This picture says a million things

A picture is worth … a million dollars.

Above is a photo of officials from MWV Specialty Chemicals & Community Development and Land Management presenting a check for more than $1 million to the Trident United Way. MWV is the first company in Lowcountry history to raise at least a million dollars for the charity.

Pictured (l-r): Becky Vaughan, MWV Specialty Chemicals; Joseph Johnston, MWV Community Development and Land Management; Steven Hill, MWV Specialty Chemicals; Eric Walmet, MWV Specialty Chemicals; Caroline Byrd, Trident United Way; Dan Gallagher, MWV Specialty Chemicals; Ken Seeger, MWV Community Development and Land Management; Christopher Kerrigan, Trident United Way; Ed Rose, MWV Specialty Chemicals; David Northrup, MWV Specialty Chemicals; Alaina Siefring, MWV Specialty Chemicals. Photo provided.

More good news:

Into the S.C. Academy of Authors Hall of Fame. The South Carolina Academy of Authors will honor writers Dorothea Benton Frank of Sullivan’s Island, former College of Charleston professor Bret Lott and Mount Pleasant poet Marjory Heath Wentworth on April 11 at 6 p.m. at The Citadel’s Riverview Room in Charleston. More.

New park. The former Baker Hospital on the banks of the Ashley River will become a new peninsular park thanks to a donation of the 57-acre property facilitated by local and Atlanta-based real estate teams and local funding from two local families. “This new park is being made possible due to the generosity of the [Michael and Jenny] Messners and [Paul and Betsy] Shivericks and their partners.  We also credit Magnolia/ARC Lender’s commitment to listening and responding to the greater community’s needs,” said Tom O’Rourke, executive director of the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission. More.

Chef wins. Hats off to Chef Vinson Petrillo of Charleston’s Zero George Street Hotel. He has been selected to represent the U.S. at Expo Milano 2015 in June, competing against 19 young chefs from across the globe for the title of S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2015. Not only did he become a father on Friday, but last week at Astor Center in New York City, he presented a winning dish of pressurized octopus, wagyu cheek agnilotti, “parsley”, chorizo, octopus ink emulsion to a panel of esteemed judges. More.

Center recognized. Summerville Medical Center and the Coastal Carolina Bariatric Center have earned national distinction as a comprehensive Bariatric Center of Excellence by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). A bariatric surgical center achieves accreditation following a rigorous review process during which it proves it can maintain certain physical and human resources and the highest standards of practice. “Not only have we been distinguished for our quality, but for the three years we have been in practice at Summerville Medical Center, our team has been recognized because of the experience patients have in our office and our hospital, as the best in patient satisfaction every year,” said Dr. Neil McDevitt, director of the Coastal Carolina Bariatric Services and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.