Your County. Your News.
 Veterans Day Ceremony at Ashley River Park
The Dorchester County community is invited to join us for a special Veterans Day Ceremony on Saturday, November 11th, at 10:00 AM. This event will take place at Ashley River Park, located at 200 Renken Road in Summerville. Veterans and their families, as well as the general public, are encouraged to attend this tribute to our servicemen and service women.
Following the ceremony, there will be a free lunch provided to all attendees, fostering community spirit and the opportunity for veterans and their families to connect and share their experiences. Admission to the park is also free for veterans and their guests as we express our gratitude for their dedication, sacrifices, and service.
 Complete Streets Survey
Dorchester County Government launched the Complete Streets Survey, an initiative to enhance community involvement in shaping the future of our county's transportation policies. This survey invites residents, businesses, and stakeholders to actively participate in crafting safer, more accessible streets for all.
The Complete Streets approach advocates for the design of streets that can accommodate all modes of transportation by promoting safety and accessibility for everyone. By taking part in this survey, you can contribute to the development of transportation policies that reflect the diverse needs of our community.
Please note that the survey will close on December 15, 2023. To access the survey, please click this link.
 Dorchester County Community Trap, Neuter, Release Cat Clinic Information
Dorchester Paws is offering a community Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) cat clinic on November 15th and 20th from 8:00 AM to 8:30 AM, first come, first served for up to 25 cats per day.
TNR is a humane and effective approach to managing community cat populations. It involves trapping community cats, having them spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and eartipped (a universal sign that a cat has been spayed or neutered through a TNR program), and then returning them to their outdoor homes.
To participate in the TNR cat clinic, you must:
- Bring your cat(s) in a proper cat trap (not a cat carrier). (Dorchester Paws rents cat traps for $15 if you do not have one.)
- Limit yourself to two cats.
- Arrive early and line up your vehicle outside the gate off to the side.
- Wait in your car at all times and do not block the gate.
The cost of the TNR clinic is $25.
Please follow these requirements, or Dorchester Paws will not be able to provide these services.
Location: 136 Four Paws Ln., Summerville, SC 29483
Dorchester County and Dorchester Paws encourage all community members to participate in the TNR cat clinic to help reduce the number of unwanted cats in our community.
Help Us Show Our Support for Local Veterans
Dorchester County is excited to share that we will be participating in Operation Green Light this year. From Nov. 6 to Nov. 12, you can expect to see the columns of the St. George Courthouse as well as the Human Services Building illuminated in green light.
Operation Green Light for Veterans is a national initiative that encourages businesses, organizations, and individuals to shine a green light to show their support for veterans. The initiative was launched in 2020 by the National Association of Counties in response to the growing number of veterans who are struggling with homelessness, mental health challenges, and other issues.
We encourage our citizens to also show their support for our veterans by displaying green lights at their residence. By shining a green light, we can let veterans know that they are not alone and that their community supports them. It is a simple way to show our appreciation for their service and to let them know that they are welcome here.
 Midland Parkway Resurfacing Underway
Dorchester County is pleased to announce that the Midland Parkway resurfacing project is now underway. Construction began earlier this week, and repaving efforts are going on throughout the night.
This project is funded by the 2022 Transportation Sales Tax Referendum which marked a significant milestone in our infrastructure development. During this time, there will be lane closures and delays. We ask for your patience and understanding as we work to improve this important roadway.
 Dorchester County Blood Drive Success
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who donated blood at our October blood drive with The Blood Connection. Dorchester County employees, leadership, and residents donated enough blood to save 87 lives in a single day. Summerville collected 14 total units of blood and St. George collected 15 units of blood.
Every drop of blood donated is essential to helping those in need. We are grateful for the generosity and compassion of our community members and colleagues who make a difference in the lives of others.
We are committed to hosting more blood drives in the future. Please consider joining us and helping us continue to save lives in our community.
 First Dorchester County EMT Recruit School Graduation
On October 13th, Dorchester County welcomed its first graduates of the EMT Recruit School program. In collaboration with Trident Technical College, this comprehensive program recruited entry-level employees and equipped them with a blend of on-the-job training and academic instruction to successfully prepare them for the National Registry of EMT's Emergency Medical Technician Basic Exam. These dedicated individuals engaged in a 40-hour workweek, devoting four days to mastering the EMT-Basic National Standard Curriculum and one day to honing practical EMS skills on an ambulance.
Graduates include:
- Jasmine Wright
- Robert Rodriguez
- Mijel Brown
- Makaiya Davis
- Lloyd Minatee
The Dorchester County EMT Recruit School will be advertising for its second class early 2024. For more information or to speak with a recruiter, please contact Eloise Davis, Human Resources Recruiter, at (843) 832-1640 or edavis@dorchestercountysc.gov.
Dana Weaver Brings the Fight to Breast Cancer
ITS Office Manager Dana Weaver recently participated in the Her Fight is Our Fight boxing event for breast cancer awareness. Dana herself is a survivor of breast cancer and recently shared her story with both the Post and Courier and ABC News 4.
Her journey is one of hope and perseverance to others facing similar challenges, and we are proud to share her story. We encourage you to read the full article and learn more about Dana's inspiring story.
You can read the full Post and Courier article here, or check out the ABC New 4 story here.
(Image taken from the Post and Courier article).
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 DCL WINTER READING 2023: December 1 – January 31
Registration for the Dorchester County Library Winter Reading Challenge begins on Friday, December 1st. Sign up at your local Dorchester County library to receive your game card or show that you have registered on Beanstack to receive your free prize.
Beanstack is a free online platform that allows you to track your reading progress and earn badges and prizes. To learn more about Beanstack and how to use it, click here. You can also download a game card here.
How to Play:
- Mark one spot on your game card or track your progress online with Beanstack every day that you complete a reading activity.
- Register for Winter Reading and receive a free prize.
- Complete 40 reading activities to earn a free book. Reading activities include reading anything, having someone read to you, and/or attending a library program.
- Each day that you log is an entry into the grand prize drawing at the end of the challenge.
Do not return your game card if you are tracking your progress with Beanstack.
Happy reading!
 Don't Miss the 2023 Dorchester EMS Regional Conference
Attention EMS professionals, medical personnel, and anyone who works in or closely with EMS: the Dorchester EMS Regional Conference is back and better than ever.
This cooperative effort to provide an EMS-centered educational event in the tri-county area will be held on November 9th and 10th, 2023 at the Lowcountry Conference Center (406 Sigma Drive, Summerville). The conference has three guiding principles:
- To provide relevant, timely, and engaging educational content to EMS professionals and medical personnel of all backgrounds.
- 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.
- To pay special tribute to the event's unique date, Veterans Day.
In addition to a variety of educational sessions, the 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 the conference is only $25 per person. You can easily register online here.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from and network with other EMS professionals in the region. Register for the Dorchester EMS Regional Conference today!
 North Charleston Library Grand Opening Celebration
On Saturday, October 21, the Dorchester County Public Library (DCPL) celebrated the grand opening of its new North Charleston branch with a festive event that brought in many local citizens. The celebration featured a performance from the Summerville Flute Choir, cookie decorating, and a story-time session with Poseidon the therapy dog.
The North Charleston Library officially opened its doors on August 28th, and has since quickly become a hub for learning, connection, and creativity in the North Charleston community. The library also offers a wide range of programs and services for all ages, including storytimes, book clubs, computer classes, and job search assistance.
The DCPL would like to thank everyone who attended the North Charleston Library grand opening celebration. We are incredibly grateful for your support of our library system.
 Dorchester County Sheriff's Office Santa's Workshop
The Dorchester County Sheriff's Office is pleased to invite you to its annual Santa's Workshop event on Saturday, December 17th, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at Ashley River Park (200 Renken Road, Summerville).
This festive event is free and open to the public and will feature a variety of activities for the whole family, including:
- Face painting
- Crafts
- Cookie decorating
- Bounce house
- K9 Unit and Drone demonstrations
- Photos with Santa
- And more!
There will also be a free hot dog lunch for all attendees. Admission to Ashley River Park is still $2 per person.
The Sheriff's Office Santa's Workshop event is a great opportunity to meet your local law enforcement officers, learn about safety tips, and have some fun with the family. We hope to see you there!
 Dorchester County Government Closures
Dorchester County Administrative Offices and County Courts will be closed in observance of the following holidays this month:
- Veterans Day - Observed Friday, November 10.
- Thanksgiving Day - Observed Thursday, November 23.
- Day After Thanksgiving - Observed Friday, November 24.
Dorchester County Convenience Sites will follow their normal hours of operation except for the following:
- Thanksgiving Day - Observed Thursday, November 23.
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