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By Lisa Allen
When visitors flock to Hunting Island State Park when it reopens Memorial Day weekend, they’ll find a much different park, said Park Manager Daniel Gambrell. Parking, always a challenge, will be worse now. The 200 spaces at south beach are gone. Rather than turning left to the bathhouse and parking lot, visitors will continue on the main road to the J parking lot. Because of the limited parking spots, Gambrell said they’ll close the park for the day when it reaches capacity. “We’ve tried the oneout, one-in system before, but it doesn’t work.” A sign at Chowan Creek bridge will indicate whether the park is closed so people don’t drive all of the way out to Hunting Island. In the meantime, the park is still considering a shuttle service, but there is no timeline for that option, Gambrell said. Gambrell told a record gathering of Green Drinks Beaufort at Johnson Creek Tavern about what park employees found at the park after Hurricane Matthew. “We walked from the main entrance to the lighthouse,” Gambrell said. “Usually that walk would take 20 to 30 minutes. It took us fourand-a-half hours.” Gambrell said even in waders to his hips, the water sometimes came
Not that there is anywhere to drive, but the speed limit and stop signs leading to where the oceanfront campgrounds were are still standing. The campgrounds, however, are not. Photos by Bob Sofaly.
Gullah fest to be celebration of Reconstruction Staff reports
One of South Carolina's award-winning events, the annual Original Gullah Festival, returns Memorial Day Weekend and will be held from Friday, May 26, through Sunday, May 28, at Beaufort's Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. The theme for this year's festival is “Come Home to a Celebration of Reconstruction ... The Untold Story.” The Gullah are descendants of formerly enslaved West Africans living in the Sea Islands who work to keep their culture alive.
The three days of festivities feature “Lest We Forget History” seminars; a Gullah Lowcountry supper; live music; a film festival; African dance and drums; history re-enactors; the Robert Smalls Traveling Museum exhibit; a full-stage musical, "Decoration Day"; Reconstruction Gullah tours; Gullah African diaspora artists; a jazz concert; an All-White Attire Waterfront Party; gospel music; and a Silver Slipper Supper Club Dance. There will also be a Gullah marketplace with more than 40 craft and food vendors. Celebrations begin at 10 a.m. Friday with
WALLY WORLD OPENS Walmart on Lady’s Island has officially opened for business, and traffic issues have been hit and miss. PAGE A4
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Noise, parking, focus of panel By Lisa Allen
See SWAMP page A7
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Use promo code Island20 One offer per visit. May not be combined with other offers. Offer only valid at Groucho’s Deli of Beaufort. Expires 12-31-17.
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Hunting Island drains swamp
In preparation for the park’s reopening, four contracting companies are working there. One is clearing the 1,500 trees that fell in public areas, another is building new bathhouses, and two other companies are working to clear away buildings submerged or squashed by trees. Here, park rangers at Hunting Island State Park not only have to negotiate around fallen pine trees, but also deep standing water.
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ALSO THIS WEEKEND…
Don’t miss the annual Beaufort Memorial Day parade, which will start at 10 a.m. Monday downtown and end at the National Cemetery.
a Gullah village where re-enactors will share the Reconstruction story. Mainstage entertainment begins at 1 p.m. Admission is free during the day. Friday’s See GULLAH page A7
ISLAND GIRLS Women from around the area hit Boondocks to have fun and win prizes at Island Girls Night Out. PAGE B1
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See PARKING page A7
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A panel assembled by Main Street Beaufort, an organization representing downtown businesses, recently said property owners better keep their tenants in line regarding nighttime noise before the police do it for them. “It’s gotten down to simply being reasonable,” said Graham Trask, who owns several downtown properties. “It comes down to taking responsibility for your tenants. I have turned away tenants because of the potential noise.” Frank Lesesne, owner of Anchorage 1770, said Beaufort, isn’t — and shouldn’t be — known as a “bar town.” He said the appeal of Beaufort is its history and natural beauty, not its nightlife. Instead, he would like to see stores along Bay Street stay open later. “Our guests are looking for something to do.” “We need to reach consensus on what we want downtown Beaufort to be,” he said. Lesesne said he would also like to see the pavilion in the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park used more often, but not necessarily until midnight or 1 a.m. Dick Stewart, owner of 303 Associates, said he converted a condo above the Common Ground coffee house to commercial property because of the possible noise downtown. He said the noise issue could create more conflict if the Whitehall property across the Beaufort River from downtown is developed into a residential area. A lingering lawsuit between the bank that owns the property and Stewart and Scott Tully has been resolved, clearing the way for a group bidding on the property to complete its purchase. “If you don’t fix the noise problem before (Whitehall residents) get here, there will be a heavy-handed approach,” Stewart said. Linda Roper, director of downtown operations and community services for the city of Beaufort, said that no plans for the Whitehall property have been presented to the city. Existing city ordinances require noise levels to fall below a certain decibel at a certain distance by 10 p.m. weeknights and 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights in the Nighttime Music District, which is the water side of Bay Street between Newcastle and Carteret streets.
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