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DECEMBER 18–24, 2025
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COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN
LOLITA HUCKABY
Safe Harbor, Pine Island: The projects that spring eternal ’
T
is the season, but how often do you hear a gathering of elected officials and citizenry end a meeting with a chorus of “Jingle Bells?” That was Port Royal Town Council last week when Mayor Kevin Phillips, the father of two little ones, led the audience and his fellow officials in just such a season finale. Of course, Phillips, and the town council, had something to celebrate following the long-awaited and much anticipated presentation by representatives of Safe Harbor Marinas (SHMPR) of development plans for the Battery Creek waterfront. Town officials announced in February they had reached a detailed settlement plan but last week’s presentation to the public was the latest on a development saga which has been going on for the past four years. On top of that news, the Friends of the Cypress Wetlands announced their plans to pursue a state grant to expand the pathway around the half-acre nature park and bird sanctuary, another reason to encourage good cheer. Not so cheerful was the crowd gathered two days earlier on the other end of Ribaut Road where there was an attempt to
When a plan comes together
I
Town of Port Royal gets first glimpse at Safe Harbor’s master plan for Port development
t is Wednesday, Dec. 10, and I’m sitting in the Yvonne C. Butler Council Chambers at the Port Royal Town Hall just off Paris Avenue. Yvonne’s meeting room is full of town folk, some wearing their Bean-brand cold-weather fleece, and most happy with what they see on the charts that sit on the floor. Tonight there are four 2-foot-by4-foot styrofoam-mounted exhibits lined up against the wall. These graphics show future improvements consistent with the Town’s
SEE LOWDOWN PAGE A4
SCOTT GRABER
Feb. 12, 2025, Settlement Agreement with Safe Harbor. They show, in particular, the lo-
cations of the yet to be built docks; the “pedestrian promenade;” a waterside park; a half block devoted to restaurants and retail; a parking lot; and a roundabout at the foot of Paris Avenue. The charts do not include the residential areas — the Bluff and Ribaut villages — nor do they show any proposed “industrial” activities atop the concrete slab that once supported the Ports Authority
SEE PLAN PAGE A5
Wreaths honor veterans’ sacrifice in Beaufort Volunteers place almost 25,000 red wreaths on Wreaths Across America Day
By Mike McCombs and Amber Hewitt The Island News Honoring their sacrifice and service, volunteers placed wreaths on the vast majority of the headstones of heroes at Beaufort National
Cemetery early Saturday afternoon, Dec. 13, on Wreaths Across America Day. It was James Washington’s first time taking part in the event. “This is my first time coming to this event,” said Washington,
a Vietnam veteran. “I wanted to show my respect." In the end, for the first time in seven years, organizers came up just short of having every grave
Apollo Tran, a Young Marine, places a wreath on a gravesite at Beaufort National Cemetery during Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday, SEE HONOR PAGE A2 Dec. 13, 2025. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
NEWS
SPORTS
EDUCATION
INSIDE
Beaufort Memorial nurse Allison Nold honored with DAISY Award.
Freeman takes gold; Mullins wins No. 100.
Five more books added to Beaufort County School District libraries restricted list.
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