IT'S OUR FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR & THE LAST WEEK TO CAST YOUR VOTE FOR T.I.N. FAVORITES! VOTING ENDS MARCH 15 TH . VOTE AT WWW. YOURISLANDNEWS. COM.
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MARCH 9 - 15, 2017
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COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Annual Beaufort Twilight Run welcomes world-class athletes Staff reports
The 9th Annual Beaufort Twilight Run (BTR) is welcoming three top marathoners to this year’s race presented by Habersham Properties from 4-9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 18, in Habersham Marketplace. Along with the more than 2,600 participants and spectators across 20 states anticipated, the BTR will host running professionals from Zap Fitness-Reebok – including one of America's top 5 marathoners, Tyler Pennel. Pennel will be accompanied by teammates Pardon Ndhlovu, who recently ran in the Rio Olympic Marathon for Zimbabwe, and Nicole Dimercurio, who is a University of Georgia graduate quickly building her professional running career running in the 2016
Olympic Marathon Trials. All three runners will be in town to compete in the BTR’s 10mile race. “The BTR keeps growing and has now captured the attention of world-class athletes,” said BTR Race Director Lauren Kelly. “This race is scenic, fast and easy to follow and there is something for everyone – from families walking the 5K to local running clubs competing to athletes trying to break state records to world-class marathoners training at our race. It’s a true running festival.” The USATF-sanctioned running festival is Chronotrack timed by RMS Sports and offers more race options than any other event in the Lowcountry – drawing competitive runners and recreational participants. Racers get ready to start the 2016 Annual Beaufort Twilight Run. Photo provided.
SEE RUN, PAGE A6
One thing we can all agree on: Sanford shows up By Kat Walsh
It started with a problem. The 300-seat auditorium at the Technical College of the Lowcountry on Ribaut Road in Beaufort wasn’t large enough to accommodate those who wanted to be part of U.S. Representative Mark Sanford’s town hall. By far. With the auditorium filled and an eager, well-prepared line of about 250 more people waiting, the problem suddenly became: well, now what? “This is like a snapshot of a day in Congress,” Representative Mark Sanford told the crowd. “Welcome to Democracy 101. It’s like herding eels.” The consensus –that Sanford speak to both groups in turn – was not easily or happily reached. Amidst chats of “Let’s get started!” Sanford began a town hall that was unusual before it even began. “This might be the first instance ever in which the government and one of its largest opposition groups are walking in the door together,” said Alexis King of Lowcountry Indivisible. “Mr. Sanford reached out to us,” she said. “He wanted to set up a town hall that brought
Above: Beaufort Country residents from both north and south of the Broad River make their way into TCL's McLean Hall for U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford’s town hall meeting on March 3. Left: Many of those in attendance of Mark Sanford’s town hall meeting found themselves in agreement with him on a few issues. Many did not. Photos by Bob Sofaly.
together Lowcountry Indivisible, the Lowcountry Immigration Coalition and Beaufort County Indivisible.” Groups with missions that, more or less do not agree with the Trump agenda. King says San-
ford’s offer helps to change the “us versus them” dynamic. “It gives him the chance to look us in the eye and hear our voice.” Armed with signs that read AGREE and DISAGREE, at-
RECOGNIZING AWESOME EDUCATORS
Bridges Preparatory School names Ashton Converse as Teacher of the Year. PAGE B2
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tendees asked in both Town Hall meetings that covered a spectrum of concerns. The top issues follow: Immigration Eric Esquivel, publisher of La Isla Magazine, said that while he does not support illegal immigration, he does support smart borders. “This problem starting to agitate our communities and we need to fix it.” His question was like many on this issue: How do you think it can be fixed?
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Sanford said his focus is on work permits for present and future immigrants and for protecting young people. “I want to leave the young dreamer alone.” However, his stance on constructing a border wall drew loud opposition from the majority of the crowd. “Conceptually, I support a wall, and it needs to be paid for before I do,” he said. See SANFORD, page A6