Lowcountry Weekly March 13 – March 26

Our 60 Minutes of Fame 4

Telling Trails 7

Hiking Port Royal

Chalk It Up! 8

Our newest festival

Dishing Fresh 10 at the Farmers Market

Erin Go Bragh! 12

Your St. Pat's menu

Culture Wars 15

In the garden

Carolina Colors 14

Marianne Stillwagon

cover notes

The photo on our cover is one of the winning images from Nikon's Small World competition. The winners will be on exhibit at Coastal Discovery Museum from March 15 - May 5. For more information, see page 9.

ryWeekly

LuntMarch 13 – March 26, 2024

Publisher: Jeff Evans — Jeff@LCWeekly.com

Editor: Margaret Evans — Editor@LCWeekly.com

Marketing Director: Amanda Hanna — 843-343-8483 or Amanda@LCWeekly.com

Advertising Sales: Hope Falls — 757-274-7184 or Ads.TheIslandNews@Gmail.com

Sandy Schepis — 678-641-4495 or SandySchepis@Gmail.com

Art Director: Lydia Inglett

Layout & Design: Amalgamated Sprinkleworks

Contributing Writers: Vivian Bikulege, Katherine Tandy Brown, Debbi Covington, Sandra Educate, Wendy Hilte, Cele & Lynn Seldon, and Sutty Suddeth

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 2024 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, self-addressed envelope must accompany all submissions expected to be returned.

Our 60 Minutes of Fame RANTS

Did you catch Beaufort on 60 Minutes last week? The segment about our recent adventures in book banning?

My Facebook feed erupted in praise following the episode. Seems it was widely loved by locals and non-locals alike. All over social media, the Beaufort community received kudos for, as one outsider put it, “handling the book banning crisis so well.”

(Considering everything going on in the world, “crisis” seemed a bit hyperbolic to me, but I digress.)

Despite the mostly positive feedback, not everybody was charmed. A bit of research revealed that Moms for Liberty, the national organization featured prominently in the segment, had seen it as a “hit piece.” They claim Scott Pelley edited their interview to make them look evasive and foolish.

Me? I found the segment pleasing on one level, but frustrating on another. Maybe it’s just because I’ve followed this story closely –our other paper, The Island News, has been reporting on it since the beginning – but to me, the 60 Minutes segment felt like a mere scraping of the surface, at best. At worst, it felt like a pre-fab national narrative looking for a lovely locale – Beaufort – in which to set itself.

And 60 Minutes did make Beaufort look lovely – not just pretty, but smart and

thoughtful. Small southern towns and their citizens aren’t always afforded that courtesy by major media outlets, so for that, I was grateful.

I was grateful to 60 Minutes for applauding the way our community rose to the occasion in question, setting up committees of volunteer citizens and educators to read and review the 97 books that were challenged and pulled from our school libraries.

Still, at times the segment felt, to me, like a glorified puff piece in service to a “moral” that most Americans already agree on: “Book banning is bad.” I had been hoping for more.

For instance, it was interesting to hear from the founders of the aggrieved Moms for Liberty, but why didn’t we hear from the community members who initiated the book review process here in Beaufort County? It would have been helpful to hear their actual concerns about the books under review, from their actual mouths. Instead, we got the flustered and defensive “Moms,” who aren’t from around here – and who claim their answers were manipulated in editing – appearing to dodge the question about those concerns. So it never really got answered, though Scott Pelley’s raised eyebrow spoke volumes. He clearly held the “Moms” in contempt. Fine, but I wanted to hear why.

And I’d have loved some discussion about how books are selected for school libraries in the first place. This is a mystery to me. Maybe the books with violent and/or sexually explicit passages – the ones pulled for five years in Beaufort – were selected by media specialists for good reasons. Why weren’t those reasons explored? And where were the literacy-advocating teenagers from DAYLO who were interviewed by 60 Minutes months ago? Why didn’t Pelley mention the chickenfeed-tossing incident at the school board meeting?

In short, the whole story just felt sanitized to me – stripped of its grit, detail, debate, and local color. Again, it did make Beaufort look beautiful – especially compared to the Moms for Liberty – but the book banning issue here has had its ugly moments, too. Where were those?

The segment ended with a voiceover meant to inspire, a quote from a book called The Fixer: “There are no wrong books. What’s wrong is the fear of them.” It’s a nice line, but I don’t really believe it. Do you? As a lifelong reader, I believe there are some wrong books out there. There are good books and bad books and everything in between. Clearly, we should all be free to read any book we want, but not every book belongs in a school library. Why can’t we talk about that candidly?

It just feels like one more dishonest conversation we’re having in this country, where we all talk past each other, but never to each other – those of us who are talking at all, that is. I don’t know anybody who fears a book, but I know plenty of people who fear being labeled “book banners” by one vocal group, or “groomers” by another, so they just keep their heads down and their mouths shut.

A couple of years ago, I sparked a cautiously lively discussion on my Facebook page, which I revisited while working on this column. At the time, there was lots of book banning chatter in the air – breaking down along the usual lines –and I posted the following:

“What is your definition of ‘book banning’? Is it when a rural Tennessee school board removes Pulitzer Prize winner ‘Maus’ from its 8th grade curriculum because of rough language, violence, and nudity? Is it when a Seattle school board removes Pulitzer Prize winner To Kill a Mockingbird from its required reading list, because they see

Margaret Evans

Atticus Finch as problematic . . . even racist? Maybe it's when Amazon kills a paid ad campaign for ‘Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters’ – named by The Economist as a Book of the Year – one week before publication, and Target (temporarily) refuses to sell it? I would submit that none of these books has been ‘banned’ and each has undoubtedly grown its readership recently (with the possible exception of ‘Mockingbird,’ which is perennially popular). I would also submit that censorship is happening all over, so we should stop pretending it's a one-party phenomenon.”

Obviously, I’ve been grappling with these questions for a while, so I was hoping 60 Minutes would bring something new and illuminating to the conversation. I wanted the producers to go deep, examining all the angles of a complicated issue. They didn’t.

But they did craft a delightful narrative about Beaufort that will probably do wonders for our tourism and retirement industries, so there’s that.

It occurs to me – not for the first time –that I probably expect too much of our public discourse. I expect everybody to be as irritated (okay, borderline despairing) as I am by the childish conversations we have –conversations that ultimately boil down to shouting matches between “groomers” and “book banners,” “wokesters” and “Trumpsters,” “reds” and “blues,” etc. etc. It’s all just so reductive and dehumanizing and society-shredding. I dream of a day when people stop viewing everything in public life through the blinding lens of these bloody binaries. A day when people genuinely listen to each other and learn from each other, instead of seeing each other, and treating each other, as cartoonish caricatures.

To borrow from 60 Minutes’ famous intro, I want “this story and more . . . ”

And I want it all wrapped up in a tidy, 13-minute package. With no commercials.

“Blammo!”

Why is it that just when life seems to be rockin’ along like a stroll down a country lane in the spring sunshine . . . blammo! . . . the necessity for unexpected change breaks your reverie, rears its grisly head, and declares, “We can’t have you getting too comfortable now, can we?!” And in the background a snicker crescendos to an evil laugh. You turn around with thoughts of slapping the culprit, but alas, no one is there to blame. The bomb has dropped, and you must deal with it. Know what I mean?

Having occupied the Earth for more than a few years, I now realize the best reaction is an eyeroll and a heartfelt “You have to be kidding!” before flipping the brain’s “on” switch to focus on the best way to deal with the matter at hand by getting present. Usually one day, sometimes one hour, or even one minute at a time. Life certainly is easier when I remember to do that.

Fortunately, much wiser souls than I –some living, some not – have addressed this issue of the oft-dreaded state of unwelcome change and offered darn good suggestions for nearly any situation, no matter how impossible the occasion may seem. Should there be time to step back and take a clear look at what has appeared in front of you, either physically, mentally, or both, by all means, do your best to identify its reality.

Often in this column, I’ve mentioned the importance of practicing daily meditation, and you can bank on seeing it in the future. So here we go again . . . because it works. Either practicing guided meditation or even spending a few quiet moments for an *“’I’ exam” (going inside yourself and taking a gander at what’s there, even and especially things you’d rather not claim) will result in your understanding what exactly living more often in the present means and will increase

your ability to do just that. When it comes to life changes, this “tool” is as invaluable as is a good handyman for fixing a leaky sink. Spending time in the past can bring up feelings of regret and guilt, while residing in the future for any length of time can wrap your mind in fear. Being here – in the now –allows you to use your mind to the best of its capacities. When a major change or the need for one drops into your life, i.e. that “blammo!”, keep your wits, and your wit, about you. Nothing like humor to lighten the load.

Having you believe that there is only past and future and that the present does not exist is the ego’s MO for setting you up to fail. Several years ago, a landmark birthday sneaked up on me. I didn’t feel nearly as old as that number sounded, and at first couldn’t figure out what had happened all those years in between the age I felt and the age I was. In my mind, that simply could not be, and for a short time, I refused to consider its reality.

A quote from writing workshop guru Natalie Goldberg finally motivated me to change my belief and move ahead.

“This is your life,” she said. “You are responsible for it. You will not live forever. Don’t wait.”

Initially when I heard that, I freaked. Thank goodness acceptance followed and my belief changed, bolstered by an insightful thought from sage storyteller and minimalist artist Brian Andreas, now Kai Skye.

“Everything changed, he said, “the day she figured out there was exactly enough time for the important things in her life.”

For me, this rang true, and what a relief that was. The duo of those two pieces of advice got me out of do-nothing panic mode and into “Rock this change, girl!”

If you’re not familiar with the website flyingedna.com, take a peek. Like what you see? Then sign up for a daily free, usually short, story chock full of life wisdom, penned by either Kai or his equally astute wife Fia. Their worldview broadening missives are paired with his cool art to take you on a laptop journey to a land of wonder, imagination, and simple truths.

There’s a bit of my experience. As we focus on perceived negative change, let’s move on to advice from more of the experts.

Changing your mindset, bucking beliefs that you’ve clung to for years because they’ve served you in the past, can be a difficult task. Addictions are a good example, but one of a

WHOLLY HOLISTICS

by Katherine Tandy Brown

plethora of reasons 12-step groups are so popular. At least a few meetings end with the phrase: “It works if you work it.” The courageous folks who participate in them are determined to change lifelong behavior patterns that have not allowed them to live their best lives. Many succeed after identifying false self-beliefs that keep them stuck.

Says spiritual teacher, author, and activist Marianne Williamson, “Perhaps a lover or two rejected you, so now you think, ‘I have no luck in love; my partners leave me.’ But in fact . . . some people left you while others would have overcharged their credit cards to have tea with you in Timbuktu.”

Give yourself permission to change your beliefs, especially about yourself.

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” This from 13th century poet and Sufi mystic Rumi.

And the following from the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama: “Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

Mankind has been aware of the need to change for centuries. It isn’t just you.

Beloved poet, novelist, essayist, and sustainability activist Wendell Berry, former Kentucky Poet Laureate, beautifully states the experience of standing on the springboard of change.

It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to\our real work and when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey.

Go ahead, look change in the face, and dive on in. Likely the water will be just fine.

* My thanks for this terminology – “’I' exam” to Jackie Brewer Van Dyke, author of Fixin’ to Get Nekkid: Stripping Down My Journey of Freedom and Recovery from Codependency.

Telling Trails in Port Royal

Back on tour in the Beaufort area, author/ educator Iris Jackson is offering a new Spring hike-workshop on Friday, March 22nd at 4:30pm. This visit takes Telling Trails to Port Royal, where attendees will be treated to indoor and outdoor stories, walking from waterfront to wetland.

Put on your hiking shoes and allow your creative side to shine in Port Royal. You will find many beautiful things throughout town, coupled with nature’s surprises down by the shore. Certainly something to add to your schedule.

Beginning with a book talk at The Gas Lantern Apothecary, workshop participants will be introduced to the Telling Trails method of sharing and writing, with ideas to express one's creativity. Partnering with Gas Lantern Apothecary in Port Royal (703 Paris Ave.), proprietor Sheila Saunders will describe helpful practices, herbal remedies, and natural sources.

“The Gas Lantern is a soft space to land and a place to get into the heart of spiritual practices without the fluff or smoke and mirrors,” says shop owner Saunders. Through sharing information about medicinal herbs and apothecaries available at her unique shop, Sheila says, “I welcome everyone, without judgment, no matter the path they walk.” Both Sheila and Iris hope to inspire you to put a regular creative and mindful indoor/outdoor activity into your weekly schedule.

After visiting The Gas Lantern, participants will take a Telling Trails trip to the waterside. Utilizing her hike-workshop format, Iris invites everyone to join on a journey to Cypress Wetlands rookery where you will see shore birds of all sorts, be able

to check out the turtles on rocks in the water, and enjoy the gorgeous trees and plant life. Make sure to watch out for a possible gator sighting as well. Your experience in this beautiful natural environment gives you the opportunity to experience the feel of nature and make greater mind/body connections. You’ll soon find your own Telling Trails creations coming to life.

Get in touch with your inner self before the burnout begins. Come out and be creative, making a hike part of your regular routine. Combining physical activities with creative endeavors is not just unique and fun, but necessary for a healthy mind, body and spirit. Whether coming along to share something new, explore the beauty in nature, or kick-off a great weekend, join the Telling Trails tour on Friday March 22nd.

Recently published, Telling Trails will help you express your thoughts, share with someone special – or provide inspiration to get out and start moving – on a thoughtful hiking journey. Copies of Telling Trails will be available for purchase at the hike, at The Gas Lantern, or from your favorite local bookshop.

Add March 22nd at 4:30pm to your schedule. Meet Iris, Sheila at The Gas Lantern Apothecary, 703 Paris Ave, Port Royal. For book and hike information, visit www.tellingtrails.org or call The Gas Lantern Apothecary at 843-612-0140.

The Gas Lantern Apothecary in Port Royal

Iris Jackson and Sheila Saunders

Live Music, Amazing Street Art, and Free Fun!

Chalk It Up! festival organizers are excited about the music entertainment planned for the chalk art festival in Downtown Beaufort, March 23-24. The festival will feature local musicians on stage throughout both days.

Beaufort is blessed to have a rich talent pool of local musicians, and the Chalk It Up! festival lineup includes several popular performers. Saturday morning will feature Walker Dean, and Ashley Holland will perform Saturday afternoon. Sunday morning

kicks off with the Deckhands Band, and Edward & Ryan are performing Sunday afternoon.

Two days of FREE fun, amazing street chalk art, food trucks, and all-day live music, Chalk It Up! will be entertainment for the whole family, from 10am-5pm March 23-24 on the

Harmony Is Not The Exception

We all can probably recall instances of harmony in our daily lives. For example, it might have been a seamless coming together of ideas when a project demanded a team effort. Or a feeling of peace and freedom after an illness or injury was healed. But is harmony an occasional coincidence, dependent on circumstances beyond our control?

Recognizing that we’re God-created to express harmony and wholeness – not injury or discord – has a healing impact.

Most of us have been moved at one time or another by harmony in music. It’s humbling to know that there are musical principles of harmony that all musicians have access to – but don’t originate – that enable them to produce infinite expressions of harmony.

This has helped me appreciate even more fully something I’ve learned in Christian Science: that there is a source of spiritual, permanent harmony that is totally reliable in all aspects of our lives. This source is God, and His law of harmony empowers us to overcome discord, uplifts us, brings deeper meaning to our lives,and even heals.

The Bible is filled with messages of God’s supreme power and presence – such as this one: “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me.”

(Isaiah45:5). Stories in the Bible show over and over how God’s powerful goodness transforms and heals. The infinite divine nature includes pure harmony, which destroys inharmony in the same way that light destroys darkness – by revealing that it never truly had substance to begin with.

1500 block of King Street in historic Beaufort. Chalk It Up! is presented by the Freedman Arts District nonprofit, with support from the South Carolina Arts Commission, The National Endowment for the Arts, Beaufort County ATAX and the City of Beaufort.

Edward & Ryan

A CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PERSPECTIVE

As God’s children, we’re entirely spiritual, made to reflect the Divine. Recognizing that harmony is ours because God expresses it in each of us enables us to experience it in very tangible ways. We begin to see how natural it is for us to feel the blessed harmony of God.

A few years ago I began to have aggressive pain in my hip. Because I had effectively relied on prayer as taught in Christian Science – rooted in the Bible – for years for needs of all kinds, I began to pray. My prayers affirmed that since God, the only legitimate cause, is good, He is incapable of causing pain. It simply couldn’t truly be part of me, since I was the very loved child of God, who harmoniously governs our existence.

These ideas gave me greater conviction, but the pain was still there. I began to pray with a passage in a book entitled Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896 by Mary Baker Eddy, founder of Christian Science. It references one of Jesus’ healing works, in which he cast out “a devil” – the inability to speak – from someone.

Mrs. Eddy says this about it: “It could not have been

a person that our great Master cast out of another person; therefore the devil herein referred to was an impersonal evil, or whatever worketh ill. In this case it was the evil of dumbness, an error of material sense, cast out by the spiritual truth of being; namely, that speech belongs to Mind instead of matter, and the wrong power, or the lost sense, must yield to the right sense, and exist in Mind” (p. 190)

This helped me see the illegitimacy of the evil of pain, inflexibility, and restriction of movement – what the material senses were saying about my condition. The spiritual truth is that qualities of harmony and freedom have their source in the one ever-present and everavailable God. Therefore, they are unlimited, constant,and part of our true identity as God’s complete expression.

I wholly accepted this as the reality, gaining a greater consciousness of harmony as God-given and wholly apart from materiality. I felt an immediate uplift, and in the next few days, the condition just faded away.

Maybe every day doesn’t feel like a full-blown symphony. But acknowledging and honoring God as the one and only source of good, we can feel a simple but sweet harmony that flows more consistently through our days and naturally blesses everyone it touches.

By Elizabeth Mata

Ashley Holland

The Deckhands

Paid Advertorial by The Christian Science Society of Beaufort

‘Small World’ Winners at Coastal Discovery Museum

The Coastal Discovery Museum is pleased to announce a new exhibit showcasing prize-winning images from Nikon’s Small World competition, in the Sea Island Gallery, from March 15 to May 5. Admission is free.

The 20 images captured by a light microscope are part of Nikon’s annual photomicrography competition, which is open to anyone with an interest in microscopy and photography.

“Visitors to the exhibit will see stunning images that reveal a world hidden to the naked eye,” said Elizabeth Greenberg, Director of Exhibitions

at the Coastal Discovery Museum. “Beyond their visual impact, photos that celebrate the intersection of science and art can also contribute to advances in medical and life sciences.”

Each year, the Small World exhibit travels throughout North America to selected museums and science centers. To view the complete collection of winning images, visit www.nikonsmallworld.com

Nikon’s Small World calendars, featuring the winning images, are available to purchase at the Museum’s store.

Stefan Eberhard

Diego Garcia

The Port Royal Farmers Market

Part I: Farmers and Growers

Farmers markets everywhere are hotter than one of our searing Lodge cast iron skillets. We’re big long-time fans of everything about the farmers market concept and we’ve been to more than four dozen farmers markets across the country and around the world. Now that spring has sprung, we couldn’t wait to DISH it out on our very own Port Royal Farmers Market — in two tasty parts in our early-March and -April DISHes.

directly to consumers. Consumers gain access to fresh, nutritious, local produce. Communities regain a figurative “town square,” experiencing the many positive outcomes of foot traffic and community connection.

Our Port Royal Farmers Market certainly hits a three-bagger when it comes to this triple bottom line. And, for us and hundreds more, our farmers market is a home run for the community, thanks to the farmers and other vendors, consumers like us who support them, and the “town square” atmosphere where, “Meet me at the Farmers Market,” literally (and tastily) connects the community.

“Farmers markets serve as vibrant community hubs that showcase the rich tapestry of local farmers and independent producers,” says Charisse R. McGill, executive director of the Farmers Market Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to working with farmers market operators to strengthen farmers markets across the United States so that they can serve as community assets while providing real income opportunities for farmers.

The Farmers Market Coalition is driven by three complementary goals (they call it their triple bottom line): Farmers earn fair prices for the fruits of their labor by selling

Before we cover the market’s many “Farmers and Growers” in Part One of this two-part DISH series (Part Two in April will cover “Food Vendors”), we wanted to provide a little history about a little farmers market that grew into a very big deal.

According to our friend and Port Royal Farmers Market founder, Kit Bruce, the Market was founded around 2007 and was originally located at Port Royal Elementary School and, then, for a brief period at Anchor Park on Port Royal’s Paris Avenue. Kit recalls that those early markets featured just five or so vendors!

A few years later, the Port Royal Farmers Market moved to its current location in Naval Heritage Park at the corner of Ribaut Road and Pinckney Boulevard. There are now typically 25 to 30 farmers and vendors on any given Saturday, though there are obviously less in the dead of winter, versus spring to fall.

On any given Saturday, it’s also very likely Kit will be at the market, along with her trusty sidekick and hubby, Louis.

Of the Market, Kit says, “I grew up eating locally and seasonally. I started the Market because I wanted to know where my food was coming from.”

THE LOWCOUNTRY DISH

& Lynn Seldon

Kendra and Stephen Myers of Myers Family Farms speak for Kit and many farmers, growers, food vendors, and more Market friends when Kendra says, “Our favorite part of the market has been how many friends we’ve gained in the community come Saturday mornings. We started with our happy hens’ eggs ten years ago and added fresh bagels and pretzels two years later, with our popular bagel sandwiches on the menu the following year, which were originally cooked two at a time on a Coleman grill. What were once customers are now friends.”

“Being part of the Port Royal Farmers Market has truly been a blessing for us, far beyond just having a venue at which to sell our mushrooms,” says Pam McLure of LC Shrooms fame. “For us, it has become like an extended family. From the first Saturday we set up our tent three years ago, we received the warmest welcome from other vendors and the wonderful community of Market-goers.”

We’re also fervent friends of the Market community and go there pretty much every weekend we’re in town. It’s open from 9am to noon every Saturday year-round, which is unusual for many farmers markets, in that many are seasonal.

As mentioned, we’re going to cover a lot of ground (dare we say dirt?) on our farmers market in two parts, starting with “Farmers and Growers.” Next month, we’ll cover “Food Vendors.” Here goes:

• Adam’s Farm & Gardens: Like several folks at the Market, we count Steve and Debbie Mentzer and their son Adam as friends. We love everything Adam and crew grow and sell, and we’ve learned to love several unique (to us) veggies (and recipes from them) thanks to the extended “Adam’s Family.” Their seasonal produce (and people) are perennial Market faves for us and many others.

• Baker’s Nursery: Yemassee-based Baker’s Nursery is a Market regular, offering a limited number of plants and limitless knowledge most Saturday mornings. As with many Market regulars like us, meeting them at the Market led to several outings to their sprawling and well-stocked Yemassee base.

• Bonsai Den: We’re dipping our green-ish thumbs (and toes) in the world of bonsai, thanks to the Bonsai Den being in the “house” come Market day.

• Brant Family Farm: We’ve gotten to know Don and Susan Brant and their tasty offerings by way of a college connection and we now pretty much buy whatever’s at their table (before they run out). Think very tasty veggies, eggs, and more . . . trust us.

• Buddy Roe Shrimp: We also count captain John Payne and his smiling wife and Saturday shrimp seller, Maryanne, as Market friends. Because we started asking about John’s bycatch of squid many years ago, Maryanne calls us her “squids” friends. Their “no preservatives” shrimp is simply some of the best we’ve ever had, and we’re obviously not alone – we often make Maryanne our first Market stop, before she runs out of their tasty crustaceans.

• Carolina Kidz: Officially known as J and J Carolina Kidz Nigerian Goat Farm, the Carolina Kidz Market booth is unofficially the most popular stop for kids (and kids at heart). Along with everyone getting to pet, cuddle, hold, and feed a goat, cheese lovers swear by getting ahold of any of their cheeses, including feta, our current Carolina Kidz fave.

• Daise Produce: Situated on St. Helena Island, Otis Daise sells popular okra, squash, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, greens, carrots, and much more to his loyal following.

Louis and Kit Bruce

Tuten Farms

Cele

Myers Family Farm egg sandwiches

• Gruber Farms: Located just south of St. George, the Gruber family has been farming since 1948, when current owner Stanley Gruber’s father began full farming operations.

• HD Farm: We love looking at HD Farm’s varied offerings come Saturday and peering into one or more coolers to see what might be for supper at Seldon Scene. Their pastureraised pork made us two of the Market’s earliest HD Farm fans, but we now also love their lamb and chicken as well.

more from Pam, including tasty recipes. “I love seeing our regular customers return each week and hearing about the new dishes they made with our mushrooms or how our mushrooms helped convert a fungi-averse family member,” says Pam. “What better way to connect with your community than through really good food!”

• Marshview Farm: Thanks to a variety of produce (we love their greens and more) and varied cuts of frozen goat meat (which tastes great), Marshview always seems to have something for supper. Mr. Mack, who worked for Penn Center for 26 years, grew up on St. Helena, and now farms the same land as his grandfather farmed.

• Fili-West Farms: “Chicken Lord” Nathan Boggs is co-owner and -operator of Vance-based Fili-West, along with his wife and fellow farmer, Ghie, who he met in the Philippines (thus the company name, Fili-West). They feature delectable eggs, popular poultry (chicken and turkey, including tasty sausages using both meats), pet foods, and more. Their bustling booth also carries offerings from Lowcountry Creamery and Solo Verdi Grass Fed Beef. Lowcountry Creamery features fresh, handcrafted, small batch, slow-pasteurized, and minimally processed whole milk that’s rich and creamy is Lowcountry Creamery’s calling card, but there’s also buttermilk, chocolate whole milk, crème fraiche, and Greek and Swiss yoghurt. Solo Verdi Market grass-fed offerings often include ground beef, steaks, roasts, stew beef, beef bone broth, tallow, organ meat, dog treats, and more. Their cattle are never exposed to grains, synthetic fertilizers, or pesticides, and there’s no confinement, no antibiotics, and no hormones. Ever.

• LC Shrooms: Spanish Point-based LC Shrooms and the McClure family love their mushrooms and so do loyal customers like us who are happy to occasionally stand in line, chat with others about ‘shroom recipes, and then buy our fill of mushroom options from Pam McLure, including king trumpet, golden oyster, blue oyster, chestnut, lion’s mane, beech, Italian oyster, pink oyster, and shiitake. We also love learning mushroom lore and

• Myers Family Farms: With their farm-fresh offerings, Kendra and Stephen Myers (and friend and farmhand extraordinaire, Josh Howard, plus threeyear-old Abraham) make for a regular Saturday morning stop for us and many others. Featuring free-range eggs, homemade bagels and pretzels, shiitake mushrooms (sometimes), fresh-pressed juices, and very popular breakfast sandwiches made-to-order (more about these Market faves in Part Two), it’s worth the occasional wait. Happy hens make healthy eggs . . . and friends!

• Penny Acre Microgreens: We’ve always loved the varied microgreens from Ridgeland’s Penny Acre and they now have an enthusiastic new owners in Gabriel and Melissa Padron. Generally grown on a weekly basis, they grow up to 20 or so hydroponic microgreens, including nutrient-packed possibilities like: broccoli, kale, rainbow radish, spinach, wheatgrass, rainbow mix, pea shoots, salad mix (as well as spicy and extra spicy), watercress, kalafetti, and more.

• Rollen’s RAW Grains: Whenever we see someone standing at the Rollen’s RAW Grains learning their story, we can’t help stopping and singing the praises of their Carolina gold rice, Carolina gold rice grits, and much more. Based in Hardeeville and now with their own great store when we just can’t wait until Saturday, their unique heritage grains can completely change a dish.

• Slow Road Farm: Owned by one of the “three

sisters” (see below), Priscilla Coleman, and her hubby, Buddy, Okatie-based Slow Road Farm features beautiful mushrooms, produce, and organically grown flowers.

• Three Sisters Organic Farm: Yeap, Bluffton-based Three Sisters Organic Farm is owned and operated by three sisters. Beth Lee, Mary Connor, and Priscilla Coleman grew up on the farm, and while they share the bond of sisterhood, they also share a commitment to preserving the land, protecting the environment, and cultivating products of the highest quality for the surrounding community. At the farm, they grow a wide variety of certified organic vegetables, berries, herbs, flowers, sugarcane, indigo, and mushrooms. They also maintain a small flock of pastured laying hens. Kit tells us it’s extra-hard to become organic and Three Sisters is the Market’s only organic farm.

• Tuten Farms: Larry Tuten and his friendly Hampton crew are Saturday stalwarts and so are we when it comes to seeing what Larry has on offer. Suffice to say that we’ll try (and likely already have) any produce that Larry grows at Tuten Farms.

• Whippoorwill Farms: Almost ten years ago, Marissa Paykos and her husband, James Young, turned a 40-acre plot of raw land in Ridgeland into the most wonderful Whippoorwill Farms. One of the newest Market farmers, this regenerative farm brings small batches of lettuce, greens, radishes, tasty bok choy, and more to the table, and we’ve quickly become big fans.

• Wimbee Creek Farm : The colorful Wimbee Creek Farm booth features seasonal flowers and arrangements that last a long time. They’re a great addition to the kitchen counter or a supper table filled with tasty purchases from the Market. In addition to farm visits, workshops, and special events, the Seabrook-based farm has added a garden center, complete with potted plants, gifts, books, supplies, and tools.

There are also some more farmers and growers who are only at the Market seasonally, thanks to what they offer. With apologies to

any we missed (including in the long overview of offerings above), seasonal options can include juicy Big Smile Premium Peaches, satsumas from Franklin’s Citrus Farm, and world-class local pecans from Brickyard Point Farms. For those who need a sharp knife to cut up all of their purchases, we love getting our knives sharpened with the Sharper Edges guy when he’s at the Market.

Among many Market happenings, Kit has also added live music, the popular “Lunch & Learn” programs (we love these), DAYLO’s Teddy Bear Picnic read-aloud (in collaboration with the Pat Conroy Literary Center), Santa Claus appearances, and a popular weekly email newsletter that we’ve enjoyed receiving for years, in that it highlights who and what will be at the Market come Saturday.

So, that’s our rundown of the “farmers and growers” (and more) at the Port Royal Farmers Market. Next month, we’ll feature the varied “Food Vendors” (and more).,

Beaufort-based travel journalists Lynn and Cele Seldon (www. seldonink.com) often cover culinary travel around the world, and Lowcountry Weekly recently lured them to write a monthly feature covering the local food scene. This includes articles about restaurants, chefs, food-focused stores, farms, farmers, farmers markets, and more. They welcome suggestions for topics.

Port Royal Farmers Market

Calibogue Catering

The Dumpling Lady

Erin Go Bragh!

“May the leprechauns be near you, to spread luck along your way. And, may all the Irish angels smile upon you on St. Patrick's Day.”

Corned beef is a long-standing American St. Patrick’s Day tradition. In Ireland, the St. Patrick’s Day meal would most likely be ham and cabbage. Corned beef is a beef brisket or round roast cured in brine, which leaves the meat bright red and flavorful. The meat remains pink when cooked, and because the beef is a tough cut of meat, requires longer cooking to render it tender. “Corned” refers to the salt grains used many years ago to cure or preserve meats. For fork-tender results, never boil corned beef. My easy recipe is a crock pot version of the classic method still preferred by most chefs. This week's entrée offers a tasty twist on the traditional Reuben. Reuben Strudel features a savory filling of corned beef, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese enhanced by layered wrappers of buttery phyllo pastry. Irish Flag Clementine and Cucumber Salad is a colorful addition to any St. Patrick's Day celebration. Clementines are the smallest type of Mandarin oranges. They’re super sweet, seedless and have skins that are smooth and shiny. Light, bright and oh-so sweet, Leprechaun Pistachio Fluff can be eaten as a side dish or a dessert. Everyone's a little bit Irish on St. Patrick's Day! There's no better time to sample a few favorite Irish recipes and raise your glass to all things green. Erin go bragh! Ireland forever!

REUBEN STRUDEL

For the corned beef:

1 (4-pound) corned beef brisket

Place corned beef in a crock pot, fat side up. Add seasoning packet and cover meat with water. Cover and cook on high heat for 6 to 7 hours or until meat is tender. Remove corned beef from crock pot and place in a baking dish. Using a fork, gently remove fat and discard. Slice corned beef against the grain, diagonally and thin.

To make the strudel:

1 pound cooked corned beef, thinly sliced 1 (16-ounce) jar sauerkraut

1 teaspoon caraway seeds

1 small onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, chopped ¼ cup melted *Irish butter

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

16 sheets frozen phyllo pastry, thawed in refrigerator

2 cups shredded Swiss cheese

Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray; set aside. Cut corned beef into ½-inch strips; set aside. Drain sauerkraut; squeeze dry and place in a medium bowl. Add caraway seeds, onion, and garlic to sauerkraut; mix well to combine. In a small bowl, mix melted butter with Dijon mustard; set aside. Unfold phyllo. Stack 8 sheets of phyllo on a flat surface covered with wax paper, brushing every other sheet with the butter-mustard mixture. Spoon half of the sauerkraut mixture lengthwise down half of phyllo stack, spreading to within 2 inches of edges. Top with half of corned beef and half of cheese. Fold in the short edges 2 inches and roll up, starting at long edge of phyllo nearest the filling. Place, seam side down, on prepared baking sheet. Cut ¼ inch deep diagonal slits, 1 inch apart, across top. Repeat procedure with remaining phyllo dough, butter mixture and filling. Brush both strudels with remaining butter-mustard mixture. Bake in a preheated 400-degree oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden. Cut diagonally into 4-inch slices. Serve immediately. Serves 6 to 8. *Irish butter may be found on the refrigerated dairy aisle of your local grocery store.

IRISH FLAG CLEMENTINE AND CUCUMBER SALAD

If you can’t find clementines, substitute tangerines or canned Mandarin oranges.

By Debbi Covington

For the vinaigrette:

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

¼ cup white balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon honey Salt and pepper, to taste Mix all ingredients in a small jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake to combine. Refrigerate any leftovers.

For the salad:

10 cups mixed salad greens

6 clementines, peeled and cut into ¼-inch slices

½ English cucumber thinly sliced

¼ medium white onion halved and thinly sliced

½ cup crumbled goat cheese

1/3 cup salted and roasted pistachios, shelled

Place greens in a large bowl or on a large platter. Top with sliced clementines, sliced cucumbers, and white onion slices. Drizzle with vinaigrette. Top with crumbled goat cheese and pistachios before serving. Serves 6.

1 (3.4 oz) package pistachio instant pudding mix

Several drops of green food coloring, optional

1 (8 oz) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

1 cup miniature marshmallows

1 cup chopped pecans

½ cup flaked coconut

Garnish: fresh cherries, coconut

In a large bowl, mix pineapple with pudding mix and food coloring.

Fold in whipped topping, marshmallows, pecans, and coconut. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Garnish with cherries and coconut before serving. Serves 8.

LEPRECHAUN PISTACHIO FLUFF

This simple recipe is creamy, sweet, and just a little bit addictive.

1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice, undrained

Museum Hosts High School Art Exhibition

The Coastal Discovery Museum today announced a new exhibition of juried artwork by Beaufort County high school students. The exhibition will be on display in the museum’s main gallery from April 1 through May 7. An opening reception is scheduled for April 3, from 5 pm to 7 pm, with awards at 6 pm.

The 3rd annual Beaufort County High School Regional Art Exhibition showcases more than 100 works by local high school

students from public and private schools, including Battery Creek High School, Beaufort Academy, Beaufort High School, Bluffton High School, Hilton Head Island High School, Hilton Head Preparatory School, Island Academy of Hilton Head, and May River High School.

"This year’s exhibition is exceptionally strong across the board – from painting and

correlations between the arts and increased student achievement.”

Jurors Lisa D. Watson, Savannah-based artist, and Angela Dore, Executive Director of the Freedman Arts District in Beaufort,

drawing to photography, ceramics, mixed media and digital art,” said Elizabeth Greenberg, Director of Exhibitions. “It’s gratifying to see how the visual arts are thriving in Beaufort County schools.”

Karen McKenzie, Director of Teaching and Learning for the Beaufort County School District, noted the benefits of arts education. “The arts are an integral part of our schools and an important component to the programs we provide our students,” she said. “And research consistently draws strong

SC, selected the works from 200 entries. In conjunction with the exhibition, the

museum sponsored a competition to design the show’s postcard invitation. This year’s winning design was created by Lyla Alford, a student at Hilton Head Preparatory School.

Minh Martin Quang Nguyen, Hilton Head Prep

Ixel Pineda, Hilton Head High School

Olivia Williams, May River High School

Marianne Stillwagon’s Carolina Colors

Marianne Stillwagon is the featured artist for April at The Society of Bluffton Artists (SOBA) gallery in Old Town Bluffton. Her exhibit will run from April 1-28 with an opening reception from 5-7 p.m. April 9. These events are free and open to the public.

Stillwagon’s uses a variety of acrylic paints with the main focus on bold colors that create an emotional response from the viewer.

“Since moving to South Carolina in 2015,

I have been inspired to paint the colors of the Lowcountry – in both realistic as well as abstract modes,” she said.

Stillwagon, originally from South River, New Jersey, has a bachelor’s degree in design, and she has worked as a freelance graphic designer for many years before pursuing her “first love” of painting. She has participated in numerous retail and trade fine art shows since 1976. Stillwagon’s artwork has been sold in galleries and shops throughout the U.S. Additionally, she is an exhibiting member of the New Hampshire Art Association, National Association of Women Artists, the Monadnock Area Art Association and SOBA.

For more information, visit http://mstillwagon.faso.com/

ABOUT THE SOCIETY OF BLUFFTON ARTISTS:

SOBA is the heart of the flourishing art hub in Old Town Bluffton’s historic district at the corner of Church and Calhoun streets. As a non-profit art organization, SOBA offers regular art classes, featured artist shows, exhibitions, scholarships, outreach programs and more. The gallery is located at 6 Church Street and is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sundays. Please visit www.sobagallery.com for a complete calendar of events and other information or call 843-757-6586.

Culture Wars

And by “culture,” I don’t mean social customs and traditions. I’m talking about plant culture. And plant labels.

What’s the difference between part shade and part sun? Doesn’t part shade mean just that? Some sun and some shade? And what about part sun? Doesn’t it mean the same thing?

‘Tis a puzzlement.

What about “full sun with some protection from the afternoon sun”? Are you supposed to have plant parasols? Like Victorian ladies did while out walking?

Sometimes it’s hard to know just what cultural instructions mean. And even if you can figure it out, you may not always have the means or the conditions to do it.

Someone once said that “all generalizations, including this one, are bad.” When deciding where to give a plant its permanent home, though I often refer to this one: “The bigger the leaf, the less sun it needs or can tolerate. Conversely, the smaller the leaf, the more sun it needs or can tolerate.”

Photosynthesis is what plants use to enable them to synthesize the nutrients in carbon dioxide and water from sunlight. That’s a simplistic explanation of photosynthesis because the process is more complicated than that, but it’ll do for our purposes. That’s why the size of the leaf is a good measure of its sunlight needs.

It’s impossible for a plant label to contain all the cultural information the plant needs to thrive, but it’s a good place to start. If you’re new to gardening or the area, do some homework before you pick up a shovel or a trowel.

Then too, you can’t always rely on a plant’s label to tell you if you’re in the right zone for it, especially if you live near the borders of a particular zone. Even a micro-climate in your yard can put you in a different climate zone.

There are myriad ways you can mitigate the climate challenges in your area. For example, there are some areas in Beaufort County that are notorious for having poor drainage. Raised beds, of course, will counter that, but even a few inches of soil added to your garden bed will be helpful. Conversely, organic matter added to sandy soil will help retain moisture. And since we are an island county, we have lots of sandy soil!

Tree canopies can change a sunny area into a shady one in a lot less time than you think. So be prepared for that when you plan your garden.

Take into consideration our long growing season, because even though the plant

label says a shrub shows a maximum height, be prepared to have it be 20% higher down here. Especially significant if it’s for under windows.

By Sandra Educate

Beware of ground covers because they can go all the way to Charleston if not kept in check by a physical barrier. Even then, keep your trimmer handy because the edges will always need to be tidied up.

Most ‘Woodies’ can survive a few degrees of frost, but a sustained freezing period can do them in. Some evergreens, such as most citrus, will drop their leaves and/or suffer a season of a meager harvest, but will revive completely if it wasn’t too harsh and prolonged.

Mulch, as I’ve said many times before, is your best friend for combating climate extremes.

A garden is always a ‘work in progress.’

Gardening is an art, not a science. I’ve had dismal failures and glorious successes. So have you. As my mama told me: “You never learn anything by doing it right.”

Sandra Educate is active in the local Master Gardeners Association and the Beaufort Garden Club, and she produces the annual Lunch and Learn series at the Port Royal Farmers Market. She loves strange and unusual plants and hates weeds. Sandra won’t give away her age, but takes her inspiration from Thomas Jefferson, who said, "though an old man, I am but a young gardener."

Sue McCarthy Studio #5

Vince Covington, Owner

Classifieds Classifieds

TO RENT or OWN

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CLASSES & SEMINARS

FREE HYPNOSIS INFORMATION PRESENTATION and guided group meditation workshop. This free session will focus on anxiety reduction and relaxation. Open to the public, Tuesday, November 14th at 7 pm EST via Zoom. Learn more and RSVP for Zoom Link at www.guidepathhypnosis.com or contact Chris at chris.guidepath@gmail.com

BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY ONGOING

PROGRAMS & CLASSES Knitting/Crochet Club

1st Tuesdays @ 2:30; Line Dance Class 1st & 3rd Thursdays @ 3:30; Basic Computer Skills Class Wednesdays @ 9; Hoopla Class 2nd Mondays @ 10 and 4th Wednesdays @ 4; Escape Quest Games daily during library hours; Dungeon & Dragons Teen Club Mondays @ 4; Teen Art Club 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 4; Teen Anime Club 2nd & 4th Tuesdays @ 4; Teen Gaming Club 1st & 3rd Wednesdays @ 4

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

ART LEAGUE OF HH CLASSES & WORKSHOPS

With over 25 local professional art educators, and guests from around the world, Art League of Hilton Head offers classes and workshops in all media for all levels of students. Visit www. artleaguehhi.org or email academy@artleaguehhi.org for more info.

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 and once a month Line Dance is taught. Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced lessons. Beginner classes in Jan., Mar, May, and Sep. Open dancing after lessons. Visit www.lowcountry-

shaggers.com or lowcountryshaggers@aol.com

WEDNESDAYS, BEAUFORT SHAG CLUB meets evenings at AMVETS, 1831 Ribaut Rd., Port Royal from 7-9pm, and the 2nd Sat. of the month 7-10pm. Free lessons to members Sep. to June. Visit The Beaufort Shag Club on Facebook

MAYE RIVER QUILTERS meets 1st Saturday of Every Month, 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.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

CARIS HEALTHCARE: WE HONOR VETERANS Hospice Program. You a Vet with a little time to share with other Vets with limited time? The We Honor Veterans program seeks volunteers who are Vets to offer a listening ear for our Veteran patients. Volunteers also participate in our Pinning Ceremonies for Veteran patients. Contact 843-473-3939 or smilliken@carishealthcare.com

SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY: Non-denominational meditation, silent prayer and healing group forming. All welcome. No previous meditation experience needed. Call Michael 843-489-8525

HABITAT RESTORE NEEDS VOLUNTEERS We're looking for volunteers for cashiers, sales floor associates, donation processing, donor data entry, and donor ambassadors. Interested? Go to lowcountryhabitat.org/volunteer or call 843-525-0055.

KARAOKE AT THE MOOSE Sing with us Thursday evenings at The Moose Lodge, 350 Broad River Blvd. 7:30-10:30pm. Brought to you by #top6entertainment Mardi & Dennis Topcik. The Moose is a family friendly place and Thursdays are also Pizza Night!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for Calhoun Station Thrift Store in Bluffton. All funds generated are returned to other nonprofits in the community. Store is open Wed & Sat 10am to 1pm and located at 77 Pritchard St. Volunteers can stop by store or contact Cate Taylor, 843-310-0594 or catetaylor@frontier.com

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.

PORT ROYAL MUSEUM is open Thursday through Sunday at 1634 Paris Ave., from 10 - 3 or upon request. Free admission! Call 843-524-4333 or email historicportroyalfoundation@gmail.com to request a special opening.

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.

TOUR HISTORIC FORT FREMONT— Travel to the 1800's and the Spanish American War. From 10am to 2pm Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm at the Fort Fremont History

Center at the Fort Fremont Preserve, 1124 Land's End Road, St. Helena Island is open. Docent-led tours are every Saturday at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. Visitors to Fort Fremont can learn about the fort's history by reading interpretive panels, taking a self-guided tour with a smart phone, visiting the history center exhibit hall, or attending a docent-led tour of the property. The Preserve is open to the public Monday through Sunday from dawn to dusk. For more Information visit www.forttremont. org or contact Passive Parks manager Stefanie Nagid at snagid@bcgov.net

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 (706-633-6192) and visit us on Facebook - USCGA Beaufort.

BEAUFORT TOASTMASTERS CLUB meets

from 5:30 pm - 6:45 pm the first & third Tuesday, in the Beaufort College Building, Rm. 103 (USC-Beaufort Campus), 801 Carteret Street, Beaufort. To learn more visit www.beauforttoastmastersclub.org

FREE ACUPUNCTURE FOR VETERANS – Veterans, Active Duty, Transition. Their Families and First Responders are Eligible. First & Third Wednesday 4 - 6pm. Walk In Clinic. No Need to Pre-Register or Call. Nourishing Health Acupuncture and Herbs Clinic. 1214 Prince Street, Downtown Beaufort

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 many 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 843-592-8453 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 mem-

ber 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

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, 843-689-3616 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 or call 843-379-3350.

ALZHEIMER’S FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER BEAUFORT, Support Groups: Caregiver - Weds., 12:30pm, Senior Services of Beaufort, 1408 Paris Ave., Port Royal; Living with Alzheimer's - for those in very early stages - Mondays 1pm, Parsons Parlor, Carteret Street Methodist Church, 408 Carteret, Beaufort. Respite Programs: Social Day Program- 10am-1:45pm $40 Day Fee, Mon. at Cornerstone Christian Church, 2301 First Blvd., Beaufort, Weds. & Friday at Carteret Street Methodist Church, 408 Carteret St., Beaufort; In Home - Respite Aides available for 2 hr. minimum, $12$24. Early Memory Loss: Maintain Your Brain - 2nd & 4th Thursday, 10-11:30am, $10/person, $15 couple, Carteret Street Methodist Church, 408 Carteret St., Beaufort; Memory Screenings available call 843-5219190, free; Purple Haven Project - Educate local establishment staff to better interact with a person with Alzheimer's call 843-521-9190.

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 843815-6616 (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 at 114 Beach City Rd., Hilton Head. Donations of food and funds needed. For info: Rev. Dr. Nannette Pierson at 843715-3583 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 10am-4:30pm and 8am on Family Graduation Days. Closed all Federal Holidays. Info at parrisislandmuseum.org or 843-228-2166.

MEDICAL SERVICES OF AMERICA SEEKS VOLUNTEERS - Volunteers needed for 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 At Praise Assembly Church Fridays for “Celebrate Recovery”, addressing life’s problems and looking to scripture for solutions. Meal at 6pm; Praise and Worship 6:30pm; Small Groups at 7pm. 800 Parris Island Gateway, Beaufort. Info at 205-4753600 or 303-521-1891.

Columbia City Poet Laureate at Conroy Center

The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with Columbia City Poet Laureate Jennifer Bartell Boykin, author of the debut poetry collection Travelling Mercy, on Saturday, March 23, at 5:00 p.m., at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort). Free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited. Please call to reserve in advance: 843-379-7025.

Bartell Boykin will also be teaching a writing workshop, Foodways in Poetry, earlier that same afternoon, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., limited to 15 participants, $40 each. This workshop will explore connections between food, sensory and emotional memories, and the creative act of poetry. Writers are invited to bring favorite dishes for inspiration and to share. To learn more and register for the workshop, please visit https:// patconroyliterarycenter.eventbrite.com

About the Book – Traveling Mercy navigates the journeys of a Black woman from rural South Carolina. Her travels transcend time as she encounters history, nature, and grief. She sits with the eldest residents before her birth, with the first ancestor who came to these shores, with her parents through their marriage, and through her own loneliness in the wake of their deaths. Planting as she harvests, this book is a lament and a love story to survival.

“After reading a single magnificent poem in Traveling Mercy, “the sapling in

your chest floods with too much water and light.” Read a handful of poems, and find yourself on the poet’s ferry crossing the river “between thens and tomorrows.” Every magical, existential line is an iteration of Jennifer Bartell’s dexterous poetics. This accomplished debut eulogizes human loss while celebrating the resilience that persists through witness and language. Traveling Mercy is a dazzling first book.”

– National Book Award-Winning Poet Terrance Hayes.

“Bartell’s Traveling Mercy is such an intimate history of a Black girl raised by Black women, raised by church fans and magnolia memories, dream-hymns of Black people pushing through mud and disease and held together by traditions. This rich collection of poems, by a Black girl who knows how and why to style okra seeds in her hair, spills with fat oysters and a community’s petrified pounded grace. Bartell assures she will never give us one chance to hold our breath, as we jump into this never-ending deep end of blazing life, therefore, prepare to be drenched.” – National Book Award-Winning Poet Nikky Finney.

Poet Laureate of Columbia, South Carolina, and a 2023 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellow, Jennifer Bartell Boykin is the author of Traveling Mercy (from Finishing Line Press). Her poetry has appeared in Obsidian, Callaloo, the Raleigh Review, kinfolks: a journal of black expression, the museum of americana: a literary review, and Scalawag. Bartell Boykin is the recipient of fellowships from Callaloo and The Watering Hole. She teaches creative writing and English dual-enrollment courses

at Spring Valley High School in Columbia, South Carolina, where she was named the 2019–20 Teacher of the Year. She is also an American Library Association Spectrum Scholar and an Augusta Baker Scholar at the University of South Carolina’s School of Information Science, where she is pursuing her master of library and information science degree. Bartell Boykin was born and raised in Bluefield, a Black community in Johnsonville, South Carolina.

To learn more about the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, please visit www. patconroyliterarycenter.org

Poet Jennifer Bartell Boykin

BEAUFORT/PORT ROYAL

Foolish Frog, 846 Sea Island Pkwy, St. Helena Island. (843) 838-9300. Foolish Frog on Facebook

Luther’s Rare & Well Done, 910 Bay Street. (843) 521-1888 or www.luthersrareandwelldone.com

Q on Bay, 822 Bay St, Beaufort. (843) 524-7771 or www.qonbay.com

Rosie O’Gradys Irish Pub, in Beaufort Town Center. Irish American Sports Pub & Eatery. C'mon down! Rock & Roll Lunch. Mondays-25% off Burgers! Tuesdays – 25% off Shrimp & Chips Baskets! Wednesdays-25% off Philly Cheese Steaks! Wednesdays, Friday & Saturday - Karaoke. (843) 3797676 or Rosie's on Facebook.

Saltus River Grill, 802 Bay St, Beaufort. (843) 3793474 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. Sundays - Deas Guyz; Mondays - A Journey Through Jazz with The Martin Lesch Band; Tuesdays - Fat Tuesdays: A Swingin' Celebration of New Orleans and Beyond; Thursdays - Lavon Stevens with Louise Spencer. 3/13 Lavon Stevens with Quiana Parler, 3/15 & 3/16 Greg Satterthwaite Quintet, 3/20 Bobby Ryder, 3/22 & 3/23 The Demetrius Doctor Trio with Saxophonist Kevin Patton, 3/27 The Lavon Stevens Band, 3/29 & 3/30 The Jazz Corner's 25th Anniversary Celebration honoring George Shearing with The Noel Freidline Quintet and Howard Paul. (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. 3/15 1770 Records Showcase with Colors in Corduroy; Mirage; Tree Limbs; Smudge, 3/16 Less Than Jake; Strung Out; The Raging Nathans, 3/17 St. Patrick's Day Party with Steel City Rovers; Carroll Brown Band, 3/22

Elise Testone's Psychedelic Soul Party, 3/23 Justin Bieber Night, 3/26 Turnover; Mspaint; Drook, 3/28 MF Metal Night with GOW; Hymns of Blasphemy; Darlington Chainsaw, 3/29 & 3/30 Before Eve - A Faé Menagerie. (843) 408-1599 or www.musicfarm.com

The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston. 3/14 The Motet; Isaac Hadden Organ Trio, 3/15 Steeln' Peaches - Allman Brothers tribute, 3/16 Maddy O'Neal; Late Night Radio; Moldybrain, 3/17 Saxsquatch, DJ EM & Knob Ross, 3/19 Surfer Girl; Sitting on Stacy & Ryan Wright, 3/20 Pacific Dub, 3/21 Random Rab; Moldybrain, 3/22 Andy Falco & Travis Book play Jerry Garcia, 3/23 Interstellar Echoes - Pink Floyd tribute, 3/27 Snakes & Stars, 3/28, 3/29 & 3/30 Doom Flamingo. (843) 571-4343 or www.charlestonpourhouse.com

Windjammer, 1008 Ocean Blvd, Isle of Palms. 3/15

Mustache the Band, 3/16 Flashmob, 3/22 Departure - Journey tribute, 3/23 Randall Fowler, 3/24 Red Not Chili Peppers, 3/29 David Higgins Band, 3/30 Warrick McZeke; Austin McNeill. (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 – 3/24, Intimate Oceans: Coral in Contemporary Art at Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head. 70 Honey Horn Dr., Hilton Head. 843-6896767. www.coastaldiscovery.org

Now – 3/29, Celebrating Black Mermaids, an exhibit of black mermaid art by award-winning artists from across the US at USCB Center for the Arts. Opening reception, Fri 1/19, 6-8pm. Mermaid Artist Fair & Film Screenings, Sat 1/20, 12-4pm. Meet the Curator, Tues 1/27, 12-3pm. Closing Event/Water Blessing Fri 3/29, 5-7 pm. All events are free and open to the public.

Now – 4/5, Gestures in Nature: The Allure of the Landscape, featuring the work of Ellen DeFazio, at the Art League Gallery. Opening Reception Wed 3/6, 5-7pm. 14 Shelter Cover Lane, Hilton Head. 843-681-5060.

Now – 4/26, Heart to Heart, a new art exhibit by the Artists of Sea Pines at the Sea Pines Community Center. Opening reception 2/1, 4:30 to 6:30 pm. Ten % of every sale will be donated to Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) on Hilton Head Island. 71 Lighthouse Road (next

to the fitness center) in Sea Pines Shopping Center.

Now – 4/28, ‘Art Beyond Boundaries,’ featuring Penny Beesley and Amy Whitehouse at the Beaufort Art Association Gallery. Join the artists for an opening night reception on Fri 3/1, 5-8 pm, at the BAA Gallery, 913 Bay Street. www.beaufortart.org

Now – 2/22/25, Language of Clay: Catawba Indian Pottery and Oral Tradition at Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, US 17, Ridgeland. www.morrisheritagecenter.org

3/14, Jewelry Re-Design Consultation with Peggy Carvell at Pluff Mudd Art Gallery, 27 Calhoun St, Bluffton. 11am – 3pm. Reimagine your old jewelry! Reserve a time slot by calling or texting Peggy at 843-597-1071.

3/15 – 5/5, Nikon’s Small World Competition Winners Exhibit at the Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head. In the Sea Island Gallery. Admission is free. www.coastaldiscovery.org

4/1 – 4/28, Carolina Colors by Marianne Stillwagon at The Society of Bluffton Artists (SOBA) gallery in Old Town Bluffton. Opening reception from 5-7 pm on 4/9. Free and open to the public. www.sobagallery.com

4/1 – 5/7, Beaufort County High School Art Exhibition at The Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head. Main gallery. Opening reception 4/3, from 5 - 7 pm, with awards at 6 pm. www.coastaldiscovery.org

BOOKS & WRITERS

Sat 3/23, Columbia City Poet Laureate Jennifer Bartell Boykin (Travelling Mercy), will speak and sign books at 5 pm at the Pat Conroy Literary Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort). Free and open to the public. Seating is limited. Please call to reserve in advance: 843-379-7025. Bartell Boykin will also teach a writing workshop, Foodways in Poetry, earlier that same afternoon, from 2-4 pm. Limited to 15 participants, $40 each. To learn more and register, visit https://patconroyliterarycenter.eventbrite.com

Sat 3/23, Local Children's Book Author Kellie Savery Langan will be reading an excerpt and signing copies of her 2nd book of The Adventures of Tinkie and Bobo series, Jingly Bugs. Pictures with the Easter Bunny! At the Beaufort Bookstore, 2127 Boundary St, from 10:30 am - noon. Admission is free.

Sat 3/23, Local Children's Book Author Kellie Savery Langan will sign copies of her 1st book of The Adventures of Tinkie and Bobo series, A Magical Adventure Begins, and raffle off a FREE signed copy of her 2nd book of the series, Jingly Bugs. At Shelter Cove’s Spartina 449, on Hilton Head, from 2-4 pm. Admission is free.

MUSIC

Sun 3/24, Roots Grown Deep concert at the Fripp Island Community Center, 205 Tarpon Blvd. Concert at 5pm, followed by a reception with the artists. $30 at the door, students free. For more information, email vandy116@gmail.com or call 704-807-0255.

OTHER EVENTS

Sat 3/16, 32nd Annual Beaufort County Youth Conference Planning Session. Food, music, fun, breakout sessions. From 10 am – 1 pm at Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL) in Beaufort. For more information, call 842-812-4399 or 843-476-1888.

Tues 3/19, Sea Island Rotary Club Blood Drive,

9am – 3pm in the parking lot of Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island. Walk-ins welcome. Appointments can be scheduled online at www.oneblood.org for Whole Blood or Red Cell donations. Donors receive a $20 gift card and an insulated tote bag.

Fri 3/22, Telling Trails Spring Hike-Workshop, starting at 4:30 pm at the Gas Lantern Apothecary in Port Royal. Led by writer Iris Jackson. For more information, visit www.tellingtrails.org

3/23 & 3/24, Chalk It Up! Festival in downtown Beaufort. Two days of FREE fun, amazing street chalk art, food trucks, and all-day live music. From 10am-5pm on the 1500 block of King Street in historic Beaufort.

Every Saturday 4/6 – 6/29, Lunch and Learn at the Port Royal Farmers Market. A weekly series of classes and lectures on gardening. Under the gazebo, starting at noon. Free to the public. Bring a folding chair!

First Saturday of the Month, Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud at Port Royal Farmers Market. DAYLO students and other volunteers will read to young children between 9am and noon. Children are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animal.

Tuesdays, Tours of Hunting Island sponsored by Friends of Hunting Island Keeper Ted and his team. For info call the Nature Center at 843-8387437. Tours free are 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 Mitchell by the Heritage Library, 10am. $12/Adult $7/Child. 843-686-6560

Ongoing, Beaufort Tree Walk by the Lady’s Island Garden Club through the historic Old Point enjoying some unique and noteworthy trees. Takes about an hour and is a little over a mile, starting at the corner of Craven & Carteret Streets and ending in Waterfront Park. Booklets with a map and info about each tree available FREE at the Visitors Center in the historic Arsenal on Craven Street.

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