Barbara Burgess lobbies Congress from a lofty Seabrook Island perch Barbara Burgess lobbies Congress from a lofty Seabrook Island perch After 12 years as a Washington lobbyist, Barbara Burgess has one of the Lowcountry’s highest-ranking home offices. And one of the most picturesque. She commutes to Capital Hill from her Seabrook Island home, nestled in a tropical setting with a breath-taking panorama of the Atlantic Ocean, white beaches and tidal creeks.
Bringing out the beauty in wood and stone Mary Van Abbema, stone and wood carver As Greek mythology has it, the Cyprian king Pygmalion sculpted a block of ivory that became the living nymph, Galatea. For millenia sculptors and carvers have attempted the same, fashioning the earth’s materials into living works of art. Some might say the craft is fading away, but not master wood and stone carver Mary Van Abbema, who brought Charleston Wood & Stone Carving to Moncks Corner six months ago.
Charleston hotel upgrades to Doubletree Guest Suites Property will become first upscale Doubletree branded hotel after $5 million renovation On March 15, The Holliday Companies/Incorporated will convert the former Hawthorn Suites hotel on Church Street to the Doubletree Guest Suites Charleston. The property, which is owned under the name Conch Republic Associates, LLC, will be Charleston’s first Doubletree Guest Suites hotel as well as the first Doubletree hotel in the state.
Consumers back in drivers seat with lower auto rates Consumers back in driver’s seat with lower auto rates Nearly a decade after Hurricane Hugo raked our coast and carried away more than 60 insurance companies, consumers – as of this month – find themselves with more coverage options than ever before. Thanks to a massive 1997 auto reform bill driven by Charleston Senators Glenn McConnell (R) and Ernie Passailaigue (D), almost three dozen auto insurers are bringing their business back to the Palmetto State
Corporate Wellness Programs Well worth a second look The Associated Press, citing a national survey of 4,200 employers, recently reported an estimated cost increase of 9 percent for health benefits in 1999, the biggest jump in seven years. As a result, more and more employers are expected to discontinue coverage for retirees and reduce benefits for some active workers.
Dog It’s a dog’s life Many medical experts say that stroking a dog is good for your health, and at least three Charleston businessmen have taken that statement to heart. Mark Ragsdale of Buck and Bass in Mt. Pleasant, Tom Chatburn of the Tinder Box on Meeting Street, and Rick Jones of F5 Media in West Ashley all have the distinct pleasure of taking their dogs with them to work.
Grocers compete for shoppers bacon Grocers compete for shoppers’ bacon Local food stores hope to keep customers in their checkout lines Grocery stores are big business in the Lowcountry. As consumer tastes change, retailers look to stay competitive by expanding their operations, offering specialty selections, increased service and a host of other bargains to lure choosy shoppers through their doors.
INBRIEF03011999 SouthTrust announces cash dividend, record fourth quarter earnings The board of directors of SouthTrust Corporation has declared an increased quarterly cash dividend of $0.22 per share, up 16 percent over the $0.19 paid last year. This represents SouthTrust’s 29th consecutive year of increased dividends. The dividend is payable April 1, 1999 to stockholders of record at the close of business February 26, 1999.
Keep Your Guard Up Against Big Bad Wolf Keep Your Guard Up Against Big Bad Wolf With the hurricane season almost upon us (June – November), there’s no better time to review homeowners policies to see exactly what weather-related calamities are covered. What you discover might be surprising. Smitty Harrison, Executive Director of the South Carolina Wind and Hail Underwriters Association, says that major property insurance events like Hurricanes Andrew and Hugo and the Northridge (California) earthquakes have significantly altered the industry in
New general manager brings experience, enthusiasm to Channel 5 New general manager brings experience, enthusiasm to Channel 5 If Charles (Chuck) Wing ever grows tired of broadcasting, he would find a sure future in the Charleston tourism industry. His enthusiasm for the Lowcountry is unmistakable as he describes his reasons for accepting the job of vice president and general manager of WCSC-Channel 5 a little more than six months ago.
PIN03011999 People in the News.doc Jon Weitz has joined Kiawah Island Resort as director of development and General Council for the Resort. Weitz comes to Kiawah from the firm of Nexsen Pruet Jacobs Pollard and Robinson, LLP of downtown Charleston. His primary focus will be on developmental concerns of the resort. Brian D. Gray joins the Civil Engineering section of General Engineering. A civil engineer with over two years of experience, Gray will be involved primarily in stormwater
Poor location, fickle customers make Charleston chain restaurants hit ormiss Poor location, fickle customers make Charleston chain restaurants hit or miss A ribbon cutting with the mayor and smiling restaurant management typifies the arrival of a national chain’s newest restaurant in the Lowcountry. This usually is in stark contrast to the silent departure of a restaurant when, for a wide variety of reasons, a decision is made to shut down local operations.
PubNote03011999 By Bill Settlemyer, Editor and Publisher Charleston Regional Business Journal 03/01/1999 Urban planning – the fabric of our land My, how times flies. This issue marks the beginning of our third year as a biweekly newspaper, and this summer we’ll mark the beginning of the fifth year since the Business Journal first rolled off the presses as a monthly publication.
Real estate industry news The Lodge Alley Inn has started a $4 million renovation project to restore many of its historic features and improve the quality of the property. The inn was purchased in September 1998 by Bluegreen Corporation, which is converting it into an interval ownership property. Charleston architecture firm LS3P Associates Ltd. has been contracted for the renovations, which will commence in three phases to mitigate any disruption to residents, neighboring businesses or hotel operations. Bluegreen Corporation
South Carolina Auto Insurance Facts South Carolina ranks 27th in the nation for average auto insurance expenses. (1) The average South Carolinian spends $698.30 a year on auto insurance. (1) South Carolina has the fifth highest motor vehicle death rate in the nation. (2) South Carolina drivers had about 102,000 traffic accidents in 1997, with an economic loss of nearly $2 billion. (2)
SunCom chooses Charleston for Southeast wireless headquarters SunCom chooses Charleston for Southeast wireless headquarters SunCom, an affiliate of the AT&T Wireless Services network, has established a regional headquarters and call center in Charleston, and is opening four retail stores in the area. The venture will add over 130 immediate new jobs in the Charleston area. “SunCom selected Charleston and Richmond as its two regional hubs because of their economic growth, strong employment base and exceptional quality of life,” says Michael Mears, president
The grass is greener The grass is greener As the lawn care & landscaping industry booms, more companies are entering the local field Few sights are more serene than workers mowing beautiful green lawns, trimming shrubs and hedges, and planting trees. And few industries are enjoying as strong a boom as lawn care maintenance and landscaping. The demand is so strong, in fact, that new businesses are rushing to tap into the local market.
Urban Design Is urban design the Lowcountry’s answer? Second of Two Parts The American Dream. For GIs returning from the battlefields of World War II, it meant a college education, a good job, a wife and kids, and a suburban home perched on a huge lawn. More than 50 years later, the American Dream has become a suburban nightmare. Buoyed by federal tax subsidies, a self-defeating cycle of urbanization has engulfed the nation. Disinvestment in older neighborhoods has resulted
Visual director brings simple elegance to Saks Considering he's the visual director for Saks Fifth Avenue, perhaps the most famous and extravagant national franchise in Charleston, Ben Rodriguez’s aesthetic philosophy is surprisingly understated: "Less is more," he likes to say. "Everything is constantly changing," says the 29-year-old of Saks’ fast-paced design scene, as he takes his morning walk-through before the 10:00 a.m. opening. In addition to keeping fresh aesthetic ideas coming, Rodriguez is responsible for every detail of the store’s displays, such as
World-renowned restaurants favor local ingredients World-renowned restaurants favor local ingredients Try guessing the common denominator among the following: ostrich meat, edible flowers, hot peppers, unusual varieties of lettuce, fancy mushrooms and high grade crabmeat. Give up? They are products supplied to local restaurants by local growers. Charleston chefs who “buy locally” swear by the freshness and quality of these products—assured that when it comes to lettuce, for example, an order placed in the morning will be harvested immediately, delivered later that day
