Smith was elected to his first term in office – taking his initial dip into the political pool – in 2013, and has been hard at work ever since. “I average 20 to 25 hours a week between Council and the water commission,” said Smith. He explained that one of the first things he learned on the job is that there is a lot of work involved for what’s technically a part-time … [Read more...]
Mayor, May I? Ask the Council
Mount Pleasant’s elections are just around the corner, so we thought now would be a perfect time for a refresher course on how the town government operates and how important the four seats that are up for election in November are (spoiler alert: they’re very important). If you’ve been paying attention, then you know that the town elected Mayor Linda Page two years ago, and, … [Read more...]
Creating a Buzz: Honey Bee Advocacy in East Cooper
Think about the last meal you prepared and how tasty it was. Thanks to the “locavore” movement sweeping the nation, you might feel gratitude to local farmers for such a spread – but what about the humble honey bee? Despite their misunderstood reputation, honey bees are a critical part of the food cycle, and they're not going to sting you out of pure malice, either. In fact, … [Read more...]
A Local Journalist Reflects on Earning the Pulitzer
Editor’s note: The Post and Courier, the Charleston area’s daily newspaper, won its first Pulitzer Prize since 1925 this year. East Cooper residents Natalie Caula Hauff and Jennifer Berry Hawes were among the four reporters who contributed to the series that earned the coveted award for the newspaper. Hauff describes what it was like. We were all still in awe as we stood … [Read more...]
Who Rescued Who? Tails of Triumph
Who Rescued Who? Tails of Triumph from Pets and Owners Editor's Note: For our pet issue, we asked Mount Pleasant Magazine readers to share stories about their beloved rescued pets. Below are the sweet “tails” we received from the owners about their four-legged family members. And if your own household has room for more love, consider adopting an animal this summer – these … [Read more...]
What’s Up Dock? : Shem Creek Gets More Public Access
For several years, folks have been able to enjoy access to great vistas, fishing and strolling at Shem Creek Park. Now things are about to get even more interesting. The town has plans for increasing public access to the dock space behind Vickery’s Restaurant, Shem Creek Inn, the Dive Shop and Mt. Pleasant Seafood. Currently, use of the creek-side docks is mostly limited to … [Read more...]
Our Lowcountry Skyline, Ten Years Later: The Ravenel Bridge
Pictured: The Ravenel Bridge, along with the Grace Memorial and Silas N. Pearman before their destruction. Photo by Vince Streano. When the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge opened to traffic on July 16, 2005, it followed a weeklong celebration that rivaled the three days of festivities when the first Cooper River Bridge opened in 1929. Pedestrians were permitted to walk the bridge … [Read more...]
The Dog Days of Summer: How Caitlyn Stole Mount Pleasant’s (and the World’s) Heart
Snoopy. Odie. Scoobie. Marmaduke. Benji. Lassie. And now Caitlyn. What do these pooches have in common? They're household names for various reasons. Just weeks ago, Caitlyn was another dog in an abusive situation after her owner at the time wound electrical tape tightly around her muzzle, cutting off the flow of blood to her tongue and making eating and drinking impossible. … [Read more...]
My Friend Jim Edwards: A Special Tribute
By Thomas F. Hartnett • Former U. S. Congressman The day after Christmas last year, the country lost a great patriot, the state lost a former governor and I lost a dear friend. I visited Jim Edwards one afternoon about two weeks before he passed away. I had spent a wonderful couple of hours with he and his wife, Ann, reminiscing about our years of “fighting the good … [Read more...]
Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church: Hope House and the I-Beam Program
This is part of a series on East Cooper churches providing mission and charity work throughout the world. Read the introduction article here. The sanctuary at Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church was built in 1854, and, since then, the church has served the community in various ways. It was a Confederate hospital during the Civil War and a school for the children of former … [Read more...]