Author: Margaret Evans

Commodore Dan Thompson and his wife Bonnie, both former marines living in Beaufort since 1987, have been volunteering with the Water Festival for 13 years. Dan has worked for Hargray for 22 years and is their Central Office Manager. He spends his “free time” working as a reserve police officer for Beaufort City, “making sure everybody’s safe.” Communications and safety? Seems like a pretty good background for a Water Festival Commodore. We spoke to him about the festival, the role of Commodore, and a desert tortoise named Elvis.

The Lowcountry’s longest-running festival is back for its 58th year! The party starts Friday and runs through the following Sunday. A complete schedule of events is below. Come on down to Waterfront Park, y’all!             Cover photo by Eric Smith of Captured Moments Photography

First Presbyterian Church Beaufort (FPC Beaufort) will host their second GED Boot Camp from July 29 – August 16, 2013 at their Education Building located at 1201 North Street in downtown Beaufort. GED Boot Camp is a day and/or evening program that provides three weeks of intensive preparation for the GED test at no cost to the student.

It’s been a rough month. Shortly after my glorious trip to see an old college friend in Charleston after a 40-year hiatus, I contracted a terrible stomach virus that did not seem to want to quit. Pernicious and nasty and an unpleasant way to lose weight.

BHS Grad Eric Freeman wins Len Miret Scholarship Though they never met, and were very different sorts of athletes, it’s easy to imagine that Len Miret would have loved Eric Freeman, a recent Beaufort High School graduate and accomplished young dancer who received a $3000 scholarship given in Miret’s name.

A Son’s Thoughts on Father’s Day     My wonderful father has been gone for nearly 12 years. Supported by some emotional distance on his untimely death and the encouragement of our dear editor, Margaret Evans, I am taking a shot at a column that has lingered unwritten in the back of my mind for many of those years. As Father’s Day passes through yet again, it feels like the time is finally right.

The Blood Alliance in Beaufort County saves lives everyday. As Father’s Day just passed, I celebrate one of the endearing qualities of my Dad, one that has always given me inspiration to do the right thing. My Dad, Stewart Nilsen, gave blood every chance he could. Every couple months, he’d come home with a bandage on his arm, telling my brothers and me how important the gift of blood was to so many who tragically needed it when they least expected it.