Lifestyle

Lowcountry

Charleston Friends of the Library welcomes Nulani Bennett as new Operations Manager

May 18, 2021 by 0 Comments
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The Charleston Friends of the Library is thrilled to welcome Nulani Bennett as the new Operations Manager for the non-profit ahead of the 39th Annual That BIG Book Saletaking place May 28-30, 2021!

As a young professional, Nulani has seven years of non-profit experience and is known for maximizing operations’ potential and building strong relationships in the community. She most recently served as the YEP! Director at Lowcountry Orphan Relief where she provided programs and services for the young adult population in foster care. Before that, she worked as a Career Development Trainer at Palmetto Goodwill where she was responsible for new hire orientation, and the start-up of the Hospitality and Culinary Kick-Start programs. Nulani is a Charleston native who grew up in West Ashley. She has always had a love and passion to help the very same community that helped shape and mold her into the young professional she is today.

“I am humbled and elated to join CFOL. I am looking forward to continuing to grow and connect with the community that continues to support FOL and the love for our libraries,” says Nulani. When she is not working, you can find her with her family, traveling to new and exciting places.

Lowcountry

One Region Roadmap: Opportunities for All Aims to Guide Tri-County Through Recovery, Into Prosperity — and Beyond

May 17, 2021 by 0 Comments
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BCDCOG, Charleston Metro Chamber, CRDA and more partner to lead comprehensive economic recovery and resiliency plan focused on real change.

North Charleston, SC — The most comprehensive partnership of business, government, academic, nonprofit and community leaders in our region’s history today announced the launch of One Region Roadmap: Opportunities for All. The Roadmap is an economic recovery and resiliency plan that will define a healthy greater Charleston while offering real solutions, implementable actions and measurable results.

The effort is supported by a broad array of stakeholders from across Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties, and will be guided by public input. The plan — built on action and outcomes — will also outline a pathway to economic security, stability and opportunities for all in our region.

“This is an exciting opportunity for all of us to work together to address deeply rooted and systemic problems,  while developing both short-term and long-term regional priorities,” said Dr. Kendra Stewart, One Region Chair and Director of the Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Center for Livable Communities at the College of Charleston. “Public input is critical in creating the most comprehensive plan our region has ever seen.  Each of us is responsible for moving our community forward,” she added.

One Region Roadmap: Opportunities for All is the next evolution of the One Region Strategy launched in 2016. It begins a new strategic planning and public input process, providing a broad platform for the community to address economic challenges old and new — and to prepare for adversities yet to come. The plan should be completed by February 2022.

“One Region Roadmap builds upon the previous five-year global competitiveness strategy and its core values, and will serve as a blueprint for continuing the economic momentum our region has built over the last 10 years, while eliminating disparities and creating opportunities for all residents to thrive,” said David Ginn, CRDA President & CEO.

The effort is led by One Region stakeholders including BCDCOG, Charleston Metro Chamber, Charleston Regional Development Alliance, and the public, private, academic, and nonprofit sectors of our community. 

SB Friedman Development Advisors has been retained to lead the development of the Roadmap. The firm, which has previous and ongoing experience in the region, is renowned nationally for its analytical, strategic and financial consulting services in support of complex, high-impact development projects.

One Region Roadmap is possible thanks to a $400,000 U.S. Economic Development Administration grant secured by BCDCOG, with additional support from partner agencies. 

“This partnership is built on the shared desire of the public and private sectors to make our region stronger and more resilient when facing major disruptions such as the global pandemic, and addressing long-standing challenges such as those related to inequality,” said BCDCOG Executive Director Ron Mitchum.

One Region Roadmap will identify barriers to expanding our regional economy and providing residents with opportunities for economic mobility. 

The ultimate success of One Region Roadmap lies in its ability to create real change. 

“This plan will provide an intentional focus on equity and economic mobility, creating implementable action items to ensure our region offers all residents the opportunity to live, learn and earn,” said Charleston Metro Chamber President and CEO Bryan Derreberry.

The One Region Roadmap effort kicked off today with a community-based, 500-invitee, virtual focus group. Multiple engagement opportunities will be available for the entire community through the end of 2021, including a survey this summer and public meeting in the fall.

For more information, please visit OneRegionRoadmap.com.

Lowcountry

West Ashley Restaurant “Spanglish” is now “Patois”

May 13, 2021 by 1 Comment
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Spanglish Cocina + Bar located in West Ashley at 652 St. Andrews Blvd, an up-and-coming neighborhood, has unveiled a new concept – Patois. Charleston’s newest pan-Caribbean restaurant, Patois, introduces diners to an array of diverse, colorful and refreshingly minimalistic dishes, showcasing the best flavors spanning from the West Indies to Mexico. Under new ownership, employees of the restaurant are excited about new changes and new possibilities. 

“We are grateful for the opportunity to share our concept of simple, ingredient driven cuisine influenced by the agricultural heritage shared with the various lands surrounding the Caribbean sea,” says Chef Mike Fitzhugh. As the previous Chef de Cuisine of Spanglish, Chef Mike says there is growing support for the restaurant’s new direction. “We have received substantial support from the community already and look forward to showcasing our simple yet sophisticated cuisine to our guests.” 

Chef Mike has finalized his mouth-watering lunch menu, now available for dine-in (inside or on al fresco on Patios’ patio) and delivery via UberEats. Guests can enjoy lunch favorites like Tomato Salad with avocado mousse, fresh cheese, and pistou, Cuban Sandwiches; and Chicken Torta with red chiles, maduros, and black bean spread, all inspired by Chef Mike’s travels around the globe.

Patois’ Chef’s Dinner menu features the choice of an appetizer, entrée and side for $35. Diners can savor starters like Pork Belly with agave, citrus and herbs; and Shrimp Ceviche with leche de tigre, onion and radish; alongside delicious entrées like Merlot Steak with charred onions, red chimichurri and arugula. Savory sides feature the freshest Lowcountry produce to create dishes like Roasted Carrots Escabeche with chermoula and yogurt, and Sea Island Red Peas Sofrito – to name a few. 

During the transition period from Spanglish to Patois, guests will receive a complimentary cookie from WildFlour Pastry, who will provide many of the restaurant’s delectable baked goods and desserts. 

Patois is BYOB, allowing diners to bring their favorite wine and beer to drink alongside their meal for no additional fee. Non-alcoholic beer will be available, along with a selection of exciting Patois mocktails – coming soon. As part of the rebranding effort and commitment to community support, the restaurant recently purchased fine china from ReTail, a resale store that sells a variety of furniture, appliances and decorative items, and donates 100% of all proceeds to Pet Helpers.

Patois is open Tuesday-Saturday from 11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m., and 4:30-9:00 p.m.

More information and menus can be found at https://www.patoischs.com/

Lowcountry

“Apron” section of the Folly Beach Pier reopens while remainder of the pier continues reconstruction

May 13, 2021 by 0 Comments
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[FOLLY BEACH] – The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) is pleased to announce that the newly rebuilt “apron” section of the Folly Beach Pier has reopened to the public. This portion of the pier structure includes the gift shop, observation deck, restrooms, showers and beach access. The rest of the Folly Beach Pier will remain closed through Spring 2023, while it undergoes a complete reconstruction project. Guests to the pier can now visit the Gangplank Gift & Tackle Shop, which will offer limited food service, including ice cream, and bait for sale for surf fishing.

Fishing off the pier is not available.

Guests can now also access the pier’s restrooms, showers and changing stations, as well as its observation deck and beach access. These amenities are open daily from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. A portion of the Folly Beach Pier parking lot – about 30 spaces – is also now open for visitors. Due to limited parking, visitors are encouraged to arrive early, carpool when possible, and expect delays entering the parking lot.  

The Pier 101 Restaurant and bar is currently closed and is expected to reopen in Spring 2022. The remainder of the Folly Beach Pier, including the pier walkway itself, remains closed during construction and is not expected to reopen until Spring 2023. 

Lifeguards are not currently on duty on the beach surrounding the Folly Beach Pier.

Starting May 29, the area will be lifeguarded on weekends only from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Starting June 21 through mid-August, lifeguards will be on duty daily. 

Standard vehicle parking fees at the Folly Beach Pier during the summer season (May through Labor Day) are $10 Monday-Friday and $15 Saturday-Sunday and select holidays. Folly Beach Pier parking is no longer a Gold Pass benefit as of December 2020. Guests who purchased their Gold Passes prior to Nov. 30, 2020 may still use them to access the Folly Beach Pier parking lot until their Gold Pass expires. CCPRC is replacing the Folly Beach Pier with a new pier that will provide unobstructed views of the ocean, modern improvements and a longer lifespan, while remaining reminiscent of the old wooden pier, which opened in 1995. Two locations along the pier walkway will be slightly widened to allow additional fishing opportunities and more efficient pedestrian access.

The new pier  will be designed and constructed using a combination of concrete pilings, and wooden decking, benches and shade structures.  

For updates on the construction project or more information on the Folly Beach Pier, please visit CharlestonCountyParks.com. 

Owned and operated by the Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission (CCPRC), the Folly Beach Fishing Pier is located at 101 East Arctic Avenue on Folly Beach. The mission of the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) is to improve the quality of life in Charleston County by offering a diverse system of park facilities, programs and services. The large park system features over 11,000 acres of property and includes six regional parks, three beach parks, three dog parks, two landmark fishing piers, three waterparks, a historic plantation site, a skate park, 19 boat landings, a climbing wall, a challenge course, an interpretive center, an equestrian center, cottages, a campground, a marina, as well as wedding, meeting and event facilities. CCPRC also offers a wide variety of recreational services – festivals, camps, classes, programs and much more. For more information on CCPRC, call 843-795-4386 or visit www.charlestoncountyparks.com.

Lowcountry - Mount Pleasant, SC

Performers, Exhibitors Sought for Mount Pleasant Youth Council Cultural Fair

May 8, 2021 by 0 Comments
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MOUNT PLEASANT, SC (May 6, 2021) –Interested in having your organization performpieces of cultural significance to the community? Are you an exhibitor and would like to showcase items of cultural interest? The Mount Pleasant Youth Council is sponsoring a fair and now is your chance to sign up to perform or exhibit at the first-ever Youth Council Cultural Fair slated for Saturday, May 22, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, at the Park West Recreation Center, 1251 Park West Blvd.    

All activities are free to the public. All performers must arrive at the stage and be ready to perform no later than 15 minutes prior to scheduled performance time. 

Performance times depend on the number of entries. Please list all special requests on the Performer information sheet you are returning. A final performance schedule will be sent the week of the event. You must have your music ready for the stage manager. Click here for the Exhibitor information sheet. 

Music and performance choices should reflect the family-oriented event and must be child-friendly. For more information, contact Mount Pleasant Community and Government Affairs Chief Lauren Sims at (843) 884-8517 or lsims@tompsc.com. 

Lowcountry - Mount Pleasant, SC

Town of Mount Pleasant Participates in Groundbreaking Ceremony for Gregorie Ferry Towns

May 8, 2021 by 0 Comments
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Mount Pleasant, S.C. (May 7, 2021) – Housing for All – Mount Pleasant, Chairman of the Board, Bobby Sommers, presided over the groundbreaking festivities for Gregorie Ferry Town, Wednesday, May 5th, 2021. Attended by members of the Housing for All – Mount Pleasant Board of Directors & Advisory Council, the Honorable Mayor Will Haynie, members of the Town of Mount Pleasant council, and Property Builders, LLC Tony Berry and Tammy Stevens Wilson. Through its partnership with Housing for All – Mount Pleasant and close cooperation with several lenders, Prosperity Builders, LLC is building 36 new townhomes which will be available to qualified buyers earning between $40,000 and $64,800 per year. For many new home buyers, down payment assistance is available, making the dream of homeownership a reality. 

Tony Berry, President, and Tammy Stevens Wilson, partner of Prosperity Builders, LLC, the developer of Gregorie Ferry Towns, has created the first attainable workforce and senior housing community in Mount Pleasant, with townhomes priced from the mid $200,000. Construction is underway on buildings one, two, and three; eighteen townhomes, each townhome includes 2-3 bedrooms, 2 baths, designer kitchen, and one car garage. An estimated seventeen townhomes are already under purchase contract with new homebuyers moving in by end of summer. “This is a cooperative effort that can and should benefit everyone,” concluded Berry. “We see it as a way to strengthen Mount Pleasant, and give hard-working people – school teachers, healthcare workers, police, firefighters, restaurant and retail workers – a place right here in Mount Pleasant where they can live, own, and take pride in.” 

The cost of living in Mount Pleasant continues to rise as apartment rents are now averaging $1,500 per month and the average median home price is up to $472,700. Housing for All – Mount Pleasant is delighted to be working with Prosperity Builders, LLC to make owning a home in Mount Pleasant a reality for individuals and families earning less than $64,800 per year. 

Please contact Ali Bring, Carolina One New Homes at 843-226-1043 or email ali@pbofsc.com if you are interested in purchasing in the Gregorie Ferry Town. Visit www.gftowns.com for more information. 

Please email info@HousingforAllMtP.com if you are interested in renting or purchasing attainable workforce or senior housing over the next five years. Housing for All – Mount Pleasant looks forward to bringing additional for purchase or rental attainable workforce and senior housing to Mount Pleasant. 

Special thanks to Carolina One New Homes, Premier Lending, Shelter Mortgage, United Community Bank, and Origins SC for their help with the first attainable housing development in Mount Pleasant! Thank you, Tony, Tammy, and Prosperity Builders, LLC for assembling a world-class team.