AC Repair in Sullivan's Island, SC

Picture this: You just moved to Charleston, SC and you need some help with the practicalities of life (we can’t just sit back and relax on Sullivan’s Island all day, unfortunately). That’s where we come in. Keep reading for Charlestonian 101, our guide to all things CHS citizenship.

Voter registration

Make sure you’re eligible and registered to vote, find your polling location, and preview upcoming elections and sample ballots here.

Driver’s licenses and vehicle registration

New residents in need of an SC driver’s license will need to provide their social security number, proof of identity, citizenship, and date of birth, and two documents confirming their current physical SC address.

For dealer-purchased vehicles, titling and registration will be completed for you (generally). If your vehicle was purchased from an individual that holds the title, here’s what you’ll need to register your car in SC:

Find out what you need to transfer a plate or request a new one here. Initial registrations may be subject to title and registration fees.

Visit an SCDMV branch to obtain an SC driver’s license or register your vehicle.

Healthcare

Establishing yourself with a primary care provider is one of those things you’ll be glad you did when you need one. Reach out to the professionals at Roper St. Francis Healthcare, MUSC Health, or Palmetto Primary Care Physicians, to name a few. Pro tip: Websites like DocSpot filter physicians by location, patient reviews, insurance, language, and more.

School registration

Prepare your student for the school year by registering them with Charleston County School District (or Berkeley County School District). Here, you’ll find school districts based on your residential area,and elementary, middle, high, and charter schools within each of the eight constituent school districts. Use this map to find school options by zone.

Get details on Charleston County School District registration and enrollment here, including a required documentation list and registration link. For information on Charleston County’s private schools, check out this list.

Library card registration

If you think libraries are only for checking out the occasional book, think again. Register for a library card at your nearest Charleston County Public Library branch or online to take advantage of:

To get your card, you’ll need a photo ID and proof of address. Young adults ages 12-17 are eligible for a young adult library card, and those under the age of 12 can get a card with a parent or guardian’s signature.

Recycling

Thanks for thinking green. For everything you need to know about recycling in Charleston, from pickup days to container requests and accepted materials, check out this Charleston County Environmental Management page.

Utilities

Moving is exciting, but no one wants to unpack by candlelight. Establish your services with Dominion Energy by creating an account or updating your address in your existing account. Pro tip: Check out this info to learn how to manage seasonal bills.

Internet providers

No connectivity issues here. Check out some of the internet providers in the 843 below. Note: Service cost and availability may vary by location.

Having an SC driver’s license and an 843 area code may qualify you on paper, but you’re not officially a Charlestonian until you’ve taken part in some local fun.

Rooftop bars and restaurants

You haven’t properly enjoyed a Holy City skyline unless you’ve enjoyed a drink on a rooftop overlooking the hustle and bustle of our city with your closest friends. Did someone say golden hour photo op? Here are a few spots.

Live music

Live music and Charleston go together like peanut butter and jelly. There’s no shortage of local venues like Credit One Stadium, Music Farm, The Windjammer, and Pour House, so the chances of seeing your favorite artist live in action are pretty good. Take a look at upcoming concerts.

History

With historic buildings like “America’s First Museum” and “America’s first theater,” Charleston has its fair share of stories to tell through the years — which makes sense, given that the city dates back to 1670.

Explore our history coverage to learn about ghost stories, preservation efforts, and local landmarks, and check out these interesting facts about the Holy City’s past and quirks.

Is there something you’re still left wondering about to get you properly established in the Holy City? Ask us your question and we’ll do our best to answer it for you, like a good neighbor.

SULLIVAN’S ISLAND — Town Council can control most all aspects of tree-cutting in its beachfront maritime forest because it can’t be bound by decisions made by previous councils in the matter, a judge has ruled.

The basic principle of Circuit Judge Jennifer McCoy’s ruling is a town council cannot enter into an agreement that will bind a successive council into doing or not doing certain things.

The decision, filed Jan. 30 in state court in Charleston, comes after a former Sullivan’s Island council reached a settlement in 2020 that mandated more thinning of the maritime forest than the town had contemplated.

That settlement resolved a decadelong lawsuit — stemming back to 2010 — from a group of homeowners next to the forest who wanted to see more management of the land from the town.

The forest gradually grew on land that is accreting where the island meets the Atlantic Ocean. The effect has created a thicket between the large beach houses and the sandy beach, which blocked views of the ocean while also creating swampy and forested territory.

Any future councils would have been bound to that previous agreement.

The court decision changed that.

“As mayor, I’m very pleased that the judge agreed with our contention that that settlement agreement was not consistent with South Carolina law and that it should be voided,” said Mayor Patrick O’Neil.

Since the settlement was agreed upon, Sullivan’s Island residents elected a new council with a majority that was more favorably disposed to the maritime forest, O’Neil said.

“We’ve heard a lot from many residents — not all, but many residents — who fervently disagreed with that agreement,” O’Neil said. “That urged us to do something.”

The council brought forth a declaratory judgment that the prior settlement agreement was unenforceable and therefore void.

The court agreed with that position.

William Wilkins, a Greenville-based attorney with the firm Nexsen Pruett who represented the town, said he appreciated the prompt attention Judge McCoy gave to the matter.

“She correctly applied the relevant principles of law, including the law that a town council may not enter into agreements that will bind a successive town council under the facts of this case,” Wilkins said.

Development is prohibited on the land at the center of the complaint. The town can permit or do certain amounts of cutting on the maritime forest when deemed appropriate or beneficial.

Landowners can apply for permits to cut three species of bushes or trees in front of their property, between it and the beach.

Guidelines are in place for how low the trees and bushes may be trimmed.

Issues dividing residents in the matter included those who wanted a better view of the water or were concerned about the wild animals living in the forest, such as coyotes, and those who preferred allowing the natural state to continue.

Members of North Charleston City Council spent the day trying to tour city schools in the Charleston County School District on Monday.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Members of North Charleston City Council spent the day trying to tour city schools in the Charleston County School District on Monday. But they never made it inside.

Mayor Keith Summey made an announcement in February saying his city would explore breaking away from the county to create its own school district.

The councilmembers said they wanted to look at the “disparities” between schools in their city and other cities like Mount Pleasant, Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island to try to further prove that their schools aren’t receiving enough support from Charleston County School District.

Four members of North Charleston City Council, Rhonda Jerome, Mike Brown, Jerome Heyward and Virginia Jamison, drove around in a city vehicle to district schools across North Charleston, including North Charleston High School and the Charleston County School of the Arts. They were hoping that the school district would let them go inside the schools, but they were denied. Instead, they just looked at the exteriors of the schools and pointed out flaws from the outside.

“Ride around, you’ll see,” Jerome said. “When you ride over to Mount Pleasant and Isle of Palms you can see a big difference just from the outside. So, you can imagine what the insides look like, just use your imagination.”

Charleston County School District spokesman Andy Pruitt said the councilmembers were potentially violating district policies by using schools as “political forums” along with being unauthorized visitors on campus.

“Every single child that we serve, we feel dedicated and feel very passionate that we want to make sure we provide them with life-changing opportunities. It doesn’t matter where they live,” Pruitt said. “They’ve been entrusted into our care, and we believe that’s important to make sure they all get what they need.”

Councilmembers say leaving the district is something that’s been talked about for 15 years. But they say the time is now to work to actually achieve their goal of starting a new district.

“Nothing’s getting better, “Jerome said. “It’s time.”

After Summey made the announcement last month, State Rep. Marvin Pendarvis filed a bill that would remove North Charleston schools from the Charleston County School District and create a new district.

The council members say they want Charleston County School District to come to the table with them as soon as possible to talk because they say their kids deserve better. The school district said they have always been open to sitting down with the city.

“The goal here is collaboration,” Pruitt said. “We really want to work with the City of North Charleston to find a path forward so that all of our schools and for them, specifically the schools in the City of North Charleston, can move in the right direction. We believe they are moving in the right direction.”

Pruitt said they are working on that path forward for North Charleston schools that belong to the district by improving academics and upgrading facilities, including a new campus that will be in the works for Morningside Middle School.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Charleston, South Carolina, with its Live Oaks draped with Spanish moss, spectacular sunsets, and historic charm, is one of the top destination wedding spots of all time, according to The Knot. However, the last decade has also seen a steep rise in those celebrating their upcoming nuptials with a destination bachelor or bachelorette weekend in the southern city.

The bachelorette party is often easy to spot, wearing sashes or matching T-shirts as the team traipses down King Street, but there is much more to celebrate in Charleston than simply a night of barhopping (though we have you covered there too). In true Southern fashion, Charleston has a buffet table of options laid out for bachelorettes to sample. If you’re planning a Charleston bachelorette party, here are the places to eat, stay, and play for a weekend that is uniquely Charleston, and one that you can customize to your preferred bachelorette weekend style—no sashes required.

Eat

Eating is a cultural activity in Charleston—residents and visitors alike take it very seriously. Classic Lowcountry flavors shine in a variety of spots, from fluffy grab-and-go biscuits at Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit (which has locations on Upper King and in the City Market) to the always elegant Circa 1886, expertly helmed for more than 20 years by Chef Marc Collins, housed in the Wentworth Mansion on a residential block just a short stroll away from Colonial Lake.

For friends who are always eating off each other’s plates, Estadio is an easy choice, where the idea is to share all the tapas, from tuna crudo to deviled eggs and caviar, then order a porron—a traditional glass wine pitcher with a spout from Spain used to share wine with a group—to really get the party started. A stop at Rancho Lewis for spicy margaritas and some hearty Tex-Mex fare is decidedly smart pregaming if partying later is your pleasure, and its spacious dining room can easily accommodate larger groups.

Since the city has heartily embraced the oyster bar trend, there’s a lot in that salty vein from which to choose, including 167 Raw with its lovely (and often lively) courtyard on Lower King, and Rappahanock Oyster Bar, where, in addition to a rotating selection of oysters and raw bar offerings, Chef Kevin Kelly has satisfying, seasonal seafood dishes for those in the group who might prefer something such as baked clams with a coconut sauce to raw oysters.

Off-the-peninsula options for those considering beach days or boat days include Jack of Cups, serving up a funky Folly Beach vibe and plant-forward menu, and any of the many spots along Shem Creek for seafood, dolphin spotting, and plenty of photo opportunities. Out on Sullivan’s Island, The Obstinate Daughter is a crowd-pleaser for wood-fired pizzas, pastas, and whatever is the chef’s special, while Sullivan’s Fish Camp, one of the new kids on the block, promises —and delivers on—a retro vibe mixed with tiki-esque drinks and one seriously spot-on basket of fried local shrimp.

Stay

Where groups choose to stay in Charleston really does craft the experience since a beach vibe is very different from a downtown scene or resort move. The metro area has close to 20,000 hotel rooms, and knowing your party and your activity preferences can not only improve the trip experience for everyone, but give you more opportunities for walking versus ride-shares, more precious minutes by the pool, and more chances to be on time for any reservations and activities you have planned.

The Town of Sullivan’s Island and Fort Moultrie are hosting Carolina Day events to commemorate the Battle of Sullivan’s Island that took place on June 28, 1776.

The Town of Sullivan’s Island, along with Battery Gadsden Cultural Center, is hosting a morning event on June 25 to honor the historic Revolutionary War battle.

Even though the entire conflict took place on the island and was one of the first great American victories of the Revolutionary War, little had been done on Sullivan’s Island to mark the event until 2019 when the town, along with Battery Gadsden Cultural Center, began to reestablish a commemoration to complement activities in downtown Charleston organized by the Palmetto Society. Since then the Sullivan’s Island event has grown steadily.

Carolina Day festivities on Sullivan’s Island will take place on the plaza in front of Town Hall on at 9 a.m. Activities will include raising of the Moultrie flag, a proclamation by Mayor Patrick O’Neil, participation by the Daughters of the American Revolution and a special speaker on the history of the battle.

An extra special treat will be the firing of a musket salute by members of the 2nd South Carolina Regiment, Col. Moultrie’s own unit. Invocation and benediction will be by Rev. Daniel Massie. Refreshments including doughnuts, coffee and orange juice will be served.

Everyone, including students of all ages, islanders both old and new, visitors and anyone interested in learning more about the first significant event in Sullivan’s Island history are encouraged to attend the ceremony on June 25.

Additionally, Fort Moultrie will celebrate the 246th anniversary of the Battle of Sullivan’s Island with events on June 25 and 26.

At Fort Moultrie from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., there will be living history soldiers in period uniforms, musket and cannon drills and firing demonstrations.

Visitors of all ages have the chance to experience the American Revolution through the life of a soldier at Fort Moultrie. The park entrance fee has been waived June 25.

Cannon demonstrations will be on Saturday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. Musket demonstrations will take place on Saturday at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and Sunday at 12 p.m.

Patriots and Loyalists will be represented with the 2nd South Carolina Regiment and 33rd Regiment of Foot.

Fort Moultrie is located at 1214 Middle Street on Sullivan’s Island. The park represents the history of static seacoast defense in the United States, from the American Revolution to the end of World War II.

For more information call 843-883-3123 or visit www.nps.gov/fosu.