July 13 edition by The Island News

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Police catch a break in downtown Beaufort break-ins

BPD has a person of interest in recent cases

By Mike McCombs

The Island News

Lt. Col. Stephenie Price, Deputy Chief of the Beaufort Police Department, addresses a meeting of downtown business owners about how to protect their businesses from recent “smash-and-grab” burglaries during a meeting hosted by the Beaufort Downtown Merchants’ Association on Tuesday at Thibault Gallery on Bay Street. Beaufort has experienced an uptick in such crimes.

Lt. Col. Price said none of the crimes have been occurring on Bay Street. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Price was speaking to about 20 business owners at a Tuesday morning meeting of the Downtown Beaufort Merchants’ Association at the Thibault Gallery on Bay Street.

came in through, making off with around $450

The City of Beaufort Police Department (BPD) has a person of interest in two break-ins that occurred June 27 and 28 in downtown Beaufort.

“We’re just waiting on some lab work to come back,” said Lt. Col. Stephenie Price, Deputy Chief and spokesperson for the Beaufort Police Department.

Early Tuesday morning, June 27, someone broke into Bathe, a local business which sells soaps, lotions and rubber duckies at 210 Scott Street by breaking the bottom of the glass door with the jack from a car and squeezing inside.

The thief yanked the cash drawer out of the register and then left through the hole they

‘Tides of lasting memories’

Beaufort’s Water Festival returns for its 67th edition

The 67th annual Beaufort Water Festival will begin with a bang on Friday, July 14, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort.

Water Festival is one of the largest volunteer-run outdoor festivals in

the South according to the Beaufort Water Festival website and more than 400 volunteers work hard to put on the festival every year.

The first festival was held in July 1956, and many of the events that are enjoyed during the festival now have not changed much since that first year.

The festival will continue for 10 days and will include nightly entertainment, daytime activities and sporting events, as well as artisans selling their goods in the Festival Arts and Crafts Market.

SEE FESTIVAL PAGE A8

Then again, the next morning, the same thing happened to NeverMore Books at 910 Port Republic Street. Only this time, the thief had trouble getting in the door thanks to the safety glass and a tinted film on the door.

Then once on the inside, there was no cash for the thief to make off with. Adding insult to injury, according to NeverMore owners Dave and Lorrie Anderson, the

SEE POLICE PAGE A4

Pine Island developer takes legal action vs. County

By Mike McCombs The Island News

It was destined to end up in court all along.

The owner of the roughly 500acre St. Helena Island property known as Pine Island took legal action last week against Beaufort County, continuing efforts to build a golf resort on the property.

Pine Island Property Holdings (PIPH) and Pine Island Golf Club (PIGC) on Wednesday, July 5 filed an appeal of the County Planning Commission’s denial of plans to build three six-hole golf courses. This plan was submitted before the strengthening of the Cultural Protection Overlay (CPO), which initially prohibited golf courses with nine holes or more.

The same two entities filed a civil suit on Friday claiming the CPO “is invalid as to the Property owned by Plaintiffs and that the intended development plan is allowable.” It questions the legality of a ban on golf courses, gated communities and resorts, claims “the zoning map amendment request to be removed from the CPO Ordinance was improperly denied and must be approved,” asks the court to enter a judgment for monetary damages and attorney’s fees against the County and “all other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.”

The appeal and civil suit will be heard in the Beaufort County Court

SEE ACTION PAGE A6

JULY 13–19, 2023 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY PRESORTED PERMIT NO. 97 BEAUFORT, SC 29902 POSTAL PATRON LOCAL Lowcountry Life Education INSIDE Local Events Faith Military Directory Classifieds Games A2 A2 A2–8 A9 A10–11 A12–13 A14 A15 A16–17 A18 A19 A19 6 A Scan or Buy your tickets at bftwaterfestival com

Commercial & Residential Lawn MAintenance Plants & Landscape Supply Landscape Design-Build Landscape Installs Hardscape Installs Irrigation

A performance by the Gatorland Water Ski Show Team was one of the day’s highlights during the 66th annual Beaufort Water Festival in Beaufort, South Carolina, Sunday, July 17, 2022. File photo Delayna Earley The Island News The

their first "group photo" were (from left to right) Kehlani Sealey, daughter of Brittany Pope and Richard Sealey of Hampton, arrived at 10:30 p.m. and weighed in at 5 pounds; Elizabeth Brown, daughter of Grace and Caleb Brown of Beaufort, born at 10:57 a.m. and weighed in at 8 pounds, 8 ounces; and Saylor Dyches, daughter of Keri and Justin Dyches of Green Pond, born at 11:08 p.m. and weighed in at 5 pounds, 15 ounces. Photo by Charlotte Berkeley/Beaufort Memorial Hospital. 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 BONNIE O’MARA

Beaufort’s Bonnie O’Mara, 69, joined the U.S. Navy in Atlanta in 1974. After boot camp in Orlando, Fla., she trained as a Hospital Corpsman in Great Lakes, Ill. Her first duty station was at Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Fla., with later assignment to the clinic at Mayport. She next deployed for a year to Guantanamo, Cuba, serving personnel there and immigrants trying to reach the base.

She separated in 1998 and soon joined the Naval Reserve, including deployment aboard USS Berkeley (DDG-15 ) and with the Seabees in Charleston. Recalled

to active duty in 1991 for Desert Storm, she was assigned to Naval Hospital Charleston. Thereafter, she trained at Naval Hospital Oakland to become a Preventive Medicine Technician. In 1992 she was assigned to Naval Hos-

ON THIS DATE

July 14

2019: Democratic Presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke visits Beaufort. At a roundtable discussion at Tabernacle Baptist Church, O’Rourke answers a diverse collection of questions, mostly posed by leaders of the black community, including Queen Quet of the Gullah Geechee Nation and Rev. Kenneth Hodges.

July 15

1943: Naval Air Station Beaufort is commissioned for advanced training operations of anti-submarine patrols during World War II.

1976: Joe Frazier loses to George Foreman by TKO in an NABF

PAL PETS OF THE WEEK

Cat of the Week: Wafer came to us as a teen mom, really still pretty much of a kitten herself, and did a great job of caring for her kittens. She will capture anyone’s heart with her beautiful green eyes and tiny melodic meow. She adores chin rubs and the occasional belly rub. Wafer is 2 years old, spayed, up to date on vaccines, and microchipped.

ISLAND NEWS PUBLISHING, LLC

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Jeff & Margaret Evans

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Elizabeth Harding Newberry Kim Harding

EDITORIAL/DESIGN

Editor-in-Chief

Mike McCombs theislandnews@ gmail.com

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Assistant Editor Delayna Earley delayna. theislandnews@ gmail.com

Sports Editor Justin Jarrett LowcoSports@ gmail.com

SALES/BUSINESS

Advertising Sales Director Amanda Hanna 843-343-8483 amanda@ lcweekly.com

pital Beaufort with duties at the hospital, on Parris Island and at MCAS Beaufort.

In 1995 she deployed again to Guantanamo Bay when 30,000 migrants from Panama and Cuba were processed there. She next spent a year on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean caring for personnel assigned there. She was then assigned to the clinic at NAS Jacksonville.

In 2000 she transferred to the Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Japan for two years followed by two years aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) then homeported there.

Her following assignment was at the Navy Disease Vector Ecology Control Center in Bangor, Wash., followed by a seven-month deployment to Al Asad, Iraq, returning to Bangor to complete that tour. Her final duty station was at Naval Hospital Bremerton, Wash., from which she retired as a Chief Hospital Corpsman with 29 years of service.

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

Accounting April Ackerman april@ aandbbookkeeping. com Billing questions only.

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For press releases and advertising, please submit by noon on Friday for the following week’s paper.

heavyweight title fight in Hempstead, New York. It would be Frazier’s last fight for more than 5 years.

July 18

2020: Col. Karl R. Arborgast takes command of MCAS Beaufort from Col. Timothy P. Miller.

July 19

2020: Brig. Gen. Julie Nethercot takes command of MCRD Parris Island from Maj. Gen. James Glynn.

– Compiled by Mike McCombs

Dog of the Week: Yoshi is a goofy ball of energy. He loves to spend his time outdoors and playing with friends. He is a very smart dog who would make a great sidekick to any family. He is friendly with other dogs and cats. Yoshi is 8 months old, neutered, up to date on vaccines, and microchipped.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters to the Editor should consist of fewer than 275 words and be emailed with a name and contact information to TheIslandNews@gmail.com

DISCLAIMER

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

All content of The Island News, including articles, photos, editorial content, letters, art and advertisements, are copyrighted by The Island News and Island News Publishing, LLC, 2022, all rights reserved. The Island News encourages reader submissions via email to theislandnews@gmail.com. All content submitted is considered approved for publication by the owner unless otherwise stated. The Island News is designed to inform and entertain readers and all efforts for accuracy are made. Guest columns do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The Island News, its publisher or editors. Content published from Care Magazine® is intended as a reference and options source only, not as a guide to self-treatment or substitute for profession medical advice. It is provided for educational purpose only. Readers assume full responsibility for how this information is used. The Island News reserves the right to refuse to sell advertising space, or to publish information, for any business or activity the newspaper deems inappropriate for the publication.

A2 JULY 13–19, 2023

LIFE & NEWS

LOWCOUNTRY

Bonnie O’Mara

NOTICE OF LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION Notice is hereby given that Fiesta Foods, Inc., DBA Fiesta Fresh Mexican Grill intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a license and/or permit that will allow the sale and on premises consumption of beer and wine, at 95 Mathews Drive, Ste. A7, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926. To object to the issuance of this license and/or permit, you must submit Form ABL-20, postmarked no later than July 20, 2023. Submit protests online at MyDORWAY.dor.sc.dov, or email ABL@dor.sc.gov. NOTICE OF LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION Notice is hereby given that Colleton River Plantation Club, Inc., intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a license and/or permit that will allow the sale and on premises consumption of beer, wine, and/or liquor at, 58 Colleton River Drive, Bluffton, SC 29910. To object to the issuance of this license and/or permit, you must submit Form ABL-20, postmarked no later than July 13, 2023. Submit protests online at MyDORWAY.dor.sc.dov, or email ABL@ dor.sc.gov. NOTICE OF DEFAULT AND INTENT TO SELL Name and address of Purchaser: STACIE R. WARD, 9004 S 51ST AVE, OAK LAWN, IL 60453 A fee simple undivided 0.0147723220820258 % ownership interest in the Project as tenants(s) in common with the holders of other undivided interests in and to the timeshare property known as MBV VACATION SUITES, as established by that certain Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions and Vacation Ownership Instrument for MBV Vacation Suites, recorded at Book 3406, Pages 13121365, et seq., of the records of the R.O.D. Office for Beaufort County, South Carolina, as amended or supplemented (the “Declaration”), having Interval Control Number U1411W4B. Deed recorded in Book 3586, Pages 1390, Mortgage in Book 3586, Pages 1395. Total amount presently delinquent $11,506.75, Attorneys fees $350.00, Costs $458.10. You are currently in default under certain provisions of the above referenced mortgage and timeshare instrument. As provided for in paragraph 4. of the aforementioned mortgage, the lien-holder has chosen to proceed with a non-judicial foreclosure procedure in accordance with Article 3 of Chapter 32 of Title 27 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina. PURSUANT TO SECTION 27-32-325, S.C. CODE ANN., 1976, AS AMENDED, YOU ARE HEREBY ADVISED OF THE FOLLOWING: IF YOU FAIL TO CURE THE DEFAULT OR TAKE OTHER APPROPRIATE ACTION WITH REGARD TO THIS MATTER WITHIN THIRTY CALENDAR DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF THIS NOTICE, YOU WILL RISK LOSING YOUR INTEREST IN THIS TIMESHARE ESTATE THROUGH A NONJUDICIAL FORECLOSURE PROCEDURE. HOWEVER, UNDER THE NONJUDICIAL PROCEDURE, YOU WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO A DEFICIENCY JUDGMENT OR PERSONAL LIABILITY FOR THE LIEN BEING FORECLOSED EVEN IF THE SALE OF YOUR TIMESHARE ESTATE RESULTING FROM THE NONJUDICIAL FORECLOSURE IS INSUFFICIENT TO SATISFY THE AMOUNT OF THE LIEN BEING FORECLOSED. YOU MAY OBJECT TO THE SALE OF YOUR TIMESHARE ESTATE THROUGH THE NONJUDICIAL FORECLOSURE PROCEDURE AND REQUIRE FORECLOSURE OF YOUR TIMESHARE INTEREST TO PROCEED THROUGH THE JUDICIAL PROCESS. AN OBJECTION MUST BE MADE IN WRITING AND RECEIVED BY THE TRUSTEE BEFORE THE END OF THE THIRTY-DAY TIME PERIOD. YOU MUST STATE THE REASON FOR YOUR OBJECTION AND INCLUDE YOUR ADDRESS ON THE WRITTEN OBJECTION. IN A JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE PROCEEDING THAT RESULTS FROM YOUR OBJECTION, YOU MAY BE SUBJECT TO A DEFICIENCY JUDGMENT AND PERSONAL LIABILITY FOR THE LIEN BEING FORECLOSED IF THE SALE OF YOUR TIMESHARE ESTATE RESULTING FROM THE JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE IS INSUFFICIENT TO SATISFY THE AMOUNT OF THE LIEN BEING FORECLOSED. FURTHERMORE, YOU ALSO MAY BE SUBJECT TO A PERSONAL MONEY JUDGMENT FOR THE COSTS AND ATTORNEY’S FEES INCURRED BY THE LIENHOLDER IN THE JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE PROCEEDING IF THE COURT FINDS THAT THERE IS COMPLETE ABSENCE OF A JUSTIFIABLE ISSUE OF EITHER LAW OR FACT RAISED BY YOUR OBJECTIONS OR DEFENSES. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CURE YOUR DEFAULT AT ANY TIME BEFORE THE SALE OF YOUR TIMESHARE ESTATE, BY PAYMENT OF ALL PAST DUE LOAN PAYMENTS OR ASSESSMENTS, ACCRUED INTEREST, LATE FEES, TAXES, AND ALL FEES AND COSTS INCURRED BY THE LIENHOLDER AND TRUSTEE, INCLUDING ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS, IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEFAULT. Any response or inquiry should be made in writing to King Cunningham, LLC, Attn: Jeffrey W. King, Esq. who is serving as Trustee in this matter, at the following address: 1000 2nd Ave S, Ste 325, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582.

NOTICES Advertising Sales Consultant Sandy Schepis 678-641-4495 sandyschepis@ gmail.com CORRECTION: Beaufort County Administrator Eric Greenway was misidentified in a photo on Page 1 of the July 6 edition.

The Beaufort Memorial Collins Birthing Center welcomed three sweet baby girls on Independence Day. Posing for

LEGAL

Public Integrity Unit to investigate misconduct allegations against Greenway

By Mike McCombs The Island News

The complaint against Beaufort County Administrator Eric Greenway for misconduct in office will be investigated by the Public Integrity Unit, a team of prosecutors and investigators from the 1st and 14th Circuit solicitors’ offices.

As The Island News reported Tuesday morning, July 4, the criminal complaint against Greenway was filed May 11, 2023 with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. Stone emailed a statement Wednesday, July 5 to The Island News via 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office spokesperson Jeff Kidd:

“Beaufort County Sheriff

P.J. Tanner and I discussed the complaint and agreed that this matter requires an independent review. So it

has been forwarded to the Public Integrity Unit. ...

“The PIU is a collaborative team formed of senior prosecutors and investigators from the office of First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe and my office. The First and 14th Circuit offices have a history of collaboration that predates this team. For instance, I assisted Solicitor Pascoe with a Statehouse corruption probe arising from a 2014 State Law Enforcement Division investigative report.

Recognizing the need for additional scrutiny, objectivity and transparency in cases involving public officials, we formed the PIU in 2020. It examines cases from either circuit that entail allegations of public corruption, officer-involved use of force and other matters involving public officials.

This arrangement gives our offices additional resources and legal expertise for cases that can be quite complex. An example would be misconduct cases, which could be covered by both statutory and common law.

“In instances in which charges are deemed appropriate, the case can be prosecuted by attorneys from either Solicitor’s Office. A recent example of the PIU’s work would include this past February’s conviction of Wade Franklin Rollins. The town of Summerville police officer was sent to prison for stealing guns and money from the agency’s evidence room. He was prosecuted by 14th Circuit Deputy Solicitor Sean Thornton after review by the PIU.”

According to the incident report’s investigation narrative, dated June 29, 2023

“On 5-11-23, a complaint was received at [the] Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office regarding activities that may constitute misconduct by Eric Greenway. After reviewing the information received and following a consultation with solicitor Duffie Stone, it was determined that the complaint would be forwarded to an independent agency for investigation.”

The incident report states that the alleged offenses took place between 8 a.m., January 9, 2023 and 4 p.m., June 29, 2023. Aside from that, there is no complainant listed and there are no details of any alleged crimes.

“At this particular time, that is all that we’re saying,” Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner said by phone Monday afternoon. South Carolina recognizes the common law offense

of misconduct in office. It occurs “when duties imposed by law have not been properly and faithfully discharged.” To constitute a crime, such conduct must be willful and dishonest.

Legally, there are three kinds of misconduct — malfeasance, which means acting illegally; misfeasance, which means acting legally but corruptly; and nonfeasance, which means not carrying out a required duty of the office.

“Once the complaint was reviewed, we met with the solicitor, as well, and we agreed, based on the material that we had, that we would refer it to an independent agency,” Tanner said.

At the end of the Monday, July 10 County Council meeting, Council went into executive session for “Pursuant to S.C. Code Section

30-4-70(a)(1) Discussion of Employment of a person regulated by County Council.” It’s unknown if Greenway was the subject of this session. The Council took no action after the session, ending the meeting. When contacted initially by phone Monday afternoon, July 3, Greenway said he had just been made aware of the complaint Monday morning and had no comment.

During his time at the lectern during Monday’s County Council meeting, Greenway said, “I received a lot of calls over the past week or so voicing support. I want to thank everybody that did that for me who may be listening and watching.”

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

Wilson takes gavel as president of Rotary Club of Beaufort

From staff reports

Barry Wilson was sworn-in as the 88th President of the Rotary Club of Beaufort, the oldest of Beaufort’s three Rotary clubs, on Wednesday, July 5. Wilson has been a member of the Rotary Club of Beaufort since 2020, when he and his wife Rita moved to Beaufort full-time.

The Wilsons are the owners of AlphaGraphics, a Beaufort-based marketing services and printing company serving the Lowcountry.

Prior to moving to Beaufort, Wilson worked in advertising and marketing in Charlotte, N.C., where he was an owner of one of Charlotte’s ma-

jor ad agencies. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of South Carolina, where he majored in advertising. A 2023 graduate of Leadership Beaufort, Wilson also serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Beaufort County and is a member of the S.C. Small Business Development Centers (SCSBDC) advisory board.

The club also named its 202324 Board of Directors at the same meeting. In addition to Wilson,

the Board includes Owen Hand (Membership), Jay Patel (Sergeant-at-Arms), Howard Heckrotte (Sergeant-at-Arms), Brenda Litchfield (Membership), Ethan James (Rotary Foundation), Jim Weiskopf (Public Image), Graham Holcombe (Club Administration), Rosemary Hunt (Youth Services), Whitney McDaniel (Secretary and Treasurer, Immediate Past President), Mary Ann Capria (Community Services), Bob Allen (Member-at-Large), Kevin Phillips (Member-at-Large), Nick Hunt (Programs), and Peter Murphy (Member-at-Large).

The Rotary Club of Beaufort announced its 2023-24 board of directors at its July 5 meeting. They

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are (from left) Barry Wilson (President), Owen Hand, Jay Patel, Howard Heckrotte, Brenda Litchfield, Ethan James, Jim Weiskopf, Graham Holcombe, Rosemary Hunt, Whitney McDaniel. Not pictured are Mary Ann Capria, Bob Allen, Kevin Phillips, Nick Hunt, and Peter Murphy. Submitted photo. Barry Wilson

BOE will not ban Cook, will send him a letter

Hilton Head parent threw bags of chicken feed at feet of school board

By Mike McCombs and Delayna Earley The Island News

The Beaufort County Board of Education (BOE) decided against banning Hilton Head parent David Cook from speaking in-person at school board meetings after flirting over the weekend with the idea of banning him for six months.

At the Thursday, July 6 special meeting, a letter notifying Cook of the consequences of his actions during the June 27 BOE meeting was drafted and discussed in executive session and, after some discussion among Board members, it was decided that the letter would be modified and finalized during executive session before the public session at the BOE meeting Tuesday, July 11.

The finalized letter was then to be hand-delivered to Cook before public session, or mailed to him if he was not present at the meeting on Tuesday.

After discussion during another special meeting on Sunday, July 9 and then executive session prior to Tuesday’s meeting, a decision was reached to send Cook a letter that stopped short of banning him.

“No one was banned,” Board of Education Chair Christina Gwozdz said after Tuesday’s meeting.

Instead, Vice Chair Richard Geier made a lengthy motion that was passed, followed by a statement by Gwozdz.

Geier’s motion was as follows:

“I move the Board find that during the public comment session of the Board meeting on June 27, 2023, a community member violated Board Governance Policy GC-2-23 and the expectation of the Board concerning public comment at Board meetings by throwing several objects at the

Board members and hitting a Board member with one of the objects causing a material disruption of the Board meeting. I further move the Board issue a written directive to this community member to not further violate the rues for speaking at public comment sessions by taking physically aggressive actions during the public comment at Board meetings, such as throwing objects at or in the direction of Board members or attending members of the public. I so move.”

Gwozdz followed that with a statement:

“The Board firmly believes input from its constituents, the citizens of Beaufort County, is essential to its effective and responsible governance of public education in Beaufort County. The Board values public comment at its meetings and encourages pubic participation, This Board’s commitment to pubic input and participation is reflected in its public comment sessions during its meetings.

“To better ensure the safety, security and good order of these public comment sessions and allow all citizens, including Board members, a full and fair opportunity to participate and have their comments considered without undue disruption, threats, or fear of harm, the Board has placed reasonable time, place and manner restrictions on public comment through Board Governance Policy GC-223. Out of respect for our fellow citizens and to allow all who wish to make public comments to this Board an opportunity to be heard, it is essential that the public comment procedures be followed, and we request all commenters and those in attendance to do so; this includes – by words or actions – not making threats of physical harm, not using obscene language or gestures, not engaging in loud or boisterous behavior disruptive of the meeting, and confining comments to Board and school-related topics.”

As the majority of the 97

books removed from the shelves for review in October have been returned to school libraries, Cook has been vocal about his opinion of the school board and the results of the book review committees. Cook stood up during the public comment portion of the June 27 BOE meeting and told the Board members that they are too chicken to remove the books from schools before tossing bags of chicken feed at their feet. That action sparked special Board meetings on Thursday, July 6, and then Sunday, July 9. It was at the first special meeting a letter was drafted.

In a draft of the letter as seen in the video footage posted live to the Beaufort County School Board’s YouTube page from Thursday’s special meeting, Cook was advised that the school board has passed a resolution to prohibit him from “participating in in-person presentations in future public comment sessions until December 27, 2023.”

According to the draft, he was to be allowed to attend school board sessions in person, but he was to only be allowed “to address the board during public comments from a phone at a location outside of the school board meeting site.”

The draft states that Cook violated the “Rules of Speaking” that can be found on the backside of the form that he filled out when requesting to be recognized to speak before the board.

“The “rules” clearly state that speakers will not conduct a “breach of respect of the Board” during the speaker’s comments,” the letter went on. “Throwing objects at the Board is clearly a breach of respect and is an actual act of battery against Board Members.”

The decision to prohibit Cook from speaking in person for six months was made in accordance with the Beaufort County Schools, Board Governance Policy, GC-2-23, item IV, paragraph B, which states: Should a participant fail to abide by

the reasonable directives of the Board’s or committee presiding officer, the Board or committee may prohibit the offending speaker from participating in future public comment sessions for a period not to exceed six (6) months.

By Sunday’s special meeting, the Board still wasn’t certain what direction it would take. In the end, it committed to continue discussion in executive session prior to Tuesday’s meeting.

“We are going to be discussing this again with legal advice in executive session on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.,” Geier said Sunday.

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

Delayna Earley lives in Beaufort with her husband, two children and Jack Russell. She joined The Island News in August 2022. She formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana, Virginia and Kentucky. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.

SCDNR invites public to discuss wild turkey troubles

From staff reports

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) will host five public meetings around the state to discuss concerns about declines in wild turkey numbers and options to address these declines.

The Lowcountry meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Thursday, July 13 at Palmetto Electric Cooperative in the New River Community Room at 1 Cooperative Way in

Hardeeville. The meeting will end no later than 8:30 p.m.

SCDNR has heard from turkey hunters, landowners and members of the General Assembly with concerns about decreasing turkey numbers, lower reproduction, and declining harvests across the state. These issues are not unique to South Carolina and are occurring across the Southeast and Midwest. SCDNR shares these concerns and summer

brood surveys (turkey reproductive data), harvest data and numerous research projects in South Carolina and across the Country support these observations.

As part of the meeting, SCDNR will present available data, and receive comments and questions from hunters. This input from the public, combined with harvest data, brood survey data and university research findings will be used to

Burton Fire District extinguishes 2nd fire of week

From staff reports

Just before 3:30 a.m., Sunday, July 9, the Burton Fire District and MCAS Fire Department extinguished a second building fire this week.

Burton and MCAS firefighters, along with Beaufort County EMS and Sherrif’s Department, responded to a reported house fire on Deepwood Lane in Burton. Initial 911 calls stated a two-story home was fully involved in fire.

Emergency crews arrived on scene and reported heavy fire coming from the second floor of a two-story residence in the rear of another home on Deepwood Lane. Firefighters were able

Just before 3:30 a.m., Sunday, July 9, Burton and MCAS firefighters responded to a reported house fire on Deepwood Lane in Burton. Submitted photo

to quickly get the fire under control. The home was unoccupied at the time of the fire and had been under renovation.

Burton fire investigators are investigating. The first fire occurred on

Monday, Jan. 3, on Trask Parkway. Burton, MCAS, Parris Island, and Beaufort/ Port Royal Fire Departments extinguished a fully involved residential home and rescued several animals.

develop recommendations for the S.C. General Assembly for possible legislative changes to seasons, bag limits and/or methods of take for wild turkeys. Any potential changes would occur no sooner than the 2024 legislative session and would not go into effect until the spring of 2025 at the earliest.

For individuals unable to attend one of the meetings, there will also be a video presentation and op-

Police from page A1

thief cut themselves getting through the door, leaving their blood behind.

After the meeting, Price was asked if the lab work on which the BPD was waiting was related to this blood, Price said she couldn’t answer that question.

During the meeting, Price said the recent breakins downtown had all been businesses away from Bay Street — Coastal Art was the victim of a break-in a month or so before Bathe and NeverMore Books.

Price confirmed the belief the culprits are one in the same — “The evidence is leaning that way.”

The point of entry for the break-ins — the glass

portunity to submit comments on the SCDNR website from mid-July through early August.

Following the series of meetings and public input, SCDNR will conduct an online survey to assess public opinions and preferences for various management options. Keep an eye on the SCDNR website and social media platforms for more information and links to submit comments.

doors of the businesses.

Price said the thieves were looking for a couple of things they could simply see by looking through the windows of the business.

“They’re looking for the iPad and Square, … and then cash,” she said. “You shouldn’t keep anything of value where it can be seen through the front window of the business.”

She also emphasized, if downtown business owners don’t have cameras or an alarm, it’s in their best interest that they get them.

Notes of interest

Price said the BPD presence had increased downtown, even if people can’t immediately see it.

• Price said there were two more upcoming opportunities for the public and the officers

of the Beaufort Police Department to get together. The BPD will host another family movie — “Horton Hears A Who!” — July 27 at Washington Street Park. And then the BPD will host its first open house August 5

The Department has secured a grant which will guarantee a Student Resource Officer in every school withing the City of Beaufort, including two at Beaufort High School, And finally, making it a rarity in South Carolina, if not the country, Price said the BPD is, for the first time in quite a while, fully staffed.

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

A4 JULY 13–19, 2023 NEWS

Hilton Head Island resident David Cook displays a list of books banned from certain prisons because of the pornographic nature of the prose within during the Beaufort County Board of Education meeting Tuesday. Cook said the same sort of language can be found in some of the books he wants band found in school libraries. Bob Sofaly/The Island News Christina Gwozdz, Chair of the Beaufort County Board of Education asks for a show of hands during a vote at Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting. Bob Sofaly/ The Island News

Man dead after drive-by shooting escalates into exchange of gunfire

From staff reports

A Beaufort man is dead after an exchange of gunfire stemmed from an apparent drive-by shooting.

On July 9, 2023, at approximately 8:55 p.m., Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Possum Hill Road in Burton for a call of “shots fired.”

When deputies arrived, they were told by a witness that a brown or tan SUVstyle vehicle drove past a

residence and began firing at the home.

It was reported that the vehicle then turned around and came back toward the home from the opposite direction and began shooting again. This time, an occupant of the home returned fire.

Evidence found at the crime scene supported the statement that someone was shooting from the roadway. Two homes, as well as

a vehicle, were damaged by bullet strikes. No one inside the homes was injured by gunfire.

A short time later, at approximately 9:23 p.m., the Beaufort County Communications Center received a call for a disturbance at Beaufort Memorial Hospital with no additional information being available at the time.

Beaufort Police Department responded and deter-

Man wanted in Port Royal for Attempted Murder arrested

From staff reports

A man wanted in Port Royal for Attempted

Murder was arrested in Hampton last week and transferred to the Beaufort County Detention Center on Monday, July 10.

Jeffrey Keyontay Gadson, 28, of Pineland is charged with Attempted Murder and Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime. His bond is $600,000 and he remained incarcerated as of Tuesday night.

In late 2022, Port Royal Police Department detectives identified and obtained warrants for two people in connection with a shooting that occurred on the afternoon of Friday, Dec. 29, 2022.

Detectives identified

Gadson as the suspect in the shooting and obtained warrants for his arrest. A female accomplice was also identified as 26-yearold Neyauna Fields of Ridgeland, and detectives obtained a warrant for her arrest for Accessory After the Fact of a Felony.

On Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022 at around 4 p.m., Port Royal Police officers responded to Beaufort Memorial Hospital for a report of a gunshot victim. Investigators learned that the victim, a 29-year-old Ridgeland man, was traveling on Ribaut Road between Pinckney Blvd. and Midtown Drive in Port Royal when he and the driver of another vehicle became involved in an altercation which resulted in the driver

of the other vehicle firing at least one shot into his vehicle, striking him in the side.

The victim was able to drive himself to Beaufort Memorial where he is currently being treated for his injury.

Investigators believe that the victim knew the occupants of the other vehicle and this was an isolated incident.

The suspect’s vehicle, that was sought by investigators, was described as a 2008 BMW 335I, dark grey or blue in color with Georgia tag TEA2765.

On Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022 the vehicle used in the shooting was located by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, and Port Royal Detectives impounded the car for processing.

mined that there were two victims at the hospital with gunshot wounds that arrived in a gold-colored SUV.

Sheriff’s deputies were summoned to the hospital due to the likelihood that the vehicle and occupants were involved in the Possum Hill shooting incident.

A 29-year-old Burton man sustained a gunshot wound to his arm while the second man, also 29 years old of Burton, sustained multiple

gunshot wounds. The second man’s wounds were fatal.

The deceased was identified by the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office as Byran Michael Habersham of Beaufort.

No charges had been filed as of Tuesday afternoon, according to BCSO spokesperson Maj. Angela Viens. “We’re still investigating,” she said.

Investigators continue to interview witnesses and

evaluate evidence collected from both the Possum Hill Road area and the vehicle found at the hospital. Additional information may be released later as the investigation progresses.

The Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information about this incident to contact Investigator Kline at 843-255-3430 or if wishing to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry at 843-554-1111.

Longtime Parks and Rec employee shot to death

From staff reports

A longtime Beaufort County Parks and Recreation employee, Candido Timmy Montanez, was shot and killed on St. Helena Island on Monday night, July 10.

At approximately 11 p.m., Beaufort County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a “man down” on Club Bridge Road near Seaside Road on Saint Helena Island.

According to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), when deputies arrived, they found a 66-yearold man suffering from gunshot wounds laying in the road.

The crime scene was processed by investigators. According to the BCSO, they are tracking down any known associates or acquaintances of the man who may have had contact with him in the hours lead-

ing up to his death.

Beaufort County issued a statement about Montanez’ death:

“It is with profound sadness that Beaufort County announces the passing of one of its esteemed Parks and Recreation employees. Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family, friends, and co-workers affected by this tragic loss.

“Candido Timmy Montanez, known by his nickname Monty, was an integral part of the Beaufort County organization for many years, dedicating his time and effort to serve the community with unwavering commitment and professionalism. His contributions to Beaufort County Parks and Recreation will forever be remembered and appreciated.

“During this difficult time, Beaufort County stands

ready to support the staff members who have been impacted by this tragic event. We understand the immense grief and loss that follows such a profound departure, and the County is committed to providing the necessary resources and assistance to help all employees navigate this challenging period.

“Again, Beaufort County extends heartfelt sympathies to Monty's family, friends, and colleagues. His legacy will forever be remembered within the Beaufort County family, and his contributions to our community will never be forgotten.”

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact MSgt. Jason Malphrus at 843-255-3233, or if wishing to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry at 843-554-1111.

Sheldon man killed when his car strikes a tree while evading law enforcement

By Mike McCombs

The Island News

A Sheldon man was killed Sunday night, July 9, when his car struck a tree as he was trying to evade Beaufort County Sheriff’s deputies.

Herman Elvin Martin Jr., 42, of Sheldon, as identified by the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office, was killed. His passenger, also from Sheldon, was ejected from the car, seriously injured and transported via EMS to Savannah Memorial Hospital.

According to S.C Highway Patrol Master Trooper Mitchell Ridgeway, the crash occurred at 8:43 p.m., on Kinloch Road near Wimbie Landing Road, 10 miles from Beaufort. Martin was driving a 2015 Chevrolet sedan north on Kinloch attempting to evade law enforcement.

According to Ridgeway, Martin lost control of the vehicle, going off the road to the right, striking the ditch and then a tree. Martin died at the scene.

Sheriff’s deputies were original-

ly called to Keans Neck Road and Coakley Drive in Dale, regarding a drag racing complaint around 8:30 p.m. The original caller reported that the road was shut down because vehicles were blocking the roadway to race cars.

According to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), deputies arrived in the area at approximately 8:37 p.m. and observed nearly 150 vehicles parked alongside Coakley Drive and Keans Neck Road.

While conducting traffic en-

forcement in the area, a deputy observed a black Chevrolet speeding as it was traveling on Keans Neck Road. At approximately 8:45, according to the BCSO, a deputy stopped the speeding vehicle at the corner of Keans Neck Road and Kinloch Road, near Albany’s Grocery.

But the vehicle attempted to elude the deputy, failed to stop for blue lights/siren when signaled and accelerated away. Deputies pursued.

It was during this pursuit that the

vehicle failed to negotiate a curve on Kinloch Road and struck a tree.

“By policy, we do pursuit reviews in every pursuit our guys are involved in,” BCSO spokesperson Maj. Angela Viens said Monday. “We will treat this one like every other one.”

This collision remains under investigation by the S.C. Highway Patrol.

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

From staff reports A traveling exhibition that tells the story of South Carolina’s essential role in the American Civil Rights Movement will be on display through September at Darrah Hall of the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, within the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District, 24 Penn Center Circle West, St. Helena Island, S.C. 29920.

Organized by the University of South Carolina’s Center for Civil Rights History and Research, the “Justice for All” exhibition uses oral history recordings, news film footage, photographs, postcards, newspapers and letters to highlight overlooked chapters in the history of the movement.

“South Carolina’s Lowcountry region played a

Traveling civil rights history exhibition on display on St. Helena Island

critical role in the nation’s Civil Rights Movement,” said Bobby Donaldson, Professor of History and Executive Director of the Center for Civil Rights History and Research. "We are delighted to work closely with the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, the Penn Center, and other community partners in shedding much-needed light on the individuals, organizations, and key events that shaped one of the most transformative movements in our nation’s history."

The exhibition is open from 9 a.m to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday during park hours.

Visitors will see interpretive panels that tell the story of the Civil Rights Movement, beginning in Reconstruction following the Civil

War and continuing through the 1960s. Also on display will be photographs, letters and other materials from the movement in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, items from collections housed in USC’s University Libraries, Moving Image Research Collections, South Carolina Political Collections, Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, and the South Caroliniana Library.

“Students and visitors to the exhibition will learn about activists and institutions who struggled for and demanded racial justice in South Carolina and across the country,” Donaldson said. “The materials cover a broad time span, from Reconstruction through the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, and will allow visitors to see firsthand

the struggles of those who pushed for equal rights and the efforts of those who worked to curtail them.”

"We're excited to partner with USC's Center for Civil Rights History on Research and to be able to host this exhibit in such a historic space,” said Nathan Betcher, Supervisory Historian of the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park. “The themes of equality that we talk about at the park are timeless, and ideals during Reconstruction and the Civil Rights Movement is inspiring, and I hope it brings a greater appreciation of those people who have worked so hard to make our nation a more perfect union. We hope that visitors will be inspired to explore these stories further across the Penn Center and the community."

The Center will host several public events in coordination with the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, including a book signing and public programs.

On Saturday, July 15, from noon until 4 p.m., there will be an opening drop-in and guided tours of the exhibit at 24 Penn Center Circle West, St. Helena Island to celebrate the opening of the exhibit in Beaufort. There will be light refreshments, and Center staff will be on hand to provide tours and answer questions.

The “Justice for All” traveling exhibition was designed with groups and students in mind. Traveling trunks with materials and lesson plans for students are available by request. For information about traveling trunks or our other initia-

tives such as oral history interviews, please email the Center at sccivilrights@ sc.edu.

“Justice for All” has visited Columbia, Sumter, Orangeburg, Hartsville, and Spartanburg. After Beaufort, the traveling exhibition will visit Georgetown through December 2023. The traveling exhibition is based on the 2019 archival exhibition “Justice for All” that the Center created collaboratively with South Carolina Humanities, University of South Carolina Libraries and the College of Arts and Sciences. The traveling version is supported with funding from the Williams Companies as part of a $1.5 million gift, and by South Carolina Humanities and Central Carolina Community Foundation.

JULY 13–19, 2023 A5 NEWS

Knights of Columbus raising funds for ultrasound machine

From staff reports

The Knights of Columbus Council 5026 from St. Peters Catholic Church is holding a fundraiser to assist the Radiance Women’s Center in Port Royal in purchasing a new ultrasound machine.

Having a meal Tuesday, July 25 at Fat Patties in Port Royal will support the purchase of the ultrasound machine.

Fat Patties will donate 10% of the July 25 proceeds toward KOC Council 5026 Ultrasound Initiative.

Not able to contribute July 25? You can still support the KOC 5026 ultrasound fundraiser for Radiance Women's Center by visiting https://bit. ly/3rtiU8K or using the QR code below.

The new ultrasound machine price quote is $24,850. The Knights of Columbus Council 5026 in cooperation with three other local Councils needs to raise $12,425. Once this amount is raised, the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council matches this amount and the checks are presented to the Radiance Women’s Center specifically for them to purchase the ultrasound.

A letter will be provided as a receipt for tax purposes.

Happy birthday, America

Photographer Bob Sofaly caught a few people enjoying the July 4 holiday in Beaufort and Port Royal before the rain canceled most of the day’s scheduled activities. But the rains were gone by the time it was time for fireworks.

DONATE

Please go to https:// square.link/ u/0d88QiNS or use the QR code to donate.

The Radiance Center is a nonprofit organization that provides free pregnancy services to women with unplanned pregnancies, including ultrasound imaging of the unborn baby. Imaging the baby and its beating heart impacts the mother, and in a majority of cases, results in the pregnancy being maintained.

The Radiance Center educates women with an unplanned pregnancy who may be considering abortion, and provides information about alternatives with the goal of having the pregnancy be carried to term.

The Radiance Center does not provide abortions or refer for abortion. Also the Radiance Center does not prescribe or endorse birth control.

Action

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of Common Pleas.

Developer Elvio Tropeano, the familiar face of the Pine Island groups, decline comment. The attorney for the groups, Ellis Lesemann of Charleston firm Lesemann & Associates LLC, wasn’t immediately available by phone Tuesday, but issued a statement Monday via email.

“Our team remains focused upon working with our neighbors, stakeholders, elected officials and the County to achieve a beneficial compromise that promotes the cultural and natural resources on St. Helena Island while allowing careful, sensitive, and limited development of Pine Island,” Lesemann said.

When contacted Tuesday, Sarah Brock, Beaufort County’s interim Public Information Officer, said, “We can’t comment on items related to pending litigation.”

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

NEWS BRIEFS

Beaufort’s Ackerman joins BJWSA Board

S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster has appointed Jeff P. Ackerman, P.E., of Beaufort to Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority’s (BJWSA) Board of Directors. Ackerman was born and raised in Charleston, and has been a Beaufort resident for the last 25 years. He brings to the Board 30 years of engineering experience in various professional roles, from starting his career as a Project Engineer/Manager to being the President/Co-Owner of Carolina Engineering Consultants, Inc.

Gregory A. Padgett is BJWSA’s Board Chair for fiscal year 2024. Other officers are Andy Kinghorn Vice-Chair (City of Beaufort); Dr. William Singleton (Jasper County Delegation), Secretary/Treasurer; and Jimmy Baker (Hilton

Head), Past Chair. Additional members are Michael Bell (Town of Bluffton); Lorraine Bond (Jasper County Delegation); David Strange (Town of Port Royal); R. Thayer Rivers, Jr. (Town of Ridgeland); Jerry Schulze (Beaufort County); J. Robert McFee, P.E. (Beaufort County); and Ackerman (Beaufort County).

For more information about BJWSA or its Board of Directors, visit www.bjwsa.org/board-members.

BSDC hosting July meeting

The Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club’s June meeting will be held Thursday, July 13, at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club located on Lady’s Island off of Meridian Road. The social begins at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting will start at 7.

The Topics will be Spanish Mackerel and Blue Fish. Local Captain Adam Saurerborn of Tide Ryder Charters will discuss jig-

ging techniques with various lures and favorite locations of choice and tides. This presentation will also include the use of planers and spoons. Beaufort Boat & Dock Supply, Butler Marine, and Danny Walsh and the Achurch Real Estate Group are our monthly $50 drawing sponsors. Remember to weigh in your favorite catch at the Beaufort Boat & Dock Supply located at 1734 Ribaut Road, Port Royal during regular hours. Congratulations to Danny Walsh, last month's winner. Winners must be present at the next month’s meeting to receive the cash award. Guests are welcome. Reservations are not needed. For additional information, please contact Captain Jim Kindwell at 843-812-2177 or email fgibson@islc.net.

since Friday, July 7 to repair the HVAC system. The history center will resume normal operating hours at 10 a.m., Friday, July 14.

The property and restrooms are accessible to the public while repairs are made.

Fort Fremont Preserve is open dawn to dusk and restrooms will remain open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

For questions and more information, please contact Beaufort County Passive Parks Director Stefanie Nagid at 843-255-2152.

South Carolina’s 2023 Tax Free Weekend kicks off on Friday, Aug. 4

South Carolina’s annual Tax Free Weekend is scheduled for August 4-6.

and certain bed and bath items. These tax-free items can purchased in-store or online. Last year, South Carolina shoppers bought more than $26.2 million in taxfree items during the Tax Free Weekend. Computers, clothes, school supplies, and a variety of other school-year essentials can be purchased free of Sales Tax during South Carolina's annual 72hour Tax Free Weekend.

set to re-open Friday

Fort Fremont

The Fort Fremont History Center has been closed

For 72 hours, tax-free items include computers, printers, school supplies, clothing and accessories, shoes,

The South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) reminds shoppers that the 2023 Tax Free Weekend runs from noon, Friday, Aug. 4, through 11:59 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 6. Eligible items can be purchased online and in-store without paying the state's 6% Sales Tax and any applicable local taxes during Tax Free Weekend, often called the Sales Tax Holiday.

– From staff reports

A6 JULY 13–19, 2023 NEWS

Kimberly Keyserling, left, watches as other volunteers with Boys Scout Troop 1, Carteret Street United Methodist Church, put the “fixins” on freshly grilled hot dogs Wednesday afternoon at The Sands in Port Royal. The Scouts and a host of adult volunteers were on hand to help keep the masses fed during the Fourth of July celebration. Bob Sofaly/The Island News Hundreds of people crammed onto The Sands for the annual July Fourth fireworks display Tuesday night in Port Royal. Thunderstorms moved into the area causing all the afternoon and evening entertainment to be canceled. The rain and lightning stopped, the skies cleared and the fireworks went on without a hitch. Bob Sofaly/The Island News The Alvin Settles Pool at the Charles Lind Brown Recreation Center was the right place to be Tuesday, July 4, as the temperature was already about 90 by noon. Here, the adults are enjoying playing with their children as others take advantage of cool water. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Beaufort County, OSI acquire portions of historic Cotton Hall

Purchase will create future public access to nature and recreation

From staff reports Beaufort County and the Open Space Institute (OSI) have announced the purchase of a 527-acre property – a portion of historic Cotton Hall – in Northern Beaufort County, increasing a network of conserved land that links the ACE Basin and Port Royal Sound watersheds.

This spring, OSI purchased a portion of the property and remains under contract for the remaining acreage. Beaufort County Council passed a resolution on July 10, to purchase the tract from OSI to establish the first passive park in the ACE Basin.

Cotton Hall boasts biologically diverse bottomland hardwoods, expansive flooded impoundments, mature upland forests, and also includes an historic homesite. The property includes a tree-canopied section of U.S. Highway 17 for 2.5 miles and is in the Town of Yemassee.

“The acquisition of Cotton Hall is a strategic move by the County to expand future public access to the

stunning natural beauty of the ACE Basin,” Beaufort County Administrator Eric Greenway said in a release.

“With this purchase, we will be able to open up these parcels of land to everyone, allowing for easy and convenient exploration of this unique and cherished area

without the need for a boat.”

Beaufort County leaders have long sought outdoor recreation opportunities in Northern Beaufort County, especially for fishing and water access. Cotton Hall, with a large saltwater pond, and open fields, will provide a plethora of passive recre-

ation opportunities including fishing and hiking.

“Conservation is at its best when it works with and serves local communities,” OSI’s Chief Land Protection Officer Nate Berry said in a news release. “OSI is delighted to partner with the County to pro-

vide much-needed access to nature and help add to a growing network of protected lands that span from the Savannah to the Edisto rivers.”

The South Carolina Conservation Bank (SCCB) awarded OSI a grant to purchase the property in March 2023. Beaufort County funds for purchase will come from Beaufort County Rural and Critical Land Preservation Program. OSI intends to transfer the property to Beaufort County in late 2023

SCCB Executive Director Raleigh West said, “Cotton Hall adds to a corridor of protected land from the famed ACE Basin to Savannah River. This combination of public funding, public access and private conservation easements is a hallmark of South Carolina conservation.”

In addition to Beaufort County’s acquisition of the majority of Cotton Hall, the Open Land Trust holds a conservation easement on the adjacent 190-acre historic homesite, permanently limiting future de-

velopment but keeping this portion of Cotton Hall in private hands.

The OSI-Beaufort County partnership augments the region’s growing conservation collaborative. Over the last two years, OSI and The Nature Conservancy have worked diligently to bridge the protected land gap between the ACE Basin and Savannah River by acquiring 12,000 acres known as the Slater/Buckfield assemblage. The Slater/Buckfield properties will ultimately be owned and managed by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.

The Cotton Hall purchase builds on this impressive momentum and serve as a critical link between Slater/Buckfield to the south and other privately protected ACE Basin proprieties such as Tomotley, Sheldon Plantation, and Stoney Creek at Bindon to the north. Beaufort County’s Rural and Critical Land Preservation Program previously provided significant local funding for conservation of Stoney Creek at Bindon.

A look back at what the SC Legislature did in 2023

By Seanna Adcox

The Post and Courier COLUMBIA — South Carolina's 2023 legislative session was dominated by hard-right pushes to ban abortions, expand gun-toting rights and generally fight "woke" progressivism.

But there were also bipartisan wins in public safety and state spending.

Legislators in both parties called it a year of historic investments in South Carolina workers — both in boosting the pay of public employees and incentivizing the creation of thousands of private-sector jobs.

"Our economic development is off-the-charts good," said House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford, specifically pointing to South Carolina scoring Scout Motors' $2 billion electric vehicle manufacturing plant.

The company's first U.S. plant, expected to employ 4,000 people, was lured with a record-breaking $1.3 billion package that legislators passed quickly in March. No borrowing was necessary.

The money for a new interstate interchange, as well as other road and utility work and soil stabilization at the site, came off the top of higher-than-expected tax collections.

The Richland County plant is considered a potential gamechanger for the Midlands, especially, which lacks the industrial base of the Upstate and Lowcountry.

"This is better than BMW and Boeing," Rutherford, D-Columbia, said. "This is a corporate headquarters, and it cements South Carolina's role in automobiles."

The state budget for the fiscal year that started July 1 provides every state worker a raise of at least $2,500, which they'll start to collect in their next paycheck. And they'll see the full benefit, since the budget covers increases in health insurance premiums and pension contributions.

Workers who already made at least $50,000 will get a 5 percent boost, representing the largest cost-of-living increase across state government in nearly 40 years. Jobs deemed critical to fill and keep — in law enforcement, nursing and mental health — will see salary hikes that could surpass 15 percent.

The budget also increased the minimum pay for teachers

by $2,500

across the state salary schedule, which pays according to classroom experience and level of degree. How much of a raise teachers get will vary by district, depending on what their local school board approves. Regardless, lawmakers tout a 33 percent jump over five years in the allowed salary floor as significant progress.

Asked about the good, bad and ugly of the session, Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto said "the good was in the budget and money to teachers and state employees.

"We’ve got too many vacancies in state agencies in some critical areas and a lot of that is due to funding, so by telling state employees we value them, that we’re going to give them raises, I think was really important," said the Orangeburg Democrat.

Hutto, whose district spans six rural counties, also pointed to a third year of money for school construction in poor districts. The budget put $120 million toward the effort.

Culture-war debates

As for the ugly, Hutto said "social issues just kept popping to the top. It seems every week the majority (Statehouse Republicans) decided to put up a bill that fed to the red meat of their party."

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey doesn't dispute that Republicans who rule both chambers took up a lot of social issues. But he contends that's what constituents wanted.

"We spent time on issues we've heard about from people all over the state, not just in a couple of places, not just in pockets, but everywhere," said the Edgefield Republican. "I’ll also say that even though we did spend time addressing social issues, that did not keep us from addressing other issues.

"We addressed controversial issues and non-controversial, but we tackled the main issues we wanted to address this year and I’m proud of that," he continued.

Laws he counts as big deals that weren't partisan include one ending South Carolina's half-century "certificate of need" bureaucratic process that required hospitals to get permission to build or expand. Time will tell if it results in the improved access to health care that advocates have argued for years.

A bill Republican senators refused to take up would add penal-

ties for people convicted of a crime committed against someone due to their race, gender or sexual orientation. South Carolina remains one of just two states in the nation without a specific hate crime law.

Named after the late Sen. Clementa Pinckney, who was among the nine victims gunned down in 2015 by a white supremacist at a Black church in Charleston, the bill that passed the House in March would tack on to a sentence up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. It advanced again to the Senate floor but has yet to receive debate.

The single topic that took up the most time was abortion, as Republicans in both chambers continued to fight over how far they're willing to go in banning them in South Carolina.

A state Supreme Court decision days before the session opened in January guaranteed abortion would be the central issue. In a split decision, justices tossed out a six-week ban that had temporarily taken effect last summer after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The session ended with the Legislature passing another six-week ban that was almost immediately suspended.

How the state's high court rules after last week's oral arguments on the new law could dictate whether abortion continues to be the priority for the GOP in 2024.

Republicans count the abortion bill's eventual passage as a huge win. Democrats call it a continued stripping away of women's rights.

Other culture-war issues that advanced but didn't reach Gov. Henry McMaster's desk include bills that ban hormone treatments and surgery for transgender youth, bar Chinese citizens from buying land in South Carolina, and require the state's pension fund investors to continue making decisions based solely on what will net the most money — rather than giving weight to company policies on climate change and social impacts.

The latter is part of the fight over ESG, which stands for environmental, social and corporate governance. But the head of the investment agency says that bill would change nothing about how South Carolina's pension investors operate.

Education

Both chambers passed differ-

ent versions of a bill that requires "fact-based" lessons on race in K-12 schools and creates a multistep uniform process for parents to complain if they believe already banned concepts are being taught. Sections added during the House debate made even the chief sponsor question her support.

The session ended with the House refusing to accept the Senate's version. A compromise could be worked out after legislators return in January. In the meantime, the race-centric concepts at the heart of the debate remain banned through the budget.

Another contentious education bill that did cross the finish line creates South Carolina's first broad private-school choice program — if it survives an expected legal challenge. The law culminates a two-decade push by Republicans and would make $6,000 vouchers for private tuition available starting in the 2024-25 school year. Opponents say the law's built-in year of preparation makes an immediate lawsuit unnecessary.

An education bill signed with bipartisan support guaranteed teachers and other school district employees six weeks of paid parental leave starting June 26.

Public safety

Compromises were reached on changing South Carolina's bail bond system, punishing fentanyl traffickers with up to 40 years in prison, and requiring everyone convicted of drunk driving to get a device on their vehicle that won't let it start if it detects alcohol on their breath.

But McMaster didn't get his biggest request of the year for reducing violent crime — a law that enables state and local law enforcement to charge more felons with illegal gun possession and increases penalties for subsequent violations.

That got tied up with an effort for so-called "constitutional carry," which would allow adults to carry

a gun openly or concealed without needing a permit. Law enforcement officials have opposed the idea for years, but it's become a conservative litmus test for many GOP primary voters. The bill got stuck this year in the Senate with Republicans divided on the issue. Advocates are sure to put pressure on Republican opponents in the off-session.

Whether the felon-in-possession piece can pass separately next year or it reaches McMaster as part of permit-less carry will likely get a lot of attention ahead of the March filings for re-election.

All bills carry over into next year at whatever point in the process they're in when this session ended in mid-June. And every House and Senate seat will be on the ballot in 2024.

Other bills that made it into law in 2023: Modified trucks that are raised in the front and lowered in the back for a tilt known as the "Carolina squat" will be banned from South Carolina's roadways starting in November. Fines escalate from $100 to $300. Until the law takes effect, officers can issue only warnings.

"Gavin's Law" creates felony sextortion crimes punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Sextortion is defined as distributing or threatening to distribute a private image of someone to coerce the victim to do something. It is named for the son of Rep. Brandon Guffey, who committed suicide after someone on a social media app threatened to release nude photos if he didn't keep paying.

Anyone who destroys a utility station or other telecommunications equipment faces up to 25 years in prison. The law is in response to attacks on North Carolina's grid that caused power outages.

EMS personnel, firefighters and coroners are now covered by South Carolina's first response death benefit program, which provides the families of first responders who die on the job with $75,000. If they're killed, the benefit doubles.

• Public schools must allow students to have and use sunscreen at school.

JULY 13–19, 2023 A7 NEWS

Cotton Hall will provide a plethora of passive recreation opportunities including fishing and hiking. Photo courtesy of Todd Crosby/Crosby Land Company

WANT MORE? From Beaufort to Bluffton and Hilton Head, The Post and Courier covers news impacting your community. Subscribe for more local coverage at postandcourier. com/IslandNews.

Remembering the raid on Willtown Bluff

By Bob Sofaly

The Island News

More than two dozen people braved the heat and the ever-present mosquitoes to learn about the June 10, 1863 raid on Willtown Bluff Plantation, involving the 1st S.C. Volunteer Infantry trained at Port Royal’s Camp Saxton, now called the Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve.

The raid on Willtown Bluff, a 1,016-acre rice plantation along the banks of the Edisto River near Charleston, was part of a major effort by Union forces to take back Charleston.

The all-Black 1st S.C. Volunteer Infantry was the first of its kind to be quietly recognized by President Abraham Lincoln, squashing any belief that freed African Americans couldn’t fight.

Fort Sumter in the Charleston Harbor had fallen back into Confederate hands, and attempts to retake the important port city

Festival

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had already failed. A new three-pronged attack was created which included the 1st S.C. Volunteers being used a diversion straight up the Edisto River, and to destroy the railroad bridge, cutting off the resupply route from Savannah, according to Steve Wise, Curator of the Parris Island Museum and a Lowcountry history expert.

As the Black troops approached Willtown Bluff, a small Presbyterian Church mission community on the banks of Edisto River, they came under heavy fire and fiercely fought back. During the battle, they freed some 200 enslaved people from the plantation and the adjoining area, ultimately making it to the railroad bridge, which they burned down effectively cutting off any resupply link between Savannah and Charleston, Wise said.

Despite the efforts of the 1st S.C. Volunteers, Confed-

On Friday, June 14, the Opening Ceremonies will begin at 7 p.m. with gates opening at 6 p.m.

The ceremony will feature the Parris Island Marine Band, and the night will end with fireworks.

The festival will conclude on Sunday, July 23, with the Blessing of the Fleet and Parade of Boats.

The theme for this year’s festival is “Tides of Lasting Memories.”

The theme is always selected by the current Commodore, which this year is James Nutt.

“One of the best things throughout my years attending and volunteering with the Water Festival are the memories made with family, friends, and the community. Along with our beautiful waterways, those wonderful times are what inspired this Festival’s theme,” Nutt said.

Saturday, July 15, is one of the biggest days for the Water Festival because of the number of events that they have according to Cori Talbert, spokesperson for the Water Festival.

“All of the events that we have on Saturday are big events, but Concert in the Park on Saturday night is the biggest,” Talbert said.

Tickets for the nightly events can be purchased online and in person at the gate except for the Concert in the Park event.

Concert in the Park tickets can only be purchased online before the event and will be available until they sell out.

Nutt said that he is excited about all the events with this year’s Water Festival, but he is most excited about opening night and the fireworks.

While many of the events are the same has, they have been through the years, Nutt did say that they expanded their sporting events some this year by adding a pickleball tournament that happened in May.

“It had a really great turnout, and I am excited to see how it grows in the future,” Nutt said.

Nutt also said that as Commodore, he had a hand in picking the evening entertainment and is very excited about the Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band and a Led Zeppelin tribute band.

“I grew up listening to southern rock and classic rock and I figured everyone knows at least 10 Skynyrd songs,” said Nutt. “Those bands should be a good time.”

2023 Water Festival Schedule of Events:

Friday, July 14

Festival Arts & Crafts Market

Location: Promenade at Henry

C. Chambers Waterfront Park

Event Details: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Park Ranger Rich Condon with the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, talks about the 1863 raid on Willtown Bluff and the all-black First S.C. Volunteer Infantry on Saturday at the ruins of Camp Saxton, in Port Royal. The First S.C. regiment was comprised of all black men and trained 160 years ago at the very site where Saturday’s event was held. The black troops were part of a three-pronged attack on Charleston in 1863, the “Year of Jubilee.” Bob Sofaly/The Island News

erate troops held Charleston and Fort Sumter until Sherman’s march to the Sea from Atlanta. Charleston fell to the Union troops in 1865.

For more information about Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, visit www.nps.gov/reer or

Opening Ceremony

District’s Back-to-School Expo set for July 29

Event aimed at preparing students, parents for new year

From staff reports

The Beaufort County School District is teaming up with government agencies and private-sector business partners to hold its annual “Back-to-School Expo” designed to give students and their families a free day of fun, door prizes, and valuable information about the upcoming 202324 school year. This year’s Expo is set for Saturday, July 29, at Beaufort High School, located at 84 Sea Island Pkwy in Beaufort. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We are excited to kickoff the school year with this annual event that enables

families to gather a lot of practical and helpful information,” Student Services Officer Juliet White, Ph.D., said in a news release. “District schools are pitching in, district employees are volunteering on a Saturday, and we’re glad to have participation from our business partners, civic groups and faith-based groups.”

Students and their families are encouraged to attend the events, which will feature:

Booths operated by district schools that

can supply information about school activities.

Door prizes from local restaurants and businesses. Free school supplies for students.

Free dental and health services provided by Beaufort-Jasper-Hampton Comprehensive Health Services and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). District Food Services will be available to answer questions about the free and reduced lunch application process, and the district’s food vendor will be present.

The district’s travelling preschool bus will be on site, and staff will share information with parents.

Free transportation for BCSD families is being provided at sites North and South of the Broad: District Educational Services Center, 2900 Mink Point Blvd., Beaufort – Buses will depart from this location at 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, and 11:30 a.m. Bluffton High School, 12 H.E. McCracken Circle, Bluffton – Buses will depart from this location at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. For additional information, families can contact Human Services Coordinator Andrea Murray at 843-379-7807 or andrea. murray@beaufort.k12.sc.us. Spanish speaking families can contact Yanina SarliRotti at 843-694-4769 or Yanina.SarliRotti@beaufort.k12.sc.us.

BOE implements bag policy for meetings

BCSD families planning to attend the Backto-School Expo are encouraged to preregister here by Friday, July 14, 2023: BCSD families desiring transportation to the Back-to-School Expo are encouraged to preregister here by Friday, July 14, 2023:

From staff reports The Beaufort County Board of Education has announced a significant change to safety and security measures, implemented following a specially convened meeting on July 6. All bags, backpacks, and purses will be strictly prohibited for all members of the public in attendance at future Board of Education meetings. Attendees of future Board meetings are encouraged to plan ahead. Any individual found in violation of this security measure may be denied entry or asked to leave the premises.

The Board will continue to work in conjunction with district security and law enforcement to assess and evolve its security measures as needed.

The Board thanks the public in advance for their understanding and cooperation as it continues its commitment to maintaining a secure and productive environment for everyone in attendance.

Beaufort High’s Livesay named National Merit Scholarship winner

7 Beaufort County School District students earned National Merit Scholarship

From staff reports Beaufort High School graduate Susan Livesay is one of seven Beaufort County School District students offered the prestigious National Merit Scholarship, having been judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

“This is a great accomplishment for these exceptional students and our district,” Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said in a release. “It speaks to the academic rigor we offer, and the superb instructional environment provided by our educators and staff in support of student achievement.”

Livesay, along with Lucy Peltz (May River), Benjamin Lewis (Hilton Head Island), Jason Ni (Bluffton) and McKenzie Morgan (Bluffton), are among only 3,800 high school seniors nationwide who were offered a National Mer-

Susan Livesay

it Scholarship for study at sponsoring colleges or universities. This national recognition came in the third round of announcements by the NMSC.

Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners from among the Finalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program who plan to attend their institution.

This year, 153 higher education institutions are underwriting Merit Scholarship awards through the National Merit Scholarship Program. Sponsor colleges and universities include 81 private and 72 public institutions located in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

Livesay, like Lewis, and Ni, will all be attending Clemson University this Fall, studying medicine.

Lewis and Ni will study business, and aerospace engineering, respectively.

Peltz will be attending Brigham Young University to study Aerospace Engineering. Although Morgan declined her National Merit Scholarship offer from Florida State, she will attend Duke University to study Engineering.

May River High School students

Sarah Nunez and Brooks van Esselstyn are among approximately 840 distinguished high school seniors across the country who won Corporate-Sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards financed by about 107 corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations. This national recognition came in the second round of announcements by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

Nunez will attend the University of Alabama this Fall, studying Speech/Language Pathology. Van

Esselstyn will attend Florida Tech to study Aerospace Engineering.

The 2023 National Merit Scholarship competition

High school juniors entered the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program when they took the 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. Semifinalists were the highest-scoring program entrants in each state and represented fewer than one percent of the nation’s seniors.

To compete for Merit Scholarship awards, Semifinalists first had to advance to the Finalist level of the competition by fulfilling additional requirements. Each Semifinalist was asked to submit a detailed scholarship application, which included writing an essay and providing information about extracurricular activities, awards,

and leadership positions.

Semifinalists also had to have an outstanding academic record, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirmed the qualifying test performance. Approximately half of the Finalists were chosen to receive National Merit Scholarships.

NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was founded in 1955 to conduct the National Merit Scholarship Program. Over the past 68 years, approximately 375,000 outstanding young individuals have won National Merit Scholarships worth more than $1.3 billion. The majority of awards offered each year are underwritten by approximately 340 independent corporate and college sponsors that support NMSC’s efforts to recognize scholastically talented youth and encourage the pursuit of academic excellence.

Beaufort students make honor rolls at USC Beaufort

From staff reports

More than 50 students from Beaufort have made the President’s and Chancellor’s lists at USC Beaufort for the Spring semester.

To be eligible for the President’s List, students must obtain a term grade point average of 4.00 earned on a minimum of 12 credited semester hours.

To be eligible for the Chancellor’s List, students must obtain a term grade point

average of 3.50 or higher earned on a minimum of 12 credited semester hours.

The President’s List

Ryan Bennett (29906); Nicole Bouscal (29907); Kimberly Combs (29906); Kristen Cox (29907); Kerys Fitzgibbons (29907); Victoria Ganshow (29906); Jonathan Garcia Arias (29906); Hayden Greenwalt (29907); Lucy Holdt (29906); Tgaja Johnson (29906); Kyleigh

EDUCATION BRIEFS

Stephens initiated into Omicron Delta Kappa

Clarence Stephens, a native of Beaufort, was recently initiated into the Morehouse College Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society. The Society welcomed 486 new initiates from 24 universities during May 2023. Students initiated into the Society must be sophomores, juniors, seniors, or graduate/professional students in the top 35% of their class, demonstrate leadership experience in at least one of the five

Jones (29906); Jarrett Kizer (29906); Katharine Mason (29907); Anna Miller (29907); Latara Rhodes (29906); Jamie Smith (29906); Deanna Snipes (29906); Haley Wright (29907); Tatiana Zalapskaia (29902).

The Chancellor’s List

Ryan Allbrandt (29907); Simon Araneda (29907); Lillian Barradas (29902); Grace Buell (29906); Tyler

pillars, and embrace the ODK ideals. Fewer than five percent of students on a campus are invited to join each year.

Omicron Delta Kappa Society, the National Leadership Honor Society, was founded in Lexington, Virginia, on December 3, 1914. A group of 15 students and faculty members established the Society to recognize and encourage leadership at the collegiate level. The founders established the ODK Idea – the concept that individuals representing all phases of collegiate life should collaborate with faculty and others to support the campus and community. ODK’s mission

Carver (29906); Jennifer Christensen (29907); Hope Chutjian (29902); Mckinley Coleman (29907); Dominick Crowell (29907); Celeste Cruz-Reyes (29906); Kaitlyn Davis (29907); Caroline DeFazio (29906); Jessica Erickson (29907); Murray Flowers (29902); Jason Garcia Arias (29906); Aydanni Gonzalez (29902); George Long (29907); Isabel Martinez (29902); Tabitha

is to honor and develop leaders; encourage collaboration among students, faculty, staff, and alumni; and promote ODK’s leadership values of collaboration, inclusivity, integrity, scholarship, and service on college and university campuses throughout North America.

Beaufort’s Parker graduates from UA

Little Rock

Isaiah Parker of Beaufort graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock during the spring 2023 semester. Parker graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Applied

McLeod (29902); Mariah

Midyette (29906); Mariela

Moreno Nava (29906); Emily Najera (29906); Preston Offutt (29907); Peggy

Owens (29906); Jason

Personius (29907); Sadie

Phifer (29902); Eli Smith (29907); Natajisia Smith (29902); Natasha Solis

Gonzalez (29906); Allison Stacks (29906); Andrew

Starmer (29902); Jordan

Stinnett (29907); Timothy

Sullivan (29907); William

Communication Studies.

More than 1,100 degrees were awarded for the spring 2023 semester with the commencement ceremony taking places May 13 at the UA Little Rock Jack Stephens Center.

4 from Beaufort make Dean’s, President’s lists at Alabama

A total of 12,487 students enrolled during Spring Semester 2023 at The University of Alabama were named to the Dean’s List with an academic record of 3.5 (or above) or the President’s List

Tate (29907); Kathryn Tovar (29902); Jacob Williams (29906).

USCB is the fastest growing four-year institution within the University of South Carolina System. It offers 20 baccalaureate degrees on three campuses –Bluffton, Beaufort and Hilton Head Island. Its 2,000 students hail from multiple states and more than a dozen international locations.

with an academic record of 4.0 (all A’s).

Emma Bumgardner of Beaufort was named to the Presidents List. Wylee Krasnigor of Beaufort was named to the Deans List.

Alexandra Lee of Beaufort was named to the Presidents List.

Lexi Sligh of Beaufort was named to the Deans List. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus.

– From staff reports

JULY 13–19, 2023 A9 EDUCATION

Is sparkling water good for you?

So you’ve swapped soda for seltzer, and now you’re concerned that you’ve simply traded one bad habit for another. Good news: As long as you’re drinking sparkling water with no added sugars, you’ve made an A+ choice.

In many cases, sparkling water is just water—which is, of course, vital to your health. That said, there are a few different kinds of sparkling water, and they’re not all created equally.

Seltzer is artificially carbonated water, plain and simple, though some kinds include natural fruit flavors and/or sugar. (A note: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration technically differentiates between seltzer and sparkling water based on their carbonation processes. For consumer purposes, though, they’re the same.)

Mineral water, which is sourced from a spring or well, is naturally carbonated water that includes minerals like magnesium and calcium.

Club soda is artificially carbonated and enhanced with added minerals like sodium bicarbonate and potassium sulfate.

Tonic water is also artificially carbonated and enhanced with added minerals, including quinine, which provides that signature bitter taste. It also includes sugar or high-fructose corn syrup.

Feel free to crack open sugar-free seltzers and mineral waters to your heart’s delight—but limit tonic water. Not only does it include added sugars, but too much quinine can also cause an upset stomach, headaches, ringing in the ears, as well as other medically serious unpleasant side effects, like organ damage, severe bleeding and changes to your heart rhythm.

Benefits of drinking

sparkling water

OK, so you know carbonated water is better for you than sugary soda, juice and energy drinks. But aside from sugar content, what, exactly, makes the bubbly so much better?

1. Helps you hydrate

There’s one benefit so big it bears repeating: hydration, hydration, hydration. Sparkling water is just as hydrating as its bubble-free counterpart, so if you’re struggling to drink enough water during the day, there’s no harm in swapping a glass or two of still water for the fruity, fizzy stuff. Remember, though—no added sugars!

2. Makes you feel full “Drinking sparkling water may lead to experiencing a short-term, immediate increase in satiety, or fullness,” Sullivan says. Some studies show that carbonated water keeps you feeling fuller for

Swimmer’s itch is a rash that can occur after you go swimming or wading outdoors. It’s most common after being in freshwater lakes and ponds, but you can get it in saltwater too.

Swimmer’s itch is usually caused by a reaction to tiny parasites in the water that burrow into your skin while you’re swimming or wading in warm, calm water. These parasites can’t survive in people, so they soon die.

Swimmer’s itch usually clears on its own within a few days. In the meantime, you can control itching with medicine.

Symptoms:

Swimmer’s itch symptoms include an itchy rash that looks like pimples or blisters. Symptoms may begin within minutes or as long as two days after swimming or wading in contaminated water. Usually, the rash affects skin that’s not covered

longer—and may even keep food in your stomach for longer than regular water.

3. May relieve constipation

In one study, people experiencing constipation after a stroke reported significant relief after two weeks of drinking sparkling water. Another study found that sparkling water brought relief to people with indigestion.

4. Eases the transition from sugary drinks

If you’re trying to kick a soda addiction or scale down on daily lattes, sparkling water could be the ticket to tricking your brain

out of bad habits. You can even use herbs, fruit or cucumber to enhance the flavor of sparkling water.

“It can be difficult to transition from sweet drinks to water, but flavored seltzers and sparkling water can help,” Sullivan says. “Water, whether plain or carbonated, is better than high-calorie, sugar-infused drinks.”

The side effects of sparkling water

As long as you’re choosing sugar-free, caffeine-free varieties, there aren’t many risks to worry about. “There is very little specific re-

care TALK ©

search showing that sparkling water has a negative impact on health,” Sullivan says. But there are a few things to watch out for.

Stomach issues

You might experience temporary but unwanted side effects from sparkling water if you’re prone to tummy troubles:

Burping.

Bloating.

Gas.

Stomach pain.

If you find that your stomach doesn’t tolerate the carbonation well, scale back your sparkling water intake and stick to still water.

What is swimmer’s itch?

Risk factors: Factors that can increase the risk of swimmer’s itch include: Spending time in water that’s infested with certain parasites. Forgetting to dry off with a towel after getting out of the water. Being sensitive to the parasites that cause swimmer’s itch.

Teeth troubles

“Sparkling water may also contain minerals, whether natural or infused during the process of carbonation, that can lead to changes in your tooth enamel,” Sullivan warns. Be on the lookout for anything that includes citric acid, phosphorous or sugar, all of which can contribute to enamel erosion. Regular seltzer, though, has not been shown to have a significant effect on enamel.

Keep your sparkling water simple

“Sparkling water may contain sugar, artificial sweeteners, caffeine and other additives,” Sullivan emphasizes, “but the best kind is the simple, straightforward kind, just water and carbonation.”

Sugar is associated with heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other chronic conditions; artificial sweeteners can cause stomach issues. And although caffeine is typically safe for healthy adults in limited amounts, there’s no safe level of caffeine intake for kids.

In other words, your sparkling water only qualifies as water if it’s not filled with other stuff. As long as you stick to the basics, feel free to drink your fill of the fizz.

Source: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-sparkling-waterhealthy/

by swimsuits, wetsuits, or waders. Your sensitivity to swimmer’s itch can increase each time you’re exposed to the parasites that cause it.

Causes:

Swimmer’s itch is caused by an allergic reaction to parasites that burrow into your skin from warm water. These parasites are found in some animals that live near ponds

and lakes, including geese, ducks, and muskrats. The parasites’ eggs get into the water through the animals’ waste. When the young parasites hatch, they live and grow in a type of snail that lives in shallow water. The snails then release the parasites into the water, where they can infect humans.

Swimmer’s itch isn’t contagious from person to person.

Complications: Swimmer’s itch usually isn’t serious, but your skin can become infected if you scratch the rash.

When to see a doctor: Talk to your health care provider if you have a rash after swimming that lasts more than a week. If you notice pus at the rash site, check with your health care provider. You might be referred to a doctor who specializes in skin conditions (dermatologist).

Prevention: Follow these tips to avoid swimmer’s itch: • Choose swimming spots carefully. Avoid being in water near the shore where swimmer’s itch is a known problem or where signs have been posted warning of the risk. Also avoid being in marshy areas where snails are often found. Rinse after swimming. Rinse exposed skin with clean water right after leaving the water. Then dry the skin with a towel. Skip the bread crumbs. Don’t feed birds on piers or near swimming areas. Bread crumbs are very unhealthy for waterbirds anyway.

Source: By Mayo Clinic Staff, https://www. mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/swimmers-itch/symptoms-causes/

A10 JULY 13–19, 2023 HEALTH & WELLNESS Options & References for a Healthier Life

West Nile virus: What you need to know

By Deb Balzer mayoclinic.org

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed (https://www.cdc.gov/ westnile/statsmaps/current-season-data.html) reports of West Nile virus in 10 states, South Carolina included. The bite of an infected mosquito most commonly spreads the virus.

“West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne illness in the U.S.,” says Dr. Bobbi Pritt, director of the Clinical Parasitology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic.

It’s a flavivirus—a specific type of RNA virus that can infect humans, birds, and horses.

“West Nile virus is transmitted predominantly through the bite of an infected mosquito. Less

commonly, it can be transmitted through other means, like blood transfusion,” says Dr. Pritt. “The mosquito that’s most commonly implicated is the Culex mosquito, different from the Anopheles mosquito that transmits malaria.”

Symptoms:

Most people infected with the West Nile virus do not experience any symptoms though some may develop a fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting and rash. While most people fully recover, some may experience ongoing weakness and fatigue for months.

Severe symptoms from West Nile virus are uncommon though people over 60 face a higher risk of severe illness if infected. Those with medical conditions, such as

wise WORDS ©

cancer, diabetes, hypertension or kidney disease, or who have undergone organ transplants, also are at an increased risk of serious health complications due to the virus. Severe symptoms affecting the nervous system develop in about 1 in 150 infected people, according to the CDC. Severe symptoms may include inflammation of the brain, known as encephalitis, or of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, known as meningitis. Seek medical attention immediately if you have signs or symptoms of a serious infection, such as severe headaches, a stiff neck, disorientation, or confusion. Hospitalization is usually necessary for a serious infection.

Snacking for meals

During warm weather months, do you find yourself eating fewer formal meals and, instead, reaching for more snacks? Do you also tend to exercise less when it’s hot outside?

How do you ensure you’re snacking healthfully as there is potential to overeat and not be as active?

Regardless of the time of year, maintaining healthy habits is important for good health. This includes exercise, eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight.

When snacking is done correctly, it can give you a boost of energy between meals, help meet nutrient needs for the day and help keep hunger at bay to prevent overeating at the next meal. And managing your hunger can help you maintain a healthy weight and reach weight-loss goals.

Consider these snacking tips to keep you feeling good as you adjust your eating schedule:

Plan your snacks. What do you like to eat? Make a list of various nutrient-rich foods that would work as a snack. Focus on incorporating whole foods, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. Whole fruit or vegetables, air-popped popcorn, fat-free or low-fat yogurt, and nut mixes are all great options. Stay away from packaged items high in calories, fat, and sodium, such as chips, candy, or cookies. Prepare your snacks properly. Package snack items into more convenient serving sized portions. Consider purchasing single-serve containers or preparing small servings of snacks in advance. Eating out of a package often can lead to mindless eating and result in eating more than intended. Also, it will make it easier if you take lunch to work, for instance, to help lessen the temptation of less-healthy options, such as from a vending machine.

Make healthy snacks easily accessible. Put

fruits and vegetables in easily accessible locations, such as the front of your fridge or counter, which will stop you from reaching for unhealthy foods when you’re hungry. Throw a bag of dried fruit or other snacks in your purse, pocket, or backpack to take with you out of the house. This will help you avoid buying unhealthy snacks. Pay attention to protein and combine snacks to make a more satisfying meal. To ensure you are being fulfilled, combine carbohydrates, protein, and fat for long-lasting, satisfying snacks. Aim for snacks to be less than 200 calories. Good sources of protein include hard-boiled eggs, pouches of seasoned tuna, cheese sticks, cottage cheese, yogurt with no added sugar, or soups made with lots of vegetables and legumes. A healthy go-to snack could be apple slices or baby carrots dipped in small amounts of peanut butter or almond butter and sprinkled with cinnamon. Eat when you are hungry—not bored. In general, a person will be hungry three to four hours after a meal. But having snacks around can lead to overeating. When you feel hunger setting in, be sure to ask

yourself, “Am I physically hungry, or am I mind hungry—bored, stressed or frustrated?” before you grab for a snack. If you find you are, in fact, experiencing physical hunger, it’s time to grab a filling, satisfying snack. If you realize you were reaching for a snack because of mind hunger, feed the urge by doing another activity, such as going for a walk, talking with a friend on the phone, playing a game or meditating.

Review your fridge and pantry. While stocking up on healthy food choices, take time to also purge unhealthier options from your home. Remove foods that you know will tempt you. Be aware of your weight. If you’re concerned about gaining weight, track your intake of snacks.

There are several apps you can use to track your eating and exercise routines. Women need 10 calories per pound per day to maintain their weight, and men need 11 calories per pound per day. Keep track of what and how much you eat and build in enough exercise so you can control weight gain.

Source: Compiled by Mayo Clinic staff; https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-qand-a-snacking-for-meals/

Testing and diagnosis: West Nile virus infection is usually diagnosed by detecting antibodies in a patient’s blood sample. Usually, PCR testing would be combined with serology so that you don’t miss infection.

Prevention: Mosquitoes can transmit a number of harmful pathogens, including the West Nile virus and malaria. The best way to avoid mosquito-borne illness is to avoid mosquitoes. Consider these tips: Use insect repellent with DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Wear permethrin-treated clothing while outdoors or in the woods.

Empty standing water in outdoor areas, including pet bowls and rain barrels. Install screens in windows. There are also measures people can take to control mosquito populations around their home. “It’s important to know that mosquitoes breed and lay their eggs in bodies of water. One of those preventive measures is to remove standing bodies of water around the house, such as bird baths, kiddie pools and other containers that may collect rainwater, for example. Then you could also pay to have the outside of your home professionally treated,” counsels Dr. Pritt.

Source: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic. org/discussion/west-nile-viruswhat-you-need-to-know/

• Researchers investigated when the body starts exerting more energy to keep itself cool at high temperatures. They found that this upper-temperature limit lies between 104F (40°) and 122F (50°) when the human body stops functioning optimally.

Further studies are needed to understand how this happens and offer insights as heatwaves and unusually warm temperatures continue to impact regions across the globe.

The human body may lose the ability to rid of excessive heat and stop functioning optimally when outside temperatures reach beyond 104 Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius), according to new research. The thermoneutral zone is a range of temperatures in which the body doesn’t have to increase its met-

abolic rate or exert more energy to maintain its ideal core temperature of 98.6 Fahrenheit or 37° Celsius.

Studies show that the zone’s lower limit is 82.4F or 28°. Below this, the body expends more energy to maintain its ideal temperature. One of the keys ways it does this is by shivering— when key muscle groups involuntarily contract to produce heat.

At higher temperatures, the body uses other mechanisms to cool down, such as sweating and vasodilation of blood vessels at the skin surface to increase heat loss. However, while the thermoneutral zone’s lower range has been established, its upper limit is still uncertain.

One study suggests that the upper limit may stand at around 89.6F (32°) as this is when humans start to sweat. Another study, however, noted that the metabolic rate starts to increase at 104F (40°).

A follow up study of a

2021 investigation found that the thermoneutral zone’s upper limit likely lies between 104F (40°) and 122F (50°).

The researchers noted that drinking water in each of the conditions did not cool the body.

The findings appear to shed more precise light upon the body’s responses to sustained heat and humidity, and upon both the nature and mechanisms of enhanced metabolic rate that also arise in response to such conditions.

Further research into the upper limit of the thermoneutral zone could inform and affect change for important policies on working conditions, sports, medication, and international travel.

Sources: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-hotis-too-hot-for-the-human-bodyheart-metabolic-rate; National Institutes of Health, https://www. nih.gov

represents

JULY 13–19, 2023 A11 HEALTH & WELLNESS Options & References for a Healthier Life The content offered in this Care magazine® supplement are here to educate consumers on health care, wellness, lifestyle, and medical issues that may affect their daily lives. Nothing in the content, products or services should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The articles, references and options contained herein do not constitute the practice of any medical, nursing, or other professional health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. None of the products or services offered through this publication

or warrants that any particular service or product is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. We advise readers to always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions regarding personal health or medical conditions. —Care magazine® editor, caremagazine@gmail.com

How hot is too hot for the human body? For more information visit us at www.rmhccoastalempire.org or call 912-350-7641. WEDNESDAY WISHLIST Follow us on Facebook every Wednesday to find out how you can support the Ronald McDonald House. Contact Skylar for additional information at skylar@rmhccoastalempire.org

I know where to find the best apple pie on Earth

It is Wednesday, and I’m at Tunnel City Coffee sipping a latte ($4.28) watching a steady stream of culture-seeking tourists pour into the four-storied, former mill building that now houses the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.

Notwithstanding my view of those seeking the epiphany, wonder and puzzlement that comes with a ticket to MassMoca, my thoughts are on another museum — The Frontier Cultural Museum — in Staunton, Va. Susan and I were there about a week ago, and I’ve not quite escaped that experience.

The Frontier Museum in an open-air assemblage of houses, cottages, huts and barns that tell the story of the Scots-Irish immigrants who poured into the Valley of Virginia in the mid-1700s. The Frontier Museum is a kind of Appalachian answer to Colonial Williamsburg down on the coast. But the

SCOTT GRABER

Scots-Irish were nothing like the English who settled the Tidewater and built the elegant brick buildings along Duke of Gloucester Street.

The Scots-Irish started off in the Scottish Lowlands, then were forcibly transported to Ulster in Northern Ireland, then crossed the Atlantic arriving in Pennsylvania. From Pennsylvania these wandering immigrants moved themselves and their livestock down the “Wagon Road” into the Shenandoah Valley.

These were tough, independent, rifle-toting people who were thought to be

ungovernable. They were descended from the Scotti tribe (for which Scotland is named) owing their allegiance to local, blue-painted chieftains and not to any central government. Certainly not the to the English King or his Crown-supported church. These people did not resemble the tobacco-growing aristocracy living on the coast.

When they arrived, they built crude, one-room huts, cleared a couple of acres for corn and did not live in harmony with the local Indians. In fact, they were encouraged to settle the Appalachian Mountains for the singular purpose of forming a protective buffer between the indigenous tribes and the tobacco-growers in the Tidewater.

The museum comes with an English farmhouse (originally from Worcester) representing what the settlers left behind. There is also an Irish farmhouse showing

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The history of Washington Street Park

In the latter part of 1941, a group of black citizens purchased and donated parcels of property that now constitutes a park known as the Washington Street Park. The property was acquired by the Beaufort County Recreational Center for Negro Children. The acquisition was necessary because public elected officials at that time and previously failed to provide recreational facilities for African-American children. The deeds were recorded in the Office of the RMC for Beaufort County in Book 159 at page 106 and Book 54 at Page 428

In 1959, the Beaufort County Recreational Center for Negro Children entered into a long-term lease with the Youth Center Inc., – the lease was recorded on July 8, 1959, in the office of the RMC for Beaufort County at Lease Book L-5 at Page 314

On Jan. 9, 1993, the two organizations

merged into The Beaufort County Community Center. By deed dated Sept. 21, 2012 and recorded in the Registry of Deeds for Beaufort County in Book 3176 at Page 1310, the Beaufort County Recreational Center for Negro Children transferred all its rights to The Beaufort County Community Center.

On Sept. 15, 2017, The Beaufort County Community Center granted to the City of Beaufort a 30-year lease.

From the 1940s, this playground was home to community functions, church revivals, Decoration Day fairs, Easter egg hunts, etc. Sometime in the late 50s or early 60s, the City began to make minor improvements to this playground.

Since April 2018, the City has installed bathrooms and new playground equipment. The city has a plan for a new pavilion, and new basketball courts for which it has received grants. At no time did the City own the property known as the Washington Street Park. However, the City has a long term lease and is obligated

how the wandering Scots lived while they lingered in Ulster, Ireland. And then, to be inclusive and fair, there are American Indian huts.

But the Museum does not start its story in Scotland.

The FCM starts off in Nigeria showing us a West African Farm and an Igbo household. This then is the story of the Igbo people who were transported to Virginia beginning in 1700.

The Igbo village is kind of sparse with two thatched-roof structures furnished with terra cotta pots, a couple of drums and a demonstration yam. The Igbo exhibit seems to be an add-on in the interest of DEI.

When Susan and I arrived at the Igbo farm, I asked the young, female attendant about the Igbo having spent a little time in Nigeria. She came alive talking about the argumentative character of the Igbo — and said they were always the last slaves to be purchased. But most

of the Igbo ended-up in the Tidewater tending tobacco.

The Igbo never got into the Shenandoah Valley because the Valley did not grow tobacco; and the Scots-Irish could not afford slaves, and so this West African farm would be more appropriate attached to Colonial Williamsburg. But the Shenandoah Valley did grow raw, independent, gun-toting Presbyterians who would fillout the ranks of the Confederate Army.

Lately scholars seem conclude that the Confederate infantry were simply racists — the Civil War now reduced to a struggle over slavery.

But the Scots-Irish who were the bulk of the Army of Northern Virginia were not slave-owners. Why, then, did these dirt poor, obstreperous, Scottish-descended mountain people fight for so long?

I have a personal interest in this issue because my wife’s people are from Page

to improve the park for public recreational purposes. The obvious intent of the lease is to maximize the park consistent with parks in other neighborhoods.

– Dan Blackmon, President, Northwest Quadrant Neighborhood Association

The Island News is my favorite

I have traveled to all 50 states multiple times. Read every big and small newspaper. I’ve lived here in Beaufort, S.C., for 16 years.

The Island News is my favorite newspaper. First is the veteran of the week. What an honor for these men and women who have served our country and many have gone on to serve the community in other careers. My father went through Parris Island and was fighting in the Korean War when I was born.

I love your featured writers – Terry Manning and Carol Lucas. Their thoughts are spot on. It is amazing in this deep red state for a newspaper to have the courage

County, Va., and one of them, Joseph Henry Reid, carried messages between Stonewall Jackson and Wade Hampton — I happen to have his Colt 1851 Navy Revolver.

James Webb (the author of “Born Fighting”) says these Scots-Irish people were angry about Virginia being invaded by the North; had an over-riding allegiance to local leaders; and a history of fighting foreign invaders stretching back to the Roman Legionnaires on Hadrian’s Wall.

Susan and I found that the Civil War — long a mainstay of Virginia tourism — is rarely mentioned here. This museum has moved on.

But the best apple pie on earth may be found, within five minutes of Frontier, at Mrs. Rowe’s Family Restaurant.

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

to feature writers who are defiantly not conservatives. I pray their musings will give MAGA people food for thought in reality, not alternative facts.

I must address Lindsey Graham. Watch his televised beat downs of Trump. Then when Trump was elected, Lindsey couldn’t lick Trump’s feet fast enough. What happened to the small government, strong military, fiscal responsibility, Lindsey? He voted for a $2 trillion tax break for the wealthiest people and corporations. Nothing for us.

Starting with Reagan’s trickledown economics, every Republican administration has put us in deep debt. Every Democratic administration has lowered the debt. Including Clinton who handed Bush a surplus. But Bush put us back in debt.

Please my fellow South Carolinians, expand your options in news to better inform yourself.

– Don Raymond Cass, Beaufort

A12 JULY 13–19, 2023 Editor’s Note: The opinions of our columnists in the Voices section are not necessarily the opinions of The Island News VOICES

There cannot be a person anywhere, man or woman, who cannot remember when his or her first child came into the world. It was a magical moment and produced a wide range of emotions.

Of course in the case of many of the women, one of the most striking of those reactions had to be that of a pain-filled plea for more anesthetic. I admit to being one of the latter who told her obstetrician to be in the parking lot with needle in hand when I arrived. I have nothing but admiration and no small amount of incredulity for those gals who opt for natural childbirth.

But back to the glorious moment when the doctor hands off that little bundle of joy and announces the gender of the child, assuming this wasn’t determined earlier in the game.

On June 12, my great grandson (the first great) arrived a month early. This brought about a heady mix of joy as well as concern. Since he was a premie, how would things go for him? How was my granddaughter making out? It seemed that week that I was in constant touch with my daughter, the grandmother of

CAROL LUCAS

this new arrival.

Fortunately, he weighed in at 5 pounds, 3 ounces and 18-and-ahalf inches long. For a premature baby, this was encouraging, but I am a worrier by nature. Give me anything that remotely suggests worrying might be called for, and I strap it on my back and drag it along behind me.

Therefore, while I didn’t want to be a helicopter great granny, I made it clear that I wanted a daily (hourly if truth be known) update. No fool like an old fool.

Finally the day arrived when I got into my car and traversed I-16 all the way to Macon, Ga., and then onto I-75 North to meet the newest member of the family.

My great grandson’s name is Liam Noel, and I must interrupt here to tell you about the joy that name brings. The middle name is that of my late husband, who

passed away in 2001. My granddaughter has a picture of him, sitting with her in our golf cart, and she remembers him despite her being just 5 when he passed. Additionally, she has the feminine version, Noelle, of his name as her middle name. So when she told me during the course of her pregnancy that this little boy would have his great grandfather’s name, I cried. Of course I did.

To say that all of this brings forth so much emotion is an understatement. So may I have a little background music, please. In 1968, our first daughter was born, and in 1971, her sister came into the world. I had wanted a boy both times; of course I loved my daughters beyond reason, and still do, but one time I questioned my husband as to whether or not he missed having a boy. His response? “Hell, no. I love having a harem!” I never asked again, and both of my girls had a father-daughter relationship that I never experienced.

When our older daughter had a girl, followed by another girl, my husband exclaimed, “My harem continues to expand.” So now that the chain of females appears

life

to have been broken, I become a bit wistful. I wish Noel could have been here to see this little boy, but I tell myself that he does, and that he smiles.

As I drove, I took a moment to think about the fact that I knew none of my great grandparents from either side of the family. However, I was fortunate enough to have interacted with both grandmothers and grandfathers. I grew up in the same town as my paternal grandparents which afforded a lot of time together.

In fact, I was very close to my grandfather, and we forged a special bond that included gardening together. He even had a small wooden wheelbarrow made for me which I still have.

My maternal grandparents lived about 35 miles away which was somewhat substantial back then. Yet my mother’s family was large, and we always were there for Christmas. With six aunts and uncles and their families, the festivities were very memorable.

And so as I held little Liam for the first time, so many questions bubbled to the surface. He lives four-and-a-half hours from me.

How often will I get to see him?

How many memories, much like

those I just described, will be created with this child? The next time I hold him, how much will he have grown, and what will I have missed?

And yet when I looked into those baby blue eyes, I felt as though I were given a glimpse of the future that I might not have seen otherwise. It was a pivotal moment for me, for I held in my hands the extension of my own life.

If I were to pass from this earth tomorrow, right here was a life that possesses some of my genetic make-up. Yes, initially I had laughed when told of the pending birth and said it certainly underscored my age. But to have the privilege of seeing the fourth generation before me outweighed any humor I might have conjured up. The awe was overwhelming.

So I can focus upon and lament the distance, or I can be grateful that I have lived long enough to enjoy this gift from God. The choice is simple.

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.”

Ihave, for as long as I can remember, been a political junkie. Even as a child, I enjoyed hearing my father and my uncle argue about then President Truman.

My father was a hard-andfast Roosevelt guy and he considered Harry Truman to be a weak and ineffective replacement for the “Great Man.” My uncle, also a Democrat, never liked Roosevelt and considered him to be a borderline communist, Truman to be a breath of fresh air and a true American patriot, so the discussion was always lively. My mother would simply roll her eyes at both of them and walk out of the room shaking her head. I never missed a word!

I have lived through 20 presidential elections, but

JIM DICKSON

the first one that I really remember was the election of 1960 when Jack Kennedy ran against Richard Nixon. I was in high school at the time and by then old enough to understand most of what was going on, plus for the first time, the debates and the conventions were on TV. Needless to say I was glued to the flickering black-and-white TV screen when any of it was on.

I was pulling for the

young and handsome Jack Kennedy and his beautiful wife, against dark and sinister “Tricky Dick Nixon.”

I think that it was Winston Churchill who said, “If your not a liberal when you are young, you have no heart, and if your are not a conservative when you are older, you have no head.” That was true of me at the time. I was a card carrying liberal, full of heart, and Kennedy was my guy. And best of all, he won. This all changed when I was in college and Barry Goldwater was running against Lyndon Johnson. I read Goldwater’s book “The Conscience of a Conservative” and a light went on in my head. I couldn’t believe how much common sense the man had about govern-

ment and how the country could and should be run.

Having lived and gone to school in Texas, it was pretty well known that Johnson was a crook, a liar, and a thief, so Goldwater became my guy. From that time on I have always supported and worked for conservative candidates from either party. Some won and some lost, but I have always looked forward to, and enjoyed, the contest.

Which brings us to this year and the 2024 elections. For the first time I am not looking forward to this election season. Trump Derangement Syndrome is in full bloom on the left, and Biden bashing is at full throttle on the right. And most people don’t want either one of them to be

President again. I can’t remember when the country found itself in such a lose-lose situation. We have some very serious domestic and foreign threats and we desperately need a strong leader who can pull the country together. I don’t see anyone on the horizon who can fill that bill with a chance of being nominated.

The Republicans are going to have a stage full of candidates, some of whom are very good people. But they will probably self destruct in the primary like they did in 2020, and Trump wins the nomination. The Dems seem to be stuck with Biden and Harris, although Robert Kennedy Jr., seems to be getting some traction.

It might just be the year

when third-party candidates succeed in getting elected, depending on who they run and if they can get on enough state ballots to win the necessary electoral votes. Whatever happens, it’s probably not going to be a pretty picture unless some of the good people on both sides can find a way to break through and get the nomination.

Born, raised and educated in the Southwest, Jim Dickson served in the U.S. Navy Reserve in Vietnam before a 35-year business career. Retired to St. Helena Island, Dickson and his wife are fiscally conservative, socially moderate and active in Republican politics, though they may not always agree with Republicans. Having lived around the country and traveled around the world, Dickson believes that the United States truly is the land of opportunity.

JULY 13–19, 2023 A13

probably not going to

Editor’s Note: The opinions of our columnists in the Voices section are not necessarily the opinions of The Island News VOICES

extension

Love God, Love Others, Reach Out All Are Welcome for Worship Sunday 8:30 am, 10:30 am at 81 Lady’s Island Drive Pastor Steve Keeler (843) 525-0696 seaislandpresbyterian.org Focused on our clients and helping them hit their targets. (843) 379-1065 • WWW.CWACPAS.COM • 1411 QUEEN STREET Book Your Life Passages In We Run Classified & Display Advertising In the Following Categories: •Engagements •Weddings •Births •Legals •Death Notices •Obituaries For information contact Amanda Hanna 843-343-8483 or Amanda@LCWeekly.com Beaufort Medical Plaza 989 Ribaut Road, Beaufort • Classroom 350 (3rd floor) BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP 2nd Wednesday each month from 6 - 7 p.m. CANCER SUPPORT GROUP (all cancers) 4th Wednesday each month from 1 - 2 p.m. We’ll get through this together. Scan the QR code or visit BeaufortMemorial.org/SupportGroups for a full calendar listing (as dates may change), and to reserve your spot. For more info call Kianna Brown at 843.522.7328. Joinus for generously sponsoring this ad. Thank you to

It’s

be a pretty picture

The

of my

ARTS

Bookbinding Workshop

11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, July 29, Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, 10782 South Jacob Smart Blvd, Ridgeland. $40. Explore the art of bookbinding with Director of Exhibitions & Programs Kayleigh Vaughn. Whether you want a journal, sketchbook, or scrapbook, you will learn the basics of Secret Belgian binding. All supplies are provided to create a 96-page blank book. Purchases are non-refundable. To register visit https://www.morrisheritagecenter. org/event-5305006.

CALENDAR

Karaoke with Melissa

8 p.m. to midnight, Tuesdays, Highway 21 Bar, 3436 Trask Pkwy, Beaufort. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.

Sharing Hearts Support Group

5:30 to 7 p.m., second Tuesday of every month, 2201 Boundary Street, Suite 208, Beaufort. Free. Come tell your 10-minute story of a life lesson or healing message using your own creative expression through a song, poetry, reading, art or verbal storytelling. Come away with an uplifting sense of support and connections or to just listen. Register by leaving a voicemail with name, phone and number of attendees at 843-5256115 or send email to reneesutton@ healthierhealing.com. Notification will be done of any location change due to seat requirements. Next event is on Tuesday, June 13.

Karaoke with Melissa

7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Beaufort Moose Lodge, 350 Broad River Blvd, Beaufort. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.

Trivia with Mike – Fat Patties

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

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

9:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Rosie O’Grady’s, 2127 Boundary Street, Suite 2, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy karaoke with either Parker or Eric.

Trivia with Mike –Bricks On Boundary

7:30 p.m., Every Thursday, Fat Patties, 1422 Boundary St, Beaufort. Free. Team trivia event, win house cash and Beer Bucket prizes! For more information, visit https://rb.gy/o9nhwe.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

7 p.m., Thursdays, Amvets Post 70, 1831 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Free. Public is welcome. Enjoy Karaoke. Dinner will be available.

Bluffton Night Bazaar — a Lowcountry Made Market

5 to 8 p.m., first Thursday of each month, Burnt Church Distillery, 120 Bluffton Road. A highly curated selection of accessories, clothing, home goods, custom gifts and more by local artists and makers.

Rooted Beaufort Yoga classes

5:30 to 6:45 p.m., Thursdays, Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal; 9 to 10:15 a.m., Whitehall Park or Pigeon Point Park. Rooted Beaufort is a collective of local Yoga teachers who host outdoor yoga classes and donation-based events with proceeds being donated locally on a rotating basis.

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

Wet Willie's Bingo Night

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

Eric’s Karaoke Krew 9 p.m., Fridays, Highway 21 Bar, 3436 Trask Pkwy, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy Karaoke with Lt. Dan.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew 9:30 p.m., Fridays, Rosie O’Grady’s, 2127 Boundary Street, Suite 2, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy Karaoke with Parker.

Karaoke with Melissa 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Fridays, R Bar & Grill, 70 Pennington Dr, Bluffton. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.

Drum Circle

6:30 to 8 p.m., 2nd Friday of every month, Gazeebo, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort. Free. Anyone welcome, no experience necessary. Eric Roy, a recent transplant

WHAT’S HAPPENING

HIGHWAY 21 DRIVE-IN

The movies scheduled for this week (Thursday, July 13 through Wednesday, July 19) at the Highway 21 Drive-In are Mission:

Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1 (PG-13, 8:45 p.m.) and Transformers Rise Of The Beasts (PG-13, 11:30 p.m.) on Screen 1;

Elemental (PG, 8:45 p.m.) and Indiana Jones

And The Dial Of Destiny (PG-13, 10:30 p.m.) on Screen 2; and Insidious, The Red Door (PG-13, 8:45 p.m.) and No Hard Feelings (R, 11:40 p.m.) on Screen 3 (returns on Friday).

Online ticketing is available at hwy21drivein. com on the Now Playing page. Patrons are asked to arrive early on Friday and Saturday nights. Gates open at 6:30 p.m.

“Our family at the Hwy. 21 drive in feel a responsibility to our community,” a statement from Highway 21 Drive-In management reads. “We are concerned about many things in these trying times and in making the right decisions. We are concerned with our employees, our patrons, our business, our community’s businesses, and the health and well-being of all.”

A reminder: no outside food or beverages can be brought into the drive-in.

Upcoming movies include Haunted Mansion (July 28).

from Connecticut with successful experience in leading drum circles, is our new facilitator. He will start sessions off with 15-20 minutes of instruction on djembe playing and teach a selected traditional rhythm & accompaniment for participants to play. In addition, there will be time allotted for spontaneous group drumming. Bring a drum, if you have one, a chair and a desire to have fun. The Drum Circle has several extra drums and many other percussion instruments that anyone can use. To receive updates on future events, send your email to lannyk13@ gmail.com. Next meeting will be July 28 (delayed because of the Beaufort Water Festival).

Highway 21 Flea Market

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

Port Royal Farmers Market

9 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, year round, Naval Heritage Park, 1615 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Rain or shine. You will find fresh, local, seasonal produce, shrimp, oysters, poultry, beef, pork, eggs, bread and cheese, as well as plants, ferns, camellias, azaleas, citrus trees and beautiful, fresh cut flower bouquets. There are prepared food vendors serving barbecue, dumplings, she crab soup, crab cakes, paella, coffee, baked goods, bagels and breakfast sandwiches. No pets allowed. For more information, visit http://www. portroyalfarmersmarket.com/, visit @ portroyalfarmersmarket on Facebook or call 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.

Karaoke with Melissa

8 p.m. to 12 a.m., 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, Peaceful Henry’s Cigar Bar, 181 Bluffton Rd, Bluffton. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.

67th annual Beaufort Water Festival

Friday, July 14 through Sunday, July 23, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort.

Saint Peter’s 63rd Annual Fall Bazaar

10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, October

7, St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 70 Lady’s Island Drive, Beaufort. The bazaar committee seeks Lowcountry artists and crafts people to sell their creations at the bazaar. Booths may be set up inside or outside. Fee is $100. The Bazaar will also feature International Foods, Sweet Shoppe, Beer and Wine Garden, Kids Zone with inflatables, games, and petting zoo, and a Silent Auction. Proceeds benefit the Lowcountry Outreach Center. For an application, contact parishlife@ stpetersbeaufort.org.

Sips & Seafood Party

5 to 10 p.m., Friday, Oct 27, Hewitt Oaks, 205 Stillwell Road, Bluffton. $175. Bluffton Self Help’s annual fundraiser. The funds raised provide education, basic needs, career development, and a sense of hope. Last year alone, this

event helped 194 families to remain in their homes, keep the lights on, and to get through a difficult time. It supported 413 neighbors as they earned an education through English as a Second Language, Adult Basic Education, and GED Preparation classes. Our guests and sponsors provided 168 neighbors with the opportunity to meet oneon-one with client advocates through 672 meetings to connect to resources, develop goals and work toward reaching personal success. Through The Market 858 households received 431,428 pounds of fresh produce, dairy, meat, eggs, non perishable groceries, hygiene items, diapers and more than 20,000 articles of clothing enabling them to stretch their budget and have better health. Purchase tickets at https://rb.gy/kq7ef.

CAMPS

Mather Interpretive Center Summer Art Camp

10 a.m. to noon, July 17 to 21, Mather Interpretive Center, 921 Ribaut Road. Free. Everyone is welcome. Register at https://forms.office.com/r/98jPv9BzFJ or 912-308-3926 or 843-597-4114.

Summer Sailing Camp 2023

9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, July 17 to Thursday, July 28, Beaufort Yacht & Sailing Club, 30 Yacht Club Drive, Beaufort. Camp is separated into weeks, Monday through Thursday. $335 per week for BYSC members, $375 per week for non-members, ages 8 through 16. Are you looking for an experience for your kid or grandkids this summer that will give them confidence and life long skills? Please consider Summer Sailing Camp at the Beaufort Sailing and Yacht Club. Register at https://rb.gy/zpfd0. If you have questions, you can contact Noah Nipar directly at sailingdirector@ beaufortsailing.com.

GOLF

2nd annual Beaufort County Democratic Party Blues on the Greens

9:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 23, The Landings at Pleasant Point, Beaufort. Shotgun start. Teams of 4. $100 per player, $400 per team. Includes golf, cart and lunch. Registration link to come soon.

HISTORY

Beaufort History Museum at the Arsenal

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays, 713 Craven St, Beaufort. General Admission for Adults $8, Seniors $7, Active Duty Military and College Students with ID $5. Children/Teens younger than 18 Free. Explore and experience more than 500 years of Beaufort History with knowledgeable docent guided tours.

The Historic Port Royal Museum

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or upon request, Thursdays through Sundays, The Historic Port Royal Museum, 1634 Paris Ave. The museum features the turn-of-the-century businesses and industries of Port Royal: Shrimping, crabbing, oystering, the railroad, the school and the mercantile. Great gifts featuring local artists are available. For more information. visit www.portroyalhistory.org, email historicportroyalfoundation@gmail. com or call 843-524-4333.

Tour Historic Fort Fremont Dawn to dusk, Monday through Sunday, The Fort Fremont Preserve, 1124 Land’s End Road, St. Helena Island. Free and open to the public. The History Center is open Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Visitors can learn about the fort’s history during the SpanishAmerican 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.

The American Revolution in Savannah

1 to 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 25, Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, 10782 South Jacob Smart Blvd, Ridgeland. Suggested $5 donation. Author, historian, and photographer Daniel McDonald Johnson explores the people and places of the Savannah River region in the American Revolution. Mr. Johnson's areas of research include emigration from the Scottish Highlands to America, the southern American colonial experience, and The American Revolution. For more information please visit https:// www.morrisheritagecenter.org/ event-5247038.

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

Dungeons & Dragons

4 p.m., Mondays, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6441. Ages 12 to 18.

Lego Club

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

Teen Art Club

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

Teen Anime Club

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

Teen Video Game Club

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

S.C. Works Job Coaching

2 to 4 p.m., Thursdays, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island, 843255-6540. Free help with job searches, interviews.

Chess Club

1 to 2 p.m., Saturdays, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island, 843255-6540. Ages 5 and older.

Chess Meet Up

11 a.m., 2nd Saturday of each month, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-2556456. Instructor Henry Otto Seim will show beginners the basics or play a friendly game with more experienced players. All skill levels welcome. Extra boards will be set up.

Chess Meet Up 11 a.m., 3rd Saturday of each month, Lobeco Branch Library, 1862 Trask Parkway, 843-255-6479. Instructor Henry Otto Seim will show beginners the basics or play a friendly game with more experienced players. All skill levels welcome. Extra boards will be set up.

MEETINGS 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.

Zonta Club of Beaufort

6 p.m., 4th Tuesday of each month, Smokehouse, Port Royal.

Sea Island Quilters

6:30 p.m., Thursday, July 20, Carteret United Methodist Church, 408 Carteret Street, Beaufort. Lee Chappell Monroe presents her lecture “Understanding the Rainbow,” covering the basics of color theory and how those concepts lead to better quilts. Attendees will leave armed with many tools for choosing fabrics and a better understanding of how to expand their color horizons. The lecture consists of a full trunk show exploring different aspects of color theory in quilts.

Maye River Quilters

10 a.m., Saturday, August 5 at Palmetto Electric Cooperative, 1 Cooperative Way, Hardeeville. Social time begins at 9:30 a.m. To attend as a guest, email RSVP to mayeriverquilters@gmail.com. For more information and for membership forms, call 843-705-9590.

OUTDOORS

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.

SPORTS/GAMES

ACBL Duplicate Bridge Club

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., Tuesdays, Carteret St. United Methodist Church. Games and events will be held weekly. Director Gene Ogden. Contact Jane Simpson 803-226-3491.

Beaufort Masters Swim Team

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

A14 JULY 13–19, 2023

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Humans have always wanted to be happy.

It’s the reason and purpose that people live. Why do we work and make money? Because according to our natural instincts, spending money and buying the things we desire is supposed to make us happy.

Why do I use the word supposed? Well, we might imagine and hope that certain things can make us happy, but the sobering truth is they usually do not.

How many times have we heard that being prosperous does not make people happy? More than we can count. The old songs “Money Can’t Buy Me Love” and “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” are among the thousands of sad confessions of how life has turned out to be disappointing. I’m not trying to be negative, but rather pointing out a critical spiritual principle that every human must learn before they can realize the true meaning of life.

Some men say, “If I could have her, my life would be complete, while women dream, “If I could be with him, it would make me the happiest person in the world.” Others declare, “If I could be honest with my sexuality,” or “If I had lots of money, I would be thrilled.” This might burst some-

one’s balloon, but our personal contentment with who we are should not be based on another mortal being, a material object, or what others think. As for fame, it’s better to have a couple of faithful friends than millions of fans you’ll never meet. It’s common to fantasize about being successful and fulfilled, but these are only temporary fixes that can end up doing more harm than good. For example, we thought the sexual revolution exploded in the 60s, and to some extent, it did. However, in today’s world, the obsession with sexual identification is off the charts. It seems the transgender movement came out of nowhere, and now we are hearing about it and seeing it everywhere. Even young children, with help from the public education system, are being taught and encouraged to change genders, and thousands are doing it. Why? Because this is supposed to make them

happy. Remember, isn’t this what life is all about?

Nonetheless, why do we not hear about those who ruined their lives with sex-change surgeries, and how many commit suicide? Because that would cast a negative light on this growing movement. If young people were allowed to listen to those who are detransitioning because they realize they were deceived, it would save many confused individuals from a horrible disaster.

When drug addictions and alcoholism became rampant, many throughout the centuries fell into the webs of deception by hoping that whatever numbs the stress and pain will also help eliminate the demons. It might bring temporary relief, but the problems are still there. In today’s world, this includes prescription medicines to help ease anxiety and fear, but the reality is that when the chemicals and unnatural substances wear off, the agony becomes worse than ever.

If we take a closer look at the word happiness, we notice that being happy fluctuates and is based on emotional feelings or “happenings.” If life is going well, we are reasonably happy, but when things go sour, we are no longer happy.

Researchers have actually

studied lottery winners and discovered that wealth is not as glorious as you might think. A famous study in the 1970s revealed there is very little difference in happiness between people who had won and people who hadn’t. Why? Because all the things we mentioned that are controlled by our infatuations are completely different from a fruit of the Spirit called joy. Joy is directly connected with God Himself, which

allows us to stand strong in the raging storms and embrace the comfort and contentment of His presence even in the darkest night of the soul. Nehemiah 8:10 says, “Do not grieve; the Joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Spiritual Joy comprehends that no matter what happens, the bond of love between us and God can never be broken. Discouragements or circumstances cannot steal our joy. Genuine joy is experienced when

we trust God and trust who we are in Him. Jesus wants you to be filled with His joy. Ask Him to cleanse you and fill you now.

Billy Holland is a licensed and ordained minister, community chaplain, freelance writer, Christian author, and founder of Walking Thru Ministries, a 501c3 charitable organization. Read more about the Christian life, his books, and his articles at: billyhollandministries.com. You can bless this outreach at PayPal. Me/psalmz103, which helps with expenses and is very much appreciated.

FAITH FLAG FOOTBALL YOUTH CO-ED SCAN THE QR CODE OR VISIT BEAUFORT-JASPERYMCA.ORG FOR MORE INFO & SIGN UP REGISTRATION NOW OPEN 1801 RICHMOND AVE IN PORT ROYAL | 843.522.9622

LIVING ON PURPOSE

BILLY HOLLAND

Promote your Church Services in The Island News and increase membership! Contact us today! Amanda Hanna amanda@lcweekly.com Sandy Schepis sandyschepis@gmail.com

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, 14 July 2023

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

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

Commander of Troops, Captain J. D. Sporleder • Parade Adjutant, Captain M. N. McGrath Company “K”, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion • Commanding Officer, Captain J. D. Sporleder Drill Masters • Gunnery Sergeant L. M. Hinton, Staff Sergeant E. M. Cisse

PLATOON 3040

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt D. Zhang

PVT Arcena, J. L.

PVT Baez, J. D.

PVT Bower, S. H.

PVT Cearc, J. L.

PVT Cerda, D.

PFC Cooper, C. R.

PVT Dean, J. L.

PVT Fleetwoodshehan, B.

PVT Freeman, M. T.

PFC Hartley, B. T.

PFC Hernandezcruz, G. A.

PVT Hill, D. J.

PVT Hinnant, J. T.

PVT Jacobo, A.

PVT Jeancharles, G.

PVT Joiner, J. L.

PFC Jules, J. D.

PVT Kelly, K. K.

PVT King, T. A.

PVT Klausing, T. J.

PVT Martinez, N.

PFC Mcclintock, J. A.

PVT Mcneill, J. C.

PFC Menzies, M. A.

PFC Miller, A. D.

PVT Mins, A. J.

PFC Myers, D. X.

PVT Ongay, C. I.

PVT Petty, W. J.

PVT Rackow, R.

PFC Rodriguez, C. P.

PVT Romero, N. S.

PVT Ross, C. G.

PVT Ruff, J. E.

PVT Sanchezgarcia, F.

PFC Sigler, S. D.

PVT Swanepoel, D. J.

PFC Tompkins, N. W. *

PVT Townsend, D. J.

PFC Valentine, D. J. *

PFC Williamson, D. R. *

PLATOON 3041

Senior Drill Instructor SSgt M. L. Arambula

PFC Beaulieu, R. J.

PFC Blocker, A. M.

PVT Boria, E. L.

PFC Bowie, T. A.

PVT Boyagian, C. E.

PVT Brook, T. E. *

PVT Brown, K. K.

PVT Canova, J. M.

PFC Dasilva, E. C.

PVT Diaz, E.

PVT Ebulela, B.

PFC Edwards, A. C.

PVT Escalantevasquez, J.

PVT Fisher, M. A.

PVT Fonseca, J. N.

PFC Frazier, P. M.

PVT Frederick, A. M.

PVT Heiling, H. A.

PFC Hendricks, Z. E.

PFC Hernandez, M.

PVT Huizamunguia, L. M.

PVT Hutmacher, I. C. *

PVT Lazaro, B. A.

PVT Lutterbeck, C. L. *

PFC Lynch, J. E.

PFC Martensortiz, E. S.

PVT Michelena, L. M.

PVT Muca, B. A.

PVT Munoz, E. C.

PVT Narcisogallegos, S. D.

PFC Nolting, M. A.

PFC Ortizhernandez, A. A.

PFC Payton, A. M.

PVT Price, K. F.

PFC Propst, E. D.

PVT Quintanamartinez, A. M.

PFC Quirozduran, J. C.

PVT Ralph, C. J. *

PVT Ramirez, K. N.

PVT Rosamontanez, J.

PVT Rowe, J. P.

PVT Shpynova, J. N.

PFC Smith, N.

PVT Struss, O. A.

PFC Trotter, S. M.

PVT Valdez, J.

PVT Vazquez, A.

PFC Vega, V.

PFC Verenzuelamariano, C. S.

PVT Williams, M. M.

PVT Zimmerman, G. C. *

PLATOON 3042

Senior Drill Instructor

GySgt J. I. Taylor

PVT Abril, K. C.

PVT Alfano, J. M.

PFC Armstrong Jr,. R. L.

PFC Bauer, J. A..

PVT Billingsley, B. A.

PVT Birdsong, E. K.

PVT Burns, R. J.

PVT Cohan, Z. T.

PFC Coleman, L. T.

PFC Connolly, J. C.

PFC Duvin, A. J.

PVT Fields, A. I.

PFC Francis, E. A.

PFC Garcia, Y. F.

PVT Garciavazquez, J. O.

PFC Gattie, B. J. *

PVT Gregory, J. B.

PVT Handspike, J. C.

PVT Harris, A. C.

PVT Healey, J. A.

PVT Hernandez, A. N.

PFC Holt-Fitzgerald, C.

PFC Liang, W.

PFC Losier, R.

PFC Miller, N. J.

PFC Mock Jr, M. E.

PVT Moss, S. M.

PVT Padden, C. R.

PVT Poe Jr, Z. J.

PVT Pooler, R. A.

PFC Preer Jr, K. J. *

PVT Rangel, M. G.

PFC Rega, M. G.

PVT Rukas, Z. S.

PVT Sackett, M. J.

PVT Scott, P. L.

PVT Smithson, J. S.

PVT Speer, R. A.

PVT Stover, B. W.

PFC Suminski, E. S.

PVT Usui, Y. M.

PVT Wells, H. C.

PFC Zamoranoneri, E. A.*

PLATOON 3044

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt C. W. Mills

PFC Ariola V. D. *

PFC Brooks, J. C.

PVT Brunswick, O. Q.

PVT Burch, N. P.

PVT Cade, A. C.

PVT Caldero, A. G.

PVT Castromarcial, E.

PVT Castromarcial, H.

PVT Chaffin II, M. S.

PVT Coleman, K. S.

PVT Crosby, X. D.

PVT Dekrone, J. S.

PFC Dotson, A. J.

PVT Fields, C. L.

PVT Fields, J. T.

PVT Gbizies, L. K.

PFC Hall, X. D. *

PFC Heffernan, C. E.

PVT Howard, J. E.

PVT Hunt, J. W.

PVT Johnson, J. M.

PVT Kuntz, D. J.

PVT Landis, J. M.

PVT Lang, M. T.

PFC Longnecker, G. I.

PVT Malaga, J. F.

PFC Mattia, V. A.

PVT Mercedes Jr, Y.

PFC Moran, R. J.

PVT Morgan, T. A.

PVT Olivo, V. S.

PVT Orellanarosales, R. A.

PVT Parker, C. J.

PVT Reese, E. R.

PVT Roberts Jr, C. A.

PVT Santiagosilverio, J. B.

PVT Stoddard, C. J.

PFC Strong, W. D. *

PVT Updyke, E. L.

PFC White Jr, C. L.

PVT Wyant, T. M.

PLATOON 3045

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt C. J. Anderson

PFC Arreginorellana, J. E.

PVT Blyth, A. J.

PVT Cabral, E.

PVT Carpenter, S. M.

PVT Dawkins, C. K.

PVT Depaoli, A. S.

PVT Escofferybey, Z. E.

PFC Ferko, B. J.

PVT Gomez, W. E.

PFC Guerra, R. A.

PVT Guillen, H. A.

PVT Hagood, X. B.

PVT Hall, E. R.

PVT Herrera, J.

PVT Hidalgo, J. W.

PVT Hill, K. D.

PFC Hollis, A. J. *

PVT Key, R. G.

PVT Mehaffie, B. E.

PVT Miller, N. E.

PFC Milord, W.

PVT Molina, A. B.

PVT Montiel, A.

PVT Moore, M. D.

PVT Oquinn, M. K.

PVT Ovalles, S. A.

PVT Pate, A. N.

PFC Pena, A.

PFC Pena, J.

PFC Pickett, N. M. *

PFC Pine, J. M.

PFC Pomalesventura, M. A.

PVT Rodriguezvizcaino, E.

PVT Rucker, D. J.

PVT Sanabria, N. I.

PFC Spencer, Z. T. *

PVT Taylor, J. J.

PFC Toledo, A. I.

PVT Vargas III, S.

PFC Vintoniak, V.

PVT Wilt, E. J.

PVT Zhang, S.

PLATOON 3046

Senior Drill Instructor Sgt R. L Bruno

PVT Abderahman, A.

PVT Alfaro, G. J.

PVT Anderson, A. M.

PVT Anderson, Z. N.

PVT Argueta, P. A.

PVT Arnzen, C. N.

PVT Boettcher, L. M.

PVT Brock Jr, R. L.

PVT Delfin, D. M.

PVT Davidson B. C. *

PVT Diaz, T. X.

PVT Erdman, J. D.

PFC Ewing, D. O.

PVT Figueroa, F. *

PFC Fuller, M. T.

PVT Gallegos, C. J. *

PVT Howellshields, C.

*Denotes Meritorious Promotions

A16 JULY 13–19, 2023 LOCAL MILITARY

C. PVT Hubler, J. B. PVT Huchzermeier, R. W. PVT Johnson, S. M. PVT Karol, S. M. PVT Marion Jr, T. C. PVT Mchugh, J. V. PVT Morris, A. T. PFC Morris, T. D. PVT Nelson, K. J. PVT Norton, H. L. PVT Peters, J. M. PVT Renot, S. M. PVT Robertson, A. K. PVT Robinson, A. J. PFC Rogers, C. S. PVT Salazarreyes, B. PVT Sam, K. S. PVT Santos, M. E. PFC Tharp, J. L. PFC Tinck, J. M. PVT Toepp, P. M. PVT Torres, A. D. PVT Vallentine, J. H.

Parris Island Marine Corps Graduates To Receive a Copy of with a List of Graduates, visit www.yourislandnews.com

MCAS Beaufort executes Change of Command

By Staff Sgt. Kayla D. Rivera

U.S. Marine Corps MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT – Col. Mark

Bortnem officially assumed duties as the commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort from Col. Karl Arbogast on Friday, July 7, at the headquarters building aboard the installation.

More than 150 people gathered to witness the Marine Corps tradition of transferring formal authority from one commander to the next. The ceremony was attended by a host of Marine Corps leaders including Brig. Gen. Walker Field, commanding general, Marine Corps Recruiting Depot Parris Island and Eastern Recruiting Region and Col. Adolfo Garcia Jr., commander, Marine Corps Installations East-Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, and members of the local community.

During the ceremony, the incoming and outgoing commanders spoke to their hopes for the future of MCAS Beaufort and the valuable partnerships that keep the mission going.

“I’m humbled for the opportunity to lead and I’m grateful to return to the Lowcountry. Although this is not where I was born, in many ways it’s like being home,” Bortnem said. “I’m determined to integrate myself into Team Beaufort and keep this place remaining as the best air station in the Marine Corps, working around the best folks, and with

the best Marines.”

In a message to his replacement, Arbogast expressed his support.

“You are really going enjoy your time here, and I wish you the best. You are obviously the right man for the job.”

Arbogast spent considerable time thanking leaders, members of the community, and staff for their

support during his tour of duty mentioning many of them by name.

In reflecting on his term, Arbogast added, “We’ve been here for three years. When we stand up and think about our time in Team Beaufort, we’re going to cherish this, every moment. We will always remain faithful to this awesome place, and all the wonderful people

that we have met here.”

Overseeing the change of command was the ninth commander of Marine Corps Installations East –Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Col. Adolfo Garcia Jr.

“This is a very special day, and this is a very special command,” Garcia Jr. said. “You must have leadership because you have to es-

tablish a vision. You have to build a team. You have to fight for limited resources. You have to look towards a future, and what’s happening now. Col. Arbogast, you’ve done that very well.”

For Col. Bortnem’s full biography, visit https://www.beaufort.marines.mil/Leaders/Article/524685/ colonel-mark-d-bortnem.

Who do I contact if I am a homeless Veteran?

Iam frequently asked by veterans and their family members, “Who should I call if I am homeless or at risk of soon becoming homeless?” I also get questions from concerned citizens like, “Who do I call to get help for a homeless veteran?”

The following is a list of things a veteran can do to get help and a list of organizations a veteran, a veteran’s family member, a veteran’s friend, or a concerned citizen can call to get help for a homeless veteran.

1. Call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838 for assistance. Trained counselors are ready to talk confidentially 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Family members, friends of veterans, concerned citizens, and supporters calling on behalf of veterans, VA Medical Centers, other VA facilities and staff, federal-state-local partners, and community agencies and providers who serve veterans who are homeless are also welcome to call.

2. Call or visit your local VA Medical Center where VA staff are ready to help You can find your local VA Medical Center at https://bit.ly/3pGaIBA. If you live in the Lowcountry of South Carolina and Georgia (to as far south as Brunswick), the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center (RHJVAMC) and Healthcare System serve all veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors in the coastal counties of those two states. The RHJVAMC is located at 109 Bee Street, Charleston, S.C. 29401. The phone number is 843-5775011.

LARRY DANDRIDGE

3. Call or visit your local VA Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC).

You can find a list of VA CRRCs on the VA Homeless Programs CRRC webpage https://bit.ly/3Oi16qt. Here are the two CRRC locations and phone numbers in the coastline areas of S.C. and Ga. The Charleston, S.C. CRRC, 2424 City Hall Lane, North Charleston, S.C. 29406, Phone 843-789-6804. The Jacksonville, Fla. CRRC, 605 West Beaver Street, Jacksonville, Fla. 32202, Phone 904-7982800.

4. Call your VA Social Worker and ask him or her to help you.

If you are a veteran who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and you are registered with the VA Healthcare system, you should contact your social worker for help. If you are a veteran and do not know who your social worker is ask your VA Primary Care Provider or Nurse or the Social Services Department at your VA Health facility to tell you who your social worker is.

You can also find out who your Social Worker is by calling the RHJVAMC Social Work Department at 843-577-5011 extension 207635, which is in the RHJVAHCS online phone directory at https://bit. ly/3pFzDFq. You may also want to read The Island

News article titled “Veterans Should Know Their VA Social Worker” at https:// bit.ly/3cyKM4r to learn more about how VA Social Workers can help veterans.

Eligible Veterans in the Lowcountry of S.C. and Savannah, Brunswick, Hinesville, and Coastal area of Ga. can sign up for VA Medical Care at the RHJVAMC, at one of its seven Community-Based Out-Patient Clinics (CBOCs), or online at https://bit.ly/3BdTGxN.

5. Call the Tri-County Veterans Support Network (TCVSN).

You may also want to contact the S.C. Tri-County (Charleston, Dorchester, and Berkeley counties) Veterans Support Network. TCVSN is comprised of many agencies committed to collaboratively working together to serve Lowcountry S.C. veterans and families in crisis and help them navigate their way to stability by connecting them to the right resources at the right time. TCVSN also manages an emergency hotel shelter program. The website is https://bit. ly/3pEwmX5. The TCVSN Director, Tim Taylor can be reached at tim@tcvsn.org or 843-410-3616. You can search the resources found in the TCVSN Local Veteran Resources Directory at https:// bit.ly/415vUyZ and the National Resource Directory at https://www.nrd.gov. The National Resource Directory

has 19 categories of assistance available and includes homeless assistance, housing, transportation, employment, and 15 others. The homeless resources start on page 48 of the TCVSN (Local) Resources Directory and include such resources as:

VA Homeless Prevention Program & WalkIn Clinic. Contact Linda Williams, Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 109 Bee Street, Charleston, S.C. 29401, Phone 843-577-5011, Email Linda.Williams@ va.gov, Website https:// bit.ly/3D5m715. The RHJVAMC offers a walk-in clinic for veterans searching for re-housing assistance and means to prevent homelessness. In addition to referral services, the walk-in clinic offers basic outpatient medical care.

• VA HUD-VASH Program. Contact Linda Williams, HUD-VASH Coordinator, RHJVAMC, 109 Bee Street, Charleston, S.C. 29401, Phone 843-577-5011, Email Linda.Williams@ va.gov, Website www. charleston.va.gov. The HUD-VASH Program assists homeless veterans in obtaining safe, affordable housing by providing them with a Housing Choice Voucher and mental health clinical services.

VA Community Resource & Referral Center (CRRC). 2424 City Hall Lane, North Charleston, S.C. 29405, Phone 843-789-6804, Website http://www. charleston.va.gov. The VA CRRC is a partnership effort between the RHJVAMC and Palmetto Goodwill with support from the City of North Charleston, providing a one-stop resource center for veterans experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless.

• One80 Place Supportive Services for Veterans & Families (SSVF). Contact the Housing Crisis Line (843) 7378357 for services. 35 Walnut Street, Charleston, S.C. 29403, One80 Place Main Line 843723-9477. SSVF Hotline 843-212-8668, Email ssvfreferrals@one80place.org. Website www.one80place.org.

One80 Place is the largest homeless service provider in S.C., serving a hot meal daily in the Charleston-area homeless shelter and the Palmetto House shelter in Summerville, S.C. One80 Place staff are certified to oversee comprehensive case management for all clients, including military veterans, civilians, and families.

Other organizations including the Fleet

and Family Support Center, Goodwill Industries of Lower S.C., Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Origin S.C. (Formally Family Services, Inc.), Project Street Outreach (PSO Inc.), The Salvation Army, S.C. Army National Guard (SCNG)-Family, and American Red Cross of the Lowcountry.

The bottom line

There are too many resources available to veterans and non-veterans in the Lowcountry to list in one newspaper article but a veteran’s first choice for help should be with the VA. Do not forget that the VA Crisis Line number is 988 and press 1. Operators there can help veterans with any kind of stressful situation like job loss, marital problems, stress, anxiety, grief, depression, suicide prevention, homelessness, and more.

Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Hospital, the Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for the local Army Association Chapter.

Larry is the author of the awardwinning book Blades of Thunder and a contributing freelance writer with The Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.

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U.S. Marine Corps Col. Karl Arbogast, outgoing commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, passes the colors to Col. Mark Bortnem, incoming commanding officer, MCAS Beaufort, during a Change of Command Ceremony on Friday, July 7, at MCAS Beaufort. The passing of the colors signifies the continuation of trust and allegiance of the Marines to their squadron’s commander. Lance Cpl. Nathan Saucier/USMC Col. Mark Bortnem U.S. Marine Corps Col. Adolfo Garcia Jr., commanding general of Marine Corps Installations East, presents Col. Karl Arbogast, outgoing commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, with the Legion of Merit Award during a Change of Command Ceremony on Friday, July 7, at MCAS Beaufort. Arbogast relinquished command of MCAS Beaufort to Col. Mark Bortnem. Lance Cpl. Nathan Saucier/USMC

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A Shepherd for the Flock

Why Do Catholics Have a Pope?

Why do Catholics have a pope?

When did Jesus make Peter the leader of the Church?

In Matthew 16, Jesus promises to build his Church upon Peter. He will give him the keys to the kingdom of heaven, with powers to loose and to bind in his name. (Matthew 16:18-19) These are terms associated with the royal steward, who in the Old Testament would lead the kingdom on behalf of Israel’s king. As the king of heaven, Jesus calls Peter to be his royal steward, leading the Church on his behalf. Jesus later reaffirms this special calling, commanding Peter three times, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17) Peter’s leadership can be seen throughout the Acts of the Apostles, especially in Acts 15.

Wouldn’t this leadership role end once Peter dies?

The royal steward was an ongoing office, because the king would always need a steward. Jesus intended Peter’s office to continue through each generation, for he knew his flock would always need a visible shepherd. The “keys” of authority will be passed from generation to generation. Peter was the first bishop of Rome, and all of the popes are his successors as bishop of Rome. The other bishops continue the ministry of the apostles, too, and work with the pope.

Can the Pope teach whatever he wants?

No, the pope is not like a medieval king, able to do or teach whatever he likes on a whim. He cannot make up new teachings or change the Gospel; his duty is to ensure that we are staying faithful to the truths of our Christian faith. When questions arise about an important issue of faith or morals, God can work through the pope and bishops to clarify the question and keep the Church united in truth, as in Acts 15.

Common Questions

Haven’t there been many sinful popes over the years?

Of the 266 popes so far, most have been good and holy leaders, thanks be to God! There are eight or so popes who are infamous for living sinful and hypocritical lives. Catholics find this disappointing, but not a surprise. Our leaders are human beings, with a need for God’s mercy and healing like the rest of us. Jesus did not promise that Peter and his successors would be sinless, but that he would guide the Church through the centuries, despite human weakness and sin.

Can’t Christians decide for themselves what is true or false?

Remember that Jesus taught only one Gospel, and the truths he revealed enable us to be united with him in love, now and in eternity. Thus, the truths of Christianity are not created by personal opinion or changed by popular vote; rather, they are treasures to be received with humility and joyfully lived out. Jesus left us a living family of faith, led by a visible shepherd, in order that his teaching may be proclaimed clearly and fully in every generation, so that we may know the truth, and the truth shall set us free. (John 8:32)

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A18 JULY 13–19, 2023 SERVICE DIRECTORY

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Message 5 of 8

In most churches, there is a pastor who leads the congregation on behalf of the Lord. The Catholic Church is the same way. We are one church spread across the world, and the pope is our lead pastor. Jesus set it up this way, giving Peter special authority to lead the Church after Jesus returned to heaven. Jesus would work through Peter and his successors to keep his Church united and faithful to the Gospel.

THURSDAY’S CARTOON

Read with caution; not necessarily the opinions of the editorial staff.

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JULY 13–19, 2023 A19 CLASSIFIEDS & GAMES

THEME: IDIOMS ACROSS 1. Nebraska city on Missouri River 6. Not her 9. Earnhardt of racing fame 13. Sea near Australia 14. Slippery when cold 15. Printer cartridge contents 16. *Title of this puzzle, sing. 17. Congressional title, abbr. 18. Title holder 19. *Run around in these and not make progress 21. *Cut these to skip steps 23. He had 24. Nicholas II, e.g. 25. Jack-in-the-Box restraint 28. Subway in U.K. 30. What washing machine does 35. Egyptian goddess of love 37. Crescent point 39. Hot rod sticker, e.g. 40. Org. in Brussels 41. Impede 43. Parks or Luxemburg 44. ____’s, once Canada’s famous department store 46. *One of these in beans lacks importance 47. Barrel-counting org. 48. Nova ____, Canada 50. Mess up 52. Bugling ungulate 53. Modeling material 55. Robinson in “The Graduate” 57. *Resting on these stops one from trying 61. *No use crying over this milk 65. Money in the bank, e.g. 66. Certain frat house letters 68. Little dear 69. Like a disreputable neighborhood 70. College assessment test, acr. 71. Fairy-tale oil lamp dweller 72. Hawaiian tuber 73. “Oui” in English 74. The Three Musketeers’ swords DOWN 1. Ear-related 2. Skirt length 3. Gulf V.I.P. 4. Moonshine 5. Cloth armband 6. Kaa’s warning 7. *Break it to start a conversation 8. Synchronizes, for short 9. Pillow filler 10. “Green Gables” character 11. Suggestive look 12. Blunders 15. Full of tribulations 20. Derive 22. Dinghy propeller 24. Bear witness 25. *Read between these for real meaning 26. Writer Asimov 27. Likewise 29. *Don’t beat around it 31. Claudius’ successor 32. Breadth 33. Oil holder 34. *Cut one some of this and don’t be critical 36. Dirt on Santa’s suit? 38. Gallup’s inquiry 42. Like Raphael’s cherubs 45. Polite social behavior 49. How many of the President’s men? 51. *Cross it when you get to it 54. Investigative report 56. Count sheep 57. Bringing up the rear, adj. 58. Between ports 59. Consumer 60. Overhaul 61. Tennis scoring term, pl. 62. Pool path 63. Great Lake 64. Henna and such 67. *One up your sleeve gives advantage LAST WEEK’S CROSSWORD & SUDOKU SOLUTIONS

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Tides of Lasting Memories The 67th Annual Beaufort Water estival July 14th July 23rd , 2023 Raft Race Sponsored by Lowcountry Window Tinting Location: Waterfront Park Seawall Event Details: 8:30 am-Noon Festival Arts & Crafts Market Location: Promenade at the Waterfront Park | Event Details: 9:30 am – 7 pm Bocce Tournament Sponsored by JoCo Construction and the Pizzo Family Location: Waterfront Park Main Field Event Details: Play starts at 8 am Badminton Tournament Sponsored by A.C Harvey's Screenprinting Location: Waterfront Park Stage Field Event Details: Play starts at 9 am Children’s Toad Fishing Tournament Sponsored by Plair Enterprises, Inc Location: Waterfront Park Seawall Event Details: FREE EVENT | 10 am –Noon | Ages 12 and under only | Bring your own rod, reel, and tackle | Bait provided Sponsor’s Expo Location: Waterfront Park Pavilion Event Details: FREE | 10 am – 2 pm Shrimp Boat Tours Sponsored by: Sea Eagle Market Location: Waterfront Park Seawall Event Details: FREE | Noon – 4 pm Festival Arts & Crafts Market Location: Promenade at Waterfront Park | Event Details: 2 pm – 7 pm OPENING CEREMONY Sponsored by Devil Dog Headquarters Entertainment: Parris Island Marine Band w/fireworks Location: Waterfront Park Event Details: FREE EVENT | Gates open at 6 pm, Ceremony at 7 pm CONCERT IN THE PARK Sponsored by Dick Broadcasting / Bob 106.9 Headline Performer: Randy Houser Also Performing: Gabrielle Mooney Opening Act: Andrew Beam Location: Waterfront Park Event Details: $35 | Gates open at 6 pm, Show at 7 pm | No strollers, coolers, outside food or beverages or professional photography | No Refunds | FREE Shuttle service from Beaufort County Government Center | Children aged 5 and under FREE | No pets allowed Festival Arts & Crafts Market Location: Promenade at Waterfront Park Event Details: 2 pm – 5 pm Children’s Day Sponsored by Capital Waste Services Location: Waterfront Park | Event Details: FREE EVENT | 11 am –3 pm | Featuring Games, Activities, Shows, Bounce Houses, and Prizes Shrimp Boat Tours Sponsored by Sea Eagle Market Location: Waterfront Park Seawall Event Details: FREE | Noon – 4 pm Ski Show Sponsored by AlphaGraphics Location: Waterfront Park Event Details: FREE EVENT | 1 pm TEEN DANCE Sponsored by John 3:16 Entertainment: Veteran’s Pride Entertainment Services Location: Waterfront Park Event Details: $10 | 6 pm – 9 pm | Gates open 6 pm – 9 pm, No entry after 8 pm | Ages 13 – 17 only, ID Required | Clutch Purses Only (6” x 9” size) | Please Wear Appropriate Clothing | No refunds/outside food or beverages, or coolers | No pets Festival Arts & Crafts Market Location: Promenade at the Waterfront Park Event Details: Noon – 7 pm Festival Arts & Crafts Market Location: Promenade at the Waterfront Park Event Details: Noon – 7 pm MOTOWN MONDAY Sponsored by South State Bank Entertainment: Deas-Guyz Location: Waterfront Park Event Details: $15 | Gates open at 7 pm, Show at 8 pm | No refunds, outside food or beverages, or coolers | FREE Shuttle Service from the Beaufort County Government Center | Children aged 5 and under FREE | No pets allowed Festival Arts & Crafts Market Location: Promenade at the Waterfront Park Event Details: Noon – 7 pm ISLAND TIME TUESDAY Sponsored by Lockheed Martin Headline Entertainment: Sons of Sailors | Location: Waterfront Park Event Details: $5 | Gates open at 7 pm Show at 8 pm | No refunds outside food or beverages, or coolers | No pets allowed FIRST RESPONDER & MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT - free admission with active duty ID Festival Arts & Crafts Market Location: Promenade at the Waterfront Park Event Details: Noon – 7 pm TALENT SHOW Sponsored by CPM Federal Credit Union Hosted by: The Perceptor Omega Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority Location: Waterfront Park Event Details: $10 or FREE with Official 2023 67th Annual Water Festival TShirt | Gates open at 6 pm, Show at 7 pm | No refunds, outside food or beverages, or coolers | Children aged 5 and under FREE | No pets allowed Wednesday July 19th Thursday July 20th ROCKIN the RIVER Sponsored by Quality Electrical Systems Entertainment: Led Zeppelin 2 Opening Act: Killin' Quade Location: Waterfront Park Event Details: $20 | Gates open at 7 pm, Show at 8 pm | Must be 18 or Older with Valid ID to attend | No refunds, outside food or beverages, coolers or strollers | FREE Shuttle service from Beaufort County Government Center LOWCOUNTRY SUPPER Sponsored by First Federal Bank Headline Entertainment: Freebird Opening Act: Chris Jones Featuring: The Whistlers Location: Waterfront Park Event Details: $15 | Gates open at 6 pm | Supper served 6 pm – 7:30 pm | No refunds, outside food or beverages, or coolers | Children aged 5 and under FREE | No pets allowed Festival Arts & Crafts Market Location: Promenade at the Waterfront Park Event Details: Noon – 7 pm Water Festival Grand Parade Sponsored by Taylor's Landscape Organized by: The Beaufort Lions Club Location: Downtown Beaufort Event Details: FREE EVENT | 10 am –Noon Non-Profit Expo Location: Waterfront Park Pavilion Event Details: FREE EVENT | 12 – 4 pm Festival Arts & Crafts Market Location: Promenade at the Waterfront Park Event Details: Noon – 7 pm Bed Race Sponsored by The Greenery Inc. Location: Corner of Bay & Harrington Event Details: $25 entry per team | 4:30 pm check-in | 5 pm start time | Same day registration based on space availability Friday July 21st Saturday July 22nd Festival Arts & Crafts Market Location: Promenade at the Waterfront Park Event Details: 9:30 am – 7 pm Blessing of the Fleet and Parade of Boats Sponsored by The Past Commodores of the Beaufort Water Festival Location: Beaufort River in front of Waterfront Park Seawall Event Details: Noon – 2 pm | FREE registration | Boats must register to be eligible for prizes | All applications must be at the judge’s table before Noon Festival Ends – 3:00 pm –For more information and details visit BFTWATERFEST COM Air Show Sponsored by Executive Flight Training Location: Waterfront Park Event Details: FREE EVENT | 1 pm – 4 pm | Stunt Planes | Parachutists COMMODORE S BALL Sponsored by Mike's Marine Entertainment: ACE Party Band Location: Waterfront Park Event Details: $10 | Gates open at 7 pm Show at 8 pm | No refunds, outside food or beverages or coolers | Children aged 5 and under FREE | No pets allowed Sunday July 23rd