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Taste of Beaufort set for Friday, Saturday
When a developer proposed an exclusive golf resort along the north shore of the island known as the Pine Island Plantation in 2022, residents came together in much the same way flavors do in Green’s Gullah cooking. Vigorous opposition to the development project coalesced, and large crowds began to speak out against the project whenever it appeared on a Beaufort County meeting agenda.
From staff reports Are you ready to get your eat on? Taste of Beaufort is back. The annual food festival will be held on Friday, May 5, and Saturday, May 6, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. Admission is free. You can listen to great music while sampling dishes from the best of Beaufort’s restaurants, and there will be a Kids Corner and arts and craft vendors, as well. The food vendors include Belly Full by Tyger (grilled seafood and soul food), Krystyna’s Authentic Polish Food, JohnnieMae’s Chicken & Waffles, And Lobster, Marker 244, Sea Eagle Market, SnoBar Truck, Southern Bell Boards (Charcuterie), and Misfit Chef (Japanese soul bowls). If you have a sweet tooth, you can satisfy that at Bruster’s (ice cream), the Island Fudge Shoppe, Palmetto Kettle Corn, and Tout Sweet Macarons. Food tickets are $1 per ticket, and must be purchased at the festival. The festival runs from 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The arts and craft vendors will be open from noon to
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A mural adorns the exterior walls of the Gullah Farmers Cooperative Association building on St. Helena Island, South Carolina as seen April 24, 2023. Tony Kukulich/Post And Courier
Worth fighting for Amid conflict between development, heritage, why is St. Helena Island so important?
By Tony Kukulich tkukulich@postandcourier.com
W
ST. HELENA ISLAND hen chef Bill Green, owner of the Gullah Grub restaurant, talks about Gullah cooking, he recommends adding a pinch of salt as the dish heats up. The salt gets the flavors working together, he said. It unifies the dish. “Whatever you’re using, different spices or herbs, it’ll make ’em speak,” Green said. “You put a little dash on,
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and you’ll hear them start talking at you.” In light of recent events, Green’s cooking lesson begins to feel like a metaphor.
Sheriff Tanner, police using MOUs to address shortages
New initiative will regionalize use of resources
By Mike McCombs The Island News Sheriff P.J. Tanner is taking a proactive approach to making Beaufort County a safer place, while at the same time attempting to address personnel shortages within his own department, as well as those of the municipalities in the county. At a media event Wednesday, April 26, at the old Federal Courthouse on Bay Street, flanked by Bluffton Police Chief Joe Babkiewicz and Beaufort Police Chief Dale McDorman (Port Royal Police
Chiel Alan Beach could not attend due to a scheduling conflict), Tanner announced a new initiative. Using Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) will allow officers at the police departments of Beaufort, Bluffton and Port Royal to apply to become members of select BCSO teams that their departments may not offer, such as K-9, Bomb Squad, SWAT team, Violent Crimes Task Force, Marine Patrol, Crime Scene Unit, School Resource Officer Program and Air Support. In turn, these resources will be made available at all times to the individual departments. Given the number of vacancies at each of the local law enforce-
ment agencies, Tanner sees this initiative as a force multiplier, something that can make the county safer and aid in hiring. “What we’re doing is we’re trying to encourage applicants to apply at law enforcement agencies within the county … and we want to put them to work,” Tanner said. “And once we get them here, if they have the interest to be on the SWAT team, and (City of Beaufort) doesn’t have a SWAT team, … if they want to apply and try out for a position on the SWAT team, we’re going to have an MOU for that. And if they’re qualified, then they’ll be a member of the county SWAT team.”
Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner, center, announces Wednesday, April 26, an initiative in which the Sheriff’s Office would share specialized assets with the county’s municipalities. Officers could also apply to train in specialized areas to help reduce strain on the Sheriff’s Office. From left are Bluffton Police Chief Joe Babkiewicz, Tanner and Beaufort Police Chief Dale SEE SHERIFF PAGE A6 McDorman. Bob Sofaly/The Island News
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Trial date set for alleged Murdaugh conspirator Cory Fleming.
Experience the Clover Choraliers next month.
Charter approved for Sea Islands Heritage Academy; St. Helena school will teach Grades 6 through 12.
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