cover notes
The image on our cover is an oil painting by Deborah Stroud of the newly formed Fripp Island Art Guild. The Guild is hosting its first juried exhibit on Sunday, June 7th. For more information, see our story on page 8.
yWeekly
May 20 – June 2, 2026
ro w c o unt
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The Human Touch
I know I’m a bit of a drag lately. I’m always either moaning about grief or groaning about Artificial Intelligence. Often, both.
(And if you think I’m fun on this page, you should see me at parties!)
But y’all, this is my life. If you find yourself thrust into sudden widowhood, and ill-prepared for it – I know, I know, that’s on me – you, too, may become far more acquainted with AI than you ever wanted to be. ChatGPT – or “Chad” as I call him – may quickly become the new man in your life. Though he can’t change your tire or lay out your newspaper or amend the “operating agreement” of your LLC – yet! – he can tell you exactly how to do those things yourself. He’ll even tell you he’s “sorry for your loss.”
Chad is impeccably considerate and even kind of charming. I hear he can be sexy, too, but we haven’t gone there. I have my lines in the sand.
Seriously, though, despite my dependence on it – or maybe because of that dependence – I can't help but feel in my bones that AI is poisoning everything we hold dear.
Recently, I discussed that very topic with Wendy, an excellent customer service rep with USAA. To be clear, it took me a while to connect with Wendy. I had already tried chatting with the chatbot on their
website and one of their AI service reps over the phone. Neither was able to grasp my concern, which really wasn’t very complicated.
In a nutshell: I had received an email from USAA the day before, reminding me that my monthly auto-payment was happening the next day. I noticed that they were scheduled to charge me the full amount of my annual policy, instead of the monthly minimum payment. As I am but a poor, struggling widow woman, this could not stand! I needed to make a little payment, not a big payment. That’s what I’d signed up for, and what I’d been doing, but something had gone kerflooey.
On the USAA website, I explained my dilemma in simple terms, but the chatbot was repeatedly flummoxed. I called the customer service number, and thought the AI rep there had solved my problem – after several robotic back-and-forths – until she cheerfully announced, “Okay, Margaret! Your new payment will be made on top of the payment already scheduled!” Argh.
Getting a bit desperate, I asked, “May I please speak with a real person?”
I had to wait a while, but Wendy The Real Person was worth it. Not only did she understand my problem immediately – and fix it immediately – but she was fun and funny and really interesting.
I almost wept with relief.
Instead, I said, “Wendy, you are great at your job. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to talk to an actual human. It’s becoming so rare.”
She said, “You know, I hear that so many times a day, you wouldn’t believe it. Our customers are just so grateful to talk to real people. It makes me wonder where we’re really headed with all this AI stuff.”
I told her I was a writer/editor who feels AI bearing down on her job every day, to which Wendy replied, “You think YOU feel that threat? Imagine being a customer service rep!”
We commiserated a while. I talked about the multitude of AI-esque articles I see plastering Facebook daily, all written in exactly the same voice and style, and how I can no longer tell if real people are just imitating that voice/style – because it’s so ubiquitous – or if AI is now writing most of what I read on Facebook. I complained that these pervasive “writers” are chiseling away at our individuality… and chipping away at my writerly soul.
“Okay, you’re a writer,” she said. “You observe people. You pay attention to events and trends. You try to understand things and explains things. That’s your orientation.” (Wendy gets me!) “So, you might want to look into this. It’s kind of a rabbit hole, and it sounds crazy, but… ”
She laughed and we said our goodbyes. Under different circumstances, we might even have exchanged cell numbers and Instagram handles. Such was our bond.
Later, after running some errands, I sat down at my computer to research Wendy’s claims. I was excited to explore the notion that Artificial Intelligence might be the Antichrist or the Gateway to the Apocalypse or some such. It could make a great column! Or at least a decent distraction.
Unfortunately, I quickly hit a brick wall. I could find no reference to any big announcement – about AI, the internet, or anything else – that Apple had made on June 6, 1996. I tried the same date in 1976, 1986, 2006, 2016… Nada. Even Chad confirmed that no such announcement had been made on any of those dates.
(Of course, one wonders if Chad can be trusted in this case. I mean, if Wendy’s theory were true, he would be implicated… right?)
Then she proceeded to tell me about some big announcement – regarding Artificial Intelligence – that Apple had made way back on June 6, 1996. (“Did you get that date?” she asked, ominously. “6-6-6.”) She reminded me that the company’s logo is an Apple with a bite taken out of it. I’m no Biblical scholar, but I could see where Wendy was going with this…
And reader, I was there for it. Not only do I love a good rabbit hole, but it wasn’t the first time I’d considered that AI might be –dare I say it? – the work of the devil.
Wendy and I chatted a bit longer about the evils of AI, then I said, “Girl, I know this conversation is being ‘recorded for quality assurance purposes,’ and I don’t want to get you in trouble. We’ve been on way too long, and you probably shouldn’t be dissing your AI brethren and sist’ren, anyway. You know they’re gunning for your job!”
In any cast, I had to let it go. And I confess, I was disappointed. I hate it when a good conspiracy theory fails to materialize. Especially one with deep religious implications that seem totally nutty yet weirdly compelling.
But alas, there just wasn’t any evidence. And now I’m wondering where Wendy got her intel.
I guess I should have asked for her cell number, after all. Maybe she could share her original source material, or give me a little more information about Apple’s “big announcement.” If not, we could at least have another good old-fashioned chat. Human to human.
I miss those.
Margaret Evans is the publisher and editor of Lowcountry Weekly. She has been writing her
Margaret Evans
The True Origins of Memorial Day
Day 2026
Scott Gibbs of the Gullah Traveling Theater
With Memorial Day approaching, Gullah Traveling Theater, Inc. (GTTI) invites the community and visitors to experience Decoration Day 2026, a powerful, updated full-stage musical that brings to life the true origins of Memorial Day.
This annual homecoming event is a part of the 41st Original Gullah Festival of South Carolina celebrating the contributions and history of the Gullah people (May 21 – 24. Visit: www.originalgullahfestival.org for more information.) Performances for this updated show will take place Thursday, May 21 (7 PM) and Saturday, May 23 (3 PM) at the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) Performing Arts Center, offering audiences a meaningful and moving way to reflect, remember, and celebrate our nation’s history.
Rooted in the traditions of formerly enslaved people in the Lowcountry, Decoration Day tells the story of one of the earliest known Memorial Day observances—honoring fallen Union soldiers through song, tribute, and community gathering. Through original music, storytelling, and vivid performances, GTTI brings this powerful history to life in a way that resonates across generations.
“This production invites audiences to experience Memorial Day with deeper meaning,” said GTTI’s Deputy Director, Scott Gibbs. “It is a story of remembrance, resilience, and gratitude—one that deserves to be shared and celebrated.”
As part of its broader 2026 Gullah National Salute to Service, GTTI will close its season with Da’ Gullah American Revolu-
tionary Experience, highlighting the contributions of Gullah Geechee “heroes and sheroes” during the American Revolution.
That production will be performed June 27 in Beaufort and July 18 in Bluffton at the May River Theatre
Online ticket sales for the Revolutionary Experience open May 26, 2026. Advance tickets are available through cast and staff.
The 2026 Gullah National Salute to Service is presented in partnership with Visit Beaufort and Discover South Carolina, supporting cultural tourism and heritage preservation across the region.
Tickets are now available online at https://www.gullahkinfolktravelingtheater.org. Guests are encouraged to reserve now, as seating is limited.
Performance Schedule
Decoration Day: May 21 (7 PM) & 23 (3 PM)— Beaufort, SC (USCB)
Da’ Gullah American Revolutionary Experience:
June 27 – USCB Performing Arts Center, Beaufort (2 Shows: 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM)
July 18 — May River Theatre, Bluffton, SC (2 Shows: 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM)
About Gullah Traveling Theater, Inc.
Gullah Traveling Theater, Inc. is dedicated to preserving and presenting the rich history and culture of the Gullah Geechee people through original theatrical productions, music, and storytelling. By bringing history to life on stage, GTTI educates, inspires, and connects diverse audiences to the stories that shape our shared heritage.
Gullah Traveling Theater Presents Decoration
BHS's Lauren Rosencrantz Wins 7th Annual Ann Head Literary Prize
As creators and sponsors of the annual Ann Head Literary Prize for Short Story Fiction, the family of Ann Head is pleased to announce the winner of the seventh annual award.
“Except It’s Not,” by Lauren Rosencrantz, Senior at Beaufort High School, has been selected as winner of the 2025 Ann Head Literary Prize for Short Story Fiction. “Except It’s Not,” brings Lauren’s “memaw” to life for the reader by reflecting on their summers together and the many ways in which she impacted Lauren’s childhood. Anecdotal, Lauren’s story is personal, relatable, heartwarming, and emotionally gripping, showcasing
Lauren’s skill in description and reflection. Lauren receives a cash prize of $500 and her name engraved on a plaque displayed at Beaufort High School. She will be honored at the Pat Conroy Literary Festival this fall, where she will have the opportunity to read from her story. Lauren will attend Hollins University in Virginia starting this Fall. She will study English and Creative Writing, with plans to become a professional writer. This is Lauren’s third year participating in the competition, consistently submitting excellent stories from a wide variety of genres.
Jameya Habersham, Sophomore at Beaufort High School, has been named
second place Finalist for her narrative poem, “Dear, Leland.” Jameya writes with originality, style, and honesty of her relationship with her best friend, Leland, who had moved away. The poem is compelling in its natural shifts in narrative structure and serves as a beacon of hope for what’s to come for two lost friends and others like them. She will be honored at the Pat Conroy Literary Festival this fall, where she will have the opportunity to read from her story.
These winning stories were chosen from submissions written by students at Beaufort High School. The family of Ann Head is grateful for the enthusiastic sup-
port of the English Department and its Creative Writing Teacher, Michael Gautier, as well as for the support and partnership of the Pat Conroy Literary Center.
About Ann Head: Writer Ann Head, the pen name of Anne Wales Christensen Head Morse (1915–1968), was the granddaughter of Abbie Holmes Christensen, who came to Beaufort during the Civil War to educate the recently freed enslaved populations of the Sea Islands.
Moving back and forth between Boston and Beaufort, Ann carried on the family tradition of bucking traditions and creating new literary forms. Ann was Pat Conroy’s first creative writing teacher at Beaufort High School and became Conroy’s mentor, confidante, and friend. Ann published dozens of short stories and serials in the major national magazines of her day, with many of her stories set in a small town just like Beaufort. She wrote of divorce, snobbery, affairs both emotional and sexual, prejudice, death, and out-ofwedlock childbirth, championing the non-typical heroines of the magazines that eagerly accepted her work. In addition, she authored four novels which were published internationally, most notably Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jo Jones, a compelling story of teen pregnancy which was on
Nancy Thode, Lauren Rosencrantz & Michael Gautier
Nancy Thode, Jameya Habersham & Michael Gautier
school reading lists for 50 years and is credited with helping create the Young Adult novel genre.
Ann died suddenly in 1968, at the age of 52, cutting short a vibrant life and promising literary career. The life of Ann Head is chronicled by her daughter, Nancy Thode, in the widely available biography Ahead of Her Time: The Trailblazing Life and Literary Legacy of Ann Head.
Excerpt from “Except It’s Not” by Lauren Rosencrantz:
“Six years later, warm weather would come, now earlier than most years, and commemorate the arrival of summer. I would see the bees come out, hovering by my window. Girls at my school would have tans, and beach plans were on everyone’s weekend itinerary. Summer started for them, but summer would arrive for me. This year, it wouldn’t be summer. It
wouldn’t be summer because Memaw wasn’t coming.
All my summers with her would forever be memories. It will play in my head like a film for the rest of my life. Reimagining how I felt whenever she pulled into our driveway, and how each day—despite how repetitive it got—was always a good day when she was there.”
Excerpt from “Dear, Leland” by Jameya Habersham:
“I remember you crying… when you lost your mom.
“I remember crying also when your mom passed; she was like a mother to me, also, so that hurt.
“I remember when you left.
My days have gotten gray and I haven’t seen you since”
SOUTH CAROLINA and the ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE
CELEBRATING 250 AMAZING AMERICAN YEARS WITH WORDS, MUSIC, AND CAKE
SATURDAY, JUNE 6 3 - 6 PM
USCB CENTER FOR THE ARTS DOORS OPEN AT 2:30 PM
WORDS WITH HISTORIANS LAWRENCE ROWLAND
JOHN McCARDELL
MUSIC WITH PIANISTS JEEWON PARK ANDREW ARMSTRONG
The program will comprise three parts: a combined lecture by eminent historians Lawrence Rowland and JohnMcCardell -- tracing the sources and discussing the causes of the American Revolution and South Carolina’s role in its success, a break for discussion and the essential birthday cake with lemonade, and then an all American concert for four hands by brilliant pianists Jeewon Park and Andrew Armstrong -- presenting works by American composers ranging from Sousa to Joplin to Gershwin to Barber; from “Yankee Doodle” to “Stars and Stripes” to ragtime, to “Rhapsody in Blue,” and beyond.
GENERAL ADMISSION: all-inclusive tickets - $30
Lectures | Cake and Lemonade | Piano concert
FOR TICKETS: www.uscbchambermusic.com/250 843-521-3107 or scan QR code
Beaufort literary legend Ann Head
New Guild in Town
The Fripp Island Art Guild, a new nonprofit established in 2025 with more than 70 artists, will host an art show, Reflections of Fripp, on Sunday, June 7, from 10 am to 6 pm at the Fripp Island Community Centre, 225 Tarpon Blvd.
Featuring more than 30 member artists working across painting, ceramics, jewelry, and mixed media, the show highlights the rich creative spirit of the Lowcountry. A VIP Preview Night on June 6, sponsored by SeaIslandStay, offers sponsors and donors early access to shop the exhibition, with complimentary wine served. Presented by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Bay Street Realty Group, the event celebrates art, community, and coastal living.
According to Guild Vice President Kari Cornwell, its founders Joan Barnes and Deborah Stroud were among a group of island residents who painted together en plein aire. When they decided to put some feelers out about making the group more “official,” they had a great response, and the Fripp Island Art Guild was born.
Now 70 members strong, the Guild enjoys plenty of crossover membership with other area arts organizations, including the Beaufort Art Association and local galleries like Atelier Off Bay and Thibaut Gallery.
And they’ve hit the ground running. Re-
- Sunday 11am-4pm
flections of Fripp will be the organization’s third exhibit – they had a Pledge the Pink show in October and a Holiday show in December – but it will be their first juried exhibit.
The Guild has also initiated a Legacy Gift Program, featuring A Bench of Memories. According to a Guild spokesperson, “Neighbors and friends have come together to honor loved ones by sponsoring engraved plaques that will be permanently placed on a commemorative park bench. Each plaque tells a quiet story of remembrance, gratitude, or love, creating a shared
space where art and memory intersect.”
The first Legacy Gift Bench has been generously donated by Chris Hollingsworth of Tropic Aire Patio Gallery in support of the Fripp Island Art Guild Legacy Gift Program. For more information, visit https://frippislandartguild.org/legacy
The upcoming exhibit, Reflections of Fripp, will feature Lowcountry landscapes, laser engraved dinnerware, resin jewelry, mixed media art, fine art jewelry in sterling silver, gold, and bronze, handcrafted journals and cards, fine ceramics and raku pottery, a student art showcase, live painting demonstrations through the day, and oyster-themed art contest, and more.
The exhibit is open to residents and visitors alike, from 10 am – 6 pm, on Sunday, June 7. Gate passes to attend the exhibit may be requested at https:// frippislandartguild.
Art by Frank Gorman
The Fripp Island Art Guild hosts first juried exhibit
Oil Painting by Deborah Stroud
Fine Art Jewelry by Janet Berkeley
Acrylic Pwwainting by Kari Cornwell
Handbuilt Ceramic Sculpture by Venae McGlashan
Art League Awards 2026 Scholarship to Danyela Fusi
Young artist recognized for compelling exploration of identity, culture, and place
Art League of Hilton Head is proud to announce Bluffton resident Danyela Fusi as the recipient of its 2026 Art League of Hilton Head Scholarship, awarded annually to a graduating Beaufort County senior pursuing a degree in the visual arts. The $2,000 scholarship supports emerging artists as they continue their creative education.
Selected through a competitive process that includes portfolio review and an in-person interview, Fusi stood out for both her technical ability and her distinctive artistic voice. “Denise [DeMarzo] and Sandra [Hearn], who conducted your interview, were especially impressed by both the strength of your work and the clarity of your artistic voice,” wrote Art League Executive Director Kristen McIntosh in the official award letter.
Fusi’s portfolio reveals a thoughtful and deeply personal exploration of identity, heritage, and environment. Her work ranges from vibrant, light-filled scenes such as A Danube De Valladolid Mexico, inspired by reflections on a rainy evening, to architectural studies like Basilica De Amor Del Madre, which connects to her Ecuadorian heritage. In Worlds Collide; I Am Me, she blends cultural influences - Italian and Latin American - into a richly detailed visual narrative, while other pieces explore histo-
ry, architecture, and the passage of time through both drawing and mixed media compositions.
“Your portfolio demonstrated a compelling range of subject matter and inspiration,” McIntosh noted. “Your work shows both technical skill and a clear curiosity about place, identity, and history - qualities we are proud to support through this scholarship.”
From intricate architectural renderings inspired by European design to expressive works influenced by the natural beauty of the South Carolina Lowcountry, Fusi’s art reflects a young artist already attuned to the stories embedded in both landscape and culture. Her piece Oyster Bed, for example, draws inspiration from the colors and textures of local marshes, translating them into a layered, tactile composition.
Fusi plans to attend Winthrop University, where she will continue developing her artistic practice and exploring new creative directions.
She will be publicly recognized at an upcoming Art League Gallery reception on Wednesday, June 24, from 5–7pm, where members of the community are invited to celebrate her achievement and meet the artist.
The Tuckers with Vanna White, BIFF 2016
Danube De Villadolid Mexico
Worlds Collide - I Am Me
Home of Europe
Gullah Cuisine
Gullah Cuisine
The Gullah people have a rich Sea Island heritage and are a large part of the Lowcountry culture. The Gullah are descendants of enslaved Africans. Many still have a very thick vernacular, also called Gullah. The resilient Gullah have been able to preserve much of their African heritage. Their customs and traditions are strong on the Sea Islands and their influence is celebrated with art, literature, and festivals. Beaufort residents and visitors are also fans of Gullah cuisine. Many dishes are one pot meals. Most include rice. Who doesn’t love fresh vegetables, hoe cakes, gumbo, or perlo?
(Reprinted from Celebrate Beaufort by Debbi Covington. Photography by Susan DeLoach.)
Lowcountry Chicken Bog with Collard Greens
This one pot comfort food is sure to become a family favorite! There’s some debate in the south about whether it should be called a perlo or a bog. In the end, chicken perlo and chicken bog are pretty much the same thing. I like to use Conecuh hot sausage.
1 (4½ to 5 pound) whole frying chicken, cut up
1 pound Cajun smoked sausage, sliced
1 cup diced sweet onion
4 cups firmly packed chopped fresh collard greens
4 cups chicken stock, reserved from cooked chicken
1¾ cups long grain white rice
1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper
10 to 12 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Place chicken in a large Dutch oven; discard giblets. Add just enough water to cover chicken and bring to a boil. Cover with lid, turn heat down and simmer for 55 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and easily falls from the bone. Remove chicken from pot and set aside to cool. When chicken is cool enough to handle, remove meat from the bones and set aside. Discard skin and bones. Pour chicken stock through a fine mesh sieve into a large bowl, discard bits of bone and skin. Reserve 4 cups of chicken stock. Freeze remaining stock for future use. Add sausage and onion to Dutch oven. Cook over medium heat until sausage is browned, and onion is tender. Do not add oil or butter; the sausage will release enough fat for sauteing. Add chicken back to the pot. Stir in collard greens, reserved chicken stock, rice, salt, and pepper; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to simmer, and cook for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest for 15 minutes. Top with crumbled bacon before serving. Serves 6 to 8.
Fried Okra Salad
Rinkie Bradberry taught me how to fry okra. Her method is fail-proof. If you prefer, purchase frozen breaded okra, and follow the directions on the back of the package.
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup white vinegar
1 medium yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced
3 green onions, chopped
½ cup chopped red onion
2 large tomatoes, chopped
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 pounds fresh okra
2 cups yellow cornmeal
Vegetable oil, for frying
Salt and pepper, to taste
In a small bowl, whisk vegetable oil with sugar and vinegar until sugar is dissolved; set aside. Place bell pepper, green onions, red onion, tomatoes, and bacon in a large bowl. Don’t wash okra until you’re ready to fry it. Cut okra into bite-sized pieces. Rinse in a colander; drain well. Roll okra in cornmeal; shake off excess. Fry okra in hot vegetable oil until crispy and golden brown. Drain on paper towels, season with salt and pepper. Add hot fried okra to bowl with vegetables and bacon. Dress with reserved vinaigrette; toss gently to combine. Serve immediately. Serves 8 to 10.
By Debbi Covington
2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
1/3 bag frozen seasoning blend, thawed and drained (about ¼ heaping cup)
Dry sherry
1 pound lump crab meat
Thaw pie crusts in refrigerator. Par-bake thawed crusts according to package directions. In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs with flour, mayonnaise, milk, cheeses, Old Bay seasoning, seasoning blend, and sherry. Mix well to combine. Gently fold in crab meat. Pour into par-baked pie shells. Sprinkle with additional Old Bay seasoning, if desired. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 40 to 50 minutes or until centers are set. Serves 12.
Daufuskie Crab Pie
Seasoning blend is available in the frozen food section of your local grocery store. It contains onions, celery, green peppers, red peppers, and parsley. It’s one of my favorite shortcuts.
2 (9-inch) deep dish frozen pie crusts
4 eggs
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup whole milk
1 (5-ounce) package shredded swiss cheese
1 (8-ounce) package shredded sharp cheddar cheese
The writer owns Catering by Debbi Covington and is the author of three cookbooks, Celebrate Beaufort, Celebrate Everything! and Dining Under the Carolina Moon. Debbi’s website address is www.cateringbydebbicovington.com. She may be reached at 843-525-0350 or by email at debbicovington@gmail.com.
Beaufort Garden Club Hosts 31st Annual Garden A Day
This year’s Garden a Day event, celebrating National Gardening week, is June 8 to June 12, and features gardens in Beaufort and Port Royal. The Beaufort Garden Club invites the public to visit these gardens, free of charge, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, rain or shine.
The Garden a Day schedule can be found on beaufortgardenclub.com and is as follows:
Monday, June 8 – 501 Pinckney Street, Beaufort
Tuesday, June 9 – 908 Scott Street, Beaufort
Wednesday, June 10 – 901 London Street, Port Royal
Thursday, June 11 – 1315 Laudonniere, Beaufort (Pigeon Point)
Friday, June 12 – 126 Spanish Point Drive, Beaufort (Spanish Point)
“We are very grateful to our homeowners for welcoming us into their beautiful gardens,” said Sheila Drouin, President, The Beaufort Garden Club. “Every year this event draws large crowds from South Carolina and surrounding states.”
The Beaufort Garden Club, the second oldest garden club in South Carolina, has been holding its Garden a Day event nearly every year in June since 1994.
Garden visitors are asked to not bring pets.
This Year's Gardens
Christine and Tony Kameen, 501 Pinckney Street, Monday June 8th
The 1814 historic home Marshlands and portions of the gardens are listed as a National Historic Landmark. The Kameens have taken care to honor its history. Both gardeners, they have been diligently working to bring their garden back to life. Hurricane Helene destroyed many of their plants; however, the live oaks which surround the property survived.
Marshlands has been memorialized in the book A Sea Island Lady by Frances Griswold. This historical novel follows a New England woman, Emily Fenwick, who moved to South Carolina during the Civil War. “Some of the trees of Marshlands had been ruthlessly cut down for firewood since the Occupation, but many marvels remained. Particularly the old moss-draped
live oaks with their wide spreading branches……” (page 59) One of the main trees in the front yard is a pre-civil war tree and is mentioned in the book as a wonderful perch where a broad fork in the heavy horizontal branches provided a generous lounging perch to quietly read, play with dolls, or keep track of the world below.
Christine is trying to recreate Emily’s Garden as described in the book. In so doing, she has discovered that some of the plants that once grew here do not do as well today. Christine tried to design a similar rose garden, which has been challenging. She has tried various types of roses but many have suffered from salt air and wind. Tony has raised vegetable beds in honor of Emily’s WWI war garden as discussed in the later pages of the novel.
Kim said the ambiance of their layout reminds her of Sonoma, CA. The large yard has been broken into “rooms” with seating areas, a kitchen area, a raised bed section and a shady reading section under the canopy of a live oak. The plants range from citrus to vegetables to bamboo and ornamentals.
canopy. The garden is blessed with various shades of green and textures. Many of the plants are volunteers.
Teri Maude, 1315 Laudonniere, Thursday June 11th
Teri has lived in many places and was fascinated by the different plants that she encountered when moving to the Lowcountry. Her garden is divided by sun and shade. The garden facing the street has multiple live and water oaks which provide lots of shade for her fatsias, ferns and azaleas.
While renovating the house, Christine had a ground penetrating radar performed on the property to locate historic outbuilding foundations and has found hundreds of buried artifacts. She has uncovered and dated coins, pottery shards, animal bones and teeth, and the face of a china doll.
Kim and Les Harbin,
908 Scott Street, Tuesday June 9th
This very large garden was started in May 2023, which our visitors will find hard to believe.
A young live oak is centrally located in the garden and Les said the tree has already grown over 10 feet in two years. As a horticulturist, he has been very conscience about what has been planted and where. He loves gardening and has been doing it since he was a child.
Their garden encompasses 2 lots and was a blank slate when they started in 2023. They were very concerned about getting the structure and design right. They planned the garden together, but she admits that Les is the primary gardener.
Kay and Ken Bodine, 901 London Street, Wednesday June 10th
Ken and Kay both have their hands in the design and gardening." When they purchased the house their lot was considerably smaller. However, there was an adjacent unimproved lot. This lot contained a huge live oak which the owner wanted to cut down.
In 2008, neighbors and town officials did not want to let the tree be removed. As a result, this sparked Port Royal to develop stricter tree ordinances. The owner sold the lot to Kay and Ken. They consider themselves the “current” stewards of the tree. Bartlett Tree Experts perform annual maintenance for the tree which includes fertilization, lightning grounding, and removal of dead wood. The oak has been estimated to be between 250-300 years old.
As you ride by their house, you can’t help but notice the tree. Kay said that people will stop, roll down their window and take a picture. They added a screened-in side porch so they could be under the tree’s
The back side of the garden is a mix of sun and shade and faces the Beaufort River. There is a combination of gardenia, iris, daisies, lilies, and azaleas. Her most loved part of the garden is on the west side of her house where she grows roses. Primarily yellow, “Midas Touch” hybrid tea roses.
Teri said that it’s a challenge. Two years ago, they were over-flowing with blooms and last year they struggled.
She is looking forward to what this year will bring.
Michelle and Jeff Hiers, 126 Spanish Point Drive, Friday June 12th
The Hiers have been in their house three years. Originally from Estill, it took them a long time to find their dream property and they have. Oaks were a childhood love for Michelle and she wanted property with lots of them. After years of looking, they found it in Spanish Point. They designed their house on the property to maximize the number of oaks that could be saved.
Michelle said the garden is a blessing. She likes gardening and clipping flowers to bring inside. She especially likes camelias and has 22 in the garden. They also have azaleas and hydrangeas. She said that flowers are her “love language.” She always has some inside. One of her projects is to encourage a climbing rose to grow up into a live oak. It’s taken two years, but she thinks she will be successful.
Their view is vast, the garden beautiful and the splendor changes daily. Michelle is grateful for the opportunity to nurture and care for it.
Teri Maude's Garden in Pigeon Point
Of Fast Horses and Spunky Women
Of all the viewer-drawing, yearly televised sports spectaculars, the Kentucky Derby is the one I refuse to miss. This Kentucky-born, horse-crazy, bourbon aficionado tears up every time the University of Louisville marching band begins the strains of “My Old Kentucky Home” as the horses parade from the Churchill Downs paddock to the starting gate. Every time. This year was no exception, and on the first Saturday in May, I was delighted to be in the company of three other Kentuckians and a Californian who qualifies “by marriage.” And I must add, who whips up a tasty mint julep that’ll make your hair stand on end!
As a former thoroughbred exercise rider, I have to say that – short of Secretariat’s record-setting Derby win in 1973, leading to his eventual Triple Crown – the 2026 Derby was one for the record books…and for racing fans’ hearts.
Turns out that 23-1 longshot Golden Tempo broke from the gate poorly, got bumped and was taken back, and dropped to the rear of an 18-horse field. He was dead last. But the gutsy colt pounded the mileand-a-quarter dirt from last place to crossing the finish line first for his trainer, Cherie DeVaux, who became the first female trainer to win this prestigious contest.
In my book the race could have been produced by Disney for its pure magic. The first woman trainer to win and the horse that passed all the competition by moving up beautifully from last place to first in a heart-stopping stretch run. Add to that the winning jockey (Jose Ortiz) and
second-place jock (Irad Ortiz, Jr.) are brothers. And Jose had won the Kentucky Oaks, the distaff version of the Derby, the day before.
When asked who had supported her consistently along the way, DeVaux didn’t hesitate to answer that her husband had always encouraged her to follow her dream of working with racehorses because he understood how much that meant to her.
Starting at Churchill Downs as an exercise rider, DeVaux moved on to become an assistant trainer at Saratoga Springs and then earned her trainer’s license in 2018.
When Golden Tempo crossed the Derby finish line first, DeVaux was obviously gobsmacked!
“It really is an honor to be able to be that person for other women or other little girls to look up to,” she said following the race. “Women can do anything we set our minds to. No matter how big the dream seems, you can do it. You may fall or fail (along the way), but you just have to keep going.”
In one post-Derby interview, DeVaux thanked the women in the thoroughbred industry who’d come before her, bucked the odds, and paved the way for her own journey.
I understood that.
In the early 1970s, a friend asked if I might want to break yearlings on Jonabell Farm in Lexington KY for prominent owner-breeder John A. Bell III the first year he hired women for the task. From watching his wife and daughter around racehorses on the farm, this highly respected horse-
Tues - Sun: 11am-9pm
man had noticed that most thoroughbreds, known to be flighty, seemed to behave more calmly around women. Following his hunch, he hired five of us “girls”…and two men to ride the really tough ones. Several folks warned me off taking the job. “It’s dangerous work,” they’d said. But for someone who’d been born with horses “in her soul”, that assessment had been no deterrent. I said yes and never looked back.
Every morning, Mr. Bell would arrive in the tack room to check on his charges, four-legged and two-legged. He seemed to enjoy the experience tremendously. We all certainly did.
I can’t fathom working for a more remarkable boss, one who allowed us a fairly free rein in schooling the youngsters, as long as we followed his workout directions. One of my charges was a handsome chestnut colt that had a comfortable way of moving, much like that of a quarter horse. I nicknamed him “Mr. Dillon”… as in Gunsmoke’s Matt. At the end of the set of exercising the colts, we’d walk them till cool and then turn the six boys out in a paddock together. I began to notice that all of the other colts stuck together in a gang of five and bullied Dillon whenever he tried to join them in play. Wondering if a bit of TLC might make him a happier camper, I asked Mr. Bell if I might give him a few sugar cubes before turning him out.
“Sure,” he said. “Let me know if it helps.”
That colt was smart, and after only a couple of days of sweet treats before turnout, he’d nuzzle the stash in the pocket of my Navy CPO shirt. I’d give him a few cubes, and he’d head out into his paddock, seemingly content to go his own way and happily ignore his pasture mates.
Mr. Bell loved that story. Here’s the rest of it.
The following year in August of 1973, while galloping horses at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs NY, I discovered that Dillon was stabled in a nearby barn. One morning after workouts, I dropped in to see my yearling buddy, now a handsome two-year old that had won several races. When I asked if I might visit this colt I’d broken, his trainer said, “Sure, he’s a good one. Steady Eddie. Brings home a
by Katherine Tandy Brown
paycheck nearly every start.”
I felt like a proud mama.
Unlatching Dillon’s door, the trainer warned, “But be careful. He can sometimes nip.” The chestnut was facing the back of his stall. Hearing the door clip spring open and someone approaching, the horse pinned his ears, bared his teeth, and looked around at me with menace.
Stepping into the deep, fresh straw, I said in a low voice, “Dillon? Hey, buddy. What ‘cha doin’ Dillon?”
In only a couple of seconds, he raised his head, his ears pricked forward, his mouth relaxed, and he turned to face me. The colt then snorted, shook his head, took a couple of steps towards me, and nuzzled my chest where a CPO shirt pocket would have been. One filled with sugar cubes, no doubt. Earlier, I’d told the trainer Dillon’s story.
He laughed. “I’ll tell his groom and get that boy a box of sugar cubes.”
All those years ago, I’d drive out of the Jonabell Farm gate after a morning’s yearling work with my car windows down and Helen Reddy belting out “I am Woman, Hear Me Roar.” I, too, always felt gratitude for the women who preceded me on the track and made feasible a choice of work that made my heart sing every day.
Famous pilot Amelia Earhart once said, “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.”
And you’ll never know where you might end up until you try. Just ask Cherie DeVaux!
Plant Hunters – An Adventurous Group
How hard can it be to find a new genus or species of plant? Isn’t it just a matter of tromping around out in the wilderness looking down at the ground? I wish it were so, but we owe our common garden plants to an extraordinary collection of adventurers who risked their lives to bring to us shrubs, trees, and plants that we tend to take for granted. Their stories could be the basis for many films and novels telling of the dangerous and often horrific conditions while foraging in some wild and downright scary locations.
One of my favorite flowers in my garden is Spiderwort or Tradescantia. This plant as well as its entire genus was named for father and son botanists and plant hunters known as John Tradestcant the Elder and John Tradescant the Younger. The Elder Tradescant was the head gardener for an English Earl in the early 1600’s. The Earl sent his gardener to the Netherlands for fruit trees and this began a long life of travels to bring back botanical specimens. Although the Elder Tradescant never traveled to the American colonies, he received seeds and bulbs from other travelers and introduced many common plants into English gardens. His son was able to travel to North America in 1628 and 1637. He collected many specimens in Virginia to bring back to England, including the Magnolia, tulip tree, and bald cypress. Both Trades-
cants are buried in the Churchyard of St. Mary’s-at-Lambeth. The church is now the Garden Museum and there is a memorial to father and son in the middle of the museum courtyard. Interestingly, Captain William Bligh of Mutiny on the Bounty fame is buried right next to them.
A name that may be familiar to South Carolinians is Bartram and there is the William Bartram trail which runs from North Carolina to Florida. William Bartram was an intrepid traveler and explorer of the southern states at a time when they were very much wilderness. His main travels were from 1773-1777. His father was a well-known Quaker botanist who sold many plants, shrubs, and trees to England. His two best sellers were sweet gum trees and sumac. We may not have a high opinion of either, but these trees provided fall color to the otherwise drab autumn gardens in England. William worked with his father to provide more “exotic” wild species. They discovered the Franklinia tree growing in Georgia, named it in honor of Benjamin Franklin, and introduced this lovely species to the world. Now extinct in the wild, it is still cultivated by nurseries and sold as an ornamental tree.
Many southern gardens have a Lady Banks rose. This rose was named for the wife of plant hunter, botanist, and director of the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew,
Lady Banks Rose
Joseph Banks. Banks traveled on Captain James Cook’s first voyage to South America and the Pacific from 1768-1777. Banks collected over 3,600 specimens of plants, most of which were new to Europe. He collected so many plant in Australia that Captain Cook named the large bay near Sydney “Botany Bay.” At Kew, Banks transformed the garden to one where there would be a global exchange of plants and knowledge. Banks sent out plant hunters to the farthest reaches of the Globe. They brought back the Rosa Banksia (later called the Lady Banks Rose) from China and Pelargoniums from South Africa. And hundreds of other plants that we now enjoy in our gardens. We call the Pelargoniums by the name of Geraniums and what would the Heritage be without bright red Geraniums to welcome golfers and guests? During the reign of Geroge III, about 7,000 new species arrived at Kew thanks to Joseph Banks.
I am sure that many of you love Meyer lemons. They fruit so well in our region and are a lovely ornamental small tree as well. We owe the Meyer lemon to one of the most adventurous of the plant hunters. Frank Nicholas Meyer was born in the Netherlands, but emigrated to the United States in 1901 and became an American citizen. He worked to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in their Office
By Wendy Hilty
of Seed and Plant Introduction. The aim of this office was to seek out new plants that could be imported into our country and which were drought tolerant. Meyer also collected ornamental trees and shrubs for the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. He was responsible for bringing varieties of lilac, pistachio, ornamental maples, and dwarf lemon trees as well as numerous other species from Asia to the United States. At one point he returned to the United States on a Cunard White Star liner only one day after the ill-fated voyage of the Titanic. In 1912. Meyer may have dodged that tragedy, but the areas to which he was traveling were hot-beds of unrest. Pirates and bandits were common in parts of China and Mongolia where Meyer found his best specimens. Unfortunately, fate caught up with him in 1918 and he left his cabin on a boat on the Yangtze River one night and his body was found by a sailor five days later. He was buried in Shanghai, China. It is not known if he drowned by accident or was killed. The dwarf lemon tree that was discovered by Meyer was named in his honor.
Plant hunters faced many hazards in their travels – avalanches, malaria and other tropical diseases, flash floods, riots and unrest, and venomous snakes to name a few. Their sacrifices make it possible for us to go to a local garden center and find a wealth of interesting plant material, as well as the abundance of produce at our grocery stores. Even our own native plants were collected from the wild by adventurers and made available to us for our pleasure.
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.
Rules of Gentle Grandparenting
First, do no harm.
Wait, wrong oath. What I mean is: if you have grandchildren, your primary job is simple. Keep them alive. Everything else is optional. My husband and I remind each other of this on the drive over to babysit. Survival first. Gentle grandparenting second.
Support Their Parents
This one’s harder than it sounds. We are, after all, know-it-alls, raised by people who were even more certain of their expertise and far less interested in our feelings. My own parenting education began with Dr. Spock and a no-nonsense pediatrician who once suggested I needed some parenting myself. She wasn’t entirely wrong.
Whatever philosophy they’ve chosen— attachment parenting, gentle parenting, free-range, Montessori-adjacent, or some hybrid their tribe follows, our job is simply
to follow their rules. We don’t have to understand it or even agree with it. We just must respect it and quietly marvel that there are now entire philosophies devoted to something we stumbled through without too much guidance.
And about the gear. The gear alone deserves a standing ovation. Car seats that become strollers. Cribs with blackout tents. Highchairs that practically run the house. (Still waiting on one that unloads the dishwasher.) Keep YouTube tutorials bookmarked. There will be folding, assembling, and collapsing involved, and none of it is intuitive.
Mind the Feed
We didn’t have the internet when we were raising our kids, which is probably why my girls survived without the horrible, rare viruses I’m sure I would have diagnosed them with. The upside now is that
sometimes my daughters beat me by sending links about whatever horrific cruise ship outbreak is trending before I can send it to them. Good girls.
But the pressure today’s parents are under is something else entirely. Algorithm-fed, crowd-sourced, TikTok-approved, performative parenting. Moms holding newborns while canning their homegrown vegetables. Dads and sons summiting Everest on summer vacation. It’s a lot. The least we can do is not add to the stress by forwarding articles like, “Is your child reaching her milestones?” Stick with rare genetic syndromes based on their various rashes.
Bite Thy Tongue
No one wants unsolicited parenting advice, least of all from grandparents. Today’s parents are already drowning in it, and there are entire online communities devoted to navigating every developmental milestone. My occasional observation—maybe he’s a little old for the pacifier—doesn’t exactly compete but it wasn’t necessary.
For the record, one of my grandsons gathered his entire, beloved pacifier collection, marched it to the railroad tracks, and said goodbye. No tears. No ceremony. Just done. I must admit, I admire his steely resolve and believe it will serve him way better than a step-by-step guide by a Tik Tok expert.
By Carolyn Mason
Enjoy the Window
When I was raising my girls, I always felt the clock ticking toward the teenage years, when they’d turn into raging, feral, teenage mutants. Thankfully, that phase was brief and we all emerged mostly intact.
But with grandchildren, I’ve been warned: there’s another clock. Somewhere around middle school, grandparents lose their top-tier status to friends, sports, and whatever else pulls them away.
So, for now, I take the hugs. The fullbody, run-across-the-room, knock-you-back hugs.
“That’s because you tell them the best hugger wins a prize,” my husband reminds me.
Well. Yes, there’s that.
You do what you have to do.
Carolyn Mason is a freelance writer who writes about everything from long haul trucking to how to retire gracefully. She and her husband Jeff live on Lady’s Island and have embraced the delights of the Lowcountry lifestyle.
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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.
FOR RENT ON FRIPP 371 Speckled Trout Rd, Charming coastal retreat! Enjoy serene water views, mod -
ern amenities, a fully equipped kitchen, spacious living, and quick access to fishing, beaches, and local dining. $3,500/mo. Call Diana Lopez at 276-6851260. Relaxation awaits!
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 pm at Christ Lutheran Church (HEINRICHS HALL) , 829 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head. The Shag dance is the state dance of South Carolina. If you know it, come dance with us. If you don’t know it, we’ll teach you!! We have regularly scheduled classes. $8 Cover fee. Bring your own Food and Beverage. DJ’s provide EXCELLENT music! We have many annual events and dance parties. Come have some fun!!! www.hiltonheadshagclub. com.≠
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 - Holiday Inn, 2225 Boundary St. 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
FREE VESSEL SAFETY CHECK by local members of the America's Boating Club of Beaufort. If your boat passes, you will receive a VSC decal to mount on your boat that will be visible to other boaters and maritime law enforcement personnel. Contact safety@beaufortboatingclub.com
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED to staff The Lending Room, 954 Ribaut Rd across from Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Help us receive donations of gently used medical equipment and distribute them to those in need. We need to staff our showroom M-F 9:30-3:30 and Sat. AM. Shifts only 3 hours long. No experience is required but a familiarity with commonly used medical equipment helpful. Training will be provided. If you are looking for a rewarding volunteer job, learn about TLR and find volunteer application forms at lendingroombft.com or call Barbara at 314-660-4233.
LOCO SCRIBBLERS 3:00 5:00 p.m. every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. Are you a scribbler (professional or hobby writer)? Check out our small, informal Beaufort area writers club. All skill and subject levels welcome: fiction, short stories, poetry, non-fiction, and memoirs. Free. Call or email for more info and meeting location in Port Royal: beaufdick@gmail.com or 843-322-0616.
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 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 Library at 843-255-6458 for more information.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for military lounge at the Savanna/Hilton Head Airport operated by a cadre of volunteers. The former USO Lounge is now “Savanna Salutes,” and continues to provide a respite for travelling active duty, retired and reserve military, veterans and families. We need volunteers to keep the lounge open from 8 am to 9 pm, 7 days a week. There are 3 shifts each day, with 2 volunteers for each. Interested? Info and application forms are at the www.savannahsalutes. org or contact Tedd Sheyda at (843) 368-2341. or TSheyda@savannahsalutes.org The airport provides free parking.
VETERANS FIRST THRIFT STORE is in need of volunteers. Summer hours are Thursday thru Saturday10am-4pm. Volunteer hours are very flexible! Stop in the store at 612 Robert Smalls Parkway to fill out a volunteer application or call the store at 843-263-4218. 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 9a Wednesdays via Zoom. Seen the buzz on “life span VS health span”? Want to grow better, not older? Haven’t heard of BEMER yet? Come for Q&A about how this longevity-enhancing
medical device can enhance your health, fitness and overall well-being in just 8 minutes 2X/day. 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 meditation experience needed. 843-489-8525.
HABITAT RESTORE NEEDS VOLUNTEERS We're looking for volunteers. Cashiers, sales floor associates, donation processing, donor data entry, and donor ambassadors. Visit lowcountryhabitat.org/volunteer or call 843-525-0055.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for Calhoun Station Thrift Store in Bluffton. All funds generated are returned to other nonprofits in the community. Open Wed & Sat 10am to 1pm at 77 Pritchard St. Volunteers can stop by 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're 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 – Running through July, the Fort Fremont History Center will expand operating hours to Thursdays from 1 to 4 pm, Fridays from 1 to 4 pm, Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm, and Sundays from 1 to 4 pm. No admission fee. Docent-led tours are available by request. The Fort Fremont Preserve is open from dawn to dusk, Monday through Sunday. A self-guided walking tour is available for smartphones from the Apple or Google Play stores. For more information or to download the app, visit www.fortfremont.org
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 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.
CRESCENT HOSPICE SUPPORT GROUP: Last Wed. and Thurs. of the month. Weds. 10-11am at Sun City; Thurs. 12-1pm Brookdale Hilton Head Ct., Hilton Head; for those who provide physical, emotional or practical support to a family member or friend. Jodi Johnson, LMSW. Bereavement Group: 5-6 pm., Fridays, 10 Buckingham Plantation Drive, Suite A, Bluffton; for those who have experienced a loss and would like support and info associated with grief and bereavement. Corrie VanDyke, LMSW or Marie James, MA. 843-757-9388.
INTERESTED IN HEALTHY EATING? Second Helpings, of Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper counties, seeks committee members and chairperson for Healthy Food Program. Funding available to procure fresh produce and protein for the 60 food pantries and soup kitchens served by Second Helpings. Contact Exec. Dir. Lili Coleman, 843689-3616 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.
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 items to ANYONE in need. Open Tuesdays 9am12pm at 114 Beach City Rd., Hilton Head. Donations of food and funds needed. For info: Rev. Dr. Nannette Pierson at 843-715-3583 or 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 Graduation Days. Closed 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.
ALZHEIMER'S FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER BEAUFORT, Support Groups: Caregiver - Friday, 12:30 p.m., Living with Alzheimer's - for those in very early stages - Mondays 1:00 p.m., Respite Programs: Social Day Program 10:00 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. $45 Day Fee, Tuesdays and Fridays. Meetings at Carteret Street Methodist Church, 408 Carteret St., Beaufort; In Home - Respite Aides available for 2 hr. minimum, $14-$27. Early Memory Loss: Maintain Your Brain2nd and 4th Thursdays, 10-11:30 a.m., $10/person, $15/couple, Carteret Street Methodist Church, Beaufort; Memory Screenings available call 843-521-9190 or make an appointment, 1500 King St, Beaufort, free; Purple Haven ProjectEducate local establishment staff to better interact with a person with Alzheimers call 843-521-9190.
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) 379-3474 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; OR - 17 State of Mind St., Bluffton, . Tuesdays - Chris Jones, Wednesdays - Trivia. Thursdays - Jevon & Andy. 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; Wednesdays -Quiana Parler w/Lavon Stevens Trio; Thursdays - Lavon Stevens with Louise Spencer. Check website for other dates. (843) 842-8620 or www.TheJazzCorner.com
OUT OF TOWN
The Music Farm, 32 Ann Street, Charleston. For live music schedule, call (843) 853-2252 or www.musicfarm.com
The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston. For live music schedule, visit (843) 571-4343 or www.charlestonpourhouse.com
Windjammer, 1008 Ocean Blvd, Isle of Palms. For live music schedule, call (843) 886-8596 or visit www.the-windjammer.com
Editors Note: Events listed here may be subject to postponement or cancellation. Please check for further information.
FILM/THEATER/DANCE
5/21 & 5/23, Decoration Day, performed by the Gullah Traveling Theater at USCB Center for the Arts. 5/21 at 7pm and 5/23 at 3pm. Tickets available at www.gullahkinfolktravelingtheater.org
6/24 - 8/9, Mean Girls: The Musical, at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. For tickets and more information, visit www. artshhi.com
6/27, Da Gullah American Revolutionary Experience, performed by the Gullah Traveling Theater at USCB Center for the Arts. Two shows – a t 2pm and 6 pm. Tickets available at www.gullahkinfolktravelingtheater.org
GALLERIES/ART
Now - 6/28, Water Water Everywhere, featuring artwork by Frank Gorman. Beaufort Art Association Gallery, 913 Bay Street, Beaufort. Opening Reception Fri 5/1, 5-8pm. www.beaufortartassociation.com
Now - 6/19, Whispers from the Soul, featuring artwork by Theresa King. Art
League Gallery, 14 Shelter Cover Lane, Hilton Head. www.artleaguehhi.org
5/29 - 5/30, Art Supplies, Frames & Book Sale at Art League Academy on Hilton Head. Fri 10am - 2pm, Sat 8am - noon. www. artleaguehhi.org
6/1 - 6/27, Moments of Stillness, featuring art by Carol Dulude at SOBA Gallery. Opening reception 6/4, 4-6pm. www.sobagallery. com
Sun 6/7, Reflections of Fripp, the first juried art exhibit of the Fripp Island Art Guild. Featuring the work of 30 member artists. From 10am - 6pm at the Fripp Island Community Center, 225 Tarpon Blvd. Free and open to the public. A gate pass may be requested at www.frippislandartguild.org
BOOKS & WRITERS
Wed 5/20, Family Reading Circle, 3:30 - 5:30, prizes and treats! Beaufort Bookstore, 2127 Boundary St, Beaufort. www.thebeaufortbookstore.com
Fri 5/22, Evening with Sallie Ann Robinson (Gullah Home Cooking the Daufuskie Way) at the Pat Conroy Literary Center from 5-6:30 pm. www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
Sat 6/6, Kids Books & Bites, Butterfly Dreams: A Journey of Transformation by local pediatrician Dr. James Simmons. 11am - 1pm at Beaufort Bookstore, 2127 Boundary St, Beaufort. www. beaufortbookstore.com
MUSIC
Sun 5/24, Celebrate America, a Memorial Day concert by the Hilton Head Choral Society, featuring Category V Brass. 7pm at First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway. Tickets available at www. hiltonheadchoralsociety.org
Sun 5/30, Wind in the Wood, Historic Beaufort Society welcomes this virtuoso recorder concert, featuring Steve Rosenberg, Julia Harlow and Marcy Brenner. Second-floor ballroom of the John Mark Verdier House, 801 Bay Street. This is a Piccolo Spoleto event. Tickets available at www. historicbeaufort.org
Sat 6/6, Vivaldi Guitar Concerto and Beyond, Historic Beaufort Society welcomes the Avanti Guitar Trio, playing Bach to Vivaldi to the Beatles. John Mark Verdier House, 801 Bay Street. Tickets available at www.historicbeaufort.org
Thur 6/19, Breakfield (formerly Boy Named Banjo) returns to USCB Center for the Arts after last year's sold-out performance. 7:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now at www.uscbcenterforthearts.com
OTHER EVENTS
Sat 6/6, 20th Anniversary of the Beaufort River Swim. Participants can choose a 3.2 mile swim, a one-mile swim, and/or and optional 5K run, all set along the Beaufort River. Sponsored by the Wardle Family YMCA, proceeds directly support water safety programs. Registration closes at 8pm on 6/3. Visit www.beaufort-jasperymca.org
Sat 6/6, 250 Year Celebration of America at USCB Center for the Arts. With lectures by Drs. Lawrence Rowland and John McCardell, music by pianists Jeewon Park and Andrew Armstrong, and cake! Doors open at 2:30. Lecture at 3pm, cake and lemonade at 4, concert at 4:30. Tickets are $30 at www.uscbchambermusic.com/250
6/8 - 6/12, 31st Annual Garden A Day, sponsored by the Beaufort Garden Club. This self-directed garden tour includes five gardens in five days. 9am - noon. Free to the public, no pets aloud. For a full schedule of gardens, visit www.beaufortgardenclub.com
Tuesdays, Tours of Hunting Island sponsored by Friends of Hunting Island Keeper Ted and his team. For info call the Nature Center at 843-838-7437. Tours free are and park entry fees apply.
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.
Third Thursday, TECHconnect is a monthly networking event for professionals working in and around technology. Come join the conversation at BASEcamp 500 Carteret 5:307:30pm. 843-470-3506. 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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