cover notes
The image on our cover is “Blue Heron” by Sharon Cooper from her exhibit "Blooms, Birds and Butterflies” coming to the Beaufort Art Association Gallery April 29. For more information, see our story on page 11.
yWeekly
April 23 – May 6, 2025
ro w c o unt
LPublisher: Jeff Evans — Jeff@LCWeekly.com
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
Delayna Earley — 804-347-8704 or Delayna.TheIslandNews@gmail.com
Art Director: Lydia Inglett
Layout & Design: Amalgamated Sprinkleworks
Contributing Writers: Katherine Tandy Brown, Debbi Covington, Luke Frazier, Wendy Hilty, Jodi Kemp, Elizabeth Bishop Later, Jared Madison, Jacquelyn Markham, 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.
Orwell for Everyone RANTS & RAVES
Like book clubs all over the country (or so I’ve heard), mine recently read George Orwell’s “1984.”
For me, it was the third time. The first time was in high school, and it was an assignment. The second time was about five years ago, and I read it on purpose. This time around – #3 – I got about halfway through the book and decided I just couldn’t go there again. My heart wasn’t in it. So to prep for our meeting, I perused my old notes and highlights instead. I’d made plenty.
I also read a bunch of articles about Orwell, who – as I mentioned – is having a moment here at the beginning of the second Trump administration.
Actually, he’s been having a moment for a while now. During the Biden years, I remember seeing Orwell memes a ‘plenty on social media – especially as Covid settled in. People cited the writer to kvetch about government overreach, lockdowns, vaccine mandates, and censorship.
“We are living in Orwell’s 1984. Free speech no longer exists in America.” This was Donald Trump Jr. posting on Twitter on Jan. 8, 2021, the day his father was kicked off the platform following the Jan. 6 attack.
Around the same time, Roger Severino of the Heritage Foundation – the conservative think tank that produced the Project 2025 playbook – said he rereads 1984 every few years. For him, its warnings rang most true in the left’s approach to Covid mandates – and the “canceling” of people who didn’t comply –and in their handling of transgender issues. Biden-era directives telling government employees to address co-workers with their
preferred pronouns meant forcing people to “repeat a lie with their own lips,” Severino said. This reminded him of 1984’s ending, when protagonist Winston Smith has been beaten into submission and parrots the lies of The Party.
More recently, Vice President JD Vance gave Germany a good talkin’ to for criminalizing hate speech. “This is Orwellian!,” he posted on X. “And everyone in Europe and the U.S. must reject this lunacy.”
But the political right doesn’t have a monopoly on Orwell citations. Not by a longshot. More and more frequently, critics of the new Trump administration are referencing the writer to support their argument that it’s a totalitarian regime.
In a recent essay for New York Times Magazine, Matthew Purdy wrote:
“Warnings of language as a weapon of manipulation, obfuscation and oppression run through Orwell’s work. It is a reason you could be excused for hearing real-life echoes of scenes from ‘1984’ emanating from Washington. Trump’s airbrushing of the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol as a ‘beautiful day’ and the pardoning of violent rioters who, he said, had ‘love in their hearts’ recalls one of Orwell’s quotes: ‘The past is whatever the Party chooses to make it.’
The bureaucrat who gleefully bragged that ‘we’re destroying words — scores of them, hundreds of them, every day’ could have been deployed at Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon on the search-and-delete mission for references to race, but in fact worked at Orwell’s Ministry of Truth in ‘1984.’”
And Trump’s recent (repeated) claim that
11am-9pm
Volodymyr Zelensky started the war in Ukraine? It’s strangely reminiscent of a famous scene in ‘1984.’ In the midst of Hate Week festivities – dedicated to vilifying Oceana’s enemy, Eurasia – a startling announcement is made with no explanation: “Oceania was not after all at war with Eurasia. Oceania was at war with Eastasia. Eurasia was an ally.”
Intimations of our shifting alliances in the Russia/Ukraine war? Depends on who you ask.
“So it has come to this,” writes Purdy in NYT Magazine, getting to the heart of the matter. “All seem to agree we might be slouching toward ‘1984,’ but not on who is most Orwellian.”
While working on this column, I had this weird, recurring feeling that I’d written it before. So, I went to the Lowcountry Weekly website and did a search for “George Orwell.” Sure enough, I’d touched on the topic back in April of 2014.
The following is a chunk of that old column, which began with a quote:
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.”
– George Orwell
This Orwell quote has been floating around Facebook Nation lately. I keep seeing it, again and again, which isn’t particularly unusual. (That’s what FB memes do; they multiply.) What is unusual is that the adage keeps popping up on the pages of people who have very different values and, frankly, very different ideas about “truth.”
Rightwing conservatives, leftwing progressives, staunch libertarians, religious devotees, atheists . . . they’ve all been posting this meme, or, at the very least, “liking” it. Despite wildly conflicting and contradictory core beliefs, these folks all seem to have one thing in common: the certainty that Orwell had them in mind when he made the above statement. They all believe themselves in possession of the truth, and they all feel increasingly despised for speaking it.
This would tickle me if it weren’t so troubling – not so much for what it suggests about the nature of truth, but for what it says about the nature of us. About who we’re becoming.
It’s terribly tempting to embrace the persona of the maligned, misunderstood truth-teller, isn’t it? I know, because it’s my
natural default mode, the fallback position I consciously battle every day. There’s something so enticing about that self-identity. You get to indulge your most arrogant, prideful, smarter-than-thou impulses, while simultaneously feeling all heroic and righteous and noble. (And put-upon; don’t forget put-upon!) You also give yourself permission to stop listening and learning (you already know everything, right?) and to stop extending love to those who don’t see the world as you do. (It’s one thing to love people who are simply misguided or mistaken . . . but people who hate you? Fuggedaboudit!) All in all, this way of seeing yourself is much easier, and it’s pretty darn satisfying . . . especially if you have a group of like-minded truth warriors with whom to commiserate/celebrate.
If you don’t – if you’re like me, and your ideas about truth don’t fall neatly into any of our increasingly rigid socio-political camps –it can be kind of lonely. But lonely self-righteousness has its own sweet appeal. It’s addictive. And, like most addictions, it should probably be resisted.
Okay, so that’s all a little airy-fairy . . . and a bit off track. But I included this old passage because I found it somehow comforting (and kind of amusing) to remember that we were already “getting our Orwell on” – and struggling with competing realities – over a decade ago, long before the Biden era or Trump 2.0.
And it does my heart good to know that despite all our differences – and even our different versions of “truth” – none of us wants to end up like Winston Smith, trapped in an Orwellian nightmare. Here in the year 2025, our fear of living in “1984” might just be the one thing Americans have in common.
It's not nothing.
Addendum: In the interest of truth telling –I’ve since learned that the “Orwell quote” in my 2014 column was misattributed. Despite the claim of a thousand Facebook memes, it’s actually the brainchild of someone named Selwyn Duke. How Orwellian! Margaret Evans is the editor of Lowcountry Weekly. She has been writing her award winning column, Rants & Raves, for 25 years.
Poetry Contest Winners
In honor of National Poetry Month, we are pleased to publish the winners of this year’s Poetry Contest, sponsored by Lowcountry Weekly in partnership with the Pat Conroy Literary Center and the Port Royal Sound Foundation. We were thrilled with the great number of entries we received! The competition was judged anonymously by a panel of published poets affiliated with the Conroy Center. Thanks go out to them and to all who entered the contest.
st Place
2 nd Place
MOTHER OF THE MARSH: AISLING
The marsh can swallow like quicksand. Never fear, she whispers as she rises from the mist above the muddy marsh, a presence out of nothingness & my dreams. She speaks: I am the mother of the marsh. She is dark like the earth & her scent like the sea. She’s the spirit of the river & flows with the tides. I am in awe, so don’t speak back; she doesn’t mind. She has things to say & raises her voice above the whistling wind.
My spartina grasses bind my muddy soil, to protect you humans from the stormy seas. I am a shelter for the terns on their long migration. Ducks & cormorants love to stay with me & nest. As if she senses my fear of quicksand, she warns, stay away from my pluffmud at low tide & I will soothe your soul with my shimmering waters by moonlight or sunlight.
She recedes, then, into the rising mist. I breathe her salty air & she clears away my woes.
by Jacquelyn Markham
3 rd Place
END OF SUMMER
When the summer of my life has ended and the tide is going out, I hope that what I’m asked to do
Is perch on a dock in that glorious golden moment, Sunburnt and full of boiled shrimp caught earlier in our own net And, watched by a setting Lowcountry sun and maybe a heron or two, With the smell of pluff mud and the sound of cicadas providing background for the count of 1
Jump!
2
3
Carefree, hands up, into the creek Where I will splash into laughter, And friends, And memories, And salt water in my nose, And the anticipation of forever days of swimming in the creek, While complaining that one of the boys tried to hold my hand as we jumped, But all the while secretly loving that he did.
by Elizabeth Bishop Later
YARDWORK
It grieved my heart to mow that lawn: The purple clover blooms suddenly gone, the magenta blossoms of the shamrocks, the dandelions, too. I spared as many as I could, It was the best that I could do.
The green onions, and monkey grass, brought to the ground, just so, we could comfortably walk around. A ladybug spotted me coming, and off she flew, and the bees all around buzzed, not sure what to do.
The neighbor man said-the grass was too high. It'd grown for too long . . . It practically scraped the sky . . . But all those little bugs sure didn't seem to mind. Mowing, to me, doesn't seem very kind when you think of the all the life, you're laying to waste, just to please another human's taste.
by Jodi Kemp
Evening with Jesse Blanco
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening of with Eat It and Like It co-founder and host Jesse Blanco, author of Charleston Food Crawls on Thursday, May 1, at 5:00 p.m., at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort). Free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited: please call to reserve in advance: 843-379-7025.
ABOUT JESSE BLANCO AND CHARLESTON FOOD CRAWLS
Charleston Food Crawls is an exciting culinary tour through the largest city in South Carolina. Taste the city’s culinary history through its top-notch neighborhood restaurants and bars. Hit the Upper Peninsula for a day of breweries and barbeque galore. Just in town for the weekend? Take a stroll through King Street for quick bites and crafty sips. Experience where southern comfort food and zesty libations collide and dig into Charleston one dish at a time.
Jesse Blanco is, without question, one of Savannah’s most recognizable personalities. His laid-back style and ability to connect with viewers and readers remain his calling card following a 24-year career in television news. During his 5 years as primary news anchor at the local FOX affiliate, Jesse always found creative ways to connect with his audience. That talent extended to his weekly column in the Savannah Morning News, which very quickly became one of the paper’s most popular features from 2012 to 2018.
In 2010, Jesse and his business partner created a blog and later a television show dedicated to the underappreciated side of Savannah’s food scene. Four years later, Savannah’s food scene exploded and Eat It and Like It found itself sitting in the front row to witness it all. Since 2014 he’s been the Savannah area’s only full-time food writer. Jesse is now the author of author of Savannah Food Crawls and Charleston Food Crawls. Jesse was born in California but calls Miami his hometown. Having been raised in a very large Cuban-American family where the genetic makeup consists of food, music, dancing, laughing, and friendship. Throw in an insatiable desire to travel and explore and you get someone who is only happy learning or trying new things. Jesse is married with one child.
To learn more, please visit www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
Marjory Wentworth at Conroy Center
In honor of National Poetry Month, the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with Marjory Wentworth, past Poet Laureate of South Carolina, and author of One River, One Boat, on Friday, April 25, at 5:00 p.m., at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort). Free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025.
If you want to know the nuance of the Palmetto State, read Marjory’s poems.”
— Marcus Amaker, Inaugural Poet Laureate of Charleston
Marjory Wentworth is the New York Times bestselling co-author of Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets, and the author of the prizewinning children’s story Shackles. Celebrated for her significant contributions to literature and social justice, she served as the poet laureate of South Carolina from 2003–2020. During her tenure as poet laureate, she published 4 collections of poems and received seven Pushcart Prize nominations. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Holyoke College and a Master of Art in Writing from New York University, she moved to South Carolina in 1989, where she taught courses in writing, social justice, and banned books at The College of Charleston.
ABOUT THE BOOK AND AUTHOR
Famously cut from Governor Nikki Haley’s inauguration in 2015, former South Carolina poet laureate Marjory Wentworth’s poem “One River, One Boat” serves as the titular piece for her newest book. This collection of occasional poems and essays includes those written about heartbreaking and joyous times in South Carolina’s history and Wentworth’s own life including the deaths of relatives, gubernatorial inaugurations, the Mother Emmanuel AME massacre, Hurricane Hugo, and more.
Congressman James Clyburn read Wentworth’s poem “One River, One Boat” into the Congressional record in 2015 after it was pulled from Haley’s inauguration, saying he “hope[s] the people of South Carolina, across the country, and peoples around the world are as touched by her words as I have been.”
“A poet is a historian. If they are tuned in to the community around them, their words can be important documents of an era. South Carolina is a complicated and beautiful place.
As part of her visit to Beaufort, Wentworth will also teach a writing workshop, Write Living Newspapers, on Saturday, April 26, from 10:00 to noon, limited to 15 participants. $45 each, advance registration required. https://writelivingnewspapers.eventbrite.com
To learn more about the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, please visit www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
Ahead of Her Time
New book about Ann Head makes for a great read about the author, Beaufort, Pat Conroy, and more.
By Lynn Seldon
Ifirst learned about the Beaufort writer Ann Head from Pat Conroy when I met him just after the release of South of Broad Fittingly, it was over lunch at Charleston’s iconic restaurant, Slightly North of Broad. The prolific Beaufort author Anne Wales Christensen Head Morse (known professionally as “Ann Head”) was truly a writer well ahead of her time (which was the mid-1900s). She tackled heady themes that included the emotional complexities of womanhood, divorce, adultery, teen pregnancy, abortion, and more. Her riveting novel, Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jo Jones, sold more than a million copies and was adapted into a feature film starring Desi Arnez Jr. And, she certainly made for a great role model to Conroy, a budding writer.
I later learned more about Pat’s relationship with Head as teacher and mentor while reading The Pat Conroy Cookbook: Recipes of My Life (Doubleday, 2004). In the chapter called “My First Novelist” he wrote, “I was lucky she found me as a boy, and whenever I publish a new book, I take a rose to her headstone in St. Helena Cemetery in Beaufort and place it before her without a word . . . ” Several recipes follow Pat’s love letter to Head, including one for ratatouille,
which Pat loved to make in the summertime with fresh, peeled Beaufort tomatoes (“ . . . which I consider to be the finest on earth.”).
Pat called Head his mentor and, after her untimely death in 1968 at the age of 52 (he attended her funeral), Pat would become a mentor to dozens of other writers in the following decades, including me. Several of these mentoring relationships are described in essays in Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy (University of Georgia Press, 2018). Ahead of Her Time: The Trailblazing Life and Literary Legacy of Ann Head (Evening Post Books, 2025) is a great read in every way. It’s well-constructed and -written by Anne’s daughter, Nancy Thode.
The book is comprised of two “halves,” each about 180 pages long. The first half is an informative biography of the writer, including a lot about her life and times in Beaufort and beyond, varied people (including several familiar names), her writing, and her relationship with Pat Conroy in a chapter called “Head of the Class.”
There’s much to be learned about Head, Beaufort, and more in all of these chapters, and I thought Thode’s writing provided a deep dive into this iconic writer. For instance, I also learned in Ahead of Her Time that Head had her own mentor in the renowned American writer and journalist Samuel Hopkins Adams. And, this tidbit: Head’s first husband was Howard Head, the inventor who revolutionized skiing and tennis (I played high school and college tennis using groundbreaking aluminum Head tennis rackets).
The Appendix comprises the second half of the book and it’s just as interesting. It starts with more than 20 pages of 1960s “correspondence” between Conroy and Head, whom he called “Mrs. M.” (short for Mrs. Morse, her married name when Pat met her). This section also includes photocopies of several of Pat’s letters on letterhead from The Citadel.
These letters make for great reading, including hints at the writer Pat was to become, but also great writing tips to Pat from Head, like, “Hope you keep on with your writing. It’s the only way to learn to write and the creative muscles get as flabby from disuse as any others.” There’s also a story that he wrote in Anne’s class that he later sent to Nancy, with Pat noting, “Why she thought I had a smidgen of talent remains a mystery.”
And, in the Epilogue, Thode reveals that — after Head died — Pat Conroy saw an ad for her stove, saying, “So, I bought Anne Head’s stove. It’s my memento.”
Following the correspondence, there’s a 35-page section called, “Selected Stories of Ann Head.” She published more than 50 short stories, novelettes, and more, including pieces for the likes of Cosmopolitan, McCall’s , and The Writer (I loved “Where Do you Get Your Ideas”).
I’m not the only one that really likes this book. Gushing jacket blurbs come from local luminaries like Cassandra King Conroy,
historian Lawrence S. Rowland, and Pat Conroy Literary Center executive director, Jonathan Haupt (he calls it “phenomenal” and I agree).
Nancy Head Thode is a Beaufort native who divides her time between Fripp Island and Stamford, Connecticut. In 2020, she established the Ann Head Literary Award for Short Story Fiction at Beaufort High School, where her mother taught and mentored Pat Conroy (who also served as teacher and mentor there). This is her first book.
Ahead of Her Time: The Trailblazing Life and Literary Legacy of Ann Head, Nancy Thode, Evening Post Books, 2025
Join Nancy Thode at 5pm, May 17, 2025, at the Beaufort County Black Chamber, 711 Bladen Street, to celebrate the release of the book. Pat Conroy Literary Center executive director Jonathan Haupt and student Millie Bennett, past president of DAYLO (Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization), and one of the subjects of the documentary Banned Together, as they engage in a conversation about Beaufort's mid-century literary scene and more. The 2025 winner of the Ann Head Prize for Short Story Fiction will be announced at the event. A signing and reception will follow.
Beaufort-based writer Lynn Seldon (seldonink.com) is currently working on a book for Arcadia Publishing called Pat Conroy’s South Carolina Lowcountry.
Nancy Head Thode
Author Ann Head
Lafayette Soiree in ‘The Castle’ Gardens
This spring’s much-anticipated Bicentennial Lafayette Soirée celebrates the 200th year of the Marquis de Lafayette's historic visit to Beaufort in 1825 and is Historic Beaufort Foundation’s primary fundraiser.
of the Marquis de Lafayette’s visit. For more than 150 years, HBF’s flagship property, the John Mark Verdier House, ca. 1804, has been thought to be the location where Lafayette spoke to Beaufort-area residents during his visit in March 1825.
This year’s evening party will be held in the gardens of Mr. and Mrs. David Russell’s home on The Point, the Dr. Joseph F. Johnson House, ca. 1859, also known as “The Castle.”
“This promises to be a very special evening as we celebrate the bicentennial of Lafayette’s visit to Beaufort and the work this community has done and continues to do to preserve and protect our architectural and historic legacy,” said Cynthis Jenkins, Historic Beaufort Foundation executive director.
With homage to the Marquis de Lafayette, guests will experience an evening of Frenchinspired culinary treats, music performed live by the Lafayette String Sextet and the Andrew Theilan Band, and much more.
Proceeds from this year's Bicentennial Lafayette Soirée will benefit a collaborative program to rehabilitate historic properties within the Northwest Quadrant and the Old Commons neighborhoods within Beaufort's National Historic Landmark District.
“These neighborhoods hold a pivotal place in Beaufort's African American history,” Jenkins said. “Over the years, many historically and/or architecturally significant properties have become vacant and have begun to deteriorate.
“Residential properties that sit vacant or abandoned typically deteriorate more quickly than those that are lived in and cared for,” she said. “Our goal is to help stop that deterioration.”
Since the 1980s, Historic Beaufort Foundation has been holding the annual Lafayette Soirée in recognition and celebration
In March of this year, HBF and the City of Beaufort, in collaboration with dozens of private and public organizations and individuals, celebrated that historic visit, attracting more than 3,000 people to experience the second arrival of “Lafayette,” a cannon and 13-gun salute, parade and full ceremony from the portico of the Verdier House.
"We are pleased to welcome the Bicentennial Lafayette Soirée to ‘The Castle’ gardens to continue the tradition of honoring Lafayette's historic visit to Beaufort, while helping HBF pursue its important mission of preservation and thoughtful progress,” said homeowners Dave and Nancy Russell.
The Lafayette Soirée is one of Beaufort’s most-anticipated events. Tickets are available now (members, $200, non-members $230) and can be purchased online at HistoricBeaufort.org or by calling the HBF at 843.379.3331. Tickets are non-refundable and the event is held rain or shine.
SPONSORS TO DATE INCLUDE:
A Friend of Historic Beaufort Foundation
Atlantic Asphalt
Harvey & Battey Attorneys at Law
JH Hiers
Lowcountry Legacy Law Firm
Montgomery Architecture & Planning
Over the past 60-plus years, Historic Beaufort Foundation has played a significant role in the preservation and protection of Beaufort’s historic resources.
Historic Beaufort Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit education foundation created to preserve, protect, and present sites and artifacts of historic, architectural, and cultural interest throughout Beaufort County, South Carolina. For more information on the entity's mission and history, please visit historicbeaufort.org and follow them on social media, including Facebook and Instagram.
Decoration Day
At 40th Annual Original Gullah Festival
The Gullah Traveling Theater is proud to present the 2025 premiere of Decoration Day, a powerful theatrical production that honors the rich history and cultural traditions of the Gullah people. The production will debut at the 40th Annual Original Gullah Festival in Historic Beaufort,
The Decoration Day musical premiere is a must-see event that captures the essence of Gullah heritage while celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Original Gullah Festival that was established to recreate the original Decoration Day celebrations that birthed our nation’s Memorial Day holiday.
South Carolina, with performances on Thursday, May 22, at 7 p.m. and Saturday,
May 24, at 3 p.m. at the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s Center for the Arts (USCB), located at 901 Carteret Street, Beaufort. Decoration Day is an award-winning performance that brings to life the origins of our nation’s beloved Memorial Day traditions. Through moving performances, soulful music, and vivid storytelling, the show highlights the role that formerly enslaved Gullah people played in decorating the graves of faithful fallen soldiers. The production explores themes of freedom, resilience, and community, offering audiences a deeply immersive and inspiring experience that commemorates an important chapter in Gullah and American history.
THE GULLAH TRAVELING THEATER
The Gullah Traveling Theater is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history, language, and culture of the Gullah Geechee people through theatrical productions, storytelling, and community engagement. Their award-winning performances educate and inspire audiences while keeping the traditions of the Gullah people alive. We are also available for booking at community and private events. For more information on the 40th Annual Original Gullah Festival, please visit www.originalgullahfestival.org
Want to Go
Dates: Thursday, May 22 – 7:00pm Saturday, May 24 – 3:00pm
Location:
USCB Performing Arts Center
901 Carteret Street, Beaufort
Tickets:
USCB Performing Arts Center 901 Carteret Street, Beaufort
Tickets & Sponsorship Opportunities
www.gullahkinfolktravelingtheater.org
'The Castle,' 411 Craven Street
‘39 Steps’ to Comic Relief
Spring is a great time for some comic relief from real life, and Sea Glass Stage Company is happy to provide just that for residents and visitors. “The 39 Steps” will run May 2-18, Fridays through Sundays, at the historic Coligny Theatre in Coligny Plaza on Hilton Head Island.
The comical take on 1930s-style whodunit spy thriller follows a boring, average man, Richard Hannay, through a series of wild events that resulted from a simple outing to a theatre show. The madcap fun begins with a beautiful woman who is a secret agent, and hurtles through a stage act featuring a couple of con artists, hilarious underwear salesmen on a rumbling steam train, bumbling policemen, an amazing escape, a fake campaign speech, two more beautiful women, a plane crash . . . and that’s just the first part!
The local production will run May 2-18 at Sea Glass Stage at Coligny Theatre, 1 N. Forest Beach
Drive on Hilton Head Island. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $35 adult, $20 student. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit sgstage.org/tickets, or follow Sea Glass Stage at Coligny on Facebook and Instagram.
McKinley and Karen
as Richard
as the
and
the train scene in “The 39 Steps,” onstage at Sea Glass Stage Company at Coligny Theatre May 2-18. Tickets at sgstage.org
Spotlight on Art
Perhaps they’re your neighbors, your friends and maybe even your co-workers, but they all have one thing in common: they’re very creative makers of art.
On May 7th, the thirty plus members of Artists of Sea Pines will be on hand to greet guests at their second annual art show of 2025, “Spotlight on Art.” The reception, to be held at the Sea Pines Community Center from 4:30-6:30pm, is free and open to the public. Stop by for refreshments and music by the Namedroppers.
New works on display and for sale feature pastels, watercolors, acrylics and oils, collage, printmaking and photography. For this show, member artists will donate ten percent of their sales to the Sea Pines Forest Preserve. For each show, a local charity is selected.
“Spotlight on Art” will feature “mini bios” next to each artist’s work informing guests on
their backgrounds and inspiration for their works. It is hoped that a dialogue will develop with guests, as artists will be on hand to describe the process of translating reality into their own art form.
Featured “Spotlight Artist” Marci Tressel, an award winning photographer, will be showing her unique approach to creativity with a large display of her art. In addition to photography, Marci constructs Gullah mirrors which capture the primitive heart of the sea islands. She has lived on Hilton Head for over fifty years and is active in animal and birds of prey rescue and volunteers locally with her therapy dog Piper.
The gallery of the Artists of Sea Pines is open daily 9am-4pm in the Shops of Sea Pines shopping center, 71 Lighthouse Road (next to the Fitness Center). The show will run through October 24th.
Travis
Boyle
two salesmen,
Kyle Price
Hannay rehearse
Blooms, Birds and Butterflies
Mosaic Masterpieces at Beaufort Art Association Gallery
Blooms, Birds and Butterflies” is Beaufort Art Association’s next featured artist exhibit, featuring the mosaic glass of Sharon Cooper. The exhibit is dedicated to that wonderful time in the Lowcountry when nature comes to life. Colorful blooms tip their heads to the sun, while magical butterflies float above the gardens. The marsh comes alive and sheds the brown palette of winter for the lush green grasses, while majestic herons and egrets are enjoying their new habitats.
Butterflies have long been a symbol of hope and transformation, and a concept
Sharon can relate to with art inspiring a second career in her life. Who can resist the intricate delicate patterns of color and translucent appearance of the wings? They are perfect subject for the medium of colorful Mosaic Glass.
“The quiet solitude of the marsh birds allows me the same quiet reflections while I am working in my studio. It gives me great pleasure to create images in glass that will endure for future generations to enjoy”, shares Sharon Cooper. She continues, “The infinite variety of flower blooms is only surpassed by the colors and reflective quality
of stained glass. Flowers and their blooms allow me, as an artist, to create my own fantasy from abundant bouquets to the simplistic beauty of a single bloom.”
Just as nature is an ever-changing landscape, Sharon has taken the opportunity to experiment with new techniques. All of her work is derived from hand cut individual pieces of glass applied in a Mosaic fashion. Using diverse types of stained glass, sea glass, and glass beads she is able to achieve the desired effects of color and light refraction.
Self expression comes in many forms. Sharon’s has enjoyed creating in the Art of Mosaic Glass over the past 5 years. Several classes with National Mosaic Artists and exploring different techniques on her own have resulted in the development of a unique style of Mosaic Glass. Experimentation allows for an ever-changing perspective and facilitates growth.
Sharon’s background in the field of Nursing required patience, focus and dedication to the profession. This allowed little time to pursue any artistic interests. After retirement Sharon was able to use the same attributes to create a second career in her passion for Mosaic Glass Art. The Lowcountry provides an infinite variety of stimuli for an artist to capture images of floral, fauna and wildlife. Several years ago, along with her husband Mark, they built a new home and incorporated a studio to pursue her craft.
Sharon is currently Executive Vice President of Beaufort Art Association which has given her a broader appreciation for all mediums of art. In addition to the Beaufort Art Association, Sharon has also exhibited her work at The Art League of Hilton Head, The Society of Bluffton Artists and The Habersham Artist Group.
Her exhibit at Beaufort Art Association entitled “ Blooms, Birds & Butterflies” captures Sharon’s love
of nature, with an emphasis on the arrival of Spring and Summer in the Lowcountry, opens on April 29 and runs through June 28. The public is invited to the opening reception on (First) Friday, May 2, 2025 from 5pm - 8pm.
Butterflies on Blue Vine
Butterfly and Pink Blooms
Butterfly and Blooms
Cinco de Mayo Brunch
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of Mexican forces against the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. (Did you know that Cinco de Mayo is not a national holiday in Mexico even though it’s widely celebrated in the United States? In the 1960s President Franklin Roosevelt promoted the event as part of his Good Neighbor Policy which was aimed to improve relations with Latin American countries. I just learned this tidbit of Cinco de Mayo knowledge and wanted to share.)
Brunch is one of my favorite meals. For real, what’s more fun than a cocktail in morning?
The upcoming Cinco de Mayo holiday has inspired me to create a fun Tex-Mex style brunch menu. Use your favorite fruits and berries to build a Mexican Fruit Salad. A hollowed-out pineapple makes a great serving dish. The entrée, Breakfast Burritos, feature chorizo and scrambled eggs. Serve them with salsa on the side to add an extra spicy kick. Tequila Sunrise is that cocktail I was referring to. If you don’t care for tequila, substitute vodka or leave the alcohol out altogether. It’s a beautiful beverage and will compliment your Tex-Mex spread. Happy Cinco de Mayo!
MEXICAN FRUIT SALAD
1 whole pineapple
Seedless red grapes, sliced in half
Seedless green grapes, sliced in half
Fresh strawberries, sliced
Fresh blueberries
Fresh Raspberries
Fresh blackberries
Fresh kiwi, sliced
Drizzle of honey
Juice and zest of 1 lime
Dash of chili powder
Cut pineapple in half. Remove pineapple in center of each half and cut into bite-sized pieces. Place pineapple, grapes and berries in a large bowl. Drizzle with honey, lime juice and zest and dash of chili powder. Toss gently to combine. Spoon into a bowl or a pineapple boat and top with fresh slices of kiwi. Serve immediately.
EGG AND CHORIZO BREAKFAST BURRITOS
½ pound Mexican chorizo, cooked and drained well on paper towels
2 to 3 tablespoons butter
10 large eggs, beaten Salt and pepper, to taste
1 (4-ounce) can green chiles
12 grape tomatoes
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
5 flour tortillas
Sour Cream
Mix well to combine. Remove egg mixture from heat and stir in shredded cheddar cheese. Check for seasonings. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a baking pan with cooking spray. Fill each flour tortilla with egg and chorizo mixture. Place seam-side down in prepared baking dish. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until edges are crispy and the burritos are warmed through. Garnish with sour cream and chopped greens onions. Serve with salsa on the side.
Serves 3 to 5.
TEQUILA SUNRISE
Ice
2 shots tequila
Orange juice
2 teaspoons grenadine
Fresh orange slices, to garnish
Fill a martini shaker with ice. Add two shots of tequila. Add enough orange juice to fill shaker. Shake to mix well. Pour cocktail into 2 glasses. Add 1 teaspoon of grenadine to each glass to make the “sun rise.” Garnish with fresh orange slices. Serves 2.
Chopped green onions
Salsa
Melt butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add beaten eggs and toss to scramble. Season with salt and pepper. Add cooked chorizo and stir to incorporate. Stir in green chiles and grape tomatoes.
For more great recipes and to view her cooking demonstrations, visit and subscribe to Debbi’s YouTube channel. Debbi’s website address is www.cateringbydebbicovington.com. She may be reached at 843-525-0350 or by email at dbc@ cateringbydebbicovington.com
By Debbi Covington
The writer owns Catering by Debbi Covington and is the author of three cookbooks, Celebrate Beaufort, Celebrate Everything! and Dining Under the Carolina Moon.
The Inclusive Nature of Reality
Lightening ripples across the afternoon sky like bottled up electricity attempting to break free from heavenly shackles. Flames cavort and philander in the air; poetic when controlled yet this is unabashed calamity. The meager cries of tiny cubs separated from their mother’s warmth go unheard as pandemonium can be quite ostentatious. For the uninitiated observer this situation triggers emotions saturated with melancholy and poignancy. But we are the initiated, the enlightened, perhaps not every one of us, but may the masses reach critical point at the end of this dissertation of divinity. It’s dry season in the Serengeti and fires are a natural rhythmic occurrence here. Therefore, a dualistic view of the aforementioned may be faulty. Why would destruction be imprinted in nature’s circadian rhythm? A faulty perspective indeed! – to look upon anything in God’s kingdom with abhorrence. So then, must destruction be a good thing? “Truly! For what can be taken away if nothing can be truly destroyed?”, says the Law of Conservation of Energy.
Simply expressed, The Law of Conservation of Energy (a term in physics) states that energy cannot be created nor destroyed, it can only be transferred. Here’s an example: the sun sends photons (light units of energy) to the earth. Plants make glucose with photons. Animals eat the plants and receive energy. Animal life dies, decomposes, and the components of the body
breakdown into nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon, potassium, and magnesium. Plants use these elements for sustainability and growth.
Remember back to my hint at the virtuosity of the fires in regard to the dry season of the Serengeti; there is a connection between God and everything here . . .
After deep contemplation in a meditative state of self-reflection, I must admit with a vulnerable apprehension that we are in fact, all of us, born in sin. Although indubitably analogical, an unpresumptuous bite of a verboten fruit damned us all but we are not bad apples. Adam and Eve’s original blunder was seeing the world through the veil of duality, and we are born into a world where our perception makes things appear to be over here or over there. We see fire and what it destroys but we have forgotten the inclusive nature of our reality.
What appears to the eyes of the benighted as destruction in the form of fire in our regard, heals and rejuvenates to the eyes of the sagacious. The resulting smoke from the fires in the Serengeti are transferred via wind currents to the Amazon rainforest, the Earth’s biggest producer of carbon-dioxide. This smoke contains high concentrations of phosphorus. As the Earth’s largest store house of carbon-dioxide, the Amazon rainforest’s health and well-being depend greatly on the fires from Africa and the wind currents that carry the nutrient rich smoke. Humans and animals alike
depend greatly on the rainforest (and all other trees) because of the exchange of carbondioxide and oxygen. What may seem to destroy is in actuality transferred and made to foster.
To further illustrate my theory on the inclusive nature of reality, I would like to introduce you to viruses, DNA, RNA, and Horizontal Gene Transfer.
The simplest way to explain DNA, genes, chromosomes, and the genome comes from reddit user [deleted] 12 years ago, “DNA: alphabet. Gene: recipe. Chromosome: cookbook. Genome: cuisine (like "French cuisine": all the recipes that make up French food.)” So basically, in human terms, we’re discussing the recipe book on how to make a “you.” What is of particular interest is that eight percent of human DNA is derived from primordial viruses and another 40% is composed of repeating sequences of genetic letters also believed to be of viral derivation.
I’m sure you are aware of Vertical Gene Transfer: you get your hair color from your mom and nose from your dad, but Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) occurs when genetic information is shared between two unrelated species. For example, centipedes have obtained the ability to immobilize prey due to genes procured from bacterium. Many viruses like influenzas are comprised of RNA. RNA is different from DNA in that RNA is single stranded and it is more chemically reactive. RNA also has a high level of plasticity which
by Jared Madison WHOLLY HOLISTICS
means that it is exemplary at adapting to both internal and external stimuli. This is why the COVID virus was so troublesome to eliminate; the high level of RNA plasticity allowed the virus to mutate as a result of changing external factors – i.e., a vaccine.
The Law of Conservation of Energy, DNA, RNA, and Horizontal Gene Transfer are all important aspects of life to be familiarized with, just in case you are fearful with the current state of politics in the United States or with some other aspect of your life.
The thing about viruses is that they make up a substantial part of who we are. Viruses are impeccable at reinventing themselves, innovating and adapting in order to survive. Due to the inclusive nature of our reality, viruses have been transferring those proficiencies of viability to us on a microscopic level for eons through HGT. Again, we see, what may seem to destroy is in actuality transferred and made to foster as the energy of pliability is not being created or destroyed but rather it is being relocated from one place to the next. This energy is quite simply God – the underlying code embedded within all creation. Therefore, even the devil knows not for whom he works.
Although it may seem like people, administrations, organizations, or groups lack those key descriptive features of empathy, compassion, love, trust, understanding, and forgiveness, that make us human, while seeming to more accurately portray attributes of a virus, know that what appears on the surface to be “evil,” or darkness, is in actuality present in order for you to display your high levels of plasticity and innovation.
These seeming catastrophes are not meant to immobilize you, they are meant to empower you. These fires are not meant to burn you, they are meant to feed you. These illnesses are not meant to weaken you, they are meant to make you more resistant. Hatred and divisiveness are not meant to make you cower and close up, they are meant to make you embody love and unanimity.
Let's Keep It Simple
Irecently gave a mini workshop for new Butterfly Garden volunteers and invited newcomers to Lowcountry gardening. I kept it short and simple and talked about four things:
1. Plants that attract pollinators
2. Our soil
3. Deer
4. Weeds
It went well so that I decided to repeat it as an article.
First of all – what plants attract pollinators? Well, believe it or not, anything that blooms is a big hit. A study was recently done at Great Dixter, an amazing garden in Kent, England. Insect life was measured in a native wildflower meadow and then again in the Great Border – a mixed herbaceous border of plants and shrubs, but not containing many natives if any. There were more varieties of insects in the Great Border. The key is not just to plant natives, but to encourage biodiversity by planting a variety of flowering plants – natives as well as exotics.
Pollinators tend to like flowers with open daisy like blossoms as you find with Coneflowers or Sunflowers. A notable exception is Cuphea (it has many commons names such as Mexican Firecracker or Mexican cigarette plant) It has candy corn colored tubular flowers and bees and hummingbirds love it.
2. Soil – Our soil tends to be sand on top of heavy clay. It is no wonder that South Carolina had and has a flourishing clay mining industry. Our soil also has quite a bit of Phosphorus in it. If you are going to fertilize, look for a fertilizer with no or little Phosphorus. It is better to enrich or supplement your soil with a good organic compost. I use Mushroom compost available at any big box store or garden center. It is inexpensive and tends to be more alkaline which is good because our soil is acidic. You will find many organic fertilizers at garden centers to choose from.
3. Deer – They are a real problem down here and it seems like every year they add different plants as their most favored buffet item. I have an electric fence because I grow English roses and could not do so without an effective deer barrier. You can do other things to deter deer. The idea is to make your yard inaccessible and not pleasant. Deer are opportunistic browsers. They like things that
are readily available and easy to reach. Sprays do work, but it is necessary to keep after it and start early in the season when things first begin to sprout. I like “Deer Stopper” as well as a spray called “I Must Garden,” but some people have success with “Scram” or “Bobbex.” Physical barriers like thick hedges or even fishing line strung about a foot off the ground can work. Deer do not like to have their legs tangled.
4. Weeds - Lucky us. We have two distinct seasons of weeds down here — warm weather weeds and cold weather weeds. Spurges tend to grow through both seasons. You have seen Prostrate Spurge creeping in cracks of pavement. Fortunately, they are super easy to pull out. The worst warm weather weed is Chamber Bitter. It starts out as an innocuous looking little tree, but it can grow to six feet. Under the leaves are hundreds of seeds just waiting to explode. Chamber Bitter is everywhere and this past summer saw a bumper crop. In the winter, we have Hairy Bittercress. It loves to ride along in nursery pots when you buy a plant. I always remove at least the top inch of soil in a new purchase to avoid weed seeds. It has tiny little flowers and actually looks quite cute. Warning – it can spread like crazy.
At the risk of sounding deranged, sometimes pulling weeds can be therapeutic. Unless you have a commercial composter picking up your yard waste, do not compost
Coneflowers
weeds or diseased plant material. Spent plant materials or weeds need to be heated to a certain temperature in order to kill weed seeds or pathogens.
So that is Gardening 101. I do have to say that my garden has never looked this good after what was us was a tough winter. Maybe my perennials actually liked the snow and ice. I certainly was not happy with our unusual January.
On a final note that will help you in your gardening big time - The Lowcountry Master Gardener Association has rewritten and reprinted a booklet titled “Lowcountry
By Wendy Hilty
Gardening: a Basic Guide to Garden Planning and Maintenance.” This handy little guide covers such topics as Dealing with deer, turf grass, culinary herb gardening, and citrus as well as many other topics. It is available for $5.00 to cover the cost of printing at The Port Royal Farmer’s Market, the Bluffton Farmer’s Market as well as Green Thumb, the Greenery, and Brunos. Take advantage of the knowledge of your Master Gardeners with this booklet.
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.
Getting Gullah-Geechee – Part 1
Getting to know a place can be a tricky business, truly understanding its culture even trickier. I remember hearing about the “Gullah-Geechee People” before moving to Beaufort and taking a deep dive online. I found Gullah/Geechee Nation and Queen Quet, the NPS designation of the Gullah-Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, and tons more. I also saw lists of Gullah Festivals and tours, points of interest, and
competing claims of authenticity. Gullah culture felt both diffuse and deep, with certain aspects pre-packaged for the tourist industry and a common thread throughout of education — wanting the wider world to get what Gullah was.
What I wanted to know was how it looked and felt in its natural state; what did it consist of in its essence? Of course its root is the enslavement of West Africans on the sea islands of the Carolinas south to Florida, but what else is Gullah-Geechee culture in the context of today?
Years ago, I heard some professor shorthand the definition of “culture” as webs of significance. That made sense to me, encompassing activities, attitudes, artifacts, and values of an identified group. What is affirmed as important and representative?
After moving here, I decided to keep my angle of approach to understanding Gullah culture intentionally casual—have my eyes and ears open, attend events, and meet people as they were revealed, rather than go into full research and study mode. I wanted to understand and feel what Gullah culture was about more organically; I wanted to get it.
So far, after eight months of living here, what has emerged is a sense of the significance of all kinds of spiritual expressions and the righteous celebration of color as a cultural marker. My depth of understanding about both themes is limited by time, but I know that these webs are worth exploring.
Along the spiritual avenue we were immediately confronted by the historical reality of slavery after we missed a driveway on Coffin Point Road, where we were going to buy some used bikes. We happened to turn around right in front of The Coffin Point Community Praise House. There it sat, ten yards off the road, compact and dignified, three steps up to a plain white door. We peeked in the windows and saw pictures, benches, an altar, and enough room to pack maybe 20-30 worshipers. Later I learned that the reason Praise Houses were so small was that plantation owners wanted to prevent too many enslaved individuals from gathering. I thought about the folly of trying to limit Spirit in these or any walls and was glad this rebuilt structure was still in use as a testament and place of witness.
Just a few weeks later we attended an event at The Penn Center that revealed a different, less religiously formal, spiritual expression of Gullah culture. The workshop was part of
By Luke Frazier
FLOW COUNTRY
something called St. Helena Sense of Place Series and titled Sound Clinic – Rhythm of Da Land. We were treated to a wonderfully woven experience of sound and story by artists Mahoganee and Andre Amiger, a husband and wife duo. They brought in water memory, ancestral honor, and sound healing to their musical performance and interactive discussion. Mahoganee has been dubbed “Da Sea Island Songbird” and her soaring voice lifted the assembled like joyful trade winds. She also spoke movingly of the power of actual physical connection to the land on St. Helena’s Island. Those few hours helped me get up close and personal with individuals who identified and expressed themselves as Gullah people, providing an opportunity to listen and learn.
Another musical event highlighted Gullah praise energy, choir-style, during a reception to kick off the recent Chalk Art Festival. A Gullah Griot shared a few reflections before breaking into song. Then colorfully clad singers would build waves of sound as they offered Sunday church selections that created sacred vibes, sharing the lead as freely as the smiles on their faces. A couple of young kids twirled as the voice-drum-shaker-percussion combination filled the room with joyful noise.
But while the religious aspects of Gullah culture have jumped to the forefront so far, there is also something about vibrant colors that carries significance. Not just in the gorgeous clothing that is commonly seen, but in the Gullah artwork that abounds. It has a very Caribbean feel, which of course also ties back to West Africa. And while Jonathan Green is well known and outstanding, it is Melvin (Mel) Green’s abstract paintings that have rocked my world since encountering his work at LyBensons’ Gallery on St. Helena Island. In part 2 of Getting Gullah-Geechee, I’ll share more about the painter’s incredible work.
Luke Frazier is a writer and award-winning media producer who recently transplanted to the Lowcountry. He runs NOW Communications, which focuses on the needs of missiondriven organizations. Luke can be reached at nowandfuturecomms@gmail.com
Gullah Kinfolk at the Chalk It Up Festival
Classifieds Classifieds
TO RENT or OWN
ITALY: Tuscany townhouse for rent by the week in historic UNESCO village. Sleeps 4, large furnished garden, easy walk to shops and excellent restaurants. www.cozyholidayrentals.com or 401-862-2377.
FURNISHED LUXURY APT In the heart of downtown Beaufort. 2BR, 2BA, W/D, Housewares. Please call 843-812-4229.
CLASSES & SEMINARS
FREE HYPNOSIS/HYPNOTHERAPY INFORMATION
session and guided group meditation workshop. This free session will focus on stress reduction and relaxation. Open to the public, every 3rd Monday of the Month, at 7 pm Eastern via Zoom. Bring a friend, learn more and RSVP for Zoom Link at www.guidepathhypnosis.com or contact Chris at chris.guidepath@gmail.com
BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY ONGOING PROGRAMS & CLASSES Stitch Happens, Mondays @ 1:30, Bluffton; Basic Computer Skills Class 1st & 3rd Fridays @ 11:30am, Lobeco; Dungeon & Dragons Teen Club Mondays @ 4; Teen Gaming Club 1st & 3rd Wednesdays @ 4.
FRIDAY SOCIAL DANCES The Hilton Head Carolina Shag Club hosts Friday dances from 6-9:30 pm at Dolphin Head Golf Club, 59 High Bluff Rd, Hilton Head Plantation. Open to the public. Shag, ballroom, swing, country, or line. Singles welcome. Cash bar and light dinners available. $5 floor fee. HHICSC also teaches beginner Shag lessons Tuesday nights. www.hiltonheadshagclub.com, or www.facebook.com/HHICSC
ART LEAGUE OF HH CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
With over 25 local professional art educators, and guests from around the world, Art League of Hilton Head offers classes and workshops in all media for all levels of students. Visit www.artleaguehhi.org or email academy@artleaguehhi.org for more info.
POTTERY CLASSES IN BEAUFORT McSweeney Clay Studio offers morning, afternoon and evening classes for children and adults. Pottery dates and parties available as well. Classes are on going. Beginner or advanced welcome. mcsweeneyclaystudio.com or call 843-694-2049.
LOWCOUNTRY SHAGGERS Mondays - Home Slice Pizzeria, 2001 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
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 lendingroombeaufort.com or call 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 the military lounge at the Savannah/Hilton Head Airport. It is operated by a cadre of volunteers. Formerly the USO Lounge it has been renamed “Savannah Salutes,” and continues to provide a respite for travelling active duty, retired and reserve military, veterans and their families. The facility requires volunteers to keep the lounge open from 8 am to 9 pm, seven days a week. There are three shifts each day, with two volunteers for each shift. Interested in volunteering? More info and application forms are at the www.savannahsalutes.org or call John Findeis at (912) 507-4848. The airport will provide free parking.
VETERANS FIRST THRIFT STORE is in need of volunteers. Summer hours are Thursday thru Saturday - 10am-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 wel-
come. No meditation experience needed. Call Michael 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 – Beginning April 1 and running through July, the Fort Fremont History Center will expand operating hours. The new hours are 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. There is no admission fee. Docent-led tours are available by request. The Fort Fremont Preserve is open from dawn to dusk, Monday through Sunday. A selfguided 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 Facebook - USCGA Beaufort
BEAUFORT TOASTMASTERS CLUB meets from 5:30 pm - 6:45 pm the first & third Tuesday, in the Beaufort College Building, Rm. 103 (USC-Beaufort Campus), 801 Carteret Street, Beaufort. To learn more visit beauforttoastmastersclub.toastmastersclubs.org
FREE ACUPUNCTURE FOR VETERANS – Veterans, Active Duty, Transition. Their Families and First Responders are Eligible. First & Third Wednesday 46pm. Walk In Clinic. No Need to Pre-Register or Call. Nourishing Health Acupuncture and Herbs Clinic. 1214 Prince Street, Downtown Beaufort.
CRESCENT HOSPICE SUPPORT GROUP: Last Wed. and Thurs. of the month. Weds. 10-11am at Sun City; Thurs. 12-1pm Brookdale Hilton Head Ct., Hilton Head; for those who provide physical, emotional or practical support to a family member or friend. Jodi Johnson, LMSW. Bereavement Group: 5-6 pm., Fridays, 10 Buckingham Plantation Drive, Suite A, Bluffton; for those who have experienced a loss and would like support and info associated with grief and bereavement. Corrie VanDyke, LMSW or Marie James, MA. 843-757-9388.
INTERESTED IN HEALTHY EATING? Second Helpings, of Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper counties, seeks committee members and chairperson for Healthy Food Program. Funding available to procure fresh produce and protein for the 60 food pantries and soup kitchens served by Second Helpings. Contact Exec. Dir. Lili Coleman, 843-689-3616 or execdirector@secondhelpingslc.org
BORN TO READ working for early childhood literacy, needs volunteers to deliver books and materials to new mothers at Coastal Community Hosp., HH Hosp., and BMH. Visits are from 10am – noon. More info at borntoread.org or call 843-379-3350.
ALZHEIMER’S FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER BEAUFORT, Support Groups: Caregiver - Fridays., 12:30pm, Living with Alzheimer's - for those in very early stages - Mondays 1pm, Respite Programs: Social Day Program- 10am-1:45pm $40 Day Fee, Weds. & Friday. All meetings are at Carteret Street Methodist Church, 408 Carteret St., Beaufort; In Home - Respite Aides available for 2 hr. minimum, $13-$26. Early Memory Loss: Maintain Your Brain - 2nd & 4th Thursday, 1011:30am, $10/person, $15 couple, Carteret Street Methodist Church, 408 Carteret St., Beaufort; Memory Screenings available call 843-521-9190 or make an appointment, 1500 King St., Beaufort, free; Purple Haven Project - Educate local staff's to better interact with a person with Alzheimer's call 843-521-9190.
THE LITERACY CENTER is seeking volunteers to tutor adults in reading, writing, math and ESL. Students hope to acquire skills to pursue life goals, support families, and contribute to our community. Daytime and evenings in Bluffton and HHI. Call 843-815-6616 (Bluffton); 843-681-6655 (HHI). No teaching, tutoring or other language knowledge necessary. www.theliteracycenter.org
THE SANDALWOOD COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY. Volunteer-based, non-profit provides groceries, clothing and basic needs items to ANYONE in need. Open Tuesdays 9am-12pm at 114 Beach City Rd., Hilton Head. Donations of food and funds needed. For info: Rev. Dr. Nannette Pierson at 843-715-3583 or email sandalwoodpantry@gmail.com
PARRIS ISLAND MUSEUM. The legacy of the Marine Corps and the history of the Port Royal region. Thousands of artifacts, images, and other materials illustrate the stories in exhibit galleries from Native American to modern Marines. FREE admission. Mon-Sat 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.
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; Karaoke Wed, Fri & Sat - 10pm. 25% off Apps & Wings for NFL Ticket; College sports Saturdays. (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
The Jazz Corner, Village at Wexf1ord, Hilton Head. Sundays - Deas Guyz; Mondays - A Journey Through Jazz with The Martin Lesch Band; Tuesdays - Fat Tuesdays: A Swingin' Celebration of New Orleans and Beyond; Thursdays - Lavon Stevens with Louise Spencer. 4/23 Grammy winning vocalist Quiana Parler with The Lavon Steven Trio, 4/25 & 4/26 Randy Napoleon Trio plays Wes Montgomery, Grant Green and Kenny Burrell, 4/30 Bobby Ryder, 5/2 & 5/3 A Jazz Celebration of Ray Charles with Noel Freidline & Maria Howell, 5/7 Grammy winning vocalist Quiana Parler with The Lavon Steven Trio, 5/9 & 5/10 The Harry Allen Quartet with Rossano Sportiello. (843) 842-8620 or www.TheJazzCorner.com
OUT OF TOWN
The Music Farm, 32 Ann Street, Charleston. 4/23 Slothrust; Weakened Friends, 4/24 Giovannie & the Hired Guns, 4/25 Goldie
Boutilier; Easy Money, 4/26 Trappyoke, 5/1
Kishi Bashi; Elizabeth & the Catapult, 5/2
Brother Ali; DJ Abilities; Jabee; Murs, 5/3
Nicotine Dolls; Lostboycrow, 5/7 The Acacia Strain; Frozen Soul; Gates to Hell; Your Spirit Dies; Maul, 5/8 Donna the Buffalo, 5/9 Hudson Westbrook, 5/10 Osamason, 5/11 Honestav. (843) 853-2252 or www.musicfarm.com
The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston. 4/24 Come Back to Earth, 4/25 Sexbruise; Electrolux, 4/26 Seun Kuti & Egypt 80; The Chucktown 90 Band, 4/30 Cool Cool Cool, 5/1 Womz 'n' Cartez, 5/2 & 5/3 Tauk; Holy City Hangout; Lowdown Brass Band, 5/4 Ghost Funk Orchestra, 5/6 The Motet; Dizgo, 5/8 Perpetual Groove, 5/9 Funk You; Chirp, 5/10 & 5/11 Grateful Shred, . (843) 571-4343 or www. charlestonpourhouse.com
Windjammer, 1008 Ocean Blvd, Isle of Palms. 4/24 Abbey Elmore, 4/25 Grayson Littleinside, Rock the 90s - beach stage, 4/26 VYNL - inside; The Broken Hearts - Tom Petty tributebeach stage, 4/27 Jammer Mania, 4/30 Evening Elephants; Faze Wave, 5/1 What's Up Chuck, 5/2 FlashMob; Yonder Mountain String Band, 5/3 Mark Bryan, 5/8 Brent Cobb, 5/9 Everclear; Alan Price & Modern Day, 5/10 Leftover Salmon; Keller Williams. (843) 886-8596 or www.the-windjammer.com
Editors Note: Events listed here may be subject to postponement or cancellation. Please check for further information.
THEATER/FILM/DANCE
Sun 4/27, Mark Lowery & Friends with Endless Highway. Gospel artist and humorist Mark Lowery brings his signature blend of music, storytelling and comedy to the stage, joined by Endless Highway. 3 pm at USCB Center for the Arts. For tickets, visit www.uscbcenterforthearts.com
5/2 – 5/18, The 39 Steps, presented by Sea Glass Stage Company. Fri – Sun, both weeks,
at Coligny Theatre, Hilton Head. Shows on Fri & Sat at 7:30 pm and Sun at 2pm. Tickets: $35 adults, $20 students. www.sgstage.org
5/22 & 5/24, Decoration Day, performed by the Gullah Traveling Theater at USCB Center for the Arts in Beaufort. Thur 5/22 at 7pm and Sat 5/24 at 3pm. Tickets: $55 adults, $15 youth (7-17), FREE children (0-6). www.gullahkinfolktravelingtheater.org
GALLERIES/ART
Now – 4/26, Tidal Treasures, collaborative exhibit at Beaufort Art Association Gallery, 913 Bay St, Beaufort. Featuring work by Art Rothenberg, Emily Styles and Gail Newton. Beaufort. www.beaufortartassociation.com
Now – 5/3, Lowcountry Serenity: Celebrating Coastal Beauty. Featuring the work of Janet Stevens. SOBA Gallery in Old Town Bluffton. Reception on 4/11 from 4-6 pm. www.sobagallery.com
Now – 5/20, Awakenings, an exhibit of photography by poet Miho Kinnas, at the Island Rec Center, 20 Wilborn Rd, Hilton Head Island. Photographs available for purchase. Admission is free.
Now – 6/30, The Rhodes Collection of African American Art on exhibit in the USCB Gallery in Beaufort. Opening reception and talk with Dr. Harold M. Rhodes Fri 4/11, 6 –7:30pm. Up Close with the Artists, Sat 5/31, noon-2pm. www.uscbcenterforthearts.com
4/29 – 6/28, Blooms, Birds and Butterflies. Featuring artwork by Sharon Cooper at the Beaufort Art Association Gallery. Opening reception Fri 5/2, 5-8pm.
5/4 – 5/31, Lowcountry Classics featuring work by Lynne Drake at the SOBA Gallery in Old Town Bluffton. Public reception Wed 5/8 from 4-6 pm. www.sobagallery.com
Wed 5/7, Spotlight on Art Reception, featuring work by Marci Tressel, at Sea Pines Community Center from 4:30-6:30pm, free and open to the public. Stop by for refreshments and music by the Namedroppers.
BOOKS & WRITERS
Fri 4/25, Evening with Marjory Wentworth, past Poet Laureate of SC, In honor of National Poetry Month. 5pm at the Pat Conroy Literary Center, 601 Bladen St., Beaufort. Free and open to the public. Books available for sale and signing. Seating is limited; please call to reserve: 843-379-7025.
Thur 5/1, Evening with Jesse Blanco (Charleston Food Crawls) at the Pat Conroy Literary Center at 5 pm. 601 Bladen St., Beaufort. Free and open to the public. Books avail-
able for sale and signing through NeverMore Books. Seating is limited: please call to reserve: 843-379-7025.
OTHER EVENTS
Now – 6/23 Modjeska School of Human Rights will host spring session classes in a satellite classroom at Penn Center. Tuition will be waived for Penn Center students. For more in formation or to register, visit https://www.scpronet.com/modjeskaschool/spring-session/
Fri 4/25, Benefit at Old Sheldon Ruins to Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of St. Helena’s Prayer Services. Hosted by St. Helena’s Anglican Church to help preserve the ruins. Starting at 5 pm, with hors d’oeuvres, beverages, an art auction, and a performance by the Plantation Singers. Tickets are $100. Visit sthelenas1712.org
5/2 & 5/3, A Taste of Beaufort in Waterfront Park, downtown Beaufort. Food, live music, kid zone, craft market. Fri, 5-9pm. Sat 11-4pm.
Sat 5/10, Bicentennial Lafayette Soiree, sponsored by Historic Beaufort Foundation, in the gardens of The Castle in downtown Beaufort. Tickets available now (HBF members $200, non-members $230) and can be purchased online at www.historicbeaufort.org or by calling the HBF Office, 843-379-3331. Tickets are non-refundable and the event is held rain or shine.
Tuesdays, Tours of Hunting Island sponsored by Friends of Hunting Island Keeper Ted and his team. For info call the Nature Center at 843-8387437. Tours free are and park entry fees apply.
First Saturday of the Month, Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud at Port Royal Farmers Market. DAYLO students and other volunteers will read to young children between 9am and noon. Children are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animal.
Third Thursday, TECHconnect, a monthly networking event for professionals working in and around tech. Join the conversation at BASEcamp 500 Carteret 5:30-7:30pm. 843470-3506. 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.
7.9 3:18A 7.5
7.2
12:03P 0.8
6:09P 7.3
7:37A 7.9
8:28A 8.0
9:17A 8.1
10:06A 8.0
10:55A 7.9
11:47A 7.6
6:34A 0.2
7:26A 0.6
8:21A 1.0
9:18A 1.3
10:15A 1.4
11:08A 1.4
6:13A 6.8
7:05A 7.6
7:05A 6.8
8:28A 6.8 9:03A 6.7
1.1 2:44A 1.0 6:40A 7.6
12:55P 0.3
1:45P -0.1
2:35P -0.4
3:24P -0.6
4:14P -0.7
5:05P -0.6
5:56P -0.4
12:40P 7.3
1:38P 7.0
2:41P 6.7
3:45P 6.6
4:47P 6.6
5:47P 6.7
11:59A 1.3
12:47P 1.2
1:31P 1.1
2:14P 0.9 2:55P 0.9
7:10P 7.9
8:04P 8.5
8:55P 9.0
9:44P 9.2
10:34P 9.3 11:26P 9.1
6:48P 0.0
7:41P 0.4
8:39P 0.9
9:38P 1.2
10:36P 1.3
11:32P 1.4
6:43P 6.9 7:31P 7.1
8:12P 7.3 8:48P 7.5 9:22P 7.6
Gilbert Law Firm llc
Alisha Doud alisha@dcgilbert.com
Daun Schouten daun@dcgilbert.com
Laure Gallagher laure@dcgilbert.com
Ashley Hart ashley@dcgilbert.com
Joy McConnell joy@dcgilbert.com
Johanna Graham johanna@dcgilbert.com
Kathy Crowley kathy@dcgilbert.com
Dawn Shipsey dawn@dcgilbert.com
samuel@dcgilbert.com
Derek C. Gilbert Attorney at Law
