There are two more opportunities in December to experience the wonder of Met Opera Live in HD at the USCB Center for the Arts. Both operas are by Verdi.

Deemed as “close to perfect as you can get” by The State, the USC Beaufort Center for the Arts presents the Columbia City Ballet’s 52^nd anniversary production of Beaufort’s holiday family tradition, The Nutcracker, on Tuesday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. This award-winning spectacle is South Carolina’s largest single performing arts event, with more performances in more cities reaching more audience members than any other South Carolina arts event!

Spartina 449 combines strength, quality and style.

The salt marsh that bounds our habitat, this place we call the Lowcountry, is an unparalleled resource. And the vast expanse here in Beaufort County spoils us daily. The natural green hues that radiate from the blue horizons, border the coffee-colored pluff mud and reflect on the still gray water change from season to season. Every now and again, we witness a magical yellow sunrise or an orange and magenta sunset that accents the grass divinely. But the salt marsh, Spartina alterniflora, is so much more than beautiful, just like the company I write about today, Spartina 449.

“Bless us O Lord and make us more true and thankful for these and all our many blessings. We ask these prayers in Christ's name. Amen.” This is the prayer that my husband Vince has said over our evening meal for the past twenty-one years of our marriage. This Thanksgiving season, while we break bread with our family and friends, let's take the time to be truly thankful for all of our many blessings.