June 25 edition

Fundraiser brings hundreds of paddlers, spectators to new venue June 27

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

After more than a decade on Beaufort's downtown waterfront, DragonBoat Beaufort's annual Race Day is charting a new course.

The nonprofit organization's 13th annual DragonBoat Beaufort Race Day will take place Saturday, June 27, along the Port Royal waterfront, marking the first time the event has been held on Battery Creek near Fishcamp on 11th Street, Shellring Ale Works and Safe Harbor Marina.

Organizers say the move comes as construction and ongoing closures at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park made a venue change necessary, but they have found an enthusiastic welcome in Port Royal.

"We're super excited," said Terry Ely-Wenrick, co-director of DragonBoat Beaufort. "Port Royal has graciously welcomed us, and so has Fishcamp and Shellring and Safe Harbor. I think everyone's super excited for this new venue."

The event is expected to draw more than 400 paddlers competing on 24 teams from across the Southeast, stretching from Jacksonville, Fla., to Charlotte, N.C. Teams include competitive dragon boat clubs, community fundraising teams and cancer survivor teams. Each boat carries between 16 and 20 paddlers along with a drummer who helps keep the crew in rhythm.

While organizers typically host 28 teams, this year's field was intentionally scaled back slightly as crews and race officials adapt to the new race course.

Volunteers capture diamondback terrapins in Lowcountry for conservation study

By Luke Frazier

The Island News

The heat was thick in the tidal creeks on St. Helena’s Island on the morning of Saturday, June 13. The pluff mud was thicker.

Neither was any kind of deterrent for the more than 50 volunteers who came to take part in capturing diamondback terrapins as part of the field work for an ongoing conservation study.

The study includes capturing, measuring, weighing, and tagging the turtles — all done with the necessary permit. The purpose behind these activities is long-term monitoring of diamondback terrapins, a state designated “high priority” species for conservation due to its declining population. These little creatures are vitally important to our local salt marshes and creeks; a view offered as an absolute fact by everyone asked.

Living history interpreter to visit July 1 in celebration of Carolina Days, America’s 250th birthday

From staff reports

If you’re a living history enthusiast and the visit to Beaufort last year by Mark Schneider, a renowned Lafayette actor,

This vocal pro-turtle advocacy crew included Jordan Gray of the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), a global organization based in Charleston. Sporting a scruffy look and a cap imploring all to “Drink Beer — Save Turtles,” which, it turns out, is a TSA fundraising venture that partners with breweries across the country, Jordan

was clear about why he thought what was happening was borderline sanctified.

“One of the things is you get in the water, actually in there in the mud with these terrapins,” he said. “You get a whole different appreciation for the coastal

was an exciting experience, then you should be in for a treat this week, as well.

Living history will return to Beaufort on Wednesday, July 1 as renowned Shakespearean actor and historian GregRobin Smith will visit the Lowcountry in his capacity as Benjamin Franklin in celebration of Carolina Days and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

A community-wide

LOWCOUNTRY LIFE & NEWS

VETERAN OF THE WEEK ULYSSES BLACKMON

His final active-duty assignment was three years at Kaiserslautern, Germany, where he drove large

American Legion Beaufort Post 207 brings you Ulysses Blackmon, 65, who joined the U.S. Army in Concord, Ga., in 1979. After Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., he trained to be a transportation specialist driving large vehicles. He first served at Fort Benning, Ga., driving ammunition trucks. He then transferred to Fort Lee, Va., where he drove buses including school busses for ROTC students. On to a three-year tour in Augsburg, Germany, he drove large fuel trucks. He returned to the States to Fort Riley, Kan., to again drive ammunition trucks and load railcars.

semi-trucks delivering supplies. In 1992 he separated from active duty, moved to Grays Hill and joined the Army Reserves, drilling with a transportation unit in Charleston. He was activated for duty during Iraqi

Freedom and deployed to Kuwait. He retired in 2006 as a Staff Sergeant. He worked in landscaping at Spring Island for 26 years and today lives at Laurel Bay.

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

Olive H. Warrenfeltz

May 5, 1931 – June 13, 2026

Port Royal, S.C.

Olive H. Warrenfeltz, 95, formerly of Buffalo, N.Y., and later of Port Royal, S.C., passed away on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Port Royal. She was the beloved widow of John (Jack) L. Warrenfeltz.

Olive was born to Andrew and Frances Harbinson on May 5, 1931 in Buffalo, N.Y. Olive lived a life filled with music, love, and dedication to her family and community. A gifted musician from an early age. Olive pursued her passion for music at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio. She began a teaching career in the Buffalo Public Schools for 15 years and performed in the Amherst Symphony Orchestra.

In 1970, Olive and Jack moved to Columbia, S.C. Olive played in the Columbia Philharmonic and

was invited to perform in backup orchestras for renowned artists such as John Denver, Tony Orlando and Dawn, Boots Randolph, and Isaac Hayes. When Jack retired in 1988, they moved to Port Royal, S.C., where her music career continued.

Olive was active in forming the Beaufort Symphony Orchestra and played in the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra and the Hilton Head Choral Society Orchestra. In addition, she played in the movie "Forces of Nature," filmed in Beaufort with Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck (1999). She also played in all the local churches in the area.

Olive played as a soloist for weddings, funerals, and special events.

But Olive's notoriety in Beaufort, doesn't end with music.

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

June 26

1891: The first detachment of U.S. Marines comes to Parris Island when the U.S. Navy begins construction of a dry dock facility. First Sgt. Richard Donovan and 10 privates are charged with keeping order among the construction crew.

2019: Republican Nancy Mace, the first female graduate of The Citadel, announces she is joining the race for the 1st Congressional District seat held by Joe Cunningham.

June 27

2019: Capt. Anneliese Satz, USMC, becomes the first female Marine to complete the F-35B training at MCAS Beaufort.

2019: Beaufort weightlifter C.J. Cummings, 19, sets 15 records in the 73kg weight class at the Junior Pan-Am Games in Havana, Cuba. Cummings won gold in the Clean and Jerk and Overall categories and silver in the Snatch.

2016: Beaufort weightlifter C.J. Cummings, 16, wins the 69kg weight class at the IWF Junior World Championships in Tblisi, Georgia, becoming the first American to win Junior Worlds since two-time Olympian Oscar Chaplin III did it in 2000 in Prague, Czech

Olive was a familiar face in our local Belk store from 1988 to 2024. It was routine to travel in the stores and restaurants of Beaufort, attend the many festivals in Port Royal and Beaufort, and have someone come up to Olive and thank her for helping them. Yes, Olive loved her local oyster roasts and attended as many as she could fit into her busy schedule. Olive also loved to travel. Her travels often brought her to Ireland which was the homeland of her parents as well as other destinations around the world. She truly loved her Sea Island Presbyterian Church and church family.

Olive's legacy is one of compassion, generosity, and inspiration. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She is survived by her daughters, Colleen Bible (Robert), Maureen Vey (Predeceased by Kevin), granddaughters Allison Neal (partner Andrea

OBITUARIES

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

and Kaitlin Magnoli (Anthony), grandson Aaron Bible (April), great grandchildren Liam, Noah and Owen Magnoli, Alexandra Bible, and Skylar Pfeiffer. May Olive's memory bring comfort to those who were touched by her remarkable life. A Celebration of Life will be held on June 30, 2026 at 11 a.m., in the Sea Island Presbyterian Church at 81 Lady's Island Drive in Beaufort, S.C. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the SIPC Scholarship Endowment Fund, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady's Island Drive, Beaufort, SC 29907.

Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.

Republic. Cummings also became the first American to break a youth world record, doing so three times. He first broke the youth world record with a 175kg clean and jerk, broke it again with a 180kg lift, and then claimed his third youth world record by lifting a total of 317kg.

June 29

1948: William D. “Billy” Keyserling is born in Beaufort to Dr. Ben Herbert and Harriet H. Keyserling. An aide to U.S. Senator Fritz Hollings, Keyserling would represent Beaufort in the S.C. House in 1993-94. Eventually he would serve 12 years as the Mayor of The City of Beaufort.

2020: After an emergency meeting, Beaufort City Council enacts a mask requirement in all public buildings within the city limits in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

June 30

2019: Beaufort weightlifter Dade Stanley sweeps the 81kg weight class, winning three gold medals, at the USA Weightlifting Youth National Championships in Anaheim, Calif.

– Compiled by Mike McCombs

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CORRECTIONS

In the Lowcountry Lowdown column in the June 18 edition of The Island News, Beaufort County Council’s final vote on plastic bag restrictions was misstated. The final vote was 7-4 in favor of advancing the ordinance with Council members Logan Cunningham, Tom Reitz, Mark Lawson and David Batholomew voting against the ordinance. The ordinance must be adopted by the Hilton Head Island, Beaufort, Bluffton and Port Royal city and town councils before it can go into effect.

Former Beaufort PIO defends role in FOIA release

Independent investigation into records release remains ongoing

By Delayna Earley The Island News Former City of Beaufort Public Information Officer

Ashley Brandon is publicly defending her role in the release of more than 9,000 unredacted public records as the city continues an independent investigation into the disclosure.

The release became a major controversy after it was discovered that thousands of records provided in response to a Freedom of Information Act request contained information that had not been properly redacted before disclosure. According to a review of the records by The Island News, the documents included highly sensitive materials, including forensic interviews involving minor victims of sexual assault, personnel records, personal identifying information and other records that would typically be exempt from public disclosure.

Race from page A1

"The production company, 22 Dragons, who are the professionals, because we have not done it in these waters before, wanted to scale back just a little bit this first year anyway," co-director Kaci Willis said.

The move to Port Royal also brings several additions that organizers believe will enhance the experience for both competitors and spectators. One major change is

Turtles from page A1

marshland that’s all around us. By immersing yourself in it you feel so much more at one with nature.”

Gray, a self-described “turtle nerd” since he was 4 years old, a badge of honor worn by many on this day, continued musing about the power of looking this unique and beautiful animal in the eyes, the only turtle that lives exclusively in brackish habitats throughout the entire world.

“Hundreds of millions of years in the making,” he marveled, “and we get to still enjoy their presence today.”

It was threats to that enjoyment that brought together study partners that include Lowcountry Ecological LLC, the Port Royal Sound Foundation, the University of South Carolina Beaufort, the

Ashley Brandon

The inclusion of records involving child victims elevated concerns about the potential impact of the disclosure and prompted questions about the city's handling of confidential information. The city subsequently launched an investigation and later retained the Columbia law firm Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A., to conduct an independent review.

In a lengthy social media post published Wednesday, June 17, Brandon addressed criticism surrounding the release and denied intentionally disclosing sensitive information.

"I was completely unaware that the redacted material did not save the redactions," Brandon wrote. "The files were too large for the Adobe software to process and again I was unaware of this issue and sent the link to only the person that requested it."

the proximity between the paddlers' parking area and Athlete's Village, making logistics easier for teams.

Shellring Ale Works has also opened its stage for a new post-race celebration featuring live music after racing concludes. "We're going to have an after party after racing, which is something we've never done before," Ely-Wenrick said.

Race organizers have also partnered with Beaufort County Broadcast Services, which plans to livestream the event. A jumbotron will allow paddlers and specta-

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), Coastal Expeditions of Beaufort, the Fripp Island Resort Nature Center, and the Turtle Survival Alliance.

Chris Kehrer of the Port Royal Sound Foundation was busy orienting the volunteers on the day’s activities and shouting instructions as the time approached to jump in the creek. His booming voice contrasted with his gentle demeanor, testifying to the seriousness of saving turtle lives.

Kehrer pointed out that terrapins were hard to capture, even with the special 40foot nets volunteers would be holding while walking through the water (and occasionally slipping in the fragrant mud) while others splashed directional encouragement for turtles seen peeking from the water.

“Most people interact with [diamondback terrapins]

The records were initially released to Beaufort resident Autumn Hollis in response to a FOIA request and later provided to City Councilman Josh Scallate.

Hollis became known throughout Beaufort County after her daughter, Emily Hollis, was reported missing in 2024 and was later found safe. Since then, Hollis has become an advocate for missing and endangered children and has frequently spoken publicly about transparency, public safety and government accountability issues.

According to Brandon, she later sent the same files to a city council member at the direction of city leadership. She said those were the only recipients to whom she personally provided the records and that she did not learn the redactions had failed until days later.

"Anyone who knows me knows that I would never release sensitive information," Brandon wrote. "I had a secret security clearance and just as a human being with integrity, I would NEVER do that."

tors to watch races from various locations throughout the venue.

Race Day festivities begin well before the first boats hit the water.

Teams will begin arriving before sunrise to decorate tents and prepare for the popular drummer parade, one of the event's longtime traditions. Opening ceremonies are scheduled before racing begins, with the first heat set for approximately 8:10 a.m.

The ceremony will include a presentation of colors by a color guard from Marine Corps Recruit Depot

when they're crawling in their backyard if their yard is by a marsh,” Kehrer pointed out, “and they're seeing the nesting females there. They often don't see them in the marshes themselves.”

On this day, Kehrer was helping volunteers get up close and personal with the turtles who are facing threats that include boat propellers, poachers, crab pots, coastal development, and predators that enjoy turtle eggs. Not to mention vehicles traveling on Sea Island Parkway that sometimes run over female terrapins seeking higher ground to build nests.

“Their eggs can't be inundated with water because they’re semi-permeable,” Kehrer explained, “So they go into an upland area, and causeways are perfect because they're like man-made dunes in the middle of the marsh.”

Ryan J. Hanscom was also

Brandon said she was devastated when she discovered the problem.

"I was absolutely sick over this and still am," she wrote. "I absolutely hate that any sensitive information was leaked and I apologize to ANYONE I hurt unintentionally."

At the same time, Brandon suggested others were attempting to shift responsibility onto her.

"However, I will not be villainized in my own hometown by people looking to remove guilt from themselves," she wrote. "I am not pointing fingers, I just want to make my side of the story known."

The City of Beaufort publicly acknowledged the disclosure in August 2025, saying information exempt from public release had mistakenly been included in records produced in response to a FOIA request. City officials at the time attributed the incident to a failure in the redaction process and said they were reviewing internal procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

City Manager Scott Mar-

Parris Island and a performance of the national anthem by the Marine Corps Vocalists.

For spectators, organizers recommend arriving early.

"Get there early. Get a seat," Willis said. "People will get there at 6 a.m. They're decorating their team tents. Their drummers are getting dressed up for the drummer parade."

As always, the event serves a larger purpose beyond competition.

DragonBoat Beaufort is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization whose outreach program provides

concerned about turtle mortality on Sea Island Parkway. Hanscom is Assistant Professor in the Department of Natural Sciences at USCB. His interest is in using data that documents what population is taking the brunt of the road hits as a spur to action.

“Maybe [we can] build something under the road or use other types of road barriers to prevent females from crossing,” he said before continuing, “If we can show that this population of females are getting hit, and have a declining population, that might give us some incentive to do some more things on the road.”

Those other things might include flashing signs, walling systems to funnel female terrapins into specific crossing areas and simply increasing signage.

For State Park Ranger

John Alexander, the ongoing study is important regardless

shall has repeatedly said the city takes the matter seriously.

"The City is committed to operating with transparency while fully complying with FOIA requirements, including the safeguarding of information that is exempt from public release," Marshall said following the disclosure.

Marshall has also said the city launched an investigation to determine how the records were released, who was affected and whether the failure was caused by software issues, human error or a combination of factors.

The matter remains under active review.

On June 22, Beaufort City Council held a special called meeting and entered executive session to discuss the "FOIA Release Investigation."

According to the meeting agenda, council met behind closed doors to receive legal advice and discuss matters involving potential claims, attorney-client privileged communications and the city's position in adversarial situations related to the investigation.

Councilman Josh Scallate

financial assistance to Beaufort County residents undergoing cancer treatment.

Organizers say every dollar raised during Race Day stays in the local community.

"There is not a person there — and I can almost guarantee it — whose life hasn't been touched by cancer, whether it's them personally or someone in their family or a close friend," Willis said. "Every dollar literally turns around and goes right back into the same community."

The organization's official partners for this year's event

of any specific actions that result from it.

“There's a lot of animals out there that don't get the publicity they deserve,” Alexander reasoned, “I think by us doing this study and getting out information out in the public a little more it will make people more aware. Diamondback terrapins are the most unique turtle we have in the Lowcountry for sure.”

For some volunteers in the crowd the issue elevates further to include conserving all animal life. Hunter Balog came down from the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia.

“Any animal provides an ecosystem service,” she declared, “You might not be directly affected by it, but it affects different levels of an ecosystem things you might enjoy, like fresh air and trees and plants. So caring about every single animal is important.”

said the meeting adjourned directly from executive session without council returning to open session and no action was taken.

The special meeting occurred five days after Brandon published her statement. Brandon concluded her post by saying she no longer wishes to participate in local political disputes but felt compelled to speak publicly because of the ongoing discussion surrounding the records release.

"I've done my best to stay out of all of this and I don't want to be involved in local politics anymore," she wrote. "But I also don't want to be the scapegoat."

The investigation by Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd remains ongoing, and no public findings have yet been released.

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.

include the Town of Port Royal, Fishcamp on 11th Street, Shellring Ale Works and Safe Harbor Marina, all of whom have helped welcome the event to its new home.

DragonBoat Beaufort Race Day runs from 8 a.m. to approximately 4 p.m. Saturday, June 27. Admission is free.

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.

On this day it was the diamondback terrapin who was in the spotlight. This is the third year of the study and about 100 turtles so far have been marked, an impressive 37 more on this Saturday. Twenty-four of them had not been previously caught, and 16 of them were females that were considered “gravid,” or carrying eggs internally. Perhaps even more impressive was the enthusiasm and love the gathered had for the diamondback terrapin as a part of this occurring world. There may be environmental problems wherever you look, but in this small cluster of tidal creeks and rank-smelling mud, affirming environmental conservation was a cause for celebration.

Luke Frazier is a writer and award winning media producer who moved to the Lowcountry in 2024. He runs NOW Communications and can be reached at nowandfuturecomms@gmail.com.

Dr John McCardell, Dr Larry Rowland GregRobin Smith as Benjamin Franklin

PA joins Beaufort Memorial Pulmonary Specialists

From staff reports

Beaufort Memorial is expanding access to respiratory healthcare and lung services in Beaufort, welcoming a board-certified physician assistant to its Pulmonary Specialists team, according to a media release.

Brooke Cox, PA-C, sees patients at the practice’s

Brooke Cox

Beaufort location, focusing on general pulmonary care and treating common lung conditions like COPD and asthma.

A Virginia native, Cox holds a Master of Physician

NEWS BRIEFS

Main Street Beaufort

honored Main Street Beaufort has been designated as a 2026 Affiliate Main Street America program for meeting high performance standards. Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the roster of designated programs in recognition of their commitment to creating meaningful improvements in their downtowns through preservation-based economic development and community revitalization using the Main Street Approach.

“We are proud to recognize Main Street Beaufort as a 2026 Affiliate Main Street America program for your unwavering commitment to grassroots transformation and the extraordinary abilities of your staff, board of directors, and volunteers to respond to the needs of their community,” said Erin Barnes, President and CEO at Main Street America. “Main Street Beaufort demonstrates a dedication to investing in the people and places that make your downtown district special and contribute to the collective power of the Main Street movement to build vibrant spaces and durable economies.”

Main Street Beaufort is one of 453 nationally recognized Affiliate Main Street America organizations and is a part of a network of over 1,600 communities leading

Assistant Studies from Emory & Henry University and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. At Beaufort Memorial, Cox aims to combine her clinical expertise with her commitment to building relationships with her pa-

tients. Community-centered care and shared decision-making are critical, she said.

“Patient care is collaborative, so shared decision-making is very important in my approach,” Cox said in the news release. “I work to educate my patients, share my opinions and help them find

the treatment options that fit their lifestyle.”

In addition to asthma and COPD, Cox’s personal background with autoimmune diagnoses drives her clinical interest in conditions like interstitial lung disease.

Her personal experience with the medical field while growing up sparked an early interest in healthcare. That background, paired with her dedication to understanding the root cause of clinical issues, landed her in the Lowcountry as the newest physician assistant with Beaufort Memorial Pulmonary Specialists.

positive commercial district transformation efforts throughout the United States.

Beaufort County Veterans Affairs offering Life Planning seminars

Beaufort County Veterans Affairs is hosting a series of Life

Planning seminars for veterans and their families. The seminars will be offered at 10 a.m. or 1:30 p.m., and will be held at the following dates and locations:

• Wednesday, July 15 -- St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road

• Wednesday, September 16 -Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Drive

• Wednesday, November 18 -Burton Wells Recreation Center, I Middleton Recreation Drive

• Wednesday, December 2 -- Hilton Head Island Branch Library, 11 Beach City Road

This seminar specifically addresses things veterans and their families can do today to ensure their personal effects are in order. The seminar also discusses

Veterans Affairs benefits that surviving spouses may be entitled to receive.

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

Sen. Scott accepting U.S. service academy nomination applications

The Office of U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is accepting U.S. service academy nomination applications for the class of 2031.

Sen. Scott is able to nominate a limited number of students in South Carolina for attendance at the following U.S. service 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., Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/49Aoaeh. – Staff reports

The Most Advanced Spine and Joint Care Options in The Lowcountry

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t Beaufort Memorial, our nationally recognized team of orthopedic and spine care specialists is dedicated to helping you live life to the fullest—free from pain.

At Beaufort Memorial you’ll also find:

• Joint preservation therapies

• Numerous non-surgical treatment options

Our board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeons bring exceptional skill and experience to your care. Using the latest technologies and diagnostics—including Mako SmartRobotics™ and VELYS™ robotic-assisted joint replacement—as well as a personalized recovery plan, we’re with you every step to get you moving like yourself again. Visit BeaufortMemorial.org/Ortho and get back to enjoying each of life’s moments.

• A personalized approach to restoring mobility and joint function

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

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

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

ARTS & EDUCATION

Beaufort Art Association’s

Featured Artist for July, August — John Meckley

By Betty Cothran

The Beaufort Art Association Gallery will present a Featured Artist solo exhibit by local artist John Meckley over the next two months. Meckley’s signature show, “Wings Over the Lowcountry,” will be on display from Tuesday, June 30 through Sunday, Aug. 30 at the Beaufort Art Association Gallery located on Bay Street in downtown Beaufort.

An opening reception will be held Friday, July 3, during Beaufort’s First Friday festivities coinciding with the holiday weekend celebrating America’s 250th birthday. The reception is free and the public is invited to come enjoy light refreshments and meet the artist from 5 to 8 p.m. In addition to Meckley’s show, new art by more than 70 local Beaufort County

exhibiting artists will also be on display with many of the artists in attendance.

Meckley is a distinguished American painter whose work is celebrated for its emotional depth, technical finesse, and unmistakable warmth. Collectors and admirers of his art appreciate his soft, atmospheric brushwork and restrained palette of earthy, harmonious tones.

A self-taught artist, Meckley’s style has been shaped by the enduring influence of Rembrandt and the Wyeth family. From a young age, he has earned numerous accolades in juried exhibitions and widespread acclaim across many states. When he relocated to the Lowcountry, his artistic style illustrated his undeniable connection to nature and the breathtaking allure of the area.

Meckley expertly

captures the ethereal, ever-shifting beauty of tidal creeks and sweeping expanses of spartina grass. His depictions of Lowcountry marshes often lingers on the intimate, intricate details of the coastline — muddy banks, textured marsh edges, and at times, the solitary presence of an egret — to evoke the serene, timeless spirit of the Lowcountry.

“I invite viewers into moments of serenity, contemplation, and quiet humanity,” he said.

For more information about Meckley and his art, visit LowcountryFineArtByJohnMeckley.com.

For additional information about the Beaufort Art Association, visit the Gallery at 913 Bay Street Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., or go online at beaufortartassociation.com.

From staff reports

The Beaufort County School District, in partnership with presenting sponsor Tanger and other community organizations, will host its annual Back-toSchool Expo from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, July 18, at Tanger 1 at 1270 Fording Island Road in Bluffton.

The goal of the Expo, according to a media release, is to help students and families prepare for the upcoming 2026–27 school year.

presenting sponsor,” Chief Student Services Officer Chad Cox said in the media release. “This event ensures our students and families have access to the tools, resources, and connections they need for a successful start to the school year.”

Students and families attending the Expo can expect:

• Information booths from Beaufort County School District schools and departments.

• Opportunities to connect with community, health, and education partners.

• Free school supplies (while supplies last).

“We are excited to welcome families to a new location this year and grateful to Tanger for serving as our

The Back-to-School Expo provides a free, family-friendly opportunity to connect with school and community resources ahead of the new academic year. The event brings together the district’s 32 schools, local businesses, civic groups, and community partners, with free shuttle service between Tanger 1 and Tanger 2 where activities will be taking place.

• Free boxed lunches (while supplies last).

• Door prizes and giveaways.

SPORTS & COMMUNITY

59th Lowcountry Regatta set for this weekend

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

The Beaufort River will be dotted with sails this weekend as the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club hosts its 59th Lowcountry Regatta, a tradition that has been bringing sailors of every age to these waters for nearly six decades, and one that invites the whole community to pull up a spot on the bank and watch.

The age range alone tells you most of what you need to know about the day. Competitors stretch from 9 years old to 94, and organizers say that intergenerational mix is the heart of the event.

"It is truly a family-friendly day," said Kelly Lesesne, services manager and director of summer camp at the club.

Racing is set for Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28, with the first boats expected on the water around 1 p.m. Saturday and the day's final race starting near 4 p.m. The regatta is free for spectators, who can watch from the club's docks or from The Sands as courses are set in front of the clubhouse and out toward the river. On Saturday evening, the club will host its traditional Lowcountry boil, catered by Sea Eagle Market; dinner tickets have already sold out, but Kona Ice will be on-site around 4 p.m. for anyone who comes out to take in the races.

This year's regatta carries an extra layer of competition. It is also hosting the Sunfish Regional Championship, which serves as a qualifier for the Sunfish World Championship which will be held this year in St. Croix. Whoever wins the Sunfish fleet earns a spot on the world stage.

As of midweek, 34 boats were registered, a number organizers expect to climb as the forecast firms up. The fleets on the water will include Sunfish, Optimists – among them a first-ever Opti Green fleet for the youngest, newest racers – Open Skiffs, Y Flyers, Highlanders and the Sea Island One Design, a boat built specifically for the rivers of the Lowcountry and raced almost nowhere else in the world.

One of the local sailors to watch is 13-year-old Maxwell Whitmore, who will race in the Open Skiff class. His mother, Ashleigh Whitmore, said the family came to the sport by accident and her son started as a true beginner at 8, with the

Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club.

"We are not a sailing family," she said. "I wish I could say I could help him, but I have no idea what he's doing out there, which I think is why he chose it."

Nearly five years later, sailing has shaped far more than her son's time on the water.

"It has formed my son," she said, "just in confidence on the water, and the skills, and having to figure out how the wind is going. Things break and you just keep going."

That sense of resilience, the sailors say, is part of what makes the sport worth passing down.

"You have the 94-year-old who's going to be encouraging the 8-year-old," Whitmore said, "be-

Battle Of The Beards

cause he loves sailing and wants to get the next generation to enjoy it."

For Paul Kowalski, general manager of the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club, that next generation is exactly the point.

"Our goal here is to promote sailing and make it accessible to the community," Kowalski said. "It's a lifetime hobby that can last your whole life. That's what makes it special."

Sailing has long carried a reputation as a sport reserved for the privileged, something, like golf, that families assume is out of reach before they ever ask. But Whitmore and the club are hoping to change that perception. The club supports Beaufort Community Sailing and

Boating, a nonprofit that runs sailing instruction on the property and offers scholarships and needbased help so that cost doesn't keep a child off the water.

"I would love to get the word out that it's open to everyone in the community," Whitmore said. "I never would have known it was open to us, except a friend told me."

Putting on a regatta of this size takes a large number of people according to Kowalsi. Organizers estimate around 70 volunteers from the club help run the weekend, crewing safety boats, preparing meals, managing parking and tracking the start and finish of every race. Organizers also keep a close eye on summer weather, monitoring lightning and storm tracks and standing ready with safety boats and a race-abandonment protocol if conditions turn.

If the weather does cooperate, it will be a full weekend on the water and the club says it owes the day to the people behind the scenes.

"It takes many people on the water," Lesesne said, noting that search-and-rescue crews are part of the team, too. "It truly takes so much effort to make an event like this happen."

The 59th Lowcountry Regatta runs Saturday and Sunday at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club rain or shine. If the racing has to be canceled due to weather, there will be games set up indoors for the sailors to enjoy.

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.

Juneteenth Freedom Day at Penn Center

HEALTH

Headaches during pregnancy: When to see your doctor

Special to The Island News

If you are pregnant, you may be experiencing headaches more often than usual.

These headaches may come in the form of tension headaches, sinus headaches, migraine headaches or cluster headaches that form on one side of the head. While they are not usually cause for concern, it is still a good idea to understand when it’s time to consult a healthcare provider about headaches during pregnancy.

For instance, if you start experiencing severe headaches around 20 weeks of pregnancy, it could be a sign that you have preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a condition that causes you to have consistent high blood pressure in your second trimester and onwards. This high blood pressure may cause issues with the kidneys, lungs and liver and can put you at risk for seizures. Learn how to recognize preeclampsia symptoms so that you’ll know when it’s time for treatment.

Common causes of headaches during pregnancy

Many women experience headaches during pregnancy, and you don’t necessarily need to be concerned for your health just because you get headaches regularly. It is common to experience a headache during pregnancy in the first trimester due to an increase in blood volume.

Other common causes of headache include:

1. Changes in hormone levels. Changing hormones play a massive role in your pregnancy, and they can cause you to have headaches more often.

2. Lack of sleep. You are more likely to get a headache if you aren’t sleeping well. Up to 80% of women experience insomnia during pregnancy, so your headache could be attributed to poor

sleep.

3. Low blood sugar. Low blood sugar levels, also known as hypoglycemia, can cause you to feel dizzy and lightheaded.

4. Stress. It is normal for you to feel stressed and anxious during pregnancy, as stress often accompanies major life changes. Still, stress may contribute to your headaches.

5. Caffeine withdrawal. Limit caffeine intake to 200 mg daily (that’s about two cups of coffee).

“Fortunately, there are many natural remedies for headaches during pregnancy that you can turn to if your headaches wors-

en,” said Dr. Tiffany Bersani, a board-certified OBGYN physician with Beaufort Memorial Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialists. “For instance, adequate water intake, Tylenol with a small amount of caffeine and getting plenty of rest. Moderate-level exercise can also be used to treat headaches.”

If you experience migraine headaches with triggers including bright lights and stress, try resting in a dark room or applying cold compresses to the area where your head hurts. Scalp massages may help relieve tension and stress. Finally, you can help prevent headaches if you sit up straight and

drink plenty of fluids.

When it’s time to contact a healthcare provider While headaches are common in early pregnancy, certain headache symptoms may be a sign of preeclampsia or another underlying condition. Roughly 5%-10% of women experience preeclampsia, which often brings throbbing headaches.

You should contact your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following new symptoms:

1. Sensitivity to light;

2. Blurred vision accompanied by flashing lights;

3. Nausea, vomiting or dizziness;

4. Pain in the upper right belly area or in the shoulder; or ...

5. Anxiety and shortness of breath.

If your healthcare provider suggests treatment for the type of headache you experience, they may tell you to avoid certain painkillers. Medications that contain codeine or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can be dangerous for pregnant women. Your healthcare provider may recommend paracetamol, which is safe to take for a short time but should not be relied upon as long-term treatment.

‘Diabesity’: An epidemic causing long-term health issues

Special to The Island News

Obesity and Type 2 diabetes are now considered international epidemics. In the United States, obesity tops smoking as the number one cause of preventable death.

"Type 2 diabetes is a long-term metabolic disorder that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance and a relative lack of insulin," explains Dr. Yvette-Marie Pellegrino, a Beaufort Memorial board-certified obesity medicine specialist who sees patients at Lady’s Island Internal Medicine. "Type 2 diabetes primarily occurs as a result of obesity and lack of exercise.”

(BMI) below 25.

• Maintain a waist circumference at or less than 40 inches for males and 35 inches for females.

• Preserve a body fat percentage at or less than 25% for males and 32% for females.

For many, achieving and maintaining those goals can be difficult. However, the pay-off for working toward them can be big. A loss of 5-10% of body weight can improve insulin action, decrease fasting glucose concentrations and reduce the need for some diabetes medications.

Special to The Island News

Since joining Beaufort Memorial seven months ago, board-certified nurse practitioner Krissy Oudinot has made a measurable, meaningful impact for Lowcountry patients who are preparing to undergo surgery. Seeing patients in the Beaufort Memorial Preoperative Assessment Clinic (PAC), Oudinot guides them through the critical weeks leading up to their surgical procedures.

Her goal is a critical one: to make the process as optimized and stressfree as possible, ensuring that patients are physically prepared for surgery, while also addressing any of the worries and questions that come with it.

At the PAC, Oudinot sees total joint replacement patients as well as spinal surgery patients – patients who are undergoing cervical and lumbar surgeries, hip, knee and shoulder replacements at Beaufort Memorial.

She works as a part of a key triad

• If you are obese, you are 20 times more likely to develop diabetes.

• Development of diabetes de-

Left unchecked, diabetes can lead to heart and blood vessel disease, nerve damage (neuropathy), kidney damage, slow healing, hearing impairment, skin conditions, eye damage and potentially blindness. The term “diabesity” was coined in 1973 to emphasize the relationship between obesity and diabetes:

creases significantly in people who control their weight by exercising and following a heart healthy diet.

• Prevention and initial management of diabetes are the same: control weight, especially around the mid-line.

If you want to avoid following the "diabesity" trend and developing diabetes, there are three measures you should strive for:

• Keep your body mass index

If you are overweight and have had limited success with diets, Beaufort Memorial offers a program that can help — the Healthy Weight physician-supervised weight loss program led by Dr. Pellegrino (your insurance may cover this program if you have other obesity-related diseases).

alongside surgeons and anesthesiologists to ensure the best possible surgical outcome for all patients.

The PAC

The clinic is referral based – surgeons at Beaufort Memorial and BOSS orthopedics refer patients to Oudinot for a preoperative assessment prior to their procedure. The clinic orders pre-operative patient bloodwork, and imaging like chest X-rays and EKGs.

“I’m the link between your surgeon and anesthesia to make sure you’re safe to go through the procedure,” Oudinot explained. “I communicate probably 15 to 20 times each day with surgeons and with anesthesiologists to make sure you’re optimized for surgery.”

Oudinot physically sees patients in the clinic (located in the Beaufort Medical Plaza on the main Beaufort Memorial campus) establishing a

connection ahead of their procedures and educating them about the surgical process.

“The more you know about something, the more comfortable you are,” she said, pointing out the importance of patient education. “The patients who see me, they’re not able to do the things they love – travel, walk, play with their grandchildren. My goal is to help them to get back to living their best life! I don’t want them to be scared when they go into surgery, so the more information I can give them about what to expect eases their mind, and they have a better recovery overall.”

Behind the scenes of surgery

prep

While patient connection and education are an important part of Oudinot’s role, another element is working behind the scenes with surgeons and other specialists to identify any red flags that may present a risk for patients prior to surgery.

Examples of these risks – which

often can fly under the radar for years – are hypertension (high blood pressure) diabetes and anemia which, left unaddressed, can cause increased risk for post-operative complications.

Before a patient even comes through the PAC doors, Oudinot has reviewed their medical history, diagnoses and connected with specialists on their care team – for example, a cardiologist, pulmonologist or vascular surgeon.

It’s critical that each specialist involved in a patient’s care provides clearance and confirms that their heart, lungs and vascular health are stable, allowing the anesthesia process to safely proceed.

“All of that happens prior to a patient coming in to see me,” she said.

“My team and I get the ball rolling right out of the gate because there are so many moving parts before a patient even arrives for their appointment with me.”

Last month, Oudinot’s hard work and attention to detail was

highlighted when she won a “Bemmy” award – a Beaufort Memorial “Emmy” for excellence in care – in the Patient Safety Zero Harm (or “Good Catch”) category.

Her nomination emphasized that she has diligently identified previously undiagnosed conditions in patients, and in one circumstance even paused a patient’s surgical clearance to review some abnormal test results and ensure that the patient received the care they needed before proceeding.

In addition, an important part of her role is alleviating stress and worry from patients who are gearing up for their surgical procedures.

“When you’re stressed out, you’re not listening to the information because all you’re focused on is your worry – and that’s a bad place to be,” she explained. “Knowledge is power, and the more you know, the better I believe your outcome is going to be.”

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

Beaufort’s greeter: Who is he?

If you have driven into Beaufort in the morning from across the Whale Branch, you have seen him. He’s the man who with a million-dollar smile and a hearty wave welcomes you. If you have been making that drive for some time, then you have noticed his routine has changed, and that his winning smile has survived the changes.

Tom Allen is Beaufort’s greeter, and he has been spreading joy along the Trask Parkway now for 17 years. From 2009 to 2016 he walked every weekday morning from his home on Stuart Point Road behind the Whale Branch Middle School to the Marine Corps Air Station gate and back, a round trip of about 14 miles, and in those years he smiled and waved and made eye contact with the occupants of every car that passed him along the way.

In 2017, after a fall wrenched his knee, because of the pain he gave up the long walk and instead stationed himself on the Hwy. 21 shoulder opposite the entrance to Stuart Point Road where these days he can be seen every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6 to 8:30 a.m., … smiling, calling out, and waving to the folks, of every creed and color, who go speeding by. It is the thing in his life he cherishes the most.

Why does he do it?

Nearly 65,000 people live north of the Broad River these days, but there is only one Tom Allen who is called to bring joy to all the people who go by, who gives for nothing a moment’s reprieve from the vicissitudes they face to those who pass his way.

Having attended the Dale Elementary School and Robert Smalls High School, and having learned a trade at Job Corps, Tom was a successful, self-employed mechanic and sheet rocker who on his own time was a kind of fitness nut. In 1999, for example, at the age of 48 he ran from Stuart Point Road to Yemassee and back just because he felt like it. But in 2007, out riding his bicycle, Tom was hit by a car. The crash injured him

in several ways, but the worst was the knock on the head. After it, he could no longer work.

Disconsolate, this most athletic of men took to his bed.

“If this is all you’ve got for me,” he told God, he remembers saying from the depths of his despondency, “then either call my spirit to rest, or put my mind, my body and my spirit to work for You.”

Tom doesn’t have a local church home. When I asked him about that, he chuckled and muttered something about “too much gossip.” But his faith is as solid as any deacon’s. It wasn’t immediate. It wasn’t a voice. It was a passion that Tom says God made rise in his heart. God told Tom, “Go out to the road.” So, he did. And he smiled and waved and made eye contact with the occupants of a passing car. Something stirred in him then, and so he did it again, and again … and again …. Then he went out to the road the next day, and the next day … and the next day …. It took him several more months to know just what his heart was telling him,

but that’s when he started walking to the Air Station, greeting with his million-dollar smile and joyful wave all those who passed him by.

That was 17 years ago. And Tom’s been bringing joy ever since.

What we can do

Since being hit by a car while riding his bicycle 19 years ago, Tom has been living in his late mother’s trailer, where he can be seen every afternoon sitting on the front porch smiling and greeting with his familiar wave his neighbors who drive up and down Stuart Point Road.

When I visited with Tom there, every car that passed returned his greeting with a joyful honk and wave.

The trailer’s porch is about to collapse, and the trailer’s roof leaks. He’s overdue for an upgrade, but that’s not something Tom’s Social Security check is going to provide for him, and pay for his food and medicine too.

Beaufort’s greeter, Tom Allen, age 74, has many, many fans … all those folks who honk for him when they drive by. If they were to step up, each within their respective means, together at least we can get Tom a new deck; perhaps we can patch his roof; and maybe we can even get him a replacement single-wide.

The Whale Branch cluster school communities across the road, the folks who live down Stuart Point Road, and in Dale and Lobe-

co, and in Garden’s Corner and Big Estate, and at Bray’s and Bull Point, in Yemassee and Point South, and in Hampton and Allendale who come into Beaufort mornings to work or to drop their kids off at school, or just to get their breakfast: these are Tom’s people. If each of us will do what we can, we can be Tom’s church home, by sending what we can to https://gofund.me/35c0096fa.

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.

What is true patriotism?

Within all the hoopla regarding our 250th birthday celebration, I’ve been thinking a lot about what nationalism actually is, as well as, what truly makes a wholesome, American patriot. I always start this kind of process with the good ol’ Webster’s, just so I have an idea what the standing, accepted definition of these terms actually is.

Patriot is a noun ... One who loves and supports their country. Nationalsim is a noun … An ideology that elevates one nation above all others and that places primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations, nationalities, or supranational groups.

I’ve always considered any person or group that are overly nationalistic to be, (dangerously), opening the back door into imperialism. So, as a very vibrant pacifist, I have a tendency to reject all forms of nation-

alism within all countries; I’m so jaded about this idiosyncrasy that I don’t even like the ways ultra-sports fans behave.

As far as patriotism goes, I do not only feel an extreme, deep love for this USofA, but, like a loyal dog, I get over-protective when I feel my birth country is being threatened … like I do today, right now. I had my selective service conscription physical in 1968. I did not want to go Vietnam but I was prepared to do my duty if called up. My lottery number was extremely high (thank God) so it never became an issue; no, I wasn’t willing to volunteer. My way of honoring my luck was to then become

the pacifist I have been ever since.

I truly belief the only righteous war touching the edges of my life was World War ll because of Hitler. However, I carry a lot of empathy towards the likes of people such as Sgt. Alvin C. York in World War l. I learned York’s history when my interest in pacifism grew while reading Gandhi and Hesse, etc. I also had a good friend who became a legally, certified conscientious objector (C.O.); no small potatoes during the 60s. York was also a C.O. but went to war as a draftee (not being recognized by the Army as a C.O.). York went on to win the Medal of Honor as a hero who had been convinced his belief in non-violence was compatible within a righteous war. So by the above mentioned “patriot” definition, York was a true patriot, giving up his personal beliefs for the love of country. The direct opposite is

true regarding my opinions for every individual involved in the Jan. 6, 2021 capital insurrection; I consider that entire group to be traitorous along with all of their enablers. The irony is that they all thought themselves patriots, though certainly, they are not patriots.

One of my core beliefs within my deep love of the U.S. is the right to speak strongly and respectfully, as I have done often through my writings and essays, criticizing any governmental policy that I believe to be overtly wrong. What a wonderful right this is; our freedom to speak in support of, or to respectfully criticize our own governmental policies.

I was meant to have been at Kent State in May of 1970. I would have been ending my junior year there, but I chose working my way around our country instead of attending college. Would I have been a part of the riots? Would I myself

have been shot by our own National Guard? I will never know … and again, thank God; but my pacifism then became stronger, as well as my anti-nationalism because of that tragedy in Ohio.

Do I ever consider myself a U.S., non-patriot? Never. Do I consider myself nationalistic? Never. Do I think there are better patriots than me? Yes. During our country’s civil struggles from say 1960 to 1980, I remember a catch phrase that became popular: “America: Love it or leave it!” We are witnessing this playing out once again in today’s world, are we not? Support our country no matter what; that individuals should honor our governing administration no matter what forced perversions to our own United States Constitution those leaders inflect.

No. I see patriotism as a virtue that must be earned by our properly elected

leaders. Leaders of just causes, leaders who honor our own established rules and laws set by our constitution. If I witness degradations of principle performed by any elected leadership I feel I have a patriotic duty to criticize those actions. Actions such as inflicting self-serving wars or entertainments such as cage fighting held on the front lawn of the U.S.A.’s White House; and, perhaps worst of all, personal, promotional rallies that only stroke one man’s ego, disguised as an honor to the USA’s democracy.

Tim and Kristy Wood moved to Beaufort in 1974. He worked as a carpenter in both restoration and new home construction, as well as operating a shop specializing in custom woodwork, Wood on Wood Specs. He is semi-retired, involved with fine woodworking and formerly sat on the City of Beaufort Zoning Board of Appeals.

Am I blue (or am I green)? Just a reflection

As I sat at my computer on Sunday afternoon, I mulled over the possibilities I might use for my weekly column. So many issues, so little time.

Ultimately, I settled upon the debacle of the reflecting pool that no longer reflects anything but sludge. It should be old news by now except for the fact that 47 insists upon adding fuel to the fire on a daily basis.

I don’t know how many of you have actually visited Washington D.C. My late husband and I used to take our girls there once a year. As they grew into teens, they moaned about “another educational trip.” Sadly, with both parents as teachers, they had to endure this ghastly situation. As adults they now laugh and admit that these were good times that produced wonderful memories. But I digress.

My point in mentioning my personal experience is to stress how beautiful

our nation’s capital is. The architecture is varied, and each structure is unique unto itself. The gardens in Georgetown are lush and inviting.

A trip by boat down the Potomac to Mt. Vernon is a one-of-a-kind experience. The stark realization of what the Vietnam Memorial represents can haunt you. And the majesty of the Lincoln Memorial and the uplift of the Washington Monument into the sky can take your breath away. That is until you consider the reflecting pool in its present condition that lies between the grandeur of the latter two.

Beginning in early April,

It is Wednesday, early, our deck still wet from rain that came during the night. This morning I’m sitting at our battered, wide-planked dining room table with my coffee (Peet’s) and a blue-black 12-by-14inch scrapbook with the dates Dec. 1993-June 1994 embossed on its cover.

Some of you know that I have kept scrapbooks ever since 1968. In the beginning it was mostly smallish, slightly out of focus color photographs showing me and my family at places like Stratford Hall Plantation.

There was usually an admission ticket glued onto the page; and a “visitor’s guide”; but not much more. But by 1993 I was beginning to paste-in my newspaper columns and this volume has one titled “Railroads Connected the South” dated Dec. 5, 1993.

“It’s Sunday afternoon, Thanksgiving weekend, and I’m on Amtrak rolling through Virginia. Train 89,

The Trump Administration continues to be an embarrassment for lovers of liberty. It seems to screw up just about everything it touches or so corrodes what America’s democracy has stood for that it has made our nation a laughing stock again and again.

The world breathed a sigh of relief in 2021 when Joe Biden and the adults took office to lead the United States. But in 2025 with the return of a grumpy, petulant, conspiracy-fueled Donald Trump to the White House, it’s gotten way, way worse. You may not have liked Biden – and he had some failures – but he turned the tide on Covid to help the country recover, invested in America to strengthen neglected infrastructure, showed world

47 proclaimed he was going to “fix” the reflecting pool after what he asserted was gross neglect by former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Of course, we all know they neglected it … frankly I’m surprised he didn’t swear he had seen both urinate in it. Sorry, another digression.

He claimed the repairs, including sealing the pool and painting it “American flag blue,” would cost about $1.8 million and that it would all be finished by July 4, 2026, in time for the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. He continued to denigrate his predecessors, insisting that “his” skills would enable him to make it better than ever at minimal cost and that the repairs “could last for 100 years.”

News flash! The New York Times reported that the so-called repairs escalated to $14.2 million. The administration awarded a “no-bid contract” to a business 47 had chosen (he

the Palmetto, is full of folks who ate too much turkey, watched too much football and indulged themselves to the point of self-loathing. …”

This particular scrapbook also has a political bumper sticker — Phil Noble for Lt. Governor — and a Dean and Duluca paper napkin. Further on there are photos of a canoe trip through Ichetucknee Springs together with a Jan. 23, 1994 column titled, “A River Runs Through it.”

In addition to photos and columns there are wedding announcements; hand written letters and faded ribbons that I won at various Masters Swim Meets.

Other than the pasted-in columns, there is very little commentary under these photos—few names and little explanation about the smiling, cup-holding people riding in a large boat on some un-named body of calm, brown, sun-dappled water.

And for many years the format for these scrap books was the same — photos and columns that were celebratory. We see yellowing invitations to longago (fund raising) events together with attractive, unnamed people posing in their perfumed finery at the Hospital Ball on Parris Island.

In the early 2000s my wife inherited a small amount of money and with this money bought a loft in North Adams, Mass. From the very beginning she told me that this was where she would do her painting — mostly portraits — for periods of two and three months.

leadership on Ukraine. His economic policies improved the economy and generated more than 2 million jobs.

Trump and his lackeys, on the other hand, used a no-bid contract to a big supporter for renovations of the National Mall’s reflecting pool to make it blue, only to have it turn green again within weeks thanks to algal blooms.

They denigrated the White House grounds by removing a symbolic rose garden. They tore down a wing for an ill-conceived,

later denied this), and he had agreed to a 20% profit margin.

And the kicker? The name of the company is Greenwater Services (can you suffer the irony?), led by Republican donor and Mar-a-Lago neighbor, John J. Cafaro, whom 47 once called a "fantastic man."

As if this isn’t enough, the issue takes on a life of its own. In an attempt to correct the algae problem, a directive came out that had crews from the National Park Service pouring hydrogen peroxide into the water, despite the fact that experts stressed that the darkened bottom promoted faster heat-up and thus more algae.

Two days later the new blue epoxy was peeling off and floating to the top.

47’s explanation? Someone took some kind of blade and slashed a 250 foot cut through the epoxy. It was Ted Lieu who responded with the fact that cameras are focused on the pool 24/7

and that this would have been recorded.

Which takes us to the sad story of three-time Olympian, David Hearn, who is 67 years old. He stopped by the pool on a 52-miles bike ride, reached into the pool to feel the detached paint and found himself handcuffed and charged with vandalism.

“I didn’t vandalize anything,” Hearn told David J. Lynch and Aaron Schaffer of The Washington Post. “I didn’t destroy or break or peel anything. By the time I realized what was going on, I was being put in handcuffs.”

Ah, the story gets even better. As a result of that incident, the National Guard was called out to monitor the pool for continued “vandalism?” Your tax dollars at work, folks, and for what?

Seriously, the Three Stooges had better material than this.

Sadly, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool (and its ongoing chapters)

has become a metaphor for the Trump presidency. One individual was heard saying, “If anyone should be arrested for vandalizing the reflecting pool, it should be Donald Trump. He destroyed a beautiful thing and wasted our tax dollars to pay his friends to ruin it! And so, dear reader, you can equate this piece to my alleged TDS, although I am always amused by that. Those using it rarely see their own willful ignorance; forget that the facts are before their eyes.

I am more than willing to “suffer the slings and arrows” as I continue to point out the offenses of 47, both illegal and immoral. Heaven knows, the material is voluminous.

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.”

I have written about her loft, and solitary painting, in other columns. Some may remember that at first I felt threatened, worried that these months-long separations in Western Massachusetts signaled something more ominous.

During this time I would visit my wife on weekends — usually two or three weekends during the two or three month-long stay. These weekends were punctuated with nights at the Grafton Inn; the Red Lion in Stockbridge; and art openings in Williamstown, Mass.

Of course those weekends are memorialized in my scrapbooks — tickets from Tanglewood, programs from the Williamstown Film Festival; menus from long, pinot-enhanced meals at Gramercy Bistro. There were the obsequious columns providing a descriptive travelogue — but there was nothing to explain what we were thinking. Nothing

to illustrate the angst, the anxiety or the happiness behind the smiles.

Some weeks ago I stumbled upon a slender notebook that still had its price tag — $1.79. When I opened it I was surprised to find my wife’s easy-to-read penmanship. In this notebook I found short dated entries like, “I like paintings which are darker … real darks and real ‘lights.’ If paintings are evenly ‘valued’ they are boring. Edward Hopper’s ‘Cape Cod Evening’ is boring; ‘Corner Saloon’ is not. ‘Second Story Sunlight’ is not.”

“Art’s purpose is a process of discovery, An affirmation of life not an attempt to bring order out of chaos nor (to) suggest improvements in nature. It’s necessary to simply to wake up to the very life we’re living.” (John Cage is referenced in the margin).

As I continued to read, I was fascinated with, “I can’t be Lucien Freud. I can’t be

Jenny Saville, I can’t be Alex Kanevsky. I can’t get my paint thick. I’m scared of slopping on the paint. I may get it wrong. So I put it on timidly. I rub it off. I rub it in …”

As I read into the night, my tired eyes sometimes tearing up, I realized that here was the day-to-day narrative of Susan’s yearslong, existential struggle to become an artist; and Susan’s story was no where in the scrapbooks. And Susan did succeed — more than a hundred portraits, some of which hang in the Courthouse and at the Hospital. Most above fireplaces in homes throughout South Carolina. But now I have a voice, a sound track, a portal into that beautiful, complicated mind.

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

unnecessary ballroom where costs are escalating. And, of all things, they littered the lawn into a tacky spectacle for a mixed martial arts humiliation.

They knocked up Trump’s name and image all over the place, from the Kennedy Center (removed by a judge) to National Park passes to passports. There are even Soviet-style banners of his face on some federal buildings in Washington. And don’t forget his planned huge and garish arched monument that would be in full view of the stately Lincoln Memorial.

Since being sworn in for the second time, the national embarrassments created by this unhealthy, sleepy president have expanded from surface branding to deeper intrusions into what has made our country special.

Trump got America into a war with Iran that he supposedly ended this month by backtracking to where we were before the war. The country spent gazillions, bombed and killed innocent people and interrupted global commerce – only to return to the status quo. This agreement embarrassingly signed in Versailles to reopen the Strait of Hormuz got us what new that we didn’t have before? Experienced, strategic foreign policy at work? Nah, just the modern version of the Keystone Cops. The list of disgraces goes on. Now the administration apparently is planning to sell or give away 11 immigration warehouses worth $700 million that it once said it just had to have. Officials are still quietly working to snare Greenland. Trump blustered to

change the name of the Gulf of Mexico. And he tried to create a $1.8 billion fund to pay the convicted felons who attacked the U.S. Capital while ignoring the police officers killed in the melee.

Also on this Executive Branch's misadministration list: It threw ethical standards out of the door by accepting a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar that many call a bribe. It sold pardons. It continually talks about rigged elections (not true) to confuse voters and create distrust in a process for Americans to exercise a key and fundamental democratic right. Here in South Carolina, future impacts of the administration’s intentional neglect will be telling. What happens, for example, if a hurricane devastates the state? One thing is for sure

– the Federal Emergency Management Agency won’t come running to fix things like it used to because Trump has gutted it, just like it impaired the National Weather Service’s resources to do its job.

Across the country as Americans prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of declaring our shores to be independent of tyranny, we’ve got a childish despot in office who is wrecking what we’ve stood for in a bipartisan manner for generations. The 2028 presidential election can’t come soon enough. Maybe the adults will return.

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

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of PUTTING DOWN THE

L IBERTY ROOTS

A Carolina Days Celebration

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1ST 2:00 PM

Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, West Street Entrance (Rain: Pavilion)

A South Carolina Days Celebration featuring Shakespearean Actor and Living History Interpreter GregRobin Smith as Benjamin Franklin for a dedication ceremony and living history presentation.

• Dedication Ceremony

• Living History Presentation

• Planting of a Liberty Tree

Scion Sapling

This sapling is a living landmark for American Unity.

Col. Cassidy’s final flight

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Michael R. Cassidy, commanding officer, Marine Aircraft Group 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, finishes his final flight Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. This Milestone flight honors a distinguished career of dedicated service, representing the culmination of countless hours in the sky and an unwavering commitment to the mission. Lance Cpl. Carl J. Walters/ USMC

Every eligible veteran needs to enroll in VA Healthcare (Part 3)

The first article in this series was this writer’s testament to the high quality of VA Healthcare based on my last 22 years as a patient and advisor at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System (RHJVAHS). The second article announced that the RHJHCS:

• Set a record with zero findings and zero recommendations in the 2025 VA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report,

• Was again awarded a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS),

• Intensive Care Unit received the 2025 Gold Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses,

• Is the only SC hospital rated “Better” for both Heart Failure and Pneumonia care,

• Is one of the fastest-growing VA healthcare systems,

• Is a major teaching, research, and healthcare center, and

• Has the number one ranked Fisher House based on veterans’ families served occupancy rates, and veterans saving an estimated $5.65 million dollars in lodging, travel, food, and other costs. This article will:

• Help dispel the myth that only veterans who were injured in service or have service-connected disabilities are eligible for VA healthcare. In reality, most veterans who served in the military and were honorably discharged, even if they were not in combat, qualify for VA care.

• Help dispel the myth that already having insurance disqualifies veterans from enrolling in VA healthcare; and

• Explain more reasons why veterans should enroll in VA healthcare. More reasons to enroll in VA Healthcare

1. Largest and best. VA health care is the largest and best healthcare system, but enrollment is not

automatic; veterans must enroll to receive care.

2. VA healthcare is funded based on enrollments. Each VA Medical Center and Healthcare System is funded based on the number of veterans enrolled and how much treatment and support they receive. Therefore, veterans should enroll and see their Primary Care Provider (in person or telehealth) at least once every 12 to 16 months, so that their supporting VA Medical Center and Healthcare System gets the funding it needs to provide the best quality healthcare.

3. Some veterans do not know they are eligible. Tragically, some veterans (especially elderly veterans) may not know they are eligible for VA health care.

4. Veterans can use VA healthcare even if they have other healthcare. All veterans are encouraged to enroll in the VA health care system, even if they have no service-connected disabilities, have private/employer health care, or higher incomes.

5. Life circumstances change. Life circumstances can change, moving a veteran from one priority group to a higher one. For example, veterans with no service-connected disabilities at the time of discharge could develop conditions later in life that could be traced to military service.

6. Job loss, forced early retirement, company closures, companies are frequently acquired by another company, and other job

circumstances change. Job circumstances can change, leading to job loss or early retirement, a reduction in income, or loss of health insurance for a veteran. Veterans can move to higher priority groups as life circumstances change.

7. VA health care includes (According to “About VA Health Benefits” at https://bit.ly/4xJCqM1) care and services to help treat illnesses and injuries, prevent future health problems, improve the ability to function, and enhance quality of life.

8. All veterans receive coverage for most care and services, but only some will qualify for additional benefits, such as dental care. The full list of covered benefits depends on:

• Your priority group, and

• The advice of your VA primary care provider, and

• The medical standards for treating any health conditions you may have.

9. VA healthcare offers an extensive array of services designed to meet the unique needs of veterans. These services aim to treat illnesses and injuries, prevent future health problems, improve functionality, and enhance quality of life. Services include primary care, specialty care, geriatric and extended care, rehabilitative care, prescription medications, medical equipment and prosthetics, telehealth services, women's health services, and more.

10. VA healthcare covers preventive care services, like:

• Health exams (including gender-specific exams)

• Health education (including nutrition education)

• Immunization against infectious diseases (like flu shots)

• Counseling on genetic diseases (diseases that run in families).

11. VA healthcare covers inpatient hospital services, like:

• Surgeries

• Medical treatments

• Kidney dialysis

• Acute care (short-term treatment for a severe illness or injury or after surgery)

• Specialized care (including organ transplants, intensive care for mental and physical conditions, and care for traumatic injuries)

12. VA healthcare covers urgent and emergency care services, like:

• Urgent or emergency care at some VA health facilities. Find a VA health facility near you at https:// www.va.gov/find-locations.

• Urgent care for injuries and illnesses that need attention right away, but aren’t life-threatening, at urgent care locations that are part of our contracted network. This may include care at a VA-approved 1) Walk-in retail health clinic for minor illnesses like a sore throat and 2) Urgent care facility for more pressing (but not life-threatening) illnesses or injuries that require treatment like splinting, casting, or wound care.

• Emergency care in a non-VA hospital, clinic, or other medical setting — only under certain conditions. For the VA to consider covering non-VA emergency care for a non-service-connected condition, the veteran needs to meet several requirements. Learn more about “Emergency Care at Non-VA Facilities” at https://bit.ly/3SdO9Cr.

13. VA healthcare covers other services and needs like:

• Mental health services to treat issues like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), military sexual trauma (MST), depression, and substance use problems. Learn more at https:// bit.ly/4eAq7Zz.

• Assisted living and home health care (depending on your needs and income, as well as space in the programs). Learn more at https://bit. ly/4fZD4yG.

• Prescriptions written or approved by a VA doctor. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4eJYJsu.

14. VA healthcare may cover services that your VA primary care provider concludes you need to support your treatment (ancillary services), like:

• Tests used to diagnose health conditions, including blood work, X-rays, and ultrasounds

• Therapy and rehabilitation services, including physical therapy, vision rehab, and therapy for traumatic brain injury

• Additional services, including prosthetic items, care for hearing loss, and radiation oncology (cancer care).

15. The VA may help with some non-medical services, like:

• Help pay for travel related to treatment. Learn more at https://bit. ly/4gygey7.

• Help for the person who cares for you. Learn more at https://www. caregiver.va.gov and https://bit. ly/4g0fbHi.

• Help getting to and from appointments. Learn more at https:// bit.ly/4oJxBOD.

Continued next week.

Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded

CLASSIFIEDS & GAMES

THURSDAY’S CARTOON

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

HELP WANTED – DRIVERS

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

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE

Audien Hearing. The world’s first hearing aid with touchscreen controls. No tiny buttons, apps or prescriptions. 45-day risk free trial. Free shipping. Lifetime support. More than 1 5 million happy customers. Call Audien 1-855-620-9614

Prepare for power outages today with a Gen-

erac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-844-775-0366 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.

TELEVISION & INTERNET SERVICES

DIRECTV OVER INTERNET – Get your favorite live TV, sports and local channels. 99% signal reliability! CHOICE Package, $84 99/ mo for 12 months. HBO Max and Premium Channels included for 3 mos (w/CHOICE Package or higher.) No annual contract, no hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-855-237-9741

SERVICE DIRECTORY

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

CHIMNEY SERVICES

JUNE 26 - JULY 5

JUNE 26 - JU

SSTI at Beaufort High

CancerSupport

BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

Second Wednesday of the Month | 6 – 7pm*

ALL CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

Fourth Wednesday of the Month | 1 – 2pm*

Beaufort Memorial Medical and Administrative Center 990 Ribaut Road, Beaufort • Room 317, 3rd Floor

To RSVP for a free Support Group, scan our code or visit: BeaufortMemorial.org/CancerSupportGroup

*Meeting schedule subject to change and may be impacted by holidays.

QUESTIONS?

Call Kianna Brown, LMSW • 843-522-7328

Truth Matters

Pickpocket or Good Guy?

Relativism in Real Life

Someone took your phone.

You feel a tug at your clothes, and you realize that your phone is no longer in your pocket. A man is walking away with it in his hand. “Stop him!” you yell. “That guy stole my phone!”

Does it work to make up our own truth?

As we explored in previous messages, relativism is the idea that moral and religious truth changes from person to person. In matters of morality and faith, there are no truths that apply to everyone: we all make up our own truth. As a theory, it sounds like a nice way to help everyone get along. But in real life, relativism quickly falls apart.

Can we say that an action is wrong?

If relativism is true, then the man who took the phone could rightly say, “Stealing may be wrong for you, but it’s okay for me to do.” Similarly, we would have no right to complain when someone cuts us off in traffic, speaks rudely to us, or breaks into our house. After all, who are we to force our personal standards of morality upon them? If everything is just a matter of opinion or personal point of view, then nothing can really ever be off-limits.

Can we take a stand for what’s right?

If relativism is true, then we cannot fight against evil. In the example of the pickpocket, there would be no reason for the bystanders to act when you call for their help. “Who am I to judge whether it is wrong for him to take your phone? What’s true for you is true for you, what’s true for him is true for him.” If we accept relativism, then we have no logical basis to take a stand for anything, since there is no right or wrong that applies to everyone.

Can we discover truths beyond ourselves?

If relativism is true, the pickpocket in our example cannot discover answers to important questions such as, “What is the purpose of my life?” It would be like a math teacher telling the students that whatever answers they put down on the exam will be counted as correct. The exam would quickly start to seem pretty pointless. In a similar way, if we are all supposed to make up our own answers to life’s biggest questions, we are easily left with a sense that there are no true answers. This leads to a quiet sense of despair, which we often try to hide through constant distractions, such as social media, television, sports, and work.

Thankfully, truth can be known!

Instead of relativism, we can embrace the traditional, common-sense way of approaching truth: religious and moral truth can be known, and such truths apply to people of all cultures and time periods. We have no problem saying to the pickpocket, “It is wrong to steal.” We can confidently stand up against evil. We can search for answers to life’s biggest questions, discovering a purpose in life that goes beyond ourselves.