Issuu

July 2 – July 15, 2025

July 29 – August 11, 2026

cover notes

The painting on our cover is 'The Magical Sun Hat' by Nancy Patrick Carney, the newest owner/artist at La Petite Gallerie in Bluffton.

Read more about Carney and the gallery in our story on page 11.

yWeekly

July 29 – August 11, 2026

ro w c o unt

LFounding Publisher and Patron Saint: Jeff Evans

Editor: Margaret Evans — Editor@LCWeekly

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

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

Original Design: Lydia Inglett

Layout & Design: Amalgamated Sprinkleworks

Contributing Writers: Grey Brendle, Katherine Tandy Brown, Debbi Covington, Luke Frazier, Wendy Hilty, Jared Madison, Cele & Lynn Seldon, and Sutty Suddeth

What’s Happening Calendar: Staff – Editor@LCWeekly.com

Letters to the Editor, comments or suggestions can be addressed to: Lowcountry Weekly 106 West Street Extension, Beaufort, SC 29902 Call: 843-986-9059 or Email: Editor@LCWeekly.com

Lowcountry Weekly is published every other Wednesday and distributed throughout Beaufort County at various restaurants, retail locations, hotels and visitor’s centers. The entire contents of Lowcountry Weekly is copyrighted 2025 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.

July 28–August 28

Mon-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 12-4pm and 90 minutes before every Arts Center performance

Opening Reception: Wed, July 29 • 5-7pm Enjoy refreshments and meet the artist • Free and open to the public

Presented by Art League of Hilton Head Inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina 14 Shelter Cove Lane, HHI www.ArtLeagueHHI.org 843.681.5060

Coffee Meet & Greet: Tuesday, August 11 10:30am-12pm Free and open to the public

Old Oaks & Ancient Myths

Last Sunday was epic.

In the morning, I took myself to see The Odyssey instead of going to church. I’m not proud, but our choir is on summer hiatus, so I wasn’t letting anybody down but myself. And maybe God – though I’m guessing He gave an almighty shrug and said, “Oh, it’s her. Could be worse.”

I have long acknowledged that I’m religious about movies – again, not proud, just honest – so going on Sunday morning made a certain kind of sense. And in keeping with that theme… for all the online carping about Christopher Nolan’s “woke casting” – and accusations that the director has attempted to “subvert Western culture” – I can’t remember the last time I saw a film that demonstrated such worshipful reverence for said culture.

I don’t want to drop any spoilers, so I’ll just say this: It seems to me the liberties Nolan has taken with the original story – which are few, but crucial – serve to reinterpret a pagan myth through a Christian ethos. What could be more Western? Seriously, if you get all worked up every time a contemporary artist reimagines ancient source material, you’re gonna be all worked up, all the time. Even Dante reimagined the character of Odysseus… right into the Eighth Circle of Hell. Is The Divine Comedy anti-Western? Don’t make me laugh.

For those who have no idea what I’m talking about – again, I’m avoiding spoilers – let’s just say that Nolan’s Odysseus “reflects” in ways that Homer’s Odysseus does not . . . to the best of my recollection, that is. While avoiding contemporary psychobabble – praise God! – Nolan’s Odysseus (Matt Damon) reflects on his guilt in the Trojan war, on the cyclical nature of violence, and on what happens to civilizations when we break “the fragile bonds between men.” It’s a timeless tale that feels quite timely. Which is the nature of timelessness, I suppose.

Later Sunday afternoon, home from the movies, I was pondering the fragility of civilization – and chiseling away at it by scrolling on Facebook – when I came upon some photos that shocked me to my core. Seldom am I compelled to put my clothes back on

once I’m in my pj’s – especially on a Sunday afternoon – but that’s exactly what I did.

Because what I saw in those shocking photos, I had to see for myself. In real life. Fortunately, I live only a couple of miles from Witness Tree Park. Unfortunately, what I had to see for myself, in real life, was the Witness Tree split damn near in half.

Sometime in the night – maybe under the weight of its own grandeur? – just about half that magnificent Live Oak had broken from the other half and tumbled to the ground. Nobody seems to have seen it happen. I’m surprised the whole town didn’t shake. Then again, those branches were so widespread, and some so near the ground, it could have been a gentle landing, more like lying down than falling. I like to think that’s how it happened.

Word has it the Witness Tree is at least 300 years old, though nobody knows for sure. The not-knowing is part of its captivating allure.

What we do know is that the Beaufort Historical Society gave the Pat Conroy Literary Center an iconic photograph of the tree – which is right across the street from the Center – taken in 1864, when the area served as parade grounds for United States Colored Troops (known as the Connecticut 29 or USCT). That photo secured the tree’s

designation as a genuine “Witness Tree.” Today, Witness Tree Park is an educational project of the Conroy Center, dedicated to preserving the tree and highlighting its historical significance.

As of press time, the folks at the Conroy Center weren’t sure what would happen to the wounded Witness Tree. Arborists had examined it, but a prognosis had not yet been rendered. Board member Marly Rusoff, who was instrumental in establishing the park, assured me that no matter what happens, the story of Beaufort’s Witness Tree is not over.

“I have a deep sense of peace about this new chapter in the life of the Witness Tree,” she told me. “This tree has had the love of school children and adults and its history has received an amazing amount of recognition in the past two years, after many decades of abuse. I can’t help but feel that this Live Oak tree which we all loved so much has now loved us back. None of the improvements we made – our many benches, signs, the four corners crafted by Gullah artisans out of local oyster shells, nor the work of the women volunteers of the Beaufort Garden Club – were damaged in the fall of the massive branches. Almost a miracle! The story is not over. I am excited by the next yet to be written chapter!”

If the Witness Tree had to split, it really did do it right. The “better half” that remains still provides ample shade over the memorial benches, where so many have enjoyed poetry readings, social gatherings, school field trips, and – in my case, anyway – quiet moments alone. (There is a bench in that park that reads, “In memory of Jeff Evans, loving husband, father, and friend of the arts.” I like to go and sit.)

I have high hopes that the remaining half of the Witness Tree can be saved, but even it can’t be, as Marly says, its story will go on. Already, woodworkers and sculptors have approached the Center, hoping to make art from the fallen limbs; possibly bowls, maybe even pencils, to sell at the Center, to help support its mission of education through literature.

So, this very old tree with deep roots and broad limbs, that has watched over Beaufort and nurtured her natural environment for centuries, will continue to do so, though maybe in new and different forms. That’s how trees work, and energy, and even epics. (You knew I’d bring it back around!)

Stories become legends, which morph into myths, then long poems, then movies that get people talking about the stories all over again. A tree in South Carolina provides shade for black Union soldiers, then for poetry readings, then is crafted into pencils that, in turn, write poems about black Union soldiers. New vision sheds light on old truths and old truths illuminate new visions. Civilizations rise and fall and rise again.

So it has been, and so it will be. Forever and ever. Amen.

(God willin’ and the creek don’t rise, of course.)

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

Margaret Evans

The wounded Witness Tree

Paul Slota, M.D., FACC, FSCAI

to Beaufort Memorial Heart Specialists

Dr. Paul Slota, a board-certified, fellowship-trained interventional cardiologist, has joined Beaufort Memorial Heart Specialists, expanding access to advanced cardiac care across the Lowcountry.

With more than 30 years of experience in general and interventional cardiology, Dr. Slota brings extensive expertise in diagnosing and treating a wide range of heart conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias and high cholesterol.

Early in his career, Dr. Slota was a founding physician of Hilton Head Heart, where he practiced for over a decade, caring for patients on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton, as well as performing procedures in Savannah. He later relocated to Rock Hill, where he played a key role in establishing Carolina Heart Specialists and cared for patients there for nearly 20 years.

Board-certified

Interventional Cardiology

...................................................................

Doctor of Medicine

Jefferson Medical College

(Now known as Sidney Kimmel Medical College) Philadelphia, Pa.

...................................................................

Residency

Internal Medicine

Cooper Hospital University Medical Center Camden, N.J.

...................................................................

Fellowship

Now returning to the region, Dr. Slota sees patients in Beaufort and Okatie and performs procedures at Beaufort Memorial, strengthening the health system’s ability to provide comprehensive, high-quality cardiac care close to home.

843-770-4550

Cardiology & Interventional Cardiology

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Philadelphia, Pa.

At the practice, Dr. Slota joins board-certified cardiologists Drs. Stuart Smalheiser, Francis O’Neill and Terry Grainger, as well as board-certified physician assistant Tara Kay.

Meckley Exhibit Still Flying High at BAA Gallery

John Meckley’s “Wings Over the Lowcountry” will continue through August 30 as the featured exhibit at the Beaufort Art Association Gallery, located on Bay Street in downtown Beaufort.

John Meckley is a distinguished American painter whose work is celebrated for its emotional depth, technical finesse, and unmistakable warmth. Collectors and admirers of his art appreciate his soft, atmospheric brushwork and restrained palette of earthy, harmonious tones.

A self-taught artist, hid style has been shaped by the enduring influence of Rembrandt and the Wyeth family. From a young age, he has earned numerous accolades in juried exhibitions and widespread acclaim across many states. When he relocated to the Lowcountry, his artistic style illustrated his undeniable connection to nature and the breathtaking allure of the area.

Meckley expertly captures the ethereal, ever-shifting beauty of tidal creeks and sweeping expanses of spartina grass. His depictions of Lowcountry marshes often linger on the intimate, intricate details of the coastline - muddy banks, textured marsh edges, and at times, the solitary presence of an egret -to evoke the serene, spirit of the Lowcountry.

“I invite viewers into moments of serenity, contemplation, and quiet humanity,” he explains.

Look for the black awning of the gallery and come check out Meckley’s newest art offerings in “Wings Over the Lowcountry.” His moody landscapes and delicate birds in flight will transport you into the heart of the Sea Islands.

For more information about John Meckley and his art visit his website www.LowcountryFineArtByJohnMeckley.com.

For additional information about the Beaufort Art Association, visit the Gallery at 913 Bay Street Tuesday through Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm, or go online at www.beaufortartassociation. com.

Henri Ann Logan Attorney

'Early Morning in March' by John Meckley

Believing in Art

The first time I went to a museum by choice, as opposed to a school trip or with family, was the Salvador Dali Museum, then located in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. It was housed in a dull looking office building, and it felt like a weird location.

Of course, if you know anything about Dali you can imagine how his Surrealist works completely obliterated the mundane surroundings. And that juxtaposition delivered a lancing arrow of truth about art: the quality of a work of art is not dependent on anything but its own fidelity to the artist’s vision. It doesn’t matter where it is displayed, what people think about it, how much it costs, or whether, ultimately, anyone cares about it except the artist.

Over the ensuing decades I read about art and artists, and movements and the relationships between historical trends and modern art. I visited large and famous museums and tucked away galleries and began to get a feel of what spoke the most to me, what felt whole, good, and seemed to say something in which I was interested. Always with the desire to see if I could feel the truth of the artist hitting the mark as far as their vision went, in whatever form it took.

This primary filter for authentic, truthful art has allowed my aesthetic heart to be ripped open by diverse kinds of artwork in the years since. And in a roundabout but inevitable hindsight-ish way, this truth is one factor that has led to the making of my current documentary film The Art of Believing

The Art of Believing is scheduled for broadcast on SC ETV (PBS) in the fall, and is going to be premiered Saturday August 1 at the Penn Center at 1 pm in the FrisselI building. It presents the stories of Lowcountry artists Reverand Johnnie Simmons, Susan Stone, and John M. Bradley. Each are inspired by their spiritual or religious beliefs to make their art. This is what makes their work burst with a quality that reaches out and grabs you. The artists will be in-person at the screening and available to visit with after. It will be a joy to bring the community together to honor these artists.

One part of the process that brought these stories to life was the universe providing connections to the right people as col-

laborators. For example, Trevor Harden is the incredibly talented co-director, videographer, and editor of the film. I met Trevor after a random connection was made by someone who had read an article of mine on a different subject. And I approached Sasha Horne Hirshout, the Associate Producer, about a podcast idea. Once I met her, I knew her insightful eyes, ears, and relational skills would make this film better. The three of us clicked like we had been creating together for years.

The finding of the artists themselves was a function of intuitive flow. John Bradley’s beautiful historical mural at the TCL campus tunnel was the subject of an essay I wrote last year, and his offhand comment

about “ministry art” he was doing was stored away in my memory and clicked into focus when the film began taking shape. His work is bursting with color and energy that’s affirming and profound. Bradley is the evangelical artist of the three and the absolute warmth of his belief created a peaceful interview of depth and weight.

Susan Stone was not a stranger, but it took my wife Allison to suggest asking her to be in the film. Somehow, I had overlooked what an amazing compliment she would be to the other two artists. Stone is an entirely centered and focused live wire of life, spreading joy through sophisticated and emotional landscape paintings. I consider her the evolutionary artist in the trio. She

By Luke Frazier

also has a thing about angels that she talks about in her intense interview.

The Reverend Johnnie Simmons was the product of random, casting-about web research into South Carolina artists. A brief mention in a book led to a gallery in Bluffton and a message left there sparked a call from Simmons as he was headed out to fish (his other passion besides making art). I so enjoyed getting to know him as we worked toward our lengthy and gracefully reflective interview for the film. I call Simmons the accidental artist of the three, having unearthed his passion later in life. His work is rich with imagery and personal stories, idiosyncratic in the best of ways.

What the three have in common harkens back to the primary truth that pierced me forty-seven years ago about the quality of art. Great art is a function of the truthfully realized vision by the artist. Does it speak with an elegant wholeness? Is it a result of love being poured from the heart into the art through a vessel of vision?

When you watch The Art of Believing you will no doubt come to believe that it is so for the art of Simmons, Stone, and Bradley. While it is said that beauty, as a quality, is in the eye of the beholder, in my view art is not. The quality of art, what makes it beautiful, is illumination from within. Sometimes divinely inspired.

The Art of Believing will be screened on Saturday, August 1, at 1pm at Frissell Community House at Penn Center, on St. Helena Island. For free tickets and to RSVP, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ the-art-of-believing-documentary-screen-

Luke Frazier is a writer and award-winning media producer who transplanted to the Lowcountry in 2024. He runs NOW Communications and can be reached at nowandfuturecomms@gmail.com

Artwork from top to bottom by Rev. Johnnie Simmons, Susan Stone, and John M. Bradley, from The Art of Believing, screening at Penn Center August 1st.

DUIU: The Life and Times of a Country Song

Like most everyone, I guess, I love music. And to say my taste varies is an understatement.

With help from a friend, I got seats fifth row center to see Phantom of the Opera in New York. With the original cast. Sarah Brightman is amazing. And, also in New York some years ago I saw Lightening Hopkins. Just him and his guitar in a little club in the village. Amazing show. And, showing my range of interest, I saw Frank Sinatra at the coliseum opening in Charlotte. And, saw Eric Clapton in the same venue.

I’ve seen many country entertainers. Including Bill Anderson and Marty Stuart. Been to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, both locations. Like the original downtown better. So, I like music.

I am also a songwriter. Over time have penned many. Mostly country. In that genre the song lyrics are still important. This is

the story of the birth of one of them.

It could be said that writing a song is like creating snowflakes; no two are alike. But in the end the sun comes out and they all melt. And, if you ask ten songwriters how they write a song, you’ll get twelve answers.

For all of us writing songs it could be said that it is probably pretty much the same and, conversely, writing songs is probably pretty much different. Sorry, but I couldn’t resist. Songwriters are unique and similar. For me it’s all over the place.

I might get an idea, or hook, sit down with my guitar and something might just fall out, particularly a verse and chorus. Other times I might get an idea and it lies there. For a day, week, year, or forever. In other words, it is not always the same. Or, maybe better said, never the same. One I wrote had “an arm’s length from me.” While it could mean someone is always right there, and that’s good. But, it could also mean keeping someone, or something, “at arm’s length.” Not good. So, I changed it to “an arm’s reach from me.”

Meaning you are right there, within reach. Incidentally, that was one I did a verse and chorus in one sitting. And, just changed that one word.

This is the story of my song DUIU.

Some years ago, I lived in Davidson,

Tuesday - Sunday 11am-4pm

Art by John Meckley

‘The Gathering’

By Grey Brendle

NC. One day I was downtown mid-day and stopped in a cafe for lunch. By the front door was a bulletin board. It had all kinds of things on it: business cards, a lost dog and much in between. One caught my eye.

It was a standard size paper turned horizontal. At the top was DWI School, with information on requirements to enroll, and where. At the bottom was a series of cut tabs and a phone number. You could just tear it off if you had a need. All were gone except two.

It was a great lunch. Reminded me of my grandmother. But, I digress. As I sat there, by myself, my mind played around with the premise. Kind-of with amusement. Hey, it might be some people’s only “higher education.” (Visualize a smiley.) Then I thought, put a U at the end and you have a university acronym, DWIU.

Then the light bulb over my head lit up. There might be a song here. As I was leaving, I took the stick pen out of the announcement and looked with a “may I” gesture to the lady behind the counter. She gave a tacit nod with a wry grin. Guess she thought I might have a lot of need. Having the two phone tabs still at the bottom. (Visualize another smiley, sorry.) I put the “not so classy” classified come-on in one of my song files and still have it today. (See above)

Thus started the process of DUIU. Songs have to flow, fall off the tongue. Feel

good. DWIU didn’t do it. If you say “I just got through DWIU” it doesn’t work. The W is too wide, too fat. While lyrics are certainly important, they tell the story, it has to also feel good. The world is full of examples. Like the duo of Brooks and Dunn. Say Dunn and Brooks. It does not flow. Or, Standard and Poor’s. Proctor and Gamble, Hewlett-Packard, etc. Even given public acceptance of usage and familiarity, if you reverse them, they just don’t work. So, I changed the W to U. And, it doesn’t change anything in the story. Driving While Intoxicated is basically the same as Driving Under the Influence.

I wanted the song to have a kind of tongue-in-cheek flavor. Didn’t think a slow, serious, ballad would be right. So, I gave it a rowdy Hank Williams, Jr. feel. You know, like Monday night football friends are coming over. The song was filled with double entendres. One of my favorites is Magna Cum Loud. (Smiley, sorry, I couldn’t resist another one.) But, it just might fit a DUIU student. Just saying.

Having written a number of songs I wanted to have demos. To start the almost impossible task of trying to get them recorded by someone. At a Bill Anderson show in North Carolina I was talking to his guitar player, Mike. Can’t remember his last name, it’s been a few years. He worked at Hilltop Studios in Nashville. The gigs with

Bill were a fun sideline for him. We talked about recording demos. I went to Nashville and we spent a good part of a day in the studio. While I have spent most of my life a “buttoned-down” businessman, I also have played guitar all my life. My dad taught me. Played in a band in college and later. And, not boasting, am an ok singer. So, I did the vocals.

connected to BMI. I certainly am not getting any royalties. I bought the shirt at the BMI office gift shop in Nashville. It was a great souvenir and hopefully a good luck charm for the session.

BIFF Screenwriters Workshop

Here is a pic of Mike and me at Hilltop planning the session. And, a couple of me in the booth. We recorded nine demos that day. We did two of DUIU, one a little more upbeat than the other. Incidentally, I am not

Marty Stuart was coming for a show in Charlotte, so, I started working on a marketing plan. There was a lady in Cornelius who had a custom embroidery shop. I had her make two t-shirts. Picked a gray color, like many colleges have. Picked blue letters like Duke University in a shape just enough different to not have a legal problem. So, with the colors and four letters, DUIU, it did have the “old college try” look. After all, mine was a university too.

When Marty came to town, playing at Coyote Joe’s on Wilkerson Blvd, I was there and ready. He was talking to people at half time and I got to spend right much time with him. I gave him a CD of DUIU, the written lyrics, and one of the t-shirts. I was wearing mine. You can see it in the picture. He let me tell him about the song. Seemed interested, did not act impatient. And, promised to listen to it on the way to the airport. A great night!

I am not naive. He gets things presented to him every day, I’m sure. And I gave him mine. Like the old adage, you have to step up to the plate to get a hit.

So goes the birth and life of DUIU. And, its life continues. Who knows? That song might still be in some luggage somewhere and Marty could find it, listen again and still get it recorded. What is life without dreams? And, as Annie said, tomorrow, you’re only a day away.

The teachers always told me I wouldn’t amount to a thing

Never get a cap and gown, never get a ring

But when that cop told me “boy, what’s the matter with you?”

I got accepted to DUIU…

Grey Brendle is retired from a career in corporate banking and his own sales and marketing business. His avocation is writing, including regular columns in newspaper in the southeast for 20 years.

Grey Brendle with Marty Stuart

L. Robert Stanfied Finds Light

R. Robert Stanfield

Art League of Hilton Head invites the community to experience Finding Light, a new exhibition by local artist L. Robert Stanfield, on view now through August 28 at Art League Gallery. Through vibrant abstract mixed-media paintings and sculptural works, Finding Light reflects on resilience, renewal, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. The exhibition explores the idea that hope often appears when we offer it to others—and that by illuminating someone else’s path, we may discover our own light in the process.

Stanfield’s work is known for its rich layering techniques, metallic elements, and luminous surfaces that shift and interact with light. His pieces invite viewers into a contemplative space where color, movement, and texture become vehicles for reflection and emotional connection.

“My work is rooted in the search for light, growth, and human connection,” Stanfield says. “If a piece encourages someone to pause, reflect, or feel a sense of possibility, then it has fulfilled its purpose.”

A Hilton Head Island resident since 1999, Stanfield studied at Savannah College of Art and Design and has exhibited widely throughout the Lowcountry. Beyond his studio practice, he has devoted much of his career to arts education and helping others

use creativity as a path toward growth and healing. His work can be found in both private collections and public spaces, including MD Anderson Cancer Center and MiraSol Health.

“Creating art is a powerful form of healing, impacting both mental and emotional well-being,” says Stanfield. “Viewing and experiencing art is also a source of healing. There is no greater purpose for creating art than to share it with others.”

Art League Gallery, located inside the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina on Hilton Head Island, is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sunday from 12–4 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. A reception with the artist will be held Wednesday, July 29 from 5–7 p.m. The public is also invited to a Coffee Meet & Greet on Tuesday, August 11 from 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

ABOUT ART LEAGUE GALLERY

Art League Gallery features local artwork in all media created by more than 250 member artists. All artwork on display is for sale, and exhibits change every month. Located mid-island at 14 Shelter Cove Lane, inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, next to the box office, Art League Gallery is open every day, Monday through Saturday from

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12 – 4 p.m., plus 90 minutes prior to all Arts Center Performances.

Art League Academy welcomes artists and students in all media at all skill levels, including true beginners. Taught by professional art educators, students can choose from many art classes and workshops in most media. Art League Academy is located at 106 Cordillo Parkway. The Academy Manager’s office hours are Monday & Friday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

“Inspiring visual arts for our community and its visitors through exhibitions, education, and partnerships” is Art League of Hilton Head’s mission.

For more information, call 843.681.5060 or visit www.ArtLeagueHHI. org, follow Art League of Hilton Head on Facebook, Instagram, or connect on LinkedIn.

'Radiance'

'Interstellar'

La Petite Gallerie: Celebrating the Old & the New

The little art gallery with the red awning in downtown Bluffton has been home to many talented artists in its eleven-year history. We are excited to feature two of them this summer. One of the very best is Bill Winn – an owner/artist who signed on in the early days of La Petite Gallerie. Bill is skilled in all media – watercolor and acrylic are his latest favorites. He creates life-like still lifes and moody landscapes, figure drawings and gorgeous shorebirds. He can – and does – paint just about anything! Bill has a talent drawn from his career as a medical illustrator, and a natural eye for seeing and capturing the beauty around him. As well as enjoying his paintings, visitors to the gallery love Bill’s wisdom, humor, and insights as to what makes great art. He is indeed a master of both art and gab!

The Gallerie is now excited to welcome its newest owner/artist, the talented Nancy Patrick Carney. Nancy creates joyful, imaginative art using paint and paper. Her bright colors, coastal themes and femine figures are very recognizable as hers, and are just delightful! She paints, often incorporating hand-painted papers, printed music and words, making art that is truly unique and cheerful. With a commercial art and illustration background, Nancy brings a unique spin to lowcountry art. Visitors will love her playful and vibrant pieces!

In this summer season La Petite Gallerie is celebrating both these creative people! Please stop by to see their art as well as the latest of the five other owner/artists, plus pottery, jewelry, garden art and more. There is something for everyone in the gallery and garden!

La Petite Gallerie is located at 56 Calhoun Street in Bluffton.

Above: 'The Magical Sun Hat' & 'Midnight in the Marsh' by Nancy Patrick Carney

'Footprints' & 'Hydrangeas' by Bill Winn

Beat the Heat Summer Supper

It’s hot! I dare say it’s even too hot to cook. A couple of weeks ago, July 4th to be exact, I thought it would be fun to test some new recipes for my catering menu. By using my oven during the middle of the day, I succeeded in raising the temperature of the entire house to a toasty 77 degrees. The outside temperature was roughly 95 degrees in the shade at the time. My poor air conditioner struggled and ran and blew and the temperature would not go down – not even one degree. So, I’m stuck on a holiday that also happened to land on a weekend with the fear, (terror!) that my two sweet tabby cats and I were going to melt before I could schedule a service call on the following Monday. Long hot story cut short, Eric Swanson saved the day by immediately responding to my panicked text and directing me to turn off the A/C while leaving the fan running for 30 minutes. It worked like a charm. Much like a computer, turning off your air conditioner and giving it a reset is the thing to do. What does this have to do with cooking you might ask? Well, ever since my Independence Day weekend hot box experience, I’ve been consciously trying to keep my stove use to a minimum on the very hottest days. A crockpot is a wonderful resource for cooking meat. So is an outdoor grill. Using the oven for short periods of time, in the early morning or late eve-

ning hours, helps a bunch too. Salads and other refrigerated offerings make great side dishes. This week’s recipes will help keep your home as cool as a cucumber. Hang in there, y’all. We’ve still got a couple more hot months ahead. Stay cool.

Summer Corn Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

For the vinaigrette:

¼ cup fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons honey

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 clove garlic, minced

¼ cup olive oil

Salt and pepper, to taste

Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate any unused vinaigrette.

For the salad:

3 ears fresh corn, cooked and removed from cobbs

2 baby cucumbers, sliced

¾ cup diced grape tomatoes

2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion

2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley

Zest of one lime

Place all ingredients in a salad bowl; toss gently to combine. Drizzle with desired amount of lime vinaigrette and garnish with fresh lime zest. Serves 3 to 4.

Crockpot Short Ribs

Beef short ribs are flavorful, well-marbled cuts from the chuck, plate, or rib sections of a cow. They earn their name because they contain short pieces of bone and thick, rich meat. Because they are dense with fat and connective tissue, they are perfect for slow cooking.

1¼ - 2 pounds beef short ribs

Salt and pepper

¾ cup BBQ sauce

1/3 cup steak sauce

¼ cup vinegar and pepper

BBQ sauce

Season ribs with salt and pepper and place in crock pot. Add BBQ sauce, steak sauce and vinegar and pepper BBQ sauce. Cover and cook on high

for 4 to 6 hours or until tender. Serves 3 to 4.

*I used Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce, Heinz 57 Steak Sauce, and Scott’s BBQ Sauce from Goldsboro, NC.

Peach Galette

A galette is a rustic, open-faced pie. It’s made by rolling out a single layer of pastry dough, topping the center with fresh fruit tossed with sugar and spices, and folding over the exposed edges of the dough to hold it all together. You can use this same recipe with strawberries, blueberries, apples – almost every type of fruit will work.

1 refrigerated pie crust

4 medium peaches, unpeeled and sliced

¼ cup light brown sugar

1 teaspoon cornstarch

Pinch of cinnamon

1 egg, beaten

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

By Debbi Covington

1 tablespoon cold salted butter, cut into small pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Carefully unroll pie crust on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Place peach slices in a bowl. Add brown sugar, cornstarch and cinnamon. Toss gently with a spoon until

peaches are well coated. Arrange peaches on pie crust in a circle about 2 inches from the edge. Fold the outer edge of the crust over the peaches, crimping when necessary. Brush the crust with beaten egg. Sprinkle entire galette, including the crust, with granulated sugar. Dot the peach filling with pieces of cold butter. Bake for 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Cool galette on a wire baking rack for 5 minutes before serving. Serves 6.

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 843525-0350 or by email at debbicovington@gmail.com.

SSTI's 'Oklahoma!' Wows Beaufort

Gabriel Emery and Charlotte Dickens star as Curly and Laurey in SSTI’s ‘Oklahoma!’

After opening its 19th season in Beaufort with the audience hit “All Shook Up,” the Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute (SSTI) has turned to one of the most beloved musicals in American theatre history, and local audiences are loving it.

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” is in full swing at Beaufort High School, bringing SSTI’s signature production scale to a classic story of romance, rivalry, and life on the American frontier.

The production is directed by Tony Award nominee and South Carolina native Jenn Colella, making her SSTI directorial debut after many summers teaching with the organization. Colella, known to Broadway audiences for her Tony-nominated performance in “Come From Away,” brings both professional experience and a personal connection to the material. “Oklahoma!” was one of the first musicals she performed growing up in South Carolina, making this production a meaningful return.

SSTI’s staging leans into the sweeping imagery of the classic musical while offering the large-scale theatrical design audiences have come to expect from the company. Set inside a giant barn, the production fills the stage with 10,000 stalks of artificial wheat and features a real surrey with the fringe on top.

The show follows SSTI’s successful June production of “All Shook Up,” which

welcomed enthusiastic audiences to the company’s new Beaufort home. After years of producing award-winning musicals at Hilton Head High School, SSTI moved its season to Beaufort High School while its longtime venue undergoes construction.

For audiences seeing SSTI for the first time, the company’s scale can come as a surprise. Each summer, SSTI brings together performers and technicians from across the country, working alongside professional directors, designers, musicians, carpenters, electricians, costume artists, and stage managers. The result is a summer production model that blends education with professional-caliber theatre.

SSTI founder and director Ben Wolfe often describes the program as “the minor leagues of Broadway,” giving audiences the opportunity to see young artists at the beginning of careers that may one day lead to national stages.

With “Oklahoma!,” SSTI closes its Beaufort season with a musical known for some of Broadway’s most enduring songs, including “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,” “People Will Say We’re in Love,” and “The Surrey with the Fringe on Top.”

“Oklahoma!” runs through August 2 at Beaufort High School, 84 Sea Island Parkway. Tickets and performance information are available at SummerMusicals.com or by calling 866-749-2228.

Energy Flows Where Attention Goes

The title references an age-old “woo-woo” adage. Even so, the math still checks out. For esōterikos (pertaining to what is inside) purposes—what we focus on expands. Example: focus on the good = more good starts to show up in your life.

The process of manifesting goodness is as follows:

1. Make a list of the top ten things you are thankful for.

2. Read that list every morning before the start of your day and right before you go to bed.

3. When reading each item on your list, try to get into the feeling state of how/why you are grateful for the thing listed.

4. Imagine what your life would be like without the ten things on your list.

5. Begin to notice how often your mind naturally tends to gravitate towards looking for more things to be grateful for.

The aforementioned process is geared towards shifting your internal attention towards positivity. It is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy that rewires the mind and fine-tunes the spirit. There are more steps in the process of manifestation, however, I believe I have made my point: When energy flows to a place, the result is expansion.

As for the nonsensical, evidentiary, results-driven data approach—where energy is focused, matter/particles expand/transform/ diversify. Example: when sunlight travels to Earth, photosynthesis occurs in plants and

produces glucose and oxygen. Animals and humans alike consume glucose to gain energy in order to perform cellular functions required for life to keep on lifin’.

The process of glucose production is as follows:

1. Chlorophyll (green pigment found in plants that absorbs sunlight) absorbs photons (particles of light). The photons’ energy literally excites the electrons in the chlorophyll into a higher energy state.

2. Because the electrons are excited, they enter into an electron transport chain (think electron-powered conveyor belt inside the leaf). When the electrons move along this conveyor belt, their energy helps push hydrogen ions to one side of a thin wall called the thylakoid membrane (the site of the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis).

3. When chlorophyll expels its energized electrons, it needs new ones. The plant solves this problem by splitting water molecules. The water provides new electrons, hydrogen ions, and oxygen. The plant then releases most of the oxygen into the air, which is part of the oxygen humans and animals breathe…

There are more steps in the process of glucose production; however, I will spare you more scientific jargon as I believe I have made my point: When energy flows to a place, all kinds of cool, almost magical things happen.

Now that both avenues of equifinality have been explored, we can focus primarily on the esoteric, as even the scientific mind must

now at least subconsciously accept convergent conclusions.

Do you find yourself looking out at the world with disgust, characterized by a “holier-than-thou” judgmental juxtaposition, quintessentially similar to that of an Anakinto-Darth-Vader reverse version of Jesus Christ? Have you always been an expert in seeing the speck in your brother’s eye, all the while failing to see the plank in your own?

This is perhaps due to where you have placed your attention, as energy flows where attention goes. If you look out into the world constantly judging and condemning, seeing evil here and there, only seemingly surrounded by corruption and indignation, well then… you have elected to expand that aspect of life by placing your attention on it.

People who are truly happy and have chosen to focus on the positive aspects of life don’t spend time condemning others. They are wise enough to know that focus expands.

“No matter how hard you squeeze an orange, you’ll never get apple juice.” – Wayne Dyer

Meaning: no amount of hatred will come from a loving being. Let this be your gauge.

But also let your esōterikos disposition give you a reference point. How do you feel about life right now? What are your thoughts about people whose spiritual or political views oppose yours? If you find any semblance of discontent in this regard, then you can be assured that you have chosen to focus on fear. Anger is the mask of fear, yet anger only shows up when the fear is big. This article is the symposium of how things “get bigger” in our reality.

So why is it that you have chosen to focus on that which you are fearful of in such a vast Universe of delightfulness? How can the world become better if you are fixating upon, giving attention to, directing energy toward, and expanding that which is to be feared? Why do you choose to hypnotize yourself with the same news stories filled with digressive frequencies, yet you secretly hope for salvation?

When you focus on the things that are displeasing to you, the same quite magical process that turns light particles into glucose is happening within your being but with an exception. Instead of producing byproducts that assist in the natural process of co-habitual evolution, you are creating more of the same

by Jared Madison WHOLLY HOLISTICS

things you hate about the world—you become the ignorant culprit of suffering.

Life is hard. We’re floating around on a rock in the middle of infinity. I find myself complaining or being critical far too often, but then I stop and remind myself: “This is what you’re choosing to focus on? Out of all the things that are good in life, this is your choice?”

I’m surely not telling you to ignore your problems or the seeming tribulations of the world, but let your frustration equate to healing in all aspects of your endeavors. Without control, absent manipulation, devoid of cruelty, and bereft of malice, what solutions can you bring to an ailing world?

Take this with you today throughout your day and when you find yourself focusing on the unsavory aspects of life, say to yourself: “What you focus on expands.” If you would like to see, hear, and experience more of the thing you are focusing on, keep at it. If you dislike the thing you are focusing on, try to shift your attention to what you are grateful for.

If there is something you think you can do about the problems of the world that doesn’t ostracize, condemn, berate, penalize, or exclude others—if there is something that can produce countless positive byproducts that add light to a dark room and healing to a hurting world, then do that.

Do you think your higher power (God, the Universe, Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad, Krishna, or whatever name you prefer) looks down upon you in all your undertakings, both secret and exposed, and sees perfection? Yet you are loved and believed in. So why is it that you would not give your own brother this same extension?

Foraging for Fun, Flavor and Pharmacy

The 42nd Southeast Native Plant Conference was held last week in Western North Carolina, and I was able to commune with five hundred or so like-minded folks. A happy tribe of students, teachers, growers, artists, researchers, and assorted enthusiasts gathered to share and grow our plant “nerdiness.” One of the walks offered was a foraging foray. As we walked by a stream which was between a parking lot and a two-lane asphalt road the facilitator pointed out common trees, shrubs and forbs (herbaceous) which afforded both food and medicine.

Edible plants have fascinated me for years. I also have an interest in plant medicine so not all the information was new. It turned out that most of the other members of the walk foraged frequently. We all learned a lot from our leader, Planty Kim Calhoun. She stressed four principles of safe and sustainable foraging: 1) Appreciation, 2) Identification, 3) Location, and 4) Population.

Appreciation: The first thing Kim did was show thanks to the “plant friend.” I grew up in a house where we blessed the food and “the hands that prepared it” before every meal. Some of us have lost the connection to where our food comes from. We do not see the farmers and ranchers that grow our food. Nature is abun-

dant with wild things that can sustain us. Kim said she likes to eat wild greens every day and showed us several which were growing right there by the road. She had prepared spicebush and cherrybark tea the day before. We sampled them at the end of our walk; she demonstrated how to harvest the bark not from the main trunk but from smaller branches.

Cherry bark tea is used in traditional medicine for coughs, soothing the mucous membranes of respiratory, digestive, and urinary tracts. The flavor was unexpectedly like maraschino cherries.

By Laura Lee Rose

and preparation, start with a small amount to see how your unique body responds to the food/medicine.

Location: Remember, I said the walk was next to a road and parking lot? Before foraging consider if an area is subject to spraying of pesticides or other pollutants. Do you have permission to gather on the property? Many state parks do not allow visitors to pick flowers or harvest plants.

Identification: “Always be 100% sure of ID before you eat or make medicine with a plant.” Know which plant parts to use (leaves, inner bark, roots, etc.) while others may not be helpful or even could be harmful. We also need to know when to harvest and how to prepare. There are many books and field guides to help, but learning from an experienced person is the best. Once you are confident about the steps in selection

Population: It is also important to only take what you need or have time to process. Only harvest as much as a population can reproduce. Know what plants are rare or threatened. For this reason, it makes sense to collect plants that are common. There are even some naturalized plants that have medicinal or food value.

Laura Lee Rose is a native of South Carolina and has lived in the Lowcountry for many years. Certified Nursery Professional and retired from the Clemson Extension Service, she taught Master Gardener classes and encouraged professional landscapers. A board member of the South Carolina Native Plant Society and President of the South Coast Chapter, Laura Lee encourages the use of native plant material and sustainable landscaping.

11am-9pm

Kim Calhoun preparing Cherrybark tea

An Evening with Authors at the Conroy Center

On Thursday, August 27, the Pat Conroy Literary Center will host Emily Carpenter in conversation with Kimberly Brock. Carpenter will be promoting her new book A Spell for Saints and Sinners. Books will be available for sale and signing. The event will take place from 5 – 6:30pm. Seating is limited for this free event, so please call in advance to reserve a spot: 843-379-7025.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Like a gender-flipped Saltburn set amidst the moss-draped, haunted beauty of Savannah, this intoxicating blend of Southern suspense and modern witchcraft from bestselling author Emily Carpenter casts a spell of class, power, and possession.

In a city where ghosts linger in the moss and money buys salvation, a struggling psychic is drawn into Savannah’s glittering elite, as obsession and need curdle the lines between magic and madness, seduction and salvation, pirates and protectors…

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Emily Carpenter is a bestselling author of suspense novels including Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, The Weight of Lies and Gothictown.

Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, she graduated from Auburn University and worked in New York City as an actor, producer, screenwriter, and behindthe-scenes assistant for the CBS shows As the World Turns and Guiding Light before returning to her southern roots. She now lives with her family outside Atlanta, Georgia, and can be found online at EmilyCarpenterAuthor.com.

Kimberly Brock is the award-winning author of The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare and The River Witch. She is the founder of Tinderbox Writers Workshop and has served as a guest lecturer for many regional and national writing workshops, including at the Pat Conroy Literary Center. She lives near Atlanta with her husband and three children.

Emily Carpenter

Kimberly Brock

Classifieds Classifieds

TO RENT or OWN

ITALY: Tuscany townhouse for rent by the week in historic UNESCO village. Sleeps 4, large furnished garden, easy walk to shops and excellent restaurants. www.cozyholidayrentals.com or 401-862-2377.

FURNISHED LUXURY APT In the heart of downtown Beaufort. 2BR, 2BA, W/D, Housewares. Please call 843-812-4229.

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

Now - 8/9, Mean Girls: The Musical, at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. For tickets and more information, visit www. artshhi.com

Now - 8/2, Oklahoma!, produced by the Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute at Beaufort High School. For more information, times, and tickets, visit www.summermusicals.com or call 866-749-2228.

Mon 8/17, 'Project Hail Mary' will be the Monday Movie at USCB Center for the Arts. Screenings at 3pm and 7pm. Tickets available at the door, or at www.uscbcenterforthearts.com

Sat 8/1, The Art of Believing, a new documentary about the faith, artistry, and legacy of three Sea Island artists, will be screened at Penn Center's Frissell Community House from 1 - 2:30 pm. For free tickets and more information, visit eventbrite .

GALLERIES/ART

Now - 8/31, Betty Thorpe Hintz exhibit at Fair Winds Bar & Grill in Rose Hill Plantation, Bluffton. For more information, visit www.sobagallery.com

Now - 8/30, Wings Over the Lowcountry, an exhibit of artwork by John Meckley, at the Beaufort Art Association Gallery. Opening Reception Friday 7/3, 5-8pm. 913 Bay Street in downtown Beaufort. www.beaufortartassociation.com

Now - 8/1, Quiet Contemplation with Expressive Flair, a collaborative exhibition featuring paintings by Virginia Cassidy and handcrafted jewelry by Doris Jones Vargas. Society of Bluffton Artists (SOBA) Gallery in Old Town Bluffton. Opening Reception Fri 7/10, 4-6pm. www.sobagallery.com

Now - 11/30. Manifesting the Spirit: The Visionary Art of Bruce Ingram at the York W. Bailey Museum at Penn Center. Opening Reception Sat 7/18 from 6-9pm.

Now - 7/31, Halfway Home: An Art Exhibit Supporting Sea Turtle Patrol HH at Art League Academy. Featuring sea turtle themed artwork. Closing Reception, Fri 7/31, 5-7pm . 106 Cordillo Parkway, Hilton Head. 843-842-5738.

Now - 8/28, Finding Light, an exhibit of artwork by L. Robert Stanfield at Art League Gallery inside the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina on Hilton Head. Opening Reception Wed 7/29, 5-7 pm. www.artleaguehhi.org

Sun 8/23, Entry Deadline for SOBA's 32nd Annual Judged Show & Fundraiser. For more information visit www.sobagallery.com or call 843-757-6586.

BOOKS & WRITERS

Thur 7/30, Evening with Paul Attaway, author Blood Rivalry, at the Pat Conroy Literary Center, 601 Bladen St. in downtown Beaufort. 5 - 6:30 pm.. Space is limited, so please reserve your spot by calling 843-379-7025. Visit www.patconroyliterarycenter.org

Thur 8/27, Evening with Emily Carpenter (A Spell for Saints and Sinners) in conversation with Kimberly Brock (The River Witch), at the Pat Conroy Literary Center, 601 Bladen St. in downtown Beaufort. 5 - 6:30 pm. Books available for sale and signing. Space is limited, so please reserve your spot by calling 843-379-7025. Visit www.patconroyliterarycenter.org

MUSIC

Mondays, 7/27, 8/3, 8/10 & 8/17, FREE Summer A Cappella Camp, sponsored by the Shore Notes A Cappella Chorus. Open to women 18 and older. No auditions, no

reading music required. 6-8pm at Church of the Palms, 6-8 pm. Performance on 8/24 at 7:30 pm. For more information, visit www.shorenotes.com

OTHER EVENTS

Tuesdays, 8/4, 8/11, & 8/18, SAVVY Express, a 3-week In-Person Course sponsored by Memory Matters, offering practical strategies to make daily caregiving easier and more manageable. Connect with others who understand. 10am - 12pm at The Palmettos of Bluffton, 3035 Okatie Hwy. For more information or to register, visit www.memorymatters.org/events or call 843-842-6688.

Wednesdays, 8/5, 8/12, 8/19, 8/26 & 9/2, Savvy Caregiver, a 5-week Virtual Course sponsored by Memory Matters, offering practical strategies to make daily caregiving easier and more manageable. Connect with others who understand. 9:30am - 11:30am. For more information or to register, visit www.memorymatters.org/events or call 843842-6688.

Last Saturdays in July, August & Sept, ROOTED: Summer Concert Series at at Historic Penn Center on St. Helena Island, featuring live music, food vendors, cultural experiences rooted in Gullah-Geechee heritage, and more. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the gate. For more information, visit www. penncenter.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.

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.