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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
AND I AM HERE WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL CHAIRWOMAN ALICE HOWARD, WHO IS JOINING US AS ONE OF OUR SPECIAL VIPS FOR TONIGHT'S BEAUFORT COUNTY TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY.
MS. HOWARD, WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED FOR TONIGHT? I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE TREE GET LIGHTED, AND ALSO TO HEAR THE, THE SINGING FROM BEAUFORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND ROBERT SMALLS.
NOW EDUCATION HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN ALL OF OUR HEART.
BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO HAVE THEM HERE AS A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY EVENT? IT, IT MEANS THAT THEY ARE PART OF US AND THEY'RE THE, THE MOST IMPORTANT PART, OUR NEXT GENERATION.
SO IT'LL BE FUN TO HEAR 'EM SINGING AND CELEBRATING THE NEW, THE NEW YEAR AND THE HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN WITH US FOR THIS EVENT? MS. HOWARD, HOW MANY TREE LIGHTINGS HAVE YOU SEEN? I CAME TO THE FIRST ONE, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT YEAR IT WAS.
IT WAS, BUT THEY'RE GREAT EVENTS AND IT IS SO NICE THAT EMERGING LEADERS DOES THIS EVENT.
IT'S A GREAT CELEBRATION AND THE WHOLE PUBLIC CAN COME RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF CITY OF BEAUFORT.
WELL, WE WISH EVERYONE A VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY AND A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.
WHERE CAN WE FIND BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL? THIS NEXT YEAR WE'RE GONNA BE IN OUR NEWLY RENOVATED COUNCIL CHAMBERS RIGHT OVER THERE AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL AND IT IS A GREAT, GREAT MEETING PLACE.
AND ANYONE LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHEN THOSE MEETINGS WILL BE HELD? CAN FIND THAT@BEAUFORTCOUNTYSC.GOV.
MS. HOWARD, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANNA LEAVE OUR VIEWERS WITH TONIGHT? I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND WE'RE SO THANKFUL THAT THEY WORK WITH US AND WE ARE A LUCKY PLACE TO LIVE IN, IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
WE'LL BE BACK HERE ON BCTV AND I'M JOINED NOW BY BEAUFORT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR MICHAEL MOORE, WHO IS JOINING US FOR HIS SECOND CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING EVENT WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY.
WHY ARE EVENTS LIKE THIS IMPORTANT TO THE, TO OUR COUNTY? WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, UM, SHOW THAT WE'RE PART OF THE COMMUNITY TOO AND, UH, HAVE FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR STAFF MEMBERS, THEIR FAMILIES ARE HERE, SO THEY GET TO MINGLE WITH SOME OF OUR OTHER EMPLOYEES AND THEN JUST ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO COME OUT AND SEE THEIR COUNTY STAFF AND WHAT WE DO DAY TO DAY IN THE COMMUNITY.
NOW THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO AN EVENT LIKE THIS.
ARE THERE ANY, UM, DEPARTMENTS OR ANYTHING, ANYONE YOU'RE MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING? WELL, OF COURSE I LOVE ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, BUT, UM, I LIKE TO ESPECIALLY THANK OUR EMERGING EMERGING LEADERS GROUP FOR PUTTING THIS ALL TOGETHER.
UM, PUBLIC WORK STAFF, WE'VE GOT OUR COMMUNICATION STAFF HERE TODAY AND, UH, THERE'S MANY OTHERS, BUT PRIMARILY I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYBODY OUT NOW.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT ONE.
ARE THERE ANY BIG EVENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS OR ANYTHING YOU WANNA CELEBRATE? WELL, YOU KNOW, I WANNA CELEBRATE A LOT OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR, WORKING WITH COUNCIL, HAVING A LOT OF THE, YOU KNOW, UH, PUBLIC MEETINGS.
BUT I'M ALSO THANKFUL WE HAVE HIRED OUR NEW, UM, DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, NICOLE WOOD, WHO'S COMING US FROM GREENVILLE.
SO THAT'S A GREAT ADDITION TO THE TEAM.
WE CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE HER JOIN AND YOU GUYS STICK AROUND.
KEEP JOINING US FOR MORE COVERAGE, OUR FOURTH ANNUAL BEAUFORT COUNTY CHRISTMAS TREE LINE CEREMONY.
I AM SIERRA HALL, YOUR HOST FOR THIS EVENING.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT Y'ALL, BUT I'VE BEEN COUNTDOWN TO THIS TO THIS NIGHT.
NOTHING MAKES ME HAPPIER THAN GOOD COMPANY, GOOD VIBES, AND ALSO A GOOD REASON TO CELEBRATE.
WE'RE SO EXCITED TO KICK OFF OUR HOLIDAY SEASON WITH YOU ALL.
BE SURE TO VISIT OUR DEPARTMENT TABLES, GRAB TREATS FROM OUR FOOD TRUCKS, ENJOY CRASH SECTIONS AND ALSO STOP BY FACE PAINTING.
PERFECT FOR THE LITTLE ONES AND YOUNG AT HEART.
I CONSIDER MYSELF A YOUNG AT HEART.
ALSO MAKE SURE YOU KEEP YOUR EYE OPENS BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST FROM THE NORTH POLE THAT WILL BE VISITING US LATER ON TODAY.
TO BEGIN OUR CELEBRATION, LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT AND GIVE THANKS.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR OPENING PRAYER LED BY PASTOR DAVID HOWELL OF TIDE CREEK FELLOWSHIP CHURCH.
IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE WITH YOU TONIGHT ON THIS BEAUTIFUL OCCASION,
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AND I LOVE THE FACT THEY WANTED TO BEGIN WITH PRAYER TONIGHT.SO IF YOU WOULD JUST BOW WITH ME AND LET'S PRAY AND GIVE GOD THANKS.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL OCCASION TONIGHT.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER AND WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THE MEANING OF THIS SEASON.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU THAT YOU SENT YOUR SON IN A STABLE IN BETHLEHEM 2000 YEARS AGO, AND WE THANK YOU THAT WE CAN STILL CELEBRATE THAT HERE TODAY.
AND TONIGHT AS WE LIGHT A CHRISTMAS TREE LATER, WE'LL REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
AND FATHER, I THANK YOU FOR OUR COUNTY COUNCIL AND I THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE WHO'VE MADE THIS EVENT HAPPEN TONIGHT.
UM, FATHER, I THANK YOU FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR PARKS AND REC FATHER, AND JUST ALL THOSE WHO, UM, ARE HERE TONIGHT, UM, OFFERING THEIR TIME TO MAKE THIS A SPECIAL TIME FOR FAMILIES AND FOR CHILDREN.
AND SO, FATHER BLESS THIS TIME TONIGHT, BLESS EACH PART OF IT.
AND MAY YOUR JOY FILL THIS PLACE.
AND WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THE LAUGH AND SMILES OF CHILDREN.
PASTOR WOULD LIKE TO START OFF OUR PERFORMANCES WITH THE BEAUTIFUL TA, WITH OUR BEAUTIFUL, TALENTED KATIE.
DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR? AN OLD CHRISTMAS TREE.
THE NIGHT INTO THE, DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE WAY UP IN THE SKY? DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? A STORE, A STORE DANCING IN THE NIGHT WITH A TALE AS BIG AS A, WITH A TALE AS BIG AS A LITTLE LAMB TO THE SHEPHERD.
DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR? RINGING THROUGH THE SKY SHEPHERD.
BOY, DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR? A SONG.
THE SONG HIGH ABOVE THE TREES WITH A VOICE HAS BIG AS A SEA WITH A VOICE AS BIG AS A SEA, SAID THE SHEPHERD BOY TO THE MIGHTY KEY.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I KNOW IN YOUR PALACE? ONE MIGHTY KEYS.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I KNOW? A CHILD.
LET US BRING HIM AND LET US AND KING TO THE PEOPLE.
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THIS CHILD, THIS CHILD IN THE NIGHT, HE WILL BRING GOODNESS, HE'LL BRING US.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE FOR THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING.
AND IT WOULDN'T, UM, IT WOULDN'T BE RIGHT TO NOT SING.
SO IF YOU KNOW IT, SING IT ALONG.
HOW LOVELY ARE YOUR BRANCHES? OH, CHRISTMAS TREE.
HOW LOVELY ARE YOUR BRANCHES? NOT ONLY GREAT, BUT SNOW AND SLEEPS.
HOW LOVELY ARE YOUR BRANCHES? OH, S OH, CHRISTMAS TREE.
THE LOVELY OH S OH CHRISTMAS TREE.
WE LEARN FROM ALL YOUR BEAUTY.
WE LEARN FROM ALL YOUR BEAUTY, YOUR BRIGHT GREEN DREAMS WITH CHEER, GIVE HOPE, AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, OH CHRISTMAS TREE.
WE LEARN FROM ALL YOUR MERRY CHRISTMAS.
THANK YOU MS. KATIE FOR YOUR LOVELY SONGS.
NOW LET'S REALLY GET INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT WITH THE PERFORMANCE FROM THE VERY TALENTED STUDENTS FROM ROBERT SMALLS CHORUS, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MRS. JONES.
THEY WILL BE SINGING VID MICROPHONE.
SCOOT TO YOU OR THIS THAT WAY SHAKING STARTED TO PLAY THE MUSIC.
I WANNA WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
I WANNA WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
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CHRISTMAS ON THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.I WANNA YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
I WANNA YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
I WANNA WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
AVI, AVI, I WANNA WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
I WANNA WISH YOU MERRY CHRISTMAS.
I WANNA WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
I WANNA WISH YOU A MERRY SI WANNA WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
I WANNA WISH YOU MER FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
I WANNA WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
I WANNA YOU A MERRY THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
I WANNA YOU A MERRY, I WANNA YOU MERRY, I WANNA YOU MERRY THE BOTTOM OF MY WOW.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR ROBERT SMALLS AND ALSO MS. ANDREA JONES.
ALL RIGHT GUYS, SINCE WE HAVE A LITTLE BREAK, I DO WANNA TALK ABOUT, AGAIN, MY NAME IS SIERRA HALL.
I AM THE RECRUITER FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY.
ANYTIME THAT I CAN SHARE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE COMMUNITY, I WILL DO THAT.
HOWEVER, WE ALSO HAVE INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND ALSO COLLEGE STUDENTS.
TO REVIEW THOSE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND THOSE INTERNSHIPS, PLEASE VISIT WWW.BEAUFORTCOUNTYSC.GOV/JOBS.
OKAY, NEXT WE CONTINUE OUR CELEBRATION WITH MORE EFFECTIVE TUNES FROM BEAUFORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DIRECTED BY MR. MORGAN.
YOU, Y'ALL LOOK SO LOVELY GUYS.
YOU GOT EXTRA SCAR OVER THIS WAY.
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DOWN THE CHIMNEY.HE'S HE DOESN'T YOU DOWN THE CHI DOWN CHIMNEY.
WHAT IS THAT? HE, HE SQUEEZE DOWN THE CHIMNEY.
HE THE SANTA DOWN THE CHIMNEY.
LET'S GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME FOR BEAUFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
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AND MR. MORGAN.NOW I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THEY HAVE COOKIES, WE ALSO HAVE OUR DETENTION CENTER.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU STOP BY THEIR TABLE.
THEY'RE HAVING A STOCKING COMPETITION, SO PLEASE GO OVER THERE AND CASH YOUR VOTES.
AND THEN ALSO WE HAVE COUNTY COUNCIL THAT'S PROVIDING HOT CHOCOLATE.
AND WELCOME BACK TO VC TV'S HOLIDAY COVERAGE OF THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING.
I AM JOINED BY SOME OF OUR AMAZING PERFORMERS TONIGHT FROM BEAUFORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I'M GONNA LET YOU GUYS INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.
SO YOU GUYS PUT ON AN AMAZING SHOW.
WHAT DOES THE PREPARATION LOOK LIKE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS? HARD WORK.
A LOT OF HARD WORK AND IT TAKES TIME, A LOT, A LOT OF PRACTICE AND LIKE CHOREOGRAPHY TAKES TIME SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES IT'S, AND IF IT WASN'T FOR THE WONDERFUL BENJAMIN MORGAN, WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE HE DOES THIS FOR FREE NOW.
DOES HE MAKE THE MOVES? I SAY THAT.
DOES HE MAKE UP THE MOVES? THAT WAS SOME FANTASTIC CHOREOGRAPHY.
YEAH, WE'VE DOING THAT CHOREOGRAPHY SINCE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
THAT IS A SONG THAT I DID WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL IN SHOW CHOIR AND I, WHEN I STARTED TEACHING I SAID, I'M GOING TO USE THAT SONG EVERY YEAR.
SO WE SING THAT SONG EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY YEAR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THAT WITH US TONIGHT.
UM, WHAT WERE YOU GUYS MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING TONIGHT AT THE CEREMONY? I WAS, BESIDES ME, I WAS MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO MY FIRST TREE LIGHTING 'CAUSE I'D NEVER BEEN TO A TREE LIGHTING.
I HAD LIKE A MILLION BUTTERFLIES IN MY STOMACH RIGHT THEN.
MINE WAS PROBABLY, I MEAN I'VE BEEN TO TREE LIGHTINGS A LOT OF THE ONES DOWNTOWN.
BUT PROBABLY BEING ABLE TO LIKE SING WITH ALL MY FRIENDS AND EVERYTHING.
I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THEM SINGING.
WE SANG EARLIER TODAY AND IT WAS, IT WAS GREAT TO GET TO HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SHOWCASE THE STUDENTS AT OUR SCHOOL AS WE ARE AN ARTS AND BASIC CURRICULUM SCHOOL.
SO WE ARE SHOWING THE ARTS WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
WE APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT SO MUCH.
CHRISTMAS WOULD NOT BE AS JOYFUL AS IT IS WITHOUT THE MUSIC.
AND I WANT YOU GUYS TO MAKE SURE YOU SAY HI TO SANTA BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT TONIGHT AND YOU DON'T HEAD ANYWHERE.
WE'RE COMING BACK TO YOU SOON WITH MORE HOLIDAY COVERAGE.
NEXT WE CONTINUE OUR CELEBRATION WITH MORE FESTIVE TUNES FROM KUSA ELEMENTARY, DIRECTED BY MR. O'BRIEN.
THEY'LL BE SINGING PERFECT WINTER DAY AND SNOW.
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ILOP WINTER.I DON'T LOOKING MY WINDOW AND I SEE A LOT OF, LOOKS LIKE IT'S GONNA BE WINTER.
THE FALLING NOSE EYE FALLING DOWN.
IT LOOKS, LET'S GIVE IT OUT ONE MORE TIME FOR OSA ELEMENTARY AND MR. O'BRIEN.
I SEE YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT OUT HERE.
NOW THE MAMA WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR, PLEASE WELCOME CHAIR ALICE HOWARD WHO WILL SHARE A FEW WORDS BEFORE WE LIGHT THE TREE.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE AND LET'S HAVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OSA ELEMENTARY.
ROBERT SMALLS AND BEAUFORT ELEMENTARY.
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TO SAY THANK YOU.THIS IS OUR FOURTH YEAR AND IT GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE EMERGING LEADERS.
THEY ARE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB.
WE HAVE MORE BOOSTS, MORE THINGS FOR CHILDREN TO DO AND MORE THINGS FOR PARENTS AND ALL OUR EMPLOYEES IN BEAUFORT COUNTY AND THE PUBLIC.
I ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR GROUNDS MAINTENANCE CREW, OUR PUBLIC WORKS AND OF COURSE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FILMING IT SO PEOPLE AT HOME CAN WATCH OUR BCTV AND OUR SPECIAL GUESTS FROM DSN WHO ARE GONNA LIGHT THE TREE IN JUST A FEW SHORT MINUTES.
WE ALSO HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT GUEST COMING FROM THE NORTH POLE.
AND I'M JOINED NOW BY JACOB O'BRIEN, WHO IS THE MUSIC TEACHER OVER AT SLA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
YOU GUYS HAD SOME FANTASTIC PERFORMERS OUT HERE TONIGHT.
SO WHAT DOES PREPARATION FOR AN EVENT LIKE THIS LOOK LIKE? SO THE OSA CHORUS MEETS ONCE A WEEK FOR ABOUT AN HOUR.
WE REHEARSE ALL OF OUR MUSIC THE ENTIRE TIME.
THEY WORK VERY HARD AND WE WILL ACTUALLY BE PUTTING THIS TOGETHER WITH OUR THIRD GRADE CHORUS NEXT WEEK AS WELL.
SO YOU GUYS HAVE AN UPCOMING CONCERT? YES.
NEXT THURSDAY AT SIX O'CLOCK AT COUSA ELEMENTARY.
OUR VIEWERS WILL DEFINITELY HAVE TO CHECK THAT OUT.
WE GOT A GREAT TASTE OF THAT TONIGHT.
UM, WAS THERE ANYTHING THE KIDS WERE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE TONIGHT? I THINK THE KIDS WERE REALLY EXCITED JUST TO GET OUT AND SING.
SO WHAT CAN, UM, WHAT DO YOU WANNA LET THE VIEWERS KNOW ABOUT A PROGRAM LIKE YOURS IN THE, IN THE SCHOOLS? HMM.
A PROGRAM LIKE OURS IS, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE MUSIC IN THE SCHOOLS BECAUSE FOR A LOT OF STUDENTS IT'S AN OUTLET AND IT'S A WAY TO SPREAD JOY.
IT ALSO TEACHES A GOOD AMOUNT OF DISCIPLINE AND PRACTICE BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE TO PRACTICE AND FOCUS AND WORK AS A TEAM.
AND WE ALL KNOW CHRISTMAS WOULD BE NOTHING WITHOUT THE MUSICAL CHEER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME TODAY.
AND YOU GUYS STICK AROUND TO MAKE THIS MOMENT EVEN MORE SPECIAL.
WE HONORED TO HAVE EMERGING LEADER MEMBERS AND HOUSEHOLD MEN, HOUSE MANAGER, A FRIENDS FRIENDS HOUSE S HARLEY, JOINED BY BRUCE MCDONALD AND KELSEY PRICE.
UH, WE'RE ABOUT TO START THE COUNTDOWN.
WE NEED EVERYBODY TO PARTICIPATE.
WE'RE GOING TO START FROM FIVE, KELSEY IS GOING TO START THE COUNT ON HER.
MAN, THEY SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TO CELEBRATE OUR BELOVED HOLIDAY TRADITION.
EVEN THOUGH OUR CEREMONY ENDS AT 8:00 PM THE EVENING IS FAR FROM OVER.
PLEASE STAY, MINGLE AND ENJOY THE FESTIVITIES WE HAVE PREPARED FOR YOU.
ALSO, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU STOP BY THE DEPARTMENT TABLES PARTAKE IN THE CRAFT SECTION.
ALSO TAKE A SNAP OF PHOTOS AT OUR PHOTO BOOTH.
ALSO CHECK OUT OUR WONDERFUL VEN VENDORS, WHICH IS OUR FOOD TRUCKS.
AND WHATEVER ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO, JUST MAKE SURE YOU KEEP YOUR EYES AND EARS OPEN FOR OUR SPECIAL GUESTS FROM THE NORTH POLE.
I HEAR HE'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM HERE, SO HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS ARE EXCITED 'CAUSE I AM
HEY AND ANYBODY BEHIND THE SCENES THAT HELP TO MAKE THIS FESTIVITY.
FROM ALL OF US HERE AT BEAUFORT COUNTY, WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS, A HAPPY HOLIDAY, AND PLEASE ENJOY THE FESTIVITIES AND STAY WITH US TO CELEBRATE.
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AND JOINING ME NOW IS MICHAELA BIVINS WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WHERE SHE WORKS AS A RECRUITER, JUST ALL AROUND SUPERHERO.AND YOU HAVE A PRETTY GOOD HISTORY WITH THIS EVENT, RIGHT? YEAH, SO I WAS ACTUALLY IN CHARGE OF IT LAST YEAR, HAD THE PLEASURE OF DOING THAT, UM, WHICH WAS SUPER FUN.
LOVE TO SEE ALL THE KIDS HAPPY AND EXCITING, AND I'M EXCITED FOR THIS GROUP.
I THINK THEY'VE BEEN REALLY SET UP FOR SUCCESS AND IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT NIGHT.
SO WHAT CAN THE COMMUNITY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING TONIGHT AT AN EVENT LIKE THIS? WELL, OBVIOUSLY THE BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS TREE THAT, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC WORKS HAS WORKED REALLY HARD TO DECORATE.
UM, AND IT, MY FAVORITE PART IS DEFINITELY THE COUNTDOWN.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST SO EXCITING TO HEAR ALL THE KIDS COUNTING IT DOWN AND THEN THE CHEERING AT THE END.
YEAH, I IT'S THE GREATEST PART FOR SURE.
SO IN YOUR ROLE AS A RECRUITER, DO YOU THINK EVENTS LIKE THIS ARE IMPORTANT TO KIND OF CONNECT BEAUFORT COUNTY WITH THEIR COMMUNITY? OH, A HUNDRED PERCENT.
I MEAN, THIS IS A GREAT WAY FOR US TO GET OUT THERE AND, AND MEET THE PEOPLE THAT WE GET TO SERVE EVERY DAY AND SEE WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS ARE AND, AND GET TO SHOW THEM WHO WE ARE.
SO YEAH, A GREAT EVENT ALL AROUND.
WELL, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT NIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING WITH US AND YOU GUYS STAY TUNED.
AND JOINING US NOW IS SUNNY MCELHANNEY, WHO HAS A FANTASTICALLY INVOLVED ROLE IN THIS AMAZING EVENT.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY SUNNY? I'M CURRENTLY IN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AND I'M ALSO THE CHAIR OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY THIS YEAR.
SO YOU ARE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THIS EVENT.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE THROUGH THE YEAR TO GET SOMETHING LIKE THIS OFF THE OFF THE GROUND? IT'S BEEN BIMONTHLY MEETINGS FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OR TWO AND EXTENSIVE PLANNING WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND OUTSIDE VENDORS AND SCHOOLS.
SO HOW LONG HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN PLANNING THIS? IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR AND WE'VE BEEN MEETING FREQUENTLY AND IT'S BEEN LOVELY TO DO.
MERRY HOLLY JOLLY AND IT'S JUST, I COULDN'T ASK FOR BETTER.
SO WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING FOR THE FIFTH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING? ANYTHING INSPIRED BY TONIGHT'S EXPERIENCE? I THINK WE'RE ACTUALLY, SO IT'LL GO ON TO THE NEXT GROUP AND THEY'LL TAKE FROM WHAT WE HAVE HERE AND THEY, IT'S UP TO THEM IF THEY WANT TO ADD SOME MORE FESTIVE SCENES TO IT.
SO THIS EVENT REALLY COMES TO FRUITION THROUGH THE EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM, RIGHT? YES.
CAN YOU TELL OUR VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT PROGRAM IS? YEAH, SO EMERGING LEADERS IS ACTUALLY NEW HIRES OR HIRES THAT YOU HAVE TO BE AT LEAST SIX MONTHS IN OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND THEN IT'S EMERGING LEADERS, LIKE WE'RE JUST EMERGING THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENTS AND WE'RE MEETING NEW PEOPLE, NETWORKING, AND WE LEARN NEW QUALITIES ALONG THE WAY.
AND DO YOU GET LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES? WE DO GET LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND WE HAVE SOME AWESOME PEOPLE THAT COME AND TALK TO US ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO AS A LEADER TO BETTER GROW AND JUST BE A BETTER LEADER IN GENERAL.
NOW I KNOW AN EVENT LIKE THIS TAKES A TON OF PEOPLE TO PULL OFF.
IS THERE ANYONE YOU'D LIKE TO SHOUT OUT OR THANK TODAY? YES.
EMERGING LEADERS, COUNTY COUNCIL GROUNDS MAINTENANCE FACILITIES, AND GENERAL SUPPORT.
WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT Y'ALL.
WELL, IT'S DEFINITELY AN INCREDIBLE NIGHT.
WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THE TREE LIGHT UP.
EVERYTHING HAS GONE OFF WITHOUT A HITCH, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH US.
RIGHT HERE ON BC TV'S HOLIDAY COVERAGE.
AND JOINING ME NOW IS THE MOST VIP, THE MAN OF THE HOUR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FLYING ALL THE WAY FROM THE NORTH POLE TO JOIN US TONIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
IT IS AWESOME TO BE HERE IN BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA.
SO WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE BEAUFORT COUNTY? OUT OF ALL OF THE TREE LIGHTINGS IN THE WHOLE WORLD YOU COULD HAVE GONE TO TONIGHT.
THERE'S SO MANY NICE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE THAT I JUST COULDN'T HELP BUT VISIT.
BEAUFORT IS SUCH A WONDERFUL PLACE.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PART OF THE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY TONIGHT? ANYTHING WE CAN, WE CAN MAKE SURE WE DO FOR YOU IN FUTURE YEARS? I JUST LOVE ALL THE PRETTY COLORS AND MEETING ALL THE WONDERFUL NICE CHILDREN.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR VIEWERS AT HOME BEFORE YOU FLY BACK TO MAKE SURE ALL OF CHRISTMAS IS PREPARED? I JUST HOPE THAT EVERYONE HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY HAS A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.
MAKE SURE TO STOP AT OUR DETENTION CENTER AGAIN, TABLE.
WE HAVE CAPITAL PROJECT, WE ALSO HAVE COUNTY COUNCIL, AND WE HAVE THE EMERGING LEADERS CRAFT ARTS AND CRAFTS SECTION OVER HERE.
SO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU STOP BY.
AND ALSO OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS WELL.
AND YOU GUYS HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
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THE COUNTY IS ONE OF THE OLDEST FORMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED STATES.EARLY SETTLERS FROM ENGLAND BROUGHT THE TRADITION OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO AMERICA.
TODAY MORE THAN 3000 COUNTY GOVERNMENTS PROVIDE SERVICES THAT AFFECT ALMOST EVERY CITIZEN'S LIFE.
SOUTH CAROLINA'S 46 COUNTIES ARE VERY REPRESENTATIVE OF HOW COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAS EVOLVED NATIONALLY.
THE COUNTY UNIT IN SOUTH CAROLINA WAS REGARDED AS A LOCAL EXTENSION OF STATE GOVERNMENT, BUT A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM MOVEMENT IN THE EARLY 1970S LED TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY, PASSING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW, ALSO KNOWN AS THE HOME RULE ACT.
IN 1975, THE HOME RULE ACT GREATLY EXPANDED COUNTY AUTHORITY AND CHANGED THE NATURE OF COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION TO WHAT WE KNOW TODAY.
BEAUFORT COUNTY WENT FROM HAVING A BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO A COUNTY COUNCIL.
MEMBERS OF THE 1975 COUNCIL INCLUDED CHAIRMAN ARTHUR HORN, VICE CHAIRMAN, GRADY THAMES, LEROY BROWN, GARY FORDHAM, WILLIAM GRANT, HARRIET, KAISER LING, DAVID JONES, BILL MCBRIDE, AND BOOKER WASHINGTON.
AS THE NEW COUNCIL SOUGHT TO DISTINGUISH ITSELF, COUNCIL MEMBERS DESIRED AN OFFICIAL SYMBOL THAT WOULD REPRESENT THE JURISDICTION'S IDENTITY AND UNIQUE CHARACTER COUNCIL APPOINTED AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO UNDERTAKE THE TASK AND CARRY OUT A CONTEST FOR THE BEST COUNTY SEAL DESIGN.
HARRIET K WAS A MEMBER OF COUNTY COUNCIL AND IT WAS HER IDEA BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT COULD SIGNIFICANTLY IDENTIFY OUR BEAUTIFUL BEAUFORT COUNTY.
WE MET THEN UP AT, UH, I THINK IT WAS A CAROLINA BANK AND SOME YEARS AGO BACK THERE ON WEST STREET.
YOU KNOW, LIKE, GOOD, BAD MAYBE UNTIL WE FINALLY GOT IT DOWN TO THE ONE THAT WE NOW USE.
COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVED THE SEAL COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION, WHICH REFLECTED THE COUNTY'S HISTORY, TRADITIONS, AND NATURAL BEAUTY.
THE SEAL'S COLORS OF BLUE AND GREEN REPRESENT THE COLORS OF THE COUNTY'S OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT WITH ITS MANY WATERWAYS, MARSHLANDS, AND MARITIME FOREST.
THE FIVE IMAGES WITHIN THE SEAL DEPICT SOME OF THE COUNTY'S DISTINGUISHING FEATURES.
ANCIENT LIVE OAK TREES, THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY, RICH NATURAL RESOURCES, AND A RARE MARINE ECOLOGY, LOW COUNTRY ARCHITECTURE AND MILES OF RIVERS, CREEKS, AND INLETS.
I THOUGHT IT ENCOMPASSED WHAT THE, WHAT WE AS A BODY WERE LOOKING FOR A SEAL THAT WOULD, WHEN YOU LOOKED AT IT AND JUST THOUGHT ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT, IT REALLY COVERS THE ASPECTS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
SO HE DID A GOOD JOB OF BRINGING TOGETHER THE THINGS THAT WE, UH, WHOLE SO THERE AND WHAT WE REALLY LIKE ABOUT BEAUFORT COUNTY.
COUNCILMAN BILL MCBRIDE WAS IN OFFICE WHEN THE CONTEST WAS HELD AND WAS PRESENT WHEN THE COMMITTEE REVEALED THE WINNING DESIGN.
I THINK COUNCIL WAS ECSTATIC ABOUT IT.
UH, WE THOUGHT THAT THE, THE SIMS ON THE SEAL REPRESENTED, UM, ASPECTS OF LIFE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANGE IN THE ORIGINAL, UM, DRAFT THAT WAS PRESENTED TO US WHERE YOU HAVE THE SHRIMP BOAT TODAY.
INITIALLY, THAT WAS A PLEASURE CRAFT, A SAILBOAT YACHT TYPE BOAT.
AND, UH, IT WAS CHANGED BY COUNTY COUNCIL BECAUSE WE FELT THAT THE SHRIMP BOAT WAS A BETTER REPRESENTATION, UM, OF A MORE COMPREHENSIVE, UH, ASPECT OF BEAUTIFUL COUNTY LIFE
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BECAUSE YOU HAD OTHER THINGS ON THE SEAL THAT REPRESENT THE PLEASURE AND RECREATION, THE FISHING AND THE BEACH.SO THEY THOUGHT THE SHRIMP BOAT, WHICH WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF BEFORD COUNTY CULTURE, SHRIMPING, ESPECIALLY AT THAT TIME, WOULD BE REFLECTED ON THE SEAL.
THE WINNER OF THE CONTEST WAS AN ARTIST FROM HILTON HEAD ISLAND, THE LATE LEE PAYNE, WHOSE DESIGN WAS SELECTED FROM MORE THAN 126 CENTURIES SUBMITTED FROM AS FAR AWAY AS INDIANA AND TENNESSEE.
HE WAS AWARDED $250 FOR HIS DESIGN.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE CAPTURED THE LEGACY OF OUTDOOR BEAUTY, CULTURE, AND HISTORY THAT HELPED TO DEFINE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF LIFE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
TO SEE MORE BEAUFORT COUNTY MOMENTS GO TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY HOMEPAGE AND CLICK ON THE LOCAL HISTORY TAB.