Your high school football team is behind by a touchdown at the 10-yard line with a second left on the clock. What are they trying to decide in that huddle? To run? A pass? … To get together after the game and study for that AP Calculus exam? At Mount Pleasant’s outstanding secondary schools, the answer could be all three. That’s because the tradition of the … [Read more...]
Back-to-School Routines: Schedule, Optimize, Thrive
Back-to-school schedules come with so many choices for after-school activities that it can be overwhelming for the entire family. Here are some tips on best practices at different grade levels from those who know our children well. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BALANCED “Establish a homework routine that works for you and your child.” That’s the first piece of advice Kristin Haile, … [Read more...]
Charleston County Schools Nourish a Greener Future
“Going green.” It’s a phrase everyone is familiar with these days. But what does it mean to put the phrase into action, to create the habits of a healthy lifestyle and to ultimately better where you live and develop a greener earth for the next generation? The answer lies in sustainability and creating ways to reduce everyday wastes. Luckily for us, the Charleston County … [Read more...]
Our Teens Are Vaping: What You Might Want to Know
“Everyone vapes in school.” If your teenager has ever said this to you, it’s not an exaggeration. Vaping is a serious problem among our youth. According to the Office of the U.S. General Surgeon, e-cigarette use is higher among high school students than adults. The solution: education and parental involvement. “Students and adults see the colorful packages and candy-like … [Read more...]
A ‘Pleasant’ Place for Gators: Adapting to Our Neighbors
The beauty and charm of the Lowcountry draws visitors from near and far. Many residents take respite from the stifling heat and humidity to cooler vacation getaways, always returning home to the sound of the ocean and smell of the salt marsh. Oftentimes, visitors have made the transition to full-time residents with the added allure of the steady, consistent economic and … [Read more...]
Our Community, Our Children: It Can Happen Anywhere
Human trafficking; sexual abuse of children; substance abuse; teen suicide. These all are issues that affect kids who live in high-crime, high-poverty areas. Nothing like this could ever happen in Mount Pleasant, where the most pressing problems are exasperating traffic jams and overdevelopment, mostly because of the vast number of people who want to take advantage of the … [Read more...]
77 Missed Calls: The Plague of Illegal Telemarketers
It’s happened roughly ten times today already: My phone rings, and I innately know not to pick up. If I don’t know the number or am not expecting the call, I let it go to voicemail. Well, I have 77 unchecked voicemails taunting me, all from telemarketers. There are missed calls from Zapata, Texas, Chicago, Illinois, Columbus, Mississippi, Los Angeles, California, cities all … [Read more...]
Keeping Promises: Growth Management Is Mayor’s Top Issue
Since taking over as mayor of Mount Pleasant, Will Haynie has dealt with issues ranging from school safety to traffic congestion, drainage, short-term rentals and protecting the environment. The most important subject in his ever-expanding in-basket, however, is growth management, the issue that has helped remake the composition of the Town Council during the past two election … [Read more...]
Pollution Solutions: Mount Pleasant Is Saying Goodbye to Plastics
Mount Pleasant is a community where waterways – filled with marine life – glisten, palms grow tall and sea oats sway in the balmy breeze. It’s also a place where plastic straws, lids and cutlery are the most common items recovered during beach-side cleanups. Come April, those trash culprits will hopefully not appear as often as they do, scattered upon the coasts and roadsides. … [Read more...]
Finding Your Best Ride to Work: Mount Pleasant Conducts First-Ever Transit Plan
Nearly 75 percent of workers in Mount Pleasant don’t live here. Let that sink in for a minute. Every day, tens of thousands of vehicles stream into town, while a similarly large number head the other way to jobs elsewhere in the region. And most of those commuters – 9 out of 10, according to one recent regional study – are traveling alone. “The reality is, we’re going … [Read more...]