Scientists recently discovered that because the Charleston area lies on a major earthquake fault line, all land within a 50-mile radius of its epicenter is ripe for volcanoes, which could crop up at any time and with little warning. Is your house prepared to withstand thousands of cubic feet of molten lava flowing through it like a blazing river of fire? If volcano insurance … [Read more...]
Water Under the Bridge: Making Shem Creek Great Again
“Water, water, everywhere, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.” – Samuel Taylor Coleridge, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” Students of late 18th century English literature will recognize this quote from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” though if Samuel Taylor Coleridge were alive today, he might be saying the same thing about … [Read more...]
Seacoast Church: A Big Reach and a Big Heart
As the story goes, when the seeds to start Seacoast Church were first planted nearly 30 years ago, church founders consulted the book – the phone book, that is. They called every name listed in Mount Pleasant – about 17,000 – and asked people who didn’t already have a place of worship why they didn’t go to church. According to Lead Pastor Josh Surratt, the answers had … [Read more...]
Wake Up Carolina Brings Attention to the Opioid Crisis
On the surface, losing a child to a drug overdose is no different than losing a child to a sudden accident or sickness. A parent’s grief is undoubtedly just as deep and devastating. But beneath the surface, loss from addiction unfortunately comes with a horrible stigma. It often becomes a family secret that no one talks about and is quietly swept under the rug. One Mount … [Read more...]
How the Race Was Won: The Mount Pleasant Campaign Experience
“There are only two ways to run for office: unopposed or scared.” -Senator Ernest F. “Fritz” Hollings I ran scared. Adhering to the wisdom of my fellow Citadel graduate who was one of South Carolina’s most successful politicians, it was the only way to run. I was a sitting Mount Pleasant town councilman and decided to challenge the incumbent mayor, so running unopposed … [Read more...]
8 Fun Resolutions for 2018. Treat Yourself, Don’t Browbeat Yourself!
The minute the confetti hits the floor on New Year’s Eve, folks start clamoring about what goals they want to crush and usually what pounds they want to shed. More often than not, those gym memberships dwindle after a couple of months, and that NutriBullet doesn’t blend up nearly as much green juice as it used to. Before ordering FitTea or dropping cash on airfare for a lavish … [Read more...]
Kick-Start Your 2018: Try a New Workout
The dawn of the New Year is the time for celebrations of the past and expectations for the future. Of all the lofty goals you might set for yourself, three generally rise above the rest: quitting poor lifestyle habits, continuing the perpetual quest for unadulterated happiness, and, of course, getting in shape. Of the three, I’m not quite ready to kick my cheese or coffee … [Read more...]
Bringing Cheer to Those Who Need It: Without Walls Ministry
As the holiday season approaches, people are once again preparing for the traditions and festivities that abound at breakneck speed this time of year. There’s always so much to look forward to – visiting family and friends, trimming the tree, traditional holiday feasts and, of course, a hopeful visit from the jolly man himself, Santa Claus. It’s a special time of year for most … [Read more...]
Doing Good Things All Year – My Sister’s House
My Sister’s House has been serving as a haven for abused women and their children for nearly four decades. In addition to providing a safe place to live for a few days or even a few months, the organization, launched in 1980, offers a wide range of services that make it possible for women to escape abusive relationships, remove their kids from dangerous situations and steer … [Read more...]
Little Hearts with Big Ideas: Kids Giving Back
With the upcoming winter holidays, it isn’t uncommon for children to present their parents with a list of gifts they absolutely must have. When the garland and lights come out of storage, most kids are preoccupied with what festively wrapped boxes will bear their names come Christmas morning or the first night of Hanukkah. But not in the case of sisters Anna and Tracy … [Read more...]