The soon-to-be Fireside SC, at 411 Corner Square Plaza in Moncks Corner, is currently filled with shiny new stainless steel appliances scattered around and yet to be placed in their permanent spots. On this day, co-owner Sean Holmes was wrangling a massive stove into the corner of what would be his kitchen.

Although he has never owned a restaurant before, he knows what to expect and is ready for the challenge he moved to Berkeley for.

“I was a corporate chef for a large restaurant group in New Jersey and was there for just about 10 years,” Holmes said. “We had 11 restaurants and four different concepts, so I helped develop all of those menus. We moved here about a year ago and came down here hoping to open a restaurant.”

Holmes admits he has been a foodie since childhood and likes cooking for his dad and brother. His mother passed away when he was young. He recalled being a six-year-old kid making dinner his interest in cooking was sparked very early. He says he is now in love with the industry and wants to put his spin on it while cultivating a community spirit.

“We want to make this a fun, family-friendly environment. We are a family and want to bring that sense of community to the restaurant. We want to grow with the community that is important to us. That is one of the reasons we came down here in the first place. When you’re from New Jersey, they don’t put much emphasis on the community,” he said.

Holmes adds that when he and his wife first came south, they were looking for the perfect fit, and they believe they have found it. Now, it’s about showing the future what he can do. He has a flare for Italian with flavors of French.

“Our focus will be 12-inch pizzas and share plates, bowls, salads and sandwiches. But we are highlighting our pizzas and small plates. That’s always been a thing for me. We gather around a table with family and friends, and we talk, and it’s just a great time,” he said.

His goal is to bring people together in a comfortable atmosphere. And it won’t be long before the doors open. He and his wife are planning to open Fireside SC sometime in July. He said he will be hosting a job fair to attract some people, and he is counting on some of his fellow chefs from New Jersey to suit up at his new eatery.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCSC) - The Town of Moncks Corner and Berkeley County are partnering up to create a new park for the community to enjoy.

The town and county have purchased two pieces of land, totaling about five acres, on Epson Plantation Drive for the park.

The property features several live oak trees that are hundreds of years old, which officials say will now be protected forever.

The town and county are splitting the $1.2 million cost for the land. The county is using greenbelt funds from the one-cent sales tax referendum passed by voters in 2022 to fund its portion, while the town is using federally funded American Rescue Plan Act dollars to fund theirs.

The county’s role in the project is to design and develop the park using tourism dollars, while the town will focus on maintaining it once it’s built.

County Supervisor Johnny Cribb says that protecting this land is crucial, adding that it was eventually going to see development if not.

He says the goal is to create a space for everyone to enjoy, while also making it a central location to learn more about the area’s history, from its ties to the Revolutionary War to its connection to Francis Marion.

“A theme that we’ve honed in on mutually between the county and the town is to highlight our rich history as it involves the Revolutionary War. This is where our independence was gained, 31 very important battle sites in the county, and we want school buses to be able to come here, individuals to be able to come here and go for a walk,” Cribb says. “But imagine being able to go on a rather short walk and there being 31 different kiosks around here to where you can learn all about all 31 different battle sites in the county.”

Moncks Corner Mayor Thomas Hamilton Jr. says he has a personal connection to the site, adding that his soon to be 98 year old mother-in-law lived on the property as a teenager in the early 1940s and that she remembers the live oak trees looking the same back then as they do now, further highlighting the importance of preserving this land.

“To save something like that, because this parcel would’ve been prime development and if they wanted to they could’ve taken down every tree, so it’s so important for us to be able to save it,” Hamilton says.

Hamilton says this project aligns with their vision of responsible growth while still creating spaces for the community to enjoy.

“Yes, this is five acres, but look at Daniel Island and that park that’s going to give the citizens access to the water. You know, look at the mega boat landing. Look at the projects that’s going to give back to give people a place to go. Those are so important as we grow, because we’re going to have growth, but it’s smart growth and it’s also to provide things for the citizens and I think that’s what we’re doing,” Hamilton says.

Cribb says the county’s Berkeley 250 Committee, which works to highlight the American Revolution and educate tourists and locals on the county’s connections to history, will also play a role in shaping the designs and features of the site.

“I see bus tours from Charleston coming here. Bus tours from all over the state, you know, senior field trip groups from all over the state, and for us to put it all in one location is going to be something that we’re really proud of,” Cribb says.

Officials say the public will also get a chance to provide input on the project throughout the process.

Cribb says they don’t have a timeline on the project right now, but in 2026, they expect to form a concept plan and begin making capital investments.

What unfolded was a classic case of Berkeley High School’s baseball teams doing what Berkeley’s baseball teams do in big games, especially at home in Moncks Corner. The Stags dodge bullets, create their own luck, don’t crack under pressure and find ways to win when it matters most in front of packed houses.

It often doesn’t have to be a star player that makes it all happen, either. Anybody in a Berkeley uniform is seemingly capable of being the one who lifts Coach Landy Cox’s teams to victories. Their last spring home game is more proof there’s just something about Jim Bradley Field.

Courtesy runner Henry Montgomery raced home from third base on a wild pitch to cap a 10-inning marathon on Bradley Field Wednesday, May 28, giving the Stags a 2-1 win over the visiting Catawba Ridge Copperheads in Game 1 of the Class 5A Div. II state championship series.

“We handled the pressure right there at the end,” said Cox, whose team has won 10 straight games to improve to 21-10. “Their kid (starter Caden Glauber) did an incredible job, but our kids just kept battling, kept fighting, wouldn’t quit… That’s Moncks Corner. That’s who we are. We play with a chip on our shoulder. We think everybody is against us. We’re just going to fight and fight. We ride kids every day at practice. We make them do things the right way. When it comes down to winning and losing, we’ve won so many 2-1 games. Everybody thinks there is something going on with Jim Bradley because we don’t expect to lose when it’s 1-1, 2-1.”

Berkeley’s seniors graduate inside the North Charleston Coliseum Thursday, May 29, and the Stags will try to wrap it up at 6:30 p.m. in Game 2 of the series on Friday, May 30, at Catawba Ridge. Cox recalls the Stags’ championship in 2022 when Fort Mill won the opener, but Berkeley came back to win the next two. So, he knows the series is far from complete.

“It’s big to win the first one, but I’ve been here before,” Cox said. “We lost the first one in 2022. This thing definitely isn’t over yet. They’ve got a good team. We’ve got our hands full. Their next pitcher is 8-0. It’s going to be a dogfight. We’re going to have to keep it a low-scoring game like we did.”

Game 3, if necessary, is Saturday, May 31, at Riley Park in Sumter.

The series opener was a classic pitcher’s duel between Berkeley starter Gavin Gaskins and Catawba Ridge’s Glauber. Both threw well enough to record the important win, but that honor went to Stags reliever Hunter Morris.

Berkeley’s lone tally against Glauber came in the bottom of the third. Catcher Braylend Booker walked with one out and moved to third base on a single by leadoff hitter Hudson Clark. The next batter, Henry Rivers, put down a squeeze bunt and courtesy runner Gavin Garb raced home to make it 1-0. Copperheads outfielder Tyler Causey prevented more damage by making a great diving grab to end the inning.

Catawba Ridge finally gave Glauber some run support on a solo home run to left field in the top of the sixth inning off the bat of shortstop Britton Nash.

Gaskins and Glauber worked into the ninth inning, recording one out, before exiting for pitch count reasons. Glauber allowed just three hits and fanned nine batters. Gaskins scattered eight hits and struck out five batters.

Catawba Ridge had the first opportunity during free baseball time to break the gridlock, getting a pair of singles and an intentional walk with one out in the top of the eighth inning. However, Gaskins coaxed a grounder to shortstop Levi Stanley for a force out at home, then quelled the threat with a strikeout.

The Copperheads recorded a pair of singles and had two runners in scoring position during the top of the ninth, too. Morris came on and got a roller to Stanley, who fired home to Booker for an easy second out at the plate. The next Catawba Ridge batter lined out.

The top of the 10th inning produced more of the same drama. Catawba Ridge used an error and single to threaten again. Also familiar was Berkeley figuring a way out of it, catching a break along the way. Nash, who reached second on the throwing error with one out, would likely score easily on Bryce Meil’s single to right field. However, Nash couldn’t keep his footing while rounding third base and had to hold.

Morris struck out a batter for the second out. After an intentional walk, Morris stranded the bases loaded on a grounder to second base.

Morris was also a character in the bottom of the 10th inning, leading off with a walk in his only second plate appearance of the season. He was supposed to take a 3-2 pitch but fouled it off before drawing ball four.

Montgomery came on to run for Morris, and Booker put down a bunt, hoping to move Montgomery to second base. The throw to first base got away, but Montgomery kept racing to third base. Booker moved to second base on the same error, followed by Clark drawing an intentional walk.

The first offering to Stags two-hole hitter Rivers sailed past the catcher to the backstop, allowing Montgomery to bring the curtains down on the epic showdown and send the home fans into a frenzy.

Morris earned the win in relief, recording five outs. He gave up one hit and struck out two batters.

“They pitched their hearts out,” Cox said of Gaskins and Morris. “They laid it all on the line. For that to be the last time Gavin Gaskins leaves the mound on this field, what an incredible job by a senior.”

Morris was also the pitcher of record in Berkeley’s 8-6 victory over visiting West Florence in the district championship game May 22. He hurled 3.2 innings to record the win after the Stags rallied from a 6-1 deficit in that one.

“We’re really a scrappy team,” Morris said. “... It’s these fans. We never give up.”

Nash absorbed the loss for Catawba Ridge, which dropped to 21-9.

The Copperheads’ Glauber and designated hitter Caden Howard were the only two players on either squad to tally multiple hits, going 2-for-4. The two teams combined for seven errors.

“Everybody has been doubting us all season,” Morris said. “I think we had maybe one person pick us to win this game tonight. (Glauber) is a really good guy. He just shut us down all game, but we kept it close and worked as hard as we could. We finally got in there and got it all.”

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – A major housing development could be on the horizon for Moncks Corner as national homebuilder NVR, Inc., the parent company of Ryan Homes, sets its sights on a parcel of land off Barony Street.

The proposed project would bring 150 new residences to the heart of town, split between two parcels: one featuring 35 duplexes (70 units total) and another with 80 single-family homes.

Plans were unveiled publicly for the first time Wednesday during a low-attendance information session at the Moncks Corner Train Depot, though online response has been far more vocal and mostly critical.

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“Please don’t let any more development happen,” one concerned resident posted on social media.

“I hate this for the town of Moncks Corner,” another wrote.

According to Justin Westbrook, Moncks Corner’s community development director, about three acres of the land targeted by NVR is currently zoned for commercial use only, meaning residential construction isn’t permitted without a zoning change.

“Any project proposing residential will require a zoning map amendment (rezoning) for approval,” Westbrook said.

“To date, the developer has not submitted an application to town staff,” he added. “Staff requires an application approximately one month before the targeted planning commission meeting to help with due process and give ample notice.”

If an application is submitted, it would trigger a multi-step approval process, including a public meeting with the town’s planning commission and two readings—one of which is a public hearing—before town council.

Moncks Corner Mayor Tom Hamilton wants to make sure the proposed development aligns with the town’s comprehensive plan for growth, and currently, he believes it does not.

“I will unequivocally oppose any rezoning of these properties and advocate loudly against it. While not all development can be halted, it is crucial to ensure that any growth conforms to the town’s vision, with this area being reserved for commercial use,” Hamilton said.

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“I feel strongly that this is not the right fit for this property, and Rembert Dennis Blvd. does not need this amount of homes and the extra traffic that it will bring,” he added.

Town officials say that if a rezoning request is made, a final decision from council would likely take around three months. In the meantime, the mayor has promised to keep the community informed every step of the way.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCSC) - Over 35 potential careers will be available in one place for jobseekers in Berkeley County.

Hundreds are expected to participate in Wednesday’s “Spring Into Your New Career” hiring event at the Berkeley County Administration Building.

The career fair is an annual spring initiative that is hosted by Berkeley County Economic Development and SC Works Trident.

Several industries are participating in the hiring event with potential careers ranging from automotive and manufacturing positions to jobs within the school district.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports South Carolina is at 4.1% unemployment rate. That number is down from August’s spike of 4.6%. This hiring event is an opportunity for any jobseekers across the County as well as any military members receiving Transition Assistance Program benefits for leaving their service.

Berkeley County Workforce Development Manager Corey McClary says a huge push behind the initiative this year is the recent uptick in federal layoffs nationwide.

The Trump administration orchestrated a return-to-office mandate back in January to downsize government spending. The process has eliminated employee positions and shrunk federal agencies, leaving thousands of people out of work nationwide.

“These opportunities like ‘Spring into your new Career,’ the hiring event is designed to bridge that gap,” McClary says. “And we have resources there to help people mitigate some of those barriers to the workforce.”

The event will also have resources available including resume assistance and the Department of Social Services will be on-site.

“If you have your resume prepared, you definitely need to bring that,” McClary says. “But, if you’re a person that is like, ‘Hey, I need a little bit of help, a little bit of assistance’, we have the resources here.”

The hiring event will take place in the assembly room of the Administrative Building, located at 1003 US-52 in Moncks Corner, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.