Mortgage Broker in James Island, SC

JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - The sanctuary of a Baptist church nearly destroyed in a devastating fire will finally reopen this weekend two and a half years after it was struck by lightning and went up in flames.

The fire happened at Fort Johnson Baptist Church on Camp Road on James Island on Sept. 9, 2021.

“Remembering this date and everything that comes from that, I think it speaks to God’s faithfulness since then,” Marty Middleton, the pastor of Fort Johnson Baptist Church, says.

The fire started in the steeple after it was struck by lightning. The wood smoldered for hours until the entire sanctuary was engulfed in flames and thick, dark smoke billowed through the air.

“The ceiling had collapsed, and the steeple was laying inside of it,” Middleton says. “It was pouring down rain that day. [It was] just a really dark and depressing day.”

That day is now behind them, and after years of work, $5.4 million spent and lots of prayers, the doors of the sanctuary will reopen for Sunday service at 10:30 a.m. on March 17.

“It was the community, it was the people, that made it happen,” Venessa Dennis, a member of the church, says. “It’s been an adventure. It’s been hard, but great stuff comes out of a struggle.”

The damage from the fire, smoke and water from fire hoses forced the church to tear the sanctuary walls down to just cinderblocks. Now, new chairs fill the room, new instruments sit on the stage and new carpet, paint and lights decorate the space.

“We’ll have one unified sound system that’s state of the art and sounds amazing,” Middleton says.

While insurance covered a portion of the rebuild, church leaders say donations from the community played a major part in funding the new sanctuary.

“Getting to see the look on people’s faces on Sunday morning is going to be super exciting,” worship leader Landed Allen says.

The church never missed a Sunday service, even immediately after the fire, Middleton says. They have been operating out of another building, but he and the congregation are overjoyed to return to the sanctuary in just a few days.

“It brings a sense of excitement and anticipation for seeing what God has done over the past two years and only continues that exponentially better,” Middleton says.

If you would like to learn more information about the renovation or to donate, click here.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - Ditches running through a James Island neighborhood are still holding several inches of water from Monday’s storm, frustrating some residents who say they don’t know who is responsible for maintaining the ditches.

Kat Skover lives on James Island in a neighborhood near the intersection of Folly and Fort Johnson Roads.

She says the standing water attracts flies and mosquitos and impacts her ability to play outside with her daughter.

“We got the house so that we could be in the backyard and hang out outside but with the difficulty of all the drainage and the water it can be really difficult to keep the yard in a state that is enjoyable,” she says.

The water can also affect the safety of the roadways, she says.

“Some streets will even have water on the street for a day or two following a heavy rain,” she says.

Her neighbor, Nicholas Connolly, says the ditches fill up fast during a storm and will stay filled for days.

“The ground is really soft, and if you walk around your feet will sink into your yard,” he says. “I’ve not once seen the city come and redo the ditches.”

Skover says she’s called the James Island Public Service District for help but got waitlisted.

“We’re on a schedule we’ve heard of, but that was several months ago,” she says.

The neighborhood sits in the jurisdiction of the Town of James Island.

James Island Mayor Brook Lyon says the problem is typically caused by clogged pipes under driveways. If the town is alerted of a drainage problem, they’ll come clean it out with a shovel, she says.

If it’s packed too hard or the driveway is too wide, they’ll call Charleston County or the South Carolina Department of Transportation for help with a vacuum truck.

The town doesn’t have any record of drainage complaints from the neighborhood, according to Lyon.

She encourages anyone with an issue to file a complaint on the Town’s website under the “MyTOJI” tab, or by calling Town Hall at 843-795-4141.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Pizza is that feel-good companion that goes with any time, place, or occasion. The Lowcountry may be known for Southern favorites like shrimp and grits, but there is certainly no shortage of pizza joints serving up irresistible pies. Charlestonians have the luxury of not having to choose a favorite style, as influences from all over the world make up the eclectic pizza scene. New establishments may be the talk of the town, but these 13 mainstays are where to go for a quality slice that’s guaranteed to hit the spot.

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Grab take-out or delivery from this North Charleston establishment. Choose from one of the many creations like the pepperoni and pineapple topped Big Z or the barbecue chicken Bird on the Wire. Any pie can be made into a calzone, and the eatery also offers toasted sandwiches and salads.

Each component of this Park Circle parlor’s Neapolitan-style pies is chosen with care, from the bakery-quality dough to the local cheese. EVO’s ingredients are picked from local farms to form masterful combinations like the pancetta, Brussels sprouts, and pear pie. Meat eaters can’t go wrong with the renowned Pork Trifecta made with handmade sausage, bacon, and pepperoni.

Customers can find creative neo-Neapolitan pies out of Renzo, like the classic margherita or the creative Cheli with feta, lamb sausage, pickled peppers, and honey. There’s also non-pizza options like charred broccolini with XO sauce or a crunchy Caesar salad. The wine list is pretty rad too.

2018 Eater Pizza of the Year award winner Melfi’s offers thin and crispy Roman-style pizzas in an elegant atmosphere with white tablecloths. The Stretch Armstrong, an amped-up margherita pie highlighted by a stretchy homemade stracciatella cheese.

This Mount Pleasant eatery uses imported Italian San Marzano tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Try the standby thin Neapolitan slices or go for the thick, square Sicilian, both of which are topped with the highest quality ingredients.

Welton’s Fine Foods started popping up around the Lowcountry with its naturally leavened, slightly charred pies in 2019, and now it has a home base for its pizza parties at Welton’s Tiny Bakeshop. Most Sundays, owners Zachary and Hannah Welton announce the pizza lineup for the day on Instagram, which usually includes a hot honey and pepperoni pie or a seasonal selection, like a recent green garlic pie.

Philadelphia natives Nick and Ben D’Allesandro wanted D’als to be a casual shop with cold beer and handmade pizza, which is exactly what it has become for the Cannonborough/Elliotborough neighborhood since opening in 2006. Diners can go for a classic meat lovers or head for one of the more unique — and tasty — options like the Beetnick topped with bacon, goat cheese, and golden beets.

In addition to fresh pastas and seasonal starters, King Street Italian restaurant Indaco offers several wood-fired pizzas. Selections range from the classic margherita to a lamb version with ricotta and olives.

Find New York style slices at Slice Co. in West Ashley. One of the few spots to order by the slice, this spot is great for a taste of pure cheese, sauce, and dough. Chef Todd Lucey perfected his pies in Brooklyn, before moving to the Lowcountry.

Hip hotel restaurant Frannie and the Fox offers woof-fired creations in a buzzy atmosphere. The standout pizza is the classic margherita with its perfect portions of flavors, but if a meatier option is required, take a look at the fennel sausage pie with red onion.

The name says it all, as the wood-fired oven is the star forming charred crust and sizzling cheese. The kitchen tops pizzas with locally-sourced ingredients meant for high-heat cooking. Squash and onions caramelize before being finished with truffle oil on one called the Butternut, while five meats roast to perfection to make up the Crustavore.

This lively beach-side getaway is a place for oysters, handmade pastas, and most importantly, pizzas. Most consider the Old Danger a must-get when dining at The Obstinate Daughter — it comes with dots of pancetta and a runny farm egg in the middle that melts throughout the white sauce pizza.

There are multiple Famulari’s Pizzeria locations in the Charleston area, but the James Island one doubles as a brewery offering house brewed beers like the Cup of Clouds New England style IPA. For pizza, find a seemingly endless variety of topping options, from pineapple to pesto to cheese steak.

Mobile kitchen Dough Boyz Pizza has amassed an army of fanatic followers around the Lowcounty. The charred crust and just-thin-enough dough makes for repeat customers. The truck can be found at the Sea Island Farmers Market, various breweries, and sometimes Graft wine shop. The pepperoni and banana pepper pie brings the right amount of spice and tang to satisfy, while the prosciutto pie is an indulgent blanket of ham-y goodness.

Grab take-out or delivery from this North Charleston establishment. Choose from one of the many creations like the pepperoni and pineapple topped Big Z or the barbecue chicken Bird on the Wire. Any pie can be made into a calzone, and the eatery also offers toasted sandwiches and salads.

Each component of this Park Circle parlor’s Neapolitan-style pies is chosen with care, from the bakery-quality dough to the local cheese. EVO’s ingredients are picked from local farms to form masterful combinations like the pancetta, Brussels sprouts, and pear pie. Meat eaters can’t go wrong with the renowned Pork Trifecta made with handmade sausage, bacon, and pepperoni.

Customers can find creative neo-Neapolitan pies out of Renzo, like the classic margherita or the creative Cheli with feta, lamb sausage, pickled peppers, and honey. There’s also non-pizza options like charred broccolini with XO sauce or a crunchy Caesar salad. The wine list is pretty rad too.

2018 Eater Pizza of the Year award winner Melfi’s offers thin and crispy Roman-style pizzas in an elegant atmosphere with white tablecloths. The Stretch Armstrong, an amped-up margherita pie highlighted by a stretchy homemade stracciatella cheese.

This Mount Pleasant eatery uses imported Italian San Marzano tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Try the standby thin Neapolitan slices or go for the thick, square Sicilian, both of which are topped with the highest quality ingredients.

Welton’s Fine Foods started popping up around the Lowcountry with its naturally leavened, slightly charred pies in 2019, and now it has a home base for its pizza parties at Welton’s Tiny Bakeshop. Most Sundays, owners Zachary and Hannah Welton announce the pizza lineup for the day on Instagram, which usually includes a hot honey and pepperoni pie or a seasonal selection, like a recent green garlic pie.

Philadelphia natives Nick and Ben D’Allesandro wanted D’als to be a casual shop with cold beer and handmade pizza, which is exactly what it has become for the Cannonborough/Elliotborough neighborhood since opening in 2006. Diners can go for a classic meat lovers or head for one of the more unique — and tasty — options like the Beetnick topped with bacon, goat cheese, and golden beets.

In addition to fresh pastas and seasonal starters, King Street Italian restaurant Indaco offers several wood-fired pizzas. Selections range from the classic margherita to a lamb version with ricotta and olives.

Find New York style slices at Slice Co. in West Ashley. One of the few spots to order by the slice, this spot is great for a taste of pure cheese, sauce, and dough. Chef Todd Lucey perfected his pies in Brooklyn, before moving to the Lowcountry.

Hip hotel restaurant Frannie and the Fox offers woof-fired creations in a buzzy atmosphere. The standout pizza is the classic margherita with its perfect portions of flavors, but if a meatier option is required, take a look at the fennel sausage pie with red onion.

The name says it all, as the wood-fired oven is the star forming charred crust and sizzling cheese. The kitchen tops pizzas with locally-sourced ingredients meant for high-heat cooking. Squash and onions caramelize before being finished with truffle oil on one called the Butternut, while five meats roast to perfection to make up the Crustavore.

This lively beach-side getaway is a place for oysters, handmade pastas, and most importantly, pizzas. Most consider the Old Danger a must-get when dining at The Obstinate Daughter — it comes with dots of pancetta and a runny farm egg in the middle that melts throughout the white sauce pizza.

There are multiple Famulari’s Pizzeria locations in the Charleston area, but the James Island one doubles as a brewery offering house brewed beers like the Cup of Clouds New England style IPA. For pizza, find a seemingly endless variety of topping options, from pineapple to pesto to cheese steak.

Mobile kitchen Dough Boyz Pizza has amassed an army of fanatic followers around the Lowcounty. The charred crust and just-thin-enough dough makes for repeat customers. The truck can be found at the Sea Island Farmers Market, various breweries, and sometimes Graft wine shop. The pepperoni and banana pepper pie brings the right amount of spice and tang to satisfy, while the prosciutto pie is an indulgent blanket of ham-y goodness.

Despite testing that shows its pollution comes from neighboring septic tanks, despite local and state officials' success in securing more than $11 million to address the problem, despite seemingly broad public support to do something, James Island Creek may remain fouled for years to come.

It would be easy to blame the dozens of homeowners on septic tanks who have refused to accept generous offers from either the Charleston Water System or the James Island Public Service District to tie into one of these sanitary sewer systems at little to no upfront cost to them. After all, if all 199 affected property owners did that, there’s good reason to believe the creek’s water quality would bounce back. At least more quickly than it otherwise would.

But the real problem isn't these homeowners, who understandably don't want to have to pay a monthly sewer bill — especially one that easily could cost $100 a month, given the pumps needed to make this new sewer service work — if they can avoid it.

And individual homeowners have little way of knowing whether their septic system is operating well or in fact polluting the creek. Testing to date only indicates septic tanks in general are the prime problem; it can't determine specifically which ones.

No, the primary fault lies with state legislators and public health regulators, who for too long have been content with South Carolina's very lax system for permitting and regulating septic tanks. It's their laws and policies that enable property owners with compromised or failing septic systems to harm our environment at no direct cost to them.

As The Post and Courier's John Ramsey recently reported, the James Island Creek Task Force has secured almost $12 million in federal, state and local money to connect 199 homes to sewer lines at no cost to the property owners, after tests found the creek's main source of fecal bacteria was humans, not wildlife or pets.

But homeowners still need to do their part. The James Island Public Service District hired easement negotiators to talk to property owners one-one one, but about 20 of them won't agree to the easements required to install pump stations. The Charleston Water System's experience has been more worrisome: It has been unable to persuade a single one of its 34 customers to tie in. While the utility hasn't undertaken a survey to determine why, it has heard that some are reluctant to commit to a monthly bill without clear evidence that their own septic tank is part of the problem.

The utilities face a deadline, as the bulk of their money — federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — expires in two years if it isn't spent by then.

We support a bill that would prohibit new septic tank permits within two miles of the coast or any other waterway, but lawmakers also need to require monitoring of existing systems to ensure they're working properly — and to give regulators more authority to review septic tank applications for entire neighborhoods rather than considering them only on a home-by-home basis. They also need to reconsider the depths and types of soils where septic tanks may be installed, especially given rising water tables.

Until the state changes its approach, we won't make much progress cleaning up current problems or preventing even more serious ones in the future, no matter how much public money is thrown that way.

JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - Dominion Energy has been working to trim down trees in the Riverland Terrace neighborhood on James Island, prompting complaints from residents.

Dominon Energy says the trimming is necessary because the branches have grown to come into contact with power lines, which can result in power outages. But some residents in the neighborhood are not happy about the work.

The neighborhood is full of many large trees, like oaks and magnolias, but they are trimmed down every five years as a part of Dominion Energy’s routine cycle to ensure that they deliver safe and dependable energy to customers.

One resident of the neighborhood, Kev Hollo, says a lot of the trees have been a part of the neighborhood for a hundred years now and that they are one of the main factors for Riverland Terrace’s prestige.

One of the large oak trees won a blue ribbon award from the neighborhood’s Garden Club for the best-looking tree in the area. Woodland Shores Road Coalition Founder Adam Friend says that the tree was trimmed down just two days after being recognized.

“The most important thing here is we’re not getting the support from government officials, from the county, from the city, to really make this a sustainable solution. The trimming is not working for us and we want the lines underground,” Hollo says.

He believes that putting the power lines underground would be the best solution to make the neighborhood not only safer from power outages, but also make the area more aesthetically pleasing.

Friend serves as an advocate for the neighborhood, and says he wants to bring awareness to others as Dominion Energy plans to continue to trim down trees throughout James Island. Dominion Energy posted on its website the areas where tree trimming is complete and the locations where they still plan to trim.

Another concern Friend mentioned was the future state of Charleston because of issues such as sea level rise. He says the trees can absorb a lot of that water.

“The most important thing for me and the trees is that they have been here for longer than we have. They provide one of the best services that we can ever offer in this area now as absorption. We have a sinking city and a rising water climate. Can there be any other worse scenario?” Friend says.

He says that putting the power lines underground would permanently solve the issue.

“We’re trying to save trees in an area that’s known for our trees,” Friend says.

Dominion Energy responded to the issue with a written statement:

As part of our routine five-year cycle to ensure safety and reliability, Dominion Energy South Carolina supports a comprehensive and proactive vegetation management program. While we understand and appreciate the passion surrounding trees across the Lowcountry, safety remains our top priority. Trees that have grown too close to overhead lines are both a fire hazard and an issue of employee and public safety.

Trees and tree limbs continue to represent the No. 1 reason for power outages on our system, and the routine safeguarding of overhead lines remains critical to delivering the safe and reliable energy our customers count on every day.

Dominion Energy and established contractors follow nationally recognized utility pruning standards outlined and approved by the International Society of Arboriculture. Our certified arborists oversee each project and ensure the work adheres to ANSI A300 standards. Research indicates that following these standards will help preserve the health and integrity of the tree over its lifetime. Each tree is different in structure, and our practices take that into consideration. While trees may look different immediately following a cycle, we know based on our need to return every five years that those canopies fill in quickly, particularly with our approximately 300-day growing season each year here in the Lowcountry.

Dominion Energy is always willing to consider placing lines underground if the engineering is technically feasible, system reliability is not compromised and there is a mechanism in place to cover the additional cost.

As we work to safeguard overhead lines from hazardous vegetation, debris is removed daily. Typically, any debris that is not collected the same day will be removed within 24 hours. Crews will also leave a door hanger to notify customers if they expect a delay. Customers with questions regarding trees on or near their property, are encouraged to contact us directly at 800-251-7234. Only OSHA-certified contractors are permitted to work near energized lines.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.