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MAY 27–JUNE 2, 2021 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
City honors visionary
Beaufort honors Chambers with sign in Waterfront Park
Former Mayor Billy Keyserling and current Mayor Stephen Murray on Friday draw back the cover Friday of the new signage welcoming visitors to Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park during a brief ceremony. Mayor Murray said the waterfront park was Chambers’ vision, calling it “a physical gem that has and will have generational impact.” Photos (including headshot to right) by Bob Sofaly.
From staff reports As the City pointed out in it’s media release last week, the Waterfront Park is Beaufort’s crown jewel – a place for residents and visitors to dine, play, gather, and immerse themselves in the beauty of the riverfront. On Friday, the City of Beaufort honored the man whose vision made the park happen, dedicating a new sign to former Mayor Henry C. Chambers in Waterfront Park.
Former Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling and the current mayor, Stephen Murray, unveiled the sign, which reads “Henry C. Chambers Park,” leaving “Waterfront” out of the title. The sign is far more prominent than the plaque erected Henry C. when the 7-acre park Chambers opened in 1979. Chamber’s son, Bill, an architect, designed the bronze lettering that is affixed to the wall. The cost of the memorial is approximately $10,000, and was funded through the City’s
Lucinda “Mother Simmons” was recently honored at an outdoor funeral service held at her home on St. Helena Island. A pillar of the community, Simmons passed away on May 13 at the age of 95. Photo provided.
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f the turnout for Lucinda Simmons’ funeral service held on St. Helena Island on Wednesday, May 19, was any indication of the love and respect the community had for “Mother Simmons,” as she was called, then Simmons was loved and respected an awful lot. As cars and trucks began pulling off Sea Island Parkway and
MINDY LUCAS
lining the road just before noon on Wednesday, those driving by or slowing down to allow for
Council removes Greenway’s interim title Decision to make him Administrator unanimous
From beneath a canopy of tall pines just off the side of the road came two majestic white horses, wearing black sashes. With traffic stopped in both directions, the magnificent looking animals took a few tentative steps forward then entered the roadway. Farther down the line as cars and trucks began stacking up, drivers began to slow on
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A funeral procession on St. Helena Island stopped traffic on a recent Wednesday morning and we were all the more blessed for it traffic may have been struck by the sheer number of people in attendance. Hundreds of friends, family members and neighbors, many dressed in white, poured in for the outdoor service held at Simmons’ modest home just off Mattis Drive. But what was even more striking was another sight that began to unfold in front of all us “stuck in traffic” that morning.
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From staff reports Beaufort County Council unanimously named Eric Greenway Beaufort County Administrator at Monday evening's County Council meeting. Greenway had been serving as Interim County Administrator since November 2020. "Mr. Greenway has brought stability, increased morale and has demonstrated a depth and breadth of knowledge and experience needed for this position," County Council Chairman Joseph Passiment said. "During this time, we have been able to assess his performance and potential, which takes the guesswork out of the hiring process at this time." The decision came after a twohour executive session. Greenway has more than 26 years of experience managing, directing, and administering programs related to finance, land use, infrastructure, real estate development planning, entitlement, disaster recovery, and permitting. As Interim Administrator, Greenway worked with staff and County Council through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “I am humbled by the opportunity to serve this Council and the citizens as the County Administrator," Greenway said. "It is an honor to serve in such an amazingly beautiful place among amazingly beautiful people. I want to express my appreciation to the Council and my
The long, beautiful life of Lucinda Simmons
By Mindy Lucas
Beaufort Pride of Place program. Pride of Place is funded through donations rather than tax money. Joining Keyserling (2008-2020) and Murray (2020-present) were David Taub (1990-1999) and Bill Rauch (1999-2008), meaning the four mayors who have held the office in the 31 years since Chambers were all in attendance. Chambers died in 2018 at the age of 89. “Henry C. Chambers had the vision and tenacity to ‘bring back’ a dying downtown Beaufort by creating an environmental and commercial
It’s official: Cummings Tokyo-bound
Beaufort’s 20-year-old weightlifting phenom named to US Olympic Team
By Mike McCombs It was a forgone conclusion but it became official last week: C.J. Cummings is Tokyo-bound. When USA Weightlifting announced its eight-person team for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games (July 23-Aug. 8, Tokyo) on Wednesday, May 19, Cummings name was
on the list. The youngest member of Team USA, Cummings, 20, was a favorite to make the team last year before the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the XXXII Olympic Summer Games to this summer. “I’m from a small town where there’s barely any opportunity, so this opportunity for exposure and to go represent my country at the Olympics is a huge honor, not only for me but for my family, country and small town,” Cummings said in his Team USA bio on TeamUSA.org. A four-time consecutive Junior
world Champion, two-time Youth World Champion and holder of three International Weightlifting Federation World Records and 23 American records, Cummings was all but a lock to make the team. On Tuesday night before the announcement, Team Divergent Coach Ray Jones expressed “100 percent” confidence Cummings was on the team and didn’t plan to watch the announcement on Wednesday. Cummings’ father, Clarence Cummings Sr., said Wednesday,
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C.J. Cummings will compete in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Photo by Bob Sofaly.
EDUCATION
SPORTS
INSIDE
Beaufort Academy valedictorian, Emilie Claire Nason, headed to Vanderbilt.
Eagles shut out Sharks twice to claim district title but drop heartbreaker to open Lower State championship series.
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