<em>Photo above: From left are YMCA CEO Michael Bostwick, and Patrick Cunningham, Jack Cunningham, Kristian Buckler and Matt Hinderliter, all of the Beaufort Merrill Lynch office.</em>

[caption id="attachment_30442" align="aligncenter" width="1328"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/landing.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-30442"><img class="size-full wp-image-30442" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/landing.jpg" alt="The floating dock at the Buddy and Zoo Boat Landing on Saint Helena Island has been reopened after being closed for temporary repairs. The Buddy and Zoo Boat Landing is located at 40 Station Creek Drive." width="1328" height="747" /></a> The floating dock at the Buddy and Zoo Boat Landing on Saint Helena Island has been reopened after being closed for temporary repairs. The Buddy and Zoo Boat Landing is located at 40 Station Creek Drive.[/caption]

<b>Charitable foundation </b><b>donates $4,000 to YMCA  </b>

The Wardle Family YMCA of Beaufort County received a grant donation in the amount of $4,000 from Merrill Lynch Beaufort/US Trust/Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc.

This grant will be used to support the YMCA’s dinner program to serve more low-income youth that participate in youth development programs at five additional after-school program sites.

The Y after-school program targets low-income families and youth with low test scores. While primary funding is spent on educational supplies and staffing to catch up students to grade-level or maintain program participants at grade-level, little funds are left over for the nutritional needs of these underserved youth.

“We are grateful for the support of Merrill Lynch Beaufort/Bank of America in addressing childhood hunger in our community,” said Michael Bostwick, YMCA CEO. “During the 2015-2016 school year we served over 18,000 meals to low-income after-school program participants. This generous $4,000 grant will allow the Y to continue to provide free healthy meals to kids ages 3-13 in our community.”

For more information, contact the YMCA at 843-522-9622 or visit www.ymcabeaufortcounty.com.

<b>Illegal signs are </b><b>popping up in Bluffton</b>

Since Hurricane Matthew came through Bluffton, more and more temporary business signs are starting to be seen around town, according to a Bluffton release.

The problem is that the majority of these temporary signs are illegal.

According to the town of Bluffton Unified Development Ordinance Article 5.13, all temporary signs must be affiliated with a business that already has a town of Bluffton business license.

Most signs that have been placed recently are by businesses that are not licensed.

If a licensed business would like to display a temporary sign, it must receive a special permit through the town’s Growth Management Department.

The town UDO states: “Temporary signs announcing a sale, promotion, civic, philanthropic, educational religious, or other special event shall require the issuance of a Temporary Sign Permit. The permit shall state the length of time any such sign may be displayed, and all such signs shall meet requirements.”

If a sign is placed illegally, it is subject to impoundment without notice and fees can be required for recovery.

<b>Republican Club </b><b>to meet Nov. 7</b>

The Greater Bluffton Republican Club’s next meeting will be held Monday, Nov. 7, at the Rose Hill Golf Club at 4 Clubhouse Drive in Bluffton.

The club will be conducting its first open mic night, where attendees can share their opinions. The club will also have late breaking news about the Nov. 8 election.

The social hour begins at 5 p.m. and the meeting starts promptly at 5:45 p.m. The public is welcome.

<b>C</b><b>ounty council chair to speak at LIPBA meeting</b>

Paul Sommerville, chairman of Beaufort County Council, will be the guest speaker at the Tuesday, Nov. 8, meeting of the Lady’s Island Business and Professional Association.

The meeting will be held at 8 a.m. in the Beaufort County Realtor’s Association Headquarters located in the Palmetto Business Park (behind the BB&amp;T Bank on Lady’s Island Drive).

The meeting is open to the public.

Sommerville will discuss lessons that were learned at the county level as a result of Hurricane Matthew; how prepared the county is for the next round of population growth; observations regarding the 1 percent Educational Sales Tax and 1 percent Capital Projects Sales Tax referendums; and challenges Beaufort County must deal with today and in the future.