cover notes
The painting on our cover is "Innocence" by Jana Stiles, from the upcoming exhibit Fabulous Fakes at Art League of Hilton Head Gallery. For more information, see our story on page 11.
ryWeekly
o w c o unt
LAugust 14 – August 27, 2024
Publisher: Jeff Evans — Jeff@LCWeekly.com
Editor: Margaret Evans — Editor@LCWeekly.com
Marketing Director: Amanda Hanna — 843-343-8483 or Amanda@LCWeekly.com
Art Director: Lydia Inglett
Layout & Design: Amalgamated Sprinkleworks
Contributing Writers: Katherine Tandy Brown, Debbi Covington, Sandra Educate, Wendy Hilte, Cele & Lynn Seldon, and Sutty Suddeth
What’s Happening Calendar: Staff – Editor@LCWeekly.com
Letters to the Editor, comments or suggestions can be addressed to: Lowcountry Weekly
106 West Street Extension, Beaufort, SC 29902 Call: 843-986-9059 or Email: editor@lcweekly.com
Lowcountry Weekly is published every other Wednesday and distributed throughout Beaufort County at various restaurants, retail locations, hotels and visitor’s centers. The entire contents of Lowcountry Weekly is copyrighted 2024 by P. Podd Press, LLC. No part may be reproduced without permission from the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. A stamped, self-addressed envelope must accompany all submissions expected to be returned.
‘Tis The Season RANTS & RAVES
Those of you who’ve been using Facebook for a long time, as I have, may have discovered that it’s very useful as a scrapbook and diary. Every morning, if you’re so inclined, you can check your “FB memories” to see what you were up to on that very date in years past. I’ve been on Facebook for about 15 years now, so the memories are really piling up.
Old photos, past experiences, shared articles, and random musings. Lots and lots of random musings.
One such musing appeared yesterday. I first posted it six years ago:
“For many years, I have tried hard to create a space here for people and their ideas. Not a ‘safe space,’ per se, but a place for exciting, challenging conversation that increases understanding and builds bridges. It’s been a weird sort of calling for me, and there have been times when I took great joy in seeing friendships form between disparate souls, witnessing surprising meetings of the mind. But things are different now in the age of Trump, and I just can’t do this anymore. It’s too hard. Communication has completely broken down. I have too often found myself shouting into the wind, heard my words disappear . . . or echo back to me, twisted and deformed. I have spoken into a paper cup, across a piece of twine, only to find nobody holding the other cup . . . Played a child’s game – Telephone – whispering into the ear of a trusted friend beside me, watching my message go ‘round the circle, only to come back to me as a completely different message. I've shared words of enthusiasm or inspiration or love only to have them translated as criti-
cism, sophistry or hatred by somebody who just doesn’t ‘speak my language.’ I have told the truth and had it called a lie. I have been told that I think what I don’t think, that I’m not who I know myself to be. We’ve all felt this way, haven’t we? I no longer believe in the power of language. I have lost faith in words. (No, not the Word. Never that.) I’m not sure what to do about it, exactly, but it’s a damned awful f eeling for a writer. You probably won’t be hearing from me for a while.”
Rereading this post, I felt embarrassed –the melodrama! – but also sad. Because, aside from the occasional pop-up convo, I never really reopened my Facebook “salon,” and I don’t suppose I ever will. Certainly not during election season.
We’re already deep in it, and the tall tales, half-truths, personal insults, and “vibes” – so many vibes – are flying fast and furious. Anybody who's paying attention is bound to find it unsettling. Even if you’re a committed partisan, just sticking with your team and its playbook, it’s surely clear to you by now that there are people around you living in a very different reality from your own.
As one Facebook friend often quips, “They walk among us.” It’s as if her political opponents were aliens from outer space.
As a columnist, I resist these caricatures. Instead, I'm compelled to drill down into these dueling realties in hopes of understanding the people who inhabit them. Other columnists have different compulsions – to make change, to seek justice, to persuade – and I respect that. I sometimes even envy them. But I am not like them. My motivation is curiosity, along with a genuine affection for humanity.
I’m driven to understand in hopes that I might explain. What you do with my explanations is entirely up to you.
(I imagine plenty of you line your bird cages with them. As a lover of birds, I’m okay with that.)
Because of my particular compulsion, I spend a lot of time reading, watching, and listening to a wide variety of sources, trying to unravel the tangle of narratives (and pathologies) that animate our national scene. I’m far more interested in understanding how we got here – the big cultural trends and social forces – than I am in the specific issues of the day. For someone who calls herself an “opinion columnist,” I don’t often share my opinions. They’re just not that interesting, even to me.
But at a time like this – election season – it feels like a bit of a cop-out. So, here goes: What do I think about some of our national issues?
First, I think it doesn’t matter what I think. What matters (to me) is that we can all express our opinions openly, without fear of reprisal or malicious misinterpretation. When we can’t, trouble brews. That’s an actual “issue” to me, and those who are making it harder – with half-baked, ill-informed, mean-spirited meme bombs on social media – are, in my mind, enemies of public discourse. How’s that for an opinion?
I respect the pro-life movement – I believe their position is moral – but I am pro-choice, with restrictions. Most Americans are. I do not believe we should have a patchwork of radically different state laws governing something so basic and universal. I regret the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
As a passionate lifelong reader and writer, I am absolutely against book-banning. But I also believe books in a school library should probably be curated according to age appropriateness. This seems like common sense to me, and I find it troubling that we can’t have a civil conversation about the subject. Anyone who tries is labeled either a “book banner” or a “groomer.” The dishonesty bugs me.
I believe that climate change is real, but I have no clear idea what should be done about it. Again, the conversation has become impossible because anybody broaching the subject is immediately branded a “climate denier” or a “radical leftwing nutjob.” Not helpful.
I am pro-immigration – legal, of course –but I also believe we must secure our border and reform our immigration policy. The situation at the border is not a “rightwing conspiracy theory.” It’s a real problem.
I’m not even sure this is an “issue” anymore, but for the record, I am pro gay marriage. I have enough gay friends in flourishing marriages to make this one a virtual no-brainer.
I am wary of medicalized gender affirming care for minors – it’s a drastic step with long-term effects, and the current science is unclear. But it seems like a family issue to me –emphasis on “family.” Parents should not be kept in the dark. Beyond that, I have no opinion worth sharing. I’m still learning.
I think Donald Trump is rude and crude and has done a number on our national discourse – and, in turn, our social fabric – from which we may never recover. For me, this is the worst thing about him, though I don’t think the blame is his alone. (I know, you disagree. But this is my column.) I find him neither a monster nor a savior, just a man. I have no idea what he truly believes in – beyond power – but I don’t see him as a 21st Century Hitler, either. Lately, I see him more as King Lear.
I find Kamala Harris attractive and charismatic, but until we get past the meme-driven “brat” stage of her campaign, I won’t know what she truly believes in, either. She has reportedly backtracked on many of her earlier positions, and while I certainly believe people can change their minds, I’m waiting to hear from her during her debates with Lear. I am naturally allergic to vibe-craft, so consider me interested, but not coconut-pilled. (Yes, people are actually saying “coconut-pilled.”)
In short, I am the very model of a modern major moderate. There are plenty of us out here. “We walk among you.” We mostly keep our thoughts to ourselves for reasons detailed above. Some call us the Silent Majority. Others call us Those People Who Decide Elections.
Margaret Evans
8th Annual Lowcountry Book Club Convention
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host its 8th annual Lowcountry Book Club Convention on Friday, September 27, at the Technical College of the Lowcountry in Beaufort, and Saturday, September 28, at the Culinary Institute of the South at the Technical College of the Lowcountry in Bluffton. Ideal for book club members, those interested in joining a book club, or anyone who simply loves the joy of reading, the Lowcountry Book Club Convention is made possible in part by the support of the Pulpwood Queens Books Club, with book sales through NeverMore Books. The Lowcountry Book Club Convention will begin on Friday evening with a panel discussion among four authors: novelist Virginia Hall-Apicella (Even a Sparrow), journalist Michael DeWitt Jr. (The Fall of the House of Murdaugh), novelist Pete Masalin (Military Brat), and novelist Kim Poovey (Shadows of the War). Moderated by Conroy Center executive director Jonathan Haupt, this opening session will be followed by a book signing and reception, catered by Debbi Covington. This is a ticketed event, held in building 12 of Beaufort's TCL campus (104 Reynolds St., Beaufort).
The Convention continues Saturday at the Culinary Institute of the South in Bluffton (1 Venture Dr.), with three author keynote conversations and gourmet box lunches catered by Debbi Covington. This year's trio of award-winning keynote authors are novelist Kimberly Brock (The Fabled Earth),
Author Kimberly Brock
public school librarian Amanda Jones (That Librarian), and novelist Rhonda McKnight (The Thing About Home). Each author will appear in conversation with a local interviewer, and their discussions will be followed by book signings. This is a ticketed event.
Registration for this year’s Lowcountry Book Club Convention is now open at https://lowcountrybookclubconvention2024.eventbrite.com
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, September 27 – TCL Bldg 12, Beaufort
5:00-6:00pm – Local author panel discussion, featuring novelist Virginia Hall-Apicella (Even a Sparrow), journalist Michael DeWitt Jr. (The Fall of the House of Murdaugh), novelist Pete Masalin (Military Brat), and novelist Kim Poovey (Shadows of the War).
6:00-7:00pm – Book signing and reception, catered by Debbi Covington
Saturday, September 28 – Culinary Institute of the South, Bluffton
10:00-11:00am – Keynote conversation with award-winning novelist Kimberly Brock, author of The Fabled Earth
11:00-11:30am Book signing break
11:30-12:30pm – Keynote conversation with award-winning public school librarian Amanda Jones, author of That Librarian
12:30-1:30pm – Book signing break & lunch: gourmet box lunches, catering by Debbi Covington. (Register by September 22 for lunch)
1:30-2:30pm – Keynote conversation with award-winning novelist Rhonda McKnight, author of The Thing About Home
2:30-3:00pm – Final book signing break
ABOUT THE KEYNOTE AUTHORS Kimberly Brock is the bestselling author of The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare, which was shortlisted for the prestigious Townsend Prize for Fiction, and The River Witch, recipient of the Georgia Author of the Year Award. Brock is the founder of (continued next page)
10th Annual Sea Island Spirit Writers
Short Story Contest
Writers, Far and Wide – Here’s a chance to get paid for writing! Sea Island Spirit Writers’ critique group is again sponsoring a short story contest open to all writers 18 years old and up. The word “alone” must appear in your story of 750 words or less. Your story could net you $100 for first place, $50 for second place, or $25 for third, and publication in Lowcountry Weekly
THE RULES ARE SIMPLE:
• Entry fee is $15 per story. Only one entry per person please.
• All entries must include your name, address, email address and phone number.
• Entries must be received by Friday, October 4, 2024.
• Entries cannot have been previously published. We want new, fresh fiction.
• Digital entries only please. Submit to editor@lcweekly.com by email with “Short Story Contest” in the subject line.
• Payment may be made either by check or credit card. To pay by credit card, call Lowcountry Weekly at 843-522-0418. To pay by check, make checks out to “Lowcountry Weekly” with “Short Story Contest” in the memo line. Mail to Lowcountry Weekly, 106 West Street Extension, Beaufort SC 29902.
• Winners will be published in the October 23th issue of Lowcountry Weekly.
Vince Covington, Owner
(continued from previous page) Tinderbox Writers Workshop and has served as a guest lecturer for many regional and national
writing workshops including at the Pat Conroy Literary Center. A native of North Georgia, she now lives near Atlanta. Her latest novel, The Fabled Earth, will be published on October 1, with copies made available for early release at this year’s Lowcountry Book Club Convention.
"The Fabled Earth is a brilliantly layered, unforgettable story of memory, myth, and found family. Off the coast of Georgia, on Cumberland Island, three separate women search for belonging in the wake of incomprehensible loss. Weaving a stunning Southern landscape, Gilded Age glamour, and the societal turmoil of the late 1950s, Brock takes readers on an epic journey that conjures the longing of forgotten youth while simultaneously reminding us of its dangers. I have never read a novel where the author's love of storytelling shines more brightly than this one." – Lynda Cohen Loigman, author of The Matchmaker's Gift
Amanda Jones has been an educator for 23 years, at the same middle school she attended as a child. She has served as president of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians and won numerous awards for her work in school libraries, including School Library Journal Librarian of the Year. A sought-after keynote speaker, Amanda is a frequent volunteer for state and national library associations, as well as a co-founder of the Livingston Parish Library Alliance and founding member of Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship. She lives in Livingston Parish, Louisiana. That Librarian is her first book and has been selected as a September Indie Next Pick by the American Booksellers Association.
“[Jones] is frank, open, emotionally raw, and unwavering. What she endured is every librarian's worst nightmare, yet she perseveres, offering tips and playbooks for how readers can defend books about LGBTQIA+ topics of interest, sexual health, and more in their own public libraries. A must-read in order to understand the deep and lasting impact of online smear campaigns and enduring need to stand up for books. Jones is an inspiration to everyone combating book bans and her memoir/guidebook should be available to all to help us defend our right to read.” – Booklist (Starred Review)
Rhonda McKnight is the author of several bestselling novels, including An Inconvenient Friend and What Kind of Fool. She is the winner of the 2015 Emma Award for Inspirational Romance of the Year. She loves reading and writing books that touch the heart of women through complex plots and interesting characters in crisis. Themes of faith, forgiveness, and hope are central to her stories. Originally from a small coastal town
in New Jersey, Rhonda writes from the comfort of her South Carolina home. The Thing About Home is her most recent novel.
"In this zippy outing from McKnight, a humiliated social media influencer rediscovers her roots . . . McKnight lays out some vivid lowcountry history, and her fully realized characters ring true." –Publishers Weekly
ABOUT THE LOCAL AUTHORS PANEL
Hampton County native Michael M. DeWitt Jr. is a multiple-awardwinning journalist, longtime editor of the 143-year-old The Hampton County Guardian, and author of Wicked Hampton County and, most recently, Fall of the House of Murdaugh. DeWitt’s boots-on-theground coverage of the Murdaugh crime saga has been published in print and online around Gannett’s nationwide USA TODAY Network, and he has appeared on ABC’s 20/20, CBS’s 48 Hours, Dateline NBC, and Netflix documentaries to discuss the case.
Virginia Hall-Apicella spent 30 years as a psychologist in the New York City court system, as a consultant in mental health agencies, and in private practice,
specializing in the concerns of women and children. Her debut novel, Even A Sparrow, is a fictional account of her ancestors’ journey from Europe to America in 1815. In addition to psychologybased articles, she has published several short stories and edited a historical newsletter.
Pete Masalin was born into a Navy family and experienced all the turns and trials associated with that of a career Navy man. Drawing upon his youthful exploits and adventures, Military Brat is Masalin’s second published offering. It follows his 2016 book The Sorrow of Loss, The Wisdom of Recovery: A Narrative of an Unwanted Journey.
Kim Poovey is an author, storyteller, and Victorian reenactress. She is the author of eight historical novels, most recently Shadows of the War, her highly anticipated sequel of Shadows of the Moss. Poovey has also written for several publications, including Beaufort Lifestyle, Bluffton Breeze, Citizen’s Companion, and the Civil War Times. To learn more about the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, please visit www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
Author Rhonda McKnight
Port Royal Library Opening
The Beaufort County Library’s sixth and newest branch, located in the Town of Port Royal, will open its doors to the public at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 21.
The public is invited to a Grand Opening and Ribbon-Cutting Celebration on Saturday, Aug. 24. The Ribbon-Cutting will begin at 10 a.m., with a storytime and refreshments to follow. Guests are invited to tour the building, talk with library staff, register for a library card, and check out materials.
“Public libraries are the heart of democracy and reflect the best of our society,” Beaufort County Councilwoman Alice Howard said in a news release. “The Samuel E. Murray Library will reflect and enhance its unique community and will continue Beaufort County’s Libraries’ mission to support learning, leisure, and life. We learn best when we all learn together, and we are thrilled to see the
collaborative vision for this project realized for the benefit of Port Royal residents.”
The branch boasts child, teen and adult collections of more than 5,000 materials, including books, movies and more. The facility includes dedicated meeting and conference rooms for the community to use and technological resources, including public computers and a self-service scan, fax, and email station.
"The Library Board of Trustees are extremely happy to see
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
Johanna Graham johanna@dcgilbert.com
Kathy Crowley kathy@dcgilbert.com
Dawn Shipsey dawn@dcgilbert.com
this project come to fruition and bring an additional source of knowledge, education, and entertainment to the Port Royal Community. A big thank you to the County Council for all their support with this project," said Lynne Miller, Chair of the Library Board of Trustees.
The branch’s regular hours of operation will be Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be closed on Sundays.
“We’re delighted to welcome the residents of Port Royal to our beautiful new branch library in a facility named for beloved mayor Samuel E. Murray,” Library Director Amanda Brewer Dickman said. “We designed this branch to meet the needs of our community, providing access to information, technology, and programs that inspire and educate.”
For more information, visit https://www. beaufortcountylibrary.org/
‘Face Your Future’ with Jonas Gadson
Dr. Jonas Gadson, DTM, known as "Mr. Enthusiastic!" announces FACING YOUR FUTURE WITH A NEW FOCUS, a public speaking and effective communication event specially designed for executives, professionals and business owners who are committed to getting their “Positive, Powerful and Purposeful” message to the world! Taking place Friday & Saturday September 27-28, 2024 from 9am4pm at Tru by Hilton Beaufort, in Beaufort.
Dr. Jonas takes enthusiasm to a higher level. A positive leader in Corporate America, he trained 8,000 employees from 69 countries during his 30 year tenure with corporate giants Xerox Corporation and Eastman Kodak Company.
Special guest Dr. Veronica Carey, PhD, is a dynamic speaker and global traveler, Assistant Dean for Diversity and an Associate Clinical Professor at Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Chair of the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association
Academy and author of “Frame Your Degree!” A bestselling book designed to empower students of all backgrounds.
This dynamic experience incorporates Dr. Jonas’ four foundational principles, “Education, Inspiration, Transformation and Motivation!”
You don’t want to miss this once in a lifetime event designed specially with you in mind! Because You Can Always Better Your Best!
Presented by Dr. Jonas Gadson, DTM Known as “Mr. Enthusiastic!” An Expert Coach in Public Speaking and Effective Communication, Internationally known Motivational Speaker, 7 time Amazon
Bestselling Author, Radio/TV personality and now author of his new book on communication, “Mastering Your Message! Pick Up Your Mic! We Need To Hear Your Voice!” available just in time for the event. Bonus from Jonas, “If You Cheat Yourself In Your Preparation It Will Show Up In Your Presentation!”
For additional information: Contact Dr. Jo Gadson, at jonaswiththebonus@outlook.com or (585)703-9547 or www.jonusbonus.com
Paid Advertorial by The Christian Science Society of Beaufort
Embrace the Childlike Spirit Within
In the Bible, Jesus speaks of how we must be like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. “Jesus loved little children because of their freedom from wrong and their receptiveness of right,” explains Mary Baker Eddy, founder of The Christian Science Monitor (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p.236). When I think of little children, I think of qualities of freedom, joy, light,innocence, purity – wonderful qualities for people of all ages.
I’ve found that the more I learn about and embrace my relation to God, our divine Parent, the more naturally I express these childlike qualities and experience the promise of God’s kingdom here and now.
When I was in my 20s, I tried to be anything but childlike. Among other things, I certainly did not want to be told what to do by a parent – either human or divine!
But life quickly became complicated. I was a bit like the son in a story Jesus once told, who lived frivolously and did all kinds of stuff that wasn’t very childlike. Eventually, he lost everything and was filled with shame and guilt and humbly returned home. I never really lost everything in the sense of being destitute and reduced to longing to eat even what was being served to pigs, as this guy did. But I certainly felt as though I had lost my innocence, joy, and peace. Deep down I knew I was doing things I didn’t feel right about. So for all my effort to try to “escape” or feel
more free and just have fun and be happy, I actually felt trapped.
Around that time, in a conversation with a friend, she said, “You know, you’re not very good at being bad, and you’re not bad at being good . . . so just be you.”
A CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PERSPECTIVE
It took me a while to figure out who that “me” truly is, but eventually I came to see that the most authentic way to think of myself is as the child of God. As God’s child I reflect and express true innocence, purity, freedom, and joy, as does each and every one of us.
This spiritual identity never changes, no matter what the material picture looks like. We each have a direct, constant, and continuous relation to our divine Parent that never wavers and is ever intact. When we are truly receptive to this spiritual fact, as a little child is receptive to good, we find that we can trust our Father-Mother God to provide for our every need, including healing, guidance, and peace of mind.
That’s what I’ve found in my own experience, as I’ve more humbly and wholeheartedly embraced my innate childlikeness. Unhealthy, unproductive routines naturally dropped away – but my life isn’t boring at all! And when I listen for God’s direction, things are much less clouded or complicated than they once seemed.
Mrs. Eddy once said in a speech: “Beloved children, the world has need of you, – and more as children than as men
and women: it needs your innocence, unselfishness, faithful affection, uncontaminated lives. You need also to watch, and pray that you preserve these virtues unstained, and lose them not through contact with the world. What grander ambition is there than to maintain in yourselves what Jesus loved, and to know that your example, more than words, makes morals for mankind!” (Miscellaneous Writings 18831896, p. 110).
Being free, joyful, and good is inherent in our nature as children of God. Sometimes these qualities may seem buried under the weight of the responsibilities and burdens of life, or covered by negative views we’ve held about ourselves or others. But they are there for each one of us to rediscover. As my little nephew so wisely put it when he was 4 or 5 years old: “I don’t think you’re really a grown-up. I’ve only ever heard of ‘God’s children,’ not ‘God’s adults.’”
As we embrace that childlike spirit within us, we also find a more tangible sense of the kingdom of heaven –God’s peace and harmony – within us. We feel more of our God-given joy. No matter what stage of life we’re at, we can choose each moment to shed the layers of material thinking and negativity and nurture the child within us, and find the promise of peace and fulfillment right where we are.
By Kim Hedge
The Miracle of Max
Authors bring inspiring family story to Beaufort
Ababy flatlining in the ER waiting room isn’t how parents imagine the experience of giving birth to their first child. But for Stephanie and Stephen McChesney, it became their
reality. Their miracle baby, Max, was brought back to life by the grace of God and angel doctors, defying the odds that were stacked against him.
Through the heartache of early challenges and the uncertainties that followed, their journey was one of unwavering faith and relentless determination. People around them predicted a life far from normal, but the McChesney family knew better. Max’s life was a testament to the extraordinary, not the ordinary.
In The Miracle of Max, witness the power of familial fortitude, courage and divine intervention. From the harrowing moments in the delivery room to the triumphant milestones of Max’s life, this is a story that will touch your heart and renew your belief in the miraculous. Amid adversity, they discovered greatness in Max and showed the world that every life, no matter the challenges, is not a trial but a miracle.
About the Authors: Stephanie and Stephen McChesney are not just parents but advocates, entrepreneurs, and a testament to the power of faith and love. Their journey began with the birth of their son, Max, a miracle child who redefined their perspective on life. Together, they have navigated the
world of special needs, participating in and championing causes such as the Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night to Shine and spearheading the Best Buddies International chapter in South Carolina.
Their involvement in these initiatives reflects their dedication to making the world a more inclusive and loving place.
Proud parents to Max and Madeline, Stephanie and Stephen’s lives are a blend of personal and professional triumphs. Their love for their children is paralleled only by their affection for their fur babies, Coco Chanel and Sebastian.
At the heart of their story is a deep and abiding love for family, friends, and Jesus Christ. Their journey, marked by challenges, triumphs, and unwavering faith, serves as an inspiration to many. Through their book, The Miracle of Max, they hope to share a message of resilience, hope, and the endless possibilities that come with believing in the miraculous.
Stephanie, Stephen and Max McChesney will be signing books on Wednesday, August 28 from 5 – 6:30 pm at the Beaufort Bookstore, 2127 Boundary Street, Beaufort. For more information visit www.thebeaufortbookstore. com or call 843-525-1066.
Debut Novelist Vernon at Conroy Center
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with Zackary Vernon, author of the newly published coastal Carolina coming-of-age novel
Our Bodies Electric, on Friday, August 23, at 5:00 p.m., at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort). Free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing. Please call in advance to reserve a seat for this free event: 843-379-7025.
ABOUT THE BOOK AND AUTHOR:
“In this spirited coming-of-age novel, Zack Vernon vividly renders Josh and his fellow middle-school misfits as they seek understanding and acceptance in a world that wishes only to trap them into a stifling conformity. Our Bodies Electric is poignant and comic, and Vernon’s linking Walt Whitman’s celebration of individuality to the characters adds to the novel’s pleasures.”
— Ron Rash, author of The Caretaker, Serena, and In the Valley
“I haven’t heard music so sweet and heartfelt since I first read Lewis Nordan. Imagine a novel that sings like a love-drunk cross between The Perks of Being a Wallflower and The Breakfast Club. Now imagine it set in the sweltering heat of lowcountry South Carolina. Now imagine it told in the spirit of Walt Whitman. Now imagine that book in your hands.” — Mark Powell, Hurricane Season and The Late Rebellion
“In Our Bodies Electric, young protagonist Josh navigates the relentless world of ever-watchful parents and oddball friends, forever obsessed and enamored by the endless beauties of All Things Female. Josh is curious, intelligent, and intent on doing what’s right. How could so many plans go wrong? This is one heartrending, comedic coming-of-age novel.” — George Singleton, author of The Curious Lives of Nonprofit Martyrs
Tormented by his religious family and the broader conservative community of Pawley’s Island, South Carolina, fourteen-year-old Josh struggles with the pressure to conform to their puritanical standards. As he embarks upon his high school years, Josh meets a supportive cast of eccentric small-town characters, falls in love with his classmate, and becomes obsessed with David Bowie. When Josh’s elderly neighbor gives him a copy of Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself,” he begins to understand his own burgeoning sense of identity. Our Bodies Electric celebrates the exuberance of youth and the joy of finding connections in the most unexpected of places.
Zackary Vernon is a writer and scholar based in Boone, North Carolina. His work has appeared in a range of magazines and journals, including The Bitter Southerner, Carolina Quarterly, and Southern Cultures, and he received the Alex Albright Creative Nonfiction Prize from the North Carolina Literary Review. He is an associate professor of English at Appalachian State University.
Learn more about the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center at www.patconroy literarycenter.org
Romance Novelist Jennifer Vido in Beaufort
On Saturday, August 31 from 1-4 pm, acclaimed romance author and blogger, Jennifer Vido, will be at the McIntosh Book Shoppe for a book event. Vido will discuss her recent release Serenity by the Sea, which was released on July 31. This is Vido’s second book in her award-winning Gull Island series and eagerly awaited follow-up to her 2023 debut novel of the series, Serenity by the Sea, which won the prestigious Best First Book award from the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Contest.
The Gull Island series captivates readers with Vido’s sweet romances set in the charming Lowcountry. In 2024, Vido’s talent garnered accolades, with Baltimore Magazine readers naming her Best Local Author in their annual Best of Baltimore poll, while the Baltimore Sun acknowledged her with an Honorable Mention in their Best of 2024 Author Category. In recognition of her literary achievements, Baltimore Magazine honored Jennifer as a finalist for Best Local Author in their 2023 Best of Baltimore Readers’ Poll.
In addition to her success with the Gull Island series, Jennifer is the creative mind behind the Piper O’Donnell Social Lite Mystery series. As a longtime member of the Romance Writers of America, she
seamlessly explores the cozy mystery genre in these engaging stories. Her passion for books extends to her role as a blogger, where she shares insights on bestselling releases in her weekly Jen’s Jewels column on FreshFiction.com, conducting captivating interviews with fellow authors. Vido continues to make her mark on the romance genre and the Baltimore literary scene.
ABOUT SERENITY BY THE SEA
Celebrity designer Hailey Maybank |escapes to Gull Island to reinvent herself after a high-profile divorce, lending her expertise on a renovation project. Working with the boss’s son comes with complications, but will she risk her professional reputation for a chance at love?
Will Purdey vies for a partnership in the family business by showcasing his design skills on the firm’s latest project. Partnering with a famous designer who has a tarnished reputation can ruin his plans, but will his growing attraction for the colorful artist allow him to complete the job?
New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey says, “Jennifer Vido’s heartwarming tale unfolds on Gull Island, a Lowcountry haven of summer love. Serenity by the Sea, the second book in the series, immerses readers in Southern charm, eagerly anticipating the next delightful installment! A sweet romance capturing the allure of love!”
Author Zackery Vernon
Author Jennifer Vidoº
Fabulous Fakes
Master artwork parodies at Art League of Hilton League gallery
Impress your friends with an original Van Gogh – or the next best thing.
This summer, Art League of Hilton Head will host a much-loved and anticipated alternate artistic reality—one in which a cat knocks over Van Gogh’s Irises, a Renoir nude shows her support for the Olympics, and one of Degas’ ballerinas checks her iPad for the latest news.
Fabulous Fakes is a two-week exhibit that takes inspiration from famous artworks from all eras. Some parodies are replicas of famous paintings, often with a humorous or whimsical twist; others are inspired by the techniques of the masters but have an entirely different subject matter, medium, or color palette.
“This exhibit is a chance to have some fun,” says Kristen McIntosh, Art League Director. “Artists don’t always have to take their work so seriously, although it is a challenge to duplicate the works of some of the masters. The skill required to create some of these replicas is astonishing.”
All artworks are for sale in the Gallery.
Fabulous Fakes will be held August 27 to September 8 at Art League Gallery, with a reception on Wednesday, August 28. The show and reception are free and open to the public.
Art League Gallery is located mid-island inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, 843-681-5060.
After The Bath by Don Nagel (Pierre-Auguste-Renoir), below Irises by Barbara Stroer (Vincent Van Gogh), bottom Waiting by Joyce Nagel (Edgar Degas), below left
Cookielicious!
It’s no secret that I’m not much of a baker – even though Baker is my maiden name. Spending a whole day in the kitchen baking cookies is not something that I do often. This cookie baking day, however, was a labor of love. As it turns out, the cookie recipients loved the sweet treats with many coming back for seconds and even more grabbing “another one for the road.” I promised to share the recipes, so here they are. Keep these 3 things in mind. Number 1: I used salted butter. I think in the real baking world, salted butter is frowned upon. If you choose to use unsalted butter, you might want to add an additional pinch of salt to the recipes. Number 2: My idea of a rounded tablespoon is forming the cookies with a 1½-inch ice cream scoop and then pressing the tops down a wee bit with the back of a spoon. Number 3: I learned this tip from watching America’s Test Kitchen on television. Everyone’s oven bakes differently. To ensure even cookie baking, turn your baking sheets turn after 8 minutes in the oven; then finish baking until they’re golden brown. It’s a great tip. I did it for every batch. That’s it for my unconventional baking words of wisdom. One more note, the Cranberry-Pecan Oatmeal Cookies with White Chocolate Chips were the hands-down favorite. I preferred the Chocolate Chip-Walnut Cookies. Go figure. Happy baking, y’all!
CHOCOLATE CHIP-WALNUT COOKIES
Also delicious with pecans!
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
¾ cup sugar
¾ cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts, optional
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together flour, baking soda and salt. Beat butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl with hand mixer until creamy. Add eggs; beat well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating well. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts. Drop by rounded
tablespoons onto lightly greased baking sheets leaving 2 inches of space between each mound of dough. Bake for 8 minutes, rotate baking pans ½ turn and bake for 4 minutes more or until cookies are lightly browned. Cool slightly, remove from baking sheets to wire racks. Cool completely. Store cookies in a tightly sealed container. Makes about 5 dozen.
CRANBERRY-PECAN OATMEAL COOKIES WITH
WHITE CHOCOLATE
CHIPS
1 cup (sticks) butter, softened
1 cup light brown sugar
½ cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
1½ cups flour
3 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup white chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, sugars, eggs, vanilla,
baking soda, cinnamon and salt together. Add flour to the mixture and stir until well combined. Stir in oats, dried cranberries, pecans and white chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto lightly greased baking sheets leaving 2 inches of space between each mound of dough. Bake for 8 minutes, rotate baking pans ½ turn and bake for 4 minutes more or until cookies are lightly browned. Cool slightly, remove from baking sheets to wire racks. Cool completely. Store cookies in a sealed container. Makes about 4 dozen.
M&M SUGAR COOKIES
2¼ cups
1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt
By Debbi Covington
brown sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl with hand mixer until creamy. Add eggs; beat well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating well. Stir in M&Ms. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto lightly greased baking sheets leaving 2 inches of space between each mound of dough.
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
¾ cup sugar
¾ cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2½ cups M&M candies
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together flour, baking soda and salt. Beat butter, sugar,
Bake for 8 minutes, rotate baking pans ½ turn and bake for 4 minutes more or until cookies are lightly browned. Cool slightly, remove from baking sheets to wire racks. Cool completely. Store cookies in a tightly sealed container. Makes about 3 dozen.
The writer owns Catering by Debbi
and is the author of three
and
For more great recipes and to view
visit and subscribe to
website address is www.cateringbydebbicovington.com. She may be reached at 843-525-0350 or by email at dbc@ cateringbydebbicovington.com
Covington
cookbooks, Celebrate Beaufort, Celebrate Everything!
Dining Under the Carolina Moon.
her cooking demonstrations,
Debbi’s YouTube channel. Debbi’s
McKinney Brings Poetry Collection to Beaufort
Ginny McKinney will be in Beaufort on Friday, August 16, to sign copies of her book It’s All True Life.
McKinney’s calls the book “a collection of poetry, primarily in free verse and storytelling form.” She believes every day brings its own poetry, and her job as a writer is to capture it. Though she hails from central South Carolina, some of her poems have a distinctly Lowcountry feel.
McKinney says she’s had a love affair with words since she started talking. “I love to watch them come together like friends at a dinner party,” she says. “They fit together comfortably, love to tell a story, and reveal more about themselves over a little time and a little wine.”
Along with her poetry, she Ginny has written two plays – “Busted Wedding Belles” and “More Busted than Ever” – and also enjoys writing sad songs and funny stories.
Ginny credits her husband Greg McKinney with giving her the courage to find her literary voices. She is a native South
Carolinian and mother to six fur babies.
Ginny McKinney will sign books at the Beaufort Bookstore on Friday, August 16 from 4 – 6pm. For more information visit www.thebeaufortbookstore.com
Novel Set on Edisto Gains Fans
Readers in the Lowcountry are getting behind the quirky novel The Bird in Your Heart: A Carolina Sea Island Story, published last summer by Southern fiction author Tim Bryant.
Primarily set on Edisto Island, The Bird in Your Heart is about an Atlanta advertising executive who divorces the boss’s daughter, loses his job, and returns to his family’s ancestral home on Edisto. He plans to sail off to see the world but his elderly mother is going blind and the old place needs huge repairs. A many-generations-long love of birdwatching reconnects him to his roots. Southern traditions, Gullah culture, and oddball island ways create a Low Country tangle built around birding, beaches and boats.
“The Bird in Your Heart is getting great response from people with ties to the Lowcountry and Edisto, including birdwatchers,” said Bryant, “We’re connecting through my descriptions of the area’s natural
beauty and laid back way of life. To have this little clique develop is very encouraging. Writers live for that kind of feedback.”
South Carolina and The Lowcountry are also featured in Bryant’s first novel, Blue Rubber Pool, published in 2018, and his third novel, The Stained Glass Mustang, under contract for publication in 2026, is set in Charleston.
Bryant returned to his South Carolina roots after decades away and now lives in a beach house built in a cow pasture where, in addition to writing, he keeps a small vineyard, several fruit trees, and a patch of Japanese banana trees. His wife Crystal is a reading interventionist in the public school system.
For more information, visit the author’s web site: ArmadilloIsland.com
Author Tim Bryant
Don’t Ignore the Warning Signs
When I was in chiropractic school, I had no spare time. I was a single mother with three little girls under the age of 10. My days were filled to the hilt with getting them to school on time, getting me to my classes, studying in any down time I might have, picking them up from after school care, grabbing dinner, herding everyone together for baths and then tucking everyone into bed. I would then study some before I would get some needed sleep and then start over again the next day. When clinic started, I was at school even later. During one of my 4 years at chiropractic college, my change oil light came on. I ignored it because I fully believed that I didn’t have time! The reality was that I did. But, because I had invested so much energy into the FEELING that I had no time, my belief became my reality! Well, there are consequences for everything, so subsequently my engine seized. I paid attention then and learned a valuable lesson. The valuable time I didn’t have in the beginning turned into MORE time and expense needed to address the issue later. Moral of the story: you can’t ignore the warnings your body sends without major consequences.
I try to relay this message countless times per day to my patients. Some get it but many don’t. It’s not uncommon for people to come to me for help because they are in extreme discomfort and/or pain. They are wanting me to “fix” them and magically make everything
go away. When they start feeling better, they stop coming. How many warning signs are missed and for how many years? Plus, healing isn’t only physical. To truly heal, we must include all of who we are: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Most of us just experience the symptoms and will do anything to make them go away!
There’s a great story of a lady who took her car (yes, another car example) to her mechanic because the check engine light was on. No matter how many times she took it to be fixed, it kept coming back on. Finally, she took her car to a different mechanic and the check engine light message was gone! She asked the mechanic what he did because the other people who worked on it could not remedy the issue. He replied that he just cut the wire that went to the check engine light! Does that really solve the issue? What if there is something really needing to be addressed? I think this is the approach that many prefer, even though the costs are more and could potentially cause more damage.
I’m a huge proponent of personal responsibility and empowerment. I have learned the hard way through many personal experiences that it’s so much easier to work with what we have. Take care of your body and it will return the investment. We have different ways that we define that, however. Most do many physical things like eating healthily, taking supplements/vitamins and exercising but if you remember, the physical
is only one part of the whole. Some also invest in the emotional, mental and spiritual sides as well. But I have found very few people who include keeping healthy the most important asset we have. Our nervous system. Electrical energy travels through nerve pathways to every cell in your body, communicating back and forth with the brain, vital information that we take for granted. Don’t you think taking care of this amazing network is important? If we ignore it, blocks start to happen within the system and can alter the ease and efficiency of information being able to flow. Guess how your body communicates this to you? Symptoms. Yet, all most want is to cut the wires and in essence shoot the messenger. There are many choices available that address helping stuck energy (blocks) move with ease again, such as chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, reiki and osteopathic manipulation. Have you ever noticed that these approaches are sidelined as inferior? How can this be if these invaluable modalities are working with how we are all wired? It should be a first line choice that we continue because we care about ourselves and desire to honor/treat with respect how we are all designed! BUT don’t expect a quick fix. It is a journey to come back to who you really are. This requires trust, patience and a huge desire to listen to what your body is saying. In my experience, the message is never mean or hurtful but quite beautiful.
by Dr. Winn Sams WHOLLY HOLISTICS
Each approach to health is needed and important. One modality doesn't trump another, as all of them contribute a valuable part of the pie. Unfortunately, many people wait until they are in extreme pain or discomfort and more invasive measures need to be taken. This does not mean there aren’t times that more aggressive approaches aren’t needed. But I maintain that this result might not need to happen if we took better care of ourselves in how we are wired. So many people are suffering from inflammation right now. Do you think that putting out the internal electrical fires we stoke would be helpful? I love having a trusted group of professionals to help me with needs for my home. Redefine your relationship with your internal abode and find a good body electrician.
Dr. Sams owns Beaufort Chiropractic on Lady's Island. A Charlotte native with a B.A. in Economics from UNC Chapel Hill, Dr. Sams graduated from Sherman College of Chiropractic in 2002. She has written legislation addressing health concerns, helping to bills pass in many states. She ran for Congress in 2020 to represent western NC. She practices with her oldest daughter who is a chiropractor, acupuncturist and massage therapist. She can be reached at 843-522-1115 or at beaufortchiropractic@gmail.com
Learning to Let Go
My favorite rose bush just died. It shriveled up and all of the leaves fell off with no new shoots coming out from the base. What did I do, besides mourn? I blamed myself. Was it a disease? I do not use sprays or any kind of pesticides. Was it neglect? I water regularly and feed when it is necessary according to a schedule I received from the rose grower. Why did this happen? What did I do wrong? It was one of my oldest roses and I lost another one last year that was the first rose I bought.
I read and researched and finally emailed the rose grower in England for advice. They immediately wrote back and quoted the leading rosarian and one of my heroes, Michael Marriott. He wrote: "Austin roses, like any variety, will have no fixed life. It depends very much on the variety, the way they are looked after and the conditions they are growing in." I had my answer. This rose bush had basically bloomed itself to death. With our conditions in the Lowcountry, my roses bloom nearly all year long. Most plants need a period of rest or dormancy. Lesson learned. It was not my fault. It is easy and so common to blame ourselves when we lose a plant. It is important to keep in mind that all plants have a life expectancy. Even Live Oaks, the oldest of which has been living for 1,600 years will eventually succumb to old age. Plants that are referred to as “perennial” really do not have that long a life expectancy – 10 to 15 years is considered a long-lived perennial. Of course, it may seem like certain plants last longer than that because they reseed and reproduce giving a continuum of blooms. There are currently studies being done on the longevity of plants and how climate change is affecting this.
hot dry summers. With progressively warming winters, their longevity is being challenged. Studies in Europe are showing that they live the longest in northern and eastern Europe in places like Poland and Russia. In my own garden, they are abundant, but I am certain that is because they are reseeding as I scatter the seed heads around when I deadhead. Gardeners worldwide are
enamored with American prairie plants because of their toughness and the fact that they tend to bloom later in the season. Climate change may affect this.
homeowners plant shrubs and garden plants too low. They should have the root flare at the top of the soil. The last thing that you should have is a deep bowl around the base to collect water. Roots need to breathe keep them at the surface.
And of course, there are plant disease and pests that can cause a plant to succumb. Good air flow, proper pruning, judicious watering, and fertile soil will help keep pests and disease at bay. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of good air flow in the garden to prevent disease. If I see something that looks like a disease or a pest, I remove the infected leaves and discard them. That is far better than using a pesticide that may or may not work and can cause harm to our environment.
If you do lose a plant, learn to let go. Think of this as an opportunity to try a new plant in that spot. If you believe that the plant has died due to disease, remove the soil where the plant
By Wendy Hilty
or shrub was and replace it with fresh compost. When our weather is cooler, I plan on replacing my rose with one like it. I will dig out the old roots and soil and replace it. The old story that you cannot plant a rose in the same place is a myth, but I always like to use new compost when planting anything. Most importantly, I will not blame myself, but recognize that, like life, change in the garden is inevitable.
Wendy Hilty is a Master Gardener and member of the Lowcountry Master Gardeners organization. She is also a member of the Royal Horticultural Society and likes to spend her time attempting to grow an English Cottage Garden in our heat and humidity. Her Comyagardener blog won a state-wide award from Clemson University last year. Wendy firmly believes that the most important tool for a gardener is a good sense of humor.
One of my favorite perennials is the Coneflower ( Echinacea purpurea ).
Coneflowers are American native prairie plants and they thrive with cold winters and
What other conditions might cause you as a gardener to lose a plant? Aside from life expectancy, over watering is one of the biggest causes of root rot and plant loss. It is true that during hot weather plants need more water than usual, but many people feel that they need to water every day and run their irrigation regardless of rainfall. Container plants may need water every day, but it is doubtful that plants in good soil that are properly mulched will require that much water. Incorrect initial planting is a huge factor in plant viability. Many landscapers and
Gertrude Jekyll
Classifieds Classifieds
TO RENT or OWN
ITALY: Tuscany townhouse for rent by the week in historic UNESCO village. Sleeps 4, large furnished garden, easy walk to shops and excellent restaurants. www.cozyholidayrentals.com or 401-862-2377.
FURNISHED LUXURY APT In the heart of downtown Beaufort. 2BR, 2BA, W/D, Housewares. Please call 843-812-4229.
CLASSES & SEMINARS
FREE HYPNOSIS/HYPNOTHERAPY INFOR -
MATION 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 & 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 offers 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 - Moose Lodge, 350 Broad River Blvd. 6-9pm. Shag Lessons with Tommy & Sheri O'Brien and others. Occasional Ballroom and once a month Line Dance. Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced lessons. 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.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for the military lounge at the Savannah/Hilton Head Airport. It is operated by a cadre of volunteers. Formerly the USO Lounge it has been renamed “Savannah Salutes,” and continues to provide a respite for travelling active duty, retired and reserve military, veterans and their families. The facility requires volunteers to keep the lounge open from 8 am to 9 pm, seven days a week. There are three shifts each day, with two volunteers on duty for each shift. Interested in volunteering? More info and application forms are available at the www.savannahsalutes.org,or call John Findeis at (912) 507-4848. The airport will provide free parking.
VETERANS FIRST THRIFT STORE is in need of volunteers. Summer hours are Thursday thru Saturday10am-4pm. Volunteer hours are very flexible! Stop in the store at 612 Robert Smalls Parkway to fill out a volunteer application or call the store at 843-2634218. Please consider helping this very worthwhile organization!!
SECOND HELPINGS seeks volunteers to crew 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, 843310-0594 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 843-524-4333 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. 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.fortfremont.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 beauforttoastmastersclub.toastmastersclubs.org
FREE ACUPUNCTURE FOR VETERANS – Veterans, Active Duty, Transition. Their Families and First Responders are Eligible. First & Third Wednesday 46pm. 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.
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 Plantation Drive, Suite A, Bluffton; for those who have experienced a loss and would like support and info associated with grief and bereavement. Corrie VanDyke, LMSW or Marie James, MA. 843-757-9388
INTERESTED IN HEALTHY EATING? Second Helpings, of Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper counties, seeks committee members and chairperson for Healthy Food Program. Funding available to procure fresh produce and protein for the 60 food pantries and soup kitchens served by Second Helpings. Contact Exec. Dir. Lili Coleman, 843-689-3616 or execdirector@secondhelpingslc.org
BORN TO READ working for early childhood literacy, needs volunteers to deliver books and materials to new mothers at Coastal Community Hosp., HH Hosp., and BMH. Visits are from 10am – noon. More info at borntoread.org or call 843-379-3350.
ALZHEIMER’S FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER BEAUFORT, Support Groups: Caregiver - Weds., 12:30pm, 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, 10-11:30am, $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); 843-681-6655 (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 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 by looking to scripture. Meal at 6pm; Praise, Worship; Big Meeting. 6:30pm; Small Groups at 7pm. 800 Parris Island Gateway, Beaufort. Info at 205-475-3600 or 303-521-1891.
Community Foundation Welcomes New Board Members
Community Foundation of the Lowcountry is extremely honored to welcome four new members to our Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2024. Board members serve three-year terms and can serve two terms. The new members are:
Yolanda Branche – Branche, a resident of Hilton Head Island, had an impressive career in her native Washington DC, including leadership positions in the Office of the District of Columbia Auditor and the District of Columbia’s Financial Responsibility and
Management Assistance Authority. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History/Political Science from Tufts University and a Juris Doctorate degree from George Washington University. Branche was on multiple boards and volunteered extensively in DC, and joined CFL’s Grants Advisory Committee in 2022. Yolanda enjoys traveling and is a member of the Hilton Head Bible Study Fellowship. She has two daughters and a granddaughter.
Steve Fanelli – Fanelli, a resident of Bluffton, has an accomplished background in banking and technology. He had a successful 20-plus year career in equity sales at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. in New York, culminating in the leadership positions of CEO, Canadian Subsidiary and Co-Head of North America Equity Sales. Fanelli earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Binghamton University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Pace University. Steve has also attained multiple securities licenses in the U.S. and Canada. Fanelli is married with two children. His interests include history, golf, and fishing.
Tom Moore – Moore, a resident of Hilton Head Island, has extensive senior executive
experience in finance, strategy, business development, and human resources. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Xavier University. Moore had a successful 25-plus year career at AT&T, culminating with his position as Chief Privacy Officer and SVP of Compliance. Moore’s current position is Senior Managing Director at Protiviti, a Global Business Consulting firm. Moore has served on various boards for enterprise, charitable and civic organizations. He is married with five children and four grandchildren. Moore enjoys spending time with family and friends, golf and watching soccer.
Lloyd “Fig” Newton – Newton, a native of Ridgeland and resident of Bluffton, is a retired
four-star General who served over 34 years in the U.S. Air Force. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Education from Tennessee State University and a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from George Washington University. In 1968, Newton flew 269 combat missions in Vietnam, and was selected to join The Thunderbirds in November 1974, making him the first African American pilot to do so. Newton concluded his remarkable Air Force career, in which he commanded three
wings, an air division and held numerous senior staff positions, as Commander, Air Education and Training Command. Newton joined Pratt & Whitney Military Engines in September 2000 and retired as Executive Vice President in 2006.
In June 2009, he was appointed by President
Obama to serve as a Commissioner for the White House Fellows Program. Newton, who is married, currently serves on numerous boards, including as Chair of the Polaris Tech Charter School Board of Directors.
Community Foundation of the Lowcountry would like to express our sincere appreciation for the five retiring board members and wish them the best in all future endeavors: Yvonne Curl, Doug Fletcher, Sheila Mahony (Vice Chair), Al Panu (Secretary), and Jackie Rosswurm (Chair).
The 2024-25 CFL board officers are Lynn Jennings Taylor (Chair), Tray Hunter (Vice-Chair), Paul Moeri (Treasurer), and Judi Levy (Secretary).
Barack
Yolanda Branche
Steve Fanelli
Tom Moore
Lloyd "Fig" Newton
BEAUFORT/PORT ROYAL
Foolish Frog, 846 Sea Island Pkwy, St. Helena Island. (843) 838-9300. Foolish Frog on Facebook
Luther’s Rare & Well Done, 910 Bay Street. (843) 521-1888 or Luther's on Facebook
Q on Bay, 822 Bay St, Beaufort. (843) 524-7771 or www.qonbay.com
Rosie O’Gradys Irish Pub, in Beaufort Town Center. Irish American Sports Pub & Eatery. C'mon down! Rock & Roll Lunch. Weekly Food Specials! MondaysF&B People Discount. Wednesdays, Friday & Saturday - Karaoke. (843) 379-7676 or Rosie's on Facebook
Saltus River Grill, 802 Bay St, Beaufort. (843) 3793474 or www.saltusrivergrill.com
BLUFFTON/HILTON HEAD
Big Bamboo, Coligny Plaza. (843) 686-3443 or www.bigbamboocafe.com
Captain Woody’s, 17 State of Mind St., Bluffton. Tuesdays - Chris Jones; Wednesdays - Trivia. 8/15 Jevon & Andy, 8/16 Phillip Cox, 8/17 Zach & Charlie, 8/22 Ben & Ross, 8/23 Phillip Cox, 8/24 Levi Moore, 8/29 Eric Daubert, 8/30 Jay Morelock, 8/31 Zach & Charlie. www.captainwoodys.com
The Jazz Corner, Village at Wexf1ord, Hilton Head. Sundays - Deas Guyz; Mondays - A Journey Through Jazz with The Martin Lesch Band; TuesdaysFat Tuesdays: A Swingin' Celebration of New Orleans and Beyond; Thursdays - Lavon Stevens with Louise Spencer. 8/14 Quiana Parler with the Lavon Stevens Quartet, 8/16 & 8/17 Laiken Love & Fellowship of Love, 8/21 Bobby Ryder, 8/23 & 8/24 Jocelyn Gould, 8/28 Quiana Parler with the Lavon Stevens Quartet, 8/30 & 8/31 John Brackett Band. (843) 842-8620 or www.TheJazzCorner.com
OUT OF TOWN
The Music Farm, 32 Ann Street, Charleston. 8/14 Riot Stares; Art Star; Show Me Mary; Skywatching, 8/15 Ferxxo Night, 8/16 Club XCX, 8/17 The Warped Band, 8/22 Gable Price & Friends, 8/23 Shrek Rave, 8/24 Emo Night Brooklyn, 8/25 Jason Wade, 8/29 Angelo the Kid, 8/30 Lazer Raver, 8/31 The Midnight City - Back to the 90s, 9/1 SCHC; Circle Back; Strike Face; Quiet. (843) 853-2252 or www.musicfarm.com
The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston. 8/16
Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band; Illa Zilla, 8/17 Thurston Howell - A Premier Yacht Rock Spectacular, 8/21 Schema, 8/23 & 8/24 7th Annual Everyone Orchestra, 8/27 & 8/28 Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, 8/29 The Collection; Bermuda Search Party, 8/30 The Delta Circus - Stones tribute, 8/31 Runaway Gin - Phish tribute, . (843) 571-4343 or www.charlestonpourhouse.com
Windjammer, 1008 Ocean Blvd, Isle of Palms. 8/16 Everclear, 8/17 & 8/18 Sister Hazel, 8/18 Easton Corbin, 8/24 Steep Canyon Rangers, 8/28 Matisyahu; Distant Cousins, 8/29 Allen Stone, 8/30 Tucker Wetmore, 8/31 & 9/1 Winchester; The Weathered Souls; Hannah Aldridge. (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.
THEATER/FILM/DANCE
Now - 8/18, Chicago, the beloved Tony-winning musical, at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head. For tickets, visit www.artshhi.com
9/14, 9/15, 9/20 - 9/22, Oklahoma! Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic American musical presented by the Beaufort Theatre Company at USCB Center for the Arts. 9/14, 9/20 & 9/21 at 7:30pm and 9/15 & 9/22 at 3pm. Tickets available at www. uscbcenterforthearts.com
GALLERIES/ART
Now – 8/23, Painting the Stories, the Gullah Geechee art of Samantha Claar at Art League Gallery. Inside the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head. 843-681-5060.
Now – 8/31, The Beauty of Wood: Creations by Nicholas Di Mona at the Society of Bluffton Artists (SOBA) gallery. www.sobagallery.com
Now – 9/20, A Gathering of Artists, a new show by the Artists of Sea Pines. Sea Pines Center, 71 Lighthouse Road, Hilton Head.
Now – 10/6, ‘Imagine’ Art Quilt Exhibit at the Coastal Discovery Museum at historic Honey Horn on Hilton Head. www.coastaldiscovery.org
Now – 1/14/25, ‘Timeless Treasures,’ student art-
work created at Camp Conroy at Beaufort Art Association Gallery. www.beaufortartassociation.com
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
8/27 – 9/8, Fabulous Fakes exhibit at Art League Gallery. Reception on Wed 8/28. Show and reception are free and open to the public. Art League Gallery is located mid-island inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head. 843-681-5060.
Thur 9/10 - 9/12, Got Art? Fundraiser for Art League of Hilton Head. 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Free public preview 9/10 – 9/12. To purchase a $100 ticket, visit https://shop.artleaguehhi.org/shop/c/p/ Got-Art-2024-Ticket-x83625090.htmor call (843) 681-5060. Inside the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, 843.681.5060, www.artleaguehhi.org
BOOKS & WRITERS
Thur 8/8, Virtual Open Mic Night sponsored by the Pat Conroy Literary Center, 6 to 7:30 pm. Featuring poet Jessica Goody, author of Phoenix: Transformation Poems. Also short readings of 3 to 5 minutes each by other writers in many genres. Writers interested in reading from their work on Zoom should register in advance by emailing contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org. Those interested in watching can do so via the the Conroy Center’s Facebook page, beginning shortly after 6 pm.
Wed 8/14, Expose & Compose, an online workshop led by award-winning author Amber Wheeler Bacon, using photographs as creative writing prompts. From 6 -8pm. This virtual workshop will be held via Zoom, limited to 15 participants, $45/person. Please register in advance at https://patconroyliterarycenter. eventbrite.com
Fri 8/16, Ginny McKinney will sign copies of her poetry collection It’s All True Life from 4-6pm at the Beaufort Bookstore, 2127 Boundary Street, Beaufort. For more information call 843-525-1066 or visit www.thebeaufortbookstore. com
Fri 8/23, Evening with debut novelist Zackary Vernon hosted by the Pat Conroy Literary Center. Vernon will discuss his new coming-of-age novel Our Bodies Electric, starting at 5pm at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort). Books available for sale and signing. Please call to reserve a seat for this free event: 843-379-7025.
Wed 8/28, Stephanie, Stephen and Max McChesney will be signing copies of the inspiring family memoir The Miracle of Max from 5 –6:30 pm at the Beaufort Bookstore, 2127 Boundary Street, Beaufort. For more information visit www. thebeaufortbookstore.com or call 843-525-1066.
Sat 8/31, Romance author Jennifer Vido will hold a book event from 1-4 pm at McIntosh Book Shoppe in downtown Beaufort. Vido will discuss her recent release Serenity by the Sea, the second in her award-winning Gull Island series.
9/27 & 9/28, 8th Annual Lowcountry Book Club Convention hosted by the Pat Conroy Lit-
erary Center. Fri 9/27 at TCL in Beaufort and Sat 9/28 at the Culinary Institute of the South at TCL in Bluffton. Featuring keynote speakers Kimberly Brock, Amanda Jones, and Rhonda McKnight, and a panel of local authors. To register, visit https://lowcountrybookclubconvention2024.eventbrite.com. For a full schedule, visit www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
OTHER EVENTS
Wed 8/21, Sushi Workshop at Windhorse Gallery & Marketplace, 809 Paris Ave, Port Royal. $125 per person. Includes instruction, demonstration, hands-on experience creating sushi, and sake parings. Perfect for beginners and sushi enthusiasts alike! 6-8pm. For details and registration, visit www.windhorseandmarketplace.com
Sat 8/24, Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting for the new Samuel E. Murray Library in Port Royal. Ribbon cutting at 10 am, followed by story time and refreshments. Guests invited to tour the building, meet the staff, apply for a library card, and check out materials. For more information visit https://www.beaufortcountylibrary.org/
Saturdays 9/14 & 9/21, 8th Annual Beaufort County Walk For Water to raise money to fight the global water crisis. 9/ 14 at Live Oaks Park in Port Royal and 9/21 at Wright Family Park in Bluffton. An estimated 1,000 walkers are expected to participate, helping raise a record $100,000 to fight the global water crisis. Registration is now open at www.walkforwater.com/beaufort For sponsorship info, call 843-906-8118.
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.
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.
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.
Monthly Wine Tastings for members of the Monthly Wine Club at Windhorse Gallery and Marketplace at The Shed in Port Royal. Along with 3 monthly wine selections, members have access to these gatherings on every 3rd Thursday, from 5-7pm. Featuring guest vintners, winemakers and growers to discuss the region and origins of each selection. $75/month. For more info visit https:// windhorsegalleryandmarketplace.com/curations
Ongoing, Beaufort Tree Walk by the Lady’s Island Garden Club through the historic Old Point enjoying some unique and noteworthy trees. Takes about an hour and is a little over a mile, starting at the corner of Craven & Carteret Streets and ending in Waterfront Park. Booklets with a map and info about each tree available FREE at the Visitors Center in the historic Arsenal on Craven Street.
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