Personal Injury Attorneyin Beaufort, SC.

Easter is right around the corner with the holiday taking place on Sunday.

Are you still on the lookout for an Easter egg hunt for your little one to enjoy? If so, there are still some local egg hunts set to take place this weekend and the Easter bunny might just make an appearance.

Here are four public Easter egg hunts set to take place in Beaufort County this week.

Head on over to Beaufort’s Community Bible Church, located at 638 Parris Island Gateway, for their annual Easter Eggstravaganza on Saturday. This free Easter event will take place from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. and will include train rides, free egg hunts for kids, puppet shows, picnics, face painting, bounce houses, candy and plenty of food for everyone.

Salty Dog’s Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt and Waterfront Breakfast on the south end of Hilton Head Island is set to occur on Saturday. The egg hunt will take place from 10- 11 a.m. on April 8 at 232 South Sea Pines Drive. The waterfront breakfast will begin at 8 a.m. and the egg hunt promptly at 10 a.m. Kids will have the chance to hunt for over 10,000 colorful Easter eggs at this event with different age group “hunting grounds.” There will also be an abundance of sweet treats to enjoy as well as fun prizes to win. The Easter Bunny will make a surprise visit at this event, along with Jake, the Salty Dog.

St. Helena Branch Library’s Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt is set to take place on Saturday. The egg hunt will take place at the St. Helena Branch Library, located at 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road in St. Helena Island, between noon to 1 p.m. Saturday. Registration for this event is required, but there will be games, prizes, food and fun, and kids will even receive a take home craft. If you attend, don’t forget to bring your little one’s Easter egg basket to collect their eggs.

Skull Creek Boathouse and Skull Creek Dockside’s 13th Annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place on at 11 a.m. Sunday. This event is intended for children 8 years old and under. At this event, kids will have the chance to hunt for eggs, get their face painted and get a photo with the Easter Bunny. Guests may also enjoy the event’s Easter Brunch Buffet, which will occur at 10 a.m.

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., will open its newest restaurant in South Carolina next month in an area of Beaufort that’s being invigorated with new retail development and restaurants.

Often known simply as Chipotle, the Newport Beach, California-based chain of fast casual restaurants specializes in bowls, tacos and Mission burritos made to order in front of the customer.

“We are planning to open the first Chipotle in Beaufort in March,” Chipotle spokesperson Sally Evans told the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet.

Specifically, Chipotle says on its website, a March 6 opening is planned.

The new Chipotle is located in Beaufort Plaza shopping center at the busy intersection of Robert Smalls Parkway and Boundary Street. Its address is 21 Robert Smalls Parkway but the restaurant fronts Boundary Street and is across from Walgreens.

It will have a drive-through for pickup of digital orders, Evans said.

The Chipotle will be the second in Beaufort County — the other is at Bluffton’s first Tanger Outlet Mall at 1250 Fording Island Road — and the 36th in South Carolina.

As of Dec. 31, Evans said, Chipotle had nearly 3,200 restaurants nationwide. It is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants.

Chipotle is hiring in Beaufort, Evans said. On average, there are 25 jobs per restaurant that carry competitive benefits including a crew bonus, a debt-free college degree program (including English as a second language) and access to mental healthcare for employees and families.

Several new businesses have opened at Beaufort Plaza, which is owned by Paul Trask, following the completion of a $33 million redevelopment of Boundary Street in 2018 to make one of the city’s main thoroughfares more welcoming while encouraging development.

In July, a long-awaited Publix grocery store opened. The 48,387-square-foot store is located at 33 Robert Smalls Parkway. Burkes HomeCentric, a discount home goods retailer, also is open for business.

Five Guys, known for its hand-crafted burgers, is going up across from McDonald’s. And a Lowcountry Urgent Care is planned next to Chipotle.

The new facilities are joining existing tenants Burkes Outlet, Staples, Big Lots, Aaron’s appliance and electronics store and a U.S. Post Office.

This story was originally published February 24, 2023, 3:32 PM.

From staff reports

Beaufort City Council has announced the three finalists for the open City Manager position. The public was to have a chance to meet them from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the Landing Pad at 500 Carteret Street.

The three finalists are: Reece Bertholf, City of Beaufort Deputy City Manager; Matthew DeWitt, City of Newberry City Manager; and Scott Marshall, Beaufort County Director of Human Resources.

Beaufort’s search for a new city manager began immediately after Bill Prokop, the current city manager, announced in late September that he would retire from his position in January 2023. The position was advertised nationally, and the application period went from Sept. 28 through Oct. 21, 2022.

The Municipal Association of South Carolina helped in the screening of candidates. The process included a teamwork/leadership assessment, and initial interviews of the top candidates. The City had 23 applicants from 12 states.

On Nov. 30, City Council members were to conduct final interviews with the candidates. That was followed by the open house for the public to meet the finalists.

City Council is expected to make its decision by the middle of December.

Profiles of the finalists, in alphabetical order:

Reece Bertholf

Bertholf is currently deputy city manager for the City of Beaufort. He is a native of Minnesota, and enlisted in the Marines after high school. He served in the Marines from 1997 to 2001 in Okinawa, Japan, and in Beaufort. In 2001, he began his career with the Beaufort/Port Royal Fire Department, working his way up through the ranks. He became fire chief in 2015, and was named deputy city manager in July 2021.

Bertholf has a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of South Carolina Beaufort, and an MBA from The Citadel. He also has an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Bertholf is a graduate of Leadership Beaufort, Leadership South Carolina, and the Diversity Leadership Initiative at the Riley Institute at Furman University. He is a member of the International City and County Management Association. He is currently chairman of the board for Riverview Charter School and the Child Abuse Prevention Association.

He and his wife, Mikie, have two children, and live in Beaufort.

Matthew DeWitt

DeWitt is currently city manager for the City of Newberry, S.C. He has served in that position since 2016. From 2012 to 2016, he was assistant city manager of Newberry. He also served as director of Community & Economic Development for Newberry. From 2004 to 2010, he held various positions at Newberry College, most recently as executive director of the Athletics Club and Athletic Development.

DeWitt has a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from Newberry College, and a Master’s in Athletic Administration from Troy University. He has a Master of Public Administration from Clemson University, and is a graduate of the S.C. Local Government Management Training Program and S.C. Economic Development Institute.

He is a board member of the Newberry Opera House and Clinton Newberry Natural Gas Authority. He is a member of the International City and County Management Association.

He and his wife, Jessica, have three children.

Scott Marshall

Marshall is currently director of Human Resources for Beaufort County. He is a native of Danville, Va., and is a retired U.S. Air Force officer, having served for 23 years. After his military career, he was appointed executive director of the Beaufort County Board of Elections & Voter Registration. In 2013, he became director of the Beaufort County Parks & Leisure Services. He then became deputy town manager for the Town of Bluffton, and was named interim town manager in January 2021. In July 2021, he rejoined Beaufort County in his current position.

Marshall has a Bachelor of Science in political science and psychology from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Public Administration from American Public University. He also has a Master Certificate in Human Resources Management from Villanova University. He is a graduate of the Gettysburg Leadership Institute. He is a member of the International City and County Management Association and is the co-author of an ICMA publication on hiring veterans in local government.

He and his wife, Virginia, live in Beaufort and have two children.

Ten Beaufort County food businesses were cited with grades below an “A” in routine health inspections in March by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control:

Cheap Seats Tavern 2, 142A Burnt Church Road in Bluffton, scored an 80% (B) in a routine inspection on March 9. Among the issues noted: Employee not using gloves properly, lack of chlorine in the chemical dish machine, food holding temperature issues, pizza by the slice not time-stamped, and dough pans stored on top of a trash can.

The restaurant was reinspected on March 16 and scored a 100% (A).

Circle K #5386, 114 Sea Island Parkway in Beaufort, was inspected three times in March. It had scored an 85% (B) in a February inspection because of evidence of rodent activity, among other issues. It was reinspected March 10, March 20 and March 30 and still had its B rating at the end of the month.

The store agreed to voluntarily stop selling prepared food and drinks and packaged convenience foods to focus on cleaning and pest control.

Fuji Yama, 48 Burnt Church Road, Suite DE in Bluffton, scored a 73% (C) in a routine inspection on March 23. Among the issues noted: The person in charge does not have a food-handlers certificate, hand-washing violation, escolar labeled as white tuna on menu, raw shrimp and steak stored above ready-to-eat sauces, rice holding temperature too low, evidence of rodents and insects, bagged onions and open containers of sauces stored on the floor, plastic cups without handles in food bins in dry storage area, equipment in poor condition, and an accumulation of grease, grit and grime on all non-food contact surfaces throughout the facility.

The restaurant had not been reinspected by publication time.

Grand Hilton Head Inn, 36 S. Forest Beach Drive on Hilton Head, scored an 86% (B) in a routine inspection on March 10. Among the issues noted: No paper towels at the hand washing station, unlabeled chemical spray bottles and residential pesticide stored under the hand-washing station, evidence of rodent activity in several areas, facility maintenance issues and dirty floors in the back storage room.

The hotel was reinspected on March 20 and scored a 100% (A).

Hilton Garden Inn, 1575 Fording Island Road in Bluffton, scored an 84% (B) in a routine inspection on March 23. Among the issues noted: Rear hand-washing sink without soap or paper towels, spoiled produce in the cooler, problems with the temperature and pressure of the warewashing machine, and food held at an improper temperature and past the discard date.

The hotel was reinspected on March 24 and scored a 100% (A).

La Nopolera, 5 Sams Point Road in Beaufort, scored an 85% (B) in a routine inspection on March 13. Among the issues noted: The person in charge does not have a food-handlers certificate, food holding temperature issues in several areas, ingredients not labeled, chicken wings and beef cubes stored in a way that could lead to contamination, and surfaces and equipment in need of cleaning and repair.

The restaurant was reinspected on March 16 and scored a 93%. Even though that normally would merit an A grade, the restaurant was given a B because a prep unit cooler was not holding food at a low enough temperature. The facility will discontinue use of the cooler until it is replaced or repaired.

The restaurant was reinspected on March 27 and scored a 98% (A).

La Tampiquena Mexican Restaurant, 4376 Bluffton Parkway, Suite 201, in Bluffton, scored an 82% (B) in a routine inspection on March 1. Among the issues noted: The person in charge does not have a food-handlers certificate, food being thawed and prepped in an unclean sink, food holding temperature issues, items in cooler without dates, dry goods stored without labels on the containers, soiled wiping cloths stored improperly, and a dishwasher in need of cleaning.

The store was reinspected on March 9 and scored a 100% (A).

Old Bull Tavern, 205 West St. in Beaufort, scored an 83% (B) in a routine inspection on March 24. Among the issues noted: Food holding temperature issues; fruit flies in the bar area; in-use kitchen knives stored in sanitizer water; broken and unclean containers, utensils, liquor bottles and shelves; and cleaning and repairs needed in multiple areas, including the mechanical dishwasher.

The store was reinspected on March 28 and scored a 100% (A).

Taqueira Las Abuelitas, a food truck listed under the address 20 Sable Drive, Suite 2, in Bluffton, scored a 96% in a follow-up inspection on March 6. Even though that normally would merit an A grade, the business was given a B because of violations that had not been remedied after a February inspection. Among the issues noted: A hose attached to a water spigot without back flow prevention, and grease and water dumped on the ground.

The business was reinspected on March 16 and scored a 100% (A).

The Foolish Frog Three, 846 Sea Island Parkway on St. Helena, scored an 81% (B) in a routine inspection on March 29. Among the issues noted: Employee hand-washing violation and lack of soap and paper towels at the hand-washing sink, in-use pans with heavy carbon buildup and leftover food residue, unclean cooking equipment and utensils stored with clean equipment and utensils, chemicals stored near food items, improper thawing of fish, evidence of rodents, and other kitchen facility and equipment maintenance and cleaning issues, including unclean floors and ceilings.

The restaurant was reinspected on April 7 and scored a 95% (A).

Inspectors hand out a grade of A, B or C, depending on the conditions found at the time. Points are docked for a variety of infractions, and restaurants have a chance to correct the problems and improve their score.

During March, DHEC recorded 196 inspections of restaurants, schools, stores and other food establishments in Beaufort County. The agency publishes the results of health inspections on its website.

Newer food grade decals will include a QR code that customers can scan with their phones to see the food establishment’s latest report.

Below are the SC DHEC restaurant grades in Beaufort County from March 1-31, 2023.

At the top left of the chart, there is a space to search for the name of a restaurant. Please note that this month’s inspections take up two pages. Switch to page 2 at the top right.

This story was originally published April 13, 2023, 9:27 AM.

More than 75,000 votes were cast in the third round of voting in our quest to find the best pizza in Beaufort County, and we are down to two finalists.

The winner will be named just in time for National Pi Day (March 14 or 3/14), which many celebrate by having a slice of pizza.

Here’s a little bit more about the two restaurants advancing to the final round:

Mama G’s is the newcomer to Beaufort County, having opened in the spring of 2022 in Moss Creek Village, on the Bluffton side of the bridges to Hilton Head Island.

Glen Grace, who is originally from New Jersey, owns and operates the business with his wife and three adult children. They prepare pizza, calzone and stromboli with fermented pizza dough, which Grace says makes it more flavorful and more digestible.

Pizzas at Mama G’s come in a 12-inch or 18-inch rounds. The menu lists a cheese pizza for $14.50 or $22, depending on the size.

Also on the menu: Italian salads, appetizers and Marion’s Gelato.

▪ Where: 1533 Fording Island Road, Suite 302, Bluffton

▪ Hours: Noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday

▪ Phone: 843-543-MAMA

▪ Website: mamagpizzahhi.com

▪ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mamagpizza

Local Pie started offering its Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizza at a location on the south end of Hilton Head, and it proved so popular that a second location opened in Old Town Bluffton in 2016.

Chef Lee Lucier is chief operating officer of the Richardson Group, which owns both Local Pie locations along with FISH at Coligny Plaza on Hilton Head. Lucier has long been an advocate for hospitality workers, who are provided with no-cost health insurance at the three restaurants.

The Local Pie website says that Local in the name not only means “the highest quality, regionally-sourced ingredients ... (but) also represents a sense of community.”

Pizzas come in 10-inch or 16-inch rounds. The menu lists a cheese pizza for $9 or $17, depending on the size.

Also on the menu: Starters, salads, calzones and subs. Delivery is available from both locations through Cool Delivery.

▪ Where: 55 New Orleans Road, Suite 106, Hilton Head

▪ Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

▪ Phone: 843-387-PIES

▪ Website: localpie.com

▪ Facebook: www.facebook.com/localpiehhi

☆

▪ Where: 15 State of Mind St., Bluffton

▪ Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. Monday; 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday brunch

▪ Phone: 843-837-PIES

▪ Website: localpie.com

▪ Facebook: www.facebook.com/localpiebluff

If social media has taught us anything, it’s that people have strong feelings about pizza, and they aren’t afraid to share them.

We decided to settle the debate. We asked Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette readers for nominations for the best pizza joint in Beaufort County. Hundreds of responses poured in, and the top 16 nominees were included the first round of voting. Consecutive rounds of voting cut the field in half and in half again.

In the most recent round, Dough Boys Pizza, located at 1 New Orleans Road on Hilton Head, finished third, and La Pizzeria, located at 1460 Fording Island Road, near the Tanger 2 Outlets in Bluffton, finished fourth.

Now, in our final round, the slate is wiped clean, and this is anyone’s game to win.

Scroll down to the bottom of this page. After verifying you are human, cast your vote.

You can vote as often as you like. Just refresh the page and confirm your humanity to get back to the poll. Because of this, our polls are not meant to be scientific, but they are a lot of fun! The only prize is bragging rights.

Voting in this round ends at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 10.

Watch islandpacket.com for the announcement of the winner.

This story was originally published February 20, 2023, 2:56 PM.