February 5 edition by The Island News

By Delayna Earley

o what were you doing last week on Wednesday night, Jan. 28?

A team of volunteers working under the direction of Ben Boswell and Catrina Hanna of the Beaufort County Human Services Department were scouring the community looking for homeless, or “unsheltered” individuals.

It was part of the national Pointin-Time count, from which the federal government draws data to fund grants to help communities help those in need of housing. The count for last week’s effort is still unknown, but the estimate is believed to be around 100. But those who did the counting know the reality is much higher.

The community warming center at Sea Island Presbyterian Church attracted an average of 30 people

3 Lowcountry men arrested in sexual exploitation of minors investigation

By Delayna Earley The Island News

Three Lowcountry men have been arrested in separate but related investigations involving the alleged sexual exploitation of minors, according to information released by state and local authorities.

Christopher Scott Hershberger, 67, of Beaufort, was arrested Jan. 27 and charged with five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in the second degree and five counts in the third degree, all felony offenses under South Carolina law.

Brandon Scott Baker, 38, of St. Helena Island, was also arrested

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Jan. 27. He faces one count of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts in the third degree. Authorities have confirmed Baker previously worked at Sea Island Sprouts, a local daycare in Port Royal. In a message sent to families this week, Sea Island Sprouts administrators acknowledged law enforcement activity on the school’s campus on Jan. 27 related

LOLITA HUCKABY

Hershberger Baker Pease

A snowy view of the Woods Memorial Bridge looking toward Lady’s Island from Beaufort’s Stephen Elliott Park after the snow on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. The Beaufort area got a rare snow for the second year in a row Saturday evening into early Sunday morning. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS

Beaufort’s Andrea Ogiony took this photo at low tide on Saturday, Jan. 10 at the boneyard on Hunting Island, when the temperatures were still in the 70s. To submit a Lowcountry Life photo, you must be the photographer or have permission to submit the photo to be published in The Island News. Please submit high-resolution photos and include a description and/or names of the people in the picture and the name of the photographer. Email your photos to theislandnews@gmail.com.

American Legion Beaufort Post 207 brings you Earnest Parker, 79, who was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1966 while living in Hardeeville. He attended Basic Training at Fort Gordon, Ga., and Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Lee, Va. He further trained and served in supply at Fort Riley, Kan.

Staff reports

Accounting

1 injured,

Early Saturday afternoon, Jan. 31, the Burton Fire District, MCAS Fire and Emergency Services, and Beaufort County EMS and Sheriff’s Office responded to a house fire in Grays Hill that resulted in one person being injured and three being displaced.

Just before 1 p.m., emergency crews responded to a reported house fire after a caller reported the side of their house was on fire and everyone was evacuating.

Fire crews arrived on scene to find heavy fire coming from the side of the residence. Firefighters quickly got the fire under control but took it took longer than two hours to fully extinguish as temperatures dropped and snow began to fall. One adult male sustained non-life threatening injuries trying to extinguish the fire prior to the fire department’s arrival.

February 8

February 10

He was next assigned to Vietnam, traveling there for 23 days by ship. He was first assigned to the food depot in Saigon and later near Tay Ninh, farther inland. There he was in charge of obtaining and issuing rations to 20-plus companies (more than 1,000 men) operating in the field. Upon his return to the States, he was discharged as a Sergeant with just more than two years of service. He has had a 37-year career in construction on Hilton Head Island, mostly as a carpenter.

– Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207. For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.

3 displaced in Grays Hill fire

Just before 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 31, the Burton Fire District, MCAS Fire and Emergency Services, and Beaufort County EMS and Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported house fire in the Grays Hill community of Beaufort County after a caller reported the side of their house was on fire and everyone was evacuating. Photo courtesy of Burton Fire District

Two adults and one child were displaced. Red Cross is assisting. The fire is under investigation but is believed to have been caused by an electrical malfunction involving a golf cart.

tax sale of properties confiscated by the federal government. After the Civil War, 29 acres of the parcel was retained for the cemetery.

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2005: Marine recruit Jason Tharp, 19, dies while undergoing combat water survival training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

February 11

1926: James Edwin McTeer is appointed sheriff of Beaufort County after the death of his father, also James Edwin McTeer, before his term in office expired. The younger McTeer would serve as sheriff until his retirement in 1963, McTeer was widely known as a root doctor and an expert on witchcraft, according to the Beaufort Gazette – Compiled by Mike McCombs ON THIS DATE

1863: In a letter bearing this date, President Abraham Lincoln authorizes that part of a 64-acre tract known as Polly’s Grove Plantation be used for Beaufort National Cemetery. The land had been acquired by U.S. Army Gen. David Hunter for $75 at an 1863

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Earnest Parker

2 women run over by truck

Victims were sledding on Shell Point Road

By Mike McCombs

The Island News

Two women, a mother and daughter, were run over by a pickup truck Saturday night, Jan. 31 and seriously injured while sledding on Shell Point road.

Beaufort’s Richard Quinn Davidson, 46, was arrested by the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) and charged with two counts of Felony DUI Resulting in Great Bodily Injury and two counts of Hit and Run in connection with the incident.

According to the dispatch call, at about 10 minutes before 8 p.m.,

Saturday, emergency responders were called to the scene in the 4000 block of Shell Point Road near Broad River Drive, where two female pedestrians were reportedly struck by a vehicle that then fled the scene.

According to a witness who said she called 911, the victims were a woman and her adult daughter.

“Two women, a mother and her daughter, … were being pulled behind a truck on a plastic container lid,” said a witness, who identified herself but asked that The Island News not use her name. “They decided to turn around and go the

other way so they let go of the rope, and the car dragging them went to the nearest stop sign to turn around and left them in the road. As they were sitting in the road they were run over by a truck.”

According to Trooper Nicholas Pye of the S.C. Highway Patrol, Davidson was traveling east on Shell Point Road when he struck the women in his 2022 Dodge Ram pickup.

The woman’s husband ran to the injured women, while she called 911 and got blankets to try to keep the women warm while they were on the road.

The woman said the driver of the truck stopped and got out to check on the women. But after that, he got back in his truck and left the scene in reverse. She said he fled to a home a few houses down, within sight distance of the scene.

The witness said she was unsure of the man’s relationship with the women, but they knew him.

“They gave the police his name immediately,” she said.

Davidson was located by law enforcement, given a field sobriety test and was arrested by the S.C. Highway Patrol. His truck was

towed. He was booked at 1:55 a.m., and was released on bond at 4:01 p.m., Sunday.

The SCHP is still investigating the incident. Trooper Pye said it is possible but unlikely there could be more charges. He said what the women were doing in the roadway doesn’t play a part in the SCHP investigation.

The victims were transported to Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Their condition, at this point, is unclear.

Mike McCombs is the editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.

Port Royal celebrating Mardi Gras

Saturday with parade, battle of bands

BResidents, visitors encouraged to bring friends, families, festive spirits

Staff reports

The Krewe of Port Royal is hosting its annual Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday, Feb. 7, featuring beads, music, and a lively after-party for all ages.

Parade lineup will begin at 3 p.m. at the Port Royal Post Office on Paris Avenue, with the parade officially kicking off at 4 p.m. The parade will follow the same route as previous years, traveling from Paris Avenue, turning onto 11th Street, and concluding at Shellring Aleworks.

Once the parade concludes, festivities will continue at Shellring Aleworks with an exciting Battle of the Bands featuring Whale Branch High School and Battery Creek High School. Attendees can also enjoy an after-party with food trucks, music, and a face painter for kids, making it a fun-filled time for the entire family.

The Krewe of Port Royal Mardi Gras Parade is a community-focused event celebrating a far from ordinary spin on the spirit of

Mardi Gras. Residents and visitors are encouraged to bring their friends, families, and festive spirits for an unforgettable afternoon and evening. Registration to participate in the parade is required and may be done by contacting Port Royal OVA through their Facebook page with details about your unit (vehicles, walkers, float size) or by visiting Port Royal Town Hall in person to obtain an application.

eaufort Memorial is expanding access to heart care in the Lowcountry with the addition of an experienced cardiologist to its team.

Dr. Terry Grainger, board-certified in cardiovascular disease and fellowship-trained in cardiology, has joined Beaufort Memorial Heart Specialists and is seeing patients in both Beaufort and Okatie. With more than 30 years of experience, he offers a compassionate, expert approach to diagnosing and treating conditions such as coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, and hypertension.

Dr. Grainger also brings expertise in sleep and obesity medicine, including treatment for sleep apnea. He joins Beaufort Memorial from Prisma Health in Columbia, S.C., where he cared for patients with a wide range of heart and sleep disorders.

Focused on preventive cardiology, Dr. Grainger works closely with patients to encourage healthy habits and reduce the risk of heart disease.

“I treat patients the way I want my own family to be treated,” he said. “Building strong relationships is one of the most rewarding parts of my work.”

John and Francis Measmer, from Statesboro, Ga., dressed in traditional Mardi Gras attire, watch as the second annual Mardi Gras Parade in Port Royal marches past them on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Student found with inoperable gun parts at Battery Creek High

By Delayna Earley The Island News

A student was found in possession of inoperable gun parts Tuesday morning, Feb. 3, at Battery Creek High School, prompting a temporary hold at the school, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.

The School Resource Officer took possession of the items, which were later examined and determined to be inoperable, officials said.

As a precaution, the school was placed on a hold, a security measure that restricts movement within the building. No injuries were reported, and no further incidents occurred.

In a parent communication issued by the Beaufort County School District, spokesperson Candace Bruder said the weapons detection system

Deputies said a newly installed weapons detection device alerted when a 17-year-old male student entered the building at the school, located at 1 Blue Dolphin Drive. School officials conducted a safety search of the student’s person and belongings, which led to the discovery of gun components, including an upper receiver for a rifle.

flagged the student with what the district described as a “partial weapon.”

“The weapon was not complete or functional in its current state,” Bruder said. “Due to the quick actions of school staff and law enforcement, the situation was addressed. There was no direct threat made to students or staff.”

Bruder emphasized that the district does not tolerate weapons on campus at any time and will follow disciplinary policies to their fullest extent.

The student’s guardian responded to the school, and

the juvenile was released into their custody.

No charges were filed, though the items were placed into evidence for safekeeping, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.

District officials also noted that since the installation of weapons detection systems, other contraband — such as vaping devices — has been identified. But this incident marked the first significant item detected by the system, Bruder said.

“As a reminder, possessing a weapon of any type on school grounds is a serious offense that can result in dis-

ciplinary and legal action,” the district stated.

Out of an abundance of caution, the school district said there will be an increased law enforcement presence on campus throughout the week.

Parents and guardians were encouraged to contact school administration with any concerns. The sheriff’s office reminded the public that weapons are strictly prohibited on all Beaufort County School District campuses and urged parents and caregivers to speak with their children about the seriousness of reporting any knowledge of

weapons on school grounds. Residents are encouraged to report suspicious or criminal activity by calling the sheriff’s office non-emergency dispatch line at 843524-2777. Anonymous tips may be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County through the P3 Tips app, online at tipsbft.com, or by calling 1-888-274-7884

Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.

Former Marine drill instructor charged with cruelty to children

Felix arrested by BCSO, previously convicted of abusing Marine recruits

By Delayna Earley The Island News

Joseph Anthony Felix, a former U.S. Marine Corps drill instructor previously convicted in a military court in connection with recruit abuse at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, was arrested in Beaufort County in late January on a misdemeanor charge of cruelty to children, according to recently published booking information.

According to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, Felix, 42, was booked Jan. 25 at the Beaufort County Detention Center and charged with cruelty to children through torture, deprivation

Lowdown

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a night, opening for a total of nine days over the past couple weeks.

As Boswell stated in a Facebook post, the count isn’t just about numbers, it’s about people.

While many folks spent the weekend worrying about frozen water pipes and potential power outages — northern Beaufort County, at least, was blessed with no reports of lost electricity — there were others whose focus continued to be on issues like where to sleep, how to get something to eat, or would there be enough gas in the car to get their kids to school the next day?

and was released the next day on a $1 087 50 personal recognizance bond.

Officials have not publicly released detailed allegations in the new case, and the charge remains pending in court records referenced in the booking report.

Felix served as a drill instructor at Parris Island during a period that drew heightened scrutiny to recruit treatment following the death of recruit Raheel Siddiqui in March 2016

A lot of time is spent talking about development and the number of people moving here and how they’re impacting our travel time. And yes, trees. But there is a population here whose needs are more related to survival in this “land of plenty.”

Let’s not forget them.

Ribaut Road apartment complex to be demolished

PORT ROYAL — Well, at last we know what’s going to happen to those run-down Sea Island Apartments on Ribaut Road.

Built in the 1960’s, the one-story apartments are located on the 11-acre tract selected by the Veterans Administration for a new out-patient medical clinic.

Word of the selection was made last week but residents for at least the past year have

Experience the joy of worship with St Mark’s Episcopal

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Military officials previously ruled Siddiqui’s death a suicide after he fell from an upper level of a barracks stairwell.

In 2017, Felix was convicted at a court-martial held at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune on multiple offenses tied to his conduct with recruits, including assault and maltreatment-related charges, and was sentenced to 10 years in confinement along with other penalties.

Any negative interactions with law enforcement could be considered a violation of the terms of supervised release, which could result in reincarceration.

As of Tuesday, Feb. 3, the most recent publicly circulating local booking information still lists Felix’s new cruelty to children charge as a misdemeanor filed in Beaufort

Recent reporting by the Task and Purpose indicates Felix was released from confinement in 2024 after serving roughly seven years of that sentence, ahead of the full 10-year term. The Marine Corps’ investigation and subsequent prosecutions stemming from Siddiqui’s death resulted in charges or disciplinary action against multiple service members assigned to recruit training at the time.

been asking “what’s up” with the 50-some apartments that have been abandoned for more than a year.

The property, owned by local businessman Dick Stewart and 303 Associates since 2004, is one of the three sites that were under consideration for the new clinic, the other two being on the Robert Smalls Parkway.

With a two- or three-story structure proposed and 500 parking spaces, maybe some of the medical staff, if not the patients, will travel by bicycle using the adjacent Spanish Moss Trail and relieve traffic on that part of Ribaut Road.

Update on transportation sales tax plan

BEAUFORT — Beaufort County Council and local municipal leaders are mov-

ing forward with plans to create a “winable” transportation sales tax referendum question they hope will be supported by voters in November.

A 15-member transportation advisory committee has been formed with appointees from the local councils, and their first meeting is scheduled this week, Feb. 5

The advisory committee already has a slogan -- “Engage, Protect and Invest in Beaufort County's Bright Future” -- but local government observers contend the group has their work cut out of them if they hope to come up with a list of transportation projects the voter will endorse.

The committee is expected to come up with recommendations for the County Council and municipal councils to endorse by April 3

County, with no additional case narrative released through the booking summary.

Anyone with information relevant to an active criminal investigation is typically urged to contact local law enforcement.

According to the Public Index, Felix is scheduled to appear in criminal traffic court on March 12, at 1 p.m.

The last penny sales tax for transportation went down in defeat in 2024, with a major concern expressed by voters being the lack of progress accomplished on projects that were to be funded with money from the 2018 sales tax referendum.

Voters also expressed a lack of confidence in the county government operations.

Since then, County Council has employed a new administrator and a new finance director. More, obviously, to come on this subject.

County buying former Parker’s at foot of McTeer Bridge PORT ROYAL — Beaufort County Council is moving forward on the acquisition of the vacant lot at the Ribaut Road-Sea Island Parkway

Corridor intersection to accommodate future road improvements at that very busy crossroads. The Council recently agreed to pay $700,000 plus closing costs to Parker’s for the former gas station. No word yet on the future of the former Hardee’s across the street, which still stands empty, to the sadness of those who once gathered there to drink morning coffee.

Lolita Huckaby Watson is a community volunteer and newspaper columnist. In her former role as a reporter with The Beaufort Gazette, The Savannah Morning News, Bluffton Today and Beaufort Today, she prided herself in trying to stay neutral and unbiased. As a columnist, these are her opinions. The Rowland, N.C. native’s goal is to be factual but opinionated, based on her own observations. Feel free to contact her at bftbay@gmail.com.

Felix

One suspect in custody, another wanted in September 2025 homicide

Staff reports

One suspect is in custody and a second suspect is wanted in connection with a September 2025 murder at Cross Creek Plaza in the parking lot near the Little Caesars Pizza.

On Friday, Jan. 30 2026 Jaheim Tyberous Watson was taken into custody for the homicide of 28-yearold Christopher Jamal Burton. Watson faces charges of Murder, Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime, Aggravated Breach of Peace, Criminal Conspiracy and Discharging a Firearm within City Limits.

To recap the incident, on Sept. 29, 2025, at approx-

imately 8:53 p.m., Beaufort Police officers were dispatched to 330 Robert Smalls Parkway in reference to a shots fired incident.

Upon arrival, officers located one victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers rendered aid until EMS arrived. The victim was transported to a local area hospital where they later succumbed to their injuries.

A second suspect, 24-yearold Gerald Washington Jr., is wanted by the Beaufort Police in connection with the case.

Like Watson, Washington faces charges of Murder, Possession of a Weapon

During a Violent Crime, Aggravated Breach of Peace, Criminal Conspiracy, and Discharging a Firearm Within City Limits. This incident remains under active investigation. Anyone with information on the incident or the whereabouts of Washington is encouraged to contact Investigator Lynch at 843-3227828

Those wishing to remain anonymous may submit tips through Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County via the P3 Tips app, online at www. TIPSBFT.com, or by calling 1-844-TIPSBFT (1-844-8477238). Please reference case #25B34154

protests continue

Immigration and Customs

Beaufort County man killed in Savannah Police shooting

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

A Beaufort County man was shot and killed by Savannah police officers Thursday afternoon, Jan. 22, during a downtown confrontation that drew widespread attention and an ongoing investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Mark Dennis Whibbey Jr., 27, of Seabrook, was pronounced dead at the scene after officers responded to reports of an armed man in the heart of Savannah’s

historic district around 1:30 p.m.

The Savannah Police Department says officers received multiple 911 calls about a man reportedly carrying and waving a firearm just off River Street near the Plant Riverside District, a popular area near the Savannah River frequented by tourists and locals.

According to preliminary information from the GBI, officers located Whibbey and attempted to de-escalate the situation by issuing verbal commands

for him to drop the firearm. When he did not comply and continued walking toward officers and bystanders while armed, five Savannah officers fired on him. Whibbey was struck multiple times and later pronounced dead.

No officers were injured during the incident. Savannah Police Chief Lenny Gunther and the department have deferred further comment to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which is standard procedure in officer-involved

shootings.

The shooting occurred along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard between Bay Street and River Street, forcing local businesses and pedestrians to clear the area as authorities secured the scene and blocked streets for more than two hours.

Portions of the downtown district were closed temporarily while evidence was processed.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene with people running for cover after gunshots were fired. One

restaurant manager said she saw officers attempting to reason with the man before shots rang out.

The GBI has taken the lead on the investigation and confirmed that Whibbey’s body will be transported to the agency’s medical examiner’s office in Pooler for autopsy. Once completed, the file will be forwarded to the Eastern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.

Officials have not released additional information about Whibbey’s

background, circumstances leading up to the incident or whether he lived in Beaufort County prior to the shooting. The investigation remains active, and anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the GBI.

Palmetto Animal League hosting 2nd Annual Meow Mixer

Staff reports

Valentine's week is the purr-fect time to find your next great love!

Join Palmetto Animal League and AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head for the second annual Meow Mixer at the PAL Adoption Center from 4 to 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 12 Bring your friends for champagne and hors d’oeuvres as you mingle with some of the Lowcountry’s cutest and most eligible cats.

“The Meow Mixer is a special night set aside to celebrate shelter cats,” said AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head Customer Relations Manager & Delivery Specialist Bill Harper. “For some people that means coming out to adopt a new cat or kitten, and for others it means dropping off donations to help keep cats happy and cozy

Arrests

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to a former employee.

School officials stated the individual is no longer employed at the center and emphasized that the matter does not involve the school itself.

According to the school, required background checks and standard hiring procedures were completed at the time of employment in accordance with state licensing requirements.

Administrators also said they cooperated fully with law enforcement and notified the appropriate licensing agencies.

Based on the limited information provided to the school by authorities, officials said there is no indication that any children enrolled at the center were involved.

School leaders noted the situation has been distressing for families and staff,

while they wait to find a home.”

Palmetto Animal League is a private, nonprofit, no-kill animal rescue organization that believes every animal deserves a second chance at life. PAL’s adoption center, located in Okatie’s Riverwalk Business Park, serves as a temporary residence for approximately 300 cats and dogs with dozens more in foster homes. PAL will be waiving adoption fees for cats and kittens during the event to help more felines find the families they’ve been waiting for.

“If you’ve never been to PAL, the Meow Mixer is a great opportuni-

including employees who are also parents of children enrolled at the center.

Administrators said their priority remains the safety, supervision, and well-being of the children in their care and that they are offering in-person meetings to address parent concerns related to school operations and support services.

Donald Eugene Pease, 61, of Hilton Head Island, was arrested Jan. 28 and charged with two counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

Investigators have said the cases stem from reports made through a national cyber-tip reporting system that led law enforcement to identify the suspects.

Authorities allege the charges involve digital material. The investigations remain ongoing.

Following the arrests, social media accounts believed to be associated with the three men were no longer publicly accessible.

Law enforcement has not

ty,” PAL President Amy Campanini said. “It’s fun to be surrounded by fellow animal lovers, and our matchmakers will be on hand to introduce people to cats likely to fit their home and lifestyle. And for those who can’t adopt, spending time with the cats at our adoption center means the world to them.”

All cats at the PAL Adoption Center are spayed/neutered, microchipped and up to date on vaccinations. All they need is a home to call their own.

Lowcountry cat lovers can RSVP for the Meow Mixer by visiting PalmettoAnimalLeague.org.

said whether the accounts were removed by the platforms or taken down by the individuals. All three men are pre-

sumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Court records indicate the cases are pending, and officials have said additional in-

formation may be released as proceedings continue.

Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly

worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.

Heather R. Galvin, Probate

Heather R. Galvin, Probate Judge, Beaufort County,

USCB partners to measure salt marsh change in Port Royal Sound

By Carol Weir Special to The Island News

Knee-deep in pluff mud, racing the tide, and hauling lumber across salt marsh — this isn’t a typical day in the classroom. But for USC Beaufort marine biologist Tye Pettay, staff from the Port Royal Sound Foundation and USCB students Jude Roman and Clayton Newton, it’s exactly where learning comes alive. Pettay and his students are partnering with the Port Royal Sound Foundation (PRSF) to play a key role in a major new research effort in the Port Royal Sound watershed, home to nearly 100 000 acres of salt marsh — about one-third of all the salt marsh habitat in South Carolina. These marshes quietly protect coastal communities by buffering storm surge, filtering pollutants, storing carbon, and supporting fisheries that contribute millions of dollars in economic value each year.

Despite their importance, one major question remains largely unanswered in Port Royal Sound: Are these marshes keeping up with sea level rise? The answer is important because unless marshes build up enough sediment to keep pace with rising seas, they"drown" and convert to open water.

To help answer this question, the PRSF and USCB’s Natural Sciences department have partnered to establish a new network of research stations throughout the watershed. PRSF was recently awarded funding through SECOORA, a NOAA-affiliated coastal observing program, to install 12 permanent

Rod Surface Elevation Table (RSET) stations — filling a critical data gap along the South Carolina coast.

“We are excited about this multifaceted project," said Chris Kehrer, Science Program Manager at Port Royal Sound Foundation.

"The RSET stations provide the first data driven view of

how dynamic our marshes are, as well as a platform for student-lead projects for decades to come.”

Pettay’s involvement has brought his students and USCB Natural Sciences boat captain Tyler Hassig directly into the heart of the project. Hassig, Roman, Newton and several other USCB Marine

Science students have been assisting with site preparation, logistics, and fieldwork. They're gaining hands-on experience with long-term coastal monitoring at a level that undergraduates don't typically experience.

Installing a SET station is no small task. Each site requires constructing two small piers with heavy timbers and driving a stainless-steel rod more than 60 feet into marsh sediments. The work must be completed during low-tide windows. Every installation takes several hours and a lot of muscle.

“Teamwork makes the dream work,” Newton said.

“This cannot be done by a single person and is still difficult with several of us but at least doable.”

The SET stations are designed to last 50 years or more, so data collected now will inform resilience research for decades to come.

The scientists will start collecting data from the stations in the first quarter of this year and will continue visiting each station quarterly to take measurements.

“Although this project will not yield short-term data, I feel proud to create something that will likely be a valuable tool for geologists and biologists of the future,”

There’s Got to Be More Than This!

Tom Brady gave a famous interview in 2005.

After winning his third Superbowl, the famous quarterback shared something surprising about his life. On 60 Minutes, he wondered aloud, “Why do I have three Superbowl rings, and still think there’s something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, ‘Hey man, you’ve reached your dream, your goal.’ Me, I think, there’s got to be more than this.”

Isn’t Tom’s experience like our own?

Like Tom, we can have everything that we imagine would make us happy, and yet we can feel, “Is this all there is?” There is a restlessness, a yearning, which still remains unsatisfied. Whatever worldly goals we accomplish, whatever possessions we acquire, there is still something missing. As one author has pointed out, we can never get enough of what we don’t really need.

There is joy in finding the desire of our hearts.

Roman said. Once installed, the stations are barely visible, tucked among the marsh grasses. But the data they generate is powerful. Quarterly measurements will track tiny changes in marsh surface elevation — key indicators of whether marshes are building vertically fast enough to keep pace with sea level change. The stations form a transect across the watershed, with locations including USCB’s Pritchards Island, Parris Island, Knowles Point, and other key sites. Data collected will be shared with state partners, conservation groups, and an international database used by researchers worldwide.

For Roman and Newton, the experience connects theory to reality.

“The SET stations will measure the rise or fall of our marshland to determine if it is eroding or building up. This will be useful for companion studies for organisms that live in the marsh and for surrounding ecosystems to see how they react to change,” Newton said. At USCB, that’s the goal — turning coastal challenges into opportunities for learning, discovery, and long-term stewardship of the Lowcountry’s most vital ecosystems.

Imagine how frustrating it would be if, desperate for a drink of water, every faucet we tried would only dribble a few drops of water into our glass. And imagine how overjoyed we would be to discover a waterfall, cold and pure, in which our glass could be filled to overflowing! This is the joy we experience as Christians as we stop trying to find fulfillment in the world alone, and instead begin to encounter God in a personal way.

Our hearts are restless until they rest in God.

We were created by God out of love, and our hearts were created to receive his infinite love. This is why even the love of a spouse cannot completely fill our hearts, because it is still a finite love. But as we begin to encounter God, we encounter the one our hearts were longing for all along. As one early Christian famously observed, our hearts are restless until they rest in God.

Why not try a different way?

Within yourself, do you recognize some of the same questions asked by Tom Brady? Many times, we drown out our uneasiness with constant noise and distraction. In quiet reflection, though, we can recognize the pattern of trying one broken faucet after another. Why not give God a chance to show that he is the one you have been searching for?

USC Beaufort's Jude Roman, Clayton Newton and Tyler Hassig work with the Port Royal Sound Foundation's Chris Kehrer to install a research station at Knowles Landing in northern Beaufort County. The study will reveal how salt marshes are changing over time. Photo courtesy of Jessica Kochman

VA selects Port Royal site for new outpatient clinic

Facility will expand care for local veterans

Local response

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has selected Port Royal as the site for a new community-based outpatient clinic that officials say will significantly expand access to health care for veterans across Beaufort County and the Lowcountry.

The new clinic, authorized with more than $30 million in federal funding, will be built at 1844 Ribaut Road and is expected to open in 2028

The facility will replace the current VA outpatient clinic operating inside Naval Hospital Beaufort, which offers more limited services and operates within a secure military installation.

According to VA officials, the Port Royal site was chosen after months of evaluation that included multiple potential locations in both Port Royal and the City of Beaufort.

Earlier in the planning process, two sites in Port Royal and one site in Beaufort were under consideration.

Beaufort City Council previously passed a resolution endorsing a clinic within city limits, citing infrastructure and accessibility advantages, but the VA ultimately selected the Port Royal location following its review.

The decision also followed a public planning and environmental review process, during which the VA

solicited community input as part of its site selection and assessment.

Expanded services planned

The new Port Royal clinic is expected to provide a broader range of services than the existing Beaufort clinic, which currently offers primary care and limited specialty services within Naval Hospital Beaufort.

According to the VA, services planned for the new facility include: Primary care and preventive health services; Mental health care, counseling and treatment for conditions such as PTSD and depression; On-site laboratory and

diagnostic services; Pharmacy services; and Social work, care coordination and benefits assistance.

VA officials have said the expanded space and standalone design will allow for improved patient access, shorter travel times for veterans who currently must seek some services outside the region, and increased capacity to serve a growing veteran population.

More than 16,000 veterans live in Beaufort County, many of whom are connected to nearby military installations including Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.

Port Royal Mayor Kevin Phillips welcomed the announcement, saying the town is proud to be selected as the home of the new clinic and views the project as a major investment in both veteran services and the community.

Town officials have noted the clinic’s Ribaut Road location offers accessibility while supporting long-term economic activity, including construction jobs and permanent health care positions once the facility opens.

What this means for veterans Veteran advocates and local leaders have said the new clinic represents a long-awaited expansion of

health care access in the Lowcountry, particularly for outpatient and mental health services. The standalone facility is expected to address space and operational limitations at the current clinic while allowing veterans to receive more comprehensive care closer to home.

Construction timelines and final service offerings will be determined as permitting, design and contracting processes move forward.

Beaufort Memorial launching LifeFit speaker series

Staff reports

Staying active and independent as we age starts with musculoskeletal health, and Beaufort Memorial is bringing that message to the community with a free presentation kicking off a new educational speaker series.

Beaufort Memorial (BMH) will launch its LifeFit Speaker Series at the LifeFit Wellness Center in Beaufort with a free presentation by Dr. Cory Messerschmidt, a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon with Beaufort Memorial Orthopaedic Specialists, according to a media release from BMH.

Dr. Cory Messerschmidt

Regular physical activity has ample benefits, no matter your age. This talk will explore how physical activity can help prevent injuries, protect joints and slow degenerative diseases, as well as highlight safe exercises for every stage of life and the importance of proactive care with an orthopedic specialist.

“Strong joints, bones and muscles are the foundation of healthy aging,” Dr. Messerschmidt said.

His talk, “Longevity and Staying Active,” will focus on how maintaining strong joints, bones and muscles can help extend lifespan and improve overall quality of life.

“When the musculoskeletal sys-

tem is functioning well, people can stay mobile, independent and active – all key factors that directly influence both lifespan and quality of life.”

The presentation will be held at Beaufort Memorial LifeFit Wellness Center, located at 990 Ribaut Road in Beaufort, and will mark the first in an ongoing series designed to share practical health insights from Beaufort Memorial providers outside the traditional clinical setting.

The free talk will take place at 1:15 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 12. While admission is free, registration is required. To RSVP or to learn more about the LifeFit Speaker Series, visit BeaufortMemorial. org/LifeFitSpeakerSeries.

Odors

from page A1

attempted mitigation efforts.

According to the complaint, the landfill has repeatedly emitted hydrogen sulfide gas and other malodorous emissions that migrate offsite into surrounding residential neighborhoods, particularly following rain events and under specific weather conditions.

The filing alleges those emissions have occurred since at least early 2024 and have continued through the present.

“These emissions are not isolated or momentary,” the complaint states. It alleges odor events have recurred for months, infiltrating homes, vehicles and personal property and preventing normal outdoor activities.

Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas commonly described as smelling like rotten eggs. It can form at construction-and-demolition landfills when certain waste materials decompose under low-oxygen conditions, particularly when water infiltrates waste after heavy rainfall.

State regulators have said the gas can accumulate near the ground under specific weather conditions, allowing odors to persist in nearby residential areas.

Alleged failures at the landfill

The landfill is permitted as a Class 2 construc-

tion-and-demolition debris facility and is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services.

The lawsuit outlines a pattern of inspections, odor complaints and corrective directives issued by DES throughout 2025. Many of those actions focused on erosion, inadequate soil cover, grading deficiencies and stormwater management problems at the site.

According to the filing, DES inspectors repeatedly detected hydrogen sulfide odors both onsite and in nearby neighborhoods, including along Middle Road and within residential areas south of the landfill.

In several inspections, DES documented that odor control measures were ineffective and required additional mitigation plans and corrective actions.

The complaint further alleges that while Coastal Waste & Recycling periodically implemented remedial measures, those efforts were temporary and failed to prevent the recurrence of odors after subsequent rain events.

DES air-monitoring data cited in the lawsuit recorded measurable hydrogen sulfide concentrations at community monitoring locations. During certain periods in late 2025, some readings exceeded 150 parts per billion — levels significantly above typical background concentrations.

According to the filing,

AN ODOROUS TIMELINE

Here is a timeline of odor complaints about the Lady’s Island landfill over the past two years:

Early 2024: Residents near the Barnwell Resources construction-and-demolition landfill begin reporting recurring sulfur-like odors, often worsening after rain events and under certain weather conditions.

Jan. 7, 2025: The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (DES) conducts a complaint-driven investigation. Inspectors detect hydrogen sulfide odors at the landfill and at multiple offsite residential locations.

Late January 2025: DES documents that odors are migrating offsite and determines odor control measures are ineffective. The landfill operator is directed to develop additional mitigation efforts.

Feb. 27, 2025: DES records “ongoing” hydrogen sulfide odors both onsite and offsite, including along Middle Road and within nearby neighborhoods.

March to June 2025: DES inspections identify erosion, washouts, ponding and drainage deficiencies that increase the likelihood of waste exposure and odor generation, particularly following rainfall.

October 2025: DES detects hydrogen sulfide odors during multiple inspections and cites continued grading and drainage issues. Odors are documented onsite and along Middle Road.

Dec. 10 to 16, 2025: DES air monitoring records elevated hydrogen sulfide concentrations at both landfill and nearby community sensors.

Jan. 26, 2026: SCDES holds an informational meeting to discuss the situation with the community. Many members of the community express anger at lack of action and accountability.

Jan. 27, 2026: A class-action lawsuit is filed in Beaufort County Court of Common Pleas alleging nuisance, negligence, loss of use and enjoyment of property, and diminished property value.

spikes in those readings corresponded with increased odor complaints from residents.

Property-based claims, not medical damages

Beaufort County Councilman David Bartholomew, who is listed as “of counsel” with Cooper & Bilbrey, P.C. on the case, said the lawsuit is focused on property-based harms rather than individual medical claims.

“The clean route we proposed is the diminished

quiet enjoyment of the property, nuisance, negligence, and diminished property values,” Bartholomew said.

The complaint seeks damages for loss of use and enjoyment of residential property, temporary diminution in rental and market value, and related harms that it alleges can be measured on a class-wide basis.

It also seeks injunctive relief requiring the landfill operator to implement permanent and effective

measures to prevent future offsite odor impacts.

Bartholomew said the filing leaves open the possibility that additional pollutants beyond hydrogen sulfide could be identified as investigation continues.

Who the lawsuit covers

The proposed class includes owners of single-family and two-family detached homes located within a defined geographic area generally bounded by Springfield Road, Brickyard Point Road, Middle Road, Walnut Hill Street and Marsh Drive.

Apartments and condominiums are excluded from the class definition.

The lawsuit names Paula Mikesh as the class representative. According to the complaint, Mikesh alleges she experienced repeated odor events that interfered with her ability to use and enjoy her home. If the court certifies the class, affected property owners would typically receive notice and be included automatically unless they choose to opt out.

Reporting odors Residents who experience landfill-related odors can file complaints with DES, which oversees landfill permitting and compliance. Complaints can be submitted online through the agency’s environmental complaint portal or by contacting DES directly.

DES has encouraged residents to include the date,

time, location, duration of the odor and current weather conditions, such as wind direction, when reporting an issue.

The agency has said complaint reports help guide inspections, air monitoring and enforcement actions.

What happens next

The lawsuit has been filed but has not yet proceeded to class certification or trial. The defendant must be formally served and will have the opportunity to respond in court. Bartholomew said this is the firm’s first-class action case and that his firm partnered with McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, a firm experienced in class action litigation.

Residents who believe they have suffered individual medical harm are not prevented from pursuing separate legal action, he said, noting that such claims would be distinct from the class lawsuit.

DES continues to oversee the landfill and has indicated that additional corrective measures may be required if odor problems persist.

The Island News will continue reporting as the litigation and regulatory response move forward.

BCSO investigating Grays Hill shooting

Staff reports

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting that occurred early Saturday, Jan. 31, in Grays Hill. According to the BCSO, shortly after 2:40 a.m., Saturday, the BCSO Communications center received reports of shots fired in the area of Conestoga Loop in Grays Hill. Deputies responded to the scene and were later notified that a gunshot victim walked up to the fire station in Grays Hill seeking assistance.

A 31-year-old female victim was suffering from a gunshot wound. Beaufort County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded to the scene and transported the victim for treatment of her injuries.

The circumstances that led up to this shooting are still under investigation. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the lead investigator, Staff Sergeant Tunis, 843-255-3426

There is an increased law enforcement presence in the area as the investigation continues.

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information related to suspicious or criminal activity to report it by calling the non-emergency dispatch line at 843-524-2777. If wishing to remain anonymous, tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County via the P3 Tips app on your mobile device, online at tipsbft.com or by calling 844-TIPS-BFT (844 847 7238).

Family displaced in Mink Point house fire

Staff reports

The Burton Fire District responded Sunday, Feb. 1, to its second house fire in less than 24 hours in which a family was displaced.

Just past 7 a.m., Sunday, the Burton Fire District, the City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department, Parris Island Fire and Emergency Services, Beaufort County EMS and Sheriff’s Office responded to a re-

ported house fire on Ratel Drive in the Mink Point community after callers reported smoke coming from the roof of a home.

Firefighters arrived on scene just as fire began breaking through the roof of a single-family residence.

The fire, which was located in the attic, was quickly brough under control; however, it took longer than an hour to completely ex-

tinguish due to insulation and duct work. Mink Point Blvd was closed due to needed water supply lines from the hydrant to the fire apparatus.

No injuries were reported.

Two adults and a child were displaced. The Red Cross is assisting.

The fire is under investigation but is believed to have been caused by an electrical issue with the HVAC unit.

No more closures until Bay-Charles intersection is open

Staff reports

According to the latest information from the City of Beaufort regarding the Charles Street construction, the closing of no other intersections are “planned until the Bay Street and Charles Street intersection is reopened.”

The intersection of Port Republic and Charles streets is currently closed, as well, but the intersection Craven and Charles streets was potentially a candidate to be closed, as well, according to information released last week.

According to the City, however, the contractor is currently “focused on work at the Port Republic Street and Charles Street intersection.” Paving on Bay and Charles streets will take place “as soon as temperatures allow, and all parties are aligned on

the importance of reopening intersections as quickly and safely as possible.”

The work on the intersection of Bay and Charles streets is complete, but the reopening of that intersection has been delayed because it’s currently too cold for asphalt work.

“The timeline is temperature-dependent: the asphalt plant will not open if the temperature is below 40 degrees, and pavement cannot be laid unless temperatures reach 45 degrees or above,” City Manager Scott Marshall said in last week’s Bridge Report.

“… The construction team will continue to evaluate conditions daily and proceed at the first available opportunity. Additional updates will be provided as information becomes available.”

Just past 7 a.m., Sunday, emergency crews responded to a reported house fire on Ratel Drive in the Mink Point community. Photo courtesy of Burton Fire District

SPORTS

Brown building something special at Creek

hen Battery Creek

Whired C.J. Brown to take over its boys basketball team in 2019, there was hope. Hope that Brown, who once starred in the Blue and Gold, could restore the once-proud program to the lofty status it held for years under John Drafts, back before Whale Branch Early College High School opened and split the talent pool.

Four years in, it was reasonable to wonder whether it was going to work out.

The Dolphins went 16-60 over that span, and it would have been worse if not for an 8-3 record in the abbreviated 2020-21 season, when the roster was bolstered by a pair of key transfers. When they followed up a 2-22 campaign in 2021-22 with a 3-18 mark a year later, it seemed like the ship was going down.

Then Ethan Cox came onto the scene as a budding big man with a bright future, followed a year later by a loaded Class of 2026

The Dolphins were able to grind out an 11-12 record in 2023-24 but took a small step back a year later, going 10-13. But the foundation was in place.

Eagle Cup returns to BA

LowcoSports.com

The high school soccer season is just around the corner, and several area squads are planning to gear up with some short-sided games at the second annual Eagle Cup 6v6 Soccer Tournament at Beaufort Academy on Saturday, Feb. 28 Beaufort Academy is once again welcoming varsity boys and girls teams from across the Lowcountry for a full day of fast-paced, high-quality soccer. Now in its second year, the Eagle Cup has tripled in size, featuring eight varsity boys teams and four varsity girls teams, reflecting the tournament’s growing reputation as a premier preseason and showcase event for the region’s top programs. The 6v6 format emphasizes speed, skill, and creativity — delivering nonstop action for players and spectators alike.

Matches will be played throughout the day on the Beaufort Academy campus, with concessions and local food trucks on site, creating a family-friendly atmosphere for fans, students, and the broader community.

“The Eagle Cup was created to celebrate the game and bring together the best soccer programs in the Lowcountry,” tournament organizer Ian Leslie said. “With the tournament’s growth this year, we’re excited to offer an even better experience for athletes and spectators.”

Spectators are encouraged to attend and enjoy a day of competitive soccer, community, and school spirit. For schedules, participating teams, and event updates, visit theeaglecup.com.

But this year … this was the year. Cox is a senior and his game has matured remarkably along with his body. He’s a matchup nightmare for most teams and averages 15 4 points and 8 5 rebounds per game, and if opposing defenses pay him too much mind, he has teammates who will make them pay. The sensational junior class led by Michael Williams (14 2 ppg), Tyjuan Simmons (13 4 ppg), and Tyrese Smith (10 3 ppg) has grown up, too, even within the course of this season.

The Dolphins were overwhelmed in the early minutes of an early-season matchup with May River in the John Drafts BC Classic, as the backcourt foundered and the Sharks carved up a tentative Creek defense. They played scared and lost by 20

Battery Creek’s

That was only six weeks ago, but the Dolphins looked like a different team Friday night in the

Palace. They withstood relentless effort from a good Orangeburg-Wilkinson team all night,

SCHOOL BASKETBALL STANDINGS

never shying from the fight in an intensely physical contest, and when it came to crunch time, they took over.

With a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter fueling a 44-41 win, the Dolphins put themselves in position to claim the Region 6-3A title if they can win out, which is no easy task. They were set to play their last regular-season home game Tuesday against Hanahan before traveling to North Charleston on Friday and finishing the regular season at Orangeburg-Wilkinson on Feb. 11

Three teams from Region 6-3A began the season in the S.C. Basketball Coaches Association’s top 10, and none of them was Battery Creek. No one outside Brown’s inner circle expected the Dolphins to contend for the crown, but they never resigned themselves to another fourthplace finish.

They want to conquer it all.

Justin Jarrett is the sports editor of The Island News and the founder of LowcoSports. com. He was the sports editor of the Island Packet and the Beaufort Gazette for 6½ years. He has a passion for sports and community journalism and a questionable sense of

Summer Estrella

LowcoSports.com

Lady’s Island Middle School’s girls wrestling team finished third in the team standings at the Carolina Invitational on Jan. 28 in Gilbert, with Summer Estrella claiming gold at 120 pounds to cap off a sensational season.

Estrella won five straight matches to claim the title, recording pins in 12 and 17 seconds in the first two rounds before registering another pin and a tech-

nical fall en route to the finals. In the championship match, she defeated Greenwood’s Sloan Mueller in an 11-6 decision. Estrella’s only loss of the season came to McCracken’s Trent Lazare in the finals of the Beaufort County Championships.

Londyn Clark also had a strong showing for LIMS, finishing runner-up in the 275-pound weight class.

John Paul II’s Nick Kessinger was runner-up

at 114 pounds in the middle school boys division of the Carolina Invitational, which was held the same day in Lexington. Kessinger is the first middle school wrestler from JPII to place in the event, which is the de facto state tournament for middle school and JV wrestlers.

Dual playoffs on hold The SCHSL dual playoffs were supposed to start Saturday, but winter weath-

er throughout the state put everything on hold until further notice. As of press time, a revised start date had not been announced. Beaufort is the No. 8 seed in the Class 4A bracket and is scheduled to open against North Augusta with the winner advancing to face host May River, assuming the Sharks take care of No. 16 seed

humor.

JUSTIN JARRETT

Tyrese Smith knocks down a jump shot in the fourth quarter of the Dolphins’ 44-41 home win over Orangeburg-Wilkinson on Friday, putting Battery Creek in position to win a region title with three more wins to close the regular season. Justin Jarrett/LowcoSports.com

Bridges Prep’s Sylvia Sanders defense Whale Branch’s Alyssa Fields on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, at Bridges Prep. Whale Branch won, 37-24. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Bridges Prep’s Ivan Gray runs the ball up the court against Whale Branch on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, at Bridges Prep. Whale Branch won, 42-41. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Whale Branch’s Chanel Holmes defends Bridges Prep’s Zariyah Henry. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Whale Branch’s Shamar Gadson handles the ball against Bridges Prep. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Applications open for Modjeska School at Penn Center

Staff reports

The Modjeska Simkins School is now accepting applications for its spring semester, which runs from Monday, March 2 through Monday, June 22. Classes meet Monday evenings at GROW in Columbia, as well as on Zoom and via live broadcast at Penn Center and four other satellite sites around the state.

This is the school’s 11th session. Expanding on last year’s success with partners in Sumter and Penn Center, this year remote sites have been added in Charleston, Orangeburg, Pendleton, and the Native American Studies Center in Lancaster. These in-person options let more students have the collaborative experience that is central to the program.

“The satellite sites broaden access to the school and help build community outside of our Columbia base,” said Brett Bursey, Executive Director of the S.C. Progressive Network, which launched the school in 2015 “You deepen the experience by sharing the experience,” he said. “The course covers challenging subjects, and it is good to have people to help process the material.”

Network staff member James Felder facilitated operations at the Sumter site last semester. “People in Sumter have heard from graduates, and are anxiously awaiting the spring

semester,” he said. “People who have been through the program are our best messengers.”

Robert Greene II, a tenured professor at Claflin University and president of the national African American Intellectual History Society, has served as the Modjeska School’s lead instructor since 2019

“This year’s session of the Modjeska Simkins School comes at a time of both great peril and great promise for our state and our nation,” he said. “Learning the true history of South Carolina’s past can be inspiring and up-lifting.”

The curriculum reflects the Network’s nonpartisan strategy, focused intentionally and specifically on South Carolina, which continues to play an oversized role in our nation’s politics.

“As we approach the 250th anniversary of America's founding by revolutionaries, South Carolinians need and deserve to hear and learn more truth, not less," said education expert and Network board member Cecil Cahoon. "Guided by the example of our own civil rights icon Modjeska Monteith Simkins, the school offers the unvarnished truth about defining events in the people's history of our state. You won’t learn as much truth about our past — and how to improve its future — elsewhere.”

This unique and ev-

er-evolving master class is led by guest presenters who are some of the state and nation’s leading writers, historians, professors, and activists. It is a curriculum unlike any in South Carolina. While the school welcomes students of all backgrounds and ages (the youngest was 14) the course is not for everyone. It covers mature, difficult topics, and requires hours of outside study each week.

If you love history, want to be a more effective citizen or grass roots activist, are a retired person wanting to connect with others in your community, or are a transplant who wants to know more about your adopted home state, this course is for you.

Throughout the semester, the school also offers Deep Dives, Sunday afternoon programs held in Columbia and broadcast on Zoom. They are free and open to the public. To receive notices of the programs, sign up for the Network’s email list or bookmark GROW’s calendar.

For details, see modjeskaschool.com. There you will find a list of instructors, the spring class schedule, and an application.

Full tuition is $500. Payment plans and some scholarship assistance is available. Tuition is being waived for public school teachers.

For more information, email info@modjeskaschool. com.

Local educational institutions hosting African American history conference

Staff reports

Beaufort County School District (BCSD), the Reconstruction National Historic Museum, Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park, the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce, Beaufort chapters of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, Penn Center, and Mather School Museum and Interpretive Center are collaborating to host “Untold Stories of Private Jim Capers: Local Hero Whose Bravery Changed History,” an African American history education conference.

According to a media release from BCSD, the conference is open to anyone desiring an immersive learning experience about African American history specific to Beaufort County.

This fifth annual African American History Education conference promises a robust series of activities and educational sessions for attendees. The three-day immersive experience (Thursday, Feb. 12 through Saturday, Feb. 14) includes live music and dance,

art, eight historical tours, in-depth presentations, and panel discussions from local and nationally renowned artists, authors, educators, clergy, living legends, and historians with deep personal connections to the Lowcountry.

“This year’s conference will leave you energized, inspired, and motivated to engage in meaningful dialogues resulting from this collaboration,” said conference organizer BCSD Officer of Academic Initiatives N’kia Campbell. “Attendees will gain even more perspective and insight about the Lowcountry through the many untold stories shared.”

For a conference overview and registration, visit https://bit.ly/4c5DiSJ. Interested persons can pre-register for the conference online on a first-come, first serve basis. Community members can register for $25 a day. BCSD employees and BCSD, TCL, and USCB students can attend the conference free of charge. For more information, email AAHEC@ beaufort.k12.sc.us.

Penn Center graduates of the Modjeska School at 2025 graduation. Submitted photo

HEART HEALTH

Make it Mediterranean

Your guide to the most heart-healthy diet

Special to The Island News

The Mediterranean is known for more than just sparkling blue waters and beaches, picturesque cities and la dolce vita — its cuisine comprises the backbone of one of the most heart-healthy diets out there.

What is the Mediterranean diet?

While not a trademarked diet approach, the “Mediterranean diet” refers to the general dietary choices made by those living in nations that border the Mediterranean Sea. In that region, rates of heart disease tend to be lower and life expectancies after age 45 are among the highest in the world, reports the American Heart Association.

The diet focuses on prioritizing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds, as well as olive oil as a primary fat source and moderate amounts of dairy, eggs, fish and poultry.

“I recommend the Mediterranean diet to all of my heart disease patients,” said Dr. Francis O’Neill, an interventional cardiologist at Beaufort Memorial. “It’s the only diet that’s proven to reduce risk of stroke and heart attack. The Mediterranean diet’s most important tenet is cooking with olive oil as a healthy source of fat while avoiding the more rigidly high cholesterol

foods like beef and pork. It’s an excellent diet, and my colleagues and I strongly advocate for it.”

Olive oil

The Mediterranean diet features olive oil as the primary source of fat. Why?

Among all edible plant oils, olive oil has the highest percentage of monounsaturated fat, which lowers “bad” cholesterol and increases “good” cholesterol. Studies have shown that olive oil has

anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and even can lower blood pressure.

While there are different grades of olive oil out there on shelves, extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a staple fat source for the Mediterranean diet.

Where’s the meat?

The most heart-healthy protein sources — and the main animal protein recommendations of the Mediterranean diet — are fish and

chicken, with as much skin and fat removed as possible, said Dr. O’Neill.

Many fish contain omega-3 fatty acids, which offer health benefits: anchovies, herring, sardines, bluefin tuna, black cod and striped bass, to name a few. Omega-3 fatty acids in your diet can help reduce the risk of heart failure, heart disease and heart attacks.

The Mediterranean diet cautions against filling up on red meats like beef, pork and lamb.

These meats have more saturated fat than chicken or fish, which can increase your risk of heart disease.

Make the swap

If the prospect of starting an entirely new diet overwhelms you, take heart: there are several ways to easily swap Mediterranean diet elements into your current eating habits

Substitute fruit for dessert. If you’re craving a sweet treat, some naturally sweet fruits can be an easy swap for overly processed, artificially sweetened desserts.

Try whole wheat bread. Instead of reaching for white bread, rice and pasta, make the switch to whole wheat bread, whole grain pasta and brown rice.

Lay off the sour cream. If you need a creamy element to your dish (such as a baked potato or to top off your bowl of chili), try one scoop of plain, low-fat Greek yogurt. Add a veggie instead. When treating yourself to a meal like pizza, tacos or sandwiches, add an additional veggie instead of more meat or cheese.

Go for the oil. Olive oil can be an easy, healthier substitute for butter or margarine.

Grill or bake. Forego cooking methods like frying, and instead choose to bake or grill your chicken or fish for a healthier result.

For a healthy heart, manage stress

Special to The Island News

Stress affects everyone differently; what might be overwhelming for one person may barely register for another. Even positive life events (think of a new job, marriage or buying a home) can trigger stress, while negative experiences such as illness, family conflict or being overwhelmed at work can intensify it.

"When you face a constant barrage of stressors, it can cause serious health issues, says Tara Kay, PAC, with Beaufort Memorial Heart Specialists. "Higher levels of chronic stress have been strongly linked to an increased risk of developing heart disease, depression, diabetes, dementia, cancer, and more."

What matters most for your health isn’t how much stress you experience, but how your body and mind respond to it.

Over time, unmanaged stress can take a toll on both mental well-being and heart health.

How stress affects your heart

When you’re stressed, your body activates its “fight or flight” response, releasing hormones like adrenaline and cortisol and causing your heart rate and blood pressure to rise and your breathing to speed up. This pattern is helpful in short bursts, but it’s harmful when that stress becomes chronic.

Chronic stress keeps your body in a constant state of high alert, which can contribute to:

High blood pressure

Heart disease

Stroke • Inflammation and reduced blood flow to the heart

Irregular heart rhythm

Digestive issues, headaches, muscle pain and sleep issues

Stress can also lead to unhealthy behaviors that raise heart disease risk, including smoking, overeating, physical inactivity and poor diet choices.

According to the American Psychological Association’s 2025 “Stress in America” survey, the majority of Americans say their stress levels have increased over the past five years, with around 75% reporting physical or emotional symptoms related to stress.

The link between mental health and heart health

Negative mental health states like anxiety, depression, burnout, anger and pessimism are associated with a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. In contrast, positive psychological well-being is linked to better health outcomes and longer life.

People who experience positive mental health traits like optimism, gratitude, mindfulness and a sense of purpose are more likely to have lower blood pressure, better blood sugar control, lower cholesterol and reduced inflammation.

How to manage stress

Don’t stress about stress:

small, everyday changes can make a big difference.

Try incorporating these stress-reducing habits into your routine:

• Move your body regularly. Walking, yoga, dancing, jogging, biking or any activity you enjoy can ease tension and boost your mood. Prioritize sleep. Aim for between seven and nine hours of sleep every night.

Stay connected. Even a quick phone call or check-in with a friend can help lower your stress levels.

• Practice relaxation techniques. Deep breathing, meditation or listening to music can all activate your body’s relaxation response and bring those stress levels down.

• Journal it out. Focus on gratitude and posi-

tivity by keeping a gratitude journal.

Do what you love. Find a hobby you enjoy to redirect focus from stress and negative thoughts.

“Understanding how stress affects you personally is an important step toward managing it,” said Kay. “For all of us, stress is unavoidable, but it doesn’t have to control your life — or your heart health.”

Is it a heart attack, or am I overreacting?

Special to The Island News

Chest pain can be alarming, and for good reason.

While not all chest discomfort signals a heart attack, it can be difficult to know the difference if it’s happening to you or a loved one.

If your chest pain is related to a heart attack, delaying care can have serious, even life-threatening consequences.

Heart attacks commonly cause chest pressure, squeezing or fullness in the center or left side of the chest. Reduced blood flow to the heart can also cause angina, which may radiate to the arms, back, shoulders, jaw or neck.

However, not all chest pain stems from a heart issue. Other possible causes include:

Acid reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Muscle strain Panic attack

Pneumonia Lung issues such as blood clots or a collapsed lung

Gallstones Stomach ulcers

Determining whether chest pain is dangerous can be difficult without a medical evaluation, so it’s best to err on the side of caution.

“Dull, aching pressure is generally more concerning than sharp chest pain,” said Dr. Terry Grainger, a cardiologist who sees patients at Beaufort Memorial Heart Specialists. “Pain that lasts five to 10 minutes, goes away and returns or is accompanied by other symptoms raises concern.”

Call 911 immediately if chest pain occurs alongside any of the following symptoms:

Shortness of breath

Nausea or vomiting

Sweating

Lightheadedness or dizziness

Pain spreading to the arms, jaw, neck or back

Risk factors matter; context for chest pain is critical. It’s more concerning if you have risk factors for heart disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, are a smoker or

live a sedentary lifestyle.

“If you develop concerning chest pain, take

New Census numbers show South Carolina is the nation’s fastest-growing state, adding almost 80,000 new residents between July 2024 and July 2025 Growth was fueled, the Census added, “by a sizable net domestic migration increase of 66 622 the increase of 1 5% was the highest of any state.”

But while some may be elated with fresh tax dollars they expect from just about enough people to populate another city the size of Greenville (70 720 people in 2020), think a little more deeply: If as a state we had to pay for a whole new city about the size of Rock Hill (74 372 people), how much would it cost to build everything that those new people in that new city would need – in one year? Billions. And next year, billions more for another city that size, if growth trends continue. For a state that has miserably underinvested for generations in physical and human capital,

adding more people is further thinning services to everyone – unless the state morphs away from a lingering plantation economy and starts spending real money to pay for better roads, schools, health care. Not only would improving infrastructure benefit newcomers and make the state more attractive, it would help lift longtime citizens out of endemic poverty, hunger and disease by reseeding the state’s economy with the fuel of capital and human investment.

That means investing more for roads and bridges, such as the $1 1 billion that outgoing Repub-

lican Gov. Henry McMaster has called for. That means more for education, such as paying new teachers more, which the governor also called for in last Wednesday’s State of the State address. But beyond using surplus state tax dollars for these lofty goals, the state needs to stop cutting income taxes for rich folks and generate more money to pay to prop up rural hospitals to improve health care. It needs even more money for roads and public infrastructure. It should steer new funding into public colleges, technical colleges, job training and more. In short, it needs to invest in South Carolina’s people.

McMaster, a fan of income tax cuts, alluded to investment needed for growth challenges in future years: “If left unaddressed, we will face future problems with water and sewer access, traffic congestion, road and bridge repair, demand for electric power generation, public safety, school overcrowding and health care

availability and everything else,” he said.

“Therefore, I submit to you that the time has come — and reality requires — that we seriously assess whether our state’s infrastructure and government services will be able to catch up if this unrestrained out-of-state population growth continues at this rate.”

For the past 50 years, South Carolina economic development has focused on luring big manufacturing companies and their jobs here. The state has done remarkably well by nabbing companies like BMW in Spartanburg to Boeing in Charleston. But the job whales are fewer and further between — and their demands can cause problems, such as the $150 million in overruns for environmental mitigation the state is being asked to pay for in the Midlands because of its promises to Scout Motors.

Now is the time for the state to focus on helping small business-

The worst of the worst?

Not by a long shot

As I sat at my computer, deliberating whether next week’s column or the approaching snow “scare” should impact my level of concern, I came to the conclusion I would go with that over which I have some control. So I moved on to three or four topics that I had previously mulled over, and finally I came back to the one that has bothered me from the moment I learned about it. Was it the blue bunny hat? Was it the Spider-Man back pack? Or was it the name Liam, that of my first-born great grandchild? Might it have been the totally innocent look on the child’s face as he observed what was happening, his mother screaming from inside the house, his father screaming, “Don’t open the door!”

Whatever the drawing card was, it pulled, it tugged, it yanked until I could no longer force it from my mind. I knew no child should have to endure this kind of thing; yet make no mistake, hundreds have. To write about it one more time will

not erase the trauma these children have endured at the hands of masked thugs; however, it may provide some sense of catharsis for me.

I have tried to determine how this story got lost in the plethora of Minneapolis “ICE travesties.” I guess I have to admit that the actual murders of two citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, soon overtook the capture of a 5-year-old “menace.”

I need to stop here with some clarification. There have actually been three murders. Sadly, Keith Porter, Jr., father of two was fatally shot in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve by an off-duty ICE agent. Why that barely made the news is a topic for another day, much more important than a mere digression.

Let’s begin with some background. Obviously, ICE was there to detain Liam’s father although I must say I wouldn’t be shocked if they whined that the child had done something that merited their immediate attention. Liam’s father does not appear to have a criminal record in Minnesota nor in his home country. So why was this man a target?

The family is originally from Ecuador and presented themselves to border officers in Texas in December 2024 to apply for asylum, said the family’s lawyer, Marc Prokosch. “These are not illegal aliens,” he said. “They were following all the established protocols, pursuing their claim for asylum, showing up for their court hearings, and posed no safety, no flight risk and never should have been detained.”

The Trump administration has repeatedly said it is targeting “violent criminals” and the “worst of the worst” in its immigration sweeps, though Homeland Security officials have also acknowledged that over the course of operations other

immigrants may be picked up too. “May” be?

Liam’s story is one example of just how ICE operates. School officials in Minnesota say that the pre-kindergarten student was used “as bait” by ICE, in an apparent attempt to gain access to the adults inside the private house where he lived. That act, the use of a boy too young to understand the political game in which he became a pawn, mirrors, in a perverse and deeply disturbing way, the power of a photograph. The photograph of this child soon became the vehicle to stir empathy and compassion on the part of the country. (The Washington Post) Columbia Heights Public Schools officials say Liam and his father were apprehended as they returned from preschool, that bystanders photographed the child wearing a bunny hat beside agents, and that a family member who was outside pleaded to care for him but was denied, prompting local outrage and rapid mobilization of school leaders and attorneys.

es, which fuel way more jobs than the whales. We’ve long called for the state to have a cabinet-level office to help small businesses, matched by a budget that can actually do something. (For example, if the state gave $500,000 grants to 300 targeted small businesses, it’s a pretty good bet that they would create more jobs than the 5,200 jobs coming from the $7 billion investment at two Scout Motors locations.)

In his speech, McMaster said the state’s best days are ahead. We agree. But to get there, state lawmakers need to focus on the future part of McMaster’s message and do something active — people investment — instead of just waiting passively for more people to show up with their retirement savings and senior tax rates.

Andy Brack is editor and publisher of the Charleston City Paper and Statehouse Report. Have a comment? Send it to feedback@statehousereport.com.

The superintendent, Zena Stenvik, publicly stated she saw the family’s immigration paperwork and asserted the family had an active asylum case and no removal order, framing the arrests as harmful to a community already shaken by multiple detentions of students.

Read that last sentence again .. .detention of “students.”

And now an update on the child who is in a detention center in Texas, far from home, from family, from school where his teacher, Ella Sullivan, was quoted as saying, “He comes into class every day, and he just brightens the room. His friends haven’t asked about him yet, but I know that they’ll catch on.”

Joaquim Castro and Jasmine Crockett visited the Texas detention center last week, and Castro spoke of seeing Liam and his father. The child was asleep in his dad’s arms, and the father told Castro this: “Liam is depressed and sleeping a lot. He no longer wants to eat.” He went on to say that at one point, Liam asked

where his book bag and his bunny hat were.

The little boy with the middle name Conejo (meaning rabbit), wearing the blue rabbit hat, may well become a national symbol, one of shame. One can only hope this image will shake the conscience of those perpetrating this kind of horrific act, assuming they have a conscience.

I’m reminded of a song I learned as a child in Sunday school … yes, dear reader, I was sent to Sunday school.

“Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

Perhaps this child’s indelible image will help to bring about the breaking point. If a picture is, indeed worth a thousand words, that of Liam Ramos speaks of pages of outcry.

Carol Lucas is a retired high school teacher and a Lady’s Island resident. She is the author of the recently published “A Breath Away: One Woman’s

USCB - Center for the Arts

ANDY BRACK

Journey Through Widowhood.”

CAROL LUCAS

Editor’s Note:

VOICES

A way forward for the City of Beaufort — 4 focus domains

This is the annotated public comment given by me on Friday, Jan. 30 2026 to Beaufort City Council at its annual strategic planning retreat.

1. Focus on the three primary core functions

The City Of Beaufort government should focus on the three primary core functions of any city government: Public Safety – includes the police department headed by Chief Stephanie Price and the fire department headed by Tim Ogden.

• Public Works and Infrastructure Maintenance

– includes roads, town hall, and other core city asset maintenance headed by Nate Farrow.

Land use – zoning, building permits, and planning headed by Curt Freese.

2. Decide between competing visions for Historic Beaufort

Two opposing visions now exist for downtown Beaufort. The first vision is to monetize Beaufort. This vision is driven by the desire for money by private individuals and companies. The second version is the Livibility

Vision promoted by those groups and individuals, like me, who want to live and work in Beaufort and balance growth with quality of life.

The Monetize Beaufort Vision focuses on how to bring as much business, tourists, events, and convention groups to downtown Beaufort. It’s about creating an “entertainment or social district” for amplified music whereby downtown Beaufort literally becomes the stage upon which people have a good time. It’s about allowing cruise ships and tour buses and four-story hotels, along with four-story parking garages. It’s about bringing convention groups during the week so conventioneers can party at night.

In stark contrast, the Livability Vision focuses on residents living and working in downtown

Beaufort. This vision supports and promotes vibrant live, work, shop, eat, and drink enterprises downtown but not at the sacrifice of residents’ quality of life. Tourists and tourism are the cherry on top; tourists are not the reason for being.

The Monetize Beaufort Vision seduces Beaufort to become akin to the downtowns of Nashville, Charleston, Savannah — or even New Orleans (Bourbon Street) or Las Vegas (The Strip) or Orlando (Disney World). All are great places, but all have allowed themselves to be monetized and, in my opinion, destroyed. Is this important? Yes. Is it worth fighting for? Yes.

3. Key priorities to move City of Beaufort forward

Only three key priorities exist in order for Beaufort to move forward:

• Fix the waterfront park now! It’s been 10 months since the citizen board was appointed. The City needs to secure a conceptual quote from McSweeney Engineering and a qualified marine contractor to a) replace the platform as is and b) backfill to the seawall all by raising,

Isuspect most of us have experienced meaningful coincidences in our lives — those events that seem preceded by, and linked to, some thought or dream, and feel far from accidental. If you have, you understand how they might evoke wonder, awe, and a sense of destiny in your life.

While there are plenty of skeptics — those who consider these coincidences as pure chance combined with some cognitive bias — there are far more of us who hold to one of a number of possible explanations as to their source. I’m personally intrigued by the phenomenon, and the metaphysical nature of the subject.

Regardless of the source, most “believers” consider it as a positive or benevolent force that offers a bit of a “nudge” when at the crossroads, or that provides the sense of a more meaningful life. But I’d like to share a recent experience that could give you reason to question the source of some of those cosmic whispers you might be receiving. Many who study the phenomenon, often referred to as synchronicity, suggest that the deeper meaning can be found if we pay closer attention to our internal thoughts or dreams and the events to which they seem linked. Some encourage journaling with the expecta-

in total or in part, the park’s elevation by 3 feet for resiliency. The design of the park is an iconic Robert Marvin design. Leave it as it is; fix what’s underneath. It’s that simple.

• Cancel the downtown marina lease held by Safe Harbor and its new owners, the $1 5 trillion dollar Blackstone Group. Hire a professional marina operator. Open our marina to Beaufortonians; don’t gate it off. Ironically, the City has spent almost $1 million building a day dock and a dinghy dock. We’re now spending hundreds of thousands of dollars more to re build the dinghy dock and provide access to the day dock, yet, we own a marina. Sell all assets which are not aligned with the core function of our city government to include: City commerce park; the Boys & Girls Club that is rented to USCB for $1/year; 701 Craven Street; 2153 Boundary Street; and 500 Carteret Street. Use the money, which could be $7 to 10 million, as seed money to fix the waterfront park.

4. Stop doing nonessential activities now

Stop throwing festivals.

Stop thinking the City government is the social chair for residents of Beaufort.

Stop thinking that the City government can save downtown businesses through band aid type subsidies — fix the waterfront park!

Stop believing that the City government is an economic engine for downtown Beaufort or for Beaufort generally; it is not!

Stop looking for money to do projects other than to find money to fix the waterfront park. Suspend or cut deeply your capital projects. Stop all spending on further parks until the Waterfront Park is repaired.

Stop competing with the private sector.

Graham B. Trask grew up in Beaufort and continues to be a resident of Beaufort. He owns a home in Beaufort’s landmark historic district. He also owns several businesses as well as residential and commercial real estate located throughout the City of Beaufort and specifically in the historic district. He adds value to almost 50 different resident business owner tenants to help them grow their enterprises. He is also the president of Protect Beaufort Foundation, Inc., and Beautiful Beaufort Open Land Trust. Contact him Graham@grahamtrask.com.

The manufacturing of meaningful coincidences

tion of finding patterns that help define the meaning. Furthermore, they believe you can in fact experience the phenomenon more frequently with this level of focus.

Personally, I’ve always paid close attention to what I’ve perceived as meaningful coincidences in my life. While I don’t subscribe to journaling, I have reflected a great deal on all the related details … and more recently, I actually have felt like I’ve been experiencing a much higher volume of them.

“What is the universe trying to tell me? In what direction am I being nudged?” Upon reflection, the patterns became obvious — more messages were coming to me through my digital devices … my phone and computer. Also, the nudges were feeling more like pushes. “Was I experiencing a new and meaningful connection between my inner psyche and the digital world,” I wondered? Then came the “light

bulb” moment. A post from Reddit at the top of my Google news feed, of a photograph with a description, grabbed my attention — it was very meaningful to me. It wasn’t the result of a search I had done, but it offered an incredibly unique perspective on a topic in which I had great interest.

The message seemed to provide directions on a subject I’ve been considering for quite a while.

But then suddenly I made a connection … a connection of the photograph with all the other recent online searches I had completed. My fascination quickly turned into embarrassment. “How could I have mistaken the source of this message?”

It wasn’t from any inexplicable force in the universe. It was the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) — meaningful, yet not coincidental at all. It had clearly been drawing from my online activity and had begun to subtly offer feedback; in a way I had not expected.

Once my embarrassment passed, I reflected more on the new-found influence of artificial intelligence in my life. I decided to conduct a simple experiment to gain perspective on my “digital footprint” — I was curious about how well AI actually knew me. I typed

my full name into the Gemini (Google) search bar and then clicked the “AI” button to complete the search. Within seconds my internet story appeared — grammatically correct, wellorganized, and easy to read. “Impressive” I thought.

Upon review, I concluded that there was a high-level of accuracy to the story. But it was definitely not 100% accurate. There was information missing, and the program made some assumptions to fill in the gaps. I felt the results were what you might expect when playing the telephone game with a group of people with hearing deficits — the distortion of the story with repetition would be compounded by a higher volume of missing information.

My little experiment substantiated a concern that I think needs more attention – search results can be flawed (that acknowledgment now appears as a disclaimer with all search results, by the way). That’s certainly a concern with any research where facts matter, right?

AI is in its infancy, and its ability to search will only improve with time. Nonetheless, search engines will inevitably remain unable to access all information available online. While the power and access of the search engines are sure to increase, the ability to restrict access will also improve. It will never provide anyone with 100% accuracy to their story — the hypothetical “perfect” search engine

will always be faced with boundaries.

Security of online information will also improve over time, as we gain an understanding of how online information can be misused. But security will never be absolute. The online experiences I had that gave me the sense of a “meaningful coincidence” are not considered malicious. They were consistent with the legal practices of filtering content to boost engagement. It’s naïve to think, however, that these strategies will always be used in a beneficial way for all of humankind. There’s certainly enormous potential for this “force” to be misused in a very manipulative way.

AI may not be the universe whispering in our ear, but it certainly knows how to nudge us. Understanding those nudges, and questioning them, is essential if we want to stay in control of our own stories. With thoughtful oversight, ethical standards, and a healthy dose of skepticism, we can make sure this new digital “force” works for us rather than against us. Until then, tread carefully … and “may the force be with you.”

Mark A. Schmidtke is a retired dentist and considers his retirement a journey of discovery and creative self-expression.

MARK A. SCHMIDTKE

GRAHAM B. TRASK

VOICES

Editor’s Note:

‘You need to think about a family’

It is Tuesday, early, and my laptop says it’s 29 degrees in Port Royal.

This morning I have a fire in the hearth — a much needed fire that is in no way decorative — and a cup of whole bean coffee.

The frigid weather was predicted for a solid week before its arrival and we were reminded about black ice, hypothermia and how to operate portable generators when the power lines come down.

I, myself, find this cold weather memorable.

Generally these are good memories associated with a fire; a fireplace; keeping the wood burning; and drinking several fingers of The Famous Grouse with a friend in front of that effective, adjusted, well-tended fire.

But these cold weather memories begin with my father — an immunologist — who grew-up in the depression. He was a cautious man, driven by his work,

TSCOTT GRABER

who loved building small fires in a dark, still-frigid cabin while the rest of our small, sleeping family dreamed of beaches and Snow-cones.

This early morning fire-building sometimes involved me and generally happened at national parks — in those days inexpensive cabins came with these parks — and my father and mother were careful about money. Mesa Verde, Big Bend and a stone hearth were usually the setting for stories about his childhood, his medical work, and sometimes his tour in the Aleutian Islands.

By the time I got to college, I was thoroughly inoculated with this need to assemble small fires while others slept. I remember one effort — when I found myself (and a young woman) snowed-in just outside Williamsburg, Va. — coupled with the facts that there was no electricity and that vehicular escape was blocked with several feet of snow.

All we could do, in these circumstances, was tend the fire and talk. The fire-tending part was interrupted by infrequent trips into the woods looking for dead or ice-distressed, just-fallen limbs and the hauling that lumber back to the house.

I’m sure there was some kind of nutrition — probably potted meat, sardines or tuna right out of the can — but mostly it was talk about my uneven experience at The Citadel; her consistent success at William and Mary, periodically peppered

with the strange and bizarre “war stories” necessarily attached to life in the barracks.

I was good at telling these war stories, animated, but those longago, smoke-scented, snow-brightened days gave us time to get past the anecdotes and into the future and what we believed that future would look like.

In that setting — unscripted hours of fire watching with very few interruptions — I was unfocused, uncertain and unable to describe a life that she wanted to be a part of.

Some years later I found myself snowbound near Westminster, Md., visiting my (former) Citadel roommate Buff Stansbury.

He had a furnace — a furnace that required a steady supply of wood — and so our time involved chopping, splitting and hauling the wood back to his Revolutionary-era farmhouse.

Buff was just back from Vietnam — having spent a year engaging the North Vietnamese in a visceral and tactile manner — and so we talked about that year and what he wanted now that he was back home.

Eventually he asked, “And so, Scott, where are you going with your life.”

After a period of silence I said, “I’ve got a law degree but I’m really not sure.”

“Not sure?” I told him that the practice of law was focused on closings, fees, and my particular job (then) was writing-up covenants for wealthy retirees on Hilton Head Island.

“It’s not the work I thought I would be doing.”

I didn’t keep a journal in those days so I can’t remember how, precisely, he replied; but it was snowing and we were taking turns splitting wood and it was something like, “It’s time to nail that part down.”

Then I do remember Buff saying, “And, by the way, you need to think about a family …”

Fifty years later my son is seen sitting in a monitor-lined room in Stamford, Conn. He is getting ready to edit a televised football game and will, as is his custom, text Buff before the broadcast asking about knee injuries, contract negotiations and defensive strategies. And I, as is my custom, follow their text conversation on my cell phone. But then, without fail, my mind returns to a bright, snowbound afternoon and a conversation between two callow boys trying to imagine their clouded futures.

“And, by the way, you need to think about a family…”

Scott Graber is a lawyer, novelist, veteran columnist and longtime resident of Port Royal. He can be reached at cscottgraber@gmail.com.

Evolution of the pecking order

imes are changing, pecking orders evolving, but the chickens aren’t pleased. After all, they take pride in being the inspiration for this universally applicable ranking measure.

Ranked positions in all species have existed since their evolution, but it was chickens who gave it its name, recognizing that it provided stability and sustainability to the flock.

But times are changing. No longer are pecking orders limited to the old measures of rank progressions: the fairest of them all, the tallest, the fastest, the smartest, the most nimble in the tight squeeze.

Pecking orders are no longer limited to who is strongest, who can jump the highest, or who has the latest weave in what is being woven.

Stan Kroenke recently picked up another 937 000 acres of land, bringing his total ownership to 2 7 million acres. This puts Stan at the top of the list of private landowners in the United States. The top 100 members of this

exclusive club are found in The Land Report’s latest listing. Somewhere is the biggest farm. Somewhere, the largest forest, the deepest mine, the most spacious mansion, the largest quarry — if it’s a limestone one, I know where that is!

But these listings aren’t pecking orders; they’re rankings of relative size unrelated to flock security or sustainability. To be a pecking order, the top of an order has to have a measure of responsibility for and control over those on lower levels.

The essence of that control is respect, not comparison.

Here’s an example of an emerging pecking order form:

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Too much damage

Barb Nash hit the nail on the head. Trump and his sycophants are causing so much chaos with Venezuela, ICE, etc., that we are forgetting about the terrible long-lasting actions the administration has taken against our healthcare system, the environment, and our allies around the world.

Don't get me wrong, almost everything they are doing is bad for the America, that I know. Hopefully when they are gone, we can recover from some of it. But the damage to medical research, NIH, CDC, WHO, USAID and the EPA will take decades to reverse (if it can be done at all).

Diane Patino touched on a huge issue

Picture this ... you are walking along a pleasant path on a bright, sunny day; the birds are singing; the flowers are in bloom. A man is approaching from the opposite direction.

As you come within hearing distance and eye contact, you extend a simple greeting: “Good Morning, sir! What a fine day it is.”

But the man makes no reply. The gap narrows — only silence as you pass. Was that a smirk?

Setting aside the possibility that the person is deaf, ill, or depressed, is there a form of pecking order at work here? Does the muted passer believe he is exercising a form of control with his rudeness?

If so, does it emanate from a pecking order of his own formation, one where his position at the top is based entirely on his limited sense of value and morality?

Now consider this:

A mother of three, a smiling example of naivety and Good, moved along a path of peaceful resistance, innocently engaged, she believed, in protecting others’

freedoms.

But some would say she was a distracting silliness. After all, if this really was a serious matter, wouldn’t the CEOs of major corporations, the heads of national law firms, and the Deans of colleges be there with her or send representatives?

None is there.

Alone, clothed only in indications of common citizenship, she extended a greeting to an approaching masked officer dressed like a cross between a Salvadoran prison guard and a French resistance fighter.

“That’s fine, dude, I’m not mad at you,” this simple citizen said.

Poor dear, she had no idea how much danger she was in or that those words would be her last.

Nor did we.

The approaching officer was accompanied by other similarly costumed individuals, some of whom were swearing and issuing conflicting orders; actions that supported the officer’s belief that he occupied a position not only allowing him to ignore her greeting

but to destroy her.

What pecking order would allow such a reaction other than one based on a self-centered morality that placed him beyond the accountability of his own humanity?

He was a bad bird.

If you think I’m being disrespectful in my description of the shooter’s attire, consider this: many of our uniformed officers wear neckties, and detectives wear suits, both of which honor their accountability by not hiding their identity.

Pecking orders are designed to promote flock stability and sustainability based on respect.

James Madison, a father of our Constitution cautioned us to do the same, “You must first enable the government to control the governed; and then oblige it to control itself.”

We have work to do. The chickens are not impressed.

Doug Pugh is a retired judge from northern Michigan. He and his wife are wintering on Fripp Island and are pleased to be there. He can be reached at pughda@gmail.com.

concerning the words "domestic terrorist."

If, in recent years, we have had serious domestic terrorists in our country, it would be the 1,500 American MAGA's who literally attacked our National Capitol building in 2021. And now these same convicted MAGA's are running for or already holding positions in our government. Thanks to presidential pardons from our felonius president.

And as Carol Lucas implied, ICE agents, as they are currently behaving, are the very definition of "governmental domestic terror" toward American citizens and immigrants. They are causing chaos and fear.

– Bob Lewis, Port Royal

DOUGLAS PUGH

ART

“Confederate Currency: The Color of Money” 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday and on weekends during performances, through Sunday Feb. 15, USCB Center for the Arts gallery. An exhibition by artist John W. Jones on loan from the collection of Drs. Sshune and Harold M. Rhodes, III. Through powerful visual language, Jones examines the historical and symbolic role of Confederate currency, exploring themes of value, labor, race, and memory. The exhibition invites viewers to reflect on how money functions not only as an economic tool, but also as a cultural artifact shaped by history and ideology.

“The World is Our Oyster” — Beaufort Art Association January/ February show Through February, Beaufort Art Association Gallery, 913 Bay Street, Beaufort. For hours and more information, visit beaufortartassociation.com. The show is free and open to the public. More than 60 local artists exhibiting new art throughout the gallery exploring the beauty of the Lowcountry. Maritime art of all kinds will be showcased. The new show celebrates treasures of the Lowcountry coastal paradise -- plenty of marsh and boats and birds and seafood -- with different artistic interpretations in many styles and mediums. Jewelers, potters, sculptors, wood workers, textile artists, and painters of all mediums are represented.

Budding Artist After-School Art Club 4 to 5 p.m., or 5:15 to 6:15 p.m., Mondays/Wednesdays or Tuesday/ Thursdays, Happy Art Studio, 10 Sam’s Point Way, Beaufort. Ages 8 to 13. Painting, drawing, clay or crafts. Visit www.happyartstudio.net.

BOOKS Books Sandwiched In Noon to 1 p.m., Mondays, Through March 2, 2026, USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret Street, Beaufort. An active community leader discusses a book that has had an impact on the presenter, with questions and discussion to follow. Free to attendees through generous community sponsorships. Free parking. Our 39th season will showcase the following six experts and notable community leaders speaking about books that inspire them: • Feb. 9: “Shrimp Tales: Small Bites of History” by Beverly Bowers Jennings. The book’s author will join Captain Craig Reaves, commercial shrimper and owner of CJ Seafood, to discuss the featured title and its related topics. Book signings will follow the session.

Feb. 16: “The Empty Space” by Peter Brook. Presented by Libby Ricardo, MFA, University of South Carolina at aBeaufort Associate Professor of Theater and Interdisciplinary Studies; Program Coordinator for Interdisciplinary Studies.

Feb. 23: “A Sand County Almanac” by Aldo Leopold. Presented by Andrew Bridges, President and CEO, NEMOURS Wildlife Foundation.

Mar. 2: “Me & Patsy Kickin’ Up Dust: My Friendship with Patsy Cline” by Loretta Lynn. Presented by Amanda Brewer Dickman, Director, Beaufort County Library.

CALENDAR

ABLE Foundation Oyster Roast

5 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 7, Live Oaks Park, Port Royal. All-you-can-eat oysters, chili, hot dogs with beer, wine, soft drinks, live music and a gift certificate raffle. Supports the Disabilities Foundation of Beaufort County. $60 per person. Get tickets at https://bit.ly/3ZisOYJ.

Port Royal Mardi Gras celebration

4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 7, Paris Avenue, Port Royal. The Krewe of Port Royal is hosting its annual Mardi Gras Parade, featuring beads, music, and a lively after-party. The parade will follow the same route as previous years, traveling from the Post Office on Paris Avenue, turning onto 11th Street, and concluding at Shellring Aleworks. Festivities will continue at Shellring Aleworks with a Battle of the Bands featuring Whale Branch High School and Battery Creek High School. Attendees can also enjoy an after-party with food trucks, music, and a face painter for kids, making it a fun-filled time for the entire family.

Bands, Brews & BBQ

6 to 9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 13 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 14, Paris Avenue, between 7th and 11th Streets, Port Royal. Fueling Scholarships and Service, hosted by the Zonta Club of Beaufort. Enjoy BBQ, brews, and

to 11 a.m.,

Tickets are $15 for

14,

for those 12 and younger. Enjoy pancakes, waffles, biscuits & gravy, sausage, and scrambled eggs with juice, coffee, and tea. Buy tickets online at https:// beaufort-lions-club.square.site/ or at the door. Beaufort Charities Annual Two-Day Oyster Roast 5 to 10 p.m., Friday, March 6 and noon to 10 p.m., Saturday, March 7, Live Oak Park, 904 14th Street, Port Royal. Friday’s ticket price ($40) includes live entertainment, Frogmore Stew, steamed oysters, plus unlimited beer and wine souvenir cups available for purchase. Saturday’s ticket price ($50) includes live entertainment, the annual oyster roast, unlimited beer and wine souvenir cups available for purchase, two live auctions (3 and 6 p.m.) and

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Oaks Park, Port Royal. $40 per person.

Tickets available at www.fortfremont.org or by mailing a check to P.O. Box 982, St. Helena Island, 29920 by March 9. No walk-ins on day of event. Oysters and chili catered by Sea Eagle Market. Music by the Sweet Ferns. Silent Auction, appetizers and desserts. BYOB and chairs.

Karaoke with Melissa 7:30 p.m. to midnight, Mondays, Tomfoolery, 3436 17 Market, Habersham, Beaufort. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.

Karaoke with Ali

9 p.m. to midnight, Tuesdays, Luther’s Rare and Well Done, 910 Bay Street, downtown Beaufort. With DJ Ali.

Karaoke with Melissa

7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Beaufort Moose Lodge, 350 Broad River Blvd, Beaufort. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

9:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Rosie

O’Grady’s, 2127 Boundary Street, Suite 2, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy karaoke with either Parker or Eric.

Trivia with Tom –Bricks On Boundary 7 p.m., Every Thursday, Bricks on Boundary, 1422 Boundary St, Beaufort. Free. Team trivia event, win house cash and Beer Bucket prizes! For more information, visit https://rb.gy/o9nhwe.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

7 p.m., Thursdays, Amvets Post 70, 1831 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Free. Public is welcome. Enjoy Karaoke. Dinner will be available.

Bluffton Night Bazaar –a Lowcountry Made Market 5 to 8 p.m., first Thursday of each month, Burnt Church Distillery, 120 Bluffton Road. A highly curated selection of accessories, clothing, home goods, custom gifts and more by local artists and makers.

Habersham Farmers Market 3 to 6 p.m., Fridays, Habersham Marketplace. Vendor roster includes B&E Farm, Cottonwood Soap, Flower Power Treats, Hardee Greens, Megs Sweet Treats, Vitamin Bee, Lady’s Island Oyster Company, Pet Wants.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew 9 p.m., Fridays, Highway 21 Bar, 3436 Trask Pkwy, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy Karaoke with Lt. Dan.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew

9:30 p.m., Fridays, Rosie O’Grady’s, 2127 Boundary Street, Suite 2, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy Karaoke with Parker.

Karaoke with Melissa 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Fridays, R Bar & Grill, 70 Pennington Drive, Bluffton. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.

Port Royal Farmers Market

9 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, year round, Naval Heritage Park, 1615 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Rain or shine. You will find fresh, local, seasonal produce, shrimp, oysters, poultry, beef, pork, eggs, bread and cheese, as well as plants, ferns, camellias, azaleas, citrus trees and beautiful, fresh cut flower bouquets. There are prepared food vendors serving barbecue, dumplings, she crab soup, crab cakes, paella, coffee, baked goods, bagels and breakfast sandwiches. No pets allowed. For more information, visit http://www.portroyalfarmersmarket. com/, visit @portroyalfarmersmarket on Facebook or call 843-295-0058.

Slip and Splash Saturdays 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturdays, Battery Creek Pool, 1 Blue Dolphin Drive, Beaufort, and Bluffton Pool, 55 Pritchard Street, Bluffton. $5 per person. Stay busy for hours climbing on our inflatable challenge track.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew 7 p.m., Saturdays, The Beaufort Moose Lodge, 350 Broad River Blvd., Beaufort. Free. Enjoy karaoke with Lt. Dan. Come early at 6 p.m. for Steak Night.

Eric’s Karaoke Krew 9:30 p.m., Saturdays, Rosie O’Grady’s, 2127 Boundary Street, Suite 2, Beaufort. Free. Enjoy karaoke with Eric.

Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud 9 a.m. to noon, 1st Saturday each month, Port Royal Farmer’s Market, Corner of Ribaut Road & Pinckney Blvd, Port Royal. Free. DAYLO Students and other volunteers will read to young children, who are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animals.

Karaoke with Melissa 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, Peaceful Henry’s Cigar Bar, 181 Bluffton Road, Bluffton. Enjoy food and drinks during Karaoke with Melissa.

DANCE

Lowcountry Shaggers

6 to 9 p.m., Mondays, Albergotti Grill, Holiday Inn, 2225 Boundary Street. Shag lessons with Tommy & Sheri O’Brien and others. Occasional ballroom and oncea-month line dancing. Beginner, intermediate and advanced lessons. Open dancing after lessons. Visit www.lowcountryshaggers.com of email lowcountryshaggers@aol.com.

The Beaufort Shag Club

6:30 to 9 p.m., Wednesdays, AmVets Club, 1831 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. Free lessons for members from 6 to 6:30 p.m. We also host a dance the second Saturday of each month from 7 to 10 p.m. Lessons will run September through May only. Visit our FaceBook page (beaufortshagclub) for current events.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

BEMER Longevity Technology

9 a.m., 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, 2 times a day. Offered by BEMER Specialist - Human & Equine, Elizabeth Bergmann. Text 410-212-1468 to get the Zoom link. Free.

Rooted Beaufort Yoga classes 5:30 to 6:45 p.m., Thursdays, Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal; 9 to 10:15 a.m., Whitehall Park or Pigeon Point Park.

Rooted Beaufort is a collective of local Yoga teachers who host outdoor yoga classes and donation-based events with proceeds being donated locally on a rotating basis.

HISTORY Beaufort History Museum at the Arsenal 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays, 713 Craven St, Beaufort. General Admission for Adults $8, Seniors $7, Active Duty Military and College Students with ID $5. Children/Teens younger than 18 Free. Explore and experience more than 500 years of Beaufort History with knowledgeable docent guided tours.

The Historic Port Royal Museum

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or upon request, Thursdays through Sundays, The Historic Port Royal Museum, 1634 Paris Ave. The museum features the turn-of-thecentury businesses and industries of Port Royal: Shrimping, crabbing, oystering, the railroad, the school and the mercantile. Great gifts featuring local artists are available. For more information. visit www.portroyalhistory.org, email historicportroyalfoundation@gmail.com or call 843-524-4333.

Tour Historic Fort Fremont Dawn to dusk, Monday through Sunday, The Fort Fremont Preserve, 1124 Land’s End Road, St. Helena Island. Free and open to the public. The History Center is open Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m., Fridays from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Visitors can learn about the fort’s history during the Spanish-American War through interpretive signs, self-guided walking tours with a smart phone, exhibits in the history center, and docent-led tours. For more information visit www.fortfremont.org or contact Passive Parks Manager Stefanie Nagid at snagid@bcgov.net.

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

“Hidden Gems” Book Club

3 p.m., third Monday of each month, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island. Free. So many books, so little time. St. Helena staff have uncovered some great titles to get you started on your “hidden gem” journey. Join us for lively discussions and coffee or tea. No registration required.

Career Navigator

11 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Tuesday, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. Free one-on-one resume writing and job application assistance with a Career Navigator from Palmetto Goodwill. No appointments necessary. For more information call 843-255-6458.

Bridge Club

10 a.m. to noon, Wednesdays, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. Join us if you want to learn a new game, practice your skills, or need more players. Call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-255-6458 for more information.

Mah Jongg Open Play

11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursdays, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island. Already know the basics of this fun and popular tile game? Join others for open play – all materials supplied. Cards may be purchased at nationalmahjonggleague.org.

Mahjong Club

9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Fridays, Beaufort Library, 311 Scott Street. All levels of players are welcome. Feel free to bring your own mahjong sets. Plan to meet every week. For more information, call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-2556458.

MEETINGS

Lady’s Island Business Professional AssocationaLIBPA meeting

8 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 10, Beaufort Realtors’ Association Headquarters, 22 Kemmerlin Lane, Lady’s Island. Free and open to the public. Arnold Brown, former member of Penn Center Board of Trustees, will be the featured speaker Indivisible Beaufort

11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 14, St. Helena Island Branch Library, 6355 Jonathon Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. The meeting is free and open to the public. Aisha Jones, Senior Partnership and Engagement Associate at WREN (Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network) will be the guest speaker. In addition, the Indivisible Steering Team has been monitoring the healthcare situation in South Carolina and will give a brief overview of the dire consequences of ending the Affordable Care Act Enhanced Premiums (subsidies) and cutting Medicaid. Beaufort Lions Club 6 p.m., first and third Monday of every month, St John's Lutheran Church, 157 Lady's Island Drive, Beaufort. For more information, visit thebeaufortlionsclub@ gmail.com or follow on Facebook/Instagram/Nextdoor.

ET/UFO/UAP Discussion Group Sundays, (March 22, 3-4:30 p.m.; March 29, 7-8:30 p.m.; April 5, 3-4:30 p.m.; April 12, 3-4:30 p.m.; April 19, 3-4:30 p.m.; April 26, 7-8:30 p.m.), 2 Habersham Park House, Habersham, Beaufort. Free and open to the public. Watch and discuss the most important event in human history. The "Disclosure of UFOs/UAPs." We will watch interviews from retired military and civilians sharing their UFO experiences from the series “Cosmic Disclosures,” “Gaia.” Come and learn about these paradigm shifting events. We are moving into disclosure — might

as well be educated. Questions? Please email ncloring@icloud.com.

PFLAG Savannah –Beaufort Peer Group 6:30 p.m., first Tuesday of every month, Fellowship Hall, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort (UUFB), 178 Sams Point Road, Beaufort. Free. The group will be moderated by Rick Hamilton and Kay Carr. The provides advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community, family, peers, and allies in the Lowcountry. The peer group provides a safe and strictly confidential environment for LGBTQ+ individuals, their families, friends, and allies to discuss the challenges faced in coming out or being out in neighborhoods, the workplace, school, or church. The organization offers resources for counseling, educating, and advocating to achieve an equitable, inclusive community where every LGBTQ+ person is safe, celebrated, empowered, and loved. Minors under the age of 18 are required to come with an adult parent, guardian, or mentor. Additional information about peer groups, membership, donations, and volunteering is on the website www. PFLAGSavannah.org and on Facebook.

Beaufort Chapter of America’s Boating Club 6 p.m., 2nd Tuesday of most months, at various Beaufort/Port Royal venues. Regular meetings begin with a Social, followed by Dinner and often include an exciting Guest Speaker from the Lowcountry. For Meeting Information or Educational Opportunities, please contact Paul Gorsuch, Administrative Officer at admino@beaufortboatingclub.com . Boat ownership is not required, however a passion for safe responsible boating is mandatory.

Zonta Club of Beaufort 6 p.m., 4th Tuesday of each month, Smokehouse, Port Royal.

Rotary Club of Sea Island lunch meeting 12:15 p.m., 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, 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, visit www.seaislandrotary.org.

Rotary Club of Sea Island social gathering 5:30 p.m., 3rd Tuesday of each month, locations vary and posted on our website. For more information, visit www. seaislandrotary.org.

Beaufort Rotary Club Noon, Wednesdays, Sea Island Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island. Catered buffet lunch, followed by a guest speaker. Prospective members welcome. For further information and upcoming speakers, please visit website www. beaufortrotaryclub.org.

The Beaufort Trailblazers –A Volunteer Group 8 a.m., first Thursday each month, University Bikes, Beaufort. Anyone interested in supporting or building off-road/ dirt/wilderness mountain biking/jogging/walking trails near is encouraged to attend. For more information, call 843-575-0021 or email universitybicycles@hotmail.com.

Parents Alienated By Their Adult Children 10 a.m., Thursdays & 6 p.m., Fridays, Lowcountry Outreach Center, 80 Lady's Island Drive, Beaufort. This is a 12-step support group for Parents Alienated By Their Adult Children and is based on the international group, Parents Alienation Advocates (PA-A). Contact Marye Jo Hartley or Greg Hartley at 703-966-2014 for more information.

Emotions Anonymous International local group meeting 4 p.m, Thursdays, via Zoom. Emotions Anonymous International, (EAI), is a nonprofit program designed to help people with emotional difficulties. It has a chapter in the Lowcountry and members want others who feel the need to know they are welcome to participate. There is no charge to participate. They are based on the 12 steps and 12 traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous and follow a specific format designed to provide the support and tools for navigating life’s painful difficulties. All are welcome. Anyone interested in participating may contact the group via email at EALowcountry@gmail.com or call or text Laurie at 252- 917-7082. For more information on EAI visit www.emotionsanonymous.org.

Al-Anon Beaufort County 7:30 p.m., Thursdays, 80 Lady’s Island Drive in Beaufort. “Do you worry about how much someone drinks? Is it affecting your life? You are not alone. Al-Anon Beaufort Serenity Group offers help and hope. Join the group in Beaufort, or visit the Lowcountry page at https:// bit.ly/3HvksaF for more times and locations.

Rotary Club of the Lowcountry 7:30 a.m., Fridays, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady's Island Dr., Ladys' Island. Catered breakfast from local chef. Speakers weekly. Occasional social events replace Friday mornings, but will be announced on our website, www.rotaryclubofthelowcountrybeaufort.org.

MUSIC Broadway (Off Paris!) Music Extravaganza!

3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 15, St. John's Lutheran Church, 157 Lady's Island Drive, Beaufort. Featuring the St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Choir & other great artists. All are welcome. RSVP to church office at office@stmarksportroyal.org. Campfire Tyler 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sundays, The Fillin’ Station, Lady’s Island. Lowcountry Wind Symphony rehearsals 7 to 9 p.m., Wednesdays, Beaufort

High School Band Room. The Lowcountry Wind Symphony, a 65-member concert band, invites new members. Woodwind, Brass, Percussion. Open to adults and talented high school youth. For more information, email director@ lowcountrywindsymphony.com or call 843-304-0543.

Live entertainment 7 to 11 p.m., Wednesdays,

p.m., third Friday of the month, Habersham Marketplace.

Live entertainment 9 p.m. to midnight, Fridays & Saturdays, Luther’s Rare and Well Done, 910 Bay Street, downtown Beaufort.

OUTDOORS/NATURE America’s Boating

Sea Island Pkwy. Free, park entry fees apply. Sponsored by Friends of Hunting Island Keeper Ted and his team. For more information call the Hunting Island Nature Center at 843838-7437.

RECYCLING

Computer recycling program St. Andrew by the Sea Methodist Church, 20 Pope Avenue, Hilton Head Island. St. Andrew by the Sea has started a program where your trashed computer is wiped clean of all data and recycled to Missioncentral.org — a 100% charity cause.

SEWING/QUILTING American Needlepoint Guild Meeting

10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1st Tuesday each month. The Hilton Head Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild welcomes anyone, beginner or experienced stitcher, who is interested in needlepoint to join us for stitching, learning and fellowship. For more information, please contact us at hiltonheadislandchapter@ needlepoint.org.

Embroidery Guild of America Meeting Second Tuesday of every month, Palmetto Electric Community Room, Hardeeville. The Lowcountry Chapter of the Embroidery Guild of America welcomes anyone, beginner or experienced stitcher, who is interested in any type of embroidery including needlepoint, cross-stitch, surface and beaded embroidery, hardanger, bargello, sashiko, etc., to join us for stitching, learning and fellowship. For more information, please contact us at lowcountrychapter@egacarolinas.org.

SPORTS/GAMES

ACBL Duplicate Bridge Club

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., Tuesdays, Carteret Street. Events will be held weekly. Contact Director and Club Manager Susan DeFoe at 843-597-2541 for location.

Charity card game 3:30 p.m., first Tuesday of each month, Mangiamo‘s Pizza, 2000 Main Street, Hilton Head Island. The Hilton Head liberal men’s group is sponsoring a free social/charity event with a fun, easy to learn card game. A percentage of the money spent on food and drink goes to the charity of our choice. Come socialize, have fun, and support a good cause. Reserve a spot by texting Dave Desjardins at 202-460-5286.

Bridge Club 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesdays, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. Join us if you want to learn a new game, practice your skills, or need more players. Call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-255-6458 for more information.

Beaufort Masters Swim Team 6 to 7 a.m., Monday through Friday, Wardle Family Port Royal YMCA. Coached practices. Ages 18 & older, all skill & speed levels, no prior swim team experience needed. Visit lowcountryswimming.com for more information.

LOCAL MILITARY

Meritorious Promotion

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Erick Smack, Sergeant Major, Recruit Training Regiment, salutes Col. Anthony P. Bariletti, Commanding Officer, RTR, in front of Marines in formation on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, on Peatross Parade Deck, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Marines from around the depot were there attending a meritorious promotion ceremony in which 11 drill instructors with RTR were meritoriously promoted to the next rank. Cpl. Jacob Richardson/USMC

Homelessness still major problem for thousands of veterans

This is the first article in a series of three articles on homeless veterans and the resources available to those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless due to financial hardship, unemployment, addiction, depression, injury, illness, disability, or transition from jail.

Two recent real-life examples of veterans in crisis. As my Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post's Veterans Benefits Advisor, I have helped my Post provide emergency grants and other assistance over the past two weeks to two veterans (and their spouses and children) who were homeless or at risk of becoming homeless -- and in danger of extreme cold injuries from the worst winter storm in decades.

Neither of these two veterans is a member of my VFW Post, but they lived in our service area.

By the grace of God and the generosity of my VFW Post and others, we were able to help them find new places to live (a hotel with a kitchen for one month in one case, and a long-term apartment in the other) until they got back on their feet.

However, our two grants did not guarantee that the two veterans’ crises were over. They will still need help with financial management counseling, paying overdue bills, food, transportation, employment, and other problems from the VA’s National Call Center for Homeless Veterans and their local:

· VA Medical Center’s Homeless Care Coordinator;

· VA Medical Center’s Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT Team) Social Worker; · County Veterans Affairs Office, VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) or other VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer; and · Other resources similar to the South Carolina Tri-County (Charleston, Dorchester, Berkeley) Veterans Support Network; Veterans Service Organizations (like the

VFW, American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), American Veterans (AMVETS), Fleet Marine Association (FRA), etc.) and other resources.

What should a veteran do if he or she is homeless or about to become homeless?

Recognize that they are in a serious crisis and:

• Call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838 Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness — and their family members, friends, and supporters — can make the call to or chat online with the National Call Center, where trained counselors are ready to talk confidentially 24 hours a day, Seven days a week. The following people can call: Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness; Family members, friends, and supporters calling on behalf of veterans; VA Medical Centers and other VA facilities and staff; Federal, state, and local partners; and Community agencies and providers who serve veterans who are homeless or about to become homeless. Learn more about the VA’s National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at https://bit.ly/4a4tFB5

• Call their local VA Medical Center and talk with the Homeless Care Coordinator. The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and Healthcare System Homeless

Senior Social Worker (Care Coordinator) is Erin Ashoss, phone: 843-789-6804, Email: ErinAshoff@va.gov. Find your local VA Medical Center at the VA locator at https://bit. ly/49RLd4H. If they are enrolled in VA Healthcare, call their Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT Team) Social Worker. Every veteran enrolled in VA healthcare is assigned a Primary Care PACT Team, which consists of a physician (or Physician's Assistant or Nurse Practitioner), a Registered Nurse, an LPN or other Medical Assistant, a Social Worker, a Pharmacist, and a clerk/ Administrative Assistant. Learn about PACT Teams at the VA’s “Patient Care Services (Patient Aligned Care Team)” webpage https:// bit.ly/4bBIqhr and the “Your VA Primary Care Provider and PACT Team” webpage at https://bit.ly/4kcZaxG. Call your local Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC). The North Charleston, S.C. CRRC provides veterans who are homeless and at risk of homelessness with one-stop access to community-based, multiagency services to promote permanent housing, health and mental health care, career development, and access to VA and non-VA benefits. The CRRC is located at 2424 City Hall Lane, North Charleston, S.C. 29406 843-789-6804. There are 34 VA CRRCs. See the website for CRRCs at https:// bit.ly/4qMWN76

Call your South Carolina, Georgia or North Carolina county Veteran Affairs Office. Every county in SC and NC has a county veterans affairs office with one or more VA-accredited Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) to help

veterans understand their federal and state veterans’ benefits and apply for them. Find South Carolina Vets Services Office at https://bit.ly/4qgcGSC. Find Georgia Veterans Field Offices at https://bit. ly/46qPEBb. Find North Carolina Veteran Affairs Offices at https://bit.ly/3ZgpI7w. The Beaufort County Veterans Affairs Office webpage is https://bit.ly/4t9TqZy. The office is headquartered at 100 ClearWater Way, Beaufort, S..C 29906; 843-255-6880

There are also satellite offices on Hilton Head Island and Bluffton. USMC Lt. Colonel (Retired) and VSO Caroline Fermin is the Director of the Beaufort County Office. Her phone is 843-255-6880, and her email is caroline.fermin@ bcgov.net. Miquel Rivera is the Savannah, Ga., VSO/Office Manager. The Savannah Veterans Field Office is located at 1170 Shawnee Street, Savannah, Ga. 31419 912920-0214, Extension 312191 miquel.rivera@vs.ga.gov.

• Call your closest Vet Center. Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional counseling to eligible veterans, service members (including National Guard and Reserve components), and their families. Counseling is offered to make a successful transition from military to civilian life or after a traumatic event experienced in the military, including military sexual trauma (MST). Individual, group, marriage, and family

counseling are offered, along with referrals and connections to other VA or community benefits and services. Vet Center counselors and outreach staff, many of whom are Veterans themselves, are experienced and prepared to discuss the tragedies of war, loss, grief, and transition after trauma. The closest Vet Centers to Beaufort, S.C., are located in Savannah, Ga., and Charleston. The Savannah, Ga., Vet Center is located at 1170 Shawnee Street, Savannah, Ga. 31419, Phone: 912961-5800. The Charleston/ North Charleston Vet Center is located at 3625 West Montague Avenue, North Charleston, S.C. 29418, Phone: 843789-7000. Find VA locations (Medical Centers, Vet Centers, CBOCs, etc.) at https://www. va.gov/find-locations/. If you are in any kind of crisis, call the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and then press 1 Examples of a crisis include: The end of a relationship. Loss of a job. Housing instability. Feeling a loss of purpose. Recognizing a crisis in yourself or those you care about can help you know when to find support. Learn more about the Warning Signs of a veteran crisis at https://bit.ly/4qndJjO.

Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam

LARRY DANDRIDGE

SERVICE DIRECTORY

ATTORNEY

Christopher J. Geier

Attorney at Law, LLC

Criminal Defense & Civil Litigation

2048 Pearl Street, Beaufort, SC 29902

Office: 843-986-9449 • Fax: 843-986-9450

chris@bftsclaw.com • www.geierlaw.com

AUDIOLOGY & HEARING

Beaufort Audiology & Hearing Care

Monica Wiser, M.A. CCC-A Licensed Audiologist 38 Professional Village West, Lady's Island monica@beauforthearing.com www.beauforthearing.com | 843-521-3007

Hear the Beauty that Surrounds You

The Beaufort Sound Hearing and Balance Center

Dr. Larry Bridge, AU.D./CCC-A 206 Sea Island Parkway, Suite 31, Beaufort thebeaufortsound@gmail.com www.thebeaufortsound.com | 843-522-0655

CHIMNEY SERVICES

Put your business in the spotlight by advertising in the

Directory. Connect with eager customers, showcase your expertise, and secure your space today! Connect with one of our advertising reps: Amanda Hanna – amanda@lcweekly.com | Sasha Horne Hirshout – sasha.theislandnews@gmail.com

A customer favorite! Enjoy the classic newspaper format in a digital environment. Published every Thursday, the E-Edition is a digital replica of the print newspaper, with all of the same news and advertising content, on your computer, tablet or smartphone.

CLASSIFIEDS & GAMES

THURSDAY’S CARTOON

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400 plus procedures. Real dental insurance – NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-855-397-7030 www.dental50plus.com/60 #6258

AUCTIONS

GREAT ESTATE AUCTION. Sat., Feb. 7 at 9:30 AM. 940 Ellis Ave., Orangeburg, SC. Two story house packed with nice antique furnishings, Early Southern pieces, fine contemporary furniture, glassware, china, art, pottery, coins and much more. Please continue to browse web as we are still adding items. Call 803-860-0712. www.cogburnauction.com

ADVERTISE YOUR AUCTION in 80 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25-word classified ad will reach more than 1 5 million readers. Call Randall Savely at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 803-750-9561

FOR SALE 2016 Honda HRV, white 106K miles • $12,000 Text 843-252-1142

HELP WANTED – DRIVERS

ADVERTISE YOUR DRIVER JOBS in 80

S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25word classified ad will reach more than 1 5 million readers. Call Randall Savely at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 803-750-9561

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE

Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-844-775-0366 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.

TELEVISION & INTERNET SERVICES

DIRECTV OVER INTERNET – Get your favorite live TV, sports and local channels. 99% signal reliability! CHOICE Package, $84 99/mo for 12 months. HBO Max and Premium Channels included for 3 mos (w/CHOICE Package or higher.) No annual contract, no hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1 - 855237 - 9741

DIRECTV- All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Directv and get your first three months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84 99/ mo. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-844-624-1107

Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 On-Demand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-877542-0759

VACATION RENTALS ADVERTISE YOUR VACATION PROPERTY FOR RENT OR SALE to more than 1 5 million S.C. newspaper readers. Your 25-word classified ad will appear in 80 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Call Randall Savely at the South Carolina Newspaper Network, 803-750-9561

YOUR AD HERE

Looking to advertise your business, announce a yard sale, or share other classifieds? Contact Amanda Hanna (amanda@lcweekly.com) or Sasha Horne Hirshout (sasha.theislandnews@gmail. com). It’s an easy and affordable way to reach thousands of local readers right here in the Lowcountry.

2BDRM