POSTAL PATRON LOCAL
MARCH 17–23, 2022 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
PRESORTED PERMIT NO. 97 BEAUFORT, SC 29902
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Stewart retires from 303 Associates By Tony Kukulich Local real estate developer Dick Stewart has announced his retirement from his position as CEO of 303 Associates, the Beaufort-based company that he founded in 1998. Courtney Worrell and Jonathan Sullivan, partners and co-owners of 303 Associates, have been named as co-CEOs. Stewart’s retirement has reportedly been in the works for more than a year, and the step up for Worrell and Sullivan became effective on March 1 of this year. “I’ve always said that when I got
Dick Stewart of 303 Associates speaks to the Lady's Island Business Professionals Association on Tuesday, Feb. 8, on Lady's Island. Stewart announced his retirement from 303 Associates on Friday. Photo by Tony Kukulich/The Island News.
to be 72½ and they made me act like I was retired, I probably should go ahead and do it,” Stewart said in an interview with The Island News. “That’s really the timing. But the overwhelming issue is that both Courtney and Jonathan are more than ready to take over those responsibilities. There’s no need for me to be underfoot and adding friction to the process when they’re perfectly capable of moving the ball forward.” Stewart grew up in Beaufort and attended Beaufort High School. His education continued at Georgia
Southern University, where he graduated in 1971. Stewart left Beaufort and worked in the wireless communication industry, eventually founding several of his own companies. Stewart returned with his family to Beaufort intending to retire after the sale of one of those companies in 1998. Instead, he found a new career. “My friend Beekman Webb convinced me to buy the Old Bay Marketplace and fix it up,” Stewart explained. “In order to do that, we formed 303 Associates. Over the years, it’s continued to grow, and
true, and do it with flair. I think we do a pretty good job of those things and I couldn’t be more pleased that our peers around the state agree.” The SCPA, held a luncheon in Columbia on Friday in place of its yearly meeting and awards
By Tony Kukulich In an expression of solidarity with the people of Ukraine, City of Beaufort Mayor Stephen Murray took steps to symbolically adopt the City of Ostroh in that war-torn country. While the action was symbolic, Murray’s intention is to deliver real assistance to the residents there. “I tend to lean toward more meaningful gestures,” Murray said. Using the city’s Pride of Place account, Murray hopes Stephen to raise funds for OsMurray troh. That account was established by the city several years ago to accept charitable donations that can be used for some public purpose. Donations made to the city’s Ukraine relief fund will be transferred to a similar fund set up by the Ostroh town council to accept charitable funds. “For me, it’s meaningful that they’ll have the resources to do what they need to do with their local government,” Murray said. “It’s a boots-onthe-ground, local effort instead of some big national or international fund and resource.” Ukraine was invaded by Russia on Feb. 24, and the conflict has, so far, created approximately 2.5 million refugees. Russian advances have reportedly been slowed by stubborn Ukrainian defenses. In recent days, Russian forces have stepped up the intensity of their attacks, which have not been limited to military targets. Obtaining accurate figures on casualties in the fighting is difficult. A March 10 story in The Guardian quoted a United Nations figure of 549 civilian deaths. According to their reporting, the U.S. military
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The Rev. Kenneth Hodges, right, pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church, makes his remarks during the laying of a wreath and flowers Thursday, March 10 at the future site of the Harriet Tubman sculpture on church grounds in downtown Beaufort. Photo by Bob Sofaly.
A hero gets her flowers Commemorating Harriet Tubman’s 200th birthday sculpture on the Tabernacle Baptist Church grounds in downtown Beaufort. The Rev. Kenneth Hodges, pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church, made remarks and presided over the event held in honor of Tubman, an enslaved person, who lived in Beaufort for two years
during the Civil War. As an advisor to Col. James Montgomery, Tubman helped organize and lead an armed assault on a number of plantations on the Combahee River.
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The Island News has banner year at SC Press awards
Newspaper wins 20 awards, places 2nd in General Excellence
From staff reports For the third year in a row, The Island News had its best year ever in the South Carolina Press Asso-
ciation’s (SCPA) yearly newspaper awards. Led by eight awards – including two first-place nods – for editor Mike McCombs, the newspaper won a total of 20 awards, besting its previous high of 14, set last year. And for the second time in three years, The Island News
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Beaufort launches effort to support city in Ukraine
HARRIET TUBMAN DAY
By Mike McCombs About 30 people attended a wreath-laying ceremony to honor Harriet Tubman on Thursday, March 10 — Harriet Tubman Day — while passers by left single flowers throughout the day at the future site of the Harriet Tubman
we’ve continued to do things. It got a little bigger than we intended.” Among the more well known projects undertaken by Stewart have been the Saltus House and Tabby Place restorations. The Saltus House was built in 1797 but sat abandoned for 25 years before it was renovated by 303 Associates in 2001. Similarly, Tabby Place was empty for approximately 20 years after the grocery store that once occupied it closed. It was reopened as an event space.
placed second in the General Excellence category. “I believe any community’s local newspaper can become the unofficial record of that community, especially in a town the size of Beaufort,” The Island News Publisher Jeff Evans said. “Our goal is pretty simple: keep it local, make sure it’s
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Republican Turral announces bid for Beaufort County Auditor.
The University of South Carolina Beaufort wins Gold Military Friendly Award.
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new location next door to old location. 1347 ribaut rd., unit d
GRAND OPENING EVENT • MARCH 17-19. grand opening to include various tasting events all three days
huge new selection of spirits and wine. wine specialist on staff to help with selections.