welcome charleston 16.1
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Relocation guide for people moving to the Charleston South Carolina area.TRANSCRIPT
Official Publication of the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® w w w . W e l c o m e C h a r l e s t o n S C . c o m
The Ponds is a place to bring up a family. A community where kids can still be kids. Exploring trails, playing in the pool or riding bikes to the new YMCA. The land itself has a rich history that spans generations and will be loved for many more to come. It’s everything Lowcountry. And then some.
Hwy. 17A, 5.4 miles southwest of the Summerville town square. Custom homesites from $79,900; homes from the mid $200s.
DiscoverThePonds.com / 843.832.6100
Near the coastBeneath the oaksIn the hammock
Everything Lowcountry.
Harbor Homes | David Weekley Homes | Alison Dailey Homes, LLC DR Horton | John Wieland Homes
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W elcome to the Lowcountry, one of the most beautiful areas in the country!On behalf of the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS®, we’d like to
welcome you to the Charleston area. We are lucky to live in such a unique and appealingarea with unparalleled cultural, educational and recreational opportunities.
In the midst of a worldwide economic decline, Charleston’s business-friendly climatewas recently recognized by “The Economist,” and Forbes.com reported the tri-county areaas one of “America’s Top 25 Housing Markets.” Charleston was chosen by readers ofSouthern Living Magazine as the “Best Southern City” and is consistently recognized asthe “Friendliest City in America.”
We’re thrilled you are considering making Charleston your home, and we hope you’lluse a REALTOR® to make the process of selecting a home as easy as possible. TheCharleston Trident Association of REALTORS® is a professional trade organization withmore than 4,000 members who abide by a strict Code of Ethics and ProfessionalStandards, designed specifically to protect and promote the best interests of their clients.
We hope to see you in the Charleston area soon, and we encourage you to visit ourwebsite, www.CharlestonRealtors.com to search for available properties and find theREALTOR® who can guide you through the process of finding and purchasing a home.
Ralph Wetherell
Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS®
2009 President
Jeremy Willits
Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS®
2010 President
DEAR LOWCOUNTRY
NEWCOMER:
Discover a new standard for living at Dunes West. Enjoy exceptional amenities including golf, tennis, swimming and more. Situated in the heart
of Mt. Pleasant, your new home is just minutes to area business centers, historic downtown Charleston and Isle of Palms beaches.
Choose from a collection of homes with spacious yet livable fl oor plans designed with you in mind. Plus, every home is protected by our exclusive
Wieland 5 Year – 20 Year Warranty, homebuilding’s best.
To learn more about living at Dunes West, call or visit us today.(843) 881-6060
jwhomes.com/duneswest
Something for Everyone at Mt. Pleasant’s Most Preferred Address
High $100 - $600s
Championship Arthur HillsGolf Course
Boat Launch and Storage
Racquet Club with OnsiteTennis Pro
Subject to changes, errors and omissions.
Official Publication of the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS®
www.CharlestonRealtors.com
2010 CTAR / MLS LEADERSHIP ROSTER
CTAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President, Jeremy WillitsPresident Elect,* Rob WoodulVP Administration, Herb Koger
VP Finance, Owen TylerDirector (08-10), Pam Bishop
Director (08-10), Ken RoeDirector (08-10), Bryan CrabtreeDirector (09-11), Angie Johnson
Director (09-11), Kathy Jordan RawersDirector (10-11), Diane Johnson
Director (10-12), Mat SurlesDirector (10-12), Corwyn MeletteDirector (10-12), Maggie Curtis
Immediate Past Pres., Ralph WetherellHonorary, David Kent
* The CTAR President Elect also serves on the MLS Board of Directors.
MLS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MLS President*, David SmytheMLS Vice President*, Angie BaileySecretary / Treasurer, Bretta GrantDirector (08-10), Casey Murphey
Director (08-10), Randy PooleDirector (09-11), Joseph KlosikDirector (09-11), Warren SloaneDirector (09-11), Anne WhalenDirector (10-12), Burke Herrin
Director (10-12), Jim NearDirector (10-12), Chip Reeves
Immediate Past Pres., Gettys Glaze
* The President and Vice President of the MLS and the CID also serve on the CTAR Board of Directors.
COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT DIVISION
CID President*, Kristie RoeCID Vice President*, John Tecklenburg
Secretary/Treasurer, Kim HinshawDirector, Joe KeenanDirector, Mike Ferrer
Director, Dan HendersonImmediate Past Pres., Chris Cunniffe
* The President and Vice President of the MLS and the CID also serve on the CTAR Board of Directors.
volume.16 no.1
Company Relocation* Specialist24 hour loan approval
Corporate Accounts available** (call for details)
Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA and Jumbo loan FinancingShoppers Lock - Lock rate while you shop for your new home
Extended Rate lock and float down options
* certain restrictions apply - varies by State** Call to see if your company qualifies for our Affinity Lending Program
As a Charleston native for over 10 years,
with extensive experience as a loan officer
and knowledge of the industry, I am
dedicated to making your dreams of owning
the perfect Lowcountry home a reality.
Copyright ©2010 Atlantic Publication GroupLLC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this workmay be reproduced, reprinted, or transmitted orstored, in any form or medium, or by any means,now known or later discovered, whether digital,electronic, mechanical (including, but not limit-ed to, photocopying and recording) or other-wise, or by any information storage or retrievalsystem, without express prior permission inwriting from Atlantic Publication Group LLC.While reasonable efforts have been taken in thepreparation of this publication to assure its accu-racy, Atlantic Publication Group LLC. assumes noliability for any errors in, changes to, or omis-sions from, this publication, or from the use ofthe information contained herein or from anydamages (whether direct or indirect, consequen-tial, special, punitive or exemplary) resultingtherefrom or in connection therewith.
PUBLISHED BY:
One Poston Road, Suite 190Charleston, SC 29407p: 843.747.0025 f: 843.744.0816
www.atlanticpublicationgrp.com
Richard Barry, PresidentSis Reda, Marketing & Business Development DirectorBob Durand, Senior Art DirectorAli Lorenzana, Editorial ServicesMaggie Barry, Financial Services Director
green homes from the $170’s
North Charleston’s grand old trees have been keeping a secret for centuries. Now,
the secret is out. Introducing Oak Terrace Preserve, a place where you can live
the good life without compromising your desires, the environment, or your wallet.
Situated within the heart of it all and with green homes starting in the $170’s you’ll
see why it’s so hard to keep this little community a secret. Visit us online to start
building your dream home today.
6 Welcome Char leston - www.WelcomeChar lestonSC.com Please recycle this publication
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WelcomeHOME
Charleston is a city like no other.
Infused with a mix of cultures, she
possesses a distinct personality, one
of resilience and of charm, elegance
and grace. People from all over the
world come to Charleston to see
her architectural beauty, ornate
gardens, historic plantation and
forts, impressive monuments, and to
experience Southern hospitality and
charm at its best. The spirit and
tenacity of its people, past and present,
guide Charleston toward the future.
Welcome to the Charleston Metro area.
We’re glad you’re home.
8 Welcome Char leston - www.WelcomeChar lestonSC.com Please recycle this publication
CONTENTS
12 14 22Life inBERKELEY COUNTY
Life inCHARLESTON COUNTY
Life inDORCHESTER COUNTY
24 Community Information
28 Charleston Metro Area Statistics
30 Education
36 Healthcare
40 Quality of Life
48 Relocation Information
51 Index of Advertisers
54 Why Use a REALTOR®?
10 Maps
Metro Charleston, South Carolinavolume 16 • number 1 • 2010
Official Publication of the Charleston Trident
Association of REALTORS®
w w w. We l c o m e C h a r l e s t o n S C . c o m
links you to comprehensive information you need to explore andarrange your move to Charleston. Find information on the region’sunique areas… housing… education…employment…quality oflife…and much more – and connect directly with the businesses andservices you need, before and after you arrive in the Charleston area.
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MAPS
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Logan St.Franklin St.
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Rutledge Ave.
Clifford St.Cumberland St.Fulton St.Princess St.
Market St.N. Market St.
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Hayne St.Pinckney St.
Concord St.
E. Bay St.
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US Hwy. Spur 52
Hassell St.
Barre St.
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Beaufain St.Wentworth St.
Wentworth St.
Society St.
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Bennett St.Halsey St.
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Ashley Ave.
Ashley Ave.
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Coming St.
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St. Phillips St.
Calhoun St.
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MillSt.
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4th St.
Lockwood Dr.
Lockwood Blvd.
Bee St.
President St.
Courtenay Dr.
Radcliffe St.
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President St.
Ann St.
Judith St.
Elizabeth St.
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Morris St.Mary St.
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Blake St.
Hanover St.Aiken St.
Cooper St.
Sheppard St.
Coming St.
Percy St.
Ashe St.Rose Ln.Bogard St.
Lee St.
Nassau St.
Ravanel Bridge
Hanover St.
Stuart St.
E. Bay St.
US Hwy. Spur 52
Jackson St.Harris St.
Johnson St.Huger St.
Johnson St.
Walnut St.
Line St.
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Sheppard St.
Nunan St.
Horizon St.
Hagood Ave.
Fishburne St.
Fishburne St.Carolina St.
Perry St.Larnes St.
Orrs Ct.Sumter St.
Race St.
Congress St.
Huger St.
N. Tracy St.
Dewey St.
President St.
Parkwood Ave.
Kenilworth Ave.
Elmwood St.
Moultrie St.
Mary Murray Dr.
Moultrie St.
Mary M
urray Dr.
Jones Ave.
Hammond Ave.
Greir Ave.
Benson St.
Francis St.
Grove St.
Grove St.
Grove St.
Poinsett St.
Dunneman Ave.
. Margaret St.
Gordon St.
8th Ave.
9th Ave.
10th Ave.
11th Ave.
12th Ave.
7th Ave.
Romney St.
Cedar St.
Romney St.
N. Hanover St.
N. Nassau St.
Isabella St.
Simons St.
Poplar St.
Cypress St.
Morrison Dr. Brigade St.
Darlington Ave.
Gordon St.
Alberta Ave.
W. Poplar St.
Maple St.
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San Souci St.
N. Romney St.DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON
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Welcome Char leston - www.WelcomeChar lestonSC.com 11
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MAPS
BerkeleyCountySOUTH CAROLINA
TRI-COUNTY AREA
CharlestonCounty
DorchesterCounty
DORCHESTERBERKELEY
CHARLESTON
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T he largest of the three Metroarea counties, Berkeley County issituated in the southeastern part
of South Carolina, and is home toseven municipal governments: Bonneau,Goose Creek, Hanahan, Jamestown,Moncks Corner, St. Stephen, and DanielIsland. It is one of the fastest growingcounties in the state – just check outthe statistics: a population of 169,327in 2008 is expected to increase to anastonishing 172,940 by the year 2015!
Since its establishment in the late17th century, Berkeley County hasremained a center of commerce andindustry The county’s economy, howev-er, is rapidly changing. While agricultureremains important, the manufacturingsector now provides the county withthe largest employment opportunities.Companies like Amoco, DuPont, andBayer Corporation are among the 75+manufacturing facilities presentlyoperating in Berkeley County.
Berkeley Chamber of Commerce: www.berkeleysc.org
Berkeley County: www.co.berkeley.sc.us
Life in
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A COMBINATION OF THE COUNTY’S MILD CLIMATEYEAR-ROUND, ITS CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE ATLANTIC
COASTLINE, AND THE FRANCIS MARION NATIONALFOREST PRESENT AN INVITATION FOR ACTIVE
LIFESTYLES AND A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE.
Welcome Char leston - www.WelcomeChar lestonSC.com 13
COMMUNITIES
• Bonneau • Daniel Island• Goose Creek • Hanahan • Jamestown• Ladson • Moncks Corner • St. Stephen
RETAIL SALES
2008 Gross retail sales .............$3.9 billion2007 Gross retail sales .............$3.7 billion
Source: Center for Business Research
% POPULATION BY AGE GROUP
0-19 years old .................................29.9%20-24 years old ...............................7.0%25-34 years old ...............................14.0%35-54 years old ...............................29.1%55-64 years old ...............................11.0%65 & over ........................................9.0%
Source: US Census Bureau (2007)
LABOR MARKET
2008 Labor Force ............................79,5442008 Average unemployment rate ....6.2%
Source: SC Employment Security Commission
CENSUS DATA
Population (2008) .................................169,327County Seat: Moncks CornerSquare Miles...................................1,229.23
Source: US Census Bureau
The expanding economy is not theonly factor drawing new residents tothe area. A combination of the county’smild climate year-round, its close prox-imity to the Atlantic coastline, and theFrancis Marion National Forest presentan invitation for active lifestyles and ahigh quality of life.
The Francis Marion National Forestlies predominately in Berkeley Countywith great opportunities for hunting,bird watching, camping, biking, orexploring. Two of the Palmetto Trail’smost exciting and diverse sections runthrough Francis Marion Forest andaround Lake Moultrie.
Head to Lakes Marion and Moultrie toenjoy any number of outdoor activities.Along the beautiful shorelines andamongst an abundance of wildlife,guests find passages to hike the PalmettoTrail while water lovers can take theirboat and enjoy fishing, swimming,diving, or skiing.
Seek the charm of the past by visitingany of the historic sites scatteredthroughout the county, some datingback to the time of the first Europeansettlers. For example, visit the Rice HopePlantation, a bed and breakfast on abroad expanse of old rice fields, and theNesbitt House, an 18th-century dwellingthat now houses the Berkeley Chamberof Commerce, in Moncks Corner.
Take the family to the BerkeleyMuseum, located on the grounds ofStony Landing Plantation. See 13,000years of history in exhibits and artifactsthat spotlight General Francis Marion,the first Americans (the ArchaicIndians), colonial life, the Civil War,early medicine, rural electrification,early education, and Francis MarionNational Forest. Don’t miss the LittleDavid Torpedo Boat, the first semi-submersible torpedo boat used in anOctober 1863 Civil War harbor attack.
Berkeley County is also home toMepkin Abbey, Cypress Gardens, andOld Santee Canal Park.
BonneauBonneau is a quiet, friendly commu-
nity of 352 located seven miles north ofMoncks Corner in popular SanteeCooper Country. It is surrounded byFrancis Marion National Forest andincludes the Dennis Wildlife Centerand Bayless Hatchery.
Daniel IslandDaniel Island is a popular neotradi-
tional community located 20 minutesfrom downtown Charleston via I-526.The neighborhoods vary in style, withlots offering access to the Wando River.Named one of “America’s Top 100 GolfCommunities” in Travel + Leisuremagazine, Daniel Island celebrates therecently opened 18-hole coursedesigned by Rees Jones that now joins acourse by Tom Fazio. The island’s parksand two sports stadiums host sportingevents such as the annual Family CircleCup Tennis tournament and CharlestonBattery soccer games. They also hostevents such as festivals and concerts.Shops, restaurants, and schools areconveniently located near the six tradi-tional neighborhoods, which includesingle-family homes and brick townhomes. Homes along the water, marsh,or golf course run from $900,000 tomore than $3 million. The medianhome price is $441,400.
Goose CreekGoose Creek is the largest city in
Berkeley County with a population ofmore than 37,900. Its planneddevelopments are the model for newsingle-family homes in the Metroregion, offering amenities from privateboat docks to bicycle and joggingpaths. The community offers numerousparks, tennis courts, ball fields, and acountry club. The median home priceis $161,500.
Moncks CornerAs the Berkeley County Seat, the
town of Moncks Corner presently has apopulation of more than 7,000 people.Only 30 minutes from the bustle ofdowntown Charleston, Moncks Corneroffers residents and tourists a quietrefuge. With Lake Moultrie, a 60,400-acre man-made lake nearby, residentsenjoy outdoor activities such as boat-ing, swimming, hunting, and fishing.The median home price is $168,500.
St. StephensSt. Stephen is located in northern
Berkeley County, 15 miles north ofMoncks Corner and four miles east ofLake Moultrie. Lake Moultrie and near-by Lake Marion were created in theearly 1940s by the Santee CooperProject and are famous for a fish popu-lation which has produced severalworld records. This town is home tomore than 1,700 people.
Previous Page Top: Head to Lakes Marion and Moultrieto enjoy any number of outdoor activities.Previous Page Bottom: Water lovers can take theirboat and enjoy fishing, swimming, diving, or skiing.Above: Seek the charm of the past by visiting any ofthe historic sites scattered throughout the county.
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M ore than 4.3 million peoplevisit the Charleston areaannually. Its beautiful weath-
er, accessible location, historical charm,cultural activities, and world-famousrestaurants make the Charleston regionone of the best places to live and visit.
Charleston County is the cultural andeconomic epicenter of the Metro region.The metropolitan area stretches 50 milesinland with 90 miles oceanfront. Whilemany small towns and communities com-prise a large portion of the county, the twolargest cities are Charleston and NorthCharleston. Charleston’s barrier islandsinclude Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, Johns
Island, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island,and Sullivan’s Island.
The region boasts a multi-billion dol-lar visitor industry, one of the Southeast’smost impressive medical hubs, a well-established base of national and interna-tional manufacturers, as well as a largemilitary presence thus making the area aprime location for technology jobs andcorporations. Major employers includethe U.S. Navy, the Medical University ofSouth Carolina, the Air Force Base, andthe Charleston County School District.
Additionally, arts, recreational, andcultural opportunities are abundant toaccommodate any lifestyle.
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Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce: www.charlestonchamber.net
Charleston County: www.charlestoncounty.org
City of Charleston: www.ci.charleston.sc.us
Life in
CHARLESTONCOUNTY
CHARLESTON COUNTY IS THECULTURAL AND ECONOMIC EPICENTER
OF THE METRO REGION.
Welcome Char leston - www.WelcomeChar lestonSC.com 15
COMMUNITIES
• Awendaw • Charleston • Dewees Island• Folly Beach • Hollywood • Isle of Palms• James Island • John’s Island• Kiawah Island • McClellanville• Meggett • Mt. Pleasant• North Charleston • Ravenel • Rockville • Seabrook Island • Sullivan’s Island
RETAIL SALES
2008 Gross retail sales............$12.9 billion2007 Gross retail sales ...............$13 billionSource: Center for Business Research
% POPULATION BY AGE GROUP
0-19 years old .....................................26.5%20-24 years old ...................................7.6%25-34 years old ...................................13.5%35-54 years old ...................................28.2%55-64 years old ...................................11.8%65 & over ............................................12.4%Source: US Census Bureau (2007)
LABOR MARKET
2008 Labor Force .............................176,8732008 Average unemployment rate ......5.3%Source: Employment Security Commission
CENSUS DATA
Population (2008) ...........................348,046County Seat: CharlestonSquare Miles .................................1,357.14Source: US Census Bureau
AwendawThe Town of Awendaw, established in
1992, was named for the Sewee Indiantribe that once occupied the area.Located between Mount Pleasant andMcClellanville, this rural town of 1,189is a paradise for nature lovers. Home tothe Francis Marion Forest and CapeRomain National Wildlife Refuge,trails, waterways and wildlife aboundattracting hikers, kayakers and birderwatchers. The International Center forBirds of Prey and Sewee Visitor andEnvironmental Education Center holdregularly scheduled events focusing onLowcountry wildlife. Median homeprice is $151,043.
City of CharlestonThe city of Charleston is located on a
peninsula at the point where, asCharlestonians say, “The Ashley and theCooper Rivers come together to formthe Atlantic Ocean.”
With its rich, 300-year heritage,Charleston is one of America’s mostcharming and beautifully preservedcities in America. A “living museum,”Charleston contains more than 3,500
historic homes and buildings datingback to the 1690s.
Though world famous for its streetslined with grand live oaks draped withSpanish moss and beautiful and historicpastel-colored homes along the water-front, Charleston also offers a variety ofmuseums and historical attractions.Most notable is the Old Exchange andCustoms House, finished in 1771. Thebuilding features a dungeon that heldvarious signers of the Declaration ofIndependence, hosted events for GeorgeWashington in 1791, and the ratificationof the U.S. Constitution in 1788.
Charleston is also the location of FortSumter, the reputed site of the “firstshot” of the Civil War.
The South Carolina Aquarium,Audubon Swamp Garden, and CypressGardens are a must-see for allnature lovers. The median price for ahome is on the Charleston Peninsulais $457,000.
Folly BeachFolly Beach is a barrier island that is
six miles long and the closest beach tothe city of Charleston. It is the home ofsea, sand, surfing, historical and cultur-al sites, a maritime forest, the MorrisIsland Lighthouse, gourmet food, andendangered species of birds.
Folly Beach is a “must see – mustvisit” place due to its abundance ofoutdoor activities ranging from fishingand crabbing to waterskiing andsurfing. It also boasts South Carolina’slongest fishing pier! The median homeprice is $413,000.
HollywoodHollywood, named for its profusion
of holly trees, is located within theCharleston metro area near Ravenel.The scenic town of 4,398 is home tothe area’s renowned golf course,The Links at Stono Ferry. A part ofthe American Revolutionary WarBattle at Stono Ferry took place wherethe 12th, 13th, and 14th holes arepresently located.
Isle of PalmsIsle of Palms, a barrier island east of the
Cooper River, offers quiet beach livingand many outlets for outdoor activities.
The beach is the center of activity forthose who want to enjoy the waves ortake the boat out and explore nearbyislands. For those who want to stayashore, set up a picnic at the Isle ofPalms County Park; bike ride orrollerblade in any of the markedpaths; play golf in one of the world-class golf courses; play tennis; or gobeachcombing.
Isle of Palms is also known for itswildlife. See osprey nests, pelicans soar-ing and diving for food, dolphins, andgiant loggerhead sea turtles that comeashore to lay their eggs. The medianhome price is $1,475,000.
James IslandEstablished in 1993, James Island is a
sprawling suburb of Charleston. It is alarge triangular sea island that isframed by Wappoo Creek andCharleston Harbor to the north, MorrisIsland and Folly Beach to the east,and the Stono River and Johns Island tothe west.
James Island is well known for itsfarming, fishing and shrimping, andancient live oaks. It also features anexcellent public golf course operated bythe City of Charleston, and JamesIsland County Park, which features awater fun park and a dog park for yourfavorite four-legged friend. The medianhome price is $248,000.
Johns IslandJohns Island is the second largest
sea-island on the east coast. Situatedwest of James Island, Johns Island is bor-dered by the Stono River, part of theIntracoastal Waterway. The maritime for-est vegetation and beautiful live oaksgive the island a true Lowcountry feel.
New real estate developmentslocated along Maybank Highway offeraffordable housing alternatives. Agrowing number of developers arepursuing major projects along parts ofits waterfront, making Johns Island anup-and-coming area in which to live.
A must-see on the island is the AngelOak, a live oak tree off of BohicketRoad, which has a height of 65 feet andis estimated to be more than 1,400years old. Its largest limb has a circum-ference of 11.25 feet and a length of 89feet! It is the oldest living tree east of theMississippi River. The average homeprice is $223,167.
Previous Page Top: Beautiful weather, accessible location, historical charm,cultural activities, and world-famous restaurants make the Charleston regionone of the best places to live and visit.Previous Page Bottom: Arts, recreational, and cultural opportunities areabundant to accommodate any lifestyle.Below: The beach is the center of activity for those who want to enjoy thewaves or take the boat out and explore nearby islands.
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Kiawah IslandThe town of Kiawah Island was
incorporated in 1988. As a privateresort community, access is limited toproperty owners and guests. KiawahIsland Golf Resort’s Ocean Coursehosted the 1991 Ryder Cup, the 1997and 2003 World Cups, and mostrecently the 2007 Senior PGA. Themedian home price is $695,000.
McClellanvilleEstablished in the mid-1800s,
McClellanville is a small picturesquevillage of 496 on Jeremy Creek, whichflows into the Intracoastal Waterway. Aself-sufficient community of schools,homes, churches, shops, and dockingfacilities with an economy largelydependent upon the sea, it hasundergone a massive restoration sinceHurricane Hugo struck in 1989. TheMcClellanville Arts Council and Centersupports Lowcountry arts, history,books and crafts. The median homeprice is $302,916.
MeggettA thriving farming town in the
early 20th century, Meggett was issuedits charter from the state of SouthCarolina in 1905 and was incorporatedin1976. In its heyday, it was thecabbage capital of the world, shippingmillions of cabbage seedlings a day allover the country. The Produce Buildingstill stands as a private home. Today,Meggett’s 1,363 residents remain proudof their legacy and committed to thetown’s revitalization.
Mount PleasantMount Pleasant was originally found-
ed as a fishing village; today, however, ithas developed as a modern suburb ofCharleston. With the completion of theArthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge, the largestcable-stayed bridge in the Americas,traveling into Mount Pleasant fromdowntown Charleston is now easierthen ever.
With a current population of morethan 65,000 people, the town operatesits own police and fire departments,and it has a recreation department withfacilities that include eight parks, twopublic swimming pools, 17 tenniscourts, 23 ball fields, and one publictrack. It is also Charleston’s only accessto the barrier island beaches ofSullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms.
Mount Pleasant has many attractionsthat continue to draw new residentsand tourists each year. Check outBoone Hall Plantation, which featuresnine original slave cabins, a cotton ginhouse and the Charles PinckneyNational Historic Site. The siteincludes archeological discoveries, an1820s tidewater cottage, and interpre-tations of African-American life andcontributions during the colonial era.
Neighborhoods feature a wide array ofdiverse residential choices: suburban cul-de-sacs, exclusive resort properties, andupscale apartments. Older neighbor-hoods exist as well, including the historicOld Village, which is home to bothcolonial and antebellum period homesas well as many historic churches. Themedian home price in Mt. Pleasant is$327,040.
North CharlestonNorth Charleston, incorporated in
1972, has a population of more than94,000 people and encompasses morethan 60 square miles. As SouthCarolina’s third largest municipality,North Charleston attracts more than 2million visitors each year.
With more than 4,000 affordable toluxury accommodations, a wide selec-tion of restaurants, entertainment com-plexes, shopping malls and specialtyshops, and its close proximity to areaattractions, North Charleston is a greatplace to work and live
This thriving area is home to theNorth Charleston Coliseum complex,which includes a 13,500-seat coliseum,a convention center, a performing artscenter, and an adjacent hotel. The com-plex hosts a variety of events includingconcerts, circuses, sporting extravagan-zas, consumer shows, arts and craftsexhibits, and ice and hockey shows. It ishome to a minor league hockey team,the S.C. Stingrays. North Charleston alsohas a public golf course, The Golf Clubat Wescott Plantation.
North Charleston leads the state ingross retail sales for the 13th straightyear with sales at $4.7 billions dollars.Northwoods Mall, Charlestowne SquareMall and the Tanger Outlets are a few ofthe retail centers that contribute toNorth Charleston’s status as the retailsales leader in South Carolina. Themedian home price is $153,900.
RavenelRavenel is a town of 2,288 located
within the Charleston metro area, justsouth of West Ashley. It is home of theinnovative Caw Caw Interpretive Center,which was once part of several rice plan-tations and home to enslaved Africanswho applied their technology and skillsin agriculture to carve the series of ricefields out of cypress swamps.
Life in CHARLESTON COUNTY
Seabrook IslandSeabrook Island is located on the
banks of the Edisto River and theAtlantic Ocean and is a mere 35 min-utes from Charleston. This naturallypreserved location is abundant withpalm trees, live oaks, pine trees, andnative wildlife. The median homeprice is $695,000.
Sullivan’s IslandThe town of Sullivan’s Island, incor-
porated in 1817, is a barrier islandnorth of Charleston Harbor that con-tains approximately 1,800 residents.
This island has a long military historyof protecting the harbor from invaders.Remnants of the military are abundant innow privately held military housing;even former fortifications are nowsingle-family residences. While on theisland, visit Fort Moultrie, a fort that wasinstrumental in delivering a criticaldefeat to the British in the AmericanRevolutionary War. The median homeprice is $855,000.
West AshleyWest Ashley refers to the area west of
the Charleston peninsula, bordered bythe Ashley River and IntracoastalWaterway. It is the oldest suburb inCharleston and the closest to town.
West Ashley has continued to prospersince the 1950s. A large selection ofmoderately priced homes in desirableneighborhoods is available as well asexecutive homes on the Ashley River,tidal marshes, and creeks. New con-struction of marsh homes is ongoing asboating on the Ashley River is increas-ingly becoming more popular. Thereare also many neighborhoods with golf,tennis, and swimming. The medianhome price is $212,000.
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Life in CHARLESTON COUNTY - COMMUNITY PROFILE
CENTER: Mount Pleasant has an abundance of greenspaces, ideal for walking, jogging, fishing, games, orjust relaxing. This is a view of the Pitt Street Bridge.
RIGHT: Coralie White and Alexandria Watson,owners of Alexandria’s Salon.
Mount Pleasant
rior to the 1900’s, MountPleasant was known as a retreatperfectly situated along the
bluffs of Charleston Harbor to catchcooling summer breezes, nestledbetween Charleston and nearby beaches.In the past half-century, the Town ofMount Pleasant has come into its own.Residents and visitors often use threeH’s -- “hospitable,” “historical,” and“heavenly beauty” to describe thischarming town, since it is rich in thosequalities. The descriptives are true, butMount Pleasant means much more tothose who know it best.
Bob Price moved to Mount Pleasant in1982 for two reasons, but stayed as moreunfolded. After 30 years in Miami, Priceand his family wanted a slower pace; so it
was good news when his employer askedhim to relocate. After exploring threeproposed destinations – Brownsville,Texas; Norfolk Virginia; and Charleston –Price quickly made a choice.
“We picked Charleston,” he says.“And then, focusing on Mount Pleasantwas a no-brainer.” Price built a househere after considering four other towns,because it was close to his job, and localschools had a good reputation. Asexpected, he and his family enjoyed thearea’s friendliness and nearby beaches;but they discovered more to like.
One tangible benefit was lower taxes.“I compared local property taxes beforeI built the house,” Price says. “Taxeswere – and still are -- lower than innearby towns. I know I’m paying less
on my home than I would elsewhere.” A check of property tax rates in the
region shows that Mount Pleasant ratesare lower than those in adjacent towns.“We have managed to keep our localproperty taxes low. We have not raisedtaxes in 17 years,” says R. Mac Burdette,the Town Administrator. We comparewell to surrounding areas. For example,the municipal property tax for an owner-occupied house valued at $400,000 inMount Pleasant is 38.6 mills or $617.60.The municipal property tax for the samehouse value in Charleston is 79.1 millsor $1,265.60; in North Charleston it is92.8 mills or $1,484.80.”
Price cites community spirit as anotherMount Pleasant lifestyle plus. “There is aneighborhood feeling here. I can call on
P
LEFT: Mount PLeasant offers a wide variety of housingchoices, many of them within appealing communitieslike I’On Village.
townofmountpleasant.com • 843.884.8517 • [email protected]
neighbors for anything.” He likes that theTown is growing and that people here are“from all over,” yet there is still a strongsense of community.
Another Mount Pleasant resident andbusiness owner, Coralie White, haddifferent priorities when she opened abusiness here in 2006. White and herdaughter, Alexandria Watson, openedAlexandria’s Salon (www.alexandrias.net)near Highways 17 & 41. An abundanceof green spaces guided their choices.
“We knew this area well, sincewe owned a house in downtownCharleston,” says White. “When Alexreturned from the UK to start a career inthe US, we visited coastal communities
continued on page 20 >>
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LEFT: The fishing pier is just one facet of the 9-acreWaterfront Memorial Park.
RIGHT: Bob Price, owner of Price Concepts,likes running his business in Mount Pleasant.
TOP: Mount Pleasant Towne Centre offers an upscaleshopping experience in classic southern style, with more than65 shopping and dining choices.
Life in CHARLESTON COUNTY - COMMUNITY PROFILE<< Mount Pleasant, continued from page 18
between Charleston and south Florida.After she worked in South Beach, it wastime to start a business. Mount Pleasantwas the obvious choice. “
Their criteria were natural beauty andhealthy economic possibilities. “Wewanted to be close to the beach, with-out paying beach prices,” says White.”Our business site had trees, so wecould create a serene space, which ishard to do downtown.” Finally, she saysMount Pleasant is growing, offering anexcellent residential business base.
Like Price, White and Watson found“more” once they settled in. They appre-ciated the nearby schools, although thatwas not an initial reason for moving.Both families enrolled their children inlocal schools. They were satisfied withthe system, likely a byproduct of theschools’ objective performance. MountPleasant public schools’ reading testscores are 22.5% above the state average,and math scores are 26.2% above stateaverage. SAT scores of graduating highschool seniors are above national andstate averages, and compare well to otherarea high schools.
Another highlight is that the principalof Wando High School, Lucky Beckham,was named the 2010 National SecondaryPrincipal of the Year by the NationalAssociation of Secondary SchoolPrincipals (NASSP). She received theprestigious honor for providing a highquality learning experience, and fordemonstrating exemplary contributions.
Beckham has recruited and retainedsome of the nation’s best educators forWando. Under Beckham, the highschool also received national recognitionfrom U.S. News and World Report asone of the best schools in the country.
In addition to primary and secondarypublic schools -- nine elementaryschools, three middle schools, and onehigh school, there are eight privateschools in Mount Pleasant, furtherexpanding the list of options.
“Our schools are manned by thebest administrators and teachers, andsupported by involved parents,” saysMayor Billy Swails. “It’s a powerfulcombination. We have some of the bestschools in the state.”
Mount Pleasant also offers highereducation opportunities. Collaboratingwith The Citadel and Trident TechnicalCollege, Wando High School offersdual credit courses. A Wando-Tridentcampus, adjacent to the high school, isplanned, and will serve high schoolersand adults.
While the Town is recongized as“higher” with regard to scenic beautyand school quality, it is “lower” in otherrespects – like crime and the aforemen-tioned taxes.
“In Miami, we had crime fears,” Pricesays.” We did not have them in MountPleasant. The children could be out andabout in the neighborhood, and theycould play like children again.”
Price’s sense of security is supportedby the Town’s record of being a safe placeto live, work, and play. When comparedwith South Carolina cities of similar size,Mount Pleasant’s (pop. 64,607) localcrime rate is striking. Violent crime is64% lower than in Greenville (pop.59,038) and 71% lower than the rate forRock Hill (pop. 66,906). Propertycrimes in Mount Pleasant are also lower,at 63% less than Greenville; and 53%less than Rock Hill.
The Town’s police departmentcontinually hones its skills to help safe-guard residents. Through a demandingaccreditation process, Mount Pleasantbecame the first municipality in SouthCarolina to have both police and firedepartments accredited.
These advantages make MountPleasant a great place to live. But what isit like to own or manage a business here?
BusinessWeek cites Mount Pleasant asone of the Best Small Cities for Startups.Price would agree. Ten years ago, he start-ed a home-based business, Price Concepts
(www.priceconceptspromos.com), apromotional products and advertisingspecialty company. “It’s a good place todo business,” he says. “It’s convenient. Iam close to everything: shippers, travelarteries, and the Town offices. And it’seasy to get things done: the Town staffis helpful.”
White concurs. “The Town gave usquick approvals on site plans. Dealingwith them overall has been pleasant.The municipal taxes and fees related toour salon have not been difficult.”
An overview of Mount Pleasant isincomplete without describing the manyleisure options. Nowhere else in theregion is there such a wide variety andquality of things to see and do. There issomething for everyone; from the anglerto the art lover, sports fan, beachgoer,history buff, athlete, and foodie.
Recreational choices include parks andother green spaces, indoor and outdoorrec facilities, and the new ThomasenaStokes-Marshall Senior Center, a state-of-the-art facility for residents aged 50+.The 9-acre Waterfront Memorial Park,opened in 2009, includes a fishing/observation pier, playground, visitorcenter, walking trails, open-air pavilion,and military memorial. The Park is a gemamong parks.
Mount Pleasant is a competitivedining destination with around 1,000restaurants offering all types of menus.Whether it’s creative Lowcountrycuisine, classic American, seafood,ethnic choices, or something else, localrestaurants provide many options.
More than 65,000 people call MountPleasant “home.” They stay for theadvantages that make the Town asingular community. As Bob Price says,“The question isn’t ‘Why wouldsomeone move here?’ but “Why wouldsomeone not move here?’
South Carolina Crime Rates for Municpalities of Comparable Size
Town/City Violent Crime Property Crime
Mount Pleasant....................... 215 .......................... 1,404
Greenville ................................ 592 .......................... 3,705
Rock Hill .................................. 749 .......................... 2,970
*Source FBI 2008 Crime Statisics
Municipal Property Tax RatesOwner-Occupied Houses Valued at $400,000
Mount Pleasant ........... 38.6 mills ........$617.60
Charleston..................... 79.1 mills ........$1,265.60
North Charleston ......... 92.8 mills ........$1,484.80
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Mount Pleasant
BUSINESS PROMOTIONALPRODUCTS AND APPAREL
Shirts • Caps • Pens • CupsCalendars • Koozies •and More!
(843) 884-0608priceconceptspromos.com
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Dorchester County is located in theeastern part of South Carolinaand is bordered by Orangeburg,
Berkeley, Colleton, and Charlestoncounties. Municipalities in DorchesterCounty include Dorchester, Harleyville,North Charleston, Reevesville, Rosinville,St. George, and Summerville.
The population of the county contin-ues to grow. For example, in 1980, thepopulation was 58,761 and in 2008,the population was 127,133.
Known for its natural beauty, historicplantations and bustling economy,Dorchester County offers both visitorsand residents a quiet life and a wealth ofopportunity.
See history first-hand at MiddletonPlace, a National Historic Landmark, inSummerville. This historic plantationboasts the oldest landscaped gardens inthe United States, laid out in 1741.
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Greater Summerville/Dorchester Chamber of Commerce:
www.gsdcchamber.org
Life in
DORCHESTERCOUNTY
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KNOWN FOR ITS NATURAL BEAUTY, HISTORIC PLANTATIONS AND BUSTLING ECONOMY, DORCHESTER
COUNTY OFFERS BOTH VISITORS AND RESIDENTS A QUIET LIFE AND A WEALTH OF OPPORTUNITY.
Welcome Char leston - www.WelcomeChar lestonSC.com 23
COMMUNITIES
• Dorchester • Harleyville • Ladson• Lincolnville • North Charleston • Reevesville • Ridgeville • Rosinville• St. George • Summerville
RETAIL SALES
2008 Gross retail sales ..............$1.2 billion2007 Gross retail sales ..............$1.8 billionSource: Center for Business Research
% POPULATION BY AGE GROUP
0-19 years old.....................................29.0%20-24 years old.....................................7.7%25-34 years old...................................12.8%35-54 years old...................................29.8%55-64...................................................11.3%65 & over..............................................9.4%Source: US Census Bureau (2007)
LABOR MARKET
2008 Labor Force ...............................63,5832008 Average unemployment rate.......5.7%Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
CENSUS DATA
Population (2008) .............................127,133County Seat: St. GeorgeSquare Miles .....................................576.74Source: US Census Bureau
Since 2005, a wide variety of compa-nies have invested more than $100million in the county. Manufacturing,wholesale and retail trade, and otherservices continue to be the majoremployment sectors. Business is easilysupported by quick access to I-95, thePort of Charleston, and the CharlestonInternational Airport.
SummervilleSummerville is the county’s largest
city with an estimated population ofmore than 45,193. Summerville contin-ues to attract families, business peopleand military personnel, all looking toimprove their quality of life.
With a reputation as, “The FlowerTown in the Pines,” Summerville isknown worldwide for its beautifulspring blossoms. Since the early 1900stourists have flocked to the town in the
early spring to enjoy millions of springblossoms like azaleas in private andpublic gardens, including the mid-townAzalea Park. The median home priceis $174,000.
Each spring, Summerville hosts theFlowertown Festival, where more than300,000 visitors and residents enjoycontests, crafts, tours, exhibits, andother family activities – all amid azaleasand dogwood trees in full bloom.
The town boasts beautiful moss-draped streets and quaint Victorianhomes mixed with progressive develop-ment. More than 50 subdivisions con-structed within the past 12 years sur-round the immediate Summerville area.Housing ranges from economical pre-fabricated homes to country club resi-dential developments and restored his-toric properties, many dating from themid-1800s.
Summerville participates with aDowntown Restoration Enhancementand Management Corporation (DREAM)and has many thriving fine arts, sports,museum, and preservation organizations.There are 700 local buildings on theNational Historic Register.
St. GeorgeThe small, rural Southern town of St.
George is known as the “Town ofFriendly People.” With a population ofjust over 2,100, the residents in St.George maintain a strong sense of family and religion.
Natural resources provide residentswith some of the best hunting and fish-ing around. Located near Lakes Marionand Moultrie and the Four Hole Swamp,the area has easy access to numerousrecreation opportunities, including theFrancis Beidler Forest and the EdistoRiver Canoe and Kayak Trail.
Each April, St. George is home to theWorld Grits Festival. More than 50,000people attend this three-day festival, partaking in activities like a corn-shuck-ing contest, a grits eating contest, softballtournaments, and square dancing. Thefestival also features live bands, artsand crafts, various grits meals, and thecrowning of Miss Grits.
Previous Page Top: Yearly events bring together visitors and residentstime and again, from the Flowertown Festival to the Red, White & Blue onthe Green Fourth of July Celebration.Previous Page Bottom: Summerville boasts beautiful moss-drapedstreets and quaint Victorian homes mixed with progressive development.Above: Natural resources provide residents with some of the best huntingand fishing around.
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CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE,VISITOR SERVICES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce577.9549 or 800.882.0337
Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau853.8000 or 800.868.8118
Charleston Metro ..........................577.2510 Chamber of Commerce
Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce873.2931
Charleston Regional ............................767.9300Development Alliance
COMMUNITY CENTERS
Berkeley County Family YMCA.....761.9622
Jenkins Orphanage .......................744.2429 Administration
Jewish Community Center............571.6565
Lowcountry Children’s Center .......723.3600
South Carolina Guardian Ad Litem..958.4350
South Santee Community Center ....546.2789
Summerville YMCA.......................871.9622
YMCA, 61 Cannon St. ...................577.9622
YWCA, 701 E. Bay St. ...................805.6264
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
Charitable Society of Charleston.....727.0624
Charleston County Medical ..........577.3613 Society/Medical Society Auxiliary
Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy .............724.1212
Knights of Columbus.....................723.9934
Elks Lodge .....................................556.0048
Exchange Club of Charleston........572.3161
Junior League of Charleston, Inc.....763.5284
COMMUNITY INFORMATIONw h a t y o u n e e d t o k n o w
DRIVINGSTEPS TO OBTAINING A S.C. DRIVER’S LICENSE
• For any new residents of South Carolina, an out-of-state driver’s license is valid for 90 days after moving.
• During new residents’ first 90 days in the state, they may turn licenses into the S.C. Division of Motor Vehicles /Department of Revenue and Taxation and qualify for S.C. licenses by passing a written test and paying a $2 fee.
• Military personnel may continue using a current driver’s license and license plates from their home state as long as either are valid.
• New residents who pass the written exam are not required to take a road test.
• S.C. issues both five-year and 10-year licenses. 10-year licenses cost $25 and are issued to those that visit a DMV branch to obtain an original or renewal license. Five-year licenses cost $12.50 and are issued to those 65-years old or older and those that apply for a renewal license on-line.
STEPS TO AUTO REGISTRATION AND OBTAINING LICENSE PLATES
• Before registering an automobile in South Carolina, a paid tax receipt for that vehicle must be shown to the Division of Motor Vehicles. The receipt must bear the name of the person applying for the vehicle registration.
• New residents have 45 days to transfer vehicle title and registration.
• The fee to register a private passenger vehicle is $24 and can be obtained through the mail for an additional $1 charge. Title is $15.
• In order to complete your vehicle registration, you must also present a title, proof of liability insurance coverage, and any vehicle property tax payment receipt to the Division of Motor Vehicles.
THE RULES OF THE ROAD —TRAFFIC REGULATIONS:
• South Carolina utilizes a point system to penalize traffic law violators. This system is designed to encourage violators to improve driving habits or risk losing their license. Each traffic violation carries an assigned number of points, and when the total reaches a maximum of 12, the driver’s license is suspended.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs carry severe penalties, including imprisonment.
• In South Carolina, if windshield wipers are being used because of weather conditions, then headlights must be used as well.
• Seat belts are required for the driver and front seat and back seat passengers when the vehicle is equipped with a shoulder harness in addition to a lap belt.
• State law mandates the use of child safety seats that meets National Safety Commission standards (buses are the only exception). Children under the age of six must be restrained in the front or back seat as provided by S.C.’s child restraint law.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving ....577.7434
NAACP - Charleston Branch .........805.8030
Omar Shrine Temple .....................971.0131
Rotary Club of Charleston.............805.5300
South Carolina .......................803.256.0670 Wildlife Federation
COMMUNITY SERVICES
American Red Cross, Carolina ......764.2323Lowcountry Chapter
Association for the Blind ..............723.6915
Berkeley Citizens...........................761.0300
Berkeley County Rescue Squad ....719.4295
Coastal Community .......................723.3635 Foundation of S.C.
Family Services, Inc. .................744.1348 or................................................800.232.6489
Florence Crittenton Programs ......722.7526
Helping Hands of Goose Creek.....553.7132
HOME - Charleston Interfaith .........723.9477Crisis Ministry
Hospice of Charleston, Inc............529.3100
Lowcountry Food Bank..................747.8146
Lowcountry AIDS Services............747.2273
Tricounty Family Ministries...........747.1788
My Sister’s House, Inc. .................744.3242
People Against Rape.....................745.0144
Ronald McDonald House ..............723.7957
Salvation Army..............................747.5271
Sea Island Comprehensive ...........795.0772 Health Center
John Ancrum SPCA.......................747.4849
South Carolina Coastal .................723.8035 Conservation League
Trident United Way Information ...740.9000and Referral Service
C H A R L E S T O N , S O U T H C A R O L I N A
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GOVERNMENTSTATE GOVERNMENT
• State capital is Columbia, locatedapproximately 110 miles northwest ofCharleston.• South Carolina is governed under a constitution ratified in 1895.
State legislators and members of thestate’s executive branch can be contactedby calling the following numbers:
Governor.................................803.734.2100
Lt. Governor............................803.734.2080
State Senate ..........................803.734.2080
House of Representatives......803.734.2402
COUNTY GOVERNMENTSThe structure of county government variesin each county.
BERKELEY COUNTY• County affairs are managed by a countycouncil with an elected county supervisorserving as chief administrative officer.
CHARLESTON COUNTY• Council-administrator form of government.• Council members are elected at large to four-year terms.• A county administrator is appointed bythe county council to manage the day-to-day activities of the county.•Three council members must be from thecity of Charleston, three from NorthCharleston, two from West Ashley, andone from East Cooper.
DORCHESTER COUNTY• Seven-member county council with eachmember elected to a four-year term.• Council administrator is appointed bythe county council to administer the day-to-day activities of the county.
LOCAL GOVERNMENTSThe 25 incorporated areas within Berkeley,Charleston, and Dorchester counties oper-ate separately under the mayor/councilform of government although the day-to-day operations vary from city to city.
INCORPORATED AREAS OF BERKELEY COUNTY:• Governed by a mayor and city councilelected to four-year terms.
CITY OF CHARLESTON• Governed by a mayor and city council.• 12 city council members are elected ona single-member district basis for four-year terms with six members subject toelection every other year.
CITY OF NORTH CHARLESTON• Governed by a mayor and six councilmembers elected at large to serve four-year terms. Under city law, the mayor isthe administrative officer.
CABLE TELEVISIONCable television subscriptions can be ordered through the following regional companies:
The Berkeley Independent...........................................761.6397Local/Berkeley County - Published weekly
Charleston Magazine...................................................971.9811- Published monthly
Charleston Mercury .....................................................937.5547International, national, state, and local news- Published biweekly
Charleston Regional Business Journal .......................849.3100- Published every other Monday
The Chronicle ...............................................................723.2785Issues relevant to Charleston’s black community - Published weekly
The Dorchester Eagle Record ......................................563.3121Local/Dorchester County - Published weekly
The Goose Creek Gazette ............................................572.0511Regional/Berkeley and Charleston - Published weekly
The Hanahan News .....................................................747.5773Local/Hanahan, Goose Creek, and part of Berkeley County - Published weekly
The Moultrie News......................................................849.1778Local/East Cooper - Published weekly
North Charleston News...............................................744.8000Local/North Charleston - Published weekly
The Post and Courier ...................................................577.7111International, national, state and local news Published daily
The Summerville Journal Scene .................................873.9424Local/Summerville - Published each Wednesday and Friday
MEDIAPRINT
Berkeley Cable TV .......................................................761.8188
Comcast Cable Comm.............................554.4100 or 559.2424
Knology........................................................................225.1000
Time Warner Cable .....................................................871.7000
BROADCAST TELEVISIONChannel 2............................................WCBD ..................................................NBC ..........................................884.2222Channel 4............................................WCIV....................................................ABC ..........................................881.4444Channel 5............................................WCSC ..................................................CBS ..........................................402.5555Channel 7............................................WETV ..................................................PBS ..........................................803.737.3545Channel 24..........................................WTAT ..................................................FOX ..........................................744.2424Channel 36..........................................WMMP ................................................myTV ........................................744.2424
RADIO STATIONS - AMWSCC 730 ........................................................................News/Talk ..............................................................884.2534WTMZ 910 ........................................................................Sports ......................................................................556.5660WAZS 980 ........................................................................Mexican Regional....................................................554.1063WTMA 1250......................................................................News/Talk ..............................................................556.5660WQSC 1340 ......................................................................News/Talk ..............................................................763.6631WXTC 1390 ......................................................................Gospel......................................................................972.1100WQNT 1450 ......................................................................News ......................................................................763.6631
RADIO STATIONS - FMWSCI 89.3 ........................................................................Public Radio ............................................................800.922.5437WKCL 91.5 ........................................................................Religious..................................................................553.1525WIHB 92.5 ........................................................................Top 40 ......................................................................972.1100WWWZ 93.3 ....................................................................Urban Contemporary ..............................................556.5660WSSX 95.1........................................................................Top 40 ......................................................................308.9300WAVF 96.1 ........................................................................Adult Rock ..............................................................972.1100WSUY 96.9........................................................................Adult Contemporary ................................................556.5660WYBB 98.1........................................................................Rock ........................................................................769.4799WALC 100.5 ......................................................................Adult Contemporary ................................................856.6147WMGL 101.7 ....................................................................Urban Adult Contemporary ..........................................308.9300WXLY 102.5 ......................................................................Oldies ......................................................................884.2534WEZL 103.5 ......................................................................Country ....................................................................884.2534WRFQ 104.5 ......................................................................Classic Rock ............................................................884.2534WCOO 105.5 ....................................................................Classic Hits..............................................................769.4799WJNI 106.3 ......................................................................Gospel......................................................................554.1063WNKT 107.5......................................................................Country ....................................................................556.5660
ON-LINEThe Digitel.........................................................................278.5886Local - Online news source
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C O M M U N I T Y I N F O R M A T I O N
• Other incorporated areas of CharlestonCounty operate similar mayor-councilforms of government.
INCORPORATED AREAS OFDORCHESTER COUNTY• Operates under a mayor/council form ofgovernment.• The Summerville Town Council appointsa town manager to serve as a professionaladministrator overseeing town affairs.
CITIES AND TOWNS
Awendaw ......................................928.3100
Bonneau ........................................825.3385
Charleston .....................................577.6970
Folly Beach....................................588.2447
Goose Creek ..................................797.6220
Hanahan ........................................554.4221
Hollywood .....................................889.3222
Harleyville .....................................462.7676
Isle of Palms..................................886.6428
Jamestown....................................257.2233
Kiawah ..........................................768.9166
Lincolnville ....................................873.3261
McClellanville ...............................887.3712
Meggett.........................................889.3622
Moncks Corner ..............................719.7918
Mt. Pleasant..................................884.8517
North Charleston...........................554.5700
Ravenel..........................................889.8732
Ridgeville.......................................871.7960
St. George .....................................563.3032
St. Stephen ...................................567.3597
Seabrook .......................................768.9121
Sullivan’s Island ............................883.3198
Summerville ..................................871.6000
LIBRARIESThe Metro region’s public library systemsoffer film programs, puppet shows, busi-ness and employment information, histori-cal and genealogical materials, videotapes,musical recordings, and magazines andnewspapers from throughout the world.
BERKELEY COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM
Goose Creek Branch Library325 Old Moncks Corner Road,......572.1376 Goose Creek, SC 29445
Hanahan Branch Library1274 Yeamans Hall Road,.............747.5400 Hanahan, SC 29406
St. Stephen Branch Library1104 South Main St.,....................567.4862 St. Stephen, SC 29479-0596
PLANTATIONS, PARKS, AND GARDENS
Audubon Swamp Garden ...........................................................571.1266
Boone Hall Plantation ................................................................884.4371
Charles Towne Landing ..............................................................852.4200
Cypress Gardens ........................................................................553.0515
Drayton Hall ...............................................................................766.0188
Fort Dorchester...........................................................................873.1740
Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter ...................................................883.3123
Francis Beidler Forest.................................................................462.2150
Givhans Ferry State Park............................................................873.0692
James Island County Park..........................................................795.7275
Magnolia Cemetery....................................................................722.8638
Magnolia Plantation & Its Gardens ...........................................571.1266
Middleton Place .........................................................................556.6020
Old Santee Canal Park ...............................................................899.5200
Palmetto Islands County Park ....................................................884.0832
Patriots Point Naval and ............................................................884.2727 Maritime Museum
For more information on local parks:
COMMUNITY PARK DEPARTMENTS
Charleston County Park..............................................................762.2172 & Recreation Commission
City of Charleston Dept. of Recreation......................................724.7327
Folly Beach County Park.............................................................588.2426
Isle of Palms County Park.........................................................886.DUNE
Isle of Palms Dept. of Recreation ..............................................886.8294
Mt. Pleasant Recreation Dept....................................................884.2528
N. Charleston Recreation...........................................................745.1028 and Parks Dept.
N. Charleston Wannamaker......................................................572.PARK County Park
St. Andrews Parks and...............................................................763.4360 Playground Dept.
Summerville Dept. of Parks........................................................871.6000 and Playgrounds
CHARLESTON COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM
Main Library ..................................805.680268 Calhoun St., Charleston, SC 29403
Cooper River Memorial Library........744.24893503 Rivers Ave., N. Charleston, SC 29405
Dorchester Road Regional ............552.6466Branch Library6325 Dorchester Road,N. Charleston, SC 29418
Edgar Allen Poe Library ................883.39141921 I’on Ave., Sullivan’s Island, SC 29842
Edisto Branch Library ....................869.2355Thomas Hall 1589 Hwy. 174, Edisto Island, SC 29438
Folly Beach Library........................588.200155 Center St., Folly Beach, SC 29439
James Island Library.....................795.66791248 Camp Road, Charleston, SC 29412
McClellanville Library ...................887.3699222 Baker St., McClellanville, SC 29458
Mt. Pleasant Regional Library ......849.61611133 Mathis Ferry Road,Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Otranto Road Regional Library .....572.40942261 Otranto Road, Charleston, SC 29406
St. Andrews Regional Library .......766.25461735 N. Woodmere Dr.,Charleston, SC 29407
St. Paul’s Library ...........................889.33005151 Town Council Dr., Hollywood, SC 29449
Village Library ...............................884.9741430 Whilden St., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
West Ashley Library......................766.663545 S. Windermere Blvd.,Charleston, SC 29407
DORCHESTER COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM
Main Library ..................................563.9189506 N. Parler Ave., St. George, SC 29477
Summerville Library ......................871.507576 Old Trolley Road, Summerville, SC 29485
This is not an all-inclusive list of phone numbers and organizations.
POSTAL SERVICE
Central branch of the ....................760.5300U.S. Postal Service7075 Cross County Road, North Charleston
Adams Run....................................889.85335190 Hwy. 174
Old Main Office Station................577.069083 Broad St., Downtown Charleston
Welcome Char leston - www.WelcomeChar lestonSC.com 27
East Bay Station............................722.3624557 East Bay St., Downtown Charleston
Folly Beach....................................588.2244107 E. Indian Ave.
Goose Creek ..................................553.0321307 N. Goose Creek Blvd.
Hollywood .....................................889.26246345 Hwy. 162
Isle of Palms..................................886.65361000 Palm Blvd
James Island .................................795.5006579 Folly Road
Johns Island ..................................559.06222860 Maybank Hwy.
Ladson ...........................................797.19893213 Ladson Road
Moncks Corner ..............................761.8455117 North Hwy. 52
Mt. Pleasant..................................884.82211050 Johnnie Dodds Blvd.
North Charleston...........................569.26106401 Rivers Ave.
Pinehaven......................................744.78102180 McMillan Ave., N. Charleston
Ravenel..........................................889.89906239 Savannah Hwy.
Ridgeville.......................................873.3512185 Church St.
St. Andrews ..................................766.403178 Sycamore Ave., West Ashley
St. George .....................................563.35515809 W. Jim Bilton Blvd.
Sullivan’s Island ............................883.34612061 Middle St.
Summerville ..................................873.3571301 N. Gum St.
Wadmalaw Island .........................559.05061917 Liberia Road
RELIGIONThere are more than 350 active churchesand synagogues in the Metro area.Services are available for all major denom-inations and several nondenominationalgroups. Most religions are community-ori-ented and provide services for the elderlyand homeless. Many congregations spon-sor day care and after-school programs forchildren of working parents.
Catholic Diocese of Charleston ....853.2130
Charleston Atlantic Presbytery .....766.4219
Charleston Baptist Association ....723.4571
Charleston District of the United Methodist Church .......744.0477
Charleston Jewish Federation......571.6565
Episcopal Diocese of S.C. .............722.4075
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (SC) ..........803.765.0590
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (Holy Trinity Church) .......722.2331
TRANSPORTATIONThe Charleston Area Regional TransitAuthority is operated by the City ofCharleston serving the City of Charleston,North Charleston, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’sIsland, James Island, Mt. Pleasant, andWest Ashley. CARTA serves Charlestonwith 17 bus routes. For downtown trans-portation, ride a DASH trolley. All equip-ment is fully accessible for the disabled.Call 724-7420 for schedule information.
Greyhound Bus Lines ...................744.4247
DASH Shuttle ...............................724.7420
Charleston Area Regional.............747.0922 Transit Authority
Rural Transportation...............800.966.6631Management Association
AIRPORT SERVICE
Charleston International Airport...767.1100• Serves more than a million civilian andmilitary passengers each year.• Is served by five airlines: ContinentalAirways, Northwest Airlines, Delta, UnitedExpress, and USAirways.• Six private airports are located in theregion.
HIGHWAYS AND RAIL SERVICE• The Metro area has access to threeinterstate highways: I-26, I-95, and I-526.• The area is serviced by five major U.S.highways and 17 state highways.
RAIL SYSTEM• Travels to more major cities than anyother Southern port.• Main line railroads serving the areainclude the CSX System and NorfolkSouthern.• Amtrak connects the region with othercities throughout the nation via rail.
TAXESPROPERTY TAXESReal estate that is not owner-occupiedis assessed at six percent of the mar-ket value. Real estate that is owner-occupied is assessed at four percentof market value.
SALES TAX
• There is a 5% state sales taximposed in Dorchester county on thepurchase of food, personal effects,and other items.• There is a 6% sales tax rate (5%state and 1% local option) imposed inCharleston and Berkeley counties.
INCOME TAX
• South Carolina levies taxes on thenet income of individuals, trusts, andestates. • Residents and non-residents earningincome from South Carolina-basedsources are subject to this tax.
For more information contact:
Berkeley County Treasurer’s Office223 N. Live Oak Dr.,Moncks Corner, SC 29461719.4040
Charleston County Treasurer’s OfficeP.O. Box 878, Charleston, SC 29402958.4360
S.C. Dept. of Revenue3 South Park, Ste. 202,Charleston, SC 29407852.3600
C H A R L E S T O N , S O U T H C A R O L I N A
For more information about AMTRAK:
Reservations...........................800.872.7245
Passenger Station Information .....744.8263
VOTER REGISTRATIONFor voter registration information, call orwrite one of the following offices:
Berkeley County Voter Registration 6 Belt Drive Moncks Corner, SC 29461723.3800, Ext. 4056
Charleston County Voter Registration 4367 Headquarters RoadN. Charleston, SC 29405744.8683
Dorchester County Board of Registration201 Johnson StreetSt. George, SC 29477832.0132
YOUTH SERVICES
Boy Scouts of America .................763.0305
Camp Happy Days.........................571.4336
Carolina Youth..............................................Development Center
Girl Scout Service Center .............552.9910
Junior Achievement of..................745.1141 Greater Charleston
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STATISTICSCHARLESTON METRO AREA
2007 POPULATION DATA Source: US Census Bureau
METRO AREA
2008 ..................................644,5062015 estimate.....................643,020
BERKELEY COUNTY
2008 ..................................169,3272015 estimate ....................172,940
CHARLESTON COUNTY
2008 ..................................348,0462015 estimate ....................347,910
DORCHESTER COUNTY
2008 ..................................127,1332015 estimate ....................122,170
COST OF LIVING COMPARISONSource: ACCRA Cost of Living Index, 20092nd Quarter The average for all participatingarea equals 100.
All Items Index
Atlanta, GA ..............................93.2Charleston, SC .........................96.8Charlotte, NC ...........................92.7Columbia, SC ...........................96.4Greenville, SC ..........................89.6Jacksonville, FL .......................94.0New York (Manhattan) ..........217.5Savannah, GA ..........................93.6Washington, D.C....................140.0
FAST FACTS ABOUT THE CHARLESTON AREASource: Charleston Regional Development Alliance
Population (2008 estimate)....................................................644,506
Growth Rate 2000-2008...........................................................17.4%
U.S. Population Rank (2008) ...........................................................80
Median Age (2008) ......................................................................35.8
Total area (land & water) .........................3,162 sq. miles/8,190 km2
Annual Retail Sales (2008) .............................................$18.7 billion
Total Civilian Labor Force (2008) ...........................................316,707
Unemployment Rate (2009)........................................................9.7%
SCHOOL NUMBERSSource: SC Department of Education (2008)
The four public school districts servingthe Charleston Metro region collectivelyoperate some 134 schools.
BERKELEY.................................................36CHARLESTON...........................................80DORCHESTER*.........................................21COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES ....................13 *Dorchester II and IV combined
GROSS RETAIL SALES (in thousands $000) Source: SC Dept. of Revenue
BERKELEY CHARLESTON DORCHESTER METRO
1998 ........2,258,172.........8,013,557 ..........943,548 .......11,215,2771999 ........2,408,814.........8,627,946 .......1,034,470 .......12,071,2302000 ........2,597,622.........9,239,981 .......1,131,198 .......12,968,8012001 ........2,690,691.........9,024,542 .......1,150,099 .......12,865,3322002 ........2,690,651.........9,210,866 .......1,137,072 .......13,038,5892003 ........2,735,896.........9,762,402 .......1,221,096 .......13,719,3942004 ........2,988,572.........9,722,614 .......1,417,330 .......14,128,5152005 ........2,770,000.......12,100,000 .......1,600,000 .......16,400,0002006 ........3,300,000.......13,100,000 .......1,700,000 .......18,134,0932007 ........3,717,958.......13,084,036 .......1,783,522 .......18,585,5162008 ........3,999,639.......12,963,950 .......1,173,190 .......18,736,779
AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOMESource: US Census Bureau (2008 averages)
Number of Households in the Metro Area.........................237,004Median Household Income .................................................$52,302Average Household Income ................................................$70,143
MAJOR EMPLOYERS OF THE CHARLESTON METRO REGIONSource: Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce (2009)
U.S. Navy .................................................................................13,000Medical University Of South Carolina.....................................11,000Charleston Air Force Base .........................................................7,000Charleston County School District ............................................5,150Roper St. Francis Healthcare.....................................................3,800Berkeley County School District ................................................3,650JEM Restaurant Group ..............................................................3,000Dorchester County School District II .........................................2,800Trident Health System ...............................................................2,500Wal-Mart ...................................................................................2,300Charleston County .....................................................................2,150Blackbaud, Inc............................................................................2,000
METRO AREA EMPLOYMENT BY SECTORSource: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
20.2% Government/Public Administration
15.0% Wholesale & Retail Trade
14.9% Professional & Business Services
13.4% Education & Health Services
10.1% Leisure & Hospitality Industries
9.0% Financial Activities
6.8% Transportation Warehousing/Utilities
6.6% Manufacturing
3.2% Natural Resources/Mining/Construction
3.2% Other Services
2.8% Information
30 Welcome Char leston - www.WelcomeChar lestonSC.com Please recycle this publication
xcellence is that standard of all Charleston Metro areaschools. An exceptional education is something everychild deserves, and to provide this, Charleston's schoolshave high expectations not only of their students but alsoof teacher, staff, parents, local businesses, and the whole
community, who are expected to support and contribute to theimprovement and success of their local schools.
EDUCATIONg r a d e “ A ” a c a d e m i c s
C H A R L E S T O N , S O U T H C A R O L I N A
E
By Michelle Salater
32 Elementary & High School 33 Public School Districts 34 Private Schools34 Colleges & Universities
38 undergraduate majors
4 graduate programs in bus iness , cr iminal jus t ice , educat ion and nurs ing educat ion
Serving t radi t ional and nontradi t ional s tudents
843-863-7050 • 800-947-7474 • www.char les tonsouthern.edu
P.O. Box 118087 • Char les ton, SC 29423-8087
Science buildingphoto by Sherry Atkinson
ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION
The Charleston area is com-prised of four public school dis-tricts: Berkeley County SchoolDistrict, Charleston County SchoolDistrict, and Dorchester CountySchool District Two and DistrictFour. More than 90,000 studentsare educated in 130 schools.Another 11,000 students attendthe 65 private and parochialschools in the region.
The Charleston County SchoolDistrict is divided into eightConstituent Districts. The districtseducate approximately 42,500Pre-K through 12th grade studentsin 47 elementary, 15 middle, 13high, and six multi-level schools.With more than 3,300 teachers,Charleston is the second largestschool system in South Carolinaand fourth largest employer in theregion. 54.1 percent of the region’steachers have advanced degrees,up from 52.8 percent. All four dis-tricts strive for educational excel-lence and each has distinguisheditself with a variety of achieve-ments and awards. In BerkeleyCounty, SAT scores continue toimprove. The composite score ofcollege bound seniors rose 58points over the past five years.More than 12,000 classroom com-puters have access to the Internet,making this one of the state’s mostup-to-date districts in currenttechnology. The district’s instruc-tional program combines provenbest practices and the necessaryteacher training to ensure curricu-lum effectiveness.
The district has set the standardin other areas as well: teacher eval-uation, career planning, and com-puter technology. In 2007, eighteengraduates-level courses wereoffered to Berkeley County teacherswhile many other workshops andstaff development activities werealso available. Its Teacher Forum isone of the most active in the stateand has served as a state model forleadership development. The $192million bond referendum that
passed in 1999 paid for the renova-tion of 17 schools and the buildingof three new schools. New buildingand renovation needs are currentlybeing addressed.
The Charleston County SchoolDistrict has embarked on a five-year, $365 million building pro-gram, which is seeing dramaticfacility improvements. When com-plete, the plan will include fournew high schools, two new ele-mentary schools, and numerousschool renovations and additions.The first of these new schools,West Ashley High School, openedin August 2001 and is consideredthe flagship facility in the district’sbuilding program.
Following the example of theState Department of Education, theCharleston County School Districthas embraced accountability as thekey to effective public education.The district’s commitment began in1998 when it became the first pub-lic school system in South Carolinato publish report cards about itsschools. In addition to providingquality education to CharlestonCounty students, the school districtstrives to remain an important partof the overall community throughprograms such as continuing edu-cation, the Gold Pass Club, parentresources, and emergency shelterlocations.
High expectations for all students,a quality teaching and support staff,and strong parental and communityinvolvement make DorchesterSchool District Two one of the lead-ing and fastest growing school dis-tricts in the state. The district servesmore than 20,400 students in 11elementary schools, six middleschools, and two high schools.District Two also operates theGivhans School, an adult educationcenter that received the U.S.Secretary of Education’s Award forthe Top Ten Adult EducationPrograms in the nation. The SouthCarolina Association of PublicCharter Schools presentedDorchester School District Two withthe Public Charter School District ofthe Year Award and, in 2005, named
E D U C A T I O N
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its assistant superintendent asSchool District Administrator ofthe Year. Money magazine alsoselected the district as one of thetop 100 school districts in thenation. More than 400 businesspartnerships and 2,500 volunteersin the district helped it earn thiscoveted designation. Five schoolsin Dorchester District Two havebeen named “Palmetto’s Finest”schools and three have been rec-ognized as National Blue RibbonSchools.
All schools in Dorchester Fourare accredited by the SouthernAssociation of Colleges andSchools. Serving approximately2,600 students in Pre-K throughAdult Education, the district hasthe highest percentage of teach-ers with advanced degrees andthe most per pupil expenditure.District Four offers gifted andtalented education, special needsservices, vocational training, anda wide array of core curricula and
extra-curricula programs, artisticand athletic programs. DistrictFour’s mission is to develop suc-cessful citizens in an environmentconducive to learning by provid-ing challenging experiences andpromoting character development.Challenging educational programsand utilization of availableresources make this mission a real-ity for its students.
Helping students prepare for lifeafter high school is imperative totheir success. Whether a high schoolsenior is bound for a two-year col-lege, a four-year college, or the workforce, he or she must possess theskills and abilities necessary forfuture success. The School-to-WorkTransition Act was passed in 1994 inrecognition of changing work forcedemands. It allows school districts toimplement a system that preparesstudents for the work force. A majorcomponent of the program is thefostering of partnerships betweenschools and businesses. Throughout
the region, businesses are workingwith students, teachers and adminis-trators to prepare students for thecareers of the future. School-to-Work initiatives give businesses theopportunity to work with localschools and prepare students forsuccessful careers. Employers bene-fit from an increased member ofqualified applicants.
Community involvements witharea schools are important to resi-dents. This commitment is evidentin bond referendums, classroomvolunteers, Junior Achievementprograms with area businesses,strong parent-teacher associationinvolvement, and the encourage-ment of student and resident partic-ipation in community service proj-ects. The Metro area also promotescontinuing education, as many ofthe region’s school districts sponsorclasses for adults. The course listhas everything from the art of cal-ligraphy to basic auto mechanics.
PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS
BERKELEY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT229 East Main St., Moncks Corner, SC 29461843.899.8600www.berkeley.k12.sc.us
CHARLESTON COUNTY PUBLICSCHOOL DISTRICT75 Calhoun St., Charleston, SC 29401843.937.6300www.ccsdschools.com
DORCHESTER COUNTY SCHOOLDISTRICT II102 Greenwave Blvd., Summerville, SC 29483843.873.2901www.dorchester2.k12.sc.us
DORCHESTER COUNTY SCHOOLDISTRICT IV500 Ridge St., St. George, SC 29477843.563.4535www.dorchester4.k12.sc.us
www.tridentacademy.com
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ADDITIONALLY, TRIDENT ACADEMY OFFERS:
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PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Approximately 11,200 studentsin the region are enrolled inprivate schools. The tri-countyarea has more than 65 private andparochial schools that providevarious options to students. For acomplete listing of private schoolscontact:
TRI-COUNTY ADMISSIONS COUNCILP.O. Box 1733, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29465www.chastac.org
ASHLEY HALL172 Rutledge Ave., Charleston, SC 29403843.720.2854www.ashleyhall.org
THE CHARLESTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL2234 Plainview Road, Charleston, SC 29414843.556.4480www.charlestonchristian.org
CHARLESTON COLLEGIATE2024 Academy Dr., John’s Island, SC 29455843.559.5506www.charlestoncollegiate.org
CHARLES TOWNE MONTESSORI SCHOOL56 Leinbach Dr., Charleston, SC 29407843.571.1140
DANIEL ISLAND ACADEMY300 Seven Farms Dr., Daniel Island, SC 29492843.971.5961www.danielislandacademy.com
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH SCHOOL OF CHARLESTON48 Meeting St., Charleston, SC 29401843.722.6646www.fbschool.org
MASON PREPARATORY SCHOOL56 Halsey Blvd., Charleston, SC 29401843.805.6015www.masonprep.org
PINEWOOD PREPARATORY SCHOOL1114 Orangeburg, Summerville, SC 29483843.376.0142www.pinewoodprep.com
PORTER-GAUD SCHOOL300 Albemarle Rd., Charleston, SC 29407843.556.3620www.portergaud.edu
TRIDENT ACADEMY1455 Wakendaw Rd., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464843.884.3494www.tridentacademy.com
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Higher education opportunitiesare offered at the undergraduateand graduate levels by eight insti-tutions. The Charleston’s area’s col-leges and universities stand at thehead of the class in the Southeast.More than 30,000 students takeadvantage of the educationalopportunities that the surroundinginstitutions have to offer, such asmedical and technical training,numerous levels of graduate andundergraduate programs and evenculinary arts degrees. Recently, theCitadel, a co-ed military college,was featured in Newsweek maga-zine as one of the nation’s 25hottest colleges.
Graduate programs for full andpart-time students, including mas-ters of business administration andteaching, are available fromCharleston Southern University,The Citadel, the College ofCharleston, the Medical Universityof South Carolina and WebsterUniversity.
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF THE BUILDING ARTS1362 McMillan Ave., Suite 102,Charleston, SC 29405843.577.5245www.buildingartscollege.us
CHARLESTON SCHOOL OF LAW81 Mary St., Charleston, SC 29403843.329.1000www.charlestonlawreview.org
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY9200 University Blvd.Charleston, SC 29406843.863.7050 www.charlestonsouthern.edu
THE CITADEL171 Moultrie St., Charleston, SC 29409843.255.3294www.citadel.edu
E D U C A T I O N
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COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON66 George St., Charleston, SC 29424843.953.5670www.cofc.edu
CULINARY INSTITUTE OF CHARLESTON AT TRIDENT TECHNICAL COLLEGEMain Campus, 7000 Rivers Ave., N. Charleston, SC 29406Palmer Campus, 66 Columbus StreetCharleston, SC 29403843.820.5090www.CulinaryInstituteofCharleston.com
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICALUNIVERSITY101 W. Hill Blvd., Bldg. 221, Charleston,SC 29404843.767.8912www.erau.edu
LIMESTONE COLLEGE4500 Leeds Ave., Suite 208, N. Charleston, SC 29405843.745.1100www.limestone.edu
MILLER-MOTTE TECHNICAL COLLEGE8085 Rivers Ave., N. Charleston, SC 29406843.574.0101www.mmtccharleston.com
THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA (MUSC)171 Ashley Ave., Charleston, SC 29425843.792.2300www.musc.edu
SOUTHERN WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY4055 Faber Place Dr., Suite 301,Charleston, SC 29405843.266.7981www.southernwesleyanucharleston.com
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY101 W. Hill Blvd., Charleston AFB, SC 29404843.552.7320http://wed.siu.edu/public/
SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE ATCHARLESTON4390 Belle Oaks Dr., Suite 200, N.Charleston, SC 29405843.554.7244www.spfldcol.edu
STRAYER UNIVERSITY5010 Wetland Crossing, N. Charleston, SC 29418843.746.5100www.strayer.edu
TRIDENT TECHNICAL COLLEGE7000 Rivers Ave., N. Charleston, SC 29406843.574.6111www.TridentTech.edu
VOORHEES COLLEGE6296 Rivers Ave., N. Charleston, SC 29406843.553.1175www.voorhees.edu/charleston
WEBSTER UNIVERSITY5300 International Blvd., N. Charleston, SC 29418843.760.1324www.webster.edu
C H A R L E S T O N , S O U T H C A R O L I N A
36 Welcome Char leston - www.WelcomeChar lestonSC.com Please recycle this publication
C
harleston’s health care industry provides economic stabil-ity throughout the region and the state. As one of thefastest growing sectors in the area, the industry employsan estimated 32,000 people locally. The economic impactof the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)
alone, the Metro area’s largest non-federal employer, is estimated at $2.3billion in both direct spending and the effect those dollars have as theymove through the economy.
By forming new partnerships and offering innovative services toresidents of the region, the area’s medical community is meeting thechallenge of a nationally growing restructuring movement throughoutthe health care industry.
HEALTH CAREq u a l i t y c a r e y o u c a n t r u s t
C H A R L E S T O N , S O U T H C A R O L I N A
C 38 Major Medical Facilities
38 Other Medical Services
38 Special Needs
Roper St. Francis cares for your family in countless ways
www.rsfh.com
Ginger has brought 2,652 babies into the world.
Mollie has helped 153 people walk again.
Dr. Moe has saved 4,526 lives.
Dr. Peterseim has mended 1,376 hearts.
Billie has held 805 cancer patients’ hands.
And Fr. Terry has said an endless numbers of prayers.
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H E A L T H C A R E
The Charleston region has morethan 2,000 physicians and 10 hos-pitals that provide the highest levelof patient care, with nationally rec-ognized service lines in advancedareas such as neonatal care andorgan transplantation.
Area hospitals include CharlestonMemorial Hospital, East CooperRegional Medical Center, MedicalUniversity of South Carolina,Ralph H. Johnson VeteransAdministration Medical Center,Roper St. Francis Hospital, TridentMedical Center, SummervilleMedical Center, and U.S. NavalRegional Medical Center.
The local medical community isanchored by a complex situatedwithin an eight-block area ofpeninsular Charleston. The MedicalUniversity of South Carolinadominates this medical hub, with acampus and teaching hospital thatemploy more than 10,000 peopleand six colleges that educate morethan 3,000 physicians, dentists,pharmacists, nurses, and otherhealth care specialists each year.
Nearby, Roper Hospital, the area’soldest health care facility, was estab-lished in 1850 as the first commu-nity hospital in the Carolinas.Roper Hospital and Bon Secours St.Francis Hospital are now unitedand form Roper St. Francis HealthCare System, the Lowcountry’s firstmulti-site health care system.
Also located within the hub arethe Ralph H. Johnson V.A. MedicalCenter and Charleston MemorialHospital. MEDUCARE, MUSC’smedical transport service, is avail-able around the clock to transportpatients who need immediate med-ical intervention as a result ofsevere, life-threatening or potential-ly disabling conditions. Dependingon the needs of those patients,MEDUCARE arranges emergencytransportation, using its helicopter,fixed wing airplane, or groundambulance services. It can alsomake arrangements with the U.S.Coast Guard’s Charleston base inemergency situations where a boatis needed.
MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITIES
Colleton Medical Center 501 Robertson Blvd., Walterboro, SC 29488843.549.2000www.colletonmedical.com
Bon Secour St. Francis Hospital2095 Henry Tecklenburg Drive, Charleston, SC 29414843.402.1118www.RSFH.com
East Cooper Regional Medical Center1200 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 843.881.0100www.eastcoopermedctr.com
Lowcountry Women’s Specialists9291 Medical Plaza Drive, N. Charleston, SC 29406843.797.3664www.lcwomensspecialists.com
Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)171 Ashley Ave., Charleston, SC 29425843.792.2300www.musc.edu
Moncks Corner Medical Center401 N. Love Oak Drive, Hwy. 17-AMoncks Corner, SC 29461843.761.8721www.tridenthealthsystem.com
MUSC Children’s Hospital165 Ashley Ave., Charleston, SC 29425843.792.1414www.musckids.com
MUSC Medical Center169 Ashley Ave., Charleston, SC 29425843.792.1414www.muschealth.com
Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center109 Bee St., Charleston, SC 29401843.577.5011www2.va.gov/directory/guide/facility.asp?id=28
Roper Hospital316 Calhoun St., Charleston, SC 29401843.724.2111www.RSFH.com
Summerville Medical Center295 Midland Parkway Summerville, SC 29485843.832.5000www.tridenthealthsystem.com
Trident Medical Center9330 Medical Plaza DriveN. Charleston, SC 29406843.797.7000www.tridenthealthsystem.com
U.S. Naval Hospital3600 Rivers Ave., N. Charleston, SC 29405843.743.3709www.nhchasn.med.navy.mil
OTHER MEDICAL SERVICES
Al-Anon Family Group and Al-Ateen762.6999
Alcoholics Anonymous Tri-countyIntergroup Office723.9633
American Cancer Society985.0930
American Heart Association853.1597
American Lung Association of South Carolina556.8451
American Red Cross764.2323
Berkeley Community Mental Health Center761.4649
Berkeley County Health Department723.0766
Carolina Children’s Charity554.6222
Charleston County Health Dept.746.3800
Charleston County MedicalSociety/Physicians Referral Service577.3613
Charleston/Dorchester CommunityMental Health Center852.3363
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation722.6460
Dept. of Alcohol and Other Drug AbuseServices of Charleston County958.3300
Dorchester County Commission onAlcohol and Drug Abuse871.4790
Dorchester County Dept. of Social Services821.0444
Gamblers Anonymous888.866.4427
Guardian Ad Litem Program958.4350
Hospice Health Services852.2177
Hospice of Charleston529.3100
The Kennedy Center577.9181
Lowcountry Aids Services747.2273
Lowcountry Intergroup of Overeaters Anonymous577.9499
March of Dimes/Birth DefectsFoundation Lowcountry Disease Division571.1776
Medical University of South CarolinaMeduline (Physicians Referral)792.2200
Narcotics Anonymous852.3001
Roper St. Francis Health CareAdvantage Senior Resource Center724.2489
Roper St. Francis Health CareHealthline (Physicians Referral Service)402.2273
Trident Physician &Healthfinders/Senior Friends797.3463
SPECIAL NEEDS
Association for the Blind723.6915
Charleston Area Alliance for the Mentally Ill727.6405
Disabled American Veterans-VA Hospital577.5011
Dorchester County Board ofDisabilities and Special Needs871.1285
Down Syndrome Association of the Lowcountry553.3725
Lowcountry Chapter of the S.C.Association of the Deaf852.4160
TDD Phone852.4162
Relay South Carolina (TelephoneCommunication for the deaf)800.676.3777
SC Protection & Advocacy for theHandicapped763.8571
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40 Welcome Char leston - www.WelcomeChar lestonSC.com Please recycle this publication
anked at #2 as a Top 10 travel destination in the U.S. byCondé Nast Traveler magazine readers. Charleston is atrove of natural beauty, culture and historic charm. Fromthe distinct architecture to the tranquility of the coastalwaterways, nowhere does past meet present as bewitch-
ingly as the Lowcountry.The splendor of roadways lined with moss-draped oak trees, beckoning
you to a forgotten time – when plantations stood majestically, the familiarclop of horse hooves against cobblestone penetrated the air – can warranta sigh of awe as you approach the Holy City. Primarily shaped by theintricate stems of the Atlantic Ocean weaving in and out of the region,the Southeast’s coastal jewel is a series of inlets, islands and peninsulasbound together by bridges, and the boats that traverse the aquatic trails.
QUALITY OF LIFEs o u t h e r n c h a r m a t i t s f i n e s t
C H A R L E S T O N , S O U T H C A R O L I N A
R 48 Culture & Entertainment
48 Arts & Museums
48 Shopping
48 Dining & Nightlife
49 Sports & Recreation
50 All About the Kids
52 Calendar of Events
Photo Above Right: © Bob Durand Jr.
By Alexandria Lorenzana
42 Welcome Char leston - www.WelcomeChar lestonSC.com
Delve deeper and find yourselfamidst a more elaborate design ofhistoric homes, art galleries, andantique shops. The area is an amal-gamation of old and new as today’sbusinesses are housed by struc-tures dating back centuries. Wherecolonists and pirates once roamed,is now frequented by entrepre-neurs, beachcombers, and a steadyinflux of visitors. Where historiclandmarks that give rich context tothe importance of “now” distin-guish the quality of life. Here isthat rare thing, a destinationhotspot growing by leaps andbounds thanks to a thriving com-munity where time is not meas-ured by minutes and corporate fig-ures but by the enjoyment ofstanding still.
“I’m going back to dignity andgrace. I’m going back toCharleston, where I belong,” wroteMargaret Mitchell. It is this dignityand grace that captivates visitorstime and again. Native or not, youwill always feel like you belong.Running deep in the heart ofCharleston are the roots of hospitality, a region whose time-honored tradition lives on throughthe smiling faces and genteel manner of the people.
CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT
The charm of Charleston revealsitself through exploring the elabo-rate design of streets that make uphistoric downtown, a mecca ofshops, galleries, theatres, and yearlyevents. Spoleto Festival USA is a17-day long event highlightinginternational drama, opera, dance,music, and visual arts (579.3100;www.spoletousa.org). Held annuallyin January, the CharlestonComedy Festival hosts some of thenation’s top comedic performersfor one weekend (853.6687;www.charlestoncomedyfestival.com).Charleston Fashion Week is afive-night celebration of the city’sflourishing fashion retail anddesign community (971.9811;www.charlestonfashionweek.com).Sneak a peak at the film industry’slatest premieres and previews at theCharleston International FilmFestival(817.1617;www.charleston-iff.com).The four-day event show-cases emerging filmmakers fromaround the globe featuring anima-tions, shorts, features, and docu-mentaries. If you prefer live theatre,check out the Footlight Players forunforgettable stage productionsseen nowhere else (20 Queen
Street, Downtown; 722.4487;www.footlightplayers.net). Locateddowntown, the Music Farm isopen seven days a week and hosts an eclectic blend of musicians from indie rock band Rilo Kiley to rapper Nas (32 Ann Street, Downtown; 577.6989; www.music-farm.com). Featured in Fox’s seventh season of American Idol,the North Charleston Coliseumseats 14,000 and has presented big-name performers such as Bruce Springsteen, Rascall Flattsand comedian Brian Regan(5001 Coliseum Drive; 529.5000;www.coliseumpac.com). Lesser knownbut equally revered musicians suchas Sister Hazel and Will Hoge headto The Windjammer for a more inti-mate venue (1008 Ocean Blvd., Isleof Palms; 886.8596; www.thewind-jammer.com).
ARTS & MUSEUMS
Surrounded by beauty unlikeanywhere else, how could you notfeel inspired? If you haven’tamassed a collection capturing thewonders of the Lowcountry, getstarted at the Charleston Center forPhotography where they featureworkshops in specialized topics,exhibits and lecture series (654King Street, Suite D, Downtown;577.0647; www.ccforp.org). Cultivatethe left side of your brain at theRedux Contemporary Arts Center.The non-for-profit organizationoffers classes and exhibits, foster-ing a creative environment forboth professional and buddingartists alike (136 St. Philip Street,Downtown; 722.0697; www.reduxs-tudios.org). Not ready to pick up abrush just yet? You can still appre-ciate the arts by attending thePalette and Palate Stroll orFine Art Annual hosted by theChar-leston Fine Art Dealers’ Asso-ciation (www.cfada.com). For moreretinal stimulation, stroll downthe one-mile section of MeetingStreet known as Charleston’sMuseum Mile and discover a confluence of six museums, fivenationally important historic
houses, four scenic parks, aRevolutionary War powder maga-zine, numerous historic houses of worship, and six historic publicbuildings including the Marketand City Hall (www.charlestons-museummile.org).
SHOPPING
Unearth your inner bookwormand peruse one-of-a-kind literarytreasures at All Books Companylocated in historic Summerville. The independent bookstore also hosts a number of book signings from regional and local authors (210 E 1st North Street; 871.2772;www.all-books.com). Undergoinga rapid revival, the Upper KingDistrict offers everything fromeclectic art to designer duds tocontemporary home furnishings.A hodgepodge of old and new, the bohemian chic section ofDowntown Charleston is home tosome of the area’s up-and-comingboutiques, as well as those thathave stood the test of time(www.upperkingdesigndistrict.com).
DINING & NIGHTLIFE
Newly opened and a quickly ris-ing heavy hitter in the Charlestondining scene, Bambu brings totown a touch of South Beach and awhole lot of Zen. From an extensivesushi selection to a thorough menufeaturing cuisine ranging fromChinese to Thai to Indonesian toVietnamese, the food is well-com-plemented by the bistro’s luxeAsian-contemporary décor. Diningoptions include a sushi bar, interiorbar, indoor/outdoor tables, patiobar, lush outdoor booths, or privatealcoves replete with coy fountains(604 Coleman Blvd., Mt. Pleasant;284.8229).
Mingle with locals and touristsat Poe’s Tavern, Sullivan’s Island’sneighborhood haunt. The popularbeach spot pays tribute to thespirit of Edgar Allan Poe. (2210Middle St.; 883.0083).
Courtesy Charleston Symphony Orchestra
Q U A L I T Y O F L I F E
The Charleston Symphony Orchestra.
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SPORTS & RECREATION
Sports fans get ready! Charleston’ssports entertainment continues yearround and offers everything fromprofessional and college sports toroad races, surfing contests to fishing tournaments. In addition to local sporting events, manynational event organizers choosethis area as its premiere sports destination due to Charleston’s mildclimate, desirable location, andfaithful sports enthusiasts.
A professional soccer and hockeyleague and minor league baseballteam all call Charleston home. TheBattery, Charleston’s A-LeagueDivision II professional soccerteam, is the highest level of profes-sional sports played in theLowcountry. Catch their gamesApril through early September atBlackbaud Stadium on DanielIsland. The Charleston RiverDogs, aminor league baseball team, is aClass A farm team of the New YorkYankees. The RiverDogs play at theJoseph P. Riley, Jr. Park from Aprilthrough September. The SouthCarolina Stingrays, a professionalice hockey team, average a league-leading attendance of more than6,500 fans at each game. See theStingrays plan at the NorthCharleston Coliseum from Octoberthrough April.
Female athletes also leave theirmark here in the Charleston area.The world’s top female tennis play-ers, including Venus and SerenaWilliams and Svetlana Kuznetsova,complete in the Family Circle CupTennis Tournament in April. As theoldest Tier 1 event in the UnitedStates and one of the sport’s signa-ture events, the tournament is tele-vised on ESPN 2 and Eurosport inselect European markets. Over afour-day period, thousands of peo-ple at the event and millions of tel-evision viewers across the countryand around the globe watch thetournament unfold. This excitingevent made its Charleston debut inApril 2001 in the state-of-the-artFamily Circle Tennis Center onDaniel Island.
The Citadel Bulldogs, theCollege of Charleston Cougars,and the Charleston SouthernUniversity Buccaneers invite thecommunity to take part in theirexciting collegiate sports as well.
RECREATION INFORMATIONWith a mild average temperature
of 65 degrees, the southern climateallows for plenty of enjoyable outdoor activities and recreation.Many beautiful historic landmarks,plantations, and county park facili-ties are available to residents and visitors; beach parks with board-walks, lifeguards and amenities,and nature-oriented parks withbikes, boats, trails, camping facili-ties, playgrounds, and more are alsoperfect for family fun.
GOLF AND TENNISCharleston golf offers variety and
challenges in beautiful surround-ings, which makes the Charleston’sarea a top pick for golfers. KiawahIsland’s five golf courses, includingone designed by golf legend JackNicklaus, are definite spots on theitinerary for Metro area golf lovers.Most famous on Kiawah is theOcean Course, which gained inter-national attention in 1991 when ithosted the famous Ryder Cup.More than 20,000 visitors watchedas the U.S. regained the prestigiousRyder Cup. Since then, the OceanCourse has hosted the World Cupof Golf in 1997 and the 43rd WorldCup in 2003. The Ocean Coursealso hosted the 68th Senior PGAChampionship in 2007.
The Wild Dunes Resort on theIsle of Palms is home to twoworld-class 18-hole championshipcourses designed by Tom Fazio.Golf magazine and Golf Digest ranksthe Links Course among the Top100 in America and the World.Equally challenging is the HarborCourse, which lies amongst theIntracoastal Waterway.
For tennis lovers, the FamilyCircle Tennis Center on DanielIsland includes 17 championshiptennis courts (13 clay and fourhard). The courts are open year
round and lighted for night play.Charleston area resorts provide
blue-chip tennis facilities, andmany public tennis courts and pri-vate clubs are also available.
HUNTINGWithin the metro area, lies the
250,000-acre Francis MarionNational Forest, one of theSoutheast’s leading wildlifereserves. The Metro area, a SouthCarolina Game Zone 6, offershunters a myriad of popular gamespecies such as white-tailed deer,feral hogs, wild turkeys, ducks,rabbit, and squirrels.
For more information on huntingand fishing regulations, seasonalinformation and obtaining licenses,contact the South Carolina Wildlife& Marine Resources Division at843.795.6350 or the SouthCarolina Department of NaturalResources at 843.762.5000.
BEACHES AND WATER SPORTSWith 90 miles of coastline and
171,000 acres of fresh water lakes,water sports are one of the mostpopular activities in the Charlestonmetro area. Charleston’s beautifulwaters are perfect for skiing, jetskiing, scuba diving, deep-sea fish-ing, parasailing, and swimming.Surfing remains a popular sport inthe Lowcountry. Check out theSouth Carolina surf contests onFolly Beach!
The fresh water of Lakes Marionand Moultrie in Berkeley Countyand the salt water rivers and creeksof the Atlantic Ocean are a fisher-man’s paradise. There are morethan 15 local marinas packed yearround with everything fromschooners to yachts, and a feweven sponsor fishing tournamentsthroughout the year. Boat andkayak rentals are available, as wellas private sailing charters and les-sons. In-shore and off-shore fish-ing charters offer half-day, full-day,and overnight trips.
PUBLIC• Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island
• Edisto Beach, Edisto Island
• Folly Beach County Park, Folly Beach
• Isle of Palms County Park
• Sullivan's Island
PRIVATE (Resort guests and residents only)
• Wild Dunes on Isle of Palms• Kiawah Island• Seabrook Island
RUNNINGThe great climate, flat terrain
and beautiful surroundings makeCharleston a perfect spot for jog-gers and serious runners. Withnumerous trails and paths at localparks, the Battery and beaches, theCharleston area accommodatesthose who want to
C H A R L E S T O N , S O U T H C A R O L I N A
photo by Mike Saia
O.A.R. in concert at Family Circle Magazine Stadium, 2007.
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Q U A L I T Y O F L I F E
pursue this type of active lifestyle.The area hosts many annual roadraces that attract both tourists andresidents alike: The Cooper RiverBridge Run 10K run typically heldthe first Saturday in April, hostsmore than 35,000 people annual-ly; the Kiawah Marathon includesa marathon, half marathon and 5Krace in December; the DanielIsland Duathlon with a 5K run, 20-mile bike race and 5K run is inApril. Other annual races inCharleston include the Susan B.Komen Race for the Cure, Isle ofPalms Connector Run and Walk,Turkey Day 5K, and Reindeer Run.
For more information on localraces, visit www.charlestonrun-ningclub.com.
SPORTS & RECREATION CONTACT INFORMATION
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS
Charleston Battery Soccer843.971.GOALwww.charlestonbattery.com
Charleston RiverDogs Baseball843.723.7241www.riverdogs.com
Family Circle Cup Women’s Professional Tennis843.856.7900www.familycirclecup.com
SC Stingrays Hockey843.744.2248www.stingrayshockey.com
COLLEGE SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS
Charleston Southern University Athletics Department843.863.7678http://csusports.athleticsite.com
College of Charleston Athletics Department843.953.8254www.cofcsports.com
The Citadel Athletics Department843.953.5121www.citadelsports.com
STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL PARKS AND OFFICES
Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission843.762.2172www.ccprc.com
City of Charleston Department of Recreation843.724.7327www.ci.charleston.sc.us
Hanahan Recreation Department843.529.3411www.cityofhanahan.com
Isle of Palms Recreation Department843.886.8294www.iop.net
Kiawah Island Community AssociationRecreation Department843.768.3875www.kiawah-owners.org
Moncks Corner Recreation Department843.719.7900www.townofmonckscorner.sc.gov
Mt. Pleasant Recreation Department843.884.2258www.mtpleasantrec.com
North Charleston Recreation Department843.745.1028www.northcharleston.org
Community CentersBerkeley County Family YMCA843.761.9622
Charleston Jewish Community Center843.571.6565
Summerville Family YMCA843.832.4792
Summerville YMCA Gymnastics Center843.821.2727
ALL ABOUTTHE KIDSIt doesn’t take long to figure outthat the Charleston region is kid-friendly. There are so many placesto go and things to do, you’ll neverwant for something to do on asunny day...or a rainy one!
CLUBS FOR KIDS
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Carolina Youth Development Center .................266.5230
Boy Scouts of America, Coastal Carolina Council..........763.0305
Carolina Lowcountry Girl Scouts ..................................552.9910
4-H Clubs – Berkeley County ........................572.0290
4-H Clubs – Charleston County .....................722.5940
4-H Clubs – Dorchester County ....................847.1702
ACTIVITIES
Carolina Ice Palace...................572.2717
Gibbes MuseumStudio Program ..........................722.2706
Gymboree Play and Music ......881.0996
Lowcountry Little League Baseball, Inc. ...............................559.0539
Mt. Pleasant Recreation Center .....................849.2061
Music in Motion Family Fun Center......................832.6077
Parents and Childen Together ......................................769.5799
Ready, Set, Jump.......................971.8109
Stroller Strides ...........................442.7438
Wee Little Arts ...........................766.2738
AMUSEMENT PARKS
Exchange Park/Coastal Carolina Fairground572.3161 • www.coastalcarolinafair.org
FRANKIE’S FUN PARK767.1376 • www.frankiesfunpark.com
BOWLING ALLEYS
AMF Charleston Lanes .............766.0241
Ashley Lanes, Inc. .....................766.9061
Sandpiper Bowling Lanes........552.8530
Twin River Lanes .......................884.7735
MINIATURE GOLF
Classic Golf.................................881.3131
MOVIE THEATRES
Charles Towne Square 18 ........529.1946
Citadel Mall 6 .............................763.7052
James Island 8...........................795.9499
Movies at Mt. Pleasant ............884.4900
Northwoods Mall 8....................569.6794
Palmetto Grande........................216.8696
South Windermere Cinemas ....556.1073
Terrace Theatre .........................762.9494
MUSEUMS
The Charleston Museum..........722.2996
The Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry ......................853.8962
NATURE PRESERVES AND PARKS
Edisto Nature Trail.....................871.5000
Francis Beidler Forest ..............462.2150
James Island County Park .......795.7275
Palmetto Island County Park .....884.0832
Wannamaker County Park .......572.7275
Waterfront Park(Charleston Harbor) ......................958.6484
PAINT YOUR OWN POTTERY
Creative Spark Center for the Arts ....................881.3780
Kiln Time......................................856.4811
ATTRACTIONS
Charles Towne Landing ............852.4200
Cypress Gardens .......................553.0515
Folly Beach Fishing Pier ...........588.FISH
Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter ................................883.3123
Fort Sumter Cruises ..................722.1691
Magnolia Plantaton & Audubon Swamp Garden.........571.1266
Middleton Place ........................556.6020
Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon .......................727.2165
Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum .....................884.2727
Sewee Visitor & Environmental Education Center .......................928.3368
PUBLIC BEACHES
Beachwalker Park (Kiawah) .....768.2395
Folly Beach .................................588.2426
Isle of Palms .............................886.DUNE
Sullivan’s Island .........................883.3198
SWIMMING INSTRUCTION
City of Charleston Recreation ..................................795.5756
Danny Jones Recreation Complex..................745.1033
Mt. Pleasant Recreation Department ............884.2528
Northwoods Pool.......................572.5410
YMCA Summerville ...................871.9622
WATER PARKS
Adventure Water Park..............572.7275
Splash Island..............................884.0832
Splash Zone................................795.7275
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CALENDAROF EVENTSFEBRUARY 2010
12-14 • SOUTHEASTERN WILDLIFEEXPOSITIONDowntown Charleston843.723.1748 • www.sewe.comCharleston goes wild in celebration of thebeautiful world of nature. The 27th annualSoutheastern Wildlife Exposition is held ata variety of venues throughout downtown.
20 • 6TH ANNUAL MARDI CRAWLRed’s Ice House, Mount Pleasant2-7 p.m.www.lcparrotheads.org/MardiCrawl.php"Crawl" from Red's Ice House to R.B.'sSeafood Restaurant to Vickery's Bar & Grillto Water's Edge Restaurant to Shem CreekBar & Grill and end up back at Red's IceHouse, where Parrothead hosts will belocated at designated locations withineach restaurant to reward participantswith prizes and gifts, and a chance to buyadditional raffle tickets. Red’s Ice Housewill host an after-party starting at 8 p.m.with live music. Benefits the SouthCarolina Chapter of the Alzheimer’sAssociation. Advance registration is $20,day of event is $25. One (1) raffle ticket isincluded with each registration.
21 • 11TH ANNUAL CHEFS’ FEASTLocation TBD843.747.8146www.lowcountryfoodbank.orgHelp raise the much needed funds for KidsCafe and BackPack Buddies. Led by ChefRobert Carter of Peninsula Grill, theLowcountry’s most acclaimed chefs willonce again join together to fight childhoodhunger and celebrate an evening of exqui-site food and quality entertainment.
25-28 • FOURTH ANNUALFRIENDSHIP CUPKiawah Island Resort, Kiawah Island843.265.3644 • 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.www.kiawahresort.comKiawah hosts this two-man tournament formale amateur players. Participants enjoylavish receptions, hospitality rooms and anew and unique dinner reception at TheSanctuary, as well as an array of fantasticprizes during this three-day event.
MARCH 2010
4-7 • BB&T CHARLESTON WINE +FOOD FESTIVALDowntown Charleston843.722.5547www.charlestonwineandfood.comCelebrate Charleston’s local color, flavor,and widely recognized culinary savoir faireat the fourth Charleston Wine + FoodFestival. Participants experienceCharleston’s rich cultural heritage throughindigenous cuisine, paired with fine winesfrom vineyards around the world. Selectedby the Southeast Tourism Society as aTop 20 Event.
16-20 • FOURTH ANNUALCHARLESTON FASHION WEEKMarion Square & surrounding areas,Downtown CharlestonHosted by Charleston Magazine,Charleston Fashion Week is a five-nightcelebration of the city’s flourishing retailand design community featuring runwayshows from local retailers, the bridalcouture show, and the debut of emergingregional designers in the southeast.Selected by the Southeast Tourism Societyas a Top 20 Event.
17 • CHARLESTON’S ANNUAL ST.PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATIONDowntown Charleston843.556.3578 • 8 a.m.Sponsored annually by the Knights ofColumbus and local Irish societies, thisannual celebration begins at 8 a.m. with amass at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church,followed by a parade on King Street, Irishflag raising at City Hall, and Irish lunch-eon/entertainment at Knights of ColumbusHall. Free and open to all, Irish or not.
19-21 • CHARLESTON INTERNATIONALANTIQUES SHOWEast Bay Street, Downtown Charleston843.722.3405 •www.historiccharleston.orgFeaturing more than 30 of the nation'smost prominent antiques dealers, CIAS2010 will include a wide range of periodfurnishings and decorative arts, vintagejewelry, porcelains, ceramics, silver andarchitectural garden accents from the late17th to the early 20th century.
20 • 14TH ANNUAL TOWN OF MT.PLEASANT ARTFEST WITH TOWNCENTREMount Pleasant Towne Centre,Mount Pleasant843.884.8517 • 12-4 p.m.www.townofmountpleasant.comA joint festival with Towne Centre tocelebrate the arts in Mount Pleasant. Liveentertainment, performing arts, juried artexhibit, Mount Pleasant Artists Guildentries, roving entertainment, games,fun for kids. Free admission and parking.
26-28 • SUMMERVILLE FAMILY YMCAFLOWERTOWN FESTIVALAzalea Park, Summerville843.871.9622www.summervilleymca.org/flowertownThis annual event is the largest arts andcrafts festival in the state. It’s a family-oriented three-day event held each springand is set against the backdrop of bloom-ing azaleas. Free admission.
27 • 33RD ANNUAL COOPER RIVERBRIDGE RUNMt. Pleasant843.792.1586 • www.bridgerun.com10K/6.2-mile run and walk begins inMt. Pleasant and ends in downtownCharleston.
28 • LOWCOUNTRY CAJUN FESTIVALJames Island County Park843.795.4386 • noon to 6 p.m.www.ccprc.comLaissez les bons temps rouler! Enjoy a full-day of Zydeco music, Cajun and Creolefoods, children’s activities and all aroundragin’ Cajun entertainment! Adults $10, 12and under/Gold Pass holders free.
APRIL 2010
1-4 • CHARLESTON 3RD ANNUALFILM FESTIVALTerrace Theater, Maybank Highway843.817.1617 • www.charlestoniff.comThe 3rd Annual Charleston InternationalFilm Festival will host film premieres,parties and panels.
1-DEC. 31 • THE CIVIL WARSESQUICENTENNIALFort Sumter/Fort Moultriehttp://salontest.bravehost.com/rosen.htmlThe Fort Sumter/Fort Moultrie Trust (theTrust) Coordinating Committee’s missionwould be to coordinate the commemora-tion of the Civil War during theSesquicentennial years 2010-2015; topromote through commemorative pro-grams, educational events, re-enactmentslectures, and other events, knowledgeabout the Civil War and American historyand the importance of the Civil War inAmerican history.
3 • THE HAT LADIES EASTERPROMENADEDowntown Charleston843.762.6679 • 11 a.m. to noonwww.hatladies.orgOnly in Charleston! Elegant Ladies,gentlemen, children, and pets strolling intheir spring finery reflecting the grace andgentility of the City. Take your camera anda ringside seat along Meeting, betweenBroad and White Point Gardens. Free.
13-OCT. 19 • MOUNT PLEASANTFARMERS MARKETMount Pleasant Farmers Market PavilionTuesdays, 3 p.m. to darkwww.townofmountpleasant.comExplore a treasure trove of fruits, vegeta-bles, flowers, preserves, dips, breads,pies, and numerous other delectabletreats. Savor a fresh meal by one of theirresistible food vendors while enjoyinglive music. Also available for your assis-tance are the Clemson Extension MasterGardeners who can help solve most peskygardening problems.
15-18 • FAMILY CIRCLE CUPFamily Circle Magazine Stadium, Daniel Island800.677.2293 • www.familycirclecup.comAs one of South Carolina’s premiere tennisevents, the Family Circle Cup has calledCharleston home since 2001.
16-18 • EAST COAST CANOE ANDKAYAK FESTIVALJames Island County Park843.795.4FUN • www.ccprc.comImmerse yourself in a full weekend of thehistory, technique, hands-on experience,and fun of canoeing and kayaking. TheEast Coast Canoe & Kayak Festival willinclude lectures, on-water classes, anddemonstrations directed to the novice andthe experienced paddler.
16-18 • 23RD ANNUAL WORLDGRITS FESTIVALSt. George843.563.7943 www.worldgritsfestival.comVisitors can enjoy a parade, live music,cloggers, good grits meals and more! Thefestival highlights the Rolling in the Gritscompetition. A kiddie pool is filled withcooked grits and contestants dive in andcoat themselves with as much grits aspossible in 10 seconds to win $75.
17 • GAME, SET, ROCK! TENNIS.AMPLIFIED.Family Circle Tennis Stadium, Daniel Island843.856.7900 • 7 p.m.www.familycirclecup.comFeaturing John McEnroe, Jim Courier, AnnaKournikova and a fourth player, to beannounced, participating in singles andmixed doubles action. The Blue Dogs,Charleston’s favorite country, bluegrass, androots-rock sons, will entertain the crowdthroughout the event, and will conclude theevening with a special performance.
25 • 23ND ANNUAL TOWN OF MT.PLEASANT BLESSING OF THE FLEETAND SEAFOOD FESTIVALAlhambra Hall & Park, Mt. Pleasant843.849.2061 • 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.This seafood festival celebrates the histor-ical Mt. Pleasant shrimping industry withthe ceremonial blessing of the fleet.
30-MAY 2 • GOURMET & GRAPES 2010Kiawah Island Resort, Kiawah Islandwww.kiawahresort.comSecond annual weekend of fine food andwine assembling some of the country'sfinest culinary masters and winemakersfor three days. Includes a Gala Dinner fea-turing a pairing of a renowned chef and anexquisite vintner, a full day of cooking andwine demonstrations, and finishes with aspectacular Wine Odyssey with food pre-pared by the region's best chefs, liveentertainment and a live and silent auc-tion. Raises funds and awareness that willbenefit the Medical University of SouthCarolina, (MUSC), Hollings Cancer Center.
30-MAY 8 • NORTH CHARLESTONARTS FESTIVALNorth Charleston843.745.1087 • www.northcharleston.orgThe fabulous nine-day celebration of thearts draws over 30,000 visitors each year.Concerts, theater and dance performances,children’s programs, literary events, andmulti-cultural block parties are just someof the offerings during the Festival Week.
Q U A L I T Y O F L I F E
Welcome Char leston - www.WelcomeChar lestonSC.com 47
MAY 2010
TBD • 2010 GREEK FESTIVALGreek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity,Downtown Charleston843.577.2063 Highlights at this year’s festival includeBouturi wine tastings, church tours, livemusic, folk dances, and food & pastries.
2 • UNITED ARTISTS FOR HOPEThe Navy Yard at Noisette, North Charleston843.216.0442 • 4 p.m.www.projectokurase.orgA family-oriented, eco-friendly festival,will feature a variety of musical acts, chil-dren's area, arts and crafts, Africanbazaar, dancing and drumming workshops,plus much more. The sole purpose of theevent is to raise awareness about ProjectOKURASE's work in Ghana to save chil-dren from the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africaand to raise money for a sustainable, safewater treatment system through a partner-ship with Water Missions International.
8, 22 • SHAGGIN’ ON THE COOPERWaterfront Memorial Park, Mount Pleasant843.795.4386 • 7 p.m.www.ccprc.comDance the night away under the stars,while enjoying live classic oldies andbeach music. Beverages will be availablefor purchase on-site. Live music begins at8 p.m. Additional dates: 6/19, 7/10, 8/28,9/11, 10/9
28-JUN. 3 • PICCOLO SPOLETODowntown Charlestonwww.piccolospoleto.comFor 17 days, Piccolo Spoleto transformsCharleston into an exhilarating celebrationof performing, literary and visual arts.Piccolo Spoleto’s traditional program offer-ing include visual arts exhibits, classicalmusic, jazz dance, theatre, poetry readings,children’s activities, choral music, ethniccultural presentations, crafts, and films.
28-JUN. 3 • SPOLETO FESTIVAL USADowntown Charleston843.579.3100 • www.spoletousa.orgAmerica’s premiere arts festival offersboth traditional and contemporary worksof opera, chamber, choral and symphonicmusic, jazz, theater, ballet, classical andcontemporary modern dance as well asworks of literature and visual arts.
JUNE 2010
5 • ANNUAL SWEETGRASS CULTURALARTS FESTIVALWaterfront Memorial Park, Mount Pleasant843.856.9732 • 10 a.m.-5 p.m.www.sweetgrassfestival.orgEnjoy a variety of Gullah Geechee skits,gospel groups, storytelling, folklore, musicand dance performed by local entertainers.It is the largest showcase of diversifiedsweetgrass baskets in the Lowcountry.The festival provides a family fun atmos-phere with jump castles, water slides,face painting along with an array of chil-dren’s arts and craft. Authentic Lowcountrycuisine will be provided by local restau-rants and food vendors.
18-20 • CHARLESTON HARBOR FESTCharleston Maritime Center, Downtown Charleston843.722.1030 www.charlestonharborfest.orgA family-oriented celebration of land, airand sea. Visit tall ships, along with thePalmetto State’s very own Spirit of SouthCarolina for deck tours. An array of excit-ing activities suited for all ages includes apirate camp offering a look back to thedays of Blackbeard, along with regularcannon blasts and a daily children’s pirateparade. On Saturday and Sunday, a FamilyBoatbuilding Workshop takes place wherefamilies will construct their own woodenboats. There will be a Wooden BoatDisplay where visitors can vote for theirfavorite craft. Visitors will also have theopportunity to take a free sailing lesson.The Air Show takes place on Saturday andSunday featuring aerobatic flight demosand other exciting aerial attractions.
19 • CHARLESTON CARIFESTCARNIVAL STREET PARADE ANDPARK FESTIVALBrittle Bank Park, Downtown Charleston843.856.9732 • 2-9:30 p.m.www.charlestoncarifest.comCultural festival in the park that includessteel bands, Reggae/Soca Music,Caribbean dancers, Indian dancers,Caribbean food, drink, crafts, and more!$5 advance tickets, $10 at gate.
JULY 2010
4 • PATRIOTS POINT 4TH OF JULY BLASTPatriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum,Mt. Pleasant843.884.2727 • www.patriotspoint.orgStarts at 5 p.m. Free admission.
4 • RED, WHITE AND BLUE ON THEGREENDowntown Summerville843.821.7260 • www.summervilledream.orgEnjoy an old fashioned Independence DayCelebration with music, food, a fun paradeand spectacular fireworks display!From 4-7 p.m.
7-10 • 7TH ANNUAL HMY-VIKINGMEGADOCK TOURNAMENTCharleston City Marina843.278.4920www.megadocktournament.comThe fourth event of five in the famedSouth Carolina Governor’s Cup BillfishingSeries.
16 • PALETTE & PALATE STROLLDowntown Charleston843.819.8006 • 5:30-7:30 p.m.www.cfada.comHosted by the Charleston Fine Art Dealers’Association, the annual Palette & PalateStroll features an array of art created bynationally and internationally renownedartists at the city’s most prominent gal-leries, paired with fine cuisine prepared bya variety of Charleston’s prestigious chefs.
C H A R L E S T O N , S O U T H C A R O L I N A
To order, call or click today! 843-763-5284 orwww.jlcharleston.org.
Also available in various retail locations throughout the area.
When you purchase cookbooks from the Junior League of Charleston,Inc., you not only receive award-winning tried and true recipes, butyou support your community.
Proceeds from the sale directly benefit the following Junior League of Charleston community service programs:
Boys and Girls Clubs of the Trident AreaChildren's Museum of the Lowcountry • Gibbes Museum of ArtLouie's Kids • Lowcountry Food Bank
$19.95
$19.95
$19.95 $13.95
Tempt Your Taste Buds... and Feed the Hungry!
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C H A R L E S T O N , S O U T H C A R O L I N A
MOVING AND STORAGE TIPSWhen moving to a new home, select aProfessional REALTOR® who will help yousell your old house and purchase a newone. The members of the Charleston TridentAssociation of REALTORS® are experts inthe Charleston Metro area and its housingmarket. These professionals will analyzeyour needs and locate a home for yourfamily. www.CharlestonRealtors.com
PRE-MOVE ACTIVITIES•Confirm hotel and travel arrangements inadvance.•Check interstate regulations concerning transportation of pets and plants.•Send out change of address notices to thepost office, credit card companies, banks,charge accounts, the State Department ofMotor Vehicles, insurance companies, andmagazines.•Arrange to have all utilities disconnect-ed. Obtain any deposits and letters ofcredit from power and phone companies.•Close or transfer personal checking andsavings accounts. Buy travelers checks.Empty safety deposit boxes.
EXPENSES AND TAXESReview IRS procedures for claiming taxdeductions on your moving expenses. Theprovisions of Schedule A – ItemizedDeductions, Form 1040 – allow employeesand self-employed persons to deduct cer-tain moving expenses if the move is jobrelated. To qualify for these deductions,your new workplace must be at least 50miles further from your old home than yourold home was from your former workplace.If you meet the IRS deduction require-ments, call the local IRS office and requestPublication 521, Moving Expenses. The fol-lowing can be deducted:
RELOCATION INFORMATION
•Cost of moving household goods andpersonal effects from a former home to anew home.•Travel and lodging expenses incurredduring the move to a new home.•Cost of moving household goods andpersonal effects to and from storage.•Cost of storing household goods and per-sonal effects while at the new job location.
PACKING TIPS• Organize and label all boxes for contents and designate where they will go in the new home.
• Empty gas out of any power tools and dispose of all volatile and corrosive chemicals.
• Clean and defrost the refrigerator and freezer. Place several pieces of charcoal in the freezer to prevent mold and mildew.
• Pack all essential items – house keys, medical and dental records, school transcripts, insurance policies, credit cards, bills and tax records – in a safe and easily accessible location.
• Moving company fees are based on shipment weight so dispose of any unwanted items.
• Tools and personal items – pain relievers, can openers, hammer, silverware, paper plates, screwdriver, flashlight and batteries, soap, toilet paper, and scissors – can be lifesavers in a new home.
Welcome Char leston - www.WelcomeChar lestonSC.com 49
STEPS TO HIRING A MOVING COMPANY
PREPARING FOR THE MOVE•Compare the cost and convenience ofmoving yourself to hiring a moving company.•Most transport companies give a freeestimate based on the distance of themove and the amount of cargo hauled.•Generally, the actual cost of a move iscalculated on the weight of your shipment.•Take inventory of all items being moved.If the moving company damages yourbelongings, a record is needed in order tofile a claim.
CONFIRM PICKUP AND ARRIVAL DATES IN ADVANCE•Find a mover that guarantees pickup anddelivery dates. This should be a part of thecontract signed with the mover.
LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE•Make sure liability insurance coverage isincluded in the moving contract. Mostcompanies will insure the shipment for aspecified limit. For a copy of Your Rightsand Responsiblities, a free pamphlet published by The Interstate Commerce Commission, a federal regulatory agencyfor interstate moves, contact the following:ICC Office of Compliance and ConsumerAssistance, Washington, DC 20423
NEWCOMER SERVICERelocating is often a scary process.Charleston’s Welcome Wagon reaches outto newly relocated families andindividualsto help them adjust to the new area. TheWelcome Wagon specifically caters tohomebuyers and provides new homeown-ers with a personal address book contain-ing recommended area businesses. TheWelcome Wagon also customizes the infor-mation for homebuyers depending onwhere they have settled in the Charlestonarea. For more information about theaddress book or to learn how to become asponsor of Welcome Wagon, call1.800.WELCOME.
TEMPORARY LODGINGArea accommodations range from theHistoric District’s quaint bed-and-breakfastinns to economy extended stay motels toopulent beachfront resorts. Even with some11,000 hotel/motel and inn rooms in theMetro area, it is advisable to make advancereservations. For a complete listing of areaaccommodations and room rates contact:
CHARLESTON AREA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU423 King Street, Charleston, S.C. 29403853.8000, toll free 800.868.8118www.charlestoncvb.com
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCELocal chambers of commerce provideinformation to aid new residents. Kits areavailable from the following chambers:
BERKELEY COUNTY CHAMBER OFCOMMERCENesbitt House, 1004 Old Hwy. 52Moncks Corner, S.C. 29461761.8238, 577.9549 or 800.882.0337www.berkeleysc.org
CHARLESTON METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE2750 Speissegger Drive, #100, Charleston, S.C. 29405577.2510www.charlestonchamber.net
GREATER SUMMERVILLE/DORCHESTER COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE402 North Main St., P.O. Box 670,Summerville, S.C. 29484873.2931www.gsdcchamber.org
UTILITY CONNECTIONSBoth private companies and governmentalagencies provide utility services to theMetro area. Services can be subscribed toby phone or in person.
TELEPHONE SERVICE• BellSouth provides telephone service tocustomers in most of Charleston andDorchester counties, in addition to ruralareas located in Berkeley County.• Deposits for home telephone servicescan vary depending on your individualcredit rating and type of services ordered.Often deposits are waived for customerswith an excellent payment record with aprevious phone carrier.• To place an order for residential servicewith BellSouth, contact 780-2355.
SEVERAL REGIONAL CARRIERS PROVIDE TELEPHONE SERVICE TOOUTLYING AREAS:
HOME TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC.579 Stoney Landing RoadMoncks Corner, S.C. 29461843.761.9166(Area includes most of Berkeley Countyand portions of Dorchester County)
C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E > >
reservationservice and rentalsFully FurnishedMonthly, TemporaryStays Available
Carriage Houses, PrivateHomes, and LuxuryApartments within theHistoric District
Bed and BreakfastReservations
57 Broad Street, Charleston, SC
843.722.66061.800.743.3583
www.historiccharlestonbedandbreakfast .com
*Offer good from 11/1/09–12/31/10. Design Studio Options cannot exceed $500 in value. Design Studio options and savings vary per community and home plan. Not all options are available in every home. Pricing, features and availability subject to change without notice. Additional restrictions may apply. See New Home Counselor for complete details. 12/09 79015
Beazer.com888-623-2937
An added bonus to your benefits package.
Homes from the mid $100s. Introduce your newest hires to a homebuilder who’s thinking about the future just as much as your company. Beazer Homes is an innovative homebuilder offering eSMART high performance homes, engineered for cost savings, energy efficiency and comfort.
Bring this ad in for $500 in Design Center Options.*
High Performance Homes from the mid $100s
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< < R E L O C A T I O N I N F O R M A T I O N C O N T I N U E D F R O M P R E V I O U S P A G E
TDS TELECOM – MCCLELLANVILLE1130 Hwy. 45McClellanville, S.C. 29458843.887.3201(Area includes McClellanville andAwendaw)
TDS TELECOM– ST. STEPHEN3897 Byrnes Dr.P.O. Box 128, St. Stephen, S.C. 29479843.567.3111(Area includes Bonneau, Pineville, and St. Stephen)
GARBAGE REMOVAL• Municipalities provide garbage disposalto homes in the Metro region.• The cost of disposal is levied in yourtaxes or included in water and sewerservice fees.• Several isolated rural areas depend onprivate garbage collection services.
CONTACT THE FOLLOWING CITYAND TOWN DEPARTMENTS FORINFORMATION ON GARBAGECOLLECTION SERVICES:
City of Charleston.........................724.3754 Public Service Department
Berkeley County ...........................761.8817 Water & Sanitation
Hanahan Public Works .................529.3413 & Sanitation Department
Isle of Palms.................................886.8956 Office of Public Works
James Island ................................795.9060 Public Service Department
Mt. Pleasant .................................849.2022 Public Service Department
City of North Charleston ..............745.1026 Public Works & Sanitation
St. Andrew’s Public Service .........556.6310 District Commission
Sullivan’s Island Town Hall ..........883.3198
Summerville..................................871.6000 Street Department
WATER
BERKELEY COUNTY
Berkeley County ...........................572.4400 Water & Sanitation Authority
City of Goose Creek......................824.2200
Jamestown Water Department ...257.2233
Moncks Corner Water Works ......719.7900
Town of St. Stephen.....................567.3597
CHARLESTON COUNTY
Charleston Commissioners ..........727.6800 of Public Works
Folly Beach Water Department....588.2447
Isle of Palms Water Company .....886.6148
Mt. Pleasant Waterworks ............884.9626 & Sewer Commission
St. Johns Water Company ...........559.0186
Sullivan’s Island............................883.3947 Water Department, Town Hall
DORCHESTER COUNTY
Dorchester County........................875.0140 Water Authority
Dorchester County........................832.0070 Water & Sewer
St. George Water & Sewer..........563.3321 Department
Summerville Water Department ...871.0810
ELECTRICITY AND GAS
Berkeley Electric Cooperative ......572.5454
Edisto Electric Cooperative ..........563.3292
Santee Cooper..............................761.7010
South Carolina Electric & Gas .....554.7234
RECYCLING• Glass, aluminum, plastic containers andnewspaper are recycled through the area’scurbside program.• There are different drop-off sites forlarge and unusual recyclable items suchas vehicle batteries, corrugated cardboard,large appliances, used motor oil and scrapmetal.• There are several private recyclingbusinesses in Berkeley and CharlestonCounty and one public land fill offHighway 52 that accept corrugatedcardboard, vehicle batteries, used motoroil, large appliances, and scrap metal.• Charleston County’s recycling programincludes drop-site collection at 48 sitesaround the area, urban curbside collectionand the operation of an 80-ton-per-dayrecycling center.•Charleston County residents are provided18-gallon bins for recyclables in areasinvolved in the curbside program.
• Charleston County has placed 15-cubic-yard containers in convenientlocations along major thoroughfares, inshopping centers, and at fire stations.• In Charleston County, a curbside truckcollects the recyclables bi-weekly.• Dorchester County operates fourdrop-off sites for recyclable material.Newspapers, plastic bottles, used oil,large appliances, aluminum cans and glassbottles are the only materials that can beleft at the sites. • Dorchester County also has urban curb-side collection in certain neighborhoods.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RECYCLING, CALL:
Berkeley County Government Office723.3800 or 572.4400
Charleston County.......................720.7111 Solid Waste and Recycling
Dorchester County Recycling ........832.0074
EMERGENCY RELATED PHONE NUMBERS
To assure immediate response to an emer-gency in Berkeley County, CharlestonCounty, Goose Greek, or Summerville, dialthe 911 emergency service number. The911 service number gives callers access tofire, rescue and emergency medical servic-es, as well as police, sheriff and SouthCarolina State Highway Patrol.
Residents of Dorchester County shouldkeep a list of local emergency telephonenumbers near the telephone.
Note that homes located on the outskirtsof municipalities in the Metro area general-ly require service contracts with local firedepartments for protection. Call the localfire departments for more information or askyour REALTOR® about the police and fireprotection in your neighborhood.
TDD FOR THE DEAF-POLICE EMERGENCY– CHARLESTON COUNTY744.3200
DIAL 911 FOR ALL FIRE AND POLICEEMERGENCIES.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICESHanahan........................................744.4073Moncks Corner..................723.3800 x 4113Summerville ..................................873.5111
OTHER EMERGENCY NUMBERSAlcohol and Drug AbuseHelpline (24-hour) Careline Hotline 800.252.6465
(info/referral for pregnant women)800.868.0404
Child Abuse Hotline (24-hour)800.422.4453
Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry554.1111
Drug Abuse Hotline (24-hour)800.662.4357
FBI/U.S. Government722.0135
Hotline (24-Hour Confidential Telephone Counseling) 744.HELP (4357) or 800.922.2283
Poison Control Center (24-hour)800.922.1117
South Carolina Highway Patrol953.6005
TeenLine (counseling)747.TEEN or 800.273.TALK
This is not an all-inclusive list of phonenumbers and organizations. Businessesand phone numbers are subject to change.
Welcome Char leston - www.WelcomeChar lestonSC.com 51
Charleston Southern University9200 University Blvd.
843.863.7050, 800.947.7474www.charlestonsouthern.edu
Charleston Southern, the Lowcountry’s Christian University,offers 38 undergraduate majors and four graduate degreeprograms and is committed to integrating faith in learning,leading and serving. See our ad on page 31.
EDUCATION
Trident Technical College7000 Rivers Avenue
843.574.6111www.tridenttech.edu
Trident Technical College is a public two-year college offeringmore than 150 programs of study, University Transfer optionsand high school dual credit classes. Berkeley Campus –1001 S. Live Oak Dr., Moncks Corner Palmer Campus – 66Columbus St., Downtown Charleston St. Paul’s Parish Site– 5231 Hwy. 165, Hollywood. See our ad on page 35.
EDUCATION
Charleston Metro Sports Council, Inc. 423 King Street843.805.3030
www.sportscouncil.org
Charleston's regional economic development sportsagency. Its mission is to positively impact the local economy by attracting new sports events and promoteCharleston as a premier sports travel destination. See ourad on page 53.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
C.A.R. – Construction and Renovations747 Gypsy Lane843.568.0178
www.redaconstruction.com
High quality remodeling and renovations contractor, spe-cializing in room remodels, kitchen and bath renovations,tile installation, porches, decks, fences, and more. Servinggreater Charleston. Free estimates. See our ad on page 55.
CONTRACTORS
Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce
843.577.2510www.charlestonchamber.net
Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce providesbusinesses with leadership needed to foster a favorableeconomic and political climate in order to make this thebest place to live, learn, work and play. See our ad onpage 47.
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
South Carolina Aquarium 100 Aquarium Wharf
843.720.1990www.scaquarium.org
Discover Charleston's #1 attraction! Get up close withsharks, sea turtles, river otters and sting rays. Catch dailyshows, tour the Sea Turtle Hospital and enjoy interactiveexhibits, play areas and more! See our ad on page 45.
ATTRACTIONS
BB&T Mortgage151 Meeting Street
www.bbt.com
BB&T produced consistent earnings totaling $1.5 billion in2008. We are stable, financially sound and have healthycapital levels. BB&T is one of the oldest, continuallyoperating banks in America. See our ad on page 21.
BANKING
Trident Academy1455 Wakendaw Road
843.884.3494www.tridentacademy.com
The mission of Trident Academy, a K-12 independentschool for students with diagnosed learning differences,is to empower creative learners to succeed. See our ad onpage 33.
EDUCATION
Porter-Gaud School300 Albemarle Road
843.402.4775portergaud.edu
Porter-Gaud is an Episcopal, coeducational, independent,college preparatory day school. Make an investment in yourchild's future. Call today to schedule a tour. See our ad onpage 32.
EDUCATION
Pinewood Preparatory School1114 Orangeburg Road
843.873.1643www.pinewoodprep.com
Pinewood Preparatory School is an independent, co-educa-tional, college preparatory day school located inSummerville, SC serving students in 3-year-old preschoolthrough the 12th grade. Accredited with SACS, SAIS,SCISA, NAIS, PAIS, SCECA. See our ad on page 34.
EDUCATION
Culinary Institute of Charleston7000 Rivers Avenue
843.820.5090www.CulinaryInstituteofCharleston.com
Culinary arts, baking and pastry, and hospitality/tourismmanagement programs offered on two convenient campuses. Short courses also available for professional orpersonal enrichment. Palmer Campus – 66 Columbus St.,Downtown Charleston. See our ad on page 35.
EDUCATION
Medical University of South Carolina171 Ashley Avenue
843.792.2300, new patients 792.1414www.MUSChealth.com
The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is one ofthe nation’s leading health resource centers, with a 700-plus bed academic medical center and six colleges for theeducation of a broad range of health professionals. MUSChas been voted the Charleston area’s hospital of choice aremarkable 12 years in a row.
HEALTH CARE
East Cooper Medical Center1200 Johnnie Dodds Blvd.
843.881.0100www.eastcoopermedctr.com
East Cooper Medical Center has been the only hospitalserving the health care needs east of the Cooper since1986. Its new replacement hospital will open at 2000Hospital Drive on April 1, 2010. See our ad on page 19.
HEALTH CARE
Charleston Symphony Orchestra145 King Street, Suite 311
843.723.7528www.charlestonsymphony.com
The CSO presents concerts performed by first-classmusicians from September through May. Performancesinclude large-scale Masterworks, lighthearted Pops,cutting edge Backstage Pass and a selection of holiday andother concerts. See our ad on page 53.
ENTERTAINMENT
Price Concepts, Inc.843.884.0608
www.priceconceptspromos.com
Valuable Notions in Advertising! Promotional Products thatkeep your business name in front of your best customersand prospects. See our ad on page 21.
ADVERTISING
The Town of Mount Pleasant100 Ann Edwards Lane
843.884.8517www.townofmountpleasant.com
The Town of Mount Pleasant is ideally situated betweendowntown Charleston and stunning beaches; and home toa variety of desirable neighborhoods, abundant greenspace, excellent schools, pristine waterways, recreationoptions, and more than 1,000 dining and shoppingchoices. See our ad on page 21.
COMMUNITIES
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John Wieland Homes andNeighborhoods
3015 Dunes West Blvd., Suite 5021.800.DRM.HOME (376.4663)
www.jwhomes.com
4 Charleston Neighborhoods from the High $100s - $700s+John Wieland offers the greatest new home values backedby 40 years of experience and an enviable 5 Year - 20 YearWarranty. Find your dream home today at jwhomes.com.See our ad on page 3.
HOMES AND COMMUNITIES
Junior League of Charleston, Inc.51 Folly Road Boulevard
843.763.5284www.jlcharleston.org
The Junior League of Charleston, Inc., is an organization ofwomen committed to promoting voluntarism, developingthe potential of women, and improving the communitythrough the effective action and leadership of trainedvolunteers. See our ad on page 47.
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Daniel Island Real Estate101 River Landing Drive
843.971.7100www.danielisland.com
This award-winning island town in Charleston, S.C. ishome to traditional neighborhoods, a vibrant downtown, 23miles of shoreline, hundreds of acres of parks and trails,nationally-ranked golf and much, much more! See our adon page 9.
HOMES AND COMMUNITIES
Beazer Homes7410 Northside Drive, Ste 208
843.818.1349www.beazer.com
Beazer Homes builds eSMART- high performance homesthroughout the Charleston area. eSMART homes areengineered for energy-efficiency and comfort, our homeswill save you money now and in the future. See our ad onpage 49.
HOMES AND COMMUNITIES
Oak Terrace Preserve1600 Saranac Street
843.745.1722www.oakterracepreservesc.com
Oak Terrace Preserve, situated within the heart of it all withgreen homes starting in the $170s. Visit us online to startbuilding your dream home today. See our ad on page 5.
HOMES AND COMMUNITIES
Rapid Repairs and Remodeling1591-B Sam Rittenberg Blvd.
843.573.4357www.rapidrepairscharleston.com
Licensed & bonded South Carolina contractor. See ValuePrice list for flat rate carpentry, electrical, and plumbingrepairs. Examples: repair hole in wall, $188, troubleshootelectrical problems $128, replace toilet flush valve, $79.You Call % We Come. See our ad on page 27.
HOME REPAIRS
Ashley Park4202 Climbing Tree Court
843.793.4223www.AshleyParkTownhomes.com
Located in convenient West Ashley, these gorgeous tri-level townhomes, with drive-under garages, make this theperfect first home, second home…or just a nice “homeaway from home.” See our ad on page 5.
HOMES AND COMMUNITIES
Wild Dunes Real Estate, LLC5757 Palm Blvd
843.886.2500, 800.562.9453WildDunesRealEstate.com
We pride ourselves on being the experts in oceanfront andluxury properties. We live and breathe coastal resort livingand will help find you the home of your dreams. See our adon page 41.
HOMES AND COMMUNITIES
Sabal Homes, LLC401 Seacoast Parkway
843.388.8483sabalhomessc.com
We take pride in our hometown and in putting our name tohigh-quality, high-value homes in some of Charleston’sfinest neighborhoods. See our ad on page 56.
HOMES AND COMMUNITIES
Keri Pries, Senior Loan Officer3955 Faber Place Dr., Suite 102
Charleston, SC 29405843.735.5267, cell 843.810.2780
www.LoansWithKeri.com
At WR Starkey Mortgage people are key. We pride our-selves on creating loyalty and long-term relationships withour customers and our employees. Want to know more?Visit us at www.LoansWithKeri.com. See our ad on page 4.
MORTGAGE SERVICES
Courtyard by Marriott2415 Mall Drive
843.747.9122www.marriott.com/chscn
Our Courtyard by Marriott is located within one mile ofthe Tanger Outlet Mall, Coliseum and Airport. Easy accessto I-26 and downtown areas. See our ad on page 55.
HOTELS
Trident Health System9330 Medical Plaza Drive
843.847.4000www.tridenthealthsystem.com
Trident Health System is a family of hospitals includingTrident Medical Center and Summerville Medical Centeralong with an outpatient diagnostic center, Moncks CornerMedical Center. We provide emergency services at all threefacilities 24/7 and offer a wide range of medical services.See our ad on inside back cover.
HEALTH CARE
The Ponds326 Hundred Oaks Parkway
843.376.5891, toll free 866.846.2796www.DiscoverThePonds.com
Discover The Ponds, a new master planned communityfeaturing distinctive Lowcountry charm. Located inSummerville, SC on Highway 17A South at DorchesterRoad. Homesites from the $80s. Homes from themid-$200s. See our ad on inside front cover.
HOMES AND COMMUNITIES
Fieldview314 Comiskey Park Circle
843.261.9648www.Fieldview-Summerville.com
Fieldview offers casually elegant, Craftsman-style homesof unprecedented quality and value ranging from just under2000 SF to nearly 3000 SF. Summerville’s modern, “front-porch” community. See our ad on page 17.
HOMES AND COMMUNITIES
PREFERRED BUSINESS REFERENCE GUIDEINDEX OF ADVERTISERS
Saulisbury Business Machines, Inc.7632 Southrail Road
843.572.9111www.saulisbury.com
We are an authorized dealer for Canon and Lanier. With aunique loyalty to our community, and attention to clientservice, we are proud to offer local service and FactoryTrained Technicians, Network, Printing Support, ManagedPrint Services, Document Management, Digital Imaging,and Scanning. See our ad on page 55.
OFFICE EQUIPMENT
Roper St. Francis Healthcare125 Doughty Street
843.724.2910www.rsfh.com
Roper St. Francis Healthcare is proud to be a regionalhealthcare leader and the only private not-for-profithealthcare system in the Lowcountry. For over 150 years,people have trusted Roper St. Francis for quality care andcommitment to the community. See our ad on page 37.
HEALTH CARE
Sue Hensch, Hensch Properties, LLC3040 Highway 17 North
843.324.6939 • www.suehensch.comRealtor, ABR, eCertified, GRI, SFR, Realtors of Distinction
East Cooper Top Producer. Sue has earned her place as aLeading Real Estate Consultant in the Lowcountry by pro-viding her clients premium service. Sue finds it very reward-ing to help her clients create the lifestyle, which can growwith them in their lifetime. See ad on back cover. See ourad on back cover.
REALTORS®/REAL ESTATE AGENTS
Century 21 Properties Plus118 West Richardson Avenue
843.553.0220www.century21properties.com
If you’re moving anywhere, we can be of service. Throughour network, we can find you an experienced real estateprofessional to assist you. Call us today. See our ad onpage 39.
REALTORS®/REAL ESTATE AGENTS
Historic Charleston Bed and Breakfast57 Broad Street
843.722.6606, toll free 800.743.3583www.historiccharlestonbedandbreakfast.com
A RESERVATION SERVICE for private homes, CARRIAGEHOUSES, LUXURY CONDOS & APARTMENTS and tempo-rary MONTHLY EXECUTIVE STAYS. Please call for moredetails, to check on availability or to make a reservation!We're in the office Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. See ourad on page 49.
TEMPORARY HOUSING
re-hava real estate store 5060 International Blvd., Suite 103
843.747.4762www.rehava.com
The re-hava real estate store rewards homebuyers with halftheir commission on the purchase of any Lowcountry home.re-hava sells homes for a flat fee, saving sellers thousandsin commissions. See our ad on page 29.
REALTORS®/REAL ESTATE AGENTS
Melissa M. Myhren1530 Old Trolley Road
• Full-time Realtor® servicing the Lowcountry• Honest, loyal, committed and responsive• Dedicated to making your dreams come trueWhen I’m not working toward your goals, I spend my freetime with family, friends and various dogs & horses. I lookforward to helping you making Charleston your home!
REALTORS®/REAL ESTATE AGENTS
Edisto Real Estate Company143 Jungle Road
866.446.2743www.mariebost.com
Edisto is the best kept secret and value on the SC coast!Visit my website at mariebost.com for a complete list of allavailable property on Edisto. Let Edisto's Real EstateSpecialist® assist you today! See our ad on page 17.
REALTORS®/REAL ESTATE AGENTS
SC Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G)3680 Leeds Avenue
877.775.7234www.SCEG.com
SCE&G is a regulated public utility engaged in thegeneration, transmission, distribution and sale ofelectricity to approximately 654,000 customers in 26South Carolina counties. The company provides naturalgas to approximately 306,000 customers in 34 counties inthe state. See our ad on page 39.
UTILITIES
Coldwell Banker United, Realtors®
800 Wappoo Road843.225.6001
www.cbunited.com
Coldwell Banker United, Realtors® has the knowledge andexperience to assist in all your real estate needs. Whetherbuying, selling or relocating in the Charleston area, rely onus to guide you through the process. See our ad on page 1.
REALTORS®/REAL ESTATE AGENTS
PREFERRED BUSINESS REFERENCE GUIDEINDEX OF ADVERTISERS
1. Your REALTOR® can helpyou determine your buying power.
That is, your financial reserves plusyour borrowing capacity. If you give aREALTOR® some basic informationabout your available savings, incomeand current debt, he or she can refer youto lenders best qualified to help you.Most lenders — banks and mortgagecompanies — offer limited choices.
2. Your REALTOR® has manyresources to assist you in yourhome search.
Sometimes the property you areseeking is available but not activelyadvertised in the market, and it willtake some investigation by your agentto find all available properties.
3. Your REALTOR® can assistyou in the selection process byproviding objective informationabout each property.
Agents who are REALTORS® haveaccess to a variety of informationalresources. REALTORS® can providelocal community information on utili-ties, zoning. schools, etc. There are twothings you’ll want to know. First, willthe property provide the environment Iwant for a home or investment?Second, will the property have resalevalue when I am ready to sell?
4. Your REALTOR® can helpyou negotiate.
There are a myriad of negotiating fac-tors, including but not limited to price,financing, terms, date of possession,and often the inclusion or exclusion ofrepairs and furnishings or equipment.The purchase agreement should pro-vide a period of time for you to com-plete appropriate inspections andinvestigations of the property beforeyou are bound to complete the pur-chase. Your agent can advise you as towhich investigations and inspectionsare recommended or required.
5. Your REALTOR® providesdue diligence during theevaluation of the property.
Depending on the area and property,this could include inspections for ter-mites, dry rot, asbestos, faulty struc-ture, roof condition, septic tank andwell tests, just to name a few. YourREALTOR® can assist you in findingqualified responsible professionals todo most of these investigations andprovide you with written reports. Youwill also want to see a preliminaryreport on the title of the property. Thetitle indicates ownership of propertyand can be mired in confusing status ofpast owners or rights of access. Thetitle to most properties will have somelimitations; for example, easements(access rights) for utilities. Your REAL-TOR®, title company or attorney canhelp you resolve issues that mightcause problems at a later date.
6. Your REALTOR® can helpyou in understanding differentfinancing options and inidentifying qualified lenders.
7. Your REALTOR® can guideyou through the closing processand make sure everything flowstogether smoothly.
8. When selling your home,your REALTOR® can give youup-to-date information on what ishappening in the marketplace andthe price, financing, terms andcondition of competing properties.
These are key factors in getting yourproperty sold at the best price, quicklyand with minimum hassle.
9. Your REALTOR® marketsyour property to other real estateagents and the public.
Often, your REALTOR® can recom-mend repairs or cosmetic work that willsignificantly enhance the salability ofyour property. Your REALTOR® mar-
kets your property to other real estateagents and the public. In many marketsacross the country, over 50% of realestate sales are cooperative sales; that is,a real estate agent other than yoursbrings in the buyer. Your REALTOR®acts as the marketing coordinator, dis-bursing information about your proper-ty to other real estate agents through aMultiple Listing Service or other cooper-ative marketing networks, open housesfor agents, etc. The REALTOR® Code ofEthics requires REALTORS® to utilizethese cooperative relationships whenthey benefit their clients.
10. Your REALTOR® willknow when, where and how toadvertise your property.
There is a misconception that adver-tising sells real estate. The NATIONALASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® stud-ies show that 82% of real estate salesare the result of agent contacts throughprevious clients, referrals, friends, fam-ily, and personal contacts. When aproperty is marketed with the help ofyour REALTOR®, you do not have toallow strangers into your home. YourREALTOR® will generally prescreenand accompany qualified prospectsthrough your property.
11. Your REALTOR® can helpyou objectively evaluate everybuyer’s proposal without compro-mising your marketing position.
This initial agreement is only thebeginning of a process of appraisals,inspections and financing — a lot ofpossible pitfalls. Your REALTOR® canhelp you write a legally binding, win-win agreement that will be more likelyto make it through the process.
12. Your REALTOR® can helpclose the sale of your home.
Between the initial sales agreementand closing (or settlement), questionsmay arise. For example, unexpectedrepairs are required to obtain financingor a cloud in the title is discovered. Therequired paperwork alone is overwhelm-ing for most sellers. Your REALTOR® isthe best person to objectively help youresolve these issues and move the trans-action to closing (or settlement).
UseaREALTOR®Why ? ?All real estate
licensees are notthe same.
Only real estate licenseeswho are members of the
NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONOF REALTORS® are properly
called REALTORS®. Theyproudly display the
REALTOR® logo on theirbusiness cards or other
marketing and sales literature.REALTORS® are committed to
treat all parties to a transactionhonestly. REALTORS®
subscribe to a strict code ofethics and are expected tomaintain a higher level of
knowledge of the process ofbuying and selling real estate.
An independent survey reportsthat 84% of home buyers
would use the sameREALTOR® again.
Real estate transactionsinvolve one of the biggest
financial investments mostpeople experience in their
lifetime. Transactions todayusually exceed $100,000. Ifyou had a $100,000 income
tax problem, would youattempt to deal with it without
the help of a CPA? If you hada $100,000 legal question,
would you deal with itwithout the help of an
attorney? Considering thesmall upside cost and the large
downside risk, it would befoolish to consider a deal in
real estate without theprofessional assistance of
a REALTOR®.But if you’re still not
convinced of the value of aREALTOR®, here are a dozen
more reasons to use one: www.CharlestonRealtors.com
