JAMES ISLAND — Charleston Water System is investigating a sewer main break on Harborview Road that poured unknown amounts of wastewater into James Island Creek.

This is the second time in three years that a break occurred in this area.

Environmentalists say the repeated frequency, combined with current bacteria concerns, suggest better system maintenance is needed, along with riddance of septic tanks adjacent to the creek.

A contract diver discovered on the afternoon of March 9 that two pipes had separated, causing the leak.

A fisherman notified the water utility March 8 of the underwater break in the water below the Julian Thomas Buxton Jr. Bridge. It took time for inspection crews to get to the site because of the tides, but the pumps were turned off shortly after, said Mike Saia, a spokesman for the utility.

Shutting off the pumps eliminated the release of additional wastewater into the water system.

This sewer main manages wastewater from a broad area of the James Island Public Service District and parts of unincorporated Charleston County. The same one broke about three years ago in the marsh but closer to Plum Island. It took a number of days to repair.

The breaks are a big concern, said Andrew Wunderley, executive director at Charleston Waterkeeper.

“It’s an established problem with bacteria pollution at James Island Creek from human sources and other sources, as well,” he said. “Any additional bacteria discharge in a creek is a concern of course.”

Charleston Waterkeeper consistently tests the quality of a number of waterbodies in the Lowcountry, including James Island Creek. The waterkeepers sample for bacteria as an indicator of the possible presence of pathogens.

Persistently high bacteria levels have been identified in the James Island Creek, mainly in the Folly Road area. Wunderley said any input of bacteria is a problem.

It is a challenge for iron pipes to survive long-term in soft environments like the marshy parts of Charleston. Saia said Charleston Water System is considering grant funding to help replace the James Island pipes that have seen two breaks in three years.

This notion is good progress, Wunderley said, “but I think we need to accelerate that project.”

“Whatever needs to be done to bump that up in the priority list, they need to be thinking about it,” he added.

A vactor truck was on site March 9 to pump down the wet wells and pump stations at both sides of the break. Because of this, no additional wastewater will spill into the creek, Saia said. The utility is working on a plan to repair the pipes.

People are urged to avoid swimming, fishing or using the area for other recreational activities until further notice.

Interruptions to customers’ service is not expected while assessments and repairs are made. No road closures have been announced.

In the meantime, people can do like the fisherman on March 8, and report possible main breaks. It’s helpful in identifying them and stopping the wasterwater spills.

Updated with visitor information on Friday, Oct. 13

Something green is coming to Charleston, and we’re not talking about St. Patrick’s Day. A new state park is in the works at the tip of James Island. We spoke with SC State Parks Director Paul McCormack for the latest on the project.

The waterfront park will be located on 23 acres at the end of Fort Johnson Road, adjacent to the Fort Johnson historic site. The parcel is managed by the SC Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Tourism.

In 2021, the state purchased the land from the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy for $23 million. The May Forest Convent located on-site is expected to be converted into an event venue that will be the main component of the new park. Funding has not yet been secured for the venue construction project.

Charlestonians can look forward to a day-use recreation and picnicking area with views of the Charleston Harbor, the Ravenel Bridge, and Fort Sumter. There is an existing gazebo and bench swing. Conceptual images are not yet available, but stay tuned.

An event space, lodging, and a dock may be added in the future. A structural assessment of the property is expected to determine park features down the road. What would you like to see this new park offer? Let us know.

In addition, there is a master plan that envisions the entire ~100-acre Fort Johnson area that is separate from the state park project.

The park is expected to open this spring or summer. There is currently no timeline for potential future amenities, but keep an eye on the newsletter for updates. The plans for Fort Johnson, which surrounds the state park area, are long-term.

Visitor Info

May Forest launched its soft opening phase. The new state park on the northeast waterfront of James Island offers views of the Charleston Harbor, Ravenel Bridge, and Fort Sumter, plus woodland and fields abutting the shore.

The park is far from finished — but you can stroll for yourself now.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources bought the 23-acre park land from the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy for $23.25 million in 2021.

May Forest State Park and the ~100-acre Fort Johnson area make up a long-term development plan including updated trail access, greenspace, historical interpretation, and research campuses.

The park is located at 424 Fort Johnson Rd. Since it occupies one tip of James Island, navigating is easy: just follow the road to its end and follow the signage for visitor parking.

During the soft opening phase, the park is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays, grounds only.

May Forest is currently hiring a park ranger. Once they do, you’ll be able to visit on weekends, too.

Currently, May Forest offers walking trails and four picnic tables to unwind by the water. Pets are welcome in most areas, but you’ll need to keep them leashed.

As the park grows, look forward to an event space at the old May Forest Convent, overnight accommodations, and dining options.

Charleston’s Neighborhood Dining Group is living up to its name with its newest restaurant concept.

Set to open this summer in the 1939-A Maybank Highway space previously occupied by Zia Taqueria, The James will be an “all-American grill” serving a range of options at various price points. The James will feel comfortable yet clubby and stylish, Neighborhood Dining Group President David Howard said.

The type of place one might visit for a quality hamburger on a Tuesday night and a prime rib on the weekend.

“It just intrigued me as an opportunity,” said Howard of the 4,600-square-foot James Island property. “It’s a concept that I’m comfortable with.”

Howard likened the The James’ approachable neighborhood offering to that of his first restaurant, Chicago’s Steak and Seafood, which he opened in Roswell, Ga. in 1991. He believes The James will provide another dining option for James Island residents who do not want to venture downtown.

The Maybank Highway-bookmarked Riverland Terrace neighborhood is undergoing a dining renaissance, one that Howard says his group is excited to join. In the last three years, the area has lured downtown Charleston restaurateurs to James Island, including the owners of Bar George, Millers All Day and Huriyali.

Millers All Day’s Terrace Plaza space opened up after Zia Taqueria moved across the street to the 1939-A Maybank Highway building The James will soon call home. Formerly occupied by Athens Restaurant, the space was twice the size of Zia’s original.

The pandemic has changed the way people work in the U.S., even as industries have returned to pre-COVID-19 times.

As the number of fully remote setups has declined, many companies have transitioned to the four-day work week, a shift that some say has improved mental health, finances and relationships. There is momentum behind the movement, so much so that it is trickling down to the restaurant industry.

Across the country, some big-city restaurants are paring back hours to create a more sustainable schedule that could help draw wary veteran workers back to the business, The New York Times reported in August.

In Charleston, however, restaurants seem to be adding hours rather than taking them away.

Last year, James Beard Foundation “American Classic” Bowens Island Restaurant expanded its hours to include lunch. Restaurants that welcomed fall 2023 with the addition of lunch include Harold’s Cabin, Blu Oyster Sushi and Seafood, Azur and The Longboard, among others.

Jackrabbit Filly removed its lunch service but added three additional dinner seatings: Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. The Ordinary recently announced it would start opening on Mondays, a historically slow restaurant night that has been added back into the fold at Chasing Sage.

What is behind this wave of service expansions? It depends on the restaurant.

Many new restaurants add lunch after owners find the staffing to handle an additional service. Such was the case for The Neighborhood Dining Group at Delaney Oyster House, Minero and The James, which added Saturday and Sunday lunch in September.

Delaney Oyster House started with that weekend-only lunch rollout earlier this year before adding Fridays on Sept. 1. The 115 Calhoun St. restaurant — a worthy alternative for those not willing to wait for a lobster roll at nearby 167 Raw — has drawn enough of a crowd to warrant a third day of lunch. Otherwise, David Howard, NDG’s President, would not have added it.

“We can’t just be open and not be busy,” Howard said. “It really is a math calculation.”

Serving lunch was part of the long-term plans at Ma’am Saab, a Pakistani restaurant that serves dahi puri, chicken tikka pizza, kabab rolls and more at lunch Friday and Saturday. The midday meal was always an important part of Ma’am Saab during its days at exploratory food court Workshop, so it only made sense to bring it to the brick-and-mortar restaurant, which opened in May.

“Bringing that service back with unique lunch-only offerings has been in the works since we opened our doors at 251 Meeting St. this year,” said Ma’am Saab co-owner Raheel Gauba, who owns the restaurant with his wife, chef Maryam Ghaznavi. “We always wanted to pay homage to where we started and how we began serving the Charleston community.”

Husk, another Neighborhood Dining Group restaurant, does not serve a standard lunch, but its recently renovated patio is now open all day on the weekend. (Full hours are 4-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4-11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday.)

For weekend diners, the limited menu served on the patio provides a bridge service between 2 and 5 p.m., when brunch ends and dinner starts.

“We invested and built a small support kitchen in our prep area,” Howard said. “We set that up in a way that we can have an alternative menu that can serve the patio and the bar.”

Additional services does not necessarily mean longer hours for NDG employees. Howard says chefs and management get two days off per week, even though each Neighborhood Dining Group restaurant stays open seven days a week.

We publish our free Food & Dining newsletter every Wednesday at 10 a.m. to keep you informed on everything happening in the Charleston culinary scene. Sign up today!

JAMES ISLAND — All 10 barstools were taken when I stopped by The James on a recent Monday in August. According to an employee, that has been a nightly occurrence at the new James Island restaurant, now open at 1939-A Maybank Highway in the former Zia Taqueria space.

With cushioned bar chairs, the globe-lit bar is a nice place to grab a drink or a full meal, though there is plenty of seating inside the large restaurant, part of the Neighborhood Dining Group (Husk, Delaney Oyster House and Minero).

The bar area — which also features four high-top tables and a handful of booths with checkered upholstery — is separated from the dining room by a small partition. In the late afternoon, that portion of the 4,600-square-foot space is brightened by the sunlight that seeps in through a few long windows.

Between the farmhouse-inspired space that has come to define Husk and the classic oyster house aesthetic at Delaney, Neighborhood Dining Group President David Howard has shown he has a knack for conjuring up successful dining venues.

When he first told me about The James, Howard described it as an American grill that patrons might visit for a quality hamburger on a Tuesday before coming back for the prime rib over the weekend. The James’ clean, sharp look tells diners exactly what to expect — a restaurant where quality matters, but the chefs aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel. A restaurant where shorts are just as acceptable as a suit.

The food is equally as approachable, with salads, Parker House rolls, tuna tartare and fried shrimp with a trio of dipping sauces among the appetizer options. Judging by my surrounding diners, the salads — far too big for one person — have proven to be a hit, though they might require an extra side of dressing.

The pandemic has changed the way people work in the U.S., even as industries have returned to pre-COVID-19 times.

As the number of fully remote setups has declined, many companies have transitioned to the four-day work week, a shift that some say has improved mental health, finances and relationships. There is momentum behind the movement, so much so that it is trickling down to the restaurant industry.

Across the country, some big-city restaurants are paring back hours to create a more sustainable schedule that could help draw wary veteran workers back to the business, The New York Times reported in August.

In Charleston, however, restaurants seem to be adding hours rather than taking them away.

Last year, James Beard Foundation “American Classic” Bowens Island Restaurant expanded its hours to include lunch. Restaurants that welcomed fall 2023 with the addition of lunch include Harold’s Cabin, Blu Oyster Sushi and Seafood, Azur and The Longboard, among others.

Jackrabbit Filly removed its lunch service but added three additional dinner seatings: Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. The Ordinary recently announced it would start opening on Mondays, a historically slow restaurant night that has been added back into the fold at Chasing Sage.

What is behind this wave of service expansions? It depends on the restaurant.

Many new restaurants add lunch after owners find the staffing to handle an additional service. Such was the case for The Neighborhood Dining Group at Delaney Oyster House, Minero and The James, which added Saturday and Sunday lunch in September.

Delaney Oyster House started with that weekend-only lunch rollout earlier this year before adding Fridays on Sept. 1. The 115 Calhoun St. restaurant — a worthy alternative for those not willing to wait for a lobster roll at nearby 167 Raw — has drawn enough of a crowd to warrant a third day of lunch. Otherwise, David Howard, NDG’s President, would not have added it.

“We can’t just be open and not be busy,” Howard said. “It really is a math calculation.”

Serving lunch was part of the long-term plans at Ma’am Saab, a Pakistani restaurant that serves dahi puri, chicken tikka pizza, kabab rolls and more at lunch Friday and Saturday. The midday meal was always an important part of Ma’am Saab during its days at exploratory food court Workshop, so it only made sense to bring it to the brick-and-mortar restaurant, which opened in May.

“Bringing that service back with unique lunch-only offerings has been in the works since we opened our doors at 251 Meeting St. this year,” said Ma’am Saab co-owner Raheel Gauba, who owns the restaurant with his wife, chef Maryam Ghaznavi. “We always wanted to pay homage to where we started and how we began serving the Charleston community.”

Husk, another Neighborhood Dining Group restaurant, does not serve a standard lunch, but its recently renovated patio is now open all day on the weekend. (Full hours are 4-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4-11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday.)

For weekend diners, the limited menu served on the patio provides a bridge service between 2 and 5 p.m., when brunch ends and dinner starts.

“We invested and built a small support kitchen in our prep area,” Howard said. “We set that up in a way that we can have an alternative menu that can serve the patio and the bar.”

Additional services does not necessarily mean longer hours for NDG employees. Howard says chefs and management get two days off per week, even though each Neighborhood Dining Group restaurant stays open seven days a week.

We publish our free Food & Dining newsletter every Wednesday at 10 a.m. to keep you informed on everything happening in the Charleston culinary scene. Sign up today!

JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD)- It has been 35 days since Jennifer Drummond was found severely injured along a James Island road.

Friends and family are still searching for answers in what is believed to be a hit-and-run.

The family, joined by their attorney, held a press conference Wednesday morning with new details they hope will bring them closer to finding the person responsible.

The Drumond family, fatigued, after over a month of not knowing exactly what happened to Jenn.

“We don’t sleep at night, wondering if someone texted with a lead,” Jenn’s uncle, Chris Drummond said.

However, they’re not letting up.

Drummond said, “You just can’t hit somebody in the roadway and drive off, and someone not know something.”

Searching everywhere they know of for answers to what is believed to be a hit-and-run.

In a press conference Wednesday morning, their attorney Scott Bischoff, gave new information on her movements that morning.

“Based on information on Jenn’s phone, her step count that was also connected to her apple watch, we believe that she left her house around 5:17 and her step count stops at 5:18, just before 5:19,” Bischoff said.

According to surveillance video there were three cars that drove down Woodland Shores Road around the time of the incident, but new video shows the car believed to be the one that hit Jenn.

“We believe the primary suspect vehicle is vehicle number 3, that appears to be a relatively modern SUV with a sunroof and 5 lights,” Bischoff said.

As far as Jenn’s condition, family members say she is making progress.

They say she got up and walked yesterday, but she’s still very slow to answer questions and there’s still a long way to go.

At this point they’re just doing whatever they can to bring justice to Jenn.

“On top of a really awful injury that she suffered, our mind is also thinking who did this, when will answers surface, will answers surface. It’s something that weighs on our mind constantly,” Jenn’s best friend, Audrey Marhoefer said.

There is a $10,000 reward for information about the incident of you have any information about this incident, call the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office.