Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Repair in Mount Pleasant, SC

It’s been 55 years since the USS Yorktown arrived in Mount Pleasant and now the brave men who served on the ship will reunite once again.

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) - It’s been 55 years since the USS Yorktown arrived in Mount Pleasant and now the brave men who served on the ship will reunite once again.

Veterans of the USS Yorktown will all gather Friday for the 75th Anniversary Reunion at Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum. All veterans who served on the Yorktown from World War II to the Vietnam War will head back to the ship to reminisce on the past, share stories of their present, and express the importance of the future. Starting this year, to recognize their contributions and to honor their service, Gov. Henry McMaster named Oct. 1-7 “USS Yorktown Veterans Week.” Even though this is a weekend of remembrance and bonding for the veterans who served on the USS Yorktown, visitors and locals in the area are highly encouraged to come out and learn more about the history of the widely known fighter ship, “The Fighting Lady.”

What began in 1948, DiNocola says every year is special. Remembering the good times and honoring those who did not get to come home. For the 75th Anniversary, Erin DiNocola, Public Information Director for Patriots Point, says they have veterans from WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and all who served on the USS Yorktown gathering together from multiple generations.

DiNocola says the reunion is filled with a multitude of events for the weekend, including a memorial service at 9 a.m. honoring the 100 individuals who have passed in the last year who are veterans and have served previously on the USS Yorktown. Along with a public opportunity to meet and greet veterans on the Yorktown. The public is encouraged to come out and meet veterans, ask questions and hear their incredible stories.

DiNocola says as the years have passed, we lost 100 USS Yorktown veterans and we have fewer and fewer WWII veterans.

“Our opportunities to really speak to these people in person is something that is finite,” DiNicola says. “And we want to take advantage of it because they’re such incredible heroes.”

DiNocola says in support of USS Yorktown Veterans Week, a local Cub Scout troop of eight- and nine-year-olds, pack 505, is learning about community service and the importance of thanking our veterans. Every member of the troop wrote letters to the veterans that were delivered earlier this week. They’re handwritten and contain drawing thanking veterans and the sacrifices they made for our country.

“When you’re speaking to the individuals who can tell you about everything that happened on a certain day, “DiNocola, “The sounds, the smells, the experiences of serving next to their brother in arms, I think that speaks volumes and is something that both young and old will always remember.”

The meet and greet with visitors and local families will be held on Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. - noon The event is included with your admission ticket into Patriots Point.

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MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCIV) — The U.S. Department of Education has recognized Christ Our King–Stella Maris Catholic School (COKSM) worthy of their 2023 National Blue Ribbon award.

The United States Department of Education award "affirms and validates" the hard work of students, educators, families and communities as they strive for exemplary academic achievement.

The schools who win this prestigious award "demonstrate effective and innovative teaching and learning, and value and support teachers and staff through meaningful professional learning."

Read More: 5 South Carolina schools named National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2021

With its 40th cohort this year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed approximately 10,000 awards to more than 9,700 schools..

“The leaders, educators and staff at our National Blue Ribbon Schools continually inspire me with their dedication to fostering academic excellence and building positive school cultures that support students of all backgrounds to thrive academically, socially and emotionally,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

Out of 353 schools awarded the Blue Ribbon this year, 36 were Catholic. Only five were from South Carolina.

COKSM Principal Susan Splendido said their school is filled with outstanding teachers, engaged parents, and hardworking students.

“We are blessed to be in a faith-filled community united by the goal of helping each and every student find success. COKSM’s focus is to help our students prepare for the next stages of their lives and become active members of our community," Splendido continued.

COKSM previously received this honor in 2009, a fact which school president John Byrnes recalled with pride.

“We are very happy and proud that we have once again been named a National Blue Ribbon School," Byrnes said.

Byrnes gave further praise, “COKSM, in its efforts for continuous improvement, has a long tradition of providing a top-notch Catholic educational experience for our students, and we are committed to educating the whole child through our programs in academics, fine arts, stewardship and athletics."

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COKSM is tied to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston. With more than 70 years of history, it has long since been a well-known staple in the Charleston area.

MOUNT PLEASANT — A North Carolina-based supermarket chain plans to enter the Charleston market, stepping in after another grocery store’s plans fell through.

The Fresh Market has taken over the lease from discount grocer Lidl for a space in Bowman Place Shopping Center, according to a document filed Sept. 27 in the Charleston County land records office.

A spokeswoman for the Greensboro-based specialty grocer said the company “did not have anything to share at this time” on its open schedule.

Peter Stone of Mount Pleasant’s planning department said Fresh Market has not presented construction plans to the town, which usually considers building and facade alterations as well as signage through the Commercial Design Review Board.

German company Lidl, with its U.S. headquarters in Arlington, Va., had planned to move into a 26,000-square-foot space in the Dick’s Sporting Goods-anchored retail center near Bowman Road and Johnnie Dodds Boulevard.

Work came to a halt more than a year ago.

A Lidl representative did not respond for comment.

The Fresh Market now has the remainder of the 15-year tenant agreement Lidl signed three years ago next month. The lease also included an option for 15 more years.

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The site originally held a 20,000-square-foot kitchen store, but it closed in early 2020. Lidl wanted a larger space, so it added 6,000 square feet and a loading dock in the rear of the building.

The Fresh Market has nine stores in South Carolina. Its closest location to Charleston is about 70 miles up the coast at Pawleys Island.

The chain offers an upscale assortment of fresh produce, meat and seafood along with a deli, bakery, prepared foods and fresh-cut flowers. The store also has beer, wine, coffee and bulk nuts along with various other items.

In 2017, Fresh Market first eyed the state’s fourth-largest municipality and its 95,000 residents who have a median household income of more than $106,000, according to U.S. Census figures.

Publix eventually brought one of its small-format specialty grocery stores called GreenWise Market to the 21,535-square-foot space in Indigo Square Shopping Center off U.S. Highway 17, where Fresh Market was looking.

GreenWise Market, near Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, closed in 2020 about 16 months after it opened. It’s now the site of outdoor gear retailer REI Co-op.

Another specialty grocer also made a run in Mount Pleasant. North Carolina-based Southern Season shuttered its store off Coleman Boulevard in 2016, less than three years after it opened. It’s now the home of Gold’s Gym.

Last year, South American retailer Cencosud acquired a 67 percent stake in The Fresh Market. Existing grocery store shareholders retained a minority equity interest in the company.

The Fresh Market, with 159 stores in 22 states, was founded in 1982. The size of its stores average about 21,000 square feet.

The Bowman Place location is near a 4-mile stretch of Johnnie Dodds Boulevard between the Ravenel Bridge and Interstate 526 that’s teeming with supermarkets. They include Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, Publix, Traders Joe’s, Aldi and Walmart.

Lidl has a dozen stores in South Carolina, with two in the Charleston area in Goose Creek and North Charleston.

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. —

A popular restaurant in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, has announced its closing.

The Mustard Seed has been in business for more than 28 years.

(Video above: Morning headlines from WYFF News 4)

The owner, Sal Parco, posted Sunday on Facebook that he will retire and the restaurant will close and be taken over by a new group.

Read his full message below:

"It’s with a heavy heart and mixed emotions, I am writing to formally announce my retirement and the closing of the Mustard Seed. Please visit me as this will be my final week and it is my hope to see as many of you as possible. I opened the original Mustard Seed over 28 yrs ago, and it’s been quite a journey. Along the way I’ve had the privilege to serve the greater Mt Pleasant community, even opening up additional restaurant concepts that were frequented by my cherished customers. It has been my great honor to be a part of the restaurant community and I’ll never be able to express my appreciation toward the many customers that I now consider to be my family. I am forever grateful to have been welcomed in with such open arms and my gratitude toward you is immense. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed coming to work everyday, meeting, greeting and serving the most wonderful group of loyal customers. You have been my family for almost 30 years and I will miss each and every one of you. But it is time to pass on the baton…

"To my Mustard Seed team, thank you for your commitment and your loyalty. You have made this feel more like a passion project as opposed to work. A special thanks to my dedicated leaders that always stepped up even through the many challenges we’ve faced throughout the years. I never questioned your integrity as you added to the successes we achieved. But after much thought and careful consideration, I realize that it’s time to slow down as I’m not a youngster anymore and all good things must come to an end. I want to thank everyone for the experiences and opportunities I have been able to enjoy. The fond memories of our times together will follow me into my retirement and any future endeavors.

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"Until then, I am fully committed to assisting in the transition of the new group taking over… I know this wonderful community will embrace them just as you did me 28+ years ago. You allowed me to live out my dreams and achieve opportunities that I couldn’t even imagine were possible. I love each and everyone of you! All the best,Sal Parco"

MOUNT PLEASANT — A new 9,000-square-foot dining venue soon will replace a seafood restaurant that started in 1979 in an old fish shed with 35 seats.

Sunsets plans to open in about three weeks at 97 Mill St. in the former R.B.’s on Shem Creek, which closed after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The seafood-centric offering between Red’s Ice House and Saltwater Cowboys comes from a partnership between Bottle Cap Group and Southern Entertainment, both based in Charlotte.

The two-story restaurant is designed “to focus on the views and accentuate waterfront dining,” according to Bob Durkin of Southern Entertainment. “Every seat will have an amazing view.”

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The lower level features a larger deck that allows more outdoor seating while the second story includes garage door-like features to give it an open-air atmosphere.

“We really wanted to open it up outside,” Durkin said.

The project has been in the works for a couple of years since the business partners homed in on the site after longtime R.B.’s owner Ronnie Boals decided to retire and sell the property.

In 2020, an affiliate of Geyer Morris Co., a privately held Dallas-based commercial real estate development firm, bought the nearly 1-acre property from Boals for $7 million.

The existing two-story structure, built in 2003 after a fire destroyed the restaurant a year earlier, will feature seating for 284 diners on the first floor, according to site plans. Another 218 seats will be available on the second level.

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“It’s the ideal location, but everything has taken longer than expected,” said Britton McCorkle with Bottle Cap Group. “We also had to install a sprinkler system, which held us up a bit.”

In addition to seafood, chef Kevin Spencer will offer entrees such as steaks, chicken and pork. Appetizers, sushi and veggie-centric dishes also will be on the menu. Brunch will include mainstays as well as some favorite items from lunch and dinner, Spencer said.

Lighter-fare salads, sandwiches and burgers also will be available.

“We will have something for everyone,” said Andrew Izrael, general manager.

A full bar with local beers, cocktails and wine also is part of the new dining spot.

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“The bar includes a playful reimagining of classic items that work with the seafood-forward menu and being on the water,” Izrael said. “They will have touches of flair.”

The restaurant will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. weekdays, with later hours on weekends.

The restaurant’s partners also have other business interests in the Charleston area.

Bottle Cap Group includes Snapper Jack’s Seafood & Raw Bar on Folly Beach. Southern Entertainment is involved in developing Farm Haus Butcher & Beer Garden in Moultrie Plaza Shopping Center in Mount Pleasant. Durkin said Farm Haus is several weeks away from opening.