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MARCH 11–17, 2021 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
‘Great Grand Family Foundation’ has grand plans
By Mindy Lucas A new Beaufort-based nonprofit has grand plans for seniors and youth around the Lowcountry. Founded by friends and Beaufort natives Pervis Walker and Christopher Thompson, the Great Grand Family Foundation aims to address vulnerabilities in both groups by bringing them together with the shared goal of helping each other. “It comes from this idea that the community is an extended family,” Thompson said. Walker and Thompson began
talking about the idea of pairing the two demographics together in some way last summer when the two realized they had a shared a vision of Pervis wanting to give back Walker and perhaps tackle some of the issues they saw were negatively impacting the community. Those issues included limited access to mentoring or educational opportunities, a lack of extracurricular activities or lack of safe spaces for
youth among others, they said. In talking, both discovered they were inspired by older family members, grandparChristopher ents or “adoptive grandparents,” they Thompson said, as well as other members of the community who stepped in when they needed a guiding hand. “So really our organization is about creating strong families, making sure every member of the family
FOR MORE INFORMATION For more information on the Great Grand Family Foundation visit www.greatgrandfamily.org or email: info@greatgrandfamily.org.
is taken care of, the older generation as well as the next generation,” Thompson said. After receiving their official 501 (c) (3) status from the Secretary of State’s Office earlier this year, they began reaching out to community and civic leaders for support
and feedback. They’ve since created a board of directors and are now looking to get the word out about who they are and what they do. The foundation will offer a variety of programs that will focus on education, mentoring and health and wellness activities designed to benefit both seniors and young people. The foundation’s Senior Care program, for example, will train youth on how to conduct home visits with
SEE PLANS PAGE A4
Have an idea for Southside Park?
McFee returns to City Council
By Mindy Lucas Attention Beaufort residents, especially those who live in Mossy Oaks or near Southside Park, a newly formed task force wants to hear from you. The Southside Park Task Force is gathering input on what amenities residents would like to see in the 34acre park west of Ribaut Road. Appointed by the Beaufort City Council in January, the task force is charged with putting together a presentation for ideas on how to improve the park and is reviewing older planning documents as part of that process as well. One of the city’s largest parks, Southside currently features a dog park, walking trail, an open grassy area and restrooms. Residents who wish to provide feedback can complete the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/SouthsidePark. The survey is also circulating via social media, emailed newsletters and through other means. Paper surveys will also be distributed, a news release from the city stated. The deadline to gather responses is March 28.
By Mindy Lucas A familiar face was sworn in to Beaufort’s City Council this week. Former Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Mike McFee returned to City Hall for a swearing-in ceremony held on Tuesday, March 9. The event was also live streamed on Facebook. After losMike ing by less McFee than 1 percentage point in a tight race between six contenders in November, McFee went on to claim the council seat vacated by Stephen Murray in a special Election held earlier this month and won that seat by 684 votes, or 65.45 percent of the vote. As a matter of protocol, Murray gave up the seat, and its term, to become mayor last fall. “It’s a great honor for me to be back on council,” McFee said. “I look forward to continuing to serve you as I have in the past, and continuing to hopefully do the good job that we’ve always done as a completed council now.” All five seats on city council are now filled.
Phil Cromer, left, Lillian Haist and Marty Lou Brewton of the Beaufort County Historical Society, stand where a historical marker is missing from the side of the old Peoples Bank building at Bay and Scott streets. Photo by Bob Sofaly.
The Case of the Missing Marker
I
f you’re looking at the photo accompanying this piece, you might be puzzled. You might be thinking those three otherwise sane looking people are posing next to an empty wall in downtown Beaufort. You might think something is missing. You might be right. There is a missing marker. Phil Cromer, Lillian Haist and Marty Lou Brewton, all of the Beaufort County Historical Society, are standing next to where a historical marker is missing from the side of the old Peoples Bank
MIKE MCCOMBS
building at Bay and Scott streets. The marker, roughly 2 feet in height and a foot and a half across and made of bronze … maybe, illustrates the location of “The First Fort.” Engraved on the marker are these
words: On or near this site in the settlement known as Stuart Town stood the "Tight Watch House" erected in 1683-4. After the destruction of the town by the Spanish in 1686 it was replaced by a fort, approximately 100 feet square defended by "9 Great Guns" known as the Beaufort Fort after 1710. It was the main defense of the area until Fort Frederick was erected in 1735. If any of that seems strange to you … well, we’ll come back to that. According to Haist, the President of the Beaufort Historical Society,
SEE MCCOMBS PAGE A4
WHERE DID THE BUILDING GO?
Photo by Mindy Lucas. Don’t forget to spring forward Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 14. Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead an hour.
If you happened by the 200 block of Carteret Street recently, you may have wondered what happened to the building between Bachelor Hill Antiques and the Fordham Market building on the corner of Bay and Carteret Streets. It seems to have disappeared. Owned by Graham Trask and Fordham Enterprises, the building is being renovated as part of a warehouse renovation project. Approved in August by the City of Beaufort’s Historic District Review Board, the new building will blend in with the existing block and will feature a new wood and glass door and entryway and canvas awning, according to board minutes. – Mindy Lucas
HEALTH
VOICES
INSIDE
Second dose of Covid-19 vaccine gets administered.
Maxine Lutz encourages others to contribute to local discussion.
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Lowcountry Life A2 News A2–4 Legals A4 Health A5 Education A6 Sports A7
Photo by Mindy Lucas.
Outdoors Voices Military Directory Classifieds Games
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