Pelican Plunge back for 15th wacky year
Friends of Hunting Island State Park’s annual fundraiser returns
By Mike McCombs
Island News
The
The Pelican Plunge – the Friends of Hunting Island (FOHI) State Park’s zany annual fundraiser – is back for its 15th and possibly its biggest year ever this New Year’s Day. Plungers have their work cut out for them, though. After a best-ever turnout of 401 plungers in 2023, a record-breaking 452 plungers participated on New Year’s Day 2024 raising $3,766 for the organization best know for its sea turtle conservation program.
Each year, hundreds of plungers make the trek out to the easternmost end of U.S. Highway 21 to Hunting Island State Park’s North Beach, near the lighthouse. Many don wacky costumes and participate in a popular costume parade before running down the beach and into the chilly Atlantic Ocean at 1 p.m., while the FOHI mascot, the Pelican, and park rangers look on.
Fripp Island Sea Rescue will be on hand for safety, and 15th annual Pelican Plunge T-shirts will be on sale for all the participants and onlookers. With five food trucks, including a hot chocolate offering, organizers are
ready to feed the hungry plungers.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids, and plungers can guarantee their spot by purchasing online at www.friendsofhuntingisland.org/ pelican.
All proceeds go to FOHI, which supports the Hunting Island State Park in facilitating funding for key projects such as the recently renovated Nature Center at South Beach, the restoration of the 1875 First Order Fresnel Lens, and of course the sea turtle conservation program.
FOHI membership for 2025 is available, as well, for $60, which includes access to Hunting Island through Jan. 1, 2025, as well as volunteer opportunities. Visit friend-
WANT TO GO?
Who: Friends of Hunting Island
What: 15th annual Pelican Plunge
When: 1 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2024
Where: Lighthouse area, Hunting Island State Park
Tickets: $10 adults, $5 children. All proceeds benefit the Friends of Hunting Island.
To register: Go to https://www. friendsofhuntingisland.org/pelican
Things to know: Arrive by noon, costume parade at 12:30 p.m., plunge at 1 p.m.; There will be food trucks, music, hot chocolate, cookies, and prizes. There will also be two New Year’s Day hikes – at 7 and 10 a.m. – starting from the Nature Center. To register, visit https://bit.ly/49PiJXA.
sofhuntingisland.org/membership to join.
And like all South Carolina State Parks, Hunting Island will be hosting two First Day Hikes — New Year’s Day hikes at 7 and 10 a.m., starting from the Nature Center. To register, visit https://bit.ly/49PiJXA.
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
Hundreds of people of all ages braved the chilly weather and gathered at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park on Sunday night, Dec. 31, 2023, to usher in the new year with a festive fireworks show over the Beaufort River. Bob Sofaly/File/The Island News
Beaufort to ring in 2025 with fireworks
By Delayna Earley The Island News
Bring in 2025 with a bang thanks to fireworks in downtown Beaufort on New Year’s Eve. The fireworks are scheduled to begin at 9 p.m., at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.
This is the second year that the Beaufort Area Hospitality Association (BAHA) has sponsored the show and this year they are doing it along with Harris Teeter. Before 2023, it had been nearly 10 years since fireworks were used locally to ring in the New Year. Vendors will be on site in the park selling food and drinks. The best spot to see the fireworks is from the Waterfront Park, but they can be seen from all around the Beaufort River.
The BAHA is sponsoring the show to try and generate business for the downtown area and for the community to welcome the new year during a time of the year when tourism usually drops in the city.
This is the second year for the fireworks, and according to their Facebook event, the BAHA hopes to continue to grow the event to make it bigger and better every year.
The only other time of the year that the City of Beaufort hosts fireworks consistently is in July during the opening night event for the Beaufort Water Festival.
Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
Public or private: Protect Beaufort sues City over marina
By Mike McCombs
The Island News
Local nonprofit Protect Beaufort announced earlier this month that it has filed a lawsuit seeking to preserve public access to Beaufort’s Downtown Marina. In a release dated Dec. 11, Protect Beaufort said it was seeking “a declaration from the Court that plans put forth by the City of Beaufort to effectively privatize the Beaufort Downtown Marina violate federal,
state and local laws and legal covenants that prohibit the privatization of a public resource.” Beaufort’s Downtown Marina was opened in 1976 through an agreement between the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, the Economic Development Administration, and the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation.
Under the original contract agreement, the City of Beaufort accepted federal financial assis-
tance through the Land and Water Conservation Act to construct the 5-acre park on which the marina sits. Among other requirements the Act calls for the property to remain for “public outdoor recreation use” and specifies the property may not be “sold, leased, transferred, conveyed or mortgaged” without the prior written consent of the Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Interior of the United States.
Recently, the City of Beaufort has admitted to failing to seek or secure approval before entering a lease agreement with Safe Harbor.
Also, Protect Beaufort contends that plans submitted by Safe Harbor “appear to put an undue burden on taxpayers by requiring the City of Beaufort to provide not only use of valuable public land but to cover costs for insurance, upgrades and repairs and the exclusive use of limited parking spaces in the area
for private members.” Protect Beaufort contends that the “proposed use of this public asset by a for-profit company with a responsibility to shareholders, not the local community, will ultimately injure residents and visitors by restricting access to the waterfront to a select number of members. Further, a burden will be placed on taxpayers to fund projects that will
teams,
Participants run down the beach toward the water during the 2022 Pelican Plunge at Hunting Island State Park. Bob Sofaly/File/ The Island News
LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS
photographer or have permission to submit the photo to be published in The Island
Please
photo,
and
and/or names of the people in the picture and the name of the photographer. Email your photos to theislandnews@gmail.com.
VETERAN OF THE WEEK JOHN DUDLEY
American Legion Beaufort Post 207 brings you Beaufort’s John Dudley, 63 who joined the United States Air Force in Champaign, N.Y., in 1982. After Basic Training at Lackland AFB, Texas, he trained to be an AC/Refrigeration mechanic at Wichita Falls, Texas. His first duty station was at Bergstrom AFB, Texas. After four years he was transferred to a communications site in Korea. His final tour was back at Bergstrom AFB from which he separated in 1988. Following that, he took up HVAC maintenance working at military sites that included Chanute AFB, Shepherd
AFB, Patrick AFB, Keesler AFB, Fort Carson, MCAS Beaufort and now at Naval Hospital Beaufort including the medical and dental clinics at MCRD Parris Island and MCAS Beaufort.
– Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207 For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.
ON THIS DATE
December 28
1979: Longtime Beaufort County Sheriff James Edwin McTeer dies of pneumonia, emphysema and other symptoms of old age at the age of 76 at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Sheriff for 37 years from his appointment in 1926 to his retirement in 1963, McTeer was widely known as a root doctor and an expert on witchcraft, according to The Beaufort Gazette.
January 1
1909: Lt. Col. Eli Cole assumes command of the newly created Marine Officers’ School, U.S. Naval Station, Port Royal.
2009: Friends of Hunting Island holds the first Pelican Plunge on the beach on Hunting Island.
– Compiled by Mike McCombs
PAL PETS OF THE WEEK
Cat Of The Week
On the fourth day of Christmas, my heart grew so huge – for a shelter cat that looks like Scrooge. Phantom may have lost his eye, but at PAL, he found a second chance at life. Don’t let his appearance fool you. Phantom is no Scrooge! He’s a happy, affectionate, 2-year-old boy who's hoping to find a home for the holidays. He is neutered, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped.
Dog Of The Week
On the fifth day of Christmas, I went to PAL to see – a dog dressed as a Christmas tree. Avery is a fun-loving dog with a personality all his own. If you're looking for a dog with a big heart and just the right amount of spunk, Avery might be your perfect match! He is neutered, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped.
Visit Palmetto Animal League on Facebook each day for their 12 Pets of Christmas! Adoption fees are waived for cats, kittens, and adult dogs through January 4 during PAL’s “Season of Second Chances.” For more info on Phantom, Avery or any of our other pets, call PAL at 843-645-1725 or email Info@ PalmettoAnimalLeague.org. – Compiled by Lindsay Perry
a
Dear Readers,
We need your help.
Do you love having a local newspaper? One you can actually pick up and hold in your hands?
A local newspaper produced BY locals FOR locals? FYI – We’re the only one.
While other local newspapers around the country are beingbought up by impersonal hedge funds – or disappearing altogether – we’re a family-owned publication employing editors, reporters, photographers, and salespeople who actually live in Beaufort and care about what happens here. We’re a newspaper OF the community, BY the community, and FOR the community.
Do you value knowing about last week’s City Council meeting? Yesterday’s school board decision? Friday’s high school football game? What about that new restaurant that just opened? That festival coming up this weekend? That corrupt County official who just lost her job? That occasional monkey prison break?!
Here at The Island News, we believe local newspapers are essential – not just to community spirit and cohesion, but to democracy, itself. Sure, we’re here to keep you informed about all the fun stuff – festivals, concerts, parades,adoptable pets, monkeys – but we’re also here to help hold our local leaders accountable.
And for 6 years, we’ve been doing it all AT NO CHARGE, because we believe an informed community is a healthy community – and that everybody deserves access to the news.
But like many of you, we’ve experienced tough times over the last few years. Inflation has hit us hard. Paper prices have skyrocketed, along with the price of just about everything else. We’re struggling for our survival.
So this holiday season, we’re asking for your help.
Starting today, you can donate on our website at www.yourislandnews.com or by sending a check to: The Island News, PO Box 550, Beaufort, SC, 29901 Your donation – no matter how small – would not only help keep us going, it would let us know you value what we do!
Please help us pull off a Christmas miracle, readers! We love producing this paper for you and hope to do so for years to come.
Many thanks,
Jeff and Margaret Evans, Publishers
John Dudley
Re-elected County Council members to be sworn in Jan. 2
Staff reports
Beaufort County Council will meet at 10 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 2 2025, to swear in the following members of the 66th County Council who were recently re-elected: Gerald Dawson, District 1; York L. Glover, Sr., District 3; and Logan Cunningham, District 7
Probate Judge Heather Galvin will administer the Oath of Of-
fice in the Council Chambers. Family members, friends, and the public are invited to watch as the recently re-elected council members place a hand on the bible and take their oath to uphold the U.S. and S.C. Constitutions and make legislative decisions to the best of their abilities. Beaufort County Council is an elected body responsible for passing ordinances, setting County policies, and developing an annual budget for
the administration of public services to citizens. The Chairman is elected to a two-year term by Council at the first meeting in January following a general election.
The Vice Chairman is charged with carrying out the duties of the Chairman in their absence.
The swearing in will be shown live on Beaufort County TV (BCTV). BCTV can be found on Sparklight (formerly Hargray) Chs. 9 and 417; Comcast Ch. 2; and Spectrum Ch. 1304. BCTV also streams live on www.BeaufortCounty.tv and through the FREE BCTV APP available on ROKU, Apple TV, Android TV and Amazon Fire.
Southside Park Ribbon Cutting
Cara Stephens and her 5-year-old daughter, Christy, both of Beaufort, swing during the Southside Park Ribbon Cutting on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. Amber Hewitt/ The Island News
Touch A Truck
Firefighters
fight brush fire at homeless camp on Sunday
By Delayna Earley
The Island News
The City of Beaufort/ Town of Port Royal Fire Department battled a brush fire on Sunday, Dec. 22, in an empty lot across from the Goodwill on Parris Island Gateway.
Deputy Fire Chief Ross Vezin said two fire engines and a battalion chief responded to brush fire after it was called in around 1 p.m.
It took firefighters roughly an hour and a half to fight the fire on about 2-acres of land, and they called South Carolina Forestry to cut a fire break.
There were no injuries or damage or structural damage due to the fire.
A brush
broke out
The lot was believed to be a homeless camp, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation but the fire did start a good distance from where people were living in the camp per Vezin.
and
Mateo Marroquin-Cadien, 1, thinks about going down the slide while mom, Courtney Cadien of Beaufort, watches and encourages him during the Southside Park Ribbon Cutting on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. Amber Hewitt/ The Island News
York Glover Gerald Dawson Logan Cunningham
Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana
Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
fire
near a homeless encampment of Parris Island Gateway on Sunday, Dec. 22. Photo courtesy of City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal fire Department
Seventeen-month-old Oliva Knieriem of Beaufort climbs on on a CAT Machine during the Junior Service League’s ninth annual Touch a Truck event held on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 at the Bluff in Port Royal. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
Staff reports
BJWSA names Hansen new Chief of Engineering
Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority (BJWSA)
has named Michael Hansen as its new Chief of Engineering, according to a Dec. 18 news release.
Hansen is a licensed professional engineer with more than 22 years of experience in civil engineering. Before joining BJWSA, he served as a private engineering consultant, working
for firms ranging from eight to 11,000 employees and managing capital projects valued up to $500 million.
Hansen joined the Authority in October 2023 as the Director of Engineering where he oversaw the Authority’s capital improvement, development, and construction activities. His new role will add infrastructure planning, and system design responsibilities. He will su-
pervise a team of 40 people.
The Engineering Department has grown over the past few years as the organization strives to meet service needs spurred by regulatory changes and the area’s booming population. The Chief of Engineering position was vacated by Paul Vincent, who was promoted to the position of Deputy General Manager for Operations and Engineering in October.
“(Hansen) has proven himself as a valuable member of the BJWSA leadership team,” BJWSA General Manager Verna Arnette said in the news release. “He has demonstrated the qualities of being capable, collaborative, and competent when it comes to both technical engineering and people skills. I’ve come to depend on him and look forward to his continued
service to the Authority.”
“I’m inspired by the challenge ahead for our organization, and I have confidence in my team’s ability to deliver,” Hansen said in the news release. “We’re making improvements at a faster pace than ever before. The BJWSA team is continually evolving to better serve our current and future customers through enhanced reliability, and protection of
Arbor Day Celebration
our environment and public health. I’m proud of the team we’re actively building and the level of service we provide.” Hansen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Southern Illinois University. He and his wife Sindy reside in the Town of Bluffton. Their daughter Olivia is a freshman at the University of South Carolina.
The Beaufort Garden Club, the oldest garden club in Beaufort and second oldest in the state, plant their 90th tree, a beautiful 12-foot red maple, at the
Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
County encourages recycling of live Christmas trees
Staff reports
Beaufort County residents who have decals are encouraged to bring live Christmas trees to any County Convenience Center during normal Center hours. Trees should be placed in the yard waste bins. For residents who do not have
Convenience Center decals, Christmas trees can be brought to the Shanklin Road, Beaufort or Simmonsville Road, Bluffton locations only. Please make sure all ornaments, lights, and other decorations are removed from the trees prior to recycling them.
In anticipation of increased amounts of post-holiday waste and as a courtesy to other County residents, please remember to flatten all cardboard boxes before placing them in the appropriate dumpsters. Bubble wrap and air pillows
can be recycled in the Plastic Bag & Film Collection bins at the Bluffton, Hilton Head, Shanklin and St. Helena Convenience Centers. Remember too, after the feast, recycle the grease. For more information about recycling household grease and other accepted recyclables at the Convenience Centers, visit https://bit.ly/3jtct1D. For more information on locations and hours of Beaufort County Convenience Centers, please visit www.beaufortcountysc.gov/ recycle or call 843-255-2736
County offices closed for New Year’s
In observance of New Year's Day, all Beaufort County government buildings will be closed Wednesday, January 1
Convenience Centers in Beaufort County will close at 1 p.m., Tuesday, December 31 and remain closed Wednesday, January 1, for New Year's Day. They will resume normal operating hours Thursday, January 2 Operations at the Hilton Head Island Airport will remain available during the holiday.
Beaufort Executive Airport will operate at the following schedule:
• New Year’s Eve: 8 a.m. to noon.
New Year’s Day: FBO closed; selfserve avgas available.
Emergency services and law enforcement personnel will remain available.
City offices closed Jan. 1
City of Beaufort offices will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 1, in honor of New Year’s Day.
Capital Waste Services will be off on New Year’s Day. Wednesday pickups will be pushed to Thursday, Thursday to Friday, and Friday to Saturday.
County hosts ribbon cutting ceremony to mark opening of Laurel Bay Road Pathway
On Friday, Dec.13, Beaufort County, the South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs, and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
(MCAS Beaufort) joined other project supporters, community partners, and contractors to mark the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the Laurel Bay Pathway Project.
This new public pathway connects Laurel Bay Housing to MCAS Beaufort, creating a convenient route for residents, personnel, and those utilizing the trail for recreation.
Funded by a match from the S.C. Department of Veterans Affairs and funds from the 2018 One Cent Sales Tax, this project’s completion marks a celebratory milestone.
Crosswalk improvements and sidewalk additions now allow increased connectivity to essential commercial centers for those without access to motor vehicles, opening more options for safe utilization of the Spanish Moss Trail. By directly connecting to the established trail, this pathway strengthens the connection between MCAS, Laurel Bay, and the surrounding community.
Speakers at the ribbon cutting ceremony included Beaufort County Assistant County Administrator Jared Fralix, Beaufort County Councilman Gerald Dawson, S.C. Military Base Task Force Representative Col. Neal Pugliese, and MCAS Beaufort Commanding Officer Col. Mark Bortnem.
Hospice
Care of the Lowcountry rebrands as MiraSol
Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, a leading nonprofit provider of compassionate end-of-life care, palliative and grief care services in Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton, and Hampton counties, is rebranding as MiraSol Health. This new name reflects the organization’s growing range of services uni-
fied under one umbrella as it redefines its care delivery approach to support patients facing serious illness, terminal diagnosis, or grief, while also providing vital support to caregivers.
Second Helpings receives relief grant from Food Lion Feeds
The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation awarded $10,000 to Second Helpings to help rebuild after Hurricane Helene devastated the region in September 2024. This disaster relief grant provides financial assistance to community feeding partners, who have played a vital role in helping those affected by the storm. These funds will support long-term recovery efforts and assist in rebuilding, repairing and restoring what was damaged or lost.
This grant funding builds upon the foundation’s year-round commitment to address food insecurity by increasing access to nutritious food and supporting nutritional education initiatives.
“Hurricane Helene resulted in lengthy power outages in a portion of Second Helpings’ service area, which resulted in less food available to distribute to our neighbors in need,” said Amy Colin, executive director, Second Helpings. “This grant will support our efforts to help offset these losses and bring a consistent supply of rescued food for those who need it most.”
Second Helpings is a nonprofit food rescue organization striving to eliminate hunger in the South Carolina Lowcountry. It collects and distributes food which would have otherwise ended up in landfills.
The 468 volunteers delivered 3 4 million pounds of food in 2023, free of charge, to 54 agencies in Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton counties which serve more than 10,000 people every week. Second Helpings is a United Way Agency. For more information, visit www.secondhelpingslc.org , find us on Facebook or call 843-689-3689
County VA to offer End of Life Planning Seminars for veterans, families Beaufort County Veterans Affairs is hosting End of Life Planning Seminars for veterans and their families. These seminars address things veterans and their families can do today to ensure their personal effects are in order. They also discuss Veterans Affairs benefits that surviving spouses may be entitled to receive.
They will be offered at either 9 a.m. or 1 p.m., at convenient locations around Beaufort County:
• Tuesday, Feb. 18: Lobeco Branch Library, 1862 Trask Parkway, Seabrook.
• Tuesday, Feb. 25: Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Way.
• Tuesday, May 20: Hilton Head Branch Library, 11 Beach City Road.
• Tuesday, May 27: Beaufort Library, 311 Scott Street.
RSVPs are required for space and resource purposes. Please contact Crystal at 843-2556880 to reserve your seat. For questions and more information please contact Beaufort County Veterans Affairs at 843-255-6880
– Staff reports
John Parker Park basketball court in Port Royal as a 152nd Arbor Day celebration on
Community Foundation of the Lowcountry gives Impact Grants to Lowcountry nonprofits
Staff reports
In its first Impact Grants cycle of fiscal year 2025 (July 1 2024 through June 30 2025), Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has awarded $375 000 in grants to eight local nonprofit organizations.
Impact Grants are competitive grants, each in excess of $10,000, that are awarded to nonprofit organizations for new programs or projects, to enhance an existing program or service, or for large capital projects that are critical to the organization’s mission. Impact Grants are for organizations that support those who live and/or work in southern Beaufort County. Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has two grant cycles per fiscal year.
The recipients of the Fall 2024 Community Foundation of the Lowcountry Impact Grants are:
• Bluffton Jasper County Volunteers in Medicine: To enhance pharmacy services for uninsured patients, with computer and software upgrades and a part-time pharmacist.
Friends of Caroline Hospice:
For the purchase of a specialized stretcher van for transporting patients on demand.
• Hopeful Horizons: For a database/quality assurance manager to improve data management and reporting across all Hopeful Horizons programs.
Lowcountry Council of Governments: For training individuals with barriers to employment, with a focus on providing occupational and on-the-job training in high-demand areas.
Programs for Exceptional People (PEP): For securing dedicated aide support for PEP members, with aides assisting lower-functioning,
SANTA VISITS...
intellectually disabled adults. Public Tennis, Inc.: For growing PTI’s coaching capacity, capability, and ability, including developing and updating training videos, lesson plans, and coaching resources.
• The Outside Foundation: For the expansion of the #EARTHDAYHHI initiative into a year-long environmental education and stewardship program.
Waddell Mariculture Center: For purchasing one electric utility cart for use in pond production operations, which supports marine finfish stock enhancement.
To augment Impact Grant
awards, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry offers the online Grant Catalog. The Grant Catalog is a co-funding opportunity for generous donors interested in supporting projects that were not fully funded through this Impact Grant cycle. Currently, there are three organizations featured in the Grant Catalog: Lowcountry Council of Governments; Public Tennis, Inc; and Waddell Mariculture Center. To donate to Community Foundation’s Grant Catalog, visit https://bit.ly/4fzCWSx. To learn more about the Impact Grants process, please contact Debbie Cahoon at dcahoon@cf-lowcountry.org or call 843-681-9100
Beaufort Candy Shoppe
Boys & Girls Club on Cat Island
from page A1
be used by this select few rather than for the public good as has always been intended.” Beaufort City Manager Scott Marshall said there’s really nothing new to this lawsuit and that the specific issues brought up in the lawsuit either have been or
are being addressed. Marshall said the plaintiff simply wants to exclude Safe Harbor from managing the marina. “It doesn’t matter whose managing the marina,” Marshall said, “Someone is going to operate the marina, be it Safe Harbor or another company or even if the city ran it, and there are going to be safeguards to protect private property. The access will be controlled no matter who operates the marina.”
Marshall maintains that controlled access to the part of the marina where boats are tied doesn’t make the marina private.
The Protect Beaufort Foundation, Inc., according to an earlier news release, “seeks to engage residents, business owners, and local leaders in meaningful dialogue and action to ensure that Beaufort remains a vibrant, sustainable community for generations to come. The organization’s efforts will focus on critical is-
sues such as growth management, environmental conservation, and maintaining the cultural integrity of the area.” The group lists as its purposes 1) To protect and enhance the unique public community and environmental qualities that exist in Beaufort, S.C.; 2) To oppose and reverse the privatization and commercialization of property owned by governmental entities in the
One-year-old Rivi Baughman was uncertain whether to laugh or cry when her mother, Deana, placed her on Santa's lap on Saturday, Dec. 21. However, Rivi will still make it onto Santa's "nice" list, just like all the other children who have visited him at the Beaufort Candy Shoppe since November 26. Asa Aarons Smith/The Island News
Rya Williams, a 4-year-old from Beaufort, had the magic of Christmas in her eyes when she visited Santa at the Beaufort Candy Shoppe on Saturday, Dec. 21. Santa has been making regular appearances in downtown Beaufort throughout the holiday season, thanks to the Beaufort Area Hospitality Association. Asa Aarons Smith/The Island News
Santa Claus makes a stop at the Cat Island Clubhouse to visit with kids from the St. Helena Boys & Girls Club as they finish an after school dinner on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2024. Each child received two toys each, while two of the children also won a bike, and another won a scooter in a drawing. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
Santa Claus is seen dancing with kids from the St. Helena Boys & Girls Club on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2024 during a stop at the Cat Island Clubhouse to visit with the children. Each child received two toys each, while two of the children also won a bike, and another won a scooter in a drawing. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
USC pilot program aims to keep the music going
Program will teach musicians how to run a classroom amid teacher shortages
By Skyler Laird SCDailyGazette.com
COLUMBIA — Beginning in January, the University of South Carolina will pay for musicians to learn how to manage a classroom so students can keep singing and playing instruments while school districts hunt for certified teachers to fill vacancies.
The idea came about when Fred and Dinah Gretsch realized their local high school football games in Jasper County were missing a marching band because the school didn’t have a music teacher.
Across the state, districts reported 48 vacancies for music teachers this fall, or 3% of 1,649 total music positions they were trying to fill. That’s not as many vacancies as other subjects, such as math or science, but more than art and theater positions, according to the annual report by the state’s Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement.
“These are schools and districts and superintendents and principals who want to have music teachers but who can’t find people to teach,” said Tayloe Harding, dean of USC’s music school.
Music education is a priority for the Gretsches, who own a drum manufacturer in Ridgeland.
“Music makes us smarter. It improves other skills. It enriches lives for those who participate,” Fred Gretsch said. “Those are all important goals to us.”
The husband and wife donated $450,000 to run the program for three years, which USC’s School of Music will match for a total of $900,000. That’s more than enough to cover tuition for the first 10 musicians in the program, Harding said.
Those 10 will be able to fill vacancies in fall 2025. How many will be accepted in the future depends on interest in the program and its success.
“We want to encourage skilled music leaders to bring the power of music and music education to Jasper County and other rural counties in South Carolina that may be understaffed at the moment,” Fred Gretsch said.
The state offers alternative teaching certifications, which allow people without an education
degree to receive a teaching certificate. But those programs still don’t turn out enough music teachers to fill the shortages, Harding said.
Unlike alternative certification programs, the musicians who complete USC’s program will not earn a teaching certificate at the end of their fellowship. The idea is for people who already teach and play music in the community, whether through private lessons or as a musician for a church or other group, to learn enough about education to run otherwise empty classrooms, Harding said.
That would allow music programs to continue while principals search for permanent, fully credentialed teachers, he said. The fellows would not be the teacher of record for the course, instead being more equivalent to a substitute, who is not required to have a teaching certificate. Musicians who enjoy the job can then go through an alternative certification program to become a fullfledged teacher, Harding said.
The idea has been floating around for years. But officials have been reluctant to implement it because the musicians placed in schools would not be fully certified teachers, Harding said. The program is meant only to last as long as the shortage of music teachers persists, he added.
“It’s an easier shortcut to a job
teaching music in school,” Harding said. “We don’t want to do that routinely, because the quality of instruction in music would go down over time if everyone teaching was not fully certified.”
While filling vacancies is a good thing, having someone in the positions, even temporarily, could make districts more reluctant to find a permanent teacher, said Patrick Kelly, a teachers’ advocate for the Palmetto State Teachers Association.
“Districts will have far less incentive to go out and find someone who has completed their whole education degree,” Kelly said.
Legislators considered putting in place a similar pilot program this year, which would have allowed districts to hire non-certified instructors with years of other experience in their subject. The House and Senate each passed their own version of the bill, but the two chambers never agreed on a plan, halting the proposal before it could reach the finish line.
That plan included guidelines for how many teachers a district could hire and how long a teacher could remain in their position without certification, which are important guardrails in any similar program, Kelly said.
“It provides a way for (experts) to get in the classroom that doesn’t keep them out and doesn’t
keep their experience out but isn’t so broad it sets them up for failure and set their students up for failure,” Kelly said.
Teaching requires a lot more than familiarity with the subject matter, said Kelly, who teaches U.S. government classes at Blythewood High. Educators also need to know how to create effective lesson plans and follow education laws, Kelly said.
The fellowship program will give musicians a crash course in what they need to know, including managing a classroom, working with parents and administrators, and building lesson plans, Harding said. Along with classes taught by music education faculty, fellows will observe school classrooms and student-teach to get more experience, he said.
“Those are the kind of things that music education students get that regular music students who are not in music education don’t get,” Harding said.
With the right training and skills, a musician should be able to handle a classroom, especially at the more generalized elementary school level, said former state Superintendent Molly Spearman, who spent the first 18 years of her education career as a music teacher in Saluda County.
Having a non-certified teacher is better than not having a music
program at all, she added.
“Any person who’s interested and willing to be in the classroom with students is beneficial,” Spearman said.
Music teaching roles are often difficult to fill because they require a specialized skillset, and music classes are essential for students who may find a passion or skill they didn’t know they had by learning to sing or play an instrument, Spearman said.
“It’s good for all, but particularly those who might have that special talent so we can nurture those skills,” she said.
The music school notified the program’s first 10 scholarship recipients on Monday. Their classes will begin in January and run until the beginning of summer, at which point USC faculty will help them find jobs in school districts, Harding said.
Their pay would depend on the district, which may not be much since they’re considered substitutes. The USC scholarship covers training only. The program does not supplement whatever districts pay.
Skylar Laird covers the South Carolina Legislature and criminal justice issues. Originally from Missouri, she previously worked for The Post and Courier’s Columbia bureau. S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
Legislator wants to stop students from losing scholarships for minor alcohol crimes
By Jessica Holdman
COLUMBIA — A Charleston County legislator wants to prevent South Carolina college students from losing their state-funded scholarships for misdemeanor mistakes.
State law gives students one pass for a misdemeanor drug or alcohol offense, such as drinking or possessing alcohol when under the age of 21. But a second conviction disqualifies students from lottery-funded scholarships that would otherwise help them pay for tuition. And the scholarship suspension applies for a full academic year.
the first year and $7,500 per year in the three years after.
Scholarships for South Carolina students who earn and keep a grade point average of 3 0 or higher are worth $5 000 a year.
Students with the greatest financial needs can receive an additional $3 500 in aid. And students enrolled in science, technology or math-related programs can receive an additional $2 500. A law passed earlier this year added education majors to the list of those eligible for scholarship enhancements.
Future teachers can get $2 500 to $3 300 more in aid yearly.
of South Carolina’s satellite campuses in Aiken and Beaufort to more than $15,000 at Clemson University and Winthrop University, with USC’s main campus in Columbia in the middle at $12,700, according to the latest data from the state Commission on Higher Education.
“For someone to have their future impacted or their family financially impacted, the punishment is way disproportionate to the crime,” Stavrinakis said. This isn’t his first attempt to change the misdemeanor ineligibility rule.
“I just don’t think they should be losing scholarships for minor things like that,” said Rep. Leon Stavrinakis. The Charleston Democrat filed a bill ahead of the upcoming legislative session that would remove mentions of misdemeanor alcohol or drug offenses from scholarship criteria. Students would still be ineligible if they’re convicted of any felony.
Stavrinakis, who is an attorney, said he has represented college students in court over the minor offenses, helping them reduce their charges so as not to lose their eligibility. But not all students know about the
law or, even if they do, can afford to pay a lawyer to help them keep their scholarship, he said. The state’s higher education agency did not have data immediately available on how many students may have been impacted.
“Even if it affects a hand-
ful of kids, it’s not a good thing,” Stavrinakis said. There can be a lot at stake for students, given the hefty cost of a college degree.
A Palmetto Fellows scholarship, the scholarship offered to the highest performing South Carolina students, is worth $6 700 in
Those scholarships are only available for eight consecutive semesters, meaning if a student misses out on a semester or year of funding for any reason, they won’t be able to make it up at a later date.
Annual tuition and fees at the state’s four-year public colleges can range from $10 500 at the University
Stavrinkais has sponsored two previous bills to make the change, starting in February 2021, but they never even got a hearing.
Jessica Holdman writes about the economy, workforce and higher education. Before joining the S.C. Daily Gazette, she was a business reporter for The Post and Courier. S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest statefocused nonprofit news organization.
From left, music education faculty Hassan Anderson, Wendy Valerio, Amanda Schlegel and Mary Luehrsen; Fred and Dinah Gretsch; their grandson Logan Thomas; and School of Music Dean Tayloe Harding discuss the new music teaching program. Photo courtesy of Jay Overbay/University of South Carolina
Rep. Micah Caskey, R-West Columbia (left), looks on as Rep. Leon Stavrinakis, D-Charleston, talks with Rep. Case Brittain, R-Myrtle Beach, during the first day of session in Columbia, on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. Travis Bell/Statehouse Carolina/Special to the S.C. Daily Gazette
High schoolers no longer allowed to use cell phones during school day
By Delayna Earley
The Island News
Beaufort County high school
students will have to adjust to changes to the cell phone ban when they return to the classroom in January.
The South Carolina Department of Education mandated that high school students will no longer be able to use their cell phones during their lunch block.
Cell phones will not be allowed to be used by students in grades Pre-K through 12th grade during school hours, but all students can
use personal electronic devices and personal communication devices before and after school.
Students must leave their devices turned off and stored away in non-visible secure location such as a locker, pocket or purse from the start of school to the end of school.
Previously, Beaufort County School District (BCSD) high school students, 9th through 12th grade, were allowed to use their cell phones during their lunch block in a designated location but were not allowed to use personal
electronic devices during their lunch block.
Per the BCSD, a personal electronic device is defined as a device that “has the capability of electronically sending, receiving, storing, recording, reproducing or displaying information and/or data;” such as a computer, tablet, e-reader, portable media player, drone, video gaming system, GPS instruments, digital cameras and camcorders.
A personal communication device is “defined as having the capability of communicating by means of sending receiving, storing, re-
cording, reproducing and/or displaying information and data, any device that emits an audible signal, vibrates, displays a message, live streams or otherwise summons or delivers a communication to the processor;” examples of this would include cellular phones, smart watches and headphones.
All South Carolina public schools are required to follow the statewide cell phone policy by no later than January 2025, but Beaufort County enacted theirs in August 2024 so that they could get ahead of the ban, Superintendent
Frank Rodriguez previously told The Island News.
Rodriguez also said during an interview with The Island News in July,
Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
Foundation for Educational Excellence awards 16 grants to BCSD teachers
Staff reports
The Foundation for Educational Excellence announced in a news release earlier this month funding for 16 grants to teachers and schools throughout the Beaufort County School District.
These grants totaling over $16,000 were awarded for innovative learning opportunities and projects that go beyond the regular school district budget. A total of 13 schools North and South of the Broad are represented by the awards provided.
“The Foundation is thrilled to provide these innovative learning opportunities to students across the district,” Innovative Grants Chair and Foundation Board Member Kim Dempsey said in the news release. “The impact of these projects will be evident in all grade levels and we can’t wait to hear about the results of these amazing projects.”
This year, the projects funded by the Foundation’s grants ranged from funding equipment for benefiting students’ physical fitness to purchasing reference books to updating spaces on campus.
For example, Julie Alford, the school librarian at Battery Creek High School, received a grant for her project “Elevating Student Voice in the Creekcast Studio.” The funds will go towards updating a space in the school with equipment to create high-quality podcasts for class assignments. She also hopes that students will now have the opportunity to take
part in podcast competitions. At Coosa Elementary, Jamey Porter and Jennifer Lyles received a grant for “Innovate and Illuminate.” The funds will allow for the purchase of Ozobot Evo to help enhance students’ understanding of natural hazards and their impacts through an interdisciplinary approach that integrates coding, geography and environmental science.
In addition, Karen Gareis, the school librarian at Bluffton High School, was awarded a grant for her project “Expanded Learning Environment.” This multi-faceted school enhancement project includes a story walk, as well as expansion of the existing wildlife habitats. These updates will provide students with a place to learn and explore, encouraging contemplation and reflection alongside the natural diversity of the Lowcountry and
the diversity of the student population.
A special donation was given to the Foundation by Jeff and Ann Keefer of Vivid Art Gallery designated for a photography grant. The Foundation awarded these funds to Kendra Wheeler’s “Photography Perspective” project at May River High School towards the purchase of a photography printer. This will help the students to develop strong digital photography skills, design and digital creativity through photography and other platforms.
“The Foundation loves being a part of impacting thousands of students throughout Beaufort County through these innovative projects,” Foundation Board Chair Linda Navorska said. “We are so grateful for the generous support of many local organizations and individuals that helped make these
grants possible.”
The grant recipients for Fall 2024 are as follows:
A Bench of Bddies: Jennifer Friend-Kerr, Hilton Head Island School for Creative Arts
Innovate and Illuminate: Ozobot Evo in the Classroom: Jamey Porter and Jennifer Lyles, Coosaw Elementary School STEM Stories Unfold: Cultivating Curious Minds in the School Library: Kim Waters, Port Royal Elementary School
Get Your Library Search On! Bonnie Minton, Hilton Head Island Elementary School
Sensory Path: Susan Held, Beaufort Elementary School
Write – Here, There and Everywhere: Marianne Blake, Beaufort Elementary School
Building Fluency Libraries: Kristin Hibbett, Coosaw
Elementary School Bright Bobcat Plates: Ann Buckley, Bluffton High School
Gatorball Fitness: Richard Dobson, Mossy Oaks Elementary School
“Take Out” Anyone? Heidi McAlister, Hilton Head Island High School
Elevating Student Voice in the CreekCast Studio: Julie Alford, Battery Creek High School
Magnetic Math: Eve Weaver, Caroline Arrowood, and Victoria Hardy, Robert Smalls Leadership Academy Photography Perspectives: Kendra Wheeler, May River High School
Dictionary Detective: Jaquelyn Barnwell, St. Helena Elementary School
Bluffton High School Expanded Learning Environment: Karen Gareis, Bluffton High School
Buenos comunicadores/ Bons communicateurs:
About the foundation The Foundation for Educational Excellence raises funds to support the mission and goals of the Beaufort County School District by furthering student instructional activities and projects through Innovative Teacher Grants, Innovative School Resource Grants and Student Enrichment Grants. Established in 2007, the Foundation awarded its first grants in 2009 and has awarded over $375 000 in grants to the teachers and students in the public school system since its inception benefitting thousands of students across the county each year. The Foundation is supported by individual donations and these local charities: The Bargain Box of Hilton Head, Friends of Callawassie Island, Italian-American Club of Hilton Head, Wexford Fund, Moss Creek Charitable Fund and Women’s Association of Hilton Head. We are grateful for their ongoing support of our work. The Foundation is a fund of Community Foundation of the Lowcountry and a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law and can be made at https:// www.foundationedexcellence.com/donate. For information, contact the Foundation at www.foundationedexcellence.com, 843-304-1922, or FFEEinfo@email.com
TCL’s workforce training center gets $150K grant from Hardeeville
The Technical College of the Lowcountry recently received a $150 000 grant from the City of Hardeeville to go toward the construction of the college’s Arthur E. Brown Regional Workforce Training Center, according to a news release.
“We truly appreciate the City of Hardeeville and its commitment to advancing education and fostering economic growth in our communities,” TCL President Dr. Richard Gough -- who, along with representatives from the city, was on hand for a check presentation held Dec. 10 at TCL’s New River Campus – said in a news release.
TCL broke ground on the training center earlier this year following a $10 million appropriation from the State of South Carolina in 2023, part of a total $21 million in combined support from the state and Beaufort County. When completed, the new facility will feature 50 000 square feet of space with a capacity for 850 students.
“We believe this supports educational advancement and workforce training opportunities for the City of Hardeeville that meets the ongoing challenges of the city and region’s continuous growth and development,” Hardeeville Assistant City Manager Neil Parsons said.
Hardeeville Mayor Harry Williams echoed Parsons comments.
“It gives our residents the opportunity and our community the training and skills needed
for the jobs that are coming,” he said. “It is an honor for the City of Hardeeville to be part of such a wonderful initiative.”
The total cost for the center is estimated to run $26 million with funding expected to come from other local governments and private sources, or funds raised by TCL’s Foundation.
SC Association of Counties offers scholarships
The South Carolina Association of Counties recently announced its annual Presidential Scholarship and Board of Directors Scholarship Program for 2025. High school seniors in Beaufort County are eligible to apply for the Board of Director's Scholarship which
will award one $5000 scholarship to a qualifying high school senior.
The requirements include a graduating senior who plans on attending a South Carolina college, university or two-year technical school in the fall. Applicants must include an essay, high school transcript and letters of recommendation.
For details and an application, visit the SCAC website at https:// bit.ly/41Oq6wC. Deadline for applications is Saturday, Feb. 1
2 from Beaufort on Belmont’s Fall 2024 Dean's List
Belmont University recently released the Dean's List for the fall 2024 semester, including two students from Beaufort -- Nicolas
Hackler and Kimberly Rauscher.
Approximately 53% of the University's 7,175 undergraduate students qualified for the fall 2024 Dean's List. Dean's List eligibility is based on a minimum course load of 12 hours and a quality grade point average of 3 5 with no grade below a C.
Located two miles from downtown Nashville, Belmont University comprises nearly 9,000 students from every state and 33 countries. Nationally ranked and consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report for innovation in higher education, the University offers more than 115 areas of undergraduate study, 41 master's programs and five doctoral degrees.
– Staff reports
that they knew there was a good chance that they would have to amend the cell phone policy once the S.C. Department of Education was clearer in their policy.
Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The
Irma Rameizl, Hilton Head Island Middle School
Foundation for Educational Excellence board member Kim Dempse, Beaufort Elementary Physical Education teacher Susan Held and Beaufort Elementary Principal Michelle Sackman.
Foundation for Educational Excellence board member Connie Johnson, Battery Creek High School Librarian Julie Alford and Battery Creek High School Principal Denise Lessard.
Bills that will fuel busy 2025 legislative session
By Jack O’Toole StatehouseReport.com
South Carolina legislators
prefile hundreds of bills every year ahead of the January session.
Some are serious bills, filed by serious legislators with serious plans to get them passed. Others are the political equivalent of a Hail Mary in football – thrown up with more hope than confidence. And a few are pure “message bills,” offered to get attention or make a point, but with no hope of even getting a committee hearing.
Here are a few of each kind that have caught the City Paper’s eye heading into 2025
Bills with popular support
Several bills currently have popular support or are new ideas on major issues that may get serious consideration during the 2025 session, including:
School vouchers (S. 62):
After seeing two private school voucher plans struck down in the S.C. Supreme Court due to the state constitution’s prohibition against using public funds to benefit private schools, supporters are now proposing to use state lottery dollars to fund the program. Under the bill, families making up to
$187,000 would be eligible.
Primary sponsor: Sen. Greg Hembree, R-Horry.
Raise teacher pay (S. 30): Higher teacher salaries are a bipartisan priority heading into the next session, with the S.C. Education Department already requesting a new $50 000 minimum, up from $47 000 this year. Going even further, and more of a stretch, is S. 30, which would require teachers “to be paid the average national teacher salary instead of the Southeastern average.” The national average is currently $71,699
Primary sponsor: Sen. Karl Allen, D-Greenville.
Hate crimes (H. 3039):
Named the “Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act” in remembrance of the nine parishioners lost in the hate-fueled massacre at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston in 2015, the law would stiffen penalties for crimes motivated by racial, religious or other animus. Previous versions of the bill have passed the House in each of the last two sessions before dying in the Senate without a vote. South Carolina and Wyoming are currently the only states without a hate crimes law on the books. Primary sponsor: Rep. Wendell Gilliard, D-Charleston.
Nuclear restart (S. 51):
The 2017 collapse of the V.C. Summer nuclear power project sent several utility officials to prison and left ratepayers on the hook for $9 billion. After a state panel determined earlier this year that the project could in theory be restarted to allow the state to generate much-needed power, this bill would direct stateowned utility Santee Cooper to invite proposals from private companies to complete the project using non-public funds. Primary sponsor: Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort. Diversity, equity and inclusion ban (H. 3184): With university DEI departments under fire across the country, this legislation would restrict DEI initiatives in state institutions of higher education. The ban would include mandatory DEI training, DEI statements and the consideration of diversity issues in admissions and employment decisions. Primary sponsor: Rep. Josiah Magnuson, R-Spartanburg.
Tax-free baby formula (S. 14): Under current law, South Carolina exempts several categories of goods and services, including unprepared food and prescription medicines, from the state’s 6% sales tax. Under
this bill, which already has two Republican cosponsors, baby formula and baby food would be added to the list. Primary sponsor: Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg.
Potentially tougher paths
The following proposals, while popular among factions of lawmakers who tend to be on the ends of political spectrums, may face steeper uphill climbs for passage in the coming year.
Death penalty for abortion (H. 3537): Under current law, abortions are banned in South Carolina after six weeks, with limited exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. This bill would effectively ban the procedure by establishing that life begins at conception and bringing abortion under the state’s homicide statutes, which allow the death penalty for murder. Primary sponsor: Rep. Robert Harris, R-Spartanburg.
No income tax up to $1M (H. 3498): House leaders have said that income tax cuts will be a major focus in 2025, with a goal of getting rates below the Southeastern average. The most ambitious legislation filed to date is H. 3498, which would set the tax bracket on all income up to $1 million at 0%
Primary sponsor: Rep. Jor-
dan Pace, R-Berkeley.
Medical marijuana for veterans with PTSD (H. 3018): After failing to get medical marijuana legislation over the finish line in the last two sessions, supporters will try again next year with a limited initiative to OK the use of marijuana by U.S. military veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Under the bill, vets with a combat-related diagnosis of PTSD and an honorable discharge would be allowed to possess up to one ounce of marijuana or 10 grams of hashish. Primary sponsor: Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Richland. A voter referendum on Medicaid expansion (H. 3377): Facing seemingly implacable opposition from Gov. Henry McMaster and GOP supermajorities in both chambers of the legislature, Democratic supporters of Medicaid expansion are now proposing to let the voters have their say directly in a non-binding advisory referendum. South Carolina is one of 10 states that has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, leaving more than 350,000 otherwise eligible residents without coverage. Primary sponsor: Rep. Kambrell Garvin, D-Richland. No gender changes
on birth certificates (H. 3095): With youth gender-dysphoria treatment bans such as the one passed in S.C. last year under active review in the U.S. Supreme Court, S.C. Sen. Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, has said that further transgender legislation is unlikely to be a priority. Nevertheless, this House bill would prohibit gender changes on state-issued birth certificates. Primary sponsor: Rep. Steven Long, R-Spartanburg.
Sports betting (H. 3625): Despite almost $300 000 in lobbying support from major industry players like the Sports Betting Alliance, a bill to legalize mobile phonebased sports gambling in the Palmetto State died late in the 2024 session. Supporters of proposed legislation note that North Carolina has brought in about $100 million in sports gambling tax revenues since instituting it nine months ago. Opponents point to studies showing that severe problem gambling rates rise dramatically after such laws are passed. Primary sponsor: Rep. Chris Murphy, R-Dorchester.
Published in coordination with StatehouseReport.com with assistance from the S.C. Institute for Independent Journalism.
Supreme Court to hear case on SC attempt to defund Planned Parenthood
By Jack O’Toole StatehouseReport.com
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster’s 2018 executive order aimed at defunding abortion provider Planned Parenthood is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“Every person should be able to access quality, affordable health care from a provider they trust,” said Jenny Black, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. “This case is politics at its worst: anti-abortion politicians using their power to target Planned
Under the governor’s order, which lower courts have never allowed to take effect, the state’s Medicaid patients would have been blocked from accessing any form of medical care at Planned Parenthood clinics.
Parenthood and block people who use Medicaid as their primary form of insurance from getting essential health care like cancer screenings and birth control.”
But according to McMaster, any state funds spent at Planned Parenthood clinics effectively underwrite their abortion services.
“Taxpayer dollars should never fund abortion providers like
Planned Parenthood,” the governor said in a social media statement. “In 2018, I issued an executive order to end this practice in South Carolina. I'm confident the U.S. Supreme Court will agree with me that states shouldn't be forced to subsidize abortions.”
In earlier proceedings, lower courts found that McMaster’s order violated U.S. law, which allows patients using federal Medicaid funds to access the family planning provider of their choice. The injunction that prevents the order from taking effect will remain in place while the Supreme Court reviews the case.
Published in coordination with StatehouseReport.com with assistance from the S.C. Institute for Independent Journalism.
SC SUPCO Chief Justice tightens rules for lawyer-legislators to move cases along
Senators can’t argue cases before judges they directly control
By Jessica Holdman SCDailyGazette.com
COLUMBIA — The chief of South Carolina’s court system is getting stricter on when state legislators who are lawyers can use their privileges to delay or potentially influence legal proceedings.
Recent orders from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Kittredge, who took the helm of the state’s judicial department in August, pare back when lawyer-legislators can skip court and restrict senators’ ability to argue cases before the judges they control.
The state Supreme Court has long excused lawyers in the General Assembly from appearing for depositions, trials and court hearings during the legislative session.
In 2001, then-Chief Justice Jean Toal turned the unwritten practice into an
official order, telling judges to give lawyer-legislators a roughly seven-month pass, with limitations. Her order also applied to special sessions the rest of the year.
Chief Justice Don Beatty continued her order after he ascended in 2017 to the judiciary’s top spot. But amid the COVID-19 pandemic and lengthening court backlogs that followed, Beatty issued a series of orders in 2022 that Yoyo’d between hardening and softening court requirements, after receiving complaints from lawyers on each side.
“I find that lawyers who serve as members of the General Assembly provide a great service to the citizens of this state,” Beatty wrote. But the exemption also enables people who hire lawyer-legislators for their defense to indefinitely delay their charges.
This month, Kittredge
rolled the practice back with orders that go a little further than Beatty’s initial tightening of legislators’ privileges. Instead of requiring lawyer-legislators to handle only bond revocations or family court hearings involving children during the legislative session, Kittredge’s order lets the presiding judge define what’s an emergency. Essentially, the judge in each case can decide when a legislator must appear in court to keep the wheels of justice moving.
However, in a state where legislators elect judges and decide whether they keep their seat on the bench, judges may use that authority sparingly.
Kittredge’s order also sets a cap on how long things can drag out. It requires lawyer-legislators to appear for trials if their client is facing criminal charges pending for two or more years. Beat-
ty’s temporary order on that front required proceedings to continue if the charged dated back three years or more.
Like Beatty, Kittredge says lawyer-legislators must also appear for trials when a client’s case has been stalled for 18 months or more.
“This exception to the rule for absolute trial protection ensures that older cases will not languish for excessive periods of time,” Kittredge writes.
Kittredge also encourages judges to use Mondays and Fridays for emergency hearings involving lawyer-legislators as a way to keep schedules moving. The Legislature meets Tuesdays through Thursdays starting in January.
Suspects should not be allowed to delay justice simply by hiring a lawyer-legislator after their charges are filed, whether as the lead
attorney or in an assisting role, Kittredge wrote.
Former Democratic Sen. Dick Harpootlian, who championed restrictions on lawyer-legislator immunity while he was in office, applauded Kittredge for his actions.
The Columbia lawyer said he was approached several times while in office by attorneys asking him to join a case and stall it, something he said he never agreed to do.
Harpootlian famously waived his legislator privileges to try the case of Alex Murdaugh, convicted of murdering his wife and son, that for months gripped national attention and kept Harpootlian from the Statehouse.
Kittredge also issued an order to prevent senators from arguing contested cases before the magistrates they have direct authority
over as it “may lead the public to question the impartiality of the magistrate.”
While the governor technically appoints magistrates, senators actually control who occupies those county-level judgeships. The ban also applies to any member of the senator’s family and law firm.
“Public confidence in the judiciary is paramount,” Kittredge wrote. “Our justice system must not only provide equal justice to all, the public must believe in the integrity of our justice system.”
Hearings involving bond or uncontested matters are the exception.
Jessica Holdman writes
Legislative power shifts to Beaufort County with 6 committee chairs
By Jessica Holdman SCDailyGazette.com
COLUMBIA — This month’s rise of Rep. Bill Herbkersman as the new chairman of a committee overseeing energy and banking bills in the House underscores a power shift in the Statehouse.
He makes the fifth legislator from Beaufort County to lead a key committee, two years after Republicans from the state’s southern corner took the top spot in the House for education, legal and regulatory issues.
Perhaps never before has Beaufort County — a mecca for wealthy retirees and golfers — wielded so much influence in the Legislature.
Beyond Herbkersman, newly elected chairman of the House Labor Commerce and Industry Committee, the other committee chairs who live in Beaufort County are Reps. Shannon Erickson, Weston Newton, and Jeff Bradley, and Sen. Tom Davis. Collectively, they have 88 years of legislative experience.
Then there’s Sen. Chip Campsen. While he lives in Charleston County, he represents much of Beaufort County and is the most veteran of the group, adding 28 years of experience alone.
They serve as the gatekeepers of their varying domains, setting the schedules and steering the agendas of their committees to decide what has a chance of becoming law.
‘Our season’ Throughout South Carolina’s history, power has shifted from one part of the state to the other.
Between 2005 and 2012, when the Legislature’s most powerful legislators were Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell and House Speaker Bobby Harrell, Charleston County ruled.
The center of power moved to the Pee Dee in 2014, when Rep. Jay Lucas of Hartsville became House speaker and already-powerful Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman of Florence also took the title of Senate president pro tem (a position that ceased to exist in 2019).
Now, it’s Beaufort County’s turn.
“It’s just our season,” said Erickson, R-Beaufort, who is starting her second term at the helm of House Education and Public Works. “We all decided to stay in the saddle long enough and keep working on things to the point we’ve built up an expertise.”
With 200 miles separating legislators in the chambers’ tip-top spots — Senate President Thomas Alexander from tiny Walhalla and House Speaker Murrell Smith from Sumter — the Beaufort County delegation represents a new concentration of strength at the committee level.
Leadership shifts south
These legislators represent districts that cover golf resort towns and retirement destinations that, while growing, sit outside the state’s traditional population centers. (Beaufort County ranks 10th most populous among the 46 counties.) They cross tidal marshes that are home to some 15 threatened and endangered species and
House Education Chairwoman Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort, listens during the House’s organizational sessions on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. Mary Ann Chastain/ Special to the S.C. Daily Gazette
end at the Palmetto State’s southernmost tip.
The county is something of a microcosm, Erickson said.
It’s home to some of the state’s most affluent residents, many of whom have moved to the Palmetto State from elsewhere and brought with them values that tend to be fiscally conservative but more socially moderate.
It also holds a culturally rich heritage, once the domain of enslaved West and Central Africans, known as the Gullah Geechee. Isolated on the area’s rice plantations, many were able to hold on to their culture. Sea Islands slaves freed by the U.S. Army formed and ran their own town amid the Civil War.
It’s home to national historic sites commemorating gains made by Black South Carolinians during post-Civil War Reconstruction, as well as the U.S. Marines training base on Parris Island and higher education institutions in the form of the University of South Carolina’s Beaufort campus.
And, like many of Beaufort County’s residents, the chairmen and chairwoman who call it home don’t hail from there.
Erickson grew up in the Pee Dee, while Newton came from the Greenville area and Herbkersman is from Richland County. Born in Alabama, Bradley moved to Hilton Head Island in 1979. And Davis, born in New Jersey, moved to Beaufort in 1985
Which committees do they lead?
In the Senate, Davis has led that chamber’s Labor Commerce and Industry Committee since the start of the 2022 session.
First elected in 2008, Davis called the Beaufort delegation’s position “a privilege,” allowing them to elevate issues most important to the voters who elected them.
“You tend to be at the table when important decisions are being made,” he said.
But it’s also “a great responsibility,” Davis added, to equally serve residents statewide.
Campsen, an avid hunter and outdoorsman, has led the Senate Fish Game and Forestry Committee since 2012
In the House, Newton — first elected in 2012 — will be running the Judiciary Committee for the second term. Much of the legislation considered by the Legislature goes through his committee. Basically, anything that changes state
Rep. Bill Herbkersman, R-Bluffton, became the new chairman of the House Labor Commerce and Industry Committee during the chamber’s organizational session on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 at the Statehouse in Columbia. Mary Ann Chastain/ Special to the S.C. Daily Gazette
law could be sent his way, including proposals to ban abortions, legalize sports betting, loosen liquor laws or tighten criminal penalties.
Responsibilities of the committee led by Bradley, which traditionally reviewed agencies’ regulations, have been expanded in the last year to also look into the use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
First elected in 2014, Bradley became chairman after the 2022 elections of what now goes by the long title of Regulations, Administrative Procedures, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Committee.
Erickson, first elected in 2006, is in charge of the committee that reviews legislation involving education, from early childhood to college, and highway safety. Bradley is her first vice-chairman on the Education and Public Work Committee as well as chairman of its K-12 subcommittee.
‘A proven leader’
Then, during this month’s post-election organizational session, Herbkersman was moved from House Ways and Means — where he led the subcommittee overseeing health agencies’ budgets — to Labor Commerce and Industry following the election loss of its chairman.
As expected, legislators on the committee made Herbkersman chairman.
The Bluffton Republican will handle proposals on rules impacting the banking, insurance and utility industries, but also matters more broadly impacting businesses across the state.
“It’s funny how that shifts,” Herbkersman, a 22-year veteran of the House, said of the new powerhouse of legislators from the Beaufort area.
Herbkersman takes over the role from Rep. Bill Sandifer. The Seneca Republican chaired the committee for 16 years before losing his House seat to his primary challenger, Adam Duncan, this past June.
Historically, the committee known as LCI has seen very little turnover, said Fred Green, president of the state Bankers Association who has spent a large amount of time in front of the committee.
Green called Herbkersman “insightful,” “accessible” and someone who wants to listen to all per-
House Judiciary Chairman Weston Newton, R-Bluffton, looks through a notebook during the House’s organizational session on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 at the Statehouse in Columbia. Mary Ann Chastain/ Special to the S.C. Daily Gazette
spectives on an issue. He’ll also be leading a committee with 10 other new members, which Green views as advantageous “because they won’t have preconceived notions.”
Herbkersman said he took the position because he felt the committee “needed a new direction.” He intends to take a less heavy-handed approach as chairman, giving subcommittees more autonomy.
Asked why he wanted to leave the budget-writing committee to lead LCI, Herbkersman cited his business background. He and his wife founded a sporting goods store, Cycle Centers Inc., and a pair of housing and urban development companies operating in the Southeast.
“Bill is a proven leader with the vision and a fresh perspective to guide the committee in a powerful direction — one that will focus on business-friendly policies and legislation to fuel South Carolina’s booming economy,” Speaker Smith said in a statement. “I have no doubt that under his leadership, the LCI Committee will tackle the critical issues facing our state and continue to make South Carolina a great place to do business and to live.”
Energy and the environment
How to address the state’s growing electricity needs will be a major charge of Herbkersman’s as he shepherds hallmark energy legislation championed by Smith. It will be a focus of his committee when legislators return in January.
Being on the coast also gives Herbkersman and other Beaufort-area residents an appreciation for “just how fragile our environment is,” Davis said, and sensitivity to the impact commercial development has on nature.
Those who live there want the power production necessary to keep the state’s economic engine turning, Davis said, but they also lean into clean energy options. Davis thinks that will be reflected in Herbkersman’s approach.
Erickson previously served on the committee, back when a joint effort to expand the V.C. Summer nuclear plant by state-owned utility Santee Cooper and the now-defunct South Carolina Electric and Gas Co. was still expected to happen. It wasn’t until after she left the committee that the project would be abandoned amid cost overruns and fraud.
“He’s got a completely different landscape,” Erickson said as Herbkersman steps into the role.
Spokespeople for both Dominion Energy and Duke Energy spoke of the importance of the committee to their companies.
“The committee understands the critical need for new energy resources, and they understand Dominion Energy’s obligation to serve all of our customers,” said Dominion spokeswoman Rhonda O’Banion, “Just as we do, we expect that they will want to hear all sides of the issue as our legislators make the best decisions to meet growth in demand for energy in the fastest growing state in the country.”
“The fact the Speaker has entrusted this significant leadership role to the new chairman shows how important the future of energy is to him, this body and our state,” Duke spokesman Ryan Mosier added.
Working together
Many in the Beaufort County delegation also expect their leadership roles to intertwine.
Herbkersman said he plans to work alongside Bradley, who wants to use the AI arm of his committee to sort through state regulations, looking for outdated or overlapping rules.
Erickson expects Herbkersman will throw support behind a workforce initiative coming out of her education committee, meant to inform students about the schooling and skills needed to fill in-demand jobs.
And Davis said he and Herbkersman share similar views on rolling back some of the licensing requirements for certain occupations to make it easier for workers seeking jobs in those fields.
Editor Seanna Adcox contributed to this report.
Jessica Holdman writes about the economy, workforce and higher education. Before joining the S.C. Daily Gazette, she was a business reporter for The Post and Courier. S.C. Daily Gazette
Six things young adults should know about managing their health care
Despite perceptions that young adults consider themselves young and invincible, the majority of Americans aged 18 to 26 are taking an active role in maintaining their health.
Two out of three young adults have a usual source of health care, and most are seeing a physician at least once a year for wellness exams and other preventive services, according to a nationwide poll conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
"Young adults seem to understand the correlation between having an ongoing relationship with a primary care physician and creating a healthy future," says Dr. Roland Goertz, president of the AAFP. "But unfortunately, when it comes to managing their health, they, like many others, often lack the experience or desire to navigate the complex health care system."
The health care reform law now enables young adults, up to age 26, to be covered under their parent or guardian's insurance plan.
"As more provisions of health care reform become effective, such as when restrictions related to pre-existing conditions are lifted, even more young adults will have access to health care," Goertz says. "Family physicians stand ready to provide the care they need, when and where they need it."
As more young people take advantage of this benefit, the AAFP offers the following tips to help them make the most of their health care interactions.
• Establish a relationship with a family physician who will know you and your health history. Family physicians provide comprehensive care to people of all ages - ranging from preventive services to the diagnosis and treatment of acute illness and chronic conditions. They also
treat depression and other mental health conditions. Most importantly, family physicians make it convenient for patients to get the care they need. Seventy-three percent offer same-day appointments, nearly half offer early morning and evening appointments, and 27 percent communicate with patients via email.
These services are all parts of the patient-centered medical home model of care. Under this model, family physicians coordinate care across all settings, including doctors' offices, hospitals and many other services that make up our complex and confusing health care system. Key medical home technologies, such as electronic health records, enable health care professionals to communicate with one another and
stay updated on mutual patients' medical conditions and courses of treatment. This eliminates duplication, lowers costs and improves quality and patient satisfaction.
• Be open and honest with your doctor. Taking an active role in your health care can help you get the best care possible. Be sure to disclose any current and past health care issues or concerns. It's important to share any information you have, even if you're embarrassed.
• Ask questions. Don't be afraid to speak up if you have questions or concerns. It's important to let your doctor know if you don't understand something. If you have questions before your appointment, write them down and ask them during the exam. Be sure to write down the most important questions first to make sure they get answered and tell your doctor
when you need more time to talk. Play an active role in your medical decision making. Research shows that patients who are more involved with their care tend to get better results. You have a say in your medical treatment. If you aren't comfortable with a prescribed course of treatment - like taking medicine, scheduling a test or scheduling an appointment with a specialist - let your doctor know. Patients and doctors who share decision making are more likely to identify treatment plans they can both agree on. Make sure your personal doctor is in charge of your care. This is especially important if you have many health problems or are in a hospital. Make sure that all members of your health care team know about all
prescriptions and overthe-counter medicines you are taking, including dietary supplements such as vitamins and herbs. Also, make sure your doctor knows about any allergies and adverse reactions you've had. Understand your medical bills and keep medical paperwork organized. Learn to read and understand medical bills and explanations of benefits to know what's covered, what not covered, and why. Consolidate your medical care, health history and medical records, and organize your medical paperwork so you can review it easily if questions arise. Keep your medical receipts if you have a health savings account; you may be need to show them for tax purposes.
The Agency for Health-
care Research and Quality says that check-ups should include blood pressure and BMI monitoring along with a comprehensive exam with cholesterol tests. Providers can make sure tattoos or piercing sites are intact and infection-free, offer counseling on alcohol misuse and screen for depressive disorders.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommend regular STD screenings, including HIV screening, for sexually active young adults. Sexually active women 25 or younger should receive regular screening for the STDs chlamydia and gonorrhea because women in this age group have the highest rates of infection. The CDC also recommends that women should receive regular Pap smears to check for changes that might suggest cervical cancer starting at age 21 or within 3 years of the first time they have sex.
Think shots are just for kids? Think again. Immunizations, such as those for human papillomavirus (HPV), meningococcal disease and hepatitis A and B, also play an important role in protecting the health of young adults.
In addition to shots and checkups, young adults might need to get their lifestyle in sync to protect their health. Obesity rates for young adults are skyrocketing. Balanced nutrition also can be a problem for vegetarians or vegans. Some young adults have tried to quit smoking or find themselves struggling with substance abuse problems, but find they can’t do it alone. Talk with your healthcare provider to help you figure out what’s best for you and a long, healthy life.
For more information about family physicians and tips for managing your health care, visit www.familydoctor. org/smartpatientguide.
Make New Year festivities and holidays harmonious for pets
Christmas has passed, but New Year celebrations, Hannukah and Kwanza are in full swing. Celebrants all over may look forward to the holiday hustle and bustle they bring, but the same sentiments may not be expressed by pets ... if they could talk, that is.
Pets that aren't used to a lot of foot traffic in a home or loud events could become anxious when holiday guests arrive and the fun ensues. Further stress could be added by lack of attention on the part of pet owners and the changes of the home environment through
the addition of decorations.
New Years present a host of hazards to pets. It's important to be aware of these dangers to keep pets safe. Keep these pointers in mind: Holly, ivy, mistletoe, and poinsettias can be deadly if consumed by most animals. Go with faux plants instead if you desire the look. Keep your pets on a steady diet and resist the urge to feed them leftovers from holiday dinner. Abrupt changes in your dog or cat's diet can
cause stomach distress, vomiting and diarrhea.
Set aside a quiet space your pets can retreat to when there's just too much commotion in another area of the house. However, putting a dog in the backyard if it is extremely cold is simply off limits. A dark bedroom away from the activity is best.
Don't put lit candles or breakables on areas where cats like to pounce.
Involve pets in the festivities by buying a special treat that
they can enjoy for good behavior during the holidays. A new chew or chase toy is a nice idea.
If you will be traveling during the holidays, make sure your pets are adequately secured in the car and not allowed to roam freely. Use a travel crate or a special seat belt to keep the animals in place.
With some planning and care, you can ensure your pets will be comfortable and content during the holiday season.
How to break bad habits and change behavior
Research shows that you can rewire your brain to change your own habits. Old habits can be hard to break, and new habits hard to make, but with these six basic steps you can develop new, healthy behaviors that stick.
6 Steps to Changing Habits
1 Identify Cues.
Something has to trigger a habit, and a cue can be anything. Maybe stress makes you crave chocolate, or the sound of your alarm triggers you to hit the snooze button. Identifying cues helps you understand what puts your habits into motion.
2 Disrupt.
Once you know the cues, you can throw bad habits off track. If the alarm cues you to bash the snooze button every morning, put the alarm clock on the other side of the room. Trekking across the cold floor will likely disrupt the snooze habit.
3 Replace. Research shows that replacing a bad behavior with a good one is more effective than stopping the bad behavior alone.2 The new behavior “interferes” with the old habit and prevents your brain from going into autopilot. Deciding to eat fruit every time your mind thinks “cookie” substitutes a positive behavior for the negative habit.
4 Keep It Simple. It’s usually hard to change a
habit because the behavior has become easy and automatic. The opposite is true, too: new behaviors can be hard because your brain’s basal ganglia, (the “autopilot” part), hasn’t taken over this behavior yet.3 Simplifying new behaviors helps you integrate them into your autopilot routines.
5 Think Long-Term.
Habits often form because they satisfy short-term impulses, the way chewing on your nails might immediately calm your nerves. But short-term desires often have long-term consequences, like nasty, splintered, chewed up fingers. Focusing long term while trying to change some habits will help you remember why you’re investing the effort.
6 Persist. Research has shown that what you’ve done before is a strong indicator of what you’ll do next. This means established habits are hard to break. But the good news is, if you keep at it, your new behaviors will turn into habits, too.4 Persistence works—at first it might be painful to get up at 5am for that jog, but soon it will be second nature.
Habits can be changed, and with a bit of time and some effort, healthy behaviors can become second nature.
Making better habits stick
Anybody can build healthy habits; they just need to know how to
care TALK ©
do it effectively. Every journey, including your own journey to better health and well-being, begins with just one step.
Although getting and staying healthy can feel like a big chal-
lenge, it doesn't have to be. Working small, positive steps into your daily life can help you build a healthier life routine.
But just putting them on your mental to-do list might not be
Embrace the sentiment of this season... Learn to relax and enjoy!
• VOLUNTEER your time at an organization you support.
• TAKE a 15-MINUTE BREAK. Fifteen minutes of “alone time” may be just what you need to refresh yourself. Try taking a brisk walk around the block. Exercise is a great stress reliever, and a daily dose of winter sunlight can dramatically improve your mood. Meditation is another quick way to enjoy healthy downtime.
• PRIORITIZE YOUR TIME. Understand that you can’t do everything, so choose the things that you can accomplish and enjoy. ASK FOR HELP. Getting your family and friends involved in the holiday preparations may alleviate the stress of doing it all on your own. Try to plan some time with friends. If you feel isolated, seek out the support of your community, religious or social services.
• SET REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS. Sometimes, expectations for family get-togethers are too high. Accept your family members and friends as they are and set aside grievances for a more appropriate time.
• CELEBRATE THE MEMORIES OF LOVED ONES NO LONGER HERE. Confronting memories can be a normal part of the holiday experience and should be openly discussed and celebrated.
• PUT IT ALL IN PERSPECTIVE. Think about what the holiday really means to you and your family—time together, religious observance, reflection on your life and future goals—let these aspects of the holidays keep things in perspective.
• IF YOU FEEL DEPRESSED, call your spiritual leader, a community health service, or a trusted friend. Remember—help is available, but you must ask.
enough. Tying those positive steps to other things you already do regularly—a practice called "habit stacking," or "habit chaining "—can help turn them into ironclad habits. For instance, you could take a daily habit, like brushing your teeth, and add in a little movement, like doing five squats. You don't have to do the new habit at the same time as the current habit. You can add new habits before, during or after the original habit. For example:
Daily habit Healthy habit to add
Taking a walk Focus mindfully on the sights and sounds of your walk (instead of daily stressors at work or home).
Writing a Start by listing to-do list one or two things you are grateful for every day.
Making Wash and slice coffee or tea up a vegetable for snacking while you wait for water to heat or tea to steep.
Got that first step under your belt? Next, try incorporating others. You could tack on a relaxing stretch, or five minutes of positive mindfulness to manage your stress.
Source: https://www.heart.org/en/ healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/habits
SPORTS&RECREATION
DECEMBER 26, 2024–JANUARY 1, 2025
Lowco teams, wrestlers in new SCMat rankings
LowcoSports.com
SCMat.com, the preeminent source of wrestling news in the state of South Carolina releases team and individual rankings throughout the season, and the latest rankings dropped on Dec. 19
A total of 37 wrestlers from the Lowco coverage area are represented, including seven holding down the top spot in their weight class and classification, while May River is the top-ranked team in Class 4A. Beaufort also cracked
the top 10 at No. 8 in 4A, while Battery Creek is ranked ninth in Class 3A. Bridges Prep checked in at No. 16 in the Class 2A/1A rankings, with senior heavyweight Jeremiah Chavez atop the rankings at 285 pounds.
Dolphins take two more duals
After a thrilling 38-32 win over Hilton Head High last Monday,
Battery Creek picked up two more dual wins at home Wednesday, blowing out Colleton County 6618 and beating a short-handed Bridges Prep team 53-27. The Bucs salvaged the night with a 39-24 win over the Cougars.
Most of the Lowco’s wrestling programs, including the Dolphins and Bucs, will be in action at the May River Shark Invitational on Dec. 30-31
Battery Creek won, 53-27. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
Harpring, HHP claim BC Classic crown
By Justin Jarrett LowcoSports.com
Academy’s
guard Ty Harpring claiming tournament MVP honors. Harpring averaged 25 points, 7 3 rebounds, two assists, and two steals in three tournament games, shooting 23-of-57 from the field and 13-of-27 from 3-point range. He lit it up from outside in the first two games, going 5-of-9 en route to 25 points in a 50-43 overtime win over Fort Dorchester, then going off for 35 points and 10 rebounds while hitting 6-of-12 from 3-point range in a 58-51 win over Brookland-Cayce. May River did a good job of limited Harpring’s looks in the championship game, holding him to 15
points on 6-of-13 shooting, but his supporting cast stepped up and the Dolphins used a balanced effort to
Bridges Prep’s Ali Jenkins, Jr. takes down a Battery Creek Dolphin in a match during Battery Creek’s Tri Wrestling Tournament held at Battery Creek High School on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. Ultimately,
Whale Branch’s Jordan Fields attempts to block Beaufort High’s Amani Cleckley at Whale Branch Early College High School on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. Beaufort won, 6158. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
Beaufort
Gunnar Andrews catches the ball while surrounded by Battery Creek players on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. Ultimately Battery Creek took the win, 82-35. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
ART
Budding Artist After-School Art Club
4 to 5 p.m., or 5:15 to 6:15 p.m., Mondays/ Wednesdays or Tuesday/Thursdays, Happy Art Studio, 10 Sam’s Point Way, Beaufort. Ages 8 to 13. Painting, drawing, clay or crafts. Visit www.happyartstudio.net.
CALENDAR
New Year’s Eve Fireworks
9 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 31, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort. Presented by Beaufort Area Hospitality Association.
Tides To Tables Restaurant Week
Thursday, Jan. 9 to Sunday, Jan. 19, Beaufort. Tides to Tables Restaurant Week kicks off the Beaufort Oyster Festival featuring local restaurants and their cuisine.
Beaufort Oyster Festival
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 18 & 11
a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday Jan. 19, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort. Hosted by the Beaufort Area Hospitality Association. Free Admission. Live music. Cornhole tournament at 1 p.m., Sunday. Oysters provided are all locally farmed or harvested. Oysters will be available steamed, raw, roasted or fried. Other food options will be available as well. More than 15 local educational organizations will take part.
50th Beaufort Charities Festival Friday & Saturday, Feb. 28 & March 1, Live Oaks Park, Port Royal. Live entertainment Friday and Saturday nights. Oyster roast all day Saturday.
Lowcountry Food Truck Festival
11 a.m., Saturday, April 5, 1404 Paris Avenue, Port Royal.
MCAS Beaufort Airshow Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13, MCAS Beaufort. Celebrate 250 years of the Marine Corps with us. From the U.S. Navy Blue Angels to unforgettable aerial thrills, it’s a weekend you don’t want to miss. Tickets are free for general admission but required! Reserve yours now to secure your spot. Go to beaufortairshow.com to reserve your tickets.
Karaoke with Melissa
8 p.m. to midnight, Tuesdays, Highway 21 Bar, 3436 Trask Pkwy, Beaufort. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.
Karaoke with Melissa
7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Beaufort Moose Lodge, 350 Broad River Blvd, Beaufort. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.
Eric’s Karaoke Krew
9:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Rosie O’Grady’s, 2127 Boundary Street, Suite 2, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy karaoke with either Parker or Eric.
Trivia with Tom – Bricks On Boundary
7 p.m., Every Thursday, Bricks on Boundary, 1422 Boundary St, Beaufort. Free. Team trivia event, win house cash and Beer Bucket prizes! For more information, visit https://rb.gy/o9nhwe.
Eric’s Karaoke Krew
7 p.m., Thursdays, Amvets Post 70, 1831 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Free. Public is welcome. Enjoy Karaoke. Dinner will be available.
Karaoke at Willie’s
8 p.m., Thursdays, Willie's Bar and Grill, 7 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Saint Helena Island. Come and showcase your singing talents or just enjoy the performances. For more information, visit www.GullahLove.com.
Bluffton Night Bazaar — a Lowcountry Made Market
5 to 8 p.m., first Thursday of each month, Burnt Church Distillery, 120 Bluffton Road. A highly curated selection of accessories, clothing, home goods, custom gifts and more by local artists and makers.
Habersham Farmers Market
3 to 6 p.m., Fridays, Habersham Marketplace. Vendor roster includes B&E Farm, Cottonwood Soap, Flower Power Treats, Hardee Greens, Megs Sweet Treats, Vitamin Bee, Lady’s Island Oyster Company, Pet Wants.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Eric’s Karaoke Krew 9 p.m., Fridays, Highway 21 Bar, 3436 Trask Pkwy, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy Karaoke with Lt. Dan.
Eric’s Karaoke Krew
9:30 p.m., Fridays, Rosie O’Grady’s, 2127 Boundary Street, Suite 2, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy Karaoke with Parker.
Karaoke with Melissa
7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Fridays, R Bar & Grill, 70 Pennington Dr, Bluffton. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.
Port Royal Farmers Market
9 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, year round, Naval Heritage Park, 1615 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Rain or shine. You will find fresh, local, seasonal produce, shrimp, oysters, poultry, beef, pork, eggs, bread and cheese, as well as plants, ferns, camellias, azaleas, citrus trees and beautiful, fresh cut flower bouquets. There are prepared food vendors serving barbecue, dumplings, she crab soup, crab cakes, paella, coffee, baked goods, bagels and breakfast sandwiches. No pets allowed. For more information, visit http://www.portroyalfarmersmarket.com/, visit @portroyalfarmersmarket on Facebook or call 843-295-0058.
Slip and Splash Saturdays
10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturdays, Battery Creek Pool, 1 Blue Dolphin Drive, Beaufort, and Bluffton Pool, 55 Pritchard Street, Bluffton. $5 per person. Stay busy for hours climbing on our inflatable challenge track.
Eric’s Karaoke Krew
7 p.m., Saturdays, The Beaufort Moose Lodge, 350 Broad River Blvd., Beaufort. Free. Enjoy karaoke with Lt. Dan. Come early at 6 p.m. for Steak Night.
Eric’s Karaoke Krew
9:30 p.m., Saturdays, Rosie O’Grady’s, 2127 Boundary Street, Suite 2, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy karaoke with Eric.
Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud
9 a.m. to noon, 1st Saturday each month, Port Royal Farmer’s Market, Corner of Ribaut Road & Pinckney Blvd, Port Royal. Free. DAYLO Students and other volunteers will read to young children, who are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animals.
Karaoke with Melissa
8 p.m. to 12 a.m., 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, Peaceful Henry’s Cigar Bar, 181 Bluffton Rd, Bluffton. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.
CLASS REUNION
Beaufort High School Class of 1975
Oct. 17 through Oct. 19, 2025, Beaufort. 50th Class Reunion Celebration. Request that graduates of this class contact the class Community Outreach Representative Barbara Gardner Hunter at 347-497-9326 or email gardnerbarbara991@gmail.com to provide current contact information.
DANCE
The Beaufort Shag Club
6:30 to 9 p.m., Wednesdays, AmVets Club, 1831 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Free lessons for members from 6 to 6:30 p.m.
We also host a dance the second Saturday of each month from 7 to 10 p.m. Lessons will run September through May only. Visit our FaceBook page (beaufortshagclub) for current events.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Rooted Beaufort Yoga classes
5:30 to 6:45 p.m., Thursdays, Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal; 9 to 10:15 a.m., Whitehall Park or Pigeon Point Park. Rooted Beaufort is a collective of local Yoga teachers who host outdoor yoga classes and donation-based events with proceeds being donated locally on a rotating basis.
BEMER Circulation Therapy
10 to 11 a.m., Fridays via Zoom. Already own a BEMER? Never heard of it but curious? Join to ask any questions about this leading-edge German technology that enhances blood flow 30% in 8 minutes. Sessions are designed to support those who have their own unit but everyone is welcome. Brought to you by BEMER Specialist – Human & Equine, Elizabeth Bergmann. Text 410-212-1468 to get the Zoom link. Free.
HISTORY
Beaufort History Museum at the Arsenal
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays, 713 Craven St, Beaufort. General Admission for Adults $8, Seniors $7, Active Duty Military and College Students with ID $5. Children/Teens younger than 18 Free. Explore and experience more than 500 years of Beaufort History with knowledgeable docent guided tours.
The Historic Port Royal Museum 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or upon request, Thursdays through Sundays, 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. Great gifts featuring local artists are available. For more information. visit www.portroyalhistory.org, email historicportroyalfoundation@gmail.com or call 843-524-4333.
Tour Historic Fort Fremont Dawn to dusk, Monday through Sunday, The Fort Fremont Preserve, 1124 Land’s End Road, St. Helena Island. Free and open to the public. The History Center is open Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Visitors can learn about the fort’s history during the Spanish-American War through interpretive signs, self-guided walking tours with a smart phone, exhibits in the history center, and docent-led tours. For more information visit www.fortfremont.org or contact Passive Parks Manager Stefanie Nagid at snagid@bcgov.net.
LIBRARY ACTIVITIES
“Lego” With Lego
4:30 to 5:30 p.m., every Tuesday, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Free and open to the public. Ages 5 and up. No registration required. Come see our new and improved Lego Club. Choose one of our new Lego kits and get going. Call 843-255-6540 for more information.
Career Navigator
11 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Tuesday, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. Free one-on-one resume writing and job application assistance with a Career Navigator from Palmetto Goodwill. No appointments necessary. For more information call 843-255-6458.
Bridge Club
11 a.m., Wednesdays, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. Beginning September 18. The first session is for beginners new to the game, and following sessions will provide some instruction and we will learn as we play. Join us if you want to learn a new game, practice your skills, or need more players. Call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-255-6458 for more information.
Mahjong Club
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fridays, Beaufort Library, 311 Scott Street. All levels of players are welcome. Feel free to bring your own mahjong sets. Plan to meet every week. For more information, call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-255-6458.
MEETINGS
Zonta Club of Beaufort
6 p.m., 4th Tuesday of each month, Smokehouse, Port Royal.
Rotary Club of Sea Island lunch meeting
12:15 p.m., 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island. Social gathering every 3rd Tuesday at 5:30 pm, locations vary and posted on our website. For more information, visit www.seaislandrotary.org.
Rotary Club of Sea Island social gathering
5:30 p.m., 3rd Tuesday of each month, locations vary and posted on our website. For more information, visit www.seaislandrotary.org.
Beaufort Rotary Club Noon, Wednesdays, Sea Island Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island. Catered buffet lunch,
followed by a guest speaker. Prospective members welcome. For further information and upcoming speakers, please visit website www.beaufortrotaryclub.org.
The Beaufort Trailblazers –A Volunteer Group 8 a.m., first Thursday each month, Herban Marketplace, Beaufort. Anyone interested in supporting or building off-road/dirt/wilderness mountain biking/jogging/walking trails near is encouraged to attend. For more information, call 843-575-0021 or email universitybicycles@hotmail.com.
Emotions Anonymous International local group meeting 4 p.m, Thursdays, via Zoom. Emotions Anonymous International, (EAI), is a nonprofit program designed to help people with emotional difficulties. It has a chapter in the Lowcountry and members want others who feel the need to know they are welcome to participate. There is no charge to participate. They are based on the 12 steps and 12 traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous and follow a specific format designed to provide the support and tools for navigating life’s painful difficulties. All are welcome. Anyone interested in participating may contact the group via email at EALowcountry@ gmail.com or call or text Laurie at 252- 9177082. For more information on EAI visit www.emotionsanonymous.org.
Rotary Club of the Lowcountry 7:30 a.m., Fridays, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady's Island Dr., Ladys' Island. Catered breakfast from local chef. Speakers weekly. Occasional social events replace Friday mornings, but will be announced on our website, www.rotaryclubofthelowcountrybeaufort.org.
MUSIC
Habersham Third Fridays
Music on Market 5 to 8 p.m., third Friday of the month, Habersham Marketplace.
OUTDOORS/NATURE
The Beaufort Tree Walk Lady’s Island Garden Club invites you to take a meandering walk through the Historic “Old Point” and enjoy some unique and noteworthy trees. The “Walk” takes about an hour, is a little over a mile starting at the corner of Craven & Carteret streets in Morrall Park and concluding in Waterfront Park. Booklets with map and information about each tree are available free at the Visitors Center in the historic Arsenal on Craven Street.
Tours of Hunting Island Every Tuesday, Hunting Island State Park, 2555 Sea Island Pkwy. Free, park entry fees apply. Sponsored by Friends of Hunting Island Keeper Ted and his team. For more information call the Hunting Island Nature Center at 843-838-7437.
RUNNING/WALKING
Oyster Boogie 5K Saturday, Jan. 18, downtown Beaufort. USATF Certified 5K Race.
SEWING/QUILTING
American Needlepoint Guild Meeting 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1st Tuesday each month. The Hilton Head Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild welcomes anyone, beginner or experienced stitcher, who is interested in needlepoint to join us for stitching, learning and fellowship. For more information, please contact us at hiltonheadislandchapter@needlepoint.org.
Embroidery Guild of America Meeting Second Tuesday of every month, Palmetto Electric Community Room, Hardeeville. The Lowcountry Chapter of the Embroidery Guild of America welcomes anyone, beginner or experienced stitcher, who is interested in any type of embroidery including needlepoint, cross-stitch, surface and beaded embroidery, hardanger, bargello, sashiko, etc., to join us for stitching, learning and fellowship. For more information, please contact us at lowcountrychapter@egacarolinas.org.
SPORTS/GAMES
ACBL Duplicate Bridge Club 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., Tuesdays, Carteret St. Events will be held weekly. Contact Director and Club Manager Susan DeFoe at
SPORTS
Lowco football stars named to all-state team
By Justin Jarrett LowcoSports.com
The South Carolina Football Coaches Association has released their all-state teams for 2024, and Battery Creek’s Derrick Smalls Jr. and Whale Branch’s Tony Braxton Jr. are among a total of 17 players from the Lowco coverage area who made the cut.
Smalls had a sensational senior season for the Dolphins, making major contributions in all phases of the game, but he made his biggest impact in the return game and was picked for the Class 3A all-state team as a kick returner. Smalls had six combined kickoff and punt return touchdowns, helping Battery Creek to a 3-7 record following a winless 2023 campaign and matching the
Crown from page B1
program’s highest win total since a four-win season in 2017
Broxton was one of the brightest spots in an up-anddown season in Seabrook, as the 6-foot-4 210-pound junior emerged as the latest in a long line of defensive line prospects coming out of Whale Branch. He collected 30 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss and three sacks, along with a fumble recovery.
The Class 4A team included 11 combined players from Hilton Head High (4), May River (4), and Bluffton (3). Hampton County had three representatives on the Class 2A team, while Battery Creek (3A), Whale Branch (2A), and Ridgeland (1A) each had one player honored.
biggest matchup problem on the wing. Battery Creek will look to bounce back this week in the Bobcat Classic at Bluffton, beginning with a rematch with May River at 5 p.m. Thursday.
DRAFTS
Battery Creek’s Damion Freeman blocks Beaufort Academy’s Devin Fripp as he protects the ball from Battery Creek’s Aiden Aviles on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. Ultimately Battery Creek won, 82-35. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
Be at the
Center for the Arts Saturday, January 11th at 3 for a 1-hour
music adventure with internationally acclaimed artists. Andrew Armstrong’s grand piano will be joined by a trumpet, violin, and guitar. Renowned for his electrifying performances from New York’s Carnegie Hall to London’s Wigmore, Andy’s on a special mission: to bring the wonders of classical music to the youth in the South Carolina Lowcountry.
Kids get to ask questions, learn interesting facts about the instruments, and be amazed at how music can tell stories without a single word. The concert is a playful blend of music education and interactive entertainment. Youth 5-18 are
Editor’s Note: The opinions of our columnists in the Voices section are not necessarily the opinions of
Maybe they’ll take a victory lap next year
It is Thursday, and I’m in the lobby of the Partridge Inn Hotel in Augusta, Ga. The lobby, indeed the entire hotel, comes with green-painted walls celebrating Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman and the Masters Golf Tournament, which happens nearby.
But this morning, there is a white-lights-only tree in the lobby; Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” is looping through their sound system; and there is a well-used, frequently refreshed coffee urn in the corner.
When I was a boy, I was part of a military family that often, spent Christmas on the road. Mother and Dad may have had, their differences, they came from different cultures, but they both agreed that travel — even on holidays — was essential.
Sometimes it was Mexico City; sometimes Salzburg; and during the Christmas holidays Bethlehem — and its camels, donkeys and wise men — were often transported into these cushioned, carpeted lobbies.
The Partridge Inn people haven’t re-created Bethlehem here in Augusta; but my coffee-fueled brain takes me back to last Saturday night and Port Royal’s Golf Cart Parade.
For several years now, my wife and I have invited a few friends over to watch a small cohort of
decorated golf carts that usually come down London Avenue in their lonely, looping journey around town.
This was a five-cart, five-minute affair that attracted no more than 50 people along its entire route. But last Saturday night, there were hundreds of muffled-up, beverage-sipping folk standing in the early-evening darkness along Paris Avenue. Susan and I found a spot just across the street from the old town, hall where Port Royal’s Council once held its meetings; where the fire department housed its fire truck; where the police department parked their two reconditioned Crown Victoria cruisers.
Apparently there were 70 carts, all draped with lights, many of the arthritic, aging drivers impersonating elves and flinging candy into the crowd. But I must admit that I was disappointed with the quality of the candy.
Yes, I did scramble onto Paris
Avenue stiff-arming two teenagers and bringing home two fruit chews and a Tootsie Pop. I must report that I found the cherry flavored chew rigid enough to suggest left-over Halloween candy. The second chew was equally tough, the orange flavoring bearing little resemblance to the orange-flavored Tootsie Roll Pop that I usually bought (for 2 cents) at the post exchange at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver. I can also report that one cart abandoned candy altogether. Instead they handed-out onions which they removed from large bags handing them to startled bystanders who sometimes said, “What the hell …”
I was also disappointed with the music. There wasn’t much variety, “Feliz Navidad” clearly the favorite tune dominating the parade’s play list. I had hoped for something from Wayne Newton or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir or at least “Mama Loved the Roses” from Elvis Presley’s Christmas Collection.
The carts all came with lights, and with oldsters — some sporting Santa-like caps and wearing green “gremlin” masks. But I kept hoping for a nativity scene. And yes, I know that a proper scene would involve multiple actors, at least one donkey, an infant and would have to be towed. But I have seen
“This year Council reinforced the town’s tree protection ordinance; re-wrote the short term rental rules; stood up to Safe Harbor; showed concern for the apartment tsunami that threatens to engulf Shell Point and the Town’s new Mayor — Kevin Phillips — readily gives out his cell phone number.”
SCOTT GRABER, on the actions of the Port Royal Town Council in 2024
the larger, more powerful carts like “the Beast” on Port Royal’s streets and I did spot one towed platform in this year’s parade. For the most part the decorations tended to emphasize the sec-
ular side of Christmas — inflated elves and candy canes — but one entry had huge, Michelin-man sized creatures walking along beside their cart. These barrage balloon-sized men would not fit in a normal cart and I did notice that the two teenagers averted their gaze and did not fight me for their candy.
The Beaufort Christmas Parade always includes its Mayor and Council jammed into the same cart. Usually they appear to be at ease as they wave, make eye contact and sometimes call out the name of a spectator. Port Royal’s parade does not include dignitaries.
Notwithstanding their absence, Port Royal’s Council might consider an appearance next year. This year Council reinforced the town’s tree protection ordinance; re-wrote the short term rental rules; stood up to Safe Harbor; showed concern for the apartment tsunami that threatens to engulf Shell Point and the Town’s new Mayor — Kevin Phillips — readily gives out his cell phone number. Perhaps they’ll continue this record next year earning a victory lap in the Golf Cart Parade next December.
Scott Graber is a lawyer, novelist, veteran columnist and longtime resident of Port Royal. He can be reached at cscottgraber@gmail.com.
Gratitude as 2024 comes to a close
By the time you read this, Christmas will have passed, and the few remaining days of 2024 will be careening to a close. There is a bit of a dichotomy in my thought process during December. You see, my late husband’s birthday was the 19th, and that kind of day is marked by some level of sadness. Overall, I worked my way through the grief that consumed me the first few years, and I focus upon all the good that is in my life; that is a lot. In an effort to end the year on a positive note, I decided to reflect upon those situations and events for which I am grateful. Yes, I know Thanksgiving tends to be the holiday dedicated to this, but I prefer to think of the end of November and all of December as a time of celebration and acknowledging everything in my life that makes me happy.
I certainly put at the top of my list, my family. I have two wonderful daughters who married great men; both are like sons to me. My older daughter and her husband have two girls, and they are the light of my life. Now I have a great grandson. Who wouldn’t be over the moon? Are we the perfect family? Of course not. We have our disagreements and misunderstandings, but all in all, we consider ourselves to be pretty lucky.
Then there are my friends. They are multitudinous, all different, all
loved for their individuality. Somehow during the past month I managed to get together with so many of these. My calendar was full, as was my heart. Times like these are precious, and retrospect makes them even more so.
Among my friends is a very special group, my former students. Facebook, which I avoided for years, has permitted this reconnection, and it is pure delight. I have never taken the time to count exactly how many of my “kids” I am in touch with, but I am guessing the number is well over 50
Ask any teacher, and he or she will tell you there is nothing quite so fulfilling as seeing the 16-year-old you had in class as a successful, well-functioning adult with kids of his or her own.
Of course, I have to admit that it was a bit stunning
when the birthdays of several from my first year of teaching showed the age of 75! What?? After my congratulations and well wishes, I added the fact that I didn’t see how they could have attained that age since I am only 49
I should add that I have also learned that some I had in class have passed away. So young, and so difficult for me to process. One of my girls was recently diagnosed with ALS. I try to keep in touch with her and provide encouragement for something encouragement won’t cure. These are the times when I feel helpless and crushed. And it is also the time when I whisper a prayer of gratitude for my own good health.
I must add that I am grateful to be living in a country where I can still express my opinion without retribution, and I pray that
continues to be the case.
When I see pictures of wartorn places, my heart lurches just a bit, and I lament the situation of those who are displaced and without a home.
Finally, I will conclude with a note of gratitude some of you may find amusing. Jim Dickson, I am grateful for your acknowledgment a couple of weeks ago of our being in agreement on an issue. Now you may be saying, “Oh, come on.” However, I am serious. You said, rightfully so, that we rarely agree on anything political.
But the point is, Mr. Dickson, you acknowledged a place where we do agree. That should somehow serve as a beacon. We agree to disagree, and yet we do agree on this! No “snarkiness,” no flippancy, no downright meanness.
I make no promises regarding my subject matter, come 2025. When it comes to politics, I’m not sure a softer, gentler Carol exists. I try to research what I write, and if I am in error, I will admit it.
I wish all of you a very happy and healthy 2025
Carol Lucas is a retired high school teacher and a Lady’s Island resident. She is the author of the recently published “A Breath Away: One Woman’s Journey Through Widowhood.”
Kudos to you, sir. You have my respect for this! To conclude, dear reader, I want to acknowledge my gratitude for you. Many of you have connected with me personally, and I am deeply humbled. This goes as well for those at The Island News who continue to publish my rants on a weekly basis. Writing keeps my mind agile … no comments, please!
How hope can grow in an age of discontent
Given all of the political discontent across the United States, is there anything to be hopeful about?
Susan Glisson, a Georgian who gained renown running the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation at the University of Mississippi, believes there is. And hope’s location might come as a surprise to some — the South. Our region, she says after three decades of working to bring people together to make their communities work better, is where the real work is being done to build hope and reduce barriers that keep people apart.
“I think the most innovative work about community development and social justice is happening around the South,” said Glisson in an interview as she was driving to Memphis, her new hub for working. “I have the blessing of seeing what amazing people are doing.”
Fresh off a year-long fellowship at Harvard University that gave her time to think about the future, she’s going to be working to build a movement for racial healing, reckoning and repair across Southern states.
“People are tired of polarization as a whole,” she said, citing a 2023 Pew Research Center report that said 86% of Americans think Republicans and Democrats were more focused with fighting each other than solving problems.
“The majority of the country wants to have more effective
dialogue and solutions that make a difference,” she said. “But most people don’t know what that looks like. So we have to demonstrate what’s possible by modeling it in live, real communities and then offering to support people as they begin those journeys.”
Twenty years ago, Glisson led a community effort to confront the hard, racial history from the 1960s that cloaked Philadelphia, Miss., in fear and silence. That process, which became known as The Welcome Table, helped transform the town, just like similar efforts have done since in other Southern communities.
“Participants engage in self-reflection and build trusting relationships across lines of differences through story-telling,” Glisson told a Harvard audience earlier this month. “That trust provides the collective courage to grapple with hard histories and inequitable systems.
“Groups then identify common-sense solutions that repair those legacies by creating welcoming communities that share power and prosperity.”
She said she’s worked effectively across sectors, age groups and more in 25 states over the last three decades. And the work continued while Glisson was at Harvard. Last month at the Carter Center in Atlanta, for example, she trained leaders from six Southern states in the Welcome Table methodology to boost community resilience.
Starting soon, she’ll be at The Big We project to help to transform South Memphis. And in February, she’ll be at Clemson University to help to facilitate a coming-to-grips process with the institution’s history of being located on an antebellum farm owned by former Vice President John C. Calhoun and operated by enslaved Africans.
“They want to widen and deepen their work” at Clemson, Glisson said. “They want to grapple with the legacy of those histories.”
That undertaking may be similar to a successful effort with the National Park Service that led to a one-of-a-kind 2023 reunion between the descendants of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and those of Black families once enslaved in Arlington, Va.
“There’s a frustration and hunger for something deeper and more authentic that makes a difference for us and our children,” Glisson said this week.
And that — along with the success she’s achieved in communities across the South — gives her hope.
SCOTT GRABER
CAROL LUCAS
Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Statehouse Report and the Charleston City Paper. Have a comment? Send it to feedback@ statehousereport.com.
ANDY BRACK
Montford Point Marines spread holiday cheer
VA benefits for elderly veterans
When I started this series on elderly veteran benefits, I believed I could cover the 23 benefits in four articles, but I was wrong. I apologize; I need to extend the series to five articles. This is the fourth of five articles on 23 VA benefits for elderly veterans.
The first article covered the VA's pension program (Regular Pension and enhanced benefits of Aid & Attendance and Housebound), Geriatrics and Extended Care Program, and Long-Term Care Program. It also reminded veterans to sign up for VA healthcare, use a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to help them file for their VA benefits and services, and ensure they know their social worker. You can read Article 1, dated December 4 2024, online at https://bit.ly/4grRyEa.
The second article was published on December 11 2024, and it covered VA Military Service-connected Disability Compensation and Residential Settings and Nursing Homes [Including the Community Residential Care Program, Medical Foster Homes, Adult Family Homes, Traumatic Brain Injury – Residential Rehabilitation (TBI-RR), and Assisted Living].
The third article was published on December 18 2024, and it summarized. VA Military Service-connected Disability Compensation, Residential Settings, and Nursing Homes, including Community Living Centers (VA Nursing Homes), VA contracted Community Nursing Homes, State
Veterans Homes, Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care (Home Based & Community Care), Skilled Home Health Care (Home Based & Community Care), and HomeBased Primary Care (Home Based & Community Care).
You can read all my past The Island News articles on veterans’ benefits, leadership, law enforcement, hospice, and other topics at https://www.yourislandnews.com under the heading “Military.”
This article will cover the following benefits/services including:
Benefit 16 of 23 — VeteranDirected Care (Home Based & Community Care)
Veteran-directed care provides veterans of all ages the opportunity to receive the Home and Community-Based Services they need in a consumer-directed way. This program is for veterans who need personal care services and help with activities of daily living. Examples include assistance with bathing, dressing, or fixing meals. This program is also for veterans who are isolated and veterans whose caregivers are experiencing a burden.
Veterans in this program are given a budget for services managed by the veteran or the veteran’s representative. With the help of a counselor, veterans hire their own workers to meet their daily needs and help them live at home or in their community. Learn more at https://bit. ly/49TO6Aw and by talking with your VA Social Worker.
Benefit 17 of 23 — Adult Day Health Care (Home Based & Community Care)
Veterans can attend this program during the day for social activities, peer support, companionship, and recreation. The program is for veterans who need help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, or fixing meals. It is also for veterans who are isolated or whose caregivers are experiencing a burden.
Adult Day Health Care can be combined with other Home and Community-Based Services (see https://bit.ly/4gszISb. Health services, such as care from nurses, therapists, social workers, and others, may also be available.
Adult Day Health Care can provide respite care for a family caregiver and help veterans and their caregivers gain skills to manage the veteran's care at home. The program may be provided at VA medical centers, State Veterans Homes, or community organizations. Learn more at https://bit. ly/49PfHCM and by talking with your VA Social Worker.
Benefit 18 of 23 — Respite Care
Respite Care is a program that pays for short-term care when family caregivers need a break, run errands, or go out of town for a few days. It can be helpful to veterans of all ages and their caregivers. There are two types of respite:
• Home Respite Care is a service that pays for a person to come to a veteran's home or for a veteran to go to an adult day health care program while their family caregiver takes a break or runs errands.
Benefit 19 of 23 — Telehealth
The VA uses telehealth technologies to provide easier access to care. Telehealth connects you with your VA care teams and specialists regardless of distance. VA Telehealth can reduce travel and bring care closer to you through Telephone, Telehealth or Tele-visits, Remote monitoring, and Mobile apps. Learn more at https://bit. ly/3ZHCL1q and by talking with your VA Social Worker.
Continued next week.
Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Hospital,
• Nursing Home Respite Care is a service that pays for a veteran to go to a nursing home while the family goes out of town for a few days without worrying about leaving the veteran alone at home. Nursing home respite may occur in a VA Community Living Center or a community nursing home and is available for 30 days each calendar year. This type of respite should be scheduled in advance. Services may vary by location. The program is for veterans who need help with daily living activities. Examples include assistance with bathing, dressing, or fixing meals. This program is also for veterans who are isolated or their caregivers are experiencing a burden. Respite Care can be used in combination with other Home and Community-Based Services. Respite Care can help lower the stress the veterans and their family caregivers may feel when managing a veteran's short-term or long-term care needs at home. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4gs3fLL and by talking with your VA Social Worker.
Members of the Montford Point Marines Association donate food to Marines and sailors aboard MCRD Parris Island on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. The Montford Point Marines Association is a nonprofit veterans service organization established in 1965. Cpl. Jordy Morales/USMC
U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Ahmed T. Williamson, commanding general of Marine Corps Recruit Depot and Eastern Recruiting Region Parris Island, right, greets retired Master Sgt. Ronald Patterson, left, with the Montford Point Marines Association on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. The Montford Point Marines Association donated food for sailors and Marines for the holidays. Cpl. Jordy Morales/USMC
U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Ahmed T. Williamson, commanding general of Marine Corps Recruit Depot and Eastern Recruiting Region Parris Island, greets retired Marines who are a part of the Montford Point Marines Association on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. The Montford Point Marines Association donated food to Marines and sailors for the holidays. Cpl. Jordy Morales/USMC
SERVICE DIRECTORY
ATTORNEY
Christopher J. Geier
Attorney at Law, LLC
Criminal Defense & Civil Litigation
16 Professional Village Circle, Lady's Island Office: 843-986-9449 • Fax: 843-986-9450
chris@bftsclaw.com • www.geierlaw.com
AUDIOLOGY & HEARING
Beaufort Audiology & Hearing Care
Monica Wiser, M.A. CCC-A
Licensed Audiologist
38 Professional Village West, Lady's Island monica@beauforthearing.com www.beauforthearing.com | 843-521-3007
Hear the Beauty that Surrounds You
The Beaufort Sound Hearing and Balance Center
Dr. Larry Bridge, AU.D./CCC-A 206 Sea Island Parkway, Suite 31, Beaufort thebeaufortsound@gmail.com www.thebeaufortsound.com | 843-522-0655
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In the Beginning A Family of Love
God saves the best for last.
In the opening chapters of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, we read about the creation of the universe. There is one God, not many gods. He is all-powerful, and he freely chooses to create the universe out of nothing. He lovingly creates the stars, the earth, and all the living creatures in it. Once all has been prepared, he creates the first humans, Adam and Eve, as his masterpiece.
Human beings are created to share in God’s love. Out of all the earthly creatures God created, humans are unique. “God created mankind in his own image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Gen 1:27) This means that they are persons, beings with the capacity to know and to love, created for eternal union with him. This capacity to give of oneself in love is what makes us most like God.
Adam has a close friendship with God, yet he is “alone.”
In the garden, Adam is depicted as walking and conversing with God like we would talk with a friend. Despite this intimacy, God says, “It is not good for man to be alone.” (Gen 2:18) As Adam names the animals, he recognizes that they are not his equal; they are not persons with an intellect and free will. God has placed in Adam a yearning to give of himself in selfless love, but Adam has not yet found an earthly companion with whom he can share such a love.
God creates Eve to be Adam’s wife.
When Adam sees Eve, he rejoices that he has at last found an equal. She too is a person made in God’s image and likeness, someone who is worthy of his love and who can love him in return. Their love can even bear fruit in a child, another person created for eternal union with God. As a family, Adam and Eve will grow in their love for each other and deepen their love for God as well.
Adam and Eve are united perfectly with God and each other. Scripture describes Adam and Eve as being “naked without shame.” (Gen 2:25) This indicates that they enjoy a perfect unity, trusting one another fully. They know and love each other completely, without any selfishness or brokenness, and they also know and love God in the same way. They are happy because they are living out the call God placed in their hearts, to give of themselves in love.
This shows us God’s plan for the whole human race. From the very beginning, God intended humanity to know and love him perfectly. He did not intend for us to grow in our relationship with him as isolated individuals, however, but as members of a family united by love. Adam was not expected to grow in his relationship with God all by himself, but with the help of Eve and their children. God’s plan was always that humanity would come to know and love him through the love and support of a family of faith.
CLASSIFIEDS & GAMES
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