Hilton Head Town Council voted to expand its Land Management Ordinance which will primarily benefit properties in the historic Gullah Geechee neighborhoods. The ordinance will define and include uses for family compounds and family subdivisions, a news release said. The family compound amendment allows multiple homes to be built on a single parcel of land with decreased setbacks, buffers, and access widths.

The Town of Bluffton Municipal General Election is set for Nov. 2. Two council seats are up for election: Mayor Pro Tempore/ Councilmember, held by Fred Hamilton, and the council seat held by Larry Toomer. The filing period for candidates began Aug. 3 and ends 12 p.m. Sept. 3. For more i nformation, email kchapman@townofbluffton.com or call 843-706-4505. 

University of South Carolina Beaufort senior Bethany McDonald launched Finnegan’s Sharing Shack July 31 at Driessen Beach Park. The initiative is designed to reduce waste and promote sustainability by recycling beach gear for free for visitors and locals, a Town of Hilton Head news release said. McDonald and Haven Banks, also a USCB student, encourage beachgoers to take what they need from an array of toys, tents, towels, chaise lounges and more. The inventory at Finnegan’s Sharing Shack is salvaged from the beach and collected from local resorts, sanitized and offered to new owners.

May River High School has been authorized to offer the Cambridge International Secondary Program for students ages 11 to 19. Cambridge International provides students with a world-class curriculum, high-quality support for teachers, and integrated assessment. May River High School will initially participate in the Cambridge Upper Secondary stage and transition to Cambridge Advanced. 

Hilton Head Island Mayor John McCann signed a local state of emergency in response to increasing COVID-19 cases and transmission. The emergency order went into effect Aug. 16. McCann encourages residents to wear masks in enclosed areas with other individuals; get an approved COVID-19 vaccine; practicing good hand hygiene; and practicing social distancing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, a news release said.

Palmetto Dunes Tennis & Pickleball Center will host the Association of Pickleball Professionals Hilton Head Open, scheduled for Oct. 13-17. The APP Hilton Head Open at Palmetto Dunes is a “golden ticket qualifier” for amateurs and professionals for Nationals held at Indian Wells in California this December. 

Bluffton resident Gustavo Gomez Jr., a 14-year-old at May River High School, competed recently at the Baseball Factory National World Series. The July event in Bradenton, Fla., featured top players from the country. He played second base, right field and first base. Gomez Jr. was also picked to compete next January at the Baseball Factory Pre-Season All American Rookie Tournament. 

The Heritage Library launched a new video series, “Our Storied Island.” The series is a “true celebration of the history of our Island and the people behind it,” said Heritage Library Executive Director Barbara Catenaci. To view the series, visit heritagelib.org/video-stories.

The Palmetto Theater, a landmark in the town of Hampton since 1946, has reopened after technological upgrades and repairs. The theater will show movies twice a month, a news release said. For more information, visit HamptonCountyArts.org or email PalmettoTheaterSC@gmail.com.