Eye on Beaufort County

Beaufort County residents can drop off their Christmas trees for recycling at seven locations, from Hilton Head Island to Lady’s Island, starting on Dec. 26.

The trees will be chipped and converted into mulch through the Grinding of the Greens project, saving space in the county landfill. The county asks that all tinsel, lights and ornaments be removed before trees are dropped off.

Mulching will take place between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Jan. 12. Mulch will be given away free to anyone who brings a container and can haul it away.

Drop off locations are:

With the holidays nearly upon us, the S.C. Society of Ophthalmology wants to warn you of a hidden danger that could be lurking, possibly at room temperature, in your liquor cabinet.

In a press release Monday, the group warned of serious injury to the eye and face posed by flying Champagne corks. It also offered some tips to avoid injuries while getting ... well ... tipsy.

County Councilman Herbert Glaze was momentarily reduced to tears Monday during a farewell ceremony marking his 18 years on council.

He took home a framed plaque from county administrators and was honored by acting Chairman Paul Sommerville, who thanked Glaze and listed achievements such as road paving and sidewalk construction in his Burton-area district.

Dan Duryea has dropped his bid to overturn Republican Cynthia Bensch’s election win in Beaufort County Council District 7, solidifying her 48-point victory in the Bluffton-area district.

Duryea, a petition candidate whom Bensch defeated by about 2,500 votes, also lost a protest he filed last month alleging Bensch lived outside District 7. The county’s Board of Elections and Registration unanimously rejected his challenge Nov. 19.

After initially vowing to appeal, Duryea now says he will accept the board’s decision.