Your County. Your News.
 We Want You to be Fire Safe!
October 8-14, 2023, is National Fire Prevention Week! It's important to remember that many household fires begin from the most unassuming of places and are easily avoidable.
The National Fire Protection Association wants to remind you this Fire Prevention Week "Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention."
Here are a few easy ways you can prevent fires while cooking:
- Make sure to stay in the kitchen when cooking. If you need to leave the kitchen even for a short time, be sure to turn all stove burners off.
- Regularly clean your stove tops, oven, and microwave.
- When grilling outdoors, make sure your grill is away from anything that might catch fire. Also make sure you're grilling in an area away from where people are walking or playing.
- Keep a lid nearby when cooking. This way in the event of a grease fire, you can quickly cover the pan and turn off the burner.
- Keep pot and pan handles facing towards the back of the stove to prevent anyone bumping into them.
- For holiday meals especially: Make sure your turkey is fully defrosted before you deep fry it.
 Want to meet your local firefighters or first responders? Come out to DCFR's First Responder Awareness Festival!
This is a free event where community members and their families are encouraged to come out for food and fun. Attendees can expect to find local vendors, kids' activities, jump castles, dunking booths, and fire education demonstrations. Meet your local first responders and learn more about how you can stay fire safe.
The DCFR First Responder Awareness Festival is on Saturday, October 21st, 2023, from 10:00am to 3:00pm at the Harleyville Town Park (across the street from the Harleyville Fire Station 3 - 134 S. Railroad Avenue, Harleyville).
You're Invited to the County's Complete Streets Workshops
Dorchester County Government invites residents to a series of Complete Streets Workshops, designed to engage the community in shaping the future of our streets. These workshops aim to gather valuable input from residents, businesses, and stakeholders to develop a countywide policy that will make our streets safer, more accessible, and accommodating for everyone, whether driving, walking, or cycling.
Complete Streets is an approach that ensures streets are designed to accommodate all modes of transportation while promoting safety, health, and sustainability within our communities. The County recognizes the importance of involving our residents in the decision-making process, and these workshops provide an excellent opportunity for community members to share their thoughts and ideas.
Complete Streets Workshops
Date: October 5, 2023
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM (Presentation begins at 5:30 PM)
Location: Alston Middle School (500 Bryan Street, Summerville)
Parking: *Please use the driveway entrance off of Hwy. 78
Date: October 26, 2023
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM (Presentation begins at 5:30 PM)
Location: St. George Rosenwald School (205 Ann Street, St. George)
These workshops are open to everyone, and families are encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be provided.
 Apply Now for a 4% Legal Residence Exemption on Real Property
All Dorchester County residents will be receiving their real estate tax bill in the coming weeks. If you are living in the home, you may qualify for the 4% legal residence exemption which results in substantial tax savings. You can apply online, or you can pick up an application at the Assessor’s office.
Please understand that online and paper applications are placed into the same queue and worked in the order received. Please expect longer wait times in the office as we provide quality assistance to all county residents. Applications are available here.
For further assistance, please contact (843-832-0162) or visit the Dorchester County’s Assessor’s Office (201 Johnston Street, St. George or 500 N. Main Street, Summerville).
Learn How to Secure Your Property Rights at Our Next Heirs' Property & Property Tax Seminar!
Dorchester County will be hosting an upcoming Heirs' Property and Property Tax Seminar this month! The program will focus on educating residents about heirs' property, its implications on property ownership, and the necessary steps to take to preserve your property rights.
Topics covered during the seminar will include Estate Planning, Probate, Petition to Determine Heirs, Tax Implications, and Quiet Title Actions. Presentations will offer practical guidance and expert advice to help attendees navigate the complex landscape of heirs' property and property tax issues.
Our last seminar was a huge success, which you can learn all about here.
This seminar will be held at the Shady Grove Family Center (9140 Charleston Hwy., St. George). The seminar is from 10:00am to 12:00pm on Saturday, October 28th, with a brief Q&A session following presentations. We hope to see you there!
 Learn More About Your VA Benefits!
Dorchester County will be hosting this month's VA Benefits & Disability Claims Workshop on October 24th. Topics of discussion include an overview of disability benefits, and dependency and indemnity compensation and pension eligibility. There will also be a Q&A session at the end.
Location: St. George County Council Chambers (201 Johnston Street, St. George).
Date: Tuesday, October 24th, 2023.
Time: 2:00pm to 4:00pm.
For any questions about the program, please call (843) 832-0050. Don't miss your chance to learn more about your VA benefits!
 Help Give Blood This October
Dorchester County is excited to share that we will be hosting another blood drive with The Blood Connection this month. Giving blood is one of the best ways you can help save lives and make a difference to those seriously harmed or dangerously ill.
The Blood Connection will have two locations on Monday, October 16, 2023.
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Summerville: Dorchester County Water & Sewer (235 Deming Way, Summerville) from 7:00am to 11:00am. Click here for the sign-up link or scan the QR code (Sponsor Code 10164).
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St. George: Kenneth F. Waggoner Building (201 Johnston Street, St. George) from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Click here for the sign-up link or scan the QR code (Sponsor Code 10093).
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We had an excellent turn out at the last blood drive and hope to see many of you out there once again. For scheduling questions, please contact eberry@dorchestercountysc.gov.
 Ashley River Library Update
We're excited to share the latest update on the construction progress of Dorchester County's new Ashley River Library! This in-progress branch will provide library services to the County's fastest growing community.
This 20,000 sq. ft. library across from the Ashley River Park will offer meeting room/programming space, a maker's space, study rooms, and more. As of now, we are right on schedule with completion for the spring of 2024.
 Sign Up Today for the 2023 Dorchester EMS Regional Conference
Are you a person who works in or closely with EMS and other medical professionals? Then you definitely won't want to miss this year's Dorchester EMS Regional Conference. This is a cooperative effort to provide an EMS centered educational event in the tri-county area.
The conference has three guiding principles. First, to provide relevant, timely, and engaging educational content to EMS professionals and medical personnel of all backgrounds. Second, to give regional EMS, Fire, and Hospital systems the opportunity to showcase the amazing people and the work they do in our communities every day. And finally, to pay special tribute to the event's unique date, Veterans Day.
The Dorchester Regional EMS Conference will also host the Paramedic Savers BLS Competition. This competition is designed for the BLS provider and can be an introduction to the exciting world of competing. Registration for this competition has already reached its capacity.
Registration fee is only $25 per person. You can easily register online by clicking here.
EMS Regional Conference dates are November 9th and November 10th, 2023. Please contact Deputy Director of Joe Crowder if you have any questions.
 Dorchester County and The Salvation Army Are Ready to Do More Christmas!
This year, we are excited to expand our partnership with The Salvation Army and their Angel Tree Program to increase the number of Dorchester County families that we can serve. Our goal is that each child receives three items of clothing that their parents/guardians have requested and three new toys from their wish list.
For those interested in signing up for the Angel Tree Program, see the dates for sign-ups below.
Please note that these dates and times are for Dorchester County residents ONLY and proof of residency will be verified. If you do not live in Dorchester County, you can still sign up at one of the Salvation Army's other locations.
- Wednesday, October 4th from 12pm to 4pm, Town of Ridgeville, 105 School Street.
- Thursday, October 5th from 4pm to 7pm, St. George Library, 506 N. Parler Ave.
- Saturday, October 7th from 10am to 1pm, Summerville Library, 76 Old Trolley Road.
Per the Salvation Army, you will need to bring the following documents with you to qualify:
- Your state issued ID showing you are a Dorchester County resident.
- Original birth certificate or passport for children 12 years and under on Christmas Day. Medicaid cards with date of birth are accepted as well.
- September 2023 EBT printout or current 6-month recert. EBT cards, online apps, and texts will NOT be accepted.
- If you do not receive EBT, proof of ALL household income and ALL household expenses. Must be on paper, apps will NOT be accepted.
Additional information needed:
- Child's shoe size.
- Child's clothing sizes.
- Three wish list items. No bicycle requests or electronic devices over $50.
Please do not bring your children to the sign-up locations.
You must have all information on hand to start your application, and you must show up in person at one of the locations above. If you have any questions, please call (843) 747-5271.
 Upcoming Parks and Recreation Programs in October
Dorchester County Parks and Recreation continues to provide fun, quality programs for our community.
Some of the upcoming October programs at Ashley River Park include:
- Porch Pickin' in the Park - Ashley River Park
- PuzzlePalooza! - Ashley River Park
- Birds of Prey - Ashley River Park
- Afterschool Adventures: Plants, Flora & Fauna - Ashley River Park
- Bees and Pollinators - Ashley River Park
- Birding for Kids - Ashley River Park
- Nature Walk - Ashley River Park
- Reptiles and Amphibians - Ashley River Park
Additionally, Davis-Bailey Park is now offering a series of baseball and t-ball programs with Summerville YMCA. Registration is open from now until October 16th, with practice beginning on November 6th. You can learn more about these programs here.
You can keep track of or sign up for programs and events at Dorchesterparks.org. Also, make sure to follow Dorchester County Parks and Rec on Facebook and Instagram.
 First Responder of the Quarter - Detective Kayla Robinson - DCSO
In just two years, Detective Robinson has certainly made her mark at the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office. Immediately after graduating from Charleston Southern University in May of 2021, she came to work for DCSO. During her time, she has excelled on Patrol and was promoted to Corporal. She recently was promoted to Detective Corporal due to her exceptional work ethic and leadership.
Detective Robinson has a heart for the community and went above and beyond while working on patrol by reaching out and mentoring several teens who needed some extra support and kindness. She has also volunteered with the Community Outreach Unit and organized the first annual Christmas Festival for kids at Ashley River Park.
We thank you, Detective Robinson, for your commitment to public safety and your passion for the community. We are proud that you work for the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office.
 Employee of the Quarter - Terry Reaves - Dorchester County Public Works Department
Mr. Reaves has served Dorchester County for 6 years and is known for being dedicated and committed to the Public Works Department and his community. He was nominated by a fellow employee who expressed his appreciation for Mr. Reaves both as a mentor and a leader. Each day, he arrives early to the convenience site and makes the necessary preparations to open the facility. He walks the property and inspects it for damage and potential hazards prior to staff arriving.
He is always courteous, professional, and happy to provide guidance and assistance to customers as well as his fellow employees. "The county is blessed to have him, and I am fortunate to work with him. His dedication is an inspiration to all of us working here at Oakbrook," said the employee who nominated him.
Thank you, Mr. Reaves, for your exceptional leadership! We appreciate the difference you are making within the Public Works Department and in Dorchester County.
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