February 9 edition

Board again supports decisions of book committees

By Mike McCombs

The Island News

Once again Tuesday evening, the Beaufort County Board of Education reaffirmed the work of its book review committees. But there were a few hiccups this time.

The school board, however, eventually voted 7-2-1 to uphold the decisions of Committees 7 through 9 and 11 through 16 from the Thursday, Jan. 19 meeting at Okatie Elementary School, returning all nine of those books to the

Puppets keep pot boiling

WALTERBORO

Most murder trials in South Carolina stay on the docket for years before they’re adjudicated — some longer than five years.

The trial of Alex Murdaugh came just six months after charges were filed.

Six months!

Murder trials in South Carolina don’t typically last longer than a week.

The trial of Alex Murdaugh is now smack dab in the middle of its third week.

And there’s no end in sight …

As of Tuesday afternoon, 36 witnesses have testified in front of the jury — just 14 percent of the more than 250 expected to take the stand.

More than 400 items have been entered into evidence.

One of the six alternate jurors has already dropped out for health reasons.

The attorneys are showing signs of fatigue.

Those watching from home have lost sight of the narrative.

And it’s not clear to anyone what the outcome will be when the jury — which hasn’t been taking notes — finally sits down to consider a miniseries’ worth of evidence and testimony.

This is what a seven-figure defense team can buy you.

Sometimes it seems as if this trial has become a Battle Royale, and to win it, Team Murdaugh’s only goal is to be the last one

SEE FARRELL PAGE A6

shelves in some fashion.

The decisions of those nine committees had each been appealed by at least one of the two original complainants — Ivie Szalai or Mike Covert. Of course, neither appealed the decision of Committee 10, which was to remove It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover from circulation in the Beaufort County School District. It will remain out of circulation in the district for at least five years, according to policy.

The reviews of the other nine books are now complete and the results are as follows:

Committee No. 7: Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur – returned to grades 9-12 only.

Committee No. 8: The Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell – returned to grades 9-12 only.

Committee No. 9: Looking for Alaska by John Green – returned to grades 9-12 only.

Committee No. 11: Impulse

by Ellen Hopkins – returned to grades 9-12 only.

Committee No. 12: Glass by Ellen Hopkins – returned to grades 9-12 only.

Committee No. 13: Go Ask Alice by Anonymous – returned to grades 9-12 only.

Committee No. 14: Crank by Ellen Hopkins – returned to grades 9-12 only.

Committee No. 15: Thirteen

Reasons Why by Jay Asher – returned to circulation.

Committee No. 16 : The Poet X by Elizabeth Aceveda – returned to grades 9-12 only. Szalai had appealed all nine books. Covert appealed all but the decisions of Committees 15 and 16.

Board member Rachel Wisnefski (District 7) originally made the motion that the board “concurs with the findings of the Jan. 19 book review committees.”

SEE DECISIONS PAGE A5

Blackstone’s Café opened in 1991, and has been a favorite of the breakfast and lunch crowd in Downtown Beaufort ever since. A wellknown tradition at the restaurant, the staff and patrons recite the Pledge of Allegiance every morning at 8 a.m. Photos by Delayna Earley/ The Island News

Blackstone’s Café gets a new owner

By Delayna Earley The Island News

BEAUFORT

Blackstone’s Café has a new owner.

Jake Higgins has purchased the iconic restaurant from owners Lou and Annamaria Gaudio.

Higgins, who owns several businesses in Beaufort including the Highway 21 Drive-In, wanted to buy this business to help preserve the heritage of the historic restaurant and others like it in the area.

Blackstone’s Café was originally opened in 1991 by Roger Blackstone Alley. Higgins will be the third owner of the restaurant in the more than 30 years that it has been open.

Alley began a tradition of asking the patrons and staff to say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning at 8 a.m., which is one part of Blackstone’s Café’s heritage that Higgins plans to keep.

VIDEO For a short video related to this story, follow this digital link or visit https://youtu.be/ TyBQnh6yXv0

Higgins

“So much of Beaufort keeps changing as they build new restaurants and stores, but we also need to protect what is already here,” Higgins said, “This is Beaufort’s heritage.” Blackstone’s Café is currently open for breakfast and lunch.

Delayna Earley lives in Beaufort with her husband, two children and Jack Russell. She spent six years as a videographer and photographer for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette before leaving the Lowcountry in 2018. After freelancing in Myrtle Beach and Virginia, she joined The Island News when she moved back to Beaufort in 2022. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.

LIZ FARRELL

Jake

Archaeologists held a symposium over the weekend at the USCB Center for the Arts to discuss their findings relating to whether or not the 17th-century Scottish of Stuarts Town is buried under “The Point” in Beaufort’s historic district. The jury is still out, but the bagpiper Ron Callari captured was the real deal. To submit a Lowcountry Life photo, you must be the photographer or have permission to submit the photo to be published in The Island News. Please submit high-resolution photos and include a description 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 ANTHONY D’ALTRUI

Anthony D’Altrui

Beaufort’s Anthony D’Altrui, 74, joined the United States Marine Corps straight from high school in Newark, N.J., in 1966. After boot camp at Parris Island and infantry training at Camp Lejeune, he trained to become an air traffic controller. He served in that field at MCAS El Toro; Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; Iwakuni, Japan; and in

Vietnam at Chu Lai and An Hoa. He separated in 1969 and used his GI benefits to train as an electrician. Later career moves saw him run a contracting business for 20 years, as a N.J. Code Inspector, and as a construction manager for 25 years, all in New Jersey. He was a docent for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

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in New Jersey for 10 years. He moved to Beaufort in 2020 and now uses his talents volunteering at Parris Island working with the Recovery Company.

– Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 9. For nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com

ON THIS DATE

February 10

1863: In a letter bearing this date, President Abraham Lincoln authorizes that part of a 64-acre tract known as Polly’s Grove Plantation be used for Beaufort National Cemetery. The land had been acquired by U.S. Army Gen. David Hunter for $75 at an 1863 tax sale of properties confiscated by the federal government. After the Civil War, 29 acres of the parcel was retained for the cemetery.

February 11

1926: James Edwin McTeer is appointed sheriff of Beaufort County after the death of his father, also James Edwin McTeer, before his term in office expired. The younger McTeer would serve as sheriff until his retirement in 1963, McTeer was widely known

PAL PETS OF THE WEEK

Cat of the Week: Have you always wanted a mini cow to snuggle? Boy can certainly step in! This guy loves to snuggle, talk, and eat yummy snacks. He enjoys having other cats and people of all ages to hang out with. Boy is 2 years old, neutered, up to date on vaccines, and microchipped.

as a root doctor and an expert on witchcraft, according to the Beaufort Gazette.

February 15

1519: Pedro Menendez de Aviles — founder of Santa Elena, the first colonial capital of Spanish Florida on Parris Island in the Port Royal Sound — is born in Spain. Menendez de Aviles was the first Governor of Florida and the first European man to convert native Americans to Christianity.

2016: Beaufort author Pat Conroy announces publicly on his Facebook page that he is battling pancreatic cancer.

– Compiled by Mike McCombs

Dog of the Week: Glitch loves to meet new people and show off his handsome smile. Glitch enjoys spending his time outside and going on adventures, and he would love an adventure buddy. He is 4 years old, neutered, up to date on vaccines, and microchipped.

If you are interested in adopting Boy, Glitch or any of our other pets, call our adoption center at 843-645-1725 or email us at info@ palmettoanimalleague. org to set up an appointment.

CONTACT US PO Box 550 Beaufort, SC 29901 TheIslandNews@gmail.com www.YourIslandNews.com facebook.com/TheIslandNews

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Short-term rentals’ future faces vote in Folly Beach

BEAUFORT

There’s a vote taking place up the road in Folly Beach this week that folks in Beaufort — especially those concerned about the impact of short-term rentals on the local housing market — might want to pay attention to.

By the time this edition of The Island News rolls off the presses, the results of the Feb. 7 local referendum will be known – whether the town will limit the number of STR’s to 800.

Currently the beach-front community has 2,600 properties, of which more than 1,000 are shortterm rentals.

The question is being posed to Folly Beach voters because enough of them were concerned about what was happening to their community while the Town Council took no action to impose changes.

True, the state legislature has discussed taking away the authority of local governments to limit things like short-term rentals so the town and county councils have to proceed carefully.

There’s also the knowledge that even if the ordinance is passed, it will be challenged in court. (Beaufort County residents are hearing that a lot as well. Case in point: the county staff’s efforts to amend the Pine Island Cultural Protection Overlay District because of perceived legal shortfalls in that ordinance.)

For those who support shortterm rentals as a way to supplement their income, or more directly, a way to hold on to property that may have been in

their families for generations, the vote is an argument against the stripping of property rights. Kind of like “zoning” is construed by some to take away the right to do with one’s property what one wishes.

Folly Beach, like other popular destinations, is also seeing an increase in number of short-term rentals owned by corporate real estate operations, not just private investors.

But the short-term issue, which has been debated on and off by elected officials in Beaufort, Port Royal and the county for years, is seen as something more sinister, according to one Post and Courier columnist: the issue is seen as “another battle for the community’s soul.”

That’s a term that’s bantered about here in this part of the Lowcountry as well. It’s used by people who have lived their whole lives here and are distressed by the increased traffic, the increase in “new faces” and the destruction of wooded acres.

It’s also being used more and more by “newcomers” who see the changes and warn that they’ve seen similar results of over-development in places they moved from.

The town of Hilton Head

Island’s first STR regulations went into effect last month although the practice has been in place for years. At least one survey of online STR’s for the island showed approximately 7,000 available properties.

There’s no current talk, at least not publicly, about changing Beaufort’s STR ordinance, which has been in place since 2011 with 203 properties now listed at city hall.

There’s much more talk about the need for “affordable housing” but one would think, with apartment complex projects being approved especially in the Burton and Port Royal area, that pain would be somewhat eased.

How many “battles for the community soul” can there be?

New businesses escalate ‘battle’ for employees

BEAUFORT – Local media reports, mixed with an abundance of online rumors and sidewalk gossip, are bolstering our winter spirits with the word of new dining and shopping experiences coming our way.

The Beaufort Gazette reported last week construction could start any month now on the buildings anticipated to occupy the new Beaufort Station, at the corner of Robert Smalls Parkway and Paris Island Gateway.

The formerly heavily wooded 31 acres was stripped of trees months ago, to the surprise of many who didn’t realize the latest range of commercial businesses coming this way.

Included in the list of new stores, along with an Aldi’s gro-

cery, is Hobby Lobby, Old Navy, Rack Room Shoes, PetSmart and T.J. Maxx as well as another Parker’s gas station. Providing those leases take place as rumored, that means the PetSmart and T.J. Maxx across the street in the Cross Creek shopping center will probably sit empty for a while but hopefully not for long.

And, again, according to the internet, we see there’s another breakfast-lunch chain, First Watch, scheduled for opening on Robert Smalls Parkway, near the Cross Creek shopping center.

Just like fans of a new Harris Teeter on Lady’s Island, lovers of the Cook-Out hamburgers are still waiting for the N.C.-based chain to open up. The burger place filed permits with the city last year to demolish the former Golden Corral restaurant on Robert Smalls Parkway and build a new structure, complete with … ready? ... a drivethrough window.

It looks like Chipotle and Five Guys in the Beaufort Plaza may crank up their grills first.

We know, thanks to Facebook, that Blackstone’s on Scott Street has a new owner, Jake Higgins,

who has taken over the helm from Lou and Annamaria Gaudio, who bought the place from Roger Alley in 2016

And alas, there is a closing. Again thanks to Facebook, we learn Dukes Barbecue, which has filled many an empty stomach on Thursdays and Fridays since at least the 1980s, has closed its doors on Old Salem Road. Too bad all those new homeowners moving into the residences springing from the earth “out that way” will have to look elsewhere for their Southern culinary fixes like banana pudding and barbecue hash. With all this coming-and-goings in the restaurant business, as well as proposed retail shops, one has to wonder — where are the employees going to come from?

Lolita Huckaby Watson is a community volunteer and newspaper columnist. In her former role as a reporter with The Beaufort Gazette, The Savannah Morning News, Bluffton Today and Beaufort Today, she prided herself in trying to stay neutral and unbiased. As a columnist, these are her opinions. Her goal is to be factual but opinionated, based on her own observations. Feel free to contact her at bftbay@gmail.com

Ranked Health Care

Only 5% of hospitals in the U.S. have earned the Top Hospital award for patient safety and quality — and Beaufort Memorial is one of them.

We’re proud to be among the select group of hospitals recognized by the national hospital safety watchdog organization The Leapfrog Group for putting patients and their safety first every day. Not only does it mean our team is focused on you, it means you can feel confident in trusting us when it matters most.

We all want access to top healthcare, because we know that “top” means a commitment to pursuing and achieving the best, which is especially important when you’re looking for medical services and care. And the good news: it’s right in our backyard.

LOLITA HUCKABY

Too bad all those new homeowners moving into the residences springing from the earth “out that way” will have to look elsewhere for their Southern culinary fixes like banana pudding and barbecue hash.”

Shell Point drainage project set to begin

From staff reports

The drainage improvement project in Shell Point was set to begin last week.

Beaufort County has contracted with J. Bragg Consulting, Inc. to perform field mapping, surveying services, and wetland delineations in order to develop construction plans for infrastructure improvements for the Shell Point neighborhood.

Representatives from J. Bragg, Inc, and their subconsultants F&ME Consultants, Inc., Infrastructure Consulting & Engineering, PLLC, Surveying Consultants, Inc., and Surculus will perform this work through March 2023 in the Shell Point Community between Savannah Highway, Parris Island Gateway, and the marshes of the Broad River.

There may be temporary lane closure and residents planning to traverse the area should take caution when driving through the survey zone. If possible, please limit travel on this road during this work effort as to not interfere with the work. The survey is estimated to be completed by mid-March, weather and scheduling permitting.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding J. Bragg or their subconsultants’ presence, or it you would it to know more about the purpose or status of the design plans, please visit the Shell Point Drainage Improvement Project website at http://bit.ly/3l0h6kz or contact Project Manager Julianna Corbin at julianna. corbin@bcgov.net

NEWS BRIEFS

United Way of the Lowcountry’s Women United seeks nominations for Woman of the Year

United Way of the Lowcountry’s Women United is seeking nominations for its 2023 Woman of the Year Award.

This prestigious award recognizes a Lowcountry woman who, through a lifetime of service-work and volunteerism, has made a difference in our community. Nominations are being accepted until 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 20.

The 2023 Woman of the Year nomination form can be found online at https://uwlowcountry.org/2023wuaward. Nominees need not be affiliated or associated with United Way of the Lowcountry to be eligible. Entries will be judged by a Women United committee.

The Women United 2022 Woman of the Year Award will be presented during the 11th annual Power of the Purse Gala on Thursday, March 9 at Saltus River Grill in Beaufort.

Roasting for a reason

Past recipients include Norma Duncan, Nan Sutton, Charlotte Gonzalez, Connie Wegmann, Connie Hipp, Bobbi Weber, Elizabeth Millen and Dr. Renarta Tompkins. For more information, contact Bethany Marcinkowski at 843-837-2000 or bethanym@uwlowcountry.org

County Council to hold budget workshop Feb. 9

Beaufort County Council is wrapping up two days of workshops that will have included presentations from County Administrator Eric Greenway and numerous County departments. Held each year, the budget workshops give guidance to County Council members and staff as they work together to craft the upcoming fiscal year County budget.

The second session will be held Thursday, Feb. 9, beginning at 9 a.m. until noon, and will resume at 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. The workshop will be held in County Council chambers.

The second day of workshop topics will include opening remarks by the County Administrator, economic development priorities and goals, tourism goals, and an update on ARPA projects.

The workshops will be televised live by The County Channel. Watch at http://bit. ly/3YAARxs

Public comment will not be available either day as these are Council work sessions.

For more information and agendas for both days, visit http://bit.ly/3RKjEQ1

Beaufort Lions Club hosting semi-annual Sweetheart

Pancake Breakfast

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, be sure not to miss the Beaufort Lions Club Sweetheart Pancake Breakfast, from 8 to 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Sea Island Presbyterian Church.

Treat your sweetheart to luscious pancakes with syrup, fluffy scrambled eggs with sausage, cheesy grits, and Jim Palmer’s famous sausage gravy and biscuits. Coffee, milk, and orange juice will be available as well.

Not only will you and your family enjoy a warm nutritious breakfast, but you be helping Northern Beaufort County residents with low vision needs. Free vision screenings will be available. Ticket prices are $12 for adults and $10 for those younger than 12. Tickets may be purchased from

any Beaufort Lions Club member or at the door. Cash, checks, and major credit cards will be accepted.

County offers free electronics recycling event Saturday, Feb. 11

The Beaufort County Department of Solid Waste and Recycling will host two free electronics recycling events for County residents. They will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the following locations on Saturday, February 11:

Beaufort County Public Works, 9 Benton Field Road, Bluffton Beaufort County Public Works, 140 Shanklin Road, Beaufort

Citizens are asked to stay in their cars during the event. Staff will unload electronics. Residential only.

Any personal computers, laptops, CRT monitors, LCD monitors, CRT televisions, non-CRT televisions, printers, hard drives, and miscellaneous electronics (cell phones, radios, and fax machines) will be accepted.

Household items not accepted at this event include microwaves, vacuums, stereos, speakers, tuners, VCRs, DVDs, lamps, etc. These can be taken to the Convenience Centers for disposal and will not be unloaded at the event.

If you have questions about Beaufort County recycling events, please call the Solid Waste and Recycling Office at 843-2552736 or visit their website at www.beaufortcountysc.gov/recycle

LIBPA meeting set for Feb. 14

The Lady’s Island Business & Professional Association will meet at 8 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 at at the Beaufort Realtors’ Association Headquarters at 22 Kemmerlin Lane, Lady’s Island. Beaufort County Planning and Zoning Director Robert Merchant will be the featured speaker. Please stop by for coffee and conversation as Merchant addresses planning and development in our community.

FWDG’s annual coat drive keeps Beaufort County warm again

In preparation for Beaufort County’s coldest month, January, FWDG held its 32nd Annual Coat Drive. The coat drive, which ran from November 1 through De-

cember 31, 2022, ended with a collection of 611 winter garments.

The generous donations from residents over the past 32 years have brought the total collected donations to 46,575.

The furniture store collected winter coats for children and adults in need living throughout Beaufort County. The store’s five drop-off locations collected an assortment of warm clothes, including coats, sweaters, blankets, hats, shoes, and more. All donations were distributed to neighbors in need prior to the coldest days in January.

FWDG partnered with Help of Beaufort, The Deep Well Project of Hilton Head Island, and Bluffton Self Help to accomplish this mission.

“I would like to thank all that contributed to our coat drive this year to make it the biggest in several years,” FWDG Founder and President Larry Mark said in a news release. “I especially want to thank those donors that have been living by the mantra of ‘buy one and donate one.’ One of our employees even purchased two new coats to donate to the drive. All of the items donated will be put to good use.”

Beaufort Police offer registration for camera security systems

The City of Beaufort Police Department has a new form on its website allowing home and business owners to voluntarily register their security cameras.

As security cameras become more popular, especially in homes such as with the Ring doorbell, they have become a tool that has been helpful to law enforcement in solving crimes, Police Chief Dale McDorman said in a news release. “This can help us identify suspects, and bring them to justice,” he said.

If a homeowner has registered a home security camera with the PD, he said, officers will contact the homeowner if a crime takes place in the vicinity of that home to see if officers can review any footage.

“Participation in this is voluntary, and there is no cost associated with it,” McDorman said. “If someone participates in the program, we will not access their video system without their approval.”

The form can be found on the PD’s Request for Services page at http://bit.ly/3HpIhwx

– From staff reports

Izaiah Daise, left, and nephew Lacy Jefferson make sure the oysters are roasted perfectly during the oyster roast fundraiser for Team 2, Robin Angelo and Skykeem Gardner, on Saturday at Shellring Ale Works in Port Royal. Team 2 is one of 12 teams in the Child Abuse Prevention Association’s (CAPA) upcoming Dancing With Our Stars fundraiser scheduled for Feb. 17 and 18 at the USC Beaufort Center for the Arts. Photos by Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Robin Angelo, right, of CAPA’s Dancing With Our Stars Team 2, chats with Teams 12’s Sony Londono, left, on Saturday during Angelo’s fundraising oyster roast at Shellring Ale Works in Port Royal. The annual Dancing With Our Stars will be held Feb. 17 and 18 at the USC Beaufort Center for the Arts.

Lacy Jefferson, right, and his uncle Izaiah Daise, center left, pour out freshly roasted oysters during the fundraiser for Dancing With Our Stars Team 2 for CAPA on Saturday at Shellring Ale Works in Port Royal. Dancing With Out Stars will be Feb. 17 and 18, at the USC Beaufort Center for the Arts.

Judge sides with HBF in easement debate over Robert Smalls House

From staff reports

The Historic Beaufort Foundation (HBF) won a major court victory in January in respect to the historic McKee-Smalls home where Robert Smalls lived in downtown Beaufort.

South Carolina Circuit

Court Judge Courtney Clyburn Pope agreed with HBF that its preservation and conservation easement on the McKee-Smalls House at 511 Prince Street limits public access and restricts the property to residential use only.

Judge Clyburn Pope also dismissed Billy Keyserling and Paul Keyserling’s motion for a summary judgment in the same case. The Keyserling brothers bought the historic house in 2021 for $1.675 million after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The Keyserlings’ agreement basically called for the National Trust to raise mon-

ey to buy the house from the Keyserlings while operating regular tours of the house.

The Keyserlings agreed to provide the National Park Service with access to the McKee-Smalls House for public tours and to explore renting the property to the

National Park Service or its staff for residential use. The judge noted there wasn’t any evidence of an agreement for the Keyserlings, National Trust or National Park Service intended use of the property for residential purposes as required by

Early registration encouraged for HBF’s “Junior Building Detectives” summer camp

From staff reports

A popular half-day summer camp for children ages 8-12 returns June 26 to 28 when Historic Beaufort Foundation presents “Junior Building Detectives,” focusing on camp participants solving the mysteries of history by learning about local architecture.

The camp will be daily from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., and early registration is recommended because of space limitations.

The summer camp, hosted in Bay Street’s historic John Mark Verdier House, which dates to about 1804, will teach campers the basics of historic architecture

and preservation. Campers will learn how buildings change over time, the meaning behind architectural features, and the connection of historic buildings to our community.

They’ll do this through hands-on activities, walks around downtown Beaufort, arts-and-crafts projects, experiments in building science, and more. At the end of the program, campers will participate in creating a building and presenting their design to the class and parents/ guardians.

Early registration is advisable as space is limited. The camp is $100 for

Historic Beaufort Foundation members and $125 for non-members. Registration may be completed by calling HBF at 843-3793331 or going online to https://historicbeaufort. org on or after Feb. 6.

HBF is a 501(c)3 nonprofit education foundation created to preserve, protect, and present sites and artifacts of historic, architectural, and cultural interest throughout Beaufort County, S.C. For more information on the entity’s mission and history, please visit historicbeaufort.org and follow them on social media, including Facebook and Instagram.

Burton Fire District promotes 9

From staff reports Thursday night, Jan. 12, with countless family members present, Burton Fire promoted nine firefighters to new roles within the Burton Fire District as they have each risen to accept the challenges of new roles steeped in duty, honor, and pride in service.

Firefighter Cody Parker was promoted to the rank of Firefighter 1.

Firefighter Nicholas Bekisz was promoted to the rank of Firefighter 2.

Decision

from page A1

However, Ingrid Boatwright (D-11) questioned the motion’s wording, suggesting the board should simply “find no reason to overturn the findings of the Jan. 19 book review committees.” Boatwright suggested the board’s job was to simply ensure policy was being followed, not necessarily voice agreement or disagreement with the committees’ decisions. The board did not pass Boatwright’s amended motion. It was voted down 2-6-2. Wisnefski then returned

Firefighter Mauricio Gallego, Firefighter Joshua Fridley, and Bradford Dawson were promoted to the rank of Engineer.

Firefighter Robert Madden was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

Lieutenant Matthew Farris was promoted to the rank of Captain.

Captain Christopher Moyer was promoted to the rank of Battalion Chief.

Captain Daniel Byrne

to her original motion, but board members engaged in several discussions before voting.

Wisnefski asked why board members, this time around, had not gotten copies of the books in question to review. Apparently, the reason was financial. The Board of Education would have to approve the expenditure of purchasing those books from its own budget.

“I’d be happy to have it taken out of my salary it that’s the concern,” Wisnefski told the board.

After the meeting, Wisnefski said she was certain this issue would be discussed before the next board meeting.

the easement.

The Conservation and Preservation Easement of the McKee-Smalls House protects the exterior architectural integrity of the house and grounds as well as ensuring the house remains a private residence while allowing some public access, according to the easement terms and the intentions of the easement donor.

“Judge Clyburn Pope examined the evidence before her, primarily the easement that the Keyserlings entered into when they bought the property, and she found that the rule of law supports our position and the clear language of the easement,” Chair of the Historic Beaufort Foundation Wayne Vance said in a news release.

“This is an important ruling not only to preserve the McKee-Smalls house but also to protect the integrity of the Historic District,” Vance said.

The house has been a private residence since it

was constructed, but the Keyserlings attempted to change that by opening the residence to tour groups on a regular, sometimes daily, basis – in violation of the property easement.

Robert Smalls was born into slavery in Beaufort County, became a Civil War hero, was elected to US Congress and in his later years served as Collector of the Port of Beaufort. His offices were in what is now known as the Thomas Law building but was then the Customs House (920 Bay Street) in downtown Beaufort.

David and Marilyn Atwell donated the property easement to HBF in 2002 to “assist in preserving and maintaining the premises and its architectural, historical and cultural features,” according to the legal document, and to ensure that the home would be used only as a residence.

For 20 years, and each time the McKee-Smalls house has been sold, that easement

is part of the deed. When a property encumbered by an easement is sold, real estate agents are obligated to fully explain the meaning of the restrictions to the new buyer. Easements are recorded with the deed and protect the property forever, HBF Executive Director Cynthia Jenkins said.

The easement addresses only the exterior of the property and the grounds at 511 Prince Street in Beaufort’s National Historic Landmark District. The interior has seen extensive updating over the past decades. HBF would accept an interior easement to further protect the property.

The U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards are the guiding principles for maintaining the integrity and significance of historic buildings. The first of the 10 Standards states that buildings should be used for their original purpose as much as possible – in this case, a private home.

was promoted to the rank of Assistant Chief “The future of our Fire District looks to be on solid footing!” Deputy Fire Chief Tom Webb said after having handed out promotional proclamations during the ceremony. The Burton Fire District would like to again congratulate those who were promoted and offer our most heartfelt thanks to their families for allowing these professionals to be such an amazing part of our fire service family.

Vice-Chair Richard Geier (D-4), in support of the motion, said he wouldn’t read all 97 books. He said he trusted the committees, and this is what they were charged to do.

When it comes down to it, Geier said, this is all about freedom to choose.

“We don’t force any child in this district to read a book,” he said. Wisnefski again emphasized the need to simplify the opt-out form for parents who don’t want their kids to read books with content to which they would object.

Mary Stratos, Chief Instructional Service Office for the Beaufort County School District, told the

Dukes Barbecue in Beaufort closed its doors permanently after being open on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. Delayna Earley/The Island News

Popular Beaufort barbecue restaurant closes doors for good

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

BEAUFORT – Dukes Barbecue of Beaufort closed its doors for good on Friday, Feb. 3.

The restaurant, located at 1509 Salem Road, posted on social media Friday that it would be permanently closing at 8 p.m. that day, but it ended up closing several hours early because it ran out of food due to customers flooding the restaurant to get barbecue one

board the opt out forms has been revised and passed along to Superintendent Frank Rodriguez, the first step among several before the board will see the new form.

Finally, William Smith (D-3) was complimentary to the high school students remaining in the room, primarily members of the group DAYLO — Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization. Several members of the organization, which is in three Beaufort County Schools now — Beaufort High, Battery Creek and Beaufort Academy — spoke eloquently in opposition to removing any books.

Smith complimented

last time.

“I gave out thank you notes to the customers to show them my appreciation for their loyalty,” said Jeanne Powell, an employee who has worked for the restaurant for 20 years.

Powell said she has done a little bit of everything while working at the restaurant and that she has never missed a day of work.

An employee said that they were informed of the closure on Thursday and

their well-researched commentary.

“They sit through these meetings, and they have shown that this is important to them,” Smith said. “… People take time for what’s important to them.”

Moments later, the board voted to concur with the committees’ decisions.

The entire process will start again shortly, as 10 more book review committees are set to meet Thursday, Feb. 16 at 5:45 p.m. at Okatie Elementary School.

The next books under review include:

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

were told that the restaurant just could not stay open any longer due to rising costs.

Delayna Earley lives in Beaufort with her husband, two children and Jack Russell. She spent six years as a videographer and photographer for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette before leaving the Lowcountry in 2018. After freelancing in Myrtle Beach and Virginia, she joined The Island News when she moved back to Beaufort in 2022. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

The McKee-Smalls House at 511 Prince Street in historic Beaufort. Photo courtesy of Historic Beaufort Foundation.

Is Stuarts Town under Beaufort neighborhood? ‘Maybe’

By Mike McCombs The Island News

A free public symposium was held Saturday at the USCB Center for the Arts Auditorium to discuss the Search for Stuarts Town, the project to look for evidence of the lost Scottish colony in Beaufort’s Old Point neighborhood. So what’s the verdict?

“More work is needed,” Chester B. DePratter, Ph.D., of the S.C. Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, said.

That being said, DePratter, and Charles Cobb, Ph.D., of the Florida Museum of Natural History and the University of Florida, both agreed they were “98 percent sure” they were looking in the right place.

“We are now sure that Stuarts Town is beneath the City of Beaufort and not at Spanish Point.,” DePratter said.

In August of 2022, a team of archaeologists from the University of South Carolina’s Institute

of Archaeology and Anthropology (SCIAA) and the University of Florida spent a week doing an exploratory dig in The Point neighborhood of Beaufort – searching for the lost 17th Century Scottish colony of Stuarts Town.

All of the collected materials have been at the SCIAA laboratories in Columbia where, for these past few months, they have been meticulously cleaned, examined, and catalogued.

Slides were shown of the pieces of pottery and such collected from the 118 samples taken from 17 private properties throughout The Point neighborhood.

DePratter said they hoped to soon have an exhibit of their findings, as well a film documenting the work, in the near future at the Beaufort History Museum.

Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com

Beaufort History Museum searching for board members

From staff reports The Beaufort History Museum has multiple openings for volunteers to serve on its Board of Directors. The Museum’s Board members are civic-minded individuals who share a passion for local history. Due to recent retirements and term expirations, the museum has

an urgent need for candidates with strong secretarial, financial and grant writing skills.

The Beaufort History Museum manages the City of Beaufort’s collection of artifacts and traces its organizational roots to the 1930s. Its aim is to preserve and promote the 500-year history of the city and surrounding

areas, for the education and enjoyment of both visitors and residents alike. It does this not only by showcasing its collection of artifacts and informational displays at its location at the Arsenal in the heart of Beaufort’s historic district, but also by sponsoring living history events, lecture series on a broad

range of historical topics and personalities, and its partnerships with other history-minded organizations.

The Museum is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization, and the board of directors is a working board. “We’re looking for individuals who like to roll up their sleeves and help tell Beaufort’s story,” Beaufort

Sons of American Revolution holds annual formal meeting in December

From staff reports

History Museum President Kathryn Mixon said.

In addition, Board members are expected to attend monthly board meetings, serve on committees, and help with various events, and are required to maintain an active Museum membership. Most directors commit an average of three to five hours

per week to support the museum’s objectives, she said.

To learn more about the Museum visit its website, www.beauforthistorymuseum.com. And, if interested in pursuing this opportunity send a brief summary of your qualifications and interests to kathryn.mixon@beauforthistorymuseum.com

The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Beaufort

Gov. Paul Hamilton Chapter held its annual black tie formal dinner meeting at the Dataw Island Club on December 2, 2022.

More than 70 members and guests socialized during this pre-holiday gathering in honor of their patriot ancestors and to recognize several chapter members for their service to our country. Making it special were the celebrants, father’s and their sons.

President Mike Monahan and Secretary and Military Awards Chairman Col. Harold Mills honored Wayne Cousar, USAF, and son Lt. Col. Brad Cousar, GANG, with the SAR’s fourth highest award, the War Service Medal, for their respective service in Vietnam and SW Asia and Afghanistan.

Col. Mills, a Vietnam Air Force veteran and SAR War Service Medal recipient, was able to be a part

Farrell

from page A1

of the presentation of the award to his son Col. David Mills, a career Marine Officer with service in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Not many SAR Chapters have the chance to honor both father and son members at the same time for service to our Nation. In addition to this award, Chapter Compatri-

Alex Murdaugh can be beaten up, besmirched and be upright solely by virtue of the stacks of money he’s using as crutches … but if he’s able to duck fast enough and dodge the most damning of evidence, he still has a chance at convincing that one juror that he didn’t do this.

If this were any other case it would look much different.

Several times over the past few weeks it’s occurred to me just how little Beaufort County public defenders have to work with … how many questions they don’t get to ask … how much political pressure they can’t apply … how many experts they don’t have the budget to hire … how there

recipients Col. David Mills, Lt. Col. Brad Cousar

ot Col. David Mills, Chief of Staff, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, Camp Lejeune, N.C., was the guest speaker that evening, discussing in detail the forming and operation of “The Afghan Refugee Camp at Marine Base Quantico, Virginia” of which he was in command in late 2021. More than 5,000 refugees were

Illegal trash fire spreads across neighbor’s yard, damages shed

From staff reports

processed and 104 babies were born between August and December.

Member James Atkins was also honored that evening for his five years of service to the chapter. The evening ended with the attendees singing God Bless America to bagpipe music performed by chapter member Robert Strothers.

are no focus groups to test their arguments … how there is no audience rallying in their favor … how there is no time or money for a public relations plan.

Yes. A public relations plan. For defense teams, “courts of public opinion” and “trials by media” are decried as “bad” things. You hear it all the time.

“My client will NOT be tried in the headlines!”

But some defense teams — specifically the ones who understand how to influence the influencers and who have access to them — actually like headlines.

Headlines outside the court help them amplify their arguments inside the court.

So do puppets.

In the past few days, we have started to see more and more of them pop up on social media — “puppet” accounts with few followers that were created

in the last six months or so that seem solely focused on playing down the state’s case against Murdaugh, promoting the idea of Murdaugh’s innocence and attacking the credibility of his critics.

This is not to say that there are not plenty of real people asking legitimate questions about whether the state’s case is too unwieldy, too complex or too circumstantially confusing to survive.

But the puppets keep the cauldron boiling.

They can be useful in politics and therefore they can be useful in “trials of the century.”

They can intentionally distort the facts and confuse the evidence.

They can start a thread on Reddit. They can create a group on Facebook. They can launch a Twitter war.

Just before 4 p.m. Saturday, Burton firefighters responded to a reported grass fire in the rear of a home in the Audubon Woods community. The 911 caller stated that the fire had spread from his neighbor’s home onto his property and was endangering his shed.

Firefighters quickly arrived on scene and were able to extinguish the fire just as the flames were extending up the shed’s side and into the shed.

The fire started when an illegal unattended trash fire in the neighboring home

They can even influence the way reporters perceive the perception.

Late Saturday afternoon, the Burton Fire District responded to a reported grass fire in the rear of a home in the Audubon Woods community that spread across a neighbor’s yard and damaged a shed. Photo courtesy of Burton Fire District. standing.

The jury has been ordered not to talk about this trial, not to do any research of their own and not to watch, read or listen to any news about the case.

So why would there be any effort at all behind the scenes to shape the way the public is seeing things?

The public is not the jury. The public doesn’t get to decide Alex Murdaugh’s fate.

Alas, just like in politics, the legal powers-that-be are cynical and so they come ready to capitalize on the unfortunate reality that not everyone does as they are told.

Again, all they need is that one juror to hop that curiosity gap.

It’s been interesting to watch this play out — particularly since Monday when we entered a new phase of the trial with Judge

spread across that yard, extending onto the property of this residence, and to the shed. No injures were reported, and damages were limited to the shed’s structure. Burton fire officials state that this kind of fire, which spreads from one yard to the next, is common, and some have even damaged neighboring homes.

It is illegal to burn trash in Beaufort County, and all yard fires need to be constantly attended as well as within the rules stated in the Beaufort County Outdoor Burning Ordinance.

Clifton Newman’s decision to allow the jury to hear evidence of the financial pressures Murdaugh was facing on the evening of June 7, 2021.

The financial pressures factor into the motive — the theory about why the state thinks Alex Murdaugh did the unimaginable. Newman’s decision could be pivotal for the state’s case. The defense knows this and they fought hard to exclude it. But now that it’s in … well, prepare yourselves for the puppet show of the century.

Liz Farrell has lived in the Lowcountry since 2003. She is an award-winning journalist and co-host of the Murdaugh Murders Podcast and Cup of Justice podcast with Mandy Matney. The two have been investigating the Murdaugh story for four (very strange) years. You can reach them both by going to murdaughmurderspodcast.com

Peter Moore, a professor of history at Texas A&M University, describes the historical events leading up the founding of Stuarts Town near present-day Beaufort during a symposium Saturday at USC Beaufort’s Center for the Arts.

From left, President Mike Monahan, award

and Wayne Cousar with Secretary & Military Awards Chairman Col. Harold Mills. Photo courtesy of Randy Atkins.

303 Associates hires Banton as COO

From staff reports 303 Associates announced Monday, Jan. 30, in a news release that James Banton has joined the team as Chief Operating Officer.

“We are thrilled Jimmy is joining our team,” Co-CEO of 303 Associates Courtney Worrell said in a news release. “His proven organizational and operational skills will help enhance our operations, and his longrange planning experience will allow us to continue to develop and execute future plans.”

“Being a part of a closeknit team and creating positive impacts to our com-

James Banton

munity is something I’m very familiar with and looking forward to continuing this with the 303 Team,”

Banton said in the release.

Banton was introduced to Beaufort in 1998 when he stepped on the yellow footprints of Parris Island. Since that time, his career has consisted of multiple leadership roles and combat deployments in 24 years of military service. Recently retiring from the U.S. Marine Corps as a Lieutenant

Colonel, his last position held was the Executive Officer of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.

Banton and his wife, Stephanie, and their children, Jimmy and Katie, are thrilled to call the Lowcountry their home.

In addition to his new role at 303 Associates, Jimmy is actively involved in Operation Patriots FOB, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating and fostering positive experiences for veterans, active duty service members, first responders, and their families by connecting through outdoor and recreational activities.

Bank of the Lowcountry adds Graham Holcombe

From staff reports Bank of the Lowcountry announced Graham Holcombe as the company’s new Senior Vice President and City Executive responsible for leading the bank’s growth in Beaufort.

“Graham is a true community banker who has dedicated his entire banking career to meeting the needs of the Beaufort market,” Bank of the Lowcountry Executive Vice President Carl Kilpatrick said in a news release.

“At Bank of the Lowcountry, what sets us apart is our commitment to build meaningful relationships with our customers, an approach to banking that is becoming more and more rare these days. Graham’s values and commitment make him the

perfect person to bring our relationship focused banking to the people of Beaufort.”

Graham Holcombe

Mr. Holcombe added, “I am very excited to be a part of the expansion of Bank of the Lowcountry into the Beaufort market. Their community bank model and demonstrated history of serving the community with local leadership and decision-making sets them apart. I look forward to continuing to serve the Beaufort market with a responsive and personal approach in this new role.”

“We are excited to grow our franchise into the Beau-

fort County market,” CEO of Bank of the Lowcountry Marc Bogan said in a news release. “Our style of community banking should be a welcome addition to a vibrant Beaufort business environment.”

With more than 23 years of banking experience, Graham is actively involved in the Beaufort community, serving as a current board member for The Rotary Club of Beaufort, Trustee for the Rotary Club of Beaufort Endowment, board member for South Carolina Nurse Retention Scholarship Fund and past board member and treasurer for Lowcountry Habitat for Humanity. Graham is also a Leadership Beaufort Class of 2006 alumni.

2nd spec building expected to break ground in spring

From staff reports Magnus Development Partners expects to break ground on a 72,000-squarefoot Class A spec building at Beaufort Commerce Park by the end April. The building, at 123 Schork Road, will be the second spec building constructed in the last two years at Commerce Park. The new facility is designed for light manufacturing or distribution. It can be subdivided into spaces as small as 16,000 square feet. Commercial real estate company Avison Young is now advertising the space.

The first spec building, a 64,000-square-foot facility at 74 Schein Loop, completed construction in mid2022 and is fully occupied. Norman USA, which manufactures and distributes window treatments worldwide, occupies half and Critical Role, a multi-platform video gaming company, occupies the other half. The two companies are expected to employ more than 80 employees between them.

This newest building represents a continuing commitment from City of Beaufort and the Beaufort Economic

Development Corporation to spur light manufacturing and warehouse development at Beaufort Commerce Park.

For more information on the new building, call or email Alex Irwin at Avison Young at 843-637-5013 or alex.irwin@avisonyoung.com

The Beaufort Commerce Park, owned by the City of Beaufort, is comprised of 196 acres just off U.S. Highway 21 and S.C. Highway 116. It is 20 minutes from Interstate 95, and a short distance to Charleston and Savannah international airports and ports.

You are what you eat

The phrase “you are what you eat” is commonly used in conversations about health and the connection between food and the body. Eating an unhealthy diet can have serious consequences and can increase someone’s risk of dying from heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes. Here, Dr. Stephen Kopecky, a preventive cardiologist at Mayo Clinic, discusses the relationship between food and disease.

Things like smoking and genetics put us at risk for developing different diseases, but neither are the biggest risk factor.

“Nutrition is now the No. 1 cause of early death, and early disease in our country and the world,” says Dr. Kopecky.

Dr. Kopecky says having genes for disease will in-

crease your risk by 30% to 40% but having a bad lifestyle for disease will increase your risk by 300% to 400%.

“About 57% of the calories we consume every day in this country are ultra-processed foods,” says Dr. Kopecky.

Funky fingertips?

What nails say about your health

From staff reports Clues about your health could be right at your fingertips. Take a look at your nails. They could give insight about possible health concerns.

Many nail changes are normal and nothing to worry about. But sometimes changes in the way your nails look and grow can be a sign of disease. Nails are actually specialized skin cells. They’re made of keratin, a protein also found in your hair and skin.

“Nails aren’t just for appearances,” explains New York University’s Dr. Mayumi Ito, who studies how skin cells regenerate. Your nails protect the ends of your fingers and toes. They also help you grip objects and pick off small things. It would be harder to turn the pages of a book or pick up a thread without fingernails.

The part of the nail you can see is called the nail plate. Nails grow from a region at the base of the nail under the skin called the nail matrix. Here, new nail cells are made and packed together. Older nail cells are then pushed to the surface of the fingertip. Ito was the first to identify the stem cells in the nail matrix that cause nails to grow.

Certain things can affect nail growth. A serious illness or fever can halt the process. The interruption can cause indentations

that run horizontally across nails. These are called Beau’s lines. They can also result from injury to the nail, some vitamin deficiencies, and chemotherapy.

Tiny pits in the nail can also be a sign of disease. It’s common among people who have psoriasis. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes red, scaly patches of skin. Nail pitting is also linked to an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss, called alopecia areata.

If your nails start to scoop inward like a spoon, you may not be getting enough iron. Spoon-shaped nails, or koilonychia, can be a sign of iron-deficiency anemia. Because of a lack of iron, your body can’t make enough of the molecule that red blood cells need to carry oxygen.

Nail clubbing, where the nail tips enlarge and curve around the tip, is another nail problem. It could be a harmless trait that runs in your family. But it’s also

linked to lung and heart problems.

Changes in nail color are common. Yellow nails are often caused by nail fungus. In some cases, they can point to something more serious like lung disease.

If you notice your nails have become mostly white, it may just be a sign of aging. But sometimes it’s due to serious conditions like liver and kidney disease or diabetes.

Dark streaks running down the length of the nail that appear suddenly should be checked to rule out skin cancer. Certain infections, especially of the heart, can cause red streaks to appear under the nails.

Talk with your health care provider if your nails start to look abnormal.

Your doctor may send you to see a dermatologist. This type of doctor specializes in diseases that affect the skin and nails.

Source: https:// newsinhealth.nih.gov

While ultra-processed foods tend to be convenient and cost-effective, they are inflammatory and can cause

a host of health issues over time.

“It bothers our tissues. It bothers our heart. It bothers our arteries, our brains, our pancreas, our liver, and our lungs. And that leads to disease,” says Dr. Kopecky. “It could be in the brain with Alzheimer’s, the heart with coronary artery disease, or cancers elsewhere.”

The good news is it’s never too late to change your eating habits, and no change is too small.

“It’s been shown if you take one bite of say a processed meat or ultra-processed food, replace that with some unprocessed food or a healthier choice—you know vegetables and black beans —after a year or two, that will actually lower your risk of heart attack and stroke.”

Of the four levels of food processing, the most processed are termed ultra-processed foods. These foods have many added ingredients, such as sugar; salt; fat; and artificial colors, preservatives, or stabilizers. The ingredient list sometimes has words that sound like chemicals. Examples are obvious foods like soft drinks, hot dogs, cold cuts, fast food, packaged snacks, and cookies, but can also include canned baked beans, low-fat fruit yogurt, packaged bread, ready-made pasta sauces and breakfast cereals.

Source: https://newsnetwork. mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayoclinic-minute-mayo-clinic-minuterelationship-between-food-diseasestronger-than-you-may-think/

Does being socially isolated increase dementia risk?

Social isolation may affect brain health more than thought.

• A new analysis of data from a large, nationally representative group of older Americans finds an association between being socially isolated and developing dementia. People at risk are those who only infrequently have contact with others and have few active relationships.

• The study’s finding suggests that by remaining or becoming more socially active, one may reduce the risk of dementia.

Beyond its association with dementia, social isolation has also been linked to poor mental health and emotional well-being in older people. The study is published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

“Social isolation is defined as the objective state of having few social relationships or infrequent social contact with others.”

The study lists several attributes that qualify a person as being socially isolated: living alone, having no one or only one person with whom they can discuss

important matters, and having little or no engagement in social or religious groups.

The people who qualified as socially isolated in the study met two or more of the following conditions: Lived alone.

They did not have two or more people in the last year with whom they could discuss important issues.

They did not attend religious services in the past month.

Did not do participate in other activities, such as volunteer work, clubs, meetings, or groups, in the last month.

Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/ dementia-does-being-socially-isolated-increase-risk?

Social support is different than social isolation

Dr. Rosanne Freak-Poli, senior research fellow at Monash University’s Medicine Monash Health, who was not involved in the study, pointed out that “[s]ome people may confuse social isolation with social support.” Social support, she said, is about how

social contacts are utilized. For example, a person may feel sufficient support from a few good friends who fulfill their social needs.

“I like to describe people as ‘enjoying their solitude’ if they are socially isolated but also feel socially supported’.

care TALK ©

Tips to prevent neck and shoulder pain when using computers or tablets

Hours spent using any popular computer tablet can cause neck and shoulder problems. Blame it on the viewing angle. A simple shift can change everything for a better view and less pain. Holding a tablet computer too low, say on the lap, forces the neck to bend forward too much, straining and possibly even injuring muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, or spinal discs. Simply placing a tablet on a table propped at an angle in a

tablet case can reduce neck

strain and potential pain.

One of the best things to do, no matter what kind of computer you are using, is take a break. Change your position every 15 minutes.

Other tips include:

When using an iPad® or tablet:

Use a case that positions the device at a comfortable viewing angle

Routinely shift hands and weight; stand up

if seated, or sit down if standing

When using a laptop or desktop computer, follow the same tips for a tablet plus:

Use an external keyboard

Keep shoulders relaxed and elbows close to the body

Keep hands, wrists, forearms, and thighs parallel to the floor

Source: the Harvard Health Letter

Calcium: The key to strong bones and lifelong bone health

Calcium is a key nutrient for your body to stay strong and healthy. It is an essential building block for lifelong bone health in both men and women, among many other important functions. While the amount you need depends on various factors, everyone can benefit from eating calcium-rich foods, limiting foods that deplete calcium, and getting enough magnesium and vitamins D and K—nutrients that help calcium do its job.

Calcium can seem confusing.

How much should you get? Where should you get it? And what’s the deal with vitamin D, magnesium, and vitamin K? But once you understand the basics, it’s not that hard to include it in your diet and get the calcium you need.

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, one that plays many vital roles. Your body uses it to build healthy bones and teeth, keep them strong as you age, send messages through the nervous system, help your blood clot, and regulate the heart’s rhythm, among other things.

How much calcium do you need?

0-6 months 210 milligrams / day

7-12 months 270 milligrams / day

1-3 years 500 milligrams / day

4-8 years 800 milligrams / day

9-18 years 1,300 milligrams / day

19-50 years 1,000 milligrams / day

50+ years 1,200 milligrams / day

How your body gets calcium

Your body gets the calcium it needs in one of two ways. The first and best way is through the foods you eat or the supplements you take. However, if you’re not consuming enough calcium, your body will get it in a different way, pulling it from your bones where it’s stored. That’s why diet is key.

Getting enough calcium in your diet is particularly important when

you’re under the age of 30 and still building bone mass. Making smart choices now will help you avoid serious bone loss later in life. But no matter your age, you can take steps to protect your bones and put the brakes on osteoporosis.

The calcium and osteoporosis connection

Osteoporosis is a “silent” disease characterized by loss of bone mass. Due to weakened bones, fractures become commonplace, which leads to serious health risks such as the inability to walk. People with osteoporosis often don’t recover after a fall and it is the second most common cause of death in women, mostly those aged 60 and older. Men are also at risk of developing osteoporosis, but typically 5 to 10 years later than women. Fortunately, osteoporosis is preventable for most people, and getting enough calcium in your diet is the first place to start.

Food is the best source of calcium

Your body is able to absorb more calcium from food than it can from supplements. In fact, studies show that even though people who take calcium supplements have a higher average daily intake, those who get most of their calcium from food have stronger bones. On top of the better absorption rates, calcium from food often comes with other beneficial nutrients that help calcium do its job.

When you eat a diet rich in whole foods—vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and fruits—not only do you get a wonderful variety of tastes on your plate, but you also give your body the different nutrients, including calcium, that it needs. To boost your daily intake, try to include calcium-rich foods in multiple meals or snacks.

Avoid high-protein diets

Too much protein draws calcium from the bones. The body

needs protein to build healthy bones. But as your body digests protein, it releases acids into the bloodstream that the body neutralizes by drawing calcium from the bones. Following a high-protein diet for a short time is unlikely to make much of a difference. But over a long period of time, eating a lot of protein could weaken your bones.

If you choose to consume dairy, then it’s best to opt for 1% or nonfat milk and other low-fat dairy products, which are lower in saturated fat and natural hormones. Choosing organic products when possible will also decrease your exposure to synthetic hormones and other additives. And if you decide that dairy is not the best choice for you, or you can’t tolerate milk products, there are other ways to include calcium in your diet.

Minimize calciumdraining substances

There are a number of foods and substances that, when consumed

in excess, drain calcium from your bones and deplete your body’s calcium stores, such as caffeine, animal protein, alcohol, salt, soft drinks.

Be smart about calcium supplements

Don’t take more than 500 mg at a time. Your body can only absorb a limited amount of calcium at one time, so it is best to consume calcium in small doses throughout the day.

Take your calcium supplement with food. All supplemental forms of calcium are best absorbed when taken with food. If it’s not possible to take your supplement with food, choose calcium citrate.

• Purity is important. It’s best to choose calcium supplements with labels that state “purified” or, if you’re in the U.S., have the USP (United States Pharmacopeia) symbol. Avoid supplements made

from unrefined oyster shell, bone meal, or dolomite that don’t have the USP symbol because they may contain high levels of lead or other toxic metals. Be aware of side effects. Some people do not tolerate calcium supplements as well as others and experience side effects such as acid rebound, gas, and constipation. For acid rebound, switch from calcium carbonate to calcium citrate. For gas or constipation, try increasing your intake of fluids and high-fiber foods.

• Check for possible drug interactions. Calcium supplements can interfere with other medications and vitamins you’re taking. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about possible interactions. Any medications that you take on an empty stomach should NOT be taken with calcium.

Source: www.HelpGuide.org

Noise complaints . . . Taking on tinnitus

Do you hear sounds that no one else can hear? It might be a ringing. A clicking. Or maybe a buzzing, hissing, or humming. Hearing such noises can be disconcerting—especially if they don’t go away. Some people hear these noises for a few hours. Others may hear them for a lifetime. This condition is called tinnitus.

About 10% of U.S. adults have experienced tinnitus that lasted for at least five minutes in the past year. The noise can be soft or loud, high pitched or low pitched. You may hear it in one ear, or both.

Most of the time, tinnitus isn’t a sign of a serious health problem. Many people experience temporary tinnitus after going to a loud concert or event. But it can also be a sign of damage to your inner ear and its connections with the brain. If it doesn’t go away or gets worse, tinnitus can make it hard to hear, concentrate, or even sleep.

Many things increase your risk for tinnitus. “Noise exposure is a very common cause,” says Dr. Fan-Gang Zeng, a hearing and speech

expert at University of California, Irvine.

People who work in noisy environments can develop hearing damage and tinnitus over time. Examples include factory and construction workers, road crews, musicians, and military service members.

“Aging and many drugs, including aspirin, also increase your risk of tinnitus,”

Zeng says. More than 200 drugs are known to cause tinnitus when you start or stop taking them.

If you’re experiencing tinnitus, see your health care provider. There’s no test to diagnose it. But your doctor can check for possible causes. They can see if anything is blocking your ear canal. They can also look for medical con-

ditions or medications that may be causing it.

If they don’t find anything, they may refer you to an ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT) or an audiologist. These specialists can deter -

mine if you need to be tested for hearing loss. Many people with hearing loss experience tinnitus, but it’s not clear why.

Zeng says that, in certain cases, tinnitus may help protect the brain. Some brain areas may no longer be active after hearing loss. That may lead to brain cell loss. Zeng’s study found that people with both hearing loss and tinnitus are less likely to have cognitive decline than those who had hearing loss alone. He speculates that tinnitus may help keep certain brain areas active despite hearing loss.

But not everyone who has tinnitus has hearing loss. For those who do, hearing aids or surgical treatments for hearing loss may help.

Living With Tinnitus

There is currently no cure for tinnitus. But some treatments can help you cope:

Protect Your Hearing.

Loud noises can lead to or worsen tinnitus. Keep the volume down when listening to music or watching TV. Wear earplugs or earmuffs if you’re in a loud environment. Move away from loud noises when possible.

Try sound therapy. Background noise machines, fans, or quiet music can help mask tinnitus. You can also try a wearable sound generator. This small electronic device fits in your ear and plays a soft, pleasant sound.

Talk with a cognitive behavioral therapist. They can help you learn to live with tinnitus. You may also learn things to help you relax during the day or to fall asleep at night. Stress and lack of sleep can make tinnitus worse.

Use your hearing aids or cochlear implants. For people with hearing loss and tinnitus, hearing aids or cochlear implants may help with both.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Options & References for a Healthier Life

Why do kids need to see the dentist?

Most parents know that taking their kids to the dentist twice a year is recommended. And since February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, not only is it a good reminder, but there are also some very important reasons to do it that go much further than having pearly bright whites. What do all parents need to know?

Dr. Susan Maples DDS is author of the book “Brave Parent: Raising Healthy, Happy Kids Against All Odds in Today’s World.” Not only has she been a practicing dentist for more than 30 years, she’s also a health educator and one of the pioneers in the connection between oral health and systemic health. ( https://beabraveparent.com/).

Dr. Maples advises: Your kid’s oral health dictates their overall health. Preventing our most prevalent diseases, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and respiratory disease, starts with healthy teeth and gums. Teaching kids how to prevent oral disease, especially Caries Disease (cavities) and Periodontal Disease (gingivitis and gum disease) is critically important. What goes on in your children’s mouth plays a huge role in what goes on in the rest of their body.

Caries Disease (dental decay) is the Most Prevalent Disease Affecting Children in our Country. By two years old 20% of American children already have tooth decay and one third of three-year old. The good news is, it’s 100% preventable.

Caries Disease is a transmissible bacterial infection that can be prevented if we stop swapping saliva with babies, and we ratchet down the sugar consumption that feeds the bacteria responsible for decay.

Wearing braces is preventable too! It’s estimated 75% of kids to-

day, need braces for crowded teeth or jaws that are too small, and genetics is not the cause. Starting in infancy, there are things you can do so your child’s oral facial development will predict they don’t fall into this unpopular majority. Dr. Maples can discuss the steps to take to

help avoid orthodontics and the expense that comes along with it. Say no to the polish. The only reason you hygienist should polish your kid’s teeth is to try and remove stain. That’s it. In fact, polishing is particularly harmful to baby teeth, as the polish abrades

the fluoride-rich enamel surface that we have built up over repeated applications. Ask your Registered Dental Hygienist to spend the time helping kids learn to clean their own teeth thoroughly, each and every day.

Oral Cancer from HPV is increasing at 30% a year. Your child’s pediatrician probably discussed HPV as it relates to cervical and penile cancers, but you may be surprised to learn that oral cancer is the number one HPV-malignancy in the U.S. HPV is a sexually transmitted infection, so why do we include it as a topic for children? It’s estimated that about 14% of 13-yearolds., and 41% of 15-year-olds have already participated in some form of body part sexual behavior. To prevent HPV-oral and throat cancer, we need to spread the word that oral sex is not safe sex, and the HPV vaccination saves lives. Your Infant needs a dental exam too. It’s recommended by all health authorities that children be seen under one year—soon after the eruption of their first teeth. This is part of a massive effort to reduce the risk of Caries Disease (tooth decay). But we are looking at more than just teeth. We check for oral-facial growth and development, sleep and/or breathing disorders, swallowing issues, nonnutritive sucking habits, foundations for good nutrition, systemic fluoride needs, what to do in the case of traumatic blow to the mouth, and at-home dental safety guidelines.

Breaking down different types of blood donations

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood, according to the American Red Cross. Becoming a donor is easy and can make a significant impact on your community.

Dr. Justin Juskewitch, associate medical director of the Blood Donor Center at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, breaks down the different types of blood donations and how they help patients in need.

Blood contains several components—red cells, platelets, and plasma—that can offer different benefits to patients in need.

The most common type of donation is a whole blood donation.

“A needle is inserted in your arm, and you fill up a bag that potentially could go up to three different recipients, depending on how that blood product is manufactured,” says Dr. Juskewitch.

For the red blood cell part of a whole blood donation, Type O is considered the universal donor because those red blood cells can go to anyone, regardless of blood type.

“On the flip side, though, if you’re donating plasma, the yellow liquid component, it’s actually the ABs who are the universal plasma donors,” he says.

During plasma and platelet donations, donors are hooked up to a machine

which separates blood components and returns unused components to the donor.

Plasma is commonly given to people in emergency and trauma situations to help stop bleeding.

In a platelet donation, the only cells collected are the those that help with clotting. Platelets are commonly given to people with cancer or someone having major surgery.

Donating blood products doesn’t just benefit patients in need, it also benefits those who give.

Dr. Juskewitch continues, “This is the opportunity in which they can literally

save someone’s life. This is the one part of medicine in which nearly everyone in the community can be part of

someone’s

Source: https://newsnetwork. mayoclinic.org

Physician Assistant joins BMH Surgical Specialists

Beaufort Memorial Surgical Specialists has added another board-certified physician assistant to its clinical team, enhancing and expanding surgical care for residents north and south of

the Broad River.

Joining the practice is Lauren Ackley, PA-C, who assists its general surgeons in both the operating room and the clinic. She evaluates surgical patients before and

after their procedures as well as patients referred to the practice from the emergency department and hospital floors.

The Little Rock, Ark., native earned a Master of Sci-

ence in Physician Assistant Studies in 2022 from University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, graduating second in her class, and a Bachelor of Science in biology, magna cum laude, in 2019 from University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

The youngest of her family’s seven children and the only girl, Ackley credits a brother’s career in medicine for sparking an early interest in becoming a PA. Her work as a patient care technician in the ICU during PA school and beforehand as an

anesthesia technician further inspired her passion for in-patient care and general surgery.

Beaufort Memorial Surgical Specialists is a multiprovider practice offering breast, general and vascular surgery performed by highly experienced surgeons who are skilled in the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques. Ackley joins general

surgeons Drs. Deanna Mansker, Schilling Nechtman and Stephen Sisco; vascular surgeon J. Chadwick (Chad) Tober; and physician assistants Laura Livergood Kaiser, Anna Grace Stoddard and Annsley Troxell at the practice.

The practice has two locations: Beaufort Medical Plaza, 989 Ribaut Road, Suite 360, Beaufort; and Beaufort Memorial Okatie Medical Pavilion, 122 Okatie Center Blvd. North, Suite 300, Okatie. To make an appointment, call 843-524-8171.

Sound Healing Acupuncture comes to Beaufort Acupuncture

From staff reports Sound Healing Acupuncture is being introduced at Beaufort Acupuncture’s Lady’s Island location in the first quarter of 2023 on a monthly basis in response to community interest.

Sound healing is a cellular modality that uses frequency to penetrate the cells of the body. Sound healing tools include crystal and

metal singing bowls, rattles, drums, chimes, vocal toning and solfeggio frequency. Participating in the combination of sound healing (also known as sound bath) and acupuncture, participants receive the benefits of both energetic modalities.

“Pairing acupuncture with healing frequencies creates a remarkable opportunity for the body to

quicken its innate healing power from a place of deep relaxation.” Owner of Beaufort Acupuncture Sande Triponey said in a news release.

In collaboration with Sol Balance, monthly sessions are limited to 10 participants.

To save a spot for the February 18 or March 18 session, call 843-694-0050 or visit beaufortacupuncture.com

Lauren Ackley, PA-C

Dataw couple embarks on ‘joint venture’

By Tony Kukulich Special to The Island News

Describing themselves as avid golfers and tennis players, New Jersey natives Barb and Jerry Devisser settled into an active retirement on Dataw Island in a tastefully appointed home overlooking one of the neighborhood’s two golf courses nearly a decade ago.

Before their move, Barb taught high school math and with only a glance at Jerry, it’s clear that he was a football coach. He just has that look. What’s less obvious is that he was also an art teacher specializing in ceramics. Much of his work is displayed both in and outside the Devisser home. The art teacher/ football coach combination was a unique one, he admitted.

“It was a bit unusual, but always kind of a positive thing,” he said. “I got an opportunity to meet a lot of different kinds of kids, not only the athletes. It was interesting.”

While the pair began considering relocating to a warmer climate to enjoy year-round outdoor activities, fate struck when Jerry won a golf trip to the Bluffton area. Barb joined Jerry on the trip and they were immediately attracted to Lowcountry life. They started looking for a home in the area and discovered Dataw Island.

“As soon as we rode across the causeway, we loved it,” Jerry said. “That was almost 10 years ago. We just did it. We went back, sold our home and came down.”

In addition to having shared careers in education and a love of sports, the Devissers also shared the experience of recently having had joint replacement surgery. Jerry was first with hip replacement in November 2021, and Barb followed with a total knee replacement in May 2022.

Jerry explained that he had been dealing with knee pain for about a year. While he was still able to play golf and tennis, albeit with some minor discomfort, it was everyday motion that became problematic. He began to have trouble bending forward to do things like tie his shoes or get up from a chair.

While playing tennis, Jerry then suffered what he thought was a muscle pull. During an appointment with board-certified orthopedic specialist Dr. H. Kevin Jones

at Beaufort Memorial Orthopaedic Specialists, Jerry mentioned the muscle pain, and Jones suspected it might actually be an indication of a hip problem.

“He took x-rays and it looked like it was arthritic,” Jerry said. “He said that once it got started it would go pretty quickly.”

Despite Jones’ warning about the expected path of progression, at first Jerry was reluctant to accept the diagnosis.

“He tried to exercise his way out of it,” Barb added. “It was not successful. He was in denial for a while.”

Two months later he had the surgery. Every patient’s experience with surgery is different, to be sure. But it’s fair to say that Jerry’s experience was easier than some, maybe easier than most. He was in surgery at 8:30 a.m. and into recovery in about 90 minutes. By 3 p.m., he was walking out of the hospital.

His recovery was notable for his lack of pain, and relatively little physical therapy.

“They say that between the nerve block and the anesthesia, the first

two days or so, they tell you you’re not going to feel anything,” Jerry explained. “You’re going to feel wonderful. The second or third day, once it all wears off, you’re going to have a significant amount of pain. I didn’t experience that. Some people do.”

Fortunately for Jerry, the hip replacement seems to have had the added benefit of relieving stress on his troublesome knee.

“The pain from the hip was radiating down into my knee,” he noted. “It was the knee that was hurting more than the hip initially. But since I had the hip done, the knee has been much better.”

Within six weeks, Jerry was chipping and putting on the golf course. By the eight-week mark post-surgery, he was playing 18 holes again, though he notes that returning to tennis was a little slower.

“Recovery is not totally predictable,” Dr. Jones said. “It depends on the individual to some extent. You will find that patients that are already active, have been on an exercise program and have a good range of motion will tend to recover faster.”

In Barb’s case, leading up to her surgery, she had been dealing for some time with a knee she described as ‘cranky.’ She wore a knee brace when she played tennis, but the pain was usually nothing more than a minor distraction treated with occasional over-the-counter medication. Jones told Barb that her knee was bone on bone, and replacement would definitely be necessary at some point.

“What that means is that the patient loses their articular cartilage, which is the cushion in the joint between the bone surfaces,” Jones explained. “When you look at an x-ray, you see that there’s space between the bones. There isn’t really space there. There’s cartilage there. Cartilage doesn’t show up on an x-ray. When you see the bones getting closer together, you know that you’re losing cartilage. In the worst case, there’s really no space, and it’s bone against bone.”

When Barb’s knee took a turn for the worse, she went from playing several hours of tennis to being unable to take a step in just a few days. It improved with rest, but she said it still wasn’t the same.

After consultation with Jones, she opted for the surgery.

Jones used the Mako Robotic Arm-Assisted Surgery System for both Jerry’s hip replacement and Barb’s knee replacement.

“The Mako allows us to create a surgical plan unique to a patient’s anatomy, and then use the robotic arm to implant the components with greater precision, leading to better function and more natural movement,” said Dr. Jones. “In addition, the precision of the robotic arm allows cuts to occur in a way that they do not impact the tissue surrounding the bone.”

Barb’s total knee replacement surgery and her subsequent recovery went about as well as she could have hoped, a fact that she attributes, at least in part, to the Mako surgical process.

“I had the robotic surgery the same as Jerry,” she said. “It’s custom made. It’s less trauma. It was a little more than an hour in surgery.”

And while she experienced what she refers to as “discomfort,” for both the Devissers, recovery pain – and time – was minimal.

“I don’t know that it could have been much better for us,” she said. “You definitely know you had surgery. You definitely have discomfort at times. It’ll wake you up sometime at night. But I kept saying that nothing was ever terrible.”

Ten weeks after her surgery, and following a course of regular physical therapy, Barb was back on the tennis court hitting balls launched from a machine and practicing her short game on the golf course. Now nine months later, she’s back to playing golf and tennis several times a week.

“It’s hard to believe that we don’t even think about the replacements anymore,” said Barb, adding that she and Jerry are both just happy to be able to comfortably play their favorite sports again.

“A lot of people say it’s the best thing they ever did,” she said. “I don’t know if I’d say that because I didn’t struggle with years of pain beforehand the way some patients have. But I’m glad we did it. It’s gone very well for both of us.”

For more information about joint replacement and orthopedic care visit BeaufortMemorial.org/Ortho

Beaufort Memorial Home Health Care opens

Beaufort Memorial and Amedisys Home Health celebrated their joint venture last week with a ribbon cutting and reception at the new Beaufort Memorial Home Health Care office at 35 Professional Village Circle, Lady’s Island.

Pictured are Ian Scott, Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce President & CEO; Keith Hambrick, Amedisys Home Health Senior Vice President of Home Health; Mac Cummings, Amedisys Home Health Area Vice President

of Business Development; Russell Baxley, Beaufort Memorial President and CEO; Mike McFee, City of Beaufort Mayor Pro Tem; and Kevin Phillips, Town of Port Royal Council Member.

The joint venture, which was finalized last summer, provides hospital patients with a more coordinated, full-continuum of care, improving the transition from hospital to home. Services include skilled nursing care; physical, occupational and speech therapy; medical social work; and home

health aides to assist with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and eating.

“Clinical partnerships like this allow us to extend services beyond the hospital walls to a familiar and nurturing environment,” said Baxley. “By combining our expertise and experience we are working to fulfill the mission of Beaufort Memorial to enhance the quality of life in the Lowcountry through improved health, innovative partnerships and superior care.”

Moak joins Weniger and Associates Plastic Surgery

From staff reports

There is a new plastic surgeon at Weniger and Associates Plastic Surgery. Dr. Teri N. Moak recently joined the cosmetic plastic surgery office as a board eligible plastic surgeon for the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

“My aim is to help each and every patient I meet find confidence

in their skin,” Dr. Moak said, “recognizing their own unique beauty, and empowering them to live as the healthiest, happiest, most optimal version of themselves. I hope my practice will be a place where

every individual can find positivity, motivation and encouragement for every stage of their journey.”

Dr. Moak is a graduate of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), where she completed her undergraduate degrees in Physics and Biochemistry with minors in Chemistry, Kinesiology, and Spanish. She pursued Masters of Science

degrees in Biophysical Chemistry at the University of Mississippi and Biological Medical Sciences at Mississippi College.

Additionally, she studied Physical Therapy at the University of Mississippi Medical Center prior to obtaining her medical degree at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Dr. Moak later

joined the Washington University Plastic and Reconstructive Residency Training Program, the longest-standing and one of the top training programs in the country. Dr. Moak completed an American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery-endorsed fellowship in Aesthetic Surgery with Dr. Grady Core in Birmingham, AL.

Jerry and Barb Devisser on the golf course by their Dataw Island home. The couple, who both enjoy golf and tennis, both had joint replacements last year but are back to enjoying their favorite sports on a daily basis (“depending on the weather,” said Barb). Tony Kukulich/Special to The Island News

Photo courtesy of Beaufort Memorial Hospital

Dr. Teri N. Moak

FEBRUARY 19 AT 5 PM

Built on the Apostles Leadership in the Early Church

The Founding Fathers knew our nation would need leaders. When our nation began, the Founding Fathers recognized that we would need elected leaders. The need for leadership would not only be for the first generation of Americans, but for the entire existence of our country. The presidency, for example, was designed to be an office that outlived George Washington. The nation would always be led by a president, a successor to Washington.

Jesus knew humanity even better than the Founding Fathers. He knew that his family of faith, the Church, would always need leaders. He called and trained the apostles to be the first leaders of the Church, but their office would continue past their lifetime. The authority he gave them was not only meant for the first generation of Christians, but to be passed down through the generations, so that his family of faith would always be led by successors of the apostles.

The ministry of the apostles was meant to continue.

At the start of Acts, Peter reminds the apostles that they need to choose a replacement for Judas, “to take over this apostolic ministry.” Guided by God, they chose Matthias, who “was added to the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:12-26) This event shows that the apostles understood their ministry to be an ongoing office, greater than any one of them as individuals. Matthias was the successor to Judas in his office of apostle.

As the Church grew, more leaders were needed. As Christianity spread to new lands, the apostles would train new leaders to continue their ministry in each area. Through the laying on of hands, the apostles would pass on their authority to these leaders, whom they called bishops, meaning “overseers.” The bishops would often, in turn, pass on this authority to a new generation of leaders through the laying on of hands. The laying on of hands is a Scriptural gesture for the conveying of authority. Moses, for example, laid his hands upon Joshua as he made Joshua his successor. (Numbers 27:23)

Timothy received his authority from Paul. After mentoring Timothy for many years, Paul made Timothy a bishop. Paul encouraged Timothy, reminding the young bishop of the gift he received from God “through the laying on of my hands.” (2 Tim 1:6) Paul also tells Timothy to “not be hasty in the laying on of hands,” meaning that he must be careful in choosing additional leaders. (1 Tim 5:22) Here one sees three generations of leaders: Paul, Timothy, and those to whom Timothy will pass on authority.

In Acts, Jesus provides leaders for his Church family. People were not starting their own churches, leading a congregation on their own authority. Divine authority was given by Jesus to the apostles, who themselves passed on this authority to carefully chosen leaders. In this way, the ministry of the apostles would continue in each generation. Jesus would always be with his people, guiding them and teaching them as a united family of faith.

ANDREW ARMSTRONG Piano & Artistic Director ORION WEISS Piano

SPORTS&RECREATION

BHS football stars Fields, Dennison sign with colleges

LowcoSports.com

Two more of the senior stars of Beaufort High School’s state championship football team made their plans to continue their careers at the next level official Wednesday.

Breakout star running back

Kacy Fields signed a national letter-of-intent to attend South Carolina State, one of only a handful of schools who jumped on the workhorse back after a position change

PREP HOOPS ROUNDUP

vaulted him into the spotlight as a senior. Fields moved from wide receiver to the backfield three games into his senior season and proceeded to roll up more than 2,200 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns in 10 games as the primary ball carrier.

Perhaps better known for his prowess on the basketball court, Michael Dennison was one of the unsung heroes of the champion-

ship football squad as a lead-blocking tight end/H-back and a hard-hitting tackler in spot duty on defense. He’s also a standout in the classroom and will continue his football career while studying at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Fellow Eagles senior Colton Phares signed with Appalachian State during the early signing period in December.

Beaufort boys claim region crown, girls keep climbing

By Justin Jarrett LowcoSports.com

It was a long climb to the top, but the Beaufort High boys basketball team reigns over Region 8-3A. After a sluggish start brought on by a state championship run by the football team, the Eagles are still slogging toward .500 for the season, but they wrapped up the region crown by rallying for a 62-59 overtime win at North Charleston on Thursday.

Beaufort (9-11, 6-1) opened the game on a 10-0 run before falling behind by 11 at halftime after Sully Gay was tagged with his third foul on a controversial block-charge call and the Cougars went on a 19-0 run while he was on the bench.

Gay returned in the second half and joined Samari Bonds and Michael Dennison in leading a furious comeback. It was still an eightpoint game going to the fourth quarter, but the Eagles dominated the final eight minutes of regulation. Beaufort took a six-point lead with less than a minute left, but North Charleston had one run left and pulled even with a free throw with :04 left to force overtime.

Dennison found Bonds under the basket for an easy bucket to open the overtime period, and Gay hit three free throws to stretch the lead to 58-53.

Beaufort Academy’s Ediel Gonzalez, left, goes up to block John Paul II’s Christian Tilton during the first half of their non-region basketball game Monday night at John Paul II in Ridgeland. The host Golden Knights lost, 52-39, and dropped their record to 2-17. The Eagles improved their record to 15-4. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

TUESDAY, JAN. 31

GIRLS HOOPS

Battery Creek 48, Hanahan 42

HAN (8-12, 2-4)

BCHS (10-8, 5-2)

John Paul II 41, Patrick Henry 36

JPII (16-3, 1-1): Brady Mahoney 12 pts, 10 rebs; Gracie Henderson 11 pts

PHA (15-5, 4-1): Harper Rice 14 pts, 6 rebs, 3 stls; Sophie Westendorf 6 pts, 8 rebs

Beaufort Academy 33, Holy Trinity 16

BA (12-9, 6-0): Kamirah Freeman 18 pts, Claire Tumlin

11 pts

HT (6-7, 1-5): Eliza Gaillard 7 pts

BOYS HOOPS

Hanahan 59, Battery Creek 54

HAN (6-17, 2-4)

BCHS (3-17, 0-7)

Patrick Henry 76, John Paul II 53

JPII (2-18)

PHA (16-7): Forest Fairey 21 pts, 5 rebs, 4 stls; Noah

Altman 18 pts, 6 rebs, 3 stls; Hugh Fairey 17 pts, 3 asts, 4 stls

BA 69, Holy Trinity 27

BA (16-4, 9-0)

HT (6-10, 1-5): Levi Dyer 11 pts, 14 rebs, 3 stls

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1

GIRLS HOOPS Branchville 62, Bridges Prep 46

BRAN (1-12, 1-8)

BP (2-17, 2-9)

Estill 76, Whale Branch 18

EST (15-6, 11-0): Ka’dejah Smoaks 23 pts, 6 rebs, 10 stls; Jalasia Polite 22 pts, 8 rebs, 6 stls; Lyric Jones

20 pts, 8 stls

WB (5-14, 4-7): Larmore Pryor 6 pts, 5 rebs

Colleton Prep 43, Holy Trinity 31

CPA (11-8, 1-3): Anne Hatcher White 16 pts; Kara

Fargnoli 9 pts; Hannah Strickland 8 pts

HT (6-8, 1-6): Selah McGrew 12 pts; Anna Cate Gray

9 pts

BOYS HOOPS

Bridges Prep 82, Branchville 48

BRAN (7-12, 4-7)

BP (13-9, 5-6)

Estill 67, Whale Branch 66

EST (14-7, 10-0): Angelo Lewis 18 pts; Jeremiah Taylor 17 pts, 12 rebs; Kavon Chisolm 15 pts, 22 rebs, 4 asts; Xaviar Garvin 10 pts, 5 rebs

WB (13-6, 8-3): Queashawn Fields 21 pts, 7 rebs, 4 stls; Bradford Thompson 16 pts, 11 rebs, 3 stls; David Evans 13 pts, 5 stls Holy Trinity 43, Colleton Prep 39

HT (7-10, 2-5): Levi Dyer 15 pts; Michael Andrade

12 pts

CPA (2-19, 1-7): Brandon Hiers 12 pts; Collin Hiers 11 pts

THURSDAY, FEB. 2

GIRLS HOOPS Beaufort 48, North Charleston 28 BFT (9-9, 4-3): Topaz Fripp-Williams 10 pts; Riley Brozek 9 pts; Acionna Lowe 9 pts; Quinn Wilson 8 pts NC

BOYS HOOPS Beaufort 62, North Charleston 59

BFT (9-11, 6-1): Samari Bonds 24 pts, 4 rebs, 4 stls; Michael Dennison 16 pts, 14 rebs, 3 asts, 3 blks; Sully

SEE HOOPS PAGE B2

HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING ROUNDUP

Eagles fall in Lower State semis

LowcoSports.com

It was an uphill fight in the Class 3A dual playoffs for the Beaufort High wrestling team, but the Eagles picked up two road wins Saturday before bowing out against a strong Aynor team Monday night in the Lower State semifinals. The Eagles met their match in a 52-29 loss to the Yellowjackets, the No. 3 team in Class 3A according to SCMat.com, but they didn’t go down without a scrap.

Antonio McKnight, Andrew Legree, Kevin Campbell, Thomas

Byrum, Colton Phares, John Bechtold, and Tayriq Legree all went 2-0 on Saturday as the Eagles handled Brookland-Cayce 57-24 in the first round and ousted host Lake City with a 49-33 victory in Round 2.

Battery Creek also won its firstround match against Dreher on Saturday but was dealt a 60-14 loss by host Aynor.

The Eagles and Dolphins will be back in action this weekend at the Class 3A Lower State qualifier at Dreher, while Whale Branch

and Bridges Prep head to the Class 2A/1A Lower State qualifier at North Central.

JPII reaches SCISA semifinals

John Paul II’s wrestling team reached the SCISA dual semifinals before falling to eventual runner-up Cardinal Newman in the semifinals.

The Eagles didn’t trail again — but the Cougars tied it with a 3-pointer before Dennison flashed open at the top of the key and splashed a triple with 4.1 seconds left. North Charleston’s desperate heave went off the iron, giving Beaufort its sixth straight win and a hard-earned region championship.

Bonds put up 24 points to go with four rebounds and four steals, Dennison had 16 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks, and Gay rallied for 14 points, 12 boards, and three assists despite the early foul trouble.

Beaufort’s girls (9-9, 4-3) also stayed hot with their fourth win in five games, getting 10 points from Topaz Fripp-Williams, nine each from Riley Brozek and Acionna Lowe, and eight from Quinn Wilson in a 48-28 victory that secures at least a third-place finish in the region.

The Eagles were set to wrap up the regular season Tuesday at Hanahan.

Justin Jarrett is the sports editor of The Island News and the founder of LowcoSports.com

The Golden Warriors routed Northwood Academy, 60-21, in John Paul II’s Jake Brock, top, puts the final pressure onto West Wood’s Miles Maxfield for the pin during the third period of their 160-pound bout in the SCISA 3A quarter finals Tuesday night at JPII. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Beaufort High’s athletes on Signing Day. Photo courtesy of Terry Rawlins.

Girls of spring

It’s all in the numbers at Beaufort Academy

By Bob Sofaly The Island News

The Beaufort Academy girls second-year varsity soccer coach Gordon Shuford said he has more than 20 girls coming out to play this year.

“We’ll have good depth this year with middle and varsity girls,” he said. “I have a whole new team this year with lots of talent and depth.”

“We barely had enough (players) to field a team last year,” he said as his athletes made their way through a short agility course he set up for them. “We have three seniors this year. One is returning and was last year’s team captain. Another girl is a transfer and the third has played before but didn’t last year. I feel good about those three seniors. The combined talent we have coming up, ... with the energy we have right now, … should be really good.”

Shuford said his teamed suffered a terrible loss in the final seconds of game last year with Patrick Henry.

Hoops

from page B1

“Couldn’t quite get back on track from that,” said Shuford, whose team struggled last year to a 5-11 record. “(This year) we are a completely different team. But I really don’t have any concerns. I know we will compete this year in our SCISA, 2A conference.”

The Lady Eagles’ first home game will be against Bridges Prep at 6 p.m. on Feb. 21.

Girls tennis

Larry Scheper, long-time head coach for Beaufort Academy’s tennis teams, has led the Eagles’

programs for 11 years, winning three state championships each with the girls and boys.

But this year he has his hands full because of lack of participation for the girls squad.

“As of right now we only have two girls in the program, and they’ll have to compete with the boys team,” Scheper said.

SC Independent Schools Association rules state that if a school doesn’t have enough players for a girls team, the athletes have the option of playing with the boys.

“We had 13 girls last year but

only two have showed up as of right now,” he said. “Most of the girls are doing other things and playing other sports right now. But I suspect when they will be with us before too long.”

Last year the team struggled and won only one match.

“We were very young but are very hungry this year and looking forward to this season,” Scheper said Scheper said his squad will be working mostly with technique, stoke-wise, and consistency in their practice schedule.

Leone Di Properci, 13, a seventh-grader at BA, is one of those girls who will be playing on the boys squad.

“It’s a little stressfull,” she said. When asked if she was intimated, she said, “Definitely,” but said she wasn’t scared.

The Lady Eagles’ first home match will be 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7

Bob Sofaly has been photographing people and what they do in Beaufort since Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980. He can be reached at bobsofaly@gmail.com

Lady Eagles’ lacrosse, softball teams hit field

By Bob Sofaly The Island News

The girls of spring were in full action mode last week at Beaufort High School as members in the school’s lacrosse and softball teams geared up, laced up and faced up to the physical and mental challenges that lay before them.

The girls lacrosse team showed up in force Friday afternoon with 28 players to work out on the school’s practice field.

Head coach James Smith said he has a couple players from Battery Creek High School who want to play. But BC doesn’t field a lacrosse program, so they will play at Beaufort.

10-1)

Whale Branch 60, Royal Live Oaks 4

WB (7-14, 6-7)

RLO (0-9, 0-9)

HHCA 72, Beaufort Academy 48

HHCA (22-2): Abby Peduzzi 20 pts

BA (12-10)

“Beaufort County doesn’t have a lacrosse program in middle schools. Most of these girls have never played (lacrosse) before so most girls here have no experience when we get them,” Smith said. “Last year we were 5-11 overall for the season, but we managed to make it to the (first round) of the playoffs.”

This year the Lady Eagles have 10 seniors and that extra experience will help out.

BOYS HOOPS

Bridges Prep (L) at Allendale-Fairfax (W)

BP (14-10, 6-7)

A-F (6-14, 3-8)

Whale Branch 86, Royal Live Oaks 9

WB (15-6, 10-3): Bradford Thompson 20 pts, 6 rebs; Tony Broxton 14 pts, 4 stls;

Greggory Gilbert 12 pts, 4 rebs

RLO (0-13, 0-11)

HHCA 68, Beaufort Academy 40

HHCA (22-2): Qayden Turner 18 pts

BA (16-7) – LowcoSports.com

Wrestling

from page B1

From top: Whale Branch’s Greggory Gilbert makes two points during the first half during of a back-and-forth game with the visiting Gators of Estill on Friday night at Whale Branch. Whale Branch’s Trinity Fields, left, tries to move the ball against a tough Estill defense during their Region 7-1A basketball game Friday night.Photos by Bob Sofaly/The Island News the quarterfinals after earning a first-round bye. All 10 wins came by pin with Daniel Snyder, Aiden Winslow, Archer Dewig, Brandyn Horton, Jack Brock, William Rooney, Kohl Woodham, and Reno Cedeno all winning by fall.

JPII will compete in the SCISA individual championships Saturday in Sumter.

“We are working hard on stick work; catching and throwing that hard rubber ball,” Smith said as

The Beaufort High School girls lacrosse team takes a few laps around the field to get warmed up prior to practice Friday, Feb. 3, at the school practice field. Head coach James Smith said he wants his team to be a little more aggressive defensively this season. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

his team ran laps getting ready.

Some of the players were grumbling about the cooler weather. Smith, a native of Rhode Island said, “It’s six degrees in Vermont and those girls are practicing!”

“That’s why we don’t live in Vermont!” a player quipped.

Smith added that they are working on being more aggressive defensively and should be ready for their first game schedules for Thursday, Feb. 23 at Ashley Hall. The first home game will

be Saturday, Feb. 25 against A.C. Flora from Columbia.

Softball

The BHS girls softball team was also busy scrimmaging Friday getting ready for the season as head coach Scott Rast encouraged his athletes.

“We have 12 to 14 girls on the varsity team and 10 to 12 on the JV team. I would have liked for more girls to come out this year,” he said. “A lot of girls just didn’t want to play for the team.

GOLF ROUNDUP

Beaufort High School pitcher Kylie Rast throws the ball during a team scrimmage Friday, Feb. 3. Batter Maddy Miller takes a swing at the ball to get things started as catcher Caylin Adkins waits. Bob Sofaly/ The Island News

Rast said he does have eight seniors, and that will help.

The team’s first game will be March 14, against Philip Simon at home.

Bob Sofaly has been photographing people and what they do in Beaufort since Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980. He can be reached at bobsofaly@gmail.com

SCJGA Players Series tees off at Fripp

LowcoSports.com

Calm conditions and low scores were the theme of the day for Sunday’s final round of the S.C. Junior Golf Association’s Fripp Island Junior Challenge played at Fripp Island’s Ocean Creek Golf Course.

Overnight leader Luke Johnson of Aiken converted his lead into a one-stroke victory in the boys division, finishing at 6-over par 149 to edge Blythewood’s Teddy Dunn, who carded the lowest round of the tournament with a 2-under 69 on

Sunday.

Beaufort’s Simon McAlister finished six shots off the pace, tied for eighth in the 66-player field.

Karsyn Herron of Graniteville claimed the girls title with a two-day total of 164. Herron finished six strokes ahead of Aynor’s Reese Richardson.

The first two-day Players Series event of 2023 would not have been nearly as successful without the support of Beaufort Charities, which has donated more than 600 sets of clubs to local youth

over the past nine years and have been supporters of the SCJGA and South Carolina Golf Association since 2018.

Georgia talents capture Jr.

Heritage titles

John Daniel Culbreth of Thomasville, Georgia, posted a final round score of 2-under-par 69 on Sunday at Harbour Town Golf Links to claim the boys title at the 32nd Sea Pines Junior Heritage, and Savannah’s Mary

Miller made it a Peach State sweep with a two-day total of 2-under 141 to take home the girls title.

Culbreth made three birdies Sunday at the home of the RBC Heritage and finished the tournament at 4-under par 139.

“I started off hitting the ball pretty good,” Culbreth said. “I had some good up and downs which kind of made things a little easier. It feels good to be the champion. It was a long two days so this is a really good feeling, and this win gives me a

lot of confidence that I can close out a tournament.”

Miller had two birdies Sunday and posted a final round score of 1-over 72 to take home the title.

“I started off hitting it well,” Miller said. “It was exciting going into the backnine because Madison and I were kind of going back and forth and I am just really happy to be the champion. The win hasn’t really hit yet, but I know it will tonight. This boosts my confidence a lot and it’s great to start off the year with a win.”

Beaufort Academy head girls soccer coach Gordon Schuford shows his squad how to run the agility course laid out before them at the start of practice Monday afternoon at BA’s Merritt Field. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

ARTS

Indelible Moments: 1970 Street

Photographs from Two Cultures

Through February 20, USCB Center for the Arts, 801 Carteret Street. Photography show featuring the work of Jack Dempsey, a Beaufort resident. The USCB Center for the Arts will present an exhibit of more than 50 street photographs from the U.S. and South America during the early 1970s. Photographs in the front exhibit area were taken during two extended trips to Columbia, Ecuador, and Peru in 1971 and 1972. The interior exhibition area will present photographs taken in the central, eastern, and southern U.S., around the early 1970s as well. These photographs highlight the contrasts and similarities of the two cultures during that unique period in our history. For more information, visit https://www.uscbcenterforthearts.com/ or jdempsey.net.

Gifts From the Boneyard

10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 1-31, 2023, Port Royal Sound foundation (PRSF) Museum, 310 Okatie Highway, Okatie. The Friends of Hunting Island (FOHI) and The Port Royal Sound Foundation (PRSF) are hosting an art exhibit called, “Gifts From the Boneyard, Art Inspired by Hunting Island’s Landscape.” The featured artist is Barbara James, a local fabric artist. Photographers Joan Eckhardt and Andy Stephens are also contributing pieces. Proceeds from sales will go to FOHI and PRSF. Opening gala from 4 to 6 p.m., March 2, 2023.

CALENDAR

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.

Trivia with Tom – Fat Patties

7:30 p.m., Every Wednesday, Fat Patties, 831 Parris Island Gateway, Beaufort. Free. Team trivia event, win house cash prizes! For more information, visit https://rb.gy/o9nhwe.

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

7:30 p.m., Every Thursday, Fat Patties, 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.

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.

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.

Wet Willie’s Trivia Night

7 to 10 p.m., every Thursday, Wet Willie’s, Beaufort Town Center. Win awesome prizes while you sip the worlds greatest daiquiris and munch on delicious bites.

Wet Willie’s Bingo Night

7 to 10 p.m., every Friday, Wet Willie’s, Beaufort Town Center. Win free giveaways, merchandise, and more cool prizes.

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.

Drum Circle

6:30 to 8 p.m., 2nd Friday of every month, Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce, 711 Bladen Street, Beaufort. Free. Anyone welcome, no experience necessary. Eric Roy, a recent transplant from Connecticut with successful experience in leading drum circles, is our new facilitator. He will start sessions off with 15-20 minutes of instruction on djembe playing and teach a selected traditional rhythm & accompaniment for participants to play. In addition, there will be time allotted for spontaneous group drumming. Bring a drum, if you have one, a chair and a desire to have fun. The Drum Circle has several extra drums and many other percussion instruments that anyone can use. To receive updates on future events, send your email to lannyk13@gmail.com. The first session will be on Friday, Jan. 13.

Highway 21 Flea Market

9 a.m. to 4 p.m., every Saturday and Sunday, Highway 21 Drive-In. Sellers, vendors, handmade items, unique products and yard sale items. For information, email lowcountryfleamarket@gmail. com.

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 843295-0058.

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.

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.

Beaufort Lions Club Semi-annual

Sweetheart Pancake Breakfast

8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 11, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Ladys Island Drive, Beaufort. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for those younger than 12. Tickets may be purchased from any Beaufort Lions Club member or at the door. Cash, checks, and major credit cards will be accepted. With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, be sure not to miss the Beaufort Lions Club Sweetheart Pancake Breakfast. Treat your sweetheart to luscious pancakes with syrup, fluffy scrambled eggs with sausage, cheesy grits, and Jim Palmer’s famous sausage gravy and biscuits. Coffee, milk, and orange juice will be available as well. Free vision screenings will be available.

Lonely Hearts Support Group Kickoff

5:30 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 14, Ministries for Synergetic Wellness, Inc. 501(c)(3), 2201 Boundary St. #208, Beaufort. Free. Storytelling with a learning message and chocolate buffet. Come tell your 10-minute healing story. Register by leaving a confidential voicemail with name, phone and number attendees at 843-525-6115 or send email to reneesutton@healthierhealing. com. This is a therapeutic social activity run professionally by a licensed counselor to create a safe opportunity to practice listening and communication. Confirmation of attendance and location will finalize by Feb 12.

Lowcountry Christian

Women’s Connection

Luncheon and Program

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 170

Hampton Hall Blvd., Bluffton. ‘Jazz it Up Feature/

Speaker-Tempe Brown; Mini Jazz & Blues Concert.

Prepaid Reservations: Luncheon is $28 Luncheon is $28 payable to CWC Bluffton and send to Carol Mock, 607 Argent Way, Bluffton SC. 29909 or email Julie.ott.az@gmail.com.

Karaoke with Melissa

7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 18, Latitude Bar & Chill, 3295 Latitude Blvd, Hardeeville. Open to residents and their guests only. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.

YMCA Puppy Plunge

9 to 11 a.m., Saturdays, Feb. 25, March 25. Wardle Family YMCA, Outdoor pool, 1801 Richmond Ave., Port Royal. Well-behaved canines of all breeds and sizes are welcome. Cost is $10 per pup. All proceeds benefit the Y’s Learn to Swim program. Owners will be required to sign a waiver before entering the enclosed, exterior pool area (use the side entrance gate), must be present with their pups at all times, and humans are not permitted to swim in the Puppy Plunge. The YMCA asks that pets be up-to-date on all vaccinations. Event is weather dependent so check the YMCA social media or call the Y front desk at 843-522-9622 the morning of the Puppy Plunge to check any status update.

Beaufort Republican Women’s

Club Membership Drive Luncheon

11:30 a.m., Saturday, March 4, The Carolina Room, Dataw Island Club, 123 Dataw Dr., St. Helena Island. The cost of the luncheon is $38 and is by reservation only. Xiaodan Li, Beaufort County Republican Party’s representative to the South Carolina Republican Party and member of Friends of Liberty, will be the featured speaker. To reserve your seat, please mail your check with the names of those who will be attending to BRWC, P. O. Box 1835, Beaufort, SC 29901 before February 25. For further information, contact Diane Roney at 843-838-4972.

HISTORY

Beaufort History Museum

at the Arsenal

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday 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., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. 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 docentled tours. For more information visit www. fortfremont.org or contact Passive Parks Manager Stefanie Nagid at snagid@bcgov.net.

The American Revolution:

A World War No One Knows

10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 14, Room

115, USCB Hilton Head Campus, 1 Sand Shark Drive, Hilton Head Island. $8 for Heritage Library members, $10 for non-members. To register, go to https://heritagelib.org/online-classes. Discover how America was only one relatively compact and insignificant theater of war in what was in reality

a World War for England, and that American independence was won only due to military aid from two European powers and distractions provided by four other major nations.

What Civil War Are We Talking

About? Southern Honor and the Myth of the Lost Cause

10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Monday, Feb. 20, Room 115, USCB Hilton Head Campus, 1 Sand Shark Drive, Hilton Head Island. $8 for Heritage Library members, $10 for non-members. To register, go to https://heritagelib.org/online-classes. This presentation explores this 19th-century manifestation of “fake news” and its lasting consequences on the national memory and understanding of the Civil War.

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

Law Talk Select times and days, Lobeco Branch Library, 1862 Trask Parkway, Seabrook. To register, call 843-255-6479. Free. Brief topic overview with Question & Answer with volunteer attorney. Tuesday, Feb. 28, 5 to 6 p.m., Landlord Tenant Law; Tuesday, March 18, 5 to 6 p.m., Wills, Estates, and Probate; Saturday, April 29, 11 a.m. to noon, Heirs Property; Saturday, May 20, 11 a.m. to noon, Starting a Business or Nonprofit.

Dungeons & Dragons

4 p.m., Mondays, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6441.

Ages 12 to 18.

Lego Club

4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Mondays, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island, 843-255-6540. All ages welcome.

Law Talk

5:30 to 6:30 p.m., select Tuesdays, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. To register, call 843-255-6481. Free. Brief topic overview with Question & Answer with volunteer attorney. Jan. 24, Wills, Estates, and Probate; Feb. 28, Estate Planning; March 28, Advanced Health Care Directives; April 18, Starting a Business.

Teen Art Club

4 p.m., 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of each month, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6441. Ages 12-18.

Teen Anime Club

4 p.m., 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of each month, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6456.

Law Talk

5:30 to 6:30 p.m., select Tuesdays, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. To register, call 843-255-6540.

Free. Brief topic overview with Question & Answer with volunteer attorney. Tuesday, Jan. 17, Starting a Business; Tuesday, Feb. 7, Expungement; Tuesday, March 7, Credit Card Debt; Tuesday, April 4, Social Security Disability; Tuesday, May 2, Getting Arrested.

Teen Video Game Club

4 p.m., 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of each month, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6441. Ages 12 to 18.

Law Talk Noon to 1 p.m., select Wednesdays, Hilton Head Branch Library, 11 Beach City Rd, Hilton Head Island. To register, call 843-255-6525. Free.

Brief topic overview with Question & Answer with volunteer attorney. Wednesday, Feb. 15, Cyber Security and Data Privacy; Wednesday, March 15, Wills, Estates, and Probate; Wednesday, April 19, Advance Health Care Directives; Wednesday, May 17, Real Estate and Foreclosure.

S.C. Works Job Coaching

2 to 4 p.m., Thursdays, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island, 843-255-6540. Free help with job searches, interviews.

Chess Club

1 to 2 p.m., Saturdays, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island, 843-255-6540. Ages 5 and older.

Chess Meet Up

11 a.m., 2nd Saturday of each month, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6456. Instructor Henry Otto Seim will show beginners the basics or play a friendly game with more experienced players. All skill levels welcome. Extra boards will be set up.

Chess Meet Up

11 a.m., 3rd Saturday of each month, Lobeco Branch Library, 1862 Trask Parkway, 843-2556479. Instructor Henry Otto Seim will show beginners the basics or play a friendly game with more experienced players. All skill levels welcome. Extra boards will be set up.

LITERATURE

Books Sandwiched In –

Trouble the Water

12 to 1 p.m., Monday, Feb. 13, USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret St, Beaufort. Free. A thought leader in our community discusses a book that has had an impact on the presenter, with questions and discussion to follow. Light refreshments offered. This meeting’s book is Trouble the Water by Rebecca Dwight Bruff, presented by Rebecca Dwight Bruff.

Books Sandwiched In –

The Ladder of Years

12 to 1 p.m., Monday, Feb. 20, USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret St, Beaufort. Free. A thought leader in our community discusses a book that has had an impact on the presenter, with questions and discussion to follow. Light refreshments offered. This meeting’s book is The Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler, presented by Jayne Violette.

Books Sandwiched In –

My First Summer in the Sierra

12 to 1 p.m., Monday, Feb. 27, USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret St, Beaufort. Free. A thought leader in our community discusses a book that has had an impact on the presenter, with questions and discussion to follow. Light refreshments offered. This meeting’s book is My First Summer in the Sierra by John Muir, presented by Greg Schulte.

Books Sandwiched In –

You’re Going to Be Somebody

12 to 1 p.m., Monday, March 6, USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret St, Beaufort. Free. A thought leader in our community discusses a book that has had an impact on the presenter, with questions and discussion to follow. Light refreshments offered. This meeting’s book is You’re Going to Be Somebody by Helen Smith, presented by Carrie Major.

Books Sandwiched In –

The Personal Librarian

12 to 1 p.m., Monday, March 13, USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret St, Beaufort. Free. A thought leader in our community discusses a book that has had an impact on the presenter, with questions and discussion to follow. Light refreshments offered. This meeting’s book is The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray, presented by Wanda Mayse.

MEETINGS

Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club February meeting

7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 9, Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club located on Lady’s Island off of Meridian Road. Social begins at 6:30 p.m. Guests are welcome. Reservations are not needed. The guest speaker is Ryan Yaden, DNR Director of the S.C. Artificial Reef Program. Ryan will present the history of this very successful program with updates on the reef from Edisto to Hilton Head White Water Reef, including new coordinates. He will also present deployments of materials of opportunity at these reefs with underwater video of deployed tanks, APCS Barges, Tug Boat, and NY Subway Car. Beaufort Boat & Dock Supply, Butler Marine, and Adams Marine Seminars again are our monthly $50 drawing sponsors. Remember to weigh in your favorite catch at Beaufort Boat & Dock Supply – located at 1734 Ribaut Road, Port Royal – during regular hours. Congratulations to Bill Hennigh, last month’s winner. Winners must be present at the next month’s meeting to receive the cash award. Guests are welcome. Reservations are not needed. For additional information, please contact Captain Frank Gibson at 843-522-2122 or email fgibson@islc.net.

LIPBA Meeting

8 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 14, Beaufort Realtors’ Association Headquarters 22 Kemmerlin Lane, Beaufort. We are pleased to announce that Beaufort County Planning & Zoning Director, Robert Merchant, will be the featured speaker. Please stop by for coffee and conversation as Merchant addresses planning and development in our community.

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.

League of Women Voters

6 to 7:30 p.m., second Thursday of every month, Meeting Room, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Ladys Island Dr, Beaufort. Free. The Public as well as LWVB members are encouraged to attend. The meeting will be about the topics members have suggested as projects for 2023.

Zonta Club of Beaufort

6 p.m., 4th Tuesday of each month, Smokehouse, Port Royal. Until November 22, we are participating in a service project with a global organization called Free the Girls. We are currently collecting new and gently used bras to help women rescued from trafficking start their own businesses selling the bras. Last year our club collected more than 600 bras and we are hoping to beat that number this year. Our collection sites are Amy Bowman State Farm Agency, 1284 Ribaut Rd., Myrna B. Breland, CPA, 1 Professional Drive, Port Royal, and Nourishing Health Acupuncture and Herbs, 34A Savannah Hwy.

MUSIC

Fripp Island Friends of Music Concert Series

5 p.m., specific Sundays, Fripp Island Community Centre, 205 Tarpon Blvd., Fripp Island. Individual shows are $30. Consider becoming a member of Fripp Island Friends of Music (FIFOM). Membership gives you access to all five concerts, including the post-performance reception where you meet the musicians while enjoying delicious hors d’oeuvres prepared fresh by Harold’s Chef Services. It also helps fund FIFOM’s Music-in-the-Schools program. The basic FIFOM membership, $100, has not changed. To become a member, text or call Vanessa Peñaherrera at 704-807-0255 or email vandy116@ gmail.com. Go to frippfriendsofmusic.com for more information. Schedule: Feb. 26, The Tony Lee Group (jazz); March 26, Kim Richey (singer-songwriter).

Jevon Daly

4 p.m. & 8 p.m., Friday, March 10, Coligny Theatre, 1 N Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head Island. $5 admission for 4 p.m. kids show, $20 admission for 8 p.m. evening show. Purchase tickets for kids show at shorturl.at/xGLQZ. Purchase tickets for the evening show at shorturl.at/dlCIT.

OUTDOORS

Port Royal Cypress Wetlands tours

10 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 11; 4 to 5:30 p.m.,

Friday, Feb. 24, Port Royal Cypress Wetlands. Bring your holiday guests to a free guided tour of the wetlands sponsored by Friends of Port Royal Cypress Wetlands and led by Master Naturalist Jill Moore. Moore is full of information about alligators, turtles, trees, plants, and the variety of birds that call the wetlands home. This is a great opportunity to learn about this magical place. Tours are limited in size so sign up now. Kat Bray, Tour Coordinator, info@foprcw.org.

Fripp Island Audubon Club February Program

6:45 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 23, Fripp Island Community Center, 205 Tarpon Blvd., Fripp Island. You’re invited to a screening of Purple Haze: A Conservation Film, presented by the Fripp Island Audubon Club. This will be a unique program about Purple Martins. Bring a snack to share and join us for the Meet and Greet from 6 to 6:45 p.m.

SPORTS Beaufort Masters Swim Team

6 to 7 a.m., Monday through Friday, Wardle Family Port Royal YMCA. Coached practices. Ages 18 & older, all skill & speed levels, no prior swim team experience needed. Visit lowcountryswimming. com for more information.

SC State Fair opens applications for 2023 scholarships

From staff reports

The South Carolina State Fair, a self-supporting 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is accepting applications for its 26th annual Ride of Your Life Scholarship program, which awards $300,000 in college scholarships to high school seniors across South Carolina each year. Applications will be open until March 15 and can be completed at scstatefair. org/scholarships.

Since 1997, the S.C. State Fair has awarded more than $4 million to South Carolina students through the Ride of Your Life Scholarship program.

This year, scholarships in the amount of $6,000 will be awarded to 50 high school seniors across South Carolina and will be paid out at $1,500 per year over four years. Students pursuing two-year degrees will receive $1,500 per year over two years.

The scholarship funds must be used at a South Carolina university, college, or institution and may cover tuition or other educational expenses such as on-campus housing, a computer, or textbooks. Scholarships are awarded based on academic and extracurricular achievement, communication skills, need and completeness of the application. Recipients must retain a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale and enroll in no less than 30 credit hours each academic year to receive funding for that year.

Prospective scholars and/ or parents can learn more at scstatefair.org/scholarships or by contacting Betsy Cooper at betsyc@scstatefair. org or 803-799-3387, ext. 110. Scholarship applications must be completed online at https://www.scstatefair.org/ scholarships/ by March 15. Scholarship award recipients will be notified in mid-May of their award status.

EDUCATION & ARTS

Lowcountry Montessori celebrating 9th International Night

From staff reports Lowcountry Montessori School is celebrating its ninth International Night from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 9 at 749 Broad River Drive.

The entire campus from primary to high school will be decorated and displaying the diversity of world cultures. Students have been working enthusiastically, as they have over the years, to explore and demonstrate the foods, music, visual arts, dance, history, philosophy, and general customs of countries around the globe. The breezeways and classrooms will be vivid with the colors of student projects, banners, flags, and displays.

International Night is one of the school’s signature events and all are welcome. Admission is free.

EDUCATION BRIEFS

Zonta giving out women’s scholarships

Zonta Club of Beaufort is happy to announce its 2023 Scholarship for Working Women and Scholarship for Women (High School Senior). Applications are now available. Please reach out to a Zonta Sister or email zontabeaufort@yahoo. com. The deadline to apply is April 3, and applicants must live North of the Broad River.

Beaufort’s Brozek named to President’s List at The Citadel

Ryan Brozek of Beaufort is among the more than 90 cadets recognized for their outstanding work during the fall 2022 semester.

The President’s List is one of the most distinguished cadet awards presented by The Citadel. The list is a combination of the dean’s list and the Commandant’s Distinguished List and is composed of cadets who contribute the most

to their companies while maintaining excellent military and academic records.

Approximately 30% of graduating cadets earn commissions into military service. The Citadel is only one of two remaining 24/7 military-structured colleges in the United States, other than the federal academies. With more than 180 cadets holding rank within the Corps, The Citadel provides a leadership lab, contributing to the fulfillment of its mission to educate and develop principled leaders.

Gold stars awarded to 8 Citadel cadets, students from Beaufort

Gold stars were awarded to cadets and students at The Citadel who achieved a 3.7 grade point average or higher in the fall 2022 semester. Cadets and students who achieve gold star recognition are also placed on The Citadel’s dean’s list. Beaufort cadets and students who earned gold stars include Ryan Brozek, Brock Durham,

Henry Manley, Edward McCormick, Ethan McKenzie, Elliott Ruoff, Clayton Vande Burgt and Thomas Conrad.

Those cadets may wear gold stars on their uniforms throughout the semester following their academic achievement. A gold star recognition certificate is awarded to non-cadet students who meet the requirements; veteran and active duty students are also awarded challenge coins.

3 from Beaufort on Georgia

Southern’s Fall 2022 Dean’s List

Georgia Southern University recently recognized approximately 3,390 students for excellence in academics on the Fall 2022 Dean’s List. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, a student must have at least a 3.5 grade point average and carry a minimum of 12 hours for the semester. Three students from Beaufort honored were Lindsey Breaux (29907), Katie Innes (29907) and Oakley Magbee (29902).

USCB Center For The Arts features photos of Jack Dempsey

From staff reports USC Beaufort will present Indelible Moments: 1970 Street Photographs from Two Cultures by Jack Dempsey through February 20. The two exhibition areas will feature an exhibit of more than 50 street photographs from the United States and South America during the early 1970s.

The front exhibition hall will show photographs from two extended trips to Co-

lumbia, Ecuador, and Peru in 1971 and 1972. The interior exhibition hall will exhibit photographs from the central, eastern, and southern U.S., around the early 1970s as well.

Dempsey’s work highlights the contrasts and similarities of the two cultures during that unique period in our history.

“Certain scenes I came upon were thought-provoking to me because of

shadow and light shapes that bounced to the either end of the value scale and made mid-tones become the backdrop. Images of store windows, with or without people, were also intriguing,” Dempsey said. “The arrangements, the styles, typography, the objects, for example hats, political posters, fences, or mannequins are cultural artifacts and sometimes art. I’m sure the work of Eugene Atget, an early

pioneer of photography, and artist/photographers like Bill Brandt and Walker Evans have always influenced my awareness of the artifacts of the street.”

“I don’t recall that ‘street photography’ was a term that photographers used often in the 1970s. It’s a pretty good term, though. Typically, these types of photos aren’t documentary. Neither are they photos that concentrate on snapshots, art, nor the

craft of photography. Even so, street photos can be any of these things.”

“I often carried one or two Nikon rangefinder cameras inside a woven shoulder bag. These cameras were well used when I first bought them and got pretty beat up.

I loved them and adjusted the f/stop, shutter speed, and twitched the film advance lever without looking as I walked along.”

“Considerable work was

involved in restoring the 50-year-old negatives that were often stored in hot closets or in rooms without air conditioning. The images are printed on archival paper from high resolution scans. Some were quite a challenge to restore and required a lot of digital post-production.”

Signed archival prints are available from jdempsey.net. For more information, visit https://www.uscbcenterforthearts.com/ or jdempsey.net

International Night is one of Lowcountry Montessori School’s signature events and all are welcome. Admission is free. Photo courtesy of Lowcountry Montessori School.

Tickets on sale as Film Festival approaches

From staff reports

It’s almost here, and tickets are available for the 17th annual Beaufort International Film Festival scheduled for later this month and hosted by the Beaufort Film Society (BFS).

The event runs from February 21 through February 26, with all film screenings held at the USC Beaufort Center for the Arts at 805 Carteret Street in Beaufort.

All blocks are $15 each, while a Daily Film Pass is $50 for BFS members and $60 for non members each day. An All Events Pass is $270 for BFS members and $325 for non members.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.beaufortfilmfestival.com or patrons can pay at the door for screenings only. Tickets are also available at the Beaufort/ Port Royal Convention and

‘Love Letters’ arrive in time for Valentine’s Day

From staff reports

As Valentine’s Day approaches, all who know the thrill, joy, and pain of romantic love may want to attend a performance of “Love Letters” on Friday, February 10 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort (UUFB) at 178 Sam’s Point Road on Lady’s Island.

“Love Letters,” applauded for its masterful writing and simple presentation style, is a love story between two lifelong friends. This award-winning play by A.R. Gurney, will star Tim Joy, as Andy, and Car-

en Ross, as Melissa. Both leads have performed to joyous acclaim in many previous plays, and both feel deeply about the artistry and emotional depth of Gurney’s work. They will be directed by Suzanne Larson who, herself, has appeared in Love Letters many times.

Actors Joy and Ross are both known for their community involvement in UUFB’s social justice and humanitarian projects, which is the foundation of their faith as Unitarian Universalists.

Doors open at 6:30 and

WANT TO GO?

What: “Love Letters”

When: 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 10

Where: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort, 178 Sam’s Point Road, Lady’s Island Tickets: $10 reserved, call 864-354-4350 to order.

the show starts at 7 p.m. Wine will be available before the show and during intermission for a donation. Advance tickets are recommended and are $10 each. They may be purchased by contacting Jean Griffith at 864-354-4350.

Lowcountry HOAs prove ideal mystery settings

From staff reports

Author Linda Lovely says her decision to write an HOA Mystery series, set in the South Carolina Lowcountry, was easy, given her own experiences in four homeowner associations and her fondness for mysteries set in small towns and villages.

“Consider the appeal of novels by Agatha Christie and Louise Penny, not to mention TV’s ‘Murder, She Wrote’ episodes,” she says in a news release. “Today’s homeowner associations are the modern equivalents of Miss Marple’s village of St. Mary Mead.”

The author points out

that people in small communities often know about each other even if they’ve never met.

“The gossip network, reliable or not, provides a rich array of suspects. While few of us hang with spies, billionaires, or professional hitmen, we’re acquainted with neighbors we think of as unsung heroes, self-serving loudmouths, arrogant bullies or timid victims” she said.

“Familiar characters and passions make it easy for readers to relate to the stories.”

During a Monday, Feb. 13 and 15 visit, Lovely will teach a two-day “Paths To Publishing” class at the

ART BRIEFS

Open Mic Night featuring poet Lola Campbell

In partnership with the South Carolina Writers Association, the Conroy Center’s monthly Open Mic Night will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 9, at the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce at 711 Bladen Street. The featured writer is poet Lola Campbell, author of Writings on the Wall.

Book Launch for Lynn Seldon Pat Conroy praised Lynn Seldon’s debut novel Virginia’s Ring as “a triumph and a tour de force. He joins the distinguished ranks of our military academy graduates who have written about the life changing,

Osher Lifelong Learning Center (OLLI) in Beaufort.

The author, who lived in the Lowcountry for a dozen years, regularly visits to catch up with friends and family and gain inspiration for where to set scenes. Her new series features a retired Coast Guard investigator heroine, who works as a security consultant for an HOA management company.

Since the fictional firm manages more than a dozen homeowner association clients scattered around Beaufort County, there are unlimited opportunities for entertaining characters, conflicts and murders to solve.

fire tested tribe.”

The Conroy Center will host a public drop-in launch event for Seldon’s new novel, Carolina’s Ring, from 5 to 7 p.m., on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort. Free and open to the public.

An Evening of Art and Poetry with Yamamura, Francia

The Beaufort Arts Council and the Conroy Center will host art historian Midori Yamamura, speaking on Yoko Ono’s Painting to Hammer a Nail (1966), and poet Luis H. Francia, reading from his newest collection, Thorn Grass, on Friday, February 17, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Beaufort Arts Council at 921 Ribaut Road, Beaufort. Free and open to the public.

Visitors Bureau Visitors Center at 713 Craven Street in Beaufort.

Schedule of Events

Tuesday, Feb. 21

Special Matinee Screening – Stars Fell Again ($10) – 4 p.m. (start time)

Filmmakers Opening Night Reception – A ticketed event, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Tabby Place, 913 Port Republic Street, Beaufort. Tickets are $45 (BFS Members) and $55 (Non BFS Members)

Wednesday, February 22

Film Screenings 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (last film starts)

Thursday, February 23

Film Screenings – 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (last film starts)

Screenwriters Workshop –6 to 7 p.m. (no charge)

Friday, February 24

Film Screenings – 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (last film starts)

Saturday, February 25

Film Screenings – 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (last film starts)

South Carolina Film Commission (Indie Grants Program) Special Presentation – 11 a.m. (no charge)

Sunday, February 26 Awards Ceremony Cocktail Hour – A ticket event, 4 p.m. Awards Presentations – A ticketed event, 5 p.m., USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret Street, Beaufort. Tickets are $50 (BFS Members) and $60 (Non Members). This is included in the All Events Pass. Catering by Debbi Covington (Champagne included).

USCB Chamber Music: Fantasy, song, dance

By Michael Johns

Special to The Island News

USCB Chamber Music presents a concert of song, dance, and piano brilliance at 5 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 19. Pianist Orion Weiss, Artistic Director/pianist Andrew Armstrong, and tenor Daniel Mutlu will perform music exhibiting introspection, exuberance, searing romanticism, and jazzy panache.

The performance begins with a perfect opener, one of the 20th-century’s top toe-tappers: George Gershwin’s I Got Rhythm for solo piano from the 1930s musical Girl Crazy. The mood becomes more personal with the final Intermezzo and Capriccio from Johannes Brahms autumnal 7 Fantasien, Op 116. Brahms poured a lifetime of compositional craft into these packed miniatures, creating an Intermezzo that caresses with tenderness beyond words and a Capriccio that explodes with wild energy and intense expression.

Closing the first half is Robert Schumann’s questioning Dichterliebe (A Poet’s Love) song-cycle, a universally acknowledged core example of the German Romantic-period lied (song). Piano and tenor are equal partners, closely knitting together words, music, and meaning to evoke the poet’s state of mind. There is no factual story line; the poems trace a psychological progression from blissful love to disillusionment and despair.

High spirits return after intermission with Franz Schubert’s Fantasia in F minor, D. 940, for piano four-hands. Schubert compressed the four movements of a symphony into a single composition of attractive melody, surprising harmony, and warm dialogue. Morgen! (Tomorrow!), Opus 27, No. 4 is a song by Richard Strauss for voice and piano. The hopeful text has a comforting message for our time and place: “tomorrow the sun will shine again … and … to the beach, wide, wave-blue ...”

All questioning is swept away with Samuel Barber’s set of six whimsical, stylish dances: Souvenirs, Opus 28 for piano four-hands. The music reveals Barber’s fondness for New York, evoking the city’s optimism and saucy swagger that Gershwin so confidently captured. Barber wrote, “Imagine a divertissement in a setting of the Palm Court of the Hotel Plaza in New York, the year about 1914, epoch of the first tangos.”

USCB Chamber Music Artistic Director/pianist Andrew Armstrong will continue his loquacious commentary and dazzling pianism while introducing two artists new to the series. Andy has reg-

ularly delighted audiences across Asia, Europe, Latin America, Canada, and the United States as a recitalist and concerto-soloist, in chamber music concerts with the Elias, Alexander, American, and Manhattan String Quartets, and as a member of the Caramoor Virtuosi, Boston Chamber Music Society, Seattle Chamber Music Society, and Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players.

Pianist Orion Weiss is a sought-after soloist who has performed with major American orchestras including the Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic. His deeply felt, lush-sounding, and exceptionally crafted performances have won him worldwide acclaim. He has an impressive list of awards to his credit and an extensive variety of chamber music collaborations with artists of the highest order including two violinists, James Ehnes and Arnaud Sussman, who have graced the CFA stage earlier this season.

Tenor and Cantor Daniel Mutlu received a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory and a Masters in Sacred Music from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Ordained as a cantor in 2008, in 2017 he was called to serve as senior cantor at Central Synagogue in New York City. In addition to sacred duties Daniel Mutlu has recorded many solo oratorio and opera roles and received glowing reviews for solo singing with the Trinity Choir Wall Street, Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, and Houston Bach Society.

Experience in-the-moment creativity as the artists exquisitely balance between seeking perfection and letting go of inhibitions. Experience the thrill of being a participant in a communal event that moves across a range from complete silence to on-your-feet applause. The hall is newly refurbished. Great artists have come to perform in Beaufort. The music is attractive, intriguing, soothing, probing, and joyous. The only thing missing from the equation is you.

There are multiple ways to enjoy the concerts — In Person, Live-Stream and On-Demand. All virtual concerts are professionally produced, creating great viewing opportunities. On-Demand is accessible four days after the concert and available to view at your leisure for three weeks.

For concert/ticket information, go to www.uscbchambermusic.com or call 843208-8246, Monday through Friday. The concert is 5 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 19, at the USCB Center for the Arts, 801 Carteret Street, Beaufort.

Orion Weiss

Andrew Armstrong

Daniel Mutlu

Devin VanVordel of American Event Rentals, puts on the finishing touches to the big Beaufort International Film Festival (BIFF) sign in front of the USC Beaufort Center for the Arts on Saturday. The BIFF opening ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 21. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Nothin’ more powerful than the odor of mendacity

For those who came of age in the American South, there was a certain behavior that was discouraged. My Southern mother would not use the noun liar (or the verb lying) but Big Daddy called it “mendacity.”

“Ain’t nothin’ more powerful than the odor of mendacity,” Big Daddy bellowed at Brick in “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.”

My own father preferred “venal.”

Perhaps he liked that label because he was raised Catholic, but the “venality” he deplored didn’t mean bribery or corruption. It was more akin to posturing — pretending to be more important than you actually were. My mother’s cousin, a pilot in World War II, filled this billet when I was a youngster. When our large, extended family would gather at Ocean Drive Beach in July, the former pilot would give us details of his wartime heroism. After he had staggered off the porch at night, the adults who remained would refill their Dixie Cups with Makers Mark

SCOTT GRABER

and begin their edit of this man’s actual story.

At these reunions, the male children were housed in a single room just off the porch where, providentially, there was a double-sashed window that we kids could open-up and listen, in the darkness, to the conversation. And for us the real fun began when this self-proclaimed, self-styled hero left the building.

As our family began to disperse — or simply lost interest in these summer time reunions — many of my cousins went off to college and read about the mendacity of Huey Long, Walter Bilbo, Cotton Ed Smith and a host of other Southern born autocrats who were good, solid examples of small people who claimed an exalted, or a semi-heroic history — a history retold

when they ran for office.

Nonetheless, many were surprised with the news that George Santos, recently elected to the House, had pushed the limits of this age-old practice to include Holocaust-connected ancestors; an elite college education; and a job at Goldman Sachs.

Many of us in the South wander, from time to time, into fiction when trading stories with our friends. It is pretty much understood that if you are sitting on a porch in the late evening, with a vodka tonic in one hand and an Auturo Fuente Hemingway (cigar) in the other, that there is going to be some embellishment.

It is understood that one is not under oath, that creativity is actually encouraged, that nobody is going to pull-out their cell phone and Google any allegation of fact or any dollar figure put into play.

But we in the South know that when one is not sipping Glenlivet Single Malt (12 years in the cask) Scotch whiskey; is not conversing on a Google-free, screenedin porch; that he, or she,

Many of us in the South wander, from time to time, into fiction when trading stories with our friends. It is pretty much understood that if you are sitting on a porch in the late evening, with a vodka tonic in one hand and an Auturo Fuente Hemingway (cigar) in the other, that there is going to be some embellishment.”

is expected to stay somewhere in the vicinity of the truth. This is especially the true when the speaker of wisdom and alleged truth is seeking a job in the United States House of Representatives — starting salary $174,000.00.

Those of us raised around tobacco barns and hog-killings know that beneath a thin, translucent patina of apparent indifference, most crackers expect some balance when it comes to resume’ embellishment. When there is enhancement we like to

believe that exaggeration will be on the margins and surrounded by other stuff that is somewhat, slightly true.

“Tell us your story, George, but keep some of it — maybe 30% of it — legit.”

But our new friend George Santos threw the long ball going for the coveted resume’ trifecta — religion, education and job experience — thinking that nobody would check-out his story. Apparently he is unaware that reporters at the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and a

thousand bedroom-based, pajama-wearing podcasters are still willing to pick up their cellphone and call the Admissions Office at Baruch College.

But George got away with it — he got away with it until after the voting.

So now we’ve got the — “If I’ve offended anyone with my embellishment” — apology; and the standard-issue reply from his Republican colleagues, “Well, you know what, you Democrats do the same thing.”

But, apparently, we won’t get much more.

George obviously believes that this will blow over, dissipate, and Kevin McCarthy needed George’s vote if he was to end the voting marathon last month.

But the fact is that most of us had mothers or fathers or grandparents who would slap us on the back of the head saying — “Stop the lying Scott.”

Scott Graber is a lawyer, novelist, veteran columnist and longtime resident of Port Royal. He can be reached at cscottgraber@gmail.com

Sorry Clemson Turning Point, no cookie for you

On February 1, a group of Clemson students dubbing themselves the “official” campus chapter of Turning Point USA, staged an “Affirmative Action Bake Sale.” The display table featured an assortment of cookies listed at different prices. That wouldn’t be worth mentioning except for how the prices were assigned – not based on the type or number of cookies but on the ethnicity of the would-be consumer.

The sign read, “Asian $1.50, White $1.00, Hispanic $.50, Black $.20, Native Am FREE.”

My first thought was, What in the blankety-blank is this blank?!? And I was not alone in having that kind of reaction.

More than a few Black students at Clemson were offended by the event, especially since it was held on the first day of Black History Month. They voiced their concerns on local media, and it wasn’t long before national media figures weighed in.

Radio and television personality Charlamagne tha God (a.k.a. Charleston native Lenard McKelvey) took the controversy to the airwaves of his nationally

TERRY MANNING

syndicated The Breakfast Club. He called the Clemson Turning Point USA chapter his “Donkey of the Day” and lumped them in with a broader slate of bad actors across the country.

“I’m tired of us being the most unserious country on the planet,” he said. “Everybody is just doing … things. There is absolutely no thought going into [what] everybody is doing. It feels like everybody is trying to get into the Rock ’n’ Troll Hall of Fame.”

Senior engineering major Bethany Sparks wrote an eloquent letter outlining her distaste:

“I understand that everyone has the right to free speech and their own opinions, but I will not have people tell me that my life and my

accomplishments were handed to me, by a group of people who have yet to acknowledge their own privilege. Their message that White people have to do more, pay more, to receive the same opportunities is preposterous.”

And that is the underlying sentiment for a lot of what is going on wrong in this country right now. White people — not all — have convinced themselves they are the victims of the oppression and discrimination many of them – not all – inflict upon others. They have convinced themselves — not all — everything that has come up short for them in their lives is somehow the fault of someone else, usually someone else with brown skin. Or it is the fault of other white people who are shortchanging them to accommodate the interests of people with brown skin. This is the point CUTPUSA was trying to make, as they clarified in a statement the day after the controversial stunt.

“The purpose of the ‘Bake Sale’ was to highlight admission policies implemented by various universities, such as Yale, that openly

favor applicants based on race. We were not suggesting in any way that individuals at Clemson did not work hard to be here.”

A spokesman for the group told WYFF-TV their members were protesting affirmative action at Harvard and the University of North Carolina and not Clemson.

In fact, the spokesman said the group was not familiar with Clemson’s admissions policies.

To which I say, who gives a blankety-blank about admissions policy at Yale, Harvard and UNC?!? And if you do, why not go to Yale, Harvard or UNC to set up your stupid table of cookies? Why bring that mess to Clemson?

There’s the thoughtlessness Charlamagne is talking about. These idiotic “affirmative action bake sales” are nothing new. They’ve occurred on campuses around the nation for years now.

CUTPUSA did something just to be doing something. Something they got from their parent organization or saw on a website somewhere.

In the 1960s, it was common for the powers that be to blame outside agitators for racial unrest.

Why make changes to the social order if locals were happy with the way things were? At least back then, when there actually were outside agitators, they had boots on the ground beside locals.

Now, conservative agitators spread their influence on radio and television and online by way of message boards and social media. They issue marching orders, wind up their minions and point them in the direction of the nearest “reason we can’t have nice things.” These unthinking locals like CUTPUSA charge off so they can report back to the parent group, “Look what we did!”

As of this writing, Clemson hasn’t issued a formal response to the stunt, but I really hope they “look what CUTPUSA did” and make clear the university does not endorse such foolishness.

Because I can guarantee every Black student at Clemson, every Black student thinking of going to Clemson, and Clemson’s Black alumni are all looking. Closely.

Terry E. Manning is a Clemson graduate and worked for 20 years as a journalist. He can be reached at teemanning@gmail.com

Are we still doing this? Again and again?

How many times? At the risk of being redundant, how many times do we have to ask, “How many times?”

We shake our heads in dismay, may I suggest in horror, as we observe still one more mass shooting.

We see people in anguish over the death of loved ones; we see people in terror as they run for their lives, people rendered victims simply because they are celebrating a special time of the year or enjoying some recreational time at a nightclub.

And, God help us, we learn of young children sitting in a classroom, slaughtered as police outside try to determine what to do. We listen to the sobs of their relatives as they try to make sense of the senseless.

Is this what we have become? A nation where weekly devastation by armed

men is simply another headline, one supplanted by another, and another?

Do we accept with a shrug, a six year old bringing to school a gun to shoot his teacher? Where did he learn that this is the accepted way to settle a dispute regarding his perception of wrongdoing?

And so we are dismayed, horrified, and seemingly helpless as we watch each massacre on the screen. I suggest that it’s time to put aside those initial feelings and get down to solving

this problem so unique to our country.

Let’s begin by asking ourselves whether or not we are proud to hold the dubious distinction that our country seems to relish, and let’s do so by comparing ourselves to other countries. I want to make some aspects of the following very clear. First, this information is dated 2017. I have not done a thorough follow-up, but my educated guess would be that the statistics are even worse six years later.

The statistics I am providing came from a study by the Institute for Health Metrics, University of Washington, small arms survey. I am not including the number of deaths that year, but rather the number of civilian-held guns per 100 people. Please read the following, and then explain why this should be the case.

Japan 0 Germany, Russia, Italy, and Australia fewer than 20 USA 120

Statistics don’t lie, folks; neither does the news, reported on Jan. 24, 2023, that in our country, we had more shootings than days. Seventy people were killed and 167 wounded. While there is no consensus of what constitutes a “mass” shooting, such a deficiency provides no solace for those losing loved ones who were simply engaging in everyday activities. Furthermore, those countries listed above don’t have the shameful record we have. Some will offer reduced mental health programs as the excuse; I have no problem with increasing funds for mental health programs/ facilities, but

that by itself is no panacea.

To those who want to point to this as the problem, I ask: why are assault weapons sold to civilians? The name alone indicates the intended use. The carnage this weapon renders underscores its sole purpose, and that is for use in wartime.

My second question addresses background checks. Why are they viewed negatively? Furthermore, if those who support the NRA posture are truly legitimate, and want the purchase of guns to be viewed equally so, why not allow a universal three-day waiting period?

All these questions are reasonable, to my way of thinking. I have shot a gun a couple of times when my late husband and I were dating. He lived in a rural area, and we would go up over the hill to a spot that

I remember being called a ‘spoil pile.’ Tin cans were set out as targets that we would try to hit. I don’t recall that it was any fun; in fact, it was somewhat frightening as I held the rifle and withstood the recoil to my shoulder.

Something concrete must be done. Many will cry, “They will not take my guns away.” I can only respond that I hope you are never in a position where more than that is taken from you, and you have to experience the pain so many endure as a result of the massive overload of artillery we seem hell-bent on having.

CAROL LUCAS

Do we only follow God when we feel like it?

Have you ever wondered what is the purpose of television, games, movies, and social media? Many will say it was created to entertain and inform us, but what we may not have noticed, is that when we are constantly focused on these things, we are usually not listening to what God is saying.

To understand what He wants us to do, we must give Him our undivided attention. This is accomplished when we find a quiet place where we can pray, worship, and be still before Him. To those who are not followers of God, this sounds silly, but the ones who cry out for His refining fire to purge their minds and hearts, realize the desire for entertainment can become a snare trap distracting us from our mission.

BILLY HOLLAND

There is an old saying when a person is easily distracted, someone will say “squirrel!” This means they are like a dog or cat that cannot keep themselves from chasing a squirrel no matter how much the owner tells them to stop. Are we like this with God?

I’m reminded of a story about a king who wanted his daughter to be married. There were three suitors and as a test, they were to carry a full cup of water across the banquet hall without spilling a drop. The first contender

was booed, and he spilled his cup. The second was cheered, but he also spilled the water. The third man received much screaming from the crowd but he managed to hand the cup to the king without spilling a drop.

When asked how he was successful, he said, the others became distracted by the people and took their eyes away from the task. I decided not to listen to anyone and to only focus on the king’s desires.

In our modern world, the Christian tries to live in both the secular and spiritual worlds at the same time and often ends up frustrated and exhausted. It has to do with focus and this is a result of our love. How so? Since we do what we love, we are also serving whom we love.

You see, there are only two paths; God’s way and

our way. Humans are creatures of priorities and what we do reveals what is important to us. Free will has always been alive and well and was present when Adam and Eve chose to ignore God. We can blame others for our lack of concentration, but in the end, we make our own decisions.

Yes, we are influenced by those around us and of course, there is such a person called the devil who has been given the authority to whisper lies and subtle persuasions to lure us away from what God has called us to do. Nonetheless, our carnality and rebellion does not remove the responsibility of a Christian to live in the awareness of God’s presence.

I realize this is fairly straightforward, but in a world where doctrinal

corners are being rounded and the truth is being watered down, let us not forget the commitment of our profession of faith includes standing for God no matter how unpopular or uncomfortable. Some might shrug their shoulders and think this level of enthusiasm is for extreme radicals, but may we be reminded that many have willingly sacrificed their lives for their faith.

This causes me to wonder if enough evidence could be found to prosecute me. God wants to encourage us today and to remember the same conviction that drew us to Him, is the same stirring we have to serve Him. How else can we prove to God how much we adore Him than to do what He says?

Christianity was never supposed to be a one-way

relationship where God does everything and we do nothing. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” John 14:15.

I just thought about what I would do if God told me to do something I didn’t want to do. What would you do? Would we do it or would we ignore Him and justify our disobedience as a misunderstanding?

Some would say it depends on what it was. Ha! That’s a good one! Do you believe there are consequences for ignoring the Lord? In my last book, I said the meaning of life is to know and love God, but accepting Christ to be our Lord and Master means our dedication to serve Him is constant, not just when we feel like it.

Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot

Parris Island, South Carolina, 10 February 2023

Recruit Training Regiment • Commanding Officer, Colonel Bradley W. Ward

3rd Recruit Training Battalion • Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel G. F. Curley

Commander of Troops, Captain C. J. Collins • Parade Adjutant, First Lieutenant M. L. Porter Company “K”, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion • Commanding Officer, Captain C. J. Collins

PLATOON 3008

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt A. R. Icaza

PVT Adames, Natanael R.

PVT Ahern, Devon E.

PVT Arandahdz, Hugo A.

PVT Argumedo, Miguel L.

PVT Brannon, Rayzelle J.

PVT Braswell, Bani E.

PVT Canzater, Javarion D.

PFC Caribe, Adriel Z.

PVT Carter, Nathan B.

PVT Catala, Ianlee N.

PVT Cooper, Zachary R.

PFC Davis, Zion G.*

PVT Englestrobridge, Jared D.

PVT Enriquez, Jaime

PFC Fauble, Courage A.*

PVT Felts, Landis P.

PVT Filgueira, Lucasphillipe C.

PVT Gessford, Jeremy P.

PVT Gleh, Tokpa K.

PVT Greene, Skyler K.

PVT Guerrero, Pablo A.

PVT Guerreromeza, Sebastian A.

PVT Hawkins, Malik D.

PFC Htoo, Joshua G.

PVT Knight, Ryne A.

PVT Lopes, Joao P.

PVT Lopezherrera, Juan D.

PFC Mancillarebollar, Gabriel

PVT Marks, Erik M.

PFC Martinez III, Richard P.

PVT McCord, Nuzayah K.

PVT Moralessantana, Kevin J.

PVT Pierson, David D.

PVT Rehm, Trevor J.

PFC Rembert, Isaiah E.

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PVT Roberts, Hunter D.

PVT Slipchenko, Makar

PFC Steward, Landon A.*

PVT Sutton, Maddox E.

PFC Walker, Christian R.*

PVT Wampler, Christian C.

PLATOON 3009

Senior Drill Instructor

GySgt W. Urena

PVT Allen Jr, Frank T.

PFC Bruce, Tyler J.

Drill Masters • Staff Sergeant L. M. Hinton, Staff Sergeant E. M. Cisse

PVT Cabral, Dylan M.

PFC Carter, Robert C.

PVT Colon, Connor A.

PFC Danton, Dylan M.

PFC Farlow, Keegan A.*

PFC Floresgonzalez, Michael

PVT Garciaalvarez Jr, Ramon F.

PVT Green, Travis R.

PVT Hauber II, Mathieu G.

PVT Hernandez, Emmanuel

PFC Hokanson, William J.

PVT Hughes, Dominique J.

PVT Irahetamejia, Carlos

PVT Joyce, Jaquez J.

PVT Latrace, Hunter

PVT Lequire, Christian G.

PVT Martinezvasquez, Aaron A.

PFC Mckenzie, Kenneth B.

PFC Miller, Eric*

PFC Miranda, Diego*

PVT Osoriozepeda, Dharyen L.

PVT Perez, Braeden S.

PVT Perry, Dakota K.

PVT Price III, Carlos D.

PFC Puggi, Leonard W.*

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PFC Ramp, Zachary J.*

PVT Renne, Camron R.

PVT Robergeau, Arthur

PVT Saylor, Peyton E.

PVT Schuhmann, William A.

PVT Sheffield, Marquise D.

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PVT Sleeman, Luke D.

PFC Stevenson, Joshua C.

PVT Szypulski, Andrew J.

PVT Thorne, Michael O.

PFC Uzzle, Justin R.

PVT Valdiviezo, Jose L.

PLATOON 3010 Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt S. L. Fierro

PVT Ahasteen, Riley T.

PVT Ahmadi, Pariya.

PFC Alavez, Jennifer L.

PFC Alexander, Marina K.

PVT Anchetamungarro, Ashley O.

PFC Bahe, Mariah N.

PVT Banila, Mj C.

PVT Braun, Sharia J.

PVT Brown, Julicia T.

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PVT Calderon, Giselle.

PFC Cardenas, Abigail N.

PVT Chin, Shereese A.

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PVT Coppolino, Josephine S.

PVT Cuestacasado, Emily E.

PVT Dayng, Sheriah S.*

PFC Garza, Luvena E.

PVT Gettings, Brianna M.*

PVT Harris, Haileigh A.

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PFC Hernandez, Samantha L.

PFC Howell, Jennifer I.

PVT Jackson, Aaliyah S.

PVT Jappah, Philomena W.

PVT Jordan, Dalin A.

PVT Kelly, Kyla D.

PVT Kolokithias, Nichelle T.

PVT Kubishta, Madison.

PFC League, Kelsey L.

PVT Lendshishorse, Trinity T.

PVT Marks, Sariah I.

PVT Marsh, Sydney C.

PVT Martinez, Alicia K.

PVT Martinezrodriguez, Marlen.

PVT Maxwell, Gabrielle G.

PFC Maywhort, Emily R.

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PVT Mettlen, Mia A.*

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PFC Navarro, Ariana D.

PFC Nowak, Desiree J.

PFC Pallek, Elizabeth P.

PVT Phillips, Jaelynn M.*

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PVT Rose, Halie N.

PVT Roszkowski, Nicole M.

PVT Sanchez, Julia.

PFC Sanchez, Maria I.

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PFC Sheinfeld, Aya

PVT Steiner, Madison M.

PFC Subuyujmadrid, Sarai Y.

PFC Tabron, Star L.

PVT Tarquino, Katherine F.

PVT Thomas, Isabelle F.

PFC Velasquezpacheco, Jessica D.

PVT Velez, Aurora I.

PFC Vieyradiaz, Erendira S.

PVT Viurquiz, Stacey N.

PVT Williams, Jasmine M.

PFC Woolen, Ja K.

PVT Wright, Amanda K.

PVT Yaegercolbert, Victoria L.*

PLATOON 3012

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt J. F. Sutphen III

PVT Adams, Hunter J.

PFC Alvarezgonzalez, Kelvin J.

PFC Ayers, Karl L.

PVT Baker, Michael A.

PFC Bland, William M.

PVT Cabasoto, Daniel E.

PFC Caiazzo, Joseph T.

PVT Calleruiz, Cesar A.

PVT Dean, Nathaniel M.

PVT Edwards, Samuel W.

PVT Einsig, Landon A.

PFC Frontado, Robert J.*

PVT Heckman, Dalton J.

PVT Hernandezvictoriano, Oscar A.

PVT Hunger Ii, Jon A.

PVT Kaltenbach, Paul H.

PVT Kellogg, Tyler A.

PVT Kroloff, Steven M.

PVT Lanot, Phil

PVT Medinalopez, Justin E.

PVT Mejialopez, Axel C.

PVT Meyer, Dalton L.

PVT Moore, Noah R.

PFC Nkounkou, Celestin N.

PFC Ocasiomccrea, Andre L.*

PVT Ortiz, Carlos U.

PVT Parkman, Dylan M.

PFC Peterson, Omar C.*

PFC Pora, Nathan C.*

PVT Purdy, Hunter C.

PVT Rainey, Drake A.

PVT Ramirez, Keegan C.

PFC Rivera Ii, Jerry A.*

PVT Rivera, Jordan A.

PVT Stone, Elijah D.

PFC Taylor, Cody L.

PVT Touchette, Owen C.

PVT Tull, Jordan B.

PVT Velez, Christian

PVT Verville, Michael A.

PVT Weed, Tyler A.

PVT Woodall, Isaiah

PLATOON 3013

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt C. J. Anderson

PFC Alvarado, Ricardo A.

PFC Brickley, Chase P. *

PVT Celi, Louis H.

PVT Charles Jr, David H.

PVT Daniel, Bobby M.

PVT Dawkins, Sachin R.

PVT Derashenriquez, Ever J.

PVT Eltringham Jr, Ernie J.

PFC Ferguson, Christian P.

PFC Figueredo, Nicholas R.

PVT Goggans, Braeden D.

PFC Hayashi, Wrentaro D.

PVT King, Devon L.

PFC Marbuary, Kentavis J.

PVT Mccampbell, Nathaniel C.

PVT Mclaurin, Zion I.

PFC Melendezpagan, Isander Y.

PVT Miyawaki, Shun L.

PVT Mora, Agapito E.

PFC Moraleshernandez, Riquerme

PVT Moschella, Antonio C.

PVT Motorjescu, Zachary P.

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PVT Nipper, Ryan S.

PFC Paloma, Ojedele K.

PVT Pamol, Luis C.

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PFC Pinkham, Ian M. *

PFC Powell, Hayden C. *

PVT Proctor, Joshua D.

PVT Robertshaw, Cooper A.

PFC Romeus, Stanis D.

PFC Salyer, Gabriel R.

PVT Secka, Abdoulaye

PVT Solivancorrea, Gabriel A.

PFC Talley Jr, Martin E. *

PVT Thomas, Jaten R.

PVT Velez, Andrew J.

PFC Willinghan, Gavin T.

PFC Zarriello, Stephen J.

PLATOON 3014

Senior Drill Instructor SSgt N. D. Lambert

PVT Abreu, Micheal. D.

PVT Amezquita, Juanluis

PVT Andradeperea, Brandon. S.

PVT Bell, Kaiden. L.

PVT Bosshart, Jacob. G.

PVT Boyer, Gage. M.

PFC Chutckhan, Krishna. H.

PVT Colemanblackman, John W.

PVT Davis, Bruce. J.

PVT Depascale, Christopher. J.

PVT Fernandezmunoz, Yordy. D.

PFC Fields, Jonathan. D.

PFC Fonseca, Juan. M.

PFC Garciareyes, Enyer.*

PVT Garrison, Mikkel. J.

PVT Homan, Mateo. A.

PVT Honore, Vendez.

PFC Jerez, Andy. S.

PFC Jones, Gregory. E.

PVT Lembertnunez, Micheal. E.

PVT Louis, Anderson

PFC Mchale, Kaine. R.*

PVT Meadows, Christian. E.

PFC Menarivas, Erick. L.

PVT Mercedes, Ismael.

PVT Morales Jr, Christopher. J.

PVT Osuna, Jordan. O.

PFC Pagan Jr, Johnny. L.

PFC Pryor, James. R.*

PFC Quiralte, Erik.

PVT Reyesjimenez, Brian.

PVT Rivera, Jonathan. A.

PVT Salazar, Steeven. G.

PVT Salazarbenavidez, Paublo. F.

PVT Sanchezcazales, Jordan. J.

PVT Sellers, Zion L.

PVT Threat, Brandon. J.

PVT Velezconcepcion, Marck. A.

PVT Villalobos, Damian. L.

PFC Wilson Iv, Joseph. E.*

*Denotes Meritorious Promotions

Hot defuel & refuel at MCAS Beaufort

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Joseph Boyle, quality assurance chief, station fuels, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, greets U.S. Army AH-64 Apache pilots on MCAS Beaufort on Jan. 5. Boyle supervised the safe offloading and loading of fuel while demonstrating interoperability of U.S. Military branches.

More on VA-provided vision care

Last week’s article titled VA Provided vision care, corrective lenses, eyeglasses, frames, contact lenses, and more, found at http://bit.ly/3ldN8tB resulted in some great questions from our readers. This article will attempt to answer those questions and more.

Question 1

One reader asked, “I am eligible (for VA Healthcare) …. (but) when I did ask, I was told the VA doesn’t offer or pay for any portion of Lasik.”

Answer: First, the last paragraph of last week’s article titled Contact lenses and LASIK Surgery stated that “The VA provides contact lenses (non-cosmetic only) and LASIK surgery services.” That should have said, “The VA provides contact lenses (non-cosmetic only) and LASIK surgery services (non-cosmetic only).”

This writer did some more research at the VA’s VISION website at http://bit. ly/3RKgPyA and the Department of Veteran Affairs YouTube SITREP titled, Does VA Provide LASIK Surgery? which is found at https:// youtu.be/_fYjAtNeQbQ

That VA video interview says (My paraphrasing):

The VA is not doing laser vision correction (LASIK or PRK) for cosmetic reasons.

This means the VA is not doing laser vision correction for veterans when glasses or contacts will correct the vision.

Although the YouTube VA Video does not come out and say it directly, it implies that the VA would approve laser surgery for a medical reason that could not be treated or corrected with glasses or contacts.

The YouTube SITREP also implies that the VA may not have Vision Laser equipment everywhere and may have to refer a veteran to a Community Care Provider for any medically needed laser eye care.

This writer also did some more research at the VA’s VA VISION website https:// bit.ly/3RKgPyA and the Department of Veteran Affairs

YouTube SITREP titled, Does VA Provide Contact Lenses? which is found at https://youtu.be/zzcCHzdjLHk. That VA video interview says (My paraphrasing):

The VA does not provide contact lenses for cosmetic purposes. Meaning, the VA does not provide contact lenses when glasses will provide the corrective vision. It is true that a person wearing contacts has a whole different type of vision wearing contacts versus a person wearing glasses. This is especially true for persons in the medical field, persons with compromised immune systems, workers subject to dust and other airborne particles, and others who are required or recommended to wear a medical or industrial protective face mask.

For those who are wearing glasses and those glasses are constantly getting fogged up, contact lenses can be a lifesaver.

Unfortunately, the number of in-house VA eyecare providers is limited and the number of available VA appointments for eyecare is currently requiring the VA to only offer contact lenses to those veterans whose contacts are medically indicated.

For example, the VA does authorize contact lenses for those patients who have an irregularity of the corneal surface, which results in a big difference in the prescription between the eyes. In other words, sometimes only contacts can correct the condition the veteran has.

Question 2

One reader asked, “How do I get eye care services at the VA?”

Answer: The simple answer is to determine if you are eligible for VA healthcare and, if you are eligible then enroll in VA healthcare. Veterans can read about VA Health care benefits, eligibility, how to apply, applying online (VA Form 10-10EZ), what to do, and family and caregiver health benefits at https:// www.va.gov/health-care/. VA health care includes inpatient and outpatient health services at VA Medical Centers, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), and (potentially) community health services. Veterans can call the VA Health Care Line at 877-222-8387 and press 1 to ask questions about VA Health Care.

The Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System (RHJVAHCS) and Medical Center (RHJVAMC) Eligibility & Enrollment Office at 843-7897008 can tell veterans what medical benefits they are eligible for and enroll (eligible) veterans into the VA Health Care System. Veterans can also find out if they are eligible for VA Health Care at any of the RHJVAHCS CBOCs. The RHJVA Health Care System operates the following CBOCs:

Beaufort VA Clinic – 1 Pinckney Boulevard, Beaufort, S.C. 29902-6122, phone: 843-770-0444.

Savannah VA Clinic – 1170

Shawnee St., Savannah, Ga. 31419-1618, Main phone: 912-920-0214, Mental health clinic: 843-789-7311.

Hinesville VA Clinic – 500

East Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville, Ga. 31313-2804, Main phone: 912-408-2900. Charleston VA Clinic – 2424 City Hall Lane, Community Resource & Referral Center (CRRC), Suite B, N. Charleston, S.C. 29406-6538, phone: 843-789-6804.

Goose Creek VA Clinic 2418 NNPTC Circle, Goose Creek, S.C. 29445-6314, phone: 843-577-5011 x3100.

North Charleston VA Clinic – 6450 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, S.C. 29406, Main phone: 843-8185100.

Trident 2 VA Clinic – 9229 University Boulevard, N. Charleston, S.C. 29406-9150, phone: 843-789-6975.

Myrtle Beach VA Clinic –1800 Airpark Drive, Myrtle Beach, S.C. 29577-1412, phone: 843-477-0177.

Patient Advocates Office

If you are a veteran has trouble getting the healthcare they need, getting a hold of a VA office, or just need help to answer a question about the VA, they should reach out to the PATIENT ADVOCATES.

Veterans can find VA healthcare facilities and advocates thru the VA website http:// bit.ly/40t70sN

Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System (RHJVAHCS) Patient Advocates

According to the RHJVAHCS PATIENT ADVOCATE webpage http:// bit.ly/3Ygr548, the patient advocates at VA Charleston health care are specially trained to help veterans

and their family members resolve issues with their care.

The following RHJVAHCS Patient Advocates are available:

Hannah P. McCoy, RHJVAHCS Patient Advocate Supervisor, VA Charleston healthcare, Phone: 843-789-6066.

Traviell Hartsfield, Patient Advocate, N. Charleston, and Goose Creek VA Outpatient Clinics, VA Charleston healthcare, Phone: 843789-6066.

Traciee M. Prioleau, Patient Advocate, VA Charleston health care, Phone: 843-789-6066.

Tiffany M. Hadaway, Patient Advocate, Myrtle Beach VA Outpatient Clinic, VA Charleston healthcare, Phone: 843789-6066.

Valeria Edwards, Patient Advocate, VA Charleston healthcare, Phone: 843-789-6066.

Lakiesha Long, Patient Advocate, Savannah, Hinesville, and Beaufort VA Outpatient Clinics, VA Charleston healthcare, Phone: 843-7896066.

The Patient Advocate line 843-789-6066 is attended by all six advocates plus one assistant.

References

Optometry Services and Scheduling – https://youtu. be/Yv2p4njItUA

VA vs. Private Sector –https://youtu.be/QICQ3vXjA7A

Types of Lenses Available – https://youtu.be/ggsz3B3lo7E

Does VA Provide Contact Lenses? – https://youtu.be/ zzcCHzdjLHk

Does VA Provide LASIK Surgery? – https://youtu. be/_fYjAtNeQbQ

Does VA Provide Eye Medications? Does the VA Pay for EXPENSIVE eye medications? – https://youtu. be/_U-NoXQtzO4

Visual Rehabilitation – https://youtu.be/Obb4p937cNg

Does VA Pay for Private Sector Exams? – https://youtu. be/zPcCJfl_38M

Types of Frames Available – https://youtu.be/FmMxB7ohI08

How Often Should Veterans Have Exams? – https://youtu.be/kFIePf7_Lqo

VA Eye Care Services for the Blind, TBIs, & Assistive Tech | VA Health Care | theSITREP – https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=Obb4p937cNg&t=6s

How to Enroll in VA Health Care – https://youtu.be/ ZO9snrUHP_A VA Disability – https://youtu.be/aX9FEYEiXwM

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, the Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for the local Army Association Chapter. Larry is the author of the award-winning book Blades of Thunder and a contributing freelance writer with The Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.

Photos by Sgt. Cheyeanne Campbell/USMC

A U.S. Army AH-64 Apache pilot waits for her aircraft to be refueled on MCAS Beaufort on Jan. 5. The fuel used to refuel was taken from a hot defuel from a C-17 Globemaster III during a training exercise. Hot defueling is conducted when fuel is offloaded from an aircraft while the engines are running.

A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III from Air Mobility Command, Joint Base Charleston taxis onto the runway on MCAS Beaufort on Jan. 5. The C-17 carried an R-11 Mobile Fuel Vehicle Tank Truck to hot defuel and refuel a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache as part of a training exercise.

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

AUTOMOBILE SERVICES

Zippy Lube, Inc.

www.zippylubebeaufortsc.com

zippylubeinc@gmail.com 843-522-3560

Quick Lube and Full Service Automobile Repair

Ronnie Kizer, Owner 149 Sea Island Parkway • Beaufort, SC 29907

You have the right to know what’s happening in your community.

Public notices – information local governments are obligated to provide citizens – are required to be published in local newspapers to provide a public record that’s accessible to everyone.

Public notices keep you informed about your government. But, in some states legislators are trying to keep public notices from appearing in local newspapers. This severely impacts government transparency and, in turn, limits the public’s right to hold them accountable for their actions.

Let your state legislators know that you value being able to access notices in your newspaper and that they are worth the investment.

THURSDAY’S CARTOON

Read

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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AUCTIONS

ADVERTISE YOUR AUCTION in 99 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25-word classified ad will reach more than 2.1 million readers. Call Randall Savely at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.

HELP WANTED – DRIVERS

ADVERTISE YOUR DRIVER JOBS in 99 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25word classified ad will reach more than 2.1 million readers. Call Randall Savely at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE

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The Generac PWRcell, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-888-6552175

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. Plus 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-875-2449.

Up to $15,000.00 of GUARANTEED Life Insurance! No medical exam or health questions. Cash to help pay funeral and other final expenses. Call Physicians Life Insurance Company – 855-837-7719 or visit www.Life55plus.info/scan

Trouble hearing your TV? Try TV EARS’ Voice Clarifying Wireless TV Speaker. Better than a soundbar and/or turning the TV volume way up. Special, limited time $50 off offer. Call TV Ears. Use code MBSP50. Call 1-833-856-0470

TELEVISION & INTERNET SERVICES

DIRECTV Stream – Carries the Most Local MLB Games! CHOICE Package, $89.99/mo for 12 months. Stream on 20 devices in your home at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/CHOICE Package or higher.) No annual contract, no hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-855-237-9741

DIRECTV for $64.99/mo for 12 months with CHOICE Package. Save an additional $120 over 1st year. First 3 months of HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and Epix included! Directv is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.) Some restrictions apply. Call 1-844-624-1107 DISH Network. $64.99 for 190 Channels! Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/mo. (where available.) Switch & Get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices. Call today! 1-877-542-0759

FREE high speed internet for those that qualify. Government program for recipients of select programs incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet service. Bonus offer: Android tablet FREE with one-time $20 copay. Free shipping & handling. Call Maxsip Telecom today! 1-855-851-8201

VACATION RENTALS

ADVERTISE YOUR VACATION PROPERTY FOR RENT OR SALE to more than 2.1 million S.C. newspaper readers. Your 25-word classified ad will appear in 99 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Call Randall Savely at the South Carolina Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.

YOUR AD HERE

Email Amanda (amanda@lcweekly.com) to place your classified ad here!