City of Beaufort | July 2020
Your monthly news & updates
Welcome to the City of Beaufort's monthly newsletter. Any feedback? Please send to Kathleen Williams, kwilliams@cityofbeaufort.org.
A reminder: Mask ordinance in effect
Just a reminder – all of Beaufort County, including the City of Beaufort, passed ordinances recently mandating masks in buildings open to the public. For the City of Beaufort, this includes both the public and employees.

City Council passed its ordinance at an emergency meeting on June 28. For months, public health experts have urged people to wear masks covering their nose and mouth when in an enclosed public space, or if unable to socially distance outside. Given the rising numbers of Covid 19 in both South Carolina and Beaufort County, City leaders took this essential step so that another shutdown can be averted.

Beaufort County Council, and town councils in Hilton Head, Port Royal and Bluffton, passed similar ordinances last week.



We thank you for keeping our community safer by wearing a mask! #togetherbft

Where you can find free masks

Mayor Billy Keyserling took the lead in the last month in helping local businesses provide masks for customers who entered without one. He is now working with the International Medical Corps to bring more masks to underserved communities.

You can get a free mask at the following establishments. Please consider patronizing the establishment while you are there. Read more here.

Contribute to free masks

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to Beaufort Pride of Place to help provide more free masks to keep our community safe, here is how to do that:

By check:
Make payable to City of Beaufort, Pride of Place and mail to 1911 Boundary St., Beaufort, SC 29902.

The Pride of Place website tells you have to make a donation online.


Safe Commitment

Many thanks to our merchants and other local employers who have embraced the Beaufort Area Hospitality Association’s Safe Commitment.

By making the Safe Commitment, a business pledges to develop, implement and maintain a plan unique to its enterprise to properly clean and disinfect public spaces and follow recommended CDC guidelines to mitigate spread of COVID-19.

Businesses that sign up online will receive a Safe Commitment decal for their storefront and a Safe Commitment packet loaded with resources to help fulfill the pledge.

Find out more at www.bftsafe.com.

Easy to do business with us virtually

Reminder: It’s easy to do business with the City both online and through the phone. Read more here. 

Sign up for BHM's newsletter

Beaufort Memorial Hospital is now offering a weekly newsletter dedicated to Covid-19 updates. Sign up here.

Latest from DHEC:

DHEC has several pages dedicated to information and data about Covid-19. You can drill down on the data here. Here are the numbers as of July 6:

South Carolina
Total positive cases: 46,247
Total tests: 482,722
Total deaths: 819

Beaufort County
Total positive cases: 1,510
Total deaths: 22

Note: Beaufort Memorial Hospital is planning to hold community testing events in the near future. We will be sharing information about that on our Facebook page.
Filing deadline is Aug. 14
for City Council, mayor seats

Are you interested in serving your community through local elective office?

Here is your chance: The City of Beaufort will have three seats up for election in November: the mayor’s seat, and two City Council seats. The filing deadline is Aug. 14.

City passes budget

The City of Beaufort passed its FY 2020-21 budget on June 23. The $22.9 million budget reflects the leaner environment we are facing.

Have you completed
the 2020 Census?
If you have not taken 10 minutes to complete the 2020 Census, please do! It's important that the United States, and South Carolina (not to mention the City of Beaufort) have an accurate count of all those who live here. Census data determines representation in the House of Representatives, and how billions of dollars in federal funds are apportioned.

Helpful newsletters from county
Substance abuse services
The Beaufort County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Department provides services day or night in both its Bluffton and Beaufort locations by appointment. If you or somebody you know is struggling with substance misuse or recovery, contact the department to make an appointment today at 843-255-6000 (Beaufort) or 843-255-6020 (Bluffton/HHI). Dial 911 in case of an emergency.

The department accepts Medicaid, most third-party pay insurance, and offers payment plan options. It also provides free community 5-minute Narcan training.

The department’s newsletter The Butterfly Effect: Every Effort Matters! can be sent to your email each month. Sign up here.
Human Services Alliance
The mission of the Beaufort County Human Services Alliance is to promote and sustain activities that improve the quality of life for all Beaufort County residents by creating coordinated, comprehensive, and integrated systems of human services.

The alliance produces a newsletter every two weeks that includes helpful information about free community events, grant opportunities, professional human service training, and employment in the human services sector. 

A virtual tour of Beaufort's
history at the Verdier House
The John Mark Verdier House, which has not yet reopened to the public, continues to offer virtual tours of the home, which lots of Beaufort history in the mix.

This month you can enjoy two new editions of Postcripts with Diane and Jamie.
Welcome, new businesses!
Every month we'll feature the new businesses that have opened in Beaufort, as described in the owners' own words.

Tidal Creek Haven

200 Carteret St. 
Mon-Sat: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sun: noon-4 p.m.

Tidal Creek Haven is a family-owned and operated lifestyle shop located in historic downtown Beaufort. The Haven is born from the love of creating natural, warm and inviting spaces in our homes. Our shop is an environment that will help you relax, bring a smile to your face and encourage you to stay and browse a while, by bringing nature and the outdoors inside. We provide unique items such as one-of-a-kind handcrafted driftwood furniture, indoor gardening plants and materials, gifts, handmade wreaths, and other accessories to make your house a home. 

Happy anniversary, Bathe!
Congratulations to Bathe, which is celebrating its second anniversary all month!

The shop, at 210 Scott St., which is known for its handcrafted soap and body products, is offering these promotions: 

  • Double loyalty points! Earn 2 points for every $20 transaction.
  • Weekly giveaway! Soap for a year! Earn entry with each purchase.
  • Wine Wednesdays! Complimentary wine while you shop.
  • Surprise ding-dong deliveries! We might be at your door this month with a special 'Thank you' gift!

On Aug. 1, the store will have a drawing for soap for life! Earn entry with each purchase in the month of July.

Meetings in July
City Council
5 p.m. July 14 Work Session
7 p.m. July 14 Regular Session

5 p.m. July 21 Work Session
.
Meetings will be held via Zoom and streamed on the City's Facebook page. You can find agendas closer to the date of the meeting on our website's Agenda Center.

Note: After the July meetings, City Council will convene again in September.

City boards, task forces
Historic Review Board, 2 p.m. July 8
Design Review Board, 2 p.m. July 9
Metropolitan Planning Commission, 5 p.m., July 20
Cultural District Advisory Board, 2 p.m., July 16

Meetings will be held via Zoom and streamed on the City's Facebook page. You can find agendas closer to the date of the meeting on our website's Agenda Center.