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When was the last time you walked into a mechanic's shop and thought to yourself, "Wow, everyone here is so friendly! Their waiting room is nice too. I think I'll stay while they work on my car." The truth is, too many autobody shops in Mount Pleasant are dark, dingy, and dirty. To make matters worse, their staff are aloof and often don't know a thing about customer service.
At A+ Auto, our goal is to change the way people view Automotive Shops. When you visit our shop, we want you to walk in and feel like you are a part of our family. When you become our customer, we will work hard to ensure you never have a reason to look for a different mechanic in Mount Pleasant, SC. We want to restore your trust in the automotive business and make certain you never feel cheated or are unsure about your vehicle's repairs.
As a full-service auto mechanic shop in Mount Pleasant, we do everything from routine maintenance like oil changes to major repairs involving engines and transmissions. We started off in 2004 as a Major Repair Auto Shop and barely made it through the 2008 recession. However, we persevered and came back strong in 2010 by adding more services and becoming a true full-service auto shop. Today, we have been at our location in North Mount Pleasant for more than 16 years, and we have no intention of going anywhere soon.
Unlike some auto repair shops in Mount Pleasant, we pride ourselves on A+ customer satisfaction and outstanding workmanship. We are so confident in our abilities that we back up our work with a four-year, 48K mile warranty - unheard of in our industry. When we say we're a one-stop-shop for ALL of your auto repair needs, we mean it!
Some of the most requested auto repair services we offer include:
- General Maintenance and Repair
- Transmission Repair
- Air Conditioning Repair
- Engine Repair
- Electrical Repair
- Alignment Services
- Diagnostic Services
What we Do
- Your A+ Auto Mechanic in Mount Pleasant, SC
- Why Choose A+ for Auto Repair in Mount Pleasant, SC?
- General Automobile Maintenance and Repair in Mount Pleasant
- Electrical Maintenance and Repair in Mount Pleasant
- Engine Repair in Mount Pleasant
- Transmission Repair in Mount Pleasant
- Air Conditioning Repair in Mount Pleasant
- Tires & Brakes in Mount Pleasant
- Vehicle Wheel Alignment in Mount Pleasant
- Welcome to the A+ Auto Family
SERVICE AREAS
Why Choose A+ for Auto
Repair in Mount Pleasant, SC?
Our loyal customers keep coming back to A+ Auto because we genuinely want to provide them with top-notch auto repairs and the most helpful customer service in the Mount Pleasant mechanic industry.
Why choose us, you ask?
We provide:
The Best Warranty in the Biz
Our warranty covers your first 48 Months or 48,000 Miles
The Best Car Mechanics in Mount Pleasant
Our auto body professionals are ASE certified technicians. In addition, our shop is certified as Nationwide Gold and a NAPA Auto Care Center.
The Best Perks
We're talking FREE shuttle rides, same-day service on most repairs, quality work approved by you, and no surprise charges. Our business model is simple: give our customers the highest quality work with the most helpful customer service. No if's, and's, or but's.
As a family-owned and operated auto mechanic shop in Mount Pleasant, we are proud to serve the Lowcountry. After all, you're our neighbors, and neighbors have to look out for one another. Swing by our shop to see the A+ Auto difference. We think you will like what you see!
General Automobile
Maintenance and Repair
in Mount Pleasant
You have spent thousands of dollars on your vehicle. Doesn't it make sense, then, to take care of your investment? General maintenance and repair services like oil changes and tire rotations are crucial for maintaining the life of your car or truck. Perhaps more importantly, routine service can help ensure your safety systems are fully functional. When your car is up-to-date on maintenance, you have peace of mind knowing your friends and family are safe.
A few reasons you should bring your car or truck in for regular maintenance include:
Extend Your Vehicle's Life
With regular maintenance, you can keep your vehicle in good shape year-round. By keeping a regular maintenance schedule, you can prevent breakdowns and reduce wear and tear that can reduce the life of your vehicle. By giving your car or truck the attention it needs, you can get the most out of your vehicle and keep it in good shape well past the 100k mile mark.
Better Safety
Few situations are as sketchy as your vehicle breaking down on a road or highway, especially at night. Regular maintenance can help reduce the probability of getting stranded. Plus, your car will be in better working condition year-round.
Fewer Repairs Needed
When you have the A+ team perform preventative maintenance on your vehicle, you're staying ahead of the repair game. Wait too long to have your car's oil changed, or its engine checked, and you might need emergency auto repair. These problems often happen at the worst times and cost a lot of money. When you keep your vehicle maintained, you can reduce repairs and their cost.
Common maintenance and repair jobs include:
- Oil Change
- Brakes
- Tune-ups
- Water pumps
- Radiators
- Belts & Hoses
- Fluid Services
- Suspension
- Chassis
All services performed by A+ Auto Service will be backed by our Industry Leading 4 Year/ 48,000 Mile Parts and Labor Warranty.
Electrical Maintenance and
Repair in Mount Pleasant
Every day, we hop in our cars, crank the ignition, and make our way to whatever destination we're headed to. Most vehicle owners do this without a second thought, but have you ever taken a moment to think about your car's electrical components?
Your vehicle's electric system not only starts your car - it makes your radio, dashboard, and headlights functional. Today, most cars have complex electrical components that are responsible for on-road safety systems and all-wheel drive mechanics.
At A+ Auto, we perform a variety of electrical maintenance work in Mount Pleasant, from simple battery replacements to comprehensive re-wiring. Our team of skilled electrical technicians will dial down to the root cause of your issues and provide you with a detailed explanation of what's going on with your car. Once we understand your car's electrical issues, we get to work on solving the problem at a price you can afford.
Some common automobile electrical problems we solve include:
- Dead Batteries
- Bad Alternators
- Bad Battery Cables
- Blown Electrical Fuses
- Bad Starter
Engine Repair in Mount Pleasant
When it comes to your car or truck, maintaining your engine is arguably the most important task you can take. That's because the engine is like the heart of your vehicle. Without a properly functioning engine, you can't drive anywhere. One of the most common signs that your engine needs service is an oil leak. If you notice a leak, we advise you to bring your vehicle to our experienced mechanic in Mount Pleasant, SC, immediately. Driving a vehicle with a leak can cause more damage, which in the end, could cause engine failure and result in very expensive repairs.
Some common engine maintenance services we offer include:
- Air and Fuel Filter Replacement
- Spark Plug Replacement
- Spark Plug Wiring Inspection
- Throttle Body Services
- Much More
At A+ Auto Service, we don't stop with routine engine maintenance. Our highly-skilled engine repair technicians can completely rebuild or replace your faulty engine at a price you can afford. If your "check engine" light comes on, don't ignore it - bring it in to our shop before the problem gets worse.
Transmission Repair
in Mount Pleasant
If your engine is the heart of your car or truck, consider your transmission its circulatory system. Problems with your vehicle's transmission are just as "mission-critical" as those with your engine. Fortunately, with regular maintenance checks and our transmission repair services, your vehicle is in good hands. However, waiting too long to have your transmission serviced can lead to a domino effect of issues. Those problems will be costly and may render your vehicle inoperable.
A few warning signs you may need transmission repair include:
- Slipping Gears
- Burning Smell
- Leaking Fluid
- Humming or Clunking Sounds
- Unresponsive Gear Shifts
From minor maintenance services like transmission fluid changes to full transmission rebuilds, we have the tools and trained technicians to handle the job.
Air Conditioning Repair
in Mount Pleasant
There are some things in the south that you must have. When it comes to your automobile, you can include air conditioning on that list. In Mount Pleasant, the weather doesn't just get hot - it gets really hot, with a lot of humidity. Keeping your A/C maintained helps prevent serious situations where your A/C goes out when you need it the most. Of course, air conditioning isn't just reserved for hot days in the Lowcountry - your car's A/C plays an important role in the winter as well, like defrosting your windows. If you notice strange smells, leaks, or no air conditioning at all, it's time to bring your vehicle to our A/C mechanic in Mount Pleasant, SC.
At A+ Auto, we service a wide variety of A/C issues, including:
- Damaged or Failed Compressor
- A/C System Leaks
- Clutch Issues
- Low Refrigerant Levels
- Filter Problems
- Broken Belts
- Broken Blower Motor
- Cross Contamination
- A/C Control Head Malfunctions
Vehicle Wheel Alignment in
Mount Pleasant
Do you really need to have your wheels aligned when you bring your vehicle in for service? Yes, absolutely. A proper wheel alignment ensures your tires meet the road at the right angle, point straight when they need to, and remain centered in your wheel wells. When your wheels are out of alignment, your gas mileage and ride comfort suffer.
Common signs of misalignment include:
- Car Pulling to Right or Left
- Rapid Tire Wear
- Uneven Tire Wear
- Noisy Steering
- Squealing Tires
Not only can alignment issues cause driving to be uncomfortable, but it can also cause a lot of damage to your vehicle. To avoid uneven tire wear and costly repairs, we suggest getting your vehicle alignment checked, which is FREE at A+ Auto.
Free Estimates
Tires & Brakes in Mount Pleasant
Few situations are scarier than driving when the brakes go out. Your vehicle's brakes are its most vital safety system. They give you the ability to stop or slow down, so you can avoid serious car accidents and pedestrians in the roadway. Having good brakes can mean the difference between life and death, which is why it is so important that you keep them well maintained. If your brakes are getting worse and worse, it might be time to replace them.
The same goes for your tires - another vital part of your vehicle's makeup. When your tires are worn, you're putting yourself and your family at risk when you drive with them. Tires with worn-out tread won't function properly in adverse conditions, like when you drive through deep standing water on the highway.
A+ Auto Service is a Certified Hercules, General & Continental Tire Dealer. A lot goes into finding the right tire, whether you need basic all-season tires or real-deal off-road rubber. If you don't know where to start on your search for new tires, one of our auto mechanics in Mount Pleasant, SC would be happy to help.
When you visit our shop for routine maintenance or new tires in Mount Pleasant, be sure to have your brakes inspected while you wait. The last thing you want to do is drive off our lot with brakes that won't stop you.
Some common warning signs that you need brake repair includes:
- Grinding Noises When Stopping
- Spongy-Feeling Brake Pedals
- Shaking Steering Column
- Squealing and Squeaking Sounds When Stopping
- Wobbling or Vibration at Highway Speeds
Welcome to the A+ Auto
Family
When you trust us with your vehicle, know that we take that trust very seriously. Unlike some of our competitors, we like to treat our customers like family. And when you're like family, you can rest easy knowing your car or truck is in capable hands. Whether you need a simple oil change or a new engine install, we're here for you every step of the way.
Free Estimates
Latest News in Mount Pleasant, SC
Mount Pleasant weighing ban on new slab-built homes in flood zones
Jonah Chesterhttps://www.postandcourier.com/environment/mount-pleasant-ban-slab-built-homes/article_3ad3e0d6-9843-11ee-b53a-1b2ac3ae4877.html
The Town of Mount Pleasant is considering a ban on new slab-built single-family homes in flood zones. Also known as “slab-on-grade” or “fill-and-build” construction, the method involves placing homes directly on a concrete slab foundation, which can make those buildings vulnerable to flooding.The practice can also create a domino effect that impacts adjacent homeowners. When trying to ensure new homes reach a certain elevation above sea level, developers often will raise a plot by importing dirt. That practice,...
The Town of Mount Pleasant is considering a ban on new slab-built single-family homes in flood zones. Also known as “slab-on-grade” or “fill-and-build” construction, the method involves placing homes directly on a concrete slab foundation, which can make those buildings vulnerable to flooding.
The practice can also create a domino effect that impacts adjacent homeowners. When trying to ensure new homes reach a certain elevation above sea level, developers often will raise a plot by importing dirt. That practice, multiplied across an entire development, can dramatically shift the hydrology of an area and worsen flooding. Developers often clear-cut trees and other plant life that help capture and control flood water — further complicating an already problematic situation.
Charleston City Council approved an essentially identical ban in April. It was a years-in-the-making policy that involved input from local environmental organizations and developers, according to the Southern Environmental Law Center, one of the ban’s key supporters.
Mount Pleasant’s ban would only bar new slab-built homes in the 100-year floodplain. Those are areas that have a 1 percent probability of flooding in any given year.
The proposed ban would go into effect July 1, six months after Charleston’s takes effect. Katherine Gerling, Mount Pleasant’s floodplain manager, said the proposed timing of the ban was intentional.
“This effective date was chosen to kind of see how the city of Charleston is going to manage their ordinance,” Gerling said at a Dec. 13 meeting of Mount Pleasant’s planning commission, where the proposal was under consideration.
Planning Commission member Adam Ferrara expressed concerns that the ban could make it more difficult to build affordable housing in Mount Pleasant, which has seen rising rents and home costs as a result of a decadeslong population boom. Mount Pleasant’s population has roughly tripled since 1990.
“Just bear in mind, that does kind of go against the narrative of trying to build workforce housing that is single-family,” Ferrara said at the meeting. “That does create a cost burden to builders and to homeowners. I’m not saying that’s right or wrong, I’m just saying that is a result of what we’re doing.”
Despite those concerns, the commission passed the measure unanimously. The ban still needs approval from Mount Pleasant Town Council.
Also at the Dec. 13 meeting, planning commission members voted unanimously in support of a measure extending restrictions on new residential construction in Mount Pleasant. Town leaders enacted that measure in 2019 to curb traffic and strain on local resources in the growing suburbs.
“In response to people that said, ‘We need to have all this development because it’s the only way we’re going to keep real estate reasonable,’ — they are wrong,” commission member Kathy Smith said. “That argument only works when the supply and demand curves are in a state of equilibrium. As long as we are net positive in demand in Mount Pleasant, no matter what we do, prices will go up. You can build until your brains blow out, and the prices will go up.”
The proposed ban would extend the restrictions, which would only permit up to 600 new residences annually, until January 2029. The restrictions also still need approval from the full town council.
Mount Pleasant one vote away from limiting home building permits until 2029
Emily Johnsonhttps://www.live5news.com/2023/12/14/mount-pleasant-one-vote-away-limiting-home-building-permits-until-2029/
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) - The town of Mount Pleasant is looking to extend limiting building permits for another five years in an effort to slow growth down and build infrastructure up.A proposal to extend the building permit allocation system was presented at a planning commission meeting Wednesday night with one more final vote left from the town council.As people continue to move to the Lowcountry, the town of Mount Pleasant put this building permit allocation into effect back in 2019 and is now looking to extend it until...
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) - The town of Mount Pleasant is looking to extend limiting building permits for another five years in an effort to slow growth down and build infrastructure up.
A proposal to extend the building permit allocation system was presented at a planning commission meeting Wednesday night with one more final vote left from the town council.
As people continue to move to the Lowcountry, the town of Mount Pleasant put this building permit allocation into effect back in 2019 and is now looking to extend it until 2029.
“The council is very serious about maintaining our level of service,” Mount Pleasant’s Director of Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Michelle Reed says.
“Keeping the growth slowed down, the way they have the last five years, and slowing that growth rate down, has really allowed them to continue the levels of service that we provide to our citizens,” she adds.
The goal is to finish major capital improvement projects before allowing more growth to happen in the town.
“I think the idea is really to allow the town to continue with their infrastructure improvements and to catch up with all the growth that occurred over the years,” Reed says.
The system is broken down into three categories single-family units, accessory dwelling units and multifamily units with a certain number of permits to be issued on a semi-annual basis.
Reed says they never maxed out single-family permits with 480 available and a large amount carrying over into the next year, not really affecting single-family builds.
But if you want to add another dwelling unit to your property, only 20 permits are available each year with a large waitlist putting people on a list for July of 2024.
Five hundred multifamily units were available on a first come first serve basis when the system was put into place, with the permits going quickly to builds at Patriots Point and South Bay.
“Those are the two really that were most affected; your average person that’s coming here and is going to build a single-family home, really didn’t affect them,” Reed says.
But looking at the status of real estate in Mount Pleasant, Charleston Trident Association of Realtors Government Affairs Director Josh Dix says they find the most problems with the dwelling unit permits.
“You have this permit allocation taking place on single-family residential, but it extends beyond just single family,” Dix says. “It’s if you want to add a grandmother, in-law suite, or some duplex on a single-family lot, all of that is contained by this extension.”
Dix adds people are going to be priced out of the area with regulations like the building permit allocation system.
“You have folks in Mount Pleasant, this is an aging demographic, and we want them to be able to age in place,” he says.
“I think permit allocations and caps like what we’re seeing in Mount Pleasant is not the answer to keeping communities and residents in place, where they currently live and exist in their neighborhoods,” Dix adds.
Pricing is also affected, with single-family homes in Mount Pleasant that used to cost $500,000 are now in the millions, Dix says.
“The everyday, middle American that lives here in Charleston, they are being priced out of Mount Pleasant because of these onerous regulations,” he says.
Mount Pleasant Town Council will vote on the final approval for the permit building allocation system in January.
Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.
Hamlin settlement community asks Mount Pleasant officials to stop new development
Claire Weberhttps://abcnews4.com/news/local/hamlin-settlement-community-ask-mount-pleasant-officials-to-stop-new-development-south-carolina-wciv-2023
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCIV) — Saving Hamlin.That's the message from people living in the Hamlin Beach Community who showed up at Mount Pleasant Town Hall Wednesday night. The town’s planning commission voted to recommend the town council deny a rezoning request that would allow for new development.Hamlin settleme...
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCIV) — Saving Hamlin.
That's the message from people living in the Hamlin Beach Community who showed up at Mount Pleasant Town Hall Wednesday night. The town’s planning commission voted to recommend the town council deny a rezoning request that would allow for new development.
Hamlin settlement community asks Mount Pleasant officials to stop new development (WCIV)
Multiple people dressed in red brought up their concerns with this possible rezoning to the planning commission.
“We are wearing this red because this is the blood, sweat, and tears that our ancestors have shed to get this land, keep this land,” said Myra Richardson. “And we are also still shedding blood, sweat, and tears to preserve, protect, and keep it for our children, and our great-grandchildren and everybody to come.”
Richardson told News 4 that a move like this would devastate Hamlin.
Read more: "Mount Pleasant native transfers to Tigertown, Graduates from Titletown."
Hamlin Beach is one of Charleston County’s many settlement communities seeking protection for its land, but people say it’s more than just that. They say it’s preserving the roots of the Gullah Geechee culture spanning for decades.
“I’m 51 years old, and I still live on the land, and I can trace my history back to my great-great-grandfather who was a slave living on that land,” said Cassandra Davis.
Land that could be rezoned, giving developers the green light to build new homes.
Read more: "Bailem family protests against alleged unauthorized conversion of John Ballam Road."
Mount Pleasant’s planning commission unanimously decided to recommend denying the zoning request. That recommendation will go to the town council and a final vote will be in its members’ hands.
People living in Hamlin hope the council will also choose to protect their homes.
“Once they come in, one little project at a time, it'll be something that overflows, and it'll be uncontrollable. If you allow one person to do it, then you're not going to be able to deny the next applicant that comes through,” Richardson said.
Richardson said she also worries about development causing traffic and flooding issues. She thinks the rezoning request was extremely vague and fears it would give developers too much power.
“You don't know what they want, you don't know what they were planning.”
The planning commission said it’s learning it must shift its focus to protecting the area’s neighborhoods; something the people of Hamlin are grateful for.
“They have just really come together with one sound, one voice to make sure that communities like the Hamlin Beach Community is protected,” Davis said.
The planning commission also mentioned Hamlin Beach is working to get its historic designation, and they wouldn’t want something like a new development to hinder that process.
Mount Pleasant family mourns loss of generational home days after Christmas
Conley Graysonhttps://abcnews4.com/news/local/mount-pleasant-family-mourns-loss-of-generational-home-days-after-christmas-fire-safety-south-carolina-wciv-news-4
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCIV) — A family is grieving after they lost their Mount Pleasant home to a fire three days after Christmas.Two adult family members are still in the burn unit at a local area hospital, and two kids are recovering at home. The fire started around 8:02 a.m., and officials responded shortly after.The family said they are thankful everyone is safe but are incredibly sad to lose a home filled with generations of memories."When that child called me yesterday and said, 'Nana, the house is on fi...
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCIV) — A family is grieving after they lost their Mount Pleasant home to a fire three days after Christmas.
Two adult family members are still in the burn unit at a local area hospital, and two kids are recovering at home. The fire started around 8:02 a.m., and officials responded shortly after.
The family said they are thankful everyone is safe but are incredibly sad to lose a home filled with generations of memories.
"When that child called me yesterday and said, 'Nana, the house is on fire,' all I could do was scream," Victoria Gregg Manigault said.
Mount Pleasant family mourns loss of generational home days after Christmas (WCIV)
Read more: "2 adults, 2 children hospitalized after Mount Pleasant house fire."
The words written on the Manigault home now lost in a house fire are 100 years strong.
"Everything's gone in the house, all of our memories. Everything girl -- everything gone," she said.
She remembers growing up at the end of Venning Road.
"I used to walk by myself down that road to Sunday school -- 7 years old," Manigault said.
Read more: "Reported structure fire closes Fairmont Road in Mount Pleasant: MPPD."
More than nine kids were raised in the same home.
"A lot of my friends from school used to come down on Sundays because mom cooked the best collard greens," Manigault's daughter, Betty Gregg, said.
Three days before the fire, the entire family gathered at the home one last time to celebrate Christmas.
"Just have a big cookout in the yard and get lots of crab and shrimp," Manigault said.
Read more: "1 person transported to hospital after house fire in Mount Pleasant: AMFD."
Relatives walked us through the house, pointing at the spots where they used to sleep as a child.
To them, it's still their forever home.
"It means a lot to us because we call it home. No matter where we go, we always know we could go home," Gregg said.
The family is working to set up a way to receive funds to replace everything they have lost.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Photos: Taverna Philosophia brings brasserie service and Greek cuisine to Mount Pleasant
Henry Taylorhttps://www.postandcourier.com/photo_galleries/photos-taverna-philosophia-brings-brasserie-service-and-greek-cuisine-to-mount-pleasant/collection_e5afb952-c05d-11ee-9b08-93ace1c110b9.html
Taverna Philosophia, the second business venture from business partners Justin Hunt and Dimitri Hatgidimitriou, brings brasserie style service to Mount Pleasant.Buy NowStaff deliver dishes to guests at Taverna Philosophia on Friday, January 26, 2024, in Mount Pleasant.Buy NowA branzino and local vermillion snapper cook on the grill at Taverna Philosophia on Friday, January 26, 2024, i...
Taverna Philosophia, the second business venture from business partners Justin Hunt and Dimitri Hatgidimitriou, brings brasserie style service to Mount Pleasant.
Staff deliver dishes to guests at Taverna Philosophia on Friday, January 26, 2024, in Mount Pleasant.
A branzino and local vermillion snapper cook on the grill at Taverna Philosophia on Friday, January 26, 2024, in Mount Pleasant.
Brady Delaney coats a double cut pork chop in a glaze before finishing in the oven at Taverna Philosophia on Friday, January 26, 2024, in Mount Pleasant.
Achef turns over a branzino next to a local vermillion snapper cook on the grill at Taverna Philosophia on Friday, January 26, 2024, in Mount Pleasant.
Co-owner of Taverna Philosophia Dimitri Hatgidimitriou seats a party for dinner on Friday, January 26, 2024, in Mount Pleasant.
An array of seafood is displayed on ice at a counter separating the kitchen from dining room on Friday, January 26, 2024, in Mount Pleasant.
Grilled branzino fish are plated at Taverna Philosophia on Friday, January 26, 2024, in Mount Pleasant.
Amber McElhaney looks through menu options at Taverna Philosophia on Friday, January 26, 2024, in Mount Pleasant.
Customers eat at the bar while bartenders fix drinks at Taverna Philosophia on Friday, January 26, 2024, in Mount Pleasant.
John and Jen Blais chat over dinner at Taverna Philosophia on Friday, January 26, 2024, in Mount Pleasant.
Brady Delaney showers a branzino with salt during dinner service at Taverna Philosophia on Friday, January 26, 2024, in Mount Pleasant.
Anthony Calispa runs dishes out of the kitchen at Taverna Philosophia on Friday, January 26, 2024, in Mount Pleasant.
Guests fill the dining room of Taverna Philosophia for dinner on Friday, January 26, 2024, in Mount Pleasant.
As featured on
The 2024 Lowcountry Oyster Festival held it’s 40th annual celebration of the mollusk and sold around 50,000 lbs of them; 13,500 lbs came from local cluster oysters. The Lowcountry Oyster Festival donated more than $124,000 to local charities and nonprofits from last year’s proceeds. Beneficiaries of those funds include Coastal Conservation Association, Pay It Forward, Hollings Cancer Center, Shriners’ Hospitals for Children, Ronald McDonald House, College of Charleston and The Culinary Institute of Charleston.
Volunteers shuffle around oyster shells in the trailer used for recycling oysters during the 40th annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival on Sunday, February 4, 2024, in Mount Pleasant. Festival contributes about 3% of the DNR’s annual need for oyster shells in reseeding beds. In 2023, the DNR recycled about 38,000 bushels of oyster shells through community roasts, festivals and participating restaurants.
Deacon Turner, 5, shucks a local grouping of oysters during the 40th annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival on Sunday, February 4, 2024, in Mount Pleasant.
Men participate in the shucking competition during the 40th annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival on Sunday, February 4, 2024, in Mount Pleasant.
Among large animals in wild landscapes. Among big personalities - fortune seekers, conservationists, innovators. Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania and back to Kenya.
One bed on the Tazara Railway train costs $30. Most passengers pay for all four to earn some privacy on the three- to four-day journey from Zambia to the coast of Tanzania.
View from a platform built for camping out over a black rhino watering hole in the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary in Kenya.
Flamingos drink from a lake in Amboseli National Park Kenya.
Women wait for transportation on the road between the capital city, Lilongwe, and Kasungu in Malawi.
A rooftop view of Lusaka, Zambia. At the end of the dry season, the sky is full of dust and wood smoke.
A sign for Big Life Foundation outside its Imbirikani, Kenya, headquarters.
Men play checkers in Lamu Old Town, Kenya.
Autumn Phillips enjoys a cup of coffee while watching elephants in the Amboseli National Park in Kenya.
Next week’s topic: Fuzzy
From David AvRutick of Charleston: “This photo of the Pineapple Fountain in Waterfront Park was taken on January 3, 2018.”
From William Bunting of Summerville, “On the continent of Antarctica January 12, 2024. The temperature was -6 C.”
From Ronald Allan Charles of Goose Creek, “Bearded statue behind The Charleston Place Hotel during last hard freeze.”
From Bob Fetch of Kiawah Island, “Where can you find such a contrast? Icicles hanging off an alligator sign with a half frozen pond backed by palm trees. The Ocean Course on Kiawah post the 3rd largest snowfall in Charleston history. Picture taken on January 4, 2018.”
From Michelle Helferich of Summerville: “From the Jannuary 2018 winter storm: neighborhood kids (including my two) throwing snowballs on a frozen pond in Summerville.”
From Bill Lackner of Mount Pleasant, “This was taken in our driveway during a rare snow storm about 6 years ago. Snow shovels were as common as hen’s teeth.”
From Nancyjean Nettles of Charleston: “This great blue heron was shaking off the snow in our backyard, showing his fluffy self during the 2018 snow storm in Charleston. The temperatures were well below freezing for such an extended period of time that I had to chop holes in the ice on the lake to allow the wading birds to get food.”
From Robert Peterson of Summerville, “I spent one minute laying on an ice flow, I would be frozen. It was very cold, but this harbor seal seemed to be enjoying it. I took this somewhere along Resurrection Bay Alaska near the outflow of a glacier.”
From Wayne Putman of Summerville, “My wife Cynthia in the igloo in Fairbanks, AK, July 2007 at the Fairbanks Ice Museum. Inside the museum it’s kept at 10 degrees.”
From Phil Saul of Mount Pleasant, “I woke up to a near blizzard while attending a conference at Nemacolin in southwestern Pennsylvania. Looked cold, was cold!”
From Tom Taylor of Mount Pleasant, “I just got back from a cruise in Antarctica on the Atlas Navigator Cruiselines. This is just one photo of the sea life we saw in the frigid South Pole area of Antarctica. The whale doesn’t even notice how cold it is. We enjoyed a Pod of about 40 whales swimming around our ship this day. That same day I did the ‘real’ Polar Plunge in 30 degree water.”
From Monica Vaughan of Aiken, “This photo was taken at Woodside Country Club in Aiken SC. It was a cold day in February 2010 when we had a 4 inch accumulation of snow.”
One of the great things about having grown children is no longer being involved with their school homework. Bet you didn’t see that observation coming. Full disclosure, I was never saddled with too much of that responsibility, for two reasons. One, I worked nights, and two, my much-smarter wife was extremely good at it.
From time to time, I might be asked about writing a topical sentence or pronouncing a multisyllabic word, but when it came to math — well, let’s just say it didn’t add up for me to get involved.
I managed to survive algebra and geometry in high school, but my brain seemed far more equipped to handle subject/verb agreement than whether x and y could ever equal z.
Oh yeah, and those word problems that often appeared on various tests always seemed impossible to decipher as a left-brained individual. For instance: If Joe and Mary were on a train to Chicago traveling 60 miles an hour, how long would it be before Joe could buy a hot dog at Wrigley Field?
There’s a chance I may have left out a couple of key components to that question, but that’s how I remember it.
Meet the 2-dums
I was happy to hear my granddaughter recently reciting her multiplication tables. I wasn’t totally aware those memorization techniques were still in use.
I immediately thought she might benefit from knowing about a certain Beverly Hillbilly mathematician known as Jethro Bodine. As a nearly 20-year-old fourth grader, it was Jethro who called learning to multiply as “2-dums.” He would say: 2-dum 2 is 4, 2-dum 4 is 8, and so on.
This made my granddaughter smile and she immediately ran off to share this silly story with her father. My work there was done. It was clearly a teachable moment.
Divided we fall
We all learn different lessons at different stages. We’re also prone to learn as much from our home environment as we do from the classroom.
Children absolutely soak up the language, the tones of conversation and attitudes concerning others, as much from the supper table as they do from the teacher’s smart board.
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