s of right now, 3 p.m., Monday, Nov. 3, 44 percent of Beaufort County’s registered voters have cast votes. Based on 2020 presidential election results, the United States ranks 31st in turnout for national elections, with only 63 percent of registered voters casting ballots.
What next, Dick Stewart?
BEAUFORT – Aside from the election news, last week’s news was the S.C. Court Of Appeals ruling in favor of the City in the matter of challenges presented by Graham Trask in dealing with Dick Stewart and 303 Associates’ plans for a three-story parking garage and four-story hotel. The ruling was the latest in the legal battle that has left the prominent downtown corners of Craven and Charles, and Port Republic and Scott streets empty. The ruling is the latest round in the challenges between Trask, Historic Beaufort Foundation, the City of Beaufort administration and Stewart, a community saga that has engaged citizens who SEE LOWDOWN PAGE A7
City of Beaufort residents vote to keep incumbent Mayor, Councilmen; Statehouse members hold seats
By Mike McCombs
The Island News
When it came to local elections Tuesday, the voters of northern Beaufort County essentially said they preferred more of the same.
Beaufort Mayor Phil Cromer and City Councilmen Neil Lipsitz and Mitch Mitchell appeared to be voted in for another term despite challenges; State House members Shannon Erickson (R-124) and Michael Rivers (D-121) won reelection; and State Senators Chip Campsen (R-43) and Tom Davis (R-46) fought off new challengers for another term.
Meanwhile, Beaufort County’s 2024 Transportation Sales & Use Tax Referendum (2 questions) was a no-go with voters still smarting over a lack of action
after the County’s last transportation tax and a lack of transparency and trust in County government.
Mayor of Beaufort and Beaufort City Council
Thanks to a big boost from some of the record 63, 287 early votes cast in Beaufort County, Phil Cromer easily held off City Councilman Josh Scallate with 57 percent of the vote to win his first full term as Mayor of Beaufort after initially winning the job when Steven Murray resigned with 11 months remaining on his term.
The race for two expiring City Council seats was a bit tighter with the two incumbents edging the two challengers.
SEE ELECTION PAGE A6
Marines: Crash of ‘missing’ F-35B due to ‘pilot error’
Fighter involved in 2023 ‘mishap’ was lost for 28 hours
By Mike McCombs
The Island News
The September 2023 crash of an MCAS Beaufort-based F-35B that was missing for roughly 28 hours after the pilot ejected has been attributed to “pilot error” after a year-long investigation, according to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW).
In the Sept. 17 2023 crash labeled a “mishap” by the Marines, a pair of F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 501 2nd MAW were flying over North Charleston in the vicinity of Joint Base Charleston, when at about 1:30 p.m., one pilot was forced to eject. The pilot landed safely in North Charleston and was transported to a local medical facility. The second pilot landed at Joint Base Charleston, while the first
plane, without a pilot and with autopilot reportedly engaged, continued to fly.
“We don’t know anything about the plane,” a Joint Base Charleston spokesperson told The Island News that evening by phone. According to the 2nd MAW, the pilot safely ejected “while attempting to execute a climbout during a missed approach in instrument meteorological conditions and heavy precipitation.”
SEE PILOT PAGE A9
The crash of an MCAS Beaufort-based F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter like the one pictured has
On November 5, 2024, Shannon Erickson announces to supporters “The Polls officially closed” during her Watch Party on Election Night at Bricks on Boundary. Amber Hewitt / The Island News
LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS
In Beaufort’s Historic District, sculptor Ed Dwight, known for completing more than 100 history-rich memorials, created a 14-foot-tall, larger-thanlife-sized sculpture of Harriet Tubman on top of a bronze pedestal, photographed here by Habersham’s Ron Callari, that features scenes of enslaved people following Tubman to their freedom in 1863. 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 KENT WILLARD
American Legion Beaufort
Post 207 brings you Beaufort’s Kent Willard, 90, who joined the United States Navy in Milwaukee in 1952. After Boot Camp at Great Lakes, Ill., he was assigned as a heavy equipment operator at Cubi Point, Philippines. He next transferred to Point Hueneme, Calif., for 2½ years. Back overseas, he was a VIP driver at NATO headquarters in Naples, Italy for four years. He then served at Little Creek, Va., from
which he deployed to the Mediterranean aboard USS Walworth County (LST1164) and to the Caribbean before being assigned to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.
Kent Willard
Staying south he was transferred to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for two years. Returning to the States and Davisville, R.I. he de-
ployed back to Gitmo to work on the airfield. Heading west, he worked at the bombing range at Boardman, Ore., before being assigned to the Seabees base at Gulfport, Miss., from which he made two nine-month deployments to Vietnam at Don Ha and Da Nang.
He was then assigned to transportation services at Bainbridge, Md., before returning to Davisville, R.I. Back to Europe, he served a tour at Rota, Spain
before returning to Charleston, where he retired in 1974 with 22 years of active service. After a brief period he joined the Civil Service, working in supply at MCRD Parris Island for 38 more years. He finally fully retired at age 85
– Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207 For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.
November 7
1861: Union warships attack Fort Walker (Hilton Head Island) and Fort Beauregard (Phillips Island), initiating the Battle of Port Royal. The Union would take Port Royal and Beaufort. The same day, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee arrives, via the Charleston & Savannah Railroad, in Coosawhatchie. Lee, at the time still the Confederate commanding general for Georgia, South Carolina and Florida, established a headquarters there.
2011: Boxing champion and Beaufort native Joe Frazier dies of liver cancer at age 67 in Philadelphia.
November 9
2019: Beaufort weightlifter C.J. Cummings wins three silver medals in the Snatch, Clean and Jerk and Overall at the IWF Grand Prix in Lima, Peru.
November 10
2022: Tropical Storm Nicole brings
PAL PETS OF THE WEEK
Cat Of The Week We told Pounce to give us her best spooky face. Are you scared or smitten? This eight-monthold girl is friendly, charming, and inquisitive. She has been at Palmetto Animal League for five months (most of her life) and she hopes and prays to find a home soon. Pounce is spayed, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped.
Dog Of The Week Four-month-old Sadie is energetic, playful, and always
extreme high tides and high winds, though not much damage, to to Beaufort for parts of two days.
2023: USC Beaufort earns its first basketball victories in its inaugural games at the USCB Recreation Center on the Bluffton campus. The men’s team, coached by Ron Fudala, defeats Morris College, 130-88, while the women’s team, coached by Sharon Versyp, tops Morris, 70-47
– Compiled by Mike McCombs
ready for fun! She’ll likely be about 30 pounds when full grown, and she’ll surely bring laughter to any home. This beauty with the blue-gray coat and adorable ears is quite simply a joy to be around. She is spayed, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped. For more info on Pounce, Sadie or any of our other pets, call PAL at 843-645-1725 or email Info@ PalmettoAnimalLeague.org.
– Compiled by Lindsay Perry
By Scott Graber
The
Island News
Court of Appeals rules against Trask, HBF
On Wednesday, Oct. 30
the South Carolina Court of Appeals handed down two decisions dealing with the City of Beaufort, developer Dick Stewart (Beaufort Inn LLC); Beaufort landowner Graham Trask (West Street, LLC and Mix Farms, LLC); the Historic Beaufort Foundation and their competing visions for downtown Beaufort.
Stewart had previously gotten approvals from Beaufort’s Historic Review Board for a new hotel on Scott Street; and a parking garage just off Craven Street. Trask and the Historic Beaufort Foundation challenged the Review Board’s approval of Stewart’s plans.
In January 2022, Circuit Judge Bentley Price denied
the appeal of West Street, LLC and Mix Farms, LLC and Historic Beaufort Foundation. Thereafter West Street, LLC, Mix Farms, LLC, and HBF moved on to the South Carolina Court of Appeals.
In its one paragraph opinion, the three-judge panel said that it would not disturb the rulings of the Historic Review Board, writing, “When an appellant provides no legal authority regarding a particular argument, the argument is abandoned and the court can decline to address the merits of the issue.
“Short, conclusory statements made without supporting authority are deemed abandoned on appeal and therefore not presented for review.
“The burden is on the ap-
pellant to furnish a sufficient record on appeal from which this court can make an intelligent review.”
West Street, LLC and Mix Farms, LLC had also petitioned the Circuit Court for injunctive relief — what is called a declaratory judgment—that would overturn various approvals granted by the City of Beaufort.
When the three-judge panel spoke to the issue of injunctive relief, they affirmed the decision of Circuit Judge Scott Sprouse, who had denied the request, saying a similar challenge had already been decided by the Circuit Court and was pending appeal.
The panel then quoted Corpus Juris, writing: “When an administrative agency is vested with primary jurisdiction of the question at issue,
the courts ordinarily will not grant injunctive relief prior to a decision by the agency (and) the availability of any adequate administrative remedy precludes the granting of injunctive relief.”
In terms of this second appeal the panel reiterated that “Short, conclusory statements made without supporting authority are deemed abandoned on appeal and therefore not presented for review.”
Atop the first page of these two opinions is the statement “THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE,” — meaning these two decisions can’t be used to bolster or defeat arguments made in future proceedings having the same fact pattern.
But in the current opinions there is no recitation of facts; and there is no narra-
tive linking those facts to relevant case law. There is only the recitation of cases followed by a principle which was, apparently, used by the panel in reaching its decision.
West Street Farms, LLC; Mix Farms, LLC; and HBF can petition the South Carolina Supreme Court for a review of these decisions.
There is an ongoing, parallel civil lawsuit wherein Stewart (303 Associates) is asking for damages, both actual and punitive. That suit is now moving though the discovery phase of its legal life; but it is not clear when that case will go to trial.
In its press release, the City of Beaufort thanked its former lawyer, Bill Harvey, for his help with these two matters and then, in an interesting and unusual de-
parture from previous practice, reported that the City had spent $88,135 on legal fees connected with these two cases. Normally one does not see or know the costs of litigation. And, in some cases where there is alleged municipal negligence, that cost is covered by insurance paid by the State’s Insurance Reserve Fund.
But releasing these costs is an unusual step in the direction of “transparency.”
The City’s press release also reminded its citizens that “Each court action at both the Circuit Court and Court of Appeals has consistently upheld the City.”
Scott Graber is a lawyer, novelist, veteran columnist and longtime resident of Port Royal. He can be reached at cscottgraber@gmail.com.
County seeks public feedback on Ribaut Road Improvements Plan
Staff reports In the aftermath of the community’s participation in a Ribaut Road Corridor Improvements Plan meeting Oct. 25, Beaufort County is now asking for the interested public to visit an online portal to review the proposed design alternatives, offer further comments and feedback, and to vote for pre-
ferred alternatives. The meeting page will be open to the public through Nov. 30 Ribaut Road Corridor Improvements Plan is the rebranded name for the Reimagine Ribaut project. The County states its goal is to create a master plan that reflects
the needs of the community, and citizen participation is invaluable to that process.
To participate, visit the project website at https://www.reimagineribautroad.com/meeting. Comments may be submitted through the comment form located at the
bottom of the page, or by mail to P.O. Drawer 1228, Beaufort, S.C. 29901-1228
For questions or persons requiring additional assistance due to language barriers, contact the Engineering Department at 843255-2700
BFS Shorts @ High Noon continues
Staff reports
The 2024 Shorts @ High Noon, presented by the Beaufort Film Society (BFS) has its final regular screening next week.
Each Wednesday at noon through November 13, BFS will screen short film selections from the 2024 Beaufort International Film Festival (BIFF) at the Technical College of the Lowcountry Auditorium at 921 Ribaut Road, Building 12, in Beaufort. Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m.
Screenings last approximately an hour. Admission is free.
Wednesday, Nov. 13 schedule
Rough Draft (4 minutes, Short): A writer struggles to write a scene, but some progress just can't be deleted.
Night Voices (24 minutes, Short): A jaded talk radio host in a cycle of hopeless and demoralizing monotony makes a life-altering decision while on-air.
Hedgehog (18 minutes, Short): As the war starts in Ukraine, six years old Nina is sent to her grandma’s remote village. In the shack outside, Nina discovers a badly wounded Russian soldier.
Celebrating an anniversary
The Beaufort Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) celebrated the 65th anniversary of the chapter with a luncheon at the Dataw Island Club Tabby Room on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. Beaufort Branch member Tally Essman presented a look at the chapter’s history including pictures and archival information documenting the chapter’s activities over the past 65 years. This included a diverse series of educational and cultural programs, as well as programs highlighting local issues. In addition, the history of AAUW Beaufort Branch scholarship awards and annual STEAM Day program for middle school girls were highlighted. AAUW S.C. President Doris McLallen addressed the group, celebrating this milestone, and spoke about AAUW’s commitment to advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. The next AAUW chapter meeting will be held at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, in downtown Beaufort. For more information, email Janice Herbert at jherbertaauw@gmail.com
Beaufort community hits high-water mark in Walk for Water
Walks in Port Royal, Bluffton raise $87,000 to fight global water crisis
Staff reports
Hundreds of Beaufort County residents from both sides of the Broad River donned walking shoes — and in some cases, rain jackets — to raise a record $87 000 in the eighth annual Beaufort County Walk for Water in September.
Participants met Sept. 14 at Live Oaks Park in Port Royal and Sept. 21 at Wright Family Park in Bluffton, carrying buckets for about three miles to symbolize the walk millions of women and children in developing countries make daily to collect water that’s often contaminated. The event raises money for Water Mission, a Charleston-based Christian engineering organization that builds sustainable safe water solutions in developing countries and disaster areas
where people are in desperate need of clean, safe water.
Debbie Slazyk of Beaufort said she’s participated in the Walk for Water several times because it makes a difference in people’s lives. “I Walk for Water because it’s a small
charity that makes a big, life-changing impact in the communities it serves.”
Water Mission awarded the Beaufort County Walk for Water special recognition this year for its success even before the starting bell
rang: In the past seven years, the walks have raised a combined total of more than $500 000, equating to providing clean water for life to more than 10,000 people.
“This is a huge milestone accomplishment for every-
one who’s been associated with the Beaufort County Walk for Water, including our walkers, volunteers and sponsors,” Walk Chair Robert Lasher said in a news release For more information about the Beaufort County
Walk for Water or to donate, visit walkforwater.com/beaufort or call 843-769-7395. Follow Beaufort County Walk for Water on Facebook and Instagram @BeaufortWalkforWater, and on Twitter #bftwalkforwater.
Lady’s Island Garden Club hosting Bake Sale
Lady’s Island Garden Club will host its Fall Fundraiser Bake Sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9, at Grayco Hardware on Sea Island Parkway on Lady’s Island. The group will be offering homemade cakes, cookies, pies, breads, candies and snack mixes, as well as gluten-free selections, doggie biscuits, and flower arrangements. Many items will be appropriately wrapped for gift giving.
The Lady’s Island Garden Club is a 501(c) (3) organization.
Broad River Fishing Pier will remain open during inspection
Beaufort County’s consultant, McSweeney Engineers, LLC, will be conducting above-water inspections of the Broad River Fishing Pier as part of the annual inspection program.
The inspections are expected to occur Friday, Nov. 8, weather permitting and will possibly continue through the weekend. The fishing pier and boat landing will stay open while inspections occur, but the public should expect to see equipment and personnel on or near the pier.
The public is asked to use caution while in the area. Sections of the pier may need to be closed temporarily while inspections are occurring.
For more information, contact the Beaufort County Engineering Department at 843255-2700
November LIBPA meeting
Tuesday
David Allison, a 1st Lt. from the Civil Air Patrol, will be the featured speaker when the Lady’s Island Business & Professional Association meets at 8 a.m., Nov. 12 2024, at the Beaufort Realtors’ Association Headquarters at 22 Kemmerlin Lane on Lady’s Island. Please stop by for coffee and conversation concerning the community.
Beaufort County Assessor hosting community events
Beaufort County Assessor Ebony Sanders is hosting multiple community events at County Library Branches to allow the public an opportunity to meet with her staff and share questions and concerns regarding real property.
Each community event will be from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
The dates are as follows: Hilton Head Branch Library, 11 Beach
City Road: Tuesday, Nov. 19 – SCRoom.
St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road: Tuesday, Dec. 3 –Large Meeting Room.
Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Way: Thursday, Nov. 7 – Large Meeting Room; Thursday, Dec. 5 – Large Meeting Room.
In the event of an unforeseeable change in the date, time, or location, the Assessor’s Office webpage will be updated to reflect rescheduling. If you have any questions, please contact Liz Rigg, Appeal/BAA Coordinator at BAA@bcgov.net or 843-255-2404
A construction reminder
IPW Construction Group will continue to perform shoulder closures and temporary lane closures the entire length of Laurel Bay Road in Beaufort. Closures will take place between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday to Saturday, until the end of the year.
During this time, please prepare for and expect minor delays in traffic. Drivers traveling through the area are asked to please be mindful of our traffic control team and the crews working within the area. In addition, the ramp coming off U.S. 21 onto Laurel Bay Road is permanently closed.
County VA to offer End of Life Planning Seminars for veterans, families Beaufort County Veterans Affairs is hosting End of Life Planning Seminars for veterans and their families.
These seminars address things veterans and their families can do today to ensure their personal effects are in order. They also discuss Veterans Affairs benefits that surviving spouses may be entitled to receive. They will be offered at either 9 a.m. or 1 p.m., at convenient locations around Beaufort County:
• Tuesday, May 20: Hilton Head Branch Library, 11 Beach City Road.
• Tuesday, May 27: Beaufort Library, 311 Scott Street.
RSVPs are required for space and resource purposes. Please contact Crystal at 843-255-6880 to reserve your seat. For questions and more information please contact Beaufort County Veterans Affairs at 843-255-6880
– Staff reports
In the past seven years, Beaufort County’s Walks for Water have raised a combined total of more than $500,000, equating to providing clean water for life to more than 10,000 people. Submitted photo
Heritage Days to celebrate 40th annual event
By Delayna Earley
Island News
The
Penn Center’s 40th annual Heritage Days Celebration will kick off this week with three days full of Gullah Geechee food, music, art, crafts and history. The festival, which runs from Nov. 7 through 9, will open on Thursday with the Heritage Days Opening Ceremony at 1 p.m. at Penn Center. Also featured on Penn Campus Grounds will be a Gullah Roots Village from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Later that day, the Lowcoun-
try Supper will be held at Emory Campbell Dining Hall at 4:30 p.m. followed by the Youth Theatrical Performance at the Frissell Community House.
Day 2 of the festival is Family and Friends Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday at Penn Center.
Featured artist Cassandra Gillens will be available to sign posters of her artwork on both Friday and Saturday, and crafts and food vendors will sell their goods from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. General entrance to the festival is free, but certain events do require a paid ticket.
The evening entertainment for Friday will feature Songs of Protest performed at Center Stage at 5 p.m., followed by an Old School Fish Fry,
Oyster Roast and Crab Crack. After dinner is “Soul Music Night” which will run until 10 p.m., and an Old-Fashioned Prayer Service will be held at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday’s events will feature the Heritage Days Parade beginning at 9 a.m. Visitors are advised to be in place by 8 a.m. on Saturday morning to avoid traffic delays due to the parade route. The parade will begin at Halifax Road and will finish at Penn Center. The crafts and food vendors will be open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday. Heritage Days Center
Stage Program will take the stage at noon and will go until 4 p.m. The three-day event will end with a Young Professionals Mixer at the Dining Hall at the Penn Center. For more information, contact Penn Center, Inc. at 843-838-2474 or email heritagefestival@penncenter.com.
Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
Civil War Living History Encampment
Investment group buys Beaufort self-storage facility
Spartan Investment Group acquires Store & Go location on Savannah Highway
Staff reports
Spartan Investment Group
(Spartan), a Colorado-based privately held real estate investment firm specializing in the self-storage industry, last month announced the acquisition of a new self-storage facility in Beaufort. This new facility marks Spartan’s first project in South Carolina, expanding its significant presence along the East Coast.
“Beaufort is a growing hub, anchored by the Marine Corps Air Station Beau-
fort and the Parris Island Training Facility, which together create a consistent demand for reliable and accessible self-storage solutions,” Spartan President and CIO Ryan Gibson said in a news release. “This new facility, situated in a high-demand location, will enable Spartan to leverage its extensive market expertise to meet the storage needs of the local community and deliver substantial value to our investors.”
at
feet of net rentable space and features 543 units of climate-controlled and non-climate-controlled storage.
Constructed in 2021, this premier asset stands out as the highest-quality storage site in the area, providing superior amenities and security features to one of the fastest-growing counties in South Carolina.
of
just one hour
north of Spartan’s groundup project in Savannah, Ga., and multiple sites to the west in Macon, Ga., this facility will further strengthen Spartan's presence in the region. The Beaufort facility will seamlessly integrate into Spartan’s network, supported by Spartan Construction Management and FreeUp Storage, Spartan’s in-house construction and property management teams. For more information, visit www.spartan-investors.com.
Photography by Sandy Dimke
During the Civil War Living History Encampment, hosted by the Beaufort History Museum on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at The Beaufort Arsenal, attendees receive educational information and experience drills, as well as other activities, presented by reenactors of the 79th New York Highlander Regiment. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
A group of children listen attentively to reenactors of the 79th New York Highlander Regiment during the Civil War Living History Encampment hosted by the Beaufort History Museum on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at The Beaufort Arsenal. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
Second Helpings announces leadership changes
Colin joins as Executive Director; Tanner named Director of Operations
Staff reports
Second Helpings, the nonprofit food rescue agency serving Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton counties in the South Carolina Lowcountry, has announced leadership changes to respond to the growing need for hunger relief.
Amy Colin has been named Executive Director. Colin has leadership experience in developing and executing strategic membership plans and maximizing program effectiveness. Colin will have overall responsibility for the organization, and specific responsibility for donor relations, fundraising, communications, and administration.
“I am very pleased to welcome Amy to Second Helpings,” said Mary Ann Bell, president of the
organization’s board of directors.
“Her experience as an executive with the nonprofit Girl Scouts organization will help us further engage the community in our fight against hunger and food waste. She is a dynamic leader who will assist us and our agency partners in expanding our outreach to serve more of the nearly 30 000 food insecure residents of our community.”
“I’m excited to lead this wonderful organization,” Colin said. “Second Helpings plays a vital role in our community, and I look forward to collaborating with our partners
and supporters to tackle hunger and reduce food waste.”
Colin most recently was Interim Chief Operating Officer with Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri. She also served as Vice-President of Mission Delivery; Senior Director of membership, and Director of Membership and Volunteer Engagement with this organization. The Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri is an organization serving 25,000 members and a total staff of 67 employees. Colin was with the Girl Scouts from 2015-2024. She holds a bachelor of arts from the University of Central Missouri and a Certification of Volunteer Administration. Colin and her husband recently moved to Bluffton.
Marcus Tanner has been named Director of Operations, a new role which is grant-funded through the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. Tanner, formerly the organization’s Executive Director, will be responsible for all aspects of food rescue, while assuming new responsibilities for managing Second Helpings’ truck fleet.
“Last year Second Helpings rescued and distributed more food than in any other year in our history,” Board President Bell commented. “As we continue to grow and focus on efficiently deploying our trucks and volunteers to serve our community, having a senior leader with Marcus’ experience, capabilities and passion dedicated to operations will be a great bene-
fit. We are grateful to the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry for their support and their recognition of this opportunity to provide focus and build capabilities to expand our impact.”
Tanner, a 27-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, joined Second Helpings in 2022. He has led the implementation of a data-driven approach to food distribution, which directs food donations to agency partners based on persons served. In this time, Second Helpings also added eight new agency partners in under-served geographies in Beaufort and Hampton counties. To learn more about Second Helpings and how you can get involved, go to www.secondhelpingslc.org.
Friends of Beaufort Library Book Sale
Mitch Mitchell led the way with almost 29 percent (2,563); Neil Lipsitz earned 26 percent of the vote (2 320); Julie Crenshaw grabbed 23 percent of the vote (2,077) and Josh Gibson won 21 percent of the vote (1,899).
(Editor’s note: At press time, a number of absentee votes had not been counted which could affect these City of Beaufort races.)
Statehouse races
Incumbent Rep. Shannon Erickson (R-124), one of the most powerful legislators in the state, didn’t feel much heat from challenger Melinda Henrickson (D) of Beaufort, winning with a commanding 64 percent of the vote to return to Columbia for her 10th term.
In House District 121, incumbent Rep. Michael F. Rivers Sr. (D) held off St. Helena Island’s Shelley Gay Yuhas with 57 percent of the vote, and in District 122, with just a handful of voters in Beaufort County, incumbent Rep. Bill Hager (R) held off challenger Audrey Williams (D) with 53 percent of the vote.
State Senators Chip Campsen (R-43) and Tom Davis (R-46) each fended off new Democratic challengers. Campsen bested Charleston’s Julie Hussey with 61 percent of the vote, while Davis beat Gwyneth Saunders with a commanding 68 percent of the vote.
U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Mace won a third
term as South Carolina’s Representative of the 1st Congressional District, easily fighting off Michael B. Moore, the great great grandson of Civil War hero, Civil Rights legend, statesman and Beaufort native Robert Smalls, with almost 60 percent of the vote.
“Those who underestimate me, don’t bother me; it just makes me work harder; it also just makes victory so much sweeter,” Mace said in her victory speech. “I am going back to Washington to stand with South Carolina in my heart. We’re going to secure our border, take back what it means to be a woman, and fight for our country.
“I will stand resolute against all those who would leave us lawless, self-serving and short-sighted. I will stand in their way and tell them ‘HELL NO.’ And to anyone who wants to take a shot at me — you better not miss. To those who aim to divide us — you are outnumbered.”
Beaufort County Special Sales and Use Tax
The Beaufort County 2024 Transportation Sales & Use Tax Referendum faced an uphill battle from the start thanks to residents unhappy with a lack of action after the County’s last penny sales tax.
The tax was voted on in two questions. The first was the tax itself, which was to be a 1% sales tax levied on most retail purchases for 10 years or until $950 million was raised, whichever came first.
Of the money raised, 95% or $900 million would have gone toward transportation projects; 5% or $50 million to land and water protection purposes.
The seconds sought the
approval to bond $515 million of the funds to potentially complete some projects sooner. Both questions were votd down roughly 55 percent to 45 percent.
Constitutional question
The one constitutional question on the ballot asked if the state constitution’s guaranteed right to vote should change from “every” to “only a” citizen who’s at least 18 and properly registered.
Supporters of the change
say it was to prevent any future court ruling allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections in South Carolina. The change overwhelmingly passed with more than 85 precent of the vote, statewide.
Local races In Beaufort County Council’s 1st District, incumbent Gerald Dawson (D) defeated challenger Adam Biery (R) with 57 percent of the vote. And Isaac Gordon III beat Tradd Corinthian Williams with 56 percent of the vote
to take the Board of Education 1st District seat that belonged to Earl Campbell, who is retiring.
Unopposed
These candidates on the ballot in northern Beaufort County ran unopposed, winning their races: District 45, S.C. Senate: Margie Bright Matthews (Democrat – incumbent).
14th Circuit Solicitor: Isaac M. “Duffie” Stone, III (Republican – incumbent).
Beaufort County Clerk of Court: Jerri
(incumbent).
Beaufort County Coroner: Deborah Ann Youmans (Republican)
District 3, Beaufort County Council: York Glover (Democrat – incumbent).
Soil and Water District Commission: Denise M. Parsick. Mike McCombs is the Editor of
Roseneau
On November 5, 2024, Beaufort Mayor Phil Cromer and supporters view election results during the Watch Party on Election Night for Phil Cromer, Josh Gibson, Julie Crenshaw. Amber Hewitt / The Island News
On November 5, 2024, Julie Crenshaw talks with a supporter during the Watch Party on Election Night for Phil Cromer, Josh Gibson, Julie Crenshaw. Amber Hewitt / The Island News
Attendees search tables with thousands of books during the Friends of the Beaufort Library’s annual Book Sale held Friday, Nov. 1 through Sunday, Nov. 3 at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park Pavilion. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
Attendees search tables with thousands of books during the Friends of the Beaufort Library’s annual Book Sale held Friday, Nov. 1 through Sunday, Nov. 3 at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park Pavilion. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
Amy Colin
On November 5, 2024, Josh Gibson mingles while awaiting election results during the Watch Party on Election Night for Phil Cromer, Josh Gibson, Julie Crenshaw. Amber Hewitt / The Island News
On November 5, 2024, Josh Scallate talks with supporters during his Watch Party on Election Night at Shell Ring Ale Works. Amber Hewitt / The Island News
Staff reports
BJWSA names deputy general manager
Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority (BJWSA) has named Paul Vincent, P.E., as Deputy General Manager of Operations and Engineering. Vincent previously served as chief of engineering for BJWSA, and joins Deputy General Manager Sarah Linkimer, CPA, who will lead finance and administrative responsibilities for the Authority.
Vincent brings to the Authority more than 25 years of civil engineering experience in the areas of drinking water and wastewater engi-
neering. Throughout his career, he has served in many roles with progressive responsibility in engineering and leadership, with senior level responsibilities since 2007 for consulting engineering firms.
He worked on many significant projects in several states from the east coast to the Rocky Mountains, while calling Indiana home. He has been active in many professional and philanthropic organizations. Recently, he also served as a City Council Member (At-Large) for the City of La Porte, Indiana.
"BJWSA is pleased to announce the promotion of Paul Vincent to deputy general manager, recognizing his outstanding contributions and extensive expertise within our organization,” BJWSA General Manager Verna Arnette, P.E., said in a news release.
“With his years of experience in engineering and leadership roles, he has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence, innovation and the kind of visionary leadership that aligns with our mission. Paul’s deep technical knowl-
Lowcountry PRIDE hosts annual festival this weekend
By Delayna Earley
The Island News
The second annual Lowcountry PRIDE Festival will be held from 11
a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9 at Live Oaks Park in Port Royal. The festival will feature local vendors, a bounce house, and booths supporting local nonprofit organizations.
Music will be provided by Groove Town Assault. The festival is hosted by Lowcountry PRIDE, which is a nonprofit organization that serves the LGBTQIA+ community in Beaufort County.
Local food trucks will be on site selling food such to festivalgoers.
Vivienne Yates, 14, of Hilton Head Island, dances while listening to live music during the inaugural Lowcountry Pride Festival in 2023, at Live Oaks Park in Port Royal. Amber Hewitt/File/For The Island News
According to a post made to the event’s Facebook page, Lowcountry Lobster, Diced Pineapple, Lawyers BBQ and Sweets, LLC, Golden Sun Filipino Cuisine, Kathryn’s Sweets and Sunset Slush Hilton Head have all confirmed to be there selling food such as lobster rolls, oxtails and jerk chicken, BBQ, chicken adobo and lumpia, Italian ices and cupcakes. For more information about the event, go to www.lowcountrypride.org.
Lowdown
from page A1
care about the future of Beaufort for the past four years. Even with the latest court ruling, there’s still appeal options, and the $120 million lawsuit Stewart filed against Trask for losses incurred by the legal challenges. Stewart also has said construction on the 19-apartment building on the corner of Charles and Port Republic streets, incorporating the old Woods 5 and Dime, should begin next year.
All this as we are reminded Stewart announced back in June his development company’s plans for the parking garage and hotel, $50 million projects were being put on hold because of the lawsuits. And of course, back in 2022, he had announced he was “retiring,” stepping down as Chief Executive Officer of 303 Associates to focus on other things.
Two weeks ago, on Oct. 16, the public got a chance to hear about some of those “other things.”
The USC Beaufort Education Foundation, of which Stewart is vice-chairman, scheduled a panel discussion on The Future of USCB, with a definite focus
Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
on development of the marine biology program. The forum, not a coincidence, was held on the 20th anniversary of the Beaufort campus of USC becoming a fouryear degree-granting institution after becoming a branch campus in 1959
The one-hour discussion included advances in the health care programs, particularly nursing, and cyber security, a program that’s seen the former Yankee grill and then the Lowcountry Boys and Girls Club on Boundary Street turned into a cyber lab with more than 60 students.
But the focus of the evening, at least the one Stewart led the discussion on, was the importance of the marine biology program, which is already being expanded to include research programs that include entities such as the Port Royal Sound Foundation, another of Stewart and his wife Sharon’s projects that saw a $100 000 endowment to for USCB scholarships and faculty support. The Foundation is headquartered in the Port Royal Sound Maritime Center which Stewart supported by purchasing the vacant antique store “The Den of Antiquity” on Lemon Island after it sat empty and deteriorating for several years.
edge and strategic thinking have driven significant advancements and improvements across our operations, and we are excited to see his continued impact in this expanded role as we move forward.”
Vincent originally joined BJWSA as chief of engineering in July of 2023 and was recognized by the Authority’s Board of Directors with the 2024 Board Leadership Award earlier this month.
"I am honored and excited to step into the role of deputy general manager of operations and engineering
and continue contributing to the Authority’s success,”
Vincent said in a news release. “This new position gives me the opportunity to further our commitment to providing exceptional water and wastewater service to our customers while fostering a work environment that empowers and enriches our talented team. I look forward to building on our strong foundation, driving innovation and supporting our staff as we work together to achieve results for our community.”
As deputy general man-
ager for operations and engineering, Vincent’s responsibilities include overseeing the operations of the Authority’s water supply and treatment plants; overseeing the maintenance and repair of all BJWSA facilities and equipment; and developing and implementing the Authority’s short- and long-range capital improvements program to ensure the necessary facilities, water and wastewater, are in place to support the current and projected needs of the rapidly-growing service area.
Fort Fremont Fall Festival
Pritchards Island research programs are a key component of the university’s plan for the marine biology program, with a $500 000 recurring state budget allocation this year to expand programs there like the loggerhead turtle program. The sea turtle project continued for more than twenty years primarily by volunteers like Robert and Abby Morris, has been adopted by the university and expanded to include research on shore birds and salt marsh.
The university has joined forces with the Carolina Bight project which covers 200,000 acres of salt marshes and waterways that include Port Royal and Calibogue Sounds, and the Broad, Beaufort, and May rivers. (for more information about Carolina Bight Estuary, including a replay of the Oct. 16 forum, visit the Carolina Bight Facebook page).
The audience of fewer than 100 who attended last month’s forum was far less than the 400 who attended a similar forum 20 years ago to talk about and agree to join forces to see USCB develop into a four-year institute. It worked.
The timing may have been off for this discussion, considering the pre-election campaigning. But the importance of the discussion as to the environmental future of
this Lowcountry area is there and will be, after the dust of elections is over and voters have decided who will lead the city, county, state and country.
The politicians, during pre-election speeches, didn’t say much about environmental protection specifics, other than they all want to “protect” the environment. The concept of working together to make something happen was one of the “takeaways” from the forum: the waterways should not divide us; they should unite us.
Ribaut Road options now online
BEAUFORT – Speaking of forums, the presentation Beaufort County sponsored Oct. 18 drew a lot more people, but no unified message.
The presentation – designed to give folks the latest “Reimagine Ribaut Road” information … correction … they’re not using “reimagine” any more. We’re beyond that concept. The optional designs were posted on the walls of the Technical College student center and comment cards for folks, if they could understand the designs. Many left with the comment “just leave it alone.”
Even if this week’s penny sales tax referendum, which includ-
ed $70 million for Ribaut Road changes, doesn’t pass, there’s gonna be changes to this major thoroughfare. How long it will take to accomplish those changes is anyone’s guess. It will be up to the Beaufort and Port Royal town councils, working with county traffic engineers, consultants and the S.C. Department of Transportation that actually owns the 5 5-mile road, to move forward with designs. In the meantime, if you’d LIKE to just look at the latest proposal, they’re now on-line at https:// www.reimagineribautroad.com/ meeting. Comments may be submitted through the comment form located at the bottom of the page, or by mail to P.O. Drawer 1228, Beaufort, S.C. 29901-1228 Or call the Engineering Department at 843-255-2700. They want to hear from you before the end of November.
Lolita Huckaby Watson is a community volunteer and newspaper columnist. In her former role as a reporter with The Beaufort Gazette, The Savannah Morning News, Bluffton Today and Beaufort Today, she prided herself in trying to stay neutral and unbiased. As a columnist, these are her opinions. Her goal is to be factual but opinionated, based on her own observations. Feel free to contact her at bftbay@gmail.com.
During the Fort Fremont Fall Festival on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, the Bradley sisters, Ella, 7 and Layla, 6, learn to make dolls out of corn husks. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
Sara Reynolds Green, owner of Marshview Community Organic Farm, discusses the Marshview cooking classes with Ellen and Roslyn Cleary, both of Beaufort, during the Fort Fremont Fall Festival on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
Staff reports
Inviting the community to participate, the Beaufort County Veterans Affairs Department will host its annual Veterans Day Parade beginning at 10 a.m., on Monday, Nov. 11, to say thank you to Beaufort County’s veterans.
Lineup of all groups, floats and individual participants begins at 8 a.m.
The parade route starts in front of Beaufort National Cemetery, will head down Boundary Street, curve onto Bay Street, and end at the intersection of Boundary and Bladen Streets.
Participants can find applications on the County website. Visit https://bit. ly/3AeZlpO to download the application.
Every community group, children’s group, civic organization, and community member is encouraged to show their community spirit and our veterans how much they are appreciated. The final deadline to submit parade applications is Friday, Nov. 8. In case of inclement weather, the parade will be canceled.
For more information, contact Beaufort County Veterans Affairs at 843-255-6880 Community invited to Veterans Day Parade
Halloween Babies
There were no tricks, only treats at the Beaufort Memorial Collins Birthing Center this Halloween as Colsen, Tatiana and Jaylen brought sweetness overload to the hospital with their arrival. Colsen Malphrus, son of Lauren McAlhaney and Adam Malphrus of Brunson, came into this world at 2:01 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 31, weighing 6 pounds, 11 ounces. Tatiana Alva Lopez, born at 7:10 a.m., to Rosa Lopez Granades and Muater Osveli Alva Tello of Beaufort, weighed in at 6 pounds, 12 ounces. And Jaylen Reeves, son of Diamond Blake, of Beaufort, arrived at 11:15 a.m., weighing 6 pounds, 4 ounces.Congratulations to the families, and special thank you to Sea Island Quilters for the festive Halloween quilt and to the BMH Crafters, who put together the crocheted bat capes and candy corn. Photos courtesy of Charlotte Berkeley
LEGAL NOTICES
ISLAND OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., Plaintiff, vs. REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS, LLC; DREXEL BROOKS HOLDING COMPANY; ODELL BARNES, LLC; JAMES CARTLIN; DATAW ISLAND CLUB, INC.,
Defendants.
NOTICE OF FILING TO THE DEFENDANTS ABOVE-NAMED: TAKE NOTICE that the Lis Pendens, Summons and Complaint were duly filed in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Beaufort County, South Carolina, on the 7th day of July, 2023, and the Order of Publication was duly filed in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Beaufort County, South Carolina, on the 30th day of October, 2024. LIS PENDENS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an action has been commenced by the Plaintiff against the Defendants named herein, to foreclose a lien filed by Dataw Island Owners Association, Inc., against Real Estate Investments, LLC, , recorded October 28, 2022, in Lien Book 152 at Page 2128, in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Beaufort County, South Carolina.
The following is a description of the subject property, to-wit: Lot 768, Phase II, Dataw Island, St. Helena Island, Beaufort County, South Carolina TMS R300 005 00A 0267 0000 SUMMONS TO THE DEFENDANTS ABOVE-NAMED: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in this action, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your answer thereto upon the subscribers at their offices, 611 Bay Street, Beaufort, South Carolina, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the date of such service, and if you fail to answer the Complaint within such time, the Plaintiff in this action will apply to the Court for the relief demanded therein.
TUPPER, GRIMSLEY, DEAN & CANADAY, P.A. By: s/James A. Grimsley III James A. Grimsley III (SC Bar #2328) Attorneys for the Plaintiff P.O. Box 2055 Beaufort, South Carolina 29901 (843/524-1116) jimgrimsley@tgdcpa.com Beaufort, South Carolina June 30, 2023
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF BEAUFORT IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS CASE NO.: 2023-CP-07-01344 (Non-Jury)
DATAW ISLAND OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., Plaintiff, vs. TAWAIN WATTS; GREGORY M. FIELDS AND MARY LOU M. FIELDS; CAROLINA HERITAGE, LLC; CRC INDUSTRIES, LLC; DATAW ISLAND CLUB, INC., Defendants.
NOTICE OF FILING
TO THE DEFENDANTS ABOVE-NAMED:
TAKE NOTICE that the Lis Pendens, Summons and Complaint were duly filed in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Beaufort County, South Carolina, on the 7th day of July, 2023, and the Order of Publication was duly filed in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Beaufort County, South Carolina, on the 30th day of October, 2024.
LIS PENDENS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an action has been commenced by the Plaintiff against the Defendants named herein, to foreclose a lien filed by Dataw Island Owners Association, Inc., against Derrin Ferguson, recorded October 28, 2022, in Lien Book 152 at Page 2131, in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Beaufort County, South Carolina.
The following is a description of the subject property, to-wit: Lot 677, Phase V, Dataw Island, St. Helena Island, Beaufort County, South Carolina.
TMS R300 005 00A 0340 0000
SUMMONS TO THE DEFENDANTS ABOVE-NAMED:
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in this action, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your answer thereto upon the subscribers at their offices, 611 Bay Street, Beaufort, South Carolina, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the date of such service, and if you fail to answer the Complaint within such time, the Plaintiff in this action will apply to the Court for the relief demanded therein.
TUPPER, GRIMSLEY, DEAN & CANADAY, P.A. By: s/James A. Grimsley III James A. Grimsley III (SC Bar #2328) Attorneys for the Plaintiff P.O. Box 2055 Beaufort, South Carolina 29901 (843/524-1116) jimgrimsley@tgdcpa.com Beaufort, South Carolina June 30, 2023
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE
Barony Beach Club Owners' Association, Inc. v.
BARBARA L COOK PO BOX 1180 SHINGLE SPRINGS CA 95682-1180 (“Owner”) Contract number 8675050 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that according to the Notice of Sale recorded in the Register of Deeds Office for Beaufort County, South Carolina, Daniel C. Zickefoose, as Trustee/Attorney and Eck, Conley & Richardson, PLLC, 4000 Faber Place Drive, Suite 300, North Charleston, SC 29405 (“Creditor/Lienholder”), will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, outside the Beaufort County Government Center, 100 Ribaut Street, Beaufort, SC 29902 beginning at 10:00 a.m. on December 2nd , 2024, the following described Property: AS TO:
BARBARA L COOK
An undivided one fifty-first (1/51) fractional interest in Unit No. 9432, respectively, Barony Beach Club Horizontal Property Regime, lying situate and being on Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County, South Carolina, and being more particularly shown and described by reference to the Master Deed, establishing the said Horizontal Property Regime, being dated March 8, 1999, and recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Beaufort County, South Carolina, on March 11, 1999 in Deed Book 1146 at page 526; as amended from time to time, and by reference to that certain plat entitled "As-Built Survey of Barony Beach Club Horizontal Property Regime" said plat prepared by Terry G. Hatchell, S.C.R.L.S. #11059, said plat being dated March 3, 1999, and recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Beaufort County, South Carolina, in Plat Book 69 at Page 65, as may be further revised from time to time. AND ALSO, all of the rights, privileges, easements, and common areas appertaining to the above-described property as set forth in the Master Deed and By-Laws of Barony Beach Club Horizontal Property Regime. AND ALSO, all rights, title, interest and privileges extending to Time-Sharing Interest Number(s) 9432-S-46 in each of the respective aforedescribed Units, as contained in that certain Time Sharing Declaration, dated March 8, 1999, recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Beaufort County, South Carolina, on March 11, 1999 in Deed Book 1146 at Page 526, as amended from time to time. The sale of the Property is to satisfy the past due obligations of the Owner(s) as evidenced by the Claim(s) of Lien duly recorded in the following Official Records Lien Book/Page: 156/2331 of the Public Records of Beaufort County, South Carolina.
Owner is currently in default under certain provisions of the Master Deed Establishing Barony Beach Club Horizontal Property Regime, Beaufort County, South Carolina by MARRIOTT OWNERSHIP RESORTS INC. recorded in the Registrar of Deeds, Beaufort County, South Carolina on March 8, 1990 in Deed Book 547 at Page 1082, as supplemented or amended (the “Master Deed”) as provided for in Article XX(B) of the Master Deed,the lienholder has chosen to proceed with a non-judicial foreclosure procedure in accordance with Article 3 of Chapter 32 of Title 27 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina. The total amount due as of the date of the Foreclosure Sale is $3,683.71. If additional costs and/or fees associated with the foreclosure and sale are incurred, such additional costs and/or fees shall be added to this amount on the date of the Foreclosure Sale.
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE SurfWatch Owners Association v. HAMILTON S. OVEN AND ELIZABETH R. OVEN C/O MITCHELL REED SUSSMAN 1053 S PALM CANYON DR PALM SPRINGS CA 92264-8377 (“Owner”) Contract number 8302159. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that according to the Notice of Sale recorded in the Register of Deeds Office for Beaufort County, South Carolina, Daniel C. Zickefoose, as Trustee/Attorney and Eck, Collins & Richardson, P.L., 4000 Faber Place Drive, Suite 300, North Charleston, SC 29405 (“Creditor/Lienholder”), will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, outside of the Beaufort County Government Center Entrance, 100 Ribaut Rd, Beaufort, SC 29902, beginning at 10:00 a.m. on December 2nd , 2024, the following described Property: AS TO: HAMILTON S. OVEN AND ELIZABETH R. OVEN An undivided one fifty-second (1/52) fractional interest in Unit No. 5535 respectively, SurfWatch Horizontal Property Regime, lying situate and being in Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County, South Carolina, and being more particularly shown and described by reference to the Master Deed, establishing the said Horizontal Property Regime, being dated June 17, 2004, and recorded in the Land Records for Beaufort County, South Carolina, on June 22, 2004 in Deed Book 01976 at Page 0001, as further amended from time to time, and by reference to that certain plat entitled "Plat of Phase 1, 2 & 3 SurfWatch Horizontal Property Regime", said plat prepared by Surveying Consultants, Inc., Terry G. Hatchell, S.C.R.L.S.#11059 , said plat being dated July 15, 2005, and recorded in the Land Records for Beaufort County, South Carolina, in Plat Book 108 at Page 5, as may be further revised from time to time ("Plat"). AND ALSO, all of the rights, privileges, easements, and common areas appertaining to the above-described property as set forth in the Master Deed and By-Laws of SurfWatch Horizontal Property Regime. AND ALSO, all right, title, interest and privileges extending to Time Sharing Interest Numbers(s) 5535-B-04 in each of the respective aforedescribed Units, as contained in that certain Time Sharing Declaration, dated June 17, 2004, recorded in the Land Records for Beaufort County, South Carolina, on June 22, 2004 in Deed Book 01976 at Page 0082, as amended from time to time. The sale of the Property is to satisfy the past due obligations of the Owner(s) as evidenced by the Claim(s) of Lien duly recorded in the following Official Records Lien Book/Page: 157/289 of the Public Records of Beaufort County, South Carolina. Owner is currently in default under certain provisions of the Master Deed Establishing SurfWatch Horizontal Property Regime, Beaufort County, South Carolina by MARRIOTT OWNERSHIP RESORTS INC. recorded in the Registrar of Deeds, Beaufort County, South Carolina on June 22, 2004 in Deed Book 01976
NPS adds 7 new sites to Reconstruction Era National Historic Network
Staff reports
The National Park Service recently announced the addition of seven new sites to the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network. This national network connects sites across the country who provide education, interpretation and research related to the period of Reconstruction.
The Reconstruction Era (18611900) is one of the most fascinating and misunderstood periods in American History and includes stories of freedom, education and self-determination.
“The Reconstruction Era National Historic Network and the addition of these sites ensure that the National Park Service is telling the full American story,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said in a news release. “This network showcases resilience and I’m proud of how it has grown since its creation 5 years ago, with 114 sites
MORE INFORMATION
The Reconstruction Era National Historic Network: https://www. nps.gov/subjects/reconstruction/ network.htm. The Reconstruction Era National Historical Park: www.nps.gov/ reer.
nationwide.”
“These historic districts, parks, churches, digital programs, and sites of military emancipation tell a broader story of Reconstruction,”
Reconstruction Era National Historical Park Superintendent Laura Waller said. “The Reconstruction Era National Historic network provides opportunities for visitors to connect to our diverse history.”
The new community sites added to the network this quarter are:
The Africatown Historic District near Mobile, Ala., is dedicated to the interpretation of
the story of the Clotilda, its survivors, and the establishment of the Africatown freedman’s settlement in the wake of Emancipation in Alabama.
The Old Cahawba Archaeological Park in Orville, Ala., is a park situated on top of the ruins of Alabama’s first capital. After the Civil War it was a thriving Black community, and the site works to preserve and interpret this Reconstruction era story.
Freedom’s Frontier Heritage Area tells the stories and builds awareness of the settlement of the western frontier in Kansas and Missouri, and the enduring struggle for freedom during and after the Civil War.
Lowndesboro First Missionary Baptist Church is part of the Lowndesboro Historical District in central Alabama. It served as a church and school
for the Black citizens of Lowndesboro during the Reconstruction Era.
St. John’s AME Church in Norfolk, Va., was as a mission for free and enslaved Black Americans. During Reconstruction it was a center of Black community life in the Norfolk area. It remains an active congregation and houses an archive and exhibit space highlighting the history of Black Americans in the region.
The Campground Historic District in Mobile, Ala., was initially a Confederate Army camp during the Civil War. But after emancipation it became a thriving Black community, and this historic Reconstruction era neighborhood was listed on the National Register in 2005
The Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Ref-
uge located near Adams Run, S.C., is managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Within the refuge is the Grove Plantation, which was a major rice plantation along the Edisto River. In 1863, the 1st South Carolina liberated enslaved people from Grove Plantation during the raid on Willtown Bluff.
The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act outlined the creation of the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network in 2019. This network, managed by Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, includes over 100 sites and programs that are affiliated with the Reconstruction Era. Today’s announcement builds on the significant investments and recognition that have occurred to honor Black history during the Biden-Harris administration.
First Friday Fall Festival on Bay Street
cal and display malfunctions.
The aircraft continued to fly unmanned for 11 minutes and 21 seconds before impacting in a rural area approximately 64 nautical miles northeast of Joint Base Charleston in Williamsburg County. At some point, Joint Base Charleston was unable to track the fighter.
“The Marine Corps thoroughly investigates all mishaps to identify the causes, learn from them, and take action to reduce the chances of future mishaps. The investigation concluded that the mishap occurred due to pilot error,” according to the 2nd MAW. “The pilot incorrectly diagnosed an out-of-controlled flight emergency and ejected from a flyable aircraft, albeit during a heavy rainstorm compounded with aircraft electri-
While the investigation, completed by the 2nd MAW investigating officer and endorsed by the commanding general of 2nd MAW, concludes the “mishap” occurred due to “pilot error,” there were clearly mitigating circumstances.
According to the 2nd MAW, contributing factors included “an electrical event during flight, which induced failures of both primary radios, the transponder, the tactical air navigation system, and the instrument landing system; and the probability that the helmet-mounted display and panoramic cockpit display were not operational for at least three distinct periods.” This investigation concedes that this likely caused the pilot to become disoriented in “challenging instrument and meteorological conditions.”
According to the 2nd MAW, the electrical malfunction was not re-
lated to any maintenance issues.
“All preventative, scheduled, and unscheduled maintenance conducted on the aircraft was correct and in keeping with established standards,” according to the 2nd MAW.
The name of the pilot, who according to the 2nd MAW “was qualified and current to conduct the scheduled flight” was redacted from the investigation report, but Military.com has identified him as Col. Charles "Tre" Del Pizzo, a Marine aviator with 27 years of active service, six deployments and more than 3 000 flight hours on his resume.
According to Military.com’s story which you can read at https:// bit.ly/4ffTAXU, Del Pizzo fractured two vertebrae in the incident. After he was cleared to fly, he was given command of Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1) out of Yuma, Ariz.
While the 2nd MAW news release said there were no punitive actions recommended, Del Pizzo was relieved of his command by Commandant Gen. Eric Smith just three months later when the investigation was concluded.
The investigation report says the aircraft’s extended unmanned flight was “due to stability provided by the F-35’s advanced automatic flight-control systems.” And the report blames the loss of radar contact with the aircraft resulted from a “failed transponder caused by the electrical malfunction and the aircraft’s eventual descent below the air-traffic control radar horizon,” as well as its “low-observable technology.”
The crash site was not located until approximately 4:45 p.m., Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, nearly 28 hours after the “mishap.”
The F-35s involved in the Sept. 17, 2023 mishap were with the Marine Fighter Attack Training
Squadron (VMFAT) 501 of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and based at MCAS Beaufort. They were carrying no live weapons when the mishap occurred.
The F-35 is manufactured by Lockheed-Martin and cost between $80 million and $100 apiece. This was the second crash of an F-35 based at MCAS Beaufort.
On Sept. 28 2018, a pilot ejected safely from an F-35 Lightning II with VMFAT 501 before it crashed on uninhabited Little Barnwell Island.
The crash was attributed to a defective fuel tube. The Marines’ entire fleet of F-35s was grounded until it could be inspected and the defective parts eliminated.
To read the complete investigation report, go to https://bit.ly/3YCUHd3
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
On Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, officers from the Beaufort City Police Department interacted with rescue dogs available for adoption during the First Friday Fall Festival on Bay Street. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
On Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, during the First Friday Fall Festival on Bay Street, 5-year-old Summer Schmedes of Ridgeland plays Pumpkin Bowling in the street. Amber Hewitt / The Island News
Republicans appear to flip 4 seats in SC Senate, hold in the House
2 Senate races heading to a mandatory recount
By Seanna Adcox and Abraham Kenmore SCDailyGazette.com
COLUMBIA — The Republican Party flipped as many as four seats in the state Senate on Tuesday, while holding seats in the state House they picked up two years ago. The Republicans went into the election just one seat away from a supermajority in the Senate. The GOP has controlled the Senate since 2000, but in a chamber where rules allow a single senator to block legislation, Republicans were looking for greater ability to control the agenda.
Two of Republicans’ four wins are headed to automatic recounts, with the GOP challengers winning by less than 1 percentage point.
“Today, Palmetto State residents voted to send four new Republican senators to Columbia,” Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, said shortly after midnight. “I look forward to working alongside these new senators to champion conservative victories that make South Carolina an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Massey was among 19 incumbent senators and three incoming freshmen who had no opposition on the ballot.
With former President Donald Trump winning the state by nearly 20 percentage points as of Tuesday evening — as votes were still being counted — Drew McKissick, state party chairman, predicted it would be another red wave for the GOP in South Carolina.
Two years ago, Republicans
ousted five Black Democrats and flipped three open seats in the state House. Several of those were stunners, and Democrats were looking to get back seats they’d held for decades, plus hold their numbers in the Senate.
State Democratic Party Chairwoman Christale Spain repeated that goal Tuesday night at the state Democratic Party election night watch party.
“On the Senate side, we just can’t lose anything,” Spain said before the vote-counting started showing the opposite. “We really can’t afford to lose another Senate seat.”
Instead, Democrats got a shellacking in the upper chamber, in the number of incumbents ousted, though all four margins were at least fairly close.
Sen. Gerald Malloy of Hartsville, a 22-year veteran of the Senate, lost by less than 300 votes to Republican JD Chaplin, according to unofficial results from state election officials. The margin of less than 1 percentage point means an automatic recount.
The other incumbent heading to a recount is Sen. Mike Fanning, D-Great Falls, who lost his bid for a third term by just a few dozen votes to Republican Everett Stubbs of Rock Hill.
Sen. Kevin Johnson, of Manning, lost to Jeff Zell, of Sumter, by less than 700 votes, which is more than what would trigger a recount.
Freshman Democrat Vernon Stephens lost his Senate seat by the biggest margin of the four, at just 2 5 percentage points, or roughly 1 200 votes. He lost a
challenge by Tom Fernandez, an attorney running as a hard-right Republican. On Facebook, Fernandez said his platform is “to offend as many woke liberals as possible,” and he received the endorsement of House Freedom Caucus Chairman Jordan Pace of Goose Creek.
A win by Fernandez marks a huge shift for the seat held for 50 years by a Black Democrat. Beyond the vastly different stances of Stephens and Fernandez, both Stephens and his predecessor, 46-year Sen. John Matthews, are from Bowman in rural Orangeburg County. Fernandez lives in fast-growing Summerville.
Democrats held on to at least one of the two historically blue seats left open by senators who didn’t seek re-election.
State Rep. Russell Ott, a Calhoun County Democrat who’s been in the state House since 2013, has won the seat held for 48 years by Sen. Nikki Setzler, the longest-serving senator in state history.
Not yet clear is who will win the seat held since 2012 by Sen. Thomas McElveen of Sumter and, for 32 years before that, by Democrat Phil Leventis of Sumter.
The election guarantees that, for the first time ever, the senator from District 35 will hail from neighboring Kershaw County instead. Both Democrat Jeffrey Graham, former mayor of Camden, and Republican Mike Jones live in Camden. Graham was leading on Tuesday evening.
All 170 Statehouse seats were on the ballot, although more than
half of them were won automatically Tuesday with no competition in the general election. In South Carolina, where the Legislature draws its own voting lines, contests are often decided in the primaries.
The 2022 election gave Republicans in the House, in GOP control since 1994, their largest majority ever — an 88-to-36 supermajority advantage.
Three freshmen in the House
— Reps. Daniel Gibson of Greenwood, Fawn Pedalino of Turbeville and Bill Hager of Hampton — held seats they flipped from incumbent Democrats two years ago, even in districts that still favored Democrats.
Whether Democrats will hold on to the only House seat they flipped in 2022 remains unclear.
The rematch between freshman Rep. Heather Bauer and Republican Kirkman Finlay, who’s trying to regain the Richland County seat he held for 10 years, remained too close to call.
Freshman state Rep. Matt Leber won a seat in the Senate after ousting state GOP Sen. Sandy Senn in the June primary. Leber faced Democrat Rita Adkins in a district made safer for Republicans by the post-census redrawing of lines.
A former legislator looking to return to the state House, Democrat Jerry Govan of Orangeburg, won his seat. He replaced Ott, whose decision to run for Senate left the seat open.
Govan didn’t seek re-election to the House in 2022 after redistricting resulted in his home being drawn out of the district he’d rep-
resented for 30 years. His home was suddenly in the district represented by Ott and, before him, his father Harry Ott for 15 years.
Rather than run against Russell Ott in a primary in 2022, Govan made an unsuccessful bid for state superintendent.
Former Rep. Marvin Pendarvis won re-election despite resigning from the House in September.
Although he no longer held the seat, Pendarvis never withdrew his candidacy. With no Republican or third-party opposition, he won his seat without opposition. What happens now is unclear.
Pendarvis resigned five months after a former client, Adrian Lewis, sued him, claiming Pendarvis settled his lawsuit without his knowledge, forged his signature for the $10,000 settlement, and then tried to buy him off to prevent the allegations from becoming public. State law enforcement is investigating, but no charges have been filed.
Seanna Adcox is a South Carolina native with three decades of reporting experience. She joined States Newsroom in September 2023 after covering the S.C. Legislature and state politics for 18 years. Her previous employers include The Post and Courier and The Associated Press.
Abraham Kenmore is a reporter covering elections, health care and more. He joins the S.C. Daily Gazette from The Augusta Chronicle, where he reported on Georgia legislators, military and housing issues.
S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
Georgetown paper mill to close; nearly 700 to lose jobs
By Jessica Holdman SCDailyGazette.com
Some 670 South Carolinians will soon be out of a job as International Paper shutters its Georgetown paper mill.
The 87-year-old mill, which produces fluff pulp used in diapers as well as paper, will shut down in stages with a full closure expected by the end of the year, the company said in a statement Thursday, Oct. 31
“This decision is especially difficult because of the impact on hard-working employees, their families and the surrounding communi-
ties,” Georgetown mill manager Bernie Chascin said in a statement. In total, the closure impacts 526 hourly employees and 148 salaried employees.
The company is offering severance packages to all employees.
International Paper is Georgetown’s largest employer, according to the Georgetown County Economic Development Office.
Other large employers include Interfor timber mill; SafeRack, which makes metal racks for truck and railcar loading; Agru, which makes plastic pipe and fittings; and chemical maker 3V. Those four companies each employ between 200 and 300 people.
International Paper will continue to make fluff pulp at its other eight U.S. pulp plants. Its contract for the
specialized products made at the Georgetown mill is ending at the end of the year.
The closure follows losses in the company’s global cellulose fibers, which includes fluff pulp.
That segment of International Paper experienced a $17 million loss in 2023 according the company’s annual report. The business segment is currently ahead $24 million for the year, according the company’s quarterly earnings reports, with gains in the second and third quarters offsetting losses in the first three months of 2024
SC power cooperatives
By Jessica Holdman SCDailyGazette.com
The mill opened in 1937 as Southern Kraft Paper Mill on 525 acres along the Sampit River.
It previously shut down in the early 1990s for nearly a year, reopening in 1992, after a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study found the mill had the highest level of pollutants in its wastewater of any mill in the country.
The shutdown gave the company time to make upgrades and improve its pollution control measures.
In 2021, International Paper spun off much of its sheet paper business into a new, separate company — a move which impacted its Eastover facility in the Midlands. But at that time, the company held on to the mill in Georgetown, which produces more specialized paper products, including the paper sticks used in cotton swabs and the paper backing to adhesive labels.
Jessica Holdman writes about the economy, workforce and higher education. Before joining the S.C. Daily Gazette, she was a business reporter for The Post and Courier. S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest statefocused nonprofit news organization.
eligible for up
to $500M in federal clean energy funds
COLUMBIA — The organization that supplies electricity to South Carolina’s 19 power cooperatives is in line for up to $500 million in federal grants and low-interest loans to help cover the cost of solar and nuclear energy for some 2 million power customers over the next two decades. Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., is among several organizations selected for a portion of federal dollars from the landmark clean energylaw signed by President Joe Biden in 2022 (titled the
Inflation Reduction Act).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture selected Central’s application for funding. How much of the $500 million the cooperatives ultimately receive is still under review.
That figure won’t be known until the spring, according to cooperatives spokesman Avery Wilks.
The funding comes as state leaders grapple with how to increase power production in the rapidly-growing Palmetto State.
“South Carolina must produce more power to accommodate its explosive growth,” Central CEO Rob Hochstetler said in a
statement. “This federal funding helps us meet those needs in a way that produces less carbon emissions while keeping energy costs as low as possible for our consumers.”
The funding can be used to cover 25% of a project’s total cost.
Central is hoping for $306 5 million in grants and $126 3 million in loans to partially cover the cost of purchasing power from the Catawba Nuclear Station in York County, Wilks said.
Central signed a deal last year to buy 150 megawatts from the Catawba nuclear plant, giving the
cooperatives access to about 18% of the unit’s capacity, which is licensed to produce power through 2043. The federal dollars would ultimately reduce the price paid by cooperative members for that agreement.
“Finalizing this deal will help South Carolina stay attractive to new industries and help keep the power on during the times we need it most. This agreement will pay dividends for years to come,” Hochstetler said when the deal was announced.
Central also is hoping for $ 52 3 million in grants to help it buy
power from three solar farms proposed in Georgetown County and $ 69 million in grants for
megawatts worth of other
over
said, as well as $
grants to cover the cost of
ies used to store
power.
State board: Public K-12
Decision 1st time board considered whether to remove or keep books under a new regulation
By Skylar Laird SCDailyGazette.com
COLUMBIA — Seven books
must be removed from the library shelves and classrooms of South Carolina’s public schools, while three classics can stay, the state Board of Education decided Tuesday.
The decision was the first time the board considered whether to remove or keep books under a new regulation banning books that contain “sexual conduct.” Board members voted unanimously in line with recommendations from Department of Education staff and a committee that reviewed the books last week.
Instead of waiting for parents to challenge the books locally and appeal districts’ decisions, committee members asked department staff to review 11 total books that had already faced local opposition or came up during public hearings for the regulation.
That created some strife among board members, who said they felt the regulation was meant to create a way for parents to appeal local school board decisions with which they didn’t agree. The state board should stick with that decision and not choose any more of its own books to review, said Board Chair David O’Shields.
“The dissonance is, is it topdown, is it bottom-up, is it both?” said O’Shields, who is also superintendent of Laurens County
David O’Shields, right, chairman of the state Board of Education, delivers his report during a meeting of the board on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, while state Superintendent Ellen Weaver, center, looks on. Abraham Kenmore/S.C. Daily Gazette
School District 56
The goal was to give educators more guidance through example, said board member Christian Hanley, who requested the review as chair of the committee. The staff members who made the list included “1984,” “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “Romeo & Juliet” to assuage concerns that they would violate the regulation, he said.
Teachers have called the rule vague, saying it confuses what they can or can’t use in classrooms. The regulation does not define “sexual conduct” on its own, but instead ties it to a portion of the state’s obscenity law.
Some of the books that board members considered further muddled the waters, some critics said. They pointed to passages of “1984” in which two characters have sex, questioning why that didn’t violate the regulation.
“Voting to retain ‘1984’ creates a vague and unpredictable standard that is impossible for teachers and administrators to meet,” said Josh Malkin, an advocacy director for the state American Civil Liberties Union.
The difference, Hanley said, is that the books pulled from shelves have “multiple, express, extensive, graphic or detailed descriptions of
BOOKS REVIEWED BY THE STATE
Schools can keep the following on shelves:
“1984” by George Orwell
• “Romeo & Juliet” by William Shakespeare
• “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
Schools must remove the following:
• “A Court of Frost and Starlight” by Sarah J. Maas
• “A Court of Mist and Fury” by Sarah J. Maas
“A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas
“A Court of Wings and Ruin” by Sarah J. Maas
“Damsel” by Elana Arnold “Ugly Love” by Colleen Hoover
• “Normal People” by Sally Rooney
The board is still considering:
“Crank” by Ellen Hopkins
Source: S.C. Department of Education
sexual conduct.” Mentioning or referring to sex, as is the case in “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “Romeo & Juliet,” isn’t enough to ban a book from shelves, he said.
The sexual passages in “1984” are not so descriptive as to violate the regulation, Hanley said, though he added that they come close.
“When reading this book — and I’ve read it more than once — it is almost as if George Orwell anticipated the South Carolina Legis-
lature would pass their definition of sexual content, because he went right up to the line but never crossed it,” Hanley said.
Board members don’t have to read the books they are voting on, which also raised concerns with some critics. Reading the whole thing isn’t necessary, since a single sex scene, regardless of context, would violate the regulation, Hanley said.
“No one needs to read an entire Playboy Magazine cover to cover to determine it contains pornography,” Hanley said.
Agency employees did verify that all the books were available in at least one school library in the state, and they pulled the passages directly from physical copies of the book, said Robert Cathcart, a policy adviser.
Still awaiting a decision is “Crank” by Ellen Hopkins. The committee delayed a vote on it after hearing from people who said the 2004 novel helped them deal with methamphetamine addiction. That was the point of the book, which Hopkins based on her daughter’s struggle with the drug, Hopkins said in a statement.
Skylar Laird covers the South Carolina Legislature and criminal justice issues. Originally from Missouri, she previously worked for The Post and Courier’s Columbia bureau. S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities hosting open house
Staff reports
The S.C. Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, a public, residential high school for the arts in Greenville, is hosting its largest event of the year — Go Govie! Day — for families interested in exploring opportunities for artistically talented students. The open house event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9 2024, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Interested families and students can register online at SCGSAH.org/go-govieday.
“We invite all families in South Carolina who are interested in the Governor’s School’s summer programs or tuition-free, residential
high school to come learn more about the Govie experience,” school president Cedric Adderley said in a news release. “This is the best opportunity to learn about our transformative programs for young artists.” During the event, attend-
ees will explore campus, observe classes and arts demonstrations, and attend information sessions. They will also have the chance to speak to faculty and students to ask questions and get to know the school’s unique community.
For 25 years, the Governor’s School has served South Carolina’s artistically talented students in an environment of artistic
and academic excellence.
Ranked as the “Best High School for the Arts in South Carolina” by Niche.com, the school provides pre-professional training in the areas of creative writing, dance, drama, film, music and visual arts. The residential high school serves 10th- through 12th-grade students, and overnight summer programs are offered for rising 7th- through 12th-grade stu-
dents depending on the art area. The Governor’s School is now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year and summer programs. All South Carolina residents in grades 6-11 are eligible to apply online at SCGSAH. org. The priority deadline for all programs is January 8 2025. Applications will continue to be accepted until all spaces are filled.
LIMS
School Improvement Council meeting Tuesday
The School Improvement Council for Lady’s Island Middle School will next meet at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Stop by to hear the latest on the new LIMS replacement school, the school report card, and school goals for this school year. Do you want your voice heard on important school improvement topics? Join us for our next meeting.
Riverview Charter looking for auction items
Riverview Charter School’s Empty Bowls Auction is back and in need of donations.
Riverview aims to raise funds for its Rise Against Hunger meal-packing event, which will feed countless hungry mouths.
The goal is to raise at least $25 000 in order to purchase the meals its students will be packing during the event. As a result, Riverview is look-
ing for some auction items.
Local business owners would be willing to donate a valuable product or service; vacation homeowners willing to donate a stay for a quick weekend getaway; artists willing to donate a piece of artwork; anyone with a unique experience to offer, such as but not limited to a cooking class, guided tour, or spa service – Riverview would welcome generous contributions of all kinds.
Riverview Charter School is a 501(c)(3) organization, which means donations can be tax-deductible.
Those interested in donating to the silent auction should complete the form at https://bit.ly/4fdoQXx.
2 from Beaufort graduate from UMGC
University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) graduated more than 3 200 students worldwide in the summer 2024 term, including two students from Beaufort.
Justin Proehl (29904) earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, while Nettie Wright (29906) earned a Bachelor of Sci-
ence in Health Services Management.
University of Maryland Global Campus was founded more than 75 years ago specifically to serve the higher education needs of working adults and military servicemembers. Today, UMGC is the largest provider of postsecondary education in Maryland and continues its global tradition with online and hybrid courses, more than 175 classroom and service locations worldwide, and offering more than 135 degrees.
– Staff reports
You have the right to know what’s happening in your community.
Public notices – information local governments are obligated to provide citizens – are required to be published in local newspapers to provide a public record that’s accessible to everyone.
Public notices keep you informed about your government. But, in some states legislators are trying to keep public notices from appearing in local newspapers. This severely impacts government transparency and, in turn, limits the public’s right to hold them accountable for their actions.
Let your state legislators know that you value being able to access notices in your newspaper and that they are worth the investment.
SPORTS&RECREATION
Beaufort Academy’s Keeler Dineen (12) stops his opponent — Thomas Heyward’s Joshua Gibson (5) — in his tracks on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Beaufort Academy. Amber
Rebels romp to region title
LowcoSports.com
Beaufort Academy did what it had to do to earn a region-title showdown at home against Thomas Heyward on Friday, but the Eagles couldn’t do enough to claim the throne.
Tony O’Banner rushed for 178 yards and two touchdowns and Kiran Boggess was 7-for-8 for 113 yards and two scores to help the Rebels run away with a 49-25 victory and claim the top seed in the SCISA 1A playoffs.
The Rebels jumped out to a quick 21-0 lead on O’Banner’s first touchdown run and touchdown strikes from Boggess to Donovan Robinson and Kelan Fripp, but BA responded with a scoring drive capped by Dietrich Shuford’s 6-yard touchdown run, and Shuford found Devin Fripp for a touchdown as time expired in the first half, pulling the Eagles within 21-13 at halftime.
O’Banner put the comeback to rest with a 51-yard touchdown run on the opening series of the second half, and Nic Robinson added two touchdown runs in the quarter to blow it open.
Beaufort Academy’s K.J. Freeman (10) takes down Thomas Heyward Academy’s Nicholas Robinson (33) on Friday, Nov. 1 at Beaufort Academy. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
Shuford gave a monster effort against his former team, finishing with 186 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries and going 14-for-23 for 172 yards and two scores, and Nych Underwood added 149 yards and a TD on 19 carries, but BA couldn’t come up with enough stops on defense.
The loss drops BA (7-4) to the No. 2 seed. The Eagles will host a firstround game against Carolina Academy on Friday, while the Rebels will be at home against Lee Academy.
Tennant’s KO highlights Beaufort Brawl V
By Justin Jarrett LowcoSports.com
Even after 17 fights spanning 4½ hours, Trig Tennant managed to provide some punctuation to an intense night of combat sports at Beaufort Brawl V on Saturday at The Foundry.
Tennant salvaged an otherwise tough night for the home gym and brought down the house with a first-round finish of Mackenzie Gray, must to the delight of a raucous cheering section filled with fellow Marines and friends and family from afar.
A two-time Kansas state champion wrestler, Tennant made his MMA debut at Beaufort Brawl IV and won a hard-fought decision. Then he went back to work at The Foundry, layering in more skill in striking and submissions to go with an elite wrestling background. Tennant’s progress was apparent. He was the aggressor from the outset Saturday, striking confidently from his feet and working his usual magic to take Gray to the mat for a ground-andpound finish just 82 seconds into the fight.
The Foundry’s Trig Tennant delivers the finishing blow to Mackenzie Gray, earning a first-round submission in the main event at Beaufort Brawl V on Saturday at The Foundry. Tennant, a two-time state champion wrestler from Kansas who is stationed in Beaufort with the U.S. Marines Corps, improved to 2-0 in his amateur MMA career. Justin Jarrett/LowcoSports.com
It was one of few bright spots for the host gym, though Alan Wood won a narrow decision in
Former Battery Creek High School wrestling state champion Elmer Linares sizes up his opponent in his amateur MMA debut. Linares lost in a unanimous decision to Alex Phillips. Justin Jarrett/LowcoSports.com
his 165-pound jiu-jitsu bout with Aidan New and Joseph Griffin and Damerial Grant fought to a draw in their 135-pound MMA clash. Among the other highlights of the night were Charleston’s Justice Jacobs rallying for a thirdround knockout of Jacob Morris in an epic 135-pound MMA bout, Chris Armstrong’s quick KO of Dominque Grant in a 170-pound kickboxing fight, and “Boog” Lentz of Icebox MMA in Guyton, Ga., scoring a TKO against The Foundry’s Will Valentin.
Justin Jarrett is the sports editor of The Island News and the founder of LowcoSports. com. He was the sports editor of the Island Packet and the Beaufort Gazette for 6½ years. He has a passion for sports and community journalism and a questionable sense of humor.
Hewitt/The Island News
ART
Budding Artist After-School Art Club
4 to 5 p.m., or 5:15 to 6:15
p.m., Mondays/Wednesdays or Tuesday/Thursdays, Happy Art Studio, 10 Sam’s Point Way, Beaufort. Ages 8 to 13. Painting, drawing, clay or crafts. Visit www.happyartstudio.net.
CALENDAR
Lady’s Island Garden
Club Bake Sale
9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9, Grayco Hardware, Sea Island Parkway, Lady’s Island. The group will be offering homemade cakes, cookies, pies, breads, candies and snack mixes, as well as gluten-free selections, doggie biscuits, and flower arrangements. Many items will be appropriately wrapped for gift giving. The Lady’s Island Garden Club is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Karaoke with Melissa
8 p.m. to midnight, Tuesdays, Highway 21 Bar, 3436 Trask Pkwy, Beaufort. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.
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.
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 Tom –
Bricks On Boundary
7 p.m., Every Thursday, Bricks on Boundary, 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.
Karaoke at Willie’s
8 p.m., Thursdays, Willie's Bar and Grill, 7 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Saint Helena Island. Come and showcase your singing talents or just enjoy the performances. For more information, visit www.GullahLove.com.
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.
Habersham Farmers Market
3 to 6 p.m., Fridays, Habersham Marketplace. Vendor roster includes B&E Farm, Cottonwood Soap, Flower Power Treats, Hardee Greens, Megs Sweet Treats, Vitamin Bee, Lady’s Island Oyster Company, Pet Wants.
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,
WHAT’S HAPPENING
R Bar & Grill, 70 Pennington Dr, Bluffton. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.
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 843295-0058.
Slip and Splash Saturdays
10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturdays, Battery Creek Pool, 1 Blue Dolphin Drive, Beaufort, and Bluffton Pool, 55 Pritchard Street, Bluffton. $5 per person. Stay busy for hours climbing on our inflatable challenge track.
Eric’s Karaoke Krew 7 p.m., Saturdays, The Beaufort Moose Lodge, 350 Broad River Blvd., Beaufort. Free. Enjoy karaoke with Lt. Dan. Come early at 6 p.m. for Steak Night.
Eric’s Karaoke Krew
9:30 p.m., Saturdays, Rosie O’Grady’s, 2127 Boundary Street, Suite 2, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy karaoke with Eric.
Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud
9 a.m. to noon, 1st Saturday each month, Port Royal Farmer’s Market, Corner of Ribaut Road & Pinckney Blvd, Port Royal. Free. DAYLO Students and other volunteers will read to young children, who are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animals.
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.
DANCE
The Beaufort Shag Club
6:30 to 9 p.m., Wednesdays, AmVets Club, 1831 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Free lessons for members from 6 to 6:30 p.m. We also host a dance the second Saturday of each month from 7 to 10 p.m. Lessons will run September through May only. Visit our FaceBook page (beaufortshagclub) for current events.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
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.
BEMER Circulation Therapy 10 to 11 a.m., Fridays via Zoom. Already own a BEMER? Never heard of it but curious? Join to ask any questions about this leading-edge German technology that enhances blood flow 30% in 8 minutes. Sessions are designed to support those who have their own unit but everyone is welcome. Brought to you by BEMER Specialist – Human & Equine, Elizabeth Bergmann. Text 410-2121468 to get the Zoom link. Free.
HISTORY
Beaufort History Museum at the Arsenal
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays, 713 Craven St, Beaufort. General Admission for Adults
$8, Seniors $7, Active Duty Military and College Students with ID $5. Children/Teens younger than 18 Free. Explore and experience more than 500 years of Beaufort History with knowledgeable docent guided tours.
The Historic Port Royal Museum 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or upon request, Thursdays through Sundays, The Historic Port Royal Museum, 1634 Paris Ave. The museum features the turn-of-the-century businesses and industries of Port Royal: Shrimping, crabbing, oystering, the railroad, the school and the mercantile. Great gifts featuring local artists are available. For more information. visit www.portroyalhistory.org, email historicportroyalfoundation@gmail.com or call 843-524-4333.
Tour Historic Fort Fremont
Dawn to dusk, Monday through Sunday, The Fort Fremont Preserve, 1124 Land’s End Road, St. Helena Island. Free and open to the public. The History Center is open Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Visitors can learn about the fort’s history during the Spanish-American War through interpretive signs, self-guided walking tours with a smart phone, exhibits in the history center, and docent-led tours. For more information visit www.fortfremont.org or contact Passive Parks Manager Stefanie Nagid at snagid@bcgov.net.
LIBRARY ACTIVITIES
“Lego” With Lego 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., every Tuesday, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Free and open to the public. Ages 5 and up. No registration required. Come see our new and improved Lego Club. Choose one of our new Lego kits and get going. Call 843-255-6540 for more information.
Career Navigator
11 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Tuesday, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. Free one-on-one resume writing and job application assistance with a Career Navigator from Palmetto Goodwill. No appointments necessary. For more information call 843-255-6458.
Bridge Club
11 a.m., Wednesdays, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. Beginning September 18. The first session is for beginners new to the game, and following sessions will provide some instruction and we will learn as we play. Join us if you want to learn a new game, practice your skills, or need more players. Call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-255-6458 for more information.
Mahjong Club
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fridays, Beaufort Library, 311 Scott Street. All levels of players are welcome. Feel free to bring your own mahjong sets. Plan to meet every week. For more information, call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-255-6458.
MEETINGS
Zonta Club of Beaufort
6 p.m., 4th Tuesday of each month, Smokehouse, Port Royal.
Rotary Club of Sea Island lunch meeting
12:15 p.m., 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island. Social gathering every 3rd Tuesday at 5:30 pm, locations vary and posted on our website. For more information, visit www.seaislandrotary.org.
Rotary Club of Sea Island social gathering 5:30 p.m., 3rd Tuesday of each month, locations vary and posted on our website. For more information, visit www.seaislandrotary.org.
Beaufort Rotary Club Noon, Wednesdays, Sea Island Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island. Catered buffet lunch, followed by a guest speaker. Prospective members welcome. For further information and upcoming speakers, please visit website www.beaufortrotaryclub.org.
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 843-575-0021 or email universitybicycles@hotmail.com.
Emotions Anonymous International local group meeting 4 p.m, Thursdays, via Zoom. Emotions Anonymous International, (EAI), is a nonprofit program designed to help people with emotional difficulties. It has a chapter in the Lowcountry and members want others who feel the need to know they are welcome to participate. There is no charge to participate. They are based on the 12 steps and 12 traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous and follow a specific format designed to provide the support and tools for navigating life’s painful difficulties. All are welcome. Anyone interested in participating may contact the group via email at EALowcountry@gmail.com or call or text Laurie at 252- 917-7082. For more information on EAI visit www.emotionsanonymous.org.
Rotary Club of the Lowcountry
7:30 a.m., Fridays, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, Sea Island Parkway, Lady’s Island. A light breakfast is provided before the program. For further information and upcoming speakers, please visit our website at www.lowcountryrotary.org or contact our President, Bob Bible at reconmc@aol.com or 843-252-8535.
Deas Guyz
MUSIC
7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 29; Willie's Bar and Grill, 7 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Saint Helena Island. $35. Doors open at 6 p.m. For more information and tickets, visit www.GullahLove.com.
Habersham Third Fridays Music on Market 5 to 8 p.m., third Friday of the month, Habersham Marketplace.
OUTDOORS
The Beaufort Tree Walk Lady’s Island Garden Club invites you to take a meandering walk through the Historic “Old Point” and enjoy some unique and noteworthy trees. The “Walk”
takes about an hour, is a little over a mile starting at the corner of Craven & Carteret streets in Morrall Park and concluding in Waterfront Park. Booklets with map and information about each tree are available free at the Visitors Center in the historic Arsenal on Craven Street.
Tours of Hunting Island
Every Tuesday, Hunting Island State Park, 2555 Sea Island Pkwy. Free, park entry fees apply. Sponsored by Friends of Hunting Island Keeper Ted and his team. For more information call the Hunting Island Nature Center at 843-838-7437. The next Tuesday is August 1.
SEWING/QUILTING
American Needlepoint
Guild Meeting 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1st Tuesday each month. The Hilton Head Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild welcomes anyone, beginner or experienced stitcher, who is interested in needlepoint to join us for stitching, learning and fellowship. For more information, please contact us at hiltonheadislandchapter@needlepoint. org.
Embroidery Guild of America Meeting
Second Tuesday of every month, Palmetto Electric Community Room, Hardeeville. The Lowcountry Chapter of the Embroidery Guild of America welcomes anyone, beginner or experienced stitcher, who is interested in any type of embroidery including needlepoint, cross-stitch, surface and beaded embroidery, hardanger, bargello, sashiko, etc., to join us for stitching, learning and fellowship. For more information, please contact us at lowcountrychapter@egacarolinas.org.
Autumn Exhibit of Embroidery Techniques 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9, Lobeco Branch Library, 1862 Trask Parkway, Lobeco. This time is for an Artist Meet & Greet. The Lowcountry Chapter of the Embroidery Guild of America is hosting an Autumn Exhibit of Embroidery Techniques through mid-November. Refreshments will be served at the Meet & Greet. Drop in to meet the artists behind the creative pieces on display. For more information, please contact the llbrary at 843-255-6479 or beaufortcountylibrary.org or the Embroidery Guild at lowcountrychapter@egacarolinas.org.
SPORTS/GAMES
ACBL Duplicate Bridge Club 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., Tuesdays, Carteret St. Events will be held weekly. Contact Director and Club Manager Susan DeFoe at 843-597-2541 for location.
Bridge Club 11 a.m., Wednesdays, Beaufort Branch Library. The first session is for beginners new to the game, and following sessions will provide some instruction and we will learn as we play. Join us if you want to learn a new game, practice your skills, or need more players. Call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-255-6458 for more information.
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.
years ago, I didn’t call the White House. Actually, I didn’t call anyone. I was all shook up, and not in the
Some kind soul dialed 911. Long story short, first responders showed up. They took good care of me, I regained my equilibrium, and all is fine. Even if the car was totaled.
But the incident was a stark reminder — if I needed one — of the life-saving importance of reliable and competent local government: In this case, police and paramedics.
Here’s a fact often lost in the heat of the political season: Local and state governments — and the people who run those governments — often impact our daily lives in a far more profound way than the federal government. Yet, it’s the melodrama of national politics — and specifically presidential politics — that dominates our public life.
Our national pastime used to be baseball. Now, it’s presidential politics. It has become our chief distraction, our obsession, even our drug of choice. No wonder some of us are called news junkies.
We’re bombarded relentlessly with campaign ads, news coverage and roaring arguments on TV, news sites, Facebook, X, Substack, radio, TikTok, Instagram, blogs and hundreds of podcasts. And there’s the desperate emails and texts from the candidates themselves pleading for donations. Call it the Invasion of the Attention Snatchers. It’s often a spectacle of high drama and low comedy, but we love it.
Because most of the news coverage centers on one election — the presidential election — local and state politicians struggle to be heard above the fray. And that’s the problem. The presidential election sucks all the air out of the room.
Here’s the obvious irony: Our vote is most powerful in helping to decide local and state elections. Meanwhile, our nation’s Electoral College (don’t get me started!) places the lion’s share of presiden-
tial-election power in just seven swing states. All votes matter here in South Carolina, but they matter more in local and state elections.
Who are these people?
If we had any doubt about the vital importance of state and local elected officials, we need look no further than the Hurricane Helene disaster, which devasted South Carolina, particularly the Upstate.
State and local government workers arrived first on the scene — rescuing folks, tending to the injured, providing water and food, removing trees on blocked roads and setting up shelters.
Local first responders ran toward danger to save lives and get our communities up and running again. The feds showed up later, but the state and local folks came
first and stayed long after FEMA departed.
Many other issues have devolved to the states, including abortion policy, our nation’s most contentious issue. Crime, too, is mostly a state and local issue. Health care, prisons and infrastructure are core state issues.
State and local governments largely oversee education as well. They’re the keepers of the American Dream.
Elections, of course, are an essential democratic institution, and those, too, are run by state and local officials.
The irony is that many of us know far less about state and local government candidates in our own neighborhoods than we do about two presidential candidates.
I can well imagine that many of us in South Carolina (I’m speaking of myself,
too) open our ballots and, after voting for president, gaze in bewilderment at all the down-ballot races.
Who are these other people? They’re candidates for Congress, state Senate, state House, county council, city council, sheriff, solicitor, county coroner, clerk of court, county auditor and county treasurer, to name a few possibilities. Don’t forget the soil and water district commission candidates.
There may be a half-dozen school board candidates, too. And local ballot questions.
And there’s a state ballot question this year as well.
It’s staggering. We often end up voting along partisan lines and for whoever seems to align with our presidential pick. It used to be said that all politics is local. Now, it seems all politics is national.
I personally don’t believe that’s the best way to cast an independent, informed vote. And many races are non-partisan, particularly school board and other local races.
What to do?
So, what’s a conscientious voter to do? Despite the decline in local media, many local news organizations still do a great job of providing local coverage and
creating voters guides. The South Carolina Daily Gazette — about to celebrate its first birthday — has been a godsend on our state’s media landscape, and reporter Abraham Kenmore recently produced a useful voters’ guide.
The League of Women Voters of South Carolina, among other nonpartisan groups, offers an insightful perspective as well. Information about candidates, of course, can often be found on their own websites and Facebook pages. We voters should always try to catch local candidate debates and forums. We can view our sample ballots on the SC Votes website.
There’s the old-fashion idea, too, of actually calling or writing candidates.
Truly informed voting, across the board, is not easy, but we only cheat ourselves with anything less.
Paul Hyde is a longtime journalist and teacher in the Upstate. He worked 18 years for the Greenville News as a columnist, editorial writer, education reporter and arts writer. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Clemson and Harvard universities. He has written for the Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News and USA Today, among other publications. He currently is a regular contributor to the Greenville Journal, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Classical Voice North America.
PAUL HYDE
Editor’s Note: The opinions of our columnists in the
The unrealized dream of every streamer in the business
Twenty years ago I woke up and decided I wanted to write fiction. At that point I was dwelling in a world of non-fiction; writing short, declarative sentences followed by a case citation — the italicized citation revealing the name of a case, a date, a particular appeals court that had written a previous opinion supporting the argument I was making.
I got pretty good at this kind of writing, which usually came in the form of a proposed order, submitted to a judge, for his signature. But all the while, I yearned to leave the land of brevity and precision for different terrain. I wanted to invent stuff — nuanced characters, clever dialogue and cover all of this protein with emotional gravy. I wanted to make people laugh, or cry and then scratch their heads saying, “Where the hell did that come from?”
When I started writing fiction, I also wanted it to be read — which is to say I wanted to be on somebody’s Best Seller list. And so I looked around for a formula, a technique, a sure fire storyline that would attract an agent and (at least) get me into the suburbs of celebrity.
It is Friday as I sit here and compose my article for next week. The Island News is published on Thursday, and my self-imposed deadline is Monday morning which means there will remain but one day after that until the election that has most people glued to the media of choice is concluded.
I say concluded, but I assert that it may be far from determined.
Therefore, it is impossible to write about the election results at this moment, but allow me to put myself out there with just a bit of conjecture. No fool like an old fool, as they like to say.
Let’s be clear — Donald Trump is a man who will not go gently into the night, should the voting outcome not go his way. In saying this, I believe I am still on safe ground.
Earlier this week, Trump
II discovered that most publishers had long sought this same formula — and discovered there was no such formula — no sure fire way to insure a story (and its author) would be successful. About this same time Netflix arrived on the scene and almost overnight we were flooded with movies, most of them fiction, that presented us with romance, mystery, murder and levels of violence we had not imagined. They delivered these movies, these stories, in a format free of advertising. Netflix also came with its own “original programming” and that “library” expanded quickly. Willy Staley (New York Times Magazine) says there are 16 000 titles, many are Netflix-made originals, that would take 3 1/2 years of non-stop viewing if one was capable of that kind of herculean, semi-prone binging.
Although Netflix tried, they have not come up with a formula for sure-fire popularity. And though they did not learn that secret, they did learn how to lure investors into their tent.
“What Netflix was doing was creating a sort of flywheel, where new debt helped create new shows, and new shows bought in new subscribers, and new subscribers brought in more cash—but it needed to continue selling bonds over and over to oil the content-subscriber treadmill, to such an extent that by 2019 it had about $15 billion in long term debt. It earned the nickname, Debtflix in the business press which wondered if all this borrowing was sustainable …”
The “new show” part of their formula was central to the “flywheel,” and for years Netflix flooded the early evening hours — when every sentient person on earth decided to eat their spinach and feta pizza in front of a television — with a new movie. The movies themselves didn’t have to be all that great — we’re not talking “Casablanca“ or “Out of Africa” each night — we’re just talking different.
But these days there’s a certain sameness or, in Staley’s words,
“...almost overnight we were flooded with movies, most of them fiction, that presented us with romance, mystery, murder and levels of violence we had not imagined.”
SCOTT GRABER, on the impact of Netflix and the evolution of storytelling in the entertainment industry.
“slackness.”
“There’s no denying a certain slackness has crept in: comedies without many jokes: dramas without any stakes: a pronounced reference for backward-looking plotting that fixates on characters’ traumas: a plague of visibly Canadian filming locations.”
Canadian filming locations? Although I thought everything was filmed in Georgia, we have come to understand that there are
And the aftermath?
began to lay the groundwork for a possible loss by questioning the voting process in Pennsylvania, as well as Georgia. When asked about this, he didn’t bother to hedge his bets, but instead he spouted the usual drivel, thereby planting the seeds for what he hopes will be a full-blown revolution, should he lose. Sadly, his minions await the clarion call!
Let’s face it. Our country is as deeply divided as it has ever been, perhaps since the Civil War. How we came to this place in
time is fodder for future historians to determine, and I believe history will not be kind.
When you have someone so willing to stoke the fires of unrest, it is no stretch to surmise that all hell could break loose. Some assert that if Trump loses, what occurs will make January 6 look docile in comparison. I pray this is not true.
So let’s look at the possibilities.
First, let’s go with the idea that Trump wins the election. Let’s assume that through billionaire donations, a series of political ads that tout disinformation, the utilization of AI, and yes, Russian interference, he pulls this off.
I have no idea whether or not there will be contention on the part of Democrats. I would hope they are ready to dispute any apparently egregious action in a
way that doesn’t include violence.
What I do know is that all of the above have been proven. Furthermore, I know what Trump, as the new president, has promised to do: send our U.S. troops to bring in and incarcerate his political enemies.
Think about that. High ranking generals who have had the courage to step forward and tell the world so much of what Trump advocated behind closed doors in his first administration. Political adversaries. He has run on a campaign of retribution. Remember, “I have every right.”
Furthermore, his Vice-President is every bit as questionable as Trump, and he sits in the No. 2 position, ready to take over should circumstances deem it necessary.
And our position on the world stage? Russia, China,
a finite number of ways to fall in love; to solve a murder; to slip/ slide into scandal; to reveal one’s hidden past.
You can take a couple aging stars like George Clooney and Julia Roberts — and you can plunk them down on a beach in Portugal — but the “dilemma” that follows is predictable and, frankly, shop worn.
This past week I watched three movies with a “Harry Met Sally” denouement. You know the scene. It’s where Harry races through Manhattan (on New Year’s Eve) to find Sally. It’s the scene where Harry says he has just figured-out, at long last, that he loves Sally. She’s incredulous but realizes her own loathing of Harry has somehow morphed into love. Then they kiss, marry and then there are children.
Netflix dreams of another “must see” series like HBO’s “Game of Thrones” or “The Wire” where the entire world tunes in for a weekly dose of great storytelling.
This is, however, the mostly unrealized dream of every other streamer in this business.
Scott Graber is a lawyer, novelist, veteran columnist and longtime resident of Port Royal. He can be reached at cscottgraber@gmail.com.
and other countries headed by dictators will welcome still one more into the fold.
How long that cozy relationship lasts will be more for the historians to judge.
And the alternative to a Trump win is that of Harris. She has promised: saving the Affordable Care Act as well as Social Security; helping the middle class with the income tax disparity; restoring Roe and a woman’s right to govern her own body; bans on price gouging at grocery stores.
As for her Vice-Presidential candidate, Tim Walz, he is simply the all-American guy who should resonate with so many men in the country. Coach? Father?
Having the experience of governing a state, should he be called to govern a country.
It would seem that there should be no question as to which twosome is best
for our country. And yet, many polls, if they are to be believed, show a very tight race. We should know by Wednesday morning, Nov. 6. Or maybe not. It has been suggested that results may take days, even weeks, to sort out.
And so I, like millions of Americans, sit and wait for the outcome of the most consequential election in my lifetime. I wait, and, yes, I pray. I ask God to forgive the many trespasses of this nation and to give us another chance.
As you read this, the die will have been cast, and maybe we will know whether or not my prayers have been heard and answered.
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.”
What is in the well comes up in the bucket
t’s a spiritual revelation to comprehend that words have tremendous power but where there is privilege there is also accountability. Communication not only shapes our views while influencing our behavior, but words also expose who we really are as we can learn a great deal about a person’s views when we hear them speak. This is a wonderful prayer to begin each day, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips,” Psalm 141:3. Yes, we have much to pray about, and this petition is crucial if we are to live a holy life of integrity, respect, and love. Encouraging words are worth much, and cost little, and since what we say is what we think, it would be wise to monitor our thoughts and what we believe. Words can accomplish God’s intentions and carry us to encouraging places, but, unfortunately, they can also lead us into some dark situations. As children, many of us quoted this little rhyme, “Sticks and stones may break our
bones, but words will never hurt us” which was a courageous stand as we were being threatened or insulted.
Still, we realized after we grew up that in most cases, the words were more emotionally painful than if we had been physically assaulted. There’s a good chance you remember when someone said something that caused you to feel rejection and pierced your soul. Maybe derogatory words from a parent, teacher, coach, family member, neighborhood kids, or a bully from school, and unfortunately these painful wounds will always be remembered. Thankfully, some individuals change over the years as they recall the
hurtful things they have said and are convicted to apologize as they realize that foolish people say foolish things.
On the other side of the two-edged sword of words, it’s astounding to understand they also have the power to bring inspiration, joy, hope, and healing.
In Proverbs 16:24, the Holy Spirit relayed to King Solomon that highly sensitive people are discreet and careful to use good judgment with their speech while the uncaring do not plan or consider what they say. We know this is true because we have been comforted by God’s eternal promises and from those who sincerely care about us.
In the ancient world, honey was the sweetest substance available, and Solomon was intentional with his imagery as he penned these words, “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” We have the opportunity to filter our speech through the Holy Spirit, but it’s our choice to apply these spiritual principles or ignore them.
The wise person who desires to walk in the awareness of God’s presence will learn to control their carnal nature. Our emotions are interested in pleasing our flesh, but our spirit is always passionate about pleasing the Lord.
A command associated with obedience to God is to develop spiritual sensitivity and self-control which are included in the fruits of the Spirit. As a result of choosing words wisely, our communication can and should become a consistent relay of the message of Jesus. Ellen G. White is quoted as saying, “A Christian reveals true humility by showing the gentleness of Christ, by being always ready to help others, by speaking kind words and performing unselfish acts, which elevate and ennoble the most sacred message that has come to our world.”
Some believe that when we can control our words, we have more maturity and discernment to control our lives. James 1:26 says, “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues
deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.”
The Almighty wants His people to reveal His character, and develop agape charity which motivates us to embrace this beautiful way of connecting with others. Those who disregard speaking as a divine appointment to witness for Christ and do not care what they say are quite familiar with the flavor of their own foot. Ephesians 4:29 declares, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
May we consider what is in the well comes up in the bucket. In this light, we realize that hatefilled and destructive words are intentional sin. The good news is that repentance is an opportunity to be forgiven and restored by God’s grace.
This is an excerpt from Billy Holland’s book, “Receiving Our Healing – Going to War on our Knees.” Learn more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com
SCOTT GRABER
CAROL LUCAS
BILLY HOLLAND
Aretired reporter recently wrote something on social media that threw some for a loop:
“A lot of my friends, my true ones, are getting bent out of shape about major newspaper editorial boards choosing not to endorse presidential candidates. As an ex-newspaper guy and longtime fan of journalism and knowing what’s going on in the world, I kind of agree with the decisions not to endorse.”
To be clear, we wholeheartedly disagree. But let him continue:
“Editorial board endorsements of political candidates, particularly national ones, don’t mean crap, don’t move the needle and only serve to make editorial
Why newspapers endorse candidates
ANDY BRACK
writers feel more important and powerful than they really are.”
Oh, my. As if editorial writers really feel they have any real power.
What the good ones do feel, actually, has nothing to do with power. They feel an intense social responsibility to democracy and the need to keep it strong. Newspapers endorse candidates to give people unfettered opinions about which candidates in races will be
most faithful to democratic ideals and be responsive to constituents – which will do a better job, based on past stories, insights gleaned from interviews and a look at candidate records.
Voters often don’t have time to scroll through pages of documents or mundane campaign position papers.
But it’s necessary for good editors to fulfill their watchdog role as the Fourth Estate and keep politicians running for office honest.
They need to make cogent arguments whether someone who has been in office for many years needs to stay or go. They need to call out a fascist when the jackboot fits. They need to analyze the political environment and share informed views on why one path for the state or
nation is better than another. Editorials matter. To fail to meet the social responsibility of endorsing candidates and giving cogent insights about what’s happening in the political world is to fail to give important tools to voters as they make judgments about which candidates to support. If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it countless times –voters saying they support a candidate, not the party. And while this does not seem to reflect reality for many voters, it does for discerning ones.
The good thing about an editorial opinion is that a voter can ignore it. Just as they could – and should – ignore all of the misinformation, disinformation, lies, fake news and more that
infects social media. In fact, the rise of social media is the primary culprit in America’s increasing polarization and tribalism. Listening to only one side of an argument is never a good thing in a democracy. And conflating viewpoints as if they are news is no better – the editorial page is specifically an opinion section, although more and more readers don’t seem to understand that.
What is good for democracy is for informed information gatherers – editorial writers – to do their jobs, vetting candidates and calling it like they see it.
More newspapers need editorial pages. More newspapers need to endorse candidates, not fewer. More newspapers need to have courage, instead of losing it
to the billionaire behemoths of private enterprise that now own outlets like The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times Otherwise they will become less relevant by doing the very thing that they’re not supposed to do – muzzling themselves. The Washington Post has made a big deal about how “democracy dies in darkness.” But after refusing to shine a bright light on the choice voters face in the 2024 presidential race, it might want to change its slogan to “The Washington Post dies in its own darkness.”
Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Statehouse Report and the Charleston City Paper. Have a comment? Send it to feedback@statehousereport.com.
Lesson from SC report cards?
Teaching to a script is a failure
The recent release of the 2024 South Carolina School Report Cards marks the start of an annual debate over the future direction of K-12 education.
Unlike most recent releases, this year’s results show signs of promise, most notably the reduced number of schools receiving an “unsatisfactory” rating. However, even causes for celebration are tempered by the reality that too many children are still not reaching their full academic potential.
In the era of accountability in education, such results are supposed to lead to change.
After teaching for 20 years in South Carolina, I have gone through more than a few accountability-fueled shifts in policy and pedagogy. The effects of these changes are typically mixed, but there is one change I have found to be universally harmful to educational improvement efforts — the push to ensure new policies and processes are implemented “with fidelity” in schools.
At its most basic, this push claims that all schools can achieve outstanding results if educators simply follow, with fidelity, the precise steps necessary to implement the latest, greatest, and often priciest
“research-based” curriculum and instructional materials.
In its most extreme form, the “with fidelity” movement requires teachers to read from a daily script without the ability to deviate from prepacked instructional pacing and materials.
The first time I truly encountered this movement was during a fellowship with the U.S. Department of Education from 2015 to 2016. I experienced a lot of change while working under three different secretaries of education, but one of the constant refrains was the belief that teaching “with fidelity” presented the key to unlocking educational excellence for every child.
Since moving back home from Washington, I have seen — and continue to see — the “with fidelity” model used in schools across South Carolina.
While teachers universally object to the approach as stifling
staff creativity and student engagement, defenders claim it holds the key to improved student test scores. I reject the premise that the sum of educational achievement can be captured in a single score. But test results can offer some important insight.
After a decade of teachers being micromanaged and required to teach to the script, test results compellingly show the systemic failure of teaching “with fidelity.”
For example, in 2016 22% of South Carolina third graders scored “does not meet” on the math portion of the S.C. Ready assessment. In 2024, that number had grown to 24%. Nationally, in 2015, 40% of fourth-grade students scored at or above the “proficient” level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress in reading. In 2022, only 36% of students scored at or above proficient.
Even in areas with notable improvements in test scores, it is impossible to attribute those gains to “fidelity” to a curriculum package.
For example, state leaders have associated the implementation of the LETRS (“science of reading”) program with recent improvements in SC READY English language arts scores.
LETRS, however, is not a curriculum package to be taught with fidelity. Instead, it focuses on providing teachers with strategies to help students master the “fundamentals of reading and writing.” In effect, this approach provides teachers with an instructional toolbox from which to choose, whereas the “fidelity” movement believes every teacher must use the same tool in the same way on the same day.
This is why abandoning the fidelity model is the lesson I believe state and local leaders should take from the latest school report card release.
That decision rests at the heart of the aptly titled “Let Teachers Teach” policy recommendations recently released by the Louisiana Department of Education. This report calls for providing more personalized professional development and support for teachers instead of relying on requirements for teachers to “read verbatim from teaching manuals.”
The evidence of recent years support this approach, and so do the experiences of generations of students.
I do not remember a single textbook or curriculum that was used during my time as a K-12 student. But I remember scores
of incredible teachers who helped me grow.
What stands out about these teachers is how different they were in their instructional approaches, whether it was the structure and routine in Mrs. Albert’s calculus class or the creative chaos and object lessons in Mr. Davis’ economics course. These teachers were artists, not robots. And their ability to exercise their artistic license in their classrooms created rich, engaging, and transformative learning experiences. Ultimately, the only thing my best teachers followed with “fidelity” was their commitment to meeting their students where they were to help them get to where they wanted to go. So, this accountability season, elected officials and education leaders would do well to repurpose holiday season wisdom from Dr. Seuss: Maybe great teaching doesn’t come from a prepackaged curriculum bought from a store. Maybe great teaching, perhaps, takes a little bit more.
Patrick Kelly is the director of governmental affairs for the Palmetto State Teachers Association. He has taught in Richland School District 2 since 2005, and he served on the 2023 South Carolina Teacher Recruitment
PATRICK KELLY
Are over-the-counter pain relievers safe for pets?
Dogs are not small people. When owners see their dog or cat limping or showing other signs of pain, they often think about giving their pet an over-the-counter pain reliever for made specifically for people. But even if data indicates an NSAID is safe and effective in people, the drug may not be safe and effective in dogs
Cats are not small people or small dogs. You have to be even more careful with cats. Compared to other species, cats have a reduced ability to break down NSAIDs. These differences may lead to toxic effects in pets, such as ulcers and perforations in the digestive tract as well as liver and kidney damage.
Here is a list of common over-the-counter pain relievers for people that should not be used for pets. In certain cases, there are pet formulas of these medication that may be acceptable if your veterinarian so advises.
Aspirin— While you can use human baby aspirin as recommended by your vet, aspirin made for dogs is typically a better option. Human aspirin has a coating on it that helps to protect the human stomach from irritation. Your dog cannot digest this coating, so the medication may not provide the desired effects.
Ibuprofen No, you cannot give your dog ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Human bodies process medicines differently than pooches. Ibuprofen may stay in a dog's system longer, get absorbed faster, and reach higher levels of blood concentrations. A single dose may be enough to poison your animal. Signs of toxicity can appear within 12 hours and include stomach ulcers and kidney failure.
Naproxen sodium No. Ingestion of just one overthe-counter Naproxen tablet or capsule in a large-sized dog can cause serious tox-
icity or even be fatal. If your pet accidentally ingests naproxen, contact your veterinarian or emergency veterinarian immediately. Over-the-counter human pain relievers are not safe for dogs.
Acetaminophen Do not give your dog human-grade ibuprofen or acetaminophen There are some NSAIDs just for dogs: Carprofen (Novox or Rimadyl) Deracoxib (Deramaxx).
Acetaminophen is not a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and doesn’t have much anti-inflammatory ac-
tivity. Scientists don’t fully understand how acetaminophen works . The drug seems to have more than one mode of action to reduce fever and relieve pain.
Dogs and cats can develop both forms of acetaminophen toxicity, but cats are more prone to red blood cell damage while dogs are more likely to get liver damage.
Acetaminophen is fatal to cats. Cats should never be given acetaminophen because they lack certain enzymes that the liver needs to safely break down the drug.
What should you do?
Before giving any pet NSAID to your dog or cat, talk with your veterinarian. Tell him or her if your pet has a history of digestive problems, such as stomach or intestinal ulcers, or has had surgery on the stomach or intestines. Even if your pet hasn’t had any digestive problems in the past, that doesn’t mean he or she has a healthy digestive tract.
Dogs and cats can have stomach and intestinal ulcers without showing signs. Is your pet on any other medication. It’s not recom-
mended to give two different NSAIDs, or an NSAID and a steroid, at the same time.
During and after NSAID therapy, monitor your pet for side effects, such as vomiting, diarrhea, bloody or tar-colored stool, decreased appetite, decreased activity level, yellowing of the whites of the eyes, and yellowing of the gums. These signs can occur even in a previously healthy pet. If you notice any side effects, stop giving the drug and call your veterinarian. If your pet experiences side effects from an NSAID, FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine encourages you to work with your veterinarian to report the problem. Before starting your dog on an NSAID for long-term use for osteoarthritis, ask your veterinarian about performing baseline bloodwork. Talk to your veterinarian about how often to recheck your dog’s bloodwork. No NSAID is currently FDA-approved for longterm use in cats. You should NEVER give your pet anything in your medicine cabinet until you talk to your veterinarian.
Paying attention to what’s going on right this second can be hard. We often spend more time thinking about what’s coming up in the future or dwelling on the past. But it is possible to train yourself to focus on the present moment. You become aware of what’s going on inside and around you—your thoughts, feelings, sensations, and environment. This is called mindfulness.
around you. If thoughts and worries enter your mind, note them but then return to the present. Practice mindful eating. Be aware of taste, textures, and flavors in each bite. Listen to when your body is hungry and full.
Studies suggest that focusing on the present can have a positive impact on health and well-being. Mindfulness-based treatments have been shown to reduce anxiety and depression. There’s also evidence that mindfulness can lower blood pressure and improve sleep. It may even help people cope with pain.
We all know yard work can be a tedious task, but it doesn't have to be a pain too.
It’s that time of year where homeowners are cleaning up their yards in preparation for winter. And while it can be a tedious task, it doesn’t have to be a pain too. Andrew Bang, DC, chiropractor with Cleveland Clinic, offers some ways to help prevent injury.
“It is just like going to the gym. You would never go right to a deadlift or a military press, or a bench press,
“For many chronic illnesses, mindfulness meditation seems to improve quality of life and reduce mental health symptoms,” says Dr. Zev Schuman-Olivier of Harvard University. If you want to practice mindful-
ness, there are many online programs and apps. But they’re not all created equal. Experts suggest looking for resources from medical schools and universities. Check to see if they’re evidence based.
Just like any skill, mindfulness takes practice. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Yard work
or a squat, cold. You would not put it on max and just go right to it,” said Dr. Bang. “You would warm up because we just kind of intuitively know if I warm up, I am not going to get injured.”
Dr. Bang said another tip is to do just a little bit of yard work at a time. For example, you could rake leaves for 20 minutes, take a break and then move on to something else, like mowing the lawn or pulling weeds. He said by multi-tasking, it keeps your body from being stuck in the same po-
doesn't
sition or doing the same motion for hours.
You also shouldn’t push yourself with yard work. If you start to feel any kind of pain or discomfort, it’s best to stop. And if it’s severe enough, consult with a physician.
However, if it seems like your joints are just sore after you’re done for the day, Dr. Bang suggests doing some movement.
“Movement helps reduce some of that delayed soreness because you're helping flush out the chemicals, the
• Take some deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose to a count of 4, hold for 1 second and then exhale through the mouth to a count of 5. Repeat often.
Enjoy a stroll. As you walk, pay attention to your breath and the sights and sounds
• Do a mindful body scan. Bring your attention to how each part of your body is feeling. This can help you connect with your body.
Find mindfulness resources including online programs and teacher-guided practices.
Beaufort Memorial opens new plastic surgery practice
Special to Care magazine®
To provide state-of-the-art reconstructive and cosmetic surgery services to residents of the Lowcountry, Beaufort Memorial has opened Beaufort Memorial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics at its Okatie Medical Pavilion.
Leading the new practice is Heidi Harrington, M.D., a board-certified and fellowship-trained plastic surgeon with two decades of experience in plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. She and her team provide a comprehensive array of services for the face, breasts, and body. In addition to office consultations for patients’ reconstructive and cosmetic concerns, Dr. Harrington will offer office-based minor surgeries, as
well as cosmetic procedures at the Okatie office. More complex surgeries will take place at Beaufort Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Harrington attended medical school at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia and completed her residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Southern California, where she was named chief resident. She completed a fellowship in aesthetics before being recruited back to the East Coast to practice. She practiced in both private practices and hospitals serving
the communities of Downeast and Southern Maine, as well as the New Hampshire Seacoast, and launched her own practice in 2018
Among the many surgical and noninvasive plastic surgery procedures she performs, reconstructive and cosmetic breast, mommy makeovers, body contouring after massive weight loss, skin cancer reconstruction, facial rejuvenation, and cosmetic injection procedures are her hallmarks. Serving breast cancer patients is a particular passion for Dr. Harrington; she is skilled in a variety of advanced techniques used in the reconstruction of congenital breast deformities, breast reconstruction after breast cancer and the complex revision of cosmetic breast surgery
complications. She pioneered the technique of single stage direct to implant prepectoral breast reconstruction in New England and is bringing this innovative breast cancer reconstruction technique to the women of the Lowcountry.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Harrington and am personally excited about her experience in reconstructive surgery, and breast reconstruction in particular,” said Dr. Tara Grahovac, a board-certified, fellowship-trained breast surgeon with the Beaufort Memorial Breast Care & Surgery Program.
“She is a talented plastic surgeon with specific expertise in the most current techniques and technologies, and will be a great addition as we expand care for our patients
in the Lowcountry!”
Dr. Harrington looks forward to providing individualized care to patients from throughout the Lowcountry who hope to achieve confidence-building results for all of their reconstructive and cosmetic needs.
“I want my patients to feel like they are sitting down with a friend who happens to be an expert in plastic surgery, so that we can develop a plan together,” Dr. Harrington said.
Beaufort Memorial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics is located in Suite 220 of the Beaufort Memorial Okatie Medical Pavilion, 122 Okatie Center Blvd. North, Okatie. To make an appointment with Dr. Harrington, call 843-707-8020
Losing steam? Avoid these energy zappers
What may seem like harmless lifestyle habits may really be robbing you of your get-up-and-go.
Let's face it—we all get more fatigued as we get older. It's part of the aging process: we lose mitochondria (energy-producing engines in the cells) and we produce less adenosine triphosphate (ATP)—the molecule that delivers energy to cells throughout our body. Other causes of fatigue, such as medication side effects or chronic illness like depression or heart disease, can increase the feeling of tiredness or sluggishness.
But age- and disease-related factors aren't the only drains on your energy. Your lifestyle habits may be to blame for some of your daily fatigue. The following energy zappers are common culprits that you can change.
Inactivity. We naturally lose muscle mass as we age. "If you have less muscle mass, you have fewer mitochondria and less ATP," points out Dr. Marcelo Campos, a primary care physician with Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates in Boston. Being sedentary compounds the problem by weakening and shrinking muscles and causing them to use energy inefficiently.
Physical activity strengthens muscles, helps them become more efficient and conserve ATP, and increas-
es the production of energy-producing brain chemicals. Don't be intimidated by the recommendation of 30 minutes per day, at least five days per week, of moderate-intensity exercise. The 30 minutes can be spread out into several shorter periods. And you don't need to break a sweat. "Whatever exercise you can do will help," Dr. Campos says. "It can be simple, like climbing stairs or walking farther in a parking lot."
Too much stress. Chronic stress can increase levels of cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. "Cortisol reduces production of ATP and it increases inflammation, which also reduces ATP production," explains Dr. Campos. However, stress-reduction techniques are associated with lower cortisol levels. Try yoga, mindfulness meditation, tai chi, breathing exercises, or guided imagery. Even 10 minutes per day can help.
A poor diet. If you're not nourishing your body, you won't have the vitamins and minerals necessary to produce enough ATP, and you'll feel more tired. "Eating too much processed food can increase inflammation, which impairs the production of ATP and energy. Or, if you're older and your appetite isn't what it used to be, you may not give your body the cal-
ories and fuel it needs to function," Dr. Campos explains. On the flip side, if you're eating too much food at one time, that can cause blood sugar spikes and lead to fatigue.
The fix: eat whole foods, including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins like fish, chicken, nuts, and seeds. The fatty acids in protein-rich foods also help boost ATP. And aim for smaller meals with snacks in between to provide your body with a steady supply
of nutrients and fewer blood sugar spikes.
Too little sleep. A lack of sleep increases cortisol and also promotes inflammation. If sleep issues are caused by sleep apnea (pauses in breathing during sleep), the dips in blood oxygen levels lowers ATP and energy.
Talk to your doctor about underlying problems that may rob you of sleep, such as health conditions (sleep apnea or frequent trips to the bathroom) or medication side effects.
And work on improving sleep hygiene: go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, and keep your room cool, quiet, and free of electronics, which stimulate your brain.
Poor fluid choices. Drinking sugary sodas can cause blood sugar spikes followed by a drop that causes fatigue. Being dehydrated can also make you feel tired, as can drinking too much alcohol or caffeinated drinks near bedtime (alcohol interrupts sleep in the middle of the
night). Healthy people need six to eight cups of fluid per day, and more if they're exercising. Avoid soda. "And stop drinking caffeine or alcohol within six to eight hours of bed," Dr. Campos advises. Social isolation. Being isolated—not seeing others on a regular basis—is associated with depression, and depression is linked to fatigue. "The power of interacting with other human beings and connecting with others can bring a different outlook and give you more energy. We are learning more about this. We probably produce different types of brain chemicals that make us happier and give us more energy when we connect to people," Dr. Campos says. Resolve to get together with others at least once per week. It can be friends, family, neighbors, or even new acquaintances. When is low energy a problem? "If fatigue is affecting your day," says Dr. Campos, "or if fatigue is accompanied by any other symptoms like headache, muscle or joint pain, fever, or stomach or urinary problems, it's time to see your doctor."
This past Sunday, most of us turned our clocks back an hour to mark the end of ‘Daylight Saving’ time. Although some might struggle with the change because it gets darker earlier, most sleep experts welcome it.
“The change from daylight saving time back to standard time is the better one for our sleep, and it's not because people think we gain an hour of sleep,” explained Alicia Roth, PhD, a sleep psychologist for Cleveland Clinic. “It's because we're going back to standard time, which scientists and researchers in the sleep world all agree is the better time for our bodies.”
Dr. Roth emphasized that standard time is better aligned with our natural sleep-wake cycle.
That’s because more light in the morning signals that it’s time to wake up—while the darkness earlier in the evenings helps our
bodies produce melatonin to fall asleep.
If you struggle with it getting darker earlier, you can try adjusting your sleep schedule, if possible, to get the most out of the daylight hours.
Dr. Roth stressed we’ve already made it past the harder time change in the spring, and it shouldn’t be difficult for our bodies to adapt back to standard time.
However, she has a go-to tip when it comes to sleep in general:
“The golden rule for sleep is never get into bed until you're very sleepy, so don't get into bed to try to get sleepy, don't get into bed hoping you'll get sleepy—it’s always important to remember to talk to your doctor or a sleep specialist if you’re continually having issues with your sleep.”
Dandridge recognized for support of Fisher House Charleston
Staff reports Larry Dandridge, the veterans/ military columnist for The Island News, was recognized Thursday, Oct. 24, with a Certificate of Appreciation by Erik Zielinski, manager of the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center’s Fisher House Charleston, and the Friends of Fisher House Charleston 501c3 that supports Fisher House Charleston.
Zielinski presented the award to Dandridge for his eight years of support for Fisher House Charleston, which began in early 2015 when he volunteered to be an “Ambassador of Good Will” for Fisher House Charleston and the Friends of Fisher House Charleston.
Dandridge, a retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel, wrote the award-winning book “Blades of Thunder” (Book One), gave more than 100 speeches, and participated in book signings to raise money to help buy the land that Fisher House Charleston is built on. He has directly raised more than $80 000 for Fisher House Charleston. His book and public speaking have also served as a catalyst to raise more than $5 million to purchase the land and refurbish the old carriage house behind Fisher House Charleston.
Dandridge has been recognized
numerous times by the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Fisher Foundation, Fisher House Charleston, the Friends of Fisher House Charleston, the Governor of South Carolina, the S.C. House of Representatives, the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA), the Military Officers Association of American (MOAA), and others for his support. His recent awards for helping our Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen/women, Coastguardmen/women and veterans and the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and Health Care System and Fisher House Charleston include:
SC’s Highest Civilian award, The 2023 Order of the Palmetto; the S.C. House of Representatives Feb. 1 2020 Resolution and Service Award H.5224; and the Fisher Foundation 2024 Outstanding Support Award. MOAA 2022 Charleston, S.C. Robert J. Lahm Award; the 2016 National Aging in Place Award; and the 2018 Military Writers Association of America Silver Writing and Book Award.
Dandridge has written more than 200 articles for The Island News, mostly (more than 160) on
veterans’ benefits and how to apply for those benefits. Those informative articles have resulted in hundreds of letters of praise and emails from all over the Lowcountry of S.C. and Georgia. His veterans’ benefits articles are being used to help train new S.C. County Veterans Service Officers (VSOs), educate Veterans Service (and patriotic) Organizations (VVA, AL, VFW, DAV, Lowcountry, Leathernecks, Knights of Columbus, SCDVA, Sumter Guard, AUSA, Rotary, Washington Light Infantry, Exchange, MOAA, Lions, Kiwanis, DAR, Naval Order of US, etc.), and educate veterans on what their state and federal veterans’ benefits are and how to apply for those benefits and services.
“It has been a great honor to serve military members, veterans, and their families, caregivers, and survivors and The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Fisher House Charleston, and the Friends of Fisher House Charleston,” Dandridge said upon receiving the award. “Our Fisher House is truly a miraculous facility with a team of extraordinarily special employees and volunteers. It is no wonder the Ralph H. Johnson VA is the only five-star medical center and healthcare system in S.C. It is obvious why the Joint Commis-
Georgia veterans and our families are so fortunate to be served by the RHJVA Medical Center, Fisher House Charleston, and the Friends of Fisher House Charleston.” Dandridge helps veterans and military members and their families in the S.C. and Ga., coastal counties in many ways, including volunteering as: The Vice Presient for Veteran Affairs for the Charleston Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and the Coastal S.C. Chapter of the Association of the US Army (AUSA).
sion has rated the Rated the RHJVAMC&HCS (which owns and operates Fisher House Charleston) in the top 10 percent of all public and private medical centers and healthcare systems in the USA for quality of care, customer satisfaction, infection prevention and a hundred other metrics. Fisher House Charleston has been the highest achieving Fisher House and we South Carolinian and
A Patient Adviser, a Patient and Family Centered Care (PFCC) Instructor, an Employment Assistance Advisor, a Member of the Patient Experience (Past Customer Service Committee) Committee, a member of the Patient and Family Advisory Committee, and a member of the CEO’s Stakeholder Advisory Council, at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. An Ambassador of Goodwill for Fisher House Charleston. You can read Larry Dandridge’s past articles on veterans’ benefits in The Island News at yourislandnews.com/category/military/.
The Ralph H. Johnson VA Environmental Services Management Team earns AUSA accolade
The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and Healthcare Systems (RHJVAMCHCS) Environmental Management Services Team (EMST) was presented the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Coastal Carolina Chapter’s “Outstanding Service Award” on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. The prestigious award was presented to the EMS Team at 2:30 p.m. in the main auditorium of the RHJVA Medical Center at 109 Bee Street in Charleston. As the Coastal S.C. AUSA Chapter’s Past President (three times) and the AUSA Coastal S.C. Chapter VP for Veteran Affairs for the past 20 years, I presented the award to Acting EMS Team Chief Webster Norris. Norris accepted the beautiful award plaque on behalf of the 97 EMST employees. This award recognizes the excellent work done by the EMST employees in providing sanitation, infection prevention, housekeeping, linen management, interior design, and grounds
maintenance services at the RHJVAMCHCS hospital, clinics, and Fisher House Charleston parking lots, streets, parking garage, sidewalks, green areas, in 2024 and before. The Environmental Management Service Team is led by Kevin Stack, who was unfortunately on a business trip the day the award was presented. The EMS Team plays a pivotal role in creating a welcoming environment that enhances patient experience and safety at the Lowcountry S.C. Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, the RHJVA Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), and the Fisher House Charleston. Their meticulous maintenance of the grounds, including the
flowers that greet patients upon arrival, sets a comforting tone for their visit.
As patients enter the buildings, the EMS Team's focus on cleanliness and sanitation immediately enhances their experience. Their commitment to maintaining infection control standards and cleanliness expectations in exam and patient rooms and managing the linen supply ensures that patients feel secure and confident in their safety.
The EMS Interior Design Team diligently selects furniture and decor, contributing to comfort, safety, maintenance, fire prevention, and sanitation. As patients move through the halls and view various art pieces, they benefit from the thoughtful curation of the EMS interior designers, who strive to enhance the patient’s experience through aesthetically pleasing and comforting environments.
The team is a shining example of dedication and service. Their continuous efforts to enhance patient experience, such as the up-
coming initiative to create a safe, attractive, and sanitary dog-walk area for patients who bring their service animals, and a significant beautification of the Fisher House Charleston grounds, are more reasons the RHJVAMC is a five-star medical center and has been selected by the Joint Commission to be in the top 10 percent of all public and private hospitals for customer satisfaction, quality of care, customer satisfaction, infection prevention, and a hundred other metrics for more than a decade.
“My leadership team and I genuinely view our EMS Team not only as an integral part of the care team at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System but as a group of staff who are giving back each day to our veterans who have given so much,” RHJVAMCHCS
Director Scott Isaacks said. Medical Center Associ-
ate Director Ronnie Smith; Senior EMST Leader Mr. Webster Morris; Associate Director of Nursing and Patient Care Services Letha Rogers; Chief of Police and Safety (Acting Assistant Director) Gary Hunter; RHJVAMC Public Affairs Officer (PAO) Wayne Capps; RHJVAMC Chief Veteran Experience Officer and Registered Nurse Jennifer Neville; and more than three dozen EMST employees and others attended the award ceremony.
Ninety percent of the EMST members are veterans, who take great satisfaction in helping their past comrades in arms who served selflessly and bravely in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. And the EMS Team has joined a long list of outstanding employees and teams at the RHJVAMC&HCS who have
been recognized each quarter for the past 10 years for outstanding service to their external customers (veteran patients, military member patients, and their families, caregivers, and survivors) and their internal customers (VA and contractor employees, MUSC partners, employees, and others). Some of the past RHJVAMC&HCS past recipients of the Coastal SC Outstanding Service Award include the Pharmacy Team, Emergency Department Team, The Hospice Coordinator, the Past Patient Experience Chief, the Hospice and Palliative Care Team, the 4B South Ward Team, and Intensive Care Nurse, the Beaufort CBOC Team, and others.
If you would like to nominate a RHJVA employee or team for the Coastal S.C. Chapter’s Outstanding Service Award, you should send a short nomination email to the RHJVAMC Chief of the Patient Experience Office, RN Jennifer Nevelle at Jennifer.Neville@va.gov or call Jennifer at 843-789-7488 Ext. 207488 Larry Dandridge is a
LARRY DANDRIDGE
Fisher House Manager Erik Zielinski, left, and Larry Dandridge on Oct. 24, 2024, at the Holiday Inn Charleston-Riverview restaurant award ceremony. Submitted photo
From left, Ronnie Smith, RHJVAMC Associate Director; Larry Dandridge, Coastal S.C. AUSA VP for Veteran Affairs; Webster Morris, Assistant Hospital Housekeeping Officer; Letha Rogers, Associate Director Nursing and Patient Care Services; and Gary Hunter, Chief of Police and Safety (Acting Assistant Director).
Submitted photo
Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center EMS Team Employees who attended the award ceremony and enjoyed refreshments on Oct. 21, 2204, in the RHJVAMC Auditorium. Webster Morris is holding the award plaque. Submitted photo
SERVICE DIRECTORY
ATTORNEY
Christopher J. Geier
Attorney at Law, LLC
Criminal Defense & Civil Litigation
16 Professional Village Circle, Lady's Island Office: 843-986-9449 • Fax: 843-986-9450
chris@bftsclaw.com • www.geierlaw.com
AUDIOLOGY & HEARING
Beaufort Audiology & Hearing Care
Monica Wiser, M.A. CCC-A
Licensed Audiologist
38 Professional Village West, Lady's Island monica@beauforthearing.com www.beauforthearing.com | 843-521-3007
Hear the Beauty that Surrounds You
The Beaufort Sound Hearing and Balance Center
Dr. Larry Bridge, AU.D./CCC-A
206 Sea Island Parkway, Suite 31, Beaufort thebeaufortsound@gmail.com www.thebeaufortsound.com | 843-522-0655
E-Edition Digital Newspaper
CLASSIFIEDS & GAMES
THURSDAY’S CARTOON
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
Replace your roof with the best looking and longest lasting material – steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off installation + Additional 10% off install (for military, health workers & 1st responders.) Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-855900-1261
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 833-2308692
DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400 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! 1-855397-7030 www.dental50plus.com/60
#6258
Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-877-852-0368
AUCTIONS
ESTATE AUCTION. Sat., Nov. 9 at 9:30AM. 2091 Griffith Dr., Orangeburg, SC. Mr. & Mrs. Frank Tourville estate. 6800 sq.ft. home is loaded with designer furniture, antiques, doll collection, glassware, china, porcelains, art, jewelry, garden furniture, tools, much more! Preview Fri., Nov. 8 from 11AM to 6PM, browse web at www.cogburnauction.com. 803-
860-0712
SPECTACULAR PUBLIC AUCTION! Sat., Nov. 16 at 9:30AM. 231 Gun Dog Trail, Neeses, SC 29107. Buck Ridge Plantation is selling surplus inventory. Auction packed with stainless restaurant equipment and more! Coolers, stoves, ovens, griddles, hot bars, grills, ice cream machines, pots/pans, slush machines, wine coolers, keg coolers, plenty of bar equip, water coolers, coffee machines, heat lamps, pressure cookers, convection ovens, meat slicers, freezers, Bunn warmer, espresso machines, hot boxes, 25+ totes of table linens (all colors), 500+ glasses (tea, wine, martini), 600 plus pcs of china, 100+ table/chair sets, chandeliers, designer furniture, oriental rugs, 75 pcs of art, lamps, bedroom suits, sofas and chair sets, tons of stainless flatware, fork lift, vintage Gilbarco gas pump, much more! Browse web at www.cogburnauction.com. 803-860-0712
ADVERTISE YOUR AUCTION in 80 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25-word classified ad will reach more than 1 5 million readers. Call Randall Savely at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 803-750-9561
HELP WANTED – DRIVERS
ADVERTISE YOUR DRIVER JOBS in 80 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25word classified ad will reach more than 1 5 million readers. Call Randall Savely at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 803-7509561
MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE
Prepare for power outages with Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect(TM) standby generators – the most powerful home standby generators available. Industry-leading comprehensive warranty of 7 years ($849 value.) Proudly made in the U.S.A. Call Briggs & Stratton 1-855-212-3281
Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-844-7750366 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move. Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day. For a limited time, waving ALL installation costs! (Additional terms apply. Subject to change and vary by dealer. Offer ends 9/30/24.) Call 1-877-582-0113
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
TELEVISION & INTERNET SERVICES
DIRECTV OVER INTERNET – Get your favorite live TV, sports and local channels. 99% signal reliability! CHOICE Package, $84 99/mo for 12 months. HBO Max and Premium Channels 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- All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Directv and get your first three months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84 99/ mo. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-844-624-1107
Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80 000 On-Demand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-877-542-0759
VACATION RENTALS
ADVERTISE YOUR VACATION PROPERTY FOR RENT OR SALE to more than 1 5 million S.C. newspaper readers. Your 25-word classified ad will appear in 80 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Call Randall Savely at the South Carolina Newspaper Network, 803-750-9561
YOUR AD HERE
Looking to advertise your business, announce a yard sale, or share other classifieds? Contact Amanda Hanna today at amanda@lcweekly.com to secure your spot and get your ad featured in our upcoming issue!
Reasons
Restless Hearts
A successful lawyer discovers something is still missing.
He was young, handsome, and brilliant. He was at the top of his field, well-regarded by both his peers and by those in power. He partied with the rich and famous. He had everything that the world had to offer. Despite all this, he still was not happy. His heart was restless. He couldn’t shake the sense that he was meant for more.
We experience this same pattern in our lives.
As a child, we pinned our hopes for happiness on a certain toy, and even when we received it, the joy it provided quickly faded. So we looked to another toy, hoping this one would do the trick. We find the same pattern as adults. Whether it is a new car, the latest gadget, or a new romantic relationship, we keep finding that it is not enough. Why is this?
We all experience a longing for the infinite.
We have a desire for goodness, truth, and beauty which can never quite be satisfied by the things of the world. Gazing at the most beautiful sunset, we still yearn for an even deeper beauty. No matter how many books we read or degrees we have, we still thirst for more knowledge. Even the most wonderful friend or spouse can’t fulfill our longing for perfect friendship and love.
This is a sign that we are meant for something more than this world.
C. S. Lewis famously articulated in Mere Christianity, “Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water… If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”
The yearning in our hearts is a desire for God.
God created us in his image and likeness (Genesis 1:27), which means that we are persons with intellect, freedom, and an ability to love. He created us to be united with him and to share in his love, here on earth and one day in heaven. This is why we experience this desire for perfect goodness, truth, and beauty: it is a desire for our creator, who alone is perfectly good, true, and beautiful. This desire in our hearts is like a homing beacon that helps draw us to God.
In God, our hearts can finally find peace.
The lawyer mentioned above was Augustine, serving the Roman Emperor in the fourth century. He eventually became a Christian and finally found the peace and joy for which he was searching. From him we have the famous prayer, “You have made us for yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”
Why not test it out for yourself?
This desire of our hearts can’t be measured with scientific instruments, but nonetheless it is a sign that can point us to the possibility of there being more to reality than the material world. Each of us can do an experiment: what happens if we stop trying to satisfy our hearts with finite things, and instead seek God?
Fred Gaskin, Branch Leader, Hampton Long and Benjamin Witcher, Financial Consultants
