September 11 edition

JEFF EVANS 1959–2025

There aren’t many like Jeff Evans

“There’s things that’ll knock you down you don’t even see coming …” Isn’t that the truth? Song lyrics that have a way of eventually ringing true, if you give them enough time. Jeff Evans died on Saturday afternoon. And knocked down is too kind for what has happened to some of us. And I can only speak for myself, but it’s going to be a while before I can get up. Jeff was the Publisher of The Is-

MIKE MCCOMBS

land News, my employer, my boss, my partner in good intentions, my friend, … and so many other

things that I haven’t figured out how to put into words yet.

Six and a half years ago, I didn’t know Jeff Evans. And I certainly didn’t see him coming.

Three years removed from being laid off at the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette, I was working at Randel’s Lawnmowers. I had a job that paid the bills and no illusions about a career. I was surviving.

The Island News, Lowcountry Weekly publisher Jeff Evans dies

By Mike McCombs

The Island News

Jeff Evans, publisher of The Island News and Lowcountry Weekly, died Saturday, Sept. 6 at Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Evans, 66, suffered a fall in his home on Sunday, Aug. 31, and had been hospitalized since.

INSIDE Obituary for publisher Jeff Evans, Page A7

Along with his wife, Margaret Evans, Jeff Evans had published Lowcountry Weekly since its

SEE MCCOMBS PAGE A6 SEE EVANS PAGE A6

Pine Island fight continues; Green Space grows

Dozens of concerned citizens showed up for last week’s County Council Natural Resources Committee meeting to hear about the future of the controversial Pine Island development on St. Helena Island. And while the fate of that development’s future is far from over — it’s now been pushed to the Sept. 22 meeting of the full Council — Tuesday’s meeting had some great reflection on what is happening in this part of the Lowcountry. Specifically, the committee’s agenda included recommendations for approval to the full council of land purchases or negotiations to protect from development

tracts of undeveloped land on St. Helena, in Garden’s Corner and Hilton Head Island. Recommendations were also approved for money from the county’s Green Space Program to help Bluffton acquire land to expand a passive park.

Each of these acquisitions or negotiations were recommendations from the county’s Green

Space Advisory Committee and will be funded by dollars raised by a 1-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2022. In the two years it was in place, May 2023 through Feb. 2025, it raised $100 million for land protection within the county. Michael McShane, who chairs the Green Space Committee, complimented the county officials on their support of the program which essentially buys or establishes conservation easements on high-profile properties that might otherwise be developed. He called the county’s approach one of the most advanced example of “smart growth” in South Carolina and a

So why are some areas of the county seeing drainage problems? A look at some of the construction sites gives some obvious clues — lots of dirt being moved; trees cleared to make way for more buildings. That water has to go somewhere. Lolita Huckaby/The Island News

LOLITA HUCKABY

Margaret and Jeff Evans at a Beaufort International Film Festival (BIFF) fundraiser at Saltus River Grill in January 2023. Photo from BIFF Facebook

LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS

took this

a

Habersham. To submit a Lowcountry Life photo, you must be the photographer or have permission to submit the

to be

News. Please submit high-resolution photos and include a description and/or names of the people in the picture and the name of the photographer. Email your photos to theislandnews@gmail.com.

American Legion Beaufort Post 207 brings you Chris Bentley, 40, who joined the United States Marine Corps in Mobile, Ala., in 2005

Chris Bentley

After Boot Camp at Parris Island, he trained at NAS Pensacola to be an Expeditionary Airfield Technician to install temporary airfields and maintain airfield equipment, including arresting gear, at main Air Stations. He first served at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, then at MCAS Twen-

tynine Palms, Calif. His next assignment was in Afghanistan before returning to MCAS Cherry Point, N.C. His first tour in Beaufort was at MCAS Beaufort before transferring to Parris Island as a Drill Instructor. His follow-on tour was back at MCAS Kaneohe Bay before returning to Parris Island as an Instructor at the DI School.

During his 20-year career he has earned six Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals for meritorious service. He is preparing to retire soon as a Master Sergeant.

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

Beaufort County set to extend Spanish Moss Trail

Staff reports

Beaufort County made the long-awaited announcement last week that the Spanish Moss Trail will soon be extended from Port Royal's Ribaut Road to Appleton Road.

Work was expected to begin this week and take about 6 months

to complete, weather permitting, according to a news release. The project includes installation of a pedestrian activated traffic signal at Ribaut Road to provide pedestrians and cyclists with a safe crossing, similar to the existing signal on Robert Smalls Parkway for the trail. Roadway work on Rib-

aut Road will be completed during the night between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Work on the trail will be performed during the daytime.

During construction, lane closures, road cones and signage will be visible to direct traffic safely. Motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians should be prepared for lane

closures and are encouraged to use extra caution when approaching work zones.

Please contact Pamela Bernard, Project Manager at Beaufort County Engineering with any questions or concern about the project at 843-255-2691 or pamela.bernard@bcgov.net.

September 13

1865: A convention meets in Columbia to draw up the S.C. Constitution of 1865, adopting the “Black Codes,” severely limiting the freedom of formerly enslaved people. Article XI abolished state office in Charleston, centralizing the state government in Columbia.

2021: With COVID-19 near its peak in Beaufort County, County Administrator Eric Greenway enacts a mask requirement for all Beaufort County buildings.

2021: Local musician Leavin “Jack” Jackson is killed in a single-vehicle accident on Trask Parkway, near Fiddlerville Cove Road.

September 14

2021: Helen Pappas Spalding is removed from the City of Beaufort’s Election Commission after a unanimous 5 - 0 vote by the City Council. Spalding’s spot on the commission came into question after her involvement in organizing the Audit the SC 2020 Vote

Rally held August 30 at Olde Beaufort Golf Club.

September 15

1978: Joe Frazier sings the national anthem before the rematch between Muhammad Ali and Leon Spinks.

2023: Stephen Murray resigns as Mayor of Beaufort. City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Mike McFee becomes acting Mayor of Beaufort.

– Compiled by Mike McCombs

PETS OF THE WEEK HAS A NEW HOME!

Our Pets of the Week have moved to Page A18 so we can showcase even more pets in need of loving homes. Be sure to check it out and meet all the new faces waiting to be adopted through Palmetto Animal League and Beaufort County Animal Services.

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

Chip

Yvonne A. Visser

photo of

Yellow Crowned Night Heron in Walling Grove Plantation. This one was photographed by Ron Callari of

photo

published in The Island

Patriot Day Ceremony to honor lives lost, first responders on 9/11

Staff reports

Once again, on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the City of Beaufort and the Exchange Club of Beaufort invite the community to a solemn Patriot Day observance on Thursday, Sept. 11, from 8 to

8:30 p.m., at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.

This annual event honors the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and pays tribute to the first responders and military personnel who serve and protect us every day.

As part of the ceremony, a First Responder’s Memorial Procession will take place, beginning at Meridian Road and proceeding down Sea Island Parkway to Bay Street, ending at the waterfront park. Sea Island Parkway, in-

cluding the Woods Memorial Bridge, will be temporarily closed from 8 to 8:30 p.m. to accommodate the procession.

All members of the community to join the event in remembrance and reflection.

Where will VA’s new clinic in Beaufort County be?

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is planning to build a $30 million clinic in Beaufort County, but the question is, will it be in Beaufort or Port Royal?

Three sites are currently being evaluated between the two municipalities as a possible location for the clinic and ultimately, the developer will make the decision as to the new home of the clinic.

At the end of August, Beaufort’s city council passed a resolution to support and endorse Beaufort as “the new VA community-based outpatient clinic within the corporate limits

of the city of Beaufort.” Additionally, the resolution addresses the benefits of having a VA clinic within the community by mentioning the “strategic, economic

and social benefits” that this would offer to the veteran community in Beaufort.

The resolution stated that by locating the clinic in Beaufort would offer acces-

INTRODUCING

sibility as well as access to existing infrastructure.

Proximity to military installations and veteran populations is also mentioned in the resolution as a positive, with the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort located in Beaufort and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island located nearby.

The resolution was to be sent to Congresswoman Nancy Mace.

Currently there is a VA clinic inside of the Naval Hospital in Port Royal, but the new clinic would be able to provide mental health services, counseling and improve primary care access for the thousands of veterans

FELLOWSHIP

that live in Beaufort County. Locations currently being considered for the clinic an 11-acre lot off Ribaut Road in Port Royal, 16 acres off Robert Smalls Parkway in Beaufort and 28 acres on Robert Smalls Parkway in Port Royal.

The VA is looking to build a clinic with a private developer through a “builtto-suit” lease agreement with a private developer and the size of the multi-story clinic is estimated to range from 48 000 square feet to 70,000 square feet, will include 500 parking spaces and in addition to elevating the level of healthcare for veterans in Beaufort, the

BOSS Orthopaedics welcomes Patrick Pallitto, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon with fellowship training in adult reconstructive surgery. He joins BOSS from UPMC in Pittsburgh, where he practiced across several top-tier hospitals and contributed to orthopaedic research and education.

Dr. Pallitto specializes in hip and knee replacements, with expertise in both primary and revision arthroplasty, robotics, and the direct anterior approach. His clinical approach emphasizes minimally invasive techniques, personalized care plans, restoration of function and longterm joint health.

He is on the medical staff at Beaufort Memorial and part of the hospital’s Advanced Orthopedics & Spine program.

A member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, Dr. Pallitto is an active contributor to orthopaedic research, with published work in several peer-reviewed journals.

“My philosophy is to restore mobility, relieve pain, and help patients get back to doing what they love.”

Adult Reconstructive Surgery

University of Pittsburgh

Medical Center

RESIDENCY

Orthopaedic Surgery

University of North Carolina Hospitals

DOCTOR OF MEDICINE

(Alpha Omega Alpha)

Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson

Medical School

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

Biology

The College of Charleston

clinic will provide additional jobs in the area. Once built, the VA would lease the facility, according to public records. The VA is reviewing proposals and is expected to make a final decision on the location of the clinic in early 2026. Construction of the clinic is expected to take from 18 months to two years once all permits and approvals are granted.

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.

T. Dean, MD

Scott E. Strohmeyer, MD

Douglas A. Scott, MD

Daniel J. Del Gaizo, MD

B. Andrew Castro, MD

Patrick Pallitto, MD

Caglayan, PA-C James Langford, PA-C

Dukes, PA-C

Concept drawing for the location on Ribaut Road in Port Royal.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs

Sallie Sheppard’s

legacy of love

Late Capitol Coffee leader lives on through her company’s support for Walk for Water

By Jeanne Reynolds

For Lowcountry Weekly

Sallie Sheppard never did anything halfway. In fact, those who knew the former head of Capitol Coffee in Beaufort are likely to say, “She went the extra mile on everything.”

So it’s no surprise that when Sheppard signed up her company as one of the earliest sponsors of the Beaufort County Walk for Water, she didn’t just write a check or show up ready to walk three miles, swinging a bucket. She also brought her entire work team to the event every year, setting up a mobile coffee shop and handing out complimentary coffee and snacks to participants.

Sheppard won’t be at the starting line for this year’s walk on Saturday, Sept. 13 at Port Royal’s Live Oaks Park, after losing a yearlong battle with cancer last spring at just 62 years old. But Capitol Coffee — and the free cups of joe — will still be there, thanks to the impact Sallie had in the company. Co-CEO Ben Brunson and other leaders of the family-owned regional coffee purveyor quickly agreed this year to continue the tradition Sheppard started, giving the pop-up shop a new name in her honor: Sallie’s Alley.

“We wanted to keep it going because it was important to Sallie, and it’s a wonderful cause,” Brunson said. “We take access to clean, safe water for granted. Walk for Water resonates with what we do because of the impact it has, so it’s a natural fit for the company, and

Sallie really got involved.”

That passion has percolated throughout the company: Capitol Coffee also is a multiyear sponsor of the Charleston Walk for Water, and employees from across the five states the company serves are loyal participants in the annual walks.

“It’s become an event our team looks forward to,” Brunson said.

“Sallie’s responsible for that.”

Sheppard was born in Aiken, S.C., and graduated from Sewanee, The University of the South before embarking on a 30-year career in the family business while raising two daughters. In addition to her passion for the Walk for Water, she was an avid tennis player, animal lover, and elder and deacon at First Presbyterian Church of Beaufort — the first church in Beaufort to rally behind Water Mission International’s Walk for Water cause.

“I’ve known Sallie since her girls were confirmands at church, and one of them was mine,” recalled fellow church member and Walk for Water committee chair Nan Krueger. “Sallie was a loving, concerned mother, an active leader at First Presbyterian and a wonder-worker for Capitol Coffee. She started with Walk for Water as a sponsor, offering coffee-makers as raffle prizes, and at some point moved into providing coffee and snacks in Beaufort and in Charleston at their walks. Last year in the middle of horrific cancer surgery and treatments, she made sure the coffee and snacks were provided for the walk. Positive and proactive

with a smile — that was Sallie.”

Walk committee member Jeneane Ryan, who also served with Sheppard at church, described her as thoughtful, unassuming, generous, kind — and humble. “She would always show up at church when there was a job to be done. We’d find her quietly working in the kitchen, preparing food and serving. She never made a big deal of her presence or what she did for a living. I didn’t know she owned a company until she offered Capitol

Coffee to support our walk. That was Sallie: a quiet force who lived to serve others. We lost a good one when we lost Sallie.”

“When I think of Sallie, I think of high energy,” Brunson added. “She was involved in everything. She believed every detail matters — and every person matters.”

About Capitol Coffee Capitol Coffee was started by Sallie Sheppard’s brother-in-law, Buddy Brunson, in the late 1970s

to bring reliable coffee service to businesses in Raleigh, N.C. The company soon expanded to provide specialty coffee and breakroom essentials including snacks, beverages and water filtration. Brunson’s sons, Charles and Ben Brunson, eventually took the reins of Capitol Coffee, expanding into autonomous retail markets, vending services, hospitality and convenience stores. In 2021, they launched Lil Red Roaster, an inhouse coffee roastery dedicated to crafting custom blends and specialty roasts. The company also offers a white-label program that allows hotels, offices and retail spaces to create their own branded coffee.

Capitol Coffee now serves businesses across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and parts of Georgia, and operates 12 warehouses.

‘Wings Over Beaufort’ returns

Festival hopes to raise awareness of birds in area, planned Carolina Bight Birding Center

Staff reports

The Carolina Bight Birding Center, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, has officially taken flight.

The organization’s first big event, “Wings Over Beaufort” will take place Tuesday, Sept. 23 through Friday, Sept. 26 and offers multiple opportunities for nature and bird enthusiasts to take tours in at exclusive locations throughout the area.

Birding tours being offered include Nemours Wildlife Foundation, Hunting Island State Park, Spanish Moss Trail and the opportunity to explore St. Phillip’s Island via Coastal Expeditions. The objective of the festival is to raise awareness about the birds that call our area home; whether as year round species, or the birds who use our area during migration. The festival is timed accordingly with the fall migration period, where millions of birds use The Atlantic Flyway to find wintering

Lowdown

from page A1

model for development he wished could be copied all along the East Coast. Many critics of the current proposed development on Pine Island have suggested the 400-plus acre island in the middle of the Gullah-Geechee cultural district should be purchased by the county or other conservation groups. But developer Elvio Tropeano who reportedly purchased the property for $18 million, hasn’t indicated a willingness to sell, which is one of the criteria of the Green Space program. Time, politics and probably the court system, will determine the outcome for Pine Island. We’ve been watching this development for almost three years. Regardless of what the County Council does later this month, the outcome will probably end up in court.

Side note: Tuesday’s meet-

grounds or stop to rest and refuel in The Carolina Bight region.

It is also an excellent opportunity to learn about the future Carolina Bight Birding Center slated to be constructed in Okatie, S.C.

The highlight of the festival, is the Keynote Speaker dinner at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the Port Royal Sound Foundations Weezie Pavillion, featuring world renowned author and ornithologist, David Allen Sibley. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear from the best-selling author and authority on bird identification.

ing did have some interesting political twists, if you follow those kinds of things.

State Sen. Chip Campsen, who now represents District 43 (most of northern Beaufort County as well as Colleton and Charleston counties) after Sen. Tom Davis moved south of the Broad, was present to speak against the Pine Island development and to encourage the Council members to “hold the course.”

The committee’s referral of the Pine Island question to the Sept. 22 full Council meeting was precipitated by a meeting two weeks ago when the council, on a 5-4 vote, agreed to continue discussions with the developer pending legal advice from their “outside lawyer” reviewing a proposed development agreement. The motion to continue those discussions was made by 2nd District Councilman David Bartholmew who has voted against the development changes in the past and who happens to be up for re-election next year.

The Carolina Bight Birding Center will also be honoring Dr. Marikay Campbell of The Port Royal Veterinary Hospital with “The Feathered Friends” Award. Dr. Campbell has worked tirelessly to support the health and wellness of birds as well as taking time to educate people in the community. There will be a plated, sitdown dinner, a book signing with Sibley, and an opportunity to learn more about the future of The Carolina Bight Birding Center campus.

“We are so proud of the dynamic program we have put together for the com-

Farewell to JJ BEAUFORT – It came as something of a surprise to some, but apparently not all, that Deputy City Manager J.J. Sauve is resigning from the city and heading back to the mountains of North Carolina. Apparently, some said Sauve was already planning to leave even prior to this latest fiasco with the 9 000 pages of un-redacted documents accidentally released by city staff.

It will be interesting to see what the “outside lawyers” from Haynesworth, Sinkler, Boyd produce after they finish reviewing how the classified documents were released in response to a Freedom of Information request.

In the meantime, “redaction” — which basically means agencies WITH certain classified documents use a heavy-handed black pen to mark out information they consider not public — is certainly another sign of the times. Just this past week, in a congressional hearing on the late Jeffrey Ep-

munity, in order to learn more about the importance of the birds in area,” said Jenn Clementoni, Executive Director of The Carolina Bight Birding Center.

“Having the opportunity to explore such beautiful places and spaces, with respected leaders in the birding field, like Dr. Andy Jones, Executive Director of The Spring Island Trust & Lowcountry Institute; Felicia Sanders, Conservation Project Supervisor for Shorebirds from SCDNR;, Jake Zadik from Brays Island; and Heather Kraus of Nemours Wildlife Foundation.

stein’s files, tens of thousands of pages of evidence were released, but mostly after the “redaction” folks had their black markers out.

Want to talk about stormwater?

LADY’S ISLAND – There’s been considerable chatter lately on the internet — and probably around the workplace water fountain, if those things still exist — about stormwater issues, particularly from Lady’s Island residents who are reporting pooling water where none use to occur.

The state weather service reports Beaufort County had 19 65 inches of rain during the month of August, compared to 7 6 inches in July and 5 03 in June. There was a lot of rain and some folks were unhappy.

This is truly unique and shows the love and commitment everyone shares when it comes to education about birds.”

There is also a speaking engagement planned with Dr. Andy Jones on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at Shellring Ale Works in Port Royal, and a free sunset tour of Cypress Wetlands.

Tickets are available online at https://carolinabightbirdingcenter.org. Sponsorships are also available for the festival. Email jenn@carolinabightbirdingcenter.org or call 843694-3823 for more details.

A target for complaints has been the county, which makes sense since the “county” imposes a stormwater fee on all structures and has since 2015. There’s a whole stormwater department, with a director and inspectors and a mission plan and a citizens advisory board that meets regularly. But the bottom line is rapid development — so much building going on in places that probably should not be built upon. This is the Lowcountry. It has “low” places that once was occupied by deer, raccoons and alligators. Now there are apartment buildings and tract homes which collective government agencies have permitted. Believe it or not, Sept. 22 marks National Stormwater Week and Beaufort County’s department, to start the week, has scheduled a kick-off at Shellring Ale Works in Port Royal.

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

Sallie Sheppard, left, signed up her company, Capitol Coffee, as one of the earliest sponsors of the Beaufort County Walk for Water. Photo courtesy of Ben Brunson/Capitol Coffee

Saint Helena man killed in shooting at Beaufort apartment complex Sunday

By Delayna Earley

Island News

The

A 20-year-old man was killed early Sunday morning, Sept. 7, in a shooting at Cross Creek Apartments.

James Jenkins, of Saint Helena Island, was pronounced dead at Beaufort Memorial Hospital according to the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office. Jenkins was found with multiple gunshot wounds

in a third-floor apartment when officers from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) and the Beaufort Police Department responded to a report of shots fired at the apartment complex at around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7 Blood and shell casings were found in the apartment building’s stairway. Medical treatment was provided on the scene by

emergency medical services before Jenkins was taken to Beaufort Memorial Hospital, where he died of his injuries around 4:25 a.m. At this time there is no information available publicly about potential suspects.

A silver Infiniti was reportedly seen leaving the scene shortly after the shooting by the property manager at Cross Creek

Apartments, but police reviewed the security footage from the leasing office and were not able to identify the make and model of the vehicle.

Police have asked that anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Investigator Jayne at 843-3227972

Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime

Stoppers of Beaufort County via the P3 Tips app or by calling 1-844-847-7238 (1-844-TIPSBFT) and reference the case number 25B31618

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.

for

3 vying for two Port Royal Town Council seats

5 newcomers seeking 2 Yemassee seats

By Lolita Huckaby The Island News

Two Port Royal Town Council incumbents will be seeking re-election Tuesday, Nov. 4, along with one challenger.

Council members Mary Beth Heyward, who has served since 1992, and Daryl Owens, who has served since 2017, filed by the Aug. 8 deadline for the two atlarge council seats, as did newcomer Angela Tillman.

Yemassee election

In the town of Yemassee, five candidates filed for two at-large council seasts, while neither of the incumbents –Paul Murray or Stacy Pinckney — filed. Candidates, as of press time, included Lori Poston, Jerry W. Cook, Jr., Stephen Henson, Alfred Washinton and Jerry Jerome Thompson.

Colin J. Moore will be seeking his second term as mayor after serving 30 years on the town council. He will face opposition from Libby Holloway and Reginald Fennell.

All Mayor and Town Council seats in Yemassee are at-large and non-partisan. Terms are for four years.

Mac Deford addresses the crowd during a meet-and-greet Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, at Shellring Ale Works in Port Royal. Deford is a Democrat running

the 1st Congressional District seat currently held by Nancy Mace. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

100 Women Who Care donates $11,400 to The Complete Student

Staff reports In August, 100 Women Who Care made its quarterly donation to a nonprofit organization that is a hidden secret, definitely under the radar.

The group donated to The Complete Student (TCS), a local middle/high school accredited by the S.C. Independent School Association with a project-based curriculum. The campus is located just off Ribaut Road, on Southside Blvd.

The goal of TCS is to ensure that all students have the opportunity to engage in a challenging and en-

riching curriculum. The school strives to increase a student’s understanding, their skill development, and empathy, all while guiding each student towards the post-graduation path that is best for them.

The $11 400 that was raised and donated will be used to build a woodworking program on their campus, empowering children to graduate with a practical, hands-on skills, confidence, and a sense of accomplishment that they will carry with them long after graduation. The benefits of the program will extend through

NEWS BRIEFS

Lady’s Island Middle School hosting 9/11

5K Run/Walk

Lady’s Island Middle School (LIMS) is hosting its inaugural 9/11 5K Run/Walk from 9 to 11

a.m., Saturday Sept. 13 2025, at the LIMS football field and track.

The event will honor first responders and veterans, both those who served on 9/11 and today. Representatives from the Lady’s Island/St. Helena Fire Department will be on hand.

The event is rain or shine, no registration fee required.

NOB Dems to meet Sept. 18

The Northern Beaufort County Democratic Club (NOB Dems) will meet at 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Old Grace AME Chapel at 502 Charles Street in downtown Beaufort. Ample free parking is available. Guests and first-time attendees are welcome.

Wendell Roberson and Jean Felix from the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County will be the guest speakers.

Poll workers needed; training available

The Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County is holding poll worker training classes. Classes will be held at the main office, located at 15 John Galt Road, Beaufort, S.C. 29906. The

Evans from page A1

inception 25 years ago. They acquired The Island News in 2018

Originally from California, Evans previously owned a video production business, Seagate Productions, in Hilton Head after moving to Beaufort County. He served on the Beaufort Arts Council and was the Chairman of the City A-Tax Committee. Formerly an actor with the Berkeley Shakespeare Company when he lived in California, Evans was the Artistic Director of Lowcountry Shakespeare, which produced Shakespeare in the Park for 12 years.

With the recent growth of The Island News, Evans had been selected to join the S.C. Press Association’s Executive Committee. He was a 2001 graduate of the Leadership Beaufort program.

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

classes will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Wednesday, Sept. 17 To sign up for a class, visit https://beaufortsc.easypollworker. com/home.

St. Helena Library hosting SpanishAmerican War presentation

Fort Fremont on St. Helena Island stands as an artifact of the Spanish-American War. Find out how the United States emerged as a global power in this forgotten

McCombs from page A1

That’s when Justin Jarrett, a friend and colleague, decided his time as editor of The Island News was up. He gave Jeff his two weeks notice, and when Jeff asked if he had any idea who might be suited for the job, Justin gave him my name.

“Who’s that?”

A couple days later, another friend was asked about her interest in the job. Erin (Moody) Bowman told him she wasn’t interested, but she knew someone who would be.

Once again, someone gave Jeff my name.

“Who is this guy?”

Several days later, more than a week into Justin’s two weeks notice, I met Jeff for drinks at Madison’s in Port Royal. The clock was ticking down. He was running out of time to find someone to put the next newspaper out in fewer days than he had fingers on his right hand.

But he wasn’t stressed. He wasn’t even worried. He was calm.

Justifiably so, I guess.

If you had asked me to write what I envisioned a perfect interview to be, I couldn’t have written it any better. It wasn’t because I

war. It was more than the sinking of the USS Maine and Teddy Roosevelt’s charge up San Juan Hill. Professors Barney Forsythe and Raul Galvan will bust myths and explain the context, causes, and consequences.

The presentation will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, Sept. 22, at the St. Helena Branch Library. The presentation is sponsored by the Friends of Fort Fremont and the Beaufort District Collection. No registration or fee is required. For more information visit www.fortfremont.org.

was confident or had all the right answers or was perfect for the job.

It’s because Jeff and I are both dreamers. From Day 1, or even before Day 1, we were on the same page.

Jeff wasn’t looking to hire someone to fill the job he had open. He was looking to hire someone for the job he wanted it to be. The editor of a real newspaper.

And I wasn’t interviewing for what the job at The Island News actually was — at that time, $250 a week to be a part-time, freelance editor in addition to a 40-houra-week job I already had. I was interviewing for the job I thought this could be if a few people –likely Jeff and whomever he hired — cared enough to make it so.

When Jeff acquired The Island News, he did so with the belief it could be the ultra-local community newspaper Beaufort needed. And Jeff was convinced he could make this happen AND continue to give it away for free. It is, and he did. And I was in the right place at the right time.

From the time I was hired, Jeff made two things clear. One, he trusted me. Completely. And two, he had complete faith in my decision making. And those are two of the best things you can tell someone else.

Factory Creek Pier, Brewer Memorial Park temporarily closed

The Factory Creek Fishing Pier and Brewer Memorial Park are temporarily closed for dock improvements. According to a Beaufort County media release, construction is expected to last for approximately three weeks, depending on weather. For more information, contact Beaufort County Public Works at 843-255-2800

Saint Peter’s Catholic Church holding 65th annual Fall Bazaar

Saint Peter’s Catholic Church will hold its 65th Annual Fall Bazaar on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., on the church campus at 70 Lady’s Island Drive in Beaufort.

The Bazaar features international foods, a craft fair, a sweet shoppe, in-person and online silent auctions, wine and beer garden, plant sale, church and school tours, and a Kids Zone with inflatables, games, and the Beaufort Barnyard Petting Zoo. Artists and crafts people interested in a 10 -foot x 10 -foot outdoor space can send an email to gather@stpetersbeaufort.org for more information.

The 65th Annual Fall Bazaar benefits Lowcountry Outreach,

I can’t say with complete confidence that that second one was the wisest decision Jeff ever made, but I have done my best to make sure he never felt that way. I owed it to him. I still do.

In a little more than six years, I learned a lot about Jeff. We shared two of our biggest loves, our love for music and our love for baseball. And we shared stories and jokes. Lots of them. And he became family to me.

I went from not having a career, rather just a job that paid the bills, to again doing something that I had passion for, thanks to Jeff. I had much more than a job.

From the start, Jeff made it clear, “we’re going to find a way to hire you full time.” It took two years, but he did. I never doubted he would. Anything I needed or wanted, I knew I could approach him and he would try to make it happen.

Things weren’t always rosy. But that’s how you know someone is family. You can be spitting mad at them and still know they have your back and you have theirs.

Jeff and I literally had a shouting match on Bay Street one day.

I’m not sure he even remembered it a week later. I still regret it.

When I walk in the office now, things aren’t right. The light isn’t on. Jeff isn’t at his desk on the

the community exponentially as the students share their new skills with family, friends and on the job.

The check presentation was made by 100 Women Who Care leader, Laura Riski on August 19 to Blaire Lent, founder of TCS. 100 Women Who Care has now donated more than $500,000 to nonprofit organizations in Northern Beaufort County. For more information about 100 Women Who Care, visit www.100wwcbeaufort.org. To learn more about The Complete Student, visit www.thecompletestudent.com.

a ministry of Saint Peter’s parish that provides free office and meeting space for partner organizations, including Lowcountry Legal Volunteers, A Father’s Place, and several support groups. Lowcountry Outreach provides a rideshare program designed to assist individuals lacking transportation, enabling them to access essential services.

Service

academy nomination applications open through Sen. Scott’s office

The Office of U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is accepting U.S. military academy nomination applications for the class of 2030

Sen. Scott is able to nominate a limited number of students in South Carolina for attendance at the following U.S. military academies: the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (the U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a congressional nomination).

Students who are interested in applying for a nomination should apply by 11:59 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. For more information, visit www.scott.senate.gov/academy.

– Staff reports

phone or taking a break on the second-story porch.

After I’ve been here a while, I still expect him to come sauntering in, sunglasses on, with his backpack hanging off one shoulder.

“Hey, Sparky!” he would say. “How’s it going?”

But I know he’s not coming.

And unlike the past six and a half years, when I haven’t seen him for a few days, my phone won’t be lighting up with his name and number just because he wants to make sure everything is all right.

I know the sense of loss I feel is nothing compared to what Jeff’s wife, Margaret, and daughter, Amelia, must feel. But it’s real.

The people in my almost 54 years of life who have meant to me as much as Jeff did in 6 and half short years, well … I can count them on one hand.

If I could pass along something to the people in Beaufort about Jeff, it would be that you will never know how much he cared about you, even the ones who didn’t care for him.

And if I could be lucky enough to pass along something to Jeff Evans, it would be to tell him that I love him.

Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached

Port Royal Mayor Kevin Phillips administers the oath of office to Judge Grimsley with Court Clerk Traci Haddock holding the Bible during the Port Royal Council Workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2025. Grimsley, who has served the town for 40 years, will serve another two-year term. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

100 Women Who Care donated $11,400 to The Complete Student in August. Submitted photo

OBITUARIES

E dward

J E ffr Ey E vans

January 23, 1959 –September 6, 2025

Beaufort, S.C.

Edward Jeffrey Evans, 66, of Beaufort, S.C., died peacefully on Sept. 6, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Jeff was born on Jan. 23 1959 to Edward and Leona Evans. An Army brat from San Francisco who grew up all over the world, he had many colorful careers before landing in Beaufort County over 30 years ago. While living in the Bay area, he worked as an actor with the Berkeley Shakespeare Company, restored Victorian homes (“Painted Ladies”), and served as a chef in a French restaurant.

In 1992, he made his way to Hilton Head Island, where he started a video production company, Seagate Productions, making hundreds of local commercials and other video projects. He later moved to Beaufort, and in 2000, he and his wife Margaret began publishing Lowcountry Weekly , which just celebrated 25 years in print. Six years ago, they acquired The Island News

Jeff believed in the importance of local journalism, and that everybody should have access to the news, free of charge. He worked tirelessly at his publishing business. As a result, The Island News has won many awards from the S.C. Press Association, including the coveted President’s Award for 2022

With his love of theatre, art, literature, and — his passion — photography, Jeff was a true Renaissance man. But he loved none of that as much as he loved his family … and Giants baseball. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Margaret Evans, 60, and their daughter, Amelia Evans, 24. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Leona Evans.

A 2001 graduate of Leadership Beaufort, Jeff served on the Beaufort Arts Council, the City

A-Tax Committee (Chairman), and was the Artistic Director of Lowcountry Shakespeare, which produced Shakespeare in the Park for 12 years. He had recently been invited to join the S.C. Press Association’s Executive Committee and was looking forward to serving.

A celebration of Jeff’s life will be held at a later date. There is so much to celebrate. Jeff’s dry wit, intelligence, big heart and fierce commitment to everything he did will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Island News , P.O. Box 550 Beaufort, SC 29901 www.yourislandnews.com

T h E r Esa M ari E r uss E ll - r aino

July 21 , 1965 –August 29, 2025

St. Helena Island, S.C.

Theresa Marie Russell-Raino, 60, wife of Michael James Raino, of St. Helena Island, S.C., died on Friday, August 29, 2025, at her home after a strenuous battle with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) and resulting peritoneal carcinomatosis.

A Funeral Mass was to be held Wednesday, Sept, 10, 2025, at 10 a.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church on Lady’s Island, with inurnment following at St. Peter’s Memorial Gardens.

Born on July 21, 1965, in Newport, R.I., Theresa was the daughter of the late HMCS William C. Russell and Jacqueline M. Wygant Russell. Raised in Beaufort, S.C., her father’s permanent duty station, she grew up surrounded by the Lowcountry that she came to love deeply.

The true embodiment of a nurse, “Terry” devoted over 30 years of her life to women’s health as an OB-GYN nurse. Nursing was not just her career — it was her calling. She cared deeply for her patients and their families, advocating for women through every stage of life, and

she guided countless women through the joy and challenges of childbirth and menopause. Known for her dedication, sharp wit, and compassionate heart, Terry became a source of comfort, trust, and laughter to patients and coworkers alike. Her colleagues became an extension of her family, and her impact on the lives of others will carry forward for generations.

In January 2024, Terry was diagnosed with HGSOC, a devastating and aggressive form of ovarian cancer. With courage and grace, she fought a battle marked by multiple rounds of chemotherapy, numerous surgeries, and participation in multiple clinical trials in hopes of advancing treatment for other women facing the same disease. Despite the challenges, she faced each day with resilience, humor, and unwavering strength. Her perseverance inspired everyone around her, and she carried herself with dignity even in the hardest moments.

Because of her journey, Terry wanted to share an important message with others: if you have completed your childbearing years or do not plan to have children, please speak with your doctor about an opportunistic salpingectomy to reduce the risk of developing ovarian cancer, the fifth deadliest cancer in U.S. women. It was her hope that her experience could help others.

Terry approached life with joy and curiosity. A self-proclaimed foodie, she loved trying new things — whether it was a restaurant close to home or a local dish halfway across the world. She delighted in travel, from weekend trips to quick getaways to places like Augusta, Greenville, Disney World, Dollywood, Maine, and Tupper Lake, N.Y., and even quirky stops like Buc-ee’s “just to see what the hype was about.” Most recently, she fulfilled her dream trip: cruising through Italy and along the Amalfi Coast.

Her favorite season was “spooky season,” when she would fill the house with Halloween decorations, and crafting projects, while “Hocus Pocus” played on the TV in the background. She was thrilled when “Summerween” became popular, giving her an excuse to start the festivities a little early hunting for “code orange” treasures from HomeGoods, or thrifting through the Antique mall, St. Francis Center, and other local stops.

At home, Terry treasured life on the water, enjoying the seabreeze on the porch and indulging in crab legs for just about any occasion, big or small. She was the life of the party, bringing humor, warmth, and joy to everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Above all, Terry’s heart belonged to her family. Terry shared 25 wonderful years of marriage with her husband, Mike. Their love was steady and enduring, built on laughter, partnership, and deep devotion. Mike was her constant companion through every season of life, and in her illness he stood

by her side with unwavering strength, tenderness, and care. Together they built a home filled with joy, traditions, and countless memories.

Her greatest joy, however, was her daughter Amelia — her “baby buzz.” Terry loved being Amelia’s mom more than anything else in life. She celebrated Amelia’s milestones with pride and cherished the everyday moments just as much. This fall, Amelia began her first year of college, a dream Terry held close to her heart: to see her daughter step into her future with confidence, independence, and hope. Though heartbroken not to witness all that lies ahead, Terry found peace in knowing Amelia is strong, capable, and deeply loved. She couldn’t wait to see the life Amelia would build, and she will forever be Amelia’s biggest cheerleader.

Theresa is also survived by her sisters, Kathryn Lindemann (Paul) and Jane Greene (Billy); her brother, William Russell (Angela); her nieces, Nicole Raino, Kristin Greene, Jordan Sanders (Daniel), and Macee Pender; and her nephews, Billy Greene and Roman Russell. She also leaves behind her beloved dogs, Genevieve Francine and Luna Mae, who brought her endless comfort and companionship.

Terry was passionate about animals and often dreamed of opening “A Home for Wayward Wieners,” a dachshund retirement home where senior dogs could live out their golden years surrounded by lovebecause of this, In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her memory to one of the following organizations: Beaufort County Animal Services, Lovable Paws Rescue, Boykin Spaniel Rescue, Inc., Cotton Branch Farm Sanctuary, or Palmetto Animal League Terry will be remembered for her laughter, the love she gave so freely, the strength she carried through life’s challenges, and the legacy of family, faith and compassion she leaves behind— both through her work as a nurse and through the life she lived so fully.

Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.

K E nn ET h l ynn T ooT l E April 9, 1950 –August 25, 2025 Beaufort, S.C.

Kenneth Lynn Tootle, 75, passed away at his home in Beaufort, S.C., on August 25 Kenny leaves behind a legacy of love and family. He is survived by the love of his life, Constance Kearns Tootle of Beaufort, children K. Lynn Tootle, Jr. (Vanessa) of Savannah, Caroline (Sean) Hayden of Charleston, Tenn., C. Douglas Tootle, III of Charlotte, N.C., and Christian K. Tootle of Beaufort, grandchildren Nick, Julia, and Maggie Tootle, Luke, Kellen, and Emery Hayden, brother Charles D. Tootle, Jr. of Beaufort, sister Beth T. Coffield (Richard) of Bluffton and numerous nieces, nephews and

cousins.

Born in Quantico, Va., on April 9, 1950 to the late Charles Douglas Tootle and Mavis Claire Tootle, Kenny graduated from Beaufort High School in 1968, Spartanburg Methodist Junior College in 1970, Georgia Southern College in 1972, and the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1974. His education laid the foundation for a distinguished career in law, where he made significant contributions and was a 45-year member of the S.C. Bar Association and S.C. Association of Trial Lawyers. At the height of his career, Kenny won a landmark case that went all the way to the Supreme Court of South Carolina that helped preserve the rights of women who give their children up for adoption.

Kenny was a true Lowcountry enthusiast, reveling in hunting, fishing, and golfing. As a founding member of the Good Ole Boys Crappie Fishin’ Expedition, he spent many enjoyable hours in john boats and duck blinds, often in the company of a trusty hunting dog.

Kenny's storytelling prowess was unmatched, regaling family and friends with tales of his youth, including lifeguarding at Hunting Island beach, dancing at Bailey’s, and numerous other escapades. An avid Gamecocks, Braves, and Redskins fan, he also served locally as a youth baseball and football coach.

Kenny loved a good party, always ready to unleash his fantastic shag dancing skills. His musical talents were just as impressive, as he played the guitar and harmonica and sang tenor with the St. Helena’s Anglican Church choir. His appreciation for good music, primarily beach music and classic rock, was a constant joy in his life. But above all, Kenny loved his family and will be missed dearly.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Kenny’s caretakers and hospice providers from Amedisys Hospice Care. Details of a celebration of life to be held in October will be announced by the family at a later date. Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.

OBITUARIES

The Island News publishes obituaries, including a photo, free of charge. Please contact theislandnews@gmail.com for more information.

@ 7:30

Jeff Evans, left, receives a First Place award for General News Photography at the S.C. Press Association Annual Meeting in 2023.

Kenneth Tootle

Shorts at High Noon continues this week

Staff reports

The Beaufort Film Society, in association with the Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL), is presenting the popular Shorts at High Noon program once again this fall, and it continues this week.

During the months of September, October, and November you'll get a chance to catch encore presentations for many of the 2025 Beaufort International Film Festival films in the categories of Shorts, Student Films, Short Documentaries, and Animation Films. Spend your lunch hour at the movies. Get excited, get inspired, and get ready for BIFF 2026, the event’s 20th anniversary.

Screenings are on Wednesdays only. Checkin time is 11:30 a.m., with screenings beginning promptly at High Noon.

TCL’s Auditorium is located at 921 Ribaut Road, Building 12 in Beaufort. Admission is free. For more information, visit beaufortfilmfestival.com.

Shorts At High Noon 2025 Schedule

All screenings, held on Wednesdays, are from the 2025 Beaufort International Film Festival. Category or Individual winners are denoted by *

Sept. 17

112 Steps (5 minutes, Animation)

Heartless (14 minutes, Student)

*1001 Cuts (25 minutes, Short Documentary)

Sept. 24

There Can Be Only One (3 minutes, Animation)

Living On The Edge (16 minutes, Student)

What I Am (26 minutes, Short)

Oct. 1

Love Photosynthesis (4 minutes, Animation)

Donor (11 minutes, Short)

Inhale (12 minutes, Short)

*Two Breaths (19 minutes, Student)

Oct. 8

My Friend Doubt (17 minutes, Short)

The Long Walk Home (15 minutes, Short)

The Rug (11 minutes, Short)

Oct. 15

Lovesick (20 minutes, Short)

Knead (12 minutes, Short)

*Game Night (19 minutes, Short)

Oct. 22

Small Hours (22 minutes, Short)

4th Dementia (17 minutes, Short)

The Greatest Guy You Never Met (9 minutes, Short)

Oct. 29

Familiar (18 minutes, Short)

Wakanyeja Kin Wana Ku

Pi (11 minutes, Short Documentary)

Burning the Old Man (18 minutes, Short)

Nov. 5

*Neither Donkey Nor Horse (29 minutes, Short)

Love Less Likely (17 minutes, Short)

Nov. 12

Breakfast In Beaufort (29 minutes, Short Doc)

*Ms. Rossi 3: Ms. Rossi

Meets the Mob (20 minutes, Short)

Nov. 19

BFS Members will vote on 1 of 3 BIFF 2026 film submissions to help determine an Official Selection for the upcoming festival. Proof of membership is required.

ARTS

Holy Trinity names new Theater Director, Assistant

Staff reports

Holy Trinity Classical Christian School has hired Kori Jo “K.J.” Nally to fill its Theater Director position. Fine Arts teacher Kevinann Smith will serve as Assistant Director, and together they will head the Holy Trinity Theater Department.

Nally is a teacher, biblical counselor, and pastor’s wife of 18 years, with three boys (1st, 3rd, 5th grades) attending Holy Trinity. The Nally Family has been with HTCCS since 2018. K.J.’s husband, Dustin, taught 6th Grade and she taught 7th Grade Bible. Early in their marriage and ministry, K.J. taught Literature and was the Drama Director at Northwoods Academy, a private Christian school in Charleston. During her time at Northwoods Academy she

taught drama class and directed the Christmas program and spring musical that she wrote.

Nally is excited to give the same opportunity to HT students to fall in love with theater and the Lord this year. She has written for magazines and blogs, like Christianity Today and is the author of “The Storms of Life: Trusting God through Emotional Pains, Hurting Marriages, and Addictions;” “Absorbed: Becoming Physically, Emotionally, and Spiritually Intimate as God Designed;” and an adoption book called “The Thread: Adoption Stories Knit Together by Love.” She

speaks at various places, including high schools, colleges, and churches for teens and women's events. Smith is a lifelong devotee of the arts who delights in music and theater. When she became a mother, she introduced her own children to the opportunities found in theater. She attributes a great portion of their highly successful lives to the confidence found in role playing, public speaking, and working together as a cast to capture the imagination of an audience. Smith looks forward to being a part of the Theater Department working with Holy Trinity students.

“The Lord has richly blessed our student body with many talents, some yet to be discovered,” she said. “Pray with us as we seek the Lord for the very best of opportunities to lead our thespians to step into the "good works" that He has prepared in advance for them to do.”

Beginning this month, the Theater Department will host a drama club for grammar, middle, and high school students. Their plan is to continue the tradition of a spring production which will be held in February and introduce a Shakespeare in the Park family event in April. For more information about theater and fine arts offered at Holy Trinity, please see www.htccs.org.

9th annual Lowcountry Book Club Convention later this month

Staff reports

The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host the ninth annual Lowcountry Book Club Convention on Friday, September 26, at the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce in Beaufort, and Saturday, September 27, at the Culinary Institute of the South at the Technical College of the Lowcountry in Bluffton.

Ideal for book club members, those interested in joining a book club, or anyone who simply loves the joy of reading, the Lowcountry Book Club Convention is presented in partnership with NeverMore Books and the student book club DAYLO.

The Lowcountry Book Club Convention will begin on Friday evening with a panel discussion among local authors: biographer Nancy Thode (“Ahead of Her Time: The Trailblazing Life and Literary Legacy of Ann Head”), novelist Karin Gillespie (“The Pitch Queen”), and travel writers Lynn and Cele Seldon (“100

Things to Do in the South Carolina Lowcountry Before You Die”). This opening session will be followed by a book signing, with refreshments. This is a ticketed event, held at the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce (711 Bladen Street, Beaufort).

The Convention continues Saturday at the Culinary Institute of the South (1 Venture Drive, Bluffton), with three author keynote conversations and gourmet box lunches catered by Debbi Covington. The program will feature a morning discussion with USA Today bestselling novelist Renée Rosen, author of “Let’s Call Her Barbie,” an afternoon discussion with New York Times bestselling novelist Marie Bostwick, author of “The Book Club for Troublesome Women,” and a midday conversation between Food Network star Kardea Brown, author of “The Way Home,” and local favorite Mary Martha Greene, author of “The Cheese Biscuit Queen: Kiss My Aspic!”

ARTS BRIEFS

Clock in for fun with ‘9 to 5 The Musical’

The Beaufort Theatre Company is presenting “9 to 5 The Musical,” the hit Broadway show inspired by the iconic film, this month at the USCB Center For The Arts.

With music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, this high-energy production celebrates friendship, empowerment, and standing up for what’s right — all set to a toe-tapping country-pop score. Don’t miss this wildly funny ride through the workday!

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20; 3 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 21; 7:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 26; 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27; and 3 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 28

Tickets are $35 for adults, $30 for seniors/military and students.

9 to 5 The Musical” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI) and is based on the 20th Century Fox motion picture. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI (www. mtishows.com).

The music and lyrics were composed by Dolly Parton, and the book was written by Patricia Resnick.

– Staff reports

Each author conversation will be followed by a book signing. This is a ticketed event. Advance registration is required by September 20 for this year’s Lowcountry Book Club Convention. Learn more and register at www.patconroyliterarycenter.org (under the Events tab) or at https://lowcountrybookclubconvention2025.eventbrite.com.

About the authors Marie Bostwick is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 20 works of uplifting contemporary and historical fiction — most recently “The Book Club for Troublesome Women,” a USA Today and Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance bestseller. It was a monthly pick for large national book clubs including the AARP Girlfriends Book Club, Gloss Book Club, and Brenda Novak’s Book Club, and has been includes on numerous “most anticipated” lists, including Book-

Bub’s Best Historical Fiction of 2025.

Kardea Brown is a contemporary Southern Chef, author of the New York Times bestseller “The Way Home” and the forthcoming “Make Do with What You Have” (November 2025). She and the creator of the New Gullah Supper Club pop-up, where her menu pays homage to dishes her grandmother and mother passed down to her. She is the host of the hit show “Delicious Miss Brown and Kids Baking Championship.” Karin Gillespie is the author of nine novels, most recently “The Pitch Queen.” She’s a former book columnist for the Augusta Chronicle, a former humor columnist for Augusta Magazine and a recipient of a 2016 Georgia Author of the Year Award.

Mary Martha Greene is the author of “The Cheese Biscuit Queen Tells All: Southern Recipes, Sweet Remembrances, and a Little Rambunctious Behavior,” and its sequel, “The Cheese

Biscuit Queen: Kiss My Aspic.”

Renée Rosen is a USA Today bestselling author. Her newest novel, “Let’s Call Her Barbie,” about the origin story of the popular doll, is a USA Today bestseller featured in the New York Post, RuPaul's Book Club, Book Riot, the Nerd Daily, and the Chicago Review of Books. Lynn and Cele Seldon are veteran travel journalists and published authors of many travel guidebooks, including “100 Things to Do in Charleston Before You Die,” “100 Things to Do in Savannah Before You Die,” and the forthcoming “100 Things to Do in the South Carolina Lowcountry Before You Die.” A native of Beaufort, Nancy Head Thode was a founding board member of the Academy of Family Mediators and continues her work today as a practicing family psychotherapist. “Ahead of Her Time,” the biography of her mother Ann Head, is her first book.

Camps dances

concludes Saturday,

and 10th Streets. Bring a chair, invite your

Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Kori Jo “K.J.” Nally

Kevinann Smith

Jackson

with his daughter Lilian, 20 months old, from Lady’s Island, as Anthony Rosano and the Conqueroos performs live on Paris Avenue during Port Royal Street Music on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. The fall season

Sept. 20 with Ladycouch. The shows start at 6 p.m. on Paris Avenue between 9th

friends, and enjoy a free night of live music in the heart of Port Royal.

JPII seniors participating in poverty simulation

Staff reports

On Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the senior class of John Paul II Catholic School (JPII) will take part in a powerful, hands-on Poverty Simulation facilitated by the United Way.

This immersive learning experience is designed to help students better understand the daily struggles of individuals and families living in poverty.

During the simulation, each student will be assigned an identity and family profile, complete with responsibilities and challenges reflective of real-world situations. Community agencies and insti-

tutions will be represented, and students must work together to “survive” for a month. Unexpected events — such as losing a job, experiencing a car breakdown, facing homelessness, or even being incarcerated — are introduced throughout the exercise, mirroring the unpredictability of life

EDUCATION BRIEFS

Beaufort County Youth Conference set for Sept. 20

The Beaufort County Youth Conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday Sept. 20, at USCB’s Center For The Arts at 801 Carteret Street in Beaufort. The event brings together rising middle and high school students from all over to address and tackle pressing problems.

Sponsored by local businesses and organizations, the conference aims to help students better deal with relationships, empowerment, social media, decision making and self identity.

The keynote speaker is Kyle Greene, a Ridgeland native who lives in Atlanta. Many more professionals will facilitate three workshops for middle school students and three workshops for high school students.

Lunch and T-shirts, designed by the event’s youth planners, are provided free, as are door prizes. Bring or send your youth for a day that will change, enlighten and empower them for life.

Registration is onsite. For questions, call Carrie Major at 843-812-4399; Lynn at 843-476-1888; or Austin at 843-321-0373

3 JPII juniors selected for leadership program

John Paul II Catholic School juniors

Ayla Reynolds, Griffin Spencer, and Jackson Reilley have been selected as members of the Class of 2025 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Junior Leadership.

According to the organization's website, class participants learn valuable life skills through service projects, interactive learning seminars, and workshops led by local leaders. The program runs through the 2025-2026 school year and is open to high school juniors in Beaufort County. Qualifications include a minimum GPA of 2 5 or equivalent, a detailed application, and three personal references.

"The program works to effect positive change in a community by providing students opportunities to build leadership skills through service-learning projects, seminars, workshops and interaction with local leaders and decision makers," noted the Chamber of Commerce.

“We are so proud of Griffin, Ayla, and

in poverty.

“As our seniors begin their Capstone projects, we felt it was important to provide them with meaningful insight into the realities faced by so many in our own communities,” said JPII President David Lima. “This simulation will challenge them to reflect on service, empathy, and social responsibility, values that are at the heart of a JPII education.”

The Poverty Simulation allows students to move beyond statistics and into lived experiences, fostering greater awareness of the obstacles many Lowcountry families encounter when trying to secure food, housing, employment, and transportation.

Jackson for earning this honor,” JPII Principal Heather Rembold said in a news release. “Their leadership, service, and dedication to our community represent the very best of JPII. We know they will shine as ambassadors for our school and as future leaders in the Lowcountry.”

STAR Youth Leadership Program meeting set

for Sept. 17

Nexus Care of Beaufort County's STAR (Striving to Achieve Resiliency) Youth Leadership Program scheduled its September meeting encouraging middle school and high school students north of the Broad to develop peer-to-peer conversations about substance abuse in the hopes of reducing their misuse.

In partnership with All Aboard Beaufort, the meeting will be held Wednesday, Sept. 17, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the St. Helena Branch Library at 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road.

Student participants will: • Be changemakers: Help reduce alcohol and marijuana misuse through peer-to-peer interactions. Your voice matters, and you can make a real impact.

Earn rewards: Rack up volunteer hours for awards while gaining leadership and communication skills that will set you apart.

Get active: Participate in community scavenger hunts, create media campaigns, and present at schools — turning your ideas into action!

Meet movers and shakers: Engage with community leaders and make your mark on northern Beaufort County.

This is event is free and open to all interested middle school and high school students in northern Beaufort County. The All Aboard Beaufort coalition is funded through the Centers for Disease Control by a Drug-Free Communities award to address primary prevention efforts in northern Beaufort County communities. For more information and to rsvp, contact Jodie Martinez at jodie.martinez@ bcgov.net.

– Staff reports

Living & Growing the Jesus Way

Sunday Morning Worship at 8:30 & 10:30

81 Lady’s Island Drive

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

It’s not time for Beaufort High School football fans to panic, but the clock is ticking.

The Eagles slogged through another game that followed their recent trademark on Friday, watching one offensive shortcoming after another undo a terrific defensive effort in a 17-6 loss to Philip Simmons. It drops Beaufort to 0-3 for the second straight season, an unthinkable notion when Bryce Lybrand and crew were hoisting the Class 3A state championship trophy just three years ago in Columbia.

It seems so long ago now.

A lot to figure out in a short time

This year’s Beaufort team boasts a strong defense — though certainly not as strong as the state championship unit led by Colton Phares, now a starting linebacker at Appalachian State — but any similarities to the 2022 squad end there.

The offensive line was thought to be a strength going into the season, as six players with starting experience returned in the trenches, including hulking tackle Kenshon Speaks, but none of Beaufort’s backs have found much running room, and the Ea-

Philip Simmons 17, Beaufort 6

Avoidable mistakes from the Eagles put them in a hole, and Beaufort’s offense continued to sputter in a home loss. The Eagles’ defense limited Philip Simmons to 171 total yards and allowed only one touchdown, but an errant snap that turned into a touchdown for Alex Tchoryk swung the momentum in the Iron Horses’ favor. Beaufort’s lone score came on Keaudre Jenkins’ 98-yard punt return as time expired.

Next week: Beaufort (0-3) at Goose Creek Keenan 34, Battery Creek 27

The Dolphins had their best offensive showing of the season, but they didn’t have an answer for Raiders running back Hunter O’Neal, who piled up 426 yards on 34 carries and scored all five Keenan touchdowns to help deny Battery Creek its first win of the season.

Next week: Battery Creek (0-3) vs. Bethune-Bowman

Whale Branch 8, Ridgeland 0

An errant punt snap resulting in a safety midway through the first quarter proved to be the game-winning score in a defensive struggle in Ridgeland. The only offensive score of the night came late in the fourth quarter when freshman Makhi Zackary hit Kevin Mims for a 21-yard touchdown pass, but the Warriors’ defense didn’t even need the help as I’veon Watson and company held the Jaguars scoreless for a third straight game to start the season.

Next week: Whale Branch (2-1) at Woodland; Ridgeland (0-3) vs. Manning

Beaufort Academy 42, Patrick Henry 6 Nych Underwood rushed for 206 yards and three TDs, and Nic Shuford Jr. added 102 yards and a TD on the ground and tossed two TD passes to Devin Fripp as the Eagles pulled away after a competitive first quarter. Fripp had four catches for 115 yards. Rylin Brunson scored the lone touchdown for PHA.

Next week: BA (4-0) at Lee Academy

Bethesda Academy 50, John Paul II 14

Jordan Turner threw three touchdown passes, including two to Ralo Wesley, and Wesley also took a kickoff return to the house as the Blazers hung half-a-hundred on a Lowco opponent for the second straight week. Alan Wolf and Jadon Inabinett scored rushing touchdowns for the Golden Warriors.

Next week: JPII (2-2) at HHCA

Bluffton 33, Savannah Country Day 20

The Bobcats broke it open in the second quarter and cruised to a comfortable win behind 459 passing yards and four touchdown

gles’ quarterbacks have spent too much time running for their lives. It was understandable against Class 5A powers Fort Dorchester and Greenwood, but the trouble up front continued against Philip Simmons, a Class 2A team looking for its first win.

That’s concerning, because the Eagles needed to lean on their ground game this year while they adjust to life without three-year starting quarterback Samari Bonds, a physical freak who could turn busted plays into big gains. They went with Anthony Kahler as Bonds’ successor, but the offense was largely ineffective and Kahler suffered a broken collarbone in a 48-8 loss at Greenwood.

Enter junior Braydon MoydSmalls, a less developed version

of Bonds who can evade defenders and make plays with his legs and his arm. It didn’t matter. Beaufort’s offense sputtered time and again Friday, making uncharacteristic mistakes that proved costly. A blocked field goal took the air out of one promising drive, and an errant snap over Moyd-Smalls’ head resulted in a defensive touchdown for the Iron Horses.

This year’s Eagles aren’t good enough to get away with mistakes like that.

All is not lost, though. The next two games — at Goose Creek on Friday and at home against Battery Creek on Sept. 19 — are against winless teams, and then Beaufort has a week off before jumping into the Region 6-4A fray at Bluffton on Oct. 3

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ROUNDUP

passes from Aedan McCarthy, including a pair each to Amare Patterson and Carnell Warren, avenging last year’s road loss to the Hornets. Patterson took two of his three catches to the house, totaling 161 yards, while Warren snagged six balls for 173 yards and two TDs, and each picked off a pass on defense. Bluffton lost running back Aaiden Howell to a broken collarbone; he is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

Next week: Bluffton (3-0) at Hampton Co.

Lower Richland 28, Colleton County 0

The Cougars’ defense held its own for the second straight week and limited the Diamond Hornets to one first-half touchdown, but Colleton County couldn’t generate a spark on offense and didn’t have enough gas in the tank down the stretch. Rodney Wilder had five tackles and two interceptions for the Cougars.

Next week: Colleton County (0-3) vs. Stall

Hilton Head Island 36, Aiken 17

Jayvin Risher got the Seahawks going early with a pick-six and a rushing touchdown and caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Derrick Raniszewski, who played despite suffering a broken nose last week and also connected with Jeremiah Walters for a 91-yard touchdown to help Hilton Head bounce back on the road. Risher finished with 159 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries along with a 3-yard TD catch and a 60-yard touchdown after an acrobatic interception.

Next week: HHIHS (2-1) vs. Hardeeville (12)

May River 34, Lake City 16

Sean Mitchell rolled up 194 yards on 28 carries and scored twice on the ground and again through the air to power the Sharks to the road win in defensive coordinator Ashley Powell’s homecoming. Quarterback Luc Tran added 83 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries and hit Mitchell for a 25-yard touchdown pass, while Michael Poole and Zavier Polite led a strong defensive effort.

Next week: May River (2-1) at BrooklandCayce

Hampton Co. 36, Silver Bluff 21

Jaylen Singletary rushed for 131 yards on 25 carries and scored three touchdowns in the first half, and Tarell Grant was 9-of-12 for 159 yards with TD passes to Desmond Mathis and Karinton Sabb to help the Hurricanes build a 36-7 lead through three quarters and coast to a comfortable win at home, setting up a battle of unbeaten teams next week against Bluffton.

Next week: Hampton Co. (3-0) vs. Bluffton East Clarendon 28, Hardeeville 6

Camari Brown scored his eighth touchdown of the season and turned in a huge game on defense, but the Hurricanes couldn’t keep pace with the Wolverines in the second half of a bizarre game played in two locations. After the visiting sideline lights went out in Hardeeville with 1:01 left in the first quarter, the game was resumed hours later in Ridgeland after the conclusion of the Jaguars’ home game against Whale Branch.

Next week: Hardeeville (1-2) at Hilton Head Island (2-1)

SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

Forgive me if I’m not quick to write this team off despite an ugly start to the season. I still remember Bryce Lybrand’s first season as Beaufort’s head coach, when the Eagles lost their first five games and lost quarterback Tyler Haley to injury only to install a revamped offense the next week and win their next four games en route to a region title. Three years later they were state champs. Lybrand and the Eagles have a lot to figure out in a short time, but they’ve done it before. Justin Jarrett is the sports editor of

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

Dorchester Academy 42, Hilton Head Prep 0

John Whetsell rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns, and John Quattlebaum passed for 184 yards and three TDs and added a rushing score for the Raiders. Noah Risher snagged two touchdown passes for Dorchester.

Next week: HHP (0-3) vs. Bethesda Academy

Orangeburg Prep 41, Thomas Heyward 27

Tony O’Banner scored four rushing touchdowns, the last of which pulled the Rebels even at 27, but THA’s defense surrendered a 94-yard touchdown pass from Cholly Williams to Tilden Riley, and Riley picked off a pass in the red zone late in the game to seal the win for the Indians.

Next week: THA (0-2) at Williamsburg Academy

Colleton Prep 44, Andrew Jackson Academy 8 Tanner Wolf rushed for 101 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries, and Cale Owens added 88 yards and a score on the ground and connected with Hartman Fisk for a 56-yard touchdown pass to lead the War Hawks to a blowout win at home and a 2-0 start to region play.

Next week: CPA (3-1) at Calhoun Academy

Cathedral Academy 36, Cross Schools 16 The Stingrays turned in their strongest performance of the season and significantly narrowed the gap after losing two meetings last season by an average of 47 points, showing progress under first-year coach Rico McCoy. Next week: Cross (0-3) vs. Holly Hill Academy

JUSTIN JARRETT

Beaufort High students fill the student section with team spirit and the chosen theme of American Pride for the home game against Phillip Simmons on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Phillip Simmons won 17-6. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

A group of Dolphins defend the pass during Battery Creek’s home game against Keenan on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Keenan won 27-34. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Know your stroke signs — your life may depend on it

Special to The Island News

According to the American Heart Association, more than 795,000 Americans suffer a stroke each year. Despite medical advances, stroke remains a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States and takes another life every three minutes and 11 seconds. Fortunately, you can help protect yourself and those you love. It starts by watching for the signs of a stroke.

“Time is so important with a stroke,” says Beaufort Memorial Stroke Coordinator Andrea Zeman. “The faster you recognize the signs and seek treatment, the better the outcome can be.”

Three types of strokes

While strokes come in different forms, each stops blood flow from reaching the brain. The three types are:

• Ischemic stroke – You may experience this type of stroke if enough cholesterol, fat and other substances build up inside a blood vessel and stop blood from reaching the brain. It can also occur if a blood clot

in one part of the body comes loose and gets stuck in a vessel that feeds the brain.

• Hemorrhagic stroke – A blood vessel in your brain weakens. It then breaks open and spills blood into the area around the brain. This type of stroke is less common than ischemic stroke.

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) – Also called a ministroke, a TIA often serves as a warning. If you don’t make lifestyle changes after a TIA, you may experience a fullblown stroke in the future.

BE FAST: Signs of a stroke No matter what kind of stroke you have, you will likely experience the telltale signs. To recognize these symptoms, you must “BE FAST” — Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech, Time. Balance – Stroke can cause loss of balance or coordination. You may fall or have a hard time with motor control.

Eyes – You may notice sudden vision issues, such as losing sight in one or both eyes. Face – Stroke often causes

one side of the face to droop or feel numb. If you ask the person to smile, a stroke may cause the smile to be uneven.

• Arms – One arm may become numb or weak. To detect a stroke, ask the person to raise both arms. If one drifts downward, it may be a stroke. Speech – Stroke can cause slurred speech that results in difficulty speaking clearly.

• Time – Anytime you notice these symptoms of stroke, it’s a medical emergency. Call 911 immediately.

Along with BE FAST, there are additional signs of stroke. A few to look out for include sudden headaches, language loss and one-sided symptoms where one arm or side of your face may go numb or become weak.

Beaufort Memorial holds Advanced Certification as a Primary Stroke Center, also earning national recognition from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for stroke care and post-stroke care and treatment that save lives and improves long-term outcomes.

In addition to our dedicated stroke team, Beaufort Memorial has a stroke telemedicine program and affiliation with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC Health), allowing for fast evaluation and treatment for those experiencing stroke. With the telestroke program, Beaufort Memorial’s emergency room and intensive care providers have immediate, around-theclock access to MUSC stroke care experts for urgent consultation. This allows emergency providers in Charleston to virtually examine patients and review brain-imaging studies.

“This partnership is vital, because every minute a stroke goes untreated, you lose two million brain cells,” Zeman says. “Also, medical treatment for stroke is most effective when

Beaufort Memorial Diabetes Care Center earns national recognition

American Diabetes Association’s Education Recognition Program certification ensures quality diabetes education, support for people living with diabetes

Staff reports

The American Diabetes Association, the nation’s leading organization committed to fighting diabetes, recognized the Beaufort Memorial Diabetes Care Center through their Education Recognition Program (ERP) at the end of August.

Since 2000, the Beaufort Memorial Diabetes Self-Management Program has held the prestigious American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate. This ensures that the program meets rigorous national standards to provide people with diabetes with the tools necessary for controlling blood sugar levels and reducing the risk of complications.

A diabetes educator can play a pivotal role in determining what works for each individual patient in controlling all types of diabetes.

The ADA’s ERP certificate

assures that educational services meet the national standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES). The corresponding intervention provided is evidence-based and outcome driven, and services apply for recognition voluntarily and ADAERP recognition lasts for four years.

“DSMES is an essential part of managing diabetes and is as effective as diabetes medication. Therefore, all people with diabetes benefit from it,” said Barbara Eichhorst, MS, RD, CDCES, ADA vice president of health programs. “We applaud the Beaufort Memorial Diabetes Care Center for its commitment to providing value-based interventions such as DSMES, maximizing corresponding outcomes and patient experience.”

According to the Center for Disease Control and Pre-

vention National Diabetes Fact Sheet, there are over 38 million people nationwide –11 6% of the U.S. population – who have diabetes. While an estimated 29 7 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately 8 7 million are not aware that they have the condition.

Each day, nearly 3,300 Americans are diagnosed with diabetes. Many will first learn they have diabetes when they are treated for one of its life-threatening complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve disease or amputation.

“The diabetes educators at Beaufort Memorial work closely with people with diabetes to help them maximize their diabetes management in addition to their overall health to enable them to have the best quality of life possible,” said Roxanne Davis, MPH, RD, LD, CNSC,

Beaufort Memorial Clinical Nutrition Manager and ADA ERP Quality Coordinator.

The Beaufort Memorial Diabetes Care Center is located at The LifeFit Wellness Center, located on the first floor of the Beaufort Memorial Medical and Administrative Center at 990 Ribaut Road in Beaufort, as well as at the Okatie Medical

Pavilion, 122 Okatie Center Blvd in Okatie. As a part of this Diabetes Self-Management Program, patients meet with diabetes educators who help them develop the skills needed to manage diabetes, including how to monitor blood sugar, take medications as directed, get active and avoid complications.

These diabetes educators are also registered dietitians who can teach patients how to make smart dietary choices, track carbohydrates and read food labels.

If you have diabetes and want to enroll in this nationally recognized Diabetes Self-Management Program, call the LifeFit Wellness Center at 843-522-5635

Beaufort Memorial dieticians (from left) Kim Edwards, RD, CDE; Roxanne Davis, MPH, RD, LD, CNSC; Hannah Dennis, RD; Sarah Thurber, RD; and Janice Pfuhl, RD. Photo courtesy of Beaufort Memorial Hospital

VOICES

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

British poem celebrates hope in tough times

Another death. Another funeral. Another friend taken too early by that cruel, smarmy bastard — cancer. Another person whose throaty laugh and shining glint in the eyes are gone. As we age, we encounter death more often, too often. Making sense of it, dealing with it and grieving about it is part of grappling with the lives we lead.

For many, funerals help the living. For others like me, they’re often dour occasions to be endured and gotten through as tributes to lives. They’re a way to pay respect to families, friends and the living.

This week’s funeral, however, offered something different in the familiar for-

mat – a poem that touched something deep inside. Poems, psalms, hymns and other biblical readings are standard parts of services. But this time, the short stanzas of one poem got through. Maybe these words will help you as you increasingly encounter deaths as you age. They’re from a short work called “Remember Me,” or sometimes listed in funeral programs as “She

is Gone” (or “He is Gone” if the pronouns are changed):

You can shed tears that she is gone; or you can smile because she has.

You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back; or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her; or you can be full of the love that you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday; or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she is gone; or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close

your mind, be empty and turn your back; or you can do what she would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

Simple. Sad. Powerful. Calming. Majestic. What is uplifting is how these few words can lead one to a conclusion that celebrating a friend’s life may be a stronger alternative than succumbing to grief and pain. The words offer a path toward moving forward.

The poem’s backstory adds more interest. It apparently became a popular piece for funerals after Queen Elizabeth II picked it to be part of her mother’s funeral in 2002. At that point, the author was attributed as anonymous.

But it wasn’t too long before news stories circulated that the author had been a bakery worker and aspiring artist in Carlisle, England, who wrote a slightly different version in 1981 as a poem of unrequited love, not as a funereal tribute. According to Wikipedia and other sources, he sent the piece to publishers for a while, but didn’t have any luck. He later stopped writing, but through the years, the poem, with some slightly changed words from the original, started circulating on the internet, later gaining renewed life at the Queen Mother’s service. This week’s commentary obviously isn’t on the normal back-and-forth

Heretofore hidden veins of resentment, anger

It is Sunday, and there is an autumn-like crispness in the air. This morning I welcome the warm steam coming-off my coffee — Starbuck’s Sumatra — and also have some thinly sliced (and toasted) sourdough bread enhanced with a generous, evenly applied layer pear and jalapeño peppered jam.

No, this is not your Breakfast of Champions.

This morning I’m listening to Adam Gopnik who is being interviewed by David Remnick on the New Yorker Radio Hour.

Gopnik is a magazine writer who describes the murky, counter-intuitive cross currents sloshing through our culture. At the moment Gopnik is taking on Trump and his efforts to erase the “improper ideology” that is presented by the National Museum of African American History.

Before getting to “improper ideology” Gopnik reminds us about the foundational ideas that undergird our democracy — rule of law; free and fair elections and “pluralism.”

Pluralism is the concept that we, here in the United States, can

ASCOTT GRABER

entertain multiple ideas, tastes and beliefs even when they are discordant.

Gopnik says there is a dissonance between the music of Metallica and that of, let us say, Aaron Copeland. There is a difference between the art of Norman Rockwell and that of Marc Rothko. There is a divide between those who love a mayonnaise and mustard slathered chili-cheeseburger and those who prefer a slow-roasted, thinly-sliced pork belly chased by an Italian Pinot Noir.

Importantly, there are those who believe in capitalism — that making as much money as one can accumulate in, say, 60 or 70 years is an entirely meaningful, life-time pursuit. And others who believe this is a wasted life.

When

t a time when gaslighting and whataboutism are rampant, there’s one sin of which America is perennially guilty and unable to refute: good old-fashioned racism.

I want you to consider that one aspect of racism in this country is so pervasive, so normal, it is the basis for a common assessment of how the country’s economy is doing. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the metaphor of the canary in the coal mine. For those who don't get the reference, in the old days coal miners kept canaries in cages. The birds had a heightened sensitivity for the unseen and sometimes odorless deadly gases that could accumulate. If the workers checked the cage and found a dead bird, that was a sign of trouble.

If the canaries succumbed, the human workers ran the risk of being next. So why bring that up now? Because I keep seeing, hearing and reading that metaphor being used to talk about the nation’s faltering economy, specifically the job market, under President Trump.

the

Gopnik reminds us that Joseph Stalin, after hearing a concerto composed by Shostakovich, decided this man’s music should be banned in the Soviet Union. Gopnik argues that Stalin’s decision about Shostakovich was as wrong-headed as, say, Trump deciding that there is too much floor space dedicated to the evils of slavery at the National Museum for African American History.

Gopnik says the curators at the Smithsonian are entitled to interpret history according to their research — and to present that point of view using eye-popping dioramas as well as brass slave badges and iron ankle shackles.

He says that visitors can agree, or stay away — Trump saying this emphasis on our sordid relationship with human bondage is blasphemy.

I, myself, have tried to find middle ground on this particular topic saying that “I grew up Southern thinking that the shoeless, ragtag farm boys who fought in the trenches around Petersburg did not think much about slavery.”

I reasoned that these Duplin and Martin County teenagers

knew that Georgia had been invaded — that Kilpatrick’s calvary was burning every building, barn and farmstead — and that their farms and their families were next. Furthermore, these were not people who took An Introduction to Anthropology at Chapel Hill, or who had subscriptions to Scientific American or Lancet. These folks raised their collards, cured their hams, and when they contemplated slavery, bought, no doubt, into a convenient theory that slavery had a Biblical justification.

But one rarely hears that narrative these days.

In the last 15 years (or so) there have been at least three new museums focused on slavery — and many existing museums have refocused their exhibits around the horror, and the misery, and long term consequences of human bondage.

NPR has, recently, put a racial spin on much of the its programming. Whether it’s whole hog barbecue, gerrymandered districts or pollution from chicken farms there is usually a race-based vibe that gives meaning and substance to the term “virtue signaling.”

about politics and policy. But in these days in which there's so much friction and division, reread the words and think about the times in which we live. Things might seem frustrating, sad or bad now — just as when someone dies — but there’s likely a way to look at things with fresh vigor, have hope and press onward to preserve our democracy. Because without hope — especially in South Carolina — we can’t breathe and live fully.

Dum spiro spero. And goodbye, old friend.

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

And, of course, this gives Donald Trump yet another shiny object to wave in front of his agitated acolytes.

There doesn’t seem to be much research on the effect of this “virtue signaling” or “ancestor shaming” in the 2024 election. The two southern battleground states, Georgia and North Carolina, went for Trump. But generally speaking the primary, alleged defect (on the Left) was the tepid turn-out of Black men in Atlanta and Charlotte. Other Democrats say this election was actually a repudiation of Obama; or have another simple, single-sentence reason for the rejection of Kamala Harris.

But I think the reasons for Trump’s success were complex; had a lot to do with his huge digital delivery each and every day. But in the end he successfully mined heretofore hidden veins of resentment and anger that won him a second term in the Oval Office.

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

caged bird stops singing

be coming to the larger workforce.

For now, the overall unemployment rate has not reached the point of raising alarm, but that's likely to change very soon. What won't change is the fact that people of color suffer first, and worst, compared to the general public when it comes to this type of thing.

The question is “Why?”

Last week’s job report showed companies across the country are holding off on hiring. Not only were a paltry 22,000 jobs gained in August, revisions to earlier numbers showed there was a net less of jobs in June.

CNN reported that this marked the end of the second-longest period of employment expansion on record, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It began in December 2020

This came paired with news from CNN that the Black unemployment rate hit a four-year high of 7 5 percent in August, up from 6 percent in May, 6 8 in June and 7 2 percent in July. This merited coverage because what happens with Black and Hispanic employment is typically a bellwether for what will

If DEI efforts have disadvantaged white people as much as critics claim, why are Black workers the first to be let go? If your answer is, more Black people are being let go because they had an unfair advantage in the first place, then why is it so hard to understand why diversity, equity and inclusion efforts were conceived of in the first place, to address the longtime advantage white workers enjoyed?

But that’s a whole other column.

Another question is why the job market is taking such a heavy toll on Black women. Axios reports the unemployment rate for Black women was 5 4 percent in January; in August, it had climbed to 7 5 percent, even though the overall jobless rate ticked up only marginally, from 4 to 4 3 percent in the same time frame.

This is just one consequence of the slash-and-burn perpetrated on the federal workforce by Trump and Elon Musk’s DOGE in the name of eliminating “waste, abuse and fraud.” As the New York Times reports, “Black women make up 12 percent of the federal workforce, nearly double their share of the labor force overall.”

To add injury to insult, Black women have also been hurt by corporate America’s abandonment of affirmative action policies and elimination of positions guiding efforts to enforce those policies. As the Times reports, many of those positions were filled by Black women.

Hispanic women? They gained jobs since the start of the year. Same for white women. Black women lost more than 319,000, while white men saw a gain of 365 000. Isn’t that a remarkable coincidence?

Black men are experiencing a jobless rate similar to Black women, at 7 1 percent. But going after Black women cuts deeper. There's an African proverb, “If you educate a man, you are educating one person, but if you edu-

cate a woman, you are educating a nation.” A natural corollary of that notion is that hurting a Black woman is hurting more than just that woman.

Economist Katica Roy wrote for MSNBC that “more than 51 percent of Black households with children are led by breadwinner mothers, many of whom are the sole source of income in their homes.”

Yes, it hurts Black women. Yes, it hurts their children and their families. But the hurt doesn’t stop there.

Roy told the Times, “Black women are the canaries in the coal mine … . If any other cohort thinks it’s not coming for them, they’re wrong.”

What’s more wrong? The idea that any nation would consign a segment of its population to a status where its welfare is only a concern inasmuch as it signals peril to the majority.

Worse still is accepting this as the status quo and actively working to make the lives in that segment even harder.

ANDY BRACK

TERRY MANNING

VOICES

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

Iconsider myself to be a moderate liberal. I have stated before that I voted many times for Republicans when I lived in Pennsylvania, the most notable being John Heinz, who tragically died in a plane crash.

Yes, I am a registered Democrat who had no compunction about crossing party lines. That was, of course when the Republican party was sane, reasonable, and not engulfed in the flames of totalitarian rule.

I often ask myself how this happened so quickly, but then I snap back to the reality that this encroachment was not quick but rather came about in the fashion of a slowly dripping faucet. That faucet became full-on when No. 47 was re-elected. One need only familiarize himself or herself with Project 2025 to realize that this was not an overnight creation.

Much has been written about this document, so I am not about to regurgitate what is easily accessible online. Very simply, it is a 900-page manual for reorganizing the entire federal government, agency by agency, to serve a conservative agenda. It is often referred to as “Mandate for Leadership.”

But first, just a bit of background. In 2022 The Heritage Foundation authored Project 2025 which is simply a road map for how to replace the rule of law with right-wing ideals. Additionally, Heritage Foundation’s President, Kevin Roberts worked on 47’s transition team in 2016. He has described his organization’s role as “institutionalizing Trumpism.” Roberts was one of the principle advocates for overturning the 2020 election to keep Donald Trump in office after he lost the

election.

What follows are just a few important bullet points of this document, knowing most of my dear readers (as well of those who have no desire to fall into that group) are well-aware of these.

Gutting abortion rights and subsequently the facilities that provide them.

Mass deportations — originally of criminals; now it doesn’t matter.

Unleashing undue force on protesters; must I include L.A., D.C., Chicago?

Limit voting access; no more mail-in ballots?

Controlling education: banning of books; Harvard and other universities.

Censoring critical discussion in the classroom, specifically race and gender.

Reread what I have stated above, and then ask yourself, “Don’t we have a Constitution that lays this out for us? Don’t we have a “Bill of Rights?” And the answer to both is, “Of course we do.” But apparently those in the Heritage Foundation find those documents inefficient, outmoded, and unworthy of retention.

Let’s be clear. There are many “authentic,” honest-to-God, real conservatives out there who see what is happening. But they must speak up.

“...the

You know who they are; Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger are great examples. It appears now that the combined efforts of Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Rho Khanna (D-CA) represent what might have been unthinkable just a month ago — working across the aisle.

However, the Republican party, as I knew it, is almost dead, having been captured and nearly suffocated by MAGA puppets who are deftly handled by those espousing Project 2025

In “1984,” at my suggestion, the dystopian novel by the same name was put into the English curriculum. It was still there when I retired from teaching in 1997. I believe it should still be taught, perhaps now more than ever. Those banning books will disagree, I’m sure, but I digress. You may or may not have read it, but I believe it is worth a quick

review. Very simply put, the psychological, technological, physical, and social dangers of totalitarianism, which is political authority, shape human thought. This is accomplished through “doublethink,” the ability to hold two contradictory ideas in one’s mind and believe them both to be true.

Sound familiar?

There is “Newspeak,” the official language of the totalitarian state of Oceania, designed to restrict thought and eliminate political dissent by reducing vocabulary, removing unorthodox meanings from words, and making it impossible to conceive of rebellious ideas.

Fox Entertainment, perhaps?

Posters of “Big Brother” are located throughout London, and we learn there is constant surveillance of the people. There is so much more I could include about this prophetic book, but my teaching days are long since over. If you have never read Orwell’s book, I urge you to do so. If you have, rereading it may shed some light on what we now face.

I will leave you with part of the message Liz Cheney recently sent to all Democrats, urging them to “take off the gloves.” My interpretation.

She begins admonishing us by saying, “I need more from you.”

I wish I had space to include her entire treatise. Instead I will provide a few of her salient points and let you consider them.

1 Form an independent, civilian-powered investigative coalition. I’m talking experts. Veterans. Whistle blowers. Journalists. Watchdog orgs. Deputize the resistance. Build a real-time

archive of corruption, overreach, and executive abuse. Make it public. Make it unshakable.

2 Join the International Criminal Court. Call their bluff. You cannot control what the other side does. But you can control your own integrity.

3 Fund state-level resistance infrastructure. Don’t just send postcards. Send resources. Channel DNC funds into rapid-response teams, legal defense coalitions, sanctuary networks, and digital security training. If the federal government is hijacked, build power underneath it. If the laws become tools of oppression, help people resist them legally, locally, and boldly. This is not campaign season — this is an authoritarian purge.

4 Leverage international media and watchdogs. Stop hoping U.S. cable news will wake up. They’re too busy playing both sides of fascism. Feed the real stories to BBC, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, Reuters, Der Spiegel — hell, leak them to anonymous dropboxes if you have to. Make what’s happening in America a global scandal.

This from a die-hard conservative, the real deal.

Cheney concludes with this: The clock is ticking and deportation buses are idling. I echo that sentiment.

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.”

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.

Patriot Day

CALENDAR

8 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept 11, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort. Remembering and honoring those who served and died on 9/11.

Yemassee Shrimp Festival Friday, Sept. 19 & Saturday, Sept. 20, 101 Town Circle Yemassee. Live music includes the East Coast Party Band (8 p.m., Friday), sponsored by Comcast; and Funk Factory 5 (8 p.m. Saturday). Ore details to come.

2025 Beaufort County Youth Conference

9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20, USC Beaufort Center For The Arts, 801 Carteret Street, Beaufort. The event aims to bring rising middle school and high school together from all over to address and tackle pressing challenges. For more information, call Lynn at 843476-1888; Brandon at 843-321-0373; or Carrie at 843-812-4399 for more information.

Gather & Give: A Family Promise Barn Bash

6 to 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 3, The Barn at Hampton Lake, 7457 Hampton Lake Drive, Bluffton. $150 per ticket. Join us for an unforgettable evening of music, good food, good company, and giving back — all in support of Family Promise of Beaufort County. Beer & wine included. Live music and more. To purchase tickets, visit https://bit.ly/45gHNpF.

Saint Peter’s Catholic Church 65th Annual Fall Bazaar

10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4, Saint Peter’s Catholic Church, 70 Lady’s Island Drive, Beaufort. The Bazaar features international foods, a craft fair, a sweet shoppe, in-person and online silent auctions, wine and beer garden, plant sale, church and school tours, and a Kids Zone with inflatables, games, and the Beaufort Barnyard Petting Zoo. Artists and crafts people interested in a 10x10 outdoor space can send an email to gather@stpetersbeaufort.org for more information. The 65th Annual Fall Bazaar benefits Lowcountry Outreach, a ministry of Saint Peter’s parish that provides free office and meeting space for partner organizations, including Lowcountry Legal Volunteers, A Father’s Place, and several support groups. Lowcountry Outreach provides a rideshare program designed to assist individuals lacking transportation, enabling them to access essential services.

Inaugural Port Royal Plein Air Invitational

5 to 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 10; all day Saturday, Oct. 11; all day Sunday, Oct. 12. 809 Paris Avenue, Port Royal. A threeday celebration of open-air painting and creative community, taking place at The Shed and throughout the picturesque streets and coastal landscapes of historic Port Royal. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/4lLDpnA.

40th annual Hilton Head Kiwanis Chili Cookoff & Jeep Island Noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 11, Lowcountry Celebration Park, 94 Pope Avenue, Hilton Head Island. All major debit and credit cards will be accepted for chili samples, food, beverages, and more. Local BBQ legend Orchid Paulmeier of One Hot Mama’s restaurant, fresh off of her Top 5 finish on the Food Network’s “BBQ Brawl,” will once again be competing in the Chili Cook Off! In addition to the traditional adult beverages and soft drinks, this year’s event also will include local craft brews from Local Legend Brewing Company! The event raises much-needed funding for many local youth charities, including Island Rec Association and the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island. Chili cooks will face off to determine the best concoctions in Professional, Amateur, and People’s Choice categories. Winners will earn cash prize donations to the local youth cause of their choice. Visit www.hiltonheadkiwanis.com to sign up online to cook, sponsor, and buy tickets. For more information, email the Hilton Head Kiwanis Club at hiltonheadislandkiwanis@gmail.com

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 per-

WHAT’S HAPPENING

formances. 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 karaoke with Lt. Dan. Come early at 6 p.m. for Steak Night.

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

Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud

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

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

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

Lowcountry Shaggers

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

The Beaufort Shag Club

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

GOLF

4th annual Stingray Scramble Saturday, Sept. 20, Ocean Creek Golf Course, Fripp Island. Proceeds benefit Riverview Charter School. Early bird pricing is $650 for team of four through July 1. After July 1, $700 for team of four. Register online at https://bit.ly/4kTF4br. Visit https://bit.ly/4mWQ7ls for sponsorship opportunities.

Habitat for Humanity of the Lowcountry's 28th annual Golf Tournament

9 a.m., Monday, Sept. 29, Oldfield Club, 130 Oldfield Way, Okatie. Tickets and sponsorships start at $200. Through this event and the auction, Habitat aims to raise funds to build a Habitat home for a local family. With funding from the past several years’ tournaments, Habitat is currently constructing the “Larry Sanders House” in Ridgeland. That house is named in honor of Larry Sanders, who has been the tournament organizer for many years. Sanders continues to be involved by recruiting players and sponsors for the event. To register to play in the tournament or to become a sponsor, please visit www.lowcountryhabitat.org/2025golftournament.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

BEMER Longevity Technology

9 a.m., Wednesdays via Zoom. Seen the buzz on “life span VS health span?” Want to grow better, not older? Ha-

ven’t heard of BEMER yet? Come for Q&A about how this longevity-enhancing medical device can enhance your health, fitness and overall well-being in just 8 minutes, 2 times a day. Offered by BEMER Specialist - Human & Equine, Elizabeth Bergmann. Text 410-212-1468 to get the Zoom link. Free.

Rooted Beaufort Yoga classes 5:30 to 6:45 p.m., Thursdays, Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal; 9 to 10:15 a.m., Whitehall Park or Pigeon Point Park. Rooted Beaufort is a collective of local Yoga teachers who host outdoor yoga classes and donation-based events with proceeds being donated locally on a rotating basis.

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

The Historic Port Royal Museum 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or upon request, Thursdays through Sundays, The Historic Port Royal Museum, 1634 Paris Ave. The museum features the turn-ofthe-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

“Hidden Gems” Book Club

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

Career Navigator

11 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Tuesday, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. Free one-on-one resume writing and job application assistance with a Career Navigator from Palmetto Goodwill. No appointments necessary. For more information call 843-2556458.

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.

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 843255-6458.

MEETINGS

Beaufort Lions Club

6 p.m., first and third Monday of every month, St John's Lutheran Church, 157 Lady's Island Drive, Beaufort. For more information, visit thebeaufortlionsclub@gmail.com or follow on Facebook/Instagram/Nextdoor.

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 offroad/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 252917-7082. For more information on EAI visit www.emotionsanonymous.org.

Al-Anon Beaufort County 7:30 p.m., Thursdays, 80 Lady’s Island Drive in Beaufort. “Do you worry about how much someone drinks? Is it affecting your life? You are not alone.

Al-Anon Beaufort Serenity Group offers help and hope. Join the group in Beaufort, or visit the Lowcountry page at https://bit.ly/3HvksaF for more times and locations.

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

MUSIC

Distant Sounds

6 to 9 p.m., Friday, Sept. 12, Seaside Bar & Grill, St. Helena 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.

Distant Sounds

6 to 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 3, 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.

Warsaw Island Boys 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 10, ShellRing Ale Works, Port Royal.

Campfire Tyler 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sundays, The Fillin’ Station, Lady’s Island.

SPORTS/GAMES

First F-35B ever built makes way to MCAS Beaufort

By Lance Cpl.

Isabella Renaud USMC

MARINE

CORPS

AIR

STATION BEAUFORT – Ma-

rine Corps Air Station Beaufort welcomed a piece of aviation history. The F-35B Lightning II, known as BF-01 is the first F-35B variant ever built, and it has made its way to the Lowcountry to serve as a permanent static display, ushering in a new era for Marine Corps Aviation.

“BF-01 was the first of its kind ever built,” explained Major Joseph Leitner, Communication Strategy and Operations Director for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, “which is significant and tells a great story about its importance to the Marine Corps and to the F-35B community”

This wasn't just another aircraft arrival. Unlike most static displays, which are retired on base and towed into place, BF-01 was transported from NAS Patuxent River (Md.) by a heavy-lift Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion helicopter to MCAS Beaufort.

A U.S. Marine Corps heavy-lift Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion helicopter with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461, Marine Aircraft Group 29, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, off-loads a F-35B Lightning II after a long-range external lift operation Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The F-35B Lighting II aircraft, known as BF-1, was the first F-35B Lightning II variant ever built, ushering in a new era for Marine Corps Aviation. Lance Cpl. Isabella Renaud/USMC

Moving a fifth-generation fighter by air is no small feat. The wings themselves generate lift, creating unpredictable challenges for pilots under load, requiring them to be decisive and proactive.

"It's something that could have been a simple movement." Allen added. "But we chose to do it in a way that flexes muscles we don't always use, such as mission planning, coordination, and risk management. It turns a simple task into an opportunity to get better as a team."

While the aircraft will never fly again, its journey to Beaufort not only reflects the historical progress of Marine aviation but also represents the commitment to developing the Marine Corps into the world's finest fighting force.

MCAS Beaufort have transitioned from F/A-18 Hornets to the F-35B Lightning II, making it a vital training and operational pipeline for Marine Corps aviation.

"We’re rapidly becoming an F-35 only MAG, so it’s nice to have a public display of what we fly here," Whitesel explained, "thankfully, all of our jets have been in service and flying, so there hasn’t been a jet that has needed to stop flying and become a statue."

The display will serve not only as a symbol of that transition but also as a reminder to the servicemembers, civilian staff, and the Beaufort community of the Marine Corps' commitment to staying on the cutting edge of aviation.

For the Marines of MAG31, BF-01 will stand as a visible tribute to their work, sacrifice, and pride.

“Static displays usually are retired on the base, and then they just taxi it over to the location it's going to be at forever.” said Lt. Col. Jarrod Allen, executive officer, Marine Aircraft Group 31 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. “This is different because it’s coming from PAX River, and I have never heard of anybody moving it via helicopter.”

MThe operation required precise coordination between Marine Aircraft Group 29 2nd Distribution Support Battalion, Marine Aerial Re-

fueler Transport Squadron, and Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 from MCAS New River (N.C.), alongside Marines from Marine Aircraft Group 31 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 from MCAS Beaufort. The lift provided a unique training opportunity that prepares Marines for complex missions.

"They put a lot of work into it; they have their refueling plan, their landing zone plan, and their contingencies." explained Lt. Col Whitesel, commanding officer, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, Marine Aircraft Group 31 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. "They've clearly put a lot of thought into this."

“Our entire capability in the future of Marine aviation is all going F-35B and F-35Cs and that speaks volumes,” Allen said. “Here in the next five years, we are going to be an all fifth-generation fighter force in Marine aviation.”

The arrival of the BF-01 was perfectly timed, as it reflects the major changes already happening at the Air Station. In recent years, multiple squadrons aboard

"It’s important to have something here that reflects what we fly today," Allen explained.

In the years ahead, BF-01 will be more than just a static display; it will represent the Marine Corps past, its present readiness, and its future as an all-fifth-generation fighter force.

What veterans need to know about VSOs, VA Healthcare, the PACT ACT, VA Priority Groups

y article dated Jan. 3 2024, “Reasons all veterans should enroll in VA healthcare” (https://bit. ly/45V7MU5) and the first four articles in this series covered things that veterans need to know about why all veterans should enroll in VA healthcare, VA-accredited Veterans Service Officers (VSOs), and the PACT Act. You can read those articles in The Island News’ archives at https://www.yourislandnews.com/ by clicking on click on Military.”

You may now be wondering which VA Priority Group you will fall under after enrolling in VA health care. However, first understand that VA care and priority groups are established by legislation, not the VA. If you believe that more veterans should receive VA healthcare, you should write to your congressional representatives.

VA Priority Groups

The VA webpage “VA Priority Groups” (https://bit.ly/42hmiDj) states that after the VA processes a veteran’s application and the veteran is enrolled in VA health care, the VA assigns the veteran to one of eight priority groups. The veteran’s priority group may affect how much, if anything, the veteran will have to pay toward the cost of their care. Learn more about VA Priority Groups in: The VA’s YouTube video (the SITREP), dated Aug. 22, 2025, narrated by Paul Corbett, “CHEAT SHEET for VA Health Care Eligibility VA's List of Priority Groups.”

The Island News article “Veterans Should Know Their VA Priority Group” dated Jan. 5 2022 (https://bit.ly/4pcCJKT).

VA Health Care costs

The VA webpage “Your Health Care Costs” (https://bit.ly/3Idt-

Wrv) states that the VA is committed to providing free health care for conditions related to military service and for veterans with catastrophic disabilities and disability ratings of at least 50%

The VA states that it is also committed to caring for veterans who cannot afford to pay for their care. Veterans can get free VA health care for any illness or injury that the VA determines is connected to their military service (“service-connected disability”). The VA also provides certain other services for free, including:

• Readjustment counseling at VA Vet Centers: See https://www.vetcenter.va.gov and The Island News article “What is a Vet Center” from Jan. 10 2024 (https://bit. ly/3JVlBt6).

Other mental health services: See https://bit.ly/4gbFjgc and The Island News articles of June 9, 19, 24, and 29 of 2022 (https://bit. ly/3Vsen2t); March 6 13 20 of 2024; and Feb. 28, 2024 (https://bit.ly/46gZ7uh) and “PTSD treatment does work,” dated July 5, 2023 (https:// bit.ly/46dEK0O).

• Care for issues related to Military Sexual Trauma (MST): See “MST” (https:// bit.ly/46dFjI3).

• A registry health exam to determine if you are at risk of health problems linked to your military service: See “Veterans health issues related to service history” (https://bit.ly/46bV4zk).

Other services: See “Current VA health care copay rates” (https://bit.ly/45XA4xn).

The PACT Act is a new law that expands access to VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. The law provides generations of veterans and their survivors with care and benefits they have earned. Veterans may also be eligible for additional free VA health care based on factors such as their disability rating, service history, or income.

Alternatively, they may qualify for care but need to pay a copayment for certain types of care, tests, and medications used to treat conditions unrelated to their service.

Factors used to assign veterans to a priority group

The VA bases a veteran’s priority group on: The veteran’s military service history; The veteran’s disability rating; The veteran’s income level; Whether or not the veteran qualifies for Medicaid; and Other benefits that the veteran may be receiving (like VA pension benefits).

The VA assigns veterans with service-connected disabilities the highest priority. The VA assigns the lowest priority to veterans who earn a higher income and do not have any service-connected disabilities that qualify them for monthly disability compensation. If the veteran qualifies for more than one priority group, the VA will assign them to the higher group.

Priority Group 1

The VA may assign a veteran to Priority Group 1 if “any” of these descriptions is true. The veteran: Has a service-connected disability that is VA-rated as

50% or more disabling; Has a service-connected disability that the VA concluded makes them unemployable; or Received the Medal of Honor.

Priority Group 2

The VA may assign a veteran to Priority Group 2 if the veteran has a service-connected disability that the VA rated as 30% or 40% disabling.

Priority Group 3

The VA may assign a veteran to Priority Group 3 if “any” of these descriptions is true. The veteran: Is a former prisoner of war (POW); Received the Purple Heart medal; Was discharged for a disability that was caused by, or got worse because of, the veteran’s active-duty service; Has a service-connected disability that the VA rated as 10% or 20% disabling; or Was awarded special eligibility classification under Title 38, U.S.C. § 1151, “benefits for individuals disabled by treatment or vocational rehabilitation.”

Priority Group 4

The VA may assign you to Priority Group 4 if “either” of these descriptions is true. The veteran: Is receiving VA aid and attendance or housebound benefits; or Has received a VA determination of being catastrophically disabled.

Priority Group 5

The VA may assign you to Priority Group 5 if any of these descriptions are true. The veteran: Does not have a service-connected disability, or you have a non-compensable service-connected disability that we’ve rated as 0%

disabling, and the veteran has an annual income level that is below the VA’s adjusted income limits (based on your resident zip code); Is receiving VA pension benefits; or Is eligible for Medicaid programs.

Priority Group 6

Assignment based on disability rating or general service history.

The VA may assign the veteran to Priority Group 6 if “any” of these descriptions is true. The veteran: Has a compensable service-connected disability that the VA rated as 0% disabling; Participated in Project 112/ SHAD; Served in World War II between Dec. 7, 1941, and Dec. 31 1946; Served in the Persian Gulf War between Aug. 2 1990 and Nov. 11, 1998; or Served on active duty at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between Aug. 1 1953 and Dec. 31 1987

Continued next week — this series

LARRY DANDRIDGE

SERVICE DIRECTORY

ATTORNEY

Christopher J. Geier

Attorney at Law, LLC

Criminal Defense & Civil Litigation

2048 Pearl Street, Beaufort, SC 29902

Office: 843-986-9449 • Fax: 843-986-9450 chris@bftsclaw.com • www.geierlaw.com

AUDIOLOGY & HEARING

Beaufort Audiology & Hearing Care

Monica Wiser, M.A. CCC-A

Licensed Audiologist

38 Professional Village West, Lady's Island monica@beauforthearing.com www.beauforthearing.com | 843-521-3007

Hear the Beauty that Surrounds You

The Beaufort Sound Hearing and Balance Center

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

CLASSIFIEDS & GAMES

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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AUCTIONS

SPECTACULAR ESTATE AUCTION (Rain or Shine). Sat., Sept. 20 at 9:30 AM. 555 Willington Drive, Orangeburg. Selling 3 partial estates and also contents of Tourville Lodge from Buck Ridge Plantation. This is going to be a Big Auction offering nice antique furniture, lots of designer contemporary furniture, Victorian pieces, bedroom suites, curio cabinets, glassware, porcelains, art, chandeliers, nice stainless restaurant equip, ice maker, dishwashers, tables, sinks, racks, stoves, ovens, pots/pans, over 600 pieces china, 500+ pieces of beverage glasses, tons of tools, lawn mower, 6ft. bush hog, Kubota tractor, much more! Inspection Fri., Sept. 19 from 10 AM – 6 PM. Browse web www.cogburnauction.com 803-860-0712

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

HELP WANTED – DRIVERS

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

HELP WANTED – DRIVERS & ROOFING

LABORERS NEEDED

Two Brothers Roofing is now hiring motivated, hardworking individuals to join our growing team! We are currently looking for: Roofing Laborers

• Drivers (Valid Driver’s License Required) We’re searching for

MISCELLANEOUS

How does one receive the gift of salvation?

At the end of his first sermon in Acts, the Jewish crowds asked Peter what they should do. He answered, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” (Acts 2:37-38) This is still the same answer Catholics would give a crowd of questioners today. We need to turn away from sin and acknowledge our need for Jesus, and gratefully ask him to cleanse us of sin and give us new life through Baptism.

Why would Baptism be important?

At Baptism, we share in the Lord’s death and Resurrection, and are washed clean from sin and given a new life. (Rom 6:4) Jesus was referring to Baptism when he spoke of the need to be “born again by water and the Spirit.” (John 3:5) He himself said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” (Mark 16:16) This understanding of Baptism is clearly evident in Acts and has been practiced since the earliest centuries of Christianity.

Why do we need Baptism if we are saved by grace alone?

We are saved by grace alone, by the freely offered and undeserved gift of God. God can give his gifts in any manner he chooses, and he has chosen to offer us these spiritual gifts through Baptism. As an example, say a friend comes to your front door with a present. You have done nothing to “earn” the gift; you can only benefit from the gift by opening the door and accepting it. When we repent and have faith in Jesus, we open the door of our hearts, and when we allow ourselves to be baptized, we allow God to place his gift into our arms.

Doesn’t Paul say that we are saved by faith, not works?

In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul writes, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” To this, Catholics say, “Amen!” We cannot earn our salvation by doing good deeds. It is through faith that we are moved to request God’s gift of new life in Baptism, freely given by God and completely undeserved.

What does Paul mean when he writes of works?

In Paul’s letters, when he refers to works, he is not speaking of Baptism. He is referring to circumcision and other works of the Jewish law, such as observing the dietary laws. He is clarifying that such actions are not required for Christians, and they do not bring about new life in Christ.

What is the Catholic understanding?

After explaining again that circumcision does not have value for Christians, Paul wrote, “The only thing that counts is faith working through love.” (Gal 5:6) This is a great summary of Catholic belief: one must have faith that is expressed through acts of love. This is what the apostle James meant when he wrote that we are not saved by faith alone. (James 2:24-26) In other words, to have the abundant life which God desires for us, we must have faith in Jesus and also remain united with him in love. This, too, is the understanding embraced by Christians throughout all of Christian history.