Wedding & Event Venue Near Bluffton, SC.

International Sushi Day is just around the corner. Occurring annually every June 18th, this year’s International Sushi Day is Saturday.

Wanting to celebrate or just craving some sushi? The Lowcountry is home to some of the freshest, catch-to-table seafood around.

Here are the nine best sushi bars in Hilton Head-Bluffton, according to Tripadvisor.

Chin Dynasty in Bluffton serves authentic Chinese cuisine and fresh tasting sushi. The restaurant has 13 different sushi rolls to choose from and offers eat-in or take-out meals for convenience. Chin Dynasty can be found at 108 Buckwalter Parkway, Bluffton, SC 29910.

Kobe is a Japanese-style restaurant and sushi bar offering a wide selection of authentic Japanese cuisine. The establishment, which opened in 2002, offers a variety of Japanese dishes, such as tuna rolls, California rolls, a salmon sashimi appetizer and a tuna and salmon combo. Located in Bluffton, this sushi restaurant can be found at 30 Plantation Business Park, Suite 208, Bluffton, SC 29910.

Fujiyama is a Bluffton Japanese sushi restaurant that offers a variety of lunch and dinner options seven days a week. One reviewer wrote “This is our favorite sushi place in Bluffton. The service is very friendly and the food is great. My favorite rolls are the sweet potato, Buddha, and AAC. I also like their miso soup. It all is so delicious . Fujiyama’s definitely on a roll.” The establishment can be found at 48 Burnt Church Road, Bluffton, SC 29910.

Wasabi, a local restaurant found in Bluffton, offers an authentic selection of sushi and other cuisine. One person wrote of the establishment, “Best Japanese food since leaving Japan. Owners are very friendly. One of our favorite local restaurants.” Wasabi’s website boasts a gallery of impressive photographs of some of the food items they offer as well as information on the dishes served. The restaurant can be found at 103 Buckwalter Place Boulevard, Bluffton, SC 29910.

Fancy Sushi has locations on both Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton. It is a Japanese restaurant and sushi bar that is known for its variety in taste and high quality fresh ingredients. The establishment’s menu displays 22 types of sashimi or sushi, seven options from the sushi bar, 38 different sushi rolls, and 38 fancy sushi rolls. One reviewer wrote in January of this year, “This place should be called “PARADISE.” Excellent service and friendly staff. Don’t judge me, I had a little bit of everything, I was full but I wanted to try more dishes. I had the Eddie’s special (total thumbs up), Alaska roll, miso soup, Crazy roll and Scorpion Roll. Reasonable prices in case you were wondering. I will be glad to stop by next time I’m in Bluffton.” Fancy Sushi on Hilton Head is located at 435 William Hilton Parkway SET G, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926. In Bluffton, it can be found at 102 Buckwalter Parkway Suite 3L, Bluffton, SC 29910.

Asian Bistro is an Asian fusion restaurant complete with a sushi bar, located on Hilton Head Island, that offers a memorable dining experience for guests and provides Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisine and bar options. The island restaurant can be found at 51 New Orleans Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928.

OKKO on Hilton Head Island is an authentic Asian cuisine restaurant, which offers sushi, hibachi, Japanese and Thai food options. The restaurant is known for their modern interpretation on classic dishes and their insistence on only using high quality and fresh ingredients in their creations. With reviews in the hundreds, this island sushi restaurant garnered rave reviews. OKKO can be found at 95 Mathews Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926.

HINOKI on Hilton Head Island opened in April 2001 and serves the island world class sushi, sashimi, and creative sushi rolls from their sushi bar. The restaurant’s main dining room displays a Japanese rock garden with several regular seating tables and three Tatami tables. Their sushi bar offers an extensive menu that is sure to impress many sushi fans. The establishment can be found at 37 New Orleans Road, Orleans Plaza, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928.

By the time you read this, you’ve probably already heard about Bluffton’s hottest new restaurant. No, it’s not one of those fancy places with ingredients you’ve never heard of or cannot pronounce. It’s a pizza joint. A simple, clean, quality pizza joint that in just over a month in business as I write this, has become the talk of the town.

Mama G’s Bistro and Bar sounds a bit on the uppity side. That assessment is fair enough because this is a higher end establishment. Everything about it is.

About a week and a half after they opened last month, I spent a couple of hours with the owner, Glen Grace. He and his family have been in the area for a hot minute. He’s spent his time here working in the trucking industry. Which is not exactly the kind of profession that allows a clean transition to food and beverage. So you had to wonder, how did he end up renting a space and putting about a million dollars into a renovation, research and development of what has become the best pizza in the Low Country? Because it is.

The intentions were 100% pure. In more ways than one.

Glen shared a story with me about his own childhood. He brought up something that many of us who try to watch what we consume on a daily basis talk about fairly regularly.

“I assume we are about the same age.” He said “When we were kids, we didn’t have problems with GMO food or Gluten Free products or Organic anything.”

“The things that they are putting in our food now is terrible. It’s garbage.”

His 3 children wanted to open a restaurant. He gave it some thought and finally landed on ‘if we are going to do it, we are going to do it my way and we are going to do it right.”

So he went full steam ahead on renting a space in the Moss Creek area that would eventually become home to a good looking restaurant who’s main offering, that’s right, is pizza. Not just any, though.

In those two hours, Glen more than shared his passion. On a tour of his kitchen, he showed me all of the high-end ingredients that he had just spent 30 minutes telling me about. I could list them here for you, but it doesn’t really matter. What I can tell you is that flours, the oils and anything else you will find in their kitchen is the highest quality you can get delivered in this area.

Some of it required a significant commitment on Glen’s part with his distributors because no one else in this area is using it. If they are going to make the commitment to get it to Bluffton, South Carolina for you, you’d better be prepared to buy a lot of it. And he is.

The result of this dedication is very clear when you take a bite of their pizzas at Mama G’s. The pies are wonderful. The quality is more than obvious.

“I like to look at people’s eyes when they take their first bite.” Glen says. “The eyes don’t lie”

No, they don’t, and as a result, Mama G’s has been very well received. They’ve gone on hour plus waits multiple evenings since they first opened. There’s been no ‘easing into it’ here. They’ve been drinking out of a fire hose from just about day 2 or 3 and it’s more than obvious that Glen is loving every minute of it.

On the flip side, the price you pay for all of this quality, passion and excellent execution is….the price you pay. There is nothing inexpensive about the pizza Mama G’s is offering the community and Glen makes no apologies for it.

If you are looking for a Tuesday night $8 three meat special, you’d best be served getting on down the road. That ain’t happening here. His least expensive glass of wine on the day I visited was $9. Again, Glen references the fact that he refuses to serve low end wines that he can burn through at $6 a glass just to make a buck or two. This isn’t about that. It is, and always will be about serving clean, healthy food with the most simple recipes and ingredients you will always know.

Even the sodas. There is no Coke or Pepsi in here. It’s organic fountain sodas. The gelato is made by a very small company in Charleston who, Glen says, is very persnickety themselves about who serves their product.

“We are her first brick and mortar.” He says.

Overall the experience is fantastic. The space is beautiful, the vibe is warm and inviting. I have yet to see it, but I imagine the dinner crowds on the weekend offer an energy that you won’t find at too many places on the mainland. Sure, there are a few, but now there is one more.

A pizza joint, where you will Eat It and Like It.

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Hardeeville and Bluffton continue to progress as two of the fastest-growing municipalities in South Carolina over the last year.

Bluffton ranked No. 1 in the state for total population growth in the U.S. Census Bureau's 2021 estimates, according to the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce. Hardeeville was ranked eighth for total population growth and first in growth by percentage. Bluffton was second in population growth by percentage.

Hardeeville's population grew by 14.3 percent, gaining an estimated 1,106 new residents. Bluffton's population grew 12 percent, with 3,457 new residents.

South Carolina's estimated population grew to 5,190,705 residents, an increase of 1.4 percent. Department of Employment and Workforce director Dan Ellzey said 26 of 46 counties had population increases in 2021, but most of the rural areas had gradual losses, particularly those in the southern and eastern parts of the state.

Ellzey noted Hardeeville's growth, adding that S.C. Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office projections indicate the city and Jasper County will likely become a far larger part of the state’s total population and economy in coming years.

“That city increased its population by one seventh in a single year and is the fastest growing municipality in the state based on percentage," Ellzey said in a news release. "Hardeeville benefits from its proximity to both Hilton Head Island and Savannah, making it a highly convenient location in which to both live and work."

City manager Michael Czymbor said Hardeeville undertook a comprehensive analysis of projected development and its potential impact a few years ago.

"This vital analysis has been annually updated and provides clarity and guidance in preparing for our annual budget request and grant applications to support the need for additional personnel, equipment, and facilities," Czymbor said. "... The City is also working to amend all of our growth management policies and Municipal Zoning and Development ordinance in order to deal with all the issues and challenges which accompany rapid growth environments."

The growth is important to the city, Czymbor said, because it creates an attractive environment for the commercial development officials are trying to attract.

"The City’s ideal proximity to the Georgia Port Authority makes the US 17 corridor south of Exit 5 an ideal location for storage, logistics and manufacturing," he said. "The City has entitled over 15 million square feet of industrial in this area. All of this growth will provide numerous high quality and paying positions to our residents and the residents of Jasper County."

Czymbor said the city works to limit the impacts of some of the negative elements of growth, like "increased traffic, pollution, and its impact on our all of our existing infrastructure and roadways."

"The City, as development proposals are submitted, (is) requiring traffic impact analysis and detailed studies on how the current environment and landscape will be impacted by the proposed development," he said. "Consistent due diligence on all our part will be needed to ensure quality end products."

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - We continue to cover the 2022 election cycle and Tuesday is historic for elections in South Carolina.

Starting Tuesday, South Carolina voters will be able to take part in the early voting process ahead of Election Day for the first time.

Just have your ID ready because you no longer need an excuse to vote early starting Tuesday morning. Anybody can come early to vote at one of four locations in Beaufort County.

Board of Voter Registration and Elections in Beaufort, the Bluffton Recreation Center, the Hilton Head Government Complex and the St. Helena Branch Library.

All four of those locations will be open Tuesday through June 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday and closed on the weekend.

The Beaufort County Board of Elections Office has to do some stuff differently on their end to accommodate the new early voting change, but voters will not notice any changes in the early voting period from what they are used to when voting on Election Day.

“The early voting process is similar to the process that is used on election day, a voter will come in and present their ID, verify the address and then they will be allowed to sign an oath and cast their ballot,” said Marie Smalls, Beaufort County Board of Voter Registrations and Elections Director.

Since this is the very first time voting ahead of Election Day is open to all registered voters in South Carolina, the Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration and Elections says they are prepared for whatever kind of turnout they get.

“We’re hoping people take advantage of it, I’m hoping that it is a good turnout, it’s not a presidential election going on but there are some hot races on the ballot so I am thinking people are going to want to participate even if they do it early or on election day,” Smalls said.

The early voting replaces the state’s former in person absentee process, however the absentee by mail process is still the same – you do need to fill out an application and then once approved, they will mail you your absentee ballot. The deadline to request that application is this Friday.

There is a lot on the ballot this primary, including some state races including governor, State Superintendent of Education and several state house races. Locally, Beaufort County will vote for county sheriff and several county council districts.

Don’t forget the primary election in South Carolina is on June 14, but if you want to cast your ballot early, anyone can do that starting at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday for the first time in the history of South Carolina.

You can find early voting polling locations here. You can check your sample ballot here.

Copyright 2022 WTOC. All rights reserved.

Seven high schools in Jasper County recently held their 2022 graduation ceremonies, in venues ranging from gymnasiums and recreation centers to football fields.

Thomas Heyward Academy’s graduation was held May 27 in its gymnasium with 29 seniors. The valedictorian was Abigail Caroline Hayes and the salutatorian was Natalie Elizabeth King.

The class has 10 future college athletes, 19 SCISA scholar athletes, 23 honors graduates, and 18 Beta Club members, headmaster Ben Herod said.

Herod said the seniors were accepted to 41 colleges and universities, and the class was collectively awarded more than $2.6 million in scholarships.

Polaris Tech Charter School said two graduates earned multiple scholarships to help with upcoming college costs.

The valedictorian was Julisa Martinez of Ridgeland, who earned the school's Reach, Rise and Soar Scholarship and the Palmetto Life state scholarship. Antana Cuiman of Ridgeland earned the Lt. Col. Lester Newton Scholarship and the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce Scholarship.

A total of 32 graduates marched June 4. The keynote speaker was Alyssa L. Richardson, state director and deputy chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Tim Scott.

The Jasper County School District held its graduation ceremony June 3 in Hardeeville. The valedictorian was Candace Reiley and the salutatorian was Tyler Fuller.

Honor graduates included NyAsia Witter, Britney Lewis, Geovanna Cruz, Nykeirra Scott, Lataye Walker, Dehyanna Murray, Brian Allen, Jason Bradshaw, Michael Montes-Velazquez, Paris Bowers and Zakiera Herring.

A total of 57 seniors graduated June 2 from Royal Live Oaks Academy of the Arts & Sciences Charter School in Hardeeville, the school’s sixth and largest graduating class.

The ceremony took place at the Hardeeville Recreation Center, located across the street from the school's campus. State Rep. Shannon Erickson was the guest speaker.

Rebecca Taliafaro received the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce Teachers Choice scholarship award and Riley McGuire received the Brennan Family Foundation Future Teacher Award. Edison Jefferson was the valedictorian and Savanna Fumbi was the salutatorian. Jefferson was presented the Board of Directors award.

The class received a total of $426,000 in scholarships, the school said. Two students received the South Carolina HOPE Scholarship, and 15 received the South Carolina LIFE Scholarship.

Legacy Christian Academy graduated four seniors this year: Dustin Scott, Hunter Ackerman, Rhia Burnette and Bryleigh Beach. Burnette was the valedictorian.

There were three graduates this year from Step of Faith Christian Academy: Casey Blanchard, Lyla Gainey and Madison Malphrus. Gainey served as valedictorian.

John Paul II Catholic School’s graduation took place May 28. The valedictorian was Madison Leah Heathcott and the salutatorian was Amanda Taylor Shaw.

The school’s graduates plan to attend the University of South Carolina, USC Beaufort, Lees-McRae College, Clemson University, Sewanee, USC Upstate, Tufts University, Mount Saint Mary's University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of Florida. Others will enter the workforce in business, accounting and sportfishing.