ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCSC) - More than a year after a state bill was passed that would ensure access to some free parking and give the state control of public roads in beach towns, the former mayor and a current councilman from the Isle of Palms say it is an “unprecedented attack upon the SC State Constitution and rule of law.”

Isle of Palms Councilmember Blair Hahn and former Isle of Palms Mayor Jimmy Carroll sent an open letter to elected officials in the barrier island towns of the Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, Folly Beach and Edisto Beach.

In the letter, Hahn and Carroll ask for support to fight back against senate bill S.40, which was signed into law by Gov. Henry McMaster in May 2021.

“We want the right to rule our community,” Carroll said. “We don’t want Columbia to tell us how to run this island.”

The bill requires free public beach parking, but also may include paid parking on state highways. Those highways have to be in communities that are eligible for beach renourishment funds, which use money to add sand back onto beaches.

Parking only can be restricted by the South Carolina Department of Transportation if they find that restrictions are necessary.

“Parking is not free,” Hahn said. “Parking costs emergency services, police services, fire services, it costs for landscaping for trash pickup. It costs money, somebody’s gotta bear that expense.”

It also requires governments to get approval from the South Carolina Department of Transportation before adding or making changes to state highways.

“It is blatantly illegal, it’s unconstitutional on four different grounds and it has to be stopped,” Hahn said.

Hahn says the Isle of Palms City Council has engaged legal counsel to explore their rights. Hahn says if they cannot negotiate a legal statute by amending or rescinding S.40, then they will go to the South Carolina Supreme Court.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Larry Grooms (R- Berkeley). Grooms was not available for an interview at this time.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Isle of Palms Mayor Phillip Pounds said: “The City continues to work with SCDOT to find solutions that are beneficial to our residents and visitors.”

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ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCBD) – A beloved grocery store employee is receiving some help from the Isle of Palms community after she fell victim to a scam.

Keera Urick has been a cashier at the IOP Harris Teeter for the last 2.5 years. Back in February, she and her husband moved into a new home in Summerville that they found on Craigslist. After living in the house for eight weeks, they discovered a scammer was pretending to be American Homes 4 Rent.

Suddenly, the couple was out thousands of dollars and a place to live.

“I was calling family members, people I knew trying to see if they could come and help us. I was freaking out. I got so upset,” said Urick.

Urick and her husband fell on hard times after that, both financially and emotionally. The couple has been staying in a hotel. They even spent a few nights in their car.

“Some nights we didn’t have a meal because of this,” she explained.

Darla Hood frequents the IOP Harris Teeter and has gotten to know Urick over the years. After learning about her situation, Hood knew she wanted to help.

“We all go to the grocery store every day, we’re a small community, it’s a small island. I know that there has to be other people that would want to help her but maybe didn’t know,” said Hood.

She was right. Hood organized a gofundme which has reached over $30,000. With this money, the community was able to pay off the couple’s car, cell phone bill, and insurance for six months – among other things.

Hood’s social media was flooded with supportive comments from community members.

“Darla this is so awesome, I love Keera. I always talk to her while I’m in line,” Hood read aloud from a printed sheet of comments.

On Thursday, News 2 was there for the moment Hood surprised her friend with the exciting update.

“I never knew that anything like that could ever happen for me. I’ve never had people step up for me like that,” said Urick.

Hood said she is working on finding housing for the couple. To donate to the fundraiser, click here.

We have compiled an extensive directory of financial planners in the area. Though people of any age may benefit from the guidance of a certified financial advisor, those of retirement age are facing new financial decisions daily. They need to know how much monthly income is needed, how to protect assets and how to allocate what is left behind. Moreover, senior citizens still have plenty of goals they are working toward. A financial advisor can make sure our retirees’ money is safe and provisional, so they can go back to doing all the things they love most. We encourage everyone to look over the directory and find a finance professional near you. Enjoy this guide to the best the Lowcountry has to offer.

AWENDAW

Lowcountry CFO Consulting 590 Pointing Brittany Lane Awendaw, S.C. 29429 843-737-1690

DANIEL ISLAND

Ameriprise Financial Services 259 Seven Farms Drive, Ste. 200 Daniel Island, S.C. 29492 843-284-1237

Beacon Financial Services 186 Seven Farms Drive Daniel Island, S.C. 29492 843-906-9712

Coastal Strategic Capital 115 Fairchild St., Ste. 320 Daniel Island, S.C. 29492 843-471-1470

Commonwealth Financial Group 225 Seven Farms Drive Daniel Island, S.C. 29492 843-884-4545

Curran Financial Partners 672 Marina Drive, Ste. 108 Daniel Island, S.C. 29492 843-300-1182

Harbour Corporate & Private Wealth Management Group 126 Seven Farms Drive, Ste. 150 Daniel Island, S.C. 29492 843-377-8448

Income Growth Advisors 225 Seven Farms Drive, Ste. 108 Daniel Island, S.C. 29492 843-628-5611

MGP Capital Management 87 Iron Bottom Lane Daniel Island, S.C. 29492 857-264-0943

Oak Capital Advisors 126 Seven Farms Drive, Ste. 160 Daniel Island, S.C. 29492 843-284-0798

Premier Wealth Partners 295 Seven Farms Drive, Ste. 201 Daniel Island, S.C. 29492 843-501-2778

UBS Financial Services 900 Island Park Drive, Ste. 201 Daniel Island, S.C. 29492 843-856-6605

Wells Fargo Advisors 900 Island Park Drive, Ste. 201 Daniel Island, S.C. 29492 843-856-6619

ISLE OF PALMS

Edward Jones 1517 Palm Blvd. Isle of Palms, S.C. 29451 843-886-9229

Harvest Portfolio Management 30 28th Ave. Isle of Palms, S.C. 29451 843-885-6445

Jeter Hrubala Wealth Strategies 103 Palm Blvd., Ste. 2C Isle of Palms, S.C. 29451 843-405-7232

MOLUNT PLEASANT

360 Financial Partners 1081 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Ste. 100 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-216-1077

Apollon Wealth Management 835 Coleman Blvd., Ste. 102 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-579-0018

Bera Wealth Advisors 235 Magrath Darby Blvd., Suite 120 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-459-3096

Blanton Financial Group 1156 Bowman Road, Ste. 200 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-654-7400

Breakaway Financial Group LLC 887 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Ste. 213 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-564-8584

Cetera Advisor Networks 1037 Chuck Dawley Blvd. Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-881-8323

Charleston Investment Advisors 1311 Chuck Dawley Blvd., Ste. 101 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-763-4499

Chris Moss CPA Financial Planner 210 Wingo Way Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-768-7100

Coastal Wealth Management 300 West Coleman Blvd., Ste. 204 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-388-4300

Consolidated Planning 1036 Lansing Drive, Ste. 200 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-881-5468

Cummings Wealth Management Group 1275 Ben Sawyer Blvd. Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-884-9898

Edward Jones 966 Houston Northcutt Blvd, Ste. J Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-881-3697

Edward Jones 1405 Ben Sawyer Blvd., Suite 106 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-981-0740

MOUNT PLEASANT – Cont’d

Fickling Wealth Management 2036 eWall St. Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-696-2777

Financial Freedom Advisors 656 Coleman Blvd., Ste. 103 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-352-2737

Imagine Financial Advisors 1300 Parkton Road Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-860-2823

Independence Wealth 1109 Sea Island Crossing Lane Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-416-1144

Jackson Financial Services 1311 Chuck Dawley Blvd., Ste. 103 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-881-3434

LaPorte Wealth Management Group 1476 Ben Sawyer Blvd., Ste. 3 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-882-5336

Legacy Wealth Management 210 Wingo Way, Ste. 300 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-416-1118

Lowcountry Financial Group 2036 eWall St. Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-881-7175

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management 75 Port City Landing, Ste. 500 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-800-6821

Money Concepts, LLC 2040 eWall St. Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-284-1008

Morris Financial Concepts 409 Coleman Blvd., Ste. 100 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-884-6192

Northwestern Mutual 235 Magrath Darby Blvd., Ste. 120 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-459-3096

Oak Street Advisors 222 West Coleman Blvd., Ste. 104 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-901-7778

Oceanside Advisors 245 Magrath Darby Blvd., Ste. 140 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-830-6568

Raymond James & Associates 28 Bridgeside Blvd., Ste. 203 Mount Pleasant, S.C 29464 843-416-1033

Richard Kasprak 217 Lucas St., Ste. A Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-884-7447

Runey & Associates Wealth Management 761 Coleman Blvd., Ste. E Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-654-1211

TD Ameritrade 962 Houston Northcutt Blvd., Ste. 100 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-971-1996

Trinity Wealth Partners 1012 eWall St. Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-416-5203

UBS Financial Services Inc 941 Houston Northcutt Blvd., Ste. 100 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 973-360-4203

Wells Fargo Advisors 349 West Coleman Blvd., Ste. 301 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 843-849-3308

Ameriprise Financial Services 3015 Dunes West Blvd., Ste. 501 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29466 843-654-9126

Buckingham Strategic Wealth 1240 Winnowing Way, Ste. 102 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29466 843-955-0331

Convergent Financial Group 3850 Bessemer Road Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29466 843-972-4402

Good Life Financial Planners 1124 Park West Blvd. Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29466 843-970-2166

Jahn Navigation Group 1889 West Canning Drive Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29466 843-352-7115

JP Wealth Management 3401 Salterbeck St., Unit 101 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29466 843-352-0280

Oral Professionals Directory Senior Living Directory 2022 Local CPA Tax Directory Dollars and Sense: Hope Sullivan of Hope Financial

The 33rd annual Beach Sweep and River Sweep litter cleanup is scheduled for Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and volunteers are needed at nearly 100 locations in South Carolina.

In East Cooper, sites include the Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, Daniel Island shoreline, Ben Sawyer Boulevard causeway and Shem Creek.

Each year thousands of people volunteer for the sweep, South Carolina’s largest one-day litter cleanup of beaches, marshes and waterways. Last year, despite COVID-19, 2,255 volunteers cleared over 20,000 pounds of debris, covering 161 miles statewide. Groups spread out on foot or in boats from the various cleanup sites, and they typically return with bags packed with plastic and glass bottles, cans, food containers, clothing, toys and cigarette butts. Larger items have included household appliances, vehicle tires and building materials. As much of the debris as possible is recycled.

The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium partners with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources to organize the statewide event, which is held in conjunction with the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. Anyone can participate—individuals, families, schools, youth groups, civic and conservation clubs and businesses. Volunteers can sign up to assist at the cleanup sites listed on the websites below.

Sponsors for the statewide event are Curtiss-Wright, Gaitor Bait Adventure Tours, INEOS Aromatics, Magnolia Plantation Foundation, Nature Adventures, Ocean Conservancy, Safe Harbor Charleston City and Walmart Market #34.

To participate in coastal counties, visit https://www.scseagrant.org/bsrs-sites/ or contact Susan Ferris Hill at (843) 953-2092 or susan.ferris.hill@scseagrant.org. To participate in inland counties, visit https://sweep-scdnr.hub.arcgis.com/pages/volunteer or contact Bill Marshall at (803) 734-9096 or marshallb@dnr.sc.gov.

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The South Carolina barrier island just 30 minutes from Charleston may just be the area’s best-kept secret.

Swaths of uninterrupted white-sand beach, the smell of salty spray, warm sun on your skin, and the rustle of palm fronds gently blowing in the wind—these are the sights, sounds, and scents of Isle of Palms. The South Carolina barrier island packs a lot of relaxation and big fun into a vacation destination that's just seven miles long and one mile wide. The island's proximity to Charleston (just 18 miles by car), make it a preferred summer hideout for locals. An abundance of vacation rentals and the iconic Wild Dunes resort have been drawing visitors from across the country since the early 1970s.

With the deep blue Atlantic on one side and marshy creeks of the Intracoastal Waterway on the other, Isle of Palms offers the best of the Lowcountry and the beach in one stunning setting that's begging to be added to your vacation calendar.

Six of Isle of Palms' seven total miles are occupied by public beaches, which means you'll have your pick of the litter when looking for a sandy spot where you can post up for the day—or the week. Once you've staked your claim, all the normal beach activities are yours for the choosing, from splashing around in the surprisingly calm seas to building the ultimate sandcastle or playing a game of beach volleyball. For families, the Isle of Palms County Park, located in the middle of the island's coastline, is ideal. The public beach has lifeguards, outdoor showers, chair and umbrella rentals, restrooms, and even a playground for little ones retreat to once they tire of the sun and surf.

Make the most of a visit to Isle of Palms by scheduling a charter to take you offshore. Get your sea legs at the Isle of Palms Marina, where you can easily rent a boat and spend a day exploring the island's bays and waterways. Fishing charters are plentiful and offer both reef fishing and Gulf Stream fishing. For adventure enthusiasts or wildlife lovers, Barrier Island Eco Tours hosts a range of naturalist-guided tours that take visitors through winding salt marshes, tidal creeks, and the Intracoastal Waterway on the way to uninhabited Capers Island. Animals you might see along the way include loggerhead turtles, bottlenose dolphins, and every shape and size of coastal birds.

Breakfast is noteworthy at Sea Biscuit Café. The tiny beachside shack has been dishing out delicious morning meals since 1968. While they offer all the classics, the daily specials are where the magic happens. Past offerings have included chocolate banana challah French toast, lemon lavender pancakes, and tomato pie.

When you need a mid-day refuel for the whole family, Coconut Joe's is the obvious choice. Located on Isle of Palms' main drag, you won't have to venture far to get fresh seafood and impeccable vibes. The open-air covered deck is the ideal spot for munching on the restaurant's namesake shrimp, while rocking sandy toes and sun-bleached hair. When happy hour hits, venture to the rooftop bar for a frozen cocktail or painkiller. Nothing will put you on island time faster.

By the time you're finally ready to come in from the sun and go out to dinner, Isle of Palms will be waiting with plenty of options. The Boathouse and Acme Lowcountry Kitchen are island staples that have stood the test of time thanks to excellent quality food and good old-fashioned Southern hospitality. For a special night out, try Coda del Pesce, a fine dining restaurant that specializes in Italian with lots of influence (and fresh catch) from the nearby seas.

All trips to Isle of Palms must include at least one visit to The Windjammer at Front Beach. The legendary local music venue is known for its incredible live shows, stellar views of the water, cold drinks, and unbeatable fried pickles.

The obvious choice for places to stay in Isle of Palms is Wild Dunes Resort, a 1,600-acre family-friendly resort that offers everything from rooms and suites at two inns, to private beach condos and home rentals. In addition to a more-than-comfortable stay, the resort also features several resort-style pools, a spa, and two championship golf courses.

If you're hoping for a cozier stay, the newly renovated Palms Oceanfront Hotel consists of 68 modern rooms with gorgeous views of the sparkling Atlantic. There are also plenty of rentals through Airbnb and VRBO for everything from multifamily waterfront homes to one-bedroom condos.

Whether you book for a long weekend or stay for an entire week, the memories and magic of Isle of Palms will stay with you for months and years to come—maybe even until you have a chance to make another trip back!