a project even bigger than just a thesis.”\r\n\r\nLight, who had worked at the Santa Elena History Center in Beaufort, will now spend part of next year studying and conducting research at the University of Seville and at the General Archives of the Indies of Seville. Her research interests involve what she describes as an overlap of indigenous slavery (of Indians) and African slavery by early Spanish settlers in the land called La Florida in the 16th century.\r\n\r\nAs USC Beaufort outlined in the February news release announcing Light as a finalist, beginning in the mid-1500s, early Spanish settlers made their way from the tip of Florida to what is now Virginia purchasing indigenous slaves from the tribes they encountered along the way.\r\n\r\n“They were here to take indigenous slaves — Indians — back to their established colonies in the Caribbean,” Light said in February. “And to do that, they brought African slaves with them.”\r\n\r\nLight plans to eventually narrow the focus of her research to either indigenous-based slavery or African-based slavery, both at the hands of the Spanish. When she earns a doctorate, she has said she intends to work in public history, ideally in a museum.\r\n\r\nLight, in her first semester as a graduate student at Georgia, was adamant that her faculty at USC Beaufort shared the credit for her accomplishment.\r\n\r\nSpecifically, she mentioned Professor Kim Cavanaugh, Anthropology; Professor Timothy “Mac” James, History and her advisor; Professor Benjamin Nelson, Spanish; and Professor James Griesse, Spanish. The first three she mentioned wrote letters of recommendation, while Griesse did her language evaluation.\r\n\r\n“(Professor) Nelson literally helped translate emails I wrote to get the University of Seville to sponsor my grant application,” Light added. “(Professor) Cavanaugh and (Professor Juanita) Babet Villena-Alvarez helped with completion of my overall application.”\r\n\r\nShe also thanked her graduate advisor at Georgia, James F. Brooks.\r\n\r\n“I owe a ton to the faculty support I received at USC Beaufort,” Light said, “and I’m just so thrilled to represent them and the University of Georgia in Seville.”\r\n\r\nThe email Light received Friday said that she would receive a more official congratulatory letter from the Fulbright Scholar Program, an obvious keepsake for her to hang on her wall.\r\n\r\nIf she ever gets it, that is.\r\n\r\n“I haven’t gotten the physical letter yet,” Light said. “There’s honestly a chance they sent it to my Beaufort address. I just changed it. I didn’t think to change it before because I’d basically given up.”\r\n\r\n<b>WHAT IS A FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR?</b>\r\n\r\nThe Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the largest exchange program in the U.S. It provides grants for research, study and teaching opportunities at international universities in 140 countries. Fulbright recipients work, live with and learn from the people they encounter in the host country. The Fulbright program promotes cultural exchange through direct interaction on an individual basis in the classroom, the field, the home and in the simple chore of performing routine tasks. The goal is to gain a better understanding of other viewpoints and beliefs.', 'USCB grad school’s first Fulbright Scholar', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'uscb-grad-schools-first-fulbright-scholar', '', '', '2020-09-16 14:58:23', '2020-09-16 18:58:23', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45984', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45986, 4, '2020-09-16 15:01:08', '2020-09-16 19:01:08', '<strong>By Mike McCombs</strong>\r\n\r\nIf the county zoning board goes ahead with its next meeting, Monday, Sept. 28, will be the night of the showdown over the proposed development at Bay Point.\r\n\r\nThat won’t be the only fight in Beaufort that night.\r\n\r\nIncumbent Joe Cunningham, D-S.C., and Republican challenger Nancy Mace will hold their first debate in the race for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District seat at SCETV’s Beaufort studio.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/NancyMace2017.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-45889 alignright\" src=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/NancyMace2017-1024x936.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"532\" height=\"486\"></a>Monday, Sept. 28 also happens to be the day same day in-person absentee voting for the general election begins in South Carolina.\r\n\r\nThe hour-long debate – sponsored by The Charleston Post and Courier, SCETV and S.C. Public Radio – begins at 7 p.m. and will be aired live statewide on SCETV and SC Public Radio. The coverage will also be streamed live on scetv.org and postandcourier.com, as well as on SCETV’s various social media platforms.\r\n\r\nThe debate will be moderated by SCETV’s Gavin Jackson and The Post and Courier’s Jamie Lovegrove.\r\n\r\nJackson and Lovegrove, along with SC Public Radio’s Thelisha Eaddy, will be busy again Oct. 21 as the same three news outlets will also sponsor a debate between U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and his Democratic challenger Jamie Harrison at SCETV’s Columbia studio.\r\n\r\nThat debate, as well, will be aired live statewide on SCETV and SC Public Radio and streamed live on scetv.org and postandcourier.com, as well as on SCETV’s various social media platforms.\r\n\r\n“For decades, SCETV has covered elections, public policy and government officials, providing South Carolinians with unmatched government transparency,” SCETV President and CEO Anthony Padgett said in a news release. “Through this partnership with The Post and Courier, we’re proud to host and broadcast both of these debates, helping the citizens of this state be informed as they head to the polls this fall.”\r\n\r\n<em>Mike McCombs is the Editor of<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>The Island News and can be reached at<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>TheIslandNews@gmail.com.</em>', 'Cunningham, Mace will meet in Beaufort debate', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'cunningham-mace-will-meet-in-beaufort-debate', '', '', '2020-09-16 15:01:08', '2020-09-16 19:01:08', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45986', 0, 'post', '', 0);
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(45988, 4, '2020-09-16 15:09:08', '2020-09-16 19:09:08', '<h2>The Packet/Gazette Guild becomes the<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>state’s first active newspaper guild</h2>\r\n<strong>By Mike McCombs</strong>\r\n\r\nAs reporter Katherine Kokal put it, it was an awkward two days.\r\n\r\nMonths of conversation and weeks of planning culminated around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, when the journalists of The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette (IP/BG ) newsroom announced in a press release that they had taken the first steps toward unionizing.\r\n\r\nMore that 80 percent of eligible reporters, photographers and news producers in the IP/BG newsroom signed cards authorizing representation by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, Local 32025 of the Communications Workers of America (CWA).\r\n\r\nThe employees had requested voluntary recognition of The Packet/Gazette Guild from management. Now they were waiting.\r\n\r\nKokal said that through Thursday evening, the newsroom journalists had heard nothing but “radio silence” from their bosses.\r\n\r\nAt 6 p.m., the newsroom gathered for a previously scheduled virtual meeting, where the saw IP/BG Executive Editor Brian Tolley, Managing Editor Candy Hatcher and Linda Brooks, a human resources specialist who works in labor relations.\r\n\r\n“I think a lot of us were expecting a chat about the union or the usual ‘our doors are always open’ talk where<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>they try and dissuade you from starting a union,” Kokal said. “Instead, really the first thing that (Tolley) said was ‘We wanted to let you all know we’re going to recognize your union voluntarily.’ … It was wonderful. I did not expect to start a union and be recognized one day later.”\r\n\r\nA little more than an hour after the meeting, Tolley sent out a thread of six tweets announcing what the IP/BG newsroom journalists had already learned.\r\n\r\nTolley’s statement: “We will move forward together with our newsroom colleagues at The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette to voluntarily recognize the union they have proposed. This pathway allows us to accelerate the process of starting negotiations. We commend our reporters for their passion and commitment to the mission of local journalism and are grateful for their continued efforts to keep our community informed under very challenging circumstances. At this unprecedented time, when our communities are relying on us for vital news and information on critical challenges – the pandemic, the return to school, important conversations on racial equity and justice and a presidential election – we believe that voluntary recognition ensures that we can continue to deliver on our mission of producing strong, independent local journalism that informs our communities and helps them thrive. We will immediately form our bargaining team and look forward to working collaboratively with @PacketGuild to advance this process and ensure a strong future for local journalism in the Lowcountry.”\r\n\r\nHow did they get here?\r\n\r\nThe Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette newspapers, which share staff and essentially function as one newspaper, are currently owned by McClatchy. It has finalized its sale to Chatham Asset Management, a New Jersey-based hedge fund, for $32 million.\r\n\r\nThe sale came roughly six months after McClatchy filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and follows a decade of staff reductions and losses.\r\n\r\nIn general, newsroom employment at newspapers in the U.S. dropped by 51 percent between 2008 and 2019, according to Pew Research. Staffing at the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette has mirrored that, dropping from more than 40 reporters to just 11 full-time reporters and visual journalists.\r\n\r\nAs McClatchy was struggling, some in the Packet and Gazette newsroom started to take notice of other newsrooms around the country, large and small, that were organizing. And handful of people began to have conversations, quietly, about whether this was an option for them.\r\n\r\nKokal said there was not really a leader, just a groundswell of conversations. People expressed interest and they began to realize there might be support for such an effort here.\r\n\r\n“When the schools shut down and we moved to work from home, I think we saw the need to work collectively and have a say in these sorts of decisions,” Kokal said. “The pandemic presented a lot of work for local journalists.”\r\n\r\nRachel Jones, the education reporter for the IP/BG said there were two things that altered the tone of the small, mostly private conversations in the newsroom.\r\n\r\n“Two of the biggest pushes for us were first learning that the Miami Herald, our colleagues from Florida, had unionized. It was a (big) deal to see a paper that big on the east coast organizing as a part of McClatchy,” Jones said. “And I think another part of it was our worries about our new ownership under Chatham. McClatchy has been under family ownership for so many years and was one of the few major chains that hadn’t declared bankruptcy. But then that changed, and I think that really changed the conversations in the newsroom about what organizing meant for us.”\r\n<h4><strong>Gaining momentum</strong></h4>\r\nThe Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette journalists, having established The Packet/Gazette Guild, are the first in either Carolina to form a guild. Ever.\r\n\r\nThe conception among many was that because South Carolina is a “Right to Work” state, a union simply wasn’t an option.\r\n\r\n“I think a lot of the conversations we had were just dispelling misconceptions about what it meant to live in a ‘Right to Work’ state. It was surprising when we found that a lot of us simply didn’t understand,” Kokal said. “A lot of us thought that you weren’t allowed to unionize in South Carolina, and that, on it’s face, is just not true. It simply means that someone can join a union shop, get the benefits of that union, and not be forced to pay union dues.”\r\n\r\nRight to Work, Kokal said, says nothing about your federal right to organize.\r\n\r\nJones said that after laying the framework earlier in the year, conversations began to get more serious about a month and a half ago.\r\n\r\n“We got some updates on the sale to Chatham and that really made us thing about going ahead and going public and setting a timeline for that.”\r\n\r\nThere was not a strong campaign by anyone in the newsroom against organizing.\r\n\r\nJones said the goal simply became to educate co-workers enough until they felt comfortable signing a union card with the National Labor Relations Board. Eventually, nine of the 11 journalists in the room were on board.\r\n\r\nThis was an important number. If management failed to voluntarily recognize the guild, it would force an election. The newsroom group knew they would likely have no trouble getting the majority votes needed to move forward.\r\n\r\nMcClatchy could have made the case to disallow some members, but that was not likely.\r\n\r\n“Basically, they determine who is eligible to vote in that election,” Jones said. “Once they decide the size of the unit, we’d have that election, and all we need is a simple majority.”\r\n\r\nIt never came to that.\r\n<h4><strong>What do they want?</strong></h4>\r\nSo now that the guild is active, both sides will establish negotiating teams and eventually determine what will be on the table when the two sides sit down and bargain.\r\n\r\nThe Packet/Gazette Guild essentially has three basic priorities they want to address.\r\n\r\n1. Pay equity across the newsroom and benefits that will help recruit and keep talented journalists.\r\n\r\n“McClatchy earlier this year announced a freeze on merit based pay increases,” Jones said, “and that is something, with the changing cost of living here, that reporters across the country really value and need to get by. We hope to negotiate a contract that has a sliding scale and a step scale for compensation.”\r\n\r\n2. A newsroom that is ethnicly and linguisticly diverse.\r\n\r\n“This county is not a monolith, and we need reporters who represent our community,” Jones said.\r\n\r\n3. To fight downsizing, cuts and adverse changes in work conditions.\r\n\r\n“We can’t stop layoffs, but if we have a union and a contract, we can negotiate better severence payouts. We can negotiate times so people don’t find out that they’re laid off on the day their being laid off,” Jones said. “Getting an email at 8 a.m. that tells you you’re not going to have a job tomorrow, I mean that’s impossible. I would argue it’s cruel.”\r\n\r\nJones said any appreciable changes to our working conditions should have to be negotiated with the union instead of just enforced.\r\n\r\n“Things like changing somebody’s beat suddenly, changing somebody’s hours, changing the days that you work,” she said. “Things like that are very important to us.”\r\n\r\nIn its news release announcing the newsroom had organized, the IP/BG journalists expressed regret at the Beaufort Gazette\'s diminished presence as a result of cost-cutting and office closures in Beaufort.\r\n\r\nCombining staff and moving operations to Bluffton alienated much of the Beaufort community.\r\n\r\nThey also lamented the loss of a “national award-winning sports department that was slowly phased out as corporate directives prioritized clicks over local sports coverage.”\r\n\r\nIn pointing out these decisions, the journalists make the argument that if they had more of a role in decision making, the path may have been different.\r\n<h4><strong>A better newsroom?</strong></h4>\r\nSo far, members of the guild say the reaction from sources and people they have encountered publicly and online has been positive.\r\n\r\n“The support has been great because really I think people realize that through this process we will have a stronger newspaper,” Jones said. “We love this institution and we have absolutely no qualms with our local editors. They are the heart and soul of the room. Really, this is to preserve the future of our newspaper and continuing to bring the readers the news that they deserve.”\r\n\r\nJones pointed out that, like Kokal and herself, the Lowcountry is where a lot of journalists get their start. Many work here right out of college but can’t afford to stay. They love being here, but eventually have to go on to work elsewhere.\r\n\r\n“I have seen a lot of smart journalists come and go during my 10 years in the Lowcountry,” said Stephen Fastenau, a senior reporter covering Beaufort, “and I hope this effort builds an environment that encourages more of them to stay and become part of the communities they work so hard to cover.”\r\n\r\nThere’s a lot of uncharted territory ahead, though.\r\n\r\n“I think it’s fair to say that we are going to learn a lot in the next month, … in the next few months,” Kokal said.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Mike McCombs is the editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com. He was employed as a sports reporter/page designer at the Beaufort Gazette from 1997 to 1998 and then again as sports editor of The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette from 2012 to 2016.</em>', 'Island Packet/Beaufort Gazette journalists unionize', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'island-packet-beaufort-gazette-journalists-unionize', '', '', '2020-09-16 15:09:40', '2020-09-16 19:09:40', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45988', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45990, 4, '2020-09-16 15:16:00', '2020-09-16 19:16:00', '<h2>Absentee voting<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>starts soon; registration deadline first week in October</h2>\r\n<strong>By Mindy Lucas</strong>\r\n\r\n<em>An important update to this story: On Wednesday, Sept.16, after this story went to press, S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster signed into a law a bill allowing all registered South Carolina voters to vote absentee without needing a reason because of the Covid-19 outbreak.</em>\r\n\r\nUnless you’ve been living in a cave these last few months, you know the 2020 election is less than seven weeks away but will you be ready?\r\n\r\nBelow are few things election officials want you to keep in mind, as well as few key dates to remember.\r\n\r\n<strong>Registering to Vote</strong>\r\n\r\nIf you’re new to the area or will be voting for the first time, the deadline to register to vote in person is Oct. 2.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe deadline to register online, by fax or email is Oct. 4 and the deadline to register by mail is Oct. 5.\r\n\r\nYou can register in person at either of the two county election offices:\r\n\r\n<strong>Beaufort Office</strong>\r\n\r\n15 John Galt Road, Beaufort\r\n\r\nHours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nMonday - Friday\r\n\r\nPhone: (843) 255-6900<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n<strong>Bluffton Office</strong>\r\n\r\n61B Ulmer Road, Bluffton\r\n\r\nHours: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.; 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday\r\n\r\nPhone: (843) 255-6940<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nEven if you aren’t new to voting, it never hurts to go ahead and dig out your voter’s registration card to make sure everything is up to date.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nIf you’ve moved in recent years, or haven’t voted in awhile for example, you may want to check your voting precinct which you can do at www.scvotes.gov.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>In Person Absentee Voting</strong>\r\n\r\nIn-person absentee voting begins Oct. 5, and depending on what the South Carolina General Assembly decides this week, may open earlier.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nEarlier this month, lawmakers convened in a special session to expand absentee voting to all registered voters in response to Covid-19 as they did earlier this year for the June primaries.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nLegislators will also take up whether to allow for an even earlier start date of Sept. 28.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nIn the meantime, voters can definitely cast their absentee vote in person beginning Oct. 5 and have up until 5 p.m. the day before the election to do so.\r\n\r\nA third office on Hilton Head, at 539 William Hilton Parkway, will be opening then for in-person absentee voting only.\r\n\r\n<strong>Mail-In Voting</strong>\r\n\r\nVoters can also vote absentee by going online and printing an application, or can call or email one of the county’s election offices to request an application be sent via U.S. mail.\r\n\r\nHowever, due to the expected surge in election mail this season, election officials are strongly encouraging voters to go ahead and request their applications now, so that they can receive those and turn them around as soon as possible.\r\n\r\nIn mailers sent to Lowcountry households by the U.S. Postal Service this week, the service recommends voters request mail-in ballots at least 15 days before Election Day, and again, as Marie Smalls, director for the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County said, the sooner you can request your ballot the better.\r\n\r\nIn fact, as of Friday, Sept. 11, the county elections board had already received 22,808 applications, she said.\r\n\r\nBallots will start going out to those who have already requested them toward the latter part of September and first part of October, she noted.\r\n\r\nOnce voters have received their official ballot, they can either mail it back or take it to their county’s election office.\r\n\r\nVoters can also track their mailed-in ballot at www.scvotes.gov (click “Check My Absentee Ballot”.)\r\n\r\nAnd if voters have requested a ballot and have not received them in a reasonable time, they can also track that online or call the election office, Smalls said.\r\n\r\n“They can give us call and we can follow-up on it for them,” she said.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Screen-Shot-2020-09-16-at-3.13.53-PM.png\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-45992 alignright\" src=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Screen-Shot-2020-09-16-at-3.13.53-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"756\" height=\"394\"></a>If voters want to take their ballot to one of the election offices to drop off, they should know they will need to take those inside and wait for a staff member to verify that their ballot is complete, Smalls said.\r\n\r\nThe deadline to return applications in person for absentee ballots is 5 p.m. four days before Election Day or by Oct. 30. The completed ballot must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day to count.\r\n\r\n<strong>Who Can Vote Absentee?</strong>\r\n\r\nThe S.C. House of Representatives, on Tuesday, passed changes to a bill already cleared by the Senate that would expand absentee voting to all registered voters as a safety measure in response to the pandemic.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nIf passed, that would mean voters would not need one of the 18 reasons for voting absentee under current law, says S.C. Election Commission Director of Public Information Chris Whitmire.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nVoters will still need to have a witness watch them sign their absentee ballot. That bill now heads to S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster.\r\n\r\n<strong>Covid-19 Precautions</strong>\r\n\r\nThose voting in-person should know election officials are taking steps to protect the health of voters and poll managers, Smalls said.\r\n\r\n“We’re going to practice all of the CDC regulations,” she said.\r\n\r\nEarlier this year, poll managers received special Covid-19 training. New poll managers will receive the same training.\r\n\r\nIn addition, poll workers will be required to wear masks and personal protective equipment.\r\n\r\nCheck-in stations and voting equipment will be spaced at least six feet apart and voters voting in person will be encouraged to social distance and wear masks.\r\n\r\n<strong>Hundreds Applied for<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>Poll Worker Positions</strong>\r\n\r\nAfter a call went out for more help at the polls, the election board received more than 650 applications in response, Smalls said. Staff are in the process of processing those and notifying workers for training now.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n“The citizens of Beaufort County really came to our call and really stepped up,” she said. “I think we will have more than enough workers now.”<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Above: A &nbsp;volunteer poll worker, far left, gets prospective voters to sign in prior to voting during the 2018 election. Photo by Bob Sofaly.</em>\r\n\r\n<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>', 'Election 2020: What you need to know right now to plan ahead', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'election-2020-what-you-need-to-know-right-now-to-plan-ahead', '', '', '2020-09-17 16:03:29', '2020-09-17 20:03:29', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45990', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(45995, 4, '2020-09-16 17:31:29', '2020-09-16 21:31:29', '<em>Wes Anderson of Team Light Blue easily makes it to third as Team Royal Blue shortstop Weldon Smith fields the ball while third baseman Matt Gornichec backs him up during the Beaufort County PALS Adult Baseball League Championship game Wednesday afternoon at Burton Wells. The Royal Blues went on the win the game, 12-3, and the championship, their third straight. Photo by Bob Sofaly.&nbsp;</em>', 'Royal Blues Win Adult Baseball League Championship', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'royal-blues-win-adult-baseball-league-championship', '', '', '2020-09-17 11:28:15', '2020-09-17 15:28:15', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=45995', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46118, 4, '2020-09-25 14:03:16', '2020-09-25 18:03:16', 'After more than a year of trying to make their case for an ecotourism resort on a barrier island in Beaufort County, developers from Bay Point Island LLC were shut out by the county’s Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday, Sept. 24.\r\n\r\nThe 50-acre resort was to feature 50 cottages that developers said would blend in with the tree line and have little impact on the surrounding environment, but planning board members weren’t convinced Thursday night.\r\n\r\nIn a unanimous five-member vote, the project was denied for five reasons. Board members found it inconsistent with the county’s plan to protect rural resources, incompatible with land in the local vicinity, not designed to minimize the impacts on wildlife, not designed to minimize the impacts on local services, such as emergency or fire protection, and did not meet the definition of ecotourism.\r\n\r\n<em>–Mindy Lucas</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Look for the full story in the next edition of The Island News, Oct. 1.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Above: Hilton Head Island attorney Tom Taylor attempts to make the case for an ecotourism resort on Bay Point, while developer Art Krebs (on the left) looks on. Photo by Mindy Lucas</em>', '‘DENIED’ – Ecotourism resort planned for Bay Point rejected by zoning board', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'denied-ecotourism-resort-planned-for-bay-point-rejected-by-zoning-board', '', '', '2020-09-25 14:20:48', '2020-09-25 18:20:48', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46118', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46006, 4, '2020-09-19 21:21:20', '2020-09-20 01:21:20', '<b>By Mindy Lucas and Mike McCombs</b>\r\n\r\nA three-vehicle collision on the J.E. McTeer Bridge Saturday morning took the lives of nearly an entire family and has left the Lowcountry reeling.\r\n\r\nTikia Lashay Doe, 36, and her three young sons, Jashawn Hawkins, 16, Alonzo Houston, 6, and Cameron Perry, 3, all of Burton, died after the mini-van they were traveling in flipped over the side of the bridge and plummeted into the Beaufort River below.\r\n\r\nThe four were pronounced dead at the scene – their names released Saturday by the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office.\r\n\r\nIn addition, Doe was eight months pregnant, according to an accident report released by the Beaufort Police Department.\r\n\r\nThe driver of the family’s vehicle, later identified as Doe’s husband by the Port Royal Police Department, survived the crash. His name has not been released.\r\n\r\nThe incident, which occurred just after 11 a.m., shut down both sides of the bridge for several hours on Saturday after the family’s Dodge Caravan, a Ford F-150 and a Chevy Malibu were involved in a collision, according to a news release issued by the Port Royal Police Department.\r\n\r\nThe vehicles were traveling across the bridge toward Lady’s Island when the crash occurred, the release stated.\r\n\r\nFirst responders with the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island Fire Department’s Marine Unit, Beaufort Water Search and Rescue, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office dive team and civilian boaters responded to the scene and were able to&nbsp;recover the victims from the submerged vehicle.\r\n\r\nDoe’s husband was taken to Beaufort Memorial Hospital and later released.\r\n\r\nThe driver of the Ford F-150 was also taken to the hospital with minor injuries and later released. The driver of the Chevy Malibu was not injured and released at the scene, the press release stated.\r\n\r\nEmergency crews used a crane to pull the family’s mini-van from the water, Port Royal Police Chief Alan Beach said.\r\n\r\nAn autopsy performed on Monday revealed the family members died from drowning, Beaufort County Chief Deputy Coroner David Ott said.\r\n\r\nThe fatal crash has rocked the Beaufort County School District, where Jashawn was a 10<sup>th</sup>-grader at Battery Creek High School and Alonzo was in first grade at Robert Smalls International Academy, Beaufort County School District spokeswoman Candace Bruder confirmed on Monday.\r\n\r\n“We’ve been deeply saddened to hear about the passing of two of our students, Jashawn Hawkins and Alonzo Houston,” the school district said in a statement. “The principals and staffs at Battery Creek High and Robert Smalls International Academy will miss them greatly, and their family continues to be in our thoughts and prayers. A special team of counselors has been assigned to both schools to assist any students who need help as they work through their personal feelings and grief.”\r\n\r\nDoe’s daughter, Ziara Jackson, a sixth-grader at Robert Smalls, was visiting her grandmother at the time of the crash, according to a <a href=\"https://www.gofundme.com/f/ziara039s-guardian-angels\">Go Fund Me account</a> established for her.\r\n\r\nStudents and staff members at Robert Smalls International Academy were planning to wear blue on Wednesday, Alonzo’s favorite color, and green on Thursday, the first grader’s second favorite color. On Friday, staff and students are planning to wear Spiderman-themed items, or red and blue, something Alonzo also loved.\r\n\r\nIn addition, Battery Creek High School will present Ziara with a purple quilt in honor of her family. Purple was her mother’s favorite color, Bruder said.\r\n\r\nNo other details have been released about the collision or its possible cause. The Port Royal Police Department and the South Carolina Highway Patrol are continuing to investigate.\r\n\r\nAnyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Jason Boggess at jboggess@portroyal.org.\r\n\r\n<em>Mindy Lucas is the Beaufort reporter for The Island News and is a staff writer for Lowcountry Weekly. She can be reached at mindy.islandnews@gmail.com.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Mike McCombs is the editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.</em>', '4 family members die in bridge crash leaving community reeling', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'coroner-identifies-4-killed-in-saturdays-mcteer-bridge-crash', '', '', '2020-09-21 22:28:54', '2020-09-22 02:28:54', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46006', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46017, 4, '2020-09-23 11:02:20', '2020-09-23 15:02:20', '', '192929 River Swim, 3-7642', 'Bob Sofaly photo\nFriends a supporters line the sea wall at the boat ramp of Henry C. Chambers Watefront Park on Saturday for the 14th annual Beaufort River Swim, For all the race results, go to https://www.trisignup.com/Race/Results/48567.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '192929-river-swim-3-7642', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:56:01', '2020-09-23 17:56:01', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/092020-River-Swim-3-7642.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46018, 4, '2020-09-23 11:02:44', '2020-09-23 15:02:44', '', '092020 River Swim, 4- 7603', 'Bob Sofaly photo\rFirst male to finish the 3.2 mile swim during Saturday’s Beaufort River Swim was Michael Wendt, 58, with a time of 52:59.8. For more race results, go to https://www.trisignup.com/Race/Results/48567.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '092020-river-swim-4-7603', '', '', '2020-09-23 11:02:44', '2020-09-23 15:02:44', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/09192020-River-Swim-4-7603jpg.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
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(46020, 4, '2020-09-23 11:06:25', '2020-09-23 15:06:25', '', 'Screen Shot 2020-09-23 at 11.05.47 AM', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'screen-shot-2020-09-23-at-11-05-47-am', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:58:59', '2020-09-23 17:58:59', '', 46113, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Screen-Shot-2020-09-23-at-11.05.47-AM.png', 0, 'attachment', 'image/png', 0),
(46021, 4, '2020-09-23 11:06:27', '2020-09-23 15:06:27', '', 'Screen Shot 2020-09-23 at 11.05.35 AM', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'screen-shot-2020-09-23-at-11-05-35-am', '', '', '2020-09-23 11:06:27', '2020-09-23 15:06:27', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Screen-Shot-2020-09-23-at-11.05.35-AM.png', 0, 'attachment', 'image/png', 0),
(46022, 4, '2020-09-23 11:07:46', '2020-09-23 15:07:46', '', '09202020 Walk for Water, 1- 7701', 'Bob Sofaly photo\nA “small but mighty” group supporting Beaufort Walk for Water walked three miles along the Spanish Moss Trail on Saturday. The event, according to the group’s website, “simulate the daily walk millions of women &amp; children make to fetch often dirty water.” The group walks in support of Water MIssion to help profice safe drinking water around the world.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '09202020-walk-for-water-1-7701', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:42:34', '2020-09-23 17:42:34', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/09202020-Walk-for-Watrer-1-7226-.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46023, 4, '2020-09-23 11:08:33', '2020-09-23 15:08:33', '', '09212020 Hargray Heros, 2- 7725', 'Bob Sofaly photo\nMarine Corps veterna Patrick Odell, center left, was nominted as a Hargray Heros Sweepstakes winner  by his wife Kimberly, center right. At far left is Jason Carnes and far right is Pat Morgan, both from Hargray. The Odells were presented with a tandem kyak. Odell is a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Marines and according to his wife has been depoloyed for 16 years, eight months during that time.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '09212020-hargray-heros-2-7725', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:33:42', '2020-09-23 17:33:42', '', 46084, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Hargray-Heros-2.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46024, 4, '2020-09-23 11:08:49', '2020-09-23 15:08:49', '', '09212020 Hargray Heros, 1- 7716', 'Bob Sofaly photo-\nBob, left, and brother Jason Davidson hold their new Xbox One after they were named Hargray Heros Sweepstakes winners Monday.  Their mother, Jesse Davidson, back right, nominated them for the award for their tireless help after their sister Elizabeth (seen with Jesse Davidson) was diagnosed with cancer and underwent treatement. At far left are Pat Morgan and Jason Carnes of Hargray. Not show is Davidson’s husband Walter. Both Walter and Jesse Davidson are U.S. Navy veterans.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '09212020-hargray-heros-1-7716', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:33:22', '2020-09-23 17:33:22', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Hargray-Heros-1.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46025, 4, '2020-09-23 11:09:12', '2020-09-23 15:09:12', '', '0920202020 GOP HQ, 1- 7214', 'Bob Sofaly photo\rVolunteers Anthony Scott, left, and Don Sharkey set out flags and signs of Republican candidates prior the the grand opening of the Beaufort Republican Party head quarters Saturday, Sept. 19, at 1208 Boundary Street. Scott said the center would be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '0920202020-gop-hq-1-7214', '', '', '2020-09-23 11:09:12', '2020-09-23 15:09:12', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/09202020-GOP-HQ-1-7214jpg.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46026, 4, '2020-09-23 11:09:18', '2020-09-23 15:09:18', '', '09202020 GOP HQ, 20 7698', 'Bob Sofaly photo\nRepublican candidates and supporters met Saturday for the grand opening of their new head quarters at 1208 Boundary Street. The center would be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '09202020-gop-hq-20-7698', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:28:51', '2020-09-23 17:28:51', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/092020-GOP-HQ-2-7698.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
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(46037, 4, '2020-09-23 11:17:56', '2020-09-23 15:17:56', '', 'Screen Shot 2020-09-23 at 11.17.27 AM', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'screen-shot-2020-09-23-at-11-17-27-am', '', '', '2020-09-23 11:17:56', '2020-09-23 15:17:56', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Screen-Shot-2020-09-23-at-11.17.27-AM.png', 0, 'attachment', 'image/png', 0),
(46038, 4, '2020-09-23 11:42:25', '2020-09-23 15:42:25', 'VOLLEYBALL\r\n\r\nBA earns big region win over JPII\r\n\r\nBeaufort Academy volleyball picked up a big region win with a sweep of visiting John Paul II on Thursday.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe Eagles got off to a hot start and rode it all the way to a 3-0 (25-10, 25-19, 25-19) victory.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nChase Vaigneur collected 14 kills, eight assists, two blocks, and two aces in a strong all-around effort, and Margaret Hiers had 16 assists, seven kills, and two aces. Mary Hanna Hiers added eight digs and two aces.\r\n\r\nLions pick up five-set win over Sundevils\r\n\r\nHoly Trinity volleyball held on for a hard-earned five-set victory over visiting Charleston Collegiate on Tuesday.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe Lions dropped the first set but rebounded for a 3-2 (20-25, 25-17, 25-18, 23-25, 15-7) victory.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nRachel Cain and Eliza Gaillard led the way at the net, while setters Sanders O’Neal and Megan Shearon had a strong performance and Hailey James provided a spark off the bench.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe Lions (2-3) host Bridges Prep on Monday.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nCROSS COUNTRY\r\n\r\nBHS boys 2nd at USCB Invitational\r\n\r\nBluffton’s girls took the team title and May River’s girls and Beaufort High’s boys each claimed runner-up finishes in USC Beaufort High School Cross Country Invitational on Saturday.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe Bobcats had six runners finish in the top 20 of the 76-runner field for the girls race, finishing with 47 points to edge rival May River (61) for the title.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nMay River’s Anya Arroyo blazed to a 5K time of 18:46 to win the individual title by more than a minute over Fort Dorchester’s Theresa Studley (19:56), while teammate Victoria Sosa (20:50) was fourth and Beaufort High’s Anna Brown (20:58) was fifth.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe first Bobcat across the line was Ava Gerschutz (21:04) in seventh, but she was followed in close succession by teammates Kaitlyn McDonagh (21:06) in eighth, seventh-grader Aubrey Sampson (21:22) in 10th, Penelope Roman (21:25) in 11th, and Katie Sanofsky (22:41) in 16th.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nBeaufort High’s Nash Mills ran 16:16 to win the boys race by seven seconds over Richmond Hill’s Corey Adamski, but the Wildcats placed five runners in the top 10 and all seven in the top 20 of the 120-runner field to win the team title with an impressive 30 points. Beaufort (52) was second, followed by May River (57).<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nMay River’s Colin Keck (16:30) and Jaxon Beebe (16:45) were third and fourth, while Beaufort seventh-grader Gavin Moore (17:00) rounded out the top 10, and Eagles teammates Charlie Bennett (17:23) and Connor Eby (17:25) placed 12th and 13th.\r\n\r\nJPII boys, HHCA girls lead the pack in SCISA meet\r\n\r\nJohn Paul II’s boys and Hilton Head Christian Academy’s girls led the way in a SCISA cross country meet hosted by Lowcountry Montessori School on Tuesday.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nOnly two boys teams posted team scores, as JPII scored a perfect 15 points, while Beaufort Academy totaled 44 points. HHCA was the only girls team with the required five finishers to post a team score.\r\n\r\nJPII’s Oliver Witkowski won the boys race with a time of 20 minutes flat, as the first five runners to cross the finish line were all Golden Warriors. Kelon Reynolds (20:23) was second, followed by Finn Mahoney (21:10), Sam Rembold (21:19), and Anderson Dewig (21:25).<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nBrandon Trapp (21:39) and Maleik Chambers (21:41) led the way for BA and finished sixth and seventh, while Hilton Head Christian Academy’s Jack Mau (22:26) was eighth, and CBCCA’s Gabriel Lemacks (22:37) was ninth.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nHHCA’s Devon Yarde blew away the pack of 13 runners in the girls’ race, finishing in 20:58 — more than two full minutes ahead of CBCCA’s Ashleigh Keisling (23:07). HHCA’s Ava Hahn (23:46) was third, followed by JPII’s Brandy Mahoney (23:59) and BA’s Alyssa Lewis (24:47). A trio of HHCA runners rounded out the top eight — Anna Kate Taylor (25:48), Abby Salus (25:49), and Emma Thompson (25:53).<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nSAILING\r\n\r\nJPII sailors lead the way in local regatta\r\n\r\nJohn Paul II sailed to victory over two local rivals in a regional middle and high school sailing event hosted at the South Carolina Yacht Club on Saturday.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nWith steady winds from the north at 12-15 mph and occasional gusts up to 20 mph, the sailors raced eight times in challenging conditions, the Golden Warriors took first place, followed by Hilton Head Prep and a team of independent sailors.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nJPII’s Thomas Mazzeo and Neil Bunce and Hilton Head Prep’s Escher Lucier were the top skippers for the day, each claiming multiple victories during the eight-race regatta.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nTENNIS\r\n\r\nJPII blanks visiting Barnwell\r\n\r\nThe John Paul II girls tennis team breezed to a 9-0 win over visiting Barnwell High on Tuesday at Berkeley Hall.\r\n\r\nThe Golden Warriors won all six singles matches in straight sets and easily won each of the eight-game pro-set doubles matches.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nSingles\r\n\r\n1. Trice McClure def. Crissa Thomason 6-0, 6-0\r\n\r\n2. Samantha Reilly def. Kaitlyn Elmore 6-2, 6-1\r\n\r\n3. Paige Weniger def. Mary Elizabeth Abstance 6-0, 6-0\r\n\r\n4. Madi Johnson def. Sarah Modugu 6-1, 6-0\r\n\r\n5. Charlotte Bauer def. Layla’s Perry 6-0, 6-0\r\n\r\n6. Brie Suiter def. Jada Creech 6-0, 6-0\r\n\r\nDoubles\r\n\r\n1. McClure/Reilly def. Thomason/Elmore 8-0\r\n\r\n2. Weniger/Johnson def. Abstance/Modugu 8-1\r\n\r\n3. Nia Poacher/KC Moton def. Cheeser DeFreest/Kayden DeFreest 8-1', 'HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ROUNDUP', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'high-school-sports-roundup-3', '', '', '2020-09-23 11:42:25', '2020-09-23 15:42:25', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46038', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46040, 4, '2020-09-23 11:43:18', '2020-09-23 15:43:18', '<b>Beaufort High shifts gears after Seahawks shut down for positive COVID test</b>\r\n\r\nOne area public high school football team in Beaufort County will have to wait at least an extra week before starting its season after Hilton Head High’s opener against Beaufort High next Friday was postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests at both schools.\r\n\r\nThe Island Packet was first to report that a part-time staff member associated with the Seahawks’ football program tested positive, prompting Hilton Head High to place 18 players in quarantine. Additionally, two Beaufort High cheerleaders tested positive, the report said, resulting in 48 cheerleaders from the varsity and junior varsity squads being asked to quarantine.\r\n\r\nAs a result, the scheduled Region 7-4A opener between the longtime county rivals has been rescheduled for Oct. 30. Beaufort now plans to open its season Friday at Lexington, which had its opener postponed due to positive cases at River Bluff. At least four other games around the state have also been postponed or canceled due to positive tests.\r\n\r\nThe Seahawks are scheduled to play at Colleton County on Oct. 2, provided there are no more positive cases connected to the team.', 'Beaufort High shifts gears after Seahawks shut down for positive COVID test', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-high-shifts-gears-after-seahawks-shut-down-for-positive-covid-test', '', '', '2020-09-23 11:43:18', '2020-09-23 15:43:18', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46040', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46042, 4, '2020-09-23 11:43:57', '2020-09-23 15:43:57', 'Beaufort Academy’s ground game kept rolling and the defense dominated as the Eagles rolled to a 35-0 win at Northwood Academy in their region opener Friday for their third straight victory.\r\n\r\nJa’Sean Lawson rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown, and Carlos Jones added 84 yards and a TD to lead BA’s powerful rushing attack.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nJaxen Porter added 46 yards on the ground and caught a 21-yard TD pass from Braydon Dineen, who was 5-for-5 for 78 yards and a score. Elijah Fess caught three passes for 41 yards and added 28 yards on the ground.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe Eagles’ defense continued its impressive play, as John Asher Howell led the way with seven tackles, while Kevin Rogers added six and Ben Lubkin had five.\r\n\r\nBA (3-1, 1-0) hosts Thomas Heyward Academy for a non-region game at 7:30 p.m. Friday<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>', 'Beaufort Academy blanks Chargers in region blowout', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-academy-blanks-chargers-in-region-blowout', '', '', '2020-09-23 11:43:57', '2020-09-23 15:43:57', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46042', 0, 'post', '', 0);
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(46044, 4, '2020-09-23 11:45:24', '2020-09-23 15:45:24', '<strong>From the SCDNR</strong>\r\n\r\nOyster lovers take note: The 2020-2021 season for recreational harvest of shellfish (clams and oysters) in coastal waters of South Carolina is set to open one-half hour before official sunrise on Thursday, Oct. 1. The recreational shellfish season will remain open through May 15, 2021, unless conditions warrant extending or shortening the season.\r\n\r\nIn the event of another hurricane, major rain event, or pollution spill, shellfish beds may be temporarily closed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). It is important for harvesters to check with DHEC to verify whether any closures are in effect. This information is available at 1-800-285-1618 and can be viewed on an interactive map at the DHEC website.\r\n\r\nDHEC will use these resources and your local newspaper throughout the year to announce temporary closures due to unusual rain events or spills.\r\n\r\nThe SCDNR maintains State Shellfish Grounds for commercial and recreational harvesting of clams and oysters. Twenty Public Shellfish Grounds and 13 State Shellfish Grounds are managed exclusively for recreational gathering. An additional 52 State Shellfish Grounds are managed for recreational and commercial harvest. All state-managed grounds are posted with boundary signs.\r\n\r\nRecreational harvesters should obtain updated Public or State Shellfish Ground maps at the beginning of each season, as areas open to harvest change from year to year. Maps of designated harvest areas may be downloaded from the SCDNR website or accessed online through the Recreational Map Web Application. Printed maps may also be obtained by calling 843-953-9854 or writing the Shellfish Management Section, Attn: Ben Dyar, SCDNR, PO Box 12559, Charleston, S.C. 29422-2559. When requesting maps, please specify the general area where you wish to harvest. Maps for the 2019-20 season will be available prior to season opening on October 1, 2020.\r\n\r\nRecreational harvesters must have a Saltwater Recreational Fishing License, available from SCDNR at many fishing supply stores, and online. The recreational limit is two U.S. bushels of oysters and one-half bushel of clams in any one day, limited to two calendar days per seven-day period. One U.S. bushel is equal to 8 gallons. There is a maximum possession of three personal limits per boat or vehicle. Clams must be at least 1 inch in thickness.\r\n\r\nAdditional rules and restrictions may be found in the SCDNR Rules and Regulations, available where licenses are purchased or online.\r\n\r\nCommercial harvest of shellfish requires a commercial saltwater license, mandatory harvester training, and other licenses and permits depending on where the harvest will occur. Call the Marine Permitting Office at 843-953-0453 for additional information on commercial harvesting requirements.\r\n\r\nAll harvesters are encouraged to \"cull in place,\" leaving dead shell and smaller oysters on the shoreline where they will continue to grow and provide habitat for future generations of oysters.\r\n\r\nOyster consumers are encouraged to recycle their shells. Check onlineor call 843-953-9397 to find locations near you where shell can be dropped off for recycling. SCDNR uses saltwater recreational fishing license revenues to construct and enhance renewable oyster resources in the coastal counties by replanting recycled shell. All shell collected by the SCDNR is used to restore shellfish grounds in coastal South Carolina.\r\n\r\n<b>TIPS FOR RECYCLING YOUR OYSTER SHELLS</b>\r\n\r\n– <b>DO bring your shell to the nearest shell recycling center. </b>Drop-off locations are available online. If a center is not shown near you, please call 843-953-9397.\r\n\r\n– <b>DO separate shell from trash. </b>Shell mixed with trash (including shell in bags or containers) is not suitable for recycling. If you host an oyster roast, please provide separate containers for shells and trash.\r\n\r\n– <b>DON\'T put live or freshly shucked oysters in South Carolina waters. </b>If the oysters you purchased were harvested outside South Carolina, it is illegal to place them in S.C. waters. Placing live oysters in our waters can harm local oysters by spreading disease. To avoid contamination, shell should be recycled through SCDNR and properly<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>', 'Shellfish season in South Carolina opens Oct. 1', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'shellfish-season-in-south-carolina-opens-oct-1', '', '', '2020-09-23 11:45:24', '2020-09-23 15:45:24', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46044', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46046, 4, '2020-09-23 11:47:33', '2020-09-23 15:47:33', '<h2><b>Birders flock to the trails for fall migration</b></h2>\r\nAs we approach autumn and our dreams of cooler days begin to become reality, an amazing shift begins to occur. As the winds and temperature change, so do the birds. Some of our debonair feathered friends we’ve spent all summer long with will trade out the fine dress they’ve sported during breeding season for an attire of a more practical nature. Territories that were once ruthlessly defended become a bit less important and songs, a bit less prevalent. The new priority is to eat as much food as possible because migration season is now underway! For the birds, this season is all about building up fat stores, paying attention to weather patterns, and then, when the time is right, traveling thousands of miles to over-wintering grounds.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nAnd for the birders, this season is somewhat the same... well, give or take five thousand miles. For birders, the season means eating hearty dinners, paying attention to weather patterns, and hitting the trails early in the morning for a chance to see perhaps the most magnificent bird diversity of the year! Fascinating shorebirds will scour our beaches and marshes, songbirds will decorate our trees, and the warblers -- oh my the warblers -- they will offer the challenge of first sighting and then identifying for even the most advanced birders. But the reward of observing their plumage and behaviors is well worth the chase! Every year, fall migration renews for every birder the same eager excitement they felt when they were just new fledgling birders.\r\n\r\nFor me, a fall favorite is the American Redstart. Achieving an executive size of no larger than the standard business card, these birds make their living actively dancing in the trees and fanning their tails. The goal is to dance so marvelously that they spook insects out of hiding into a more consumable location. The gentleman redstarts are black above with a white belly and deep orange accents on the wings, flanks, and tail. The ladies and understudies (young males) are dressed in a gray and white suit, with pale yellow accents. Together, they are often accompanied by other migrant passerines because the insects that the redstarts spook and fail to catch are fair game for the tag-along flycatchers and kingbirds perched amongst the treetops.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nBeaufort county, with its proximity to the coast and plethora of unique habitats, is a wondrous place to observe the full majesty of this migration season. As you spend time outdoors this fall, listen closely for faint chirps and be sure to look twice at the curious movements in your periphery. Leaving the house with binoculars in hand is always helpful to look closer at the birds, but also a great spark for conversation with other birders that might be around you. Here’s hoping you see a new bird, learn a new call, meet a new friend, but above all, I hope experience a renewed joy of birding this migration season!\r\n\r\n<em>Jake Zadik is a local naturalist and longtime birder. He works for the Brays Island Nature Center and his passions include anything that helps him better comprehend this beautiful chaotic mess we call nature. You can contact Jake through his nature photography website www.jakezadik.com.\r\n\r\n</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Above: American Redstart, photo by Evan Lipton from ebird.org.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>&nbsp;</em>', 'Winds A’ Changin’', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'winds-a-changin', '', '', '2020-09-23 11:48:39', '2020-09-23 15:48:39', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46046', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46049, 4, '2020-09-23 11:49:43', '2020-09-23 15:49:43', '<strong>Georgia Southern announces Spring 2020 Dean\'s List</strong>\r\n\r\nGeorgia Southern University recently recognized approximately 4,200 students for excellence in academics on the Spring 2020 Dean\'s List.\r\n\r\nAmong those honored were Beaufort’s Sara-Jo Christensen (29907) and Kassidy Stefanski (29906).\r\n\r\nTo be eligible for the Dean\'s List, a student must have at least a 3.5 grade point average and carry a minimum of 12 hours for the semester.\r\n\r\nGeorgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving nearly 26,500 students through nine colleges on three campuses.\r\n\r\n<strong>Beaufort’s Heath makes Georgia Southern’s<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>Spring 2020 President\'s List</strong>\r\n\r\nGeorgia Southern University recently recognized approximately 2,800 students on the Spring 2020 President\'s List. Kaeley Heath of Beaufort (29907) has been named to the list for excellence in academics. To be eligible for the President\'s List, a student must have at least a 4.0 grade point average and carry a minimum of 12 hours for the semester.\r\n\r\n<strong>Guobaitis awarded degree from Alabama</strong>\r\n\r\nLaura Guobaitis of Beaufort (29902), received a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Alabama during summer commencement July 31-Aug. 2.\r\n\r\nThe University of Alabama is the state\'s oldest and largest public institution of higher education.', 'EDUCATION BRIEFS', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'education-briefs-14', '', '', '2020-09-23 11:49:43', '2020-09-23 15:49:43', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46049', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46051, 4, '2020-09-23 11:50:51', '2020-09-23 15:50:51', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nThe independent citizen-led committee tasked with monitoring all building projects, schedules, budgets and expenditures from the Beaufort County School District’s November 2019 bond referendum made its second report to the Board of Education and the public on Tuesday, Sept. 15.\r\n\r\nThe CLOC meets monthly and makes quarterly reports to the Board of Education that are posted to the committee’s website. CLOC members include CPAs, urban planners, civil engineers and project managers.\r\n\r\nThe committee has reviewed the processes, procedures and the administration of the bond referendum projects to date and reports the following:\r\n\r\nThe May River and River Ridge projects are on time and under budget. The committee’s “traffic light” monitoring process codes these projects as “green.” Both sites were visited by the Project Subcommittee and the sites represent the project status as reported. Construction quality at each site is excellent. When completed, the River Ridge and May River projects will be more than $1 million under their proposed budgets. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the Construction Management at Risk Model for projects as a sound approach on delivering proposed referendum projects.\r\n\r\nA review of the summer work projects included a visit to Beaufort High School to review the status of progress on athletic facilities. The turf upgrade to the football stadium has progressed nicely, and the project is first class in all aspects. One area of summer work that has shown improvement since our last Board update is the technology/infrastructure projects. Although improved, a few sites are still behind schedule due to scope clarifications. Schedule recovery is expected by the end of September.\r\n\r\nThe processes in place regarding budgeting, contracts, procurement and pay application for projects are sound and continue to provide adequate independence and proper chart of authority review. The Finance Subcommittee conducts reviews to validate these processes.\r\n\r\n<strong>Cash Flow versus<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>Actual Expenses</strong>\r\n\r\nCash Flow Projections versus Actual Expenses for all of the referendum projects is behind schedule, however an improvement in catch-up has been seen this quarter. This can be expected as final project planning is implemented and construction contracts agreed during the initial phase of such a large-scope referendum. Corrective actions are in place to ramp up spending to assure completion of the proposed projects within the four-year time frame.\r\n\r\nThe Finance Subcommittee has verified the current spending status with $15.92 million spent to date with $66 million encumbered but not spent. With the total referendum of $344.6 million, $262.6 million remains to be spent. Through August 2020, approximately 9.5 percent of the referendum work has been completed with 4.6 percent of the total referendum<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>', 'Citizen-led bond referendum monitoring committee releases report', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'citizen-led-bond-referendum-monitoring-committee-releases-report', '', '', '2020-09-23 11:50:51', '2020-09-23 15:50:51', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46051', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46053, 4, '2020-09-23 11:51:36', '2020-09-23 15:51:36', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nFive classroom teachers were named this week as finalists for Beaufort County School District’s 2020 -2021 District Teacher of the Year.\r\n\r\nThe finalists are Megan DeWeese, first-grade teacher at Okatie Elementary; Julie Markle, school counselor at Pritchardville Elementary; Jonathan Miller, social studies teacher at Beaufort High School; Michelle Taylor, third-grade teacher at Hilton Head Island IB Elementary; and Roderick Williams, Director of Band at Battery Creek High School.\r\n\r\n“These are five truly outstanding and dedicated classroom professionals. Any one of them would be an excellent representative for the Beaufort County School District’s teachers,” Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said. “We are proud of their efforts in the classroom to support our students reaching their highest potential.”\r\n\r\nBecoming District Teacher of the Year is a three-step process that began when school-level teachers of the year were selected in April. Those wishing to compete for District Teacher of the Year submitted detailed applications in July.\r\n\r\nIn the second step, a selection committee consisting of parents, former educators, and community leaders from across Beaufort County reviewed the applications and rated them using a numerical scoring system. The five highest-scoring applicants were named today as finalists.\r\n\r\nIn the final step, the five finalists will be interviewed by a separate review committee again composed of judges from across the county. The judges will score candidates based on how well they respond to questions about their teaching experiences and current education issues. After those interviews, the panel will select a District Teacher of the Year to represent Beaufort County’s classroom professionals.\r\n\r\nThe current Teacher of the Year is Bluffton High math teacher Michelle Gordon.', 'BCSD announces five finalists for 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'bcsd-announces-five-finalists-for-2020-2021-teacher-of-the-year', '', '', '2020-09-23 11:51:36', '2020-09-23 15:51:36', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46053', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46055, 4, '2020-09-23 11:52:23', '2020-09-23 15:52:23', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nA local convenience store company donated $30,000 to Beaufort County schools on Sept. 15 as part of an ongoing promotion at its outlets.\r\n\r\nParker’s, which operates 66 convenience stores in Georgia and South Carolina, said the proceeds came from its “Fueling the Community” program. That promotion gives one cent of every gallon of gas sold on the first Wednesday of each month to local schools.\r\n\r\nSome of the Parker’s donation goes to support the school district’s annual “Support Person of the Year” recognition program, which honors school nurses, social workers, bookkeepers, office managers, teacher assistants, school secretaries, and technology and data specialists. Other funds go to specific schools designated by Parker’s “Pump Pal” customers when they purchase their gasoline on the first Wednesday of each month.\r\n\r\n“At Parker\'s, we\'re committed to giving back to the Beaufort County community and supporting local schools through our Fueling the Community program,\" Parker\'s founder and CEO Greg Parker said. “We\'re grateful to all the Beaufort County School District teachers, administrators and staff who work hard every day to support student success, particularly as they face the challenges of this unprecedented school year.”\r\n\r\nThrough the Fueling the Community charitable initiative, Parker’s gives back to every community where it does business. The company donates a portion of every gallon of gas sold at Parker’s on the first Wednesday of the month to local schools in South Carolina and Georgia. Since its inception in 2011, the program has given more than $1 million to local schools.\r\n\r\nSuperintendent Frank Rodriguez accepted the donation on behalf of the school district.\r\n\r\n“This annual donation from Parker’s is a model of corporate generosity in support of children,” Rodriguez said in a release. “This year takes us over the $130,000 mark since the company first included our district in its program six years ago.”', 'Parker’s gives $30,000 to Beaufort County School District', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'parkers-gives-30000-to-beaufort-county-school-district', '', '', '2020-09-23 11:52:23', '2020-09-23 15:52:23', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46055', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46057, 4, '2020-09-23 11:53:24', '2020-09-23 15:53:24', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nJohn Paul II Catholic School has announced its first National Merit Semifinalist Scholar – senior Gracyn Kenyon.\r\n\r\nKenyon will continue in the competition vying for 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million that will be offered next spring.\r\n\r\nAccording to the officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), approximately 16,000 semifinalists were named for this year\'s 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.\r\n\r\nTo be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. More than 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.\r\n\r\nNMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program.\r\n\r\nA semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin,<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>', 'John Paul II announces first National Merit Semifinalist in school history', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'john-paul-ii-announces-first-national-merit-semifinalist-in-school-history', '', '', '2020-09-23 11:53:24', '2020-09-23 15:53:24', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46057', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46059, 4, '2020-09-23 11:55:27', '2020-09-23 15:55:27', '<strong>By Duane Swygert</strong>\r\n\r\nI’m proud to serve as a member of the board of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). The agency supports many worthwhile projects that benefit the people of South Carolina, and one of the ways the SCDNR works to achieve its goals is by supporting other agencies and non-profit organizations.\r\n\r\nAmong the many fine non-profit organizations that SCDNR works with is the volunteer-staffed South Carolina Hunters and Landowners for the Hungry, whose members work to provide nutritious venison, legally and ethically harvested by hunters, to residents of South Carolina in need.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, according to the organization FeedAmerica.org, one in every eight South Carolinians struggles with hunger, including nearly 179,000 children.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nS.C. Hunters and Landowners for the Hungry is a 501-C3 organization established in 2004 by a group of civic-minded deer hunters in the Upstate of South Carolina who wanted to share their harvest with those who needed the meat but were unable to hunt and process deer themselves. Since then, the organization reports on its website [<a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA5MTcuMjczMTg4NDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3NjaHVudGVyc2ZvcnRoZWh1bmdyeS5jb20vP3V0bV9jb250ZW50PSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9uYW1lPSZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5JnV0bV90ZXJtPSJ9.-hGvinC_rp-AucAezicj4CW9LKVczqrRzt1Eht_4z0Q/s/685324176/br/85259040594-l\">schuntersforthehungry.com</a>] that they have distributed more than 500,000 pounds of donated venison via a network of processors and a diverse group of partnering organizations that includes church ministries, soup kitchens, food banks and other community resource groups.\r\n\r\nThis system works well, and any deer hunter can donate all or part of a deer and all or part of the processing cost by dropping a harvested deer off at a participating processor and contacting S.C. Hunters and Landowners for the Hungry. A volunteer will pick up the processed venison and deliver it to local agencies feeding people across the state, and the organization will reimburse the processor for the balance of their cost.\r\n\r\nS.C. Hunters and Landowners for the Hungry has grown significantly since its founding and looks forward to expanding its efforts to serve the entire state of South Carolina. The S.C. Natural Resources Board of Directors and the SCDNR support their efforts and applaud the hard work of this all-volunteer group.\r\n\r\nOn Saturday, Nov. 14, Gov. Henry McMaster will be the guest speaker at the S.C. Hunters and Landowners for the Hungry annual banquet, held at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Pauline. For more information, to locate a participating processor or to find out how you can help, please visit the organization’s website.\r\n\r\nI am honored to be affiliated with both SCDNR and S.C. Hunters and Landowners for the Hungry and thankful that these volunteers give of their time to help others in need.\r\n\r\n<em>Duane Swygert of Hardeeville represents South Carolina’s Sixth Congressional District on the S.C. Department of Natural Resources Board. (<a href=\"https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA5MTcuMjczMTg4NDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5kbnIuc2MuZ292L2FkbWluL2JvYXJkLmh0bWw_dXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX25hbWU9JnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkmdXRtX3Rlcm09In0.BmQt9tJtmwtn2I75hnN7jICGILJjxgxTApOo9rwue6w/s/685324176/br/85259040594-l\">https://www.dnr.sc.gov/admin/board.html</a>)</em>', 'Deer hunters, volunteers working to help hungry South Carolinians', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'deer-hunters-volunteers-working-to-help-hungry-south-carolinians', '', '', '2020-09-23 11:55:27', '2020-09-23 15:55:27', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46059', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46061, 4, '2020-09-23 11:56:51', '2020-09-23 15:56:51', '<strong>By Lee Scott</strong>\r\n\r\nIt recently came to my attention that my birthday lies on National Pickle Day.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nWhat?\r\n\r\nI have never heard of this holiday before. When I looked at my calendar, I realized that if I had been born three days earlier, my birthday would be on National Ice Cream Sundae Day.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nNow that is one, I would enjoy. If my mother had known about National Pickle Day, when I was a child, would she have made me some strange green submarine shaped cake that looked like a huge dill pickle?\r\n\r\nInstead if I had been born those three days earlier. All my little girlfriends would have enjoyed some delicious sundaes instead of pickles.\r\n\r\nWhen I saw the calendar with all these assorted National Days, I started looking closely. There is a Guacamole National Day, National Beer Lover’s Day, National Greasy Food Day along with many others.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nHere I thought that Hallmark Cards made up all these minor holidays. After all, it seems like they were the ones that came up with Grandparents Day and Sister Day.\r\n\r\nBut as it turns out there is a group called the National Day Calendar. They track nearly 1,500 National Days, National Weeks, and National Months. They also try to figure out how these “days” originated and come up with new ones. You can also submit your request for your own very National Day. Whether or not you get accepted is up to them.\r\n\r\nSo, I looked up National Pickle Day. Turns out that pickles have been a popular food for thousands of years. Cucumbers were preserved and eaten as pickles. They also have nutritional value.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nI started to feel better until I looked up my spouse’s day. His is International Museum Day. Now that is the kind of day to share. His presents could have been books about the Louvre, or a trip to the National Air and Space Museum.\r\n\r\nNo pickle cakes for him.\r\n\r\nWith so many National Days, it is that some would make sense. Like January 1st, National Hangover Day; National Cream-Filled Chocolates Day on February 14; and for the Ides of March – National Everything you think is Wrong Day.\r\n\r\nThen there are some unique ones, like National Napping Day which is the day after the return of Daylight Savings Day. Many of us can relate to this one.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nAnd many of the days are geared toward food like National Peach Cobbler Day, or National Deep-Dish Pizza Day and National Eggs Benedict Day.\r\n\r\nComing up in October we can expect to celebrate National Homemade Cookies Day and, of course, National Caramel Apple Day.\r\n\r\nThe whole idea behind the National Day Calendar is that every day is worth celebrating something. So, celebrate even if it is only pickles.\r\n\r\nLee Scott, award winning humor writer takes her “Walter Mitty” like persona and spins tales around everyday life. She enjoys boating, reading, and meeting people. Scott lives in Beaufort with her husband, JD, along with their dog Brandy. You can reach her at <a href=\"mailto:Lasshood@aol.com\">Lasshood@aol.com</a>.', 'Celebrate, even if it is only National Pickle Day', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'celebrate-even-if-it-is-only-national-pickle-day', '', '', '2020-09-23 11:56:51', '2020-09-23 15:56:51', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46061', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46064, 4, '2020-09-23 12:02:34', '2020-09-23 16:02:34', '<strong>By Scott Graber</strong>\r\n\r\nIt is Wednesday, Sept. 9, and its still dark in Port Royal. I’m sitting at my dining room table where, sometimes, I can hear the recruits on Parris Island trying to win their first badge — marksmanship.\r\n\r\nThese young men and women have chosen a path that has gotten them out of inner city, free fire zones; out of higher education now characterized by virtual, distanced teaching; out of small, foundering towns awash with oxycontin. They have traded an uncertain future for push-ups, red-faced drill sergeants and getting their teeth fixed.\r\n\r\nA certain percentage of these young recruits will end up shooting at other young men (and women) in Syria and Iraq. They won’t be part of a large, tank-led division defending the Fulda Gap; more likely they will patrol Africa’s Sahel or look for terrorists in South Sudan.\r\n\r\nThis morning also comes with a Wall Street Journal and a column by Holman W. Jenkins. He writes, “Americans want to treat every war as World War II, but most aren’t. These are imperial wars or wars of geopolitical maintenance. Our world makes such wars necessary. We need soldiers to fight them.”\r\n\r\nAnd, yes, when we lose one of our young men or women in Niger we grieve notwithstanding the fact that we don’t quite understand why we have troops in SubSaharan Africa. There is the widespread notion these Islamic-centered insurgencies are not good, and destabilizing, but Holman Jenkins is right when he says that these conflicts don’t give us the “good versus evil rational” that World War II gave our mothers and fathers.\r\n\r\nIn my view there is a parallel between what we are now doing in Korea and Niger; and what Kitchener was doing in Sudan in 1900. Actually the British were in Afghanistan, Burma, Fiji and a hundred other places maintaining a remarkable, if imperfect, stability. Moreover, the Royal Navy was then the guarantor of worldwide navigability.\r\n\r\nIn the process of tamping-down the local hot-heads who resented the British presence, the UK fought a series of small, successful wars in South Africa, India and China. They would, on occasion, lose a battle with the Zulu, but for the most part their Maxims and their discipline under fire won the day — keeping the peace in most of the world.\r\n\r\nBut Jenkins goes further, deeper in his essay.\r\n\r\n“But what’s in it for them?”<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nHis question echoes our Commander in Chief who also asked that question and then, apparently, answered his question by saying those killed in these wars — or in any war — are “losers.”\r\n\r\nJenkins says, “Mr Trump is a self-obsessed blowhard, as Americans were advised before they elected him. But things he says don’t come from nowhere; they come from a 74-year-old man’s saturation in his own way of thinking about things. Not for the first time I’m impressed by the universal reflex of commentators to condemn an alleged failure, even in a private moment not meant for public consumption, to speak in the calculated, sententious and hypocritical way that public life necessitates.”\r\n\r\nAlright, OK, Holman I get it.\r\n\r\nI understand the one can think these things, but our nattering press should give Trump a pass and protect him in the way that it protected JFK and his serial infidelity.\r\n\r\nStill, the articulation that every decision in life is a “transactional event” where every outcome should represent “gain,” must come as a stunning revelation to even the most hardened supporters of the President.\r\n\r\nIt is a revelation that trashes the concept of loving one’s country, or service over self or, importantly, one generation telling another, younger generation that this particular fight is worthy of jeopardizing one’s young, unfinished life.\r\n\r\nOur fathers\' generation told us that Vietnam was such a worthy cause.\r\n\r\nAnd I happen to believe that these aging World War II veterans believed that a communist take-over in Vietnam was a bad thing. (Obviously most contemporary historians now believe that Robert McNamara, Lyndon Johnson and the “Greatest Generation” were dead wrong in their calculations.)\r\n\r\nI did not fight in Vietnam, but my generation did go into those jungles.\r\n\r\nI did not shoot a rifle or demonstrate my marksmanship, but most of my Citadel classmates did.\r\n\r\nI will never believe that any of my classmates, made a bad “transactional” bargain. I will always believe that each of them went because they believed their fathers; loved their country; and believed it was their honor to defend their country.\r\n\r\nI will never believe they were “losers.”\r\n\r\n<em>Scott Graber is a lawyer, novelist, veteran columnist and longtime resident of Port Royal. He can be reached at cscottgraber@gmail.com.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'I will never believe they were ‘losers’', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'i-will-never-believe-they-were-losers', '', '', '2020-09-23 12:02:34', '2020-09-23 16:02:34', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46064', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46242, 4, '2020-10-01 11:26:07', '2020-10-01 15:26:07', '', 'Screen Shot 2020-10-01 at 11.25.16 AM', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'screen-shot-2020-10-01-at-11-25-16-am', '', '', '2020-10-01 11:26:07', '2020-10-01 15:26:07', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Screen-Shot-2020-10-01-at-11.25.16-AM.png', 0, 'attachment', 'image/png', 0),
(46067, 4, '2020-09-23 13:19:36', '2020-09-23 17:19:36', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nBeaufort Memorial has added another cardiologist to its team of heart specialists.\r\n\r\nBoard certified in internal medicine, cardiology and interventional cardiology, Dr. Stephen Fedec brings extensive clinical experience to Beaufort Memorial Heart Specialists. Early next month he will start seeing patients with acute and chronic cardiac conditions in both the practice’s Beaufort and Bluffton offices.\r\n\r\nMost recently affiliated with Heart and Vascular Care in Johns Creek, Ga., Dr. Fedec previously served as the medical director of the cardiac catheterization laboratory at Community Medical Center in Toms River, N.J., where he also owned his own cardiology practice for 12 years. Thereafter he was in private practice in Southwest Florida for a decade before relocating to the Atlanta metro area.\r\n\r\nThe Pennsylvania native began his medical career as an internal medicine specialist, gradually developing an interest in performing procedures that led him to cardiology. He enjoys his specialty’s full range of practice, from its consultative to its interventional aspects, and finds his ability to, in his words, “really help people” deeply gratifying.\r\n\r\n“We’re delighted to have a physician of Dr. Fedec’s caliber join our medical staff,” Vice President of Beaufort Memorial Physician Partners Christopher M. Ketchie said in a release. “Heart disease is the leading cause of death in South Carolina, and Dr. Fedec shares our mission to improve outcomes with the highest level of care and the most advanced treatments.”\r\n\r\nDr. Fedec received a Bachelor of Science in biology from Pennsylvania State University and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed a residency in internal medicine at Metropolitan Hospital in Springfield, Pa., and fellowships in cardiovascular diseases and interventional cardiology at the Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, N.J., where he also served as a fellowship trainer in interventional cardiology while in practice and on staff there after completing his fellowship.', 'Interventional cardiologist joins Beaufort Memorial Heart Specialists', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'interventional-cardiologist-joins-beaufort-memorial-heart-specialists', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:19:36', '2020-09-23 17:19:36', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46067', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46070, 4, '2020-09-23 13:20:56', '2020-09-23 17:20:56', 'The home-isolation effects of the pandemic are putting extra pounds on Americans, giving rise to the term “The Quarantine 15.”<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nAfter months of disruption to daily routines, poor eating habits and less physical activity equate to more weight. Dieting is the next step for some people, but medical experts caution that if they’re not careful, certain fat- and calorie-cutting measures can cause another kind of loss besides pounds—their hair.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n“With some fad diets, you are missing out on some important nutrients, and that factor can have an impact on hair loss,” says Dr. Patrick Angelos (drpatrickangelos.com), author of The Science and Art of Hair Restoration: A Patient’s Guide.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n“Your body requires adequate calories and protein to feed your hair follicles. Your hormones have a direct effect on your hair health. In order to balance your hormones, it’s important to know what foods, nutrients and supplements you need on a regular basis, and what you don’t need.”<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThese nutritional tips can aid your overall health and prevent hair loss:\r\n\r\nAvoid sugar. Crash diets or cleanses can lead to too much sugar in the bloodstream, which promotes inflammation. When people eat sugar or carbs, it causes a spike of insulin and androgens, which bind to hair follicles and cause the hair to fall out. Inflammation driven by high-glycemic diets affects the immune system, and high levels of insulin can lead to hair loss.\r\n\r\nGet plenty of protein. Protein is critical for keeping your hair healthy, but many people don\'t get enough. Too little protein in your diet can damage healthy hair and inhibit your body\'s ability to build new hair follicles. Lean meats like fish and chicken, eggs, and soy products are good sources of protein.\r\n\r\nSeek fatty acids. Omega-3s play a key role in the health of hair and skin. Dr. Angelos suggests foods that are rich in these fatty acids such as salmon, tuna, walnuts and almonds.\r\n\r\nBeware of low iron. Low iron can be a cause of hair loss. A balanced diet should include iron-rich foods such as spinach, pork and salmon, peas, and dried fruit. Foods high in vitamin C – oranges, strawberries, broccoli, tomatoes – allow your body to absorb iron in a more efficient manner.\r\n\r\nConsider supplements. A number of supplements can help maintain a balance necessary for good health and healthy hair. Those include fish oil, a multivitamin that includes vitamins A, B complex, C, D, and E, along with the minerals zinc, iodine, and iron. You may want to also take a supplemental B-complex vitamin, although most multivitamins have sufficient amounts of Bs. And, if not in the multivitamin, also supplement with biotin, a coenzyme that helps the function of B-complex vitamins.\r\n\r\n“Our habits have been disrupted during the pandemic, so it’s an opportune time to create new and healthy ones,” Dr. Angelos says. “Dieting doesn’t mean depriving yourself of essentials your body needs. And a healthy diet can help your hair stay strong and shiny.”\r\n\r\n<em>Dr. Patrick Angelos (drpatrickangelos.com), author of The Science and Art of Hair Restoration: A Patient’s Guide, is a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon whose primary surgical interests include hair restoration and facial plastic surgery. He is certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology.</em>\r\n\r\nExclusive content from CARE Magazine', 'Don\'t let your pandemic diet cost you hair loss', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'dont-let-your-pandemic-diet-cost-you-hair-loss', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:20:56', '2020-09-23 17:20:56', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46070', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46072, 4, '2020-09-23 13:21:52', '2020-09-23 17:21:52', 'This school year is beginning in much the way the last one ended, with many districts opting for virtual learning, which means children sit at home in front of computer screens rather than in a classroom in front of teachers.\r\n\r\nBut that extra screen time—mixed with the screen time many children and teenagers spend on their own—brings with it the potential for serious eye strain, says Dr. Jeff Kegarise, an optometrist, clinical management expert, and co-author with his wife, Susan, of One Patient at a Time: The K2 Way Playbook for Healthcare &amp; Business Success (www.theK2Way.com).<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n“Spending too much time in front of screens on computers, phones and tablets can lead to headaches, blurry vision, dry eyes and more,” Kegarise says. “Gritty, scratchy, watery, or irritated eyes can be common because of all the digital devices people use these days.”<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nAnd if things aren’t bad enough, even without this added time staring at computers, about one-fourth of children in the U.S. have a vision problem significant enough to affect their performance in school, Kegarise says.\r\n\r\nIt’s not unusual for some children to spend hours staring at a video game screen, perhaps so caught up in the game’s action that they fail to notice or care about any eye discomfort that results.\r\n\r\nAdd several hours of online school, though, and eye strain becomes more difficult to ignore.\r\n\r\nParents can help their children alleviate some of the eye strain by making sure they do the following:\r\n\r\nTake breaks. To a certain extent, students won’t have control over this because teachers will decide when breaks happen during the school day. But ideally, they should follow a 20/20 rule; take a break every 20 minutes and look away from the screen at a distant object for 20 seconds, Kegarise says.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nChoose the right lighting. The type of lighting used in the student’s workspace can make a difference. Incandescent lights work better than fluorescent lights because they give off less glare, Kegarise says. “It’s also better if the light is placed over your shoulder than if it’s shining straight down on the screen because that will cause fewer reflections,” he says.\r\n\r\nAdjust the position of the computer. The computer monitor and the keyboard should be positioned to conform with the child’s size. Make sure the screen isn’t too high in the child’s field of view. A report by the National Institutes of Health suggests an adjustable chair is the best option to get height just right.\r\n\r\nRemind them to blink. Parents should remind children to blink when they spend a lot of time in front of a screen. That helps spread tears across the eyes, keeping the eyes lubricated and aiding in the prevention of dry eyes, Kegarise says.\r\n\r\nEven without all this added screen time, children often develop vision issues that hurt their performance in school and sports, Kegarise says. Forty percent of children develop nearsightedness, he says, and it’s an even higher percentage for those who have a parent who is nearsighted. Studies also show that less time outdoors contributes to more nearsightedness progression.\r\n\r\n“In addition, reading difficulties and attention problems are often the result of eye muscle, visual processing, and function problems.” Kegarise says. “Parents who feel that their child has a tougher time reading and comprehending than others should consider an eye health and vision exam for them. It’s possible through vision therapy to make life-changing and long-lasting improvements to their learning and confidence.”\r\n\r\n<em>Dr. Jeff Kegarise, a board-certified optometrist and clinical management expert, (www.theK2Way.com). He has lectured for many years on clinical disease, and his management methods were recognized by The Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Kegarise is a graduate of The Ohio State University College of Optometry.</em>', 'Virtual school means extra screen time and added eye strain for kids', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'virtual-school-means-extra-screen-time-and-added-eye-strain-for-kids', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:21:52', '2020-09-23 17:21:52', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46072', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46074, 4, '2020-09-23 13:23:41', '2020-09-23 17:23:41', 'As states ease COVID-19 restrictions and people get out of the house to return to work, pets around the country may see their daily routines of hanging out with everyone come to an end.\r\n\r\nSome dogs and cats handle routine changes easily. For others, a routine change at home can cause behavior issues, nervousness or separation anxiety.\r\n\r\nA Suzy survey (a real-time market research platform) of 5,000 U.S. pet owners found nearly 70% of respondents are concerned their pets will have new or additional anxiety when they return to work. It’s important to prepare pets for changes in routine, especially those that are new to a home, for their well-being and harmony of the whole family.\r\n\r\nConsider these<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>post-quarantine transition tips:\r\n\r\n<strong>Make a Plan</strong>\r\n\r\nThe key to any plan is making sure everyone knows what to do. This goes for veteran pet owners and the owners of more than 221,000 new pets adopted or fostered since March, according to the 24Pet ShelterWatch Report. Pet owners should agree on the plan for their pets and details should be shared with children who help with care.\r\n\r\n“Pet owners should make a plan with minimal and realistic changes to help their dogs or cats adapt to new routines,” said veterinarian Elizabeth DeLomba, MBA, senior veterinary services consultant at VetriScience Laboratories. “Start by offering your pets belongings that make them feel safe and comfortable and add small things that promote mental and physical stimulation.”\r\n\r\n<strong>Practice the New Routine</strong>\r\n\r\nEase your pet into being alone by spending short periods of time away from him or her both in and outside the home and work your way up to hours of separation.\r\n\r\nUse practice time to get your dog or cat used to what happens before you leave for work, comfortable with a crate or other safe space and acquainted with a new toy, treat or someone who will check on him or her during the day.\r\n\r\nBefore you leave, take your pet for a walk or play at home to get energy out prior to your departure. When it is time to leave, don’t make a big deal out of leaving. Say goodbye long before you leave then leave calmly.\r\n\r\n<strong>Try a Calming Supplement</strong>\r\n\r\nThe survey revealed that 65% of respondents plan to use a nutritional supplement to help their dog or cat cope with any anxiety a new routine brings. Over the counter calming supplements like VetriScience Composure chews can help pets relax during stressful times without changing their personality or energy level. Calming supplements come in bite-size chews or a liquid dosage and can help relieve stress for dogs and cats of all breeds and sizes.\r\n\r\n“Fear and anxiety disorders affect 23 million dogs in the U.S. alone,” DeLomba said. “Supplements may offer a convenient approach for managing separation anxiety and other behavioral issues. The ingredients in supplements work together to make a positive impact on behavior and anxiousness, which results in a calmer, more focused pet.”\r\n\r\n<strong>Keep Them Stimulated</strong>\r\n\r\nDon’t let your dog or cat feel bored when home alone. Play music, keep a television on or use a white noise machine to create some constant sound. If your pet isn’t into watching television, keep him or her busy with a treat-dispensing toy that requires some work. Or stuff a toy with peanut butter, freeze it and give it to your dog when you leave. These ideas can help keep your pet’s mind stimulated and encourage him or her to focus on something other than being alone.\r\n\r\nStart thinking about a plan for your pet and ask your veterinarian if you have concerns about behavioral changes. Learn more and find the full survey results at vetriscience.com.\r\n\r\n\r\nExclusive content from CARE Magazine.', 'Four ways to help transition pets to post-quarantine routines', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'four-ways-to-help-transition-pets-to-post-quarantine-routines', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:23:41', '2020-09-23 17:23:41', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46074', 0, 'post', '', 0);
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(46076, 4, '2020-09-23 13:26:21', '2020-09-23 17:26:21', 'Looking for a race wash? Scores of choices are available in your drug-store aisle. And there are hundreds more online. The number of facial cleansers out there may be overwhelming. It’s helpful to remember that your skin has its own remarkable built-in maintenance system, which you want to support.\r\n\r\nYour skin is your body’s largest organ, and it performs a complex range of jobs, from regulating your temperature to teaming up with your immune system to ward off threats. “Your skin is expansive,” observes Suzanne J. Friedler, M.D. F.A.A.D., a board-certified fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. “Both literally – adults have about 22 square feet. And figuratively: Among the skin’s functions is its ability to regularly regenerate.”\r\n\r\nYour skin’s maintenance system includes a turnover of skin cells, with new cells repopulating about every four weeks. “And your skin’s pores release a number of protective substances, including the skin oil sebum, which helps coat the surface,” explains Dr. Friedler.\r\n\r\nEspecially with the vast array of face-cleansing choices available, you want to keep in mind that your regimen should be supportive of your skin’s own self-care. An effective cleansing routine should steer clear of common face-washing mistakes.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nWith that in mind, Dr. Friedler offers the following suggestions:\r\n\r\nFIVE Face-wash “do-nots” that will keep your skin dewy:\r\n\r\n1. Do not overwash! “’Squeaky clean’ skin has been stripped of its natural barrier protection,” emphasizes Dr. Friedler. “Your skin’s processes are calibrated to maintain a balance of protective skin oil on the surface. If you get carried away and wash too often, you can disrupt this balance, causing overproduction of sebum, which can lead to clogged pores and acne. Aside from a post-workout wash, you should wash no more than twice a day with a non-soap cleanser. Instead of scrubbing, gently use your fingers. Then pat dry—no rubbing.”\r\n\r\n2. Do not mess with the acid mantle! “We’ve heard a lot about the skin’s ‘acid mantle’ in health and beauty columns,” observes Dr. Friedler. “The skin’s natural pH is below 7, creating an acidic surface environment that maintains its protective barrier and hosts a range of beneficial microflora. One reason you want to stay away from soap is that its pH is much higher, usually about 10 or 11, which can disrupt that mantle, causing a cascade of problems. When you choose cleansing products, you want to make sure that the pH is in the range of 5 to 7 so that your skin’s surface pH is supported and its delicate ecosystem remains healthy.”<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n3. Do not forget to moisturize! “Your face-washing routine,” states Friedler, “should include moisturizing as the last step. Moisturize immediately after patting dry: within a minute to three minutes to lock in your skin’s moisture. Those with oily skin should use an oil-free, ‘non-comedogenic’ gel product. Dryer skin does well with thicker lotions and creams. Products that include ceramides or hyaluronic acid can aid in providing protection.”<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n4. Do not over-exfoliate! “As with washing,” says Friedler, “exfoliation should be done with care. Gentle exfoliation can help prevent clogged pores. But you don’t want to overdo it: No more than once or twice a week for dry skin. Chemical-based exfoliants, such as glycolic or lactic acid, are typically gentler than mechanical exfoliants like brushes and scrubs. Just as with washing, you should apply gently and be sure to moisturize afterwards.”<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n5. Do not forget about the neighbor! “The success of your face-cleansing routine is also dependent on how you treat your hair,” advises Dr. Friedler. “You want to make sure that your hair-care and styling products are free from irritants and oils that can disrupt your skin’s balance.”<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n“Staying focused on supporting your skin’s own processes,” concludes Dr. Friedler, “can help you navigate the myriad face-cleanser choices at the drug stores.\r\n\r\nSuzanne J. Friedler, M.D. F.A.A.D., is a board-certified fellow of the Amerwican Academy of Dermatology, with expertise in many areas of medical and cosmetic dermatology. She has been with Advanced Dermatology PC since 2002. www.advanceddermatologypc.com.', 'Debunking ‘squeaky clean’ and other face-cleansing myths', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'debunking-squeaky-clean-and-other-face-cleansing-myths', '', '', '2020-11-17 10:04:54', '2020-11-17 15:04:54', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46076', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46078, 4, '2020-09-23 13:27:28', '2020-09-23 17:27:28', '<strong>Presented by Fred Gaskin</strong>\r\n\r\nIt’s been said that a rising tide lifts all boats, and despite a sell-off for the record books earlier this year, too many investors seem content that they have successfully weathered yet another storm, simply because their investment portfolios may have performed pretty well recently. We consistently encourage our clients to take ownership of their investment portfolios, and a big part of that process is settling on an investment management plan. In our opinion, what long-term investors really need are guiding principles to help them stay focused and on track to achieve their goals.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nWith my clients, I talk about these seven fundamentals that are essential to successful investing:\r\n\r\n1. Establish a financial plan based on your goals. Many of us have several financial goals—save for retirement, college for our children, and a home—to name a few. The first step to making progress toward those goals is creating a plan to reach them. According to Schwab’s 2019 Modern Wealth Survey, more than 60 percent of Americans who have a written financial plan feel financially stable, while only a third of those without a plan feel that same level of comfort.\r\n\r\n2. Start saving and investing today. Building wealth is a long-term endeavor and for long-term investors, time in the market is more important than attempting to time the market. Your level of savings is the biggest factor in determining whether you can meet your financial goals. And the earlier you start saving and investing, the more time your contributions have to potentially grow, thanks to the power of compounding.\r\n\r\n3. Build a diversified portfolio based on your tolerance for risk. Allocate your money across asset classes, such as stocks, bonds and cash investments, and within each asset class, across different sectors and geographies. To determine what allocation mix is right for you, it’s important to understand your tolerance for potential losses, which is dependent on your time horizon and comfort with volatility. For example, if you have a mortgage, your own business and kids approaching college, you may be less likely to ride out a bear market-given your income needs-than if you are single and not holding any major debt.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n4. Minimize fees and taxes. Markets can be unpredictable, so control what you know, such as investing fees. A seemingly small difference in fees can potentially make a big difference over time. Regularly review your statement and ask your financial advisor directly about the different fees you are paying, why you’re paying them and how they are impacting your returns and progress toward financial goals. It’s also important to always consider tax-efficient investing strategies, such as tax-loss harvesting, which may allow you to offset taxable investment gains with taxable investment losses, lowering your current tax bill and leaving you with more money to invest and potentially grow.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n5. Build in protection against significant losses. If you experienced the tech bubble burst in 2000 or the 2008 financial crisis as an investor, you know it can take years to recover—emotionally and in your portfolio. Holding cash and other defensive assets like bonds to hedge your portfolio can help provide stability and counteract big stock declines.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n6. Rebalance your portfolio regularly. Forgetting to rebalance is like letting the current steer your boat—you’ll likely end up off course. Keep your portfolio aligned with your goals and risk tolerance. Letting asset classes “drift” can eventually expose your portfolio to a level of risk that feels uncomfortable, and could cause you to make knee-jerk, and potentially costly, decisions.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n7. Ignore the noise. Markets will always fluctuate in the short-term, but whether they’re moving up or down, long-term investors should ignore the noise. Instead, stay focused on making progress toward your goals and stick to your financial plan.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nNo investing plan is perfect for every situation, but having a proven process should provide investors the confidence to deal with most unexpected situations in a constructive way. Whether you’re retired, saving for retirement, or just getting started, having a plan makes solid sense.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n<em>Fred Gaskin is the branch leader at the Charles Schwab Independent Branch in Bluffton. He has over 35 years of experience helping clients achieve their financial goals. Some content provided here has been compiled from previously published articles authored by various parties at Schwab.&nbsp;</em>\r\n\r\n<em>The information here is for general informational purposes only. It should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment or tax advice, and the investment strategies mentioned may not be suitable for everyone. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, please consult with a qualified tax advisor, CPA, Financial Planner or Investment Manager. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></em>\r\n\r\n<em>Rebalancing may cause investors to incur transaction costs and, when rebalancing a non-retirement account, taxable events may be created that may increase your tax liability. Rebalancing a portfolio and diversification strategies do not ensure a profit or protect against a loss in any given market environment.</em>\r\n\r\n(0920-0V3E)', 'The Fundamentals You Need For Investing Success', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'the-fundamentals-you-need-for-investing-success', '', '', '2021-03-30 15:01:47', '2021-03-30 19:01:47', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46078', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46080, 4, '2020-09-23 13:29:01', '2020-09-23 17:29:01', 'Republican candidates and supporters met Saturday for the grand opening of their new Beaufort County GOP headquarters at 1208 Boundary Street. The headquarters will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Photo by Bob Sofaly', 'GRAND OLD OPENING', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'grand-old-opening-2', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:29:01', '2020-09-23 17:29:01', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46080', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46082, 4, '2020-09-23 13:30:46', '2020-09-23 17:30:46', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nThe historic Paige Point Cemetery will be the site of a rededication ceremony and monument unveiling at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24. The cemetery is located at 669B Paige Point Road in Seabrook.\r\n\r\nThe public is invited.\r\n\r\nUpon discovering the cemetery desecrated in the fall of 2016, Retired Major General Mitch Mitchell notified Council Member Gerald Dawson. Together they worked with former Beaufort County Administrator Gary Kubic to secure funding to protect, preserve and restore the cemetery.\r\n\r\nScheduled speakers at the rededication ceremony will include Beaufort County Administrator Ashley Jacobs, former County Administrator Gary Kubic, Council Member Gerald Dawson, Penn Center Executive Administrator Emeritus, Mr. Emory Campbell, Gullah Scholar &amp; Master Story Teller Ms. Anita Singleton-Prather (Aunt Pearlie Sue) and Community member Mr. Jimmy Lawrence.\r\n\r\nThe program will culminate with the unveiling of the historic marker and Sankofa Monument.', 'Historic Paige Point Cemetery rededication set for Thursday', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'historic-paige-point-cemetery-rededication-set-for-thursday', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:30:46', '2020-09-23 17:30:46', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46082', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46084, 4, '2020-09-23 13:34:48', '2020-09-23 17:34:48', 'Above: Bob, left, and brother Jason Davidson hold their new Xbox One after they were named Hargray Heros Sweepstakes winners Monday. Their mother, Jesse Davidson, back right, nominated them for the award for their tireless help after their sister Elizabeth (seen with Jesse Davidson) was diagnosed with cancer and underwent treatement. At far left are Pat Morgan and Jason Carnes of Hargray. Not shown is Davidson’s husband Walter. Both Walter and Jesse Davidson are U.S. Navy veterans. Photo by Bob Sofaly&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_46023\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1020\"]<a href=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Hargray-Heros-2.jpeg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-46023\" src=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Hargray-Heros-2-1024x670.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1020\" height=\"667\"></a> Bob Sofaly photo<br>Marine Corps veterna Patrick Odell, center left, was nominted as a Hargray Heros Sweepstakes winner by his wife Kimberly, center right. At far left is Jason Carnes and far right is Pat Morgan, both from Hargray. The Odells were presented with a tandem kyak. Odell is a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Marines and according to his wife has been depoloyed for 16 years, eight months during that time.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'HARGRAY HEROES', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'hargray-heroes', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:34:48', '2020-09-23 17:34:48', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46084', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46086, 4, '2020-09-23 13:36:28', '2020-09-23 17:36:28', '<h2>41 regional nonprofits have gotten $556,000<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>to address COVID-19 needs</h2>\r\n<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nIn its eighth round of COVID-19-related grantmaking since April, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has awarded an additional $97,600 to 10 organizations that are addressing critical needs resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. To date, a total of $556,000 has been granted to 41 organizations in the organization’s service area of Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper Counties.\r\n\r\nCommunity Foundation of the Lowcountry established the Lowcountry Community COVID-19 Response Fund in mid-March to rapidly deploy funds to nonprofit organizations addressing the needs of individuals and families struggling from the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.\r\n\r\nA grants advisory committee, comprised of community leaders from Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper Counties, reviews the grant applications.\r\n\r\nIn this most recent round of grantmaking, the advisory committee expanded the criteria to include education-related needs, in addition to food, housing and medical assistance.\r\n\r\n“We realized that, though food and housing insecurity continues to be a hardship for many, the start of the school year has created some unique educational challenges,” interim President and CEO of the Community Foundation Jackie Rosswurm said. “Parents with the financial need to continue working\r\n\r\nneed help ensuring their children are getting online instruction. Local nonprofit organizations have stepped up to create virtual learning hubs or to provide safe and clean locations where children can get instruction. The Community Foundation is helping fund these efforts.”\r\n\r\nRosswurm stresses that needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic are not easing. “There are still many people struggling to make ends meet, to feed their families and pay their rent and utility bills,” she said. “And this is expected to continue for many months. We urge people to consider making a donation to our Lowcountry Community COVID-19 Response Fund so we can continue to provide funding for local front line organizations.”\r\n\r\nThe following organizations have received grants in this 10th round of grantmaking:\r\n\r\nAgape Family Life Center (Beaufort and Jasper Counties): for direct emergency financial assistance (rent/mortgage and utilities) for at least 25 families who are facing hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.\r\n\r\nAntioch Education Center (Jasper County): Second grant – to support education programs and food pantry, serving Jasper County residents with increased needs as a result of COVID-19.\r\n\r\nBoys &amp; Girls Club of the Lowcountry – Bluffton (Beaufort County): to support technology expenses required for the Virtual Hub Program that provides online learning programs for students who are attending virtual school at the Club while their parents work.\r\n\r\nBoys &amp; Girls Club of Lowcountry – Hilton Head Island (Beaufort County): to support the Distance Learning Assistance Program that provides educational support to students who attend virtual school at the Club while their parents work.\r\n\r\nThe Children’s Center, Inc. (Beaufort County): for an online school program created to support children who are learning virtually while their parents work, related to COVID-19 school closures.\r\n\r\nFirst Estill Baptist Church (Hampton County): for food and supplies needed to support and expand the First Estill Baptist Food Pantry, serving Hampton County families who are facing food shortages due to COVID-19.\r\n\r\nThe LEGACY Foundation of SC (Jasper County): for their 3rd to 6th grade virtual tutoring program for students in Jasper County who are attending online school due to COVID-19 school closures.\r\n\r\nNeighborhood Outreach Connection (Beaufort County): Third grant – for technology and cleaning supplies necessary to provide a safe environment for virtual learning for low-income students at their northern Hilton Head Island location.\r\n\r\nPrograms for Exceptional People (PEP) (Beaufort County): for cleaning supplies to keep members and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.\r\n\r\nSandalwood Community Food Pantry (Beaufort County): Second grant – to meet the substantial need for food for low-income residents of Hilton Head Island who face hardships due to COVID-19.\r\n\r\nBecause the needs created by COVID-19 will continue, the Lowcountry Community COVID-19 Response Fund is still accepting donations. If you’d like to make a tax-exempt donation to the Lowcountry Community COVID-19 Response Fund, you can do so by visiting the Community Foundation’s home page at www.cf-lowcountry.org or by going to the fund’s donation landing page at https://cflowcountry.civicore.com/covid.', 'Community Foundation of the Lowcountry awards another $97,600', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'community-foundation-of-the-lowcountry-awards-another-97600', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:36:28', '2020-09-23 17:36:28', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46086', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46088, 4, '2020-09-23 13:38:08', '2020-09-23 17:38:08', '<strong>Cunningham<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>hosting virtual<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>Town Hall meeting</strong>\r\n\r\nCongressman Joe Cunningham (S.C.-1) will take part in a Virtual Town Hall meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24.\r\n\r\nTo access the Town Hall, sign up ASAP at https://www.mobilize.us/scdp2020cc/event/319228/.\r\n\r\nOnce registered, you will receive a link to Thursday’s Town Hall the day of the event.\r\n\r\n<strong>Coastal Kingdom&nbsp;wins Emmy</strong>\r\n\r\nCoastal Kingdom, a TV program co-sponsored by The County Channel and the LowCountry Institute on Spring Island, was awarded its second Southeastern EMMY Award for “Best On Camera Talent/Host\" at the annual event in Atlanta over the weekend.\r\n\r\nTo date, the Coastal Kingdom team has received seven Southeastern EMMY nominations. The Southeastern EMMY Awards are a division of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.\r\n\r\nCoastal Kingdom, now in its 11th year, was created by Tony Mills a naturalist and educator on Spring Island and Rob Lewis, a producer for The County Channel. This is the third time Coastal Kingdom has been nominated for Best TV Host. The series also won in 2018.\r\n\r\nWatch all programming for The County Channel live 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 www.beaufortcountysc.gov.\r\n\r\n<strong>County spraying<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>for mosquitoes</strong>\r\n\r\nBeaufort County Mosquito Control may conduct aerial and/or ground treatments from through Friday, Sept. 25. Mosquito Control applies EPA-registered public health insecticide during ideal weather using low-flying aircraft throughout daylight hours and spray trucks from about 11 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.\r\n\r\nFor additional information, please contact Mosquito Control at 843-255-5800.\r\n\r\n<strong>Day of prayer at Waterfront Park</strong>\r\n\r\nThe public is invited to join Franklin Graham\'s day of prayer for the country at noon Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort.\r\n\r\nThose interested should come early as the maximum space allowed is for 250 people.\r\n\r\nParticipants will be praying for “God’s healing of our country as our only hope is in God,” and are asked to please wear a mask and be prepared to social distance.\r\n\r\n<strong>Publix gives to Lowcountry Food Bank</strong>\r\n\r\nThe Lowcountry Food Bank (LCFB) announced that it received a $125,000 donation from Publix Super Markets Charities last week to help feed Lowcountry neighbors who struggle with hunger.\r\n\r\nA socially distanced Publix check presentation was held at the LCFB on Sept. 3 to kick off Hunger Action Month, a time when people all across the country are taking action to fight hunger.\r\n\r\nThe Lowcountry Food Bank serves the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina and distributed more than 32 million pounds of food in 2019. The Lowcountry Food Bank helps fight hunger by distributing food to nearly 300 partner agencies including soup kitchens, homeless shelters and emergency food pantries.', 'NEWS BRIEFS', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'news-briefs-164', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:38:08', '2020-09-23 17:38:08', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46088', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46090, 4, '2020-09-23 13:39:04', '2020-09-23 17:39:04', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nFirefighters from the Burton Fire District welcomed donations of fire safety kits and $500 from the Corriveau Insurance Agency in Beaufort on Wednesday, Sept. 16.\r\n\r\n“These types of partnerships help connect our Fire District to the community we serve, and the contribution from Andy Corriveau and his team is very much appreciated,” Capt. Dan Byrne, community support officer and paramedic with the Burton Fire District, said in a release.\r\n\r\nThe Corriveau Agency is the longest serving State Farm agency in Jasper, Beaufort, Hampton and Colleton counties.\r\n\r\n“We take great pride in working alongside our local fire departments to help save lives and protect property,” Andy Corriveau said. “Educating residents about fire safety, especially as we move a little closer to cooler weather with outdoor cooking and indoor heating systems, is critical.”\r\n\r\nAlthough the firefighters and Corriveau work year-round to inform residents about fire dangers, Oct. 4-10 is National Fire Prevention Week (www.nfpa.org/fpw) with a special focus on cooking safety.\r\n\r\nState Farm is the state’s largest home insurer. The fire prevention kits donated to the Burton Fire District contain educational fire prevention materials for homeowners and children. Firefighters can share the information at fire stations or at community events.', 'Burton Fire District partners with Corriveau Insurance Agency', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'burton-fire-district-partners-with-corriveau-insurance-agency', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:39:04', '2020-09-23 17:39:04', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46090', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46570, 4, '2020-10-28 11:42:22', '2020-10-28 15:42:22', '', 'Tim_Dodds', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'tim_dodds', '', '', '2020-10-28 13:58:53', '2020-10-28 17:58:53', '', 46671, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Tim_Dodds.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46093, 4, '2020-09-23 13:40:03', '2020-09-23 17:40:03', 'Incumbent Joe Cunningham, D-S.C., and Republican challenger Nancy Mace will hold their first debate in the race for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District seat at SCETV’s Beaufort studio Monday, Sept. 28.\r\n\r\nThe hour-long debate – sponsored by The Charleston Post and Courier, SCETV and S.C. Public Radio – begins at 7 p.m. and will be aired live statewide on SCETV and SC Public Radio. The coverage will also be streamed live on scetv.org and postandcourier.com, as well as on SCETV’s various social media platforms. The debate will be moderated by SCETV’s Gavin Jackson and The Post and Courier’s Jamie Lovegrove.\r\n\r\n– Mike McCombs', 'Cunningham, Mace will meet in Beaufort debate Monday', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'cunningham-mace-will-meet-in-beaufort-debate-monday', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:40:03', '2020-09-23 17:40:03', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46093', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46095, 4, '2020-09-23 13:42:38', '2020-09-23 17:42:38', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nTwo area teams got head start on the annual Beaufort Walk for Water on Saturday and Sunday, completing 3-mile treks in Habersham and on the Spanish Moss Trail, respectively.\r\n\r\nWalk for Water symbolizes the walk millions of women and children in developing countries make daily to collect often-unsafe water.\r\n\r\nNearly two dozen other teams will walk the following Saturday, Sept. 26 at locations across the area as part of this year’s virtual Walk for Water. The event promotes awareness of the global water crisis and raises money for Water Mission to build safe water and hygiene solutions in developing countries and disaster areas. Up to 400 walkers are expected in total, raising approximately $50,000 for Water Mission.\r\n\r\nFor more information, visit bit.ly/BftWalk2020 or contact Camilla Pagliaroli at 843-441-2348 or camillapags@gmail.com.\r\n\r\n<em>A “small but mighty” group supporting Beaufort Walk for Water walked three miles along the Spanish Moss Trail on Sunday. Photo by Bob Sofaly.</em>', 'Walk for Water off to early start', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'walk-for-water-off-to-early-start', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:42:38', '2020-09-23 17:42:38', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46095', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46097, 4, '2020-09-23 13:43:28', '2020-09-23 17:43:28', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort County School District will resume face-to-face educational instruction in a hybrid model beginning Oct. 5.\r\n\r\nThe announcement came at Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting.\r\n\r\n“The district’s position has always been that we would return to traditional methods of teaching when it was safe to do so,” Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said in a news release.\r\n\r\nRodriguez noted that the district’s risk factors for COVID-19 published by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control have decreased significantly in recent weeks.\r\n\r\n“The common-sense precautions we’re now taking in our day-to-day lives have produced very positive results,” the superintendent said. “In order for us to begin face-to-face instruction – and then to continue face-to-face instruction – all of us have to remain vigilant and stay safe.”\r\n\r\nIn a hybrid AA/BB model, half of the school’s population who registered for face-to-face instruction will attend school on Monday and Tuesday and the other half will attend on Thursday and Friday. While schools are deep cleaned on Wednesday, all students will receive live virtual instruction at home. On the days when students are not receiving live-instruction they will be completing independent work that builds on what they were exposed to in class.\r\n\r\nSchools will notify families next week so they can plan for their child’s AA/BB schedule. Siblings will be assigned the same schedules whenever possible.\r\n\r\nStudents whose parents have chosen all-virtual learning will continue their academic work online.\r\n\r\nAssuming that DHEC’s COVID-19 metrics continue to decrease, the district will transition to traditional in-person classes five days a week when it is safe to do so.\r\n\r\n“Given the uncertainty of this pandemic,” Rodriguez said, “we can’t make promises on when that will happen. But we will conduct a comprehensive evaluation each week in case infection rates increase again, which might require us to take a different course.”\r\n\r\nIn a related development, the district also announced that it is terminating its relationship with K12 Learning Solutions, an online learning management platform.\r\n\r\n“While we believe that K12 provides a quality product, I’ve been disappointed in the company’s ability to meet our expectations,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve been trying to work through our frustrations with K12 in recent weeks, but when our students and teachers are impacted, we needed to move quickly to find a better course.”\r\n\r\nDuke Bradley, the deputy superintendent and chief of schools, said the break with K12 would not create significant problems.\r\n\r\n“Our hope was that K12 would help to make the online learning experience more seamless and easier to manage for teachers,” he said. “But we never viewed their product as the only way to deliver high-quality instruction. Ultimately we place our greatest confidence in the competence and dedication of our teachers, not in technology.”\r\n\r\nBradley said the district already has the essentials needed to provide quality instruction. “We have clear standards and a viable curriculum that will lead to academic success if it’s taught with rigor and consistency.”\r\n\r\nThe district will continue to rely on other online platforms like Zoom, Google Classroom and Seesaw, and will also investigate additional web-based teaching supplements to ensure that students and teachers have the resources they need to be effective in their work.\r\n\r\nSince district schools began the academic year in an all-virtual capacity on Sept. 8, the district has received considerable feedback from parents.\r\n\r\n“I have listened intently to the concerns expressed by our stakeholders, especially the parents who have offered individual testimonies about how virtual instruction is not ideal for their children,” Rodriguez said. “It pained me greatly to hear these stories.”\r\n\r\n“At the same time, I’ve been encouraged by the many success stories and the positive experiences that students and parents have related.\r\n\r\n“It’s my hope that offering a hybrid model – with the ultimate goal of eventually resuming face-to-face instruction five days a week – will relieve some of the burden on families sooner rather than later while still protecting the health and safety of our students, our employees, our families and our community.”\r\n\r\nRodriguez said the district has prepared extensive safety precautions in place to protect students and staff in school buildings.', 'Beaufort County public schools to resume face-to-face instruction in hybrid model Oct. 5', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-county-public-schools-to-resume-face-to-face-instruction-in-hybrid-model-oct-5-2', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:43:28', '2020-09-23 17:43:28', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46097', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46099, 4, '2020-09-23 13:47:37', '2020-09-23 17:47:37', '<h4><b>By LOLITA HUCKABY\r\n\r\nHistoric Review Board looks to the future</b></h4>\r\nBEAUFORT –&nbsp;Those folks on the city’s Historic District Review Board, for all their focus on protecting the past, sure spend most of their agenda looking into the future.\r\n\r\nTheir recent meeting was a good case in point; two major projects, particularly one that can drastically change the landscape of Bay Street, were on the agenda and both got a green light to move forward.\r\n\r\nCertainly, the members lead by Chairman John Dickerson would argue it’s not an easy task, especially if you’re called to reject plans from maybe your neighbors or a business client.\r\n\r\nBut getting a first look at some of those plans has gotta be fun.\r\n\r\nA Charleston developer wants to build a three-story, three-unit development at 1107 Bay Street, next to the Anchorage, where the former Dowling-Dukes-Williams law firm was until it was destroyed by fire in 2008. The three-unit project along Bay will be followed by similar developments on the Craven Street side, if the first phase works out.\r\n\r\nThe waterfront lot overlooking the Beaufort River has been empty since then, something of a “gypsy parking lot” as one called it, with a high price tag. But Hank Hofford of Charleston is working with architect Cooter Ramsey to build some houses there, large houses that, if built, will provide stunning view of the river.\r\n\r\nAnd the HRB members agreed, granting a first step of conceptual approval to move the project along.\r\n\r\nThe same board, earlier in the meeting gave Dick Stewart and 303 Associates approval to advance plans for another three-story structure adjacent to the historic Beaufort Inn on Port Republic Street. The structure, which was initially approved in 2008 but the approval had lapsed, may eventually rise from where a former shoe repair store stood.\r\n\r\nTo make the Port Republic project happen, a single-story cement block structure will be demolished. Sounds harmless enough until Historic Beaufort Foundation pointed out the building was one of the few remaining post-World War II stores owned and operated by an African-American businessman.\r\n\r\nThat’s history … but it makes Beaufort what it is … or was?\r\n<h4>Another starfish<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span></h4>\r\nfrom Chief Clancy\r\n\r\nBEAUFORT – One of the many cool stories we heard about the late Beaufort Police Chief Matt Clancy was an in-house program he started for his officers, the Starfish Award.\r\n\r\nSeems Chief Clancy, who died in July after a long battle with cancer, recognized outstanding efforts by his men and women with a pin shaped like a starfish. The story of the starfish, which was repeated at the Chief’s memorial services, is of the young boy, after being questioned why he was throwing stranded starfish back into the sea, one at a time, answered his efforts “made a difference to that one.”\r\n\r\nIt’s a nice touch to continue that tradition. Chief Clancy’s wife, Lisa, presented a pin to 1st Sgt. Chris Cushman, a veteran of the department, for his kind remarks at the memorial services.\r\n<h4>The Ice Cream Man<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>Cometh … illegally</h4>\r\nBEAUFORT – Seems the neighborhood ice cream trucks you may, or may not, have seen cruising the city streets this summer might have been … illegal.\r\n\r\nCity Council was told a couple weeks back the ordinance restricting food trucks operating in the city didn’t include those ice cream trucks. But fear not ice cream lovers, the elected leaders of our municipality are working to rectify the situation.\r\n\r\nJust gotta change some words.\r\n<h4>Nothing seems<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>simple anymore</h4>\r\nBEAUFORT – Another example where something simple gets complicated happened at the City Council meeting a couple weeks ago.\r\n\r\nThe council received a routine request from the Downtown Merchants Association to ask the state Department of Transportation (which officially owns the streets) to close Bay Street for the November First Friday event.\r\n\r\nThe council, wishing to support the struggling merchants, saw no problem with the request UNTIL the staff pointed out Gov. Henry McMaster’s orders still restrict gatherings of more than 250 people. So, who’s gonna deal with crowd control?\r\n\r\nAnd what happens in December, when the area’s famous Night on the Town traditionally happens?\r\n\r\nIf the COVID numbers haven’t dropped and the crowd restrictions stay in place, what then?\r\n\r\nThe decisions have been faced by event planners for the past six months – the Water Festival, Memorial Day parade, Fourth of July celebrations, weddings, funerals, church services. But as our virus numbers decrease, the call for “back to normal” grows louder.\r\n\r\nSince the council also voted to extend the mask ordinance another month, they reluctantly agreed it won’t look good to close streets which would indicate, to some, it’s okay to gather.\r\n<h4>Another farewell<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>at the County</h4>\r\nBEAUFORT – Top managers leaving the county offices make it seem almost like a revolving door over there but one departure this month is SORELY going to be missed by the public.\r\n\r\nLibrary Director Ray McBride is retiring after five-plus years with the county overseeing the operation of five branches and staff. While the virus quarantine kept the doors of the libraries shut to the public basically since March, McBride’s employees continued to work providing curbside and online service to patrons.\r\n\r\nDuring his term, McBride helped re-institute the popular Bookmobile, with the help of the Friends organizations, which donated dollars for the program. He led a number of library renovation projects and a push to get salary upgrades for his staff.\r\n\r\nMcBride also convinced the County Council to increase the libraries’ budgets to include new equipment and materials purchases.\r\n\r\nThe Library board has tapped Amanda Brewer Dickman as interim until McBride’s position can be filled. But he leaves big shoes (figuratively) to fill.\r\n\r\nThanks, Ray, for your service!\r\n\r\n<strong>Trying to rein<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>in panhandlers</strong>\r\n\r\nBEAUFORT – Beaufort city officials are looking for ways to roll out the red carpet for visitors while making it tougher to be a panhandler.\r\n\r\nThe council has given the first of two necessary votes to an ordinance that addresses “aggressive panhandling” and sleeping in public places. At the same time, they’re admitting they’re not sure how it’s going to be enforced.\r\n\r\nThe ordinance drafted by City Attorney Bill Harvey is a compilation of restrictions used by other towns but basically describes “aggressive panhandling” as: Approaching or speaking to a person, or following a person before, during or after soliciting if that conduct is intended or is likely to cause a reasonable person to fear bodily harm to oneself or to another, damage to or loss of property, or to otherwise be intimidated into giving money or other things of value.\r\n\r\nOK … so how are city police going to enforce this ordinance once it’s in place? Is violation a civil or criminal matter?\r\n\r\nCity officials have been pondering what to do about the half-dozen or so individuals who gather pretty regularly in the park at night, many sleeping there on the stone walls.\r\n\r\nThe elected council members didn’t go lightly into the discussion, which included acknowledgement of the area homeless population and mental health issues.\r\n\r\nCouncil members and the city also acknowledged the problem of panhandling has increased since public dining in the waterfront park area has been encouraged to help struggling restaurants.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nInterim Police Chief Dale McDorman stressed it wasn’t just in the downtown area; the activities were occurring at scattered ATMs and in shopping centers.\r\n\r\nJust another sign of the times.\r\n\r\n<em>Lolita Huckaby Watson is a community volunteer and a former reporter/editorial assistant/columnist with The Beaufort Gazette, The Savannah Morning News, Bluffton Today and Beaufort Today. She can be reached at bftbay@gmail.com.</em>', 'LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'lowcountry-lowdown-13', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:47:37', '2020-09-23 17:47:37', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46099', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46101, 4, '2020-09-23 13:48:46', '2020-09-23 17:48:46', '<strong>Franklin Graham’s<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>day of prayer</strong>\r\n\r\nNoon, Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, downtown Beaufort. Those interested should come early as the maximum space allowed is for 250 people. Participants will be praying for “God’s healing of our country as our only hope is in God,” and are asked to please wear a mask and be prepared to social distance.\r\n\r\n<strong>2020 Young Life Fishing Derby</strong>\r\n\r\nFriday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 3, The Captain’s Meeting will be at 6 p.m. Oct. 2 at Beaufort Boat and Dock, 1734 Ribaut Rd., Port Royal. The following morning, fishing will begin at 6 a.m., and weigh in will be from 4 to 6 p.m. at Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club, 30 Yacht Club Dr. The weigh-in will be immediately followed by the awards ceremony and raffle drawings. There will be seven different qualifying species: redfish, trout, flounder, black drum, sheepshead, king mackerel and Spanish mackerel. Entry fee is $200. There is no limit to number of anglers on a boat. All tournament proceeds support Beaufort Young Life. For more information, email Andrew Lancaster at andrewlancasteryl@gmail.com or visit ylfishingderby.com.\r\n\r\n<strong>Maye River<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>Quilters Guild</strong>\r\n\r\n9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, via ZOOM. Membership forms are available on the website for those interested in joining. For meeting dates and times, visit mayeriverquiltguild.com or call 843-530-1244.\r\n\r\n<strong>Bluffton<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>Artisan Market</strong>\r\n\r\n1 to 6 p.m. Saturdays Oct. 3, Oct. 17, Nov. 14 at the Southern Barrel parking lot, Buckwalter Plaza, Bluffton. There will also be a two-day Christmas market from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 27-28. An open-air shopping event with live music that features local makers. Vendor registration for booths is $45 per market for early registration before Aug. 31, $55 for late registration; and $30 per market for Lowcountry Made members. To register, visit lcmade.com.', 'WHAT’S HAPPENING', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'whats-happening-23', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:48:46', '2020-09-23 17:48:46', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46101', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46103, 4, '2020-09-23 13:49:59', '2020-09-23 17:49:59', '<h4>re: David Taub’s column ‘… What I believe’</h4>\r\nI also remember my Boot Camp experience (1951 San Diego, sans sand fleas). As a young Marine, I was selected for a scholarship/commissioning program at (gasp) Berkeley. I do answer to \"Sergeant\" as well as \"Colonel.” So much for our Previous Conditions of Servitude.\r\n\r\nre POTUS: Despite his thin skin and big fat mouth, I\'ll take him over a Biden/Harris, or is it a Harris/Biden ticket? (They can\'t seem to get that straight).\r\n\r\nI\'ll defer as a dumb grunt to David\'s scientific expertise but I\'m having trouble figuring out where natural science ends and poly sci begins.\r\n\r\nAnyway, glad to see we agree on the list of things enumerated. However, between POTUS and Biden there are areas of disagreement on how we get there.\r\n\r\n– Religion and Society: From the beginning, Judeo-Christian teachings have been the foundation of our republic. Our rights are natural and come from God, not man. The Democrat Convention expunged \"Under God\" from the Pledge of Allegiance. Nuff said.\r\n\r\n– The Constitution: It is to be interpreted as written by astute students of human behavior. Progressives view it as a \"Living Document\" – subject to the whims of whatever party won the last election.\r\n\r\n– Capitalism: Free markets, individual liberty and limited government, a la Adam Smith, have lifted millions from poverty into prosperity. The Left desires governance by social/economic technocrats whether we want it or not. The Left\'s sterling examples, among others, are Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua. Don\'t Cry For Me Estados Unidos!\r\n\r\nOK, David we know what you stand FOR. Now who do you stand WITH for President? (And perhaps, WHY?)\r\n\r\n– Carter Swenson, Beaufort\r\n<h4>I’m a witness to the disaster called the Crime Bill</h4>\r\nMy wife and I are proud new residents of Beaufort, having moved here from a small town in western Wisconsin. I was originally introduced to Beaufort while serving for several years as a Marine at the MCAS during the late 1980s. Since then I have dreamed of returning to live out my retirement years here, only needing to convince my North Dakota born-and-raised wife that the Lowcountry is more than bugs and alligators.\r\n\r\nI have enjoyed reading the local newspaper, up until I had the opportunity to read the “Voices” section. Several weeks ago I dismissed out-of-hand an opinion piece by David Taub likening the President to a strain of Covid virus. Even people who crow about achieving a minor elected office several decades ago are entitled to their opinion. What concerned me was seeing another piece by him in last week’s issue.\r\n\r\nAfter wading through the “Potus” attacks, I stopped at the self-aggrandisement Mr. Taub awarded himself for instituting “community policing” during his administration. The fact that he is proud of such a program doesn’t surprise me, given his obvious left-leaning diatribes against the President.\r\n\r\nI, Mr. Taub, am a walking and talking witness to the disaster that you and Bill Clinton, and now-candidate Biden instituted in the 90s. This disaster was called the “Crime Bill” and with it the “broken windows” theory that community policing is modeled after.\r\n\r\nYou see, Mr. Taub, after I left the Marine Corps I entered law enforcement as a Minneapolis police officer (yes, I did know Derek Chauvin). I rose from patrol officer to gang officer, and eventually to narcotics investigator and supervisor.\r\n\r\nThe “Crime Bill” and community policing ultimately produced results that nobody should be proud of Mr. Taub. I was a cog in a machine that included local, state, and federal agencies and prosecutors. We followed the law touted by Bill Clinton and Joe Biden that put many young men in prison for a very long time (30-plus years for some). These men, who were mostly African-American men, were sent away because I was arresting them with small amounts of crack cocaine.\r\n\r\nTo this day, I lament the fact that I did my job and did it well, all under the guise of what a Democratic president signed into law. To see President Trump use his Executive power to commute and pardon some of these unfortunate souls makes me have hope that we will not ever have such disparate sentencing again.\r\n\r\n– Tim Lauridsen, Beaufort', 'LETTERS TO THE EDITOR', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'letters-to-the-editor-24', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:49:59', '2020-09-23 17:49:59', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46103', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46105, 4, '2020-09-23 13:50:50', '2020-09-23 17:50:50', 'Mark Bechtel captured this image while kayaking off St. Helena Island. To submit a Lowcountry Life photo, you must be the photographer or have permission to submit the photo to be published in The Island News. Please submit high-resolution photos and include a description and/or names of the people in the picture and the name of the photographer. Email your photos to theislandnews@gmail.com.', 'LOWCOUNTRY LIFE', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'lowcountry-life-131', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:50:50', '2020-09-23 17:50:50', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46105', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46107, 4, '2020-09-23 13:51:53', '2020-09-23 17:51:53', 'The Beaufort County Zoning Board of Appeals will take up the Bay Point development project on Thursday, Sept. 24.\r\n\r\nThe meeting will be held at 5 p.m. at the Burton Wells Complex at 1 Middleton Recreation Drive, in Beaufort, according to the meeting agenda.\r\n\r\nThe meeting will be the first in-person public hearing held on the development since the county’s Staff Review Team approved the project in May to go before the Zoning Board of Appeals.\r\n\r\n– Mindy Lucas', 'Zoning Board of Appeals to take up Bay Point Thursday, Sept. 24', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'zoning-board-of-appeals-to-take-up-bay-point-thursday', '', '', '2020-09-23 14:59:27', '2020-09-23 18:59:27', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46107', 0, 'post', '', 0);
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(46109, 4, '2020-09-23 13:53:56', '2020-09-23 17:53:56', '<strong>By Mindy Lucas</strong>\r\n\r\nIn a 4-2 vote held Monday, Sept. 22, members of the Metropolitan Planning Commission denied plans for a major subdivision to be built on the property known as Whitehall.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nUnlike its August meeting in which the commission took over four hours to discuss the project before tabling the discussion, it took only a matter of minutes Monday night to proceed with a motion to vote.\r\n\r\nApproval of the project had been held up for most of the year – previously by the developer who asked to remove its consideration from earlier MPC meetings citing a desire to have the public weigh in at an in-person meeting.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe pandemic has prevented those types of meetings and area municipalities have been holding virtual meetings while residents and members of the public have weighed in online, through email and social media.\r\n\r\nRecent plans presented by the developer, Sam Levin, showed a mix of retail and approximately 200 residential units on 10.1 acres. The site is zoned for mixed use.\r\n\r\nThe other half of the original site, or remaining 10 acres, was sold to Beaufort County in 2018, and the county has since moved forward with its plans to develop a public park.\r\n\r\nCommission Member Judy Alling who made the motion to deny the project at Monday’s meeting said the reasons for the commission’s difficulty to make a decision had “become quite clear.”<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nAlling called into question whether the site plan reflected the intent of the county’s zoning code adding that the site should be an extension of Bay Street and “large apartment buildings” were not part of Bay Street.\r\n\r\nShe also maintained, as she did in August, that the traffic study the commission had asked for had not been updated properly.\r\n\r\nCommission member Bill Bardenwerper said he and other members wished that the “village looking plan” with mixed uses previously presented in 2018 was still on the table.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n“Because it was the kind of plan that …I think that a lot of the public was willing to overlook traffic considerations,” he said.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nHe went on to say, however, that it was his legal opinion that the commission was not entitled to exercise authority it didn’t have.\r\n\r\n“I wish that the Beaufort Code gave the MPC design authority in our zoning cases... but it simply does not,” he said.\r\n\r\nUltimately the motion to deny the project passed with Alling, Mike Tomy, James Crower and Caroline Fermin voting in favor to deny the project. Bardenwerper and Jason Hincher voted against the motion.\r\n\r\nReached by phone for comment about the MPC’s decision, Whitehall developer Sam Levin would only say that he planned to “move forward” and that he preferred not to comment on meetings.', 'Whitehall subdivision plan rejected', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'whitehall-subdivision-plan-rejected', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:53:57', '2020-09-23 17:53:57', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46109', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46111, 4, '2020-09-23 13:56:58', '2020-09-23 17:56:58', '<h2>Skyler Bruner, 15, repeats as women’s champ, claims overall title</h2>\r\n<strong>By Mike McCombs</strong>\r\n\r\nWhen then-14-year-old Skyler Bruner won the women’s title in the 2019 Beaufort River Swim, she was 8 seconds or so behind the overall and men’s winner, her then-16-year-old older brother Cohen Bruner.\r\n\r\n“I’ll catch him next year,” Skyler Bruner said that Saturday morning.\r\n\r\nShe didn’t beat her brother Saturday – he wasn’t in the field. But she beat everybody else, turning in a time of 50:39.8 and claiming the overall and women’s title in the annual 3.2-mile race.\r\n\r\n“It might be safe to say she has the Olympic genes,” Beaufort-Jasper YMCA Healthy Living Program Director and race organizer Denice Fanning said.\r\n\r\nCohen and Skyler’s father, Carlton Bruner, swam for the United States in the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta.\r\n\r\nMichael Wendt, 58, was the runner-up and men’s winner with a time of 52:59.8. Yorlliry Moreno, 29, was the overall biathlon champion with a time of 1:18:14.5. Meredith Anderson, 34, was the top women’s finisher with a time of 1:25:18.4.\r\n\r\nFanning said the race, originally scheduled for May before being postponed during the Covid-19 pandemic, matched last year, as far as the number of registrations – there were 141 swimmers and 32 runners this year.\r\n\r\nThe YMCA raised more than $15,000 for the Y Learn To Swim program last year.\r\n\r\n“We exceeded our goals by even having (the race) and not having it canceled altogether,” Fanning said. “I couldn’t be happier.”\r\n\r\nFor complete race results, go to <a href=\"https://www.trisignup.com/Race/Results/48567\">https://www.trisignup.com/Race/Results/48567</a>\r\n\r\n<em>\r\nMike McCombs is the editor of&nbsp;The Island News and can be reached&nbsp;at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Above: Friends and supporters line the sea wall at the boat ramp of Henry C. Chambers Watefront Park on Saturday for the 14th annual Beaufort River Swim. Photo by Bob Sofaly.</em>', 'Beaufort River Swim + 5K a success despite Covid-19', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-river-swim-5k-a-success-despite-covid-19', '', '', '2020-09-23 13:56:58', '2020-09-23 17:56:58', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46111', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46113, 4, '2020-09-23 14:00:43', '2020-09-23 18:00:43', '<h2>Local party reps hope to see candidates stick to issues</h2>\r\n<strong>By Mindy Lucas</strong>\r\n\r\nWhile the pandemic may have put a damper on local watch parties, millions of Americans are still expected to tune in for the first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and former vice president Joe Biden next week.\r\n\r\nThe two will square off from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Sept. 29, at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe live, 90-minute-long, commercial-free event will air on most major news stations, according to The Washington Post, and live-streamed on various websites including the Post’s. Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace will serve as moderator.\r\n\r\nThose are the details we know. What we don’t know is how the candidates will fair.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n“What the American people want is for them to say here are the issues, here’s where you stand on the issues and here’s what you’ve accomplished,” said Barbara Nielsen, director of communications director for the Beaufort County Republican Party.\r\n\r\nHaving served as South Carolina’s Superintendent of Education for two four-year terms, Nielsen is familiar with what constituents are looking<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>for in their elected leaders.\r\n\r\nNielsen said she’d rather see a discussion that focuses on policies and candidates who are specific about what they stand for.\r\n\r\n“I’m hoping that’s what we’ll see in any debate quite frankly,” she said. “Then let the American people make up their minds. We’re smart. We can make up our minds.”\r\n\r\nWhile most voters see debates as helpful, they aren’t necessarily determinative, according to post-election surveys conducted since 1988 by Pew Research Center.\r\n\r\nIn most cases, three-fifths or more of voters say the debates were very or somewhat helpful in deciding which candidate to vote for, the center found. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that <a href=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Screen-Shot-2020-09-23-at-11.05.47-AM.png\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-46020 alignright\" src=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Screen-Shot-2020-09-23-at-11.05.47-AM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"431\" height=\"406\"></a>large numbers of voters are waiting for the debates to make up their minds, it also found.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nIn 2016, only 10% of voters said they had definitively made up their minds “during or just after” the presidential debates. By comparison, 11% said they’d made up their minds in the days or weeks on or just before Election Day, 22% during or just after the party conventions, and 42% before the conventions, the surveys found.\r\n\r\nStill, Nielsen thinks voters are looking forward to watching the debates this fall.\r\n\r\n“I think the American people want information,” she said. “They don’t want reality shows, they want information.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nIt’s also a chance for the candidates to move past the sound bites and the ads, she said.\r\n\r\n“As a voter, I would like to see us move beyond the ads, focus on what the issues are and be fair and balanced,” she said. “And let people decide for themselves.”\r\n\r\nBeaufort County Democratic Party Chair Mayra Rivera-Vazquez agrees with Nielsen on what the focus of the debates should be on.\r\n\r\n“I would hope the discussion goes right to the issues,” she said, adding that those issues include how to handle the COVID outbreak and the side effects of the pandemic such as the loss of jobs, housing and access to services.\r\n\r\nIn fact, how the country is going to deal with the economy during and post-pandemic is going to be one of the election’s top issues, she said.\r\n\r\nFilling the seat left by Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who died recently will undoubtedly be another.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nSenate Republicans have said they have the votes to see the seat filled before the election. Democrats think it should be left until after the election.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nMeanwhile, debates also provide a chance for candidates to demonstrate their leadership styles and differentiate themselves from their opponent, Rivera-Vazquez said.\r\n\r\n“And to give people the opportunity to see the difference in leadership that we have in Joe Biden,” she said. “We’re going to see what a leader could be, and we are sure that that leader is Joe Biden.”<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>', 'Election 2020: All eyes on first Presidential debate', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'election-2020-all-eyes-on-first-presidential-debate', '', '', '2020-09-23 14:00:43', '2020-09-23 18:00:43', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46113', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46115, 4, '2020-09-23 14:05:08', '2020-09-23 18:05:08', '<h2><b>Mother, 3 children drown after van plunges into Beaufort River\r\n</b><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">\r\nBy Mindy Lucas and Mike McCombs</strong><b>\r\n</b></h2>\r\nA three-vehicle collision on the J.E. McTeer Bridge on Saturday morning took the lives of nearly an entire family and has left the Lowcountry reeling.\r\n\r\nTikia Lashay Doe, 36, and her three young sons, Jashawn Hawkins, 16, Alonzo Houston, 6, and Cameron Perry, 3, all of Burton, died after the mini-van they were traveling in flipped over the side of the bridge and plummeted into the Beaufort River below.\r\n\r\nThe four were pronounced dead at the scene – their names released Saturday by the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office.\r\n\r\nIn addition, Doe was eight months pregnant, according to an accident report released by the Beaufort Police Department.\r\n\r\nThe driver of the family’s vehicle, later identified as Doe’s husband by the Port Royal Police Department, survived the crash. His name has not been released.\r\n\r\nThe incident, which occurred just after 11 a.m., shut down both sides of the bridge for several hours on Saturday after the family’s Dodge Caravan, a Ford F-150 and a Chevy Malibu were involved in a collision, according to a news release issued by the Port Royal Police Department.\r\n\r\nThe vehicles were traveling across the bridge toward Lady’s Island when the crash occurred, the release stated.\r\n\r\nFirst responders with the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island Fire Department’s Marine Unit, Beaufort Water Search and Rescue, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office dive team and civilian boaters responded to the scene and were able to recover the victims from the submerged vehicle.\r\n\r\nDoe’s husband was taken to Beaufort Memorial Hospital and later released.\r\n\r\nThe driver of the Ford F-150 was also taken to the hospital with minor injuries and later released. The driver of the Chevy Malibu was not injured and released at the scene, the press release stated.\r\n\r\nEmergency crews used a crane to pull the family’s mini-van from the water, Port Royal Police Chief Alan Beach said.\r\n\r\nAn autopsy performed on Monday revealed the family members<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>died from drowning, Beaufort County Chief Deputy Coroner David Ott said.\r\n\r\nThe fatal crash has rocked the Beaufort County School District, where Jashawn was a 10th-grader at Battery Creek High School and Alonzo was in first grade at Robert Smalls International Academy, Beaufort County School District spokeswoman Candace Bruder confirmed on Monday.\r\n\r\n“We’ve been deeply saddened to hear about the passing of two of our students, Jashawn Hawkins and Alonzo Houston,” the school district said in a statement. “The principals and staffs at Battery Creek High and Robert Smalls International Academy will miss them greatly, and their family continues to be in our thoughts and prayers. A special team of counselors has been assigned to both schools to assist any students who need help as they work through their personal feelings and grief.”\r\n\r\nDoe’s daughter, Ziara Jackson, a sixth-grader at Robert Smalls, was visiting her grandmother at the time of the crash, according to a Go Fund Me account (<a href=\"https://www.gofundme.com/f/ziara039s-guardian-angels\">https://www.gofundme.com/f/ziara039s-guardian-angels</a>) established for her.\r\n\r\nStudents and staff members at Robert Smalls International Academy were planning to wear blue on Wednesday, Alonzo’s favorite color, and green on Thursday, the first grader’s second favorite color. On Friday, staff and students are planning to wear Spiderman-themed items, or red and blue, something Alonzo also loved.\r\n\r\nIn addition, Battery Creek High School will present Ziara with a purple quilt in honor of her family. Purple was her mother’s favorite color, Bruder said.\r\n\r\nNo other details have been released about the collision or its possible cause. The Port Royal Police Department and the South Carolina Highway Patrol are continuing to investigate.\r\n\r\nAnyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Jason Boggess at jboggess@portroyal.org.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Mindy Lucas is the Beaufort reporter for The Island News and is a staff writer for Lowcountry Weekly. She can be reached at mindy.islandnews@gmail.com.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Mike McCombs is the editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.</em>\r\n<h2><b>&nbsp;</b></h2>', 'Four family members killed in McTeer Bridge crash', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'four-family-members-killed-in-mcteer-bridge-crash', '', '', '2020-09-23 14:05:08', '2020-09-23 18:05:08', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46115', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46123, 4, '2020-09-30 12:05:18', '2020-09-30 16:05:18', '', 'Sccha104', 'Republican challenger state Rep. Nancy Mace and  Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham greet each other prior to the debate Monday September 28, 2020 at the SCETV studios in Beaufort, S.C in the South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District race. Grace Beahm Alford/Staff', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'sccha104', '', '', '2020-09-30 12:05:18', '2020-09-30 16:05:18', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Sccha104.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
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(46131, 4, '2020-09-30 12:15:00', '2020-09-30 16:15:00', '', 'Recruit Graduates', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'recruit-graduates', '', '', '2020-09-30 12:15:00', '2020-09-30 16:15:00', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Recruit-Graduates.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46132, 4, '2020-09-30 12:15:55', '2020-09-30 16:15:55', '', '09262020  Census-Registering voters- 7770', 'Bob Sofaly photo\nThe League of Women Voters and the Pan Hellenic Council were registering people to vote and helping those who have not been counted for the Census on Saturday in the parking lot of the Port Royal Piggly Wiggly. \nThe LWV will be at at the same location for the last time on Saturday, October 3. One can still register to vote online by going to  scvotes.com. All voters must be registered by Oct. 5 to be eligible to vote Nov. 3. There are no exceptions.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '09262020-census-registering-voters-7770', '', '', '2020-09-30 12:15:55', '2020-09-30 16:15:55', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/09262020-Census-Registering-voters-7770.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46133, 4, '2020-09-30 12:16:16', '2020-09-30 16:16:16', '', 'PD image', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'pd-image', '', '', '2020-09-30 12:16:16', '2020-09-30 16:16:16', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/PD-image.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46134, 4, '2020-09-30 12:16:46', '2020-09-30 16:16:46', '', 'Paige Point Cemetry, 2- 7742', 'Bob Sofaly Photo\nThe headstone of Henrietta B. Scriven is one of two still standing in the Paige Point Cemetery in Sheldon. The cemetery, located on the original site of Paige Point Plantation had fallen into disrepair due to neglect and vandalism. The 1.21 acre resting place for more than 120 people was rediscoverd, repaired and redeicated Thursday, September 24. Only 15 names were recovered from the site. New heads stones were made in memorial with an addional five blank stones made in memoriam for the 115 people still unidentified.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'paige-point-cemetry-2-7742', '', '', '2020-09-30 14:31:34', '2020-09-30 18:31:34', '', 46201, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Paige-Point-Cemtery-2-7742.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46135, 4, '2020-09-30 12:16:52', '2020-09-30 16:16:52', '', 'Paige Point Cemetery, 1- 7747', 'Bob Sofaly Photo\nThe neglected 1.21 acre cemetery on the grounds of Paige Point Plantation was rededicated Thursday, September 24. \nThe cemetery, overgrown and vandalized, is the burial site of freed slaves from Paige Point Plantation and had become the resting place of local residents through out the years. The use of ground penetraing radar located 120 graves, only two of which still had standing head stones.\nBeaufort County cleaned up the site and erected 15 new head stones of those graves which could identified. Five more blank stones were added in memory of the 115 graves of people who will never be identified.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'paige-point-cemetery-1-7747', '', '', '2020-09-30 14:31:18', '2020-09-30 18:31:18', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Paige-Point-Cemetery-1-7747.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46136, 4, '2020-09-30 12:17:31', '2020-09-30 16:17:31', '', '09262020 Day of Prayer, 2- 7454', 'Bob Sofaly photo\nA small group of the faithfull cover their heats while  Jim Darkin of Bluffton holds up a small American Flag to begin the Day of Prayer on Saturday at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront park. Prayers were offered for law enforcement, politicians and the end to racism and violence across the country.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '09262020-day-of-prayer-2-7454', '', '', '2020-09-30 14:29:10', '2020-09-30 18:29:10', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/09262020-Day-of-Prayer-2-7454.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46137, 4, '2020-09-30 12:19:25', '2020-09-30 16:19:25', '', 'Erin Bulatao-Hollifield, RN', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'erin-bulatao-hollifield-rn', '', '', '2020-09-30 12:19:25', '2020-09-30 16:19:25', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Erin-Bulatao-Hollifield-RN.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46138, 4, '2020-09-30 12:19:59', '2020-09-30 16:19:59', '', 'MonicaWiser1001', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'monicawiser1001', '', '', '2020-09-30 12:19:59', '2020-09-30 16:19:59', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/MonicaWiser1001.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46139, 4, '2020-09-30 12:20:05', '2020-09-30 16:20:05', '', 'breast exam_4', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'breast-exam_4', '', '', '2020-09-30 12:20:05', '2020-09-30 16:20:05', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/breast-exam_4.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46140, 4, '2020-09-30 12:20:34', '2020-09-30 16:20:34', '', 'RP_Dr Brooke Gaspari', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'rp_dr-brooke-gaspari', '', '', '2020-09-30 12:20:34', '2020-09-30 16:20:34', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/RP_Dr-Brooke-Gaspari.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46141, 4, '2020-09-30 12:21:28', '2020-09-30 16:21:28', '', 'Screen Shot 2020-09-30 at 12.21.04 PM', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'screen-shot-2020-09-30-at-12-21-04-pm', '', '', '2020-09-30 12:21:28', '2020-09-30 16:21:28', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Screen-Shot-2020-09-30-at-12.21.04-PM.png', 0, 'attachment', 'image/png', 0),
(46142, 4, '2020-09-30 12:26:37', '2020-09-30 16:26:37', '', 'FT 2019 Big Fish', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'ft-2019-big-fish', '', '', '2020-09-30 12:26:37', '2020-09-30 16:26:37', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FT-2019-Big-Fish.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46143, 4, '2020-09-30 12:27:21', '2020-09-30 16:27:21', '', 'Outdoors Tailing Redfish 2 by Tuck Scott', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'outdoors-tailing-redfish-2-by-tuck-scott', '', '', '2020-09-30 12:27:21', '2020-09-30 16:27:21', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Outdoors-Tailing-Redfish-2-by-Tuck-Scott.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46144, 4, '2020-09-30 12:32:15', '2020-09-30 16:32:15', '', 'DSC_0163-168380393-1601092794591', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'dsc_0163-168380393-1601092794591', '', '', '2020-09-30 12:32:15', '2020-09-30 16:32:15', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC_0163-168380393-1601092794591.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46145, 4, '2020-09-30 12:33:19', '2020-09-30 16:33:19', '', '09242020  BCHS v. Academic Mag., 1- 7276', 'Bob Sofaly Photo\nBattery Creek’s Jacove Anderson, right, carries the ball during the first half of the opening conference game against Academic Magnet from North Charleston on Friday night Sept. 25. The Dolphins cruised to 45-7 win. BC will travel to Hanahan this week.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '09242020-bchs-v-academic-mag-1-7276', '', '', '2020-09-30 13:56:50', '2020-09-30 17:56:50', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/09252020-BCHS-v.-Academic-Mag.1-7276.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46146, 4, '2020-09-30 12:33:32', '2020-09-30 16:33:32', '', '09252020  BCHS v. Academic Mag., 2- 7334', 'Bob Sofaly Photo\rBattery Creek defensive back Alex Frazier, left, bats the ball away during the first half against Adademic Magnet on Friday, Sept. 25. The Dolphins won the conference game 45-7 and will travel the Hanahan this week.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '09252020-bchs-v-academic-mag-2-7334', '', '', '2020-09-30 12:33:32', '2020-09-30 16:33:32', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/09242020.-BCHS-v.-Academic-Mag-2-7334.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46147, 4, '2020-09-30 12:33:45', '2020-09-30 16:33:45', '', '09242020  BCHS v. Academic Mag., 3- 7325', 'Bob Sofaly Photo\rBattery Creek’s Jeremiah Dilbert, runs for his first touchdown of the evening against Academic Magnet on Friday, Sept. 25. The Dolphins went on to win 45-7 and will next travel to Hanahan.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '09242020-bchs-v-academic-mag-3-7325', '', '', '2020-09-30 12:33:45', '2020-09-30 16:33:45', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/09242020-BCHS-v.-Academic-Mag.-3-7325.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46148, 4, '2020-09-30 12:36:46', '2020-09-30 16:36:46', '', 'FT 2019 Big Fish', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'ft-2019-big-fish-2', '', '', '2020-09-30 12:36:46', '2020-09-30 16:36:46', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FT-2019-Big-Fish.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46149, 4, '2020-09-30 13:51:56', '2020-09-30 17:51:56', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nSouth Carolina ETV (SCETV) will be premiering a new hour-long documentary film entitled Gullah Roots – it follows leaders of the South Carolina and Georgia Gullah Geechee community as they experience a homecoming in Sierra Leone – Thursday, Oct. 1.\r\n\r\nThe trip to Sierra Leone took place last winter and included Gullah Geechee scholars, performers and cultural ambassadors, such as Anita Singleton Prather, also known as Aunt Pearlie Sue of the Gullah Kinfolk, and Ron and Natalie Daise, as well as Victoria Smalls, a commissioner of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor.\r\n\r\nWhile touring the country, members of the group noted powerful connections between Sierra Leone and the Gullah Geechee people. For example, in one village, Nakia Wigfall, director of the Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Preservation Society, sewed a sweetgrass basket with a local basket maker.\r\n\r\nPart of SCETV’s Carolina Stories series and achieved with support from South Carolina Humanities, Gullah Roots dives deep into South Carolina’s ties with West Africa, educating viewers about Gullah heritage, including spiritual, musical and artistic traditions.\r\n\r\nA sequel to SCETV’s 1990 documentary Family Across the Sea, this project was produced by Betsy Newman and Xavier Blake, and directed, written and edited by Newman. The film aims to raise awareness about the Gullah Geechee community and its ties to West Africa.\r\n\r\nIt also examines the challenges many in that community face today and the progress they have made since the first homecoming to Sierra Leone 30 years ago.\r\n\r\n“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to document this significant journey. We hope the film will help to educate our viewers about the Gullah Geechee people and their ties to West Africa and the contributions of African Americans to our country’s history and culture.” Newman said.\r\n\r\nIn addition to its premiere on Oct. 1, Gullah Roots will also be airing at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4 on ETV World and at 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5 on the South Carolina Channel.\r\n\r\nTo celebrate the debut of this project, SCETV and the ETV Endowment of South Carolina will be hosting a film screening event at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6 at the Highway 21 Drive-In in Beaufort.\r\n\r\nThe event is open to the public. Additional information and a registration link can be found on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gullah-roots-screening-tickets-121413969451.', 'SCETV to premiere ‘Gullah Roots’ documentary Thursday', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'scetv-to-premiere-gullah-roots-documentary-thursday', '', '', '2020-09-30 13:51:56', '2020-09-30 17:51:56', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46149', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46151, 4, '2020-09-30 13:53:08', '2020-09-30 17:53:08', '<strong>By S.C. Senator<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>Chip Campsen and<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>S.C. Representative<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>Shannon Erickson</strong>\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort County Legislative Delegation showcased its extraordinary ability to get things done during the two-week abbreviated session of the General Assembly that ended Thursday, Sept. 24.\r\n\r\nIn the waning days of the 2020 legislative session, the Beaufort Delegation played major roles in shepherding legislation through the General Assembly that:\r\n\r\n1. Postpones for one-year the Dec. 31, 2020, deadline for local governments to complete comprehensive land use plans. We worked with Beaufort County Councilman Paul Somerville on this policy since COVID-19 has impeded the public input vital to the planning process. The change enables Beaufort County and other local governments across South Carolina to produce comprehensive plans that will enhance our quality of life.\r\n\r\nThe amendment was attached to a Senate bill co-sponsored by Senator Campsen that authorizes the use of local hospitality tax revenue for flood mitigation – another important policy prescription in the flood-prone Lowcountry.\r\n\r\n2. Extends the period property owners have to redeem properties sold at tax sales, from one year to two. This helps property owners struggling financially during the pandemic to keep their property. It is especially important for heirs property owners. We worked with Beaufort County Treasurer Maria Walls to get the policy right.\r\n\r\n3. Establishes a state Resiliency Office and Resiliency Fund to manage, finance and mitigate nuisance flooding, storm surge and sea level rise.\r\n\r\n4. Authorizes voters to vote via the regular absentee voting process during the general election due to the COVID-19 state of emergency – just like we did for the primary.\r\n\r\nThis level of success at the tail-end of the legislative session is virtually unheard of. It is attributable to the experience, seniority and comity among delegation members, and our close working relationships with Beaufort County officials and Governor Henry McMaster. We worked as a team – and delivered for Beaufort County.\r\n\r\nWe extend our sincere appreciation to our colleagues, Senators Tom Davis and Marjorie Bright-Matthews; and Representatives Weston Newton, Michael Rivers, Bill Herbkersman, Shedron Williams, and last but not least our Chairman Jeff Bradley.\r\n\r\nBeaufort’s final victory came from beyond the House and Senate Chambers in Columbia. It occurred on the shores of Port Royal Sound.\r\n\r\nWe have worked for months with Councilman Paul Somerville and others in opposition to the development of Bay Point. Thursday – on the last day of the Legislative Session – the Beaufort County Zoning Board of Appeals rejected the developers Special Use Permit application. This effectively stopped the development.\r\n\r\nIn rejecting the application, the Board cited our Aug. 19 letter (https://bit.ly/36dMh2O) as establishing reasonable cause to reject the development plan. One of the last remaining undeveloped Lowcountry barrier islands will remain in its pristine state.\r\n\r\nIt was a good couple of weeks for Beaufort County. We consider ourselves blessed to have been part of it.\r\n\r\nSenator Chip Campsen (R-District 43) represents Beaufort, Colleton and Charleston counties in the South Carolina Senate. Representative Shannon Erickson (R-District 124) represents Beaufort County in the South Carolina House of Representatives.', 'Beaufort delegation delivers in statehouse, on shores of Port Royal Sound', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-delegation-delivers-in-statehouse-on-shores-of-port-royal-sound', '', '', '2020-09-30 13:53:08', '2020-09-30 17:53:08', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46151', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46153, 4, '2020-09-30 13:54:14', '2020-09-30 17:54:14', '<strong>By SCOTT GRABER</strong>\r\n\r\nIt is Saturday, early, and I’m in Port Royal. This morning I’ve got the Wall Street Journal and its “Review” insert.\r\n\r\n“Review” is something I normally read on Tuesday. But in these pandemic-delayed times I’m getting “Review” a full week after publication.\r\n\r\nBut it doesn’t matter. I’m happy to have today’s book reviews which include “Caste, the Origins of Our Discontent” and “The Saddest Words: William Faulkner’s Civil War.”\r\n\r\nLet’s start with William Faulkner and the question, “Should we consider the novelist in the current period of racial reckoning … or should we study solely the fiction he created, fiction in which characters both black and white illuminate race relations in this country, fiction that portrays these relations with more nuance than almost any comparable work from the first half of the 20th century?”\r\n\r\nWhile Faulkner wrote with nuance and “genuinely detested racial inequality,” he believed in “gradualism” — that if desegregation happened too quickly it would bring social chaos. And it’s Faulkner’s gradualism that is clearly on the block in Isabelle Wilkerson’s book, “Caste, the Origins of Our Discontent.”\r\n\r\nWilkerson does not directly address “justice delayed is justice denied;” rather she dumps race-based injustice into a new category called “caste” — which she calls “a fixed and embedded ranking of human value that sets the supremacy of one group against the presumed inferiority of other groups on the basis on ancestry.”\r\n\r\nThis “fixed and embedded ranking of human value” definition distinguishes caste from plain-vanilla discrimination based on physical fear or the loss of power. “Fixed and embedded” is a throwback to Nazi ideology, genetic inferiority and is a darker, more permanent kind of evilness.\r\n\r\nFaulkner confronted slavery and discrimination by writing about it throughout his novels.\r\n\r\n“Throughout the 1930s and into the 1940s, his novels and stories grapple more and more with the legacy of slavery and the reality of Jim Crow. Slavery is typically portrayed in Faulkner’s fiction as Greek tragedy, an agonized drama in which rape, incest and illegitimate offspring end up deforming and destroying a family.”\r\n\r\nHere we have a man, a Southern icon, writing about the pernicious consequences of the slave trade and the people descendant of the slavers. Here we have written-down reflection, and soul-searing candor, coming out of Mississippi in the 1930s.\r\n\r\nOf course, William Faulkner was flawed — as most of us are flawed — saying that if Federal troops were (again) sent into the South to enforce integration, “I’d fight for Mississippi against the United States even if it meant going out into the streets and shooting Negroes.”\r\n\r\nSo maybe William Faulkner fits into Wilkerson’s definition of caste — “a fixed and embedded ranking of human value” from which neither Faulkner nor any other white person can ever escape.\r\n\r\nBut Michael Gorra, the author of “Saddest Words,” thinks otherwise.\r\n\r\n“In order to create convincing fiction, it was necessary for him to imaginatively become each of his characters, to enact what Henry James once called the novelist’s imperative of ‘trying to see the other side as well as his own, to feel what his adversary feels, and to present his view of the case.’ ”\r\n\r\nGorra believes that when writing, Faulkner “was able to suspend his prejudices and even to dramatize and to feel those prejudices as they impinged on others … he inhabited those beliefs by inhabiting another person. Then he saw them clearly, and in that act he became better than he was.”\r\n\r\nFor the last 50 years I have written newspaper columns and (largely) unread novels. But If one writes one also reads.\r\n\r\nChronic reading has become an addictive adjunct to my existence. In the course of that disorder — that pathological desire to read every serious novel, every biography and pamphlet straying into my line of vision — I’ve had to re-evaluate everything I believed to be true.\r\n\r\nMuch of that re-evaluation has had to do with slavery and the role that my own ancestors played in that practice. Re-thinking took me, with my wife Susan, across the South cataloging heirs property and to the loss of black farmland.\r\n\r\nIt has taken me to Ile de Goree in Senegal, the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum, the Legacy Museum in Montgomery and, most recently, to the “lynching memorial” in that same city.\r\n\r\nAll of which left me mumbling, “What the Hell were they thinking?”\r\n\r\nAlas, this long, painful journey has not diminished my love for my southern mother, for my Florence County grandparents, or for the small, flawed geography of my birth — South Carolina.\r\n\r\nScott Graber is a lawyer, novelist, veteran columnist and longtime resident of Port Royal. He can be reached at cscottgraber@gmail.com.', 'I’ve had to re-evaluate everything I believed to be true', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'ive-had-to-re-evaluate-everything-i-believed-to-be-true', '', '', '2020-09-30 13:54:14', '2020-09-30 17:54:14', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46153', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46155, 4, '2020-09-30 13:55:16', '2020-09-30 17:55:16', '<strong>By LEE SCOTT</strong>\r\n\r\nI met a woman named Gwen outside of the Keyserling Cancer Center. As we were standing there waiting, we introduced ourselves to one another.\r\n\r\nWe started to talk about the people coming out and the miracles going on inside. As we spoke, she told me about the cancer she had more than 32 years ago. The cancer treatments back then were so different.\r\n\r\nShe was told after the surgery and radiation treatments that she probably would never be able to have children, but low and behold she had a daughter. The baby girl weighed only 2 pounds and was delivered at six and a half months, but she survived.\r\n\r\nGwen called her the miracle baby. But she also said it was not the doctors but God and her prayers that gave her that baby girl.\r\n\r\nWe then talked about how important a belief in God is when going through bad times, but also being thankful during those good times. The more Gwen and I talked, the more different our backgrounds had been.\r\n\r\nShe was born and raised in Beaufort County. She had her grandmother in the car, and they were waiting for her aunt to come out. I, however, am one of the Northern retirees who fell in love with the area and have no family nearby.\r\n\r\nGwen lives in an area where her family are all around her. Where people help each other out and drive family members to cancer treatments. I told her I lived on one of those sea islands with people who have worked all their lives and come to Beaufort to retire.\r\n\r\nBut I told her, they do not stop working. Then I asked her if she was familiar with the Christmas and Easter baskets that the Keyserling Center gets each year. She said she knew of them. I told her the people on my island put those together.\r\n\r\nI told her about the people picking up the trash along Sea Island Parkway. She said, “You mean the ones that fill those orange bags.”\r\n\r\n“Yes,” I said. “They live on my island.”\r\n\r\nThe residents volunteer for Second Helpings, Habitat for Humanity, and too many other non-profits to list here. The more I talked, the more I think she understood that the people that come here from all over the country have the same strong community sense, just like she has in her neighborhood.\r\n\r\nIn the end, my ride came, and I said goodbye to Gwen and waived to Grandma. Despite our differences, we were able to connect on so many levels. We had discussed our faith, our daughters, our jobs, cancer, and our love of our community.\r\n\r\nThere was no discussion of race, or religious denomination, or the animosity in the world. Just two women enjoying each other’s company.\r\n\r\nThen I smiled knowing that right now there is an African American Police Officer working in Charleston and helping to keep her community safe. She would not be here, if it were not for places like Keyserling Center and a mother named Gwen who had a strong belief in God.\r\n\r\nLee Scott, award winning humor writer takes her “Walter Mitty” like persona and spins tales around everyday life. She enjoys boating, reading, and meeting people. Scott lives in Beaufort with her husband, JD, along with their dog Brandy. You can reach her at Lasshood@aol.com.', 'The miracles around us', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'the-miracles-around-us', '', '', '2020-09-30 13:55:16', '2020-09-30 17:55:16', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46155', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46157, 4, '2020-09-30 13:57:02', '2020-09-30 17:57:02', '<strong>By Brackin Lambert\r\nPhoto by Bob Sofaly</strong>\r\n\r\nTerrance Ashe couldn’t stop smiling after the clock showed zeroes following Battery Creek’s 45-7 victory over Academic Magnet on Friday night at Dolphin Stadium. It was Battery Creek’s first seasoning-opening win since 2014.\r\n\r\n“It’s great,” Ashe said. “You know, I’m just really happy for our players.”\r\n\r\nThe Dolphins got started early in the first quarter, as Jeremiah Dillbert ripped off a 35-yard TD run, giving the Dolphins a 7-0 lead. Jaevon Allen followed with a powerful TD run from 15 yards out, and then leapt high to intercept a pass on the ensuing possession and weaved through traffic to take it to the house from 60 yards out, giving Creek a 21-0 lead.\r\n\r\nBCHS kept it going in the second quarter, as Jacove Anderson hit Justin Smalls on a swing pass and Smalls took it 25 yards to the pylon for the TD. A fake punt from 62 yards out turned into a touchdown for the Raptors, but the Dolphins quickly regained their four-score lead with Anderson’s 3-yard TD run, making the score 35-7.\r\n\r\nBattery Creek wasn’t done yet, as Anderson threw a beautiful 59-yard touchdown pass to Alex Frazier as the first-half clock expired. Following a lighting delay, the two teams returned to the field to complete the game. Ivan Huerta wrapped up the scoring with a 45-yard field goal.\r\n\r\n“We strongly believe you’ve got to establish the run game and you have to be able to stop the opposing teams’ run game,” Ashe said. “So just to see those guys run is cool.”\r\n\r\nThe run game couldn’t have been as successful without the offensive line.\r\n\r\n“You know the offensive line did a really good job of opening up those holes,” Ashe said, “so definitely want to talk about those guys.”\r\n\r\nThe Dolphins will have a tough task ahead of them next Friday when they travel to Hanahan.\r\n\r\n“We’ve got to clean up a few of the mistakes on both sides of the ball,” Ashe said. “Art Craig is going to have his kids well-coached and we’ll have to clean up some of the mistakes we had tonight, but ultimately if they go out there and play hard next week it should be a good game.”\r\n\r\n<em>Battery Creek’s Jacove Anderson, right, carries the ball during the first half of the season-opening game.</em>', 'Dolphins rout Raptors in Ashe’s head coaching debut', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'dolphins-rout-raptors-in-ashes-head-coaching-debut', '', '', '2020-09-30 13:58:11', '2020-09-30 17:58:11', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46157', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46350, 4, '2020-10-14 10:44:39', '2020-10-14 14:44:39', '', 'TomDavis', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'tomdavis-2', '', '', '2020-10-14 10:44:39', '2020-10-14 14:44:39', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/TomDavis.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46161, 4, '2020-09-30 13:59:11', '2020-09-30 17:59:11', 'John Paul II couldn’t land the knockout blow Thursday night against visiting Pinewood Prep, allowing a 20-point first-half lead to slip away in a 37-33 defeat.\r\n\r\nJeremiah Young rushed for 163 yards, including a 49-yard touchdown, and went 11-for-18 for 217 yards with three TDs and two interceptions, but the Panthers were able to keep the Golden Warriors off the scoreboard in the second half to rally for the win.\r\n\r\nJPII got its passing game off the ground early, as Young hooked up for long touchdown passes to Mark Knight and Malone Kinard-Huisinger, as well as a 26-yard TD pass to Jackson Ogden en route to a 33-13 lead late in the second quarter.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThe Panthers turned the tide with a score before the half and clawed within 33-27 in the third quarter. The Golden Warriors were unable to put together a sustained drive to put it away, and Pinewood rallied in the final quarter.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nKnight had four catches for 95 yards and a score, and Kinard-Huisinger added five grabs for 81 yards and a TD.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nAustin McIntosh collected seven tackles (three for loss) with two sacks and three fumble recoveries to lead the defense, and he added a rushing touchdown in the second quarter.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nHayden Jennings had a team-high 11 tackles (two for loss), Michael Carbone added nine tackles and forced a fumble, and Peter Hughes had seven tackles (one for loss).<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nJPII (1-3) hosts Thomas Heyward at 7 p.m. next Friday.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>', 'JPII lets big lead slip away vs. Pinewood', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'jpii-lets-big-lead-slip-away-vs-pinewood', '', '', '2020-09-30 13:59:24', '2020-09-30 17:59:24', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46161', 0, 'post', '', 0);

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(46195, 4, '2020-09-30 14:26:25', '2020-09-30 18:26:25', '<strong>By Robert Kobre,<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>Chairman, Global Lyme Alliance (Sept 18, 2020)</strong>\r\n\r\nDoes a positive antibody test mean a person is immune and safe from spreading the virus?\r\n\r\nThe Global Lyme Alliance (“GLA”) has acquired an expertise in antibodies and immunity as a result of our significant efforts over many years to find an accurate diagnostic test for Lyme disease and a cure. We have studied antibodies to (i) determine immunity, (ii) understand their role in fighting disease and (iii) improve upon today’s unreliable, yet widely used antibody Lyme tests. This has led to GLA’s immense knowledge regarding antibody behavior, immunity and testing. So, America, welcome to our neighborhood!\r\n\r\nFrequently, one hears, “I’m happy I tested positive for coronavirus antibodies because now I’m immune.” This is a common assumption that having antibodies against the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) means protection against COVID-19, and therefore social distancing and similar safeguards can be relaxed. After all, don’t antibodies neutralize the virus and prevent another infection? For many viruses and bacteria this scenario is true. For the virus that causes COVID-19, this may be the case, or the antibodies may act more like they do in Lyme disease. Those who contract Lyme disease do not develop immunity and therefore can repeatedly contract the disease.\r\n\r\nThere is a myriad of reasons why a person who tests positive for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 should still practice guidelines to ensure their own safety and that of others. First, antibodies do not stay in your bloodstream indefinitely. Upon infection, some antibodies may only last weeks or a few months. Second, not all antibodies can kill the virus or bacteria. Our immune systems are like a military defense system that is on duty 24/7 against microbial attack. Within weeks of a new intruder being detected, specially designed antibodies are unleashed in the body to hunt down the intruding virus and neutralize it. However, they are not always successful. Third, once the infection is contained, the antibodies are no longer needed and often disappear. If this occurs, don’t despair, because memory cells often develop in the bone marrow that can rapidly produce and re-release antibodies if the virus attacks again. The memory cells are much like anti-virus software that can identify a known virus and intercept it, thereby creating immunity to that invader.\r\n\r\nThese important memory cells are not always produced, however. For example, a GLA funded study showed that in Lyme disease, the bacteria can shut off the ability to develop memory cells, which then leaves the victim open to repeated infections with no protection. Medical researchers do not know if this is also the case with the novel coronavirus. If it is, then we are certainly not immune to reinfection. In fact, instances of re-exposure and reinfection have recently been reported.\r\n\r\nLyme disease antibody testing has been notoriously inaccurate and unreliable. These tests often fail to pick up Lyme antibodies in the blood and falsely provide a Lyme negative result. GLA has been backing studies to find a better antibody test. For COVID-19, antibody tests were developed quickly and fast tracked by the FDA. While the companies providing the tests have self-reported impressive sensitivity (does the test find the antibody) and specificity (the test finding antibodies specific to SARS-CoV-2 or ones that attach to other invaders too), most have not yet been independently verified. Additionally, tests for antibodies that neutralize the virus have not been made commercially available.\r\n\r\nSo, the issues are as follows: the antibodies likely don’t stay in your body for long, you may or may not have memory cells to stop a reinfection, the antibodies you do have may or may not be neutralizing, and the antibody tests are useful, but their reliability is not yet confirmed. Lyme disease patients are all too familiar with these unknowns. Until these questions are answered by scientists, please continue to wear masks, social distance and use caution even if you are not symptomatic and your COVID-19 antibody test is positive.\r\n\r\nWe feel it is important for the public to be aware that there are still critical unknowns as to whether a positive antibody test means a person is immune and safe from spreading the virus. Good science unfortunately takes time and validation. This is extremely frustrating, but it is a reality. Finding these answers is not easy. For 40 years, the biomedical research community has only made incremental progress in answering such questions for Lyme disease. However, Lyme disease research is woefully underfunded by federal and state authorities when compared to the tremendous public health impact of tick-borne diseases in the United States.\r\n\r\nGLA is confident that with the billions being spent on COVID-19 research, the answers will come faster and the discoveries made will provide new pathways to cures and tests for this and other devastating diseases that threaten our way of life.\r\n\r\nRelated posts:\r\n\r\nGLA Chairman Letter #1: What Can We Learn from Our Response to COVID-19?\r\n\r\nGLA Chairman Letter #2: COVID-19: Is a Vaccine the Answer?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nBlog: Personal Patient Experience with COVID-19 and Lyme Disease\r\n\r\nGLA Point Of View: Parallel Pandemics: COVID-19 and Lyme Disease\r\n\r\nLetter: GLA CEO Addresses COVID-19 and GLA Community\r\n\r\n<em>\r\nExclusive content from CARE Magazine. While we do not regularly post news items concerning COVID-19, we do research important articles that contribute to consumer understanding. This is one of them.</em>', 'COVID 19: Am I immune?', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'covid-19-am-i-immune', '', '', '2020-09-30 14:26:25', '2020-09-30 18:26:25', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46195', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46197, 4, '2020-09-30 14:27:57', '2020-09-30 18:27:57', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nAt its Sept. 22 meeting, Beaufort City Council voted to accept the FY 2021 ATAX grant recommendations from the Tourism Development Advisory Committee (TDAC).\r\n\r\nThe grants are generated by the State Accommodations Tax (ATAX) revenue, and state law governs the distribution and use of the monies. A certain amount of these revenues is allocated for the grant process to non-profit groups focused on the promotion, marketing, and advertising of tourism.\r\n\r\nTDAC meets once a year to review, discuss and score applicant presentations for these grants.\r\n\r\nThis year, $166,724 was budgeted for grants. TDAC committee members noted that a total of $257,250 was requested by nine organizations.\r\n\r\nThe Greater Beaufort-Port Royal Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau requested $140,000 for destination marketing, and TDAC recommended that they receive the full amount, as the Beaufort-Port Royal Designated Marketing Organization (DMO). “The hotel market is down 29% and $7 million this year because of Covid-19,” TDAC Chairman Vimal Desai said. He commended the CVB for “demonstrated results in marketing strategy.”\r\n\r\nThe other grantees and amounts:\r\n\r\nLowcountry &amp; Resort Islands Tourism Commission – $11,524\r\n\r\nPort Royal Sound Foundation – $3,700\r\n\r\nBeaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce – $3,500\r\n\r\nBeaufort Art Association – $3,000\r\n\r\nBeaufort Area Hospitality Association – $2,500\r\n\r\nBeaufort Film Society – $1,500\r\n\r\nPenn Center – $1,000\r\n\r\nTDAC did not recommend funding a request from Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail.', '$166K in ATAX grants go to tourism groups', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', '166k-in-atax-grants-go-to-tourism-groups', '', '', '2020-09-30 14:27:57', '2020-09-30 18:27:57', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46197', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46199, 4, '2020-09-30 14:29:18', '2020-09-30 18:29:18', '<em>A small group of the faithful cover their heads while Jim Darkin of Bluffton holds up a small American Flag to begin the Day of Prayer on Saturday at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. Prayers were offered for law enforcement, politicians and the end to racism and violence across the country. Photo by Bob Sofaly.</em>', 'DAY OF PRAYER', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'day-of-prayer', '', '', '2020-09-30 14:29:18', '2020-09-30 18:29:18', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46199', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46201, 4, '2020-09-30 14:32:18', '2020-09-30 18:32:18', '&nbsp;The neglected 1.21 acre cemetery on the grounds of Paige Point Plantation was rededicated Thursday, Sept. 24. The cemetery, overgrown and vandalized, is the burial site of freed slaves from Paige Point Plantation and had become the resting place of local residents throughout the years. The use of ground penetrating radar located 120 graves, of which only two still had standing head stones. Photos by Bob Sofaly\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_46134\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1020\"]<a href=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Paige-Point-Cemtery-2-7742.jpeg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-46134\" src=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Paige-Point-Cemtery-2-7742-1024x682.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1020\" height=\"679\"></a> Bob Sofaly Photo<br>The headstone of Henrietta B. Scriven is one of two still standing in the Paige Point Cemetery in Sheldon. The cemetery, located on the original site of Paige Point Plantation had fallen into disrepair due to neglect and vandalism. The 1.21 acre resting place for more than 120 people was rediscoverd, repaired and redeicated Thursday, September 24. Only 15 names were recovered from the site. New heads stones were made in memorial with an addional five blank stones made in memoriam for the 115 people still unidentified.[/caption]', 'PAIGE POINT REDEDICATION', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'paige-point-rededication', '', '', '2020-09-30 14:32:18', '2020-09-30 18:32:18', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46201', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46203, 4, '2020-09-30 14:35:25', '2020-09-30 18:35:25', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nThe City of Beaufort Police Department has received its Certificate of Re-Accreditation from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation (SCLEA) program.\r\n\r\nThis certificate is presented to agencies that have demonstrated dedication to excellence and professionalism in law enforcement through voluntary compliance with specific standards designed to enhance the professional delivery of law enforcement services. These agencies are recognized through the SCLEA as leaders in South Carolina law enforcement.\r\n\r\nDuring the last week of July and the first week of August, assessors from the SCLEA conducted an audit of the Police Department’s policies and procedures and examined records to ensure the department is following best practices in law enforcement.\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort Police Department received its initial state accreditation in August 2017. The department is reviewed for re-accreditation every three years.\r\n\r\n“I would like to thank the men and women of our agency for providing top-level professional service to our community,” Interim Police Chief Dale McDorman said. “To say how proud I am of our officers and our agency for this accomplishment would be an understatement.”\r\n\r\nState accreditation ensures that the department’s policies and procedures meet current professional standards and law enforcement best practices. These are standards that the department must follow to remain an accredited agency.\r\n\r\nThere are 289 standards that an agency must comply with to obtain and maintain accreditation. Some of the topics covered by South Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation standards include patrol procedures, mutual aid assistance, recruitment and selection of officers, training and career development, biased based profiling, mental illness, use of force, pursuits and numerous other standards.\r\n\r\n<em>Officers and staff of the Beaufort Police Department pose with their re-accreditation certificate. Pictured are, back row from left, Capt. George Erdel, Lt. Richard Poole; front row from left, Interim Chief Dale McDorman, accreditation coordinator Lindsey Edwards, office manager Carolyn Branson (and Missy), and Lt. Jason Day. Submitted photo.</em>', 'Beaufort Police Department earns state re-accreditation', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'beaufort-police-department-earns-state-re-accreditation', '', '', '2020-09-30 14:35:57', '2020-09-30 18:35:57', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46203', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46206, 4, '2020-09-30 14:37:35', '2020-09-30 18:37:35', '<strong>Former SC education head endorses Harrison</strong>\r\n\r\nJim Rex, South Carolina’s 16th Superintendent of Education, endorsed Jaime Harrison’s candidacy for U.S. Senate in South Carolina.\r\n\r\n“Jaime is a lifelong, passionate advocate for students, and a leader who will bring sorely needed common sense and problem-solving skills to the United States Senate,” Rex said in a release. “Education was the key to success in Jaime’s life, and when elected Jaime will fight tirelessly so that every child in South Carolina will reach their full academic potential. I’m proud to offer Jaime my full support.”\r\n\r\nRex in 2006 was elected to serve as South Carolina Superintendent of Education, a position he held until 2011. After leaving that post, Rex co-founded the American Party of South Carolina, which later became known as the Alliance Party, which advances centrism and non-partisan solutions to public policy issues.\r\n\r\n<strong>Rotary Club hosts S.C.’s first Secretary of Veterans Affairs</strong>\r\n\r\nThe Rotary Club of Beaufort, Beaufort’s oldest Rotary, hosted Retired Army Major General William F. Grimsley, the state of South Carolina’s first Secretary of Veterans Affairs, at its Wednesday, Sept. 23 luncheon.\r\n\r\nSecretary Grimsley, from Beaufort, assumed this position in March 2020.\r\n\r\nGeneral Grimsley framed his remarks around his department’s mission statement: “… serving veterans and their families. They are our customers and customer service is our first and most important job.”\r\n\r\nSince assuming his position in March, he has focused on establishing and leading a state-wide coalition of partners to ensure a common goal of taking care of South Carolina’s service members, former service members, and their families.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThere are an estimated 405,000 veterans residing in South Carolina, and approximately 23,000 veterans in Beaufort County.\r\n\r\nThe Rotary Club of Beaufort conducts “hybrid” meetings, with approximately half of its membership attending a luncheon meeting while the other half participates virtually via Zoom.', 'NEWS BRIEFS', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'news-briefs-165', '', '', '2020-09-30 14:37:35', '2020-09-30 18:37:35', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46206', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46208, 4, '2020-09-30 14:38:46', '2020-09-30 18:38:46', '<strong>Virtual Coffee With The Chamber</strong>\r\n\r\n8:30 a.m., Friday, Oct. 2. Join us online for Coffee with the Chamber. Bring your own coffee and conversation to this casual hour of networking and connecting with other Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce members. This event, being held via Zoom teleconferencing, will be limited to the first 20 people to register at https://bit.ly/34b4KtR.\r\n\r\n2020 Young Life Fishing Derby\r\n\r\nFriday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 3, The Captain’s Meeting will be at 6 p.m. Oct. 2 at Beaufort Boat and Dock, 1734 Ribaut Rd., Port Royal. The following morning, fishing will begin at 6 a.m., and weigh in will be from 4 to 6 p.m. at Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club, 30 Yacht Club Dr. The weigh-in will be immediately followed by the awards ceremony and raffle drawings. There will be seven different qualifying species: redfish, trout, flounder, black drum, sheepshead, king mackerel and Spanish mackerel. Entry fee is $200. There is no limit to number of anglers on a boat. All tournament proceeds support Beaufort Young Life. For more information, email Andrew Lancaster at andrewlancasteryl@gmail.com or visit ylfishingderby.com.\r\n\r\n<strong>Maye River Quilters Guild</strong>\r\n\r\n9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, via ZOOM. Membership forms are available on the website for those interested in joining. For meeting dates and times, visit mayeriverquiltguild.com or call 843-530-1244.\r\n\r\n<strong>Bluffton Artisan Market</strong>\r\n\r\n1 to 6 p.m. Saturdays Oct. 3, Oct. 17, Nov. 14 at the Southern Barrel parking lot, Buckwalter Plaza, Bluffton. There will also be a two-day Christmas market from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 27-28. An open-air shopping event with live music that features local makers. Vendor registration for booths is $45 per market for early registration before Aug. 31, $55 for late registration; and $30 per market for Lowcountry Made members. To register, visit lcmade.com.\r\n\r\n<strong>Virtual Real Estate Q&amp;A seminar</strong>\r\n\r\n6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 8. Lexie Barnum, a Bluffton real estate agent, invites homeowners interested in selling their homes to a Zoom video conference. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is available online at http://bit.ly/lexievirtual. The virtual event will cover is now the time to sell? How to sell your home during a pandemic; Tips on establishing a listing price; and how to attract serious buyers. Guests are encouraged to include their own questions online at http://bit.ly/lexievirtual.\r\n\r\n<strong>Sunset Rotary Second Annual Mini Golf Tournament</strong>\r\n\r\n10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10, Pirates Island Adventure Golf, Hilton Head Island. The Hilton Head Sunset Rotary is holding its second annual mini golf tournament to benefit Hopeful Horizons and The Children Center. Hopeful Horizons is a children\'s advocacy, domestic violence and rape crisis center that works to create safer communities by changing the culture of violence and offering a path to healing. The organization provides safety, hope and healing to survivors through evidence-based practices, outreach, prevention and education. The Children’s Center is a unique nonprofit organization that provides working families with affordable high-quality and accessible early childhood education and childcare services. The tournament costs $25 per adult and $15 per person for younger than 14. Participants are welcome to play any time. Visit https://hhisunsetrotary.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/events/597705997605077.\r\n\r\n<strong>Gigantic Zonta Yard Sale</strong>\r\n\r\n8 a.m. to Noon, Saturday, Oct. 10, Robinson Grant, CPA Firm’s parking lot, 806 Boundary St. near Bellamy Curve leading onto Carteret Street.The Zonta Club of Beaufort will be having a giant yard sale. Proceeds will benefit all the Club’s many service projects in the community. Masks are required and social distancing maintained. Sale items include: tools, garden tools, furniture, fishing gear, golf clubs, hunting vests, bowling balls, paperbacks, puzzles, linens, baskets, chandelier, plants jewelry purses, household items and many items too numerous to mention.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n<strong>Beaufort High School Hackers Scramble Tournament</strong>\r\n\r\n8:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, Olde Beaufort Golf Course, Lady’s Island. Shotgun start, 3-person teams. Prizes for Closest to the Pin, Longest Drive and Straightest Drive. Hole-In-One Contest features a new golf cart courtesy of Beaufort Carts. Tournament benefits the Beaufort High Girls Golf, Wrestling, and Softball teams. Eagles Tournament Sponsorships are $750, Hole-in-one Gold Sponsorships are $500, threesomes are $225, Single Hole/Hole-in-one Silver Sponsorships are $125 and individual golfer registrations are $75. Register at https://bit.ly/3kXywJf.\r\n\r\n<strong>MCAS Beaufort Airshow</strong>\r\n\r\nSaturday-Sunday, April 24-25, 2021, MCAS Beaufort. Visit BeaufortAirShow.com.', 'WHAT’S HAPPENING', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'whats-happening-24', '', '', '2020-09-30 14:38:46', '2020-09-30 18:38:46', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46208', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46210, 4, '2020-09-30 14:39:58', '2020-09-30 18:39:58', 'The League of Women Voters and the Pan Hellenic Council registered people to vote and helped those who had not been counted for the 2020 U.S. Census on Saturday, Sept. 26, in the parking lot of the Port Royal Piggly Wiggly. Jane Caffrey, President of the League of Women Voters – Beaufort Area, said it was a successful weekend. According to an email from Caffrey, the groups contacted 359 people, registered 25 to vote, gave 42 registration forms for later completion, helped complete 16 census forms on site and gave out 35 census flyers for later completion. The LWV will be at at the same location for the last time on Saturday, Oct. 3. One can still register to vote online by going to scvotes.com. All voters must be registered by Oct. 5 to be eligible to vote Nov. 3. There are no exceptions. Photo by Bob Sofaly', 'GETTING OUT THE VOTE', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'getting-out-the-vote', '', '', '2020-09-30 14:39:58', '2020-09-30 18:39:58', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46210', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46212, 4, '2020-09-30 14:41:45', '2020-09-30 18:41:45', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nJeremy Garber and James Masters of the Lady’s Island – St. Helena Fire District were among the graduates of the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation’s South Carolina Fire Academy’s most recent eight-week firefighter candidate school in Columbia.\r\n\r\nGarber was the class’ Chief Robert Frick Award winner for being the recruit with the highest grade point average.\r\n\r\nThe class graduated Friday, Sept. 25. Bluffton Township Fire District Chief John Thompson was the keynote speaker.\r\n\r\nThe 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.”\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\nAdditionally, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, changes were made to class structure and facilities to promote social distancing and recommended precautions.\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.”\r\n\r\nThe Fire Academy provides emergency services training to the municipal fire service – both paid and volunteer – airport crash rescue departments, industrial fire brigades and emergency teams and service organizations including EMS, law enforcement and military from around the state and the world.\r\n\r\nThe Fire Academy is accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress and National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board) for multiple NFPA firefighter levels.\r\n\r\nThe Fire Academy and the State Fire Marshal’s Office make up the Division of Fire and Life Safety, which is a division of the S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.', 'Two from Lady’s Island – St. Helena graduate from Fire Academy', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'two-from-ladys-island-st-helena-graduate-from-fire-academy', '', '', '2020-09-30 14:41:45', '2020-09-30 18:41:45', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46212', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46348, 4, '2020-10-14 10:44:32', '2020-10-14 14:44:32', '', 'LindseyGraham', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'lindseygraham', '', '', '2020-10-14 13:56:27', '2020-10-14 17:56:27', '', 46462, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/LindseyGraham.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46216, 4, '2020-09-30 14:42:40', '2020-09-30 18:42:40', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nBeaufort City Council approved the City of Beaufort’s 2020-2022 Strategic Plan at its Regular Meeting on Sept. 22.\r\n\r\nThe Strategic Plan, which sets out a road map for objectives over the next two years, was discussed at the annual retreat held in February that included Mayor Billy Keyserling, City Council members, City Manager Bill Prokop and department heads and managers.\r\n\r\nFour “Key Focus Areas” were outlined at that time – Economic Development &amp; Innovation; A Safe &amp; Vibrant City; Growth &amp; Natural Resources; and Organizational Excellence.\r\n\r\nSubsequently, departments fleshed out initiatives tied to the objectives and aligned with the budget. “The plan spells out each objective and what we’re going to achieve and how we’re going to achieve them, and that will be helpful to Council moving forward. We also use it to tie our budget together to the goals and objectives of each department,” Prokop said.\r\n\r\nMayor Keyserling noted that this is the third Strategic Plan the City has had.\r\n\r\n“The Strategic Plan is very helpful to keep us on track,” he said.\r\n\r\nMayor Pro Tem Mike McFee said having a Strategic Plan was helpful as council dealt with revenue issues this year related to Covid-19.\r\n\r\n“It was easier to identify the ramifications and ripple effects of shifts in certain line items, because the Strategic Plan touches on that. Kudos to the staff for continuing the process,” he said.\r\n\r\n<b>MORE INFORMATION</b>\r\n\r\nFor a look at the complete Strategic Plan for the City of Beaufort for 2020-2022, visit https://bit.ly/33bkWvN.', 'City Council approves 2020-2022 Strategic Plan', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'city-council-approves-2020-2022-strategic-plan', '', '', '2020-09-30 14:42:40', '2020-09-30 18:42:40', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46216', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46219, 4, '2020-09-30 14:43:56', '2020-09-30 18:43:56', '<strong>From staff reports</strong>\r\n\r\nOctober’s First Friday event, hosted by The Downtown Beaufort Merchants Association, is the perfect way to jump start the weekend and usher in the fall season while spending an evening out with family and friends.\r\n\r\nFrom 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, businesses and restaurants along Bay Street and the downtown business core will feature promotions, demonstrations, and specials throughout the evening.\r\n\r\nThere will be music by DJ Mike Partain to add ambiance for those strolling from shop to shop.\r\n\r\nOn First Friday, shoppers can take part in a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt, as well.\r\n\r\nThe challenge is to visit participating businesses to pick up a scavenger hunt shopper’s card, and while browsing in each shop, look for the pumpkin that will be hidden somewhere in the store.\r\n\r\nAfter having their card punched at least (10) locations they spot the pumpkin, participants will be entered into a gift card drawing. Gift cards will be from DBMA member shops, and winners will be announced via Facebook Live at noon on Saturday, Oct. 3.\r\n\r\nFirst Friday is a perfect reason to visit downtown – to have a great meal and check out unique shops, galleries, and specialty stores.\r\n\r\nThis and all First Friday Events are free and open to the public. For more information about First Friday, participating businesses, upcoming promotions and scavenger hunt rules, visit the Downtown Merchants Association at https://www.downtownbeaufortsc.org/.', 'Eat, shop, and be scary at this First Friday', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'eat-shop-and-be-scary-at-this-first-friday', '', '', '2020-09-30 14:43:56', '2020-09-30 18:43:56', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46219', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46221, 4, '2020-09-30 14:46:02', '2020-09-30 18:46:02', '<strong>By LOLITA HUCKABY</strong>\r\n<h4><b>Marine Corps brass consider closing Parris Island? Say it ain’t so!</b></h4>\r\nPORT ROYAL –&nbsp;Talk about closing one of our military bases is like talking about pending hurricanes: Not to be taken lightly. We ARE a military community whether it seems like it or not.\r\n\r\nOur three bases – Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, Beaufort Naval Hospital and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort – represent the county’s largest employers. According to the Chamber of Commerce, Parris Island alone employs 6,000 plus and has an annual economic impact of $739 million.\r\n\r\nBut an article surfaced last week in which the Commandant of the Marine Corps repeated the Congressional directive for an integrated training facility – as in males and females training and living together. And the reporters, equally weary of writing about political campaigns and Supreme Court justices, went into full court press.\r\n\r\nThe thing is, the Corps brass has been saying for a decade they want integrated training, like the Army and Navy. And questioned, again, whether it wouldn’t be more efficient to close Parris Island and San Diego, the west coast Marine training depot, and centralize training.\r\n\r\nCertainly the future of Parris Island is on someone’s long-distance planning list because of its low-lying terrain in a time of rising sea levels.\r\n\r\nThe timing of this particular debate is also interesting. Roughly a month before a hotly contested national election, political observers have to wonder which candidate would benefit from the threat, who would fight hardest for the base.\r\n\r\nResponses from all of the players have been a pledge to fight for the base. And that’s certainly a given.\r\n\r\nAnyone who cares about the future of this area will lobby to keep the depot in business.\r\n\r\nBeaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling said it best. He’s “skeptical of any rumors, innuendos and suggestions that are coming out of D.C.” right now.\r\n\r\nThen he, like the rest of us, will see where things stand.\r\n<h4>Good month for those concerned about future</h4>\r\nBEAUFORT – It’s just an observation, but those concerned about the environment and how Beaufort County grows had a pretty good record – finally – in September.\r\n\r\nThe Whitehall subdivision on Lady’s Island, a much-debated project even though the county was able to buy half of the property for a public park, was rejected by the Port Royal-Beaufort Municipal Planning commission primarily because of the traffic impact.\r\n\r\nBay Point Island was “saved” from development by an international hospitality firm when the county Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously rejected those plans.\r\n\r\nAnd a much smaller project – but equally important to the neighbors – was a 4-acre sand mining application in a residential part of Daufuskie Island. As has been seen repeatedly on Lady’s Island and St. Helena, sand mining is a valuable resource for developers who need sand to fill in low-lying areas … to build more.\r\n\r\nNow let’s see what appeals get filed and where the courts will take us.\r\n\r\nP.S. Of course all the little landscaping trees in the Beaufort Plaza, including the lovely confederate rose in front of the Burton Post Office, were bulldozed to make way for a new landscaping plan suitable of a new Publix. But that’s progress …\r\n\r\n<em>Lolita Huckaby Watson is a community volunteer and a former reporter/editorial assistant/columnist with The Beaufort Gazette, The Savannah Morning News, Bluffton Today and Beaufort Today. She can be reached at bftbay@gmail.com.</em>', 'LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'lowcountry-lowdown-14', '', '', '2020-09-30 14:46:03', '2020-09-30 18:46:03', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46221', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46223, 4, '2020-09-30 14:46:40', '2020-09-30 18:46:40', 'Design Review Board, 2:30 p.m., Grace Coastal Church, 15 Williams Drive, Okatie, social distancing and masks requested\r\n\r\nOct. 2 – Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority, 8 a.m., watch at www.bjwsa.org/publicmeeting\r\n\r\nOct. 5 – Beaufort County Council’s Community Services Committee, 2 p.m., watch on The County Channel or the county’s Facebook page\r\n\r\nOct. 5 – Beaufort County Council’s Natural Resources Committee, 3:30 p.m., watch on The County Channel or the county’s Facebook page\r\n\r\nOct. 5 – Beaufort County Council’s Planning Commission, 6 p.m., watch on The County Channel or the county’s Facebook page\r\n\r\nOct. 5 – Special Called Meeting of County Council, 6 p.m., watch on The County Channel or the county’s Facebook page\r\n\r\nOct. 6 – Beaufort County Board of Education, 6-8 p.m., watch via Zoom or The County Channel\r\n\r\nOct. 7 – City of Beaufort’s Affordable Housing Task Force Meeting, 3 – 4:30 p.m., watch via Zoom or on the city’s Facebook page\r\n\r\n*Meetings are updated as of press time and do not reflect any last minute cancellation', 'PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR OCT. 1–7', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'public-meetings-for-oct-1-7', '', '', '2020-09-30 14:46:40', '2020-09-30 18:46:40', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46223', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46225, 4, '2020-09-30 14:48:02', '2020-09-30 18:48:02', '<h4>Truth only one of the<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>things you won’t hear</h4>\r\nI am so tired of lies. Since the face of our Republic is important to all of us, and the Pledge of Allegiance is part of that face, I would like to correct the statement in Carter Swenson\'s letter in the Sept. 24 edition of The Island News.\r\n\r\nNo, the Pledge of Allegiance at the Democratic Convention did not leave out \"Under God\" – watch it for yourself on YouTube to see the very moving and participatory way in which it was recited by many of your fellow citizens of all ages, colors and beliefs. It is surprising to me that more of the incumbent\'s supporters simply don\'t seem to care to check his lies for themselves when they are so easily disproven, considering his by-now well-documented lying about most things for no reason other than sowing political division.\r\n\r\nTo Tim Lauridsen\'s point about policing (same issue): It\'s true that Joe Biden has a long political record that includes some decisions that he has said he regrets, and from which he has evolved, as has most of the country. But contrary to the incumbent, Biden’s record of public service includes helping to stabilize and reverse the Great Recession, and crafting our nation\'s first attempt at providing health coverage and national standards for millions more people than ever before.\r\n\r\nDespite repeated Republican sabotage of this new program, the Affotdable Care Act (ACA) has brought the security of health coverage to millions of American citizens, regardless of employment status or previous condition – especially important now, with high unemployment and a new “previous condition” – COVID.\r\n\r\nThe incumbent has very few notable mentions, much less successes, as he continues to align us with third-world nations and isolate us from former allies.\r\n\r\nAfter four years (it seems much longer) of living in the incumbent\'s creation of chaos, lies, mob cronyism and hatred in my country, of seeing our environmental protections degraded, our justice system perverted, and more than 200,000 fellow citizens dead because the incumbent is unfit to serve as President, I will happily vote for a change.\r\n\r\nJoe Biden and his terrific Democratic team will work hard to bring us Americans to a better place. He doesn\'t say he will do it alone, and he doesn\'t call for a return to the past. Biden calls for all of us to join together. You will not hear that from the incumbent.\r\n\r\n<em>– Carol Brown, Beaufort</em>\r\n<h4>\r\nS.C. college leaders:<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>Stay course on coronavirus</h4>\r\nCollege and universities, which are usually the settings for large, exuberant crowds and many face-to-face gatherings, are having to do the best they can while also following best practices of wearing face coverings and social distancing in order to slow and stop the spread of COVID-19, as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.\r\n\r\nSouth Carolina’s colleges and universities have each done considerable work to reduce class sizes and manage foot traffic in and around our academic buildings, residence halls, dining facilities, stadiums and arenas.\r\n\r\nWe have established face covering requirements, hand-washing and sanitizing stations, deep-cleaning protocols and routines for wiping down desks and common spaces. We have communicated regularly with our university communities, including parents and families, to ensure understanding of these “new normal” behaviors.\r\n\r\nBut this is only part of the solution.\r\n\r\nOur students are not on campus 24/7. As they navigate the towns and cities in which they reside, the close partnerships that universities and colleges have with the governor’s office, mayors’ offices and city and county councils have been critical for maintaining consistent public health protocols off campus.\r\n\r\nAs presidents representing every corner of this state, we know this is a big lift for everyone in South Carolina. We know that the many different coronavirus-related ordinances and governor’s orders require uncommon sacrifices of convenience and money.\r\n\r\nHowever, if these ordinances and orders are lifted prematurely and the virus sees a resurgence in the state, the potential short-term gains of some could mean catastrophic long-term losses to others, both in lives lost and businesses closed.\r\n\r\nWe are grateful to Gov. Henry McMaster and all our elected officials at the state and local levels for adopting ordinances and passing statewide legislation over the summer to keep South Carolina on the right path.\r\n\r\nAnd we call on these elected officials to hold fast to these measures. Efforts to require face coverings, regulate high-risk commercial activity and limit large gatherings where social distancing is not practical are working and are helping reduce the spread and transmission of this virus.\r\n\r\nOur greatest fear is that if these safeguards are removed too soon, we may end up back where we were in the spring — shutting down our campuses and, by extension, jeopardizing the economic health of our cities and towns. This is something no one wants.\r\n\r\nAs of this writing, South Carolina is seeing an overall decrease in the number of actual positive cases (seven-day average) and in the percentage of positives in those tested — a trend we all want to see continue.\r\n\r\nWe’ve come this far; let’s not jeopardize our progress by relaxing protocols too soon. We all look forward to the day when we can hear each other more clearly without the muffled sounds of face coverings and gather in large groups without worrying about how many feet separate us.\r\n\r\nLet’s stay patient and look to the day when we can truly enjoy the roar of the crowd — the sound of our collective victory.\r\n\r\n<em>– Al M. Panu, Chancellor at University of South Carolina Beaufort; Fred Carter, President of Francis Marion University; Bob Caslen, President of the University of South Carolina; James Clark, President of S.C. State University; Jim Clements, President of Clemson University; David Cole, President of the Medical University of South Carolina; Derham Cole, interim Chancellor of the University of South Carolina Upstate; David DeCenzo, President of Coastal Carolina University; Richard E. Cosentino, President of Lander University; Andrew Hsu, President of the College of Charleston; George Hynd, interim President of Winthrop University; Sandra J. Jordan, Chancellor at University of South Carolina Aiken</em>', 'LETTERS TO THE EDITOR', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'letters-to-the-editor-25', '', '', '2020-09-30 14:48:02', '2020-09-30 18:48:02', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46225', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46227, 4, '2020-09-30 14:49:17', '2020-09-30 18:49:17', 'Carole Boccia snapped this beautiful photo at the Lady\'s Island boat landing. To submit a Lowcountry Life photo, you must be the photographer or have permission to submit the photo to be published in The Island News. Please submit high-resolution photos and include a description and/or names of the people in the picture and the name of the photographer. Email your photos to theislandnews@gmail.com.', 'LOWCOUNTRY LIFE', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'lowcountry-life-132', '', '', '2020-09-30 14:49:17', '2020-09-30 18:49:17', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46227', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46347, 4, '2020-10-14 09:47:07', '2020-10-14 13:47:07', '', 'Screen Shot 2020-10-14 at 9.46.02 AM', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'screen-shot-2020-10-14-at-9-46-02-am', '', '', '2020-10-14 09:47:07', '2020-10-14 13:47:07', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Screen-Shot-2020-10-14-at-9.46.02-AM.png', 0, 'attachment', 'image/png', 0),
(46231, 4, '2020-09-30 14:55:49', '2020-09-30 18:55:49', '<strong>By Mike McCombs</strong>\r\n\r\nThat roar you may hear is the collective buzz coming from the Lowcountry’s elected leaders reacting to the news late last week that the United States Marine Corps would consider closing its two training bases – including Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island – and open a new base where the training of male and female recruits would be consolidated.\r\n\r\nClosing Parris Island would put an end to more than 100 years of Lowcountry and American history and subtract a big chunk of change from Beaufort’s economy that won’t be replaced.\r\n\r\n“It ain’t gonna happen!” tweeted South Carolina’s senior U.S. Senator Lindsay Graham. “If you’re looking to save money — let’s start with cutting those people who think closing Parris Island is a good idea. Anyone in the Navy or Marine Corps thinking about closing Parris Island has limited growth potential.”\r\n\r\nGraham wasn’t the only one to speak up. The Palmetto State’s other senator, Tim Scott, as well as Graham’s opposition in the upcoming election, Democrat Jaime Harrison released statements opposing the closing of Parris Island.\r\n\r\n“The heart of the United States Marine Corps beats on Parris Island, and Beaufort County has proudly welcomed recruits from all over the country for generations,” Scott said in a statement. “I am confident that as they review plans for consolidated training, the Marine Corps will determine that Parris Island makes the most sense both financially and logistically to train Marines for decades to come. Parris Island will not close.”\r\n\r\nCongressman Joe Cunningham of South Carolina’s 1st District and his Republican opponent Nancy Mace also responded. In fact, Mace is going the distance. Just after 4 a.m. Tuesday, the state representative announced a noon press conference at Parris Island to discuss the rumors, and then Tuesday evening, Mace announced another press conference for noon Wednesday in Mt. Pleasant.\r\n\r\nBeaufort’s state representatives<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>and senators – Shannon Smith Erickson and Tom Davis among them – were vocal as well. As were the mayors of Beaufort and Port Royal, Billy Keyserling and Joe Devito, respectfully. They were both caught off guard by the news.\r\n\r\nMost were cautious, and all were steadfast in their defenses of Parris Island.\r\n\r\nNone of their responses should be surprising. It’s the politically prudent thing to do, even if Parris Island did need to be closed. (Close your emails, I’m not saying it DOES.)\r\n\r\nFor now, let’s just assume everyone is on the same page and everyone’s interest in keeping Parris Island open is genuine.\r\n\r\nIn the recent past, the main concern about Beaufort’s military bases – MCAS Beaufort, Naval Hospital Beaufort and MCRD Parris Island – was that they were increasingly susceptible to hurricanes and increased flooding because of climate change and rising sea levels.\r\n\r\nBut this time around, Parris Island is being threatened by an elephant in the room.\r\n\r\nAs cited in Military.com’s original story, there is a congressional mandate to have both USMC training bases “able to support gender-integrated training in the coming years.”\r\n\r\nRight now, it’s simple. They’re not.\r\n\r\n\"Nothing, the way we\'re organized right now, lends itself to integrated recruit training,\" U.S. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger told Military.com. \"If that\'s our start point – and it is – we have to get to a place on both coasts, or a third location or whatever we end up with, that ... there are male and female recruits around.\"\r\n\r\n(Just an aside here … so would Gen. Berger be one of the men Sen. Graham was insulting? I don’t need an answer.)\r\n\r\nBut there IS good news.\r\n\r\nEven if Parris Island isn’t up to the task of “integrated recruit training,” neither is any place else the Marines currently operate. And given how the wheels of government turn, a consolidated base in a third location is just an idea at this point. To open one may take a decade or longer.\r\n\r\nThe Military.com story and the reaction surrounding it simply acts as a wake-up call for the voters and elected officials of Beaufort County, the Lowcountry and South Carolina, as a whole.\r\n\r\nA Parris Island closure may happen. Or it may not. But now, the right parties may be motivated to ensure it doesn’t.\r\n\r\nThe last time someone with any weight suggested out loud that Parris Island might close, it was a U.S. Senator. That Senator warned the nation in the summer of 2012 that if impending sequestration – remember that fun word? – wasn’t avoided, the U.S. Marines would likely have to close one or both of their recruit depots.\r\n\r\nOf course, sequestration happened … but neither recruit depot closed.\r\n\r\nI guess Lindsay Graham was wrong then. I hope he’s right, this time.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Mike McCombs is the editor of<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>The Island News and can be reached<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.</em>', 'Parris Island rumors a wake-up call for citizens of Beaufort', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'parris-island-rumors-a-wake-up-call-for-citizens-of-beaufort', '', '', '2020-09-30 14:55:49', '2020-09-30 18:55:49', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46231', 0, 'post', '', 0);
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(46233, 4, '2020-09-30 14:59:36', '2020-09-30 18:59:36', '<strong>By Mindy Lucas</strong>\r\n\r\nImproving communications with the public and dealing with the pandemic were top of mind for candidates vying for school board seats at a recent candidates forum hosted by the League of Women Voters.\r\n\r\nFour seats are in play this November: District 1, District 6, District 9 and District 11.\r\n\r\nEarl Campbell currently represents District 1, which covers northern Beaufort County. Jevona Armstrong is also running for District 1.\r\n\r\nDistrict 6, which covers Sun City and part of Okatie, is currently represented by John Dowling, but Dowling<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>announced last year he would not run again. Angela Middleton is running for District 6.\r\n\r\nBoard chair Christina Gwozdz currently represents District 9, which covers the southern part of Bluffton and Daufuskie Island. She is being challenged by Jennifer Morrow, also running for District 9.\r\n\r\nDistrict 11 covers part of Hilton Head Island and is currently represented by JoAnn Orischak. Orischak announced earlier this year she would not seek re-election. Ingrid Boatright is running for District 11.\r\n\r\nLeague member and South Carolina’s former Superintendent of Education Barbara Nielsen moderated the virtual forum on Sept. 17.\r\n\r\nCandidates were given five minutes to introduce themselves. The following is some of what they said:\r\n\r\n<strong>Earl Campbell</strong>\r\n\r\nCampbell has served District 1 for more than 25 years. He is a native of Beaufort County, a veteran, a husband, father and grandfather.\r\n\r\nHe is also a member of the S.C. School Boards Association, the National School Boards Association and Council of Urban Boards of Education.\r\n\r\nHis early and strong support for the 2019 school bond referendum was an example of fighting for educational opportunities for all students in the district, he said.\r\n\r\n“During these troubling times of Covid-19 and economic unrest, we need experience, battle-tested, dedicated leadership at the helm,” he said.\r\n\r\n<strong>Jevona Armstrong</strong>\r\n\r\nA native of Brooklyn, New York, Armstrong relocated to Sheldon about 20 years ago.\r\n\r\nShe has three children in the Beaufort County school system, is a military wife and a teacher, having taught preschool and served as a substitute teacher.\r\n\r\nHer greatest accomplishment, she said, is being a founding member of Bridges Preparatory Charter School. She also runs a summer site for the county’s free-lunch program and founded an Amateur Athletic Union youth basketball team for Whale Branch – the Beaufort Hurricanes.\r\n\r\n“I’m running for school board because we need a fresh and new, informed view and perspective on things,” she said.\r\n\r\n<strong>Angela Middleton</strong>\r\n\r\nOriginally from Charleston, Middleton has lived in Beaufort County since 2012.\r\n\r\nA former educator, Middleton has been a principal, assistant principal and a teacher. She taught at Bluffton Middle School and recently graduated from law school.\r\n\r\nEnsuring that all children in the district are able to succeed is important to her, she said.\r\n\r\n“That is my deepest passion to make sure that children can achieve their goals and accomplish all of their dreams,” she said.\r\n\r\n<strong>Christina Gwozdz</strong>\r\n\r\nGwozdz has lived in the Bluffton School District she serves for 26 years and also serves as the school board’s current chairman. Her three sons attended Bluffton public schools.\r\n\r\nShe is a founding partner of Outpatient Surgery Center of Hilton Head and currently owns and manages her own medical practice, Palmetto Ear, Nose and Throat, PA.\r\n\r\nThe school board has accomplished a lot during her tenure as member and chair, she said.\r\n\r\n“But we still have more work to do to ensure a quality education for all Beaufort County students,” she said.\r\n\r\n<strong>Jennifer Morrow</strong>\r\n\r\nA Gullah native, Morrow has lived in Bluffton for 35 years.\r\n\r\nShe is a mother, wife and military spouse and works as a deployment readiness coordinator for the United States Marine Corps.\r\n\r\nHer three priorities are student education, enhancing the educational system and opportunities provided to students and increasing teacher recruitment.\r\n\r\n“I’m not running for myself, I’m running for every student in the Beaufort County School District North of the Broad and South of the Broad,” she said.\r\n\r\n<strong>Ingrid Boatright</strong>\r\n\r\nBoatright has lived in Beaufort County for 12 years where she has raised three children and volunteered in different capacities – from starting after-school programs to coaching youth basketball. She also serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Hilton Head Island.\r\n\r\nEducation is facing incredibly challenging times right now due to the pandemic, she said.\r\n\r\n“In addition, the school board is emerging from a difficult period of acrimony and public mistrust,” she said.\r\n\r\nAmong her key ideas motivating her to run for school board is to integrate the board within the community more and shift the focus of education away from standardized testing and more toward the ‘whole-child’ concept.\r\n<h4>The Questions</h4>\r\nCandidates were asked a number of questions and given an opportunity to make closing statements as well.\r\n\r\nHere is just a sampling of those questions:\r\n\r\nUnderstanding that bias does not affect just one race or ethnic group, what policy recommendations would you make or suggest to ensure that institutional racism does not contribute to the achievement gap, or inequities in student discipline or inequities in cultural education for teachers and administrators?\r\n\r\nMiddleton said it’s important to recognize that racism does exist, and that everyone should be educated about it – especially institutional racism and its history. A policy should be put into place for this to occur, she said.\r\n\r\n“Educating people, teachers, supervisors, principals, district office people about the history of racism will assist with abolishing institutional racism which will also close that achievement gap,” she said.\r\n\r\nGwozdz agreed with Middleton about the importance of cultural understanding.\r\n\r\n“We need to understand each other to accept each other and to showcase our diversity and use it as a strength,” she said.\r\n\r\nIn terms of policy, the Beaufort County school district just updated its progressive discipline plan in the student code of conduct, she said.\r\n\r\n“It’s important to know that it was revised to be certain that there are not inequities in terms of how students are disciplined,” she said.\r\n\r\nMorrow said because she was a product of Beaufort County schools, the subject hits home for her. She attributed her success partly to the willingness of teachers to connect with parents and families outside the classroom but sees a disconnect now with those two groups.\r\n\r\n“If we don’t educate our teachers, our administrators, our support staff about culturally where these kids are coming from, how can they best help these students and the school?” she asked.\r\n\r\nBoatright agreed with the candidates’ previous comments adding that institutional racism is about inconsistency and occurs when rules are applied inconsistently.\r\n\r\nShe suggested the board do more listening in order to craft policies that address the issue.\r\n\r\n“And not just to staff and not just to teachers, we need to find students and student groups … and talk to them about what their experiences are so we’re aware of what’s going on,” she said.\r\n\r\nBoatright also noted that the school district should look at how standardized testing affects certain groups. Some districts around the country are moving away from standardized testing and toward other methods of assessment or measuring achievement, she said.\r\n\r\nCampbell emphasized the need to have high expectations of students “no matter where you come from.”\r\n\r\nHe suggested that teachers and staff, especially those who are new or from out of state, become educated about the area’s Gullah history perhaps by visiting the Penn Center on St. Helena Island.\r\n\r\nHe also suggested a broader review of our country’s history books when it comes to African American history and contributions.\r\n\r\n“There are a lot of contributions and things that African-Americans have achieved in this country and even in this county that a lot of us don’t know about,” he said.\r\n\r\nIn addition, he noted the need for more black male teachers in the classroom.\r\n\r\n“Which is very hard to do but it’s something we as a board need to work on,” he said.\r\n\r\nArmstrong agreed with the previous comments made by candidates adding that when she moved to South Carolina, the Gullah culture was new to her. She called for introducing culturally diverse curriculums into the classroom and diversity training and workshops for staff.\r\n\r\n“And we need to look at our behavioral policies and discipline policies,” she said. “Our African American children are being punished harder than their white peers, and I’ve seen it first hand.”\r\n\r\nThe district needs to ensure discipline policies are being applied consistently across all groups, she said.\r\n\r\nWhat recommendations do you have for improving the board’s relationship with the community and among its own members?\r\n\r\nBoatright said she thought it had gotten better but the board needs to continue building on that progress and restoring trust. An acronym she likes to use is P.A.C.T., which stands for professional, accountable, communicative and transparent.\r\n\r\n“I think what is frustrating parents with the school board is just what’s the communication,” she said, adding that good communication is now more important than ever as the country continues to face a pandemic.\r\n\r\nMorrow said respect is missing from the school board and the board needs to work together more as a team. She said the lack of respect or even disgust from one board member to another could be seen and heard when watching board proceedings.\r\n\r\n“Me as a parent, I’m sitting watching all this,” Morrow said. “When I say respect, how do we build that respect and trust, not only with our parents and students, but with our community members.”\r\n\r\nWhen it came to decisions being made to return to school, parents were frustrated with the lack of communication, she said. The district had just announced, the night before the forum, it would be returning to in-person education using a two-day a week hybrid model, beginning Oct. 5.\r\n\r\n“Once that information went public, the school board and the school district should have been able to immediately tell parents, ‘This is our way ahead, this is our path. Let us alleviate some of your concerns,’” she said.\r\n\r\nGwozdz said she believes the new board, seated almost two years ago, and its new leadership have regained public trust as evident by the overwhelming support for the $344 million school bond referendum, which passed with almost 70 percent of the vote in 2019.\r\n\r\nShe said in order to continue growing the community’s trust, the board needs to partner with the community on other initiatives like it did with the bond referendum.\r\n\r\nGwozdz also agreed with Boatright and Morrow on the need for professionalism and respect on the board and stressed professional development.\r\n\r\n“But our power and our authority is only as a single board,” she said. “We don’t have any power as a single individual.”\r\n\r\nMiddleton also said the board had gotten better “in the last few years,” but could still benefit from clear communications – especially with the latest decision to return to in-person education in October.\r\n\r\n“We also need to be very professional. That has gotten better … and the transparency – that builds trust,” she said. “When people know what the board is doing at all times, then they will invest and they will trust the board.”\r\n\r\nArmstrong agreed with the need for respectful communication among board members but with the public and parents as well.\r\n\r\n“Right now, we really don’t have much communication,” she said, referring to the previous night’s announcement to return to school Oct. 5.\r\n\r\n“That’s it. We didn’t get anything else,” Armstrong said. “These are the things parents and guardians and everybody worries about. There needs to be more details in place and the board needs to show us a little bit more respect.”\r\n\r\nCampbell said in order to build trust it was important for the board and board members to do exactly what they said they were going to do and have more respect for each other.\r\n\r\n“People are sitting there watching us and even students,” he said.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nWhen he first joined the board, a wise man told him to use the criticism of others for strength, he said.\r\n\r\n“He said, listen to what they say to you. Don’t get into an argument, let them know that you are concerned about their concerns,” he said. “And I think that way you will have better trust with the community.”\r\n\r\n<em>Mindy Lucas is the Beaufort reporter for The Island News and is a staff writer for Lowcountry Weekly. She can be reached at mindy.islandnews@gmail.com.</em>\r\n\r\n<b>WHO IS MY REPRESENTATIVE?\r\n</b>To find out who your school district representative is, go to www.beaufortschools.net, then click on District, Board of Education, then Find Your Representative by Map.\r\n\r\n<b>WATCH ONLINE\r\n</b>You can watch the entire candidates’ forum on the League of Women Voters Beaufort SC Area’s YouTube Channel or on the League of Women Voters of Hilton Head Island and Bluffton website at: https://my.lwv.org/south-carolina/hilton-head-island-bluffton-area.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'School Board candidates discuss issues', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'school-board-candidates-discuss-issues', '', '', '2020-09-30 15:06:36', '2020-09-30 19:06:36', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46233', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46345, 4, '2020-10-08 14:48:35', '2020-10-08 18:48:35', '', 'Screen Shot 2020-10-08 at 2.47.42 PM', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'screen-shot-2020-10-08-at-2-47-42-pm', '', '', '2020-10-08 14:48:35', '2020-10-08 18:48:35', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Screen-Shot-2020-10-08-at-2.47.42-PM.png', 0, 'attachment', 'image/png', 0),
(46236, 4, '2020-09-30 15:03:14', '2020-09-30 19:03:14', '<strong>By Lolita Huckaby\r\nPhotos by Bob Sofaly</strong>\r\n\r\nRepublican 1st District Congressional candidate Nancy Mace made it clear Monday night during her first televised debate with incumbent Congressman Joe Cunningham that she grew up in the Lowcountry.\r\n\r\nThe fact was one of many jabs exchanged during the one hour debate as Mace highlighted her relationship with the Lowcountry compared to Cunningham, who grew up in Kentucky and came to South Carolina to attend the College of Charleston.\r\n\r\nBut they’re both here now, and the two came out figuratively swinging in their efforts to convert voters for the upcoming Nov. 3 election.\r\n\r\nThe prepared questions ranged<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>from offshore drilling to affordable housing to medical care to voting records.\r\n\r\nCunningham took aim at Mace’s voting record in the S.C. House, where he pointed out she missed 30 percent of the votes earlier in the year.\r\n\r\nMace, a single mother of two, said she was suffering from COVID and her children were sick during that period. Then she accused her opponent of attacking working, single moms who put their children’s medical care before work.\r\n\r\n“You should be ashamed of yourself; you should be disqualified from these debates,” she scolded Cunningham, who is married with one young son.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_46124\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1020\"]<a href=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Sccha101-1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-46124\" src=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Sccha101-1-1024x680.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1020\" height=\"677\"></a> Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham debates Republican challenger state Rep. Nancy Mace Monday September 28, 2020 at the SCETV studios in Beaufort, S.C in the South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District seat. Grace Beahm Alford/Staff[/caption]\r\n\r\nMace repeatedly came back at Cunningham for voting with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on 90 percent of the votes. But the incumbent noted during his first week in Congress he voted against Pelosi for Speaker.\r\n\r\n“My opponent seems to be so hell-bent to run against Nancy Pelosi, I suggest she buy herself a plane ticket, fly to California and run against Nancy Pelosi,” he said. “But we’re here and she’s running against me.”\r\n\r\nCunningham repeatedly pointed to his recognition as the fourth most bi-partisan member of Congress and his endorsement by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He continued his campaign theme of the importance of “reaching across the aisles” to reach legislative solutions.\r\n\r\nMace accused Cunningham of “voting to put Parris Island – not 10 miles away from here – on the chopping block” but did not offer any particulars. He did not respond to the accusation and both promised their full support to keep the Marine Corps Recruit Depot open.\r\n\r\nAs a parting shot, Cunningham noted that Mace’s business experiences include being co-owner of the FITSNEWS.com, which he called a “political gossip and bikini” website.\r\n\r\nThe debate was sponsored by the Charleston Post and Courier, SCETV and S.C. Public Radio. It took place in the WJWJ-TV studios on the Technical College of the Lowcountry campus in Beaufort.\r\n\r\n<em>Lolita Huckaby Watson is a community volunteer and a former reporter/editorial assistant/columnist with The Beaufort Gazette, The Savannah Morning News, Bluffton Today and Beaufort Today. She can be reached at bftbay@gmail.com.</em>', 'Cunningham, Mace trade jabs in Beaufort debate', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'cunningham-mace-trade-jabs-in-beaufort-debate', '', '', '2020-09-30 15:03:14', '2020-09-30 19:03:14', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46236', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46238, 4, '2020-09-30 15:05:41', '2020-09-30 19:05:41', '<strong>By Mindy Lucas</strong>\r\n\r\nAfter more than a year of trying to make their case for a high-end, ecotourism resort on a barrier island in Beaufort County, developers from Bay Point Island were shut out by the county’s Zoning Board of Appeals at a public hearing on Thursday, Sept. 24.\r\n\r\nThe luxury resort, estimated to run $100 million, was to feature 50 cottages among other buildings that developers said would blend in with the tree line and have little impact on the surrounding environment.\r\n\r\nBut planning board members at Thursday night’s meeting weren’t convinced.\r\n\r\n“This is a great idea, but I just don’t think it’s compatible with the surrounding area,” said board chairman Kevin Mack just before a vote was held to deny the project.\r\n\r\n“I think it’s going to do more harm to the environment. It might be great for some things, but I’m just looking at the habitat on such an island, prestigious area,” he said.\r\n\r\nAbout 80 mask-wearing individuals filled the gymnasium at Burton Wells Recreation Center in Beaufort for the in-person meeting, spacing themselves apart in chairs set up in rows across the gym floor.\r\n\r\nZoning Board meetings on the project had been postponed earlier in the summer after officials cited the need for something other than a virtual meeting on the development.\r\n\r\nWhile some were there for other<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>projects on the agenda, such as a proposed sand mine on Daufuskie Island – also denied, many more were there to voice their objections to the resort project.\r\n\r\n“We oppose this project last year, we oppose this project now and we oppose this project in the future,” said Marquetta Goodwine, also known as Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation.\r\n\r\nIn a dramatic show of opposition, Goodwine held up a box containing 30,000 signatures from residents against the development.\r\n\r\nGoodwine, along with most, if not all, of the area’s conservation organizations have been against the project since last year when plans for the development were first revealed.\r\n\r\nConservation leaders cited severe erosion, rising sea levels, increased hurricanes and storms in an area with an already fragile ecosystem as reasons for denying such a development.\r\n\r\nThat opposition picked up steam in recent months after it was discovered that an organization known as The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) has a history of troubling allegations.\r\n\r\nAn article in the <a href=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/who-is-the-international-ecotourism-society/\">July 15 edition of The Island News</a> detailed those findings, namely that TIES is no longer a nonprofit organization as it purports to be on its website, and has a history of questionable practices when it comes to disclosing financial information.\r\n\r\nBeaufort State House Rep. Shannon Erickson who <a href=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/governor-urges-county-zoning-board-to-reject-bay-point-project/\">co-authored a letter</a> with Sen. Chip Campsen was also on hand for the public hearing and read from her letter specifically addressed the “troubling” issue of TIES’ involvement with the project.\r\n\r\n“This is troubling on several fronts not the least of which is even if the third party entity does exist, it is unelected and therefore unaccountable to citizens in Beaufort County,” she said at the meeting.\r\n\r\nStill, developers tried side-stepping the elephant in the room and continued to make their case as private property owners.\r\n\r\n“The owners of private property in the United States of America are entitled to develop within the standards of the zoning guidelines of any particular county of what is allowed,” said Bay Point Island LLC’s attorney Tom Taylor.\r\n\r\nAs a compromise, developers offered to place 1,200 acres, including 15 buildable lots already permitted by the county, into a conservation easement. That would leave 25 lots for future development plus the resort.\r\n\r\nUltimately, however, the project was denied in a unanimous vote.\r\n\r\nBoard members found it inconsistent with the county’s plan to protect rural resources, incompatible with land in the local vicinity, not designed to minimize the impacts on wildlife, not designed to minimize the impacts on local services, such as emergency or fire protection, and did not meet the definition of ecotourism.\r\n\r\n<em>Mindy Lucas is the Beaufort reporter for The Island News and is a staff writer for Lowcountry Weekly. She can be reached at mindy.islandnews@gmail.com.</em>\r\n\r\n<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\n<em>Hilton Head Island attorney Tom Taylor makes the case for an ecotourism resort on Bay Point, while developer Art Krebs (on the left) looks on Thursday, Sept. 24 at Burton Wells Recreation Center. Photo by Mindy Lucas.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Resort planned for Bay Point denied by Beaufort County zoning board', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'resort-planned-for-bay-point-denied-by-beaufort-county-zoning-board', '', '', '2020-10-01 16:45:27', '2020-10-01 20:45:27', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46238', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46244, 4, '2020-10-03 15:53:10', '2020-10-03 19:53:10', '[caption id=\"attachment_46250\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1020\"]<a href=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_0252-1.jpeg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-46250\" src=\"https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_0252-1-1024x896.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1020\" height=\"893\"></a> Volunteer Lenora Jenkins prepares a basket at the \"Get Out the Vote\" and \"Drive-By Fish Fry\" Saturday, Oct. 3, in Seabrook.[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe Beaufort County Democratic Party and U.S. Rep. James Clyburn held a “Get Out The Vote” kickoff rally and “Drive-By Fish Fry” Saturday, Oct. 3, at Whale Branch Middle School in Seabrook.\r\n\r\nWhile the congressman was not personally on hand for the event, the fish fry was one of four Rep. Clyburn was sponsoring in his district over the weekend.\r\n\r\nLocal candidates greeted cars and SUVs, as drivers lined up for information on voting and of course, a basket of tasty fried fish.\r\n\r\nVolunteers were planning to fry more than 90 pounds of fish for about 200 people and it was \"going fast,\" said Beaufort County Democratic Party Chair Mayra Rivera-Vazquez.\r\n\r\n<em>–Mindy Lucas</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>For full story see the Oct. 8 print edition of The Island News.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'That\'s a lot of fish!', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'thats-a-lot-of-fish', '', '', '2020-10-03 16:09:32', '2020-10-03 20:09:32', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46244', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46257, 4, '2020-10-07 12:18:18', '2020-10-07 16:18:18', '', '010022020 Votubng Machine Test, 1- 7905', 'Photo by Bob Sofaly\nVernon Kemp, Elections Systems Manager for checks is data print out after simulating a  “straight ticket” test to make sure all the systems are up and running correctly for the upcoming general election Nov. 3.\nAccording to Kemp, Beaufort County has 56 precincts with 138,141 registered voters on the books. The largest percent with 2,966 registered voters is Bluffton 2C. \nTo date there have been 29,000 requests for absentee mail-in ballots, of which 20,000 have already been mailed out. October 5 is final deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot in Beaufort County.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '010022020-votubng-machine-test-1-7905', '', '', '2020-10-07 12:18:18', '2020-10-07 16:18:18', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/10022020-Voting-Machine-test-1-7905.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46258, 4, '2020-10-07 12:19:05', '2020-10-07 16:19:05', '', 'Ali Muller snapped this beautiful photo at Hunting Island and titled it “Pathway to Paradise.”', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'ali-muller-snapped-this-beautiful-photo-at-hunting-island-and-titled-it-pathway-to-paradise', '', '', '2020-10-07 12:19:05', '2020-10-07 16:19:05', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Ali-Muller-snapped-this-beautiful-photo-at-Hunting-Island-and-titled-it-“Pathway-to-Paradise.”-.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46259, 4, '2020-10-07 12:19:32', '2020-10-07 16:19:32', '', 'nurnberg_200926_07950_8244', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'nurnberg_200926_07950_8244', '', '', '2020-10-07 12:19:32', '2020-10-07 16:19:32', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/nurnberg_200926_07950_8244.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46260, 4, '2020-10-07 12:20:17', '2020-10-07 16:20:17', '', '10022020 First Friday, 2- 7923', 'Bob Sofaly photo\nArtist Charlotte Murray works on a painting of a Palmetto tree called “First Friday” at Tabby Shore art shop on Friday (10/2)the West Street extension.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '10022020-first-friday-2-7923', '', '', '2020-10-07 14:11:30', '2020-10-07 18:11:30', '', 46330, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/10022020-First-Friday-2-7923.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46261, 4, '2020-10-07 12:20:21', '2020-10-07 16:20:21', '', '10022020 First Friday, 1- 7949', 'Bob Sofaly photo\nAshley Nevel, left, walks with her children Jahzlynn, 9, and Landon, 4 as they make their way down Bay Street during First Friday, Oct. 2.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '10022020-first-friday-1-7949', '', '', '2020-10-07 14:11:19', '2020-10-07 18:11:19', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/10022020-First-Friday-1-7949.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46262, 4, '2020-10-07 12:20:47', '2020-10-07 16:20:47', '', '10042020 Marker re-dedication- 8222', 'Bob Sofaly photo\nLillian Haist, left, President of the Beaufort County Historical Society, and Beaufort Mayor Bill Keyserling unveil a historic marker at Freedom Mall at the entrance to the Beaufort Marina parking lot at Bay and Newcastle streets. The marker, originally made in 1950, has been displayed at several location, most recently near Beaufort City Hall on Boundary Street. The new location, according to Haist, will be the marker’s final resting place.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '10042020-marker-re-dedication-8222', '', '', '2020-10-07 14:08:09', '2020-10-07 18:08:09', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/10042020-Marker-re-dedication-8222.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
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(46264, 4, '2020-10-07 12:22:12', '2020-10-07 16:22:12', '', 'PAIN image', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'pain-image', '', '', '2020-10-07 12:22:12', '2020-10-07 16:22:12', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/PAIN-image.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46265, 4, '2020-10-07 12:22:56', '2020-10-07 16:22:56', '', 'Mammography Tech positioning patient', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'mammography-tech-positioning-patient-2', '', '', '2020-10-07 12:22:56', '2020-10-07 16:22:56', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Mammography-Tech-positioning-patient.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
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(46267, 4, '2020-10-07 12:24:57', '2020-10-07 16:24:57', '', 'Screen Shot 2020-10-07 at 12.24.38 PM', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'screen-shot-2020-10-07-at-12-24-38-pm', '', '', '2020-10-07 12:24:57', '2020-10-07 16:24:57', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Screen-Shot-2020-10-07-at-12.24.38-PM.png', 0, 'attachment', 'image/png', 0),
(46268, 4, '2020-10-07 12:24:59', '2020-10-07 16:24:59', '', 'Screen Shot 2020-10-07 at 12.24.16 PM', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'screen-shot-2020-10-07-at-12-24-16-pm', '', '', '2020-10-07 12:24:59', '2020-10-07 16:24:59', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Screen-Shot-2020-10-07-at-12.24.16-PM.png', 0, 'attachment', 'image/png', 0),
(46269, 4, '2020-10-07 12:26:35', '2020-10-07 16:26:35', '', '10022020 BHS v James Island, 2- 8110', 'Bob Sofaly photo\nBeaufort’s Ray Fields tries to catch a Tyler Haley pass during the secon quarter against James Island on Friday at Eagle Stadium. Fields couldn’t hang on to the pass but the Eagles went on to win 48-6.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '10022020-bhs-v-james-island-2-8110', '', '', '2020-10-07 13:42:48', '2020-10-07 17:42:48', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/10022020-BHS-v-James-Island-1-8110jpg.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46270, 4, '2020-10-07 12:27:18', '2020-10-07 16:27:18', '', 'Fishing2', 'Bob Sofaly photo\nWhile waiting for their dad to come in and weigh his fish, Emmalyn Heath,8, and her brothers Lawson, 4 and Jax, 2, check out some of the other fish that have been weighed during the Youth Fishing Tournament weigh-in Saturday (10/3) at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club. Both boys marveled over how big the teeth of the king mackerel were.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'fishing2', '', '', '2020-10-07 13:37:20', '2020-10-07 17:37:20', '', 46300, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Fishing2.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46271, 4, '2020-10-07 12:27:22', '2020-10-07 16:27:22', '', 'Fishing1', 'Bob Sofaly photo\nTret Stadler, holds up his 3.45-pound flounder at the Youth Finshing Tournament weigh-in Saturday at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'fishing1', '', '', '2020-10-07 13:37:10', '2020-10-07 17:37:10', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Fishing1.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
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(46273, 4, '2020-10-07 12:28:07', '2020-10-07 16:28:07', '', '302020 Avengers vs Royal baseball- 7796', 'Bob Sofaly photo\nLigh Blue Avengers batter Wes Anderson waits on the curve ball from Dark Blue Royals pitcher Welden Smith during their Beaufort County Parks and Leisure Services Adult League baseball game Wednesday night (9/30) at Burton Wells Athletic Complex. Anderson’s single in the third inning helped the Avengers defeat the Royals 10-3.', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '302020-avengers-vs-royal-baseball-7796', '', '', '2020-10-07 13:33:10', '2020-10-07 17:33:10', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/AdultBaseball1008.jpeg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46274, 4, '2020-10-07 12:28:58', '2020-10-07 16:28:58', '', 'DSC_0093-2', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'dsc_0093-2', '', '', '2020-10-07 12:28:58', '2020-10-07 16:28:58', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC_0093-2.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(46275, 4, '2020-10-07 13:22:08', '2020-10-07 17:22:08', '<strong>By Bill Rogers</strong>\r\n\r\nJust a reminder, National Newspaper Week is Oct. 4-10.\r\n\r\nNational Cheeseburger Day was a recent event, and it prompted me to go out and get a cheeseburger. Newspapers are far more important to recognize, and they aren’t as fattening.\r\n\r\nLet me prompt you to please take time to think about what your local newspaper means to your community and your family, and urge you to continue your support.\r\n\r\nWhether in print or online, newspapers keep you informed about what is happening on so many fronts: school news, government actions, crime reports, sports, who died and who got married, and election news. The list goes on.\r\n\r\nNewspapers also stand up for the rights of citizens to know how their elected officials – be they town councils or school boards – are planning to spend public money.\r\n\r\nWant examples of how important newspaper reporting is? Here are some stories that were recognized in last year’s S.C. Press Association News Contest:\r\n\r\n– A coastal weekly investigation found that many court cases in Atlantic Beach were dismissed because police didn’t show up to testify.\r\n\r\n– A Lowcountry daily reporter told residents about a 60-foot trash pile at a rural recycling center. Within a month of his reporting on this public health and safety issue, the EPA began emergency cleanup.\r\n\r\n– An Upstate daily newspaper’s investigation into civil asset forfeiture in South Carolina uncovered that police are making millions by seizing assets, often without ever filing charges against the person whose assets are taken.\r\n\r\n– A report called “Above the Law,” exposed how sheriffs across South Carolina lined their pockets on the public’s dime, tried to silence whistle blowers and bullied other public officials who questioned their behavior.\r\n\r\n– The Island News informed readers that that Beaufort County’s potential approval of a resort at Bay Point was based on the advice of an outside, non-elected ecotourism group, not accountable to voters, that wasn’t what it claimed to be.\r\n\r\nThese are just a few examples of important stories that newspapers broke. They show the kind of reporting found only in newspapers and looking out for the public’s good.\r\n\r\nPlease continue to support your local paper by subscribing and encourage your friends and family to do so, too.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Bill Rogers is executive director of the S.C. Press Association, which represents the state’s 15 daily and 74 weekly newspapers.</em>', 'Newspapers are worthy of your attention', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'newspapers-are-worthy-of-your-attention', '', '', '2020-10-07 13:22:08', '2020-10-07 17:22:08', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46275', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46278, 4, '2020-10-07 13:23:25', '2020-10-07 17:23:25', '<strong>By David Taub</strong>\r\n\r\nThe make-believe universe that POTUS and his followers inhabit should have exploded long ago. But, now only weeks away from Judgment Day, it remains as alive as ever.\r\n\r\nProof positive can be found in the bullying slugfest instigated and maintained by POTUS that masqueraded as a presidential “debate.” It was anything but presidential and more akin to a WWE pitched battle, an assault and defense, than a “debate;” a wasted 90-minute exhibition of DJT’S rage-fueled, unhinged frenzy wrapped in insecurity.\r\n\r\nA recent stunning disclosure is that DJT, a self-described billionaire, doesn’t pay Federal taxes (10 of last 15 years, and a pittance of $750 each in 2016 and 2017). He is up to his eyeballs in gigantic crushing personal debt, but we don’t know to whom he reportedly owes more than $400 million.\r\n\r\nDoes his deep red debt finally explain why he sucks-up to Putin, Erdogan, and the Saudi Royals during<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; </span>every conflict with the U.S.? Perhaps we now understand why he has been so unrelenting about NOT releasing his tax returns.\r\n\r\nMost all Americans pay far more in taxes than he does: Is he (a) a tax cheat, (b) a business failure, (c) a brilliant con-man, (d) a tax criminal, or (e) all of the above? The New York district attorney is very interested in answers to those questions, even if his unwavering “base” is not.\r\n\r\nIf you still need one, here is a quick and disturbing litany that proves DJT is unfit to be President: more than seven million Americans infected with Covid-19, which now includes POTUS and FLOTUS, and more than 210,000 deaths, mostly due to POTUS’s egregious failures to address the pandemic with a meaningful “plan,” while he constantly disparages simple steps for protecting ourselves such as wearing a mask; an economy in shambles with millions of Americans out of work, perhaps many permanently so, and millions of others with work hours reduced to less than a living wage; begging the Supreme Court to destroy medical insurance for millions of low- and middle-income Americans in the midst of the deadliest disaster in 100 years; destruction of America’s world-wide prestige, purging the Supreme Court’s integrity, destroying the dignity of the Presidency; politicizing our armed-forces and expressing shameless disdain for and crass insults aimed at our military; reducing the integrity of the Justice Department, which has brought great distrust of our country’s most important institutions; espousing naked racism and endorsing white-supremacy, asking far-right heavily-armed “militias” to “stand by.” What do we think that means?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nUnlike King Midas, about everything that “King Trump” touches turns into the exuded reprocessed food grazed on by horses.\r\n\r\nBut, you know what, his “base” does not care about the truth of any of this sad and depressing litany. Why? FAITH. Period.\r\n\r\nFaith is a strange human emotional, but not intellectual, phenomenon, often exhibited within a religion versus science arena. Faith, in its simplest form, is based on a rejection of rationality and logic. It is a strongly held emotionally-based belief system that exists even when conflicting with the laws of physics and natural science. The faithful believer has no problem believing in preternatural miracles, even when natural laws contend (and largely have proven) such is impossible.\r\n\r\nThe second century theologian Origen was instrumental in formulating the axiom of unchallenged church authority. He noted that “…As this matter of faith is so much talked of, I have to reply that we accept it as useful for the multitude, and that we admittedly teach those who cannot abandon everything and pursue a study of rational argument to believe without thinking out their reasons.”\r\n\r\nThe beauty of faith is that is does not rely on rational or logical interpretations of empirical observations; its keystone rests only on the ability of the faithful to BELIEVE. Faith can be irrational or illogical insofar as what the faithful believe contradicts the rules of nature, physics, biology and astronomy. In the world of science such beliefs are otherwise characterized as magical thinking, belief in the supernatural or the paranormal.\r\n\r\nThe downside of faith is that too often it is a bar to comprehending the truth of a perceived reality. When truth (with a capital T) collides with faith (with a capital F), faith is almost always the winner, such is its power. It is so with the faithful denizens of POTUS’s alternate universe. Faith uber alles.\r\n\r\nFrom my own life experiences, I simply think we must look to the common good as the keystone to a healthy democracy. What will promote the flourishing of all of our core values?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nFaith versus Fact will be on trial November 3. Onto which cosmic ledger shall your name be inscribed? The winner of this test will shape our precious republic for generations to come.\r\n\r\nI hope you have enjoyed reading this opinion piece. It shall be my last contribution on presidential politics for some time to come, if ever again. I am certain that some readers of our lovely little newspaper will drink a beer or some other appropriate libation in celebration.\r\n\r\n<em>“Well, all I know is what I read in the newspapers.” – Will Rogers. </em>\r\n<em>David M. Taub was Mayor of Beaufort from 1990 through 1999 and served as a Beaufort County Magistrate from 2010 to 2015. You can reach him at david.m.taub42@gmail.com.</em>', 'POTUS’s Midas Touch, as in car mufflers', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'potuss-midas-touch-as-in-car-mufflers', '', '', '2020-10-07 13:23:25', '2020-10-07 17:23:25', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46278', 0, 'post', '', 0),
(46280, 4, '2020-10-07 13:24:18', '2020-10-07 17:24:18', '<strong>By Lee Scott</strong>\r\n\r\nShe came to town. You know the person. She calls to say she has made a reservation and wants to spend a few days.\r\n\r\n“Don’t worry,” she says “I will stay out of the way. You won’t even notice me around.”\r\n\r\nBut then you do notice.\r\n\r\n“What happened to the geraniums on the back porch?”\r\n\r\n“Oh, they were dead,” she says.\r\n\r\n“No wonder, the other ones looked so good,” we said.\r\n\r\n“That is because they are fake,” she says.\r\n\r\nMy husband and I looked at each other. That is right, when we remember that neither of us have a green thumb nor have watered a plant in forever.\r\n\r\nShe starts clanging around in the kitchen. Where is your frying plan? She wants to make breakfast. Then she proceeds to make eggs, bacon, and some fresh blueberry muffins on the side. My normal bowl of cereal seemed so sad next to the bagels, cream cheese, and lox that she served.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nHer meal was incredible. And my spouse’s Jimmy Dean’s sausage frozen package thrown in the microwave was sad looking next to her spread.\r\n\r\nAfterward, as she was cleaning up, we both commented on how delicious the breakfast was and how nice it was for her to clean up afterward too.\r\n\r\nA few days of her cooking was a bit overwhelming. We had deli sandwiches and homemade bowls of soup for lunch. Everything was delicious.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nShe made some of those one-pan meals too like Beef Stew, chicken pot pies, and chicken casseroles. She cut up vegetables for nice salads and put out fresh bread with fresh butter.\r\n\r\nThen we had a bit of deja vu. There was a time when we did make these kinds of meals. Both our mothers provided us with some decent recipes, but after a while our lives got busy and we started to do more and more take out.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;</span>\r\n\r\nThen we digressed to frozen TV dinners. They really were not for our taste buds, just to put something on our stomachs.\r\n\r\nSo now we are back to cooking. There are numerous recipes that can be put together in moments and we can sit down and enjoy dinner again. Even those pre-made Blue Apron meals are better than some of the junk we were eating.\r\n\r\nOur unwelcome visitor was wonderful after all, and she was not in the way at all. She reminded us to take the few minutes to shop for food and prepare it. She has even encouraged us to take those side trips to the Farmers’ Market on the weekends. The food tastes so much better and she turned out to be the best welcome visitor ever.\r\n\r\n<em>Lee Scott, award winning humor writer takes her “Walter Mitty” like persona and spins tales around everyday life. She enjoys boating, reading, and meeting people. Scott lives in Beaufort with her husband, JD, along with their dog Brandy. You can reach her at <a href=\"mailto:Lasshood@aol.com\">Lasshood@aol.com</a>.</em>', 'The unwelcome visitor turns out to be not so bad', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'closed', '', 'the-unwelcome-visitor-turns-out-to-be-not-so-bad', '', '', '2020-10-07 13:24:18', '2020-10-07 17:24:18', '', 0, 'https://staging.yourislandnews.com/?p=46280', 0, 'post', '', 0);
