Women’s group hosts fashion show luncheon
“Springing into Fashion Do’s” by Belks with the Beaufort Christian Women’s Connection will be held Thursday, April 19, at St. Helena Parish Hall located at 507 Newcastle Street. Doors open at 11:45 and lunch is served at 12:15. Speaker for the day is Martha Cahoon, artist and author, whose topic will be “Painted Hope into Her Life”.  Luncheon and program is $12. To make reservations, email or call Karen Whitehead at 838-7627 or mommakaren@islc.net.

Documentary spotlights Obama presidency
A free local screening of the much talked about 17-minute documentary spotlighting the achievements of the first term of President Barack Obama’s presidency will be held in Beaufort on Thursday, April 19, at 6 p.m., at the Beaufort branch of the Beaufort County Public Library in downtown Beaufort. “The Road We’ve Traveled,” which has been spotlighted by multiple media outlets including CNN, The Associated Press, ABC News, the Huffington Post, and YouTube, is directed by Davis Guggenheim, who won an Academy Award for directing former Vice President Al Gore’s critically-acclaimed global warming documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.”  The documentary, narrated by Oscar winner Tom Hanks, recalls many of the challenges and triumphs of the Obama administration.

Women of Shell Point Baptist have conference
The women of SPBC are having their 2012 Spring Women’s Conference on Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21. The theme for the weekend is “Running Unhindered.” Topics of discussion are: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, Throwing off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles us, and Running with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Music, snacks and lunch are provided. Tickets are $20. For more information, call 843-575-2200.

What are the Sea Island Quilters doing?
• The SIQ will have a workshop open to the public by Fiber Artist Jeanne Flanagan on Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants will learn fabric dying, fabric folding techniques and go home with 5 yards of fabric with their very own chosen colors. The cost is $60. For details, contact Trudy Flanagan at 843-838-7166.
• The Sea Island Quilters will meet on Thursday, April 19, at 6 p.m. at Praise Academy, 800 Paris Island Gateway. Barbara James, Fabric Artist, will discuss how to “Add mystery and depth to quilts through use of hand dyed and printed fabrics.” For details, call Sharon Kimber at 838-2870.

Charles Street Gallery hosts poetry readings
In celebration of National Poetry Month 2012, join us for: Another Sound of Freedom Poetry at The Charles Street Gallery, 914 Charles Street, Beaufort, on Saturday, April 21, at 3 p.m. Readers of their own work and the greater work of beacon keepers will be members of the Otram Slabess Writers Group: Teresa Bruce, Steve Johnson, Jacquelyn Markham, Quitman Marshall, Karen Peluso, Warren Slesinger, along with special guests and invitees. Free admission and fun and refreshments provided in a lovely setting.

Classic car show will be at Soft Shell Crab Fest
The Classic Car and Truck Club of Beaufort will host a show to coincide with the Soft Shell Crab Festival on Paris Avenue in Port Royal on Saturday, April 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cars and trucks will be judged by the participants and the public, with trophies given to the owners of the top 25 cars for Best Ford, Best Chevy, Best Mopar, and Best of the Rest and Best in Show. Awards are due to be given at 2:30. Cost is $20 to register a vehicle. Details at www.classicsofbeaufort.com.

Annual service held at Old Sheldon Church
The Parish Church of St. Helena will celebrate Old Sheldon Sunday, April 22, at 12:30 p.m. This annual event will be held at the Sheldon church ruins in Yemassee. The Rev. Canon Jim Lewis will be the guest preacher. A picnic lunch on the grounds of the ruins will follow the service. Call the church at (843) 522-1712 with questions.

Lecture looks at Atlantic Coast shorebirds
A special LCMNA Lecture about the Hemispheric Conservation of Atlantic Coast Shorebirds will be held Friday, April 27 at TCL, 921 Ribaut Building 12, Beaufort. Social at 5:30 p.m., lecture at 6:30 p.m. Open to the public. The ecosystems of the world are linked by birds, and nowhere is that more apparent than the Atlantic Coast, where some shorebirds nest and rear their young, while huge flocks of other species pause to refuel on their long treks to their breeding grounds in the Arctic.  Stephen Brown, Ph. D., Director of Shorebird Science at the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, will discuss the research and conservation work conducted at Manomet, focusing on this imperiled group of birds that depend on coastal habitats like those of South Carolina to survive.

Black chamber to hold free cancer screenings
The Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce and the American Cancer Association announces free cancer screenings, mammograms and pap smears.  Women between the ages of 47- 64 years old and are without insurance (no Medicaid or Medicare) might be able to take advantage of this program if they meet the income qualifications.  Anyone who qualifies must take advantage of this opportunity before June.  Interested, call 800-227-2345 or 843-812-4374.

Lowcountry Patriots host NRA banquet
Join the Lowcountry Patriots as they host a special benefit for the nonprofit NRA Foundation, Saturday, April 28 at Beaufort’s Quality Inn. Live and silent auctions plus games and door prizes. Come away with fine firearms and shooting gear. Enjoy an evening of fun, friends and barbecue by chef Bob Brower. Proceeds support youth shooting sports, firearms education, JROTC, women’s safety classes, wildlife conservation and shooting range development. Doors open 5:30 p.m.  Details: 843-263-3671/ skip82965@hotmail.com  Tickets $30 (age 16 and under $15), available at Port Royal Gun &amp; Pawn or online at www.friendsofnra.org.

Pi Beta Phi celebrates Founders’ Day
The Lowcountry Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi invites any Pi Phis in the area to join us for our Founders’ Day Celebration on Saturday, April 21 at 10:30 a.m. at the Dataw Island Tabby Room.  Brunch is $25 and checks can be made to Lowcountry AC Pi Beta Phi. All Pi Phis are welcome.  RSVP to Peggy at 838-0006 for more information.

Clergy members invited to discuss education
Members of the clergy from Beaufort County are invited to attend an Ecumenical Partners meeting with Superintendent Valerie Truesdale on Thursday, April 26, at 10:30 a.m. at the Beaufort County Disabilities &amp; Special Needs Office, 100 Clear Water Way in Beaufort. The building is located off Castle Rock Road between Hwy 170 and Grober Hill Road.  Ecumenical Partner meetings are held twice a year with the superintendent to further communication and discuss issues as they relate to the children of Beaufort County. Please RSVP to Carol McMillan at 322-2306 or carol.mcmillan@beaufort.k12.sc.us.

Fripp Audubon holds migration field trip
Join fellow birders Friday, April 27 for a uniquely enjoyable day filled with fascinating Lowcountry nature experiences. Expert Ken Scott will lead this Fripp Audubon-sponsored field trip to Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, where participants can expect to see migrating birds flying through species that have arrived to nest. Meet at the Lady’s Island McDonald’s at 8:30 a.m. Bring lunch, bottled water, insect repellent, camera and binoculars. The trip is limited to Fripp Audubon Club members. Yearly membership is only $10 for an individual or $20 per family. Please RSVP to Pete Richards, 843-441-2153 or pete.richards@comcast.net and visit http://www.islc.net/audubon.

Presentation reveals Red Knots migration
Fripp Audubon presents Dr. Al Seegars, Coordinator of the ACE Basin National Estuarian Research Stewardship. He’ll describe a hard-to-believe-but-true wildlife drama played out on our Beaufort barrier islands. Red Knots migrate from Southwest Argentina to nesting areas in the Arctic — and back — 18,000 miles roundtrip. Lacking an aerial refueling capability, Red Knots time their landfall on our coast just in time to feed on fresh-laid horseshoe crab eggs. Islands like Fripp are key spawning sites for horseshoe crabs. These living fossils occupy a vital niche in our coastal ecology AND play a lifesaving role in human biomedicine. Everyone is welcome to enjoy this awesome tale on Thursday, April 26, at 7 p.m. at Fripp Island Community Centre. It’s all free, with free pass at gate for off-islanders. Contact Pete Richards, 843-441-2153 or email pete.richards@comcast.net and visit http://www.islc.net/audubon.

Tidal Creek Fellowship has annual yard sale
Tidal Creek Fellowship Church is holding its annual yard sale on Saturday, April 28 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2522 Boundary Street (the OLD Nissan and Palmetto Pre Owned Building across from Fast Freddie’s Pawn Shop) as a fundraiser for its student ministries. Drop off times are April 23-25 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Presale time is Friday, April 27 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. If you donate $100 in items or more, the church will give you two tickets to the presale so if you want to be the first to shop, here is your chance. Check out www.tidalcreek.net or www.yourethos.com for more details.