Around town

EVENTS

•The four candidates for Beaufort mayor will be the special guests of the Northern Beaufort County Democratic Club at its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Sea Island Conference Center, 178 Sams Point Rd.

The candidates will give stump speeches and answer questions. Sign-ups and training for poll watchers in the Nov. 4 general election will also be conducted. Details: 843-522-9948.

•The 18th Annual Beaufort Art Association and Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation Benefit and Sale will open with a reception from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday in the registration lobby on the first floor. Refreshments will be served. Admission is free. Art will be displayed in the hallways adjacent to the registration lobby, around the corner from the main entrance reception desk. The exhibit will run through Dec. 5.

The BMH Foundation has been the fundraising arm of the hospital for the past 20 years and has been successful in raising funds for health care for the community. The Beaufort Art Association receives no revenue from the exhibit. The exhibit may be viewed daily during the hospital's regular visiting hours. Details: 843-522-5774 or bmhsc.org or beaufortartassociation.com.

CLASSES AND SEMINARS

•Eight Tai Chi classes will be offered from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Nov. 5 at ArtWorks, 2127 Boundary St. The cost is $80. Registration is required. Details: 843-271-3258 or jw@beaufortcountyarts.com.

MEETINGS AND CLUBS

•Alzheimer's Family Services of Greater Beaufort will host a new Caregivers Support Group from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays beginning today at Wesley United Methodist Church Social Hall, at Duke and West Streets.

This group is open to all those who are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's Disease or other forms of Dementia.

The focus of the group, understanding the disease process, tips on easing your stress and thoughts and insight's from others who are or have been caregivers.

No registration needed. Details: 843-252-8754.

•The Public Speaking & Leadership Club meeting is at 5:30 p.m. today in the Lowcountry Medical Center Community Room, Port Royal.

The group meets at 5:30 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of every month. Guests and new members are welcome. Details: 843-252-9966 or info@egSebastian.com.

•National Active and Retired Federal Employees meet at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Golden Corral, 122 Robert Smalls Parkway. Bonnie Sell, of Blue Cross/Blue Shield, will review coverage updates. Details: 843-846-6415.

•The Lowcountry Civil War Round Table will meet at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday in the Bluffton High School auditorium.

Joan Chachonas, president of the Mary Surrat Society, will discuss the intrigue, panic and anger that engulfed the North as Union forces rushed to avenge Lincoln's murder. Did Mary Surrat deserve the hangman's noose? Guests pay $5 at the door.

Details: 843-645-4130 or lowcountrycwrt.com.

•The Beaufort Shag Club will dance at AMVETS, 1831 Ribaut Road, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. Burger plates can be purchase from the AMVETS, Z Man until 7 p.m. The monthly Saturday dance is from 8 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday. The dance floor will open to all shaggers.

Details: 843-524-3732 or beaufortshagclub.com.

•The Beaufort Harbormasters, the local chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society continues its weekly two-hour rehearsals beginning at 6:45 p.m. each Monday in the choir room of the Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady's Island Drive, Lady's Island.

Details: 843-838-2401.

•LowCountry Habitat for Humanity will conduct meetings for families living or working in northern Beaufort County who are interested in learning about the organization's affordable housing program.

The second meeting is at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Helena Baptist Church. The third meeting is at 6 p.m. Thursday at Grays Hill Baptist Church. This is the first step in the family selection process, and an applicant should attend only one of these meetings.

Qualified future homeowners currently live in sub-standard housing and live or work in northern Beaufort County. Habitat families are legal residents of the United States who have a steady source of income of at least $22,000 annually but no more than 50 percent of the median income for their family size. Applicants should demonstrate willingness and ability to repay a no-interest, no-profit mortgage loan and be able to contribute 250 hours (per adult in the household) of volunteer time, called sweat equity, a part of the down payment they make to purchase the home.

Details: 843- 522-3500 or lowcountryhabitat.org.

DEADLINES

•Registration is requested by Thursday for the Cheeseburgers in Paradise, a fundraiser for Friends of Caroline Hospice, from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Port Royal Landing Marina in Port Royal.

There will be live music, and beer, wine and margaritas will be served. The cost is $25 per person. Details: 843-525-6664.

Send Around Town items, which are published only on Tuesdays and Sundays, at least 10 days before the event date to Features Department, The Beaufort Gazette, P.O. Box 399, Beaufort, SC 29901-0399, to features@beaufortgazette.com or via fax to 843-524-8728.