Lowcountry

Lowcountry

Charleston, SC enters Orkin’s Top 50 worst cities for mosquito’s annual list for the first time

May 20, 2019 by 0 Comments
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Orkin’s Top 50 Mosquito Cities list ranks metro areas by the number of mosquito customers served from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019. The list includes both residential and commercial treatments. For the first time, Charleston, SC enters the list coming in at #50.

  1. Atlanta
  2. New York (+1)
  3. Washington, D.C. (+1)
  4. Chicago (+1)
  5. Houston (+2)
  6. Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas (-4)
  7. Detroit (+4)
  8. Philadelphia (+9)
  9. Charlotte, N.C. (+1)
  10. Raleigh-Durham, N.C. (+5)
  11. Phoenix (+14)
  12. Los Angeles (+4)
  13. Boston (+20)
  14. Miami (-6)
  15. Baltimore (+27)
  16. Richmond, Va. (+14)
  17. Nashville (-4)
  18. Tampa (-4)
  19. Indianapolis (+5)
  20. St. Louis (-14)
  21. Norfolk, Va. (+2)
  22. Orlando (-3)
  23. Greenville, S.C. (+8)
  24. Denver (new to list)
  25. Kansas City (-16)
  26. Tulsa, Okla. (+9)
  27. Minneapolis (+5)
  28. Albany, New York (-2)
  29. Grand Rapids, Mich. (-7)
  30. Memphis (-18)
  31. Oklahoma City (+9)
  32. New Orleans (-3)
  33. Cleveland, Ohio (+14)
  34. Lafayette, La. (-7)
  35. Burlington, New York (new to list)
  36. Mobile, Ala. (-15)
  37. Milwaukee (new to list)
  38. Austin (-18)
  39. Knoxville, Tenn. (+7)
  40. Cincinnati (new to list)
  41. San Antonio (-5)
  42. West Palm Beach, Fla. (+6)
  43. Greensboro, N.C. (new to list)
  44. Hartford, Conn. (-8)
  45. Savannah, Ga. (new to list)
  46. Jacksonville, Fla. (new to list)
  47. Baton Rouge (new to list)
  48. Amarillo, Texas (new to list)
  49. Madison, Wisc. (new to list)
  50. Charleston, S.C. (new to list)

With the presence of West Nile virus in the U.S., 2,544 cases in 2018, it remains a concern as there is no treatment, cure or vaccine for the virus. One of the best strategies for eliminating mosquito-borne diseases is to reduce populations of the mosquitoes that spread them.Below are the most common types of mosquitoes in the U.S.:

  • Culex Mosquitoes: These mosquitoes are seen throughout the United States and can transmit West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis and even bird malaria. They are mostly night biters but can also bite at dusk and dawn.
  • Aedes Mosquitoes: These are commonly known as floodwater mosquitoes, and they may live in a variety of habitats ranging from swamps to natural containers such as soda cans and pet water bowls. They can transmit several diseases including dengue, chikungunya, Zika and dog heartworm. Many of these are day-biters with the peak periods in the morning and afternoon.
  • Anopheles Mosquitoes: In addition to spreading malaria, which has been eradicated from the United States but is constantly reintroduced due to infected travelers from foreign countries, Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit dog heartworm as well as a few viruses. They have been found in most states and are most active at night.

“Male adult mosquitoes feed on plant nectar, while females need a blood meal to support reproduction,” said Beavers. “Reducing items that attract mosquitoes, actively working to prevent them from breeding in their required water habitats, wearing insect repellent or moving inside the home during peak biting times are ways to protect one’s self from mosquito bites.”

After mating, females typically seek a blood meal to aid in egg production. Those eggs are laid in water or just above the edge of the waterline (for example, floodwater mosquitoes). Those water sources may be standing pools or stagnant water but can also be manmade sources such as bird baths, buckets and even mud puddles. Egg numbers vary from species to species but there can be more than 100 eggs in a single laying. And in as a little as four days, a single mosquito can multiply into as many as 400.

Orkin recommends the following tips to help residents protect against mosquitoes: Eliminate Mosquito-Friendly Conditions in and Around Your Yard

  • Any object that has the potential to hold water should be removed or cleaned out frequently, as mosquitoes can breed in just an inch of standing water.
  • Clean gutters to avoid rainwater build up. Be sure to check for puddles that form on the roof from rain water, leaking pipes or even condensation from air conditioners.
  • Change the water (at minimum) weekly in bird baths, fountains, potted plants and any containers that hold standing water, including wading pools.
  • Keep swimming pool water treated and circulating.
  • Trim shrubbery, as adult mosquitoes like to rest in dark, protected areas with high humidity, such as under the leaves of lush vegetation.

Prevent Mosquitoes from Biting

  • Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Mosquitoes can bite through tight clothing.
  • Apply an EPA-registered mosquito repellent containing products such as DEET, picaridin or IR3535.

Eliminate Entry Points

  • Inspect doors and windows for drafts or openings around their perimeters and window air conditioning units. Install weather stripping around doors and utilize caulk around window frames.
  • Ensure that window and door screens are securely in place and free of holes or tears.
  • Keep doors tightly closed. A propped-open door is a welcome mat for mosquitoes to enter your home.

For more mosquito information and prevention tips, visit Orkin.com.About Orkin, LLC

Founded in 1901, Atlanta-based Orkin is an industry leader in essential pest control services and protection against termite damage, rodents and insects. The company operates more than 400 locations with almost 8,000 employees. Using a proprietary, three-step approach, Orkin provides customized services to approximately 1.7 million homeowners and businesses in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America, Central America, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Asia, the Mediterranean and Africa. Orkin is committed to studying pest biology and applying scientifically proven methods. The company collaborates with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and eight major universities to conduct research and help educate consumers and businesses on pest-related health threats. Learn more about Orkin at Orkin.com. Orkin is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rollins Inc. (NYSE: ROL). Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Lowcountry

Is Charleston, South Carolina defining the new look of corporate America?

May 18, 2019 by 0 Comments
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The business complex of “Pacific Box & Crate”, located on the King Street Extension, that houses Boomtown, Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company, Twelve South, The Harbor Entrepreneur Center, Workshop, The Middleton Group, Palmetto Clean Technology, Con Rex and MVMT may be redefining how we look at corporate architectural design, work life balance and corporate lifestyle.

This aesthetically pleasing complex provides area for work, play, relaxation, dining, thinking and creative release. Its state of the art facility combining the elements of modern architectural design and nature have created a local buzz and could be one of the influencers of modern corporate design in the future.

Take a journey through the grounds and see how Charleston is building a balance between work, play, wellness and productivity. Soon you will see why the little recreational community of Charleston, SC is becoming a hub for technological growth and expansion.

Pacific Box & Crate Official Website

Lowcountry

Grand Opening of Blade and Bull’s Axe Throwing Facility! – Saturday, May 18, 2019

May 17, 2019 by 0 Comments
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We’re finally OPEN. Please join us to celebrate the long awaited Grand Opening of our Park Circle AXE THROWING facility on Saturday 5/18 from 12pm-12am. To guarantee yourself a spot, please visit www.bladeandbull.com and click “Book now – Park Circle Facility”. We expect to fill all the available slots, so book quickly. Walk-ins will be welcomed, but there is no guarantee for axe throwing availability.

In addition to axe throwing, we offer beer, wine, and mead. Drink them out of authentic viking Ale Horns, hand carved from ox horn. We have a medieval bar/dining hall where you can enjoy food from Southern Roots Park Circle and Azul Mexicano Restaurante. We are glad to order and pick up your food, then deliver it to your axe throwing lane.

All ages welcome. Kids as young as 6 have been successful, but if the younger ones aren’t having any luck, we have a foam/velcro target for them.

Blade and Bull – 1077 E. Montague Ave North Charleston, SC 29405

Official Website

Lowcountry

Koniver Wellness Welcomes Premiere Fitness Expert Ben Greenfield to Charleston

May 17, 2019 by 0 Comments
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CHARLESTON, S.C. – One of the most influential health and fitness experts is coming to Charleston for a discussion on health and longevity. Ben Greenfield is an ex-bodybuilder, Ironman triathlete, obstacle course racer, human performance consultant, speaker and author of 13 books, including the New York Times bestseller “Beyond Training.”

Dr. Craig Koniver, founder of Koniver Wellness in Mount Pleasant, is hosting Greenfield on Wednesday, May 29, for a dinner and discussion on biohacking, brain performance, longevity and more. The event is 6-8 p.m. at Tradd’s, 167 East Bay St. in Charleston. Tickets are $250 each and include dinner and a goodie bag.

Greenfield lives in Washington where he is the founder and CEO of Kion, creating step-by-step solutions – from supplements and fitness gear, to coaching and consulting, to education and media – for individuals and athletes around the world who want to live a truly limitless life with fully optimized minds, bodies and spirits.

“As one of the leading innovators in the biohacking space, Ben Greenfield has a plethora of cutting-edge information,” Koniver said. “We are excited to bring him to Charleston to spread his knowledge of fitness, nutrition and longevity to all the health and fitness enthusiasts in our community.”

Koniver has been practicing performance medicine for more than 18 years. He helps his clients optimize their health and performance through time-tested, nutrient and science driven protocols that are the cutting-edge of medicine.

Be part of this lively discussion on the future of medicine. Space is limited to 80; purchase tickets online.

Lowcountry

Sweetgrass Festival Basket Maker & Crafter Applications Available Online (Mount Pleasant, SC)

May 16, 2019 by 0 Comments
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MOUNT PLEASANT, SC (May 15, 2019) – Applications to participate in the Sweetgrass Basket and Craft Show at the 15th Annual Sweetgrass Festival on Saturday, July 13 at the Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park are now available at ExperienceMountPleasant.com.

Basket makers, crafters and artists who conceive their own designs and execute original finished products are invited to apply to participate. Crafter and artist applications are juried simultaneously with the best entries in each category selected on a limited basis to offer a diverse and balanced show. The application deadline is May 28.

The annual Sweetgrass Festival in Mount Pleasant is designed to promote and bring attention to the contributions of the Gullah people’s history, culture, traditions and their sweetgrass basket art form that originated in Mount Pleasant and continues to exist in our town and surrounding communities today.

Offering free admission, entertainment and activities, the Sweetgrass Festival also provides an opportunity for local basket makers to showcase, promote and market their sweetgrass merchandise to locals as well as cultural tourists from around the country.

Additionally, the Sweetgrass Festival provides an opportunity for engagement, interaction and exposure to the Gullah People’s cultures. Informative and interesting educational sessions will enlighten and entertain participants of all ages.

For more information and the application, please visit ExperienceMountPleasant.com/events/sweetgrass-festival or facebook.com/MountPleasantRec

Lowcountry

CARTA Moving Forward with Fare and Pass Improvements

May 15, 2019 by 0 Comments
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SENIOR FARES TO EXPAND, TRANSFER FEES TO BE ELIMINATED, WEEKLY FARES TO BE ESTABLISHED

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (May 15, 2019) – Today, the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) Board of Directors approved moving forward with the following items:

  • Expansion of Senior Fares ($1 per ride) to all operating hours (previously available between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.)
  • Elimination of transfer fees (currently 50 cents)
  • Establishment of weekly unlimited regular passes ($15) and Express passes ($25) (currently available on a monthly basis)

CARTA staff will now revise official policies and complete required authorizations to put the changes in place for approval at the July 15 board meeting.

“The steps taken today will directly benefit a large portion of our ridership by easing strain on wallets and reducing barriers to mobility,” said CARTA Board of Directors Chairman Mike Seekings. “The board is focused on continuing to develop a system that works hard for riders in a convenient and cost-efficient manner and our work to this point has placed us in a position to make constructive decisions like this.”

The CARTA board noted the involvement of the Charleston Area Justice Ministry in bringing forward the changes for consideration.

ABOUT CARTA

The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) is a public transportation system dedicated to providing affordable transit in the Charleston community through local fixed routes, on-demand paratransit service, and express commuter routes. For the latest on CARTA, visit www.ridecarta.com, like us on Facebook or follow on Twitter at @RideCARTA. All customers are encouraged to plan rides and track buses with the CARTA-endorsed Transit app.

Lowcountry

Charleston, SC Based The Cassina Group Closes First Quarter with Record Sales Volume

May 12, 2019 by 0 Comments
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The Cassina Group, a Charleston, SC based real estate firm, closed the first quarter of 2019 with a record sales volume for the company. The high-producing firm closed 92 deals, a 13% increase over their first quarter of 2018 and an exceptionally impressive feat given that the firm only has 38 REALTORS®. Their average sales price for the first quarter of 2019 was $635,997.

CHARLESTON, S.C., May 12, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The Cassina Group, a Charleston, SC based real estate firm, closed the first quarter of 2019 with a record sales volume for the company. The high-producing firm closed 92 deals, a 13% increase over their first quarter of 2018 and an exceptionally impressive feat given that the firm only has 38 REALTORS®. Their average sales price for the first quarter of 2019 was $635,997. Follow this story to get email or text alerts from WRCB when there is a future article following this storyline.Follow this story

“We are extremely impressed with our first quarter numbers,” said Owen Tyler, Partner and Managing Broker of The Cassina Group. “Our full-time, experienced agents are the best REALTORS® in Charleston, and we are exceptionally grateful for our loyal clients who continue to work with us transaction after transaction.”

Fourteen of the firm’s first quarter sales were over $1,000,000. Some especially notable transactions include the sale of 517 King Street, a penthouse condo in King Street Lofts, which sold for $3,300,000. Elizabeth Ramsay Dickinson represented the sellers and Stephanie Wilson-Hartzog represented the buyers. The firm also had three notable sales in The Crescent-9 Johnson Road (Robertson Allen represented the sellers, Curry Smoak represented the buyers; $2,200,000), 6 Broughton Road (Robertson Allen represented the buyers and the sellers; $1,400,000) and 24 Jamestown Road (Adam Edwards represented the buyers; $1,350,000). The Cassina Group also had two significant sales in the exclusive Olde Park neighborhood in Mount Pleasant. Meghan Webster represented the sellers on 735 Olde Central Way ($2,650,000) and Jimmy Dye represented the sellers on 310 Pilots Point ($1,445,000).

Other notable sales include:

  • 4020 Betsey Kerrison Road (Garrett Rust represented the buyers; $2,675,000)
  • 28 New Street (Charles McIntosh represented the sellers; $1,750,000)
  • 43 Vincent Drive (Carter Rowson represented the sellers; $1,339,000)
  • 121 Freeman Street (Jackie Kelly, represented the buyers; $1,199,000)
  • 189 N Shelmore Boulevard (Laura Rembert, Chip Eiserhardt & Heath Verner represented the sellers; $1,075,000)
  • 912 Mciver Street (Phil Sykes and Jay Unger represented the buyers; $1,075,000)
  • 558 Planters Loop (Jackie Kelly represented the sellers; $1,060,000)
  • 15 57th Avenue (Jason Ogden represented the buyers; $1,182,500)

SOURCE The Cassina Group

Lowcountry

West Point will Graduate 32 Black Women in their 2019 Class – Largest Group Ever

May 11, 2019 by 0 Comments
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For the 2019 graduating class at West Point, 32 black women will be joining that elite class of graduates. This is the single largest graduating class in the history of the academy.

Because Of Them We Can reports 32 Black women graduated from West Point.

Cadet Tiffany Welch-Baker told the outlet, “My hope when young Black girls see these photos is that they understand that regardless of what life presents you, you have the ability and fortitude to be a force to be reckoned with.” She also said, “In just a short while I met so many cadets that looked like me, and that offered me some comfort. I have been fortunate to have my sisters in arms, we have been fortunate to have each other.”

Thank you for bringing this truly amazing story to light and sharing what a bright future we have ahead.

Photo Credit: Because of Them We Can and Tiffany Welch-Baker’s mother

Lowcountry

Clover Health Survey Finds 57 Percent of Charleston Seniors Are Concerned About Their Financial Stability

May 11, 2019 by 0 Comments
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As the Lowcountry population ages, nearly half of retired residents have considered returning to work for financial reasons

CHARLESTON, S.C. (May 3, 2019) – Newly released survey results from Clover Health revealed 57 percent of Charleston adults 60 and older are concerned about their future financial stability. Further, 47 percent of retired seniors surveyed have considered re-entering the workforce for financial reasons, indicating a worrisome trend for the Lowcountry’s aging population.

Despite this level of financial instability, Charleston seniors are less worried than their peers across the U.S. Nationally, 72 percent of adults over 60 expressed concerns about their future financial well-being, but are on par with those retirees who have contemplated re-entering the workforce (47 percent).

The Clover survey also found that:

  • Charleston women over 60 worry more about their finances than men: While 62 percent of female seniors are concerned about their future financial stability, just 51 percent of local men reported feeling the same. Women are also more likely to consider going back to work – 49 percent said they’ve thought about coming out of retirement for financial reasons, compared to only 45 percent of men.
  • Suburban seniors have more financial peace of mind: Just 50 percent of Lowcountry adults over 60 living in the suburbs are concerned about financial stability, compared to 69 percent of those living in rural areas and 61 percent living in the city.
  • Charleston’s low-income seniors admit to serious concern about future financial stability: A whopping 91 percent of local seniors with a household income below $35,000 are concerned about future finances, compared to 57 percent of those who make $35,000 to $74,999, and just 21 percent of older adults with an income above $75,000.
  • Older adults living alone are more likely to consider coming out of retirement: 72 percent of Charleston seniors who live alone have considered coming out of retirement for financial reasons, compared to 41 percent of those who do not live alone.

As Americans continue to live longer than before, it is no surprise the workforce is changing. In fact, one recent analysis of Labor Department data reveals that of the 2.9 million new jobs gained in 2018, nearly half (1.4 million) were taken by adults 55 and over. While some older adults are going back to work to alleviate boredom or to remain active as they age, deciding to leave retirement due to financial stress can be detrimental to the health of those individuals.

“It’s disheartening to see that more than half of Charleston seniors have serious financial concerns,” said Dr. Jennifer Stolin, MD an in-network Clover physician from Palmetto Primary Palmetto Primary Care Physicians, Oakbrook office. “Adults with poor financial health are more likely to report symptoms of anxiety and depression, migraines, and trouble sleeping. Even in times of stress, it’s crucial to continue to visit your primary care doctor for proactive ways to maintain your mental and physical health.”

As a Medicare Advantage plan serving the Lowcountry, Clover is focused on preventative healthcare by leveraging data and its technology platform to proactively address potential illnesses and complications. In doing so, Clover helps its members mitigate the risk of hospitalizations along with the accompanying financial stressors, something that is extremely valuable to seniors on a fixed income.  

The study from Clover, a healthcare company using technology to improve medical outcomes, was conducted by Wakefield Research of 300 adults age 60 and older in Charleston. The national survey was of 1,000 adults 60+ throughout the U.S.