South Carolina's Best Fence Company for Privacy, Protection, and Peace of Mind
Most homeowners agree that one of the best-looking, multi-purpose additions to a house is having a quality fence installed around the property. When it comes to aesthetics, affordability, and practicality, few upgrades are as popular as a new fence. They help safeguard your property when you're away, can keep your kids or pets safe and sound in your yard, and even prevent neighborly hazards from happening.
When built by professional fencing contractors in Knightsville, SC residential fences can add curb appeal and resale value to your home, too. Whether you're looking to secure farm animals or want a little more privacy from your neighbors, installing a fence is a great, useful idea. When it comes to investing in your home, it's important you work with a trusted fencing company with years of experience. That's where Five Star Fencing comes in.
Our top-rated fencing company has built a reputation for building the most durable, attractive fences in metro Knightsville, SC. Our model is simple: give our loyal customers the highest quality fence products at reasonable prices, installed by reliable fencing contractors in Knightsville. Unlike some fence installation companies, we have built our reputation on hard work and true value. We strive to go the extra mile for our clients and do so with a friendly smile and helpful advice.
When you hire Five Star Fence Company for your fence installation project, know that you are working with the very best in the business. We take our work seriously because you trust us with the privacy, protection, and curb appeal of your home or business.
Fencing Contractors
- South Carolina's Best Fence Company for Privacy, Protection, and Peace of Mind
- The Premier Residential Fencing Company in Knightsville, SC
- The Most Popular Residential Fence Designs in Knightsville, SC
- Benefits of Fencing in Your Residential Property
- The Top Commercial Fence Contractor in Knightsville, SC
- Quality Workmanship. Unmatched Fence Installation in Knightsville, SC
When you work with Five Star Fence, you can always count on:
- The Finest Construction and Fence Installation in Knightsville
- All Jobs Completed with Workers' Comp and General Liability Insurance
- Residential and Commercial Fencing Services
- Prompt, Reliable Installation
- Long-Term Fence Dependability
- Fencing Options Like Aluminum, Privacy, Picket, Chain Link, & More
- Free Quotes
- Friendly Service
We're proud to offer the same level of service for all our customers - whether they have a large commercial fencing project to
complete or a two-bedroom home that needs a privacy fence.
The Premier Residential Fencing Company in Knightsville, SC
Whether you're looking to define property lines, enhance your home's security, boost curb appeal, or all three, having a fence built for your home is a great choice. Whether you choose a classic picket fence or a sturdy aluminum alternative, Carlina Fence Company has the tools, experience, and expert team to install a high-quality fence for your home.
If you know that you need a new fence but are unsure of where to start with the process, ask yourself these questions:
- Where will your fence be placed? Backyard? Front Yard? Both?
- What are concerns will a fence help alleviate? Privacy Security? Curb Appeal?
- Do you prefer certain fencing materials like metal or wood?
- Do you want a certain kind of fence like chain link or picket?
- What is your budget?
Once you can answer one or two of those questions, it's time to give Five Star Fence Company a call. Our knowledgeable, friendly team of fencing experts can help narrow down your affordable fencing choices. When you're ready, we'll take a trip to your home and provide a thorough, hassle-free quote for your consideration. Once we know the details and scope of your fence installation, we'll get to work building you a beautiful, sturdy fence that will last for years to come.
But with so many different fence styles available, it can be hard to choose which fence will be the perfect fit for your home. To help you select the right fence, consider these popular styles:

The Most Popular Residential Fence Designs in Knightsville, SC
Usually, fences fall into three categories: decorative, functional, and privacy. Whether your plan is to use your fence for pet safety, family privacy, or property lines, Five Star Fence has plenty of options to choose from. With a myriad of materials like aluminum, wood, and vinyl, you're sure to find the perfect fence style for you and your family.

Privacy Fences: A great privacy fence not only protects your family from the prying eyes of strangers. It can be great for security, too. Available in a variety of materials like vinyl and wood, privacy fences transform spaces like backyards into secluded hideaways. Ask Five Star Fence about decorative options, too, like post caps, coordinating gates, and lattice panel tops.

Picket Fences: If you want to capture the essence of Americana, a picket fence might be your best choice. One of the most beloved styles of all time, many picket fences come with heavy-duty vinyl and feature extra-wide posts with slimmer top and bottom rails. You can also choose from several stylish wooden picket fences to enhance your home's appearance.

Chain Link Fences: Chain link fencing is one of the most common, cost-effective ways to keep your property safe. Available in galvanized and aluminized options, you can also select vinyl coated colors like black and green. For extra security, Five Star Fence Company can install barbed wire and even automatic gates if needed.

Aluminum Fences: Often considered the ultimate combo of beauty, durability, and strength, aluminum fencing enhances your home's curb appeal and protects too. Warranted by the manufacturer for life, aluminum fences at Five Star Fence Company come in many colors and styles. We even have a variety of heights to pick from as well, including special order aluminum fences.

Wooden Fences: From heavy-duty lattice fences made with pressure-washed pine to traditional estate-style split-rail fencing, wooden fences are affordable and effective. But wood fences do more than fill a need - they add value and style to your home. Fenced-in yards are a hot commodity in today's real estate market and can boost the value of your home if you're looking to sell. In terms of ROI, wood fencing is near the top of the list. At Five Star Fence Company, our design team will work closely with you to install the wooden fence of your dreams.
Benefits of Fencing in Your Residential Property
Whether you're looking to build a new fence out of necessity or as a beautiful addition to your home,
you may not be aware that there are many more benefits to installing a fence around your property.

Residential Fencing Protects Your Landscaping: Most South Carolina homeowners know that high winds and heavy rains are a common occurrence in our state. Those winds and rain can have a hugely negative effect on your home's landscaping, which you probably worked hard to perfect. Luckily, installing a fence can help prevent strong gusts of wind and help keep rain runoff from flooding your property. What's more, a wooden or aluminum fence from Five Star Fence Company will complement your landscaping style while protecting your shrubs and plants.

Residential Fencing Protects Kids & Pets: We have had the pleasure of working with many homeowners over the years. One of the most-cited reasons we hear for installing a residential fence is to protect kids and pets. If you're concerned about your tiniest family members wandering outside or into a neighbor's yard, installing a fence is a great preventative decision. Fencing in your front or backyard can also help keep out animal intruders, whether it's your neighbor's pets or a wilder animal.

Residential Fencing Minimizes Unsightly Views: Residential Fencing Minimizes Unsightly Views: If your neighbor's home is not exactly fit for a postcard, don't stress out. Our residential fencing company in Knightsville, SC can install a great-looking fence to minimize views of unkempt or unattractive areas beyond your property line. Our vinyl and wood fencing options are very popular for this purpose, creating a beautiful enclosure for your family to enjoy.

Residential Fencing Creates a Sound Barrier: Believe it or not, many vinyl and wood privacy fences are used as sound barriers. Busy communities or neighborhoods close to major highways suffer from noise pollution. The same goes for homes located near train tracks. If you're sick and tired of hearing the highway every time you try to take a nap, our wooden privacy fences can minimize the sounds polluting your property.
The Top Commercial Fence Contractor
in Knightsville, SC
As a licensed, insured company with decades of commercial fence installation experience, it's no wonder South Carolina's most respected commercial entities trust Five Star Fence with their commercial fencing projects. While residential fencing can be nuanced, commercial fencing is inherently complex, with a number of factors at play, like bids, deadlines, and employee downtime.
Unlike some commercial fencers in Knightsville, our team is dedicated to quality, efficiency, and effectiveness. We know time is of the essence with your commercial project, which is why we work with your busy schedule to complete your project on time. Our goal is to go in and do our job professionally, accurately, and timely so your other subcontractors can begin their respective jobs.
Hiring a team of licensed, insured fencing contractors like you'll find at Five Star Fence ensures a proper return on your investment while protecting your property and employees.
If you're still on the "fence" about whether you should consider commercial fencing for your business or organization, contact our office today to learn more about the commercial installation side of our business. We'll take the time to explain our commercial installation process and help you choose the best fence for your business needs.

Frequently Asked Fencing Questions
At Five Star Fence, we do everything in our power to make your fence installation easy, streamlined, and effortless on your end. If you're considering a new fence installation, you probably have some questions about our process. To help address some of your concerns, here are answers to some of the most common questions that come across our desks.
Q. I need a fence installed for my home in Knightsville. How long will it take?
A. A typical residential fence takes between two to four days to complete, depending on the size and build of your home. We will do our best to cater to your busy schedule and offer reliable fence installation services Monday-Friday. Should you have specific needs on the day of your fence installation, please let our staff know so that we can do our best to work with you.
Q. Another company told me that they don't use cement to secure posts in the ground. Is that true?
A. Absolutely not. Do not let anyone tell you that you do not need your posts cemented in the ground. At Five Star Fence, every post we plant is cemented into the ground, no questions asked. Depending on the type of fence that we're installing for you, your posts will be about 24-48 inches in the ground to ensure stability and durability.
Quality Workmanship. Unmatched Fence
Installation in Knightsville, SC
Whether you need a new, beautiful wood fence to enhance curb appeal or an aluminum fence to help secure your residential property, Five Star Fence Company is here to help. After 28 years in the business, we have the knowledge and the experience to get the job done right. We pledge to provide you with honest work and the best fencing services in the Lowcountry. Contact our office today to get started on your free quote. Before you know it, your property will be a safer, more enjoyable place to spend time all year long.

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Latest News in Knightsville, SC
Summerville area schools excel on state report card
Madeline Quonhttps://www.postandcourier.com/news/summerville-area-schools-excel-on-state-report-card/article_3bfa20d6-546c-11ed-9048-87d38e835872.html
SUMMERVILLE — Every school in Dorchester District 2 rated average or higher in the first state report card issued since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.The S.C. Department of Education evaluates all school districts in the state based on several factors, including test scores, student growth, graduation rates and college and career readiness. The report card looks at a minimum of 85 percent of students tested, and all the schools in DD2 greatly exceeded that threshold with a minimum of a 96 percent participation rate, accordi...
SUMMERVILLE — Every school in Dorchester District 2 rated average or higher in the first state report card issued since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The S.C. Department of Education evaluates all school districts in the state based on several factors, including test scores, student growth, graduation rates and college and career readiness. The report card looks at a minimum of 85 percent of students tested, and all the schools in DD2 greatly exceeded that threshold with a minimum of a 96 percent participation rate, according to superintendent Shane Robbins.
State report cards haven’t been issued over the past two years due to COVID-19.
Of the schools in the district, 10 were rated excellent, six were rated good and eight were rated average overall. Newly opened East Edisto Middle School was not included since it only began instruction this semester.
This is the first time in at least five years that no school was rated below average or unsatisfactory, according to Thad Schmenk, director of assessment and accountability.
The schools that were distinguished as excellent were Ashley Ridge, Fort Dorchester and Summerville High Schools; Rollings Middle School of the Arts; Beech Hill, Fort Dorchester, Knightsville, Spann, Summerville and Windsor Hill Arts Infused Elementary Schools.
The schools were also graded on some achievement indicators, such as growth in English language arts and math, science and social studies, school climate and English learner’s progress. In some of these categories, a couple schools were rated as below average or unsatisfactory, but Schmenk said he sees room for improvement and has high hopes for the schools.
Five schools were rated below average in the science and social studies achievement indicators, five were rated below average in the growth in English language arts and math and one was rated as unsatisfactory. Six schools were rated below average in the school climate indicator.
Knowing now that some students may need more support, Robbins suggested paying more attention on what’s going on inside the classroom to see where students are in terms of meeting learning standards.
“We’re going to have to be more targeted in our approaches to try to make these kids achieve more focus,” Robbins said.
All three high schools either exceeded or maintained their pre-COVID-19 college and career readiness ratings, according to a DD2 press release. The district increased its graduation rate to 93.3, which is the fourth consecutive year of improvement.
DD2 board member Justin Farnsworth said upon looking at the report card, he wasn’t surprised at the results, even with COVID-19 forcing students to learn remotely for some time.
“It just shows that we’re able to bounce back from difficult issues that came up,” Farnsworth said. “That’s the resilience of kids, the resilience of our educators and it’s just having the best of the best.”
Robbins echoed Farnsworth’s sentiments in a press release, attributing the success to the educators, staff, students and families of DD2.
“While we are proud of this year’s results, we will continue to seek ways to grow and improve,” Robbins said.
Report cards are available at www.screportcards.com.
FIRST ALERT: Tornado watches end for Lowcountry counties
Patrick Phillipshttps://www.live5news.com/2022/11/11/first-alert-tornado-watches-end-lowcountry-counties/
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC/AP) - Tornado watches around the Lowcountry have been allowed to expire as Tropical Depression Nicole moves farther from South Carolina.Remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole put the Lowcountry under tornado watches throughout Thursday night going into Friday morning.Most of the watches ended Friday morning, and a watch for Georgetown and Williamsburg Counties ended just before noon. Two tornado warnings were issued in the Tri-County during the storm activity.A tornado warning was issued at 12:20 a.m. f...
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC/AP) - Tornado watches around the Lowcountry have been allowed to expire as Tropical Depression Nicole moves farther from South Carolina.
Remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole put the Lowcountry under tornado watches throughout Thursday night going into Friday morning.
Most of the watches ended Friday morning, and a watch for Georgetown and Williamsburg Counties ended just before noon. Two tornado warnings were issued in the Tri-County during the storm activity.
A tornado warning was issued at 12:20 a.m. for parts of Charleston County, however, it expired at 12:41 a.m.
Another warning came Thursday afternoon as a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located at 5:17 p.m. near Knightsville The warning expired at 5:45 p.m.
The National Weather Service has not verified if any tornados touchdown during either of the warnings. Meanwhile, the South Carolina Emergency Management Division says county emergency managers across the state reported minimal damages. None of the managers requested state assistance.
Click here to download the free Live 5 First Alert Weather app.
Live 5 Meteorologist Joey Sovine says gusts to tropical storm force are possible Wednesday through Friday.
A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.
A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes to form, but does not indicate that any actual tornadoes have been detected.
Tropical Storm Nicole has sent multiple homes collapsing into the Atlantic Ocean. Nicole made landfall as a hurricane early Thursday near Vero Beach, Florida, but the brunt of the damage was along the East Coast well north of there, in the Daytona Beach area. Its damaging coastal surge was hitting beachfront properties in Daytona Beach Shores that lost their last protections during Hurricane Ian.
The Live 5 Weather team declared Thursday and Friday as First Alert Weather Days because of possible impacts from the storm.
Sovine says coastal flooding is likely through Friday around high tides with beach erosion and high surf also likely.
Sovine said heavy rain could be possible with rainfall totals between one and four inches. Breezy conditions could occur through Friday and winds may occasionally gust to, or over, 40 mph near the coast.
Nicole became the 14th named storm of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season on Monday.
As of 10 a.m., Nicole was a tropical depression with its center located near latitude 34.2 north and longitude 84.3 west, about 35 miles north of Atlanta, Ga. The storm was moving to the north-northeast at 23 mph and its estimated minimum central pressure is 1001 mb or 29.56 inches.
Forecasters say an acceleration toward the north and north-northeast is expected Friday.
On the forecast track, the center of Nicole will move across central and northern Georgia Friday morning and over the western Carolinas later.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Nicole is expected to become a post-tropical cyclone Friday, then dissipate Friday night or early Saturday as it merges with a frontal system over the eastern United States.
Tropical Storm Warnings are now in effect for Charleston, Berkeley, Coastal Colleton and Beaufort counties. Gusts to tropical storm force(40+mph) are possible today through Friday near the coast. pic.twitter.com/VOkWBvcYTx
— Joey Sovine Live 5 (@JoeySovine) November 9, 2022
City of Charleston officials say they will be closely monitoring the tropical storm. Crews have already begun preparing for potential storm impacts.
“Residents are asked to keep an eye on reliable local weather reports over the next few days,” Emergency Management Director Ben Almquist said in a news release. “If bad conditions do arise, citizens are advised to follow the guidance of Emergency Management officials and, as always, motorists should avoid driving through high water when they encounter it.”
The city’s stormwater department has prepared temporary pumps for low-lying areas. Crews will also be cleaning out ditches and drains in flood-prone areas.
To find out how you can help, visit the Adopt-A-Drain website by clicking here.
The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs through Nov. 30.
Nicole made landfall near Vero Beach as a Category 1 hurricane at about 3 a.m. Thursday, more than a hundred miles south of Daytona Beach Shores, before its maximum sustained winds dropped to 60 mph, the Miami-based center said. The storm was centered about 30 miles southeast of Orlando. It was moving west-northwest near 14 mph.
Robbie Berg, a hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami advised people to understand that hazards from Tropical Storm Nicole “will exist across the state of Florida today.”
Nicole came could briefly emerge over the northeastern corner of the Gulf of Mexico Thursday afternoon before moving over the Florida Panhandle and Georgia, he said.
The storm left south Florida sunny and calm as it moved north, but could dump as much as 6 inches of rain over the Blue Ridge Mountains by Friday, the hurricane center said.
Nicole became a hurricane Wednesday evening as it slammed into Grand Bahama Island. It was the first to hit the Bahamas since Hurricane Dorian, a Category 5 storm that devastated the archipelago in 2019.
For storm-weary Floridians, it is only the third November hurricane to hit their shores since recordkeeping began in 1853. The previous ones were the 1935 Yankee Hurricane and Hurricane Kate in 1985.
Copyright 2022 WCSC. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.
Here’s how Lowcountry school districts performed in the new state report card
Patrick Phillipshttps://www.live5news.com/2022/10/17/heres-how-lowcountry-school-districts-performed-new-state-report-card/
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) - Three of eight Lowcountry school districts showed their students are meeting or exceeding state grade-level expectations based on new data state education officials released Monday morning.The 2022 School Report Card indicated 20.6% of schools in the state received an overall rating of excellent, Education Superintendent Molly Spearman said.The data also revealed how d...
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) - Three of eight Lowcountry school districts showed their students are meeting or exceeding state grade-level expectations based on new data state education officials released Monday morning.
The 2022 School Report Card indicated 20.6% of schools in the state received an overall rating of excellent, Education Superintendent Molly Spearman said.
The data also revealed how district schools performed at meeting state goals.
In the Tri-County, Charleston County schools scored highest in SC Ready English language arts and mathematics, with Dorchester County District 2 scoring the second-highest. They were the only two districts ranking with a higher percentage across the board than the state averages. The Berkeley County School District, meanwhile, outperformed the state average in end-of-course English 1 assessments.
The Williamsburg County School District scored lowest in English language arts, while the Colleton County School District scored lowest in mathematics. For end-of-course English 1 assessments, the Colleton County School District’s 38.3% placed it lowest compared with the state’s 57.9% average, and Dorchester District 4′s 13.5% end-of-course Algebra 1 assessment score placed it at the lowest among Lowcountry counties compared with the state average of 44.2%.
The state averaged 46.6% of students meeting or exceeding expectations for English language arts scores. For mathematics, the state average stood at 38.9%.
Only the Charleston County and Dorchester District 2 schools exceeded the state average in English language arts. In contrast, Charleston County, Dorchester District 2 and Beaufort County schools exceeded the state average on math.
This chart lists the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level expectations. Percentages in bold indicate instances in which a district’s score exceeded the state average:
State Average or School District | SC Ready English Language Arts | SC Ready Mathematics | End-of-Course English 1 Assessment | End-of-Course Algebra 1 Assessment |
---|---|---|---|---|
State Average | 46.6% | 38.9% | 57.9% | 44.2% |
Charleston County | 53.3% | 49.2% | 62.8% | 52.3% |
Berkeley County | 44.6% | 31.7% | 59.3% | 39.4% |
Dorchester Co. Dist. 2 | 52.4% | 41.8% | 70.4% | 55.2% |
Dorchester Co. Dist. 4 | 36.6% | 25.4% | 41.5% | 13.5% |
Colleton County | 25.1% | 14.0% | 38.3% | 20.8% |
Williamsburg County | 24.1% | 14.6% | 40.1% | 16.0% |
Georgetown County | 37.5% | 29.0% | 49.9% | 30.3% |
Beaufort County | 48.7% | 41.6% | 60.2% | 53.5% |
For graduation rate, Dorchester District 2 had the highest in the Tri-County, with 93.3%, followed by Dorchester District 4 at 92%. Charleston County’s 84.6% ranked it third place in the Tri-County.
Across the Lowcountry, Beaufort County and Georgetown County schools scored higher in graduation rate than Charleston County.
This table lists Lowcountry district graduation rates and bold values indicate district graduation rates that exceeded the state average:
State Average or School District | Graduation Rate |
---|---|
State Average | 83.3% |
Charleston County | 84.6% |
Berkeley County | 84.3% |
Dorchester Co. Dist. 2 | 93.3% |
Dorchester Co. Dist. 4 | 92.0% |
Colleton County | 72.8% |
Williamsburg County | 74.4% |
Georgetown County | 86.7% |
Beaufort County | 86.2% |
For the first time, schools received a rating for “school climate,” which Spearman said was based on surveys of students and teachers that measured perceptions of safety, working conditions and school environment. Just under 80 percent of parents say their child feels safe at school. About 79 percent of teachers say they feel safe, down from about 98 percent the previous year.
The new school climate measure used a 10-point scale to measure the learning environment at state schools as perceived by teachers and students. The state average overall school climate perception is 6.33 out of 10. Dorchester District 2 was the only school district in the Lowcountry to score a higher overall rate with 6.66 out of 10.
State Average or School District | School Climate Overall Perception (out of 10.0) | School Safety Student Perception (out of 10.0) | School Safety Teacher Perception (out of 10) |
---|---|---|---|
State Average | 6.33 | 5.10 | 8.03 |
Charleston County | 6.08 | 4.94 | 7.74 |
Berkeley County | 5.78 | 5.52 | 7.85 |
Dorchester Co. Dist. 2 | 6.66 | 5.37 | 8.34 |
Dorchester Co. Dist. 4 | 6.01 | 5.56 | 7.93 |
Colleton County | 5.21 | 4.98 | 5.73 |
Williamsburg County | 5.46 | 2.60 | 6.65 |
Georgetown County | 5.94 | 5.28 | 7.52 |
Beaufort County | 6.11 | 5.62 | 7.65 |
Across the board, teachers had a higher perception of safety in the classroom than students did. In the state average, teachers scored their perception of safety at 8.03 out of 10, while students’ perceptions of safety came in at just 5.10 out of 10.
But five Lowcountry school districts had student safety perception scores that beat the state average. It was only in the Charleston County, Colleton County and Williamsburg County School Districts that students ranked their perception of safety as lower than the state average. Williamsburg County schools posted the lowest student safety perception score at just 2.6 out of 10.
When it came to teacher safety perception, in every Lowcountry district, teachers’ perception of safety in the classroom was higher than that of their students. Only in Dorchester District 2, however, did teacher scores outpace the state average.
Ten Dorchester District 2 received an excellent rating while none of the district’s schools received either an unsatisfactory or below average rating, district spokesman Matthew Kenwright said. Six schools ranked as good and eight ranked average.
The ten district schools receiving the excellent rating were Ashley Ridge High School, Beech Hill Elementary School, Fort Dorchester Elementary School, Fort Dorchester High School, Knightsville Elementary School, Rollings Middle School of the Arts, Spann Elementary School, Summerville Elementary School, Summerville High School and Windsor Hill Arts Infused Elementary School.
The district’s graduation rate increased for the fourth consecutive year under the current report card system, Kenwright said.
“Dorchester School District Two’s success is a testament to the hard work of our educators, staff, students, and families,” Superintendent Dr. Shane Robbins said. “While we are proud of this year’s results, we will continue to seek ways to grow and improve.”
Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.
Rescued primates living longer, happier lives at Summerville sanctuary
Cait Przetakhttps://www.counton2.com/news/local-news/rescued-primates-living-longer-happier-lives-at-summerville-sanctuary/
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) – It was 1973 when Shirley McGreal, then living in Southeast Asia, saw beady bright eyes staring back at her from between the slats of a wooden crate.The eyes belonged to a gibbon — a primate native to the region — who had fallen victim to the dangerous world of the pet trade, where gibbons were being sold into homes, zoos, or labs, only to later be discarded.In 1977, McGreal created the Inter...
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) – It was 1973 when Shirley McGreal, then living in Southeast Asia, saw beady bright eyes staring back at her from between the slats of a wooden crate.
The eyes belonged to a gibbon — a primate native to the region — who had fallen victim to the dangerous world of the pet trade, where gibbons were being sold into homes, zoos, or labs, only to later be discarded.
In 1977, McGreal created the International Primate Protection League (IPPL) in Summerville as a gibbon sanctuary. The now 47-acre property remains nestled in a quiet area of the Lowcountry that is illuminated by the sounds of the primates singing to one another.
Meg McCue-Jones, the Compliance and Outreach Manager, explained that the land was a sod farm in the late 70s and started taking in the gibbons that needed help soon after.
One of the sanctuary’s residents, Gibby, is one of the oldest known living gibbons at over 60 years old.
Like most of the gibbons at the sanctuary, his life started off rough.
McCue-Jones said that Gibby was wild caught, and “with every gibbon wild caught, they shoot mom out of the tree, hoping baby falls, and then they take the baby.”
He was first sold into the pet trade in by a Bangkok dealer, but that was just the beginning. Gibby went to labs at Hofstra University and the State University at Stony Brook.
Researchers embedded electrodes in his skin as part of a locomotion project.
The electrodes and thin wires were inserted into his muscles and connected him to a suit that would measure his muscle movements. McCue-Jones explained that this was obviously not an ideal situation on any aspect, whether it be a human or animal.
At 44, Gibby made it to his first sanctuary, but the conditions were hard on his body. In March of 2007, just four years after his arrival, the IPPL reached out to the sanctuary to relocate not only Gibby, but several other gibbons.
For Gibby, like the other 29 at the sanctuary, Summerville is his last stop. McCue-Jones says that the sanctuary is their forever home.
But with the pandemic, their home has become more difficult to manage.
With fear of COVID-19 spreading to the primates, volunteers were no longer allowed to assist with the many daily tasks necessary to keep the place running.
From hosing the outsides of the enclosures, to raking, food prep, and even assistance inside the office—the staff was left with mounting responsibilities.
The economic impacts of the pandemic left donors and community partners reeling financially, but the bills at the sanctuary remained steady.
As a non-federally funded organization, the IPPL relies heavily on donations to meet the needs of the animals.
Stacy Lambert, a Senior Animal Care Giver, said that since a lot of their population has started to reach geriatric ages, their vet bills are getting bigger as they are having more interventions and medications, different procedures, and checkup appointments with Dr. John Ohlandt.
While expensive, their system of care has proven to work.
Lambert says that in the wild, gibbons usually live about 30-35 years. However, in captivity, gibbons living into their 40s is normal. However, the IPPL has quite a few gibbons that are up in their 40s and 50s while, of course, Gibby is 62.
Although the interventions from the IPPL show the ability of the sanctuary, McCue-Jones said all those at the IPPL ultimately wish there was not a need for them at all, and that the gibbons could live freely in the wild.
McCue-Jones said, “as Shirley has spoken of before, if you really think about it, do humans need sanctuaries, should we have them? Should we be treating the animals this way?”
To send the Gibbons a care package full of nuts, click here.
To donate to the IPPL’s missions and day-to-day operations, click here.
To send specified items needed by the IPPL via Amazon, click here.
Nico Romo, owner of NICO and Bistronomy, to open 3rd restaurant in Summerville
Parker Milnerhttps://www.postandcourier.com/food/nico-romo-owner-of-nico-and-bistronomy-to-open-3rd-restaurant-in-summerville/article_fb533556-2f8a-11ec-9af9-3b87623085fc.html
SUMMERVILLE — Nico Romo has fond memories of large family gatherings in France at a table filled with large bowls of handmade pasta.Soon, he’ll set the table for close to 100 Summerville diners with their eyes set on rustic Italian cuisine.The French-born chef, who opened NICO in Mount Pleasant in 2017 before adding Bistronomy by Nico downtown in 2020, calls forthcoming Laura “a love letter to the storied, traditional Italian family recipes” he grew up eating.The 6,000-square-foot restaurant will ...
SUMMERVILLE — Nico Romo has fond memories of large family gatherings in France at a table filled with large bowls of handmade pasta.
Soon, he’ll set the table for close to 100 Summerville diners with their eyes set on rustic Italian cuisine.
The French-born chef, who opened NICO in Mount Pleasant in 2017 before adding Bistronomy by Nico downtown in 2020, calls forthcoming Laura “a love letter to the storied, traditional Italian family recipes” he grew up eating.
The 6,000-square-foot restaurant will open at 101 North Main St. at the start of 2022.
“We literally have a pasta room, so that’s really the excitement of it to me,” Romo said. “We’ll be doing a lot of handmade pasta there, and then we’re going to have a huge wood-fired pizza oven.”
The restaurant is named after Romo’s grandmother, who was born in Italy before moving to France. In fact, Romo’s great grandfather served for Italy in World War I and France during World War II.
“They would spend every summer at home in Italy. Growing up I always had huge family meals,” Romo said while reminiscing about bowls of his grandmother’s handmade gnocchi. “It was always a big party.”
Romo plans to throw nightly dinner parties at Laura, which will seat 70 guests indoors and another 20 to 25 on its patio. There’s also an 80-seat private space that will eventually (spring 2022) be outfitted with all the bells and whistles for weddings, corporate events and other celebrations.
Romo isn’t the first peninsula chef to spread his wings in Summerville. Swig & Swine has a location on Old Trolley Road, and Halls Chophouse, Poogan’s and D’Allesandro’s Pizza all opened Nexton outposts in the last two years.
According to D’Allesandro’s co-owner Nick D’Allesandro, who operates three South Carolina locations with his brother Ben, the area’s recent growth made adding a Summerville shop attractive. The brothers opened D’Allesandro’s Summerville on Feb. 7, 2020.
Noticing the trend, Romo purchased Laura’s North Main Street space close to three years ago, but the project was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Unlike other chefs and restaurateurs to venture northwest on Interstate 26, Laura will be an escape from the food Romo serves at NICO, his traditional French take on oysters and seafood, and Bistronomy, where he serves French Asian fusion in an upscale yet unpretentious environment.
As Romo puts it: “It’s a restaurant for Summerville. It’s not another NICO.”
Antipasti, house-made pasta, Neapolitan pizzas and whole fish cooked in the wood-fired oven will lead the charge on a menu that mimics the family-style meals Romo fell in love with as a kid. Desserts and pastries are earmarked for a display case near the entrance, according to the chef.
Once open, Laura will serve Summerville dinner seven days a week. Lunch and brunch will be offered on weekends, but, according to Romo, Laura will stay closed during the day Mondays through Fridays due to the extended time it takes to prepare the labor-intensive dishes.
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