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It’s Farmers Market Season!

Stock Farmers Market Picture

Local farmers’ markets offer a unique opportunity to support your community while enjoying fresh, high-quality produce. By shopping at farmers’ markets, you’re helping local farmers thrive, which in turn boosts the local economy and reduces environmental impact through decreased transportation emissions. These markets provide access to seasonal fruits and vegetables, often grown organically and picked at peak ripeness, ensuring better taste and nutrition. Additionally, farmers markets foster a sense of community, connecting consumers directly with the people who grow their food, and creating a vibrant, social shopping experience that’s both enjoyable and educational. Supporting local farmers markets means investing in sustainable agriculture and healthier, more resilient communities.

Here’s a short list of local farmers’ markets in and around our town (listed by distance from Dorchester).

Dorchester Farmers Market

218B Delee Circle Dorchester, SC 29437
Season: Starting in late April
Days & hours: Designated Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094776452196
Web: https://dorchesterscfarmersmarket.com/

Ridgeville Farmers Market

154 Church Street, Ridgeville, SC 29472
Season: April – August
Days & Hours: Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RidgevilleMarket
Web: https://www.ridgevillefarmersmarket.com/

St. George Farmers Market

225 N Parler Ave, Saint George, SC 29477
Season: May – October
Days & Hours: Thursdays from 3 pm to 6 pm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stgeorgefarmersmarket

Summerville Farmers Market

218 South Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483
Season: April to Mid-November
Days & Hours: Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/summervillefarmersmarket
Web: https://summervilledream.org/farmers-market/

Visiting a farmers market for the first time can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Here are some tips to make the most of your visit:

Key Takeaways

  1. Bring Cash: While many vendors now accept credit cards, cash is still king at farmers markets. It’s easier for small transactions and can help you stick to your budget.
  2. Arrive Early or Late: Arriving early ensures you get the best selection of produce, while arriving later might net you some deals as vendors often discount items at the end of the day.
  3. Bring Your Own Bags: Vendors may not always provide bags, so bring reusable ones to carry your purchases and reduce plastic waste.
  4. Wear Comfortable Shoes: Farmers markets can be large and spread out, so comfortable footwear is a must for walking around.
  5. Talk to the Farmers: Don’t be shy! Ask the farmers about their produce, growing practices, and any tips for preparation. They are a great resource for learning more about what you’re buying.
  6. Explore Before Buying: Take a lap around the market to see what’s available before making purchases. This way, you can compare prices and products from different vendors.
  7. Be Open to Trying New Things: Farmers markets often have unique and seasonal produce that you might not find in regular grocery stores. Be adventurous and try something new.
  8. Bring a Cooler Bag: If you plan to buy perishable items like dairy, meat, or fish, a cooler bag with ice packs will keep your purchases fresh until you get home.
  9. Plan Your Meals: Having a rough idea of what meals you want to prepare can help you buy the right amounts and types of produce, reducing food waste.
  10. Check the Market’s Schedule: Farmers markets often have special events, live music, cooking demonstrations, or seasonal celebrations. Check the schedule to make the most of your visit.

Enjoy the experience of supporting local agriculture and discovering fresh, delicious food!

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Hurricane Preparedness Expo at Ashley River Park

Hurricane Expo 2024

With the 2024 Hurricane Season about to start, Dorchester County is encouraging residents to attend the Hurricane Preparedness Expo at Ashley River Park. The Hurricane Preparedness Expo aims to provide valuable information, tips, and resources to help residents of our county prepare for hurricanes and other natural disasters.

Event Details: 
Date: Sat. June 1, 2024
Time: 10:00AM – 1:00PM
Location: Ashley River Park, 200 Renken Road, Summerville

Win a New Generator!
The Hurricane Preparedness Expo will feature a range of fun activities and offerings. These include interactive exhibits, food trucks, an inflatable obstacle course, an electric children’s train, balloon art, face painting, and emergency services demonstrations. Charleston Electric will also be raffling off a brand new 3600-watt Generac GP3600 portable generator. 

Other Fun Activities at the Expo
Representatives from Tradesman Brewing Company will be there with samples for our 21-year-old and older crowd with our special hurricane beer, Know Your Zone.

Coastal Coffee Roasters will also be there with our one-of-a-kind coffee, Storm Surge.

The Red Cross will host a blood drive during the Expo. You can Pre-register to give blood here. Visit this link to pre-register and sign up to donate blood. 

Please note: If you do not have a Park Annual Pass, admission to the park is $2 per person (free for 3 years-old and under).

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A Salem Road Update with a Twist

Sand truck

After Channel 4 came out last week, Channel 2 News also came out on Monday May 6th, and did another short new piece focused on Salem Road and the truck damage to our roads by the sand trucks. (Link to the Channel 2 Live news story Trucks carrying dirt from nearby mines causing damage to roads in Dorchester).

Members of our town have discussed in-person the road condition issues with our District 1 County Council Member Harriet Holman and our SC State Representative House District 97 – Robby Robbins. Mr. Robbins toured our area on Sunday, May 5th, and Mrs. Holman was to tour our area on Tuesday, May 7th. Early feedback is the Department of Transportation (DOT) folks are “working on a plan to completely redo” Salem Road. While it may take them a few weeks to get everything together the end product should be a completely new Salem Road.

In trying to research the Salem mine permit (there is none) with the DHEC Mining folks, I learned the two mine sites on Salem Road are Department of Transportation (DOT) “borrow pits.” And it should come as no surprise, DOT borrow pits are apparently exempt from having to obtain a mine operating permit. This would also explain the lack of community notice for mining operations and why the DOT is so quick to come up with a plan to replace the road.

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Salem Road Update

Sand truck

Channel 4 News came out Friday and did a short new piece focused on Salem Road however this is bigger than just a few sand trucks on a country road, it’s the tip of a complicated iceberg.

(Link to the Channel 4 Live news story Dorchester residents raise concerns over street damage and noise from truck traffic ) And it’s not a “salt mine” it’s a sand mine, one of dozens encircling our community.

Almost every road around our Town of Dorchester now has at least one sand mine feeding these massive sand trucks onto them. Sandridge, Salem, Zion, and East Main/178 all have heavy sand truck traffic from pre-dawn to dusk, six days a week.

Sand trucks and potholes
Sand trucks and potholes

Sand mines and the associated truck traffic are destroying taxpayer-funded roads for the profit of others. The County and DHEC continue to approve private sand mine zoning and permitting over repeated citizen impact concerns and then seemingly do nothing when there is a problem. But of course “Dorchester County says it’s working to manage it all.” How? By collecting your tax money and then throwing asphalt at the problem? Or maybe by passing another law the mines won’t follow?

Our town benefits ZERO from these state and county-approved, highly profitable, mining operations destroying the area, our roads, and the environment around us. I would encourage everyone concerned to continue to contact your representative and advocate for more local control over the damage to our roads from sand mines.

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Our Town Roads

Sand truck drivng over fresh repairs

Our roads are being destroyed by sand trucks. I recently responded to a neighbor’s complaint related to the road condition along Salem Road and took some time to drive Salem from Railway Drive to Halfway Gut Creek. I was aghast at the deterioration of the roadway in less than a year.

Salem Road
Salem Road potholes

There is now a new sand mine straddling both sides of the road just before Halfway Gut. Someone installed a steel plate in the road due to the trucks turning in and out of the mine tearing up the road. The road directly in front of the Salem United Methodist Church is largely destroyed now. There are potholes everywhere.

Road crews unsuccessfully attempted to repave the section in front of the Methodist Church, I don’t think their work lasted more than a few hours. The sand trucks were driving over the repairs before the crews were finished.

I have sent the following letter from our town association to Mrs. Harret Holman and the Dorchester County Commissioners seeking their support.

Letter to Dorchester County Commissioners
Letter to Dorchester County Commissioners

Almost every road around our Town of Dorchester now has at least one sand mine feeding these massive sand trucks onto them. Sandridge, Salem, Zion, and East Main/178 all now have heavy sand truck traffic six days a week for at least eight hours a day. I would encourage everyone concerned to contact your representative and advocate for more control over the damage to our roads from sand mines. You can call, email, or write a letter asking for their support for our committee.

Please feel free to use the following template and your own words. You can also cut and paste into an email and send it directly to the commissioners (or anyone else you think may support this issue). This link (https://www.dorchestercountysc.gov/government/county-council/council-members) gives our County Council members’ phone numbers and email addresses.

Resident-Letter-to-DorchesterCC-for-road-Maintenance.docxDownload

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Upcoming Joint Town Hall Meeting

Dorchester County Logo

Chairman Todd Friddle from Dorchester County Council, Ms. Kellie Bates from the DD2 Board of Trustees, Dr. Charmaine Palmer-Roberts from North Charleston City Council, Chief Richardson from the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, and Representative Chris Murphy from the S.C. House of Representatives, invite residents to an upcoming town hall meeting at the Wescott Park Clubhouse.

Residents, community leaders, and stakeholders are encouraged to attend and actively participate in this meeting. This is a unique opportunity to engage directly with elected officials and decision-makers, shaping the future of our community. Topics of discussion will include education, infrastructure, public safety, and economic development.

To submit your questions to the moderator, please email them to mmills@dorchestercountysc.gov.  

Date: April 3, 2024
Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Location: Wescott Park Clubhouse Address, (9006 Dorchester Road, North Charleston)

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County Greenbelt Master Plan Public Input Sessions

Dorchester County Logo

Dorchester County will be holding two upcoming in-person public engagement sessions designed to gather community input for the development of the Greenbelt Master Plan.

A greenbelt is an undeveloped land area around or within cities, safeguarded to preserve nature, biodiversity, and recreational spaces. It serves multiple purposes, such as environmental conservation, flood prevention, and supporting sustainable urban planning. Greenbelts seek to strike a balance between urban development and maintaining green spaces for community well-being and environmental health. The Dorchester County Greenbelt Master Plan will help guide funding for eligible projects such as land acquisition and purchase of conservation easements as a result of the 2022 Dorchester County Transportation Sales and Use Tax Referendum. 

The public input sessions will be held as follows:

1. St. George Rosenwald School:

  • Date: Thursday, February 8, 2024
  • Time: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
  • Location: St. George Rosenwald School, 205 Ann Street, St. George, SC 29477

2. Alston Middle School Cafeteria:

  • Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2024
  • Time: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
  • Location: Alston Middle School, 500 Bryan St. Summerville, SC 29483
    (Enter the building from Highway 78)

These sessions serve as opportunities for community members to share their thoughts, suggestions, and concerns which will directly shape the Greenbelt Master Plan.

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Do This Survey for Better Streets

Steets

In an initiative to enhance community involvement in shaping the future of our county’s transportation policies, Dorchester County has launched the Complete Streets Survey. This survey invites residents, businesses, and stakeholders to actively participate in crafting safer, more accessible streets for all.

To access the survey, please visit this link. Please note the survey will close on November 27, 2023.

The Complete Streets approach advocates for the design of streets that can accommodate all modes of transportation by promoting safety and accessibility for everyone. By taking part in this survey, you can contribute to the development of transportation policies that reflect the diverse needs of our community.

The County will also host its second Complete Streets Workshop. This workshop is open to everyone, and families are encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be provided.

Date: October 26, 2023
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM 
Location: St. George Rosenwald School (205 Ann Street, St. George)

For more information, please visit the Dorchester County Complete Streets Policy webpage. 

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Make Time to Attend This Public Meeting for Another Sand Mine.

DHEC has provided notice they are hosting a public meeting for the proposed Moorer Mine. The meeting will be held at the Dorchester County Career and Technology Center (507 Schoolhouse road, Dorchester SC 29437) at 6:00 pm on Thursday, October 19, 2023. Doors will open at 5:30 to allow people to sign in and meet and greet with the DHEC staff.

This meeting is being held at the request of our Dorchester community. If at all possible please plan to attend. The purpose of the public meeting is to provide us information related to the mine application package and to answer questions related to the impact to our community.

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