Bluffton News

The Beaufort County Library Bluffton Branch is beginning renovations that are estimated to last several months. The library will be open with the same hours, but the main portion of the library will be closed. The library’s entryway and large meeting room will serve as a “miniature pop-up” library for the coming months as the renovation project begins. Updates will be posted on the library system’s Bluffton Renovation page and Facebook page. For more information, call 843-255-6497. 

The Rotary Club of Bluffton canceled 2021 Mayfest due to the COVID-19 concerns. This would have been the event’s 43rd year. 

“We look forward to better days ahead and to hosting Mayfest in 2022,” a news release said. 

The rehabilitation of the Garvin-Garvey House in Bluffton was recognized with a statewide award.

The South Carolina chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIASC) awarded Charleston historic preservation firm Meadors Inc. a Citation Award for Adaptive Reuse and Preservation for the project, the Town of Bluffton said.

The Town contracted Meadors Inc. and its architects and historic preservationists for research and the blueprint for the Garvin-Garvey House’s preservation and rehabilitation.

Scott Marshall was named the Town of Bluffton’s interim manager. Marshall, who has been deputy town manager since 2015, was appointed after Marc Orlando resigned from the position Jan. 4. According to the town’s website, Marshall began working for Beaufort County in 2009. He was executive director of the Board of Elections and Registration until June 2013 when he was hired as Parks and Leisure Services director.

Bluffton has been cited as the safest place to live in South Carolina according to safety.com. Ranked No. 1 on the list that was revealed in December, Bluffton is recognized for “exceptional” public safety statistics.

Safety.com used comprehensive ranking factors that included public safety and financial security metrics to determine a complete view of community safety, it said.

This year’s Christmas parade in Bluffton will be a socially distanced celebration. The town of Bluffton plans to host a “reverse” Christmas Parade on Dec. 5. The parade’s entrants will be stationary on May River Road as spectators drive by. Entrants will be positioned a minimum of 10 feet from each other and a safe distance from the traveling vehicles, the town said. No candy or promotional items may be distributed. The parade begins at 10 a.m. 

The Bluffton Township Fire District has opened Station 38. The facility, its ninth fire station, is off Raider Drive and Hampton Parkway. 

The building is Category 5 rated. It will be the district’s emergency operations center during natural disasters. The station was built for $3.4 million 

Stephenie Price was sworn in last month as the Town of Bluffton’s police chief. She’s the first woman to lead Bluffton’s police department.

The ceremony was held at the Bluffton Police Department at Buckwalter Place. Price has more than 21 years of law enforcement experience. She was most recently assistant police chief with the Savannah Police Department. In Savannah, Price supervised the administration and management bureau of the department.

Stephenie Price has been named the new Bluffton Police Department Police Chief.  Price, who serves as assistant chief of police for the Savannah Police Department, will begin her new role Oct. 12, a town news release said.

“Stephenie’s combined depth of law enforcement experience and knowledge of our region is why she is the perfect choice for Bluffton,” Bluffton Town Manager Marc Orlando said. “Throughout Stephenie’s career, she has built a strong reputation for responsiveness, accountability, and innovation.”