Family Photographer in Daniel Island, SC

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The University of Memphis men's golf team tied for fourth place in the 17-team field at the Daniel Island Intercollegiate on Tuesday with a score of 892 (+28). Mississippi State won the event with a total of 879 (+15).

"Once again we were in position to have a great event and couldn't finish it off," head coach Blake Smart said. "There are definitely positives to take from the semester, but we also have some glaring issues that need to be addressed in the offseason and that will process will start immediately."

KEY MOMENTS • Junior Esteban Vazquez led the way for the Tigers at the tournament, tying for sixth place with a total of 220 (+4). Vazquez was consistent for the whole event, carding rounds of 74-73-73. • Senior James Morgan posted a season-best finish for Memphis, tying for 12^th place with a score of 222 (+6). After an opening round 80, Morgan bounced back to post back-to-back rounds of 71. • Sophomore Adam Coull tied for 27^th place with a total of 225 (+9), while junior Jack Tanner finished in a tie for 45^th with a score of 230 (+14). • Junior Ryan van der Klis tied for 51^st place with a total of 231 (+15), while freshman Cian O'Connor tied for finished in a tie for 83^rd with a score of 240 (+24) playing as an individual.

TIGER SCORECARD T-6. Esteban Vazquez 220 (+4) T-12. James Morgan 222 (+6) T-27. Adam Coull 225 (+9) T-45. Jack Tanner 230 (+14) T-51. Ryan van der Klis 231 (+15) T-83. Cian O'Connor 240 (+24)* * Played as an individual

TEAM STANDINGS 1. Mississippi State 879 (+15) 2. Florida Gulf Coast 882 (+18) 3. Campbell 891 (+27) T-4. Memphis 892 (+28) T-4. South Carolina 892 (+28)

NOTABLES • Vazquez's T-6 finish was a season-best and marked his second top-10 of the year. • Morgan's T-12 gave him his first top-20 of the season. • Memphis earned the team's second top-five finish of the year. The Tigers took fourth place at the season-opening Bearcat Invitational.

UP NEXT • The University of Memphis men's golf team will be back on the course on Feb. 6-7, 2023 when the Tigers head to Johns Island, S.C. to compete in the Battle at Briar's Creek.

How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Men's Golf, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

This week there are a large number of multifamily and large residential developments coming before the various City of Charleston boards and committees. Below are those items as well as the application results for specific items to Daniel Island and the Cainhoy area. More detailed agendas and results can be found at charleston-sc.gov/agendacenter.

Nov. 21: 941 Fish Camp Road. Second review of residential amenity site. This is located in Daniel Island Park.

Nov. 21: The Waterfront Public Roads Phase 3 - Preliminary plat and road construction plans for a road extension and 6 single family lots at Helmsman/Waterman Streets, Daniel Island.

Nov. 17: A preliminary subdivision plat and road construction plans for Parcel K Infrastructure, a major subdivision at 2000 Daniel Island Drive on 36.9 acres.

Results: Pending final documentation to MS4 and Planning. Once approved, submit plans to Zoning for stamping.

Nov. 17: A site plan for Woodfield Daniel Island 3, a 163-unit multifamily development on 6 acres at 2058 Benefitfocus Way. Results: Revise and resubmit to TRC.

Berkeley Co. Bd. of Education meets twice each month. Executive Committee meets at 5:30 p.m.; meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.

Berkeley Co. Council meets fourth Mon. of each month, 6 p.m., Berkeley County Admin. Blg., 1003 Hwy 52, Moncks Corner.

City of Charleston Council typically meets the second and fourth Tues. of each month, 5 p.m., City Hall, 80 Broad Street, Charleston, SC and/or virtually via Conference Call #1-929-205-6099; Access Code: 912 096 416. Exceptions: Summer Schedule - 3rd Tues. of June, July, and August; December meetings on the 1st and 3rd Tues. Dates and locations subject to change.

City of Charleston Technical Review Committee meets every Thurs. at 9 a.m.via Zoom.

City of Charleston Board of Zoning Appeals – Site Design meets the 1st Wed. of each month at 5 p.m. via Zoom.

City of Charleston Board of Zoning Appeals – Zoning meets the 1st and 3rd Tues. of each month at 5:15 p.m., except for January and July when no meeting is held on the 1st Tues.

City of Charleston Design Review Board meets the 1st and 3rd Mon. of every month at 4:30 p.m.

City of Charleston Planning Commission meets the 3rd Wed. of every month at 5 p.m.

City of Charleston Board of Architectural Review – Large projects meets the 2nd and 4th Wed. of every month at 4:30 p.m.

City of Charleston Board of Architectural Review – Small projects meets the 2nd and 4th Thurs. of every month at 4:30 p.m.

All meetings are open for public comment except the City of Charleston Technical Review Committee meetings.

For more information, contacts for specific projects and on location and time of the meetings or to learn more, visit charleston-sc.gov/AgendaCenter/.

DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) – Lace up your skates! Credit One Stadium is bringing an outdoor ice-skating rink to Daniel Island for the holiday season.

“Skate the Stadium” will bring a new custom-built ice-skating rink to the entertainment venue featuring cozy fire pits, seasonal concessions, and special holiday events like holiday carolers, visits with Santa, and a Christmas tree lighting.

“Our goal is to create thoughtful, unique experiences that bring joy to the communities we serve. By building an outdoor skating rink for the holidays we hope to create another way for people to engage in a new holiday tradition that encourages movement and social connection,” said Bob Moran, President of Charleston Tennis.

Tickets will cost $10 per person including the skate rental and a one-hour skating session. Organizers say non-skaters may enter for free. Special assistive devices will be available for those who need them.

Those tickets can be purchased at creditonestadium.com/skate-the-stadium

“Children 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Credit One Stadium is a drop-off site for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation,” said organizers. “Bring a toy, get $2 off a skating session.”

Guests can enjoy cookie samplers, smores kits, cinnamon sugar pretzels and other classic concessions will be available for purchase. Hot chocolate, cider, and a full bar with seasonal beer and cocktails will also be on hand.

‘Skate the Stadium’ will open Friday, December 2^nd. Dates to skate include:

Thursdays and Fridays from 5-10 p.m.

Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. & Sundays 12 – 5 p.m.

The rink will be closed on Friday, Dec. 30 and Christmas Day.

Daniel Island Tree Lighting Ceremony | Friday, December 2, Festivities begin at 5 p.m. with the tree lighting at 6 p.m.

Enjoy musical performances from Charleston Concert Band, carolers singing and activities for the children then watch the holiday magic of a 22-foot tree lighting.

Holiday Carolers Thursdays | December 8, 25 & 22, 5:30-6 p.m.

Catch the holiday spirit with vocal performances from local High School choral groups.

Ladies Night/Bubbles on Ice | Thursday, December 8, 7-10 p.m.

Nibble on hors d’oeuvres and sip on bubbles from Moet. Browse some curated holiday selection from local vendors. This is a ticketed event, $35 per person and includes food plus cash bar.

90’s Glow Night | Saturday, December 10, 7-10 p.m.

Skate to your favorite songs of the 90’s and sport your best glow gear.

Jazz Night & Bourbon Tasting | Thursday, December 15, 7-10 p.m.

Sample all-you-can-eat oysters on the half shell and a bourbon tasting with entertainment by Grammy Award winning Charlton Singleton & The Contemporary Flow Band.

Visit with Santa | Sunday, December 18, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Stop by for a visit with Santa the last weekend before Christmas.

Lush landscapes and year-round outdoor weather makes Daniel Island the right recipe for picturesque picnics. When twin sisters Nicole Kunz and Kristin Socci moved to Daniel Island over a year ago, they both knew it was the perfect place to open Southern Bubbles LLC, a luxury picnic business.

“The community is full of fun-loving, happy, outdoorsy people who have welcomed us into their community. The island itself is full of beautiful parks and back yards, perfect for picnics,” Kunz said.

Southern Bubbles officially opened last month, with a launch party at DI’s Smythe Park. The concept evolved after a friend visiting from New York suggested luxury picnics would be a great business for the growing area.

“With COVID, a new category of entertainment had arisen, providing people with an option to dine outdoors with others in parks, beaches and their own backyards, while keeping safe,” Kunz said. “… As South Carolina is warm most months of the year, it makes for the perfect place to start a luxury picnic company.”

Both sisters bring a lot of experience to the table. “Southern Bubbles was started with the idea of pulling together all our creative talents, and life experiences to share a little bit of us with the Lowcountry,” Socci said.

Kunz had a successful career in marketing and public relations when she lived in New York. After taking time out to start a family she eventually opened a photography business.

Socci had a career in the New York fashion industry before moving with her family to Germany and later Japan, where she owned a baking company. During her travels she collected exotic items, such as antique dinner plates from Japan, a Buddha head from Bali, and platters from Cambodia. Many of these will be part of Southern Bubble’s décor.

Kunz’s photography services and Socci’s tasty treats can be added to any picnic package. A Southern Bubbles picnic lasts two hours and includes everything from decorations, table set up, charcuterie to a teepee tent. Additional add ons, like an extended food menu are available for purchase.

Daniel Island’s Cycle House owner Brynn Fields was the first customer and she had no reservations about being the first reservation. “Nicole and Kristin are members of Cycle House, and we were chatting before class about a new luxury picnic business they were starting. I love picnics and this was mine and my husband’s first date, so I went right to the website!”

Fields booked the Romantic Picnic Package and was thrilled with her intimate picnic. “Everything from their attention to detail on the table to the location on Smythe Lake they picked, was perfect. I love that these picnics come with everything. Charcuterie, water, table settings, flowers and even a Bluetooth speaker so you can listen to some music. It’s not that often we get to relax… We will definitely do this again either by ourselves or with friends!”

The two sisters hope to collaborate with other local businesses.

“We would love to keep Southern Bubbles local to Daniel Island. We want to cater food from local businesses and use add ons from local businesses like balloon artist @flairchs,” Kunz stated.

To find out more about Southern Bubbles, visit southernbubblespicnics.com.

If there are any merchants you’d like to see featured in an upcoming column, send an email to marie@thedanielislandnews.com.

An abrupt turn of events at Berkeley County School District’s school board meeting on Nov. 15 resulted in the surprise firing of the superintendent and in-house legal counsel followed by the hiring of a new superintendent and legal counsel.

The turbulent mid-year transition came in two separate motions to fire superintendent Deon Jackson along with in-house general counsel Dr. Tiffany Richardson. Both motions passed by a vote of 6-3, with much anger and disgust from dissenting board members and members of the community in attendance who chanted phrases such as “unjust” and “no process.”

Jackson was hired in July 2021 as the first Black superintendent in BCSD’s history. He worked in the district for more than a decade, including as the first principal of Cane Bay Middle School. Richardson, a graduate of Stratford High School, was hired in April 2021.

The votes in favor to fire Jackson and Richardson included: board chair Mac McQuillin, vice chair Sally Ballentine Wofford, secretary Michael Ramsey, Joe Baker, Kathy Littleton and Jimmy Hinson. The board members who opposed the firings were David Barrow, Yvonne Bradley and Crystal Wigfall.

Both Richardson and Jackson excused themselves from the meeting without comment. Board members Bradley and Wigfall followed suit and dismissed themselves before the end of discussion. Citizens in attendance joined them to form a mass exodus.

“The board policy needs to be revised, amended to give reason why you’re terminating someone,” Bradley said. “… How in the world can you terminate somebody without giving a reason.”

Jackson has been replaced by Dr. Anthony Dixon, Charleston County School District chief of schools and former BCSD chief academics and innovation officer and chief administrative officer. Dixon was a semifinalist for the superintendent position that Jackson was ultimately appointed to last spring. He formerly served as principal for Philip Simmons High School, Philip Simmons Middle School and Cainhoy Elementary School. As well as assistant principal at Daniel Island School.

Richardson was replaced by Brandon Gaskins, an employee of Moore & Van Allen law firm. Gaskins previously served as deputy chief counsel to former S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford.

The motion to terminate Richardson was made by Littleton. The motion to terminate Jackson was introduced by McQuillin, the Daniel Island and Philip Simmons representative of District 2. The board did not specify the rationale for Jackson’s firing. He earned a proficient rating from his recent school board review.

When asked for the grounds for firing Jackson, McQuillin replied vaguely that it was a “personnel matter.” However, his colleague, Barrow, said that he was told that the cause stems from an “unconstitutional” and “unlawful” contractual matter.

When Jackson was hired as superintendent last year, he was given a multi-year contract with a provision that a supermajority must vote unilaterally to terminate him with “no cause” from his position as opposed to a simple majority. In this case meaning that six board members would have to terminate Jackson as opposed to five. This is exactly what happened at the board meeting.

Barrow cited an opinion from a local legal professional that said Jackson’s contract was not illegal. Andrea White from White & Story LLC informed Barrow that Jackson’s provision is common practice.

White, a member of the Richland County Bar and the South Carolina Bar, represents a number of school districts around the state. White practices in all areas of school law, with an emphasis on providing advice and counsel on issues relating to personnel matters and employment discrimination.

The question remains whether Jackson’s provision is a violation of state law. White noted that there haven’t been any cases in South Carolina circuit and appellate courts that address this issue.

Reached via email after the meeting, McQuillin added, “We understand that the public wants and deserves answers regarding Mr. Jackson’s termination, but the prospect of litigation and the fact that the termination involves personnel issues limits our ability to comment fully at this time. However, we expect to be able to share our rationale in the near future, and we are confident that we made a decision that is in the best interest of the district and its students.”

Barrow, who hired Jackson as an assistant principal at Timberland High School in 2006, called the termination a “political witch hunt,” a “travesty,” a “sham” and a “political hit job.” He questioned if there were any “clandestine meetings” among board members outside of executive session prior to the vote.

McQuillin said via email that “…there was no meeting prior to Tuesday’s Board meeting. Four board members were re-elected incumbents. On Thursday of last week, in accordance with Board policy, those board members requested that then Chair of the Board Dave Barrow add the personnel item to the agenda’s executive session. Prior to the meeting, Mr. Jackson and Dr. Dixon were notified of the agenda items. On Tuesday, the Board met as a whole, for the first time, to discuss the matters in executive session and returned to regular session to vote on the matters.”

The school board authorized Dixon to hire a deputy superintendent, chief academic officer and to restructure his cabinet without further board action.

Efforts to reach Jackson for comment were unsuccessful. Barrow said, when asked for help reaching Jackson, “He is not responding personally at this time.” Dixon did not respond to emailed questions prior to the paper going to print.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.