Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Repair in Knightsville, SC

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) – It was 1973 when Shirley McGreal, then living in Southeast Asia, saw beady bright eyes staring back at her from between the slats of a wooden crate.

The eyes belonged to a gibbon — a primate native to the region — who had fallen victim to the dangerous world of the pet trade, where gibbons were being sold into homes, zoos, or labs, only to later be discarded.

In 1977, McGreal created the International Primate Protection League (IPPL) in Summerville as a gibbon sanctuary. The now 47-acre property remains nestled in a quiet area of the Lowcountry that is illuminated by the sounds of the primates singing to one another.

Meg McCue-Jones, the Compliance and Outreach Manager, explained that the land was a sod farm in the late 70s and started taking in the gibbons that needed help soon after.

One of the sanctuary’s residents, Gibby, is one of the oldest known living gibbons at over 60 years old.

Like most of the gibbons at the sanctuary, his life started off rough.

McCue-Jones said that Gibby was wild caught, and “with every gibbon wild caught, they shoot mom out of the tree, hoping baby falls, and then they take the baby.”

He was first sold into the pet trade in by a Bangkok dealer, but that was just the beginning. Gibby went to labs at Hofstra University and the State University at Stony Brook.

Researchers embedded electrodes in his skin as part of a locomotion project.

The electrodes and thin wires were inserted into his muscles and connected him to a suit that would measure his muscle movements. McCue-Jones explained that this was obviously not an ideal situation on any aspect, whether it be a human or animal.

At 44, Gibby made it to his first sanctuary, but the conditions were hard on his body. In March of 2007, just four years after his arrival, the IPPL reached out to the sanctuary to relocate not only Gibby, but several other gibbons.

For Gibby, like the other 29 at the sanctuary, Summerville is his last stop. McCue-Jones says that the sanctuary is their forever home.

But with the pandemic, their home has become more difficult to manage.

With fear of COVID-19 spreading to the primates, volunteers were no longer allowed to assist with the many daily tasks necessary to keep the place running.

From hosing the outsides of the enclosures, to raking, food prep, and even assistance inside the office—the staff was left with mounting responsibilities.

The economic impacts of the pandemic left donors and community partners reeling financially, but the bills at the sanctuary remained steady.

As a non-federally funded organization, the IPPL relies heavily on donations to meet the needs of the animals.

Stacy Lambert, a Senior Animal Care Giver, said that since a lot of their population has started to reach geriatric ages, their vet bills are getting bigger as they are having more interventions and medications, different procedures, and checkup appointments with Dr. John Ohlandt.

While expensive, their system of care has proven to work.

Lambert says that in the wild, gibbons usually live about 30-35 years. However, in captivity, gibbons living into their 40s is normal. However, the IPPL has quite a few gibbons that are up in their 40s and 50s while, of course, Gibby is 62.

Although the interventions from the IPPL show the ability of the sanctuary, McCue-Jones said all those at the IPPL ultimately wish there was not a need for them at all, and that the gibbons could live freely in the wild.

McCue-Jones said, “as Shirley has spoken of before, if you really think about it, do humans need sanctuaries, should we have them? Should we be treating the animals this way?”

To send the Gibbons a care package full of nuts, click here.

To donate to the IPPL’s missions and day-to-day operations, click here.

To send specified items needed by the IPPL via Amazon, click here.

Dorchester County is continuing with its plans for a large-scale rezoning effort to stop the over-building of additional apartment complexes and townhomes.

At a County Council meeting Monday, members voted and approved the rezoning of dozens of parcels of land from multi-family residential to mostly single-family. Under single-family zoning, property owners aren't allowed to build apartments or townhomes.

Knightsville LLC is a property owner with plans for building townhomes that was exempt from the rezoning ordinance after filing a complaint in county court. County officials say there have also been some additional complaints from residents about the rezoning.

"The complaint from Knightsville LLC held more significance because of the level of investment involved," said Kiera Reinertsen, the county planning and zoning director.

In 2004, the county's zoning ordinance was amended and led to an increase in approvals of multi-family zoning.

After hearing complaints about traffic, infrastructure and flooding during the organizing of its 2018 Comprehensive Plan, the county announced mass rezoning plans for multi-family spaces.

According to officials, most of the property owners under the rezoning project already live within single-family spaces. The project will help bring property owners who have spaces for commercial use into compliance. Using a property for commercial use is not permitted in a single-family residential district.

The project will also help balance population densities and available county infrastructure.

Some of the multi-family areas highlighted for rezoning include property southeast of Ladson Road toward North Charleston and between Ladson Road and Central Avenue in Knightsville.

In April, Knightsville LLC filed a complaint in the county court over proposed rezoning. The owner had purchased three parcels of land off of Central Avenue in Knightsville with the goal of building townhomes.

In the complaint, the owner alleged that the rezoning plans undermined and violated their investment-backed expectations and denied them the right to pursue a planned development project.

During the Monday meeting, attorney Ellis Lesemann spoke on behalf of Knightsville LLC. He said they paid just under $1.1 million for the land in 2019. He also argued that there is enough infrastructure in place to develop the project.

"They've been incurring permit fees, legal fees, engineering, doing a wetlands delineation and going through other types of carrying costs to bring that project forward," he said.

Lesemann said his client learned about the rezoning plans for their property in February. After a Monday executive session, the council agreed to exclude property under Knightsville LLC from its rezoning ordinance.

"We were pleased to be able to resolve the matter with the county," Lesemann said.

Future approval of multi-family zoning will be based on the county's available infrastructure and future land use.

Health

The area above Central Avenue in Knightsville is next on the county's list of mass rezoning. The county's planning commission is scheduled to meet on Oct. 8 to review proposed rezonings.

A County Council public hearing is expected to follow on a later date. Officials say property owners impacted by the rezoning should've already been notified.

Many owners have likely received a flier on their property notifying them about the rezoning.

The new Zaxby’s in Knightsville is now open for business as of June 18. Zaxby’s is located at 1625 Central Avenue. A post on the eatery’s Facebook page stated opening hours are 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Zaxby’s is a fast food restaurant chain known for chicken wings, chicken fingers, sandwiches and salads.

Chad Edens bought Insty-Prints last year and the business has just finished its transition to the franchise’s flagship brand of Allegra. Allegra is a full-service marketing and communications company based in Summerville. The business is located at 320 Old Trolley Road and can be reached at 843-376-4478, hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn more at https://www.allegramarketingprint.com/locations/summerville-sc/services/.

JJ’s Bakery – formerly Bubbie’s Bakery in downtown Summerville – is under new management. Judy Saffa, the new owner, hosted a grand opening on June 16. The bakery is located at 110A S. Cedar Street and is well-known for its cupcakes, cakes and cookies. The bakery can be reached at 843-419-6140.

Perkins Restaurant and Bakery is slated for a June 19 reopening, following a kitchen fire that shut down business for 10 days (as of June 18). Perkins is located at 1700 Old Trolley Road and is owned by Dowm Hawley. Hawley said the restaurant threw a parking lot party fundraiser June 6 that was supported by hundreds of customers to raise money, along with food donations, from the community to help support the hourly employees that had to miss work. “The outpouring from the community has been something from a Hallmark movie and has humbled and elated my spirit and faith in our tight knit community,” she said in an e-mail. View the restaurant’s menu at http://www.perkinsrestaurants.com/menu/ .

Rainbow Child Care Center is opening the doors to its brand-new school, located at 2464 N. Main St. This will be Rainbow’s second location in Summerville. The new nearly 11,000 square foot center serves children from 6 weeks to 12 years of age. Families seeking more information about the new or existing Rainbow Child Care Center or interested in touring the new facility are invited to visit rainbowccc.com/Summerville2 or call 1-800-90-LEARN.

Carnes Crossroads has expanded its recreational options. Five workout stations were placed along the trail loop in the St. James Park neighborhood in May. The stations include 14 pieces of equipment that can be used for 40 different impact exercise. Hurdles, pull-up bars, a dip station and monkey bars provide several resources for exercise in the Goose Creek neighborhood.

Beckstone Apartments, formerly known as Comet Creek, officially opened in Summerville June 15. The complex is located at 100 Comet Creek Lane in the Summerville area and features 264 one-and two-bedroom residences.

The complex contains plenty amenities that include a 24-hour fitness center, yoga studio, sun porch with flat screen televisions, and a resort-style pool with a tanning ledge and gas grills. A sand volleyball court and a pet park provide outdoor recreation.

“We’re super excited to a part of Summerville,” said Ashley Mizzell, marketing manager with RE Carroll. “This area is developing so rapidly. It’s such a hot, fast-moving market. It’s booming. It’s crazy. It’s exciting to see all the growth.”

TRIO, a Mount Pleasant-based marketing communications agency, will provide free advertising and marketing services to local nonprofits on Oct. 25. Through its 24-hour CreateAthon initiative, TRIO will dedicate free marketing services to organizations in need. TRIO will be accepting applications from Monday, June 18 - Friday, Aug. 17. Applicants are asked to submit a 60-second video on why their organization should be selected.

If you know of a new business venture, contact reporter Rickey Ciapha Dennis Jr at [email protected].

“There are so many wonderful nonprofits in our area who need marketing help.” says Jenny Dennis, TRIO’s chief operating officer. “Unfortunately, a lot of these organizations struggle with having enough funding to invest in their marketing support. That’s where CreateAthon can help.”

Megan Hatcher did not initially have plans to become a teacher.

The Rochester, N.Y. native went to Clemson University to get her business degree. She got a job doing corporate accounts – Hatcher described it as a great job with great benefits.

Hatcher was living in Richmond, Va., when she met her husband Shannon, whom she has been married to for almost 11 years. When the couple found out they were having a baby they decided to move down south.

Hatcher’s two older sisters were already teaching in Dorchester District Two, with one at Ashley Ridge High and the other at Beech Hill Elementary. Hatcher loved coming to her sister’s class at Beech Hill to volunteer with her students.

When Hatcher became a mom to her now 8-year-old son Carter she realized she really wanted to be a teacher.

With that Hatcher changed her career. She went back to school, got her master’s in education and came to Knightsville Elementary, where she has been for the past four years. She initially started teaching self-contained third grade but now the 34-year-old teaches fourth-grade gifted and talented math, science and social studies – and she just loves it.

“I have the best job in the world,” she said. “I feel lucky.”

That being said, Hatcher said she couldn’t think of a single “worst experience” she has had with her teaching career. The best part, she said, is seeing the accomplishments her students make.

“Watching the kids, and really watching them turn into young adults, it’s a really cool experience – and knowing that you helped with that,” she said.

Hatcher was Rookie Teacher of the Year her first year at Knightsville. Aside from teaching she stays active with a kickball club, coaching the Math is Cool team and teaching the after-school Junior Science Exploration Team (JSET). She serves on the Sunshine Club as well.

Hatcher said she has considered going into administration one day, but wants to stick with being a teacher for now.

“Right now I can’t imagine being out of the classroom,” she said. “I love being in the classroom. I feel like I would miss it.”

When she is not at school Hatcher enjoys reading, traveling, doing crafts and playing with Carter. The family resides in Summerville and has an 11-year-old male Yorkie named Wrigley (named after Wrigley Field).

Hatcher says her family loves Disney World. They like sports and enjoy traveling together and being outside. They travel to Virginia often to visit Hatcher’s in-laws.

“We’re just three peas in a pod,” she said.

Hatcher’s mom also enjoys visiting her students at school.

Right now Hatcher said she is in a good place with her job and her life.

“I love my job, I am blessed with a wonderful family that supports my job,” she said. “I hope to be this happy in 40 years. I really feel like I’m in a very lucky spot.”

There were smiles, cheers, high-fives and even a few tears as Knightsville Elementary bid farewell to its fifth-graders on May 26 -- the last day of school for Dorchester District Two.

Knightsville Elementary traditionally has its fifth-graders parade through the school in celebration of graduating from elementary school, but this year the school had a special twist on the tradition: they invited back 2017 high school and college graduates -- also Knightsville Elementary alumni -- to return to their old stomping grounds wish the fifth-graders good-luck as they set off for middle school.

Drew Massey, graduating senior at Summerville High, called it nostalgic.

"It's weird to come back 10 years later," she said.

Massey was one of approximately 25 returning graduates who participated in the walk. Summerville High graduates donned their signature green caps and gowns. A handful of Clemson University and University of South Carolina graduates also participated.

The returning students spoke to fifth-graders in their classrooms prior to the parade to offer words of encouragement and students also heard from college professors from Charleston Southern University and The Citadel.

Massey said she wanted to participate because it felt special.

"I saw a lot of them (students) crying," she said. "I think they thought it was special too."

The entire school lined the hallways, along with parents, faculty and staff, to watch all the graduates weave through the building. Younger students awarded the graduates with cheers and high fives along the way while the school played "Pomp and Circumstance" over the intercom.

Teachers wore little graduation caps as well and, if they still had them, they were invited to wear their old graduation robes.

Principal Claire Sieber referred to the returning graduates as the "continuance of the legacy of learning that started here at Knightsville."

"You have empowered our fifth-graders to rise on and continue their education. I'm looking forward to all that the future will hold," she said.

The idea to invite the former Knightsville Elementary students back was Assistant Principal Carey Hodge's idea. Hodge said she had seen a similar event in her former hometown.

Sieber and Hodge said they wanted to have a community connection with the fifth-grade parade this year. With the response they got, Sieber said she anticipates this will be a tradition going forward.

Hodge said their focus for the last couple of weeks has been words of encouragement. She said they have been working on coordinating the event for three months.

Hodge said she thinks the Knightsville Elementary students really enjoyed it.

"I'm seeing tears of...joy and miss -- they're going to miss us. I know it's very bittersweet for them," she said. "But it's always a great thing when kids don't want to leave."

"Above all we just want them to love, learn and lead," she said.