Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy in Mount Pleasant, SC

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCIV) — SC Senate bill 425 would allow retailers to sell alcohol curbside or through delivery, including beer and wine.

ABC News 4 asked a local liquor store owner what he thought about the bill.

POLL: Should alcohol be available through curbside pickup and delivery in SC?

Bill Colven has owned O'Neill spirits in Mount Pleasant for seven years.

"There is lots of tourism in the area. We bring in out-of-towners who shop in-store. It's a great environment. People come in friendly, happy come into a liquor store," said Bill Colven, Owner of O'Neill spirits Mount Pleasant

Lowcountry Senator Sandy Senn is one of the bill's sponsors. She said it ties back to the early days of the pandemic.

SC bill proposes to allow retailers to sell alcohol curbside or delivery. (WCIV)

"During COVID, many people were uncomfortable getting out and going to grocery stores and liquor stores. They preferred curbside service a lot, and that went on during COVID. People decided they would like to see it continue," said Senator Senn.

Colven said he is 50/50 on the Senate Bill.

The curbside part said he supports it because they would serve customers curbside during the pandemic.

"We would get calls ahead of time to ask if we would be able to do that. We were able to process credit cards over the phone. Of course, when they show up, (we would) check the ID and make sure it's legal," said Colven.

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For the delivery option, he wants to know a bit more.

Culven said third parties have proven to work in other states through apps like Drizly.

But, when it comes to if his store would do delivery...

"Delivery is kind of a slippery slope for me. There are a lot of challenges that could bring businesses; we are a small family-run business. I want to see how my numbers would look and if it makes sense economically," he said.

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Senator Senn said if the bill passes, retailers would have a separate license. And it would be an option, not a requirement.

"There’s a separate provision for ABC/SLED to come up with a license. They could get in order to something need risk/loss if they (retailers) do something improper. Also, they would have to carry a 1 million dollars worth of liability insurance," said Senator Senn.

The most important thing to Senator Senn and Colven: is that the current rules on alcohol sales remain intact.

"The license has to be checked. Obviously, a retailer could lose their license in a heartbeat (if they don't follow the laws)," said Senator Senn.

The bill now goes to the full Senate; if it passes there, it will head to the house.

Push and pull. Ebb and flow. These are the cadences of the ocean — and the rhythms that have governed Brian Henry’s life. The boy who grew up in southern Louisiana’s Cajun country before relocating to bustling Atlanta, now lives in the heart of the “Hammock Coast” that his efforts helped nickname so appropriately.

What started as a call from a tiny rustic inn on the ocean, luring in a couple looking for something more and less at once, has now become a lifelong legacy in the making for Brian Henry and his bride, Sassy. A leap of faith has led to thriving businesses, a mayoral seat and advocacy for an unspoiled oasis along a pristine coastline.

When people meet the Henry’s now, they see success. They see a power couple with political clout, they see one of the most famous pimento cheese companies in the U.S. (Palmetto Cheese) and they see owners of a thriving beachside bed and breakfast. What they don’t see, however, is the journey past and the future ahead.

The story starts for the Henry’s when each were born with a little something extra that made the go-getters want to better the world around them. That sauce is more secret and steeped in mystery than whatever makes that famous cheese sing so well (my mouth waters thinking about it).

The story that affects us, the fellow coastal South Carolina residents, begins at the Seaview Inn some 20 years ago when the Henry’s decided to leave the corporate cityscape to nurture a charming inn with no air conditioning, no television and perfect ambiance.

“We took over the Seaview Inn, and it was all slamming screen doors, rocking chairs and good Southern food,” Brian Henry reminisced. “That’s where the pimento cheese started. It was served as an app there.”

What he didn’t say yet was that everything actually began at that little inn. However, as the delightful recalling of his path to becoming mayor of Pawleys Island progressed, he realized just that.

After the Seaview was sailing smooth seas and their two small children were attending school, the Henry’s found themselves looking for their next opportunity to grow. That’s when Brian Henry asked Sassy, “What are you passionate about?”

“I’m passionate about my cheese,” she answered.

Sassy Henry, who revolutionized the Southern classic pimento cheese with flavors of cayenne pepper, draws from a traditional Georgian holiday cheese and whole shreds of textured cheddar. She teamed up with her husband to market the Pawleys Island vacationer’s favorite, which now rests on shelves in 9,500 stores in 40 states.

About a decade after the commercial birth of the South’s favorite cheese, Brian Henry felt what he calls “a pull, not a push” to become mayor. A respected town business owner and family man who was known to care about the future of the island, he decided to run for the seat at the urging of other townspeople who hoped to keep Pawleys Island the wonderful hideaway it is. He won.

“I was never interested in politics,” he remembered, “I’ve just always been involved. If you care about something being better, you can’t just sit on the sidelines and watch. You have to get in there.”

So, he got in there. He now speaks with pride about the amazing Fourth of July celebration that is “true Americans,” and about the founding of organizations that can keep big box stores and over-development out of Pawleys Island.

“The goal for the island is to maintain,” Henry offered. “Like the bumper sticker on my truck says, ‘love it and leave it alone.”’

Though sameness is the path to success for the island itself, the Henry’s still strive for more growth on the business front. The two are in the process of expanding their small Pawleys Island business Get Carried Away Southern Market into Mount Pleasant, where they hope to establish a flagship store for a future franchise. The business currently focuses on scrumptious Southern catering and take-out made easy. The Henry’s aren’t sure what the future holds for this venture, but once again, they are doing it together under a sky, not a ceiling.

Reflecting on all the accomplishments, Brian Henry recounted with a nostalgic tone, “Seaview was the genesis. This all happened because we bought that inn 20 years ago.”

Perhaps the inn is the energy source, embodying the soul of Pawleys Island itself. That is a soul of humility, simplicity and staying power. Just never forget, it is a soul powered by the force of all the Atlantic, which comes in and fades back every single day.

By Lorna Hollifield

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The Social Emotional Learning Alliance for South Carolina (SEL4SC) is honored to announce that Dr. Michale J. (Mickey) Barber pledged $50,000 to help the organization promote and advance crucial life skills instruction in all schools, families, organizations and communities in South Carolina.

Formerly a board-certified anesthesiologist, Barber graduated from the College of Charleston, completed medical school at the Medical University of South Carolina, did her residency at Tulane University and finished her fellowship at Harvard. She also served as an assistant professor at Tulane University. During her training and career in academic medicine, she received several awards for her clinical performance and teaching skills.

In her mid-40s, Barber began feeling ill. After months of suffering, she was eventually diagnosed with a neuropathy that was negatively affecting all of her systems. This event spurred Barber to leave her career in the operating room and shift toward a private practice focused on helping people live healthy, vigorous lives at any age. She would eventually receive physician training and certification in age management medicine from the Cenegenics Education and Research Foundation (CERF) and the Foundation for Care Management (FCM), and would be certified in peptide therapy by the Clinical Peptide Society.

She launched the Cenegenics Carolinas LLC practice in downtown Charleston, and would later open Better Life Carolinas in Mount Pleasant.

SEL4SC is dedicated to promoting life skills that can help children and adults properly recognize and process their emotions, which can help them lead healthy, successful lives. That mission overlaps with the care Barber strives to provide for her patients.

“The mind has many, many different chemicals that affect everything from your heart to your gut and even to your muscles and how they work or don’t work,” she said. “Emotions, stress, anger and resentment can affect those chemicals in the brain. That connection is very big, and if you just treat from the neck down, you’re missing a lot. We have to give people the tools they need to deal with the anxieties and emotions they’re having.”

Barber’s partnership with SEL4SC was inspired by the emotional struggles of some of her family members, as well as her friendship with one of her longtime patients, SEL4SC founder Al Estee.

“Al is one of the few men from his generation that has really jumped in with both feet from a personal level with social and emotional learning, and then has found a way to bring it to young people and teachers — everyone, really, across the board,” said Barber. “Al and I have always talked about the emotional component of health, and how to get better at managing that for ourselves and for patients, and so when the opportunity came along to be involved, that seemed like a good thing. We’re very fortunate to have Al out there pounding the pavement and speaking the word.”

Barber’s contribution to SEL4SC will help the organization further its initiatives, which include helping schools effectively teach life skills in the classroom and creating life skills programming and curriculum for parents.

“We are very thankful for Dr. Barber’s commitment to SEL4SC,” said Estee. “Not only has she made a tremendous impact in the lives of her patients, but her contribution will go a long way toward helping us fulfill our mission of impacting countless lives across the state.”

When you ask Charleston residents about their favorite places to eat, Page’s Okra Grill comes up often. Although technically in the nearby suburb of Mount Pleasant, Page’s has cemented itself as a standout restaurant in a city full of destination-worthy dining. Once you visit, it’s easy to see why. The restaurant combines down-home charm with an irresistible menu of elevated but familiar Southern staples.

Many of the dishes were created by co-owner and chef Ashleigh Sbrochi, who dreamed up the menu with the help of her father, Tony Page. She also consulted the hundreds of cookbooks she has read over the years, including her copy of Charleston Receipts, before opening her spot in 2006.

Almost immediately, locals began buzzing about the food. “We’ve been super lucky to have this community,” says Chase Page, part of Page’s founding family. “We have people still eating with us today who were here when we started over 15 years ago.”

When the weather is balmy, Page’s expansive covered patio is the hottest spot in town. If you’re just visiting and have time for only one meal, weekend brunch is the way to go. It typically includes live music, so you’ll have something to tap your toes to. We suggest starting with Page’s Sampler Platter (fried spring rolls filled with barbecue and pimiento cheese, fried green tomatoes with roasted red pepper-and-peach jam, and a shrimp bacon-chipotle cheese dip). Follow that with Page’s Famous Chicken & Waffle (loaded with Cheddar cheese, sage sausage, roasted corn, and jalapeños) or Ashleigh’s Shrimp & Grits (the grits take shape as fried Cheddar cheese cakes and come topped in a smoked andouille sausage cream sauce).

As Page’s Okra Grill expands its fan base, the restaurant is finding even more opportunities to feed the community. After a two-year stint with a food truck in Summerville, they plan to open a brick-and-mortar location there this year. And if their Mount Pleasant outpost is any indication, there will be a whole new batch of regulars to keep the business thriving for many years to come.

pagesokragrill.com, 843-881-3333, 302 Coleman Blvd., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

A three-day festival experience for all things Charlie Chaplin is coming to town. Chaplin, famously known for his mustached, bowler hat-wearing character “the Little Tramp,” was one of the most influential filmmakers of the silent movie era.

His use of slapstick comedy and pantomime in his movies, or dramatic, exaggerated movements in place of words, launched him to international stardom.

On March 23 to 25 at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, a selection of Chaplin’s films will be played on the big screen, and festivalgoers can learn more about the man behind the icon.

The festival will feature a keynote from University of Pennsylvania professor Dr. Toni Bowers, who teaches an advanced cinema studies course on Chaplin’s silent films. Bowers plans to speak about who Chaplin was beyond the Tramp character, and the lasting impacts his films have had on the film industry.

“We’ll explore the almost uncanny appeal of the Tramp figure on a global stage. I also want to go further than that and think about Chaplin himself, the man behind the Tramp who was definitely not the Tramp in any way. I also want to think about Chaplin’s artistic processes,” Bowers said.

Festival organizer Linda Dennis hopes the event will expose the Mount Pleasant community to Chaplin’s work and educate attendees on the role the filmmaker had in motion-picture history.

“Had Charlie not come out with some of his silent films following the close of World War I, the world would have been a sadder place. He was known for bringing love and laughter to populations who had just gotten over war, so he’s had a huge impact on our culture,” Dennis said.

Events lined up for the festival include a Tramp look-a-like contest, a filmmaking demonstration, and of course, screenings of Chaplin’s films at Regal Palmetto Grande. Festivalgoers can view The Kid (1921), The Circus (1928), Modern Times (1936) and City Lights (1931), which is said to be Chaplin’s personal favorite of his films.

The Mount Pleasant SC Film Festival – Charlie Chaplin Silent Films will be held at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre on March 23-25, with a half-day showing at Barnes and Noble for seniors on Friday and Family Day set for Saturday. Sponsors for the festival include Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, Barnes & Noble, Sweet Julep’s, Filmdomfete and Jon Smith Subs. For a full schedule of events and to purchase tickets, visit mountpleasantscfilmfestival.com.

“It’s not just a film festival. It’s an experience,” Dennis said. “We hope people come and enjoy it and come inside and watch some of the films.”