The painting on our cover is
by Karen Richards from her exhibit Bring
Nature Home, opening at the SoBA Gallery on April 3rd. For more information, see our story on page 12.
March 15 – March 28, 2023
rPublisher: Jeff Evans — Jeff@LCWeekly.com
Editor: Margaret Evans — Editor@LCWeekly.com
Editor at Large: Mark Shaffer — BackyardTourist@gmail.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, Carolyn Mason, Laura Lee Rose, 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 2023 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.
Lately, you hear a lot of complaints about censorship. It’s a big, newsy topic.
Conservatives complain that they’re censored on social media by the progressives who run Big Tech – which they are. Progressives complain that conservatives want to censor what students can read by removing certain books from school libraries – which they do.
But there’s another form of censorship afoot – one that’s had me in a stranglehold for quite some time – and I never hear it mentioned in the media or even among friends. And because it’s virtually unheard of – as far as I can tell – it’s been a source of secret shame. There are no support groups.
The censorship of which I speak is particularly insidious because I have no idea what I did to deserve it nor any power to reverse it. My censor is omniscient, omnipotent, and way too big to fail.
Y’all, I’m being censored by Amazon.
It all started a few years ago, when I sat down to write a review of a friend’s new book, at her request. I clicked the “write a review” button, as I’d always done before, and was confronted with the following message, spelled out in bright red letters:
“We apologize but Amazon has noticed some unusual reviewing activity on this account. As a result, all reviews submitted by this account have been removed and this
account will no longer be able to contribute reviews and other content on Amazon. If you would like to learn more, please see our community guidelines. To contact us about this decision, please email community-help @amazon.com.”
What? Surely there had been some mistake! I rarely wrote Amazon reviews, and when I did, it was usually an upbeat critique promoting a local author. We have a lot of them, and because of my job, they typically send me their books. And when it comes to locals – people I actually know – I’m not about to get on Amazon and write a nasty –or even “unusual” – review. If I can’t say something nice about the book, I won’t say anything at all. (Yes, I’m that southern.) And I’ve never reviewed anything but books. Product reviews? Who has the time?
Bumfuzzled, I checked out the Community Guidelines page. Who knew there were community guidelines? Perhaps I’d violated them accidentally. But a quick perusal assured me otherwise. Hate speech? Sexual content? Illegal activities? Profanity? Harassment? No, no, no, no, and no!
Clearly, Amazon had me confused with somebody else. Somebody “unusual.” It occurred to me that maybe my husband or daughter had been miffed about a disappointing order and let it rip on our account, but when I asked them, they both laughed in my face. I think Jeff said
something like, “You’re the only person in this house who would ever bother to write an online review – on any site, about anything.”
Still confused, I clicked over to a writer/ friend’s Amazon page and saw that, indeed, the long, lovingly-crafted review of his novel I’d written – the one that had lived at the top of his page for over two years, garnering hundreds of “likes” – was now gone. I checked another local author’s page, and another. Same thing. Amazon had completely wiped me and my “unusual reviewing activity” from existence.
I was perplexed – and more than a little peeved about the wanton destruction of my “work” – but I was certain I could clear up this misunderstanding going forward. I sent a friendly email to the address provided by Amazon . . . and waited. And waited and waited.
No response.
A few weeks later, I tried again, this time with a bit more force. I made it clear that I was a loyal customer – not just Amazon, but Amazon Prime, baby! – and that I had been for years. Surely they wouldn’t want to lose my business! Surely they understood that the customer is always right! And if, in fact, I truly had written something that breached their community standards, surely they would tell me what it was, and give me the opportunity to defend myself or make amends!
Nope. (And don’t call me Shirley.) Again, no response. Nada. Bupkis. Crickets all the way down.
The third time I pled my case, I added the following information: “I am the editor of a well-known arts and culture publication in Beaufort, SC. An award-winning columnist and arts writer with a master’s degree in English, I have essays published in collections throughout the South.”
A bit much. But I wanted Amazon to know I wasn’t some disgruntled young man sitting in his parents’ basement, pounding out conspiracy theories on 4chan. I was, in fact, a dignified professional who would never, ever engage in “unusual reviewing activity.”
Was Amazon impressed with my resume? Intimidated by my eminence? Not even remotely. Their silence was resounding.
Reader, I gave up.
I go for long periods of time when I don’t think about my censored status.
After all, I have plenty of platforms for self-expression: this paper, Facebook, Instagram . . . Even Twitter, if I’m feeling masochistic.
But then I’ll read a book I really love and feel inspired to share my thoughts, or a writer friend will ask me for an Amazon shout-out, and it all comes rushing back. The frustration. The humiliation. The powerlessness. The injustice!
First World Problem? For sure. But I live in the First World. That’s mostly the kind of problems I have.
Every now and then, I hop on Amazon in hopes that something has changed. I keep thinking there must be a statute of limitations on this thing. If my reviewing activity was merely “unusual” – not obscene or illegal or dangerous – then maybe it’s just a matter of time before they restore my privileges.
But it’s been over two years and still no change. My exile feels pretty permanent.
You know what really galls me? The official statement: “We apologize but Amazon has noticed some unusual reviewing activity on this account.” That “we apologize” part is so grating, so obsequious. If you’re gonna strip a writer or her writing rights, just do it. The fake niceties are nauseating.
Another thing that bugs? While I am inexplicably and irrevocably banished –“canceled,” to use today’s parlance – every other Tom, Dick and Harriet with a keyboard is free to bang out crappy critiques ‘til the cows come home. Don’t believe me? Get on Amazon and read some book reviews!
But living with anger and envy is no good. So I have decided to view my exile as a spiritual challenge. An exercise in selfdenial and humility. Ommm . . .
Maybe I’ll order some books on the topic. Despite having banned my thoughts and feelings, Amazon still seems happy enough to take my money.
Throughout my life, I’ve been blessed with an eclectic set of friends and Nori (she doesn’t care for honorifics) is among the very best I’ve had the honor of calling friend. As you can imagine, there aren’t many I can speak to in a certain manner and not elicit raised eyebrows. Recently, she invited Lowcountry Weekly via Wholly Holistics into her noodle to see how a vastly-studied healer operates internally. I hope the readers will be as fascinated and as educated as I am by her.
What made you decide to leave your career in nursing and start a career as a chiropractor?
I became a chiropractor after injuring myself at work. This injury, or epiphany, however you look at it, instructed me that a chiropractor could help me in a simpler way without only treating symptoms.
What is NET?
NET (Neuro Emotional Technique) takes the emotional component of the healing triad into view. My belief is for people to truly heal, we have to be willing to look at, and rule out, how the emotions affect a person, as well as their physical and biochemical components. They all come into play when we are trying to heal versus treating symptoms. My feeling is, if there is an underlying emotional issue affecting the physical symptoms, and we don't help to address that first, the physical symptoms will return.
NET is based on Chinese Acupuncture meridians. Each meridian in the body is a very specific energetic pathway. Each pathway is governed by a specific organ while each organ is affected by specific emotions.
If we are triggered by said emotions while ignoring our feelings, the pathway becomes congested causing physical issues. NET allows me to find where the congestion is, where we release the memories of that feeling.
The emotional trigger may still be present, but doesn’t have to be experienced as a symptom. We can then circle back to the physical or biochemical components to see if they still exist. Often, we find the symptoms have dissipated.
Would you please tell us about energy testing and how it came about for your practice?
When I initially became a chiropractor, I felt it important to take a stand: do I adjust the vertebrae because the muscle pulled the bone or does the bone misalign, causing the muscle to shorten in response?
I studied applied kinesiology. Its premise? The idea that muscles move bones.
The belief is that every spinal nerve that exits between 2 vertebrae have a specific pathway and that specific nerve energy will send the messages to a specific organ, muscle, and back to the spine and brain. Anywhere on that reflex where the function is off, will affect the entire reflex.
We can test the function of a muscle, and if we find it to be either too strong or too weak, we can assume the nerve is either over or under-effective.
My philosophy? Until we balance the muscle function with adjustments along with points to send the correct messages to the nerves, we won't be able to balance that nerve’s energy.
What, as a certified Kundalini Yoga instructor, do you employ in your practice?
Most of what I employ from Kundalini Yoga is breath work. Breath is life. If you've ever watched a child breathe, you can see their bellies expand on the inhale and relax on the exhale. Most adults breathe in the opposite manner.
Can you speak to running a successful business as a single parent?
Business is certainly not my strong suit. That said, I decided I would be the best I could be if I built my practice through referrals. It took longer, but by spending time giving patients tools to help themselves understand their bodies in ways previously overlooked.
There were times I missed dinner with the kids, or even a homework assignment, but there was also an outgoing message stating, "If you’re calling between 6-9 pm, please leave a message as I’m busy with my family."
As a small person (4’11”), please talk about how you had to focus on the finer points of chiropractic technique as opposed to a larger chiropractor. Frankly, you’ve made me biased toward small chiropractors. Fair or not fair?
My first professor in chiro college said, “Not only are you a woman, but you’re a small one, at that.” He clearly thought I would never make it through school. I was determined to prove him wrong.
I realized that by finessing the body, I could get as much, if not more, done. I learned the problem with this is it takes a longer visit, which did not allow me to see as many patients in a day.
I could do this first by balancing the muscles thru Kinesiology, and unraveling the nervous system with some network chiropractic along with some cranio-sacral integration. The body then knows what it needs. It’s like I’m a mirror for the nervous system. This then allows me to offer more gentle cues, allowing for the needed changes to occur.
I still use structural adjustments, but same can be accomplished with less force.
I don’t think it’s about size as much as a different perspective, I think our life experiences mold our choices no matter our size. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been treated by very large men with very light touches!
What biases as a Greek Jewish woman from New York, have you faced?
Sadly, the biggest bias in my professional life have been people saying, “I’d like to see you, but I don’t want to have to come back every week.” I usually do not see my patients that often. I find the results of what I do, take the body time to acknowledge and respond to.
My family settled in New York from Greece in the 1900’s. Work ethic was my biggest take-away from my family. And if hard work didn’t do the job, then, and only then, ask for help.
Top three things you tell your patients?
I explain why I look for and rule out all three facets of healing: emotional, structural, and biochemical. I remind patients that if the problem has been there for a while, it will often take time to heal. Think marathon, not sprint. Hydrating from a healthy source is vastly underrated.
A learning moment from a patient that stuck with you?
When I first began using NET in my practice, I had a gentleman with shoulder issues we couldn’t resolve. I suggested this “new” technique to address the emotions buried in his shoulder. We discovered someone had taken him by the hand when he was young and spun him so his feet left the ground. He said he remembered at first, feeling like he was flying, but shortly felt discomfort, but couldn’t ask the person to stop. He felt out of control. Once we cleared that emotional piece, he never had a shoulder issue again for as long as I saw him.
Education, experience, and a caring touch are a given with you, but what are the intangibles of what Nori does?
I believe you must start by meeting a person where THEY reside. I feel it allows me to be that mirror for them. They then can employ the needed changes in their lives. I so often hear, “I didn’t really know what I needed until that ‘thing’ presented itself.”
I think that’s true for all of us. I facilitate rather than force. The choice is always up to the individual. I never take credit for a person’s improvement. That’s up to the individual. The body is amazing at recognizing the needed change once aware of it.
Please share a little-known fact or quirk about yourself.
People always assume I take good care of myself and so often when I see a patient out while I’m having a glass of wine, or eating an ice cream sundae, they’re surprised.
I am a real junk food girl. That said, I try to keep it in moderation. I believe most things are okay in moderation. A balance must be struck. Enjoy a luscious ice cream Sunday, but don’t make it habitual.
Nori, thank you for being my friend and sounding board. Best wishes in the Upstate of South Carolina. I’m glad I taught you how to say Clempson before you moved.
The year: 1987. The setting: The Rocks of Fripp Island, SC. Sutty first answers the siren call of writing. In the years and publications since, the destination has been Divinely timed, while being Divinely unknown. A reformed Reiki Master of more than a dozen years, an emotional energetic alchemist, as well as a student in various energetic modalities. My favorite Buddha quote is, “Everything in moderation, even moderation.” Visit Home / Chris Suddeth (journoportfolio.com) for more info.
Okàn, a new restaurant concept expressing the heart and soul of underrepresented cuisine by following the culinary journey of West African-rooted cooking, is proud to congratulate its Executive Chef Bernard Bennett for being named one of twenty semifinalists in the Emerging Chef category by the James Beard Foundation. The restaurant is set to open in the Spring of 2023 at The Bridge Collective in Bluffton.
As a non-profit organization, the James Beard Foundation’s mission is to celebrate, support, and elevate the people who are paving a better future for America’s food culture and a community where all can thrive. Considered to be among the nation’s most prestigious honors, the James Beard Awards recognize exceptional culinary and food industries talent as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, and sustainability.
Chef Bernard Bennett helped formulate the concept for Okàn from his passion for learning how history and culture have shaped how we eat and where our food really comes from. He asks that any preconceived notions for African American cuisine be checked at the door, as Okàn will creatively approach shareable dishes in a community setting which are deeply inspired by West Africa and the Caribbean.
“With Okàn, I want to showcase our ancestors’ resilience and influence through thoughtful and intentional food that pushes the boundaries beyond what’s expected,” says Bennett. “It is an honor to be recognized by such a highly-esteemed organization that aligns with Okàn mission, and validates our vision. I am humbled to be among the amazing group of industry colleagues and friends, and inspired by what our future opportunities hold.”
Located in the heart of Old Town Bluffton and coastal South Carolina, Okàn will locally source the best the region has to offer. Utilizing the vast resources of local farmers, fisherman, and other purveyors, Chef Bernard and Okàn aim to cultivate relationships honoring the pathways and history of the African-American heritage. The menu will showcase how ingredients originated, changed through the course of forced
migration and now celebrate an elevated pairing of cultures. While the local community has been able to enjoy aspects of the cuisine through thoughtfully crafted elevated dinners and visits to the Okàn Food Truck, the vision of
“We are so proud of Chef’s accomplishments and excited to begin seeing his vision become a reality,” says Matthew Cunningham, co-owner of Okàn.” The Semifinalist nomination is a well-deserved achievement for not only a talented chef but an innovator and leader with a powerful message.”
The full list of 2023 Restaurant and Chef Awards Semifinalists can be found on the James Beard Foundation website. The finalists for each category will be announced on Wednesday, March 29, and winners of the highly celebrated awards will be honored at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 5, 2023, at the Lyric Opera House of Chicago.
Okàn is a new restaurant concept opening the Spring of 2023 in Bluffton, at The Bridge Collective, a curation of vendors that champion building an inclusive community. Okàn mission is to connect people through a culturally unique dining experience and embrace the opportunity
to explore underrepresented cuisine, all-the-while directly impacting and engaging local farmers, empowering employees and compelling guests. Local ingredients will represent their evolution from West Africa to the Caribbean, through South America, and arriving in the Lowcountry. Okàn and Executive Chef Bernard Bennett craft a culinary journey through taste in a lively, welcoming environment which invites open dialogue, communal energy and a unique sense of home.
The James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef Awards—established in 1990 and first awarded in 1991—are one of five separate recognition programs of the Awards. This Awards program celebrates excellence across a range of experiences, from fine-dining establishments to casual gems, and emerging talents to established masters. The 2023 Restaurant and Chef Semifinalists are recognized across 23 categories.
co-founders Chef Bernard Bennett, Matthew Cunningham, and Benjamin Carson will fully come to life with a bold and differentiated menu of food and libations when Okàn opens this Spring as a part of The Bridge Collective.
Alisha Doud alisha@dcgilbert.com
Daun Schouten daun@dcgilbert.com
Laure Gallagher laure@dcgilbert.com
Ashley Hart ashley@dcgilbert.com
Joy McConnell joy@dcgilbert.com
Dawn Shipsey dawn@dcgilbert.com
Johanna Graham johanna@dcgilbert.com
Kathy Crowley kathy@dcgilbert.com
Kaitlyn Kintz reception@dcgilbert.com
As the curtain rises on the third act of life, I’m always searching for ways to be. Retirement has not come easily for me like it has for others. I’m still in work-week mode where Sunday afternoons drip with existential dread and I automatically reach for the crockpot to set up the soup or pot roast that anchors the week ahead.
Which is utterly ridiculous because my deadlines are spread out over weeks and months rather than hours and days. As newly self-employed, the boss is mostly reasonable. She’s easy to work with and she understands that while the Murdaugh trial is on Court TV, the work schedule needs to be more flexible than usual.
My husband is the total opposite. He didn’t dip his toe into retirement but rather took a dive off the dock into living his best life. Life with him is like walking into COSTCO with massive square footage of potential. I’ve observed him take up hobbies, learn new skills, volunteer at cool places, read history and novels and collect friends and experiences, all with a boundless enthusiasm for all things Beaufort has to offer.
When Margareta Magnusson’s new book, The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly, came out, I dug in on the triteness of the title and its annoying adverb. And yet, it does describe my husband’s all-in approach to this stage of life.
For the record, I am less of an exuberant person and more of a wait on the edge of the pool until I get used to the temperature type.
Derek C. Gilbert derek@dcgilbert.com
Melissa R. Wicker melissa@dcgilbert.com
Sam Bailey samuel@dcgilbert.com
2 PROFESSIONAL VILLAGE CIRCLE BEAUFORT, SC 29907
TELEPHONE: 843-524-4000
FACSIMILE: 843-524-4006
In my quest to discover out how to be, I figure there must be a user’s manual that doesn’t include adverbs in the title or focus on financial planning and long-term health insurance programs. So, I turned to my two grandsons, age five and two, looking for clues.
And yes, they have been an exuberant delight. While I still must visit YouTube to open the Pack ‘n Play or close the stroller, what I learn from them is how to be in the moment, how to have fun and how to get over things.
A few months ago, we were walking along a sidewalk in downtown Spartanburg. Each boy had an oversized balloon in his hand. I was already in a state of high alert. It’s my nature to catastrophize and see the
by Carolyn Mason
emotional-distress potential for these two sturdy fellows oblivious to the perils ahead.
As expected, the five-year old’s balloon hit a tree branch and busted in his face with a loud pop and then a hissing sound as it deflated. He was scared, devastated, and then embarrassed by his fear and devastation. Fat tears fell furiously down his cheeks, and he buried his face in his dad’s shoulder.
My initial reaction was to snatch the other red balloon out of the two-year-old’s chubby little paw, but he clutched it and merrily continued skipping along.
Then, his balloon busted and before I could reach him to help remove the pain and suffering of this cruel life, he did something that made all four adults stop and stare in wonder.
He squatted down next to the shredded plastic and patted it gently. “Bye-bye,” he whispered and then straightened up and smiled at us.
That’s how I want to be when confronted with sudden loss or the shock of things that blow up in your face. That little guy acknowledged his loss and wished it well.
I see so many people who may miss the routine and comradery of a full-time job, but still have been able to create a purposeful third act of life that’s also splashed with a dose of exuberance. They seem to possess a greater self-awareness and deeper appreciation for life than those, like me, who can feel adrift in a world where everyone seems to operate from a handbook they don’t have.
And so, as I figure out how to be in this third act of life, I’ll let you know what I discover.
Carolyn Mason is a freelance writer who writes about everything from long haul trucking to how to retire gracefully. She and her husband Jeff live on Lady’s Island and have embraced the delights of the Lowcountry lifestyle.For the past 33 years, All Saints Episcopal Church has held a spring garden tour, the proceeds of which have been donated entirely to charitable organizations.
Last year the garden tour donated approximately $40,000 to six local charities.
For the past nineteen years an integral part of this charitable endeavor has been the Artist Poster Contest. Local artists are invited to submit original artwork in any 2 dimensional medium. Hundreds of local artists have entered works in this competition, and many have sold their work as a result. The artwork selected is used on the cover of the Ticket booklet and on the Garden Tour Poster displayed throughout Beaufort and Jasper Counties.
At a reception on February 28, Pat Diemand was announced as the winner of the 2023 Artist Poster Contest. Pat gravitates to color and paints in an Impressionist style where subject matter is anything that catches her eye. She turns to a vast inventory of photographs and sketches from all the places she’s lived.”
If my art makes a connection with the viewer then my goal has been achieved and this becomes my greatest satisfaction.”
Pat’s winning artwork Blue Bench was selected by professional artists Joyce and Don Nagel and architect, artist, and winner of the 2022 Poster Contest Neil Clark.
The artwork was juried in a two step process to determine which piece of art would produce the strongest graphic image. After an initial selection of five finalists, those pieces are mocked up as posters to determine which piece would produce the most eye-catching image to represent the Garden Tour.
An additional activity related to the Garden Tour this year is the raffle of a lovely pastel “Up the Garden Path” created and donated by Joyce Nagel, well known in the Lowcountry for her work in pastels. Joyce, an award winning artist whose work is displayed in private and corporate collections
throughout the country, initiated the Poster Art competition for the Garden Tour in 2003 and chaired this activity for many years. Raffle tickets ($5 each or 5 for $20) can be purchased on line at www.allsaintsgardentour.com, at All Saints Episcopal Church at 3001 Meeting Street Monday-Thursday between 10-3:30 and on the day of the Tour, May 20, 2023 between 10-3 at the Boutique at the church.
The Beaufort Art Association is once again offering a unique spring event for local artists and Beaufort’s art-loving public March 28-March 31, 2023, at Tabby Place, 913 Port Republic Street. Admission is free for the public. Please mark your calendar now!
Works will be exhibited in 2D, 3D, Photography and Jewelry, to be judged by Chris Robinson, who himself is a visual artist and USC Emeritus Professor, recently retired as Visiting Artist and Chair of Visual Art & Design at USC Beaufort.
Approximately fifteen awards will be noted, including “Best of Show” and “People’s Choice”, with over $2,000.00 in awards.
Another award category includes eight Memorial Awards. And the Spring Show also features creative works of local high school students. All registered art works will be available for sale. There will be an information table featuring artists’ works-in-progress. Also find information about becoming a member of our vibrant BAA community.
Artist registration is open now until March 19. All registration information is posted on the BAA website: https://beaufort artassociation.com/SpringShow2023/registration.php
For more information, visit the website or call the Show Chairman, Lynne M. Morgan, at 843-441-1950.
A returning event this year is our boutique and bake sale on the same day and time as the Garden Tour. The Boutique includes crafts by local artists, a bake sale, and another opportunity to purchase raffle tickets. Credit cards will be accepted as well as checks and cash.
Ticket holders as well as the community are invited to the Boutique Sale which will be held from 9-3 on May 20, 2023 at the All Saints Episcopal Church 3001 Meeting Street in Hilton Head.
Go to www.allsaintsgardentour.com for additional information regarding the garden tour which is May 20, 2023 and to purchase Tour Tickets and Raffle Tickets. Tickets purchased online by May 6 will be mailed to you. Beginning April 17, Garden Tour tickets are available at garden centers and other businesses in Hilton Head and Bluffton.
The Beaufort History Museum will be hosting the H.L. Hunley Traveling Exhibition March 17-18, 2023. This entertaining and educational exhibit features a full-scale replica of the Civil War era submarine CSS H.L. Hunley, the world's first successful combat submarine, along with other interesting displays. Reenactors will be on hand to tell the unique story of this vessel, from the first launch to the tragic end. Don't miss this unique experience!
The exhibit will be led by its General Manager, Al Couch, who is a 7th generation Charlestonian. His forefathers fought in the Revolutionary War with Francis Marion as well as numerous battles during the Civil War. Al has been affiliated with the exhibit since 2010, teaching
history and education. He's had the honor and privilege of playing a small role in the latest movie "Submerged" about the Hunley submarine. The exhibit was used in the filming of that movie also.
The event will be open to the public from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM on both days. Admission price is $5 per person with a limit of $15 per family. Details regarding online registration and ticketing can be found at www.beaufort historymuseum.wildapricot.org
Several years ago, I met Nancy Ritter and her little dog Otis on a visit to the Pat Conroy Literary Center. We instantly connected over our mutual love of Conroy novels, the beauty of the Lowcountry and all things related to dogs. Not long after meeting her, she mentioned she’d begun writing the novel, Slack Tide. Fast forward five years to its debut March 18 with an open house and author’s signing at the Conroy Center.
Nancy and I sat down to discuss all things Slack Tide . . .
Carolyn Mason: I know, but tell the readers how you got the idea for Slack Tide?
Nancy Ritter: One Saturday, about five years ago, I was volunteering as a docent at the Pat Conroy Literary Center with my rescue dog Otis. A couple came in — well, you and your husband Jeff came in — and we quickly connected. That night, over a glass of wine, as Otis sat between you and Jeff, you told me about your dog Hank, who had recently gone missing. That night, I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t shake the thought of what I would do if Otis ever vanished. How would I feel? How far would I go to find him? Over the next weeks, those thoughts turned into an obsession and, like all good obsessions, eventually turned into a book.
CM: Cassandra King, author of Tell Me a Story: My Life with Pat Conroy’s cover blurb describes the book as, “Part My Dog Skip and part Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Slack Tide is a beautifully crafted literary mystery for anyone who has loved and lost and found the healing power of hope along the way.” Tell us more!
NR: My protagonist, Cecilia, moves to Beaufort, not knowing a soul. On her first day in town, her beloved pooch, Wink, vanishes. The novel follows her search for Wink and the quirky cast of characters she meets along the way.
CM: Describe some of the themes woven throughout the story.
NR: I wanted to explore “ambiguous loss,” a concept I learned about at the Justice Department when I was working on our nation’s missing-persons crisis. As the story progresses, Cecilia grapples with the
possibility that she may never know what happened to Wink. Although that mystery lies at the core of the novel, one of the book’s main themes is “community” and how (most!) people offer tenderness and mercy when someone is at their most vulnerable.
CM: Otis is the most amazing, dignified fellow and beloved by everyone lucky enough to meet him. Tell me about your little fellow and how his spirit and personality is reflected in the story’s missing dog, Wink.
NR: Otis is Wink (and Wink is Otis). As far as spirit and personality are concerned, folks should come to the Conroy Center on March 18, meet the little dude, and form their own impressions.
CM: What was the impetus to place this novel in Beaufort?
NR: Beyond being blown away by the beauty of the Lowcountry, you mean? I guess I saw it as a personal challenge: I wanted to see if I could write convincingly about a small town and a unique natural environment that were totally new to me.
CM: While this is your first published novel, you clearly have a writing background.
NR: I’ve written all my life. Although I received a degree in English Education, I quickly realized that I was not very good at teaching. I don’t want to tell you how long I lasted in the classroom, but suffice it to say, it was even less time than Pat Conroy. After that, I worked as a paralegal, which demanded a ton of writing. Then, in my mid-forties, I took a flyer (and a big cut in salary) to try my hand as a news reporter. I loved that work. Eventually, I landed a great gig at the Department of Justice where I wrote about cutting-edge criminal-justice issues, like solving sexual assaults and keeping kids out of gangs. Along the way, I received a lot of recognition and awards, culminating in one of my greatest thrills: working on a team that received a Service to America medal and an invitation to the White House.
CM: I am so inspired by the blood, sweat and tears that went into the writing of this story. What would you say to someone who thinks they are too old to start writing a book?
NR: I’d say the same thing to someone who thinks they’re too young to write a book, although I’d probably say it with more passion: Just start! If you finish it before you die, you’ll be really proud of yourself — and experience a life-changing dose of humility.
CM: Tell me about a favorite author?
NR: My all-time fav is John Banville. While I was writing Slack Tide, I read and re-read his novels, especially The Sea . Reading Banville helped me channel the man’s extraordinary tenderness with words.
CM: I am so curious about the title, Slack Tide. What does it mean for those of us new to this tidal area?
NR: A slack tide is a very short period between the ebbing and flooding of a tide. During this time, the water appears to be unstressed — that is, not flowing in either direction — but, of course, there’s still lots happening under the surface. In my novel, slack tide is a metaphor that marks a tipping point for my protagonist where she feels the tide may be turning in the search for her dog.
CM: I understand you’re giving your author royalties from the sale of the books at the March 18 launch to the Pat Conroy Literary Center. What is that about?
NR: It’s simply about my support, as an involved citizen, of a local nonprofit’s mission to nurture reading and writing.
Karen Richards’ art exhibit, “Bring Nature Home,” is a reflection of her passion for preserving natural resources and protecting the ecosystem. She will donate 30% of the sales of her artwork to the Hilton Head Audubon Society and the South Coast Region of the Coastal Conservation League.
Richards’ show will feature a collection of florals, birds and local landscapes from April 3 through May 1 at The Society of Bluffton Artists Gallery, located at 6 Church Street in Old Town Bluffton. Meet the artist during an opening reception from 5-7 p.m. April 6. These events are free and open to the public.
“As much a plant nerd as a painter, I’m either getting my hands soiled in the garden or covered in paint in my studio,” Richards said. “My preferred medium is acrylics. I am fascinated by the way colors blend and layer to create depth and energy in a painting. My style varies depending on my mood and the feeling I want to express for the subject.”
The works of art in “Bring Nature Home” range from small 6-inch by 6-inch to large paintings of florals, coastal scenes and shore birds.
While Richards preferred medium is acrylics, she has always enjoyed drawing and painting. She received her first set of oil paints for her seventh birthday. Originally from Long Island, New York, Richards has always appreciated the beauty of coastal marshes and beaches.
She holds a degree in Horticulture, eventually designing and maintaining gardens in Southampton, NY. Richards
earned a degree in Fine Art at Long Island University and a Masters of Education at Stony Brook University. Art history classes introduced her to artists whose paintings continue to inspire, including Claude Monet, Edward Manet, and Odilon Redon.
“A few years ago I was fortunate to spend an entire week in a cottage 1/2 a mile from Monet’s home in Giverny with an artist friend,” Richards said. “We were even able to paint on the grounds of his home in the gardens and by the lily pond after museum hours! I’ve been painting flowers ever since.”
After relocating to Orange County, NY, Richards started selling her artwork and began an art teaching career. Within a few years her work could be found in private and corporate collections including her largest work — a three panel, 15’ x 4’ painting at Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty in Warwick, NY.
While living in the Hudson Valley, Richards continued her studies at the Art Students League in NYC and in summer classes at the Cape Cod School of Art — which enabled her to study with notable artists including Yoshi Higa, Max Ginsburgh, and Hilda Neely.
Richards moved to Bluffton, SC in 2021 where she resides with Jim, the love of her life and one of her greatest supporters in her creative endeavors. Her current focus is on creating and selling collections of her work and donating to local environmentally conscious groups.
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 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.
Penn Center is honored to host Slavery by Another Name: Paintings and Assemblages by Robert Claiborne Morris, a mixed media art exhibition inspired by the Pulitzer-Prize winning book by Douglas A. Blackmon. Morris began to re-examine his understanding of race in America after reading an early proof of Blackmon’s book, Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II, which explores the little-known practice of leasing African American convicts to private individuals and corporations – a practice that continued in some Southern states until after World War II. The revelation that involuntary servitude continued until after World War II changed the way Morris saw his native South. He began an odyssey in search of the images, objects, and artifacts related to this “Slavery by Another Name.” From Georgia to North Carolina, he canvased the junkyards, flea markets, and historical societies, hunting and collecting, in the hopes of finding a medium that could both incorporate found objects and project images to artistically convey the spiritual darkness of involuntary servitude.
who were so inhumanely exploited after emancipation. Incorporated in Morris’ works are portraits, maps of the slave mines, courageous articles and images published by the Atlanta Constitution, blood money, letters to the Department of Justice pleading for mercy and implements of bondage and torture ranging from words to ropes, locks and chains. From a portrait of President Lincoln that incorporates burlap and the tin from the roof of an abandoned sharecropper's shack, to shackles from a slave vessel that sway before the figure of an anonymous worker, this collection of art has helped bring to light this little explored and less understood chapter in American history.
The collection also
Blackmon, in the introduction of Morris’ Slavery by Another Name: Paintings and Assemblages, wrote, “Nothing has inspired me more than seeing this history stir the intellects of artists and scholars to probe yet further –whether into historical archive containing still more empirical evidence of the events or, as Robert Claiborne Morris has done, into the souls and minds of the era of one of the America’s greatest and least remembered crimes.”
Robert Claiborne Morris studied at The Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., and Tulane University in New Orleans. His work has been included in a number of shows since 2008. Morris says that “despite a Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Douglas Blackmon and a documentary that appeared on PBS, most people who attend my openings have never before heard of this history. What makes art and museums so vital to our beloved community is that they have the ability to preserve and re-tell our history generation after generation through art.”
inspired and emotional responses. His collaboration with the Pulitzer Prize winning author Douglas A. Blackmon, filmmaker Sam Pollard and the late artist Thornton Dial, among others, have helped to bring the worlds or arts, letters and history closer together.
In January 2012, Morris was honored with a major, one-man exhibition at the prestigious Telfair Museum in Savannah, Ga. Since that time his work has been exhibited in museums, galleries and libraries in cities such as Atlanta, Birmingham, Cincinnati and Washington, D.C.
Over the course of his career as an artist, journalist and executive, Morris has strived to preserve the human spirit, the beauty of the natural world and impact how viewers and readers perceive their history and therefore existence.
Slavery by Another Name: Paintings and Assemblages by Robert Claiborne Morris, is on display at the Penn Center’s historic York W. Bailey Museum and includes artifacts, images, portraiture, and the powerful and tragic photographs from this era allowing the viewer to emotionally engage the lives of those
helps to stimulate conversation, by engaging the viewers in a visual dialogue. In the end, the exhibit seeks to inspire the viewer to look into the past with greater understanding, and empathy. Morris’ hope is that the series of overlapping mediums awakens complex emotions and promotes reconciliation.
Robert Claiborne Morris is a painter known for his maritime landscapes, inspired by his previous career as an executive for the Georgia Ports Authority. Born in Washington, D.C., Morris travelled extensively across the U.S. as child visiting all of the continental United States and creating landscapes and writing stories everywhere he went. While studying painting at the Sidwell Friends School in Washington and Tulane University in New Orleans, Morris developed his unique approach of combining his writing and artistic skills to impact viewers and readers across the country.
His writings have appeared in publications such as The Atlanta Journal Constitution, The New Orleans Times Picayune and The Boston Globe. Tens of thousands of Americans have viewed his art in museums, galleries and libraries with a large range of informed,
Slavery by Another Name: Paintings and Assemblages by Robert
Clairborne Morris
Formal Opening, Presentation by the Author and Reception
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 beef 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. The featured recipe this week is an easy crock pot entree that incorporates corned beef and root vegetables into a tummy warming stew. Paired with an Irish Pub Salad, Irish Soda Bread and maybe even an Irish Whiskey cocktail or Irish Coffee, the meal for your St. Patrick's Day celebration is complete. 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!
4 ounces crumbled blue cheese
Whisk salad dressing ingredients together in a small bowl. Set aside until ready to serve. Place salad greens on a platter. Top with cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, red onion, hardboiled eggs, baby pickled beets and crumbled blue cheese. Drizzle with salad dressing before serving. Serves 6.
A hearty and delightful stew!
1 (3-pound) corned beef brisket (with spice packet)
Trim excess fat from corned beef and cut meat into 1-inch cubes. Place flour in a large bowl and toss corned beef cubes to coat. Place meat in a crockpot. Sprinkle corned beef spice packet over the meat. Mix in potatoes, parsnips, baby carrots, onion, water, beer, beef broth and any leftover flour; Stir to combine. Cover and cook on high heat for 6 hours. When corned beef and vegetables are very tender, lower the heat and mix the cabbage into the stew. Cook until tender, about 35 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in vinegar just before serving. Garnish with chopped Italian parsley. Serves 8.
An easy and delicious no-knead bread!
3 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup raisins or currants
2 tablespoons Irish whiskey or orange juice
1 heaping tablespoon orange marmalade
Fill your plate with vegetables, boiled eggs, pickled beets – all drizzled with the perfect malt vinegar salad dressing.
For the dressing:
½ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons malt vinegar
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon sugar
Salt and pepper, to taste
For the salad:
4 cups butter or bibb lettuce
1 English cucumber, sliced
Grape tomatoes, halved
Shredded carrots
Red onion, thinly sliced
3 hard-boiled eggs, quartered
Baby pickled beets
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1½ pounds baby potatoes, quartered
1 pound parsnips, peeled and cubed
2 cups peeled baby carrots
1 large onion, cut into chunks
1 cup water
1 (12 oz.) bottle
Irish stout beer
1 (14.5 oz) can beef broth
1 (10 oz) bag
shredded cabbage
Salt and pepper, to taste
¼ cup white vinegar, optional
Chopped Italian parsley, to garnish
By Debbi Covington1 tablespoon caraway seeds
1-1/3 cups buttermilk
¼ cup melted butter
Orange marmalade
Irish butter*
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9x9-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add raisins, Irish whiskey, orange marmalade and caraway seeds to the mixture. Stir in buttermilk and melted butter to make a thick batter. Spread batter evenly in prepared baking dish. Bake for 45 minutes until top of bread is lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in center of bread comes out clean. Serve warm with orange marmalade and Irish butter. *Irish butter may be found on the refrigerated dairy aisle of your local grocery store. Makes 9 servings.
The writer owns Catering by Debbi Covington and is the author of three cookbooks, Celebrate Beaufort, Celebrate Everything! and Dining Under the Carolina Moon. For more great recipes and to view her cooking demonstrations, visit and subscribe to Debbi’s YouTube channel. Debbi’s website address is www.cateringbydebbicovington.com. She may be reached at 843-525-0350 or by email at dbc@ cateringbydebbicovington.com
“May the leprechauns be near you, to spread luck along your way. And, may all the Irish angels smile upon you St. Patrick's Day.”
IRISH PUB SALAD
It’s baaack. The 2023 schedule for Beaufort’s own Lunch and Learn presented by the Lowcountry Master Gardeners Association, is filled with new and interesting lectures and classes led by some of the Beaufort area’s most experienced and talented gardeners, designers and entrepreneurs.
Newcomers especially appreciate the tips and know-how of these class leaders, and everyone really appreciates the door prizes of books and plants; mostly donated by the attendees and presenters. Sandra Educate, who produces Lunch and Learn, estimates that thousands of plants have been awarded since the inception in 2009. Plants of present donations are often offspring of plants awarded in prior years.
Classes are free. Just bring a folding chair around noon to the area around the Gazebo at the Port Royal Farmers’ Market the first Saturday in April. No registration is necessary. Come early before the Market closes and take advantage of the great variety of food, produce and plant vendors. The classes continue every Saturday until the last of June.
12:00 at Heritage Park, Port Royal Farmers’ Market Near the Gazebo
April 1
April 8
April 15
April 22
April 29
May 6
May 13
May 20
May 27
June 3
June 10
June 17
June 24
Getting Ready for Spring
Propagating Perennials
Gardening Repurpose of Styrofoam Containers
Antique Roses
All About Mushrooms
Hot, Hot or Not
Rain Gardens
Vertical Gardening
Gingers for Everyone
Bees and Your Garden
Reliable Perennials for Fall Color
Citrus for the Lowcountry
Get Ready for Summer
Jay Weidner
Carol Hyde
Wendy Hilty
Laura Lee Rose
Pam & Chad McClure
Victoria Bergeson
Jim Lorenz
Jennifer Harsta
Kathleen Grewenig
Camp Arnold
Wendy Hilty
Joe Allard
Jay Weidner
The Fripp Island Women’s Club is pleased to announce its annual The Water Is Wide/Pat Conroy Scholarship has been awarded to three students from the College of the Lowcountry (TCL). Congratulations to Tiffany Willis, Roslyn Todd, and Ashley Norwood!
The scholarship was created in memory of beloved author Pat Conroy (1945–2016), who made his home on Fripp Island for many years. One of his earliest books, The Water Is Wide, captured his passion for education as a
teacher on Daufuskie Island. Conroy believed in equality for everyone and was a strong advocate of the importance of education and lifelong learning, as a teacher and throughout his writing life. In keeping with Conroy’s legacy, this scholarship is intended for any older adult who may not have had the opportunity to continue their education. The scholarship is sponsored by the Fripp Island Women’s Club and coordinated through the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center.
ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Tiffany Willis is pursuing her certification
from TCL’s Applied Science of Nail Technology. In her instructor’s recommendation, Tiffany was praised as “a working mother of a small child, she attends TCL four nights a week and she will be an asset to the salon industry upon completing her certification.”
Roslyn Todd currently works as a Medical Assistant and is pursuing her degree in Applied Sciences at TCL. Her recommendation stated that, “she is punctual, hardworking, intelligent and has excellent people skills. She will continue to be an asset to the healthcare needs of our community as she pursues her education.”
910 Port Republic Street
Tuesday - Saturday 11-5
843-812-9460 nevermorebooks.com
Ashley Norwood, a mother of three, is currently working as a Kindergarten aide. She is returning to seek a degree in General Technology/Associate Degree in Applied Sciences. Her recommendation said that, as “the lead Kindergarten teacher in the classroom Ashley works, Ashley is constantly demonstrating a love of learning and has the commitment to succeed.”
The scholarship recipients will also be recognized at a luncheon hosted by the Fripp Island Women’s Club (FIWC) later this Spring.
To learn more about the FIWC visit www. facebook.com/frippwomensclub. To learn more about the Pat Conroy Literary Center, please visit www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
Ed R. Green will host a book launch for The Ring of Woodland Stars, the second book in his first series of epic fantasy novels – The Sapphire Prison – on Sunday, March 19th. The first book in the series, Hope, which people should read before Ring, will also be for sale at the book launch.
From Green's author bio: “When not on the planet Mera researching the last book in his second series, award-winning author Ed R. Green writes in his home in Beaufort, South Carolina. The initial draft of his final book should be finished shortly, provided Ed, who tends to get distracted, can tear himself away from his Meran friends long enough to finish it.
“At any rate, award-winning author Ed R. Green is a physical therapist, massage therapist, and Reiki master. He earned a BS in Economics, Mathematics, and Psychology, triple major (while his friends kept changing their majors, he kept adding) from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Later, a Master of Physical Therapy degree from Emory University in Atlanta. He owned a therapy practice treating people and horses. His publications include technical works on physical therapy. He authored the six books that comprise his epic fantasy series The Sapphire Prison. He is currently writing the last of the four books in The Orb of Ascendance. Orb involves the heroes who were still breathing at the end of Sapphire.”
About The Ring of Woodland Stars: Fresh from their victory over Kehlburn's goblin army, progress in the war looks pretty
rosy for Terek, Alora, and the peace-loving realms of Niandria. That is, assuming the traitor Terek accidentally killed months ago didn't do too much damage in their home city. It's hard to believe Kehlburn would just give up on whatever nefarious schemes he cooked up that involved the man. And what else has that evil magician been up to? One way or another, Terek and his friends will have to deal with it when they get home.
Green’s book launch will take place on Sunday, March 19th, from 3 – 6 pm, with a reading at 4 pm. Refreshments will be served. 59 Arbor Victory Road. Please RSVP at 843-521-5585.
Joe Jencks will perform at Music on Malphrus, 110 Malphrus Road, in Bluffton, SC, on Friday, April 21, at 7:00 pm. General Admission is $25. Doors open at 6:15 pm.
Joe Jencks is a 25-year veteran of the international folk circuit, an award-winning songwriter, and celebrated vocalist based in Chicago. Merging conservatory training with his Irish roots and working-class upbringing, Joe delivers engaged musical narratives filled with heart, soul, groove and grit. Having penned several #1 Folksongs including the ever-relevant Lady of The Harbor , Jencks is also co-founder of the harmony trio, Brother Sun. From Festivals like Falcon Ridge, Kerrville, Mariposa, and Old Songs, to venues like Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, Jencks has enthralled diverse audiences with his approachable style. Joe is noted for his unique merging of musical beauty, social consciousness, and spiritual exploration. Blending well-crafted instrumentals and vivid songwriting, Jencks serves it all up with a lyric baritone voice that has the edgy richness of a good sea-salt caramel.
In August of 2022, Jencks released his 17th recording, The Coming of the Years, an album that stands firmly in the modern Celtic traditions and is still quintessentially a Joe Jencks record. Centered around songs Jencks
wrote while on tour in Ireland over a 12-year period, this album emerges as a synergistic blend of past and present merging with themes of immigration spanning multiple generations. The album is already being received with critical acclaim.
Marilyn Rea Beyer, host of The Midnight Special, WFMT Chicago, says, “Gorgeous! Wherever you come from and wherever you're going, you will find yourself in the songs on Joe Jencks' The Coming of the Years. It's a page-turner of a concept album that pulls the listener through generations of the immigrant experience and extends musical hands and hearts across the ocean. Throughout, Jencks' timeless voice is deep, warm and sweet, but never saccharine. Top-shelf accompaniment and harmonies limn every detail. His new songs align perfectly with the ancient and the familiar to spin a wholly satisfying saga.” For more info, visit www.joejencks.com
Apoetry trail is coming to Hilton Head Island. How can this be? A marriage of technology, creative writing, public art, and arts-minded businesses brings a new way to see Hilton Head Island: through the eyes of the poets who live here. Grabbing wine for a dinner party from Rollers Wine & Spirits? Scan the sign placed near its gorgeous bar, and read Phil Lindsey’s A Little Tipsy! Confused, asking What is it?, as you stare at Carocol in Shelter Cove Park? Scan the trail sign and Elizabeth Abrams gives you one interpretation with O’Keefe’s Woody Orchid. It’s the kind of collaboration that makes the arts an experience. The project is a partnership between the Town of Hilton Head Island’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the Island Writers’ Network.
Fifteen sculptures and four businesses now await their signs, with five more pending approval. The trail’s opening will have two dozen stops and launch at the beginning of April, which is National Poetry Month. Along the trail are easy-to-find, numbered signs containing two QR codes. One takes you to a poem written by a poet living in the area. The other takes you to the trail’s Facebook page, where you can find the entire route, plan a full tour, or comment on the poem, the art, or the business you visited along the way. Scanning the sign allows the Office of Cultural Affairs to track traffic, key data that helps direct new projects in our arts community.
A trail launch reading will be on the deck of Rollers Wine & Spirits, 9 Palmetto Bay, April 19 from 4 to 6 p.m. There, listeners can sample wine and hear the trail poets read in person.
The technology guru and idea man on the project is Bill Schmitt, who volunteers with the Arts Council, Concours d’Elegance and Camera Club of Hilton Head. He developed the logo, the sign design and Facebook page. Natalie Harvey, the new Director of Cultural Affairs formerly at the Coastal Discovery Museum, oversees the sculptures approved for the project and the affixing of signs near the public art installations. Award-winning poet Elizabeth Robin recruited the poets and the businesses that are participating. She emcees a monthly open mic for IWN, curates poetry for Local Life Magazine, and partners with arts groups to bring literati to Hilton Head Island. She has three books through Finishing Line Press, most recently To My Dreamcatcher (2022).
This is one of my favorite times of the year! Seed Catalog time. Don’t you just drool at the pictures of fat, juicy tomatoes, pages of colorful zinnias and the burst of orange from the best butterfly magnet ever, the fabulous Tithonia?!
I’m trying something new this year. I had pretty much decided several years ago to leave the vegetable growing to our local vendors at the Farmers’ Market and concentrate my efforts on flowers – a decision that suited everyone.
Being housebound while recovering from a stroke last fall, I had a lot of time to read and some of my most interesting reads were about how more and more of American households are turning to growing a small, balcony-sized garden and even larger ones in containers. The containers are changing, too.
So I opted for grow bags. They come in flexible and breathable plastic cloth, in sizes from one gallon to twenty gallon, with carry handles on each side. I like that they’re lightweight so they can easily be moved to follow the sun, if needed. Because they are not organic, they don’t rot so you can use them for years.
I ordered five gallon and ten gallon ones. I also ordered sweet potato slips (plantlets with roots which are grown from the tuber itself) since I wanted some exotic ones, although you can grow your own slips from grocery store sweet potatoes.
Let me explain. Regular potatoes such as red, Yukon Gold and other potatoes which you can buy at your supermarket are all in the family Solanum tuberosum and can be planted whole or in pieces directly in soil. Not recommended for sweet potatoes.
Sweet potatoes are a whole ‘nother family: a vining plant in the same family as morning glories; Ipomoea. Who knew? And yams are in yet another family – Dioscorea. You can tell them apart easily since sweet potatoes have pointy ends and yams have rounded ends. However, they have similar taste and are used in cooking almost interchangeably.
In fact, one grower experimented growing potatoes in five different containers and he discovered that the most productive one was a cardboard box!
Heaven knows most of us have plenty of those from our online shopping (thank you, Jeff Bezos), but since my gardening this year will be confined to my very visible front porch, I don’t want my neighbors to think they’re living next to Tobacco Road.
Sweet potatoes have flesh and skin in white, red, orange and purple. And they can vary somewhat in taste and texture. Like ‘regular’ potatoes, they are often eaten along with their skins.
But back to the slips I ordered. I had read about a fabulous tasting, purple fleshed one called “Okinawa.” Sometimes, but rarely, you can find a named variety in your market. Usually, though, if you want them, you’ll have to grow them yourself. Then, too, you can grow your own slips the following year. One tuber can grow many slips.
By Sandra Educate
I really didn’t know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised to receive well-rooted, vining slips that were 8 inches long with several large leaves. It was too early to plant them outside, so I temporarily potted them up in soil filled plastic glasses and put them on the windowsill where they will live until I can put them outside in grow pots. About now. I’ll be sure to keep you posted on their progress and you’re all invited to come for dinner when they’re harvested.
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."
ITALY: Tuscany townhouse for rent by the week in historic UNESCO village. Sleeps 4, large furnished garden, easy walk to shops and excellent restaurants. www.cozyholidayrentals.com or 401-862-2377.
FURNISHED LUXURY APT Heart of downtown Beaufort. 2BR, 2BA, W/D, Housewares. $600/ wk. $2200/mo. 522-9003.
WANTED!!! Comics, movie/ tv/ and music memorabilia, books, magazines, manga, toys, old stuff, coins, playboys, collections of most anything. Fair negotiating. 410-980-6523
BUYING BASEBALL CARDS and all other sports cards Pre 1980. Looking for personal collections. Paying Top Dollar $$$. Beaufort County Resident. Call Jim 215-266-2975 or jdvescisr@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 & WORK-
SHOPS 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 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
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
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
WILDFLOWER FAMILY THERAPY CENTER offers individual, couple, and family therapy for children, teens, and adults. Visit us at www.wildflowercenter.org
SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY: Non-denominational meditation, silent prayer and healing group forming in the Beaufort area. All are welcome. No previous meditation experience needed. Please call Michael at 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
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.
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 10:00 am until 2:00 pm every Friday and every Saturday from 10:00 until 4:00pm 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 (706-6336192) 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 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 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 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
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.
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 2:30-4:00 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 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 10am4:30pm 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 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.
Allison Bonner and Amanda Denmark, local professionals from the architecture industry, have launched Save the Shutters, an initiative whose mission is restoring livability with community.
Save the Shutters is a charitable effort administered by the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, dedicated to helping homeowners who have been temporarily displaced from their home, or have a barrier to access, due to degradation of the home, or an event that has caused an unsafe/unhealthy living environment, and do not have the means to restore it.
charitable groups, to manage the process of which funds can be used, how much is available, and what needs to be supplemented through Save the Shutters.”
Bonner is an architect and Denmark is a project manager at Pearce Scott Architects in Old Town Bluffton. While Pearce Scott Architects is one of Save The Shutters’ biggest donors, Bonner and Denmark are running the initiative separately from their architecture firm.
The first project (which is still ongoing), located in the Town of Bluffton, initially involved a roof repair after a tree fell on the home close to two years ago. The house had been covered in tarps for a good year while the homeowner fought for a repair.
“She was brought to our attention as someone who had exhausted all avenues and still could not get the complete help she needed,” Denmark said.
Bonner and Denmark helped organize the repair — securing a structural engineer to visit the site and a builder to coordinate the project with a roofer and carpenter. Within a month, Save The Shutters and these generous tradespeople helped the homeowner get a new roof, with donations from the goodness of many hearts.
Servpro on board to remove all of the toxic materials and treat the house to make it safe to enter the home.
Once the house was cleaned of all the mold, we had to address the structural damage found due to the age of the home and the tree impact.
“Where we are now: We’re working on the foundation and framing in order to stabilize the home,” Denmark said. “The homeowner is one of the most deserving people in the community. We have a long
list of generous people who are ready to donate finishes, appliances, HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical, flooring, etc. just to finish this because they love her so much.”
Donations help fund these efforts for many low-income, both newer and generational families, in Bluffton whose contributions to the Lowcountry community have been part of establishing and continuing our wonderful town.
For more information please e-mail to: savetheshutters@gmail.com
“Save the Shutters works with teams and volunteers in the community to pool resources, time, donations, and kindness to make this goal achievable,” said Allison Bonner, adding, “We work closely with the Town of Bluffton’s Neighborhood Assistance Program, and many other
“The issue that we were now faced with was that because of all the water intrusion from the tarp insecurity, the entire house tested positive for mold and it was toxic for anyone to live in,” Bonner said.
Most of the local charities around Bluffton do not work with mold removal/remediation, including the Neighborhood Assistance Program. Save the Shutters brought
Allison Bonner and Amanda DenmarkFoolish Frog, 846 Sea Island Pkwy, St. Helena Island. (843) 838-9300. www.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) 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. Wednesday, Friday & Saturday - Karaoke at 10pm. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day March 17th & 18th!!! Mike Martin & the Beautiful Mess March 18th8:30pm. Sliced Beef, Drunken Potatoes, and Cabbage. (843) 379-7676 or Rosie's on Facebook
Saltus River Grill, 802 Bay St, Beaufort. (843) 379-3474 or www.saltusrivergrill.com
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.
3/15 Lavon Stevens with Quiana Parker, 3/17 & 3/18 The Randy Napoleon Trio, 3/24 & 3/25 The Amina Scott Quartet, 3/29 Lavon Stevens with Quiana Parker, 3/31 & 4/1 The Larry Fuller Trio. (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
The Music Farm, 32 Ann Street, Charleston. 3/16 Real Friends & Knuckle Puck; Bearings, 3/17 The Movement; Tropidelic; Kyle Smith, 3/18 Emo Night Brooklyn, 3/19 Orange Doors; Monsoon;
Cloutchaser, 3/23 Country Clubin' - Boot, Scoot, and Boogie Dance Party with hits from Luke Bryan, Shania Twain, Luke Combs & more, 3/24 New Date: Fangirl Fantasy - One Direction v. 5 Seconds of Summer, 3/27 CLOSED for Private Party, 3/28 The High Kings, 3/29 Elderbrook; Ford & Erez, 3/30 Riot Stares; Florida Man; To Forget, 4/1 Juday & the Lion; Hugo Hotel. (843) 408-1599 or www.musicfarm.com
The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston. Sundays - The Motown Throwdown, Mondays - Slim & Friends; Tuesdays - Fusion Jonez, Wednesdays - Grateful Dead Wednesday with The Reckoning; Thursdays - iLLA ZiLLA. 3/15 Kendall Street Company; Dry Reef, 3/16 Bunpin' Uglies; The Supervillains, 3/17 Flipturn; Mo Lowda & the Humble, 3/18 Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country, 3/19 Cas Haley; Ben Whitney Band, Five Door Sedan, 3/21 Guavatron, 3/23 The Talismen; The Iceman Special, 3/24 Steeln' Peaches - Allman Brothers tribute, 3/25 Intersteller Echoes - Pink Floyd tribute, 3/30 Dirtwire; Mystik Fool, 3/31 Joe Samba; The Destinators, 4/1 Runaway Gin 'Brass Apparatus Reprise' - Phish with Horns. (843) 5714343 or www.charlestonpourhouse.com
Windjammer, 1008 Ocean Blvd, Isle of Palms. 3/17 Departure - Journey tribute, 3/18 The Yacht Club, 3/24 Cody Webb; Drew Dangerfield, 3/25 Tootie & the Jones, 3/31 Pat Cooper. (843) 8868596 or www.the-windjammer.com
of events, visit www.coastaldiscovery.org
Sun, 3/18, Slavery By Another Name: Paintings and Assemblages by Robert Claiborne Morris, opening reception and presentation, 6:30 – 7:30 pm, Penn Center, Inc., York Bailey Museum, 16 Penn Center Circle-West, St. Helena Island. Free and open to the public. Light refreshments.
3/28 – 3/31, Beaufort Art Association Spring Show & Sale. Tabby Place, 913 Port Republic St.,Beaufort. Free and open to the public. www. beaufortartassociation.com
4/3 – 4/1, Bring Nature Home, an exhibit of work by Karen Richards at the Society of Bluffton Artists Gallery, 6 Church St, Bluffton. Meet the artist during an opening reception from 5-7 p.m. 4/6. Free and open to the public.
Thur 3/16, “One Story, Two Books,” a talk by Donna Keel Armer, author of Solo in Solento – translated into Italian as Un’americana in Salento. Hosted by the Pat Conroy Literary Center, 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort. Free to the public, but seating is limited. Call 843-379-7025 to reserve your spot.
Sat 3/18, Nancy Ritter (Slack Tide) Book Launch. 5:30 – 7pm, Pat Conroy Literary Center, 601 Bladen St, Beaufort. Free and open to the public. www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
Sun 3/19, Ed R. Green (Ring of the Woodland Stars) Book Launch. 3 – 6pm with reading at 4pm. Refreshments will be served. 59 Arbor Victory Rd, Lady’s Island. Please RSVP at 843-521-5585.
Tues 3/21 A Haunted Evening with Kim Poovey – author, storyteller and historical reenactor – at the Rhett House Inn, 1009 Craven Street, Beaufort. 6 – 7:30 pm. Co-hosted by the Pat Conroy Literary Center. $15 registration fee includes storytelling performance and refreshments. Register in advance at https://hauntedeveningwithkimpoovey.eventbrite.com
criminal justice, gender/sexual identity. 11 am at the Beaufort Downtown Library, 311 Scott St, Beaufort. Free and open to the public.
3/24 & 3/25, Women’s Wellness Retreat at USCB Center for the Arts. Featuring a ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ party, an evening with comedian Heather Land, a free Women’s Wellness Fair, and a host of Women’s Wellness classes. For a full schedule of events and registration, visit www.uscbcenterforthearts.
Saturdays 4/1 – 6/24, Lunch and Learn Gardening Series at the Port Royal Farmers Market, starting at noon. Free and open to the public, around the Gazebo. Bring a folding chair! Sponsored by the Lowcountry Master Gardeners Association.
Thursdays and some Tuesdays, Tours of Hunting Island Lighthouse sponsored by Friends of Hunting Island. Keeper Ted and his team will tell the history of the Lighthouse built in 1875. For info call the Nature Center at 843-838-7437. Tours are $2 a person and park entry fees apply.
Second Friday, Beaufort Drum Circle 2nd Friday of every month. 6:30 – 8 pm at the Gazebo in Waterfront Park. Eric Roy is the facilitator. Sessions with 15-20 minutes of instruction on djembe playing and a selected traditional rhythm & accompaniment for participants. Also, there will be time for spontaneous group drumming. All welcome. No experience necessary. Bring a drum, if you have one, a chair, and desire for fun. The Drum Circle has extra instruments anyone can use. For info visit the Drum Circle Facebook page.
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 5:30-7:30pm. 843-4703506. www.beaufortdigital.com
Thursdays, History Tours of Fort Mitchell by the Heritage Library, 10am. $12/Adult $7/Child. 843-686-6560
Editors Note: Events listed here may be subject to postponement or cancellation. Please check for further information.
Now – 4/2, Gifts from the Boneyard, Art Inspired by the Landscapes of Hunting Island at the Port Royal Sound Foundation’s Maritime Center, 310 Okatie Hwy, Okatie.
Now – 4/8, Art + Quilt = Art, an exhibit of work by the Art Quilters of the Lowcountry at Art League Gallery, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head. Information at www.gallery@ artleaguehhi.org 843-681-5060
Now – 4/30, Rainy Days and More, exhibit of artwork by Norma Beal at Beaufort Art Association Gallery, 913 Bay Street, downtown Beaufort.
Now – 5/6, Binya: Faces ob de Gullah Geechee Portrait Exhibition at the Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head. For more info and schedule
Fri 4/21, Joe Jencks at Music on Malphrus, 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton, at 7 pm. General Admission is $25. Doors open at 6:15 pm. For more information call 843-8373330 or visit https://www.facebook.com/ Musiconmalphrus/?ref=bookmarks
3/15 – 3/22, Online Auction to benefit Beaufort Water Search & Rescue and Fripp Island Sea Rescue. https://www.32auctions.com/FISRBWSAR23
3/17 -3/18, H.L. Hunley Traveling Exhibition hosted by the Beaufort History Museum. Open to the public from 10am-4pm both days. Admission is $5 per person with a limit of $15 per family. Details regarding online registration and ticketing can be found at www.beauforthistorymuseum.wildapricot.org
Sat 3/18, Indivisible Beaufort Meeting. Guest speaker Chris deVries will discuss what’s going on in the South Carolina Legislature: women’s reproductive health, gun safety,
