Auto body shopin Isle of Palms, SC

ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCSC) - A volunteer organization is encouraging others to help with litter removal on Isle of Palms.

The Isle of Palms Cleanup Crew will be holding its first of six litter cleanups, the Spring Litter Sweep series, on Monday and they’re encouraging others in the community to participate.

Co-founder Susan Hill Smith said volunteers collected 60,000 pieces of litter during cleanups last year. That’s a 130% increase over 2021.

She says common litter items found on the beach and commercial areas are plastics such as bottle caps, food wrappers, lids, and straw wrappers.

Smith said one litter item remains at the top of the list even though it is prohibited and that is cigarettes.

Organizers say 44% of litter items collected on the beach, streets, sidewalks, and parking lots last year were smoking-related litter items.

“Cigarette litter is our number one both on the beach and on the streetscape even though on the beach the city council passed and adopted in 2020 a law against smoking on the beach,” Smith said. “We’ve seen a decrease in cigarette litter as far as our totals. But that’s still cigarette litter is still our number one and that has both toxic chemicals and plastic threads in it.”

The group has entered a partnership with the South Carolina Aquarium to document their litter data through the aquarium’s Citizen Science app. The app allows citizen scientists to document observations in the area. They said the aquarium reports at the turtle hospital showed a remarkable increase in the amount of plastic they’re seeing ingested by their patients.

Smith said the crew was founded in 2018 after concerns about litter and pollution problems on the beach and how that was affecting both the beach and ocean ecosystems as well as public health and really just wanted to help keep their islands beautiful and protect the area.

Smith encourages avoiding bringing disposable items to the beach and keeping track of beach ordinances prohibiting single-use items.

If you are interested in joining the clean-up crew the first meeting is 5:30 p.m. Monday at 1100 Ocean Boulevard.

More information on the group and future cleanup dates can be found on their Facebook page.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

While the real estate boom of 2021 and 2022 may be calming down, the effects of the pandemic-fueled buying frenzy have proven long-lasting in many parts of the country—in particular for second home and vacation markets that emerged as buyers sought more inventory and more reasonable pricing.

Once eclipsed by hot spots like Aspen, Colorado; Scottsdale, Arizona, or New York City, these rising markets have now grown to top a list of last year’s most popular vacation home destinations in the United States, according to data analyzed by consortium representative Pacaso.

Read on to find out what parts of the country made the cut.

Indian River County, Florida

It’s no surprise to find a coastal Florida region on the list. The area has long been one of the largest second-home markets in the country and continues to attract vacation home buyers who stay for the warm weather and breathtaking beaches. What is perhaps a bit more of a surprise is that Indian River County, along Florida’s Treasure Coast, outperformed more well-known communities, such as West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. However, with the area’s wealth of scenic natural beauty, it’s no mystery. A varying topography that includes ocean shoreline, lagoons, rivers and lakes means an abundance of waterfront properties.

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Nevada County, California

Traditionally a quieter resort region, a recent surge of new residents has transformed Nevada County in the Sierra Mountain Range into one of the world’s premier luxury ski destinations. Truckee, the county’s most populous town, which sits some 10 miles north of Lake Tahoe, has seen a rapid increase in full-time and part-time residents. In an effort to expand supply, the city has approved a number of new developments, including a complete renovation plan for the Truckee Railyard. The project will expand the historic downtown area with an additional 75 acres of restaurants, community spaces and housing. Wintertime in this corner of the state is a sportsman paradise with ample opportunities for skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing. Warm summers make for perfect conditions for golfing, mountain biking and hiking.

Kaua’i County, Hawaii

No other state is perhaps more often associated with its vacation market than Hawaii. The collection of tropical islands, separated from the rest of the country by about 2,500 miles of ocean, make for a one-of-a-kind American destination. While the whole state offers a bounty of vacation properties, the island of Kaua’i came out on top as the most popular of the Hawaiian islands for second-home buyers. Once almost entirely rural, Kaua’i, for better or worse, has now caught the attention of mainland and foreign buyers who find the island’s raw, pastoral beauty and lack of commercial clutter a huge draw. Low inventory and high demand have kept prices in the area at record highs, with the top end of new luxury homes reaching into the tens of millions.

Cape May County, New Jersey

Thanks to its 30 miles of Atlantic beaches and relative proximity to major metropolises, Cape May County has long been one of the Northeast’s most visited locations. Tourism in the county accounts for some $6.6 billion in revenue, making it Cape May’s single largest industry. As such, the area also has a thriving second home market. In the summer, populations throughout the various towns, cities and boroughs that make up Cape May County grow dramatically, in some cases as high as 10 times the permanent population. Lovers of Victorian and Cape Cod architecture will find themselves right at home with luxury inventory largely consisting of stately seaside houses. Views of the ocean are a relatively common amenity at the higher end of the market.

Santa Fe County, New Mexico

As one of the oldest cities in the U.S., Santa Fe has attracted visitors from across the globe seeking a historical experience set against the backdrop of a scenic desert landscape. Those who fall in love with the New Mexico capital will find themselves in an increasingly competitive market. In the past five years, Santa Fe has seen its real estate market explode, with prices almost doubling and inventory plummeting. The city is often associated with its Pueblo Revival architecture, featuring adobe walls, flat roofs and stepped massing. Many new construction homes seek to maintain the traditional style while adding modern comforts and amenities. Apart from aesthetically pleasing homes and rich history, Santa Fe is also known as one of the world’s great art cities, with a concentration of galleries, installations and public art.

Charleston County, South Carolina

Charleston’s low-country allure has continued to place it at the top of many lists of best cities in the country. The South Carolina gem appeals to a wide variety of visitors—from history buffs to foodies to outdoor enthusiasts. Being carved out of rivers and sea means Charleston is rich in beach and riverfront properties, some of which are found on one of the city’s numerous islands. While Hilton Head Island, which lies just to the south, is often thought of as the premier South Carolina island destination, Charleston islands—such as Isle of Palms, Kiawah Island and Daniel Island—are starting to give it a run for its money. With this rise in popularity, Charleston’s islands are seeing a wave of new construction, including turnkey residential developments designed with second homeowners in mind.

This post represents the first installment in a DawgNation series this spring featuring the “Next Generation” of Georgia football players from the 2023 signing class. 5-star Monroe Freeling ranks as the nation’s No. 5 OT and the No. 33 overall prospect for 2023 on the 247Sports Composite ratings and the On3 Industry Ranking.

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It is a fall Friday night in coastal South Carolina. The palms in the Palmetto State are swaying. There’s a blissful breeze drifting inland.

Oceanside Collegiate Academy is coming out for the second half. We fix our eyes on a Bunyanesque offensive tackle walking out.

Monroe Freeling offers a unique visual. His weight ranged between 290 and 295 pounds for his senior season.

South Carolina measured Freeling at 6 feet, 7 inches with no socks on. The Gamecocks offered him before he played his first varsity game as a sophomore.

He’s big and long and lean. Like a walking parenthesis in size-16 cleats. Freeling will not take up a lot of space. But he’ll eclipse everything in front of him.

With that second half about to follow, we keep our eyes on Freeling.

The rest of the team is getting warm. Running in place. He had to hang back a bit from the rest of the team. Probably needed more tape. That’s what head coach Chad Wilkes thinks.

Those two have a quick word.

“Alright Monroe,” Wilkes says. “Go stretch.”

“Do you mind if I just do yoga?” Freeling replies.

Wilkes did not. His 4-star OT can indeed do yoga if that’s what he needs. As long as he goes back out and physically dominates opponents and finishes every block with domination on his mind.

It was no random request. Freeling’s mother, Brandy, had established a tradition of doing yoga with the team on Fridays in the season. She started Monroe on yoga after his freshman season.

“It is all about knowing your body coach,” Monroe Freeling said to Wilkes at the moment.

Freeling takes that discipline very seriously.

“It helps a lot,” Freeling said this past season. “Even if you don’t really do it that often. Even if you just kind of get in a little rhythm of it. You can know exactly where your body hurts and how to fix it. That’s the biggest thing because a lot of players will hurt and go to a trainer and will say they are hurting. This way, a lot of the time I can just go ‘Hmm I know where I hurt. I know the way I hurt my body. I know how to fix it and I can stretch it out’ and then coordination-wise and obviously flexibility wise it helps a great deal, too.”

“But for me, the biggest thing was body awareness and knowing where I hurt and how I can stay healthy for a long time.”

Get you a Left Tackle that can lead a yoga session after a long road trip!!! pic.twitter.com/CuOhv21y4L

— Chad Wilkes (@CoachChadWilkes) November 25, 2022

It’s a tool for him to succeed.

“I do love it,” he said. “It kind of locks me into breathing and into the sense of your mind even in a football game.”

Senior Season Highlights OL/DL

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Swaths of uninterrupted white-sand beach, the smell of salty spray, warm sun on your skin, and the rustle of palm fronds gently blowing in the wind—these are the sights, sounds, and scents of Isle of Palms. The South Carolina barrier island packs a lot of relaxation and big fun into a vacation destination that's just seven miles long and one mile wide. The island's proximity to Charleston (just 18 miles by car), make it a preferred summer hideout for locals. An abundance of vacation rentals and the iconic Wild Dunes resort have been drawing visitors from across the country since the early 1970s.

With the deep blue Atlantic on one side and marshy creeks of the Intracoastal Waterway on the other, Isle of Palms offers the best of the Lowcountry and the beach in one stunning setting that's begging to be added to your vacation calendar.

Six of Isle of Palms' seven total miles are occupied by public beaches, which means you'll have your pick of the litter when looking for a sandy spot where you can post up for the day—or the week. Once you've staked your claim, all the normal beach activities are yours for the choosing, from splashing around in the surprisingly calm seas to building the ultimate sandcastle or playing a game of beach volleyball. For families, the Isle of Palms County Park, located in the middle of the island's coastline, is ideal. The public beach has lifeguards, outdoor showers, chair and umbrella rentals, restrooms, and even a playground for little ones retreat to once they tire of the sun and surf.

Make the most of a visit to Isle of Palms by scheduling a charter to take you offshore. Get your sea legs at the Isle of Palms Marina, where you can easily rent a boat and spend a day exploring the island's bays and waterways. Fishing charters are plentiful and offer both reef fishing and Gulf Stream fishing. For adventure enthusiasts or wildlife lovers, Barrier Island Eco Tours hosts a range of naturalist-guided tours that take visitors through winding salt marshes, tidal creeks, and the Intracoastal Waterway on the way to uninhabited Capers Island. Animals you might see along the way include loggerhead turtles, bottlenose dolphins, and every shape and size of coastal birds.

Breakfast is noteworthy at Sea Biscuit Café. The tiny beachside shack has been dishing out delicious morning meals since 1968. While they offer all the classics, the daily specials are where the magic happens. Past offerings have included chocolate banana challah French toast, lemon lavender pancakes, and tomato pie.

When you need a mid-day refuel for the whole family, Coconut Joe's is the obvious choice. Located on Isle of Palms' main drag, you won't have to venture far to get fresh seafood and impeccable vibes. The open-air covered deck is the ideal spot for munching on the restaurant's namesake shrimp, while rocking sandy toes and sun-bleached hair. When happy hour hits, venture to the rooftop bar for a frozen cocktail or painkiller. Nothing will put you on island time faster.

By the time you're finally ready to come in from the sun and go out to dinner, Isle of Palms will be waiting with plenty of options. The Boathouse and Acme Lowcountry Kitchen are island staples that have stood the test of time thanks to excellent quality food and good old-fashioned Southern hospitality. For a special night out, try Coda del Pesce, a fine dining restaurant that specializes in Italian with lots of influence (and fresh catch) from the nearby seas.

All trips to Isle of Palms must include at least one visit to The Windjammer at Front Beach. The legendary local music venue is known for its incredible live shows, stellar views of the water, cold drinks, and unbeatable fried pickles.

The obvious choice for places to stay in Isle of Palms is Wild Dunes Resort, a 1,600-acre family-friendly resort that offers everything from rooms and suites at two inns, to private beach condos and home rentals. In addition to a more-than-comfortable stay, the resort also features several resort-style pools, a spa, and two championship golf courses.

If you're hoping for a cozier stay, the newly renovated Palms Oceanfront Hotel consists of 68 modern rooms with gorgeous views of the sparkling Atlantic. There are also plenty of rentals through Airbnb and VRBO for everything from multifamily waterfront homes to one-bedroom condos.

Whether you book for a long weekend or stay for an entire week, the memories and magic of Isle of Palms will stay with you for months and years to come—maybe even until you have a chance to make another trip back!

Officials said the 19-year-old also spoke about her alleged cancer journey at universities and on a podcast.

ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCSC) - The Isle of Palms City Council hosted two special workshop meetings to talk about short-term rentals in the month of January. The meetings offered a period for citizen comments where people could sign up to speak for three minutes each, followed by discussion between council members.

Councilman Blair Hahn says the meetings are to formally establish facts and hear from people.

“There was a lot of confusion about how many actual licenses are out there on the licenses that have been issued, how many of them are active, and where they were. And we agreed as a council on a set of numbers,” Hahn said.

In early December, the city council voted against a short pause on issuing short-term rental licenses.

Hahn is one of the members who did vote against the pause and says the city is still working to achieve a balance using other measures like noise and traffic enforcement to maintain the livability on the island.

He explains there are two types of short-term rental properties for single family homes on the island. One is people that live in the house being rented out. They are referred to in documents as 4% residents because they’re permanent residents on the island and they can rent their houses up to 70 days a year and still keep their residence status for tax purposes. The other group is 6% renters who are property owners and are not permanent residents of the island.

“And so we are now looking at whether or not to limit both groups or limit just one group. And if so, how do we limit that group? And those are the issues that we’re currently grappling with. How it turns out - I don’t know right now. I can’t see any way where we would limit 4% rentals on the island. Whether or not we limit 6% rentals, I think is yet to be seen,” Hahn said.

Tony Santiago lives on Isle of Palms, and he says the city needs to diversify its assets which includes having residents and rentals. But he says the council ultimately should serve the interests of the people who live there full-time.

“We need short-term rentals to what degree we need commercial resort properties to a degree They’re here already. We’re not going to get rid of them. The question is in whose best interest. We’re a municipality. The voting residents should be the number one priority. That’s just that simple.

The City of Isle of Palms uses the technology company Granicus house digital records and streamline local government services. As of Jan. 6, 2023 Granicus research shows Isle of Palms has 1,539 rental properties with an active profile online for renting. Of that number, 1,216 have had a documented stay within the last year, according to Granicus.

Santiago calls the relationship between residents and renters symbiotic, like in nature. He acknowledges they need each other but says the people who live there are the soul and essential part.

“That’s what it was like in resort towns like we’re a symbiotic relationship, and we have to live to each other. But the primary core organism is the residents in the voting jurisdiction,” Santiago explains.

The data also shows there are 56 properties actively advertising and renting without a license. In the agenda for the special meeting workshops, the city says it is pursuing compliance with these property owners and 8 have pending short-term rental licenses. The city says there are 34 pending short-term rental applications and of those, 27 have been pending for a month or more.

Santiago wants to see a limit on the number of short-term investment rentals.

“They do not want us to be the only community in the area without any type of restrictions on short-term rentals. Everybody will flood to us. And eventually the quality of the life, the livability, why people came to the islands will be deteriorated,” Santiago says.

Hahn says the council may or may not take any official action at upcoming meetings about short-term rentals, but called the special workshops helpful because they showcased information.

You can read the breakdown of 2022 STR license and activity on Isle of Palms here.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.