Thursday, December 13th, 5:30-7:00 pm at
presents
ISLAND GIRLS NIGHT OUT
MODERN JEWELERS
807 Bay Street • DOWNTOWN BEAUFORT • (843) 379-4900
DELECTABLE APPETIZERS • FREE LIBATIONS • FABULOUS DOOR PRIZES
FREE & OPEN TO EVERYONE!
DECEMBER 6 - 12, 2018 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. to Make Musical Magic in Beaufort
Public input needed to guide superintendent search
Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. is the soul and Sinatra-singing season 6 winner of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent." The former car washer's Columbia Records debut album produced by Grammy winner Steve Tyrell spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Jazz chart, and Landau's follow-up holiday CD
ing events, a magical evening of music, art, food and fellowship at Tabby Place that has raised a great deal of money for the Boys & Girls Clubs, while also raising awareness and inspiration. “I am thrilled to have Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. perform at our annual Notes event,” says James Dismond, area director
“Christmas Made For Two” raised thousands for the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia and received nationwide airplay, including Sirius/ XM’s “Holly” channel. And now, Murphy is heading to Beaufort. On Friday, Jan. 11, he’ll be the featured performer at “Notes: An Evening of Musical Storytelling & Casual Conversation” to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry. Now in its third season, Notes has quickly become one of Beaufort’s premiere fundrais-
of resource development for the BGCL. “Landau’s life story resonates with many of our club members. He’s not only a great talent, but exemplifies how dedication and willpower can lead to success regardless of your economical background. He’s an inspiration and we hope our club members see that they too can be successful and achieve greatness.” Murphy’s self-titled third album was recorded at the famed Capitol Records studios in Hollywood, where Sinatra recorded
some of his signature classics. He has performed dozens of sold-out concerts around the world, headlining at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, the Apollo Theater in New York, The Grove in Hollywood (for Tina Sinatra), the Fountainbleu in Miami Beach, with the Boston Pops Symphony Orchestra, at the Mercedes Benz Arena in Shanghai, China, and for U.S. troops stationed across Europe. His memoir, “From Washing Cars To Hollywood Star,” was an Amazon No. 1 bestseller in the Jazz Books category, and a Readers' Favorite Award winner. Murphy has performed with living legends including Patti Labelle, George Benson, and former members of the Temptations, Platters and Drifters. He’s appeared on CNN, HLN, the Today Show, Fox and Friends, Tom Joyner, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, Wendy Williams, and dozens other other top media outlets. In the midst of all this success, Murphy has never forgotten where he came from. A native of West Virginia, he was homeless by the age of 19 and working as a car washer when “America’s Got Talent” changed his life forever. Today he spends
Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. is the complete package: talent, personality, character, class and humility, the ingredients for longevity...
SEE MAGIC, PAGE A6
GLENN LEONARD former lead singer of The Temptations
Big crowd turns out for Lady’s Island Plan reveal More than 260 interested residents turned out at Lady’s Island Middle School on Thursday, Nov. 29, to hear details of the draft Lady's Island Plan. When adopted, the plan will be the first ever developed to help manage growth on Lady's Island. Planners from Beaufort County, the City of Beaufort and Town of Port Royal, and a 10-member steering committee drawn from the community presented a summary of the plan. Key focal points of the plan include: • Managing Growth • Create A Walkable Center
PICTURE PERFECT Conroy Center to unveil new portrait by artist Susan Graber. PAGE A7
• Strengthen Neighborhoods • Manage Traffic Congestion • Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities • Adequate Infrastructure • Development Process Transparency The draft plan was subsequently presented to the Beaufort County Northern Plan Implementation Committee on Friday, Dec. 1, the first step in the adoption process. Ultimately, the plan must be formally adopted by Beaufort County and the City of Beaufort, and endorsed by the Town of Port Royal and key civic organizations such as the Sea Island Corridor Coalition, Lady’s Island Business Professionals
LUNCH BUNCH Lunch at Madison’s satisfies every taste. PAGE B1
Association, and the Coastal Conservation League, among others. The full plan has been posted online at www.designingladysisland.com.
HOLDING COURT BHS’ Daniel earns AllState tennis honors. PAGE B2
A series of six public forums next week – along with the availability of an online survey – will offer Beaufort County residents the opportunity to help guide the search for the school district’s next superintendent. In late October the Beaufort County Board of Education hired Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA), an experienced education executive search firm, to coordinate a nationwide search to replace Jeff Moss, who left the school district in July after a five-year tenure as superintendent. One of the search firm’s first steps will be collecting broad-based input from parents, students, educators, community and business leaders, and other key stakeholders about the personal and professional characteristics that candidates for the job should possess. Public feedback from the six upcoming town hall meetings, the online survey, and focus groups will be used by HYA to develop a Leadership Profile Report that will be presented to the Board of Education in January. Potential candidates for the school district’s top job will be recruited from across the nation based on the professional experiences and personal attributes identified in that report. The six public forums are scheduled for: • Monday, Dec. 10 – Beaufort High (small auditorium) • Monday, Dec. 10 – Battery Creek High (auditorium) • Tuesday, Dec. 11 – Bluffton High (gym) • Wednesday, Dec. 12 – May River High (auditorium) • Thursday, Dec. 13 – Hilton Head Island High (cafeteria) • Thursday, Dec. 13 – Whale Branch Early College High (cafeteria) Each forum will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will last 60-90 minutes. Participants will work through a series of questions designed to elicit their perceptions of and expectations for students and the school district. Questions will be centered on stakeholder values, perceived strengths and challenges for the district, and the personal and professional characteristics the community expects the new superintendent to possess. Participants’ opinions will be recorded anonymously by a scribe, and their feedback will be factored into the Leadership Profile Report. Those who are unable to attend one of the six community forums can participate in an online survey conducted by HYA at ecrasurvey.com/beaufort. The online survey is already active, and responses will be accepted through December 20. Herb Berg is serving as the district’s interim superintendent during the search for an educator to fill the permanent position.
INSIDE Lowcountry Life A2 News A3 Health A4 A5 Gift Guide From The Front A6 A7 Arts
Lunch Bunch B1 Sports B2 Schools B3 Events B7 Directory B8 Classifieds B9