May 29 edition

closing permanently.

Future of Marines, F-35 seem still undetermined

Almost every day a Marine Corps jet — the F-35 Lightning — passes over our heads here in Beaufort. Some below may know the $100 million cost of this jet; others may know that the helmet itself is a $400 000 add-on. But few know the capability or the geopolitical role that comes with this remarkable weapon.

The F-35 is a single-engine, single-seat stealth fighter with a combat range of 770 miles and a maximum speed of 800 mph. It carries air to air and air to ground missiles; as well as laser guided bombs.

But the real story here is the electronic warfare system that allows multiple targeting, the ability to detect and jam hostile radar and take countermeasures; and six infrared cameras giving the pilot a “cohesive image of the battle space.”

The F-35’s “sensor suite” has an enormous advantage over other legacy aircraft like the F-18. Additionally the F-35 gets regularly updated software showing changes in hostile radar systems and the latest data on Russian fighter radar, all of which gives our pilot a better view — a view projected on the visor of his expensive helmet — of the threats he or she is flying into.

It is this software that the UK, Italy, Norway, Romania and Germany covet. But at the moment, the European countries that own this jet are worried about the cozy relationship between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump; worried about the deliberate interruption of U.S. gathered intelligence that we share with Ukraine; worried

SEE GRABER PAGE A8

The Chocolate Tree to close Friday

By Delayna Earley The Island News

Beaufort River Swim set for Saturday

By Mike McCombs

The Island News

The 19th annual Beaufort River Swim is set for Saturday morning, May 31, on the Beaufort River, and it looks like this one could be a record-breaker, participation wise. The race is the chief fundraiser for the Wardle Family YMCA’s Learn to Swim Program.

The day’s events include the 3 2-mile competitive Beaufort River Swim, a 1-mile Swim and 5K Road Race after either swim distance. This year’s new event is

a relay option, where one person swims and a second person runs the 5K.

Nancy Kirk, Director Of Marketing and Development at Beaufort-Jasper YMCA in Port Royal, said there are a record 202 participants registered as of Tuesday, May, 27. There were 171 participants registered at the same point last year.

“We’ll probably be able to provide scholarships [for swim lessons] for over 350 people,” Kirk said.

morning

The Beaufort marina parking lot is the end point of both swims. This is the staging area for swim and run events. Competitors should look for directional signage for check-in to receive a timing chip and be marked up. Parking is free until noon.

Check-in begins at 6 a.m., and the 3 2-mile competitive swim starts at 8 a.m., with the Fun Swim starting at approximately 8:30 YMCA staff will transport via bus all swimmers to their respective starting points (Safe Harbor

Port Royal Marina for the 3 2Mile swimmers and the Beaufort Memorial Hospital dock for the 1-mile swimmers). The last bus for the 3 2-mile swimmers leaves the Beaufort Marina at 7:30 p.m.

There is no same day registration — registration was to end Wednesday, May 28 2025 Award presentation will be held at the downtown marina parking lot area immediately after the 5K ends.

SCOTT GRABER

Members of the Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War and the Women’s Relief Corps lay the Memorial Wreath during the Memorial Day Ceremony at Beaufort National Cemetery on Monday, May 26, 2025. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

MEMORIAL DAY 2025

LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS

VETERAN OF THE WEEK BRAD WOLFF

American Legion Beaufort Post 207 brings you Brad Wolff, 63, who, after earning an education degree from King’s College in N.Y., joined the U.S. Navy in 1987 in Brooklyn.

After Boot Camp and Hospital Corpsman school at Great Lakes, Ill., he trained at the Field Medical Services School at Camp Pendleton and as a surgical specialist at Naval Hospital Oakland. He was then assigned to Naval Hospital Beaufort, from

which he deployed during Desert Storm. When he returned, he was assigned to the medical clinic at Parris Island. He separated in 1992 at the end of Desert Storm and joined the medical staff at Beaufort Memorial Hospital.

Following that work, he started Signature Tile and installed showers and floors for 26 years. He has also been active in

May 29

2020: Capt. Raymond Batz takes over command of Naval Hospital Beaufort from Capt. Rob Jackson.

June 1

2019: Dick Fetters dies at age 98 in Indianapolis, Ind. Beginning in 1992, Fetters led the Parris Island Masters swim team to 14 consecutive South Carolina state championships. In 2004, he led the team to a third-place finish nationally. And in 2014, he was inducted into the American Swim Coaches Hall of Fame. He lived in Beaufort 22 years.

Earl HErbErt ScHlaback

March 11, 1931 – May 19, 2025

Beaufort, S.C.

Earl Herbert Schlabach, 94, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, May 19 2025

A native of Elkton, Mich., Earl was born to Erwin and Leetta Blanch Bedford Schlabach on March 11 1931. After graduation from Elkton High School, he attended Fort Wayne Bible College in Indiana where he was the voice of the college radio station, and in 1951 Earl married his high school sweetheart, Nelda Alberta Wolfe. After graduation from college and blessed with a powerful, booming voice, Earl became a successful radio host for longer than 15 years and then went on to work another 25 years for Ford Motor Company in Human Resources. Earl and Nelda reared two children, Dennis and Debi.

June 2

1863: As an advisor to Col. James Montgomery, Harriet Tubman helps lead an armed assault on a number of plantations on the Combahee River.

The Combahee River Raid, as it came to be known, was successful, destroying infrastructure, taking thousands of dollars worth of food and supplies and freeing more than 750 slaves.

June 3

2019: Beaufort’s C.J. Cummings becomes the first weightlifter from any nation to win the overall title in his weight class for four

After retirement, they moved to Knoxville, Tennessee where they joined Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church (CSPC). Earl loved his family, friends, and the Lord. He continued to use his amazing voice as a part of the CSPC Choir and prison ministry, in radio and on television. After 55 years wed, Nelda passed away in March, 2006

In February, 2007, Earl married Jean Barton at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tenn. Earl and Jean

Habersham’s Ron Callari snapped a photo of a Begonia plant, which is now in bloom throughout Beaufort. Charles Plummer, Franciscan monk and botanist was the first to document begonias in Brazil in 1690. 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 highresolution 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.

Christian ministry, today serving as president of ACTS Ministries, Inc., (www.actsministries.faith) with involvement in the eastern United States and abroad.

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

consecutive years at the IWF Junior World Championships. Cummings, then 18, won two golds and a silver at the event in Suva, Fiji. Before his first junior world title in 2016 no American lifter had won a world title in any level since 2000

June 4

2021: Pfc. Dalton Beals, 19, dies of hyperthermia on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island while taking part in The Crucible, the physically taxing 54-hour exercise recruits must complete before becoming U.S. Marines.

– Compiled by Mike McCombs

split their time between homes in Knoxville and Beaufort, S.C., where they attended Sea Island Presbyterian Church. Earl loved attending Men’s Bible study, eating out at favorite restaurants, and staying in touch with family and friends through his unique and thoughtful email distributions of "A Thought for Today", "Did You Know ...?", and "Grin ...". He never met a stranger and loved to fellowship; he was always ready to make people laugh with a vast array of ultimate dadjokes. Earl will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Earl is survived by his wife, Jean Schlabach and family; his son Dennis Schlabach (Bethany); daughter Debi Robinson; Grandchildren Erin Kalb (Casey); Zach Beaver (Sarah); Levi Schlabach, Justin Schlabach; Sherry Razo; Amanda Cooper (Chris); his brother Clarke Schlabach (Diana); sister, Anne Sandison; 12 great-grandchildren; neices and nephews.

OBITUARIES

The Island News will publish obituaries up to 300 words for no charge. This service also includes a photograph. The Island News will have a charge of .25¢ per word of obituaries beyond 300 words. Please contact jeff.theislandnews@ gmail.com for more information.

Earl is preceded in death by his parents, Erwin and Leetta Schlabach; wife, Nelda; brotherin-law, Darrell Sandison; and son-in-law, Steve Robinson. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church with Rev. Clay Harrington officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church, Mission Fund, 9132 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, Tenn., 37923, or the Sea Island Presbyterian Church. Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.

Do you value your free hometown newspaper – made by locals, for locals? Free news isn’t cheap. Please help support The Island News!

Donations gratefully accepted at www.yourislandnews.com or The Island News, PO Box 550, Beaufort, SC 29901

Brad Wolff

Pigeon Point playground getting an upgrade

By Delayna Earley The Island News

Summer vacation for Beaufort

County students begins this week, which means that families will have more time to visit the local parks and playgrounds to enjoy the time off from school and the warm weather.

Beaufort has many parks with playground options, but due to renovations to the park equipment, families who prefer Pigeon Point Park will have to find a new park to enjoy for a few weeks.

The park is currently closed to the public as renovations began in mid-May and are expected to last eight weeks, weather permitting, according to City of Beaufort

Public Information Officer Ashley Brandon.

The park is anticipated to reopen to the public by the second week of July.

The renovations came about because of the “degradation” of the aging wooden playground equipment at the park, and it has become a safety hazard.

The playground previously was home to wooden play structures for children aged 2 to 5 years old and 5 to 12 years old, two single slides, a merry-go-round, a fourseat teeter-totter, a tot tree, a ribbon wall climber, a mushroom walk, a musical set and multiple swings.

As several of these items have

been deemed unable to be serviceable or repaired, they are being replaced.

The estimated cost for the project is $500,000 and will be funded by ARPA, Parks and Tourism Fund and the Capital budget.

According to a post made to the City of Beaufort’s Facebook page, no trees are being removed and the only work that is being completed is playground equipment replacement.

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.

Protests continue

and new equipment is being installed. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Burton shooting on Monday under investigation

Staff reports The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is investigating a shooting incident that occurred around 6:30 p.m., Monday, May 26, in Burton.

The Communication Center received a call about a gunshot wound at a residence in the neighborhood of Inwood Estates in Burton. When BCSO depu-

ties arrived, they found one male individual suffering from a gunshot wound. The individual was transported to Beaufort Memorial Hospital to receive medical treatment for to his injuries.

This investigation is ongoing.

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office encourages the public to report suspicious or criminal activity

by calling our non-emergency dispatch line at 843-524-2777. In case of an emergency, please dial 9-1-1 For those wishing to remain anonymous, tips can be reported to Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County via the P3 Tips app, online at www.TIPSBFT.com, or by calling 1-844-TIPSBFT (1844-847-7238).

At Beaufort Memorial, our advanced orthopedics and spine care team is committed to helping you be your best and enjoy life without pain.

Whether neck or back pain is slowing you down or your activities are limited due to hip or knee pain, our board-certified specialists will personalize your care using sophisticated diagnostic and treatment options. Our advanced techniques and technologies, including Mako SmartRoboticsTM and VELYSTM robotic-assisted joint replacement, will improve function and relieve pain quickly. Many surgical patients even go home the same day.

Visit BeaufortMemorial.org/Ortho for help addressing your pain.

At Beaufort Memorial you’ll also find:

• Joint preservation therapies

• Numerous non-surgical treatment options

• A personalized approach to restoring mobility and joint function

• Pre-operative education classes that engage patients and caregivers in the healing process

• An Optimization Program that follows you through the process to ensure the best outcomes

• Outpatient and in-home rehab services to get you back to doing what you love faster

Construction is underway at Pigeon Point Park to improve the playground. The park is closed while construction is ongoing

Around two dozen protesters, the smallest number since the weekly rallies began, gathered Memorial Day in front Beaufort City Hall at the intersection of Boundary Street and Ribaut Road to voice their displeasure with the actions and policies of the Trump Administration. Asa Aarons Smith/The Island News

Beaufort County: Be informed, prepared as hurricane season begins

Staff reports

The 2025 Hurricane Season begins Sunday, June 1, and Beaufort County, in a news release, is encouraging citizens to stay informed and prepared.

Over recent years, Beaufort County has faced hurricane threats from Hurricane Matthew, Tropical Storm Irma, Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Michael, Hurricane Dorian, Hurricane Helene, and Hurricane Milton, to name just a few.

This recent history makes it all the more important for County residents to stay informed and make preparations ahead of a potential storm. This is a good reminder for longtime residents and serves as vital information for all the new County residents.

Visit South Carolina Emergency Management Division's information page hurricane.sc for all the preparation information.

If you’d like to receive direct announcements and alerts from Beaufort County through text or email, sign up by clicking on the link below and entering your information:

Beaufort County Government (https://bit.ly/4mFO8C2)

Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (https://bit.ly/43i6cuj)

Beaufort County has three different hurricane preparedness videos running on Gas Station TV -- 17 gas stations around the County are running: Hurricane Preparedness--Are You Ready? (https://bit.ly/3FpXDo4)

Hurricane Preparedness--Pet Evacuation (https://bit. ly/3H8bTSX)

Hurricane Prepared-

ness--Build a Disaster Supplies Kit (https://bit.ly/3HckMLb)

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office’s Emergency Management Division leads the County’s response to natural disasters and will be the primary source of local information when a storm threatens.

After a storm has passed, operations then shift to the Beaufort County Disaster Recovery (https://bit.ly/4jkslwA).

For regular updates on preparations, County road and traffic changes, live-streams of state and local press conferences, evacuation orders, recovery efforts, County services, and post-storm damage reports, follow: Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (https://bit.ly/43i6cuj)

Beaufort County Emergency Management Division (https://bit.ly/3Z2IAHq)

Beaufort County Government (https://bit.ly/3HesynD)

Likewise, town and city leaders will regularly update their residents with live-stream videos,

messages from elected leaders, and detailed information specific to their localities. Follow:

City of Beaufort (https://bit. ly/3SVGPbu)

Town of Bluffton (https://bit. ly/4muFtlz)

Town of Hardeeville (https:// bit.ly/4mzpx1z)

Town of Hilton Head (https:// bit.ly/3H7K90K)

Town of Port Royal (https:// bit.ly/4dH0HsI)

Town of Yemassee (https:// bit.ly/44RNivm)

Announcements from Gov. Henry McMaster’s office and state emergency management officials can be found on Twitter: South Carolina Emergency Management Division (https://bit.ly/3STiDX8) Gov. Henry McMaster (https://bit.ly/4joU0g6)

And on Facebook: Gov. Henry McMaster South Carolina Emergency Management Division

Two important weather sites to bookmark ahead of time are:

National Hurricane Center: (https://bit.ly/3SqumfU) The NHC will provide regular updates on the hurricane’s potential timing, path, wind speeds and storm surge. National Weather Service: (https://bit.ly/3ZErb86) The NWS in Charleston provides more location-specific forecasts for potential flooding and wind speeds.

Things to consider if an evacuation order is issued: if staying with family or friends who live inland is an option for you, it is a good idea to make those arrangements ahead of time.

If you intend to use a public shelter, the locations of which are outside Beaufort County and will be announced once an evacuation has been ordered, make plans to evacuate early.

If you are evacuating with pets, be sure to check and make sure the shelter is pet friendly. Plan to pack a pet evacuation go bag including crate, bed, leash, food, water, bowls, leash and necessary medicine.

‘Flags In’ for Memorial Day

Final Coffee & Convo with the City Manager

Meet Beaufort City Manager, Scott Marshall, over a cup of coffee. This is your last chance this go around to engage in casual conversations, share your ideas, and ask any questions you may have about our beautiful city of Beaufort. The final Coffee & Convo will take place from 9:30 to 11 a.m., Friday, May 30, Mameem & Maudie at 81 Sea Island Parkway. Grab a coffee, come on in, and share your thoughts. We look forward to seeing you there. Let's make Beaufort an even better place to live together.

County VA to offer End of Life Planning Seminars for veterans, families

Beaufort County Veterans Affairs is hosting one more End of Life Planning Seminar

for veterans and their families.

The seminar addresses things veterans and their families can do today to ensure their personal effects are in order. It will also discuss Veterans Affairs benefits that surviving spouses may be entitled to receive.

The seminar will be offered at either 9 a.m. or 1 p.m., Tuesday, May 27 at the Beaufort Library at 311 Scott Street.

RSVPs are required for space and resource purposes. Please contact Crystal at 843-255-6880 to reserve your seat. For questions and more information please contact Beaufort County Veterans Affairs at 843-255-6880

Poll workers needed; training available

The Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County will be holding 10 new poll worker training classes.

All of the classes will be held at the main

office, located at 15 John Galt Road, Beaufort, S.C. 29906. The classes will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the following dates: Wednesday, June 18; Wednesday, July 16; Saturday, July 26; Wednesday, Aug. 20; and Wednesday, Sept. 17

To sign up for a class, visit https://beaufortsc.easypollworker.com/home.

United Way of the Lowcountry offers additional free tax prep days

United Way of the Lowcountry's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is offering additional free tax preparation days to help qualifying residents of Beaufort and Jasper counties file their federal and state tax returns accurately and efficiently.

The program – a collaboration between

the IRS, Beaufort County Human Services Alliance, and United Way of the Lowcountry (UWLC) – is designed to assist low-income individuals and families, non-English speaking taxpayers, people with disabilities, and seniors with their tax filing needs.

In Bluffton, the service is available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mondays, July 28; and September 29, at the Bluffton Public Library at 120 Palmetto Drive.

In Beaufort, the service is available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mondays, June 23 and August 25 at the United Way of the Lowcountry Beaufort Office at 1277 Ribaut Road. Limited spots are available, and in-person appointments are required. Visit www. uwlowcountry.org/VITA to reserve your spot, check for eligibility requirements and to find a list of necessary documents to bring.

– Staff reports

Tresa Hester of Beaufort National Cemetery helps Mia and Miya McDavid of Bluffton mount U.S. flags in front of monuments at the Cemetery in observance of Memorial Day on Friday, May 23, 2025, during the Flags In ceremony when flags were placed on all 24,000 gravesites by volunteers in advance of Memorial Day. Asa Aarons Smith/The Island News

The Simpson family of Beaufort join together Friday, May 23, 2025, to mount flags on the gravesites at Beaufort National Cemetery during the annual Flags In event. This year's Flags Out event — removal of the gravesite flags — will be held beginning at 9 a.m., Tuesday, May 27. Asa Aarons Smith/The Island News

Memorial Day Parade

Tree from page A1

At the time, there was not a lot of confidence from some in the community in the success of her business.

“Most of the founding fathers here gave us three months,” Green said. “I said, you don’t say that to a redheaded Irish girl.”

Green said that in the early 1980s, Beaufort was not like it is now and it was not as built up as the Beaufort of today.

“1980 – that was even before Walmart,” Green said.

Green said the seed for the business was planted after she made candy for her children’s teachers at Christmastime and the at the next PTO meeting, she was stopped by many there who were requesting for her to teach them how to do it.

At first, she started teach-

ing wives groups from the bases and ladies’ groups from around Beaufort to get the “ball rolling”.

The first store location was on West Street in downtown Beaufort where Green offered chocolate and candy making classes and sold sweets from their one candy case that her husband made for her.

She quickly realized that while the classes did draw people to their store, the part of the business that was the biggest draw was the candy case, which featured the confections that those attending the classes could learn how to make.

"People kept coming in and buying [the sweets],” said Green. “I was like, people, that’s not what we’re doing.”

Their first big test was Easter of that year when they realized that they could not make enough chocolate for the demand which led to

them expanding their business to a separate building nearby where they could house equipment to expediate the process.

“We had a little building behind us and we would make candy in there and then run across the drive-thru of the bank that used to be there,” Green said. “And on a Friday, that was pretty hazardous.”

Eventually, Green was able to move her business into its current location on Carteret Street which offered them more room.

Life is like a box of chocolates

The Beaufort chocolate store is no stranger to celebrities stopping in to sample their chocolates, and in the 1990s, The Chocolate Tree was one of the Beaufort businesses that got to grace the silver screen when the movie Forrest Gump was filmed here in the Lowcountry.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Academy Award winning producer Wendy Finerman, who was one of the producers on the iconic movie, reached out to Green to find out if she could make the letters to spell the words “Forrest Gump” out of chocolate and send them to people all over the country.

“I had no idea what that was, I didn’t realize it was a person,” Green said. “I said, well yeah, we could definitely do that. The problem would be finding a box long enough to fit all those letters in.”

From there, Finerman provided her with a credit card and a list of addresses for her to send the chocolates to as a promotion for the movie.

That was her first interaction with anyone from the movie.

From there, Green said that she would send boxes of chocolates “here, there and everywhere.”

Actress Sally Field, who plays Forrest Gump’s moth-

er in the movie, had them deliver chocolate to her a couple of times.

In the movie, the main character can be seen waiting for the bus – filmed in nearby Savannah, Ga. – while holding a box of chocolates and says one of the most famous lines of the movie, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.”

Green said that the production team was not able to use one of their boxes to hold the chocolate since The Chocolate Tree did not exist during the time period of the scene and movie, but the chocolate inside of the box was all from the Beaufort store.

Another famous fan of the chocolates is actress and singer Barbara Streisand.

Streisand stayed in the house located behind The Chocolate Tree’s Carteret Street location while she was in town in the early 1990s filming the movie adaption of “The Prince of Tides” based on the novel of the same name written by another Beaufort legend, Pat Conroy.

Green was dipping chocolates when the store received a phone call from Streisand thanking her and the store’s staff for all the chocolate that she enjoyed, although Green had to be relayed the message from a staff member.

“Normally, any of the advertisers or people wanting handouts or goodies, you know prizes or whatever, they would interrupt me, but they did not for Barbara Streisand,” said Green.

Is this the end?

Pat Green retired from the business a few years ago, and her son Gene and Pat’s younger sister, Joy King, took over ownership of the business.

Gene Green sold his part of the business to his aunt and then she died in late 2024 The COVID-19 pandemic also took its toll on the business, causing them to have to stop doing popular events such as the All-You-Can-Eat Chocolate Night, which successfully brought hundreds of chocolate lovers into the store for several hours to eat as much chocolate as their stomachs could handle while learning how to make some of the confections that the store was known for outside of chocolate.

After King’s death, the business went to her sons, and her son Cliff King took over.

Cliff King, who was not available for comment, is the current owner of the business and was the decider in closing the store according to Pat Green and her son Tim Green.

After news broke that the store would be closing their doors on May 30, rumors began to spread on social media stating that Pat Green and her son Tim Green would be coming back to take over the business after closing The Chocolate Tree for a month for renovations and reorganizing inventory.

While both Pat and Tim Green expressed their wish for the store not to close, there are no plans currently in the works for them to take over the business according to interviews that they both did with The Island News on Monday, May 26

That said, while they both said that there are not currently plans to reopen the business, never say never.

“This has all been so hard,” Pat Green said. “The business is like my baby.” Pat Green said that her phone has been blowing up with texts and calls since the news hit social media over the weekend, and she wanted people to know that she appreciates their sadness because she is sad, too. On social media, customers of the store have been posting about their sadness regarding the store closing because of how integrated the sweets shop is into the culture of downtown Beaufort.

Posts reminiscing about the All-You-Can-Eat Chocolate Night, the chocolate covered strawberries featuring strawberries from Dempsey Farms on St. Helena Island, the caramel apples in the fall and the chocolatier classes that the store used to offer can be found in the comments section of posts made by The Island News and other local news organizations.

“If there is any way we can reopen, we will try,” Pat Green said. “But it’s unknown at this point.”

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 Judge,

Three-year-old Ja’siah Mathews of Jacksonville Fla., waves as the parade marches past him during the Memorial Day parade in Beaufort. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Complete with a dump truck, Beaufort National Cemetery is represented in the Memorial Day parade in Beaufort on Monday, May 26, 2025. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

BJWSA welcomes Kilpatrick to Board of Directors

Staff reports

Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority (BJWSA) has a new member on its Board of Directors.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster officially appointed Carl Kilpatrick to the Board last month, and he recently attended his first meeting as a voting member.

Kilpatrick is the Chief Banking Officer of the Bank of the Lowcountry where he manages all lines of business and leads initiatives to improve both customer experiences and internal leadership development.

Swim from page A1

The Beaufort Search and Rescue Squadron will be providing the primary safety for our event.

DNR will have boating traffic cut off along the route. A fleet of kayakers and other safety vessels will monitor the course to ensure the swimmers’ safety.

Awards presentation will be held two hours after the swim start for swimmers and two and a half hours after the swim

Carl Kilpatrick

“I’m enthusiastic about Carl’s appointment to the Board,” Board Chair Greg Padgett said in a news release. “As our service area grows and providing our services becomes ever-more complex, his 30 years of experience in finance, customer satisfaction and building organizations will be invaluable to BJWSA.”

Kilpatrick said, “As the newest member of the Board, I look

start for swim/runners at the Downtown Beaufort Marina parking lot area. Last year’s male and female overall champions were Cohen Bruner and Piper Lucas. Kirk said, aside from the new relay option, there weren’t any huge changes to the event this year.

“This is our 19th year, so it’s kind of copy and paste at this point,” Kirk said.

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

forward to working with my fellow members to deliver on our organizational mission, to provide quality water and wastewater services to the current and future customers in the Lowcountry.”

Kilpatrick is a native of the Lowcountry, born in Beaufort. He is active as a Board Member of the United Way of the Lowcountry and Southern Carolina Regional Development Alliance. He is a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and a volunteer at the Good Neighbor Free Medical Clinic. He and his wife of 30 years, Cassi, have

two adult daughters, Reilly, and Reagan. The 11 member BJWSA Board sets the budget, policies and sets the strategic vision for the public, non-profit Authority. Members are recommended by Beaufort and Jasper County legislative delegations and are appointed by the governor of South Carolina. Kilpatrick is replacing Gerald Schulze who retired from the position. Schulze was presented a plaque at the Board’s April meeting recognizing his commitment and service to the Authority and community.

Holy

Holy Week @ 7:30 p.m.

Week @ 7:30 p.m.

Holy Communion

Good Friday, Apr. 18 @ noon

The Acts of the Apostles is like a baby photo of the early Church.

We witness the growth of a beautiful family of faith, formed by Jesus and guided by the Holy Spirit. Through this family, known as the Church, Jesus continues his ministry and cares for his people. Nearly two thousand years have passed since this portrait was taken.

As adults, we don’t look exactly like our baby pictures. Our faces have lost their chubby cuteness, and our arms and legs have gotten longer. But many important attributes remain unchanged, such as our eye color or our number of limbs. Similarly, if the Church described in Acts continued to this day, we would expect it to have grown and matured, while retaining the essential characteristics seen in its infancy.

The Church would look a lot different today.

Just as a child grows and learns over time, we would expect the Church to develop over the years. As Christians reflect on the teachings of Jesus, the truths of the faith would gradually become clarified and more clearly understood. As the faithful seek to grow in their relationship with Jesus, new spiritual customs and manners of prayer would gradually develop. External characteristics may have changed, but it would still be the same Church found in Acts.

Noon on Wednesdays beginning June 4

Good Friday, Apr. 18 @ noon

Easter Vigil, Apr. 19 @ 7:30 p.m.

A Service of Healing & Hope

Easter Vigil, Apr. 19 @ 7:30 p.m.

All are welcome

10 a.m. Sundays 1104 11th St., Port Royal stmarksportroyal.org

Easter Sunday Apr. 20 @ 9 & 11 a.m. 1104 11th St., Port Royal stmarksportroyal.org

Easter Sunday

Apr. 20 @ 9 & 11 a.m. 1104 11th St., Port Royal stmarksportroyal.org

All Grown Up What Would the Church Look Like Today?

In its essentials, the Church would still be the same.

As we explored in previous messages, there are many aspects of the early Church that are essential to its identity and mission, and thus we would still expect to find them in the Church today. The Church would be one Church, visibly united in teaching and worship. It would not be limited to one area, language, or cultural group, but rather would unite the human race as one spiritual family. Its leaders would have authority that has been passed down from the apostles. Its faithful will all struggle with sin, but for those who seek to know and love Jesus, they will find all they need to become holy.

We should still expect to find this Church today.

Jesus intended to continue his ministry through his family of faith, the Church. People will always need to hear his teachings, to be fed with the Bread of Life, to be healed and forgiven. Since these needs of the human heart will never disappear, the Church is meant to continue until the end of time. This is why Jesus promised the apostles: “I will be with you always, until the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20)

We believe that the Catholic Church is this same Church.

We are not just Catholic Christians because our parents raised us this way, or because of the spiritual comfort we receive from our faith. We are Christians because we believe that Jesus is truly God. We are Catholic Christians because we believe that the Catholic Church is the same Church found in the Acts of the Apostles, but grown up. It is the Church started by Jesus, and through it he still ministers to us today. In our next message series, we will explore reasons for this belief.

Swimmers make their way down the dock at the Port Royal Marina to the start of the 3.2-mile Beaufort River Swim on Saturday, June 8, 2024. File photo

Beaufort Garden Club holding 30th annual Garden a Day

This year’s event features 5 gardens

Staff reports

This year’s Garden a Day event, celebrating National Gardening week, is being held Monday, June 2 to Friday, June 6, and features gardens on Cat Island, Lady’s Island, and Beaufort.

The Beaufort Garden Club invites the public to visit these gardens, free of charge, from 9 a.m. to noon, rain or shine.

“This year’s theme is Gardeners’ dreams” Garden A Day Chair Kathleen Grewenig said. “One garden is full of color and water, another offers old world charm and ambiance, a third garden has a park-like setting, the fourth provides an evergreen Charleston feel, and Friday’s garden will make you think you are in the Caribbean.”

“We are very excited to continue our three decades of Garden A Day,” Beaufort Garden Club President Sheila Drouin said. “This year’s gardens are breathtaking and we hope they will all inspire Beaufort gardeners to keep dreaming too.”

The Garden a Day schedule can be found on beaufortgardenclub. com and is as follows:

Monday, June 2 – 53 Ridge Road, Cat Island

The Hoffmanns, on Cat Island. Charlotte Hoffmann always wanted a colorful and happy yard, to serve as a party place. Its main feature is an impressive sunken pond off the patio. She also created fun garden art and keeps bees. The property looks out onto the Port Royal Sound.

Graber

from page A1

that future F-35 software (intelligence) updates could be withheld.

Three versions

The F-35 comes in three versions. The F-35A was built for the Air Force and lands on long, well-maintained runways. The F-35B is the short-take-off-vertical-landing variant favored by the Marines. The third version, the F-35C, is the “carrier-capable” version and, obviously, is the Navy’s choice.

In February of this year, the Marine Corps announced it plans to “double its buy of the carrier borne F-35C and scale back its buy of the short-take-offvertical-landing F-35B,” according to Defense One. Defense One is an internet news organization that covers U.S. defense and national security, including politics and technology.

Although the Marines Corps still intends to buy a total of 420 F-35s; it will now buy 140 carrier-based jets rather than the 67 they had previously planned to order. This decision comes as a surprise because several years ago the Marines Corps announced plans to reorganize itself around smaller units capable of quick deployment to, say, the South China Sea or the Gulf of Aqaba. In this small unit mode they planned to “disperse the aircraft among austere forward deployed bases with shelter and concealment to enhance survivabil-

Charleston patio garden. She designed wrought iron gates that are surrounded with unusual species of hollies and camellias and year around color.

Thursday, June 5 – 19 Wade Hampton, Royal Pines, Lady’s Island

The Sobeichs, Royal Pines. Anna said that many, many years ago she was in a garden with long winding paths. That became her dream. She and her husband created 580 feet of path winding through gardens, creating a park like setting. They were on Garden a Day 10 years ago and they were almost in full shade. Hurricane Matthew has changed all that so they had to make some drastic changes with very interesting new plants.

Tuesday, June 3 – 1206 Pigeon Point Road, Beaufort

The Elliotts purchased the Magnolia Court Inn on Pigeon Point Road a few years ago and have worked tirelessly to bring old world charm and ambiance to their Inn. The garden is filled with interesting plants and outdoor sitting areas. Many of the Inn’s guests have helped in the garden.

Wednesday, June 4 – 65 Sweet Olive, Celadon, Lady’s Island Aasa Munk, Celadon, began gardening in Michigan and honed her skills designing and creating her gardens in Columbus. After retiring in Beaufort, she started creating an evergreen, cozy,

ity. ...” These “dispersed and concealed aircraft” would be the short-takeoff-and-vertical landing F-35B.

Force Design 2030

The small, austere, dispersed role was detailed in a Marine Corps study called Force Design 2030 that was endorsed by the then-Commandant, General David Berger, in 2020. Among other things, Force Design called for the elimination of Marine Corps armor and artillery — these would be provided by the U.S. Army — and Berger expressed concerns about the cost and vulnerabilities of the F-35

There was an immediate backlash from a host of retired Marine Corps generals who lobbied against the sweeping changes outlined Force Design 2030

One of the critics, Lt. Col. Gary Anderson, USMC retired, recently wrote of these new, smaller units, “It’s operational assumption is that the small groups of Marines known as Standin-Forces (SIF) can operate from hundreds of isolated islets and shoals in China’s First Island chain, firing sub-sonic NEMSIS anti-ship missiles at Chinese naval combatants. The theory is they will ‘shoot and scoot’ from islet to islet before the Chinese can develop a firing solution. They would theoretically be transported by light, yet to be built, Navy Medium Landing Ships.”

Anderson continued by saying, “Most of the critics of Force Design, myself among them, believe that the SIF will not be able to scoot fast enough to avoid Chinese detection and destruction. …”

Friday, June 6 – 46 Downing Drive, Pleasant Point, Lady’s Island

The Singers began designing and planting their garden before their house was finished. Melinda dreamed of a house and garden that were like the tropics, with many different species of palms. She even provided a tiny little beach for her grandchildren. The garden path opens on to a lovely lawn looking out over the Beaufort River.

The Beaufort Garden Club, the second oldest garden club in South Carolina, has been holding its Garden A Day event nearly every year in June since 1994. The event draws large crowds from South

Lessons from Ukraine

As this internecine debate continued, Russia continued to grind its way through Eastern Ukraine. But that World War I-styled bloodbath did not include the capture Odesa or interrupt the flow of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.

The “Ukrainian military has executed an effective defense of its ports and waterway access” including retaking of Snake Island, the destruction of the Russian ship Moskva, and the destruction of a Russian landing craft loaded with unmanned drones wrote five (former and current) Naval and Marine Corps officers on the security website, “War on the Rocks.”

“Perhaps even more noteworthy than these three successes has been the outright denial of a Russian amphibious assault on Odesa.”

This group argues that the Odesa success was done without a conventional navy, but “with small forces maneuvering in littoral craft or with land-based missiles, limited aviation, and low signature (visual and electronic) unmanned aerial and sea surface systems from key maritime terrain.”

This survival of Odesa was, according to these men, proof that Force Design 2030 was a model for the reorganized Marine Corps.

Kinzhal

Now we learn, notwithstanding Odesa, that that the Marine Corps will put more F-35s aboard carriers — and fewer on “islets” or on yet-to-be-built amphibi-

ous landing ships.

All of which is happening when there are concerns about the range of the Chinese CSS shore to ship cruise missile with a range of 930 nautical miles; and the new Russian shore to ship missile (Kinzhal) with a Mig-enhanced range of 1,200 miles.

Kinzhal is of particular concern because it has hypersonic speed — 7 000 mph — and its ability to “jink.” In any conflict around China, this missile could be used against large ships, including Navy carriers, which we would presumably counter with the Patriot P3 anti-missile missile.

There are ongoing arguments about whether or not the Patriot could knock down an incoming Kinzhal. It would appear that the Patriot could successfully knock out a Kinzhal especially in the final, re-entry phase when it slows down to subsonic speed. However, if the Chinese launch a whole bunch of Kinzhals there is the worry that they would overwhelm the Patriot batteries and one or more would get through.

But whatever the outcome in the Kinzhal-versus-Patriot debate, the long ranges of both the Russian and Chinese anti-ship missiles effectively push our large $16 billion dollar carriers at least a 1 000 miles offshore — which is beyond the combat range of the F-35, meaning the attacking F-35s will have to be refueled in flight to complete their mission.

The problem with the refueling is that the MQ-25 Stingray is not yet deployed with the fleet, although

this unmanned, stealthy, refueling drone is slated for carrier trials in 2026

There is also growing concern about deployment of the short-take-off-andvertical landing F-35B in the “expeditionary role” without the huge fuel and logistical support it would have aboard a carrier. There is an argument that the F-35B can’t be properly repaired or maintained in the middle of the South China Sea.

And then there is the U.S. Army.

The Army wants piece of the action

In the May 5 edition of The Wall Street Journal, General Ronald Clark said that the U.S. Army “has created agile new units to operate on front-line territories. In a conflict, the idea would be for these forces to disperse, hit Chinese targets from land, collect valuable battlespace information and create an opening for U.S. air and naval forces.”

These “agile new units” sound a lot like what the Marines are doing with their own austere, temporary, forward-deployed Marine Littoral Regiments.

It appears that the U.S. Army, long anchored in South Korea to check mate North Korea, wants a piece of the action in the South China Sea. The Army, seeing the Administration’s laser-like focus on China, doesn’t want to miss out.

The Marine Corps has long been the target of those who say it duplicates what the Army, Navy and Air Force bring to the “battlespace.”

This criticism began in

the 1950s With Eisenhower and Truman voicing their reservations. But Force Design 2030 carves out a new, unique mission in what is called the “littoral” Force Design 2030 advocates the use of unmanned drones saying that in the future, 40% of the Marine air force would be unmanned. But the Marines have been slow to take up these unmanned weapons having a combat range that is greater than the F-35C — especially the Valkyrie which comes in a shipping container and can be launched without a runway.

In the short term the Marines will have to use the F-35 either in the “carrier” mode or the “expeditionary” mode, and right at the moment, General Eric Smith — the current Commandant — seems to have the ear of the President. When the Commandant was asked about Force Design he replied, “So we’re on track to meet our force design. We are standing up MLRs, Marine Littoral Regiments. We’re constantly looking to determine how many we need, how many of them and where they will be positioned. 4th MLR at Okinawa, 3rd MLR out of Hawaii. We’re constantly looking at adjusting our MLRs and making sure they are executing what we designed them to do which is to be low-signature, highly mobile, long-range strike regimes that have the ability to sense, to make sense and to take action before action needs to be taken.”

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

Carolina and surrounding states. Garden visitors are asked to not bring pets.

The garden at 53 Ridge Road on Cat Island, home of Charlotte and Steve Hoffmann, features a sunken pond off the patio, handmade garden art, and views of the Port Royal Sound. Submitted photo

The garden at 46 Downing Drive in Pleasant Point, home of Melinda and Richard Singer, features a variety of palm species, a small beach area for their grandchildren, and a lawn overlooking the Beaufort River. Submitted photo

The garden at 19 Wade Hampton in Royal Pines, home of Anna and Chuck Sobeich, features 580 feet of winding paths through a park-like setting. Submitted photo

SPORTS Bridges Prep signings

soccer. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

2025. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Brothers Clay and Liam Sanders,

Staff reports

Beaufort Memorial hosted its fourth annual Bemmy Awards ceremony earlier this month, as dedicated hospital staff and dynamic departments were recognized for their contributions to the organization and healthcare in the Lowcountry.

Held during Hospital Week, the Bemmy Awards feature 11 categories that honor exemplary performance by Beaufort Memorial staff members during the previous year.

“We have a lot of really great things going on right now at Beaufort Memorial. We have a lot to celebrate in terms of what we’re doing to expand access to care, and are inviting lots of new people into our organization,” said Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley, kicking off the evening. “Our organization is about people. It’s not bricks and mortar, it’s not about new buildings. It’s about the people providing the great care to this community, to our patients.”

Respiratory therapist

James Kemmerlin, CRT took home the Vaux Award for Clinical Employee of the Year. Kemmerlin was involved in two lifesaving scenarios with premature babies born at Beaufort Memorial. He manually gave breaths to one infant for three and a half hours until the NICU team – delayed due to weather conditions – could arrive and transport the child. In another instance, Kemmerlin used a neonatal resusci-

‘Safety, compassion, innovation’

Beaufort Memorial honors top staff at Bemmy Awards

tation bag on a 25-week-old infant for longer than four hours.

The Non-Clinical Employee of the Year award went to wellness coach and former LifeFit Wellness Center manager David Purser, whose nomination detailed his “innate ability to inspire and motivate others, always leading with integrity and a positive attitude, no matter the challenges.” Purser has also shown leadership

during his transition from manager to part-time wellness coach as he continues nursing school.

The Department of the Year for 2024 was the Quality Services Department for the group’s commitment to teamwork, as well as demonstrating “a deep commitment to improving patient outcomes, reducing risks, improving patient safety while fostering excellence in the care we give our patients.”

Telehealth services manager Jon Lohr was honored with the Innovator of the Year award for his efforts to advance healthcare technology used at Beaufort Memorial.

“Jon has successfully implemented DAX and Phreesia, two transformative digital health solutions that streamline clinical workflows, enhance patient engagement and improve documentation accuracy,” his nomination read. “His leadership in integrating these technologies has not only optimized provider efficiency but also improved patient outcomes by reducing administrative burdens on clinicians.”

Runners-up for the hospital’s top awards were: third floor nurse Teri Willard, RN (Clinical Employee of the Year), Dawn Cooper, patient financial specialist at the Bluffton Healthlink pediatric outpatient clinic (Non-Clinical Employee of the Year), Food and Nutrition Department (Department of the Year) and clinical instructor Ashley Brown, BSN, RN.

Other recipients:

• Provider of the Year: Saeed Rehman, M.D., Pratt Emergency Center Medical Director (Runner-up: Carri Knapp, NP, advanced practice provider at Express Care and Occupational Health); Community Champion of the Year: Cheryl Rodriguez, PT, pediatric physical therapist at HealthLink for Children in Bluffton (Runner-up: Ashton Viterbo, MS. ATC, Business Development and Employer Relations Manager);

• Zero Harm Patient Safety Champion: Laurie Lacerre, hospital ultrasound tech (Runner-up: oncology nurse Brandie Gillian, BSN, RN, Keyserling Cancer Center);

• Volunteer of the Year: Mark McCain, an ER volunteer logging hundreds of hours (Runner-up: Randy Waldorf, transportation volunteer);

• Rookie of the Year: Director of Hospital-Based Physician

Services Casey Crane (Runner-up: occupational therapist Shailei McEnulty, OT, with Inpatient Rehab);

• Leader of the Year: Director of Rehab Services Megan Mack (Runner-up: LeeAnne Smith, MSN, RN, Behavioral Health Services Director);

• Patient Experience Champions (selected based on exceptional patient survey scores): Island Imaging (outpatient category), 3T Pediatrics and Medical/Surgical unit (inpatient category) and Sea Island Psychiatry (physician practices category).

“You are what makes Beaufort Memorial great, and you are what makes tonight so special,” Baxley said, emphasizing the hospital’s core values of safety, compassion and innovation – three pillars reflected in all the Bemmy award nominees and winners. “There were a lot of nominations; there is a lot of hard work and a lot of great care being provided at Beaufort Memorial.”

The Quality Services department took home the award for Department of the Year at Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s fourth annual Bemmy Awards. Photo courtesy of Beaufort Memorial Hospital

James Kemmerlin (right) won the Vaux Award for Clinical Employee of the Year at Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s fourth annual Bemmy Awards. Photo courtesy of Beaufort Memorial Hospital

Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s fourth annual Bemmy Awards were held in historic downtown Beaufort on May 15. Photo courtesy of Beaufort Memorial Hospital

The Adventure of Matte Black performs during Port Royal’s Street Music on Paris Avenue on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Street Music on Paris Avenue continues

Staff reports The Spring 2025 edition of Port Royal’s Street Music on Paris Avenue continues Saturday, May 31, at 6 p.m., with a free performance by Piper & The Hard Times.

According to organizers, Piper & The Hard Times play an “intense, eclectic and rhythmically dynamic music flavored with R&B, soul and rock. The band has an instrumental prowess that enables them to improvise with flair, while still creating music that has melodic appeal that can immediately connect with audiences anywhere. In 2024, they took top honors in the band division at the prestigious Inter -

national Blues Challenge, held annually in Memphis, Tenn.” In its 33rd season, Street Music on Paris Avenue will conclude two weeks later on Saturday, June 14 with a performance by Kevin Burt & Big Medicine. Burt, a member of the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame, is paying respects to Bill Withers via his current Gulf Coast Records release “Thank You, Brother Bill.” This homage to the legendary Withers showcases Burt’s captivating vocals, harmonica, and guitar talents, alongside his band Big Medicine. As always, bring your chair and your dancing shoes.

Tickets still available for Boy Named Banjo’s Beaufort appearance

Staff reports

There are still tickets remaining for the Beaufort appearance of Boy Named Banjo, one of Nashville’s most exciting genre-bending bands.

The band that fuses bluegrass soul with rock-androll swagger will perform at 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 30 at The USCB Center for the Arts. Their upcoming performance promises a fresh blend of folk, bluegrass, rock, and country influences—all delivered with the heart and harmony that define their sound.

their children’s education with a

529 College Savings Plan is a great way to help them reach their

Launched while two members, Barton Davies and William Reames, were still just students in high school, Boy Named Banjo got its start busking on the streets of Nashville, where a passing tourist inadvertently named the group by yelling, “Play that banjo, boy!” as Davies picked outside Robert’s Western World.

Performing initially as a trio with fellow classmate Willard Logan on mandolin, the group began life as an old-school string band, but their sound quickly evolved into something more adventurous with the addition of bassist Ford Garrard and drummer Sam McCullough, who joined

Boy Named Banjo's rapid rise has taken them from Tennessee porches to stages across the country. They've played at iconic venues and festivals such as the Ryman Auditorium, Bonnaroo, Stagecoach, Austin City Limits, the Grand Ole Opry, and AmericanaFest — and now add Beaufort to that list as part of the Center for the Arts Touring Artists Series.

WANT TO GO?

Who: Boy Named Banjo

When: 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 30

Where: USCB Center for the Arts

Tickets: $40 for adults, $35 for seniors and military, and $20 for students. Available at uscbcenterforthearts.com

after returning home from college.

Come experience Boy Named Banjo as they bring their Nashville sound to the Lowcountry. In Beaufort for one night only May 30 at 7:30 p.m. — a night of foot-stomping music that is good for the soul.

Tickets are $40 for adults, $35 for seniors and military, and $20 for students. Get your tickets today at uscbcenterforthearts.com before they are gone!

BCSD announces

new executive director, 3 new principals

Staff reports

Four veteran administrators have been selected for key Beaufort County School District (BCSD) roles for the upcoming school year, according to a news release from the District.

Melissa Pender, current principal of Coosa Elementary, has accepted the role of executive director in which she will be assigned a portfolio of schools, supervising district principals with a focus on instructional leadership. Pender’s educational career began at BCSD in 1997 Under her leadership, Coosa Elementary was named a National Blue Ribbon School (2023) and a Leader in Me Legacy School (2025), only the 28th school to achieve this recognition out of over 8 500. Under Pender’s lead-

ership, her team raised the School Report Card Rating from Average to Excellent for the 2021-22 school year, and the school has maintained this rating ever since. In addition to being a Leader in Me School, Coosa also added a second school of choice during her tenure, that of Project Based Learning. Then, the BCSD has named three new principals: Coosa Elementary School: Kelly Goudy, current assistant principal at Lady’s Island Elementary, replaces Pender. Goudy began her educational career as a kindergarten teacher at Chasco Elementary School in Florida. She relocated to

South Carolina in 2011 where she taught third grade at St. Helena Elementary School. Goudy’s additional administrative experience includes serving as the MTSS/ GT coordinator and then assistant principal at Robert Smalls Leadership Academy. A current Educational Leadership and Innovation doctoral student at Purdue Global University, Goudy holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of South Florida. Beaufort Elementary School: Michelle de Bruin, current assistant principal at Beaufort Elementary School, replaces Michelle Sackman, who has accepted the position of Teaching and Learning at the District Office. De Bruin began her educational career at BCSD as a fifth-grade teacher at

CLASS OF 2025

Beaufort Academy graduation

EDUCATION BRIEFS

USC Beaufort generates $141M in economic impact

The University of South Carolina Beaufort generates $141 3 million in statewide economic impact, a new study found.

The university is responsible, directly or indirectly, for 1,236 jobs and $63 6 million in labor income across South Carolina, according to the study conducted by USC’s Darla Moore School of Business.

USCB accounts for roughly 1 in every 51 jobs and $1 out of every $47 in labor income in Beaufort County.

“We have been a cornerstone of economic prosperity in the Lowcountry since our founding as a four-year university 20 years ago,” said USCB Chancellor Al Panu. “As we continue to grow strategically to meet the educational needs of the region, we antici-

pate even greater days ahead for our community.”

The findings showing USCB’s impact was part of a broader study examining the impact of the USC’s eight-campus system.

The USC system has a $7 4 billion annual impact on the state’s economy, growing by 35 percent since researchers first studied it eight years ago when it stood at $5 5 billion. A subsequent study in 2021 placed the system’s annual impact at $6 2 billion.

“Working together as a university system, we’re ensuring our students are career-ready while also producing significant economic benefits to the entire state," USC Board

Chairman Thad Westbrook said. "We look forward to doing even more in coming years and will continue to set the standard for what a strong university system can achieve for our local communities and beyond."

Bluffton Elementary School, subsequently teaching fourth grade at Jennie Moore Elementary School in Mount Pleasant and then Bluffton Elementary School. De Bruin’s administrative experience includes assistant principal roles at Beaufort and Bluffton Elementary Schools. DeBruin holds a master’s degree in Educational Administration from The University of South Carolina.

Bluffton Elementary School: Brandi Bullock, current BCSD Director of Teaching and Learning, replaces Paula Brown, who is retiring after a 28-year educational career with the Beaufort County School District. Bullock started her educational career as a firstgrade teacher at Boones Creek Elementary School in Tennessee and went on to become an

instructional coach for Gray and Ridgeview elementary schools in Tenn. She has served in assistant principal roles at Jonesborough Elementary School (Tenn.) and Hilton Head Island Elementary School. Bullock holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from East Tennessee State University and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Carson Newman University.

“Every exceptional district has strong school leaders, and I’m excited to see these superb educators be successful in their new roles,” BCSD Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said in a news release. “They’re experienced, they understand the importance of creating a district and school culture of moving academic achievement and ensuring our students succeed.”

Holy Trinity graduation

JPII honored again by Project Lead The Way

John Paul II Catholic School in Okatie has announced that it has once again been named a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished High School and Gateway (middle school) School, marking the third consecutive year of national recognition for its excellence in STEM education and career readiness.

The PLTW Distinguished School designation is awarded to schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to expanding student access, engagement, and achievement in PLTW programs, including Computer Science, Biomedical Science, and Engineering. PLTW, a nonprofit organization empowering Pre-K through Grade 12 students across more than 12 200

schools in the U.S., equips students with in-demand knowledge and skills through hands-on, real-world learning experiences. “This honor is a testament to the dedication of our outstanding faculty and our school’s mission to prepare students for the future through innovation, inquiry, and integrity,” JPII President David Lima said in a news release. “We are immensely proud of the impact these programs have on our students’ academic journeys and future success.”

Visit the admissions section at johnpaul 2 school.org to learn more, or contact Anne McClure, Admissions Coordinator, at 843 - 645 - 3838 , ext. 109, to schedule a private tour. – Staff reports

Melissa Pender

Holy Trinity Classical Christian School held its graduation Saturday, May 17, 2025, at the Old Sheldon Church Ruins. Photo from HTCCS Facebook page

The Holy Trinity Classical Christian School Class of 2025 poses for a photo at its graduation ceremony Saturday, May 17, 2025, at the Old Sheldon Church Ruins. Photo from HTCCS Facebook page

The Beaufort Academy Class of 2025 gathers for a class photo moments before their graduation ceremony on Friday, May 23, 2025. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Third Honor Graduate Maylen Kelley Brandt gives the Invocation during the 2025 Beaufort Academy high school graduation ceremony on Friday, May 23, 2025. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

EDUCATION

Island Elementary School recently received two accomplishments that affirm its commitment to student-centered, whole-child education. Photo courtesy of

County School District

Lady’s Island Elementary earns state, national recognition

Staff reports

According to a news release from the Beaufort County School District (BCSD), Lady's Island Elementary School has received two accomplishments that affirm its commitment to student-centered, whole-child education: recertification as an Arts in Basic Curriculum (ABC) Certified School by the South Carolina Arts Commission and designation as a Leader in Me Lighthouse School by Franklin Covey Education. These honors reflect the school’s guiding vision of Leadership Through the Arts — a belief that creativity and leadership development go hand in hand to empower every student.

“With both Leader in Me Lighthouse status and ABC Institute recertification, Lady’s Island Elementary offers something truly unique: a school where leadership and the arts are woven into every aspect of learning,” Lady’s Island Elementary Principal Jason Osborne said in a news release. “Students don’t just absorb information -- they lead, create, and grow into confident, capable individuals. In a time when families have more educational

choices than ever, Lady’s Island Elementary proves that public schools can deliver an education that balances academics, creativity, and character — all in one place.”

Leader in Me Lighthouse certification

The Lighthouse Certification is a distinguished honor awarded to schools that “lead the way” by exhibiting outstanding and sustainable achievement in leadership development, academic performance, and a positive school culture. Through the Leader in Me framework, Lady’s Island Elementary teaches students critical life and leadership skills rooted in Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” Students learn to set and track goals, solve problems collaboratively, and take initiative in their learning and behavior.

“Our Lighthouse distinction affirms that student voice and leadership are not extras in our school — they are essential,” said Osborne. “Our students aren’t just excelling academically — they’re growing into confident leaders ready for the future.”

ABC Institute recertification

In addition to its long-standing tradition of arts integration as the district’s original arts choice school since 2000, Lady’s Island Elementary has maintained its ABC Institute certification since 2010

As an ABC Certified School, Lady’s Island Elementary integrates music, visual arts, drama, and dance across content areas to enhance student engagement, creativity, and achievement.

“The arts have been part of who we are for over two decades,” said Osborne. “Our ABC recertification reflects a deep commitment to creativity as a core part of learning. It also affirms our belief — central to the Leader in Me — that every child has genius, and the arts help unleash it.”

The ABC Institute is a partnership of the South Carolina Arts Commission, the South Carolina Department of Education, and Winthrop University. Its mission is to ensure that every child in South Carolina has access to quality, standards-based arts education as part of the core curriculum.

SC State honors St. Helena native

St. Helena Island native Joshua T. Singleton, a member of the Beaufort High School Class of 2022, was honored as a 2025 Shining Star Scholar at the 34th Annual South Carolina State University (SCSU) Foundation Scholarship Gala & Tribute on April 12 2025, at the Greenville Convention Center in Greenville. The SCSU Foundation Scholarship Gala & Tribute honors students of the University and community leaders who have gone above and beyond to exemplify service, integrity, and excellence. Singleton has

maintained a 4 0 grade point average throughout his three years at SCSU and is an active member in the Beta Delta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Promote your Church Services in The Island News and increase membership! Contact us today! Amanda Hanna amanda@lcweekly.com Hope Shreve ads.theislandnews@gmail.com

May 31 - July 31, 2025 31 de mayo - 31 de julio 2025

No need to register! Grab a game board from the library and start reading!

¡No necesitas registrarte! ¡Consigue el tablero de juego de la biblioteca y empieza a leer! beaufortcountylibrary org/summer

Joshua T. Singleton

As one of the gala speakers, Singleton emphasized that “investment [of family, friends, SCSU faculty and staff, and the SCSU National Alumni Association] into each and every of us matters.”

Seeking Nursery Supervisor/Coordinator

Supervises our Nursery on Sunday mornings from 8:00 to 12 Noon. Background check required. For more information

Pastor Steve Keeler • (843) 525-0696 skeeler@seaislandpresbyterian.org

Lady's

Beaufort

VOICES

Editor’s Note: The opinions of our columnists in the Voices section are not necessarily the opinions of The Island News

Middle right, Episode 1

Iam a talker, a writer, a listener and now a contributor to The Island News. I honestly thought long and hard after I was asked over a turkey sandwich to think about offering a piece of my mind to one of our few local sources.

Saying “yes” was easy and impossibly hard. I knew that many would welcome a more centrist, conservative perspective on the world as it affects us. I also knew from reading most local outlets that they are labeled as biased, propagandist and far too liberal for most of the people in my circle, the circle that also represents a majority of Beaufort and The Island News’ “passive readers.”

I see other opinions in many outlets attacking and slandering the right while the acts of the left are ignored, I remind myself how stupid I would be to offer myself up to such with only words and common sense to defend me. I said “yes” because I have trusted this community for my entire adult life to disagree respectfully, to show restraint when faced

TIM NEWMAN

with some ugly truth and to show grace when disgraced.

I know my future contributions will be ill received by some and anger a few, but they may also give the usual outspoken voices or commenters some realization that left or right, we are not that far apart from each other and we can respect our neighbors views to say or feel what they want without gangs of villagers running through the streets with torches and pitchforks.

I spent most of my life in service, from the military to public safety and back to government service in some of the worst places on earth. I have honestly seen a lot. I’ve seen what evil humans

can do to each other from the barbaric Middle East to tranquil spots in Burton. I have learned politics from our own county to D.C., to Foggy Bottom and Green Zones. I have studied people and how they can and do react to every situation imaginable. And I have screwed up and had amazing successes in my life.

I do not think my opinions are unique. They are shared by people on the left and right, they are what makes me, makes us, patriotic Americans.

One thing I routinely do personally and encourage others to do is take the time to understand the real party views you honestly align with, who you side with. There are non-biased internet quizzes you can take that ask you policy and platform questions that are relevant to the world today. Mine delivers results in several ways but offers you a political pedigree: You are 78% GOP, 65% Constitutionalist, 38% Democratic, 11% Libertarian aligned. Not your 100% Dem voting record, but no matterwhere in the

party’s or the candidates’ platform you align, no one is honestly 100% anything. If they are, they are certifiable or lying on the quiz. Everyone should take the 20 minutes to honestly see how much political DNA we share and see the crucial topics we differ on.

Just as no one is 100%, no candidate is 100% what we want; I can disagree with my candidate on a lot and appreciate another’s point of view on something else. But my vote should come from an educated balance of my critical priorities, my personal values and my desired outcomes, not a blind connection dictated at birth, not a racial or genetic code, not an economic position inherited from those who came before us.

Realizing that politics is a game of percentages and passions, the future will be decided on the votes of the 6% balanced in the middle and the fringe that can be radicalized into casting their first vote when they are 40 years old. Sadly, some parties and most of the media are target-

ing that fringe to win elections rather than presenting truths and platforms to that critical 6% who identify as Americans rather than Republicans or Democrats. I promise any future contributions will voice far more divisive topics and opinions, there will be plenty of room to debate or argue. I just hope that my trust isn’t wasted.

Buy local, vote local, live local and be local.

Tim Newman is a local former Marine, law enforcement officer, international DoS contractor, advocate and a pirate. He migrated to Beaufort from Charleston with the U.S. Marine Corps in the 1980s and then had a long career with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. Redeploying to Iraq with the U.S. Department of State in 2003, Tim was severely injured by an IED, losing his leg along with other injuries. After a year, Tim returned to work developing the CivPol Employee Advocacy Program, caring for the program’s injured and the families of casualties in Iraq, Afghanistan and the War on Terror. He fully retired in 2010. Tim lives on Lady’s Island with his wife Beth and can be reached at sctopcop@gmail.com.

Good luck, graduates — you’re going to need it

Dear Ellie, It seems like just yesterday when you donned a navy school shirt and tan skort to head to school. Now, years later, you’re among 3 9 million American high school graduates. Congratulations to you and students across the country. It’s a big milestone, much like your decision to attend a particular college was your first big life-impacting choice. Now you’ll face new challenges and opportunities. It will bring fun, heartbreak, frustration and sheer joy. The big world you are entering is far different from when I crossed the stage decades ago. Back then, there were no cell phones or personal computers. The internet was a dozen years away. Social media was in

newspaper classified pages. People used the Yellow Pages to find businesses and bought vinyl rock ‘n’ roll albums. Today’s world is meaner, coarser and faster. The United States of America has lost some of its luster. We’re still strong, but the world is looking at us in new ways as our freedoms seem to shift. Your class is not in competition with other Americans as much as it is with the world. And that means you and

your generation are going to use your well-educated brains to compete in new ways to build more opportunities for your lives. You’re going to have to be faster, smarter and more strategic. You’re going to have to connect in new ways – just like my generation adapted to the deluge of information now available compared to the four national television networks during boyhood. So as you proceed in college and through your life, here are a few things you may want to keep in mind: Think. Don’t be rushed into doing something you don’t want to do. If you are unsure, call a personal timeout and think about what’s right. In your heart of hearts, you will know what to do. Have fun. You’re only here once. Make the most of it. Enjoy each day.

Try new things. Explore our world. Taste different foods. Smell roses in English gardens. Make art. Live beyond South Carolina — and then come back and make it better. Fall forward. Don’t be scared to fail. Through failure, you learn. Through learning, you find new paths forward. If you don’t fail every now and then, you won’t grow.

Question. Don’t accept everything at face value. Question authority — and then question those questioning authority. Listen. Slow down and really hear what other people say. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn — and grow — just by listening. Use common sense. Too many people seem oblivious about too many things. Whenever you are at

a decision point, examine it practically and use common sense to figure out the best choice. Listen to your gut and ask for advice.

Laugh. Don’t take things too seriously. Some drama you have today probably will be forgotten by next year. Enjoy life. Laugh at it and yourself. A good sense of humor will take you a long way.

Cultivate deep friendships. Some of the best friends I ever made came from daily interactions in an intense college environment. Find good people throughout your life and learn from their perspectives. Make sure to keep up with them.

Honor your past. Too many people these days don’t have the manners and courtesy that come from being raised in the South.

Don’t forget your roots. Seek truth and justice. People and our country are at their best when they pursue truth and justice. Incorporate those values into your daily living and don’t follow whatever dramatic shiny ball is in the moment. Read. Turn off the TV and social media as much as you can. Your brain will grow more from reading than it will by being glued to an idiot box or screen. What’s ahead is exciting and a little scary. But if you follow the core values and beliefs you’ve grown up with, you’ll do just fine. Live large every day. Love, Dad

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

Thank you for HBF Lafayette Soiree support

This year’s Lafayette Soirée on May 10 celebrated the 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s visit to Beaufort. Held at the iconic Dr. Joseph F. Johnson House, ca. 1861, also known as “The Castle,” hundreds of guests mingled beneath the oaks as rainstorms took a welcome break for the Lafayette Soirée.

We are forever grateful to our gracious property owners and hosts Dave and Nancy Russell for opening their beautiful gardens in support of Historic Beaufort Foundation’s mission to preserve and protect Beaufort’s historic, architectural and cultural legacy.

A special thank you to the vision and passion of Soirée Chairman Rob Johnston, who created an unforgettable evening for all.

Since the 1980s, Historic Beaufort Foundation has held the annual Lafayette Soirée in recognition and celebration of the Marquis de Lafayette’s 1825 visit. In keeping with our mission to preserve and protect Beaufort’s National Historic Landmark District, we are delighted to dedicate proceeds from this year's Bicentennial Lafayette

Soirée to benefit a collaborative program to rehabilitate historic properties within the Northwest Quadrant and the Old Commons Neighborhoods.

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit education foundation and membership organization HBF relies on our members, friends, partners and donors to achieve our mission. The Lafayette Soiree is one of HBF’s primary annual fundraisers.

None of our events would be possible without the hundreds of hours spent behind the scenes in planning, and in coordination, by dozens of dedicated volunteers, partners and HBF staff. We are thankful to all -- Sponsorship chairs Meg and Rob Wynne; Food and Beverage chairs

Anne Marie Wilson and Donna Dehncke; and Silent Auction chairs and team Laurie Alioto, Donna Dehncke and Kristin McConnell, Melanie Clem and Julie Sanford. Thanks, too, to David Cohen for help with set-up and take-down. Also, Floral & Design chairs

Amelie Cromer, Margaret Kincheloe, Liz Blair, Stella Scott and their team: Alexis Bomar, Jodie Miller, Tei Tober, Peggy Reynolds, Brenda Litchfield, Mary Bassett, Susan Bledsoe, Ruth Anne Lawson and Amy McNeil; Check-in team Susan Dickey, Amy McNeil, Robin

Leverton, Elaine Robinson, Lewis Robinson and Shay Mikell.

Our signature caterer for this year’s Soiree was Lowcountry Produce Market & Cafe, joined by restaurant partners Maggioni Oyster Company and Saltus River Grill. Event partners were AMIkids Beaufort, Charleston Tents & Events; Beaufort High School’s JROTC; Kelly Tours Beaufort, Pat and Suzanne McGarity, Reddy-Ice and the U.S. Marine Corps.

The “Presenting Sponsor” is listed as A Friend of HBF. Our Garden Parlor sponsors were Rob and Monica Johnston and J.H. Hiers Construction.

Table & Bar Sponsors included Greenfield at Green Pond; Harvey & Battey P.A.; Lowcountry Real Estate; Lyles and Associates LLC; Modern Jewelers; and Phifer Contracting Services.

Bluff Sponsors were First Federal Bank; Robert and Leslie Ketner; Savannah Hardscapes; Sea Island Insurance Group; and Tumlin Levin Sumner Wealth Management.

Marsh Sponsors were AlphaGraphics, Atlantic Asphalt LLC; Beaufort County Open Land Trust; Beaufort History Tours; Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices; Bezilla, Kinney, Phifer Wealth Management; Gilbert Law Firm; John and

Danielle Troutman; Kinghorn Insurance; Lowcountry Legacy Law Firm; Lynn & Wheeler, CPAs; Montgomery Architecture and Planning, Royal Restrooms; Eventworks, Beaufort Carts, and Salt Marsh Pest Solutions.

We thank the City of Beaufort Public Works Department and Downtown Operations Department for their support and assistance with this endeavor.

Finally, to everyone who, over the years, has supported Historic Beaufort Foundation and worked to preserve Beaufort’s irretrievable architectural heritage, thank you. It is more important than ever that we strive to retain the authenticity that is the real Beaufort.

– Cynthia Jenkins, Executive Director, Historic Beaufort Foundation

Beaufort County EMS, Beaufort Police go above and beyond

Some elderly family members were winding down spending a few months in Beaufort to get away from the wintry surroundings of their home up north. Unfortunately, one of them had a health crisis that was very difficult to deal with and made it necessary for us to seek help from emergency services several

times over the course of nearly a week.

I am writing to let you know that the professionals who came from Beaufort County EMS and your city police department were truly wonderful. I can’t tell you how much we appreciated their kindness, patience and assistance. They intervened in ways that made all the difference in what was a pretty rough situation.

Eddie Schroyer and Gary Taylor were key among those who represented your EMS; likewise Officers Jackson and Beck — and there were others, too. In each instance, they couldn’t have been nicer. There is no way to express our profound gratitude for all that they did. And when we finally got to the hospital and were there all day, several of them stopped to check on us as they came and went with other emergencies.

I just wanted to let you know that you can be as proud of these emergency professionals as we are grateful. Because of them, we were able to get our family member into a car to make the drive back home to receive ongoing treatment (and now getting better). We can’t thank these paramedics and police officers — or your community — enough.

– Kathy Gibbons, Traverse City, Mich.

ANDY BRACK

VOICES

Editor’s Note: The opinions of our columnists in the Voices section are not necessarily the opinions of The

It’s not a bran muffin but it ain’t Krispy Kreme

It is early, Sunday, and cool enough to sit on our recently renovated deck.

Susan and I have our coffee — Peet’s Dark Roast — paired with a Entenmann’s brand doughnut.

When I was a child, my father believed that a soft boiled egg was the perfect breakfast. There was no possibility of a bagel or blueberry muffin. This was a time (the 50s) before the discovery of the frittata, quiche and the bacon biscuit. This was a time when every kid was eating Cheerios out of its miniature, milk-filled box.

Lunch was equally dismal in the sense that most of my friends subsisted on a slab of balogna, milk in a small Gene Autry-themed thermos, and maybe (if the stars were in alignment) an apple. I am told that sugar and coffee changed the Western World; but in my youth sugar was only found in the lemon meringue pie

MSCOTT GRABER

that my mother baked on weekends.

For a short time I was a Boy Scout and our troop was connected to Fort Sam Houston, where we all lived. Sometimes we were given World War II-era C-rations as an alfresco “snack” when we went camping in West Texas. These usually came with lima beans, a processed meat and chocolate — and this chocolate bar would be my first, serious, sustained relationship with sugar.

As I got older, I would be introduced to the Krispy Kreme (glazed) doughnut — usually in the custody

of my grandparents — and lemon squares when I went to funerals (with my grandparents) in South Carolina. But my father drew the line at Coca-Cola, and I could only imagine how it tasted from the musical commercials that celebrated happiness — “I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony …”

But there were lapses, inconsistencies with Dad’s strict embargo of sugar from our formica- and chrome-accented table. We went, for example, to Vienna one Christmas, and my mother was focused on two things — acquiring a small charm for a bracelet that would memorialize this particular destination and eating a slice of Sachertorte that was served at the Hotel Sacher.

I remember that cold morning, the dining room, the imperious waiter, but mostly I remember that first forkful of rich, Apri-

cot-flavored chocolate cake. I remember thinking that these strange Austrians — who had somehow linked up with Hitler — really knew how to make great cake. Maybe, I thought, I should re-examine the Austro-Hungarian empire.

I was still, by any standards, a sugar neophyte when I got to The Citadel in 1963. I do remember the ice cream — it came in rectangular blocks of vanilla, chocolate and there was a combination of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry they called Neapolitan. Unfortunately, (that first year) we mostly served the upperclassmen, went on under the table “missions,” and deferred our own nutritional needs knowing, later, there would be doughnuts.

Every night, after Evening Study Period and just before Taps, a cadet would arrive selling — at a small mark-up — glazed doughnuts and sandwiches.

The grilled cheese sandwiches were surreptitiously manufactured during ESP using an iron, an ironing board, and Wonder Bread collected earlier from the Mess Hall. These sandwiches were of no interest to me.

The doughnuts, however, were authentic Krispy Kreme-made pastry, fried in regulation oil, then “glazed” in an actual Krispy Kreme kitchen just off the Savannah Highway. For many “knobs” these grilled cheese sandwiches, paired with a dozen day-old doughnuts, were the only nutrition that they would be getting that day.

Right after I met my wife, Susan, I invited her to Charleston to walk the Battery, smell the lemon-scented Jasmine and to taste a Krispy Kreme. As she bit into the hot, just-outof-the-oil pastry her face clouded-over as if she was reconsidering our romance.

It was the same reappraising look I would see when she took her first bites of sweet potato pie, Chattanooga’s Moon Pie and, of course, Nashville’s inimitable Goo Goo Cluster. As she swallowed that first bite, I instantly knew that this was her last voluntarily bite of a Krispy Kreme. I knew if this matter was left unresolved it would be like unexploded ordinance — ordinance that could then explode anytime, any place. And so we embarked on a years long struggle to find a compromise pastry finally settling on Entenmann’s plain-cake doughnut. And yes, I know, this cake confection is nothing like the yeast-raised dough one gets with Krispy Kreme. But it’s not a bran muffin.

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

Post Memorial Day thoughts

emorial Day has come and gone, leaving behind some issues that I feel should be addressed. The day, itself, should hold significance for everyone who is grateful to live in this country, and especially for Beaufort, decidedly a military town.

Some simply consider this day to be the “unofficial” beginning of summer. Yes, it means warmer weather for most, unless you are experiencing the effects of climate change that include tornadoes, high winds and unusually colder-than-usual temps.

And yes, it is a federal holiday, so most people have the last Monday of May off to barbecue and “celebrate.”

But what is this day really about, and how should it be reckoned with? Doing away with the frivolous, it is a day meant to honor those brave souls who fought and died for their country.

Memorial Day was celebrated as early as the 1860s following the Civil War, but it officially became a national holiday in 1971. And while we may call it a "celebration," as we

do for many holidays, it is meant to be a more somber day to honor those who have passed.

It is author Tamra Bolton who explains. “Memorial Day is the day we pay homage to those who didn’t come home. It is a day of solemn contemplation over the cost of freedom.”

In other words, it is a day to reflect on the many service members who ultimately lost their lives fighting on behalf of this country.

It doesn't matter when, where, or which military conflict was involved, either. Memorial Day recognizes any fallen soldiers who were fighting for all the military branches.

Just remember this is a day about respect. Which leads me to

focus upon the way in which the current president chose to show his.

Let’s begin with his appearance at West Point on May 24, wearing the trademark red hat to deliver a graduation speech. Appropriate? Not really, but I digress. It is what he said in his speech and how he exited that venue, however, that was nothing but shameful.

Topics that he addressed were his administration’s isolationist stance and ending diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, something his administration managed to accomplish earlier.

"We've liberated our troops from divisive and demeaning political training(s)," Trump said. "There will be no more critical race theory or transgender for everybody forced onto our brave men and women in uniform — or on anybody else for that matter, in this country."

He went on to elaborate, "The job of the U.S. armed forces is not to host drag shows, to transform foreign cultures. And lest those cadets should forget, he added, "I went through a very tough time

with some very radicalized sick people. I say I was investigated more than the great, late Alphonse Capone."

Can we pause for a moment and hold a pity party for me? You must remember, it is always about me!

And the exit? He left without shaking one hand or proffering a single salute, saying he had to leave because he had to deal with China and Russia. I guess his golf group consisted of those foreign visitors because that’s where he ended up after his abrupt departure.

Two days later, he paid his tribute to fallen U.S. service members, but even then, he had to dig at his predecessor.

“We certainly know what we owe to them,” the president said during his address, speaking of the fallen. “Their valor gave us the freest, greatest, and most noble republic ever to exist on the face of the earth, a republic that I am fixing after a long and hard four years.”

“Who would let that happen?”

Trump continued. “People pouring through our borders unchecked. People doing things that are

indescribable and not for today to discuss. But the republic is now doing so very well.”

As Trump spoke about the “immense and ultimate sacrifices” of American soldiers over the past 250 years, he brought up the fact that the U.S. Army was planning to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding with a parade on June 14th. That event also happens to fall on Trump’s 79th birthday.

“We're going to have a big, big celebration,” said Trump. “I'm glad I missed that second term … because I wouldn't be your president for that.” I guess he has reconsidered his assertion that the 2020 election was stolen. How do we even begin to keep a straight face?

“Now look what I have,” he said. “I have everything. Amazing the way things work out. God did that.” (USA Today)

After the ceremony ended, Trump quickly departed to play yet another round of golf.

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 Journey Through Widowhood.”

Put down the damned phone while driving

The Charleston City Paper

When was the last time you saw somebody driving and texting or driving and looking at their cell phone? Yesterday? Or that person waiting at a stoplight, who fails to move forward when it turns green because he’s glued to the dang phone? Today? Mobile phones, packed with powerful computers that used to take up rooms, are a convenience of modern life. But they can cause

big problems — distracted driving and deadly wrecks, for instance — when used irresponsibly.

That’s why we applaud the South Carolina General Assembly for (finally) making it illegal to drive while holding a mobile phone. Starting Sept. 1, it’s not even supposed to be in your lap. The new law also reinforced a texting ban and prohibited watching movies or playing video games while driving. Pushing buttons and looking at or reading a screen while zipping down

a busy roadway is a recipe for trouble.

But there are problems with the new hands-free cell phone law: enforcement and teeth.

First, the new law makes it tough for police to actually charge a person with breaking it. The law specifically says police can’t “stop a person for a violation of this section except when the officer has reasonable suspicion that a violation has occurred based on the officer’s clear and unobstructed view of a person who is unlawfully

using a wireless electronic communication device while operating a motor vehicle on the public streets and highways of this state.” In other words, an officer has to clearly see the violation, which can be difficult with vehicles traveling quickly on roads and highways.

Second, the new law doesn’t have much teeth to keep drivers from violating it. If you’re caught — and that can be tough — and ticketed, first offenders face only a $100 fine. If you are caught a second,

third or fourth time within three years? The fine goes to $200 and you could get two points on your license.

Most people likely figure, “Big whoop,” because the chance that they’ll be clearly seen — twice or more — by a patrolling officer is slim.

So it’s good we’ve got the law on the books. But it’s mostly a toothless tiger.

Oh, if you really want to understand the courage of state lawmakers who finally passed the law, you might want to consider that letter last year from

federal highway officials to the state that said South Carolina would lose up to $80 million in road funding if a hands-free law were not passed by July 2025 Hands-free driving makes common sense. It’s key to responsible and safe motoring. And despite a toothless law now on the books, just put down the damned cell phone too often connected to your hand like a bad wart.

Charleston City Paper is an award-winning weekly newspaper in Charleston, S.C.

Protect clean energy South

CAROL LUCAS

ART 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.

CALENDAR

Hilton Head Beaufort Card Show

9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, May 31, Holiday Inn, 2225 Boundary Street, Beaufort. Free admission & live breaks. Sports cards, memorabilia, Pokemon and collectibles. For questions or vendor information, contact Richard Cochran at 912-507-9547.

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.

Karaoke at Willie’s

8 p.m., Thursdays, Willie's Bar and Grill, 7 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Saint Helena Island. Come and showcase your singing talents or just enjoy the performances. For more information, visit www. GullahLove.com.

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 kara-

WHAT’S HAPPENING

oke 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.

CLASS REUNION

Beaufort High School

Class of 1975

Oct. 17 through Oct. 19, 2025, Beaufort. 50th Class Reunion Celebration. Request that graduates of this class contact the class Community Outreach Representative Barbara Gardner Hunter at 347-497-9326 or email gardnerbarbara991@gmail.com to provide current contact information.

DANCE

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.

GOLF

20th annual Memory Links

Alzheimer’s Benefit Golf Tournament

9 a.m., Saturday, May 31, Ocean Creek Course, Fripp Island. Sponsored by Rotary of the Lowcountry. Check-in and putting contest at 8 a.m. $160 entry fee per golfer includes golf, cart, beverages, prizes, goody bags, lunch. Registration limited to first 108 golfers. Four man-Captain’s Choice, Longest Drive, Closest to the pin. $20,000 Hole-in-one. Call Scott Klumb at Palmetto State Bank for details at 843-524-3300.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

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.

BEMER Circulation Therapy 10 to 11 a.m., Fridays via Zoom. Already own a BEMER? Never heard of it but curious? Join to ask any questions about this leading-edge German technology that enhances blood flow 30% in 8 minutes. Sessions are designed to support those who have their own unit but everyone is welcome. Brought to you by BEMER Specialist -- Human & Equine, Elizabeth Bergmann. Text 410-212-1468 to get the Zoom link. Free.

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-the-century 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

The Art of Morse Code & Semaphore in Beaufort

2:30 p.m., Friday, June 6, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Join Ranger Katharine from Reconstruction Era National Historical Park to learn the history of Morse Code and the Beaufort Signal Station in this family friendly event. Participants can work on activity books along the way and practice semaphore signaling and Morse Code with telegraph devices.

Hurricane Preparedness Workshop

2 p.m., Friday, June 20, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Major Adam Zsamer will discuss household/personal preparations and planning, evacuation routes, reentry procedures and where to get additional information.

“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.

Postpartum Support Group

11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesdays, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Join us fr a postpartum and parenting support circle, a weekly gathering for parents and caregivers navigating the postpartum journey. Led by full-spectrum holistic doula Tameka Walker, the circle provides a warm supportive environment where families can connect, share and learn together. Registration is requested but not required. Call 843-255-6487 for more information.

“Lego” With Lego 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., every Tuesday, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Free and open to the public. Ages 5 and up. No registration required. Come see our new and improved Lego Club. Choose one of our new Lego kits and get going. Call 843-255-6540 for more information.

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.

Baby Time

10 a.m. Thursdays through May 15, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Join us for stimulating stories, activities, and more. Designed for babies, 0-18 months.

Mahjong Basics

11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, St. Helena Island. Join us to learn the basics of this fun tile game. Intructor Donna Misuraca will teach participants the structure and rules of the game and guide you through how to play. All game materials will be provided. Call 843-2556540 for more information.

Mahjong Club

10 a.m. to 2 p.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

Citizens’ Climate Lobby of Beaufort County

1 to 2 p.m., Saturday, May 31, Bluffton Public Library, 120 Palmetto Way, Bluffton. Learn about climate change and solutions with a nonpartisan group. Guest speaker will be Vince Albanese, former Board President, Institute of Clean Air Companies. For more information or questions, visit beaufort. sc@citizenclimatelobby.org

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.

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.

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

Music Festival of the Lowcountry 1 to 10 p.m., Saturday, June 7, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. Featuring headliners Tony Jackson (country) and Who’s Bad – The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience. Free.

Distant Sounds 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, Aug. 8, Another Slice Pizza, Harbor Island. Something for everyone, from the 60s to the 10s. David Ayres on guitar & vocals, Richard Knieriem on drums & vocals, Eric Roberts on bass, Paul Butare on guitar & vocals.

Live entertainment 7 to 11 p.m., Wednesdays, Luther’s Rare and Well Done, 910 Bay Street, downtown Beaufort. Chris Jones 7 to 11 p.m., Thursdays, Luther’s Rare and Well Done, 910 Bay Street, downtown Beaufort.

Habersham Third Fridays

Music on Market 5 to 8 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

Free boating inspections

Get a free vessel safety check by local members of the America's Boating Club of Beaufort. If your boat passes, you will receive a VSC decal to mount on your boat that will be visible to other boaters and maritime law enforcement personnel. Email Safety@beaufortboatingclub.com .

The Beaufort Tree Walk Lady’s Island Garden Club invites you to take a meandering walk through the Historic “Old Point” and enjoy some unique and noteworthy trees. The “Walk” takes about an hour, is a little over a mile starting at the corner of Craven & Carteret streets in Morrall Park and concluding in Waterfront Park. Booklets with map and information about each tree are available free at the Visitors Center in the historic Arsenal on Craven Street.

Tours of Hunting Island Every Tuesday, Hunting Island State Park, 2555 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 843-8387437.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Wild Bees photography exhibit Through Sunday, August 17, Coastal Discovery Museum, Hilton Head Island. A photography exhibit by Paula Sharp and Ross Eatman. A public opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, May 15 at Coastal Discovery Museum. Sharp and Eatman will conduct a tour of the exhibition before the reception at 4 p.m.

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.

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.

By Lance. Cpl. William Horsley USMC

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT

DEPOT PARRIS

ISLAND – Over a year ago, Lance Cpl. Brandon Avila promised his mother that he would become a Marine and give her and their family a better life. Avila never let go of that promise, even when he was injured last June and spent the next eight months in recovery.

“I had a goal when I came on the island, I made a promise to my mom,” said Avila. “I wanted to be different from my brothers, prove my family wrong, and give my mother a better life.”

Avila arrived in May 2024 and was three weeks away from graduating when a foot related injury became too severe for him to continue.

“My buddies told me just to keep pushing, but one day I couldn’t take the pain anymore, so I went to medical,” said Avila.

Being removed from training is something every recruit fears, especially for medical reasons. The road to recovery is long and arduous, and many recruits do not return because they lose the motivation that brought them here.

“At first, it was okay and I was fine, I could take the time to get stronger and keep pushing, but the longer I was on the island, the harder it got,” said Avila. When recruits are re-

A promise kept

Injury can only delay Marine’s promise to his mother

port you, I support you, this is your dream and your goal, don’t quit and keep going,’” said Avila. “All I could say to her was Thank you, Mom.”

Eight months later, Avila was finally allowed to return to training. When he found out, he called his dad, who told him that his family was there for him, to pray every day, and to push through the pain. Avila had an emotional send-off with his dad before he resumed training.

“He started to tear up over the phone, and I told him not to, cause if he did, I would,” said Avila. “I told him, thank you, Dad, for everything. I’ll see you soon.”

To properly rebuild physical fitness, Avila had to return almost to the beginning of training. This meant he had to repeat almost every training event during recruit training.

“I didn’t mind having to repeat the training events, I just focused on passing the PFT and getting to go home, pushing through the pain until I could become a Marine,” said Avila.

Avila had to do events like rifle qualifications and drill competitions over again, as well as Basic Warrior Training, where Avila was injured the first time.

BWT and The Crucible without incident and started the 15k hike that finishes under the iconic “We Make Marines” sign. Despite being exhausted and in pain, Avila and the recruits around him encouraged each other to keep going and stay strong as they hiked.

“When we started the cadence, I got excited, and when I saw the sign, I started to tear up because it meant I would get to go home,” said Avila. “I was crying a little bit, because I would finally get to see my Mom, Dad, and my family.”

When recruits complete the hike, they receive their Eagle, Globe, and Anchor from their drill instructors during a ceremony meant to commemorate the transformation into a United States Marine. Avila was awarded his EGA by his original senior drill instructor from over a year ago, Staff Sgt. Efren Sarmiento

“He told me, ‘You earned this, you finally made this, and you get to go home,’” said Avila.

moved from training due to an injury, they are sent to Romeo Company, Support Training Battalion. Recruits sent there are allowed to call home to their families and let them know their condition. The first person Avila

called was his mother.

“Mom, I’m not going to quit, I'm going to keep pushing through for you, Dad, and the family,” said Avila. “I’m going to do what I promised, I’m going to keep pushing, and I’m not going

to quit.”

Throughout his recovery, Avila’s promise to his mom is what kept him motivated. Her encouragement gave him the strength he needed not to give up on training.

“She told me, ‘We will sup-

“I was nervous going back to do BWT because that’s when my feet had hurt the most,” said Avila. “Happily, my feet were fine and I knew I was doing great.”

Avila completed both

After over a year of training, Avila will be one of the few Marines to leave Parris Island as a Lance Cpl. And will continue training at Marine Combat Training in the School of Infantry East, N.C.

“I finally did it, I could feel myself crying, the recruits around me congratulated me, they told me I did it and that I finally would get to go home,” said Avila.

More on what veterans should know about nexus letters

The Nexus letter should include the kind of information in the following notional ten-paragraph letter:

1. Address

FROM: Dr. George M. Great, Orthopedic Surgeon, Medical University of West/North/East Carolina (MUWNEC), 123 F Road, Happiness, SC 29876, Phone: 123456-7890, FAX: 123-456-1234 Email: GMGreat456@abc.com

TO: DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, CLAIMS INTAKE CENTER, PO BOX 4444, JANESVILLE, WI 535474444

2. Introduction of Physician (credentials/experience)

“I am a board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon, License Number 12345, with 19 years of experience treating orthopedic health-related problems. I am currently the Chief of Orthopedics at the Medical University of West/North/East Carolina (MUWNEC), and many of my patients are veterans. I also treat veterans at the ABC Veterans Medical Center (VMC) through an agreement between MUWNE and the ABC VMC.”

3. Introduction of the veteran and the letter’s purpose

“I am writing this letter of support for Robert Larry Lightle, a 78-year-old US Army veteran, last four XXX-YY-1111, date of birth: March 15 1947. The patient records show that he served from August 1967 to September 1991 as an enlisted U.S. Army Infantryman, a Warrant Officer Helicopter Pilot, and a commissioned officer.”

4. Description of the physician’s clinical relationship with the veteran

“I’ve been treating Lightle for his back, hip, neck, knee, and SI

Joint injuries, complications, and pain since January 2010, and we have met approximately once a quarter during this period.”

5. Combat wounds/Injuries

The patient’s military medical and personnel records indicate that he served in Vietnam from September 1968 to April 1969 as a Warrant Officer Pilot. His records show that he was severely wounded on March 28, 1969, when his UH-1B Helicopter’s tail rotor system was blown off, his aircraft spun into the ground, seriously wounding and injuring the entire crew of four. A picture of the crashed helicopter is at Enclosure 1

In that crash, Lightle’s back was broken (L1 compression fracture/ 84 % of L1 destroyed), ankles were shattered, right hand/carpal broken, left mandible fractured, neck severely whiplashed, neck lacerated deeply (1 inch x 5 inches), knees sprained, and brain traumatically injured (TBI). His records indicate that he was treated for his injuries at the Army Hospital in Can Tho, South Vietnam; the Army Hospital in Saigon; the 249th General Hospital, Japan; Scott Air Force Base Hospital; and the Fort Jackson Hospital.

6. Current Diagnosis and Symptoms

Lightle has a scoliosis of the spine caused by his compression fracture in Vietnam. He has a noticeable limp, as his left leg is

one inch shorter than his right due to scoliosis. He has moderate to severe and continuous lower back pain and severe Osteoarthritis in L1 and L2, caused by his 1969 compression fracture and the resulting scoliosis. He has moderate and continuous lower back pain in the L4 and L5 area due to the destruction of much of his L1 and stress/weight being shifted from L1 to L4 and L5

Lightle has continuous, moderate to severe lower back pain and osteoarthritis in his Sacroiliac (SI) Joints, caused and worsened by his original L1 injuries. Lightle has Osteoarthritis and minor to moderate continuous pain throughout his spine, caused by his L1 fracture, severe neck whiplash, and resulting severe head, neck, and back trauma, on March 28, 1969, in Vietnam.

Lightle also has moderate to severe and continuous inflammation, and frequent and sharp moderate to severe shooting pain in his bursae (bursitis) at his left and right hip and right knee, caused by his original L1 fracture. His scoliosis, shorter left leg, and noticeable limp have been stressing and wrecking his joints for 56 years. They are a direct result of his severe combat injuries in Vietnam. He also has stenosis of the spinal canal, and arthritic bone and hardening tissue are pressing on the nerves in the spinal canal. His stenosis is caused by the wear and tear damage in the spine, which has been worsened by his L1 compression fracture, the resulting arthritis, and the scoliosis. His symptoms are severe lower back pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness in his back, legs, and feet.

7. Mental symptoms

His combat injuries have also taken a toll on him mentally.

He has been in continuous pain since March 28 1969, and the quality of his home life, social life, and work performance has been degraded by the need for frequent treatment and his continuous pain. He was a star athlete in high school and college, but his Vietnam injuries now restrict him from walking or standing for more than about 10 minutes. His pain causes him depression, anxiety, and continuously reminds him of the many traumas he experienced in Vietnam and other combat assignments. His PTSD is also frequently triggered and worsened by his pain.

8. Treatment description He underwent Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression surgery in February 2024 hundreds of hours of physical therapy since 2004, some chiropractic care, four steroid injections in his bursa at the hip and back (Epidural in January of 2024). He has been treated with Morphine, Tramadol, high doses of acetaminophen, Celebrex, and Aleve. He has received acupuncture, massage, a TENS unit, Voltaren Cream, Lidocaine Patches, heat, a neck traction machine, and ice to reduce inflammation and pain. He is a candidate for back surgery and more epidural injections, but cannot have those treatments until after June 15, 2025, due to his need to be on two blood thinners until June 14 2025

9. Service-connection

Based on my review of Lightle’s military, VA, and civilian medical records, a picture of his crashed helicopter, his Purple Heart Award, MRIs,

X-rays, three Lay Witness Statements, and clinical interview, it’s my opinion that Lightle’s military service wounds/injuries caused his L1 compression fracture, severe neck whiplash, broken left mandible, shattered ankles, TBIs, broken right hand, PTSD, migraine headaches (secondary to TBIs), neck severe laceration, current disabilities, and significant degradation of quality of life. Lightle’s L1 compression fracture in Vietnam is highly likely to be the root cause of his scoliosis, limp, bursitis, osteoarthritis, stenosis of the spinal canal, and resulting fluctuating moderate to severe and continuous pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in his back, hips, knees, SI joints, legs, and feet. It is also highly likely that his Vietnam injuries are partially the cause of his moderate PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

10. In summary

Lightle’s combat injuries are the root cause of his abovedescribed wounds, injuries, symptoms, medical conditions, and disabilities, and he needs VA healthcare and disability support from the VA.

Signed, Dr. George M. Great

This concludes this series of three articles on Nexus letters.

Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans

LARRY DANDRIDGE

Lance Cpl. Brandon Avila, a Marine with Hotel Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, screams the Marine Corps Hymn during the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor ceremony Thursday, May 8, 2025, on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Following a culminating 15k hike to Peatross Parade Deck, recruits are given their EGA and officially become United States Marines.

Lance Cpl. William Horsley/USMC

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Christopher J. Geier

Attorney at Law, LLC

Criminal Defense & Civil Litigation

16 Professional Village Circle, Lady's Island 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

Enjoy the classic newspaper format in a digital

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CLASSIFIEDS & GAMES

CARTOON

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