<strong>AARP to offer safety driving course</strong>

On Friday Jan. 25 an AARP Driver Safety Class will be given at Summit Place Of Beaufort, 1119 Pickpocket Plantation Dr, Beaufort (behind Applebees) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This course is open to drivers age 26 and above. Cost is $14 for nonmembers and $12 for AARP members. Class size is limited. To register, call 843-521-1941. The course teaches proven safety strategies that sharpen skills and build and maintain confidence behind the wheel. A completion certificate is issued for your auto insurance discount.

<strong>EveryOne Counts to benefit county homeless</strong>

EveryOne Counts, an event intended to assist with connecting people who are homeless with community resources they may not otherwise access, will be held Saturday, January 26, from 12-2 p.m. at The Boys and Girls Club, 1100 Boundary St. in Beaufort. The event is organized by various church and business groups from around Beaufort County, serves as a clothing and personal item supply drive, and this year, is part of Beaufort County’s official effort to count the number of homeless living in the area. Volunteers and supplies are needed. Those interested can contact Michael Green at  843-592-1352.

<strong>Learn about Audubon during free lecture</strong>

John James Audubon’s “Birds of America” is great American art and the gifted artist was an ambitious adventurer and natural scientist. Come hear our guest, curator/educator Ron Roth of USCB, an insightful expert on Audubon’s life, art and work in the Lowcountry on Thursday, Jan. 24, Fripp Island’s Community Centre, 7 p.m.. Presentation is free and free gate pass for visitors. Meet and greet at 6 p.m., please bring plate of nibbles to share. Contact pete.richards@comcast.net or 843-441-2153, visit www.islc.net/audubon.

<strong>‘Jubilee of Freedom’ will be performed at USCB</strong>

Beaufort County Historical Society, Coastal States Bank and the Mitchelville Preservation Project  will present Jubilee of Freedom Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation at the University Performing Arts Center, 6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 31. This historical document was originally read in Beaufort on Jan, 1, 1863; the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was presented to Congress of Jan. 31, 1863. Cast members for the event include Dr. Stephen Wise, Dr. Lawrence Rowland, Anita Singleton-Prather (Aunt Pearlie of Gullah Kinfolk), Evelene Stevenson (Spirit of Old Beaufort), Mary Legree, Dave Smoot, Erika Pyle, Peter Ovens, Darryl Murphy.

Tickets are $20 and $15 for Beaufort County Historical Society members/seniors/and students. Tickets are available by calling the USCB Performing Arts Center at 843-521-4145. For more information, contact Pamela Ovens-President at sail@singlestar.us or call 843-785-2767 or www.beaufortcountyhistoricalsociety.org.

<strong>Celebrity night benefits HELP of Beaufort</strong>

Fat Patties Restaurant in Port Royal will be hosting a Celebrity Guest Employee Night on Tuesday, January 29, starting at 6 p.m. to benefit HELP of Beaufort. Guest employees for the fun-filled night will be Steve Curless, from HELP of Beaufort, as host and Billy Keyserling, Beaufort Mayor as bartender. The evening’s serving staff will consist of Van Willis, Port Royal Town Manager; Joe Lee, Port Royal Town Councilman; and Stephen Murray, Chairman-Elect of the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce. 15% of all proceeds from the evening will be donated by Fat Patties to HELP of Beaufort. Fat Patties restaurant is located at 831 Parris Island Gateway, in Port Royal.

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<strong>Beaufort Kennel Club has obedience classes</strong>

Beaufort Kennel Club’s Spring Obedience Classes will start on Saturday, February 2 and run through March 9. The six classes will cover sit, down, walk on leash, come, and solutions to doggie training issues at home. Cost is $90. Please call Marilyn at 843-986-0834 to register and further details.

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<strong>BHS Green Booster Club holds oyster roast</strong>

The Beaufort High School Big Green Booster Club will hold its annual oyster roast fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 9 from 5 to 10 p.m. at Live Oaks Park in Port Royal. Tickets are $25 each or $40 per couple. All proceeds go to support Beaufort High School athletic programs.  Ticket price includes oysters, hot dogs, beer and wine. There will a silent auction as well as live entertainment by Mark Bonds.  Tickets will be available at the event or call Jonolyn Ferreri at 843-986-4093 or Benji Hill at 843-986-7169.

<strong>Beaufort Lion Club holds pancake breakfast</strong>

The Beaufort Lions Club invites you to a Pancake Breakfast on February 9 at Sea Island Presbyterian Church at 81 Lady’s Island Drive from 8-11 a.m. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for children and can be purchased at the door or by calling Bob Griffith at 838-0098. Funds raised from this event will be used to purchase the latest eye screening device called Plusoptix which costs nearly $6,000. This non-invasive device is amazingly accurate, quickly snaps a photograph of the eye and gives immediate test results which can be stored or printed. The beauty of this equipment is that it can test the eyesight of infants as young as 6 months and provides information about a variety of eye conditions such as lazy eye as well as full refraction information. Since September the Beaufort Lions Club has tested the eyesight of over 2,000 school children; upgrading to this device will make our sight team even more efficient, accurate and able to service more Beaufort children.

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<strong>Bay Street Outfitters hosts fly fishers meeting</strong>

The next meeting of the Sea Island Fly Fishers will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at Bay Street Outfitters in Beaufort.  Following a social hour at 6 p.m., the featured program will be on finding redfish. Longtime local guide Jack Brown will describe what to look for during various times of the year in order to locate the number one fly fishing target. A veteran Lowcountry guide, Jack will share the patterns and habits which reds follow and how to narrow down potential fishing spots. The public is invited to attend and there is no charge.  Persons interested in fly fishing, especially salt water, are urged to join the group.  Call Jack Baggette at 843-522-8911 with any questions and visit www.flyfishingbeaufort.com.

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<strong>Rep. Erickson to host Town Hall forums</strong>

Rep. Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort, will host a series of public Town Hall forums for the candidates for the First Congressional District special election, the seat recently vacated by U. S. Senator Tim Scott. There are currently five evenings reserved for two candidates each night to attend, introduce themselves and answer questions from the public.  Each candidate will be on stage for an hour, either 6 until 7 p.m. or 7 to 8 p.m.

Dates for these Town Halls are:

• Thursday, January 31

• Monday February 4

• Thursday, February 7

• Monday, February 18

• Thursday, February 21

More dates will be added if the number of candidates exceeds the time slots available. The forums will be open to all candidates regardless of party affiliation and are not debates but rather opportunities for the public to be clearly informed on the candidate’s background, experience, stance on issues and vision of representation of our area. Each Town Hall meeting will be held at the Technical College of the Lowcountry Auditorium off Ribaut Road in Beaufort.

<strong>Exchange Club presents school Freedom Shrine </strong>

Celebrating the proud heritage that all Americans share, the Exchange Club of Beaufort will dedicate a Freedom Shrine at Riverview Charter School on Friday, February 1. Several school children will sing patriotic songs and the National President Elect, Don Wright will be in attendance. The Freedom Shrine is a collection of photographic reproductions of original documents from American history. The display includes the Bill of Rights, the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. The Freedom Shrine program is designed to remind Americans that the freedom and greatness we enjoy today were not purchased easily and that these gifts must be cherished and protected. For more information about this event or to join, call Angel Flewelling at 525-0102.

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<strong>Art sale to benefit Family Promise</strong>

Lord of Life Lutheran Church presents “God’s Gifts for God’s Children” on Saturday, February 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 351 Buckwalter Parkway, Bluffton. A collection of art including handcrafted quilts, paintings, books, wood-crafted items, photography, gourmet foods and much more available for purchase. One hundred percent of the proceeds will help support Family Promise of Beaufort County, Backpack Buddies and Habitat for Humanity.

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<strong>CODA to hold 5K Race4Love Run/Walk</strong>

Citizens Opposed to Domestic Abuse (CODA) will hold the inaugural Race4Love 5K Run/Walk on Cat Island on February 16, at 10 a.m.  The course will traverse Cat Island’s scenic neighborhoods and Sanctuary Golf Course, located at 8 Waveland Avenue, Beaufort. Fees are $25 for the run and $20 for the walk and will increase to $30/$25 for race day registration. Race times will be recorded. All kids 10 and under will receive an award. Please visit www.codalowcountry.org/race to register.

<strong>Bands, Brews &amp; BBQ will be held Feb. 22-23</strong>

The 4th Annual Bands, Brews &amp; BBQ, benefiting Friends of Caroline Hospice will be Friday, February 22, 6-9 p.m. For the Wing Throw Down: Each cooker will prepare wings in the style they choose for sampling and judging. The party will feature live music until 10 p.m. Saturday, February 23, from 12-4 p.m. is BBQ Competition Day. Tickets may be purchased for $20 each day (or $35 for both days) online at friendsofcarolinehospice.com. Call 843-525-6257 for more information.
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