<b>Activities at Hunting<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></b><b>Island State Park</b>

There are fun, interesting and educational activities every day hosted by Park Ranger and Lowcountry Master Naturalist Megan Stegmeier.

<b>Sundays: </b>Sand/Candy Art, 11 a.m.; Do You Want To Build a Snow Globe, 2 p.m.; Stargazing Lighthouse Climb (Feb. 23), 5:45 p.m.

<b>Mondays: </b>Reptiles of the Lowcountry, 11 a.m.; A Walk In The Woods (Feb. 24).

<b>Tuesdays:</b> Driftwood Painting, 11 a.m.; CCC Video, 1 p.m.; Beach Walk, 3 p.m.

<b>Wednesdays:</b> Alligator Talk, 11 a.m.; Stepping Stones, 2 p.m.

<b>Thursdays:</b> Interpretive Lighthouse Tour, 10 a.m.; CCC Video, 1 p.m.; Feeding Frenzy, 3 p.m.

<b>Fridays:</b> Fish Printing, 2 p.m.

<b>Saturdays:</b> Sunrise Lighthouse Climb (Feb. 29), 6:30 a.m.; Tie-Die, 11 a.m.; No Bones About It (Feb 22), 1 p.m.; Pinecones for Passerines (Feb. 29), 1 p.m.

For a description of these programs and a complete calendar of activities, go to southcarolinaparks.com/hunting-island and click on “Programs &amp; Events.”

All are invited to attend these free events, though there is an entry fee to Hunting Island State Park and reservations are needed for lighthouse programs. For more information, call 843-838-7437 or go to the Friends of Hunting Island website and the Facebook page: FOHI Sea Turtle Conservation Project.

<b>Hunting Island Lighthouse Tours</b>

10 a.m., every Thursday (Feb. 20, 27). The Friends of Hunting Island will present Lighthouse tours of the historic Hunting Island Lighthouse. Keeper Ted and his team will tell you all about the history of the Lighthouse, which was built in 1875 and is the only Lighthouse in South Carolina open to visitors. If you are at least 44 inches tall you may also climb the 167 steps to the top of the Lighthouse. Reservations are recommended by calling the Nature Center at 843-838-7437. Regular Thursday tours are $2 per person. Park entry fees apply.

<b>Books Sandwiched In</b>

Noon-1 p.m. each Monday,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret Street, Beaufort. The Friends of the Beaufort Library host the popular 8-week series, featuring book talks by local personalities to provoke interest in books; both fiction and non-fiction. After each talk presenters will welcome questions. The series is free and open to the public. For program details, email Vicki Mix at scvgamix7@gmail.com. For more information, visit friendsoftheBeaufortlibrary.com.

Schedule: Feb. 24 – Being Mortal by Atul Awande, presented by Dr. Steve Kessell; March 2 – Islands in the Stream by Ernest Hemingway, presented by Liz Farrell.

<b>Beaufort Christian Women’s Connection lunch</b>

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 20, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, Lady’s Island. Lunch by Holmes Catering is $18. Sheree Darian is the guest speaker. Tours of Beaufort is the focus of Bill Reynolds’ feature talk. Call Marti Myers at 843-321-0962 by Feb. 14.

<b>Bruff presents Trouble the Water</b>

5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott St. Local author Rebecca Bruff will present her debut novel Trouble the Water about the life of Beaufort hero Robert Smalls. There will be a question and answer session with a book signing to follow. Sponsored by the Beaufort Branch Library Book Club and the Friends of the Beaufort Library, the event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 843-255-6458.

<b>Northern Beaufort County Democratic Club campaign planning meeting</b>

7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, Grand Army Hall of the Republic, 706 Newcastle Street. Special treats will be handed out for everyone who voted Absentee in Person or Absentee by Mail by the time of the club meeting. There will be a special announcement for all those who want to start working on flipping the Senate and on electing a Democratic President.

<b>Reaching Back to Move Forward</b>

6:30-8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 20, MacLean Hall (Building 12) Auditorium, TCL Beaufort Campus, 921 Ribaut Road. A celebration of black culture through song, sight and spoken word.

<b>Republican Women’s Club Membership Drive Luncheon</b>

11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, Dataw Island Club, 121 Dataw Dr., St. Helena Island. State representative Shannon Erickson will be the featured speaker. The cost of the luncheon is $30 and is by reservation only. This year is the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote. Please join us to hear how you can get involved in the 2020 election campaigns and the celebration of our right to vote. For reservations, please call Elaine Gantt at 843-379-0056 or email eygantt@gmail.com.

<b>Preserving Fort Fremont Artifacts</b>

10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, St. Helena Beaufort County Public Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Rd. Rod Kesting will lead a discussion on preservation efforts at Fort Fremont. The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, call the St. Helena Library at 843-255-6487.

<b>Lowcountry Community Concert Band’s “Folk Frolic”</b>

7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 157 Lady’s Island Drive. Admission is free, though free-will donations will be gratefully accepted. The program – “Folk Frolic” – includes “The Running Set” and “Rhosymedre” by Vaughan Williams, “Second Suite for Military Band,” by Gustav Holst, “Pineapple Poll (Opening Number)” based on music by Sir Arthur Sullivan, “Irish Tune from County Derry” and “Themes from ‘Green Bushes’” by Percy Grainger, and “Galop” from “Moscow, Cheremushky,” by Dmitri Shostakovich. The Lowcountry Community Concert Band consists of about 60 volunteer musicians and is sponsored by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at USC Beaufort. For more information, contact Pete Johnson at 267-884-6805, Rick Eckstein at 843-707-7813 or Carolyn Christy at 843-540-7605.

<b>Pianist Marco Mantovani</b>

5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, Fripp Island Community Centre, 205 Tarpon Blvd. You receive a free pass at the security gate. Admission at the door — cash or check only, no credit cards. You can call Vanessa Peñaherrera 704-807-0255 for reservations: adults $30, students and children are free through a grant from the Peg Gorham Memorial Fund. You are invited to the catered "Meet-the-Artist" reception that follows the performance. This concert is sponsored by the Fripp Island Friends of Music and the S.C. Arts Commission, and it helps sustain the FIFOM’s Music-in-the Schools Program. See our website frippfriendsofmusic.com.

<b>Monday night is Movie Night</b>

7 p.m. Mondays, USC Beaufort Center for the Arts, 801 Carteret Street. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased online (www.uscbcenterforthearts.com) or at the USCB Center for the Arts box office. Upcoming schedule: Feb. 24 – Ford v Ferrari; March 2 – Bombshell; March 9 – Parasite; March 16 – A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood; March 23 – 1917; April 27 – Little Women.

<b>Beaufort Branch of the American Association of University Women</b>

6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, First Presbyterian Church’s Fellowship Hall. Layla Manning will present “Discovering the S.C. State Parks as an Ultimate Outsider.” The public is invited. A catered dinner will begin the evening. The presentation immediately follows. Reservations may be made by calling Maureen Brady at 843-838-2665. All women and men are welcome. AAUW strives to create societal change through non-partisan advocacy on issues impacting women and girls. Each year the Beaufort Branch of AAUW awards a scholarship to financially assist a non-traditional student at one of Beaufort County colleges.

<b>Beyond the Bricks: eBooks, Audiobooks, and More!</b>

2:30-4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25 and<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>9:30-11 a.m. Friday, March 6, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott St. Bring your tablet, cell phone, or laptop and learn how to use the free digital services offered by the library. Free. For more information, call 843-255-6458 or visit beaufortcountylibrary.org/subscribe.

<b>USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service &amp; Minority Landowner Magazine Workshop</b>

All day, Feb. 26-27, St. Helena Island. For farmers and landowners in Beaufort County. On Feb 26, USDA will have representative to share information to help improve your farm whether large or small. Experts will be available for financial assistance programs and conservation planning and much more. Feb. 27 will be a Seasonal High Tunnel hands-on workshop. A high tunnel can increase production and profits by extending the growing season. Workshop is free and lunch is provided both days. RSVP by Feb. 25. Contact Beaufort Conservation District at 843-255-7306 or email bswcd@islc.net to receive full flyer by email.

<b>Fripp Island Audubon Club</b>

7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 27, Fripp Island Community Center. Ten Eych Lecture Series welcomes guest speaker David E. Reichle, Director of the Environmental Sciences Division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory for Environmental, Life and Social Sciences. Meet and greet at 6 p.m. Bring snacks to share. Pick up pass at gate. For more information, email frippaudubonclub@gmail.com.

<b>American Legion Youth Programs Golf Tournament</b>

Friday, Feb. 28, The Legends at Parris Island golf course. The tournament supports various local America Legion youth programs, including baseball, Boys State, Law Cadet Academy, college scholarships and oratorical contests. Participants will enjoy a box lunch, drinks, prizes and Mulligans. Prizes include closest to the pin on all par 3s, hole-in-ones on all four par 3s including $10,000 on hole No. 10. Hole sponsors and players may visit www.bftamlegpost9.org or contact American Legion Golf, P.O. Box 2540, Beaufort, S.C. 29901 or call George Miller at 843-470-0928. Registration to play should be completed by Feb. 24 to gain access to MCRD Parris Island.

<b>27th annual Goodwill Tournament by Club Karate</b>

10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 29, Beaufort High School gym. Spectator admission is free. Registration is $60 prior to Feb. 23 and $65 afterward. This is a highly attended event with karate schools from all over the southeast competing. For more information, visit Clubkaratellc.com or email Clubkick@gmail.com.

<b>Sunrise Lighthouse Climb</b>

6:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 29, Hunting Island Lighthouse Complex. Cost $15. Come and join a naturalist in climbing the lighthouse to experience the morning beauty of Hunting Island from above, while learning about the history of the lighthouse. Don’t forget to bring your camera to capture some amazing shots. A small breakfast of doughnuts and coffee is provided. Must be 44-inches tall to climb. Pre-registration is required. For more information, contact the Nature Center at 843-838-7437.

<b>Maye River Quilters Guild</b>

Saturday, March 7, Palmetto Electric Cooperative, 1 Cooperative Way, Hardeeville. On the first Saturday of every month, the Maye River Quilters Guild members meet at 9:30 a.m. for social exchange. The meeting starts at 10 a.m. Block-of-month members meet at 9 a.m. Please call 847-707-6034 or visit www.mayeriverquiltguild.com.

<b>Wardle Family YMCA offers CPR training</b>

The Wardle Family YMCA, at 1801 Richmond Ave in Port Royal, offers CPR classes for community members from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays on the following dates in 2020: March 7, April 4, May 9, May 16, June 27, July 18, Aug. 22, Sept. 12, Oct 24 and Nov. 21. Cost is $35 for this YMCA certified course and those interested need to register at the Y as space is limited and filled on a first come, first serve basis. Questions? Contact Lou Bergen, Aquatics Director to register for this class. Call the Y at 843-522-9622 or visit beaufort-jasperymca.org.

<b>Beaufort County Historical Society “Historically Speaking” lectures</b>

All talks, held at noon on Thursdays, are free and open to the public. Donations are welcome. First-come, first-seated, doors open 30 minutes prior to event.

March 12: Dr. Lawrence Rowland, “Kate Gleason, Libby Rowland, and Beaufort in the 1920s,” St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis, Sr. Blvd. St. Helena Island.

May 7: 81st annual meeting, Dr. Dale Rosengarten, “Blue Collars to Blue Serge Suits: Beaufort’s Jewish Settlers,” St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis, Sr. Blvd., St. Helena Island.

<b>3rd annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival</b>

Noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 14, Beaufort Town Center. The event is free and open to the public.

Area restaurants and food trucks will be selling food and drinks, and there will be live entertainment. The event will also have activities for children of all ages. New to the Festival this year will be an adult and kids costume contest. The event benefits Beaufort County Animal Services. The Festival is accepting vendor applications online until March 1. Additional information can be found on the Beaufort Town Center website (www.beauforttowncenter.com) and Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/BeaufortTownCenter).

<b>The Pickled Eagle Championship pickleball tournament</b>

8 a.m. Saturday, March 14, Beaufort High School Tennis Courts. On site registation begins at 7:30 a.m.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>Cost $40, $5 for each additional division. Double elimination. Skill divisions: 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0. Two division of singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles. Age divisions restricted to 50+, 60+ and 70+. To register online, go to pickleballtournaments.com and search pickledeagle. Register online and get a free T-shirt. Proceeds go to the Beaufort High School tennis team.

<b>America’s Boating Course</b>

8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 14, Saturday, March 21 and Saturday, March 28, Port Royal Town Hall, 700 Paris Avenue, Port Royal. Offered by America’s Boating Club of Beaufort. If you are new to boating, have never taken the course or just want to refresh your knowledge about boating this is a course to consider. Learn the basics of recreational boating in this National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved class. Satisfies South Carolina Boating Educational Course Requirements. And many boat insurance companies offer discounts to graduates. Price: $75 includes book and navigation tools; additional person in household sharing the book is $17. Contact hlontz@yahoo.com for more information.

<b>Adaptive Golf Experience Coaches Training<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></b>

5-8 p.m. Friday, March 20 at Parris Island Four Winds and 8 a.m. Saturday, March 21 at Parris Island Driving Range. With PGA/LPGA Master Golf Professional Judy Alvarez. Cost $20 per person. Included Friday dinner and book. Workshop designed for therapists and volunteers who want to serve as Adaptive Golf Coaches. For more information or to register, go toAdaptiveGolfExperience.com.

<b>Low Country Kappa Delta Alumnae Chapter Pancake Breakfast</b>

7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, March 22, Skillets Cafe, 1 N. Forest Beach Drive, Coligny Plaza, Hilton Head Island. The $10 breakfast special ($5 for children) includes a short stack of pancakes, bacon or sausage, and coffee or juice. Breakfast sales benefit CAPA (Child Abuse Prevention Association) of Beaufort. No reservations are necessary. For more information, call 843-815-5951.

<b>The Historic Port Royal Museum</b>

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, The Historic Port Royal Museum, 1634 Paris Ave. The museum features the turn-of-the-century businesses and industries of Port Royal: Shrimping, crabbing, oystering, the railroad, the school and the mercantile. Informative short lectures are given every Saturday at 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. by historian Woody Collins. Great gifts featuring local artists are available. For more information. visit www.portroyalhistory.org,<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>email unionchurch1004@gmail.com or call 843-524-4333. You can also find us on Facebook!

<b>Al-Anon Family Groups</b>

Are you concerned about a loved one’s drinking or drug use? Join a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics and addicts who share their experience, strength, and hope to solve common problems. Free. Al-Anon meetings take place on Hilton Head Island, in Bluffton and in Okatie. Ala-Teen meetings are 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Bluffton United Methodist Church. To find a local meeting, go to al-anon-sc.org.

<b>Multiple Myeloma support group</b>

Third Saturday each month, St. Luke United Methodist Church, Okatie Highway, Okatie. For patients and families in the Savannah/Bluffton/Hilton Head Island/Beaufort areas. Contact Julie for more information at 843-729-8061 or tugboatjulie@yahoo.com.

<b>Free vessel safety checks</b>

Beaufort Sail and Power Squadron aka America’s Boating Club of Beaufort, a local non-profit organization with a focus on boating safety and education is offering free vessel safety checks to community boaters. Please contact Charlie Weaver at 843-836-1500 to schedule your inspection (please leave a message) or email us at beaufort.sailandpower.squadron@gmail.com.

<b>Get moving with Beaufort Track Club</b>

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.

Visit the Facebook page “Beaufort Track Club” for more information.

<b>Parkinson’s support group</b>

A support group for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease and carepartners meets the first Thursday of each month at the Beaufort Memorial Lifefit Wellness Center from 1:30 to 3 p.m. For more information, visit our Facebook page or call Ric at 843-525-1229.