health insurance agent in James Island, SC

JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) – What was once a rural area with very little traffic has grown into a densely populated part of the city, which has brought lots of traffic.

As part of the State of Our City tour, Charleston Mayor William Cogswell and other leaders are meeting the public at various locations.

A couple of projects highlighted at Tuesday’s meeting include: widening Maybank Hwy. to four lanes, from River Rd. to the connector bridge.

Main Rd. and U.S. 17 Interchange, adding several roundabouts and overall improvements. At $354 million, officials say it’s the largest project in County history.

Many new traffic signals at Southwick Dr and Maybank Hwy.

“Once we have all these, the traffic will flow a lot smoother,” Johns Island resident Duane Lapp said. “We’re getting a lot of traffic circles. That won’t have us stop at the lights and things.”

The City and County are also outlining several stormwater, recreation and public safety projects.

The projects are mainly funded by the half-cent sales tax, which has been in effect since 2004, and could be extended by voters in the November General Election.

“It’s a huge source of revenue for the local region to address roads, greenbelt and public transportation,” Mayor Cogswell said. “It’s the funding source we have for major mobility projects. Even small mobility projects.”

The City is also rewriting its stormwater regulations, now the strictest in the state. It will require potential developers to identify real impacts to the surrounding area, in addition to the traffic study.

The City will hold three more meetings:

A popular consignment shop is ready to open its long-awaited location on James Island.

Uptown Cheapskate is expanding to 1291 Folly Road and announced its first day of buying consignments is Oct. 6. The store sells secondhand men’s and women’s brand-name clothing, accessories and shoes.

The store also buys items from people if they’re ready to wear, specified as freshly laundered, free of stains, holes or strong odors, and in gently used condition.

“Basically, if you’d lend it to a friend, you’re on the right track,” a Facebook post from the store said.

The James Island shop will be the fifth Uptown Cheapskate in South Carolina and the second in the Lowcountry. The Mount Pleasant store reopened in March 2025 after an 18-month hiatus. There’s also one location in Clemson, Easley and Greenville.

The first 100 people who sell consigned items to the store will receive a $5 store credit, according to the Uptown Cheapskate post.

Drop-off hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon-5 p.m. Sundays.

Light it up

Despite the warm weather, fall always seems to conjure up cozy vibes with blankets, books and candles.

For fans of the latter, you’re in luck; Kindle & Bloom Candle Studio has opened in Summerville.

Hand-poured in Summerville, the candles use 100 percent soy wax, cotton wicks and a custom-blended fragrance. Scents are a mix of signature everyday collections, such as the citrus and linen-scented Sea Glass and Indigo Bloom that combines bergamot with golden amber and soft patchouli.

Fall scents are now on sale with Pumpkin & Amber, Smoked Vanilla & Suede and more.

In addition to candles, Kindle & Bloom sells personal fragrances, puzzles, art, home goods and gifts.

The shop opened at 131 Central Ave. on Sept. 19.

Hello from Hanahan

A boutique with roots in downtown Charleston is expanding to Hanahan.

The owners of Pineapple House Boutique broke ground on their second location Sept. 15. The new spot will be one of the founding businesses of Blackwells Corner, a new mixed-use development, according to the store’s Facebook post.

Blackwells Corner will be Hanahan’s first town center and mix dining, retail, fitness studios, salons and office space across roughly 40,000 square feet.

Pineapple House Boutique “merges the worlds of retail and hospitality” and is inspired by its sister business, Historic Charleston Bed & Breakfast Reservations and Rentals, according to its website. The store sells items made by local artisans, including ornaments, jewelry and clothing.

Pineapple House’s downtown Charleston location on Pinckney Street is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

There is no timeline yet on when the Hanahan store will open.

A taste of home

Kraft & Crust is the newest eatery to land on Daniel Island.

The boutique bakery specializes in sourdough made fresh daily and by the local owner.

Olga Kraft founded the bakery after she moved from Germany to the U.S. in 2023, saying the one thing she and her family truly missed was “fresh, honest bread.”

“Bread has always been part of our everyday life. The kind of bread with a crisp crust, real flavor, and simple ingredients. The kind of bread you bring to the table and everyone reaches for,” Kraft said on her website.

The baker is self-taught, having purchased a sourdough starter kit, taking various classes and trying again and again to create the perfect loaf.

Kraft & Crust offers daily breads that include a classic wheat sourdough, a rustic rye sourdough and a German pretzel stick known as a “Laugenstange.”

The menu offers weekly specials, such as rotating flavors like jalapeno cheddar, cinnamon and raisin, lemon and berry, and tomato and basil bread.

Kraft & Crust is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at 250 Seven Farms Drive.

JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) — The City of Charleston celebrated the opening of Fort Pemberton Park with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday.

The park is located at 221 Yates Ave. in the Riverland Terrace neighborhood of James Island. It has been open to the public since July.

The city transformed the 8.7-acre property into a waterfront park that preserves its historical character while opening the land to the public for the first time.

“For the first time, this waterfront is open to the public,” Mayor Cogswell said. “This property sat behind private hands for decades, and now every resident and visitor can walk it, fish off the dock, or just take in the view of the Stono River. That’s the kind of public access investment we want to keep making across Charleston.”

Fort Pemberton Park features a new fishing dock, kayak launch, walking paths and a picnic shelter. The park also has separate ADA-accessible entrances on either side of the property that allow access to both the upper, historic fort area and the lower waterfront portion.

The city purchased the property in 2019 with the support of Charleston County Greenbelt Program funds.

Additional partners include Peter Evans, the property’s former owner; the South Carolina Conservation Bank; The Conservation Fund; the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism; the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust; and the Charleston Parks Conservancy.

“Every step we take in the Lowcountry is rich with the stories of those who came before us,” Dr. Peter King, board chair, South Carolina Conservation Bank, said. “We’re honored to have had a role in funding the acquisition of this property that not only gives a glimpse of South Carolina’s past but also offers opportunities for Charleston residents and visitors to get outside.”

The park remains open to the public daily.

JAMES ISLAND S.C. (WCIV) — The Town of James Island and the South Carolina Department of Transportation remain at odds over the proposed "Rethink Folly Road" project, with raised medians continuing to be the main point of disagreement.

Town and state transportation officials met again Friday in an effort to resolve their differences. While both sides agree on the need for safety improvements along the corridor, town leaders say they cannot support the project as long as it includes raised medians through the town's business district.

The dispute previously led SCDOT to back away from plans to improve Folly Road within town limits.

Business owner Carol Linville, who owns a shopping center on Folly Road, said the medians could have a negative impact on businesses by making access more difficult for customers.

"It doesn't make sense," Linville said. "It's not practical to put a raised median. Traffic moves much better on a constant flow."

READ MORE | James Island given 60 days to decide on controversial Folly Road safety plan

Some of Linville's longtime tenants are worried about the proposed changes and what they could mean for their future on the corridor.

"They're concerned about impact on their business," she said. "I've got two leases coming up here. They're concerned about re-signing. They've been with me 24 years."

James Island Mayor Brook Lyon said the town has heard significant opposition to the medians from residents and business owners. According to Lyon, community members have voiced their concerns through public comments, emails and a petition with more than 1,000 signatures.

"We have heard an outpouring of people in the community who don't want the medians," Lyon said.

Lyon also said the town is willing to support the rest of the project's proposed safety improvements, including crosswalks, traffic signals and additional turn lanes.

"I'll sign it yesterday if they take the medians out," Lyon said. "We want all the crosswalks. We want all the lights and the additional turn lanes, all the other things that they have listed as part of the safety improvements. Just not the medians in the town business corridor."

Despite the continued disagreement, Lyon said he remains hopeful the two sides can reach a compromise that allows other safety improvements to move forward.

Any final agreement would need approval from James Island Town Council at its next meeting on Aug. 20.