June 15 edition

Ace is the place for all your Father’s Day gifts!

PI’s 4th Battalion set to deactivate Thursday

From staff reports

The deactivation ceremony for 4th Recruit Training Battalion will be held at 9 a.m., Thursday, June 15 aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island at the Peatross Parade Field.

The event is free and open to the public.

Since 1949 and until recently, Parris Island has served as the sole point of entry into the Marine Corps for all enlisted female Ma-

rines. Since that time, female Marines have trained under multiple guidons, with 4th Recruit Training Battalion transforming Marines since 1986.

Male recruits began training within 4th Battalion in 2020. Today, recruit training standardization makes an all-female training battalion un-

necessary, as all recruits have been training in gender-integrated companies since 2022

The Marine Corps will realign personnel between the service’s two recruit training locations – MCRD Parris Island and MCRD San Diego. MCRD San Diego is scheduled to train approx-

imately half of the female Marine population by fiscal year 2024 “On 1 November 1986, 4th Recruit Training Battalion was established as the Corps’ only unit through which women could earn the title of U. S. Marine,” Brig. Gen. Walker M. Field,

Commanding General of MCRD Parris Island and the Eastern Recruiting Region said in May. “Since then, those Marines have transformed thousands of young women, and since 2021 men, through rigorous basic training and our Corps’ cherished legacy, preparing them to win our nation’s battles. On 15 June 2023, we will bid

Judge denies injunction against hotel, parking garage

From staff reports

In a ruling on Thursday, June 8, Circuit Court Judge R. Scott Sprouse denied a request by plaintiffs West Street Farms, LLC and Mix Farms, LLC to overturn approvals granted by the City of Beaufort to 303 Associates, LLC for a new downtown hotel, apartments, and a parking garage. The plaintiffs, embodied by real estate developer Graham Trask, were represented by attorney W. Andrew Gowder, Jr., of Charleston-based law firm Austen & Gowder, and were unsuccessful in attempting to overturn a longstanding approval granted by the City’s citizen-led Historic Review Board.

SEE GARAGE PAGE A9

A world turned upside-down

Tom Lamprecht picking up pieces after learning his life was a lie

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

It has been almost two weeks since Tom Lamprecht’s world imploded when he found out that his wife of longer than three years was a stranger to him and their marriage was based on lies.

“I feel like my wife has died,” Lamprecht said the day after his wife, Cindy Lamprecht, left. “The

Argument at party leads to shooting death

By Mike McCombs

The Island News

person that I have loved and supported for years is gone.”

She spent three years inspiring people through the messages that she would write on the large chalkboard that was erected in her front yard.

Cindy Lamprecht

Cindy, also known as the Beaufort Chalkboard Lady, left her home on

Friday, June 2, after she was made aware of allegations against her claiming that she had been soliciting donations for various charities under the guise of having a 501(c)(3), when she did not. She has also been accused of collecting donations and pocketing them instead of delivering them to the charities and causes they were

SEE PIECES PAGE A8

VOICES

Anne Christensen Pollitzer: Another opinion aside from the opposition.

PAGE B7

An argument between two men at a party at a Boundary Street hotel Friday night, June 10, resulted in the shooting death of 24-year-old Jaquavious Bakari Washington of Hardeeville, according to the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office.

An autopsy was performed Monday. City of Beaufort Police are still searching for the shooter.

At approximately 11:05 p.m., Friday, officers responded to a shooting incident at the Quality Inn At Town Center at 2001 Boundary Street, where a party was being held when an argument ensued

SEE PARTY PAGE A4

Tom Lamprecht sits for a portrait on the front stairs of his home at 290 Parris Island Gateway on June 13, 2023, in Beaufort.

Tom’s wife, Cindy Lamprecht, also known as the Beaufort Chalkboard Lady, left on Friday, June 2, after allegations that she was stealing funds that she solicited as donations under the guise of having a 501(c)(3) surfaced. By Delayna Earley/The Island News

Clark Morse snapped a photo of this Osprey family while walking over the Woods Memorial Bridge. 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

VETERAN OF THE WEEK TODD MCCOWAN

Beaufort’s Todd McCowan, 34, joined the United States Navy in Indianapolis, Ind., in 2007. After boot camp at Great Lakes, Ill., he trained as a Hospital Corpsman. His first duty station was at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Washington, D.C., (in Bethesda) where he worked in Labor/Delivery and Hematology.

Todd McCowan

Thereafter he transferred to Naval Hospital Beaufort where

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Thank you for a sometimes thankless job

For over 30 years the dedicated residents of Dataw Island have been picking up trash on a 6-mile stretch of St. Helena Island. Each year these teams remove about 500 bags of trash from along the road side plus lots of larger debris. There are currently about four dozen volunteers cleaning up Sea Island Parkway for residents and thousands of yearly visitors to enjoy their trip to town or the beaches.

There is really no way to properly thank these volunteers for battling increased beach traffic, humidity, bugs, weeds and mowers. One can only imagine what the roadway would look like without their dedicated effort.

Thank you Dataw Island for caring.

– Pat Harvey-Palmer, Dulamo – St. Helena Island

NEWS BRIEFS

Beaufort Tea Party meeting set for Monday

Mitch Prosser of the Palmetto Family Council, an organization instrumental in helping to pass the Heartbeat Bill in South Carolina, will be the guest when the Beaufort Tea Party holds its monthly meeting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Monday, June 19 at AMVETS Post 70 at 1831 Ribaut Road in Port Royal.

City

offices to close

Monday for Juneteenth

City of Beaufort offices will be closed on Monday, June 19, in honor of Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.

ON THIS DATE

June 15

ISLAND NEWS PUBLISHING,

LLC

PUBLISHERS

Jeff & Margaret Evans

FOUNDING PUBLISHERS

Elizabeth Harding Newberry Kim Harding

EDITORIAL/DESIGN

Editor-in-Chief Mike McCombs theislandnews@ gmail.com

Art Director Hope Falls ads.theislandnews@ gmail.com

Assistant Editor Delayna Earley delayna. theislandnews@ gmail.com

Sports Editor Justin Jarrett LowcoSports@ gmail.com

he worked until separation in 2013. He then worked at Beaufort Memorial Hospital before using the GI-Bill at TCL and Park University (aboard MCAS Beaufort) to complete a BS degree in Information Technology. Since 2018 he has worked with the Marine Corps Community Services at Parris Island, MCAS Beaufort and Laurel Bay as a

civil service IT specialist. For 10 years, he’s been a member of the Sons of Beaufort Masonic Lodge and is now in its top position as Worshipful Master.

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

Winning the battle, losing the war

Our home is located in Dulamo subdivision, which borders Pine Island/St. Helenaville. We have lived here for 33 years. As past president of our HOA for nearly 20 years, Dulamo and Pine Island have had a great relationship. We’d like to see that relationship continue.

Dulamo residents will be the ones who are impacted the most with the proposed development.

One fact is crystal clear, that the Coastal Conservation League and uninformed Beaufort County citizens may not realize that the owner and developer WILL build. To that end, it seems logical that we’d prefer 65 homes and a golf course built rather than 166 homes built.

The Coastal Conservation League and vocal opponents to the development would have won the battle but lost the war.

– Scott and Dawn Shipsey, Dulamo – St. Helena Island

Trash pickup and recycling that is normally scheduled for Mondays will not be interrupted. The City of Beaufort wishes its residents, businesses, and visitors a very happy holiday weekend.

LWV hosting Medicaid help sessions

League of Women Voters Beaufort volunteers are hosting drop-in Medicaid help sessions from 2 to 4 p.m., on Wednesdays, June 21 and June 28 at St. Helena Branch Library at 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island.

Assistance is available with the Medicaid renewal and enrollment process. Help is free with no appointment necessary. Information

1943: Naval Air Station Beaufort is commissioned for advanced training operations of anti-submarine patrols during World War II.

1976: Joe Frazier loses to George Foreman by TKO in an NABF heavyweight title fight in Hempstead, New York. It would be Frazier’s last fight for more than 5 years.

June 18

2020: Col. Karl R. Arborgast takes command of MCAS Beaufort from Col. Timothy P. Miller.

PAL PETS OF THE WEEK

Cat of the Week: Karambit arrived at our adoption center with her two young kittens, all in a dire state. They were covered in fleas, emaciated, and losing hope. Since that first day, she has shown our staff that she is a fighter. She is an incredible mother and has become a surrogate mom to many more kittens. Karambit is 7 years old, spayed, up to date on vaccines, and microchipped.

June 19

is available on the end of automatic renewals (Medicaid unwinding) and on Medicaid expansion efforts in the state. St. Helena Branch Library.

Malkin featured speaker at June Indivisible Beaufort meeting

Josh Malkin, Legal Fellow and Legislative Advocate at the ACLU, will be the featured speaker when Indivisible Beaufort holds its June meeting at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 24 at the Downtown Beaufort Library at 311 Scott Street. The meeting is free and open to the public.

– Compiled from staff reports

2020: Brig. Gen. Julie Nethercot takes command of MCRD Parris Island from Maj. Gen. James Glynn.

June 21

2020: About 400 people turn out for a silent March For Justice beginning and ending at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park and organized by retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Harold “Mitch” Mitchell.” The event was meant to call attention to recent killings of black citizens across the nation, including George Floyd by the police in Minneapolis.

– Compiled by Mike McCombs

SALES/BUSINESS

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

Accounting April Ackerman april@ aandbbookkeeping. com

Billing questions only.

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

DEADLINE

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

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters to the Editor should consist of fewer than 275 words and be emailed with a name and contact information to TheIslandNews@gmail.com

DISCLAIMER

Dog of the Week: Yoshi is a goofy ball of energy! He loves to spend his time outdoors and playing with friends. He is a very smart dog who would make a great sidekick to any family. He is friendly with other dogs and cats. Yoshi is 8 months old, neutered, up to date on vaccines, and microchipped.

If you are interested in adopting Karambit, Yoshi or any of our other pets, call our adoption center at 843-645-1725 or email us at info@ palmettoanimalleague. org to set up an appointment.

All content of The Island News, including articles, photos, editorial content, letters, art and advertisements, are copyrighted by The Island News and Island News Publishing, LLC, 2022, all rights reserved. The Island News encourages reader submissions via email to theislandnews@gmail.com. All content submitted is considered approved for publication by the owner unless otherwise stated. The Island News is designed to inform and entertain readers and all efforts for accuracy are made. Guest columns do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The Island News, its publisher or editors. Content published from Care Magazine® is intended as a reference and options source only, not as a guide to self-treatment or substitute for profession medical advice. It is provided for educational purpose only. Readers assume full responsibility for how this information is used. The Island News reserves the right to refuse to sell advertising space, or to publish information, for any business or activity the newspaper deems inappropriate for the publication.

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

LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN

Sounds like a broken record, but really, change is hard

BEAUFORT

People just don’t like change.

There’s that phrase again. This time it came in an interesting report from The Beaufort Gazette about changes coming to Fripp Island where a new management regime is in place.

This particular phrase was used by a Fripp Island property owner expressing his thoughts about the new management company’s plans to change the way renters on the island have access to amenities.

The lawyer representing property owners concerned about the new changes expanded the quote, making the report even more intriguing: “There are these little communities throughout South Carolina and they’re little kingdoms. They each have their own internal set of laws, covenants restrictions and declarations … People are trying to figure out what are the rules.”

At almost any given time, on any given subject, you can find opposition to some specific change. Isn’t it human nature, especially for individuals who care about the community they live in?

And to carry that level of care a step further, many opt to try and control that change … to figure out what are the rules.

There’s an equally old saying, if you don’t like the rules

(aka laws or regulations), change them, implying that you should try to figure out the system then change it to impact the change you want to see happen.

No better case could be found, at least locally, than the Pine Island development story which continues to wind its way through the county government channels. The latest move — to attempt to remove the 500 acres from the newly revised St. Helena Cultural Protection Overlay District so that the owner can build the type of exclusive golfing resort he wants.

The neighbors concerned about what that development would mean to their largely rural community plus the Gullah culture which has existed there for generations have studied those rules, joined together in protest, and are working hard to protect an environment already under attack by those who want to live there or get rich by building homes for those who want to live there.

Play by the rules has

been the rallying cry of the Historic Beaufort Foundation and downtown property owner Graham Trask in their fight against 303 Associates’ plans for a parking garage and three-story hotel with a roof-top bar. That opposition continues as a Circuit Court judge last week denied an injuction requested by Trask to stop the projects.

In this case, the city officials say they DID “play by the rules.” Trask and HBF say they’re not. The future of that parking garage and new hotel remains to be determined in a courtroom, which is probably the future of the Pine Island development.

In both cases, you have to wonder how long the individuals involved will continue their fight. All sides — those concerned about the future of Pine Island, St. Helena Island and the Gullah culture and the future of Beaufort’s downtown historic character as well as those who have the plans for change — say they’re in this for the long-haul.

A lot of those unhappy with change will choose to sit on their hands — while still complaining — but are weary of the changes they see and feel like there’s “no fighting city hall.” Some will move away but there certainly seems others are eager to move in. Seems like many

folks who’ve “been here” for awhile have largely developed an attitude of wait-and-see. Kinda like the tides, change is gonna keep coming, good and bad, in and out.

Boundary Street comings and goings

BEAUFORT – Traffic planners for the county, city of Beaufort and Port Royal may be busy “re-imagining Ribaut Road” but some folks are still wondering what’s going on over on Boundary.

The bulldozers made quick work this weekend of 2266 Boundary, former home of the county engineering department and United Way of the Lowcountry plus an assortment of small businesses. The two-story structure, believed to be at least 30 years old, was cleared to make way for an expansion of the Boundary Street Redevelop-

ment project open space.

Also making quick work of a wooded parcel across the street at 2233 Boundary Street, bulldozers began site work for the proposed Pintail Pointe Apartment complex next to the new SpringHill Suites.

Design approval of the 84-apartment project was granted by the city planning department in December, without review by the Development Review Board since it’s within the Boundary Street Redevelopment District, just like the Chipotle with its questionable drivethrough window.

The city’s new website which features updates on building projects reports building permits for the apartments were issued last month.

It’s not clear whether the property got an archaeological review before the bulldoz-

ers started clearing since the 4.3 acres is believed to be an extension of the Civil War earthen works Battery Saxton across Boundary Street.

It’s also unclear how the proposed three-building apartment complex is going to impact the proposed Boundary Street parallel road, a $4 million project which is part of the city’s 2024 Capital Improvements Project list.

Could it be … ???

BEAUFORT – Speaking of permits for new development.

It appears the needed building permit for the new Harris Teeter on Lady’s Island MAY be issued within the week. The permit has been delayed because of unknown items the city staff needed to have.

Finally … the sign is up, the construction material looks like it’s on-hand, the trees have been cleared for the past year … shoppers have been saving their coupons.

Lolita Huckaby Watson is a community volunteer and newspaper columnist. In her former role as a reporter with The Beaufort Gazette, The Savannah Morning News, Bluffton Today and Beaufort Today, she prided herself in trying to stay neutral and unbiased. As a columnist, these are her opinions. Her goal is to be factual but opinionated, based on her own observations. Feel free to contact her at bftbay@gmail.com

ADVANCED CANCER CARE CLOSE TO HOME

Beaufort Memorial, together with MUSC Health, is your connection to state-of-the-art cancer care.

At our Keyserling Cancer Center in Beaufort and New River Cancer Center in Okatie, our oncology team combines compassion and support with leading edge radiation oncology, chemotherapy and immunology services, targeted and hormone therapies, as well as surgical consultations—all delivered under one roof and close to the ones you love.

In addition, our Cancer Centers offer:

• A team of dedicated oncology nurse navigators who guide you through the journey—diagnosis through survivorship

• Core and ancillary services, like lab, imaging, and breast health, all in the same building

• Consultations with MUSC subspecialists experienced in treating treating rare or complex cancers

• Genetic counseling and high risk assessments

• Access to promising clinical trials

• A team approach to developing survivorship care plans

LOLITA HUCKABY

Bulldozers made quick work of a wooded parcel at 2233 Boundary Street for the proposed 84-unit Pintail Pointe Apartment complex next to the new SpringHill Suites hotel. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Too much of a good thing

Now SC’s fastest-growing county, Jasper close to tapping the brakes on development

By Tony Kukulich

The Post and Courier RIDGELAND — Wedged between Beaufort County and Chatham County, Georgia, Jasper County is one of the growth hotspots in the state and, surprisingly, the country.

Responding to expanding growth pressure, Jasper County Council has taken steps to approve a nine-month moratorium on development in an environmentally and culturally rich portion of the county, an area referred to as the Euhaw Broad River Planning Area.

“This puts a pause on major subdivisions and major land development permits,” said David Tedder, attorney for the county, during the June 5 council meeting. “It does not affect single-family homes or minor subdivisions (with) less than four homes.”

The moratorium, according to County Administrator Andrew Fulghum, will give the county time to assess the appropriateness of its zoning and density ordinances given current development demands. The phrase “pumping the brakes” on development is used frequently when the moratorium is discussed.

“They need to update the zoning code and think about how they want to deal with (growth) proactively rather than reactively responding to this tidal wave of rezonings and permits,” Kate Schaefer, director of land protection for the Open Land Trust, told The Post and Courier.

Conceived by a citizens group, the moratorium has already received the first two of three approvals needed to go into effect.

A final vote could come in a few weeks.

How Jasper has grown Jasper County’s accelerating population and housing growth has led to the moratorium.

From 2020 to 2022, Jasper was South Carolina’s fastest-growing county, according to U.S. Census data. With its population rising by 11 percent, Jasper County topped Horry County, anchored by popular tourist spot Myrtle Beach, as the state’s fastest-growing.

Jasper County grew twice the rate of neighboring Beaufort County, the home to Hilton Head Island, and nearly four times faster than the state average in that time.

Jasper County’s population has increased by nearly one-third since 2010 reaching more than 32,000.

Growth in the county on South Carolina’s southern tip isn’t only notable within the state.

Jasper County posted the nation’s third-largest increase in housing supply, expanding by more than 13 percent from 2020 to 2022. More than 1,700 housing units were added in the county

Party from page A1

between two of the attendees.

According to witnesses, the suspect threatened to shoot the victim several times. The victim got in his

15–21, 2023

during the two-year period.

“I think what the county has correctly come to terms with is that development pressure is more than knocking at the door,” Schaefer said. “It’s here.”

Growth has been driven largely by retirees coming to the area, Fulghum said.

Development pressure started decades ago on Hilton Head Island has continued its western expansion since then. The wave of growth has since passed through the Bluffton and Okatie areas and will continue west along Highway 278 until it reaches Interstate 95.

“We’re seeing a variety of different projects, mainly to support this influx of retirees coming in.” Fulghum said.

A growing supply of affordable housing and a convenient location add to the draw of Jasper County. There, the median price of an

What’s in the package?

If approved, the building moratorium would halt development of commercial projects and largescale residential projects of four or more homes in the Euhaw Broad River Planning Area.

The Euhaw Broad River Planning Area consists of two parts. The northern segment is the Euhaw Cultural Heritage District, which boasts a number of significant sites, including the tomb of Declaration of Independence signer Thomas Heyward Jr., the Civil War battleground Honey Hill, Knowles Island and several area churches.

The 54,000-acre Okeetee Club hunting preserve represents the southern portion of the planning area.

Combined, the two segments cover approximately one-quarter of the 660-square mile county.

This isn’t the first time that Jasper County has paused to catch its breath.

Land-use planning 2.0

In 2005, a similar moratorium was enacted that applied to all of the county’s unincorporated areas.

Initially approved for a sixmonth term, it was renewed several times until it was finally lifted after two years.

Pausing the review and approval of development requests, which were flooding the county at the time, allowed county staff the opportunity to evaluate and solve deficiencies in its zoning ordinances.

“We had the zoning, but it was zoning in name only,” Fulghum said. “It didn’t have any teeth to it. You could really develop anything you wanted anywhere.”

by Jasper County at the same time similarly encouraged land-use principles that directed growth and upzoning to the municipalities, while allowing the county to focus on rural preservation.

“That was land-use planning

1.0,” Schaefer said. “Now we’re at a need for land-use planning 2.0.”

Tickton Hall

If there’s one project that epitomizes the development pressure in Jasper County, it’s the proposed Tickton Hall project.

In September 2022, Hilton Head-based developer Robert Graves requested that the Town of Ridgeland annex and rezone 1,500 acres of unincorporated Jasper County land known as Tickton Hall, which was once part of the 6,000-acre Chelsea Plantation.

His plan called for the construction of 4,800 homes, 75 docks on the nearly pristine Euhaw Creek and 480,000-square feet of commercial construction along the heavily traveled S.C. Highway 462. The land is currently zone for rural preservation, which allows one home per acre.

Organizations including Keep Chelsea Rural, the Open Land Trust and the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League pushed back against the plan, saying it would destroy the area’s rural character, damage natural resources and drive up taxes.

Public opposition to Ridgeland’s annexation was seemingly effective. The town hasn’t taken the matter up since a public meeting was held in November 2022. But earlier this year, officials told The Post and Courier that negotiations between the town and the developer were ongoing.

municipalities,” Fulghum said.

Just days after the council gave initial approval to the moratorium in May, Fulghum asked that Hardeeville and Ridgeland cooperate with the purpose of the moratorium by not entertaining annexation requests during its term. Additionally, he asked that the municipalities participate with the county’s planning efforts while the moratorium is in place.

The Hardeeville City Council took up the county moratorium during its June 1 meeting, while Ridgeland Town Manager Dennis Averkin said the town would take the county’s requests under advisement.

“I applaud no developing in those environmentally sensitive areas,” Hardeeville Mayor Harry Williams said during the June 1 City Council meeting.

Williams then went on to reference two recent projects the county had approved over the objections of the city. He suggested the county should pause a rezoning initiative near Interstate 95 and a 378-unit apartment project on U.S. Highway 278 in return for the city’s support of the county moratorium.

“If we’re going to support a moratorium, let’s stop some of those things that the city has objected to before they get started,” Williams said.

He directed city staff to draft a letter for presentation and discussion during the June 15 City Council meeting.

The Tickton Hall property resides within the Euhaw Broad River Planning Area, and annexation of that property by Ridgeland, even during the term of the moratorium, is still a possibility.

“County Council has no authority over the municipalities with regard to future annexation,” Fulghum said.

What to expect ahead

So far, opposition to the moratorium has been almost nonexistent. In a news release, Danny Lucas, Jasper County’s director of the Development Services Division, suggested that might be due to the fact that many developers are located out of state and may not aware of the initiative.

There were no comments made during the county’s June 5 public hearing.

owner-occupied home was under $183,000 compared to $328,500 in Beaufort County according to U.S. census data from 2017 to 2021.

Residents in southern Jasper County have easy access to Hilton Head, Bluffton, Beaufort and Port Royal. Often, Fulghum said, it can be easier to reach locations in Beaufort County from Jasper County. Plus, residents are often less the 20 minutes from Interstate 95.

“I think people are realizing the attractiveness of the area because of the new housing stock going up,” he said. “Also, it’s the convenience to not only enjoy Jasper, but all of Beaufort County. It’s an afternoon trip to Savannah, a day trip to Charleston, a day trip to Aiken. It’s a great spot to be in geographically.”

vehicle and left the hotel, striking a pedestrian. The pedestrian suffered minor injuries and refused medical treatment.

According to police, the suspect then started shooting at the victim’s car. Several rounds hit the vehicle, and it became stuck on an island in the parking lot.

During that period, every land parcel in unincorporated county was rezoned, an effort that Fulghum called “Herculean.”

The moratorium also had the effect of driving development to the municipalities simply because applications were not being considered by the county. Developers had nowhere else to go. In that way, the moratorium helped prevent urban sprawl during a time of high growth.

“The reason that strategy made sense was to keep Jasper rural,” Fulghum said. “You can still see bumper stickers on cars with that theme.”

The process was a success in Fulghum’s estimation, and he sees the current effort a continuation of the process that started 19 years ago.

An urban growth study initiated

The victim got out of the vehicle and ran, the suspect followed the victim and continued to shoot at him.

The victim succumbed to his injuries and the suspect fled on foot.

Officers from multiple jurisdictions responded and immediately secured the area.

“We feel strongly that the onslaught of overdevelopment we are facing is diminishing our quality of life and threatening the area’s significant natural resources, historic and cultural heritage and rural character,” said Smittie Cooler as he proposed the moratorium to County Council on May 1.

Cooperation needed

The county’s moratorium applies only to unincorporated county land within the planning area. It does not apply to land that falls within the town of Ridgeland or the city of Hardeeville. Much of Ridgeland sits inside the Euhaw Broad River Planning Area.

“My hope is that this process not only helps us develop the appropriate zoning and densities, but also will help us open the lines of good communication with the

The suspect is known to the victim and witnesses provided additional information.

Justin Rakeem Parker of Port Royal has been identified by the City of Beaufort Police as a person of interest. Beaufort Police Deputy Chief Stephenie Price was careful to refer to Parker as

“I think the reason that we have not heard from (developers) is because of the legwork that was done by the citizens group to a great extent,” said Jasper County resident Milton Wood. “Also, the council members have done a great job of studying the issues, and they were all united, all five of them and the staff.”

A decision on when a final vote will take place has not yet been made public.

“The council has taken a proactive approach to this,” said Jasper County Council Chairman L. Martin Sauls IV during a May meeting. “We’re trying to do what’s right and set an example for others to follow.”

From Beaufort to Bluffton and Hilton Head, The Post and Courier covers news impacting your community. Subscribe for more local coverage at postandcourier.com/IslandNews

a “person of interest” and not a suspect.

According to Price, as of Tuesday afternoon, police had not had contact with Parker but she said they had been contacted b an attorney representing him.

If you have any additional information on the incident or his whereabouts please

contact Sgt. Fritz at 843322-7913 or if you would like to stay Anonymous please contact the City of Beaufort TIP LINE at 843322-7938 and please reference case No. 23B24199.

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

Clouds gather over Boyd Creek in the Euhaw Broad River Planning Area in Ridgeland on May 31, 2023. In response to growing development pressure, the Jasper County Council recently gave preliminary approval of a nine-month moratorium on development within the planning area, which features an array of natural and cultural assets. Tony Kukulich/Post And Courier

The grave of Thomas Heyward Jr. is one of the locations identified as part of the Euhaw Cultural Heritage District in Ridgeland, seen May 29, 2023. Heyward was one of four signers of the Declaration of Independence from South Carolina. Tony Kukulich/Post And Courier

All in the Family

Father, daughter share passion for medicine

By Cindy Whitman

On any given fair-weather Sunday, you can find Eric Gearhart, a board-certified physician assistant at Beaufort Memorial Lady’s Island Internal Medicine, in his Lady’s Island backyard, manning his Big Green Egg.

Sometimes it’s his famous wings on the grill, and sometimes it’s hand-tossed pizza. But one thing you can always count on is that his patio will be overflowing with family, including his wife Angela, who recently retired as office manager for Bay Street Outfitters, and their daughter Ashley, a charge nurse at Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s medical/surgical and orthopedics unit.

“We like to hang out together on the weekends,” said Ashley, who is particularly looking forward to this Sunday’s Father’s Day celebration. “Dad and I are both so busy working during the week that it’s nice to get together to eat, chat and relax. In fact, I recently moved into a new place on Lady’s Island and now I’m even closer to them.”

“The weekends are like mini family vacations for us,” Eric chimed in. “The only thing missing is our son Paul, who lives in Los Angeles.”

The fact that this medical father and daughter duo are happy just to hang out when they aren’t working may have something to do with Eric’s Navy career. The son of a Navy veteran himself, Eric followed a similar path, joining the Navy at 18, becoming a hospital corpsman and traveling the seven seas before landing on Parris Island in 2002.

“When I got stationed at Parris Island, I knew I was home,” Eric said. “This was where I wanted to settle down and raise my family. When I retired from the Navy, I stayed right here and joined a family practice, before moving to Lady’s Is-

land Internal Medicine. Now I live and work right here on the island. Couldn’t be a more perfect life.”

Though his daughter most definitely shares her father’s love of medicine and patient care, Ashley did not inherit the wanderlust that led Eric to a career in the Navy. She’s a hometown girl through and through.

After graduating from Beaufort High School in 2014, Ashley chose to stay relatively close to home and headed to Clemson University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in nutrition and dietetics.

She says she always knew she wanted to go into science and medicine.

“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to become a physician assistant like my dad, or a nurse, or even a pharmacist or nutritionist, but it was going to be something in the health field,” she recalled. “And my dad really helped guide

me. He encouraged me to find my place. Best of all, he brought me to work with him. That was key.”

While in middle school, Ashley shadowed her dad at Parris Island and in high school she helped out in the office at the family practice Eric joined after retiring from the Navy. After graduating from Clemson in 2018, she decided to return to Beaufort and apply to nursing school at Technical College of the Lowcountry.

“It just felt like it was fate,” she said. “I was ready to come home. I wanted to find my place in the world right here.”

Ashley graduated from TCL with an associate degree in nursing in 2020, and went straight to work at Beaufort Memorial, serving as a nurse at the hospital’s Joint Replacement Center.

“I enjoy helping orthopedic patients get back on their feet and back to their

lives after surgery,” she said.

Julie Schott, Ashley’s supervisor at the hospital, remembers that the eager, hardworking young nurse came on board as an intern and quickly jumped into full-time work, while simultaneously earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Clemson.

“A lot of people put off getting the bachelor’s degree once they start working,” Julie explained. “They’re so busy working, they just don’t have the energy. But not Ashley. She is dedicated to learning. And to excellence on the job.”

That dedication paid off. In her first year at the hospital, she became a charge nurse.

“Charge nurses serve as a resource and offer guidance and mentorship to their co-workers who are providing direct patient care. They also assist with operations management on their par-

Juvenile charged after May shots fired incident at Burger King

From staff reports

A 16 year old has been charged in connection with a May 27 shooting incident at the Burger King on Boundary Street.

At 9:21 p.m., on May 27, City of Beaufort Police officers responded to a shots fired call at Burger King at 2434 Boundary Street. According to the police, the suspect entered the business, got into an argument with an employee, and intimidated the employees by displaying a gun.

The suspect exited the business and turned and fired three shots. Customers and staff were present, but no one was injured.

The 16-year-old suspect was identified, brought in for questioning, and subsequently confessed. The juvenile is being petitioned to Family Court for Discharging a Firearm at a Structure, Unlawful Carrying of a handgun, and Discharging a Firearm within City Limits.

ticular shift,” explained Julie. “Ashley just showed that leadership quality early on.”

Her supervisor isn’t the only person who gives glowing reviews when talking about Ashley. Her dear old dad is pretty darn proud of his daughter, too.

“Medicine is a career that offers so many opportunities, so many ways to go,” said Eric. “I’m very proud of the way Ashley kept exploring her career options until she found the path that was right for her.”

And while it’s unlikely the father/daughter medical duo will ever practice together, they have cared for each other’s patients from time to time.

“I’ve met a few patients at the Joint Replacement Center who saw my last name on my work badge and asked if we were related,” said Ashley. “They tell me they’re glad to have two Gearharts caring for them.”

Howard hosting transportation meeting

From staff reports

Council Member Alice Howard will host a community meeting for the residents of Shell Point on Thursday, June 15, at 6 p.m., at Shell Point Baptist Church, 871 Parris Island Gateway.

This meeting will focus on transportation improvements in the area and will provide an open forum for residents to express their concerns, share ideas, and actively participate in the decision-making

process regarding transportation enhancements within the Shell Point community.

Public Information Officer Deputy Chief Stephenie Price said police couldn’t say at this time who the gun involved in the incident belonged to.

Battalion

from page A1

farewell to 4th Battalion in a deactivation ceremony that concludes her glorious tenure, closing the final chapter of integrating recruit training. We are forever grateful to the Drill Instructors, staff, and legions of Marines who so proudly call 4th Battalion home.”

The Visitor’s Gate to the base will open at 7 a.m. and all vehicles will be subject to inspection. Marines and signage will direct all visitors to the Peatross Parade Field upon entry to the base.

The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. and should last approximately one hour.

Following the conclusion of the ceremony, transportation from Peatross Parade Field will be provided for all guests who would like to tour 4th Recruit Training Battalion.

Alice Howard

Representatives from Beaufort County Engineering will be present to listen to community members and gather valuable input. The meeting will cover various aspects of transportation improvements,

such as road enhancements, pedestrian safety measures, and any other topics of concern raised by the community. The insights gained from this meeting will aid Beaufort County Engineering in formulating a comprehensive transportation plan tailored to the needs of the Shell Point community. This gathering presents a unique opportunity for Shell Point residents to engage directly with

local officials and professionals involved in transportation planning and development. It is an occasion to voice opinions, discuss existing challenges, and propose innovative solutions that can contribute to the overall improvement of transportation infrastructure in the area.

For more information please email Council Member Howard at ahoward@bcgov.net, or call her at 843-986-7403.

For information contact Amanda Hanna 843-343-8483 or Amanda@LCWeekly.com

From 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., guests will have the opportunity to tour the barracks, participate in/observe a drill competition, and fellowship with current/former 4th Recruit Training Battalion staff.

For more information about this event, please contact Sgt. Kathryn Karamitros at 4thBN_DeactivationCeremony@usmc.mil or 843-228-2916.

Ashley Gearhart and her father, Eric Gearhart, both work at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Tony Kukulich/BMH.

John Mark Verdier House is a 2023 Blue Star Museum

HBF offers free admission to active military personnel and their families this summer

From staff reports

The Historic Beaufort Foundation’s John Mark Verdier House, built circa 1804, joins museums nationwide in the Blue Star Museums initiative, a program that provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and their families this summer.

“As a military community, es-

Pieces

from page A1

collected for.

Before that Friday, Tom knew nothing of his wife’s past.

A marriage built on lies

Tom and Cindy met through a dating app in late 2018. They were together for roughly six months before the two packed up their lives and moved to Beaufort, S.C. from Wisconsin.

In June 2019 they got married in a private ceremony at the Old Sheldon Church Ruins in Yemassee. Both had been married previously and they each had adult children.

At the time, Cindy told Tom that she had only been married once before meeting him.

“She said she wanted to get married because we were living together and she said that due to her Christian upbringing she didn’t want to live in sin any longer,” Tom said.

She claimed to have been married to her high school sweetheart for more than 30 years, which we know through marriage licenses to be false.

“She told me he was 400 lbs., disgusting and obese and that he beat her all the time,” Tom said of Cindy’s account of her ex-husband. “She gave me a hundred examples of how he would shove her down the basement stairs, broke her ankle, locking her in rooms and leaving her.”

According to Tom, Cindy told him that she fled from her home in Ohio to Wisconsin to live with her cousin to escape the abusive relationship.

Cindy even put on her marriage license to Tom that her marriage to him was her second marriage, so imagine Tom’s surprise when he discovered more than three years later that it was all a lie.

By Tom’s own account, their marriage was overall a very happy one.

“I won’t take that away from her,” Tom said about their marriage. “She treated me like gold.”

Tom said what others have voiced about Cindy, that you would not meet a kinder more charismatic person.

That is why in March 2020, Tom helped Cindy to build a chalkboard to put up in their front yard.

“I don’t think that she started this with bad intentions, I truly believe that she started the Beaufort Chalkboard to help people, and it actually did help a lot of people,” said Tom.

He recounted many times when members of the community came up to

pecially the Marine Corps, we find this initiative is especially important,” Historic Beaufort Foundation Executive Director Cynthia Jenkins said in a news release. “As a Blue Star Museum, the John Mark Verdier House is open free of charge for all active military and their families during the summer.”

The 2023 program began on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20, and ends on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4. Find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. Active-duty military receive free admission year-round to the Verdier House, Jenkins said.

their house to tell him and Cindy about how seeing the message of the day on the Beaufort Chalkboard made a difference in their day.

Tom said that he was never really involved with the chalkboard, despite Cindy calling him Mr. Chalkboard publicly.

“The chalkboard was her thing,” Tom said. “I did what I could to support her by taking photos with her and dressing up as Santa, but I didn’t know much about what she was doing other than that.”

Tom did recall her mentioning that she was collecting donations to buy baby formula in May 2022 but he never knew what came from it.

While Tom never saw the baby formula that she claimed to have purchased from a contact in Ohio with the donations that she collected, he did spend nearly every day after work going from store to store looking for formula to purchase as a way to help his wife with what he thought was her charitable work.

The not so ex-husband

The Island News previously reported that Cindy Lamprecht, born Cindy Linn Lambert, had been married five times, but family members and former friends have shared during interviews with The Island News that she has been married six times including her marriage to Tom.

Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and participating museums across America.

“We thank the 2023 Blue Star Museums who invite military personnel and their families to experience the many wonders they have to offer, whether it’s a glimpse into the past, an encounter with awe-inspiring art, or a moment of discovery,” said Maria Rosario Jackson, Ph.D., chair of the National Endowment for the Arts.

“The John Mark Verdier House Museum is helping to enrich the lives of military families and build meaningful connections between our nation’s military and their local community,” she said.

Blue Star Museums include children’s museums, art, science, and history museums, zoos, gardens, lighthouses, and more, and hail from all 50 states, District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The current list of participating museums will continue to develop over the summer as organizations are welcome to register to be a Blue Star Museum throughout the summer.

The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military — Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force, members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), DD Form 1173-1 ID card or the Next Generation Uniformed Services (Real) ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.

at least four separate accounts that Cindy allegedly opened in his name without him knowing.

Tom has not seen his wife since June 2.

The only brief interaction that he has had with her was by e-mail two days after she left.

In the e-mails she told him she is safe, and he responded by telling her that she needs to turn herself in to answer for the crimes that she has committed. (As of press time, Cindy Lamprecht faces no criminal charges)

Tom has filed a report with BCSO against her on behalf of himself and a close family member in hopes of recovering the almost $40,000 that she took from them.

had gone to high school together and reconnected years later.

By the time they reconnected, Cindy had been married four times, according to court documents and statements from her family.

The two got married upon her suggestion, according to Jones.

“She just kept saying that we weren’t getting any younger,” Jones said. “So eventually I said why not?”

The Island News had very little problem tracking down Cindy’s marriage license to Jones, but divorce decrees have not been so easily located.

“When I asked her if she planned to divorce Mike, she just said that she doesn’t need to get a divorce when she can just get remarried,” a sister, who wishes to remain unnamed in the article, said.

While this revelation was very difficult for Tom to learn, it may end up working out legally in his favor.

Beginning of the end

On Thursday, June 1, Tom Lamprecht got a phone call from his landlord saying that they were at least two months behind in rent.

Tom had no idea they were late on their rent at all, so he decided to act.

He called his wife, Cindy, and asked her why their rent had not been paid and she replied that she was on her way to the bank to get the money to pay it.

He told her to stay at home and he would go.

It was at this point that she said that there was no need to go to the bank because they were broke.

According to Tom, she said that she hadn’t worked for several months after losing her job and they had been living off his savings to survive.

“I had no idea we were financially ruined,” Tom said. “I will sometimes glace at the bank account, but I don’t track every dollar that gets spent.”

since they first met.

“I didn’t know what to do, I felt like my world was turned upside down,” Tom said. “How is someone supposed to react to finding out that your wife has been lying since she met you.”

Following this meeting, Tom first went to get his mother from her house and then called the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) to escort him to his home on Parris Island Gateway to confront his wife.

Tom said he requested the escort because he frankly didn’t know how the woman he married in 2019 was going to react to him knowing the truth about her past.

“I was scared that she would hurt herself and then try to say I had abused her,” Tom said, “Thankfully she didn’t, but I’m glad I had a witness.”

With his mother and BCSO, Tom confronted Cindy on their front porch.

“I told her that I knew everything and gave her the option, either I would gather my important things and leave, or she could.”

It was at this point that Cindy made the decision that she was going to leave.

Tom said that after she left, he didn’t know what to do or where to go, so he went to talk to the only person that might understand what he was going through, her best friend in Beaufort, Amber Hewitt.

“I know we will likely never see that money again,” Tom said. “At this point it isn’t as much about the money, I want her to pay for what she has done.”

He also mentioned wanting to start the process of seeking a restraining order against her and that he sat down with a BCSO investigator to tell his side of the story.

“I’m a fixer, I can’t stand just sitting around and waiting for things to happen,” said Tom.

The mornings are the hardest, but each day gets a little easier said Tom.

He spent much of the weekend moving her stuff out of the house and into his garage or donating it.

“I just can’t stand to look at her things,” said Tom.

Members of the community have reached out to him to check on him, and some have even stopped by with food hoping to help him get through this rough time.

“I don’t know many people in Beaufort, but they know me because of Cindy and The Beaufort Chalkboard,” said Tom.

Tom says he doesn’t want anything bad to happen to her, but he wants her to be held accountable for any crimes she has committed.

He encourages anyone who donated to The Beaufort Chalkboard to make a report to the BCSO, even if you think that your donation does not matter because it was small.

While Cindy was telling Tom the truth about fleeing from Ohio to Wisconsin in mid-2018, sources have alleged that she was not fleeing from an abusive husband but instead was fleeing from an open bench warrant that was issued for her arrest due to her failure to appear in court.

According to a marriage license obtained from Marion County, Ohio, Cindy married Michael Edwin Jones in September 2011. Jones said that they

Jones confirmed to The Island News that as far as he knows he is still married to Cindy Lamprecht, even though she married Tom Lamprecht in 2019.

This information has since been repeated by eight members of her family and friends and despite extensive searching, The Island News was not able to find a divorce decree confirming the dissolution of her marriage to Jones before she sought to marry Tom.

The following day, Tom got up and went to his job working with the Department of Transportation in S.C. and it was while he was at work that he received a call from a friend asking to meet him after work without Cindy.

After work, Tom met with his friend, and it was during this meeting that he was made aware of his wife’s true past – her many marriages, her felony convictions, the allegations against her and the litany of lies that she had told him

“I was running on autopilot,” Tom said about that evening. “Most of the night is just a blur, I just know that I ended up on [Amber’s] porch because I didn’t know where else to go.”

The long road forward

Tom has spent the past week contacting all his financial institutions to make sure that Cindy Lamprecht no longer has access to them, but since she left their home Tom has received notifications in the mail of

Reports can be made to Lt. Angela Crumpton in person at the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, by email to acrumpton@bcgov.net, or by phone at 843-255-3409.

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

Tom Lamprecht holds a copy of his marriage license with his wife Cindy Lamprecht. The two married in Beaufort, S.C. in June 2019. By Delayna Earley/The Island News

Cindy Lamprecht, at the time known as Cindy Jones, sits for a portrait with Mike Jones, her last husband in Ohio whom she married in 2011. Submitted photo

History revealed in restoration of Beaufort’s Verdier House front door frame

From staff reports

Layer by careful layer, 219 years of history surfaces in a most unlikely place – the area surrounding the front door of the historic John Mark Verdier House in downtown Beaufort.

The ongoing work by master carpenter and restoration craftsman Chad Bond of Charleston is helping Historic Beaufort Foundation learn more about the Verdier House, its premier property and public house museum.

“After the sensitive removal of layers of paint by conservation lab specialist and paint analyst Frances Ford, it was discovered that more than 219 years of weathering had resulted in the wear and loss of some architectural elements on the decorative pilasters and frieze,” said Lise Sundrla, assistant director at Historic Beaufort Foundation.

Ford is an adjunct professor and conservation lecturer at the College of Charleston and a graduate of Clemson University’s historic preservation program.

“As Chad has continued the removal of layers and decades of paint on the door surround, he is revealing the delicate and intricate craftsmanship on the decorative pilasters and frieze surrounding the front door of the house.

“This effort is even more amazing when you realize these extraordinary design elements were created 219 years ago by a craftsman not unlike Chad,” Sundrla said.

This restoration effort is possible thanks to the gracious support of Patricia and Colden Battey, Greg and Sarah Dyson, and Cheryl Steele in memory of her husband Roger Steele.

Between 1801 and 1805, John Mark Verdier built the house on Bay Street in Beaufort’s downtown. He was a successful merchant, owning more than 1,000 acres on Lady’s Island along the Coosaw River where he grew Sea Island cotton. His house features typical Beaufort Style architectural elements: It faces south, is built

on a high tabby foundation, has a two-story pedimented portico and low-pitched hip roof.

During this restoration process, Bond found the long-lost pattern on the two composite medallions at the top of the pilasters which frame the door — a floral motif typical of the Federal Period. Restoration is underway on the decorative architectural elements surrounding the front door of the John Mark Verdier House.

“There were many, many layers of paint obscuring its original design,” Bond said. “For example, on the sides of the upper brackets above the pilasters are some simple and beautiful bell flowers that adorn each side.

“These were a complete discovery as they were revived from a puddle of many layers of paint.

Throughout the restoration, the original crispness of detail was rediscovered. I’m very happy with how that turned out,” Bond said.

Historic Beaufort Foundation Executive Director Cynthia Jenkins said her favorite part of the door restoration frame restoration so far has been realizing the left and right sides are no longer identical. “I was surprised to see that the decorative details on the west side of the door (left side facing the house) were more deteriorated than the details on the east side,” she said.

“The reason is pretty simple – the worst rain and weather comes from the southwest. Probably another issue is the summer sun is hotter on that side and it isn’t protected by the portico. The primary reason the Beaufort Style evolved from porticos to deep piazzas across the

The weather won’t cooperate

south front of houses was to shade the interiors, catch the breeze and provide a cool place to sit before the invention of air conditioning,” Jenkins said.

Plans for exterior and interior renovation of the house began in 2006, when HBF engaged renowned restoration paint colorist Susan Buck to test and identify the original paint colors on the John Mark Verdier House – the clapboard exterior, interior, doors and shutters. Buck earned her Ph.D. in Art Conservation Research at the University of Delaware in 2003 and her Master’s degree from the Winterthur, the University of a Delaware Program in Art Conservation. She is an Art Conservator and Paint Analyst and lives in Williamsburg, Va.

She conducted microscopy analysis on the exterior clapboard, interior plaster and woodwork along with the exterior and interior doors.

The original door of the John Mark Verdier House had been replaced with a replica during the 1970s renovation of the house as the original door was in poor condition, Sundrla noted. Because HBF still had the original door, Buck was able to conduct the microscopy analysis.

Her research showed that both the original front door and the second-floor jib-door were painted with a thin layer of deep redbrown paint, followed by a second deep red-brown paint, and then a grain-painting sequence in the third-generation. This was typical of houses in that time-period to grain their doors to give the appearance of mahogany as a show of wealth and stature.

Jenkins said the toughest decision was whether to restore the original front door or to faux grain the 1970’s reproduction. In the end it seemed best to save the original door, to keep it in storage out of the elements. “Technology will continue to progress and in another 50 years that door might shed valuable information,” she said.

The John Mark Verdier House is a premiere representation of Beaufort’s residential architecture and was a highly visible statement of Verdier’s rise as a successful merchant and planter in the early 1800s.

A 2012 repainting of the exterior brought the house back to ca. 1863 when the color was a pinkish-tan. At that time the house was occupied by the Union Troops as the Adjutant General’s Office for the duration of the war.

In 2017, HBF launched the “Paint the Lady Campaign” with the goal of exterior repair and painting of the house. The decision was made to bring the house back to the period of its construction, ca. 1804, when the Verdier family resided in the home. Work began in 2020 and the exterior paint and clapboard repair was completed in 2021.

Master colorist Stephanie Poe was engaged in December 2022 to grain the 1970s replica door to resemble mahogany. A Charleston resident, Poe has studied under three of the masters in the field, Mike McNeil, Jean Sable, and Pierre Finkelstein. She has traveled around the world to study and master the authentic and historical methods used in Italian plastering, wood graining, and marbling.

At that same time, HBF brought in master craftsman Chad Bond to restore the decorative door surround.

“It is not uncommon for a project like this to hold so much history, but I think it is uncommon to have so many people on board and excited to help bring an important piece of history back into glory,” Bond said.

Historic Beaufort Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit education foundation created to preserve, protect, and present sites and artifacts of historic, architectural, and cultural interest throughout Beaufort County. For more information on the entity’s mission and history, visit historicbeaufort.org

It’s never too late to learn

Letisha Scotland, right, and Lorrie Causey of the Low Country Council of Governments go over last-minute details during the giveaway of digital tablets for senior citizens Wednesday morning at Burton Wells Senior Citizens center. Scotland said 350 T-Moblie tablets will be given away to seniors in Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton and Hampton counties, and two interns will be available to help with how to use them. All six senior centers in Beaufort County will receive 150 of the popular digital devices. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Driver rescused from marsh

Braves’ leadoff batter Andres Esparza, right, is all smiles as he is congratulated by team mate P.J. Stanley after hitting a home run during their Beaufort County Parks and Recreation Adult Baseball League game against the Red Snappers on Monday at Burton Wells Athletic Complex. Esparza had metioned earlier to the team that he did not like to lead off but went on to swing at the first pitch of the top of the first inning, hitting the ball over the left center field fence for home run. The game, however, was suspended because of rain and lightning in the area. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

from page A1

In his ruling, Judge Sprouse said that the plaintiffs’ request was improper given that a similar challenge had already been denied in the Circuit Court. The Circuit

Court decision in January of 2022 was in favor of the City, ruling that a legal process was followed in granting approvals for the respective projects.

However, the plaintiff has appealed this decision and it is currently a pending matter in the South Carolina Court of Appeals.

“The City is appreciative

of this second denial by the Circuit Court,” Beaufort Mayor Stephen Murray said in a news release. “From the beginning, the City has defended these approvals. All property owners are entitled to a fair, transparent, and legal path to improve their property, so long as it complies with the City’s development code.”

From staff reports

Late Tuesday morning, June 13, Burton firefighters rescued a female driver from a single vehicle wreck on Trask Parkway that caused both eastbound lanes to be blocked.

Just past 11 a.m., a Sheldon Fire District chief officer who was driving on Trask Parkway came upon a passenger vehicle that was off the road in the pluff mud in the area of 1980 Trask Parkway. While unable to reach the vehicle due to the pluff mud, he notified Beaufort County Dispatch that the driver appeared to be unresponsive and request-

ed additional resources respond to the scene.

A Burton Fire District fire engine from Grays Hill and Beaufort County EMS arrived moments later. Due to the driver’s apparent medical condition and no information about the possibility of other passengers inside the vehicle, Burton firefighters utilized a 24-foot ladder from their engine to make a bridge and cross the mud to reach the vehicle. Burton Fire Captain/Paramedic Steve Kenyon was first to arrive at the vehicle and confirmed only one occupant inside, a female driver, who appeared to be having

a medical emergency and was unresponsive.

Burton Fire District’s ladder truck arrived on scene and crews used the large 105-foot ladder to reach the vehicle with medical equipment and a rescue basket. Firefighters stabilized the driver, placed her in the rescue basket, and removed her to waiting EMS crews where she was transported to Beaufort Memorial Hospital.

Traffic on Trask Parkway was delayed for more 45 minutes while emergency crews operated. The condition of the driver was unknown at press time.

Careful work by Chad Bond reveals historic details of Beaufort’s John Mark Verdier House, built ca. 1804. Photo courtesy of Historic Beaufort Foundation.

Healthy habits that benefit the earth care TALK ©

Pause and think about how our daily decisions can impact Mother Nature.

Not only can making an Earth-conscious choice help out the environment—it can also benefit your health.

“There are a variety of actions that any individual can take to benefit the environment and their health,” explained Ilyssa Gordon, MD, the medical director of sustainability at Cleveland Clinic. “Some of these include eating a plant-forward diet, which is high in fruits and vegetables, as well as choosing to bike or walk to work and other activities when possible. Just simply getting out in nature can also be beneficial.”

Dr. Gordon said you can start incorporating more

fruits and vegetables into your diet by visiting your local farmer’s market.

Locally grown produce doesn’t have to be transported across the country and eating a plant-based diet can lower your risk for diseases like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Gordon said walking and biking more can also decrease your risk for chronic diseases and doesn’t add any pollution to the air.

Finally, more trees equal improved air quality, and simply spending time in areas where there are a lot of them can boost your mood and reduce stress. Dr. Gordon suggests finding an activity that will encourage you to get outside in nature.

Have a family day and plant new trees on your property. Teach your children to care for and nurture them.

“Any day is a good day to start taking action to benefit your health and the environment,” Dr. Gordon said. “Just get out there and do something you enjoy doing— whether it’s biking, gardening, planting a tree or taking a walk. Any of these things will help improve your health and the environment.”

Dr. Gordon reminds people to conserve energy at home by doing small things, like remembering to turn off the lights and using the clothes dryer on a shorter cycle.

Source: ClevelandClinic.org; ccnewsservice@ccf.org

ABC’s of Hepatitis—what you should know

Your liver helps your body digest food, store energy and remove poisons. Hepatitis is a swelling of the liver that makes it stop working well. It can lead to scarring, called cirrhosis, or to cancer.

Viruses cause most cases of hepatitis. The type of hepatitis is named for the virus that causes it, for example, hepatitis A, hepatitis B or hepatitis C.

Drug or alcohol use can also lead to hepatitis. In other cases, your body mistakenly attacks its own tissues. You can help prevent some viral forms by getting a vaccine.

Sometimes hepatitis goes away by itself. If it does not, it can be treated with drugs. Sometimes hepatitis lasts a lifetime. If you have an acute infection, your symptoms can start anywhere between 2 weeks to 6 months after you got infected. If you have a chronic infection, you may not have symptoms until many years later.

Chronic hepatitis can lead to complications such as cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver failure, and liver cancer. Early diagnosis

and treatment of chronic hepatitis may prevent these complications.

Some people who have hepatitis have no symptoms. Others may have:

Fever

Fatigue

Loss of appetite

Nausea and/or vomiting

Abdominal pain

Dark urine

Clay-colored bowel move-

ments

Joint pain

Jaundice, yellowing of your skin and eyes

Hepatitis B is one type of hep-

atitis - a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B spreads by contact with an infected person’s blood, semen, or other body fluid. An infected woman can give hepatitis B to her baby at birth. If you get HBV, you may feel as if you have the flu, or you may have no symptoms at all. A blood test can tell if you have it. HBV usually gets better on its own after a few months. If it does not get better, it is called chronic HBV, which lasts a lifetime. Chronic HBV can lead to scarring of the liver, liver failure or liver cancer. There is a vaccine for HBV. It

requires three shots. All babies should get the vaccine, but older children and adults can get it too.

If you travel to countries where Hepatitis B is common, you should get the vaccine.

Hepatitis A is one type of hepatitis—a liver disease—caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). The disease is spread primarily through food or water contaminated by stool from an infected person. You can get HAV from Eating food prepared by someone with HAV who did not wash their hands after using the bathroom

Having sex with someone with HAV

Not washing your hands after changing a diaper

Drinking contaminated water HAV can cause swelling of the liver, but it rarely causes lasting damage. You may feel as if you have the flu, or you may have no symptoms at all. It usually gets better on its own after several weeks.

The hepatitis A vaccine can prevent HAV. Healthy habits also make a difference:

Wash your hands thoroughly before preparing food, after using the toilet or after changing a diaper. International travelers should be careful about drinking tap water.

Hepatitis C is one type of hepatitis—a liver disease—caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It usually spreads through contact with infected blood. It can also spread through sex with an infected person and from mother to baby during childbirth. Most people who are infected with hepatitis C don’t have any symptoms for years. A blood test can tell if you have it. Usually, hepatitis C does not get better by itself. The infection can last a lifetime and may lead to scarring of the liver or liver cancer.

Medicines sometimes help, but side effects can be a problem. Serious cases may need a liver transplant. There is no vaccine for HCV.

Source: NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases;https:// medlineplus.gov/hepatitis.html

AVOIDING GRILL AND FIRE PITFALLS

Warmer weather means time to grill and chill by the fire pit, but before you light your grill up, it may be time for a grill checkup.

Tom Waters, MD, an emergency department physician with Cleveland Clinic said it’s a good idea to make sure

your grill is working properly.

“When you’re going to light your grill for the first time, whether it’s propane or even charcoal, obviously you want to be careful,” he said.

“If you aren’t able to light a gas grill after the first two attempts, you need to turn

it off, let it air out and then inspect why it might not be working before you continue to try and light it to avoid any flare ups or big explosions of gas.”

Dr. Waters suggests checking your grill for gas leaks before you light it up.

He also recommends having a fire extinguisher handy. You’ll also want to avoid wearing long-sleeved shirts while grilling so your clothes don’t catch fire.

• A pair of heat-resistant gloves is a good idea as well.

If using lighter fluid, be sure to move it farther away from the lit grill. If you suffer a minor burn while grilling, it can be treated with cooling or antibiotic ointments. However, if the burn is larger than the palm of your hand, you should seek medical help.

When it comes to fire pits or bonfires, make sure there is enough space between the flames and your home.

“You must watch what

you’re burning and where the wind is blowing,” warned Dr. Waters. “If there are a lot of embers and they’re blowing towards a structure, whether it’s your house, your neighbor’s house, your kids’ playhouse, or a garden shed, you need to monitor that because, sometimes, those hot em-

bers could result in a fire somewhere else.”

Finally, Dr. Waters cautions never leave a fire unattended and be sure to put out the flames and/or hot coals when you’re ready to go in.

Source: Clevelandclinic.org ccnewsservice@ccf.org

Narcolepsy is a neurological sleep disorder characterized by irregular patterns in rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep, and significant disruptions of the normal sleep/wake cycle. A person on a typical sleep cycle will gradually go through the stages of sleep and ultimately enter REM sleep after about 90 minutes. However, people suffering from narcolepsy will enter REM sleep almost immediately and even do so periodically during waking hours. But the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke notes that people with narcolepsy do not spend significantly more time asleep than normal sleepers. The NINDS also notes that narcolepsy does not discriminate based on gender, affecting males and females equally throughout the world, and that narcolepsy often begins in childhood or adolescence even though it can begin in adulthood as well.

If left undiagnosed or untreated, narcolepsy can interfere with psychological, social, and cognitive function and development and can inhibit academic, work, and social activities.

Narcolepsy is a lifelong problem, but it does not usually worsen as the person ages.

NARCOLEPSY Did you know . . .

Treating narcolepsy

Although there is no cure for narcolepsy, some of the symptoms can be treated with medicines and lifestyle changes.

Medications

There are medications that reduce the effects and frequency of narcolepsy. Speak with your doctor about which would work best for you.

Lifestyle changes

Drug therapy should accompany various lifestyle changes. Remembering the following seven tips may be helpful:

1. Take short naps. Many individuals take short, regularly scheduled naps at times when they tend to feel sleepiest.

2. Maintain a regular sleep schedule. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, even on the weekends, can help people sleep better.

3. Avoid caffeine or alcohol before bed. Individuals should avoid alcohol and caffeine for several hours before bedtime.

4. Avoid smoking, especially at night.

5. Exercise daily. Exercising for at least 20 minutes per

day at least four or five hours before bedtime also improves sleep quality and can help people with narcolepsy avoid gaining excess weight.

6. Avoid large, heavy meals right before bedtime. Eating very close to bedtime can make it harder to sleep.

7. Relax before bed. Relaxing activities such as a warm bath before bedtime can help

promote sleepiness. Also make sure the sleep space is cool and comfortable.

Safety precautions, particularly when driving, are important for everyone with narcolepsy. Suddenly falling asleep or losing muscle control can transform actions that are ordinarily safe, such as walking down a long flight of stairs, into hazards.

Children and adolescents with

Sleep, food, exercise, stress:

narcolepsy may be able to work with school administrators to accommodate special needs, like taking medications during the school day, modifying class schedules to fit in a nap, and other strategies. Additionally, support groups can be extremely beneficial for people with narcolepsy.

Source: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/healthinformation/disorders/narcolepsy

Why working on one of these can improve the others

By Sharon Theimer newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org

Sleeping enough, eating well, exercising, and coping with stress are all components of good health, but focusing on all four at once while managing a hectic schedule may seem impossible.

Safia Debar, M.B.B.S. at Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London, explains how giving a little extra attention to any one of these areas can improve the others.

“By pulling any of these levers, you can have a big impact on your health,” says Dr. Debar.

“It all starts in the brain,” Dr. Debar says. “It can be in a state of ‘rest, repair and relaxation,’ in which, assuming general good health, the body is functioning optimally, or the brain can be in a ‘stress state’, in which the body’s primary concern becomes handling one or more perceived threats and other physical needs are relegated to second place. Our brain does not distinguish. The perception of threat and real threat are the same, so once that button is pressed, the same cascade ensues”.

Stress can impact sleeping, eating, and exercising. For example, when the brain is in a stress state, it is thinking in the short term and focused on feeling better immediately. That’s why it’s common to crave sugary and/or fatty foods and not make the effort to exercise when stressed: The brain tells the body it needs immediate energy, Dr. Debar says. “The brain wants to feel better right now, so it’s not going to think about going to exercise and then feeling better afterward,” she relates. “It’s all intertwined.”

Similarly, sleeping, eating and

wise WORDS ©

exercising can affect how we handle stress. Key questions to ask yourself include: What is my sleep like? If it’s not good, maybe that’s where to place your attention, by going to bed earlier or changing another aspect of your sleep routine, Dr. Debar says.

• How is my gut functioning? If you are having digestive problems, it may help to optimize your nutrition, Dr. Debar says.

• What is my social support like? That can affect mood, she says.

Master the art of saying no

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Feeling stressed by the demands of daily life?

If you have too much on your plate or are consumed by a busy schedule, you may be saying yes too much.

It’s time to start saying no, and then sticking to it.

Discover tips and tricks for getting back to a saner schedule—no guilt, no hard feelings. When it comes to taming stress, you have more power than you think.

Focus on what matters. Before you commit, consider how the request fits (or not) with your priorities.

Weigh the yes-to-stress ratio. Volunteering a batch of cookies is quick versus heading up a fundraising committee for months.

Nix the guilt. It’s never a good reason to say yes. You’ll likely end up feeling resentful and more stressed.

• Cut to the chase. Briefly explain why you’re saying no. But there’s no need to

elaborate or make up excuses.

• Hit replay if you need to. You may need to refuse the request a few times before the other person accepts it.

Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/connected-care/ master-the-art-of-saying-no

Do I find certain things are making me feel stressed? For example, if checking email before bed or immediately upon waking generates stress, think about how to change that part of your routine to maintain calm, Dr. Debar says.

• What kind of exercise am I getting? If the answer isn’t much, try to find ways to incorporate more movement into your day, she says.

“By helping your gut, that might be enough for you, or helping your sleep, that might be enough for you,” Dr. Debar says. “It’s those

simple foundational elements that can have huge impact. Be intentional about certain things.” Pulling these levers of health ourselves can feel empowering, she says.

“It’s not, ‘A doctor said I had to lose weight and sleep and reduce my stress.’ When you understand the foundations of health, it then doesn’t become about you having low self-control, or procrastinating, or not being disciplined,” Dr. Debar says. “Instead, how do we take what you have in your life and embed these positive practices in it?”

Committee Chair Alice Howard

Committee Vice Chair York Glover

Council Chairman Joe Passiment

Council Vice Chair Larry McElynn

Councilman Gerald Dawson

Councilwoman Tab Tabernik

Next Meeting:

Monday, June 26 – Beaufort County Council 5pm

Council Chambers, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort SC

LOCALMILITARY

What are my VA benefits at 40% serviceconnected disability?

Last week I discussed the service-connected VA benefits for veterans who receive a 30% service-connected disability rating from the VA. This week’s article will provide an overview of the VA benefits for which a 40% service-connected disabled veteran is eligible.

The VA YouTube Video titled, Veterans Benefits At 40% (VA Service-Connected Disability), theSITREP, narrated by Army Veteran Michael McNamara can be found at https://bit.ly/3NsjtIz. That video has been viewed over 202,000 times. It is worth watching if you are a veteran, a family member of a veteran, or a Veterans Service Officer (VSO). The video covers 10 benefits veterans can take advantage of.

VA Healthcare for service-connected illnesses and injuries

If you are a veteran who is rated 40 percent military service-connected disabled by the VA you can take advantage of the following benefits. Perhaps the most important benefit a veteran becomes eligible for at 40% is automatic eligibility for VA healthcare. It does not matter if you are a multi-millionaire or a regular guy like me, the VA will cover all of your healthcare services, including medications and much more needed to treat your service-connected injuries, illnesses, and medical conditions.

For other services and treatment, veterans may have to pay a small copay, but there are no annual fees, premiums, or deductibles, so ask your local Veterans Service Officer (VSO) for help applying for service-connected disability compensation and other benefits – and make sure you enroll in VA healthcare if you have not already done so.

Monetary compensation, additional monetary compensation for eligible dependents

Two more important benefits veterans are eligible for at 40% are monetary compensation and additional monetary compensation for eligible dependents. A veteran rated at 40% can expect more than $670 a month, tax-free, and if the veteran has children, a spouse, or parents who qualify as dependents, the veteran may be able to add hundreds of dollars more to their VA compensation.

Other VA benefits veterans can enjoy at 40%

(1) A waiver for VA home loan funding fees, (2) direct hire into federal job positions for qualified veterans, (3) 10-point preference in federal hiring, (4) access to the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Program, (5) burial and plot allowance, (6) access

The making of Marines

The 80-year history of Women Marines at Parris Island

By Chief Warrant Officer

MCRD PARRIS ISLAND

Women have worked and trained at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island since 1943. For the past 80 years, the Marine Corps has used the depot and recruit training as the foundation to define the roles and responsibilities for servicewomen.

As the Marine Corps prepares for 21 century warfare, the roles of women in uniform have become indistinguishable from men— and so has their training.

Women in World War I

In 1917, the United States ultimately decided to join the Allied Powers and fight in World War I. Men from across the nation swiftly volunteered for military duty. High casualties in Europe led to a shortage of battle-ready Marines to serve at the war front in France.

The Commandant of the Marine Corps at the time, Maj. Gen. George Barnett, requested a study to determine how many jobs within the Marine Corps could be performed by women. The estimates concluded about 40 percent of jobs within the Marine Corps at the time could be performed by women.

As a result, in August of 1918 the Department of the Navy approved the Marine Corps’ request to allow women to enroll as reservists for clerical services. Opha May Johnson, who was already working at the Marine Corps’ headquarters through the civil service program, became the first woman Marine reservist on August 12, 1918.

Over the next year, 305 women would be enlisted into the Marine Corps Reserves with many serving as clerks at the service headquarters in Washington D.C., at recruiting stations across the country, and at the Marine Corps Publicity Bureau.

Following the armistice to end World War I, the Commandant issued an order on August 11, 1919, to move all women Marines to inactive status. Although women served as Marines for only a brief time during the war, their service would pave the way for women during World War II.

Training Women during World War II

On December 7, 1941, the bombing

U.S.

of Pearl Harbor propelled the U.S. into World War II. Two years later, there was again a shortage of combat troops to support the needs of the Marine Corps. In response, the service began enlisting women and established the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve in 1943. That year, more than 19,000 women would join the Marine Corps.

For their training, women attended a six-week bootcamp at Hadnot Point aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Col. Ruth Streeter, who had been selected to lead the Women’s Reserve, insisted women should be trained like men and learn hand-tohand combat, weapons systems, and

than 600 women were on duty at Parris Island.

Many of the jobs filled by women aboard the base included clerical work, where they served at the commanding general’s building, the paymaster’s office, and in the recruit depot headquarters. However, as the war continued and women proved themselves capable of performing military jobs, women would be assigned as mechanics, drivers, and even welders.

Of the women assigned to Parris Island, more than 200 women worked at Marine Corps Air Station Page Field as part of the Aviation Women’s Squadron II. These women

close order drill. The female recruits would ultimately be taught by 18 male drill instructors from Parris Island.

Following boot camp, women would be assigned an occupational specialty. Society at the time considered only certain jobs suitable for women and in the Marine Corps only 30 job fields were initially opened to women with many revolving around administrative work in offices, classrooms, hospitals, and libraries.

Parris Island was one of the seven bases on the East Coast where women could be stationed. By 1944, more

served as air traffic controllers, guiding takeoffs and landings, and reading weather and flight data.

Due to the high number of women assigned to Parris Island, the base constructed 13 buildings in 1944 to support the Women Reserves which included barracks, office spaces, a chow hall,

a recreational building. These facilities were separate from the male facilities to provide areas of privacy and modesty for women Marines.

Throughout the war, more than SEE MARINES PAGE B2

and

U.S. Marines with Marine Forces Reserve and alumni of 4th Recruit Training Battalion march in front of a replica sign of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island on May 18 during a gathering at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans. Marines invited to this event discussed the importance and history of 4th Recruit Training Battalion. The Marine Corps is set to deactivate the Battalion on June 15. Lance Cpl. Juan Diaz/USMC

Bobby Yarbrough

Marine Corps

U.S. Marines with Marine Forces Reserve and alumni of 4th Recruit Training Battalion, stand at attention during a gathering May 18 at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans. The 4th Recruit Training Battalion has been responsible for initial training for all female enlisted marines in the entire Marine Corps since 1986. Marines and alumni were invited to this event to trade experiences and discuss the importance and history of 4th Recruit Training Battalion. The Marine Corps is set to deactivate the battalion on June 15. Lance Cpl. Juan Diaz/USMC

Marines

from page B1

1,000 women would be stationed at Parris Island and women would be assigned to 225 job specialties in 16 of the 21 functional fields of the Marine Corps. However, the Women Reserves would be demobilized in 1945 with all women at Parris Island being discharged by the following year.

Establishing the Women Marines and recruit training

At the end of World War II, women’s role in the military was seen as temporary.

However, military leaders, most notably Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, saw the benefit of women having permanent roles within the military should the U.S. need to mobilize for war in the future.

In 1948, the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act was signed by President Harry S. Truman, which provided for a separate women’s corps within each branch of the military.

The Marine Corps’ goal initially was to enlist 830 women in the regular Marine Corps from members and former members of the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve. However due to a low number of applications, the Marine Corps opened enlistment to non-veteran women to meet their enlistment goal.

To train the enlisted women, the Marine Corps established 3rd Battalion at Parris Island and recruit training for women aboard the base began March 1, 1949.

Approximately 150 women would arrive every three-and-a-half weeks for boot camp, which consisted of a total of 264 hours of training. At the time, women and men received relatively the same training except women received additional hygiene courses and did not have combat training.

Male drill instructors taught the women close order drill, first aid, chemical warfare, and general military subjects. In addition, women would witness mortar instruction on the range to become familiar with the sound of gunfire.

The 1950s and 1960s

The beginning of the Korean War conflict in 1950, increased the need for women to replace men for combat billets. The Marine Corps, along with the other

Dandridge

from page B1

to military commissaries and exchanges, (6) travel allowance for traveling to VA healthcare appointments, and more.

References

services, increased their recruitment goals for women to join the military.

The duration of boot camp at Parris Island increased throughout the 1950s from six weeks to 10 weeks. A new four-week General Office Procedures Course was added to the curriculum for women to prepare them with the necessary clerical background for their assigned jobs. Additionally, a physical fitness program was tested to improve the general physical condition of women.

Training beyond boot camp became available to Women Marines in occupations such as Naval Justice, Control Tower, and Disbursing. Schools such as Marine Corps Amphibious School and Command and Staff College were also available to female officers. Additionally, overseas assignments increased for women allowing them to be stationed in countries like Japan, Panama, and the Philippines following recruit training.

The 1970s: A whirlwind of change

Societal changes of the 1960s, especially the women’s rights movement, challenged the military to modernize and change their approach to the employment of servicewomen.

The U.S. military had sent large numbers of troops to fight in the Vietnam War. The antiwar, anti-establishment attitude of the late 1960 and 1970s caused manpower shortages across the military. In response to competition resulting from increased opportunities for women in the private sector the military offered expanded roles for women to meet military quotas.

In 1967, the Marshall Commission removed the policy that limited women to only 2% of the armed forces and restricted promotions. Draft calls were slowly reduced, and the military turned to women to compensate for the projected shortfall of male recruits.

The Marine Corps disbanded the Women Marine Program in 1977, and eliminated the separate command structures to allow for women to be further integrated within the Marine Corps. In 1978, the Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Louis H. Wilson Jr. mandated that all regulations differentiating between men and women should have a valid and rational purpose. This applied to

recruiting standards, which had set a higher standard for women in terms of education level, mental aptitude, and physical standards.

The 1970s saw immense change for women in recruit training. In 1973, the Marine Corps implemented a new training syllabus for female recruits that placed an increased emphasis on academics. Additionally, physical fitness training became required for all Women Marines. A physical fitness test was developed which included a one-and-ahalf mile run, sit-ups, and a flexed arm hang.

As the military shifted to an all-volunteer force, even more job opportunities were opened to women which caused the number of women in the enlisted ranks to balloon. To accommodate the increased number of females, the Marine Corps built a Women Marine Complex at Parris Island in 1973 to support the training for new recruits.

In 1976, the first female drill instructors graduated Drill Instructor School at Parris Island. This was a vital advancement because for the first time female Drill Instructors began independently supervising and training female recruits.

By the end of the 1970s, Women Marines made up 1.8 percent, or 3,528 of a total of 196,000 personnel in the Marine Corps.

The 1980s

The 1983 bombing of the Marine Barracks in Beirut highlighted the ever-increasing threat of terrorism and irregular warfare.

In response in May 1985 Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Paul X. Kelley issued an order that women “must be trained in defensive

and 25 of 2021. See the archives at www.yourislandnews.com

10. Burial & plot allowance, https://bit.ly/3dKZkyx

11. Commissary and exchanges, https://bit.ly/3OY6BeA

combat techniques and operations in the event of unforeseen hostile activity.”

As a result, women recruits began qualifying with the M16A2 service rifle during recruit training at Parris Island. Additionally, women received Basic Warrior Training covering lessons in cover and concealment, gas chamber training, throwing live grenades, and helicopter embarkation. This training provided the basic rifleman skills needed to operate in a hostile environment. Additional requirements to include negotiating the obstacle course and bayonet training would be added as graduation requirements for women Marines by the late 1980s.

In 1986, the Women Marines Recruit Training Battalion was disbanded to create 4th Recruit Training Battalion under the Recruit Training Regiment, which resulted in a single chain of command for recruit training. As a result, all recruits regardless of gender received the same training program of instruction and were required to complete the same graduation events to earn the title U.S. Marine.

The 1990s and the Crucible

During the 1990s, training curriculums between men and women were mirrored, however, male and female companies trained separately.

By 1996, the Marine Corps was at an institutional crossroad. Gen. Charles Krulak, who was the commandant, believed the Marine Corps needed to reinforce the organization’s core values of honor, courage, and commitment. He knew emphasizing values-based

military service members’ VR&E benefits?” at https:// bit.ly/43r9wAJ

training and application of our time proven leadership traits and principles was foundational to the Marines Corps’ continued success in winning our Nation’s battles.

Krulak wanted a defining moment in boot camp — a “gut check” — that required physical stamina and one that would bond all Marines. He named this event the Crucible, a 54-hour training event that would be a trial by fire for all recruits.

To accommodate the Crucible, recruit training was extended to 12 weeks. The incorporation of the Crucible also resulted in female Marines transitioning to Camp Geiger for Marine Combat Training following recruit graduation.

To this day, the Crucible remains the culminating event for all Marines at recruit training.

The 21st Century

The long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq caused the U.S. military to reevaluate the closure of combat arms job fields to female service members. In 2015, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter ordered all military occupations and positions open to women.

This order enabled women Marines to enlist in job fields to include infantry, reconnaissance, and artillery. This change required training to become integrated for men and women, particularly at the School of Infantry.

In 2019, the Marine Corps tested and graduated the first gender integrated company at Parris Island. The company graduated one platoon of female Marines and five platoons of male Marines. This was the first time in Marine Corps history males and females had graduated within the same recruit training company.

In the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, lawmakers mandated that the Marine Corps integrate all training for men and women at both Parris Island and Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.

Additional integrated companies were gradually added, and the Marine Corps has continued to increase the number of gender integrated companies in recruit training each year at Parris Island. Presently, men and women are training together in all battalions at Parris Island.

Additionally, to meet the Congressional Mandate, the Marine Corps has also be-

gun to permanently assign female drill instructors to San Diego to enable integrated training, with the first gender integrated company graduating in 2021. Additional integrated companies are being added and in the near future each depot will train fifty percent of the enlisted females, with those east of the Mississippi going to Parris Island, and those in the west going to San Diego. These women Marines will also train at the respective coast’s School of Infantry after recruit training.

The Future

The Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David Berger believes current and future threats call for a significantly more capable force. In his vision for Force Design 2030, Berger is redesigning the Corps to ensure Marines maintain a competitive warfighting advantage against any potential adversary.

On May 3, Berger announced the 4th Recruit Training Regiment at Parris Island would be deactivated in June in an effort to standardize recruit training for men and women at both recruit depots. Berger said the Marine Corps will capitalize on the gained logistic and training efficiencies from integrated training and will reorganize its recruit training personnel structure to facilitating a closer organizational structure alignment between the two recruit training depots.

“This is a moment to celebrate the legacy of so many of our Marines who made the transformation through 4th Recruit Training Battalion,” said Gen. David H. Berger, the Commandant of the Marine Corps. “It’s also a moment to celebrate progress. I’m proud to see our male and female recruits benefit from having access to the quality of all our leaders — at Parris Island and San Diego — through an unchanging, tough, and realistic recruit training curriculum.”

According to Berger, training and education will lay the foundation and set the pace for force development.

“Rigorous standards will continue to form the foundation for all training,” Berger said. “We will continue to build upon the legacy of the generations of Marines who came before us, holding fast to our immutable high standards as we make and develop new generations of Marines.”

To learn more about these benefits and how to apply for these benefits read the information at:

1. How to apply for VA Disability Compensation, https://bit.ly/3wYGMRJ

2. Veterans Disability Compensation Rates, https:// bit.ly/3WQlPEm

3. Adding dependents, https://bit.ly/43LjWuY

4. Direct hire, https://bit. ly/3qvIppP

5. VA health care, https://bit. ly/42skTXY

6. VR&E, https://bit.ly/3Cl4Sbr and https://bit.ly/43r9wAJ

7. 10-point preference, https://bit.ly/3qvIppP, https://bit.ly/43hbhjX, and https://bit.ly/3OWCzrq

8. Travel allowance, https:// bit.ly/3PdC1h0

9. Home loan waiver, https:// bit.ly/3CgHg8a and the three articles from The Island News on this subject published on May 11, 18,

12. The Island News article titled, Veterans, should know their VA Priority Group, dated January 5, 2023, at https://bit.ly/40uWyQ9

13. The series of five articles from The Island News on VA benefits for spouses, dependents, survivors, and family caregivers, beginning with the March 15, 2023 article at https://bit. ly/3TOYiSE. Find the other four articles at www.yourislandnews.com archives.

14. The series of three articles from The Island News on, How to get VA Housing Assistance, beginning on May 11, 2022. Part 1 of 3 is found at https://bit. ly/3MXCwcc and the other two articles are found at www.yourislandnews.com archives.

15. The Island News articles on employment, dated Oct. 7 and 27, 2021, found at https://bit.ly/3OXWFBD and https://bit.ly/3qjsH0D

16. The Island News article dated Oct. 6, 2021, titled “What are veterans and

Do your homework Veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors should do their homework and read the information at www.va.gov, watch the over 80 VA SITREP YouTube videos at http://www.newengland. va.gov/sitrep, and, most importantly ask a VSO or a VA-accredited Attorney or Claims Agent to help you understand what your VA (federal) and state veterans’ benefits are and how to apply for those benefits.

VA-recognized VSOs and their VA-accredited representatives

Most of the representation that is provided to claimants on initial benefit claims is performed by VSOs. VSOs can help veterans and their family members gather evidence needed and submit a Fully Developed Claim (see https://bit.ly/3CTtFV0) on the veteran’s behalf. A VSO can also correspond with the VA about the veteran’s or family member’s claim on their behalf. VSOs always provide their representation on VA claims free of charge. In addition to assisting with VA claims, many VSOs also sponsor a range of Veteran-programs such as providing transportation (DAV provides vans and volunteer driv-

ers serving VA Medical Centers/ Clinics) to and from VA medical center appointments, funds and volunteers for disaster relief, and grants. VSOs also lobby Congress on behalf of issues facing veterans and their families.

VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents

Typically, VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents perform most of their representation after the VA has issued an initial decision on a claim, which is when attorneys and claims agents are permitted to charge fees for their representation. At this stage of the adjudication process, an attorney or claims agent may be helpful to veterans and their family members in further developing the evidence in support of their claim and crafting persuasive and legal arguments on their behalf to submit to the VA.

Find a VA-Accredited Accredited-Representative (VSO, Attorney, or Claims Agent) Online Go to https://bit.ly/3QnCk5M

See The Island News article at https://bit.ly/3TahNn1

Find an Accredited Representative at a VA Regional Office Use the Directory of VA-recognized VSOs that are co-lo-

cated with the VA at https://bit. ly/3TahNn1

Find a Veterans Service Officer in S.C. and Ga. Find SC County VSOs at https://bit.ly/3qbLVSL. Find GA VSOs at https://bit.ly/44KMVA7

The bottom line No one wants to be disabled but if you are a veteran and are suffering from service-connected injuries, illnesses, wounds, scars, or conditions, you should ask your local Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to help you apply for all of the service-connected disability compensation to which you are entitled. Veterans and their family members should also file for all of the healthcare, disability, education, training, employment, housing assistance, life insurance, pension, family member, and other VA and state benefits they are entitled to.

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.

U.S. Marines Corps Master Sgt. Chasitie Hollingsworth, an individual material readiness list asset manager assigned to 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve, poses for a photo in front of a replica sign of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island on May 18 during a gathering at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans. The 4th Recruit Training Battalion has been responsible for initial training for all female enlisted marines in the entire Marine Corps since 1986. Marines and alumni were invited to this event to trade experiences and discuss the importance and history of 4th Recruit Training Battalion. The Marine Corps is set to deactivate the battalion on June 15. Lance Cpl. Juan Diaz/USMC

PETS

How to be a pet parent on a budget

Provided by StatePoint

Whether you are a first-time or veteran pet owner, being a pet parent can be expensive. From daily needs like food, treats and toys to medicines, the costs can add up.

To help stretch your budget, the experts at Dollar General are providing cost-friendly ways to provide for your pet:

Food to Fuel

Your Furry Friend

Fueling your pet with nutritious food doesn’t have to break your budget. By stocking up on options available exclusively at select retailers, you can feed your furry family member affordably. For example, Nature’s Menu is available only at Dollar General and offers dog and cat food free from arti-

ficial colors, flavors or preservatives. Their dry pet food products also include pre and probiotics to support healthy digestion, along with added vitamins, minerals and other trace nutrients and a money-back satisfaction guarantee.

Hygiene How-To

Having a pup or feline companion comes with responsibility, especially when it pertains to their cleanliness and well-being. To maintain a groomed pet, create a care tote that includes such hygiene essentials as a brush or flea comb, shampoo, nail clippers and puppy pads, which can be used as clean-up tool for both dogs and cats. Also consider using a dual-action topical treatment to help prevent fleas and ticks. Be sure to see

a trusted veterinarian for annual checkups and other needs.

Paw-some Accessories

All those accessories that enhance your pet’s days and nights don’t have to be costly. Consider new water and food bowls, a collar and a bed for a good night’s rest after playful days. Next, make playtime a bit more fun with a few new toys from Dollar General’s private brand, Forever Pals, which include a variety toy pack for dogs and a feather wand for cats. With these accessories, your pet will be wagging their tail or purring with excitement all day long!

By shopping wisely for all your pet’s needs, you can provide them with quality products while stretching your budget in the process.

(c) Olezzo / iStock via Getty Images Plus

Whale Branch Graduation

Trask funds Holy Trinity security upgrades for 2023-2024

From staff reports

Holy Trinity Classical Christian School (HTCCS) announced the undertaking of a new security upgrade initiative made possible by a generous donor.

George Trask, a Beaufort native, whose career has included banking and law, is the current developer of Distant Island. He became familiar with Holy Trinity because several Distant Island residents enroll their children in the school.

According to the school, Trask was connected to families affected by the recent school shooting in Nashville. Shortly after the incident, Trask reached out to Holy Trinity to express his concern for the school families

and faculty and to inquire about current campus safety measures.

Many schools, such as Holy Trinity, occupy build-

ings constructed long before administrators would have imagined the kinds of threats our students face today. With the rise in the number of

Zonta Scholarships

Zonta Club of Beaufort President Tammy Siegner presents a $1,000 scholarship to Megan Alvarez, Salutatorian for Beaufort High School. Alvarez will attend the University of Philadelphia, majoring in Neuroscience. Her ambition is to become a Dermatologist. Zonta International has more than 30,000 members in 66 countries working together to improve the lives of women and girls. Submitted photo.

school shootings, administrators are compelled to redefine school safety to include an increased focus on school security. Trask committed to assist with physical campus security upgrades. On Friday, June 2, Trask presented interim headmaster, Rev. Joe Lawrence, with a generous check to offset the expense of this initiative.

“We view our charge to protect our families from both internal and external threats as a sacred responsibility,” HTCCS Director of Operations Minnie Bullock said in a news release. “We are committed to proactive prevention and diligent response training.”

In April HTCCS launched

a renewed security improvement initiative. The first step was to enlist the service of Mark Cobb of Last Stand Defense. Cobb performed a thorough security evaluation, identified opportunities to improve campus safety and submitted detailed recommendations.

Last Stand Defense conducted their first training for Holy Trinity’s faculty and staff on Friday May 26 as a supplement to the Incident Response Training provided by the City of Beaufort Police Department in August 2022. Topics covered in the May training included active shooter response, identification and prevention of internal/external threats and additional training to sup-

plement the “Stop the Bleed” training which the Beaufort Fire Department provided for Holy Trinity on March 17. As a result of the gift from Trask, infrastructure upgrades such as additional security cameras, improved barriers and other deterrents will be implemented over the summer.

“The ongoing national conversation regarding school safety is extremely important, but small private schools are sometimes overlooked,” Lawrence said. “George’s generous gift has not only greatly blessed us and enabled us to better safeguard our students and faculty, it also brings private schools more into this important conversation.”

History Museum brings Broadway to Beaufort June 24

From staff reports

As historian Lawrence Rowland says, “All American history actually begins in Beaufort,” so it is fitting that singer, director, and music coach Lenora Eve, a Pinckney descendant, and Beaufort History Museum

Zonta Club of Beaufort President Tammy Siegner presents Alyson Boggess with the “Working Woman” Scholarship of $1,000 at the group’s May General Membership Meeting. Boggess works as an RN at Beaufort Memorial Hospital in the Infusion Center. The Club helped her early on in her nursing career at the Technical College of the Lowcountry with a scholarship and are delighted to assist her now in pursuing her Masters Degree in Nursing. “She has four children and portrays the true meaning of working woman.” Submitted photo.

President Kathryn Mixon, a great granddaughter of Niels Christensen, should collaborate to bring Broadway performers to Beaufort to sing our American music.

The program runs the gamut of uniquely American music, from spirituals to opera to boogie woogie, and includes selections from “Hamilton,” “Porgy and Bess,” “Ragtime,” and “1776,” and will be

set against a backdrop of slides of Beaufort during the different eras depicted in the music.

There will be two performances on Saturday, June 24 – one at 2 p.m. and one

at 7 p.m., at USCB Center for the Arts. Find out more and purchase tickets at www.beauforthistorymuseum.com $35 for BHM members and $40 for non-members.

Sea Island Garden Club, Coosa Elementary form a growing bond

From staff reports

A partnership between Sea Island Garden Club and Coosa Elementary has allowed students to learn how food comes from the ground to the table. And they’ve been able to share their experiences and knowledge with their families.

During the spring of 2012, 37 Coosa Elementary teachers, staff, and cafeteria workers volunteered to complete Clemson University Extension’s course and workshop, School Gardening for SC Educators. Participants learned the basic horticultural skills necessary to start and maintain a school garden. The Garden STEM Curriculum for a garden classroom for K-8 was provided as well as workshop supplies, lessons, and

activities to engage the students and school personnel.

In September 2022, Sea Island Garden Club partnered with Coo-

sa Elementary to help fund parts of the Junior Master Gardner Program for 4th graders. Additionally, the school wanted to expand

the program to include raised beds and an outdoor learning classroom which would include a garden and orchard. The pro-

gram has expanded to include grades K-8.

In spring of 2023, Sea Island Garden Club, along with Coosa Elementary School, applied for the state’s Children’s Gardens and Youth Gardening Education Grant in the amount of $1,000 The grant was awarded to this program and the funds will provide materials for more hands-on experiences as well as provide funds to expand and maintain the current gardens and orchard.

Gordon Ivey, a former student at Coosa Elementary, constructed the raised beds for the school garden as his Eagle Scout Project in March 2021. And Ivey will attend Camp Wildwood this summer as the Sea Island Garden Club camper for 2023.

Above left: A little girl gets some help looking over the fence while a bunch of balloons bounces along behind her during the Commencement Exercise at Whale Branch Early College High School on Thursday, June 8, in Seabrook. Both sides of the Earl Campbell Athletic Complex football stadium were standing-room-only as Whale Branch graduated 96 seniors. ••• Above right: Whale Branch Early College HIgh School’s Marine Corps Jr. ROTC color guard – from left, Ja’Kwann, Christian Vasques, Raimund Roell and Ja’leal Polite – post the colors to begin the Commencement Exercise at the school Thursday night, June 8. Sitting up front are the top 10 seniors – from left, Hunter Arquette, Kalyn Moultrie, Janeya Cox, Rondasha Bond, Alicia Jackson, Eliseo Shell Bolo, Kenyiah Webb, De’Ziyah Smalls and Zarie Green. Photos by Bob Sofaly/The Island News

Lenora Eve, at keyboard, rehearses with other musical performers who will bring Broadway to Beaufort on June 24. Submitted photo.

Coosa Elementary students show off the fruits … or vegetables … of their labor from their garden at school. Submitted photo.

Sea Island Garden Club members tour the garden at Coosa Elementary School. Submitted photo.

George Trask, left, made a generous contribution to Interim Headmaster Joe Lawrence, right, and Holy Trinity to assist with the school’s enhanced security initiative. Submitted photo.

USCB celebrates grant to bolster maritime cybersecurity program

By Delayna Earley The Island News

The University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) was awarded a $1 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF).

The grant came from the NSF Engines program and USCB joins more than 40 teams from across the U.S. in receiving the NSF Engines Development Awards meant to encourage collaboration to create societal, economic and technological opportunities within the region.

Eleven proposals were submitted from the state of South Carolina, and the one from USCB was the only one chosen.

“That goes to show the exclusive company that we are in with this grant,” said Eric Skipper, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at USCB.

A press conference was held on June 9, 2023, at the USCB Cybersecurity Lab on Boundary St., but the grant was originally announced on May 17.

“The intent of the grant falls into three big areas, workforce development, research and education,” Skipper said.

Regarding research, USCB is

Eric Skipper, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs with University of South Carolina Beaufort, speaks during a press event to celebrate a $1 million dollar grant that the university received to fund maritime cybersecurity research, education and workforce development on Friday, June 9, 2023, at the USCB Cybersecurity Lab in Beaufort. Delayna Earley/The Island News

hoping to build regional research partnerships aimed at accelerating technology development.

They also want to make a posi-

tive impact on the region and make high-wage, local jobs.

This is meant to tie to the educational master plan which puts a

focus on innovation.

The faculty at USCB has been engaging in “use-inspired research,” which is research that has

a specific application to problem solving and improving quality of life in our region.

Not only is the faculty involved in this, but they have been trying to include the students in all aspects of research and other projects that they are engaged in.

The grant will allow USCB, along with 12 partners, to plan for the South Coast Regional Innovation Engine which will conduct research to find and understand risks and vulnerabilities in the regional maritime ecosystem in hopes of developing technology to enhance the safety and security of our ports.

Skipper said that what the grant is doing is solving problems around maritime cybersecurity, which is nationally recognized as a need.

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

TCL, North Greenville announce transfer agreement

From staff reports Officials with the Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL) and North Greenville University (NGU) have signed an articulation agreement that enables TCL’s early care and education students interested in furthering their education to seamlessly transfer to NGU.

The agreement, signed June 6, enables TCL students who have completed the college’s Associate of Applied Science in Early Care and

Education degree program to easily transfer into NGU’s online Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Educational Studies program.

TCL students who transfer to NGU will be provided with advising and academic support for a successful transition and are eligible for a 10% discount on tuition, officials said.

“We are excited to partner with North Greenville University,” TCL President Dr. Richard Gough said in a

EDUCATION BRIEFS

news release. “This partnership will certainly help us meet our mission of providing accessible, high-quality academic education and workforce training here in the Lowcountry.”

Kelli Boniecki, TCL’s Early Care and Education Program Director, said the agreement is a win-win for everyone involved.

“One of the facets of the agreement we’re particularly excited about is that NGU’s online bachelor’s

commencement ceremonies.

degree program allows students who have graduated from TCL and enrolled at NGU to work on their field placement practicum work and student teaching here in our schools. That means many of our students are more likely to stay and continue to work in the area, and that’s something everyone is excited about,” she said. Gough agreed with Boniecki.

“The transfer agreement and program will help meet

the demand for early care professionals and teachers, and having enough teachers is something everyone can agree is vitally important to the health and economic viability of a community,” he said.

Once students earn their bachelor’s degree, they are eligible to sit for the Early Childhood Education Praxis exam and can become certified to teach in a public school or other setting such as a childcare center, after-

mester.

school program or Head Start program.

To learn more about TCL’s Early Care and Education program, visit www. tcl.edu/academics/pathways/human-services/early-care-and-education-associate-in-applied-science.

To learn more about NGU’s online Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Educational Studies program visit www.ngu.edu/programs/early-childhood-education-online

8

from Beaufort graduate from College of Charleston

The College of Charleston celebrated Spring 2023 Commencement with three ceremonies on May 12 and 13. Graduates from Beaufort include:

• Nicole Marsh (29907), Bachelor of Arts in International Studies;

• Phoebe Trainum (29907), Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science; Hayden Price (29902), Bachelor of Arts in History;

• Josephine Quade (29907), Bachelor of Science in Special Education;

• Diamond Young (29907), Bachelor of Arts in Psychology; Jayne Trumps (29907), Bachelor of Arts in Communication; Mason Monti (29906), Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre;

Yxsumi McKinnon Simmons (29907), Master of Arts in Teaching in Early Childhood Education.

The College of Charleston is a public liberal arts and sciences university located in the heart of historic Charleston. With more than 10,000 students, the College of Charleston offers the distinctive combination of a beautiful and historic campus, modern facilities and cutting-edge programs.

Beaufort’s Bumgardner graduates from Alabama

Emma Bumgardner of Beaufort (29907) gradated from The University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science degree. UA awarded more than 5,885 degrees during its spring

The University of Alabama provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus. A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers.

Davis-Fletcher earns Graduate Degree from Hollins

Emily Davis-Fletcher of Beaufort received the MFA in Creative Writing during Hollins University’s 181st commencement ceremony on May 21 in Roanoke, Va.

Hollins is an independent liberal arts university offering undergraduate liberal arts education for women and selected graduate programs for women and men. The university features 29 undergraduate majors and 15 coed graduate and certificate programs.

Hollins is also home to a nationally recognized creative writing program; the innovative Batten Leadership Institute; and the Rutherfoord Center for Experiential Learning, which encompasses study abroad at an array of destinations around the world, domestic and international internships with top tier businesses and organizations, and undergraduate research opportunities in a range of fields.

4 area students honored at Lander

Four area students were honored for the Spring 2023 semester at Lander University in Greenwood.

Beaufort’s Molly Smith was named to the President’s List. To qualify for the President’s List, a student must earn a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) over the course of the semester and be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate.

Beaufort’s Carolina Alvarez and McCayla Willingham, and Yemassee’s Jada Hamilton were named to the Dean’s List. To qualify for the Dean’s List, a student must earn a grade-point average (GPA) of 3.5 to 3.9 and be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate.

Founded in 1872, Lander University is a four-year, public institution that serves nearly 4,100 students and offers professional programs in more than 90 areas of study, including business, education, nursing and STEM.

8 from Beaufort make

Georgia Southern President’s, Dean’s lists

Georgia Southern University recently recognized approximately 2,100 students, including four from Beaufort, for excellence in academics on the Spring 2023 President’s List. To be eligible for the President’s List, a student must have at least a 4.0 grade point average and carry a minimum of 12 hours for the semester.

The Beaufort students honored were Lindsey Breaux (29907), Olivia Hogle (29906) Katie Innes (29907) and Oakley Magbee (29902).

Georgia Southern recognized approximately 3,110 students, including four from Beaufort, on the Spring 2023 Dean’s List.

To be eligible for the Dean’s List, a student must have at least a 3.5 grade point average and carry a minimum of 12 hours for the se-

The Beaufort students honored were Mary Baker (29907), Victoria Floyd (29907), Jason Hernandez (29906) and Jamiah Johnson (29902)

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers approximately 140 different degree programs serving more than 25,500 students through 10 colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Ga.; Savannah, Ga.; Hinesville, Ga.; and online instruction.

Ole Miss named 2 from Beaufort to Chancellor’s Honor Roll

The University of Mississippi announced two Beaufort students named to the Spring 2023 Chancellor’s Honor Roll. The following local students made the list: Madison Aivaz, of Beaufort, majoring in Communication Sciences/Disorders.

Anna Field, of Beaufort, majoring in Pharm.D. – Pharm. Prct. Track.

The Chancellor’s Honor Roll is reserved for students who earn a semester GPA of 3.75-4.00.

In order to be eligible for honor roll designation, a student must have completed at least 12 graded hours for the semester and may not be on academic probation during the semester.

The University of Mississippi is included in the elite group of R1: Doctoral Universities – Highest Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification and has a long history of producing leaders in public service, academics and business.

Every picture tells a story, don’t it?

Oh, my goodness. I will say upfront I am writing this before the former president’s appearance in a Miami courtroom Tuesday afternoon to face a litany of charges connected to his mishandling of classified documents. Who knows what kind of nonsense will have happened between the time I’m writing this and its publication?

But man, oh man, that indictment. It’s a doozy.

In no uncertain terms, and often using the former president’s own statements on the sanctity of documents like those he removed from the White House at the end of his term, the case is made that he knew he was taking those documents inappropriately; that he willfully and recklessly exposed sensitive information to house guests (and who knows else); and that he conspired with his “body man” Waltine Nauta

TERRY MANNING

to keep federal agents from recovering said documents after he was given opportunity to so.

Like some others, I was eager to read the indictment after it was unsealed last week. I wanted to see exactly what special prosecutor Jack Smith had been able to uncover. And most of it fit with what I expected. Detail after detail is arranged to show how the former president played an elaborate game of hide-and-seek with records he knew he shouldn’t have had in his possession.

One reporter compared the shuffle of boxes of files to a shell game.

“A simple game of chance, folks. Where are the records, where are the records? In that room? Are you sure? Are you sure you sure? Let’s take a look. Ohhhh! I thought you had it that time. Wanna play again? Come on, it’s fun! You’ll just need another court order.”

The former president, Nauta and lawyers described as “Trump Attorney 1,” “Trump Attorney 2” and “Trump Attorney 3” are quoted at length talking about the documents, talking about showing the documents to people, talking about hiding the documents, and talking about lying about hiding the documents.

It’s all pretty standard stuff, as unprecedented national security scandal Cisco. But what caught me completely off guard, I must say, were the photos.

Of course it was breathtaking to see boxes on top of boxes tucked away in

corners and hallways, even on the stage in one ballroom, where anybody and everybody could’ve gotten to them. One Twitter user faked a photo of her grandson and his new bride posing next to the files at their wedding reception.

Hilarious!

The bathroom photos, though, were the clincher for me. Especially the one where you see files stacked beside a toilet and shower stall with an absolutely ridiculous chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

People like to say they “literally laughed out loud” when they are trying to convey how funny something is to them (versus typing or texting the ubiquitous “LOL” and laughing emoji), but they usually don’t mean it literally. I am being literal when I tell you I laughed out at the chandelier. That doggone chandelier told me more about the

former president than any magazine profile, any news segment, any documentary, any chattering right-wing television figure or editorial cartoon.

That chandelier told me the former president is nothing more than fast-talking trash with a line of credit that allows him to indulge his worst instincts. He’s the King of the Classless. The Ruler of Rude. The Governor of Gauche. The Emperor of Ewww. The Baron of Barf. The Poobah of Puh-leez.

Let me be clear, I’m not against money or people who have money. And I don’t judge people for not having money. Both my parents spent parts of their childhoods helping their sharecropper parents keep food on the table, and they worked tough manufacturing jobs. My brother and I were blessed to have them as role models.

And that’s where I scratch

my head at the people still trying to get the former president back in office.

He is a terrible, sloppy, low-character human being, and while it’s OK if some people want that to represent them in public office a la MTG, Boebert, Gaetz, et. al, the presidency should not be that office. The president should represent the best of us and inspire the rest of us. I don’t want a president who thinks he’s a king. I don’t want a president who runs to rub other people’s noses in it. I don’t want a president who constantly sows division and urges people to be their worst selves.

I don’t want a president who thinks it’s classy to have a stupid chandelier hanging over his toilet.

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

A reminder of America’s original sin

It is Thursday, early, a surprisingly brisk morning for June. This morning I have my coffee and, my optimism notwithstanding, a newspaper full of pessimism and editorial bombthrowing.

Today’s Journal also tells us about the June rush to the airport and preparations (by air carriers) to handle the millions of Americans who want to get themselves out of Indiana and into Italy.

Last summer my wife and I took a month-long ramble through England and then Italy. After the initial airport chaos at JFK; we found reliable, angst-free ground transportation provided by BritRail; and then Trenitalia.

Rail travel in England and Italy is still cheap and takes you into the heart of York, Gloucester and Perugia. In most cases you can walk from the station to your hotel and, of course, there is no “security” mandating the removal of Crocs or confiscation of one’s last, vintage bottle of Aqua Velva.

In the UK you walk through an often-empty station; board your “carriage” by climbing two or three steps in two or three seconds, then throw your almost bursting backpack into an often-empty overhead rack.

On one leg — Umbertide to Roma Tibertina costing us 12.45 Euros — we needed help because we had to change trains at the Ponte San Giovanni Station in Perugia. Knowing this, I found the

SCOTT GRABER

stationmaster (actually an attractive, dark-eyed station-mistress) who did not speak much English. Nonetheless she endured my broken, Lonely Planet-learned Italian; and then patiently wrote-down a station-by-station, hour-by-hour itinerary to include a bus transportation component at the end.

In 1980 — when Susan and I made our first trip to Italy — we rented a Fiat Cinquecento (pronounced chinkway-chentow) at the airport. We drove the Autostrada from Rome to Umbria — where my wife’s sister lives — and then on to Gubbio, Citti de Castello, Perugia and Todi.

These are thick-walled, hilltop towns that don’t want Fiat Cinquecentos on their narrow, cobbled, pedestrian-clotted streets. In some of these hill towns, one parks in a lot at the foot of a mountain, then climbs (or takes an escalator) up the hill and into the center of the ancient city.

All of which brings me to Henry Grabar’s new book, “Paved Paradise — How Parking Explains

the World.” Grabar (no relation to this writer) begins with America’s Original Sin.

In this case he’s not talking Slavery; Grabar’s writing about the “mid-20th-century consensus that the best way for cities to compete with booming suburbs was to make it easier to park downtown.”

“Neighborhoods were demolished” making way for car-friendly office towers. “Cities carved municipal garages out of public space.” Some American downtowns, “have more land devoted to parking lots than to buildings.”

In our neck of the woods, Charleston, led by Mayor Joe Riley, decided to build a multi-storied parking garage on every corner — a total of 14. His example was followed in Savannah (5), and in St. Augustine, all incoming traffic is routed to a huge building (1,200 spaces) within walking distance of the Disneyesque cornucopia of earthly delights available along St. George Street ($15 per vehicle).

Grabar says downtown garages have diminished and degraded urban living — “No city of any size could have permitted everyone to come by car and retain a vibrant downtown.” He says that in the end you’ve got to build or upgrade public transportation — trains, trolleys and buses.

But the problem in Charleston (and certainly in St. Augustine) is not only the open space lost to SUV storage; rather it is the

But the problem in Charleston (and certainly in St. Augustine) is not only the open space lost to SUV storage; rather it is the daily surge of tourists who crash into the old, residential neighborhoods like Ansonborough, Cannonborough and Wragg Square. It is the loss of residential quiet, children kicking soccer balls, starlight, night-time inactivity and the two months (January and February) when ‘Charlestonians get their town back.’”

daily surge of tourists who crash into the old, residential neighborhoods like Ansonborough, Cannonborough and Wragg Square.

It is the loss of residential quiet, children kicking soccer balls, starlight, night-time inactivity and the two months (January and February) when “Charlestonians get their town back.”

In this connection I, have first-hand testimony from a new neighbor who is departing Ansonborough — in downtown Charleston — for downtown Port Royal. He is trading Calhoun Street for the (relative) quiet of 9th Street. Which is remarkable when I remember that my wife

History does, indeed, repeat itself

anti-Federalists.

If you have been fortunate enough to see “Hamilton” live on stage, I am envious. We know that the Broadway production received rave reviews, and touring companies took it to various venues throughout the country.

I did see the video of the Broadway production, but when the book club to which I belong chose the novel, My Dear Hamilton written by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie. I found myself learning so much more than I knew about that period of American history.

The two authors, it is said, attended the Broadway production, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also plays the lead. When they emerged from seeing the play and entered a cab taking them back to their hotel, they began immediately to discuss how they could co-write a book, based upon the play. This, in and of itself,

CAROL LUCAS

might be viewed as the reverse procedure of what is usually the order of things. However, I admit to having been drawn into the book quickly.

Miranda calls “Hamilton,” “the story of America then, told by America now.”

When the play initially came out, there was considerable backlash because it was an “all-white historical narrative told by an all nonwhite cast.”

Mine is not to enter the fray of that dispute, but rather to try to draw parallels between the book and what we see happening today. I came to see so many

of the events reflect our present political landscape that I felt compelled to make a few comparisons.

Granted this book is a novel, the genre of historical fiction, and poetic license is to be expected. However, from all I am able to gather, the authors have been diligent in their research, and as contemporary writers, they, too, must have discovered the likeness of political dissent back then to that of today.

I suspect very few history courses focus upon the back biting and in-house treacheries of the founding fathers as they struggled to compromise on what should be included in the Constitution. With the conclusion of the American Revolution and the writing of the Declaration of Independence, our forefathers were confronted with how to structure a government. Thus came the emergence of the Federalists and the

Very simply, the former saw a stronger national government as the answer to a “more perfect union.” They believed that such a government would improve the relationship between states, and many came together to construct the Constitution. Alexander Hamilton was a pivotal contributor to this effort, and was referred to as “the Goliath of Federalism.”

Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, saw a strong federal government as a pathway to encroachment, thus stripping away individual rights and property. They fought adamantly against the Constitution and favored small, local government rule.

In July of 1788, there was a physical battle, including armaments, in the streets of Albany, New York, where the anti-Federalists were ultimately forced to retreat. However, they later

(in 1980) gazed upon our faded, unheated, partly renovated house and asked, “Where have you brought me?”

Those trepidations were reinforced by a shooting — at the Last Chance Saloon — several weeks later. Shortly thereafter came the “thinning” of Little Green Herons — an annual neighborhood celebration that involved shooting these birds out of our Magnolia trees. “We do have an infant,” she reminded me at the time.

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

achieved the inclusion of the Bill of Rights to insure the preservation of what they saw as their rightful liberties.

Keeping in mind that poetic license may have come into play, at least in part, consider the following characters and their portrayal in the book.

Aaron Burr could trace his lineage back to Jonathan Edwards, renowned New England theologian; yet he was considered to be quite corruptible, and was said to have brought in wagon loads of people to vote in an election in which he was a candidate. Some were even infirm and had to be led to a ballot.

The book includes aspects of the electoral college and some of the inherent problems that existed even then. It is stated that despite Hamilton’s distaste for Thomas Jefferson and all that he espoused, when Jefferson

was running against Burr, a Federalist, for the Presidency, Hamilton (a Federalist, himself) was convinced that Jefferson was the lesser of two evils.

Thus he managed to convince the Delaware representative to vote for Jefferson. One vote, one electoral college vote, resulted in Thomas Jefferson’s becoming the third President of the United States.

Does any of this seem familiar? What I have put forth here is just a sampling of what is decidedly a fascinating backdrop to the genesis of our country.

Should you opt to read My Dear Hamilton, and I hope you do, I will leave it to you to discern whether or not history repeats itself.

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.”

Another opinion aside from the opposition

Iwas invited to join the St. Helena Island Cultural Protection Overlay (CPO) Committee at its inception in 1999. We were set up by our County Councilman, William McBride, as an advisory committee that would work with him to stay in touch with the island residents.

Members were carefully chosen from the various areas of our large island (indeed we are larger than Hilton Head.) We soon became the “go to” body for businesses that were interested in becoming established on the island, and citizens could also approach us with their concerns.

As an unincorporated part of

Within the unlimited amount of evidence to prove that God is real and the Creator of all things, there is no greater example than the Sun, Earth, and Moon. The average person does not wake up in the morning and rush to the window to see if the sun is going to rise, or if the earth is being drawn into a black hole. Neither would anyone jump up and down just to make sure the levels of gravity did not change during the night or if the oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide levels are still maintaining the perfect atmosphere to breathe.

God not only created where we live, He also carefully maintains it. The reliability of time and the seasons for example relays a message from God that we can trust Him with everything.

Science has written a library of knowledge about the Sun, Earth, and moon, but no one can fathom why

ANNE CHRISTENSEN POLLITZER

Beaufort County, we hoped to lend a voice [to] our citizens.

These monthly meetings were held until the pandemic brought a slow down. Some meetings were held virtually, recently.

The principles for the development of St. Helena Island, which

is inevitable, were hashed over during the last few years, and we worked with the planning office, learning new terms and learning how this is done elsewhere. The resulting principles were presented to the council, after the inclusion of our latest large development at Bermuda Bluff on the southwest corner of the island.

No more gated communities, no more water slides, and there would be regulations for at-home businesses (limited parking), etc. We met for weeks over the inclusion of the new Dollar Store and Queen Quet did a masterful job with the widening of the highway and installation of our first, and then second, traffic light.

Regrettably, reporting to the Beaufort County Council and Planning Commission did not translate to informing the citizens very well, and few were aware of the new regulations. On special occasions, such as the planning for the library and a meeting last year with our councilmen brought out a large crowd of residents. Still golf club regulations were not brought up, nor widely known.

I am sure that Mr. Tropeano studied all of the local regulations as he considered the purchase of Pine Island and its adjacent property. He was quick to adjust his plans for a golf course as a result. He has now invested more than

LIVING ON PURPOSE

GOD DID THAT

celestial bodies are, how do they stay in place?

$20,000,000 in the purchase and study of the property and has met many times with citizens.

The opposition is very vocal and has made its feelings known, but there are an equal number of neighbors not violently opposed to his plans, especially the one that includes three small golf courses and 60 houses. (We have 70 homeowners in Dulamo.) This Plan A is far preferable to the alternative plan B with 166 proposed houses, septic tanks, and docks.

Hoping to bring a voice of sanity to the situation.

they work together no more than why oxygen gives life to the blood or how can the brain manage every system of our bodies instantly all at once. Beyond what they are, how do they stay in place?

The Sun is actually a star, and the universe contains an incalculable amount of them. They are different sizes and some are even 100 times larger than our Sun. According to the experts, they are luminous balls of gases, mostly hydrogen and helium, with nuclear fusion at their core to support the masses which are held together by their own gravity. Beyond what all the

If the Sun moved away even a small amount, our planet would be frozen and if it inched closer, we would be burned to a crisp. The conclusion: We build miniature replicas and hang them with strings, but the only explanation about how these massive round objects remain stationary can be nothing other than the one who made them is holding them there.

The Earth has not only been in a precise orbit around the Sun since the beginning, it also maintains a perfect tilt and a perfect rotational speed. The Moon orbits the Earth exactly every 27.3 days as the Earth and Moon are both moving around the Sun with such preciseness that we can know the exact minute when the Sun will rise and set 100 years from now. Random chance? Hardly. God regulates a bearable temperature with a constant

Love God, Love Others, Reach Out

perfect amount of carbon dioxide as we do not appreciate oxygen until we can’t breathe.

If our planet were a tiny bit smaller or larger, let’s just say that mass affects gravity and life would not be the same as we enjoy now. All of this and so much more is going on every second and we rarely stop to even give Him thanks.

As technology advances to study the cosmos, the more complex it becomes.

The same is true with the vast mysteries of the human body and all living creatures, they are such intricate, and perplexing miracles of creation. It’s said the human eye consists of more than two million working parts and this is just a small component compared to the brain. The most advanced computer cannot compare to the brain, which controls 100 billion neurons communicating with each other constantly. When it comes to how the universe began, we’ve heard about how everything we see and know projected outward from this ginormous explosion and it’s still expanding. This is quite different from the Bible’s account of creation. However, if this is the way God wanted to create the universe billions of years ago, we should we argue?

The writers of Genesis did not call it a “big bang” because the creation of

the entire cosmos and the creation of the Sun, Earth, and Moon are probably two different events. Read the creation account carefully and you will discover it focuses on our planet and the mention of heavens refers to multiple atmospheres such as, Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Exosphere, and Magnetosphere. Could God have formed the Earth billions of years after He created the Universe? Yes!

The point is that none of it happened by coincidence. “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth. Visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him, all things consist.” Colossians 1:16-17.

Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

Anne Christensen Pollitzer lines in the Dulamo community on St. Helena Island.

BILLY HOLLAND

ARTS

“Colors of the World”

photography exhibition

Through Sunday, July 2, The Society of Bluffton Artists Gallery, 6 Church St, Bluffton. Free and open to the public. Savannah Kemper’s upcoming photography exhibit captures the unique colors and textures from her travels. An opening reception will take place from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 7 at the gallery. For more information, visit http:// www.aproposllc.com or follow Savannah on Instagram at @apropos_photography.

Bookbinding Workshop

11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, July 29, Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, 10782 South Jacob Smart Blvd, Ridgeland. $40. Explore the art of bookbinding with Director of Exhibitions & Programs Kayleigh Vaughn. Whether you want a journal, sketchbook, or scrapbook, you will learn the basics of Secret Belgian binding. All supplies are provided to create a 96-page blank book. Purchases are non-refundable. To register visit https://www. morrisheritagecenter.org/event-5305006.

CALENDAR

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

Sharing Hearts Support Group

5:30 to 7 p.m., second Tuesday of every month, 2201 Boundary Street, Suite 208, Beaufort. Free. Come tell your 10-minute story of a life lesson or healing message using your own creative expression through a song, poetry, reading, art or verbal storytelling.

Come away with an uplifting sense of support and connections or to just listen. Register by leaving a voicemail with name, phone and number of attendees at 843-525-6115 or send email to reneesutton@healthierhealing. com. Notification will be done of any location change due to seat requirements. Next event is on Tuesday, June 13.

Karaoke with Melissa

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

Trivia with Mike – Fat Patties

7:30 p.m., Every Wednesday, Fat Patties, 831 Parris Island Gateway, Beaufort. Free. Team trivia event, win house cash prizes! For more information, visit https://rb.gy/o9nhwe.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

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

Trivia with Mike – Bricks On Boundary

7:30 p.m., Every Thursday, Fat Patties, 1422 Boundary St, Beaufort. Free. Team trivia event, win house cash and Beer Bucket prizes! For more information, visit https:// rb.gy/o9nhwe.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

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

Bluffton Night Bazaar — a Lowcountry Made Market

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

Rooted Beaufort Yoga classes

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

Wet Willie’s Trivia Night 7 to 10 p.m., every Thursday, Wet Willie’s, Beaufort Town Center. Win awesome prizes while you sip the worlds greatest daiquiris and munch on delicious bites.

Wet Willie’s Bingo Night 7 to 10 p.m., every Friday, Wet Willie’s, Beaufort Town Center. Win free giveaways, merchandise, and more cool prizes.

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

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

Karaoke with Melissa

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

Drum Circle

6:30 to 8 p.m., 2nd Friday of every month, Gazeebo, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort. Free. Anyone welcome, no experience necessary. Eric Roy, a recent transplant from Connecticut with successful experience in leading drum circles, is our new facilitator. He will start sessions off with 1520 minutes of instruction on djembe playing and teach a selected traditional rhythm & accompaniment for participants to play. In addition, there will be time allotted for spontaneous group drumming. Bring a drum, if you have one, a chair and a desire to have fun. The Drum Circle has several extra drums and many other percussion instruments that anyone can use. To receive updates on future events, send your email to lannyk13@gmail. com. Next meeting will be June 9.

Highway 21 Flea Market

9 a.m. to 4 p.m., every Saturday and Sunday, Highway 21 Drive-In. Sellers, vendors, handmade items, unique products and yard sale items. For information, email lowcountryfleamarket@gmail.com.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

HIGHWAY 21 DRIVE-IN

The movies scheduled for this week (Thursday, June 15 through Wednesday, June 21) at the Highway 21 Drive-In are The Flash (PG-13, 8:45 p.m.) and Spider-man Across

The Spider-verse (PG, 11:20 p.m.) on Screen 1; Elemental (PG, 8:45 p.m.) and The Little Mermaid (PG, 11:10 p.m.) on Screen 2; and Transformers, Rise Of The Beasts (PG-13, 8:45 p.m.) and Guardians Of The Galaxy, Volume 3 (PG-13, 11:05 p.m.) on Screen 3 (Friday and Saturday).

Online ticketing is available at hwy21drivein. com on the Now Playing page. Patrons are asked to arrive early on Friday and Saturday nights. Gates open at 6:30 p.m.

“Our family at the Hwy. 21 drive in feel a responsibility to our community,” a statement from Highway 21 Drive-In management reads. “We are concerned about many things in these trying times and in making the right decisions. We are concerned with our employees, our patrons, our business, our community’s businesses, and the health and well-being of all.”

A reminder: no outside food or beverages can be brought into the drive-in.

Upcoming movies include Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny (June 30) and Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning (July).

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.

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.

Play & Eat – Dinner Theater

6 to 8:30 p.m., Saturdays, June 17, and July 1, Hilton Garden Inn, 1500 Queen Street, Beaufort. Solve a murder mystery while you feast on a fantastic dinner. Just to let you know the murderer is hiding somewhere in the room, and you may find yourself as one of the suspects if you don’t watch it. This is a prize-winning competition and everyone is a participant. For more information, contact 843-592-6209 or playandeatdinnertheater@ gmail.com, or visit the website at www. playandeatdinnertheater.com.

You’re A Star Saturday, June 17, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort. The Petals & Stars nonprofit presents “You’re A Star,” the community event that combines the popular Entrepreneur Day 4 Kids popup market and the lively Wacky Competition Scenes contest to create a fun-filled day. Expect children of all ages to be onsite selling impressive crafts, jewelry, artwork, baked goods, home decor, and other products. At the same time, first responders will be competing against businesses and community members in zany challenges. We are still accepting “small” business vendor applications for the market. The fee is $15 per booth. For more info, please check out our Facebook page @petalsandstars or send an email to hope@petalsandstars.org.

Memory Matters: Simple Suppers –Healthy Eating for Two

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

67th annual Beaufort Water Festival Friday, July 14 through Sunday, July 23, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort.

Sips & Seafood Party

5 to 10 p.m., Friday, Oct 27, Hewitt Oaks, 205 Stillwell Road, Bluffton. $175. Bluffton

Self Help’s annual fundraiser. The funds raised provide education, basic needs, career development, and a sense of hope. Last year alone, this event helped 194 families to remain in their homes, keep the lights on, and to get through a difficult time. It supported 413 neighbors as they earned an education through English as a Second Language, Adult Basic Education, and GED Preparation classes. Our guests and sponsors provided 168 neighbors with the opportunity to meet one-on-one with client advocates through 672 meetings to connect to resources, develop goals and work toward reaching personal success. Through The Market 858 households received 431,428 pounds of fresh produce, dairy, meat, eggs, non perishable groceries, hygiene items, diapers and more than 20,000 articles of clothing enabling them to stretch their budget and have better health. Purchase tickets at https://rb.gy/kq7ef.

CAMPS Summer Sailing Camp 2023

9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, June 19 to Thursday, July 28, Beaufort Yacht & Sailing Club, 30 Yacht Club Drive, Beaufort. Camp

is separated into weeks, Monday through Thursday. $335 per week for BYSC members, $375 per week for non-members, ages 8 through 16. Are you looking for an experience for your kid or grandkids this summer that will give them confidence and life long skills?

Please consider Summer Sailing Camp at the Beaufort Sailing and Yacht Club. Register at https://rb.gy/zpfd0. If you have questions, you can contact Noah Nipar directly at sailingdirector@beaufortsailing.com.

Junior Building Detectives Summer Camp

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday, June 26 through Wednesday, June 28, John Mark Verdier House, 801 Bay Street, Beaufort. Cost is $100 for Historic Beaufort Foundation members, $125 for non-members. Early registration is recommended because of space limitations. Historic Beaufort Foundation presents “Junior Building Detectives,” focusing on camp participants solving the mysteries of history by learning about local architecture. The summer camp, hosted in Bay Street’s historic John Mark Verdier House which dates to about 1804, will teach campers the basics of historic architecture and preservation. Campers will learn how buildings change over time, the meaning behind architectural features, and the connection of historic buildings to our community. They’ll do this through hands-on activities, walks around downtown Beaufort, arts-and-crafts projects, experiments in building science, and more. At the end of the program, campers will participate in creating a building and presenting their design to the class and parents/guardians. Registration may be completed by calling HBF at 843-379-3331 or going online to https://historicbeaufort.org.

GOLF

2nd annual Beaufort County Democratic Party Blues on the Greens

9:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 23, The Landings at Pleasant Point, Beaufort. Shotgun start. Teams of 4. $100 per player, $400 per team. Includes golf, cart and lunch. Registration link to come soon.

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.

A Monumental Occasion: 250 Years in the Making 1 p.m., Tuesday, June 20, Morris Center, 10782 S. Jacob Smart Blvd, Ridgeland. Free. What is the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission? Come learn about this organization and what they are doing to celebrate the 250th anniversary of this revolutionary time in history. The speaker is Bill Davies, Vice Chairman of the Commission.

Cecil Williams & the Civil Rights Movement in South Carolina

2 to 4 p.m., Tuesday, July 11, Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, 10782 South Jacob Smart Blvd, Ridgeland. Suggested $5 donation. Educators take note! In this professional development workshop, you’ll hear from civil rights photographer Cecil Williams as he shares his experiences and the educational posters he developed on South Carolina’s role in the movement. Learn some visual literacy strategies for talking about photography in the social studies classroom. Open to the public. For more information please visit https://www.morrisheritagecenter. org/event-5241011.

The American Revolution in Savannah

1 to 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 25, Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, 10782 South Jacob Smart Blvd, Ridgeland. Suggested $5 donation. Author, historian, and photographer Daniel McDonald Johnson explores the people and places of the Savannah River region in the American Revolution. Mr. Johnson’s areas of research include emigration from the Scottish Highlands to America, the southern American colonial experience, and The American Revolution. For more information please visit https://www.morrisheritagecenter.org/ event-5247038.

Port Royal Lecture Series: Who Was Here? Native Americans Before and During European Settlements 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 26, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1004 11th Street, Port Royal. $25 per person – Seating is limited. Lecturers are Stephen Criswell, Professor Chris Judge, and Evan Nooe, University of South Carolina Native American Studies Center. Buy tickets at https://historic-portroyal-foundation.square.site/.

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

Dungeons & Dragons

4 p.m., Mondays, Beaufort Downtown

Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6441. Ages 12 to 18.

Lego Club 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Mondays, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island, 843-255-6540. All ages welcome.

Teen Art Club 4 p.m., 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of each month, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6441. Ages 12-18.

Teen Anime Club 4 p.m., 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of each month, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6456.

Medicaid help sessions 2 to 4 p.m., Wednesdays, June 21, June 29, Computer Lab, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island. Assistance available with the Medicaid renewal and enrollment process. Help is free and provided by League of Women Voters volunteers, no appointment necessary. Information on the end of automatic renewals (aka Medicaid unwinding) and on Medicaid expansion efforts in the state.

Teen Video Game Club 4 p.m., 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of each month, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6441. Ages 12 to 18.

S.C. Works Job Coaching

2 to 4 p.m., Thursdays, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island, 843-255-6540. Free help with job searches, interviews.

Chess Club

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

Chess Meet Up

11 a.m., 2nd & 3rd Saturday of each month, Beaufort Downtown Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 843-255-6456. Instructor Henry Otto Seim will show beginners the basics or play a friendly game with more experienced players. All skill levels welcome. Extra boards will be set up.

Japanese Magical Journey with Yasu Ishida – St. Helena

12:30 p.m., Thursday, June 15, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St Helena Island and 3:30 p.m., Thursday, June 15, Lobeco Branch Library, 1862 Trask Parkway, Seabrook. Free; no registration required. Prepare to be amazed and dazzled by an exciting storytelling show that incorporates Japanese folktales with origami, Japanese music, and magic tricks. Families and kids of all ages are welcome.

MEETINGS

Sea Island Quilters

6:30 p.m., Thursday, June 15, Carteret United Methodist Church, 406 Boundary Street, Beaufort. Mary Campbell shares her “Harriet Powers’ Quilt.” Harriet Powers (Oct. 29, 1837 – Jan. 1, 1910) was an American folk artist and quilter. Powers used traditional appliqué techniques to make quilts that expressed local legends, Bible stories, and astronomical events. Her quilts are considered among the finest examples of nineteenthcentury Southern quilting. Her work is on display at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts.

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.

Zonta Club of Beaufort

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

MUSIC

Harmony for Homes

7 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, June 28, First Presbyterian Church Hilton Head Island, 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. $30. Music enthusiasts and supporters of affordable housing will come together for an unforgettable evening of music, community, and philanthropy at the muchanticipated concert, “Harmony for Homes.” This charitable event is presented by SERG and headlined by Mac Powell, former frontman and lead singer of the legendary, fourtime, Grammy Award-winning band, “Third Day.” Tickets can be purchased at www. habitathhi.org/harmonyforhomes.

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.

SPORTS/GAMES

ACBL Duplicate Bridge Club

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., Tuesdays, Carteret St. United Methodist Church. Games and events will be held weekly. Director Gene Ogden. Contact Jane Simpson 803-2263491.

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.

THURSDAY’S CARTOON

Read with caution; not necessarily the opinions of the editorial staff.

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

Donation – Call (888) 515-3810

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

Tuesday, June 20, 2023 is the last day to redeem winning tickets in the following South Carolina Education Lottery Instant Games: (1419) CLEMSON JACKPOT; (1420) CAROLINA JACKPOT; (1370) 3

TIMES LUCKY; (1386) INSTANT WIN Caring for an aging loved one? Wondering about options like senior-living communities and in-home care? Caring.com’s Family Advisors are here to help take the guesswork out of senior care for you and your family. Call for your FREE, no-obligation consultation: 1-855-212-9230

Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 833-230-8692 DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance – NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-855-397-7030 www.dental50plus.com/60 #6258 Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts. Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 833-638-3767

AUCTIONS

ESTATE AUCTION. Sat., June 24 at 9:30

AM. 1077 Shillings Bridge Road. Orangeburg, SC. 284 Intl. Tractor, 85 S10 Pickup (15k actual miles), zero turn mower, tons of tools, trailers, shop equip, coins, estate shotguns, nice furniture, antiques, glassware, country store collectibles, much more! Two auctioneers selling! Browse web at www.cogburnauction.com (803) 860-0712

Construction-Truck Auction. Tues., June 20 at 8 AM. Ten excavators. See Meekinsauction.com. Lumberton, NC. NCLN 858 ADVERTISE YOUR AUCTION in 99 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25-word classified ad will reach more than 2.1 million readers. Call Randall Savely at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.

HELP WANTED – DRIVERS

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

HELP WANTED – EMPLOYMENT

Ridgeland Nursing and Rehab is Under New Management! Now hiring: CNAs: Up to $24.50/hr., LPNs: Up to $35/hr., RNs: Up to $40/hr. *Evening and Weekend

Shift Differentials!* Please call 843-7265581 or apply online at www.ridgelandnrc.com

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE

Never clean your gutters again! Affordable, professionally installed gutter guards protect your gutters and home from debris and leaves forever! For a FREE Quote call: 877324-3132

NEED NEW FLOORING? Call Empire Today to schedule a FREE in-home estimate on Carpeting & Flooring. Call Today! 844254-3873

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

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

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

TELEVISION & INTERNET SERVICES

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

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

Dish Network: Only from Dish- 3 year TV Price Guarantee! 99% Signal Reliability, backed by guarantee. Includes Multi-Sport with NFL Redzone. Switch and Get a FREE $100 Gift Card. Call today! 1-877-542-0759 FREE high speed internet for those that qualify. Government program for recipients of select programs incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet service. Bonus offer: Android tablet FREE with one-time $20 copay. Free shipping & handling. Call Maxsip Telecom today! 1-855-851-8201

VACATION RENTALS

Short Term Rental

Go to, TideWatch Vacations, Menu Bars, Vacation Rentals, St. Helena Island, #64 ADVERTISE YOUR VACATION PROPERTY FOR RENT OR SALE to more than 2.1 million S.C. newspaper readers. Your 25-word classified ad will appear in 99 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Call Randall Savely at the South Carolina Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.

YOUR AD HERE

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

Common Questions Catholics Are Asked

Are Catholics Christians?

Yes, Catholics are Christians. Catholics believe what has always been at the core of the Christian faith: that Jesus of Nazareth is divine. God loves us so much that he entered the world and became a human being, in order that we may know him and love him. Since this is the case, we want to make Jesus the center of our lives. In him alone is found true joy and peace in this life, and eternal salvation after death.

Why do you call yourselves “Catholic”?

“Catholic” comes from the Greek word meaning “universal” or “shared by all.” By the end of the first century, this word started to be used by Christians to refer to the worldwide Christian Church, founded by Jesus and built upon the apostles. For the rest of the first millennium, the terms “Christian” and “Catholic” were used interchangeably.

Why are there many different Christian groups?

The first long-lasting division among Christians happened in 1054, when separation occurred between the Catholic Church and the churches we now know as the Eastern Orthodox. The next significant division occurred in the 1500s with the Protestant Reformation, when various new churches separated from the Catholic Church. As disagreements in doctrine or practice arose, these Protestant churches have continued to split over time, leading to the hundreds of different denominations one finds today.

What do all Christians have in common?

Although there are important differences, there is a great deal that most Christians share in common. We share a belief in the true humanity and true divinity of Jesus. We believe in the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We share the same New Testament, as well as the Ten Commandments and much of our moral code. Catholics see other Christians as our brothers and sisters in Christ, and there are many opportunities for us to work together to serve those in need and share the good news of Jesus.

Common Questions

Message 1 of 8

What are differences between Catholics and Orthodox?

The Orthodox churches are extremely close in doctrine and worship to the Catholic Church. For example, they have bishops and priests, celebrate sacred liturgy, and believe that Jesus is truly present in Holy Communion. From our perspective, the main difference is that their bishops do not accept the leadership of the pope; each bishop is essentially the pope of his geographical area.

What are differences between Catholics and Protestants?

There are various differences in belief and practice, many of which we will explore in this message series. From our perspective, the biggest difference is that Catholics believe that the Catholic Church is the visible, identifiable church started by Jesus nearly two thousand years ago, while Protestants do not. We believe that Jesus is at work in a special way in the Catholic Church, despite the sinfulness and brokenness of its members. We are grateful for the many spiritual gifts that Jesus gives us in our Catholic faith, so that we can grow as close to him as possible.