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News
Bluffton voters went to the polls for a town election, redistricting information sessions are scheduled, and Lowcountry schools earned state championships. Here’s what made news during the past month:
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RODRIGUEZ
INCUMBENTS WIN BLUFFTON ELECTIONS; COUNTY REFERENDUMS VOTED DOWN
Fred Hamilton and Larry Toomer were re-elected to Bluffton Town Council on Nov. 2. Toomer received 2,122 votes (43.5%). Hamilton received 1,611 (33%). Challenger Nathan Ferrell received 1,106 votes (22.7%). Hamilton has been a member of Town Council since 2005. Toomer has been a council member since 2013. The two Beaufort County referendums on the ballot did not pass. A Local Option Sales Tax was opposed by 72.5% of voters. And a referendum to change the county’s form of government from council-administrator to council-manager was voted down by 79.7% of voters. The county’s voter turnout was 14.2%.
SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT EARNS HIGH EVALUATION
Superintendent Frank Rodriguez was given a “highly effective” rating (3.72/4) from the Beaufort County School District. The school board said Rodriguez’s evaluation improved from last year. “Hard work, effective leadership, flexibility and innovation”
MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL GOLF TEAM
from Rodriguez during the 2020-21 school year guided the district, board chairman Christina Gwozdz said in a statement. Rodriguez has been superintendent since 2019.
TOWN OF BLUFFTON EARNS GRANT FOR NEW RIVERSIDE BARN PARK PROJECT
The town of Bluffton received a $500,000 grant to go toward the New Riverside Barn Park project. The grant, from the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, is for the creation and development of New Riverside Barn Park. The first phase of the project will have large open space, perimeter trails, parking, restrooms, and infrastructure to support the park, such as fencing and sewer, water and storm drainage.
Applications for the 2022 Heritage Classic Foundation Scholar Awards are available online for all Beaufort and Jasper County high school seniors. The Heritage Classic Foundation will name new scholars from the 2022 graduating class. Each scholar can receive a four-year grant totaling up to $16,000 or $20,000. Since the program was instituted in 1993, 353 graduating seniors have been named Heritage Scholars. Applications can be found at heritageclassicfoundation. com. All applications must be completed by Jan. 15, 2022. The 2022 scholars will be recognized at the 54th annual RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing, April 11-17, 2022.
LOWCOUNTRY TEAMS EARN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
With a final-round team score of 315, May River High School won the SCHSL Class AAAA Girls Golf State championship, the team’s second consecutive state crown. Hilton Head High finished second. Bluffton placed eighth. May River’s Kylie Bowes (147) finished second for the individual title. Hilton Head’s Alexia Milbrandt (151) was fourth. May River’s Robbin Zetrouer (156) and Claire Green (162) tied for sixth and 10th.
In swimming, Hilton Head Christian Academy’s boys took third in the SCISA state Class AA/A championships. Jack
Ussery (100 breaststroke, 200 freestyle) and Levi Eidson (500 free) were individual state champions. John Paul II’s Aubrey Porada won a girls state crown in the 500 free to lead the school to a fourth-place finish. Hilton Head Prep’s Sterling Burd earned two individual titles (200 and 500 free) in the girls Class AAA meet.
IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED FOR DOWNTOWN BEAUFORT MARINA
Safe Harbor Marinas, which manages the city of Beaufort’s downtown marina, plans to invest more than $7.5 million on a marina expansion over the next two years, according to a news release. Safe Harbor’s plan for improvements includes a new floating dock system; resized slips to accommodate larger vessels; a new ADAcompliant gangway; and 2,496 linear feet of flexible side-tie berthing to host transient vehicles. Safe Harbor Marinas manages 125 marinas, including Charleston and Skull Creek on Hilton Head Island.
BEAUFORT COUNTY ANNOUNCES REDISTRICTING SCHEDULE
District lines are redrawn every 10 years following the completion of the U.S. Census. Beaufort County will launch a website with information and, eventually, the maps for public comment, a news release said.
A redistricting video posted to YouTube will provide a virtual option for all citizens unable to attend. Public meetings (6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.): Dec. 1 (public hearing for Districts 8, 10, 11 at Hilton Head Island Recreation Center); Dec. 2-6, staff will take public comments; Dec. 5, final two maps will be presented to the executive committee to decide which map to recommend for approval; Dec. 13, first reading at County Council meeting; Jan. 10, second reading at County Council meeting; Jan. 24, final Reading at County Council meeting. Find your district at gis. beaufortcountysc.gov/voterregistration/. For more information, contact Dan Morgan at danielm@bcgov.net or 843-255-2535.
MANUFACTURER BRINGING 126 JOBS TO LOWCOUNTRY
Builders FirstSource, which is a supplier of structural building products, plans to bring operations to Jasper County and expects to create 126 new jobs in the next five years. The building will be in the Point South Commerce Park in Yemassee. The location will allow the company to expand its offerings and production capacity, a news release said.
HOCKEY TEAM UNVEILS NICKNAME
Savannah’s new professional hockey team officially announced its nickname: the Ghost Pirates. The Savannah Ghost Pirates, who will compete in the ECHL, revealed their name and logo last month.
The team will begin play in October 2022 at the new Enmarket Arena. The team will play 36 regular season home games. The league includes teams from Charleston, S.C., Orlando and Jacksonville, F.L.
MARY FRASER
The Lowcountry has lost the first lady of Hilton Head Island.
Mary Wyman Stone Fraser, wife of the late Sea Pines founder Charles E. Fraser, died in October in North Carolina, her daughter, Laura Lawton Fraser told Monthly magazine. She was 80 years old.
Her impact on the area was profound.
In 1968, Mary started Sea Pines Montessori Academy. She also helped spearhead the first Harbour Town playground.
Mary and Charles met in 1963 when he was in need of a social director. He hired Mary at the recommendation of her mother, Allene “Linky” Stone, who was visiting the island from Greenville, S.C. After receiving the telegram from Charles offering her the job, she came down to look at “the most beautiful place I have ever seen,” she said. Mary helped Charles entertain visitors and interest them in buying real estate on the island.
Their relationship blossomed. They were engaged after six months and were married in November 1963 in Greenville.
Mary was often lauded for making Sea Pines “family friendly,” and was an integral part of Charles Fraser’s success in developing Hilton Head Island from a quiet sea island to the community we know today.
In 2018, in recognition of her contributions to the Lowcountry the Town of Hilton Head honored Mary with a commendation that read: “The work of Mary Fraser pioneered early childhood education on the island.”
The commendation also included a proclamation from South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster recognizing Sea Pines Montessori as the first Montessori-style school in the Palmetto State.
