The painting on our cover is
by
Mary Segars, one of this year'swinners in the Beaufort Art Association's Spring Show & Sale. For more results, see page 5.
April 12 – April 25, 2023
Publisher: Jeff Evans — Jeff@LCWeekly.com
Editor: Margaret Evans — Editor@LCWeekly.com
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Contributing Writers: Vivian Bikulege, Katherine Tandy Brown, Debbi Covington, Sandra Educate, Laura Lee Rose, Cele & Lynn Seldon, Becky Sprecher, and Sutty Suddeth
What’s Happening Calendar: Staff – Editor@LCWeekly.com
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106 West Street Extension, Beaufort, SC 29902 Call: 843-986-9059 or Email: editor@lcweekly.com
LLowcountry 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, I often start my morning by browsing through my “Facebook memories.” I don’t spend nearly as much time on FB as I once did, but I’ve come to value it as a kind of virtual scrapbook/diary. I love perusing old photos of family, friends, events and adventures.
It’s also intriguing to revisit thoughts and observations I posted in years gone by. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been collecting some of them. I thought it might be fun to see how they held up over time. Or didn’t.
The following were all posted on Facebook – by me – in March or April of their various years. My new commentary is in italics.
3 years ago: Well, I did it. I wore a mask to Publix. I did NOT enjoy the experience. It felt completely alien. I felt like somebody I am not. There were about a third of us in the store wearing them. I kept pulling mine down to smile or say hello. (Defeating the purpose, I know!) I will need a lot more practice to get good at this.
Today: I got used to it, but I never got good at it.
6 years ago: Half my FB friends think the other half are "barbarians," and vice versa. Good times.
Today: Sadly, this one held up . . . and then some.
9 Years Ago: If you read a lot of commentary
from a wide range of sources, you know that there are plenty of critical thinkers and impressive argument-makers of every political persuasion. (If you don't know this, you AREN'T reading a lot of commentary from a wide range of sources . . . and you're probably a very happy, peaceful person. Bless you.) Here's what I ask myself, sometimes, when I'm reading commentary: "I wonder how serious old So 'n So is about this argument he's making. Does he passionately believe what he's saying, or is he just kind of phoning it in – albeit eloquently – because his 'team' is paying him to? Or what if he believes SOME of it, but not all of it? How much does this actually MEAN to him?" Sometimes I wonder what these smart, articulate people would write if they didn't have their livelihoods to consider . . . if they could just bust out?! You know?
Today: Many of these writers have since left their respective teams and gone indie. Several of them write on Substack, where they say what they mean and mean what they say. As a seeker of truth, I like this development. But I don’t like what it says about our establishment media.
7 Years Ago: I'm getting bored with the subject of Donald Trump. It's no fun anymore. I think we need a new national obsession. Ideas?
Today: I assumed it was a passing fad. How quaint.
7 Years Ago: Just left an incredibly moving service at First Pres, honoring the Maundy. The Mandate. The new commandment "that you love one another as I have loved you." Celebrated the Lord's Supper, sang "Ah, Holy Jesus" and "Where You There?" with half the congregation too weepy to finish. Walked out in dark silence, still trembling . . . only to get in my car, where I encountered Rick James blasting "Super Freak" on the radio. And so the Divine Comedy rolls on.
Today: I still live for moments like this.
13 Years Ago: I’m contemplating radical empathy.
Today: Warning – once you start, it’s hard to stop.
13 Years Ago: Am I crazy, or is Beaufort usually covered with azaleas by now?
Today: Wow. This post was from mid-March, 13 years ago, and the azaleas hadn't yet bloomed. This year, the blooms appeared in late February and were
practically gone when this “memory” appeared. Climate change, anybody?
5 Years Ago: Yesterday, I was in the bathroom repairing my ponytail for an afternoon party with friends, and I could hear the news droning in the living room. One of the talking heads was saying something like, "I don't think this will affect Trump's approval rating much. Most low information voters don't even know who Andrew McCabe is, or if they do, they don't care." And I'm thinking about how Andrew McCabe is just one of many names I've heard bandied about this week – along with Rex Tillerson and Stormy Daniels and whoever else – and while I know who he is, I have to think about it for a minute . . . and I wonder if I care as much as I once would have. And it occurs to me that the deluge of information (and misinformation) that washes over me 24/7, day in and day out, may actually be turning me into a "low information voter." An unfortunate paradox.
Today: This paradox was only an inkling five years ago. Today, I know it to be absolutely true.
3 Years Ago: It’s a hard reckoning when you realize - in your 50s! - that the other grownups don’t know what they’re talking about either.
Today: Still in my 50s, still reckoning with this.
6 years ago: All my young life, fall was my favorite season – by far – but now I love spring best. Does that seem counterintuitive?
Today: Counterintuitive, perhaps. But even truer for me now than it was then. I came across this quote from Virginia Woolf recently, so I know I’m in good company: “I enjoy the spring more than the autumn now. One does, I think, as one gets older.”
6 years ago: The rise of "fake news" has driven me right over the edge into obsessive factchecker mode. I can't bear even the most benign fudging, exaggerating or spinning anymore. If you are spreading fibs or half-truths on my newsfeed – even in the service of "good" – I will probably be correcting you. 'Cause I just can't take it anymore. Consider yourselves warned. (And feel free to correct me back. Together, we can make America honest again!)
Today: Again, how quaint. What a sweet, innocent little thing I was then.
11 years ago: I'm becoming one of those
middle-aged women who's obsessed with the natural world. Hate being such a cliche, but there it is.
Today: Now in late middle age, I’m still obsessed with nature, and have made peace with my status as a cliché.
2 years ago: "There is nothing I dread So much, as a Division of the Republick into two great Parties, each arranged under its Leader, and concerting Measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble Apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political Evil, under our Constitution."
– John Adams, 1780Today: The prescience. It burns.
6 Years Ago: Hyperbole and hysteria have an odd effect on me. I am approaching complete detachment. Perhaps I am truly evil. Would one know?
Today: Still hate hyperbole and hysteria – which have multiplied on social media. Still feeling detached. Still wondering if I’m evil.
8 years ago: So, everybody is policing everybody else's language now. Every time you turn around, there's a new verbal taboo, another forced apology, another public shaming for the slightest infraction. Comedians can't even get away with edgy humor anymore. (Witness the new Daily Show guy.) This is all for the best, right? So why does it feel meaner, nastier and more aggressive "out there" than it ever has in my lifetime? I swear, y'all, I don't think the War on Language is gonna have any more success than the War on Drugs – or Prohibition, for that matter.
Today: This observation was made long before the phrase “cancel culture” entered the lexicon, and we’re even meaner and nastier now. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya.
12 Years Ago: A friend told me, "All we need is love." As if that were some small thing.
Today: As if.
14 years ago: When you have a column to write and nothin' to say.
Today: Some things never change.
The Beaufort Art Association’s 59th Spring Art Show & Sale opened Monday night, March 27, and was judged by Chris Robinson, retired Visiting Artist and Chair of Visual Art & Design at USC Beaufort.
THE WINNERS INCLUDED:
Best in Show: Feeling the Way, by Penny Beesley
First Place: Floating Over, by Tricia Gardner
Second Place: Rushing In, by Beth Williams
Third Place: Excitement, by Mary Segars
BAA Founders Award: The Birds, by Frank Cerulli
ALSO THESE SPECIAL MEMORIALS WERE AWARDED:
Michael Pearson Memorial Watercolor Award
Midcoast Maine, by Robert Steinmetz
Larry Kay Memorial Photography Award
Profile of Heron, by Robert Ryzner
Neidich Memorial Award
Fishing, by Lindsay Boyd
Valerie Jansen Memorial Award
The Many Colors of My Day, by Frank Anson
Bogan Memorial Award
Chinatown, San Francisco, by Lynne Morgan
The People’s Choice award, voted on by show attendees, will be announced soon.
Rushing In by Beth Williams, 2nd Place, right Floating Over by Tricia Gardner, First Place, below right
Feeling the Way by Penny Beesley, Best in Show, below
“Every storm runs out of rain.”
– Maya AngelouWhen we’re petting our peeves, we must be full of care. For if we’re not careful, we could stoke the fires into a conflagration of our mutuallyassured self-destruction. Ain’t no fun when the rabbit got the gun.
Do we pet our peeves too much? Dost thou protest too loudly? What is a peeve, anyway? A peeve annoys or irritates us. We all have them. We’re all different in our pet peeves, but we all pet them. Some pet peeves must be contained. I mean, it’s frowned upon to ram your vehicle up someone’s a$$ that won’t use the on-ramp, a.k.a. the acceleration lane, to I-95 for acceleration. Cause it’s a good thing to mosey on over in 80mph traffic while going 45mph. Shouldn’t good ole pick moves be legal for special occasions like a citizen’s
arrest? Isn’t the mission of driving to arrive safely at your destination? Which one of the questions in this paragraph seem the most sensible? That should give us a gauge of where we’re at.
I mean, why text when you can call, right? WRONG, that whips this introvert’s a$$. Sure, it’s fun to get all indignant sometimes, but left unchecked, the circular brooding is excruciating, is it not? Goodness, dare I say we doom ourselves to a potential lifetime sentence of being peeved, if we’re not zealous in our mediation of what we ruminate about? We must realize it’s a Bittersweet Symphony when maybe we just want to be heard. Often, it’s not what you say, but how you say it, because “we’re a million different people from one day to the next . . . ”
I hate static electricity and popsicle sticks touching my teeth. These two items are my version of nails on a chalkboard. Strangely,
nails on a chalkboard don’t bother me so much.
Denver Pyle (that’s Uncle Jesse from Dukes of Hazard) said, “I had the strength of my ignorance.” You don’t know what you don’t know. Often, knowing what not to do is all the starting point one needs. I know through long, personal experience, the frisson of excitement that gossip brings. There is a reason why the lack of gossip surrounding a group or individual is, or should be, virtuous. I strive to be virtuous without seeming pious.
How is it that such small people can take up more space than Shaq? I submit we over-value charisma and under-value character. All these years it took me to come up with, “No thank you, SIR.” Most times, it takes as long as it takes to find that Divinely timed conversation. After, all we’re left with is, “Why was this conclusion such a bother to come to?”
Savor such moments, rather than moving on to the next box to check. Closure is a nice concept, but endeavor to end that nebulous chase before regret over time spent sets in.
You know what’s different this year going into the Masters, my Super Bowl? I don’t care as much. I found my choke-point with golf. I don’t play as much anymore, for starters. Golf can kill a whole day the way I prefer to play. My JBL speaker, a cooler of beer, and good company is all that’s required. I don’t play well enough to care enough to keep score, while fleeting moments of brilliance still excite the desire to plop down another golf ball. It came down to me needing and enjoying family time more. But what really turned me from watching golf religiously was the whole LIV golf vs. the PGA tour controversy. Feeling this
WHOLLY
by Sutty Suddeth
way would have been inconceivable to me this time last year. I’ve always been a student of the history of the game. I have been known to watch old golf tournaments. I take heart, that of all tournaments, the Masters has the potential to heal the “us versus them” conundrum the men’s professional game has put itself in.
My point in conveying the above paragraph is to relish when you surprise yourself. Wonder about what such a thing leads to. “As you heal, your attractions change too. Toxicity stops looking like excitement and peace stops looking like boredom. (@moonomens on Instagram.)
Am I being preachy, like the last few seasons of the beloved, classic TV show, M*A*S*H? The answer to this question is perhaps and probably. I hedge a bit, because preachy is not where I want to be. Being preachy is a pet peeve of mine, you see. Again, be careful lest ye become that which ye detest.
Honestly, I just want to become part of the “Lost Tribe of IDGAF” and I want my readers to become part of the tribe too. As with anything that fires your curiosity, all it takes is persistent observation of our inner workings to ease the peeves. It’s worth it. You are worth it.
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.
Tues - Sun: 11am-9pm
Beaufort Theatre Company presents the delightfully madcap musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee April 15 to 23, at the USCB Center for the Arts, located at 801 Carteret Street in historic downtown Beaufort.
Winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, The 25th Annual
Putnam County Spelling Bee has charmed audiences across the country with its effortless wit and humor. Featuring a fast-paced, wildly funny, and touching book by Rachel Sheinkin and a truly fresh and vibrant score by William Finn, this bee is one unforgettable experience.
An eclectic group of mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime.
While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life-un-affirming "ding" of the bell that signals a spelling mistake.
Six spellers enter; one speller leaves! At least the losers get a juice box. A riotous ride, complete with audience participation, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a delightful den of comedic genius.
An editor’s not, however: This production is rated PG-13 and is not recommended for children younger than 16 years old.
The cast features Chris Barr as Mitch Mahoney; Christi Barr as Rona Lisa Peretti; Caroline Fonseca as Logan Schwartzandgrubenierre; Alex Long as Chip Tolentino; Paddy Myers as Leaf Coneybear; Joe Ogiony as Vice Principal Douglas Panch;
Julie Seibold as Marcy Park; Jordan Robinson as Olive Ostrovsky; and Dakota Wright as William Barfee.
The show is produced and directed by Bonnie Hargrove. Other members of the production team are Musical Director Madeline Helser, Choreographer Christi Barr, Set Designer Greg Rawls, Lighting Designer John Dowbiggen, Sound Engineer Wes Tinsley, Costume Designer Caroline Fonseca, Scenic Artist Mary Ann Ford, and Stage Manager Barry Reese.
Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and military, and $15 for students and may be purchased online or by calling the CFA Box Office at 843-521-4145. The USCB Center for the Arts is wheelchair accessible, with free parking next to the theater.
For a listing of adult and children's events, visit us at www.USCBCenterFor TheArts.com
It’s time to laugh. That means it’s time for Falstaff, Giuseppi Verdi’s final work and one of his finest. And not only that, he wrote it when he was a mere 80 years old.
Translating material adapted from Shakespeare into a musical format is no easy task for a composer at any age, and opera history is littered with many failures that were quickly forgotten. In addition to shortening the length of the play and simplifying the plot, there are a great many other challenges to overcome, as David Littlejohn explains in The Ultimate Art: Essays Around and About Opera:
“He (Shakespeare) could make the English language perform magical tricks through newborn diction and lavish imagery, through outrageous insult or tearful understatement . . . through his ability to interweave the language of many different classes of people and types of people. He was a master plotcrafter who could create characters more subtle and complex (or, when called for, more winningly simple) than those of any other playwright . . . None of these qualities is readily recapturable or reproducible on the operatic stage.”
But we are talking about Verdi here and like all of the great opera composers, he was primarily a dramatist. This skill would serve him well in crafting a plot that drew chiefly from the The Merry Wives of Windsor, but also included material from other Shakespeare sources.
While his two previous efforts at bringing Shakespeare to the stage, MacBeth and Othello, were (and still are) extremely successful, they were pretty much 19th-century Italianized versions of the original plays that were truncated. Says Littlejohn, “It is only in Falstaff that Verdi was able to equal, even occasionally exceed, the rich human comedy of the plays from which he drew.”
Premiering in 1887, Verdi’s original production of Falstaff was set in Windsor, England in the beginning decades of the 15th century. The Met’s production, however, takes place in mid-20th-century England, just after the Second World War when the aristocracy was dwindling, and society was rapidly changing.
The plot is fairly simple. Sir John Falstaff is having a midlife crisis. An aging knight who has enjoyed a life of prodigious self-indulgence, he now finds himself running short of funds. To rectify the situation, he decides to seduce two wealthy young women, Alice Ford and Meg Page, then contrive to seize their husbands’ fortunes.
The ladies, however, are having none of it. When Alice and Beth get wind of all the shenanigans, they band together with a neighbor named Dame Quickly to set in motion a series of hilarious events, one of which results in Falstaff being thrown into the Thames in a laundry basket.
At the opera’s climax, the ladies lure Falstaff to Windsor Park at night, convincing him that seductions are in the offing. But instead, they have concocted a masquerade of witches and fairies who frighten Falstaff, chastise him for his transgressions, and encourage him to repent.
Eventually, he good-naturedly admits that he’s been duped, and acknowledges his short-comings. They all laugh, agree that everything in the world is but a jest, and go off to celebrate.
Falstaff is a tremendously flawed yet likeable character, so it requires a singer of maturity and nuance to pull it off. Michael Volle, an experienced baritone who has had a long career specializing in complex Wagnerian roles such as Wotan in The Ring and Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinger, hits the mark. Volle leans into the humanity of Falstaff, giving us a multi-dimensional portrayal of the knight who one moment is a curmudgeonly buffoon, and the next a spent old man.
Ailyn Pérez as Alice and Jennifer Johnson as Meg more than hold their own with Volle’s Falstaff, but look for contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux to steal the show as Miss Quickly. Whenever she comes on stage, you know something funny is about to happen.
Verdi departs from his normal musical style with Falstaff in the sense that there are no traditional arias. The music moves from one idea to the next in rapid fashion, but, unlike Wagner, it is still extremely lyrical. Much of the singing takes place in ensembles that are very sophisticated musically but come across as natural conversation. The orchestra also plays an expanded role in commenting on the action and giving us clues as to the inner feelings of the characters.
In Opera Wire, Chris Ruel says of Falstaff: “Verdi gave us a beautiful lesson. At 80 years old, he chose a comedy as his last opera
because I think it was the culmination of all he had learned about humility and life. At the end of the opera, when Quickly asks Falstaff how he could’ve possibly believed the two young women would fall in love with him, he shrugs it off, agreeing with her. ‘Yes, yes, you’re right. Ah! But it was fun!’” So put your tax returns in the mail on April 15, then join us for an afternoon of gorgeous singing and lots of laughter. And by all means raise a glass of wine to Verdi at your post-opera supper. Maybe 80 is the new 60 after all.
Saturday, April 15 – 1:00pm
USCB Center for the Arts
$20 & $22 for OLLI Members Available online at the door, or www.uscbcenterforthearts.com
Run length is 2:45, with a 30-minute intermission between Acts II and III. Sung in Italian with MetTitles in English.
Country Music artist Randy Houser will be the performer for the Concert In The Park for the 67th Annual Beaufort Water Festival. The headliner was announced on the Water Festival’s official Facebook page at 10 a.m., Monday, April 3.
Andrew Beam and Gabrielle Mooney are the opening guests for the show sponsored by BOB 106.9 FM of Savannah.
With a voice The New York Times describes as “wholly different, thicker and more throbbing, a caldron bubbling over,” Houser racked up three consecutive No. 1 hits and more than four million in singles sales to date with his Stoney Creek Records album How Country Feels. He topped the charts with the title track, "Runnin' Outta Moonlight" and "Goodnight Kiss" (also his first No. 1 as a songwriter) and earned critical acclaim for his powerful delivery of the Top 5 smash and CMA Song of the Year-nominated "Like A Cowboy."
Houser added a fourth No. 1 to his catalogue with "We Went" from his 2016 album, Fired Up. Houser's sixth studio album Note To Self is
available now via Magnolia Music Group and features 10 tracks all co-written by the Mississippi native. Currently in the top 30 and climbing at Country radio, lead single and title track "Note To Self" marked his "powerful return" following 2019's critically-acclaimed album Magnolia, with MusicRow boasting the Mississippi-native "remains one of country music's very finest vocalists."
With multiple sold-out shows in 2022, including an at-capacity stop at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, Houser wrapped his co-headlining tour with longtime friend Jamey Johnson and is currently on the road with Cody Johnson.
Along with preparing new music and a relentless touring schedule, Houser landed on-screen roles in Martin Scorsese's upcoming film Killers of the Flower Moon starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and more, as well as the inspiring The Hill starring Dennis Quaid. For more information, go to RandyHouser.com
Purchase your tickets at https://www.bftwaterfestival.com/purchase-tickets.html#/
As she looked out the window, my friend saw a path leading deep into the dark woods. She felt deeply tempted to go down it. She had recently lost someone very dear to her, and the idea of getting hopelessly lost in the foreboding woods seemed to offer a solution. If she died, too, she could be with her friend again.
“I saw that I could make a choice,” my friend told me. “I chose not to go down that path. I realized I wanted to live.” She made a point of not even looking out the window at the path, because she wanted to be steadfast in her commitment to choosing life. About two weeks later, however, my friend happened to look out that window again, and she was surprised by what she saw. So many plants had sprung up that the path had almost completely disappeared. My friend went forward with her life, embracing new opportunities for friendship and spiritual growth.
To me this points to a helpful way to approach mental health issues. Whatever the label for the issue – depression, anxiety, compulsive behaviors, or something else –you may have dealt with it yourself or know someone who has. If we ourselves are beckoned to go down one of these paths, it might even feel as though we are powerless to resist.
I know I felt that way once. My family has a history of bipolar disorder, and in my early 20s, I found myself going down that same path into mental illness. All I could think, over and over again, was, “I’m losing my mind.” I felt powerless to stop it.
However, I’d also just found out about Christian Science, and I’d learned from reading Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science, that God is Mind. I’d also learned that since there is only one God, there can be only one Mind, the divine Mind we all reflect as God’s spiritual creation.
In fact, Science and Health explains that Mind is infinite: “All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all” (p. 468). When we recognize this God-created, God-sustained intelligence as limitless and supreme, confusion and powerlessness fade, much like when a fog lifts and we see the landscape that was always there – just hidden from view. Then we see stability, health, and peace as the reality.
Realizing this was a sanity saver, because it meant that I didn’t have a little mind of my own that could go crazy. Gradually, instead of feeling consumed by thoughts that I felt I had no power over, I came to realize that I did have a choice – and the ability to make that choice. Every time I was tempted to think, “I’m losing my mind,” instead I prayed, “God
is my Mind. God can’t lose His Mind, so neither can I.” I found freedom in consciously acknowledging that Mind, God, was my Mind. It had to be, since there is only one Mind. As this spiritual fact became more real to me, the fear and the bipolar symptoms faded, and I found release from those tortured thoughts. I was healed. Never again have I been troubled with the fear that I was going crazy.
Making the choice to take the path out of darkness might not seem easy, but it is doable. God is always there to support us. When we open our hearts and ask for God’s help, the divine presence, which is already with us, becomes tangible. We find we have what we need. It might be courage, or strength, or faith, but whatever it is, it will be there.
Each of us is equipped by God to make the right choice, and this will keep us safe. In the Bible it says, “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19, New International Version). Making the choice to recognize and embrace Mind’s presence and allness will erase and replace the scary, challenging thoughts that would try to control us. This is refusing to take the path of darkness. And as we refuse that path, it will inevitably close – and we’ll find freedom.
By Deborah Huebsch
The Beaufort Art Association is pleased to announce the Geneva Litchfield Memorial High School Award Winners for the 59th Annual Spring Show.
Geneva Litchfield was an artist, a past Beaufort Art Association president, as well as an educator. In memory of her, the friends and family of Mrs. Litchfield established the Geneva Litchfield Award for Exceptional Art by a High School Student.
Beaufort High School’s swept the awards.
Best in Show: Butterflies, by Kandace Wright, dry point etching.
First Place: Patterns Everywhere, by Paige Fosberry, mixed media collage.
Second Place: Ca-Nine, by Korrine Mueller, mixed media art.
Third Place: Self Portrait, by Alayjah Daise, created on scratchboard
Special Judges Distinction: Untitled, by Estrella Frazier, graphite.
Clockwise from left: Butterflies by Kandace Wright, Best in Show
Untitled by Estrella Frazier, Judges Choice
Self Portrait by Alayjah Daise, 3rd Place
Ca-Nine by Korrine Mueller, 2nd Place
Patterns Everywhere by Paige Fosberry, 1st Place
If you’ve lived in Beaufort or Port Royal for a while, you’ve seen the charming schoolhouse building on Paris Avenue reinvent itself a couple of times. Years ago, it was Mikki’s Diner. Then it was an outpost of the Lowcountry Cracked Egg chain. And, more recently, it has become The Olde Schoolhouse Restaurant. And, in our opinion, this version has the right ingredients and recipe to stay on our dining-out menu.
Now, a little background on Jake. Originally from Baltimore, Jake’s first job was as a school resource officer in Ohio. While holding down that full-time job, he started his own business—a security company, SecurityNow USA, which provided security to clubs and bars. Since that time, the security company has expanded to all 50 states and has thousands of employees, contractors, and restaurant clients.
But that didn’t stop Jake. Ten years ago, he moved to Bluffton, where he took a job as a Narcotics Detective with the Bluffton Police Department, then became the Detective Sergeant of the Narcotics and Violent Crime Unit for the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office and is currently a State Trooper.
But he still had a desire to get even more involved with his community. Which led to him buying and opening a series of local businesses under his company, Higgins Family Brands, including Coastal Sunset Property Services on Hilton Head, Which
Wich, Kilwins, Coastal Sunset Carwash, Dairy Queen, and Bluffton Pizza Company, all in Bluffton, as well as HWY 21 Drive-In Theater in Beaufort. Although he has sold some of these in recent years, he continues to expand his local business empire. “I have been able to acquire local businesses to help save jobs and keep history alive,” says Jake.
building in which it sits, kept many of the same menu items, and rebranded the space into The Olde Schoolhouse Restaurant. When asked how he has time to run all those businesses and patrol Beaufort and Jasper counties, Jake says, “I have great people that work with me who manage the businesses. I trust them and love them and their families.”
The building itself has a story, albeit a sketchy one for us. According to the folks at the Historic Port Royal Foundation, it was originally built as Fennell School in Yemassee in the early-1900s, serving the African American community of Hampton and Beaufort counties in the early days of segregation. It remained a school until the mid-1940s, when it was moved to the edge of town and converted into a grocery store.
Beaufortonian John Keith purchased the building in 2001 and moved it to Port Royal, as the first building of his Harbor Village retail concept, which is where the building sits today.
Although we don’t know much about the space in its former lives, we can tell you about its current life as The Olde Schoolhouse Restaurant. During the pandemic, the owner of Cracked Egg moved away from the area. He deeply valued and cared about the business and its employees, which led him to reach out to local businessman, Jake Higgins, to see if he wanted to buy it. And Jake jumped at the chance.
With expansion goals in Beaufort, Jake purchased the Cracked Egg in Port Royal in early 2022. He changed the name to honor the
Case in point is Mary Cooney, general manager of The Olde Schoolhouse Restaurant since opening day. With 33 years of experience with Cracker Barrel and three years at Blackstone’s Café prior to coming to Port Royal, you might say that Mary can school us on service and hospitality. “I love what I do, and the people I meet. It’s why I have been serving for over 40 years,” says Mary.
Let’s get to the meat of the restaurant (see what we did there?). The white schoolhouse just on the edge of the Cypress Wetlands is a warm inviting space, with lots of outdoor tables with umbrellas, picnic tables and a fire pit. Inside, it feels like, well, an old schoolhouse, with chalkboard walls, wooden floors and red leather booths. Serving breakfast and lunch—although dinner service is on the horizon (more about that later), the space is cozy and feels like a familiar diner.
The breakfast menu is loaded with options, from bagels to bowls, omelets to oatmeal and pancakes to platters. In addition to classic diner standards, they’ve got a killer take on French toast with their honey cinnamon French toast biscuits. Yep—you heard us right! We’re talking fresh homemade biscuits dipped in a honey cinnamon batter, grilled, then flash fried and topped with powdered sugar. If you just want to sample them as an appetizer or breakfast dessert (yes, it’s a thing), they even serve up bite-sized French toast fritters for the table to share (this is Mary’s favorite breakfast dish).
Some of their other most popular breakfasts include: The Olde Schoolhouse Breakfast featuring three eggs made to order, two breakfast meats, grits, toast, breakfast potatoes and two homemade pancakes (for the heartier eaters); the Train Wreck, with waffle fries covered with two eggs, two strips of bacon, a heaping scoop of homemade sausage gravy, and cheddar cheese; or the Big Bowl with breakfast potatoes covered with three scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage gravy, and cheddar cheese.
butter and cinnamon sugar—with plenty of maple syrup on the table. Or, try the Chicken & Pancakes with three all-natural white meat fried chicken tenders on top.
And then, of course, they have more savory options like shrimp & grits, Crazy Grits (covered in chopped ribeye, grilled bell peppers and onions, and then smothered in cheese), corned beef hash and country fried steak.
Don’t fret if you’re a lightweight, er, lighter eater, because they’ve also got you
to perfection (take it from us, add an egg and go for the BELT!), as well as their chicken avocado bacon wrap, with freshly grilled chicken, chunky avocado and crispy bacon wrapped with spring mix and tomatoes, and then drizzled with a spicy ranch. Mary’s lunch fave—and one that she must have at least once a week—is the Philly cheese steak.
All sandwiches and wraps come with a choice of one side from an extensive list of a baker’s dozen to choose from. You can’t beat the waffle fries or the sweet potato fries, but the house made mac ‘n cheese is a clear winner for us.
There are also plans to get their alcohol license and offer Mimosas for breakfast and beer, wine and cocktails for lunch and dinner. They also plan to cover the deck to keep it cool in summer and heat it for winter, as well as book live entertainment.
So, if you haven’t been to Port Royal recently, it’s time you head back to school and check out The Olde Schoolhouse Restaurant.
As amazing as these sound and taste (trust us!), Mary says that people come for the pancakes. “The massiveness of them is what brings people in. They’ve heard about them and have to come see them for themselves.”
Literally falling off the plate, these buttermilk pancake saucers are served up slathered with
covered, with yogurt parfaits, avocado toast, oatmeal with brown sugar or plain and everything bagels.
Lunch is equally delicious and filling, with enough choice to please any palate. The menu starts out with a dozen sandwich options — from standards like egg salad and tuna melts, to heartier options like a meatball sub, halfpound bacon cheeseburger or buffalo chicken grilled cheese. They also feature four different wraps, including chicken salad and a popular veggie option.
According to Mary, customer favorites at lunch include their grilled BLT, with four strips of hickory-smoked bacon, lettuce and tomatoes on your choice of bread grilled
OSR also has varied specials for both breakfast and lunch, like a Philly omelet (basically their popular Philly cheese steak stuffed into a fluffy omelet), chicken pot pie and a mushroom Swiss burger. And, for those looking for something healthier, four fresh salads with varied ingredients await.
Going forward, Jake and Mary look forward to opening for dinner, with a dinner menu featuring a small appetizer list of favorites, like mozzarella sticks, wings, onion rings and homemade soups, as well as old school comfort food entrees like your Mom used to make, including meatloaf, country fried steak, spaghetti and meatballs, shrimp and grits, and pork chops.
If the food is what brings you in, the friendly service will keep you coming back. According to Jake, “The Olde Schoolhouse’s strength is its service. Just like Blackstone’s Café [which Jake also purchased earlier this year], service is our key. That is what makes us different.”
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 will include articles about restaurants, chefs, food-focused stores, farms, farmers, farmers markets, and more. They welcome suggestions for topics.
Spring is here and I'm party planning. Vince and I are hoping that we'll soon be able to take advantage of a warm Lady's Island evening to invite a few of our friends over for a grilled supper out on the deck. I already have some really fun and yummy recipes in mind. Pimento Cheese Spread is a great appetizer. I suggest serving it with mini toasts or unseasoned crispy crackers. Festive Caesar Salad is always a crowd favorite. The addition of bacon and sun-dried tomatoes takes it over the top. Vince has a hankering for grilled Italian sausages with onions and peppers. They’re easy to cook and can be served on a hoagie roll or on a plate without the bread. Apple Turnovers can be made earlier in the day and are delicious served at room temperature. Voila! Dinner is served. I hope you'll have an opportunity to entertain soon. The hot Lowcountry summer will be here before we know it. Happy Grilling!
3 large heads romaine lettuce, chopped into bite-sized pieces
Bottled caesar salad dressing, to taste
6 boiled eggs, chopped
12 ounces bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 (3-ounce) packages of julienne cut sun-dried tomatoes
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
2 (5-ounce) packages caesar flavored croutons
Place chopped lettuce in a large serving bowl. Dress with salad dressing, tossing well to coat. Top with chopped boiled eggs, crumbled bacon, sun-dried tomatoes, grated parmesan cheese and seasoned croutons. Toss before serving. Serves 12 to 15.
I think this would be good served heated, too. Place cheese spread in an oven-proof dish and heat in a preheated 350 degree oven until warmed through.
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup pimento cheese (homemade or store bought)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives
Dash cayenne pepper
Mix all ingredients until well combined. Place in a serving dish. Serve with toasts or crackers. Serves 6.
This delicious and easy to prepare salad recipe uses bottled salad dressing instead of the traditional dressing that includes the yolk of a raw egg.
Nothing smells quite like the combination of onions and peppers in the spring air. It always makes me a little homesick for eastern North Carolina’s baseball season.
12 Italian sausages (combination of hot and sweet)
12 Hoagie buns
Dijon mustard
Ketchup
For the onions and peppers:
1 medium red bell pepper
1 medium green bell pepper
1 medium orange bell pepper
1 medium yellow bell pepper
4 medium sweet onions, sliced
5 tablespoons salted butter
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
Heat the grill to medium heat. If you don’t have an outdoor grill, you can use a grill pan and cook the Italian sausages inside. Place the sausages directly on the grill and grill for 5 to 7 minutes per side, or until cooked through. When the sausages are done cooking, transfer them to a dish or plate and tent in foil to keep them warm. In the meantime, slice peppers into strips, discarding the seeds and white pith. Cut the onions in half and then into slices. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add peppers and onions and cook until tender. Remove from heat and stir in chopped chives. Serve the sausages with peppers and onions on a hoagie roll. Garnish with mustard and ketchup, if desired. Serves 12.
This is a super-simple, no-fail fall dessert.
1 (17.25-ounce) box frozen puff pastry, thawed in refrigerator
1 (21-ounce) can apple pie filling
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon sugar
½ cup confectioner's sugar
2 tablespoons heavy cream Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Spray with cooking spray. Using a rolling pin, gently roll the puff pastry sheets just enough to seal the seams. Cut each piece into 4 squares and place on prepared baking sheet. Spoon 1/3 cup of pie filling into the center of each puff pastry square. Brush the edges of the pastry with the beaten egg. Fold pastries over to form triangles, enclosing the filling completely. Press edges to seal. Brush turnovers with remaining beaten egg and sprinkle each
By Debbi Covingtonwith sugar. Bake in preheated oven for 18 minutes or until turnovers are puffed and browned. Cool on wire racks. In a small bowl,
mix confectioner's sugar with heavy cream until smooth. Drizzle over cooled turnovers. Serve warm or at room temperature with freshly whipped cream. Serves 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
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2 PROFESSIONAL VILLAGE
BEAUFORT, SC 29907
TELEPHONE: 843-524-4000 FACSIMILE: 843-524-4006
25 Years experience servicing Lowcountry buyers and sellers with closings, deeds, and contracts.CIRCLE
Dataw Island will again host the Division I Colonial Athletic Association Men’s Golf Championship April 23-25, with the College of Charleston Cougars fighting to defend their two-year-running Championship title. The Cougars have won six of the last eight conference titles, with a back-to-back in the two Championships played at Dataw. Charleston previously won four straight championships from 2014-17 with the first three at the Clubs at St. James in North Carolina and the 2017 title earned at Salisbury.
enjoyed playing at Dataw Island the past few years and are grateful for the opportunity to return as they complete their seasons at the Conference’s championship and potentially earn their way to the NCAA championship.”
The Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) consists of the College of Charleston, Delaware, Drexel, Elon, Hofstra, James Madison, Towson, University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW), and William & Mary. Teams of five will compete in this conference championship for a chance to advance to the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship.
And, give back they do! The members of Dataw Island will again host several of the college teams in their private homes, and regularly support local high school sports as well.
“We have had students stay with us every year possible, and we have always enjoyed them,” says Dataw member Barbara Albon. “We even got to meet some of their parents, and were invited to visit them over the summer! It’s such a pleasure to host these young athletes.”
Saturday, April 22nd – Practice round for all teams playing together.
Practice Facilities will be closed for the players from 9am to 1pm. Back range tees will be closed for safety due to players being able to reach with driver.
Sunday, April 23rd – Round 1 (18 holes)
First start time 8:30am; last start time 11:50am (all play starts on #1)
“The players and coaches are once again enthusiastic about traveling to Beaufort, SC, to compete at one of the state’s Top 50-rated courses,” said CAA Commissioner Joe D’Antonio. “The student-athletes have really
Dataw Island is a private gated community that has helped nurture the game of golf through its longstanding traditions of hosting an annual college golf tournament and offering its course to the local Beaufort High School Golf Team. In fact, the Beaufort High School Golf Team will be onsite as well, volunteering to assist with the college tournament.
“Giving back and supporting these young athletes is something that our membership and staff truly enjoy,” says Chris Fearn, Dataw Island’s Director of Golf.
The CAA Men's Championship consist of 10 teams of 5 players competing for 54 holes of stroke play on Cotton Dike. The scoring for the event is the total of the 4 lowest scores for each team per day. Charleston returns this year as the defending champions of the last two tournaments hosted at Dataw. This year’s talented field promises to deliver lots of great competition.
“The courses are in great condition and the field looks really talented, which should make for an excellent three days of competition,” Fearn says.
Practice rounds will be help on Saturday, with competition taking place Sunday–Tuesday. Spectators are welcome; please check in at the Security Gate House as you enter the island.
Practice Facilities closed for tournament player use only from 7am to 11:30 am.
Monday, April 24th – Round 2 (18 holes)
First start time 8:30am; last start time 11:50am (all play starts on #1)
Practice Facilities will only be open in the morning for tournament player use.
Tuesday, April 27th – Final Round (18 holes) - First start time 8am; last start time 9:40am (all play starts on #1 and #10)
Practice Facilities will be closed for tournament player use only from 7am to 10am.
The Lowcountry Gullah Foundation announces its Annual Fundraiser on Friday, May 12th at the USCB Hilton Head Campus. Join the Foundation for an intimate evening of Gullah culture and grace through storytelling, dinner, and a silent auction. Nationally known Master Gullah Storyteller, Sista Patt will speak and share incredible stories about the culture, its foodways and music.
“We are very excited about sharing the richness of Gullah culture with the community in such a unique way,” says Founder, Luana Graves Sellars. “By learning about the culture and its significance to American society, people will also appreciate the concerns that Gullah families are facing with historic land loss.”
Sankofa Nights is a fundraiser for the Lowcountry Gullah Foundation whose mission is to preserve and protect historic Gullah Land. The Foundation raises funds to assist Gullah Geechee families who are trying to untangle issues with heirs’ property and or struggling to pay their delinquent County taxes. In addition to financial assistance, the Foundation provides necessary solutions to prevent yearly returns to the tax list and resolve heirs’ property for good.
Your support helps us to continue offering information, resources and support to families so that they can establish a solid knowledge and financial base from a series of targeted programs. The programming includes workshops with general and individualized guidance on economic land opportunities, as well as understanding and untangling title and heirs property issues. Sponsorships for Sankofa Nights are still available, please contact gullahland@gmail. com or 843.715.3506 for more information. Images available for use.
April showers bring May flowers! Every one of us can hum along with that oldie but goodie. And it’s true. Well, except in the Lowcountry.
April is one our driest months, but we do seem to get enough to wake up lots of bulbs and perennials from their winter naps. August is historically our rainiest month, with the driest season beginning in mid-September and lasting until the end of May.
Irises, too, are among the most successful of geophytes (all those with underground food banks). True, those bearded German irises are a challenge for most of us to grow, but when they are successful, they are breathtakingly beautiful. My favorite, though, is a one with many tiny 2” white blossoms all along the stem. Iris japonica ‘Nada’ or Butterfly Iris. It can be a thug, but I welcome it nonetheless because I transplant it everywhere.
And there the Crinums. Also called Crinum lilies, they are absolutely tough as nails and one of the most enthusiastic reproducers in the Lowcountry. A small clump will turn into one the size of a Winnebago in no time. I must have shared clumps to a hundred friends and given dozens as door prizes at Lunch and Learn.
Watch out for those pernicious weed seeds. They can live in the soil seed ‘bank’ for more than 40 years. The best way to prevent their getting a strangle-hold on your garden is a thick layer of mulch. Remember, they can and will grow through a crack in cement and asphalt! A layer of cardboard or newspaper under the mulch will block the light and smother existing weeds and prevent new ones from germinating. Weed seeds are as enthusiastic as a group of first graders at recess.
All that being said, welcome spring with open arms and a deep breath of fresh air. Don’t keep your mouth open, though. The no-see-ums welcome spring, too, and a deep breath of them is something you don’t want to experience.
Look out for a new book recently published by my fellow columnist, Wendy Hilty, that was written especially for
By Sandra Educate
gardeners in the Lowcountry. A nontextbook type tome with beautiful photographs from her own garden and a healthy helping of humor and information about successful gardening in this unique climate. It’s called “How to be a Successful Comya Gardener” and can be found at several local nurseries and Lunch and Learn on Saturdays. For those who don’t speak Gullah, ‘Comya’ means ‘newcomer.’
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."
Regardless of the rain, or lack of it, our gardens are at the peak of beauty at the end of May. Amaryllis are bursting with huge, orchid-like blossoms that are impossibly beautiful. Lilies . . . the true lilies, also have huge, impressive flowers, but they tend to be short lived perennials. Unless, of course, we have what we in the Lowcountry call “a very harsh winter” which is needed to give them the dormancy and rest they require to keep coming back. Even though they may act as annuals, they are so worth it.
I love all bulbs, corms and tubers. Rhizomes, too. These are plants that “bring their own lunch,” so to speak. These underground lunch boxes contain the nutrients provided by last year’s dying foliage. The new little rootlets continue to feed on the nourishment provided by the mama plant’s foliage until the soil takes over the job. And so the cycle continues.
Right up there with the Crinums is the Swamp Lily or Hymenocallis. It’s weirdly beautiful with white 3” trumpet shaped flowers with long whiskers coming from the rim of the trumpet. Gorgeous! You would need a backhoe to dig a 3 year old clump.
Underrated is the Crocosmia, or Montbresia. This unique corm has the ability to corkscrew deeper into the soil, which makes it harder to eradicate once it gains a foothold in your garden. Some consider it an unattractive invasive species because it spreads so easily and tends to flop over. However, they can be well behaved if you surround then with a hoop support like they do with peonies up north. Pretty red or orange flowers are eye-catching in the garden.
Sadly, most tulips and narcissus are difficult if not impossible to perennialize in the Lowcountry. However, some old species do fairly well down here, and cultivars, too, if you cool the bulbs in your refrigerator over the winter and plant them in the spring.
Iris, Japonica nadaITALY: 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
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
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 pan-
tries 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.
Meet Robert Smalls on opening day of National Library Week—and “check out” a dozen community members eager to share their stories as Human Books.
The Beaufort Human Library project seeks to foster empathy and understanding across communities through dialogues with a dozen Human Books who will be sharing their personal stories of facing challenges and striving for acceptance. These
engaging conversations will cover topics including occupations, education, healthcare, gender, race, faith, immigration, addiction, abuse, and law enforcement, among others. Ultimately the dialogues will focus on building bridges of understanding, person to person, through storytelling.
The third edition of the Beaufort Human Library will be held on Sunday, April 23, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. in MacLean Hall, building 12 of
the Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL), at 104 Reynolds Street in Beaufort. Free and open to the public, the event is hosted by TCL; the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center; the DAYLO (Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization) students of Beaufort Academy, Beaufort High School, and Battery Creek High School; and volunteer community organizers. The program is funded in part with a grant from South Carolina Humanities, a nonprofit organization inspiring, engaging, and enriching South Carolinians with programs on literature, history, culture, and heritage.
Participating Human Books include Major General Harold L. “Mitch” Mitchell (ret.), Rev. Lori Hlaban, Rev. Rebecca Albright, Lola Campbell, Aki Kato, Gwenn McClune, Rodney Adams, Dana Ridenour, Ryan Copeland, Isabella Troy Brazoban, Eric Hayes, Joseph Taylor, and others.
Beginning the event in the TCL auditorium from 1:00 to 1:30, historical re-enactor and educator Donald Sweeper will appear as celebrated Beaufortonian Robert Smalls with a brief performance followed by in-character audience Q&A. Born into slavery and later becoming the first Black hero of the Civil War and later a U.S. Congressman, Smalls is synonymous with Beaufort and Reconstruction. Sweeper has been performing the role for nearly a decade; his appearance at the Beaufort Human Library is made possible by the South Carolina Humanities Speakers Bureau. Please plan to arrive early as this presentation will begin promptly at 1:00.
Following the Robert Smalls presentation in the auditorium, all of the volunteer Human Books will be available throughout MacLean Hall to be checked out for 30-minute small group conversations from 1:30 to 4:00. New conversations begin every half-hour. No advance registration is needed. Volunteer Librarians and student Bookmarks will be on hand to help guests navigate their experience.
Learn more about the Beaufort Human Library at www.facebook.com/beauforthumanlibrary or www.instagram.com/beaufort humanlibrary
Dana RidenourFoolish Frog, 846 Sea Island Pkwy, St. Helena Island. (843) 838-9300. thefoolishfrog.com
Luther’s Rare & Well Done, 910 Bay Street. (843) 521-1888 or www.luthersrareandwelldone.com
Q on Bay, 822 Bay St, Beaufort. (843) 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. (843) 3797676 or Rosie's on Facebook.
Saltus River Grill, 802 Bay St, Beaufort. (843) 3793474 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. 4/12 Lavon Stevens with Charlton Singleton, 4/14 & 4/15 Bobby Ryder celebrates Bobby Darin & Neil Diamond, 4/19 Bobby Ryder, 4/21 & 4/22 The Eric Mintel Quartet - Take Five: The Music of Dave Brubeck, 4/26 Lavon Stevens with Charlton Singleton 4/28 & 4/29 The Harry Allen Quartet with Rossano Sportiello. (843) 8428620 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. 4/13 Samia; Venus & the Flytraps, 4/14 Guster, Palm Palm & Indianola, 4/15 DirtySnatcha; Zubah; Only Nick, 4/16 The Pilot in You: Watch the Divide with Holding Absence; Thornhill; Banks Arcade, 4/18 Michelle Zauner, 4/20 420 Charleston with Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys; Sex Bruise; The Dubplates, 4/21 The Dolly
Party - Dolly Parton inspired country western disco dance party, 4/22 Gimme Gimme Disco, 4/24 Prof, 4/27 Charleston Hip Hop Night with Kingjay; Jtrawwww; BluFlame James; Streets Love, 4/28 Charleston Metal Night with Kept in Ruins; Circle Back; God of Nothing; Walking Tera, 4/29 Spoon; Nicole Atkins. (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. 4/12
The Runaway Grooms, 4/13 Ryan Monroe & Josh Roberts, 4/14 Dangermuffin, 4/15 Quelle Pharrell's Dojo, 4/19 Shwayze; Slim Soul & the NO, 4/20 Kendall Street Company; 4.20
Champagne & Reefer Party, 4/21 Songs From the Road Band; Jon Stickley Trio, 4/22 Machine Funk - Widespread Panic tribute, 4/23 laura Jane Grace; Weakened Friends; Dear blanca, 4/26 Evanoff, 4/27 Litz, 4/29 The Brothers Comatose, 4/30 James McMurtry; BettySoo. (843) 571-4343 or www.charlestonpourhouse.com
Windjammer, 1008 Ocean Blvd, Isle of Palms. 4/13 Nirvani -Nirvana tribute, 4/14 Gritty Flyright, 4/15 Randall Fowler, 4/16 Sand 'n' Slams - Live Pro Wrestling, 4/20 Kyle Dills; Dylan Scott, Flat Spell, 4/22 Mr Fahrenheit; High 5, 4/23 Blink 180True, 4/26 Baysik, 4/27 Death Kings; Umphrey's McGee, 4/28 Dave Landeo; Uncle Mingo, 4/29 Weird Science. (843) 886-8596 or www.the-windjammer.com
Now – 5/1, Bring Nature Home, an exhibit of work by Karen Richards at the Society of Bluffton Artists Gallery, 6 Church St, Bluffton.
Now – 5/6, Binya: Faces ob de Gullah Geechee Portrait Exhibition at the Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head. For more info and schedule of events, visit www.coastaldiscovery.org
Now – 5/13, The Gently Surreal Art of John K. Crum at Art League Gallery inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, 843-681-5060.
Thur 4/13, Open Mic Night, sponsored by the Pat Conroy Literary Center In partnership with the South Carolina Writers Association and the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce. From 6-7:30 pm at Sandies, 711 Bladen St. The featured writer for April, National Poetry Month, is poet Jacquelyn Markham, author of Rainbow Warrior. To read, contact the Conroy Center at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org. Writers can also sign up from 5:45 to 6:00 p.m. in person on the night of the event.
Sat 4/15, Evening with Colleen Oakley at the Rhett House Inn. Sponsored by the Pat Conroy Literary Center, NeverMore Books, and the inn. Oakley is the author of the newly released The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise. The $36 registration fee includes a signed copy of the novel, the author's book talk, refreshments, and music by the Alibis. 1009 Craven St., Beaufort, 5 – 7pm. Additional copies of the author's books will be available for sale and signing through NeverMore Books. Learn more and register in advance at: https://colleenoakleyattherhetthouse.eventbrite.com
Fri 4/14, Book Launch for John Warley’s Jury of One, from 4:30 – 7pm at the Pat Conroy Literary Center, 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort. Books available for purchase and signing. The event is free and open to the public. www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
Tues 4/18, Deborah Goodrich Royce (Reef Road) will be the featured guest in the USCB Lunch with Authors series at the Belfair Clubhouse, 200 Belfair Oaks Blvd, Bluffton. The event starts at noon. For more information and tickets, visit www.uscbcenterforthearts.com
tude! If you have no instrument, we have extras. Join us for a wonderful time!
Sun 4/23, Beaufort Human Library, third edition. From 1-4pm in MacLean Hall, building 12 of the Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL), at 104 Reynolds Street in Beaufort. Free and open to the public. Hosted by TCL, the Pat Conroy Literary Center, DAYLO, and other community volunteers. Learn more at www.facebook. com/beauforthumanlibrary or www.instagram. com beauforthumanlibrary.
4/23 – 4/25, Division I Colonial Athletic Association Men’s Golf Championship on Dataw Island, with the College of Charleston Cougars fighting to defend their two-year-running Championship title.
Fri 5/5, Second Annual Art Auction fundraiser, sponsored by the Society of Bluffton Artists and the Bluffton Community Soup Kitchen. The spring fiesta-themed event will take place from 5:30-9:30 pm at the Bostwick Pavilion at Moss Creek. Tickets are $100. To purchase, visit https://bit.ly/sobaartauction
Fri 5/12, Lowcountry Gullah Foundation Annual Fundraiser at the USCB Hilton Head Campus. An intimate evening of Gullah culture, storytelling, dinner, and a silent auction. Nationally known Master Gullah Storyteller, Sista Patt will speak. Contact gullahland@gmail.com or 843715-3506 for more information.
Sat 4/29, Release & Remember, Community Butterfly Release sponsored by Friends of Caroline. Purchase a butterfly for $12 in memory of a lost loved one. Readings, music, and butterfly release over the Beaufort River. Begins at 11 am in Waterfront Park. For more info call 843-525-6257.
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.
First Saturday of Each Month, Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud at Port Royal Farmers Market. DAYLO students and other volunteers will read to young children between 9am and noon. Children are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animal.
Tuesdays, Tours of Hunting Island sponsored by Friends of Hunting Island Keeper Ted and his team. For info call the Nature Center at 843-838-7437. Tours free are and park entry fees apply.
Editors Note: Events listed here may be subject to postponement or cancellation. Please check for further information.
Sat 4/15, Verdi’s ‘Falstaff’ broadcast by the Metropolitan Opera at USCB Center for the Arts, starting at 1 pm. Sung in Italian with English subtitles. $22, $20 for OLLI members. Tickets available at the door or at www.uscbcenterforthearts.com
4/14 – 4/23, ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ at the USCB Center for the Arts. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and military, and $15 for students and may be purchased at www.uscbcenterforthearts or by calling the CFA Box Office at 843-521-4145.
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 843-837-3330 or visit https:// www.facebook.com/
Musiconmalphrus/?ref=bookmarks
4/13 – 4/15, Passion & Purpose Peace Summit, a 3-Day Virtual Event with Dr. Jonas Gadson, DTM. He will inspire, empower and provide resources to help you break away from overworking, overdoing, and underliving. Get your access pass at www.PassionPurposeAndPeaceSummit.com
Fri 4/14, Beaufort Drum Circle in the Gazebo at Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort. 6:308pm. All are welcome. Family friendly. No experience necessary. Bring whatever percussion instrument you have, a chair and a positive atti-
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 5:307:30pm. 843-470-3506. www.beaufortdigital.com
Thursdays, History Tours of Fort Mitchell by the Heritage Library, 10am. $12/Adult $7/Child. 843-686-6560
