<strong>County plans open house for Comprehensive Plan</strong>

The Beaufort County Planning Department is hosting an “open house” style community meeting to provide the public an opportunity to review work prepared to date and provide feedback on the proposed County Comprehensive Plan Update.

The meeting is set for 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 29 at The Penn Center on St. Helena Island.

The Comprehensive Plan is a tool used by the County to prioritize areas of growth, community services, infrastructure, economic development, housing, natural resources, cultural resources, and other elements.

Participants at these meetings will help set priorities around how the County can best accommodate growth, protect the natural environment, support economic development efforts, consider housing affordability, and promote cultural diversity.

The public's input is critical to creating a successful Comprehensive Plan as it will shape County policies for the next 10 years.

The open house meetings will allow participants to arrive and review materials at their own pace. Strict social distancing will be enforced, including wearing of masks and maintaining six feet of separation.

<strong>Southwest Airlines coming<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>to Savannah/Hilton Head</strong>

Southwest Airlines announced on Thursday, Oct. 22, its intent to serve the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.

The airline will announce routes and timing for the new service in the coming weeks.

According to the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, more than half of all flyers into the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport are headed to the Lowcountry of South Carolina.

<strong>Lowcountry<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Food Bank gets Food Lion grant</strong>

The Lowcountry Food Bank received a $10,000 grant from The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation to help provide hunger-relief to Lowcountry children. The LCFB will use the funding to support its School Pantry program throughout coastal South Carolina.

School Pantry reaches children through monthly distributions of shelf-stable food at LCFB partner schools. This program brings families together by providing nutritious foods to be prepared and enjoyed at home.

The overall food insecurity rate in the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina that the LCFB serves has increased by 58 percent since the COVID-19 pandemic began, which has increased the total number of neighbors in our state to 233,000 people who face hunger every day. The increase in food insecurity for children is even more devastating with a 76 percent increase, resulting in 75,000 children who do not have consistent access to the nutritious food they need to live healthy, active lives.

<strong>County spraying for mosquitoes</strong>

Beaufort County Mosquito Control may conduct aerial and/or ground treatments through October 30. 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.

For additional information, please contact Mosquito Control at 843-255-5800.