The Santee-Lynches Aging Department currently has grant funding to assist veterans who are 60 years of age or older with the following services: Vouchers to assist the Veteran with transportation to/from doctor’s appointments and non-essential trips such as the grocery store, rental assistance, utility assistance, pest control services, and food boxes. In addition, the aging Department is utilizing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to provide pest control services to any seniors who are 60 years of age or older. Since the implementation of this program, the department has found a great need for the following pest control services across the four-county region: Bed bug treatment Roaches Flea treatment Mice trapping Snakes Grant funding ends September 2024. Contact the Aging Department at 803-774-1376 for more information.
The City of Camden Planning Commission held a public hearing Tuesday, November 21st regarding a proposed residential development consisting of single-family houses and townhomes. In overview, the proposal calls for a total of 795 lots, including 140 townhomes and 655 single-family homes. Based on the total acreage of the site, the resulting density is anticipated to be 2.56 units/acre. This density is comparable to the 2.5 units/acre maximum density in an R-15 zoning district. This is also a lower density than other developments recently approved. The development would be built in five phases as follows: Phase 1 (134 lots), Phase 2 (201 lots), Phase 3 (192 lots), Phase 4 (131 lots), and Phase 5 (124 lots). The developer anticipates a 7-10 year period for total build out of the project. Lots for the single-family homes will range from approximately 7,000 square feet to 12,420 square feet.
Please find below the corresponding documents regarding this proposed development, referred to as “The Paddocks”.
The holidays just feel special here in Camden. Many think it’s that small town charm, which just gets brighter and jollier as the end of the year approaches. Parades and performances abound, decorations appear along our city streets, and shops and restaurants are bustling with good cheer and great gift ideas.
Make plans to join in on some of these special holiday events and activities, starting with the City of Camden’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, November 30 at 6:00 pm at City Hall, 1000 Lyttleton Street. The Tree Lighting Ceremony kicks off the “12 Days of Christmas”, highlighting community events taking place in and around Camden between November 30 and December 11. In addition to traditional holiday events, many local businesses will host open houses, pop-up shops, visits with Santa, and more fun and festive ways to help you complete your holiday shopping with less stress.
Here’s a listing of events taking place during the 12 Days of Christmas. Check back often, as more are added each week. We hope to see you out there!
The 27th Annual Fire Fest will take over Camden City Arena the last Saturday of September, and this year, a very special exhibit will be open to the public along with all of the usual Fire Fest activities.
Each year, Fire Fest serves as the kick off to national Fire Prevention Week TM (FPW). This year, the campaign message “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire preventionTM” works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take when cooking to keep themselves and those around them safe.
“We encourage all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, ‘Cooking safety starts with YOU,’ said Interim Fire Chief Eddie Gardner. “A cooking fire can grow quickly and we have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”
As in years past, Fire Fest will include a live “side by side” burn demonstration, involving two constructed rooms – one with sprinklers and one without – to demonstrate how quickly fire can spread and the effects of sprinkler systems in the home. And returning after many years absent, the fire safety house will be on site.
Other activities at Fire Fest will include live Junior Explorer competitions and firefighting demonstrations, a hot rod and classic car cruise-in, performances from local dance teams, a Kids Zone, vendors and food trucks through 1 pm.
Fire Fest begins at 9 am Saturday, September 30, 2023 with a parade of new and antique fire trucks, along with other emergency vehicles from Camden City Hall, down Rutledge and Broad Streets, and ending at the City Arena for opening ceremonies at 9:30 am.
“We appreciate the continued support of our vendors and entertainment partners,” said Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Fest Committee Chair Chris Tidwell. “But we really value this opportunity to connect directly with the community and teach the importance of fire prevention and safety.”
The Camden Fire Department would like to thank all event sponsors, particularly Chief Sponsors: the City of Camden, Canfor Southern Pine, Community Broadcasters, Furniture Services Inc., Lugoff Automotive Group, Ole Timey Meats, and the South Carolina State Firefighters Association. It is through the support of community sponsors that allows Fire Fest to remain a free event.
Fire Fest is always held the last Saturday of September to kick off National Fire Safety Month in October and National Fire Prevention Week, which begins Sunday, October 8th this year.
Due to updated legislation, the City of Camden is responsible for identifying the service line going to each water meter and from the water meter to each house. This will be achieved by excavating a small area on both the road side and house side of the meter box. If you already know what type of service line is supplying your residence, we ask that you please share that information with us through the Connect Camden SC app, or by calling the Water Plant at 803-432-0009. This will reduce the amount of excavation required to comply with this legislation.
Under current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, all water community water systems (CWSs), regardless of size, must develop and maintain an inventory of service lines that the public can access (40 CFR 141.84(a)). The inventory must describe both water system-owned and customer-owned segments of the service line. A utility must submit the initial inventory to its primacy agency by Oct. 16, 2024.
Blanket & Bands Fall Concert Schedule Rusty Davis & Friends – Thursday, 9/14 CANCELED – The FMS – Thursday, 9/28 The Dubber & Tetrahedron – Thursday, 10/5 The Tony Torre Orchestra – Thursday, 10/12 Bout Tyme – Thursday, 10/26
Free concerts return to Town Green this fall, with a variety of music on certain Thursday evenings in September and October. Get your blanket or lawn chair, family and friends, to enjoy live music outdoors. Bring a picnic dinner, grab some takeout from your favorite local restaurant or enjoy food and beverages available for purchase on site.
Kicking off the concert series on Thursday, September 14th is Camden’s own Rusty Davis & Friends, playing classic rock and timeless tunes that will have you singing along. Music begins at 6:00 pm with one of Rusty’s student musicians as the opening act. Rusty Davis & Friends will play from 6:30 – 8:30 pm.
All concerts will be held on Thursdays, from 6:00 to 8:30 pm, weather permitting. Beer and wine are permitted on Town Green during the hours of the concerts. No glass containers are allowed on Town Green. In the event of cancelation due to weather, notifications will be placed here on the City’s website and Downtown Camden Cultural District social media channels.
Unfortunately, the concert scheduled for September 28th will have to be rescheduled.
On Thursday, October 5th, the free Blankets & Bands concert on Town Green will feature Columbia-based The Dubber & Tetrahedron, as part of the Arts Center of Kershaw County’s MAD Festival. Enjoy an evening of rock, jazz and funk, flavored by the international sounds of reggae, Armenian music, and Afro beat.
On Thursday, October 12th, you can swing the night away with The Tony Torre Orchestra. Led by Tony Torre, the band is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. This 15 piece Big Band based out of Myrtle Beach will be playing an evening of swing hits with an occasional turn to blues, beach music and pop favorites.
Closing out the fall Blankets & Bands concert series on Thursday, October 26th is the Bout Tyme Band, an ensemble of talented musicians playing jazz standards, danceable pop songs, and everything in between.
The Blankets & Bands concert series is a partnership between the Downtown Camden Cultural District and the Arts Center of Kershaw County, bringing free, live music to the community during the spring and fall months.
