Joint sit-down kicks off new year for county, municipal leaders
Prior to the arrival last week of Winter Storm Enzo, local political leaders sat down together for a little brainstorming which generated something of a warm, fuzzy experience.
Not that the group of 10 elected municipal members plus staff accomplished much, but there was a feeling of comradery and hopefulness one doesn’t often get while watching their government at work.
The City of Beaufort and Town of Port Royal officials were joined by the Beaufort County female triumvirate – newly elected County Council Chairman Alice Howard and Vice-chair Tab Tabernick, plus Councilwoman Paula Brown who came all the way from her district south of the Broad River to participate in the talks and listen.
Also present was newly elected school board Chairman Dick Geier who expressed his appreciation for being included since municipal issues such as development impact school issues.
Again, the topics of conversation in the one-and-a-half hour session varied but it was, as these dinner meetings often are, an opportunity for each elected official to voice what’s on their mind, or troubling their souls.
A central topic, at this meeting, first of the year, was housing, both the “affordable” type and the homeless issue.
The elected guys – and women –want to do something to relieve the need but they, like their counterparts across the country, know it’s not easy.
Beaufort, working with Jasper County, has established the Lowcountry Housing Trust which works with developers to bring more “affordable” homes into the area. And the Beaufort Housing Authority provides shelter for more than 800 families on fixed incomes with a waiting list of hundreds more.
The elected folks said all the right things about “working together” and “serving the people” knowing that budget sessions are looming and the need for money to fulfill the promises – and make repairs like the city’s Waterfront Park project – will be great.
But the Thursday night session, which included a fish and chicken dinner, “set the table” for the year’s actions, as Port Royal Mayor Kevin Phillips said.
SEE LOWDOWN PAGE A4
A Lowcountry Winter Wonderland
Rare snow causes schools, businesses to close for several days
By Delayna Earley The Island News
Thanks to an atypical winter storm that hit the Lowcountry on Tuesday of last week, Beaufortonians woke up to snow for the first time in seven years.
Winter Storm Enzo blew into South Carolina late on Tuesday, Jan. 21, and led to school and business closures for most of the week and dangerous road conditions that lasted for days as the snow would begin to melt during the day and then would refreeze at night due to freezing temperatures.
Beaufort got 3 inches of sleet and snow and Port Royal got 2 5 inches, according to the National Weather Service Charleston
Temperatures overnight plummeted into the low 20s, which lead emergency officials in the Lowcoun-
try to request that residents stay home and off the roads due to the ice.
A cold weather shelter was open during the week for those in need at Sea Island Presbyterian Church and they provided showers, dinner and breakfast in addition to a warm place to sleep.
According to a spokesperson from the church, as many as 30 people sought shelter in a night.
Beaufort County School District (BCSD) had students attend for half a day on Tuesday and then they had an e-learning day on Wednesday. Unfortunately, due to the number of days students have had to miss this year due to weather, they have now exhausted all their e-learning days and can no longer use them for this school year.
SEE WINTER PAGE A6
This snowman is about 10 feet tall and sits off Cherokee Road, just outside of Habersham. It was built by an unknown person who had been using a small tractor to clear the road of snow. Jeff Evans/The Island News
No more monkey business
All escaped monkeys recaptured after 3 months on the loose
By Delayna Earley The Island News
The last of the 43 escaped monkeys has been captured after nearly three months on the run from a research facility in Yemassee, according to an update put out by the Yemassee Police Department.
“It was a real team and community effort,” Westergaard said in the release.
The update was made to the Yemassee Police Department’s Facebook page on Friday, Jan. 24, after Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard confirmed that all of the monkeys have been recaptured and also all appear in good health.
The female adolescent rhesus macaque monkeys first escaped from the Castle Hall Road facility on Nov. 6 after two doors were left unsecured after a routine feeding and cleaning. Originally, Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center reported that “several primates” had escaped from the facility. Later in the day they were able to confirm that 40 primates had escaped and the next day that number rose to 43
The monkeys spent several days playing and hanging around
in the trees surrounding the facility before any were apprehended, but by Nov. 11, 30 primates had been recaptured.
Before the update on Friday, the last update made was on Nov. 18, stating that all but four monkeys had been recaptured. It is not clear how the last of the monkeys were captured.
LOLITA HUCKABY
South Carolina State Representative Shannon Erickson stands on Bay Street after the rare Beaufort snowfall on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS
Mason Meyer snapped this photo of a yellow-rumped warbler warming up in the sun on a snowy winter's day in Meyer’s backyard on Saint Helena Island. 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
American Legion Beaufort Post 207 brings you Beaufort’s Steve Lamothe, 64, who enlisted in the Rhode Island Army National Guard in East Greenwich, R.I., in 1979 while attending the University of Rhode Island.
He attended Basic Training at Fort Dix, N.J., and was commissioned with the National Guard. He served in
ON THIS DATE
February 2
STEVE LAMOTHE
Transportation and with then MP as a logistician. He was mobilized for Desert Shield/Storm and was deployed to Iraq. Returning to Rhode Island with the Guard he served as an inspector general.
He spent 24 years with the Guard, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He also worked for 40 years with the mili-
1926: Beaufort County Sheriff James Edwin McTeer died. His son, also James Edwin McTeer, would be appointed nine days later to complete his term in office.
February 3
1779: The Battle of Port Royal Island, sometimes called the Battle of Beaufort or the Battle of Gray’s Hill, occurs near what is now Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort on U.S. 21 west of downtown Beaufort. After the British captured Savannah, Ga., on Dec. 29 1778 they wanted to establish a base of operations on Port Royal Island,
tary contractor Raytheon Technologies (now RTX Corp.). He moved to Beaufort County in 2019 and now helps with the Disabled American Veterans.
– Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207. For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.
allowing them to stage an attack by land and water on Charleston. British General Augustine Prevost sent Major James Gardiner and 200 men to capture Fort Lyttleton on the island. General Benjamin Lincoln responded by sending General William Moultrie and a well-armed force of 300 men to meet Gardiner. The two armies met just outside of Beaufort on February 3. The British and the Patriots, after exchanging heavy fire for 45 minutes, started to run low on ammunition and decided to withdraw. However, when Moultrie learned Gardiner was retreating, he sent his cavalry in pursuit. The cavalry chased the British and captured a few men, but the British left the island — and the field of battle — to the Americans.
– Compiled by Mike McCombs
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
A scary hypothetical
Imagine the following scenario. ... You are coming home from work and pull into your driveway. You notice smoke coming from your house. You quickly investigate and discover a kitchen fire that is beyond your control. You call 911 to report the fire and seek help. The 911 operator tells you that the local fire department will not respond because someone in a position of authority doesn't like your political affiliation. This is the kind of evil we now have in place. People in California find their lives and their
homes in jeopardy because some very evil people in Washington don't like the fact that California is a "blue" state. Never mind that 40% of Californians voted Republican in 2024 and that natural disasters routinely occur in "red" states and no one has ever suggested withholding aid from them.
Please put yourself in the shoes of your fellow Americans who have been devastated by the California wildfires. And please demand better of our so-called leaders. If we do not work together we will surely fail.
– Peter Birschbach, Port Royal
PAL PETS OF THE WEEK
Dog of the Week Nala would love nothing more than to cuddle up with you and watch the new Lion King movie. Her eyes will draw you in and her calm, gentle, peaceful personality will leave you spellbound. Nala is 65 pounds of pure love and adoration. Meet this big, snuggly girl at Palmetto Animal League today. She is spayed, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped.
Cat of the Week Balldrop is a friendly, 3-year-
old guy who’s always ready to snuggle. He loves a cozy cat bed and watching the action outside from a sunny window. Balldrop's greatest wish for the new year is to, once again, know the love of a real home. He is neutered, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped. For more info on Nala, Balldrop, or any of our other pets, call Palmetto Animal League at 843-645-1725 or email
Steve Lamothe
Task Force gives update during Human Trafficking Awareness Month
Staff reports
State and local officials provided updates in the fight against human trafficking during an annual meeting of the Lowcountry Human Trafficking Task Force on Monday, Jan. 27, at the Hardeeville Recreation Center.
January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
The State Human Trafficking Task Force’s annual report shows the state investigated 285 tips related to human trafficking in 2024. Seventy-five of those tips came from the Lowcountry, with most of the victims being minors. The complete 2024 report is available at https://www. scag.gov/human-trafficking/data-reports.
At the conclusion of 2024 37 different defendants had a total of 62 charges pending for human trafficking in the South Carolina State Courts. More than a half dozen people were arrested in 2024 and face charges in connection with a human sex trafficking operation operating out of Beaufort and Jasper Counties.
During the S.C. Human Trafficking Community Address and Update on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, presenters discussed the definition of what human trafficking is and the breakdown of the areas where tips were received and investigated, as well as how many victims in each region of the state. In South Carolina, there are only 15 beds available for those who are victims of human trafficking, and none for boys. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
The Lowcountry Human Trafficking Task Force is comprised of federal, state and local law enforcement professionals, members of
state prosecutors’ offices, victim-services providers and others interested in creating a community free
from human trafficking. The regional task force is a member of the larger State Human Trafficking Task
Force, created to prevent human trafficking, to protect trafficked victims and to prosecute traffickers.
Specialty Care
Staff reports Beaufort Memorial Hospital has added a board-certified physician assistant to the team at Beaufort Memorial Lowcountry Medical Group Specialty Care.
Jessica Elkins, PA-C, offers general and specialized gastroenterological care to patients as a provider alongside the practice’s board-certified physicians in Okatie and Beaufort. She graduated from the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio, with a Master of Physician Assistant Studies.
“Jessica’s passion for the gastroenterology field, paired with her desire for patient connection, will make her a great addition to the Lowcountry Medical Group Specialty Care team,” Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley said in a news release. “Her knowledge and connection to the community will resonate with patients and ensure the highest quality of care possible.”
The Beaufort native and nature enthusiast knew she wanted to work in medicine from a young age and was initially set on a career in dentistry before she realized she craved more patient interaction. She switched gears and found that the physician assistant path was a better fit.
Her clinical interests include the treatment and management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and liver and gallbladder disease, as well as the prevention of gastrointestinal cancers.
Elkins stated it was gastroenterology’s role in connecting the human body’s immune and nervous systems which sparked her initial interest in the field. She added that she is driven to help patients find ways to balance their lifestyle habits with their hereditary and acquired conditions when managing their health while providing access to the most up to date clinical interventions.
The team of gastroenterology specialists, located at both 300 Midtown Drive in Beaufort and at
the Okatie Medical Pavilion ( 122 Okatie Center Boulevard North) make it easy for area residents to seek care for common digestive health issues, and can help patients pinpoint the cause of their condition and find lifestyle or surgical solutions that can help manage or resolve symptoms. To schedule an appointment with Elkins or any of the practice providers, call 843 - 770 - 4588 To learn more about digestive health services available at Beaufort Memorial, visit BeaufortMemorial.org/GI.
Jessica Elkins, PA-C
Mandy Parsons, President and CEO of The Boys and Girls Club of The Lowcountry, and Kim Sullivan, Area Director of Resource Development at The Boys and Girls Club of The Lowcountry, present Bob Shields and Michael Garcia awards for the work they both have done during the “Notes — A Festival of Music” fundraiser held Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025 at Dataw Island. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
Dataw Island’s Bob Stair bids on a painting one of the Boys and Girls Club students painted
the Club’s fundraiser, “Notes — A Festival of Music,” held on
at Dataw Island. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
Coastal Community Foundation awards Black Chamber $1.25 million grant
Staff reports
Earlier this month, the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce (BCBCC) was awarded a transformative grant of $1 25 million by the Coastal Community Foundation (CFF).
Payable over three years, this funding will empower the Chamber to strengthen its membership and partnership development, ensuring the organization’s sustainability and longterm impact on Black and
minority-owned businesses. The grant is structured in two parts to support the Chamber over a three-year period. The first part provides $857 000 in general operating support. The second part includes $375 000 in matching funds, which will be released as the Chamber achieves specific milestones, such as enrolling new members and securing new partnerships. For every dollar the Beaufort County Black Chamber
of Commerce raises toward these goals, CCF will match the amount, up to a maximum of $375,000
“We are honored to receive this support from the Coastal Community Foundation. It is a nod to the critical role the Chamber plays in our community,” BCBCC
President and Chief Executive Officer Marilyn Har -
ris said in a media release.
“This funding will enable us to provide greater resources to our members
Rookie rescue
After a week of dangerous fires and near tragedies, Burton Fire District rookie firefighter found himself in a firefighter cliché and made his first rescue Friday morning, Jan. 17. Just past 9:30 a.m., Burton firefighters were summoned to a residence on Hampton Drive in Grays Hill for a report of a kitten stuck in a tree. The Burton fire crew arrived on scene and located the female kitten, named Zara, who had been out all night, and was now approximately 25 feet up in a tree and refusing to come down. Burton Fire District probationary firefighter Marek Malinowski grabbed a 35-foot ladder and made the climb, reaching the Zara and safely returning her to the ground and to her anxious-but-grateful human. To keep his probationary firefighter’s ego in check, Burton Fire District Engineer/EMT Michael Simmons was quick to remind Firefighter Malinowski that Zara still had eight lives left, “but I guess we’ll let you have a moment.” Photo courtesy of the Burton Fire District
and strengthen our efforts to create opportunities for minority-owned businesses in Beaufort County.”
“The matching funds initiate is designed to foster collaboration and amplify the Chamber’s impact throughout Beaufort County,” Coastal Community Foundation
President Darrin Goss said.
“This grant, the second largest ever awarded by CCF, reflects our deep commitment to supporting sustainable growth and empowering
organizations that drive economic development. We see this as an opportunity to effectively double the impact of the Chamber’s community engagement efforts.
This approach ensures that every dollar invested by the foundation sparks greater community support for the Chamber’s mission.”
The BCBCC invites all community members, business leaders, and partners to participate in this exciting opportunity to double
the impact of their contributions. Every dollar raised will be matched, effectively doubling the support for minority businesses in Beaufort County.
“This grant and matching opportunity represent a unique chance for our community to come together and create lasting economic empowerment,” added Harris. “We encourage everyone to join us in this effort to drive meaningful change.”
County Council makes committee assignments
Committees to guide county decisions
Staff reports After last week's Oath of Office ceremony and nomination of the Chair and Vice Chair, Council members have established their committee assignments. These assignments are for two years.
According to a media release from Beaufort County, the committee assignments are as follows:
Community Services Committee
Meets the first Monday at 2 p.m.
Chairman David Bartholomew
Vice Chairman Tom Reitz
Members: York Glover, Larry McElynn, Anna Maria Tabernik
Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee
Meets the third Monday at 2 p.m.
Chairman Mark Lawson
Vice Chairman Logan Cunningham
Members: Paula Brown, Gerald Dawson, Anna Maria Tabernik
Natural Resources Committee
Meets the first Monday at 4 p.m.
Lions Club holding annual breakfast
Staff reports
The Beaufort Lions Club will hold its annual Sweetheart Breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 15 2025, at Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady’s Island Drive. The menu includes pancakes and sausage, scrambled eggs and cheese grits, Jim Palmer’s famous sausage gravy and biscuits, and more. Tickets can be
purchased online at https://beaufort-lions-club.square.site/ or at the door for $150 for adults and $10 under 12
The proceeds from this fundraiser will support the Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF) disaster relief fund and be earmarked for victims of North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene. Over the past 10 years, LCIF has sent more than
$50 000 to South Carolina after natural disasters. After Hurricane Matthew in 2016, LCIF sent $10,000 to the victims on Hilton Head Island alone and additional funds to Horry County. After Hurricane Helene in 2024, Governor McMaster declared 10 South Carolina counties emergency disaster areas. LCIF responded within three hours of receiving the application with
$15 000 for Aiken County and additional funds for the other nine counties. Members of Lions Clubs converged on those counties with hot meals, bottled water, nonperishable food, clothes, roofers and equipment, carpenters and tools, and other needs.
The Beaufort Lions Club makes annual donations to LCIF, but this year would like to increase the donation.
Vice
Members:
Public Facilities Committee
Meets the third Monday at 4 p.m.
Chairman Logan Cunningham
Vice Chairman David Bartholomew
Members: Paula Brown, Mark Larson, Tom Reitz
For more information, agendas and meeting schedules, visit https://bit. ly/4anXVGQ.
All committee meetings and County Council meetings will be shown live on Beaufort County Television (BCTV). BCTV can be found on cable channels Sparklight (formerly Hargray) – Chs. 9 and 417; Comcast – Ch. 2; Spectrum – Ch. 1304. BCTV also streams live on www. BeaufortCounty.tv and through the FREE BCTV APP available on ROKU, Apple TV, Android TV and Amazon Fire.
Citizens asked to give their 2 cents
BEAUFORT – Speaking of projects, at least two governmental entities are currently asking the public to help plan for the future. Beaufort County’s recycling division is asking residents and business owners to complete a survey outlining their thoughts on the 2018 plastic bag ban and the future efforts to re-
duce plastic pollution. The Council rejected a proposal to expand the ban last year to include plastic straws but supporters, including the Coastal Conservation League, are hoping that effort will be renewed this year. Deadline for the survey, Help Reduce Plastic Pollution in Beaufort County; Survey Now Open for Comment Until March 1 is March 1 so you’ve got time to respond … and share it with your neighbors.
with Palmetto Breeze, the area’s regional public transportation service once known as the Lowcountry Regional Transportation Agency, is updating the northern Beaufort County transit plan and likewise, wants public comment.
The survey, found at Northern Beaufort Transit Master Plan Public Survey, will, ideally, help secure funding for the expansion of public bus service, a project Beaufort Mayor Phil Cromer has been advocating since taking office.
end of this month, Jan. 31 Bravo, Dr. Rowland!
BEAUFORT – Kudos to Gov. Henry McMaster who had the good sense to recognize a citizen of merit when he saw one.
of South Carolina where the first endowed professorship has been established in his name at USC Beaufort, where he taught for years.
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. Lowdown from page A1
The Lowcountry Council of Governments, working
Survey deadline is the
Local historian Larry Rowland was publicly recognized two weeks ago by presentation of the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor a South Carolina governor can bestow. He joins the ranks of several hundreds who have received the honor since it was established
by then-Gov. John West in 1971. His name is now listed alongside the likes of fellow Beaufortonians, state Sen. James Waddell, state Rep. Harriet Keyserling, author Pat Conroy, actor Tom Berenger, University of South Carolina football coach Lou Holtz, civil rights activist Septima Poinsette Clark, singer James Brown and tap dancer “Peg Legs” Bates. In honor of his contributions to preserve and share the history of Beaufort, Rowland has also been honored by the University
Chairman York Glover
Chairman Paula Brown
Gerald Dawson, Larry McElynn, Anna Maria Tabernik
Mark Lawson David Bartholomew
York Glover Logan Cunningham
Beaufort’s Lowcountry Young Professionals kick off 2025
Staff reports
Beaufort-area up-and-comers in business braved the chilly midwinter weather on Wednesday, Jan. 8, flocking to Bay Street for the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Lowcountry Young Professionals’ (LYP) first social event of 2025
The group’s first gathering of the year was sponsored by Rob Wynne with Sea Island Insurance and held at Lost Local in downtown Beaufort, and saw 89 of the area’s brightest and freshest faces in business – doubling the growing group’s attendance record.
“It was a packed house. What a great way for our group to kick off 2025,” said Jessica Mangano, Director of Member Services with the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce and manager of the LYP committee. “The year is off to a strong start, and we are so excited to keep this momentum going and keep building connections throughout our community. We’re excited to see what the year has in store.”
LYP holds a networking event monthly, with each social sponsored and hosted by a member of the Chamber. Chamber membership is currently not a requirement for a young professional to attend the networking events; professionals roughly between the ages of 21 and 45, no matter their business size or sector, are welcome to participate.
LYP’s mission is to grow young professional involvement and influence in shaping and showcasing the Lowcountry region to be more attractive to young, diverse talent. The group emerged in Spring 2024 as a community effort through the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce, offering young people in business a way to network, expand their profession-
al horizons and learn more about the area where they live and work.
Staff reports
The Beaufort County Library will continue the long-standing tradition of hosting free tax preparation assistance to Beaufort County citizens provided by Lowcountry Area VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) and American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
In collaboration with the Beaufort County Human Services Alliance, United Way of the Lowcountry, Inc., the Lowcountry Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to persons generally earning $67 000 annually or less, differently-abled persons, persons 60 and older, and limited English-speaking persons.
For the latest information about VITA services, including dates, times, library locations, and how to schedule your VITA Free Tax Prep appointment, visit www.vitalowcountry.org.
For questions, contact lowcountryvitasc@gmail.com or call 843-321-9071
The next LYP social is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 6 at 5:30 p.m. at Magnolia Cafe at 703 Congress Street in Beaufort.
For more information on upcoming LYP events, join the Facebook group or email them at lyp@beaufortchamber.org.
The group is led by a committee of up to eight young professionals who meet regularly to plan and track LYP efforts and growth within the community, hence the inclusion of an egret in their new logo. “We want Beaufort to be the place where our young professionals can spread their wings and fly,” said Megan Morris, President and CEO of the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Gullah/Geechee Nation celebrates Black History Month
Staff reports
The Gullah/Geechee Nation will begin its 25th year anniversary celebrating Black History Month with a series of events that will begin Saturday, Feb. 1, and continue throughout the rest of the month. At noon on Saturday, Feb. 1 at the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park in the Penn Center National Landmark Historic District on St. Helena Is-
land, the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition and South Carolina Sea Grant will host the first "Gullah/ Geechee CREATE Art Showcase."
The Gullah/Geechee CREATE project has been sponsored by NOAA and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. They supported the removal of debris from waterways on the South Carolina coast. Gullah/Geechee and Afri-
can American artists have transformed the debris into artwork which will be showcased at the event.
The public is encouraged to bring out their family and friends to the Gullah/Geechee CREATE Showcase. Everyone that attends will have an opportunity to vote for the art piece that they love the most and will get to engage with the artists. Th event is free, Register at at
https://bit.ly/3WAGNIp.
The celebration will continue up the coast when the fourth annual "Gullah Black History Experience" takes place at noon, Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Pure Theater in Charleston. The event will feature Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation; artist Quadré Stuckey; Elder Carlie Towne of the Gullah/ Geechee Angel Network; Gullah Sweetgrass Bas-
kets; Naturally Geechee; songstress Lorraine Singleton; jazz musician, Jordan Tiller; and Deninufay African Dancers. Register at https://bit. ly/3CAmdks
The closing event for the month will be the Gullah Suppa Series in Bluffton at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. This will launch the series of Bluffton Gullah Heritage Center fundraising events for the year.
Volunteers with the AARP Tax-Aide Foundation program are providing tax preparation and e-filing service to local Beaufort County residents at the Bluffton and Hilton Head branch libraries.
For further details about scheduling appointments or for walk-in dates/times, visit https://bit.ly/3J9xOa3 Hilton Head Branch Library: For questions, contact 843-410-9516 or email 27059261@ aarpfoundation.org. Bluffton Branch Library: For questions, contact 843-405-0895
Visit AARP Tax-Aide for further information. Read the Beaufort County Library media release at https://bit.ly/3PW7vaX. For details regarding tax help at the library, please visit the Library’s Tax Help page at https://bit.ly/3PW7vaX.
For more information regarding BCL programs and events, please contact Theresa Furbish, Programs and Events Librarian, at 843-255-6442 or theresa. furbish@bcgov.net.
Harvesting Heritage to celebrate Black culinary traditions on St. Helena Island
Staff reports
Harvesting Heritage: Lowcountry Legacy, part of the South Carolina State Museum’s Harvesting Heritage event series, will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 8, at the Penn Center on St. Helena Island.
In partnership with award-winning Chef Amethyst Ganaway, the evening will honor the historic contributions of Black South Carolinians and their descendants in the Low-
Monkeys
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country, a legacy preserved, in part, through Gullah Geechee heritage efforts, culinary revival projects, and land stewardship initiatives.
“We’re so excited to celebrate the legacy of the Lowcountry and are looking forward to giving people a different taste of Gullah Geechie Culture.” Chef Amethyst Ganaway said in a media release. “It was important for us to hold the event at the Penn Center because St. Helena Island is at the heart of Gullah Cul-
ture and this event will once again give locals an opportunity to tell their own stories where they are.”
In addition to highlighting the past and future of creativity, innovation, and artistry in the Lowcountry, guests will enjoy small plates that will include a collard green salad with Anson Mills Sea Island Red Peas, Okra Stew with Rice, Smoked Shrimp Dip on Crackers, as well as Mr. Ron’s Gullahlicious Pound Cakes. The evening will also
include a panel discussion moderated by Chef Ganaway, featuring emerging griot Tendaji Bailey, Gullah matriarch Sara Green, acclaimed chef BJ Dennis, and Gullah cultural steward and artist, Victoria Smalls. Born and raised in North Charleston, Ganaway has been featured in The New York Times Food & Wine Garden & Gun and more. Specializing in Southern and African American foodways and the foodways of the African Diaspora, Ganaway
also recently headlined the Charleston Wine + Food festival. She uses her position as a chef and food writer to tell the stories of the region’s history, culture, art, cuisine, and environment. In recognition of her work, Ganaway was named the 2024 Chef of the Year at the Wine and Culture Fest Roses and Rosé Awards.
The Penn Center on St. Helena Island is one of the most significant African American institutions in existence. It was the campus of
the former Penn School, one of the nation’s first schools for formerly enslaved people. The historic and cultural institution is also a National Historic Landmark District and comprises two of the four sites in the Reconstruction Era National Park. Tickets for Harvesting Heritage: Lowcountry Legacy are $100 for the general public and $60 for museum members. Tickets include event activities, food, and drinks and are now on sale at scmusem.org.
The facility has had issues with monkeys fleeing in the past, with 19 monkeys escaping in 2016 and 26 monkeys escaping in 2014
Alpha Genesis, which breeds monkeys and provides nonhuman primate products and bio-research services worldwide accord-
After the monkeys first escaped, the facility stated they were trying to humanely coax the monkeys with traps and food, but if they did not come back on their own, they would resort to using tranquilizing darts to recapture them
ing to their website, has about 4 000 primates at the main facility in Yemassee. There is also a second facility that houses 3,000 monkeys on Old Salkehatchie Road in Early Branch. The primate escape attracted national attention and additional scrutiny for the facility which is
being looked into for the escape and alleged mistreatment of the primates by the Animal Care Program of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service after a whistleblower complaint to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) alleging that more than 20 monkeys had been killed as a result of a broken heater. Alpha Genesis has denied all allegations.
Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
Beaufort’s Lowcountry Young Professionals’ held their first social event of 2025 on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at Lost Local in downtown Beaufort. Submitted photo
USCB Center for the Arts announces 2025 Fin Festival
Staff reports
Series of February, March events celebrating art, science, theater
The USCB Center for the Arts is hosting the 2025 Fin Festival, an engaging series of events this February and March that merges art, science, and theater to inspire and engage the community. Highlights of the festival include the Fin Fair, curated art exhibits, and the highly anticipated theater production “The Shark is Broken.”
Art Exhibits and Artists Residency
Fragile Oceans: April
Flanders and Eveline Kolijn
Venue: USCB Center for the Arts
Exhibition Dates: Thursday, Feb. 27 through Sunday, March 23 2025
• Reception and Opening: 5 to 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 28, 2025
Tidalectics and Altered
Environments: Print Portfolios
Venue: Sea Islands
Center Gallery
Exhibition Dates: Through Thursday, March 13 2025
Reception: 6 to 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 28 2025
Both exhibits, curated by artists April Flanders and Eveline Kolijn, explore the impact of environmen-
tal changes on oceanic and coastal ecosystems through innovative printmaking and visual storytelling.
Artists Residency
From Monday, Feb. 24 through Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, exhibiting artists April Flanders and Eveline Kolijn will collaborate with USCB Studio Art and Biology students in the university’s Printmaking Studio. Inspired by a trip to Pritchard’s Island, they will guide interdisciplinary projects that merge art and science to reflect the natural beauty and fragility of the Lowcountry.
Written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, The Shark is Broken is a hilarious and poignant behindthe-scenes look at the making of the 1975 film Jaws. The play offers a comedic exploration of the tensions and camaraderie among the film’s stars, including Ian Shaw’s father, Robert Shaw.
A special discussion panel, “Meet the Cast of The Shark is Broken,” moderated by Patrice Andrews will follow Saturday’s matinee performance.
Event Highlights for February
In addition to the art exhibits and theatrical performances, USCB is hosting a variety of engaging programs, including: “Shark Myth Busters” by Kim Ritchie, Ph.D., Director, Pritchards Island Research
Beaufort’s Anna Francis Schaefer, 8, sleds down a hill on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, while her dad, Paul Schaefer, waits for her at the bottom. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
Winter
from page A1
To make up for missing on Thursday, Jan. 23, BCSD students will have to attend school on March 17 as a weather make-up day.
There have been no decisions made yet as to how
students will make up Friday, Jan. 24, or any additional missed weather day, but according to BCSD spokesperson Candace Bruder, the Beaufort County Board of Education will discuss it in February. Local municipalities also stayed closed through Friday out of an abundance of caution due to the icy roads and snow.
NEWS BRIEFS
50th Parris Island Museum Gala postponed due to weather
The 50th Anniversary Gala for the Parris Island Museum scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 25, was postponed. Due to the weather circumstances, the Board of Directors has decided to hold the event at a later date.
Those with questions or concerns may contact Shellie West Hodges, Executive Director, at director@historyofmarines.org, or Joan Petrucci, President of the Board of Directors, at petruccijm@hotmail.com, with any questions or concerns. Or call the museum gift shop at 843-228-2166
SCDOT to hold a drop-in about I-95 improvements in Jasper County
SCDOT will hold a drop-in public information meeting on Thursday, Jan. 30 2025 regarding I-95 corridor improvements from US 278 (Exit 8) to S.C. 336 (Exit 21).
The meeting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hardeeville Recreation Center at 285 John Smith Road in Hardeeville.
SCDOT representatives will be available at the meeting to discuss the proposed project with members of the community. There will
The last time that Beaufort saw snow was in 2018 when Beaufort got 3 5 inches of snow and Port Royal got 3 inches.
Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
be no formal presentation.
SCDOT will accept public comments on this proposed project at https://www.fixthedrive95.com/ through Feb. 14 2025. For more information about this and other proposed SCDOT projects, visit https://bit.ly/4fZZz2K.
Moms Demand Action hosting survivors event
In honor of National Gun Violence Survivors Week, Lowcountry Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America will host an event Saturday, Feb. 1 in Bluffton.
The Gun Violence Survivors Event will take place from 10 a.m. to noon in the large meeting room at the Bluffton Branch Library, located at 120 Palmetto Way. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m.
Local Moms Demand Action leader Richard Hammes will give an overview of gun violence in the nation and in South Carolina. He will also discuss what the organization is doing to prevent future tragedies.
Bluffton Police Chief Joseph Babkiewicz, and grief and loss counselors Deanna Smith and Julie Raino will share their experiences, and offer suggestions on reducing gun violence and promoting safety.
Three local gun violence survivors will share their stories of loss.
“The families sharing their gun violence
KICK OFF FINFEST WITH ‘SHARK MYTH BUSTERS’
This captivating lecture (6 p.m., Monday, Feb. 3, USCB Center For The Arts, 801
and Associate Professor, Department of Natural Sciences. Richie will share a captivating lecture that busts common shark myths, followed by a special screening of the hit movie JAWS at 6 p.m., Monday, Feb. 3 2025 Fin Fair: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2025. A celebration of art and science featuring marine exhibits, hands-on activities, and educational presentations.
“We are excited to offer such a dynamic lineup of events this February and March,” USCB Center For The Arts Director Bonnie Hargrove said. “From thought-provoking art exhibits to inspiring collaborations and captivating theater, USCB is proud to bring the community together to celebrate creativity and innovation.
All events are open to the public, with many offered free of charge. For registration, tickets, event details, or additional information, visit uscbcenterforthearts. com/finfestival.
Sparklight gives $6,000 to CAPA
Staff reports
Sparklight, formerly Hargray Communications, recently awarded a $6 000 grant to the Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA) through the company’s Charitable Giving Fund. The organization was one of 24 nonprofits across Sparklight’s 24-state footprint that received grants totaling more than $125,000 during the most recent award period.
In conjunction with the check presentation, 23 Sparklight associates volunteered at CAPA to help assemble holiday gift donations for more than 600 children in the foster care system.
The Charitable Giving Fund, which awards $250 000 in grants annually, concentrates support in the following priority areas: Education and Digital Literacy; Food Insecurity; and Community Development.
This grant season, Sparklight also extended support to organizations devoted to veterans’ outreach, elder care, after-
stories were very compelling last year for those in attendance, and these new stories will be as well,” Hammes said.
The event will wrap up with a Q&A period and a discussion of what can be done to prevent gun violence.
Please email lowcountrymomsdemand@ gmail.com to register for the event
Get ready to rock at Oyster Jam
Shellring Ale Works will host the Beaufort Charities Oyster Jam at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 1
The Oyster Jam is a one-of-a-kind music competition benefiting The Beaufort Charities, where local bands battle it out for the opening band spot on the main stage on the first night — Friday, Feb. 28 (21+), or Saturday, March 1 — of the The Beaufort Charities Festival.
It’s free to listen to the bands, and a portion of Shellring's sales during the Jam will be donated to Beaufort Charities.
Electric Avenue:
The 80s MTV Experience to perform at USCB
Get ready to travel back in time to the iconic era of big hair, neon lights, and unforgetta-
school programs, community safety, animal advocacy and more.
Sparklight’s donation will help CAPA provide for the immediate needs of foster children who are entering its Resource Family Program, including basic clothing and toiletries.
“This $6 000 grant from Sparklight will be invaluable,” CAPA Director of Operations Charmian Hedrick said in a media release. “It will make the transition smoother for these vulnerable children and help them feel more secure and loved in their new homes. We are incredibly grateful to Sparklight for their generous support of CAPA and the foster children in the Lowcountry.”
Nonprofit organizations may apply for a grant during open application periods each spring and fall. Applications for spring 2025 grants will be accepted between April 1 and April 30 2025. For more information about the Sparklight Charitable Giving Fund, visit www.sparklight. com/charitablegiving.
ble music as Electric Avenue: The 80s MTV Experience takes the stage at the USCB Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 7
Known for their high-energy performances and spot-on renditions of 80s classics, Electric Avenue has wowed audiences at worldclass venues, including The Fillmore in San Francisco, House of Blues in Orlando, and even internationally in Europe. Their tour history and reputation for delivering authentic 80s vibes make their stop in Beaufort a mustsee special event.
“Having Electric Avenue perform at the USCB Center for the Arts is a huge treat for Beaufort,” said Tammy Gates, Assistant Director of the USCB Center for the Arts. “They’ve performed on iconic stages, and now our community gets to experience their show firsthand. I’ve even had people tell me this will be their third time seeing them because the performance is just that amazing!”
From hits by Prince and The Police to songs by Duran Duran and Journey, the band captures the essence of MTV’s golden era. Whether you’re reliving the music of your youth or experiencing it for the first time, this show will take you to the heart of the 80s. Tickets are available now at www.uscbcenterforthearts.com or by calling the box office at 843-521-4145
– Staff reports
Professor Kim Ritchie and the USC Beaufort Prichards Island Turtle Team.
Photo courtesy of USC Beaufort
ART Budding Artist
After-School Art Club 4 to 5 p.m., or 5:15 to 6:15 p.m., Mondays/Wednesdays or Tuesday/ Thursdays, Happy Art Studio, 10 Sam’s Point Way, Beaufort. Ages 8 to 13. Painting, drawing, clay or crafts. Visit www.happyartstudio.net.
BOOKS 2025 Books Sandwiched In Noon to 1 p.m., Mondays through March 10, USCB Center For The Arts, 805 Carteret Street, Beaufort. The event is free and open to the public. Each week, a community member talks about a book that has been meaningful to him or her. Light refreshments are served and raffle items are available for bidding each week. For those interested in joining the Friends to support the work they do, an annual membership can be purchased at the door or on the Friends website at $25 per household or $15 per military household. For more information, please visit https://friendsofthebeaufortlibrary. com/ or contact Carter Hoyt at carterhoyt@comcast.net or 404-9365695. Remaining schedule -- Feb. 3: “The Open-Focus Brain” by Les Fehmi and Jim Robbins; Presented by Jane Caffrey. Feb. 10: “Black Boy” by Richard Wright; Presented by Jeffrey Blount. Feb. 17: “Teddy and Booker T.” by Brian Kilmeade; Presented by Pat Sculley. Feb. 24: “The World Without Us” by Alan Weisman; Presented by Elaine Adams. March 3: “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead” by Tom Stoppard; Presented by Bruce Page. March 10: “Books Promiscuously Read” by Heather White; Presented by Lauren Hoffer.
CALENDAR
Russo’s Fresh Seafood
All-You-Can-Eat Oyster Roast
1 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 1, Russo’s Fresh Seafood, 246 Red Cedar Street, Bluffton. $70 per person, children under 8 admitted free, leashed pets welcome. Russo's Fresh Seafood proudly announces its 2025 annual All-You-Can-Eat Oyster Roast, an afternoon of great food, community spirit and philanthropy. Proceeds from the event will benefit Palmetto Animal League (PAL), a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a community where every neglected animal has a second chance at life, guided by a compassionate approach to animal welfare, proactive relocation, and innovative strategies to address pet overpopulation. The Oyster Roast welcomes all, with family-friendly activities and vendors including All-you-can-eat fresh oysters, live music from Eric Culberson Band, a bounce house for the kids, Woof Gang Bakery treats and toys, and Shrimp Sisters seasoning and swag. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs, friends, family and their leashed pets. Tickets available at t.ly/7-cWx. For more information, call 843-837-7000 or visit russosfreshseafood.com.
Shark Myth Busters 6 p.m., Monday, Feb. 3, USCB Center For The Arts, 801 Carteret Street, Beaufort. Free. Registration required. This captivating lecture dives into common shark misconceptions and highlights their performance in marine ecosystems. Lecturer Kim Ritchie, Ph.D., is Director of Pritchards Island Research and Associate Professor in the Department of Natural Sciences at USCB. Presented by Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and the USCB Center For The Arts, the evening concludes with a screening of the iconic film Jaws. Register at https://bit.ly/4aDMYRW.
Bands, Brews & BBQ 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 14 & 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 15, Paris Avenue, Port Royal. Two days of food, music and fun with wings, barbeque, beer, live music and fun for the entire family. Proceeds from the event benefit nonprofits HELP of Beaufort and Zonta Club of Beaufort. HELP of Beaufort assists our neighbors in need of food, clothing, financial assistance, prepared meals since 1973, and is a certified USDA Wellness Pantry. Friday is the Hometown Heroes Wing Throw Down Party, while Saturday features the Hometown Heroes Boston Butt and Ribs.
Dueling Pianos – A Musical Night To Remember 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 13, Tabby Place, Port Republic Street, Beaufort. $85 in advance; $90 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at www.afsgb.org or by calling the office at 843-521-9190. Proceeds benefit Alzheimer’s Family Services of Greater Beaufort. The evening also features complimentary beer and wine, dinner from local restaurants and a live auction.
50th Beaufort Charities Festival Friday & Saturday, Feb. 28 & March 1, Live Oaks Park, Port Royal. Live entertainment Friday and Saturday nights. Oyster roast all day Saturday.
Lowcountry Food Truck Festival 11 a.m., Saturday, April 5, 1404 Paris Avenue, Port Royal.
MCAS Beaufort Airshow Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13, MCAS Beaufort. Celebrate 250 years of the Marine Corps with us. From the U.S. Navy Blue Angels to unforgettable aerial thrills, it’s a weekend you don’t want to miss. Tickets are free for general admission but required! Reserve yours now to secure your spot. Go to beaufortairshow.com to reserve your tickets.
Karaoke with Melissa
7:30 p.m. to midnight, Mondays, Tomfoolery, 3436 17 Market, Habersham, Beaufort. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Karaoke 9 p.m. to midnight, Tuesdays, Lu-
ther’s Rare and Well Done, 910 Bay Street, downtown Beaufort. With DJ Ali.
Karaoke with Melissa 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Beaufort Moose Lodge, 350 Broad River Blvd, Beaufort. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.
Eric’s Karaoke Krew 9:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Rosie
O’Grady’s, 2127 Boundary Street, Suite 2, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy karaoke with either Parker or Eric.
Trivia with Tom –Bricks On Boundary
7 p.m., Every Thursday, Bricks on Boundary, 1422 Boundary St, Beaufort. Free. Team trivia event, win house cash and Beer Bucket prizes! For more information, visit https://rb.gy/o9nhwe.
Eric’s Karaoke Krew
7 p.m., Thursdays, Amvets Post 70, 1831 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Free. Public is welcome. Enjoy Karaoke.
Dinner will be available.
Karaoke at Willie’s 8 p.m., Thursdays, Willie's Bar and Grill, 7 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Saint Helena Island. Come and showcase your singing talents or just enjoy the performances. For more information, visit www.GullahLove.com.
Bluffton Night Bazaar –a Lowcountry Made Market
5 to 8 p.m., first Thursday of each month, Burnt Church Distillery, 120 Bluffton Road. A highly curated selection of accessories, clothing, home goods, custom gifts and more by local artists and makers.
Habersham Farmers Market 3 to 6 p.m., Fridays, Habersham Marketplace. Vendor roster includes B&E Farm, Cottonwood Soap, Flower Power Treats, Hardee Greens, Megs Sweet Treats, Vitamin Bee, Lady’s Island Oyster Company, Pet Wants.
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 Drive, Bluffton. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.
Port Royal Farmers Market
9 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, year round, Naval Heritage Park, 1615 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Rain or shine.
You will find fresh, local, seasonal produce, shrimp, oysters, poultry, beef, pork, eggs, bread and cheese, as well as plants, ferns, camellias, azaleas, citrus trees and beautiful, fresh cut flower bouquets. There are prepared food vendors serving barbecue, dumplings, she crab soup, crab cakes, paella, coffee, baked goods, bagels and breakfast sandwiches. No pets allowed. For more information, visit http://www. portroyalfarmersmarket.com/, visit @ portroyalfarmersmarket on Facebook or call 843-295-0058.
Slip and Splash Saturdays 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturdays, Battery Creek Pool, 1 Blue Dolphin Drive, Beaufort, and Bluffton Pool, 55 Pritchard Street, Bluffton. $5 per person. Stay busy for hours climbing on our inflatable challenge track.
Eric’s Karaoke Krew 7 p.m., Saturdays, The Beaufort Moose Lodge, 350 Broad River Blvd., Beaufort. Free. Enjoy karaoke with Lt. Dan. Come early at 6 p.m. for Steak Night.
Eric’s Karaoke Krew 9:30 p.m., Saturdays, Rosie O’Grady’s, 2127 Boundary Street, Suite 2, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy karaoke with Eric.
Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud 9 a.m. to noon, 1st Saturday each month, Port Royal Farmer’s Market, Corner of Ribaut Road & Pinckney Blvd, Port Royal. Free. DAYLO Students and other volunteers will read to young children, who are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animals.
Karaoke with Melissa 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, Peaceful Henry’s Cigar Bar, 181 Bluffton Road, Bluffton. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.
CLASS REUNION
Beaufort High School Class of 1975 Oct. 17 through Oct. 19, 2025, Beaufort. 50th Class Reunion Celebration. Request that graduates of this class contact the class Community Outreach Representative Barbara Gardner Hunter at 347-497-9326 or email gardnerbarbara991@gmail.com to provide current contact information.
DANCE The Beaufort Shag Club
6:30 to 9 p.m., Wednesdays, AmVets Club, 1831 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Free lessons for members from 6 to 6:30 p.m. We also host a dance the second Saturday of each month from 7 to 10 p.m. Lessons will run September through May only. Visit our FaceBook page (beaufortshagclub) for current events.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Rooted Beaufort Yoga classes
5:30 to 6:45 p.m., Thursdays, Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal; 9 to 10:15
a.m., Whitehall Park or Pigeon Point
Park. Rooted Beaufort is a collective of local Yoga teachers who host outdoor yoga classes and donation-based events with proceeds being donated locally on a rotating basis.
BEMER Circulation Therapy
10 to 11 a.m., Fridays via Zoom. Already own a BEMER? Never heard of it but curious? Join to ask any questions about this leading-edge German technology that enhances blood flow 30% in 8 minutes. Sessions are designed to support those who have their own unit but everyone is welcome. Brought to you by BEMER Specialist – Human & Equine, Elizabeth Bergmann. Text 410-212-1468 to get the Zoom link. Free.
HISTORY
Friends of Fort Fremont Meeting & Lecture
3 p.m., Friday, Jan. 31, St. Helena Branch Library. The public is invited. A short business meeting will be followed by a special presentation by USC Beaufort Assistant Professor of History James Shinn, who will speak on “What's in a Name? The Onomastic Significance of Fort Fremont." For more information, visit www.fortfremont.org.
South Carolina’s Maritime History 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 1, S.C. History Center, 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia. Cost is $80 or $25 for teachers and students. For more information or to register, visit https://bit.ly/3PxWg82. Pre-registration is highly recommended. Lunch is included with the registration fee. Presentations include Pirates, Planters, and Proprietors: The Economy of Early South Carolina by Andrew Johnson, Ph.D., S.C. Dept. of Archives & History; Palmetto Privateers of 1812 by Joe Long, South Carolina State Museum; The Royal Navy in Colonial-era South Carolina by Nic Butler, Ph.D., Charleston County Library; Archaeological Investigations of Early Shipwrecks in South Carolina Waters by James Spirek, State Underwater Archaeologist, University of South Carolina; and more.
Language of Clay: Catawba Indian Pottery and Oral Tradition Through Saturday, Feb. 22, Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, 10782 South Jacob Smart Blvd., Ridgeland. This immersive exploration of Catawba pottery, curated by the University of South Carolina Lancaster’s Native American Studies Center, promises to captivate audiences with its profound connection to oral traditions.
Beaufort History Museum at the Arsenal 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays, 713 Craven St, Beaufort. General Admission for Adults $8, Seniors $7, Active Duty Military and College Students with ID $5. Children/Teens younger than 18 Free. Explore and experience more than 500 years of Beaufort History with knowledgeable docent guided tours.
The Historic Port Royal Museum 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or upon request, Thursdays through Sundays, The Historic Port Royal Museum, 1634 Paris Ave. The museum features the turn-of-the-century businesses and industries of Port Royal: Shrimping, crabbing, oystering, the railroad, the school and the mercantile. Great gifts featuring local artists are available. For more information. visit www.portroyalhistory.org, email historicportroyalfoundation@gmail.com or call 843-524-4333.
Tour Historic Fort Fremont
Dawn to dusk, Monday through Sunday, The Fort Fremont Preserve, 1124 Land’s End Road, St. Helena Island. Free and open to the public. The History Center is open Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.
Visitors can learn about the fort’s history during the Spanish-American War through interpretive signs, self-guided walking tours with a smart phone, exhibits in the history center, and docent-led tours. For more information visit www.fortfremont.org or contact Passive Parks Manager Stefanie Nagid at snagid@bcgov.net.
LIBRARY ACTIVITIES
Toddler Storytime
11 a.m., Mondays through May 12, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. (Library will be closed Jan, 20 and Feb. 17.) Join us for a fun-filled time of stories. Books and activities will focus on toddlers/preschoolers, but siblings are welcome.
Postpartum Support Group
11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesdays, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Join us fr a postpartum and parenting support circle, a weekly gathering for parents and caregivers navigating the postpartum journey. Led by full-spectrum holistic doula Tameka Walker, the circle provides a warm supportive environment where families can connect, share and learn together. Registration is requested but not required. Call 843-255-6487 for more information.
“Lego” With Lego
4:30 to 5:30 p.m., every Tuesday, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Free and open to the public. Ages 5 and up. No registration required. Come see our new and improved Lego Club. Choose one of our new Lego kits and get going. Call 843-255-6540 for more information.
Career Navigator
11 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Tuesday, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. Free one-on-one resume writing and job application as-
sistance with a Career Navigator from Palmetto Goodwill. No appointments necessary. For more information call 843-255-6458.
Bridge Club 11 a.m., Wednesdays, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. Beginning September 18. The first session is for beginners new to the game, and following sessions will provide some instruction and we will learn as we play. Join us if you want to learn a new game, practice your skills, or need more players. Call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-255-6458 for more information.
Baby Time 10 a.m. Thursdays through May 15, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Join us for stimulating stories, activities, and more. Designed for babies, 0-18 months.
Mahjong Basics 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Join us to learn the basics of this fun tile game. Intructor Donna Misuraca will teach participants the structure and rules of the game and guide you through how to play. All game materials will be provided. Call 843-255-6540 for more information.
Mahjong Club 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fridays, Beaufort Library, 311 Scott Street. All levels of players are welcome. Feel free to bring your own mahjong sets. Plan to meet every week. For more information, call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-255-6458.
MEETINGS
Beaufort County Public Meeting
5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 30, Lady’s Island Middle School Gymnasium, 30 Cougar Drive, Beaufort. A public meeting for the Hazel Farm Road/ Gay Drive (S-497), and Sunset Boulevard (S-186)/Miller Drive West (S-187) Streetscape projects, as approved in the 2018 One Cent Sales Tax Referendum for the Lady’s Island Corridor Traffic Improvements. The County will present the proposed designs for both projects which include bicycle and pedestrian facilities and road improvements. The meeting will be conducted as an informal, drop-in format. There will be displays that depict the proposed design, and representatives from Beaufort County Engineering, J. Bragg Consulting, and Davis & Floyd will be available to discuss the proposed improvements, answer questions, and listen to feedback. For questions or persons requiring additional assistance due to language barriers, contact the Engineering Department at 843-255-2700.
PFLAG Savannah –Beaufort Peer Group
6:30 p.m., first Tuesday of every month, Fellowship Hall, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort (UUFB), 178 Sams Point Road, Beaufort. Free. The group will be moderated by Rick Hamilton and Kay Carr. The provides advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community, family, peers, and allies in the Lowcountry. The peer group provides a safe and strictly confidential environment for LGBTQ+ individuals, their families, friends, and allies to discuss the challenges faced in coming out or being out in neighborhoods, the workplace, school, or church. The organization offers resources for counseling, educating, and advocating to achieve an equitable, inclusive community where every LGBTQ+ person is safe, celebrated, empowered, and loved. Minors under the age of 18 are required to come with an adult parent, guardian, or mentor. Additional information about peer groups, membership, donations, and volunteering is on the website www.PFLAGSavannah. org and on Facebook.
Zonta Club of Beaufort 6 p.m., 4th Tuesday of each month, Smokehouse, Port Royal.
Rotary Club of Sea Island lunch meeting 12:15 p.m., 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island. Social gathering every 3rd Tuesday at 5:30 pm, locations vary and posted on our website. For more information, visit www.seaislandrotary.org.
Rotary Club of Sea Island social gathering 5:30 p.m., 3rd Tuesday of each month, locations vary and posted on our website. For more information, visit www.seaislandrotary.org. Beaufort Rotary Club Noon, Wednesdays, Sea Island Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island. Catered buffet lunch, followed by a guest speaker. Prospective members welcome. For further information and upcoming speakers, please visit website www.beaufortrotaryclub.org.
The Beaufort Trailblazers –A Volunteer Group 8 a.m., first Thursday each month, Herban Marketplace, Beaufort. Anyone interested in supporting or building off-road/dirt/wilderness mountain biking/jogging/walking trails near is encouraged to attend. For more information, call 843-575-0021 or email universitybicycles@hotmail.com.
Emotions Anonymous International local group meeting 4 p.m, Thursdays, via Zoom. Emotions Anonymous International, (EAI), is a nonprofit program designed to help people with emotional difficulties. It has a chapter in the Lowcountry and members want others who feel the need to know they are welcome to participate. There is no charge to participate. They are based
on the 12 steps and 12 traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous and follow a specific format designed to provide the support and tools for navigating life’s painful difficulties. All are welcome. Anyone interested in participating may contact the group via email at EALowcountry@gmail.com or call or text Laurie at 252- 917-7082. For more information on EAI visit www.emotionsanonymous.org.
Rotary Club of the Lowcountry 7:30 a.m., Fridays, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady's Island Dr., Ladys' Island. Catered breakfast from local chef. Speakers weekly. Occasional social events replace Friday mornings, but will be announced on our website, www.rotaryclubofthelowcountrybeaufort.org.
MUSIC Music on Malphrus — Friction Farm 7 p.m., Saturdays, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry, 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton. $25. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Tickets available at the door or at https://www. uulowcountry.org. Schedule — Feb. 8: Pat Wictor. Feb. 22: Matt Nakoa. March 1: Miles and Mafale. March 21: The Kennedys. April 11: Scott Ainslie. April 26: Karyn Oliver.
Live entertainment 7 to 11 p.m., Wednesdays, Luther’s Rare and Well Done, 910 Bay Street, downtown Beaufort.
Chris Jones 7 to 11 p.m., Thursdays, Luther’s Rare and Well Done, 910 Bay Street, downtown Beaufort.
Habersham Third Fridays Music on Market 5 to 8 p.m., third Friday of the month, Habersham Marketplace.
Live entertainment 9 p.m. to midnight, Fridays & Saturdays, Luther’s Rare and Well Done, 910 Bay Street, downtown Beaufort.
OUTDOORS/NATURE
Friends of Port Royal Cypress Wetlands Speakers Series –Thomas Rainwater 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 19, Shellring Ale Works. Thomas Rainwater, Ph.D., will present “All About Gators.” Rainwater is a Wildlife Biologist and Research Scientist at the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center and Clemson University’s Baruch Institute, following his previous role as a Wildlife Toxicologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Growing up in Florence, he developed a passion for wildlife, particularly reptiles and amphibians. He holds a B.S. in Biology from Furman University, an M.S. in Environmental Toxicology from Clemson University, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology from Texas Tech University. Over 34 years, he has researched wildlife biology, ecotoxicology, and conservation across various regions, focusing on the effects of pollution and habitat changes on endangered crocodilians and turtles. In 2010, he began a longterm study of American alligators in coastal habitats and has since expanded his research to include alligator populations on Spring Island, examining their ecology and the impact of environmental changes.
The Beaufort Tree Walk Lady’s Island Garden Club invites you to take a meandering walk through the Historic “Old Point” and enjoy some unique and noteworthy trees. The “Walk” takes about an hour, is a little over a mile starting at the corner of Craven & Carteret streets in Morrall Park and concluding in Waterfront Park. Booklets with map and information about each tree are available free at the Visitors Center in the historic Arsenal on Craven Street.
Tours of Hunting Island Every Tuesday, Hunting Island State Park, 2555 Sea Island Pkwy. Free, park entry fees apply. Sponsored by Friends of Hunting Island Keeper Ted and his team. For more information call the Hunting Island Nature Center at 843-838-7437.
SEWING/QUILTING
American Needlepoint
Guild Meeting 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1st Tuesday each month. The Hilton Head Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild welcomes anyone, beginner or experienced stitcher, who is interested in needlepoint to join us for stitching, learning and fellowship. For more information, please contact us at hiltonheadislandchapter@needlepoint.org. Embroidery Guild of America Meeting Second Tuesday of every month, Palmetto Electric Community Room, Hardeeville. The Lowcountry Chapter of the Embroidery Guild of America welcomes anyone, beginner or experienced stitcher, who is interested in any type of embroidery including needlepoint, cross-stitch, surface and beaded embroidery, hardanger, bargello, sashiko, etc., to join us for stitching, learning and fellowship. For more information, please contact us at lowcountrychapter@egacarolinas.org.
SPORTS/GAMES
ACBL Duplicate Bridge Club
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., Tuesdays, Carteret St. Events will be held weekly. Contact Director and Club Manager Susan DeFoe at 843-597-2541 for location.
Bridge Club 11 a.m., Wednesdays, Beaufort Branch Library. The first session is for beginners new to the game, and following sessions will provide some instruction and we will learn as we play. Join us if you want to learn a new game, practice your skills, or need more players. Call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-255-6458 for more information.
10 fixes for smelly feet
The Lowcountry has certainly seen its share of chilly weather this winter. You may have had to shelve your flip flops, put on socks and closed toe shoes or boots. This can make for a “smelly feet” situation! If you’ve ever had smelly feet, odds are you’ve tried one or several methods to try to reduce the smell in your shoes and on your feet, cover it up, or hide it from those around you. Unfortunately, many of these choices simply delay the inevitable or don’t work at all.
Smelly feet aren’t something people like to advertise or discuss, but it’s a common problem. And it’s not just something athletes or those with manual jobs have. . . anyone is at risk.
The good news is there are many effective solutions for preventing smelly feet. So, get ready to take a deep breath—without worrying what you’ll smell—and check out these ten fixes for smelly feet.
1 Wear the Right Socks. Smelly feet are often caused by bacteria that forms as a result of your feet sweating and choosing the right socks to wear can help reduce that sweat—and in turn, the unpleasant odor. To help your feet breathe when wearing socks, go for cotton—it naturally allows more air to get through, keeping your feet cooler. Avoid synthetic socks like polyester, which can stifle your feet, leading to excess sweat that gets trapped and encourages the growth of bacteria. As well as natural, breathable materials, look for ‘active’ or ‘sportswear’ socks that contain special ventilation materials strategically placed in areas prone to sweat.
2 Wear Socks with Shoes. It may be surprising to know that wearing socks can actually fix smelly feet. How? People who wear closed shoes like sneakers, dress shoes, and boots without socks can end up with some pretty foul odors because a good portion of shoes aren’t any more breathable than socks. Add in
the fact that you don’t wash your shoes after each use like you do socks, and there can be a ton more bacteria as you go barefoot in them.
3 Change Socks Twice a Day. If you’ve ever had smelly feet, you know that sometimes you just can’t help it if your feet sweat. Unfortunately, it’s just the way it is for some people. By changing your socks a twice a day (or more), you can prevent the bacteria from growing and stinking up your feet, catching it before it really sets in, or at least reducing the smell.
4 Wash Running Shoes. Not all shoes can be washed, but it’s worth checking if the sneakers you wear can be. The next time you’re in the market for running shoes look specifically for shoes that can be washed. Washing your running shoes in hot water every month or so can help rid your shoes of the smell, which can go a long way in fixing smelly feet.
5 Rotate Shoes. Rotating the shoes you wear can help prevent foot odor. You should have more than one pair of shoes that you wear on a regular basis to give them a chance to air out, as well as dry if your feet have been sweating in them. The longer shoes are damp, the better
chance of bacteria growing and causing both your feet and shoes to smell. Find a couple of pairs of shoes that work best for your situation and alternate pairs every day.
6 Soak Feet in Epsom Salts. Smelly feet can be difficult to effectively clean and get the odor completely off of your skin. Often a shower isn’t enough, even when you spend a lot of time scrubbing at your feet with a cloth and an excessive amount of soap. And scrubbing at your feet will end up making them dry and a little raw, adding another layer to your foot problems. Instead of intense scrubbing, try fixing your smelly feet by soaking them in a simple mixture of warm water and Epsom salts. Epsom salts are essentially magnesium and sulfate, which have been around for generations. Epsom salts are known for their natural healing properties, soothing scents, and hydrating benefits to your skin. Follow the ratio for water to Epsom salts on the packaging and soak your feet up to three times a day, depending on how smelly they are.
7 Use Oils. There are many oils you can soak your feet in that provide natural relief for foot odors. Use oils either in your bathtub or a basin big
How building design impacts your health
Our environment plays a significant role which is often overlooked when looking at the health factors. Here are suggestions to consider reducing your risk of heart disease and improve overall health:
Reduction #1: Filtering indoor air and water
You are what you breathe! Most of us spend more than 85% of our lives indoors, so that’s the best place to battle against heart disease. The first and easiest way to do this is eliminate the harmful microparticles containing pollutants that trigger cardiovascular disease. The USEPA has guidelines on this with the right air and water filtration for the home or office. On the flip side, if you don’t do this, indoor air quality can be up to eight times worse than outdoors due to concentration of particulates and gasses.
Reduction #2: Eliminating chronic noise
Sound off about bad sounds! According to a World Health Organization study, chronic noise is the second leading cause of premature death. Buildings can shield occupants from chronic outdoor noise like traffic. In schools, inexpensive proper placement of acoustic panels and sound deadening underlay on floors can cut noise while improving teaching and learning by reducing echo. If you’re a parent or a tenant in a building,
with
ask the building managers to look into it.
Reduction #3: Use safe materials
It’s a material matter! Many toxins that can trigger heart disease come from indoor surfaces like furniture and floor and wall coverings as they wear off or release harmful chemicals. New standards like WELL show how to solve this problem by selecting safer materials when you’re doing a renovation. Likewise, make sure your ventilation system motors don’t deliver toxic off-gassing into the indoor environment.
Reduction #4: Safe cleaners
Everyone can do this. A major cause of poor indoor air quality is toxic cleaning ingredients. A city environmental engineer once told me, “There’s no point investing in a building designed for healthy air if you end up with unhealthy maintenance”. This has only gotten worse due to the rush to use disinfectants during the COVID pandemic. There are lots of healthy cleaning products around and lots of sources to inform you about them.
If you are interested in learning more about how building design can keep us healthy, visit https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Reassessing+risk+assessment%3A+the+question+of+whether+to+pursue+the...-a0111858031syndicated
enough for your feet. Fill it with warm water and add a few drops of oil. Lavender oil can be rubbed directly onto your feet to kill bacteria. Just make sure you put on socks or slippers afterward to avoid slipping or staining your carpet (and allowing the oil to soak in and do its job). Many oils also have antimicrobial properties, including tea tree, thyme, eucalyptus, and peppermint. The relaxing, natural scent is another bonus and oils provide a natural option for fixing smelly feet, so they’re worth giving a try.
8 Use Deodorizing Powder or Antiperspirant. There is deodorizing powder and antiperspirant for your feet. It works just like the deodorant you use on your armpits, providing protection from sweat and in turn, bacteria that causes odor. Deodorizing powders typically go in your shoes and work as a way to wick moisture throughout the day. Many products do last all day.
9 Use Antibacterial Soaps. When you clean your feet, it’s not just the remnants of the sweat that needs to come off—it’s the bacteria, and for some, effectively washing off the smelly bacteria can be difficult. To clean your feet well and to get rid of
bacteria, use an antibacterial soap on your feet (not on the rest of your body) when you shower or bath.
10 Dry Feet Thoroughly. It’s common to jump in and out of the shower, hastily drying the body (especially feet) to cut back on the amount of time needed to get ready. While you might not mind throwing clothes over your damp body because it will dry fairly quickly or if you’re simply forced to because you’re running late, it could be the cause of or contributing to your foot odor.
An easy fix for smelly feet is to ensure you dry your feet thoroughly after they’ve been wet, including between your toes. Know that this fix doesn’t just apply for after a shower or bath; you should dry your feet well after swimming, getting your shoes or boots wet outdoors, and after workouts. Whenever your feet get wet or damp, from water or sweat, odor could occur by walking around with that dampness. Drying your feet—even between your toes—really doesn’t take long but could make a big difference by reducing the chance of bacteria growing from the moisture on your feet.
Source: a CARE magazine® article excerpted from http://www.activebeat.com/fitness/10fixes-for-smelly-feet/
Options & References for a Healthier Life
Get relief from peripheral neuropathy without drugs
Nerve damage caused by peripheral neuropathy can make it harder to perform your daily activities. It can get in the way of your social life. And it can cause safety concerns.
But you're not alone. Up to 10% of the world's population has peripheral neuropathy, which causes symptoms like muscle weakness, sensitivity to touch, burning pain, and tingling or numbness in the feet or hands.
You may feel frustrated or defeated because peripheral neuropathy has no cure. But science shows that different types of therapies can reduce nerve pain. Here's what Mayo Clinic experts want you to know about therapies to treat peripheral neuropathy.
Physical or occupational therapies:
Physical and occupational therapy can boost your confidence and help prevent falls and accidents.
Physical therapy. Exercise can improve strength and balance. And it also may help reduce nerve pain. Your physical therapist may show you strength training, stretching, balance exercises, and exercises with weights or resistance bands.
Occupational therapy. Exercises can help you regain function in your hands so that you can do your daily activities.
Depression that strikes in the late fall or early winter and eases in the spring and summer could be a sign of seasonal affective disorder, or “SAD.” This type of depression shows up more frequently in people who live far from the equator, like in the U.S., where there is less direct sun exposure year-round.
Cold, bleary days can make a lot of people feel sad and tired in the winter, but SAD is more than that—it’s a form of clinical depression. People with SAD may experience symptoms such as:
Feelings of hopelessness
Having consistently low energy
Difficulty concentrating
Sleeping too much
Overeating and gaining weight
Social withdrawal
Your occupational therapist may teach you self-care and safety tips and show you how to use adaptive equipment.
Alternative therapies: Alternative, or complementary, therapies can be used with other treatments like medicines.
• Acupuncture. Studies show that acupuncture reduces nerve pain caused by diabetes and chemotherapy.
• Acupressure or reflexology. Several studies suggest that acupressure, applying pressure to specific areas of the body, may reduce cancer nerve pain. Reflexology, which targets pressure points
Medication, vitamin D, psychotherapy and light therapy might help alleviate symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, says Katie Durden, DNP, PMHNP-BC, a board-certified, fellowship-trained psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with Beaufort Memorial.
Here are several other ways to manage the condition: Enjoy daylight as much as possible. The lack of sun exposure is part of what triggers SAD. Exposure to daylight can lessen your symptoms. Try getting out for a walk during daylight hours, sit by a window or use a light that mimics sunshine (full-spectrum light).
Be proactive. “If you tend to experience the same symptoms each year, try to get ahead of it by planning out a schedule in advance to
in the feet or hands, may offer similar benefits.
• Alpha-lipoic acids. Some evidence shows that alpha-lipoic acids can reduce nerve pain caused by diabetes. In a study, people who took 600 milligrams a day for 40 days reported a better quality of life.
• Amino acids. There's evidence that amino acids, like acetyl-L-carnitine, may help reduce nerve pain caused by diabetes or chemotherapy. Massage therapy. Limited research suggests that massage therapy may help with nerve damage caused by chemotherapy. Some studies show that massage may help reduce
keep active and engaged,”
Durden says.
Eat healthily. Look for hearty, low-calorie recipes to replace comfort foods. Focus on treats made from seasonal fruits like apples and pears instead of cookies and cakes.
Stay active. Just as it does for other forms of depression, exercise can help with SAD too. Other ways to be active are volunteering for a local cause, joining a club or planning a get-together with friends.
Keep a journal. Writing about your thoughts, feelings and concerns can have a positive effect on your mood. Take 15-20 minutes each evening to reflect on the day. This may also help you sleep if you find you often lay awake ruminating.
Spend time with your friends and family. Let them know how the season
muscle spasms, nerve pain and anxiety. Ask your healthcare team which type of massage is safest for you.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (talk therapy). A mental health counselor helps you identify negative thinking so you can cope in a more positive way. The counselor can teach you ways to relax and manage stress.
• Mind-body therapies that may help reduce peripheral nerve pain include hypnosis, guided imagery, meditation, aromatherapy, music therapy and relaxation techniques.
Other therapies and procedures:
Together, you and your healthcare team will choose the therapy that's best for you. Options may include:
• Scrambler therapy. Electrical impulses send non-pain messages to the brain. These messages replace, or "scramble," the pain messages sent by the nerves. Studies show that this therapy helps with pain caused by chronic neuropathy or cancer.
Spinal cord stimulation. Devices put into the body send low-level electrical impulses that can block pain signals from reaching the brain. In 2
studies, about half of the people reported reduced leg and foot pain from diabetes 5 years after they started therapy. Peripheral nerve stimulation. A small lead wire, as thick as a human hair, is guided to a peripheral nerve using ultrasound. The other end is connected to a small device that can be adjusted to deliver the stimulation. This therapy is proven to help reduce peripheral neuropathy.
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). A gentle electrical current flows through electrodes attached to the skin at the site of the pain or near the nerve. It may help severe forms of nerve pain. Plasma exchange or intravenous immunoglobulin. These therapies reduce inflammation to help treat neuropathy with weakness, numbness, or imbalance in conditions like Guillain-Barre syndrome. Both therapies are delivered through an intravenous (IV) line in your arm.
• Surgery. Surgery may be an option if a tumor is pressing on a nerve.
Source: By Mayo Clinic Staff; https:// www.mayoclinic.org/connected-care/getrelief-from-peripheral-neuropathy-withoutdrugs/cpt-20575641
Seek professional help. If you continue to struggle with feelings of depression, you should speak with your primary care provider. They can work with you on treat-
ment and determine if you'd benefit from the help of a mental health professional. Psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, has been shown to be an effective treatment for SAD, and may have more
How to bounce back from a bad night’s sleep
Struggling after a night of tossing and turning? A sleep specialist goes over how to recover from a bad night's sleep.
We all know the struggle after getting a bad night’s sleep, but there are steps you can take the following day to help you bounce back.
“Generally, we recommend you go to sleep the next night at your regular bedtime. We don't necessarily want to promote long naps during the day because that's going to erode sleep quality the following night,” said Nancy Foldvary, DO, a sleep specialist for Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Foldvary explained the overall goal is to fall asleep and wake up at the same time every day.
Sticking to your regular bedtime,
no matter what, will help get you back to a regular schedule.
If you can't resist a nap after a night of tossing and turning, Dr. Foldvary recommends keeping it to 20 minutes, so you’ll still be tired when it’s time to hit the hay.
Aside from that, caffeine in moderation, exercise and getting some sunshine can help tide you over.
Above all, Dr. Foldvary said to avoid oversleeping to catch up on missed sleep because you can’t truly recover from chronic sleep loss—which can carry serious consequences.
“We now know that chronic insufficient sleep leads to weight
gain, obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes,” Dr. Foldvary said. “It can also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, cardiac arrhythmias, hypertension and more.”
If you continue struggling to get good sleep, Dr. Foldvary said it’s time to take a close look at your environment and make sure it’s not something like your mattress keeping you up at night.
She encourages people to see a sleep expert if any problems persist, as it could be an underlying sleep disorder.
long-term benefits than light therapy – daily use of an artificial bright lamp – or antidepressant medication.
This article was provided by the Public Relations Department at Beaufort Memorial Hospital.
SC auditor resigns amid federal investigation
State plagued by multibillion-dollar accounting errors
By Jessica Holdman SCDailyaGazette.com
COLUMBIA — Two of South Carolina’s financial officers have now resigned in the wake of multibillion-dollar accounting blunders that prompted a federal securities investigation.
State Auditor George Kennedy submitted his resignation Thursday, Jan. 23 in a letter to the state’s five-member fiscal oversight panel.
“It has been both an honor and a privilege to serve the State of South Carolina during the past nine years,” Kennedy wrote. “However, I believe it is in the best interest of the Office of the State Auditor that I resign from my position as State Auditor effective today.”
He made no reference to the accounting errors in his letter and gave no further explanation. The errors did not involve any actual missing or found taxpayer dollars. Rather, they represented years of miscounting in reports sent to Wall Street.
Kennedy, who earns a salary of $187 200, offered his assistance in finding a replacement.
“I also welcome the opportunity to provide my thoughts on how the Office of the State Auditor can be strengthened for the future,” he wrote in closing.
Kennedy’s resignation, which Gov. Henry McMaster accepted Thursday, follows that of former Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom in 2023 Eckstrom, who had been the state’s top accountant for 20 years, resigned as legislators prepared to force him out following the discov-
ery that his office was reporting $3 5 billion more than actually existed.
More errors came to light last year as the Statehouse investigation continued. Ultimately, the $1 8 billion that appeared on the state’s books without explanation also turned out to be accounting errors.
All but about $200 million of the massive sum on paper never actually existed. And the $200 million that was real isn’t excess that can be spent, according to the report released last week by the forensics accounting firm AlixPartners (which the state paid $3 mil-
lion to find out what happened).
Still, none of the accounting errors put the state’s coffers in the red because state budget writers rely on a separate agency for revenue projections. But the erroneous reports may have misled Wall Street credit agencies that rate the financial health of state and local governments — which is why there’s a federal investigation.
The origin of the issue, financial officials have testified, was a chaotic, decade-long transition from the state’s old accounting system to a new one, which took place between 2007 and 2017
As state auditor, Kennedy’s
bosses included the two elected offices involved in the mess — comptroller general and state treasurer.
Of the three, only Treasurer Curtis Loftis is left.
According to the findings of AlixPartners, neither Kennedy, Eckstrom, nor Loftis attempted to get to the bottom of what caused the discrepancies. Nor did they alert legislators or regulators to the mounting, yearslong errors. Instead, the problem surfaced after a staffer in Eckstrom’s office noticed in late 2022 that the numbers were way off.
Loftis, who has said he won’t seek a fifth term in 2026, has brushed off calls for his own resignation.
“The people of South Carolina deserve a State Treasurer who puts their interests first — someone who is not afraid to face challenges head-on and advocate for reforms that benefit everyone,” Loftis wrote in a letter shared with the S.C. Daily Gazette this week. “I stand by my record and will continue to serve with integrity and accountability.”
Jessica Holdman writes about the economy, workforce and higher education. Before joining the S.C. Daily Gazette, she was a business reporter for The Post and Courier. S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
Santee Cooper seeks buyers to restart failed SC nuclear project
By Jessica Holdman SCDailyaGazette.com
COLUMBIA — South Carolina’s state-owned utility is putting a pair of partially built nuclear reactors on the market.
Santee Cooper announced Wednesday, Jan. 22 that it would solicit proposals from potential buyers of the two units, located at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station, that were mothballed more than seven years ago as part of a failed nuclear power expansion project.
The power company’s decision to test the waters comes amid a national nuclear resurgence and growing calls from state political leaders to revisit the project in an effort to meet South Carolina’s growing power needs.
“We are seeing renewed interest in nuclear energy, fueled by advanced manufacturing investments, AI-driven data center demand, and the tech industry’s zero-carbon targets,” CEO Jimmy Staton said in a statement.
“Considering the long timelines required to bring new nuclear units online, Santee Cooper has a unique opportunity to explore options for Summer Units 2 and 3 and their related assets that could allow someone to generate reliable, carbon emissions-free electricity on a meaningfully shortened timeline,” he continued.
The utility is marketing the project as “the only site in the U.S. that could deliver 2,200 (megawatts) of nuclear capacity on an accelerated timeline.”
A single megawatt is enough to power between 400 and 900 homes in a year, according to federal estimates.
But major data centers, which are popping up around the Palmetto State, have needs of about 200 megawatts each. And Dominion Energy executives expect about 700 megawatts’ worth of future demand from manufacturers in the state.
Santee Cooper’s announcement touts the site as coming with “access to ample land, water and transmission infrastructure upgrades” to accommodate the units.
The state-owned utility and now defunct South Carolina Electric & Gas were partners on the V.C. Summer expansion, which was
a first-of-its-kind design. It marked the first new nuclear construction in the country in 40 years.
But with costs way over budget and completion years behind schedule, the companies abandoned the effort in July 2017 — after jointly spending $9 billion.
It left South Carolina customers of Dominion, which bought out SCANA in the aftermath, on the hook for more than $2 billion for reactors that never generated power. Santee Cooper’s share of the debt was $3 6 billion.
Both Santee Cooper and Dominion executives have long said they have no desire to build, own or operate the units. But the only way to determine if there’s outside interest in taking on the project is to put it up for grabs.
Santee Cooper and the former lead contractor on the project, Westinghouse, hold joint ownership of all nuclear-related parts on the site. The two have jointly marketed the parts and will share any proceeds from a sale. Meanwhile, Santee Cooper shares ownership of the land with Dominion, meaning any potential buyer would have to make the deal with multiple entities. Those interested have until May 5 to submit a proposal.
Growing interest
Members of the governor’s Nuclear Advisory Council floated the idea of reviving the project at a meeting in October 2024 after two of them made a
trip the month before to see the abandoned reactors and parts left on site in rural Fairfield County.
It could be the answer, Chairman Rick Lee said at the time, to South Carolina’s possible power shortage as the state’s population balloons, industries expand, and federal environmental regulations mandate the closure of coal-fired power.
Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, filed legislation ahead of the regular session calling for Santee Cooper to open the potential project up for bids. A bipartisan group of 26 other Senators signed on to the bill.
And U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham told reporters Tuesday the United States “cannot give up on nuclear.” South Carolina Public Radio
reported Graham was mostly interested in a still-developing nuclear technology, known as small modular reactors, but he was not willing to write off the V.C. Summer site.
“It was a disaster trying to build these two new nuclear power plants,” said the South Carolina Republican. “But, yes, I would be open to trying to revitalize that. Trust me, South Carolina needs as much power as we can get.” Many also have pointed to previously shuttered nuclear plants being revitalized across the country.
Watts Bar in Tennessee was fired back up more than 25 years after the project was ceased.
And the remaining unit at Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island, where a second unit suffered its notorious partial meltdown in 1979, is under consideration for a restart to power a Microsoft data center. And the four-unit Vogtle power plant in Georgia, which was built with the same design and started construction in unison with V.C. Summer, is now operational. However, it came online seven years late at a cost of $35 billion — more than double the initial $14 billion estimate.
Jessica Holdman writes about the economy, workforce and higher education. Before joining the S.C. Daily Gazette, she was a business reporter for The
and
is part of
The northside of the Statehouse with the silhouette of the statue of Gen. Wade Hampton in the foreground. Behind the statue is the Wade Hampton Building, which houses the offices of the state treasurer and comptroller general. Mary Ann Chastain/File/Special to the S.C. Daily Gazette
Nuclear reactor assemblies pictured Sept. 12, 2024, in storage at VC Summer nuclear site near Fairfield. Photo courtesy of S.C. Nuclear Advisory Council
STATE NEWS
Ex-school board member wins primary election for SC House
By Skylar Laird SCDailyGazette.com
NORTH CHARLESTON
— A former Charleston County school board member won a Democratic primary Tuesday for a seat in the state House of Representatives.
Because no Republicans registered to run, primary winner Courtney Waters will run unopposed in the March 25 general election, basically guaranteeing her a place in Statehouse.
Receiving nearly 70% of the vote, Waters easily defeated Michelle Brandt, the state Democratic Party’s third vice chair, who finished with 28% of votes cast, and Kim Clark, who received less than 2%.
“We all know that the real work starts now,” Waters
wrote on her Facebook page.
“Together, we’ll fight for affordable childcare, stronger schools, economic justice, and a brighter future for North Charleston.”
Waters is set to replace former Rep. Marvin Pendarvis, who resigned his North Charleston seat last year amid accusations that he had tried to pay off a former legal client.
Pendarvis won reelection in his unopposed race in November after election officials said they did not receive his letter withdrawing until the day after the election. He declined to accept his seat, triggering a special election.
Only about 4% of the district’s more than 20,000 registered voters cast ballots, as the Lowcountry faced snow and freezing temperatures.
She is set to become the 35th Democrat in the 124seat chamber.
Last week’s surprise resignation of Rep. Will Wheeler, D-Bishopville, further depleted the House Democratic Caucus for at least the rest of the regular session.
A special election to fill the seat representing all of Lee County and parts of Sumter and Kershaw counties is set for June 3. Candidates can file for the seat between noon Feb. 7 and Feb. 15
Skylar Laird covers the South Carolina Legislature and criminal justice issues. Originally from Missouri, she previously worked for The Post and Courier’s Columbia bureau. S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
USC touts value of college degree amid concerns of ‘enrollment cliff’
By Jessica Holdman SCDailyaGazette.com
COLUMBIA — The University of South Carolina has an estimated 47 300 alumni working in the Midlands.
Because of their college degrees, they’re earning $28 000 more annually, on average, than a high school graduate who went straight to work, according to a semi-annual study on the economic impact of the state’s largest college system.
This most recent study comes as higher education experts warn about a pending “enrollment cliff” due to a declining national birth rate that has colleges competing over a shrinking pool of potential students.
“Education, of course, is USC’s primary mission and college graduates see many benefits, not the least of which is a lifetime earnings premium,” said Joey Von Nessen, the USC economist who authored the study.
This, Von Nessen said, makes USC a hub for talent, both in Columbia and across the state.
“This is something that is extraordinarily important, particularly now as employers are needing more and more access to a high-skilled workforce,” Von Nessen said.
Labor shortages are a long-running issue nationwide due to the country’s aging population and ongoing retirement of the baby boomer generation. For South Carolina, a major retirement destination, this challenge is even greater as the state’s population is aging faster than the national average.
“So, this labor challenge is something that South Carolina is
facing and is likely to face for the foreseeable future,” Von Nessen said. “Businesses in most industry sectors are struggling to find workers as a result.”
‘Enrollment cliff’ Meanwhile, with a shrinking college-age population and rising costs, universities are having to work harder to convince prospective students that a four-year college degree is worth the growing price tag.
The national birth rate has been in decline and colleges are expected to start feeling the impact this year. It’s a trend that Gov. Henry McMaster said will continue well into the future as the birth rate in 2023 fell to a historic low — about 55 births for every 1 000 women between the ages of 15 and 44 according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
“Not only is the number of col-
lege-age students declining, but in South Carolina, the percentage of our high school graduates who are enrolling in college in the fall immediately following graduation has declined,” McMaster wrote in his budget recommendations released earlier this month.
The rate of South Carolina public high school graduates who go on to seek a degree from one of the state’s public or private technical colleges or universities has gone from 62 5% in 2015 to about 60% in 2022, according to data from the state’s Education Oversight Commission.
Some South Carolina colleges, particularly the state’s research universities and coastal schools, have received a boost as students from northern states have flocked to southern schools in recent years — more than 3 700 freshmen in 2022 came from the five-state area including New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Connecticut alone, according to the state’s higher education agency. But other four-year schools in the state have struggled.
That is why the governor has again called for a study of the state’s 33 two- and four- year public colleges, looking at affordability and a possible need for mergers.
This year, he suggests putting $2 million toward a study by researchers at the state’s employment agency, after last year’s $3 million recommendation got shot down.
“The goal is to make sure we are preparing to meet our state’s future workforce needs,” the governor wrote.
And when it comes to the cost, USC tuition for South Carolina residents is nearly $12,700 annually.
Factor in room and board and the total cost nearly doubles, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
For the past five years, South Carolina legislators have given public colleges money in exchange for promises to keep tuition steady for in-state undergraduate students. (McMaster proposes extending that freeze to a sixth consecutive year.) Fees, however, have kept rising.
Students who qualify can reduce that cost with scholarships.
Scholarships funded by state lottery proceeds can help in-state students who make good grades cover anywhere from $2,800 to $10 800 of the annual cost, depending on how well they perform academically and whether they choose to pursue degrees in high-demand career fields. Students with the greatest financial
needs can receive an additional $3 500 in aid.
Brain drain
Finally, while USC is a source for talent, the state’s universities also have struggled to keep alumni working in South Carolina after graduation. According to the state Commission on Higher Education, 57 5% of South Carolina natives who graduate from the state’s three public research universities stay in state for work. Only 15 5% of students who come to the universities from other states remain here.
Of students who graduate from USC’s main campus in Columbia, nearly 41% are still living and working in the Columbia area at least five years after receiving their diploma, Von Nessen said.
Von Nessen estimates the Midlands economy could see a nearly $19 million boost for every percentage point improvement in retention.
Everything included in that dollar amount goes well beyond increased wages earned by graduates. His study also factored in so-called spillover effects, such as increased spending at other area businesses as higher paid workers have more disposable income and subsequent wage improvements that flow down to non-college educated workers.
Jessica Holdman writes about the economy, workforce and higher education. Before joining the S.C. Daily Gazette, she was a business reporter for The Post and Courier. S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
By Jessica Holdman SCDailyaGazette.com
COLUMBIA — South Car-
olina’s power cooperatives received $500 million in federal grants and zero-interest loans to help cover the cost of solar and nuclear energy for their nearly 2 million customers over the next two decades. The award comes less than three months after Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., the organization that supplies
electricity to the state’s 19 cooperatives, became a finalist for the program aimed at rural power providers. It’s part of the larger landmark clean energy law signed by President Joe Biden in 2022 (titled the Inflation Reduction Act).
Federal officials approved Central for the full amount of funding for which it was eligible. That comes to $442 2 million in grants and more than $57 8 million in zero-interest loans,
which can be used to cover 25% of the cooperatives’ cost for any power project.
The funding comes as state leaders grapple with how to increase power production in the rapidly growing Palmetto State.
“South Carolina’s rapid growth has come with great challenges for the power grid, but Central and our state’s electric cooperatives are always looking for creative solutions that minimize costs for our con-
sumers,” Berl Davis, chairman of Central’s governing board and CEO of Palmetto Electric Cooperative in Ridgeland, said in a statement.
Central plans to use the loan and $306 million in grants to buy 150 megawatts from the Catawba Nuclear Station in York County, giving the cooperatives access to about 18% of the unit’s capacity. The nuclear plant is operational and licensed to produce power through 2043. The federal dollars
should ultimately reduce what cooperative members pay on their monthly power bill for that agreement.
Central also will use $52 3 million in grants toward buying power from three solar farms in Georgetown County. Two of those solar projects begin operations by the end of the year. The third is under development.
Finally, Central is looking for developers willing to build 200 megawatts worth of solar power, as well as 150
megawatts worth of batteries used to store solar-generated power. The cooperatives have more than $100 million worth of grant money to purchase power from potential projects.
Jessica Holdman writes about the economy,
and
Former Charleston County School Board member Courtney Waters is set to be the newest member of the S.C. House. Photo courtesy of the Waters campaign
The McKissick Museum on the University of South Carolina campus.
Photo courtesy of the University of South Carolina
SPORTS&RECREATION
Fighting spirit
Fluke finish doesn’t diminish Sand Sharks’ fight
By Wes Kerr LowcoSports.com
For the better part of January, Ron Fudala’s USCB men’s basketball squad looked pretty close to invincible. Fresh off a program-defining win over North Georgia, the crowd around the Cove was hyped again on Saturday as the Sand Sharks eyed the finishing touches on a 24-point comeback against pesky Flagler.
Then it somehow, incredibly, slipped away in a matter of seconds. It was the first loss of conference play since the Peach Belt opener in December for a team that has proven that they are determined to be in the thick of this thing come March.
“Basketball is a game of runs, they made more runs than we did,” Fudala told USCB play-by-play commentator Justin Jarrett after Saturday’s heartbreaker. “It’s a 40-minute game, we gotta play for all 40.”
When we reach the end of this conference regular season, the first-half performance we saw on Saturday may very well be a blip rather than a recurring theme. Fudala’s group only got a single practice in between the emotional North Georgia triumph and Saturday’s defeat, understandably so due to a rare snowfall that wreaked havoc throughout the Lowcountry. But the final 20 minutes, or at least the majority of it, showed why this team will be a handful to deal with down the stretch this year.
Fudala’s nonstop, hockey-style linechange philosophy requires consistent effort and up-tempo production, which his team demonstrated to perfection early in the second half to quickly trim a 22-point halftime deficit to single digits in just over five minutes of in-game action. When the offense is flowing at its finest, Fudala’s team
can overwhelm an opponent in a flash.
Despite losing the Peach Belt 2023-24 Freshman of the Year in Marcus Overstreet, Fudala reloaded instantly, bringing in the youthful energy of 6-foot-7 freshman Dominic Eason, who leads all Sand Sharks with 13 points per game in conference play.
Then Fudala added a trusty Division I veteran in Alejandro Ralat, who found time in the rotation for Florida Atlantic en route to its 2023 Final Four run.
And his returners from last year’s inaugural season have elevated and risen to the demand of higher expectations. Hudson Norton has found a steady stroke from beyond the arc during Peach Belt play while bringing his relentless energy to the offensive glass, providing a constant level of grit and production. And flashy senior guard Kenney Gaines can give his team a bit of everything while leading his squad in minutes. His improving court vision and playmaking complement his high-energy effort on defense to help set up fast breaks and momentum-changing plays.
Fudala came to the Lowcountry in search of a unique opportunity: to build a Division II program in all essence from the ground up. In less than two full years, he’s grown a vibrant culture of those wanting to leave their mark on a unit that already has skyhigh potential. His athletes play with the same energy that Fudala emits himself, always with a smile and contagious energy that rubs off on his team and the spectators who routinely pack the Cove each home game. They’ve witnessed a quick rise in a challenging conference, punctuated by an unforgettable home victory over No.22 North Georgia thanks to a red-hot shooting performance from Ralat and a gritty
effort off the bench from Norton. Saturday’s game against Flagler looked to be an adrenaline-filled comeback win to back it up, until it wasn’t. But despite the end result, unfortunately aided by some situations that he couldn't control, Fudala saw something special from his group through the last 20 minutes. A nonstop warrior-like mentality on every possession, turning a game in which many teams would lie down and surrender when down 22 points at the break into one in which the Sand Sharks took full control, pushing Flagler to the brink before the Saints pulled off a lastditch desperate miracle to spoil it.
But that’s basketball sometimes, and you move on to the next opportunity. And it just so happens to be a big one on Wednesday.
The 5-2 Sand Sharks will get their chance against the top dogs in the Peach Belt thus far, the No.19 Columbus State Cougars, who have yet to drop a contest this year at home. Despite Saturday’s result, this one’s still for a share of first place in the conference. Crazy things can happen on any night on the hardwood, but you can’t change what’s taken place in the past.
The second-half comeback effort against Flagler told us a lot about this team’s confidence. Wednesday night in Columbus State will tell us even more. And Fudala cannot wait to relish every moment on that journey.
“We’ll keep working on offense, keep working on defense, keep working on growing our family,” he said. “We’re gonna keep working on basketball and grow our brand.”
Wes Kerr is a contributor for LowcoSports and an award-winning sportswriter and podcast host.
JPII adding lacrosse teams this spring
LowcoSports.com
John Paul II Catholic School
will add to its growing list of athletics programs — and to the proliferation of lacrosse in the Lowco — with the addition of girls and boys lacrosse teams this spring.
"Lacrosse is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, and we are excited to bring it to JPII," athletics director Louise Sanders said in a release. "This inaugural season represents not only a new chapter in our athletic program but also a unique opportunity for our student-athletes to grow physically, mentally, and as team players. We’re proud to offer another way for our students to showcase their talents."
Spring practice for the inaugural season started this week, with both teams led by experienced coaches eager to build a strong foundation for the program.
Dan Kenny brings years of coaching experience and enthusiasm to the fledgling boys program, while Erin Brienza will coach the girls.
"Lacrosse combines the best elements of other sports—speed, strategy, and teamwork,” Kenny said in the school’s release. “It’s a great fit for athletes from all backgrounds. I can’t wait to see our players embrace the challenge and excitement of this game."
JPII joins a growing number of schools in the Lowco offering lacrosse, including Beaufort High, Bluffton, May River, and Hilton Head High. Hilton Head Christian Academy also added a lacrosse program last spring, so the Golden Warriors have a built-in local rival from the start.
"Lacrosse has something for everyone," Sanders said. "Whether you’re an experienced athlete or trying a new sport for the first time, there’s a place for you on our teams. We can’t wait to see what this inaugural season will bring."
USCB women working for better outcomes
By Kevin Libby LowcoSports.com
As the great Allen Iverson once said, “We’re talking about practice. Not talking about the game.”
Iverson went on to say “practice” several more times, adding a few drops of disgust with each utterance. But after a fifth consecutive loss at home Saturday against Flagler, USCB women’s basketball coach Sharon Versyp took a different tone and was explicit about the way back to the win column.
“Our team needs to practice, and we weren’t able to practice,” Versyp said, citing the disruption of winter weather in the Lowcountry last week. “We’re a long way away. We need a lot of practice.”
There is no substitute for repetition in training. Rhythm is a product of consistency. If you want to be a good shooter, practice shooting, especially after cardio; the biggest shots come when players are fatigued but their heart rates are elevated. If you want to be a great passer, learn the rhythm of your teammates with hours of summer pick-up ball and take pride in the no-look feed. If you're going to recover from a torn ACL, crush leg press for a year then slowly work your way back onto the court.
Last season, Lydia Gattozzi was on leg press duty and in recovery. Now in her second season as a Sand Shark, the Catwoman’s weight room fever dreams are
playing out in real-time.
A 44 percent shooter this season, Gattozzi has averaged over 15 points these past five games while attracting the focus of opposing defenses. Catwoman is no ancillary character in this narrative, as she is now a bonafide star, transitioning from power forward to combo guard following injuries to teammates.
Co-stars Sheridan “The Jackal” Bostick, a 52% 3-point shooter in a small sample this season, has been limited with a foot injury, and floor general Brielle Bartelt, who shoots 39 percent from the floor on eight shots per game this year, has battled both injury and foul trouble recently. Janiyah Heyward, last year’s
Peach Belt Rookie of the Year, takes more than a dozen shots per game while shooting under 37% from the field; she is yet to attempt a 3-pointer this season.
Bostick’s 3-point prowess transforms the USCB offense when she’s involved, but The Jackal did not see a shot attempt Saturday, and the Sand Sharks had a tough time cashing in close to the basket.
“You can’t be 2-for-17 on layups … you can’t get a better shot than making a layup" Versyp said. “We gotta figure it out. We gotta be able to score the basketball … we’ve just got a lot of work to do.”
Flagler’s pick-and-roll, motion-based offense, reminiscent of Phil Jackson’s triangle, forced defensive switches and constantly
pulled the Sand Sharks’ defense out of position Saturday. Flagler’s Destiny McClendon shot 56 percent from the floor and 11/12 at the charity stripe to lead all scorers with 23. The Saints attempted 21 more shots than the Sand Sharks despite a size disadvantage, hauling in 12 more rebounds than USCB and dominating possessions with superior guard play and full-court pressure.
As the Sand Shark women return to the practice floor, opportunity abounds to structure an offense flush with off-ball screens for Bostick — clearly the focus of opposing defenses since her breakout performance against Clayton State — and pick and roll with Gattozzi and Bartelt off the bigs. The greatest opportunity arises with the need for communication on defense, where a zone with Bartelt or Kay’Mar Griffin as disruptors at the top of the defense might have slowed the layup line the Saints ran to a 27-point blowout win Saturday night. Regardless of the scheme, everybody on defense needs to talk.
With improved shot selection and team defense, the Sand Sharks can rebound down the stretch. Griffin appears to be the perimeter defender this team needs as Bartelt is limited, while Madison Self is emerging as a stretch-four that can endure contact, generate layups, and identify spot-up threes.
If Heyward can remain a rim runner who attacks the basket and, most importantly, abandons the contested mid-range jump shot, her value increases exponentially. Sophomore point guard Taniyah Bowman is shooting 43 percent from the floor and 67 percent from three in limited appearances this season; Mighty Mouse can run the offense, but if she prioritizes her shot she can impact the game more dramatically.
Mahkayla Premo and recruit Courtney Campbell will pressure Bowman’s minutes next season, so the time is now for Mighty Mouse to carve out her role as a spot shooter and save the day.
The Sand Sharks’ five-game slide has been rough, but this writer has caught Cat Scratch Fever watching “Catwoman” Gattozzi emerge as one of the best players in the Peach Belt Conference. Firmly cast as the lead in this production, El Gato has answered the cat signal, and it’s a lot of fun to watch. The powerful wing has transitioned to run the point at times, become the focus of the offense, and been matched up against the conference’s best players defensively. Catwoman’s emergence from the shadows has been a bright signal in a bleak season.
USC Beaufort’s Kenney Gaines scored 17 points against Flagler in an 84-83 home loss Saturday, Jan. 25. Emily Haeussler/USC Beaufort Athletics
USC Beaufort junior forward Lydia Gattozzi dribbles against Flagler on Saturday, Jan. 25, at USCB. Emily Haeussler/USC Beaufort Athletics
South Carolina doesn’t need new place for Mace
The worst news of the week for South Carolinians was that media-craving GOP
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace of Mount Pleasant is “seriously considering” running for governor in 2026
If this political trial balloon were to become a reality, it would be a disaster for the Palmetto State. Instead of people from outside of the state chiming old slogans like the classic “Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places” or the dull “Launch to Legacy” from 2024, Mace surely would insist upon a new slogan, “Look at me! Look at me!” Instead of Nikki Haley’s, “It’s a Great Day in South Carolina,” state employees surely would be asked to answer phones, “Hello from South Carolina where Nancy Mace is governor.”
And then there would be the narcissistic publicity stunts like she recently pulled in Washington to ban transgender women from using women’s bathrooms in the U.S. Capitol or U.S. House office buildings. It was a clickbait way to get attention for what’s really a political nothing – a Seinfeldian ploy to get cameras turning her way for something that didn’t really matter (don’t women’s bathrooms have stalls and privacy doors?).
What you don’t hear in the Associated Press interview is why Mace, who early on made a name as the first woman to graduate from The Citadel, would even want to be governor –especially since the national media she so craves is in Washington, D.C. Perhaps it’s because she’s just one of 435 members of Congress and, as governor, she could be at the top of the state’s political heap.
But rather than talking about helping people, she talks about the mechanics of politics and whether she’ll get the support she needs from new President Donald Trump.
“We are seriously considering a statewide run for governor in 2026,” Mace said in a story published Wednesday.
Hmmm. The imperial “we.”
“I’ve acquired the leadership necessary to be bold, to make sure that we are moving forward with conservative policies. I have made a difference in the work that I have done up here, and know that I could do even more at the state level.”
Well, we are glad you think so much of yourself. But there’s more:
“But this is a time and a moment in history where we need strong leadership. And everyone I’ve heard of, every name I’ve heard, they’re all nice people, but they don’t have that ability to kick ass and take names and make some of the tough decisions that are going to be needed to move our state forward.”
Those mentioned as possible candidates include longtime, kind-of-dull S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson and Lt. Gov. Pamela
Evette, who most people still really haven’t heard of.
So what you really have here is a viper who sees a chance to strike. You’d think that Mace would want to take on U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, the state’s top Republican who has political issues with the uber-conservative MAGA base despite $15 million in campaign cash in the bank. But Mace ran for Senate once and failed miserably. She surely thinks running as a spark in a lackluster field suits her better – especially when she can come up with new and exciting stunts every day on the campaign trail.
For those of you not in South Carolina too long, we had a recent governor who made a name for himself with stunts – yep, Appalachian Trail-loving Mark Sanford. In one 2005
It’s not clear when the deal-making will begin
It’s Wednesday, Jan. 22, and I’m sitting at our woodplanked dining table in our linoleum-tiled dining room.
It is early, and 26 degrees, and from where I’m sitting, I can see a white, three-inch deep, billiard table-smooth blanket of snow covering our yard.
All of which takes me back to 1970 when I brought my Connecticut-raised wife to Beaufort.
I had gone to law school in Washington, D.C., and can attest that Susan was surprised, and not entirely happy when I decided to sign-on at the Dowling Law firm, then located on Bay Street.
In those long-gone days we lived on the 1st floor of the Lucius Cuthbert House at the corner of Charles and Port Republic Streets. The Cuthbert House was (and is) two-storied, verandahed, and had served as a bakery during the occupation of Beaufort.
Right after we arrived, I told Susan that this town was different from Connecticut in almost every way. And I added, “I can’t predict what kind of future we will have
Ahere,” one evening as we sipped our Old Grand Dad-made Old Fashioneds, “But it won’t involve snow, thermal underwear or Eddie Bauer-brand overcoats.”
But in the winter of 1973 it did snow in Beaufort. I think it was three or four inches — I do have photographs — and so I lacedup my ice skates and skated the length of Charles Street.
Some of our friends who owned snow skis found Beaufort’s only available hill — The Woods Memorial Bridge — and tried out that trail without having to buy lift tickets or stand in line.
While we were skating and skiing the world was changing — Henry Kissinger had persuaded Richard Nixon to meet with
China’s Prime Minister, Zhou Enlai; as well as Mao Zedong; and that ended 25 years of China’s self-imposed isolation.
Henry Kissinger also brought his “triangulation theory” to the State Department.
Triangulation recognized there were three powerful actors in the world — China, the Soviet Union and the United States. Kissinger’s theory was to exploit the natural rivalry between the Soviet Union and the Chinese in order to strengthen the position of the United States. In the process Kissinger seemed to side-step questions around morality which had been the focal point of the Vietnam experience, replacing it with “reality.”
Kissinger’s theory sent Nixon to China — we called it rapprochement in 1972 — notwithstanding the fact that China was a communist dictatorship in every sense of that word, and was perceived to be a threat to Japan, the Philippines and South Korea, not to mention the fact that China supplied the North Vietnamese in that late, great conflict.
Then, in 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed. While the Soviets flopped, twitched and foundered we rejoiced believing that the Russia people would now, at long last, throw-off their persisting paranoia. We also thought that China would somehow be content to manufacture computers, assemble cell phones and produce the best table tennis players on earth.
But these days, China wants Taiwan and, now, the South China Sea; and Vladimir still covets his lost empire. If anything, Russia’s aggression (in Ukraine) has brought China back into Russia’s outstretched arms and we are effectively returned to 1970 when Susan and I arrived in Beaufort and Kissinger was tinkering with triangulation.
But, of course, we have a new President who believes that foreign policy is transactional — that is to say there is no problem that can’t be solved with a deal, a trade, a negotiation that begins and ends with tariffs.
On Monday, a few of us periodically checked the movement
publicity blitz, he used a horse-drawn carriage outside the Statehouse to illustrate how state government needed to be brought into the modern age. In another in 2004, he employed the use of two piglets, “Pork” and “Barrel,” to highlight the need to control unnecessary spending. How’d that work out? The pigs defecated on Sanford’s pretty blue jacket. And that shows the value of manufactured stunts and outrage, which Mace has in buckets. Mace’s name is perfect for political rhymes. Perhaps the best for 2026: No space at top for Mace.
Andy Brack is editor and publisher of the Charleston City Paper and Statehouse Report. Have a comment? Send it to feedback@ statehousereport.com.
of snow on AccuWeather; or settled-in for the Ohio State vs. Notre Dame shootout; but many listened to the President’s inaugural speech; then watched the Executive Order signings; hoping to understand where our new President might take us. Kissinger believed that sovereignty — the notion that all nations are created equal — should give way to reality. Kissinger (who died in 2023 at 100) had serious reservations about the United States going to war over the invasion of Ukraine. It is clear that President Trump has those same reservations.
But it is not clear when the deal-making will actually begin — and whether it will involve Ukraine, Taiwan, Mexico, Canada, the South China Sea and Israel at the same time.
But perhaps we should stop, lace on our skates, and skate down 9th Street.
We should enjoy the snow.
Scott Graber is a lawyer, novelist, veteran columnist and longtime resident of Port Royal. He can be reached at cscottgraber@gmail.com.
Hating Trump not worth the tradeoffs
nother member of my fan club wrote me:
“You know MAGA is going to own liberals over the next 4 years. I am so excited for [Inauguration Day]. Liberal resistance will be a whimper of useless lies.”
Now, if there’s anything Trump supporters know — and love — it’s lies, and I started to make that point enthusiastically to this reader, but I caught myself.
Most people who send me letters can attest that I will respond with a courtesy thank you to them for taking the time to read the column and sharing their thoughts. I even do this for people who criticize me. But not this time.
I simply replied, “Happy New Year! It’s good to hear from you. Reminds me to update my junk filter.”
At a time when outrage is the most obvious reaction to what’s going on, I am choosing to protect my
peace. It is not easy. All those people who were offended by Hillary Clinton calling them “deplorables?” Who got upset when Barack Obama talked about how they expressed frustrations by turning to guns, religion, and anti-immigrant sentiment? Who complained they were tired of Democrats forcing their values onto them? Who claimed to hate big government? Who turned red in the face every time race was mentioned? Who voted for the guy who promised to lower the price of eggs?
All that’s gone out the window because they won.
They haven't forgotten the promise of lowering the price of eggs and other goods, but if it's not a priority for Trump, then it's not a priority for them.
They codify the removal of diversity, equity, and inclusiveness from every sphere of public life because that will prove racism doesn’t exist. And children don’t need to learn about the bad old days when it did, do they?
They halt the communication of public health information, because who wants to bother knowing about the growing threat of bird flu when we can be fighting over getting fluoride out of our water? And whatever the next pandemic is, we don't want to have to take a vaccine for it anyway, right?
They tell transgender people they will no longer be recognized as transgendered or people. Because they don’t like gays or lesbians or transgender or
anything to do with all that. That's not forcing values, that's just common sense, right?
They expel immigrants and cut aid to the poor, because that’s what Christian nations do, right?
They stroll into coffee shops with assault rifles draped over their shoulders, because your “safe spaces” mean less to them than their right to bear arms. And more guns would solve all our problems, wouldn’t they?
There are a lot of commentators on the left who populate timelines and social media feeds every day with outraged content or content that betrays an anger simmering just below the surface about what’s going on in our country.
I’m trying to be selective in what I read and by whom. Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American continues to be a needed source for context. She looks
at the present and the nation’s history and connects the dots for her readers.
South Carolina native Michael Harriot’s ContrabandCamp is a vital read. Not only is he not afraid to talk about race and racism, but he does it in a way that shames all sides for not having the depth of information he brings to bear.
Economist Paul Krugman, who left The New York Times to set up shop on Substack, talks economics, but he also speaks with passion about the Trump Administration's early missteps. His outlook on the near future is far from optimistic.
Dara Tucker, Robert Reich, Dixon White, Keith Boykin, and others are voices I will give audience, but I know when it’s time to unplug.
If any of us needed a cautionary tale against becoming mired in the crosstalk, one was delivered recently
killed one before turning the gun on himself. In writings, he credited outspoken Black conservative Candace Owens for inspiring the self-hatred that drove his actions. Authorities also found messages from Henderson spouting antisemitism and denying the Holocaust.
Hate of any kind is destructive to young minds and old ones, too, potentially for the hated and definitely for the hater. My faith tells me not to hate anyone. So Donald Trump can make life feel like hell for some of us, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction when his days are done of looking up to find me sitting in Hell with him.
Terry E. Manning is a Clemson graduate and worked for 20 years as a journalist. He can be reached at teemanning@gmail.com.
ANDY BRACK
SCOTT GRABER
by Solomon Henderson, the Nashville teenager who shot two classmates. He
TERRY MANNING
VOICES
Editor’s Note: The opinions of our columnists in the Voices section are not necessarily the opinions of The Island News
It takes a brave woman to tell it like it is
Before Wednesday of last week, very few people knew the name Mariann Edgar Budde. Of course, those who attend her church in Washington knew, but I suspect that few outside that sphere knew unless they were recipients of her kindness and her humanity.
Note: After writing this earlier in the week, I discovered she was responsible for bringing the remains of Matthew Shepard, (the gay young man who was beaten and killed 25 years ago in Wyoming) to the Washington National Cathedral for interment. He had never been given a final resting place for fear his grave would be vandalized. Upon learning this, she contacted the family, and co-officiated the service that welcomed Matthew to a home in the church, saying “20 years of mourning was not enough for someone who is loved, nor can it heal the grief of such a loss.”
Before I begin what I feel will be a controversial piece, (when have I ever backed away from controversy?) I feel it is necessary for me to identify myself as a spiritualist who believes strongly in God, a su-
preme and superior force that makes every attempt to guide us in the right direction … if we are smart enough to take heed. What I don’t adhere to are the many facets of organized religion, some of which I find especially hypocritical.
For those who walk the walk, I have nothing but admiration, and I support them in all they do. As I have always said regarding so many circumstances, “If it works for you, go for it.”
Just another version of “to thine own self be true.”
It was when I tuned in on the inaugural prayer service held at the National Cathedral that the camera panned the Trump family. Watching their faces, I quickly determined that there was “trouble in River City.” I was soon to learn that the same was true throughout the Evangelical Christian community,
not to mention the MAGA Republicans, but more on that later.
Let’s look closely at exactly what the Reverend said and what she didn’t say. Very simply she asked for mercy for those who are terribly frightened right now. Reduced to the lowest common denominator, the crucial words are “asked” and “mercy.”
“I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared. There are gay, lesbian, transgender children, Democratic, Republican, independent families — some who fear for their lives,” she said.
“The people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meatpacking plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals — they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals,” she added.
You, dear reader, would be disappointed if I didn’t digress somewhere in my piece, and this is it. “Mercy” didn’t seem to be a problem the day before,
when the President signed a deluge of executive orders, including the blanket pardon for all of those who participated in the Jan. 6 insurrection. These were people who attacked the Capitol police with such vengeance as to cause the death of five and the debilitating injuries of as many as 140
As he said in an interview on FOX a couple of days later, these were “minor” incidents. Furthermore, they desecrated the halls of the building, yet in his eyes, they were patriots who, when sentenced, became hostages.
What kind of thinking brings these two “mercy driven” actions into juxtaposition? That is one I will never be able to answer.
What the Reverend didn’t do was to lecture, nor did she rant and rave; very simply she asked in a plaintive voice that was sincere.
Ah, but we had only to wait briefly for the ranting and raving, and we certainly were not disappointed. Trump, in a lengthy post on Truth Social said the following: “The so-called Bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service
on Tuesday morning was a radical left, hard-line Trump hater. She brought her church into the world of politics in a very ungracious way. She was nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart.”
“She failed to mention the large number of illegal migrants that came into our country and killed people. Many were deposited from jails and mental institutions,” the president added. “It is a giant crime wave that is taking place in the USA. Apart from her inappropriate statements, the service was a very boring and uninspiring one.”
Trump also called on her and the church to apologize to him. We know he is thinskinned, and I translate that to be a whiny, manchild. What we also know is that if any remarks stray from the greater glory of Donald Trump, be ready for a tantrum.
And about those who are so terribly upset by Bishop Budde’s plea? Well, one quote that should be cause for concern came from Georgia Rep. Mike Collins (R) who said on the social platform X, “the person giving this sermon should
be added to the deportation list.”
As I noted earlier in this piece, I do not write this from the position of a Christian, and so what I am about to say may sound offensive. I’ll take my chances. For those Christians who are outraged, or even dismayed, by what the Bishop said, I might offer this: apparently you choose to ignore the teachings attributed to Christ. This is beyond sad.
Said one person who knows Budde well: “She is a remarkable woman. She did what was right. What she does everyday. She most definitely practices what she preaches magnificently. Nothing fake or phony or bullshit about her. She is one of those ordinary humans doing extraordinary things which in turn makes them so very, very extraordinary. And that’s ‘holy’ contagious.”
I will add, “It takes a brave woman to tell it like it is.”
Carol Lucas is a retired high school teacher and a Lady’s Island resident. She is the author of the recently published “A Breath Away: One Woman’s Journey Through Widowhood.”
Creative approaches may be the answer to SC’s educational challenges
When education specialists from The Riley Institute at Furman University met with an innovative team from the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities last fall, one pathway to success in our state became clear: Choose joy; try something different, not just more of the same.
The Governor’s School has seen incredible results in literacy gains throughout South Carolina with its outreach program called Spark! Inspiring Tomorrow’s Readers Through Drama.
Piloted in 2016 as a partnership between the Governor’s School and the South Carolina Arts Commission, Spark was significantly scaled up in 2021 thanks to an infusion of $2 3 million in federal pandemic aid — doled out over three years — into the Arts Commission’s Arts Grow SC partner network.
Spark offers students a chance to explore fundamental literacy concepts — particularly those linked to comprehension, such as plot and character motivation and development — in ways that animate and solidify those concepts through fun, creative activities.
The program has yielded impressive results.
Based on a controlled study of standardized test results, Spark students showed an increase of
two to 4 1/2 months in reading gains compared to non-Spark peers over the course of an academic year.
Further, 75% of partner teachers reported that students were more engaged in reading, and 50% saw more student engagement with writing.
Earlier this fall, the Governor’s School discussed Spark at The Riley Institute’s 2024 Dick and Tunky Riley WhatWorksSC Award Celebration, which coincided with the release of the 2023-2024 South Carolina School Report Cards.
The state didn’t do so well — again.
Only 30% of South Carolina high school graduates are both college and career ready. Meanwhile, SC Ready test results released in August show that the percentage of third- through eighth-grade students meeting and exceeding expectations in reading hovers at just over 50%
To address this literacy crisis,
the South Carolina Department of Education recently began pushing an approach to reading that is based on research on how the brain processes written language.
One piece of this approach helps teachers understand the science behind reading and encourages them to use research-based strategies to guide their instruction. The training is titled Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling.
So far, so good.
But often the response to poor test results in math and reading is simply to do more — spend more time on it, throw more money at it — which comes at the expense of investment in other subjects, including social studies, science and, most of all, the arts.
What about doing something different, rather than just doing more?
What if, while using phonics-forward approaches in the early years, we also came at reading with non-traditional techniques?
Enter the Spark program and its impressive results.
Spark’s results remind us that igniting joy in young learners delivers better engagement and outcomes. Indeed, troves of research tell us that people learn best when having fun, and that the ways in which we learn vary greatly from person to person.
Remembering to find and spark joy is particularly salient when using more traditional, phonicsfocused approaches, which critics allege is boring for students and teachers.
In exploring stories through drama, students engage with texts by getting up on their feet, bringing stories and characters to life. They actively learn empathy and perspective taking, creativity and innovation, and collaboration and teamwork. All are central qualities listed in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate.
Even better, while teacher morale and retention are at all-time lows, Spark and other arts-based professional development opportunities have received high marks from teachers.
According to a spring 2024 survey of teachers participating in six or more hours of Arts Grow SC partners’ professional development, more than 90% reported that their participation had some or a large positive impact on their relationships with their students
and on their classroom climate. Both are extremely important factors in overall teacher job satisfaction.
Better reading scores, higher engagement, stronger interpersonal skills, happier teachers and students, and broader access to the arts are all achievable if we commit to making effective arts integration programs scalable and sustainable across the state.
With pandemic aid running out, we call upon our lawmakers to position South Carolina as a leader in creative, effective approaches in education by not only replacing those funds, but by making a $5 million public investment of Education Improvement Act funds to expand the reach and impact Arts Grow SC programs such as Spark and others like it that work.
Kelly Gregory is The Riley Institute’s director for public education projects and partnerships. She previously taught for 11 years in South Carolina public schools. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in special education. She also holds a National Board certification as an exceptional needs specialist.
Claudia Winkler is The Riley Institute's director of marketing, communications and strategic alignment. In this role, she leads the institute's marketing and communications activities and helps ensure the alignment of the institute's activities and resources with its mission, vision, and strategic goals.
CAROL LUCAS
KELLY GREGORY
CLAUDIA WINKLER
Parris Island Snow Day
Proof of honorable military service to show the National Cemetery Administration
According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs webpage titled “Complete List of Discharge Documents” (https://bit.ly/42xw98V), if you want to be buried in a national cemetery or get memorial items, veterans or their surviving family member will need to show the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) proof of the veteran’s honorable active military service. Veterans and their survivors may also need one or more of the following documents to get other federal or state veterans’ benefits, like military service-connected disability compensation, VA healthcare, etc.
DD214 and other Department of Defense (DoD) documents
DD 214 — Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
DD 2 — (Retired) US Uniformed Services Identification Card
DD 214 — Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
DD 217 — Discharge Certificate
DD 303 — Certificate in Lieu of Lost or Destroyed Discharge
DD 303AF — Certificate in Lieu of Lost or Destroyed Discharge
DD 303CG — Certificate in Lieu of Lost or Destroyed Discharge
DD 303MC — Certificate in Lieu of Lost or Destroyed Discharge
DD 303N — Certificate in Lieu of Lost or Destroyed Discharge
DD 1300 — Report of Casualty
DoD documents that must show a period of active-duty service dates
DD 256A — Honorable Discharge Certificate
DD 256AF — Honorable Discharge Certificate
DD 256CG — Honorable Discharge Certificate
DD 256MC — Honorable Discharge Certificate
DD 256N — Honorable Discharge Certificate
DD 257A — General Discharge Certificate
DD 257AF — General Discharge Certificate
DD 257CG — General Discharge Certificate
DD 257MC — General Discharge Certificate
DD 257N — General Discharge Certificate
Documents that must show active-duty service dates
Bureau of Investigation No. 213 Discharge from U. S. Naval Reserve Force — Honorable Discharge Certificate
Documents that must show previous active federal service for something other than training or a minimum of 20 years of total service (for pay)
NGB 22 — Report of Separation and Record of Service, Departments of the Army and the Air Force, National Guard Bureau (NGB)
Other accepted documents
ADJ 545 — Discharge Certificate
Army DS ODF — Honorable Discharge from the United States Army
AGO 525 — Discharge Certificate
AGO 755 — Discharge Certificate
AGO 01252 — Discharge Certificate
AGO 01254 – Transcript of Military Record
AGO 01502 – Discharge Certificate
WD AGO 01502 — Certificate
in Lieu of Lost or Destroyed Discharge Certificate
WD AGO 01504 – Discharge Certificate
WD AGO 0729 — Honorable Discharge from Army of the United States of America
WD AGO 280 — Certificate of Service, AVS
WD AGO 525 — Honorable Discharge from the United States Army
WD AGO 53 — Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge
WD AGO 53-55 — Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge
WD AGO 53-58 — Enlisted Record and Report of Separation General Discharge
WD AGO 53-90 — Certificate of Service
WD AGO 53-98 — Military Record and Report of Separation Certificate of Service
WD AGO 55 — Honorable Discharge from The Army of the United States
WD AGO 755 — Honorable Discharge, Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps
Bureau of Investigation No. 6 — Discharge certificate
Bureau of Investigation No. 53 — Discharge certificate
Bureau of Investigation No. 118 — Discharge certificate
Form No. 6, U.S.N. — Discharge certificate
Navy (no number) — War Service Certificate
NAVCG-2510 — Honorable
Discharge, U.S. Coast Guard
NAVCG-553 — Notice of Separation from U.S. Coast Guard
NAVMC-455 — U.S. Marine Corps Certificate of Service (Instead of lost or destroyed discharge certificate)
NAVMC 70-PD — Honorable Discharge, U.S. Marine Corps
NAVMC 78-PD — U.S. Marine Corps Report of Separation
NMC 2571 A&I — Honorable
Discharge, U.S. Marine Corps
NMC 258 A&I — Discharge
Certificate
NAVPERS-553 — Notice of Separation from U.S. Naval Service
NAVPERS-563 — Navy Discharge-Notice of Separation
from U.S. Naval Service
NAVPERS-566 — Standard Statement of Service
NAVPERS-660 — Honorable Discharge from U.S. Navy
NAVPERS-661 — Certificate of Discharge, U.S. Naval Service
NAVPERS-663B — Discharge
Certificate
NAR 529 — Certification of Military Service
NA 13038 — Certification of Military Service
NA 13041 – Statement of Service
GSA 6851 – Service Information
GSA 6954 – Ceritifcate of Military Service
VA Adjudication 545 — Summary of Record of Active Service
VA 3101 — Request for Army Information; Official Retirement Order; Official Retirement Register; Reserve Retirement Eligibility Benefits Letter; Verification of Service letter from the VA; Summary of Military Service Record from various states
PHS 1867 — Statement of Service-Verification of Status of Commissioned Officers of the U.S. Public Health Service
VA-accredited Veterans Service Officers (VSOs)
VSOs can help you find documents that veterans and their survivors need file for federal and state veterans’ benefits. Military members, veterans, and their families should use a VSO to help them understand and apply for federal and state veterans’ benefits. Learn more about VSOs and veterans’ benefits at the following websites. The Island News article “Things you need to know about VSOs”, dated Sep 4, 2024, https://bit.ly/3OgLZwl. Find a VA Accredited Representative or VSO (nationwide), https://bit.ly/4g9yGdW. Get Help from a VA-Accredited Representative of VSO, https://bit.ly/3WwDXmN.
VA Accredited Representative Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)’ https://bit. ly/3TcLOoK. VA List of VA-recognized Veterans Service Organizations (Also called VSOs)”, https://bit.ly/3MuByo9
VA search tool “Find an Accredited Representative or VSO, https://bit.ly/4g9yGdW. VA Office of General Counsel “How to Challenge a Fee,” https://bit.ly/47c4jzu. Consumer Financial Protective Bureau (CFPB) Warning Article titled “WARNO: They call themselves ‘coaches’ or ‘consultants’ and advertise their ability to assist you with your VA benefits claim but may not be accredited to practice before the VA,” By Joshua Friedman and Krystle Good, dated February 15, 2023, at https://bit. ly/3ZaPqeO.
• Office of General Counsel FAQ, https://bit.ly/4dMBb4q. The VA phone question center, 800-698-2411, ext. 0 (TTY: 711). The SC Department of Veteran Affairs website, https:// scdva.sc.gov. Georgia Department of Veterans Service (Find a VSO Near You), https://bit. ly/44KMVA7 NC Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (Benefits & Claims), https://bit. ly/4ghZqHW. Veterans of Foreign Wars (VA Claims & Separation Benefits, https://www.vfw. org/NVS. American Legion (AL) Find Service Officer Directory, https://bit.ly/3CszFHi. Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Service Officer Locator, https://bit.ly/4gfK0E8 Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Find National Service Officer, https://bit.ly/40RaPKz. Paralyzed Veterans of America (PAV), Find a National Service Office or Chapter, https://bit.ly/4jA9i2H. • American Veterans (AMVETS), VSO Contact List, https://bit.ly/3PUOWno.
Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted
LARRY DANDRIDGE
The Iwo Jima Monument covered in a blanket of snow on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Lance Cpl. Ayden Cassano/USMC
The We Make Marines sign covered in a blanket of snow on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Snowfall on Parris Island is a rare occurrence, with only a 9% chance. The most recent instance had been in 2018. Lance Cpl. Ayden Cassano/USMC
Rct. Joshua Aikman , a recruit with Charlie Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, listens to instruction on knowledge Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, for his Phase 1 Exam on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Recruits across Parris Island were forced to conduct indoor training as a result of the inclement weather. Lance Cpl. Ayden Cassano/USMC
LOCAL MILITARY
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, 31 January 2025
Recruit Training Regiment • Commanding Officer, Colonel C. B. McArthur 2nd Recruit Training Battalion • Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel A. Yang Commander of Troops, Captain S. A. Toll • Parade Adjutant, Captain A. P. Eggers Company “E”, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion • Commanding Officer, Captain S. A. Toll Drill Masters • Gunnery Sergeant J. J. Merriweather, Staff Sergeant E. Sarmiento
PLATOON 2000
Senior Drill Instructor
SSgt R. C. Kennedy
Pvt Aldridge, C. A.
Pvt Bangura, I.
Pvt Barbee, G. K.
Pvt Boles, J. W.
Pvt Breeden, K. M.
PFC Buncome, T. S.
Pvt Cansecordodriguez, N.
Pvt Cash, R. V.
PFC Crandall, A. G.
Pvt Daniels, T.
Pvt Dudley, K. N.
Pvt Farelas, E.
Pvt Fink, C. L.
PFC Gallman, M. G.
PFC Greger, C. L.
Pvt Hackney, T. L.
Pvt Harper, H. C.
Pvt Holden, D. L.
PFC Johnson, H.
PFC Johnson, M. J.*
Pvt Keener, O. A.
Pvt Lauer, K. M.
Pvt Mack, E. O.
Pvt Marigliano, M. C.
Pvt May, D. J.
Pvt Mcdaniel, D. S.
PFC Mcleankershaw, D. L.
Pvt Moyer, G. L.
PFC Myers, J. T.*
Pvt Quevedoarguelles, H.
Pvt Roberson, M. J.
Pvt Robinson, M. A.
Pvt Rodriguez, T.
PFC Rojas, A.
Pvt Rouse, L. D.
Pvt Simpson, A. L.
PFC Sweeney, T. J.
Pvt Vargasgachuz, B.
Pvt Vyhnanek, A. R.
Pvt Woods, J. L.
Pvt Worthy Jr, C. L.
PFC Zrubek, J. R.*
PLATOON 2001
Senior Drill Instructor
SSgt E. D. Rocha
PFC Booth, A. S.
PFC Cardenasgarza, E. *
Pvt Cedillo, G. J.
PFC Celayasanchez, D. V.
PFC Charles, M. L.
Pvt Dalessio, K. L.
PFC Davilachicas, K. L.
PFC Disanto, K. M.
PFC Edwards, T. K.
PFC Espinozarios, I. J.
Pvt Epinger, A. M.
Pvt Funescruz, M. J.
Pvt Garner, N. D.
Pvt Guallpasanango, K. M.
PFC Hernandez, R.
PFC Howe, T. M.
PFC Jimenezsantos, G.
PFC Jones, T. Y.
Pvt King, D. E.
Pvt Limonhuertero, L. E.
PFC Lind, V. M. *
PFC Loaizalopez, A.
Pvt Lucerobarroso, L. J.
Pvt Macdonald, D. M.
PFC Maiden, A. N.
Pvt Maldonadohernandez, D. M.
Pvt Martin, T. K.
PFC Mendoza, W. C.
Pvt Milligan, K. D.
PFC Nina, B.
Pvt Palacioscastillo, M. S.
Pvt Papp, R. E.
PFC Pereyra, R.
Pvt Phillips, H. M.
Pvt Pistone, A. D.
PFC Prado, S. E.
Pvt Richardson, A. N.
PFC Strenger, S. G.
PFC Suasteguiperez, L.
Pvt Taylor, M. A.
PFC Thomassexton, J. S. *
Pvt Torresquintero, L.
Pvt Townsdin, M. F.
PFC Wood, P. H.
PLATOON
2002
Senior Drill Instructor
SSgt J. J. Legault
Pvt Ali, H. I.
Pvt Allison, G. H.
PFC Anklam, P. D.
Pvt Armijosolmedo, E. A.
Pvt Beasley, J. R.
PFC Boos, R. H.
PFC Brecht, J. L.
Pvt Burley, A. D.
PFC Delvecchio, W. J. *
Pvt Derouchie, J. E.
Pvt Diazramos, P. J.
PFC Dissanayake, M. R.
PFC Espinosarodriguez, B. S.
Pvt Espinozacalderon, W. J.
PFC Fernandezvizcaino, Y.
Pvt Floresmartinez, J. E.
Pvt Galyean, S. J.
PFC Garcia, M. B.
Pvt Gilbert, L. L.
Pvt Giscombe, G. G.
Pvt Gomez, J. G.
Pvt Hall, I. W.
Pvt Ludizacazacatzontetl, S. F.
PFC Malizia, G. L.
Pvt Mcdaniel, T. W.
PFC Mcgreevy, I. A. *
Pvt Molinaramos, A.l O.
Pvt Mitchell Jr, A. J.
PFC Nudel, Z. A.
Pvt Nunez, C. N.
PFC Olivacontreras, E.
Pvt Pickett, A. C.
PFC Powell, C. D.
Pvt Price, D. O.
Pvt Price, T. D.
Pvt Rivera, C.
Pvt Rodriguez, J. A.
Pvt Russell Jr, R. K.
Pvt Salinas, B. D.
Pvt Silvesterstrypesante, J. G.
Pvt Smith Ii, C. J.
Pvt Taylor, B. L.
PFC Wagner, B. T. *
Pvt Zhang, E.
PLATOON 2004
Senior Drill Instructor SSgt B. M. Ogas
Pvt Agbaje, F A.
PFC Anderson, C. K.
Pvt Avery, B. J.
PFC Battle III, E.
PFC Cartwright, H. J.
PFC Casey, W. T.
Pvt Cherif, A.
PFC Concepcionortiz, E. Y.
Pvt Daigle III, H. J.
PFC Dejesusdejesus, B. Y.
Pvt Elliott, J. C.
Pvt Farmer, K. L.
PFC Fitzgibbon, T. S.
PFC Garciacaceres, W. D.
Pvt Gaspar, K. V.
Pvt Gaultgodinez, R. E.
Pvt Gramajodeleon, Y. E.
Pvt Hagan, I. E.
Pvt Higgins, S. D.
PFC Johnson Jr, B. K.
Pvt Johnson Jr, T. O.
PFC Keaton, E. T.
Pvt Krier, D. J.
PFC Laracuentecrespo, J. E.
Pvt Mcwilliams, R. C.
PFC Melrath, D. R.
Pvt Muir, I. J.
Pvt Nunez, G.
Pvt Ornelassoto, E.
PFC Orr V, W. C.
Pvt Powers, J. W.
Pvt Puebla, C.
Pvt Richards IV, J. S.
PFC Rigdon, L. T.*
Pvt Santiago, D. F.
PFC Steinbach, J. S.
PFC Tanielian, O. A.*
Pvt Taylor, L. O.
Pvt Valdez, J.
Pvt Wagner, D. L.
PFC Wibert, L. M.*
Pvt Zender, J. P.
PLATOON 2005
Senior Drill Instructor
SSgt A. C. Barnes
Pvt Anderson, D. L.
Pvt Balde, M. A.
Pvt Barb, J. R.
Pvt Casey, J. L.
Pvt Campbell, C. C.
Pvt Chymbor, L. A.
PFC Dargbeh, T. E.
Pvt Drouin, D. L.
PFC Feegle, K. C.
Pvt Flaherty, D. L.
Pvt Flores, J. L.
Pvt Freundschuh, D. R.
Pvt Garcia, L. S.
Pvt Goosmann, E. B.
Pvt Hahn, J. L.
Pvt Harrison, K. S.
Pvt Herreramontalvo, J. D.
PFC Hoak, A. J.
Pvt Hornbeck, E. G.
Pvt Isham, C. L.
Pvt Krajewski, R. A.
Pvt Laham, N. R.
PFC Lilly, Q. X.
Pvt Lombardi, T. A.
Pvt Marshall, H. R.
Pvt Mccormick, T. W.
Pvt Morgan, L. F.
PFC Mowery, C. W.*
Pvt Nelson, S. E.
Pvt Polancovasquez, U. H.
PFC Rodriguez, A.
Pvt Rowland, C. A.
Pvt Ruizcisneros, A. L.
Pvt Runer, J. C.
PFC Santana, C. D.*
PFC Simmons, B. R.*
PFC Sledge, A. W.
Pvt Snow, J. B.
Pvt Tallman, Q. R.
PFC Tongco, N. T.
Pvt Trouth, R. E.
Pvt Walker, M. E.
Pvt Werkheiser, J. M.
*Denotes meritorious promotions
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