September 12 edition by The Island News

PORT ROYAL, SC

City residents get 1st look at new Safe Harbor Marina plan

By Mike McCombs The Island News

After previous proposals for improvements to the Beaufort Downtown Marina were met with general disapproval from a vocal segment of city residents, Safe Harbor and the City of Beaufort hosted a review and question-and-answer session regarding a revised layout of marina improvements Thursday, Sept. 5 at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park Pavilion.

The revised layout of improvements from Safe Harbor was tailored to address comments and concerns from members of City Council and the public expressed

during a City Council Work Session held on March 26. Among the citizens’ concerns has been the size of the improved marina in comparison to the footprint of the marina as it currently exists.

Several dozen residents, along with city officials and officials from Safe Harbor, were present at the pavilion Thursday. Residents had a chance to look at renderings and photos of the revised improvements and ask questions.

Developer and longtime Beaufort resident Paul Trask said he wasn’t quite ready to go on the record with his thoughts on Safe Harbor’s newest proposal, though

Changing of the guard

By Delayna Earley

it is moving in the right direction.

Trask did tell City Manager Scott Marshall he would have some “constructive criticism” for him.

Trask has been a vocal critic of the City’s 2019 contract with Safe Harbor, which has been discovered to have been entered into improperly, leaving the relationship between the municipality and the company in limbo. At Beaufort’s most recent City Council meeting, Marshall publicly thanked Trask for exposing the City’s mistake. Several other residents declined to give discuss opinions

meeting

By Delayna Earley

Island News

The

Beaufort County Council will be holding a Special Called Meeting on Monday, Sept. 16 to hear a presentation regarding Pine Island.

The announcement was made following their executive session during their regular council meeting on Monday, Sept. 9 Council member Logan Cunningham made the motion to hold the meeting to “allow each of the parties involved in Pine Island to make their case to County Council.”

The presentations will be made by lawyers representing the involved parties and will take place during executive session because these negotiations are part of a settlement, according to Cunningham.

The only council member to outright vote against the motion was York Glover stating that “Council has taken a position that will represent the community and any other deviation from that right now would not suffice.”

Several other council members, including Alice Howard and Mark Lawson, expressed that their minds were made up regarding the Pine Island matter, but they were willing to vote for the motion to give everyone a chance to state their case. SEE

Attendees review the revised improvements of the Downtown Marina presented by Safe Harbor during a review session held on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2024, at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park Pavilion. Amber Hewitt/ The Island News

During the Port Royal Town Council Workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, Port Royal Deputy Chief of Police Cpl. Ron Wekenmann presents Chief Alan Beach with a retirement plaque to congratulate and wish him well after 37 years of service to the Port Royal Police Department. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Island News

LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS

Ben Whitfield, of Maysville, Ga., was vacationing recently on Fripp Island when he snapped this photo of a deer grabbing a quick snack at the Fitness Center. To submit a Lowcountry Life photo, you must be the photographer or have permission to submit the photo to be published in The Island News. Please submit high-resolution photos and include a description and/or names of the people in the picture and the name of the photographer. Email your photos to theislandnews@gmail.com.

OBITUARY

Dr. Charles anthony “tony” Bush

VETERAN OF THE WEEK RON WEST

Dr. Charles Anthony “Tony” Bush died at home on Thursday, Sept. 5 2024 surrounded by family. He was 87 Surviving are his wife, Patricia Lubkin Bush; his son, Charles Clayton Bush (Nancy); his daughter, Dolly Patricia Bush (Kurt); his two sisters, Nancy Kopko and Harriet Bush; and his two grandchildren, Beau and Reese Bush.

Dr. Charles Bush

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 14 2024 at 3 p.m. at The Baptist Church of Beaufort, with a reception to follow in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Baptist Church of Beaufort Endowment Fund by mail to 601 Charles St., P.O. Box 879, Beaufort, S.C. 29902-5008

OBITUARIES The Island News offers free obituaries up to 300 words with a photo. Longer obituaries are 25¢ per word. For details, email jeff.theislandnews@gmail.com.

Beaufort’s Ron West, 80 joined the United States Marine Corps in Atlanta in 1963. After Boot Camp at Parris Island, he trained at Montfort Point, N.C., in communications. His first assignment was at Camp Lejeune from which he deployed to Panama in 1964 during the Panama Crisis, and later to Spain in support of NATO. His next assignment for three years was to Naval Facility Argentia, Newfoundland, Canada. He next served near Chu Lai, Vietnam at the communications center. He returned to Parris Island for 2 ½ years working in communica-

tions before attending the Staff NCO Academy on the way to a three-year assignment in the National Military Command Center in the Pentagon. He then was assigned to the communications center on Okinawa for more than a year. He returned to duty in Beaufort at MCAS Beaufort before

beginning a lengthy series of assignments in recruiting duty, first in Charleston then in Marietta, Ga. He retired in 1985 as a Master Sergeant with 22 years of active service. In 2012 he moved to Sun City and became the chaplain of the Marine Corps League Association chapter here. He also served for 10 years in a jail ministry in Georgia. He is also a member of AMVETS and the DAV.

– Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207 For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.

September 13

2021: With COVID-19 near its peak in Beaufort County, County Administrator Eric Greenway enacts a mask requirement for all Beaufort County buildings.

2021: Local musician Leavin “Jack” Jackson is killed in a single-vehicle accident on Trask Parkway, near Fiddlerville Cove Road.

September 14

2021: Helen Pappas Spalding is removed from the City of Beaufort’s Election Commission after a unanimous 5-0 vote by the City Council.

PAL PETS OF THE WEEK

Dog Of The Week

Bayle is a playful, 1-year-old boy who loves attention and does well with other dogs. He's a super sweet, laid back, go with the flow kind of guy. If this describes what you’re looking for in a best friend, come meet Bayle today at Palmetto Animal League. He is neutered, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped.

Cat Of The Week

Looking for something sweet?

Raspberry is petite, mellow, and absolutely delightful. This 1-year-old darling has gorgeous, round eyes and a calm, no drama personality. She is spayed, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped.

For more info on Bayle, Raspberry or any of our other pets, call PAL at 843-645-1725 or email Info@ PalmettoAnimalLeague.org.

– Compiled by Lindsay Perry

Spalding’s spot on the commission comes into question after her involvement in organizing the Audit the SC 2020 Vote Rally held August 30 2021 at Olde Beaufort Golf Club.

September 15

1978: Beaufort native Joe Frazier sings the national anthem before the rematch between Muhammad Ali and Leon Spinks.

2023: Stephen Murray resigns as Mayor of Beaufort. City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Mike McFee becomes acting Mayor of Beaufort.

– Compiled by Mike McCombs

Ron West

Treasurer Walls’ lawsuit against Beaufort County, former auditor goes to trial

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

Jury selection began on Monday in the harassment suit that Maria Walls brought against Beaufort County and former Beaufort County Auditor James Beckert.

The lawsuit, which was originally filed in August 2020, alleges that Beckert spent years “harassing, bullying, defaming and threatening Walls” and prior to filing the lawsuit she sought help from the Beaufort County Administrator, Deputy County Administrator, Beaufort County Council members, the County Attorney, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and the County’s Human Resources Department.

In her suit, she alleges that Beaufort County failed to provide a safe and non-hostile work environment

for her and other employes. “Former County employees describe Beckert as a bully, totalitarian and abusive especially toward women,” the lawsuit asserts.

Walls also claimed that Beckert made threatening comments to hear, including telling her that he “hoped nothing bad happened to her while she was out of the office or driving home from work one day,” after finding out that she was pregnant.

One instance of the alleged harassment listed in the suit states that Beckert repeatedly stood outside of Walls’ office window and

watched her to make her feel uncomfortable and unsafe.

She also accused Beckert of using county security cameras to “stalk” her movements and “accost her”.

At least two other women who worked in Beaufort County government have also brought similar lawsuits against Beckert – Alicia Holland in Sept. 2020 and Amanda Paulsen in Sept. 2022

Holland’s case is still pending, but Paulsen appears to have reached a settlement in April 2024, but the suit is still marked as pending in judicial records.

Marina from page A1

on the revised improvements to The Island News, while both Marshall and Safe Harbor officials were generally optimistic.

After the event, Safe Harbor released a statement about its revised improvements:

“The Beaufort marina is a key part of the community’s infrastructure, welcoming boaters and generating commerce. After a rich

TOn Sept. 4, S.C. Circuit Court Judge Robert Bonds rejected motions made by Beckert and Beaufort County to dismiss the lawsuit brought by Walls.

County attorneys said that Beckert had been hostile, chauvinistic and abusive, but stated that the county had no responsibility in his conduct.

Walls also has a second lawsuit that is currently pending against Beaufort County that alleges the county retaliated against her in her official capacity as Treasurer.

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.

history, this vital asset is in need of important repair to both modernize the marina, as well as ensure the facility is resilient and prepared for future weather-related events, including possible storm surges.

“Our plan keeps the same general footprint of the existing marina, but provides for more robust docking, updated electrical and other critical needs making the marina more structurally sound. The proposed enhancement plan will cost approximately $8 million. It is the intention that Safe

Harbor Marinas will make that investment, at no cost to the city.”

The City of Beaufort is inviting the public to participate in a survey on the proposed redesign of the Downtown Marina.

To take the survey, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YB6NKPP.

To see the schematics of the redesign, go to www. cityofbeaufort.org/574/Marina-Day-Dock.

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

Zerbini Circus returning to Beaufort this month

Staff reports If you haven’t seen the free kids tickets around town, once again, a real circus under the big top is coming to Beaufort. The Zerbini Family Circus will pitch its tents at the vacant lot at 12 Sammie Lane in Beaufort from Monday, Sept. 23 through Sunday, Sept. 29. The circus is sponsored by Beaufort Family Entertainment.

Showtimes for the 90-minute performances are 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 5 and 7 p.m. Friday; 4 and 6 p.m., Saturday; and 3 p.m. Sunday. Seating is general admission on bleacher seats. Doors open one hour before the show. The Circus accepts cash and credit cards. Limited advance tickets can be purchased at zerbinifamilycircus.com or at the entrance while seats are available. Online ticket sales are limited and end at noon the day of the show. Parking fee is $2 per vehicle. Tickets are $15 per adult online and $20 at the box office. Each paid adult can bring one kid free with a coupon in the comments section on the Facebook page. The coupon is good for admission for one child, ages 4–12. You must have the ticket in hand. Kids 3 and younger are free and do not need a ticket. Additional children cost $10 per child.

o further meet the high demand among local residents for surgical services, Beaufort Memorial Surgical Specialists has added general surgeon Taylor Turnbull, M.D. to the practice. She will see patients in both Beaufort and Okatie.

A Burnettown, S.C., native who has spent her entire life in South Carolina, Dr. Turnbull comes to Beaufort Memorial after completing her residency in general surgery. She gained significant experience completing complex procedures in a tertiary care center with multiple surgical subspecialities during her residency, but says that she most enjoyed the months she spent at smaller community hospitals throughout the state.

Residency – General Surgery Prisma Health Upstate Greenville, SC

Doctor of Medicine

Medical University of South Carolina Charleston, SC

Skilled in robotic and laparoscopic surgical techniques, Dr. Turnbull brings experience in the treatment of a broad range of acute and chronic diseases and disorders to the practice. Among her professional interests are complex hernia repair, colorectal surgery (including anorectal surgery), skin lesion repair, biliary surgery, and abdominal surgery.

Bachelor of Science – Biology (magna cum laude) University of South Carolina Honors College Columbia, SC

At the practice Dr. Turnbull joins board-certified general surgeons Drs. Deanna Mansker, Aubrey Place and Stephen Sisco.

Maria Walls

James Beckert

Thomas and Jill Rubin of Beaufort discuss the revised improvements of the Downtown Marina presented by Safe Harbor during a review session held on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2024, at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park Pavilion. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Beaufort County Walk for Water set for Saturday

1,000 walkers expected to raise money for access to clean, safe water

Staff reports

The eighth annual Beaufort County Walk for Water is set for Saturday, Sept. 14 at Live Oaks Park in Port Royal and next Saturday, Sept. 21 at Wright Family Park in Bluffton. An estimated 1 000 walkers are expected to participate, helping raise a record $100,000 to fight the global water crisis.

Beaufort County Walk for Water promotes awareness of the global water crisis and raises money to provide sustainable, safe water around the world. All money raised benefits Water Mission, a nonprofit Christian engineering organization based in Charleston that builds safe water solutions in developing countries and disaster areas.

The walk hit historic highs last year with more than 700 registered walkers on both sides of the Beaufort River. Their participation will help dramatically change the lives of thousands of people in desperate need, according to Robert Lasher, Beaufort County Walk for Water committee chair.

“The money the walk raises makes a life-changing difference for generations in communities around the world,” Lasher said. “As little as $50 provides one person ongoing access to safe, clean water,” Lasher said. “$500 can create latrine sanitation for a community, and just over $1,000 can build solar panels for a power source.”

Participants will be encouraged to carry a bucket of water on part of a 3-mile walk to symbolize the

burden millions of women and children in developing countries carry daily to collect water that’s often contaminated. That unsafe water has dire consequences: a person dies from water-related illness every 37 seconds somewhere in the world, according to Water Mission. Registration is open now on the Walk for Water website at walkforwater.com/beaufort. Registration is $25 for adults ages 18 and older, $10 for youths ages 5 to 17, and free for children 4 and younger. Follow Beaufort County Walk for Water on Facebook and Instagram @BeaufortWalkforWater, and on Twitter #bftwalkforwater. For more information, call 843-769-7395 For sponsorship information, contact Lasher at 843-906-8118 or rlasher5519@gmail.com.

Photos courtesy of Walk For Water.

Newly promoted Burton Fire Captain continues family legacy

Staff reports

At a ceremony held at the Burton Fire District Pinewood Fire Station on Wednesday evening, Sept. 10, attended by family, friends and coworkers, Andrew Wright was promoted to the rank of Captain, and continues the family’s proud and accomplished legacy in the fire service.

Andrew Wright’s father, Tony Wright, retired as a volunteer fire chief, but returned months later to serve again as an Assistant Fire Chief with Greenup Fire Rescue in Illinois, where all three of his sons, Andrew, Chris, and Tyler, followed in his footsteps as volunteer firefighters.

Andrew Wright’s brother Chris is now a career fire chief with the Sullivan Fire Protection District (Illinois) and his brother Tyler is a

shift captain with the same fire district.

“Andrew, like his father and brothers, is a dedicated public servant and member of the fire service,” Burton Fire District Fire Chief Harry Rountree said in a news release. “Our citizens and communities are fortunate to have men like these, and we are fortunate to have Andrew as a member and leader of our fire district serving our community. He continues quite a proud legacy.”

Andrew Wright briefly left the fire service in 2006 when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving four years in aviation ordinance and deploying to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While in the Marine Corps, Andrew Wright earned the Good Conduct Medal, a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement

Medal, and a Navy Unit Citation award. In 2010, Andrew Wright, who was a Corporal, was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps and was hired by the Burton Fire District in 2011. In 2013 he was selected as the Burton Fire District’s Firefighter of the Year, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2021

Andrew Wright also serves as a South Carolina Fire Academy instructor and is a volunteer firefighter with the Sheldon Fire District.

As a Shift Captain, Andrew Wright will assist in the supervision, operations, and response of five fire stations and 18 firefighters, and will be responsible for planning and leading shift training.

in-house candidate and two candidates who do not work for the Port Royal Police Department.

Capt. Andre Massey is the only candidate currently working for the Port Royal Police Department.

Massey is a Marine veteran who served from 1986 to 1998. He joined the police department in Port Royal in 1998 and has worked as a police officer for the town ever since.

tention for the job is Jeffrey Meyers who recently retired as deputy chief of Fort Myers Police Department in Florida. Meyers was hired to the Fort Myers Police Department in 2018 Meyers came to that job after spending 24 years working with the South Euclid, Ohio, Police Department. He graduated from the FBI National Academy and Northwestern University School of Police

Staff and Command and holds a degree in Criminal Law from Bowling Green State University. According to his LinkedIn, he retired in 2023 and currently works part-time as a consultant for Critical Response Strategies. The third candidate is Kevin Pierce who is the retired Chief of Police for Borough of South Coatesville Police Department in Coatesville, Pa.

The second candidate in con-

Pierce attended Villanova University and Valley Forge Military Academy & College, according to his LinkedIn page, and he got his master’s degree in Administration of Justice from Wilmington University. He was hired in 2017 to his job with the Borough of South Coatesville Police Department and continued to work there until Sept. 2024, according to his LinkedIn page.

He was recently hired as the Director of Security and Transportation for Hilton Head Preparatory School.

All three candidates are expected to meet with town officials and residents on Sept. 11, before a final decision is made, to see how they interact with the people they will be protecting and working with.

Capt. Andre Massey

Jeffrey Meyers

Kevin Pierce

More than 700 registered walkers — on both sides of the Beaufort River — took part in the 2024 Walk For Water. Organizers are hoping for a strong turnout again this September.

Burton Fire District’s Andrew Wright was promoted to Captain on Wednesday evening, Sept. 10, continuing in his family’s legacy of service and accomplishment. Photo courtesy of Burton Fire District

Wardle Family YMCA gets grant to support youth sports

Staff reports

The Wardle Family YMCA, also known as the Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry, has been awarded a grant by First Federal Bank to help support its Youth Sports Programs. The funds will be used for equipment and supply costs for youth basketball, T-ball, soccer and flag football programs, and will also go to the Y’s scholarship fund, allowing community youth of all financial backgrounds to participate in these programs.

“The cost to run our sports programs has increased significantly over the last few years due to inflation. It’s important to us that we

continue to work toward our vision of a strong community that is healthy, safe, and thriving,” Wardle Family YMCA Branch Director Michael Trausch said in a news release. “One of the ways we can do that is by pricing our programs to make them affordable to all community members, regardless of their financial situation. We rely heavily on volunteers, donations, local partners, and grants, like the one we received from the First Federal Foundation, to be able to do so. The Y is grateful for the support of First Federal Bank, who is also community focused. We look forward to serving more local youth with their help.”

The Wardle Family YMCA offers seasonal sports programs throughout the year for youth ages 3 to 12 years old. Basketball is available for summer and winter seasons; outdoor soccer runs in the spring; indoor soccer takes place in the fall; t-ball is available in the summer; and NFL Flag Football will be running for it’s second year this fall.

Local businesses and community members can help ensure the success and growth of these programs by volunteering to coach or referee, or by making a donation to the Y. Those interested should contact Michael Trausch at m.trausch@wardlefamilyymca.org or 843522-9622

Fundraising Fish Fry

Beaufort resident Martha Owens was one of several volunteers at the Fundraising Fish Fry on Friday, Sept. 6, at Penn Center on St. Helena Island. Penn Center, the St. Helena Gullah Project, the South Carolina Coastal Community Development Corporation, Marshview Community Organic Farm, the Gullah Grub Restaurant and the Lowcountry Gullah Foundation held the fundraiser to defend heritage land losses on St. Helena Island. In addition, the event celebrated cultural heritage. Asa Aarons/The Island News

NEWS BRIEFS

GOP Headquarters to open Saturday

Beaufort County Republicans invite the public to join them for coffee at 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 14, for the opening of the GOP Headquarters at 609 Carteret Street. The headquarters will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday until November 5 For more information, please go to www.beaufortrepublicanwomensc.com.

Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving

Club

meeting

The Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club’s September meeting will be held Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club located on Lady’s Island off of Meridian Road. The social begins at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will start at 7

Well known local Captain Jason Woodham of Merrikohl Outfillers Fishing Charters (www.merrikohl. com) will make a presentation on Tarpon. He will also discuss rod and reel setups and baits of choice. Guests are welcome. Reserva-

Pine from page A1

The owner of Pine Island, which is a more than 500-acre property in St. Helena, took legal action against Beaufort County in July 2023 essentially contesting the county’s decision to deny his efforts to build a golf course on the property.

tions are not needed. For additional information, please contact Captain Frank Gibson at 843-5217340 or email fgibson@islc.net.

ATAX grant

applications now available from City Accommodations Tax (ATAX)

Grant Applications for Fiscal Year 2025 are now available from the City of Beaufort. The application may be accessed on the City’s website on the City’s Finance Department page (https:// bit.ly/3ysHWsN) or at the City Hall, Finance Department, 1911 Boundary Street. For additional information contact the ATAX Administrator Jay Phillips at jphillips@cityofbeaufort.org or 843-525-7071

All applicants were required to attend one of the City of Beaufort’s two mandatory workshops in August. Applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13

Applicants will present their requests to the TDAC in the Council Chambers on Friday, Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. South Carolina established in the 1980s a 2 percent tax on overnight accommodations in

Developer Elvio Tropeano’s proposal to build the Pine Island Golf Club – which he claims would have turned the land into a minimalist golf course meant to conserve 80% of the culture and historic areas on the island – was denied when County Council voted to uphold the Cultural Protection Overlay (CPO). Earlier in the year, council voted to strengthen the language in the CPO to prevent the creation of an 18-hole golf course, but the

Teddy Bear Picnic

Port Royal residents Simone and David Canute brought their 3-year-old son, Alexander, to DAYLO's Teddy Bear Picnic at the Port Royal Farmers Market on Saturday, Sept. 7, where volunteer Mary Ruff read him a story. The free read-aloud events are part of a community service project sponsored by DAYLO — the Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization — in collaboration with the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center. DAYLO is a student-led book club and community literacy service group with chapters at schools statewide, including Beaufort High School, Beaufort Academy, and Battery Creek High School. Asa Aarons/The Island News

addition to the statewide sales tax. South Carolina Code of Laws Title 6 Chapter 4 Allocations of Accommodations Tax Revenues states how those monies are to be allocated. A small portion of the ATAX money stays in the local municipality or county where it is collected. The remainder must be used to attract and provide for tourists and must be spent on tourism-related expenditures that promote tourism and attract visitors.

Recovery walk

Sept. 19

Nexus Care of Beaufort County (Beaufort County Alcohol and Drug Department) is hosting "Recovery is Worth the Walk" to raise awareness and support for September as National Recovery Month.

The walk will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 19, at Battery Creek High School at 1 Blue Dolphin Drive.

The event is free and open to the public. To walk as an individual or to register a team, click this link https://tinyurl.com/yupzdtms.

For questions and more information, contact Nexus Care of Beaufort County at 843-255-6000

vote was taken months after the application had been filed for Pine Island to be turned into a course. First, he seeks to appeal the planning commission’s ruling, stating that before it was strengthened the CPO did not allow for three six-hole golf courses. The initial CPO defined a golf course as having nine or more holes.

The second is a civil action suit questioning the legality of the

Beaufort County Assessor hosting community events

Beaufort County Assessor Ebony Sanders is hosting multiple community events at County Library Branches to allow the public an opportunity to meet with her staff and share questions and concerns regarding real property. Each community event will be from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The dates are as follows: Hilton Head Branch Library, 11 Beach City Road: Tuesday, Oct. 1 — Large Room; Tuesday, Oct. 29 — SCRoom; Tuesday, Nov. 19 — SCRoom.

• St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road: Tuesday, Sept. 17 — Large Meeting Room; Tuesday, Oct. 15 — Small Conference Room; Tuesday, Nov. 5 — Small Conference Room; Tuesday, Dec. 3 — Large Meeting Room. Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Way: Thursday, Sept. 19 — Large Meeting Room; Thursday, Oct. 17 — Large Meeting Room; Thursday, Nov. 7 — Large Meeting Room; Thursday, Dec. 5 — Large Meeting Room.

county banning the construction of hotels, resorts, gates and golf courses.

The suit questions if the ban on these types of projects is the best way to protect the natural and cultural resources of St. Helena and claims that the CPO should be declared inapplicable to Pine Island.

Mediation for the suits happened last week, but not all members of council were able to be present because if they were

• Lobeco Branch Library, 1862 Trask Parkway: Monday, Sept. 23; Monday, Oct. 7; Monday, Nov. 25; Monday, Dec. 16

In the event of an unforeseeable change in the date, time, or location, the Assessor’s Office webpage will be updated to reflect rescheduling. If you have any questions, please contact Liz Rigg, Appeal/BAA Coordinator at BAA@bcgov.net or 843-255-2404

Campsen to hold Port Royal meet-and-greet

The Beaufort Republican Women’s Club is hosting S.C. Senator George E. “Chip” Campsen III for a meet-and-greet event from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Shellring Ale Works at 1111 11th Street in Port Royal.

Campsen, a fifth-generation Charlestonian, businessman, and lawyer, is up for re-election in the November 5 general election. This event is free and open to the public. Hors d’oeuvres will be provided, and there will be a cash bar.

– Staff reports

then it would have constituted as a quorum, so to give all council members a chance to hear the presentations directly and to answer questions they will be holding the Special Called Meeting.

The Wardle Family YMCA offers seasonal sports programs throughout the year for youth ages 3 to 12 years old, including basketball, outdoor and indoor soccer, T-ball and NFL Flag Football. Submitted photo

SC AG, USC host summit on combating antisemitism on college campuses

By Jessica Holdman SCDailyGazette.com

COLUMBIA — South Caroli-

na state and university officials, as well as Jewish student groups, gathered in Columbia Monday for a summit on antisemitism in higher education.

The one-day event, organized by the Combat Antisemitism Movement at the behest of Attorney General Alan Wilson and held at the University of South Carolina’s alumni center, covered topics such as how universities can protect Jewish students and hosted tours of the Anne Frank Center on campus. The event was scheduled to end with a screening of footage from the Oct. 7, 2023, attack launched by Hamas militants on southern Israel, killing about 1,200 civilians and taking some 250 hostages.

“Here we are today, 11 months and two days since the attack,” said Anat Sultan-Dadon, consul general of Israel to the Southeastern United States.

Israel responded, launching airstrikes on Gaza in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, the death toll last month surpassed 40,000 since the start of the war. That figure does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

“Antisemitism was not born on Oct. 7 or on Oct. 8, but it is being perceived by too many as legitimate,” Sultan-Dadon said. “What we are seeing too often is that ‘never again’ is turning into once again.”

Wilson said he visited southern Israel this spring and met with families of the Oct. 7 attack victims.

“Seeing what I saw and hearing what I heard from members of that community and the government officials that we spoke to just really moved me,” Wilson said. “I came back with kind of a drive to do something about it and to bring people together.”

So, Wilson’s office partnered with the Kansas-based Combat Antisemitism Movement, which describes itself as a coalition of about 850 interfaith organizations opposed to antisemitism, to put on Monday’s event. He said he wants to hold similar events in the Lowcountry and Upstate and is working with officials at Clemson University.

College campuses across the country last fall erupted in protests over the Israel-Hamas War, which on some campuses involved violence and antisemitic rhetoric.

Several university presidents lost their jobs over their handling of the events.

“What I see on the television just really shocks my conscience,” Wilson said. “You would never dream of people equivocating the acts of Nazis with deaths in a war zone.”

While supporters of Israel called out the protests as antisemitic, organizers of those campus protests said the remarks of some did not reflect the views of the whole protest movement, which condemns the humanitarian crisis the conflict has led to in Gaza.

Now, with students back on campuses this fall, protests in other states have resumed, though not to previous levels.

Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated last school year at USC and Clemson, but the events were nothing akin to the massive tent encampments on campus lawns, vandalism, or harassment aimed at Jewish students on campuses in other states.

“At the University of South Carolina, we have a history of addressing antisemitism by educating students and the public about the Holocaust in a comprehensive manner,” USC President Michael Amiridis said in his remarks Monday.

The president of the state’s largest university system highlighted the Columbia campus’ Anne Frank Center, the only North American partner of the house in Amsterdam where its namesake hid from Nazis eight decades ago.

He also pointed to a Jewish speaker series that included Jonathan Greenblatt, the head of the Anti-Defamation League; Deborah Lipstadt, the U.S. special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism;

and American Jewish University President Jeffrey Herbst, who in February discussed the intersection of free speech, academic freedom and antisemitism on college campuses.

Reporters were not allowed to stay past the conference’s opening remarks.

But Rep. Beth Bernstein, the state’s only Jewish legislator, said she participated on a panel Monday discussing legislation she sponsored that codified a definition of antisemitism into state law. The Columbia Democrat said state Education Superintendent Ellen Weaver led the discussion.

Gov. Henry McMaster, in his public remarks, spoke to the religious freedom promised to those who settled and brought commerce to colonial South Carolina, which was once home to the largest Jewish population in America.

In Charleston, there’s the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Jewish synagogue, which predates American independence by decades and is the oldest synagogue building in the United States in continuous use.

“I believe that if we don’t know our history, if we don’t know our people, if we don’t know where we came from, how we got here, why we are the way we are, then we have no clue as to where we ought to be and can be going,” McMaster said.

While university and state leaders spent Monday talking about combating antisemitism, USC continues to face criticism for allowing an upcoming event featuring a far-right political provocateur and founder of the Proud Boys, Gavin McInnes, who has a history of making antisemitic statements.

The college has said it does not reflect the stance of the school but allowing the event, sponsored by the USC student chapter of Uncensored America, is a matter of free speech.

“As a university, we denounce hate and bigotry. We condemn the vile and juvenile rhetoric used to promote this event,” Amiridis wrote in an Aug. 27 email message to students.

“Censoring even the most hateful individuals and groups does not solve the problems we face in our society, and instead provides them with a platform to win more publicity and support, because their message was silenced,” the college president continued.

Asked about it Monday, McMaster said, “People that are insulting others should not be invited to come in the first place,” but he re-iterated the importance of upholding First Amendment protections.

Jessica Holdman writes about the economy, workforce and higher education. Before joining the S.C. Daily Gazette, she was a business reporter for The Post and Courier. S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

New SC program to help survivors of human trafficking remove bad debt

Initiative supports people looking for relief under 2022 federal law

By Abraham Kenmore SCDailyGazette.com

WEST COLUMBIA — South Carolina is launching a pilot program to help human trafficking survivors clear their credit of the bad debt heaped on by their abusers.

Set to start Sept. 30, the program will make the Palmetto State the second in the nation to offer support for those looking to use the 2022 federal Debt Bondage Repair Act, according to members of the state Human Trafficking Task Force at a quarterly meeting Friday.

The services apply to a narrow set of circumstances, such as when traffickers used their victims’ Social Security number to open credit cards or take out a car loan, said Kathryn Moorehead, director of the task force.

The federal law allows survivors to get those debts blocked on credit reports. But the process can be cumbersome. That’s where South Carolina intends to assist, by connecting survivors to free legal help.

“If a trafficker has used

fect opportunity,” Massie said.

North Carolina launched its program in January, according to a spokesperson for the N.C. Department of Justice. It has certified about 35 organizations to provide survivors with documentation they can use in their applications. The department does not yet have a total number of people helped under the initiative.

program. The Victim Assistance Network will take referrals to the program from nonprofits through their intake lines: 803-509-6552 for English and 864-312-6456 for Spanish.

The program is just the latest effort in South Carolina to help survivors clear incidents related to being trafficked.

their credit, abused their credit, and now they have low credit scores, it will often times be a barrier to securing housing, to securing transportation and often to finding a job,” Moorehead said. A successful application can block a broad range of information from showing up on credit reports including defaulted loans, evictions, unpaid bills and even criminal convictions that re-

sulted from trafficking.

The details for the pilot program are still in the works, said James Massie, a Lowcountry coordinator for the task force. South Carolina officials are communicating with North Carolina, which was the first state to launch such an initiative.

He said he was not sure why other states have not launched similar programs.

“We thought it was a per-

Survivors need to submit information to each credit reporting agency, including proof of identity, proof they were trafficked and information on the bad credit. Under the law, these agencies, which compile credit reports, must remove any information about these debts if provided with the appropriate proof.

Massie said the pilot program in South Carolina will include pro-bono attorneys from the law firm Nelson Mullins and South Carolina Victim Assistance Network to help survivors go through the process.

Only people who were trafficked in South Carolina will be able to use the

Earlier this year, the General Assembly passed a law preventing trafficking victims under 18 from being prosecuted for misdemeanor or minor felony offenses they were forced to do to survive, such as prostitution or drug possession. It also allows trafficking victims of all ages who were convicted of prostitution or other crimes they were coerced to do to have those charges expunged.

Last year, the State Law Enforcement Division opened 357 cases involving human trafficking, with nearly 90% of them involved forced prostitution, according to the 2023 Human Trafficking Annual Report. SLED investigators suspect nearly 500 people in South Caroli-

na were being trafficked last year. Of those, 460 — more than 90% — were children and teenagers younger than 18, according to the report. As he publicly released the report in January, Attorney General Alan Wilson asked legislators for $10 million to open more shelters for children and teens freed from trafficking. The Legislature instead put $6 6 million in the state budget toward the effort.

The designation is meant to open four new residential programs for children. One will be specifically for boys, a first in South Carolina. Currently the state has just one program for trafficked girls. The task force will start seeking applications for the grants in January, Moorehead said.

Abraham Kenmore is a reporter covering elections, health care and more. He joins the S.C. Daily Gazette from The Augusta Chronicle, where he reported on Georgia legislators, military and housing issues. S.C. Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

University of South Carolina President Michael Amiridis, left, speaks with Charleston businesswoman and philanthropist Anita Zucker Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at a summit on antisemitism in higher education held at USC’s alumni center. Jessica Holdman/S.C. Daily Gazette

Kathryn Moorehead, Director of the state Human Trafficking Task Force, speaks to reporters after a quarterly meeting on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. Abraham Kenmore/S.C. Daily Gazette

SC Board of Education passes statewide cellphone ban

K-12 public schools must bar the use of phones for the entire school day; details are left to districts

ment to ensure compliance.

part of their classwork.

By Skylar Laird SCDailyGazette.com

COLUMBIA — South Carolina school districts

must ban students from using their cellphones during the entire school day, but exactly how they go about it is up to district officials, according to a policy the state Board of Education passed Tuesday, Sept. 3

At the very least, districts must require students to keep their phones and connected devices, such as smartwatches, turned off and in their backpacks or lockers from the time the first bell rings in the morning until the dismissal bell in the afternoon, according to the state policy.

But the state board said districts can decide whether to enact sterner rules, as well as the consequences for violating them.

Districts that do not put a policy in place that is at least as strict as the one the state board passed Tuesday could lose their state funding.

“We’re saying, ‘This is what state law says, and so you’ve got to implement it,’ but we are leaving a lot of discretion, a lot of latitude, to districts on how exactly they do it,” board member Christian Hanley said. The decision follows a

clause the Legislature included in the state spending plan requiring the state board to create a policy prohibiting cellphones for K-12 students in the state’s public schools. The specifics, legislators left up to the board, which in turn left many of the details to local school boards.

Although state board members supported the idea of banning cellphones in schools, they said they worried about unintended consequences of the new policy, such as putting another task on overworked teachers, increasing the number of out-of-school suspensions or cutting students off from their parents during emergencies.

“Implementation of such a policy over a school day scares me,” said board chair David O’Shields. “Why? Because once we create this policy, it is the requirement of every district to follow suit, and there is the law of unintended consequences, and it frightens me.”

School boards will have until January to put in place a policy at least as strict as the one the state board enacted, according to a memo the department sent to superintendents in June. District must submit those policies to the depart-

The state board, which passed the policy 15-1 added a stipulation that districts must report back about how implementation went in case the board finds a need to adjust its policy ahead of next school year.

“All of these things look good, but just because it looks good doesn’t mean it is good.” O’Shields said.

The policy

In the state policy, the board did decide lunch and other breaks should be considered part of the school day, meaning students must leave their cell phones stowed away during those times.

Districts may choose to take it further telling students not to bring their devices to school at all. Or they can buy lockable pouches to store them. Some may also decide to include bus rides, field trips or athletic events as times when students can not access their phones, according to the policy.

The policy also leaves room for exceptions.

If students have an assignment they cannot complete on school-provided devices, districts can allow students to keep their phones with them to use as

Students with disabilities who need access to phones or tablets to learn would still be allowed to use the devices. And students with certain outside jobs, such as volunteer firefighters, can seek a written exception from their superintendent to use their phone during the day, according to the policy.

Enforcement also will largely be up to school districts. The policy requires “disciplinary enforcement procedures,” with increasing consequences for repeat offenders, but it doesn’t specify what that means.

State board members did discourage using out-ofschool suspension as punishment for violating the policy. Taking a student out of school because they are breaking a rule meant to keep them focused on their classwork feels counterintuitive, said state Superintendent Ellen Weaver.

“The whole idea behind this policy is that we want students in classrooms getting instruction,” Weaver told reporters. “Taking students out of that instructional space really doesn’t make a whole lot of sense as far as I’m concerned.”

Still, different situations may warrant differ -

ent punishments, so board members wanted to leave that decision up to the districts, said board member David Mathis.

Timing

Some board members felt they did not have enough time to create the policy.

Board member Beverly Frierson was the sole “no” vote, not because she disagreed with it but because she thought the board was too rushed to give the policy the consideration it needed, she said.

O’Shields, the board chair, worried teachers may have to spend too much time policing cellphones. Still, he agreed some kind of action was necessary.

“I know we need control, and there is an addiction, no doubt,” O’Shields said.

The policy has support from legislators, teachers’ advocates and Gov. Henry McMaster. Since 2020, McMaster has included this clause in his state budget recommendations. This was the first time legislators agreed to put it in the final plan.

“The research is clear,” McMaster wrote in a letter to the board Tuesday. “Removing access to personal electronic devices during the school day improves stu-

dent academic performance and removes distractions that exacerbate anxiety among our adolescents.”

“Our responsibility is to create an environment where teachers can teach, and students can learn,” the letter continued.

In a statewide survey the education department conducted, 55% of teachers and administrators who responded said they supported a total ban on cellphones during the school day. Another 37% said they wanted students to have limited access during class time, with the chance to check their phones between classes or at lunch.

Along with being distracting while students are trying to learn, phones can erode their social skills and encourage bullying, Weaver said.

“I think the dividend that we will see this pay for schools and for our students’ future will be worth it in the end,” Weaver 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.

Beaufort County teacher files defamation suit

By Delayna Earley The Island News

A Beaufort County teacher has filed a defamation lawsuit against several community members, a state lawmaker, the host of a local YouTube political show, and the author of an online blog alleging that they “attacked her” on social media because of a survey that she gave out to students in her class.

Mardy Burleson, a multimedia design and engineering teacher at Hilton Head Island Middle School, filed a lawsuit last week stating which accused five individuals of publicly labeling her as a “groomer” after she asked students to fill out an option survey in her class that included questions about their

preferred pronouns. She claims in the suit that her reputation has been damaged by the defamation and her safety was put in jeopardy.

Burleson is suing S.C. State Rep. Thomas Beach of District 10; David Cook, a Hilton Head Island parent who has been critical of BCSD’s book review process; Elizabeth (Ivie) Szalai, a parent who submitted the list of 97 books to the district to be reviewed; Michael Covert, former Beaufort County Council member who also sent the list of books to BCSD and has a YouTube show; Corey Whittington, otherwise known as Corey Allen, who is the author of online blog “The Overton Report”.

Attorney Meg Phelan of the Equality Legal Action Fund, which is a group of volunteer attorneys who represent public officials, educators and members of the LGBTQIA+ community in defamation cases, is representing Burleson in the suit.

In the suit, Burleson says that the defendants accused her of keeping information from parents in a public campaign against her because of an optional survey that she asked students to fill out that was designed to get to know the students better.

In the survey, Burleson asked students to write down their preferred names and pronouns and she encouraged students to be open and honest, promising

to keep the answers just between her and the students. One of the defendants, David Cook, began to express concern after his child came home and shared the survey with him.

According to court filings, Cook initially reached out to school administration because he believed that the survey was secretive and inappropriate, but as the situation escalated, he and the other named defendants began to publicly accuse her of keeping the survey secret and “grooming” students.

Court filings also alleged that the defendants not only accused Burleson of “grooming” but also promoting an “overtly sexualized lifestyle.”

In the suit, Burleson alleges that the defamatory

and false statements damaged her reputation as a teacher in addition to causing her and her family emotional distress.

She also alleges that the accusations were maliciously made to damage her professional and personal reputations, and the attacks continued even after Burleson made changes to the survey to prevent any issues going forward.

According to the lawsuit, the defendants publicly painted Burleson as someone who is dangerous to be around children by falsely implying that she intended to sexually abuse minors.

She states in the suit that she not only feared the irreparable harm on her professional reputation, but she

Chamber Educator Event

welcoming attendees, Mary Mitchell, the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Administrative Specialist, hands a raffle

Island

Staff reports

Adeline Rios and Ryan Lohr have been awarded the Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Global Scholarship for 2024 The Rotary Foundation’s Ambassadorial Global Scholarship program, established in 1947, is one of its oldest and most recognized programs. Since its inception, more than 41 000 people from 130 countries have studied abroad through this program. The goal of the Global Grant Scholarship Program is to prepare students for careers in one of Ro-

feared for and her family’s safety after the defendants allegedly brought her child into the attacks.

Burleson is seeking damages for libel and slander alleging that their public statements have caused harm to her reputation and well-being and she is also asking for actual and special damages in addition to punitive damages in hopes of deterring the defendants from continuing with these types of attacks in the future.

tary’s seven Areas of Focus and to promote international understanding and friendship among people from different countries.

District 7770 is proudly sponsoring two $45 000 scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year. Adeline Rios and Ryan Lohr have been selected by Rotary District 7770's Ambassadorial Global Scholarship Committee

as the recipients for 2025-2026 Rios, from Bluffton, graduated from the College of Charleston with majors in International Studies, Political Science, and Spanish. Her area of focus is "Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution."

She hopes to attend Oxford University, where she plans to research peaceful ways to ad -

dress organized crime and gang violence. Rios embodies Rotary's motto, "Service Above Self." She co-founded the Cougar Refugee Alliance in Charleston to help refugees by organizing tutoring sessions and community workshops.

Rios was sponsored by the Daniel Island Rotary Club.

Lohr, an officer in the United States Marines, recently graduated from the University of South Carolina. He majored in Global Studies and Political Science, with minors in Islamic World

Studies and Naval Science. Like Rios, his focus is also "Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution."

Lohr plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Conflict, Security, and Development from King's College in London. While studying in London, he hopes to work with a refugee community, helping Arabic-speaking refugees learn English and leading a project to support services for these refugees.

Lohr was sponsored by the Vista Night Rotary Club.

In recognition of recently being named the 2025 South Carolina Superintendent of the Year, a distinction not been previously awarded in the state, S.C. State Representative Shannon Erickson presents Frank Rodriguez with a resolution from the South Carolina General Assembly during the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce Educator Appreciation event on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

While

ticket

Mihara Alba, a Special Education Teacher at St. Helena Elementary, for the various prize drawings held during the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce Educator Appreciation event on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. Amber Hewitt/The

News

Adeline Rios

Ryan Lohr

Special election to fill vacant school board seat

By Delayna Earley The Island News

The Beaufort County Board of Education is about

to gain a new member once citizens in Bluffton’s District

7 vote in the Special Election being held on Tuesday, Sept. 17 to fill the currently vacant seat on the board.

The seat was previously held by Rachel Wisnefski, who announced in May 2024 that she would be vacating her seat on the Board in early June because she was moving out of the district.

David Carr is running unopposed for the open seat, and unless he is challenged by a write-in candidate, will be elected on Sept. 17 Carr has lived with his wife in the area since 2016 and while he has not held a public office, he has been involved in local elections behind the scenes since he

moved to Bluffton. He decided to run for the Board of Education seat after a friend suggested it.

Carr said he has been in education for 50 years and is still teaching courses with Georgia Southern University online.

“I have great interest in the public schools, I have great interest in the educational process – curriculum, instruction, programming, services for kids across all levels of education – I’ve had those interests for years,” said Carr.

Carr received his doctorate in Education from Virginia Tech and spent 10 years teaching public school before transitioning to teaching teachers and coaches at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels. His focus was teaching health and physical education.

Toward the end of his career, he transitioned more toward online education, which proved helpful when COVID-19 hit. Having been a regular

visitor to the Lowcountry since the 1970s, Carr and his wife purchased a house here in 2010 and moved here fully in 2016. He retired from the College of Education at Ohio University in 2021

Carr said that he knows that taking over a seat in the middle of a term will not be easy, but he is eager to get started so he can get fully caught up on everything that is currently pressing for Board of Education.

One thing that Carr thinks is an important matter that the Board needs to address is making sure that the school can keep up with the exponential growth that all areas of Beaufort County have been experiencing.

Early voting remains open through Friday, Sept. 13 and the Special Election will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 17

provided nearly 200 military families with free school supplies and other items at Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) South Carolina’s Back to School Jamboree at Laurel Bay. Submitted photo

Hargray donates

1,100 backpacks, school supplies

Staff reports Communications provider Hargray distributed 1 100 free backpacks and school supplies at more than a dozen back-to-school events across Georgia and South Carolina. Supplies were selected by area teachers’ wish lists, to help ensure every child starts the school year with the tools needed for academic success.

Locally, Hargray participated in Jasper County Sheriff’s Office’s Back to School Bash, the Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) South Carolina’s Back to School Jamboree, New Church of Christ –

Dale’s Community Giveaway and Martin Temple CME Church’s Back2School Bash.

“The Back to School Jamboree was a huge success,” said MCCS-South Carolina Commercial Sponsorship Coordinator Courtney Smith. “Through the generosity of sponsors like Hargray, nearly 200 military families received free school supplies and other items integral to their students’ learning.”

The backpack and school supply donation is an extension of Hargray’s longtime support for students and educational institutions, which includes grants through its

Charitable Giving Fund, Teacher of the Month award co-sponsorships with local radio stations and free live streaming of high school athletics.

“Hargray is committed to the communities we serve,” Hargray Director of Southeast Regional Operations Tim Kelley said in a news release. “Beyond providing fast, reliable internet service, Hargray strives to make a difference for our local towns and customers. We are proud to partner with so many great schools and organizations on these back-to-school events that make such an impact.”

USC Beaufort to celebrate 20th anniversary Oct. 1

Staff reports The community is invited to USC Beaufort's 20th Anniversary Celebration kick-off at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1, for food, music, a cash bar, giveaways, a "human timeline" and

and

David Carr

Hargray

Teen dating violence and domestic violence: A serious public health concern

By Rose Ewing October is Domestic Violence

Awareness Month. But is domestic violence and teen dating violence really a public health problem that affects our community? In 2023 the Beaufort County Sheriff’s department made 379 arrests for domestic violence. In South Carolina during that same year, 37 people lost their lives to domestic violence, one of which was a 22-yearold Beaufort County resident.

How does domestic violence hurt one’s physical health?

Hearing and seeing domestic violence can affect a child’s sense of basic trust and security. In addition to ending lives, committing violence on a loved one or accepting abusive behavior in a relationship can influence children and teens to mimic that behavior in their own lives, leading to a cycle of abuse. Other consequences and symptoms of children and teens who are exposed to domestic violence include: violent behavior toward adults, children, and animals; temper tantrums; truancy; physical health issues such as headaches

and stomach problems; substance use; trouble concentrating; and difficulty going to school or being separate from the parent receiving the abuse. Other children may identify with the aggressor and develop

a lack of respect for that parent or their own intimate partner. It is a fact that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience physical, verbal, or emotional violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

To better combat this preventable public health issue and raise awareness of the problem of domestic violence and teen dating violence, Hopeful Horizons is hosting three significant events in the community to mark October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Upcoming events in the community include:

To kick off DVAM early, on Friday, Sept. 13, the Beaufort High School Eagles football game will have a Domestic Violence Awareness Night. The game starts at 7:30 pm. Facts about domestic violence and intimate partner violence will be read throughout the night.

At half-time at approximately 8 p.m., a short moment of silence will be taken on the field to remember all the Beaufort County residents who were affected by domestic violence in the last year and recognize the Beaufort County Sheriff’s office for the 379 arrests they made in 2023

On Saturday, Sept. 28, Hope-

ful Horizons will host Race4Love, a 3kwalk/5k run held annually to boost awareness of sexual violence, raise money to help survivors and remember the two Beaufort County Sheriffs deputies who were killed during a mid-day domestic violence call in 2002. For more information on Race4Love, see www.Race4Love.com.

During the month of October, Hopeful Horizons will display the Silent Witness Project in all six Beaufort County libraries. Displayed on wedding dresses will be the names of those killed in South Carolina the previous year during domestic violence incidents. The exhibits’ aim is to remember those who were murdered in acts of domestic violence; raise awareness about the extent of domestic violence in our community; and connect people with local resources to help end intimate partner violence & abuse in their lives. For more information about the Silent Witness Project, call 843-379-6174

Why annual physicals are crucial for your child's health care TALK ©

As the new school year begins, it’s a great reminder to schedule your child’s annual physical.

These yearly visits are crucial to keep tabs on a variety of things.

“Annual checkups are about physical health, preventative medicine and mental health. We don't just want to make sure your body is healthy, we want to make sure your mind is healthy, too,” explained Gina Robinson, MD, pediatrician for Cleveland Clinic Children’s.

After their more frequent infant visits early on, Dr. Robinson said children

should keep up with at least one yearly physical starting at age 3 These regular visits help doctors catch and address anything abnormal early. Along with doing vision, hearing and other necessary tests, doctors can start talking to kids about things like healthy eating and the importance of sleep. By having these conversations, Dr. Robinson said children can start developing lifelong healthy habits.

An annual checkup is also a good time for kids to bring up anything on their minds, as well.

“Although kids have a lot of questions, they don't always ask them,” Dr. Robinson said. “But if they come in and see their doctor every year, they can get more comfortable.”

Dr. Robinson added it’s a good idea to have kids write down their questions beforehand, that way, they don’t forget about one during their visit.

And, don’t forget an annual dental checkup for your school-aged child. Dental health is as important as physical and mental health.

Source: ccnewsservice@ccf.org 09 / 04 / 2024

Elam and Mesenburg join Beaufort Memorial OBGYN Specialists practice

To enhance and expand access to women’s health care for Lowcountry residents, Beaufort Memorial has added obstetrician and gynecologist Curtis J. Elam, M.D., FACOG, and nurse practitioner Melissa Mesenburg, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, to Beaufort Memorial Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists. The two board-certified providers will see patients in the practice’s locations in both Beaufort and Okatie. Throughout his decades-long career, Elam

Dr. Curtis J. Elam and Melissa Mesenburg

has gathered expertise in general, routine and specialized obstetrical and gynecological care for women at all stages of life

(menopause, prenatal and high-risk obstetrics and family planning), and has an extensive background in laparoscopic and robotic surgeries, including pelvic floor reconstruction and urogynecological treatment of stress urinary incontinence with either slings or sutures.

He's joining Beaufort Memorial from a position as staff physician and OBGYN department head at the Clyburn Center for Primary Care, as well as OBGYN staff physician at Aiken Re-

gional Medical Center, both located in Aiken, S.C. Mesenburg will be assisting the practice’s board-certified physicians during surgical procedures, in addition to offering widely ranging OBGYN care to patients in the practice’s Beaufort and Okatie offices. She graduated with a Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner from The Medical University of South Carolina in 2020, having focused her doctoral thesis on improving women’s health through

educational initiatives.

At Beaufort Memorial Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists, Elam and Mesenburg join board-certified Drs. Chris Benson, Marlena Masavage and Tiffany Bersani; certified registered nurse practitioner Maggie Bisceglia; certified physician assistant Peyton Erb; and certified nurse-midwife Catherine Tambroni-Parker.

With locations in the Beaufort Medical Plaza, at 989 Ribaut Road in Beaufort, and Okatie Medical Pa-

vilion, at 122 Okatie Center Boulevard North, the practice provides the full range of women’s health services, including comprehensive obstetrical and gynecological care for patients at every stage of their lives. The latest screening and diagnostic technologies, among them state-of-the art digital ultrasound, are available in both locations. To schedule an appointment with Elam, Mesenburg or any of the practice providers, call 843-522-7820

Options & References for a Healthier Life

Medical myths: The mystery of sleep

By Tim Newman

Many animals need sleep of some kind, and if evolution has retained a behavior across many species, it must be important. Because sleep has a perpetual association with the ethereal: dreams, altered states, and emotions, it is no surprise that it is tied to a legion of myths.

Here are some of the most common myths related to the ubiquitous snooze.

Myth 1. Your brain shuts down during sleep

Thankfully, our brains do not quit their day job during sleep. Important functions, such as breathing, mean our brains can never fully shut down. In fact, during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, when most dreams occur, brain wave activity is like that of wakefulness.

Interestingly, despite the high level of activity, it is hardest to wake a sleeper during REM sleep. This is why this stage of sleep is sometimes called paradoxical sleep.

While we sleep, our white and gray matter has much to do. Once we have dropped off, our brain cycles through three stages of nonREM sleep, followed by one phase of REM sleep. In each of the four stages, the brain demonstrates specific brain wave patterns and neuronal activity. This cycle of four stages repeats five or six times during a full night’s sleep.

While some regions of the brain fall quiet during non-REM sleep, other areas leap into action. For instance, the amygdala, most famous for its role in emotion, is active during slumber.

The thalamus is an interesting case. This part of the brain is a relay station for our senses. What we see, hear, and feel arrives first at the thalamus. From there, sensory signals are ferried to the cerebral cortex, which makes sense of the inputs. During non-REM sleep, the thalamus is relatively quiet. However, during REM sleep, the thalamus becomes active, and sends the cerebral cortex the sights and sounds of our dreams.

Myth

2. If you remember your dream, you slept well

Most people dream every night, yet we often don’t remember them. Dreams mostly occur during REM sleep, but they are almost immediately forgotten.

It is only when someone wakes during or just after REM sleep, that the memory of a dream has not yet faded.

Some evidence suggests certain neurons that are active during REM sleep might actively suppress dream memories. These neurons produce melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), which helps regulate sleep. MCH also inhibits the hippocampus, a key brain region for memory storage.

A study author explains, “Since dreams are thought to occur primarily during REM sleep, the sleep stage when the MCH cells turn on, activation of these cells may prevent the content of a dream from being stored in the hippocampus — consequently, the dream is quickly forgotten.”

Remembering a dream is not an indication of good sleep. It is just that you woke up at the right time to recall it.

Myth 3. Never wake up a sleepwalker

The common claim is that if you wake a sleepwalker, they might have a heart attack or even die. This is not true.

However, if someone wakes a sleepwalker, they can spark confusion and sometimes fear. Some sleepwalkers may act aggressively. A note of caution: do not shout or startle the person and do not physically restrain them unless they’re in danger, as they may lash out.

Sometimes, sleepwalkers can injure themselves as they navigate the house with their eyes closed. For this reason, the best course of action is to try and coax them back to the safety of their bed.

Myth 4. Alcohol guarantees a good night’s sleep

Alcohol reduces the amount of time it takes to get to sleep. Someone who has drunk alcohol might also be more difficult to rouse. Because of this, people often assume that it has a beneficial impact on sleep overall. This is not the case. The quality of sleep under the influence of alcohol is poorer in comparison to sleep without alcohol.

To awake feeling refreshed,

our brain must cycle through the highly orchestrated series of phases and cycles mentioned earlier. Alcohol knocks this series of repetitions out of whack.

Self-reported sleep problems are highly prevalent among alcohol users with rates of clinical insomnia between approximately 35% and 70%. To summarize, while alcohol does get you to sleep quicker, the sleep you have will be less refreshing.

Myth 5. Cheese and other foods

This is an old myth that most people in the Western world will have heard. Although well known, one only has to eat cheese before bedtime to find that it is certainly not true for everyone.

However, eating a large meal just before bed, whether it includes cheese or not, can cause indigestion or heartburn, which could interfere with sleep.

If your sleep is disturbed by an active gut, and you become more wakeful more often, you will be more likely to remember any dreams you had. As mentioned earlier, people forget dreams almost as quickly as they form—un-

less you wake up during a dream, you are unlikely to remember it. And, if your gut is uncomfortable, it might increase the chances of having an unpleasant dream.

The type of meal enjoyed before dinner could also make a difference. Dr. William Kormos, Editor in Chief of Harvard Men’s Health Watch, explains:

“Eating a large meal, especially a high-carbohydrate meal, could trigger night sweats because the body generates heat as it metabolizes the food.”

Again, this is likely to disrupt sleep, increase wakefulness, and therefore increase the likelihood of remembering dreams.

A related myth is that certain foods, including milk, cheese, and turkey might help induce sleep. This is because they contain an amino acid called tryptophan. Tryptophan is necessary for the body to make serotonin, which is necessary for the manufacture of melatonin, a hormone that plays a role in sleep.

Therefore, the theory goes those foods containing tryptophan might aid sleep. The most common of these myths is that Thanksgiving turkey, with its dose of tryptophan, makes someone sleepy after lunch. However, studies investigating tryptophan intake have not found an overwhelming effect on sleep. Additionally, the levels of this acid in a portion of cheese or turkey are not high enough to make a difference. In summary

Sleep still holds many mysteries. Only through science and research can we eventually unlock more answers. However, as outlined above, there is data to dispel many of the most entrenched myths.

For now, the best advice is to avoid late-night meals, reduce alcohol intake, and be gentle with sleepwalkers.

If you are struggling to get the sleep, you need to address your concerns with your physician or healthcare provider.

Source: Excerpted and adapted from https:// www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/medicalmyths-the-mystery-of-sleep

While COVID-19 continues to evolve, there is some good news when it comes to detecting the virus.

"The tests we've used over the last three or four years don't seem to be significantly impacted by the new variants," says Dr. Matthew Binnicker, director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic. He says that the molecular, or PCR, tests processed in laboratories look at multiple parts of the genetic makeup of the virus, so even if there are mutations in one area, a test can still pick up the virus. "And the home antigen tests look for a different protein altogether from where we're seeing these mutations in the recent variants," says Dr. Binnicker. So, what should you do if you're feeling ill? "I'm recommending that if an individual has symptoms of cough, sore throat or body aches, that they take

a COVID at-home antigen test as a first step. If that's positive, you probably have COVID-19 and should stay home for a period of time until your symptoms resolve," says Dr. Binnicker. He adds that if the test is negative, consider contacting your care team, "and scheduling a lab-based test that will probably look for flu, RSV and COVID-19 That way, you can get a wider picture of what could be causing your disease."

It’s important to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. Along with

testing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Dr. Binnicker recommend these strategies: Stay up to date on vaccination. Stay home if you are not feeling well. If you have any respiratory symptoms, wear a mask if you must go out in public. Practice good hand hygiene.

Source: https://newsnetwork. mayoclinic.org/discussion/howtesting-has-kept-up-with-newcovid-19-variants/

There was a recent study from the NIH National Cancer Institute that looked at multivitamin use by U.S. adults. The study found that taking daily multivitamins does not lower the risk of death, nor does it affect the risk of dying from heart disease, cancer, or cerebrovascular diseases.

However, multivitamins can help people get recommended amounts of nutrients when diet alone is not enough. In addition, some vitamins and minerals in multivitamins can be beneficial at certain times. For example:

• Vitamin B12 is recommended for people over 50 and those who follow a vegan diet.

• Folic acid is recommended before and during early pregnancy.

Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) supplements can help some people with age-related macular degeneration. Multivitamins might help older adults maintain or enhance cognitive function.

Talk to your health care provider about whether a multivitamin is right for you.

SPORTS&RECREATION

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Lamm’s leg key to special win for BA

By Wes Kerr LowcoSports.com

Sometimes, it’s the special teams heroics that steal the headlines.

Grady Lamm

With a heads-up snag on a bad punt snap early and a clutch kick late to provide the winning points, Beaufort Academy had senior Grady Lamm to thank for a crucial 25-23 home victory on Friday over defending SCISA 1A state champion Patrick Henry Academy.

Though Nych Underwood and Dietrich Shuford had their share of heroics, too.

The Patriots rallied from an eight-point deficit to tie the ballgame in the second half, but Underwood’s second rushing touchdown of the night put Beaufort Academy back up by six before a key defensive stand set up Lamm’s field goal for a two-possession lead which proved to be the difference.

“Our guys dug down at the end of the game when we needed to,” head coach Nic Shuford said. “Impressed and happy with the heart and the effort that was shown tonight. A lot of missed opportunities, however, that we have to correct and move forward with.”

Beaufort Academy’s Nych Underwood fights off a Patrick Henry tackler during the first quarter of the Eagles’ 25-23 win Friday at Merritt Field. Underwood rushed for 172 yards and a two touchdowns in the pivotal SCISA Region 2-1A contest. Justin Jarrett/LowcoSports

Beaufort Academy’s defense got to work early, clogging up Patrick Henry's running lanes with junior standout Tres Delaney leading the way. After forcing a three-and-out on the opening PHA possession, the Eagles did one better on the second Patriots drive, forcing a turnover as two-way lineman Nathan Chavarria-Byrne pounced on the loose ball.

Dietrich Shuford used his tough

Warriors’ special teams continued to thrive as Dontray Lewis and Ardhi Walker both pounced on Jaguars mistakes in the kicking game for touchdowns en route to a quick 21-0 lead. Jermon Bowers rushed for 102 yards

running to move the football inside the PHA 10, but the visitors came up with the stop inside the 2-yard line thanks to a heads-up tackle from Luke Sobey.

Just as the Patriots’ sideline began to celebrate, a tenacious Eagles defensive front took the momentum right back, plowing into the end zone to bring down Mikell

SEE WIN PAGE B3

12 Jonathan Kelley took the opening kickoff back for a TD, and the

A host of Whale Branch defenders, including I’veon Watson (55), pile on Ridgeland quarterback Taishaun Smith (16) in Friday night’s 35-12 Warriors victory at Whale Branch Early College High School in Seabrook. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Beaufort Academy’s Nathan Chavarria Byrne emerges from the pile and displays the ball after one of his two fumble recoveries in the Eagles’ 25-23 win over Patrick Henry Academy in a key SCISA Region 2-1A matchup Friday at Merritt Field. Justin Jarrett/LowcoSports

Staff reports

Conroy Center hosting 8th annual Lowcountry Book Club Convention

The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host its 8th annual Lowcountry Book Club Convention on Friday, Sept. 27, at the Technical College of the Lowcountry in Beaufort, and Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Culinary Institute of the South at the Technical College of the Lowcountry in Bluffton.

Ideal for book club members, those interested in joining a book club, or anyone who simply loves the joy of reading, the Lowcountry Book Club Convention is presented in partnership with NeverMore Books and the Pulpwood Queens Book Club.

The Lowcountry Book Club Convention will begin on Friday evening with a panel discussion among four local authors: novelist Virginia Hall-Apicella (“Even a Sparrow”), journalist Michael DeWitt Jr. (“The Fall of the House of Murdaugh”), novelist Pete Masalin (“Military Brat”), and novelist Kim Poovey (“Shadows of the War”). This opening session will be followed by a book signing and reception, catered by Downtown Catering.

This is a ticketed event, held in Building 12 of Beaufort's TCL campus at 104 Reynolds Street in Beaufort.

The Convention continues Saturday at the Culinary Institute of the South in Bluffton (1 Venture Drive), with three author keynote conversations and gourmet box lunches catered by Downtown Catering.

Novelist Kimberly Brock, author of “The Fabled Earth” and a past Georgia Author of the Year honoree, will be in conversation with Conroy Center executive director Jonathan Haupt. Award-winning middle school librarian

Amanda Jones, author of that “That Librarian” and a past School Library Journal Librarian of the Year, will be interviewed by Bluffton High School librarian Karen Gareis as a Let Freedom Read Day special event, sponsored by the Robert S. Handler Charitable Trust. Novelist Rhonda McKnight, author of “The Thing About Home” and a past winner of the Emma Award for Inspirational Romance, will be in conversation with Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce executive director Marilyn Harris. Each author conversation will be followed by a book signing. This is a ticketed event.

Advance registration is required by September 22 for this year’s Lowcountry Book Club Convention – register at https://lowcountrybookclubconvention2024.eventbrite. com or via the Events tab at www.patconroyliterarycenter.org.

About the keynote authors Kimberly Brock is the

Staff reports USCB Chamber Music returns for its 45th season with brilliant artists joining pianist and Artistic Director Andy Armstrong to play the grand music of the classical repertoire.

There will be Stefan Jackiw on violin and Yoonah Kim on clarinet playing Schubert and Strauss in November; Abigel Kralik on violin, Jeroen Berwaerts on trumpet, and Mak Grgic on guitar playing Beethoven and Bach in January; Edward Aaron and Jeewon Park playing Mendelssohn and Gershwin in February; Amy Schwartz Moretti and string all-stars playing Chausson and Vivaldi in March; and vocalist Indra Thomas, Alison Shearer on saxophone, and Eriko Daimo on marimba playing

bestselling author of “The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare,” which was shortlisted for the prestigious Townsend Prize for Fiction, and “The River Witch,” recipient of the Georgia Author of the Year Award. Brock is the founder of Tinderbox Writers Workshop and has served as a guest lecturer for many regional and national writing workshops including at the Pat Conroy Literary Center.

A native of North Georgia, she now lives near Atlanta. Her latest novel, “The Fabled Earth,” will be published on October 1, with copies made available for early release at this year’s Lowcountry Book Club Convention.

“Weaving a stunning Southern landscape, Gilded Age glamour, and the societal turmoil of the late 1950s, Brock takes readers on an epic journey that conjures the longing of forgotten youth while simultaneously reminding us of its dangers.

I have never read a novel where the author's love of storytelling shines more brightly than this one.” —

Debussy and Puccini in April. There are also some exciting new opportunities coming this way.

Growing the next-generation audience

Early in the fall, Armstrong will ask area music teachers to integrate Youth Concert composers and artists into their classes and then bring their music to vivid and meaningful life for area youth gathering at the Arts Center at 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11 2025, for a rousing hour of uninterrupted music and discussion about the magic classical music can bring into

Lynda Cohen Loigman, author of “The Matchmaker's Gift”

Amanda Jones has been an educator for 23 years, at the same middle school she attended as a child. She has served as president of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians and won numerous awards for her work in school libraries, including School Library Journal Librarian of the Year. Jones is a frequent volunteer for state and national library associations, as well as a co-founder of the Livingston Parish Library Alliance and founding member of Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship. She lives in Livingston Parish, Louisiana.

“That Librarian” is her first book and has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, O Magazine, NPR, MSNBC, and selected as a September Indie Next Pick by the American Booksellers Association.

“A must-read in order to understand the … enduring need to stand up for books. Jones is an inspiration to ev-

our lives: a gift we never grow too old to enjoy.

Celebrating emerging artists

Spotlighting the success of Amy Schwartz Moretti's program at the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings, we have Moretti leading a small chamber orchestra of her all-star strings in a program of Vivaldi’s “Winter” and “Spring” and other favorites on March 9 2025

Expanding the classical repertoire

We celebrate the world premieres of new compositions by our own Armstong at the piano on Feb-

eryone combating book bans and her memoir/guidebook should be available to all to help us defend our right to read.” — Booklist (Starred Review)

Rhonda McKnight is the author of several bestselling novels, including “An Inconvenient Friend” and “What Kind of Fool.” She is the winner of the 2015 Emma Award for Inspirational Romance of the Year. She loves reading and writing books that touch the heart of women through complex plots and interesting characters in crisis. Themes of faith, forgiveness, and hope are central to her stories. Originally from a small coastal town in New Jersey, McKnight writes from the comfort of her South Carolina home.

“The Thing About Home” is her most recent novel.

"In this zippy outing from McKnight, a humiliated social media influencer rediscovers her roots ... McKnight lays out some vivid lowcountry history, and her fully realized characters ring true."

—Publishers Weekly

About the local authors Hampton County native

Michael M. DeWitt Jr. is a multiple-award-winning journalist, longtime editor of the 143-year-old The Hampton County Guardian, and author of “Wicked Hampton County” and, most recently, “Fall of the House of Murdaugh.” DeWitt’s boots-onthe-ground coverage of the Murdaugh crime saga has been published in print and online around Gannett’s nationwide USA TODAY Network, and he has appeared on ABC’s 20/20, CBS’s 48 Hours, Dateline NBC, and Netflix documentaries to discuss the case.

Virginia Hall-Apicella spent 30 years as a psychologist in the New York City court system, as a consultant in mental health agencies, and in private practice, specializing in the concerns of women and children. Her debut novel, “Even A Sparrow,” is a fictional account of her ancestors’ journey from Europe to America in 1815. Pete Masalin was born into a Navy family and experienced all the turns and trials associated with that of a career Navy man. Drawing upon his youthful exploits and adventures, “Military Brat” is Masalin’s second published offering. It follows his 2016 book “The Sorrow of Loss, The Wisdom of Recovery: A Narrative of an Unwanted Journey.” -Kim Poovey is an author, storyteller, and Victorian re-enactress. She is the author of eight historical novels, most recently “Shadows of the War,” her highly anticipated sequel of “Shadows of the Moss.” Poovey has also written for several publications, including Beaufort Lifestyle, Bluffton Breeze, Citizen’s Companion, and the Civil War Times.

ruary 16 2025, and by saxophonist

Alison Shearer, who wowed us with her composition for seven musicians “Apollosis” last spring. She seeks to do so again, this time with a piece for alto sax, marimba, voice, and piano on April 6, 2025

Offering new venues, finding new friends

At 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 27, St. Marks in Port Royal will host a free recital with Armstrong at the piano. On Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 3 p.m., USC Beaufort in Bluffton will host a free concert with Jackiw, Kim, and Armstrong.

As we conclude the season, let’s dispel the image that classical music is only for stuffy high-brows in concert halls by meeting our artists on Thursday, April 3, 2025

at Bay Street’s Saltus River Grill. Enjoy alto sax, keyboard, marimba, and vocals as we gather for drinks at 5 p.m.

As we enjoy our way to USCB Chamber Music’s 50th anniversary, let’s allow ourselves and our artists to dream big and to make brilliant music for as many and as varied an audience in as many venues as we can muster. Our future and the music we bring to our community are only as limited as our vision and willingness to explore the possibilities together. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy this fabulous season. Go on-line at www.uscbchamermusic.com for complete information and to purchase tickets or call Staci Breton at 843-208-8246

ARTS & SPORTS

Street Music

a singer known for her powerful voice, performs during the Street Music on Paris Avenue event Saturday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Port Royal. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

ARTS BRIEFS

Beaufort Bookstore hosting “Freedom’s Tears” author Olsvig Beaufort Bookstore presents Books & Bites with the Author featuring Josie Olsvig and her latest novel, “Freedom’s Tears: The History of the Civil War in Charleston, South Carolina, and Port Royal Sound” from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 14. There will be a book discussion and signing, along with catering by Hamby Catering & Events of Charleston.

Freedom's Tears captures the turbulent era of Charleston, Beaufort and the Sea Islands of the mid-1800's, with the immersive, thorough research and signature empathy that Olsvig's readers loved in her previous novel, “Gullah Tears.”

Call us at 843-525-1066 or email thebeaufortbookstore@gmail.com to reserve seating. Read more from the publisher at https://bit.ly/3XGXoeI.

‘Water Halos’ opening at Port Royal’s Windhorse

The public is invited to the opening reception of “Water Halos” by artist Lisa Shimko from 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 14 at The Windhorse Gallery at The Shed at 809 Paris Avenue in Port Royal.

Attendees can meet the artist and immerse themselves in a series inspired by the ethereal beauty of the Lowcountry. Shimko’s “Water Halo” series, which began in Charleston a decade ago, explores abstract portals of emotional experiences with the region's waterways. These paintings transcend mere representation, capturing the essence of aquatic epiphanies and the deep-

Win from page B1

Tucker Mathis for a BA safety. Beaufort Academy’s offense took the newfound energy and ran with it, scoring in just four plays on the back of a 25-yard Underwood scamper before the coach’s son found paydirt himself on a beautifully-designed burst down the left sideline for an 18-yard touchdown. Despite losing the football again on a Lamm recovery, Patrick Henry was able to respond by unleashing the trusty playmaker Mathis. The senior standout made it look easy on an eye-popping 56-yard run on a third-and-17 play, plowing through multiple would-be Eagles tacklers and accelerating to the goal line before a successful twopoint try tied the game at 8 Mathis showed off on the defensive end with a stop of Underwood on the first play of the ensuing Eagles series, but a Dietrich-to-Nic Shuford connection extended the drive to set up Nych’s go-ahead rushing score and take a 16-8 lead into the half.

The home side was feeling it early in the second half as Chavarria-Byrne came up big again, helping recover Patrick Henry’s third fumble of the contest. Beaufort Academy was inches away from a critical two-posses-

er sensations of the natural world.

Since relocating to Upstate South Carolina, Lisa’s current works evoke dreams and meditations of the coastal home she cherishes. These paintings are infused with memories of light and the soothing experience of swimming in serene, brackish waters — a personal escape and creative solace.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with the artist and explore a captivating collection that reflects both personal and universal experiences with water. Works will be on display and available for purchase during the show and for a limited time following at the Windhorse Gallery.

St. Helena Sense of Place Workshop

The next St. Helena Sense of Place Workshop — Sound Clinic — Rhythm of Da Land hosted by Responsible Artistry, Inc. -- will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21 at Penn Center’s Hampton House at 16 Penn Center Circle on St. Helena Island.

Join music producer, sound engineer and synesthete André (Mr. Bounce Back) Amigér and recording artist, songwriter, multi-disciplinary artist and sound healer Mahoganëë Amigér as they lead a Sound Clinic on how Water Memory and Indigenous Ancestral Honor has guided their music production, vocal production, songwriting and visuals to create a snapshot of their cultural journey. Lunch will be provided. The event is free, but you must register at https://bit. ly/3Tl2B9e to attend.terans Affairs at 843255-6880

– Staff reports

sion lead, but Tray Adkins returned the favor by giving the ball back to the Patriots on a forced fumble of their own inside the PHA twoyard line. Another miscue, this time on special teams, gave Patrick Henry a short field, and this time, the defending champs cashed in.

Taking over at quarterback, Mathis showed his poise on fourth down, finding an open Jacob Corley in the back right corner of the end zone before his team added the game-tying two.

The Beaufort Academy Eagles were rattled, but they came right back to their bread and butter in the fourth quarter: their ground game. After some chunk plays from both Dietrich Shuford and Underwood, it was Underwood who finished off a go-ahead, nineplay drive with a hard-nosed dive across the goal line. Beaufort Academy's stifling defensive front shut down Mathis’ response and gave its offense a chance to deliver the finishing blow. The drive fizzled up quickly in PHA territory but gave the Eagles a chance to grow the lead to nine points on a 32yard kick. No problem for Grady Lamm.

The try split the uprights and put all the pressure on the visitors, down nine with under four minutes left. Mathis rallied the Patriots

on an impressive late drive, including a fourth-down conversion to keep it going, but the Eagles scooped up the last-ditch onside kick to seal a gutsy region victory.

“Can’t say enough about Grady,” coach Shuford said. “He’s been making 52-yarders consistently in practice and with blocking out in front he could show off his leg even more.”

The ground game feasted for Beaufort Academy, with Dietrich Shuford and Underwood combining for 336 total rushing yards. Underwood paced the squad with 172 yards on 22 touches with two touchdowns, and Dietrich added 164 rushing yards on just 20 carries while completing 11 of 16 passes for 174 yards. Chavarria-Byrne delivered on defense, pacing the squad with nine total tackles on top of a pair of fumble recoveries.

Mathis led the Patriots offense with 127 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 attempts, and Jacob Corley caught three passes for 69 yards with a score.

Beaufort Academy (3-1 1-0) hosts Lee Academy on Friday, while Patrick Henry (2-1 0-1) returns home Friday to face off with longtime rival Dorchester Academy.

Wes Kerr is a graduate of Hilton Head Island High School and Davidson College. He reports on local sports for LowcoSports.com.

Kat Wright,

VOICES

Beware fences you build, bridges you burn

It's not just the humidity that hangs heavy in the air, making breathing a challenge. The thickness, although unseen, is as evident as the wind. This year, it isn't hurricane season that creates an undercurrent of concern; dangerous winds and rising tides aren't the only responsible parties for homes damaged.

In the midst of gatherings across the dining table and the chaos of social media, the election year unleashes a storm of tension, hatred, and the abandonment of empathy. Like a held breath, desperate to be exhaled, it tightens its grip with a clenched fist and gritted teeth, leaving behind a trail of shattered peace and vanishing tolerance.

As the storm rages, kindness

Isuppose it was wishful thinking to hope I would never again write about gun violence in our schools. In my heart I knew better; sometimes, however, the Pollyanna in me surfaces and overtakes my sense of reality. That reality, however, knew it was just a matter of “if” rather than “when.”

One of my former columns centered upon the idea of arming teachers. I was so appalled that I hit the computer and took the stance of “flippant ridicule."

Back then I posed the scenario where I was teaching Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales,” and a gunman entered my classroom. I pull out my gun, blow him away, call the custodian to clean up the mess, and resume teaching “The Miller’s Tale.” Ludicrous? Of course! But then so is the notion of arming teachers.

This past week it was Winder, Ga., Apalachee High School. The victims were two teachers, two 14-year-old boys, all four killed, and at least nine others wounded. As expected, the usual pablum was forthcoming: “guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” But more on the responses later. First I want to make the point that this time the perpetrator is 14 years of age. Let that register for a moment. If you look

seeks refuge, while friends become adversaries and adversaries lose their humanity. Has it always been this way, with social media now serving as the amplifying megaphone, or has the decline reached unprecedented levels?

Did we ignore the warnings?

I can't be the only one to reminisce about the days of

a gentler discourse, one that welcomed differences of opinion without emboldening hate and indecency. Is the shoreline of America now so divided that both sides will continue an erosional trend caused by the violent breaking waves? What was the united our forefathers spoke?

The current state of political affiliation seems to have shifted from being rooted in ideology to manifesting as part of one's identity. Stars and stripes morph into scars and scorn, tearing through small towns and big cities, leaving a path of unimaginable destruction.

Can we shelter in place in anticipation of the storms' end, or is a more dangerous form of climate change here to stay? Is it

impossible for us to see that hate heals nothing? The louder we scream, the less we hear. The mob mentality isn't an effective army. Blindly following any crowd leads to blurred vision. Civility is still an option. The pundits, selfproclaimed experts, and those living in the artificial world of social media impact nothing but the noise level. We can temper the rage. For me, America, the beautiful remains. The dawn's early light will come through this perilous fight. Our country has fought wars far more fierce than what we face now. America will mend. Her scars won't fade, but she will mend. It will take an army of the hopeful, peaceful, and levelheaded. It will take thought over

How about a musket?

at pictures of this kid’s baby-face, you have to be dumb-struck. And when you read the story of how he grew up, you soon come to realize that he certainly qualifies as a victim as well.

Know that I am not excusing him with what I am about to write. There are four grieving families who don’t want to hear it, and I don’t want to give that impression. However, to say that Colt Gray grew up in a troubled and neglectful home is the quintessential understatement.

Police and child services visited the Gray home on a regular basis. A neighbor who lived next to them in Jefferson, Ga., spoke of times when the mother locked the children out of the house, and the kids would bang on the door, crying and screaming, “Mom, Mom.” The neighbor called it devastating.

As for Colt’s mother, she has a lengthy rap sheet with drug and domestic violence arrests, for which she spent time in jail. And we know that it was the fa-

ther that bought the AR-15 rifle for his son as a Christmas gift. Shortly after the shooting, the father was arrested for this on charges of Second Degree Murder, Involuntary Manslaughter, and Cruelty to Children. This begs the question, “cruelty to those killed as well as your own son?”

Also, this young man was on the authorities’ radar. According to the New York Post, more than a year ago, tips about online posts threatening a school shooting led Georgia police to interview a 13-year-old boy, but investigators didn't have enough evidence for an arrest.

His father, who was also interviewed, told cops he had hunting guns in the house but his son did not have access to them. The officers urged the father to keep the firearms under lock and key — and advised that Colt be kept out of school “until this matter could be resolved.” One must ask whether or not there was sufficient intervention on the part of authorities.

NPR began a report by asking, “How do we prevent the next one?” and continues with “For years, school safety experts, and even the U.S. Secret Service, have rallied around some very clear answers. Here's what they say.

“There's broad consensus that arming teachers

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Trump Derangement Syndrome is real

I picked up a copy of The Island News today and was reading through the articles when I ran up on the Letters to the Editor.

I read an opinion by another reader that was raging about the press actually covering a Trump press conference. He found it offensive that the MSN would actually indulge, print or allow media insemination of the views and policy proposals of one of only two candidates for the position of the highest political office in the land. The leader of the free world. I thought to myself, why would anyone not want to hear what he of she has to say. Your life actually does depend on their views. Trump will sit down and discuss his views and policy proposals with anyone who wants to hear it. ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC or FOX, makes no

difference to him. And if they think he is lying, they are more than welcome to challenge him.

I kinda get it. The author of the article hasn't heard a word in the 30 days since she was selected. Not a word. No interviews with even the most loyal MSN organization. One has to wonder what in the world does she stand for? It's frustrating I'm sure. All we know from her is that she is pro abortion up until birth. She hates fracking of any kind. She will let Trump's tax cuts expire for everyone. Medicare for everyone, damn the cost. Open borders are a good thing. Oh and no tax on tips. Lol, a Trump proposal. What is she afraid of?

We do not need to hear less from a possible leader of the free world. We need to hear more. We need to know what policies they would push to implement. What Executive Orders they would proclaim on Day 1 Trump has tried to do that.

is not a good policy. That's according to Matthew Mayer, a professor at Rutgers Graduate School of Education. He's been studying school violence since before Columbine, and he's part of a group of researchers who have published several position papers about why school shootings happen.

“Mayer says arming teachers is a bad idea ‘because it invites numerous disasters and problems, and the chances of it actually helping are minuscule.’”

At the risk of slipping back into flippant mode, I must respond, “Really?”

In 2018, a Gallup Poll also found that most teachers do not want to carry guns in school, and overwhelmingly favor gun control measures over security steps meant to "harden" schools. When asked which specific measures would be "most effective" at preventing school shootings, 57% of teachers favored universal background checks, and the same number, 57%, also favored banning the sale of semiautomatic weapons such as the one used in the Parkland attack. (NPR) Schools have had to create a prison-like atmosphere by locking doors, hiring guards to patrol the halls, and installing metal detectors. In other words, “harden the campus.” Ridiculous! Schools shouldn't

Harris, not so much. Actually not at all ...

-- Joel Chitty, Beaufort

This Administration is a real loser and we pay the price

If you're paying attention you’ve heard the news that our economy generated nearly 1 million fewer jobs than had previously been reported. Bidenomics at work?! Then, it was reported that Homeland Security lost track of more than 300,000 illegal immigrant minors who's whereabouts are anyone's guess … child labor or worse (and remember how the previous administration was skewered for “ripping babies out of the arms of parents” … parents whose actual relationship was never proven … but certainly not 300,000).

Crickets so far from the media. That lead me to research

propaganda, reading before reacting, listening over screaming, and pride in a country willing to improve.

A direct hit comes in November; we have a choice. We can care for our neighbors, resist hate, and shelter underneath the strength of our ability to see past political affiliation into the heart of humanity. Once the storm subsides, neither candidate will arrive to help rebuild; it will be your neighbor, your community. Beware the fences you build, the bridges you burn.

have to bear this burden, nor should kids have to go to classes under such conditions.

Yet this is the norm, simply because those responsible for this perversion refuse to alter their stance. Indeed, when informed of this latest mass shooting, J.D. Vance called it, “an unfortunate fact of life.” Sorry, J.D., it wasn’t a fact when I was teaching 25 years ago. Do you mind explaining why that has changed? And why this isn't the case in other countries?

As for Donald Trump, he was quoted as saying about a previous mass shooting, “It’s just horrible, so surprising to see it here. But have to get over it — we have to move forward.”

Tell that to the parents of the deceased children.

So where does the answer lie? To start with, raise the age limit for gun ownership from 18 to 21 Research shows that the teenage brain is still very impulsive. Statistics underscore this: school shooters at Parkland, Newtown, Columbine, and Uvalde were all younger than 21

Why aren’t universal background checks the norm? If you are legitimate, having nothing in your history that makes you unworthy of owning a gun, why would you object? Furthermore, unless you have nefarious intent, why would you object to a

further other “losses” by this administration, and there have been a frightening number including: 1) $87 billion of sophisticated military weaponry and 13 lives in our embarrassing withdrawal from Afghanistan, 2) tens of thousands of closed businesses that never returned and thousands of years of lost education for our kids because of government Covid mismanagement and overreach … history will ultimately record that while dangerous to a certain segment of the population the massive lock downs and punitive attacks on our liberty were scientifically unjustified, 3) And, then there’s the billions of dollars of lost buying power for average, working-class people because of crushing inflation caused by unnecessary government spending under the guise of things like the Build Back Better Baloney program and the Inflation Reduction Act.

three-day waiting period? And by all that is logical and reasonable, why do you or anyone short of our military need an assault weapon with a bump stock? There is no question that schools must provide social and emotional support for their students. We are in an era of immediate gratification with social media and every child having access by way of his own cell phone. Kids come to school with problems from home, problems generated on social media, and problems in school by way of bullying. Colt Gray endured all of these. The response might well be, “So did kids decades ago, with the exception of cell phones.” And my response is, “But did they have unfettered access to assault rifles?”

If you are hell-bent on extolling the second amendment and the intent of our forefathers, I have the perfect answer. We collect all of the guns in this country and issue muskets to every individual who wants one for protection. As I see it, the choice this election seems to be the gun lobby or the safety of our kids.

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.”

Aagain it’s the least able to afford government mistakes that end up paying the disproportionate price. Remember, inflation is cumulative so while the current rate is declining the damage has been done as those higher prices are now baked in. There’s more but let me end by pointing out the more insidious. All this abuse is symptomatic of an even more concerning loss, that of our freedoms and our liberties. Anyone disagreeing with the current administrations policies have been subject to ridicule, deplatforming and worse. When the government feels they can get away with stuff like this with not even a peep from the legacy media whose role is supposedly to protect us from this abuse of power then we, you and me, not the administration, are the real losers, and we pay the price.

-- Frank Wainwright, St. Helena Island

Cherimie Weatherford is a long-time real estate broker, small business owner, wife and mom in beautiful Beaufort. She is the Director of Operations and Programs for the Freedman Arts District.

CHERIMIE CRANE WEATHERFORD

CAROL LUCAS

An opportunity to look into the future

It is Tuesday, and I’m in Port Royal. This morning, I’ve got a book titled “From Dawn to Decadence, 500 Years of Western Cultural Life” by Jacques Barzun.

Pat Conroy gave me Barzun 10 years ago, and Jacques has proven to be a reliable resource in understanding Rabelais and Paracelsus and the big, revolutionary ideas that they (and others) introduced into the Western Canon.

“Dawn to Decadence” gives us the thinkers, artists and engineers during the last 500 years; giving short shrift to Napoleon, Nelson, Wellington and the generals who led young men into battle. But he could not completely ignore the shootouts that once were the organizational touchstone of every history book.

years of misery and murder, a mutiny broke out on the French front. And just when it looked like the French troops had had enough, the Americans entered the war extending the shooting by another couple of years.

ern part of the Black Sea.

The Magura V5 looks something like a sleek 1930s-era speedboat except that it is equipped with cameras, explosives and is connected to satellites orbiting in the sky. It travels at 50 mph; costs a “few hundred thousand dollars;” and is hard to detect on radar.

love the aircraft carrier with its size and its F-18s roaring into the sky.

In one essay, Barzun writes that in the early days of World War I, each belligerent prepared their people for hostilities, the allies saying, “The Germans had always been barbarians, they had destroyed the Roman Civilization.” The Germans, citing Napoleon, saying that the French had routinely “ravaged, kept poor and divided the German peoples.”

All of which brings us to Ukraine and the fact that this war has devolved into the same kind of fixed, trench and artillery fight that was under way 100 years ago in France. The only real difference is that drones and satellites tell each side exactly what the other side is doing.

In the subsequent war, every able-bodied man was fed into this yawning, people-eating machine, only the stretcher bearers getting themselves out of a shooting role.

“The German effort at Verdun in 1916 wiped out some 700 000 lives in four months.”

But after two and one half

Airborne drones are also keeping the Ukrainian infantry in business as they make their 155 mm howitzers more precise, and drop hand grenades into the open hatches of Russian tanks.

But the big news involves naval drones that have removed the Soviet Navy — the second largest in the world — from operational effectiveness in the northwest-

James Stavrides, a retired Navy admiral, tells The Washington Post that “We are at an absolute pivot point in maritime warfare. Big surface ships are highly at risk to air, surface and sub-surface drones. The sooner great-power navies like of the United States understand that, the more likely they are to survive in major combat in this turbulent 21st century.”

The Magura could make a huge difference in the defense of Taiwan should the Chinese decide to launch their long-anticipated 2 000 ship invasion. But, of course, there are those that

For years, dispatching a carrier (and its attendant frigates) to the Indian Ocean, or the South China Sea, was part and parcel of our “big stick” diplomacy. But this show of force may be the kind of ignorance and arrogance that foreshadowed the end of the British Empire.

If WWI is any guide, Zelensky knows that his people will eventually give way to exhaustion and despair after about three years. Eventually their loathing of Putin will give way to the desire for a boring, bloodless, non-violent life.

So this summer, Zelensky sent his weary infantry into the Southern part of Russian opening an entirely new “front” that will undoubtedly require redeployment of the Russian troops who are now stretched along Ukraine’s 1 000 mile-

long eastern flank. This move reminds us of Robert E Lee leading his troops out of Virginia and into the farm country just south of Harrisburg, Penn.; Lee gambling on a quick, humiliating strike that would dishearten the North and encourage Britain to recognize the Confederate government.

I don’t doubt that Ukraine’s drone warfare is being discussed at the at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.; these up-andcoming officers know this war — like the Spanish Civil War — is an opportunity to look into the future.

Dylan Porter — a Beaufort native who teaches Leadership and Ethics in Newport — is a young Commander trying his best to divine and define that future.

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

Legacy of Bloody Thursday urges us to do right by most vulnerable South Carolinians

toward the bottom of the nation.

About eight or so AT&T employees were on strike the other day in a parking lot in Anderson County.

They didn’t march. Too hot for that.

They stood or sat in the intense August sun holding signs that said things like “HONK IF YOU SUPPORT WORKERS.”

Few drivers honked in sympathy.

“How long do you think the strike will last?” I asked.

“We hope it’ll end today,” one striker said with frustration. “We want to get back to work.”

It didn’t end that day. The strike against AT&T in the Southeast is in its third week, involving 17 000 workers in at least nine states, including South Carolina.

But even a small-scale strike is a rare and strange sight to see in our state.

South Carolina has the lowest rate of union members, at 2 3% of all employees, of any state in the country.

To understand one reason why, drive about 20 miles from the parking lot of striking workers to the town of Honea Path, population 3,788

In a quiet corner of Dogwood Park, there’s a small granite monument with these words: “They

died for the rights of the working man.”

Underneath the inscription are seven names. Next, journey nine decades into the past.

Remembering Bloody Thursday

On Sept. 6 1934, in the midst of the Great Depression, about 300 desperately poor workers formed a picket line at the huge Chiquola Mill in Honea Path, as the Gazette’s Jessica Holdman detailed in a recent article.

They were striking for higher wages and better working conditions.

Their protests were part of the textile strike that year that shook the Southeast and New England. It was the largest textile strike in the history of the United States, involving 400,000 workers.

But it was in the small town of Honea Path that something nightmarish happened.

At 7:45 p.m. Dan Beacham, the superintendent of the mill, who was also the mayor and magistrate of the town, ordered an armed posse of strikebreakers to fire into the crowd of strikers from inside the mill.

Six workers were shot in the back and killed; a seventh victim died later. At least 30 more were injured in the massacre known locally as Bloody Thursday.

But for decades, it seems that few people in Honea Path spoke of the incident, as if folks in the town were ashamed that people took up arms against their own neighbors.

It was the journalistic work of Dan Beacham’s grandson, Frank Beacham, that helped revive the memory of the massacre. The incident was also prominently featured in a searing 1995 documentary, “The Uprising of ’34.”

There’s also a music video about the massacre called “Honea Path” by Matthew Grimm and Red Smear.

The mill itself, which opened in 1903, closed exactly 100 years later. It’s now in ruins.

It was in 1995 that the stone marker was placed in nearby Dogwood Park, a poignant commemoration but one that took 60 years to finally happen.

Bloody Thursday’s 90th an-

niversary on Sept. 6 passed, as usual, almost unnoticed.

But perhaps we can take a moment to read the names of the victims: Claude Cannon, 27; Lee Crawford, 26; Thomas Yarbrough, 54; E.M. “Bill” Knight; Ira Davis, 26; Maxie Peterson, 27; and C.R. Rucker, 39

A brutal crackdown When that posse shot unarmed workers in the back, it dealt a brutal blow to the labor movement in South Carolina.

Whether the incident undermined the labor movement in our state or merely reflected pre-existing anti-union sentiment is a question that historians will continue to debate.

Historians argue that the Chiquola Mill massacre helped to inspire President Roosevelt in 1935 to sign the National Labor Relations Act, allowing workers to more freely unionize, collectively bargain and strike if necessary. The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, meanwhile, established the 40-hour work week, created the minimum wage and curtailed child labor, as Holdman writes.

Today, South Carolina not only remains the least unionized state but, perhaps not unexpectedly, average wages in the state are

A study published in the American Journal of Sociology in 2020 suggests that right-towork laws, like those in South Carolina, lead to greater economic inequality by reducing the power of labor unions.

Workers have limited rights in this right-to-work state, but there’s no doubt they’ve made tremendous strides toward livable wages and better working conditions.

Nothing so brutal as Bloody Thursday could happen here again.

Yet some old attitudes remain about how we treat South Carolina’s low-income workers.

One could point to Gov. McMaster’s decision not to participate in a summer food program to benefit the children of South Carolina’s needy families or the fact that South Carolina remains one of only 10 states that still refuses to expand Medicaid eligibility to more poor adults.

The legacy of the Chiquola Mill massacre — if we remember it — is one that urges South Carolinians to do right by our most vulnerable citizens.

South Carolina has yet to realize the best version of itself.

Back in the sweltering parking lot in Anderson County, the striking workers are weary and packing up for the day after observing a tradition that still abides in South Carolina if only in muted form: The right of Americans to stand up for the dignity of the ordinary working person.

Come tomorrow, they’ll be there again.

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.

SCOTT GRABER

PAUL HYDE

Ruins of the Chiquola Mill in Honea Path, S.C. Paul Hyde/Special to the S.C. Daily Gazette

A monument in Dogwood Park in Honea Path, S.C., honors the seven people killed on what became known as Bloody Thursday. Paul Hyde/Special to the S.C. Daily Gazette

The wit and wisdom of Ted Lasso

We’re pretty late to the national party celebrating the Apple television show Ted Lasso, but we’ve been making up for lost time with some major league binging.

Mainly, we didn’t want to pay Apple, already too rich, any more money. But after being assaulted in social media with common sense clips from the show and with a new season reportedly in the works soon, it seemed like time to figure out what all the fuss was about.

And we’re glad we did. The show about an American football coach hired to lead an English football (soccer) team is hilarious and heartwarming. It’s filled with aphorisms and advice, zingers and zest. Its characters jump off the screen. If Mark Twain or Will Rogers were around today, either would have made a similar show years ago. This is a comedy that all politicians should watch, if they haven’t

already. It highlights how to deal with people better in modern society. Instead of everything between political parties being confrontational and too negative, the show is a lesson in how people can get along and work together, despite differences of opinions.

To get an idea of kinds of the sayings in each episode, here are some insightful, inspiring lessons from America’s coach: Inquire: “Be curious, not judgmental.”

Possibilities: “You say impossible, but all I hear is ‘I’m possible.’”

Potential: “I do love a locker room. It smells like potential.”

A6-year-old girl lost one of her white Adidas lace-up sneakers as she and her 21 classmates practiced fleeing for their lives after an imaginary intruder entered their school.

The girl’s teacher told her to keep moving without her shoe, then grabbed it herself and gave it back to the girl when the class settled into their designated safe location.

The girl recently recounted the story of losing her shoe during a morning car ride to school. It was just one of several times the girl or her siblings described what they were supposed to do – run “over to that fence,” “across that field” or “into those woods” – if an intruder enters their school building.

The reason I know this story is because the girl is my daughter.

In the quarter-century since the Columbine High School massacre of April 20 1999, a whole generation of children, including my own, have lived under the threat of school-related gun violence.

More recent tragedies, like those occurring at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in December 2012 and Robb Elementary School in Texas in May 2022, reveal the persistent nature of this threat.

Regrettably, gun violence stands at the backdrop of all contemporary American education. As such, active shooter and intruder drills have become standard fare, not only for my children but for nearly all American schoolchildren.

I am concerned about the fact that preparedness exercises – such as the one in which my daughter temporarily lost her shoe –sometimes cause students harm.

For example, a recent study showed that active intruder drills can result in distress and anxiety for students.

Success: “For me, success is not about the wins and losses. It’s about helping these young fellas be the best versions of themselves on and off the field.”

Look ahead: “You know what the happiest animal on Earth is? It’s a goldfish. It has a 10-second memory. Be a goldfish.”

Challenge yourself: “Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse, isn't it? If you’re comfortable while you're doing it, you're probably doing it wrong.”

Put in the time: “As the man once said, ‘The harder you work, the luckier you get.’”

Gut check: “Just listen to your gut, and on the way down to your gut, check in with your heart. Between those two things, they’ll let you know what’s what.”

Opportunity: “I think things come into our lives to help us get from one place to a better one.”

Ethics: “Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing.”

Hope: “It may not work out how you think it will or how you hope it does. But believe me, it will all work out.”

Now: “Living in the moment, it’s a gift. That’s why they call it the present.”

Keep at it: “Isn't the idea of ‘never give up’ one of them things we always talk about in sports? And shouldn't that apply to people too?”

Also recently in the news, though not as inspiring as any episode of Ted Lasso:

Junket

S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson’s jaunt to the U.S.-Mexico border was little more than a political stunt, notwithstanding denials by the wannabe governor obsessed with illegal immigration.

Wonder how many advertising agency cameras the GOP had at the border for Wilson and the two other junketing Republican attorneys general?

Poem

With the deadly killing of four people at a Georgia high school, you might want to check out a 2016 poem by British writer Brian Bilston, which opens:

“England is a cup of tea. France, a wheel of ripened brie. Greece, a short, squat olive tree. America is a gun.”

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

Sue Berkowitz, director of policy at South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center, described Wilson’s stunt as a dog whistle to The Post and Courier: “America is a safe haven. People are coming here because they're trying to do what’s best for their children, because they’re facing crime in their country, not because they want to come here and commit crimes in our country.”

There are better ways to keep students safe

In another case, one of these drills led to hysteria and a stampede in a school in Florida as students attempted to flee their faux intruder. Students and teachers alike experienced terror at the pronouncement of a real threat, that it was “not a drill.”

As a researcher in developmental and educational psychology – and as a faculty member who trains future teachers – I understand the need for schools to ensure the safety and security of the nation’s 55 million school-age youth.

But might there be a better way to protect children in the post-Columbine era?

I’m not the only one raising this question.

A new initiative by the National Academies has been initiated to assess the effects of active shooter drills on student health and well-being and to determine best practices in preparing schools to respond to threats of violence.

A look at the trends

To gain insight on the prevalence of school-related gun violence, my colleagues and I conducted a study of school shootings and school mass shootings that took

place in America’s K-12 schools from 1997 through 2022

We used two public databases to count school shootings and school mass shootings that occurred each school year.

School shootings in our study were defined as “each and every instance a gun is brandished, is fired, or a bullet hits school property for any reason, regardless of the number of victims, time of day, or day of week.”

School mass shootings were defined as those that happened at a K-12 school site and met the federal definition of a mass shooting in place at the time of the shooting: Four or more victims killed, up to December 2012, or three or more victims killed, from January 2013 onward.

During the 25 school years we examined, 19972022, there were 1 453 school shootings. More than half of those, 794, occurred in the last five years, 20172022

Our analyses revealed a sharp increase in school shootings after 2017, with the number of shootings jumping from a then-record high of 89 in the 2017-2018 school year to 328 in the 2021-2022 school year.

While the number of school shootings has increased dramatically in recent years, the number of school mass shootings has not increased at the same rate – though they have become more deadly.

In total, 11 school mass shootings occurred across

the 1997-1998 to 20212022 school years, with 126 fatalities and 122 injuries sustained overall. Five of those school mass shootings occurred in the 19972012 school years, while six occurred in the 2012-2022 school years.

Nevertheless, the fatality rate nearly doubled in the last decade, rising from 7 6 deaths per mass shooting event from 1997-2012 to 14 deaths per school mass shooting event from 20122022

Efforts to maximize student safety are paramount.

To be sure, I want my children’s schools to do their utmost to protect their students. However, many current measures designed to keep students safe – like the appointment of school resource officers – have not been proven to prevent school shootings or lessen the severity of school shootings, in terms of injury or fatality, when they do occur.

Gun injury is now the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in the United States. While school shootings and school mass shootings represent only a portion of gun injuries sustained by school-age youth, gun violence – including school-related gun violence – is a public health crisis.

As such, a public health approach is merited.

Relying on research

I see at least three ways that schools and communities can work to lessen gun violence occurring in and around schools:

1: Educate parents and families about safe gun storage.

Educators and commu-

nity health care providers – including pediatricians, primary care physicians and mental health clinicians – can engage in efforts to counsel families on safe firearm storage.

Health care providers can also work to understand Extreme Risk Protection Order laws in their states; such laws allow them to coordinate with law enforcement to remove firearms from a home environment when an individual is identified who may be at risk of doing harm to self or others.

2: Utilize evidence-based, schoolwide approaches to promote school safety.

School safety can be supported through evidence-based frameworks, such as Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, which aims to improve school-based practices affecting student outcomes.

This positive approach can be used to proactively address students’ social, emotional and behavioral needs and promote school safety. This approach also allows school personnel to monitor and manage students’ mental health needs, attend to schoolwide behavior and discipline issues, and foster a safe school climate. Accordingly, it may help reduce potential threats of gun violence perpetrated by students.

3: Support legislation and regulations for gun safety and violence prevention.

Community members, including parents and teachers, and policymakers can support legislation for gun safety, evidence-based violence prevention prac-

tices and regulations. For example, child access protection laws – laws that impose penalties on gun owners if children access firearms – decrease firearm injuries and gun carrying, and thus help promote safety in and around schools.

Hope for the future The National Institute for Justice has made it a priority to support new research to study firearm violence and mass shootings, including research on the effectiveness of school campaigns to educate families on safe gun storage. These efforts will provide important new insights about how to prevent school-related gun violence.

While my own children and their millions of peers attending school in the United States today continue to endure the threat of school-related gun violence, I hope future generations will experience school without having to worry about someone showing up at their school with a gun.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

Luke Rapa is an associate professor of education and human development at Clemson University. His research rests at the intersection of developmental and educational psychologies. Broadly, Rapa studies how contextual, sociocultural, and sociopolitical factors such as socioeconomic disadvantage, structural constraints, and societal inequality shape key developmental and psychological processes and promote or constrain adolescent's development and academic success.

ANDY BRACK

LUKE J. RAPA

ART Budding Artist After-School Art Club

4 to 5 p.m., or 5:15 to 6:15 p.m., Mondays/Wednesdays or Tuesday/Thursdays, Happy Art Studio, 10 Sam’s Point Way, Beaufort. Ages 8 to 13. Painting, drawing, clay or crafts. Visit www.happyartstudio.net.

CALENDAR

Roots & Rivers Festival

2 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 14, Oyster Factory Park, 63 Wharf Street, Bluffton. Presented by BlacQuity, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Black entrepreneurs, this Coastal Cowboy and Cowgirl-themed event will include live music, line dancing, mechanical bull riding, artisanal vendors, craft beer, food trucks, and new to the festival this year, a Kid Zone and VIP experiences. The festival is set to invigorate coastal Beaufort County by providing a bustling marketplace for small businesses, artisans, and Black entrepreneurs to showcase their products. The festival aims to support the local economy and foster community growth by offering a platform for these talented individuals, creating a positive and inclusive environment for all. The festival boasts a lively beer garden, line dancing, captivating live music performances by Deas Guyz, and more. Early Bird general admission tickets for the Roots and Rivers Festival are now available for $15. For those who prefer to purchase tickets at the gate, they will be priced at $20. A limited number of VIP experiences are also available for $125. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.rootsandriversfestival.com.

Lowcountry Boil

5 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 14, Shellring Ale Works, 1111 11th Street, Port Royal. Tickets are $85. Proceeds support the work of Lowcountry Legal Volunteers. Live music by the Cluster Shucks. To purchase tickets, visit https://bit.ly/4flPRZr.

Beaufort County Youth Conference

9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28, Technical College of The Lowcountry, 921 Ribaut Road, Beaufort. Free for all Beaufort County middle and high school students. Interactive break-out sessions, music, food, fun, door prizes, and T-shirts. Parent and adult wellness workshop. Register today at 843-812-4399 or 843-592-0013.

OktoPRfest

11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28, Paris Avenue, Port Royal. Free. No pets. Local chefs, restaurants, and food trucks will offer German-inspired dishes such as brats and pretzels, along with American festival food favorites. There will be a wide selection of craft, imported, and domestic beers. The opening ceremony will feature a special surprise honoring the Town’s 150th birthday. Live musical performances and entertainment; a craft market area; kids zone; and Lollipop the Clown (noon to 4 p.m.). For more, https://fb.me/e/1zQlnKh37.

64th annual Saint Peter’s Catholic Church Fall Bazaar

10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5, Saint Peter’s Catholic Church campus, 70 Lady’s Island Drive, Beaufort. The Bazaar features international foods, craft fair with local artisans, a sweet shoppe, an in-person and online silent auction, wine and beer garden, 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 for support groups, and services such as a ride program for those with limited transportation.

39th annual Kiwanis Club of Hilton Head Island Chili Cook Off & Jeep Island

Noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, Lowcountry Celebration Park, 94 Pope Avenue, Hilton Head Island. Event raises funding for local youth charities. Chili cooks will face off to determine the best concoctions in Professional, Amateur, and People’s Choice categories. 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.

Karaoke with Melissa

8 p.m. to midnight, Tuesdays, Highway 21 Bar, 3436 Trask Pkwy, Beaufort. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.

Karaoke with Melissa

7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Beaufort Moose Lodge, 350 Broad River Blvd, Beaufort. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew 9:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Rosie

WHAT’S HAPPENING

O’Grady’s, 2127 Boundary Street, Suite 2, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy karaoke with either Parker or Eric.

Trivia with Tom –Bricks On Boundary

7 p.m., Every Thursday, Bricks on Boundary, 1422 Boundary St, Beaufort. Free. Team trivia event, win house cash and Beer Bucket prizes! For more information, visit https://rb.gy/o9nhwe.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew 7 p.m., Thursdays, Amvets Post 70, 1831 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Free. Public is welcome. Enjoy Karaoke. Dinner will be available.

Karaoke at Willie’s 8 p.m., Thursdays, Willie's Bar and Grill, 7 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Saint Helena Island. Come and showcase your singing talents or just enjoy the performances. For more information, visit www.GullahLove.com.

Bluffton Night Bazaar — a Lowcountry Made Market 5 to 8 p.m., first Thursday of each month, Burnt Church Distillery, 120 Bluffton Road. A highly curated selection of accessories, clothing, home goods, custom gifts and more by local artists and makers.

Habersham Farmers Market 3 to 6 p.m., Fridays, Habersham Marketplace. Vendor roster includes B&E Farm, Cottonwood Soap, Flower Power Treats, Hardee Greens, Megs Sweet Treats, Vitamin Bee, Lady’s Island Oyster Company, Pet Wants.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew 9 p.m., Fridays, Highway 21 Bar, 3436 Trask Pkwy, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy Karaoke with Lt. Dan.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew 9:30 p.m., Fridays, Rosie O’Grady’s, 2127 Boundary Street, Suite 2, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy Karaoke with Parker.

Karaoke with Melissa

7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Fridays, R Bar & Grill, 70 Pennington Dr, Bluffton. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.

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

Slip and Splash Saturdays 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturdays, Battery Creek Pool, 1 Blue Dolphin Drive, Beaufort, and Bluffton Pool, 55 Pritchard Street, Bluffton. $5 per person. Stay busy for hours climbing on our inflatable challenge track.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

7 p.m., Saturdays, The Beaufort Moose Lodge, 350 Broad River Blvd., Beaufort. Free. Enjoy karaoke with Lt. Dan. Come early at 6 p.m. for Steak Night.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

9:30 p.m., Saturdays, Rosie O’Grady’s, 2127 Boundary Street, Suite 2, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy karaoke with Eric.

Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud

9 a.m. to noon, 1st Saturday each month, Port Royal Farmer’s Market, Corner of Ribaut Road & Pinckney Blvd, Port Royal. Free. DAYLO Students and other volunteers will read to young children, who are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animals.

Karaoke with Melissa 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, Peaceful Henry’s Cigar Bar, 181 Bluffton Rd, Bluffton. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.

DANCE

The Beaufort Shag Club

6:30 to 9 p.m., Wednesdays, AmVets Club, 1831 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Free lessons for members from 6 to 6:30 p.m. We also host a dance the second Saturday of each month from 7 to 10 p.m. Lessons will run September through May only. Visit our FaceBook page (beaufortshagclub) for current events.

GOLF

Stingray Scramble

9 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 28, Ocean Creek Golf Course, Fripp Island. Team of 4, $650. Individual, $175. Benefits Riverview Charter School. Shotgun start. 4-man scramble. Registration 8 to 8:45 a.m. Registration includes golf, gift, lunch, awards. Register at https://bit.ly/4bUzWPh.

27th annual Habitat For Humanity of the Lowcountry tournament Monday, Sept. 30, Oldfield Club, Okatie. Register to play or sponsor at https://bit.ly/4cnr58E. Event proceeds go toward building the

Larry Sanders House, named in honor of the longtime volunteer organizer of the tournament.

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.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Rooted Beaufort Yoga classes

5:30 to 6:45 p.m., Thursdays, Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal; 9 to 10:15 a.m., Whitehall Park or Pigeon Point Park. Rooted Beaufort is a collective of local Yoga teachers who host outdoor yoga classes and donation-based events with proceeds being donated locally on a rotating basis.

BEMER Circulation Therapy

10 to 11 a.m., Fridays via Zoom. Already own a BEMER? Never heard of it but curious? Join to ask any questions about this leading-edge German technology that enhances blood flow 30% in 8 minutes. Sessions are designed to support those who have their own unit but everyone is welcome. Brought to you by BEMER Specialist -- Human & Equine, Elizabeth Bergmann. Text 410-212-1468 to get the Zoom link. Free.

HISTORY

Beaufort History Museum at the Arsenal 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays, 713 Craven St, Beaufort. General Admission for Adults $8, Seniors $7, Active Duty Military and College Students with ID $5. Children/Teens younger than 18 Free. Explore and experience more than 500 years of Beaufort History with knowledgeable docent guided tours.

The Historic Port Royal Museum 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or upon request, Thursdays through Sundays, The Historic Port Royal Museum, 1634 Paris Ave. The museum features the turn-of-the-century businesses and industries of Port Royal: Shrimping, crabbing, oystering, the railroad, the school and the mercantile. Great gifts featuring local artists are available. For more information. visit www.portroyalhistory.org, email historicportroyalfoundation@gmail.com or call 843-524-4333.

Tour Historic Fort Fremont

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

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

Introduction to Canning

11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 7, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Participants will learn the basics of preserving food. Methods will include water bath, steam and pressure canning. Belinda and Tony Jones are the owners of Morning Glory Farm and are experienced farmers and canners. No registration is required. Call 843-255-6540 for more information.

Mahjong Club 10 a.m. to noon, Friday, Sept. 13, Beaufort Library, 311 Scott Street. All levels of players are welcome. Feel free to bring your own mahjong sets. Plan to meet every week. For more information, call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-255-6458.

Basics of Canning and Preserving 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 24, Lobeco Branch Library, 1862 Trask Parkway. Presented by the Clemson University Cooperative Extension. Join us for a free workshop that will discuss the basic principles of canning and methods for preserving fruits, vegetables, meats, and more. Please call 843-255-6479 or stop by to register.

Wills Clinic and Information Session

11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28, Lobeco Branch Library, 1862

Trask Parkway. Presented by Lowcountry Legal Volunteers. Free walk-in Wills Information Session from 10 to 11 a.m. No registration is required for the session. Following that, an appointment-based Will Preparation Clinic will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. To apply for an appointment and review eligibility, call 843-815-1570 or register online at https://lowcountrylegalvolunteers.org by September 13.

Native Plants of the Sea Islands 3 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Maximum 50 participants, registration required at to attend. Call 843-255-6540. In this two-hour workshop, participants learn about plants used by indigenous people of the Sea Islands. We’ll take a relaxing 30-minute walk around the library grounds, learning how to identify specific plants and learn about their properties and how they were used pre-colonization. Please wear comfortable shoes.

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 843-255-6487 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.

“Lego” With Lego 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., every Tuesday, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Free and open to the public. Ages 5 and up. No registration required. Come see our new and improved Lego Club. Choose one of our new Lego kits and get going. Call 843-255-6540 for more information.

Career Navigator 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Tuesday, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. Free one-on-one resume writing and job application assistance with a Career Navigator from Palmetto Goodwill. No appointments necessary. For more information call 843-255-6458.

Bridge Club 11 a.m., Wednesdays, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. Beginning September 18. The first session is for beginners new to the game, and following sessions will provide some instruction and we will learn as we play. Join us if you want to learn a new game, practice your skills, or need more players. Call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-255-6458 for more information.

MEETINGS

Zonta Club of Beaufort 6 p.m., 4th Tuesday of each month, Smokehouse, Port Royal.

Rotary Club of Sea Island lunch meeting 12:15 p.m., 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island. Social gathering every 3rd Tuesday at 5:30 pm, locations vary and posted on our website. For more information, visit www.seaislandrotary.org.

Rotary Club of Sea Island social gathering 5:30 p.m., 3rd Tuesday of each month, locations vary and posted on our website. For more information, visit www.seaislandrotary.org.

Beaufort Rotary Club Noon, Wednesdays, Sea Island Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island. Catered buffet lunch, followed by a guest speaker. Prospective members welcome. For further information and upcoming speakers, please visit website www.beaufortrotaryclub.org.

The Beaufort Trailblazers –A Volunteer Group 8 a.m., first Thursday each month, Herban Marketplace, Beaufort. Anyone interested in supporting or building off-road/dirt/ wilderness mountain biking/jogging/walking trails near is encouraged to attend. For more information, call 843-575-0021 or email universitybicycles@hotmail.com.

Emotions Anonymous International local group meeting 4 p.m, Thursdays, via Zoom. Emotions Anonymous International, (EAI), is a nonprofit program designed to help people with emotional difficulties. It has a chapter in the Lowcountry and members want others who feel the need to know they are welcome to participate. There is no charge to participate. They are based on the 12 steps and 12 traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous and follow a specific format designed to provide the support and tools for navigating life’s painful difficulties. All are welcome. Anyone interested in participating may contact the group via email

at EALowcountry@gmail.com or call or text Laurie at 252- 917-7082. For more information on EAI visit www.emotionsanonymous.org.

Rotary Club of the Lowcountry 7:30 a.m., Fridays, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, Sea Island Parkway, Lady’s Island. A light breakfast is provided before the program. For further information and upcoming speakers, please visit our website at www.lowcountryrotary.org or contact our President, Bob Bible at reconmc@aol.com or 843-252-8535.

MUSIC

Deas Guyz 7 p.m., Fridays, Sept. 27, Nov. 1, Nov. 29; Willie's Bar and Grill, 7 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Saint Helena Island. $35. Doors open at 6 p.m. For more information and tickets, visit www.GullahLove.com.

Habersham Third Fridays Music on Market 5 to 8 p.m., third Friday of the month, Habersham Marketplace.

Street Music on Paris Avenue 6 p.m., Saturdays, Sept. 21, between 9th and 10th Streets on Paris Avenue, Port Royal. Free. Bring your chairs or your dancing shoes. Schedule: August 24, The Joe Krown Trio featuring Papa Mali; September 7, Kat Wright; September 21, Gabe Stillman.

OUTDOORS

The Beaufort Tree Walk Lady’s Island Garden Club invites you to take a meandering walk through the Historic “Old Point” and enjoy some unique and noteworthy trees. The “Walk” takes about an hour, is a little over a mile starting at the corner of Craven & Carteret streets in Morrall Park and concluding in Waterfront Park. Booklets with map and information about each tree are available free at the Visitors Center in the historic Arsenal on Craven Street.

Tours of Hunting Island Every Tuesday, Hunting Island State Park, 2555 Sea Island Pkwy. Free, park entry fees apply. Sponsored by Friends of Hunting Island Keeper Ted and his team. For more information call the Hunting Island Nature Center at 843-838-7437. The next Tuesday is August 1.

RUNNING

4th annual Move Your Mind 5K 8 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, Providence Presbyterian Church on the south end of Hilton Head Island. 5K run and 1M walk on the beach. Free parking and a free pancake breakfast. During breakfast, race awards will be given, and prizes for Brain Trivia will be won. Register today at https://bit.ly/4dbP0IS.

SEWING/QUILTING

American Needlepoint

Guild Meeting 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1st Tuesday each month. The Hilton Head Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild welcomes anyone, beginner or experienced stitcher, who is interested in needlepoint to join us for stitching, learning and fellowship. For more information, please contact us at hiltonheadislandchapter@needlepoint.org.

Embroidery Guild of America Meeting Second Tuesday of every month, Palmetto Electric Community Room, Hardeeville. The Lowcountry Chapter of the Embroidery Guild of America welcomes anyone, beginner or experienced stitcher, who is interested in any type of embroidery including needlepoint, crossstitch, surface and beaded embroidery, hardanger, bargello, sashiko, etc., to join us for stitching, learning and fellowship. For more information, please contact us at lowcountrychapter@egacarolinas.org.

SPORTS/GAMES

Inaugural Friends of Caroline Clay Shoot Friday, Oct. 4, Turkey Hill Plantation, Ridgeland. Details are being finalized. Presenting sponsorships available at $2,500 and $5,000. Station sponsors – up to 12 – start at $500. Sponsored 4-person teams $1,000. Contact Keriann for details or to reserve your spot at keriann@fochospice.org or 843-525-6257. Proceeds benefit Friends of Caroline Hospice.

ACBL Duplicate Bridge Club 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., Tuesdays, Carteret St. Events will be held weekly. Contact Director and Club Manager Susan DeFoe at 843-597-2541 for location.

Bridge Club 11 a.m., Wednesdays, Beaufort Branch Library, beginning September 18. The first session is for beginners new to the game, and following sessions will provide some instruction and we will learn as we play. Join us if you want to learn a new game, practice your skills, or need more players. Call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-255-6458 for more information.

Beaufort Masters Swim Team

6 to 7 a.m., Monday through Friday, Wardle Family Port Royal YMCA. Coached practices. Ages 18 & older, all skill & speed levels, no prior swim team experience needed. Visit lowcountryswimming.com for more information.

Naval Hospital completes security assessment

Naval Hospital Beaufort

Naval Support Facility (NSF) Beaufort completed a week-long assessment which is the beginning of Commander Navy Installation Command’s (CNIC) 3-year process of certifying a Security Department.

The assessment begins with an in-depth program review of the departments three core capability programs and their 17 readiness programs. The assessment culminated with an Integrated Training Event which consisted of an active shoot-

er event on the installation. During the event, NSF Beaufort’s Security Department successfully integrated assets and personnel from Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), the Beaufort/ Port Royal Fire Department, and Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort’s Provost Marshall’s Office military working dog section. These responding agencies are instrumental in the Security Department’s response to an active shooter event by providing additional manpower and resources.

From the use of Military Working Dogs to clear vital areas from secondary threats to the formation of a rescue task force to treat the wounded role players and simulate the transport of the injured role players to a local medical facility to the establishment of a unified command post to coordinate and direct the responding forces. This teamwork ensured a successful integrated training exercise and significantly contributed to the operational score, which resulted in the Securi-

ty Department receiving an overall passing score of 91% With Beaufort County and the nation moving toward the Whole Community Approach to major incidents concept, the training gained by working with local civilian agencies is invaluable. NSF Beaufort has pledged to continue to train with its partners in future events throughout the year, building on a solid foundation, which will enhance interoperability between NSF Beaufort and its partnered military and civilian agencies.

What VA Home Loan borrowers need to know

According to the VA webpage “VA Housing Assistance,” found at https:// www.va.gov/housing-assistance/, VA housing assistance can help veterans, service members, and their surviving spouses buy a home or refinance a loan. The VA also offers benefits and services to help you build, improve, or keep your current home.

At the VA Housing Assistance webpage, veterans, service members, and their surviving spouses can find out how to:

Get help if you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Get VA home loan benefits. Get veterans housing assistance grants.

Get other VA benefits and services, including Disability Compensation, Pension Benefits, Veterans Readiness and Employment Benefits, and VA life insurance.

The VA Housing Assistance webpage also provides information about:

• Appraisers and staff appraisal reviewers (SARs): VA fee appraisers determine a property's reasonable or market value for VA home loan guaranty purposes.

The VA webpage titled “VA Home Loans Appraisers/Staff Appraisal Reviewer” is at https://bit.ly/4ehgRrM.

• Lenders: Lenders are persons or entities (private sector or government) that originate, hold, service, fund, buy, sell, or otherwise transfer a loan guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The VA webpage, titled “VA Home Loans Lenders Page,” is at https://bit.ly/4d3xfLn.

• Real estate professionals: Real estate professionals are a vital resource for educating Veterans and Active-duty Service members about VA

home loans and connecting them to them. The VA webpage titled “Real Estate Professionals VA Home Loan Tool Kit” is at https://bit. ly/4d3mvMS.

• Servicers (Mortgage companies) of VA loans: See the VA webpage “Servicers of VA Loans” at https://bit. ly/3TqoeF7

Veterans Home Loans are underutilized

Only about 14 percent of veterans nationally utilize VA home loans, and many veterans and their surviving spouses are unaware of the exceptional VA Housing Assistance, one of the most valuable VA benefits. Many veterans have not discovered that a VA home loan can provide 100 percent financing and require no down payment.

VA loans reduce risk, assure the best mortgage rates

It's a lesser-known fact that the VA guarantees the lender (mortgage company/underwriter) 25 percent of the loan amount, significantly reducing the risk associated with lender loans to veterans. This assurance provides veterans with the best mortgage rates, which equals lower payments. They also benefit from the most favorable credit guidelines (credit score requirements, debt-to-income ratios, and down payment) and are not required to buy Private

Review past The Island News articles

In May of 2022, I wrote three well-received articles on VA Housing Assistance. Veterans, military members, and their families (including survivors) who are thinking about buying a home, refinancing a VA loan, or bankruptcy should review those articles and the VA webpages in those articles, which can be found in The Island News’ archives at https://www.yourislandnews.com under “military” and at: How to get VA Housing Assistance, some things you need to know (Article 1 of 3), May 11, 2022, https://bit.ly/3MXCwcc. How to get VA Housing Assistance, some things you need to know (Article 2 of 3), May 18 2022, https://bit.ly/3Tmu7mR. How to get VA Housing Assistance, some things you need to know (Article 2 of 3), May 25, 2022, https://bit.ly/3ZfUMFL.

VA-backed veterans home loans

According to the VA webpage titled “VA-Backed Veterans Home Loans,” found at https://bit.ly/3fcQqKm, VA direct and VA-backed Veterans' home loans can help veterans, service members, and their survivors buy, build, improve, or refinance a home. They still need the required credit and income for the loan amount they want to borrow. However, a veteran home loan may offer better terms than a traditional loan from a private bank, mortgage company, or credit union.

Recent important real estate industry changes Veterans, military members, and their surviving spouses should read the VA News Story "What real estate industry changes mean for VA home loan borrowers,” dated August 29, 2024, by Tahmina Burks, at https://bit.ly/4gmG45E. The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) settled a class action

lawsuit that resulted in changes to buyer broker fees in real estate transactions. The settlement took effect on August 17 2024, and requires two significant changes to how buyers and sellers negotiate services from a buyer’s agent.

1. When agents list homes on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), they can no longer include the buyer’s agent’s compensation.

2. Buyers must enter into a written agreement with realtors before touring a home, and the agreement must include terms about their (Buyer’s) own agent’s fee.

Veterans using VA home loan benefits can still negotiate and may pay for their real estate professional’s commission (i.e., the buyer-broker fee) beginning Aug. 10, 2024, subject to certain safeguards. The VA encourages veterans to seek out the services of mortgage lending and real estate professionals “who have experience with the VA home loan program.” Veterans need to read the entire VA News Story at https:// bit.ly/4gmG45E to understand the full implications of these changes.

VA Home Loan Guaranty Buyer’s Guide Veterans, military members, and survivors should download and read the “VA Home Loan Guaranty Buyer’s Guide: found at https://bit.ly/3B2o0hm.

The bottom line

The VA Home Loan is often the best home loan product for veterans. Some VA home loan benefits include:

No down payment if the sales price is at or below the home’s

appraised value (the value set for the home after an expert review of the property). No loan limit with full entitlement if you can afford the loan. VA will back loans in all areas of the country, regardless of home price.

Competitive terms and interest rates from private banks, mortgage lenders, or credit unions. No need for private mortgage insurance (PMI) or mortgage insurance premiums (MIP). PMI is a type of insurance that protects the lender if the borrower is unable to pay the mortgage. It’s usually required on conventional loans if the down payment is less than 20% of the total mortgage amount. MIP is what the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) requires borrowers to pay to self-insure an FHA loan against future loss. Not having to pay PMI could save a borrower on their monthly mortgage payment. Fewer closing costs may be paid by the seller, lender, or any other party. No penalty fee for paying off the loan early.

Access to VA loan staff who can answer questions by mail or phone at 1-877-827-3702 (Contact information is online at https://bit.ly/3IjV6ca).

Continued next week.

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 author of the award-winning book Blades of Thunder and a contributing freelance writer with The Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164

LARRY DANDRIDGE

Naval Support Facility (NSF) Beaufort recently completed a week-long assessment which is the beginning of Commander Navy Installation Command’s (CNIC) 3-year process of certifying a Security Department. Lindsay Schreiber/Naval Hospital Beaufort

ATTORNEY

Christopher J. Geier

Attorney at Law, LLC

Criminal Defense & Civil Litigation

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

AUDIOLOGY & HEARING

Beaufort Audiology & Hearing Care

Monica Wiser, M.A. CCC-A Licensed Audiologist

38 Professional Village West, Lady's Island monica@beauforthearing.com www.beauforthearing.com | 843-521-3007

Hear the Beauty that Surrounds You

The Beaufort Sound Hearing and Balance Center

Dr. Larry Bridge, AU.D./CCC-A 206 Sea Island Parkway, Suite 31, Beaufort thebeaufortsound@gmail.com www.thebeaufortsound.com | 843-522-0655

Our introductory sessions on the Catholic faith are now starting, and you are invited!

The gatherings are on Wednesday evenings in our social hall from 6:30 to 8:30, with free childcare.

Each evening begins with dinner, followed by a presentation by our pastor, who teaches in an creative and down-to-earth way.

There is no

or expectation to become Catholic. We love Jesus and we just want to share about him to all who are interested!

Why not come to a session and see what it’s like?

For more details, please visit our webpage below or reach out to us, we are happy to help!

CLASSIFIEDS & GAMES

THURSDAY’S CARTOON

ANNOUNCEMENTS

DONATE YOUR CAR TO KIDS. Your donation helps fund the search for missing children. Accepting Trucks, Motorcycles & RV’s , too! Fast Free Pickup – Running or Not – 24 Hour Response – Maximum Tax Donation –Call (888) 515-3810

Replace your roof with the best looking and longest lasting material – steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off installation + Additional 10% off install (for military, health workers & 1st responders.) Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-855-900-1261

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DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400 plus procedures. Real dental insurance – NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-855-397-7030 www.dental50plus.com/60 #6258

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-877-852-0368

AUCTIONS

ADVERTISE YOUR AUCTION in 80 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25word classified ad will reach more than 1 5 million readers. Call Randall Savely at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 803750-9561

BOAT FOR SALE

1969 Mackenzie Cuttyhunk Bass Boat. User manual, maintenance history, and trailer included. Low hours on the motor. Wonderful project boat. Price negotiable. Call 843-707-3683 or 843-521-1097

HELP WANTED – DRIVERS

ADVERTISE YOUR DRIVER JOBS in 80 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25-word classified ad will reach more than 1 5 million readers. Call Randall Savely at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 803-750-9561

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE

Prepare for power outages with Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect(TM) standby generators – the most powerful home standby generators available. Industry-leading comprehensive warranty of 7 years ($849 value.) Proudly made in the U.S.A. Call Briggs & Stratton 1-855212-3281

Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-844-775-0366 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move. Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day. For a limited time, waving ALL installation costs! (Additional terms apply. Subject to change and vary by dealer. Offer ends 9/30/24.) Call 1-877-582-0113

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. Plus 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-875-2449

TELEVISION & INTERNET SERVICES

DIRECTV OVER INTERNET – Get your favorite live TV, sports and local channels. 99% signal reliability! CHOICE Package, $84 99/mo for 12 months. HBO Max and Premium Channels included for 3 mos (w/CHOICE Package or higher.) No annual contract, no hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-855-237-9741

DIRECTV- All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Directv and get your first three months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84 99/mo. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-844-624-1107

Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 On-Demand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-877-542-0759

VACATION RENTALS

ADVERTISE YOUR VACATION PROPERTY FOR RENT OR SALE to more than 1 5 million S.C. newspaper readers. Your 25-word classified ad will appear in 80 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Call Randall Savely at the South Carolina Newspaper Network, 803-750-9561

YOUR AD HERE

Looking to advertise your business, announce a yard sale, or share other classifieds? Contact Amanda Hanna today at amanda@lcweekly.com to secure your spot and get your ad featured in our upcoming issue!