Lowcountry Weekly April 10 – April 23

The painting on our cover is by Tatiana Zalapskaia Tatum, from Escape Velocity, an exhibit featuring the work of nine Studio Art majors graduating from USCB this spring. An artists' reception will be held on April 25 at the Sea Island Center Gallery. For more information, see our story on page 6.

A Columnist Complains RANTS & RAVES

First World Problem Alert:

Lately, I’ve been going through what you might call an “existential crisis” with this column.

“Existential crisis” is defined as “a period of inner conflict during which a person is distraught over questions about identity, meaning, and purpose.”

Okay, that may be a bit hyperbolic. I’m not exactly distraught.

But I’m finding it increasingly difficult to sit down and write this damn thing. As I told y’all in the last issue, I’ve been doing it for almost 25 years now – longer than I’ve been married, longer than I’ve been a mom, longer than I lived under my parents’ roof, longer than I’ve lived under my roof – and I’m wondering if it might be time, finally, to put this column out to pasture.

The problem, as I see it, is that I’ve run out of things to say.

I started writing Rants & Raves in my early 30s. I am now in my late 50s. In the interim, much has changed in my life, in this country, in the world. And I have run my big mouth – right here on this page – about almost all of it.

I told y’all about my “geriatric pregnancy” at age 36. I told you about giving birth and virtually everything that happened after that – i.e. motherhood. My child – who didn’t exist when I started writing this column – is almost 23 and about to graduate college.

I told y’all about going back to church in my early 40s, after losing my faith in college. That was almost 20 years ago. (I’m still there, still singing in the choir!) I told you about my shocking discovery that there are smart, thoughtful conservatives in the world –something I didn’t learn until, again, my early 40s. Back then, I defended them because they weren’t treated fairly – or even

given a voice – in the media we all consumed. Today, conservatives have their own media that’s just as influential – and, frankly, mainstream – as what we call “the mainstream media,” so I’m no longer interested in that project.

(Also, the right vs. left/conservative vs. liberal paradigm has completely broken down in the era of Trump, so it’s no longer a useful model for understanding our politics. I’ve written about that, too.)

I’ve written ad nauseam about my love affair with nature – I fell hard in my mid 40s – and especially my obsession with birds. I’ve written about movies, books, and TV shows, Big Tech and Artificial Intelligence, and – of course – our soul-killing, society-shredding divisions in the USA.

I’ve probably written too much about that particular preoccupation, so you’ll be happy to know that I have come to the end of my rope. When even the smartest, most honorable people I know are uninterested in bridging those divisions, throwing up my hands in defeat – finally – seems like the only alternative.

Reader, I’ve grown weary.

I think this might be something that just happens to columnists who’ve been writing for a long time. They write themselves out. Longstanding topics of interest – and even passion – simply lose their spark.

Remember how NY Times columnist David Brooks used to write about politics, almost exclusively? For decades, he was the Times’ token “conservative,” though conservatives around here never thought he fit the bill. Anyhoo . . . these days, Brooks writes mostly about matters of social psychology, morality, and spirituality. He hardly talks about politics at all, and when he does, it feels like he’s phoning it in. He’s just OVER it.

Trust me, a columnist knows.

And then there’s Maureen Dowd, also at the Times. For decades, I read her for her wit and style, if not necessarily her analysis, which always seemed somewhat shallow – to me, anyway. Like Brooks, Dowd wrote mostly about politics, though from a leftward perspective. She still does, but, like Brooks, she doesn’t seem that interested anymore. What mostly interests Maureen these days –and, again, a columnist knows – is English literature. She went back to school a few

Margaret Evans

years ago and got her MA in English, and suddenly her column was filled with delightful, insightful literary references that weren’t there before.

She developed a new fascination and her column changed. In my opinion, it got better. Developed more depth. But maybe that’s just because I, too, am more interested in English lit than politics, more interested in the wisdom of the ages than the opinions of the day.

Or maybe I’m just temporarily tired of language and its vast limitations.

I was chatting with my friend Louise at the Fillin Station Friday night. Her husband is a drummer and was playing in the band. I told her, “I can’t stay late. I have to get up early and finish my column in the morning.”

“What are you writing about?” she asked.

“I’m halfway through it and I’m still not sure,” I laughed. “So far, it’s all about how I don’t feel like writing this column anymore.”

“I think I’ve read that one before,” she said.

“Yeah, I write it every couple of years, at least,” I replied.

“Maybe you could write about the restorative power of live music,” she suggested.

Not a bad idea, I thought. But this thought followed immediately: I’d rather just enjoy it than write about it. In fact, I’d rather just dance.

Which I did. And it felt amazing.

In his book The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World, psychiatrist Iain McGilchrist says, “Compared with music all communication by words is shameless; words dilute and brutalize; words depersonalize; words make the uncommon common.”

Who would argue with that wise revelation? Of course, it’s not lost on me that McGilchrist used words to express it.

And I will probably continue using words, too. For better and worse, it’s what I do.

Who else do you know that would write 1000 words about not wanting to write?

What can I say? It’s a gift.

Margaret Evans is the editor of Lowcountry Weekly. She has been writing her award winning column, Rants & Raves, for 25 years.

Art Beyond Tradition: Visual Theatrics

Art Beyond Tradition Group began exhibiting on Hilton Head Island in 2006. The goal was simple: to make abstract art approachable to those who might find it hard to understand. Founders of the group believed that mounting regular exhibitions of purely abstract work could foster an understanding and appreciation of this sometimes-perplexing visual art.

This spring, the group will stage an exhibit at the USCB Center for the Arts on Carteret Street in Beaufort. By focusing on art’s formal elements, each artist uses line, color, form, texture, shape, value, and movement to create their individual works. Imagination and experimentation are the only other requirements, resulting in engaging and surprising visual encounters.

Participating artists include Earline Allen, Joanna Chalson, Cindy Chiappetta, John Crum, Jo Dye, Mark Larkin, Sharon Collings Licata, and Donna Varner. A special exhibit of past participant, Mary Sullivan, will be included, commemorating her recent passing.

Art Beyond Tradition: Visual Theatrics will be on display from April 16 thru June 27 at USCB's Center for the Arts located at 805 Carteret Street in Beaufort. An opening reception will be held Thursday, April 18, 5-7pm.

Donna Varner

John Crum

Cindy Chiappetta

Escape Velocity at Sea Islands Center Gallery

The University of South Carolina Beaufort is delighted to announce "Escape Velocity," a captivating exhibition that presents capstone works of nine graduating Studio Art majors. With a reception on Thursday, April 25 at the Sea Islands Center Gallery, 1106 Carteret Street, Beaufort, this showcase is a testament to the diverse talents of USCB's emerging artists.

Escape velocity is the maximum speed a body needs to gain, to escape a gravitational field of a larger object. It reflects a graduating artist's experience, as these students gather momentum to go forth, each in their own unique trajectory, each reaching for the stars.

Melissa King presents her own take on pin-up illustration. Working in digital media, she raises a question: what kind of beauty is allowed to be playful and flirtatious?

Nadia McKinney captures the allure of celebrities with her grayscale portraits. Strong compositional approach and textural studies explore the vibrant world of pop-culture and what it means to be an icon.

Eli Smith merges the kinetic energy of comic books with Christian motifs. He offers a deep dive into Art History by associating superheroes with Raphael’s School of Athens and super-villains with early Gothic depictions of Hell.

Trang Dao invites us into her cultural narrative through detailed drawings and printworks, each piece a thread in the fabric of her heritage.

Anna Szalc revives the spirit of Norman Rockwell, her illustrations reflecting the quaint charm and simple truths of American life.

Mason Martin ensnares the imagination with his horror survival video game, a journey through darkness and creepy Mannequins with only flashlight in your hand.

Benjamin Kelehear pushes the envelope with digital art, challenging perceptions and engaging the viewer with innovative concepts and executions. His sculptural work also lights up. So cool.

Tatiana Zalapskaia Tatum makes art for “children with grey hair” – deeply emotional paintings and ceramic sculpture, that nurture the inner child.

Logan Gaymon delves into the miniature worlds of small creatures like mice and roaches, through prints and sculptures that highlight the beauty and intrigue of the oft-overlooked. “Everyone sometimes feel small, so this is someone many people can relate to.

The exhibition's reception on April 25, from 5:30 – 8 pm, offers an opportunity to engage with the artists, savor light refreshments, and dive deep into the stories behind the art. The artist talks, starting at 6:30 pm, promise insights into the creative journeys that have culminated in this showcase.

"Escape Velocity" celebrates the innovative spirit and diverse talents of USCB's Studio Art majors, marking the beginning of their journey into the broader art world. This event is free and open to all, embodying the essence of discovery, imagination, and the transformative power of art.

For all questions please contact Sea Islands Center Gallery at seaislandscentergallery@uscb.edu or professor Joanna Angell at angelle@uscb.edu

Release & Remember

Friends of Caroline is excited to announce that Release & Remember, A Community Butterfly Release, will happen on April 27th at 11 am, in Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in Downtown Beaufort.

Please join us as we celebrate the memory of the ones we love as we release butterflies over the Beaufort River. Purchase a butterfly for $12 in Memory of a Loved One. Names will be placed on Memory Boards displayed at the event and on the FRIENDS of Caroline website. Butterflies can be picked up at the event beginning at 10 am. The program will begin at 11 am with a few words from our Coordinator of Support Services, Steve Scudder, a reading from Battery Creek High School Senior, Quinnie Clark, and a musical performance by Elaine Lake.

For more info, call Friends of Caroline at 843-525-6257 or visit www.fochospice.org

Since 1977, Friends of Caroline has been providing palliative, hospice and bereavement care to The Lowcountry Community. This care provides quality-of-life care that offers hope and encouragement to those nearing the end-of-life’s journey and support for their family, friends and the community.

Novelist Hartley at Rhett House Inn

The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, in collaboration with the award-winning Rhett House Inn, will host an evening with historical novelist Carolyn P. Hartley, author of the Buried Sunshine Series, on Thursday, April 18, at 5:00-7:00 p.m., at the Rhett House Inn (1009 Craven St., Beaufort). $15 registration fee includes a glass of wine and refreshments by Mimi Rodrigues.

Copies of the Buried Sunshine Series novels — Redemption and Reconciliation — will be available for sale and signing.

Seating is limited. Advance registration is required to attend: https://aneveningwithcarolynphartley. eventbrite.com

“The Buried Sunshine Series is a courageous family saga, a sizzling coming of age story, as heroine, Adele Dawson discovers her roots in this action-adventure series.”—Millie West, award-winning author and screen writerCarolyn P. Hartley is an award-winning author, most recently for the Buried Sunshine novel series: Redemption (2019), Reconciliation (2022), and Rebellion (forthcoming 2024). Reconciliation achieved #1 bestseller rank in seven Amazon categories, including American History Romance. She is lead author of The Caregiver's Toolbox (CTB), an Amazon #1 hot new release for nine consecutive weeks in two healthcare categories. After six years, CTB is still a popular backlist title. Carolyn

publishes her creative non-fiction, essays, and short stories in literary and consumer magazines, including North American Literary Review, Child, Whispering Prairie Press, Family Circle, and Working Women's Magazine, and, for six years she was a columnist for Woman's World. She also is founder of JMerrillPress, LLC, an independent woman-owned publisher that focuses on women of courage.

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

Author Carolyn P. Hartley

Learning To Be Morally Courageous

Recently, I’ve read old stories about the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests in China, the 75th anniversary of the World War II Allied D-Day invasion of Europe, and the millions of people in Hong Kong protesting against a proposed extradition law that would have violated Hong Kong’s judicial autonomy. I’ve been struck by a common thread through all of them: the expression of moral courage.

Moral courage enables us to expose what’s wrong and to take a stand for the truth that corrects it. Mary Baker Eddy was certainly a morally courageous woman, as the founder of Christian Science, she writes in her seminal work Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, “Moral courage is requisite to meet the wrong and to proclaim the right” (p. 327).

But what is moral courage, and what does it mean to express it? Studying the Bible has offered me a thought-provoking take on these questions.

For instance, I think of Christ Jesus as the most morally courageous individual who has ever lived because of the stand he took for God, for good. He rebuked oppressive religious laws that dishonored God, divine Love, and helped people see what they truly are: the blessed children of God,

Poet McManus at Rhett House Inn

The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with award-winning poet Ray McManus, author of The Last Saturday in America, on Thursday, April 25, at 5:00 p.m., at the Rhett House Inn's garden (1009 Craven St., Beaufort). This is an outdoor event. Free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited. Please call in advance to reserve your spot: 843-379-7025.

"These are poems about boys listening to men who were once boys who listened to men, the blind leading the blind leading the blind through the dark. Some boys grow up. Some men never do. Ray McManus has chipped away at the pageantry and performance, the stupidity of the lie, the outright futility of it all . . . The Last Saturday in America is, 'a song that pays homage / to a history of work we should’ve done better.' Here’s hoping one day we do."—David Joy, author of Those We Thought We Knew, from the introduction

Ray McManus is the author of four books of poetry: Punch (winner of the 2015 Independent Publishers Book Award for Best Book of

made in the spiritual image and likeness of the Divine. This understanding has brought healing, freedom, and reformation to so many people.

Jesus faced intense hatred for taking this stand for good, but instead of reacting emotionally or being content in righteous indignation, he expressed compassion. The basis of all this was his realization that he was the Son of God, and his obedience to God. He said, “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” (John 5:19, New International Version). He acted in accord with His divine Father’s loving nature, expressing a higher understanding of our God-given dominion and harmony, which overcomes evil.

Jesus’ example has served as a wonderful guidebook for me to nurture this kind of moral courage. It helps me overcome the temptation to react adversely, rather than to unjust situations or personal attacks. It has shown me how to uncover an underlying problem and acknowledge God’s law of good as able to bring about healing results in a challenging situation.

A few years ago, shortly before I was to go on a trip, I became ill and incapacitated for a few days. Based on pre-

Poetry in North America), Red Dirt Jesus (selected by Alicia Ostriker for the Marick Press Poetry Prize 2011), and Driving through the country before you are born (winner of the South Carolina Book Prize in 2006), and a chapbook called Left Behind. He is the co-editor for the anthology Found Anew with notable contributors with South Carolina ties. His poems have been published in numerous journals such as Crazyhorse, Prairie Schooner, and POETRY magazine. He lives in South Carolina where he teaches for USC Sumter and serves as the Writer in Residence for the Columbia Museum of Art.

To learn more about the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, please visit vv

A CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PERSPECTIVE

vious healings experienced through Christian Science, I turned to God in prayer to gain a clearer sense of God’s love and care for me.

As I prayed, I saw clearly that the tumult I was experiencing in my body was related to a sense of righteous indignation and uncertainty I felt about a number of things going on in my life.

I realized I had a choice to make. I could indulge my righteous indignation, or be morally courageous by taking a stand for God’s goodness and governance of His creation. I could affirm that evil is not real or powerful, because God’s goodness is infinite. The more we discern this spiritual reality, the more we see and experience evidence of it around us.

In this case, the tumult in my thinking ceased, and I was healed. I also felt a sense of peace and joy that I just couldn’t contain; I had to share it with others. I was able to get on a plane and enjoy the trip.

Each of us can take a stand for God, good, even in the face of things that don’t seem good at all, and act accordingly- following Christ Jesus’ example. Expressing moral courage in this way opens the door for comfort, healing, and solutions.

By Allison J. Rose-Sonnesyn

is “Moral Courage to Uphold the Christ.” How can you express God’s love to address this in your life, our community, and the world? Learn more about Christian Science and our local services at BeaufortChristianScience.Org and view more Perspectives at CS Monitor Perspectives.

Poet Ray McManus

Paid Advertorial by The Christian Science Society of Beaufort

The Gift of Love

Lowcountry Wind Symphony (LWS) will present the final concert of its 2023-2024 season, entitled ‘The Gift of Love,’ under the direction of Donald F. Jemella. The program features music by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Stephen Melillo, Richard Wagner and others in tribute to those who gave of themselves to benefit humanity.

Eden Engle, violin, is the featured soloist, performing John Williams’ Theme from Schindler’s List. Katie McAllister, mezzo soprano, will again join LWS in I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables’ and Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz.

Lowcountry Wind Symphony is a concert band, made up of some 65 amateur and professional woodwind, brass, and percussion players from the greater Beaufort area. LWS will celebrate its 10th Anniversary in our upcoming 2024-2025 season.

The concerts are FREE, but donations are gratefully received.

MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Folk Song Suite by Ralph Vaughan Williams is a standard work for band, and was premiered in 1923. Along with fellow Englishman Gustav Holst, Vaughan Williams is considered one of the most significant composers of the early 20th century. The suite’s three movements incorporate folk songs from the Norfolk and Somerset regions of England and depict young love in all its phases.

Mezzo Soprano Katie McAllister returns to LWS to offer two of the best loved songs from Broadway musicals. I Dreamed A Dream, from Les Miserables is a poignant lament sung by the character, Fantine, who has lost her factory job. Alone and on the streets, wondering how life has gone so wrong, she is thinking back to happier times.

Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz, composed by Harold Arlen with lyricist Yip Harburg, was written for the film, The Wizard of Oz in 1939. The movie performance catapulted a young Judy Garland to fame and Over the Rainbow became her signature song. In 2001 it was voted the greatest song of the 20th Century. More than 80 years later the film and the song are cultural icons.

Arland D. Williams' Anthem for the Souls You’ve Never Heard is a story of heroism and sacrifice. Composer Stephen Melillo created this musical tribute piece dedicated to an American Hero. Arland Dean Williams. Jr. was

a passenger aboard Air Florida Flight 90, which crashed on take-off in Washington, DC on January 13, 1982. Following the plane crash, icy roads slowed emergency vehicles from reaching the scene. Miraculously a helicopter hovered over the scene, dropping a life ring into the hands of one the survivors. One at a time, Williams was able to place the ring in the hands of five people, who were thus rescued. When the chopper returned for the last time, Williams had slipped beneath the cold waters of the Potomac and was lost. Perhaps it was just a simple act of love for his fellow human beings.

Theme from Schindler’s List is solo piece arranged for band and violin, presented by featured violinist, Eden Engle. This haunting melody is from the film, Schindler’s List, with a musical score written by John Williams, in which violinist Itzhak Perlman performed the main theme. The film tells of the rescue of a thousand Jewish refugees during the Holocaust, selfless acts of love by Oskar Schindler. Directed by Stephen Spielberg, this film has been named among the greatest films ever made, winning seven Academy Awards – one for Best Original Score.

named simply ‘ERICH’. As a child prodigy, five-year-old Erich could play piano four-hand arrangements alongside his father and was writing original music by seven. He was born into a Jewish family in what was then

In 1934 Korngold’s friend and film director Max Reinhardt brought him to Hollywood. He returned to Austria for a time, but in 1938 was asked by Warner Brothers to return to Hollywood and compose a score for The Adventures of Robin Hood. At that time Austria was annexed by Germany and all Jews in the area were at risk. He remained in the U.S, bringing members of his family here. He noted that composing Robin Hood had saved his life!

honesty and sincerity and giving. This piece . . . is a small and humble gift back to him . . . ”

Lowcountry Wind Symphony will begin its 2024-2025 Concert Season in November with rehearsals resuming in September. New members are welcome and auditions are not required. For information about joining us or becoming involved in band support, please contact donjemella@outlook.com.

Lowcountry Wind Symphony, where together we are Exploring What’s Musically Possible.

For more information, please visit www.lowcountrywindsymphony.com or email lowcountrywindsymphony@gmail.com

Concert Schedule

Friday, April 26, 7pm (Open to the Public)

Bluffton High School Auditorium 12 H.E. McCracken Circle Bluffton, 29910 (Please note change of venue)

Sunday, April 28, 4pm (Open to the Public)

Good Friday Music from Parsifal. This three-act opera was Richard Wagner’s last composition, loosely based on a 13th- century epic poem recounting the story of Arthur and his quest for the Holy Grail. The opera was first presented at the Bayreuth Festival in Germany in 1882. It was introduced to American audiences at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1903. Good Friday Music music is full of wonderful melody and profound spiritual beauty. Wagner strikes a message of hope and depicts the glory of ‘The Great Beyond’.

The Gift of Love by Stephen Melillo is taken from the two-part musical tribute to renowned Hollywood composer Erich Korngold and

Mr. Melillo says, “Eric Korngold is a man I have come to love and admire . . . because of his music! I hear him take on the mantle of

St. John's Lutheran Church 157 Lady's Island Dr. Beaufort, 29907

The Port Royal Farmers Market

Part 2: Food Vendors

n last month’s Part I of our two-part series about our beloved Port Royal Farmers Market, we featured “Farmers and Growers.” Part II below features a variety of tasty “Food Vendors.”

time, then we might create “lunch” to enjoy at a picnic table amidst the trees or buy something from a vendor to bring home for a fresh Saturday lunch or supper (sometimes both).

We love the Port Royal Farmers Market and go there pretty much every Saturday when we’re in town. It’s open from 9am to noon every Saturday year-round, which is unusual for many farmers markets, which are only seasonal.

If we’re there when everyone is first opening and we haven’t already eaten at home (or even if we have), we often grab some sort of “breakfast.” If we’re there mid-morning, a snack or two is typically on the menu. If it’s closer to the noon closing

Many food vendors are located in what we affectionally call the “food court.” We think we’ve tried something from every vendor all around the Market and will try to be as complete as possible in mentioning all of them (apologies if we missed one!). Here goes:

• Acme Boiled Peanuts: William Thorpe boils his tasty peanuts the way his daddy did and typically has three types of perfectly prepared boiled peanuts on offer . . . regular (which are anything but); spicy (which are); and garlic (loaded with garlic and our current fave).

• Beloved Coffee Roasters: Caffeine fuel for crisp Saturday mornings (or anytime), including coffee, espresso, latte, cappuccino, and flat white from this beloved Beaufortbased roaster.

• Berto’s: We say “si” and “gracias” to the addition of Berto’s last year, thanks to their tasty tamales, rice bowls, tacos, chips and salsa, and more.

• Calibogue Catering: Master Chef Brentt Toole brings his giant grill to the Market every Saturday and typically offers delicious pulled pork, smoked chicken, beef brisket, shrimp burgers, and more. The possibilities include half-pints, pints, quarts, and more of Brunswick stew, chili, mac ‘n cheese, coleslaw, and more, as well as sandwiches, soups, classic and creative salads and sides, Holidays menus, and more.

• Castra Rota Fine Foods: In business since 1922 and featuring fine cheeses, homemade breads, fresh-made pasta, frozen pizzas (also homemade and often available to sample), and more, Castra Rota and owner Adriano remain popular Farmers Market mainstays.

Cele & Lynn Seldon THE LOWCOUNTRY DISH

• Hank’s Lowcountry She Crab Soup and Crab Cakes: Beloved chef and caterer Hank Yadon has been preparing famed she crab soup and more Lowcountry faves since 1985, when he was handed a recipe said to be one from the butler at the John Rutledge House in Charleston who first created she crab soup back in 1903. Along with his she crab soup (which we love on cool days or to take home and enjoy later), Hank’s tasty Farmers Market

• Fire & Rice Paella: This mobile paella company with the huge pan offers flavorful varied paella offerings featuring imported Spanish bomba rice, bacon, chicken, sausage, organic chicken stock, imported Spanish saffron, roasted red peppers, peas, and thyme. It’s available in small containers that serve one, large containers that feed two, and highly recommended party packs that will feed six to eight.

The food court

menu now typically includes crab cakes, gooey crab mac and cheese, “mumbo jumbo” gumbo, Charleston crab dip, and more.

• Jannie’s Bread: Jannie Smith is rightfully famous at the Farmers Market and beyond for her banana nut bread, but her peaches and cream bread, coconut cream pie, deep dish key lime pie, blueberry pie, and more make for tasty Saturday shopping (including ideal edible gifts).

Jannie’s Breads

The Drink Shack

Calibogue

• Maggioni Oyster Company: With a history dating to 1870, fifth generation owner/operator Jeff Beasley features world-class oysters grown right here in the Lowcountry. Yeah, we know he’s gotten so busy that he doesn’t come to shuck on Saturdays, but we’re hoping he’ll read this and return, oyster knife in hand. Jeff’s also a talented musician we’ve enjoyed listening to on Saturdays as well.

• Myers Family Farms: Featured in “Farmers and Growers” last month, our friends at Myers Family Farms are also food vendors “eggxtraordinaire.” Their varied and very popular breakfast sandwiches are made-toorder, feature homemade bagels and eggs from their chickens, and they’re definitely worth the occasional wait (trust us!).

• Rio Bertolini Pasta: We also don’t mind standing in line come Saturday morning for

Rio Bertolini’s fresh-cut pasta, ravioli, gnocchi, cavatelli, pierogi, agnolotti, pizza dough, sauces, compound butters, tasty “take and bake” meals, and gelato. On our last count, we found these friendly folks at about a dozen farmers markets in the region, and their pastas are served at lots of restaurants near and far.

• Sea Island Natives: St. Helena-based Monique de LaTour’s soothing booth features

teas made from her dried plant and herb leaves and flowers (from yaupon to sassafras to appropriately named life everlasting and more), cassina (a holly-based tea), indigo and walnut dyes, and more.

• Sprout Momma Breads: Family-owned and -operated (“Momma” is Kim Tavino), Sprout Momma’s offerings feature baked goods made with flour from King Arthur Flour and Lindley Mills that’s organic and never bleached or bromated, including a variety of heritage and ancient grains, sprouted, and whole rye. With varied breads, muffins, croissants, oversized cookies, and more, their tasty techniques include highly hydrated doughs, long fermentation, and natural open air proofing and then baked at high temperatures in stone ovens.

• The Drink Shack: If you’re thirsty for something come Saturday morning, head to The Drink Shack. They feature coffee (including cold brew), iced tea, lemonade, chai, hot chocolate, cider, and more.

• The Dumpling Lady: Olivia Lui (pictured in last month’s DISH) and her husband Jim have a loyal following (including us), thanks to Olivia’s Chinese dumplings with her homemade special sauce and the Chinese lo mein, which features egg noodles with fresh vegetables. Olivia’s offerings are particularly popular with kids, some of whom have been eating at The Dumpling Lady for 15-plus years.

• Two Smart Cookies: Founded in 2003 and using only the highest quality ingredients, the folks at Two Smart Cookies mix, roll, cut, and decorate every tasty cookie by hand. They’re made fresh daily and without any preservatives. We always feel a bit smarter after we’ve eaten one of their tasty iced cookies.

• Well House Juicery: Just looking at the colorful options from Beaufort-based Well House Juicery makes us feel, well, good. With names like Anchored, Renewed, Rooted, Rise Up, and Mercy, and having only cold-pressed raw vegetables and fruits for ingredients, we love downing a bottle (or a wellness shot) while we’re walking about the Market. Ask them about juice cleanses and their homemade “mylk.”

• Yummy Buns: Founded by Denise Shupard in 2014 and featuring sweet and savory freshly baked cinnamon rolls, cookies, pies, galettes tomato pie, chicken pot pie, and more, Yummy Buns truly lives up to its name with every bite. Yum!

So, that’s our rundown of the “food vendors” (and more) at the Port Royal Farmers Market. Thanks once again to Market founder Kit Bruce and her trusty sidekick, Louis, for making our Market such a special place come Saturdays (as well as helping with these tasty overviews in a big way).

And, mea culpa, here is a farmer and grower that we mistakenly failed to include in Part I: With spring planting in full swing, Roy Green was back at the Market last month with his popular Simply Green Raised Garden Box offerings. He built one for Kit and Louis and they love it. Roy also offers tasty lettuce, okra and huge blackberries seasonally.

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

Naval Heritage Park

(Ribaut Road at Pinckney Boulevard)

Year-round Every Saturday, 9am-noon

www.portroyalfarmersmarket.com

Calibogue Catering

The Dumpling Lady

Myers Family Farm

Passover Beef Brisket Supper

I’m completely out of my element. I’m a card-carrying Christian endeavoring to cook a kosher Jewish meal that’s acceptable for Passover. I’ve catered several mitzvahs and kosher buffets at the Beth Israel Synagogue over the years and Jewish friends have asked me to write a column with kosher recipes. I even sat down with a rabbi to discuss the laws and reasons why Jewish people aren’t allowed to eat certain foods. I still don’t feel qualified to write about kosher cooking, but I’m going to give it my best shot.

My renewed interest in kosher dining began when I started watching The Chosen television show. I’m fascinated with the Jewish foods, customs, and laws – especially for Jewish holidays. It also turns out that many kosher foods aren’t kosher for Passover. According to the book of Exodus (in the Bible), when the Jews escaped from Egypt, they had to leave in such haste that they didn’t have time for their bread dough to rise, so they had to make unleavened bread – a matzah. As a commemoration, Jewish people are not allowed to eat any leavened grains during Passover.

Writing a column about Jewish food at their most reverent holy time turned out to be a larger challenge than I had anticipated. So, I contacted my Jewish friend, Nora Kresch. Nora tried to coax me into catering the Passover Seder at Beth Israel Synagogue several years ago. The meal features symbolic foods, many that I had never tasted. Nora was willing to talk me through all the food rules, but I still didn’t feel equipped to cater it. So many rules! The more that I learn, the more respect I have for Jewish laws and traditions. The rules are a huge part of their culture and religion.

Nora sent me a bunch of recipes. I wanted to share easy to prepare recipes with accessible ingredients for folks who had never experienced kosher cooking, especially for Passover. Certain kosher ingredients aren’t readily available in the local supermarkets. While I still have a stack of recipes that I hope to try, these three were the ones that I chose for my Passover dinner. I had never cooked a beef brisket. It was easy and delicious! Low and slow was definitely the way to go. The beef is fork-tender when it’s straight out of the oven. Thin slices are easier to cut when the meat is cold. The cooking juices can be reduced to make a sauce. Flour or cornstarch may be added to make a gravy – but NOT during Passover. Remember, no wheat, rye, barley, spelt or oats! I also baked my first kugel. I love sweet noodle kugels – they’re so good. Again, no wheat, rye, barley, spelt or oats – so, this recipe features potatoes with a pre-shredded shortcut. Israeli Salad is a fresh and light chopped salad that has been described as the “most well-known dish of Israel.” (Wikipedia) It’s a great complement to any meal, kosher or not. I fact-checked all of the ingredients that were used in this week’s recipes and really hope that I did my version of kosher for Passover recipes justice. Jewish readers, I’d really appreciate your feedback. Happy Passover! Shalom!

BAKED BEEF BRISKET

Slow cooked brisket is one of the most traditional Jewish entrees for Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Hannukah and weekly Shabbats. A brisket has two parts, the point cut and the flat cut. I used a flat cut for this recipe. If you don’t want to use a cooking bag, a crockpot will work just as well. Adjust the cooking time to allow the meat to become completely tender. (For a detailed demonstration, please visit the Lowcountry Weekly website or @chefdebbicovington on YouTube to watch this short cooking video.)

1 (4-pound) beef brisket, trimmed of excess fat

Salt and pepper, to taste

Vegetable oil

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce

½ cup ketchup

½ cup packed brown sugar (OK-P)*

1 cup beef broth

1 large oven cooking bag

Sautéed mushrooms, optional

Fresh Italian parsley, optional

Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Add vegetable oil to a hot skillet and brown the brisket on both sides. Remove brisket from skillet and add sliced onions; cook for a couple of minutes, until onions begin to soften. Place oven cooking bag on a baking sheet. (Do NOT shake inside of cooking bag with flour!) Add browned brisket to the bag. Top the brisket with cooked onions. Add tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and beef broth. Seal bag tightly with twist tie and tuck the excess bag under the brisket. Bake in preheated oven for 6 hours or until meat is fork tender. Let meat rest in the cooking bag for 30 minutes. To serve, remove brisket and onions from the cooking bag and slice or shred meat with two forks. Or, refrigerate the brisket and onions in the cooking bag overnight. Remove brisket from bag and slice on the diagonal. The meat will slice easier when it is cold. Reheat brisket in some of the cooking liquid in a baking dish. Serve with sautéed mushrooms and garnish with fresh Italian parsley. Serves 6 to 8.

*Domino brown sugar and Publix brown sugar marked with an OK-P are acceptable for Passover. (Source: AKC Kosher Certification)

HASH BROWN POTATO KUGEL

A kugel is baked casserole, most commonly made from lokshen (Jewish egg noodles) or

By Debbi Covington

potatoes. In keeping with the Passover tradition of no wheat, rye, barley, spelt or oats, my recipe features a shortcut of frozen hash brown potatoes. (I wanted to add a bit of garlic powder to this recipe before discovering that certain ground spices are not acceptable for Passover. When in doubt, Google it.)

1 (30-ounce) bag frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed in refrigerator

1 large onion, chopped (about 2 cups)

¼ cup chopped fresh chives

5 large eggs

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

1½ teaspoons kosher salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Chopped fresh chives, to garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Place hash browns, onion, chives, eggs, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Toss gently to combine; transfer to prepared baking dish.

Bake, uncovered, 60 minutes until golden

ISRAELI

Israeli Salad is so easy to make and so full of flavor!

1 English cucumber, seeded and diced

1½ cups diced grape tomatoes

1 medium yellow bell pepper, diced

½ medium red onion, diced

½ cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped

1/8 cup fresh lemon juice

3 tablespoons olive oil

Kosher salt, to taste

Place vegetables in a bowl. Add lemon juice, olive oil and salt. Toss to combine. Serves 6 to 8.

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

brown. Garnish with chopped chives before serving. Serves 8 to10.

SALAD

Acquisitions

This particular column isn’t for everyone. Then again, it might be. You may not immediately identify with the subject matter but hopefully, you might take away a helpful morsel of some sort, even if it’s only a broader understanding of the disorder known as hoarding. The affliction is real, is often shameful to those so affected, and can be difficult to treat.

With such programs as “Hoarders” and “Hoarding: Buried Alive,” reality television showcases what we assume are true, extreme cases that may lead us to believe that surely no one we know, no one we’re related to, and certainly not we ourselves are that bad. Those programs have sensationalized and trivialized hoarding. People are more complex than they’re represented, yet some hoarders have been helped into treatment by the shows.

You may be aware of someone who has this disorder, perhaps a family member or close friend. As it comes with a stigma and those afflicted generally rarely discuss it, someone you know may suffer from hoarding, but is secretive about it. You may be a hoarder yourself.

According to the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Studies, it’s likely that hoarding problems are present in at least one in 50 people but may be as many as one in 20, or some two-and-a-half to three percent of the population. Though the propensity for hoarding may begin as early as the teen years, the average person seeking treatment for this disorder is about 50, and the prime age range for hoarding is 55 to 94.

“Hoarding is a chromosomal abnormality and not just someone being stubborn or lazy,” says Julie Pike, licensed psychologist and expert in treatment of anxiety disorders. “Eighty percent of people with hoarding disorder have a first-degree relative with it also. They have a difficult time staying focused and being linear. Especially with later-onset hoarding, people may have a trauma history or an addiction of some sort.”

Hoarding disorder is marked by three major characteristics:

• Difficulty letting go of material possessions, many of which seem of little value to others.

• Obsessive or compulsive acquisition of new items that keep the person from using their spaces as intended.

• Disorganization and the inability to prevent clutter.

Hoarding differs from collecting in that people who collect usually display their collections proudly and keep them well organized, while those that hoard rarely seek to display their possessions, which are usually in disarray.

Most frequently, people hoard common possessions, such as paper (especially mail, newspapers), books, clothing, and containers, i.e. boxes and plastic bags. Some people hoard garbage or rotten food, or more rarely, animals. Enter, the “crazy cat lady.”

During my childhood years in Western Kentucky, our family had a neighbor who lived alone and was a hoarder. All the neighbors knew this because at night, her lights illuminated one room through filmy

Tues - Sun: 11am-9pm

lace curtains, where scores of newspapers were stacked from floor to ceiling.

For years, hoarding was considered a type of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). Some experts estimate that as many as one in four people with OCD are also hoarders. However, in 2013 the American Psychiatric Association (APA) established hoarding as a separate disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-V), the bible of the APA. It’s now labeled hoarding disorder.

Signs of this disorder can include:

• Reams of clutter in the office, home, car, or storage unit that make it hard to use furniture or appliances or move around easily.

• Difficulty getting rid of items, even those no longer useful.

• Loss of important items, such as money or bills in the clutter.

• Feeling overwhelmed by the volume of possessions that have “taken over” the space.

• Being unable to cease taking free items, such as ad flyers or sugar packets from eateries.

• Buying things because they are a “bargain” or to “stock up.”

• Not inviting family or friends into the house due to embarrassment.

• Refusing to let repairmen into the home to fix needed repairs.

People who hoard are often intelligent, well-educated, and creative, and they don’t want to be “fixed.” They may feel ashamed, anxious, and sad. Many are perfectionists that don’t want to make a mistake and get rid of the wrong thing. Their stuff is precious to them and makes them feel dug-in and safe, yet they feel shame from being asked frequently why they can’t just get rid of their “junk.” Even if their stuff is taken away, they’ll start acquiring stacks again. Hoarding can cause arguments, suffering, and rifts between hoarders and loved ones.

“There’s still a lot to learn about what treatments work, for whom, and why,” says psychologist David Tolin, PhD. “What we don’t know about hoarding disorder could fill a book.”

Some hoarders respond well to CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), or exposure therapy (people facing what they fear under the guidance of a therapist),

by Katherine Tandy Brown WHOLLY HOLISTICS

while others do not. Though it may help reduce the symptoms, medicine alone doesn’t appear to reduce hoarding behavior. The presence of conditions such as depression and anxiety that may make hoarding worse can be treated by medicines. An industry that has sprung up around hoarding includes psychotherapists, social workers, public health workers, professional organizers, fire marshals, biohazard cleanup companies, and haulers.

Should you be able to talk to, or perhaps help, a hoarder, look to these guidelines when a person seems willing to talk about the problem:

• Be respectful. Accept the fact that the person has the right to make their own decisions at their own pace.

• Be compassionate. Try to understand the importance to them of their things.

• Encourage. Discover ways to make their home safer, such as moving clutter from doorways and halls.

• Team up with them. Never argue about whether to keep or throw away an item; instead, find out what might help the person become motivated to discard or organize.

• Reflect. Assist the person in seeing how hoarding interferes with the person’s goals or values. For instance, by de-cluttering their home, they may host gatherings that may lead to a richer social life.

• Ask. To develop trust, always ask their permission before throwing anything away.

The journey may be frustrating at times. Dealing with someone who suffers from this disorder requires patience and understanding. Realize that the life you want for the hoarder might not work for him or her. If you try to force the issue, you may damage trust between you. Above all, love them for themselves.

Known for her life wisdom, Indian author Ritu Ghatourey states it well: “Our days are happier when we give people a piece of our heart rather than a piece of our mind.”

Katherine Tandy Brown has traveled the world as a freelance writer for 25 years. She teaches memoir, travel writing and writing practice in USCB’s OLLI Continuing Ed program and in her downtown cottage. A certified writing coach, she is penning her first novel, One to Go: An Equine Thriller. ktandybrown@gmail.com or (859) 312-6706

The Truth About Garden Myths

There are Deer-Proof Plants. Nope, there aren’t. There are plants that deer don’t especially like, but if they’re hungry enough, they’ll try anything. Sure, there are plants like foxglove and farfugium that deer rarely browse, but if food is scarce, they’re vulnerable too.

You can’t have a beautiful garden in the shade. Au contraire. Some of the most beautiful and serene spaces are composed entirely of shade lovers. True, there are few flowering plants that love the shade, but the various colors and textures of foliage plants are anything but boring. Think Caladiums, Coleus, and variegated ginger.

Lawns need watering every day in hot weather. Watering every day produces a lazy lawn whose roots stay at the surface where the livin’ is easy. You want the roots to migrate deep into the soil where the water already is. You’ll have a stronger, healthier lawn, better able to withstand disease and pests.

Marigolds in a vegetable garden will deter insect pests. A big no no! Marigolds actually attract insect pests like aphids and cutworms.

Hanging soap bars in shrubs will deter deer. Well, the deer sure don’t eat the soap, but there are mixed reviews about deterring them from eating your shrubs. Generally speaking, they prefer eating annuals and perennials rather than shrubs anyway.

Vince Covington, Owner

Over 25 Years of Window Treatment Experience in Beaufort and the Sea Islands

• In-Home Consultation

• Free Estimates

• Professional Sales & Service

• Discounted Pricing

If you have dogs, never plant poisonous plants in your garden. Considering that everything, even water, can be toxic in the wrong quantities, this is a tough one. As you know, I’m a dog lover, and I have never had a

problem with “poisonous” plants.

According to Southern Living magazine, some of our most common garden plants, such as chrysanthemums, daisies, iris, elephant ears, etc, can cause stomach distress in dogs. I guess it’s a personal decision. There are maintenance-free gardens. Whoever said that has a gardener!

You can rely on plant labels for accurate cultural information. Plant labels are a guide, not gospel. In this case, experience (yours or your neighbor’s) is the best teacher.

Plant labels just don’t have the room to accurately describe the unique challenges of the Lowcountry.

Nandina berries are poisons to birds. Yes, to Cedar Waxwings, who are gluttons anyway, and no to most other birds. Birds can metabolize the small amount of toxins found in Nandina berries, but Cedar Waxwings have been known to fall off shrubs from overeating. Woodchip mulch will eat up the nitrogen in your soil. Simply not true. The chips will eventually decompose and add important organic matter to your soil. It’s an excellent mulch, and you can often get a free load of chips from a local arbor service.

By Sandra Educate

You can change the flower color of your hydrangeas with chemicals. Well, yes, kind of. Altering the PH of the soil with chemicals can make the flowers bluer or pinker. It would be a yearly chore, so why don’t you just buy the plant color you want in the first place and see what happens? You can always add chemicals later if you’re not happy with how it’s growing.

The Farmer’s Almanac was first published in 1792 for the year 1793 and consisted mainly of weather related articles, recipes and crop sowing advice. Weather forecasting was in its infancy, so it relied mostly on the publisher’s interpretation of natural occurrences. Even so, early farmers still relied on its advice. It’s still being referred to today.

Though reams of scientific evidence have proved most myths unreliable, you can still find people who swear by them!

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."

Classifieds Classifieds

TO RENT or OWN

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 In the heart of downtown Beaufort. 2BR, 2BA, W/D, Housewares. Please call 843-812-4229.

HOUSE FOR SALE BY OWNER 4 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, on 1 acre on Ice House Road, Beaufort. $525,000. Call 803-917-2206 or 864-367-5816.

IN SEARCH OF

RESIDENTIAL LEASE WANTED 69 yo travelling consultant looking for quiet, comfortable place. Prefer one year. Contact Jeff @ 813-499-7989.

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

BEMER Q & A 10-11a Fridays via Zoom. Already own a BEMER? Love it but have questions about your specific situation or curious about what else your unit can do? Join your BEMER Specialist - Human + Equine, Elizabeth Bergmann, to ask questions about usage, components, BEMER gear, what’s new or anything else about our leading-edge circulation therapy and longevity enhancing medical device. These sessions are designed to support those who have their own unit but anyone interested is welcome. Free. 410-212-1468 to get the Zoom link.

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.

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 843-5244333 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 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, 843-6893616 or execdirector@secondhelpingslc.org

BORN TO READ working for early childhood literacy, needs volunteers to deliver books and materials to new mothers at Coastal Community Hosp., HH Hosp., and BMH. Visits are from 10am – noon. More info at borntoread.org 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 Program10am-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, 1011:30am, $10/person, $15 couple, Carteret Street Methodist Church, 408 Carteret St., Beaufort; Memory Screenings available call 843-521-9190, 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.

Lin Stepp at Beaufort Bookstore

Lin Stepp is a New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of nearly 30 books – 17 novels set around the Smoky Mountains near her home, six set in the Lowcountry around Edisto – that include many Beaufort and Charleston scenes – a novella in one of Kensington Publishing’s Christmas anthologies, four regional guidebooks co-authored with her husband J.L., plus a 365-day devotional guide.

“I write southern fiction with a little romance, a dash of suspense to keep you guessing, and a little inspiration,” she says. Lin will be at Beaufort Bookstore on April 17th, signing books.

“My first three South Carolina novels, the Edisto Trilogy, were set at Edisto,” she says. The first, Claire at Edisto, won the Best Book of the Year award in fiction romance in American Book Fest’s huge contest with over 2000 entries – the same year Jonathan Haupt’s book, honoring Pat Conroy, won first place in its category. Two books in this trilogy followed, Return to Edisto and Edisto Song, following the lives of Claire’s daughters when they grew up . . . and within these books are many scenes in Beaufort. I use real places in

all my books and set my fictitious scenes mixed into these . . . so readers feel like they have visited in the towns and communities I feature, learning about real shops, restaurants, and tourist attractions they can visit with then come to those areas.”

“The popularity of the Edisto Trilogy led to a second coastal series set on the north end of Edisto across from Seabrook, where I created a Lighthouse station – with a lovely old bedand-breakfast made from the old keeper’s home and a tall red-and-white lighthouse I called the Deveaux Lighthouse after the actual Deveaux Bank, a bird sanctuary off the coast beside the island. The Lighthouse Sisters books are being loved by readers as well . . . and I’ve had fun creating these stories about four sisters who grew up on this lighthouse island. The first Light the Way introduced Burke, the oldest daughter, who stayed to help run the inn and lighthouse, but the other sisters are soon introduced before the story ends, along with a great ongoing mystery. The second book, Gwen’s story, is set at the island and in Beaufort and Port Royal, where Gwen moves to take a job. The third, Celeste’s story, which has just released, takes readers to downtown Charleston in many of its scenes.”

Lin and her husband also write regional guidebooks, including Visiting South Carolina State Parks.

“We love the Lowcountry . . . and we have been coming to Edisto for vacations since the

1980s,” says Lin. “It’s been a joy to bring my readers to the places we’re loved around Edisto, Charleston, Beaufort and Port Royal in my books. I know Bruce will have all our SC titles at our Beaufort Bookstore signing event. We look forward to our visit to Beaufort that day and hope to get by to see Jonathan and the new Conroy Center, which we haven’t visited yet.”

Lin and L.J. Stepp will be at the Beaufort Bookstore, 2027 Boundary St, on Wednesday, April 17th from 4-6 pm. (843) 525-1066

L. J. & Lin Stepp

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) 5211888 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. Weekly Food Specials! MondaysF&B People Discount. Wednesdays, Friday & Saturday - Karaoke. (843) 379-7676 or Rosie's on Facebook

Saltus River Grill, 802 Bay St, Beaufort. (843) 379-3474 or www.saltusrivergrill.com

BLUFFTON/HILTON HEAD

Big Bamboo, Coligny Plaza. (843) 686-3443 or www. bigbamboocafe.com

Captain Woody’s, 6 Target Rd., Hilton Head or 17 State of Mind St., Bluffton. www.captainwoodys.com

The Jazz Corner, Village at Wexf1ord, Hilton Head. 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. 4/10 The Lavon Stevens Quartet with Saxophonist Kebbi Williams, 4/12 & 12/13 The Larry Fuller Trio, 4/17 Bobby Ryder, 4/19 & 4/20 Sweet Caroline - Bobby Ryder's Neil Diamond tribute, 4/24 Lavon Stevens Quartet with Quiana Parler, 4/26 & 4/27 Take Five - Eric Mintel Quintet's Dave Brubeck tribute. (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. 4/11 90s & 2000s R & B and Hip Hop Party, 4/12 Gimme Gimme Disco, 4/13 Emo Night Brooklyn, 4/14 Fastball; Heffner, 4/18 Pete Neighbor Quartet; Mike Quinn & the Parade Band, 4/19 The Dip; Jereme Albino, 4/21 George Clanton; Full Body 2, 4/24 Rawayana, 4/25 Ruston Kelly, 4/26 Lily's Burlesque. (843) 408-1599 or www.musicfarm.com

The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston. 4/10 Dirtwire; Web Hollow, 4/11 Underground Springhouse; Sneezy, 4/12 Illiterate Light, 4/13

Butcher Brown X; Son Little, 4/14 Bit Brigade; Orange Doors, 4/16 Satsang; Tim Snider, 4/17 Squeaky Feet, 4/18 Rebirth Brass Band, 4/19 Dance to the Music - Sly Stone tribute, 4/20 Mikaela Davis; Sean Thompson's Weird Ears, 4/22 The Bright Light Social Hour; Caiola, 4/25 Proxima Parada/Oliver Hazard; Ben Chapman, 4/26 & 4/27 Andy Frasco & the U.N.; Dogs in a Pile, . (843) 571-4343 or www.charlestonpourhouse.com

Windjammer, 1008 Ocean Blvd, Isle of Palms. 4/12

Chase Matthew, 4/13 The Brook & The Bluff; Hotel Fiction, 4/18 & 4/19 Umphrey's McGee, 4/20 Broken Hearts - Tom Petty tribute, 4/26 Hayes & the Heathens, 4/27 Pat Cooper, 4/28 JammerMania. (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 – 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 – 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

Now – 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

Now – 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

Now – 5/10, Rice, Ghana, Charleston, the World, an exhibit of soft pastels by Lowcountry artist Alvin B. Glen at Art League Gallery. Opening reception Wed

4/10, 5-7pm. Gallery Walk Friday, 4/11, 11am-12pm. Free and open to the public. 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head. www.artleaguehhi.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

4/16 – 6/27, Art Beyond Tradition: Visual Theatrics, an exhibit of abstract art at USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret St, Beaufort. Opening reception Thur 4/18, 5-7pm.

Thur 4/25, Escape Velocity, an exhibition of work by nine USCB graduating Studio Art majors, at the Sea Island Center Gallery, 1106 Carteret St, Beaufort. Artist Reception from 5:30 – 8 pm. Artist Talks at 6:30 pm. For more information email seaislandsgallery@uscb.edu

Fri 4/26, Spring Art Walk in Old Town Bluffton, 5-7pm.

BOOKS & WRITERS

Wed 4/17, Bestselling novelist Lin Stepp (The Edisto Trilogy) and her husband L.J. will be at the Beaufort Bookstore signing copies of her SC based novels and their guidebooks from 4-6pm. 2027 Boundary St, Beaufort. 843-525-1066

Thur 4/18, Evening Historical Novelist Carolyn P. Hartley at the Rhett House Inn from 5-7pm. Sponsored by the Pat Conroy Literary Center. $15 registration fee includes a glass of wine and refreshments by Mimi Rodrigues. Copies of the Buried Sunshine Series novels—Redemption and Reconciliation—will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited. Advance registration is required: https:// aneveningwithcarolynphartley.eventbrite.com

Thur 4/25, Evening with award-winning poet Ray McManus (The Last Saturday in America) at the Rhett House Inn. Hosted by the Pat Conroy Literary Center starting at 5 pm. An outdoor event in the Rhett House Inn's garden (1009 Craven St., Beaufort). Free and open to the public. Books available for sale and signing. Seating is limited. Please call to reserve your spot: 843-379-7025.

MUSIC

Sat 4/13, 17th Annual Duke Symphony Orchestra Benefit Concert, 7pm at Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Beaufort. Proceeds benefit the Foundation for Leadership Education. Purchase tickets at www.lowcountryleaders.com

Fri 4/15, Jacob Johnson plays Music on Malphrus. Tickets are $25. Show starts at 7pm, doors open at 6:30. At the UUCL, 110 Malphrus Rd, Bluffton. www.uulowcountry.org

Fri 4/26, Lowcountry Wind Symphony concert, “The Gift of Love,” at 7 pm, Bluffton High School Auditorium, 12 H.E. McCracken Cir, Bluffton. Free admission, donations gratefully accepted. www. lowcountrywindsymphony.com

Sun 4/28, Lowcountry Wind Symphony concert, “The Gift of Love,” at 4 pm, St. John’s Lutheran Church, 157 Lady’s Island Dr, Beaufort. Free admission, donations gratefully accepted. www.lowcountrywindsymphony.com

OTHER EVENTS

Fri 4/12, Beaufort Drum Circle in the Gazebo in Waterfront Park at 6:30 pm. No experience necessary. All are welcome! Extra drums available. Bring a chair, a friend and the desire to join this wondrous group of percussionists in a joyous expression of community.

Sat 4/13, Community-wide Yard Sale on Coosaw Point, from 8am – 2pm. Sixteen residences will participate. The public is invited. A welcome table will be near the entrance when turning onto Coosaw Point Boulevard, manned with volunteers who will provide a map highlighting location of sale residences.

Sat 4/20, 19th Annual Soft Shell Crab Festival in Port Royal, 11am – 5pm, on Paris Avenue. Food, drinks, music, craft market, classic cars, kids zone.

Sat 4/27, Release & Remember: A Community Butterfly Release. Sponsored by Friends of Caroline Hospice at 11 am in Waterfront Park, downtown Beaufort. Purchase a butterfly for $12, in memory of a loved one. Music by Elaine Lake. For more information, call 843-5256257 or visit www.fochospice.org

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 ReadAloud 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 843-838-7437. 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 5:30-7:30pm. 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.

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

Derek C. Gilbert derek@dcgilbert.com

Melissa R. Wicker melissa@dcgilbert.com

Sam Bailey samuel@dcgilbert.com

Derek C. Gilbert Attorney at Law