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Hello Again from Dataw Island!

We all know that Dataw Island is one of the most idyllic communities in the Southeast to call home. We have great weather year round, beautiful scenery just outside our back door, a diversity of wildlife to admire and more amenities than can be enjoyed in a lifetime. But, one of the most important attributes about living on Dataw Island is our residents.

We are blessed to have neighbors on Dataw Island who are more like family than just the people living next door. And, the Dataw community is always ready to take on any project or cause to help others who need help or are less fortunate.

On Monday, August 10, Dataw will hold our third Lowcountry Community Blood Center Drive of the year which will run from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and will be held in the Community Center. All blood donated will be used at Beaufort Memorial Hospital.

Dataw resident Sue Chatham will once again spearhead the Dataw blood drive and has set a goal on collecting 50 units of blood this time. During our May blood drive, 80 units of blood were collected and a second day was added in order to collect all of the donations. Since so many residents are on vacation or out of town, the summer is traditionally a harder time to get people out to donate blood.
Here's a word to the wise - you should probably go ahead and sign up for the blood drive as Sue will definitely be contacting you about participating. One of the reasons for her success with the May Blood drive was her persistence. She'll leave no stone unturned in her attempts to help the Lowcountry Blood Center.

Hope to see you on Monday, August 10!

See you around the Island,

Silvia

Beaufort, SC is a charming slow-paced city located on South Carolina's Beaufort River at Port Royal Sound. This low country coastal city is filled with wonders from days gone by, with its collection of antebellum mansions, live oaks draped with Spanish moss, and quaint palm-lined streets. Horse drawn carriages still delight the tourists who visit this beautiful location where time seemingly stands still. The Southern charm and appeal of Beaufort's historic architecture reached all the way to Hollywood when it was featured in the hit movie Forrest Gump in the mid-1990s.

The history of the city dates back almost 500 years. First discovered by Spanish explorers in 1514, Beaufort has been home to several military forts used during the Colonial Wars, Spanish Wars, and the Civil War between the North and the South. Several area museums have retained artifacts from these eras and are displayed most notably in the Beaufort Museum, the Parris Island Museum, and the Heyward House Historic Center. Each of these museums are open to the public year round and provide an excellent account of both military and everyday life within the region.

The area also hosts a number of historical churches. The Tabernacle Baptist Church on Craven St. was built in the 1800s and was later purchased by its 500 black members. The churchyard is the resting place of Robert Smalls, the first black Congressman from SC and a former slave. During the Civil War, St. Helena's Episcopal Church on Newcastle St. was used as a hospital for the Union Army. The founder of Beaufort Town, Col. John "Tuscarora Jack" Bamwell is buried beneath the church's dome vault. After the Civil War, The Brick Baptist Church on Land's End Rd., was used as a community center, school and church during the Reconstruction period, for both Northern abolitionists and slaves that had been freed. The church has now been designated as part of the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District.

The annual Spring Tour of Homes, which allows locals and visitors alike to stroll through the area's magnificent plantation homes and gardens. The event has been hosted by the St. Helena's Women of the Parish group since 1956, and features a candlelight tour, gospel singers, and other local entertainment. Tickets for the accompanying boat tour of the area often sell out weeks prior to the actual event. Throughout the year, additional events are held which spotlight the region's most talented artists and craftsmen, many of whom have created crafts and wares that are indicative of both the Southern culture and the historical aspects of the area.

Beaufort has been repeatedly awarded for its charm, art, culture, and vacation spot appeal. The town has been included in the list for "Best Small Southern Town by Southern Living magazine, and National Geographic's "Top 50 Adventure Towns"; have enjoyed the prestige of being a finalist in the "Top 25 Small City Arts Destinations", and even landed a spot on the sport fishing enthusiasts magazine Field & Streams' "Top 20 Fishing Towns".

Beaufort, South Carolina is a gorgeous place to own real estate. There are lots of private and gated communities offering an allusive and very secure feel. A lot of the communities are oceanfront and historic. Beaufort is still a small town with historic mansions, gorgeous shimmering bay, large oak trees and lots of waterways.

Beaufort offers a healthy lifestyle with lots of outdoor pursuits including biking, boating, fishing, hiking and kayaking. One can pursue the sport of fishing year-round here. Usually the fisherman's dilemma is not when to fish but what to fish because of the vast array of options. There are trout, flounder, sheephead and red-fish to name a few. Hiking is a wonderful option at the Hunting Island State Park. There are water sports available there as well as other activities such as crabbing, shelling, swimming and picnicking.

The city is famous for its gorgeous and impressive harbor and for the historic marks and architecture. It is also known for its military establishments. It is also known for having a very southern style of living. It is only one hour away from Charleston. At Beaufort you can enjoy fishing lakes, boat ramp and waterfront lodges. Owning property here would be very enjoyable because it is so easy to relax in a place like this. In August there is the Beaufort Water Festival that lasts for about 6 weeks. It's a great time to visit the city.

The islands offer a beautiful Beaufort private community just along Battery Creek. It is enclosed by greenery, marshes and water and is a great exclusive place to live. You can flee urban congestion there and really be around nature. These private communities offer a chance for anyone to enjoy the true sense of community. It's a place where children can enjoy the afternoon out in the neighborhood and where fishing, crabbing and shrimping are regular activities. Relaxation is a common theme in Beaufort. Many of the properties even have their own private dock.

Once you visit you may recognize Beaufort from "Forrest Gump." Many movies make this city the tranquil background for their movies. But the city does offer the thrill-seeker many options. One can go to the restaurants, shops or to the fun festivals. There are also the water sports such as wake boarding, jet skiing and water-tubing that are fast and adventurous.

Beaufort has all of the charm one would expect from a private community type of lifestyle. The people are friendly and comfortable and always willing to give advice. The many rivers and the Atlantic Ocean are always giving thrills and fun to all that enjoy the water. There is a closeness of family and friends that you just don't find too often these days. The water offers many activities too. The climate and environment are very attractive to people as well. If you enjoy the warm weather, waking up to the scent of the sea breeze, and being close to other Southern cities then Beaufort is for you.

I have been looking for a new place to vacation lately and I received a great tip from one of my friends that I should check out Beaufort, South Carolina because it offers something for everyone. I'm sure glad I did because I feel I stumbled on a real gem, and I'm looking forward to spending a lot of time in such a great beach town that has so much history and character.

Beaufort was founded in 1711 and is the second oldest city in South Carolina after Charleston. This beautiful town is located on the Hilton Head Island and has been featured in the New York Times newspaper, and was called one of the top 20 fishing towns in the U.S by field and stream magazine. It is a small town with only 12,950 population inside the city itself and is known for it's impressive harbor and retaining its historic character featuring the antebellum style of architecture.

The history of Beaufort is fascinating. It seems that Europeans had explored the Lowland area for some time and a few settlements were attempted, but failed before Beaufort was established in 1711. At first the settlement faced difficulties from attacks by Native Americans and Spanish invasions made the town grow slowly. Later the town flourished as a center for ship builders. Then during the antebellum period it became a center for the aristocrats of the Low land plantation economy up until the civil war. During the war Beaufort was taken by the Union in the Battle of Port Royal and became a major center for the emancipation of slaves in south.

After the war it became a mining town because an abundance of phosphate was found and again the city flourished, until a fire in 1907 destroyed part of the city caused economic turmoil for almost fifty years. Beaufort has made an amazing recovery over the last fifty years due to the increasing military presence and booming tourist industry. The original town of Beaufort can be found in the historic district located downtown.

Downtown is considered to be anything that is found on the peninsula that sticks out into the Beaufort River, east of Ribaut Road. Other areas of the town are Spanish point, Mossy oaks, and Lady's island which has been annexed by the city. There is also the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort which became part of the city during the 90's expanding the city limits close the nearby Seabrook community. Beaufort is a popular and romantic getaway town for those looking to experience a little history, beautiful surroundings and festivals. The shrimp festival is quite famous and was noted by Southeast Tourism Society's top 20 events and celebrates one of the local industries. You might even spot one of Beaufort's more famous residents like actor Tom Berenger or Hip hop artist Jazzy Jay.

You never know who you will run into on the historic streets here. Beaufort is a small town that is popular with tourists because of its natural beauty, interesting history and well preserved antebellum architecture. I hope everyone can experience the beauty and have a nice time in Beaufort South Carolina.