<strong>Chamber of commerce holds business events</strong>
• Business After Hours: Saltus River Grill, Plums and Remax Island Realty will host the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Business After Hours on Thursday, January 10 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Saltus, 802 Bay Street. In an effort to reach out to our business community, we are now offering free admission for members and guests. Food and beverages will be provided. Please RSVP to Connie Hipp at (843) 525-8523, or email connie@beaufortsc.org.
• Business For Breakfast Event with Guest Speaker Anissa Freeman Starnes of Constant Contact
When: Thursday, January 10, 8-9:30 a.m. (First Session), 9:45-11:15 a.m. (Second Session)
Where: Hilton Garden Inn, 1500 Queen Street, Beaufort, SC 29902
Cost: $10 For Members, $20 For Non Members
Details: The First Session will discuss The Power Of Email Marketing: Get your message “heard” in a world of increasing email communications.   The Second Session Is Social Media Marketing Made Simple. This workshop will show you how to turn social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter into powerful business tools.

<strong>Sportfishing and diving club has meeting</strong>
The Beaufort Sportfishing &amp; Diving Club’s January meeting will be held Thursday, Jan. 10 at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club on Lady’s Island, off Meridian Road. The social begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by the meeting at 7 p.m. The awards for the 2012 Year Round Fishing Tournament will be presented for male angler, female angler, youth angler, best boat recreational, and best boat commercial. In addition, representatives from DNR will unveil the 2013 oyster restoration program known as “Expanding the ACE Basin Living Shoreline.” You do not need a reservation and guests are welcome. For more information, contact Captain Frank Gibson at 843-522-2020.

<strong>Black chamber to hold small business class</strong>
The Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce in partnership with SCORE will offer a small business overview class.  There will be sessions on Monday, January 14; Wednesday, January 16; and Friday, January 18 at 10 a.m. and at 6 p.m.  All interested persons can attend for information on developing and using business plans as well as financial and marketing plans.  This business development program is designed to help new and established entrepreneurs improve their skills and influence the success of their businesses.  Classes will be held at the chamber office located at 801 Bladen Street, Beaufort.  Interested, call 843-986-1102.

<strong>Group forum focuses on exercise and Parkinson’s</strong>
Improve your life while living with Parkinson’s Disease by attending a group forum focused on the benefits of exercise and clinical research on Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Callawassie Island Clubhouse beginning at 11 a.m. The featured speaker will be renowned movement disorder specialist Dr. Christina Vaughn of MUSC in Charleston. The event is open to anyone who is living with Parkinson’s Disease or who is a caregiver or has a loved one suffering from Parkinson’s. The meeting is sponsored by the coalition of the Beaufort County Parkinson’s Disease Support Groups. Pre-registration is highly recommended. Call 843 505-0175 or e-mail adrienne@hargray.com.

<strong>St. Helena library hosts lecture on age of Lincoln</strong>
“Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War” exhibit will be at the St. Helena branch library until February 2. Lectures on “The Age of Lincoln” by author Dr. Orville Vernon Burton from Clemson University will be Friday, Jan. 11 at 1 and 3:30 p.m. at the library.

<strong>Local hospice group looking for volunteers</strong>
Friends of Caroline Hospice is looking for compassionate and caring individuals to assist in a number of different volunteer opportunities: patient family care; retail assistance at the Red Door; office volunteers ; and special event volunteers.  Volunteer training is Wednesday, January 16 and Thursday January 17, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Friends office 1110 13th Street, Port Royal, 29935. Call Jean Keefe at 843-525-6257 or email jean@friendsofcarolinehospice.com.

<strong>Sea Island Quilters to meet, have workshop</strong>
The Sea Island Quilters will meet on Thursday, January 17 at Praise Assembly 800 Parris Island Gateway at 6 p.m.. There will be a Three Techniques workshop on Saturday, January 26 from 9-4 at the Carteret Street United Methodist Church. Space is limited for the workshop. For details contact Char Lane at 910-880-0690 or Dianne DeWitt 843-379-3353.

<strong>Exchange Club to host Flapjack Fundraiser</strong>
The Exchange Club of Beaufort will host Flapjack Fundraiser to be held on Saturday, January 19 at Applebee’s Restaurant in Beaufort. Tickets are only $7 each. For more information, call Angel Flewelling at 525-0102 or visit  www.facebook.com/ApplebeesBeaufortSC.

<strong>5K Resolution Run will be on Dataw Island</strong>
The second 5K Resolution Run will be held on Saturday, January 19 at 10 a.m. on Dataw Island to benefit Lowcountry Habitat for Humanity. Register at www.lowcountryhabitat.org. For more information, call Habitat at 843-522-3500.

<strong>Don’t miss annual stress reduction presentation</strong>
The 5th Annual Mid-Year Stress Reduction presentation is for anyone who needs a boost to make it through the second half of the fiscal/school year. Featuring “Coach” Nate Myers, with Williamsburg County Alcohol &amp; Drug Department “one funny man &amp; storyteller.” The theme is “Get in The Game Are you a Player or Spectator?” The presentation will be Thursday, Jan. 17, at USCB Performing Arts Center on Carteret Street, Beaufort, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. This free event is co-sponsored by the Collaborative Organization of Services for Youth (COSY) and Beaufort County Alcohol &amp; Drug Abuse Dept. To pre-register, please call Paula at 843-521-3150.

<strong>Beaufort Junior Shag Club has January dance</strong>
The Beaufort Shag Club is pleased to host the Beaufort Junior Shag Club January Dance Party on Sunday, January 13, from 4 to 6 p.m. at AMVETS Post 70, 1831 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. The dance is open to juniors age 8 to age 18 who want to learn the state dance the Carolina Shag. Instructors will be on hand to teach beginner and intermediate steps. Snacks and soft drinks provided. Visit www.Beaufortshagclub.com.

<strong>New Presbyterian Church to hold meeting</strong>
The First Scots Independent Presbyterian Church of Beaufort will hold an Organizational and Information Meeting on Monday, January 14, 7 p.m., at The Harmony Lodge, 2710 Depot Road. For more information email: firstscotsbft@gmail.com or mailing: First Scots Independent Presbyterian Church, P. O. Box 1774, Beaufort, South Carolina 29901 or call 843-271-1795.

<strong>Public seminar tackles losing weight in new year</strong>
The Leadership Beaufort Alumni Association with support from Harbour Health Insurance Solutions will  be hosting a public seminar on Thursday, Jan. 17 for those interested in losing weight, exercising, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet for 2013 and beyond. The program, titled “Weight Loss: Weigh Your Options” will feature at least five types of weight loss methods and plans that are offered by area medical professionals and health organizations. Attendees will learn there are multiple and sometimes conflicting strategies for tackling a popular New Year’s resolution and will be able to hear from the experts on their respective thoughts and plans for dieting, exercise, and healthy lifestyles. The event will be held at the Holiday Inn at 2225 Boundary Street in Beaufort. A reception will start at 5:30 p.m. in the hotel lounge followed by the presentations at 6 p.m. The event is free and is open to the public.

<strong>Public invited to CODA annual meeting at TCL</strong>
CODA — Citizens Opposed to Domestic Abuse – will hold its annual meeting January 17, beginning at 5:30 PM at the Technical College of the Low Country, Building #23. The public is invited to attend. In addition to providing details on the services it provided during 2012, the meeting will feature CODA client Mary Ann Moore who will speak about how domestic abuse affected her life, how she dealt with it and how CODA helped her through this situation. CODA has been providing an array of services to victims of intimate partner abuse and their children in Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties for more than 25 years.  In 2012 alone, CODA provided emergency shelter to 75 women and 93 children and outreach services such as counseling, case management, legal assistance, and transitional housing to nearly 500 survivors and their children. Visit www.codalowcountry.org to learn more about CODA’s services.

<strong>Homeless Count volunteers needed</strong>
The Homeless Count is a vital component in ensuring the well-being of Beaufort County’s homeless population. It gives local service providers the information needed to design effective services and secure the appropriate level of federal funding. On Saturday, January 26, 2013 more than 50 volunteers will count the number of homeless men, women and children on the streets, in abandoned buildings and camps in Beaufort County. Please call Family Promise of Beaufort County at 843-815-4211 for additional information and volunteer sign up. Volunteer Training will be held in Beaufort on Saturday, January 12 at 11 a.m. at Love House Ministries. In addition to the count, CSO will learn more about the causes of homelessness specific to this region by conducting a survey that will reveal important demographic and social information.