Lowcountry Breaking News

Sept. 6 - Kroger Announces the Purchase, Redevelopment of The Mall at Shelter Cove

Last Updated on Tuesday, 06 September 2011 08:48 Written by From Staff Reports Tuesday, 06 September 2011 00:00

Sept. 6, 2011 - A real estate affiliate of The Kroger Co. has purchased The Mall at Shelter Cove, located at 24 Shelter Cove Lane in Hilton Head, S.C., on Aug. 10.

The closing officially transferred ownership of the 42-acre parcel and approximately 300,000 square feet of existing retail space to The Shelter Cove Town Center, LLC.

“The Mall at Shelter Cove is a premier property for Hilton Head Island and the Beaufort County region,” says Glynn Jenkins, director of public relations and communications for Kroger’s Atlanta Division, which includes South Carolina, Georgia, Northern Alabama and Eastern Tennessee. “We look forward to bringing to life this property’s full potential in a manner that serves residents and visitors.”

Augusta, Ga.-based Blanchard & Calhoun Commercial Corp. has been named development partner for the project, which will include a Kroger store. For 85 years, Blanchard & Calhoun has served the Southeast as a real estate development and commercial brokerage firm, specializing in retail, multifamily, residential and hotels. It is renowned for providing clients with professional service, its passion for excellence and a commitment to balancing real estate development while respecting the natural ecosystem.

While redevelopment plans are still being explored, they are anticipated to range from the construction of new retail space to the addition of residential units. Final plans will be announced at a future date.

“Kroger’s Atlanta Division operates 214 stores, 11 of which are in South Carolina communities,” Jenkins says. “We look forward to expanding our presence in the state and serving shoppers with the value; variety of products, services and amenities; and local charitable support our customers expect.”

Potential tenants should contact Mark Senn with Blanchard & Calhoun at (706) 854-6714 for information about leasing opportunities.

Aug. 31 - Hilton Head Island to Announce Sustainability Advisory Committee

NEWS - Lowcountry Breaking News

Last Updated on Wednesday, 31 August 2011 06:03 Written by From Staff Reports Sunday, 28 August 2011 00:00

Lowcountry Leadership in Sustainability Roundtable to be Catalyst and Discussion Platform to Inspire Sustainable Practices.

Aug. 31, 2011 - Hilton Head Island has long been considered an environmentally sensitive destination but to advance environmental stewardship and become a more sustainable community, a local Sustainability Advisory Committee for Hilton Head Island has formed, and an introduction of the effort will take place Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 3:30 p.m.

The Sustainability Advisory Committee for Hilton Head Island is a citizen led group that developed from the Mayor’s Task Force Vision Plan recommendations adopted by the Greater Island Council of Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, a nonprofit organization. The committee’s role is to research, develop, and facilitate opportunities to support sustainable practices that further the journey to sustainability for Hilton Head Island, considering impacts on the economy, ecology, and the people. The announcement and introduction of the committee’s members will be part of the Lowcountry Leadership in Sustainability roundtable session during the TIES (The International Ecotourism Society) conference – an annual event – which is expected to attract between 350-400 delegates from around the world. The public is invited to attend this session and the conference.
The roundtable session – Lowcountry Leadership in Sustainability – has been organized by local leaders and is designed to highlight sustainability initiatives and create an environment for discussion among regional stakeholders regarding ideas, opportunities, successes, methods and resources related to leadership, launch and success of organizational efforts. The panel of experts will include Andrew Craig, the Senior Manager of Environmental Initiatives for the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), the new five-year sponsor of the PGA Tour’s Heritage golf tournament at the Harbour Town Golf Links; Sara Clow, general manager of the GrowFood Carolina program recently launched in Charleston; and Will Paddock, Director of Strategy for Sustainable Solutions, a consulting firm that works with local government, communities and corporations to implement sustainable practices to impact the triple bottom line. The roundtable session will be facilitated by Teresa Wade, founder and executive director of Experience Green, a non-profit organization on Hilton Head Island providing experiential sustainability education; and Denise Grabowski, principal of Symbioscity and member of the Chatham County Environmental Forum, a group that created a county adopted resolution to make Chatham County the Greenest in the State of Georgia.

“The panelists contributing to this discussion represent ongoing efforts that capitalize on the comprehensive value proposition associated with sustainability. These are examples our community needs to inspire action,” said Wade, executive director of Experience Green. The effort will also identify participants for an ongoing roundtable network for collaboration and information exchange to further community, profit and nonprofit organizations, and government sustainability efforts in the Lowcountry. The future roundtable meetings will be facilitated by Experience Green as well. The public is invited to participate in the discussion which will focus on themes such as stakeholder engagement, goals and measurement, value creation, and more.

The roundtable session is presented by Experience Green, in conjunction with the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and Sustainable Solutions.

Although registration is required to attend the TIES conference, the roundtable session is open to the public, free of charge with advanced online registration, and local and regional attendance is encouraged. Register online at http://www.experiencgreen.org

For more information call David Zunker at 843-341-8370 or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Published by Savannah Business Journal.®All Copyrights Reserved ©2011. www.savannahbusinessjournal.com®

Aug. 26 - Edisto Celebrates Labor Day in a Big Way

NEWS - Lowcountry Breaking News

Last Updated on Friday, 26 August 2011 00:57 Written by From Staff Reports Friday, 26 August 2011 00:00

Looks ahead to a full lineup of fall festivities

Aug. 26, 2011 - The Edisto Island and Edisto Beach communities plan to squeeze out the last bit of all that summer has to offer here with a full schedule of events planned for Labor Day weekend. The third annual Edisto Beach King Mackerel Tournament, hosted by Dockside Restaurant, and the second annual Edisto Fish & Shag Fest, will anchor the traditional end-of-summer weekend. Meanwhile, the Edisto Shrimp Fest, a new lineup in the annual festivities, will be held the last Saturday in September, marking the beginning of the fall season. Other popular fall events, which highlight the year-round appeal of Edisto, include the Edisto Art Guild Fall Show & Sale, the Edisto & Beyond Tour, and the Edisto Fall Festival.

On Sept. 2 and 3, anglers will descend on Edisto for the Edisto Beach King Mackerel Tournament. This "No Check-Out Tournament" is a Southern Kingfish Association division three event. Registration will take place between 5 and 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2, at the Edisto Marina. The entry fee is $300. A captain's meeting will follow, starting at 7:30 p.m. The tournament itself will begin the next morning and will conclude with a weigh-in at the Edisto Marina where prizes will be awarded. To learn more, please visit www.buckspizzakingfish.com.

In conjunction with the tournament, the Edisto Fish & Shag Fest will be held at Bay Creek Park, located next to the Edisto Marina. The festival will begin at 3 p.m. on Friday with music provided by Pat Patterson. Second Nature will perform Friday night from 8-11 p.m. with a special "Edisto shag" contest beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday's events, starting at 10 a.m., include a food drive for the Edisto Food Pantry, arts and crafts, children's activities, and sponsor and vendor booths. Pat Patterson will again be providing music from 3-7 p.m. Rounding out the evening will be a shag competition at 8 p.m. on Saturday and a performance by the renowned Catalinas from 7-10 p.m.

To gear up for the fall season and spruce things up after a busy summer, EdistoPride will sponsor a Beach & River Sweep on Sept. 17. The sweep will begin at Edisto Beach State Park. Those interested in participating should contact EdistoPride by phone at 843-869-4422 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The weekend following will bring the first annual Edisto Shrimp Fest. This event, which will recognize the fishing industry and its contributions, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Bay Creek Park. The festivities will begin at 11 a.m. with a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the park. Lowcountry Boil and hot dogs will be served from 12 noon-2 p.m., with live music by Fat Alice from 1- 5 p.m. For more information, please call 843-869-2505 or visit www.townofedistobeach.com.

Come October, the Edisto Island Historic Preservation Society will sponsor the Edisto & Beyond Tour, its annual tour of plantations, churches, graveyards, and historic sites. This year's tour will be a two-day event, held on Oct. 7 and 8. On Friday, from 10 a.m. to noon and from 2-4 p.m., the Ted Turner Hope Plantation in Jacksonboro will be on tour. This year marks the first time the house has been opened for this tour.

On Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., the tour will feature the following properties: Bailey Plantation House, Peters Point, the School House, Hutchinson House (grounds), Trinity Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church of Edisto Island, the Old First Baptist Church and Zion Reformed Episcopal Church. The tours will begin at the Edisto Island Museum, located at 8123 Chisolm Plantation Road. Tickets for this event sell out quickly each year, with a limited number being offered. Saturday tickets are $45 each. Friday tickets are $90 each to qualify for the drawing. For more information or to check ticket availability, contact the Edisto Museum at 843-869-1954 or visit www.edistomuseum.org.

Also on Saturday, Oct. 8, the Edisto Art Guild will hold its fall show and sale at the Edistonian, located at 406 Highway 174 on Edisto Island. For more information, contact the Edisto Chamber of Commerce at 843-869-3867 or visit www.edistochamber.com.

The following weekend, the Edisto Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the Edisto Fall Festival. This street fair, featuring art, local culinary treats and activities for the kids, will take place on Oct. 15 at Jungle Road.

Meanwhile, nature lovers may want to consider any of the numerous tours that focus on birds and other wildlife on Edisto, including dolphins and migratory birds that pass through the area, such as bald eagles and peregrine falcons, along with thousands of shorebirds, such as the dunlin, whimbrel, and godwit. For more information, contact the Edisto Chamber of Commerce at 843-869-3867 or visit www.edistochamber.com.