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First things first: A free speech primer

There’s been a lot of public statements and commentary in the past few days, weeks and years about what the free speech provisions of the First Amendment mean. Some of the statements, even from those charged with enforcing the law, have been strained, incomplete or just flat-out wrong.

So, here’s a basic guide to what the courts have determined the First Amendment to mean.

The First Amendment states that “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press … .” I will focus here only on this speech and press provision, leaving interpretation of the provisions regarding religion and those regarding peacefully assembling and petitioning the government to others, although they also involve speech.

First of all — and this is going to seem like a very lawyerly point — “Congress” doesn’t just mean Congress. Under U.S. Supreme Court precedent, the First Amendment applies not only to Congress, but also applies equally to the other branches of the federal government: the executive branch (the President, his staff, cabinet and administrative agencies) and the judicial branch (the federal courts). This means that any entity of the federal government, in whichever branch of the government organization flowchart it might fall, is barred by the First Amendment from “abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.”

The First Amendment also applies to state and local government entities. This is because of language in the 14th Amendment, which provides that “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.”

In a 1925 case, the U.S. Supreme Court concluded that because of this language, in addition to entities of the federal government not being able to impose undue restrictions on speech, neither can state government entities or other entities of government created by the states, including county, municipal and other local government entities.

This includes government entities in their role as employers. So

SEE SPEECH PAGE A6

Beaufort County Council votes ‘no’ on Pine Island golf course after marathon meeting

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

Just before 2 a.m. on Tuesday morning, Sept. 23, Beaufort County Council once again voted to uphold the Cultural Protection Overlay (CPO) installed on St. Helena Island years ago and chose to not move forward with a development agreement that would allow for a golf course to be built on Pine Island.

In an unprecedented 7½ hour public hearing regarding two agenda items – a motion to move forward to a second reading of the proposed development agreement put forth by the representative developer Elvio Tropeano and an ordinance to amend the zoning map to remove Pine Island from the CPO – with the development agreement being voted down, 9-2, by council members.

What is this about?

The development agreement sought to put an 18-hole golf course and 49 houses on the prop-

A man holds a sign while listening to speakers during the four hours of public comment in the first public hearing for the development agreement and zoning map amendment during Monday night’s Beaufort County Council Meeting on Sept. 22, 2025, at Burton Wells Recreation Center. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

erty, which would ultimately be a gated community. This plan to develop a golf course is in violation of the CPO, which was instated in the late 1990s to

and preserve the

Come party ‘Port Royal style’ at OktoPRfest

Staff reports The Town of Port Royal will again invite the community to come to town to party “Port Royal style,” as it hosts the 11th annual OktoPRfest from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27 2025, on historic Paris Avenue in the heart of the Old Village.

Festivalgoers can enjoy German-inspired favorites — including brats and pretzels — alongside classic American festival fare served up by local chefs, restaurants, and food trucks. A wide variety of beers will also be available. Live music and entertainment will take place throughout the day with Charles Maring performing from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., followed by Greg Keys & Company from 2 to 5 p.m. Guests can also explore the festival’s Craft Market Area, featuring local artisans and nonprofits showcasing their work and mission.

Families won’t want to miss the Kids Zone, open from noon to 4 p.m., including a special appearance by Lollipop the Clown. Admission is free., but please, no pets.

ERIC P. ROBINSON

protect

Gullah/ Geechee culture that is prevalent on St. Helena Island.

than 500 people attended the Beaufort County Council meeting on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025 at at Burton Wells Recreation Center in Beaufort. Most were there to oppose or show support for a development agreement and request to have Pine Island removed from the Cultural Protection Overlay District (CPO) on St. Helena Island. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS

Allan Lassiter of Lady’s Island photographed this cloud formation at sunset from his backyard. To submit a Lowcountry Life photo, you must be the photographer or have permission to submit the photo to be published in The Island News. Please submit 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.

VETERAN OF THE WEEK HARRY RANSOME

American Legion Beaufort Post 207 brings you Harry Ransome, 69, who joined the U.S. Navy after graduating from Battery Creek High School in 1974. He attended Boot Camp in Orlando before being assigned to the USS Constellation (CVA-64) with a six-month deployment to the Far East, visiting ports throughout the area. His second assignment was to the USS Blakely (FF1072), home ported in Charleston. He sailed

Harry Ransome

to the Caribbean and the Mediterranean Sea aboard the Bentley, working in the Supply Department. He separated in 1978 and used the GI Bill to attend Benedict College in Colombia, earning a degree in Sociology with a minor in Criminal Justice. He worked in Texas for a while

Parris Island fire takes life of family pet

Staff reports A house fire on Parris Island took the life of a family pet on Wednesday, Sept. 17

Around 2 : 52 p.m., Parris Island Fire and Emergency Services responded to a single-structure fire at a home in Marsh Landing aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

Fire and Emergency Services, supported by the City of Beaufort & Town of Port Royal Fire Department and MCAS Beaufort Fire and Emergency Services, was able to extinguish the fire. No individuals were injured in the house fire; however, a family pet tragically lost its life. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

September 28

during which he attended Austin Community College earning an associate degree in Fire Protection Technology. After returning to the Beaufort area, he worked in construction. Today he lives in Port Royal.

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

1983: The movie “The Big Chill,” directed by Lawrence Kasdan and starring Tom Berenger, Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Mary Kay Place, Meg Tilly and JoBeth Williams is released in theaters. Filmed primarily at Beaufort’s Tidalholm, the film features a group of baby boomers, who attended the University of Michigan, reuniting after 15 years when their friend Alex, a Beaufort resident, dies by suicide.

September 29

1729: The Lords Proprietors, with the exception of Lord Granville, formally surrendered their title and interest in the Carolina colony for 2,500 pounds sterling

October 1

1975: Beaufort native Joe Frazier loses (retired) in a rematch to Muhammad Ali in a WBA/WBC/The Ring heavyweight title fight in Quezon City, Philippines to fall to (30-2).

– Compiled by Mike McCombs

PETS OF THE WEEK HAVE 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

LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN

Someone else said ‘NO’

RIDGELAND

Those of us focused on our little piece of paradise this northern side of the Broad River may have missed it, but Ridgeland town officials last week made news that impacts us by saying, “no.”

The town council, after almost three years of discussion, rejected an annexation request for Tickton Hall, 1 400 acres east of Ridgeland, eight miles away on the Euhaw River, where developers proposed to build 1 400 homes and up to 250,000 square feet of commercial space.

Fellow columnist Scott Graber has a report on that meeting in this week’s The Island News. And if you’d like even more information on the impact of the decision, check out Bill Rauch’s July 13 column in The Island News in which he broke down the financial implications of the Tickton Hall development, and

other big developments into a simple “kitchen table common sense” argument.

While Tickton Hall property is bordered by S.C. 462 and Snake Road, it also impacts S.C. 170, which serves as a corridor dividing Beaufort and Jasper counties and has been the major focus of traffic impact studies by both counties. In addition to the impact on the roads, the new home sites and commercial development would have put extra strain on the water and sewer services offered by the Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority (BJWSA), they would have impacted the environment

of the upper reaches of the Broad River.

The Beaufort County Council is well aware of the traffic conditions on that major county thoroughfare, S.C. 170, and is, in fact, considering making traffic improvements on that highway a top priority in the next possible highway sales tax referendum. That debate — when to have another sales tax vote and how much to ask for — is nearing a head as the time for making decisions to put an item on the 2026 election ballot is close.

Speaking of saying “no,” it will be interesting to see what the Beaufort County Council says about the latest proposals from Pine Island developers. By the time you read this, sometime after the Monday (Sept. 22) council meeting, we should know how the majority of council members feel.

Will the additional enticements being offered by the developer — $3 5 million for

affordable/workforce housing, home repairs and heirs property assistance, $2 5 million in nonprofit grants, $75 000 for a cemetery survey on Daufuskie Island, $500 000 for a turn lane at Dulamo Road and U.S. 21 make a difference to at least six of the 11 representatives needed for a “yes” vote on a zoning change? Or will be majority continue to follow the advice of the county Planning Commission and say “no” to requests for variances?

These additional offerings have pretty big price tags, begging the age-old question, does “money talks?”

Hilton Head abandons

STR moratorium

HILTON HEAD ISLAND

– As a follow-up to the local discussion of what to do about short-term rentals, the Hilton Head Island Town Council last week dropped the idea of a moratorium on new permits in the face of

public opposition.

While the council, at their recent meeting, heard from a number of residents who asked for some relief from the 10,000-plus STR’s already in operation on the island, the elected officials told the town staff drop consideration of a moratorium from the ongoing discussions about growth management.

Opponents of the moratorium had argued a moratorium would negatively impact property values.

Beaufort City Council and the Planning Commission continue to revise the development codes to tighten regulations on STR’s and accessory dwelling units, or “mother-in-law apartments.”

Ribaut Road to get new coffee spot

BEAUFORT – In case you missed it, the Ribaut Road building which once housed the popular Athena Gardens restaurant, is getting a new life.

Owners of the Urban Brew + Co. coffee shop on Boundary Street (in the former K-mart building) have announced plans to open a second coffee shop at 950 Ribaut. The building, which is part of the Beaufort Memorial Hospital campus, has for the past two years served as a temporary storage space for HELP of Beaufort, which recently opened its new headquarters at 1600 Ribaut Road.

Owners of the new coffee shop, the Olive Branch Café, say they plan to offer a breakfast and lunch menu once it opens in November.

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.

Cat Island residents oppose plans

Staff reports

Two dozen Cat Island property owners showed up Monday night to protest a one-plus mile of riprap erosion control devices proposed by a development firm, which wants to build on Cane Island.

Kane Island Development Company LLC has submitted a permit proposal to the S.C. Bureau of Coastal Management (BCM) to build 5 951 linear feet of riprap and 490 linear feet of an 8 5-foottall wooden bulkhead along Distant Island Creek to support development of Upper Cane Island. The development company revealed in February plans to follow through on a 30-year-old Planned Unit Development to construct up to 240 residences, 130,000 square feet of commercial space including a waterfront inn and marina. The PUD which was part of the annexation agreement with the city outlined terms for future development.

INTRODUCING

Residents of Cat Island, which adjoins Cane and shares access to the islands through a single, curvy, two-lane road, have pro-

FELLOWSHIP

tested the development, particularly the additional traffic that will be created at the intersection with Sea Island Parkway.

A dozen speakers Monday night asked the BCM staff to reject the request, which representatives of the developers said was needed to protect waterfront lots.

A representative of the S.C. Coastal Conservation League also spoke against the permit on grounds the proposed riprap would extend into the critical water areas in violation of the state’s Coastal Zone Management Act. The public comment period extends until Oct. 6. Comments may be made through the project website at https://bit.ly/46uVvVl.

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

Ralph F. Salzer, MD

Mark T. Dean, MD

Scott E. Strohmeyer, MD

Douglas A. Scott, MD

Daniel J. Del Gaizo, MD

B. Andrew Castro, MD

Patrick Pallitto, MD

Emre Caglayan, PA-C

James Langford, PA-C Devin Dukes, PA-C

LOLITA HUCKABY

‘He puts his heart and soul into what he does’

Special to The Island News

It takes a special kind of person to be a nurse.

Evidence of that fact can be found in any healthcare facility, but the evidence is especially obvious at the Beaufort Memorial Pratt Emergency Center.

Jonathan Barrett, RN, BSN, who joined Beaufort Memorial in 2023, was awarded with a DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses on Friday, Aug. 22, in a surprise ceremony that brought his mother from Canada to witness his achievement in kindness and nursing excellence.

Heather Brewer, a Lowcountry mother whose daughter received care in the Beaufort Memorial ER, said when she nominated Jonathan that he had performed “one of God’s great acts of service.”

“I am so thankful you have someone who thinks on their feet,” Brewer said. “The way he anticipated things before they happened was awe-inspiring.”

Barrett received two DAISY nominations earlier this year, and Beaufort Memorial ER director

Kevin Kremer, RN, BSN, said that his name is a mainstay on glowing patient satisfaction surveys.

Kremer shared a few of these comments calling Jonathan “one of the kindest men I’ve ever met,” a “truly one of a kind person,” “attentive” and highlighting that he always goes “out of his way.”

“Jonathan does a great job every day that he comes to work. He is

BMH ER nurse Jonathan Barrett receives DAISY Award for compassion, commitment to service

such a kind, compassionate person, and that shows through to his care every day,” Kremer said. “Every patient he has loves him.”

The second nomination was submitted by a fellow Beaufort Memorial employee, Carson Frey, a CT scan technician, who was looked after by Barrett after she suddenly became dizzy while being severely dehydrated earlier this year.

Barrett, at the end of his own shift, wasted no time rushing Frey to the ER, getting her on an IV drip

and bringing in Dr. Saeed Rehman, the Beaufort Memorial Pratt Emergency Center medical director.

“Jonathan collected my labs and made sure I was getting hydrated, and only then did I start to feel better,” she said. “I don’t like being the patient, but Jonathan’s dedication and hard work allowed me to calm down and trust that I was in good hands.”

He even stayed with Frey after his shift ended so that she wasn’t alone as she waited for her hus-

band’s arrival.

“It’s so easy to pass over what he does daily as ‘just a job,’ but for Jonathan, he puts his heart and soul into what he does, and his patients are better for it,” Frey added. “I appreciate his kindness, respect and hard work to make sure I was not only safe, but to ensure that I felt safe.”

She said she was excited for Barrett to receive this honor, and felt like he went above and beyond in caring for her.

At the ceremony, Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley shared the meaning behind the daisy flower. The small, white blooms represent innocence, he said, as well as purity and new beginnings.

“I really think nursing is a very pure profession. You come to work every day, and you serve people with compassion,” he said. “I heard a lot today about the compassion that Jonathan shows to his patients. Compassion is one of our core values. He is representing a core value, and that is special unto itself.”

Daisies also represent love and joy, and Barrett is rarely – if ever –seen without a positive, joyful outlook – “something that is hard to do in healthcare,” Baxley added.

The joy that is symbolized by daisies shone brightly at the celebration, and especially on the face of Barrett’s mother Pam, who was visiting her son in the Lowcountry from Newfoundland, Canada – a region that is more than 2,000 miles from Beaufort.

The surprise celebration was held on Barrett’s day off, a day he expected to be spending with his mother during her visit when he was asked to come to work for a “meeting.” At the surprise ceremony, several of Barrett’s colleagues showed their appreciation alongside his beaming mother.

“I am proud of this guy every day,” she gushed, hugging her son.

Race4Love set for Saturday

Staff reports October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), and Hopeful Horizons is once again bringing the community together to raise awareness, honor survivors, and remember those lost to domestic violence.

The month’s activities will kick off with the 13th Annual Race4Love 5K Run and 3K Walk at 9 a.m., Saturday,

Golf from page A1

Sept. 27, 2025, on Cat Island in Beaufort. Established in memory of LCpl. Dana Tate and Cpl. Dyke “AJ” Coursen, two Beaufort County Deputies who were killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call in 2002, Race4Love is a vibrant community event raising awareness and funds to support victims and survivors of do-

During the nearly four hours of comments during the public hearing in Monday’s council meeting, most of the speakers stood and spoke to how devastating they feel allowing a golf course and gated community to be developed on Pine Island would be to the people, culture and way of life on St. Helena Island.

In contrast, there were speakers who stood up and spoke in support of the development agreement for Pine Island, as they believe that the plan that has been put forth will benefit residents of St. Helena Island by providing jobs, will be the best option for conservation and will provide funding to give back to the local community by repairing boat ramps, donating to the Beaufort-Jasper Housing Trust, supporting a Cultural Center and Village Entrepreneurial Market and committing $ 2 5 million for the Coastal Community Foundation or a similar nonprofit.

“Though some may not want it, Pine Island will be developed,” said Kevin Dukes, a local lawyer who represents the developer.

If they are unable to put a golf course on the property, developers have said that they can legally go forward with a higher density plan with a significant increase in the number of homes built on the island.

mestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault. Registration was to remain open through Wednesday, Sept. 24 at www.race4love.com.

Packet pick-up will take place on Thursday, Sept. 25 and Friday, Sept. 26 in both Beaufort and Bluffton. There will also be a packet pickup at Shellring Ale Works in Port Royal on Thursday evening, Sept. 25 from 5 to 7

p.m. Participants will select their pick-up location upon registration.

“DVAM underscores the urgent need to recognize, prevent, and respond to domestic violence in all its forms,” said Kristin Dubrowski, CEO of Hopeful Horizons. “It also provides the opportunity for community members to show support for victims/survivors and to commit to working together to build a safer future.”

With the 149 homes and 90 docks proposed under the full density plan, there would be no golf course, and they would be able to do this with the CPO as it stands with the necessary permits.

Council hears the public

According to Beaufort County public information officer Hannah Nichols, more than 500 people attended the Beaufort County Coun-

cil meeting held at Burton Wells Recreation Center in Beaufort on Monday.

More than 70 signed up to speak during the public hearing regarding Pine Island, and while not all 70 stayed to speak, Nichols said that at least 50 speakers stood up to express their opinions on the development agreement on St. Helena Island.

The public hearing portion of

Hopeful Horizons will host additional community events throughout October in recognition of DVAM. Please check www.hopefulhorizons.org and social media for the most current information on awareness events and ways to get involved.

the meeting lasted for more than four hours.

This is not the first time that the question of setting aside the CPO for a golf course on Pine Island has come before County Council In 2023, council instead voted to uphold and strengthen the CPO on St. Helena Island.

There was a diverse group of people who spoke both in defense of and against passing the two ordinances – many were lifelong St. Helena Island residents while some were new to the area or lived elsewhere in Beaufort County; there were elders and young men and women, politicians, business owners and religious and cultural leaders.

When it came time to vote, only two held council members voted in favor of continuing negotiations, Councilman Logan Cunningham and Councilman Mark Lawson. Cunningham spoke to the audience about consistency and asked how they expect to fix the issues that are there and better the amenities if they refuse opportunities like what is being provided to them by the developers at Pine Island.

Councilman York Glover disagreed with him and said that the people who live on St. Helena Island have said what they want, and it is Council’s job to listen to what they want.

Is this the end?

“Pine Island will be developed”

That is what was said during the meeting on Monday by Dukes

Hopeful Horizons is a children’s advocacy, domestic violence and sexual assault victim services organization serving Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton, Allendale, and Colleton Counties. The nonprofit provides a 24 / 7 support line, emergency shelter, counseling, advocacy, and outreach to build healthier communities.

as he presented the development agreement to council.

After council members voted not to move forward with the development agreement, Tropeano and Dukes immediately withdrew his request to have the zoning map amended to have Pine Island removed from the CPO.

According to Nichols, this allows him to be able to resubmit his application for the zoning map amendment sooner than the year waiting period he would have to wait if council had voted against it.

As for the proposed agreement, the vote made in the wee hours of Tuesday night means that the development agreement will not move forward for a second public hearing, but the developer can come back and submit a new proposal in one year from now, per state code.

Alternatively, as previously mentioned, Tropeano has said previously that if he cannot develop a golf course then the plan is to go forward with the development plan that they can do under the CPO, which would the higher density plan if they are able to get proper permitting.

Pine Island Property Holdings LLC has filed a lawsuit, as well, appealing the County’s denial of the developers’ plans.

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.

DAISY Award winner Jonathan Barrett, pictured with ER clinical coordinator Andrea Smith, ER director Kevin Kremer and Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley. Photo courtesy of Beaufort Memorial Hospital

Kevin Dukes, a local lawyer who represents Pine Island developers, presents the updated Pine Island development agreement to Beaufort County Council during their meeting on Sept. 22, 2025, at Burton Wells Recreation Center in Beaufort. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

Ridgeland rejects Tickton Hall annexation

It is Thursday, Sept. 18, and I’m sitting in a wood-paneled room in Ridgeland, S.C. It is 8 p.m., and most of the 35 other people in this small, jammed-packed room are jubilant; happy because the Ridgeland Town Council has just voted, 4-1, to reject the proposed annexation, proposed rezoning and proposed development agreement presented by Tickton Hall Investments, LLC; Euhaw Holdings, LLC; Tickton Hall Holdings LLC; and Pepper Hall LLC.

For nearly three years, developers and their lawyers have been trying to convince the Town of Ridgeland to annex 1,520 acres that lie to the East of Highway 462, and to the South and West of Euhaw Creek. This tract is mostly undeveloped and lies about 8 miles away from the Town of Ridgeland proper.

This acreage, once a part of Chelsea Plantation, was slated for 2 000 new homes and 250 000 square feet of commercial development. But from the beginning, there has been opposition to these plans.

Earlier tonight, about 85 people, many wearing blue T-shirts broadcasting their opposition, streamed into the rooms and hallways of Town Hall intent on being seen and heard. Some of these folks would not find a seat in Council’s paneled, folding-chair-filled chambers and were relegated to other parts of the small brick building.

Of the attendees, 16 spoke to Council about wastewater effluent, overhead storage tanks, environmental degradation, traffic congestion and the ultimate costs of this project to the Town of Ridgeland.

Among those residents speaking against the annexation were Debbie Cooler, Richard Dean, John Allen and Smitty Cooler. There were also speakers representing conservation organizations like

NEWS BRIEFS

Indivisible

Beaufort meeting set for Sept. 27

Martha Ferrari will be the guest speaker at the next Indivisible Beaufort meeting at 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 27 at the St. Helena Branch Library at 6355 Jonathon Francis Sr. Road. Ferrari will speak about “The Ugly Truth Behind The ‘Beautiful Bill.’”

A Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Financial Planner, and a Registered Investment Advisor, Ferrari he holds an MBA from Pace University. She has a reputation as a top-rated speaker, presenting seminars on tax-related topics and advising clients with effective advice. She will present a bird’s-eye view of the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” Act of 2025, Tariffs, and the Federal Deficit.

The event is free and open to the public.

Habitat

for Humanity online auction runs through September 29

Habitat for Humanity of the Lowcountry’s annual online auction remains open through 7 p.m., Monday, Sept. 29, the day of their 28th Annual Golf Tournament at Oldfield Golf Club in Okatie. All proceeds from both the auction and tournament will go directly toward building a home for a deserving local family.

There are 39 amazing items in the auction including more than a dozen golf packages for four, “staycations” at Lowcountry resorts, theater tickets, boating and fishing excursions, and even a signed photo collage from Jack Nicklaus, the “Golden Bear” himself!

To see what’s up for bids, go to https://bit.ly/46ia1B4

Habitat for Humanity of the Lowcountry is part of a global nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles that seeks

the Coastal Conservation League (Grant McClure) and the Port Royal Sound Foundation (Courtney Kimmel) who presented environmental concerns. There were business owners like Barry Malphrus; and there was Dean Moss, who was once the General Manager of the Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority (BJWSA).

Moss, who is now associated with the nearby Port Royal Sound Foundation, told Council he had worries about sewage-treatment effluent, overhead storage and the fact that wastewater might be treated by a private entity.

Moss told Council that when there were problems with this system, residents would call the Town of Ridgeland looking for a remedy.

He said he didn’t know of any other private utilities that operated within a municipality in this part of South Carolina. He said he did not believe that the State of South Carolina would grant such a utility a permit for discharge into the Port Royal Sound.

Moss also told Council that an overhead storage tank would be needed to maintain water pressure in this development. He said that a similar tank cost BJWSA $10 million dollars.

After the blue shirt-wearing speakers had spoken, including the applicant by and through their lawyer, Barry Johnson, Mayor Joseph (Joey) Malphrus made a motion to

deny the annexation, the rezoning and the proposed development agreement. His motion got a second from Councilwoman Libby Malphrus.

Councilwoman Malphrus began her remarks by saying that the development was inconsistent with the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. Furthermore, the development would be a “financial burden” for at least the first five years and, finally, “We don’t want to become another Bluffton.”

Councilman Bill Fishburne responded by saying the petition presented earlier in the evening was flawed and the remarks made by those speakers contained “many inaccuracies.” He said the development met the criteria set out by the Town’s Comprehensive Plan and cited the Town’s agreement with Good Hope Plantation.

Then Fishburne turned to the audience and said, “After this (hearing) many of you won’t come back.”

Then he said the Town had many other serious problems, citing a recent murder, again asking “Where are you most of the time?”

Dennis Averkin, the Town’s Administrator, entered the fray

to put God’s love into action by building homes, communities, and hope. Habitat for Humanity of the Lowcountry is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally through constructing, rehabilitating, and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions.

Habitat for Humanity of the Lowcountry serves all of Beaufort and Jasper counties and is the only organization in these areas building new homes for residents who earn between 40% and 80% of the median income of their county.

Community Foundation of Lowcountry promotes Ennamorato to VP Community Foundation of the Lowcountry (CFL) has promoted Rob Ennamorato to the position of Vice President of Marketing and Communications. The CFL cited the significant contributions En-

namorato has made in elevating its outreach and engagement with donors, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders serving Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties.

“CFL and the broader Lowcountry community have benefited from Rob’s service and experience over the past three plus years,” said CFL President and CEO Scott Wierman. “He is a tremendous resource and colleague that is committed to CFL’s mission. I look forward to watching the Foundation’s regional impact expand under Rob’s marketing and communications leadership.”

Sidewalk work underway at Robert Smalls Government Complex

Beaufort County Engineering has begun replacing and repairing sections of the sidewalk and ADA ramps around the Robert Smalls Government Complex, 100 Ribaut Road, including the Administration Building, the Courthouse, Deten-

2 men still awaiting trial 5 years after fatal crash

Staff reports

Friday, Sept. 19 marked the fifth anniversary of one of Beaufort County’s most horrendous traffic accidents — a three-car collision on the McTeer Bridge that took the lives of four family members.

Tikia Lashay Doe, 36, who was eight months pregnant at the time of the accident, and her three young sons — Jashawn Hawkins, 16; Alonzo Houston, 6; and Cameron Perry, 3 — died on the scene.

saying there was no plan for treating the wastewater effluent and “we don’t know if the DES (Department of Environmental Sciences) would approve.”

Finally Mayor Malphrus said he came to this project with an open mind but now “there were too many uncertainties.”

Thereafter the Mayor called for a vote and in short order the annexation, zoning change and development agreement were voted on and each, in turn, was defeated by a 4-1 vote.

During the hearing, attorney Lane Morrison spoke on behalf of his friend, Bob Phipps, who had grown up on Chelsea Plantation. In the course of Morrison’s remarks he mentioned that the owners of a neighboring tract, Bolan Hall Plantation, were considering a conservation easement.

If an easement was put into place at Bolan Hall, it would protect another 102 acres in addition to the 2 700 acres purchased by the Nature Conservancy earlier this year.

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

tion Center, Arthur Horne Building and Sheriff's Office. Pedestrians will need to exercise caution when walking in the area.

Work was set to begin Wednesday, Sept. 24, with concrete being poured Saturday, Sept. 27, weather permitting. The section closest to the front door of the Administration Building will be removed Saturday before paving begins.

Employees and the public are asked to watch for cones and areas that will be flagged for safety. For more information, call the Beaufort County Engineering Department at 843-255- 2706

Buckingham Boat Landing, nearby pier, park reopen

Beaufort County Public Works

announced that Buckingham Boat Landing, Factory Creek Fishing Pier & Brewer Memorial Park that had previously been closed for repairs, have now reopened and are fully available for public use.

Buckingham Boat Landing had the landing, boat ramp and floating dock closed for repairs. It is now fully operational.

Factory Creek Fishing Pier was closed for dock improvements and improvements to the pier site. It is now fully operational. Brewer Memorial Park was closed for both dock and pier site improvements as well. It is also now fully operational.

For more information, please contact Beaufort County Public Works at 843-255-2800

SCDOT requests input on I-95 Corridor Improvement Project

SCDOT will hold a drop-in public meeting on Thursday, Oct. 2 2025, about proposed improvements to Interstate 95 from Exit 22 (Ridgeland) to Exit 33 (U.S. 17) in

Two Beaufort men, Terry Campbell Jr., age 19 at the time of the accident, and Phillip Roberts, 40, were arrested in January 2021 and charged with five counts of reckless vehicular homicide. The two, who were released on bond, are still awaiting trial.

Both drivers were found to be traveling at high rates of speed — Campbell at 86 miles per hour and Roberts at 80 miles per hour — according to incident reports made on the date of the collision. The vehicles had been traveling across the bridge toward Lady’s Island when the crash occurred.

The Doe family’s Dodge Caravan, was driven by the father of the family, who survived the crash, which occurred when the van flipped and went over the side of the bridge and plummeted into the Beaufort River below. Emergency responders attempted to rescue those trapped in the submerged vehicle but were unsuccessful.

Jasper County. Attendees will be able to view project plan displays, learn about the proposed project, and talk with SCDOT representatives. The purpose of the project is to improve capacity and mobility and to address operational and structural deficiencies on bridges and interchanges along I-95 from Mile Marker 21 to 33 9

Learn more about the proposed project at https://bit.ly/3K45UQu. Attend in person from 5 to 7 p.m. at Ridgeland Baptist Church at 1448 Grays Highway in Ridgeland. SCDOT will accept comments on this proposed project until Friday, Oct. 17 2025. To comment, attend the drop-in meeting and complete a comment form; visit https://bit.ly/3K45UQu; email Exit22to33@FixtheDrive95.com; or contact Craig Winn by mail at SCDOT, P.O. Box 191 955 Park Street, Columbia, S.C. 29202-0191 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

SCOTT GRABER

A photo taken from a drone shows Euhaw Creek and the Tickton Hall property that the Town of Ridgeland considered annexing. The 1,20 acres were once part of the Chelsea Plantation. Photo courtesy of the Port Royal Sound Foundation

Students check in at the sign-up area for the 2025 Beaufort County Youth Conference, held Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at the University of South Carolina Beaufort campus. The annual gathering, first launched in 1992, now attracts dozens of middle and high school students. Photo by Asa Aarons Smith/The Island News

South Carolina shellfish harvest season opens Oct. 1

S.C. Department of Natural Resources

The 2025-2026 season for recreational harvest of shellfish (clams and oysters) in South Carolina's coastal waters will open one-half hour before official sunrise on Wednesday, Oct. 1 2025

The recreational shellfish season will remain open through May 15 2026 unless conditions warrant extending or shortening the season. In the event of another hurricane, major rain event, or pollution spill, shellfish beds may be temporarily closed by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES, formerly SCDHEC). It is important for harvesters to check with SCDES to verify whether any closures are in effect.

This information is available at 1-800-285-1618 and can be viewed on an interactive map at the SCDES website (https://bit.ly/42JcSAE). SCDES will use these resources and your local newspaper throughout the year to announce temporary closures due to unusual rain events or spills.

Recreational harvesting is permitted on all Public

Speech from page A1

Andy Hollis, SCDNR, P.O. Box 12559, Charleston, S.C. 29422-2559. When requesting maps, please specify the general area where you wish to harvest. Maps for the 2025-26 season will be available prior to season opening on October 1 2025

harvest will occur. Call the Marine Permitting Office at 843-953-9301 (Opt. 4) for additional information on commercial harvesting requirements.

Shellfish Season Best Practices All harvesters are encouraged to "cull in place," breaking off and leaving dead shell and smaller oysters on the shoreline, where they will continue to grow and provide habitat for other oysters. Only harvest clusters or singles of larger oysters. If you enjoy eating oysters, remember to recycle your shells! Check online or call 843-9539397 to find locations near you where shell can be dropped off for recycling.

Shellfish Grounds and State Shellfish Grounds within areas of open/approved water quality as noted on shellfish maps. Twenty Public and seven State Shellfish Grounds are managed exclusively for recreational gathering. An additional 58 State Shellfish Grounds are managed for both recreational and commercial harvest.

employees of government entities get some protection from retaliation — firing or other discipline — for their speech, as long as the speech regards a matter of public concern; is made as a citizen, not as a government employee; and does not actually, or have the potential to, substantially impact the government workplace.

The First Amendment does not provide protection for employees of non-government entities. So most private employers can fire or take disciplinary action against employees for their speech, although there are a few exceptions regarding reporting illegal conditions or activities, and in some states, statements regarding working conditions and union formation. It does not matter if a private company holds government contracts.

The second lawyerly point is that while the First Amendment seems absolute, saying that “Congress shall make no law,” (emphasis added), the courts have found that government can actually impose some limitations on speech: by punishing it after it is said, or in limited cases, prohibiting it entirely. But there are only a few permitted restrictions, and they are rather circumscribed.

Speech that can be banned/punished consistently with the First Amendment includes:

• National Security Information: This includes classified information and other information that can threaten national security. In the past several years the federal government has successfully prosecuted government employees and contractors for releasing such information, including Chelsea Manning. But the government has rarely sought to stop publication, particularly after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the government’s attempt to stop publication of the Pentagon Papers in 1971

• Libel and Privacy: Libel claims statements that harm someone’s reputation existed before adoption of the First Amendment, so were generally considered to not be barred by it. In the landmark New York Times v. Sullivan case in 1964 and subsequent cases, the U.S. Supreme Court weighed libel and the First Amendment protection of

Recreational harvesters should obtain updated Public or State Shellfish Ground maps at the beginning of each season, as areas open to harvest change from year to year. Maps of designated

speech, resulting in the requirement that public figures must show “actual malice” — knowledge that a statement is false, or publishing it with reckless disregard for whether it is true or false — in order to be successful in a libel case. Privacy claims were only recognized by the courts starting in the early-20th century, but courts have applied the requirement to show “actual malice” to those claims as well.

• Incitement to Violence: This type of speech can be prosecuted, according to a landmark 1969 case, only if a statement poses a threat of “imminent lawless action.”

The two adjectives of this standard are taken literally: the statement must be likely to provoke an immediate (“imminent”) illegal action such as a riot, or a killing. The statement must be pretty direct — “Let’s go get him!,” with an identifiable target — rather than a general statement that perhaps urges illegal action — such as overthrowing the government — in only a general, non-immediate sense.

• True Threats: A “true threat” is a statement that is conveyed to an individual and threatens harm to that individual. The Supreme Court has held that the speaker must either actually intend the statement to be a threat, or make it without considering that a reasonable observer would see the statement as threatening.

• Obscenity: The Supreme Court has a specific definition for obscenity. If the material meets this test (it is obscene), it is not protected by the First Amendment and can be criminally punished. Material that does not meet the test is not legally obscene. It may be indecent, in which case it may be restricted on broadcast radio and television to hours when children are not likely to be watching, but non-obscene material cannot be banned, including online. There is a recent trend of activists labelling material they disapprove of — such as LGBTQ+ material — as “obscene,” but there is no legal basis for applying this label unless it meets the requirements of the test for obscenity. But there is a major subcategory that receives no First Amendment

harvest areas may be downloaded from the SCDNR website (https://bit.ly/4gDZcwz) or accessed online through the Recreational Map Web Application. Printed maps may also be obtained by calling 843-9539854 or writing the Shellfish Management Section, Attn:

protection and is severely prosecuted: sexual material involving children.

• “Fighting Words:” In a 1942 case, the U.S. Supreme Court held that “fighting words” — words that “by their very utterance inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace” — can be punished by the government as a means of preventing violence. This is slightly different from statements inciting “imminent lawless action,” discussed above, in that the violence comes from the person to whom the “fighting words” are directed. The scope of speech that meets the definition of “fighting words” has been reduced by subsequent court decisions, to the point that some question whether it is still a valid restriction on speech.

Commercial Speech: Advertising receives some First Amendment protection, but the courts have held that federal, state and local governments can also impose restrictions on commercial speech in order to further a substantial government interest, such as punishing false advertising.

• Time / Place / Manner Restrictions: In addition to the above types of speech that can be restricted, the government may also place reasonable limits on when, where and how speech may occur. But these limits must be the least restrictive means of furthering a substantial government interest and cannot effectively ban the speech entirely.

• Violence: Violence and criminal acts, even if they are meant to “send a message,” are not protected under the First Amendment. Often, it’s hard to distinguish between actions and speech, as with burning a flag (see below).

But if an action causes harm to someone or to property, no matter what the motive, it is likely to not receive First Amendment protection. Note that while violence is not protected, depictions and descriptions of violence are (see below). Also, note that offensive, insulting or objectionable speech is not itself violence (or terrorism).

That’s it. Those are the types of speech that the Supreme Court has held can be restricted or pun-

Recreational harvesters must have a Saltwater Recreational Fishing License, available from SCDNR, at many fishing supply stores, and online. The recreational limit is two U.S. bushels of oysters and one-half bushel of clams in any one day, limited to two calendar days per seven-day period. One U.S. bushel is equal to eight gallons. There is a maximum possession of three personal limits per boat or vehicle. Clams must be at least one inch thick. Additional rules and restrictions may be found in the SCDNR Rules and Regulations, available where licenses are purchased or online.

Commercial harvest of shellfish requires a commercial saltwater license, mandatory harvester training, and other licenses and permits depending on where the

ished. Of course, this leaves a lot of other speech, including some categories of speech that some may be surprised are protected by the First Amendment.

“Hate” Speech: Many people are surprised to learn that expressing hatred — towards an individual or a racial, ethnic or other group — is not among the types of speech that can be restricted. In short, “hate speech,” including anti-Semitic speech, is protected by the First Amendment. The U.S. Supreme Court and lower courts have ruled this way in several cases, including ones allowing a Nazi group to march in a heavily-Jewish Chicago suburb in the 1970s and in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017. (There were arrests when the latter march turned violent.) The courts have rejected arguments that hate speech constitutes “fighting words” and thus can be restricted. But the courts have held that the government may punish speech that is meant to intimidate on the basis of hatred, and may enhance punishment for non-speech motivated by racial hatred.

• Insults / Offensive Speech: Although it’s not a legal doctrine, the courts have generally embraced the concept that “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” Unless an insulting statement is libel (a false statement that harms someone’s reputation), “fighting words,” or falls into another one of the categories above, it is protected by the First Amendment. This includes, for example, offensive speech outside military funerals.

Curse words: Unless a curse word is so incendiary that it is “fighting words,” incitement or a “true threat,” it is protected by the First Amendment as free speech. In 1969, the Supreme Court held that a man could not be prosecuted for disturbing the peace for wearing a jacket that said “F— the Draft.”

Criticism of public officials, government policies and public figures: A primary rationale for enactment of the First Amendment is that the public should be able to criticize elected and appointed government officials and the policies they enact. This was also the rationale for the Supreme Court’s ruling in Sullivan that government officials

Please note that recycled shell in any SCDNR receptacle is South Carolina state property and is illegal to take. All shell collected by the SCDNR is used to restore shellfish grounds in coastal South Carolina.

must prove “actual malice” in a libel case, so that libel cannot be used as a means of stifling criticism. This “actual malice” requirement has been extended to public figures on the grounds that by taking on such a role they subject themselves to public criticism.

• Descriptions and depictions of violence: While violent actions usually don’t receive First Amendment protection, descriptions and depictions of violence do. Thus the government may not restrict children’s access to violent videogames or ban depictions of animal cruelty.

Burning the Flag: Burning the American flag may send a powerful message, and may be offensive to many. But the Supreme Court has held twice that burning the flag as a form of political protest is protected by the First Amendment. President Trump recently issued an executive order on the issue, but even that order recognizes that flag burning is protected; so it calls for prosecutions of flag-burners on charges such as arson or incitement of violence. But the Supreme Court rejected incitement as a basis for prosecuting flag burners.

These are the basics. Of course, lots of the nuance is missing here. But it’s important for folks to know what types of speech are and are not protected by the First Amendment, especially with lots of people making specious claims that various types of speech are or are not protected. Often, the claims are based on personal preferences, not on legal precedent. And it’s the latter — court decisions accumulated since the First Amendment was added to the Constitution in 1791 — that determines what is protected by the First Amendment, not personal whimsy.

Eric P. Robinson is the Reid H. Montgomery Chair in Freedom of Information at the University of South Carolina’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications, where he teaches media and internet law as an associate professor at the USC School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and an academic affiliate of USC’s Joseph F. Rice School of Law. He is “of counsel” at Fenno Law in Charleston / Mount Pleasant. He has worked

Should you change investment strategies?

Provided by Wells Fargo Advisors

You may take a “set it and forget it” approach to investing. But, over time, life events, the timing of when you need the money, and market events are likely to compel you to revisit your strategy. Here’s some things to consider when they arise.

Dealing with life events

Events, both expected and unexpected, like the following could cause a change in your long-term goals and time horizon:

• Graduation

Marriage, divorce, or remarriage

Birth of child or grandchild

Change in health status

Job loss, retirement, or early retirement

Death of a loved one

These types of events may prompt you to revisit your investment strategy, and in fact, they may be good reasons to make changes. Do you need to reprioritize your investment goals, spending,

or how much debt you need to pay down?

Before you reallocate your investments, remember to plan with the same careful consideration you gave to creating your original investment strategy.

Responding to market action

In addition to life events, you may want to revisit your investment strategy when there’s market volatility. Is that college tuition/mortgage/vacation payment nearer than you anticipated, making you realize that you may need to be more conservatively invested?

It is worth noting that your time horizon for needing the money is the key factor here. Avoid making emotional decisions based on today’s 24/7/365 news cycle. It can be tempting to react to the headlines when you might be better off simply riding out the volatility if you have a longer time horizon.

That doesn’t mean you

should never respond to market action. However, it’s often a good idea to think long and hard before you change or, at the extreme, abandon your strategy.

This article was written by/for Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Whitney McDaniel, CFP®, AAMS®, Financial Advisor in Beaufort & Hilton Head Island, SC at 843-524-1114 or 843-681-1413

PM-12032026-7425974 1 26

Investment and Insurance Products are: Not Insured by the FDIC or Any Federal Government Agency

Not a Deposit or Other Obligation of, or Guaranteed by, the Bank or Any Bank Affiliate

Subject to Investment Risks, Including Possible Loss of the Principal Amount Invested

Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

Mosquito-Borne Eastern Equine Encephalitis kills Beaufort County citizen

Staff reports

The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) announced last week that an individual in Beaufort County contracted Eastern Equine Encephalitis and died as a result of the virus. This is the first confirmed death caused by an infection with eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus in more than 20 years in South Carolina.

According to Beaufort County, due to federal and state privacy restrictions, it is unable to provide additional information concerning any person, including details about physical condition, hospitalization, age, sex, and residence.

EEE virus is spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito and is not transmissible from person to person. Infection by the virus can cause a febrile illness without neurological symptoms or can cause neurological symptoms and disease due to inflammation and damage to the brain (encephalitis) or lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).

Beaufort County Mosquito Control routinely tests mosquitos throughout the county, checking for the presence of mosquito-borne viruses that can be transmitted to humans through mosquito bites. Beaufort County has been consistently conducting spray missions throughout the County via truck and aerial applications.

According to a news release, the county will continue to monitor the mosquito population with increased trapping in the area, laboratory analysis, and mosquito abatement missions based on that surveillance data. Additional treatment missions have

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Outdoor Gas Griddle from ACE Hardware Port Royal

Golf Lessons & Simulator Training from Golf Galaxy

Coastal Trail Ride for 2 from Camelot Farms Equestrian Center

Dance Lessons for 2 at Revolution Ballroom

Facials from May River Dermatology/Lux Medical Spa

Framed Nancy Rhett Print of Hunting Island Lighthouse

Gift Bags of Fabulousness from Nuances, Port Royal

Painting Party from Southern Palette Art Studio

Half Day Fishing Charter for 2 from Bay Street Outfitters

Handmade Quilt by Habitat’s own Dawn Edgington

Private Dolphin Cruise for up to 6 from Cross Island Cruises

Tickets for 2, Rhythm of the Dance, USCB Center for the Arts

Tickets for 2, Come Far Away, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina Tour & Tasting for 8 from Burnt Church Distillery

Two Night Stay at the Beaufort Inn

Two Night Stay at the Sonesta Resort Hilton Head

Two Night Stay at the Westin Resort Hilton Head AND A Framed, Signed Photo From The “Golden Bear” Himself, Jack Nicklaus!

been planned for the affected area.

Mosquitoes can develop in water that stands for more than five days. DPH recommends following the “7 Ts” to keep your home and yard mosquito-free:

• TIP over anything that can hold water, such as toys, plant saucers or vases. To disrupt mosquito breeding cycles, change water often, even daily, in items like dog bowls and bird baths.

• TOSS or recycle any unwanted yard items that may collect water, such as old tires, junk, or trash.

TURN over items that can hold water like children’s pools, wheelbarrows, or buckets.

TIGHTEN tarps over items like boats, wood piles, grills, and pools.

• TAKE CARE of your property. Clean out debris from ditches, drains, and gutters. Keep grass cut low and trim or remove overgrown plants.

TREAT items that can’t be drained or emptied with appropriate mosquito control products.

• TEAM UP and talk with neighbors about reducing mosquitoes in and around your home and neighborhood.

DPH offers educational materials and tips for mosquito prevention, bite prevention and more via its website at dph.sc.gov/vbdoutreach.

More information about Beaufort County Mosquito Control can be found at https:// www.beaufortcountysc.gov/mosquito-control/.

Perfect start ends for USCB women’s soccer

Staff reports

The USC Beaufort women's soccer team saw its historic five-game winning streak to start the season come to an end Saturday afternoon, falling 1-0 to No. 10 North Georgia on the road.

"Great collective effort and some really good moments from the players against one of the top teams in the country,” USCB coach Gary Boughton said. “Hopefully we can build on that going forward.”

The Nighthawks capitalized on a late first-half opportunity to take a 1-0 lead, which they held onto for the remainder of the match. With the result, the Sand Sharks move to 5-1-0 on the season, while North Georgia improves to 5-0-1

"I thought we played a really strong game from box to box, just weren't able to create some of the chances we've been able to in previous games" said Boughton.

North Georgia outshot USCB, 21-6 overall, and held a 6-2 edge in shots on goal. It marked the first time this season the Sand Sharks have been held scoreless.

Goalkeepers Graysen Asher and Ciazia Powe combined for five saves, with Powe recording three and Asher two. Kassi Martin and Izzy Amphlett each registered a shot on goal.

The Nighthawks opened the match with early pressure, creating chances including multiple blocked shots and a save from Asher.

In the 33rd minute, North Georgia broke through with a cross into the box that was headed home by Cruz to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage.

USCB earned one corner kick in the first half but couldn't convert, and the game went into halftime with North Georgia leading 1-0

In the second half, the Sand Sharks began to find more rhythm offensively, posting six total shots, two of which were on goal, but North Georgia goalkeeper Lee came up with key saves to preserve the shutout.

Powe opened the half with a save in the 46th minute to keep the score close. Martin tallied USCB's first shot on goal in the 50th minute, but the Nighthawks' defense held firm.

The Sand Sharks had a final push, generating two late shots, but were unable to find the equalizer as North Georgia secured the 1-0 win. USCB returns home for a pair of Peach Belt Conference matchups this week. The Sand Sharks were set to host Clayton State at 3 p.m. Wednesday followed by a Saturday match against Albany State at 1 p.m.

Make it 17 straight

Beaufort

By Justin Jarrett LowcoSports.com

The trends were pointing in the right direction for this time to be different.

It was more of the same. Beaufort High set the tone early with a blocked punt for a touchdown, and the Eagles’ offense found a rhythm en route to a 48-0 rout of Battery Creek for their 17th straight win in the series dating to the Dolphins’ last triumph in 2003.

After an early defensive stop, Brown charged up the middle

continues dominance over rival Battery Creek

and smothered a Battery Creek punt, which Raymond Middleton pounced on for a touchdown to ignite a raucous crowd in The Nest.

“Chaz did a great job of getting in there,” Beaufort coach Bryce Lybrand said. “That’s a tough play because you know you’re gonna get a ball to the chest, and he did, but he made a great hustle play, which is what Chaz does.”

Enter Braydon Moyd-Smalls.

The Eagles’ junior quarterback threw touchdown passes to Keaudre Jenkins and Qualeek Isnar and

added a rushing touchdown of his own, and the rout was on. MoydSmalls has brought life to the offense since taking over for the injured Anthony Kahler, providing a dual-threat and an improvisational spark.

“He did a lot of good things,” Lybrand said. “He’s getting a little better every week, and that’s all we’re asking him to do. As long as he does that, we’ll have a chance to be all right.”

Beaufort’s ground game took over from there, as K’Mari Mizzell

punched in a 9-yard touchdown run, and Bryson Broadwater added a pair of rushing scores to cap off the night.

After an 0-3 start against a challenging schedule, the Eagles have won two straight and have a week off to prepare for their Region 6-4A opener at Bluffton on Oct. 3.

“It’ll be a big one,” Lybrand said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do before then to try to clean up some things from these last couple weeks and go play a really good football team.”

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ROUNDUP - WEEK 4

2025, at Beaufort

SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

Dorchester Academy 21, Beaufort Academy 8 John Whetsell scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to ice a big win for the Raiders in a defensive struggle at Merritt Field, handing BA its first defeat. Nych Underwood’s 60yard touchdown run tied it at 8 at halftime, but the Eagles couldn’t find the end zone after the break, and Whetsell’s second TD of the night sealed the win with 34 seconds left. Next week: BA (5-1) at Colleton Prep

Philip Simmons 46, Whale Branch 14 The Warriors couldn’t contain the Iron Horses’ passing game, as Hayes Goddard passed for 251 yards and four touchdowns, with Ashton Kellerman and Patrick Clarke each hauling in two touchdown passes. Whale Branch has dropped two straight following a twogame win streak. Next week: Whale Branch (2-3) at Battery Creek

Beaufort High’s Kaveon Young brings Battery Creek quarterback Nate Freeman on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, at Beaufort High School. Beaufort won, 48-0. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

HEALTH

8 factors to consider when looking for an oncologist

By Dr. J. Eric Turner Beaufort Memorial Oncology

Specialists

If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, you may wonder what to do next. A good first step is to find an oncologist to guide you along your journey. An oncologist specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer. Having the right oncologist by your side gives you confidence and clarity about what to expect and puts you at ease every step of the way.

These eight considerations can help you find an oncologist who’s right for you.

The right oncologist for your cancer

There are many different types of oncologists. To find out which type of oncologist you need, determine the following information about your diagnosis:

Cancer name

• Cancer stage Cancer treatment plan — Common treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Reputation matters

Once you know the type of treatment you may need, you can start looking for a radiation oncologist, medical oncologist or surgical oncologist.

When seeking recommendations, it's important to be specific. Ask your friend or health provider why they believe a particular oncologist is a good fit for you. Additionally, looking at online reviews can provide valuable perspectives, and exploring potential referrals from trusted sources can further guide your decision-making process.

Investigate your oncologist’s training

All oncologists go through rigorous training in medical school. After graduation, some continue their education. This helps health providers gain further insight into cancer care. It also provides specialty expertise.

Some of the training they may pursue includes:

• Board certification — To earn board certification, an oncologist must pass exams that prove deep understand-

ing. They must then participate in ongoing education to maintain certification.

• Fellowship training — Some oncologists specialize in treating specific cancers in pediatric or adult patients. This type of specialized expertise often comes during fellowship training. Fellowships last between one and three years and give oncologists focused expertise in their field of choice.

Real-world experience improves your experience

Education is vital to prepare an oncologist. However, experience is just as vital. More experienced oncologists lead to better outcomes.

The benefits of working with an experienced cancer specialist include:

Access to a wide range of resources that offer community support and ongoing education.

Established relationships with other experts to provide comprehensive care.

Knowledge of potential treatment side effects and ways to reduce them.

Understanding all available treatment options and when to use each approach.

An oncologist’s personality and approach

Over your journey, you’ll meet with your oncologist many times. Therefore, it’s important that you get along and like how your chosen provider approaches cancer care.

Whatever your preference, a pre-treatment consultation can help you decide if a specific oncologist is right for you. If not, keep looking until you find one with the personality and communication style you prefer.

Your oncologist’s team

Your care comes courtesy of a cancer care team, which may include:

Advanced practice providers

(nurse practitioners and physician associates)

Dietitians or nutritionists

Genetic counselors

Nurses

Nurse navigators

Occupational, speech or physical therapists

Pain management specialists

Social workers

Insurance: in or out of network

Cancer care is expensive, especially if your insurance provider doesn’t lend a hand. Before scheduling a consultation, find out if the oncologist is in your insurance net-

work. If not, you may need to find another care provider, though you do have options.

If there’s a good reason to go out of network, your insurance company may cover your care. However, out-of-network coverage is a rare exception, so you should always check and double-check with your carrier to ensure coverage.

World-class oncologists in your area

Finding an oncologist you can trust can feel overwhelming. Beaufort Memorial makes it easy. Our well-rounded cancer care services give you immediate, easy access to advanced therapy approaches, clinical trials and caring experts who put you at the center of every care decision.

We’re here to help our community members who need quality cancer care. They deserve the best experiences and outcomes, and we go out of our way to provide both every day.

J. Eric Turner, M.D., is a board-certified, fellowship-trained medical oncologist with Beaufort Memorial Oncology Specialists. He treats patients with a wide variety of cancers at the Keyserling Cancer Center in Beaufort, employing therapies such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy.

Preserve joints, maximize wellbeing while gardening

Special to The Island News Gardening is more than just digging in dirt – the relaxing activity helps release serotonin and endorphins, which promotes mental wellbeing and relieves stress.

Many of us look forward to the time of year when we’re able to enjoy the warm outdoor weather in our gardens.

While most people don’t see exercising their green thumb as true “exercise,” it still requires proper body mechanics to avoid injury.

“We all want to prevent that next-day regret when we wake up in pain due to too much stress on our joints,” said Mary Descaro, PT, DPT, OMT-C, CLT, clinical lead physical therapist at Beaufort Memorial Outpatient Rehabilitation Services. “Just following a few

simple precautions will help reduce your risk of injury while working in your yard or garden.”

Descaro offered these tips: Warm up first. Gardening is exercise, and squatting and bending can put stress on your joints and muscles. As with any exercise, it’s important to warm up before carrying out your gardening tasks.

“Stretching before and after gardening will help prevent injury and enable you to work in the garden for longer periods,” she said.

• Lift with your legs and not your back. When you are lifting heavy bags of soil, mulch or plants, your back should remain neu-

tral through the entire movement while you bend your knees and keep the heavy object close to your body.

“Keeping the object close will decrease fatigue, risk of injury and your chance of falling due to poor balance,” she said.

Turn with your whole body. When digging or moving dirt, stones or other objects, make sure that you turn your whole body, not just the knees and back.

“Twisting the knees or back puts a lot of pressure on those joints, increasing injury risk,” Descaro said. “Instead, move your feet and turn your whole body so you are facing the direction in which you are throwing.”

• Take breaks every 3060 minutes. Most injuries occur when we are fatigued and are pushing to complete one final task.

“Listen to your body and take breaks when you feel the need to,” she advised.

• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water, especially in the summer heat.

“It’s a good idea to drink water before, during and after any exercise,” Descaro said. “And that includes gardening.”

• Spread out tasks. If you have a big job ahead of you, don’t try to do it all in one day. Break the job up into smaller tasks so you allow your body to have the recovery time that it needs.

Early detection matters

BMH offering screening mammograms for $99 in October

Special to The Island News

A screening mammogram is the gold standard for the early detection of breast cancer, and in October, Beaufort Memorial is partnering with MDSave to offer $99 3D screening mammograms at three locations in the Lowcountry.

Breast cancer is most treatable when detected early, and women at average risk of the disease are recommended to begin getting annual mammograms when they reach age 40

State-of-the-art 3D technology, known as tomosynthesis, is shown to increase breast cancer detection by 40% and reduce false-positive rates by 15%. The Breast Health Centers at Beaufort Memorial, located in Beaufort and Okatie, as well as Island Imaging on Hilton Head Island, use 3D imaging for all screening mammograms. MDSave is an online healthcare marketplace designed for patients without health insurance and those with high-deductible health plans. In addition to offering a discount, MDsave vouchers combine payment for both facility and physician services. Screening mammogram vouchers can be purchased online at BeaufortMemorial. org/SaveOnMammos.

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness month, the mammogram vouchers are available for $99 – less than a third of the normal price. This discount is only available from October 1-31 Patients interested in taking advantage of the October $99 offer should: Visit BeaufortMemorial. org/SaveOnMammos and select a preferred location now through Oct. 31 Pay in advance by the end of the month with a credit card, FSA, HSA or PayPal and receive a voucher, which can be used up to six months from the time of purchase. Call 843-522-5015 or visit BeaufortMemorial. org/MammoAppointment to schedule a screening mammogram. Present the voucher at the time of your appointment.

Dr. J. Eric Turner

VOICES

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

Experience, intuition, instincts are good things for coaches

t is Thursday, and it is early.

IThis morning I have my coffee (Peet’s Big Bang) and the realization that football is back.

This past Saturday, the University of South Carolina lost to Vanderbilt; Clemson lost to Georgia Tech; and The Citadel’s Bulldogs lost to Gardner Webb’s Bulldogs. Despite this losing record, I am still drawn to the game (on television) because of the unpredictability as demonstrated by Buffalo’s last-second win over Baltimore on Sept. 7

I was pulling for the Baltimore Ravens — my Citadel classmate, Bill Stansbury, is a Ravens fan, and I knew his eyes and ego were glued to this game. But in the fourth quarter, with less than 5 minutes left on the clock, the Buffalo Bills engineered a 16-point comeback that was, by any measurement, stunning.

This five minutes — deeply disturbing and disappointing for my classmate — was the reason that most American men sit in front of a television monitor from Saturday at noon to Sunday at midnight. This five minutes of elemental,

SCOTT GRABER

unexpected electricity is what separates American football from just about every other five minutes in the American Experience. Notwithstanding this five-minute experience, we read (in The New York Times) that most college and professional football coaches are looking at Artificial Intelligence to make the game more predictable. Now, to be clear, current rules prevent the use of Artificial Intelligence during the game. During the game head coaches rely upon their offensive and defensive “coordinators” to tell them what to do next.

We have this person — who sits high above the playing field — who dials-up mathematical probabilities (analytics) and calls down

Not your grandfather’s VA

Just a heads up that the new Veterans Administration is not your grandfather’s VA. When my 103-year-old dad, a WWII Navy vet, was asked to wait six weeks for an appointment with his audiologist, I mentioned it as inappropriate on a survey from the VA.

The next week, I received a call from Rae in Columbia saying that he could see the audiologist in two weeks, and that she had called his assisted living center to arrange transportation, and wanted to make sure that I was okay with the appointment. Wow! What service.

This is a marked improvement from the previous administration. Two years ago, we ran into endless bureaucracy delays when applying for his pension benefits. Phone calls were routinely routed to another department or office. No real progress. An act of Congress was required.

Then I notified Nancy Mace’s office that he was not getting the benefits he deserved after 1½ years of applying. And within a week the VA called -- I was told that the application was being processed and would be approved shortly.

My suggestion to all the local veterans is to make sure to read the weekly veterans column in The Island News and give the new VA a chance to handle your issues.

– Jerry Floyd, St. Helena Island

Ominous

There's a blackness

On the horizon

Impending danger looms Foreboding, dread It's palpable

Grim days

Such evil

Staggering in its scope

Insanity continues To reign

a particular play to the anguished, often-confused, obscenity yelling coach who is pacing up and down the sidelines.

Because the defensive team’s player distribution — the “zone” or “man-to-man” coverage can be changed at the last minute — there is usually a back-up play that must be conjured-up by the offensive coordinator and sent down to the quarterback on the field.

The details of these “analytics” are well-kept secrets that necessarily involve individual matchups (of opposing players) that complicate the play-calling process of the young, buzz-cut, appropriately logoed men in the booth.

“By watching physical exertion, movement and play tendencies, coaches can make comparisons that predict how a player will interact with another player.”

Recently, The New York Times wrote that Artificial Intelligence cannot yet understand football. However, the article indicated that it is, as we speak, learning about football by collating billions of bits of data that exist in videotape, television, essays and

grainy film footage.

“The large language models that power most AI and machine learning don’t know how to watch football yet, but I think with some work, they can be taught to watch football,” said Udit Ranasaria, a senior researcher at SumerSports, one of the handful of companies developing Artificial Intelligence tools with the potential to reshape professional football.”

The New York Times says, however, that Artificial Intelligence can “concurrently identify coverages, adjust as players move around, and is very good at piecing together relationships in very, very high dimensional spaces …”

I’m not sure what a “very, very high dimensional space” is, but Gordon Hill, a coach who once played safety for the Los Angeles Chargers, told me that AI is surely being used during the week.

“It’s being used for things like self scouting’” he told me.

What is self scouting?

“Let’s say we have a game with the Eagles and we want to know how we dealt with a third-and-7 situation in the past.”

“Using AI we can analyze what plays we called. What our tendencies were in those situations. What play the Eagles think we’re going to run in that situation.”

“We can analyze our own tendencies; and break away from those tendencies,” he said.

I asked Gordon if the NFL can really keep AI out of an on-going game — when the defensive coordinator would simply have AI “read” the coverage?

“I don’t think there is enough time,” he said. “The other team can camouflage their coverage until the last minute. And communication is cut-off 15 seconds before the snap. AI doesn’t have enough time to “read” the coverage, or to figure out the adjustment that will happen just before the snap.” I am old, tired and suspicious of computers. But I think keeping a human being — with all of his experience, intuition and instincts in the play-calling process — is a good thing.

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

– Carol Connor

Can we pass this test?

The assassination of Charlie Kirk was a tragedy. Almost as tragic as Kirk's assassination were the rush to judgement and the calls for vengeance coming from some on the right - Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Jesse Watters, Laura Loomer, etc. They demonized Democrats and those on the "radical left" long before they knew the identity or the ideology of Kirk's killer. At a time when Americans needed a voice of reason and calm, these self-serving demagogues threw gasoline on the fire.

As we learn more about Kirk's killer, it appears he was not a "radical leftist." It appears he may have been aligned with an ultra-far right group known as the Groypers. Groypers are disciples of Nick

Fuentes (of J6 infamy). Their ideology is virulently anti-Semitic, homophobic, white supremacist, male supremacist, white Christian nationalist. Fuentes and many Groypers viewed Charlie Kirk as insufficiently radical, a dupe of the conservative establishment. Under Fuentes direction, Groypers frequently disrupted Charlie Kirk's events.

I am not going to pretend to know the killer's motivation. I am going to call upon everyone to PLEASE look to our "better angels" in moments of tragedy. We are being severely tested by those who benefit from divisiveness and anger. Can we pass this critical test?

– Peter Birschbach, Port Royal

PUGH-litzer Prize nominations

For journalism fomenting behavior that ultimately brings out the worst in those weak and filled with hatred among us at the grass roots level, we nominate the team of local opinion columnists at The Island News for this dubious and troubling award. Using their platform to promote and accuse those who disagree with them of being fascists, Nazis, racists and dictators who support totalitarianism, fascism, oligarchy, concentration camps and a general state of Orwellian malaise … the group has effectively used their collective

voices in a most divisive manner. For that this PUGH-litzer Prize nomination is well earned.

Upon receiving the news the group deflected accusations of their abuse of their first amendment freedom of speech rights and went on to confirm their commitment to “responsible incendiary and totally one-sided” commentary “in defense of our democracy”.

Of course the vast majority of readers understand that this is one-sided, ultra-left ranting and can digest and ultimately dismiss it as propaganda from a party of failed policies and who are clearly losing the political debate. It’s the other folks that should worry us … along with the aforementioned columnists.

So, where do we go from here. The hope is … that journalists, politicians and influencers alike … in both parties … stop with the “labeling” that only gives cover for those who’ve become lemmings of “the cause” and may think they are doing a noble thing by resorting to violence.

Perhaps these journalists could do a better job of introspection by asking themselves why their particular party or issue lost and then focus on fixing it rather than using inflammatory, hackneyed and defensive rhetoric that leads to nothing good. The community deserves better.

RIP Charlie.

– Frank Wainwright, Saint Helena Island

Editor’s

Jack and T-bird: a fable

Living out on the farm, as I have mentioned previously here, we take in stray pups. Some are true “rescues,” like Lucky Duck and Dingo. And some are giveaways (to us) like Jack and T-bird.

The sad events of the week have got me thinking about Jack and T-bird.

Jack is middle-aged and T-bird is an old man. Interestingly, without having watched television nor having ever become jealous via Instagram of what some other cooler canine might have, both are uncannily of their respective generation. Both are handsome male pointers. Both are good — sometimes unmatched — in front of a crowd when they are doing their thing, which

As I sat at my computer trying to decide upon a topic for this week’s edition, I must admit to experiencing a total blank. Oh, I know, there is plenty out there to investigate, to rail against, to verbally fight for.

Still, nothing came to me.

BILL RAUCH

is of course finding and pointing game birds. Both are probably from exotic bloodlines, but since they are house dogs too, those credentials don’t count for much here. They, like the rest of us, are simply Americans now.

That’s where the similarities end.

Social media generation Jack is brash and quick to exert himself. To him, it is a

matter of honor that he be the first one through every doorway and he shoves his way forward to be sure he is. Sometimes Alpha Jack picks fights with the other dogs just for sport, especially when the dinner bowls start being rattled. When the food comes out, he eats his in a flash and then looks to see who’s around that he can chase off their dinner. He craves attention. But when he gets it, he is distant. Enough is never quite enough. He spends his days hanging around the house looking for more.

Jack sometimes barks about things unseen. He is an angry young man. The bitches love him.

T-bird, the old man, laps up love. But rarely does he

Writer’s block, that much-dreaded affliction when you know you have a deadline to meet.

So I sat cogitating, and all of a sudden, the nursery rhyme about Humpty Dumpty came to mind. Seriously; I kid you not! As they like to say, dear reader, “You can’t make this stuff up.”

I started to laugh aloud, and then I stopped long enough to ask myself why that seemingly meaningless bit of rhyme should worm its way into my brain (with apologies to RFK Jr.). Yes, that is digression.

So, much like Alice of wonderland fame, I descended down the rabbit hole to explore the symbolic essence of Humpty Dumpty. And as I searched, it became apparent to me that I was brought back around to something much more important than nonsensical child’s play. So, here we go!

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall; All the king’s horses, and all the king’s men Couldn’t put Humpty together again.

Much of my research took me to Wikipedia. However, there are other general descriptions, not necessarily with attribution, of how to look at Humpty Dumpty. What follows are just a few. Initially, this fictional character was purported to be the name of a cannon used during the English Civil War that was toppled from a tower during a siege. Historically, there were those who chose to see it as limitations of certain powers, often representing something or someone who was broken or

ask for it. When the dinner dishes are rattling, he slips into another room to make sure he will be last in line at the buffet table. On the unusual occasion that he hasn’t gotten out in time

in a precarious position. Often mentioned was the defeated monarch, King Richard III.

A more straightforward interpretation is that Humpty Dumpty is a fragile object, like an egg, and represents that which cannot be repaired once broken. This highlights the irreversible nature of certain actions or misfortunes.

Many saw the egg as symbolizing “ego” and the need to break it for character and spiritual growth. In this way, the egg is a figure who is inherently vulnerable and prone to falling from high places. It’s worth noting that the fragile ego of those in high places represents a danger to all.

Perhaps by now, dear reader, you can see where I am going with this.

The rhyme can certainly be interpreted as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of power, where a position of authority (the wall) leads to a dangerous ascent that results in a devastating fall. Notice that all the “king’s” horses or his men cannot reverse what has happened.

The most common moral of

and is attacked by Jack, his fighting style is superbly defensive. T-bird would never pick a fight. He is a lover. To him the glass is joyfully half full. Although his square jaw, engaging

"Humpty Dumpty" is a warning about the fragility of things and the irreversible condition of certain mistakes; once something is broken, it often cannot be fixed.

Other interpretations go on to include lessons on the impermanence of power and status, the inherent limitations of human power against universal forces like death or irreversible change, and the importance of caution and accepting responsibility for one's actions to avoid irreversible damage.

Maybe we who are watching with fear and grave concern regarding what is happening in our country, should create badges made of broken egg shells. While the message may be lost on some, others will get it.

It was the English historian Lord Acton, in an 1887 letter to an Anglican bishop, who wrote that "power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." He used this to argue that the same moral standards should apply to all people, regardless of their position or power.

So, is there a life lesson in this sometimes vague, yet rather

eyes and graceful gaits remind us every day that he is one handsome guy, from his countenance you would never suspect he knows it. He spends his days ranging around the farm enjoying nature’s countless bounties.

I have never heard T-bird bark. He’s the strong, silent type. The bitches love him. We love Jack and T-bird too. Our household is big enough for the both of them … and more.

R.I.P. Charlie Kirk and Bob Redford.

Bill Rauch was the Mayor of Beaufort from 1999 to 2008 and has won multiple awards from the S.C. Press Association for his Island News columns. He can be reached at TheRauchReport@gmail.com.

transparent nursery rhyme?

Perhaps there is, and it might well be this: all who are fully cognizant of what is happening around us must adopt a resilient mindset. Rather than watch our country devolve into a dictatorship with only “the king’s men” as the authority, we must fight back to save our democracy, and thereby evolve into a better nation. I played with the idea of injecting what I saw as humorous quips throughout this piece. One was to refer to the wall upon which Humpty Dumpty sits as that between the U.S. and Mexico. Another was to note the difference between the yolk and the white. However, my better judgment kicked in because there is very little humor to be had in our current situation.

If you have made it to the end of this piece which some will deem to be nothing more than frivolity, I applaud your tenacity. That said, start cracking those eggs!

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.”

CAROL LUCAS

You have the right to know what’s happening in your community.

Public notices – information local governments are obligated to provide citizens – are required to be published in local newspapers to provide a public record that’s accessible to everyone.

Public notices keep you informed about your government. But, in some states legislators are trying to keep public notices from appearing in local newspapers. This severely impacts government transparency and, in turn, limits the public’s right to hold them accountable for their actions.

Let your state legislators know that you value being able to access notices in your newspaper and that they are worth the investment.

SCHOOLS&EDUCATION

Beaufort High’s Tran a National Merit semifinalist

By Mike McCombs

The Island News

Beaufort High School senior

Halle Tran has been named a semifinalist in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Tran, one of five semifinalists from the Beaufort County School District (BCSD), is the only semifinalist from northern Beaufort County.

“Honestly, … it makes me feel really proud,” Tran said Monday, Sept. 22. “It's kind of ... a physical representation of the work I've been putting into school. You know it's a really nice reminder, but doing all my college applications

and going through school right now, it's just really nice to see a reward, you know, [for] all of my work.”

Students enter the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program competition by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. They are part of the nationwide pool of semifinalists that includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state, placing them in the top one percent of all U.S. high school seniors.

As semifinalists, they will compete with more than 16 000 national semifinalists for 6 930 college scholarships worth nearly $26 million.

“These students have achieved something truly remarkable,”

BCSD Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said in a news release.

“Their hard work, dedication, and academic excellence have placed them among the top scholars in the nation. We are incredibly proud of them, and we look forward to seeing all they accomplish as they advance in this prestigious competition.”

According to the BCSD, to be-

come a finalist, each semifinalist and an official for their high school must submit a detailed application that provides information about the student’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards. In addition, each semifinalist must be endorsed and recommended by an official from their high school, write an essay, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier score on the qualifying test.

The 2026 National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced between April and July of 2026

Scholarship recipients will join nearly 389 000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title since the program’s inception. John Paul II Catholic School senior Matthew Yanachik of Bluffton was named a National Merit Semifinalist, while Holy Trinity Classical Christian School Senior Class President Chloe Miles has been named a National Merit Commended Student, meaning she is among the top 50 000 students nationwide.

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

DAYLO students advocate for books to stay on shelves, more

Club promotes literacy through advocacy, community service or simply reading

By Skylar Laird SCDailyGazette.com

COLUMBIA — When Kate Selvitelli started the Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization chapter at her Charleston County high school, the book club had just three members: Selvitelli and her two best friends.

Two years later, with the help of some public speaking and homemade brownies, the chapter has grown to more than 50 students at Academic Magnet High School,

making it the largest of the seven chapters across the state.

The group, which started in Beaufort County four years ago, has gotten local and national attention for pushing back against the removal of books from school libraries, but its goal is more broadly to promote literacy, whether that means advocating to keep books on school library shelves, volunteering to read to toddlers, or simply showing up to discuss books, said Selvitelli and other club members.

“It’s not like you have to be out there fighting banned books,” said Selvitelli, a high school senior.

“We’re going to make friends, we’re going to meet up once a week, and anyone can join, even if you don’t agree with all of our political stuff.”

The number of students in each chapter varies. While Selvitelli has recruited around 50 students, the Beaufort chapter has around 20 students, and Greenville has about 15

SEE BOOKS PAGE B2

By Delayna Earley

Sea Island Academy partners with nonprofit after

losing state charter

[their] students grew in both English Language Arts and Math.” The school argued that the small classroom numbers were one of the positive aspects of the school because, “when children are given small group instruction, personal attention and learning environment rooted in community, they do more than catch up –they survive.”

Halle Tran

Kate Selvitelli, then a junior at Academic Magnet High School in Charleston County, speaks during a state Board of Education meeting Feb. 6, 2024. Screenshot of Department of Education livestream

EDUCATION & ARTS

Read with a Therapy Dog

Rhett House Reels kicks off Thursday

Staff reports

Rhett House Reels, a new program featuring the best of Beaufort International Film Festival (BIFF) films from the past 20 years, kicks off Thursday, Sept. 25 in the Garden at Rhett House Inn. The films will run from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and there will be a cash bar. Each Garden Cinema evening will begin with a "get to know you" reception followed by some of the finest in short films, and documen-

Books from page B1

Columbia’s chapter at Spring Valley High School in Richland 2 is starting from the ground up after all its members graduated, said recent graduate Elliot Naddell.

The group, which exists only in South Carolina, started as a book club. A then-student in Beaufort County wanted to discuss books with classmates that they might not normally choose for themselves or get assigned in class. Two years later, the group’s focus expanded when two parents challenged 97 books in the Beaufort County School District’s libraries, members said.

DAYLO members showed up to school board meetings to ask that books remain on the shelves. After temporarily removing all 97, the board eventually returned all but five of the books to school libraries. With the approval of a state-level regulation in February 2024 barring schools from carrying books that contain sexual content, the club’s advocacy work expanded across the Palmetto State, members said.

The club’s advocacy has thrust it into the spotlight, including becoming the focus of a feature-length documentary and earning Selvitelli an award from the National Education Association. But the club is not just an advocacy organization, members said. Nor is it an ordinary book club, said Emily Alaia, president of the chapter at Battery Creek High School in Beaufort.

taries. The program will continue on Oct. 9, Nov. 13, and Dec/ 11

A look at the films that will be screening on Thursday, Sept. 25:

“A Shattering” 20 minutes, New York, N.Y.

Director: Jan Jalenak

Synopsis: A carefully constructed marriage implodes when an unexpected call unleashes a fragility and pain that have been simmering for years.

“I think people misconstrue it as a boring book club where everybody just talks about the book and has to write book reports about it,” said Alaia, a junior. “I wish that they would come sit in and listen to the conversation and hear how meaningful it is.”

Advocacy

When the state Board of Education met to approve a regulation barring “sexual conduct” from school books in February 2024, DAYLO members were there to voice their opposition.

“Books with inclusive representation have always been my favorites because they let me experience what it’s like to be in other people’s shoes,” Selvitelli said during public comment. “I would not be the supportive, caring, learned person I am today without these books or my excellent teachers and librarians.”

The board unanimously approved the regulation, saying they wanted to make sure the books offered in schools are age-appropriate and create an appeals process for parents who disagreed with a school district’s decision to keep a certain book on library shelves. The regulation automatically took effect in June 2024 School librarians have been required to remove 21 books since then because of depictions of explicit sexual conduct. Six other books, including classics such as 1984” and “To Kill a Mockingbird,” have been allowed to stay, one (“Crank”) with the caveat that students get parental permission to read it.

Trailer: https://vimeo. com/870768547

“Because I Love You” 14 minutes, New York, N.Y.

Director: Bob Celli Synopsis: Marco and Joanna enjoy an electric marriage, until Marco is witness to a series of events that lead him to suspect Joanna is having an affair with a co-worker.

Trailer: https://vimeo. com/836581818

The board hasn’t voted on a potential removal since May, when board members asked the Beaufort County School District to revisit its decisions with the added context of the regulation, following a meeting where board members questioned the regulation they put in place.

Getting up in front of rooms full of adults and addressing the school boards, whether at a state or local level, was nerve-wracking at first, Selvitelli said. She doesn’t mind public speaking, but at 17 years old, she’s often one of the youngest people in the room. Even when it seems intimidating, though, students should speak up about issues that affect them, she said.

“None of us can vote yet,” Selvitelli said. “We can’t make any of these decisions. We’re just there, speaking our voices, using our education, and I think it’s really important (for adults) to see the next generation being like, ‘Hey, guys, we’re watching. We know what’s happening.’”

Removing books from shelves goes against DAYLO’s pro-literacy goal, members said. The clubs have chosen several of the removed books as monthly reads, including “All Boys are Blue,” a series of essays about author George M. Johnson’s experience growing up a gay Black man, and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” a coming-of-age book about an introverted teen’s freshman year of high school.

In Beaufort, the Battery Creek High School chapter of DAYLO finished “The

“Hedgehog” 18 minutes, Albany, N.Y.

Director: D. Mitry Synopsis: Ukraine, six years old Nina is sent to her grandma’s remote village. In the shack outside, Nina discovers a badly wounded Russian soldier. Trailer: https://vimeo. com/791357639

“Infraction” 22 minutes, Philadelphia, Pa.

Perks of Being a Wallflower” a week before the Board of Education voted to remove it from shelves, Alaia said. The book resonated with Alaia, and she imagined it would mean even more to students struggling with similar anxieties as the main character, she said.

“It’s just really frustrating,” Alaia said. “Reading the books and understanding how much of an impact that they had on me, I can’t imagine what they would do for other kids.”

Community service

DAYLO’s mission of promoting literacy goes beyond students’ schools, members said. A key part of the club is giving back to the community in a way that encourages reading.

On the first Saturday of each month, DAYLO members put out blankets, books and teddy bears at the Port Royal Farmers Market. Volunteers read stories to children and their families, and children sometimes go home with free, donated books.

The teddy bear picnic draws volunteers from across the state, but chapters can choose their own community service projects.

Academic Magnet High School, for instance, collects books to donate to other schools in the area, along with participating in the teddy bear picnics, Selvitelli said.

Over the summer, members of the Greenville High School chapter opened a Little Free Library, a small box where people can take or leave books as needed, outside Pendleton Place,

Director: Timothy Blackwood

Synopsis: When a prison guard is murdered on the job, his replacement and an inmate form an unlikely relationship with life-altering ramifications. This film is based on the real life story of Philadelphia native Terrance Lewis who served 21 years in prison for a murder he did not commit.

Trailer: https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=wgYq9puwPvE

an emergency shelter for children entering foster care, said Harper Cridland-Hughes, a junior and the chapter’s president. The chapter is planning a book drive to keep the library stocked, she said.

As someone who didn’t enjoy reading growing up, Alaia said she supports any chance to get a book in front of a person. She learned to love reading only by doing it as often as possible, and she wants other people to have that experience, she said.

“I think that’s something everyone should try, is to pick up a book, read it and grow empathy from it,” Alaia said.

Building life skills

As Alaia worried over a big presentation in English class, she thought back to all the times she had spoken in front of her DAYLO club. If Alaia, a self-described introvert who generally prefers science and math classes, could talk about books in front of a book club, certainly she could do the same in front of a class, she thought.

“I was just kind of like, ‘Oh my gosh,’ like, ‘I’m really doing this,’” Alaia said. “I’m putting myself out there, and it was really because of DAYLO.”

As much as the club focuses on reading books, it’s also about building life skills, such as confidence and empathy, students said. Much of that comes from reading books that reflect different experiences than what might have happened in a student’s life. How each chapter selects books varies — Selvitelli’s club has a different student choose each

month, while a chapter in Greenville County votes on its books — but they all must represent some perspective not every student shares, students said. That doesn’t always mean choosing books removed from school libraries.

Students at Battle High School read “The Hate U Give,” which follows a 16-year-old girl who lives in a poor neighborhood but attends a wealthy prep school after a police officer shoots and kills her childhood friend.

Greenville High School’s DAYLO chapter started with Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar,” first published in 1963, about a young woman whose mental health suffers under the pressures of adulthood, to learn more about mental health, Cridland-Hughes said. The book club followed it up with the 2017 novel “They Both Die at the End,” to contrast a more modern take on mental health, she said. Those types of books are important for students who might be facing similar issues to recognize their own struggles, Cridland-Hughes said. And if students can’t relate to the books, “you can see a perspective of what (others) are going through and use that in real life to just be more considerate of people around you,” she said.

Skylar Laird covers the South Carolina Legislature and criminal justice issues. Originally from Missouri, she previously worked for The Post and Courier’s Columbia bureau. S.C. Daily Gazette is part

Oliver the Great Dane, owned by Kelly Richards, appears content to be read to by mother Jessi Lawson as her 2-year-old daughter Ocie enjoys listening … and petting at a recent Read with a Therapy Dog event at the Port Royal Library. The Read with a Therapy Dog program is just one of many community activities sponsored by the Beaufort County Library at its six branches. For more information, check the Beaufort County Library online calendar. Lolita Huckaby/The Island News

ARTS

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 *

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.

Staff reports Big band, big sound — don’t miss Big Swing and the Ballroom Blasters at University of South Carolina Beaufort Center for the Arts on Friday, Oct. 3

The USCB Center for the Arts welcomes the electrifying sounds of Big Swing and the Ballroom Blasters for one night only — at 7:30 p.m..

This 13-piece powerhouse band, led by Grammy winner Jerry Freeman, delivers explosive energy with five dynamic vocalists and a full horn section. The evening kicks off with tunes from the early jazz era of the Cotton Club and then jumps into the best hits of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s.

Freeman has toured with legends like Earth, Wind & Fire, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder. He has recorded seven platinum albums and worked with icons such as John Legend, Lionel Richie, and Sly and the Family Stone. Featured vocalists include: Jamila Thompson, a finalist on The Voice; Calvin Bishop, who toured with Whitney Houston and performed with New Edition’s Bobby Brown; and Marleen Mills, who has shared the stage with Bobby McFerrin and Justin Bieber.

November Company Crucible

What veterans need to know about filing a Service-connected Disability Claim for Hypertension

Hypertension (also called high blood pressure) is not called the “silent killer” for nothing. Left unchecked and untreated, hypertension can lead to life-threatening issues like heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. I know it because I have hypertension, and it is responsible for much of my Stage III kidney damage, and partially, along with Agent Orange, the cause of my heart disease.

Veterans need to seek medical care for hypertension and file for Service-Connected Disability Compensation if they are eligible. Veterans need to know that: High blood pressure can lead to serious health issues, such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Veterans (and anyone) with high blood pressure need to seek medical care if they have high blood pressure.

According to Health Policy

Today’s Feb. 18 2025, article “Making Hypertension History for Veterans” (https:// bit.ly/47WVaNF), veterans who have faced combat, had contact with Agent Orange, or had chronic exposure to military aircraft noise report higher rates of hypertension. And given the intense nature of active-duty service, high blood pressure often accompanies other symptoms for veterans, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental health conditions.

According to Health Policy

Today’s Feb. 18 2025, article “Making Hypertension History for Veterans” (https:// bit.ly/47WVaNF), individuals with hypertension may experience a variety of symptoms, including dizziness, headaches, shortness of breath, and chest pain. In addition, these individuals are also at greater risk for other cardiovascular issues like heart

attack, stroke, vision loss, and kidney disease. High blood pressure can also exacerbate pre-existing conditions that predominantly affect veterans, such as tinnitus and unmanaged anxiety disorder.

• According to the VA web page “The PACT ACT and Your VA Benefits” (https:// bit.ly/46iTtZN), hypertension is on the VA’s presumptive list. If diagnosed within one year of discharge, it is considered a chronic condition presumed to be related to military service. Veterans exposed to Agent Orange and Gulf War veterans with undiagnosed illnesses or Medically Unexplained Chronic Multi-Symptom Illness (MUCMI) are also eligible for presumptive service connection under the PACT Act. If a veteran is already service-connected for conditions like PTSD, sleep apnea, diabetes, or kidney disease, and later develops high blood pressure, the veteran can file a Secondary Service-Connected Claim in accordance with the VA web page “How to File a VA Disability Claim” (https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/). Claims can be filed online, by mail, in person, by FAX, or with the help of a trained professional (A VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO), a VA-accredited Claims Agent, or a VA-accredited Attorney).

Hypertension is often caused or aggravated by these conditions and the medications

used to treat them. A strong Nexus letter from a military, VA, or private provider can help establish the link between PTSD, sleep apnea, diabetes, kidney disease, or other service-connected conditions. Understanding how to get a VA service-connected disability rating for hypertension is critical to accessing VA healthcare, benefits, and services.

What is hypertension?

Hypertension occurs when the force of blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels is too high. For VA disability purposes, hypertension is defined as a condition where the diastolic blood pressure is predominantly 90 mmHg (90 millimeters of mercury, a measurement of blood pressure) or higher, or the systolic blood pressure is primarily 160 mmHg or higher with a diastolic pressure below 90 mmHg. To learn more about hypertension, visit https://bit.ly/481SluV.

VA hypertension rating

The VA rates hypertension (high blood pressure) under 38 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 4 104, Diagnostic Code 7101, based on the severity of your symptoms. The VA rates hypertension under Diagnostic Code 7101 from 10% to 60% with breaks at 20% and 40%, based on the severity of your symptoms:

• 10% rating: Diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, or requiring continuous medication.

20% rating: Diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or

more, or systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more.

• 40% rating: Diastolic pressure predominantly 120 or more.

• 60% rating: Diastolic pressure predominantly 130 or more.

A veteran’s blood pressure readings and the need for continuous medication determine the ratings.

What are the facts and symptoms of hypertension?

According to the American Heart Association web page “Understanding Blood Pressure Readings” (https://bit.ly/48wui7p):

Nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure.

Measuring your blood pressure is the only way to know if you have it, because in most cases, there are no noticeable *symptoms for Normal, Elevated, Stage 1, or Stage 2 Hypertension, thus the name “silent killer.”

Controlling high blood pressure can help prevent significant health problems. Only a doctor or other qualified medical professional can confirm a diagnosis of high blood pressure. Except for extremely high (called severe hypertension of Systolic Higher than 180 and/or Diastolic Higher than 120 or hypertensive emergency, where you have the higher than 180 and/or 120 pressures, you will not usually notice any symptoms.

• Symptoms of severe or hypertensive emergency hypertension may include chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness, weakness, change of vision, or difficulty speaking. Other symptoms of hypertension may include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, nosebleeds, irregular heartbeat, and buzzing in the ears.

Headaches and hypertension? According to the Cleveland Clinic web page “High Blood Pressure and Headaches: Is There a Link?” (https://bit.ly/4pBZY1a), the vast majority of people experience no symptoms from high blood pressure. It is likely that if your blood pressure spikes to an unusually high level, you may have symptoms, including a headache.

Chronic pain and high blood pressure

Medical News Today (https:// bit.ly/3Vw0ct1) states that chronic pain can affect the mechanism that regulates blood pressure, causing blood pressure to become too high.

Inflammation and high blood pressure

Medical News Today (https:// bit.ly/3Vw0ct1) states that tissue damage causes the body’s immune cells to release signaling molecules. These molecules promote the inflammatory process that allows the body to repair itself. However, chronic inflammation causes persistently high levels of inflammatory cytokines, which can affect the body’s blood vessels and kidney function. Because the blood vessels and kidneys play a major role in regulating blood pressure, impairments in either can lead to high blood pressure.

Continued next week.

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 3rd Class Elijah Moreno, left, from Beaufort, S.C., and Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) Airman Zion Walthuur, right, from Atlanta, observe flight operations Aug. 27, 2025, on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Abraham Lincoln, flagship of Carrier Strike Group Three, is underway conducting routine training operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations. As an integral part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet operates naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic and relevant training to ensure the readiness necessary to execute the U.S. Navy’s timeless role across the full spectrum of military operations. Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Glory Anderson/U.S. Navy

ART Budding Artist After-School

Art Club

4 to 5 p.m., or 5:15 to 6:15 p.m., Mondays/Wednesdays or Tuesday/ Thursdays, Happy Art Studio, 10

Sam’s Point Way, Beaufort. Ages 8 to 13. Painting, drawing, clay or crafts. Visit www.happyartstudio.net.

CALENDAR

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 three-day 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 performances. For more information, visit www.GullahLove.com.

Bluffton Night Bazaar — a Lowcountry Made Market

5 to 8 p.m., first Thursday of each month, Burnt Church Distillery, 120 Bluffton Road. A highly curated selection of accessories, clothing, home

WHAT’S HAPPENING

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 oncea-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

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? Haven’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 Spe-

cialist - 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-of-the-century businesses and industries of Port Royal: Shrimping, crabbing, oystering, the railroad, the school and the mercantile. Great gifts featuring local artists are available. For more information. visit www.portroyalhistory.org, email historicportroyalfoundation@gmail.com or call 843-524-4333.

Tour Historic Fort Fremont Dawn to dusk, Monday through Sunday, The Fort Fremont Preserve, 1124 Land’s End Road, St. Helena Island. Free and open to the public. The History Center is open Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m., Fridays from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Visitors can learn about the fort’s history during the Spanish-American War through interpretive signs, self-guided walking tours with a smart phone, exhibits in the history center, and docent-led tours. For more information visit www.fortfremont.org or contact Passive Parks Manager Stefanie Nagid at snagid@bcgov.net.

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

“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 843-255-6458.

Bridge Club

10 a.m. to noon, Wednesdays, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. Join us if you want to learn a new game, practice your skills, or need more players. Call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-2556458 for more information.

Mahjong Club

10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fridays, Beaufort Library, 311 Scott Street. All levels of players are welcome. Feel free to bring your own mahjong sets. Plan to meet every week. For more information, call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-255-6458.

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 off-road/dirt/wilderness mountain biking/jogging/walking trails near is encouraged to attend. For more information, call 843-575-0021 or email universitybicycles@hotmail.com.

Emotions Anonymous International local group meeting 4 p.m, Thursdays, via Zoom. Emotions Anonymous International, (EAI), is a nonprofit program designed to help people with emotional difficulties. It has a chapter in the Lowcountry and members want others who feel the need to know they are welcome to participate. There is no charge to participate. They are based on the 12 steps and 12 traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous and follow a specific format designed to provide the support and tools for navigating life’s painful difficulties. All are welcome. Anyone interested in participating may contact the group via email at EALowcountry@gmail.com or call or text Laurie at 252- 917-7082. For more information on EAI visit www.emotionsanonymous.org.

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

Campfire Tyler

5 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 25, Peg Legs BBQ at the Fripp Island Marina.

Campfire Tyler

6 to 9 p.m., Friday, Sept. 26, Shellring Ale Works, Port Royal.

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.

Live entertainment

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

Chris Jones

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

Habersham Third Fridays Music on Market

5 to 8 p.m., third Friday of the month, Habersham Marketplace.

Live entertainment 9 p.m. to midnight, Fridays & Saturdays, Luther’s Rare and Well Done, 910 Bay Street, downtown Beaufort.

OUTDOORS/NATURE

Free boating inspections

Get a free vessel safety check by local members of the America's Boating Club of Beaufort. If your boat passes, you will receive a VSC decal to mount on your boat that will be visible to other boaters and maritime law enforcement personnel. Email Safety@beaufortboatingclub.com . The Beaufort Tree Walk Lady’s Island Garden Club invites you to take a meandering walk through the Historic “Old Point” and enjoy some unique and noteworthy trees. The “Walk” takes about an hour, is a little over a mile starting at the corner of Craven & Carteret streets in Morrall Park and concluding in Waterfront Park. Booklets with map and information about each tree are available free at the Visitors Center in the historic Arsenal on Craven Street.

Tours of Hunting Island Every Tuesday,

through iconic movie locations to make Lowcountry history. Feel the ocean breeze in your poncho as you compete over the Woods Memorial Bridge. Take your photo with our Forrest Gump impersonator at the Start/Finish line. First-, Second-, and Third-Place runners will receive the coveted Run Forrest Run 5K medals both for winners of each age division and overall placers. Bring your favorite characters from the Forrest Gump movie to life as you race towards shrimp glory. We encourage participants to get groovy with themed costumes and unique outfits. Those donning a Forrest Gump getup can race to the finish line in hopes of claiming the Fastest Forrest Award. Register now and RUN, FORREST, RUN! For more information and to sign up, visit https://shorturl.at/YoyHx.

SEWING/QUILTING

American Needlepoint Guild

Meeting

10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1st Tuesday each month. The Hilton Head Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild welcomes anyone, beginner or experienced stitcher, who is interested in needlepoint to join us for stitching, learning and fellowship. For more information, please contact us at hiltonheadislandchapter@needlepoint. org.

Embroidery Guild of America

Meeting Second Tuesday of every month, Palmetto Electric Community Room, Hardeeville. The Lowcountry Chapter of the Embroidery Guild of America welcomes anyone, beginner or experienced stitcher, who is interested in any type of embroidery including needlepoint, cross-stitch, surface and beaded embroidery, hardanger, bargello, sashiko, etc., to join us for stitching, learning and fellowship. For more information, please contact us at lowcountrychapter@egacarolinas.org.

SPORTS/GAMES

Beaufort Young Life Mahjong Fundraiser

9:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 26, St. Helena’s Parish Hall, 507 Newcastle Street, Beaufort. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. Register at https://beaufort. younglife.team/beaufortylmahjong.

ACBL Duplicate Bridge Club

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., Tuesdays, Carteret Street. Events will be held weekly. Contact Director and Club Manager Susan DeFoe at 843-5972541 for location.

Bridge Club 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesdays, Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort. Join us if you want to learn a new game, practice your skills, or need more players. Call the Beaufort Branch Library at 843-2556458 for more information.

Beaufort Masters Swim Team 6 to 7 a.m., Monday through Friday, Wardle Family Port Royal YMCA. Coached practices. Ages 18 & older, all skill & speed levels, no prior swim team experience needed. Visit lowcountryswimming.com for more information.

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

THURSDAY’S CARTOON

ANNOUNCEMENTS

STOCK YOUR POND EVENT – Coming to a store

near you! Grass Carp, Coppse Bluegill & Redbreast

1”-3”, Channel Cats 3”-5” & Mosquitofish. Must Pre-Order by the Friday before the event. Southland Fisheries 803-776-4923

Replace your roof with the best looking and longest lasting material – steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off installation + Additional 10% off install (for military, health workers & 1st responders.) Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-855-900-1261

Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 833-230-8692

We Buy Houses for Cash AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-855-704-3381

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400 plus procedures. Real dental insurance – NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-855-397-7030

www.dental50plus.com/60 #6258

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-877-8520368

AUCTIONS

PUBLIC AUCTION. Sat., Oct. 4 110 Mill Street, Brunson, SC 29911. Welding and machine shop has closed! Everything must go! Multiple welders, lathes, shredders, tons of fabrication equipment, presses, drills, saws, shop equipment, forklift, backhoe, tools, welding tables, industrial bolt bins, machinist chests, calipers, grinders, micrometers, torches, gauges, jacks, industrial shelving, plasma cutters, cylinders, steel rollers, sand blasters, bush hog, tons of electrical and plumbing fittings, jackhammers, and so much more! Approved consignments are accepted. Preview: Fri., Oct. 3 from 9 AM – 6 PM. Browse web at www.cogburnauction.com. 803-860-0712

Online Real Estate Auction! 815-Acre Hunting Paradise in Franklin County, VA. Own prime land for whitetail, turkey, bear, & more. A rustic cabin offers essential comforts for extended stays. With woods, fields, trails, streams, & secluded spots, this land is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, a private getaway and was previously used as a hunting club/outfitter. Bidding starts October 1 and ends October 29. See woltz.com for more information! 5% Buyer’s Premium. Woltz & Associates, Inc. Real Estate Brokers & Auctioneers (VA #321). Call 800-551-3588

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 & 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 people who are ready to give

it their all and help build something today that still

Love Made Visible

When we love someone, we express it in tangible ways.

Parents hug their children and tell them, “I love you.” A young man gives flowers and chocolates to his sweetheart. A husband leaves a love note on the bathroom mirror for his wife. Whenever we seek to communicate spiritual realities, such as our love or care for another person, we necessarily use such words or actions.

Through the body, spiritual realities are communicated. Like the angels, we are immortal spirits, with the ability to know and to love. Unlike the angels, God created us as embodied spirits: an immaterial spirit united with a material body. Since we are “bodypersons,” we cannot communicate directly with each other in a spiritual manner, as the angels do. Instead, it is only through the body that we can make visible that which is invisible, communicating and interacting meaningfully with one another.

God reveals himself to humanity in physical ways, too. Since God made us as body-persons, he always communicates spiritual realities through words and actions. Think of how he interacted with his people in the Old Testament: a voice from heaven, a burning bush, the parting of the Red Sea, a pillar of fire, manna in the desert, and many other signs and wonders. Whenever God wished to reveal himself or demonstrate his love for his people, it was in ways that they could perceive with their senses.

Jesus is the supreme example of God’s love made visible. So deep was his desire to reveal himself fully to us and reunite humanity to himself, that God chose to become one of us, being born as Jesus of Nazareth. When Jesus walked among the people, God himself was walking in their midst and revealing his love in a personal, physical way. Since Jesus was ministering to body-persons, his gifts were almost always accompanied by words, touch, gestures, or other physical elements. For example, he healed the man born blind by spitting on the ground, making clay, and anointing the man’s eyes with the clay. (John 9:1-12)

The Sacraments Message 1 of 8

Jesus still continues his ministry today in a visible way. It was not just his generation of believers that he wished to give new life, nourish, strengthen, heal, and forgive. He intended to continue giving these spiritual gifts to his people through his family of faith, the Church, until the end of time. For this purpose, he gave the apostles seven spiritual gifts, which became known as the sacraments. Through the sacraments, Jesus continues to minister to us in a personal, visible way in each generation.

Through the sacraments, Jesus expresses his love for us. The sacraments are visible signs through which Jesus freely gives his spiritual gifts. He communicates his love for us still, in ways that are both physical and spiritual, in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Confession, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, and Holy Orders. In this message series, we will give an introduction to each sacrament and discuss how each is a gift by which Jesus continues to make his love visible for us today.

September 25 edition

First things first: A free speech primer

DENIED AGAIN

Beaufort County Council votes ‘no’ on Pine Island golf course after marathon meeting

LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS

VETERAN OF THE WEEK HARRY RANSOME

Parris Island fire takes life of family pet

PETS OF THE WEEK HAVE A NEW HOME!

LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN

Someone else said ‘NO’

Cat Island residents oppose plans

INTRODUCING

BMH ER nurse Jonathan Barrett receives DAISY Award for compassion, commitment to service

Race4Love set for Saturday

Ridgeland rejects Tickton Hall annexation

NEWS BRIEFS

Habitat

2 men still awaiting trial 5 years after fatal crash

South Carolina shellfish harvest season opens Oct. 1

Should you change investment strategies?

Mosquito-Borne Eastern Equine Encephalitis kills Beaufort County citizen

Perfect start ends for USCB women’s soccer

Make it 17 straight

Beaufort

continues dominance over rival Battery Creek

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ROUNDUP - WEEK 4

SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

HEALTH

8 factors to consider when looking for an oncologist

Preserve joints, maximize wellbeing while gardening

Early detection matters

VOICES

Read more to vanquish cultural attention deficit disorder

Experience, intuition, instincts are good things for coaches

Not your grandfather’s VA

PUGH-litzer Prize nominations

Jack and T-bird: a fable

SCHOOLS&EDUCATION

Beaufort High’s Tran a National Merit semifinalist

DAYLO students advocate for books to stay on shelves, more

Sea Island Academy partners with nonprofit after

losing state charter

EDUCATION & ARTS

Read with a Therapy Dog

Rhett House Reels kicks off Thursday

ARTS

Shorts at High Noon continues this week

November Company Crucible

What veterans need to know about filing a Service-connected Disability Claim for Hypertension

WHAT’S HAPPENING

SERVICE DIRECTORY

ATTORNEY

CLASSIFIEDS & GAMES

THURSDAY’S CARTOON

Love Made Visible