Why Choose Bridges?
Apply online now Project Lead the Way—STEM-Infused Approach to Engineering and Design Process through January 31st We are expanding! • New Elementary Building Opening August 2021 Top Tiered Charter School—Tuition Free! • Guaranteed Class Sizes www.bridgesprep.org Accelerated and Advanced Classes • 1:1 Technology For more information Whole Child Educations through Paidiea and Social, Emotional and Academic Supports call (843) 982-7737 High School Career Pathways in Health Science, Cyber Security, Exercise Science, Education, and Computer Science
JANUARY 21–27, 2021 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
COVID-19
Push to vaccinate more residents suffers setbacks, enjoys small victories Appointments canceled as vaccine shortages intensify; Publix to begin vaccinations By Mindy Lucas The push to inoculate more Lowcountry residents against COVID-19 seemed to take one step back before moving one step forward this week.
In an announcement made on its website on Friday, Jan. 15, Beaufort Memorial Hospital said its officials were informed the hospital would not receive more than 2,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine they were expecting for delivery this week or orders equaling that many in the weeks to come. As a result, the hospital was forced to cancel more than 6,000 scheduled appointments through March
30, it said. An additional 6,000 requests for appointments will go unscheduled until supplies are available again. On Jan. 8 and Jan. 11, Beaufort Memorial placed three orders totaling more than 2,000 doses. However, officials were notified on Friday they would only receive 450 doses of the vaccine. “We understand that the national vaccine supply is somewhat limited;
however, the fact that we placed these orders over a week ago and were just notified by the state that they cannot be fulfilled is disappointing,” Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley said. “South Carolina hospitals have been working very hard to follow the state’s guidance to serve the best interests of our communities, but we cannot do it without consistent and reliable supplies.” The hospital went on to say that
all second-dose vaccination appointments would be honored and it would reschedule those who were waiting on their first dose as supplies became available. The announcement came just days after state health officials and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced it would begin offering the vaccine to those age 70 or older in an
SEE VACCINE PAGE A4
Kathy Jaskiewicz, left, is all bundled up against the biting wind during the Do It Like The Locals oyster roast Saturday at The Sands Beach in Port Royal. Photos by Bob Sofaly.
LOLITA HUCKABY
Planners keep on planning, builders keep on building
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LADY'S ISLAND eaufort County planners have opened the online comment period for seven road improvements to be funded by the 2018 penny sales tax. A zoom town hall meeting will take place Jan. 27 from 6 until 8 p.m., while comments are open through Feb. 14. But while the planners plan and citizens comment, development keeps happening. City planners revealed recently plans for the 55 townhouses on Miller Drive East have been filed by Logan Homes of Hilton Head. The basically wooded tract was annexed by the city last year despite objections from neighbors. Johnson Development Associates of Spartanburg have plans for 445 residential units on Upper Cane Island, a planned unit development annexed into the city. Original owner of the property, Fred Trask, is also in the process of selling lots for 15 new homes off Island Causeway.
SEE BUILDERS PAGE A3
Doing it like the locals do
From staff reports Despite chilly winds coming off the water, an enthusiastic capacity crowd wrapped up the inaugural Beaufort Oyster Festival on Saturday afternoon with The Way The Locals Do It oyster roast at the Port Royal Community Beer Garden at Sands Beach in Port Royal. Sea Eagle Market offered an authentic oyster roast by the bucket, along with a fried food truck a la carte, local craft beers and tunes from the Cluster Shucks. The Beaufort Area Hospitality Association, hosts of the Beaufort Oyster Festival, was forced to improvise
for the event’s first year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival was conceived this year as an 11-day festival week coinciding with Tides to Tables in conjunction with South Carolina Restaurant Week and culminating in a weekend of mini festival events throughout Northern Beaufort County. Th events celebrated all aspects of the Lowcountry and Carolina Sea Islands’ oystering culture and agri-tourism economy from historical, to architectural, ecological, agricultural, culinary, artisan, and more. The final event would typically
Blake Eweh of Donaldsonville, La., is well accustomed to using an oyster knife. Here, he pops open a freshly roasted oyster.
Newlyweds Daniela and Andre’ Walker from New York City enjoy some freshly roasted oysters Saturday during the Do It Like The Locals oyster roast.
occur at Waterfront Park, but organizers took precautions to keep attendees and volunteers safe amid the threat of COVID-19. Newlyweds Daniela and Andre’ Walker from New York City didn’t mind the adjusted event schedule.
The couple had business to take care of in Charlotte, N.C., and decided to spend the weekend on Hilton Head Island. There they read about the oyster roast and made the trip to Port Royal. “This is great,” they agreed.
SPORTS
MILITARY
INSIDE
Landsharks dig out of early hole to hand Dolphins first defeat.
Recruits navigate the Crucible at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.
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Lowcountry Life A2 News A2–5 Business A5 Health A6 Education A7 Sports A8
Virtual Open House January 21 5:30pm
Voices A9 Military A10–11 Directory A12 Classifieds A13 Games A13 Legal Notices B1–22
APPLY NOW Now accepting applications online at www.RiverviewCharterSchool.org or in person at 81 Savannah Highway in Port Royal. Don’t Wait! Applications are due by 4:30pm on January 31