March 2023 News
Major projects move forward:
The New Riverside Barn Park Project in Bluffton held a groundbreaking earlier this year, the next step in the anticipated project. The park, which will be the town’s first park in the New Riverside section of Bluffton, is 37 acres and is located at the intersection of Highways 46 and 170. The park will feature large open spaces, perimeter trails, a large playground for diverse ages, as well as the 2,700 square-foot iconic barn. This passive park and its barn have the potential to host private and large-scale public events.
Bluffton also held a rehabilitation construction kickoff for the Squire Pope Carriage House at Wright Family Park in February. The Squire Pope Carriage House has been stabilized and the rehabilitation work will begin in March. This house, which has weathered more than 150 years of Bluffton’s history, will be designed for future use as a Visitors Center. The Squire Pope Carriage House survived the “1863 Burning of Bluffton” during the Civil War and was a private residence for decades.
Bluffton Police Officer injured in collision:
Bluffton Police Department Officer Frank Ginn Jr. was injured in January after a head-on collision on Highway 170 westbound. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries, but the town of Bluffton said his injuries will potentially require several months of rehabilitation. Ginn was on his way to work when the collision occurred.
Ginn celebrated his third anniversary with the Bluffton Police Department Jan. 2. South Carolina Highway Patrol arrested a Beaufort male suspect in connection with the accident, according to a news release.
Bluffton awards first Historic Preservation Grant:
The Town of Bluffton awarded its first Historic Preservation Grant to the Historic Bluffton Foundation for exterior renovations to the Heyward House on Boundary Street. The $20,000 grant will help cover the cost of the project. The Historic Preservation Grant Program is available to owners of “Contributing Resources” to the Old Town Bluffton Historic District to financially assist in the preservation, restoration, or rehabilitation of these structures with the intention that they will continue to represent the history of Bluffton. For more information, contact Glen Umberger, the Town’s historic preservationist at gumberger@townofbluffton.com
Committee members are reviewing Banned Books:
The Beaufort County School District’s Library Materials Review committees were established last fall. The book review committees read assigned books, discussed them with committee members and report findings to the school board and superintendent. Per state guidelines, the committees consist of a district teacher familiar with the content or grade level, a school librarian, a school administrator, a parent (other than the complainant), a community member, a district-level administrator, and a member of a School Improvement Council in the district. The committees are randomly selected.
The most recent decision saw the school board vote 7-2-1 to uphold the committees’ decisions to return nine books to the shelves. The next review of 10 books by the committees was set for Feb. 16 (after our deadline). Overall, 97 books were removed from the shelves and will undergo review.
Hilton Head will buy land on Jonesville Road:
Hilton Head Island Town Council voted unanimously to purchase three parcels located at 200, 224 and 234 Jonesville Road, which will cost $7.6 million. The parcels are situated between The Paddocks and Graham Lane and are a total of 12.019 acres.
“This Council is committed to managing growth. When we learned of the opportunity to purchase this property, we took decisive action to remove it from the threat of immediate development,” said Mayor Alan Perry in a news release.
Hilton Head Prep Announces Bakala Scholars Program:
Hilton Head Preparatory School has launched the Bakala Scholars Program, a competitive merit scholarship designed to attract students from throughout the community. The scholarship offers recipients the opportunity to receive up to the full cost of tuition for each year they attend Hilton Head Prep through graduation. The program is open to students in both middle and upper school. For more information, call 843-671-2286 or email admissions@hhprep.org.
