October 3 edition

Helene leaves mark on Lowcountry

By Delayna Earley The Island News

much intact but will have to take a good look to exactly what the damage is. Amber Hewitt/The Island News The Pine Island saga is a reflection of a changing St. Helena Island, a changing Lowcountry

The face of an island

Most

n 1970, Edith Dabbs, a Sumter, S.C.

activist known for her civil rights efforts with a special interest in St. Helena Island, published a collection of old photographs that had been found stored, neglected and moldering in the attic of a Penn Center storeroom.

These photographs — actually glass plate negatives — were made between 1900 and 1920 by a photographer named Leigh Richmond Minor.

Minor, who came from a family of Connecticut educators made a name for himself photographing working individuals, primarily at the historically black Hampton Institute and then Penn Center School on St. Helena Island. His black and white photographs showed young Black men repairing shoes, Black women learning how to preserve tomatoes, earnest teenagers learning how to be self-sufficient, productive in a world that was changing. But there were other photographs -landscapes.

These landscapes showed the traditional Lowcountry favorites, moss-draped live oaks overhanging narrow dirt roads. But they also showed large men standing

near handmade, wooden bateaus, proud of the crabs, shrimp or oysters they had caught and would market later that same day. They showed men and women in the field, preparing fields for cotton, ensuring that there would be some cash to buy the few things they could not manufacture themselves.

The book “Face of an Island” featured faces — of Brutus, an ex-slave; of Abby Jackson, midwife; of Thomas Robinson who would eventually leave St. Helena Island and earn a doctorate degree and

SEE FACE PAGE A4

He’s in it for the long haul

By

Scott Graber The Island News

“I’m going nowhere.” That’s what Pine Island developer Elvio Tropeano said Saturday, Sept. 21, when asked about his future plans for the 500-acre island which has generated much controversy in the past year. As previously reported last month in The Island News, Beaufort County Council voted

Peter White, from Lady’s Island, assesses damage to his J24 boat that uprooted and was pushed to dry land after Hurricane Helene made its way through Downtown Beaufort and the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront. At first glance, White said he thinks it’s pretty

SCOTT GRABER

LOLITA HUCKABY

Elvio Tropeano

LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS

To submit a Lowcountry Life

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 STEVE STOLARSKI

Beaufort’s Steve Stolarski, 76 joined the United States Navy in Cleveland in 1968. After Boot Camp at Great Lakes, Ill., he trained for aircraft maintenance (Hydraulics) in Millington, Tenn. He was assigned to Naval Auxiliary Air Station Fallon, Nev., servicing aircraft that came for ordnance training. He then was assigned to the helicopter school at Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach, Calif.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Do you know the true meaning of the 2nd Amendment?

Of course school shootings and "gun crimes" (committed by criminals or the mentally ill — not the gun) are horrendous. This letter in response to Ms. Lucas' anti second amendment column is about the amendment itself. She and the other liberal writers that are published here and demand "common sense gun laws," confiscation, universal background checks or just ignoring the second amendment, either don't know or don't want to know the meaning and importance of the amendment. Or worse, they know yet have no intellectual honesty on the subject.

At present there are more than 10,000 Federal, State, and local gun laws. Many are rarely enforced. Every week you can find a story of an arrest or conviction of a person with numerous previous convictions and gun-related cases that have been downgraded or dismissed in order to expedite the case. Why not prosecute to the fullest extent of the law? More gun laws won't stop gangs, mass murders, or suicides. More laws won't stop irresponsible adults from allowing children, felons, or the mentally ill access to guns.

Rifles are used in fewer than 2% of murders. The so-called assault rifle often blamed for the crime is nothing more than a semi-automatic firearm. Except for its "evil" or military appearance it is no different than rifles that have been in common use for more than 100 years. Time and again the

October 5

Moving west, he was next stationed at Naval Air Station Cubi Point, Philippines, from which he deployed aboard USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31), USS Oriskany (CVA-34) and USS America (CVA-66) while they were on station in the Tonkin

Gulf. He separated in 1971 and returned to Cleveland where he worked for the Post Office for 24 years.

– Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207 For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb 1 @gmail.com.

Courts have ruled that Police have no duty to protect anyone. People have the right and duty to protect themselves and their family. The second amendment provides the means to do so.

Every year between half-a-million to well over 2 million avoid injury or death by having and very rarely having to fire a gun. Many more events go unreported so the number could be much more. Our right to keep and bear arms has nothing to with hunting or target shooting. The Declaration of Independence states "Our Government derives it's power from the consent of the governed." That "whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it."

"It is their right, it is their duty to throw off such Government."

These are not my words but the words of our Founding Fathers. More laws and restrictions will not be obeyed by criminals and the mentally ill. When they fail — and they will — to prevent more terrible crimes, then what? More laws that are only obeyed by law abiding gun owners? For decades, Americans have been conditioned by politicians, liberal media, opinion writers and others to fear guns. How many Americans are aware of the true meaning of the second amendment?

– L. Vinny Francese, Beaufort

Thanks for Larry Dandridge’s columns

I enjoy reading Larry Dandridge’s weekly

2019: California Senator Kamala Harris, a Democratic

Campus. The meeting was originally set

PAL PETS OF THE WEEK

girl who enjoys mothering all the kittens in her room at Palmetto Animal League. She is a fun, goofy, lovable cat who soaks up attention. Clefairy even likes to hold hands! She is going to add lots of love and joy to someone’s home. She is spayed, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped.

Dog Of The Week

articles in your paper on veterans' benefits. Larry’s articles greatly simplify the complex VA systems, helping veterans and their families throughout the Lowcountry of S.C. and nationwide.

I am also impressed with your past and current series on Veterans Home Loans. Thank you for all you do for us veterans and our families.

– Thomas J. Mundell, President and CEO, National Medal of Honor Center for Leadership, Mt. Pleasant

Another thanks for Larry Dandridge’s columns

Many Thanks for your fine newspaper’s “Military-Veterans section” by your columnist, Lt. Col. Larry Dandridge, USA-ret. His articles on veteran benefits have been interesting and very helpful to me and, I am sure, many other military members, active and retired, and their families here in the Carolina Lowcountry and beyond.

I think Larry goes the extra mile for all of us who wear and have worn the uniform. I believe this, because I emailed Larry this past week and he emailed me back and called me with the information I desired the same day. I call this Service with a big “S!” The Island News and Larry Dandridge should be commended for their terrific support.

Thank you again.

– Angus Duncan Fordham, U.S. Army veteran

Dove is energetic and playful in the most wonderful way. She makes us all laugh when she gets the zoomies in the dog yard. She is such a sweet and

good girl, and she deserves a good home. Come see her at Palmetto Animal League, and we promise you'll be smiling just like Dove is in this photo. She is spayed, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped.

For more information on Clefairy, Dove and any of our other pets, call PAL at 843-645-1725 or email Info@ PalmettoAnimalLeague.org.

– Compiled by Lindsay Perry

Steve Stolarski

Cat Of The Week Clefairy is a sweet, 2-year-old

Which one of these is not like the other? Beaufort’s Andrea Ogiony caught this Roseate Spoonbill hanging out with the Wood Storks at Habersham with her iPhone on Thursday, Sept. 26.

photo,

Staff reports

Beaufort hires director of Capital Improvement Program

Raul Dominguez, who has an extensive background in professional services, construction and engineering, has been hired as the City of Beaufort’s director of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Dominguez, a Beaufort resident, took his position on Monday, Sept. 30. His most recent position was as the manager of daily operations for the Indigo Run Community Owners Association (Town of Hilton Head Island), where he supervised a staff

Haul

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8-3 to uphold its “Cultural Protection Overlay” zoning which currently prevents Tropeano and Pine Island LLC from building a golf course on the undeveloped property.

In a meeting with The Island News over the following weekend, Tropeano reiterated that “My property will be developed with a golf course … or without a golf course and 168 homes.” He went on to say “My property will be developed with an outcome where everyone wins, or ‘by right’ development requiring no public input at all.”

of three, and was in changes of facilities, roadways, landscaping, stormwater management, budgeting, purchasing, and contract management.

“We feel fortunate that Raul is joining our team. His expertise, familiarity with local industry partners and professionalism are the perfect combination to lead

To emphasize his point, Tropeano produced a loose leaf binder which had 144 DHEC permits for septic tanks and related drain fields.

In the discussion that followed about the history of the Island, Tropeano argued that his development would not hurt farming, fishing or the integrity of the Gullah Geechee people. He also went on to say that the 64-square-mile CPO District would not reduce housing densities or protect the island’s agricultural open spaces.

Some critics have questioned whether his plans for a gated community would limit river access to locals. But Tropeano said he had no knowledge that Pine Is-

our Capital Projects at a time when we have several complex projects underway and pending,” City Manager Scott Marshall said in a news release.

“I’m excited about joining the team in Beaufort,” Dominguez said. “I plan to get caught up quickly, and, with the team, get the Capital Improvement Program in strong shape.”

As director of the Capital Improvement Program, Dominguez will oversee a team from various departments (Finance, Public

land had ever been used for such crabbing and fishing purposes.

“I would be open to a proposal that allowed such activities,” he said.

The Saturday afternoon discussion moved to Black graveyards on St. Helena Island, and the fact that these historic waterside places are often rendered inaccessible by development. There is a history of disputes between the owners of waterfront property and island residents who claim that development encroached into a burial ground. Tropeano said he was aware of those concerns.

The National Park Service’s 2005 Environmental Impact Study of potential development threats on

Works, Downtown Operations) that meets on a regular basis to track progress on the projects.

He will be formalizing the Capital Improvement Program, putting into place best practices as Beaufort seeks to structure its capital projects process more rigorously. He will lead the project lifecycle from conception to completion.

Dominguez will engage with members of the public and the various neighborhoods – in the future, the CIP will require much more resident engagement for ex-

Gullah Geechee culture was also discussed. That study concluded, “The great transformation, however, began in 1957 when Charles Fraser launched his construction of Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island. It was not very long before other developers joined in, and resorts sprang up all over the Island. Although only about 20% of the Island was already owned by Gullah Geechee residents, much of the remaining land was owned by absentee landlords who allowed free access to their property. The absentee landlords quickly sold out to developers, between 1950 and 2000 the population of South Carolina Lowcountry counties increased by 151% while

ternal projects. He will work with Carrie Gorsuch, project support coordinator, on contracting, budgets, schedules, work plans, and cost estimates.

Before his tenure at Indigo Run, Dominguez managed operations at Port Royal Plantation, and was property manager at High Tide Associates. He was also a logistics warehouse manager for the U.S. Marine Corps. He served 12 years with the Marines and received the Navy Achievement Medal.

the national population as a whole increased by only 86%.”

“Before construction of Sea Pines Planation Gullah/ Geechee had been free to hunt and fish all over Hilton Head Island. Suddenly fences and gates blocked much of the land. Residents were cut off from hunting and fishing as well as traditional burial grounds.”

Tropeano responded by saying that these restrictions happened when Beaufort County allowed Planned Unit Developments. Now that they are no longer used as a zoning tool, “the CPO does not and cannot address the allowable density.”

In substance, Tropeano argued “the intent of the

CPO cannot be met on such a unique and highly developable piece of property under current zoning.”

This validity of the County’s zoning on Pine Island is now before the South Carolina Court of Appeals which will have the last word on whether Beaufort County has the right to use the Cultural Protection Overlay as a tool to preserve what is left of a disappearing culture. When asked by this reporter if the County’s decision would make him pack his bags and look elsewhere, Tropeano said “no.”

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

No matter where you are in Beaufort, Carolina Air is ready to provide

factory authorized Carrier Dealer with NATE-certified technicians, we’ve made a commitment to be the best. Whether you need a new system or help keeping your existing system running efficiently, we’ll keep you cool and comfortable all year long.

The Pennsylvania native has served as a physician assistant at urgent care and family practice clinics in San Antonio since 2018, where he provided care for patients of all ages and conditions. Given the area’s high veteran,

and complex health issues.

Varner

Raul Dominguez

Beaufort Shrimp Festival back for its 30th year

Staff reports

Now that the storm has passed, the Beaufort Shrimp Festival is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary with this year's event Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4 and 5, in Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.

The event will feature an arts and crafts market, Kids Corner activities, free live entertainment, and of course, all the mouth-watering shrimp you can handle.

On Friday night, this family-friendly festival will feature singers Alan Price at 5:30 p.m. and

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become a teacher.

Some believe it was those faces that told St Helena’s story best. But others say the story of that sea island is the land.

The changing landscape By the 1990s, the landscape of St. Helena Island, indeed Beaufort County was changing, as it was all along the East Coast. Penn School itself was no longer responsible for educating the children of St. Helena, with the public school district taking over that responsibility back in 1948. But many of the young, ambitious men and women, upon graduation, were leaving the Lowcountry and South Carolina for parts north, particularly New York City. Pink and green-painted beach houses were popping up on places like Harbor Island, rural fields and forests were being re-imagined, repopulated with retirees.

Many said this change was inevitable.

Recognizing change as a force to be confronted, in 1994 Penn Center and the Coastal Conservation League, the five-year-old environmental nonprofit out of Charleston, established the Penn School for Preservation. The goal was to pull together a diverse group of concerned citizens for a two-year course in the history and changing issues of

the ever popular Deaz Guys at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, enjoy the Coastal Education Fair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and entertainers the Brewer Band at 11:10 a.m., Jason Lee Cook at 12:20 p.m., and Gritty FlyRight at 2:30 p.m.

Rumor has it that Forrest Gump, or someone that looks a lot like him, and his parasol may be making an appearance.

The food vendors include Sea Eagle Market, Mother Smokin’

Good, Belly Full by Tyger, Nom Nom Poke Shop, Locals Raw Bar, Food Savvy, the Island Fudge Shoppe, Sassy Sweets, and Tasty Creations by Teen Challenge.

The Arts & Crafts Market will be open both days, from noon to 6 p.m. on Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Forty artisans will be offering hand-crafted items, including art, jewelry, clothing, wood working and more.

The Run Forrest Run 5K Run/

to protect that status, but only after months of public discussions and committee meetings.

But participants at the Penn School for Preservation, who had been meeting weekly to discuss the issues knew this zoning would not be enough to withstand the development pressures that had already begun changing the topography of neighboring Hilton Head Island starting back in the 1950’s when a Georgia timberman named Charles Fraser arrived on the scene.

The CPO

Between 1994 and 1999 these students at the Penn preservation school and other concerned citizens began to lobby county planners for a brief, simply worded “Cultural Protection

your point of view — went to U.S. Rep. James Clyburn asking for help.

Clyburn, who after 14 years in Congress had risen to a leadership position in the U.S. House of Representatives, thought it was important to specifically identify and define the Gullah culture which he agreed, was under attack.

The Gullah-Geechee Heritage Culture Corridor was designated by Congress in 2006 as a protection of the cultural heritage of former West African slaves who had settled along the Atlantic coastline, many on the rural islands like St. Helena. As part of the designation, the National Park Service conducted a study of the sea islands’ cultural status -- looking at features from small churches, two-acre farms, praise houses and graveyards -- and offered an opinion on how those ways of life would be jeopardized by developments such as golf courses and gated communities.

The National Park study, which was published in mid2005, included Environmental Impact Statements which documented how these resort developments produced toxic futures for the formerly rural areas of Hilton Head Island, Daufuskie, and Kiawah.

A challenge

economic development and zoning on what had been South Carolina’s relatively undiscovered sea islands. There was, of course, heavy emphasis on the unique Gullah-Geechee culture that still survived in areas along the Atlantic Ocean from Wilmington NC to Jacksonville, Florida.

In 1997, Beaufort County adopted its first Comprehensive Development Plan as required by state law for those counties beginning to establish zone districts as designations for what should be developed where.

The rural nature of places like St. Helena Island and northern Beaufort County –Lobeco, Sheldon, Garden’s Corner – were given zoning

Overlay” that would, among other things, confirm that golf courses and gated communities were incompatible with the essence of St Helena. In 1999, the CPO language was added to the zoning ordinance. That designation and its goals for protecting the culture were repeated in 2010 and 2014 when the comprehensive plan was updated.

But those paragraphs would have to have some under-girding legal justification. The folks on St Helena had learned that you can’t just say “no” to golf courses, gated communities. These concerned folks — dreamers or schemers depending on

Jump forward to this decade when in 2021, Elvio Tropeano, formerly of Boston but now living in Beaufort and representing Pine Island LLC, entered into a contract to purchase a 500-acre island surrounded by creeks leading into St. Helena Sound. The property, accessible only by a narrow causeway leading from the Dulamo community on St. Helena, includes remains of the antebellum summer retreat, St. Helenaville and two listings on the National Register of Historic Places because of archeological and architectural attributes.

The land that once served as timberland as well as family retreat for hunting experiences, was sold for $18 million.

Tropeano and his unidentified associates purchased

the property knowing about the county’s Comprehensive Development Plan which included the St. Helena Cultural Protection Overlay (CPO) district, which specifically prohibited golf courses and communities with private gate access. The purchase launched a series of multiple private meetings with county officials including former County Administrator Eric Greenway, state Rep. Weston Newton and others as the developers lobbied their plans which would require an amendment to the CPO.

The amendment which was introduced to the county Planning Commission in an unusual departure by County Administrator Greenway, who proposed that properties larger than 50 acres be exempt from the CPO zone. He and county attorneys expressed concerns that the CPO, as written, would be legally indefensible.

After a five-hour meeting in June 2023, when a number of supporters and opponents had their opportunity to speak, the county Planning Commission rejected the Pine Island LLC’s request for an exemption to CPO. At that point, Tropeano proposed a different development plan to the county planning staff – three six-hole golf courses, also rejected by the staff as an end-around to the existing regulations.

In July, after the county administrative rejections, Tropeano turned to the courts for relief. Pine Island LLC filed an appeal against the county’s denial of the request for the revised development plan with three six-hole courses. A second legal action was also filed, a civil complaint challenging the validity of the CPO and asking for monetary damages, a case which has been remanded to the federal courts.

The appeals case was subjected to mediation in early September with attorneys representing Beaufort County, the South Carolina Environmental Law Project, Penn Center and the Coastal Conservation League supporting the zoning ordinance and state Sen. Majorie Green, who is one of the

Walk will be held on Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. and will start on Bay Street at New Castle Street. Run the course where the movie “Forrest Gump” was filmed, and have your photo taken with Forrest at the start and finish line.

At 3 p.m. Saturday, the 16th annual Charity Shrimp Race takes place, presented by the Sea Island Rotary Club. The grand prize is $30,000. To purchase a shrimp for this event, go to Sea Island Rotary.

attorneys representing Pine Island LLC.

The results of that mediation session were shared with the Beaufort County Council on Sept. 16, again in a closed-door session. After 2:30 hours of discussion behind closed doors, a pizza party and prayer by the Pine Island development opponents, the council members came out and rejected any settlement by an 8-3 vote.

Voting against that motion were Councilmembers Logan Cunningham, Paula Brown and Tom Reitz, all from south of the Broad River and representing communities flourishing with golf courses. It was these three, along with Councilman York Glover who represents St. Helena Island, who sat through the initial mediation and came to share their thoughts, again in closeddoor session, with their fellow council members on Sept. 16

With the motion to reject any settlement, the question of the validity of the county’s CPS zoning remains in the courts, awaiting trial dates.

From the CPO to conservation easements

The debate taking place in Beaufort County and now, moving into the courts, is not new. Similar challenges to the county’s Comprehensive Plan have occurred throughout the years. When the plan was being drafted back in the 1990s, county officials heard lots from their planners and various interested parties, often in conflict with one another.

The growing cast of developers, builders and their lawyers argued zoning regulations represented a “taking of private property” without compensation. The debates were heated and resulted in some landowners and developers opting for annexation into the more permissive, more dense zoning offered by government entities like Hardeeville, Bluffton, City of Beaufort and Town of Port Royal.

In 1999, the St. Helena Cultural Protection Overlay was first in the nation to afford a tailor-made zoning for unique places like St Helena Island, but since then it has caught the attention of planners and governments across the country. For example, in the Palmetto State, Aiken and Kershaw counties are looking at the overlay districts in an effort to protect their horse-breeding lands from development.

In neighboring Jasper County, there is an ongoing effort to establish a cultural protection overlay zone for the Euhaw area which encompasses more than 50,000 acres from Point South on I-95 and extends down along the Broad River until colliding with Hardeeville’s ever-expanding town limits which now include Latitude Margaritaville Hilton Head and parts of Sun City.

This effort underscores that — for most of its history — Jasper has been a relatively small collection of huge hunting clubs providing thousands of acres for deer, duck and quail shooting. Owners of large parcels once passed down their club memberships from father to son, keeping most of Jasper County wooded and undeveloped.

To compensate for the possible political intervention of overlay district protections, where local elected officials might change their views and grant variances, such as the ones requested for Pine Island, the option for more legally binding conservation easements have been introduced.

Conservation easements allow owners of a property to place restrictions on the future use of their acres in exchange for a tax credit. For many of the wealthy folks who own those large tracts of land and would still like to see those trees remain, this tax credit is of immediate and sometimes immense value.

Preservationist nonprofit organizations like the Nature Conservancy, the Beaufort County Open Land Trust, the Coastal Conservation League and others have gotten into the large-tract retention business by buying large tracts of land themselves, putting easements on environmentally sensitive properties, then selling all or parts of the tract with restrictions that prohibit thousands of houses, golf courses and marinas. More recently, the Port Royal Sound Foundation, a private, nonprofit offspring of the Friends of the River which was organized in 2000, has entered the preservation debate to keep that huge body of water free from the pollution that usually follows when you cut down all the trees in order to clear the way for development or build golf courses with their manicured lawns and potential for pollution runoff.

While the proposed development of Pine Island may be a reoccurring part of the increasingly popular Lowcountry, the faces of those who care passionately about the area, just like the images captured by photographer Minor more than a century ago, still show concern for the future unknown.

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

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.

An aerial view of St. Helenaville and Pine Island. Photo courtesy of Miles Sanders

Monday’s Beaufort County Council meeting was packed with spectators, including both those in support of maintaining the Cultural Protection Overlay, as well as those in support of a golf course development on Pine Island. Lolita Huckaby/The Island News

Man shot early Monday in Yemassee

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is investigating a shooting that occurred early on Monday, Sept. 30, in the Newberry Circle area of Big Estate.

Around 1:30 a.m., deputies responded to a residence and found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.

Deputies learned that a residence that was occu-

pied in the area was struck with gunfire multiple times, which appears to have resulted in a 64-year-old man to become wounded.

The man suffered a non-threatening wound, according to the release sent out by BCSO on Monday.

The shooting and surrounding circumstances are still actively under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call the lead investigator Sgt. Tunis

at 843-255-3426 or at the tip online at BCSO.NET.

BCSO has asked that the public report any suspicious activity by calling the non-emergency dispatch line at 843-524-2777

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.

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Saint Peter’s Catholic Church hosting 64th annual Fall Bazaar

Saint Peter’s Catholic Church will hold its 64th annual Fall Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5 2024 on the church campus at 70 Lady’s Island Drive, Beaufort.

The Bazaar features international foods, a craft fair with local artisans, a sweet shoppe, an in-person and online silent auction, a wine and beer garden, a plant sale, church tours, and a Kids Zone with inflatables, games, and the Beaufort Barnyard Petting Zoo.

The Bazaar will benefit Lowcountry Outreach, a ministry of Saint Peter’s parish that provides office space for area nonprofits, meeting rooms for support groups, and services such as a ride program for those with limited transportation.

Indivisible Beaufort meeting Oct. 5

Barbara Nash will be the discussion leader and Exploring Project 2025 will be the discussion topic at the next Indivisible Beaufort

meeting, to be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 5 at the Beaufort Downtown Library at 311 Scott Street. Nash is an Indivisible member and a former candidate for the South Carolina House or Representatives. Her career as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, health care practice founder, and college educator makes her especially well informed and concerned about the health care and educational policies, as well as the other issues proposed by Project 2025

The event is free and open to the public.

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. In addition, the ramp coming off U.S. 21 onto Laurel Bay Road is permanently closed.

– Staff reports

Republican Women hosting meetand-greet for Erickson

Staff reports The Beaufort Republican Women’s Club is hosting a meet-and-greet with S.C. Rep. Shannon Erickson, who is running for re-election for House District 124, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7 at Bricks on Boundary at 1422 Boundary Street, Beaufort.

An educator and business owner, Erickson was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2007. Currently the Chair of the House Educatn and Public Works Committee, she has served as Chairman of the SC House Domestic Violence Reform Task Force which authored, sponsored, and passed major reform legislation in 2015. She has been Republican Whip her entire tenure in the House. This event is free and open to the public. Hors d’oeuvres will be provided, and there is a cash bar.

Mark

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the classroom on Tuesday after having eLearning days on Friday, Sept. 27 and Monday, Sept. 30 due to impacts from the storm.

As for water, Beaufort Jasper Water and Sewer Authority issued a statement on Sept. 27 asking customers to limit their water usage through to prevent a strain on the water and sewage systems.

While there were more than 30 deaths reported in the state due to the storm, thankfully there were not any storm related deaths in Beaufort County, according to Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Master Sgt. Danny Allen.

Burton Fire District responded to more than 50 emergency calls related to Helene, mostly for downed trees and wires and electrical fires due to exploding transformers.

Lady’s Island-St. Helena Fire District and Beaufort/Port Royal Fire Department received similar calls due to the storm.

The day dock near the Downtown Marina in Beaufort and Henry Robinson Boardwalk at The Sands in Port Royal were both partially destroyed in the storm.

According to a social media post by the Town of Port Royal, the observation tower at the boardwalk is still in place, but it will not be available until it is evaluated by a structural engineer to ensure that it is stable.

Boats moored in the Beaufort River near downtown Beaufort and docked at the Downtown Beaufort Marina were dislodged and pushed onto the banks of the river.

Helping the Highcountry

With things starting to return to normal in the Lowcountry, many are looking to help those affected by massive flooding caused by

Lending a Helping hand

04-

as seen

Helene in the Upstate of South Carolina, eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina.

Former Beaufort mayor Stephen Murray along with several other local businesses including Shellring Ale Works and Schiller-Hamilton Law Firm, have been collecting donations of goods to deliver to western North Carolina later in the week.

Murray posted on Tuesday that he and Sea Eagle Market’s Craig Reaves had already delivered one load of needed goods to three different locations to help those who have been left with nothing as their homes and towns were destroyed in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

For those who wish to donate money to help aid the relief efforts in North Carolina, here is a list of places that are accepting donations compiled and posted by WNCW-88 7 FM, the radio station for Isothermal Community College in Spindale, N.C.:

State of North Carolina

Donate to the North Caro-

LEGAL NOTICES

lina Disaster Relief Fund at https://nc.gov/donate Buncombe County (Asheville region)

To donate: helenedonations@ buncombecounty.org

To volunteer: helenevolunteers@buncombecounty.org

American Red Cross

North Carolina

To make a financial donation, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800733-2767), text HELENE to 90999, or visit https://www. redcross.org/donate/dr/hurricane-helene.html

The Salvation Army of the Carolinas

Donate to the Salvation Army

Hurricane Helene Relief at https://bit.ly/3BoOREu

United Way of North Carolina

Donate to the UW Helps N.C. Helene Recovery Fund at https://fundraise.givesmart. com/form/1nSUgw

Operation Airdrop (Concord, N.C.)

Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts at https://www.operation-airdrop.com/hurri -

will apply to the Court for the

cane-helene

Asheville reputable organizations https://belovedasheville.com/ get-involved https://donate.mannafoodbank.org https://www.foothillsfoodhub. org/donate http://abccm.org/donations/ ministry-fund https://homewardboundwnc. org https://baptistsonmission. org/.../Disast.../Hurricane-Helene https://www.nccommunityfoundation.org/news/hurricane-helene https://www.ffa-nc.org https://facebook.com/democracygreen

Moving Forward Beaufort County has announced that the Assessor’s Office has set up a web form for real property owners to self-report structure damage from Hurricane Helene.

“This form is applicable to both Residential and Commercial property owners,” said the release that was sent out on Tuesday, Oct. 1 “If you have damage to a structure on your property, please report it to the Beaufort County Assessor’s Office by either using the form or calling at 843-255-2400.”

They followed by saying that it is important that the damage is reported as it will help Beaufort County to correctly assess and report damage to state and other agencies.

The City of Beaufort announced on Monday that they will perform a one-time pickup of storm debris left from Hurricane Helene on Monday, Oct. 7

To ensure pickup by Public Works, all debris need to be placed at the curbside in front of homes no later than 7 a.m. on Monday and residents should bag and bundle any debris, if possible.

Large branches and other large

debris can be left unbound but they must be at the curbside.

The city has asked that no debris be placed on or next to utilities such as fire hydrants, water meters, electric or cable boxes and telephone poles or pedestals. Additionally, debris should not be placed under low hanging lines and branches as the knuckleboom trucks might not be able to reach them.

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division has set up a toll-free hotline. Operators with the State’s Public Information Phone System are available 24 hours a day for as long as needed. Hurricane Helene Hotline: 866-246-0133

United Way of the Lowcountry’s 2-1-1 HELPLINE is active for information and referrals for non-emergency assistance. Reach 2-1-1 by calling 2-1-1, texting 2-1-1-2-1-1, or visiting www.SC211.org.

To receive help with damage, clean up following Hurricane Helene, call Crisis Cleanup at 844965-1386. Volunteers may be able to assist with mucking out, cleaning trees, tarping roofs, and cleaning debris. All services are free, but service is not guaranteed.

HELP of Beaufort offers clothing assistance, family assistance, mobile meals, financial assistance and is a recognized FEMA disaster relief pantry for Beaufort County. Hurricane Season runs through the end of November, so be prepared for the possibility that this is not the last of the hurricane-related weather for this year. The National Weather Service is currently monitoring several systems in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico that have the potential to gain strength over the next week.

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.

Damage

downtown Beaufort on Friday, Sept. 27 at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront after Hurricane Helene made its way through leaving downed trees, power outages, the sea wall and docks severally damaged. Several boats uprooted at were pushed to dry land. Amber Hewitt/ The Island News

Volunteers (from left) Gary Marino, Sona Lyttle, Anthony Baker, and Stacy Delise prepare food bags for anyone who does not have power and HELP of Beaufort clients, during the Emergency FEMA Disaster Relief outdoor pantry on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, held at Help of Beaufort on Charles Street in Beaufort. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

SPORTS

Resetting the region races

LowcoSports.com

At the halfway point of the high school football season, with most teams on the cusp of beginning region play, it seems a good time to revisit how each area region stacks up and which teams have a chance to play deep into the postseason this fall.

SCHSL 6-4A

REGION/OVERALL

The Favorite: May River has done enough to this point to earn the favorite tag, jumping into the top five in the state rankings with a quick start while preseason favorite Beaufort has been plagued by injuries and struggled against a difficult schedule. The Sharks’ straight-forward ground game and team effort on defense have been a handful for opponents.

The Contenders: With Beaufort inching toward full health, the Eagles are still among the top contenders for the title in what still appears to be a wide-open region.

Bluffton has enough offensive firepower to win a shootout any given Friday, while both Hilton Head and Bishop England have emerged as surprise contenders with strong defenses and reliable run games.

The Big Game: Take your pick of Low-

co-on-Lowco showdowns, because every week will bring at least one pivotal contest, if not more. It starts Friday with the Bobcats visiting Beaufort and Hilton Head traveling to Bishop England.

SCHSL 6-3A

REGION/OVERALL

OrangeburgWilkinson 0-0 4-1 North Charleston 0-0 4-1 Hanahan 0-0 3-3 Battery Creek 0-0 2-3 Oceanside Collegiate 0-0 2-3

The Favorite: Despite the records, former 2A power Oceanside Collegiate remains the team to beat in the region. The Landsharks have played a brutal schedule — quite the opposite of Orangeburg-Wilkinson and North Charleston — so they should be well-prepared

for region play.

The Contenders: Hanahan figures to be a thorn in OCA’s side, with the Hawks’ three losses coming by a combined 19 points against three quality opponents, and O-W has shown an ability to win close games, so don’t count the Bruins out, either. Battery Creek could be a darkhorse if the Dolphins get Derrick Smalls Jr. and Damien Freeman back to full health.

The Big Game: Oceanside Collegiate travels to Hanahan on Friday in a matchup that will clarify the picture at the top of the region significantly.

SCHSL 5-2A

REGION/OVERALL

Barnwell 0-0 5-1

Hampton Co. 0-0 4-1

Whale Branch 0-0 2-3

Lake Marion 0-0 2-3

Edisto 0-0 2-3

The Favorite: This one seemed easy until Hampton County was trounced at Hilton Head and Barnwell blew out a Silver Bluff team that gave the Hurricanes fits. Now it’s more complicated, but based on the entire picture, it would seem the Warhorses have assumed the mantle. Whether they can carry it home from Varnville on Oct. 18 is yet to be seen.

The Contenders: If the Hurricanes aren’t the favorite anymore, they’re the top contender, and regardless of which team wins the region, both Hampton County and Barnwell will be tough outs in the playoffs. Whale Branch has the talent to emerge as a contender, but the Warriors have work to do on both sides of the ball if they want to finish above third in the region.

The Big Game: Barnwell treks to Hampton on

EAGLES ON TV BCTV will be airing Beaufort High School’ home football game against Bluffton High School at 7:30 p.m., Friday night, Oct. 4. BCTV can be found on cable channels Hargray –Chs. 9 and 417; Comcast – Ch. 2; Spectrum –Ch. 1304. BCTV also streams live on www. BeaufortCounty.tv and through the FREE BCTV APP available on ROKU, Apple TV, Android TV and Amazon Fire.

Oct. 18 in a matchup that seems destined to determine the region title.

SCISA 2-1A

REGION/OVERALL

Thomas Heyward 2-0 4-1

Beaufort Academy 2-0 5-2

Colleton Prep 1-2 4-3

Patrick Henry 1-1 3-3

Faith Christian 1-2 1-5

Andrew Jackson Acad. 0-2 1-6

The Favorite: Thomas Heyward looks the part of a state title contender and as long as Tony O’Banner is standing upright, the Rebels will be a problem.

The Contenders: Beaufort Academy has cemented itself as the 1B to THA’s 1A, and the Eagles have their own workhorse in Nych Underwood. Plus, they get the Rebels at home to end the season.

The Big Game: Several big ones have already been played, leaving one monumental one at Merritt Field on Nov. 1, assuming the Rebels and Eagles both take care of business between now and then.

BA’s Underwood carries load in key region win

LowcoSports.com

Beaufort Academy had a couple large sets of shoes to fill in its backfield going into the season, but the Eagles found a running back with the feet for the job.

BA’s Nych Underwood racked up a career-high 241 yards on 21 carries and scored two touchdowns, soaring past 1 000 rushing yards for the season and carrying the Eagles to a key 39-20 win over Colleton Prep on Friday at Merritt Field.

Dietrich Shuford rushed for 102 yards and a score and went 12-for-16 for 214 yards with a TD and an interception, and BA’s defense kept a short-handed War Hawks’ offense at bay.

Devin Fripp hauled in a bomb from Shuford in the end zone to make it 19-7 at halftime, and Underwood helped the Eagles hold off the War Hawks’ surge after the break. After Colleton Prep pulled within a touchdown at 2720, Underwood snapped off a 70yard touchdown run to give BA some cushion, and Andrew Butterfield added a touchdown run to cap the scoring.

Fripp had three catches for 65 yards and a score along with seven tackles, while Nic Shuford caught four passes for 86 yards and collected six tackles, and Keeler Dineen had a team-high 10 tackles. Grady Lamm added eight tackles and a sack, and

Nathan Chavarria Byrne had six tackles with three sacks.

Underwood has been a massive addition for the Eagles in his first season since transferring from Battery Creek. The junior has rushed for 1,125 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging 8 4 yards per carry, while adding 15 tackles and two interceptions on defense.

The Eagles (5-2, 2-0) have won five of their last six going into a road test at Bethesda Academy on Friday, their last non-region game before three region matchups to close the season, including a potential region-title clash at home against Thomas Heyward on Nov. 1

Beaufort Academy running back Nych Underwood (15) runs for some of his career-high 241 yards Friday night in the Eagles’ 39-20 win over Colleton Prep at Merritt Field on Lady’s Island. Photo courtesy of Dan Byrne

A group of Bluffton Bobcats take down Whale Branch running back Alonzo Allen in the season opener for both teams. The Warriors find themselves at 2-3 with Region 5-2A play set to begin. Brady Sacha/File/LowcoSports.com

care TALK ©

Boost your health and productivity with ‘activity snacks’

Sitting at a desk for hours at a time may make some feel exhausted and unmotivated. If that's ever happened to you, it may be time for a snack … an activity snack.

The concept is simple, after sitting for an hour, take two to three minutes to get up and move your body.

"You break this sedentary status of your body by going to take the stairs for two or three flights, or just do some push-ups or do something that is meaningful in terms of activity for just a

few minutes, and then come back and continue your work," says Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist.

In a way, Dr. Lopez-Jimenez says those two to three minutes reset your metabolic clock.

"It has been impressive, the biological changes those activity snacks can induce in your cells, in the metabolism of the sugar, in the metabolism of the cholesterol, just by having those little episodes of activity, even

though you might be sitting down for the next 45 minutes," he says.

It's a small change that can make a big impact on your physical and mental health.

"You will see how that little activity will even sharpen your mind for the next 30to-45 minutes, says Dr. Lopez-Jimenez.

Source: https://newsnetwork. mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayoclinic-minute-boost-your-healthand-productivity-with-activitysnacks/

How to make your hands look younger

Summer is over. You’ve been gardening, picking up shells at the beach, cleaning up after a recent severe storm. Your hands are probably feeling the brunt of being exposed to the elements.

You work hard to keep your skin healthy and happy. You moisturize after every shower. You apply sunscreen and wear wide-brimmed hats when you’re outside.

But your hands need protection and care, too. Neglecting your hands could lead them to look much older than you are.

Most of us have a skin care regimen for our faces, but we often forget about our hands,” says hand and cosmetic surgeon Bryan Michelow, MD. “And that’s a mistake for two reasons—nature and nurture.”

It’s never too late to start taking good care of them. Moisturizer, sunscreen and other treatments can help get you on your way.

Dr. Michelow and dermatologist Amy Kassouf, MD, explain how to make your hands look younger.

Signs of aging on your hand

Ever wonder what causes aging hands? The answer is found in the way your body changes as a whole over time. But you can intervene in how it happens.

Dry, scaly skin, brittle nails and dark age spots can become problems as people get older,” says Dr. Kassouf.

And you may have noticed wrinkly hands. As you age, your hands lose fat and elasticity and your skin loses volume. This reduced volume and decreased elas-

ticity produces translucent skin that wrinkles and develops dark spots. Age spots, also called liver spots or solar lentigines, happen after exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light and can be various shades of brown or black. They appear on areas most exposed to the sun, when melanin is abundant because of sun exposure. You can get them at any age, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors or use tanning beds (which are never recommended).

“We expose our hands to the sun and other noxious elements more than any other part of the body,” says Dr. Michelow.

And, because hands do so much, they get washed more throughout the day. “Frequent washing in hot water removes the natural oils that lubricate your skin and protect against dry and cracked surfaces,” Dr. Michelow adds.

What will keep your hands looking young?

The good news is there are many ways to prevent and fight

signs of aging on your hands. Moisturize. Don’t let your hands get dried out. Make a habit of putting on lotion regularly during the day and every time after you wash your hands. Stock up and keep a bottle of moisturizer on the sink so you never forget an application.

Protect your skin and nails. Wear cotton-lined gloves when gardening or when cleaning with harsh soap or chemicals. Use a mild pH soap to wash your hands. Look for mild or ultra-mild versions. Your doctor may have more recommendations if you’re not sure what’s best.

Exfoliate. When you’re exfoliating your body or face, don’t forget about your hands. Use a gentle loofah or a mixture of sugar, lemon and natural oil to remove the dead skin and dead skin cells off the tops of your palm and your fingers and knuckles. Don’t forget to moisturize immediately after.

Wear sunscreen. “Get in the habit of wearing sunscreen every day,” encourages Dr. Kassouf. “A

broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 50 or higher will go a long way to prevent age spots and hand wrinkles.” And don’t forget that when you’re driving, UV rays come through your windows.

Eat a healthy diet. A balanced diet with plenty of vitamins, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids can nourish your skin and help grow healthy nails. If your diet is low in certain proteins, vitamin C or vitamin B complex, or if you have poor absorption, your nails can become brittle and peel or flake easily. “Make sure to eat a balanced diet full of foods that are good for your skin and contain vitamins to nourish your hands from the inside out. You can also get yourself a good multivitamin,” Dr. Kassouf advises.

Anti-aging hand treatments

You can treat age spots at home with lemon juice, or an over-the-counter topical lightening treatment. And, age spots can be improved with over-the-counter or prescription topical creams containing retinol or retinoic acid. Remove outer layers of skin. You can schedule periodic treatments to remove the outer layer of skin. These include dermaplaning, dermabrasion, chemical exfoliation and laser resurfacing. These treatments help improve the texture and tone of your skin. They also help reduce wrinkles and correct uneven or irregular pigmentation.

Need a hand?

Just as important as what you can do to deter signs of aging? What NOT to do.

• Don’t smoke. Smoking is not only bad for your insides, but it ages you on the outside as well. “Smoking leads to ‘cigarette skin,’ which is dull, gray, pale and crinkly,” Dr. Michelow states.

Don’t use Botox®. In terms of treatments, Dr. Michelow cautions, “Neurotoxins like Botox are of no value because they inhibit muscle movement but have no effect on volume loss.”

Don’t have skin removal surgery. “Surgery to remove excess skin on the back of the hands carries more risks than benefits,” he says. “It’s not advisable because of scarring and the risk of poor healing.”

And when you’re looking for anti-aging hand treatments to use at home, Dr. Kassouf has some additional guidance. There are two kinds of products to use to help heal your skin. The first are humectants, ingredients like hyaluronic acid that help bind water into your skin to hydrate it. Second, there are products containing lipids or fats that are the emollients that improve the barrier function of your skin, helping to keep all of the unwanted things out.

“Both are important now more than ever for the health of your hands,” Dr. Kassouf emphasizes.

Source: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/ are-your-hands-aging-you?

BMH to offer $99 mammograms through October 31

A screening mammogram is one of the best tools for detecting breast cancer early. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Beaufort Memorial is offering the opportunity to purchase 3-D screening mammograms for $99 now through Oct. 31. Vouchers for the mammograms can be purchased online at BeaufortMemorial.org/SaveOnMammos. Patients who purchase the $99 voucher by the end of October will

be able to schedule their screening appointments at any of the hospital’s three Breast Health Centers in Beaufort, Okatie or Hilton Head Island within the next six months.

Patients who wish to purchase a $99 screening mammogram should: Visit BeaufortMemorial. org/SaveOnMammos and select a service and preferred location (Beaufort, Okatie or

Hilton Head Island) between now and Oct. 31

Pay online with a major credit card, debit card, FSA or HAS card and receive a voucher. Visit BeaufortMemorial. org/MammoAppointment or call (843) 5225015 to schedule your screening any time in the next six months. Present the voucher at the time of the appointment.

The special pricing is available through MDsave, an online healthcare marketplace designed for patients who have no health insurance or high-deductible health plans. Through MDsave patients can prepay to receive discounts on a wide range of medical services, including lab work, imaging tests, physical therapy, primary care visits and a variety of same-day surgeries – and avoid hospital billing.

A screening mammogram is one of the best tools for early detection of breast cancer. Photo courtesy of Paul Nurnberg

Four daily servings of cruciferous vegetables may help lower blood pressure

Over one billion adults worldwide have high blood pressure, making it a critical subject of research and health interventions.

A study just published in BMC Medicine looked at how certain vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower might help reduce blood pressure in adults with mildly elevated blood pressure.

The researchers found that consuming four daily servings of cruciferous vegetables for two weeks, compared to an equivalent control intervention of root and squash vegetables, helped to lower 24-hour brachial systolic blood pressure by an average of 2.5 mmHg. This decrease could mean reducing the risk for major cardiovascular events by 5%.

How do cruciferous vegetables impact blood pressure?

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, so it’s essential to control it. Controlling high blood pressure can involve dietary changes.

The researchers of the

current study wanted to see how cruciferous vegetables, compared to root and squash vegetables, affected blood pressure. Cruciferous vegetables include vegetables like kale, broccoli, and cauliflower. Researchers measured how cruciferous vegetables affected 24-hour brachial systolic blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure is the top blood pressure number, which measures when the heart muscles contract.

Positive effects on blood pressure, triglycerides

Overall, researchers found that consuming cruciferous vegetables helped to decrease systolic blood pressure during the day after the two-week intervention but did not seem to impact nighttime systolic blood pressure.

The researchers also found that participants in the active intervention experienced a significant decrease in serum triglyceride levels compared to the control group.

Both groups also lost weight, which can be an im-

portant component of blood pressure management. However, since they lost similar amounts, weight loss doesn’t seem to be the reason for the differences in blood pressure between the two groups.

Eating more cruciferous vegetables can help blood pressure

Overall, this study suggests that cruciferous vegetables help lower systolic blood pressure, but they also have other health benefits that people may want to take advantage of.

“Cruciferous vegetables are mainly your leafy greens like kale, collard greens, cabbage, brussels sprouts, etc. They also include cauliflower and broccoli. They are all

known to have glucosinolates, which may be able to help fight cancer. They are also loaded with fiber, which helps lower cholesterol and improve gut health and vitamin C which is good for your immune system. Cruciferous veggies are also good for your blood since they have vitamin K (which is important for blood clotting) and folate which helps produce red blood cells.”

– Karen Z. Berg, MS, RD, CSO, CDN

People who want to make changes to their diet to improve blood pressure should always do so safely with help from medical professionals who understand their unique circumstances and dietary needs.

Keeping blood pressure in a healthy range helps reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

• One study’s findings suggest that cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and kale may help lower blood pressure in adults with mild hypertension, pointing to another potential benefit of the vegetable group.

• People can make food choices that help with blood pressure management and choose to incorporate more cruciferous vegetables if appropriate.

Christopher Berg, MD, a board-certified cardiologist who was not involved in the study, also noted the following about the study’s findings:

“Often, the most successful dietary changes are ones that are sustainable – usually small incremental changes made over time. Think more like ‘add one serving of vegetables to each dinner’ rather than ‘forsake all meat starting Monday’.”

For those interested in eating more cruciferous vegetables, Karen Berg offered the following tips:

“Many cruciferous veggies can be eaten raw, or simply grilled. Some

easy ways to incorporate them into your diet is by adding kale to a breakfast smoothie, making salads with brussels sprouts or shaved cabbage, or simply snacking on raw broccoli or cauliflower with hummus. Make a plan to try one new cruciferous vegetable per week so that you add variety and spice things up!”

Source: Adapted and excerpted from an article by Jessica Freeborn. https://www.medicalnewstoday. com/articles/4-daily-servingscruciferous-vegetables-broccoli-kalemay-help-lower-blood-pressure

Bluffton Elementary teacher named 2024-25 District Teacher of the Year

Staff reports

A veteran teacher with 37 years of experience has been named Beaufort County’s 2024-2025 District Teacher of the Year. Laura VanHorn, a second-grade teacher at Bluffton Elementary School, was selected and announced during a celebration honoring Teachers of the Year from all the district’s schools on Friday, Sept. 25

“It’s an honor,” VanHorn said. The everchanging classroom environment is what keeps her in education. “There’s no way to predict what’s going to happen because kids are so honest and genuine. I work in early childhood, so you just never know, and that makes it worth getting up for every day.”

ementary Education, with a specialization in Early Childhood, from West Virginia University.

Becoming District Teacher of the Year is a three-step process that begins when school-level teachers of the year are selected in April. Those wishing to compete for District Teacher of the Year submit detailed applications by the end of July.

In the second step, a selection committee consisting of parents, former educators, and community leaders from across Beaufort County reviews the applications and rates them using a numerical scoring system. The five highest-scoring applicants are named as finalists.

“There’s no way to predict what’s going to happen because kids are so honest and genuine. I work in early childhood, so you just never know, and that makes it worth getting up for every day.”

Bluffton Elementary School Principal Christine Brown praised VanHorn for going for the extra mile for her students. “Every day, her focus is “What can I do to make sure my students are successful?” Brown said. “For Science, she applied for a grant to start a garden so students could have handson learning experiences. She does everything she can to ensure the success of her students.”

dy’s Island Elementary School; and Timothy Huesing of Hilton Head Island Middle School.

The four other finalists for the 2024-2025 District Teacher of the Year were Karen Parker of Lady’s Island Middle School; Melanie Willis of Daufuskie Island Elementary School; Cinderella Shaw of La-

In her District Teacher of the Year application, VanHorn shared that her passion for teaching began in college, and she has never regretted that decision. She hopes her recognition serves as an inspiration for future

educators. “In a time when many young teachers are quitting, I think it’s important they see that some of us are still here, still doing what we love, and fighting for the profession, for kids and for families,” she said.

VanHorn holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and a Bachelor of Science in El-

By Skylar Laird SCDailyGazette.com

COLUMBIA — Education offi-

cials are asking the state Supreme Court to at least revise its ruling on K-12 vouchers to allow parents to use their taxpayer-funded scholarships on private tuition through this school year.

The high court’s Sept. 11 ruling that stopped all payments for private tuition affected “as many as 1 500 scholarship recipients,” according to the Department of Education’s filing this week asking justices to change their opinion.

“These children’s school year will be thrown into chaos. But this need not be so,” reads the filing from attorneys for state Superintendent Ellen Weaver.

Like Gov. Henry McMaster, she is also asking the court for a rehearing in hopes the majority’s opinion flips completely. But even if that answer is no, she asks for a delay in the ruling’s implementation for the families who “face the chaos and uncertainty of a midyear transfer back to the school they chose to leave.”

Waiting to stop the payments until June 1, 2025, would allow those students to finish out the school year where they started it, the department argued.

Parents of “nearly 700 students” had actually made tuition payments in the opening weeks of the school year. But invoices for additional students continued to come in after the agency ceased processing money flowing to private schools, reads the filing obtained Friday by the S.C. Daily Gazette.

The court document provides no further details on how the agency arrived at a potential impact of 1 500 students or how much money has been paid for tuition so far. But it provides the only public numbers on the program’s private school participation since the ruling. The Gazette has been asking

LAURA VANHORN, on what keeps her passionate about teaching after 37 years.

In the third step, the finalists are interviewed by a separate review committee again composed of judges from across the county. The judges scored candidates based on how well they respond to questions about current education issues. After those interviews, the panel selects the District Teacher of the Year in September, and that person represents Beaufort County in the South Carolina State Teacher of the Year program. Finalists for the state program will be announced in February.

SC DoE asks high court to keep K-12 vouchers available

At least some tuition for nearly 700 students had been paid when the ruling stopped further processing

for a breakdown.

The school choice law Republicans passed last year provided parents $6 000 through four installments to spend on approved expenses — primarily tuition, but also tutoring, educational therapy and other costs such as textbooks.

The first $1 500 allotment went into accounts in July.

In a 3-2 split, justices ruled the voucher payments violated the state constitution’s ban on public taxes directly benefiting private education, abruptly ending all private tuition payments.

If the 1,500-student estimate is accurate, that’s just over half of the 2 880 students who were accepted into the program for this inaugural year.

The state law capped participation at 5 000 students this school year, but of the 7 907 who applied, most applications were rejected as incomplete or ineligible, according to education department data.

The GOP leaders of the House and Senate opted not to apply for a rehearing, saying that, while they disagreed with the opinion, they don’t expect a different outcome. They’re focusing on the upcoming legislative session.

Private schools versus other uses Patrick Kelly, a lobbyist for the Palmetto State Teachers Association, said the number of impacted students is lower than expected. He figured it would be closer to 2 000 of the 2,880 students enrolled.

“It surprises me it’s not higher,” Kelly said.

The other families used or said they would use the money for purposes other than private school tuition, said Department of Education spokesman Jason Raven.

To be eligible for the taxpayer-funded scholarships this year, students had to be either in a public school last year or entering

kindergarten. They could use the money for private tuition or to attend a public school outside their school district. State law allows districts to charge tuition for students who live elsewhere to cover local property taxes.

The lower-than-expected participation could be partly explained by parents who enrolled their children in a private school but hadn’t yet made a payment when the high court’s ruling came down, said Palmetto Promise Institute spokeswoman Felicity Ropp.

Palmetto Promise Institute, which spent years lobbying for the school choice program, has heard from some families who decided not to spend the money at all, Ropp said.

Some families may have realized after applying that they didn’t have any real options for a private school in their area, while others may simply have changed their minds, she said.

In some cases, parents may not have understood the program. The conservative think tank heard from parents who thought the money could pay for services for their child without switching schools or that it could help pay for college instead of a K-12 school, Ropp said.

The idea that so many fami-

lies might have used the money for something other than private school tuition would be shocking, since it would mean many families “are using an ESA for something other than what people thought, what I thought, was the core use of the program,” which was private school tuition, Kelly said.

The department’s request

Without the continuing scholarships, many of the families using the money for private school tuition would have to take their children out of private school to re-enroll them in public school, education department lawyers wrote in the petition.

The first year was directed at helping low-income families. Only Medicaid-eligible students qualified.

Families could not make more than 200% of the federal poverty level, which is $51 640 for a family of three. For a single parent and child, annual income can’t exceed $40,880. (Under the law, the income cap doubles to 400% of the poverty level by year three.)

The families participating this year likely can’t afford private school tuition without the help of state taxpayer dollars, the department argued.

“A move between schools creates upheaval in a child’s social relationships, creating potential anxiety as they navigate new routines and places with new teachers and peers,” the petition reads. “It can be hard to form new friendships, leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness.”

The agency also pointed to complications within the school system.

Private schools may have hired more staff or made more room to accommodate the new students, and public schools would have to take on at least 700 extra students across the state if everyone returned to their home district, the petition reads.

“It is equally unfair to the nonpublic schools that took on extra expenses to serve them, expenses they could no longer recoup, and to the public schools that are not ready for an unexpected, unbudgeted influx of students through their doors,” the petition reads.

The question is interesting, Kelly said.

On one hand, the high court already ruled that the program violates the state constitution, so any decision justices make would have to follow the law, he said.

But on the other hand, hundreds of low-income families have already committed to sending their children to private schools for the year, said Kelly, who also teaches an honors government course at Blythewood High School.

“As an educator and a parent, anything that gives a pathway for these families to stay in the school where they started the year is worth considering,” Kelly said.

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.

Deputy Superintendent Mellow Lee celebrates Laura VanHorn being named District Teacher of the Year. Photo courtesy of the Beaufort County School District

The South Carolina Supreme Court in Columbia. Mary Ann Chastain/ Special to the S.C. Daily Gazette

A piano concert on “esteemed” Fripp Island

Fripp Island Friends of Music opens 40th Anniversary season

By Margit Resch

Special to The Island News

According to his website, celebrated pianist Junwen Liang is going to “showcase his artistry and passion for his music” on October 20 at an “esteemed venue” … Fripp Island.

Fripp Island — an esteemed venue for music. Indeed!

For 40 years, Fripp Island Friends of Music — FIFOM — has been bringing acclaimed musicians of all kinds from all over the world to the Chapel in the Community Centre. The five yearly concerts are always topped off by the audience with enthusiastic, standing applause, and concluded by a catered reception, where the audience can meet and chat with the musicians, while nibbling on delicious hors d’oeuvres lovingly prepared by Harold’s Chef Services.

FIFOM will start its 40th Anniversary season in October with a piano concert performed by the fabulous young keyboard artist Junwen Liang, who is celebrated for his "captivating" performances (Stroll Magazine) and acknowledged as "an extremely gifted and promising young artist" by the New York Concert Review. Recently praised for his "engaging stage presence, helpful spoken introductions to the music, and confident programming skills" (In the Spotlight), Liang is poised for a major career. Wait. Why do we say,”poised?” He already is a major figure in the international world of celebrated pianists.

Liang’s amazing story is told beautifully by the Digital Journal under the apt title: Unlocking the Keys to Musical Brilliance. His global journey started at age 9 in Nanning, China, where his father, a violinist, introduced him to the piano.

Junwen Liang

“I remember the first time I touched the keys. It was like a revelation — as if the piano had been waiting for me all along,” Liang recalls.

Starting with his first public performance in Nanning at age 13, he unfailingly drew his audience into his musical world that ranged from 18th-century classics to the Romantic masterpieces by composers such as Bach, Schubert, and Chopin. His prominence and acclaim grew rapidly, earning him accolades from reviewers and invitations to prestigious venues all over the world, to concert halls like the Berlin Philharmonic and Carnegie Hall, to festivals like the Aspen Music Festival, and to numerous piano competitions where he, more often than not, won first prize like in the Nouvelles Étoiles International Music Competition (France), or the Princeton Festival International Piano Competition.

Soon enough, Liang caught the eyes and ears of music professionals, and established musicians asked him to collaborate with them, like the principal cellist of the Berliner Philharmoniker who invited Junwen to play with him (and four string musicians from the Peabody Institute) the famous Piano Quintet called The Trout by Franz Schubert.

“To learn from a musician of such caliber was an honor beyond words,” Liang says. “It was a masterclass in every sense of the word — an experience that has forever shaped my approach to music.”

In June 2023, Liang had a defining moment in his career. He was invited by the Texas State International Piano Festival to perform a Mozart piano concerto with the Central Texas Philharmonic Orchestra.

WANT TO GO?

Who: Classical Pianist Junwen

Liang

What: Fripp Island Friends of Music series

When: 5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 20

Where: Fripp Island Community Centre, 205 Tarpon Boulevard

Tickets: Adults at the door, $30; students are free thanks to the Peg Gorham Memorial Fund. Membership with Fripp Island Friends of Music gives you access to all five concerts, including the post-performance reception, for $100, has not changed. It saves you $50 compared to the sum of five $30-tickets. To buy tickets or become a member, email or text Vanessa Peñaherrera at vandy116@ gmail.com or 704-807-0255. Go to frippfriendsofmusic.com for more information.

“It was a dream come true,” Liang says. “To stand on stage, surrounded by the swell of a professional orchestra, was an experience I will never forget.”

While performing constantly, all year long all over the United States and abroad, solo or in the company of famous orchestras and individual instrumentalists and singers, Liang managed to also study, to obtain a college degree and, just recently, to earn a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University under the tutelage of Richard Goode. His past mentors include Christopher Guzman (Penn State), Roberto Plano, Edward Auer (Indiana University), and Chris Dimaras (Ithaca College). Junwen currently teaches in the Music Department of the University of Pennsylvania. Liang will perform on Sunday, October 20, at 5 p.m. at the Fripp Island Community Centre, 205 Tarpon Boulevard. The concert is presented by Fripp Island Friends of Music and supported by the S.C. Arts Commission.

Attendees get a free pass at the Fripp gate. Tickets at the door are

FRIPP ISLAND FRIENDS OF MUSIC 2024-25 SEASON

Oct. 20, 2024: Junwen Liang, Classical Pianist

Nov. 17, 2024: Zoë Lewis, Singer/ Songwriter

Jan. 12, 2025: South for Winter, Multi-instrumentalists

Feb. 2, 2025: Project Trio, Flute, Sax and Bass

March 16, 2025: Robert Gardiner Jazz Quartet

$30 for adults and free for students thanks to the Peg Gorham Memorial Fund. You are invited to join the musicians at a complimentary reception after the performance, catered deliciously by Harold’s Chef Services.

Questions? Email or text Vanessa Peñaherrera at vandy116@ gmail.com or 704-807-0255. Go to frippfriendsofmusic.com for more information.

Why become a member?

FIFOM encourages you to become a members of Fripp Island Friends of Music. Membership gives you access to all five concerts, including the post-performance reception. The basic FIFOM membership, $100, has not changed. It saves you $50 compared to the sum of five $30 tickets. To become a member, text or call Vanessa Peñaherrera at 704-807-0255 By the way, membership underwrites the FIFOM mission — our Music-in-the-Schools program — which is to support and enhance student music programs in Beaufort County schools. Last season, FIFOM distributed almost $9,000 to five area schools north of the Broad River, funding sheet music, instruments, music camp participation and an artist in residency program (to name a few). Memberships go a long way toward bringing smiles to our area’s music students and teachers.

BFS Shorts @ High Noon continues

Staff reports The 2024 Shorts @ High Noon, presented by the Beaufort Film Society (BFS) continues next week.

Every 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, Oct. 9

Schedule Blood Is Thicker (14 minutes, Short): Two sisters living in the same city but completely different worlds reconnect over a meal. A mother suffering dementia pulls them back home but before they can return the trauma of their past must be addressed.

Fundamental Shapes (15 minutes, Short): Jacob, an unemployed actor, stumbles into an unusual gig: nude figure model for a fine arts class. When his next-door neighbor turns up, he must find a way to keep his identity hidden, and their budding romance intact. A gentle romantic comedy about vulnerability, surprising coincidences, and the unexpected ways we find love.

Hit Man: Secrets of Lies (19 minutes, Short): A reflective hitman from New York City travels to a small town where he is confronted with an artifact from his past that forces him to re-examine his profession and his personal history.

Lakisha Jones brings “Queens of Rock and Soul” to USCB

Two performances set for October 11

Staff reports

The USCB Center for the Arts is thrilled to welcome American Idol finalist Lakisha Jones to the stage for Queens of Rock and Soul on Friday, Oct. 11 2024. Fans of powerhouse vocalists and iconic music are in for an unforgettable experience, with two performances scheduled at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Jones, renowned for her soulful voice and commanding stage presence, will pay tribute to legendary queens of rock and soul

music, including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, and more. Audiences can expect a dynamic blend of classic hits that defined generations, delivered with Jones' signature energy and passion.

Jones first captured the nation's attention during her rise to fame

on American Idol. She has since taken her talent to stages across the world, wowing audiences with her tribute to the greatest female voices in music history.

“...from sound stages and concert halls across the country and around the world, she’s got them standing in the aisles!"

Now, Beaufort has the chance to witness her talent live in an intimate setting.

WANT TO GO?

Who: Queens of Rock and Soul

When: 3 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 11

Where: USCB Center for the Arts

Tickets: $48 for adults, $45 for seniors and military, and $30 for students. For tickets and more information, visit www.uscbcenterforthearts.com or call the box office at 843-521-4145.

The Queens of Rock and Soul concert is part of the USCB Center for the Arts’ 2024-25 Mainstage

Touring Artists series, which features a variety of world-class performances throughout the season.

Ticket Information:

Tickets are available now for both performances, priced at $48 for adults, $45 for seniors and military, and $30 for students. For tickets and more information, visit www.uscbcenterforthearts.com or call the box office at 843-521-4145.

Alice Dobbin is October’s featured artist at Thibault Gallery

Staff reports

One of the Lowcountry’s favorite artists will be featured at the Thibault Gallery in October. With an art career spanning more than 40 years, Alice Dobbin creates a sense of peace and tranquility in her images. As she shares her passion for nature, clients have described her work as being almost spiritual. The artist’s contemporary impressionist style combines realism and abstraction. In her wildlife scenes, backgrounds are often painted with a palette knife and are highly textural, while detailed brushwork emphasizes structure of each creature. Her soft and lyrical landscapes celebrate the effects of light and atmosphere.

“I try to connect with the environment when I’m painting, almost like a communion with nature,” she said. “You just feel God’s beauty around you. I want to share that with people.” Her work has been published in “The Best of American Landscapes,” “American Art Collector Magazine,” “Charleston Style and Home” and “Plein Air Magazine.” She has

Clients have described the work of Alice

October’s featured artist at the Thibault Gallery, as being almost spiritual.

Submitted photo

in Virginia. Her work was also selected for the Oil Painters of America Salon of Traditional Oils in Michigan, the National Exhibition of the American Impressionist Society, the Montgomery Museum of Art Invitational Auction in Alabama, and the National Exhibition of Women Painters of the Southeast in Georgia. In 2019, she received the award for Best Painting at the Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition in Charleston. Dobbin’s paintings currently grace the walls of prestigious homes from historic Bay Street and Cat Island in Beaufort to Rainbow Row and the Battery in Charleston, Governor’s Circle on Kiawah Island, homes in Boca Raton, Miami, and throughout the U.S. and abroad. Public collections may be seen in the Church Street Inn in Charleston, the George Historical Ranch in Austin, Texas, and Wachesaw East Resort in Myrtle Beach. Meet the artist and join us at the reception on First Friday, Oct. 4th, from 5 to 8 p.m.at the Thibault Gallery at 815 Bay Street.

Dobbin,

Lakisha Jones

MEET YOUR CANDIDATES

SHANNON ERICKSON MELINDA HENRICKSON Republican Democrat

Pro forced birth, CO-SPONSOR of the abortion ban that stripped away the rights of women in SC

Supports extremist, irresponsible legislation that allows teens to openly carry firearms in public spaces without ANY trainingburdening LEO and other first responders

Aligns with FAR-RIGHT Superintendent Ellen Weaver, who censored curriculum and library materials that amplify the voices of minority and marginalized groups

Expanded the private school voucher SCAM - recently ruled to be unconstitutional by the SC Supreme Court for utilizing taxpayer money

Co-sponsored the ban on LIFESAVING care for our transgender community, increasing the risk of unnecessary deaths and suicide attempts

80% of campaign funds from PACs and big corporations

Excessive absences (86) during last legislative session - far more than her peers

Believes you DESERVE the FREEDOM to control your own body, life, and future. The government has no business interfering in your private medical decisions

Responsible gun owner who supports the 2nd Amendment and advocates for reinstating firearm safety training requirements

Defends a student’s right to access a diverse array of literature and ideas. Advocates for teachers and librarians, not special interest groups like Moms for Liberty. Founder of Families Against Book Bans (FABB)

Supports keeping PUBLIC dollars in PUBLIC schools, creating a level playing field for all students in SC

Supports keeping healthcare decisions private, between a patient and their provider

100% funded by individiual donorsNOT dark money

Ready to show up for the people of District 124 on Day 1!

18 YEARS OF WHAT, EXACTLY?

STATENEWS

Deaths from Helene rise to 36 in SC

Downed power lines create cleanup problems as residents in 7 more counties may soon be eligible for federal aid

By Skyler Laird SCDailyGazette.com

COLUMBIA — The number of people confirmed dead in South Carolina because of Hurricane Helene is up to 36, Gov. Henry McMaster said Tuesday, Oct. 1

Nearly 630 000 people were still without power as of about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. That was a big drop from the 1 3 million who had no power at the height of outages after the storm blew through Friday but still more than anywhere else in the country. The vast majority of remaining outages were in the Upstate and along the Georgia border.

“Things are getting better, but we’re not out of the woods yet,” McMaster said.

Flooding remained a risk Tuesday for people living near rivers downstream of the worst flooding. The Congaree and Wateree rivers reached their crests Monday, meaning the worst was likely over for people along their banks, said Andrew Phillips, chief of preparedness for the Emergency Management Division.

Officials were still monitoring the Santee, which, because of its position downstream, is at risk of reaching a major flood stage Thursday or Friday. The Pee Dee River could also reach a moderate flood stage Wednesday, Phillips said.

People in flood-prone areas should listen to advice from local officials on whether to evacuate, Phillips said.

Deaths

The number of deaths caused by Helene, which was a tropical storm by the time it hit South Carolina, has surpassed the 35 caused by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, McMaster said.

The death toll is expected to continue rising, he said.

People have died in 12 different counties, according to the Department of Public Safety. Aiken, Greenville and Spartanburg were the hardest hit, with six reported deaths each.

Most of those people were hit by fallen trees, said department Director Robert Woods.

Officials warned against running generators indoors, which can kill

people by carbon monoxide poisoning. At least one person, a man in Chesnee, has died that way.

“That’s extremely dangerous,” said Emily Farr, director of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

Fires are another concern. Flashlights are a better option, but anyone using candles to light their home while the power is out should make sure the candle is on a flat surface and never left unattended, Farr said.

Power outages

Downed powerlines are the biggest obstacle for people and agencies trying to clean up debris, officials said Tuesday.

Many fallen power lines are still active, McMaster said. That’s hindering chainsaw crews, who can’t touch trees tangled up in wires, and Department of Transportation crews, who can’t clear some downed telephone poles out of roads, officials said.

“Power line entanglements remain SEE HELENE PAGE B2

Hurricane Helene closes hunting in multiple areas of SC

S.C. Department of Natural Resources

Due to extreme rainfall and widespread flooding in the Upstate of South Carolina and mountains of North Carolina due to Hurricane Helene, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has temporarily closed hunting within the Wateree, Congaree and Santee river drainage systems on all game species except for alligator, doves, hogs and coyotes. The department has received contacts from numerous con-

cerned hunters. Flooding has created abnormal conditions wherein game cannot protect themselves, thus producing the potential for exploitation of game species that are deprived of their normal escape routes and confined to small areas of high ground. Effective Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 12:01 a.m., a five-day closure of the hunting season for all game spe-

cies excluding alligator, dove, hogs and coyotes is in effect. The closure will continue through Sunday, Oct. 6 at 11:59 p.m. SCDNR will continue to monitor flooded areas to adjust the closed zones and timeframes as conditions change. Wateree-Congaree drainage In Calhoun County -- West side boundary: beginning on Interstate 26 at the Lexington County line, thence southeast on I-26 to the intersection of I-26 and U.S. 176. Thence southeast on U.S. 176 to the intersection with state road 24 (Old Belleville Road). Thence east on State Road 24 to the intersection with State Road 25 (Purple Martin Drive), thence east on State Road 25 to Fort Motte, becoming S.C. 419 (Ft. Motte Road). Thence southeast on S.C. 419 to the intersection with S.C. 267 (McCords Ferry Road). Thence SEE HUNTING PAGE B2

S.C. Department of Consumer Affairs Fraudsters take advantage when a disaster strikes. The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) urges everyone to stay on guard as our state recovers from Hurricane Helene. Scammers will reach out by phone, email, text, social media and even in-person in their efforts to take advantage of you. Bottom line to avoid a scam during this trying time: Don’t give any personal or financial information to a cold caller.

Keep these additional tips in mind to protect your personal information and money:

• Watch for imposters: Some scammers will act as government agencies, like FEMA or SCEMD, to seem more official. Some pose as utility or insurance companies. Ask for identification. Cut off contact with someone who is asking for personal identifying information like your Social Security number or money. When possible, call the agency directly to ask for help or more information. Remember, you never have to pay for government disaster relief or for your power to be restored post-disaster.

Research a charity before you give: Be cautious of groups that approach you. Do not assume a charity is legitimate based on its name; some fake charities use names that sound or look like those of well-known organizations. Visit the S.C. Secretary of State’s Office at www.sos. sc.gov to search a charity by name or call 1-888-CHARITI (242-7484).

• Report disaster scams: If you encounter a disaster scam, you can report it to SCDCA by visiting the Scams webpage at https://bit.ly/4dJrUJH or calling 1-844-TELLDCA (835-5322) (toll-free with S.C. number). For more tips on how to protect yourself from disaster scams checkout SCDCA’s Beware of Disaster Scams (PDF) flyer at https:// bit.ly/3XLNCGH. SCDCA's Recovering from a Disaster (PDF) (at https://bit.ly/3N64vXO) can also help you decide where to begin in the recovery process. For a hard copy, call SCDCA at 803-7344200 or visit https://bit.ly/3N6Dnb7. Both publications are also available at consumer.sc.gov. To help South Carolinians during this stressful time, SCDCA will hold two free webinars. “Recovering from a Disaster” (https:// bit.ly/3ZP5HGz) at 10:39 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 2 and “Common Disaster Scams” (https://bit.ly/3zJBIVV) at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 9. Register to watch/listen from any computer or smartphone by clicking the link with each webinar.

Tropical Storm Helene snapped utility poles and downed lines across South Carolina, particularly in the Upstate and along the Georgia border. Paul Hyde/Special to the S.C. Daily Gazette

STATE NEWS

SC emergency management official charged with drug crime

By Jessica Holdman SCDailyGazette.com

COLUMBIA — The now-former chief spokesman for South Carolina’s Emergency Management Division is accused of distributing meth in the parking lot of the agency that leads natural disaster response in the state.

Lexington County Sheriff’s deputies obtained a warrant for Charles “Derrec” Becker’s arrest the afternoon of Sept. 19. Columbia police arrested Becker at his home the next day (Friday) and transferred him to Lexington County. He is charged with possession with the

from page B1

the single biggest obstacle to reopening roadways,” said Secretary of Transportation Justin Powell.

Electricity has also been a major problem for people trying to get gas in the Upstate. The pipelines that bring gas into the state were continuing to flow, but power outages at gas stations prevented pumps from distributing it, Phillips said.

Most gas stations in the state have reopened since this weekend, when gas was a rarity in the Upstate, Phillips said.

“Based on the data we have, there’s gas, and most of the gas stations we have at this point in time are open,” Phillips said.

Federal aid

The storm has caused at

Hunting

from page B1

on the

on the south by

intent to distribute methamphetamine, according to the sheriff’s incident report.

Becker, 43, declined to comment when reached Tuesday by the S.C. Daily Gazette.

Lexington County deputies were called to Emergency Management Division headquarters in West Columbia on Sept. 17, after a zippered pouch was found in the parking lot.

According to a statement from sheriff’s department spokesman Adam Myrick, security camera

least $16 million in damage to homes, a number that is expected to continue rising as reports continue to roll in. Thousands of homes were damaged across 18 counties, 66 of which were completely destroyed and 517 of which suffered major damage, said Kim Stenson, Emergency Management Division director.

Officials are working to get federal assistance for uninsured and underinsured homeowners in seven more counties, adding to the 13 who were approved for expedited aid Monday.

Allendale, Abbeville, Edgefield, Laurens, McCormick, Richland and Union counties are all working on applications to be added to the list for help, McMaster said.

Over 64,000 people had already applied for federal assistance Tuesday, said Brett Howard, federal coordinating officer for the Fed-

and Sumter counties, on the east by U.S. 521, from I-20 to its intersection with S.C. 261, thence south on S.C. 261 to the Sumter County line. On the west by U.S. 601 to the Richland County line.

In Lexington County -- West side boundary: Beginning at the Richland County line on U.S. 321, thence west to I-26, thence southeast on I-26 to the Calhoun County line.

In Richland County -- North side boundary: The Kershaw County line. West side boundary: Beginning at the Kershaw County line on U.S. 601, thence south to S.C. 48 (Bluff Road), thence west

footage shows someone who appears to be Becker setting down the pouch, found to contain more than 2 grams of meth and other unspecified drug paraphernalia, and walking away while on a phone call.

Becker was released from the Lexington County Detention Center on Saturday morning with the promise to appear in court or be forced to make $10 000 in bond payments.

Becker, a former reporter, had been a spokesman for the Emergency Management Division since 2008 and chief of public in-

formation since 2017

On Tuesday, the agency’s website listed that position as “open.” It’s unclear exactly when it became vacant. Asked about Becker’s employment status, the agency provided a statement that gave its policy but no details on him specifically.

“The agency’s policy on alcohol, drug and substance abuse states, ‘employees are prohibited from manufacturing, possessing, using, distributing or purchasing non-prescribed drugs and intoxicants on agency premises and from working under the influence

eral Emergency Management Agency.

“I know there are counties left out, and that’s a big thing, but we went with what we had to get assistance to survivors,” Howard said.

The state Department of Social Services is asking the federal government to cover the cost of replacing groceries for people receiving food

on S.C. 48 to U.S. 321. Thence west on U.S. 321 to the Lexington County line.

In Sumter County -- An area bounded as follows: On the north by the Kershaw County line, on the east by S.C. 261, on the west by the Richland and Calhoun County lines, and on the south by the CSX Railroad tracks from Pinewood to the Calhoun County line.

Santee drainage

In Berkeley County -- The area bounded on the north by Clarendon, Williamsburg, and Georgetown counties; on the south by S.C. 45; on the west by the old Santee Canal; and the east by Charleston County.

In Charleston County -- That area bounded on the west by Berkeley County; on the south by S.C. 45, on the east by U.S. 701/17 and on the north by Georgetown County.

In Georgetown County -- An area described as follows: Beginning at the point where the Williamsburg, Berkeley and George-

of alcohol, illegal drugs or intoxicants.’ SCEMD cannot provide additional information at this time,” reads the entire statement. His salary was $93,347, according to the state Department of Administration.

Skylar

assistance in counties where at least half the population lost power for four hours or more, according to a Tuesday news release.

President Joe Biden will visit the state Wednesday as part of a regional tour of devastated areas. McMaster did not say whether he would meet with Biden during the president’s visit, which will

include an aerial tour of North and South Carolina.

McMaster said he spoke to Biden on Monday.

“He said, whatever we need, to let him know,” McMaster said. “And we’re doing that.”

Local aid

Shelters are available in 15 locations, six of which are specifically meant for people with medical needs, said Michael Leach, Department of Social Services director.

Most of the 233 people using shelters Tuesday stopped by for food, to charge their phones or to get power for oxygen machines that need power, Leach said. The state is also handing out 1 400 oxygen canisters to anyone who needs a resupply, said Edward Simmer, interim director for the Department of Public Health.

The best way to help people hit by the storms is to

town county lines meet and running north and east along the Georgetown-Williamsburg County lines to U.S. Alternate 17 and thence running along such highway to its intersection with State Road 387, thence to State Road 24 and running southeast along state road 24 to its intersection with U.S.

17, thence south along U.S. 17 to the Charleston County line, thence west following the Charleston and Berkeley County lines to the point of the beginning.

In Williamsburg County -- The area described as follows: Beginning at the point where State Road 48 (River Road) crosses the Clar-

donate money, said Marcia Adams, Department of Administration director.

The One SC Fund reactivated Tuesday to collect donations and had received more than $750,000 by that afternoon, said Georgia Mjartan, president and CEO of the Central Carolina Community Foundation.

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is opening kitchens in Cherokee, Spartanburg and Aiken counties, on top of delivering meals to people in Greenwood and Laurens counties. The American Red Cross is also planning to use its vans to deliver meals wherever people need them most, Leach said.

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.

endon County line and following State Road 48 until its intersection with S.C. 375 (Mackey Road/Gourdin Road), thence running along said road to Gourdin, thence along State Road 45 (Santee Road) to the Georgetown County line, thence south along such line to the Berkeley County line and following said line northwest to the Clarendon County line, thence northeast along said Clarendon County to State Road 48

In Clarendon County -- That area described as follows: Beginning at the intersection of S.C. 260 and State Road 323 (Kenwood Road), and running along State Road 323 to its intersection with State Road 351, thence running along state road 351 to state road 48, thence along state road 48 to the Williamsburg County line, thence along said county line to the Berkeley County line thence west along the Clarendon/Berkeley County line to Wilson Dam, thence north along said dam to S.C. 260, thence along S.C. 260 at State Road 323

Tropical Storm Helene snapped utility poles and downed lines in Anderson and across South Carolina, leaving more than 1.2 million homes and businesses without power. Paul Hyde/Special to the S.C. Daily Gazette

plant sale, church tours, and Kids Zone with inflatables, games, and the Beaufort Barnyard Petting Zoo. The bazaar will benefit Lowcountry Outreach, a ministry of Saint Peter’s parish that provides office space for area non-profits, meeting rooms

WHAT’S HAPPENING

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.

don’t forget about the shrimp and all the delicious food. The festival will feature rides, games, food, and entertainment for all ages, provided by Family Fun Tyme Amusements. Discounted prepaid armbands for rides are available at Yemassee Town Hall, 101

ries. Winners will earn cash prize donations to the local youth charity of their choice. The Jeep Island expo is a stunning array of Jeeps from around the nation – a must-see for any Jeep enthusiast. Local favorites RetroRoxx, Hilton Head Island’s explosive ‘80s party cover band, will be performing live! To sign up online to cook, sponsor, and buy tickets, go to https://hiltonheadkiwanis.com/ chili-cook-off. For more information, email the Hilton Head Kiwanis Club at hiltonheadislandkiwanis@gmail.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.

Port Royal Farmers Market 9 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, year round, Naval Heritage Park, 1615 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Rain or shine. You will find fresh, local, seasonal produce, shrimp, oysters, poultry, beef, pork, eggs, bread and cheese, as well as plants, ferns, camellias, azaleas, citrus trees and beautiful, fresh cut flower bouquets. There are prepared food vendors serving barbecue, dumplings, she crab soup, crab cakes, paella, coffee, baked goods, bagels and breakfast sandwiches. No pets allowed. For more information, visit http://www.portroyalfarmersmarket.com/, visit @portroyalfarmersmarket on Facebook or call 843-295-0058.

GOLF Boy Scouts of America LowCountry Classic 11 a.m., Monday, Oct. 28, The Cat Island Club. Hosted by the Boy Scouts of America Lowcountry District. $150 per golfer or $500 for foursome. 9 a.m. registration; 1 p.m. lunch; 5 p.m. cocktails/ awards. Each player hits from the tee; team selects tee shot they wish to play from; each player may then place their ball within one club length, no nearer the hole and in the same condition (rough, bunker, etc.), and play his/her own ball from that point until holed; 2 lowest net scores will count towards teams total. Each player shall receive 75% of their published handicap; maximum handicap is 24. Proceeds benefit Scouting programs in the Lowcountry District of the Coastal Carolina Council, Boy Scouts of America. All the information for players and potential sponsors can be found at https://birdease. com/BSACharityGolfEvent or contact Dave Soloman for more information at d.c.solomon@att.net.

HALLOWEEN

Kids, Cops, Cars, and Candy Trunk or Treat

3 to 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, Charles Lind Brown Center, Beaufort. Hosted by the Great Grand Family Foundation. A fun and safe afternoon filled with classic cars, police vehicles, and plenty of candy! It's a fantastic opportunity for children to have positive interactions with law enforcement, explore some amazing cars, and enjoy a memorable trick-or-treat experience in a safe environment. Support via donations of candy for the event are welcome and appreciated -- reach out to Previs Walker at perviswalker17@gmail.com.

Port Royal’s Haunted Hallows 3 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, Naval Heritage Park, Port Royal. A free event featuring food trucks, a vendor market, aerialists, City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department Touch A Truck, games, treats and spooky destinations to fill your passport!! Commemorative Festival T-shirts are available for purchase. Proceeds go to Help of Beaufort.

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 410212-1468 to get the Zoom link. Free.

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

Gullah Art Adult Paint & Sip 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Ages 13 to adult. Space is limited, call 843255-6487 to register. Help the library celebrate Gullah Geechee Awareness Month. Join local artis Lynn Schramm to learn acrylic painting tips and tricks and create your own art piece.

Plant Swap 2 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Take a plant – leave a plant. Bring your divided perennials, extra clippings, and plant propagations to share with others. Visit us at beaufortcountylibrary.org.

MEETINGS

Indivisible Beaufort 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 5, Beaufort Downtown Library at 311 Scott Street. Barbara Nash will be the discussion leader and Exploring Project 2025 will be the discussion topic. What’s in the document? What are the potential impacts if it’s implemented? Nash is an Indivisible member and a former candidate for the South Carolina House or Representatives. Her career as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, health care practice founder, and college educator makes her especially well informed and concerned about the health care and educational policies, as well as the other issues proposed by Project 2025. The event is free and open to the public.

come. 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

Chili cooks will face off to determine the best concoctions in Professional, Amateur, and People’s Choice catego-

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.

Trunk or Treat 3 to 5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 27, Paris Avenue, between 9th and 12th streets, Downtown Port Royal. A safe trick-ortreating experience for all ages. Bring your vehicle and be part of the fun. Folks with vehicles and goodies to hand out or games for the kids are needed to make this fun for the kids. Sign up at lowcountryjaycees@gmail.com. No pets allowed.

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.

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 wel-

VOICES

Editor’s Note: The opinions of our columnists in the Voices section are not necessarily the opinions of The

I’ve lost my sense of adventure

It is Friday, and we’re standing in the White Plains, N.Y., airport waiting to board the 12:30 Breeze Flight into Savannah.

The airport at White Plains is small, smaller than Savannah, and we’re actually standing in a hallway, chock-a-block with 60 other would be passengers; all of us worried that there won't be any space left in the overhead bins when our group is finally invited to board.

The crowded hallway also has five folks in wheelchairs — they get priority. Then there are those who need extra assistance; followed by active duty military; those who bought a slightly wider seat; and those card-carrying enrollees in some kind of early-boarding club.

The wheel chair attendants, the personnel who scan one’s boarding pass, and other vest wearing officials all come with walk-

ISCOTT GRABER

ie-talkies. This cacophony of amplified conversation pinballs off the walls competing with the official, overriding, interrupting announcements saying “We’re looking for five volunteers who will ...”

“Five volunteers for what?” Susan asks.

“Usually that means they’re overbooked and need people to give up their seats.”

“Are we overbooked?”

“I don’t think so. I think that’s the flight into Reagan.”

But I’m really not sure about any of these announcements — they’re usually delivered in a jumbled Spanglish that

often breaks into incoherence before the punch line. From the perplexed look on the faces of my fellow Savannah-bound passengers, nobody’s sure about anything this morning.

Susan and I have been in Stamford, Conn., for the past five days watching our grandson take his first tentative steps. For months he has crawled with the intensity of a Viet Cong, satchel-dragging sapper; but last week began staggering around the smallish, downtown apartment where my son, his wife and our grandson live.

Downtown Stamford presents a landscape of sterile, dystopian, blue-tinted glass boxes that are home to corporations like Deloitte, Synchrony, Indeed, Nestle and Cuisinart. Unlike Manhattan, the sidewalks are empty of coffee-toting commuters, white-painted mimes and intimidated tourists.

I think this has something to do with the fact

that most drive to work, park their Lexus in underground parking garage, eat their beet salad in a corporate, teak-trimmed dining room with a view of Long Island Sound. These corporate folk don’t do much street-level walking and after dark the downtown is largely empty.

But there is one street, Bedford Street, that looks like it belongs in Paris or Pisa. It comes with mature trees that canopy the pavements and shade outdoor diners who take their pasta. pulled pork tacos and thinly sliced prosciutto al fresco. And it was at Bari, Hudson Social, Tutti Pazzi where we took our roasted cauliflower, our filet mignon crostini with caramelized onions and Gorgonzola cream sauce.

And it was on Bedford Street where we took our grandson for hours-long lunches where the waiters and waitresses would fawn over the “bambino” like he

was the long awaited heir to the Medici throne. At one point, well into a second Sangiovese, I said, “I think I know that line of buildings just across the street.”

“How could you? Did you ever have a reason to come here?”

“I think I was measured for my wedding tuxedo somewhere along that street.”

And so, after finishing our wine we crossed the street and, sure enough, there was a tuxedo rental shop where a man, my age, was measuring the instep of a customer.

“I think I was measured by you (for my wedding tuxedo) over 50 years ago.”

I said as I approached the kneeling tailor.

“No,” he replied. “You were measured by my father.”

The resulting conversation confirmed that his father had. indeed, suited me up for my wedding; and that his father had since

died; and he had inherited the business.

“Actually, I brought the business from my dad,” he said. “He was a businessman from the get go. What can I say.”

Once I flew on airplanes — from DC-6 (propeller) transports to Air Afrique’s Airbus A-310 — without worry of finding space in the overhead bins. I flew kind of hoping for a problem in Gander or Cotonou; or spending an extra day in Port of Spain; and getting a chit that would allow me to replace my lost clothing in a shop in Kingston, Jamaica. Alas, I’ve lost my sense of adventure — my hopes, dreams and aspiration distilled down to an overwhelming desire for an “on time arrival” and dreamless sleep in my own bed.

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

The Black fugitive who inspired ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin,’ end of US slavery

n or around 1825, John Andrew Jackson was born enslaved on a plantation in South Carolina and trained to spend his life picking cotton.

But instead of living a life as a slave, he escaped bondage and became an influential anti-slavery lecturer and writer. He also had a key role in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s celebrated novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” which historians have argued helped trigger the Civil War by its depiction of the subhuman treatment afforded Black men and women.

As a scholar of the lives of enslaved people and their writings, I have researched the life of Jackson for years and still remain puzzled by his obscurity from most histories of slavery in America. In my biography of Jackson, “A Plausible Man,” I detail his remarkable life.

North to freedom

In early 1846, Jackson’s wife and daughter were sold to another South Carolina plantation. Heartbroken and furious, he was determined to earn money and buy his family’s freedom. Jackson waited until Christmas Day and took a bold step – he escaped on horseback.

He found work on the docks in Charleston and eventually hid between cotton bales aboard a boat heading to Boston.

Once there, Jackson started speaking at abolitionist meetings across Massachusetts to raise money to free his wife and child.

But before he could raise the necessary amount, President Millard Fillmore signed into law the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which would impose harsh penalties on anyone who assisted runaways.

Even though Jackson was living in a supposedly free state, he was in terrible danger of being

returned to enslavement under the new law. Jackson decided to flee again, this time to Canada.

Along the way, abolitionists directed Jackson to sympathetic homes in Maine.

A chance meeting

One such home belonged to the stuffy Thomas C. Upham, a professor of mental and moral philosophy at Bowdoin College.

He had told his friends that while slavery was a grievous wrong, the Fugitive Slave Act was nonetheless the law and should be obeyed.

But when Jackson knocked on his door, Upham immediately put aside his scruples.

Upham invited him in and offered food and encouragement. Because Upham couldn’t put Jackson up for the night, he directed Jackson to his neighbor, Harriet Beecher Stowe – a friend who had long been frustrated with the otherwise kindly professor’s timid politics.

Stowe was a little-known writer at the time, living as a faculty wife of a Bowdoin College professor. When Jackson came to her threshold, she, too, broke the law.

She opened the door and welcomed him in. Jackson entertained her children, told her of his heartbreak and accepted money, food and clothing from her before leaving the next morning.

Although she never used Jackson’s name, she later wrote of this incident, noting that her visitor was “a genuine article from ‘Ole Carliny State’” – a reference to a popular minstrel song that Jackson was to later append to his own memoir.

‘The little woman’

A few weeks later, Stowe began drafting “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”

It had a familiar scene. The novel’s heroine, Eliza, a Black fugitive, knocks on the door of a U.S. senator who had previously promised to adhere to the fugitive slave laws.

But when faced with a terrorized person at his doorstep, the senator allowed his heart to lead

instead of his head. Like the real professor Upham, the fictional senator and his wife defied the law.

Art always arises from a myriad of influences, and other individuals or experiences certainly inspired Stowe’s writing.

But aside from this scene that clearly drew upon Upham’s meeting with Jackson, this encounter took Stowe from the broader debate of anti-slavery politics to the immediacy of direct action.

Published in 1852, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” galvanized abolitionists across the country and became the second-bestselling book in the U.S. during the 19th century. Only the Bible ranked higher.

A decade later, when Stowe visited the White House in November 1862, President Abraham Lincoln supposedly told her: “So you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war.”

A life on the run

While Stowe was drafting her novel, Jackson was crossing the U.S.-Canada border.

He moved from Maine and settled in St. Johns, New Brunswick, for a few years. But his desire to have a broader influence in the

anti-slavery movement led him to sail off to Liverpool, England, with an endorsement letter from Stowe herself.

Over the next decade, Jackson lectured across Britain, as many Black abolitionists did, including Frederick Douglass. During this time, Jackson wrote his 1862 memoir, “The Experience of a Slave in South Carolina,” in which he wrote of his encounter with Stowe.

It was only until after the Civil War ended in 1865 that Jackson sailed back to the U.S. from Britain.

He continued to lecture and raise money, this time for relief supplies for destitute freedmen in South Carolina. He collected money to start an orphan’s home, a church and a home for Black elders without families to care for them.

Few of these projects ever fully materialized, but newspapers and correspondence with government officials document his relentless advocacy.

Jackson’s audacious life ended at some point in the very early 20th century. Before he died, his actions had become legend among the people who knew him in the Black community.

One of his neighbors remembered him with admiration.

In the 1930s, an interviewer asked Jake McLeod, an elderly Black sharecropper, about his memories of Jackson.

“Don’ know how-come he run away,” McLeod said, “but dey didn’t catch up wid him till it was too late.”

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article at https://bit.ly/47MmonU.

Susanna Ashton is a professor of English at Clemson University. She holds a B.A. from Vassar and M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. Among other awards, she has been a Faculty Fulbright scholar in Ireland; a Faculty fellow at Yale University’s Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition; a Mark Twain Fellow for the Mark Twain Society; and held archival fellowships at the University of South Carolina, Emory University, and the Houghton Library of Harvard University. For 2021-2022 she was a W.E.B. Du Bois Fellow at the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University. Her

biography of John Andrew Jackson, "A Plausible Man. The True Story of the Escaped Slave Who Inspired Uncle Tom's Cabin" is published with NY: The New Press, 2024

SUSANNA ASHTON

Photograph from 1900 shows dilapidated log cabin with African American man sitting outside reading in the vicinity of Asheville, N.C. Photo courtesy of Library of Congress

Harriet Beecher Stowe, circa 1880. Photo courtesy of Library of Congress

Editor’s Note: The opinions of our columnists in the Voices section are not necessarily the opinions

Blocked by politician on social media? Know your rights

If you spend enough time on social media, the odds are good: You will either block someone or be blocked; you will delete comments you dislike, and others may delete your comments.

As we approach Election Day, those social media exchanges will only increase as voters discuss their concerns and candidates seek more support.

But what if the deleted comment or blocking occurs on a social media account belonging to a government official, candidate for office, or governmental agency?

Under those circumstances, the First Amendment is a powerful shield to protect not only your speech, but also “the right of the

people … to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Freedom of speech and to petition the government are protections upheld since before there was a United States, all the way back to the Magna Carta in 1215 Even on social media, our rights are protected.

However, it is important to note that a social media post on your neighbor’s account is not necessarily pro-

tected by the First Amendment, even if your neighbor is a government official or candidate for office.

Social media is like the public square in a small town.

In this public square, people can preach the gospel or campaign for office. Members of this expansive community can praise the new shopping center, exhibit their talent for art or singing or dance, or complain about that new tax to fund development.

Though many social media providers are private actors entitled to their own editorial discretion, when the account holder on a platform is a government agency, official, or a candidate for office, the First Amendment demands

Tthat they allow posters to speak, even if that speech is disagreeable or contrary to their preferred speech.

Accordingly, the government official, candidate, or government agency is prohibited from deleting comments or blocking someone from accessing the social media account at issue. Simply disliking a comment or perspective is insufficient grounds for the official, candidate, or agency to silence the poster by deleting their comment or blocking them.

In short, if you or someone you know has been blocked on a government or candidate’s account or had comments deleted, your First Amendment rights may have been infringed. But what can you do

about it?

First, it is important to document that comments have been deleted or someone has been blocked. So long as the comment was not a threat of violence, harassment, or otherwise exempt from constitutional protection, your speech is protected.

Second, it may be helpful to notify the governmental actor or candidate that they have violated the First Amendment and request that they reverse course.

Sometimes, governmental actors are unaware of their obligation not to delete comments or block others for merely disagreeing or posting disagreeable content or a difference of opinion.

Finally, consider filing a

complaint with the ACLU of South Carolina.

As we approach yet another important election, it is vital that people take advantage of their constitutional right to petition their government and potential elected officials and debate the issues they desire as they see fit.

Each time the government or a candidate for public office infringes on the rights of those it is sworn to represent, democracy loses.

Armchair psychology: a healthy (or not so) diagnosis

wo very different “ailments” seem to be making the rounds these days: Trump Derangement Syndrome and MAGA “Dis-temper.”

I know that actual distemper is a contagious viral disease that affects a variety of mammals, including dogs, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and wolves. It can cause serious illness and death in these animals. Humans and cats are excluded … interesting.

My fancy is a bit tickled, however, by the notion that “dis-temper,” my own version of a prevalent disease of the mind evidenced by those far right extremists, is just as viable as Trump Derangement Syndrome. Furthermore, I find it much more dangerous.

Let’s examine Trump Derangement Syndrome, a derisive term created by those who follow Trump’s every word in a way that is akin to hero worship. I am almost tempted to turn it around and say those same folks suffer from the same deranged mindset as Trump, himself. However, I will stick to the originally intended topic.

These folks declare that we, and yes I include myself, hate Trump to the point that we have become deranged. So what exactly is “derangement?” A deranged person, by definition, is someone who is unable to think or act in a normal or logical way, often due to a

CAROL LUCAS

severe mental illness. For example, someone might be described as deranged if they exhibit bizarre behavior, such as running down Bay Street naked.

Now I have yet to see an example of Trump Derangement Syndrome provided, nor have I seen what I would describe as “bizarre” behavior on the part of those who see Donald Trump as a danger.

Let me make it clear that I don’t hate Donald Trump, the man. I, as well as the people I know who find Trump’s behavior reprehensible, feel strongly that what he puts forth every time he opens his mouth is dangerous. Dangerous to our country as well as dangerous to world stability.

I ask you honestly and with a straight face, who can tolerate the notion of our country coming under the rule of a dictatorship, something Trump has admitted he will do? And if you think this was merely “off the cuff” commentary, look at the world leaders to whom he overtly pays homage.

Of course the ‘love letters’ from Kim is the first example that comes to mind. Those supporting the former president want to brush this aside with “oh, that’s just Trump being Trump.”

And my response is, “Only because you encourage Trump to be Trump.” You enthusiastically cheer him on.

Which leads to the question, “Why don’t you expect more from the man you would chose to lead our country? Furthermore, do you wish our country to be another North Korea?”

Then there is Russia’s Putin. Sadly, many Congressional leaders have shown the same adulation as Trump, and find themselves fawning over and cleaving unto the Russian oligarch.

Remember those eight senators who were wined and dined in Russia in a 4th of July celebration?

One was Sen. Kennedy from Louisiana. They chose to spend the day that celebrates our independence in a country that interfered in our Presidential election in 2016. On that note, I suggest you watch the documentary “From Russia with Lev.” Pretty enlightening.

Then there was the meeting of Trump with top Russian officials behind closed doors with no coverage by reporters from the U.S. but ample coverage by Russian reporters.

The dictators whom Trump seems to openly admire, as shown by his own words include Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines whose nickname is “The Punisher.” He is quoted as saying, “Forget the laws on human rights. If I make it to the presidential palace, I'd kill you. I'll dump all of you into Manila Bay, and fatten all the fish there."

Retribution. Sound familiar?

Consider Xi Jinping. Trump’s take on this man from an April 28 Reuters interview: "He certainly doesn't want to see turmoil and death. He doesn't want to see it. He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well."

It might be noted here that Trump’s business ventures in China, as well as those of Ivanka Trump, have been viewed as a conflict of interest by many watchdog groups.

Then there is Erdogan, leader of Turkey. Trump called this man to congratulate him for setting forth a referendum that gives him (Erdogan) more presidential power.

Do we see a pattern emerging?

If we who not only vehemently disagree with all of the above, but also fear it, are deranged, show me the path to lucid thinking.

And now to what I perceive as MAGA dis-temper, that other disease that seems to have overcome so many.

If you have read this far, I’d

ask you to stop and process what I have presented above: the boot-licking on Trump’s part, of those foreign leaders who are more dictatorial than Presidential. That alone should be a pause for introspection.

Then there is the adherence to Project 2025, despite Trump’s denial. Of course he knows about it; it was conceived and created by many members of his first administration. While he struggles to distance himself, you, the voter should consider the following: At least 270 proposals in Project 2025's published blueprint for the next Republican president match Trump's past policies and current campaign promises.

And, of course, the acceptance of the more than 30 000 documented lies, as well as the bizarre acceptance of “bleach” to cure COVID.

So I leave you with this: if I suffer Trump Derangement Syndrome, I know what the cure is. Keep Trump away from a second term. If you suffer from MAGA Dis-temper, consider what so many high ranking Republicans are doing. Put your country ahead of party. Help return to real honest-toGod Conservatism.

Try it, you might like it.

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.”

Tish Gotell Faulks is the

attorney

TISH GOTELL FAULKS

Editor’s Note:

VOICES

5 former Council members urge ‘no’ vote on new tax

By Steven Baer, Cynthia Bensch, Rick Caporale, Mike Covert and Steve Fobes

We are former members of Beaufort County Council with 26 years of experience in the internal workings of that Council, more than 40 years experience in county government and, collectively, we have enjoyed living in Beaufort County for more than 100 years. Based on what those experiences have taught us, we believe everyone should vote “no” on the upcoming referendum for an additional 1% Transportation Sales Tax. Please consider the following points.

If we vote “yes,” the County will assume that we approved the projects. Based on all of our past experience, we may not like the details when we finally get to see them, but, by then, we will have lost our leverage. It will be too late.

It is much wiser to have the County provide more design and visual detail on each project before we vote to approve it.

The County has shown us very little ability to listen to, and act on, public input. For example, the County Council Vice Chair recently told a citizens’ group and a Town Councilperson: “We are not going to vote on your comments whether you like it or not … After we have voted, we will hear you out.”

Likewise, the County has shown no talent for risk and budget management. For example, one of the 2018 projects has more than doubled its proposed cost and has a current shortfall so large that it cannot be filled, even with the proposed new tax. It will need to absorb every available tax dollar in the County, displacing other

projects, and still not be able to find enough funds. When asked, the Beaufort County staff person responsible replied: “We are on a righteous path. If the November Referendum does not pass, Beaufort County is definitely resilient, I have no fear.” This is an Ostrich-like head-in-the-sand approach.

The County’s description of the referendum projects indicates collection of $950 million. Yet the projects on the list only add up to $900 million. Thus, there appears to be another $50 million slush fund to explain to taxpayers. So much for fiscal transparency.

The “Penny Tax” wording the County is using is a gross distortion of the true costs. That penny tax will cost each person in the County $238 72 per year. It will cost a family of four more than

M$9 500 during the 10-year life of the tax — even if 50% of the funding is paid for by visitors, as County Council claims.

Making massive amounts of cash available in advance without stronger justification will only further encourage the County’s secretive and already poor and irresponsible planning and management.

The County has demonstrated very little ability to manage multiple projects at once. The 2018 version of this tax contained 34 projects but only four (12%) are currently complete. It would be a mistake to add to this backlog the 15 new projects on the 2024 list.

The County has promised to provide a Citizen Led Oversight Committee (CLOC) if we fund their tax. But that is too late — the dollars will already be out of the bag, so

to speak. Furthermore, can County Council be trusted to run or suggest names for any oversight team? Council is led by members of a secretive and highly biased Chamber-linked group (the GIC) who just succeeded in electing another crony to the County Transportation Committee. Any self-audit or oversight would become a rubber-stamp sham.

There is no reason for taxpayers to provide a 10-year blank check to a list of projects whose details we have not yet seen. It is much wiser for citizens to demand that these projects be addressed in smaller, more transparent bites, subject to our pre-approval only after we see a higher level of detail for each project.

of the

SC’s widespread power outage need not have been so severe

ore than 1 2 million South Carolina homes and businesses lost power after Hurricane Helene pummeled the Southeast.

Other states may have seen more property damage and catastrophic flooding, causing a higher death toll in North Carolina that’s still rising. But South Carolina led the Southeast in power outages. That’s remarkable considering that South Carolina is the smallest of the states heavily impacted by Helene.

The massive power outage need not have been so severe. An obvious solution to outages, though an expensive one, would be to bury more power lines — undergrounding, it’s called — leaving fewer utility poles and power lines vulnerable to high winds and falling trees.

On Monday night, three days after the disaster, South Carolina still had the most power outages (688,655) of any state, followed by Georgia, with 491 401 outages, and North Carolina, with 397 758, according to PowerOutage.US.

Those power outages, centered in the Upstate and along the Georgia border, created a lot of ongoing misery for South Carolinians, especially as temperatures climbed above 80 degrees.

Outages pose a danger especially to elderly, disabled and other vulnerable South Carolinians. Families are left in the dark, sometimes cut off from communication. Families lose food and medicine due to a lack of refrigeration.

Downed power lines themselves remain an obvious hazard, too.

Many Upstate restaurants and grocery stores, lacking electricity, were forced to close temporarily, sacrificing not only profits but perhaps refrigerated stock as well.

The Electric City In the wake of Helene,

my hard-hit Upstate city of Anderson was a mess of fallen trees, damaged homes, blocked roadways and hanging power lines. Ironically, Anderson enjoys the nickname of “The Electric City,” a moniker it earned in 1895 from the Charleston News and Courier when Anderson city leaders built a hydroelectric plant on the Rocky River, providing a continuous supply of power to the city.

Anderson was one of the first cities in the Southeast to electrify. Helene tossed the city back into the 19th Century.

Local reports suggested the storm was among the worst weather-related disasters in Anderson County’s history, with more than 70 000 still without power on Monday.

In the immediate aftermath of Helene, the city’s major arteries were clogged

with cars as people apparently searched for grocery stores or restaurants that were still open.

There were very few, and they were overrun.

Many of the businesses and offices we rely on had to close temporarily due to a lack of power: Doctors’ offices, drug stores, churches, day care centers, libraries, and city, county and state government offices.

Mail was delivered Monday, but the main post office had no power and remained closed. Schools and universities canceled classes.

Dozens of traffic lights and street lights were still out Monday night, creating a hazard on the road. It’s striking to see (or I should say not see) familiar neighborhoods shrouded in pitch darkness.

Gas for cars or generators was hard to come by over the weekend as the power outage closed almost all gas stations in town. The competition for fuel was fierce.

At times, internet and cell phone service was spotty.

Some restaurants and grocery stores that were open operated on a cash-only basis due to interrupted internet service.

Ice to store food was hard

are

County Council.

to find.

Tempers flared among Clemson residents as Clemson University decided to proceed with Saturday’s game against Stanford, which brought 80,000 spectators to Clemson at a time when many locals lacked power, and ice and gas were scarce.

But kudos to the many people in the Upstate who continue this week to remain calm and cooperative and check on their neighbors. Interestingly, the Clemson game could be played only because the stadium was lit up by underground power lines.

Burying power lines

The idea of burying more power lines to reduce the extent of outages is not new. The topic arises at least in some quarters every time there’s a widespread power outage here in the Upstate.

Ice storms that knock out power for days can be particularly brutal for Upstate residents suffering through freezing temperatures with no heat in the home.

No one would suggest that we could completely eliminate power outages, but experts agree that we

could reduce them by more aggressive undergrounding.

A Princeton study found that undergrounding could “drastically reduce” the impact of power outages.

Buried power lines are safe from wind, ice and falling tree limbs. Undergrounding can shorten restoration times, as there would be fewer utility poles and above-ground power lines to fix.

Buried power lines can help prevent electrocution injuries and deaths. Plus, many agree that buried power lines provide a more aesthetically pleasing view.

Most or all new planned communities appear to choose to bury lines rather than string them overhead.

The Upstate’s major power provider, Duke Energy, needs to step up its undergrounding efforts.

The cost of undergrounding, of course, could be significant. Some estimates suggest that it’s 10 times more expensive to bury power lines than to run them above ground. And that cost is likely to be passed on to customers — you and me.

But like me, many South Carolinians would probably be willing to pay more

on their monthly bills to support more aggressive undergrounding over the course of many years. It won’t happen without a significant outcry from South Carolinians who are tired of widespread and dangerous outages, sometimes in extremes of weather.

State lawmakers and the Public Service Commission of South Carolina will need to exert pressure on energy companies and perhaps provide financial support. As we recover from Helene, we need to build back stronger for the future. We’re faced with a stark choice: We can remain in the dark. Or we can modernize our state’s infrastructure, reduce powers outages and continue to improve South Carolina’s quality of life.

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.

Steven Baer, Cynthia Bensch, Rick Caporale, Mike Covert and Steve Fobes

former members

Beaufort

PAUL HYDE

Tropical Storm Helene snapped utility poles and downed lines across South Carolina, particularly in the Upstate and along the Georgia border. Columnist Paul Hyde, who lives in Anderson, reports his city was a mess of fallen trees and hanging power lines. Paul Hyde/Special to the S.C. Daily Gazette

Snapped utility poles and downed lines in Anderson after Helene stormed through. Paul Hyde/Special to the S.C. Daily Gazette

The invasive species is us

The United States Department of Agriculture publishes a list of “species declared invasive, noxious, prohibited, or otherwise harmful or potentially harmful” for the population of our country. The list of 192 species is necessarily selective. According to the USDA, “more than 6,500 invasive species have been established across the United States.”

After reading the list, I find myself wondering if hammerhead worms and giant African snails inhabit my back yard, if I’ll land a round goby when I go fishing, or if veined rapa whelks lurk offshore as I walk the beach at Hunting Island. Kudzu covers trees along the Spanish Moss Trail, brown marmorated stink bugs (when squashed) foul our air, wooly adelgids chomp our hemlocks, and don’t get me started on giant hogweeds. Missing from the list of invasive species are creatures from the genus homo, however, and this strikes me as strange since it’s the deeds of humans,

mostly, that are making life on earth increasingly dangerous and unpleasant. After all, it isn’t Rapa whelks or round gobies that are behind the drought in Arizona or causing wildfires in California, nor are giant African snails driving the cars backed up a quarter mile from stoplights on Ribaut Road.

There are already too many humans for what our earth can handle comfortably, in the opinion of small-minded folks like me, and these numbers keep expanding. Perceived shortterm needs or out-and-out greed bring us to cut down forests that enhance the air we breathe, extract petroleum in vast amounts

so we can burn it to propel us where we want to go (even if it’s slowly-slowly up Ribaut Road at mid-afternoon), and construct massive new apartment complexes (think Boundary Street or Salem Road) near streets and roads that already cannot handle the traffic upon them.

It's bigger than a local problem, of course. A retired hedge-fund manager at a noted national investment bank tells me that a requirement for the economic well-being of every nation in our global system is population growth. Capitalism is measured in growth, and to achieve such growth, more people are needed to consume, spend, save, invest, and, yes, produce more children, who will consume, spend, invest, etc.

Modern nations worry over their solvency and their social stability when they don’t have increasing numbers of young people to bring growth for the economy and enough income generation to support those older folks who are no longer making more than they’re taking.

Now, smart species lacking invasive tendencies might come together and work to sort out such problems, which hold the promise not only of altering their comfortable existence, but, over the long term, of leading to their end. They might recognize, too, that global problems require global solutions; that individual nations might best set aside their notions of sovereignty and enable a world body to seek and implement solutions to the problems that threaten survival of life on earth, including war, overpopulation, and an economic system that seems to thrive on both; and that those in all corners of the earth, who profess to care for the lives of their offspring, might attempt to see what the more-distant future is likely to hold and implement measures to guarantee their long-term survival. Alas, we humans don’t do these things. “Don’t tread on me!” we state, our self-defined national groups not wanting to give up their ideas of what’s best for them in the near future for what might

be best for all plants and animals on earth over the centuries to come. “Drill, baby, drill!” we vow, not giving sufficient thought to how the burning of petroleum is altering the air we breathe and the climate we live in and, indirectly, the oceans that lap our shores (and rise to threaten our coastal dwellings). “We’ll attract more people to the Lowcountry,” we promise, worrying more about property values and tax rates than we do about the quality of our lives.

What are the most invasive species? The cartoon character Pogo answered over half a century ago when he altered Commodore Perry’s famous statement of U.S. victory over a British fleet: “We have met the enemy,” Pogo said, “and he is us.”

Donald R. Wright is a Distinguished Teaching Professor of History, Emeritus, at SUNY-Cortland. In 2005-06 he held the Mark Clark Chair of History at The Citadel. He is author of books on African, African-American, and Atlantic histories. Don and his wife Doris live in Beaufort.

Let’s make smarter decisions on climate

If quick-moving but deadly Hurricane Helene has anything to teach us, it’s that monster storms can get anyone, not just people along the coast.

Helene’s horrific landfall in Florida led to a drenching, tornado-laden swath that cut through Georgia and the Carolinas before it dumped water and flooded mid-South states.

It’s a solid reminder that bad storms are intensifying as the climate warms, something climate change deniers will have a hard time refuting as their neighbors discard everything from soggy mattresses to flooded vehicles.

Bottom line: All governments and people need to make smarter decisions in dealing with what’s happening to our climate.

As individuals and

Ffamilies, we can reduce energy use and try to add renewable forms of energy to avoid carbon-rich coal, oil and gas. Switch to energy-efficient appliances. Insulate your home better. Change to LED lightbulbs, if you haven’t already. Walk more. Eat more vegetables, grains, fruits and nuts to lower consumption of meat, which requires more energy to produce. Follow the Rs of conservation – reduce, reuse and recycle. In your yard, create a rain gar -

or the last couple of months

I have been whining to anyone who would listen, and to some who would rather not, that Kamala Harris keeps dodging straight questions about what her policies would be if she was lucky enough to be elected President. Wednesday she dropped an economic policy bomb that unless your name was Bernie or Elizabeth, it should send a cold chill down your spine.

Come to think about it, that 82page work of art could have been written by Senators Sanders and Warren with AOC cheering them on, … hmmm, I just may be on to something here. If Karl Marx was alive today he would have insisted upon that body of work be awarded a Pulitzer Prize.

The most amazing thing about it was that Harris opened her announcement by declaring, “I am a capitalist.” I can only conclude that she is confusing capitalism with “Das Kapital,” a series of three

den to store water. It’s not a tough job to find ideas on ways to save energy. And the bonus is you likely will save money too.

As taxpayers, we can demand local and state governments do more and be smarter about how they spend money for services. Instead of doing things the way they’ve always been done, explore new ideas and invest in new possibilities.

For example, is it really smart in Charleston County to extend an interstate highway on the ground for $2 4 billion of local taxpayer dollars when there’s so much that needs to be done to protect the county from the impacts of increased flooding caused by monster storms like Hurricane Helene or this year’s earlier Tropical Storm Debby?

So it’s encouraging that Gov. Henry McMaster this week launched an effort for the state to do something new about water. It’s now crafting a fresh strategic water effort to ensure South Carolina has a good plan to manage its ground and surface waters in the years ahead.

“South Carolina has been richly blessed with abundant water resources, but with increased demand driven by historic economic development and a booming population, we must take action now to ensure these resources are managed in the best interests of all South Carolinians,” McMaster said. “The formation of WaterSC will unite South Carolina’s top minds and key stakeholders to craft a plan that balances our economic and

environmental interests, which will ensure that our water resources are plentiful and that our economy remains strong for generations to come.”

But just as we need to be smarter with how we deal with water in the future, we need to make sure we effectively plan and are smart in dealing with generating power responsibly, not letting South Carolina’s power generators control the conversation in the next legislative session like they tried to do so this year.

Our state’s — and world’s — thirst for power has to take into account more renewables and less carbon-based power. We’ve got to reduce greenhouse gasses, not continue 19th century strategies that send climate-warming carbon into the atmosphere.

We’ve got to figure out

Be careful what you ask for

books that were written by Karl Marx back in the 19th century predicting the inevitable fall of the Capitalist system. No doubt she read the books back in her college days at the University of California. Marx, many of you will remember, was a German economist and philosopher often referred to as the “Father of Communism.” With this announcement the direction that she would take the country is no longer in doubt. The veil of the new and different Kamala has dropped, and we now know that she is the same Kamala that has worked hand in hand with Joe

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Biden the past four years, only this time on her own, and worse if you are not a Progressive.

The Wall Street Journal in its Friday, Sept. 27 edition on the Opinion page gives the article about Harris’ economic plan the headline “Bidenomics II.” They do a great job of breaking the plan into its various parts in clear and understandable language. I would recommend that you find a copy and read it. It is most informative. The basic parts of the plan are, higher taxes, new and bigger entitlements, more transfer payments, more housing subsidies, more student loan forgiveness, more government control of healthcare, more control of industrial policy, price controls, more union gifts, more green-energy largess.

In short it’s Bidenomies on steroids. If you have been happy with the past four years of economic policy, you are going to love this one, because it features more spending, more taxes, more

regulation, and much more government than we have ever had in the history of the country.

In order to implement most of this, it must be passed by Congress, and you might feel pretty safe in saying that there is no chance that it could happen, but unfortunately there is. If the Dems win the Presidency and both houses of Congress, Sen. Chuck Shumer is already committed to doing away with the filibuster in the Senate. They would be able to pass bills with only 51 votes, and even if it splits, a Vice President Waltz would have the tie breaking vote. If the Dems hold the majority in the House, bills would sail through just as they did in the Nancy Pelosi days.

Wait you say, the Supreme Court would declare much of this as unconstitutional and save the day. However with the filibuster gone from the Senate they would be able to increase the number of justices, per President Biden’s announced

better ways to get around, grow food, keep the economy strong and build homes – all while maintaining one of the best qualities of life in the world. Otherwise, we’ll just keep cleaning up from storms like Helene and Debby. And what was it Einstein may have said about insanity? “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

Let’s not be insane about what’s happening to our climate. Only we can make changes that will cool the ocean’s waters and reduce the intensity of storms like Helene.

Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Statehouse Report and the Charleston City Paper. Have a comment? Send it to feedback@ statehousereport.com.

plan, to assure a liberal majority. Harris would undoubtedly, with Senate approval, appoint enough liberal members to stop any corrective action the court might take. If you are a dedicated Progressive you have to be ecstatic about what President Harris has in store for the country. If you are almost anyone else, you need to be very concerned, and vote to be sure that the Dems do not control all of the branches of government because the results would not be pleasant for most of us, and it would change the country's direction into the foreseeable future.

Born, raised and educated in the Southwest, Jim Dickson served in the U.S. Navy Reserve in Vietnam before a 35-year business career. Retired to St. Helena Island, Dickson and his wife are fiscally conservative, socially moderate and active in Republican politics, though they may not always agree with Republicans. Having lived around the country and traveled around the world, Dickson believes that the United States truly is the land of opportunity.

DONALD WRIGHT

ANDY BRACK

JIM DICKSON

Staff Sgt. Bailee Darbasie

U.S. Air Force

JOINT BASE CHARLESTON –

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Geremy Velez Masini made history on Aug. 28 2024, as the first U.S. Airman to participate in the U.S. Marine Corps Tri-Command Multi-Gun Match at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C.

Velez Masini, a distribution fuels operator with the 628th Logistics Readiness Squadron, was hand selected as the first non-Marine member to compete in the renowned match after only 10 months of competitive shooting training.

“It was an honor to represent the fuels career field and Air Force as a whole,” said Velez Masini. “There was no hiding that I was an outsider on the Marine’s home turf, but my primary goal was to put on a

good showing to portray the Air Force the best way possible.”

The multi-gun match featured the M18 service pistol and M16A4 service rifle with an advanced combat optical gun sight, testing the proficiency of competitors through six courses of fire.

“No two stages were alike,” said Velez Masini. “They tested a wide range of skillsets and capabilities. I focused on going as fast and efficiently as my sights and movement allowed me to go.”

Velez Masini competed against 48 U.S. Marines in each challenge, putting his precision shooting skills, along with his running and gunning in action shooting capabilities to the test.

“The competition itself was a blast,” said Velez Masini. “Everything from getting familiar with

the weapons system, to integrating with the Marines around me was an amazing opportunity. I feel so lucky that the members of Weapons and Field Training Battalion were willing to break down barriers to allow me to participate.”

In the end, Velez Masini finished in first place for the rifle portion and fourth place for the pistol portion, resulting in the highest overall score at the Tri-Command MultiGun Match.

“To be able to experience that culture in person and be competitive with the Marines was an absolute honor,” said Velez Masini. “It’s something I believe more Airmen should be exposed to, so we can integrate tactics and techniques to become a more lethal and effective force, especially as we transition to a joint environment.”

What VA Home Loan borrowers need to know, Part 4

According to the VA Home Loan Guaranty Buyer’s Guide, at https://bit.ly/3B2o0hm, before buying a home, you should consider the costs and benefits of homeownership. While renting a home can offer flexibility and limited responsibility for maintenance, rent can change over time, the owner can sell the property, and you may or may not receive your security deposit when you move.

Advantages of home ownership

Over the long term, home ownership can offer benefits such as relatively stable monthly mortgage payments and a way to build wealth for you and your family. The VA recommends determining your priorities before buying a home, such as what you are willing to spend each month on a mortgage and what other expenses (taxes, transportation, food, insurance, healthcare, childcare, phone, utilities, etc.) you must consider. Only you can determine what meets your housing and financial needs.

Helpful tools

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) offers tools and resources to help you find the right home loan at https://bit. ly/4gP9OJ0. This site warns against scammers targeting home buyers days before closing on their new home. This webpage has excellent advice on what you should do BEFORE you make an offer on a home. The site has a credit report checklist, a spending

tracker, how to explore loan choices, a loan estimator, a closing checklist, a closing disclosure explainer, a guide to closing forms, and more.

Beginning the VA Home Loan process

Below are the general steps for starting the home-buying process.

1 Apply for your Certificate of Eligibility (COE): The COE verifies to your lender that you qualify for the VA home loan benefit. If you have used your loan benefit in the past, a current COE may be helpful to know how much remaining entitlement you have or to ensure your entitlement was restored for previous VA-backed loans that were paid in full.

2 Review your current finances: Review your credit profile, income, expenses, and monthly budget to ensure you are ready to buy a home. Decide how much you want to spend on a mortgage and be sure to include closing costs in the price. Get more advice from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

3 Choose a lender: You can get your loan through a private bank, mortgage company, or credit union. Lenders offer different interest rates and fees, so shop around for the loan that best meets your needs.

4 Choose a real estate agent: Meet with several real estate agents and select one to represent you. You can take your lender’s “Pre-Approval Letter” to your real estate agent. Before signing with an agent, read all agreements and make sure you understand any charges, fees, and commissions. Real estate agents work for you.

5 Shop for a home: Look at houses in your price range until you find one that works for you.

Some helpful tips • Know your lender’s credit requirements: The VA does NOT require a minimum credit score, but most lenders will use a credit score to help determine your interest rate. Typically, lenders may want borrowers to have a minimum credit score of 620 unless there is a large down payment. Know your credit history: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recommends borrowers get a free copy of their credit report from the three nationwide credit reporting companies. Credit reports may affect your mortgage

rates, credit card approvals, apartment requests, or job applications. This offers an opportunity to correct errors and strengthen your scores. Visit https://bit.ly/3Y1h1y1 or use the automated phone system at 1-877322-8228 to check your credit scores.

Shop around for a lender: Lenders offer competitive interest rates, fees, and closing costs on VA-backed purchase loans. Start by looking around for a network of people and information you trust to help you. Start gathering facts about your finances. You should ask multiple lenders for a loan estimate and review the helpful guide on comparing loan offers at https:// bit.ly/3Y7sIn3. Explore interest rates with CFPB’s Interest Rate Explorer at https://bit. ly/3Y86fVN. Loan term: VA loans can be issued for 30 years or 15 years.

Shorter-term loans typically have a lower interest rate and lower total cost but also have higher monthly payments. See more comparisons at https:// bit.ly/4gJMZWW. For VA home loans, you can pay off (amortize) your loan with NO penalty or early payoff fee.

Fixed or ARM: VA loans can be fixedrate or adjustable-rate mortgages (ARM). The most common option is a fixed-rate mortgage. This option has a set

principal and interest payment throughout the life of the loan, no matter how rates change nationally. However, due to local property taxes and insurance changes, your monthly mortgage payment may increase slightly each year. The ARM loan's interest rate is adjusted periodically based on an index. These loans may have a low introductory rate, but the rate can grow over time, and so will your monthly mortgage payment. More information is available at https://bit.ly/4gJMZWW.

• Energy and improvements: The VA offers two loan options that can be utilized with a VA purchase or refinance loan. These loans must be closed along with your VA loan. See the Energy Efficiency Improvement and Alteration and Repair loan sections in the VA Home Loan Guaranty Buyer’s Guide. Purchasing a condo: VA maintains a list of approved condos. If the condo is not on the list, the project must be submitted to VA for review to ensure it complies with VA requirements. See Chapter 10 of the Lenders Handbook. For additional questions, you can contact VA at 1-877-827-3702

Selling your current home to buy another: Generally, you can hold multiple home loans if you can afford all the loans. If your plan to purchase a new home is contingent on selling your current home, your lender can disregard the payments on the outstanding mortgage(s) and any consumer obligations you intend to clear. Just be sure to speak with your lender regarding any required documentation. Adverse items on your credit: In circumstances not involving bankruptcy, satisfactory credit is generally considered re-established after you have made satisfactory payments for 12 months after the date the last derogatory credit item was satisfied. In cases of bankruptcies, see Chapter 4 of the Lenders Handbook, Topic 7: Credit History.

The VA Home Loan Benefit is complex but well worth the effort!

Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Hospital, the Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for the local Army Association Chapter. Larry is the

LARRY DANDRIDGE

In the end, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Geremy Velez Masini, far left, made history, finishing in first place for the rifle portion and fourth place for the pistol portion, resulting in the highest overall score Aug. 28, 2024, at the U.S. Marine Corps Tri-Command Multi-Gun Match at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. Staff Sgt. Bailee Darbasie/USAF Velez Masini

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E-Edition

Reasons for Faith

Diamond Hunting at the Beach Can Science Disprove

Metal detectors are amazing, but they have limits.

One often sees people on the beach after a storm, using a metal detector to find lost rings, coins, or other unexpected treasures that may have washed onto the shore. But if a large diamond were to fall out of a woman’s wedding ring, it would make no sense for her to try to find it with a metal detector. As useful as they are, metal detectors can’t be used to discover everything.

As wonderful as science is, it also has limits.

Modern science has brought us amazing breakthroughs in medicine, travel, communication, and comfort. Thanks to science, we can do things our ancestors couldn’t even imagine. But since science is the study of the natural world, this means that it is limited in its scope: scientific inquiry can only answer questions about matters that are observable in time and space.

God?

Science cannot make moral judgments.

Science helps us describe the world, but it cannot help us decide what is good or bad, right or wrong. For example, scientific inquiry cannot answer whether it is right or wrong for people to steal, or whether a human life is more valuable than the life of an endangered animal. Scientific research can open up new possibilities, such as the ability to clone a human being, but it cannot tell us what we should do with this knowledge.

Science cannot explain realities like love or beauty.

Scientists can observe the interactions between a mother and her child, but they cannot prove whether love exists between two people, or explain why it exists. Science can explain how the Grand Canyon was formed, but it cannot tell us whether or not it is beautiful. We know from experience that love and beauty are real, but such realities fall outside the purview of science.

Science cannot answer questions concerning God or religion. Since science only examines the physical, natural world, it cannot give answers to supernatural questions such as, “Does God exist?” By definition, God is outside of space and time and thus beyond the limits of science. Science cannot be used to prove or disprove God, any more than a metal detector can establish the presence of a diamond in the sand.

There are reasons for faith in God.

If the woman in our example were looking for her diamond, she would search with other tools, such as a screen to sift through the sand. In a similar way, if we are to investigate God’s existence, we will need to employ avenues other than scientific research. In particular, we will need logical reasoning. In this message series, we will explore some of the reasons why it makes sense to believe in God.

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