Important Travel News: The ETIAS, or European Travel Information and Authorization System, will be required for U.S. travel to Europe starting 2021

Read More

U.S. citizens will no longer be able to travel to Europe without getting special authorization starting in 2021. 

The European Union introduced the European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS, will be required for those who want to visit Europe.

The ETIAS is required for travelers to the European Schengen Area, which is a zone consisting of 26 countries and three micro-states. Countries often frequented by tourists such as France, Spain, Germany, Italy and Poland are included in the area. 

The ETIAS application is relatively straightforward. U.S. citizens need a valid passport, email and credit or debit card. Registration will be available online

The ETIAS is valid for three years, so Americans won’t have to get a new ETIAS each time they travel to Europe within that three year period.

The EU said the new system is being implemented to “improve their security level to avoid any further problems with illegal migration and terrorism”.

ETIAS Application Form and Information

Animal Lovers Participating in the Cooper River Bridge Run are Encouraged to Run on Behalf of Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary

Read More

Hollywood, SC – Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary is seeking animal lovers participating in the Cooper River Bridge Run to run on behalf of Hallie Hill. The Bridge the Gap fundraiser encourages race participants to combine good health with good deeds by raising funds for the sanctuary during the race. Funds raised through Bridge the Gap will support the health and wellbeing of the 200+ animals in the care of Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary and help to Bridge the Gap between homeless animals and furever homes.


Registering to support Hallie Hill is easy. Participants register for the fundraiser as individuals or teams through the Hallie Hill website. Once registered,  supporters will get a link to their own personal fundraising page that they can share with their peers to help gain support for their cause. Those not running the bridge can show their support from the sidelines by making a donation directly to Hallie Hill or by donating in support of one of the individuals or teams who are running on behalf of Hallie Hill. 


“Running and walking is so beneficial for your heart, but you can make the Bridge Run benefit many, many hearts,” says Hallie Hill Executive Director, Jennifer Middleton. “Race participants who become ambassadors for Hallie Hill help the animals not just by raising money, but also by increasing awareness of the sanctuary. We’re tremendously grateful.”
All funds raised will support the 501c3 animal sanctuary whose mission is to rescue and care for abandoned, abused or neglected animals who have no other home or shelter. An integral factor in Charleston becoming a no-kill community, Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary provides respite and rehabilitation for dogs and cats preparing them for adoption, and provides a loving forever home to those animals who are unable to be adopted. 
For more information about Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary and Bridge the Gap, visit HallieHill.com/Bridge-the-Gap or find them on Facebook and Instagram at HallieHillAnimalSanctuary.

Official Hallie Hill Website

2019’s Best & Worst States for Women Survey Released – Where does South Carolina Rank?

Read More

WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 24 key indicators of living standards for women. Our data set ranges from median earnings for female workers to women’s preventive health care to female homicide rate. Read on for our findings, expert insight from a panel of researchers and a full description of our methodology.

Of the 51 states, including the District of Columbia, South Carolina ranked #49 of #51 or the 3rd worst state for women to live in based on the 2019 study.

Here is how each state was ranked from best to worst

Complete WalletHub Analysis Report

Ode to those selfless and unconditional friends – ‘True Friend’: Original Poem

Read More

By Mark A. Leon

Good friends, true friends are hard to come by
We are lucky to find one or two in a lifetime
The rare bond stronger than blood held on by the quest to find inner happiness and meaning

To you, I say thank you at the top of my lungs with the colors of love

You see inside me and break through the walls
The barriers of thick emotional glue that separate the harsh realities from the vulnerable core of the soul

You touch me with unspoken words
Heartfelt outreaches
Unselfish dedication

You listen
In laughter and fears, hope and tears
Most of all, never let go

A friendship like yours is born from the stars
Mystical beings dressed in white with wings stretch out their hands to bring us together

You complete my thoughts
You soften my pain
In an instant, calming the senses anxious for answers

In my darkest hours; the most dismal times, when all others spoke with their feet, you stood strong

A rock in a foundation of quick sand

As I sunk to the pits of the unknown virtues of evil,
One hand
One heart
Held me up
Helped me see a glimmer of light in the darkness

Turning a life without direction to a journey of hope

A friend like you is a precious stone in a cave of blackness
One shiny hint from the corner
Just enough illumination to lead me to you

True friendship is acceptance
True friendship is love

I say to you now for the world to hear, I love you
Forever friends

Palmetto Brewing Co. Rebrands Packaging, Adds New Beers

Read More

CHARLESTON, S.C. — South Carolina’s oldest brewery opened its doors to a new look in their downtown Charleston tasting room on Friday, March 1. The launch celebration of Palmetto Brewing’s rebrand included live music and food throughout the two-day event, along with the debut of two new Palmetto beers to commemorate the occasion.

Refreshing an Iconic Brand

As the brewery is named for a pre-Prohibition beer company, the Palmetto aesthetic has naturally remained rooted in local history. When the modern day Palmetto opened its Huger Street business in 1993, the script logo was designed as an homage to the letterhead of its namesake from the late 19th century – evoking imagery of wrought iron gates and antique filigree.

After celebrating 25 continuous years in business last fall, the company set out to update their iconic branding and packaging. The new logo integrates the text-based script and the Palmetto tree icon into a unified badge. By retaining the familiar tree element, the brewery preserves a visual connection to its heritage. Meanwhile the script component represents a forward-thinking graphic evolution. With clean sweeping lines reminiscent of Charleston’s famous Ravenel Bridge, the new logo honors the Lowcountry industrial feel of the original, while looking ahead to a modern era of South Carolina craft beer.

In addition to the new Palmetto logo, the brewery has given their packaging design a significant makeover. Each beer label captures Charleston scenery in a unique, interpretive line art. Utilizing advancements in printing technology, the new designs showcase a free-flowing, multi-colored, shimmering aquatic motif. Fresh-look Palmetto cans will soon arrive in four-state distribution, following their debut in the Charleston tasting room.

New Additions to the Palmetto Beer Lineup

As part of the March 1 launch, the brewery is rolling out two new beers that are slated to become Palmetto mainstays.

Nice & Brite Gose (5.0 percent ABV) is a refreshingly tart German-style wheat ale brewed with lemon and elderflower. Palmetto’s first sour beer to be packaged, Nice & Brite will be available year-round on draft and in 6-pack cans.

Idle Speed Salted Lime Lager (4.8 percent ABV) is another crisp, easy-drinking session beer conceived to combat the South Carolina heat. Look for Idle Speed from March through September, draft and 6-pack cans.

Also available at the tasting room, Huger Street IPA, Lowcountry Lager and Mango IPA make their first appearances in new packaging. Raspberry Rewind, a raspberry wheat ale, continues as Palmetto’s current “843 Series” seasonal release. And a rotating selection of draft-only beers from the brewery’s Small Batch Program are always on tap.

Weekend Event Plans

Friday, March 1 was headlined by the official debut of the Palmetto rebrand. Spanglish Cuban Kitchen will serve up food from 5 to 9 p.m. And live music was provided by Letters to Abigail from 6 to 9 p.m.

The party continued on Saturday, March 2 with live music by Whiskey Diablo (4-7 p.m.), and a special Pint Night collaboration with Home Team BBQ (2-8 p.m.). Palmetto donated $1 from each pint sold to Hogs for the Cause, a non-profit organization that assists families dealing with pediatric brain cancer.

About Palmetto Brewing Co.

Palmetto Brewing, founded in 1993, is South Carolina’s first craft brewery. Independently owned by the Pyatt family, Palmetto remains deeply rooted in the Charleston community. Palmetto beers are currently distributed in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. Visit the brewery and tasting room at its historic original location at 289 Huger Street in Charleston. And look for the new www.palmettobrewery.com website to debut on March 1.

Local Resident and Internationally Trained Artist Caroline Gray featured at Grand Bohemian Gallery in Charleston, S.C.

Read More

Caroline Gray was born and raised on Sullivan’s Island inspiring her love for oceanic life and art. Here earliest works date back to the young age of 5. Her aspirations were without limit with dreams of international exposure. After leaving the Charleston community many years ago, Caroline has gone on to reside in London, New York and Berlin.

She studied Fashion Design at Parsons Paris (2000-2003) and Fine Art at Central Saint Martens (2003-2007).

Caroline has been featured in Goat Farm Atlanta in 2012 and Berlin Art Week in 2018. Now her mixed art media can be viewed and purchased at the Grand Bohemian Gallery on Meeting Street in downtown Charleston.

Making a short trip home after many years living internationally, Caroline is thrilled to share her inspiration with her home community.

Caroline describes her works as “Reconstructing objects found in my environment, via forms, colours and the auras of their commodity. experimenting with materials and autonomous abstraction. Nature occultist.”

Take time and visit the exquisite Grand Bohemian Gallery, featuring some of the finest art, jewelry and mixed media in the Lowcountry. Caroline is in great company, sharing the spotlight with ‘The Seductress’ series that premiered on Friday, March 1, 2019.

Cobradoll Caroline Gray Official Website

Grand Bohemian Gallery Charleston Official Website

Media Alert: CARTA to break ground on new Rivers Avenue park-n-ride facility March 6

Read More


WHAT: CARTA will host a groundbreaking ceremony for a new, system-owned park-n-ride facility on Rivers Avenue in North Charleston. The ADA-compliant facility will feature 289 parking spaces, in addition to bathrooms and bike racks, offering commuters the area’s first dedicated, permanent park-and-ride option. The lot will be fenced and lit and will feature security access. The groundbreaking marks the next step in regional park-and-ride strategy.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 6, at 2:30 p.m.

WHO:

  • Mike Seekings, CARTA board chairman
  • Keith Summey, North Charleston mayor
  • CARTA Board of Directors


WHERE: 8571 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29406. To attend and arrange interviews, please email dbrock@rawlemurdy.com or call (919) 820-2612.

NOTE: Parking attendants will direct for parking on arrival.

###

Charleston, S.C. Based Stoner’s Pizza Joint Appoints Industry Veteran, Glenn Cybulski, To President And Chief Culinary Officer Amid Ongoing Growth

Read More

CHARLESTON, S.C., March 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ —Stoner’s Pizza Joint, a millennial-focused, quick-service pizza franchise, announced today that Glenn Cybulski has joined the company as president and chief culinary officer. A seasoned industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience, Cybulski will oversee Stoner’s culinary operations, as well as leverage his decades of experience in recipe and product development, operational systems and menu design to spearhead the brand’s nationwide expansion. On the heels of a successful 2018, the rapidly growing pizza concept will be meeting with prospective franchisees at the International Pizza Expo, March 4-7 in Las Vegas.

“Stoner’s is well positioned for explosive growth in 2019 and beyond, and Glenn’s appointment reflects our efforts in capitalizing on our unique positioning within the pizza space, as well as gearing up for continued growth nationwide,” said Nick Bergelt, co-owner and chief concept officer of Stoner’s Pizza Joint. “Glenn’s broad experience in the kitchen and behind the scenes, as well as cooking with cannabis and CBD are invaluable to our future success. As the general paradigm shifts across the U.S. around the acceptance of cannabis culture, we’re excited to tap into Glenn’s extensive expertise to propel our brand’s footprint and impact across the country.”

A certified Italian Pizzaiolo, having studied at the prestigious Scuola Italiana Pizzaioli in Italy, Cybulski has owned and operated numerous restaurants in Northern California. Awarded the prestigious ‘World Pizza Champion’ at the Citta Di Napoli world pizza competition in Naples, Italy, he is widely regarded as one of the top 10 pizzaiolos in the United States. Cybulski is a founding member of Chefs Feeding Kids, a non-profit group made up of professional chefs and restaurant owners dedicated to feeding undernourished children and promoting healthy eating habits.

“When I first met the Stoner’s team, their passion for the brand and commitment to revitalizing the concept was contagious. I’m thrilled to be coming on board during such an exciting and pivotal time,” said Glenn Cybulski. “The upcoming International Pizza Expo is the perfect setting to kick off our new relationship, and I look forward to meeting with those interested in joining Stoner’s in the early stages of its growth story.”

As part of its aggressive growth plans, Stoner’s Pizza Joint will be in attendance at the International Pizza Expo March 4-7, 2019, in Las Vegas where it will be seeking qualified franchisees to help grow the brand nationally, specifically in college towns. Founded in 2013, Stoner’s Pizza Joint was purchased by experienced restaurateurs Drew Ciccarelli and Nick Bergelt, who developed and launched Stoner’s Pizza Joint’s franchising program in 2018 with the goal of growing the brand’s footprint to 100 locations by 2023.

For more information about franchising opportunity with Stoner’s Pizza Joint, visit https://www.stonerspizzajointfranchise.com/ or contact the Stoner’s Pizza Joint Franchise Development team, at franchise@stonerspizzajoint.com or call 843-518-1972.

About Stoner’s Pizza Joint
Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, Stoner’s Pizza Joint is a millennial-focused, quick-service pizza restaurant that uses high quality, fresh ingredients. The company offers a variety of specialty pizzas, hickory-smoked wings made daily in-house, salads, strombolis, and calzones. Today, Stoner’s Pizza Joint has grown to 11 locations in South Carolina, Georgia, Texas and Florida. For more information about Stoner’s Pizza Joint, visit www.stonerspizzajoint.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Shannon O’Reilly
Fish Consulting
soreilly@fish-consulting.com 
954-893-9150

SOURCE Stoner’s Pizza Joint

Join The COMMUNITY every Wednesday from 11am-3pm for an Eats & Treats Market!

Read More

Come for this spectacular, fun and relaxing weekly event, every Wednesday at the COMMUNITY located in downtown Charleston at the Old Cigar Factory

REGULAR WEEKLY VENDORS:

Other weekly vendors rotating through every week — come visit us & get your goodies!

Official Event Website

the COMMUNITY Official Website

Local Charleston, S.C. pro bono legal service offers community members a chance to learn about their rights – Free Legal Series

Read More

RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2019

CPBLS FEATURES “LAWYERS IN THE LIBRARY” SERIES

Local pro bono legal service offers community members a chance to learn about their rights.

CHARLESTON, SC, March 1, 2019 — Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services continues their year-long series of “Lawyers in the Library” on March 13 from 6 to 8 P.M. at the Charleston County Public Library Main Campus. Our lawyers and community partners present essential legal information on a range of topics.

This upcoming presentation will cover leases, specifically required terms of common residential lease contracts and rights as a tenant. The next March “Lawyers in the Library” will be held on March 27, at the same location and time, and will cover debt collection. Those that owe debts that are past due should attend this event. These presentations are free and open to the public, thanks in part to grant funding from the City of Charleston, Charleston County, and the Joanna Foundation. “​

For us, addressing the justice gap in our community is a two-prong

approach: not only do we provide legal recourse to address legal issues once they arise, but we also provide outreach opportunities to educate and empower the community in an attempt to mitigate such issues in the first place.” – Executive Director Alissa Lietzow

Our “Lawyers in the Library” presentations began in 2018 and we will continue to offer them in the future: already scheduled are April, May, and June “Lawyers in the Library” events, each with a unique legal subject.

Charleston Pro Bono serves the vital legal needs of Charleston’s economically disadvantaged. We empower people by providing aid, representation and an array of legal services that grant access to the protections and benefits of our legal system.

PARTNERS​

— Charleston Friends of the Library | Charleston County Public Library

CONTACT INFORMATION:

  • Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services
  • Alissa Lietzow, Executive Director
  • (843) 853-6456
  • marketing@charlestonprobono.org