<b>Beaufort Agility Club starts spring session</b><b> </b>

Beaufort Agility Club will start a new Spring session on Sunday, April 6 at 10 a.m. Come out for fun and exercise, not to mention socialization at Beaufort Dog’s play yard, 1307 Boundary Street. Contact: Kelley-BeaufotDog.com or stop in to pre-register and receive a discount. Obedience classes also now enrolling.

<b>Hospice hosts support bereavement groups</b>

FRIENDS of Caroline Hospice offers bereavement services for individuals who are dealing with the loss of a loved one.  The groups are open to anyone who has experienced a loss regardless of whether their loved one was a patient of FRIENDS of Caroline Hospice. FRIENDS hosts a one-hour bereavement support group for adults at their offices located at 1110 13th St., Port Royal, on the third Thursday of each month. Group members learn from each other and share their thoughts and feelings with compassionate listeners who have also experienced significant loss. FRIENDS will also host a four-week Bereavement Series on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. in April — April 9, 23 and 30.  This series is designed to help understand your grief journey and learn ways to cope. For questions, call 843-525-6257.

<b>April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month</b>

April is National Parkinson’s Awareness Month. On Saturday, April 5, national Parkinson’s Disease lecturer Mary Sprumelli will discuss non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s at the Lowcountry Parkinson’s support group symposium at the Colleton River Club in Bluffton. Seating is limited; pre-registration is required. The cost is $7.50 per person and includes lunch at the Colleton River Club. Event exhibition tables open at 10 a.m. and the symposium begins promptly at 10:30 a.m. To register, call 843-525-0354 or email pdawaresc@gmail.com.

<b>Stork’s Nest is holding free baby shower drives</b><b> </b>

Stork’s Nest, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. is holding a free event called “Pregnant Pause: Brunch and Learn.” If you are expecting a baby, then you’re invited to a special celebration and annual baby shower donation drive from 10 a.m. to noon at the following locations:

• Tuesday, April 8: Chelsea Medical Clinic, 721 Okatie Highway, Ridgeland

• Monday, April 14: Port Royal Medical Clinic, 1320 S. Ribaut Road, Port Royal

• Saturday, April 19: Wesley United Methodist, 810 Duke Street, Beaufort.

There will be food, door prizes and a lot of information. For details, please call 843-263-4664.

<b>Sportfishing &amp; Diving Club to have meeting</b><b> </b>

The Beaufort Sportfishing &amp; Diving Club’s April meeting will be held Thursday, April 10 at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club on Lady’s Island, off Meridian Road. The social begins at 6:30 p.m., meeting at 7 p.m. The guest speaker will be Captain Jim Clarke of Straycat Fishing Charters who will be giving his presentation on Cobia. This presentation will include rods and reels, baits, the importance of chumming and anchoring. Guests are always welcome. For more information, contact Captain Frank Gibson at 843-522-2122.

<b>Beaufort County holds April Air Day events </b>

In April, Beaufort County will be hosting two unique events to raise awareness of aviation in our community and its critical role in local businesses and economic development. Saturday, April 5, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the first Air Day event will take place at the Beaufort County Airport located on Lady’s Island. A variety of aircraft will be on display. There will also be static displays from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, Beaufort County EMS and the Lady’s Island/St. Helena Fire Department. In addition, several aeronautical organizations will have table displays allowing the public to learn more about their product or service.

<b>Sea Island Fly Fishers meet to talk about cobia</b>

The Wednesday, April 9 meeting of the Sea Island Fly Fishers will feature Paul Burton as speaker.  Paul is the club’s resident expert on cobia, having won every single club-fly-only competition for cobia. He knows how to do it and will share his techniques and tactics. Cobia will be arriving in our waters in the next two months and offer exciting sport for the many area pursuers. The program will follow a social hour and the public is welcome to join for free refreshments and fish talk. Anyone interested in fly fishing should plan to join the group, 6 p.m., Bay Street Outfitters, 825 Bay St., Beaufort.  Call Jack Baggette at 843-522-8911 or visit www.flyfishbeaufort.com.

<b>Open Land Trust holds annual luncheon</b>

The Open Land Trust’s Annual Luncheon will feature Charles Lane discussing “The ACE Basin and the rise of the Lowcountry  conservation movement, a historical context.” The meeting will be Tuesday, April 8 at 12 p.m. on the grounds of historic Penn Center.  Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling 843-521-2175 or going to www.openlandtrust.org. Mr. Lane helped form the ACE Basin Task Force in 1989, hoping to protect 90,000 acres surrounding the Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto River estuaries. The group has preserved well over 172,000 acres that were under the threat of development, with a goal of saving 250,000 acres. The meeting will take place in the Frissell House of Penn Center, located at 16 Penn Center Circle West on St. Helena Island. Lunch will be provided.

<b>Beaufort ProWriters to meet at City Java</b>

The next meeting of the Beaufort ProWriters will be Tuesday, April 8, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at City Java on Carteret Street in downtown Beaufort. They will check in with current writing projects and talk about topics writers would like addressed in upcoming meetings, whether through internal discussion or via outside speakers. Beaufort ProWriters is open to all professional writers and writers who strive to become pros on any level in any genre, whether that be magazine articles, fiction or nonfiction books, technical writing, et al. There is no membership charge. The only requirements are an open, engaged mind and an enthusiasm for your craft.

<b>ArtiZen Yoga provides ‘Being of Service’ class</b>

On the second Thursday of every month from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., ArtiZen Yoga provides “Being of Service,” a free all-level yoga class exclusively for active military and their spouses. This month’s class will be held Thursday, April 10, and it will be taught by Ayren Pfeifer, certified Ashtanga teacher and a military spouse of 13 years. Childcare will be available for a small fee: $5 for one child/$3 for each additional child. ArtiZen Yoga is located in Newcastle Square in Uptown Beaufort.

<b>Dr. Larry Rowland to speak at DAR meeting</b>

The April meeting of the Thomas Heyward, Jr. Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will take place on Thursday, April 10 at the St. Helena Branch of the Beaufort Public Library, Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island at 2 p.m. This meeting will be held together with the Governor Paul Hamilton Chapter, South Carolina Society Sons of the American Revolution, and the highlight of afternoon will be a talk by Dr. Larry Rowland, noted historian, about “The American Revolution in the Lowcountry.” Members of both groups will have an opportunity to visit with Dr. Rowland after the talk as they gather for refreshments. Contact Charlene Shufelt at 525-0158 for more information.

<b>Take a spring tour of Penn Center campus </b>

The spring tour of the historic campus of Penn Center on St. Helena Island will be held Saturday, April 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The full day of events will include:

• 10 a.m.: PBS Documentary, “Against All Odds.”

• 11 a.m.: Tour Museum Exhibit “Harlem on my Mind.”

• Noon: Guided campus tour

• 1 p.m.: Lowcountry Fried Fish lunch

• 2 p.m.: More guided campus tours.

• 2 to 4 p.m.: Artist demonstrations and book signings.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for kids 12 and under. Call Penn Center at 843-838-2432.
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