May 3, 2022 • Volume 25, Issue 9 • Complimentary • BlufftonSun.com
INSIDE • Law enforcement staffing a national battle for recruiting 12A • New golf event created to benefit national service dog organization 20A • Long-awaited Garden Tour is back
24A
• Beach fun day for all planned for June 27A • Local teen turns art passion into milliondollar sensation 34A
Hurricane season begins June 1; have you begun preparing? By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTOR
It’s been a minute since a hurricane has seriously threatened Beaufort County. Bluffton was fortunate in 2020 and 2021 to not deal with hurricanes and the pandemic at the same time, but one can never be too prepared for something as unreliable as a hurricane. The hurricane season begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30, with historically the most active months for the Lowcountry being August, September and October. Local agencies and communities are making sure critical information is handy for residents. Bluffton will host a week-long #ReadyBluffton Preparathon on its social media
platforms from May 9 to May 13 with a culminating free community activity May 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oyster Factory Park. “The best antidotes for the unpredictability of hurricane season are preparation and a plan,” Mayor Lisa Sulka said. “As a town, we are every resident’s partner in preparation, for our goal is to mitigate personal and property damage in every storm. This Preparathon and Saturday’s event are great opportunities, especially for new residents who are new to hurricanes, to be informed and have the tools ready for anything Mother Nature brings.” “Each hurricane, as with any critical weather event, is a unique event with
Please see HURRICANES on page 8A
PHOTOS COURTESY TOWN OF BLUFFTON
Hurricane Matthew hit Bluffton and Hilton Head Island hard on Oct. 8, 2016, flooding many areas, uprooting a number of trees, and snapping others, like this one in front of the Spartina store on Calhoun Street
Town hosts ‘Movie Nights’ at local parks starting this month The Town of Bluffton will host six movie nights starting this month, to bring Bluffton families together in Town parks throughout the remainder of 2022. The evening events will include activities for children in addition to family movies. “These movie nights are a celebration
of our beautiful parks as they provide a perfect venue to bring neighbors together after two years of being apart throughout the pandemic,” said Town Manager Stephen Steese. “The fun begins an hour before each movie with bounce houses and games. The movie nights are perfect complements to Bluffton’s culture
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of enjoying the outdoors together as a community.” The schedule is as follows: May 20, 6-8 p.m.: “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” at Buckwalter Place Park. Includes bounce house and games starting at 5 p.m. June 17, 6-8 p.m.: “Encanto,” at the
Field of Dreams at Oscar Frazier Park. Includes bounce house and games starting at 5 p.m. Additional movies will be offered in July, September, October and December. Families may bring chairs and blankets as well as refreshments.