<strong>Grief Support Group available in Beaufort</strong>

Agape’ Hospice of the Lowcountry is offering a Grief Support Group to anyone in the community who has recently lost someone in their family or with anyone who is in need of grief support. This group is open to not only those served by Agape’ Hospice but also to the entire community. The meetings are led by Bereavement Coordinator Danny Swain of Agape’ Hospice and are held the third Thursday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in our Beaufort Office located at 907 Boundary St. For more information on the group please contact Danny at 803-943-2278 or 803-842-9800.

<strong>SADD Club at BCHS host food drive</strong>

The Battery Creek High School SADD Club (Students Against Destructive Decisions Club) is conducting a food drive For HELP Beaufort  April 1st to April 30th. The SADD Club is collecting all types of pasta and rice products. Donations may be left with Mrs. Grooms in the front office.

<strong>Next Level Living hosts discussion event </strong>

Many of us have had shameful things happen in our past and we have allowed it to take ownership in our present. Bitterness, hurt, anger, or hopelessness does have the right to vent but it does not have the right to stay. So if you want to be free from this kind of stuff, join us Saturday, April 4th at 9:00 a.m. at The Quality Inn Town Center 2001 Boundary Street, Beaufort. This event is FREE to the public. Invite your friends, family, and co-workers to this event.

<strong>Hunting Island offers Easter Eggstravangza</strong>

On April 4th, Hunting Island State Park will host an Easter Eggstravangza. There is included at no additional cost with your park admission. Park Admission is: Adults: $5 • SC Seniors: $3.25 • Ages 6-15: $3 • Children 5 &amp; under: Free. Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the picnic shelter by the lighthouse. The egg hunt begins at 10 a.m. Enter our creative coloring contest to win prizes! Age groups: ages 5 &amp; under and ages 6-12. For additional information, contact us at huntingisland@scprt.com or 843-838-2011.

<strong>Family Easter carnival to benefit the YMCA</strong>

The Link Church and Decibel Church of Beaufort is hosting a free family Easter carnival Saturday, April 4th, 3 to 5 p.m. at the Naval Heritage Park (near the skate park in Port Royal). This annual event benefits the Beaufort County YMCA Preschool. Please consider donations of Kleenex, Clorox wipes, Lysol spray, Styrofoam bowls, plastic forks and spoons, learning puzzles, dress up clothes and pretend kitchen items in exchange for free entry and event participation. Vendors and activities include The Blood Alliance blood drive, inflatable bouncers, games, Sno Cones, popcorn, music by The Brewer Band and much more. For information, visit www.thelinkbeaufort.com.

<strong>Easter at Riverview Baptist Church</strong>

Riverview Baptist Church, located at 2209 Boundary Street in Beaufort invites you to join them for Easter Sunrise Service on April 5th. Resurrection Sunday will begin with Easter Sunrise worship service on the banks of the marsh (behind the church) at 7 a.m. Morning worship will begin at 11 a.m. At the conclusion of the morning service, the 2015 Annual Consolidated Mission’s Offering will be collected. Following the conclusion of worship service and the Mission Offering, all folks are encouraged to join in for a Fellowship Lunch.  Bring your favorite covered dish and join in this time for Christian Fellowship.

<strong>Wine tasting to benefit Under One Roof</strong>

On Wednesday, April 8 from 5 to 7 p.m., a free wine tasting will be held at Weichert Realtors Coastal Properties’ new Beaufort Office on North Street to promote Under One Roof: a growing local non­profit dedicated to helping aging residents who want to stay in their homes. Enjoy complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres while learning more about this important organization’s meaningful work. Five wines will be presented for tasting by Ta­ca­ron Trading Company in Okatie.  All wines will be available for purchase and 10% of the proceeds will be donated to Under One Roof. The event is being held at Weichert Realtors Coastal Properties’ new office at the corner of North and Bay Streets, with spectacular views of the Bay. Throughout the event, guests will have the chance to chat with board members and view a presentation of the work that Under One Roof has completed in the community. Under One Roof founder Richard Drake (a Certified Aging in Place Specialist) says “we are thrilled to have this opportunity to raise awareness for Under One Roof as we seek to grow the organization and to help more Beaufort residents stay in their homes”. There will be another opportunity to learn more about Under One Roof on Sunday, April 19 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. as the organization hosts Guest Bartender Night at Sweetgrass Restaurant on Dataw Island. An informational session with complimentary hors d’oeuvres will will precede the event, beginning at 5 p.m.

<strong>Cobia on the fly</strong>

The April 8 meeting of the Sea Island Fly Fishing Club will be at 6 p.m. at Bay St. Outfitters, 825 Bay St. in downtown Beaufort. The speaker will be veteran Beaufort guide Capt. Doug Gertis. Doug will speak on cobia, the species that he helped make popular in our area. A pioneer cobia expert, Doug can remember when he had the Broad River to himself during cobia season. Today we see a fleet of boats chasing cobia during the season. His talk will include refusals and how to change tactics and be successful in spite of temperamental fish. Capt. Gertis’ boat until recently held the SC cobia record at 86 lbs., and he once had two over 70 lbs. in one day on the fly. The public is welcome to attend this free event and refreshments are available. Join us for fishing talk and cobia wisdom. Anyone interested in fly fishing should attend, or check out the club at www.seaislandflyfishers.com. Call Jack Baggette at 843-441-4023 with questions.

<strong>Free yoga for military families at ArtiZen</strong>

Join us on Thursday, April 9th (or the second Thursday of every month) from 11:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m. at ArtiZen Yoga.  This is exclusively for active military and their spouses. It will be taught by Ayren Pfeifer, our certified Ashtanga teacher, and a military spouse of 13 years. Childcare will be available for $5 for per child.  ArtiZen is located at 1211 Newcastle St. For additional information call 843-298-0734.

<strong>DAR set meeting with guest speaker</strong>

The Thomas Heyward, Jr. Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will meet at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 9th, at the First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, located at 1208 North Street, Beaufort. The guest speaker will be Dr. Brent Morris, USCB Assistant Professor of History. For more information, contact Regent, Harriett Bosiack at 843-466-0305.

<strong>Cobia on a spinning rod</strong>

The Beaufort Sportfishing &amp; Diving Club’s next meeting will be held Thursday April 9th at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club located off of Meridian Road. The social begins at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. As the saying goes, “When the jasmine bloom the Cobia will arrive offshore and in Port Royal Sound and St Helena Sound’. Well known Fishin’ Coach Capt. Dan Utley will deliver a Cobia presentation. He will discuss locations, tides, baits of choice, rods, reels, and particularly rigging for this well-known local species. You do not need a reservation and guests are welcomed. For additional information call Captain Frank Gibson 843-522-2122 or fgibson@islc.net.

<strong>Free organ concert at Church of St. Helena</strong>

Jay Yau of Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio will present the third in the free spring series of Friday organ concerts at noon on April 10th at noon at the Parish Church of St. Helena, 505 Church St. in downtown Beaufort. Yau, the Featured Young Organist for the spring series, is the organist and music director for the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Lorain, Ohio. He was the organist and assistant music director for Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Johns Island in 2012-2013.  He began studying organ in 2011 with Dr. Julia Harlow in Charleston. Concerts are free and open to the public.

<strong>The Soft Shell Crab Festival is coming!</strong>

Beaufort County will celebrate the 12th anniversary of its Soft Shell Crab Festival on Saturday, April 18, from noon to 5 p.m. on Paris Avenue in cool, coastal, far from ordinary Port Royal, SC. The festival is free and open to all. It will feature a variety of eclectic cuisine in addition to the Lowcountry’s soft shell crabs prepared in a variety of styles by area chefs. In addition to live music, there will be an all-ages cornhole tournament, a kids’ zone entertainment area, a craft/artisan fair and a car show by Beaufort’s Classic Car &amp; Truck Club. The festival will also feature Port Royal’s annual Crab Race where approximately 5,000 rubber crabs are “adopted” by individuals for $10.00 each. Proceeds from the Crab Race benefit the Rotary Clubs of Beaufort, which support several charitable causes. To adopt a crab and learn more about the charities, visit www.PortRoyalCrabRace.com. For more information about the Soft Shell Crab Festival, visit www.oldvillageportroyal.com or call (843) 592-2356.

<strong>Beaufort Water Festival</strong>

It’s that time again. The 60th Beaufort Water Festival is coming so you need to get out your calendar and mark all this down because there is something here for everyone. Tickets for the nightly events are available online at www.bftwaterfestival.com. Besides specific event tickets, you can get a Seasons Pass that includes a ticket for each night (excluding the Teen Dance), at a cost of $95. You don’t want to miss:

<em>Music &amp; Dancing</em>
•  Teen Night — DJ Donna Patrick
•  Motown Monday — Deaz Guys
•  River Dance — Slippery When Wet (a Bon Jovi cover band) followed by Silicone Sister (opening act)
•  Commodore’s Ball — Too Much Sylvia

<em>Water &amp; Air Events</em>
•  Paddle Battle — May 9th - Will be held at the Village of Battery Creek &amp; Parris Island Landing
•  Kayak and SUP - 3 and 6 mile races will travel up and down Battery Creek
•  Sailing Regatta – May 30th - Held at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club

<em>Fishing Tournament</em>
June 6th - Captain’s Meeting at the Shed, Port Royal SC, June 6th followed by - Awards Banquet at the Shed, June 8th

<em>Water Ski Show</em>
July 18th - Being brought back this year to the Waterfront Park

<em>Air Show</em>
July 26th - Moved to the final Sunday, and is following the Blessing of the Fleet. The show includes two aerobatic planes and parachute jumpers, each performing twice.