Junk Removal in Johns Island, SC

A Johns Island family who lost everything in a house fire wants to thank their community for the love and support shown to them during the hardship.

JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - A Johns Island family who lost everything in a house fire wants to thank their community for the love and support shown to them during the hardship.

The fire happened on Dunwick Drive on Johns Island just before 5 a.m. Sunday.

The Barnett family says they are the “luckiest unlucky people.”

Homeowner David Barnett said he’s just glad his family is alive. The family was celebrating their children’s birthdays over the weekend and had family and friends visiting. Seven people staying at the home the night of the fire escaped, and no one was injured.

Looking at the exposed structure of the house covered in black ash, son Parker Barnett said that’s not what’s important.

“I mean the house doesn’t matter. Everyone is alive, that’s the biggest part. I could care less about the house,” Parker said.

The family was able to rescue one of their dogs, Ellie. Daughter Laurel Barnett held the small dog while she talked about the night. She said their Doberman Lilly didn’t come out with them, but a few hours after the blaze was put out, firefighters found Lilly alive among the rubble.

“It took a lot of pressure off of me for sure because she just used to follow me everywhere and it did not feel right without her but it’s much better now,” Laurel said.

The family said the past few days have been difficult and a whirlwind as they assess the damage and try to understand what their future holds.

It didn’t take long for the community to jump into action, ready to help the Barnetts with whatever they need. A neighbor started a fundraiser that earned more than $30,000 in a few days. People are also collecting clothes in the family’s sizes.

“We’re grateful that we live in such a community that in time of need comes together and lifts everyone up, we’re just so thankful,” David said.

David is a chef at Stono Market and Tomato Shed Café. Restaurant owner Barbara Ambrose said she knows the family well.

“Dave’s been with us for 15 years almost. So, we’ve watched his children be born, grow up... We learned to love his wife, Jen, they’re really wonderful people,” Ambrose said.

Ambrose shared the ways to support the family on the restaurant Facebook page and said she shared a message for them from the team and their friends.

“We love you. We are so glad that y’all are OK. And that’s the most important thing, but everybody wants to know what they can do to support you and to help your family get back on their feet again. So let us know,” Ambrose said.

The Barnett family wished to thank everyone who has donated money or clothes to their cause. They say it’s amazing to see family and friends care about them and it puts things into perspective for them.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

JAMES ISLAND – Tucked away in an overgrown forest blanketed in draping Spanish moss, The May Forest Convent will soon become the centerpiece of a new state park.

From the outside, the single-story beige building could be anything, but this was where Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy lived and spent their lives in service to their faith on the edge of Charleston Harbor with a panoramic view of the city.

Much of the religious artifacts have been removed but the tall stained-glass windows forged in the 1800s and vaulted point of the chapel are the only giveaways to its former life.

Soon, it will serve a new purpose as an event venue.

Saving Grace

Every day, the sisters would start their mornings together in prayer as the sunrise shined through the chapel’s stained-glass windows. They spent most of their days volunteering in the community, caring for their eldest sisters and spending time with one-another during mass, meals and free time.

Sister Mary Joseph, general superior of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy, made her vows in 1960 after graduating from high school. Now 80, she said many of her favorite memories throughout those 63 years of service are the times spent with sisters in their chapel after taking the vow “of commitment to the church and in service of God’s people.”

The Sisters of Charity congregation of nuns dates back nearly two centuries in Charleston. The group ran a school for free children of color in the 1840s, cared for both Union and Confederate wounded soldiers during the Civil War, founded the hospital that would evolve into the Roper St. Francis Healthcare system and ran social service organizations that helped those facing poverty.

As the congregation aged and fewer women joined the ranks, a decision was made to relocate its surviving members to the Bishop Gadsden retirement home and sell the property. The once sacred place of prayer is just a place of peace now, nestled along the waterfront. It sits empty, but the state has big plans for the site.

New life for former convent

The 23-acre waterfront parcel was bought by the state in 2021 for $23.25 million. Located at the end of Fort Johnson Road, the convent was built in the 1950s.

The waterfront property offers a one-of-a-kind view that can only otherwise be seen from a boat in the harbor, complete with views of downtown Charleston, Fort Sumter, and the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. The waves gently grace the shore, offering a soothing sound in tune with the rustling trees.

Despite having a cash offer from a developer, the Catholic Church worked with the state to preserve the property. Many had hoped it would become a park to keep that rare view from being privatized. It’s a promise the state intends to keep.

The property is owned by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, which runs the marine lab next door, and is managed by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

“Unless you were a sister or visiting priest, chances are you didn’t know that this was tucked away back here,” said agency Director Duane Parrish. “This is a rare opportunity here. We envision the building to become a space for people to stay or to enjoy events like weddings, and for the property to become a place where people can relax along the harbor-front in a peaceful park setting.”

The venue will be similar to Charles Towne Landing, he added.

Director of State Parks Paul McCormack envisions the rental space will include overnight accommodations as well as a chapel area, a rental hall and dining offerings, and the scenic view will be a “prime wedding location along the harbor.”

“It may not look like it now but there’s no doubt about it, this would be a unique event space,” McCormack said. “To be right on the water outside of downtown and to have this view, it’s one of a kind.”

As it stands, the convent main building has 27 rooms, a chapel that seats 60 and a large open meeting space that can seat 125. Once updates are completed, they expect around 15-20 rooms. They also hope to add a dock along the water to complement the existing gazebo and bench swing.

McCormack said the biggest challenge is the convent is not turnkey and ready to rent out.

The property is undergoing evaluation as part of a master planning process that will map out the next 20 years for the entire Fort Johnson pointe, the area surrounding that part of James Island. The building needs to be reviewed by architects and engineers to see what the price tag will be to renovate.

“This was a treasured place of religion, which is evident by the chapel and other markers,” Parish said. “We want to acknowledge and honor its 70-year history as a convent, yet modernize it for future generations to cherish. It’s location along the harbor makes it the perfect place for weddings and events.”

The property was most recently used as a film set for the Netflix flick “Suncoast,” featuring Woody Harrelson and Laura Linney. A faux digital stained-glass window featured in the film still sits in the chapel as a centerpiece over the former altar.

This business model is a new approach to helping the department become more self-sustaining, Parrish said. Eventually, money made from renting the convent’s rooms and event space will go back into upkeep and renovations.

The undertaking is expected to have an architectural design in place by sometime in 2024. Parrish said his office has requested about $10 million in assistance from lawmakers, on top of the $5 million received last year.

While the future state park on the site has not been officially named, it is likely to be May Forest at Fort Johnson State Park. It’s a nod to the convent and the area’s rich history — the point at the end of Fort Johnson Road is where the first shots of the Civil War were fired on Fort Sumter.

Changing times

When the property was bought by the Catholic Church, the sisters raised money to clear the land and build their new home. The building housed sisters and new members joining the religious community who needed to be trained.

Sister Mary Joseph said that as times changed, the needs of the sisters did too. Much of the building was renovated after Hurricane Hugo. By that time fewer sisters were joining and existing members needed somewhere to age in place. A great hall was added to become the “center of spirituality” and more rooms for the aging and semiretired sisters were built, as well as a medical wing for those needing more intense medical care.

Now, the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy are only 12 members strong. While the decision to sell their home was a difficult one, Sister Mary Joseph said their top priority was ensuring their members were taken care of. It came down to knowing their financial and health care needs were too great.

“The sale of the property allowed us to move to Bishop Gadsden, which allowed us to provide continuing health care at different levels for our sisters,” Sister Mary Joseph said. “There is a strong sense of community at Bishop Gadsden. Our sisters there, who are able, can continue practicing their faith and provide ministry to other residents. It’s been life-giving in that sense for the sisters.”

Sister Mary Joseph said that the sisters’ faith, ministry and charity are gifts that they “continue to share wherever we are.”

A collection of artifacts and history panels are displayed in a room within the convent, which has been called the “Heritage Room.”

The state will soon open the former convent’s grounds for individuals looking to picnic or roam the property of the former convent.

“I’m so proud that our state stepped in to protect this property and its history by ensuring it’s accessible to everyone,” McCormack said. “The opportunities we have before us with this project are endless.”

Chefs, restaurateurs, and investors in North and South Carolina continue to open restaurants and bars at an increasing pace. As always, Eater is obsessively tracking the progression of all the premiers — from menu releases to newly installed signage, come here for the latest updates. This list encapsulates the places garnering excitement this spring.

ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA

Location: 697 Haywood Road Key Players: Chef/restaurateur Meherwan IraniProjected Opening: JuneAfter successful stints in Atlanta and Charlotte, Indian restaurant Botiwalla expands to West Asheville in the former BimBeriBon space. Botiwalla comes from Chai Pani owner Meherwan Irani and focuses on late-night foods of India, like chicken tikka skewers, lamb burgers, chaat,

Location: 56 Patton Avenue in the S&W Market Key Players: Katie Grabach and Peyton Barrell Projected Opening: SoonThe newest addition to Asheville food hall the S&W Market, Gourmand will be a spot for cheese, charcuterie, wine, oysters, and baguette sandwiches from New Orleans couple Katie Grabach and Peyton Barrell. Look for plenty of rillettes, terrines, and pickled eggs too.

Location: 1400 Patton Avenue Key Players: Pitmaster Elliott Moss Projected Opening: Late springFollowing the surprise opening of Little Louie’s in March, former Buxton Hall Barbecue chef Elliott Moss will open another comfort food spot named Regina’s. The restaurant will be an homage to greasy spoon diners of the past with plenty of classics on the menu.

Also, keep an eye on:• Areta’s (Mission Hospital Area)• Good Hot Fish (Unknown)

CARY, NORTH CAROLINA

Location: Mixed-use development FentonKey Players: Chef/owner Scott CrawfordProjected Opening: SoonChef Scott Crawford (Crawford and Son, Jolie, and Crawford Cookshop) continues the expansion of his empire with the forthcoming opening of Crawford Brothers Steakhouse. The latest addition will be Crawford’s playground for American steakhouse classics, specializing in dry-aged beef.

Also, keep an eye on:• Doc B’s Restaurant (Fenton)• Saap (Downtown)

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

Location: 128 Columbus StreetKey Players: David and Tina SchuttenbergProjected Opening: JuneThe owners of James Island Sichuan restaurant Kwei Fei, David and Tina Schuttenberg, will soon bring Cantonese cuisine to downtown development the Guild. Beautiful South will offer dishes from the couple’s popular Lady Xian pop-up, like golden fried rice, char sui lo mein, General Tso chicken, and more. The menu will evolve from there to offer a range of items from southern China (hence the name) and dim sum.

Location: 1640 Meeting Street RoadKey Players: Nick Dowling and Jeremiah SchenzelProjected Opening: SpringFrom the team behind popular breakfast spot Dap’s, Cleats will be a restaurant featuring sports and sandwiches, which sounds commonplace, but co-owners Nick Dowling and Jeremiah Schenzel don’t do boring. They’re calling it a “sporty sammy public house.”

Location: 15 Beaufain StreetKey Players: Chef Michael ToscanoProjected Opening: SpringLe Farfalle chef Michael Toscano will bring his cult-favorite porchetta sandwich to the West Side, along with other breakfast and lunch items, all on the shop’s housemade focaccia. “The whole place is based around our focaccia — there’s no other bread,” says Toscano, “Imagine having a crusty, warm piece of focaccia with ricotta and a seasonal marmellata for breakfast.”

Location: 251 Meeting StreetKey Players: Chef/owner Maryam Ghaznavi and husband Raheel GaubaProjected Opening: SoonPakistani restaurant Ma’am Saab started as a pop-up, went into a food stall at Workshop, and will now set up residence in the former Jestine’s Kitchen space on Meeting Street. Ma’am Saab serves comfort food from Pakistan, like kababs, pakoras, and more.

Location: 2366 Ashley River RoadKey Players: Pitmaster Hector GarateProjected Opening: March 2023Pitmaster Hector Garate wanted to join the new wave of smoked meat aficionados putting their unique cultural spin on what is typically considered American barbecue. What started as a hobby, smoking brisket for his family, became pop-up Palmira Barbecue and is now set to be a brick-and-mortar establishment. Garate pulls the best bits of flavors and techniques from Texas, North Carolina, and his native home Puerto Rico to create his menu of juicy beef cheeks, smoky pulled pork, and rich barbacoa.

Also, keep an eye on:• Chameleon Club (Downtown)• Clarence Foster’s Cookery & Saloon (Downtown)• Colectivo (Johns Island)• Costa (Downtown)• Da Toscano Porchetta Shop (Downtown)• King BBQ (North Charleston)• Matador (Downtown)• Mix (Mount Pleasant)• The Pickle Bar (Summerville)• Sugey’s (Downtown)

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

Location: 1220 South Tryon StreetKey Players: Restaurateurs Greg and Subrina CollierProjected Opening: SpringBeloved breakfast eatery Uptown Yolk will reopen in a bigger space in South End. Look for chicken and waffles, cheesy grits, French toast, breakfast sandwiches, and more.

Also, keep an eye on:• Chapter 6 (South End)• Maíz, Agua, Sal (West Charlotte)• Pizza Baby (Wesley Heights)• Rosemont Market and Wine Bar (Elizabeth)• State of Confusion (LoSo)• The Club House Kitchen & Cocktails (Plaza Midwood)

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA

Location: 300 Blackwell Street, in the American Tobacco CampusKey Players: Restaurateurs Zweli and Leonardo WilliamsProjected Opening: SoonRestaurateurs Zweli and Leonardo Williams opened Zimbabwean restaurant Zweli’s in 2018, and now they will expand with a second establishment named Ekhaya. Located in Durham’s American Tobacco Campus, in the former Saladelia space, Ekhaya will focus on cuisine from Bantu communities from across Africa, served tapas-style, in a high-end setting.

Location: 810 North Mangum StreetKey Players: Chef Oscar DiazProjected Opening: Early AprilThe chef behind lauded Raleigh restaurant Cortez Seafood + Cocktail, Oscar Diaz, branches out to Durham with the opening of Little Bull this spring. Diaz wants to redefine American comfort food through his view as a first-generation Mexican-American who grew up in Chicago and ended up in the South. Look for items like dumplings stuffed with birria and served with giardiniera chimi churri and confit papas.

Location: 806 West Main StreetKey Players: Chef Matt KellyProjected Opening: SpringDurham darling Nana’s opened in 1992, under chef Scott Howell, as a fine dining restaurant and quickly rose to acclaim. The menu was seasonal new Southern cuisine with heavy French and Italian influences. After the restaurant closed, chef Matt Kelly (Mateo, Mother & Sons, and Vin Rouge) took an interest and decided he wanted to keep the tradition going. “Nana’s has always been a great neighborhood restaurant in the American South,” says Kelly, “and that’s what I want to do.”

Also, keep an eye on:• Emmy Squared (Downtown)• Max Jr.’s (Brightleaf District)

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA

Location: Boxyard RTPKey Players: Pitmaster Jake WoodProjected Opening: Early 2023Pitmaster Jake Wood (Lawrence BBQ and Lagoon) created a frenzy in Raleigh when he introduced a birria taco special utilizing his smoked brisket. This sparked the idea for Leroy’s Tacos n Beers, which will serve birria, Tajin wings, micheladas, and more — all with a side of ‘90s nostalgia in the vibes and decor.

Also, keep an eye on:• Brodeto (Raleigh Iron Works)• The Mill (Olde Raleigh Village Shopping Center)• The Preserve (Unknown)• Village Tavern (North Hills)

A new elementary school planned for Johns Island is making its way through the approval process with the City of Charleston.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A new elementary school planned for Johns Island is making its way through the approval process with the City of Charleston.

The construction plan went before the design review board for the second of its three times, on Monday. It’s a standard, but lengthy, process any builders go through with big projects in the city.

Executive Director of Capital Programs Jasmeen Shaw explains the school is going to be state of the art and offer STEAM – science, technology, engineering, arts and math – education.

“The island truly deserves a brand-new school and we’re able to bring them a brand-new school which as well as alleviates some of the overcrowding that’s been caused by growth in the area – which is a great thing,” Shaw says.

The elementary school will be off of River Road. It is planned to be two stories and serve 700 2nd through 5th graders.

During community meetings last year – some people expressed concern about traffic. Part of the construction also includes building a roundabout on River Road to enter the school property. The project also includes adding a left turn lane from River Road to Brownswood Road and adding a right turn lane from Brownswood Road onto River Road.

“We’re going to bring several road improvements to the area, which is not only going to benefit the school which operates Monday through Friday for the most part, but even on weekends and as a whole, this particular school is going to be an asset to the entire community,” Shaw says.

Stephanie Yesil and her husband live in a neighborhood off River Road.

“Maybe it will help with the development of River Road and turning it into a safer place. Maybe adding some sidewalks, maybe adding some additional controls, maybe some new lights, maybe some new signs to make it even more family friendly. So, this could be a really good thing if it’s done well,” Yesil says.

She is a former education who says she doesn’t have kids yet, but supports investing in education.

“My husband and I hopefully one day will be parents but for now, I mean, we love our neighbors and almost every single one of them have new children and it would be really nice to make sure that this is more of a community-oriented place rather than having a bus kids all over the place,” Yesil says.

The elementary school is meant to help with the crowding at the Angel Oak Elementary, which is operating at 129% capacity over operating ability. The $53.5 million dollar brand new school will offer STEAM programs. Then, the Angel Oak Elementary building will be converted to serve as a head start and 1st grade center, so all levels are included. The goal open date for the school is the start of the 2024-2025 school year.

“I think education is always a great idea. I think there’s always going to be a need for it. I can’t speak to other city planning. I can’t necessarily speak to any other kinds of businesses that we should have over here. But you’ll always get a yes vote for me when it comes to bringing in good teachers, good people and giving more and more space for kids to go to places to learn,” Yesil says.

Monday, the design review board approved the conceptual plans and submitted the information to staff for a further focused review. The board made some aesthetic suggestions to the plans like more fencing around the back of the building, but overall supported the designs. Charleston County Schools says the project is on track and they expect to start site prep work in March.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Dorchester County Council made the right call when it agreed unanimously not to extend water lines to serve a new development proposed on the Barry Tract between S.C. Highway 61 and the Ashley River, a decision that will thwart plans for a development designed around dozens of septic tanks that almost certainly would have one day compromised the scenic river’s water quality. The county also took a laudable step to begin work on the Pine Trace Natural Area, a new 306-acre park that will feature trails, a 6-acre pond with a fishing pier, shelters and a kayak launch into Chandlers Creek, which eventually feeds into the Ashley.

But the success of those two efforts shouldn’t obscure the larger struggle slowly playing out over the future of this area, which will continue to experience increasing development pressures as the Charleston region grows. At stake is not only the visual and environmental quality of the river itself, but also the preservation of centuries of history reflecting the Carolina colony’s earliest days.

So we urge all local governments whose decisions will affect this special corner of our region to cooperate more proactively, ideally with a unified vision and plan for how limited development could occur here while protecting, ideally even improving, its most valuable historical and environmental attributes — from its vast colonial history to the Ashley River’s water quality. For instance, it would be great if more of the river were rated as a safe place for a swim. (It lost that status almost a decade ago.)

There are some encouraging signs of progress. On Wednesday, leaders from the town of Summerville and Dorchester County are resuming their joint workshops, sessions that they once held regularly but that have been on pause since the pandemic. Their day-long agenda includes discussions about not only planning and zoning but also public works and parks and recreation and transportation. This session marks the kind of proactive cooperation we need to see from more local governments whose jurisdictions intertwine. After all, stormwater runoff, traffic patterns, air quality and wildlife don’t pay attention to city or county boundaries on a map.

We would like to see a similar session with those two governments, plus Charleston, North Charleston and Charleston County, focused on how they can best protect and plan for the future of the Ashley River National Register Historic District and its environs. We don’t pretend to have a list of solutions for such a group (though working together to limit future septic systems in the floodplain might be an ideal place to start), but we feel confident their leaders can find and take constructive steps if given the chance.

Such cooperation could prove particularly timely since the new player in this area, North Charleston, is poised to undergo a political reset, as Mayor Keith Summey, who pursued a controversial policy of annexing west across the Ashley, leaves office at the end of this year. North Charleston and Charleston have battled in court over the legality of North Charleston’s most recent annexation, but it would be better to work out these conflicts in boardrooms rather than courtrooms.

At the very least, such cooperation should mean coalescing around a shared vision for the upper Ashley River, particularly so that landowners and developers seeking to maximize their profit cannot play one local government against another to try to get the best financial deal, regardless of the cost to the public.

Our region is learning the hard way how difficult it can be to solve problems after the fact, as costly, years-long efforts are just beginning around James Island and Shem creeks, where contamination from failing septic systems has eroded the water quality. We have a chance to address this on the upper Ashley River before it experiences a similar fate. And we need to take it.