🌱 Local Group Opposes Overdevelopment + Sandbox At Tanger 2 Closing

Hello, friends. It's Monday in Hilton Head and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town. Today we'll cover these stories and more...

• The Jonesville Preservation Society continues its efforts to oppose the overdevelopment of short-term rentals on Hilton Head Island.
• A man from nearby Bluffton has been arrested on multiple charges connected to the sexual exploitation of minors.
• The Sandbox at Tanger 2 in Bluffton will be closing its doors permanently on Mar. 11.

But first, your local weather:

• Monday: Mostly sunny and pleasant. High: 75 Low: 64.
• Tuesday: Periods of clouds and sun. High: 81 Low: 51.

Business owners and marketers in Hilton Head: Do you want to build awareness with local customers? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top three stories in Hilton Head today:

1. Hilton Head neighborhoods are joining forces to limit short-term rental construction, close loopholes allowing commercial-grade hotels in residential areas, and increase transparency between citizens and town officials regarding development. The Jonesville Preservation Society was established in late 2022 to protest the proposed overdevelopment of the historic Gullah neighborhood. During a recent Public Planning Committee meeting, JPS members and supporters pushed for their policy suggestions to be presented to the Town Council for consideration, with co-chair Daniel Anthony emphasizing the aim of preserving Gullah neighborhoods, historic districts, and residential areas. (AOL)
2. Two men, including one from Bluffton, have been arrested and charged with multiple counts of sexual exploitation of minors. 63-year-old Jeffrey Lon Winget of Charleston and 71-year-old Donald Charles King of Bluffton were identified by investigators following a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Winget faces three counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, while King is charged with one count of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. (WJCL News Savannah)
3. After almost four years of operation, The Sandbox at Tanger 2 in nearby Bluffton is closing permanently on Mar. 11 due to staffing issues and fewer visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The board of directors has decided to focus on the Hilton Head location, pouring all resources into it and replicating it in another location in the area to serve Bluffton, Beaufort, and Jasper families in the future. (AOL)

Today and tomorrow in Hilton Head:

Monday, March 6

• Kayak Tours At Harbour Town Yacht Basin (1:00 PM)

Tuesday, March 7

• Hilton Head Farmers' Market At Coastal Discovery Museum (9:00 AM)
• FAT TUESDAYS: A Swingin’ Celebration Of New Orleans & Beyond At The Jazz Corner (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• In case you missed it, the Town of Hilton Head Island is currently looking for volunteers for its William Hilton Parkway Gateway Corridor Independent Review Advisory Committee. Get the details and learn how to apply on the town's website. (Town of Hilton Head Island Government)
• Have a background in architecture and an eye for design? Hilton Head Island is currently seeking an Architecture and Design Principal Planner who will provide guidance for a variety of programmed land developments, redevelopment projects, and technical document reviews. Get more job details and learn how to apply here. (Town of Hilton Head Island Government via Facebook)
• Following Friday's sentencing of South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh for the 2021 murders of his wife and son, Murdaugh's surviving son Buster was spotted through the blinds of his Hilton Head condo over the weekend. Reports indicate he has not yet returned to his family's hunting lodge in Islandton, where the murders took place. (New York Post)

You're all caught up for today. I'll see you back in your inbox soon with another 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.