In today's Scoop:
🗳️ Charleston County opens four public meetings on the half-cent transportation tax
🚒 A $1.1 million fire engine can now take up to four years to arrive
🌧️ A $4.5 million drainage phase targets a flood-prone James Island basin
🚦 Ladson Road safety plans follow 1,172 crashes in three years
🥘 Senegalese prix fixe on Line Street
At 8D Line Street, Bintü Atelier serves African-inspired cooking from Dakar-born chef Bintou N'Daw. The reservation-only restaurant now runs a $50 prix fixe with a small plate, main dish, and either a drink or dessert.
Inside the tiny house, four dinner seatings keep the room personal. The menu traces West African and diaspora flavors through dishes such as egusi, shito crab rice, and mafé, with a complimentary house juice or waived corkage for BYOB wine and beer.
Read more here.
🌱 What If Your Lawn Treatment Company Actually Looked at Your Lawn?
Not every lawn has the same problems. One yard might be dealing with weeds, while another needs help with insects, disease, or a different approach to fertilization.
That’s the idea behind Happy Hour Lawn Treatment. Instead of treating every property the same way, owner Austin Solaguren examines what’s happening with each lawn and adjusts the treatment accordingly.
Austin’s approach is modeled after golf-course turf care, where different lawn problems are identified and treated individually rather than simply applying the same product everywhere. After more than four years operating a Charleston landscaping company, he now focuses exclusively on lawn treatments.
The goal is simple: know what your lawn actually needs before treating it. That means paying attention to the condition of the turf instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all schedule.
Monthly plans start at $49 for lawns up to 5,000 square feet, with no long-term contracts. It’s a local approach for homeowners who want someone paying attention to their specific property.
If your lawn has been struggling with weeds, brown spots, insects, or other issues, call Austin at 843-732-0117 to schedule a free professional quote for Charleston Scoop readers.
Thank you to our local sponsors who help make this publication possible!
🗳️ Half-Cent Transportation Tax Heads to Voters
The Gist: Charleston County is holding four public meetings on the transportation sales tax referendum voters will decide in November. The measure would continue the half-cent tax first approved in 2004 and fund roads, public transit and green space.
Why It Matters: The ballot decision will set the county's transportation and land-preservation funding plan for the next 25 years.
What's Next: The first meeting is Sept. 23 at Park Circle Community Building. Others follow Oct. 5 in West Ashley, Oct. 7 in Mount Pleasant and Oct. 15 on Zoom.
Read more here.
🚒 Fire Engines Double in Price as Waits Reach Four Years
The Gist: Lowcountry fire chiefs say an engine that cost about $500,000 in 2020 now runs closer to $1.1 million, while ladder trucks cost about $2 million. Delivery waits have stretched from roughly one year to three or four years.
Why It Matters: St. John's Fire and Rescue and Summerville Fire Rescue must keep older trucks in service longer, adding repair costs and pressure on reserve equipment.
What's Next: The International Association of Fire Fighters has called for a federal investigation into fire-truck pricing and availability.
Read more here.
🌧️ $4.5M Drainage Phase Targets James Island Flooding
The Gist: Charleston considered a $4.5 million contract for the final major phase of the Central Park Drainage Basin project. The 500-acre basin includes Laurel Park, Marlborough, New Central Park Cluster and the EME Apartments.
Why It Matters: New pipes, culverts and valves would reduce stormwater and tidal flooding, including high-tide impacts near Riley Road.
What's Next: If the contract receives final approval, crews could mobilize within about a month. The city expects construction to finish by the end of 2027.
Read more here.
🚦 Ladson Road Plan Follows 1,172 Crashes
The Gist: SCDOT recorded 1,172 crashes over three years along a 2.6-mile stretch of Ladson Road between Limehouse Drive and the Highway 78 project. The total included 1,167 vehicle crashes, four pedestrian crashes and one bicycle crash.
Why It Matters: Proposed fixes include sidewalks, ADA ramps, high-visibility crosswalks, updated signal timing, raised medians and new midblock crossings.
What's Next: Public comments close Oct. 1. Right-of-way work is planned for winter 2027, followed by 18 months of construction starting in spring 2028.
Read more here.
🍴 MOJA Food Truck Cook-Off | Hampton Park | Charleston | Friday, September 25, 4-6 p.m. | More
Watch food truck finalists compete before celebrity judges for a $1,000 prize.
🎃 The Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch | Boone Hall Farms | Mount Pleasant | Friday-Sunday, September 25-27, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. | More
Explore a corn maze, tractor tour, mini golf, petting zoo and pig races.
🥕 Charleston Farmers Market | Marion Square | Charleston | Saturday, September 26, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | More
Shop Lowcountry produce, prepared foods and juried crafts while live performers play.
⚽ CofC Women's Soccer vs. Monmouth: Senior Day and Kids Day | Ralph Lundy Field at Patriots Point | Mount Pleasant | Sunday, September 27, 1-3 p.m. | More
Cheer on the Cougars during a match celebrating seniors and young fans.
📚 Heritage Storytelling with Fouché Shepard | John L. Dart Library | Charleston | Wednesday, September 30, 3 p.m. | More
Hear Gullah poet and storyteller Fouché Shepard share Lowcountry culture and history.
😂 Eddie B: If These Classroom Walls Could Talk Tour | Charleston Music Hall | Charleston | Friday, September 25, 8 p.m. | More
Former teacher Eddie B turns classroom frustrations into an unfiltered stand-up set.
🎶 Charlton Singleton & Friends: New Jack Swing | Charleston Music Hall | Charleston | Saturday, September 26, 8 p.m. | More
Charlton Singleton and Quiana Parler revisit New Jack Swing's jams and dance hits.
🎸 Reverend Horton Heat with Messer Chups | Charleston Pour House | Charleston | Sunday, September 27, 8 p.m. | More
Reverend Horton Heat headlines a 21-and-up rockabilly show with surf-garage trio Messer Chups.
🎹 Wonder at 50: A Celebration of Songs in the Key of Life | Dock Street Theatre | Charleston | Monday, September 28, 7-9 p.m. | More
Demetrius Doctor celebrates 50 years of Stevie Wonder's landmark double album.
🎷 An Evening with Jazmin Ghent | Dock Street Theatre | Charleston | Tuesday, September 29, 7-8:30 p.m. | More
Saxophonist Jazmin Ghent brings contemporary jazz, with Seth Gaillard opening.
If you want to read any of our previous issues, check them out HERE on our website.
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