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COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN
LOLITA HUCKABY
Port Royal wins again, the goodwill show Mai'Love Solomon, a 7-year-old America’s International Miss Pageant Queen from Chesapeake Va., says a prayer after laying a Remembrance Wreath on a veteran’s grave at Beaufort National Cemetery during Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
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BEAUFORT t’s been written here before and thus, will be written again. Watching the two municipal councils of Beaufort and Port Royal often evokes a tale of two cities. The councils of both municipalities held their final meeting of 2024 last week, and the atmosphere in the rooms was a contrast. (Actually, it was SUPPOSED to be the Beaufort City Council’s last meeting but because they had not completed their work on ARPA grants, they had to meet again this week.) In Port Royal, a fairly goodsized crowd was gathered to watch the Town Council give the final reading to an ordinance change which limits short-term rentals (STR). The Council had imposed a moratorium on new STR licenses until a citizen’s task force came up with a plan to restrict the numbers. The speakers that addressed the Council were generally supportive, expressing concerns about the number of STRs that were popping up across town. There was at least one speaker who voiced opposition because of concerns about the impact on his financial plans for his property, but the Council was firm and unanimous. One speaker even used the opportunity to thank the council not just for more restrictive STR regulations, but for the tighter tree regulations enacted this past year, expanded sidewalks and speed bumps and a lovely lighting ceremony for the town Christmas tree. On the other end of Ribaut Road, in the Beaufort City Hall, Mayor Phil Cromer and Council members Neil Lipsitz and Mitch
SEE LOWDOWN PAGE A7
They’re covered
Wreaths Across America Beaufort meets its goal By Mike McCombs The Island News Another successful year is in the books for Wreaths Across America Beaufort. For the fifth year in a row, Beaufort Coordinator David Edwards confirmed, the group was able to place a Remembrance Wreath on every headstone in Beaufort National Cemetery for the holiday season.
According to Edwards, more than 3,500 volunteers, as well as 168 motorcycles and four truck of wreaths, were on hand Saturday, Dec. 14, to make things happen. “I like the way everything went,” Edwards said. “The weather was perfect, there were enough volunteers, and enough assistance.” All the work isn’t done, though. The wreaths will be retired on Sat-
urday, Jan. 11 at 8 a.m. “Volunteers will be needed for that, as well,” Edwards said. “Waste Pro will be assisting with the disposal of the wreaths.” Looking toward next year’s Wreaths Across America Day, between now and Jan. 15, any orders for wreaths will be matched by
SEE GOAL PAGE A5
Menorah lighting set for Dec. 26
Rabbi Mendel Hertz of Chabad Greater Hilton Head lights the menorah at sunset Thursday, Dec. 7, to begin the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. Each lamp of the menorah commemorates the Jewish victory over the Syrian armies in 164 BC. Bob Sofaly/File/The Island News
Staff reports To celebrate the 2024 Chanukah season, Chabad Greater Hilton Head will be holding its fourth annual Public Menorah Lighting at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort. Chabad Greater Hilton Head will light a 9-foot public Chanukah menorah at 5 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 26, the second night of the eight-day Festival of Lights. The event will feature Grand Menorah Lighting music, latkes and donuts. Complimentary Chanukah menorahs and candles will be distributed as well for participants to light at home. “Everyone is especially excited
WANT TO GO? What: Public menorah lighting When: 5 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 26 Where: Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort Cost: Free and open to the Public
about Chanukah this year,” said Rabbi Mendel, Rabbi of Chabad Greater Hilton Head. “You see, the war in Israel is being fought everywhere. Our defense is not guns and bombs … it’s something much more powerful: our strength as a people. Standing together.
SEE MENORAH PAGE A6
NEWS
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Sheriff’s Office asks public for help with string of Beaufort shootings.
Beaufort Memorial celebrates new PATH graduates, national certifications.
Creek boys cruising; BC Classic up next.
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