Best Jewelry Store near Daniel Island, SC

You must have your photo ID to vote. Voters may view their sample ballot through the South Carolina Election Commission HERE.

ABSENTEE-BY-MAIL: Absentee-by-mail voting is available for qualified voters. Request an absentee application in one of the following ways:

Applications must be returned to the Berkeley County Voter Registration & Elections Office in person or by mail by Friday, October 25 at 5 p.m. Completed ballots must be returned to the Berkeley County Voter Registration & Elections Office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day (November 5). Photo ID is required to return your ballot in person. For more information, go HERE.

The 2024 General Election is on Tuesday, November 5. For all election-related information, visit www.scvotes.gov or the County Voter Registration and Elections Department Page. You may also call 843-719-4056 or email vog.csytnuocyelekreb@ervbew.

###

-Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office-

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Friday, October 4, 2024) – The deadline to register to vote in South Carolina ahead of the 2024 General Election has been extended to Monday, October 14, 2024. To vote in South Carolina, state law requires a person to register to vote at least 30 days prior to an election; however, the deadline has been extended due to the widespread impact of Hurricane Helene. Read more HERE.

Individuals may register to vote by October 14 in one of the following ways:

ABSENTEE-BY-MAIL: Absentee-by-mail voting is available for qualified voters. Request an absentee ballot in person at Berkeley County Voter Registration & Elections Office at 1003 Highway 52 in Moncks Corner; by calling 843-719-4058; or by mail (P.O Box 6122, Moncks Corner, SC 29461).

Applications must be returned to the Berkeley County Voter Registration & Elections Office by October 25 at 5 p.m. Completed ballots must be returned to the Berkeley County Voter Registration & Elections Office by November 5 at 7 p.m.

POLL WORKERS: Berkeley County needs additional poll workers for the upcoming General Election. Poll workers can earn compensation of up to $200. If interested, contact Laura Thomas with Voter Registration & Elections at 843-719-4663 or email vog.csytnuocyelekreb@samohT.aruaL. View more information and the application HERE.

For all election-related inquiries and information, please contact Berkeley County Voter Registration & Elections at (843) 719-4056; or visit https://berkeleycountysc.gov/dept/elections/ or www.scvotes.gov.

###

– Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office –

Impact felt at Lowcountry hospitals and nursing schools

South Carolina faces a projected shortage of more than 13,000 nurses by 2036, according to a report by the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration.

The same report expects the Palmetto State to experience the seventh-largest nurse shortage in the U.S., with over 21% of positions unfilled.

The national nursing industry is predicted to be short over 330,000 registered nurses by 2036, with states like South Carolina feeling the impact sooner rather than later. The shortage comes from a combination of factors: an aging population, fewer nursing school graduates, and the burnout of COVID-19.

The stress and emotional toll of the pandemic led nearly 100,000 nurses to leave the workforce, with more expected to follow by 2027 to retirement or burnout, according to a 2024 study by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

By 2035, more than 1.5 million South Carolinians will be over the age of 65, according to the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. This surge in elderly residents will increase the need for health care services, exacerbating the strain on the state’s nursing workforce.

“Having less population [of] nurses and an increase of population needing health-care services is starting to impact the mix,” said Cathy Durham, dean of nursing at the Medical University of South Carolina.

The shortage has affected nursing programs as well, resulting in a lack of faculty and educational resources to train new nurses. MUSC nursing students like Megan Smith said, “I’ve noticed less nurses in the hospitals than usual. I think a lot of them have switched to travel nursing for better pay, which leaves us with less mentorship and more strain on the nurses who are still here.”

With 642 nursing faculty spread across statewide institutions, the number of nurses seeking graduate education has trended downward for the past three years, according to the Commission on Higher Education.

“We could accept more students into the existing nursing programs in our state if there were additional faculty and hands-on clinical training openings in hospitals to educate our students,” said Jeannette Andrews, dean of the College of Nursing at the University of South Carolina.

To address this, the state allocated $10 million annually from the South Carolina Education Lottery to provide bonuses and tuition reimbursement for nursing faculty and students pursuing graduate-level nurse educator programs. The legislature has also pumped $30 million into collegiate nursing programs in South Carolina over the past three years to stem a potential health care crisis.

MUSC is also actively working to increase nursing school enrollment by offering discounted tuition and scholarships for technical college graduates and hospital employees.

As she continues her nursing program, Smith said she appreciates the groundwork being done to attract more students in the field.

“It’s a tough time to be in nursing school, but it hasn’t affected my career goals. We know the impact we can make. It’s also comforting seeing the efforts made to address the shortage, even if it’s a long road ahead.”

A look at where the 10 worst shortages are expected by 2036, by percentage of vacancies:

1. Georgia: 29%

2. California: 26%

3. Washington: 26%

4. New Jersey: 25%

5. North Carolina: 23%

6. New Hampshire: 23%

7. South Carolina: 21%

8. Maryland: 20%

9. Michigan: 19%

10. Oregon: 16%

Source: U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, March 2024

By:

Staff report

Bargain hunters can get out their treasure maps to search Daniel Island neighborhoods for the annual fall Red Balloon Yard Sale on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Those wishing to take advantage of the chance to clear some clutter should put a red balloon at their home to let everyone know you are participating in this island-wide event.

The Daniel Island Property Owners Association reminds sellers the sale must be in either the front or rear of their property and no blocking of sidewalks is allowed. Set up or selling is not allowed in any POA common areas, parks, or amenities or those belonging to the City of Charleston. This is prohibited for liability and insurance reasons.

The sale will be held rain or shine. There is no rescheduled date for inclement weather.

Many homeowners have already registered their sale location and can be found on the map on the POA website.

If you would like for your address to be added to the sale map, email info@dicommunity.org. Please include in the subject line of the email “2024 Fall Red Balloon Yard Sale Map” and then in the body of the email provide your Daniel Island address as well as a good contact phone number in case the POA needs to get back to you for any reason. The address will then be added to the map of participating homes.

This is only for homes located on Daniel Island.

For those participating in the yard sale who would like to donate unsold items to Palmetto Goodwill, they will have one truck located at the Blackbaud parking lot on Fairchild Street and River Landing Drive to collect donated items from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or until their truck fills up). Goodwill may not be able to accommodate everyone due to truck space and timing constraints and depending on the number of donations but will try to accommodate to the best of their ability. Donation collection is on a first-come, first-serve, drop-off basis.

For more information about the sale, donation restrictions and schedule, visit the POA website.

The Daniel Island Historical Society

On one of the last warm days in September 2008, Daniel Island resident Beth Bush found herself on a bike ride that would mark the beginning of a lifelong passion and unite a community of historians.

As she pedaled down the then-sparsely populated Smythe Street, a group of people working in the dirt caught her attention.

Curiosity got the better of her, and as a reporter for The Daniel Island News, she stopped to investigate.

What she discovered was an archeological crew conducting an excavation.

“When the team told me the site could have been an isolated slave settlement or house, it stirred something in me,” Bush remembered. “Since moving to Daniel Island in 2003, I had never considered what came before. They also found a clay marble that indicated children were likely present there before. I was deeply moved and wanted to learn more about our island’s history.”

That chance encounter sparked a burning question inside Bush: What came before us?

She soon connected with Michael Dahlman, co-author of “Daniel Island,” a comprehensive history of the island. The two bonded over their shared passion for history and wondered if others might feel the same.

Setting up a booth at the 2010 Daniel Island Holiday Festival, they quickly realized there was great interest – 50 people signed up that day alone. From there, the Daniel Island Historical Society (DIHS) was born, hosting its first community program in January 2011.

“And the rest, as they say, is history!” Bush said.

Since its inception, the DIHS has grown into a community organization dedicated to unearthing and preserving the stories, artifacts, and history of the island and its surrounding areas.

Initially, the vision was simple: share Daniel Island’s story with residents and visitors to better understand the island’s roots. The organization began hosting speaker events, special programs, and educational initiatives that highlighted the island’s unique past. But over the years, the mission has expanded to include the Cainhoy peninsula with a focus on advocacy and preservation.

“Today, one of our most important focuses is collaboration and partnerships with other historical organizations, such as the Preservation Society of Charleston, Berkeley 250, and Carolina Lowcountry and Atlantic World Program (CLAW),” Bush said. “Working with these amazing organizations and others, we can have a meaningful impact not only in local communities, but in the Charleston region as a whole.”

Notable discoveries and achievements

The Society’s work has led to many significant historical discoveries and milestones for the island. One of the most notable finds was a grouping of timbers believed to be a Revolutionary War-era road, hidden in a creek in Daniel Island Park.

More recently, a team of DIHS board members and local residents located the long-lost Nelliefield Creek Cemetery on the Cainhoy peninsula. “This sacred site had been lost to those with family members buried there,” Bush said.

Thanks to a team of local residents, DIHS board members, and parishioners of St. Paul’s Baptist Church, Bush said, “Restoration work has begun and the site has been added to the Preservation Society of Charleston’s Mapping Black Burial Grounds Project.”

Perhaps one of the most fascinating stories uncovered by DIHS involves the wreck of the Helen B, a 200-year-old vessel off the coast of Daniel Island. “Some believe it could be a Jefferson-style gunboat,” Bush said. “It’s located just north of the James B. Edwards Bridge and can only be seen at low tide.”

DIHS co-founder and Vice President Dahlman has made several discoveries himself, including remnants of a tidally powered rice pounding mill and parts of a historic road connected to Clements Ferry Road, documented as early as 1706.

“A ferry landing on the Cooper River connected this road, which crossed Beresford Creek at a bridge the Society helped locate in 2014,” Dahlman said. “The road, which ties into what is now Clements Ferry Road, facilitated commerce and military operations, especially during the Revolutionary War.”

Building a legacy

The impact of the Daniel Island Historical Society extends far beyond uncovering forgotten sites and shipwrecks. The Society’s work has given its residents an understanding of the roots beneath their feet.

“I think it benefits us all to have a true sense of place,” Bush said. “To fully understand where we live, we must know what came before us… the people and events that shaped this island matter.”

Since 2011, the Society has hosted over 100 historical programs, drawing thousands of attendees from both on and off the island. One of its most beloved initiatives is the “Honoring Our Living History Live Oak Campaign,” where residents and organizations can adopt and register majestic live oaks – some of the island’s oldest living “residents” – in honor of someone special.

“To date, close to 100 trees have been adopted and documented on our website,” Bush said.

The Society has also recorded the stories of over a dozen local residents, dubbed “The Cainhoy Collective,” which will be shared in the College of Charleston’s Addlestone Library as well as the Keith School Museum.

Additionally, the DIHS Cemetery Committee has cleaned up the island’s tombstones in need of repair, an effort that received the 2023 Award of Merit from the Confederation of South Carolina Local Historical Societies.

A community united by history

One of the most meaningful aspects of the Daniel Island Historical Society is its emphasis on community engagement. The organization has made it a priority to involve local schools, providing history books and teaching tools to help students learn about South Carolina and local history.

One of their particular prideful works is sharing the legacy of Philip Simmons, an island native and celebrated master blacksmith.

“Through this program, students have created artwork inspired by Simmons, which they showcase in a special art show sponsored by DIHS,” Bush said.

But it’s not just the schools and residents who benefit from the Society’s work. Visitors to Daniel Island can also learn about its history thanks to the 14 historical markers placed around the island by the Society, with more markers planned for the Cainhoy peninsula.

Dahlman humbly credits the organization’s success to Bush, who he called the heartbeat of the Society.

“Without Beth, the DIHS would not be what it is today. I am more the strategist and historian, but that is not the lifeblood of any organization. Her vision, innovation, and ability to get things done are irreplaceable… and I am sure [Bush is] part of the reason the South Carolina Historical Society praised us recently for being the most effective and active historical society in the state.”

How to join the society

As the Daniel Island Historical Society continues to expand, residents and locals are invited to join and support the preservation of the island’s rich history. New board member Tory Sullivan highlighted some of the benefits of membership.

“My wife and I joined the Society and we’ve been to musical and dance performances, learned about Native American migrations in the area, and attended presentations from the Charleston Museum.

“We’ve also had the chance to make a real impact on history. From collecting live narratives from Cainhoy to protecting and restoring grave markers, our efforts help preserve crucial aspects of our past. Meeting the families and descendants of those buried has been particularly rewarding, as it provides them with tangible connections to their heritage.”

For those interested in getting involved, memberships start at $35 per year, with funds supporting the Society’s mission to preserve and share Daniel Island’s history. To learn more about the Daniel Island Historical Society or to become a member, visit dihistoricalsociety.com.