May 21 – June 3, 2025
Tales from the Funhouse 4
Is the truth out there?
Garden a Day Turns 30 5
And you're invited
Stuff on the Beach 7
Walk Hunting Island
Annelore Harrell 10
Collects her columns
Oh, Deer! 15
Protect your garden
Road to Faith 16
Right down Meridian
Nashville Vibes at USCB 6
Boy Named Banjo
The image on our cover is "Yellow Vanda" by Christine Knize, currently on display at Biennale 2025 on Hilton Head. For more information, see our story on page 11.
ryWeekly
o w c o unt
LMay 21 – June 3, 2025
Publisher: 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, Jared Madison, Margit Resch, 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.
Did you hear the one about White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt? How she learned that the janitor from her old high school –Mr. Reynolds – was still working at age 80, and she raised a bunch of money so he could retire? It’s a heart-warming tale that just might change the way you view this young woman. She’s known for being quite a pistol at the podium – do people still say ‘pistol’? – but the janitor story reveals a much softer, gentler side of Ms. Leavitt.
And surely you saw the story of Erasmus, the scraggly stray dog Pope Francis adopted early in his papacy? The mutt became Francis’s loyal companion, and was there by his side ‘til the very end. I wept big, sloppy tears when I read this story, which is all over the Internet – just like the one about Karoline Leavitt. There are reels, memes, and even full-length articles – complete with photos – detailing each of these narratives. They’re everywhere.
The only problem? They’re completely fake. Not even a grain of truth to either. No Erasmus. No Mr. Reynolds. Those “characters” don’t exist. Karoline Leavitt didn’t go to Jefferson High and Pope Francis didn’t have a dog. Both stories are what you might call “fan fiction” disguised as news.
After doing a search on the Leavitt story – I wanted to know more! – and bringing up
a full Google page of headlines about it, I felt a strange, niggling sense that something was off, so I went to Snopes.com. The fact-checking site had completely debunked the story, confirming that it was circulating widely on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok. Turns out the same was true of the story about Pope Francis and his dedicated dog.
And there are dozens more where those came from.
But who is behind these fictions posing as features? And why are they doing it?
These stories go way beyond the fudged, filtered, still-semi-reality-based stuff we tend to call “fake news.” They’re flat-out fabrications, from stem to stern. According to Snopes: “Such made-up stories — often featuring inspiring stories about famous people from the worlds of entertainment, politics and sports — drive social media engagement, potentially with the goal of Facebook page managers or YouTube creators one day selling their pages or accounts after earning high follower or subscriber counts. The content also possibly allows for monetization, whether through the ads on a website or directly included with YouTube videos.”
Great! So now we can throw these folks in with all the other spinners, grifters, motivated reasoners, and – lest we forget – our everexpanding Artificial Intelligentsia.
The challenge of separating truth from lies seems to compound daily, and it’s starting to make me crazy. And the fact that nobody else seems to care is making me even crazier. People seem all too happy to accept what they see “out there” at face value – and share it – as long as they like what they’re seeing.
For instance, consider the popular meme that started going around the day Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo. You’ve probably seen it. It features a photo of the new Holy Father, dressed in his papal finery, with his hand raised in blessing. Beside the photo are the following words:
“To all who sent prayers, love, and hope as I begin this sacred journey – thank you. I accept this role not as a throne, but as a vow: to serve the forgotten, to uplift the broken, to speak plainly where others stay silent. To be called “woke” in a world that sleeps through suffering is no insult – it is Gospel. Woke means awakened by compassion. Guided by truth. Humbled by grace. Committed to justice. Not just for some, but for all. So let them mock. Let them sneer. We will still build the Kingdom –not with walls, but with love. Be awake. Be loving. Be woke.”
After seeing this meme on a hometown friend’s Facebook page – where it had garnered lots of hearts and hugs – every fiber of my being rebelled, my inner voice screaming: Pope Leo did NOT say these words. I don’t believe it. I don’t believe this spirit-filled, peace-seeking man I’ve been reading about started his papacy by trotting out that loaded term “woke” on day one.
But I had no proof. Snopes hadn’t Snoped it. The meme was everywhere and people had gone to their predictable corners; they either loved it or hated it. But nobody seemed to question its authenticity.
Loath to be a Debbie Downer, but obsessed with truth like Ahab with his whale, I commented to my FB friend: “If you can find evidence that these are Pope Leo's actual words, I'll be genuinely surprised.”
To which he responded: “Whether he said it or not, it’s a beautiful sentiment.”
Well, okay. We can have that conversation. But “whether he said it or not” matters. The truth actually matters. I will go to my grave insisting that the truth matters . . . even if it kills me. Heh.
(Incidentally, the meme has now been Snoped. Pure fakery, just as I suspected. And
it is still on my friend’s FB page, gathering hearts and hugs. Because… the sentiment.)
Here’s another recent tale from the funhouse hall of mirrors we call social media . . .
A friend posted a video featuring a very manly man rhapsodizing about the great courage of President Donald Trump. He said, “Don’t forget, they tried to take him out,” in reference to the assassination attempt by Thomas Matthew Crooks, back in July. The manly man said, “there’s no way he was a lone gunman. That was the system sending Trump a message.”
The manly man made this declaration casually, as if it were common knowledge, way beyond any need of elaboration or evidence. I assume my friend who posted the video believes this, too, along with all her friends who’d liked and loved it.
While chewing on this revelation – and wondering, once again, who exactly “they” are – I came across another friend’s page, where a lively discussion of that same assassination attempt had been taking place. This post showcased a photo of Trump’s ear, with a caption reading, “Not a single mark or scar.”
Beneath the photo, a group of friends – people I know “in real life” – were discussing their firm belief that the assassination attempt – the one that left Crooks and another man dead – was a “complete hoax,” staged by Trump and his people to help him win the election.
So, one set of friends is certain that “they” – the “Deep State,” I guess? – tried to take Trump out, while another set of friends is just as certain that Trump faked his own assassination attempt in order to gain votes. These are two very different pictures of reality, to understate the obvious. And neither is my understanding of the truth.
Of course, my understanding of the truth plus $4.75 might get you a Double Latte at Starbucks.
I think I’m gonna need something stronger.
This year’s Garden a Day event, celebrating National Gardening week, is June 2 to June 6, and features gardens on Cat Island, Lady’s Island, and Beaufort.
The Beaufort Garden Club invites the public to visit these gardens, free of charge, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, rain or shine.
The Garden a Day schedule can be found on beaufortgardenclub.com and is as follows:
Monday, June 2 – 53 Ridge Road, Cat Island
Tuesday, June 3 – 1206 Pigeon Point, Beaufort Wednesday, June 4 – 65 Sweet Olive, Celadon, Lady’s Island
“This year’s theme is Gardeners’ dreams” said Kathleen Grewenig, Garden A Day Chair. “One garden is full of color and water, another offers old world charm and ambiance, a third garden has a park-like setting, the fourth provides an evergreen Charleston feel and Friday’s garden will make you think you are in the Caribbean.”
“We are very excited to continue our three decades of Garden A Day,” said Sheila Drouin, President, The Beaufort Garden Club. “This year’s gardens are breathtaking and we hope they will all inspire Beaufort gardeners to keep dreaming too.”
The Beaufort Garden Club, the second oldest garden club in South Carolina, has been holding its Garden A Day event nearly every year in June since 1994.The event draws large crowds from South Carolina and surrounding states.
Thursday, June 5 – 19 Wade Hampton, Royal Pines, Lady’s Island
Friday, June 6 – 46 Downing Drive, Pleasant Point, Lady’s Island
similar thought – they all dreamed about gardens they wanted to create.
June 2 – The Hoffmanns, on Cat Island. Charlotte Hoffmann always wanted a colorful and happy yard, to serve as a party place. Its main feature is an impressive sunken pond off the patio. She also created fun garden art
and keeps bees. The property looks out to Port Royal Sound.
June 3 – The Elliotts purchased the Magnolia Court Inn on Pigeon Point Rd. a few years ago and have worked tirelessly to bring old world charm and ambiance to their Inn. The garden is filled with interesting plants and outdoor sitting areas. Many of the Inn’s guests have helped in the garden.
June 5 – The Sobeichs, Royal Pines. Anna said that many, many years ago she was in a garden with long winding paths. That became her dream, she and husband created 580 feet of path winding through gardens, creating a park like setting. They were on Garden a day 10 years ago and they were almost in full shade. Hurricane Matthew has changed all that so they had to make some drastic changes with very interesting new plants.
June 6 – 46 Downing Drive. The Singers began designing and planting their garden before their house was finished. Melinda dreamed of a house and garden that were like the tropics, with many different species of
Garden visitors are asked to not bring pets.
The theme of Garden a Day 2025 is “Gardener’s Dreams.” Each of the gardeners participating in this year’s event shared a
June 4 – Aasa Munk, Celadon, began gardening in Michigan and honed her skills designing and creating her gardens in Columbus. After retiring in Beaufort, she started creating an evergreen, cozy, Charleston patio garden. She designed wrought iron gates that are surrounded with unusual species of hollies and camellias and year around color.
palms. She even provided a tiny little beach for her grandchildren. The garden path opens on to a lovely lawn looking out over the Beaufort River.
The USCB Center for the Arts is thrilled to welcome Boy Named Banjo, one of Nashville’s most exciting genre-bending bands, for a live performance that fuses bluegrass soul with rock-and-roll swagger. Their upcoming show promises a fresh blend of folk, bluegrass, rock, and country —all delivered with the heart and harmony that define their sound.
demographic – when her brother told her about Boy Named Banjo.
“He had seen them at the Savannah Music Festival and just been blown away,” says Hargrove, who started listening to the band on her brother’s recommendation and was immediately hooked, too.
“I knew I had to get them for the CFA,” she says. “They just have such broad appeal. I’ve never heard anything like this band.”
Bonnie Hargrove, executive director of the CFA, had been looking to expand her audience – and maybe tap into a new
Boy Named Banjo has enjoyed a rapid rise over the past few years, from Tennessee porches to stages across the country. They've played iconic venues and festivals like Ryman Auditorium, Bonnaroo, Stagecoach, Austin City Limits, Grand Ole Opry, and AmericanaFest—and now they’re headed to Beaufort as part of the Center for the Arts Touring Artists Series. Launched while two members, Barton Davies and William Reames, were still in high school, Boy Named Banjo got its start busking on the streets of Nashville, where a passing tourist inadvertently named the group by yelling, “Play that banjo, boy!” as Davies picked outside Robert’s Western World. Performing initially as a trio with fellow classmate Willard Logan on mandolin, the group began life as an old-school string band, but their sound quickly evolved into something more adventurous with the addition of bassist Ford Garrard and drummer Sam McCullough.
After high school, Barton and Davies went to college together at Sewanee, where Beaufort’s John and Bonnie McCardell got to know them.
“It’s a small place, and they were minor celebrities, even then,” says John, who was president of Sewanee at the time, and retired here with his wife a few years ago. “We’ve heard them play many times, but not since they left Sewanee, back in 2016. Because they were students themselves – and so talented –they amassed a large student following while they were there.”
The McCardells were delighted when they saw the group’s name on this year’s CFA schedule and look forward to seeing them –and hearing – them again. They describe the band’s music as, “not quite bluegrass, not quite folk – they have their own sound.”
Experience Boy Named Banjo live May 30 at 7:30pm. It promises to be a night of foot-stomping music that’s good for the soul.
Tickets are $40 for adults, $35 for seniors and military, and $20 for students.
Get your tickets at uscbcenterforthearts. com before they’re gone!
By Margit Resch
Would you believe, the coastal waters of South Carolina are supposed to be teeming with some 700 different species of mollusks, like knobbed whelks, oysters, clams, mussels, moon snails, cockles, jingle shells and lettered olives. When we walk on one of the gorgeous beaches along the Atlantic Ocean’s edge in places like Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, or Hunting Island, we always find some of the shells that live in shallow waters or in the intertidal zone. If we beach combers are really lucky, we may even find a few sand dollars, a seastar, an urchin or a horseshoe crab. Generally, these animals are no longer alive when they are washed up on the beach. Of course, if they are alive, we would put them back in the water, wouldn’t we? Most of the time, they are just the empty houses that these invertebrates leave behind when they die; houses of many different sizes, intriguing architectural designs and charming colors; houses that are really beautiful. And you do pick up these beach treasures, don’t you? You probably collect them for decorating your home or making necklaces.
Would it surprise you to learn that these creatures have the same needs we humans have? Yes, they do. They, too, have to eat, they have to breathe, they have to keep safe, they have to grow, they have to multiply. They also have preferences. Some like warm waters,
invertebrates that you find on our beaches. I also have the remnants of most of these critters, of mollusks, echinoderms, worms, corals, horseshoe crabs, etc., in a bag to show you, and in the process, you will learn about their unusual lives. Then we will go to the beach, look for all these specimens and explore their fascinating world.
Oh, I forgot to mention: Hunting Island is a hotbed for fossils of all kinds, from shark teeth, pieces of turtle shells, fish heads and all sorts of bones to stingray barbs, wood and mud; yes, fossilized pluff mud. You don’t believe me? I can show you! To quote one of my customers after we finished our session: “I will never
walk the beaches again around here, or anywhere, the way I used to after this Guided Beach Walk with you.”
But what do you know about these unusual animals? Maybe we shouldn’t call them unusual, given that there are more than 100,000 different species of mollusks in the world. We don’t know exactly how many, because some live way out of our reach on the bottom of the ocean. And who would dive 12,000 to 35,000 feet to look for shells?
some prefer cooler temperatures. Some are sedentary, some move around. Some are colonial animals who hang out together, some are isolationists. Just like we humans. So, do you know how they feed themselves, where they find oxygen, how they protect themselves from predators and other dangers, how they get bigger (some of them bigger than a car tire), what their lifespan is, how they produce offspring, how they build colonies?
Do you know why some of them have those perfectly round, beveled holes that render them perfect for making necklaces? And can you tell whether they are dead or alive?
Well, if you want answers to those questions, go to Hunting Island on a Wednesday or Friday morning, meet me by the Light House at 10:30 am, and take a free Guided Beach Walk with me. I am a certified Lowcountry Master Naturalist with a passion for beach life. For a dozen years, I have offered beach walks and talks on Hunting Island and elsewhere and have given presentations in schools, colleges and various organizations about the intriguing marine
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center is honored to announce that Beaufort High School senior Averie Tracewell has been selected as the third annual recipient of the Conroy Center’s Future Educator Scholarship, a $5,000 award.
Tracewell will begin her studies at the University of South Carolina Beaufort this fall, majoring in education. As a dual enrollment student at the Technical College of the Lowcountry, she has already completed many college courses during high school. For three years, Tracewell has be part of the Beaufort High Swim Team, serving as co-captain for the last two. She has also been a member of Voices (Beaufort High’s auditioned choir) for four years and performed in Theater for two years. As a member of Beaufort High’s DECA for two years, Tracewell has been recognized as a State Winner, Regional Top Ten, and Internationally Competitor. She also volunteers with St. Peter’s Catholic School as a math tutor and now serves as a counselor in the Fripp Island Camp. A Senior Scholar and
Honors student, Tracewell is graduating ranked in the Top Ten of her class.
A multi-faceted artist with passions for reading, writing, art, photography, and music, Tracewell hopes to teach elementary education in Beaufort County.
A group of experienced educators and mentors serve as the Conroy Center’s scholarship selection committee. They were unanimous and enthusiastic in Tracewell’s selection as the 2025 scholarship awardee.
“Averie is a perfect example of what can happen when talent is combined with hard work. She is truly an inspirational student and future teacher,” praised scholarship committee member Celeste Prince-Brown, a Beaufort County School District teachermentor who was also a Beaufort High student of Pat Conroy’s. “Averie recognizes the real difference one teacher can make in the lives of students. Our schools need Averie’s talents, her ideas, and her leadership.”
Retired educator and education administrator Tim Conroy added, “During Averie’s scholarship interview, I felt my brother Pat smiling down on her because she possesses such keen insight into the passion and creativity it takes to be an inspirational teacher. Averie has already begun to pass on those lessons she acquired from her teachers to students through her volunteer activities.
The Conroy Center congratulates Averie as she embarks on her journey into the holiest profession, where one becomes a lifelong learner, mentor, and someone's great teacher.”
Established to encourage and support Beaufort County high school seniors with a declared intent to pursue a career in education, the Pat Conroy Literary Center Future Educator Scholarship honors the teaching legacy of the late Pat Conroy (1945-2016), acclaimed bestselling author of The Water Is Wide, The Great Santini, The Lords of Discipline, The Prince of Tides, and more. The scholarship is funded through the generosity of former educators. The scholarship’s inaugural recipient, Darby Kinsey, a 2023 graduate of Battery Creek High and the Technical College of the Lowcountry, has completed her education degree at Charleston Southern University. The 2024 scholarship winner, Beaufort High graduate Kierra Thompson, is a rising sophomore at UNC Wilmington, pursuing her studies in music education.
To learn more about the educational mission of the Pat Conroy Literary Center, please visit www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
As part of its 7th annual “Dream Bigger” social media campaign, Sparklight® is proud to announce that it has awarded a $2,500 grant to Beaufort Academy.
“Dream Bigger” initiative has awarded nearly $200,000 to support STEM education and expand access to innovative learning opportunities for K-12 students. This year, 12 schools and organizations
With support from Sparklight, Beaufort Academy will purchase programmable robots to enhance STEM education for its middle school students. The robots will help students develop critical coding, problem-solving and collaboration skills, preparing them for future careers in STEM fields. The grant will also support Beaufort Academy in fostering an engaging, technology-driven learning environment.
"We are thrilled to win the Dream Bigger grant from Sparklight,” said Jesse Davidson, a science and math teacher at Beaufort Academy. “STEM at Beaufort Academy, and the Sphero robots we’ll purchase with this funding, will give our students invaluable hands-on coding experience. Winning this grant was a true community effort, bringing our school together in an incredible way to support our students and their future in STEM.”
“We are thrilled to support Beaufort Academy in their efforts to bring STEM education to life in such a meaningful way,” said Jane Shanely, Sparklight Senior Director, Southeast Region. “At Sparklight, we believe that by empowering students to use technology for social good, we can help to build a brighter future for students and the communities we serve."
Since its inception in 2019, Sparklight’s
Agraduate of Wake Forest University, Larry "Choo" Chewning reflects on his college experience in a new collection of short stories. Reminiscing on his glory days in the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity in the 1970s, he recalls college life before the digital age. Likening his experience to the 1978 film Animal House starring John Belushi, Chewning emphasizes the invaluable bond among his fraternity brothers. "The strength of our bond as fraternity brothers was the key to our survival," Chewning says.
across Sparklight’s 24-state footprint were selected to receive funding for their impactful projects.
To learn more about Sparklight’s charitable activities, high-speed internet services and career opportunities, visit www.sparklight.com and follow the company on Facebook, Instagram and X.
In "Questionable Behavior," Chewning illustrates the delicate balance between an undergraduate's social life and academic success, highlighting how the friendship of his fraternity brothers helped him cope with
the rigorous learning environment of Wake Forest. Through this nostalgic firsthand account, readers can relive the stress, hilarity, and uncertainty of college life. And while the advantages and disadvantages of Greek life continue to be debated, Chewning's personal memories are only positive. From epic parties and college romance to pulling all-nighters, these stories will resonate with anyone who attended college in the South and belonged to a fraternity or sorority. "If you grew up in the South during the mid-twentieth century you can relate to this story," Chewning says.
Larry H. Chewning is a retired hospital system CEO. A graduate of Wake Forest University and Duke University Fuqua School of Business, he served in the US Navy for ten years. He was a trustee of the American Hospital Association, the North Carolina Hospital Association, The North Carolina State Employees Health Plan, and the Vizient Corporation. Active in the Anglican/Episcopal community, he has served on his church's vestry and participated in mission trips, both foreign and domestic. A father of three and a grandfather of six, He lives on Callawassie Island, South Carolina with his wife where he enjoys hunting and golfing.
Larry Chewning will sign books at Beaufort Bookstore on Friday, May 23, from 4:30-6:30 pm. Free and open to the public.
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an afternoon with Annelore Harrell, author of Et Cetera Y’all, Volume 1, on Saturday, May 31, at 2:00 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.
Get inspired by the extraordinary Annelore Harrell, who brings her unique voice and vibrant storytelling to life in Et Cetera Y’all, Volume 1. This delightful collection showcases her charming and insightful newspaper columns from her inaugural year. Annelore Harrell’s journey is a tapestry woven with fascinating experiences and
Tuesday - Sunday 11am-4pm
Glass by Sharon Cooper
extraordinary accomplishments. Born in 1932 in Savannah, Georgia, Annelore began visiting Myrtle Island in Bluffton with her family in 1942, joining the ranks of the “summer people” who traveled from Savannah. After a multi-faceted career, in 1981, she moved to her retirement home on Myrtle Island, but retirement was merely a new chapter for her. From 1995 to 1998, Annelore hosted a weekly, live, one-hour show on the Bluffton Broadcasting Channel, “BBC.” Her voice resonated with the community for nearly 25 years as a weekly columnist for the Bluffton newspaper, Carolina Morning News, later known as The Bluffton Today. Her outstanding work earned 1st Place in her category for Best Column from the SC Press Association. In 2017, Mayor Lisa Sulka celebrated Annelore’s contributions by recognizing her 1,000th newspaper column and declaring June 23rd as “Lala Day,” a nickname her grandchildren gave her. Even at the age of 92 in 2025, Annelore’s energy and zest for life continue to inspire.
Bestselling author Patti Callahan Henry writes, “Step into the enchanting world of Annelore Harrell and the coastal Lowcountry I love so dearly. With twenty-four years of remarkable newspaper columns, this collection is a treasure chest of insight, immersive experiences, and wisdom. From past to present, Annelore Harrell brings us on a journey to meet the forgotten heroes, see the locales of her experience, and encounter the allure of southern hospitality. A captivating storyteller with a keen and wise eye, Annelore Harrell’s prose transports us to the soul of the south.”
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, in partnership with NeverMore Books, will host an evening with acclaimed fiction writer Julia Elliott, author of the newly published story collection Hellions — named a TIME Best Book of the Month and a Lit Hub Most Anticipated Book of the Year—on Thursday, June 5, at 5:00 p.m., at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort). Elliott will be in conversation with Conroy Center executive director Jonathan Haupt and DAYLO student leader E Achurch. Free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing through NeverMore Books. Seating is limited; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025.
From the acclaimed author of The Wilds comes an electric story collection that blends folklore, fairy tales, Southern Gothic, and horror, reveling in the collision of the familiar with the wildly surreal. Julia Elliott’s Hellions jumps from the occult to the comic, from the horrific to the wondrous, presenting earthbound characters who long for the otherworldly.
“Intoxicating, fantasy-tinged . . . Elliott’s rich and magical landscape will pull readers in.”
– Publishers Weekly
“A genius at the short-story form, Julia Elliott achieves new highs with the astonishing Hellions. Beautiful, visceral, surprising stories, both wild and dangerous, with a Southern twang but universal appeal . . . One of my favorite collections of the past few years.”
– Jeff VanderMeer, author of Absolution
Julia Elliott is the author of the story collection The Wilds, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, and the novel The New and Improved Romie Futch. Her work has appeared in The Georgia Review, Tin House, Conjunctions, and the New York Times. She has won a Rona Jaffe
Writers’ Award, and her stories have been anthologized in Best American Short Stories and Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses. She teaches English and Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of South Carolina and lives in Columbia with her husband, daughter, and five hens.
Jonathan Haupt is the executive director of the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, the past director of the University of South Carolina Press, and co-editor of the anthology Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy, winner of 17 book awards.
E Achurch is sophomore at the Complete Student, where she is founding president of her school’s chapter of DAYLO: The Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization. She is a counselor for the Conroy Center’s Camp Conroy summer writing and art program and a past participant in the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities summer creative writing program.
Learn more about the Pat Conroy Literary Center at www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
Representing artists from across the country, including South Carolina, the 2025 Biennale is currently underway at the Art League Gallery on Hilton Head. The national call for entries attracted over 1,000 artworks from 41 states. Top pieces were selected based on the originality of concept, composition, and execution. The exhibition, which is the longest-running national juried art exhibition in the area, features multiple media types including Oil, Acrylic, Pastel, Watermedia, Photography, Mixed Media, and Three-Dimensional.
Over $5,000 in prizes were awarded to the most outstanding works, selected by this year’s Biennale Judge, Tony Armendariz, an award-winning artist living and painting in Illinois. After a long career as a graphic artist, illustrator and web designer, Armendariz now focuses on teaching and creating art. His accolades include being published in Fine Art Connoisseur, American Art Collector, and
Watercolor Artist, as well as winning awards from the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Allied Artists of America, and the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society. He has previously served as the director of the Illinois Watercolor Society.
Armendariz presented the awards at a reception Friday evening, May 16.
THE WINNERS OF BIENNALE 2025 ARE:
First Place: Orsabo’s Resistance, an oil painting by Alberto Barbusano Perez from Houston, Texas.
Second Place: Marsh Reflections , an acrylic and mixed media painting by local artist Ellen Difazio.
Third Place: Boneyard Beach, a watercolor by Laurel Lake McGuire, from Morris, Illinois.
Biennale 2025 will run through June 13th at the Art League Gallery, located at 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head. For more information, visit www.artleaguehhi.org
That's amore! Who doesn't love a good pizza? Longer and warmer days are incentive for quick and easy to prepare suppers. Pizza is the easiest. You can use a prepared pizza crust, flatbread, naan, French bread, ciabatta, flour tortilla or English muffin for the base and then top it with just about anything. Pizza is a great way to use leftover sauces, veggies, meats, and cheeses from other recipes, too. A fresh green salad and a glass of wine is all you need to make a complete meal. These are some of my favorites.
I used a vegan pizza crust made by Brooklyn Bred for this recipe. There are two pizza crusts in a 15-ounce package. You can find them at Publix.
1 pound sweet Italian sausage links
½ pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 (7.5-ounce) prepared pizza crust
1 cup prepared traditional pizza sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
¼ medium red onion, thinly sliced
½ teaspoon dried oregano
Remove casings from sausages. Crumble and sausage and cook until browned; drain well on paper towels. Place shrimp in a small pot of boiling water and cook until just pink, drain and cool. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place oven rack in center of oven. Prepare a large baking sheet with cooking spray. Place pizza crust on the baking sheet. Spread crust evenly with pizza sauce. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese, red onion, crumbled sausage, and shrimp. Sprinkle with oregano. Bake pizza in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is warmed through. Serve hot. Serves 3 to 4.
JALAPENO POPPER FLATBREAD
If you don't want to open a whole package of cream cheese, substitute prepared Alfredo
sauce. It's yummy! Real bacon bits are also an easy substitute. You'll need about ¼ cup.
1 prepared flatbread or flour tortilla
2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened 1/3 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Sliced pickled jalapeno peppers
Place oven rack on lowest rung of the oven; this will make your flatbread crispier. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Place flatbread on prepared baking sheet. Spread flatbread evenly with softened cream cheese. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese. Top with crumbled
By Debbi Covington
bacon and jalapeno slices. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and edges of flatbread are lightly browned. Serves 1.
MARGHERITA
I used the Stonefire brand naan for this recipe. They come two per package. I found these at Bi-Lo.
1 (4.4-ounce) naan bread
2 tablespoons prepared basil pesto
3 Campari tomatoes, sliced
Fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced ¼ teaspoon dried basil
Fresh basil leaves, to garnish
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with cooking spray. Place naan on baking sheet. Spread naan evenly with prepared pesto. Top with tomato and mozzarella slices. Sprinkle with dried basil. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until cheese melted and tomatoes are warmed through. Garnish with fresh basil leaves. Serves 2.
is
of three
Everything! and Dining Under the Carolina
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
The board of directors of the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center is pleased to announce that attorney Sean A. Scapellato has been elected to serve as the Conroy Center’s new board chair. Scapellato, a former middle and high school English teacher and a contributing writer to Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy, follows Dr. Jane Upshaw, USC Beaufort chancellor emeritus, who served as the Center’s founding board chair from 2016 through 2024.
“Our Conroy Center benefited immeasurably from Dr. Upshaw’s leadership,” praised Conroy’s widow Cassandra King, a bestselling author and the Center’s honorary board chair. “Jane’s expertise as chancellor and educator made it possible for our newly formed nonprofit to grow into a thriving educational organization serving Beaufort County while expanding our outreach into the wider community.”
“Although Jane’s retirement from our board left a huge void, I couldn’t be more pleased with the board’s election of Sean Scapellato,” said King in praise of the Center’s new chair. “As an attorney, a writer, and an educator, Sean brings literary as well as legal expertise to our organization, and he has already demonstrated his leadership skills during his term as board secretary. We’re excited to march forth with Sean at our board’s helm.”
Conroy Center executive director
Jonathan Haupt added, “Sean is a fellow Conroy protégé, and while there are many of us out there — as Pat intended — Sean has certainly distinguished himself as the most consistently and enthusiastically active in the educational mission of our Conroy Center since our inception, as workshop instructor, book discussion leader, presenter, cheerleader, convener, connector, advocate, and friend.
Because he experienced it firsthand, Sean is a tireless champion for Pat’s legacy and its continued relevance in the lives of the many readers, writers, teachers, and students we serve. With our tenth anniversary year now on the horizon, Sean has a brave, bold vision for the Conroy Center’s future. It’s an absolute honor to welcome him into his new leadership role and to collaborate with him as we begin this new chapter together.”
Scapellato is the owner of the Coastal Law Group, with offices in Charleston and Hilton Head Island. He previously served as an educator for more than twenty years, including teaching creative writing at the Charleston County School of the Arts. He also served as Pat Conroy’s research assistant
for the #1 New York Times bestselling novel South of Broad, in addition to accompanying Conroy on his Charleston book tour for that novel. Sean is a frequent speaker and writing workshop instructor, both in Beaufort and in Charleston, where he lives with his wife and their two black labs. Of his friendship with Conroy, Sean writes in his essay in Our Prince of Scribes, “Pat was my hero, my muse, my mentor. He pulled me out when I was too much inside my head. He propped me up when I was disenchanted with the craft . . . Pat was like that — always the good teacher, always building up others and compelling us to march forth.”
Established in 2016, the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary
Center honors and continues the legacy of beloved writer, educator, and advocate Pat Conroy (1945-2016), author of The Water Is Wide, The Great Santini, The Lords of Disciple, The Prince of Tides, and others. With a museum and learning center located at 601 Bladen Street in historic downtown Beaufort, the Conroy Center welcomes more than 4,000 literary pilgrims through its doors each year. The Center also hosts a robust calendar of educational events — more than 100 a year — ranging from visiting author programs and writing workshops to an annual literary festival and a summer camp for burgeoning young writers and artists. The Conroy Center has been recognized as South Carolina’s only affiliate of the American Writers Museum, second American Library Association Literary Landmark, winner of the Civitas Award for Tourism Leadership, winner of multiple TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards, and as TripAdvisor’s top-rated attraction in Beaufort. To learn more, visit www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
Rumor has it that “cumyas,” the Gullah word for out-of-town visitors and folks that haven’t lived long in the Lowcountry, initially may have an issue with the slower pace here. Especially in traffic, a word that in my mind applies more to Atlanta’s spaghetti of roadways crammed with seeming thousands of bumper-to-bumper vehicles than does Beaufort’s twice a weekday, often-brief, bridge-clogging scenario. Cumyas are likely to beep or even lean on horns when they believe a car in front isn’t responding quickly enough, no matter the circumstance.
A favorite case-in-point was one worthy of a photo I wish I’d thought to snap but was laughing too hard at the situation. I was driving from Lady’s Island toward downtown, when the Woods Bridge “caught” me. As the first car on the Lady’s Island side, I watched a man driving an SUV headed for Lady’s Island – obviously a cumya – try to sneak through before the bridge closed. He didn’t make it
and was “trapped” in a section that didn’t allow him passage in either direction in full view of drivers on both sides. I’d no idea such a “cage” existed. I was close enough to observe that his shotgun passenger, a woman, was talking at him ninety miles an hour, while the SUV driver, red-faced, was staring straight ahead. Looked like a dressing down to me. I’m thinking the bridge operators were chuckling as much as I was.
Don’t get me wrong, Beautiful Beaufort by the Bay welcomes visitors. Present company included. Having resided in this lovely corner of the world for 15 years now, I’m likely still considered a cumya, and I’ll take that. Tourism is a beloved industry here. Our shops, galleries, restaurants, and attractions thrive on their business, as do our tours, be they walking tours, small bus tours, or those wonderfullyrelaxed-pace horsedrawn carriage tours. I honestly believe that the slower pace of life is at least a part of the draw here. It’s what makes
first-time visitors see the bay, stop to gawk at boats of many sorts bobbing in the water that reflects an azure sky with snowy clouds, head to a downtown realtor, and purchase property, though cumyas may not realize it initially. It certainly sucked me in.
My first glimpse of the Lowcountry was from a sailboat overnighting in Lady’s Island Marina while cruising down the Intracoastal Waterway. The cap’n and I stayed for three days, just long enough to plant a seed in my mind to return and explore this fascinating area rife with water, wildlife, sunshine, sea breezes, and downhome, friendly people. The winter of the following year, during my home state of Kentucky’s cloudy, chilly, rain-soaked season beset with the occasional ice storm, became the first of three when I journeyed to Beaufort, staying longer each year.
Prior to leaving for the Bluegrass that last visit, I finally “got” the fact that Beaufort and its surroundings offered creative minds one of those few exceptional locales where creativity is not an option. One must create or implode! Artists, writers, musicians, and actors flock here. Many stay. A mantra sneaked into my head: “I love the Lowcountry. It beckons me back.”
And as I crossed Whale Branch with tears in my eyes (really), I swore the next time Beaufort filled my rearview mirror, this lovely history-filled treasure would be my home. So I sold my Lexington digs, packed up my belongings and headed South, a cumya come home.
The reason my chosen home comes to mind now in particular has to do with the situation the world – and the United States in particular – currently finds itself in. I rarely indulge in political conversations, and I’m not going there now. But with few exceptions, people are stressed to the max, and in my book, perpetually anxious is no way to spend even a day of life. Enough stressors trot into dayto-day living with no provocation: the everrising cost of groceries to negotiate, household bills and taxes to pay, student loans to re-pay, accidents and illnesses to wade through, children to raise in a tough, anxiety-producing time (though each generation believes theirs was!), and quality family time to create in the midst of what may seem like day-to-day chaos. Ice that scenario with constant “who only know what tomorrow may bring” news. Whew!
What’s a caring citizen of a country that once claimed top honors in the “world’s most admired and Big Brotherly helper of other countries” democracy to do?
by Katherine Tandy Brown WHOLLY HOLISTICS
My advice to the individual is to choose your life path(s) carefully. Take care of yourself first or you won’t be able to do your best for others. This is, of course, a cliché, but a cliché is a cliché because of its universal truth. Determine what exactly your body, mind, and spirit require to operate at their best. You can’t operate a car by using bad gas. The same applies to the human body.
• Make sure you eat clean healthy food. If possible grow part of your diet, or at least shop at your local farmers’ market.
• Get enough quality sleep. Turn off tv, radio, and phone at least an hour pre-bed, especially news and “talking heads” whose goal sometimes seems to be to make sure watchers and listeners stay afraid . . . very afraid. Reading a good book can be a terrific escape and far more relaxing than electronic immersion of any kind.
• Go a step farther and stop watching the news altogether. I’ve no doubt mentioned this in previous columns, but try it for a week and see how your daily focus changes to what’s really important in life itsownself and how much better you feel.
The above is but the beginning of suggestions to ease and clear one’s mind of emotional trauma, but it’s here the “Slow Country” comes in. Step outside and look around. Breathe deeply and take a stroll or pump a bike on our glorious Spanish Moss Trail, one that meanders through some pretty darn gorgeous countryside. Find peace among its tidal marshes, saltwater rivers, and maritime forests. Follow it to Port Royal and explore the town’s Cypress Wetlands and Rookery, truly one remarkable boardwalk. Take your camera for snaps of baby egrets, turtles, and gators.
This, gentle readers, is the “slow-down, get back to what matters” tonic of the Lowcountry. It’s free to all partakers. Live life large. Get outside and ease your mind. Lose yourself in the Slow Country.
That beautiful face, those big eyes, those long eye lashes, those ears – so beguiling, so appealing, and so very hungry! Yes, they are what have been called by one gardener “the cloven hooved minions of the devil.” Deer! To be fair, they were here first and we have taken over their land. The problem is that with few natural predators and our lovely gardens providing a nourishing food source, the deer population is increasing rapidly. Some communities have begun state regulated culling which, as much as I get angry at deer, I do not like to think about.
So, lets look at deer behavior and how we can make our gardens NOT their favorite place to dine.
Deer have poor eyesight, but a good sense of smell. They also react to movement more than an inert object. They are opportunistic browsers which means that if a food source is easily available, they will eat it. Your job is to make your garden as difficult to access and as unappealing as possible. Blocking access can be done with something as simple as fishing wire strung low around the perimeter of your yard or vegetable garden. A barrier of thickly planted shrubs can also be a deterrent. Deer do not like their little legs to get hung up in anything. Because I grow English roses, one of their favorite foods, I have a short electric fence. They could certainly jump over it, but I have it strung between shrubs so that there is no clear landing area for them should they try jumping. I did have one deer limbo under the fence to get to a sweet potato vine – another favorite food.
If a fence is not feasible, you can use chemical barriers to make your garden stinky and disagreeable. Don’t worry, after short while, you will not be able to smell it. I like Deer Stopper, but Deer Scram (a granular) and Bobbex have also worked for many gardeners. A new product on the market is called “I Must Garden” and I have had very good luck with this. It seems to last longer than other deer sprays. These products are safe as they contain natural ingredients such as hot sauce, putrid eggs, and strong herbs such as rosemary. The trick is to spray your plants the minute the sprouts appear in the spring and to be consistent. Spray frequently, as much as every 4-5 days, while things are getting started growing to help train deer to avoid your yard. In Ohio, I would watch the herd of 20+ deer walk around my yard
Photo by Craig Chandler
containing 200 hostas and go over to my neighbors. They simply ignored my salad bar. You can also plant barriers of things that Deer do not like such as Society Garlic ( Tulbaghia violacesa), Rosemary ( Salvia rosmarinus – new name), and Marigolds (Tagetes spp). Salvias are a great garden plant with flowers in many different colors and I have not had a deer munch on them –yet. As far as shade plants go shell ginger (Alpinia zerumbet) and Farfugiums (we call them tractor seats) are apparently deer resistant. The rule of thumb is that deer do not like to nibble on strong smelling or rough leaved plants, although they love holly – go figure. You can google deer resistant plants,
but keep in mind that deer can change their mind. There really is no such thing as a totally deer resistant plant. They will even try things that are known to be poisonous. Sometimes if they do not like something, they will pull it out of the ground and throw it. I have had that happen a number of times. It is as if they are teaching me a lesson.
There are also motion sensitive devices that some people have luck with. One such is a water sprinkler on a stand that is activated by movement. Deer do not like to be sprayed with water. There are also flashing lights that can be activated by animal movement and
By Wendy Hilty
this can scare deer away. I had one friend who tied white handkerchiefs on poles around his property. In the breeze these mimic the white tail of a deer and can cause deer to take flight because that white tail is a danger signal. A combination of physical barriers, chemical barriers, and motion can sometimes be an effective deterrent. Deer can be determined though. A really hungry deer can be motivated to look for food despite our best efforts to keep them away. Bad Bambi!
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.
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
derek@dcgilbert.com
samuel@dcgilbert.com
There are roads you take and roads you avoid; roads that are widely written about (Route 66) and roads that roll on in obscurity. There are designated coastal byways and scenic routes, entire books written about certain kinds of roads (e.g. Blue Highways), too many songs about taking one road or another, and tortured metaphors about bumpy roads in plenty of mundane poetry. We’re On the Road with Jack and the Allman Brothers tell us the Midnight Rider’s road goes on forever.
It's a pretty stretch, worth a meander in its own right, let alone as a shortcut to avoid the Harris Teeter/Publix/Island Square Shopping Center commercial cluster on your way to the McTeer Bridge. In fact, if all you are doing is using it as a shortcut and aren’t appreciating Meridian Road for the dappled light, mossy oaks, water glimpses and green abundance then maybe you should stick with the stop and go of the long way around. When you’re ready it will still be there.
One local road far shorter than forever is tucked along the western edge of Lady’s Island. Meridian Road is barely one and a half miles long and connects Sea Island Parkway and Lady’s Island Drive, a stone’s throw east from the Beaufort River. You can take Meridian Road if you want to launch from the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club, need some work done at a small engine repair shop, are looking for plans to be drawn up at an architect’s office, or for some reason want to arrive at Beaufort High School from the back and not the main entrance.
What might also be there at some point is a new church. At about the midpoint there is an undeveloped lot that wants to be the future home of St. James Orthodox Church. A bright vinyl sign declares the intention, and placed strategically around the overgrown field are a twelve foot wooden cross, a post-mounted bell, sitting bench, and a small hutch perched several feet off the ground with a peaked roof and red templar cross, looking a bit like one of those little free libraries you see around town, only religious. I’ve driven and biked by the lot several times, but only recently decided to investigate at the speed of wander, walking up Meridian after parking down by Lady’s Island Drive. It felt like the right way to get there.
After enjoying the sidewalk-less ramble for about ¾ of a mile I arrived. My first thought was that I hoped they don’t remove the huge, gorgeous oak that stands so proud right behind the altar-ish hutch when they go to build, though I’m not sure how it could be avoided. Maybe the Lord will work in mysterious ways.
Inside the hutch are two pictures on display, a jar with a votive candle remnant, and plenty of cobwebs, leaves, and loose dirt. I noticed a little brush hanging off the right
side of the structure, so I decided to channel my inner good Samaritan and clean up a bit.
The pictures are about eight by ten inches and mounted on wood. Quick research reveals that one is the Icon of Christ the Merciful and the other is of the Virgin of Vladimir Icon, evidently an important and venerated piece in Russian Orthodox tradition. It is said to be a miracle-working icon and a protective image, with the early 12th century original (including at least five restorations along the way) hanging in a Moscow gallery.
Both pieces are somber in the way of certain religious art but create a positive force field there in the recessed shade on this sunny afternoon thousands of miles from Mother Russia. It’s true we were on Meridian road, and in acupuncture a meridian is a pathway in the body along which vital energy flows, so there’s that as a stitch of sorts. More likely it was simply the quiet beauty of the area that made this little hutch area seem to glow and take up more space than it physically held.
This isolated little structure was an offering of sorts, a graceful wish for imagined real estate where voices are raised & community made in a worship space that was not yet realized. The dream of a future state when Meridian Road will be used as a way to get to church.
I stayed a while longer and rang the bell just once (it was satisfyingly loud). I took in the rest of the magnificent oak tree limbs reaching into the sky. One branch reminded me of the Angel Oak up on John’s Island because it ran along the ground for a stretch. I thought of how we humans reach from the earth to the heavens in formal and casual ways, and how I was unexpectedly absorbed in an in-between, liminal state on a random afternoon in an overgrown lot. I thought of all the connections that brought me to this point; from personally adrift and wondering for decades to engaged and woven into the fabric of this life across both sacred and profane dimensions.
By Luke Frazier
use, and how that might strike some as monotheistical and restrictive but to me expanded the whole shebang away from words, pointing beyond the my God is better than your God thing. Here on Lady’s Island
I found a shortcut to the realization that pictures on display can constitute a vision, no matter what you call your icons. Meridian may be called a road, but really it’s a way. Walking back to my car, I noticed a sign that said there was a deep water lot for sale. Although I’m pretty sure I lack the cash for such a transaction, in another sense I already own it, and if I just keep walking I’m certain to reach the unnamed shore.
I thought of my friend Dana telling me one time that he believed there was only one God but 500 beautiful names you could
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
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!
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
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 Savannah/Hilton Head Airport operated by a cadre of volunteers. The former USO Lounge is now “Savannah 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, seven days a week. There are three shifts each day, with two volunteers for each shift. Interested in volunteering? Info and application forms are at the www.savannahsalutes.org or call John Findeis at (912) 507-4848. 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 Berg-
mann. 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 3045 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 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); 843-6816655 (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.
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 & Sat10pm. 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
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. 5/21 Grammy winning vocalist Quiana Parler with The Lavon Steven Trio, 5/23 & 5/24 New Orleans All-Star Swing with Duke Heitger, Joe Goldberg, Hal Smith, and Kris Tokarski, 5/28 Bobby Ryder, 5/30 & 5/31 Grammy Award-Winning Ulysses Owens, Jr's. Generation Y Band, 6/4 The Lavon Stevens Quartet with Saxophonist Kebbi Williams, 6/6 & 6/7 FolderolRoaring 20s Twist on Popular Music. (843) 842-8620 or www.TheJazzCorner.com
The Music Farm, 32 Ann Street, Charleston. 5/22 Darude; 5/23 Shrek Rave, 5/24 Uncruel Summer, 5/30 Erin Kinsey; Kaleb Sanders, 5/31 Karma! - Chappell Roan tribute; special
drag performance by Medusa Chaos & Gouda Judy, 6/6 Pride on Ann - Pride Month kickoff, 6/7 Subliminal Doubt; The Novatones. (843) 853-2252 or www.musicfarm.com
The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston. 5/23 Cosmic Charlie, 5/24 Elise Testone's Phychedelic Funk Party, 5/27 Red Leather; Cigarettes at Sunset, 5/28 Shamarr Allen, 5/29 Matthew Logan Vasquez; Jacob Alan Jaeger, 5/30 Steely Dead - Dead & Steely Dan fusion, 5/31 Arts Fishing Club, 6/1 The Last Revel, 6/3 Reverend Horton Heat; Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, 6/5 Fo Daniels; Gooseberry; Five Door Sedan, 6/6 Mountain Grass Unit, 6/7 Dangermuffin. (843) 571-4343 or www. charlestonpourhouse.com
Windjammer, 1008 Ocean Blvd, Isle of Palms. 5/22 & 5/23 Umphrey's McGee, 5/24 & 5/25 Futurebirds, 5/29 Sam Barber, 5/30 & 5/31 Stop Light Observations, 6/1 Red Hot Chili Peppers, 6/6 & 6/7 The Stews; Dog Named Squid, 6/8 Better Than Ezra. (843) 886-8596 or www.thewindjammer.com
Editors Note:
Events listed here may be subject to postponement or cancellation. Please check for further information.
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 (06). www.gullahkinfolktravelingtheater.org
Now– 5/31, Lowcountry Classics featuring work by Lynne Drake at the SOBA Gallery in Old Town Bluffton. www.sobagallery.com
Now – 6/13, Biennale 2025, National Juried Exhibit at Hilton Head Art League Gallery. For more info visit www.artleaguehhi.org
Now – 6/28, Blooms, Birds and Butterflies. Featuring artwork by Sharon Cooper
at the Beaufort Art Association Gallery.
Now – 6/30, The Rhodes Collection of African American Art on exhibit in the USCB Gallery in Beaufort. Up Close with the Artists, Sat 5/31, noon-2pm. www.uscbcenterforthearts.com
Now – 8/17, Wild Bees Photography Exhibit, featuring work by Paula Sharp and Ross Eatman at the Coastal Discovery Museum. For more info, visit www.coastaldiscovery.org
Fri 5/23, Larry Chewning (Questionable Behavior) will sign books at Beaufort Bookstore from 4:30-6:30 pm. Free and open to the public.
Sat 5/31, Afternoon with Annelore Harrell (Et Cetera, Y’all), at the Pat Conroy Literary Center in Beaufort at 2 pm. Free and open to the public. Books available for sale and signing. Seating is limited; please call to reserve: 843379-7025. www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
Thur 6/5, Evening with Julia Elliott (Hellions) at 5 pm at the Pat Conroy Literary Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort). Elliott will be in conversation with Conroy Center executive director Jonathan Haupt and DAYLO student leader E Achurch. Free and open to the public. Books available for sale and signing through NeverMore Books. Seating is limited; please call to reserve: 843-379-7025.
Fri 5/30, Boy Named Banjo concert at USCB Center for the Arts in Beaufort. The Nashville band blends bluegrass, folk, country and rock for a unique, high-energy show you won’t forget. $40 for adults, $35 for seniors and military, and $20 for students. Available at www.uscbcenterforthearts.com
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 information or to register, visit https://www.scpronet.com/modjeskaschool/spring-session/
Sat 5/31, Beaufort Citizens Climate Lobby Free Seminar. Presented by Vince Albanese, who will explain why climate change is happening and what we can do about it. 1 pm at the Bluffton Library 120 Palmetto Way, Bluffton. RSVP beaufort.sc@citizensclimatelobby.org
6/2 – 6/6, 30th Annual Garden a Day, sponsored by the Beaufort Garden Club: 6/2 – 53 Ridge Road, Cat Island; 6/3 – 1206 Pigeon Point Rd; 64/ 65 Sweet Olive, Celadon; 6/5 – 19 Wade Hampton, Royal Pines; 6/6 – 46 Down-
ing Drive, Pleasant Point. Visit these gardens between the hours of 9 and noon, rain or shine. Free to the public. No pets, please!
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.
2nd Tuesdays - Most Months at 6pm, Beaufort Chapter of America’s Boating Club Monthly Meeting, at various Beaufort/Port Royal venues. Meetings begin with a Social, followed by Dinner and may include an guest speaker. For info or educational opportunities, contact Paul Gorsuch: admino@beaufortboatingclub.com Boat ownership not required, but a passion for safe boating is mandatory.
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.
910 Port Republic
Tuesday - Saturday 11-5 843-812-9460
7.7
7.4
7.0
6.5
1.4 1:29A 1.3
0.7 11:31A 0.4
6:07A 7.4
7:08A 7.5
8:04A 7.6
8:56A 7.7
9:47A 7.6 10:38A 7.5 11:30A 7.3
6:14A 0.3
7:04A 0.6
7:55A 0.9
8:47A 1.1
9:40A 1.2 10:31A 1.2 11:20A 1.2
6:17A 6.4
7:07A 6.3 7:51A 6.4
4:39P 7.3
5:42P 7.7
12:25P 0.1
1:17P -0.2
2:09P -0.4
3:00P -0.5
3:52P -0.5 4:44P -0.4
5:36P -0.2
12:23P 7.1 1:19P 6.9
2:17P 6.8
3:15P 6.7
4:11P 6.7 5:05P 6.7 5:58P 6.9 12:08P 1.2 12:55P 1.1 1:40P 1.0
11:04P 0.7
6:44P 8.2 7:42P 8.6
8:35P 9.0 9:27P 9.1 10:18P 9.1 11:11P 8.9
6:27P 0.1 7:18P 0.5 8:12P 0.8 9:08P 1.2 10:04P 1.4 10:58P 1.5 11:50P 1.5 6:49P 7.0 7:35P 7.2 8:16P 7.3
