Each day in the Lowcountry is a magical journey of discovery. From every angle, we are blessed with a beauty and serenity. It is a way of life where nature and humanity come together. This tapestry of architecture, history, decor, nature and all its elements makes for a place honored for its rich and historic traditions.
Enjoy this visual gallery of iconic Lowcountry imagery.
*Photo Credit: Mark A. Leon
By Tonya McGue
Dare to Dream Big
Jan Lewis wants to do an epic bike ride for her 75th birthday next year. What will that be? She’s already ridden 3,400 miles over 45 days from Los Angeles to Boston, twice. She’s clocked tens of thousands of miles in many states in addition to France, Spain, Mallorca, Belgium and Switzerland. She’s done several organized rides like the Assault on the Carolinas, the Apple Cider Century and the Mountains to Coast ride. This week, she pedaled 200 miles in three days, one in drenching rain, through mountains and rolling hills from Black Mountain to Archdale in North Carolina.
To say the least, Jan is an endurance rider. Her passion for riding started about 10 years ago when she was 65. At that time, she retired from her position as a contract computer consultant for IBM. “The constant traveling from South Carolina to California and high stress finally got to me,” she said. “I like challenges and wanted a goal after retirement. I remembered hearing a story about someone who rode across the country. I thought that sounded like fun, so I researched and found Crossroads Cycling Adventures.”
She signed up for the trip, hired a coach through Carmichael Training Systems and trained for a year before the ride. She and 17 other cyclists trekked their way across the country averaging 80 miles a day through wind, rain, scorching sun, quiet roads and crowded city streets. She liked it so much, she did it again three years later. Since then, she’s done the 
coast to coast trip four more times from 2014 to 2017 as a support member and part-time rider. She’s also ridden with Crossroads from Portland, Maine to Daytona Beach, Florida.
If you’ve driven on the backroads of the Lowcountry, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Jan, a Summerville resident, on her trusted and beloved Trek Silque. Her sleek blue bike is loaded with a power meter that records her heart rate and speed, a Garmin that keeps track of her route, electronic gear shifting and a superlight carbon frame. She rides five to six times a week for one to five hours a day. For several years in a row, she’s clocked 5,000 miles annually. Jan’s favorite places to ride are Awendaw, Hollywood and Meggett.
In the past 10 years, she’s had very little bike accidents. Her worst was last year when she was 73 and doing a training ride in North Carolina. Jan was descending through hairpin mountain turns at 20-35 miles an hour when she lost control and crashed. She hit the ground hard and had blood dripping from her head. Her riding buddies called an ambulance and she was taken to an emergency room. After a thorough exam, the doctors “couldn’t believe they didn’t find anything broken,” Jan said. “I was lucky because I landed in a wet, soft grassy area.” She skipped the next day of riding but was back on the saddle a couple days later.
Jan has many reasons for being an endurance rider, including she likes being outside, staying in shape and meeting a lot of people. She also enjoys the solitude and says she “would probably weigh 300 pounds if I didn’t ride.” In addition to riding, Jan attends a yoga class at the YMCA two to three times a week and does a weight lifting class two times a week.
Jan encourages older people, especially women, to stay active. “A lot of people tell me I’m crazy, but a lot of people say they wish they could exercise more,” she said. “There’s nothing magical about me. I was not an athlete. It’s about deciding you want to do something and then doing it. It’s about dedication and putting in the hours and miles. It’s not easy. Every day, especially on the 8-hour days, I think, ‘Why am I doing this?’, but then I’ll come across some pretty scenery or all of the sudden I’ll feel good.”
Jan, who describes herself as an introvert, said she has no intention of quitting. Riding is too much of who she is. She’s developed a whole community of friends from cycling and meets up with them at cycling events and organized rides.
Although she doesn’t know what it is yet, she said, “I need an epic ride for next year.” Maybe she’ll decide to cycle coast to coast across another continent, like South America or Australia. That would qualify as epic for anyone, especially for a 75th birthday goal.
Photo Credit: Tonya McGue
Story and Photos by Tonya McGue
Three-year-old Olivia thinks her mom builds castles for a living. She also thinks it’s cool because she gets to wear a hard hat and boots when she goes to mommy’s castles.
Janet Bates’ daughter is not that far off. Janet is a key member of the leadership team at CF Evans Construction, a nationally recognized front runner in the multi-family housing construction industry. In other words, they build apartment homes, senior living facilities and student housing – huge, sprawling complexes with wrought-iron gates, swimming pools, park-like surroundings and multi-story buildings.
As Director of Marketing and Business Development, Janet is part of an elite group of women. Only 1.3 percent of the entire female workforce in the U.S. works in the construction industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, of the over 10 million workers in construction, only 9 percent of them are women, including onsite, administrative and management positions.
Janet is on a quest to change those statistics. She’s the president of the newly formed Palmetto Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).
“We have to build a strong foundation to move forward,” Janet said. “One of NAWIC’s goals is to educate women about the opportunities in the construction industry. In addition to working on job sites, women can excel in sales, marketing, human resources and project management positions.”
Women in the U.S. earn on average 81.1 percent of what men make, but the pay gap is much less in the construction industry where women earn 95.7 percent of their male counterparts, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Charleston area NAWIC chapter is off to a great start, already one of the largest chapters in the South Atlantic Region. Fifty women attended the first meeting on Sept. 25. LB Adams was the keynote speaker and talked about “Flipping the Script”, changing how women speak about themselves and about other women.
“The first meeting was so good!” Janet said. “Everyone was fired up. I was incredibly impressed with the members. Women in this industry are very powerful. They are all bad asses in the construction industry.”
Janet, a strong, independent woman, is perfect to lead the charge. She’s smart, enthusiastic and ambitious. “I don’t believe in doing anything halfway,” she said. Her purpose in life is to advocate and educate for women in construction and in general. “Women are half the population and we can do so much more than we’re doing now.”
Interestingly, Janet has a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dramatic Literature. She’s been involved in theatre for 26 years as an actor, singer, producer and director in New York City and local productions. “While working in theatre, I did the whole part-time job thing, and found that I liked the jobs more. I like business, so I decided to go back to business school.”
After earning her MBA from UNC-Chapel Hill and doing a marketing internship at CF Evans, Janet was offered a full-time position at the firm and moved to Charleston in 2011.
She met her husband, Josh, an Air Force veteran and Emergency Manager at Roper St. Francis, through the local theatre community. They were married in 2014. Both are still very involved in the local performance scene. Josh is a stand-up comedian, actor and director. Janet helps as an assistant director from home. Their 12-year-old son, Elijah, is also an actor.
Janet said the transition from theatre to construction was an easy one. She often uses her public speaking skills for presentations and speaking engagements.
In addition to being president of the NAWIC chapter, she is a Board member for the Center for Women in Charleston. At the November 2018 fall conference, Janet will talk about age, race and gender diversity, an appropriate topic for her line of work.
Janet said she loves what she does. One of her favorite parts of the job is visiting construction sites. She wears her hard-toed boots and hardhat while talking to contractors, construction workers and the project management team. “I always feel very welcomed and respected,” she said.
Keep an eye on the number of women working in construction in the Lowcountry. By the time Olivia enters the workforce to make castles of her own, the stats may be a lot closer to equal, especially with Janet leading the charge.
jbates@cfevans.com
@NAWIC_Palmetto
@c4womenchas
@cf_evans
Photo Credit: Tonya McGue
West Farm Corn Maze and more – 2641 Cooper Store Rd., Moncks Corner, SC U.S.A. 29461
Complete Ticket Purchase Options
Friday, September 28, 2018 – Sunday, October 28, 2018
| Open | Close | |
|---|---|---|
| 01:00 PM | 8:00 PM | |
| Closed | ||
| Closed | ||
| Closed | ||
| Closed | ||
| 05:00 PM | 10:00 PM | |
| 11:00 AM | 10:00 PM | |
Join us for a walk through our very own Bee True themed (2.8 miles) corn maze. We have a smaller (.3 mile) corn maze for our smallest visitors. This is a part of our field trip rotation! Our 6-acre corn maze has been designed, mapped, and cut by MazePlay of Firth, Idaho, using the latest GPS technology. You’ll have to use your best map-reading skills to reach all checkpoints in the corn field!
Our good friends and fellow young farmers, The Wilson’s, from Cotton Hills Farm in Lowrys, SC grow all our pumpkins. We are proud to support this family farm and know you agree that they grow the best pumpkins in the state! Please visit their website at www.cottonhillsfarm.com.
Our youngest visitors will love getting lost in the hay bale maze and playing in the hop ball park. We’re especially happy about adding new swings and climbing toys exclusively for our toddler visitors, in addition to their very own corn kernel box. The original one will still be available for our visitors of all ages. The Tire Climb keeps growing for kids of all ages from 1-99! We have added some corn hole games for you to play, too!
Have you seen any farm animals up close lately? Enjoy a visit with our cows, goats, pigs, and chickens. “The Quad’s”, our Jersey steers from last year will be coming back and they will love to great you with their licks and kisses! We have two new Holstein bull calves that were born on September 18th for you to meet and enjoy, as well. We can promise you the sights, sounds, and smells of a real farm!
Enjoy a relaxing hay ride around the perimeter of the corn maze and into the woods. You’ll enjoy a slow ride on a real wagon, pulled by a real John Deere tractors. It may be your legs’ favorite part of the day!
Over the last few years, you’ve gotten good at the slingshot. So we had to make it harder. You get 3 tries for $2, with some pretty fabulous prizes on the line.
After tackling the maze, stop by our snack bar for some refreshing treats in our picnic area! We have everything to drink from soft drinks to juice boxes to bottled water and everything to eat from chips to trail mix to candy bars to candy, all at reasonable prices.
By Jackie Thomas
Experts are hailing a ‘renaissance’ in the Charleston property sector – plans to build over 100,000 new homes have recently been approved in the three county Charleston metro area. And, spurred on by increased optimism about the economy, home improvement specialists are also reporting a ‘boom’ in renovation work across the county – noting Mount Pleasant and The Battery in Kiawah and as restoration hot spots. Local tradesmen are benefiting as older properties left run down and dilapidated as a result of the recession are being overhauled, proving that the upturn in the market is great news for Charleston homeowners and businesses alike. In fact, there are even some emerging trends in the regional home improvement market that could translate as business opportunities for local traders offering the next big thing in home improvements.
Building in Smart Technology
Once thought of as an idea gleaned from science fiction, smart technology in the home is becoming mainstream. Residents of Charleston are embracing so-called smart hubs, technology epicenters that control anything from heating and lighting to security – via smartphone or tablets. As smart speakers that link up to these home hubs and offer voice control also soar in popularity, experts predict more and more appliances within the home will become automated and intelligent.
One reason that smart technology in the home is being billed as the latest big thing is because, as it becomes more commonplace, it’s much more affordable. Popular products that could be offered by local businesses are smart sprinkler systems, doorbells that allow homeowners to interact with visitors via a smartphone and, of course, who wouldn’t want a vacuum cleaner that will clean the floors at the push of a button? And the good news for burglary hot spots, such as James Island and West Ashley, which saw a spike in break ins, is that 60% of intruders say they would be put off by a smart home security system.
High-End Finishes
Home to the luxurious beach-side districts of Sullivan’s Island and the Isle of Palms, Charleston is not short of homes where no expense is spared. But, finding themselves with more disposable income, even homeowners who don’t live in the most sought-after of areas are investing in high-end items to add value to their properties. According to local tradesmen, high spec ‘over-the-top’ kitchens and bathrooms are becoming increasingly popular in the local area. Luxurious jacuzzi baths, rainforest shower heads, waterfall taps and oversized kitchen islands are just some of the products that are in hot demand. Another trend is recessed lighting, a stylish way to add refinement and polish to any room in the home.
Coastal Couture
Products like wallpaper, houseplants, grey walls and bright exotic accessories are seeing renewed demand. But there’s one key interior style that’s emerging as the winning look for the Charleston homeowner, according to renovation experts working in the local vicinity. Possibly no surprise given the four area beaches boasting miles of crystal clear waters and sandy beaches on offer in Charleston, Coastal chic is the ‘go to’ interior style for local homes. This look incorporates weathered shiplap, paneling and beachy chic styling for an on-trend look. If designing a home around this look sounds a bit ‘out of the comfort zone’, there are plenty of local tradespeople on hand to help homeowners get the look.
Successfully renovating an older property is a sound investment and can add significant monetary value. And luckily Charleston has an abundance of local businesses ready and able to take on projects big or small. As for the future of Charleston’s real estate market, according to experts, even in the face of a rise in interest rates, the good news is that the market should stay active.
CONSTRUCTION QUARTERLY HIGHLIGHTS INCREASE IN PERMIT VALUES TOTAL CONSTRUCTION VALUES UP BY NEARLY $32M IN Q2
NORTH CHARLESTON, SC (Sept. 24, 2018) – Total construction permit values in the tri-county area increased by $31.6 million, or about four percent, to $737 million during the second quarter of 2018, according to data recently released by the by the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG).
Other key takeaways from the Council of Governments Q2 Construction Quarterly report include:
Commercial construction permit values increased by 46% ($73 million)
New construction permit values increased 3% ($21.9 million)
Single Family permit values increased 14% ($57.7 million)
Construction Quarterly provides a detailed analysis of the construction trends in the region. Sectors analyzed include commercial, single family, single-family attached, multi-family, and renovation construction.
“We continue to see positive growth in permit values across most types of construction in the region, which is a sign of ongoing economic momentum,” said BCDCOG planning director Kathryn Basha.
The full report can be viewed here.
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.
###
MEDIA CONTACT:
Daniel Brock
Rawle Murdy Associates
(919) 820-2612
dbrock@rawlemurdy.com
Today we celebrate the 63rd birthday of my husband and our Mayor. I am incredibly proud to walk with him in this journey. Serving our hometown has been a truly rewarding and humbling experience. This birthday year John is kicking off his 2019 re-election effort, please join me in donating $63 to send John a great birthday present – just click the birthday card to add your name to the well wishers and consider donating $5, $25, $63, or any amount today.
Flying high on hope,
Sandy Tecklenburg
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s unemployment rate again dropped slightly last month.
The Department of Employment and Workforce said Friday that the jobless rate in South Carolina in August was 3.4 percent. That’s down from 3.6 percent in July.
The agency says South Carolina also set a record with more than 2.2 million people working.
Officials say professional and business services added 4,000 jobs, while manufacturing lost 1,500 jobs.
The agency said in a news release that Bamberg County had the highest August unemployment rate at 7.7 percent. Charleston and Lexington counties had the lowest jobless rates at 3.0 percent.
The national unemployment rate was unchanged in August at 3.9 percent.
NEW EFFORT ALIGNS WITH BCDCOG’S PUSH TO USE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
CHARLESTON, S.C. (SEPT. 18, 2018) – The Charleston Regional Transportation
Authority (CARTA) has added a “live chat” feature to its website, providing an additional way for riders to connect with customer support online and in real-time. The new tool, which was recently soft-launched, has spurred a reduction in call volume and the use of static contact forms by riders.
“This feature is a key tool in improving the overall rider experience and providing an additional customer service outlet,” said CARTA board of directors chairman Mike Seekings. “Better technology is helping us lay the foundation for immediate and long-term transportation success in the Lowcountry.”
HOW IT WORKS:
The live chat option automatically appears in the bottom right of specific web pages, where customers most likely have questions: Home, FAQs, Contact, Fares and Passes, etc.
Customers click on the “Live Chat” button and enter name, phone and email (optional).
Customers enter the queue and a customer service representative selects and begins the chat session.
The Live Chat function is available during regular customer support hours, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. During off hours, the system allows riders to submit emails that representatives will respond to promptly.
At end of every session, customers are offered a feedback survey.
CARTA mobile app partner, Transit, also released its highly anticipated 5.0 update with a refreshed home screen and new features.
NEW FEATURES INCLUDE:
Search Bar: Now located at the bottom of the screen for ease-of-use.
Instant ETAs: The Transit app now predicts where riders are most likely heading next and provides an instant arrival time to make planning a trip easy.
All-in-One Route Information: Tap any transit line on the home screen to see that route’s schedule, service alerts and map with vehicle locations and stop ETAs.
Transit is available for free download in the Google Play and the Apple App Store.
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 and the CARTA Bus Tracker.
###
MEDIA CONTACT:
Daniel Brock
Rawle Murdy Associates
(919) 820-2612
dbrock@rawlemurdy.com
by 
