<b>It’s time to take&nbsp;</b><b>the annual plunge</b>

The Pelican Plunge is returning to Hunting Island State Park at noon, Monday, Jan. 1.

This annual event features folks plunging into the refreshing waters of the Atlantic Ocean on New Year’s Day.&nbsp;

Plungers will warm up by a fire on the beach and everyone will be able to enjoy hot beverages, snacks, beach music and the costume parade, which is more outrageous every year.

Tax deductible proceeds benefit Hunting Island State Park’s Discover Carolina program, a hands-on, curriculum-based instruction program for Beaufort County school children in grades three, five and seven.&nbsp;

Participating students visit Hunting Island to learn about the ecology of a semi-tropical barrier island. More than 3,000 students have participated in this unique educational program.

Register at www.fohuntingisland.org. A printed ticket will allow you entrance into the park. Up to six people in one vehicle will cost $30, and up to 10 people is $50.&nbsp;

<b>2or3 Treasure House&nbsp;</b><b>collecting winter coats</b>

The 2or3 Treasure House at 203 Carteret St. in Beaufort is collecting children's winter coats in all sizes for both boys and girls in response to a request for help from local schools.&nbsp;

If you have some older or outgrown children's coats taking up space in the closet, bring them to the Treasure House, which is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

<b>Holiday market is&nbsp;</b><b>open on Wednesdays</b>

The Santa Elena Foundation’s Holiday Market, in partnership with Hank's Lowcountry She Crab Soup, will be open from 2-6 p.m. every Wednesday until after the new year, and will feature live entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, local food artisans, giveaways and a kid's craft table.&nbsp;

The event is open to the public and the entertainment, parking and kid's craft table are free. The market will be at the corner of Bladen and North streets in downtown Beaufort.

<b>BAA gallery holds&nbsp;</b><b>holiday boutique</b>

A portion of Beaufort Art Academy’s Gallery will be transformed into a winter wonderland full of fine art and crafts especially created for the holiday boutique, which will be held through Sunday, Dec. 31, at 913 Bay St. in Beaufort. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; and from 12:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday. Visit www.BeaufortArtAssociation.com. &nbsp;

<b>Photo club to present&nbsp;</b><b>annual exhibition</b>

The Photography Club of Beaufort will present The Power of Color: Annual Photography Exhibit from Jan. 5-16, at the USCB Center for the Arts in Beaufort.

An opening reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5.

This exhibit will be judged by Marge Agin, a noted Bluffton-area fine art photographer and author.&nbsp;

In addition, viewers will be able to cast their ballot for their favorite image for a People's Choice award.&nbsp;

For more information visit&nbsp; www.photoclubbeaufort.com.

<b>Chambers to headline&nbsp;</b><b>musical storytelling</b>

Jazz saxophonist Thom Chambers will headline the second “Notes: An Evening of Musical Storytelling &amp; Casual Conversation” to benefit the Boys &amp; Girls Club of Northern Beaufort County.&nbsp;

This event will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12, at Tabby Place in downtown Beaufort.&nbsp;

Chambers has performed with Miami Sound Machine, and opened for Earth, Wind and Fire, Chris Botti, Gregg Karukus and NBA star-turned musician Wayman Tisdale. He was well known as co-founder, and on-stage leader, of the former jazz group Indigo City.&nbsp;

Saltus River Grill will serve up food and the cocktails will flow. There’s an art auction in the works, featuring donated pieces by several of Beaufort’s finest artists offering their interpretations of “jazz” in a variety of media, and Amiri Farris will be on the scene creating one of his “live action paintings.” Student art will be on display as well.

Sponsorships and group packages are available, and seating is limited. Tickets are $75.&nbsp;

For sponsorship information or to purchase tickets, call the Boys &amp; Girls Club office at 843-379-5430 or email alittlejohn@bgclowcountry.org.

<b>USCB to host author&nbsp;</b><b>Melanie Benjamin</b>

The University of South Carolina Beaufort Center for the Arts will host author Melanie Benjamin as part of its Lunch with the Author Series at noon Wednesday, Jan. 24.

Benjamin was born in Indianapolis. Her most recent novel, “The Swans of Fifth Avenue,” is a New York Times, USA Today and IndieBound best seller, as was her novel about Anne Morrow Lindbergh, “The Aviator’s Wife.” Her first novel, “Alice I have Been” was a national bestseller. Her next novel, “The Girls in the Picture,” about early Hollywood and the creative friendship between Mary Pickford and Frances Marion, will be out in January.

​Tickets are $42 and include lunch. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Visit www.uscbcenterforthearts.com/lunch-with-author.

<b>Exchange Club to hold&nbsp;</b><b>Paint the Town Green</b>

The Exchange Club of Beaufort is presenting Paint the Town Green, a tea and fashion and art show, from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, March 18, at Pinckney Hall in Sun City.

Artist Jonathan Green will be recognized for his contributions and public service to the community.&nbsp;

Proceeds from this event will be donated to The Original Gullah Festival.&nbsp;

Visit exchange-club-of-beaufort.portalbuzz.com.&nbsp;

<b>Habitat for Humanity&nbsp;</b><b>in need of volunteers</b>

Wondering how you might be able to help LowCountry Habitat for Humanity?&nbsp;

Attend its Volunteer Orientation held at 10 a.m. the second Saturday of every month at 616 Parris Island Gateway, Beaufort.&nbsp;

Volunteer opportunities exist in every area of operations at LowCountry Habitat; there is a need for all types of abilities and skill levels, from construction to volunteering at the ReStore to serving on various committees and more.

For more information, contact Lee McSavaney, volunteer coordinator, at 843-522-3500 or email info@lowcountryhabitat.org.

<b>Weekly historic tours </b><b>available at Fort Mitchel</b>

Join The Heritage Library for weekly tours at 10 a.m. Thursdays of the Civil War battery on Skull Creek built to protect Port Royal Sound and the Seabrook Coaling Station.&nbsp;

The cost is $12 for adults and $7 for children. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit bit.ly/FtMitchelTours.

<b>Christian theater&nbsp;</b><b>performances offered</b>

Music of Forever, a Christian theater production, is being held at 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at Grace AME Chapel on Charles Street in Beaufort.

According to Hillary Lathan, who puts on the show with her husband, Alan, the show puts Jesus on a personal level that everyone can relate to. &nbsp;

“People that may never walk into a church will come to the drama and experience the gospel in a way that is real and fresh to them,” she said. &nbsp;

The show includes seven characters and seven pieces of music. The irony of the number is intentional, as seven is a biblically significant number, according to Hillary. &nbsp;

For more information, visit www.musicofforever.org. The performances are free, but donations are accepted.

<b>Pan-African group&nbsp;</b><b>seeks volunteers</b>

The nonprofit Pan-African Family Empowerment &amp; Land Preservation Network Inc. is seeking volunteers for multiple positions.

Among other things, the Beaufort-based public charity provides financial and technical assistance to help Gullah-Geechee, and other African-descent families save their ancestral homes and land for current and future generations.&nbsp;

They have an immediate need for an experienced webmaster, grant writers and administrative assistants.

Also needed are committed fundraising volunteers; community outreach presenters; and office clerks willing to assist landowners with homestead exemptions; tax rate reductions; installment property tax payment qualification; and referrals to various heirs’ property and/or land use programs that generate income to pay property taxes and create generational wealth.

Training for all volunteers will be held at the Pan-African Family Empowerment Network’s office in the Landmark (Regions Bank) Building, 69 Robert Smalls Parkway, Suite 3B, Beaufort.

For more information, call 843-592-6076, or email volunteers@panafricanfamilyempowermentnetwork.org.

<b>Second Helpings&nbsp;</b><b>volunteers needed</b>

Second Helpings, a nonprofit that rescues food from area restaurants and grocery stores and delivers the food to local agencies to stop hunger, is in need of volunteers.

Shifts are available on Hilton Head, Bluffton and Beaufort.&nbsp;

Volunteers can sign up for one day a week or month.&nbsp;

For more information, contact Lili Coleman at execdirector@secondhelpingslc.org or call 843-689-3689. &nbsp;

Visit secondhelpingslc.org.