It finally happened.

And just as I was on the brink of losing my ever lovin’ mind . . . or deciding to pack up a house full of junk, dogs, kids and unmatched socks and move North.

By Debbi Covington

Every summer, our friends Jon and Lolita throw a party that features culinary creations from Jon's smoker. Friends and guests share appetizers, side dishes, desserts (and copious amounts of adult beverages) to complete the annual feast. Over the years, Jon has smoked just about every type of meat that you can think of. His lasagna is my personal favorite. Always a fun event, we all eat way too much and smell like smoke for at least a week. This year, I asked Jon if he would be willing to share some of his recipes with my readers. He graciously agreed. These are a few of the offerings from this year's soiree.

By Margaret Evans, Editor

Not too long ago, a friend made a pithy comment on my Facebook page – so pithy, in fact, I immediately wished I’d said it myself.

“Oh, no!” he wrote. “Is it already that time again, when we all start insulting each other while pretending to insult the candidates?”

The Wardle Family YMCA of Beaufort County, located at 1801 Richmond Ave., in Port Royal will host its 5th annual Exercise-a-thon Saturday, August 29, 2015 from 8 am to 12 pm. This unprecedented 4-hour event invites everyone to participate in aerobic exercises including kickboxing, power circuit, spinning, Tabata, yoga, water aerobics and more. The cost is $10 per person to participate; however, donations beyond $10 are more than welcome. Non YMCA members are encouraged to participate and will receive a complimentary Y day pass as an added thank you!