GOOD NEWS: First of new libraries to open June 10 in Mount Pleasant

Staff reports  |  The first new library of five being built through a $108.5 million county bond referendum will open 10 a.m. June 10 following a 9 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony. The new 40,000-square-foot Wando Mount Pleasant Library is located at 1400 Carolina Park Boulevard in northern Mount Pleasant.

“We are thrilled with this example of library innovation and accessibility for all of Charleston County’s residents,” said Charleston County Public Library Executive Director Angela Craig. “This is one of many new facilities launching system-wide that will provide exceptional library service, as well as access to emerging technologies and resources that the public can embrace as their own.”

The new branch was designed by architecture firm LS3P and built by MB Kahn. Carolina Park Development donated the land for the facility, along with $1.2 million toward its construction, which began in December 2017.

The new library features a 250-seat auditorium, study rooms, self-check kiosks, a digital media recording studio plus two editing labs, maker spaces, a storytime room, a teen lounge and a computer lab.

Patrons will have the opportunity to attend several opening day programs including a special storytime featuring library mascot, Owlbert, receive free Owlbert books, learn about the areas rich sweetgrass basket history, attend author talks and hear a historical account of the 10 Mile of Mount Pleasant area by library  historian Dr. Nic Butler.

In the months ahead, newly-built libraries are slated to open in James Island, Hollywood, West Ashley and North Charleston.

In recent Good News:

Beachwalker Park open. Kiawah Beachwalker Park is again open despite some renovations to improve facilities and parking that are continuing.  Showers and changing rooms are still under construction and will not be available. But the park will be providing freshwater hoses that patrons may use to rinse their feet and beach items. Lifeguards are on duty.  Beach chair/umbrella rentals and the snack bar also is open. In the days ahead during final construction, the park may have to be closed for a limited time, which should encourage park-goers to sign up for the park’s Notify Me alert system to learn of any additional closures. Go to CharlestonCountyParks.com/Notifyme to register for the alert.

Your essential mission.  Best-selling author Greg McKeown, who was 2019 headlining speaker at Charleston’s DigSouth 2019, joins SouthPod host Jon Yarian to explain the steps to reaching essentialism and why even technology entrepreneurs and business leaders need to perfect this practice. “This is the work of life: Figure out your essential mission and live it,” says McKeown, author of Essentialism The Disciplined Pursuit of Less.  Listen to the podcast.

Hurricane season begins June 1. Sunday begins S.C. Hurricane Preparedness Week leading up to June 1, the official date of hurricane season. This week, the  S.C. Emergency Management Division and local emergency managers will be highlighting ways daily that residents can prepare for the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season. State officials are urging residents to download the South Carolina Emergency Manager mobile app as your official tool for emergency planning and follow the official @SCEMD accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay connected.  Download the guide here.

Tomlin to chair state workforce development board. Gov. Henry McMaster has appointed Donald R. Tomlin, Jr. to serve as chairman of the S.C. State Workforce Development Board. Tomlin is a longtime South Carolina-based investor and entrepreneur, and most recently served as the chairman of the board of the South Carolina State Housing, Finance and Development Authority.

GOP women.  Statehouse Report correspondent Lindsay Street has noticed that GOP women in the S.C. House and Senate provide a lot more leadership than they’re given credit for: “Navigating tricky political terrain is just another day at the Statehouse for a distinct minority in elected office: Republican women. In red South Carolina, there are two Republican women in the S.C. Senate (4 percent of the chamber) and 11 Republican women in the S.C. House (about 9 percent of the chamber).  Republican men account for 54 percent of the Senate (25 of 46 members), and 56 percent of the House (69 of 124 members).”  Read more.