AC Repair in North Charleston, SC

Class is out for summer, but the hallways are far from quiet at North Charleston High School.

Workers are building a state-of-the-art culinary classroom and renovating the gym, while custodial staff takes advantage of a break in summer school to move furniture and polish floors.

In the main office, Principal Henry Darby and his administrative staff — assistant principals Nathan Spitulski, Mary Studemeyer and Nathan Pearson, along with executive director Trevor Strawderman — are planning for the academic year that begins in August.

Strategic planning makes all the difference in student achievement, this veteran team knows, and North Charleston High has more than its share of challenges.

About 95 percent of its 800 students live in poverty, a quarter speak another language, and most of them show up reading at a fourth-grade level.

Despite all that, North Charleston High is improving noticeably.

There are gains in test scores and promotion rates — Studemeyer reports Algebra I passing rates are up nearly 8 percentage points; ELA is doing ever better. The graduation rate has jumped nearly 4 points in one year, to 79 percent.

Perhaps best of all, 78 percent of North Charleston High graduates are now ready, by state standards, for college or a career.

Three years ago, that number was 31 percent.

New state report cards don’t come out until October, but if staff projections are right North Charleston High School may jump — in a span of just three years — from a College and Career Readiness rating of “unsatisfactory” to “excellent.”

The top rating.

“With these successes and these demographics, some people want to question us,” Darby says. “But we’re not giving any grades. Far from it. Everybody works hard to meet the expectations of the state of South Carolina.”

Don’t take his word for it; judge these staffers by the attention they're attracting. The state Department of Education, Clemson University and officials from 10 school districts around the state have traveled to Park Circle in recent years just to see what North Charleston is doing right.

The answer is pretty much everything. Teachers take assessments of each student and tailor their lessons to small groups at similar levels, many designed to catch up kids who started far behind in their learning.

Many of those teachers need special skills just to communicate with some students. The high school had 38 non-English-speaking kids two years ago; now there are more than 200.

Darby, a career educator and longtime member of Charleston County Council, took over here in 2017. The student population was dwindling, staff morale was low, discipline problems and test scores were among the worst in the county.

By every measure, North Charleston High has improved. Darby's team modestly gives most of the credit to others — particularly Superintendent Anita Huggins and the school board, who've wisely invested more resources into Title I schools.

Huggins even gets credit for the landscaping that’s made the East Montague Avenue campus a beautiful green community gathering spot, a place where parent advocates now pass out produce for their neighbors every month.

But this staff has made the biggest difference. In Darby’s tenure, the student population has grown more than 30 percent, because more folks have given the once-failing school another look.

He gets a little emotional talking about a white parent who apologized to him for prejudging the school … and thanked him for how well her daughter has been included in the school's family.

It’s a good family to join, because North Charleston High is once again a true community school.

Strawderman, a West Virginia native who’s worked in Myrtle Beach schools, was brought in as Darby’s top lieutenant. He says this long-term planning helps the team keep sight of its goals — and compete with other schools.

In state rankings, schools aren’t grouped academically like they are in athletics. For student achievement measurements, North Charleston High competes against the likes of Academic Magnet and the School of the Arts.

“Standards weren’t written with these kids in mind,” Strawderman notes. “But that doesn’t show up on a state report card. We’re proud of catching these kids up.”

Critics of the school (and particularly of Darby) have questioned North Charleston High’s student outcomes, ignoring all its gains ... and the Herculean effort of making them under less-than-ideal circumstances.

Darby only agrees that he sees room for improvement. But he already has the team to make it.

“We know that not everything is measured by test scores. We produce productive citizens, and we’ve been successful,” Darby says. “But we aren’t satisfied — we want more.”

Spend some time at North Charleston High watching this faculty and staff in action, and you'll realize that it's foolish to bet against them.

NORTH CHARLESTON — Mahi mahi is arranged like dominoes on an oval platter, the sweet white meat softened by lime and ginger. The row of fish is topped with a tuft of pickled red onions and surrounded by circular Serrano slices, imparting a delicate heat.

The tiradito dorado ($14) at La Minerva Cocina & Tequila reminds me of Japanese sashimi, but with Mexican flavors. The tasty triumph eats like a fine piece of sushi, too, even if its price tag is far less rich than the fish served at top Charleston restaurants.

It’s one impressive example of the mix of fusion and traditional cooking taking place at this North Charleston newcomer, located about 30 minutes from downtown. I will happily drive that far for the restaurant’s fresh nixtamalized corn tortillas, enchiladas and other Mexican-inspired dishes.

Cuisine with provenance

La Minerva Cocina & Tequila — named after the famous Glorieta de La Minerva statue in Guadalajara, Mexico — is led by Raul Salazar and Alondra Ramirez, owners of Rio Chico.

The pair’s latest restaurant offers guests a more elevated dining experience than their more casual eatery with locations in West Ashley and on James Island. La Minerva features food inspired by Salazar’s upbringing in Guadalajara, a city that's part of Mexico's Pueblos Mágicos national designation program, denoting towns considered to have high cultural importance.

The restaurant space, with its high exposed ceilings and artificial trees sprouting out of tall charcoal booths, is built for communal, all-ages dining.

Friends catch up over guacamole ($14), which fills a large molcajete. Exercise restraint when dunking the accompanying golden chips in the fresh, citrusy dip, for the more imaginative appetizers and entrees are also worthy of your attention.

Families photograph fajitas and a mother dines with her baby underneath a neon sign that reads, “Si la vida te da limone … pide sal y tequila.” (If life gives you lemons, ask for salt and tequila.)

The easygoing, unpretentious atmosphere continues further inside. Patrons share plates of tamales, paella with a Mexican slant, and carnitas braised in citrus and calm spices near a backlit bar where margaritas with salted rims are poured.

Golden wings have been erected for an Instagram moment underneath another flashy sign that reads “Dream until it’s your reality.”

The food might earn a post on your feed, too.

Fusions with finesse

What in some ways looks and feels like a typical U.S. Mexican restaurant juxtaposes a culinary program representative of food found in Mexico — with a few twists.

Stateside creations like queso fundido join forces with Oaxacan-inspired mole negro, torre de mariscos (seafood towers), adobo-marinated octopus, cochinita pibil sopes, mahi ceviche and pozole blanco (a Mexican stew with hominy, simmered pork, onion and oregano).

Tacos ($14-$18, two per order) are filled with ribeye, shrimp, braised pork or lengua. The beef tongue is diced into tender cubes, each soft, sweet and a touch bland. A shower of cilantro and onions and dip in a mildly hot verde sauce liven up the most interesting and perhaps least tasty taco filling at La Minerva.

Birria — which anchored America’s hottest taco trend in 2020 — shows up in multiple forms on La Minerva’s menu.

The chefs riff on the spicy, slow-cooked Mexican meat with their version of quesabirria — tortillas dipped in broth, crisped, filled with beef cooked in a stew and served alongside a cup of the stew’s broth. They also shuffle birria into creations from other cultures, such as ramen and egg rolls ($10).

The latter Chinese and Mexican fusion wasn’t necessarily on my bingo card heading into my second visit to the North Charleston restaurant, but it will be next time.

A snappy crust reminiscent of a wonton wrapper gives way to delicately spiced, succulent braised beef. The quartet of halved golden cylinders are accompanied by a meat and cilantro-enriched consommé for indulgent dunking, the sauce deepening one’s experience with each hearty bite.

Servers are likely to suggest familiar comforts like birria or fajitas rather than more adventurous offerings like pescado zarandeado or mole negra Oaxaca. You can meet in the middle by ordering the chile rellenos ($18), a slightly bold foray into more traditional Mexican cooking.

The dish, translating to “stuffed chiles,” typically follows a standard formula: roasted and battered poblanos packed with cheese.

La Minerva’s green peppers are filled with stretchy queso Oaxaca that pulls apart with the tug of a fork, its mild tomato sauce merging with rice on a white and blue plate that’s far too hot to touch. Warm tortillas await the flattened peppers, battered and fried so that a delightful crust has emerged.

Two meals here are just enough to scratch the surface of an offering that escapes the Americanized Mexican food served at some restaurants. Its location in North Charleston fits, for South Carolina’s third-largest city has become a mecca for Mexican cuisine, with food trucks and markets and restaurants setting the record straight on plates that honor the country’s heritage.

The NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder and reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will play a preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets at the North Charleston Coliseum this fall, multiple sources have confirmed to The Post and Courier.

The game has been set for Oct. 5 with the time for the tipoff to be determined.

The game is part of the Hornets' extended stay in the Lowcountry. Charlotte will hold part of its preseason training camp at The Citadel’s downtown campus from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4.

Despite Charleston being more than 200 miles from the closest NFL, NBA or NHL franchise, the Hornets are one of several professional franchises that have come to the Holy City in recent years, not only for its history and food scene, but for practices and team bonding as well.

This is the fourth straight year The Citadel will host an NBA team as part of its preseason training camp at the downtown military school.

The Philadelphia 76ers (2022) and the New York Knicks (2023, 2024) worked out at The Citadel’s McAlister Field House in preparation for the regular season.

The NBA isn’t the only professional sports league to use Charleston as a training base.

The NHL’s St. Louis Blues worked at the Carolina Ice Palace and North Charleston Coliseum twice — once in 2013, then again in 2022.

In 2008, the Phoenix Coyotes, coached by Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, spent two days in the Lowcountry while Super Bowl XLII was being held in Arizona.

The Buffalo Sabres held their preseason camp in the Lowcountry in the early 2000s.

In the 1990s with Pat Riley as their head coach, the Knicks would come to the Lowcountry — practicing at College of Charleston — for part of their preseason camp.

Earlier this week, Gilgeous-Alexander agreed to a four-year, $285 million super maximum contract extension with Oklahoma City through the 2030-31 season, which is now the richest annual salary for a player in league history.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who averaged a league-high 32.7 points during the regular season and 30.3 in the NBA Finals, joined an exclusive list of players to win the MVP and Finals MVP in the same season. The 26-year-old also became the first player to win a scoring title and NBA championship in the same season since O'Neal in 2000.

The Hornets' roster boasts two elite wing players in guard LaMelo Ball and forward Miles Bridges, who both averaged more than 20 points a game last season.

This isn’t the first time the Hornets have played an exhibition game at the coliseum.

In 2012, the then-Charlotte Bobcats faced the New Orleans Hornets — a game that featured No. 1 overall pick, and future NBA champion, Anthony Davis against Charlotte’s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, the second pick in the draft.

In 2009, the Bobcats played the Cleveland Cavaliers, whose roster featured LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal.

A state-of-the-art facility that plays a central role in shaping America’s energy future.

The Dominion Energy Innovation Center (EIC) is strategically located at the Clemson University Restoration Institute’s (CURI) campus at the former U.S. Naval Base in North Charleston, South Carolina. Modeled after the success of the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research, the facility forges public/private partnerships in a unique industrial, port environment.

The EIC houses the Duke Energy eGRID — an electrical grid simulator that can simulate the electrical grid of any country in the world — and the world’s most-advanced wind-turbine drivetrain testing facility capable of full-scale, highly accelerated mechanical and electrical testing of advanced drivetrain systems for wind turbines. The two labs are linked and allow researchers to work on some of the technical challenges that need to be overcome to widen the use of renewable energy, such as wind and solar power.

On Nov. 23, 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy awarded a $45 million grant – the largest single award in university history and the largest single grant by the U.S. DOE for wind power – to Clemson University. The purpose of the grant was to design, build and operate a facility capable of full-scale, highly accelerated testing of next-generation wind turbine drive-train technology.

The US Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy objectives for the project are to:

The $98M facility, which includes $53M of private and state contributions, is strategically located at the Clemson University Restoration Institute’s (CURI) campus at the former U.S. Naval Base in North Charleston, South Carolina. Modeled after the success of the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research, the facility forges public/private partnerships in a unique industrial, port environment.

The world-class facility was named the SCE&G (now Dominion) Energy Innovation Center during a dedication ceremony in November 2013. The center houses the world’s most-advanced wind-turbine drivetrain testing facility capable of full-scale, highly accelerated mechanical and electrical testing of advanced drivetrain systems for wind turbines.

The Duke Energy eGRID — Electrical Grid Research Innovation and Development — Center is housed in the Dominion Energy Innovation Center. The 15-megawatt hardware-in-the-loop grid simulator supports education, research and economic development to speed new electrical technologies to market. The eGRID can simulate the electrical grid of any country in the world.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - If you love Fourth of July fireworks, several events across the Tri-County area will help you boost your patriotic pride.

Here are just a few of the events you and your family can enjoy:

Goose Creek: Fabulous Fourth in the Creek

The city of Goose Creek will welcome visitors to celebrate with its Fabulous Fourth in the Creek celebration.

The event will take place at the Goose Creek Municipal Center at 519 North Goose Creek Blvd., from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

It will showcase live music, food vendors and free activities for children, including balloon animals, bubbles, face painting and crafts.

Admission and parking is free. On-site parking will be available at the Recreation Complex and event parking fields. Accessible parking is available with a valid placard.

Golf cart transport is available once attendees have parked, but golf cart transport is not available after the event or in the dark.

Parking is limited so carpooling is encouraged.

Shuttles will be running from Westview Elementary School and Westview Middle School, located at 100 Westview Blvd., starting at 5 p.m.

The walking path around the Municipal Pond will close at 7 a.m. on Friday.

The fireworks show is expected to begin at around 9 p.m.

Isle of Palms: 4th of July Fireworks Show

The city of Isle of Palms hosts its annual Independence Day show on Front Beach, at 1118 Ocean Blvd. It is free and open to the public.

Beachgoers are required to leave the beach and remove their belongings by 6:30 p.m. to allow preparation for the event. The area of the beach between 21st Avenue to Coconut Joe’s will close at that time.

Fireworks are scheduled to begin at 9 p.m.

Guests may remain inside the Isle of Palms County Park area or behind the public restroom facilities to watch the show.

Fireworks are not permitted in the City of Isle of Palms and must be operated by professionals only.

Click here, for more information.

Mount Pleasant: 4th of July Fireworks Blast

The Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum hosts its annual Independence Day celebration, the 4th of July Fireworks Blast.

The event begins at 7 p.m. at the museum aboard the U.S.S. Yorktown for ticketed guests.

Tickets give access to the ship, live music, a view of the fireworks show over Charleston Harbor and family-friendly fun throughout the night.

Guests can purchase from a selection of food and drinks from Charleston vendors.

Fireworks are set to begin at around 9:30 p.m. or when it is dark.

The Yorktown will close at 10 p.m.

Click here to purchase tickets for the event.

Parking is available onsite at Patriots Point. Space is limited. Parking fees are not included in event tickets and must be paid separately through the Pay By Plate QR code system, based on posted rates. Only clear bags are allowed for safety purposes. Small non-clear clutches are permitted. Seating is limited. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs and small tables. Bagged chairs must be removed from their bags before entry.

Coolers, outside food or beverages, and wagons are not permitted. Only strollers and wheelchairs are allowed on board.

North Charleston: 4th of July Festival

The city of North Charleston takes celebrating the Fourth of July seriously, touting its annual celebration as the Lowcountry’s largest fireworks display.

This year’s event will be held from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Riverfront Park. It will feature live music by Motown Throwdown and music from DJ Natty Heavy and DJ D-Nyce, all leading up to the fireworks show at 9 p.m. Numerous food vendors will be at the site.

No seating is provided, so visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, water and snacks.

Parking is free and visitors can enter from the north via Virginia Avenue or from the south by way of the Bainbridge Connector. Golf cart parking will be available. North Charleston officials recommend walking, biking, carpooling or ridesharing where available.

All bags will be searched. No grills, sparklers or outside fireworks will be allowed.

Sullivan’s Island: Fourth of July at Sullivan’s Island

Sullivan’s Island will kick off Independence Day with a golf cart and bike parade at 9 a.m., beginning at Sunrise Presbyterian Church and continuing to Sullivan’s Island Elementary School.

The parade route extends from Station 28 1/2 Street toward the beachfront and then right on Atlantic Avenue.

The town will then hold its Independence Day party at Stith Park, at 2056 Middle St., starting at 6 p.m. Visitors can bring a chair or a blanket and enjoy music provided by the Shem Creek Boogie Band.

Fireworks begin shortly after 9 p.m. Dogs are not allowed in the park and alcohol is prohibited.

Summerville: Fireworks & Freedom Festival

The town of Summerville will hold its annual Fireworks & Freedom Festival Friday night at Gahagan Park, located at 515 W. Boundary St.

The event runs from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Before the fireworks show, enjoy food trucks, vendors and other activities along the park. Shuttles will be available to take people to Gahagan Park from Hutchinson Square.

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