Opinion, Arts, Culture, Lifestyle, Cuisine }.
May 8 – May 21, 2024
The Young & The Restless 4
A season of protest
Caroline Cleveland 9 At Conroy Center
First Watch 10
Dishing over brunch
King of Catering 12
Remembering Steve Brown
Lowcountry Backyard 13
John Meckley at SOBA
Dragonboat Race Day 17
It's time to register
Clover Choraliers 7
Return to Beaufort
The image on our cover is a photograph by Joan Eckhardt of the Camera Club of Hilton Head. Their new exhibit "Field Trip" opens at the Coastal Discovery Museum on May 13th.
For more information, see our story on page 5.
May 8 – May 21, 2024
ro w c o unt
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Lowcountry Weekly is published every other Wednesday and distributed throughout Beaufort County at various restaurants, retail locations, hotels and visitor’s centers. The entire contents of Lowcountry Weekly is copyrighted 2024 by P. Podd Press, LLC. No part may be reproduced without permission from the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. A stamped, self-addressed envelope must accompany all submissions expected to be returned.
Our daughter is graduating from Clemson on May 10th. By the time you read this column, the grand event will probably have occurred.
But as I write, I’m thinking about a discussion we had over the phone the other day. As usual, I was out for my morning walk and Amelia was on her way to class.
“Mom, I just saw on Instagram that some people are holding a protest in front of Sykes on Wednesday,” she said. “It’s a sit-in, I think.”
“Really?” I asked casually, trying to sound calm, while visions of a ruined graduation ceremony danced in my head. “Are you and some of your Poli Sci friends planning to participate?”
(Amelia is a Political Science major with a minor in Russian Studies.)
“Oh, no way,” she responded without hesitation. “We study this stuff, so we know how complicated it is. It’s obvious these kids posting memes on social media have no clue
what they’re talking about. It’s totally performative. Makes them feel good but accomplishes nothing.”
My heart swelled with pride. That’s my girl, I thought! Good head on her shoulders. Informed. Sensible. Circumspect. Cynical.
Gulp. My daughter seems to be following in my cautious, skeptical footsteps, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have conflicted feelings about that. After all, there’s something noble and beautiful about standing up for a cause you believe in. At least that’s how it seems from the outside looking in.
As I’ve said here before, I’m not a protest person. I rarely go to marches or demonstrations, and when I do, I tend to feel awkward and self-conscious, like I’m showing off or angling for brownie points.
If the cause is particularly complicated –which they almost always are – I’m even less likely to make the scene. I have a hard time
streamlining my political convictions into a neat little slogan that can fit on a poster, and when it comes to “demonstrating” those convictions, if I can’t go all in, I’m not going. If this trait were a product of wisdom, experience, or even maturity, I might be proud of it. But it’s just my nature. I was like this in college, too.
You would never have seen me living in a tent city, or mounting the barricades in some iconic building, or going off to jail in handcuffs for a cause I couldn’t possibly fathom in all its intricacy. Though I was unaware, back then, that a person’s brain isn’t fully formed until around the age of 25, I knew enough to know I didn’t know very much.
And never in a million years would I have dared to “make demands” of the older, wiser people who ran the university I attended. It simply never would have occurred to me. Looking back, I guess I just had plain, oldfashioned respect for my elders – something that seems to be completely passé today. Do the “elders” even want respect anymore? The way some of them kowtow to these student protestors – who, again, may be beautiful and noble, but do not yet have fully formed prefrontal cortices – I’m honestly not sure.
Different universities have taken different approaches, of course. The first time Columbia University tried to shut down the pro-Palestinian encampment on its campus by calling in the New York Police Department, it backfired. Students who weren’t arrested simply created a new encampment one lawn over, which attracted protesters from all across the city and beyond. When the university tried to negotiate with those protesters – giving them a deadline by which to leave in exchange for partial amnesty – it failed to end the unrest. Instead, a group of students took over Hamilton Hall, and were eventually removed in handcuffs while the world watched.
But then there’s the story of Brown University, where administrators were able to reach an agreement with student protestors without turning to law enforcement. In exchange for packing up their tents, the students were offered a seat at the table at an upcoming meeting of the Corporation of Brown University, to discuss the university’s divestment from companies that support Israel.
All across the country, student protestors are wreaking varying degrees of havoc on Graduation Season 2024 – on a class that already lost its high school graduation to
Covid. And, however you feel about that fact –whether you find them passionate and courageous or merely performative and self-righteous – the fact is that they are not without reason to believe their demands might be met. Recent American history is on their side.
For instance, in 1968 a takeover of Hamilton Hall and other buildings on Columbia’s campus ultimately led the school to disaffiliate from a weapons research institute involved in the Vietnam war, and to end its plans to build a gym in a Harlem park. In 1985, Columbia became the first Ivy League university to divest from South Africa following student protests.
“I think we can see throughout history, especially on Columbia’s campus, when escalations like these have happened, there has been success,” undergraduate protester Cameron Jones told the New York Times last week. “You can look at the fight for divestment from apartheid South Africa, fossil fuel divestment, private prison divestment, escalations do work. So that’s why we as students are doing it.”
Fair enough. I believe in peaceful protest, just like every decent American. (Emphasis on “peaceful,” of course.) And for the record, I also hate war.
Do I believe these student protestors have an over-simplistic understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, past and present? I absolutely do. Which may be the only “absolute” statement I could make on the issue.
The world is a mess, but there are many ways to be part of the solution – ways that don’t create chaos, endanger young futures, or put lives at risk.
My daughter will be going to George Washington University in the fall to earn her Masters Degree in International Relations. At age 22, she has lived in the Czech Republic, studied in the Balkans, represented her college at the Model UN in DC, and learned to speak Russian. She has boundless curiosity and cares deeply about the world. In grad school, she plans to focus on Conflict Resolution. I’m so proud of her.
Now, I just pray her graduation ceremony goes off without a hitch.
Margaret Evans is the editor of Lowcountry Weekly. She has been writing her award winning column, Rants & Raves, for 25 years.
The Coastal Discovery Museum at historic Honey Horn is pleased to present a selection of images from the Camera Club of Hilton Head Island, in the Main Gallery, from May 13 to July 7. Admission is free. The public is invited to attend the opening reception, on May 14, from 5 pm – 7 pm.
The theme is "Field Trip," showcasing images of natural and historic sites throughout the region. A highlight of the exhibit will be photographs by student winners of the Kurtzberg Memorial Awards. Named after Dr. Larry Kurtzberg, a champion of youth photography and the club's founder and first president, these awards recognize exceptional students enrolled in Hilton Head Island High School's visual arts photography courses.
As part of the museum’s ongoing efforts to support local arts groups, the museum is also hosting four gallery talks by the Camera Club, at 2 pm, on May 16, May 29, June 12, and June 22. The talks are free and open to the public.
Founded in 1987, the CCHHI brings together individuals who are passionate about photography. The 100-member club offers activities for all skill levels to develop their photography knowledge and skills. These include field trips, classes and monthly meetings featuring guest speakers. CCHHI also engages in community outreach, exemplified by the Kurtzberg Memorial Awards. For information, visit: https://www.new-cchhi.net/
The Museum is a Smithsonian Affiliate, and educational and cultural organization whose mission is to provide experiences that inspire people to care for the Lowcountry. Founded in 1985, and located on Hilton Head’s historic Honey Horn grounds, the Museum offers exhibitions, programs, lectures, hands-on workshops and events, covering Lowcountry history, culture, art and the environment. Visit www.coastaldiscovery.org
The Pat Conroy Literary Center's monthly Open Mic Night will be held at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) on Thursday, May 9, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
This month’s featured writer is poet Elizabeth Leverton, author Peace, Rhododendron. Open Mic will also feature short readings of 3 to 5 minutes each by other writers in many genres. This event is free and open to the public. A book signing will follow the readings.
Interested in reading from your own original writings as part of Open Mic? Email the Conroy Center in advance at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org.
Elizabeth Leverton earned a B.A. in English literature and a master's degree in English with a concentration in writing and editing at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She began writing poetry thirty years ago. A recent graduate of the Commercial Graphics program at Midlands Technical College, Elizabeth is a graphic designer/typesetter who also enjoys songwriting and playing guitar, singing karaoke, dancing, swimming, tennis, sewing functional art, and acrylic painting. She lives in Columbia, South Carolina, with her
Labrador Retriever, Molly, and partSiamese sister cats, Silo and Weaver. Peace, Rhododendron is her first book.
To learn more about the Conroy Center please visit www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
The Beaufort Council of Garden Clubs will hold a National Garden Clubs (NGC) standard flower show on Saturday, May 18 at the Port Royal Baptist Church, 707 Pinckney Boulevard, Port Royal, from 9 am to 5 pm. The event is free and open to the public.
The horticulture exhibit will include trees, shrubs, flowers and container plants. The show will also include a variety of beautiful floral designs, educational exhibits and photography.
“We are very pleased to offer our fourth NGC flower show in the Lowcountry,” stated Victoria L. Bergesen, Show Chairman and NGC Master Flower Show judge. “The primary purpose of the show is educational but we also expect to impress our visitors with the quality of the exhibits and the variety of activities that we are featuring at the show.”
The Beaufort Council of Garden Clubs includes seven local garden clubs: The Beaufort Garden Club, Camellia Garden Club, Dataw Garden Club, Lady's Island Garden Club, Palmetto Garden Club, Royal Pines Garden Club and Sea Islands Garden Club. The Lowcountry Master Gardeners Association will also participate.
Garden Clubs, Inc, South Atlantic Region; the Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc. and the The Council is a member of National Garden
Clubs, Inc, South Atlantic Region; the Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc. and the West Low Country District.
The Council is a member of National
Interested parties are encouraged to submit entries either through their garden clubs or by reaching out to: victoria bergesen@gmail.com
Studio #13
Atelier Off Bay 14 art galleries and studios open to the public
Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment (843) 379-0186
203 West Street, Historic Beaufort
The Clover Choraliers have built a passionate following here in Beaufort, having made this a stop on their spring tour over the past few years. I wrote a paean to this exceptional, award-winning high school choir from the upstate before their performance last year, and I can’t tell you how many people emailed later to say thanks.
One reader wrote, “I don’t even listen to choral music, but your rave was so over-the-top, I just had to check this group out. I am now a fan for life.”
Fans for life and the uninitiated alike have a chance to see what all the hype’s about on Friday, May 17, when the Clover Choraliers –all 120 of them – perform a concert at First Presbyterian Church.
Here’s how good this choir is universally acknowledged to be: Its founder and director, Jay Forrest, was just presented with the Order of the Palmetto by State Superintendent Ellen Weaver – on behalf of Gov. Henry McMaster – for his 30 years of distinguished excellence in music education.
Beaufort’s Vic Varner, retired choral director and an old friend and colleague of Forrest’s, has called him “a real-life Pied Piper,” saying, “He leads, and kids follow.”
“I don’t know about that,” Forrest told me last year. “But I will say that I probably spend more time thinking about how to motivate these kids than I spend preparing music. And it’s all about student leadership. We’re very passionate about the hierarchy here, with the seniors at the top. The upperclassmen teach and lead the underclassmen. One of the dads once told me that we have a ‘corporate culture.’ I didn’t know what that meant, but apparently it means that if anybody loafs –
doesn’t give 100% – then nobody buys the product.”
This particular product is outstanding. In last year’s “over-the-top” rave, I wrote:
“The Choraliers need to be seen and heard. They’re a bit of a spectacle, in fact. Subtly costumed and choreographed, they’re somehow both precise and free flowing. Their bodies move with their music. Their faces shine with emotion. Every bit of every Choralier – mind, body, and soul – seems connected with every note they sing. And as a result, we audience members connect, too. With the music, with them, and with each other. ‘Sublime’ is not too strong a word for the experience.”
Last year, the Choraliers came to Beaufort just before traveling to the Bahamas, where they’d been invited to perform at Christ Church as part of the celebration commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Bahamian independence.
“It was an incredible experience for our students,” Forrest told me recently. “They were well received by a large audience, collaborated musically with a local choir from Nassau, and met singers who performed as children at the original independence ceremony 50 years ago.”
Every year, along with several choral concerts, the Choraliers perform a full-scale staged musical. They’ve just wrapped this year’s production of ‘Something Rotten,’ the hilarious smash hit that tells the story of two brothers in 1959 who set out the write the world’s very first musical. They performed the show for three sold-out audiences.
The Beaufort audience will probably hear a few of those songs, along with a wide variety of contemporary choral compositions and spirituals.
“We will also perform excerpts from Vivaldi’s Gloria and Crucifixus by Antonio Lotti,” said Forrest. “The concert will conclude with some lighter selections.”
The Clover Choraliers have grown almost as fond of coming to Beaufort as Beaufort is of having them here. According to Jay Forrest, “The Beaufort performance has been one of the highlights of our school year in the past. In addition to the beautiful waterfront setting and lovely architecture of First Presbyterian Church, the community has so warmly embraced our teenage singers in the Choraliers. We have a tradition after concert we refer to as ‘meet and greet’ where the students leave the risers and engage with our audience. This time of sharing has made an impact on these students in teaching them the value of manners and the opportunity to be ambassadors for young people. The concert in Beaufort will be bittersweet for many as it is the final performance of the year.”
The Clover Choraliers will perform a concert of eclectic choral music on Friday, May 17 at 6 pm, at First Presbyterian Church, 410 Church Street in downtown Beaufort. Admission is FREE but seating is limited. The public is encouraged to arrive early. Last year’s concert was standing room only.
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center is honored to announce that Beaufort High School senior Kierra Thompson has been selected as the second annual recipient of the Center’s Future Educator Scholarship, a $5,000 award.
Thompson will begin her studies toward her music education degree at the University of North Carolina Greensboro this fall. A member of the Beaufort Symphony Orchestra and the Beaufort Youth Orchestra, Thompson is also a member, at Beaufort High School, of the Sea Island South Marching Band, National Honor Society, and DAYLO: Diversity Awareness Youth Organization. She has performed in both the South Carolina Music Educators Association’s Regional and All-State Orchestras as well as in the University of South Carolina Honor Band Clinic, the UNC Greensboro Southeast Honors String Festival, and the UNC Greensboro Summer Music Camp. Thompson has previously been honored with the Arion Music Award, the College Board’s National African American Recognition
Award, and Academic Letters for Instrumental Music and School Performance. She has also garnered invitations to the Brevard Summer Music Camp, the Berklee Summer Music Camp, and the National Honors Youth Orchestra Clinic at Carnegie Hall.
A third-generation educator, after completing her bachelor’s degree, Thompson plans teaching music at the high school or middle school level while continuing to perform. A master’s degree in music education may be in her future aspirations as well.
“Kierra is an exceptional and charismatic student, already actively engaged in teaching and inspiring other students and instructors,” said Jonathan Haupt, the Conroy Center’s executive director. “In her scholarship interview, she took command of the room as we are certain she will take charge of her future classrooms, and she instructed and fascinated us with every single facet of her passions for music, education, and creativity which she shared with us. Kierra is exactly the kind of exemplary student and empowering educator this
scholarship was created to support. It’s an absolute honor to help her on her journey into higher education.”
A group of experienced educators and mentors served as the Conroy Center’s scholarship selection committee. They were unanimous and enthusiastic in Thompson’s selection as the 2024 scholarship awardee. "Kierra is the embodiment of everything the Conroy
Paid Advertorial by The Christian Science Society of Beaufort
There’s something marvelous about watching a parched plant revived with water. Once, when I briefly neglected the one on my kitchen windowsill, I found it limp and drooping. But just a few hours after watering it, I noticed how completely it had recovered, its stems reaching skyward, as though offering praise for the gift of life.
Yet plants, like all of us, “thirst again” – as Jesus once told a woman drawing water from Jacob’s well (John 4:7-30 Who knows how many times she’d visited that well, seeking liquid life. How many times have all of us thirsted to renew our lives, marking the start to a new calendar year with a reinvigorated dedication to eating better, working out, detoxing, and decompressing?
Though it’s natural to take care of ourselves, what’s ours to embrace – just as it was for the woman at the well – is a renewal far better. Jesus called this gift “living water” and added, “Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (verse 14, New King James Version).
Jesus went on to describe this living water as the understanding that God is Spirit, shifting our perception of the basis of existence from mortality – a well that runs dry –to a revivifying and lasting sense of Life in and of Spirit.
While the woman at the well was quick to tell Jesus that she wanted this living water he spoke of, her renewal didn’t come simply from asking. She also had to face – and then
let go of – the very thing she’d resisted having brought to light: an immoral lifestyle. A life deeply rooted in a sense of God as Spirit requires us to divest ourselves of ways of thinking and acting that don’t align with that understanding.
Center represents,” praised one of the scholarship committee members, Celeste PrinceBrown, a Beaufort County School District teacher-mentor who was also a Beaufort High School student of Pat Conroy’s.
Established to encourage and support Beaufort County high school seniors with a declared intent to pursue a career in education, the Pat Conroy Literary Center Future Educator Scholarship honors the teaching legacy of the late Pat Conroy (1945 – 2016), acclaimed bestselling author of The Water Is Wide, The Great Santini, The Lords of Discipline, The Prince of Tides, and more. The scholarship is primarily funded through the generosity of former educators. The scholarship’s inaugural recipient, Darby Kinsey, a graduate of Battery Creek High School and the Technical College of the Lowcountry, is completing her education degree at Charleston Southern University.
To learn more about the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, please visit www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
Cultivating not only a heart that yearns to understand God as Spirit but also a willingness to identify and let go of materialistic ways of thinking is central to the practice of Christian Science, according to its founder, Mary Baker Eddy. Her primary text on this Science of Spirit, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” explains, “Without a fitness for holiness, we cannot receive holiness.
“A great sacrifice of material things must precede this advanced spiritual understanding” (pp. 15-16).
Understanding that God is Spirit goes beyond a surface-level acceptance of God as nonphysical. Christian Science unlocks the deeper implications of this simple statement, showing that Spirit’s creation must be like Spirit: not material, but spiritual. And it must reflect all the qualities of Spirit, including purity, harmony, perfection, and immortality –not someday, but here and now.
The woman at the well told Jesus she knew that with the coming of Christ, all this and more would be revealed. But for Jesus, God’s kingdom – the supremacy and allness of Spirit – was already present. Regarding Christ, the Messiah, he told her, “I that speak unto thee am he.” Jesus so completely embodied Christ, which is the truth of each individual’s
being, that in his presence the woman’s view of existence must have been purified and transformed. Surely many of her old ways of thinking about herself fell away for an infinitely more satisfying sense of life. And this was the “living water” she carried away with her, which would sustain her far longer than the water she had drawn –and enable her to make moral changes.
Today, this same Christ comes to each of us to reveal more of our life in Spirit. For me, this has often come as the lifting of a feeling of heaviness – a dawning certainty that the problems and burdens of mortal existence don’t have the authority or power they claim to have. In fact, since the living Spirit is our real substance, these challenges are, ultimately, insubstantial – powerless.
Grasping this fact involves relinquishing a view of problems as scary or intractable. That might feel like a big job, especially when what we see hourly reinforces this viewpoint. But Christ reaches even these unyielding places in our thoughts and dissolves them. The result is a more inspired thought, a more unselfish life, and even healing – all the hallmarks of a life rooted in Spirit.
Witnessing 2023 change to 2024 may leave us feeling at least temporarily renewed and hopeful. But the true gift of newness is forever present: the recognition of our here-and-now life in God –safe, sustained, and satisfied.
By Jenny SawyerThe nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an afternoon with debut novelist Caroline Cleveland, author of the lowcountry mystery When Cicadas Cry, on Saturday, May 11, at 2:00 p.m., at Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort). Cleveland will be joined in conversation by the Center’s executive director Jonathan Haupt, who has also reviewed the novel for the Charleston Post and Courier.
This event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing through NeverMore Books. Please call to reserve your seat in advance: 843-379-7025.
About When Cicadas Cry (from the publisher): In this stunning debut by a South Carolina attorney, Zach Stander, a lawyer with a past, and Addie Stone, his indomitable detective and lover, find themselves entangled in secrets, lies, and murder in a small Southern town.
A high-profile murder case — A white woman has been bludgeoned to death with an altar cross in a rural church on Cicada Road in Walterboro, South Carolina. Sam Jenkins, a Black man, is found covered in blood, kneeling over the body. In a state already roiling with racial tension, this is not only a murder case, but a powder keg.
A haunting cold case—Two young women are murdered on quiet Edisto Beach, an hour southeast of Walterboro, and the killer disappears without a trace. Thirty-four years later the mystery remains unsolved. Could there be a connection to Stander's case?
A killer who's watching—Stander takes on Jenkins's defense, but he's up against a formidable solicitor with powerful allies. Worse, his client is hiding a bombshell secret. When Addie Stone reopens the cold case, she discovers more long-buried secrets in this small town. Would someone kill again to keep them?
“John Grisham meets Harper Lee in this immersive and thought-provoking Southern
legal thriller.” — Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of One Wrong Word
“A twisty narrative of secrets and lies, I flew through When Cicadas Cry in a day . . . Equal parts courtroom thriller and gripping mystery.” — John McMahon, author of The Good Detective
About the Author: Caroline Cleveland is a labor and employment lawyer based in Charleston. A native South Carolinian, Caroline grew up in the lowcountry and earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1991. When Cicadas Cry is her first novel.
About the Interviewer: Jonathan Haupt is the executive director of the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, the past director of the University of South Carolina Press, and co-editor of the anthology Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy , winner of 17 book awards.
To learn more about the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, please visit www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
If you’ve been following The Lowcountry Dish since we started covering Beaufort’s local food scene (can you believe it’ll be three years this summer?), then you know that we rarely cover chains. It’s not so much that we don’t like chains or frequent chains from time to time. It’s more that we are just lucky to have so many great restaurants, chefs, foodie stores, farmers markets and farmers that are owned and operated by wonderful people in our own community, that we rarely need to look further.
But sometimes, a chain comes along that makes us take notice. And, for us, First Watch fills that bill. We stumbled on our first, well, First Watch. in Marietta, Georgia, when we were with Cele’s mother visiting family. Looking for a place to have an early lunch before her mother flew back to South Florida, her mother suggested First Watch, in that she frequented it in her home city of Delray Beach and that they had a delicious kale salad. And who doesn’t like kale salad? Kale, yeah!
Once there, one of us—not naming names—was all set to order the kale salad, with house made maple-roasted carrots, warm sliced chicken breast, dried cranberries, slivered almonds and shredded Parmesan with a maple-lemon vinaigrette when they spotted a “BELT” on the menu. Now if you don’t know what a BELT is, it’s basically a BLT with a fried egg. Hence the BELT. However, it’s listed on the menu at First Watch as BLTE, which we suppose is the proper acronym. But BELT is so much more fun to say. Anyway, we digress. One of us ordered the BELT and, frankly, she (oops) hasn’t stopped talking about it with anyone that will listen (and even if they don’t). There’s something about the perfect combination of crisp/chewy bacon that is sweet, salty and spicy (more on that later), Monterey Jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, just the right amount of mayo and two fried eggs on First Watch’s luscious artisan whole grain bread. Our one caveat about this sandwich is that First Watch serves the eggs over hard, but if you like your eggs runny, by all means order them over easy, along with an order of extra napkins.
Which brings us to an interesting observation about one of Beaufort’s newest restaurants. First Watch is seriously committed to operational excellence. So much so, that they have created a “You First” culture that puts its employees first and empowers them to do whatever they need to do to make the customer happy. So, asking for over easy eggs instead of over hard on your sandwich is never a problem. Nor is holding the mushrooms on their Morning Market Veg Omelet or substituting kale for the spinach in
the Power Wrap. Thanks to this empowerment and more, First Watch was named a Top 100 Most-Loved Workplace® in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute in both 2022 and 2023. Let us fill you in a bit about this fascinating chain before we get into the nitty-gritty. A ‘first watch’ is a nautical term that refers to the first shift of the day. Which is the perfect name for the chain, in that they specialize in breakfast, brunch and lunch menu items, and only serve from 7am to 2:30pm. First Watch was originally founded in 1983 in Pacific Grove, California and moved their headquarters to Bradenton, Florida in 1986. Today, they operate more than 520 restaurants in 29 states and employ more than 15,000 (happy) team members nationwide.
Although First Watch may be new to many folks, they’ve had a location on Fording Island Road in Bluffton since 2018, plus three locations in the greater Charleston area as well, before opening in Beaufort in the former Ruby Tuesday at Cross Creek Shopping Mall at the corner of Parris Island Gateway and Robert Smalls Parkway this past spring.
Featuring a chef-driven menu that is all made fresh to-order in a kitchen without microwaves, heat lamps or deep fryers, First Watch also maintains a commitment to ingredients that follow the sun both in flavor and seasonality. According to one of the founders, they didn’t really start out as a healthy restaurant—some of their mainstays are bacon and biscuits, bless their heart. But they were committed to finding the freshest cage-free eggs, the best bacon, and seasonal produce whenever possible. And, with that, healthier food naturally followed.
In addition to their elevated executions of classic breakfast and brunch favorites — served in the dining room, at a small bar and outdoor seating, our First Watch also offers a rotating seasonal menu that changes five times a year. And all at price points that won’t hurt the wallet.
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get down to the tasty details. The menu starts with creative juices filled with fruits and vegetables that are as healthy to drink as they are beautiful to look at, like a Kale Tonic, Morning Meditation and Purple Haze. You can even boost your juice with a wellness shot of antioxidant-rich vitamins. They also have a small menu of brunch cocktails, including mimosas, Bloody Marys, sangria and spiked lemonade.
First Watch serves lots of coffee (and creative iced coffee drinks), as expected, and they have created Project Sunrise, a partnership with small independent farmers
in the Huila (“Weeluh”) region of Columbia that helps to support their sustainable coffee bean businesses and improve the conditions of the families tending the farms, while making a rich and complex cup of Joe for First Watch customers. Gotta’ love coffee with a higher purpose.
toast (the Floridian French toast smothered with bananas, kiwi and seasonal berries is a winner).
But First Watch really egg-cells on the healthier side of breakfast, with avocado toast; healthy egg white turkey or tri-athlete omelets, an A.M. Superfoods Bowl (coconut
Naturally, they offer the standard two eggs with breakfast meat and potatoes plate, but First Watch hangs their hat on creative ‘egg-sclusive’ dishes, like the Chickichanga (whipped eggs with spicy chicken breast, chorizo, green chilies, cheddar and Monterey jack, onions and avocado wrapped in a flour tortilla); an elevated egg sandwich (bacon, an over-easy egg, Gruyére cheese, smashed avocado, mayo and lemon-dressed arugula on a brioche bun); biscuits and turkey sausage gravy with eggs; and varied creative hashes topped with eggs. They’ve also got a half-dozen takes on inspiring omelets, along with unique frittatas and benedicts (did someone say BLT Benedict?).
Griddle options are equally interesting, from multigrain and lemon ricotta pancakes to Belgian waffles and custard-dipped French
milk chia seed pudding with fresh bananas and berries, mixed berry compote and house made granola with almonds, served with whole grain artisan toast with almond butter and Maldon sea salt—yum!); sunrise granola bowl; Power Breakfast Quinoa Bowl, which features quinoa, Italian sausage, house-roasted cremini mushrooms and tomatoes (First Watch goes the extra mile and roasts all their vegetables to bring out their natural sweetness), kale, parmesan and lemon white balsamic dressing, topped with two eggs; Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl and more.
If your brunching leans more to the lunch side of things, you won’t be disappointed. From the Superfood Kale salad (Cele’s mother’s favorite) or chicken avocado chop salad to oversized sandwiches, like the aforementioned BLTE, Monterey club, turkey or veggie burger, market veggie sandwich, and heartier fare like roast beef and havarti or ham and Gruyére, as well as soups, there is a taste for everyone. Or go for the ‘2 for You’ combos and get a little of both.
And, let’s not forget their seasonal menu, like shrimp and grits (they are talking our language with sautéed Cajun shrimp and andouille sausage cooked Lowcountry-style with chicken stock, house-roasted tomatoes, onions, bell peppers and scallions atop Bob’s Red Mill cheddar parmesan cheese grits); Hacienda hash with chorizo, red bell pepper and potatoes; Hawaiian French toast (thick-cut, custard-dipped challah bread griddled and topped with caramelized pineapple, coconut whipped cream, caramel toffee sauce and spiced gingerbread cookie crumbles—oh my!); and holey donuts.
Two sides worth mentioning are their Million Dollar Bacon (think back to the BLTE), covered in a brown sugar, black pepper, cayenne pepper, maple syrup glaze and baked to perfection, as well as their seasoned potatoes that are par boiled and then pan fried to crispy perfection, with a generous coating of their not-so-secret First Watch seasoning.
Fortunately, once you are hooked on these dishes, you can make them at home, with the help of their First Watch: Yeah, It’s Fresh cookbook, which is available to purchase online or in-store. We’re betting that the Million Dollar Bacon is going to become a mainstay in the Seldon household for breakfast, on top of our deviled eggs, in
our Bloody Marys—you get the idea. And that secret First Watch seasoning isn’t much of a secret anymore, since it’s in the cookbook. You can also purchase their Project Sunrise coffee and house made granola at any First Watch location.
According to First Watch local manager, Cindy Terodemos, the Beaufort location has been a huge success since they opened, with working professionals at lunch and families and a robust after-church crowd on the weekend. “We see ourselves as a community gathering place for so many, across generations.”
Beaufortonians are gobbling up the 2 for You combos, waffles and the shrimp and grits (no surprise) from their limited-time seasonal menu, according to Cindy. For her money, however, she’s devoted to their Banana Granola Almond Crunch Pancake and Sweet Honey Pecan salad.
We’ve not been shy about stopping at First Watch on our travels and we are thrilled that they have come to Beaufort. We can hear the BELT calling our name.
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.
and content at
If you’ve lived in Beaufort for more than ten years, you probably crossed paths with Steve Brown at one time or another. Owner of Steve Brown Catering, Steve’s over-the-top portions of food were featured at many a wedding, festival, and party. His fleet of catering vans were spotted all over town every day. Steve’s cookies were famous! More than a creator of delicious cuisine, Steve was a humanitarian. Always willing to give, happy to donate and unabashedly considerate of his fellow Beaufortonians, Steve easily won a reputation for his big heart as well as his big portions. When I opened my catering business in 1997, Steve was one of my most supportive cheerleaders. I still have a stack of letters that he wrote to me over the years, offering the use of his vans, his equipment, – “anything I have, it’s yours.” Every letter was signed with a smiley face. During Covid, Steve and his daughter Kelsey created videos of Steve demonstrating the recipes for some of his famous catering specialties. This week, in celebration of Steve’s life, I’m paying it forward. These three recipes were Steve’s – copied straight from the recipes that he shared. Steven Ned Brown passed away on April 23rd. A beloved fixture in the community for many years, Stevie B. from Beaufort, SC will be missed by his family, his friends, his church, and the whole of Beaufort County.
BROWN’S LOWCOUNTRY BLUE CRAB CAKES
2 sprigs of spring onion tips
Fresh parsley
Steve’s crab cakes were a staple at the weddings he catered. A member of his staff would fry mini versions in a black cast iron skillet over an open flame. Guests waited in line patiently for a taste of these sumptuous delicacies.
8 ounces lump crab
8 ounces backfin or claw crab
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
Little dry mustard
Dash of hot sauce
Little Old Bay seasoning
Little sea salt
Little black pepper
Fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
1½ cups panko breadcrumbs
2/3 stick of melted butter
When oil/butter is hot, cook the crab patties for 5 minutes on each side. Add butter to the skillet as needed for the remainder of the crab patties. Makes 10.
STEVE BROWN’S SPAGHETTI SALAD
By DebbiDiced sweet peppers, optional In a large bowl, mix box crab meats together. Add mayonnaise and seasonings. Sprinkle with baking powder and stir. Whisk egg in a separate bowl and add. Mix in breadcrumbs. Add melted butter. Add spring onion tips and parsley. Add peppers, if desired. Form crab patties. Put patties in refrigerator for one hour, until butter sets up.
Heat a dry cast iron skillet. When hot, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2/3 stick butter.
I’m sharing Steve’s Spaghetti Salad recipe verbatim. This is exactly how he typed it on a sheet of recipes that he sent to me. My additions include mushrooms, petite diced tomatoes, and red onions. I also used pepperoni minis instead of quartering the pepperoni slices. Add whatever you like. Make it your own. Just be sure to let it rest overnight in the fridge so that the pasta absorbs all of the flavors – and Steve said to serve it cold.
Cooked spaghetti laced with olive oil
Your own or favorite Italian dressing Just enough sugar to smooth out taste Small-diced peppers and sweet onion Pepperoni slices, quartered Ham, sliced small like pepperoni Sliced black olives, not too many Fresh parsley
Plenty of McCormick Salad Supreme (now made by other spice companies)
Here is where you can do anything you want. Add your favorites. Cool overnight for better flavor. Serves 10 to 12.
My favorite Steve Brown cookie. Steve’s cookies were gigantic -- just like his personality! (For a detailed baking demonstration, please visit the Lowcountry Weekly website or @chefdebbicovington on YouTube or Instagram to watch this short video.)
2 sticks of soft butter (for
best flavor, brown the butter and cool ‘till bake time!)
¾ cup sugar
¾ cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons good vanilla
2 eggs
2½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 (12-ounce) package white chocolate chips (or hand cut white chocolate bars)
2 cups macadamia nuts (leave 1/3 of the nuts whole. Put the reminder into a ziplock baggie and crush. Adds more flavor.)
Mix the first 5 ingredients together in a bowl.
In a separate bowl, mix the next 5 ingredients. Mix both bowls’ ingredients together by hand. Add chips and nuts. Chill dough 30 minutes. Form cookies. Bake cookies at 350 degrees for 14-15 minutes. Makes 3½ dozen.
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
John Meckley’s May art exhibit at The Society of Bluffton Artists’ gallery in Old Town Bluffton will reflect the South Carolina Lowcountry’s beautiful marshes and majestic egrets.
“Lowcountry Backyard” art exhibit will show from May 6-June 2 with an opening reception from 5-7 pm on May 10 at the SOBA gallery.
“What inspires my brushstrokes to a canvas here in the Lowcountry are the images of soft, warm breezes floating on top of the many coloring changing marsh grasses,” Meckley said. “Also inspiring is how the white Egrets seem to glide effortlessly in slow motion across the backdrop of the majestic skies, making the long journey back to their tree top nests.”
Meckley traces his artistic roots back to the age of 13. His inherent love for art blossomed through self-taught techniques, drawing inspiration from the timeless masterpieces of Rembrandt and the esteemed Wyeth family artists. Meckley's unique style intertwines elements of these
revered artists with his own signature of soft, smooth, and warm brush strokes, complemented by a carefully curated palette of warm, earthy tones. His subjects emanate a profound sense of serenity and tranquility, inviting viewers into a world of contemplation and peace.
Meckley's artistic journey took a significant turn at the age of 17 when he clinched his first Juried art show award in Pennsylvania. Since then, his talent has garnered widespread acclaim, earning him numerous accolades in juried exhibitions across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Florida, and South Carolina. Notably, his exceptional craftsmanship has been recognized on an international scale, with one of his masterpieces proudly adorning the walls of the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C.
However, it was a pivotal moment two years ago that marked a profound shift in Meckley's artistic focus. Relocating to the picturesque surroundings of Bluffton, South Carolina, he found himself enraptured by the breathtaking beauty of the landscape. A transformative experience unfolded as he drove across a bridge, with the gentle patter of rain and the radiant glow of the sun casting a surreal ambiance. A vibrant rainbow arched across the sky, while a mesmerizing flock of Egrets danced gracefully across the marshes. In that transcendent moment, Meckley felt an undeniable connection to nature, interpreting it as a divine sign guiding his artistic path.
If you’ve been reading this column for a while, you’re no doubt aware that I’m a fan of country music. That’s probably thanks to my dad, who watched Grand Ole Opry on WSM TV, broadcast from Nashville, Tennessee, every Saturday night of my West Kentucky childhood. Begun in 1925, that show was one of the few occurrences that could lure my father home from country doctoring. Adept at seven or more musical instruments and blessed with a natural, clear tenor voice, he appreciated the talent of those master country musicians and singers.
In the duke ‘em out between old country and new, some of both move me up. What I like about this genre are the songs that speak from the heart. And a lot do. In my book these are a salve for the soul in troubled times, which pretty well pegs this particular election year. (Sorry to bring that up. It just slipped out.) My current fave is a tune called “Mamaw’s House,” sung by Thomas Rhett and featuring Morgan Wallen. My first hearing of this song made me smile and add a fist pump. Here’s why.
The first reason is purely personal. I never knew any of my grandparents and always envied friends who’d spend a couple weeks every summer with “Gamma and Pap” or gather around a Thanksgiving table where every morsel was homemade in “Mamaw’s” kitchen.
The main reason, however, is that I agree with the song’s theme, which conjectures that
if more folks had a good grandma to plant memories of pure, unconditional love, this world would be a better place. And I’ll add that wise woman could be related by blood, pseudo, or stand-in. Love that comes complete with grandkids doing their share of work around Mamaw’s house, accepting responsibility when they mess up, being treated consistently like cared-for humans, and spending time with a down-to-earth example of an honest, hardworking, fun-loving elder. Or in case there’s a grandpa, elders.
How could that not change at least a few folks’ viewpoints, lifestyles, and ways they interact with others for the better? Couldn’t that crank out a few people who grasp the concept of kindness? How many grandmas whose motto is “Spare the rod; spoil the child” have raised someone else’s grandchildren to become star athletes, widely heralded musicians, movie stars, or otherwise responsible citizens who give back to their communities? Those stories always warm my heart. The small-format monthly periodical, Guideposts, is the only magazine that appears in my mailbox on a regular basis that I read from cover-to-cover. Cofounded by Norman Vincent Peale, author of The Power of Positive Thinking, and his wife, Ruth Stafford Peale, in 1945, this nondenominational treasure became the most popular inspirational magazine ever and frequently features stories of grandmothers’ influences on their families.
Granted, not everyone can have a Mamaw like Rhett and Wallen have captured in song, one that used words like “tarnation” and “I reckon,” baked biscuits, fried chicken, smelled like Marlboro Reds, and had a faded blue ‘82 Lincoln, a backyard garden, porch swing, screen door, and nightstands with a Bible, and in whose house “cussin’ and complainin’” were verboten. The song paints quite a visual. Rhett, Wallen, and their fellow writers take their listeners right on back in time to a seemingly kinder era.
But it’s the last two lines of the chorus that grab me: “ . . . maybe this crazy world would straighten up and slow on down if every town had a Mamaw’s house.” That’s because I agree with their concept. The Pollyanna in me wonders why it often seems to be hard for folks these days to step back and just be nice to their fellow man, woman, or child. Seems to me it has to do with taking personal responsibility for one’s own actions. Like the school official a few years back who confronted a would-be shooter that came into her office before entering any classrooms and talked him down into surrendering his weapon to her by using kindness toward him.
I like to think that wasn’t an isolated incident. But these days, especially in this election year, it’s sometimes hard to tell. It’s as if a segment of American society has been given permission to misbehave, i.e. to get loud and proud in inappropriate places and at inappropriate times, to use force when a
by Katherine Tandy Brown WHOLLY HOLISTICS
simple request might get the job done, or to adapt a “my way or the highway” frame of mind and refuse to even listen to or allow individual thought and/or action other than their own.
Mamaw would be appalled.
Here’s the thing. Not many people have actually been raised by wolves, so that excuse is out. Excluding those with mental and/or emotional challenges no matter the source, an individual’s behavior in most situations is a choice. Following the crowd can be easy. Following one’s own path, staying true to one’s individual instincts and ideals, not so much. But the freedom to make that choice is one principle our nation and its democracy were founded upon. I don’t understand the concept of embracing our country’s flag while ignoring the truths it has stood for since America was born.
In a recent interview on National Public Radio’s “To the Best of Our Knowledge,” musical artist and actor Lonnie Rashid Lynn –better known by his stage name, Common –offered a few thoughts that I believe might help folks to deal with and overcome the vein of sadness that exists in many of us, thus providing a firmer foundation for creating a country, perhaps even a world, that can support thinking and actions that are based more on embracing diversity, individual freedoms, and good ol’ down-to-earth altruism.
As you read the following, keep in mind that Common has won three Grammys, one Academy Award, one prime time Emmy, and a Golden Globe. The man is a creative genius.
• “You have to have a dream . . . something to look forward to.”
• “Hope is having faith, even during hard times.”
• “Have a spiritual base you believe in.”
• “You have to express (your concept of) God in your life. Operate on that God level and on love. When we operate on a God level, we can’t be taken down.”
These touchstones seem to work well for this admirable man. Mamaw’s life “rules” beautifully stated. Food for thought for us all.
You all know the rest of that childhood jingle.
I am prompted to write about this rather delicate subject because I have just set out my green bean plants for this year. I like all beans, but green beans are my favorite. They have never caused any internal distress, however, and I wondered why that is . . . because they are beans, after all. So I decided to ask Messrs. Google and Yahoo why this is. Here’s what I found:
But this doesn’t answer the question of why you can safely eat green beans. And in an Aha! Moment, I realized that we eat green beans for their pods and not for the immature little beans inside. Mystery solved.
But I really wanted to tell you about the type of beans that I planted this year.
There are two basic types of beans: pole or climbing beans, and Bush beans. The pole beans need a support, such as a trellis, but the Bush bean stays a small plant about two feet tall. Pole beans will take up less space in your garden, but still produce the same crop as Bush beans.
Beans contain a complex carbohydrate, which humans cannot digest. The beans make their way, undigested, through the stomach and into the intestines, where the bacteria in the intestines causes the beans to ferment producing, you guessed it, gas. There are only two ways that our body can rid itself of intestinal gas; burping and, well, you know.
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Haricot vert (French for beans green) is a bush type – very slender, usually stringless –which mustn’t be overcooked if you want it to maintain its color and flavor. Very different from the common Blue Lake variety we usually encounter in the supermarket. You can sometimes find them, though, packaged in small plastic bags.
I bought two cultivars of this variety online from Baker’s Rare Seeds.
I decided to try an unusual variety called Thai Yard Long beans. They are said to produce a bountiful crop of real yard long beans. I can’t imagine that these will be tender, but we’ll see.
This year is my first foray into vegetable gardening, albeit in containers. I usually leave vegetable gardening to local farmers who come to the Port Royal Farmers Markets.
I encourage all of you who don’t want the work of planting and maintaining a vegetable garden to pick up a plant or two at your local nursery and plunk it into a container on your patio or balcony. If you’re of a mind, it’s not too late to start some seeds. Salad greens are beautiful in a container and quick to mature. Radishes, too.
You who have planted tomatoes – Don’t think you’re finished when the summer’s harvest is over. Cut those plants back to about 12 inches in August, fertilize well and stand back for a second crop in the fall. Their well-established root system should give you fruit until the first hard freeze.
By Sandra Educate
I am a master gardener, but a rank amateur when it comes to vegetable gardening. I’ll keep you posted throughout the season. My tomatoes have already been in for a few weeks in waist high planting beds.
I started the seeds indoors in February in some dandy new containers that have lights built into the domes covering the 12 planting cells. Ain’t technology grand!
You can buy a set of six of these for under $20 in several places online. I put mine on heat mats and the results were wonderful.
Sandra Educate is active in the local Master Gardeners Association and the Beaufort Garden Club, and she produces the annual Lunch and Learn series at the Port Royal Farmers Market. She loves strange and unusual plants and hates weeds. Sandra won’t give away her age, but takes her inspiration from Thomas Jefferson, who said, "though an old man, I am but a young gardener."
ITALY: Tuscany townhouse for rent by the week in historic UNESCO village. Sleeps 4, large furnished garden, easy walk to shops and excellent restaurants. www.cozyholidayrentals. com or 401-862-2377.
FURNISHED LUXURY APT 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.
ADVERTISING SALES Local business seeks sales person for outside sales within the local market. Generous commission, your time is your own, and no micro-managing. Perfect for part-time or semi-retired. Please call 843-986-9059.
FREE HYPNOSIS/HYPNOTHERAPY INFORMATION session and guided group meditation workshop. This free session will focus on stress reduction and relaxation. Open to the public, every 3rd Monday of the Month, at 7 pm Eastern via Zoom. Bring a friend, 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 Stitch Happens, Mondays @ 1:30, Bluffton; Basic Computer Skills Class 1st & 3rd Fridays @ 11:30am, Lobeco; Dungeon & Dragons Teen Club Mondays @ 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.lowcountryshaggers.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
SECOND HELPINGS is seeking volunteers to crew our trucks in Bluffton and Beaufort to distribute food to local charities. Offering a flexible schedule at your convenience. Email officeadmin@secondhelpingslc.org
BEMER CIRCULATION THERAPY 10-11a Fridays via Zoom. Already own a BEMER? Never heard of it but curious? Join to ask any questions about this leading-edge German technology that enhances blood flow 30% in 8 minutes. Sessions are designed to support those who have their own unit but everyone is welcome. Brought to you by BEMER Specialist - Human & Equine, Elizabeth Bergmann. Text 410-212-1468 to get the Zoom link. Free.
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, 530 Charles St. 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. The Fort Fremont History Center is open from 10am to 2pm Fridays, Saturdays from 10am to 4pm and Sundays from 1pm to 4pm at Fort Fremont Preserve, 1124 Land's End Road, St. Helena Island. 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 grounds are open to the public Monday through Sunday from dawn to dusk. For more Information visit www.forttremont.org or contact the Passive Parks Department Director, 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 Miss Ann. 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
CRESCENT 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., Fridays, 10 Buckingham Planta-
tion 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. 843757-9388
INTERESTED IN HEALTHY EATING? Second Helpings, of Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper counties, seeks committee members and chairperson for Healthy Food Program. Funding available to procure fresh produce and protein for the 60 food pantries and soup kitchens served by Second Helpings. Contact Exec. Dir. Lili Coleman, 843-689-3616 or execdirector@secondhelpingslc. org
BORN TO READ working for early childhood literacy, needs volunteers to deliver books and materials to new mothers at Coastal Community Hosp., HH Hosp., and BMH. Visits are from 10am – noon. More info at borntoread.org or call 843-379-3350.
ALZHEIMER’S FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER BEAUFORT, Support Groups: Caregiver - Weds., 12:30pm, Living with Alzheimer's - for those in very early stages - Mondays 1pm, Respite Programs: Social Day Program- 10am-1:45pm $40 Day Fee, Weds. & Friday. All meetings are at Carteret Street Methodist Church, 408 Carteret St., Beaufort; In Home - Respite Aides available for 2 hr. minimum, $13-$26. 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 or make an appointment, 1500 King St., Beaufort, 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 843-815-6616 (Bluffton); 843-6816655 (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 Tuesdays 9am-12pm at 114 Beach City Rd., Hilton Head. Donations of food and funds needed. For info: Rev. Dr. Nannette Pierson at 843-715-3583 or email sandalwoodpantry@gmail.com
PARRIS ISLAND MUSEUM. The legacy of the Marine Corps and the history of the Port Royal region. Thousands of artifacts, images, and other materials illustrate the stories in exhibit galleries from Native American to modern Marines. FREE admission. Mon-Sat 10am-4:30pm and 8am on Family Graduation Days. Closed all Federal Holidays. Info at parrisislandmuseum.org or 843-228-2166.
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, Worship, and Big Meeting. 6:30pm; Small Groups at 7pm. 800 Parris Island Gateway, Beaufort. Info at 205-475-3600 or 303-521-1891.
DragonBoat Beaufort, the local cancer survivor/supporter organization, is pleased to announce that Dragons will once again invade Beaufort on Saturday, June 29, 2024 at Henry C. Chambers Park in downtown Beaufort, South Carolina. Over the last few years, the event has become increasingly popular among locals and out-oftowners alike. The 2023 Dragonboat Race Day drew over 600 paddlers, 30 teams and thousands of spectators to the Beaufort seawall. The event raised $70,000 for the organization’s Outreach Program which helps cancer patients who live, work or receive treatment in Beaufort County with needs that are typically not met through traditional means. Funds raised during Race Day go directly to support DragonBoat Beaufort’s Cancer Outreach Mission.
This will be the 11th annual event for the non-profit organization. This year’s festival is presented by Modern Jewelers.
Anyone can form a dragonboat team to compete at Dragonboat Race Day 2024. A team consists of 20 paddlers, 2 alternates (recommended) and one drummer. All teams will be trained how to safely and successfully paddle a dragonboat with experienced coaches and boat steers prior to Dragonboat Race Day. In the past, teams have included civic clubs, churches, community neighborhoods, military, local businesses, schools, and hospitals. In addition to Community teams, there is also a Cancer Survivor division, a Men’s division and a Seniors division for people over 50.
Tuesday - Sunday 11am-4pm Frank Gorman & Gary Korosi
On Race Day, teams will paddle in three races (weather permitting) competing for medals. There will be awards for Best Tee Shirt Design, Best Tent Decoration, Best Team Spirit, Best Dressed Drummer, Most Money Raised by a Drummer on Race Day, Fastest Overall Team, Fastest Local Team, Top Fund-Raising Team and Top Fund-Raising Individual. For more information, please visit www. dragonboat-raceday.com
Foolish Frog, 846 Sea Island Pkwy, St. Helena Island. (843) 838-9300. Foolish Frog on Facebook
Luther’s Rare & Well Done, 910 Bay Street. (843) 521-1888 or www.luthersrareandwelldone.com
Q on Bay, 822 Bay St, Beaufort. (843) 524-7771 or www.qonbay.com
Rosie O’Gradys Irish Pub, in Beaufort Town Center. Irish American Sports Pub & Eatery. C'mon down! Rock & Roll Lunch. Weekly Food Specials! Mondays - F&B People Discount. Wednesdays, Friday & Saturday - Karaoke. (843) 379-7676 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. 5/8 Lavon Stevens Quartet with Quiana Parler, 5/10 & 5/11 Kris Tokarski Trio honors New Orleans legends Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver & more, 5/15
Bobby Ryder, 5/17 & 5/18 Champian Fulton, 5/22 Lavon Stevens Quartet with Quiana Parler, 5/24 & 5/25 Triad -Dominick Farinacci, Christian Tamburr &Michael Ward-Bergeman. (843) 842-8620 or www. TheJazzCorner.com
Omni Hilton Head Ocean Front in Palmetto Dunes. Buoy Bar - HH Prime - (843) 842-8000 or www. omnihotels.com
The Music Farm, 32 Ann Street, Charleston. 5/8 Benjamin Tod & Lost Dog Street Band; Resonant Rogues, 5/9 All Them Witches; Rich Ruth, 5/10 Helmet; Cro-Mags, 5/11 Intervals; Code Echo, 5/14
Frame, 5/16 Lust for Lana - dance party, 5/17 Godwin Falcon; Acid Hawk & Gods, 5/18 Pecos; The Rooftops, 5/20 Kublai Kahn TX; Harms Way; Pain of Truth; Justice for the Damned, 5/21 Smash into Pieces; Versus Me, 5/24 Riot Grrrls Night with Lefty Lucy; With Error; The Maxines, 5/25 Cowboy Bebop Live. (843) 853 -2252 or www.musicfarm.com
The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston. 5/8 Charleston The Band, 5/9 Lemon Twigs, 5/10 Dangermuffin; The Right Ratio, 5/11 Strap on Face Funk 16, 5/14 IV & the Strange Band, 5/15 Phyphr; Krispee Biscuits, 5/16 Melody Trucks; The Fitzkee Brothers; Isaac Hadden, 5/17 Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown; Ace Monroe, 5/18 Sam Burchfield & the Scoundrels; Kind Hearted Strangers, 5/21 Reverend Horton Heat; the Surfrajettes, 5/23 Kendall Street Company, 5/24, 5/25 & 5/26 Grateful Shred; Circles Around the Sun, . (843) 571-4343 or www.charlestonpourhouse.com
Windjammer, 1008 Ocean Blvd, Isle of Palms. 5/9 Novatones, 5/10 Rock the 90s, 5/11 Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country, 5/16, 5/17 & 5/18 Niko Moon; Sophia Scott, 5/22, 5/23 & 5/24 Yacht Rock Revue, 5/25 & 5/26 Futurebirds; Spencer Thomas. (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.
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 – 6/2, “Lowcountry Backyard,” an exhibit of work by John Meckley at The Society of Bluffton Artists Gallery in Old Town Bluffton. Opening reception 5/10 from 5-7pm.
Now – 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.
Now – 6/30, Edges, an exhibit of work by Frank Gorman and Gary Korosi, will be featured at The
Beaufort Art Association Gallery. Opening Reception on Fri, 5/3 from 5-8pm. 913 Bay Street, Beaufort.
Now – 9/20, A Gathering of Artists, a new show by the Artists of Sea Pines. Opening Reception Thur, 5/2 at the Sea Pines Community Center in the Shops of Sea Pines Center, 71 Lighthouse Road, Hilton Head.
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
5/13 – 7/7, Camera Club of Hilton Head exhibit at the Coastal Discovery Museum at historic Honey Horn,, in the Main Gallery. Admission is free. The public is invited to attend the opening reception, on 5/14, from 5 pm – 7 pm.
5/14 – 6/14, Now & Then . . . Early and Current Works by Jo Dye at the Art League Gallery of Hilton Head. Opening reception Wed, 5/15, 5-7pm. Gallery Walk on Thur, 5/30, 11am-12pm. Art League Gallery is located mid-island inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-681-5060
Thur 5/9, Monthly Open Mic Night at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St, Beaufort) from 6-7:30pm. Featured writer is poet Elizabeth Leverton, author of Peace, Rhododendron. Open Mic will also feature short readings of 3 to 5 minutes each by other writers in many genres. This event is free and open to the public. A book signing will follow. Interested in reading from your own original writings? Email the Conroy Center at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org
Sat 5/11, Debut novelist Caroline Cleveland (When Cicadas Cry) will be at the Pat Conroy Literary Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort) at 2 pm. She’ll be joined in conversation by the Conroy Center’s executive director, Jonathan Haupt. Free and open to the public. Books available for sale and signing through NeverMore Books. Please call to reserve your seat in advance: 843-379-7025.
Sat 5/11, Children’s Author Lizzie B. Lynn (Dancing Ants & Other Silly Poems for Kids) will visit the Beaufort Bookstore (2021 Boundary Street, Beaufort) from 10:30 – 12:30, and the Storybook Shoppe (Tanger 2, Suite A190, Bluffton) from 2 – 4 pm, on Saturday, May 11th.
Friday 5/17, The Clover Choraliers – an award-winning 120-voice high school choir –will perform a concert of eclectic music at First Presbyterian Church in Beaufort. Admission is FREE. Corner of North and Church Streets.
Now – 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!
Sat 5/18, National Garden Club Standard Flower Show, hosted by the Beaufort Council of Garden Clubs at the Port Royal Baptist Church, 707 Pinckney Boulevard, Port Royal, from 9 am to 5 pm. The event is
free and open to the public. Interested parties are encouraged to submit entries through their garden clubs or by reaching out to: victoriabergesen@gmail.com
Sat 5/18, Hilton Head Night Bazaar at the Bank, 59 Pope Ave, Hilton Head. From 5-9pm. Live music and a great assortment of local makers!
Wed 5/22, Palmetto Bluff Farmers Market, at The Farm, 228 Old Moreland Rd, Palmetto Bluff. A wonderful showcase of local growers and makers, from 9am-1pm. Free and open to the public.
Fri 6/7, Gardening Author Louisa Pringle Cameron will be the keynote speaker at the Lady’s Island Garden Club’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, at 2 pm at the St. Helena Parish Hall, 507 Newcastle St, Beaufort. Tickets are $30. For more information, visit www.ladysislandgardenclub.com
First Saturday of the Month, Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud at Port Royal Farmers Market. DAYLO students and other volunteers will read to young children between 9am and noon. Children are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animal.
Tuesdays, Tours of Hunting Island sponsored by Friends of Hunting Island Keeper Ted and his team. For info call the Nature Center at 843-8387437. Tours free are and park entry fees apply.
Third Thursday, TECHconnect is a monthly networking event for professionals working in and around technology. Come and join on the for the conversation at BASEcamp 500 Carteret 5:307:30pm. 843-470-3506. www.beaufortdigital.com
Thursdays, History Tours of Fort Mitchell by the Heritage Library, 10am. $12/Adult $7/Child. 843-686-6560
Ongoing, Beaufort Tree Walk by the Lady’s Island Garden Club through the historic Old Point enjoying some unique and noteworthy trees. Takes about an hour and is a little over a mile, starting at the corner of Craven & Carteret Streets and ending in Waterfront Park. Booklets with a map and info about each tree available FREE at the Visitors Center in the historic Arsenal on Craven Street.
Over 25 Years experience servicing Lowcountry buyers and sellers with closings, deeds, and contracts.
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 Attorney at Law
Derek C. Gilbert derek@dcgilbert.com
Melissa R. Wicker melissa@dcgilbert.com
Sam Bailey samuel@dcgilbert.com
2 PROFESSIONAL VILLAGE CIRCLE
BEAUFORT, SC 29907
TELEPHONE: 843-524-4000 FACSIMILE: 843-524-4006
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