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Getting older doesn’t mean slowing down; it just means you’ve got to find new ways to keep up the fun.

Luckily, Beaufort County Government offers a variety of programs designed to help seniors live their best lives.

Whether that means staying active, socializing or just getting the support you need, Beaufort County offers a handful of services and activities to help fill your calendar and enhance your well-being.

Of course, all county services can be utilized by people of all ages, but here is a rundown of all the senior-focused content and events.

If you’re looking to add some pep to your step or maybe a game of bingo to your weekly routine, Beaufort County has you covered. This program provides fun senior activities at eight recreational locations across the county in partnership with the Lowcountry Council of Governments and Sprenger Health Care.

These include a wide variety of rotating daily, weekly, monthly and annual programs and events such as:

Activities are held on weekdays, excluding holidays. For more information, you can call 843-986-8171 or email [email protected].

The Beaufort County Department of Human Services partners with many local providers and nonprofits that provide services to seniors.

This service, called the Community Services Grant Program, aims to support local non-profit organizations that specialize in enhancing residents’ quality of life.

For 2025, grant awardees included:

All of these grantees provide services ranging from healthcare support and activities to simply giving back to the community. For more information about services offered, you can click on the grantee name listed above to be directed to their webpage.

The Beaufort County Veterans Affairs office provides services and access to the veteran population and the older population.

This program helps the veterans and their families obtain their full benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the state of South Carolina.

Some services this program offers help with include:

To learn more about these programs or other services that Beaufort County offers, you can visit their webpage here.

This story was originally published March 13, 2025 at 6:00 AM.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. —

Gone, but certainly not forgotten.

Thousands gathered on Hilton Head Island this weekend to remember the life of “Pool Bar” Jim Lisenby.

Live music, good food, sunshine and, of course, ice-cold drinks.

Lowcountry Celebration Park was full of Lisenby’s favorite things Saturday as thousands came out to celebrate his life and legacy.

“One of the things that I always loved about Jim was how good he was at remembering all of his customers' names. So one morning, I called him before we opened. I was like, 'Jim, how do you do it? How do you remember everybody’s name?' And he said, 'It’s because of all the people. That’s why I come to work,'" said Dave Peck, a longtime friend of Lisenby.

Lisenby not only remembered every customer's name, but their drink order as well.

Those who came out Saturday were encouraged to wear “Pool Bar” Lisenby attire, so there was no shortage of “Pool Bar” Lisenby's merchandise and Hawaiian shirts.

And those in attendance weren’t just locals.

Many tourists drove hours to attend the celebration for a man who was part of their annual family vacations and traditions year after year.

“He cared about what people wanted, what people wanted to drink. He got real involved in their stories and their families," said Daniel Lisenby, Jim Lisenby’s son.

A staple on the island since 1978, Jim Lisenby owned many food and beverage establishments, including the Crow’s Nest and Jim’s Paradise, prior to Pool Bar Jim’s.

But his rule for his pool bars was always not to open unless the temperature was above 50 degrees.

“Yesterday wasn’t nice. Tomorrow’s not going to be nice. But today it’s beautiful. So I think Jim made it happen," said Robert “Moose” Rini, a longtime friend of Jim Lisenby.

Over the years, many people visited Pool Bar Jim’s for the beach atmosphere, Fire Ball shots and famous Painkillers.

But they kept coming back because of Jim Lisenby.

“He left a legacy of kindness. And caring for others. He’s someone who came from very little, but he created a whole lot," his son said.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to tip your hospitality servers a little extra in memory of "Pool Bar" Jim Lisenby.

BEAUFORT — A few weeks ahead of losing money and being stuck with a deteriorating bridge to and from Hilton Head Island, local officials have agreed on a way to fix the most-pressing problem.

A scaled-back plan to replace Hilton Head's span of bridges has been approved by Beaufort County Council ahead of a scheduled deadline, though after voters rejected a more ambitious and costly option. It took several years, hundreds of thousands of dollars in consulting fees and a threat of rescinded funding from the State Infrastructure Bank to reach this point.

Construction of the new bridge is estimated cost about $260 million, with additional utility and engineering costs to likely push the project near $300 million. The plan calls for demolition of the existing eastbound bridge over Mackay Creek and the construction of a new bridge from the mainland to Jenkins Island. The new span would be designed with preference for two-way access to and from Pinckney Island.

The new bridge will be built "offline," meaning the current bridge will remain operational during construction, reducing traffic impacts, said county infrastructure administrator Jared Fralix.

Council members on March 10 voted unanimously on a resolution to redefine the plan to align with available funding.

Approval came three weeks ahead of a March 31 deadline set by the State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) to drastically adjust the project's scope within budget or lose a significant chunk of funding — putting the entire project in jeopardy.

Town and county council members enthusiastically expressed their intent to move the project forward in recent weeks.

"This is almost the end of a almost decade-long conversation. We're finally getting to the place where the momentum has carried us," County Councilman Larry McElynn said during a Feb. 24 meeting.

Why replace the bridge?

A system of two eastbound and two westbound bridges provide the only way to and from Hilton Head Island.

The S.C. Department of Transportation built the Mackay Bridge in 1956 and widened it in 1984. The state agency inspects all bridges in South Carolina at least every two years. Due to the age and condition of the MacKay Bridge, DOT inspects it annually.

An inspection in January 2024 rated the structure and substructure as “poor.” While the bridge is safe to drive over, it is approaching the end of its life and has been placed on a statewide priority list.

If the county and town failed to finalize a plan by March 31, it's likely the DOT would step in and replace only the deficient span of bridge. This scenario would scrap the planned project and cause serious congestion issues on and off the island while construction is underway.

How did we get here?

Years of debate, re-drafted ideas and transformative aspirations came to a screeching halt in late 2024 with the realization that an ambitious plan for the bridge replacement and corridor improvements had well outpaced the county and town's available funding.

Through the broader US 278 corridor project, the county and DOT aimed to make improvements to the roadway and bridge system between Bluffton and Hilton Head Island, from Moss Creek Drive to Spanish Wells Road.

As the town and county spent years debating the best route forward, the pandemic began, inflation increased, construction slowed and the estimated cost of the bridge rose by 60 percent.

By early 2024, officials had developed a $488 million plan that called for a new six-lane bridge and corridor improvements on the island.

The county had a plan to cover the costs. A $950 million sales tax referendum would have implemented a 1 percent sales tax for 10 years, with the goal of improving the county's transportation infrastructure. About $90 million was earmarked for the bridge project.

About 55 percent of county voters striking the referendum down.

On Nov. 7, the State Infrastructure Bank, which pledged $120 million to the project, sent a letter requesting a plan to address the $190 million shortfall. An original deadline was extended to March 31.

In early January, state Sen. Tom Davis presented a new plan: "Do the best we can with the money we have."

In other words, scale back the $488 million plan that called for a new six-lane bridge. Scrap the "add ons," which included features like pedestrian pathways, a breakdown lane and corridor expansion on the island. Simplify the plan.

Town and county leaders have spent the past few months doing just that.

The plan approved March 10 prioritizes replacing the deficient span of bridges. The new span will be built to modern earthquake and hurricane standards and will be wide enough to accommodate up to four lanes of traffic, if necessary due to future construction.

In February, County Councilman Mark Lawson noted how long the project has been discussed.

"I've been dealing with this for six years," Lawson said. "There's been some very smart people who have dealt with this, some very stubborn people who have dealt with this. It has taken way too long."

Celebrities who live in Charleston, South Carolina, will likely remain unimpacted by the wildfires that ignited across the state over the weekend.

Why It Matters

More than 175 fires were burning in South Carolina on Sunday, prompting Governor Henry McMaster to declare a state of emergency. Since then, nearly all of the fires have been 100 percent contained, according to a map from the South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC). The fire burning in Horry County near Myrtle Beach, however, remains active.

What to Know

Celebrities who reportedly own property in the Charleston area include singer-songwriter Darius Rucker, actor Bill Murray, South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball head coach Dawn Staley and reality television star Craig Conover. Singer-songwriter John Cougar Mellencamp owns property further south, in Hilton Head Island.

As of Monday, the South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) has gained controlled or contained nearly all fires raging across the state.

Of the four active fires burning as of 2:13 p.m. Eastern time, only one is of significant size—the 1,600-acre fire burning in Horry County in northeastern South Carolina. The fire will likely continue burning for several days, SCFC Director of Communications Doug Wood told Newsweek, and there's a chance it will continue to spread, but it's roughly 100 miles away from the celebrities living in Charleston.

Other fires that ignited over the weekend are much closer, including four that ignited in Berkeley County, roughly 30 miles away from Charleston. However, those fires were marked as contained on Monday morning, and they have since been removed from SCFC's fire tracker map.

A new active wildfire ignited in Berkeley County on Monday afternoon at 251 Farrell Street, roughly a 40-minute drive northwest of Charleston. SCFC data puts the fire at 0 acres in size.

No fires are documented as burning in Charleston city limits, according to the map. Winds have decreased significantly, and South Carolina is expecting rain by Wednesday, which should reduce the dry fuels available.

What People Are Saying

NWS office in Columbia, South Carolina, in a special weather statement: "The combination of dry fuels & low relative humidity continues to raise concerns for dangerous fire behavior today. The RH levels are expected to increase on Tuesday, but due to increasing winds and ongoing fires, elevated fire danger is expected to continue."

Wood told Newsweek: "Embers can travel up to a mile, so it's entirely possible the fire [in Horry County] can jump the lines."

What Happens Next

A statewide burn ban remains in effect throughout South Carolina. The National Weather Service office for Columbia, South Carolina, warned that fire weather would persist through Tuesday night.

The winter months are always a slow time for the Lowcountry.

Fewer travelers, colder temperatures and holidays all contribute to the slowdown of tourism. But for some businesses, this off-season has felt particularly bad.

February has historically been the slowest time for the island, with travelers and business often picking back up in March.

But why has this off-season felt particularly bad and is it actually worse than others?

Could there be a few reasons why this year’s off-season may be feeling slower than usual to some? And when can you expect business to start picking up again?

Cost is the most important factor when considering travel, from food, to entertainment and even when finding a place to stay.

Hilton Head is home to many short-term rental properties that fluctuate in price depending on the travel season. This year, the off-season prices are climbing to higher rates, which in turn is resulting in fewer visitors.

When looking at available rental properties on three popular sites, Vacasa, Sunset Rentals and Airbnb, here are the lowest and highest-priced rentals for locations that can host two to four people during the month of February.

Vacasa:

Lowest rental price: $80 a night

Highest rental price: $199 a night

Sunset Rentals:

Lowest rental price: $785 weekly rent

Highest rental price: $2,815 weekly rent

Airbnb:

Lowest rental price: $71 a night

Highest rental price: $289 a night

When the Lowcountry experienced snowfall in January, businesses, retail shops, government offices and even the airport shut down for days.

This alone put a damper on tourism and general activity from locals in the area as the ice created hazardous driving conditions days after the initial snow had fallen.

With this wacky weather, many flights and travel plans were delayed or completely canceled and restaurants and businesses that were forced to close lost thousands of dollars.

However, despite the possible rain this week, the sun is still shining and the forecast seems to show that warmer temperatures are on the way.

Both the flu and stomach viruses have been running rampant this year.

In the latest available flu data from the South Carolina Department of Public Health, there are 10,231 lab-confirmed flu tests reported the week of Jan. 26 - Feb. 1.

Flu season usually lasts from October through March but according to the SCDPH, both Beaufort and Jasper counties have seen an increase in cases.

Other illnesses like norovirus (stomach bug) have been a concern too.

But as temperatures begin to warm up, these viruses will weaken, according to the National Institutes of Health.

According to Charlie Clark, spokesperson for the Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, “Tourism is the number one driver of our economy, with an annual economic impact of over $3 billion.”

Hilton Head Island alone sees over 2 million visitors each year and has an $8 million budget in tourism marketing and promotions for 2025. During last year’s peak travel season, hotels, condos and villas were 80% occupied at all times.

But January and February are packed full of activities too, from Restaurant Week, Gullah Celebration, the Seafood Festival and more, there is still plenty to do and explore even if the travel season is slow.

“The off-season is always slower, but we do our best and are lucky to have a good flow of customers even when tourism is down,” said Nicole with Captain Woody’s.

Even though this off-season hasn’t been significantly worse than previous years, with these combined setbacks from the weather, costs and sickness during the slower months, some local businesses have felt the hit.

“This season has definitely been a bit worse than normal for us,” said Paige Shanks with Agave. “We moved restaurant locations too, so we felt the dip.”

However, with the warmer months upon us and the peak season right around the corner, this slump shouldn’t last much longer.

“Post-COVID, visitor patterns have returned to a more traditional seasonal cadence,” Clark said. “Tourism and business traditionally ramp up in March as families choose Hilton Head Island for their spring break getaways, and the RBC Heritage in April often serves as the unofficial kickoff to our peak season.”

This story was originally published February 12, 2025 at 6:00 AM.

The Island Packet

(843) 626-0211

Anna Claire Miller is the Service Journalism Reporter for The Island Packet. Originally from Georgia, she has experience in magazine writing, non-profit communications and city government. Anna Claire has a bachelor’s degree in journalism, legal studies and English from High Point University.