cover notes
The image on our cover is a detail of "Go Fish" by Jan Ross, from her watercolor exhibit coming to the Art League Gallery on Hilton Head in August. See our story on page 9.
r yWeekly
o w c o unt
LJuly 22 – August 4, 2020
Publisher: Jeff Evans — Jeff@LCWeekly.com
Editor: Margaret Evans — Editor@LCWeekly.com
Staff Writer: Mindy Lucas — Mindy@LCWeekly.com
Editor at Large: Mark Shaffer — BackyardTourist@gmail.com
Sales & Marketing Director: Amanda Hanna — 843-343-8483 or Amanda@LCWeekly.com
Digital Marketing & PR Director: Kim Sullivan — 803-606-1530 or kim.theislandnews@gmail.com
Advertising Sales: Betty Davis — 843-252-9076 or Betty.IslandNews@Gmail.com
Art Director: Lydia Inglett
Layout & Design: Amalgamated Sprinkle Works
Contributing Writers: Will Balk Jr., Tommy Baysden, Vivian Bikulege, Katherine Tandy Brown, Debbi Covington, Sandra Educate, Laura Lee Rose, Jack Sparacino, Sutty Suddeth, and Susan Trogdon
What’s Happening Calendar: Staff – Editor@LCWeekly.com
Letters to the Editor, comments or suggestions can be addressed to: Lowcountry Weekly 106 West Street Extension, Beaufort, SC 29902 Call: 843-986-9059 or Email: editor@lcweekly.com
Lowcountry Weekly is published every other Wednesday and distributed throughout Beaufort County at various restaurants, retail locations, hotels and visitor’s centers. The entire contents of Lowcountry Weekly is copyrighted 2020 by P. Podd Press, LLC. No part may be reproduced without permission from the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. A stamped, selfaddressed envelope must accompany all submissions expected to be returned.
Double Dog Days RANTS & RAVES
Inever liked this time of year.
The “dog days of summer” leave me listless and bored. So listless and bored, in fact, that I never even bothered to learn why they’re called “the dog days of summer.” I always vaguely imagined a couple of big ol’ dogs, lazing around on a porch, tongues hanging out . . . listless and bored. Figured that was the reference.
I was wrong. I have just mustered the energy to consult Wikipedia, which tells us:
The dog days of summer were historically the period following the heliacal rising of the star system Sirius (aka Canis Major, The Greater Dog) which Greek and Roman astrology connected with heat, drought, sudden thunderstorms, lethargy, fever, mad dogs, and bad luck. Delightful. And this summer, the days feel even doggier, don’t they? Feels like we’re in the double dog days.
For most of us, the halcyon days of the pandemic are long gone – those weirdly wondrous weeks when we were relishing the simple life, communing with our inner flower children – not to mention our flowers and our children – and just deeply grateful to be alive. The Lowcountry spring was even more glorious than usual, and the mandate to “stay home” felt almost like a gift.
But now we’ve entered those damned dog days, and home feels very small. The people who live here have been seeing a great deal of each other for a very long time – to the exclusion of almost anybody else – so nerves are frayed. And there is virtually no escape. (Well, except “virtually,” which I’ll get to in a bit.) There’s no ducking into a cool, dark bar for happy hour, no loitering over lunch with friends in an AC-chilled restau-
rant. Sure, I can still retreat to the back patio in the evenings, for bird watching and wine drinking, but only if I spray my whole body with Greenbug and make peace with perpetual sweat. Even my morning exercise – such a source of joy in the spring – has become a bit of a drag. Back then I called it my power walk. Now I’ve taken to calling it my “active sauna.”
I realized last week, while out for my active sauna, that my entire social life now consists of passing people at Publix I don’t recognize (masks) and passing people in the neighborhood I don’t recognize (caps and sunglasses). In either case, it doesn’t feel all that social.
Which brings me to the Catch 22 that is social media.
Thanks to the pandemic – of which there seems no end in sight – we’re all more dependent on social media than ever, not just for information, but for connection. Unfortunately, it all too often serves up misinformation and isolation instead.
I’m too cowardly for Twitter, but I’ve noticed a change in Facebook that’s subtle, and might even seem positive if you don’t think about it too hard. (Not thinking about things too hard is not my strong suit.) No longer the rowdy war zone of years past, there are far fewer arguments raging on FB, far fewer contentious clashes of opinion and ideas. Rarely do I stumble upon a diverse group of interesting people anymore, disagreeing about this issue or that one. Instead, my newsfeed is filled with two distinct groups of like-minded people, talking amongst themselves – often in robotic political jargon – each group openly disparaging the other as if it were comprised of evil creatures from a distant planet. Gone
are any niceties, any pretense of empathy, any attempt to sugarcoat the scorn each group harbors for the other.
To spend time on social media is to be reminded of how deeply estranged Americans have become, how eroded our trust in our institutions, our leaders, and each other. If it’s not like that for you, you’ve probably scoured your friends list and carefully curated your experience, and I don’t blame you a bit. As an opinion columnist, an observer of ‘the scene,’ I don’t have that luxury.
There have been a few bright spots in these double dog days. One of them, for me, was Hamilton, the Broadway musical sensation that started streaming on Disney Plus early this month. (If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s more than worth the price of a month’s subscription.)
I’d been in love with the Hamilton score for years, so finally getting to see it – with the original cast, no less! – was like finally seeing your favorite band in concert, with all the original members. More than just a thrill, it was a revelation. With no fireworks on July 4th – or any other festivities – Hamilton single-handedly restored my patriotism. No small feat this year.
But even the hoopla surrounding Hamilton reminded me of how quickly and thoroughly our country has changed. When it first appeared on the scene in 2015, it was not only the darling of Broadway, but of high profile progressives – including Barack Obama – who celebrated Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hip hop score and his bold casting of Black and brown actors as America’s founding fathers. Some conservatives grumbled that it was ahistorical, “stunt casting,” but that stuffy critique only fueled the show’s popularity. Now, just five years later, Hamilton is still wildly popular, but the production has come under intense criticism – mostly from the take-no-prisoners progressives who dominate Twitter – for its upbeat, inspiring take on the American founding, a perspective no longer in vogue. The production has been ripped for romanticizing historical figures who owned slaves: Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and even Hamilton, himself, who bought and sold slaves for his in-laws. A #CancelHamilton campaign started on Twitter a few weeks ago, but it never really got anywhere. As we saw with Harry Potter creator JK Rowling last month, it seems some things are simply too big – or maybe too beloved – to be canceled. I’m sure that infuriates the Twitter mob, who think only in terms of power and oppres-
sion. For me, it’s a hopeful sign. It tells me Americans still value excellence, still possess discernment, still acknowledge complexity, still have beating human hearts.
And speaking of human hearts . . . mine occasionally beats a little faster in these double dog days thanks to a long-held wish that finally manifested in my backyard last month in the form of a male painted bunting. Year after year, I’d tried to lure this bird, to no avail. A couple of months ago, two female buntings appeared at my feeder for the first time, renewing my obsession. For weeks they hung around, no male counterpart in sight. Lime-green and lovely, they nevertheless paled in comparison to the kaleidoscopic prize I sought. I’d just about lost hope, when suddenly, while I was chatting with my mom on the phone in mid-June, I glanced up at one of my feeders . . . and there he was.
“Mom,” I whispered. “I gotta go! I have a painted bunting! Oh. My. God. He’s finally here and he is GORGEOUS. Gotta get a picture.”
So I did. And it was terrible. It didn’t begin to do him justice. I have since gotten some better shots, but not many, because he doesn’t hang around my yard very much. Or maybe he does, but I don’t. Not during the double dog days.
But these days won’t last forever, and neither will this pandemic. Eventually, we will come out the other side of this trial. What kind of country we’ll be by then is beyond my imagining and certainly beyond my control. So I will just continue to “stay home,” love my little family, write my little essays, binge Hamilton, and wait for fall migration.
While scrolling through Facebook last week – listless and bored – I came across this quote, from theologian Frederick Beuchner, that I’d posted years ago, during the dog days of summer.
"Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way into the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace."
Hang in there, y’all.
Margaret Evans
Making Matches: The Lending Room is Open for Business
Lori Wells unlocks the door of a storage building off Parris Island Gateway.
“So it’s really hot in here right now,” she says, as she moves further in and turns on the lights.
Inside, along the walls and in every corner is medical equipment of every sort.
From walkers to crutches and orthopedic boots, to IV polls, bed pads and knee scooters – the supplies are stacked or placed anywhere they can go. In one corner, rows of wheelchairs sit empty, their footpads folded, as if waiting to be called into service.
Welcome to The Lending Room – where gently used, donated medical equipment is distributed to those in need.
An all-volunteer nonprofit, The Lending Room got its start in 1961 when Natalie Haskell, a member of Beaufort Memorial Hospital Women’s Auxiliary, began working to help patients who needed home medical equipment get the items they needed.
As Wells explains, with only one drug store in Beaufort at the time, access to “durable medical equipment” as it’s called was sometimes hard to come by.
Today, the organization continues to play an important role in the community in bridging the gap between donors who may have wheelchairs or other items they no longer need or use to those who need them – whether it’s an individual who cannot afford what can often be an expensive piece of equipment or somebody who’s only looking for one-time use.
The organization often gets requests, for example, from residents who have undergone a hip or knee replacement, and may need a wheelchair, or walker or cane, for a short peri-
od of time while they recover, Wells said.
“And quite often they bring (the equipment) back and it gets donated again,” she said.
Those accepting the equipment are only required to pay $1 upon pick up, which covers the release of the item as it is.
Being able to furnish those in the community with what is essentially free medical equipment is critical for many who cannot afford to purchase new equipment or for whom medical care has already become an expensive proposition.
Case in point: a new hospital bed for home use can cost anywhere from $800 to $3,000, and a new wheelchair can run anywhere from $300 and up, said volunteer Nancy Merrill.
“It can be very expensive,” she said.
And a new issue has occurred, albeit a good one.
After The Lending Room closed in March from the coronavirus, medical supplies began stacking up. The organization now has a surplus of equipment and volunteers are working to make sure the community knows it’s all there.
“Trying to get the word out has been difficult,” said Merrill.
“People seem to the think we’re closed.”
But the organization is very much open. In fact, just last spring, The Lending Room moved into a new location behind LowCountry Habitat for Humanity, on Parris Island Gateway.
Habitat allowed them to build a new facility on their property, rent-free.
“It’s through their generosity that we’re here,” Wells said.
Since re-opening in June, the organization is now having to do things a little differently, as has been the case with nonprofits everywhere.
Only volunteers are permitted in the storage building now, and masks are required when coming to the facility to pick up items or interact with staff.
What hasn’t changed is that a team of about 20 volunteers do everything from organizing the equipment, to cleaning and spraying it down.
And they also keep their ears to the ground or work to connect those in need with specific items they have on hand – something that can be a very rewarding experience, volunteers say.
“Oh it’s very gratifying,” Merrill said. As she and Wells went on to explain, sometimes the timing of the matches can be uncanny.
A generous resident once called the organization with an unusual donation – a massive wheelchair ramp that was no longer needed.
Unsure what they would do with it, longtime Lending Room volunteer Charlie Ledford was determined they would collect it first, and figure that out later.
Ledford went and picked up the ramp in his own truck, Merrill said.
Later that same day, another resident called with an equally unusual request: Would they happen to know where someone could get a wheelchair ramp?
“It was like divine intervention,” Merrill said.
But the women say, at The Lending Room that kind of serendipity happens more often than not.
“There will be a need and all of a sudden here it comes,” Wells says.
And seeing the difference a piece of equipment or sought-after item has made in the lives of those in Beaufort has also be rewarding, they say.
“The gratitude – it’s off the charts for what this is going to provide them,” said Merrill.
Mindy Lucas is a staff writer for Lowcountry Weekly and reporter for The Island News.
Need a wheelchair or other medical item?
The Lending Room has a surplus of medical equipment at the moment including wheelchairs, bedside commodes or toilet chairs and walkers. If you or someone you know can benefit from these items, contact The Lending Room at (843) 524-2554. The facility has regular hours, but volunteers advise calling first to make sure they are there or accommodate requests. For more information, visit www.lendingroombeaufort.com
Volunteer Nancy Merrill with Lori Wells and Carolyn Roos from The Lending Room
Mindy Lucas By
Conroy Center Hosts Online Workshops
Summer brings more great opportunities for writers to engage with one another through three more online workshops from the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center. Each workshop will be held on Zoom and is limited to 15 participants. Registration is now open through Eventbrite at https://patconroyliterarycenter.eventbrite.com.
On Tuesday, July 28, 6:00–8:00 p.m., join Anthony Grooms for Point-Of-View: Considering Fiction’s Most Important Element. Though readers tend to focus on characterization and plot, these could not be realized without the writer’s careful consideration of the narrator’s voice, that is to say, without the element of point-of-view (POV). This workshop will explore some of the theoretical aspects of POV and will practice adapting these ideas in various exercises as a way to note their effect on both story structure and the reader. This workshop will be held as an online video conference call through Zoom. $45/person.
Author Anthony Grooms
On Saturday, August 1, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Brooke McKinney will lead her workshop Finding Structure for a Messy Life: Shaping Stories from Memory. Our experiences are buried in memory, waiting to be unearthed. From childhood to present, we have endured trauma and loss, but also love and beauty. When telling our
stories, we may want to tell things chronologically, stating what happens to us, then moving on to the next thing, but our lives are more complicated as we discover our emotional truths. This workshop will invite storytellers to learn new ways to shape memories into scenes, experiences into meaning, and finding a structure to mold our messy lives into something we can share with the world. $60/person.
On Tuesday, August 4, 6:00-8:00 p.m., join Johnnie Bernhard for Fiction and the Editing Process. This online workshop will explain the differences between copy editing and developmental editing in fiction. Johnnie will use literary elements such as plot, mood, theme, and conflict to enhance developmental editing within the manuscript. Delivered in a PowerPoint presentation, the information will be narrated by Johnnie using writing examples. $40/person.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS
Anthony Grooms is the author Bombingham: A Novel and Trouble No More: Stories, both winners of the Lillian Smith Book Award for fiction and adopted for study in universities. He has taught writing and American literature at universities in Ghana and Sweden, and since 1994, at Kennesaw State University in Georgia. He has lectured widely on American literature and culture, especially on topics related to narrations that reflect on the American Civil Rights Movement. Grooms is a Fulbright Fellow, a Yaddo Fellow, a Hurston-Wright Founda-
tion Legacy Award finalist, and an Arts Administration Fellow from the National Endowment for the Arts. His novel, The Vain Conversation, was published in spring 2018, and has earned literary honors from the Georgia Center for the Book, the Women’s National Book Association, the Trio Multi-Arts Program, and the Black Caucus of the American Library Association.
Author Johnnie Bernhard
The Pat Conroy Literary Center’s communications and events coordinator, Brooke McKinney earned her B.A. in English from Valdosta State University and holds an M.F.A. in creative writing from Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. As a teaching fellow at Hollins, she led creative writing workshops in which she encouraged students to trust their own voices and believe in their writing. She is the recipient of two Academy of American Poets Awards, and her work was a finalist in the Key West Emerging Writer’s Contest and the World’s Best Short-Short Story Contest. Brooke’s work has appeared or is forthcoming in New South, Salt Hill Journal, Potomac Review, The Southeast Review, RHINO Poetry, Columbia Poetry Review, Artemis and Kestrel.
A former English teacher and journalist, Johnnie Bernhard is the author of three novels: A Good Girl, How We Came to Be, and Sisters of the Undertow. Her work has appeared in newspapers and magazines, both nationally and internationally. She has written articles and columns for: the Suburban Reporter of Houston, World Oil Magazine, The Mississippi Press, the international Word Among Us, Heart of Ann Arbor Magazine, Houston Style Magazine, and the Cowbird-NPR production on small town America. Johnnie's entry for Cowbird, "The Last Mayberry" received 7,500 views, nationally and internationally. Learn more at www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
Divine Denver Time
Allow me to preface this article with a few thoughts: First, this was definitely outside the norm of things that I would do. I have stated on several occasions that, while I’m open-minded, hallucinogenic journeys weren’t something I was particularly drawn to. After all, if you’ve read my writing, you know that I see and experience plenty on my own. That said, I’ve wanted to write about it for quite some time. To that end, I was simply going to interview people and go from there. However, the opportunity presented itself via a friend of a friend with some other friendly people involved. I had the time and the means to travel before meeting up with my wife in Texas at Southfork. (Yes, that Southfork, and a whole other article awaits that story.) Another item that is paramount to this discussion is safety, liability, and discretion. Neither Lowcountry Weekly nor Wholly Holistics endorses illegal and unsafe drug practices. We won’t advocate disobedience of the laws of the land. It’s why I travelled to Denver where it’s less frowned upon.
If you’re going to do this after consulting a physician and your local laws, however, you want to do it with people who are safe, discreet and, most importantly, you feel comfortable with. I can’t emphasize enough that this IS NOT party time. This IS work, and should be treated accordingly and with appropriate seriousness. Regardless of the method, it’s a task to face parts of yourself you’d rather ignore. My journey facilitator was probably the single most serious person I’ve ever met, while embodying aptitude, compassion, gentleness, and grati-
tude for the journey she’s on. She’s lived all over the world, is experienced in a multitude of professions, and speaks five languages fluently. After meeting me, she’s attempting her sixth language of Southernese. Before my journey, I always heard that a good hallucinogenic journey was worth about a decade of therapy. I’m not sure you can quantify it that way, but it is worth a ton in terms of realizations realized and the exodus of mind muck said realizations bring. There is no way to put price of money or time on peace of mind.
I started reaping the rewards of this trip approximately a week beforehand, as I cleaned up my diet and focused my intentions. This period of preparation is perhaps just as important as the actual ceremony, akin to a football player donning his pads, helmet, and cleats before taking the field. Never have I eaten so clean nor consumed even just the tiniest glass of bourbon. The hours leading into the ceremony are filled with prayer, safety and courtesy rules, intention, and finally the ingesting of said plant medicine.
The first thing I heard when the plant medicine kicked in was, “You’ve always wanted to be awake for your dreams and now you’ll see why you forget them.” Sounds foreboding, but it was a mere statement of fact. I actually wasn’t intimidated because I was certain of my decision to be there. In fact, I was so certain of my decision, I wasn’t nervous. I’ve felt like this a few times in my life. For example, I wasn’t nervous when I asked my wife to marry me in 2004. This should also tell you the gravity I applied to doing such an out-of-character thing.
Now that we’ve established my earnest convictions for this undertaking, let’s talk about my intentions. Intentions are good to set in everyday life for a variety of things, but they are a requirement for doing work of this kind. My intentions were to be shown roadblocks I create for myself and to integrate this and past healings. The last part of the previous sentence was huge realization that had nothing to do with drugs. Human tendencies touch us all and I had the epiphany that I’ve been blessed with so many healings and realizations I hadn’t integrated them all. I just kept consuming more; wanting more without integrating them. Our society is set up this way. Don’t blame or fight it, just understand it. Love and integrate this understanding.
Did I reach my stated intention goals? Absolutely! I was blessed with more than I bargained for. How so? Well, other than cool s*** like walls morphing and the fact that Rory McIlroy had to blow the 2011 Masters so his career wouldn’t fade into golf history’s ethers like Anthony Kim, I learned a ton about why things are the way they are, down to minute details. I learned about why certain people look a certain way. I learned more about forgiveness and implemented a ton of it. I learned that we are all way more connected than we even the most connected of us realizes. I received a physical reset along with a rewiring of my thought processes. I let go of some while pulling others closer in. I worked with and faced my darkness in very direct ways I never dreamed of before. I saw how easy, and relatively unemotional it is to shrug off a persona upon death. This is not a comment on the gratitude level of the higher self, but of the way business is handled, for lack of a more refined way of communicating it. I learned that in the flow (which we never actually leave, but perceive to leave) we get what we need, not always what we want. I gained a newfound comfort in the skin I am in. I learned about twin flames for the purpose of learning why certain people and situations are the way they are.
During these realizations; some of them arduous, my dearly departed MIL (reference my article, Death of a Master in 2018) kept vigil in the corner while working her crossword puzzle. “I’ve been here all along, hunny,” she reminded me during several
by Sutty Suddeth
sweat-soaked epiphanies. After I was sufficiently soothed, she would continue her puzzle. While I was vulnerable and cracked wide open, I was supported and protected.
The facilitators (due to the number of us in attendance, she needed reinforcements), both experienced, highly-attuned healers in their own right, were at my side before I knew I needed them. They allowed themselves to not know how or why they did what they did. As a healer, this is a tightrope act, but strangely where a healer must be. Never once did I feel like I was out on a limb about to be sawed off.
Worth mentioning was the realization that celebrities, in spirit, are no different than the rest of us. Time is only with us to make sure everything doesn’t happen at once. I experienced, first-hand the spirits of my ancestors and the trees that surrounded the structure of the ceremony. I learned why sleep is tempestuous during times like a new and full moon. I witnessed the practical application of Divine Timing.
I didn’t include a lot of personal detail because of its personal nature and the word count it would take to explain myself properly. Initially, my motivation was to write about this practice, but I wisely knew that couldn’t and wouldn’t be my main aim in undertaking the journey. I knew I was stuck in a rut and this provided a different, MUCH-NEEDED perspective. Just the viewpoint I needed on my 44.5 birthday (a significant # for me), but this viewpoint isn’t for everyone. It’s not for those looking to escape or avoiders of integration. It is for those who desire to focus, grow, and lighten up, in so many ways. Suffice it to say, I now understand why people do this and I’ll go see my friends in Denver again when I feel the timing.
Chris (Sutty) Suddeth was born in Greenville and has lived his whole life in South Carolina. A graduate of USC, Sutty lives with his wife and daughter on Fripp Island, where he is a full-time Mr. Mom with his own holistic health business. He’s been a practicing Reiki Master and emotional energetic healing specialist since 2010. He uses his passion and proficiency with energy work to inform his writing. Visit www.soulshinerefinery.com for more
Jan Ross Watercolors
Art League Gallery Showcases Local Talent with International Fame
Jan Ross, a beloved instructor at Art League Academy, will be showcasing her watercolor paintings at Art League Gallery this August. Ross is known for her technique of layering pigment to produce vibrant, translucent colors; her work is bold, cheerful, and sometimes humorous, presenting people and places in a loving light. She strives to capture the personality of a person, or draw attention to overlooked details in a landscape or ordinary objects.
A watercolor artist for over 30 years, Jan's formal art training began at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. Ross has studied with some of America's top watercolor painters. Eight different watercolor societies in the U.S. have awarded her "Signature Membership," their highest credential for achievement in watercolors. She was also named "Member of Excellence," the highest award of the Atlanta Artists Center, the largest art organization in the Southeast. Her award-winning watercolors
have been accepted in more than 500 local, regional, national and international juried competitions, as well as numerous one-woman and invitational exhibitions. Her work has been published extensively, and hangs in collections across the U.S and Europe.
Jan Ross Watercolors will be on display August 4-29, 2020. Please check Art League's Facebook page (@ArtLeagueHiltonHead) for live events with the artist.
Art League Gallery is dedicated to providing a safe environment. To that end, Art League is following all CDC and Town of Hilton Head guidelines, including mandatory masks for patrons and all employees, contactless and cashless service, frequent sanitization, and a limit of 10 visitors any one time. Art League Gallery is located inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, 843-681-5060.
Another Elder, above; Flower Girls, left; Half Full, below
Solo in Salento
Donna Keel Armer’s debut memoir navigates a fragmented life through lessons in mosaics and recycling in southern Italy.
Donna Keel Armer’s story begins with a lie. Desperate to break free from a life haunted by a wretched past, the loss of faith, and a slow sink into domestication, she tells everyone, including her beloved husband, that she requires time alone to research an historical novel. But her real purpose is a solo flight from everyone and everything. In a small coastal village in Southern Italy she learns how to sort through the fragmented pieces of her life as her hands learn the art of mosaics. And, a baffling recycling system teaches her that life can be continually sorted and renewed.
In this rich memoir, Beaufort resident Armer assembles a mosaic of art history, culinary adventure, and self-discovery with an unexpectedly delightful primer on recycling. Her
story weaves a tapestry of mystery, magic, music, martyrs, and marvelous food that she discovers on the way to finding her heart.
Of Solo in Salento , bestselling author
Dianne Hales (La Bella Lingua; Mona Lisa: A Life Discovered; and La Passione: How Italy
Seduced the World), says, “With searing honesty, Donna Keel Armer sweeps us along on a sun-kissed, soul-stretching journey of discovery. Her lyrical descriptions, as vibrant as
Nature & Sea Inspired Jewelry
postcards, capture the beauty and spirit of the ancient village in Salento that healed her heart. A life-affirming vicarious voyage that captures the magic of Italy and the joys of coming into one’s true self.”
Jonathan Haupt, coeditor of Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy, writes, “A captivating joy for armchair travelers and a balm for wounded souls, Donna Keel Armer’s empowering memoir transports us into the wonders of southern Italy on a pilgrimage of healing and self-discovery. Armer writes with the spirit of a born storyteller, inviting readers to linger in her language and champion her voyage inward. Robust with artfully presented metaphors, intoxicating in sensual details of adventures abroad, and courageously forthright in chronicling the reclamation of a sense of self from the fragments of a damaged life, Solo in Salento is a heartfelt and venturesome triumph.”
sassy and sacred memoir for those sorting out what’s most valuable in life.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cassandra King Conroy calls the book, “a
Donna Keel Armer has traveled extensively in North America, Europe, and Africa. She graduated cum laude with a double major in psychology and social sciences and pursued graduate studies in theology. She has held management positions in the insurance and airline industries and, with her husband, ran a hospitality business in Southwest Georgia. An accomplished photographer, Donna has published numerous articles on travel, home decorating and gardening, and food, including a partnership with the Order of Sons of Italy to publish Bella Cucina Italiana, a cookbook that also features her photography. Donna and Ray live in historic Beaufort, South Carolina, where she volunteers at the Pat Conroy Literary Center and Hunting Island State Park. Visit her website: www.donnaarmer.com to order her book or follow her travelogues.
Author Donna Keel Armer
A Willow Point Story
Chapter 41: Chechessee Creek Okatie, SC
By Tommy Baysden
“This is a work of fiction. However, with a single exception (and as outrageous as some of them may sound) all the incidents described here really happened” . . . Thus begins the Author’s Note introducing The Chronicles of Willow Point, a new novel by Beaufort’s E.T. “Tommy” Baysden. The following is an excerpt from that novel.
Mack was crossing the Chechessee River Bridge at Lemon Island Marina when he caught sight of the monster. It took a moment to register, but he soon realized he was looking at an enormous shark, hanging by its tail from a scaffold normally used for weighing billfish. The tell-tale stripes on its side identified it as a tiger shark, but what a shark it was: easily over eleven feet in length and half a ton.
the way to, and into, fresh water. But this was a behemoth, a brute. And how, Mack wondered, did it ever get from out there to in here – a brackish tributary no more than 200 feet wide and ten to twelve feet deep, even at high tide. He had to take a closer look.
Six or eight people were gathered around the base of the scale as he walked up. “Well I’ll be damned,” he said, spotting someone he knew. “If it isn’t Johnny Malphrus.”
Malphrus was best known by his nickname, “The River Rat,” bestowed on him shortly after grammar school. He began crabbing and shrimping in high school, which he had abandoned early on to work at these things full time.
“Who caught this thing and how’d they get it here?” Mack asked. “It can’t have fit in anybody’s boat.”
“Jesus,” Mack said out loud. “How did that get here?” It was well known that there were large sharks close inshore off Beaufort and Hilton Head, even in the mouth of Port Royal Sound. Shrimpers saw them often, and it was even rumored that the most aggressive of these, the Bull Shark, swam up the rivers all
“Nosir,” Malphrus answered, spitting Red Man Chew into a cup. “I towed it in.”
“Towed it behind what?” Mack was astonished.
“That twelve-foot skiff yonder,” said the River Rat, gesturing with his chin at a small aluminum boat tied up to the pier, and spitting another stream of tobacco juice. “He were exactly the length of the boat, so I towed him in from astern.”
“You caught that thing on a hook and line?” Mack was still incredulous.
“Yessir,” he said. “Two miles off the beach at Dolphin Head.”
“Christ,” thought Mack. “I’m even afraid to hear the details!”
“Weren’t that much to it,” said the River Rat. “I’ve hooked this same fish before.”
He went on to describe how he’d left the dock they were standing on before first light, motoring through the inlet with a 25-horsepower outboard and heading south on the coast until he was offshore of Dolphin Head, one of Hilton Head’s best beaches, using a water tower onshore to position himself.
“I just dropped the hook and started chumming with chicken guts. Used a whole sheepshead, bleeding but still alive, for bait. Hooked another one before this one, even bigger. They’s great whites out there and the resorts know it, but they try to keep it hidden, just like in Jaws.”
The shark, he went on to say, had towed him at first, pulling the boat all the way down to Palmetto Dunes, a distance of about eight miles. “I barely had gas to get back to Lemon Island, towing all that weight.” he said. “But him towing me all that distance must have wore his ass out too ‘cause he finally come to the surface and I pulled him in close enough to get that anchor in him. He kept on fighting after that and I thought he was going to pull me out to sea, but finally he just sorta give up, and we headed home.”
Unknown to Malphrus at the time, after the feat of towing a thousand-pound shark fifteen miles behind a twelve-foot boat, his problems had just begun.
They decided to take the shark into Beaufort to Island Outfitters, an outdoor store where there was a certified scale, required for claiming a record. But the beast wouldn’t fit easily into even a full-size pickup. It took six men and a backhoe (used for moving oyster shells at the marina) to wrestle it up onto the bed of a Ford 350, and even then, the tail had to be pulled up over the cab and lashed down through the rear windows. The huge, menacing head hung out over the tailgate, dripping a trail of bloody slime. They crossed four different rivers on the way to Ladies Island, home of Island Outfitters and its registered scale.
The tiger shark, now named “Tony,” caused quite a stir in Beaufort. It tipped the scale at 1,150 pounds and appeared on the cover of the Beaufort Gazette. It caught the eye of Game Warden Cliff Mullis while reading his morning paper over breakfast.
Hmmm, he thought. I see some problems here.
The Tiger Shark, Galeocerdo cuvier, is one of only a handful of sharks known to attack man. They are considered second only to the great white in aggressiveness, though bull sharks may be responsible for more attacks, which go unrecorded. Most of the documented tiger attacks in U.S. waters have occurred in the Pacific, especially around Hawaii.
Tigers, which are known scavengers, can grow to over sixteen feet in length. Though the River Rat’s shark was less lengthy than that, he remained around the scale for most of the day, answering questions and posing for photos. He was convinced he would be a state record holder, once it was processed through Fish and Game. But titles didn’t mean much to Malphrus. What he wanted – and needed – was to get some cash out of his catch. He just couldn’t figure out how.
The edibility of tiger sharks speculation. But word of the to the Purrfect Catfood Cannery which offered $500 to come its rendering plant.
“If this continues, I’m going Mullis, the game warden thought, tion from across the street showed up. They were aware buy fish from anyone but a The River Rat, who wasn’t thing, certainly wasn’t aware fine for killing a tiger shark even know there was a season. was just ridding the world Mullis busted them both.
When he heard all this, he would have to leave the money he ever had was what day’s catch, he didn’t have Beaufort, just like he didn’t up to those ridiculous fines.
“You hear about all this Rat?” Billy Clement asked “Sounds like they going to the cleaners. Don’t you know ought to call him and ask for a laugh.
“You know, that’s not a surprising Billy. “Malphrus and he’s liable to end nonsense.”
Judge Napoleon Bonaparte joying his nightly martini rang. “Judge, this is Mack Pinckney.” A pause. “Yes sir, I know I’m calling you about Johnny he is scheduled to come before week. I just thought you might some things about him.”
“Well, I doubt you can don’t already know,” said the ing to be curt but already thinking stuff he was going to have case, “but go ahead.”
Mack composed his thoughts and then said, “Johnny had from the very start. You remember ther, Leon, was about as sorry ple used to say he was responsible ‘White Trash.’ He even came daddy in a real unorthodox Johnny’s “mother,” were county fair in Ridgeland about and not until they got home someone had left a perfectly back seat of their old Chevrolet. children, so they decided to decide to keep a stray kitten Thinking that the county might child to a pair as dysfunctional
Author E.T. “Tommy” Baysden
sharks is a matter of much the catch had found its way Cannery in central Georgia, come haul the shark away to going to need a calculator,” thought, watching the ac street when the catfood truck aware it was illegal for them to licensed broker. wasn’t aware of much of any aware that he faced a $2500 shark out of season. He didn’t season. He had thought he world of another trash fish.
this, Malphrus first thought country. But, since all the what he got from yester the funds to even leave didn’t have the funds to step fines. this stuff with the River asked Mack later that week. send that little fucker to know Judge Barefoot? You for mercy,” he said with a bad idea,” Mack said, “Malphrus can’t pay those fines, up in jail over this
Bonaparte Barefoot was enmartini when his telephone Pinckney.”
know you knew my dad. Johnny Malphrus. I heard before your court next might need to know
can tell me anything I the judge, not meanthinking about all the to untangle on this
thoughts for a moment had a pretty bad deal remember that his fasorry as they come. Peoresponsible for the term came to be Johnny’s way. Leon and Pearl, leaving the Jasper about twenty years ago, home did they discover that perfectly healthy baby boy on the Chevrolet. They had no other to keep him, like you might kitten you found at the dump. might not want to award a dysfunctional as them, they just never
told told anybody. So, Johnny was brought up sort of like those fairytale children raised by wolves. Leon and Pearl were always drunk or drugged up when they could get the money from robbing ATM machines. (Someone had taught them how to hack into the transaction history to pick up passcodes, which they’d take to another machine from the same bank.)
“He
“He might have a lot of sense, because his genes were somebody else’s and, apparently, he has a real good heart. But he took the first opportunity he could get to distance himself from his folks because their crimes were a lot worse than catching a shark out of season and I can promise you he never even knew there was a season on sharks.
“So, barely able to read and write, he was back on the rivers, by himself, in all kinds of weather, scratching out what living he could. Judge, catching that shark was like a windfall to him. He thought his luck might just be turning around. He had no intention of breaking the law, and I think he deserves a break, if you can give him one.
“But there’s more,” Mack continued. “When Johnny was about ten, the old man started to pay attention to him in the wrong ways. Even at that age, he knew perversion when he saw it. When he came home from school one day to find that Leon had killed Pearl with an ice pick and then shot himself, he looked on it as liberation. The county put him in a succession of foster homes, but none of them could hold him. He kept running away, and he always surfaced on the Colleton or Chechessee River, in that twelve-foot aluminum boat, which was the only thing he ever wanted from the old man.
“For a while, he used the boat to offload drugs from yachts on the backside of Edisto Island. He found it a lot easier (and better paying) than pulling crab traps on freezing, windy days in the middle of winter. But then the big drug bust came down and he was lucky to sneak out just a step or two ahead of the law. He’d have probably kept doing it, but old man Lowther at Lemon Island told him the boat had to be locked up every night –with the key in Lowther’s pocket. That is, if he wanted the marina to keep buying the shrimp and crabs he brought in. “So, there he was, barely able to read and write, by himself and back on the rivers in every kind of weather. He thought catching that shark was sort of a sign. He never meant to break the law, or even knew he was doing it. I really think he could use a break, if you could see your way clear to cut him some slack.”
“Well,” the Judge finally said, “let me hear what he has to say and I’ll see what we can do.”
That turned out to be a reduction of the fine to $1,000, payable over a year in fish and shrimp, at wholesale rates, delivered to the county jail. The River Rat was also required to do 250 hours of community service, which could be used teaching kids to fish.
“You see there, Bubba,” Billy said when he heard of the settlement. “Justice is still alive – in the backwaters of Beaufort County, South Carolina, at least!”
E.T. Baysden has spent most of the last half century in the SC Lowcountry, where he served as chief marketing officer for Sea Pines Resort, Callawassie Island, Spring Island, Oldfield Club, and Palmetto Bluff. He is also the author of The Rock Jaw Ladies Club: A Memoir of the Other Vietnam. He is a fly fisherman, an Episcopalian, and an avid Tar Heels fan. To learn more about his latest novel, visit www.baysdenbooks.com
The Queen of Southern Cuisine
When Vince and I were first married, back in the old days when I used to have weekends off, watching Nathalie DuPree's cooking show on PBS was one of the highlights of my Saturday mornings. Nathalie was always dressed in a colorful apron with matching oven mitts and hot pads. I loved her style of cooking and her recipes and her amazing ability to make everything she cooked look doable for a home cook. Never in a million years would I have imagined that I'd have the opportunity to meet my favorite television chef, let alone be able to call her my friend.
The first time that I actually met Nathalie DuPree, we were both on an on-stage panel at the University of South Carolina-Beaufort with Sallie Ann Robinson, and Matt and Ted Lee, all of us cookbook authors. After the panel discussion, we sat together for a group cookbook signing and had the opportunity to get to know each other. It was incredible, and a little bit surreal. The really cool thing about the whole experience was sharing our food stories and the camaraderie. Best of all, I left the day with a new friend. Nathalie has been so very supportive of my cooking ventures, adventures and misadventures. We're in touch, mostly on Facebook, but if I have a question or need a bit of encouragement, Nathalie always answers me right back. Nathalie has a philosophy she calls “The Pork Chop Theory,” when it comes to supporting other women. She says, “If you put one pork chop in a pan and turn the heat on high, the pork chop will burn. If you put two or more pork chops in a pan and turn the heat on high, they will feed off the fat of one another.” I'm blessed to be one of Nathalie's pork chops.
Nathalie DuPree with Debbi Covington
Southern Cuisine (as dubbed by Southern Living Magazine) on Tuesday, July 28th at the Pat Conroy Literary Center. This time we'll we discussing Nathalie's 14th cookbook, Nathalie DuPree's Favorite Stories and Recipes. Please join us. The interview will begin at 5:30 p.m. with limited seating. Please call the Conroy Center to make a reservation. Since we'll be social distancing, and since you won't want to miss the mayhem and merriment, you can watch our antics streamed live on Facebook Live. The interview will also be available for viewing on the following day on YouTube.
on Tuesday, July 28th as we discuss her latest cookbook, stories from Nathalie's foodie career and other fun stuff. Nathalie is a natural born storyteller. Don't miss it.
(Recipes from Nathalie DuPree's Favorite Stories and Recipes are reprinted with the permission of the author.)
GRILLED ROMAN STYLE LEMON CHICKEN
1 (3-pound) whole chicken ½ – ¾ cup lemon juice 2 tablespoons lemon zest 4 tablespoons oil, cook's preference, divided Salt
In April 2018, my cookbook, Celebrate Beaufort and Nathalie's cookbook, Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking were released at about the same time. During this hubbub, Nathalie was also being inducted to the South Carolina Academy of Authors. Guess who was invited to interview her? With help from the Pat Conroy Literary Center's Director, Jonathan Haupt, I showed up at the Technical College of the Lowcountry for Nathalie's on-stage interview. It was my first time in the interviewer's hot seat and I was a wee bit nervous. Within a minute or two, Nathalie had wowed the audience with her foodie tales and made my job a breeze. The fates have graced me once again, and I'll be interviewing the Queen of
Lucky interviewer that I am, I received an advanced copy of Nathalie DuPree's Favorite Stories and Recipes. So far, I've tried six of Nathalie's recipes. Vince and I have loved them all. The Fennel-Olive Relish was a surprise hit! I love fennel, lemon zest and capers. The easy to make result was fabulous. The Grilled Roman-Style Lemon Chicken is sure to be a new favorite, too. It was also my first time removing the backbone from a chicken and cooking a whole bird, beaten into submission and grilled/ roasted in a scorching hot oven. Yes, you read it correctly, preheat your oven to 500 degrees. The cooked marinade and pan drippings are luxurious. Beautiful presentation, even yummier chicken. Social Circle Macaroni Pie is one of the BEST macaroni and cheese dishes I've ever tasted. Absolutely delectable. Best of all, was the Lazy Girl Peach Batter Cobbler. Served hot, or even warm, the sticky, crispy, buttery crust around the edges of the dessert was divine. However, I digress. Getting back to the whole reason for my column and dissertation, I hope you'll join my friend, Nathalie DuPree, and me
Freshly ground black pepper 1 lemon, sliced, for garnish With the chicken breast facing down, remove the backbone by cutting up either side of the backbone with a sharp knife or kitchen scissors. Flip the chicken over with its breast on top. Crack the breastbone using both your hands and spread the chicken as flat as possible. Use a small knife to make small vertical slits where the wings and legs join the body, without removing them, in order to flatten it. Turn the chicken over and lay a sheet of plastic wrap over the top. Using a meat pounder or the bottom side of a heavy skillet, pound it out as flat as possible. Remove plastic. Move the chicken to a large ziplock bag or roasting pan. Mix lemon juice, lemon zest, and 2 tablespoons of the oil together in a small bowl and pour over the chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Close bag or cover pan and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours to marinate. Remove from refrigerator about 30 minutes before ready to cook. Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Preheat a flat, oven-proof grill or griddle pan on top of the stove over medium heat. Remove chicken to a paper towel-lined plate, drain marinade into a small saucepan, and set aside. Pat chicken dry. Wrap a heavy ovenproof skillet or a brick with aluminum foil. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the hot pan, then the chicken, skin-side down. Weigh down with the heavy skillet. Brown over medium heat, about 5 minutes. Carefully move to the hot oven with the weight on top.
By Debbi Covington
Cook 10 minutes. Meanwhile, bring the marinade to a boil and boil a few minutes. Remove the weight from the chicken. Brush the chicken with reserved marinade and flip chicken over. Cook until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, about 10 to 15 minutes. When chicken is done, move to a board to rest. Brown the lemon slices lightly in the pan juic-
es, about 4 to 5 minutes. Garnish chicken with the sliced lemons. Add any remaining pan juices to the reserved marinade. Served the cooked marinade and Fennel-Olive Relish alongside the chicken. Serves 4 to 6.
FENNEL-OLIVE RELISH
2 garlic cloves
1½ cups pitted black olives
½ fennel bulb, root and stems, with fronds removed and reserved
1 teaspoon lemon zest, no white included 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon finely chopped fennel fronds
2 tablespoon chopped capers, optional
Ad garlic to the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade and pulse until finely chopped. Add olives and pulse a few times until chopped. Thinly slice fennel and add to food processor; pulse until evenly chopped, 4 to 5 times. Remove to a bowl, add lemon zest and lemon juice. Season with black pepper. Chop the fennel fronds. Stir in the parsley and chopped fennel fronds. Add capers, if using. It will last in a container refrigerated for a week. Makes 1½ cups.
LEMON-LIME POT ROAST WITH TOMATOES AND GARLIC
1 (2 to 3-pound) chuck round or sirloin tip roast
4 garlic cloves, chopped
Grated rind and juice of 2 or 3 limes, divided
Grated rind and juice of 2 lemons, divided
4 tablespoons bacon fat or drippings, or oil, 1½ cups beef stock or broth
1 (14½ -ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
Pinch of sugar, optional
1-2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
1-3 tablespoons chopped marjoram, lemon thyme, or other fresh herbs, optional
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Remove any tough pieces of fat or sinew from the roast. Mash the garlic together with 1 tablespoon of each of the grated rinds and rub over the meat. Move the meat to a plastic ziplock bag or covered container. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of the citrus juices to the bag and marinate 1 to 8 hours in the refrigerator, turning occasionally. Set remaining citrus juices aside. Remove the meat, reserving the marinade, a pat dry with a paper towel. Heat the drippings or oil over medium-high heat in a large Dutch oven. Add the meat and brown on one side. When mahogany brown, turn and brown on second side. Continue until all sides are browned. Remove the meat and set aside. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of the fat, if desired. Add the stock, reserved marinade and tomatoes to the pan, and bring to the boil; boil for 1 or 2 minutes. Taste and add a pinch of sugar, if necessary. Reduce the heat to a simmer and add the meat back to the pot. Cover with foil then a lid, and cook covered until the meat is tender, 1½ to 2 hours on the stovetop or in a 350-degree oven. Remove the roast and allow to cool. Remove any obvious fat from the top of the sauce. Bring to the boil and boil until thick, about 15 minutes. If possible, chill to remove all the fat when it comes to the top (preferably after sitting overnight). Slice the cold meat and return it to the sauce. When ready to eat, add herbs, season to taste with remaining lime and lemon juice, salt, and pepper and reheat on the stovetop. Serve hot, topped with some or all of the remaining grated rind of limes and lemons. Any extra rind can be wrapped and refrigerated or frozen, separately.
Serves 4 to 6.
SOCIAL CIRCLE MACARONI PIE
3 cups cooked and drained macaroni
3-inch pieces and toss with half the butter. Lightly whisk the eggs with the milk in a large bowl. Add the mustard, salt, peppers, and half the cheese. Put half the spaghetti into a greased 3-quart baking dish, sprinkle with cheese to cover and 1 tablespoon of the butter. Ladle on half the egg/cheese mixture, top with the rest of the spaghetti. Ladle on the remainder of the mixture and enough cheese and the remaining butter to cover the top. If the dish is deep, it may not need all of the cheese. Move to the preheated oven. If the dish is less than three inches deep, bake for 30 minutes; if deeper, bake for about 45 minutes. Check and reduce the heat 25 degrees if the cheese is browning too much or the custard is bubbling. Cover lightly with foil and continue to bake until a fork inserted in the custard comes out clean and the top is golden brown, up to 40 minutes more, depending on the thickness of the baking dish. Serves 6 to 8.
4 tablespoons butter, melted
4 large eggs, beaten to mix
3 cups milk
1½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground hot red pepper, optional
1 lb. sharp cheddar or Gruyere cheese, grated Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roughly cut the cooked spaghetti into
LAZY GIRL PEACH BATTER COBBLER
1 cup granulated sugar, divided
2 cups sliced peaches
½ cup unsalted butter
1 cup commercial or homemade self-rising flour
1 cup whole milk
Sprinkle ¼ cup of the sugar over the peaches and let sit while melting the butter. In an 8x11-inch baking dish or decorative oven-to-table dish, melt butter in the oven while the oven preheats to
375 degrees. (The butter crisps the edges, so I (Nathalie) say “the bigger the dish, the better.”
If you prefer a deeper cobbler, use a smaller baking dish.) Whisk together the flour, milk, and remaining sugar. It can be a bit lumpy. When the butter has melted, remove the hot pan and pour batter into the hot butter in the pan. Don't worry if the batter puffs up a bit on the sides. Sprinkle the peaches evenly over the top of the batter. Bake until the batter has risen around the fruit, the top is light brown and “cobbled” looking, and the sides are darker brown, about 30 to 45 minutes. An inserted fork should come out clean. Serve hot. It can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen. Reheat before serving. Serves 4 to 6.
The writer owns Catering by Debbi Covington and is the author of three cookbooks, Celebrate Beaufort, Celebrate Everything! and Dining Under the Carolina Moon. Debbi’s website address is www.cateringbydebbicovington.com. She may be reached at 525-0350 or by email at dbc@cateringbydebbicovington.com.
Yuccas: A Tough, Pointy, Pretty Versatile Native
Imet a young farmer who said he was growing Yuccas in one of his fields. As a lifelong learner it was surprising to me that he was growing it for fiber, not as a landscape plant.
There are about 40 species of Yucca growing mainly in dry regions of North America, Central America, and the West Indies. As a landscaper I wasn’t fond of encounters with them while I was on my riding mower. Growing on a short trunk many yuccas have starchy underground rhizomes which seem to go to China if you’re trying to dig one up. The sword-like evergreen leaves are flat and stiff with needles on the tips. Most common on the Coastal Plain are Spanish bayonet (Yucca aloifolia), Mound-lily yucca (Y. gloriosa), and beargrass (Y. filamentosa). As landscape plants they are drought tolerant, and the mound lily is tolerant of salt spray. They all have striking architectural forms, and the white flowers are stunning, attracting specific nocturnal moths necessary for pollination and seed production. Plants typically flower in mid to late summer.
[Aside note for plant nerds. When the lily family got a divorce and split up over whose DNA was or was not like others in the family, yuccas had to move into the Asparacaceae family; subfamily Agavoideae. When I
was new to horticulture lilies, smilax, asparagus, yuccas, and agaves were all perfectly happy in the Lily family.]
Moving on to the outright usefulness of the yucca clan the offerings are very impressive. In Europe yucca extract is being used as a soil drench and plant protectant agent replacing copper sulfate as a fungicide. The roots and leaves contain saponins which are made into foaming agents and soaps. Many other yucca products tout cures from arthritis, high cholesterol, and dermatitis, to migraine headaches. Historically the green pods and fruits were cooked, flowers eaten raw or as fritters, and native people chewed on leaves which is high in Vitamin C and antioxidants. Another source reported that fruits were fer-
mented to make a ceremonial brew.
As a source of fiber used by Native Americans, yucca, cattail, palms, and grasses, were right at the top of the list. It is estimated that about 8000 years ago people began to spin and knot. This discovery led to identifying plants useful to that skill. These plants could be made into thread, cordage, netting, baskets, sandals, moccasins, clothing, bedding, and housing. Fibers of these plants have long cells with thick cell walls containing cellulose and lignin. Other fibers are obtained from the outer portion of stems on plants like hemp, flax, jute, and river cane (Arundinaria sp.) Flower pods can also produce fibers as in cotton and milkweed.
Yucca leaves like palms can be split and woven into baskets, bowls, hats or roofs. The leaves can also be pounded, scraped, and cleaned to produce a very strong twisted cord. A useful material that can then be made into sandals, ropes, mats, skirts, capes, nets, hairbrushes, brooms, or baskets.
Yuccas are not only a very low maintenance, sustainable landscape plants, but with more research we may see a variety of products obtained from them. We can have our cape and eat it too.
Laura Lee Rose
Conroy Center Hosts ‘Scribes’ Conference in Ridgeland
With more than a dozen awards and honors to its credit, the anthology Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy, edited by novelist Nicole Seitz and Conroy Center executive director Jonathan Haupt, has been the subject of more than 50 events across ten states, featuring (thus far) 54 of the volume’s 67 contributing writers. The essays in the collection honor Pat Conroy (1945–2016) as lifelong teacher, mentor, friend, and champion of his fellow writers. In that same spirit of mentorship, the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host a one-day writers conference led by several of the book’s contributors on Saturday, August 29, accessible online via
Zoom and in person at the Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage in Ridgeland, South Carolina.
This fourth Our Prince of Scribes Writers Conference will feature contributing writers Stephanie Austin Edwards (novelist, writing teacher, and high school classmate of Conroy’s), Jonathan Haupt (editor, book reviewer, and former publisher), Ellen Malphrus (USCB writer in residence and professor of English), and Sean A. Scapellato (novelist and writing teacher)—along with special guests Brooke McKinney (poet, memoirist, and Conroy Center communications and events coordinator) and Holland Perryman (Conroy Center student intern)—for a lively series of four writing workshops and a closing panel discussion.
Socially distanced in-person seating at the Morris Center (10782 Jacob Smart Blvd S., Ridgeland) is limited to 20 participants. Online participation through Zoom is also available for a dozen additional participants. All-day registration includes all four workshops and the closing panel discussion (with lunch on your own): $85 for SC Writers Association members, $10o for non members.
Learn more and register at https://patconroyliterarycenter.eventbrite. com.
OUR PRINCE OF SCRIBES WRITERS CONFERENCE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
10:00 to 11:00 a.m.: “Live at Home like a Traveler”; or, the Socially Distant Nature Writer | Ellen Malphrus 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: The Dialogue Crash Course: How to Talk the Talk | Sean A. Scapellato and Holland Perryman
12:30 to 1:45 p.m.: Lunch Break (on your own)
2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Book Marketing Essentials | Stephanie Austin Edwards
3:15 to 4:15 p.m.: The
sure. But most of all, you'll meet a man who damn-well knew how to love. And thanks to the devoted efforts of co-editors Jonathan Haupt and Nicole Seitz, and the work of 67 very fine writers, his legion of fans will come to love Pat Conroy even more than they already do.”
— Lowcountry Weekly
Burning Man vs. the Tortoises: Turning Memories into Stories | Jonathan Haupt and Brooke McKinney 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.: Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy panel discussion Books by the faculty members will be available for sale and signing at the Morris Center.
Sales of Our Prince of Scribes help support the educational mission of the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center.
PRAISE FOR OUR PRINCE OF SCRIBES: WRITERS REMEMBER PAT CONROY
“A moving tribute to the legacy of one of the South’s brightest lights.”
— Garden & Gun’s Talk of the South
“A moving, entertaining read as genuine as the icon himself. ”
— Charleston Magazine
“In these essays, you'll meet a man who was troubled, tormented, angry, scathing, outrageous, hilarious, tender, noble, brave, and generous beyond mea -
Winner of the 2019 Civitas Award for Tourism Leadership, the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center is South Carolina’s first affiliate of the American Writers Museum, second American Library Association Literary Landmark, and TripAdvisor’s topranked attraction in Beaufort. The Conroy Center preserves and continues the literary legacy of Pat Conroy (1945–2016) as a teacher, mentor, advocate, and friend to readers and writers alike. The Conroy Center is located at 905 Port Republic Street in downtown Beaufort, open to the public from noon to 4:00 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. To learn more, please visit www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
Ellen Malphrus
Sean Scapellato
Holland Perryman
Stephanie Austin Edwards
Brooke McKinney
Jonathan Haupt
12-Year-Old Wins 50-Mile Endurance Race
Story and photos by
Susan Trogdon
Imagine driving from Hunting Island State Park to Bluffton to go shopping. Now imagine running that distance. That’s 50 miles.
There’s an epic race in Beaufort, Cre-
mator Ultra, that’s 50 miles with 50 participants. They’re chosen by lottery . . . yes, there are more than 50 people who want to do this (crazy)! Tim Waz with Grounded Running spends part of his Christmas Eve drawing the lucky winners who attempt, not only running the distance, but in Beaufort’s steamy July. You must have experience in ultra- racing and, of course, be healthy enough to take on the challenge.
Gavin Moore was one of those lucky draws on December 24, 2019. Gavin is 12
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years old and holds several state records. He met with other runners at Grounded Running on Sunday, July 12 that 6:00 a.m. to run to a building on St. Helena 12.5 miles from where he began, turned around, headed back to Grounded Running with 25 miles under his
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belt only to turn around and do it all again. Gavin’s time was 7:49:40 finishing and winning the race in the heat of the day. Ryan Dunn finished up in Second place with Sally V taking first in women’s and third overall. Congratulations to all of the runners!
Gavin Moore on the road
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CLASSES & SEMINARS
SCREENWRITERS CALL FOR MEMBERS Lowcountry Screenwriters is a new group in Beaufort looking for committed individuals with either screenwriting experience, prior film or prose experience, or have an interest in film writing. Not a class, but a workshop to critique and provide feedback to the group. For interest in attending email a little about yourself. emilydfj@gmail.com bakerjef@hotmail.com
FRIDAY SOCIAL DANCES The Hilton Head Carolina Shag Club hosts Friday dances from 6-9:30 pm at Dolphin Head Golf Club, 59 High Bluff Rd, Hilton Head Plantation. Open to the public. Shag, ballroom, swing, country, or line. Singles welcome. Cash bar and light dinners available. $5 floor fee. HHICSC also teaches beginner Shag lessons Tuesday nights. www.hiltonheadshagclub.com, or www.facebook.com/HHICSC
STAINED GLASS CLASSES IN BEAUFORT Pinto Bean Studio forming morning, afternoon and evening classes for adults 18 or older. Beginning & advanced classes. Marty Nash at 614-260-6668 or pintobeanstudio@hotmail.com
ART LEAGUE OF HH ACADEMY KIDS CLASSES Tuesdays, 9/12-9/26. Ages 5-10, 4:30-6pm; Ages 11+, 6:30-8pm. $40 per child/session. Debi West has 24 years teaching art to children and has national leadership advocating for art education.
POTTERY CLASSES IN BEAUFORT McSweeney Clay Studio is offering morning, afternoon and evening classes for children and adults. Pottery dates and parties available as well. Classes are on going. Beginner or advanced welcome. mcsweeneyclaystudio.com or call 843-694-2049.
LOWCOUNTRY SHAGGERS Mondays at the Moose Lodge, 350 Broad River Blvd. 6-9pm. Carolina Shag
Lessons with Tommy & Sheri O'Brien and others. Occasional Ballroom Dance and once a month a Line Dance is taught. Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced lessons. Open dancing after lessons. Visit www.lowcountryshaggers.com or lowcountryshaggers@aol.com
BEAUFORT ART ASSOCIATION offers classes for artists at all levels. For info visit www.beaufortartassociation.com. or 913 Bay St.
WEDNESDAYS, BEAUFORT SHAG CLUB founded '02, meets Wed evenings at AMVETS on Ribaut Rd., Port Royal. Free lessons to members. The club is an ACSC, SOS, and the National Fastdance Association member. For info visit www.beaufortshagclub.com
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for HELP of Beaufort, 1810 Ribaut Road. Looking for committed volunteers for clothes sorting, pantry help, front desk help and Mobile Meals drivers. We are open M-F from 9:30-12:30, Mobile Meals delivers to home bound seniors 5 days/ week, routes takes about 30-45 mins. Email Lori at helpbeaufort@gmail.com, or call 843-524-1223, or stop in and fill out an application.
SNOWBIRDS! Wondering what to do with unopened, non-perishable food items at the end of your stay? Drop them off at the YMCA and we’ll deliver them to a local food bank on your behalf. Conveniently located in Port Royal at; 1801 Richmond Ave., 843-522-9622, beaufort-jasperymca.org
PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP - First Thursday of the month at Beaufort Memorial LifeFit Wellness Center, from 1:30-2:45pm, 900 Ribaut Rd. Beaufort. We are individuals with Parkinson’s care partners of those with Parkinson’s, and individuals or companies providing products or services for Parkinson’s patients. For more info: Rick Ostrander at pdawaresc@gmail.com or Facebook at Parkinson’s Support Group Of Beaufort SC Port Royal & Lady’s Island.
US COAST GUARD AUXILIARY, Flotilla 07-10-01, Port Royal Sound, a uniformed, all volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard. We conduct safety patrols, assist search & rescue, teach boat safety, conduct free vessel safety checks and other boating activities. Monthly meetings are open to all and held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at the Port Royal Sound Foundation classroom at 7pm. For info call Flotilla Commander Pattie McGowan (706-6336192) and visit us on Facebook - USCGA Beaufort.
PASTEL ART CLASSES IN BEAUFORT now forming by artist Randall Messina. Beginner to advanced. Max class size 5 students. At Atelier on Bay, 203 West Street. Supplies provided. Classes fill quickly so call or email to reserve. One on one classes also available. 843-321-3281 or e-mail: randallmessina@gmail.com
PORT ROYAL MUSEUM now open to the public by The Historic Port Royal Foundation every Saturday at 1634 Paris Ave., from 10 - 2 or upon request. New exhibits added weekly; historian on hand 10 - 12. Free admission! Call 843-524-4333 or email unionchurch1004@gmail.com to request a special opening.
or email:
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for a few hours each week at St. Francis Thrift Shop. Open Tuesday thru Saturday. Call 843-689-6563 or come in to speak with Mr. Hal. Definitely shop.
COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE Safe & effective centuries old healing system treats and prevents a wide range of health-related conditions. Experience individualized treatment in a peaceful group setting. Sliding scale fee. Beaufort Acupuncture, 12 Fairfield Rd, 5B, Lady’s Island. For info and to schedule: (843) 694-0050 or www.BeaufortAcupuncture.com
SECOND HELPINGS seeking Day Captains and other volunteers to crew our trucks distributing food to local charities. Flexible schedule at your convenience. Email officeadmin@secondhelpingslc.org
AGAPE HOSPICE seeks volunteers to spend time bringing joy to our patients and families during a difficult time. Activities include playing music, baking, arts and crafts, pet therapy, manicures, listening to stories, holding hands, etc. Provide companionship to the elderly who often feel lonely and unappreciated. Contact Ashlee Powers at 843592-8453 or apowers@agapehospice.com
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for HELP of Beaufort. Come join the team providing food, mobile meals, clothing and emergency financial assistance to those in need in our community. Open Mon-Fri 9:30-12:30. 2 Ice House Rd., Beaufort. Call or email Jennifer 843-524-1223 or info@helpofbeaufort.org
TIDEWATER HOSPICE SUPPORT GROUP: Last Wed. and Thurs. of the month. Weds. 10-11am at Sun City; Thurs. 12-1pm Brookdale Hilton Head Ct., Hilton Head; for those who provide physical, emotional or practical support to a family member or friend. Jodi Johnson, LMSW. Bereavement Group: 5-6 pm., Thursdays, 10 Buckingham Plantation Drive, Suite A, Bluffton; for those who have experienced a loss and would like support and info associated with grief and bereavement. Corrie VanDyke, LMSW or Marie James, MA. 843-757-9388
THE SANTA ELENA HISTORY CENTER in downtown Beaufort hosts regular lectures, presentations, exhibits and programs about history, culture, science and archaeology. For more info visit www. Santa-Elena.org or 843-379-1550.
INTERESTED IN HEALTHY EATING? Second
Helpings, of Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper counties, seeks committee members and chairperson for Healthy Food Program. Funding available to procure fresh produce and protein for the 60 food pantries and soup kitchens served by Second Helpings. Contact Exec. Dir. Lili Coleman, 843-6893616 or execdirector@secondhelpingslc.org
BORN TO READ working for early childhood literacy, needs volunteers to deliver books and materials to new mothers at Coastal Community Hosp., HH Hosp., and BMH. Visits are from 10am – noon. More info at borntoread.org. Interested volunteers call 843-379-3350.
ALZHEIMER’S FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER BEAUFORT, Support groups and Respite Pro-
grams: Caregiver - Weds., 12:30pm, Helena Place Assisted Living, 1624 Paris Ave., Port Royal; Living with Alzheimer's - for those diagnosed and still in early stages - Mondays 1pm, Parsons Parlor, Carteret Street Methodist Church, 408 Carteret, Beaufort; Social Day Program- 10am-1:45pm $40 Day Fee, Mon. & Wed., Port Royal United Methodist, 1602 Columbia Ave., Port Royal, Weds. at Cornerstone Christian Church, 2301 First Blvd., Beaufort; In Home - Respite Aides available for 2 hr. minimum, $12-$24 sliding scale; Maintain Your Brain2nd & 4th Thursday, 10-11:30am, $10/person, $15 couple, Port Royal United Methodist, 1602 Columbia Ave., Port Royal; Free Memory Screenings available. (843) 521-9190 or (843) 263-2062.
THRESHOLD SINGERS OF THE LOWCOUNTRY
A choir to ease and comfort people at bedside by offering gentle voices and sacred songs, with sincere kindness. Two to four singers go to bedside when asked and sing a cappella and in harmony. Practice at St. John's Lutheran Church the 2nd & 4th Sundays of the month from 2:304:00 pm. Our songs are our gift of service for no charge. Call Pat Keown at 843-476-6073 to either join or ask us to sing for a loved one.
THE LITERACY CENTER is seeking volunteers to tutor adults in reading, writing, math and ESL. Students hope to acquire skills to pursue life goals, support families, and contribute to our community. Daytime and evenings in Bluffton and HHI. Call 843-815-6616 (Bluffton); 843-681-6655 (HHI). No teaching, tutoring or other language knowledge necessary. www.theliteracycenter.org
THE SANDALWOOD COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY. Volunteer-based, non-profit provides groceries, clothing and basic needs items to ANYONE in need. Open Tues & Fri 11:30am-1pm. Located at 114 Beach City Rd., Hilton Head. Donations of food and funds are needed. For info contact Rev. Dr. Nannette Pierson at 843-715-3583 or email sandalwoodpantry@gmail.com
PARRIS ISLAND MUSEUM. The legacy of the Marine Corps and the history of the Port Royal region. Thousands of artifacts, images, and other materials illustrate the stories in exhibit galleries from Native American to modern Marines. FREE admission. Mon-Sat 10am4:30pm and 8am on Family Graduation Days. Closed New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Info at parrisislandmuseum.com or 843-228-2166.
MEDICAL SERVICES OF AMERICA SEEKS VOLUNTEERS - Volunteers needed to provide companionship or skills like yard work, music, and crafts to patients and their families or assist in the office with admin tasks. Volunteers needed in Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper counties. For info contact 843-322-0063
CHRIST CENTERED RECOVERY MEETINGS Join Shell Point Baptist Church Saturdays for “Celebrate Recovery”, addressing life’s problems and looking to scripture for solutions. Meal at 6pm; Praise and Worship at 6:30pm followed by Small Groups at 7:15pm. 871 Parris Island Gateway, Beaufort. Info at 843-592-1046.
Beaufort History Museum Opens Fort Fremont Exhibit
Visitors to Beaufort History Museum are invited to explore the history of Fort Fremont, a fortification built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Saint Helena Island in 1898, by viewing a special exhibit that displays award-winning images and a modern instructional video featuring exclusive drone photography of the site.
Fort Fremont was constructed in response to the Spanish American War to defend the coaling station and dry dock at the Port Royal Naval Station located on Parris Island. It was one of six fortifications designated to protect the southeast coast during the war. It honors Major General John C. Fremont who was a Republican Presidential Candidate and Union Civil War General. The Fort was officially deactivated in 1912.
The Exhibit was officially introduced to Beaufort History Museum Board Members and Friends of Fort Fremont at an open house on July 15. The images featured are loaned to the Museum by noted Savannah photographer Mike Tillison. BHM Board Member Jeff Kidd created the video, a preview of which may be accessed at: https:// www.facebook.com/Beaufort.History.Museum/videos/393167394933323/
Those touring the Exhibits are asked to observe the commonly accepted CDC protocols for social distancing while at the Museum. The use of facemasks is required.
Beaufort History Museum has evolved to focus specifically on the history of the Beaufort District. It strives to manage and display artifacts and documents held by the City of Beaufort, telling the compelling stories of this area from the early 16th Century
until modern times. Docent classes are conducted on an ongoing basis.
The Arsenal address is 713 Craven Street. Normal BHM hours of operation are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Tuesday – Saturday. Docents are on duty to provide information and conduct tours. Please visit www.beau-
forthistorymuseum.com or the BHM Facebook page for updates and news from the Museum.
For information on becoming a Docent or Volunteer Greeter contact the Museum at info@beauforthistorymuseum.com or call 843-379-3079.
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Over Fifteen Years Experience
Serving the Lowcountry’s
Buyers & Sellers with Closings, Deeds & Contracts
2 Professional Village Circle, Beaufort, SC 29907
Phone: (843) 524-4000
• Fax: (843) 524-4006
Derek C. Gilbert - derek@dcgilbert.com
Melissa R. Wicker - melissa@dcgilbert.com
Alisha Doud - alisha@dcgilbert.com
Bonnie Hart - bonnie@dcgilbert.com
Dawn Shipsey - dawn@dcgilbert.com
Joy McConnell - joy@dcgilbert.com
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• Bobbi Tealey - bobbi@dcgilbert.com
• Daun Schouten - daun@dcgilbert.com
• Emily Dixon - emily@dcgilbert.com
• Kathy Crowley - kathy@dcgilbert.com
Charles Street Gallery & frame shop presents
BEAUFORT/PORT ROYAL
Foolish Frog, 846 Sea Island Pkwy, St. Helena Island. (843) 838-9300. thefoolishfrog.com
Luther’s Rare & Well Done, 910 Bay Street. (843) 521-1888 or www.luthersrareandwelldone. com
Q on Bay, 822 Bay St, Beaufort. (843) 5247771 or www.qonbay.com
Rosie O’Gradys Irish Pub, in Beaufort Town center adjacent K-Mart. Karaoke Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays with Eric and the Girls - 9pm. Open daily for Rock N Roll Lunch 11:30am. Best Reubens, Phillys, Fish & Chips and Now a Great Shrimp Burger. (843) 3797676 or Rosie O'Grady's on Facebook.
Saltus River Grill, 802 Bay St, Beaufort. (843) 379-3474 or www.saltusrivergrill.com
BLUFFTON/HILTON HEAD
Big Bamboo, Coligny Plaza. (843) 686-3443 or www.bigbamboocafe.com
Captain Woody’s, 6 Target Rd., Hilton Head or 17 State of Mind St., Bluffton. www. captainwoodys.com
The Jazz Corner, Village at Wexf1ord, Hilton Head. 7/22 Grammy Winning Vocalist Quiana Parler with the Lavon Stevens Trio, 7/24 The Charlton Singleton Quartet, 7/25 - Closed - , 7/29 Bobby Ryder, 7/31 The Billy Thornton Quartet, 8/1 - Closed - , 8/5 Quiana Parler with the Lavon Stevens Trio, 8/7 Reggie Deas & Deas Guys honor Sam Cooke, Brook Benton, Otis Redding, and more. (843) 842-8620 or www.TheJazzCorner.com
Omni Hilton Head Ocean Front in Palmetto Dunes. Buoy Bar - HH Prime(843) 842-8000 or www.omnihotels.com
OUT OF TOWN
The Music Farm, 32 Ann Street, Charleston. 7/25 Built To Spill. 843-577-6969 or www. musicfarm.com.
The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston. Performances on the Deck Stage until further notice. Sundays - Sunday Brunch Farmers Market; Mondays - Slim S.O.U.L. and Friends; Wednesdays - Grateful Dead Wednesday with Reckoning; ThursdaysBlacknoyze, 7/25 Ward Buckheister - 12pm, 7/25 CBDB, 7/28 Poho Family Funk Revue, 7/31 Reckoning, 8/1 Larry Keel Experience, 8/2 Marvelous Funkshun, 8/8 Interstellar Echoes - Pink Floyd tribute. (843) 571-4343 or www.charlestonpourhouse.com
Windjammer, 1008 Ocean Blvd, Isle of Palms. Thursdays - Karaoke. 7/31 & 8/1 Cowboy Mouth. (843) 886-8596 or www. the-windjammer.com
Editors Note:
Events listed here may be subject to postponement or cancellation. Please check for further information.
GALLERIES/ART
Now - 7/25, Wall Flowers, paintings by Amos Hummell at Art League Gallery on Hilton Head. Located mid-island inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, 843-681-5060.
Now - 8/29, The World Through My Brush, works by Wyn Foland at the Beaufort Art Association Gallery, 913 Bay St. in downtown Beaufort. Reception on Fri 7/3 from 5 to 8 pm, light refreshments will be served. Also on display will be works by other local artists who are members of the Gallery. www.beaufortartassociation.com
7/28 - 7/31, Fabulous Fakes: Master Artworks with a Twist, Art League Gallery on Hilton Head. Silent auction ends at 4pm on 7/31, and the winners will be announced via Facebook Live. Located mid-island inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, 843-681-5060.
8/4 - 8/29, Jan Ross Watercolors at Art League Gallery on Hilton Head. Please check Art League's Facebook page (@ArtLeagueHiltonHead) for live events with the artist. Located mid-island inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, 843-681-5060.
Thur 8/6, 'Art Speaks' Submission Deadline. 'Art Speaks' will be a special kickoff event at USCB Center for the Arts this fall. Artists 18 and over should submit art reflecting their creative response to the Covid 19 pandemic, through any 2D, 3D or photographic medium. Images should be submitted to bhargrove@uscb.edu by 5 pm. For more info, visit www.uscbcenterforthearts.com
WRITERS & BOOK EVENTS
Now - August 2020, "Live from the Pat Conroy Literary Center" podcast on the Air Global Radio Network. Hosted by executive director Jonathan Haupt. Summer guest authors on the interview program include a pair of novelists: two-time Lillian Smith Book Award winner and finalist for the Townsend Prize for Fiction, Anthony Grooms, author of The Vain Conversation (July 22, 7:00 pm), and Haupt’s high school classmate Laura Trentham, author of the military family-themed Heart of a Hero series and more than 20 historical and contemporary romance novels (August 19, 7:00 pm). The podcast interviews will also be shared through the Conroy Center’s social media and email newsletter.
Tues 7/28, Queen of Southern Cuisine Nathalie Dupree in conversation with Beaufort's own award-winning cookbook author Debbi Covington about recently published Nathalie Dupree’s Favorite Stories and Recipes. 5:30 p.m. at the Pat Conroy Literary Center. 905 Port Republic Street in downtown Beaufort. Outside in the plaza, weather permitting. Seating is limited; the event will also be live-streamed on the Conroy Center’s Facebook page. www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
OTHER EVENTS
Saturdays, 7/25, 8/8 & 8/22, Summer Night Market, an open-air shopping event with live music that features local artisans and makers from 5-9 pm, in the Southern Barrel parking lot in Buckwalter Plaza in Bluffton. The event is sponsored by Lowcountry Made, an online community and marketing organization that encourages everyone to shop local.
Saturdays, 8/22, 9/12, 10/24 and 11/21, CPR Classes at The Wardle Family YMCA, located at 1801 Richmond Ave in Port Royal. 8am-12:00 pm. Cost is $35 for this YMCA certified course and those interested need to register at the Y as space is limited and filled on a first come, first serve basis. Questions? Contact Lou Bergen, Aquatics Director to register for this class. Call the Y: 843522-9622 or visit: beaufort-jasperymca.org
First & Third Tuesday, Beaufort Toastmasters Club meets from 5:30 pm - 6:45 pm in the Beaufort College Building, Rm. 103 (USC-Beaufort Campus), 801 Carteret Street, Beaufort. To learn more visit www.beauforttoastmastersclub.toastmastersclubs.org
First & Third Wednesday, FREE Acupuncture for Veterans – Veterans, Active Duty, Transition, Their Families and First Responders are Eligible) 46pm. Walk In Clinic. No Need to Pre-Register or Call. Nourishing Health Acupuncture and Herbs Clinic. 1214 Prince Street, Downtown Beaufort
Thursdays and some Tuesdays, Tours of the Historic Hunting Island Lighthouse sponsored by the Friends of Hunting Island. Keeper Ted and his team will tell you all about the history of the Lighthouse which was built in 1875 and is the only Lighthouse in South Carolina open to visitors. If you are at least 44 inches tall you may also climb the 167 steps to the top of the Lighthouse for a 360 degree view. Reservations are recommended by calling the Nature Center at 843-838-7437. Tours are $2 a person and park entry fees apply.
Third Thursday, TECHconnect is a monthly networking event for professionals working in and around technology. Come and join on the for the conversation at BASEcamp 500 Carteret 5:307:30pm. 843-470-3506. www.beaufortdigital.com
Thursdays, History Tours of Fort Mitchel by the Heritage Library, 10am. $12/Adult $7/Child. 843-686-6560.
1st Saturday of Every Month, Maye River Quilters meeting at Palmetto Electric Cooperative, 1 Cooperative Way, Hardeeville. Members meet at 9:30am for social exchange. The meeting starts at 10 am. We welcome new members. Please call 843-707-6034.
4th Saturday of Every Month, While Fort Fremont is closed during the construction of an Interpretive Center, the Friends of Fort Fremont is presenting historical lectures at 10am at the St. Helena Library. The first lecture will be “Bringing History to Life, Fort Fremont Dioramas" by Dennis Cannady, Master Modeler. For more information call the Library at 843-255-6487.
