Mortgage Broker in Daniel Island, SC

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Here on News 4, we're taking you Behind the Badge introducing you to men and women of the Lowcountry who keep us safe.

Today, you'll meet a school resource officer who wears multiple hats. From protector to teacher, he says every job he takes on at school helps him connect with hundreds, if not thousands, of students.

Officer Al Cammarata starts some of his days at the Daniel Island School teaching Spanish. His most recent lesson: how to prepare guacamole, and learning the vocabulary that comes with it.

It's not what Officer Cammarata thought he’d be doing when he got into policing 30 years ago. When he made the switch from patrol to being an SRO, his job responsibilities changed.

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“I’ve taught classes in the past from culinary arts to driver’s ed, freshman focus, bike safety,” he says. “Just wherever we can, dimension, groups, we do all kinds of things.”

He has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, and put his degree to work in his travels to Central America.

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“I took anywhere between 14 or 16 or 18 classes over three years, including the summer. But going and studying and living in the culture is the only way to learn the language,” Cammarata says. “I got a good grammar base as a non-native speaker, and that was definitely the way to improve your skills.”

When a Spanish teacher at Daniel Island School left midway through the school year, Officer Cammarata stepped in.

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“The teacher that filled in was a retired teacher who was a full-time sub. She didn’t have any Spanish-speaking experience, so we just kind of teamed up,” says Cammarata. “She did the lesson plans and the videos, and I would come in and do basic grammar. I would come in maybe 20 or 30 minutes each day and help out with the lesson.”

It’s a routine that’s stuck. He helps out with some of the fifth and sixth grade Spanish classes in between his primary job of keeping everyone safe.

“You’re there every day, this is your responsibility, so you have to know the building, the community, the people, everything that’s going on,” he explains. “I’ve been here seven years. I have kids that are now in 7th grade that were in kindergarten when I started here.”

Cammarata says he also helps show students that officers are just like them.

“They just get to see you day after day, and know that you’re a regular person, and you’re just part of their regular day like a teacher. To me it's very rewarding. It's really the ultimate form of community policing. You’re dealing with the same kids, parents the same community year after year,” he says. “For me its really where I’m supposed to be.”

DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) — If you've been following the Credit One Charleston Open, you probably know all about the players on the court. But what about the people behind the scenes?

Volunteer Coordinator Joe Cooper said they have nearly 450 volunteers for the week-long tournament.

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On average, they get between 435 and 450 applications a year - some even take off work in order to help.

“It's a week I look forward to all year long," Cooper said.

The Credit One Charleston Open volunteers say helping has never been so much fun.

From ushering to ziptie-ing a broken sandal: Charleston Open volunteers love what they do. (WCIV)

“I still love the game and am still very involved in the game, so being out here is just an opportunity you can't pass up," volunteer Laney Lane said.

Day to day tasks vary as volunteers are placed in one of many groups

“The ushers have a really good time watching tennis and helping the patrons with anything they might need. Our court maintenance department really enjoys running the lines and getting the courts ready. We have people in the media center helping with media. We have player services- they escort the players to and from the courts," Cooper said.

And every once in awhile they take on a task they didn’t necessarily train for.

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“We had a patron in box 109 and her sandal broke so we zip-tied her sandal back together and got her back up and running," Cooper said.

She said all volunteers must work together in order for things to run smoothly.

“We have department chairs and they run the entire department. So we have radios we communicate with each other. And everyone is just so friendly and so happy and so glad to be here. We just work together really well," Cooper said.

But at the end of the day, she hopes everyone leaves wanting to come back.

Read More: Credit One Charleston Open Coverage

“I hope everyone has a great time. Comes back next year to volunteer but even more importantly, I'd like them to tell their friends so their friends want to volunteer," she said.

“This is my seventh year doing this and I look forward to 17 more." Lane said.

If you get the chance to make it to this year’s Charleston Open, you can easily spot all of the volunteers in their yellow shirts.

To find out more about volunteering, visit the tournaments website.

DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) – The largest women’s-only tennis tournament in North America, Credit One Charleston Open, will return to Daniel Island over nine days this spring.

This year’s tournament features several off-court experiences for spectators including new dining and drinking options when it returns to Credit One Stadium from April 1 through 9.

Attendees will have myriad options to “savor the flavor of the south” with on-site food and beverage options like local barbecue, oysters, burgers, and farm-fresh cheese to build your perfect charcuterie.

“The tournament has curated a culinary experience that features a mix of seasonal dishes, local favorites, international flavors, and stadium classics,” organizers said.

FIRST SERVE PLAZA

Open daily, this area will serve up top-shelf bloody marys, mimosas, La Colombe coffee and fresh biscuits from Farmhouse Biscuits.

“The tournament’s signature cocktail, The First Serve is back again in 2023. Sip on a refreshing mix of butterfly pea flower-infused vodka, Lowcountry lemonade, and club soda, all garnished with a fresh lemon wheel,” organizers said.

CHARLESTON’S LIVING ROOM

This full-service cocktail lounge under the oaks, open daily, is curated by The Charleston Place. You can enjoy a frozen drink or cocktail and build your own charcuterie board featuring Forx Farms Cheese.

Forx Farm is located in Anderson County, South Carolina.

MATCH POINT BAR & GRILL

A popular Charleston barbecue restaurant, Swig & Swine BBQ, will offer up delicious food throughout the tournament. You’ll also find a full-service bar with local craft beer, spirits, and Kim Crawford wines.

“Enjoy a Clay Court Cooler while listening to live music and catching up with past champions,” said event organizers. “Be sure to stop by for happy hour from 4pm-6pm for $2 off select beverages.”

CHARLESTON COLLECTIVE

Here, attendees will find Verde’s fresh salads, Lowcountry oysters, Orlando’s Brick Oven Pizza, and Beech acai, poke bowls, and smoothies.

FOOD TRUCK VILLAGE

Who doesn’t love a food truck? Local favorites parked during the tournament include Motley Chew Burgers, Mr. Poppers, Bangin’ Vegan Eats, Ben & Jerry’s, Life Raft Treats & Lowcountry Lemonade.

COOL OFF DURING THE TOURNAMENT

Find plenty of cool spots to enjoy a drink during the tennis tournament. in addition to the previously listed food and dining options, New Real Bar will feature craft draft seasonal beer and local Daniel Island favorites, or venture over to the Michelob Ultra Club before, between and after matches.

CONCESSIONS

Swig & Swine BBQ will have its own concession stand offering classic barbecue sandwiches and other menu favorites.

Find homemade pimento mac and cheese and freshly baked jumbo pretzels, plus frozen treats from King of Pops and Ben & Jerry’s. Or munch on some delicious kettle corn from Mr. Popper’s with flavors ranging from caramel, cheddar cheese, and birthday gourmet.

The Credit One Charleston Open showcases a singles draw of 56 players, a qualifying draw of 32 players and a doubles draw of 16 players. The event traditionally hosts more than 90,000 attendees on Daniel Island.

If you haven’t purchased tickets for the nine-day tournament, organizers say single-session tickets are still available.

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Photos in this story courtesy Credit One Charleston Open

DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) – Lace up your skates! Credit One Stadium is bringing an outdoor ice-skating rink to Daniel Island for the holiday season.

“Skate the Stadium” will bring a new custom-built ice-skating rink to the entertainment venue featuring cozy fire pits, seasonal concessions, and special holiday events like holiday carolers, visits with Santa, and a Christmas tree lighting.

“Our goal is to create thoughtful, unique experiences that bring joy to the communities we serve. By building an outdoor skating rink for the holidays we hope to create another way for people to engage in a new holiday tradition that encourages movement and social connection,” said Bob Moran, President of Charleston Tennis.

Tickets will cost $10 per person including the skate rental and a one-hour skating session. Organizers say non-skaters may enter for free. Special assistive devices will be available for those who need them.

Those tickets can be purchased at creditonestadium.com/skate-the-stadium

“Children 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Credit One Stadium is a drop-off site for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation,” said organizers. “Bring a toy, get $2 off a skating session.”

Guests can enjoy cookie samplers, smores kits, cinnamon sugar pretzels and other classic concessions will be available for purchase. Hot chocolate, cider, and a full bar with seasonal beer and cocktails will also be on hand.

‘Skate the Stadium’ will open Friday, December 2^nd. Dates to skate include:

Thursdays and Fridays from 5-10 p.m.

Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. & Sundays 12 – 5 p.m.

The rink will be closed on Friday, Dec. 30 and Christmas Day.

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Daniel Island Tree Lighting Ceremony | Friday, December 2, Festivities begin at 5 p.m. with the tree lighting at 6 p.m.

Enjoy musical performances from Charleston Concert Band, carolers singing and activities for the children then watch the holiday magic of a 22-foot tree lighting.

Holiday Carolers Thursdays | December 8, 25 & 22, 5:30-6 p.m.

Catch the holiday spirit with vocal performances from local High School choral groups.

Ladies Night/Bubbles on Ice | Thursday, December 8, 7-10 p.m.

Nibble on hors d’oeuvres and sip on bubbles from Moet. Browse some curated holiday selection from local vendors. This is a ticketed event, $35 per person and includes food plus cash bar.

90’s Glow Night | Saturday, December 10, 7-10 p.m.

Skate to your favorite songs of the 90’s and sport your best glow gear.

Jazz Night & Bourbon Tasting | Thursday, December 15, 7-10 p.m.

Sample all-you-can-eat oysters on the half shell and a bourbon tasting with entertainment by Grammy Award winning Charlton Singleton & The Contemporary Flow Band.

Visit with Santa | Sunday, December 18, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Stop by for a visit with Santa the last weekend before Christmas.

A $20-million-plus lodging with a restaurant, event space and guest cottages is being proposed for Daniel Island.

The city of Charleston’s Design Review Board recently signed off on plans for a 38-unit hotel at 1995 Daniel Island Drive near the planned 320-unit Nowell Creek Village Apartments.

The site is across from the former Blackbaud headquarters building, which is now a multitenant office structure called Marshside. The board suggested a few aesthetic revisions, but otherwise unanimously voted for the hotel project.

A small office structure currently occupies the site and can be moved to make way for the new project once it clears other approvals from the city.

JT Industries LLC, an affiliate of developer King and Society Real Estate of Charleston, bought the 1.5-acre parcel near Beresford Creek in 2019 for $1.25 million, according to Berkeley County land records.

“We have a unique and interesting waterfront property on Daniel Island and have been working to find the best use and need for this location,” said King and Society founder and CEO Troy Barber.

He estimated construction will take about 14 months after permits and other approvals are received and hopes the project will be completed in 2024.

Barber said a firm price had not been set on the hotel, but he believes the project will be more than $20 million.

The main 11,200-square-foot building will house guest rooms, restaurant and event space in three floors over parking. The proposal includes four guest houses of 8,500 square feet each, two 866-square-foot cottages, two 592-square-foot cabanas and 50 parking spaces.

The site plan shows the venue as a likely wedding venue, with separate suites for the bride and groom, a ballroom and an outdoor ceremony site overlooking Beresford Creek. Barber said it could also be used for corporate functions.

King and Society will be the developer and handle construction as well, Barber said.

Top sellers

At the mid-year point, South Carolina is home to three of the top-selling 50 master-planned communities in the U.S., even as sales slow from last year.

RCLCO Real Estate Consulting ranked Cane Bay Plantation in Berkeley County at No. 5 with 525 sales during the first six months of 2022. That’s down 9 percent from last year’s midpoint.

Nexton, also in Berkeley, came in at No. 22 with 308 sales, down 5 percent from the first six months of last year.

Latitude Margaritaville in Hardeeville near Hilton Head Island ranked No. 39 with 234 sales, down 29 percent from last year from January through June.

The top-selling, master-planned community continues to be The Villages, between Ocala and Orlando, Fla. It had about 1,500 sales, down 25 percent from last year at the midpoint.

Almost all of the top 50 are in the southern tier of states. Texas posted the most with 20, Florida landed 15, Nevada had four, California and Arizona saw three each, and Utah and Washington state notched one each.

Total new home sales among the 50 top-selling master-planned communities declined by 18 percent in the first half of 2022 compared to the same time period last year, according to RCLCO.

“Supply chain issues and inadequate new home inventory have continued to pose problems for developers, as price increases and interest rate hikes have begun to impact traffic from potential buyers in recent months,” RCLCO said in its mid-year report.

Nationally, the average price among all new single-family homes is up 15 percent since mid-2021.

“The results of this updated mid-year report confirm that supply chain disruptions continue to have an impact on the ability of master-planned communities to meet new home demand, though climbing interest rates and price appreciation have begun to have an impact on that demand, at least in the near-term,” said RCLCO principal Karl Pischke.

“However, it is important not to overreact to the slowing of sales seen over the last year, as these are still short-term trends,” he said.

“The long-term future of the for-sale housing industry, as evidenced by favorable demographic tailwinds, is strong,” Pischke said. “And the future of master-planned communities, particularly in their ability to capture an outsized share of buyer demand during uncertain or difficult economic times, provides another reason for optimism.”