The Santa nutcracker on our cover was painted by Wyn Foland. It's one of more than 50 nutcrackers currently scattered all over Beaufort, compliments of the Beaufort Art Association and local business sponsors.
December 21 – January 3, 2022 – 2023
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Editor: Margaret Evans — Editor@LCWeekly.com
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Contributing Writers: Vivian Bikulege, Katherine Tandy Brown, Debbi Covington, Sandra Educate, Cassandra King, Laura Lee Rose, Cele & Lynn Seldon, and Sutty Suddeth
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Lowcountry Weekly is published every other Wednesday and distributed throughout Beaufort County at various restaurants, retail locations, hotels and visitor’s centers. The entire contents of Lowcountry Weekly is copyrighted 2022 & 2023 by P. Podd Press, LLC. No part may be reproduced without permission from the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. A stamped, self-addressed envelope must accompany all submissions expected to be returned.
Margaret Evans
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Editor’s Note: I first published this column in 2011. I still mean every word. – Margaret
“Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more . . . He became as good a friend, as good a master, as good a man as the good old City knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough in the good old world.”
– Charles Dickens, A Christmas CarolIlove a conversion story. Especially at Christmas. You can have your Rudolph, your Frosty, your “Wonderful Life” and all those other yuletide tales of kindly underdogs who deservedly triumph over adversity. I, myself, am a sucker for that far less common narrative – the black heart utterly transformed. The undeserving, unbearable wretch redeemed.
The first kind of story is sweet and satisfying. The second kind is life-shattering . . . in a good way. Miracles are like that.
A Christmas Carol is that second kind of story – my favorite kind. But sometimes I wonder about old Ebenezer Scrooge. Dickens tells us that Scrooge never wavered after his consciousness-raising all-nighter with the ghosts. His transformation was absolute. A complete 180. But I find that difficult to believe, don’t you? Old habits really do die hard. Surely Scrooge had his backsliding moments – days when the old greediness flared up, or the selfishness, or just the plain ol’ persnickety nastiness. But I also like to believe that when those old habits did reappear, it was only temporary, because now Scrooge had a weapon against them.
Dickens gives us a little insight into that weapon right at the end of the story:
“Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.”
What Scrooge gained that night with the ghosts – his secret weapon – was humility. The ability to laugh at himself. And with that humility came wisdom. And peace. And joy. It was a gift outright, one bestowed upon Scrooge – out of the blue – despite his supreme unworthiness. As Dickens lays it out for us, Scrooge is “made good” in spite of, not because of, his own will. He is literally dragged into goodness, kicking and screaming. A Christmas Carol is not a “religious” story, per se, but Scrooge’s conversion – his crash encounter with the terrible, wonderful power of divine love – is as sure, and as uninvited, as that of any sinner who ever got smacked into sainthood.
Another such Christmas anti-hero – one I can’t get enough of – is the Grinch who stole Christmas . . . then gave it back. As his story begins, the Grinch is arguably a darker, more sinister character – and a bigger lost cause –than Ebenezer Scrooge. While Scrooge is cranky, unpleasant and completely unconcerned with the welfare of others, his greatest sins tend to be those of neglect. The Grinch, on the other hand, is not just devious,
dishonest, and intolerant . . . he actually spends all his time and energy plotting to hurt people. Lovely, innocent people! (Okay, lovely, innocent Whos . . . but you get my drift.)
We don’t know why the Grinch is so bad, exactly. Unlike the folks who made the movie starring Jim Carrey, Dr. Seuss didn’t feel compelled to offer a back story of childhood suffering and abuse, but gave us only these few verses to ponder:
It could be his head wasn’t screwed on just right.
It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all, May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.
In his unfailing wisdom, Dr. Seuss knew what few of us care to acknowledge these days: that some people are bad for no good reason. For people like that, the only real hope is something drastic. Something radical. I call it “conversion.” You might call it something different. Whatever you call it, it’s nothing short of a metaphorical heart transplant.
And that’s just what happens to the Grinch. Right there at the tiptop of Mt. Crumpit, while eagerly awaiting the fallout from his dastardly deed – with his poor, long-suffering mutt and his sleigh full of stolen Christmas – the Grinch has a classic “mountaintop moment.” You remember. Everyone who’s ever had – or been – an American child remembers. The faint sound of Who voices rising up through the clouds . . . Fah-who for-aze, dah-who dor-aze . . . The strange, Seussian praise song wafting skyward . . . Fah-who rah-moose . . . The circle of Whos swaying, hands clasped, eyes uplifted . . . Dah-who dah-moose . . . The Grinch’s horrible face, completely transformed –made radiant – as the truth dawns on him . . .
Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.”
“Maybe Christmas . . . perhaps . . . means a little bit more!”
And what happens then? “Well, in Whoville they say, that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day!”
Just like that. A miracle. Next thing you know, he’s cheerfully carving the roast beast.
I told my daughter I was writing a column about some of my favorite Christmas characters – Scrooge and the Grinch. Without missing a beat, she said, “Mom, those
characters are kind of alike. They both start out really bad, then turn good at the end.” My brilliant kid. She cut right to the chase –straight to the crux of these stories, and why I love them so.
As much as I enjoy a “good guys finish first if they just hang in there” tale, I suspect there’s a lie at the heart of that story. I’ve seen too many bad things happen to good people, and vice versa. I don’t need to be sold a bill of goods about “karma” and life being “fair” and “things working out in the end.” Deep down, I don’t believe in that story.
But what I do believe in – because I’ve experienced it, firsthand – is conversion. Which comes from the word “convert.” Which means “to change, transform, transmute, alter, turn.” I know that conversion is real, and I know that it makes all the difference in the world – not because it changes the world, but because it changes our perspective on the world . . . and, thus, our approach to the world. But it’s not a one-time deal. Despite what Dickens tells us, I think conversion must happen over and over, again and again. I have to keep seeking transformation – keep turning toward love – every minute of every day. And I can’t always do it alone. Like Scrooge, I sometimes need a wonderful, terrible ghost to wake me up, shake me up, and remove the scales from my eyes.
This Christmas – like every Christmas – I don’t come seeking assurance that everything will turn out okay for me as long as I’m good. No. I come seeking assurance that I will turn out okay, in spite of myself. That what’s bad can be made good, through grace. That Love (with a capital L) really does conquer all. Because I know that, when left to my own devices, I’m a lot more like Scrooge than George Bailey. By nature, I have more in common with the nasty, gnarly Grinch than with that sweet, courageous reindeer named Rudolph. I wish I were naturally kind and brave like Frosty, but all too often, I feel more like the Abominable Snowman. So, I need divine intervention. Every day.
My favorite stories of Christmas – like Christmas, itself – remind me that it’s always there for the asking. Even for the likes of me.
The Beaufort Art Association’s first 2023 featured artist Sharon Cooper was born and raised in the Philadelphia, PA, area. She graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and later completed her
Master’s Degree in Anesthesia. After working many years in the operating room at a large University hospital, her career led her to the homecare field, where she worked clinically in the area of specialty infusion pharmacy work. As a child growing up, she was always fascinated with stained glass windows in the church she attended and, after retirement, pursued the beauty, detail and colors of stained glass.
Stained/Mosaic glass as an art form dates back to the early 17th century. The history, colors and luminous quality of glass are the reasons Sharon was drawn to this art form. As with all mediums, there has been an evolution in style, techniques and material that makes it possible to create new looks for stained glass.
The mosaic versions abandon the traditional leaded outlines, transitioning away from the more ecclesiastic feelings typically associated with stained glass. Her process relies on the artist’s technical skills to individually cut each piece of glass, using a brush stroke form or small geometric shapes to create an image. Although many of the tools of the trade remain historically the same, new versions of glass cutters, nippers, as well as specialty glass grinders and tweezers, cover Sharon’s work table. The resulting materials are referred to as tessera
Shading and three-dimensional quality is achieved by combining similar tones and textures of glass. The process is labor intensive and requires time and patience.
Sharon loves the flora and fauna of her new home in South Carolina and the birds, flowers and grasses of are the inspiration for her work. She can be found in her studio, working on existing projects or experimenting with new methods of glass as an art form.
Come meet the artist at a reception on Friday, January 6 from 5-8pm at the Gallery of the Beaufort Art Association, 913 Bay Street, downtown Beaufort, under the black awning. www.beaufortartassociation.com
Sharon’s initial endeavors in stained glass involved more simple, traditional versions. But new techniques today provide the ability to transform images into new expressions of mosaic glass art. Sharon’s study of images of natural beauty has been reinterpreted into glass mosaic form.
To children, the holiday season may seem to take eons to return from one year to the next. As an adult, I can’t believe it’s already here. Time speeds up from Thanksgiving to Christmas faster than we can sing enough carols, hang enough greenery, make enough merry, spread enough joy, consume enough yummy seasonal goodies, and for many, take enough time to think about the reason for the season, whatever your faith or spiritual beliefs.
Here’s the thing: there’s an opportunity in the midst of the Christmas countdown for us to slide in a bit of expanded, contemplative time. Bear with me here.
From the Neolithic Period, near the end of the Stone Age, beginning around 10,200 B.C., people of many cultures have observed the end of shorter and shorter days and the return of more and more daily sun time. Initially, pagan celebrations featured fire and light as symbols of the longest night of the year – the winter solstice. Neolithic monuments, such as Ireland’s Newgrange, have been scientifically proven to be deliberately aligned with the rising sun on that particular day. One of the world’s best-known prehistoric monuments, Stonehenge, is oriented toward the winter solstice sunset. Ancient Romans reveled for a week prior to the solstice during a festival known as Saturnalia that honored Saturn, the god of agriculture.
Native American winter solstice practices differ from tribe to tribe. For instance, the Zuni Pueblo’s rituals that encompass all the Earth’s peoples reflect an ancient understanding of the connectedness of the world.
Of interest to religious and scientific circles, Spanish Colonials left distinct reminders of the importance of the winter solstice through illuminations at hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of Spanish missions from northern California to Peru. At dawn on December 21st, a ray of sunlight enters each church and bathes a significant religious icon, altar, crucifix, or statue of a saint in dazzling light, representing the rebirth of light, life, and hope in the coming of the Messiah.
As our own December holidays approach, these time-honored traditions validate the power of our instincts to guide us through the darkness toward the light.
This year, on December 21st at 4:48 p.m. ET in our area, the winter solstice heralds the official astronomical start of winter, the shortest period of daylight, and longest period of nighttime of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Just for the record, this pivotal event occurs on June 21st or 22nd in the Southern Hemisphere.) The winter solstice happens because the earth’s axis of rotation is tilted at its maximum 23.4 degrees relative to our planet’s orbit around
the sun, thus creating the changes noted above, so that one half of the earth is tilted toward the sun and the other half away from it at the time of solstice. After December 21st, the days grow longer until the summer solstice in June, which marks the longest day of the year and the first day of summer.
It is believed that for thousands of years, pagan Germanic peoples celebrated Yule for 12 days around winter solstice. In modern times, Yuletide has been reformulated by Christians and renamed Christmastide. Today, this celebration retains many of the original customs, such as gift giving, lighting trees, and hanging holly and mistletoe.
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, we often think of the solstice as spanning a full calendar day, while actually, it’s the exact moment when a hemisphere is tilted as far away from the sun as it can be. “Although the winter solstice means the start of winter,” this long-revered reference states, “it also means the return of more sunlight. It only gets brighter from here.”
Now there’s a reason to be grateful.
Begun in 1898 as a promotional periodical for the Southern Pacific Railroad, Sunset Magazine has a few ideas based on ancient rituals as to how you can celebrate the winter solstice and add a bit of relaxing, back-tonature time to the holiday hubbub. From Sunset’s pages, the following is from an article by Nena Farrell.
• Build a Yule Altar to honor the sun’s return – On it, place a gold, silver, or yellow candle as a symbol of the sun. Add wintry pine cones, evergreen boughs and wreaths, and perhaps a yule log. Cleanse the altar with sage or sweetgrass.
• Make an evergreen Yule Wreath for your door or your altar – In ancient times, evergreens represented protection and prosperity.
• Burn a Yule Log – In Nordic tradition, an entire tree was brought into a home to burn for the 12 days of Christmas. Either burn a log in your fireplace or play the Netflix video, “Fireplace for Your Home.” Aren’t you glad you live in this century of technological marvels?!
• Decorate a Yule Tree – Chances are you’ve already done this if your Christmas tree is up. Back when, Yule Trees were in actuality living trees rife with hanging candles. Along with any other decorations,
WHOLLY HOLISTICS
by Katherine Tandy Brown
these symbolized the sun, moon, and stars, as well as remembrances of lost loved ones.
• Exchange Nature-based Gifts – Forego Amazon and give a small handmade wreath, a plant-based candle, meaningful crystals, or seeds. Choose something sustainable.
• Give Back to Nature – As winter solstice is a time to celebrate the natural world, take time during the day to scatter seeds for birds and animals, and spend time outdoors.
• Celebrate in Candlelight – To honor the return of the sun in forthcoming months, cover a tabletop or your altar in unlit candles. Place one candle, preferably yellow or gold as the sun, in the center and above the rest of the candles. Light that candle first, then the others. If you choose, you can recite a ritual while doing this. This link has suggestions: https://www. learnreligions.com/welcome-back-the-sunfor-yule-2562985
• Cook for the Season – How about a warm, stick-to-the-ribs soup made with root vegetables, a thick bread pudding with bourbon sauce, and hot buttered rum or cocoa?
• Set Up a Meditation Space – Take time on the year’s longest night to think about what the new season and the new year might bring and what you’d like to manifest. The quietness of winter is a perfect time for reflection and inner growth.
Maybe, like Nobel Prize-winning author and philosopher Albert Camus, you can use this time of year to plant a seed of hope and peace in your life:
“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”
Warmer days of sunshine, the greening marsh, and sea turtle hatchlings will come . . . they always do. Use Christmastime as a prep for a lighter 2023.
Katherine Tandy Brown has traveled the world as a freelance writer for 25 years. She teaches memoir, travel writing and writing practice in USCB’s OLLI Continuing Ed program and in her downtown cottage. A certified writing coach, she is penning her first novel, One to Go: An Equine Thriller. ktandybrown@gmail.com or (859)
Recently the Pat Conroy Literary Center presented a program aimed at addressing the controversy over whether to remove certain books from Beaufort County school libraries. The extensive list of books under consideration for removal was compiled by a group of parents concerned that the subject matter of these books was inappropriate for students, especially in middle school grades. The outcome of this controversy is important as it will determine not only what library books are available to students but also who has the right to decide what another person can or cannot read.
The Literary Center works most effectively in the community by offering a forum for many different voices to be heard. Last Sunday we focused on the dangers of censorship, but in a future program, we want to hear more from parents, students and teachers. As the organization’s honorary chair, a retired teacher, passionate reader and writer, and the widow of Pat Conroy, I felt behooved to expand on the Literary Center’s stance as it relates to the many conversations about literary censorship going on today. “Every voice matters” is more than a PCLC slogan; it’s a vital component of our organization.
As a nonprofit dedicated to promoting education and the literary arts, the PCLC felt an obligation to examine this issue more thoroughly, especially since one of our main missions is our advocacy of reading. Banning books in school libraries was something that Pat and I discussed many times. A former teacher, Pat valued parental involvement and believed it benefited both students and educators immensely. As a voracious reader, however, his position was simple: if you don’t like a book, don’t read it, but don’t deny others that opportunity by banning it. If an objectionable book appeared on a school reading list, he took the same stance as our current school policy: it is your right to ask that a different book be provided your child.
Pat’s life was forever changed by the books he read as a young man and by the support he received from his Beaufort English teacher, Gene Norris. Pat’s gratitude to his teacher was enormous and publicly expressed. Many of us likely had teachers who were there for us when we were finding our way in the world. Inspired by the relationship of Pat and Mr. Norris, the
PCLC is dedicated to being there for the teachers of today, who have an incredibly difficult job. We want to support educators and librarians in any way we can, but mainly by respecting them as trained professionals capable of making informed decisions on educational matters. In Beaufort County, we are blessed to live in a community where we can work together toward a common goal: the best education possible for the next generation. Our country is facing a critical shortage of teachers and we need to examine
the reasons why. Another directive of the PCLC is our work in encouraging future teachers through scholarship and training opportunities. If our teachers don’t feel supported and respected by their communities, we can expect them to seek better paying, more satisfying careers. When that happens, we all lose.
Lastly, it’s important to remember that books are much more than mere tools for learning. While textbooks provide essential information, books of fiction offer something much more complex but certainly no less valuable. Through the stories of others, students learn empathy and compassion. Reading books written by the marginalized allows students who also feel marginalized to feel less alone in their own struggles. When these diverse voices are silenced, something
essential to a child’s emotional makeup is left out. Exposure to different viewpoints helps develop critical thinking skills throughout a lifetime. Because we are living through a time of unparalleled division and acrimony, it’s more important than ever that we commit to examining the role each of us plays in forming the citizens of tomorrow.
Thank you for allowing me to have my say on this very important issue, and I look forward to more discussion to come.
Cassandra King Conroy is an awardwinning author of five novels, a book of nonfiction, numerous short stories, magazine articles, and essays. She has taught creative writing on the college level, conducted corporate writing seminars, and worked as a human interest reporter. She lives in Beaufort.
Five lectures in January and February will once again feature three top historians sharing their knowledge and research into Beaufort’s five centuries of history, focusing on specific events that shaped Beaufort’s changing role in South Carolina’s development as well as the city’s broader roles in the scope of American history.
Tickets for the event are expected to go fast – last year’s lectures sold out. Tickets go on sale to the public Dec. 15 online at https:// historicbeaufort.org/.
Tickets are:
– $30 per lecture and $150 for the lecture package for Historic Beaufort Foundation members;
– $35 per lecture and $175 for the full series for HBF non-members; and . . .
(HBF) and the USC Beaufort Center for the Arts, the Winter Lecture Series features John M. McCardell, Ph.D; Larry S. Rowland, Ph.D; and Stephen R. Wise, Ph.D.
“To have these three acclaimed historians share their time and expertise with our community is an exceptional opportunity,” Historic Beaufort Foundation Executive Director Cynthia Jenkins said in a news release. “To those of us who miss our college days and learning in lecture halls, this is a chance to dive deeply into our own local history with three of the best experts on South Carolina history.”
Dates for the lectures are each Thursday Jan. 19, Jan. 26, Feb. 2, Feb. 9 and Feb. 16, all at the USCB Center for the Arts on Carteret Street in historic downtown Beaufort.
– $20 per lecture and $100 for the full series for full-time students (students must show current school ID at check-in).
The 2023 lectures will expand on topics covered during the first series, but all three historians will provide plenty of background material for first-time visitors.
“We are so grateful to John, Larry and Steve for again donating their time and decades of research to teach us all the authentic history of Beaufort,” Jenkins said. “Whether you are a native of Beaufort or it is your adopted hometown, you will not want to miss this series.”
“Beaufort’s history is the foundation of the great architectural legacy we inherited and all cherish. These three historians bring to life the pivotal role Beaufort played in South Carolina and the nation over the centuries,” she said.
McCardell graduated from Washington and Lee University and earned his Ph.D. in history from Harvard University. For his dissertation, The Idea of a Southern Nation, he earned the 1977 Alan Nevins Prize by the Society of American Historians. McCardell served as vice-chancellor of Sewanee: The University of the South from 2010 until June 2020.
LARRY S. ROWLAND
Rowland is the Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History for the University of South Carolina, Beaufort, and previously held roles with USC as Professor of History and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College in New York and both his Master’s degree and Doctorate from the University of South Carolina. He has authored numerous books and articles about South Carolina and the Sea Islands.
STEPHEN R. WISEWise is director of the museum and the Cultural Resource Manager for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Wittenberg University, his Master’s degree from Bowling Green State University, and his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina. He has written and edited several books and articles including Lifeline of the Confederacy: Blockade Running During the Civil War , and Gate of Hell: The Campaign for Charleston Harbor.
Historic Beaufort Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit education foundation created to preserve, protect, and present sites and artifacts of historic, architectural, and cultural interest throughout Beaufort County. For more information on the entity's mission and history, please visit historicbeaufort.org and follow them on social media, including Facebook and Instagram.
Hosted by Historic Beaufort Foundation JOHN M. MCCARDELL
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center and The Rhett House Inn will host an evening of pie and stories with Beth M. Howard, author of World Piece: A Pie Baker's Global Quest for Peace, Love, and Understanding . The $25 registration fee includes a copy of the book, a sampling of pies, and the author talk and pie-making demonstration. This special event will be held at The Rhett House Inn (1009 Craven St., Beaufort) on Tuesday, January 17, at 5-7 p.m. Register by January 15 at https://bethmhowardattherhetthouse.eventbrite.com
“Beth Howard is the Marco Polo of the baking world. With her trusty rolling pin in hand, she circles the globe in search of peace—the absence of war, yes, but also the more elusive peace of mind. She writes with a keen eye and open heart, leavening her tale with dollops of humor. World Piece is part travelogue, part culinary adventure, part love story—and wholly delightful.” — Eric Weiner, NYT bestselling author of The Socrates Express and The Geography of Bliss
Beth Howard always dreamed of circumnavigating the planet; not to tick off a list of tourist sites, but to immerse herself in the culture of each country by making pie with local residents. Pie had healed her grief
after her husband’s death, so why not use it to heal the world and promote peace? Hauling her rolling pin from New Zea land to Australia, Thailand to India, Lebanon to Greece, Switzerland to Germany and Hungary, Howard uses America’s iconic comfort food as a means for connecting with people in their homes, kitchens, and cafés. A balanced blend of multi-cultural insight, world history, social commentary, immersive travel, and the comfort of pie, World Piece could be described as Waitress meets Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, as Howard takes the reader on a deeply intimate, delicious, and inspirational global adventure.
Beth M. Howard is the author of four books, including Making Piece: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Pie and the cookbook, Ms. American Pie. She has written for The New
York Times, Real Simple, and Country Living, among many other publications. She is a regular commentator for Tri States Public Radio in Macomb, Illinois, and has given a TEDx Talk on the healing powers of pie. From 2010 to 2014, she lived in the iconic American Gothic House in Eldon, Iowa, where she ran the Pitchfork Pie Stand. Her story has been featured on CBS This Morning, CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, BBC, NPR, the Hallmark Channel, the History Channel, in the Los Angeles Times, Better Homes & Gardens, and more.
She divides her time between Iowa and Los Angeles, and continues to write, bake pie, and advocate for peace. Her website is www.theworldneedsmorepie.com
Learn more about the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center at www.patconroyliterarycenter.org. And about The Rhett House Inn at www.rhetthouseinn.com
Kayla White and her daughter have a new home in Port Royal. LowCountry Habitat for Humanity handed the keys over to this deserving family in a dedication ceremony on Sunday, December 11th as staff, volunteers, donors and sponsors celebrated the completion of the organization's fifty fourth home built in Northern Beaufort County.
About fifty people attended the event at 3002 Walnut Street, and Pastor Steve Keeler of Sea Island Presbyterian Church blessed the home.
"This community made this home possible. The money raised to build this house from local donors and sponsors gave this home its foundation, and the hard work and time given from construction volunteers created its bones. Kayla and her daughter will now give this home their love thanks to the generosity of the people of Northern Beaufort County. Home is truly where the heart is," says Barbara Thomas, Executive Director of LowCountry Habitat for Humanity.
Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Since its inception in 1990,
LowCountry Habitat for Humanity has built 54 homes in northern Beaufort County, providing safe, decent and affordable housing to more than 205 individuals. Pastor Steve Keeler blessing the White's home Kayla White and her daughterWhat happens when you put a great dentist and a top-notch staff together in front of 60 hand-painted nutcrackers for the “It’s a Nutty Christmas” exhibit in downtown Beaufort? Hilarity ensues!
Beaufort Art Association found out exactly that when they asked Doctor Mishka and the fabulous staff at the Aspen Dental Association if there were any dentists that had senses of humors to judge a smile contest between 6 foot and 4-foot-tall Nutcrackers painted by local artists. After the initial shock of encountering something completely out of the ordinary, the assignment seemed simple enough. They were experts in their field. How hard could it be? A heck of a lot more challenging than they’d anticipated!
This wasn’t going to be just a beauty contest. This time there were awards for crookedest teeth, shiniest braces, goofiest grin, deliciously dangerous dentals, happiest heavy metal braces, smirkiest smile and a plethora of newly ordained certificates pronouncing these Nutcrackers Tops in Chops!
If your curiosity is peeked, run, don’t walk, to downtown Beaufort where the colorful exhibit can be found on Bay Street and beyond! The Beaufort Art Association at 913 Bay Street has made it easy because they are selling a Nutcracker poster with just their foolish grins as a souvenir of the 2022 “It’s a Nutty Christmas,” a project created by artist/producer Danie Connolly as a fundraiser for local children’s art supplies.
Among the unusual contestants, you’ll see exactly why Wes Campbell‘s Giant Shrimp and Outrageous Crab garnered two awards, Tom Van Steenburgh’s Nutcracker Jimmy Carter won for a fun title, Lisa Rivers’ Nutcracker Mouse’s gold tooth and Lynne Morgan’s magnificent Nutcracker earned an award. Not wanting to be considered just a pretty face, check out Amanda Morris’s outstanding Nutcracker and Danie Connolly’s toothy alligator and her menacing raven, as well as Wyn Foland’s heavy metal Santa and Tiffany Jones’s Bulldog Marine. Give yourself a genuine gift of humor thanks to the Aspen Dental sanctioned Tops in Chops! A special thank you to Doctor Mishka and her very funny, tongue in cheek staff at Aspen Dental on Robert Smalls Parkway in Beaufort.
Casseroles and soups are classic options for cooking up comfort at home, and if you’re looking for a filling feast, you can let your oven do the work with this Pumpkin and Spinach Layered Rice Casserole for an Italian-inspired solution. It doesn’t get much creamier than combining sweet pumpkin puree with three gooey cheeses while folding in a protein-rich egg, fresh spinach and fluffy jasmine rice makes it a truly satisfying meal.
Keep that seasonal pumpkin flavor on the menu by serving up Pumpkin Curry Turkey Soup with Rice as a simple recipe that takes only 20 minutes. With the addition of coconut milk, this rich and creamy soup is quick, comforting and tasty for a hot bite on cool, crisp nights.
2 cups Jasmine Rice
7 ounces pumpkin puree
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter, cut into cubes
1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided 1 1/4 teaspoons black pepper, divided
1 tablespoon olive oil
5 ounces spinach
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 egg
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided 3/4 cup grated Parmesan, divided Prepare rice to directions.
Stir in pumpkin puree, cream, butter, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; set aside.
Preheat oven to 375 F. In large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add spinach and garlic; cook 2-4 minutes, or until wilted. Let cool completely; squeeze out excess moisture. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
In medium bowl, combine ricotta, egg and spinach. Stir in 1 cup mozzarella, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and remaining salt and pepper.
Layer half of rice mixture in greased 8-inch square baking dish. Top with
spinach mixture then top with remaining rice mixture. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
Cover with foil; bake 30 minutes. Remove foil; bake 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbling. Serves 4.
The big day is finally here! It’s time to open gifts. It’s time to celebrate with family and friends. It’s also time to eat. Isn’t it interesting how everyone is extra hungry on Christmas morning? These delicious recipes will feed your crowd while you enjoy the joy and merriment of the day. Kick off the festivities with bloody marys, mimosas and Irish coffee. The addition of a fresh fruit salad is all you’ll need to create the perfect Christmas Brunch. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! (Photography by Susan DeLoach Photography)
I’d never eaten a breakfast casserole until I moved to Beaufort. Since then, I’ve made and served hundreds of them for corporate breakfasts, bridal brunches and Sunday morning after worship celebrations. Substitute ham, bacon or grilled veggies for the sausage to change it up a bit from time to time.
1 pound sausage
1 small onion, diced
1 small bell pepper, diced 3 cups day old bread, cubed
1 (7-ounce) can mushroom stems and pieces, drained
12 eggs ½ cup milk
½ teaspoon dry mustard
Salt and pepper, to taste
1½ cups sharp shredded cheddar cheese
Chopped fresh tomatoes, to garnish Chopped fresh Italian parsley, to garnish Cook sausage in a skillet until browned, drain well on paper towels. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of grease from skillet. Add onion and bell pepper, cook over medium-high heat until tender. Spray a casserole dish with
cooking spray. Spread bread evenly in dish. Top evenly with cooked sausage, onions, peppers and mushrooms. In a medium bowl, whisk eggs with milk and dry mustard. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Pour egg mixture over bread, sausage and vegetables. Top with cheese. Cover dish with aluminum foil and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
Bake, covered, in a preheated 350 degree oven for 60 to 75 minutes or until eggs are set in the center of the casserole. Garnish with chopped tomatoes and fresh parsley before serving. Serves 8 to 10.
Turn the oven on to 400 degrees. Bake for 20 minutes or until bacon is crispy. Brush hot bacon with maple syrup before serving. Makes 8.
If loving coconut is wrong, I don’t want to be right. This is seriously the yummiest way to eat coconut. It will definitely show up on our breakfast table on Christmas morning. Crusty rustic bread
½ cup butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup flaked coconut
1 egg
Easy and fancy! Bacon skewers are also good reheated – assuming you actually have any left over.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut bread into 1-inch thick slices. Mix melted butter with sugar, vanilla, coconut and egg. Spread bread with coconut mixture. Place on a baking sheet prepared with cooking spray and cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until coconut is lightly browned. Serves 6.
Fold bacon like a fan and skewer with long wooden skewers, two slices of bacon per skewer. Place skewers on a baking rack on a foil-lined baking sheet. Place baking sheet on the middle rack of a cold oven.
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 843-5250350 or by email at dbc@cateringbydebbicovington.com
Spend time in our part of the Lowcountry, either as a resident or a tourist, and you quickly become aware how generous and charitable the people are. Whether it is feeding those less fortunate, providing transportation for workers, or offering free health services for those in need, often these charitable people’s good deeds go unnoticed.
With that in mind, the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry teamed up with one its most generous supporters to create the Joan and Wade Webster Community Impact Award. The award will recognize an individual within the Foundation’s four-county service territory (Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper) that has made a recent significant contribution to improving the quality of life in the Lowcountry, and has demonstrated visionary leadership in a community activity or on behalf of a community organization. This is not a lifetime achievement award. The award winner will receive a $10,000 grant to bestow to a charitable organization based in the Foundation’s service territory, as well as a keepsake to memorialize the honor.
Nomination forms are available to download on the Community Foundation website at https://cf-lowcountry.org/. The fillable PDF should be completed and emailed to info@cf-lowcountry.org. Answers to the three questions/statements should be included in the body of the email. You can also pick up a nomination form at the Community Foundation office located on 4 Northridge Dr., Suite A, Hilton Head Island, SC. The deadline to submit your nomination is January 17, 2023.
The inaugural Joan and Wade Webster Community Impact Award will be presented at the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry’s Annual Community Meeting. The free event will take place on March 29, 2023 from 4:30-6:30 pm at Hilton Head’s Arts Center of Coastal Carolina.
The following are ineligible for the award: current board and staff of the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry; individuals currently serving in a public elected office; and individuals who are paid staff of a nonprofit.
If you have questions, or need more information, please contact Rob Ennamorato at rennamorato@cf-lowcountry.org or 843-681-9100.
If you’ve ever taken a bite of something and the only word that came to mind was “yum,” you know what it’s like to experience this dessert. It’s fluffy, sweet, perfectly crumbly and tastes delicious. It’s rich but light. It’s a dessert that will likely never go out of style.
You can stop guessing what it may be: this treat is a scrumptious bite of Fluffy Peanut Butter Pie drizzled with chocolate syrup. You will understand the craze once you sink your fork into the chilled triangle resting on your plate. With a chocolate cookie crust and a thick, delicious peanut butter filling, this pie is everything many people want in a dessert.
Although it tastes like you have been in the kitchen all day, it’s a simple-tomake, delightful treat with luscious peanut butter flavor that melts in your mouth.
To make this pie, remove the filling from 20 chocolate cookies and crush them with a rolling pin until they are just crumbs. Mix cookie crumbs with melted butter and mold into a pie dish to create the crust.
Next, in a mixer, combine cream cheese and reserved cookie filling. Then add sweetened condensed milk, peanut butter, lemon juice and vanilla extract while you continue mixing.
In a mixing bowl, beat whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Fold peanut butter mixture in with the whipping cream.
Layer the peanut butter and whipping cream mixture on top of the crust in the pie pan. Chill for about 4 hours then drizzle
with chocolate syrup just before serving.
This dessert is perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth. House guests, birthday parties or even just a simple treat after a meal; it’s an any-occasion kind of pie.
Serves: 6-8
20 chocolate cream-filled cookies
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 cup smooth peanut butter
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup whipping cream
Chocolate syrup
Remove cream filling from chocolate cookies; set aside. With rolling pin, finely crush chocolate cookies.
In medium bowl, combine finely crushed cookies with melted butter.
Press crumb mixture firmly into bottom and sides of 9-inch pie plate; chill while preparing filling.
In large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add reserved cookie cream filling, peanut butter and sweetened condensed milk; beat until smooth. Stir in lemon juice and vanilla extract.
In medium bowl, beat whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Fold whipped cream into peanut butter mixture. Mix until combined.
Pour into crust. Chill 4 hours, or until set. Drizzle chocolate syrup over pie before serving.
First, beat one quart whipping cream till stiff, then refrigerate. Let chill. Then whip together 12 egg yolks and one cup sugar in an electric mixer. Add one pint bourbon a little at a time. Fold in whipped cream. Take egg whites and make a beautiful meringue. Makes 15 - 16 cups.
All the grownups in Hopkinsville, Kentucky — even her closest friends — called her “Miss Jane.” But from my birth until the day she died, a month after my 27th birthday, she was “Miz Gaither” to me. A formidable presence, she carried every inch of her broad-as-it-was-tall body erect, all less-than-fivefeet of it. Anyone who approached her with a measuring device of any sort — be it yardstick or bathroom scale — did so at his own risk.
You flat didn’t mess with Mrs. Gaither.
Not much taller than his wife, Dr. Gant Gaither, top graduate in his 1907 class at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, learned early in marriage that the institution ran far more smoothly when he gave his remarkable lady a wide berth. He therefore tended to spend time away from home most all of most every day.
As a physician during an era when doctors treated myriad maladies – from splinters in fingers to lingering cases of whooping cough to intricate surgeries – he stayed busy tending the sick and injured at Jennie Stuart Memorial Hospital, but a short walk down 17th Street from his residence.
On days when appointments allowed, Dr. Gaither – penguin-like in a snug gray suit, starched white shirt and red bowtie – strolled the six blocks or so to the C & D Bakery downtown. After purchasing a white waxed bagful of cream puffs, he bestowed the luscious treats upon children along his way home. As one of those youngsters so blessed, my mouth still waters with the memory. He’d stop to ask the older ones
about school and tweak the cheeks of little ones, lingering long enough to arrive at his abode in time for cocktails, which he and his wife shared with considerable enthusiasm.
The good doctor’s timing was always impeccable, for he knew far before the terms became commonplace that Miss Jane needed her space and could be disagreeable if her boundaries were breached.
Even Mother Nature cried “uncle”
perched, when a lightning bolt struck the antenna, traveled through the wires into the TV and exploded as a fireball out the screen. The magnifier slowed its progress just long enough for her to jump out of the way before the sizzling sphere burned a hole in the headrest of the chair where she’d been sewing. Though shaken, she proclaimed to all that her nine lives were still intact.
I have always believed her to be the model for that squatty little Johnny Reb
By Katherine Tandy Brownlibation. She herself stayed prepared for that time with her own diurnal prescription of smooth Kentucky bourbon, which in the spirit of true Southern hospitality, she graciously offered to anyone so inclined.
For thirty years, Mrs. Gaither’s egg nog was the star of her Christmas Eve party at the three-story red brick cottage on Main, a mandatory stop-off on the way to Grace Episcopal Church’s midnight service. Known for standing hair on end or for growing same on previously-bare chests, this bourbon-laced beverage mellowed not only parishioners but the Reverend Irwin Hulbert himself. The whole church reeked of whiskey, but, thanks to Mrs. Gaither, the noise made unto the Lord was joyful indeed.
after one aborted attempt to rattle this female dynamo. Vain about her appearance, Mrs. Gaither always wore her short, mahogany hair in a curly up-do, donned a day dress and blocky-heeled pumps for company and sported reading glasses on a beaded chain around her neck, convenient for close handwork. Forever stitching, gluing and felting, she often worked while settled in an overstuffed, flowered chair in the upstairs den before a boxy, black-and-white Zenith television with an enormous magnifier in front.
One August afternoon during a thunderstorm, Miss Jane was so
hunkered under crossed confederate flags on redneck license plates. You know, the one who dares a challenge to his “Forget, hell!”
Born in Vicksburg, Mississippi (or Vicks-bug, as she called it) a mere three decades after the War of Northern Aggression, Mrs. Gaither was convinced that the South would indeed rise again, put those da-yum Yankees in their place and instill Southern gentility throughout the country. Then life could finally be lived as it was meant to be — slower, more polite and tempered with a required daily dose of one’s favorite
My memories of this great Southern lady are vivid. Contagious laughter rolling from deep within her ample bosom. Revlon “Really Red” lipstick staining every cigarette butt in her monogrammed silver ash tray. Cotton puff-bearded Santas guiding reindeer round and round the sequined, green-felt Christmas tree skirts she crafted. And of course, Mrs. Gaither’s egg nog.
It was real. It was Southern. It’s still the best.
But be forewarned. Indulge in this heavenly concoction and the noise you hear will be your arteries slamming shut. Though trust me, you’ll be too tipsy to care.
Katherine Tandy Brown has traveled the world as a freelance writer for 25 years. She teaches memoir, travel writing and writing practice in USCB’s OLLI Continuing Ed program and in her downtown cottage. A certified writing coach, she is penning her first novel, One to Go: An Equine Thriller. ktandybrown@gmail.com or (859) 312-6706
The Gaither family of Hopkinsville, KYCooking takes on special joy during the Christmas season! Cocktail parties, intimate dinners, casual gatherings and cookie exchanges all call for the finest holiday foods. Christmas is also a time for remembering special neighbors, co-workers and friends with tasty homemade treats from your kitchen. This week I’m sharing recipes for several scrumptious holiday sweets. Make this holiday cooking season enjoyable and rewarding with these festive and delicious receipts. Merry Christmas!
1 (12-ounce) package butterscotch morsels
1 (12-ounce) Package chow mein noodles
1 cup red melting chocolates (optional)
1 cup green melting chocolates (optional) Cover a large baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. In a large bowl, melt butterscotch morsels in the microwave according to package directions. Add chow mein noodles and stir well to coat completely. Using two spoons, place small clusters of noodles on prepared baking sheet. Allow at least one hour for the butterscotch morsels to set up. Melt red chocolates in a microwave safe bowl, according to package directions. Pour melted chocolate into a quart-sized zip lock bag. Snip one end of the baggie with a pair of scissors and drizzle chocolate over haystacks. Repeat with the green melting chocolates. Allow an additional hour for the chocolate to set up. Store in a tightly covered container. Makes approximately 50.
40 mini pretzels
20 caramel squares, unwrapped ¾ cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate morsels ½ cup chopped pecans
By Debbi Covington
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Lay pretzels in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Cut each caramel in half. Lay a piece of caramel in center of each pretzel. Bake in preheated oven for 4 to 5 minutes. The caramel will be soft but not completely filling the holes of the pretzels. Cool pretzels completely.
Melt chocolate morsels according to package directions. Dip each pretzel in chocolate. Do not cover completely. Place back on foil-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with chopped pecans. Let cool completely. Store in an airtight container. Makes 40.
1 cup all-purpose flour ½ cup butter, softened ½ cup finely chopped pecans ¼ cup confectioner's sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Confectioner's sugar, for rolling Combine flour, butter, pecans, confectioner's sugar and vanilla in a large bowl. Stir until well blended. Mixture will be stiff. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 12 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool slightly. Roll cookies in confectioner's sugar and cool completely on wire racks. Makes 24 cookies.
Continued on page 20 –
1 (14.5-ounce) package gingerbread mix
1 (2.9-ounce) box cook and serve lemon pudding
2 (12-ounce) packages white chocolate chips Candies or sprinkles, to garnish Bake gingerbread according to package directions. Cool completely. Prepare lemon pudding according to package directions. Cool completely. Crumble gingerbread in a large bowl. Add ¾ to 1 cup of lemon pudding, just enough to make mixture soft enough to roll into balls. Roll mixture into 1-inch balls and place on a baking sheet. Chill until firm. Melt white chocolate chips according to package directions and dip each truffle to cover completely. Place on a baking sheet. Top truffles with candies, if desired. Refrigerate until candy coating is hard. Store covered in refrigerator. Makes about 50 truffles.
– continued from page 19 –
3 cups dark chocolate morsels
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
¼ cup butter
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup slivered almonds, toasted
1 (12 oz.) bag white chocolate candy morsels
¾ cup rice krispies
¾ cup sweetened shredded coconut
Red and green candy melts, to decorate
Line a mini muffin pan with paper liners. Melt white chocolate candy morsels according to package directions; stir until smooth. Add rice
University of South Carolina Beaufort English major, Gullah poet and novelist Edra Stephens has been selected as a manuscript fellow for prestigious writers’ workshop The Watering Hole. She is the first USCB student to be chosen for this honor. The Watering Hole hosts the only Southern writing retreat for poets of color and draws 50-60 poets each year. She was invited to the tenth annual winter retreat, held in McCormick, SC, and will attend two more week-long retreats with the group in 2023.
Stephens, who grew up on Hilton Head Island, will bring to the group selected poems and a section of her first novel, Born White, Dying Black
The Watering Hole has its roots in Cave Canem, a writers retreat hosted by Dr. Kwame Dawes, editor of Prairie Schooner , with sessions led by National Book Award winner Nikky Finney, International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent inductee
Line an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper leaving an overhang. You will need to extra paper to help remove the fudge from the pan. Place chocolate morsels, sweetened condensed milk and butter in a microwavable bowl. Cook at 50% power until morsels are melted; approximately 3 to 5 minutes. After morsels are melted, stir in coconut and almonds. Pour into prepared pan and smooth the mixture until evenly distributed. Refrigerate until set. Using overhanging parchment paper, remove fudge from pan. Place on a cutting board and slice with a large, sharp knife. Makes 36 pieces.
krispies and coconut. Mix well to combine. Drop tablespoons of mixture into paper lined muffin pan. Drizzle with melted red and green candy melts to decorate. Let sit at room temperature for 2 hours to set. Makes 24 to 28.
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.
Patricia Smith, and co-founder of Affrilachian Poets Frank X Walker.
Edra Stephens. Photo courtesy USCB
Rock Hill, SC, Poet Laureate Angelo Geter will lead an online writing workshop, Sticks and Stones: Turning Grief into Verse, hosted by the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center on Thursday, January 5, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
The saying "sticks and stones may break my bones, but
words will never hurt me" is a phrase that has been used for countless years to illustrate the idea that words don't hurt. However, words have a large impact. The key is how we use them, particularly when it comes to grief and loss. This workshop will explore how poetry can transform our relationship with grief by using elegies, language, and imagery to relinquish pain, give power, and honor our losses. Held on Zoom, the workshop is open to writers at all levels of experience—or no experience at all. Limited to 15 participants, $45.
Angelo Geter is an award-winning poet, educator, author, and performance artist based in Rock Hill, SC, where he serves as the Poet Laureate. He is also a 2020 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellow, a 2018 National Poetry Slam champion, Rustbelt Regional Poetry Slam finalist, Southern Fried Regional Poetry Slam finalist, and the Founder/ Director of One Word Poetry Festival. His work has appeared on All Def Poetry, Charleston Currents, Gratefulness.com, and the Academy of American Poets “Poem a Day” series. His debut collection of poetry, More God Than Dead, was released in June 2022.
To register in advance for this workshop, and to learn more about other upcoming in-person and online writers workshops hosted by the Conroy Center, please https://patconroyliterarycenter.eventbrite.com
The Conroy Center is open to the public for guided tours on Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 4:00 p.m. at 601 Bladen Street in downtown Beaufort. Admission is free; donations are always welcome.
Marinas.com has announced that Dataw Island Marina is a recipient of the 2022 Boaters' Choice Award, an honor recognizing the marinas that consistently provided excellent service to the boating community in 2022.
For the sixth year in a row, Marinas.com has leveraged its thousands of user reviews to determine the 2022 award recipients. The 2022 recipients list includes a diverse range of marine businesses, from private yacht clubs to public service yards, and locations from the west coast to Marinas.com's hometown of Newport, Rhode Island.
The Dataw Island Marina is located 3 miles from the Intracoastal within the private gated community of Dataw Island, although the marina complex is open to the public, as is the onsite Morgan River Grill.
With fuel for the body and the boat, the
Dataw Island Marina has again become a locals’ favorite since its reopening in 2019, when the Dataw Island Owners Association purchased and rebuilt the facility. Marine Tech Services manages the operation and runs a full-service boat yard, offering in-water and on-land services, as well as haul-outs and launches.
“Since the Boaters’ Choice Award is earned through positive reviews given by satisfied customers, it’s quite an honor to receive one,” says Marine Tech GM Kristy Carr. “It’s truly a testament to the investment and commitment of the Dataw owners, and the talent of our staff, and we thank them all for their roles in making this an excellent marina.”
The Dataw Island Marina is a fullservice facility located where the Morgan River and the Jenkins Creek meet.
There was frost on my roof this morning, but my plants do not seem the worse for it. This is a wake up call for what we should and can do to protect tropicals and tender perennials. Many things breeze right through below freezing temps such as most perennial Salvias, Pelargoniums (Geraniums), Dianthus, snapdragons, and pansies. Tropical plants should be brought under cover on a porch or inside a garage. If you have large containers that you cannot move, cover them with cloth. Old sheets work well although your yard will look like it is decorated for Halloween. Do not use tarps or plastic –plants need to breathe. Remove the covering as soon as the temperatures are well above freezing. Keep plants hydrated during our colder days of winter. Most plants die in the winter because they dry out. You know how you feel after you have been out in the cold for a while. My mouth is always dry and I am thirsty. Your plants get thirsty too. If we have not had rain for a while, run your irrigation system once if you have one. It is also a good way to check to make certain that it is running well and there are no leaks. Marsh rats and squirrels seem to love to gnaw through irrigation lines.
Now is not the time to prune. You do not wish to encourage new growth that can be nipped by the frost. The exception to this is dead branches and crossing branches that are rubbing against each other. Those can be pruned at any time.
I do not cut back ornamental grasses and most of my perennials until the end of February. They provide shelter for hibernating bees and other beneficial insects.
I only remove dead plant matter than is very moist like banana leaves or succulent material to prevent fungus. If it is dry and particularly if it has seed heads, plants can provide winter interest.
Your Camellias should be blooming now. Sansanquas bloom first and then later in the winter, the Japonicas will bloom. Prune Camellias after they bloom in the spring.
Also in flower will be Tea Olives. Tea Olive (Osmanthus fragrans) can bloom for an extremely long time all through the winter months. I have found that Tea Olives can really benefit from a good pruning when the weather gets warmer. They tend to get crossing branches and dead twigs in the center of the shrub. Loquats will bloom in January and February as well. Loquats are natives of China, but they thrive here and can grow to tree size. You can prune them to shape after they bloom and fruit. The fruits are a little odd—more giant pit than flesh and a little astringent. I have been told that they make a nice jam although I have not tried it. The squirrels and raccoons get to my Loquat fruits before I can even think about them.
Now that the soil temperature has cooled down, it is a good time to plant bulbs for spring blooms. Since our climate is so warm, bulbs need to be refrigerated for approximately 10-12 weeks to condition them for planting. When you select bulbs, be sure to look for bulbs that are good to zone 9A which is our heat index zone. Species tulips and narcissus will work well here. Certain Alliums as well will bloom.
outdoors when you are through enjoying them in the house. Plant them so that the bulb is about two-thirds under the soil. They will re-bloom next spring or summer. Paperwhite narcissus can also be “recycled” and planted for blooms next winter.
By Wendy Hilty
spread that rich material on your garden beds. Leaf mold, grass clippings, vegetable waste from the kitchen, even shredded newspaper
Unfortunately, it is too hot for snowdrops, but we have our own version down here called Leucojum or “summer snowflake” that does well. It blooms later than the traditional northern snowdrops and is larger, but can put on quite a display if planted en masse. And don’t forget to plant your Christmas Amaryllis
Winter is a great time to plan your garden and do hardscape projects since it is cool and there are no bugs. I also amend my soil in the winter so that I am not hauling bags of compost in the heat. I like to use mushroom compost. It has organic material and tends to be alkaline which is perfect since our soil tends to be on the acidic side. Mushroom compost is easily purchased at garden centers and big box stores and is not expensive. Composted cow mature is a good soil amender as well.
If you are fortunate enough to have your own compost pile, the winter is a good time to
can go into a composter or compost pile and they break down rapidly in our heat to become a source of rich nutrients for your garden.
I will be doing quite a few garden projects once the holidays are over. It is a good way to work off those winter calories.
Wendy Hilty is a Master Gardener and member of the Lowcountry Master Gardeners organization. She is also a member of the Royal Horticultural Society and likes to spend her time attempting to grow an English Cottage Garden in our heat and humidity. Her Comyagardener blog won a state-wide award from Clemson University last year. Wendy firmly believes that the most important tool for a gardener is a good sense of humor.
Geranium
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 Heart of downtown Beaufort. 2BR, 2BA, W/D, Housewares. $600/ wk. $2200/mo. 522-9003.
ISLAND NEWS & LOWCOUNTRY WEEKLY are looking for 2-3 sales people. Print and digital. Flexible hours. Perfect for part-time or semi-retired. Generous commissions. Interesting perks. Join up with the Newspapers of Record in Beaufort County. 843-522-0418.
REAL ESTATE LICENSING CLASS Weekend Real Estate Licensing class offered Jan 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29; Feb 4, 5. Held at the Beaufort-Jasper Realtor Association. Time: 9am -5pm. Cost $450 to Register: www.CarolinaRealEstateAcademy.com Kim Matthews 803-460-2131
BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY ONGOING PROGRAMS & CLASSES Knitting/Crochet Club 1st Tuesdays @ 2:30; Line Dance Class 1st & 3rd Thursdays @ 3:30; Basic Computer Skills Class Wednesdays @ 9; Hoopla Class 2nd Mondays @ 10 and 4th Wednesdays @ 4; Escape Quest Games daily during library hours; Dungeon & Dragons Teen Club Mondays @ 4; Teen Art Club 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 4; Teen Anime Club 2nd & 4th Tuesdays @ 4; Teen Gaming Club 1st & 3rd Wednesdays @ 4
FRIDAY SOCIAL DANCES The Hilton Head Carolina Shag Club hosts Friday dances from 6-9:30 pm at Dolphin Head Golf Club, 59 High Bluff Rd, Hilton Head Plantation. Open to the public. Shag, ballroom, swing, country, or line. Singles welcome. Cash bar and light dinners available. $5 floor fee. HHICSC also teaches beginner Shag lessons Tuesday nights. www.hiltonheadshagclub.com, or www.facebook.com/HHICSC
STAINED GLASS CLASSES IN BEAUFORT Southern Sky Glass Studio is forming morning and afternoon classes for adults 18 and older. Beginning to advanced classes. Cynthia Buckley 508-280-9792 or southernskyglassstudio@gmail.com
With over 25 local professional art educators, and guests from around the world, Art League of Hilton Head offers classes and workshops in all media for all levels of students. Visit www.artleaguehhi.org or email academy@artleaguehhi.org for more info.
POTTERY CLASSES IN BEAUFORT McSweeney Clay Studio is offering morning, afternoon and evening classes for children and adults. Pottery dates and parties available as well. Classes are on going. Beginner or advanced welcome. mcsweeneyclaystudio.com or call 843-694-2049.
BEAUFORT ART ASSOCIATION offers classes for artists at all levels. For info visit www.beaufortartassociation.com. or 913 Bay St.
LOWCOUNTRY SHAGGERS Mondays at the Moose Lodge, 350 Broad River Blvd. 6-9pm. Carolina Shag Lessons with Tommy & Sheri O'Brien and others. Occasional Ballroom Dance and once a
month a Line Dance is taught. Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced lessons. Open dancing after lessons. Visit www.lowcountryshaggers.com or lowcountryshaggers@aol.com
WEDNESDAYS, BEAUFORT SHAG CLUB founded '02, meets Wed evenings at AMVETS on Ribaut Rd., Port Royal. Free lessons to members. The club is an ACSC, SOS, and the National Fastdance Association member. For info visit www.beaufortshagclub.com
WILDFLOWER FAMILY THERAPY CENTER offers individual, couple, and family therapy for children, teens, and adults. Visit us at www.wildflowercenter.org
CARIS HEALTHCARE: WE HONOR VETERANS Hospice Program. You a Vet with a little time to share with other Vets with limited time? The We Honor Veterans program seeks volunteers who are Vets to offer a listening ear for our Veteran patients. Volunteers also participate in our Pinning Ceremonies for Veteran patients. Contact 843-473-3939 or smilliken@carishealthcare.com
HABITAT RESTORE NEEDS VOLUNTEERS
We're looking for volunteers for cashiers, sales floor associates, donation processing, donor data entry, and donor ambassadors. Interested? Go to lowcountryhabitat.org/volunteer or call 843-525-0055.
KARAOKE AT THE MOOSE Sing with us Thursday evenings at The Moose Lodge, 350 Broad River Blvd. 7:30-10:30pm. Brought to you by #top6entertainment Mardi & Dennis Topcik. The Moose is a family friendly place and Thursdays are also Pizza Night!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for Calhoun Station Thrift Store in Bluffton. All funds generated are returned to other nonprofits in the community. Store is open Wed & Sat 10am to 1pm and located at 77 Pritchard St. Volunteers can stop by store or contact Cate Taylor, 843-310-0594 or catetaylor@frontier.com
MAYE RIVER QUILTERS meets 1st Saturday of Every Month, at Palmetto Electric Cooperative, 1 Cooperative Way, Hardeeville. Members meet at 9:30am for social exchange. The meeting starts at 10 am. We welcome new members. Please call 843-707-6034.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for HELP of Beaufort, 1810 Ribaut Road. Looking for committed volunteers for clothes sorting, pantry help, front desk help and Mobile Meals drivers. We are open M-F from 9:30-12:30, Mobile Meals delivers to home bound seniors 5 days/ week, routes takes about 30-45 mins. Email Lori at helpbeaufort@gmail.com, or call 843-524-1223, or stop in and fill out an application.
PORT ROYAL MUSEUM is open Thursday through Sunday at 1634 Paris Ave., from 10 - 3 or upon request. Free admission! Call 843-524-4333 or email historicportroyalfoundation@gmail.com to request a special opening.
PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP - First Thursday of the month at Beaufort Memorial LifeFit Wellness Center, from 1:30-2:45pm, 900 Ribaut Rd. Beaufort. We are individuals with Parkinson’s care partners of those with Parkinson’s, and individuals or companies providing products or services for Parkinson’s patients. For more info: Rick Ostrander at pdawaresc@ gmail.com or Facebook at Parkinson’s Support Group Of Beaufort SC Port Royal & Lady’s Island.
TOUR HISTORIC FORT FREMONT—-Travel to the 1800's and the Spanish American War. From 10:00
am until 2:00 pm every Friday and every Saturday from 10:00 until 4:00pm at the Fort Fremont History Center at the Fort Fremont Preserve, 1124 Land's End Road, St. Helena Island is open. Docent-led tours are every Saturday at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. Visitors to Fort Fremont can learn about the fort's history by reading interpretive panels, taking a self-guided tour with a smart phone, visiting the history center exhibit hall, or attending a docent-led tour of the property. The Preserve is open to the public Monday through Sunday from dawn to dusk. For more Information visit www.forttremont.org or contact Passive Parks manager Stefanie Nagid at snagid@bcgov.net
US COAST GUARD AUXILIARY, Flotilla 07-10-01, Port Royal Sound, a uniformed, all volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard. We conduct safety patrols, assist search & rescue, teach boat safety, conduct free vessel safety checks and other boating activities. Monthly meetings are open to all and held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at the Port Royal Sound Foundation classroom at 7pm. For info call Flotilla Commander Pattie McGowan (706-6336192) and visit us on Facebook - USCGA Beaufort.
BEAUFORT TOASTMASTERS CLUB meets from 5:30 pm - 6:45 pm the first & third Tuesday, in the Beaufort College Building, Rm. 103 (USC-Beaufort Campus), 801 Carteret Street, Beaufort. To learn more visit www.beauforttoastmastersclub.org
FREE ACUPUNCTURE FOR VETERANS – Veterans, Active Duty, Transition. Their Families and First Responders are Eligible. First & Third Wednesday 4 - 6pm. Walk In Clinic. No Need to Pre-Register or Call. Nourishing Health Acupuncture and Herbs Clinic. 1214 Prince Street, Downtown Beaufort
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for a few hours each week at St. Francis Thrift Shop. Open Tuesday thru Saturday. Call 843-689-6563 or come in to speak with Mr. Hal. Definitely shop.
COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE Safe & effective centuries old healing system treats and prevents a wide range of health-related conditions. Experience individualized treatment in a peaceful group setting. Sliding scale fee. Beaufort Acupuncture, 12 Fairfield Rd, 5B, Lady’s Island. For info and to schedule: (843) 694-0050 or www.BeaufortAcupuncture.com
SECOND HELPINGS seeking Day Captains and other volunteers to crew our trucks distributing food to local charities. Flexible schedule at your convenience. Email officeadmin@secondhelpingslc.org
AGAPE HOSPICE seeks volunteers to spend time bringing joy to our patients and families during a difficult time. Activities include playing music, baking, arts and crafts, pet therapy, manicures, listening to stories, holding hands, etc. Provide companionship to the elderly who often feel lonely and unappreciated. Contact Ashlee Powers at 843-592-8453 or apowers@agapehospice.com
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for HELP of Beaufort. Come join the team providing food, mobile meals, clothing and emergency financial assistance to those in need in our community. Open Mon-Fri 9:30-12:30. 2 Ice House Rd., Beaufort. Call or email Jennifer 843-524-1223 or info@helpofbeaufort.org
TIDEWATER HOSPICE SUPPORT GROUP: Last Wed. and Thurs. of the month. Weds. 10-11am at Sun City; Thurs. 12-1pm Brookdale Hilton Head Ct., Hilton Head; for those who provide physical, emotional or practical support to a family member or friend. Jodi Johnson, LMSW. Bereavement Group: 5-6 pm., Thursdays, 10 Buckingham Plantation Drive, Suite A, Bluffton; for those who have experienced a loss and would like support and info associated with grief and bereavement. Corrie VanDyke, LMSW or Marie James, MA. 843-757-9388
INTERESTED IN HEALTHY EATING? Second Helpings, of Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper counties, seeks committee members and chairperson for Healthy Food Program. Funding available to procure fresh produce and protein for the 60 food 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, Senior Services of Beaufort, 1408 Paris Ave., Port Royal; Living with Alzheimer's - for those in very early stages - Mondays 1pm, Parsons Parlor, Carteret Street Methodist Church, 408 Carteret, Beaufort. Respite Programs: Social Day Program- 10am-1:45pm $40 Day Fee, Mon. at Cornerstone Christian Church, 2301 First Blvd., Beaufort, Weds. & Friday at Carteret Street Methodist Church, 408 Carteret St., Beaufort; In Home - Respite Aides available for 2 hr. minimum, $12$24. Early Memory Loss: Maintain Your Brain - 2nd & 4th Thursday, 10-11:30am, $10/person, $15 couple, Carteret Street Methodist Church, 408 Carteret St., Beaufort; Memory Screenings available call 843-5219190, free; Purple Haven Project - Educate local establishment staff to better interact with a person with Alzheimer's call 843-521-9190.
THRESHOLD SINGERS OF THE LOWCOUNTRY A choir to ease and comfort people at bedside by offering gentle voices and sacred songs, with sincere kindness. Two to four singers go to bedside when asked and sing a cappella and in harmony. Practice at St. John's Lutheran Church the 2nd & 4th Sundays of the month from 2:30-4:00 pm. Our songs are our gift of service for no charge. Call Pat Keown at 843-476-6073 to either join or ask us to sing for a loved one.
THE LITERACY CENTER is seeking volunteers to tutor adults in reading, writing, math and ESL. Students hope to acquire skills to pursue life goals, support families, and contribute to our community. Daytime and evenings in Bluffton and HHI. Call 843815-6616 (Bluffton); 843-681-6655 (HHI). No teaching, tutoring or other language knowledge necessary. www.theliteracycenter.org
THE SANDALWOOD COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY. Volunteer-based, non-profit provides groceries, clothing and basic needs items to ANYONE in need. Open Tues & Fri 11:30am-1pm at 114 Beach City Rd., Hilton Head. Donations of food and funds needed. For info: Rev. Dr. Nannette Pierson at 843715-3583 or email sandalwoodpantry@gmail.com
PARRIS ISLAND MUSEUM. The legacy of the Marine Corps and the history of the Port Royal region. Thousands of artifacts, images, and other materials illustrate the stories in exhibit galleries from Native American to modern Marines. FREE admission. Mon-Sat 10am-4:30pm and 8am on Family Graduation Days. Closed New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Info at parrisislandmuseum. com or 843-228-2166.
MEDICAL SERVICES OF AMERICA SEEKS VOLUNTEERS - Volunteers needed for companionship or skills like yard work, music, and crafts to patients and their families or assist in the office with admin tasks. Volunteers needed in Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper counties. For info contact 843-322-0063
CHRIST CENTERED RECOVERY MEETINGS Join Shell Point Baptist Church Saturdays for “Celebrate Recovery”, addressing life’s problems and looking to scripture for solutions. Meal at 6pm; Praise and Worship at 6:30pm followed by Small Groups at 7:15pm. 871 Parris Island Gateway, Beaufort. Info at 843-592-1046.
The playground at the Hagerstown, Indiana, elementary school, in the early 1950s, had a touch of the O.K. Corr al to it. During recess, tough-acting fifth and sixth graders would swagger around the grounds surrounding the two-story, rough-stucco building, looking for action. Their game wasn’t gunplay; it was marbles. They’d walk, twirling their bag of catseyes and alleys, looking for opponents, much as the Earp brothers must have twirled their six-shooters as they pursued the Clantons in 1880s Tombstone.
Like the residents of Tombstone, folks in Hagerstown “didn’t want no trouble.” It was a town of 1,800 residents in the heart of Hoosier corn-and-hog country. Most of the students rode school busses, some for as long as an hour each way from farmstead to town and back, and the boys emerged at the school grounds, lunch pail in one hand and bag of marbles in the other, ready for action.
Morning and afternoon recesses were prime times for marbles. Spying another boy with a bag, a challenger might approach and ask, “Wanna go for ‘keepsies’?” – meaning engaging in a game of keeping any of your opponent’s marbles that you were able to knock out of a circle, drawn in the playground’s packed dirt, with your shooter. If the other boy’s confidence was high, he might answer, “Sure, but no ‘quitsies’.” This would insure that once the game had begun, a player not liking the lay of his marbles or the prospect of losing a prized steely or aggie couldn’t declare the game over before the perceived harm was done or the bell for ending recess had tolled.
“Okay,” the challenger might say, “and no hoisties, no cleansies!” The former meant a player wasn’t allowed to lift, or hoist, his shooter into the air, enabling him to flip it over an obstacle—one of his own marbles, say, or a small stone remaining in the circle after its preparation—lying between his shooter and his opponent’s marble. Normally the person shooting had to “knuckle down” — that is, keep a knuckle of his shooting hand on the ground at the edge of the ring. And “no cleansies” meant the shooter would not be allowed to take the flat of his hand and brush away small bits of gravel or otherwise cleanse the path between his shooting hand and the intended target.
With rules set, the game was on. Someone would draw the circle, about a yard in diameter, and do a perfunctory job of clearing bits of gravel and smoothing the ground inside it. Each player would then scatter a predetermined number of his marbles around the ring, with arguments arising over the quality of the marbles offered up: “C’mon, man; I throw in my best tiger and a Popeye; you have old clays and a glassie.” Somehow, such things got worked out. Each player then flipped a fat shooter at a designated object several feet away, the one getting closer awarded the first shot.
Once begun, games moved quickly. A player knocking an opponent’s marble out of the ring got to keep it and continue shooting until either he failed to do so or had collected all of his adversary’s offerings. Then, the other player had at it, often with the advantage of having fewer of his own marbles in the ring as obstacles to his shooting.
Naturally, victory was sweet, while players suffered defeat visibly. Everyone on the playground knew what it meant to “act like you’ve lost all your marbles.” Most had witnessed someone doing so.
As most boys, I treasured my marbles, but my skills were lacking. My hands were so small that I could barely fit a shooter into the crook of my index finger for flipping with my thumb. Knuckling down for a shot and then having the shooter roll meekly out of my grip and into the ring was an embarrassment. Mostly I watched the games of older guys, ready to nod appreciably when a contestant went on a nice run or console a friend after a bitter defeat.
My playground prospects changed dramatically in fourth grade. First, Barbara Bavender, a curly-haired, nine-year-old siren, asked me to play on the swings with her, and I did this almost giddily for several weeks. Then, sixth-grader Winky Dale — so named by cruel grade-schoolers because every third of fourth blink of his eyes involved a violent scrunching of his face — invited me to join his basketball team. The playground had two courts, both dominated by teams selected by skilled older boys, and to be asked to play on a team when in fourth grade, when I was no taller than many second graders, brought instant status. Dale picked me for his team because of my ball-handling and passing ability, I told
myself. (It had to be this since I wasn’t yet strong enough to get the ball ten feet up to the rim.) That my dad was head coach of the town’s high school basketball team, and young aspirants might be looking to gain his favor through activities involving his son, didn’t dawn on me until I was much older.
I left the playground, and Hagerstown, after fourth grade, moving with my family to a nearby city, Richmond, where we would live for the next decade. After that period, with my brother and me in college, my parents moved again and asked if I would “come home over a weekend and clear out some of your stuff.” It was then, digging through a cabinet that contained what remained of my childhood effects, that I spied, crumpled in a back corner, a cloth, draw-string bag. Inside it were my marbles. I’d assumed they’d disappeared long ago, but there they were, set aside for a final game.
ByAlas, I never got to play it. Under parental pressure, the marbles went with my board games and Golden Books into the box of things to give away. Since then, I’ve not had any marbles to lose, as many who know me would be quick to affirm.
Donald Wright retired from SUNY-Cortland after 31 years as a professor of African history. He has authored of half a dozen books, held Fulbright, Rockefeller Foundation, and NEH Fellowships, and lectured in South Africa, China, and cruises along Africa's Atlantic coast. He lives with his wife, Doris, in Beaufort.
Donald Wright
Foolish Frog, 846 Sea Island Pkwy, St. Helena Island. (843) 838-9300. thefoolishfrog.com
Luther’s Rare & Well Done, 910 Bay Street. (843) 521-1888 or www.luthersrareandwelldone.com
Q on Bay, 822 Bay St, Beaufort. (843) 524-7771 or www.qonbay.com
Rosie O’Gradys Irish Pub, in Beaufort Town Center. December! A Blessed Season! We're open thru the Holidays. C'mon down! Mondays & Tuesdays F&B Nights with Discounts; Wednesday, Friday & SaturdayKaraoke at 10pm. Open daily at 11:30am. 18 Years Now! Closed Christmas Day. (843) 3797676 or Rosie's on Facebook
Saltus River Grill, 802 Bay St, Beaufort. (843) 379-3474 or www.saltusrivergrill.com
Big Bamboo, Coligny Plaza. (843) 686-3443 or www.bigbamboocafe.com
Captain Woody’s, 6 Target Rd., Hilton Head or 17 State of Mind St., Bluffton. www.captainwoodys. com
The Jazz Corner, Village at Wexf1ord, Hilton Head. Sundays - Deas Guyz; Mondays - A Journey Through Jazz with The Martin Lesch Band; Tuesdays - Fat Tuesdays: A Swingin' Celebration of New Orleans and Beyond; Thursdays - Lavon Stevens with Louise Spencer. 12/21 Lavon Stevens with Quiana Parler, 12/23 & 12/23 A Motown Holiday Spectacular with Reggie Deas & Deas Guys, 12/24 & 12 25 CLOSED - Merry Christmas, 12/28 Bobby Ryder, 12/30 Reggie Deas & Deas Guys, 12/31 Happy New Year's! with the Noel Freidline Quintet featuring Maria Howell, 1/1/23 to 1/12/23 CLOSED for Winter Break. (843) 842-8620 or www.TheJazzCorner.com
Omni Hilton Head Ocean Front in Palmetto Dunes. Buoy Bar - HH Prime - (843) 842-8000 or www.omnihotels.com
The Music Farm, 32 Ann Street, Charleston. 12/29 Jump Little Children; Frances Cone, 12/30 Corey Smith; Jeb Gipsdon, 12/31 A New Year's Eve Reggaeton Dance Party with Gasolina, 1/6/23 54 Bicycles - Widespread Panic tribute, 1/7/23 Local Metal Showcase with 'Serpent Church; Decadence; Kept in Ruins; Ozmyridis. (843) 4081599 or www.musicfarm.com
The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston. Sundays - The Motown Throwdown, Mondays - Slim & Friends; Tuesdays - Fusion Jonez, Wednesdays - Grateful Dead Wednesday with Reckoning. 12/21 Gavin Hamilton & Friends, 12/23 5th Annual Funky Jingle Ball with Broken Speakers with the Ho Ho Horns & Santa's Helpers; Grimm's Elf Esteem, 12/24 - 12/26 CLOSED - Merry Christmas!, 12/28 & 12/29 Andy Frasco & the UN, 12/30 & 12/31 Happy New Year! with Little Stranger, 1/2/23 & 1/3/23 CLOSED - Happy New Year, 1/4/23
The Reckoning, 1/5 Balkan Bump; Nyrus; DJ Moldybrain; Croozshipp, 1/6 Mr. Fahrenheit, 1/7 The Grateful Brothers - Grateful Dead & Allman Brothers tribute. (843) 571-4343 or www.charlestonpourhouse.com
Windjammer, 1008 Ocean Blvd, Isle of Palms. 12/23 Josh Hughett, 12/29 The Stews; Droze; The Drift, 12/30 The Yacht Club, 12/31 Happy New Year with Weird Science. (843) 886-8596 or www.the-windjammer.com
land inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, 843-681-5060.
Now – 1/1, SOBA Christmas Bazaar, at the SOBA Gallery in Old Town Bluffton. www.sobagallery.com
Now – 2/25/23, The Food We Celebrate. This traveling exhibit tells the story of selected foodways and how they are celebrated and shared. Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage in downtown Ridgeland. www.morrisheritagecenter.org
1/3 – 1/28, Anything Goes! Member show at the Art League of Hilton Head Gallery. Awards reception Wed, 1/11, 5-7pm. Inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, 843-681-5060.
1/6 – 2/29, Reflections of Nature: Painting with Glass. Featuring the work of Sharon Cooper. Artist reception on Fri, 1/6 from 5-8pm at the Beaufort Art Association Gallery, 913 Bay Street, Beaufort. www.beaufortartassociation.
com
Thur 1/19, 1/26, 2/2, 2/9, 2/16, ‘Five Centuries of History’ Lecture Series sponsored by Historic Beaufort Foundation at USCB Center for the Arts. Featuring historians John McCardell, Larry Rowland, and Stephen Wise. $30 per lecture/$150 lecture package for HBF members. $35 per lecture/$175 lecture package for non-HBF members. $20 per lecture/$100 lecture package for full-time students. www.historicbeaufort.org
Thur 1/5, Sticks and Stones: Turning Grief into Verse, a poetry workshop with SC Poet Laureate Angelo Geter online, hosted by the
Pat Conroy Literary Center on from 6-8pm. To register in advance, visit https://patconroyliterarycenter.eventbrite.com.
Tues 1/17, Beth M. Howard (World Piece: A Pie Baker's Global Quest for Peace, Love, and Understanding) at the Rhett House Inn, 5-7pm, cosponsored by the Pat Conroy Literary Center. The $25 registration fee includes a copy of the book, a sampling of pies, and the author talk and pie-making demonstration. Register by 1/15 at https://bethmhowardattherhetthouse.eventbrite.com
Sun 1/22, USCB Chamber Music, “Romantic Mastery” concert, 5 pm at USCB Center for the Arts. For concert/ticket information, visit www. uscbchambermusic.com or call 843-208-8246
Thursdays and some Tuesdays, Tours of the Historic Hunting Island Lighthouse sponsored by the Friends of Hunting Island. Keeper Ted and his team will tell you about the history of the Lighthouse built in 1875. The only Lighthouse in South Carolina open to visitors. If you're 44 inches tall you may climb the 167 steps to the top for a 360 degree view. Reservations are recommended - call the Nature Center at 843-838-7437. Tours are $2 a person and park entry fees apply.
Third Thursday, TECHconnect is a monthly networking event for professionals working in and around technology. Come and join on the for the conversation at BASEcamp 500 Carteret 5:30-7:30pm. 843-470-3506. www.beaufortdigital.com
Thursdays, History Tours of Fort Mitchel by the Heritage Library, 10am. $12/Adult $7/ Child. 843-686-6560.
Editors Note: Events listed here may be subject to postponement or cancellation. Please check for further information.
Now – 12/31, Holiday Gallery of Gifts at Art League Gallery. 10am-4pm and Sundays 124pm. Opening reception Wed, 11/16, 5-7pm. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public. Art League Gallery is located mid-is-
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