Port Wars By Shelia Watson In anticipation of ongoing increases in cargo volume, many ports, especially East Coast and South Atlantic ports, are building or planning new facilities.
Half-cent sales tax short $1.4 million By Dennis Quick The first check the Charleston County treasurer’s office received from the half-cent sales tax earlier this month fell $1.4 million short of what the county expected.
Biotech company relocating to Charleston By Shelia Watson Apogee Biotechnology Corp., which discovers and develops new pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of chronic and life-threatening diseases, is relocating from Hershey, Pa., to Charleston.
Children’s book publishing company gets presses rolling By Dennis Quick For the Boehm siblings, children’s book publishing is all in the family. Sister Kate Boehm Jerome writes the books, brother Jim Boehm prints them and brother Gary Boehm provides some illustrations.
It’s high time we crashed costly Charleston airfares I just don’t get it. Earlier this month I had to attend a family affair in Baltimore. I needed a roundtrip ticket that would fly me to Baltimore one day and back home the next.
Montague Avenue undergoing face lift, development By Dennis Quick A lot of change is in store for Montague Avenue to make that thoroughfare the main corridor of what could become “downtown” North Charleston.
Congress shouldn’t put homeownership out of reach By C. Dan Joyner The median price of a single-family home in South Carolina is more than $159,000, yet 70% of the population now owns their own home—a record high.
New state Web site easier to use, improves service The state’s main Web site is now easier to use. And it was done in a way that highlights how government can work well to improve customer service without spending money.
Leaders don’t discount Tanger’s economic impact By Rachel Pleasant North Charleston, already a state leader in retail sales, broke ground for the Tanger Outlet Center earlier this month in a fanfare-filled ceremony attended by company and government officials.
Conference to address security, crisis management By Supplements Editor The Lowcountry is home to a major port, military installations, training facilities and several high-tech businesses, so it is a likely location for a homeland security conference.
Classic toys make a comeback this holiday season By Rachel Pleasant Sarah Anne Summers knows that no matter how many flashy videogames and portable electronics are invented, children still dream of being princesses and firemen; their imaginations still transform a pile of blocks into a towering skyscraper or a little red wagon into a speeding space ship.
Bankruptcy cases flooding court dockets, attorneys By Dennis Quick Bankruptcy attorneys will remember 2005 as the year of the flood. The floodwaters gradually rose to tsunami status as the calendar approached Oct. 17—the day the nation’s new bankruptcy law took effect.
Tax changes that affect you and your business By Rachel Pleasant It is late November, and you probably have things like Christmas presents and parties, family dinners and twinkling lights running through your mind.
Law regulates credit counseling, business By Rachel Pleasant Credit counselors doing business in South Carolina have only a few more days to apply for a new state-issued license required by the Consumer Credit Counseling Act.
Use life settlements to lower financial risks By Valerie Greenberg Many older Americans are deciding to cash in their insurance policies by selling them to companies that then use the money to complete projects with minimized risk.
Tax reform plan could hurt businesses, schools By Kim Chen Wiseman A heated debate about how the state will address rising property taxes in South Carolina will dominate the upcoming legislative session as lawmakers gear up for a fight in January.
S.C. research authority secures $10 million contract for ATI program By Shelia Watson Advanced Technology Institute of North Charleston, one of the affiliated research and development companies working with the South Carolina Research Authority, has been awarded a $10 million cost-plus-fixed fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for its Next Generation Manufacturing Technologies program.
Developers flip Mount Pleasant apartments to condos By Dennis Quick The apartment-to-condominium conversion trend, which began spreading throughout the Lowcountry about four years ago, continues with two recently converted Mount Pleasant apartment communities located roughly two miles from each other.
Commercial contractors seek standardization for special inspections By Shelia Watson The adoption earlier this year of the updated version of the International Building Code is having repercussions in the commercial contracting industry due to the inclusion of a chapter that requires special inspections.
Development alliance announces distribution center relocating to the area By Rachel Pleasant The Charleston Regional Development Alliance announced earlier this month that FoodHandler Inc., a seller of disposable gloves and other food-handling products, will relocate its distribution center from Memphis, Tenn., to a building in North Charleston.
The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce achieves five-star status By Heather Murrie The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce is seeing its star rise among other U.S. chambers. This month the U.S. Chamber of Commerce awarded the Charleston chamber with a five-star accreditation, the highest ranking possible.
Reading Man sparks children’s interest in learning By Holly Fisher The walls are lined ceiling to floor with books. Toddlers struggle to pull their little legs up on the “tower of knowledge” where pictures of their crudely drawn letters are enthusiastically celebrated. Children can climb on the jungle-gym-like Vocab-U-Rack while tossing balls inscribed with letters of the alphabet.
People in the News Michael Edwards, Chad McDonald, Chris Humphries, Jack Crow, Philip Anderson and Ben Story have joined Schmitt Walker Architects Inc. Edwards is a project architect. He will manage multi-family housing projects throughout the Southeast. Edwards was previously with Design South Professionals in Anderson. McDonald is a residential project manager and will be responsible for the design, production and construction administration of custom single-family homes. McDonald was previously with Wayne Windham Architect of Charleston. Humphries is a project manager on multi-family and custom single-family residential projects. He was previously with Tynes Associates of North Charleston. Crow is a project manager for custom single-family residential projects. He was previously with Stephen Herlong & Associates in Isle of Palms. Anderson is a project manager overseeing the production of construction documents and administration for a variety of residential and light commercial projects. He was previously with Charles Blanchard Construction Corp. of Charleston. Story is an intern architect. He received his master’s degree in architecture from Clemson University.
Accolades & More Lowcountry Medical Associates PC has been awarded the Laboratory Excellence Award from the Commission on Office Laboratory Accreditation, the premier accreditation program for physician office laboratories. COLA’s accreditation is awarded to laboratories that apply to rigorous standards of quality in day-to-day operations, demonstrate continued accuracy in the performance of proficiency testing and pass a comprehensive on-site laboratory survey.
Giving Back Volunteers help finish home with Charleston Habitat for Humanity.
Eleven volunteers from B. P. Barber & Associates Inc.’s Charleston regional office recently supported the Charleston Habitat for Humanity by working alongside the home’s recipients, trimming trees throughout the yard, forming a driveway and sidewalk up to the house, and painting the interior.
Appointments Trident United Way announced this year’s loaned executives. Mike Collins is sponsored by Roper St. Francis Healthcare. Julie Gaines is sponsored by Trident Health Systems. Vanessa Head is currently an accountant with the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. Maj. Donna McNabb is the logistic readiness officer for the U.S. Air Force Reserves, 315 Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base. Ens. Mike Moreton is from the Naval Nuclear Power Training School. Ray Pinson is a principal engineer at Santee Cooper. Jeff Pope is on loan from J.W. Aluminum where he serves as a lean manufacturing manager.
Photo Finish Dorchester County Economic Development Board tours Intercontinental Hotels. In conjunction with Industry Appreciation Week, members of the Dorchester County Economic Development Board recently toured Intercontinental Hotels. Pictured, from left, Catherine Garrett, operations manager; Ellen Monahan, revenue enhancement manager; Greg St. Clair, director; Jenn Stark, human resources manager; second row, Ben Cole, economic development board; Craig Turner, economic development board; Bill Byrd, economic development board; Dana Schwerman, operations manager; and Jen Williams, information manager.
Calendar • NOV. 28: Women's Business Center workshop. 9 a.m.-noon at 5900 Core Drive, Suite 104, North Charleston. Topic: What are your financials trying to tell you? Cost: $60. Information: 740-6160.
News Briefs Woodlands Resort & Inn receives 5-Star ratings
Woodlands Resort & Inn and The Dining Room at Woodlands have received the Mobil Travel Guide’s Five-Star Award for dining and lodging.
This marks the third consecutive year the Summerville resort has received Mobil’s highest rating.
Woodlands is one of only three properties in North America to hold a Mobil Five-Star rating for lodging and dining. The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco and the Inn at Little Washington in Virginia are the other two properties sharing that distinction.
