🌱 Hurricane Ian Watch + Charleston Woman Is Two-Time Lottery Winner

Hello, friends! It's Wednesday in Charleston and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening in town. In this issue, you'll get updates on:

• Keeping tabs on Hurricane Ian
• A Facebook marketplace carjacking scam
• The expansion of Charleston International Airport

But first, today's weather:

Clouds and sun; not as warm. High: 74 Low: 59.

Shoutout to the awesome local business that keeps this newsletter running:

Looking for real bagels? What about "this is the best bagel I've ever had"? That's the word at Blazing Star Cafe, located in West Ashley at 874 Orleans Road, across from FEDEX and Target. Current bagel flavors are plain, cherry-cranberry-cardamom, salt, za'atar (a middle eastern spice mix), poppyseed, sesame, and their unique inside-out Everything bagel, which has seeds baked into the dough and on top - and don't forget to ask about their variety of cream cheese flavors as well.

Click here to get your business featured in this spot.

Here are the top five stories in Charleston today:

1. The city of Charleston is bracing for Hurricane Ian this week. The National Weather Service is expecting tropical storm surges that could be anywhere from two to four feet to begin over the next 48 hours. The main threats the hurricane poses to Charleston are heavy rains and high tides. Six to eight inches of rainfall are predicted on Wednesday, which could lead to some coastal flooding. (Holy City Sinner)
2. A Charleston woman has proven to be a big lottery winner — twice. A local woman playing the South Carolina Education Lottery found she had purchased a winning Palmetto Cash 5 lottery ticket. Even better, she won two games on the ticket, with winnings totaling $100,000 for one game and $300 for the other. The winner, who has remained anonymous, intends to use her winnings to remodel her home. (WCBD News 2)
3. If you've been craving a cheesesteak in Charleston, this could be the perfect time to do a walking tour of all the tasty local options. The Philadelphia favorite has been given a Charleston twist at many of these local restaurants. Find out which spots took away top marks, and see if they pass the grade. For more information, see the link. (Charleston City Paper)
4. The Charleston International Airport has expanded its capacity. The bustling airport has increased its capacity by 20 percent. This includes two new gates in the airport, the third of which opened back in July. The renovation overhaul came in at $11.5 million. Officials say the three new gates will prove essential, as the airport anticipates over 5.1 million passengers in the coming year. (Charleston Regional Business)
5. Benjamin Gwinn-Tarr, 28, has been charged with strong-arm robbery and forgery over a failed Facebook Marketplace scam. According to the owner of the stolen vehicle, Gwinn-Tarr was supposed to purchase a used Switch from him. Instead, Gwinn-Tarr drove off in his own car; the seller pursued him until Gwinn-Tarr crashed his vehicle. He then unsuccessfully attempted to steal the seller's vehicle before being apprehended by police. (Live 5 News WCSC)

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Today in Charleston:

• DI Deepthinkers at Daniel Island Library (10:30 AM)
• Caribbean Fresh Food Truck at Snafu Brewing Company (4:30 PM)
• Exploring The Joy (And Art) Of Writing! With Stephanie And Nikki Hardin at Redux Contemporary Art Center (6:00 PM)
• Boys Volleyball Game at Bishop England (6:00 PM)
• Paint & Sip At Palmetto Brewing Co. (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• If you want to keep an eye on Hurricane Ian this week (and who can blame you!), the US National Weather Service of Charleston will be tracking the storm. Their social media accounts will be providing updates and information on how you and your loved ones can stay safe. (US National Weather Service Charleston SC via Facebook)
• Elves and dwarves, get ready! The Charleston County Public Library will be holding a Dungeons and Dragons One Shot Night on Oct. 3. (Charleston County Public Library via Facebook)
• The Charleston County School District has been celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month with all sorts of amazing activities! The latest event saw students learning about authentic Hispanic pastries courtesy of a local Hispanic baker from North Charleston. (Charleston County School District via Facebook)
• A new restaurant in the Mount Pleasant area serves traditional fish and chips that will make your mouth water! Swing by The Fish & Chippy and get ready to dig in. (Charleston Scene via Facebook)

Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.