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DECEMBER 22–28, 2022
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PRESORTED PERMIT NO. 97 BEAUFORT, SC 29902
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Ten more committees begin review of books removed from BCSD 1st 6 committees have returned their books to circulation By Mike McCombs Ten more Library Materials Review Committees got started reviewing books Thursday, Dec. 15, to determine if they can be returned to the library shelves in the Beaufort County School District (BCSD) or if they will stay removed. The books are a part of the 97 books that were removed after be-
ing challenged by a group of parents earlier this fall. These 10 committees will review Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur, The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them by Erin Gruwell, Looking for Alaska by John Green, It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, Go Ask Alice by Anonymous, Thirteen Reasons Why by
Jay Asher, Impulse by Ellen Hopkins, Crank by Ellen Hopkins and Glass, also by Ellen Hopkins. The committees will vote on these books on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. The committees got started a day after Committees No. 5 and No. 6, meeting at Okatie Elementary School, voted to return their books to the shelves. Committee No. 5 voted unanimously, 6–0, to return The Lovely Bones to the shelves for Grades 6
through 12, while Committee No. 6 voted, unanimously, as well, 4–0, to return Stamped: Racism, Antiracism And You to the shelves for Grades 6 through 12. Committee No. 6 was split, 2–2, failing to return Stamped to the shelves for Grades K through 5. “To watch these people engaged in these two committees today, talking, giving pros and cons — they’ve done their homework. They’re making decisions,” BCSD Chief Instructional Services Officer Mary Stratos said. “I personally feel it’s a productive process.”
The first four committees all returned their books to the shelves, as well, in some fashion. Speak was returned to library circulation by a vote of 4–1. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, The Kite Runner and The Handmaid’s Tale were returned to circulation unanimously, 6–0, for Grades 9 through 12 only. At the Tuesday, Dec. 13, Board of Education meeting, BCSD Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said he felt the committees
SEE REVIEW PAGE A6
Beaufort’s homeless in for cold Christmas weekend Sea Island Presbyterian will open shelter
An estimated 4,000 volunteers participated in the annual Wreaths Across America on Saturday at Beaufort National Cemetery. It was reported that for the second year in a row enough money was raised to place a wreath on every grave at the iconic cemetery. Bob Sofaly/The Island News
Wreaths Across America
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round 4,000 volunteers placed wreaths on Saturday, Dec. 17, on the graves of more than 26,000 veteran heroes and their families buried in Beaufort National Cemetery, including 1,000 children, hundreds of unknowns, and two Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. More photos, Page A8.
And the nominees are …
Beaufort Film Society announces selections for 2023 Beaufort International Film Festival
From staff reports The Beaufort Film Society announced Friday, Dec. 16, the Official Selections for the 2023 Beaufort International Film Festival (BIFF), which takes place
Feb. 21 to 26, 2023 in Beaufort. Judges selected 58 submissions from nearly 500 entries and five screenplays from filmmakers all
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“We’re looking forward to showcasing this year’s incredibly diverse group of films at BIFF,” Beaufort Film Society President Ron Tucker said in a release. “The talented individuals behind all these films demonstrate the bright future that lies ahead for our industry. We are honored to have that talent on display over the world, as well as films in Beaufort.” that span subject matter and genres, including everything from comedies to documentaries. SEE FILM PAGE A8
By Delayna Earley We may not get a white Christmas here in Beaufort, but we are predicted to get freezing temperatures. In particular, the cold weather will be extremely rough on those who have no place to go. Sea Island Presbyterian Church plans to combat the cold weather by opening a cold weather shelter on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as the weather is expected to get to 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below. They are partnering with local businesses and non-profit organizations to provide a warm place to stay, beds, access to showers and a hot meal in the evening and for breakfast. The church has also reached out to the community for help in providing casseroles and other food for meals, warm clothes, gloves, coats and socks at the shelter for those in need of such items. “This is the biggest response that I have seen, likely because it is tied to the holiday season and because of COVID-19,” volunteer John Murrie said. “My phone has been on fire all day with people in the community wanting to help.” The shelter will open at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings and will remain open through the night and will close at 8:30 a.m. the following morning. The shelter will not be open during the day, but it is open to anyone who needs a warm place to sleep for the night. Captain Wanda Long with the Salvation Army said that they will be providing cold weather packets to members of the community who choose not to go to the shelter. The packets will include thermal socks, hand and feet warmers and
SEE SHELTER PAGE A4
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City’s new community development director starts in January.
Ivie Szalai: Book banning or protecting minors from obscenity?
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