kitchen countertopsNear St. Stephen, SC

It’s Friday in York County, but for more than 100 Fort Mill students it’s a national holiday. Not their nation, but one they aren’t likely to forget soon.

Fort Mill High School is one of 14 marching bands set to perform in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland. Friday’s event is part of the larger St. Patrick’s Festival running Thursday to Sunday. The parade runs from Parnell Square North down past grandstands on O’Connell Street, across River Liffey and circling toward its end on Kevin Street, west of St. Stephen’s Green.

The largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world expects to draw more than half a million people. Plus television viewers across Europe. Ireland’s national television network will stream the event.

Despite the distance, the event has several Carolinas connections. The Charlotte Catholic High School band will perform. So will the band from Furman University.

The noon local time parade starts earlier for York County, at 8 a.m. here due to the time difference. The Fort Mill band will be adjusted to the time, having arrived a week ago. Band photographer Josh Herbert is documenting the trip, and sent back images. Here’s a look at what they’ve seen so far:

The Fort Mill band held a concert in town March 7 before leaving the following day for Ireland. The trip includes 130 students and more than 270 total members.

The first day students toured Rock of Cashel, sometimes called St. Patrick’s Rock, in County Tipperary along with Blarney Castle home to the Blarney Stone. Students visited in shifts as several sites throughout the trip aren’t large enough for the full group to tour at once.

Next, students explored Kensale in County Cork including Charles Fort that dates back to the 1600s, and Denmare.

The third day involved a drive around the Ring of Kerry.

The band returns Saturday. Other visited sites include Mizen Head, Bantry, Killarney National Park, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and others.

Today, President Biden announced that Stephen Benjamin will serve as Senior Advisor and Director of the Office of Public Engagement. In this role, Benjamin will oversee the White House Office of Public Engagement, which works at the local, state, and national levels to ensure community leaders, diverse perspectives, and new voices have the opportunity to inform the work of the President in an inclusive, transparent and responsible way.

Statement from President Biden: “Mayor Benjamin is a longtime public servant, who has served the people of South Carolina for over two decades statewide and as a three-term mayor of Columbia. As a former President of both the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the African American Mayors Association, Steve’s deep relationships with communities across the country will serve our Administration and the American public well.

As mayor of Columbia, Steve focused on the economic development of Main Street, job creation and maintaining a just, diverse, and trusted law enforcement department. He understands what Americans across the country expect and deserve from their government.

Under Keisha’s leadership, the Office of Public Engagement has kept equity at the heart of our agenda, and continues to serve as the connective tissue between our Administration and everyday Americans who may not have a voice to reach Washington otherwise. I have leaned on Keisha as a close advisor with exceptional instincts, and I am grateful to her for serving our nation with honor and integrity. I wish her the best as she returns home to Atlanta to be with her family.”

Stephen Benjamin, Senior Advisor and Director of the Office of Public Engagement

Steve Benjamin served as Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina from 2010 to 2021. He served as the 76th President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors from 2018 to 2019 and as President of the African American Mayors Association from 2015 to 2016. He currently serves as President & CEO of The Benjamin Firm, LLC.

Benjamin has also been Executive Chairman of Municipal Bonds for America, a member of the Federal Communications Commission’s Intergovernmental Advisory Committee, and a member of the Accelerator for America Advisory Council.

Prior to his service as mayor, Benjamin served in South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges’ cabinet as the Chief Executive of the state’s second largest law enforcement agency, the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services. Benjamin has been a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta Affordable Housing Advisory Council, and Co-Chair of the Sierra Club’s Mayors for 100% Clean Energy. He was awarded the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2017 Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery by a Public Official for his leadership during an October 2015 flood.

Benjamin began his public service career in Columbia as student body president of the University of South Carolina and later as Student Bar Association President at the USC School of Law.

ST. STEPHEN, S.C. (WCSC) - Berkeley County says a new grant aims to possibly start redeveloping parts of St. Stephen, a rural town about 15 miles north of Moncks Corner.

Berkeley County Council voted to accept a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency on Monday.

“It could be something like asbestos or lead-based paint, something in the soil,” Economic Development Director Kristen Lanier said. “Something that might be a risk for redevelopment, so this grant is going to allow us to do an assessment to identify any potential risks for redevelopment.”

The grant targets two primary sites, the old St. Stephen High School, which closed in 1996, and an 85-acre area that used to be a lumber mill just off Highway 52, which closed around 1970. Up to 15 sites around the area could be looked at for revitalization as part of the grant.

“All I want is for something good to happen in St. Stephen, you know, because it seems like everything that comes to St. Stephen stays for a little while, and then, it’s gone,” St. Stephen resident Ann Judge said.

St. Stephen Mayor John Rivers said the grant will allow the town to start redeveloping and bring economic growth to the area. The county said the town could turn the old high school into a community center while the old lumber mill would be repurposed for some type of industrial use.

“The goal there, again with community input, would be that we start putting together a plan of revitalization for both those sites and others,” Lanier said.

Lanier also said they want to see if there is anything in these sites that might prevent that development.

However, some said they do not want to repurpose the old high school and keep it the way it is.

“My children came to school here too, so and I can remember all of my old high school teachers. I love it,” St. Stephen resident Julie Jenkins said.

The county said the money will be available starting Oct. 1 and will go on for the next four years. They also said the grant is the first step in a long-term process.

“This is that motion,” Lanier said. “This is that start of something, so we’re excited to see some movement in that area and to see what we can do and how we can leverage this.”

County officials said after those four years, they will have a plan developed for the sites.

The county will hold public meetings as part of the grant, but they have not announced when the meetings will be held.

Below is the full statement from St. Stephen Mayor John Rivers:

The town of St. Stephen is grateful that the EPA selected us to receive one of the 2022 Brownfield Program Grants for $500,000. We were the only municipality in Berkeley County to receive this. In countless other communities around the United States the EPA’s Brownfield program has had a proven track record of leveraging private sector investment, creating jobs and protecting the environment. St. Stephen will use this Brownfield Grant to spur our town with redevelopment and cleanup projects and bring sustained economic growth. We are thankful for the support of the Berkeley County Economic Development Office and their ability to work with myself, town council, and the town’s administration to write the grant proposal. We are ready to collaborate with the various committees that will be comprised of St. Stephen residents and business owners to help us continue to grow and revitalize our town. Receiving this prestigious award is a fantastic achievement for the Town of St. Stephen and I give credit to all involved in the initiative. We have been waiting for the results of the EPA Brownfield Grant Application for quite some time. “It has been well worth the wait.” This is the first of many blessings in store for our great town.

For more information about the Brownfields Assessment Grant, click here.

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The News4JAX boys lacrosse Super 6 will be published Tuesday through the end of the regular season. Records are through March 20 games.

Rank, School, Record, Classification

1. (2) Bolles (11-0, Class 1A)

Notable wins: Bishop Moore, Cambridge (Ga.), Cardinal Mooney, Catholic B.R. (Louisiana), Gulf Breeze, Nease, Pope, Providence, St. Thomas More (Louisiana), South Walton.

Glance: For the first time in the Super 6 rankings, a team other than Ponte Vedra is atop the rankings. The Bulldogs’ closest game this season is a three-goal win over Cardinal Mooney. The schedule hasn’t been as daunting as Ponte Vedra, but Bolles has handled all challenges. The Bulldogs have a tough, tough week ahead, starting with a Tuesday night game at JU against Dublin Jerome, which just handed previous No. 1 Ponte Vedra a 13-11 loss. Then it’s home against Bartram Trail on Wednesday and then the Rivalry on the River Saturday at 6 p.m. against defending South Carolina state champ Lucy Beckham. Daylin John (43 goals), Gavin Boree (37 goals), Parker Kane (33 goals) and Caleb Coleman (32 goals) have led the Bulldogs on the attack.

2. (1) Ponte Vedra (9-3, Class 2A)

Notable wins: Allatoona (Ga.), Cardinal Mooney, Creekside, Nease, Plant, St. Edward’s, St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes.

Glance: Struggled with the decision to move Ponte Vedra out of the top spot, even riding a two-game losing streak, because its level of competition is beyond what any local team plays. The Sharks are 2-2 since our last our last pre-Spring Break Super 6. They handled previous No. 4 Creekside (13-1) and then edged St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes (16-14). Their two losses have come in the last two games. The Sharks got beaten soundly by Bullis (Maryland), 14-2, then lost a slugfest to Dublin Jerome out of Ohio, 13-11. The tough schedule doesn’t let up. Ponte Vedra has defending South Carolina state champ Lucy Beckham on Friday before a showdown against Winter Park in the Rivalry on the River on Saturday. The Sharks ended Winter Park’s season last year in the state playoffs. That is the headlining matchup of the two-day event. Ponte Vedra’s only loss to a state team is a 9-8, OT setback to unbeaten Lake Mary.

3. (3) Bartram Trail (6-3, Class 2A)

Notable wins: Episcopal, Fleming Island, Forest, Oak Hall.

Glance: Bartram went 2-0 since our last Super 6 before Spring Break. The Bears clubbed Sandalwood (16-0) and then handled a very good Episcopal (8-2). They’ve got two games this week, with a big one at No. 1 Bolles on Wednesday. Then, it’s St. Augustine at home on Friday.

4. (4) Creekside (8-3, Class 2A)

Notable wins: Bishop Moore, Chiles, Flagler Palm Coast, Fletcher, Providence, Starr’s Mill (Ga.).

Glance: The Knights went 2-1 since our last Super 6 before Spring Break. Creekside had Ws over Flagler Palm Coast (8-7) and Bishop Moore (8-5). The loss was a 13-1 rout at the hands of previous No. 1 Ponte Vedra. They host Nease on Wednesday before a Rivalry on the River game against Gulliver Prep on Friday at 8 p.m.

5. (5) Episcopal (7-3, Class 1A)

Notable wins: Ocala Forest, Richmond Hill, Savannah Christian.

Glance: A 1-1 mark since our last Super 6, a 21-0 blowout of Matanzas and an 8-2 loss to No. 3 Bartram Trail. There’s a very good test on Tuesday against No. 6 St. Augustine before games later in the week against Gulliver Prep (Thursday) and Gainesville Buchholz (Saturday in the Rivalry on the River).

6. (6) St. Augustine (9-2, Class 2A)

Notable win: Flagler Palm Coast, Fleming Island, Fletcher, Menendez, Pensacola Catholic.

Glance: A 3-1 mark since Spring Break and I’ve got the Yellow Jackets in at No. 6 this week ahead of Nease. St. Augustine beat Fleming Island (10-9), Father Lopez (16-3) and previously unbeaten Pensacola Catholic (13-11). Their loss was a big one, 17-3 to Gulf Breeze. They’ve got No. 5 Episcopal at home on Tuesday night before a showdown against Bartram Trail on Friday night.

Flagler Palm Coast (5-6, Class 2A); Fleming Island (4-7, Class 2A); Fletcher (5-4, Class 2A); Menendez (5-4, Class 1A); Providence (6-3, Class 1A); Nease (7-3, Class 2A).

A regional restaurant chain that offers Latin and Asian flavors will open a new location in the heart of downtown Lexington.

TakoSushi is planning a new restaurant on the property at the northwest corner of West Main and Church streets in Lexington. That’s a site that was once being considered for the Navy Yard Biergarten and Restaurant, before that project was called off last year.

James Williams, president of TakoSushi’s ownership group, said the restaurant is aiming for a summer opening in Lexington.

If looking at the property from Main Street, TakoSushi would occupy the brick building in the back corner of the property, separated from the larger main building that is on the corner of the site at 102 West Main.

This is the second business in recent months that has announced plans to open at the property at West Main and Church. Wine bar Molto Vino, which currently has a spot in Forest Acres, said in December that it would develop a location at the Lexington site.

The Lexington Chronicle first reported the TakoSushi Lexington plans.

TakoSushi currently has locations in Columbia, Greenville, Aiken and the Augusta area. The restaurant has a menu that offers sushi and other Asian dishes, as well as tacos, nachos and other Latin-inspired favorites.

“We’ve got a great, diverse menu,” Williams said. “We’ve even got a cheeseburger on the menu. We have a lot of stuff that is really approachable and makes it really easy. We have great children’s options, as well. It’s great for families. That’s part of why we love the concept.”

Williams said TakoSushi will have indoor and outdoor dining in Lexington.

The site at West Main and Church streets in Lexington was in 2021 part of a contentious debate between the then-planned Navy Yard Biergarten and neighboring St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church. The beer garden would have been a multi-faceted facility that would have occupied 11,000 square feet of outdoor dining and 8,000 square feet for indoor dining, with weekend brunches and an outdoor stage.

St. Stephen’s formally protested the alcohol licenses for the beer garden, and the issue was heard in administrative law court. Judge Shirley Robinson eventually ruled in December 2021 that the beer garden could get its alcohol licenses. However, in April 2022, officials with the Navy Yard called off the project at the Main Street location, citing inflation, rising costs and supply chain issues.

The additions of TakoSushi and Molto Vino to Lexington’s Main Street will continue the trend of a culinary corridor for the area. Other restaurants very close by include Keg Cowboy, Nicky’s Pizzeria, Craft Axe Throwing, O’Hara’s Public House, Bodhi Thai Dining and Alodia’s, among others.

“We love it,” Williams said. “We want some density of options nearby. I don’t want you to come eat at TakoSushi seven days a week. But, if you come see us one day a week and go to the other places on other days, then that’s great. We want to be part of the rotation. We think having that density there is an advantage to all of us.”

This story was originally published February 22, 2023, 5:30 AM.