<b>Fripp Audubon Vulture presentation:</b> Fripp Audubon &amp; Naturally Fripp Community Habitat present “Our Unique Vulture Culture.” Expert Dot Bambach’s will share unique insights into these fascinating birds, ubiquitous in the Lowcountry. She’ll explain characteristics shared by vultures everywhere, dispel myths and highlight their essential ecological role in the Lowcountry and beyond. It will be held Thursday, Jan. 23, 7 p.m., at Fripp Island’s Community Centre. Free presentation and free pass at Fripp gate. A meet-n-greet starts at 6 p.m. Contact pete.richards@comcast.net, call 843-441-2153 or visit www.islc.net/audubon.

<b>Church to host speaker from Oxford University:</b> John C. Lennox, a renowned scientist and defender of the Christian faith, will deliver a sermon at the Parish Church of St. Helena in Beaufort on Sunday, Jan. 26, at the 8 and 10:15 a.m. services. His topic will be “Why Should I Believe the Eternal World is Real?” from 2 Peter 1:16-21. He also will speak at the 9:15 a.m. Rector’s Bible Forum on the topic “In the beginning ... God.” Dr. Lennox is Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University, Fellow in Mathematics and the Philosophy of Science, and Pastoral Advisor at Green Templeton College, Oxford.

“In an age of uncertainty and doubt, Professor John Lennox is a voice of clarity and reason. We are delighted to have one of the world’s foremost scientists and one of the Christian faith’s ablest defenders and spokesmen with us at St. Helena’s,” said the Rev. Jeffrey S. Miller, Rector.

Dr. Lennox lectures extensively in North America and Europe on mathematics, the philosophy of science and the intellectual defense of Christianity and has debated New Atheists Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens.

The Parish Church of St. Helena is located at 505 Church St., Beaufort, SC. For more information, visit www.sthelenas1712.org.

<b>American Cancer Society looking for volunteers: </b>If volunteering in the Beaufort area is on your list for 2014, the American Cancer Society has two opportunities available where you can make a difference in a cancer patient’s life.

The first volunteer opportunity is for licensed beauty professionals to be trained as Look Good Feel Better® (LGFB) volunteer facilitators.  The LGFB program is a national service program that helps women currently undergoing cancer treatment learn to cope with the appearance-related side effects of treatment and regain a sense of self-confidence and control over their lives. The LGFB program is product-neutral, makes no medical claims, and is free.

An LGFB certification training will be held Monday, January 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Beaufort Memorial Keyserling Cancer Center conference room, 1680 Ribaut Road, Port Royal.

Additionally, volunteer opportunities are available to help cancer patients in getting to and from their life-saving cancer treatment. The society is recruiting volunteers in Beaufort, Hampton and Jasper counties to drive cancer patients to and from their treatment through the American Cancer Society Road To Recovery® program. Requirements for volunteering for the Road To Recovery program include a good driving record, a valid driver’s license, auto insurance, and a vehicle that is in good working condition. Drivers must be 18 or older.

For more information on any of these volunteer opportunities or to RSVP for training, contact Fronde Merchant by calling 843-744-1922 or email at fronde.merchant@cancer.org.

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<b>Democratic Party hosts Sen. Vincent Sheheen:</b><b> </b>The Beaufort County Democratic Party will hold its 2014 grassroots organizing kickoff and workshop Saturday, Jan. 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hidden Cypress in Sun City. Keynote speaker will be Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sen. Vincent Sheheen. All Beaufort County Democrats who want to participate in the 2014 election campaign, and anyone interested in getting involved in the local party, are urged to attend. The event will include an organizing workshop with campaign staff, as well as provide information about the county and state conventions. The workshop will be from 11 a.m. to noon, followed by a barbecue and meet and greet with Sen. Sheheen. The workshop is free; the barbecue is $11 per person. Call 705-2674 for more information and to RSVP.

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<b>HBF presents Dinner and a Lecture Series:</b><b> </b>“Plantation Revival: The South Carolina Lowcountry Country House 1910 – 1940” will be the topic of January’s Dinner and a Lecture at the Verdier House, Monday, January 27, at 5:30 p.m. A look at classic designs built in the Lowcountry during the 1920s – 1930s will be provided by Evan Thompson, executive director of the Preservation Society of Charleston and former executive director at Historic Beaufort Foundation, 2004 until 2010.

Beginning in the 1910s, wealthy Northern industrialists acquired neglected South Carolina rice plantations and converted them into hunting preserves. They constructed country houses in the classical revival style, often on the footprint of burned or demolished antebellum plantation houses. Thompson will talk about these landmark structures and the stories behind them.

Known for his scholarship of architectural history, Thompson has brought educational programs to Beaufort and to Charleston that illuminate architectural history and environment.

During his tenure at HBF, he directed major initiatives to restore the Verdier House, the Smalls-Nash Cottage, the McGrath -Scheper House, the Sons of Beaufort Lodge and the Thomas Young House.

A wine and hors d’oeuvre reception begins at 5:30; the program is 6 to 7 p.m. Admission for members is $15/$25 per member/couple. Non-member admission is$20/$30 per person/couple. Call 379-3331 to make reservations.

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<b>Basketball Cheer Clinic at Beaufort High:</b><b> </b>Students in Pre-K through middle school are invited to learn basketball cheers, chants, jumps and a dance from Beaufort High cheerleaders during the winter Cheer Clinic on Feb. 1. The clinic, held at Beaufort High’s gym from 1 to 4 p.m., costs $35 which includes instruction, a cheer clinic T-shirt, group photo and refreshments. Clinic participants will be invited to perform during halftime of the Beaufort High boys’ varsity basketball game Feb. 4 and admission to the game is free for the cheer clinic student. Check-in for the clinic starts at 12:30 p.m. Cheer clinic forms are available at http://bhs.beaufort.k12.sc.us, at the front-door office at Beaufort High, or can be emailed directly by contacting Cindy Graves at cgraves@harveyandbattey.com. Forms and payment may be returned via a BHS cheerleader or mailed to Cindy Graves, 77 Tuscarora Avenue, Beaufort, SC, 29907. You may also drop it at the Beaufort High front office. Checks should be payable to the “Big Green Booster Club.” For more information, contact Mrs. Graves at cgraves@harveyandbattey.com or 843-812-8616.

<b>Beaufort TEAParty holds monthly meeting:</b><b> </b>The Beaufort TEAParty’s monthly meeting on Monday, January 27, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., will feature special guest speaker State Senator Lee Bright, candidate for U.S. Senate. Bright is running against Senator Lindsey Graham and was the sponsor of the Nullification of Obamacare Bill. Come listen and ask questions at Fuji’s Restaurant, 97 Sea Island Parkway, Suite 202, Lady’s Island, SC. For more information, contact Annie at Beaufort TEAParty@gmail.com or call 843-473-7712.

<b>Local women’s group to meet:</b><b> </b>The Beaufort Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) will meet on Tuesday, January 28 at 6 p.m. in Building 23 on the TCL campus. Guest speaker Scott Marshall, director of Parks and Leisure Services (PALS), will discuss local community services. After his presentation, there will be a silent auction. For details, contact Dr. Diana Steele at 522-2796 or steele.diana@comcast.net.
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