Paul Bell, MD

who are willing to participate. If we find you, we hope you will want to respond.

At God’s Goods Thrift Store in

Bluffton, we asked: “What was your most surprising second hand find at a thrift store?”

Bishop Eye Center now has eight physicians in three Lowcountry locations to welcome you with an exceptional eye care environment and premier patient experience right where you live.

Dr. Bell, who served as the flight surgeon for Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 in Beaufort, SC, relocated from Charleston, SC after being on staff at the Storm Eye Institute. He is especially interested in helping people maintain and improve their lifestyles with refractive cataract surgery.

When it comes to caring for your vision, you deserve the very best.

Escape

LIFESAVER from page 1A

Jasper Chief Jeff Crosby has firsthand experience in the value of such a program.

“Several years ago, when the Sheriff Donald Hipp and I were investigators, we had an elderly lady wander off. We had bloodhounds, helicopters, people searching for her for two days. We had multiple agencies such as the Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Red Cross,” he recalled, “She was finally found a year later in a pine thicket by hunters.”

GFWC did a mailing to 100 businesses and churches in Jasper County asking for monetary support of the program with a response of more than $4,000.

“We thought it was an extremely good idea, and we have a lot of people who have those needs. We thought it was something that was needed, and we have had a number of inquiries as well,” he said.

Lt. Eric Calendine, of the BCSO

Southern Enforcement Branch, said that since 2016, the program was used nine times, and all found because of the bracelets.

“If in the first 30 minutes we are not getting any kind of alerts – a chirp on the equipment – that’s when we start calling out more equipment: bloodhounds, helicopter,” said Calendine. “Most of the time the officer on the scene gets a chirp because most people can’t go very far from the house. The loved one starts searching the house and calls the police. We get there, set up a perimeter, looking for that chirp and start triangulating the signal.”

Depending upon the circumstances of the call, law enforcement might also call for fire and emergency medical service support in the event of extreme heat or cold.

The BCSO keeps its equipment at the Northern Law Enforcement Center, the Southern Substation and on the helicopter.

“We don’t have every single officer trained, but every shift has multiple officers and - as of last fall - all new officers get certified. We have enough for each shift,” Calendine said. “We partner with Memory Matters, Lowcountry Autism Foundation, and Alzheimer’s Association, and we work with each of those agencies through the year, including the Alzheimer’s Walk in October.”

The program is free to all eligible applicants and is funded through donations from the public. For more information, go to projectlifesaver.org or bcso.net and click on Resources for the drop-down menu.

To apply in Jasper County, call Lt. Charles Williams at 843-726-7777. To apply for Beaufort County, call Sgt. John Adams at 843-255-3415 or Lt. Eric Calendine at 843-255-3427.

Gwyneth J. Saunders is a veteran journalist and freelance writer living in Bluffton.

VIEWPOINT from page 3A the rewards in doing so are also greater. It accelerates bonds and creates meaningful memories.

While I try to build up and continuously expand my relationships in this new community, I urge you all to do the same- even if you have lived here your entire life.

As I have noticed and I’m sure you have to, there are new families moving to this “Shangri-La” all the time. And I guarantee you they are feeling like outsiders. I urge to to let your guard down and welcome them with a smile and initiate a conversation with just a few words that may lead to a laugh, a new acquaintance or a meaningful friendship. The one thing I can guarantee is that they will be grateful for the chance.

I believe that our actions as adults help set a good example for our children and grandchildren. We are stronger as a community together. Everyone has something to contribute to conversations, community events etc. I have had some of the most interesting exchanges unexpectedly with strangers who I now call friends.

One of the beautiful things about living here in Bluffton, aside from its obvious physical beauty, is the fact that there are people who have settled here from all over the country. Many times I have met someone new only to find out they have lived here 2, 5, 10, or 20 years but are originally from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey or New York. And the fact that they all call Bluffton/ Hilton Head home now and are proud to do so says a lot about this town. I know there are lots of “lifers” here as well, and those people also deserve recognition-- for keeping alive the rich history of this beautiful place and preserving as best they can the small town feel of this growing community. It is the stories they tell and memories they share that make this community shine, and seeing the gleam in their eyes when they speak about the place they love is so special. I hope to keep opening doors and making new friends as I dive deeper into this beloved community. Budding friendships bring with them new interests, outlooks, and opportunities for fun and growth. And this “new kid on the block” is ready for all of it.