Events in and around Beaufort
"Everything is funny -- as long as it is happening to somebody else."
Please Take a Few Minutes to Remember the Heros who Fell during 9-11
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 WE lost another good man!
While we can never replace Mr. Pruitt, we might be able to have someone follow his foot steps. I would personally like to try to get the store open again. The family is open to the idea. If you have any ideas or know of some young person who lives in the neighborhood, please let me know.
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If you like good music and want to see a huge puppet, you will like
The Little Shop of Horrors
Opening Friday, Sept 11 for two weekends
Center for the Arts, USCB
A nerdy florist finds his chance for success and romance with the help of a giant man-eating plant who demands to be fed.
   
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Capital Projects: Update
At the beginning of the New Year, I reported that during 2015 we would be very busy with some of the largest undertakings the city has made in years if not ever.
Over the past few weeks, I have received a number of inquiries about the status of these projects so the following is an update.
Firehouse construction is underway, on schedule and on budget. The related storm water project, that will serve the firehouse, the adjacent bowling center and land behind both making room for private residential development, will begin soon.
Allison Road Drainage and Path Project. The project is designed and money is in place. The City is waiting for SCDOT approvals, after which the project will be let out for bid and then begin construction. The project also includes a connector from the Spanish Moss Trail to Beaufort Memorial Hospital campus.
Boundary Street Redevelopment. All plans have been approved by SCDOT and Federal Highway Administration, an acceptable bid for construction is in the County's hand, which is managing the project with the City, for approval. The County Council's Public Facilities Committee recommended to County Council that the County Administrator be authorized to sign the documents so the construction crews can begin to mobilize. The project is fully funded with dollars coming from The County Penny Sales Tax, A grant from the Federal dollars and funds collected over the years in the City Tax Incremental Finance District. Some of the cost for underground utilities will be added to utility bills until paid for. Once construction starts, the county and city will post progress reports on our respective websites. In addition, there will be regular meetings at which questions can be answered.
Day Dock. Conceptual plans have okay from City Council and the engineer has begun permitting process. Only after the permits are issued will actual construction drawings be developed so the bids can go out for construction. Funding from state, federal and city is in place. In my view, I doubt the project can be completed by summer unless the process moves faster than I anticipate. We will, of course, try.
Southside Sidewalk Improvements. Plans and funding are in place. Waiting for SCDOT approvals after which the project will be bid and construction will begin.
Southside Park. Area for Dog Park has been almost completely cleared. The City is negotiating with fence contractors regarding installation of fencing around a large dog park and a small dog park, adjacent to each other. Tree farm, to grow trees to replace dying ones, has been started. Walking Trail has been laid out conceptually. Materials are on-site but need to be ground into appropriate surface material.
Duke Street Streetscape. Completed.
Washington Street Park Improvements including restrooms. Still waiting for the owner of the land to assign it to the City so it will qualify for federal and state matching dollars. As soon as this transaction takes place, the City will apply for funding for restrooms. In the event the City ceases to maintain and operate the park, the land will revert to the owners.
Spanish Moss Trail. The crews are hard at work constructing the county section of the trail which runs from the Depot area to Broad River Road from which the section running to Roseida in Burton is already completed. Once the county section is completed, Cox and Path Foundations $2 million contribution, matched by $750,000 in local private and perhaps county money, will proceed to Clarendon Road. Finally, as soon as there is a resolution to the Port of Port Royal property sale, the trail will cross Ribaut Road and run down to the Sands in Port Royal. Still a lot of pieces to put together and fundraising by the Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail (please donate if you have not already). My hope is that the complete 11.5 +/- miles can be completed within the next 9-12 months.
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With S.C.'s first Rising Sea Levels Task Force, (a volunteer collaboration among academics, scientists and citizens), Beaufort and Port Royal are ahead of the curve on understanging the challenge of rising sea levels. Having already presented scenarios and identified vulnerablility to Beaufort City Council and Town Council, the task force will present this month to Beaufort's Neighborhood Improvement group and will soon be prepared to present to neighborhood associations, civic groups and others who want to learn more.
Extracted from the Charleston Post and Courier
September 9, 2015
Bolster communities' resilience against rising sea levels
By Holly Bamford, Guest Editorial
For ocean-dependent states and coastal communities like Charleston, sea level rise is a reality that cannot be avoided.
A National Oceanic and Atmospheric study released today shows that between May 2014 and May 2015 Charleston dealt with more than 30 days of "nuisance flooding." This is probably no surprise to anyone who has stepped into puddles in Charleston's City Market on a sunny day, or who has driven down any number of flooded streets.
Compared to the past 50 years, the frequency of nuisance flooding in Charleston has increased by more than 400 percent. In response, Charleston has improved downtown water storage systems, reducing downtown flooding, enabling crosstown traffic, and helping to sustain the vital tourist economy.
But in coming years, this type of tidal influence on water level will become the new normal for coastal communities like Charleston, as sea level rise continues to push more and more water onto downtown coastal streets and at-risk coastal highways.
As America's coastal communities grow more vulnerable to inundation and flooding, and all communities across our nation face a future of evolving environmental challenges, the key question is: How can we help communities become more resilient and adapt to a new normal?
Supporting community resilience is at the heart of NOAA's mission to protect lives and livelihoods and improve long-term sustainability.
I'm pleased to say that South Carolina is already out in front of this challenge. As one of just four states in the nation designated as StormReady by NOAA's National Weather Service, South Carolina is equipped to convey risks quickly, broadly and reliably. StormReady's communications infrastructure, hazardous weather training and safety programs bolster resilience across the state.
Resilience has three dimensions - economic, ecological and societal. Taken together, building resilience enables people, communities and businesses to hedge risk to threats and hazards. When hazards strike, resilience supports renewed vitality and recovery with fewer negative impacts.
Through public investment in monitoring and observing systems, including ships, planes, satellites, buoys and tide gauges, NOAA provides the environmental information critical to living and working smarter. Our goal is to ensure that every American community is ready, responsive and resilient to accelerating vulnerability to extreme weather, water and climate conditions.
NOAA is pleased to join our many South Carolina partners on the front lines of resilience. Thanks to sound environmental information, NOAA is working with FEMA and South Carolina's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management to align beach planning with better flood policies at reduced costs to policyholders. With just a click, NOAA's Sea-Level Rise Viewer simulates the frequency of flooding, depicts how rising water will affect landmarks, and provides the insight of social and economic data. Using the Sea-Level Rise Viewer, the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium is working with the Beaufort and Port Royal communities to anticipate flood "hot spots" and develop adaptation strategies. Tide gauges are keeping a close check on sea level and flood elevation thresholds, and coastal flood advisories are timely and precise.
Ports are critical to our nation's economy, and the Port of Charleston, with thousands of ships coming in and out every year, is a major driver of our nation's economy. NOAA's PORTS' system makes sure these ships navigate safely and efficiently. Every six minutes, real-time water level and other critical information are relayed to pilots.
The need for such accurate, environmentally sound information is growing exponentially. Between 2013 and 2014, cargo containers entering the Port of Charleston jumped nearly 14 percent. In Charleston County alone, ocean-dependent businesses support close to 30,000 jobs.
From observations and data to products and services, NOAA is looking at resilience with a wide lens and working with our partners to identify and help communities implement solutions. To stay ahead of our fast-changing, challenging environment, we must build on such advances and improve and expand ocean observational and predictive capabilities.
That's what it will take to keep our nation's communities and economy strong, and the Palmetto State as resilient as its legendary namesake.
Holly Bamford, Ph.D., is assistant administrator for the National Ocean Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, performing the duties of the assistant secretary of Commerce for Conservation and Management.
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Dragonboat Beaufort traveled to Oriental, North Carolina to race in the waters of the Neuse River. Representing Beaufort, the team won gold when they placed first in the Cancer Division and were awarded the silver medal in the consolation round losing by two, one hundredths of a second. The race in Oriental followed a victory for the team in Charleston in May. DBB is traveling to compete in Atlanta to race in the Non-Profit Charity Division this weekend as well. The town of Oriental came in force to the marina at River Dunes to support their 6th annual race day and hosted sixteen teams including Dragonboat Beaufort and their sister team, Dragonboat Charleston. Dragon Boat racing is a Chinese tradition that has grown throughout Asia and now worldwide in its 2,000 year history. Dragonboat Beaufort has hosted two races in Beaufort during the annual Water Festival and has quickly become one of the premiere events of the festival. DBB's mission is to support cancer patients and survivors in Beaufort County by fulfilling the needs that the insurance companies don't necessarily cover through one-on-one grants and support for their caregivers.
And this wonderful transformational movement began at the Beaufort International Film Festival just a few years ago, when, after seeing an inspirational film about Dragonboat, a few people gathered in the lobby at the USCB Center for the Arts and decided to "go for it" in Beaufort. Before the end of the Festival they had cards printed and were in the lobby recruiting volunteers. And have since been growing stronger ever event.
What a great example of people engaging to help others while having fun doing it.
Thanks for the inspitration and hard work, Dragonboat Beaufort. |
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Extracted from Bluffton Today
Beaufort County municipal leaders push local-option sales tax
Posted: September 10, 2015 - 9:53am
Most Beaufort County municipal leaders continue to support a 1-cent sales tax measure that would generate more revenue for their towns while providing property-tax relief to residents.
But County Council remains divided over whether such a proposal should go before voters next November. Some members, along with Hilton Head Island officials, argue that placing it on the ballot would undercut support for a different 1-cent sales tax measure that would raise funds for capital improvement projects across the county. The mayors of Bluffton, Beaufort and Port Royal reiterated their support on Wednesday for a local-option sales tax (LOST). If passed, 63 to 71 percent of the revenue would go toward property-tax relief in the form of a tax credit. The rest would be divided among local governments. The tax would not expire unless recalled and struck down by 75 percent of voters. Beaufort County is one of seven counties in South Carolina that do not currently have local-option sales taxes. County voters have twice rejected proposals by wide margins: 59 percent in 1990 and more than 75 percent in 1991. But the makeup of Beaufort County is much different now, Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka and Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling argue. "Small towns like ours just have a lot of needs, and if we had the funding to do some of these smaller projects, it would make our community and citizens happy," Sulka said Wednesday at a meeting between County Council members and municipal leaders. "But our feet are held to the fire with our budgets every year. I think (residents) would see some direct benefits on their tax forms and would be able to see firsthand what their towns do with their tax money." South Carolina's Act 388 also has handcuffed local governments by capping their ability to raise property taxes on primary homeowners, shifting most of the burden to secondary homeowners and business owners, Keyserling said. "If we can't raise property taxes, and our aid from the state continues to shrink, that's going to further tie our hands," he said. A downside to LOST, Keyserling acknowledged, is that it would be regressive. Opponents have argued that owners of higher-priced homes would receive a larger tax rebate, while lower-income homeowners or renters would not see the same benefit and still would have to pay a higher sales tax. Taking away support? When council voted 6-5 not to place LOST on the ballot last year, some members said the proposal could take away support for a 1-cent sales tax for capital improvements they also were considering. Council, which ultimately struck down the proposed referendum for that tax as well, is already laying the foundation for another one in 2016. It has voted to establish a state-required, independent, six-member commission to vet capital projects proposed by the county, municipalities and other organizations. The tax would be in effect for up to eight years in two-year increments and would likely raise about $30 million per year. Councilmen Stu Rodman and Jerry Stewart said they still would prefer to not have LOST and the capital projects sales tax on the ballot at the same time, worrying that neither could pass in that scenario. "I think both are going to be a tough sell in a presidential election year," Rodman said. Then the better sell, Keyserling countered, would be LOST. "I think the idea of a tax credit is going to be more attractive and meet short-term needs," Keyserling said. "We would be able to more easily do fixes like repairing cracking sidewalks and repairing and replacing stormwater systems. Not that we're opposed to the bigger projects, but right now, I just don't think it's the time to be building more big things that we don't have the money to take care of. "We need to make sure our infrastructure we have now is solid."
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Another SC City bit the bullet and built a downtown parking structure
to ensure their City Could Grow
Completed parking deck brings urban experience to downtown North Augusta Aiken Standard
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 National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Honor
Ms Ann Millis-Griffiths
Chair, National League of POW/MIA Families
Luncheon Keynote Speaker
Second from Left
General Jim Shufelt, Ret US Army
Right
Standing in for honoress not able to attend are Harriet Bosiack and Mary Ann Compher
Third from Left and Immediate Left |
Firefighters Say Sprinklers Help Save Lives
Photo: Firefighters outside the Beaufort Hilton Garden Inn hotel, 1500 Queen Street
Beaufort firefighters say hotel sprinkler system helped save lives and property Thursday
Built-in sprinklers helped save Beaufort's Hilton Garden Inn hotel off Boundary Street Thursday afternoon, firefighters said - and possibly saved lives.
"When Beaufort, Port Royal and Burton firefighters arrived at the scene around 4:30 p.m., all the hotel's tenants had been evacuated into the parking lot," Beaufort-Port Royal Fire Chief Sammy Negron said. On the hotel's third floor, firefighters found a fire in one room already extinguished by the built-in sprinkler system -- but the fire was still smoldering. Firefighters checked for any other flames and began checking for possible causes of the room fire. "At the time of the fire alarm, all 115 hotel rooms were occupied. Tenants of 47 hotel rooms were relocated to other local hotels until the rooms affected by the sprinkler system could be cleaned and cleared for use," Negron said. "The hotel staff did a fantastic job getting everyone out of the hotel, and that is key," Negron said. "It wasn't a drill. This was an actual fire, and everyone was out within minutes. Thursdays are capacity days for most of the local hotels because of the Friday morning graduations at Parris Island (Marine Corps boot camp)." "The fire suppression system kept this fire from spreading, which is always the fear in a structure such as a hotel," he said.
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Remember the Farmers Market
in Pigeon Point Park
Wednesday Afternoons
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Get Ready for an Exciting 30th Anniversary Season of the
Beaufort Symphony Orchestra
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Beaufort County Historical Society And Beaufort District Collection Present
Jay Stevens- Court Martial at Parris Island
The Incident at Ribbon Creek
11 am Tuesday, Sept. 15th-Bluffton Branch-Beaufort County Library
11 am Thursday, Sept. 24th-Yacht and Sailing Club-Meridian Rd.
Beaufort, SC: In commemoration of Parris Island's Centennial of Training Marines, Beaufort County Historical Society will host Jay Stevens discussing his book, Court Martial at Parris Island :The Incident at Ribbon Creek, Thursday, Sept. 24th at Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club on Meridian Rd., Ladys Island, SC. Our meeting will be held at 11 am.
***For those who live South of the Broad, Beaufort County Historical Society is partnering with the Beaufort County Library's special local history collection and archives unit, the Beaufort District Collection, for a free presentation to be held in the Bluffton Branch Library (off Hwy 46) on Tuesday, Sept. 15th, at 11 am.
John Stevens is a former First Justice of the Essex Probate and Family Court. He continues his law practice with a part time mediation and arbitration practice in Salem, MA. His interest in The Ribbon Creek Incident comes from his experiences training as a recruit on Parris Island shortly after the Ribbon Creek Incident. He is currently Vice President of the Parris Island Historical and Museum Society Board.
Many thanks to the Parris Island Historical and Museum Society for the collaborative partnership with this program.
BCHS meetings are free and open to the public
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