I proposed to my wife, Allison, at the end of a sailboat race on Charleston Harbor. Since I was in my teens, I’d always wanted to propose this way. The biggest obstacle was finding a sail to get the message on; I don’t own a boat. However, I do crew for people, and the owner of “The Level Pelican” happened to have a sail that had been destroyed in a windy race. I asked him … [Read more...]
“Let Me Tell You a Story” – A Conversation With Monsignor James A. Carter
The walls of Monsignor Carter’s office are lined in bookcases stretching from the floor to the ceiling, but they are slowly starting to empty out. It’s easier to see what odds and ends remain on the shelves: a vial of water from Lourdes, France; a few paperback volumes of “the Greatest Catholic Parishes” (containing Christ Our King, naturally); and photographs of various … [Read more...]
Santa the Sandbird: Off Duty in East Cooper
What’s happened in your life over the past five years? Quite a lot, I’d venture. Well, same here. Five years ago, one of the intrepid reporters for this very publication tracked me down at home at the North Pole. Normally, I would have ducked him and directed my PR elf, Manny, to call him back or just issue a press release. I get enough publicity every December when I zip … [Read more...]
Winning Designs: The Art of the Bridge Run
The 2013 cooper River Bridge Run was destined from the beginning to be a success. Every year the event raises tens of thousands of dollars for local and national charities, all the while helping to plant smiles on the faces of participants and supporters alike. Every great event needs a kickoff party: The Bridge Run’s was held recently at historic Alhambra Hall in … [Read more...]
A Lasting Impression: Pat Waters Remembers His Famous Grandfather
In real life, actor George C. Scott looks nothing like the colorful and controversial World War II general he portrayed in “Patton,” the award-winning 1970 movie. One Mount Pleasant resident does exhibit a marked resemblance to the iconic Army officer, however, and for good reason. George Patton “Pat” Waters is the grandson of Gen. George S. Patton Jr. And Waters, though he … [Read more...]
Chance Encounter in the Wilderness
How many times had I been here? How many times had I stared out through the branches under the stars? Sitting in the tree stand, I checked my phone: 9:47. How much longer would I wait for that phantom, that big boar I had hunted for seemingly months on end? Luckily, I stumbled across the landowner while out riding my horse a while back. “You see what those hogs have done … [Read more...]
The Family Feud: Clemson Versus Carolina in Mount Pleasant
Having different opinions, viewpoints and preferences than your significant other can make life interesting. He likes Italian cuisine, you prefer Thai. He wants to see the latest action-packed blockbuster at the Cineplex and you long to see a documentary that took home accolades at Sundance. These are things you can work around. But what happens when you differ about something … [Read more...]
How Does Your Boulevard Grow? Jim Owens Remembers When.
As a boy in the 1960s, first-term Mount Pleasant Town Council member Jim Owens would ride his bike up and down the now-demolished Silas Pearman Bridge – while it was still under construction. It’s not surprising that a person with such hometown bona fides might have a different perspective on Mount Pleasant than someone who has never tried she-crab soup, hasn’t been to Pitt … [Read more...]
You Only Live Once: Angelo Vlcek Takes on The Dakar Rally
Clocking over 5,200 miles on a motorcycle through the red-dirt, uncharted paths of South America may not sound like an ideal vacation. But for Parrot Surf & Skate owner Angelo Vlcek, it’s an opportunity he can’t pass up. Never one to shy away from adventure, he has jumped at the chance to participate in The Dakar Rally 2017 – a 14-day-journey that tests patience, endurance … [Read more...]
Heart and Determination: Mount Pleasant Couples Take TV Challenge
Fighting your way through muddy obstacle courses and repeatedly trying to scale a greased, Marine-style slip wall isn’t exactly an ideal way to spend an afternoon. But for two Mount Pleasant couples, it’s the ultimate cherry on top of their high-protein, low-carb shake. Adam Von Ins, Elea Faucheron, Stephanie Keenan and Stephen Siraco have built careers on pushing their bodies … [Read more...]