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<p><strong>Evolution Big Band concert fundraiser for BAC</strong></p>
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<p>February is the month of love, and big band fans are going to love hearing the Evolution Big Band perform a benefit concert for the Beaufort Arts Council. The concert will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Technical College of the Lowcountry building 12 auditorium.</p>
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<p>Artwork from Beaufort Arts Council artists will be on display and a light reception will be available at 6 p.m. in the lobby. Guests can also check out the historic community mural in process in the tunnel beneath Ribaut Road, connecting the campus.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>The 18-piece Evolution Big Band is regarded as one of the top big bands in the region. Its mission is to support local charitable causes by performing contemporary arrangements of big band music at concerts, dances and private events.&nbsp; Since its founding in 2004, the band has raised more than $150,000 for non-profit organizations in the area.</p>
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<p>This concert is a fundraiser for the Beaufort Arts Council (BAC), which is located on the campus of the Technical College of the Lowcountry. BAC offers many educational programs for artists, students and church organizations and also promotes the local heritage, rich artistic legacy, and cultural uniqueness of our community. Tickets are $25. Reservations can be made at www.beaufortartscouncil.org/fundraising-events or by calling the Beaufort Arts Council at 843-379-2787.</p>
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<p><strong>Take the Plunge</strong></p>
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<p>It’s the coolest thing you’ll do all year – and you’ll help support the Special Olympics, too! On February 23, you have the opportunity to participate in the Wardle Family YMCA’s Polar Plunge in Port Royal. This fundraising effort will help provide athletes with intellectual disabilities the life-changing experience of participating in the Special Olympics — at no cost to themselves or their families. You can sponsor an athlete, provide free health screenings for 20 athletes, or sponsor a team’s training and competition costs for one year. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and The Plunge is at 10 a.m.</p>
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<p>The Wardle Family YMCA is located at 1801 Richmond Ave., Port Royal. For more information contact Doug Kahn at douglaskahn4@gmail.com</p>
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<p><strong>Friends of Fort Fremont to hold annual meeting</strong></p>
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<p>The Friends of Fort Fremont members, guests, and the public are invited to attend our Annual Meeting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, at the St. Helena Branch Library.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Accomplishments of the past year will be highlighted, and future plans will be presented, including a preview of the Fort Fremont Walking Tour app being developed for smart phones. Light refreshments will be served.</p>
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<p>The regularly scheduled monthly docent tour will take place before the meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, beginning in the small conference room of the St. Helena Library. If you haven’t been on a tour, now is your opportunity.&nbsp; You will see our award-winning documentary, view the diorama of the Fort circa 1900, and then travel down to the Fort for a walking tour with Sgt. Ted.</p>
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<p><strong>Classical pianist to play Fripp</strong></p>
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<p>Sandra Wright Shen, one of the most gifted classical pianists, will perform on Sunday, February 24, at 5:00 pm at the Fripp Community Centre, 205 Tarpon Boulevard. This concert is sponsored by Fripp Friends of Music and supported by the SC Arts Commission. Attendees get a free pass at the Fripp gate. Tickets at the door only: adults $30 (no credit cards), students free thanks to the Peg Gorham Memorial Fund. You are invited to join Sandra at a complimentary catered reception after the performance. www.frippfriendsofmusic.com or call 843-263-5916.</p>
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<p><strong>HBF Dinner and a Lecture&nbsp;</strong><strong>to feature Rowland</strong></p>
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<p>Historian and engaging speaker Lawrence S. Rowland will tell the story of an early 20th-century American literary figure’s love affair with Beaufort at the Monday, Feb. 25, Dinner and a Lecture at the Verdier House, 801 Bay Street.</p>
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<p>Samuel Hopkins Adams, a member of the Algonquin Circle of New York literary opinion makers, wintered in Beaufort for almost 25 years from 1935-58, and during his career wrote more than 50 books including novels, biographies and political exposes.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Rowland, who knew Adams, wrote that Adams was the literary bridge between 19th-century and 20th-century Beaufort and was a star among many writers and artists who lived in Beaufort off-and-on during the first half of the 20th century, gathering at the Gold Eagle Inn and the Tidalholm Guest House.</p>
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<p>Dinner and a Lecture is a monthly educational series, September-May, sponsored by Historic Beaufort Foundation. Reservations are necessary as seating is limited.</p>
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<p>A wine and hors d’oeuvre reception begins at 5:30; the program is at 6 pm. Admission for members is $15/$25 per member/couple.&nbsp; Non-member admission is $20/$30 per person/couple.&nbsp; Call 379-3331 to make reservations.&nbsp; Reservations for Saltus River Grill’s special for lecture ticket-holders may be made by calling Saltus at 379-3474.</p>
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<p><strong>February Beaufort&nbsp;</strong><strong>Drum Circle Events</strong></p>
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<p>All are invited to share some good vibes with the Beaufort Drum Circle. Now that the groundhog did not see his shadow, we hope that spring is on its way and we will be back outdoors soon. Until then, we are grateful to our gracious winter hosts. The final February event is planned for 5:30-7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28, at Sea Island Center, 876 Sea Island Parkway).&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Everyone is welcome to attend. No experience is necessary. Please bring an extra drum or hand percussion if you have one to share. Questions, please email beaufortscdrumcircle@gmail.com or contact us on our Facebook page "Beaufort SC Drum Circle.”</p>
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<p><strong>PIHMS to hold annual meeting</strong></p>
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<p>The Parris Island Historical and Museum Society will be holding their annual meeting on March 1, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Parris Island Museum. Please call 843-228-3215 for more information.</p>
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<p><strong>“Food for the Eyes”&nbsp;</strong><strong>Art Exhibit&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<p>Local artists will feature their “delicious” art at the Food for the Eyes” exhibit from March 3-28 at the Beaufort Arts Council Art Gallery at Technical College of the Lowcountry building 1, 921 Ribaut Road.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>An opening reception will be held from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday March 3. Regular gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Tuesday through Friday. &nbsp;</p>
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<p><strong>Conroy Center to hold 3rd annual March Forth</strong></p>
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<p>The Pat Conroy Literary Center will hold our third annual March Forth day of learning from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 3, at the Frissell Community House at Penn Center on St. Helena Island. Commemorating the anniversary of Pat Conroy's death, March Forth will be a day-long embrace of nature, writing, social justice, and fellowship among writers and readers in the heart of Conroy's beloved lowcountry.</p>
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<p>March Forth's lineup will include New York Times best-selling young adult novelist Nic Stone (author of “Dear Martin”); educator and civil rights leader Cleveland Sellers Jr. and his biographer Adam Parker (author of “Outside Agitator”); “Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy” contributing writers Cassandra King Conroy, Tim Conroy, Jonathan Haupt, Ellen Malphrus, Sallie Ann Robinson, and Valerie Sayers; and a guided birding walk led by master naturalists Chris Marsh and Bob Speare.</p>
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<p>All-day admission to March Forth is $22 with four gourmet box lunch options catered by Debbi Covington available for an additional fee of $18 (with advance purchase).</p>
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<p><strong>Historical Society&nbsp;</strong><strong>to present lecture&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<p>The Beaufort County Historical Society will offer a lecture by Dr. Larry Rowland and Julie Zachowski at noon on Thursday, March 7, at the Santa Elena Center, 1501 Bay Street in Beaufort. Their topic will be, “The Blue Channel Corporation and the Origins of the Beaufort Seafood Industry.” This event is free and open to the public. Donations are always welcome.</p>
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<p><strong>Vibe Alive with&nbsp;</strong><strong>Beaufort BioEnergetics</strong></p>
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<p>Embody your personal power with the Vibe Alive event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, at The Retreat at Lady's Island, 9 Sunset Blvd. Join Martha O'Regan and Elizabeth Bergmann of Beaufort BioEnergetics for a day of fun while learning simple ways to shift your energy to enliven a higher vibrational you. Cost is $80 per person (lunch provided). Register at www.beaufortbioenergetics.as.me/vibe-alive. For more info call 843-812-1328 or 410-212-1468.</p>
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<p><strong>Get moving with&nbsp;</strong><strong>Beaufort Track Club</strong></p>
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<p>Join the Beaufort Track Club at the Beaufort High School track from 6:30-7:30 p.m. each Tuesday night for an open community track workout. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced workouts are posted each week to ensure that you are getting the workout that you need.</p>
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<p>Visit the Facebook page “Beaufort Track Club” for more information.</p>
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