Lowcountry

Town of Ravenel Launches 10-Year Comprehensive Plan Update and Open House May 29th

May 24, 2019 by 0 Comments
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TOWN PLAN TO ESTABLISH FRAMEWORK FOR IMPENDING GROWTH BEGINNING WITH PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE MAY 29TH

RAVENEL, S.C. (May 24, 2019) – The Town of Ravenel has launched the 10-year update of its comprehensive plan and is seeking public input from residents and property owners.

The comprehensive plan is a state-mandated document that provides the framework for elected officials, appointed officials and staff to implement policies that realize the community’s vision. 

The plan will address nine key elements essential to the town: population changes, economics, cultural resources, natural resources, community facilities, housing needs, land use, transportation and priority investments.

“A comprehensive plan provides a roadmap for the future of the town that is developed by the community as a whole,” Ravenel Mayor Opal Baldwin said. “The planning process invites meaningful dialogue to develop a shared community vision for all of Ravenel.”

The town will host its first public open house on Wednesday, May 29 at the Ravenel Community Hall from 4-7:30 p.m.

Invitations to attend the public open house have been mailed to all residents and property owners. Other opportunities to provide input to the planning commission, leading this initiative, include a one-stop project webpage that provides up-to-date information on the plan and allows for 24/7 input athttps://bcdcog.com/special-projects/ravenel_comp_2019/

The Town has retained the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester-Council of Governments to provide technical and long-range planning expertise in the development and writing of its Comprehensive Plan update, in coordination with Town staff and the Planning Commission.

ABOUT BCDCOG

The BCDCOG is a voluntary association of, by and for local governments, and was established to assist Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester county leaders in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit, and coordinating for sound regional development. BCDCOG’s purpose is to strengthen the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and make joint decisions. For the latest on BCDCOG, visit www.bcdcog.com, like us on Facebook or follow on Twitter at @BCDCoG.

Lowcountry

Great Quotes by Frederick Douglass and why you should see the extraordinary one-man performance at Spoleto

May 24, 2019 by 0 Comments
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“I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.”

“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”

“Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave.”

Frederick Douglass: No Turning Back – Exclusive Spoleto Performance Details

“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.”

“Without a struggle, there can be no progress.”

“People might not get all they work for in this world, but they must certainly work for all they get.”

“The white man’s happiness cannot be purchased by the black man’s misery.”

“To suppress free speech is a double wrong. It violates the rights of the hearer as well as those of the speaker.”

“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”

“It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.”

“No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck.”

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”

“A man’s character always takes its hue, more or less, from the form and color of things about him.”

“The life of a nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous.”

“Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have the exact measure of the injustice and wrong which will be imposed on them.”

“Some know the value of education by having it. I knew its value by not having it.”

“A smile or a tear has no nationality; joy and sorrow speak alike to all nations, and they, above all the confusion of tongues, proclaim the brotherhood of man.”

“Freedom is a road seldom traveled by the multitude.”

“A man is worked upon by what he works on. He may carve out his circumstances, but his circumstances will carve him out as well.”

“Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning.”

“The American people have this to learn: that where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob, and degrade them, neither person nor property is safe.”

Lowcountry

Facts About New Home Development in South Carolina Markets

May 24, 2019 by 0 Comments
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MarketBuildersCommunities
Charleston21108
Columbia890
Florence13
Greenville-Spartanburg1190
Hilton Head920
Myrtle Beach1355
Sumter28

New Homes in South Carolina

If you call South Carolina home, you can enjoy a comfortable life in the birthplace of sweet tea and barbeque. South Carolina welcomes new residents with open arms, and NewHomeSource makes it easy to find new homes and neighborhoods in the state with the most up to date information about the real estate market.

Real Estate Markets in South Carolina

With 11,275 new home communities from Hilton Head to Spartanburg, you’re sure to find the perfect community for your lifestyle. Charleston has a thriving real estate market with over 150 new home communities waiting for you to call them home. Columbia, SC is a thriving metropolitan area, perfect for young professionals, growing families, and retired people alike. The Greenville-Spartanburg Area is a lovely metropolitan area in Upstate South Carolina. For people who want to buy a new home in a coastal area, explore the neighborhoods in Myrtle Beach.

Types of Property in South Carolina

Use NewHomeSource to find the perfect piece of South Carolina real estate. We make it easy to search and filter for the right property type, so you can live in the perfect new home. NewHomeSource lists all new home types from new homes in waterfront houses to mobile homes and golf course communities to South Carolina condo and townhome communities.

Homebuilders in South Carolina

South Carolina has 199 homebuilders working in the 983 communities with new homes available for sale. These hardworking builders include Lennar, Great Southern Homes, Enchanted Construction, and RS Parker Homes, some of the largest builders in the state. Explore all the builders in South Carolina by searching for the ideal South Carolina metropolitan area, and browse the Builder Directory.

New Homes for Sale in South Carolina

South Carolina has a huge real estate market with 11,275 new homes for sale in 983 neighborhoods. South Carolina has affordable new homes, starting at just $27,968. These houses have up to 8 bedrooms in 6,348 square feet of space.

Source: newhomesource.com

Lowcountry

First National Bank Celebrates Grand Opening of First Charleston Location

May 23, 2019 by 0 Comments
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CHARLESTON, SC – First National Bank (FNB) recently celebrated the grand opening of its first location in Charleston, SC. The new FNB Meeting Street office is conveniently located at 317 Meeting Street and features innovative banking technology among other modern features, in addition to a team of professionals dedicated to helping customers achieve financial success. Meeting Street office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

About F.N.B. Corporation
F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a diversified financial services company operating in seven states and the District of Columbia. FNB’s market coverage spans several major metropolitan areas including: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; Cleveland, Ohio; Washington, D.C.; and Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham and the Piedmont Triad (Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point) in North Carolina. The Company has total assets of nearly $34 billion and approximately 380 banking offices throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

FNB provides a full range of commercial banking, consumer banking and wealth management solutions through its subsidiary network which is led by its largest affiliate, First National Bank of Pennsylvania, founded in 1864. Commercial banking solutions include corporate banking, small business banking, investment real estate financing, government banking, business credit, capital markets and lease financing. The consumer banking segment provides a full line of consumer banking products and services, including deposit products, mortgage lending, consumer lending and a complete suite of mobile and online banking services. FNB’s wealth management services include asset management, private banking and insurance.

The common stock of F.N.B. Corporation trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FNB” and is included in Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index with the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) Regional Banks Sub-Industry Index. Customers, shareholders and investors can learn more about this regional financial institution by visiting the F.N.B. Corporation website at www.fnbcorporation.com.

FNB employees pictured above, from left to right, are Jeffrey Smith, Manager; Kevin Simmons, Customer Service Representative; Heidi Finniff, Business Development Officer; Sean Holleran, Manager; Natasha Smalls, Customer Service Representative; and Andy Bunn, Regional Banking Executive.

Lowcountry

$9B South Carolina Budget Passes; State Workers Get Raise

May 22, 2019 by 0 Comments
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By JEFFREY COLLINS, Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Teachers and almost all state workers are getting a raise in South Carolina‘s $9 billion budget approved by both the House and Senate on Tuesday.

The budget sets aside $160 million for raises for teachers, who will all get at least a 4% bump in pay. It also has a 2% raise for all state employees as well as a $500 bonus for state workers who make less than $50,000.

The spending plan also gives a $50 rebate on each income tax return, paid for with the $61 million state income tax windfall from South Carolina’s $1.5 billion Mega Millions lottery jackpot winner along with about $6 million in additional money. It will cost about $700,000 to mail those checks.

The budget gives $25 million in relief for farmers who lost crops and suffered other damage in flooding from last fall’s Hurricane Florence and $40 million to buy new voting machines.

The spending plan now heads to Gov. Henry McMaster’s desk. The governor has a line item veto, but legislative leaders expect him to reject only a few items so inconsequential they won’t have to return to Columbia until next year’s session starts.

“Barring an emergency, I don’t think we will be back until January,” House Speaker Jay Lucas said just before adjourning the House.

The budget also has several items not directly linked to spending. Members of a conference committee agreed to a one year suspension of granting any permits that would allow laying pipes or building tanks onshore that could be used for offshore drilling.

The committee also agreed to give Denmark Technical College one more year to figure out how to turn around a steep decline in enrollment. Other lawmakers had wanted to bump the state’s only historically black technical college to trade school status.

“We told them, very clearly, they have one year,” said Sen. Darrell Jackson, a Democrat from Hopkins.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Hugh Leatherman praised new House budget leader Murrell Smith, who was named chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee at the start of this session.

“What a great day. What a different process it was,” said Leatherman, a Republican from Florence.

And Smith praised McMaster’s staff for working with lawmakers who wanted to include them in the process. The previous two South Carolina governors often found themselves at odds with the legislature in spending, sometimes intentionally.

“That was a refreshing approach,” said Smith, a Republican from Sumter.

Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP

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.

“Frederick Douglass…No Turning Back” a Theatrical Triumph – Returning for Spoleto 2019

May 18, 2019 by 4 Comments
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By Mark A. Leon

Enter into the Circular Congregational Church, with the harmony of piano orchestrated by Rachel Premo in the background and the slight hint of sunlight radiating through the stain glass. Stage Right, Pastor Brewster and Frederick Douglass walk slowly and sit patiently waiting for the conclusion of the musical number.

At this moment, you are miraculously taken back to 1872.

After a passionately beautiful introduction by Pastor Brewster played with prominence and poise by Clarence Felder, Frederick Douglass takes the podium. As Felder slowly descends from the stage, the dominant Douglass rises from obscurity to voice a generation with his masterful oratory gift and his passion for the brotherhood of humanity.

Over the next hour, acting sensation Kyle Taylor transforms into the embodiment of Frederick Douglass.

Through tremendous adversity, his faith in Christianity and Jesus and his mission to abolish ignorance and promote freedom for all mankind, Frederick Douglass gave a life dedicated to the values of equality. With nothing but faith, he escaped the chains of oppression to find meaning and share his message to the masses.

Kyle Taylor’s one man performance, like the life of Frederick Douglass is filled with courage, hope, humor and song. As he sung the gospel of Jesus, channeling the soulful voice of the likes of Paul Robeson, the audience felt shivers, applauding each note with ovation.

As the final cries of peace concluded this triumphant performance, the entire room rose and gave a full one minute ovation until the moment Taylor exited the church floor.

As Taylor spoke of the journey of Douglass with vulnerable transparency, his emulation of this critical figure in US history began real and the dialogue soon became a metamorphosis. It is rare in live theatre, then an actor can bring to life so much of the pure essence of a character as Kyle Taylor has done with Douglass.

Throughout this one act play, the audience is taken on a roller coaster of emotion from hatred of the ignorance, to empathy for the cause to celebration of freedom.

In one of many entrancingly moving scenes, Douglass recounts the moment his stood up to his Master. It was that act of bravery that not only led to his Master never hitting him again, but solidified the realization he had become a man. This would become the true turning point when slave became leader.

History is driven by moments. These moments are all part of a larger journey. Books, letters and manuscripts paint a beautiful picture and help us piece together the lives of our forefathers, but to bring to life the remarkable story of a single man, whose life led him from slavery to a seat with President Lincoln, takes a respectful act of research, patience and heart.

Chris Weatherhead has orchestrated a piece of writing and direction that is a filled with so much heart and honesty, that is must be experienced. Her dedication to the authenticity of American history and mission to continue to share the stories of our founding fathers and inspirational leaders is a testament to the play she has shared with us.

Kyle Taylor is an absolute triumph. His vision of Frederick Douglass was so real, so raw and so poignant, it may be one of the best performances of the Spoleto season.

See Frederick Douglass:  No Turning Back at Spoleto 2019

No show may be more important to see during Spoleto than ‘Fredrick Douglass: No Turning Back’ – http://bit.ly/2Q8HSDT

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