Sitting in the late morning light in the Dewberry’s living room, Gretta Kruesi looks nearly editorial wearing a graceful white blouse, patent pumps and chunky, drop earrings in a bold cerulean. But the artist sports a casual pony of straw-blonde hair, her cheeks are covered in freckles from sun, and, when she smiles, she beams. You can tell that this woman lives by and for the … [Read more...]
Archives for 2018
Not Trump Enough: Sanford’s Strength Was Also His Weakness
Marshall Clement Sanford Jr. never lost an election until June 2018, when he was unseated in the 1st District Republican primary by State Rep. Katie Arrington, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump. In his own words, Mark Sanford, as he is known to the people he represented as governor of South Carolina and during two separate stints in the U.S. House, “I wasn’t … [Read more...]
Fulfilling Her Destiny: Lifelong Educator Leads Mount Pleasant Academy
For Mount Pleasant Academy Elementary School Principal Kim Jackson, being an educator is in her DNA. She recalled as a first grader bringing home stacks of worksheets and books from class and “forcing” her friends to play school in her parents’ garage. “So I’ve been a teacher since then,” proclaimed Jackson. “I’ve never thought of being anything else.” After earning … [Read more...]
Not-So-Conflicting Cultures: Local Resident Helps Mold Chinese Leaders
Once a year, 100 or so teenagers from affluent families in China gather on the hallowed grounds of New York Military Academy, located beneath Storm King Mountain in the heart of the Hudson Valley. For three grueling weeks, they live a Spartan existence, learning how to fight, to survive and to lead, and doing it all without the distraction of cellphones, computers or … [Read more...]
Exploring the Mind of Noah Leask
Noah Leask, a student who performed little better than average in high school, excelled as a cyber warrior in the Navy and as a civilian did contract work for the U.S. government at a level so clandestine that he’s not at liberty to discuss the details or anything else about it. He has started one company since his military career ended, and at least two others have benefited … [Read more...]
Life After Cancer: Stories of Survival and Recovery
It’s a diagnosis nobody wants and a journey that many don’t survive: cancer. This September and October – awareness months for prostate and breast cancer, respectively – people across the country will celebrate the survivors and honor those who lost their battles. According to the American Cancer Society, one in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime, … [Read more...]
Cheerleaders: The Ultimate Athletes on the Sidelines
Cheerleader n. 1 a person, typically one of a group, who leads fans in cheering for a team, as by shouting practiced cheers, performing aerobic stunts, etc. 2 a person who enthusiastically promotes or supports a cause (Webster’s New World College Dictionary) ... The cause, most typically? Our beloved pastime of football. Think about your team of choice for a minute: What … [Read more...]
We Are Mount Pleasant
When I was in college, my South Carolina history professor posed a question on our first day of class: “I was not born in South Carolina, but I have lived here for 40 years. Socially, can I call myself a South Carolinian?” The class was divided on the merits of birthplace versus tenure versus style of upbringing versus ancestry lines and every manner of opinion. The question … [Read more...]
They Bend But Never Break: The New Look of the Family Unit
Family. If you look in the dictionary, you’ll find that it reads, “a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children.” But take a closer look, because that’s not all. Just a few lines down, you’ll notice another definition that suggests a family can be made up of any group of adults, be it grandparents, aunts or uncles that care for the children in a home. To us, … [Read more...]
She Tris, She Can and She Will
The first She Tris event came to fruition in 2016. It became the obvious race for the training group to set as a goal. “Not everyone in the race is a part of the Tri it for Life training program,” said Klick. “We accept 80 athletes for Tri if for Life, and there are 65 mentors, some who also complete She Tris with the athletes. But most mentors volunteer on the race course. … [Read more...]