Coastal Carolina University English professor and noted Gullah expert Veronica Gerald will present “Cross d’Water: The Story of Sandy Island,” a talk that draws from her long study of the history and culture of the region, on Wednesday, March 23 at 7 p.m. at the Waccamaw Higher Education Center in Litchfield. The event is free and open to the public.

Sandy Island is a unique water-bound community situated in the Waccamaw River near Brookgreen Gardens. Based on information from her oral history project, Gerald describes the island’s rich cultural heritage, originating in the days of the rice plantations, and the folkways, speech patterns, burial customs, religious practices, education system, and other traditions relating to living “cross d’ water.”

Gerald’s talk is part of “From Global to Local: An Intellectual Exchange,” a series of talks by members of the faculty of Coastal’s Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts. The last event in the series, which is sponsored by the college’s Board of Visitors, is “How Can I Keep from Singing?: Legacy of the American Art Song,” to be presented by Patti Edwards on April 13.

The center is located at 160 Willbrook Blvd. in Litchfield off U.S. 17 just west of the Hampton Inn. For more information, call 349-2421.