Long before Lowcountry artist John Chitwood finished high school and enrolled in the art program at the University of Georgia, he'd been honing his skills with pencil and paper. And though drawing and illustration came easily during his childhood years, he was not prepared for the “artistic lifestyle” that was pushed on him in college. And he didn't quite like it. “I really … [Read more...]
Designing a User-Friendly Building: A Town-Wide Effort
Mount Pleasant had almost everything: wonderful schools, great shopping, fantastic restaurants. But the town had been lacking in one area – a multifunctional, state-ofthe- art Town Hall. The buildings that comprised Mount Pleasant’s Town Hall for the past few decades have been adequate, but, as the sleepy little village grew and expanded into the town it is today, the need … [Read more...]
Executive Programs Manager Lauren Sims: A Lasting Legacy in Her Hometown
Playing an important role in a major construction project would certainly engender a significant sense of accomplishment and undoubtedly serve as an impressive resume builder for just about anyone who earns a living in the world of government service. But for Lauren Sims, her contribution to the completion of Mount Pleasant’s new Town Hall meant much more than just a job … [Read more...]
A Great Team: Joe Riley and Mount Pleasant’s Mayors
Joseph Patrick Riley Jr., lifelong Dodger fan, longtime mayor of Charleston and unabashed ambassador for the resplendent stretch of Coastal Carolina he has always called home, held up his hand, the space between his thumb and forefinger barely visible, to describe the size of the phone book that once listed every resident and business in Mount Pleasant, Sullivan’s … [Read more...]
The New Town Hall is Eco-Friendly: Saving Energy and the Environment
As more people embrace energy efficient technology, “going green” is no longer considered just being hip or part of a niche market. It’s a green revolution gaining momentum as the benefits begin to outweigh the upfront costs. And it’s not just consumers who want to be good stewards of the environment – it’s businesses and municipalities as well. The town of Mount Pleasant is no … [Read more...]
Pruning Wando’s Garden of Ideas – The 2017 Issue of “The Outlet”
The 2016-17 staff of “The Outlet,” Wando High School's annual literary journal, just collectively learned an important truth: not every great work of art is the result of solitude. This year's issue, a beautiful, thematic piece filled with passionately-crafted visual and written artwork, could not have happened without the team of dedicated students behind it. Made up of … [Read more...]
Mother Ocean – Local Kids Hear the Call and Hit the Waves
When the sun is shining, the waves are rolling in and the day is begging to be enjoyed, you can bet you’ll find a solid lineup of surfers waiting to catch the perfect set of waves. But it’s not just the adults who are setting their sights on the shoreline. Instead, kids of all ages are paddling past the break and right into the action as they help usher in the surf culture for … [Read more...]
Bringing Art to All: Perspective Gallery in Mount Pleasant
There’s a duality in the world’s view of art. On one hand, it is seen as a mere luxury afforded to those with financial means, while there are those who believe that to express oneself is a necessity and that enjoying the beauty and emotion captured in a painting or in print is an essential part of life. Under this premise, art is and should be accessible to everyone. The … [Read more...]
General Contractor McKnight Construction Company: All in the Family
With the world about to sink into the economic doldrums of The Great Depression, Mason McKnight Sr. chose a positive perspective, making a living by building homes in and around Augusta, Georgia, and Aiken, South Carolina. Buoyed by the vision and enthusiasm of three more generations of McKnights, the company he started in 1929 is still thriving, though long ago it turned its … [Read more...]
Danco Furniture: Rest Easy
Paul Haugaard didn’t plan to stay long when he came to the Lowcountry from Massachusetts in 2009. He wanted to remain long enough to help shut down the business his father started in 1986. Eight year later, he’s still here and Danco Furniture is still thriving. Originally established on East Bay Street in Charleston, Danco Furniture set up shop in Mount Pleasant in 1991. … [Read more...]