Feb. 2, 2021 • Volume 24, Issue 3 • Complimentary • BlufftonSun.com
WEAR A MASK!
INSIDE • Local solar energy company partners with Tesla for chargers 12A • Students at BHS create food drive for families in need 18A • WAHHI celebrates 60-year legacy of service 20A • Despite shutdown, libraries continue to serve community 26A • Theatre company plans for future 30A
Flood insurance premiums could be dropping for some residents By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTOR
Thanks to modern technology and a re-evaluation of the town’s flood hazards by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a number of Bluffton residents might find themselves paying less for flood insurance as of March 23. According to Richard Spruce, Bluffton’s chief building official and certified flood plain manager, there are two reasons for this. “With the way FEMA has changed the map, the flood zone is getting lower,” he said. “And in addition, the town is considering requiring a 3-foot freeboard. The more freeboard required, the more savings on
your flood insurance.” “Freeboard,” a term used in many fields for similar reasons, is defined as “the factor of safety usually expressed in feet above a flood level for purposes of flood plain management,” according to changes being made to the town code. In construction, a freeboard foot is 12 inches. At the Jan. 12 town council meeting, Heather Colin, director of growth management, introduced the first reading to consider amendments to the town’s Code of Ordinances concerning flood damage protection. She said that approximately 5% of the town is in a flood zone, according to current
GWYNETH J. SAUNDERS
Please see FLOOD on page 8A
The tree-shaded Garvin-Garvey House on Wharf Street – like much Church of the Cross and most of Old Town Bluffton along the May River – has a 1% chance of flooding during a 100-year flood.
Free help available for students struggling during pandemic Beaufort County School District K-12 students whose academic work has suffered during the coronavirus pandemic might be eligible for free special assistance. “The coronavirus pandemic has forced instructional changes that have been challenging for many students and their families,” said Superintendent Frank Rodriguez. “This
Introducing…
new initiative is designed to identify and support those students creatively and effectively.” Schools have already begun identifying possible student participants for ENGAGE South Carolina, a partnership that includes the district, the S.C. Department of Education, and the Grad Alliance, a nationwide program
FEBRUARY 2021 SCHEDULE February 9th | Arctic Nesting
Migratory Shorebirds in SC
February 23rd | Horseshoe Crabs Visit PortRoyalSoundFoundation.org for more information on upcoming webinars
Call (843) 645-7774 to RSVP
Lakinsha Swinton, the district’s director of student services, said students who qualify for the program and choose to participate will get an academic coach to work with them to develop a plan to get them on track for a strong finish to the school year. Trained teachers and social workers will identify students’ needs and support them,
Swinton said. Qualifications include being at risk of failing classes, chronically absent, designated as homeless, among other criteria. Families can also request the free assistance, Swinton said. For more information, parents should contact their children’s school, or call 803897-8517.