Hair Salon inCharleston, SC

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Sweet Grass Vodka, a family-owned spirits and distilling company, today announced plans to establish operations in Charleston County. The company’s $1.7 million investment will create 47 new jobs.

Founded in 2020, Sweet Grass Vodka crafts innovative and high-quality vodka and spirits from South Carolina-grown potatoes. The company is committed to locally sourced ingredients and is known worldwide for its award-winning vodka.

Located at 1640 Meeting Street in Charleston, Sweet Grass Vodka’s new facility will be its first operation in Charleston County and its second location in South Carolina. The Charleston facility will be a bottling plant, offering a tasting room for spirits and small bites.

Operations are expected to be online in October. Individuals interested in joining the Sweet Grass Vodka team should visit the company’s contact page.

QUOTES

"We are enthusiastic about launching our second location in South Carolina in the beautiful upper peninsula of Charleston. We are proud of our quality, locally sourced vodka — and this new facility will showcase Sweet Grass Vodka on a larger scale." -Sweet Grass Vodka Chief Executive Officer Jarrod Swanger

“Again and again, South Carolina has shown it is one of the best places in the world to do business. This announcement by Sweet Grass Vodka is further proof of our pro-business environment, and we’re excited to see what this locally grown company has in store for the future. Congratulations to Sweet Grass Vodka on its establishment in Charleston County.” -Gov. Henry McMaster

“We congratulate Sweet Grass Vodka on their new operations in Charleston County and applaud their continued growth within our borders. The opportunities with this announcement underscore South Carolina’s burgeoning distilling and craft brewing sector.” -Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III

“We are pleased to welcome Sweet Grass Vodka to our community and look forward to its continued growth and success. Using the best of locally sourced ingredients, Sweet Grass Vodka is committed to an authentic homegrown experience.” -Charleston County Council Chairman Teddie Pryor

Fall is fast approaching, and it is one of the most delightful times of the year in the Lowcountry. For anyone trying to decide when to visit Charleston, South Carolina, the return of the local oyster season ticks another box for planning an autumn escape.

Charleston's flat coastline, an extensive network of tidal creeks, and bountiful natural reefs, combined with water temperatures conducive to a long spawning season, create an ideal oyster habitat. The harvests are in-demand nationwide, and the area has even been dubbed the 'Napa Valley of Oysters'. Whether it's fine dining, trendy raw bars, or rustic shuck-your-own outdoor roasts that float your boat, Charleston's oyster scene has it all.

THETRAVEL VIDEO OF THE DAY

When Is Oyster Season in South Carolina?

The steadfast yet unofficial rule when it comes to oyster consumption is to stick to the 'r' months. Shellfish aficionados have long followed this well-established norm and only eat oysters from September - April, and evidence shows this practice dates back thousands of years!

Originally, there were several layers to avoiding oysters during the summer months. As they spawn when the water is the warmest, restricting oyster harvesting during this season was a sustainability practice so that they could be given time to reproduce each year. Furthermore, spawning oysters do not have a nice taste or texture; they tend to be small, watery, and flimsy.

The other factor stemmed from food safety. The waters around Charleston (and the southeast in general) get very hot in the summertime, raising algae and bacteria levels that could be absorbed by wild oysters and cause food poisoning if consumed. With the scorching air temperatures, reliable refrigeration (especially during transportation) was also a concern in the past.

Yes and no. With the surging popularity of oysters and aquaponics advancements, restaurants and suppliers are no longer relying solely on wild harvests. Cold water oyster farms safely produce tasty harvests all year round. Warm water farms have triploid breeds, which are sterile and therefore avoid any issues relating to reproduction.

Another thing to remember is that ocean temperatures vary significantly from location to location. While local oysters may be out of season in Charleston in the summer months, restaurants often source them from somewhere else in the country (or even the world) at this time of year. Those in the know come to appreciate different varieties of oysters in much the same way as one would with wine from different regions. Water quality and transportation are closely monitored, and all fresh oysters must be stamped with origin information.

With all of that said, if one is really looking for the most authentic experience of sampling fresh, wild, locally-harvested Charleston oysters, then sticking to the 'r' months is the best idea. More specifically, the official shellfish harvesting season in Charleston opens annually on October 1st.

What Is An Oyster Roast, And Where To Attend One?

Oyster roasts originated in the Charleston area, and they continue to be a much-loved seasonal tradition. Bushels of fresh oysters are steamed over hot coals in a kettle or fire-pit using a burlap sack. They are then served family-style in the middle of a large, communal table stocked with the standard accompaniments of saltine crackers, lemon wedges, and hot sauce (oh, and plenty of cold beer too). Guests gather around with special shucking knives and help themselves to oysters as freshly-steamed batches continue to be piled onto the table.

There are large-scale oyster roasts frequently held at Charleston area plantations, with Boone Hall Plantation annually hosting the largest oyster festival in the world. More low-key oyster roasts pop up frequently at local breweries, parks, bars, and literally anywhere else with a bit of outdoor space. Here are a few other favorites worth checking out:

The Best Restaurants To Eat Oysters In Charleston

Raw oysters and oyster-based dishes grace many a menu across the Charleston peninsula, and its surrounds, but below are a few tried and true favorites to get started. These restaurants have withstood the test of time and have solidified their reputation for serving up a fresh and delicious oyster selection year after year.

The DIY Approach To Eating Oysters In Charleston

For anyone feeling particularly adventurous, there is also the option to harvest your own oysters. There are three recreational shellfish grounds that are open to the public; just be sure to first obtain a South Carolina Saltwater Fishing license. Head out around low tide with a sturdy pair of boots for the pluff mud, and don't forget a hammer, gloves, and bucket. Regardless of the bounty, it's certain to be a fun experience!

The World Is Your Oyster

Charleston has been a go-to foodie destination for years with its wide range of culinary offerings and countless award-winning chefs and restaurants. Oysters are yet another highlight to add to the roster, and whether visitors are experienced aficionados or just dipping their toe into the world of oysters for the first time, they won't be left disappointed! With the oyster season right around the corner, now is the perfect time to start planning the next (or first) Charleston getaway.

With Charleston ranking No. 1 on Travel + Leisure’s list of the Top 10 U.S. Cities 2022 and undertaking multiple high-profile developments this year, we figured it was time to talk about the cost of planting some roots in the Holy City.

The median household income in Charleston County is $67,182 according to the US Census Bureau. State-wise, South Carolina is 41st in the country for median income at ~$54,864 per household.

The overall cost of living in Charleston is higher than the national average and higher than the rest of the state.

In Charleston, the cost of healthcare is lower compared to other parts of the state + the US. The cost of transportation is also lower than the national average. However, the cost of groceries, housing, and other miscellaneous expenses in the city have higher average costs than other cities in South Carolina and the country overall.

Breaking down the numbers

Hypothetically speaking, if you live in a household that brings in $50,000 annually – according to experts — you shouldn’t spend more than 30% of your monthly gross income on rent and utilities. Don’t worry, we did the math for you — your max monthly rent budget would be $1,250. The average monthly rent for an apartment in Charleston is $1,872 — putting you over budget.

According to a recent study by ATTOM Data Solutions, it’s actually more affordable to rent a home in Charleston County than to buy.

Take a look at the chart below to see how Charleston’s cost of living compares to that of the Soda City.

Interested in seeing Charleston’s cost of living compared to cities in other states? We played around on nerdwallet’s cost of living calculator, where you can put in any city along with your current pre-tax household income to find out what other cities are affordable for you to live in.

We also took a look at the cost of living in Charleston compared to Greenville. Hey, GVLtoday. Here’s what we found:

The city also has the Department of Housing and Community Development, entities such as the Palmetto Community Land Trust + other government-funded programs to help develop more affordable units.

There are also a number of local organizations working on apartments seemingly all the time — from the renovation of the former Archer School on Nassau Street, expected to be converted into affordable housing for older adults, to the affordable housing planned for Lowline Park for those earning 30-70% of the area median income.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - It takes someone with a big heart to step in and care for a child if their parents cannot.

The state agency that oversees South Carolina’s foster care system said, in many cases, the best person to do that is someone the child already has a relationship with and who knows them.

“Caregivers are special people, and it’s not easy. It’s not easy being a caregiver,” Virgie Anderson, a kinship caregiver in the Lowcountry, said.

It is a role Anderson knows well, having cared for five of her grandchildren at one point and still caring for one now.

“There were lots of needs for the children,” she said. “They were going through so much. They needed financial help and there were mental problems, so there is so many needs that we have, so I’m glad for today.”

Anderson joined state leaders and fellow caregivers Thursday at Charleston HALOS — an organization that supports family members and loved ones who step into a caregiving role for children in the foster system — to celebrate a new state law, which Gov. Henry McMaster commemoratively signed.

.@henrymcmaster ceremonially signs a new SC law allowing fictive kin — people who aren’t related by birth, adoption or marriage to a child but have a significant relationship with them — to receive resources + support from @SC_DSS if they serve as that child’s kinship caregiver. pic.twitter.com/0y4gnPzKiT

— Mary Green (@MaryGreenNews) September 22, 2022

The law, which went into effect in May, expands the definition of kinship care, which is when a loved one cares for a child when their parent is not able to do so, to now include fictive kin.

Those are people not related by birth, marriage or adoption to a child but who share a significant emotional relationship with them, like a family friend, neighbor or coach.

“This new law will help us protect children, getting them to a safe environment while lessening the trauma that comes with removing a child from the home,” Sen. Katrina Shealy, R – Lexington and the bill’s sponsor at the State House, said.

Shealy’s bill passed both the state Senate and the House of Representatives unanimously, and South Carolina is now the 29th state in the country with this type of legislation in place.

The new law allows fictive kin caregivers to receive support and resources from the state to help them, as well as access services, such as being able to obtain a copy of the child’s birth certificate.

“... When you’re taking on children, it costs money, right,” Department of Social Services Director Michael Leach said. “So this allows at least children who may have come into the foster care system to work toward a connection with kin and maybe the broader fictive kin to where we can support them.”

Leach’s department oversees South Carolina’s foster care system, and currently, about one in five children in it are being cared for by a kinship caregiver.

DSS estimates there are about 70,000 kinship caregivers in South Carolina at this time, though not all of them are in the DSS system.

“We’re seeing children enter the foster care system, but we know they have connections — family connections, fictive kin-type connections — and we need to make sure that they’re connected with those folks to minimize trauma, to help with cultural connections because they do better,” Leach said.

This new kinship care law isn’t the only one passed this year to strengthen South Carolina’s foster system: Another recent change now allows children in the state’s custody to receive DSS support and services until they are 21. Those resources had previously been cut off at 18.

But Leach said the work is far from done to help children in South Carolina’s foster system.

When the new legislative session begins in January, he is asking the General Assembly to approve a type of program that supports permanent placements for foster children living with kinship caregivers if they are out of state custody. Leach said 40 other states already have a program like this in place.

People who are interested in fostering, in the traditional sense or through kinship care, can learn more by visiting heartfeltcalling.org. Leach said South Carolina is in particular need of caregivers for teenagers, who make up about 30% of kids in the foster care system.

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The chairman of the Charleston County School Board issued a response Tuesday to a letter Gov. Henry McMaster wrote after saying he received calls and letters from parents concerned about an assignment.

McMaster’s letter called on the school board to “restore and prioritize parental involvement in the classroom by prohibiting instructional materials on gender identity from being distributed or utilized without parents’ knowledge and consent,” McMaster spokesman Brian Symmes said.

Charleston County School District spokesman Andy Pruitt said the district learned last Wednesday there were concerns about content shared with students in a class at Camp Road Middle School. That led to a prompt investigation that revealed an assignment was left for students to complete with a substitute teacher during a physical education class without parents’ prior knowledge.

“The assignment involved students reading a Scholastic magazine article that addressed the topic of trans people and then answering three multiple choice and two short answer questions,” Pruitt said. “The assignment was supplemental and was not given a grade.”

Mack released this statement Tuesday evening:

I am in receipt of Governor McMaster’s letter, sharing his concerns, and those of parents, about an assignment distributed by a teacher at Camp Road Middle School

Based on a review of events, District officials listened intently to parents’ concerns and acted swiftly to address them last week. We regret this occurred without prior notification to parents and surely value their right to determine if/when they prefer materials not be shared with their children/young adults.

I have requested that [district] leaders ensure all staff receive information annually regarding opt-out protocols and that such protocols be followed moving forward.

In the letter, McMaster said while he heard from parents, he had not received a copy of any questions or other materials provided to the children and said he was told the district “has thus far refused to provide this documentation to parents upon request.”

“Parents know what is best for their children, and that includes whether, when, or how to address topics like those raised in the article,” McMaster wrote. “If parents decide to introduce their children to the ideas discussed in this article, then it is in their sole discretion to do so, at a time (or age) and in the way they deem appropriate. It certainly should not be done by a public-school teacher without parents’ knowledge.”

District staff determined the assignment did not align with state and district policies, Pruitt said.

The school’s principal, Jaclyn Rowehl sent the following statement to parents whose children were in those classes:

Dear Camp Road Families,

Following concerns shared by parents, we have determined that content was shared with students in a PE/health class involving topics that were not in accordance with the Comprehensive Health Act from the South Carolina State Department of Education.

At Camp Road, moving forward, instructional materials utilized within the classroom by teachers will adhere to the Comprehensive Health Act requirements.

We want to be sure you know that if you choose for your child not to participate in the growth and development portion of the Health class, Parent Opt Out forms can be completed. Parents can expect that opt-out forms are sent out before the material is covered in the course. For your review, curriculum materials can be found at CCSD Comprehensive Health Plan.

We appreciate the feedback provided and the ongoing dialogue with families that has allowed us to respond to concerns and make adjustments to our practice.

Respectfully,

Ms. Rowehl

“District staff regrets that this matter occurred, and leaders are working to ensure all staff is reminded of parents’ opportunity to opt their children out prior to sensitive materials being shared with students,” Pruitt said. “School administrators at Camp Road Middle continue to be available to meet with parents to address additional questions and concerns about this matter.”

You can read the full letter and the materials McMaster attached here:

2022-09-20 Gov. McMaster to CCSD BoT Chmn. Mack Re Camp Road Middle School Matter by Live 5 News on Scribd

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Early last week, the S.C. Department of Revenue sent out a public notice with tax tips for people renting rooms in South Carolina, noting that beginning Oct. 1, they must have a retail license and electronically file and pay accommodations taxes, just as hotels and motels do. It was a reminder that the short-term rental business continues to grow for better and, at least sometimes, for worse.

Currently, two different types of businesses pay these taxes. Those operating single-unit rentals must provide the location address of their rental property on their tax account, but property management companies and third-party booking sites have been allowed to report lump sums by municipality. A new state law requires that latter businesses also provide the department with a list of all addresses that they are reporting sales for.

We urge the department to share that information with municipalities, several of which continue to struggle to find the right balance between supporting property owners interested in offering short-term rentals — and the tourism benefits they provide — with legitimate local concerns that many such rentals worsen a housing affordability crisis, erode neighborhood cohesion and create problems with noise, trash and parking.

Having additional data from the state about the specific locations of these rentals will help local officials find the right balance between letting homeowners rent out part, or in some cases all, of their property and ensuring that the home’s neighbors and the wider community are not adversely affected. It’s a debate that has flared up anew not only in coastal cities such as Isle of Palms, Folly Beach and Port Royal but also in Columbia, Greenville, Spartanburg and Rock Hill.

Several local governments have had to go to the expense of buying software to identify short-term rental locations because not all property owners were stepping forward to get their proper licenses and pay accommodations taxes. In Port Royal, for instance, the software helped town officials identify more than 100 such units when the town previously had known about only 60-65 of them. The town has sought more information from the Revenue Department, with no luck so far. “Their argument is they don’t have the manpower or software to track this thing,” town manager Van Willis tells us, “but if they can do this for Ubers, they can do it for a house that’s not moving.”

It would be helpful if municipalities could get information on short-term rental locations within their city or town limits without having to spend tax money buying software, says Scott Slatton with the Municipal Association of South Carolina. We agree, and should companies have proprietary concerns, those could be addressed along the same lines as information about business revenue, which is reported to the state to calculate taxes and business license fees but is not available to the public.

“From the statewide perspective, the biggest help cities and counties can get with short-term rentals is getting an inventory of all of them. Where are they?” Mr. Slatton notes. “It’s first and foremost an issue of ensuring the character and quality of life within our cities and towns. That’s the first concern. The revenue comes into play, but that’s not the motivating factor for wanting to figure out where they are.”

While short-term rentals have been around for generations in some form, the advent of websites such as Airbnb and VRBO has led to tremendous growth. Municipalities have responded differently, with some mix of new laws, some more controversial than others. These include hotlines for complaints, guest limits, parking requirements, limits on the number of guests and more. While a state legislator filed a bill to prohibit cities from banning all short-term rentals within their jurisdiction, we know of no city that has attempted such a step.

But as local debates continue on adopting or refining short-term rental rules — as they most certainly will in the months and years to come — everyone should agree that the first, best step toward responsibly balancing all the interests involved is getting reliable data on where the rentals are occurring.

Get a weekly recap of South Carolina opinion and analysis from The Post and Courier in your inbox on Monday evenings.

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tropical Storm Ian could gain hurricane strength late this weekend, according to predictions by the National Hurricane Center.

As of the National Hurricane Center’s 11 a.m. update, Ian was about 270 miles south-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 520 miles southeast of Grand Cayman.

The storm had max sustained winds of 45 mph and was moving west at 15 mph.

The NHC said the center of Tropical Storm Ian will move over the Caribbean Sea Saturday, gathering strength as it makes its move toward Jamaica and the Cayman Islands Sunday.

By late Sunday afternoon or Sunday night, Ian could gain hurricane strength, according to the NHC advisory. By Monday, Ian is expected to be near or at major hurricane strength when it approaches Cuba.

“Ian will likely impact the state of Florida early to mid-week as a strong hurricane,” meteorologist Amanda Holly said. “Our forecast will depend largely on exactly where the center of the storm tracks, and there is still some uncertainty on if it will go a little farther south or even to the north.”

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:

While Tropical Storm Ian is still a long distance away from Florida, the future hurricane largely is expected to make landfall on the western coast of Florida, with Tampa Bay included in the potential path. However, other paths have it possibly entering the Gulf of Mexico or hitting the Gulf of Mexico.

he NHC said heavy rains could begin for the Florida Keys and the Florida Peninsula through the mid-week, with flash and urban flooding possible. River flooding is also possible, according to the NHC.

“If we see those direct impacts, they could start as early as Tuesday evening with the worst of the weather on Wednesday night and into Thursday,” Holly said.

As of the latest update, the Florida Keys and South Florida could see one to three inches of rain through Tuesday morning, with a local maximum of five inches.

However, the more immediate threat is to the islands in the Caribbean — such as Cuba, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands — which could see heavy rainfall, flooding, and mudslides.

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) – Ian strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane early Monday morning, but forecasters with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) say the storm will rapidly intensify as it heads towards Cuba this week and the western Florida coast. The storm will likely lose some strength as it approaches Florida later in the week.

Ian will not be a direct hit for our coast like if the storm was coming in from the Atlantic. The storm will come out of the Gulf of Mexico and will have plenty of land interaction before it gets to South Carolina.

Here at home, forecasters say our greatest risks will be rainfall and wind. Rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall are possible Thursday through Friday, which could result in flooding, especially in low-lying and poor draining areas, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Charleston.

The risk for coastal flooding will increase with high tides beginning on Wednesday. High surf, dangerous rip currents, and beach erosion are possible. Gusty winds, possibly to tropical storm force, may begin to develop Wednesday night through Friday, NWS forecasters said. Winds will likely be highest over the coastal waters and along the immediate coast.

Storm Team 2 is tracking two scenarios for the mid-to-late-week timeframe when it comes to impacts from Hurricane Ian.

SCENARIO ONE

Scenario one would be a closer approach – Hurricane Ian makes landfall around Florida’s big bend. It would pass through or near our area as a tropical storm later in the week. That would give us heavy rain, flooding, gusty winds, and an increased risk of tornadoes.

“That is typical for landfalling tropical systems in the Gulf,” said Storm Team 2 Meteorologist Josh Marthers. “Those are the three things (rain, wind, tornadoes) we typically get out of these types of storms from that area.”

SCENARIO TWO

Scenario two is a little further to the west, which would mean a lower impact for us. But we would still see some heavy rain and a gusty breeze.

“The rain amounts would be less, we would have less flooding and lower wind speeds,” said Marthers.

But Storm Team 2 said the likely scenario right now, based on the latest guidance from the National Hurricane Center, is for scenario one to play out for us late in the week; however, we cannot yet take scenario two off the table.

Timing for impacts from Ian would be Thursday into Friday with showers lingering into the weekend.

Regardless of any impacts we see from Ian, it’s a good reminder we are in peak hurricane season. Now is a good time to review your family’s hurricane plan and download the Storm Team 2 Hurricane Ready Guide for tips and important information you may need. You can also download the News 2 and Storm Team 2 apps for the latest weather and breaking news alerts.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Gas prices in South Carolina fell 4.2 cents last week bringing the state’s average price per gallon down to $3.16, according to GasBuddy’s weekly survey of the state’s gas stations.

The cheapest gas in the state was priced at $2.79 on Sunday while the most expensive was $4.75, a difference of $1.96.

Prices in the Palmetto State are 24.6 cents lower than a month ago and 27.6 cents higher than one year ago.

Click here to find the cheapest gas near your neighborhood.

As of Monday morning, the cheapest gas in the Tri-County was at a station in North Charleston selling gas for $2.79 per gallon.

Nationally, the average price per gallon rose 3.2 cents last week, averaging $3.67 per gallon as of Monday morning ending 14 straight weeks of decline. The national average is down 17.5 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 49.3 cents higher than one year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.

The national average for diesel fell 5.1 cents over the last week bringing the national average down to $4.88 per gallon.

“One of the longest gas price declines on record has finally come to an end after 14 weeks, with gas prices shooting up in several regions amidst myriad refinery issues from the West Coast to the Great Lakes and in between,” Head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy Patrick De Haan said. “I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a wider gamut of price behaviors coast to coast in my career. A slew of unexpected refinery disruptions, including fires and routine maintenance, have seemingly all happened in a short span of time, causing wholesale gas prices to spike in areas of the West Coast, Great Lakes and Plains states - and some of those areas could see prices spike another 25-75 cents per gallon or more until issues are worked out. In addition, as Tropical Storm Ian nears the U.S. coast, some refiners could see limited disruption. As a precaution, GasBuddy has activated its Fuel Availability Tracker for motorists in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina. Hopefully, disruptions will be very limited due to Ian, but there remain many factors driving prices both up and down across the country.”

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.