Lowcountry Weekly November 6 – November 19

A Vote for Forgiveness 4 Or we all lose

Magnolia Café Re-imagined 7 The Dish digs in

Thanksgiving Sides 19 From Debbi's kitchen

Studio Visit 20 In the Lowcountry

Mossy State of Mind 24 A meditation

Heritage Days Symposium 9

Michael B. Moore

cover notes

The painting on our cover is "My Loved Ones" by Tatiana Tatum, from her exhibit "Play, Cry, Repeat" currently on display at the Thibault Gallery in downtown Beaufort. For more information, see our story on page 5.

ryWeekly

o w c o unt

LNovember 6 – November 19, 2024

Publisher: Jeff Evans — Jeff@LCWeekly.com

Editor: Margaret Evans — Editor@LCWeekly.com

Marketing Director: Amanda Hanna — 843-343-8483 or Amanda@LCWeekly.com

Advertising Sales: Jere Russo — 401-787-3280 or JereRusso@Gmail.com

Art Director: Lydia Inglett

Layout & Design: Amalgamated Sprinkleworks

Contributing Writers: Bradley Beck, Katherine Tandy Brown, Avery Caswell, Debbi Covington, Sandra Educate, Luke Frazier, Diana Gorky, Jared Madison, Murray Sease, 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.

directedby Charles D. Frost Allannah Irwin, cello accompaniedby Dr. Gerald Anderson

A Vote for Forgiveness

Ifind myself with the awkward task of penning this column on Saturday, knowing that it won’t be read until Wednesday, at the earliest. Such are the perils of writing for print. Alas, I’m an analog girl in a digital world.

I’m used to it by now. I’ve even found ways to work around it. I try not to be intensely topical, to write about subjects with a long shelf life, things that don’t change much. Or at least . . . not quickly.

But today, I am writing in pre-election times. You will read this post-election. Whatever happens with said election, things will have changed. I just can’t predict how at the moment.

But as one of my eloquent friends said at book club recently, “Whatever happens, it’s gonna be a sh*t show.”

I fear she’s right.

A few minutes ago, as I was scrolling Facebook – as one does when one is eager to avoid the task at hand – an old column appeared in my memories feed. Deep in procrastination mode, I clicked and read it. I’d written it just before election day, eight years ago, and as I read, I found myself both astounded and somewhat comforted. Why? Because I could have written it today!

(It's always strangely reassuring to be reminded that the more things change, the more they stay the same.)

In this old column, I was contemplating a speech I’d been invited to give to the Exchange Club of Beaufort a few weeks later. They had asked me to talk about strategies for healing the nation after a horrific election season. (This was 2016, for those who don’t like math.) They wanted me to focus on post-election “unity and forgiveness.”

A daunting challenge, to say the least.

As I read the column, a kind of nostalgic longing washed over me. Eight years ago, I’d never seen our country so divided, politically speaking. But I still believed that we, the people, could rise above those divisions.

Do I still believe that today? Depends on the mood I’m in when you ask. Or how much time I’ve spent on social media.

There’s a meme I keep seeing on Facebook that reads like this: “The worst thing about Trump’s presidency isn’t what we learned about him. It’s what we’ve learned about our family and friends.”

You know what? Stop posting that meme. Just stop. If you love your family and friends, stop publicly implying that they are beyond the pale because you don’t approve of their vote in a presidential election. They are the same people you’ve known and loved, but they do not share your experience of the world, nor do they share your brain. It’s quite possible they don’t share your news sources.

But they are still your family and friends. Look at those words and think about what they mean. Family and friends. Say whatever you want about Trump – or Harris – but stop trying to shame your family and friends out of the human community. Stop loving your principles more than your people.

I was downtown at First Friday last night, hobnobbing with a bunch of artists and arts supporters at various openings and receptions. Lots of people were wearing Kamala merch –hats, buttons, etc – and standing around in small groups, discussing their fears about the election. “I just don’t understand how anybody could . . . ” was a phrase I heard over and over again. And I sympathized.

But, I do understand. Over the last couple of decades, I’ve made it my mission – some might call it my obsession – to understand why good people are so divided over politics. Emphasis on “good.” There’s plenty of research, and I’ve read most of it. Even in the age of Trump, it is possible to understand. But I also understand not understanding.

So today, I’m asking you to forgo understanding and just consider . . . forgiving. As of this morning, I have no idea who will win the election. All I know is that in the widespread absence of understanding, much forgiving will be necessary. On both sides.

In the column I wrote eight years ago, I asked, “How will we clean up the emotional battlefield when it’s all over? Who tends to the wounded when everybody’s bleeding?”

Margaret

RANTS & RAVES

Having been tasked with giving a speech about forgiveness, I’d looked into the etymology of the word. From The Word Detective, I’d learned the following:

The root of “forgive” is the Latin word “perdonare,” meaning “to give completely, without reservation.” (That “perdonare” is also the source of our English “pardon.”)

When the Latin “perdonare” was adopted into the Germanic ancestor of English, it was translated piece-by-piece, making the result what linguists call a “calque” (from the French “calquer,” to trace or copy), a literal transliteration. “Per” was replaced by “for,” a prefix that in this case means “thoroughly,” and “donare” with “giefan” (“to give”).

“So there you have it,” I wrote in 2016. “Though it’s taken on extra layers, ‘forgive’ –at its heart – means ‘to give thoroughly.’ Not to lend. Not to bargain over. To give. And not reservedly, not conditionally, but thoroughly.

Forgiveness is not a transaction, not a quid pro quo, tit-for-tat, ‘you-scratch-my-back-andI’ll-scratch-yours’ kinda thing. It’s an act of giving thoroughly. Giving up a grudge. Giving pardon. Giving good will. Thoroughly.”

In our current political climate, it almost seems like too much to ask. And to be perfectly frank, I’m not sure forgiveness is possible if we continue our laser-like focus on politics. Politics, for the most part, is a transaction – or a series thereof. It’s about wheeling and dealing, compromising and prioritizing. It’s about furthering various interests while leaving others . . . unfurthered.

Most of all, politics is about arranging and rearranging power. Politics is not about forgiveness and it’s not about unity.

But we can be. Humans are political animals, but that’s not all we are. In a democratic republic, politics is a necessary evil. But it shouldn’t be an all-consuming obsession. When this election’s over, we must find healthier national pastimes if we’re to cultivate forgiveness and unity.

Ax-throwing, perhaps? Or maybe we need a Great American Baking Show!

Downtown at First Friday last night, I was chatting with an artist friend about our rancid political scene, and she told me she was less worried about who would win the election than about what would become of us. The good people of the Divided States of America.

“You know,” she said (and I’m paraphrasing), “I simply can’t understand why anybody would vote for Donald Trump. But our neighbors are Trump people. And they really complicate matters by being such great neighbors. Always showing up when we need help. Always going above and beyond.”

People are always “complicating matters” like that, aren’t they? Because people are complicated. It’s a truth worth remembering as we move forward together, post-election. Maybe the most important truth.

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

Tatiana Tatum’s ‘Play, Cry, Repeat’

By Diana Gorky

Tatiana Tatum’s exhibit “Play, Cry, Repeat” is currently on display at Thibault Gallery in downtown Beaufort, showcasing her unique blend of playful whimsy and deep emotional reflection. Her car window series, featuring finger drawings on foggy windows, captures the childlike wonder in its purest form. In her piece “Meow from the Backseat,” Tatiana reflects, “Drawing like a child isn’t easy. Children have a freedom and audacity that only true masters can achieve in adulthood.”

But Tatiana doesn’t shy away from deeper, more personal themes. Her work “My Loved Ones are Always With Me” explores grief and healing, inspired by the Southern belief that cardinals represent your loved ones visiting from the afterlife. “My mom always called messy hair ‘a bird’s nest,’” Tatiana shares. “These two concepts clicked like puzzle pieces, and I saw the finished painting before me.” Her Healing series feature feminine form juxtaposed with native Lowcountry medicinal plants: passionflower and beautyberry. As one treats anxiety and another reduces inflammation, the message behind the painting is “Healing comes from both body and soul”.

Tatiana’s November exhibit brings together both her lighthearted, playful work and her emotionally charged reflections on loss. “Play, Cry, Repeat” will be on display throughout the month at Thibault Gallery, located at 815 Bay Street. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the powerful work of an artist who is quickly becoming a household name.

Known for her quirky fashion and larger-than-life presence, Tatiana has been an unstoppable creative force becoming one of the most intriguing East Coast’s emerging talents. One day, she’s presenting her work at Savannah’s Telfair Museum; the next, she’s receiving the Magellan Scholar award for her scholarship in 3D printing ceramics. She’s also the creative mind behind Beaufort’s beloved Redneck Mermaids, showcased at the Chalk It Up! festival. Her painting “Inside Out” proudly adorns the halls of USCB’s Center for the Arts.

With her artistic achievements stacking up, everyone is left wondering—what’s next for this rising star, and is there anything Tatiana can’t do?

Tatiana at her easel

Beaufort Children's Theatre Performs ‘Shrek the Musical Jr.’

The beloved story of everyone’s favorite ogre takes the stage as the Beaufort Children's Theatre proudly presents Shrek the Musical Jr. at the USCB Center for the Arts. Running from November 22-24, this lively production promises a weekend of laughter, music, and a whole lot of fun for audiences of all ages.

Based on the hit DreamWorks film, Shrek the Musical Jr. follows the hilarious and unlikely hero Shrek as he embarks on a quest to rescue the fiery Princess Fiona. Along the way, he’s joined by his lovable yet talkative sidekick Donkey and a host of fairytale misfits, including Pinocchio, Gingy, and the Three Little Pigs, all of whom learn that what makes them different is what makes them special.

This talented young cast of local talent brings these iconic characters to life with their vibrant performances.

Main Characters and Supporting Cast: Luke Strebe (Shrek), Peyton Brock (Fiona), Christopher Jenkins (Donkey), Beau Backus (Lord Farquaad), Sophia Mercier (Dragon),

Lauren Grice (Mama Ogre), DJ Wardlow (Papa Ogre and Knight), Katie Cechini (Teen Fiona), Kayla Chao (Young Fiona), Everett Johnston (Young Shrek), Ava Lute (Gingy), Hanna Richmond (Pinocchio), Lily Grace Johnson (Puss in Boots), Finn Brock (Bishop and Knight), David Barr (Knight), Tag Cushman (Knight), James Riddle (Knight), Brendan Van Breede (Dwarf and Knight), Brea Parker (The Big Bad Wolf), Logan Forrestall (Peter Pan), Bryce Young (Pied Piper), Madelyn Colton (Mama Bear), Jackson Hamilton (Papa Bear), Finley Kossack (Baby Bear), Sienna Reed-Arquez (The Ugly Duckling), JJ Kunkler (Rooster), Molly Smith (Wicked Witch), Maren Tillapaugh

(Storyteller), Annie Grace Wells (Storyteller), Caeden White (Storyteller), Sidda Leigh Brock (Three Little Pigs), Maurice Brown (Three Little Pigs), Mia Angelina Procida (Three Little Pigs), Liam Martin (Captain of the Guards).

Ensemble Cast: Izzy Amundson, Ivy Beer, Bryan Parker, Maci Porter, Madeline Richardson, Maggie Smith, Livi Smith, Maddi Welch, Charlotte Bauer, Evie Clavijo, Julia Doerflinger, Avery-Kate Lane, Ainsley Backus, Emma Brem, Noah Cantrell, Khloie Cole, Seabrook Duryea, Macie Ruth Magbee, Maddy Hardy, Hannah McKinnon, Jonah Perkins, Maeve Saunders, Ivey Savage, Mary Margaret Ackerman, Sara Borders, Ava Borders, Natalie Bozalek, Leah Clark, Lily

Kate Ferguson, Vivienne Gibbons, Mackenzie Goodrich, Emily Scott Howell, Riley Kunkler, Annie Marshall, Jack Marshall, Avery Merrick, Josephine Murray, Genevieve Murray, Annika Pagliaroli, Riley Phifer, Allison Smith, Kaylyn Smith, Reagan Makay Smith, Wynn Staiger, Anna Claire Stansell

Tickets can be purchased online at www. uscbcenterforthearts.com, by calling the box office at (843) 521-4145.

Join Shrek and his fairytale friends for an unforgettable adventure filled with laughter and heart. Secure your tickets today — this is one show you won’t want to miss!

For more information and to see more upcoming events, visit www.uscbcenterfor thearts.com

Want to Go?

Shrek the Musical, Jr.

Friday, November 22 – 7:00pm Saturday, November 23 – 7:00pm Sunday, November 24 – 3:00pm

Adults: $24 Seniors/Military: 20 Students/Children: $16 USCB Center for the Arts 801 Carteret Street, Beaufort Tickets Available At: 843-521-4145 or www.USCBCenterForTheArts.com

Magnolia Cafe

Reinvention (re·in·ven·tion): the action or process through which something is changed so much that it appears to be entirely new.

Reinvention is something we do almost every day in some way. We change jobs, we start driving to work a different way, we rearrange our furniture, or we come up with a new way to serve up last night’s leftovers. But sometimes, reinvention is bigger than that. Sometimes it’s life-changing. And sometimes it changes the lives of others. One tasty example is the arrival of Beaufort’s newest culinary family and the re-imagining of a dining icon at Magnolia Cafe.

Let’s start at the beginning. Magnolia Bakery Cafe (as it was originally known) opened in 1999 along Beaufort’s picturesque Bellamy Curve on Carteret Street. Three years later, it was purchased by Dana and Evangline (Jing) Johnsrude, who were looking to escape the freneticism of the DC area and open a restaurant along the East Coast.

They kept the name, concept, and menu of the bakery café initially, putting their own fingerprints on it in subsequent years. They successfully operated the bakery and café for 20 years, serving up morning beverages, sumptuous baked goods, breakfast specialties, sandwiches, soups and salads for breakfast, brunch, and lunch to consistently rave reviews. Sadly, tragedy struck in late-2022, when Jing died suddenly, and Dana closed the restaurant and put it up for sale.

It sat empty and forlorn for more than a year, leaving a deep hole in Beaufort’s dining scene. However, as reinvention often happens, the space has arisen and reopened earlier this year as Magnolia Cafe, thanks to Leah and Ryan McCarthy, restaurateurs from Bluffton who have a unique reinvention story of their own.

Originally hailing from Scranton, Pennsylvania (Leah) and Vernon, New York, near Syracuse (Ryan), the couple met in Hilton Head, where Leah had moved with her family as a kid and where Ryan was completing an internship after culinary school.

After college, Leah had taken a job with Banana Republic in New York City and was all set to move,

when a dear friend who had deep spirituality and intuition convinced her that the timing wasn’t right and that she should stay in Hilton Head.

Not really understanding the deeper meaning, Leah heeded the advice of her friend, took a job at a local bank, and, within the year, had narrowly escaped the World Trade Center catastrophe (her office would have been in one of the towers), as well as meeting Ryan when he came into the bank to open a checking account.

In 2002, Leah was unhappy with her banking job and Ryan was ready to spread his wings from being a sous chef at Colleton River Plantation. They had always talked about opening a New York-style deli (they both craved the overstuffed sandwiches and raucous vibe of a traditional deli) and reinvented themselves with the renting of a space in downtown Bluffton and the opening of Downtown Deli in 2003.

THE LOWCOUNTRY

DISH

Cele & Lynn Seldon

Serving up classics like a traditional New York-style Reuben, the 46 Italian (loaded with pepperoni, salami, capicola and provolone), The Brooklyn (hot pastrami, Swiss and spicy mustard on rye), and the Ultimate Philly (shaved ribeye, peppers, onions and melted provolone), beloved Downtown Deli also boasts local specialties like a Lowcountry Club Sub, the Calhoun Croissant (chicken or egg salad and bacon on a croissant), and the 278 Traffic Jam (meatloaf, caramelized onions, melted cheddar and hot pepper bacon jam), along with wraps, burgers, tacos and salads.

Pastry to go

As business grew, Leah and Ryan were fielding tons of catering requests, so, in 2004, they reinvented themselves yet again with the opening of Downtown Catering, sharing a dual kitchen space with the deli. Catering weddings, corporate events and high-profile events like The Masters and the RBC Heritage, their catering division has grown to be the largest part of their business, and they now employ 35 full-time staff members, which swells to 60 employees with their banquet staff.

After 16 years in that location, the McCarthys moved Downtown Deli and Downtown Catering to a more visible location on May River Road in 2019 and will be celebrating their 21st anniversary in December. (Continued next page.)

The McCarthy family

Inside Magnolia Bakery Café

Pecan chicken salad

Avocado toast

With the growth of Downtown Catering came another opportunity to reinvent themselves with the opening of Venue 1223, a

sophisticated event venue just next door. Offering a turn-key event space featuring indoor and outdoor spaces for up to 125 seated guests or 250 roaming guests; complimentary table, chair and linen rentals; soup-to-nuts catering; sound systems; and lots of above and beyond thoughtful touches to make an event a once-in-a-lifetime special occasion.

During this time, Leah had always maintained a soft spot in her heart for Beaufort. She attended USCB for a few years back in the day and opted to have her three children at Beaufort Memorial Hospital, as well as maintaining doctors and pediatricians in the area.

Often finding herself in Beaufort over those 20-plus years for one reason or another, she frequented the original Magnolia Bakery Cafe often: picking up a coffee to go; bribing the kids with sweet treats after their doctor’s appointments; and often grabbing a sandwich and more here and there. So, when she heard that they had closed, she said to herself, “Someone needs to do something with it.”

Months later, Leah saw a real estate listing for the business and she and Ryan decided to reinvent themselves yet again. Within 24 hours, they had made an offer and were well on their way to taking over the Beaufort landmark.

Right away, they knew that they wanted to respect and honor Magnolia Bakery and Cafe’s history. So, they kept the name--dropping the Bakery and just going with Magnolia Cafe. They also knew they wanted to breathe new life into it. “We loved the location,” said Leah. “We loved the old sense that it gave off. It felt authentic to be here. And we wanted to respect that feeling.”

But they wanted to change the esthetic a bit. They put in new windows and floors, painted the place top to bottom, put in all new kitchen equipment, added new lighting fixtures, tables, and chairs, and gave it a modern kitchen and garden feel, with cutting boards, floral artwork, and cookbooks as their décor.

and tomato on house-made English muffins; the breakfast egg bowl with a chorizo (or tofu), cheese, salsa, black beans, avocado and home fries scramble (it’s their most popular dish on the menu for a reason); frittatas; waffles (the waffle Monte Cristo is to die for); house-made soups; hearty entrée salads (the 3-Salad Plate is a personal fave—don’t miss the superfood slaw—and Leah’s favorite is the grilled pecan chicken salad); lunch rice bowls with varied toppings; and creative sandwiches like chicken caprese, grilled vegetable with pesto and Boursin cheese, a tofu Banh Mi, and the beef on weck with shaved roast beef and melted cheese on a house made Kummelweck roll, horseradish and au jus on the side.

When asked to describe Magnolia Cafe now, Leah responded on the spot with, “A charming Southern breakfast and lunch spot with fresh food and atmosphere that is rooted in Beaufort tradition.”

We couldn’t agree more.

Serving breakfast and lunch all day, the café also features an extensive take-away coffee (King Bean Coffee out of Charleston) and tea (Hale Teas out of Savannah) menu as you enter, along with a case of delectable scones, muffins, cinnamon rolls and more.

Once seated, the menu is the greatest hits of breakfast, brunch and lunch options, like toasts (although the avocado is one of their biggest sellers, don’t overlook the stunning whipped ricotta); egg sandwiches with spinach

The McCarthys and their staff take food and friendly and knowledgeable service seriously and 80 percent of the menu is scratch-made in-house by Chef Eric Spear and his team. Chef Spear has been there since they opened their doors and helped create the menu. He also makes many of their breads, including the English muffins and sandwich rolls, using his 150-year-old sourdough starter. They tend to focus more on healthier options (OK, so the beef on weck might be considered a naughtier option) and are always happy to accommodate vegan and allergy requests.

Magnolia Cafe also features a robust Grab & Go area, featuring many of their scratch salads, like chicken, shrimp, Greek pasta, pickled beet and goat cheese, and the can’t-get-enough-of superfood slaw. They also carry pre-cooked dinners that just need to be finished off at home, like lasagna roll-ups, meatballs and marinara, turkey tetrazzini and a rotating vegan option. There is also online ordering for the full menu (they even offer university student discounts), as well as to-go catering for things like sandwich platters. There are also cookies and cupcakes — some made in house, some made by local bakers — for dessert.

Since opening their doors in March, the McCarthys have been blown away by the Beaufort welcome. “We were a little worried with how Beaufort would welcome someone from ‘out of town’—even though we’re just over the bridge—and taking over such a beloved place,” says Leah. “Would we be doing Beaufort proud? But the response has been way more welcoming than we could have imagined. We’ve made so many connections and we already feel part of the Beaufort community.”

Well, we’re here to say, welcome to Beaufort. We’re thrilled to have the McCarthys and a reinvented Magnolia Cafe in the neighborhood.

Pulled chicken bowl

Downtown Catering

The Downtown Deli burger

Iced pumpkin maple latte

Heritage Days History Symposium

The Heritage Days Symposium Subcommittee, in partnership with the Pat Conroy Literary Center, is hosting the 2024 History Symposium: Where It All Began on Friday, November 8, in Frissell Community House on the Penn Center campus. The symposium focuses on the historical impact of the Gullah Geechee culture from Africa to present day Beaufort, South Carolina. Registration is from 8:00 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. with sessions starting at 9:00 a.m. Advance and at-the-door registration is $35, which includes a light breakfast and lunch. Learn more and register in advance at https://whereitallbegan.eventbrite.com.

This year’s presenters include Dr. Louis Venters, Francis Marion University Professor of African and African Diaspora History; Michael B. Moore, candidate for the SC House of Representatives District 1 and great-great grandson of the legendary Robert Smalls; Dr. Valinda Littlefield, University of South Carolina Associate Professor of History; and

Bradley Tarrance, Robert Smalls Leadership Academy Principal.

The program also includes special performances by the St. Helena Elementary School African Drumming Ensemble, the Robert Smalls Leadership Academy Choir, Gary Sterling, internationally acclaimed St. Helena native, and soloist, Louis Venters. On behalf of Penn Center Mrs. Deloris Pringle, Chair of the Board of Trustees, will welcome participants. As the founder of Penn Center Harvest Day, Dr. Emory Campbell, former Executive Director of Penn Center, and Emeritus Trustee, will introduce a special video presentation Gullah Geechee Celebration: 40 Years of Heritage Days at Penn Center by Tendaji Bailey, Executive producer and Co-director. Other special guests include SC House Representative Michael Rivers and Dr. Frank Rodriquez, Beaufort County School District Superintendent.

A book signing session organized by the Pat Conroy Literary Center will feature books

Emory Campbell.

There will also be information tables provided by the Beaufort County Awareness Group, Beaufort History Museum, The Pat Conroy Literary Center, DAYLO: Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization, Penn Center Heritage Days Planning Committee, Beaufort County School District, St. Helena Elementary School, and Robert Smalls Leadership Academy.

In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Heritage Days, Where It All Began offers participants a unique opportunity to explore, understand, and appreciate the historical and cultural contributions of the Gullah Geechee people from ancient times to present day.

For more info and complete schedule for Heritage Days, visit www.penncenter.com

authored by the presenters and special guest Lynn Bryant and Dr.

Bradley Terrance

Louis Venters

Valinda Littlefield

Workplace Memoir Earns Praise

Review by Avery Caswell

Now, as a Maryland-based Associate Professor of English, Nancy Murray is the first to admit her path to the ivory tower was not a straight one. Her new memoir, No Experience Necessary (waywordbooks), is a spirited look at her lengthy and colorful resumé. Running the gamut from selling stereo speakers from a seedy van and myriad food service jobs, to becoming a sought after Joan Rivers impersonator, Murray’s work history is the literal definition of a storied career.

The poster child for resiliency, Murray remains undaunted as she moves up, and sometimes down, the career ladder. (The line, “once again, I was looking for a job” appears on more than one page.) Like a modern-day version of the Unsinkable Molly Brown, she makes a case for being, as Molly herself said, “interested in everything when you don’t know nothing.”

In No Experience Necessary , Murray demonstrates how the lowliest jobs can sometimes offer the most valuable insights. Cleaning others’ houses provided a window into her parenting skills; while waitressing, she has a Scarlett O’Hara-esque epiphany with a discarded dill pickle.

In her twenties, Murray crafted a personal mission statement, one she applied to every job she held. She vowed always to do right by the customer and her co-workers, even when it meant going against her employer. Eventually, she came to realize that she might have had it backwards. “I shouldn’t apply my mission to whatever job came along — I needed a job that aligned with my mission statement.”

Knowing that education was the key to achieving her goals, as a high school drop out, she had a lot of ground to make up. Equal parts frustration and hilarity propelled her toward earning not only her GED, but

Relationships & Happiness

Governments measuring happiness? At first this struck me as odd, but maybe it’s not. Some years ago, the King of Bhutan said, “Gross national happiness is more important than gross national product.” His surveys resulted in publishing numerical results in health, education, and psychological well-being. Numerous nations are following suit.

How natural it is for all of us to want a happiness that doesn’t vacillate or vanish. Yet projects that seek happiness indices suggest that people are still on the search for its deeper meaning.

All kinds of situations seem to interrupt happiness, particularly conflicts in relationships – not getting along with others or feeling hurt by something someone has said or done. Trials like these have pushed me to pray, to seek with purer motives the happiness that comes from God. This in reality can’t be taken from any of us, even when relationships feel out of order. Understanding the nature of Soul, which is a synonym for God, has given me a more profound joy and satisfaction that are spiritual and innate to every man, woman, and child.

The joy of Soul has nothing to do with what the material senses are saying is happening within our relationships. In fact, the material senses can neither improve nor hinder the

Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Ultimately, Murray realized “you get what you settle for” and drew her line in the sand. Determined to finish her M.F.A., she deftly managed a difficult boss by demanding what she was worth, rather than accepting what she was offered.

Fast-paced and witty, No Experience Necessary is Murray’s second memoir. Her first, One Child for Another, (Last Minute

happiness of relationships that are grounded in Soul. Praying to understand that God is the only source of harmony shows us how to bring our affections and desires in line with Him. Soul shows us how to identify others spiritually and how to align our actions toward others with expressions of His love.

Mary Baker Eddy, founder of Christian Science, elucidated the meaning of true happiness throughout her major book, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.” She not only wrote about how we can gain the understanding of our God-given happiness, but also how to nullify a false material identity that keeps us from experiencing it consistently. She wrote, “Christian Science commands man to master the propensities, – to hold hatred in abeyance with kindness, to conquer lust with chastity, revenge with charity, and to overcome deceit with honesty. Choke these errors in their early stages, if you would not cherish an army of conspirators against health, happiness, and success” (p. 405). Anger, envy, and distrust must be destroyed by our recognizing that these are no part of anyone’s true spiritual nature – the only nature we have.

I saw this so clearly when I had a clash with a family member that left us not communicating with each other for six years. Although this didn’t affect me all the time, it was a dark

Press, 2015) was recognized by Baltimore Magazine as one of the Ten Best Reads in 2015. Her poetry, plays, and short stories have been published, produced, and performed regionally and internationally. She is a recent recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council creativity award for individual artists.

The purpose of memoir, as Morgan Harper Nichols once said is to, “Tell the story of the mountain you climbed. Your words could become a page in some else’s survival guide.” Murray’s work stories make a most excellent guide; her climb is inspiring, the view priceless.

Enjoy and evening with Nancy Murray on Friday, November 15 from 5 – 6:30 pm at the Pat Conroy Literary Center in downtown Beaufort. For more information visit www.waywordbooks.com

area in my thought that would rise to the surface at different times, bringing with it very unhappy feelings. I tried to reopen the communication with letters, but to no avail. Then through patiently praying, I began to release my human effort to restore a happy situation and to trust God. When this individual came to thought, I would quietly acknowledge that Love was the source of us both, bringing only good, unity, and peace. I didn’t think about a particular outcome, but I continued to acknowledge this spiritual fact for all God’s creation. I began to feel light where darkness had been.

Several years later when a difficult situation arose in our family, this person called me for comfort and also to comfort me. As we both apologized for the past, I felt the simplicity of Love’s action. As grateful as I was for the call, I was more grateful that I was ready for it, having released remorse and unhappiness about our relationship.

“Happy the man whose treasure-trove is wisdom, who is rich in discernment” (Prov. 3:13, “The Holy Bible: A Translation From the Latin Vulgate in the Light of the Hebrew and Greek Originals”). Such happiness is the very substance of our existence – intact and inexhaustible.

By Elizabeth Mata

Paid Advertorial by The Christian Science Society of Beaufort

Holiday Gallery of Gifts at Art League

Afestive tradition continues this holiday season as Art League Gallery is transformed into a Gallery of Gifts, featuring one-of-a-kind decor and gift items handmade by local artists. Shoppers can shop for works of art — whether paintings, photography, pottery or mixed media — artistic stocking stuffers, jewelry, and unique ornaments and holiday decor.

“This is the fifth year we’ve turned our art gallery into a gift gallery during the holiday season. Each year has been a stunning success, and we’re excited to continue the tradition. We’re proud to offer gifts from local artists at affordable prices,” says Lyndsi Caulder, Gallery Manager of Art League Gallery. “Art League Gallery remains a must-see for holiday shopping.”

Gallery of Gifts is open November 26-January 3, Monday-Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sundays 12-4pm. An opening reception will be held Wednesday, December 4, 5-7pm. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.

Art League Gallery is located midisland inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, 843.681.5060.

Shell Ornaments by Barbara Stroer

Three Steeples at Christmas Time

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Christmas Time on Hunting Island

Cards by Mac Rogers

Double Parked on Bay Street

Earrings by Lydia Chojnacki

Oyster Shells by Margi Smith

Bamboo Charcuterie Board

HOLIDAY CHEER EVENTS

Nov. 6 – Nov. 9

40th Annual Penn Center Heritage Days 16 Penn Center Circle West, St. Helena Island Visit www.penncenter.com for Details

Nov. 8 & 9

Hilton Head Oyster Festival Benefits Carmines Family Recreation Scholarship Fund Call 843-681-7273 for Ticket Information

Nov. 16th 8am-5:30pm

Rods 'n' Reel-tors Redfish Tournament Fish anywhere in Beaufort County Weigh In At Shellring Ale Works, 1111 11th St., Port Royal https://allevents.in/port%royal/rods-n-reel-torsredfish-tournament/200027075402304 for info Dec. 7th 9am-3pm

www.beaufortacademy.org for information

Nov. 22-24

23rd Annual Beaufort Home for the Holidays Call 843-522-6503 for Ticket Information Deck the Halls of Habersham - 7 Homes Benefits St. Peter's Catholic Church

Nov. 22-24

Beaufort Children's Theater presents Shrek USCB Center for the Arts - 805 Carteret St. https://centerfortheartstickets.universitytickets.com/w/

Nov. 25th – Jan. 3rd

Art League of Hilton Head Gallery of Gifts Art Center of Coastal Carolian Gifts, Jewelry & Artwork by Local Artists Call 843-681-5060 for more information

Nov. 28th 8am-10:40am Hilton Head Turkey Trot 5k & Fun Run Call 843-681-7273 for Registration Information

Nov. 30th

14th & 15th

21st & 22nd

Small Business Saturday Shop Local! 10am-5pm Jan. 9th – 19th Restaurant

Dec. 6th – 8th City of Beaufort Holiday Weekend Dec. 6 – Night on the Town – 6-9pm Downtown Beaufort

7 – Gullah Taste of Christmas – 11am

The Tapestry of Life

One-of-a-kind artistic creations by over a dozen artists will be offered for sale to the public during a one-day open house exhibition and fundraiser hosted by The Arts Port Royal on November 16th from noon to 5 pm.

Initially, the Tapestry of Life project was created to provide artists with a fun and creative way to express themselves artistically, with only one rule—panels had to be in a 7 x 9-inch vertical format. Breaking borders was encouraged, and the artist could use any medium, so some panels were three-dimensional, some were painted, drawn, or woven, and others combined found items, recycled materials, and quilted objects.

Some, but not all, of the artists are professionals, and that didn't matter to curator Sheree Richnow, who said, "Expressing yourself through art is a fundamental gift. We are all creators, and the only thing that matters is whether or not we enjoyed the process. We need to leave judgment behind and wrap our eyes around the energy that went into making a panel. Every time I receive another panel for the exhibit, it brings me joy. They are truly beautiful – and meaningful."

Without hesitation, Sheree and her six-woman Advisory Committee decided that 100% of the funds raised through the sale of the panels would go directly to support the HELP of Beaufort. "Under-funded charities such as the HELP of Beaufort continue to compete for funding provided by larger companies and corporations that typically go to better-known organizations. In Beaufort, we believe in

Royal, who generously offered to sponsor our area's first Tapestry of Life project.

With over a hundred panels to select from, visitors will surely find one that speaks to them and either keep it for themselves or gift it to a friend for the holidays.

taking care of 'family first,'" remarked Susan Stone and Anne McCall Wilson, co-owners of The Arts Port

The community is invited to experience the Open House Exhibition & Art Sale on Saturday, November 16th, from noon to 5 pm at The Arts Port Royal, 1404 Paris Avenue, Port Royal. If you would like more information, you can contact shereerichnow@gmail.com

Thanksgiving Day

It’s Thanksgiving Day. Hungry guests are arriving. The bar is open. Folks are chatting and socializing. Everyone is ready to eat. But . . . the turkey isn’t quite done. What to do? Satisfy your invitee’s munchies without spoiling their appetites with these three delicious make ahead recipes.

BBQ

TURKEY MEATBALLS

These gluten-free meatballs are sweet and tangy. They’re perfect served on toothpicks for a fun pre-Thanksgiving dinner appetizer. Use your favorite bottled barbeque sauce or make your own.

1 pound ground turkey

3 tablespoons chopped green onions

1/3 cup dried cranberries

1 egg

1 tablespoon soy sauce

Salt and pepper, to taste

Vegetable oil

1 cup barbeque sauce

Chopped green onions, to garnish

In a medium bowl, mix ground turkey with chopped green onions and dried cranberries. Add egg and soy sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well with your hands until well

combined. Shape into 18-20 meatballs. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add a small amount of vegetable oil to skillet to keep meatballs from sticking. Brown meatballs for 7 to 8 minutes, carefully turning occasionally to brown evenly. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place meatballs in a baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Pour barbeque sauce over meatballs and bake, uncovered, for 30-35 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through and no longer pink. Garnish with chopped green onions, if desired. Serve warm. Makes 18-20.

CRANBERRY CHEESE DIP

This easy baked dip is a wonderful addition to your Thanksgiving Day menu. It’s cheesy, sweet-tart, salty and savory. Serve with water crackers or cocktail toasts. (I divided this recipe into two smaller dishes. One for Vince and me to eat and one to share.)

2 cups extra-sharp white cheddar, divided

1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, room temp

1 tablespoon brown sugar, optional

¼ heaping cup whole

Day Treats

berry cranberry sauce, canned or homemade ½ cup fresh cranberries

Pinch of ground nutmeg

Additional cranberries to garnish, optional Preheat oven to 350 degree. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, mix 1½ cups of white cheddar cheese with cream cheese, brown sugar (optional, if cranberries are too tart), cranberry sauce, fresh cranberries and pinch of nutmeg. Mix well to combine. Spread dip in prepared baking dish and top with remaining shredded cheddar cheese. Garnish with additional cranberries. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until dip is heated through and edges begin to brown. Serve hot with water crackers or cocktail toasts. Serves 8.

By Debbi Covington

OREO TURKEY COOKIES

Oreo Turkey Cookies are a fun treat for kids and adults alike.

12 Oreo cookies

Candy corn 24 candy eyeballs 12 orange mini M&Ms

Small tube black cake/cookie icing

Separate Oreo cookies into two pieces. Press 4 candy corns on icing on one side. Place other half of cookie on top and press gently to stick everything together. Use small drops of icing to stick eyes and M&M beak on top of cookie. Repeat until all ingredients are used. Best eaten the same day that they are made. Makes 12.

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

A Perfect Holiday Ham The Boys are Back in Town!

This outstanding Nutcracker's name is Vincent Van Nut and was painted by Tatiana Tatum for the 5th annual "It's a Nutty Christmas!" This outrageous 6-foot Nutcracker will be joining 80 other artist created masterpieces for an outside holiday exhibit in Beaufort County from November to January. Don't miss it!

Any business that wants to participate in “It’s a Nutty Christmas” should contact danie.connolly@yahoo.com

Bringing together loved ones with classic seasonal meals is a staple of the holiday season, and few centerpieces call to mind childhood memories like a tender ham cooked to perfection. A longtime hallmark of family meals during the holidays, ham can feed a crowd, complement a wide variety of side dishes and is easily elevated with glazes, spices and rubs of all kinds for those who want to take their hosting up a notch.

While ham can be the centerpiece of your holiday dinner, it’s also a versatile dish that can be served for any special occasion. Ham is also ideal for incorporating into holiday brunches, served as an hors d’oeuvre at cocktail parties and shared at office potlucks.

To help cook the perfect ham for your celebration, consider this advice for a festive feast from the experts at Coleman Natural Foods, which has produced high-quality, all-natural, humanely raised, no antibiotics ever, fresh and prepared meats sourced from American farmers since 1875. Start with a tender and delicious spiral ham, which is precut in one continuous swirl, allowing you to simply cut each piece from the one behind it for even, consistent slices.

Set the oven to 250-350 F, keeping in mind lower temperatures lead to longer cooking times but more tender meat. Bake 10-16 minutes per pound, adding glaze about 15 minutes prior to finishing, until the ham reaches an internal temperature of 145 F at its thickest part.

Make your guests’ mouths water with a sweet glaze that mingles with the ham’s natural saltiness, creating a balance of flavors. To achieve a unique taste, try flavors such as pineapple, honey or ginger. For a classic, delicious ham perfect for holiday gatherings and special occasions, try this Brown Sugar Honey Glazed Ham.

After enjoying as the centerpiece of your holiday dinner, it can be savored in the days following your celebrations to help make lunches and weeknight meals a breeze after a busy season.

Leftover ham can be enjoyed in sandwiches like a ham and cheese melt, mixed in a delicious salad, chopped up into an omelet for a hearty breakfast or added to macaroni and cheese for a protein-packed dinner.

BROWN SUGAR HONEY GLAZED HAM

1 cooked Applewood Smoked Bone-In Spiral Ham (7-9 pounds)

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1/4 cup Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1. Preheat oven to 325 F. Place ham in roasting pan with flat side down.

2. Bake ham about 1 hour to internal temperature of 130 F

3. In medium saucepan, combine brown sugar, honey, butter, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon and cloves. Cook mixture over medium heat, stirring frequently, until butter is melted and ingredients are well combined.

4. Brush about half of glaze over ham, making sure to fill crevices of scored cuts.

5. Return ham to oven and bake 30-45 minutes, or until glaze is bubbly and caramelized with internal temperature of 145 F. Basting with pan juices every 10-15 minutes or so.

6. Remove from oven and let rest 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Serves 32.

Savor a Sweet Morning Snack

Add sweetness to your breakfast routine with something delicious and easy-to-make.

CHERRY COFFEE CAKE

Nonstick cooking spray

1 can (12.4 ounces) refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing

1 ½ cups (21-ounce can) cherry pie filling ½ cup slivered almonds or pecans (optional)

Heat oven to 375 F.

Spray 9-inch round cake pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Separate cinnamon roll dough into eight rolls; cut each roll into quarters.

Place dough rounded-side down in pan. Spoon pie filling over rolls. Sprinkle almond slivers or pecans over cherry filling, if using.

Bake 25-35 minutes, or until golden brown.

Invert onto plate or cutting board. Invert again onto serving plate.

Remove lid from icing. Microwave 3-10 seconds. Stir icing and drizzle over warm coffee cake.

Serve warm.

Santa’s Elves Come to Life in ‘Elf Dust’

Elf Dust, a new children’s book available for Christmas 2024, offers an imaginative new way to bring Santa and his elves to life for young children.

As the story reveals, the elves begin their visits in early December to complete the ‘naughty and nice’ list for Santa. The book illustrates how elves fly into each home and magically evade humans and pets and always leave their glittering calling card.

The book and activity will be especially helpful to parents and children living in homes or apartment buildings without a roof top or chimney as the author, Nancy Merrill, did in Hong Kong.

Merrill combined red and green glitter and placed it in places elves would hide, then she waited for her children to find it. As Merrill’s children spread the word, their friends soon discovered Elf Dust in their homes too. And the excitement grew.

“Imagination and anticipation are instantly ignited as children discover Elf Dust in their homes. That’s when the wonder and the questions begin; “what the elf looked life”; “what they did,” said Merrill.

In addition to opening the door to imaginative play, the activity is easy on parents. A few placements of Elf Dust can be done in minutes and then slowly discovered as Christmas approaches.

The book is a 32page, full color, hard cover book available at www.elfdustbook.com

UPCOMING ‘ELF DUST’ BOOK EVENTS

November 9 – 2:30 pm

The Story Book Shoppe Bluffton, Tanger 2

November 20 – 3 – 5:00 pm

Beaufort Book Store Reading November 22, 23, and 24

Beaufort’s ‘Homes for the Holiday’ (The book will be a featured design element in one of the homes.)

November 23 – 11- 12:00pm

Sassafras on Carteret reading December 6 – 11:00 am

Sandbox Children’s Museum reading December 6 – 5 – 9:00 pm

McIntosh Books Book Signing December 12 – 6 – 7:30 pm

Pat Conroy Center Open Mic Night

Thanksgiving Sides

It's one of my favorite things to be thankful for. I don't have to cook Thanksgiving dinner. Vince and I are blessed to be invited to a gathering of friends every year. All we have to do is show up with a side dish. In true southern fashion, the turkeys are deep-fried and everyone takes copious amounts of vegetables, salads, side dishes and desserts. In keeping with the spirit of not being responsible for the main course, I'm sharing some delicious Thanksgiving side dish recipes. For more great Thanksgiving Day recipes, be sure to check out the Holiday Gift Guide that’s featured in this issue of Lowcountry Weekly. Happy Thanksgiving!

STUFFED MUSHROOM CASSEROLE

Indulge in earthy mushrooms harmonized with creamy cheeses, aromatic garlic, and buttery breadcrumbs for the ultimate casserole experience.

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1½ pounds white mushrooms, sliced Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Pinch of nutmeg

4 garlic cloves, minced

6 ounces cream cheese, cubed

½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

¾ cup breadcrumbs, divided

½ cup grated parmesan cheese, divided

3 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley

1½ tablespoons melted butter

Chopped parsley, to garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x8-inch baking dish with cooking spray. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Place sliced mushrooms in skillet; season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Sauté

until mushrooms are softened and majority of the liquid has evaporated. Add garlic and sauté for one more minute. Add cream cheese, ensuring that the mushrooms are uniformly coated. Remove skillet from heat. Add mozzarella cheese, ½ cup breadcrumbs and ¼ cup parmesan cheese. Spread mixture evenly in prepared baking dish. In a separate small bowl, mix remaining breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese with chopped parsley and melted butter. Sprinkle evenly over the mushroom mixture. Place the baking dish in preheated oven and bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes until the breadcrumb topping is golden brown. Garnish with additional chopped parsley. Serves 8.

THANKSGIVING ONIONS

My husband Vince absolutely loved this recipe! Not just for Thanksgiving, these delicious onions are a wonderful side dish with medium-rare steaks hot off the grill.

3-4 sweet onions (Vidalia)

4 tablespoons butter

Salt, to taste

1 teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon dried oregano

1 cup shredded Italian blend cheese

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

By Debbi Covington

½ cup shredded parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Peel onions and slice them into rounds. Separate sliced rounds into individual onion rings. Arrange separated onion rings uniformly in prepared baking dish. Season with salt, garlic powder and oregano. Cut the butter into eight pieces.

Distribute evenly across the seasoned onion rings in baking dish. Top evenly with Italian blend cheese and cheddar cheese. Finish with a layer of shredded parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 35-40 minutes. Remove from oven when the cheese has begun to brown and bubble. Serves 6 to 8.

CHEESY STUFFING MUFFINS

Stuffing muffins are a fun and delicious way to change up a traditional side dish for your Thanksgiving Dinner.

7 cups herbed seasoned stuffing mix

4 tablespoons butter, melted

1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 eggs

1½ -2 cups water

¾ cup dried cranberries

½ cup chopped walnuts

2 tablespoons freshly chopped Italian parsley

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray laced with flour (Baker’s Joy). In a large bowl, mix stuffing mix with butter, cheese, eggs, and 1½ cups water (add more water, if mixture is too stiff). Stir in cranberries, walnuts, and parsley. Mix well. Spoon mixture into muffin tin cavities. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes before serving. Serve with butter, if desired. Makes 12 muffins.

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

Studio Visit: Fresh Paint

By Murray Sease

The latest Studio Visit is a little tricky for me as I’m touring and writing about my own art-making space!

This place where I paint is my home which my husband Bill and I built ourselves almost 40 years ago. We were still kids in our early twenties back then. It sits on a quiet acre and a half, adjacent to the Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve in between Hilton

Head Island and Bluffton, South Carolina. It is as close to ‘country’ as you can get so close to those bustling towns nearby. On the property is

a large woodworking shop and a wonderful chicken coop, abandoned for now, but once occupied by several generations of lovely egg-laying ladies. They were excellent models for my paintings as well! There is plenty of wildlife in my yard, and the remnants of one of the summer gardens make a nice backdrop. Only a few peppers remain of the vegetables but the marigolds and zinnias are still blooming in full force, keeping the bees and butterflies busy. In pretty weather I like to paint on the patio overlooking this garden, sometimes setting up still lifes on the white tile bar. These paintings most often depict fresh picked veggies and flowers, or produce straight from the farmer’s market. Moving inside to the actual studio office space I have about 240 square feet split into two sections. One side features book shelves, file cabinets, stacks of frames, and some large paintings awaiting gallery space to be displayed. The other half is my work space. My trusty mac computer holds all the business side of selling art, 10,000 plus reference photos I’ve taken over the past 15 years, and is where I did most of my work as a graphic designer. Working at ad agencies and design firms until my son was born, I was happy to be a freelance designer with the option to work from home for much of my career. Just a year ago I completely retired from that job and am now happily a full-time painter. I have two desks, a drafting table, and three easels so not a lot of floor space left. I usually paint at my main easel with the natural light from the high windows behind me. My floor, rug and desks are dotted with gesso and paint. Even my computer screen is often splattered! My two dogs stay

close by whenever I’m here at work. We have a kind of ballet of avoiding stepping on or tripping over each other in the small area. A challenge, but I love their company.

I have big windows in the studio and a set of glass French doors leading out to a deck with pots of flowers, a hammock and sitting area. There is a picnic sized table on the adjacent front porch deck where I often will do big or smelly projects such as staining frames and gessoing large painting surfaces.

Varnishing, which is a protective clear layer that I paint onto dry, finished pieces, must be done indoors to keep dust to a minimum. When I prepare for a show or festival I usually have every surface in my home covered with paintings in various stages of varnishing and framing.

So you probably get the gist that my studio fills my entire living space inside and out. In all rooms and outside I also enjoy art created by my friends, family, gallery mates, and especially my husband Bill – he was a creative soul and delighted everyone with his photography, woodworking and metal sculpture creations. I am incredibly lucky to have had him, and all the other artistic inspirations in my life.

I’ve now visited all the studios of the six artist/owners of the cooperative La Petite Gallerie in Old Town Bluffton. If you’ve missed any of them you may visit lapetitegallerie.com and visit the ‘gallery news’ page for the past articles. It is so interesting to me to see how artists are inspired by their surroundings and find comfort to create in their studio spaces.

Murray Sease is one of six artist/owners at La Petite Gallerie, 56 Calhoun Street, Bluffton For more information visit www. lapetitegallerie.com

Albert enjoys studio time

Murray outside her studio with her cow

Paintings in the works

A helpful chicken

Ain’t Fussin’

By Bradley Beck

Ialways greet Mr. Dempsey with a “how ya doin’ Mr. Dempsey?” “Ain’t fussin’” is often his reply. It’s the most authentic heart-felt response I’ve ever gotten from that common casual greeting. The humility and grounding in it was matched by his generosity right there and then as I loaded produce that he was donating and selling to support the Second Helpings nonprofit’s mission of distributing food to those in need.

The pickup at Dempsey Farms on St. Helena Island for the morning’s Second Helpings route is the stop I always look forward to. Mr. Dempsey himself supervises our pickup of squash, peppers, peaches, strawberries, sweet corn, beets, collards and tomatoes, anything in season. We’ve loaded up to 80 cantaloupes at one pickup. Stout and proud, thinning gray hair to match a scraggly but quite distinguishing beard, he makes a labored walk to the vegetable cooler that is actually the back of an old refrigerated truck. It obviously hasn’t moved for probably decades. But it’s still working just fine and so are the farm, its popular roadside stand and a u-pick operation. A couple of abandoned rusty old farm implements sit in the barnyard close to active well used equipment — tractors, planters, sprayers, trucks. Hundred-year-old live oak trees dripping with Spanish moss add shade and another chapter to the living history I feel there. The Dempseys have farmed this land since the 1930’s and Mr. Dempsey’s son is next in line.

In addition to years of farm work, his fragile walk is due to a leg brace from his left ankle to just below his knee. It’s a kind of brace you might see in a museum of orthopedic devices; worn leather padding with belt-like buckles connected to metal braces running up both sides of the calf. One time he told me how the brace saved his life.

I was admiring the old rusty Farmall tractor, an antique now that sat in the middle of Mr. Dempsey’s barnyard like a monument to the farm’s history. It seemed to be synchronized in age and pride with the surrounding majestic live oaks.

As a kid I spent my most memorable summers on my grandparent’s farm in the Midwest. My Grandfather taught me how to

pointed out scars still prominent on his right calf and shared how he held his femur bone with his hand as it was sticking out of

drive a similar International Farmall tractor that he used to work ground, plant, cultivate, harvest, bale hay, pull stumps out and everything else that needed to be done on the farm. I was in the third grade when my Grandfather taught me to drive his Farmall tractor. Mr. Dempsey was five when he started driving the one sitting prominently in his barnyard like it’s longing for him to hop on head for the field.

So we started talking about tractors when he pointed to a well-worn John Deere tractor close by that was hooked up to a disc, ready to head to the field. A disc is an implement used to break up the ground in preparation for planting. The disc, appropriately named, has several rows of large heavy metal discs that knife through the soil breaking up clods and packed soil. Think of rows of giant metal dinner plates turned vertically on their sharpened edges.

“I was run over by that tractor one time,” Mr. Dempsey told me nonchalantly as we were looking at the John Deere. “Broke my femur and bones in my lower leg. Woulda killed me if not for this brace,” he said as he

his leg at the scene of the accident. The tractor tire ran over him first. Bad enough, but the disc could have then finished him

off. The disc first hit his metal leg brace that was strong enough to cause the implement to bump up slightly saving his life.

Farming is hard work and a risky business, especially given the wide range of high-value crops Mr. Dempsey grows.

Even more so when you add a robust retail operation and the inputs, logistics and labor required to keep it all going. Thinking about the breadth of challenges Mr. Dempsey could truly fuss about for good reasons everyday makes me embarrassed at my own whining over the small-stuff “problems” in my life. I always drive away from that pickup stop with a truck full of produce, a warm heart and less fussin’.

Second Helpings is a nonprofit food rescue and distribution network striving to eliminate hunger and food waste in the South Carolina Lowcountry. It collects and distributes food that would have otherwise ended up in landfills, and provides it, free of charge, to 54 food pantries, soup kitchens, and family and senior programs.

Bradley Beck is a Beaufort writer whose work has won his most coveted awards — a smile, a laugh, a heartfelt sigh from a reader.

Superheroes

There was this idea I came to Earth with. Presumably an archaic aspect of my soul given its intrinsic disposition in regard to my “I am-ness”. Its subtle annotations modestly boasted of its grandeur; an acorn innocently lying on the ground next to an oak tree. But is there innocence in greatness or intent?

A simple black trash bag tied like a single strand of shoelace lined my neck. As I ran through my great grandmother’s house, the wind ever so gently lifting the edges of the trash bag gave me hope that I would free myself from the bondage of gravity. The faster I ran, the more the bag lifted. I felt lighter with every step. Is this the day that it finally happens? A feverish internal dialogue stoked the flames of motivation that would hopefully catapult me into the stratosphere.

Out the back door I went with a symbolic “swoosh,” like the ones you hear in those superhero movies where they fly past bystanders so

fast that it remakes the famous Marilyn Monroe “let me hold down my dress from the wind while looking cute” photo. With the door no longer blocking my momentum, it was to the banister, off the porch, and into the sky with a single leap.

For one-one hundredth of a second, gravity would always forget I existed. No matter how short term this natural law’s memory was, for a time I knew what it was like to fly. I was a superhero, and no one could tell me any differently.

To this day I still hold this seemingly contrived notation to be true. There is within me this child with a trash bag tied around his neck, looking for a banister to leap from. I haven’t forgotten that I can do the seemingly impossible. Because of him, I believe. But somewhere along the path of trials and tribulations, heartbreaks and past due bills, failed ventures and unhealed traumas, the other superheroes of the world have forgotten the child within that believes anything is possible.

Our fears act as shackles confining us to the ground. Life becomes akin to living in an underground den. We take on a persona with an “Allegory of the Cave” disposition. We are prisoners indeed! When one is shackled for an elongated period of time, it can become quite natural to develop a homeostasis with all things associated with the abandonment of hope (anger being of key interest for our topic). Herein lies a perplexing psychological state wherein an individual will elect for the familiarity found in suffering rather than the freedom found in the unknown.

“Oh, I’m not angry!” you may say with an exclamation mark and a furrowed brow, but then why is it that with any talk of differing political ideologies you suddenly emulsify deeply with the smaller, younger and viler counterpart of the doctor from Soho in Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic work? I once heard a story of a man whose contrived vein resulted in his being locked away in a prison cell. The ironic thing about it all was that the cell door was never locked.

If there is something about your external world that causes an internal response within you that is inundated with fear, you have the opportunity to propagate transformation. Honesty with oneself is of primary importance hereof. In the masquerade ball of life, fear wears the mask of anger. If you are angry, you are fearful. If you wish to uncover the cause of your fears, you will have to go deeply within yourself. Perhaps there is a child within you, not with a trash bag cape around his/her neck but one whose only companion is abandonment.

Other’s tenets concerning abortion cause an internal response within you that is inundated with affront. Why not let that anger, that fear motivate you? Are you motivated enough to petition a member of Congress? Does your passion, your fervor, stimulate you adequately, so much so that you advocate feverishly for policy change? When it comes to this subject, are you spirited enough to start a non-profit whose aim is to assist women in the socio-economic class who are most affected by pro or anti-abortion bills? Or does your zeal herein merely encumber you, resulting only in back-and-forth Facebook comments resembling a second grade name calling competition.

You find yourself at odds with your neighbor, an opposing political party agenda, and a candidate for President on the issue of

by Jared Madison WHOLLY HOLISTICS

immigration. The issue invokes “seeing red” anger within you. Does your indignation inspire you enough to join the Border Patrol? Does your zeal resemble the easterly winds that sea captains of old employed to discover new worlds? Are you therefore pushed to research the underlying causes of immigration then submit those findings to Congress? Has your devotedness with Jiminy Cricket-like persuasion ever galvanized you adequately, inciting you to travel to Mexico to imbed yourself culturally with those seeking refuge so that you can get a better understanding of the why’s? Or are you limited to the effects of oppositional defiant disorder, where a child acts out when it doesn’t get what it wants?

Perhaps you cannot come to grips with why humans seem to care so very little for the planet we live on. From seeing wildlife suffer from the effects of pollution to feeling the continued warming of the planet, you become incensed with any reference to the issue of climate control. Does your exasperated state of tangibility rouse you into action? Have you gathered in your community/city/town with other like-minded individuals to create a think tank that shares ideas with representatives whose aim is to create sustainability on the local level? Has your enthusiasm inspirited you to such a great degree that you have refrained from buying any plastic products? Or are you resigned to watching Presidential debates, your motivation only pushing you to clamor at a screen?

If you don’t like the direction our country is going in, do something positive about it to shift the tide. If you are doing something right now, do more. Try to remember a time in your life when you accomplished grandiosity with a modicum of effort. Change equates to compounding effort with time over a protracted period.

How long will it take the superheroes of the world to answer the proverbial Bat Signal in the sky we all see today?

House Plants Are Iffy

House plants and containers are troublesome.

At least they are for me. I tend to view house plants, after a while, as furniture I forget to dust. At least the furniture can be revived with a flick of the dust cloth but in a fit of remorse, I tend to over water the plants and they get root rot and die.

Even orchids, which can survive long periods of benign neglect, never re-bloom for me. But I noticed their foliage stayed green and healthy for a very, very long time. So I took myself down to the closest Michael’s and purchased one silk orchid stem (more than one would have looked too suspicious, given my poor record with house plants) and plunked it down into the living foliage. I never caught anyone sneaking a pinch of the flower to see if it was real. Success!

on my front porch this spring. I filled a couple of dozen with potting soil and planted them with tomatoes, peppers, beans and herbs. The bags might as well have been made with pillowcases for all the help they

Not so much with the grow bags I started

were to plants. They perked up after their daily watering, but after a couple of hours, they started drooping again.

Something was wrong.

I didn’t realize until a couple of weeks ago that a two-inch crust had formed on top of the soil, and my daily watering penetrated only far enough to resuscitate them for a few hours. This daily trip to death’s door and back simply exhausted them to the point that they gave up and died. So even though they are lightweight and convenient, grow bags simply don’t work in this climate. They transpire water too quickly. Back to the Farmers Market for me.

Even as I watched my vegetables grow weaker and weaker, the flowers in my deck rail boxes thrived. I had precious little time left over to give these the care they should have gotten, but they forgave me and bloomed their little heads off.

The Angelonia, (which came back from last year) were particularly lovely. Marigolds, which we tend to ignore because they are so

By Sandra Educate

“common” can always be relied on to give a burst of color to any garden. The dwarf variegated lantana almost dwarfed the Million Bells (Calibrachoa) and the Feverfew. For containers, more is not nearly enough! For next year, I guess it’s back to old reliables; containers made from lightweight composite and galvanized tubs, both of which can be painted to suit whatever color plants you use. And of course, there’s always the container that Mother Nature uses: The earth.

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."

Porch plants

Mossy State of Mind

One of the first things I told a friend back in Knoxville about moving to Beaufort was how cool all the Spanish Moss looked draped in the trees around town, and how the more I looked at it, the more I liked how it made me feel: a combination of reverent and enriched. I mentioned it to a local who surprised me with their scoff, saying something about the hassle of having to collect it when it fell and predicting that I would soon “get over it.” Hope not.

Because so far I am not over it, in fact I feel myself sliding deeper into distraction about it. When I ride my bike I’m constantly gazing up as I pass underneath the glorious bounty of Tillandsia usneoides, aka Spanish Moss. The way the light passes through and around it, the ebbing movement and subtle twists, the steady but somehow still dynamic presence it brings, like a memory that keeps returning. When I’m driving, I have to remind myself to pay attention to the road when I’m rolling through one of those canopy-style stretches.

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I learned it’s called lots of things from Grandpa’s Beard to Graybeard to Long Moss to Tree Beard. Native peoples called it Itla-okla, which is translated as “tree hair.” Then there is an oft-recounted story about French and Spanish explorers mocking each other’s facial hair and a legend about a Spanish brute chasing a young maiden up a tree and getting stuck. I ended up getting stuck on a long web search about Spanish Moss; surely something this beautiful inspires a lot of creative content?!

Mostly I found botanical descriptions, FAQs, and a few “things you didn’t know” type pieces. Information from these included the fact that it’s not a moss at all but a member of the pineapple family, is not a parasite that harms trees but gets its nutrients and moisture from the air, and that despite persistent beliefs to the contrary, it is not a home for chiggers, aka red bugs (at least when it is on the tree instead of the ground).

I found that chigger-denying claim in a news piece referencing a scientific article in Southeastern Naturalist, quoted by zoology professor Whit Gibbons. Whit went on to describe his little trick of shoving some Spanish Moss into his mouth on field expeditions to show that it changes from gray to green when provided moisture, pointing out, “I have never gotten chiggers when doing this.” I grabbed some moss off a low hanging branch soon after and marveled when it came out of my mouth green. Like Whit, I didn’t get chiggers.

But all the factoids and bug frenzy didn’t capture what was most obvious to me: Spanish Moss is the clearest depiction of what

By Luke Frazier

certain kinds of memories would look like if only they had a shape and presence outside our bodies. I’m talking about the kind of memories that haunt your emotions and hunt you down at 3 a.m., the kind that bear down into your tender self, for better or worse.

Better when it keeps you in touch with being fully human or reminds you of a loved one, worse when you are struggling with a loss or beating yourself up about something.

I mean think about it, Spanish Moss is described as ethereal, mystical, enchanting, otherworldly, intriguing, and spectral. It exists in the air, changes colors, drops off on occasion, and can come in bunches. Sounds like memories to me.

Memories are part and parcel of the richness of experience and facilitate reflection on both the amazing and tough moments we’ve all gone through. Memories are what hang around and remind us of all the imperfect glory of this here and now world. If you ever witnessed a person losing their memories, you know how sad it is. That’s why, ultimately, memories should be celebrated.

Spanish essayist, poet, and philosopher Miguel de Unamuno connects memory to a spiritual context and recognition of the fluidity of time.

We live in memory, and our spiritual life is at bottom simply the effort of our memory to persist, to transform itself into hope, the effort of our past to transform itself into our future.

This textured thought leads me again to a feeling of reverence and enrichment, like those strands of Spanish Moss. De Unamuno identifies the characteristic that some memories seem to carry—creating hope for a future state.

I’m sure it has to do with aging, but after our recent move here I’m even more committed to making the most of the future time I have left. And that includes affirming forays into a mossy state of mind and holding fast to the sustenance of memories, hanging there before us.

Luke Frazier is a writer and

media producer who recently transplanted to the Lowcountry. He runs NOW Communications, which focuses on the needs of missiondriven organizations. Luke believes questions are often more important than answers, and that capturing stories always matters.

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 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 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

SEA ISLAND ROTARY CLUB has a 12:15 lunch meeting every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island. Social gathering every 3rd Tuesday at 5:30 pm, locations vary and posted on our website. For more information about the Rotary Club of Sea Island please visit our website at www.seaislandrotary.org

BRIDGE CLUB at the Beaufort Branch Library Wednesdays at 11am. Join a session is for beginners new to the game, other sessions will provide some instruction and we will learn as we play. Join us if you want to learn a new game, practice your skills, or need more players. Call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-255-6458 for more information.

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 Saturday - 10am4pm. 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 843-263-4218. 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 LONGEVITY TECHNOLOGY 10-11a Fridays via Zoom. Haven’t heard of BEMER yet? Want to grow better, not older? Have one and want to learn more about it? Come for Q&A about this longevity-enhancing medical device can enhance your health, fitness and overall well-being. Sessions are designed to support those who have their own unit but everyone is welcome. Offered 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 843473-3939 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.

LOCO SCRIBBLERS 3:00 5:00 p.m. every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month. Are you a scribbler (professional or hobby writer)? Check out our small and informal Beaufort area writers club. All skill levels and subjects welcome including fiction, short stories, poetry, non-fiction, and memoirs. Free. Call or email for more info and the meeting location in Port Royal: beaufdick@gmail. com or 843-322-0616.

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 843-524-4333 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 FacebookUSCGA 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. 121pm 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 stagesMondays 1pm, Respite Programs: Social Day Program10am-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 843-5219190 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 10am4:30pm 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.

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. Monday - 25% Off Burgers; Tuesday - 25% Off Fish & Chips. Wed, Fri & SatKaraoke. (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, 14 Executive Park Rd., Hilton Head, 843-785-2400; Thursdays - Pete Carroll, 11/8 Victor Solis, 11/9 Levi Moore, 11/15 Eric Dauber, 11/16 Tug Boat Tradd, 11/21 & 11/22 Eric Daubert, 11/23 tug Boat Tradd; - OR - 17 State of Mind St., Bluffton, Tuesdays - Chris Jones, WednesdaysTrivia. 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. 11/6 The Lavon Stevens Band, 11/8 & 11/9 Anything Mose! The Mose Allison

Project with John Chin & Richard Julian, 11/13 Bobby Ryder, 11/15 & 11/16 Singer/Songwriter/ Cellist Shana Tucker, 11/20 Quiana Parler with Levon Stevens Trio, 11/22 & 11/23 Stephen Gordon & Friends Sullivan Fortner, Rodney Jordan & Derek Douget - The music of Thelonious Monk. (843) 842-8620 or www.TheJazzCorner.com

OUT OF TOWN

The Music Farm, 32 Ann Street, Charleston. 11/6

Erica Banks; Gloss Up; Moca Mula, 11/8 Trash Panda; 11/9 Struggle Jennings; Huey Mack & the Native Howl, 11/10 Mavi; Ahmir with Messiah, 11/12 Tokyo Police Club; Born Ruffians, 11/15 The Taylor Party, 11/16 Godspeed You!; Alan Sparhawk, 11/17 Pachinko;

Glare, 11/19 Sixpense None the Richer; Bailey Bigger, 11/21 Le Youth; Warung, 11/22 Microwave; Prince Daddy & the Hyena; Just Friends; Ben Quad, 11/23 Stop Light Observations. (843) 853-2252 or www. musicfarm.com

The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston. 11/7 Kitchen Dwellers; Shadowgrass, 11/8 Keller Williams, 11/9 Shot Thru the Heart - Bon Jovi tribute, 11/10 The Garcia Project - Jerry Garcia 1976-1995 setlists, 11/12 Wayne Hancock; IV; The Strange Band, 11/14 Boot Scootin' Boogie Nights - night of 90s country, 11/15 Bloodkin, 11/16 The Simplicity; Kind Hearted Strangers, 11/18 Bumpin Uglies; Tunnel Vision; Joey Harkum, 11/21 5AM; G-Space, 11/22 The Grateful Brothers - Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers tribute, 11/23 George Porter Jr. & the Runnin' Pardners; Electro Lust. (843) 571-4343 or www.charlestonpourhouse.com

Windjammer, 1008 Ocean Blvd, Isle of Palms. 11/7 A Thousand Horses, 11/8 Drew Dangerfield; Meredith Foster, 11/9 Lauren Hall, 11/16 Harbour; Wild Party. (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.

FILM/THEATER/DANCE

11/22-11/24, Shrek the Musical, Jr. will be performed by the Beaufort Children’s Theatre at USCB Center for the Arts in Beaufort. Fri & Sat at 7pm, Sun at 3pm. For tickets visit www.uscbcenterforthearts.com

GALLERIES/ART

Now – 12/30, Square Works Holiday Show at Atelier Off Bay. Thirteen local artists will exhibit 12”x12” works, priced at $500 or less, perfect for holiday giving! Opening reception Friday, 11/1 from 5-8pm. Wine, apps, free gift-wrapping! 203 West Street in downtown Beaufort. www.atelieroffbay.com

Now – 1/14/25, ‘Timeless Treasures,’ student artwork 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

Now – 3/23, This Is Not: Aldwyth in Retrospect at the Coastal Discover Museum on Hilton Head. www.coastaldiscovery.org

11/12-12/30, Beaufort Art Association Holiday Market, featuring unique handcrafted ornaments and other gifts, 913 Bay Street, Beaufort. www. beaufortartassociation.com

Tues 11/12, Beaufort Art Association Holiday Market opens, featuring artist-created ornaments and other gift items, along with small paintings. At the BAA Gallery, 913 Bay Street, Beaufort. www. beaufortartassociation.com

Sat 11/16, Tapestry of Life fundraiser to benefit HELP of Beaufort, featuring over 100 one-of-a-kind artistic creations by over a dozen local artists. Every dollar donated goes directly to HELP of Beaufort. Sponsored and hosted by The Arts Port Royal from Noon - 5 pm at 1404 Paris Ave, in Port Royal. For more info mail shereerichnow@gmail.com

11/26-1/3, Holiday Gallery of Gifts at Art League Gallery, featuring gift-worthy original art and crafts from Art League members. Opening reception Wed 12/4, 5-7pm. Inside the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head. 843-681-5060.

BOOKS & WRITERS

11/12 – 12/12, Book events for ‘Elf Dust,’ a new children’s book by Nancy Merrill. Events will happen at the following locations: The Story Book Shoppe, Bluffton (11/9, 2:30 pm); Beaufort Book Store, Beaufort (11/20, 3-5pm); Sassafras, Beaufort (11/23, noon); Sandbox Children’s Museum (12/6, 5-9pm); Pat Conroy Literary Center, Beaufort (12/12, 6-7:30 pm). For more information visit www. elfdustbook.net

Fri 11/15, An evening with memoirist Nancy Murray (No Experience Necessary) from 5 – 6:30 pm at the Pat Conroy Literary Center in downtown Beaufort. For more information visit www.waywordbooks.com

MUSIC

Sun 11/10, USCB Chamber Music opens its 45th season with world class musicians performing music by Schubert, Poulenc, Stravinsky, Strauss, and more.

5pm at USCB Center for the

OTHER EVENTS

11/6-11/8, 40th Heritage Days Celebration at Penn Center. Symposiums, performances, music, food, and fun. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.penncenter.com

Sat 11/9, Lady’s Island Garden Club Bake Sale. The popular fall fundraiser returns, with cookies, cakes, pies, breads, candies, snack mixes, doggie biscuits, small floral arrangements, and more. Many items will be gift-wrapped! Cash and checks accepted. From 9am-1pm outside Grayco Hardware on Lady’s Island.

Sat 12/7, 14th Annual Thumbs Up Fundraiser Car Show. To benefit the Children’s Learning Center in Beaufort. Free entry, fun for all ages! From 10 am –2 pm at 1 Market Street in Habersham, Beaufort.

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 join the conversation at BASEcamp 500 Carteret 5:30-7:30pm. 843-4703506. www.beaufortdigital.com

Thursdays, History Tours of Fort Mitchell by 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. Takes about an hour and is a little over a mile. Starts at the corner of Craven & Carteret Streets ending in Waterfront Park. Booklets with a map and tree info available FREE at the Visitors Center in the historic Arsenal on Craven St.

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