May 4 edition

Come visit us at our garden center!

1 Marina Blvd | Beaufort, SC | 843.521.7747

lowcogardeners@gmail.com | www.lowcogardeners.com

Taste of Beaufort set for Friday, Saturday

From staff reports

Are you ready to get your eat on? Taste of Beaufort is back.

The annual food festival will be held on Friday, May 5, and Saturday, May 6, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. Admission is free.

Worth fighting for

Amid conflict between development, heritage, why is St. Helena Island so important?

By Tony Kukulich tkukulich@postandcourier.com

ST. HELENA ISLAND

When chef Bill Green, owner of the Gullah Grub restaurant, talks about Gullah cooking, he recommends adding a pinch of salt as the dish heats up.

The salt gets the flavors working together, he said. It unifies the dish.

“Whatever you’re using, different spices or herbs, it’ll make ’em speak,” Green said. “You put a little dash on,

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.

and you’ll hear them start talking at you.”

In light of recent events, Green’s cooking lesson begins to feel like a metaphor.

When a developer proposed an exclusive golf resort along the north shore of the island known as the Pine Island Plantation in 2022, residents came together in much the same way flavors do in Green’s Gullah cooking. Vigorous opposition to the development project coalesced, and large crowds began to speak out against the project whenever it appeared on a Beaufort County meeting agenda.

SEE CONFLICT PAGE A5

You can listen to great music while sampling dishes from the best of Beaufort’s restaurants, and there will be a Kids Corner and arts and craft vendors, as well.

The food vendors include Belly Full by Tyger (grilled seafood and soul food), Krystyna’s Authentic Polish Food, JohnnieMae’s Chicken & Waffles, And Lobster, Marker 244, Sea Eagle Market, SnoBar Truck, Southern Bell Boards (Charcuterie), and Misfit Chef (Japanese soul bowls).

If you have a sweet tooth, you can satisfy that at Bruster’s (ice cream), the Island Fudge Shoppe, Palmetto Kettle Corn, and Tout Sweet Macarons.

Food tickets are $1 per ticket, and must be purchased at the festival.

The festival runs from 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The arts and craft vendors will be open from noon to

Sheriff Tanner, police using MOUs to address shortages

New initiative will regionalize use of resources

By Mike McCombs

The Island News

Sheriff P.J. Tanner is taking a proactive approach to making Beaufort County a safer place, while at the same time attempting to address personnel shortages within his own department, as well as those of the municipalities in the county.

At a media event Wednesday, April 26, at the old Federal Courthouse on Bay Street, flanked by Bluffton Police Chief Joe Babkiewicz and Beaufort Police Chief Dale McDorman (Port Royal Police

Chiel Alan Beach could not attend due to a scheduling conflict), Tanner announced a new initiative.

Using Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) will allow officers at the police departments of Beaufort, Bluffton and Port Royal to apply to become members of select BCSO teams that their departments may not offer, such as K-9, Bomb Squad, SWAT team, Violent Crimes Task Force, Marine Patrol, Crime Scene Unit, School Resource Officer Program and Air Support. In turn, these resources will be made available at all times to the individual departments.

Given the number of vacancies at each of the local law enforce-

ARTS

ment agencies, Tanner sees this initiative as a force multiplier, something that can make the county safer and aid in hiring.

“What we’re doing is we’re trying to encourage applicants to apply at law enforcement agencies within the county … and we want to put them to work,” Tanner said. “And once we get them here, if they have the interest to be on the SWAT team, and (City of Beaufort) doesn’t have a SWAT team, … if they want to apply and try out for a position on the SWAT team, we’re going to have an MOU for that. And if they’re qualified, then they’ll be a member of the county SWAT team.”

SEE SHERIFF PAGE A6

Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner, center, announces Wednesday, April 26, an initiative in which the Sheriff’s Office would share specialized assets with the county’s municipalities. Officers could also apply to train in specialized areas to help reduce strain on the Sheriff’s Office. From left are Bluffton Police Chief Joe Babkiewicz, Tanner and Beaufort Police Chief Dale McDorman. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Experience the Clover Choraliers next month.

PAGE A9

A mural adorns the exterior walls of the Gullah Farmers Cooperative Association building on St. Helena Island, South Carolina as seen April 24, 2023. Tony Kukulich/Post And Courier

While visiting friends in the Lowcountry, Joyce Brouillard of East Liverpool, Ohio, took this photo on Tuesday, April 11, of Ospreys in their nest on Hunting Island. To submit a Lowcountry Life photo, you must be the photographer or have permission to submit the photo to be published in The Island News. Please submit high-resolution photos and include a description and/or names of the people in the picture and the name of the photographer. Email your photos to theislandnews@gmail.com

VETERAN OF THE WEEK JACK MATHISON

Beaufort’s Jack Mathison, 72, joined the United States Marine Corps in Clearwater, Fla., in 1968. After boot camp at Parris Island and Infantry training at Camp Lejeune, he further trained in Reconnaissance at Camp Pendleton before his first duty station in Vietnam near Da Nang. While in Vietnam, he saw regular combat, was wounded three times and awarded the Purple Heart. He was medevacked to the hospital ship

USNS Sanctuary (AH-17) and Naval Station Yokosuka, Japan the first time and later to Naval Hospital Jacksonville. His next

assignment was at Parris Island as a rifle range instructor. He then served with the Marine Barracks at NAS Jacksonville, providing security before an overseas tour on Okinawa. He returned to Pendleton for duty from which he deployed to Panama and Twentynine Palms, Calif. Next he cross-trained at Naval Air Technical Training Center Memphis in avionics before an assignment at MCAS Beaufort. While stationed

ISLAND NEWS PUBLISHING,

LLC

PUBLISHERS

Jeff & Margaret Evans

FOUNDING PUBLISHERS

Elizabeth Harding Newberry

Kim Harding

EDITORIAL/DESIGN

Editor-in-Chief

Mike McCombs theislandnews@ gmail.com

Art Director Hope Falls ads.theislandnews@ gmail.com

Assistant Editor Delayna Earley delayna. theislandnews@ gmail.com

in Beaufort he deployed to Norway and Yuma, Ariz. He retired in 1988 as a Gunnery Sergeant with 20 years of service. For the next 24 years, he served with the City of Beaufort Fire Department retiring as a Lieutenant.

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

Firefighter honored with Maltese Cross award

From staff reports

Beaufort/Port Royal Firefighter Al Robinson was recently awarded the Order of the Maltese Cross after completing three-and-a-half months of rigorous training at the St. Paul Fire District in Hollywood, S.C. He was selected by his fellow class recruits, which included firefighters from the Beaufort/Port Royal Fire Department and the St. Paul Fire District.

“The Maltese Cross is a firefighter’s badge of honor, sig-

nifying that he or she works in courage — a ladder rung away from death,” said Fire Chief Tim Ogden, who congratulated Robinson on this honor. “The eight obligations of the Maltese Cross are: Live in Truth, Repent of Sins, Love Justice, Be Sincere and Whole-hearted, Have Faith, Give Proof of Humility, Be Merciful, and Endure Persecution.”

“We’re very proud of Al, and we look forward to his future as a firefighter,” Ogden said.

LEGAL NOTICES

Sports Editor Justin Jarrett LowcoSports@ gmail.com

SALES/BUSINESS

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

ON THIS DATE

May 9

The classes covered skills required at the firefighter I and II levels, ranging from the basics of CPR to fire dynamics and suppression, fire hose and ladder skills, forcible entry, and structural search and rescue. Firefighter recruits Madi Chaplin and Adrian Villalon also graduated from the class.

In 2022, Firefighter Jason Kleiner was awarded the Maltese Cross by his class at the South Carolina Fire Academy.

1981: Greg Jones is born in Columbia. Jones was a star athlete at Battery Creek High School in the 1990s, earning All-State honors on offense (running back) and defense (linebacker) in football. He played college football at Florida State University. Drafted in the second round of the 2004 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jones played nine seasons in the NFL, eight with the Jaguars and one with the Houston Texans.

May 10

2019: Mills Langehans scores five goals to lead the Holy Trinity Lions to an 8-0 win over Cambridge Academy to win the SCISA 1A girls soccer championship at Porter-Gaud in Charleston.

2019: Beaufort Academy’s boys are denied a sixth consecutive SCISA 1A soccer championship, falling, 4-2, to The King’s Academy at Porter-Gaud in Charleston.

– Compiled by Mike McCombs.

PAL PETS OF THE WEEK

Cat of the Week: Sabrina loves to play with any toy she can find, especially if someone wants to play with her. Sabrina would like a home with another pet to keep her company while her humans are away. She is often found on the cat tower in her cat room eagerly awaiting her next visitor. Sabrina is 2 years old, spayed, up to date on vaccines, and microchipped.

Dog of the Week: Lola would make a great companion for anyone looking for a medium sized dog with lots of love to give. She would do well in a home by herself since she has shared her space with her puppies for so long. Lola is 4 years old, up to date on vaccines, and microchipped.

If you are interested in adopting Sabrina, Lola, or any of our other pets, call our adoption center at 843-645-1725 or email us at info@ palmettoanimalleague. org for more information.

Accounting April Ackerman april@ aandbbookkeeping. com

Billing questions only.

CONTACT US PO Box 550 Beaufort, SC 29901 TheIslandNews@gmail.com www.YourIslandNews.com facebook.com/TheIslandNews

DEADLINE

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

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

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.

Jack Mathison

Firefighter Al Robinson and his fiancée Krishawna Cuthbert.

Submitted photo

Beaufort remembers loved ones with butterfly release

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

BEAUFORT – Fifteen-hundred Painted Lady butterflies were released on Saturday, April 29, during the fourth annual Release and Remember event held at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort.

The event, which is hosted by Friends of Caroline Hospice in partnership with the City of Beaufort, invited people to purchase a butterfly to release in honor of their loved ones that have passed away. Lindsay Roberg, President of Friends of Caroline, estimates that around 800 people showed up for the event.

“Everyone, no matter who you are, has experienced a really heavy loss,” Roberg said. “The harder you love the hard the loss, and a lot of people just bury those feelings. I think it’s important for us as a community to heal and know that you’re not alone.”

Butterflies were available for purchase for $12 and with that your loved one’s name was put onto a board that was on display at the event. The money raised from the event goes toward the grief support program that Friends of Caroline offers, and it also goes to help those who need hospice care but

who do not have insurance to cover the costs.

“This was our fourth year, there were a few bumps along the way with COVID and needing to reschedule, but now we are on track and can gather in large groups. We see this event growing in years to come,” Roberg said.

Roberg also mentioned that this event is quickly becoming their biggest fundraiser for the year.

Remembering loved ones

Jessica Pheil, of Beaufort, attended the event for the first time on Saturday with her father and her 1-yearold son. She was there to remember her mother, who passed away a year ago, and her infant daughter who died in 2017.

“It has been great to see all of the butterflies and to see my son playing with the

BUY

butterflies. This is something we have always wanted to do with her, but we never had the opportunity. It is really nice to be able to do it now, especially with the community as well. We aren’t really talking or communicating with them, but to see everyone out here, it’s just really nice,” Pheil said.

Joyce Anne Wise, of Beaufort, died on March 17, 2023, and was remembered during the event by her children and daughter-in-law. She died at Friends of Caroline Hospice Cottage, which is the new inpatient hospice house located in Ridgeland.

“It’s a real opportunity, following the loss, after we have had time to digest it a little bit, to come together with people who know and have dealt with the same issues,” said Anthony Wise, of Lorton, Va., one of Wise’s chil-

Lady’s Island man arrested in connection with armed robbery

From staff reports

An 18-year-old Beaufort High School student was arrested in connection with an armed robbery last week on Lady’s Island.

dren. “To commiserate and remember and reflect on the joy of life and the transition.”

His wife, Deb Wise, added that this is an event that helps you to understand the metamorphosis of what is happening when you lose a loved one.

“We try to hold the event around Memorial Day. In the future, we just hope to continue spreading word about the event and let people know that there is an opportunity for them to gather and remember and celebrate the ones that we love, and I think it’s a really great way for us to do it as a community,” said Roberg.

Delayna Earley lives in Beaufort with her husband, two children and Jack Russell. She spent six years as a videographer and photographer for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette before leaving the Lowcountry in 2018. After freelancing in Myrtle Beach and Virginia, she joined The Island News when she moved back to Beaufort in 2022. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com

At about 6 pm., Thursday, April 27, deputies responded to Thomas Atkins Road in reference to an armed robbery. Once on scene, deputies say the victim was robbed of personal items at gunpoint. They said the victim knew the suspect, identified as 18-year-old Karon Thomas of Lady’s Island.

While investigators searched the area for the suspect, they received a tip from a concerned citizen stating the suspect was inside Walmart, several blocks away.

Investigators quickly located Thomas and took him into custody. Thomas was arrested on charges of armed robbery and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

On April 28, 2023, Thomas went before a judge for a bond hearing. Thomas received a $25,000 cash bond for the armed robbery charge and a $10,000 cash bond for the weapon charge.

Thomas arranged bond on Saturday, April 29, and was released from the Beaufort County Detention Center.

It is unclear at this time is Thomas will be allowed to return to school at Beaufort High School.

Staff members from Friends of Caroline open their boxes containing Painted Lady butterflies during the annual Release and Remember ceremony Saturday, April 29, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. Bob Sofaly/The Island

A Painted Lady butterfly needed to warm up a bit before flying off during Friends of Caroline’s Release and Remember butterfly release Saturday, April 29, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Trial date set for alleged Murdaugh conspirator

Cory Fleming

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

Cory Fleming, a suspended Beaufort County attorney, will stand trial on Sept. 11, 2023, for financial crimes that he allegedly committed with former Hampton County lawyer and convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh.

Fleming went before Judge Clifton Newman on Friday, April 21, at the Hampton County Courthouse.

Premiere of the Pavilion

Fleming allegedly helped Murdaugh steal $4.3 million from the sons of Gloria Satterfield, the Murdaugh family’s housekeeper, that was awarded to them by Murdaugh’s liability insurance company after Satterfield’s 2018 death that resulted from a fall at one of Murdaugh’s homes.

Cory Flemming

According to grand jury indictments, Murdaugh allegedly conspired with Fleming to steal the insurance money from Satterfield’s sons. Most of the money went to Murdaugh, but Fleming also received money from the settlement.

Fleming will be represented by attorney Debbie Barbier and the plaintiff, Michael “Tony” Satterfield of Hampton, will be represented by Columbia-based attorney Eric Bland.

At this time no trial date has been set for Alex Murdaugh, who is currently serving two consecutive life sentences for the murders of his wife and son, Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, at their family’s Colleton County Moselle estate in June 2021.

Delayna Earley lives in Beaufort with her husband, two children and Jack Russell. She spent six years as a videographer and photographer for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette before leaving the Lowcountry in 2018. She joined The Island News when she moved back to Beaufort in 2022. She can be reached at delayna. theislandnews@gmail.com

Tastefrom page A1

6 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Entertainment

The weekend’s entertainment schedule is as follows:

Friday 5:15 p.m.: Whiskey & Wine 7:30 p.m.: Deaz Guys

Saturday 11:15 a.m.: Campfire Tyler 12:30 p.m.: Dirty Boots Brass Band 1:45 p.m.: Irritating Julie 3 p.m.: The Brewer Band Kids Corner

The Kids Corner includes miniature golf, provided by Savannah Mini Golf Company, both Friday and Saturday, and face painting by GlitterBoxx on Saturday.

Race to the Taste 5K

The race begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday. The course is USAFT certified. If you are interested, register at https://bit.ly/3NtNEzu

Volunteers Volunteers may still be needed for the 5K and to work the festival on both days.

Volunteer sign-up: https://bit.ly/44musJU

Race to the Taste 5K: https://bit.ly/3NtNEzu

For more information

Go to beaufortsc.org/ atasteofbeaufort

Sarah Walbert, Marketing and Events Coordinator for Port Royal Sound Maritime Center, sets up chairs for the ribboncutting event held on Tuesday, May 2, in the new Weezie Education Pavilion at the Maritime Center. The Weezie Education Pavilion is the latest addition to the Port Royal Sound Maritime Center and is intended to give visiting school children a larger place to gather while on field trips to the center and is also available to be rented out for private events. The pavilion features large openings that allow guests to enjoy beautiful views of the Port Royal Sound. By

Port Royal shop hosts first Springfest

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

PORT ROYAL – The inaugural Springfest 2023 was held on Paris Avenue in Port Royal on Saturday, April 29. The event was hosted by ZenDen, a shop in Port Royal that offers alternative and holistic health services, according to their business Facebook page.

Campfire Tyler, a musician from Port Royal, played during the event, as festival attendees walked between the different artisan tents.

There were 38 vendors selling handmade jewelry, homemade desserts and energy drinks, paintings and tarot card readings.

The food truck Golden Sun Filipino Cuisine was there selling food and beverages to the attendees.

“I really hope that next year we are able to have one or two more food trucks and

a few more vendors to offer more variety,” ZenDen owner Robyn Baker said.

Barker continued to say that the weather played heavily into the success of

the event. There were also several other events happening in Port Royal and in Beaufort, so she thinks that people stopped by to shop at the event because they were already out and about.

“This was just our first year, we hope to continue to grow this event every year,” Baker said.

The date for next year’s Springfest has already been set for April 27, 2024.

Delayna Earley lives in Beaufort with her husband, two children and Jack Russell. She spent six years as a videographer and photographer for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette before leaving the Lowcountry in 2018. After freelancing in Myrtle Beach and Virginia, she joined The Island News when she moved back to Beaufort in 2022. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com

BMH PATH graduates earn national certification

From staff reports Twelve Beaufort Memorial PATH (People Achieving Their Highest) graduates are the inaugural students to complete and pass the hospital’s first National Certification Exam through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), which demonstrates the employees have achieved the highest standards in their chosen field and have shown proficiency in their skill levels. The milestone also marked the first time that Beaufort Memorial has hosted the national exam on its campus. The exam, held March 29, had a pass rate of 92.3%, nearly 15% higher than the NHA’s national average of 78%.

“We are extremely proud of our employee graduates and the future their hard work affords them,” BMH President and CEO Russell Baxley said in a news release. “They are shining examples of our mission and vision, and our shared commitment to the help -

ing our employees achieve their goals.”

The hospital hosted a special pinning ceremony April 19, recognizing the dozen newly certified graduates:

Certified Clinical Medical Assistants: Sonya Davis, CCMA; Jessica Gibbs, CCMA; Jaime Maynor, CCMA; Shelby Swain, CCMA.

Certified EKG Technician: Jamie Harmon, CET.

Certified Phlebotomy Technician: Vickey Heyward, CPT.

Certified Patient Care Technician: Tonya Coax-

um, CPCT; Juliette Heyward, CPCT; Madelyn Mieras, CPCT; Gabriela Portela, CPCT; Edwina Register, CPCT; Leah Simmons, CPCT.

Also being celebrated at the ceremony were the four newest PATH graduates and 16 new participants who will be the program’s fourth cohort.

The next cohort of PATH students will include employees pursuing a Medical Coding certification, a new pathway recently added to the roster of allied healthcare programs available to

Beaufort Memorial employees. The Beaufort Memorial PATH Program has been showcased by the South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA) as an innovative example of workforce development. The program, which welcomed its inaugural class last May, is designed to help staff learn new skills, earn advanced certifications and grow their careers at Beaufort Memorial.

Structured to allow staff to continue working in their current role while participat-

ing, it includes scholarships, clinical training, traditional education, and non-traditional financial assistance to encourage and incentivize individuals to advance their careers and support a better healthcare network.

Community members interested in learning how they might join the team at Beaufort Memorial and grow their career through the PATH Program should visit BeaufortMemorial.org/ PATH. Visit BeaufortMemorial.org/JobFair for details about the job fair and to reserve a spot.

Cynthia Cravey, of Bluffton, gets a tarot card reading from Cynthia Ray, owner of Mystical Tarot, on Saturday, April 29, during Springfest 2023 in Port Royal. Delayna Earley/The Island News

Recent Beaufort Memorial PATH grads Celless Anderson, Brenda Wolfe, Cirsten Benjamin and Tavon Barnwell. Submitted photo. The newest group of PATH participants. Submitted photo.

The Weezie Education Pavilion is the latest addition to the Port Royal Sound Maritime Center and is intended to give visiting school children a larger place to gather while on field trips to the center and is also available to be rented out for private events. The pavilion features large openings that allow guests to enjoy beautiful views of the Port Royal Sound. Photo courtesy of The Greenery.

Delayna Earley/The Island News

Port Royal Sound Foundation board chairman Dean Moss addresses a crowd of supporters at Tuesday’s ribbon cutting at the Weezie Educational Pavilion on Lemon Island. Margaret Evans/ Lowcountry Weekly

Beaufort Executive Airport gets a face-lift with renovation

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

LADY’S ISLAND – The Beaufort Executive Airport, on Lady’s Island, celebrated its re-opening on Thursday, April 27, 2023, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its newly renovated facility.

The Beaufort Executive Airport is a 110-acre General Aviation Airport located at 39 Airport Circle on Lady’s Island.

“We renovated the entire inside of the building. The building was completed in the late 1980s and hadn’t really been touched. We really opened up the floor plan and made it nice and open and airy,” Airports Director Jon Rembold said. “We got new furniture, we did a full landscaping project outside, we expanded our porch on the side where the airplanes come in, and we painted the brown brick so to give it a more elevated look.”

The renovation was strictly focused on the terminal building and took about a year and a half.

“We changed the name from Beaufort County Airport to Beaufort Executive Airport. We did that

Conflict

from page A1

They pointed out that golf courses, resorts and gated communities are prohibited by an ordinance known as the St. Helena Island Cultural Protection Overlay.

In addition, Gov. Henry McMaster warned in a letter dated Jan. 3 that if the county allows the proposed development, it will signal an “open season” for further development on St. Helena.

If this proposal is indeed an existential threat to the island, it begs the question: What’s so special about St. Helena?

Seat of Gullah culture

Unlike a Caribbean or Hawaiian island, which have clear edges surrounded by deep blue ocean, St. Helena Island’s boundaries are difficult to ascertain.

To enter it, one travels over a nondescript bridge on Highway 21 and crosses a narrow ribbon of water known as Cowen Creek, which separates Lady’s Island from St. Helena. It’s a transition that’s easy to miss if one isn’t paying particular attention.

to elevate the status of the airport. So, when we did that, we had to look at ourselves and we decided that

a stunning view of nearby Edding Creek.

“We’re very thankful to our ancestors because all they had was a piece of land to leave for their children,” Reynolds Green said.

Being raised on St. Helena involved the whole community. Life lessons, discipline or support could come from anyone at any time.

“We know that spirituality was the core of all of the Gullah people,” she said.

“We learned respect and reverence for our elders at an early age. We had teaching from our parents, but not just our parents, everybody in the community.”

Reynolds Green left the island in 1969 to attend Spelman College in Atlanta. She remained in Georgia for 20 years.

When she returned to St. Helena in 1989, she started farming on the family land, which led her to establish the not-for-profit farm that teaches children aged 10 to 18 how to grow crops. Instructors cover every aspect, from planting the seeds to delivering the produce to market.

Students can also participate on plays produced by Reynolds Green and take cooking classes taught by

we didn’t look executive. That is how the project got started,” Rembold said.

The facility has 34 T-Hangers, a terminal building with a pilot lounge, kitchenette, vending ma-

chines, restrooms and showers and a conference room.

While several members of the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce, members of the Beaufort County Council and other elected officials were present, the staff of the airport were given the honor of cutting the ribbon.

The airport staff assists with ground transportation and hotel arrangements for pilots and services and fuels aircrafts, serving as the Fixed Base Operator (FBO).

“We call it the community’s airport, it is a public place. The beauty of a small aviation airport is that we really can invite the public to come out and check it out,” Rembold said.

Delayna Earley lives in Beaufort with her husband, two children and Jack Russell. She spent six years as a videographer and photographer for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette before leaving the Lowcountry in 2018. After freelancing in Myrtle Beach and Virginia, she joined The Island News when she moved back to Beaufort in 2022. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com

as I call it, of Hilton Head,” said Marquetta Goodwine, who founded the Gullah/ Geechee Sea Island Coalition and is also known as Queen Quet. “We had seen the destructionment of Fripp Island. We had seen the influx of destructionment to Dataw, and Dataw wasn’t even built out then like it is now.”

In response, residents developed and passed the St. Helena Island Cultural Protection Overlay, a 227word, community-driven zoning ordinance unique in its stated purpose of protecting the Gullah/Geechee culture unique to the island.

Jameah Moore discusses her experiences with the Marshview Community Organic Farm, Inc. at the farm on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Tony Kukulich/Post And Courier

A brightly-painted welcome sign just past the Cowen Creek bridge helps. It tells travelers they’ve entered the “seat of Gullah culture.”

Sara Reynolds Green, founder of the Marshview Community Organic Farm, lives on land that her great-great-grandfather purchased in 1865. Her home today is the same one in which she was raised.

On the edge of wide marsh, it affords Reynolds Green

chef Bill Green, to whom Reynolds Green is married.

“If you’ve got love and kindness in your heart and respect, then you can become a Gullah cook,” Green said. “You’ve got to feel your part. When you can feel it, you know you got it.”

Jameah Moore went through the full cycle of classes at Marshview Farm. After college, Moore returned to St. Helena and reconnected with Reynolds Green, who offered her a

job. Moore said the biggest lesson she took from her time in the program was that it’s the small things in life that make the biggest difference.

With an itch to see more of what the world has to offer, Moore said she’ll likely leave St. Helena within a couple of years. But she believes she’ll eventually make her way back.

“I know this is always home,” Moore added. “I can always come back here, and it will be here.”

A family affair

Gardenia Simmons-White, a native of St. Helena, speaks proudly of the education she received from the Penn School, which she attended through the 12th grade, and of her upbringing on the island.

As a child, her life centered on school and the church. It was a time, she said, when everyone looked out for one another. Her father would often spend the day gathering oysters, and after shucking them would share the bounty with family and neighbors.

“He didn’t sell them,” Simmons-White said. “He gave them to people in the community.”

With few opportunities outside of domestic work or laboring on a sharecropper’s farm, Simmons-White went to New York City after graduation. She soon found work as a nurse’s aide at Manhattan State Hospital. Eventually she earned a master’s degree in nursing administration.

Despite the four decades in New York, Simmons-White never lost her connection to St. Helena.

She often visited her father, who was still on the island, and she traveled back to attend Penn Center events whenever possible.

In 1977, her father gave a one-acre plot to each of his four children. That land became the focal point of Simmons-White’s retirement plan. She put a mobile home on the land and rented it out before building a house that was waiting for her when she was ready.

“We knew that it was ours,” Simmons-White said. “When we retired, we knew that we had a place to come home to.”

At 88 years old, Simmons-White remains active in the St. Helena Island community, and she continues to stress the importance of being educated on land preservation.

“We had our land even before we were free,” Simmons-White said. “You have to get involved to make sure you don’t lose your property, and you have a voice in what comes to this rural area.”

Where does it lead?

One reason St. Helena residents are so passionate about their land is because they’ve seen what’s happened to their neighbors, including Hilton Head Island.

It sits less than four miles south of St. Helena Island, on the opposite side of the Port Royal Sound.

The islands are nearly identical in size, and just a few decades ago it might have been difficult to tell them apart.

Then, beginning in the 1950s, a proliferation of gated communities, resorts

and golf courses largely displaced the Gullah/Geechee community that had lived there for generations.

Deloris Pringle, chair of the Penn Center Board of Trustees, said that only about 1,000 acres remain in the hands of Hilton Head’s native islanders.

“When land goes, culture goes,” Pringle said. “There

“It’s the only place that I’ve ever found where there’s a zoning law to protect a living culture,” said Goodwine. “I have yet to find another place like St. Helena.”

The overlay expressly prohibits golf courses, resorts and gated communities. Since its passage by the Beaufort County Council in 1999, the overlay has allowed the heart of the Gullah/Geechee community to remain intact.

is no sense of community there. You don’t want to destroy that on St. Helena.”

The National Park Service identified the threat that development and other factors pose to the Gullah/ Geechee community in a 2005 report entitled “Low Country Gullah Culture: Special Resource Study and Final Environmental Impact Statement.”

It stated that Gullah/ Geechee culture, language and lands are in imminent danger of loss to encroaching resort development and general population growth along the coast. It went on to recognize that some historically Gullah/Geechee islands have been “almost totally lost to development.”

St. Helena residents closely watched those islands’ transformation.

“By 1999, we had already seen the destructionment,

Now its future, along with that of the Pine Island development project, is undecided. Considerable resources appear to have been amassed on both sides of the confrontation, and each appears determined to see this through to the end.

Pringle talks about the tangible and the intangible aspects of a culture and a heritage that are put at risk by development. The tangibles, she said, are the waterways, the marshes and the environment. The intangibles run deeper.

“The intangibles are the displacement of people and culture that have existed for hundreds of years,” she said.

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

Chef Bill Green discusses the fine points of Gullah cooking outside his restaurant Gullah Grub on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Tony Kukulich/ Post And Courier

Staff members of the Beaufort Executive Airport cut the ribbon during the official grand opening of the renovated airport on Thursday, April 27, at the airport on Lady’s Island. Delayna Earley/The Island News

We had our land even before we were free ... You have to get involved to make sure you don’t lose your property, and you have a voice in what comes to this rural area.”

HBF’s ‘Underneath the Oaks’-themed Lafayette Soirée fundraiser set for May 6

From staff reports

The annual Lafayette Soirée hosted by Historic Beaufort Foundation (HBF) is set for 6:30 to 10 p.m., Saturday, May 6, on the banks of the Beaufort River in Spanish Point. The garden party will feature a sampling of Lowcountry cuisine and a taste of traditional Lafayette Cakes, perfectly curated libations, a silent auction, and live music with East Coast Party band. This year’s Soirée will be held on the lawns of adjoining homes in Spanish Point, owned by Richard Gray, Sr. and Herb and Marjorie Gray.

Historic Beaufort Foundation (HBF) has played a significant role in the preservation and conservation of Beaufort County’s historic resources for more than six decades. Proceeds from the Soirée support the ongoing preservation and protection

of Beaufort’s historic and architectural heritage.

“Protecting Beaufort’s distinctive historic character for future generations is something we hold dear, so it is truly an honor to co-chair the 2023 Lafayette Soirée with Michelle and Jeff Hiers in support of Historic Beaufort Foundation’s ongoing preservation efforts. Through the graciousness of the Grays the Soirée continues to be one of the Lowcountry’s

most memorable events,” Amélie Cromer, hosting with her husband Phil Cromer, said in a news release.

The Lafayette Soirée is one of Beaufort’s most anticipated events. Tickets are available now (HBF members, $150, non-members $175) and can be purchased online at HistoricBeaufort. org or by calling the HBF office at 843-379-3331.

“We always have a wonderful time with this event

and it’s become much more than a fundraiser, it’s truly a Lowcountry community gathering,” HBF Executive Director Cynthia Jenkins said in a news release. “Tickets typically sell out so we

are hoping that anyone interested in joining us will sign up now.” Historic Beaufort Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit education foundation created to preserve, protect, and

present sites and artifacts of historic, architectural, and cultural interest throughout Beaufort County. For more information on the entity’s mission and history, visit historicbeaufort.org

Beaufort awarded $7.5M grant for stormwater projects

From staff reports

The City of Beaufort will receive a $7.5 million grant to address stormwater infrastructure improvements in the Charles/ Craven streets and Port Republic/Carteret streets drainage areas. The grant, from the South Carolina Office of Resilience, will address long-term drainage improvements that are part of the City’s current Downtown/The Point Stormwater Drainage Project.

The $7.5 million grant from the Office of Resilience came from

NEWS BRIEFS

Mayor Murray to address climate change

Climate change affects everyone on the planet, but especially those living in coastal areas. Find out how the City of Beaufort is to coping with climate change on our islands at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 4 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort (UUFB), 178 Sams Point Road, Beaufort. Accepting the joint invitation of Citizens’ Climate Lobby and UUFB, the main speaker will be Mayor of Beaufort Stephen Murray. For more information, call 843522-1765. The public is welcome with all climate change questions.

Civil Air Patrol hosting open house

The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) will be hosting an Open House event for potential new junior and adult members from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m, Thursday, May 4 at the Palmetto Electric Cooperative Building at 1 Cooperative Way in Hardeeville. For those interested in aviation, youth leadership or service to their country, the United States Air Force Auxiliary might be for them.

For those ages 12 to 80, this will be an informative introduction to the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. Meet cadets and

Sheriff

from page A1

McDorman used K-9 units as an example of how this can help the municipalities.

$100 million South Carolina was awarded through the American Rescue Plan Act. The announcement was made by projects coordinator Carrie Gorsuch at the City Council Work Session on April 25.

“This grant is significant and goes a long way toward meeting several of the needs of this important drainage project,” Mayor Stephen Murray said later. “The Downtown and Point neighborhoods are particularly vulnerable to flooding, and the improvements will make a huge difference.”

hear first-hand what it’s like to be a cadet. Learn about incredible opportunities, including cadet training, leadership development, orientation flying, summer activities, academic scholarships and more.

Parents may attend this event as well. Air Force Auxiliary adult leaders will be on hand to answer questions and explain opportunities for adults.

For more information, check out the Hilton Head Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol Facebook site at @Hilton Head Composite Squadron. Lt. Richard Moscatiello is the recruiting contact and can be reached at Richard. Moscatiello@SCWGCAP.ORG

County offering secure document shredding event

The Beaufort County Public Works Department Solid Waste and Recycling Section has organized a secure document shredding event for County residents from 9 a.m. until noon, Saturday, May 6, at the Public Works North site located at 140 Shanklin Road, Beaufort.

Individuals will be limited to disposing of no more than two boxes.

Bank statements, tax documents, medical records, credit card receipts, and any other

“For a small municipality, the ideal situation would be to have four dogs. Well, that’s financially maybe not possible. So, if we’re sharing the resources, what I maybe can’t do, (the BCSO) maybe can help with. What (the BCSO) is struggling with, I can help with,” McDorman said. “… For me it makes more sense. For a smaller agency that has of-

City Manager Scott Marshall said, “I’m very proud of the talented team we have in place that helped secure this grant. Our recurring revenue streams do not support projects this big and expensive — and we have several of them on our plate. Grants like this allow us to leverage the limited funds we have without putting the entire cost of the project on the backs of our local citizens and business community.”

The grant requires that a state project manager be appointed to oversee the project. The project

documents that contain personal information will be accepted.

Any types or colors of paper, file folders or envelopes are acceptable. Staples or paper clips do not need to be removed. Binders, hard devices, folders, and non-paper items will not be accepted. Materials can be brought in any container or bag and will be emptied into roll carts for immediate shredding.

Residents will be limited to two boxes of material approximately 10 inches x 12 inches x 15 inches.

Only residential quantities will be accepted. No materials from commercial businesses will be accepted. No electronics will be collected at this event.

For more information, visit www. beaufortcountysc.gov/recycle or contact the Solid Waste and Recycling Section at 843-255-2736.

LIBPA meeting set for May 8

The Lady’s Island Business & Professional Association will meet at 8 a.m., Monday, May 8, 2023 at the Beaufort Realtors’ Association Headquarters at 22 Kemmerlin Lane, Lady’s Island.

Lowcountry Legal Volunteers

Executive Director Anne Caywood, Good Neighbor Medical

ficers that want to specialize, this gives them that opportunity to specialize. And it hopefully keeps them home, I’ll say home within the county, for their entire career. That’s the objective. Plus the agencies will work closer together. We’ve got one of the better relationships that I’ve seen in my 30 years here in Beaufort County. But I just think this is a great opportunity to give all of the citizens of Beaufort County a more regional approach and share our resources. I’m excited to do this.”

will include procuring engineering services including surveying, designing, obtaining permits, assessing environmental concerns, and construction oversight.

The streets in question can flood during heavy rains, especially when those coincide with high tides, thanks to drains installed in the early 1900 s that do not have the capacity to handle heavy rains combined with high tides. The project will entail installing major stormwater trunklines that serve both areas and a number of other

Clinic Director Cassi Kilpatrick and Lowcountry Outreach & Development Director Elizabeth Palmer will be the featured speakers. The public is welcome for coffee and conversation.

Sportfishing and Diving Club to meet May 11

The Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club’s May meeting will be held Thursday, May 11, at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club on Lady’s Island off of Meridian Road. The social begins at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting will start at 7.

Capt. Frank Gibson, Excutive Officer of the Beaufort Sail and Power Squadron, now known as America’s Boating Club of Beaufort, will present how to equip your boat for a successful inspection by S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) or the U.S. Coast Guard, including handouts.

Afterward, Capt. Tim Deckard of Castaway Fishing Charters will present how to locate and fish for Crocker, Whiting, Black Drum –Sharks or no Sharks. He will have rods and reels set up and baits of choice. This will include locations and safety measures in handling the species.

Beaufort Boat & Dock Supply, Butler Marine, and Danny Walsh and the Achurch Real Estate

“We recognize … that we do not have the power, the personnel to put all these teams together by ourselves,” Bluffton’s Babkiewicz said. “So working together and creating these partnerships with Beaufort City, as well as the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, allows us to provide services that we typically could not to our community. And it’s a way to keep our community safe.”

Tanner said the MOUs are past the counsel review stage and are in a signing stage.

improvements, including green infrastructure such as permeable pavement and rain gardens, and landscaping to mitigate against flooding.

Once City Council approves a resolution to accept the grant, the City will work with the Office of Resilience on the design of the project.

Earlier this year, the City was notified that it had received an $800,000 grant to address issues along Bayard Street, also part of the larger Downtown/The Point Stormwater Drainage Project.

Group again 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 Shawn McEvoy, 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 Capt. Frank Gibson at 843-522-2122 or email fgibson@islc.net

Sail and Power Squadron requests expired flares, offers

boat inspection

The Beaufort Sail and Power Squadron, now recognized as America’s Boating Club of Beaufort, in conjunction with the Town of Port Royal, fire chiefs, and S.C. Department of Natural Resources is sponsoring an event for boaters to turn in expired flares and get a free boat inspection.

This event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, May 13 at the Sands Beach Landing in Port Royal. No reservation is required.

For additional information, contact Captain Frank Gibson at 843522-2122 or email fgibson@islc.net

– Staff reports

Though Tanner believes the application pool is getting bigger and the hiring woes of law enforcement are looking up, openings are still running at about 10 percent across the BCSO and municipal police departments.

“I think this is going to go along way to make Beaufort County more attractive,” Tanner said. “This gives you the opportunity to be employed by the agency you want to be employed by. But at the same time, it gives you the opportunity

to get some advanced training and some advanced opportunities, create better skills and become a more well rounded law enforcement officer.

“Hopefully this may encourage those people who see this to look at Beaufort County as a destination for employment. Regardless if it’s at the Sheriff’s office or Bluffton or Port Royal or Beaufort.”

Scenes from the 2022 Lafayette Soirée. Submitted photos.

Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at

VIDEO For a brief video from Sheriff P.J. Tanner, follow this digital link or go to https://bit.ly/44kktF3.

‘Let History Speak’ set for May 10 at TCL

From staff reports

The Second Founding of America is hosting an event called the Let History Speak Celebration at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 10, featuring Bobby Jenkins and honoring the Explorers of Untold History at the Technical College of the Lowcountry Auditorium.

Established in 2018 by former Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling, Second Founding of America is an organization committed to supporting the mission of the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park in Beaufort.

As the philanthropic partner with the park, Second Founding of America develops and sponsors pro-

grams and events designed to identify, research, and tell the stories of the Reconstruction Era. Programs include the Explorers of Untold History Scholarship Program, the Project Reconstruction Teacher Resource Network, the Restoration of Historical Sites Project, and the Interpret History through the Arts Program.

The Let History Speak Celebration is an evening to place a spotlight on individuals.

The Explorers of Untold History Scholarship Program shines a light on the future by celebrating the efforts of student researchers like Kianna Brown, Craig

Bowman, and Kamirah Freeman.

The present is highlighted by honoring history enthusiasts and their work in the community. These award winners include Gina Baker, Al M. Panu, and Page Miller.

The past is recognized by honoring the unsung heroes of the Reconstruction journey and since with the William “Billy” Keyserling Pioneer Award. This year’s recipient will be Beaufort native Robert C. “Bobby” Jenkins, a pioneer, trailblazer and mentor who is respected across the state and beyond.

To reserve a seat, go to www.secondfoundingofamerica.org

New Palmettos in the Park

All the diseased Washingtonia palm trees at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park have been removed and replaced with Sabal palmetto trees, the official state tree of South Carolina. The original non-indigenous trees were damaged by frost causing many of them to become diseased and replaced. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

25,000 gallons of wastewater spill into marsh in Roseida Road neighborhood

From staff reports Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority (BJWSA) reports that an estimated 25,000 gallons of wastewater was released from a force main into the salt marsh on Roseida Road not far from County Shed Road. BJWSA has notified the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control

(SCDHEC), and signs have been posted in the area to inform the public.

The exact start time of the overflow is unknown, but it was discovered by BJWSA staff around 2 p.m., on Wednesday, April 26, and was completely stopped by 6 p.m. The SSO was caused by the failure of a force main pipe, which was under

the tidal creek upstream of Albergotti Creek, due to corrosion. The force main was repaired and placed back into service later that evening. If you see or suspect any type of spill from the sewer collection system, please contact BJWSA at 843-9879200. For more information, visit www.bjwsa.org

136

Open

AMIkids Beaufort to hold 32nd annual Brays Island croquet event May 6

From staff reports

The 32nd annual AMIkids Beaufort Croquet Picnic at Brays Island is set for May 6 and will host croquet players and fun lovers from across the Lowcountry to raise money for the residential education and treatment program for boys who made bad choices.

AMIkids is part of a national organization but is locally governed. For 31 years, the Croquet Picnic has been the primary means of raising local money to help the program succeed.

“This is a huge effort, but the young men we serve and our staff deserve everything we can do to help,” said John Williams, chair of the local AMIkids Beaufort board of trustees, in a news release. “We couldn’t do this without the support and partnership with Brays Island – they have stood beside us for more than three decades.”

The AMIkids model pays off: Young men who com-

plete AMIkids typically don’t run afoul of the law, and many leave the program with job training such as nationally recognized certifi-

cates in welding and food service.

In Beaufort, a federal YouthBuild grant, partnership with Low Country Hab-

itat for Humanity, and a new carpentry workshop provide added skills and hands-on learning. Teens convicted of crimes can be assigned

to AMIkids through the Department of Juvenile Justice. Students work toward their high school equivalency diplomas, also known as the GED.

Each year, Brays Island and its owners donate the golf course practice range in which eight 30-by-40foot croquet courts are groomed to the finest playing conditions for the event, Williams said.

“This is a spectacular setting for croquet, and our program truly appreciates Brays Island and its residents for letting us use this area,” said Mike Ingram, a board member at AMIkids Beaufort, co-chair of the croquet event, and Director of Golf at Brays Island.

The May 6 Croquet Picnic will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Brays Island off U.S. 17 in Sheldon, about 15 miles west of Beaufort.

A “Captain’s Party” for all participants will be held the evening of May 5 at a wa-

terfront home in Beaufort’s Spanish Point.

Teams of four to eight people compete in the friendly croquet tournament, said Dr. Mike Harris, a board member and co-chair of the AMIkids Beaufort Croquet Picnic. While some experienced teams participate, most teams are there just for the fun, the friendship and a beautiful day of picnicking at Brays Island, he said.

“We have been doing this event for a lot of years, but each year brings new faces, new challenges and new opportunities,” Dr. Harris said. “It’s really something we know a lot of people look forward to and it kind of kicks off the Lowcountry Summer Season in a fantastic fashion.”

For more information or to sign up a croquet team, call Harris at 843-524-3770 or Ingram at 843-8463149. To learn more about AMIkids Beaufort, visit www.amikidsbeaufort.org

Warm weather is back – and so are alligators

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

The weather in Beaufort is getting warmer, which means that alligators will become increasingly more active, and the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) wants to remind residents to be “Alligator Safe” around water.

Alligators are reptiles, so they become more active in warmer weather. They can also be found in most bodies of water in the Lowcountry.

Smaller alligators, ones that are less than 4 feet, are usually not large enough to be dangerous to adult humans unless they are being handled, so SCDNR recommends that you never approach any alligator, regardless of its size, and to leave them alone.

SCDNR recently published a list of safety tips to remember as

we move into the warmer months of the year:

• Never feed alligators. This is illegal in S.C. and it teaches the alligators to associate people with food, which is dangerous for both people and alligators. They also recommend that you not dispose of fish scraps or crab bait in

the water at boat ramps, docks, swimming or camping areas. If you see someone feeding alligators, you can contact SCDNR at 1-800-922-5431.

• Do not swim or play in areas where there may be alligators. Alligators are typically more active at night and can mistake splashing noises for

prey. SCDNR recommends that you only swim in designated swimming areas, as more people will typically encourage alligators to keep their distance. You should never swim alone, partly because of alligators but also because it is just not safe.

• Keep pets out of water where there may be alligators. Pets are more vulnerable to an alligator attack because of their size and the fact that they look like the prey that alligators usually eat. Keep pets who are on leashes away from the edges of water and if an alligator grabs your pet, as hard as it may be, let go of the leash.

• Leave the alligators alone and keep your distance. Alligators are known to be fast in the water, but they can also

move quickly in short bursts on land as well. If an alligator makes a hissing sound you need to move away, that is a warning sign that you are too close.

• Never try to move an alligator by yourself. If you find an alligator in a place where it should not be, or in a location where it cannot get back to water without posing risk to itself or others, call SCDNR.

Delayna Earley lives in Beaufort with her husband, two children and Jack Russell. She spent six years as a videographer and photographer for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette before leaving the Lowcountry in 2018. After freelancing in Myrtle Beach and Virginia, she joined The Island News when she moved back to Beaufort in 2022. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com

Okatie man who tried to kill girlfriend headed to prison

From staff reports

An Okatie man who opened fire at a vehicle driven by his former girlfriend and two passengers in a Hilton Head Island parking lot has been convicted of three attempted-murder charges.

Ray Altacho, 27, shot one of his victims twice and grazed the clothing of a second victim in the attack Jan. 18, 2021, in a south-island area known for its active nightlife and often referred to as the “Barmuda Triangle.”

Altacho’s motion for immunity from prosecution under South Carolina’s Protection of Persons and Property Act – commonly referred to as the “stand your ground law” – was denied Tuesday. He pleaded guilty later in the day to the attempt-

ed-murder charges, as well as charges of possession of a weapon during commission of a violent crime and possession of a handgun by a person convicted of a crime of violence.

works hard to prevent and to punish.”

Circuit Court Judge Robert Bonds sentenced Altacho to 13 years in prison, followed by three years of probation.

shots into the Sentra.

Two shots struck the man in the front passenger seat as he covered the woman.

across the lot just before the shooting.

Altacho

“Mr. Altatcho has a history of violent behavior and fired several shots at his victims without any provocation whatsoever,” said Mary Jordan Lempesis of the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, who prosecuted the case. “Although the bullets did not hit the defendant’s former girlfriend, this was clearly an act of intimate-partner violence, which the Solicitor’s Office

Bonds also issued permanent restraining orders at the request of two victims that prevent Altacho from having any contact with them.

Altacho’s former girlfriend and two male companions had just exited the Boardroom restaurant shortly after 8 p.m. and entered the woman’s car. She drove to the opposite end of the parking lot to take one of the men to his vehicle. As she parked her 2020 Nissan Sentra next to her companion’s car, Altacho wheeled into an adjacent space, emerged from his vehicle and fired at least five

The woman sped off to escape the gunfire but crashed her vehicle a short distance away, on New Orleans Road. One of the victims called 9-11 immediately after the crash.

All three victims identified Altacho as the shooter. He could not be immediately located but was arrested three weeks later by the U.S. Marshal’s Service, following a traffic stop in Florence.

Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office investigators found Altacho’s cellphone on the ground in the parking lot where the shooting occurred. Surveillance footage shows Altacho’s vehicle following his ex-girlfriend’s Sentra

No shell casings and no weapon were recovered, but investigators retrieved four bullets from the victims’ vehicle. S.C. State Law Enforcement Division analysts determined each was fired from the same gun. A fifth bullet remains lodged in the arm of the front-seat passenger.

Altacho’s criminal history includes convictions for burglary, larceny, failure to stop for a blue light and domestic violence.

“Violence has no place in an intimate-partner relationship,” 14th Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone said, “and as this case demonstrates, when it erupts, it is not merely a private matter. It poses

a potentially lethal threat to victimized partners, their friends and family, bystanders and often to law enforcement officers called in to calm these situations.

“That is why my office has worked so hard to find solutions and why we will continue to do so.”

Victim of domestic violence?

If you or a loved one is facing domestic violence or other abuse at the hands of a partner or family member, call the 14th Circuit Victims Services Center’s 24-hour hotline at 843-790-6220.

You can also email the center at vsc@scsolicitor14. org or visit the center’s website at https://scsolicitor14. org/victim-services-center/

Lady’s Island-St. Helena Fire District designated ‘Fire Safe South Carolina’

From staff reports

The Lady’s Island-St. Helena Fire District is one of 132 fire departments across the state to receive the “Fire Safe South Carolina” Com-

munity Designation from Fire Safe South Carolina (FSSC) and its partners for their active participation in developing community risk reduction (CRR) plans for

their jurisdictions in 2022.

These designated communities continually work to reduce fire-related injuries in the state, thereby decreasing the risks for residents and firefighters. They also promote consistent fire safety messaging and stress the importance of providing all relative data collected at fire scenes.

“The enthusiasm for obtaining this designation continues to grow, and we remain encouraged by active participation,” Community Risk Reduction Chief

Josh Fulbright said.

“We congratulate the 132 designees and are excited again to see a net-gain of more than 25 percent in those participating from last year,” he said. “We look forward to recognizing them with a formal award ceremony during the June Fire-Rescue Conference in Myrtle Beach.”

To earn the “Fire Safe South Carolina” designation, fire departments completed courses to improve data quality, trained community partners to deliver in-home safety visits, and

further developed their skills through online National Fire Academy courses in risk reduction and assessment.

In 2022, 536 community partners were identified statewide, more than 2,500 fire service members were educated on risk reduction-related topics, and almost one million citizens were educated on fire and life safety topics.

“Nearly one million citizens were educated last year on ways to stay fire safe thanks to the commit-

ment and dedication of our 132 Fire Safe South Carolina fire departments and our community partners,” Fulbright said. “The efforts will not stop there as we continue to work together to educate more people and make South Carolina fire safe.”

Launched in 2017, Fire Safe SC’s partners include the S.C. State Firefighters’ Association, the S.C. State Association of Fire Chiefs, the S.C. Fire Marshal Association, and the S.C. Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators.

Participants enjoy a past AMIkids Beaufort croquet fundraiser at Brays Island. Submitted photo.

A fully grown alligator lays in the sun. By Delayna Earley/The Island News

Experience the Clover Choraliers

When I spoke on the phone with music director Jay Forrest, he and his Clover Choraliers were a week away from opening night of their full-scale theatrical production of Little Shop of Horrors.

A few days after that run, their spring choral tour begins, starting in Gastonia, N.C., and ending in Nassau, Bahamas. In between, they’re swinging down to Beaufort.

If you love choral music — or any kind of music, actually — you can’t miss the Clover Choraliers when they perform at my church, First Presbyterian, next month. I’ve seen them twice now, and words simply can’t do the experience justice. Even music falls short.

“I don’t like listening to recorded choral music, myself,” Jay Forrest told me. “I never do that.”

This from a man who has spent the last 30 years of his life toiling in the field of choral music.

The thing about the Clover Choraliers is that you

have to see them to really hear them. And what happens when you see them and hear them is that you feel them. And that feeling is pure transcendence.

Hailing from Clover High School, a large public school in the Upstate of South Carolina, the auditioned choir is 110 teenagers strong, an eclectic group of kids — athletes, artists, scholars, etc. — all profoundly committed to each other and their championship choir.

Vic Varner, Music Director at First Presbyterian and retired high school choral director, says of the Choraliers, “I’ve worked with high school choirs for 40 years, I’ve traveled far and wide to hear high school choirs, and I’ve

never heard anything like this. It’s over 100 voices, and all of them study voice privately. They will completely mesmerize you.”

Varner calls his friend Jay Forrest “enormously talented,” saying, “He’s a real-life Pied Piper. He leads and kids follow.”

“I don’t know about that,” Forrest told me. “But I will say that I probably spend more time thinking about how to motivate these kids than I spend preparing music. And it’s all about student leadership. We’re very passionate about the hierarchy here, with the seniors at the top. The upperclassmen teach and lead the underclassmen. One of the dads once told me that we have a ‘corporate culture.’ I didn’t know what that meant, but it means that if anybody loafs — doesn’t give 100% — then nobody buys the product.”

And what a product it is! For those of us who love the Choraliers — and they have quite a fanbase in Beaufort — it’s about more than just their sound. (Though, believe me, their sound is pretty amazing.) As I mentioned above, the Choraliers need to be seen and heard.

They’re a bit of a spectacle, in fact. Subtly costumed and choreographed, they’re somehow both precise and free-flowing. Their bodies move with their music. Their faces shine with emotion. Every bit of every Choralier — mind, body, and soul — seems connected with every note they sing. And as a result, we audience members connect, too. With the music, with them, and with each other. “Sublime” is not too strong a word for the experience.

I’ve wondered how Jay Forrest gets his teenagers to “go there” – to perform with such open-hearted passion and sincerity. Don’t teenagers just want to be cool? Detached?

“Again, it’s that leadership hierarchy,” he told me. “The freshmen would never do it if they didn’t see the upperclassmen doing it. We just have a really strong tradition of students leading students, and a long-standing culture of excellence. It’s all about the culture.”

Forrest has been building that Choralier culture for a good long time.

The program — which is supported by an extremely

active and devoted booster club — will turn 30 next year, and he’s been there from the beginning.

During those three decades, he’s led his choirs to countless championships, music festivals, appearances at the Governor’s mansion, and other special performances.

Years ago, while attending a choral competition on a cruise ship, the Choraliers were touring Christ Church Cathedral in Nassau when the kids broke out into some impromptu a capella singing. The rector of the church heard them and immediately invited them to come back and perform a full concert, which they did in 2017.

This year, they’ll finish their spring tour by performing at Christ Church again as part of the celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of Bahamian Independence from the United Kingdom.

Christ Church Cathedral is the oldest Anglican Church in The Bahamas, dating back to 1670, with Carolinian ties documented back to 1731 by a missionary from S.C., and stained-glass windows on

the northern and southern sides made in Statesville, N.C., during a 1990s refurbishment.

“We are very honored to be invited to celebrate the rich history of music in the Bahamas as part of their Golden Jubilee,” Jay Forrest told me, “but also to add to the Carolina history in the Bahamas and our growing relationship with Christ Church Cathedral.”

But back to the concert in Beaufort. First Presbyterian is no cathedral, but Forrest told me he and the choir really loved performing in that “intimate venue” last year.

As a member of that audience, I can only say that the feeling was entirely mutual. Which may just be the understatement of the year.

The Clover Choraliers will perform a concert of eclectic choral music at 6 p.m., Thursday, May 11, at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Beaufort, at the corner of North and Church streets. The concert is free and the public is not only welcome, but strongly encouraged to attend.

Margaret Evans is the editor of Lowcountry Weekly and a choral singer at First Presbyterian Church.

Many people experience great anguish and grief after losing a child to abortion, even many years later. They often feel that they are alone in these feelings; no one else can understand what they are going through. They might believe that God cannot forgive them, or that they will never be able to forgive themselves.

But there are others who understand what you are going through, and who can help you find healing and forgiveness from God. Like the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well, who felt alone and rejected because of her sins, you can begin to receive healing and hope from Jesus.

(John 3)

We are starting a postabortion healing ministry called Jacob’s Well. If you or someone you love has experienced an abortion, we are here with love, hope, and compassion. The ministry is open to women and men of all faith backgrounds.

The ministry will soon begin gathering in person for sharing and prayer. The first sessions will be on April 25 and May 9 in Beaufort. For more information, please look at the webpage below or call one of our team members at 843.271.8125. All calls and meetings are confidential.

Clover Choraliers. Submitted photo.

MARGARET EVANS

Jay Forrest directs the Clover Choraliers. Submitted photo.

The simple food rule for great skin

By Dr. McLean Sheperd Sheperd Integrative Dermatology Mt. Pleasant, SC www.mcleansheperdmd.com

As an artist, I’ve always been mesmerized by the color spectrum of a rainbow—the way light enters a raindrop and reflects into seven different beautiful hues: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

But I’m also a doctor, and I get to incorporate my appreciation for color into my integrative dermatology practice, too. That’s because eating a full color spectrum of fruits and vegetables can promote internal and external wellness.

I believe that what you eat becomes you. Foods can be rich (or poor) in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, bioflavonoids, and phytonutrients, all of which influence and affect our health. In my practice, we respect the connection between physical beauty and internal wellness by taking an integrative approach to skin care. When your mind, body, and soul are nourished by healthy foods, your outer being will mirror its inner beauty.

So, to create a reflection of overall health, start by eating a full color spectrum of fruits and vegetables every day. After all, just as the rainbow reflects what’s inside, so do we.

Here are seven reasons eating a colorful diet can benefit your health and beauty:

1. Prevent disease.

Red foods: Lycopene, which is found in red fruits and vegetables, plays a big role in helping to prevent cancer throughout the body. This compound protects tissues exposed to UV radiation and is a potent, free-radical-fighting antioxidant. Free radicals are molecules found within all bodies that promote disease. Antioxidants, such as lycopene, fight these molecules so your immune system can keep you healthy.

The best source of lycopene comes from tomatoes, watermelons, and pink grapefruit.

2. Get glowing skin.

Orange foods: It’s a known fact that eating a lot of carrots or foods rich in carotenoids can give the skin a sun-kissed appearance. And who doesn’t love that summery glow?

Studies show that foods such as cantaloupe and sweet potatoes can make our skin appear healthi-

er and give it a yellow glow that’s considered more attractive than a suntan—and certainly safer!

3. Reduce the risk of cataracts and stomach cancers.

Yellow-orange foods: Citrus plants, carrots, sweet potatoes, and yellow beets contain alpha- and beta-carotene. These are important to have in your diet, because once in the body they turn into vitamin

A. Research suggests that eating foods full of vitamin A, alpha-carotene, and beta-carotene can lower your risk of some stomach cancers. In addition, they help in hormone synthesis, healthy cell growth and turnover, and immune responses. Plus, bright yellow-orange egg yolks contain lutein and leaxanthin, which can reduce your risk of chronic eye diseases, including macular degeneration and cataracts.

4. Flush out toxins. Yellow foods: A pH-balanced body is a healthy body. Yellow raw lemons not only boost the immune system but also aid in digestion and help cleanse the liver. I recommend replacing your morning cup of joe with a steaming mug of lemon water to flush out toxins and to have an alkalizing effect.

5. Stay strong. Green foods: A high consumption of leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and Swiss chard is critical in preventing age-related conditions. And a lack of vitamin K—leafy greens are a great source—in your diet can lead to cardiovascular dis-

ease and weak bones. Leafy greens also contain chlorophyll and nitrate, which can improve muscle energetics and metabolism. The good news: one cup of raw kale provides you with more than six times your daily dose of vitamin K!

6. Age gracefully.

Indigo foods: Resveratrol has been dubbed the longevity molecule since it’s been suggested to help slow the aging process. In a 2013 study, it was found that resveratrol mimics the effect of calorie restriction (which we know slows the aging process) with similar effects on metabolism and aging.

Foods in the indigo family contain resveratrol, anthocyanidins, and other compounds that protect the heart, plus support brain and bone health. So, to promote healthy aging, eat more purple cabbage, blackberries, eggplant, beets, açai, blueberries, and red grapes. Added bonus: red wine is included! (As always, drink responsibly.)

7. Boost your immune system.

Whites and grays: Foods lacking in color can also be full of benefits for the body—and immeasurably tasty. Cauliflower, mushrooms, onion, and garlic all fall into this category. Garlic, for example, is a natural health remedy that strengthens the immune system; it’s known antiviral properties can fight infections, congestion, and the flu.

Originally published by MindBodyGreen, http://www.mindbodygreen.com

OTHER FOODS THAT MAY IMPROVE YOUR LOOKS

If we are what we eat, then it may be a good idea to take inventory of the foods the average person consumes on a daily basis. Although some foods are sought after for their taste, there are many foods that can be enjoyed because they have a positive effect on a person’s appearance.

In the simplest sense, eating a healthy diet can help maintain a good body weight, which is one way to improve individual appearance. But more specifically, there are certain foods that have particular benefits for the skin, hair, and body. The key is knowing what to eat.

Soy: Soy is rich in amino acids. This food, whether eaten as a soy bean, or in the many foods made from soy, including tofu, can help the skin retain moisture and improve elasticity. Soy is also protein-rich, which can help a person feel full longer and avoid overeating. Note that women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer should avoid soy and soy products. Blueberries and cherries: These fruits are chock full of antioxidants, which studies show can reduce inflammation, a culprit of puffy, aging skin. Cherries are also a natural source of melatonin, which can help a person get a restful night’s sleep -- another component of looking your best.

Fresh herbs: Seasoning food with flavorful herbs instead of salt is another way to improve looks. Salt is often a culprit in water retention, which can lead to bloating and puffiness. This is also advantageous to people who need to reduce salt intake thanks to high blood pressure or other ailments.

Lime, pear, apple, and strawberry: These power fruits are high in vitamin C and other nutrients, making them an important component of a healthy diet. Furthermore, some research has suggested that certain foods, including limes, pears and apples, can whiten teeth.

Egg products: Eggs are high in vitamin A, which helps repair skin. Not getting enough vitamin A may contribute to wrinkles.

Milk products: Yogurt contains beneficial bacteria, which help with digestion. This can help cleanse out the system and prevent toxins from backing up in the body.

Water: Of course, a person needs to stay hydrated, and water can flush the body of excess salt and toxins while also plumping the skin. There are many nutritionally sound foods that can boost outward appearance as well.

The importance of annual health exams

Annual health exams are a key component of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A person may not see the need to visit the doctor if he or she is feeling well, but not every disease or condition manifests itself in a way that men and women can detect. According the NIH.gov, nearly one-third of the 133 million Americans living with a chronic disease are unaware of the presence of their conditions. Routine physical exams can detect serious illnesses before they do much damage.

No two physical exams will be exactly alike, but many will share some general features.

Health history

A crucial element of a physical exam will include a thorough health history if the physician doesn’t already have one on file. The doctor will take time to ask questions about family history of illness, health habits, any vices (smoking, drink-

ing alcohol, etc.), exercise schedule, and diet. If there is a possible hereditary health condition running through your family, the doctor may suggest certain testing and make note of potential signs to look for in the future.

Current ailments

After discussing a patient’s history, the doctor may ask if they are having any problems they cannot explain. These can include changes in eating or sleeping patterns; aches and pains; lumps or bumps and other abnormalities. Again, the presence of symptoms may be indicative of illness or physical changes, but not all diseases produce obvious symptoms.

Vital signs

A doctor will check a patient’s vital signs during the physical. Areas the doctor will look at include but are not limited to:

Heart rate: This measures the speed at

which the heart is pumping. Normal resting heart rate values range from 60 to 100 beats per minute.

Blood pressure: A blood pressure cuff (sphygmomanometer) will measure systolic and diastolic pressure.

Systolic pressure measures the force with

which the blood is pushing through the arteries. The diastolic blood pressure is the pressure in the arteries between beats, when the heart rests. The systolic (top number) should be below 120, while the bottom should be less than 80, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Respiration rate: The doctor will measure the number of breaths taken in a minute. WebMD says between 12 and

16 breaths per minute is normal for a healthy adult. Breathing more than 20 times per minute can suggest heart or lung problems.

Pulse oximetry: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine says pulse oximetry is a test used to measure the oxygen level (oxygen saturation) of the blood. It is a measure of how well oxygen is being sent to the parts of your body furthest from your heart. Normal pulse ox-

imeter readings usually range from 95 to 100 percent. Values under 90 percent are considered low.

Physical exam

The examination will also include physical components. The doctor will perform a visual inspection of the skin and body for any abnormalities, such as the presence of skin cancer. The physician may feel the abdomen to check that internal organs are not distended. Females’ physical examinations may include breast and pelvic exams.

Comprehensive testing

In addition to the exam at the office, the physical may include an electrocardiogram, or EKG, to check electrical activity of the heart; blood count and cholesterol checks through bloodwork; body mass index testing; X-rays or MRIs and bone-density tests.

Annual physical exams remain an important part of staying healthy. Consult with your doctor or a licensed healthcare professional for more preventative maintenance tips.

Certain foods can work wonders on appearance and help keep the doctor away.

May is melanoma awareness month

Dangers of Melanoma and How

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer but has a 99% cure rate if caught early.

“Melanoma varies in terms of how aggressive it can be. If caught early, it can be removed from the skin and doesn’t have any long-term consequences,”

explained Shilpi Khetarpal, MD, a dermatologist with Cleveland Clinic. “However, over time, melanomas can go deep in the skin and then invade the lymph nodes and spread elsewhere. There can be mortality associated with it. Early detection is key to getting the best outcomes.”

The chance of developing melanoma increases with age, but it can still impact young people as well as all skin types.

Get moles or other spots on your skin checked if you notice they’re asymmetrical, have an irregular border or uneven color. A spot that’s bigger than the tip of a pencil eraser or changing in some way should also be investigated.

Dr. Khetarpal said sunscreen is key to protect yourself from the disease, as ultraviolet radiation from the sun causes nearly 90% of melanomas.

“If you are going to be outside, use a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. If you don’t want to lather up in a lot of sunscreen, you can try ultraviolet protection factor clothing, or UPF

clothing, for some protection,” advises Dr. Khetarpal.

Dr. Khetarpal adds it’s crucial to get regular skin checks — especially if you have a personal or family history of skin cancer. — ccnewsservice@ccf.org, May

1, 2023

Melanoma is the most common and deadly form of skin cancer in the United States. Unlike many other cancers, whose incidence has dropped in recent years, the number of people diagnosed

with melanoma is on the rise. What’s most troubling is that young people, notably women, make up the largest group of newly diagnosed melanoma cases, says Dr. Hui Tsou, Dermatopathologist and Assistant Medical Director of Acupath Laboratories. “We support Melanoma Awareness month and want to help educate people about what is now one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in people under age 30,” adds Dr. Tsou.

to Prevent it

“Young adults are engaging in behaviors that put them at high-risk of developing melanoma and other types of skin cancer,” says Dr. Tsou. “It’s so important to learn how to minimize their risk of skin cancer to ensure that we catch the disease early while it’s still treatable.”

Here are five tips to help detect potential cancers early:

1) Make routine skin exams a habit. The American Cancer Society recommends seeing a doctor for an annual head-to-toe skin exam and performing self-exams once a month - all year long - to look for suspicious lesions. Be sure to see your doctor if you notice a new spot or one that is changing in size, shape, or color—the most important warning signs for melanoma. Also look for the following danger signs (known as the ABCDE rule):

• Asymmetry: An irregular, uneven shape; one half the lesion is different from the other half.

Border: Jagged or blurry edges.

• Color: Various colors, often multicolored lesions of tan, dark brown, or black, sometimes pink or red, blue or white.

• Diameter: 6 millimeters or larger (about the size of a pencil eraser).

• Evolution: Any change in size, color or appearance.

2) Size up your risk. Everyone needs to protect themselves from the sun. But if you experienced blistering sunburns as a child, have fair skin, freckles, light hair color, an unusual or a large number of moles or a family history of skin cancer, you are more susceptible to developing skins cancers.

3) Protect your skin daily. Research shows that applying—and frequently reapplying—a daily broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher can slash a person’s risk of developing skin cancer. FDA guidelines help take the guesswork out of buying over-the-counter sunscreen because products must protect against both ultraviolet-B and ultraviolet-A rays, since exposure to both types of UV radiation can lead skin cancer. In addition, seek shade from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. when the sun’s rays are strongest, and wear protective clothing.

4) Do not use indoor tanning beds. There is mounting evidence that the increased use of indoor tanning beds is at least partially responsible for the uptick in skin cancers. A new study found that indoor tanning before age 35 increases a person’s risk of getting melanoma by 75 percent.

“Whether your skin became

tan from the sun’s rays or a tanning bed, it’s all harmful and damaging,” explains Dr. Tsou.

5) Avoid getting a sunburn. Sunburn is a red flag that your skin has been exposed too much ultraviolet radiation, which increases skin cancer risk. Half of adults under age 30 report having a sunburn at least once in the past year, according to two 2012 studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute.

The only way to accurately diagnose melanoma is with a biopsy in which all or part of the suspicious mole or growth is removed and examined microscopically by a pathologist. If melanoma is diagnosed, the next step is to determine the extent, or stage, of the cancer and the appropriate treatment.

Even though we are making progress in treating melanoma,” says Dr. Tsou, “the message we need to get across is that if melanoma is diagnosed early it’s almost always curable.”

Dr. Hui Tsou, board certified in Dermatopathology and Anatomic Pathology, is the Assistant Medical Director and Department Chief of Dermatopathology at Acupath Laboratories, Inc. She is a veteran in the field of Dermatopathology with expertise in the areas of dysplastic nevi, melanoma and other forms of skin cancer. http://www.acupath.com

CBD oil for diabetes: Can it help?

Is CBD legal? Hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3% THC are legal federally but still illegal under some state laws. Cannabis-derived CBD products, on the other hand, are illegal federally but legal under some state laws. Check local legislation, especially when traveling. Also, keep in mind that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved nonprescription CBD products, which may be inaccurately labeled.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural compound from the Cannabis sativa plant. It may help treat diabetes. However, using CBD can come with risks and may not suit people with certain health conditions or those who are pregnant or nursing.

Cannabis sativa, a plant that people may call cannabis or hemp, contains two active ingredients: delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol

(THC) and CBD. CBD products may contain up to 0.3% Trusted Source THC.

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects a person’s blood glucose, or sugar, regulation. There is currently no cure, but a person can manage the condition with diabetes medications. Some research has looked into whether CBD oil can also help with diabetes, though it is not currently a regulated treatment for this condition.

Can CBD help with diabetes?

A 2021 case study suggests that CBD may be an option for people with type 2 diabetes who cannot use standard diabetes management methods. In this report, a person, with the support of their healthcare professional, discontinued insulin use in favor of CBD. However, it is important for people

to always take any medication a healthcare professional prescribes. If a person wishes to use alternative therapies, such as CBD, they should always do so with the support and knowledge of their healthcare team.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved CBD for any conditions other than Epidiolex, which is a medication for seizures. However, there is some evidence that CBD may help with diabetes and inflammation.

CBD and inflammation

According to the Arthritis Foundation, people with arthritis are more likely to develop diabetes. This link may be due to inflamma-

tion as well as genetics and risk factors such as obesity and lower activity levels. For more information and resources on CBD and CBD products, visit https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/cbd

THC and diabetes

Diabetes can cause diabetic neuropathy, which means the condition has caused nerve damage. This is more likely to affect people who smoke, have high blood pressure, or have obesity. CBD can contain THC, although the amounts should not lead to a psychoactive “high.” There is some evidence that THC may help neuropathic pain.

SPORTS&RECREATION

A Good Start

Eagles open soccer playoffs with home wins

LowcoSports.com

Beaufort High’s soccer teams closed out the regular-season on hot streaks to earn first-round home games in the Class 3A playoffs, and the Eagles took advantage of the friendly confines.

Beaufort’s boys ran their winning streak to 10 games with a 3-1 win over visiting Swansea on Monday, and the girls beat Brookland-Cayce by the same score Tuesday.

Swansea struck first in the boys game, as Juel Rivers slipped free to open the scoring, but the Eagles maintained their composure and found the equalizer before halftime to go to the break level at 1.

Beaufort continued to control possession in the second half and connected on a pair of headers — the second on a corner kick — to seal the boys program’s first playoff win since 2017. The Eagles (12-2) were set to host Georgetown in a second-round game Wednesday.

Beaufort’s girls posted clean sheets in their final three regular-season games, and they kept BrooklandCayce off the board for most of the night Tuesday. The Eagles continued their stingy play on defense and took advantage of early scoring opportunities to build a 3-0 halftime lead before allowing the Bearcats to pull one back in the second half. Beaufort (7-6) will travel to Camden on Thursday.

Battery Creek’s teams bowed out with first-round losses to Dreher, with the boys losing 6-0 and the girls falling 5-2, and Bridges Prep’s girls fell 8-0 to Academic Magnet.

Bucs take unbeaten record into postseason

LowcoSports.com

After a dominant run through the regular-season schedule, the undefeated Bridges Prep boys soccer team was slated to begin what the Buccaneers hope to be a long playoff run at home Wednesday against Charleston Math & Science.

The Bucs outscored the opposition 71-6 while compiling a 13-0-1 record in the regular season, including a perfect 10-0 mark in region games, in which they piled up a 61-3 goal differential. The competition level will step up quickly, though. If Bridges gets past the Riptide in Round 1, the reward is likely to be a trip to power Southside Christian for a quarterfinal matchup Friday.

SCHSL SOCCER PLAYOFFS

MONDAY, MAY 1

Registration still open for Beaufort River Swim, 8K, 5K, challenges

From staff reports

Register remains open for the for the 17th annual Beaufort River Swim – 8K-5K Weekend Challenge to be held May 19 and 20.

There are multiple sign up options for the event – swim, run, or both. But registration ends soon, and there is no same-day registration. Registration ends Thursday, May 18.

There are two challenges including Run/Swim/Run and Swim/Run, as well as the 3.2mile competitive Beaufort River Swim, a 1-mile fun swim, the 8K Competitive Road Race or the 5K Road Race after either swim distance. All proceeds benefit the Wardle Family YMCA’s Learn To Swim Program.

The competitive and not-so-competitive fun begins Friday at the Community Beer Garden/Sands Beach in Port Royal. With live music, food trucks, and plenty of libations including non-alcoholic beverages. All participants will receive a race bag.

Then at 7 p.m., the 8K Competitive Run through Port Royal will be held. This is a stand-alone race as well as the first leg of the twoday Challenge 1 and Challenge 3.

The Beaufort River Swim happens on Saturday morning. Meet at the downtown Beaufort marina parking lot which is the end point of both swims. This is the staging area for swim and run events today – please look for directional signage for check-in to receive your timing chip (3.2-mile swimmer and relay team participants only) and be marked up. Parking is free until noon.

Beaufort’s Selena Duncan, left, heads the ball off a corner kick into the Brookland-Cayce goal during the final minutes of their Class 3A Lower State playoff soccer game Tuesday afternoon at Beaufort. The goal was called back because the referee said it crossed out of play but was blown back by the wind which nullified the goal. The Lady Eagles went on the win the game, 3-1. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

BOYS

Beaufort 3, Swansea 1

Dreher 6, Battery Creek 0

TUESDAY, MAY 2

GIRLS Beaufort 3, Brookland-Cayce 1

Dreher 5, Battery Creek 2

Academic Magnet 8, Bridges Prep 0

BOYS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3

Georgetown at Beaufort

Charleston Math & Science at Bridges Prep

THURSDAY, MAY 4

GIRLS Beaufort at Camden

Check-in begins at 5:30 a.m., and the 3.2-mile competitive swim starts at 8 a.m. with the Fun Swim starting at approximately 8:30 am. Competitive swim participants must be at least 13 years old.

For those participating in Challenge 1 or 2, the 5K run starts immediately after the 3.2-Mile Swim. There will be a transition area marked with signage adjacent to the swim finish. There is no standalone 5K race.

To register or if you have questions about the race, visit https:// runsignup.com/Race/SC/Beaufort/BeaufortRiverSwim

Bad weather couldn’t not stop pickleball tournament

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

LADY’S ISLAND – The second annual Good Neighbor Medical Clinic (GNMC) Pickleball Classic Tournament was held at the Beaufort Yacht & Sailing Club on Saturday, April 29, and Sunday, April 30, 2023, on Lady’s Island.

Pickleball is a combination of tennis, badminton and ping pong, and it is played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes. It can be played indoors or outdoors, and the court is similarly sized to a badminton court with a modified tennis net.

Weather on the first day of the tournament was beautiful, but the second day of the tournament brought strong winds and some rain.

Money raised from the event will help to benefit the GNMC

and the work that they do in the Beaufort community.

The tournament had pickleball play in two age divisions, open and 50+, and had four skill divisions including 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0.

Delayna Earley lives in Beaufort with her husband, two children and Jack Russell. She spent six years as a videographer and photographer for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette before leaving the Lowcountry in 2018. After freelancing in Myrtle Beach and Virginia, she joined The Island News when she moved back to Beaufort in 2022. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.

Results

MENS DOUBLES

Mens Doubles 3.0

Gold: Ed Sinamark and Terry Dowd

Silver: John Welker and Rick

Welker

Bronze: Thomas Sherwood and Jeff Mason

Mens Doubles 3.5, ages 18 to 55

Gold: Will Brisco and Mitch

Burns

Silver: Drew Stone and Brian

Freed

Bronze: Brian Guthrie and Jeff Weber Mens Doubles 3.5, ages 56 and above

Gold: Stephen Tucker and Tim

Phelps

Silver: Danny Adams and Sean

Grady

Bronze: Robert Cahill and David Reidmayer

SEE PICKLEBALL PAGE B2

The Beaufort High School Eagles hosted Swansea High School for the first round of the Class 3A Lower State playoffs on Monday, May 1. Despite having two second half goals called back because of offside penalties, the Eagles defeated the Tigers, 3-1. Here, Beaufort’s Brendon Ford tries to the head the ball into the Swansea goal but is thwarted by pushing and shoving from the defense. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Michele Moriarty, left, returns the ball back to Will Brisco and Beth Greene during mixed doubles of the Pickleball tournament Sunday afternoon at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club. The Moriartys won the match 11-3. Nearly 120 people braved the rain and brisk wind to play the popular game. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

the Class 3A Lower State playoffs on Tuesday at Beaufort High School. The Eagles came away with a 4-0 win and will host Loris HIgh School at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 4, at home. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Beaufort High blanks Gilbert in playoff opener

LowcoSports.com

After slogging through a brutal non-region schedule and limping into the playoffs on a five-game losing streak, Beaufort High’s baseball team picked the right time to get right.

Malcolm Webb and Zack Talbert combined on a fivehit shutout, and Talbert, Mason Connelly, and Hudson Mullen each had two hits to lead the Eagles to a 4-0

home win over Gilbert on Tuesday to open the Class 3A playoffs.

The Eagles scraped across a run in the second inning and tacked on three more in the third on Mullen’s two-run single and a Carter Bowersox squeeze bunt to score Logan Brutcher.

That was plenty of support for Webb, who went five strong innings and allowed

five hits with four strikeouts, and Talbert closed the door with two perfect innings and two strikeouts. Beaufort (12-12) caught a break and will host Loris on Thursday after the Lions upset top-seeded Lake City 5-3 on the road Tuesday. Battery Creek dropped its opener 8-1 at BrooklandCayce and will travel to Camden for an elimination game Thursday.

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ROUNDUP

Beaufort golf wins 8-3A crown

LowcoSports.com

Beaufort High’s boys golf team won the Region 8-3A title Monday at Crowfield Golf Course in Goose Creek, carding a 332 to edge Philip Simmons by two shots.

The Eagles were down by five shots at the turn but rallied on the back nine with the help of a strong finish from Gus Christian. Jerry Bruns and Simon McAlister each shot 78 to earn spots on the all-region team, as did Christian (85).

GIRLS SOCCER

John Paul II 9, Colleton Prep 0: The Golden Warriors collected their 10th win of the season. Emma Sauls, Evelyn Melnick, Ayla Reynolds, and Hollis Melnick collected two goals apiece, and Savannah Trott added a goal. TrinityGrace Maxwell collected six saves in goal to earn the clean sheet.

BOYS SOCCER

John Paul II 11, Colleton Prep 1: Finn Mahoney scored a hat trick and

Pickleball

from page B1

Beaufort Academy’s Preston Aivaz returns the ball to John Paul II’s Sullivan Homer during No. 3 boys singles on Thursday, April 27, at Beaufort Academy. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

assisted on three goals and Jackson Ogden and Sebastian Slusne each added a pair of goals to lead JPII in a rout.

BOYS TENNIS

Camden 4, Beaufort 2: The Eagles’ season ended in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs with a loss at Camden. Graeme Angus and Diego Alvarez will play in the SCHSL singles tournament in Florence on Monday and Tuesday, and Alvarez has been selected to play in the North-South Senior AllStar Match in Myrtle Beach on May 13. John Paul II 6, Beaufort Academy

Gold: Tammy Reagen and Jeff Reagen

Silver: Lisa Pope and Roger McGee

Bronze: Lisa Holt and Jay Phillips

Mixed

Gold: Deborah Sinamark and Ed Sinamark

Silver: Hope Merrill and Michael Wilt

Bronze: Denise Eden and Paul Eden

Mixed Doubles 3.5, ages 18 to 55

Gold: Beth Greene and Will Brisco

Silver: Michele Moriarty and Kieran

Moriarty

Bronze: Wendie Mitchell and Travis Mitchell

Mixed Doubles 3.5, ages 56 and above

Gold: Kim Kelly and Gregg Presuto

Silver: Kristin Phelps and Tim Phelps

Bronze: Maureen Snyder and Mark Mitchell

2: Bodie Daniel, Angelo Iskandar, Leo Iskander, Landon Low, and Sullivan Homer all picked up singles wins and Daniel and Angelo Iskander teamed up to win at No. 1 doubles for the Golden Warriors. BASEBALL

John Paul II 13, Bridges Prep 0 BP 000 00 — 0 0

JPII 070 6x — 13 7

WP: Ross Putnam 5IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 10K (1 HBP) JPII: Garrett Heathcott 1-2, 2B, BB, 2R, 2RBI; Bryant Jolley 1-1, 3B, 2BB, 2R, RBI; Logan Cotter 3-3, 2B, 3B, 2R, 3RBI; Brandyn Horton 1-2, 3B, BB, 2R, RBI

Mixed Doubles 4.0 and above

Gold: Kristen Adams and Jake Zadik

Silver: Susi Josey and Josh Josey

Bronze: Mary Ellen O’Neal and Wayne

Promislow

WOMENS DOUBLES

Womens Doubles 3.0

Gold: Brenda Kline and Janet Artrip

Silver: Tammy Reagen and Cynthia Newman

Bronze: Sydney Boggs and Lisa McFee

Womens Doubles 3.5, ages 18 to 57

Gold: Kristin Phelps and Kim Kelly

Silver: Michele Smart and Melanie Vanderpool

Bronze: Beth Greene and Carrie Ingram

Womens Doubles 3.5, ages 58 and above

Gold: Pam Gower and Deborah Shamyer

Silver: Blair Lauver and Shirley Noble

Bronze: Cheryl Potter and Nancy Small

Womens Doubles 4.0 and above

Gold: Lucy Longwell and Kristen Adams

Silver: Mary Ellen O’Neal and Susi Josey

Beaufort shortstop Dominic Camacho fields a poor throw as the Gilbert baserunner easily steals second base in the top of the third inning during

ARTS

Lowcountry Paint Party

6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, May 11, Morris Center, 10782 S. Jacob Smart Blvd, Ridgeland. $30. Enjoy an evening with friends while painting your own Lowcountry work of art. Camilla Pagliaroli will walk you through the process of creating a whimsical shrimp piece inspired by National Shrimp Day.

(Re)create Assemblage Workshop

11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, June 10, Morris Center, 10782 S. Jacob Smart Blvd, Ridgeland. $55. The art of assemblage is the subject of this workshop that focuses on how to repurpose disposable items (aka trash) into artistic creations. Led by Kirkland Smith, you’ll learn what types of materials work best for this type of assemblage and use templates to design your own piece on 12x12 Masonite.

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 843-525-6115 or send email to reneesutton@healthierhealing.com.

Notification will be done of any location change due to seat requirements. Next event is on Tuesday, April 11.

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. (Note: Drum circle will meet on 3rd Friday in May –May 19 – because of scheduling conflict.) Free. Anyone welcome, no experience necessary. Eric Roy, a recent transplant 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

WHAT’S HAPPENING

HIGHWAY 21 DRIVE-IN

The movies scheduled for this week (Thursday, May 4 through Sunday, May 7) at the Highway 21 Drive-In are Guardians Of The Galaxy 4 (PG, 8:30 p.m.) and Antman & Wasp Quantumania (PG-13, 11:05 p.m.) on Screen 1; The Super Mario Bros. Movie (PG, 8 p.m.) and Dungeons & Dragons (PG-13, 10:10 p.m.) on Screen 2; and Evil Dead Rise (R, 8:30 p.m.) and Pope’s Exorcist (R, 10:05 p.m.) on Screen 3 (Friday and Saturday).

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 Fast X (May 19) & The Little Mermaid (May 26).

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.

Highway 21 Flea Market

9 a.m. to 4 p.m., every Saturday and Sunday, Highway 21 Drive-In. 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.

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.

Family and community Field Day

9 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, April 29, Lady’s Island Middle School. The school will be hosting a family and community field day. Bring your family and friends and participate in a wide variety of events.

Play & Eat – Dinner Theater

6 to 8:30 p.m., Saturdays, May 13, May 20, June 3, June 17, and July 1, Hilton Garden Inn, 1500 Queen Street, Beaufort. Solve a murder mystery while you feast on a fantastic dinner. Just to let you know the murderer is hiding somewhere in the room, and you may find yourself as one of the suspects if you don’t watch it. This is a prize-winning competition and everyone is a participant. For more information, contact 843592-6209 or playandeatdinnertheater@ gmail.com, or visit the website at www. playandeatdinnertheater.com.

Bluffton Night Bazaar

5 to 8 p.m., Thursday, May 4, Burnt Church Distillery, 120 Bluffton Road, Bluffton. The markets are family-friendly and free to attend. Each Bluffton Night Bazaar market features 24 local makers, live music, and handcrafted cocktails. Vendor applications for the Spring markets are available on the Lowcountry Made website, lcmade.com. Applications for the October-December Bluffton Night Bazaar markets will open in August.

A Taste of Beaufort

5 to 10 p.m., Friday May 5; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday May 6, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.

Memory Matters Brain Booster Class

1 to 3 p.m., Monday, May 8, 15, & 22, First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 99$ fee. A three-week brain wellness course for active adults that promotes positive lifestyle strategies for improved brain health. Instructed by Memory Matters’ Community Education Director Debbie Anderson.

Lowcountry Christian Women’s Connection Luncheon

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 17, Hampton Hall Clubhouse, 170 Hampton Hall Blvd., Bluffton. Derby Days: FeatureHeroes on Horseback. Invited Speaker: Rose Lewis. Cost $28, must be prepaid. Please make checks payable to CWC Bluffton and send to Carol Mock, 607 Argent Way, Bluffton S.C. 29909. For more information call Julie Ott at 602-705-5465.

Memory Matters: Ask a Neurologist

10 a.m., Saturday, May 20, Memory Matters, 117 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. $20 for this session, or $40 for all Memory Matters sessions. Speaker: Dr. Jill Trumble, St. Joseph’s Candler Neurology.

The Original Gullah Festival

Friday through Sunday, May 26 to 28, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.

Memory Matters: Preparing for the Unexpected

10 a.m., Wednesday, June 7, St. Gregory the Great Catholic School, 38 St Gregory Drive, Bluffton. $20 for this session, or $40 for all Memory Matters sessions. Speakers: Lowcountry Council of Governments, Geriatric Care Manager, Elder Law Attorney, Bluffton Fire Department.

Memory Matters: Simple Suppers –Healthy Eating for Two

10 a.m., Wednesday, June 21, First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. $20 for this session, or $40 for all Memory Matters sessions. Speaker: Chef Kim Baretta.

67th annual Beaufort Water Festival

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

GOLF

Adaptive Golf Clinic

9 to 11 a.m., Saturday, May 13, Legends Golf Course, 299 Belleau Wood Road, Beaufort. Free and open to the public. Register by April 30 to get on base. Event is geared toward individuals with disabilities/ challenges from stroke, spinal cord injury, TBI, neurological conditions, amputation and more or individuals who are recovering from major injury or surgery. Participants receive complimentary instruction taught by experienced professional golf instructors; use provided equipment to increase mobility and assist swing; practice driving, chipping and putting; and connect with fellow adaptive athletes who are already golfers. Register at https:// adaptivegolfexperience.org/monthlyclinic-registration/.

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-ofthe-century businesses and industries of Port Royal: Shrimping, crabbing, oystering, the railroad, the school and the mercantile. Great gifts featuring local artists are available. For more information. visit www.portroyalhistory.org, email historicportroyalfoundation@gmail.com or call 843-524-4333.

Tour Historic Fort Fremont

Dawn to dusk, Monday through Sunday, The Fort Fremont Preserve, 1124 Land’s End Road, St. Helena Island. Free and open to the public. The History Center is open Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Visitors can learn about the fort’s history during the Spanish-American War through interpretive signs, selfguided walking tours with a smart phone, exhibits in the history center, and docentled tours. For more information visit www. fortfremont.org or contact Passive Parks Manager Stefanie Nagid at snagid@bcgov. net.

Friends of Honey Hill Member Meeting

6 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 9, Morris Center, 10782 S. Jacob Smart Blvd, Ridgeland. Free. All are welcome to join the Friends of Honey Hill quarterly meeting to learn about recent preservation and protection efforts at the Honey Hill Battlefield. Visit fohhb.org for more information.

Tea Time Treasures

Noon, Saturday, May 13, Morris Center, 10782 S. Jacob Smart Blvd, Ridgeland. $30 per person. This delightful presentation is steeped in the art and history of tea and teapots. Elyse Gerstenecker of Historical Collections at Telfair Museums joins us for the Morris Center Annual Spring Tea. Her visual presentation will highlight teapots and other decorative arts used at tea time. Afterwards, enjoy a lively Q&A.

Jasper County Historical Society Meeting

6 p.m., Tuesday, May 16, Morris Center, 10782 S. Jacob Smart Blvd, Ridgeland. Free. Sit in on an informative meeting of the Jasper County Historical Society. The meetings include a presentation on local and state history topics. This month’s speaker is General Lloyd W. Newton.

A Monumental Occasion:

250 Years in the Making

1 p.m., Tuesday, June 20, Morris Center, 10782 S. Jacob Smart Blvd, Ridgeland. Free. What is the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission?

Come learn about this organization and what they are doing to celebrate the 250th anniversary of this revolutionary time in

history. The speaker is Bill Davies, Vice Chairman of the Commission.

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

Law Talk Select times and days, Lobeco Branch Library, 1862 Trask Parkway, Seabrook.

To register, call 843-255-6479. Free. Brief topic overview with Question & Answer with volunteer attorney. Tuesday, May 20, 11 a.m. to noon, Starting a Business or Nonprofit.

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, 843-2556540. 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.

Law Talk

5:30 to 6:30 p.m., select Tuesdays, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. To register, call 843-255-6540. Free. Brief topic overview with Question & Answer with volunteer attorney. May 2, Getting Arrested.

Teen Video Game Club

4 p.m., 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of each month, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843255-6441. Ages 12 to 18.

Law Talk Noon to 1 p.m., select Wednesdays, Hilton Head Branch Library, 11 Beach City Rd, Hilton Head Island. To register, call 843-255-6525. Free. Brief topic overview with Question & Answer with volunteer attorney. Wednesday, May 17, Real Estate and Foreclosure.

S.C. Works Job Coaching

2 to 4 p.m., Thursdays, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island, 843-255-6540. 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, 843-255-6540. Ages 5 and older.

Chess Meet Up 11 a.m., 2nd Saturday of each month, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6456. 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 offroad/dirt/wilderness mountain biking/ jogging/walking trails near is encouraged to attend. For more information, call 843575-0021 or email universitybicycles@ hotmail.com.

Zonta Club of Beaufort

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

9:30 a.m., Monday, May 13, Palmetto Electric Cooperative, 1 Cooperative Way, Hardeeville. To attend the meeting as a guest, send an RSVP email to mayeriverquilters@gmail.com. For more information and for membership forms to join the group, call 843-705-9590.

OUTDOORS

Port Royal Cypress Wetlands tours

9 a.m., Saturday, May 13; 9 a.m. Friday, May 26; Port Royal Cypress Wetlands. Bring your friends and visitors to a free guided tour of the wetlands sponsored by Friends of Port Royal Cypress Wetlands and led by Master Naturalist Jill Moore. The egrets, snowy egrets and woodstorks are all nesting and the rookery is an exciting place! Alligators and turtles are basking in the sun and spring is in the air. This is a great time to learn about this magical place. Tours are limited in size. T0 sign up at www.foprcw.org and register on line.

SPORTS 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.

Charter approved for Sea Islands Heritage Academy

St. Helena school will teach Grades 6 through 12

From staff reports

“These are the best five words you will hear today,” South Carolina Public Charter School District Chairman of the Board John Payne said. “Congratulations. You are a school.”

So now the really hard work begins.

On Thursday, April 27, the S.C. Public Charter School (PCSD) District Board of Trustees approved unanimously the charter school application for Sea Islands Heritage Academy to launch Grades 6 through 8 and conditionally approved Grades 9 through 12.

“We are thrilled to bring a community-based charter school to the students of Beaufort County that will be located on historic St. Helena,” Executive Director Alana Jenkins said in a news release. “A personalized education approach with a career focus will help students of all abilities find success after high school and achieve their dreams.”

The school plans to provide 585 6th- through 12thgrade students with an educational experience that empowers and prepares all scholars to recognize their talent and help determine, pursue, and succeed in the future of their choice.

The school will offer a comprehensive college preparatory program that includes Advanced Placement (AP) courses, dual enrollment opportunities, and a ro-

bust extracurricular program that includes athletics, clubs, and community service.

Sea Islands is looking to pull students from school zones with between 54 and 93% of their students in poverty and some where fewer than 20% of the students are proficient in English and Language Arts and math.

Three charter schools – Beaufort County School District’s Riverview Charter School and PCSD’s Bridges Preparatory School and Lowcountry Montessori – already serve northern Beaufort County.

Chris Ophardt, former Beaufort County Public Information Officer, a member of the Sea Islands Heritage Academy’s Board of Trustees and a parent of four, said that Sea Islands would

be able to hold its own despite the competition for students. He contended that with all the building going on, the schools in northern Beaufort County would be filling up, and with the school’s ability to educate students on their own individual tracks, Sea Islands Heritage Academy would “stand out” to the parents of potential scholars.

Jenkins drawn to the Lowcountry Jenkins is a Fellow at BES, a national nonprofit that identifies and prepares leaders to transform education in their communities.

Previously, she worked at Coney Island Prep in Brooklyn, N.Y., where she served as Dean of Students and Vice Principal, managing teacher

and curricular development.

Prior to this, Jenkins spent a number of years as a classroom reading and writing teacher at high-performing public charter schools across New York. She received her Master’s in teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education and holds a Bachelor’s in English literature from Middlebury College. Jenkins believes that community-centered schools are the cornerstone to achieving educational equity. She feels drawn back to South Carolina by her familial lineage to found and lead such a school. The proposed school will leverage self determination and self actualizations inherent to the Gullah Geechee heritage. Through individualized plans of study, students will have access to college and career pathways that speak to the conservation and preservation of the cultural lineage, as well as the natural environment. “Our school will be an educational experience that affirms all parts of a student’s identity, teaching students of color about their legacy of resilience and strength,” Jenkins said. “We will do this by forming a collaborative vision of student academic and non-academic success alongside the community.”

Money and location

Over the first three years, the State of South Carolina

VIDEO For video of the presentation and approval from the South Carolina Public Charter School, follow this digital link or go to https://bit.ly/44ogjfj.

Charter School District will provide an estimated $3 million. The school is on track to receive an additional $1.3 million from four charities, $750,000 from Coastal Community Foundation, $100,000 from Walton Family Foundation, as well as finalist funding opportunities from New Schools Venture Fund and Charter School Growth Fund.

“These funds will help us realize our mission and allow students to learn in the local context of The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor,” Jenkins said. “We will leverage the corridor heritage to cultivate scholars’ minds (intellect), hearts (character), and hands (skills).”

The school’s proposed location is in an area known as Frogmore near the Parker’s convenience store and in the shadow of the historic Penn Center. Epstein Architecture has developed

architectural concepts with Phase 1 Construction completed by May 2024, Phase 2 Construction completed by May 2026, and Phase 3 Construction completed by May 2027.

Community “Community is at the heart of our work. I want to thank all the community members and partners that have helped to develop the curriculum, concepts, and benchmarks that will guide this school and its students,” Jenkins said.

Supporters and partners include arts-focused organizations, such as Responsible Artistry and the Gullah Kinfolk, Theater; culturally focused organizations, such as Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor and the University of South Carolina at Beaufort (USCB); natural resource-focused organizations, such as the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources ACE Basin NERR, Gullah Farmers Coop, Earth People Farm, Marshview Farms, and Morning Glory Homestead; and civics-focused organizations such as Conservation Voters of South Carolina and several local delegate offices.

For more information about the school and enrollment, please visit the school’s website at seaislandheritageacademy.org, call 843-694-4984, or email info@heritageacademysc. org

District honors more than 100 high school seniors at Senior Scholars banquet

From staff reports BEAUFORT – The Beaufort County School District honored 108 high school seniors for outstanding academic achievement at Wednesday night’s annual Senior Scholars Banquet.

Senior Scholars are students who have been enrolled in a Beaufort County School District high school for a minimum of three consecutive semesters by the second semester of the senior year, and who have maintained a cumulative 3.5 gradepoint average or higher, are ranked in the top 10 percent of their graduating classes, and earned the equivalent of an 85 percent grade or higher in college prep courses, an 80 percent grade or higher in honors courses, and a 75 percent grade or higher in advanced placement, international baccalaureate, or dual enrollment courses in all quarters of their high school career.

“We’re exceptionally proud of what these outstanding seniors have accomplished during their high school years, and we’re confident their successes will contin-

ue into the future,” Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said in a news release.

This year’s banquet speaker was Bluffton High School’s Karina Dorris, a native Bluffton resident and 2021 Senior Scholar, who is an honors nursing and psychology student at the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) where she serves as president of the USCB Fellowship of Christian Athletes, vice-president of the Public Health Student Organization, and freshman/sophomore president of the Honors Student Association. Also serving as a Math, Spanish, and English tutor at USCB, Dorris believes hard work is key to achieving one’s goals. She encouraged this year’s Senior Scholars to not be afraid of failure or rejection, but rather to embrace the opportunity to learn and grow from one’s experiences, never giving up.

2023 Honorees

This year’s Senior Scholar banquet honorees are Gaea Adams (BHS); Megan Alvarez (BHS);

EDUCATION BRIEFS

Casavant Joins

USCB’s Center for Strategic Planning

Rod Casavant has joined the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s Center for Strategic Planning (USCB CSP) as a facilitator. He is Chairman Emeritus of the SCORE SC Lowcountry Chapter, where he led a team of more than 40 certified business mentors (2017-22) supporting start-up businesses and in-business clients in Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, and Colleton counties.

Casavant is a SCORE-certified Business Mentor and on the organization’s National Advisory Council.

He had a 30-plus-year career with Eli Lilly & Company in multiple leadership roles with a track record of developing high performing teams focused on successful implementation of strategic and operational initiatives.

Casavant has a BA in Chemistry from the University of South Florida and an MBA from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.

TCL’s spring graduation set for May 12 at Waterfront Park

The Technical College of the Lowcountry will hold its annual

Yarely Amador (MRHS); Malani Anderson (WBECHS); Hunter Arquette (WBECHS); Anya Arroyo (MRHS); Elise Augustyniewicz (MRHS); Christian Babcock (HHIHS); Ashlyn Babkiewicz (MRHS); Caleb Batten (MRHS); Mackenzie Berbigler (BCHS); Madison Berbigler (BCHS); Lyndsay Borja (BLHS); Allison Bracken (HHIHS); Kody Briggs-Roberson (BHS); Amy Broome (HHIHS); Miles Brown (HHIHS); Jessica Buskey (MRHS); Illya Busorgin (MRHS); Kyrylo Busorgin (MRHS); Patrick Carr (MRHS); Sabrina Chavez (BCHS); Avery Chen (BLHS); Benjamin Christian (BHS); Courtney Clegg (HHIHS); Madelyn Confare (BHS); Christine Conte (BHS); Janeya Cox (WBECHS); and Saira Cruz Diaz (BCHS)

Also, Hannah Davis (BLHS); Michael Dennison (BHS); Gracen Denton (MRHS); Jack Dewey (MRHS): Catherine Douthit (MRHS); Trisha Duong (BLHS); Darlyn Estrada (BCHS); William

commencement ceremony at 6 p.m. on May 12 at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in Beaufort.

The ceremony will include approximately 300 graduates from a range of certificate, diploma and associate degree programs. Beaufort County School District Superintendent Frank Rodriguez will give the commencement address.

In addition, TCL will announce and recognize this year’s Presidential Medallion award recipient at the event. As the college’s highest honor, the Presidential Medallion is given to a distinguished community leader who exhibits enthusiasm, integrity and perseverance beyond the ordinary to help build a better

Fielding (HHIHS); Thomas Finn (HHIHS); Connor Flood (HHIHS); Epifania Francisco Bautista (HHIHS); Chloe Fry (BLHS); Ella Gordon (BCHS); Noah Gorrell (HHIHS); Amya Gossett (BLHS); Shelby Gourley (MRHS); Cynthia Gudaitis (HHIHS); Blake Hager (HHIHS); Madison Hahn (MRHS); Laurel Hawkins (HHIHS); Madison Hebert (BLHS); Kristina Heskett (HHIHS); Megan Hewes (MRHS); Morgan Hewes (MRHS): Ja’niyah Heyward (WBECHS); Casey Hoogenboom (BHS); Andrew Hopkinson (BHS); Saul Huizar Ornelas (MRHS); Lucy Jackson (BLHS); and Julia John (BLHS).

Also, Darby Kinsey (BCHS); Kaydence Kintz (BCHS); Morgan Kronimus (MRHS); Evan Lessard (BLHS); Benjamin Lewis (HHIHS); Susan Livesay (BHS); Emarie Loia (BCHS); Emily Manzanares Cardenas (MRHS); Sara Markowitz (HHIHS); Joseth Martinez Estrada (BCHS); Makenna Mason (HHIHS); Thomas Maybank (MRHS); Tyler Mc-

and stronger community.

Parking will be available for graduates and their guests. Due to possible traffic congestion, the public is advised to avoid the Bay Street area during this time.

Beaufort’s Wallace initiated into Omicron Delta Kappa

Albert Wallace, a native of Beaufort, was recently initiated into the Young Harris College Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society. The Society welcomed 787 new initiates from 32 universities during March 2023.

Guire (BHS); Whitney McGuire (HHIHS); Brendan Michael (MRHS); Kyra Millidge (BCHS); Estefany Mondragon (MRHS); Ashton Morgan (BCHS); Logan Morgan (BCHS); McKenzie Morgan (BLHS); Kalyn Moultrie (WBECHS); Abigail Nance (MRHS); Vivian Nguyen (MRHS); Jason Ni (BLHS); Rachel Nix (BLHS); Rebecca Nold (BHS); and Sarah Nunez (MRHS).

Also, Faith Paxton (BLHS); Sophia Pellegrino (BHS); Lucy Peltz (MRHS); Allison Philpot (HHIHS); Victoria Polites (HHIHS); Tess Polites (MRHS); Anna Riddle (BHS); Nathanael Rios (BLHS); Brooks Risher (HHIHS); Nicole Robinson (BHS); Kathryn Ryan (BLHS); Lea Sheeran (HHIHS); Kaitlyn Shrewsbury (BLHS); Skylar Thompson (BHS); Tyler Thompson (BLHS); Trisha Tran (MRHS); Samuel Trask (BHS); Brooks van Esselstyn (MRHS); Charlotte Vyge (BHS); Kendal Wagner (HHIHS); Masani Ward (MRHS); and Hannah Wease (MRHS).

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 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, Va., on December 3, 1914. A group of 15 students and faculty members established the Society to recognize and encourage leadership at the collegiate level.

– Compiled from staff reports

The Board of Trustees of Sea Islands Heritage Academy, a recently approved charter school on St. Helena Island. Photo courtesy of Sea Islands Heritage Academy.

EDUCATION

8 more books set for review May 11

By Mike McCombs

The Island News Beaufort County School District (BCSD) book review committees are set to complete reviews on eight more books at 5:45 p.m., Thursday, May 11 at Okatie Elementary School.

The eight books up for review by the committees this time are as follows:

No. 47: Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher

No. 48: Fade by Lisa McMann

No. 49: Fallout by Ellen Hopkins

No. 50: Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin

No. 51: Gabi, A Girl in

Pieces by Isabel Quintero

No. 52: Identical by Ellen Hopkins

No. 53: Push by Sapphire

No. 54: Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

So far, 46 of the 97 books have been reviewed by committees. Of the 46 books of which reviews and appeals have been completed, 43 have been returned to district shelves in some fashion, while three books – The Haters by Jesse Andrews, Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, and It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover – have been removed from shelves and will be kept out of the Beaufort County

School District for at least the next five years.

Elsewhere in the state, a school district that banned Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds is being sued by the families of high school students and the local NAACP chapter, with the help of the ACLU. (The book was also challenged in Beaufort County.)

According to The Post And Courier, the parties say the school board’s ban on a book that challenges racism was unconstitutional. Allen Chaney, general counsel for the ACLU of

South Carolina, and attorneys with the NAACP filed the lawsuit April 26 in U.S. District Court.

“You know, it’s not just politics,” Chaney told The Post And Courier. “It’s also an all-white school board removing ideas about race on the basis that they don’t like those ideas. That sends a really clear and harmful signal to children of color in Pickens County that they don’t matter and that their experience as a racial minority in Pickens County isn’t worth exploring in the books that are provided to them by the school district.”

The book was removed

from the shelves of Pickens County Schools for five years.

A recap

Ninety-seven books were removed from the shelves of libraries and classrooms in the BCSD in October and are to be reviewed for their appropriateness by the book review committees. The reviews were triggered by complaints that the books were obscene and inappropriate.

The original lists of books, submitted by former Beaufort County Councilman and Republican politician Mike Covert and

Beaufort’s Ivie Szalai, are identical to each other with Covert challenging one additional book.

The book review committees must consist, per state guidelines, of a school librarian, a district teacher, a parent (other than the complainant), a school administrator, a district-level administrator, and a member of a School Improvement Council in the district.

The BCSD added a seventh member to the committees – a community member.

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

A FIELD DAY FOR EVERYONE

Teachers and administrators unpack boxes of T-shirts and gift bags to give to participants in the Field Day haled Saturday, April 29, at Lady’s Island Middle School. The day’s events were originally scheduled to be held in an open area outdoors.

Holy Trinity names Moseley Grammar School Principal

From staff reports Holy Trinity Classical Christian School has named Amy Moseley its Grammar School Principal for the upcoming academic year (2023-2024).

Moseley currently serves as a 6th Grade teacher

at Holy Trinity. Except for a few years off to stay home with her children, Moseley has been in education since 1996. Her experience as both a teacher and an administrator is impressive.

Ms. Moseley began her

career teaching 1st Grade at an International School in Cameroon, West Africa with a mission group. Over the years, she has taught students in Grades 1 through 8 and has served as a Middle and Grammar School Counselor in a pub-

And the winners are …

lic school in Columbia.

At the Heritage Christian School (a classical Christian school in Lexington, S.C.), Moseley taught Latin and Grammar, was the Director of Testing/Curriculum and School Counselor, and served as the Head of

School for four years.

A Beaufort native, Moseley and her sons returned to Beaufort and joined the Holy Trinity family two years ago.

“I have three boys in the Upper School at Holy Trinity and it is so good to

be home and especially at Holy Trinity,” Moseley said when asked about this next chapter in her life. “I love working with children, parents, and faculty/staff, and I am thrilled to serve our school as Grammar School Principal.”

JPII Model UN gets resolution passed at conference

From staff reports The John Paul II Catholic School Model UN team had a strong showing at the MUN Conference held last month at Winthrop University.

The Beaufort County Library’s fourth annual Summer Reading Bookmark Contest officially ended on March 31, and after all 823 entries have been examined, winners have been chosen. Pictured are the winning entries in each age group, along with the winning artist below. The winners are, from left, in Age Group 5-8, Izzy Keene of River Ridge Academy; in Age Group 9-12, Maddie Martin of Hilton Head Island Middle School; in Age Group 13-17, Nevaeh Cleveland of Lowcountry Virtual and Beaufort Middle School; and in Age Group 18 and older, Karen Gingery. Stop by your local branch library in June to pick up a bookmark featuring a winning design – and grab your Summer Reading game board while you’re at it. Photos courtesy of Beaufort County Library.

“Several of our students spoke throughout the General Assembly and in their committees,” JPII history teacher and UN Model moderator Bill Damude said. “Our club experienced a first when we had a resolution pass through the Human Rights committee. I am

very proud of our delegates and the job they did at the conference.”

Model United Nations, also known as Model UN or MUN, is an extra-curricular activity in which students typically role play delegates to the United Nations and simulate UN committees.

Students have the opportunity to discuss and debate the current issues of the day from the perspective of their assigned country.

JPII MUN members include Johana Trejo, Mon-

ica Jimenez, Maura Clark, Paige Weniger, Marcela Carbajal, Ru Bennett, Mya Jenkins, Samantha Reilly, Kathleen Hammett, Lili Lutheran, Karoline Rustad, Ben Villalobos, Cole DeTurris, Collin Anfinson, and Bodie Daniel.

To learn more about John Paul II Catholic School, visit johnpaul2school.org or schedule a private tour by contacting Admissions Coordinator Anne McClure at 843-645-3838 or anne.mcclure@johnpaul2school.org

The John Paul II Catholic School Model UN recently participated in the MUN Conference held at Winthrop University. Submitted photo.

Lauren Wasiakowski puts her yoga class through its paces during the Lady’s Island Middle School Field Day on Saturday, April 29, at the school. Photos by Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Turns out even the blame game is rigged

Iget messages from readers asking me to take on “the other party” — meaning the Democrats — because I so often go after “their party,” the Republicans. One wrote, “Your argument is weakened when you only cite flaws of Republican politicians. There are plenty of examples to go around on the other side as well.” He included examples of Democrats with questionable family connections, concluding, “the stench of these people is enough to make one want to recuse himself from caring” about politics entirely.

Well, dear readers, this week I look at a situation where there is plenty of blame to go around, but I hope by the time you finish reading you will care less about that than the crisis they are ignoring — when they’re not exploiting it.

I found a Fox News article on Health and Human Services whistle blower Tara Lee Rodas. She appeared before Congress and directly criticized the government for delivering unaccompanied alien children over to human traffickers. These traffickers take advan-

TERRY MANNING

tage of lax federal oversight to subject young people to slavish conditions in dangerous jobs. Often minors, they regularly work illegally long hours, face loss of life and limb, and struggle to repay debts incurred by “sponsors” who pretend they are trying to to help them while their citizenship cases are processed.

In the Fox News report, Rodas is quoted, “Realizing that we were not offering children the American dream, but instead putting them in modern-day slavery with wicked overlords, was a terrible revelation.”

Of course, Fox News would run a story where a whistle blower was pointing fingers at the Biden administration. The House hearing was even titled, “The Biden

Border Crisis: Exploitation of Unaccompanied Alien Children.” Democrats pointed to the fact the issue existed before the Joe Biden presidency, but even this jaded liberal can’t forgive the implications of what Rodas testified. So I looked for other reporting.

I quickly found an investigative piece from The New York Times making the same claims, that the United States is inadvertently handing over young immigrants to people who exploit them as cheap labor. The February story’s protagonist is Carolina, a 15-yearold Guatemalan girl who works in a cereal factory where workers have lost fingers in accidents. One woman had part of her scalp torn off after a fast-moving machine caught her hairnet.

The article featured other minors who are suffering from overwork, malnutrition and lack of schooling. Caretakers talked at length about the horrible circumstances these young people face. The consensus seemed to be, yes, this is a terrible thing, but what can be done about it? Where was the oversight that was supposed

to prevent all this?

In response to the article, the Bush White House announced a crackdown on migrant child labor. The Times reported, “As part of the new effort, the Department of Labor, which enforces these laws, said it would target not just the factories and suppliers that illegally employ children, but also the larger companies that have child labor in their supply chains.”

A follow-up article in the Times detailed various instances where members of the government were notified of violations and ignored them or put them at the end of long queues of investigations to be handled by understaffed agencies.

But things would be different now, right? Biden accepted responsibility for the situation and was ready to help fix it, right? This is what people like Rodas wanted, right? As the old football coach says, “Not so fast, my friend.”

Just a couple days after the Fox News report, The Washington Post published a story about how a conservative group has been pushing state-level rollbacks of child labor protections.

The Post credited the Foundation for Government Accountability for using an “IKEA”-style approach to writing legislation for Republican-led state legislatures to help them make it harder for the government to track child workers and easier for corrupt business interests to abuse them.

In March, Arkansas passed a law removing requirements for work permits and age verification for workers younger than 16. Nearly a dozen states, most GOP-controlled, are pursuing similar legislation. And that’s how this often works. One side points fingers at the other for not solving a problem the first side helped create. And while the other side tries to find solutions, the first side makes the situation even worse. Is there blame on both sides? Yes? But sometimes, “both sides” is just “b.s.” to distract from a situation where who to blame isn’t the point.

Terry E. Manning is a Clemson graduate and worked for 20 years as a journalist. He can be reached at teemanning@gmail.com

The entertainment is our fellow guests

It is Saturday morning, and I’m in the chestnut paneled lobby of the Fryemont Inn. This morning I’m sitting in a small pool of lamp light at a planked table normally used for Scrabble, Dictionary and the conversation-assisted assemblage of 1,000-piece puzzles.

This morning I’m warmed by a nearby fire and entertained by Steve Howell (a/k/a “Big Steve”) — a big, bearded man who tells me he is “tard” (tired) — who is also the night manager.

Steve says he was raised on a dairy farm, did a stint in the Marine Corps, but his real love was operating bulldozers — an ability that took him to construction jobs around the world. When I tell Steve that we live just across the water from Parris Island, he tells me the story of a local woman who went to seven graduations at Parris Island.

SCOTT GRABER

“One of her boys was killed in Korea; two others in Vietnam.”

Steve has made a pot coffee and we drink his coffee while talking about the Cowee Tunnel near Dillsboro, N.C. Steve tells me about the gold buried by the man who started the digging; about the slaves he thereafter murdered; about the chain-ganged convicts who were drowned in their efforts to finish the tunnel.

As we talk guests make their way into the lobby and sip Steve’s coffee while waiting for the dining room to

open. Fryemont’s forthcoming breakfast will include biscuits, bacon, grits and scrambled eggs. It will feature young, cheerful waiters who will try their best to get us a table next to the dining room’s huge stone fireplace.

Breakfast at the Fryemont is designed to get one ready for a 5-mile, cable-assisted ascent on the Alum Cave Trail; or a less rigorous climb up Deep Creek Trail. And breakfast at the Fryemont will be in dramatic contrast to yesterday’s frantic, big-screen accessorized scramble for pre-cooked waffles, pre-wrapped sausage biscuits and tangerine-colored eggs in Columbia.

A better way to describe the Fryemont experience is to describe what it is not.

It is not a television, refrigerator or a small stash of overpriced mini-bottles in your room. It is not shampoo, conditioner or body

lotion in plastic containers attached to the shower wall. It is not mints on your pillow, a wake-up call, or movies on demand. None of these amenities are available in their wood-paneled guest rooms.

It is not required that you assemble a puzzle, or read a John le Carre’ novel as you sit next to their fireplace. But if you want diversion with other guests, you’ve got to go to the lobby. And thousands of guests have gone to the lobby — and then to rocking chairs on the adjacent deck — since Amos Frye built this rambling poplar-shingled building.

Big Steve tells me that the swimming pool was built first — just after the pool that was built at Vanderbilt’s Biltmore. It is a pool that is fed by a spring and it is very, very cold. But after hiking the Deep Creek

Trail, or scrambling up Frye Mountain, it is an appropriate if slightly painful reward for that effort.

The Fryemont was built by Amos and Lillian Frye in 1923 and it somehow survived the Great Depression in the 1930s. I know this because there is fading, plastic protected correspondence from the Gulf Fertilizer Company, the New York State Retirement Board, the North Carolina College for Women and from tennis great, Bill Tilden, asking about room rates. Those rates were 5 dollars a day and 30 dollars for a week’s stay. Those rates included breakfast and dinner and the opportunity for strenuous uphill hiking; swimming in glacier-like water, and rocking on the deck while re-imagining one’s life. The Frye formula survived the Depression, World War II and contin-

ues to attract guests from around the country.

Tonight there will be a reception given by owners, George and Sue Brown, We have been asked to dressup in the style of the 1920s. My wife Susan reminds me that our current wardrobe more or less mimics that era — I won’t have to rent a tattered, narrow-lapeled tuxedo and she has a long, black dress that might have been favored by Eleanor Roosevelt.

We are told there will be champagne celebrating 100 years of service. But we know the entertainment will be our fellow guests — and their tales of hikes, chess with their children and breakfasts next to the hearth.

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

Gerrymandering – the ‘grift’ that keeps on giving

Iadmit to having had only a vague idea of what constitutes gerrymandering, and I didn’t give it much thought until recently when several political issues were brought to the public’s attention. Discussion of these seemed to focus, in part, on gerrymandering; thus I became interested enough to dig deeper.

Perhaps it would behoove us to look at the definition of this political shenanigan. I found words like manipulate and contrive to be synonyms, and in the case of political district maps, the manipulation of boundaries for political advantage. Perhaps this is one of the greatest scams ever to be perpetrated in our country, and certainly there are plenty from which to choose.

The history of gerrymandering can be traced to 18th-century England where political operatives created “rotten boroughs” with only a few eligible voters, making it easy for politicians to buy the residents’ votes and gain seats in Parliament. After English colonists founded this country, gerrymandering began almost immediately with evidence found in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, drawing maps to benefit certain candidates. In 1812 Massachusetts map-drawing was considered even more brazen with oddly contorted districts. This redistricting was subject to the approval of Governor Ethridge Gerry, who signed off on his party’s contrived boundaries – thus the name we

use today.

When Black men won the right to vote after the Civil War, gerrymandering was taken up a notch, as noted by several historians. The so-called “boa constrictor” district, a long winding configuration that concentrated Black Americans, was created after the rejection of the first non-contiguous district. This occurred in 1882 in our own state.

Gerrymandering is tied to the census, which is taken every 10 years; perhaps this is why we lose track of what is happening in the midst of all the flotsam and jetsam in the political waters. Every decade, states redraw congressional district lines, following the publication of the census.

Interestingly enough, after the 1900 census, some states didn’t change their districts until the 1960s. At that time, more people began moving to the cities, particularly Black Americans and immigrants. In those states where this became apparent, districts were maintained that gave disproportionate power to white, rural, non-immigrant Americans.

When the district maps are drawn, there are two ways to

“stack the deck,” so to speak. The first is called “cracking” which is defined as diluting the voting power of the opposing party’s support across the district. The second is “packing,” and this involves concentrating the opposing party’s voting power in one district in order to reduce the same in other districts. Both are efforts to divide voting strength, and if this sounds convoluted to you, I am right there with you. Yet for some crazy reason, I have to believe it is designed to be so.

The U.S. Supreme Court changed this process in the 60s with a series of decisions known as “the redistricting revolution.”

Under Chief Justice Earl Warren, the court ruled that all state voting districts must have roughly equal populations. And in 1995, in a 5-4 decision, gerrymandering was ruled a violation of constitutional rights, specifying redistricting that is purposely based on race. Which brings us to the more current actions surrounding this very questionable shell game.

Earlier this year, Congress had the chance to pass landmark anti-gerrymandering reform with the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act and narrowly failed. This bill would have prevented states from using severely gerrymandered maps. A part of the act would have enabled voters to ask a federal district court to analyze the maps and determine whether or not they are significantly skewed to favor one party

or the other.

The state of Wisconsin is somewhat of a laboratory example of how gerrymandering works and what may be fallout with the forthcoming results.

In 2012, Republicans won 60 of 99 seats in the state assembly, despite the fact that they had only 48.6% of the vote. Fast forward to 2023 where this issue was attached to a more volatile issue, that of abortion. Intense politicking took place, and part of that effort was placed upon “fair maps.”

We know that Wisconsin was able to elect a liberal judge, Janet Protasiewicz, to the state Supreme Court. She campaigned on the recent round of redistricting, claiming the maps were “rigged.” The legislature in this case had come up with what they called “the least change methodology.” A rose by another name, to use a trite euphemism to address a very serious subject. What irony that 11 years had to pass until something as riveting as abortion provided a vehicle for an equally crucial issue.

In South Carolina, a federal trial court ruled this past January that the state’s First Congressional District (represented by Nancy Mace) is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander and must be redrawn by 2024. So we are part of the fray that continues across the country. And the North Carolina Republican controlled Supreme Court just this week reversed a ruling made earlier

(Democratic leaning), saying the state has no right to police partisan gerrymandering. Should this go to the Supreme Court in Washington, it’s anyone’s guess on what will prevail.

Maine is the only state where legislation requires that district maps are passed on a bipartisan basis, and this is accomplished through a legislatively accepted advisory commission.

All of this begs the question, “Why do we need districts?” Why not one person, one vote? I know that congressional districts are inscribed into the Constitution to ensure representation based on population. But is this a sufficiently good reason with today’s ever-shifting population to retain them, and continue this tennis match, batting the ball back and forth? If removing districts altogether is so “anti-Constitution,” the excuse always hauled out when logic fails, why can’t we implement independent redistricting commissions in every state, like that of Maine? Then perhaps the “grift” that seems to have diminished a fair voting system will become a thing of the past.

Some source information is taken from the Brennan Center for Justice, a non-partisan law and policy institute.

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.”

CAROL LUCAS

Preventing seeds of unforgiveness to germinate

How much grace does it take to love our enemies?

That’s a good question. Tragedies occur all around us and it’s true we are heartbroken and disturbed, but how do we react when our family is harmed or we are personally offended?

I admit that I do not always have the character of Christ when I’m being threatened or provoked to anger. Our natural reaction is to retaliate because that’s a natural part of our carnal nature. Most of us agree that people need to be punished for their evil deeds, but Christians must remember the temptation to hold unforgiveness against anyone must be resisted. Yes, we will face challenges and situations that attempt to lure us into loathing attitudes but, it’s forgiveness and love that keeps us on the narrow way of peace and contentment.

When we dwell on retaliation, our joy which is our spiritual strength evaporates and we become weak and discouraged. The brooding desire for revenge will emotionally, mentally, and

A selection of area home listings.

spiritually hold us in the bondage of misery. If we allow ourselves to become weighed down with animosity, our relationship with God suffers which is why it’s so important to not become entangled with the poison of hatred. To those around us, we may seem fine, but on the inside, we are seething with contempt.

Do you secretly have resentment against someone today? Let us remember this internal agonizing battle is not forced upon us. We decide to participate. Our natural mind loves to justify corrupt attitudes, and if we continue to focus on vengeance instead of asking for God’s help we are allowing the

darkness of sin to control and hold us hostage. Sadly, many would rather live in the agony of hostility instead of releasing their agony to God and allowing Him to execute vengeance and justice His way.

As a chaplain, I remember a few years ago being called by a healthcare facility to pray for an elderly gentleman that was near death. He was barely able to understand or communicate because of the heavy doses of morphine. His son was sitting next to the bed and after a while, he started to talk about his dad. They were not close, and he began to describe a man that was not only harsh and uncaring but abusive. I could sense the deep emotional pain as he began to tell a sad story about a disappointed and wounded family.

The son was a Christian and had been dealing with resentment for years. As he continued to share about the power of forgiveness, I could sense the love and peace of

God in his countenance. If we sincerely repent and ask the Lord to step into our situation, He is the only one who can bring true hope and healing to our hearts and minds.

When watching a toddler, we notice they react to basic experiences of hunger, affection, disappointment, happiness, and anger but are only beginning to learn what it means to be offended. Resentment and bitterness are negative attitudes and it’s only through inviting Christ to become our Lord and allowing His truth to transform our minds that we can be molded into His way of merciful thinking. He wants us to be honest with Him and not suppress these ugly imaginations that not only can build a wall between us and the Lord, it also makes us toxic to those around us.

Just how serious is unforgiveness? Matthew 6:14-15 says, “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others,

Home e Finder Home Finder

your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Hatred is silent but deadly and is like a growing infection that can desensitize us from having compassion for anyone or anything. Since the Christian’s greatest asset is love, the enemy of our soul will use anything he can to prevent us from forgiving and praying for others. May we never discard our responsibility to humbly serve and obey Christ because we are blinded by our plans to get even with someone. Whatever they have done to hurt us, we have the choice to let it go so that we can live in the joy of God’s presence.

Some may boldly declare they cannot forgive but this is not true. Forgiveness is a choice as the Bible reminds us in Proverbs 13:18 , “Poverty and shame will come to those who refuse instruction: but they who embrace correction will be honored.”

Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

SHELL POINT

A Worldwide Faith

The Catholic Church is Universal

This cross represents the Christian population around the world.

If each of the one hundred figures in our image represent one percent of the world’s Christian population, the 13 red figures would represent Orthodox Christians, such as the Greek or Russian Orthodox. The 37 green figures would represent Protestant Christians, including 4 Lutherans, 4 Anglicans, 4 Pentecostals, 3 Baptists, 3 Presbyterians, 1 Methodist, and 1 Adventist.

The 50 blue figures remaining would be Catholic Christians. Even though Catholics are a minority in many parts of the United States, Catholics represent just over half of the world’s Christians. Since Christians make up about a third of the world’s population, about one of every six people in the world is Catholic. This is one of the amazing things about the Catholic Church: it is a worldwide family that unites peoples of all cultures, nations, and backgrounds.

“Catholic” comes from the Greek word that means “universal.”

The Church has been called Catholic since at least the turn of the first century, when Ignatius of Antioch used the term to describe the Church started by Jesus. Just as a “universal remote” works for all televisions, when Ignatius spoke of the Church being universal, he meant that it includes all of humanity, rather than being limited to a particular area or demographic group.

Through the Church, Jesus begins to unite the human race into a new spiritual family. In the Acts of the Apostles and the rest of the New Testament, one sees the Church spreading across all social and geographic boundaries. Gentiles and Jews became brothers and sisters in faith. Master and servant worshiped side by side. Rich and poor hoped for the same heavenly inheritance. Humanity, broken apart by sin, was starting to be reunited by Jesus into a new family of faith.

Wouldn’t we expect Christ’s Church to be universal?

Jesus commanded his apostles to go make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey all that he had taught. (Matt 28:19-20) If Jesus has been guiding his Church for two thousand years, wouldn’t we expect the Church to have done as Jesus commanded? Wouldn’t we expect his Church to have spread everywhere, teaching consistently across the centuries and across the world?

This is what one finds in the Catholic Church. The Catholic faith touches the heart of people of all cultures, through all centuries. Unlike most faiths, it is not limited to a particular area, language, or social group. Wherever Catholics travel, they can join their brothers and sisters in worship. The prayers might be in a different language, but they still feel at home, for they are united in the same family of faith.

615 BROAD RIVER ROAD, SHELL POINT – Rare opportunity! Mini estate w/ 8.48 acres & endless uses. This 1,982 SqFt, 4BR/2BA ranch boasts oak hardwood floors through out, updated kitchen, custom built-ins, fireplace, irrigation system plus many other features. Two car garage & horse barn offer plenty of storage. Come find your piece of heaven among the beautiful live oaks. $975,000. Contact Brian Harrelson 843-812-8985 or Brian@HarrelsonRealEstate.com

BILLY HOLLAND

More from the AIR SHOW

Veteran copayments for care, tests, medications

Last week’s article in The Island News provided most of the answers to the following two questions “Can I get free VA health care as a Veteran?” and “Will I need to pay for any of my care, tests, or medications?”

Readers should remember, whether or not a veteran will need to pay copays and how much they pay depends on their disability rating, income level, military service record, and to which of the VA’s eight priority groups the VA assigns the veteran.

The VA provides free healthcare for conditions related to military service and for veterans with catastrophic disabilities and service-connected disability ratings of at least 50%, as well as for those veterans who cannot afford to pay for care.

The Island News readers should now understand that there is a huge amount of information available on what VA healthcare services are free and what healthcare, tests, and medications require copays. However, nothing can substitute for veterans and their family members using a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to advise them, reading the information at www.va.gov in general, and reading the many websites referenced in this week’s and last week’s articles.

Steps to better understanding VA healthcare benefits, costs, and copays

Step 1 – Meet with a VSO: Ask the VSO to explain what your and your spouse’s/dependents’ VA benefits are, especially your service-connected benefits (like disability compensation) and healthcare ben-

efits. Ask the VSO to help you apply for VA healthcare, disability compensation, and other veterans (federal and state) benefits.

Step 2 – Apply for VA Healthcare: Read everything at https://bit.ly/3BdTGxN and https://bit. ly/3B7x5Dz. These sites will explain eligibility requirements, the information you need to gather (DD214, insurance cards, last year’s gross household income, and your deductible expenses last year, etc.), and how to apply. Do this even if you have private health insurance, are retired military, and have Medicare and Tricare for Life. Do this if you have Medicare and Medicaid, are wealthy, are male or female, and are or were a private or a general.

Step 3 – Read everything: Read everything at https://bit.ly/3RrzmPi and the references at that website and then apply for all of your VA service-connected disabilities. Find or get a copy of your DD214 military discharge (Separation Papers) and other records and evidence that your VSO tells you to assemble. For example, gather copies of your social security account number, Purple Heart Awards, military medical records, VA medical records, civilian medical records, military personnel records, pictures, military performance appraisals, accident reports, line-of-duty inves-

tigation reports, etc. Make an inventory of all of your service-connected injuries, wounds, diseases, medical conditions, scars, and Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) Exposures (Agent Orange, Radiation, Burn Pits, Asbestos, etc.). Your VSO will guide you through this step-by-step.

Step 4 – Read everything: Read everything on VA Healthcare at www.va.gov. Especially read everything at the following VA websites: How the VA determines copays https://bit. ly/3N9QQjI. Copay rates https://bit. ly/3N9vBP8. How to review and pay your copay bill (online, by mail, or in person), how to request financial help, dispute charges, and more at https://bit. ly/3nlwfOY.

VA health Benefits

Annual income limits https://bit.ly/43YpB1n. Free mental health care https://bit.ly/3H8KAoE. Free services for military sexual trauma https://bit.ly/3V0zcAJ.

Free health issues related to service history https://bit.ly/3HaXyCm.

More free VA services https://bit.ly/3N9hhWL.

Exposure to Hazards Materials https://bit. ly/3Rrz3E8. Copays for Maternity Care at https://bit. ly/3ne3jbL.

More on copays

Outpatient care copays are for veterans who are NOT exempt from copays due to their disability rating, income level, or special eligibility factors. See https://www.va.gov/healthcare/copay-rates/.

Sample 2023 Copays

Sample 1 – Outpatient Care

Copay Rates.

Outpatient Care Copay Rate for Primary Care Services is $15. Specialty Care Services (Surgeon, Hearing Specialist, etc.) Copay Rate is $50. Specialty Tests Copay (MRI, CT scan, etc.) is $50.

Sample 2 – Medication Copay Rates.

If a veteran is in priority group 1, he or she will not pay a copay for any medications. Veterans may be in priority group 1 if: The VA rated their service-connected disability at 50% or more disabling, or The VA determined that the veteran can’t work because of their service-connected disability (unemployable), or If the veteran received the Medal of Honor. Learn about Priority Groups at https://www. va.gov/health-care/ eligibility/priority-groups/.

If a veteran is in priority groups 2 through 8, they may pay a copay for these types of medications: Medications the veteran’s provider prescribes to treat non-service-connected conditions, and Over-the-counter medications (like aspirin or cough syrup) that the veteran gets from a VA pharmacy.

The costs for any medications a veteran receive while staying in a VA or other approved health facility are covered by the veteran’s inpatient care copay.

The amount veterans pay for these medications will

depend on the “tier” of the medication and the amount of medication they are getting, which the VA determine by days of supply.

Once the veteran has been charged $700 in medication copays within a calendar year, the veteran will not have to pay any more that year. If the veteran has a service-connected rating of 40% or less and his or her income falls at or below the national income limits for receiving free medications, the veteran should provide their income information to the VA to determine if they qualify for free medications.

Copay charts are too many to publish in this article. Go to https://www. va.gov/health-care/copay-rates/ to see 2023 outpatient medication Tier copay rates, urgent care copay rates, inpatient copay rates, geriatric and extended care copay rates, and services that do not require a copay. All of the VA copay rates are reasonable compared to civilian healthcare costs.

Find a VSO

Find S.C. County VSOs at https://scdva.sc.gov/county-veterans-affairs-offices.

Find at Ga. Veterans Service Offices at https://veterans.georgia.gov/locations/ veterans-field-service-officenear-you. Read about VA Accredited representatives at https://www.benefits. va.gov/vso/. Some local VSOs are listed below.

Beaufort County DAV Chapter VSO M. Vergantino, 843-301-2543 and mlv1030@gmail. com. Beaufort County VSO C. Wedler, 843255- 6880, FAX 843-2559445 or 6880, cwedler@ bcgov.net.

Colleton VSO J. Smith, 843- 549-1412, cvao@

colletoncounty.org; Jasper VSO A. Jenkins, 843-726-7727, ajenkins@ jaspercountysc.gov; and Hampton VSO S. Johnson, 803-9142085/2087, sjohnson@ hamptoncountysc.org. Charleston VSO D. LeBlanc, 843-974-6360, vaoffice@charlestoncounty.org; Berkeley County VSO G. Baxley, 843-377-8506, gerald. baxley@berkeleycountysc.gov; A. Legion VSO Hollywood C. Tupper, 843 709-7523, Charles.R.Tupper@ gmail.com; Dorchester VSO J. Brown, 843832-0050, JKBrown@ dorchestercountysc. gov. Savannah Ga. VSO M. Rivera, 912-9200214, Ext. 412194, Miguel.rivera5@va.gov; Hinesville, Ga. VSO S. Daniels, Daniels@ vs.state.ga.us, Isaac, 912-408-2948.

Final thought

The author cannot emphasize enough how important it is for all veterans and veterans’ spouses, dependents, and caregivers to read the information at https://www.va.gov/healthcare/copay-rates/.

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

begin to emerge from a

Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion as part of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) demonstration during the Beaufort

at

Corps Air Station Beaufort in Beaufort. Photos by Delayna Earley/The Island News

Spectators watch as the Blue Angels diamond flies by during the Beaufort

Corps Air Station Beaufort in Beaufort.

Spectators watch as pilot Rob Holland flies by during the Beaufort Air Show on Saturday, April 22, 2023.

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, 5 May 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 T. D. Deckard • Parade Adjutant, Captain J. D. Sporleder Company “M”, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion • Commanding Officer, Captain T. D. Deckard

PLATOON 3024

Senior Drill Instructor

SSgt A. N. Crocco

Pvt Abney, M. A.

PFC Anaya, R.

Pvt Anderson Jr, L. H.

Pvt Carlson Jr, R. E.

Pvt Carmona, A. R.

Pvt Casillas, I. J.

Pvt Clark, J. A.

Pvt Delaobedolla, B.

PFC Dillard III, E. B.

Pvt Dolen, C. W.*

PFC Evans, E. E.

Pvt Finnissee Jr, J. D.

PFC Gibson, N. E.

Pvt Godwin, S. A.

Pvt Greenawalt, R. W.

PFC Harding, J. C.

Pvt Harrell, J. A.

Pvt Hastings, J. A.

PFC Hernandezramirez, V. M.

Pvt Hill, D. A.

PFC Hussmann, C. J.

PFC Jewett, K. H.

Pvt Lowndes, C. C.*

PFC Mccullough, X. L.

Pvt Moralesconcepcion, B. C.

Pvt Moralesgarcia Jr, I.

PFC Nguyen, Q. M.

Pvt Ortiz, N. S.

Pvt Perezsaguilan, J. J.

Pvt Rej, J. B.

PFC Rocha, B. S.

Pvt Samuel, J.

Pvt Sanchezvazquez, J. A.

PFC Schroeder, S. S.

Pvt Sechrist, J. T.

Pvt Shackelford, J. R.*

Pvt Simon, R. E.

PFC Stabler, J. M.

Pvt Thomas, A. B.*

PFC Turbeville, B. W.

PFC Tyndall, R. C.

PFC Varga, J. T.

PFC Velezrivera, J. A.

Drill Masters • Staff Sergeant L. M. Hinton, Staff Sergeant E. M. Cisse

PLATOON 3025 Senior Drill Instructor SSgt C. R. Quiceno

Pvt Almengorgatica, C. A.

Pvt Bessette II, D. M.

Pvt Carlaw, T. W.

PFC Condit, W. J.

Pvt Danchise, N. S.

Pvt Cruz, X.

PFC Davis, J. L.*

Pvt Deberry IV, G. L.

PFC Dulgeroglu, A. H.

Pvt Flewelling, K. N.

Pvt Fraser, E. S.

Pvt Gama, E.

PFC Gannon, S.

Pvt Holland, S. L.

Pvt Jones, R. C.

Pvt Juste, C.

Pvt Lawson, N. J.

Pvt Ledlow Iii, M.

PFC Lester, J. W.

PFC Lockett, G. E.

Pvt Mares, I. A.

Pvt Martingarcia, U.

Pvt Mohammed, K. E.

Pvt Moon, D. G.

Pvt Osman, S.

PFC Ozley, A. D.

Pvt Pintor, A. J.

PFC Puente, M.*

Pvt Rasnake, L. G.

PFC Rozell, R. A.

PFC Russ Jr, M. A.*

Pvt Shaffar, J. D.

PFC Thomas, J. L.

Pvt Vargasfuentes, K.

Pvt Vienes, M. I.

Pvt Visser, B. C.

PFC Westerfield, E. K.

Pvt Willis, I. B.

Pvt Wilson, D. D.

Pvt Wilson, N. A.

Pvt Wood, M. T.

Pvt Wright, A. B.

Pvt Zerwas, M. T.

PLATOON 3026

Senior Drill Instructor SSgt T. J. Smith

PFC Acosta Jr, D. A.

Pvt Aguilar, K.

PFC Andl, J. A.

PFC Augustin, W. J.*

PFC Barbosa, R. E.

Pvt Barton, L. K.

Pvt Biery, P. D.

Pvt Blanton, C. J.

Pvt Cottrell Jr, J. J.

Pvt Cox, C. R.

Pvt Dandy, D. R.

Pvt Eliashernandez, A.

Pvt Fitzgerald, O. M.

Pvt Flint, C. D.

Pvt Fuentes, E.

PFC Fulton, J. E.

Pvt Gaworek, F. T.

Pvt Gonzalez, V. A.

PFC Hamilton, E. W.

Pvt Hernandez, A. J.

PFC Johnson, Z. T.

PFC Makovsky, R. C.

PFC Mbogo, L. O.

Pvt Mcintosh, G. A.

PFC Navarro, B. H.

PFC Nelson, E. O.

Pvt Pagan, E. I.

PFC Rhodes, E. M.*

Pvt Rogers Jr, R. Q.

Pvt Rogers, M.

Pvt Sanders, R. W.

Pvt Schardt, J. V.

PFC Seo, A.

PFC Smith, G. G.*

PFC Smith, R. P.

PFC Steinberg, M. H.

Pvt Trussell, L. D.

Pvt Vandemark, E. J.

PFC Vaughan, C. C.

Pvt Velezquezsoto, O. J.

Pvt Vitagliano, D. M.

Pvt Walton, C. R.

Pvt Welch, B. S.

Pvt Yoder, C. L.

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

PLATOON 3028

Senior Drill Instructor SSgt J. M. Knupp

PFC Amadorberrios, T. L.

PFC Amadou, O.

Pvt Baise, J. A.

Pvt Brown, M. L.

Pvt Cain, G. J.

Pvt Ceesay, E. I.

PFC Chiaramonte, A. A.

PFC Colon Jr, C. J.

Pvt Corwin, N. F.

Pvt Couch, I. D.

Pvt Dickman Ii, B. A.

Pvt Durr, P. X.

Pvt Erb II, C. A.

Pvt Escobarsamayoa, J. B.

PFC Evans, N. J.

Pvt Federline, M. C.

Pvt Goodnight, C. R.

Pvt Herritt, D. J.

Pvt Howes, C. L.

PFC Huber, A. P.*

Pvt Inboden, B. S.

PFC Jackman, M. R.*

Pvt Jimenez, G. M.

PFC Jobes, E. A.

Pvt Keene, J. T.

PFC Lamberts, N. S.*

PFC Larkin, A. M.

Pvt Marshall, G. T.

Pvt Martin, M. C.

Pvt Mcelrath, N. A.

Pvt Mendezquinones, W.

Pvt Milligan, P. A.

Pvt Nelson, C. M.

PFC Nguyen, A. V.

Pvt Perez, H. D.

Pvt Perezpadron, D.

PFC Pykosz, A. J.

Pvt Rezmer, K. Z.

PFC Smith, R. B.

Pvt Venturaperez, R. A.

Pvt Williams, J. S.

PFC Wisner, E. Z.

PLATOON 3029 Senior Drill Instructor SSgt G. Smith

Pvt Alvarengagonzalez, D. I.

Pvt Brayton, C. R.

PFC Buzzeo, B.

Pvt Byrd, K. T.*

PFC Carvajal, J. A.

PFC Clemans, J. O.

Pvt Cottosantiago, M. A.

PFC Cramm, A. Z.

PFC Crehan, B. J.

Pvt Deason, D. T.

Pvt Dominguez, B.

Pvt Flores, R. D.

Pvt Freeman, K. S.

Pvt Fuentes, J. B.

PFC Gainous Iii, R. A.

Pvt Gardner, J. R.*

Pvt Grier, N. M.

Pvt Henrikson, W. M.

PFC Hernandez, J. F.

Pvt Hidalgo, C. M.

Pvt Jakubowski, R. T.

PFC Kim, K.

Pvt Mckinnon, W. P.

Pvt Mclaughlin, T. G.

Pvt Morgan, D. A.

Pvt Nalley, C. J.

Pvt Neyman, A.

Pvt Ospina, E. G.

Pvt Pachecojara, K. R.

PFC Patzer, J. J.

PFC Richardson, A. B.

Pvt Rodrigues, B. L.

Pvt Russo Jr, J. P.

Pvt Saguayzapata, R. A.

PFC Sherpa, P. N.

Pvt Smith, K. J.

Pvt Szarafinski, A.

Pvt Taft, A. P.*

Pvt Valencia Jr, R.*

Pvt Vasquez, B. M.

Pvt Vazquezsuarez, D.

Pvt Walther, Z. W.

Pvt Willis, E. G.

PFC Wilson, T. L.

Pvt Zujaj, A.

PLATOON 2030 Senior Drill Instructor

GySgt A. Muniz

Pvt Alton II, M. S.

Pvt Appleyard, B. M.

Pvt Arias, A. J.

PFC Barnicaflores, J. C.

PFC Carpio, E. A.

PFC Clifton, M. D.*

Pvt Cooper Jr, J. I.

PFC Crawford, S. E.*

Pvt Delrosario, E.

Pvt Dorjee, J.

Pvt Edwards, H. A.

PFC Esteban, J. D.

PFC Exavier, J. M.*

Pvt Field, S. S.

Pvt Foster Jr, J. D.

Pvt Frazier, A. W.

PFC Gagner, G. H.

Pvt George, L. L.

Pvt Histed, L. T.

PFC Inchauste, A. T.

PFC Jett, R. H.

PFC Jiang, Y.

PFC Johnson, C. W.

Pvt Kirsch, S. C.

Pvt Lassabe, J. G.

Pvt Leach, E. M.

Pvt Leonortega, S. T.

PFC Lopez, D. F.

PFC Lozano, C.

Pvt Matheson, L. E.

PFC McQueen, R.*

Pvt Mendezquesada, R. S.

Pvt Mendoza, A. S.

PFC Muniu, A.

PFC Nafe, B. L.

Pvt Napier, H. C.

Pvt Olazagasti II, V. A.

Pvt Peralta, D. J.

PFC Silas, J. M.

Pvt Wilkins III, K. W.

Pvt Willis, D. L.

Pvt Wilson, G. E.

Pvt Wilson, J. E.

*Denotes Meritorious Promotions

Christopher J. Geier Attorney at Law, LLC Criminal Defense & Civil Litigation

Professional Village Circle, Lady's Island Office: 843-986-9449 • Fax: 843-986-9450 chris@bftsclaw.com • www.geierlaw.com AUDIOLOGY &

Wiser, M.A. CCC-A

Sea Island Parkway, Suite 31, Beaufort

THURSDAY’S CARTOON

Read

ANNOUNCEMENTS

DONATE YOUR CAR TO KIDS. Your donation helps fund the search for missing children. Accepting Trucks, Motorcycles & RV’s , too! Fast Free Pickup – Running or Not – 24

Hour Response – Maximum Tax Donation –Call (888) 515-3810

BATHROOM RENOVATIONS. EASY, ONE DAY updates! We specialize in safe bathing. Grab bars, no slip flooring & seated showers. Call for a free in-home consultation: 844-524-2197

Tuesday, May 9, 2023 is the last day to redeem winning tickets in the following South Carolina Education Lottery Instant Games: (1365) JUNIOR JUMBO BUCKS

Caring for an aging loved one? Wondering about options like senior-living communities and in-home care? Caring.com’s Family Advisors are here to help take the guesswork out of senior care for you and your family. Call for your FREE, no-obligation consultation: 1-855-212-9230

Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 833-230-8692

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance – NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-855-397-7030 www.dental50plus.com/60 #6258

Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare

Cancellation Experts. Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 833-638-3767 STOCK YOUR POND EVENT- Coming to a store near you soon! Grass Carp, Largemouth Bass, Coppernose Bluegill, Shellcracker & Channel Cats, Mosquitofish. Must Pre-Order the week ahead of the event. Southland Fisheries 803-776-4923.

ANTIQUES FOR SALE

17th CENTURY MEISSEN PLATTER (with crossed swords mark). 16" x 16" with scalloped edges and decorative flowers. For sale to the highest bidder. To make an offer call 843-437-8835 by May 16. (Only one bid per person)

AUCTIONS

ADVERTISE YOUR AUCTION in 99 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25-word classified ad will reach more than 2.1 million readers. Call Randall Savely at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.

HUGE CONSTRUCTION AUCTION. 2

Days Fri., June 2nd and Sat., June 3rd. Starts at 9am. Over 600 pieces, Construction, Ag, Trucks, Mowers And More! Check worldnetauctionslive.com for all details. Approved Consignments accepted. 843-426-4244. scal 3965F scal 1966

HELP WANTED – DRIVERS ADVERTISE YOUR DRIVER JOBS in 99 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25-word classified ad will reach more than 2.1 million readers. Call Randall Savely at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE

Never clean your gutters again! Affordable, professionally installed gutter guards protect your gutters and home from debris and leaves forever! For a FREE

Quote call: 877-324-3132

NEED NEW FLOORING? Call Empire Today to schedule a FREE in-home estimate on Carpeting & Flooring. Call Today! 844-254-3873

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator. $0 Money Down + Low Monthly Payment Options. Request a FREE Quote. Call now before the next power outage: 1-844-775-0366

The Generac PWRcell, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-888-655-2175 Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. Plus 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-875-2449.

Up to $15,000.00 of GUARANTEED Life Insurance! No medical exam or health questions. Cash to help pay funeral and other final expenses. Call Physicians Life Insurance Company – 855-837-7719 or visit www.Life55plus.info/scan

TELEVISION & INTERNET SERVICES

DIRECTV Stream – Carries the Most Local MLB Games! CHOICE Package, $89.99/ mo for 12 months. Stream on 20 devices in your home at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/CHOICE Package or higher.) No annual contract, no hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-855-237-9741

DIRECTV. New 2-Year Price Guarantee. The most live MLB games this season, 200+ channels and over 45,000 on-demand titles. $84.99/mo for 24 months with CHOICE Package. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-844-624-1107

Dish Network: Only from Dish- 3 year

TV Price Guarantee! 99% Signal Reliability, backed by guarantee. Includes MultiSport with NFL Redzone. Switch and Get a FREE $100 Gift Card. Call today! 1-877542-0759

REE high speed internet for those that qualify. Government program for recipients of select programs incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet service. Bonus offer: Android tablet FREE with one-time $20 copay. Free shipping & handling. Call Maxsip Telecom today! 1-855-851-8201

VACATION RENTALS

ADVERTISE YOUR VACATION PROPERTY FOR RENT OR SALE to more than 2.1 million S.C. newspaper readers. Your 25-word classified ad will appear in 99 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Call Randall Savely at the South Carolina Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.

YOUR AD HERE

Email Amanda (amanda@lcweekly.com) to place your classified ad here!