🌱 58K Area Houses Lose Power + New Hilton Head Beach Dog Laws

Good morning, friends. It's me, Lauren Kubiak, your host of the Hilton Head Patch newsletter. Let's get this Friday started off right with a quick review of everything you need to know about what's happening in town these days.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Sun and some clouds. High: 76 Low: 68.
• Saturday: A heavy thunderstorm. High: 78 Low: 57.

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Here are the top three stories in Hilton Head today:

1. Around 58,000 households in Beaufort and Jasper counties lost power due to a fire at a Santee Cooper power substation in Bluffton, which left two small transformers on fire. Palmetto Electric worked with Santee Cooper to reroute power and restored services to customers. (Subscription: Hilton Head Island Packet)
2. Hilton Head Island has varying pet-specific beach rules that change seasonally, and it's important to be aware of them. From October through March, pets are allowed on the beach at any time while leashed or under voice control. From April through September, pets are allowed on the beach between 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. with leash laws still in effect. During the day, they are not allowed on the beach. Pets are also prohibited from swimming at designated areas during the official beach season from Apr. 1 through Sept. 30. (Subscription: Hilton Head Island Packet)
3. William Beckemeyer, a 77-year-old Hilton Head Island resident, has been arrested for four charges of criminal sexual conduct with a minor. The abuse reportedly spanned over a period of time and was done to four different victims, all of whom Beckemeyer knew. According to the National Children’s Alliance, over 90 percent of child abuse and neglect victims knew their abusers, and the number is even higher in the Hilton Head Island area, where Hopeful Horizons reports that 95 percent of victims knew their abusers. (WSAV)

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Today and tomorrow in and around Hilton Head:

Friday, March 31

• Live Music On Daufuskie Island With Noah At The Daufuskie Difference (1:00 PM)
• Queen: A Tribute To Greatness At USCB Center For The Arts, Beaufort (6:00 PM)

Saturday, April 1

• Easter Eggstravaganza At Shelter Cove Park (8:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Tussock moth caterpillars have been spotted in the Lowcountry region, with the white-marked tussock moth caterpillar being the most common. Although these caterpillars are not poisonous or venomous, they can leave quite an irritating rash. High populations of these caterpillars may also cause significant damage to neighboring trees. (Yahoo News)
• The Town Council has established the Gullah Geechee Historic Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation to protect the Island's historic communities from the negative impacts of gentrification, limited economic opportunities, and inadequate housing. The Town Council is now looking for interested individuals to join the corporation. For more information and to apply, click the link! (Hilton Head Island)
• The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry held its annual Community Meeting at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, featuring notable speakers such as Jonathan Reckford from Habitat for Humanity International and Lesley Gilbert from Women in Philanthropy. The event also recognized the inaugural Joan and Wade Webster Community Impact Award recipient, David Martin from Piggly Wiggly Hilton Head, and celebrated the organization's partnerships with local nonprofits and donors. (Town of Hilton Head Island Government via Facebook)

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. I'll be in your inbox soon with your next update!

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is an Editor for Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s in journalism. She was previously a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.