Junk Removal in Summerville, SC

Music, guided tours and an appetizing spread were all part of the package during the Summerville-Dorchester Museum’s 30th anniversary function on Feb. 5, as featured attraction Dr. Ed West held court to introduce a new softcover publication and delve into the people of “off.”

In leading up to his presentation of a new release titled “When The President Circled Summerville,” West entertained a gathered audience in the museum courtyard with accounts of some of Summerville’s founding and/or influential residents from days gone by who weren’t necessarily natives of the community.

Through the years, these individuals — much like many present-day out-of-towners — were referred to as the people of “off,” per the historian.

“The people who came here and really made history did not live here. We have a few people who truly are historical characters who are from Summerville. But a whole lot of people who really made a big name here didn’t live here,” stated West.

Dr. Charles Shepard of North Haven, Connecticut was one of these seminal figures, who traveled to Summerville to build the Pinehurst Tea Plantation in 1888, recognized as the first commercial tea plantation in the United States. Lipton Tea Company would eventually claim the old Pinehurst plants and transported them to Wadmadlaw Island years after the operation faltered once its founder passed in 1915.

Similarly, West recounted how German immigrant Frederick Wagener purchased the Summerville Hotel Company in 1890, and went on to open the Pine Forest Inn a year later.

Wagener started out as a grocer and emerged as a self-made millionaire. He would go on to build the largest commercial edifice in Charleston on East Bay Street in 1880 and lived at the “Rutledge House” on the other end of Broad Street.

The book further highlights the exploits of railroad man John Averill of Plattsburgh, New York, who led the rebuilding efforts in Summerville in the aftermath of the 1886 earthquake.

But the protagonist of the book is the 26th President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt. The New York City-born statesman, conservationist, soldier, writer and historian is prominently featured on the cover the museum’s limited-edition printed copy due to his 24-hour visit to Summerville in 1902. The purpose of the sojourn was to tour the Lowcountry due to “two remarkable men,” as mentioned in the write-up, who joined forces on a “benighted effort” to host a World’s Fair in the Holy City.

“Teddy Roosevelt spent the day in Charleston and he came up to Summerville and spent the night at the Pine Forest Inn and then he went over to see the tea farm,” explained West.

While in Charleston, Roosevelt claimed that his mother, Martha Stewart “Mittie” Roosevelt, was a southerner born in Connecticut, but raised in Cobb County, Georgia in the 1800s.

“I don’t know if you all think this way, but who lived in South Carolina in 1700 and in Georgia in 1800? The people who lived out in Dorchester. I found out her maiden name was Stewart ... this land we’re standing on now was owned by James Stewart.”

In addition, West disclosed that (James) Stewart — a relative of Martha’s from the previous century — most likely was the proprietor of property that would serve as the future location of the Pine Forest Inn in Summerville.

The site of the Pine Forest Inn was situated on 60 acres of land near the present-day Roosevelt Square that is generally bounded by Simmons Avenue, Salisbury Drive, Marion Avenue and Gaillard Lane.

The limited-edition book copies were distributed among sponsor reps at the anniversary event that was also attended by museum executive officers and directors, including: Vice President Pam Giesick, Kenneth Battle, Danny Hughes, Janet Sussman and Michael Sussman, among others.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) in conjunction with the Town of Summerville and the Dorchester County Transportation Authority (DCTA) continues work on the 3rd phase of the Berlin G. Myers Project.

A temporary 3-day, 72-hour closure of the Sawmill Branch Walk/Bike Trail between Luden Drive and the pedestrian bridge at Willet Drive (shown in red on the map below) will be required between Monday, February 20, 2023, and Wednesday, February 22, 2023. Construction crews will be working on crossline drainage pipes beneath the existing trail and constructing a small section of detour trail near Luden Drive.

Variable message boards will be placed at either end of the trail to give advanced warning of the closure to pedestrians. The trail from Luden Drive to Crosscreek Drive and from Willet Drive to East Richardson Avenue will remain open and may still be used (shown in green on the map below).

The safety of the traveling public is of the utmost concern. Construction crews will work diligently to complete this work and reopen the trail for the Town’s recreational use as quickly as possible.

Clarius Partners and Stonemont Financial Group have announced that Buildings 3 and 4 are available for lease at the partnership’s Omni Industrial Campus in Summerville, S.C. The two speculative buildings total nearly 971,000 square feet of Class A industrial space.

Bridge Commercial is the exclusive leasing agent in charge of the 1.3 million-square-foot industrial park, expected to be delivered in June 2023.

Omni Industrial Campus is situated on nearly 100 acres, within the Jedburg Industrial Corridor, close to Interstate 26, 22 miles from North Charleston Port, 26 miles from Hugh Leatherman Terminal and within 32 miles of the Port Charleston, one of the fastest-growing ports in the U.S. over the last decade. The development is also situated close to the 4,500-acre, master-planned community Nexton, and other residential areas, allowing future tenants easy access to the market’s workforce.

Designed to serve a variety of users

Bridge Commercial’s team led by Executive Vice Presidents Hagood Morrison and Simons Johnson, President Peter Fennelly and Associate Vice President Will Crowell are the appointed leasing brokers in charge of the development.

The project’s initial building, Building 2, encompassing 360,320 square feet of space is fully preleased to a long-term, build-to-suit tenant. The remaining two buildings will feature 36-foot clear heights, LED lightning and ESFR sprinkler systems. The 364,700-square-foot Building 3, designed to accommodate multiple tenants, will have 305 vehicle parking spots, 79 trailer parking spots, four drive-in doors and 36 dock high doors, while the 606,880-square-foot Building 4, designed for large volume distribution, will have 350 vehicle parking spots, 157 trailer parking spots, four drive-in doors and 64 dock-high doors. Additionally, all three properties will also have a speculative office component, available for occupancy starting June of this year.

READ ALSO: Heightened Industrial Demand Boosts New Lease Rates

The industrial project is the largest option near the Port of Charleston for companies looking for an intermodal distribution point in the Southeast region, noted Stonemont Financial Group’s Managing Principal & Chief Executive Officer, Zack Markwell, in a prepared statement.

Earlier this month, Avison Young was tapped as leasing agent in charge of another industrial property under development in the Charleston area. The firm will market for lease a 545,000-square-foot project in Ridgeville, S.C., that is part of Camp Hall Commerce Park, a 6,800-acre master-planned development.

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) - Located at the corner of Berlin Myers Parkway and Highway 78, a 57-acre multi-use property will bring new development to the Summerville area by early 2025.

The property, named Sawmill, will include 474 multi-family apartment units, offices, restaurants, hotels, stores, banks, outdoor spaces and a 40,000-square-foot Roper St. Francis facility.

Summerville spokesperson Mary Edwards said the task to get the development started was a long process.

“It’s something that people have been wanting for a long time, and council has really supported the developers, too. It’s a big deal for us; I mean, it’s a new big development that’s coming to our area,” Edwards said. “It’s something that’s needed. It’s something that the public has really wanted.”

The developers, Lee & Associates, said in a news release that “a new walkable community designed to better connect residents with the fun they want and services they need will be anchored by a major healthcare system.”

Although not everyone in the area is excited about the new development. Some members of the Summerville community shared their concerns on a Facebook post with over 400 comments mentioning traffic problems, school enrollment and housing availability.

Located near the development, the Spinx gas station may see increased traffic with the upcoming construction. Employee Rona Emons, shared her concerns.

“I don’t think we can really handle it because this road is already always backed up; it’s already hard to get in and out of the store,” she said. “I think that’s going to make it a lot worse unless they try to widen the road somehow, which I don’t know how they can do that. But yeah, it’s going to cause a lot of congestion in this area.”

In response to the concerns, Edwards said the city and developers studied research before deciding if the project was appropriate for the area.

“The town is growing really fast,” Edwards said. “So, we know that people want to come here, and they want to experience the area. We want to be able to provide these types of options for people when they come.”

Construction on the health care facility and multi-family apartment units will begin in early 2023.

“I’m kind of excited,” Emons said. “I’d like to get out. You know, it’d be nice to see something new in this area. So yeah, I’m looking forward to it in some ways, and otherwise, I’m kind of a little leery of it.”

Overall, the project is expected to cost $200 million.

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Commandant of Cadets announces new leadership for upcoming academic year

As the Class of 2023 prepares to join The Citadel’s Long Gray Line, the newest cadet leadership for the South Carolina Corps of Cadets is preparing to take over. To earn their positions for next year, these cadet leaders went through a series of rank board engagements, performance reviews and interviews.

The Citadel continues the tradition of developing principled leaders through a 24/7 military structure on campus, positioning cadets to run the Corps by earning increasing rank throughout their time at The Citadel. Rank holders acquire real leadership experience in these roles, by making decisions that contribute to the academic, physical fitness, military training and overall success of the Corps.

The new cadet leadership was announced by The Citadel Commandant of Cadets Col. Thomas Gordon, USMC (Ret.), ’91, during a gathering in Jenkins Hall on March 8 .

“As the Corps leads the Corps, with that responsibility and that authority will come accountability,” said The Citadel Commandant of Cadets Col. Thomas Gordon, USMC (Ret.), ’91, when announcing next year’s leadership. “I promise never to tell you what to do. I expect the Corps to lead the Corps.”

The top-ranking cadets for the Class of 2024 will include:

Regimental Commander – Sullivan NewsomeMajor: Supply Chain ManagementHometown: Prosperity, South Carolina

Deputy Regimental Commander – Caleb McHargueMajor: Business AdministrationHometown: Fort Mill, South Carolina

Regimental Executive Officer (XO) – Po-Shuo HungMajor: Business ManagementHometown: Kaohsuing, Taiwan

Regimental Academic Officer – William BushMajor – FinanceHometown – Hinsdale, Ilinois

Honor Board Chair – Stephen WoytekMajor – Political ScienceHometown – Richfield, Ohio

1st Battalion Commander – Kenyaz BostonMajor – Criminal JusticeHometown – Ballentine, South Carolina

2nd Battalion Commander – Tavin HeisigMajor – Intelligence and Security StudiesHometown – Pleasanton, California

3rd Battalion Commander – Vincent MassaroMajor – Physics Hometown – Weddington, North Carolina

4th Battalion Commander – Jamison RogersMajor – AccountingHometown – Florence, South Carolina

5th Battalion Commander – Grace CooperMajor – Criminal JusticeHometown – San Diego, California

Regimental Cadet Sergeant Major – Madison HenningMajor – Political ScienceHometown – Greer, South Carolina

The regimental staff will lead approximately 80 cadet officers in the command of the Corps’ five battalions and 21 companies during the next academic year, with positions ranging from battalion sergeant majors to company first sergeants.

1st Battalion

2nd Battalion

3rd Battalion

4th Battalion

5th Battalion

Cadets selected for additional positions within Regimental Staff, listed below, will be added at a future date.

The Town of Summerville is primed and ready to ring in a holly, jolly holiday season with their Christmas tree lighting showcase at Hutchinson Square, scheduled to kick off at 6 p.m.

The 2022 Old Time Summerville Christmas Celebration will feature pre-ceremony music organized by the Garden Club, followed by the highly-anticipated tree lighting at 6:30 p.m.

Santa will also be on hand to add the holiday cheer, as he’ll be available for photos — but not gift requests — from 6-8 p.m.

In addition, attendees will be invited to stroll through the commercial district and get an up-close-and-personal view of live window displays, courtesy of participating area shops. A panel of judges from the Summerville Visitors Center will decide which retailer takes home the winning ribbon at the end of the event.

Children with Santa letters can drop off their enveloped lists on Short Central Avenue. Pre-stamped, addressed envelopes will ensure a return correspondence from Old Saint Nick.

This is a rain-or-shine affair.

Salsa dancers, mariachi performers and a host of artists were joined by community members and corporate sponsors to spotlight Hispanic Heritage Month during last week’s Oct. 20 Third Thursday extravaganza in Historic Downtown Summerville. Columbia-based Palmetto Luna and The SC Commission for Minority Affairs joined forces with Public Works Art Center’s Jana Riley in organizing a free public showcase. Among the artists on hand was Columbia (South America) native Diana Farfán who traveled from Greenville to present creations from her portfolio.

Connoisseurs of rare and/or vintage vehicles are welcome to partake in the ARK of SC’s second-annual Car Show on March 25 at 201 Sigma Drive in Nexton. The free, family-friendly event features food, coffee, prizes, along with a slew of classic automobiles.

Participants are invited to enter all makes and models for a $25 donation by March 24 in order to qualify for one of many awards on hand at the weekend extravaganza.

“The Car Show allows us to host a community event where we can meet people and raise awareness for our critical mission,” said The ARK’s Executive Director Peg Lahmeyer. “We understand the stresses that come with being a caregiver for someone living with Alzheimer’s, and we work to ensure that those caregivers know that they are not alone.”

Monies raised at the event will support the organization’s goal of providing hope and relief to families coping with Alzheimer’s Disease or related forms of dementia.

A corresponding press release from the non-profit details that there are currently more than 95,000 South Carolinians living with Alzheimer’s disease and more than 199,000 family members and friends providing care for them, per The Alzheimer’s Association. Also in South Carolina, 12.1 percent of people aged 45 and older have subjective cognitive decline. Alzheimer’s Disease is a degenerative disease of the brain that affects memory, awareness, social conversation, and speech.

The Summerville-based ARK of SC furnishes community members with services, such as memory screenings, resource fairs, educational workshops and support groups.

Areas serviced include Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, and Orangeburg counties, along with Harleyville and Summerville.

For more information, visit at https://bit.ly/ARKcarshow.